march-in like a lion, out like a lamb...rich robinson (703) 527-2724 [email protected] membership...

recent Washington Post article reports that another civic association

in Northern Virginia has elected a dog as President, since no one else stepped for-ward. I wrote to the editor that Lyon Park was looking for a secretary, but needed an animal with opposable thumbs. (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/localopin-ions/2011/02/dogs_need_not_apply.html)

We are very fortunate to have smart, tal-ented and dedicated community members who volunteer in Lyon Park. From the Lyon Park Citizens Association Executive Com-mittee, to the Board of Governors and the Renovation Fundraising & Building Commit-tees, it is amazing what our volunteers do.

Volunteers manage Lyon Park’s high traf-fic listserv, update and maintain LPCA’s website and edit our community newslet-ter that you have in your hands right now. Volunteers deliver our community newslet-ter to households all over Lyon Park each

month. Volunteers manage and take care of the grounds of Lyon Park and the Lyon Park Community House. Volunteers are giving blood, sweat and tears (well maybe not liter-ally) to meet ambitious fundraising goals that will make the renovation of our historic Lyon Park Community House a reality. Building Committee volunteers are donating huge amounts of time working with an architect on plans and researching building materi-als and contractors. Volunteers are planting tulips all across the community and bringing us the Valentine’s Day Swing Dance, Spring Fair, Blood bank drive, Halloween Bonfires and end of year Holiday parties.

Our community is also home to one of the most active Woman’s Club’s in the region. The number of yard & bake sales this group organizes is amazing.The Lyon Park Woman’s Club cupcakes are the tastiest and best deal in the Metro-DC area.

Many of the Lyon Park amenities & services

we enjoy, are possible because neighbors volunteered. You might be asking yourself, Is there room for me to lend a hand? The answer is YES! Our neighborhood has a tradition of being incredibly active and we need everyone to contribute and get involved.

LPCA desperately needs a newsletter editor and a secretary. We still need more people to help organize fundraisers for the renovation fund and still others to help Larry Mayer with zoning and development issues. We need many more people to make leadership gifts to the renovation fund and others to sign up and assist on the many neighborhood events that take place all year long. Consider signing up to-day for a Lyon Park activity, event or com-mittee. Plan on attending the March LPCA meeting where, in addition to the social and business part of the meeting, we will play a couple of spirited rounds of BINGO! Volunteering is fun and a great way to plug into Lyon Park. It is also a way to give back to the community and to yourself!

Have a great March Lyon Park!

—Natalie RoyPresident,

Lyon Park Citizens Association

LYON PARK

CitizenM A R C H ’ 1 1

The Newsletter of the Lyon Park Citizens Association

President’s Message:

Wednesday, March 9th

LPCA MeetiNg AgeNdA• Police,Renovationfund&parkingupdates

• SpecialBINGOsession!

(prizes & good fun guaranteed)

A nonpartisan publication serving Lyon Park residents’ common interests 1www.lyonparkcitizens.org • FEBRUARY 2011

Angie gentile, Steve dorst, Natalie Roy, Adam Rasmussen, elliott Mandel and other happy attendees at Lyon Park’s Valentine’s day extravaganza (More photos pages 2 & 3)

A

MARCh-iN Like A LioN, out Like A LAMb

MARCH 2011 • www.lyonparkcitizens.org2 3www.lyonparkcitizens.org • MARCH 2011

TheLyonParkCitizensAssociation414N.FillmoreSt.Arlington,VA22201

LPCA exeCutiVe CoMMittee

PresidentNatalieRoy (703)[email protected]

Vice-President-developmentLarryMayer (703)[email protected]

VP-Neighborhood ConservationElliottMandel (703)[email protected]

Vice-President-ProgramsElizabethSheehy (703)[email protected]

treasurerBillAnhut,Jr. (703)[email protected]

Secretary/historianVacant

Sergeant-at-ArmsRichRobinson (703)[email protected]

Membership ChairKathleenMcSweeney (703)[email protected]

Member At LargeMelissaBondi (703)[email protected]

CoMMuNity CeNteR boARd of goVeRNoRS

JeannetteWick,Chair (703)[email protected]

iMPoRtANt CoNtACtS

Police LiaisonAdamParkhomenko (703)[email protected]

Community Center Rental AgentShirleyLarson (703)[email protected]

Clarendon Alliance RepresentativeNatalieRoy (703)[email protected]

Civic federation RepsMelissaBondi (703)527-6379SteveGeiger (703)522-0026ErikGutshall (703)276-0809LarryMayer (703)525-8921NatalieRoy (703)524-4119JimTurpin (703)248-6988

doorways for Women and families LiaisonErikGutshall (703)276-0809

Newsletter Co-editors, design and AdvertisingLanceMarburger,[email protected],[email protected],[email protected]

[email protected],Distribution(703)[email protected]

NoteS fRoM febRuARy LPCA MeetiNg

A hearty thank you to all who came to LPCA’s February meeting! It was a really good meeting with terrific presentations from Captain Desamour and his wonderful team. They answered tons of questions and gave us all very useful information. Suffice it to say we are very lucky to have police officers like these folks working in our community. They are going to be sending the neighborhood electronically, the information they distributed during the meeting in hard copy, on abandoned bikes and crime prevention. Some of the information has been reprinted in this issue of the Lyon Prk Citizen.

