May - Lake Barcroft

May 2005
Lake Barcroft
dam tour and
open house
By Lisa Levine
Newcomers’ Club
Did you know the Lake Barcroft dam
is nearly 60 feet thick at its base (that’s
about as thick as it is high) and is nearing its 100th birthday? Have you ever
been curious about how our dam operates? Would you or your children like to
see the inner workings up close? Then
join the Newcomers’ Club on Saturday
June 18 anytime between 11 a.m. and 2
p.m. for a grand tour of the Lake Barcroft dam. The WID staff will be conducting an “open house” while answering your questions and sharing lots of
interesting details. Refreshments will be
served and you can tour at your own
pace, but plan on spending an hour or so
to see all that is offered. Rain date will
be on Sunday, June 19. Please RSVP by
calling 703-333-3003 or e-mail
[email protected].
Attention 2005
Graduates!
(or their parents
or grandparents)
In the June newsletter, we will honor
those members of the Lake Barcroft community who will graduate from high school
or any institution of higher learning in 2005.
To do this we need the help of graduates, or
their parents.
Please e-mail the following to
[email protected] or call Ellen Feldstein at
703-941-1723 by May 20: graduate’s name,
diploma or degree earned, name of school
awarding diploma or degree, scholastic honors (optional) and plans for the coming year
(i.e. school, graduate program, type of job,
etc.). Thank you.
Photo by Alice Lima-Whitney
Alice Lowenthal of Crosswoods Circle and Martha Bracken of Lakeview Drive greet Home & Art
Tour patrons at the home of Rick Malone and Jaime Bowerman. More photos of the April 30 Lake
Barcroft Woman’s Club Home & Art Tour on Page 13.
LBA President’s Report
Neighborhood Watch, citizen vigilance
are the best crime deterrents
By David Goslin
Despite the recent flurry of messages
on LakeLink expressing concern about
security in our community, Lake Barcroft
may be among the safest communities in
Northern Virginia.
A search of Mason District police
records of crimes in our area turned up
only three official reports of incidents in
Lake Barcroft in the last 16 months:
Tools taken from a parked vehicle
in January of 2004,
Stolen trash can in January of this
year, and
Tools taken from a construction site
in March.
No community can expect immunity
from all crime over an extended period
of time, and Lake Barcroft is no exception. The last several years have seen,
for example, two break-ins at the WID
compound and at least one motor vehicle
theft. And no doubt some incidents were
not reported to the police.
. . . more on Page 15
Beaches
open
May 21
Don't forget
your beach tags
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
2
Milestones
Published by
LAKE BARCROFT ASSOCIATION, INC.
Our Milestones column is looking for news of our neighbors— honors and awards,
graduations, honor rolls, retirements, births and deaths. If you have information for Milestones,
please call 703-941-0112 or email [email protected].
Carol Donlan, Editor
6516 Jay Miller Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Telephone: 703-941-0112
Email: [email protected]
Photography
Tom Donlan, Photo Editor
Sam Corl, Photographer
Joel Gregorio, Photographer
Alice Lima-Whitney, Photographer
George McLennan, Photographer
Production/Layout
Debra M. Lee and Don Christian
Reporters
Allan Cromley, General Assignment
Mary Ann Francis, WID
Kevin Howe, Nature
Gloria Pearlstein, General Assignment
Sandy Tugwell, Poet Laureate
Betsy Washington, Horticulture
Publications Committee
Frank Aukofer, Chairman
Peg Corl
Regina Derzon
Chris Lawson
George McLennan
Sue Nixson
Therese St. Hilaire
Chuck Turner
The Lake Barcroft Newsletter is published
monthly by the Lake Barcroft Association.
Please submit articles to [email protected] or
Barcroft News, c/o 6516 Jay Miller Dr.,
Falls Church, VA 22041.
Deadline for June newsletter is May 20.
Advertising Rates
back cover $300/mo.
1/2 page $150/mo.
1/3 page $125/mo.
1/4 page $100/mo.
business card $75/mo.
business card service ad $350/yr.
Advertising Sales
Chris and Vince Lawson
Telephone: 703-941-2547
Fax: 703-941-1535
Email: [email protected]
Photo by Mark Kline
Ellen Feldstein, Associate Editor
6361 Dockser Terrace
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Telephone: 703-941-1723
Email: [email protected]
Nancy Moy of Jay Miller Drive writes: More than 120 participants, including many Barcrofters, ran in
the 8th annual Raider Run 5K on April 23. The winner, James Bales of Alexandria, posted a time of
16:00 followed by Stuart cross country runners David Schlaseman, Mubashar Haidat, Ethan Rissell, William Santos, Andy Moy, Ben Tycz and Tom Rudwick. Stuart Assistant Principal Shawn
DeRose and Principal Mel Riddile as well as Congressman Tom Davis also completed the beautiful course around Lake Barcroft. Many thanks to Metro Run and Walk, the DC Road Runners, Tom
Davis, and the Pica Deli for supporting the Raider Run, which raised much-needed funds for the
Stuart High School Athletic Department.
Trish Gomersall of Farm Hill Drive
writes: On behalf of all LBers who travel
over the Stuart Finley Bridge, I would like
to thank the persons or persons who cleaned
the graffiti from sign. It looks great!! Thank
you for your time and effort. Let’s hope you
don’t ever have to do it again. (Note: It was
the WID’s Ken Kopka.)
