The Barcroft News
September, 1998 - Volume 96, Number 1
Ice Cream Social
Please join your neighbors for an Ice Cream Social on Sunday,
September 13, from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Barcroft Community House.
Here's the scoop. Ok, two scoops. A suggested contribution is
$2 per ice cream eater, and families are encouraged to bring their
favorite topping to share. May we suggest M&Ms, caramel sauce,
sprinkles, or even hot fudge?
There is a rumor that there will be live, and very tasty, music
played outside under crystal September skies. The winner of the
mightiest and minutest tree contest will also be lavishly honored.
Please call Lisa and Mark Rom (486-2983) if you are planning to
attend, so they will know how much vanilla, triple mocha praline
almond swirl, and how many cones and spoons to bring.
September Meeting: Up Grandma's Creek
The peace and quiet of the Grandma's Creek portion of Glen Carlyn
Park will be disturbed in the near future as the county enlarges
a sanitary sewer line located there. County engineer Allan Riley
will come to the BSCL's monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,
September 3, to talk and answer questions about the project.
Engineers hope to do much of the work below ground to avoid disturbing
plants and trees. However, some excavation will be inevitable.
Come to the meeting if you would like to learn more about the
project -- and to show the county that we care about our woods.
The current sewer line parallels Grandma's Creek, which is in
the ravine of the wooded area between S. Buchanan Street and the
W&OD bike path. A quiet path with links to S. Buchanan, S.
Fifth and S. Sixth Streets and the bike path at S. Seventh St.
is enjoyed by many neighborhood dog-walkers and hikers.
Also at the meeting, the committee designing the new playground
at the Arlington Hall park at S. Taylor St. will be presenting
updated -- and possibly final -- plans for the project. Finally,
we hope to have an update on the latest plans for Vanguard's group
home on S. Sixth St.
Barcroft News Staff
Editors Mark and Lisa Rom 486-2983
Publisher/Mailing Jane Duffy 892-6015
Advertising Mgr. We need your help!
Neighborhood News Kathy Kerr, 892-6458
Contributions Ed. More fun than flubber!
Deadlines:
1st (ads) or 10th (editorial material) day of the month
preceeding the issue month.
BSCL Officers for 1999-1999
President David Michaelson, 553-3953
Vice President Mark Wigfield, 979-0339
Recording Secretary. Vacant
Treasurer Gary Lefebvre, 521-0184
Corres. Secy. Bill Huddleston 920-2011
Membership Secy. Peg Lefebvre, 521-0184
Board Members Scott Brinitzer, Jim Kerr, Tom Palance, Randy Swart
Community House Facility Manager Tom Palance 979-8366
Restoration Jim Kerr, 892-6458
Fundraising Bill Huddleston 920-2011
Landscaping Scott Brinitzer, 892-0308
Crime Resistance Help keep us safe!
Neighborhood Conservation David Michaelson, 553-3953
Signs Manager Jack Turner
Traffic Committee Elaine Squeri 920-7014
Parade Andrew Hunter 979-8247
The Barcroft News is printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based
ink by the Stanley Adams Printing Company.
Membership Dues
September is here again, and it is time to renew our Barcroft
School and Civic League memberships. Dues remain the same, still
$3 per adult ($6 per couple).
The BCSL offers events for our community throughout the year.
All work for these events is done by volunteer members. We encourage
you to become one of those people who help make things happen.
The membership form shows several areas where help is needed.
Some of the happenings have been around for a long time, while
others are new areas of interest. Hopefully there is one that
interests you.
Once again we ask for your continued support of the Barcroft Community
House Fund. Through your generosity, major portions of the restoration
have been completed. However, several significant tasks still
remain (e.g., roofing, flooring, the main hall, and landscaping
- which really needs to include a sprinkler system to survive).
Any contribution you can make will help to complete the total
effort and will, of course, be very much appreciated.
Please take a moment to fill out the membership form and mail
it to the Membership Secretary at her home address shown on the
form.