Other announcements followed, including LPCA Executive Committee member and Board of Governor Elizabeth Sheehy presenting a comprehensive briefing on the renova-tion project including the fundraising and update on the plans. Updates on the Edgewood Street parking issue and other traffic concerns were also covered.

Our thanks also to Joey Durishin who is the most amazing volunteer! Despite her busy schedule, every meeting she brings coffee and refreshments! It was very much appreciated at this month’s meeting when it was so cold. Michael O’Connor’s delectable brownies were also very welcome. Thanks to both of you!

happy Lyon Parkers at first annual Valentine’s Party at the Lyon Park Community house.

Cupcakes baked by the Woman’s Club made for delectable eating at the Lyon Park Valentine’s party!

hanks to Kim Franklin and her team of volunteers for a lovely & lively Valentine’s Dance on Saturday night. The

LPCH was beautifully decorated, the food was scrumptious-especially the homemade treats Kim baked and the cupcakes provided by the Woman’s Club-the coffee bar and wine provided by Northside Social was really special and the dance instruction and music was a lot of fun. Many thanks to Paul Showalter for putting together the big band play list and getting the professional sound equipment.

A tremendous thanks to Sharon Showalter and Adam Rasmus-sen for being fabulous dance instructors. They were incredible. I think everyone learned some new dance moves! Thanks also to amazing volunteers Lynn & Andy Shotwell and Elizabeth Sheehy for all kinds of essential help with selling tickets, decorating, providing refreshments and cleaning up. Thanks also to Brookes Rental for providing the lovely cocktail tables for the evening. There was a ton of good feedback from the dance with people asking if Lyon Park could hold these on a quarterly basis. We even thought about having different themes, the next one could be Disco so stay tuned!

Thank you again Kim Franklin (and Husband John too!), for taking the lead to make February 12th a special night. We raised $1,360 for the Renovation Fund and had a lot of fun during it.

Valentine’s day dance: Sweet Success

t

By Natalie Roy


The Moving World War I Memorial Pancake Breakfastonce upon a time in Lyon Park

f you have lived for any length of time in Lyon Park, you know that Frank

Lyon was one of the developers of Lyon Park. His son, John Lyon, was killed serv-ing in World War I. The September 1, 1919, Monitor, had the following story.

John Lyon was killed in action on Octo-ber 16, 1918. He was second lieutenant

in the 29th Division in the Machine Gun Company of the 116th Infantry. He was a graduate of Western High School and attended the Univer-sity of Virginia for two years. He was also the editor of the Alexan-dria County Monitor

for two years while attending Georgetown Law School at night, but did not graduate owing to the fact that he went to France in May, just before he had completed his examinations. He served one year with the American Ambulance Corps in France, and was assistant editor of Forest and Stream in New York. He served six months on the Mexican border. John Lyon entered the Army through the Alexandria Light Infan-try, in which he volunteered as a common soldier, was promoted from corporal to sergeant and to second lieutenant, and reached France to fight in WWI in July 1918.

In 1925, seven years after World War I ended, the Francis Wallis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution un-veiled a memorial in memory of the Arlington boys killed in World War I. The memorial was placed on the grounds of Cherrydale School, at the intersection of Lee Highway and N. Nelson Street. The event was well publicized and drew a large crowd. Lieut. John Lyon, U.S.A., was the first of the five names on the memorial plaque. Each Memorial Day since 1934, a formal ceremony honoring those named on the memorial was held.

The Cherrydale School was closed down in

1969 and torn down in 1973 to make way for the Camelot Hall Nursing Home. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, John Lyon VFW Post 3150, moved the memorial to Lyon Park for “safe keeping during the construc-tion of the Health Center.” Long-time Lyon Park neighbors remember that the memo-rial was located near the north entrance of the Community House approximately where a crape myrtle now grows near the sidewalk. Memorial Day services were still conducted at the new location.

Meanwhile, the Camelot Nursing Home, now the Cherrydale Health and Rehabilita-tion Center, was constructed. The Cher-rydale Citizens Association and John Lyon VFW Post 3150 eventually moved the memorial back to Cherrydale. It was placed in a memorial garden on the grounds of the Cherrydale Health and Rehabilitation Center, almost where it was originally. The Memorial Garden was rededicated in 1992.

Next time you’re on Lee Highway, stop by

to see the World War I memorial at 3710 Lee Highway, near the corner of N. Nelson Street.

By tRacy HopkiNs

By sHiRley laRsoN

i

Memorial day Service, May 27, 1996

Lieut. John Lyon,u.S.A.

Close up of plaque on memorial

Sources:

Rose, Ruth P., “The Role of Frank Lyon and His Associates in the Early Development of Arlington County,” Arlington Historical Society Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4, October 1976.

Taylor, Judith A. “History of Cherrydale School,” May 1971.

“About Cherrydale,” www.cherrydale.net/

Kathryn Holt Springston, correspondence with the author.

randparents, moms and pops and babes in cradles braved the sixteen degree weather to attend Lyon Park’s Fourth Annual Pancake Breakfast.

Here are the many people who made this happen. Our flippers: Gary Putnam, Pete Wolf, Michael O’Connor, Greg Bramham and Paul Showalter; set-up and decorations: Shirley Larson, Deirdre Ryan, Pete Roof and Gary Putnam; manning the main floor and taking money: Tagrid Wahba, Shelya White, Kit Putnam, Elizabeth Wray and Elizabeth Bramham. Last but not least, Sue and Rich Robinson were there to clean up with the help of middle schoolers Mebratu Ausink, Will Siegal, TR Sheehy and Henry Bramham.