William and Suzanne Kling, who
had lived in the Lake for more than 40
years, died within one day of each other
in early March. Suzanne, 86, was a psychiatrist, trained in part at the British
Institute of Psychoanalysis where she
studied with Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud. Her career path included a
number of overseas positions, a psychiatric practice in downtown Washington
and teaching at Georgetown University
medical school. William, 89, joined the
State Department in 1945 and served at
consulates and embassies in New
Zealand, London and Belgrade before
returning to Washington in 1960, when he
began a series of high-level positions
involving economic research. Following
his retirement, he held a number of private sector positions. Survivors include
Robert, of Orlando; Michael, of Lincoln,
Neb.; Virginia, of Bethesda; and five
grandchildren.
John D. Stokely Sr. of Barger Drive,
died on April 5 at the age of 83. He started a pipeline contracting business that
became the J. D. Stokely Contracting Co.,
where he worked until retiring in 1995.
John showed Tennessee walking horses
and raced thoroughbreds at Laurel Park,
Charles Town and Pimlico. He was a past
president of the American Tennessee
Walking Horse Assoc., a director of First
and Merchants Bank and a member of the
Northern Virginia Building Industry Association. Survivors include Anne, his wife
of 58 years; five children; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Rabbi Morris Gordon, 90, died at his
home on Waterway Drive on March 26.
As a chaplain in the Air Force in World
War II, he served in the Flying Tigers unit
where, as the only clergyman for a time,
he counseled Protestants, Catholics and
Jews in the Burma jungle. After the war
he became the spiritual leader of a congregation in Minneapolis, during which
time he helped create the United Synagogue Youth program that has helped
connect thousands of Jewish teenagers
with their spiritual roots. Returning to this
area, he oversaw the founding of eight
Conservative Jewish congregations and
helped nurture at least six others in the
. . . more on Page 4
May 2005
|
3
Neighbors
A series of profiles on some of the extraordinary people at the Lake and those who have
made Lake Barcroft an extraordinary place to live. If you know someone who should be
profiled, please contact Carol Donlan.
2005-2006 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
George and Duffy Ftikas
David Goslin, President.............................703-256-1254
George McLennan, Vice President ............703-354-6351
Lark Lovering, Secretary...........................703-354-4948
Karen Wehner, Treasurer...........................703-845-8717
Frank Aukofer, Director ............................703-820-4232
Carolyn Coldren, Director.........................703-671-4029
Diane Davidson, Director..........................703-575-8187
Stuart Feldstein, Director ..........................703-941-1723
Kevin Howe, Director ...............................703-941-6325
Gerald Mendenhall, Director.....................703-578-3746
Mike Stahl, Director ..................................703-658-1380
Shirley Timashev, Director........................703-820-1105
Pete Walker, Director ................................703-354-9693
LBA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Photo by Tom Donlan
George Ftikas, right, Duffy Ftikas, rear, and their unnamed froggy friend in the Ftikas'
Lakefront backyard.
Architectural Review
Kevin Howe..........................................703-941-6325
Community Watch/Security
Peter Walker .........................................703-354-9693
Environmental Quality
Diane Davidson ....................................703-575-8187
Finance & Audit
Karen Wehner .......................................703-845-8717
Improvements
Gerald Mendenhall ...............................703-578-3746
Charles de Seve (WID).........................703-998-6050
Legal
Stuart Feldstein.....................................703-941-1723
Membership
Carolyn Coldren ..................................703-671-4029
Publications
Frank Aukofer.......................................703-820-4232
Special Events
Shirley Timashev ..................................703-820-1105
Water Safety & Beach Maintenance
Mike Stahl ............................................703-658-1380
LBA Management Office..................703-941-1927
Chris Lawson (Monday–Friday)
6425 Lakeview Dr., Falls Church, VA 22041
www.lakebarcroft.org
Watershed Improvement District.......703-820-1300
HOME STORY: George and Duffy Ftikas moved into their home on Waterway Drive 16 years ago. George, who was born in
Greece, explains, “We were living in New Jersey and wanted to retire to a metropolitan area because we love theater and concerts.
We liked Washington and have a friend, Madelyn Jennings, who lives on Duff Drive. We stayed with her while we were looking
and said we didn’t have to look any further. We first saw our house at the end of a day when it was open, and the Realtor said 160
people had already seen it. We fell in love with the place. We’re still in the same house, although we’ve changed it so much inside
we shouldn’t call it the same house.”
CAREERS: For 35 years, Duffy was an occupational therapist who worked with disabled children. George retired as vice president of development for a firm involved in chemicals, oil, and gas. “I retired early because I have macular degeneration. I can drive
and do other things, but this condition affects detail and I can’t read very well.”
AT HOME: Duffy says, “We both enjoy gardening. George is involved in the decision-making and I do a lot of the actual digging
and planting.” George points out that among the multitude of azaleas and other shade plants in the garden is a rose garden and a
spot for tomatoes. “Those are the only places where we get 5 hours a day of sun.” Duffy adds, “We also love to cook — Greek food
and all kinds of food. It’s a joy and something we like to share with others.”
IN COMMUNITY: Duffy was vice president of the Woman’s Club for two years. She now volunteers at Foundry Methodist
Church in Washington, where she prepares food for the homeless and the Whitman-Walker clinic.
WORLD TRAVELING: “We love cruising,” says Duffy. “You unpack your bags once and that’s it. Our most recent trip was a
cruise from Sydney to Hong Kong by way of the South Pacific, where we saw many of the islands involved in World War II.”
WHAT MAKES LAKE BARCROFT SPECIAL: George says, “The Lake is a unifying feature, but there is also a magnetic quality that keeps people here.” Duffy adds, “We feel as if we have the city in our front yard and the country in our backyard. It’s only
20 minutes to our seats at the Kennedy Center.”
