Clarendon Cycles

A Community Ride on the Arlington Loop

The Arlington Fun Ride is back this year, now with more for families and children.

Arlington's old tradition of a slow-speed and chill "community ride" was revived in the form of the Arlington Fun Ride last year. More than 100 people participated, and the organizers of this community-led ride decided to do it again this year on Saturday, Oct. 6. (Disclosure: I'm somewhat involved in organizing it.) The organizers hope to use the ride to encourage Arlington's youth, adults and families to see the county's trail system as a safe means of transportation and recreation. The fun starts at 8 a.m. at Phoenix Bikes in Barcroft Park, when the main ride gets ready to go. Marshals will help guide riders on a 17-mile route along the Arlington Loop, which allows a cirumnavigtion of the county almost entirely on trails, with just a …

• Photos (2)
• Videos (1)

Mentors Step in to Make a Difference in the AIDS Community

The PALS Mentoring Program seeks to mentor and engage young people infected or affected by HIV or AIDS.

"(It) is not so much about making a huge difference in the world so much as it is providing a listening ear to a child and making a difference in their life."  Volunteers in the PALS Mentoring Program created under the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry take their position very seriously. They are working with youth to make a difference. The Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM) was created to help meet the needs of people affected or infected with HIV or AIDS. The organization has focused on two types of community outreach from their office based in Falls Church, Va.  First, NOVAM works with local schools to educate young people on methods of prevention. Through peer to peer education, NOVAM hopes to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)