Many thanks to all!

Careful Interior & Exterior Painting

Renovations & Remodeling:

* Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling * Basements , Attics & Porches www.JBFResidential.com

Careful Interior & Exterior Painting Renovations & Remodeling Projects

* Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling * Basements, Attics & Porches

www.JBFResidential.com

Our specialty is dependable and long lasting residential work at

reasonable rates

Our specialty is dependable & long lasting residential work at reasonable rates

g


garfield Park updateAs a way of keeping the community informed of construction activi-ties and changes in pedestrian or traffic patterns, Bozzuto Con-tracting is sending out this update. Please see below for the Month of February 2011.

Beginning next week, installation of the new water main on Garfield Street will begin. During work hours, Garfield Street will be open to vehicular traffic, which will be routed around the work zone. At the end of each work day, Garfield Street will be open to normal traffic patterns. The duration of the work will be approximately three weeks.Within the next two weeks, minor modifications to 10th Street traffic patterns will be necessary for the installation of pipes under the roadway for electrical service to the project.

During work hours, 10th Street will be open to vehicular traffic, which will be routed around the work zone. At the end of each work day, 10th Street will be open to normal traffic patterns. The duration of this work will be approximately three weeks.

The pile driving operation was completed on Wednesday, Janu-ary 26, 2011, two weeks ahead of schedule. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Major construction activities for the month february: 1. Modifications to the perimeter fence for ongoing excavation.2. Excavation and hauling dirt off site.3. Garfield Street water main modification and sewer installation.4. Installation of pipe under 10th Street for future electrical power

lines to project.5. Installation of wood boards between steel piles to support

excavated areas. Again, pile driving has been completed.6. Installation of next power pole by Dominion Power on Garfield

Street.

Development Projects

rahms and Schubert with the IBIS Chamber

Music SocietyDon’t miss IBIS’ final Lyon Park concert of the year!

On Sunday, March 13 at 7:00 pm, IBIS continues its tradition of presenting informal and informative concerts with our second “Champagne & Strings” quartet concert. Many of our audience members tell us how much they appreciate our conversations about the music we are performing. This concert will begin with a glass of champagne (or non-alcoholic equivalent) while violinist Joe Scheer gives a brief “fireside chat” about two great works: the Brahms String Quartet in C minor, and the great Schubert

String Quintet in C Major.

Tickets for this concert are $20, and just $10 for our Lyon Park and Ashton Heights neighbors, as well as seniors and students. As al-ways, kids under 18 are free. Tickets will be available at the door but advance purchase is strongly recommended. Email susan@ibischamber-

music.org to reserve.

Can’t make the date? Catch our open dress rehearsal on Saturday March 12, from 2:30-5:30 at Clarendon’s IOTA Café. This working rehearsal will give you a chance to see great music making in progress.

“Champagne& Strings 2”

b

PoLiCe ALeRtThere has been a trend we have seen recently in Lyon Park. There have been several burglar-ies of vacant homes under renovation. In these cases, the suspects broke into the homes and stole several hundred dollars worth of tools.

Please call the police non emergency number 703-558-2222if you see any suspicious activity around these homes.

Thanks for your cooperation,—CaptainFrantzDesamourArlington County Police Department

Please join us for Jefferson PTA’s Annual Fundraising Dinner on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Lyon Park Community Center. This promises to be a wonderful evening with delicious food and drink. Beef tenderloin and fish will be featured on the menu and dinner will be served at your table by Jefferson students. Tickets are $75.00 per person. You may also donate one or more tickets so that Jefferson teachers and admin-istrators may attend.

This is Jefferson PTA’s biggest fund-raising event so please participate by attending or donating tickets! For more details, please see the attached notice.Thanks,

Jill Flack • Lyn Stewart • Elaine SimmonsCo-chairs for the Jefferson PTA Annual Fundraising Dinner

By susaN RoBiNsoN


uestion for $400: How did the tree reply

after its owner applied a lay-er of mulch over it roots?

“Mulchas Gracias!”

It’s the time of the year for trees to exit their dormant stage

and begin the robust growing season of spring. The appear-ance of small buds on branches signify that the trees’ circulatory

system is flowing again. The small feeder roots, growing in the top 6 inches of soil around the base of the tree are collecting nutrients to be transported to the tree’s branches to nourish the tree’s flow-ers and leaves. The process is aided by plenty of water and mineral nourishment. A four inch layer of mulch covering the tree’s roots promotes tree health and springtime growth as it:• Improves absorption of rainwater and reduces the evaporation

of soil moisture;• Improves soil structure. Decaying mulch transforms into topsoil

and adds nutrients;• Promotes the growth of feeder roots;• Protects against damage by lawn equipment;• Smothers weeds and grasses competing for nutrients;• Helps alleviate soil compaction around roots—a tree killer;• Keeps soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter;• Produces an attractive color and texture to complement the tree.

People often ask, “What type of mulch is best for my trees?” Both hardwood and leaf mulch decompose to enrich topsoil. Leaf mulch breaks down faster, thus accelerating the delivery of nutrients to the soil. Hardwood mulch is very attractive and decomposes more slowly, but can also harbor termites. For that reason, hardwood mulch should never come in contact with buildings.

A word of caution when spreading mulch around your trees: do not let the mulch touch a tree trunk or cover the flair at the base of the tree. The tree’s bark needs to exchange oxygen, which mulch would smother. Ideally, it is best to spread mulch over the entire circumfer-ence of a tree’s drip line. For larger trees, it may be impractical to spread such a large mulch area, but any mulch is better than none!

