Spring/Summer - Mitchell Park

Address Service Requested
Presorted
First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 6104
Alexandria, VA
FRIENDS OF MITCHELL PARK
2401 Tracy Place, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Spring/Summer
2011
Friends of
Mitchell Park
Board Members
Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift to Friends of Mitchell Park of:
❐ $100
❐ $250
❐ $500
❐ $_____________Other
Name __________________________________________________________________________
Address & Phone Number ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Kindly make out your check to "Friends of Mitchell Park" and mail to:
Holly Sukenik, Vice President
2401 Tracy Place, NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-332-2952
Some dance with the stars, but at
Mitchell Park, we TANGO. Bobbie
Brewster sponsored our series of
free lessons from 4 to 6 p.m. on May
15, June 5 and June 26. Instructors Dan Calloway and his dance
partner/wife Silka showed us their
elegant steps and passionate figures
and led us through the basic movements. At the end of the session,
participants glided across the “floor”
- actually the hard court play area.
Barbara Burgin
Nancy Carmichael
Carroll Chapin
Tracy Davis
Kindy French
Paula Holland
Robert Nevitt
Betsy Santarlasci
Marty Scherr
Jeanett Yonemoto
Contact:
Holly Sukenik
332-2952
[email protected]
Dan is a professional dance instructor and also coaches Georgetown
University and University of Maryland dance teams. He and Silka
were ballroom competitors and have
performed at the Obama White
House. The event was well attended
and enjoyed by novices and aficionados. The ambience was perfect as
we were surrounded by our beautiful garden and greenery. And the
weather was just right.
Elegant steps and
basic movements of
the Tango were taught
at Mitchell Park
“
The ambience was
perfect as we were
surrounded by our
beautiful garden
and greenery.
“
Save The Date ! Fall Fun Day • October 30, 2011
Ideas ? Want to Help ? Contact Emily Madan at
[email protected] • Supported by Jim Bell
Pierre Wagner,
President
Holly Sukenik,
Vice President
Emily Madan
Secretary
Claire Wagner,
Treasurer
It Takes You to Tango
Coopersmith Reception Supports the Park
The Honorable Esther Coopersmith welcomed 45
fans of Mitchell Park to her beautiful home and
gardens from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.
Attendees were able to look directly onto the park
from Mrs. Coopersmith’s second story entertaining
space on S Street. They also watched a slideshow
of 2002 “before” and recent “after” photos taken of
our park, which was renovated from October 2003
to October 2004. Although we all know this was a
huge and successful project, it was still a revelation
for all to see the slides after almost 7 years of loving
care we have given the park.
Mrs. Coopersmith was delighted to welcome our
neighbors the Slovenian Ambassador Roman Kirn
and his wife Jovana. Everyone in the room enjoyed
a performance of five songs by the Maret School
Alpha Males, led by senior Marco Santarlasci, son
of Friends of Mitchell Park co-founder Betsy Santarlasci. Afterward the boys were happy to lead the
group downstairs for a sumptuous array of tea and
pastries.
The event raised $17,600 for Friends of Mitchell
Park. Every year we spend approximately $45,000
for maintenance services in the park. We still have
an income deficit of $8,000 for 2011 and are planning an end of the year appeal to close the gap.
Please remember Friends of Mitchell Park in your
annual giving.
Beautiful, clean, and cool days
of spring have given way to hot
summer days, but we had time to prepare Mitchell Park for the blooming season. Irises, day lilies, hydrangeas take their flowering turn, and the
grounds resonate with the calls of little children
from neighborhood schools, and taller ones too. In
Fall we will see an additional school come and use
the park for its outdoor activities. We are pleased to
provide some fresh air to these young brains.
Mondo Verde
We have a new school in our neighborhood – the bilingual Mundo Verde Public Charter School at 2001
S Street. The school’s 122 students ages 3-5 will be
utilizing Mitchell Park for recreation beginning in
August. The school plans to expand by one grade
annually until it has a full K-8 program.
Esther Coopersmith with Mitchell Park
Co-Founders Holy Sukenik and Betsy
Santarlasci.
The Alpha Males with Roman Kirn, Ambassador from Slovenia.
Esther Coopersmith watching the Alpha Males performance with
Jim Holland and Friends of Mitchell Park President, Pierre Wagner.
Notes from the President:
His Excellency Roman Kirn, Ambassador from
Slovenia, and his wife Jovana in the garden at the
home of Esther Coopersmith during the reception
for Mitchell Park.
His Excellency Roman Kirn, Ambassador of Slovenia, chose Mitchell Park to plant a Linden Tree,
symbol of Slovenia, for the 20th anniversary of his
nation’s independence. The Honorable Esther Coopersmith, UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural
Dialogue, attended.
We like to see our neighborhood park being a focal point. It rewards all the energy we put into its
maintenance.
The Executive Director, Kristin Scotchmer, met
with our Maintenance Committee on May 31 to
receive a warm welcome and to learn about the
history of the park and our maintenance concerns.
We look forward to a positive relationship with the
school.
New Trees Need Water
We have new trees that require extra watering:
18 trees planted by Casey Trees on October 22,
2010 and a linden tree planted by the Slovenian
Embassy on June 2, 2011. Volunteers are maintaining water bags on a bi-monthly schedule
through early November. If you are interested in
volunteering, kindly contact Paula at 265-4778.