What washes up on tiny beaches? Microwaves.
Meet Trav Fick
Trav Fick is my name. I'm new to this area, coming by way of Seattle,
Portland, Sarasota, Austin and other towns where I helped neighborhood
people collaborate on traffic calming measures. I guess you could
call me the spirit of civility. Your Barcroft Traffic Committee
invited me as an observer and I will keep you up to date on progress.
Are your familiar with such rare terms as "neckdowns",
"bulbouts", "chicanes", and "speedtables"?
Do you think that "speed limit" means what it says?
Have you ever heard of a "speed max zone"? These are
topics that the committee is studying. This summer we are learning
what is being done around the nation to manage traffic and preparing
the recommendations for our Barcroft neighborhood. September 2
will be our final meeting before we bring some ideas to the BSCL.
Our committee meetings are always open; Barcrofters are welcome.
We will meet at 7:30 p.m. sharp at 216 S. Abingdon. Call Elaine
Squeri at 920-7014 if you would like more information.
Mightiest, Minutest
Our Barcroft neighborhood is rich in its history and bright in
its promise. We can and should celebrate our elderly and our infants
alike. And not just among our human neighbors. Our community also
is shaded by the mighty oak and sprouts the miniature maple. But
which tree is the largest, and which the smallest? If you are
the neighbor who identifies either one (by height or girth), and
tells me (by calling 486-2983 or emailing mark@bscl.org your knowledge
will be recognized and rewarded at the
Ice Cream Social on September 13th.
Sewing Beauty
The BSCL is seeking neighbors who are experienced in or curious
about quilting or needlework to take part in a special project.
To enhance the beauty and help the musical acoustics of the Community
House, we are looking for people with an interest in helping to
make quilted wall hangings that have Barcroft neighborhood themes.
While the themes are still up for discussion, the first thought
is to make them representative of Barcrofts's people and activities
of the 20th century.
Some thoughts are Barcroft seasons and holidays; while others
are to have these quilted banners be from different streets --
celebrating the neighbors, houses, children and special occasions
on those blocks.
These quilts will be a specific size, to hang between the windows,
and for all to enjoy together for many generations.
If you have special ideas, or would like to contribute your talent,
or wanna-be talent, to this exciting project, please call Jill
Herndon at 521-8907 (with voice mail) or E-mail at herndon@tmn.com,
so we can add you to our wish list of needleworkers. This is an
opportunity to share these skills with each other, or to learn
how to quilt or cross stitch in this community project.
Recycle Your Old Clothes, Cars and More
Is your closet filling up? Will you ever wear those old designer
clothes again? You can call Goodwill for a home pickup of used
clothing, or you can drop it off at the sparkling new Goodwill
store where Evans used to be at the corner of Arlington Boulevard
and Glebe Road. Dropoff times are 10 AM to 3 PM seven days a week.
The 24 hour phone number is (202) 636-4225. Goodwill will also
pick up your old car if you want to get rid of one. The American
Red Cross also offers that service for cars, trucks, motorcycles,
campers, boats with trailers and travel trailers. Their number
is 527-3010. If somebody next door has an old car quietly mulching
in their yard, circle this article and pass it along to them.
Crime Report
The Arlington County Police report the following incidents in
Barcroft neighborhood in recent weeks.
July 16 4600 Block S. 4th Street. Teargas canisters found in garage.
July 19. 900 Block S. Buchanan. Rape.
July 22 900 Block S. George Mason. Larceny suspect arrested.
July 23 Unit Block S. Abingdon. Two strangers reported on property.
July 23 4300 Block S. 9th Street. VCR burglarized.
July 27. 4800 Block S. Columbia Pike. Bicycle stolen from front
of video store.
July 28 4500 Block S. 4th Street: Bicycle stolen from garage.
July 31 900 Block S. George Mason. Vehicle theft.
August 10 Barcroft Shopping Center. Trespassing, Intoxication
August 10 700 Block S. Wakefield. Security guard assaulted.