Over the years, Dale and I have used hardwood and leaf mulch for our trees, shrubs and garden. Several local groups raise funds selling and delivering bags of hardwood mulch. We buy mulch from W&L’s Crew Team and The Boy Scouts. Please support these great organi-zations. However, large quantities of hardwood or leaf mulch can be purchased from Arlington County, for a nominal delivery charge add-ed to your quarterly water and sewer bill. The purchase of leaf mulch benefits the County because its supply currently exceeds demand. Think of ordering leaf mulch to help your trees and County! To order mulch from Arlington County, call 703-228-6570, M-F, 8:00 a.m. – 5

p.m. or order on-line anytime at http://tinyurl.com/OrderMulch

Act now while your trees are greening, then listen for their “mulchas gracias!”

Your Orange Line Specialists M MMMM

Call today for a free market analysis onyour home’s value.

Tour our homes @ www.roncathellteam.com

Ron Cathell Realtor. MBA Keller Williams Realty Arlington Office

703-975-2500

By Bill aNHutLyon Park’s Tree Steward

QLong branch elementary update

January was a busy month at Long Branch, made all the more exciting by a few snow storms. The kids are doing great and still getting outside whenever the weather allows. Please remember to dress your kids appropriately so that recess can happen outside. The Long Branch Committee organized to develop proposals to memorialize our former physical education teacher, Rocky Belk, has completed its recommendations. The committee reviewed more than 50 surveys submitted by parents, students, teachers, alumni and community members and brought five short, medium, and long-term proposals to the PTA, who approved them. The committee proposed the following:

1. Stenciling one of Rocky’s famous quotes, “Never Let Fear Come Between You and Your Dreams”, on the soffit in the first floor main corridor leading from the front to the rear of the building. This is a very low cost (paint) proposal that can be implemented quickly. This is in response to suggestions that the gym be named for Rocky, a proposal that is not permitted by the school system.

2. Creating a student-led fundraising event each year, to be determined by the student government, to raise funds (of not more than $1,000) for the Rocky Belk “Thumbs Up” scholar-ship which is managed by the Gum Springs Youth Athletic As-sociation, for which Rocky Belk was commissioner . This year, we propose a “movie night” to be held at school.

3. Creating an end-of-year award to be given annually to a Long Branch student for his/her inspiration, motivation, and com-mitment to the community or school. The recipient will be selected by the Long Branch principal.

4. Installing a plaque on the “kiss and drop” wall, which will provide a touchstone for current and future students, at a place where students and parents saw Rocky every morning waiting to greet them upon arrival at school. The plaque will be installed and maintained by Arlington County, so the ongoing costs to the PTA are minimal. Final costs will depend upon the size, quality, and design of the plaque selected. Estimated costs are $400-$500.

5. Working with Arlington County to re-name the park behind the school in Rocky’s memory. This park is owned and managed by Arlington County. This process takes several years and will be spearheaded by former PTA President Maria DiGiulian and Wally Hays.

Don’t forget the Annual Auction on Saturday March 12 at NRECA in Ballston!

thomas Jefferson Middle School

Dear 5th graders,

Now that we are well into the school year, I realized that I have not interviewed any other sixth graders to see how their year is going. I wanted to know if there were particular subject that were really challenging or in what classes they were learning a lot since the school year started.

I started with a 6th grade member of the Student Council As-sociation (SCA). When I interviewed Kimberly Romero, a Dolphin classmate who came from Randolph, she said that she was doing very well and that she didn’t really improve on any subject because she is already a straight A student.

Next, I talked to Jay Robinson, a Dolphin who went to Long Branch. He said that school was going great for him and that he had im-proved in English over the course of the past few months. Joshua De Gosztonyi, a Turbo Tiger classmate from Arlington Traditional School, (also my elementary school) said that he was doing well and meeting new people. He said that he was improving in English especially because his teacher is making the class very interesting.

I also interviewed Tom Salotti, a Tiger from Long Branch. He said that he was doing well in all of his subjects and that he was having a great time at Jefferson. In my last interview with Kai Quander from Patrick Henry, who said that he was improving in his reading and social studies. Because he is always smiling I know he is having a good time at middle school.

Many of the kids I interviewed had some advice for the fifth graders to make sure that they are prepared for middle school. First, middle school started earlier, so get your backpack together the night before, you won’t have time in the morning. Make sure that you keep yourself organized because you have more classes in different locations. You will also need to have lots of pencils in your binder and backpack because you won’t have a desk where you can store supplies.

Well, that’s all for now.

—RoBeRt VelascoThomas Jefferson Middle School Student

TreeTop News School NewsMulchas gracias

By eRika HowdeR

Long branch elementary


Meet Your NeighborsBy elaiNe BRaVemaNChurch Congregant

Book ReviewNot becoming My Mother and other things She taught Me Along the WaybyRuthReichlThePenguinPress,NewYork,2009LoanerfromReadWhateverYouWantBookClub

found this snapshot fasci-nating. I’ve read several of

Ruth Reichl’s books; in Tender at the Bone, and Comfort Me with Apples she describes her early childhood and how she became a chef, then the food editor and restaurant critic at The New York Times, and later still the editor-in-chief of the now defunct Gourmet magazine. She knows her food. So I was interested in this 100-page installment of her life.