Editor’s Note: Our December 2004 issue included an article about the Ftikas’ beautiful garden.
— Gloria Pearlstein, Barcroft News Staff
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
4
Milestones: Don Swenholt
From Page 2
Maryland and Virginia suburbs. In the
1980s, he and his wife Dr. Lori Heyman
Gordon established the PAIRS Foundation to teach relationship skills to couples
and children of all backgrounds, cultures
and religions. In addition to his wife, he is
survived by two children, three grandchildren, a great-grandchild, four step-children and nine step-grandchildren.
Chica Brunsvold of Wentworth Drive
writes: Friends and neighbors will be saddened to learn of the death of Don Swenholt, longtime resident of Barger Drive
and then Crosswoods Circle,Tuesday,
April 26. He moved with his family to
Lake Barcroft in 1964. In 1986, his
daughter Susan and her husband Dennis
bought the Barger Drive house and Don,
Frankie, and daughter Jamie moved onto
Crosswoods Circle and they all enjoyed
being members of Newcomers again.
They had always dreamed of living on the
water, and Jamie loves to swim, so they
wanted a place where they could put in a
pool for her. Don’s favorite Lake activity
was birdwatching. He also loved woodworking. He and Frankie were long-time
members of two Lake Barcroft supper
clubs.
Don was a retired Air Force colonel.
He flew 290 combat missions during his
two tours-of-duty in southeast Asia,
which led to several awards for heroism
and meritorious duty including the Silver
Star, three Legions of Merit, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Funeral Service will be at 9 a.m., Monday, June 13,
at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel. In lieu
of flowers the family requests contributions be made to either St. Coletta of
Greater Washington, 207 S. Peyton St.,
Alexandria, VA 22314 or Camp Virginia
Jaycee 2494 Camp Jaycee Rd, Blue
Ridge, VA 24064.
April —
warmer,
wetter, and windier
From our weather watcher, Lowell L.
Koontz on Oakwood Drive. For more
information go to Lowell’s Web site at
http://www.annandaleweather.com.
April was warmer, wetter and windier
than average. The mean monthly temperature was 56 degrees, the highest in three
years. Temperatures never went below
freezing for the first time in six years.
April came in with a big rainfall and
plenty of wind. Nearly two inches of rain
fell on April 1 and 2. Overall, April’s total
rainfall of about 4.5 inches was an inch
above average.
Winds gusted to 40 mph on the morning of April 3 — the sixth strongest April
gust in the last 25 years.
Keep those pictures comin’, folks
By Joel Gregorio
Barcroft News Staff
These nature photos by Joe Franko of Beachway Drive were submitted to
our Lake Barcroft Photo Contest. Send your entries by Friday, Aug. 26 to
[email protected]. How about some garden photos, or a Mother’s
Day barbecue or beach scene? Please include photographer’s name, address
and entry group. Please attach only one photo to your email message,
although individuals may submit up to five (5) entries per month in separate
emails. Entry Groups: Family, Nature and Water Scenes. Categories: PreTeens, Teens and Adults.
Photos by Joe Franko
May 2005
|
5
First families of our Lake Barcroft community
Photos by Al Cromley
By Al Cromley
Barcroft News Staff
Editor’s Note — In the April issue we
speculated that Eugene J. Davidson, who
moved to Waterway Drive in 1955, might
be Barcroft’s longest term resident. We
quickly found out otherwise. Here are stories of Barcroft First Families. If there are
others, we’d love to tell their stories, too.
Jerome
and Isabella
Karle, 6304
Lakeview Dr.,
are not your
average Barcroft retirees.
They work at
Isabella and Jerome Karle
the Naval
Research Lab across the Potomac in
Maryland, where she is in chemistry and
he is in physics and chemistry.
She’s 84 and he’ll be 87 in June.
They’ve been at the lab, which he says
“is the perfect place to work in science,”
for 46 years. She is chief scientist of the
lab’s X-ray diffraction section, and he is
chief scientist of the structure of matter lab.
It’s such a “perfect place” that Jerome
shared the 1985 Nobel prize in chemistry,
and in the mid-nineties won the National
Medal of Science, presented by President
Clinton and Vice-President Gore in an
oval office ceremony, which he classes as
a greater honor.
As to the Nobel Prize, he patiently
explains it, but his interviewer resorted to
Google: Karle won for “development of
greatly improved methods for analyzing
three-dimensional molecular structures.”
In their endeavors they are not exactly
a team, he says, but they are “not so separate that one doesn’t know what the other
is doing.”
He explains that she is in an “applied”
area, “looking at molecules of biological
origin,” and he works from a more “theoretical point of view.”
Adding to their luster were the two
years, 1943 and ’44, they spent on the Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic
bombs that leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
He is critical of officials who look over
shoulders of scientists.
“They should leave them alone,” he
says with soft deliberation. “They act as if
you should plan what you are going to
discover next month.”
They are world travelers, making
speeches and lecturing , quickly ticking
off Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, Norway,
Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South
Africa, and most European countries
before they ran out of breath. Isabella was
at Los Alamos, N.M., a month ago.
Both graduates of the University of
Michigan, the Karles moved into Barcroft
in February 1952, the first house in area I
(near Beach 1). “We came across a man
selling lots.” Karle paid $8,000, “and I
borrowed from my father-in-law.”
They have three children. The three
trained as a theoretical chemist, an organic chemist and a museum specialist. All
are in different occupations now.
***
Hildegarde Allebaugh has lived at
6386 Lakeview Drive
since February, 1952.