August 12 700 Block S. Wakefield. Vehicle stolen from on-street
parking.
We need a volunteer to lead our crime resistance committee!
Tired of Litter? Do Something About It!
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment announces the launch of
its new anti-litter program, the Clean Arlington Partnership (CAP).
The program enlists volunteers in providing the business community
feedback on the appearance and cleanliness of their property.
Partner businesses help educate their customers about proper waste
disposal using materials that CAP provides. The materials were
designed especially for CAP and include many languages as part
of the design.
The foundation of the CAP program is that volunteers "adopt"
retail properties and monitor the success of their litter prevention
and cleanup efforts. Four times a year, owners and managers of
these businesses receive an evaluation which gives them insight
into how the public views their property. These reports are shared
only with the party or parties responsible for the property. There
will be no negative publicity. Volunteers select their "adoptees"
from anywhere in the county.
CAP is looking for volunteers! As a volunteer, you would commit
to conducting complete, fair and candid problem assessments of
retail properties four times a year. You decide how many locations
you want to evaluate. Volunteers should expect to introduce themselves
to managers of the properties they evaluate and help us get the
information to the appropriate party.
There will be a Volunteer of the Year Award named annually, but
the main reward for your time will be the satisfaction of having
helped make Arlington, hopefully including your neighborhood,
a cleaner and more attractive place.
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is a county supported non-profit
organization that provides environmental education and improvement
efforts for the Arlington community. Our office is in the Fairlington
Community Center, 3308 S Stafford St, 22206. Call today: 703-228-6427,
Energy Honors
Maureen Keene, teacher at Barcroft Elementary, and her 22 fifth
graders have been recognized by the National Energy Education
Development Project Youth Awards Program for their outstanding
education project entitled ENERGIZERS. Congratulations!
Barcroft Exchange
For sale: Tires. Two P235/75R15 Steel Belted Tires, mounted
on GM wheels. Good Condition. $25 Each. Call 521-0184
For sale: Baby Furniture. Crib ($75), playpen ($30), changing
table ($15), high chair ($15). Call Lisa 486-2983
Wanted: Carpool partner. My car, my gas. You pay half the
parking ($3.75) on the days you ride with me. Depart Barcroft
7:30 a.m. Depart D.C. 4:45 p.m. Parking at 20th and M Streets,
N.W. Call Lori 486-3765.
Around the Neighborhood With Kathy Kerr
Congratulations to Matt and Carol Rohr on 5th St. S whose new
baby, Daniel Joseph, was born June 24th. Daniel's big brother
is Douglas, age two. Carol has a few months off before returning
to Pinkerton Computer Consultants. Matt is an architect with RTKL
Architects Associates, Inc. and donated his services for the Community
House renovation. The Rohrs, who were high school sweethearts,
have lived in Barcroft for six years.
A conscientious longtime Barcrofter was stunned to receive a ticket
at the intersection of Henderson and George Mason. Most Barcrofters
are pleased by the police presence at this intersection where
officers are frequently seen ready to pounce on red light runners.
Apparently at least one officer also took note of cars running
the stop sign just before the light. The Barcrofter rolled through the
stop sign and was stopped at the light. After pulling her over, the
officer mentioned that she was the fourth person to be ticketed there that day.
The ticket she received was the same cost and points that she
would have gotten for running the red light on Route 50! Perhaps
the neighborhood needs to reevaluate the effectiveness and necessity
of that stop sign. Maybe a "yield" sign would be appropriate?
Are you interesting? New to the neighborhood? Been here a long
time and have memories to share? Have a new baby (or anything
else) to brag about? Have a story to tell? Please call Kathy Kerr
who always needs ideas for this column, at 892-6458
We are grateful to our advertisers, who were:
To be filled in!
Scott Designs Landscape Design and Installation
**********************************
Barcroft School and Civic League
800 South Buchanan Street
Arlington, VA 22204
This page was last revised on: September 15, 2000.
|