Not Becoming, however, is entirely different. The earlier books de-scribe a child and then a young woman’s despair over her mother’s total inability to cook, using it as shorthand for her mother’s in-ability to provide support and love for her small family. Many of the vignettes in Reichl’s books are comic sketches, truly funny, but at her mother’s expense. Reichl recalls a scene in which her mother (Mim) mixes a snack for Ruth’s Brownie troop of moldy chocolate pudding, jam, prunes, and pretzels. In Not Becoming Ruth strives to find the maturity and grace to understand her mother and the forces that shaped her.

After finding a box of her mother’s letters, notes, diary entries,

newspaper clippings, Ruth plunges into her mother’s life. She sees the status of women during the Depression, throughout and then after the Second World War. Without a professional outlet for intel-ligent, educated women, her mother was desperate to create a life for herself, despite being told by her father that “You’re no beauty, and it’s too bad that you’re such an intellectual…no man will ever marry you.” He said this although men like Bertrand Russell were smitten with Mim. Mim successfully opened a bookstore but, trying to follow her parent’s script, she finally married. That marriage failed but she had a more successful second marriage. Despite being happily married, once again assigned to domestic chores, Mim be-came manic-depressive, taking prescription drugs that did not help. Only after she started working at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center did she find personal happiness and stability, and only after her husband died did she engage the world as an adult.

Slowly Reichl realizes that her mother wanted a different future for her daughter than the one she herself had been forced to accept. Slowly Reichl accepts the gift that her mother has given her: the freedom to find herself, and to be whoever she wants to be. And she thanks her mother.

church, a meeting place, day care center, a place to vote, and so much more – Clarendon

United Methodist Church is a good neighbor to Ashton Heights and the broader Arlington community. This month we highlight a few of the nondenominational activities you may not know Clarendon UMC provides.

Clarendon UMC has been at its present location since 1941. Its first church was built in 1906, following 5 years of neighborhood Sunday School classes held in a private home. It has a long history of “firsts” and a tradition of opening its activities to everyone.

UMC is the Ashton Heights (Precinct 2) polling place for all Arlington County and national elections. This photo of the Social Hall from the most recent election in No-vember also shows the civic activism of several Ashton Heights resident poll workers.

Little Beginnings Child Development Center is now on the brink of enrolling the children of kids who first attended when it was founded in 1986. Clarendon UMC has been its home from the start. Little Beginnings is a nonprofit, full day, year-round program, currently with 60 children from 3 months to 5 years of age. Most families come from the neighborhood, with working parents who both volunteer and raise funds. Director Catherine Lethbridge notes that “parents here are incredibly involved”. Little Beginnings also collaborates with Arlington Public Schools, enrolling 8 children with special needs. During the public school year, APS special educa-tion teachers team teach with Little Beginnings’ 20 teachers. APS employees also come in to work with 3 and 4 year olds on subjects such as music and movement.

Boy Scout Troop 104 is the oldest troop in Arlington County, estab-lished in 1916. Since 1920, UMC has been the sole sponsor of the troop, and beginning in 1938, of Cub Scout Pack 104.

Ashton Heights Civic Association is not the only group that regularly meets in the Church space. The Arlington Kiwanis Board meeting takes place monthly. Welcome Wagon has its organizing meetings here, and Alcoholics Anonymous also holds a weekly meeting.

UMC partners with Doorways Homeless Shelter to provide a place for its residents to be able to get together with their families for a monthly dinner and meeting. Food is also an important part of Faith, Food and Fellowship – a twice a month lunch and program for local seniors. Arlington Food Assistance Corporation uses the Church weekly as a food distribution center.

A Messiah Sing-a-long has been presented at Christmas and Easter since 1971, the year Dr. J. Reilly Lewis became the organist

and choirmaster at UMC. This Messiah is believed to be the oldest continuous Messiah sing-a-long in the DC area. The rich musical tradition here extends to other community music performances, including the Arlington Children’s Chorus, and IBIS Chamber Music Society. Several other musical groups use the church to practice, including the Mandoleers, a mandolin and guitar orchestra founded in 1923.

I Northern Virginia! As your friendly, Lyon Park neighbor, and Arlington County resident for over 44 years, I take a special interest in Arlington properties. Buyers are always interested in moving into our neighborhood. If you are thinking of selling or buying real estate, call me, Deborah Bash, the REALTOR that DELIVERS!

Deborah Bash Direct: 703-405-6069 Office: 703-905-7236 Toll Free: 800-819-9971 [email protected] www.housesinva.com 1311A Dolley Madison Blvd McLean, VA 22101

i

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By peggy deaN


PLeASe PAy youR LPCA dueSPleasecompletethisformandmailitwithyourcheckto:LPCA Membership, 414 N. fillmore St, Arlington, VA 22201

qHousehold@$10 qRenewforTwo@$20 qLifetime@$200

NAME

ADDRESS

HOMEPHONE

E-MAILADDRESS

q Addme(us)tothecommunitylistserv

Community Volunteer interests: (Checkallthatapply)

q NeighborhoodConservation q CommunityCenterandParkq DevelopmentIssuesq SocialEvents(HolidayParty,Halloween)q SpringFairq HomesandGardensTourq TrafficIssues q Newsletterq TreesandConservation q All-purposevolunteer

SAVe tiMe ANd uSe AN AddReSS LAbeL heRe

the fAiR & gRANd PRix ARe Right ARouNd the CoRNeR

It’s On! Spring Fair, May 21 Thanks to Polly Hall, who moved to Lyon Park last summer, the Spring Fair will go on. Polly has volunteered to coordinate the dozens of volunteers who run the games, oversee the moon-bounce, find and sell plants, supply baked goods, and push those hot dogs!