She and her late husband, Robert O. Allebaugh, were the first
residents of Section
II. Their daughter is Hildegarde Allebaugh
director of innovative education at Rockhill College in California.
When they arrived Barcroft was a
“wilderness,” Hildegarde recalls. “We
were two months without a telephone,”
and the mortgage companies “did not see
much of a future in Lake Barcroft — all
except Acacia.”
Hildegarde enjoys pursuits of people
half her age — golf, motoring on her
party barge — and she’s in two bridge
clubs.
Her yard slopes gently to the Lake,
where there is a fence that fights a losing
battle with geese.
Matthew
and Sylvia
Cazan, 6369
Lakeview Dr.,
moved into their
new house July
1, 1952. He is
93 and she is 89.
Matthew and Sylvia Cazen “We had to go
to Columbia Pike for mail, cutting
through the woods,” recalls Sylvia.
They lived in a “gated” community.
Yes, there was a guard at Columbia Pike.
One night some kids were trashing Beach
1, the guard fired random shots, severely
injured one of the noisemakers, and Barcroft negotiated a lawsuit.
Teen-age pranks and revelry is nothing
new in Barcroft. On one night in the early
days a girl, naked and dripping wet, her
clothes in the custody of some boys,
showed up at their door. They gave her
shelter and called her mother.
The Cazans had already had an interesting life. The president of Rumania met
Sylvia on a visit to Washington and invited her to Bucharest, where she met
Matthew, then at the University of
Bucharest. They will celebrate their 70th
wedding anniversary July 14.
Matthew spent 42 years at the Justice
Department, where he was a language
specialist, with Sylvia at his side.
They have a son who was three
months old when they arrived in Barcroft.
Today he is an Air Force flight surgeon
and principal surgeon on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.
***
JeanVos,
6390 Lakeview
Dr., moved to
the Lake in September, 1952.
She has records
of the first
meeting of the
Cal and Jean Vos
Lake Barcroft
Association that month. Cows would
. . . more on Page 15
6
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
May 2005
|
7
Feedback wanted on proposed new procedure
for collecting unpaid service fees in Lake Barcroft
By Dave Goslin
LBA President
At its regular meeting on April 14, the LBA Board voted to
give preliminary approval to a proposed new procedure for collecting unpaid service fees from members of the Association.
The Annual Service Fee supports services provided by the Lake
Barcroft Association. These include the costs of liability insurance coverage on the Lake and common areas, security patrols
by off-duty police during the summer months, provision of lifeguards on community beaches in season, maintenance and
improvement of common areas, and a variety of social events,
including the 4th of July fireworks and the Labor Day Games.
Bills for the Annual Service Fee are sent to all property owners in January and a reminder notice is sent in May to those who
have not paid by March 31. In each of the last several years, the
President of the Association has written letters to the small number of remaining non-payers in December. As of Jan. 15 of this
year, 22 property owners had not paid the fee for 2004.
In accordance with its procedures that require a 60-day comment period before final adoption of any new community rules,
the Board gave preliminary approval to the following proposed
new policy.
Annual Service Fees are due and payable on Jan. 1 for each
upcoming year and a late fee will be assessed for fees not paid by
March 31.
On Jan. 1 of each year, the Lake Manager will compile a list
of all properties for which the Annual Service Fees remain
unpaid for the prior year. The names and addresses of the owners of these properties will be sent to the Association’s legal
counsel with a request that a registered letter be sent to each
property owner of record notifying the owner that the Annual
Service Fee has not been paid for the prior year and informing
the owner that legal action will be initiated if the fee, including
late fee, is not paid by May 15. If the delinquent fees have not
been paid by May 15, the LBA Board of Directors shall authorize the Association’s counsel to initiate legal action to compel
payment of the unpaid fees.
All members of the Association are invited to send written
comments on the proposed new policy to the Board, via Lake
Manager Chris Lawson, P.O. Box 1085, Falls Church, VA 22041,
or by e-mail to [email protected]. The Board will review all
comments received and give final consideration to the proposed
new policy at its meeting on July 13.
Photo by Tom Donlan
Flowering cherry trees at the Aqua Terrace entrance to Lake Barcroft.
Show your community
spirit by wearing the
Lake Barcroft logo
By Frank Aukofer
Barcroft News Staff
The Lake Barcroft logo is
available on just about any
product from Lands End.
Check the business or regular
catalog (www.landsend.com)
to find your item. Order by
calling 1-800-663-2193. Then
ask for logo number
0347062K. For six or more
similar items, the extra charge
is $5.50 per piece. It’s about
$11 for a single item.
The Lake Barcroft logo was
designed by Sue Nixson.
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
8
Lake Barcroft
Calendar
Compiled by Ellen Feldstein,
[email protected]
May 11
May 14
May 17
May 18
May 21
June 1
June 5
June 8
June 11
7:30 p.m. LBA Board Meeting
6425 Lakeview Dr.
11 a.m. Sand Day
Beach 4
7:30 p.m. Evening Book Club
Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Nighttime
11:30 a.m. Woman's Club Installation Luncheon
Army-Navy Country Club
Beaches Open!
7:30 p.m. WID Meeting
5 p.m. Barcrofters Barge Party
6306 Lakeview Dr.
7:30 p.m. LBA Board Meeting
6425 Lakeview Dr.
2-4 p.m. Ice Cream Social
Beach 5
May 2005
|
9
Start off summer with Sand Day on May 14
By Shirley Timashev
LBA Special Events Coordinator
The 5th Annual Sand Day will begin at 11a.m. on May 14 at
Beach 4. Sand Day activities are planned by young people, for
young people — kids of all ages, including those who are simply
young at heart. Hungry souls will be offered a selection of picnic
foods for sale by the Newcomers’ Club.
