In the opening sequence, Carter and Abby are looking at the early construction of the Joshua Carter Center which John has donated the complete cost of the build. He tells Abby it will be open a year from September, but it wouldn't actually open until 4 years later in the series finale And in the End... (2009).
Louise Fletcher and James Otis worked together previously in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). Both were religious Bajorans.
Maura Tierney (Abby Lockhart) & Hassan Johnson (Darnell Thibeaux) also worked together on episode 4.5, Waiting for the Knock (2012), of The Good Wife (2009) as Maddie Hayward & Gavin Wells respectively.