Polly will need lots of help. The games alone require about 70 volunteers! Can you help?• If you want to work a two-hour shift at any game (Darts?

Duck pond? Pot luck assignment?), please chose 11 AM to 1 PM or 1 PM to 3 PM and let Polly know.

• Can you help with set up Friday evening or break down Sat-urday? We’d really appreciate it!

• Want to walk the ponies? Because this is so taxing, we need people in one hour shifts.

• Are you a veteran of the kitchen? Talk to Shirley Larson ([email protected]) directly.

Please contact Polly at [email protected].

grand Prix RaceMark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Lyon Park Grand Prix. Meet at the corner of N Garfield St and 2nd Rd N at 3:00 pm on May 21 (the day of the Lyon Park Fair). Adults and kids, bring your big wheels (tricked out big wheels and other vehicles are allowed - just remember wheels must be plastic - no tires).

Community FunR & M

CLEANING SERVICESRELIABLE • EXPERIENCED • GOOD REFERENCESFLEXIBLE SCHEDULING • REASONABLE RATES

WE BRING OUR OWN EQUIPMENT

Free-in-home EstimatesWeekly/Bi-weekly/Monthly or OccasionallyMove-in or Move-out Office

Call MARYEN or RAUL at

[703] 321-5335Make your donation today to the Renovation fund!

To make a contribution to the Lyon Park Community House Renovation

go to the following link:http://www.lyonpark.info/donations.html

No gift is too small!Thanks for contributing to this major

community-wide effortThe Lyon Park Citizens Association

CHRISTYGOODMAN/THEWASHINGOTNPOST


edgewood Street Parking update

The following letter summarizes what is happening with the Edge-wood Street parking issue as of February 21, 2011. LPCA Presi-dent Natalie Roy spoke at the February 12th County Board meet-ing on the issue. We will post updates to the listserv and website as they become available.

Parking

LYONPARKCITIZENSASSOCIATION

414NorthFillmoreStreet•A

rlington,VA22201•www.lyonpark.org

February21,2011

ArlingtonCountyBoard

Attn:ChairmanChrisZimmerman

2100ClarendonBoulevard

Arlington,VA22201

DearChairmanZimmerman:

OnbehalfoftheLyonParkCit

izensAssociation,Iamrequestinga

deferralofparkingrestriction

snowunderconsid-

erationbytheCountyforNo

rthEdgewoodStreet,betweenN.1stRo

adandN.2ndRoad,pendin

gareviewofcurrent

Countyparkingpolicy.

AsImentionedattheFebruary12

thBoardmeeting,Iamdisappointedthatwehavenotbe

enabletoarriveataman-

ageablesolution.Itispartic

ularlyfrustratingsinceupunt

ilthelonetrashcollectorco

mplaintinthisinstance,there

havebeennoissueswiththisstreetf

ordecadeswithrespecttotrashcollectio

n,emergencyservices,ortraffic/p

ark-

ingmanagement.

TwoEdgewoodStreetresidents,RonSa

lazarandAlLazure,measuredthetw

o-blockstretchtobetterfra

meand

articulatetheproblem.Theirestimatedconclusio

ns,accountingforcurrenton

-streetparkingcapacity,and

takinginto

accountaproposalprepare

dbyresidentsinJanuaryan

dacounter-proposalsugges

tedbytheCountyonFebru

ary

15th,reveal:

• UsablefeetforparkingonE

dgewoodnowisapprox.900’

• At20ft/parkingspace,thec

urrenton-streetcapacity=

approx45parkingspots

• AccountingfortheCounty’s

mandatetorestrictparkingto

onesideofthestreet,thep

roposalsubmittedbyresi-

dentswouldresultin35on-streetpa

rkingspots(22%reductioninp

arking).Allresidentswouldstillbeab

letoparkin

frontoforacrossthestreet

fromtheirhomes.

• TheCounty’samendedpropos

alwouldlikelyresultin25space

savailable(44%reductioninp

arking).TheCounty

alternativeresultsininadequ

ateparkingspacesforreside

ntstoparkinreasonablepr

oximitytotheirhomes,oreven

ontheirstreet.

Notwithstandingthelossofparki

ng,theresidentsofEdgewoodStreetare

moreconcernedbythearbitra

rynature

(LETTER CON’T ON PAGE 15)

ofhowthiscomplaintfromthetrashcollectorblossomedintothecurrentsituation.Inthisparticularcase,theresidentswereamenabletoaself-imposedsolutiontolimitparkingtoonesideofthestreetontrashcollectiondays–theCountyinsteadchosetoengagethefiremarshalonthisissueandre-characterizethenatureoftheproblemasasafetyissue.Additionally,theCounty’scurrentlysuggestedsolutionimposesanumberoftraffic-coderequirementsneverbeforeimplementedonthissectionofEdge-woodStreet,furtherrestrictingparkingonastreetwheremanyresidentshavenootherrecoursebuttostreetpark(manyhouseshavenodriveways).

Tobeclear,theLPCAisconcernedaboutsafetyfirst.Emergencyservicesneedtogettowheretheyneedtogo.However,inthecaseofEdgewood,weareperplexedthatfordecadestherewasnoproblemandthenonlyafteratrashcollectorcomplained,didtheCountyrequestthefiredepartmenttoinvestigate.