We take advantage of the delivery of a huge mound of sand
dumped on Beach 4 in preparation for the summer. Before the
sand is spread over the beaches, we can all pile on and show our
creativity in making sand castles. There will be games as well,
and prizes for the winners in four age groups.
“I guarantee that little kids will find hidden treasures in the
sand — because I’m going to bury the treasure myself,” says
Cricket Clayton, age 13, the founder and continuing organizer of
Sand Day. “There will also be sack races by age groups, and lots
of prizes for sand castles.”
The Newcomers’ Club, with volunteers coordinated by Lisa
Levine, will have picnic fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, chips, sodas, bottled water, juice boxes and cookies.
Rain date is May 15. For more information or to volunteer,
call Cricket Clayton at 703-333-3057. She would especially like
to hear from other teenagers.
Photo by Uri Arkin
Each year Sand Day is a big success with the littlest Lake Barcrofters.
This photo was taken on Sand Day in 2003.
Here’s the scoop —
the 5th annual
Ice Cream Social
is coming!
Saturday, June 11,
3 to 5 p.m., at Beach 5
(Rain date: Sunday, June 12)
We’ll have live music and games
for kids of all ages!
Once again we’ll have musicians board a barge at the Community Garden and play all the way to the Ice Cream Social on
Beach 5. There will be free helium balloons for any barge that
wishes to join in the boat parade.
If you are interested in helping serve ice cream, or can suggest
and run a game, now’s the time to sign up. Barge parties can join
the boat parade by simply showing up at the Community Garden
at 1:30 p.m., but advance notice would be appreciated. To volunteer to help in the fun, contact event event chair Julie Mueller at
703-354-4656; [email protected].
— Shirley Timashev, LBA Special Events Coordinator
Barcrofters
Barge Party
Open to all
Sunday, June 5, 5 p.m.
At the home of Elaine Kent,
6306 Lakeview Drive
The menu and cost of this party, which will include wine,
beer and soda, have yet to be determined.
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
10
Stuart’s Mel Riddile named
Va. 2005 Outstanding High
School Principal
By Janet Booth and Bob Gaarder
Barcroft News Staff
Mel Riddile, the principal of JEB Stuart High School since
1997, has been named the 2005 Outstanding High School principal by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals
(VASSP).
According to VASSP Executive Director Randy Barrack, Riddile was selected for taking risks to improve student learning,
anticipating potential problems and acting to resolve them,
actively implementing the goals and objectives of the school,
working collaboratively with teachers and staff members to
improve the educational program and student achievement,
establishing a positive school climate for students and staff members, involving the community in the school and using community resources for students, and demonstrating creativity and imagination in bringing about positive change.
Since Riddile arrived, students have dramatically improved
their SAT scores. Stuart has been ranked among the top Washington metropolitan area high schools on the Washington Post’s
Photo by Tom Donlan
Virginia High School Principal of the year Dr. Mel Riddile of J.E.B. Stuart
High School meets with students on the school’s student executive
advisory council in a planning session.
Challenge Index for providing a challenging curriculum. Stuart
students also enjoy an 86% success rate on their International
Baccalaureate (IB) exams. The school was identified as one of
the 10 best high schools in the nation serving underserved students for a study commissioned by the National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, and was named an NASSP Breakthrough
High School in 2003.
Of Stuart’s approximately 1,380 students, two-thirds are second language learners from more than 70 countries.
For more information go to the Fairfax County Public Schools
website, www.fcps.edu.
May 2005
|
11
All dressed up and no place to go? Here are special
occasion dining recommendations from our readers
Compiled by Ellen Feldstein
Barcroft News Staff
Lake residents were asked, in the newsletter and on LakeLink, to recommend their favorite restaurants for
celebrating special occasions. The results are in and, as with much else in the way of community opinion, the
responses were many and varied. Some folks suggested modestly priced neighborhood restaurants, others
went high-end where one should be prepared to spend significant dollars for gourmet dining. Comments are by those making the recommendations. Bon appetit!
2941
2941 Fairview Park Drive, F.C.
Argia’s
124 N. Washington St., F.C.
Bonaroti
428 Maple Avenue E., Vienna
Capital Grille
Superb service, food, presentation, home made breads, wine selection and sommelier. Beautiful. Elegant.
Private room.
Food never gets boring. Love the eggplant with goat cheese and tomatoes or pork tenderloin wrapped in
pancetta. Caesar salad is the best in town, unbelievable homemade ice cream.
Food is consistently excellent, varied menu showcases usual Italian dishes plus some chef specialties.
Service is great. Private party facility.
Great steak and shrimp dishes. Excellent desserts.
1861 International Dr., McLean
Circle Bistro
Washington Circle, D.C.
Duangrat’s
Chefs are inventive and stylish with a flair for beautifully presented French-style food. Executive Sous Chef
Barry Koslow grew up on Lakeview Drive.
Elegant and unusual Thai dishes, as well as the usual prepared unusually well. Upscale in every way.
5878 Leesburg Pike, F.C.
Evening Star Restaurant
Funky neighborhood restaurant offering interesting “small plates” like fried oysters with bacon.
2000 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
This antique-filled country inn is truly in a class by itself.
Flint Hill, Va.
Kinkeads
2000 Penn. Ave., N.W., D.C.
L’Auberge Chez Francois
332 Springvale Rd., Great Falls
Lebanese Taverna
Upscale, expensive, perfect for special celebrations, but need reservations well in advance. I’ve never had
better prepared fish. Specialties are fish and sea food.
Great food, superb service, civilized atmosphere with family warmth.
Expensive. Reservations needed way in advance.
Good Middle Eastern food.
5900 Washington, Blvd., Arlington
Maestro
Ritz Carlton Hotel in Galleria
Mango Mike’s
Perhaps the best food in the region. Beautiful place. Gorgeous presentations. Choose from two menus,
traditional or modern, or have the chef create your own. Very expensive, but a super treat for a special
occasion. Outstanding Sunday brunch.
Love the atmosphere, food and exotic drinks. Always good seafood, always good Margaritas!
4580 Duke Street, Alexandria
Mar de Plata
1410 14th St., D.C.
Mark’s Duck House
Spanish haute-cuisine is fresh and imaginative, unusual wine list, exceptionally quiet and comfortable,
immediate but unobtrusive service.
Wide-ranging menu at any time; great dim sum at lunchtime. Excellent food; limited ambience.
Willston Shopping Center
Meiwah Restaurant
Great food, great service, kid friendly
DC & Chevy Chase locations
Neisha Thai
6037 Leesburg Pike, F.C.
Potowmack Farm
Inexpensive, close by, on weekend evenings they have a flute and a guitar player. Love chicken satay,
sizzling ginger beef.
Fine dining in a greenhouse, overlooking the Potomac
Lovettsville, Va.
Rabieng
5892 Leesburg Pike, F.C.
Restaurant Eve
110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria
Rhodeside Grill
1836 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Taverna Cretekou
Provincial Thai food by owners of Duangrat. Excellent Bhram, mango with sticky rice. Most entrees are
under $10.
Two dining rooms — a bistro and a more elegant chef’s tasting room. The latter offers a five-course or a
nine-course tasting menu. Excellent sommelier and wine list. Unusual, special.
Food is excellent; atmosphere is comfortable and interesting. Private party room. Owners are Lake
residents Wilson Whitney and Alice Lima-Whitney
Wonderful Greek food. In good weather, ask for a table in the garden.
818 King St., Alexandria
The Grille
116 S. Alfred St., Alexandria
Formerly called Elysium, this Relais & Chateaux hotel’s (in the Morrison House Hotel) dining room is both
luxurious and intimate. Excellent, unusual beef dishes and desserts; a special place for a special occasion.
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
12
Tree Planting Day — a leafy success on April 17
By Kevin Howe
Barcroft News Staff
Lake Barcroft WID contributed valuable assistance with pre-planting (supplies, pre-digging) and post-planting
(beaver fencing).
In the near future, a Lake Barcroft
Eagle Scout candidate plans to post identification signs at these trees and construct a bench near the end of the trail.
Photos by George McLennan
Paul Taylor doing the hard part for a river birch.
A dedicated group of 50 or so Barcrofters (from 9 months to 70+ years old)
showed up at Beach 3 on April 17 for the
first of many (we hope) annual tree plantings. Other beach areas (2 and 5) will also
be planted.
Organized by the LBA Environmental
and Maintenance Committees, about 20
native trees were planted. The trees
ranged from 3 to 10 feet in height and
included the following:
Sweetbay Magnolia
River Birch
Redbud
Pawpaw
Persimmon
Serviceberry
Ironwood
Witch Hazel
Viburnum
Virginia Fringetree
Sweetgum
These are native, provide wonderful
flowers and great color in the fall and
most provide food and habitat for wildlife
(beavers excluded!). All of these may be
grown on many of the properties in the
Barcroft community.
In addition, all our helpers received
free seedlings of Red Oak, Sycamore and
River Birch. These native seedlings were
from the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Josh Howe, David Levin and Nick Zuri
planting a red bud.
Donna Infeld and Betsy Washington doing a
rain dance for a freshly planted Virginia fringe
tree also known as an old man's beard for its
fluffy white fur. (Actually they are stomping
the soil.)
May 2005
|
13
Offers many thanks for an event well done
By Burma Klein
Woman’s Club Co-President
Cindy Waters and I want to thank the Lake Barcroft community for so generously supporting the Home & Art Tour sponsored by the
Woman’s Club. We will proudly present about $8,000 split among three local charities: Annandale Christian Community for Action
(ACCA), Heritage Language Literacy Club and The
Morningstar Program.
We also express our gratitude to the Lake Barcroft
residents who opened their homes for us to enjoy —
Hugh and Sima Calkin, Bob and Leigh Gonzalez, Rick
Malone and Jaime Bowerman, Mike Spivey and Corrine
Goldman, and Joe and Aileen Pisciotta — and to the 17
artists who displayed their works.
We also thank the members of the Woman’s Club who
acted as “captains” at each home: Priscilla Weck, Roxanna Douglas, Martha Bracken, Naomi Zeavin and Jeannie
Meyer and Debbie McManis, as well as those who
1
served as hostesses and
those who sold and
checked tickets.
We can’t forget
Trippi Penland who
first suggested that the
house tour include
local artists and her
efforts to organize their
art displays. Last but
not least, we thank Peg
Corl for being in
3
charge of publicity,
2
Weezie Chappell who
supervised the ticket
sales, and Leigh Gonzalez and Roxanna
Douglas for the wonderful refreshments at
Leigh’s home. The
Woman’s Club is very
proud to have organized this wonderful
community event.