Wealsowanttoemphasizethatthisisanissuethathasramifi-cationsfortheentireCounty.Ourpositionisthatitisbadpolicytoimpose2006streetwidthrequirementsonstreetsbuiltlongbefore2006,onanapparentlyrandom,piecemealbasis.Ascodi-fiednow,onlyacomplaintbyamemberofthepublictriggersCountyaction–thisisanentirelyfaultyandinadequatebasisuponwhichtobaseaCounty-wideapproachtoimplementingparkingrestrictionsandaffectingtrafficcodes.Ourpolicyap-proachshouldinsteadbetouniformlyapplyandadheretoasetofunambiguousandrigorousrulesequitablyacrosstheCounty–versusanarbitrary,ill-definedmethodologysubjecttoquestioninitsapplication.

Tothatend,therearenumerousstreetssimilartoEdgewoodinArlingtonthataretoonarrowforaladdertruck–whysingleoutEdgewoodStreetatthistime?TheCountyisalsosendingmixedmessagesbyencouragingresidentstoparkonbothsidesofstreetstoencouragetrafficcalming.Inmanycases,parkingonbothsidesturnsmanystreetsintoyieldonly,whichmeansaladdertruckwouldhavedifficultymaneuvering.Edgewoodisinfactoneofthosestreets.Theparkingpolicyshouldbereviewedimmediatelytoarriveatamoreobjective,cohesive,defendable,anddemocraticapproachtogoverningparkingwithintheCounty.

AlternativeexamplestowhatisproposedonEdgewoodStreetabound.Asopposedtore-engineeringstreetsthroughouttheen-tireCounty,itmightprovemorecost-effectiveandlessdisruptivetoexploreacquisitionofdifferentemergencyvehicles,asothermajormunicipalitieshavedoneacrosstheNation.Anotheroption

mightbetoexplorealternativeparkingsolutions.NorthMonroeStreet,justtothenorthofScienceFocusSchoolisanexample:astreetasnarrowasEdgewoodinmanyplaces,itprimarilyhassignswhichrestrictparkingduringparticularhoursandsomezonedparkingpermitsigns.Itisdoubtfulladdertruckscouldgetdownthatstreeteither,however,theresidentstherestillhaveon-streetparkingonbothsidesofthestreet.Anotheralternativewouldbethepossibilityofplacinga“nocommercialvehicles”signatthetopofN.Fillmoreand2ndStreet-anideathatmightobviatetheneedtorestrictparkinginfrontof201and135Edge-wood,asreflectedintheCounty’scurrentdraftparkingsolution.Clearly,manyoptionsotherthaneliminatingparkingshouldbeconsideredinthisinstance.

WebelieveCountygovernment,workingwithinputfromthecommunity,canachieveabettersolution.Whatweneedisanenduringsolution,transcendingthisissueonEdgewoodStreet,whichmakessenseforthefuture.Weneedabetterpolicyforthewayahead.

WeappreciatetheCountycontinuingconversationswithourneighborhoodonthisissue.Thankyouforconsideringourthoughtsinthismatter.

Sincerely,Natalie RoyPresident

cc.ArlingtonCountyBoardMembersArlingtonCountyManagerBarbaraDonnellanArlingtonTransportationOperationsBureauChiefWayneWentzArlingtonTransportationOperationsManagerPatriciaBush

(CON’T FROM PAGE 14)


bayou bakeryIf you are looking for fun, ambiance and a decided change-of-pace from anything else in the metro area, Bayou Bakery in the Court-house area this might just be the place for you. When you enter the restaurant, located at 1515 Courthouse Road (the old Camille’s site) you quickly realize that this is not Kansas. The ambiance, Loui-siana road house meets Crackerbarrel, is nothing but fun. A mixture of zydeco, cajun, crooner, etc., plays rather quietly so that you can always talk and be heard over the background burble. There are enough peeling paint shutters, old mason jars as lighting fixtures, alligator surprises and just plain fun surprises throughout that the food could easily become secondary. And sometimes, it does.

My attention was immediately grabbed by beignets, 3 in an order, warm puffy pillows of love, dusted heavily with powdered sugar. Yup, the white sugar is going to fall all down your front but you won’t care! This is a self-service restaurant where you order at the counter and bus your own tables. Its sort a like when a crazy uncle opens a restaurant. You know he’s going to cut corners, but it is worth it! Breakfast is mostly biscuit-centered with bacon or turkey sausage or egg or any combination. Chickory-laced coffee is sup-plied by Counter Culture. Paying homage to his New Orleans roots, Chef David Guas, past pastry chef for DC Coast, sources lots of his food from local suppliers, organic in many instances. The butternut squash soup was top-notch. It celebrated the sweet, clean taste of the squash without the usual heavy spices so many put in to jazz it up. Now to the gumbo: Tom Sietsema of The Post, called it “flat, faint of heat!” I would add that it appeared and tasted the first time as if it were a dishwater reduction with rice and sausage. Little taste, little heat, little to recommend it for a second time.