4
5
1. Bruce Meigs of Fiddlers Green (left) and Nancy Meigs (right) with Chica Brunsvold of Wentworth Drive (center),who was one of the exhibiting artists, at
the Crosswoods Circle home of Mike Spivey and Corrine Goldman. Photo by Alice Lima-Whitney
2. Living room at the Crosswoods Circle home of Mike Spivey and Corrine Goldman. Photo by Joel Gregorio
3. Artist David Goldstein of Lakeview Drive at the Cavalier Corridor home of Rick Malone and Jaime Bowerman. Photo by Alice Lima-Whitney
4. Master bedroom at the Lakeview Drive home of Hugh and Sima Calkin. Photo by Joel Gregorio
5. Water feature near the entrance to the home of Hugh and Sima Calkin. Photo by Joel Gregorio
14
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
May 2005
|
15
Community security is the second most important concern
From Page 1
Aside from periodic incidents of vandalism, however, our community has
been remarkably free from serious crime
and, at least according to police records,
there is no evidence of any recent change
in the level of criminal activity in Lake
Barcroft.
marked police vehicles in the community
after dark clearly contributes to the overall security of the community.
This is due to several factors, including an active Neighborhood Watch program and the overall awareness of everyone in the community of what’s going on
around them. Police departments everywhere preach that the best deterrent to
crime is Neighborhood Watch, supported
by an informed, concerned and active citizenry.
The LBA Board takes very seriously
its responsibilities to stay abreast of
things that are happening in the surrounding area that may affect Lake Barcroft.
The Board’s security committee maintains regular contact with the Mason District headquarters of the Fairfax County
Police and is represented at monthly
meetings of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), which consists of representatives of homeowners association
within Mason District. Its meetings
include a briefing on police activities by
the Captain of the Mason District. (CAC
meetings are open to all residents and
provide an excellent opportunity for two-
In addition, the LBA has for many
years hired off-duty Fairfax County
police officers to patrol our community
during the summer months when afterhour activities are most likely to occur.
While these patrols focus on the beaches
and other common areas, the presence of
Lake Barcroft’s
First Families
From Page 5
come across Columbia Pike and get into
the Lake, she remembers.
She was then the wife of Dr. Chris
Murphy, who became well-known in the
community. After his death she married
Cal Vos, who was an Air Force lawyer in
the office of the Secretary of Defense for
30 years.
But what she remembers most, and
perhaps always will, was December 2003
when they took 41children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren on a New
Year’s Caribbean cruise.
Dominant in her living room is a photo
of the whole clan posed on a stairway of
the ship.
A survey of members of the Association conducted several years ago indicated
that security was the second most important concern (after the health of the Lake).
way communication with the police
department.) Our security committee also
receives a copy of the weekly police
report on all crimes in the District. Information from these sources is shared with
the community on LakeLink and in the
Newsletter.
The Fairfax County Police Department provides detailed information on all
incidents reported within the county sorted by District and time period. This
information may be found at
http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/ps/police/cri
me_w.htm.
All members of the Association are
urged to report all incidents to the police,
using the non-emergency phone number
(703-691-2131) or the Internet. The LBA
Board looks forward to continuing to
work with all members of the Association to ensure that we retain our status as
one of the safest communities in the
county.
16
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
May 2005
|
17
Cell
phones
I'm beginning to think
when a baby is born
They should stitch one to
his ear
So he never has to be
without it
He never has to fear
That when he needs to
call someone
A phone won't be around
There will not be a telephone booth
Anywhere to be found
How did we do it before
they came?
How did we get along?
How did we wait to make
our calls?
It didn't seem so wrong
But now no matter where
you are
A sound can interrupt
A ring, a song, a ding-aling
It can be so abrupt
In a train, a bus, or plane,
A movie or a play
We hear private conversation
And cannot get away
And even when we drive
our cars
We see them being used
By people who are also
driving
And whose driving seems
confused
But I'm afraid they're here
to stay
We cannot do without
We're all addicted to
instant calls
Of that there is no doubt
— Sandy Tugwell
18
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
May 2005
|
19
Community
Bulletin
Board
From the office of Mason District
Supervisor Penny Gross ...
Mason District Farmers’
Market adds new products
The Mason District Park Farmers’
Market has added dairy products, eggs
and meat. Along with these new additions, residents will continue to find fresh
vegetables, fruits, baked goods, potted
plants, and cut flowers. The Market also
features a Master Gardener Plant Clinic
from 9 a.m. to noon. The Market is open
every Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon,
May 5 to Nov. 3. For information and
directions call 703-642-0128 or visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farmmkt.htm.
Mason District Amphitheater
re-opens on June 5
Mason District Park Amphitheater,
which burned down last October, has
been rebuilt and will re-open for another
season of Spotlight by Starlight open-air
concerts on June 5. Performances are on
Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at
7:30 p.m. Children’s performances begin
at 10 a.m. Saturdays. For a listing of
events, go to
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/
gov/bos/md/mmspring_2005.pdf.
L
A
K
E
L
I
N
K
L
A
K
E
L
I
N
K
Join Lake Link and keep in
touch with our community!
http://www.lakebarcroft.
org/as/lakelink.shtml
20
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
May 2005
|
21
Fairfax County’s
police officer of the year
Photo by Tom Donlan
Officer First Class Nicole D. Hill, named Fairfax County police officer
of the year, is the community relations officer at J.E.B. Stuart High
School.
| Lake Barcroft Newsletter
22
A Neighbor’s Tale:
Crash, rip and wires came down (again!)
By Sandy Tugwell
Barcroft News Staff
I knew what happened. It
happened before.
On March 2, I heard a
loud, wrenching noise like
the side of the house had
been pulled off.
I jumped up and ran to the
front window just in time to
see the rear of a large truck
speeding westbound on
Waterway Drive.