Sandwiches here are universally fun, festive and filling. The Arm Drip, a roast beef and gravy with Swiss cheese, sauteed onions and mayo lives up to its name and you’d better roll up your sleeves. The Muff-a-lotta is a variation on the quintessential New Orleans sandwich, the muffaletta. The Bayou sandwich is smaller, with fewer meats and perhaps less of the olive spread than Central Grocery would make. While it iss smaller than the Central’s 10” sandwich, it is a giant sandwich. The Catahoula sandwich, named for the state dog,is a jazzed-up sausage, somewhat like a hot dog, but larger, denser and much more spicy. Covered with creole mustard and sweet onion marmalade, the hot dog lover will swoon. Forget the pi-mento sandwich if you have ever had one south of the Mason-Dixon line. Evening specials are offered from 5 til closing time. Must-trys are the deviled eggs and PorKorn, bacon flavored caramel pop-corn with a touch of heat. The desserts are decadent with pralines,

brownies, puddings and cupcakes offered by Guas, a long-time pastry chef. In summary, there are many reasons to go there, and we haven’t even discussed the creative bathrooms--ya gotta go, even if you don’t have to “go.” http://www.bayoubakeryva.com

On Sunday, March 20th, from 2-4 PM, there will be a cooking class at the Lyon Park Community Center, sponsored by the Lyon Park Woman’s club. The class will be a fundraiser for the community center renovation. A donation is requested. The class will focus on knife skills and maintenance. The “old pros” from the Lyon Park Woman’s Club will demonstrate how to safely gain competence with various kitchen knives. There will be demonstrations in skill and use with small and large knives and cleavers as well as sharpening and maintaining knife edges. There will be a free drawing for a chef’s knife during the class. Gary Putnam will instruct and also offer to sharpen your favorite kitchen knife- only one per student, please, and no serrated knives! Please RSVP Gary so enough print-outs will be available.

Email [email protected] or 703.527.2266.

Review

LPCA Member List Addendum: Dues payments received since January listed below. The original list was published in December and an additional member list was included in last month’s newsletter:Bowie, RosemarieGantz, Julie & Watson, Chris Kant, Peter & ZoeCook, William & Escobar, KimberlyHenderson, Clay & LindaHughes, Emily & Ilich, MarkDood, J & GailDrinkwater, John & CatherineDurishin, Charles & JoanneYauger, David & Dina

lenten prayer study: Prayer the Pathway to the heart of god

march 15, 22, and 29th - 7-9 pm

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Lyon Park

CommunityCenter EventsLyon Park Citizens Association Monthly Meeting:March7:30pm(Socialstarts7:15PM)AllLyonParkresidentsencour-agedtoattend!

ibiS:Sunday,March13.Doorsopenat7PM.

Jefferson PtA’s Annual fundraising dinner:Friday,March18,2011at7:00pm

Chili dinner:SaturdayMarch19,5:30–7:30PM.Come,enjoy,andvoteforthebestchili!

home brew demonstration:Saturday,March26.RenovationFundraiserevent.Staytunedonlistservformoreinformation.

Women’s Club (Not just for Women):Tuesday,March23,12noon.Potluckluncheon,bringadishtoshare.

fitness Pursuits:TuesdaysandThursdays,4:30–5:30PM.CatherineFergusen,(703)522-0301.

duplicate bridge:EveryFriday,9:00AM–1:30PM.

CAboMA(Capital Area Bluegrass Old-time Music Association):2ndand4thSundaysofeverymonth,2:00–6:00PM.

St. hildegaard’s old Catholic Church:Sundaysat10AM.Fr.Stan.(703)528-1825,www.sthildegards.org.

1920 Lyon Park Sales brochure:Reproductioncopy.,24pp.GaryorKitPutnam,(703)527-2266.$7eachor5/@25.Allpro-ceedsbenefittheLyonParkCommunityCenter

LPCAAdvertisingratescolumnLyonParkRentalrates(pleasemakeLPCAadvertisingratesontopandputtherentalratesonbottom.TheoppositeofwhatisintheFebissue)

Lyon Park Community Center ReNtAL RAteS

WeekdAyS

LPCAMembers* GeneralPublic

Monday – friday 8AM–5PM $25/hour $25/hour

Monday – thursday 6PM–10PM $80 $100

WeekeNdS, hoLidAyS & fRidAy eVeNiNgS


half day including friday evenings8AM–2:30PMor3:30PM–10PM $250 $400

full day8AM–10PM $400 $550

SPeCiAL ChiLdReNS’ biRthdAy RAte

Youmayrentthecommunityhouseforbirthdaypartiesforkidsage10andunderfora3hourperiod,includingset-upandcleanup.Twotimeslotsareavailable:9AMto12noon,or12noonto3PM.Ifyourpartylastslongerthan3hours,youmustrentundertheregularhalf-dayrate.


$125 $175

*LyonParkCitizensAssociationratesapplyonlytoLyonParkresidentswhosemembershipiscurrent.LPCAmemberscannotsponsornon-memberrenters.www.lyonpark.infoorvoicemail:(703)527-9520

LPCA AdVeRtiSiNg RAteS Ifyouareinterestedinadvertising,[email protected]

Ad size Measures… Cost

BusinessCard 3.5”Wby2.3”H $59/month

QuarterPage 3.5”Wby4.5”H $89/month

HalfPage 7.5”Wby4.5”H $149/month

FullPage 7.5”Wby9.5”H $249/month

FullPageFreeStandingInsert 8.5”Wby11”H $385Wearealsonowofferingfullpagecoloradsatacostof$320.Weoffera5%discountifyoucommittothreeormoremonthsinarowandanother5%ifyouareaLyonParkresident.

Featured & on the Cover:Cottage Living Magazine

December 2006

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To schedule a Free consultation visit us at

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march-in like a lion, out like a lamb...rich robinson (703) 527-2724 [email protected] membership...

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