I knew what would happen next: The phone was
dead; the TV all static.
That oversized truck had
pulled down my cable and
phone lines. The power
flickered, but stayed on.
The exact sequence of
events had happened just
under a year earlier, when a
special pickup truck from
Fairfax County sped by my
house snagging the wires
running across Waterway
Drive. I happened to be looking out my front window and
saw the whole thing. This
time I only heard the truck.
It’s times like these when
you appreciate the cell
phone. I was able to report
the problem to Verizon and
Cox Cable who both promised to have the damage
repaired the following day.
Since the power flickered, I
called Virginia Power to have
the line checked, but after
trying to speak to a live person at Virginia Power for 45
minutes, I gave up and called
the county non-emergency
Fire and Rescue number.
They sent a fire truck and
crew to inspect for damage.
I also called the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors
and reported the incident.
Since then, I’ve had quite a
few conversations with coun-
ty representatives who have
all been quite sympathetic, but
have left me feeling that no
one really wants to take any
responsibility for what could
have been a tragedy. If the
power line had been pulled
down, things could have
ended much differently. Also I
am also quite angry that Virginia Power has made it so
difficult to report a potentially
dangerous problem.
Although the lines have all
been replaced, they are
roughly the same height they
were at before this event —
and the one before. I can only
assume that they are waiting
for the next over-sized truck
to come speeding by. I am
told by county representatives that Virginia Power is
responsible for maintaining
utility poles and lines, and
that there is a height require-
ment for all wires crossing
the roadway. In this case that
has not been enough. At
least one county representative voiced his frustration in
dealing with Virginia Power
and indicated that rippeddown lines happen more frequently than I realized.
So what’s to be done?
Just sit here and wait for the
next truck to rip all the wires
from my house again? It
seems to me that that is one
of the things we pay taxes
and utility bills for — to
have assistance when there
is an obvious problem that
needs to be fixed.
Do you have a Neighbor’s
Tale? Send it to
[email protected] or mail
it to Carol Donlan, 6516 Jay
Miller Drive, Falls Church
22041.
May 2005
|
23
SERVICES
Newcomers’ Club April Beer Tasting
`
Custom Homes & Remodeling. JPW &
Associates, Joe Ware, Lake Resident.
703-626-5701. References Available.
Eldercare. Competent and experienced
(21 years) caregiver with many Lake Barcroft references. Full-time or part-time.
Call Monica. Cell phone: 703-725-3304.
Housecleaning. Reliable and experienced
w/good references. Weekly, biweekly,
monthly, occasional, move in-out. For a free
in-home estimate, call Maryen or Raul of
R & M Cleaning Services at 703-321-5335.
Housecleaning. Honest, excellent references in Lake Barcroft area. Low rates &
free estimates. Juliet/Luis, 703-354-3225
or 703-628-3434.
Scrapbooking. Let me show you how to
preserve and organize your precious photographs using top-quality products from
Creative Memories. Contact Sandy Chiong
Ellig at [email protected] or
703-941-4790.
1982 Mercedes. 380SL Convertible, silver-gray, 91,000 miles, dual timing chain
conversion, $12,000. Call Randy Sanger,
703-820-3674.
Pontoon boat. Sun Tracker DL 24’ pontoon boat for sale. 48-volt Ray motor.
$4,500. Call Carolyn at 703-671-4029.
Classifieds
Lake residents may place free classifieds.
We will publish the ad for one month, additional months are on a space-available basis
and items must be submitted by the 15th of
each month. Classifieds can be emailed to
[email protected]. Please include your
name and day and evening phone numbers
so we can verify information.
Non-Lake residents may purchase a
classified by calling 703-941-2547 or
emailing [email protected]. Placement
is on a space-available basis.
Photos by Andrew Cambern
Newcomers’ Happy Hour at the home of Eva Kosztarab and Ken Kastner. Socializing in the kitchen
are from left — Ken Kastner, Ralph Petta, Wareen Russell; Lisa Levine talks to David Dale.
By Lisa Levine
Newcomers’ Club
A great time was had by all at the Newcomers’ Club Beer Tasting April 22. Hosts were
Eva Kosztarab and Ken Kaster of Waterway Drive.
It was a beautiful venue for tasting nine beers and nibbling on wonderful homemade
appetizers and sweets brought by all the guests. The crowd of 35 sampled and rated beers
from all over the world. Top three were Samuel Smith’s Winter Ale, Fuller’s ES (Extra
Special Bitter) and Blue Moon Pale Ale.
Watch for other Newcomers’ Happy Hours or Cocktail Parties. If you are interested in
hosting one of these events, please contact Samira West at [email protected] or
feel free to show up at any of the Newcomers’ Club monthly meetings for additional
information on any of the Newcomers’ Club events.
Beer Tasting Results
Points
Beer
48
Samuel Smith’s Winter Ale
36
Fullers ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
32
Blue Moon Pale Ale
31
Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale
30
Toppers Hope Pocket Ale
30
Whitbread Pale Ale
29
John Courage Amber Ale
27
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
8
Flying Dog Pale Ale
Todd West looks on as Ken Kastner
announces the winners of the Beer Tasting.
If you are a senior looking
for a job, read on ...
Senior Employment Resources is a non-profit organization partially funded by Fairfax
County to help clients over 50 years old find employment. There is no fee. Today SER
has more jobs than qualified people. If you are 50-plus and looking for work, call
703-750-1936 or go to http://www.seniorjobs.org/.
PRST STD
Standard
PAID
Falls Church, VA
Permit No. 872