Have you noticed the “empathy” signs popping up on street poles throughout the area? There are now more than 500 in the D.C. area. I spoke with the one-man operation behind these signs. This Empathy Project is to encourage all who see his signs to try and understand others’ situations and perspectives.
He wishes to remain anonymous and mentioned that empathy is different from sympathy. According to Wikipedia, empathy may be defined as “…the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.”
He began the project two years ago as a response to the divisiveness in our society. The signs are to remind us to step out of our intellectual silos and to work together and solve interpersonal, local, national, and even global problems. He believes to find solutions we must first “stretch our minds to imagine how and why the other thinks and acts as they do.” To accomplish this, we must put away our immediate pre-suppositions and stop and listen, to hear and understand one other. We must lead with empathy.
The empathy signs are put up in pairs—one on either side of a pole to represent an empathetic connection between two people. Each pair is the mirror image of the other. No pairs are replicated. The primary design concept is simple, but the imagery can become complicated. He uses five colors – light blue, white, yellow, orange and red – and each holds significance. Light blue and white are the constants. As the founder describes it, “White represents the self, and blue is for reality or, for those who are religious, God. The other three colors (red, orange, and yellow) represent the other person.”
I believe the thought put into the design of each graphic qualifies it as art. Each time I drive by an empathy sign, or spot a new one, I smile and am reminded there is good in each of us, and sometimes it takes a simple reminder to be a better person, friend, colleague, and neighbor.
Arlington County is seeing an increase in the use of illegal substances among people under 20. The issue is not new to Arlington. It did not begin during COVID, though the rise in mental health issues related to the pandemic may well be a contributing factor in the increase of substance use. It is not isolated to a single school or neighborhood, though reports of at least seven overdose incidents and two student deaths in 2023 at one high school could give that impression.
I remember drug issues discussed by PTAs and communities in 2009, when our oldest son began at W-L. When drug-related arrests of students escalated in 2017, a public forum with County Police, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Behavioral Health Chief, and two parents whose high-school students had become addicted to opioids was held that October.1 In November of the same year, the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families (APCYF) held a community forum to discuss the latest results of their Youth Risk and Behavior Survey (YRBS) which was administered in APS schools to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders between 2001 and 2017.2 The 2017 results noted an upswing in cases of kids being bullied, increased rates of depression, higher rates of self-harm, and high rates of marijuana and prescription drug use. The increase in the number of 6th grade students reporting the use of pills to get high increased from 2% In 2013 to over 11% in 2017. After 2017, the County switched to using the Virginia Youth Survey to allow for better comparison of future results across the Commonwealth. The 2019 data revealed an increase in Arlington students feeling physically unsafe and reported relatively the same level of alcohol, marijuana, and drug use as in 2017.
While opioid addiction has been a serious, nationwide issue for a couple of decades, the rise in the manufacturing and use of fentanyl since 2015 has led to a sharp increase in deaths. According to a CDC report, “U.S. drug overdose deaths increased 30% from 2019 to 2020 and 15% in 2021, resulting in an estimated 108,000 deaths in 2021. Among persons aged 14–18 years, overdose deaths increased 94% from 2019 to 2020 and 20% from 2020 to 2021 … among persons aged 10–19 years … from July–December 2019 to July–December 2021, median monthly overdose deaths increased 109%, and deaths involving IMFs [fentanyl] increased 182%.”
In Arlington, it is hard to gauge the extent and level of substance use by teens other than what they report on surveys. One key indicator would be the crime statistics reported by the Arlington County Police Department but they do not differentiate between adults and adolescents in their reporting.
After the death of Wakefield freshman Sergio Flores in February of this year, education and harm-reduction initiatives became a focus locally, and especially an increase in NARCAN administration training. The Arlington County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) hosted a forum on March 13th featuring several experts who discussed the increase in overdoses and made recommendations regarding trauma-informed responses to this epidemic. At the April LPCA meeting, the LPCA took advantage of County training efforts by hosting a representative of the Arlington Addiction Recovery Initiative (AARI). LPCA meeting attendees received details on how fentanyl users become addicted, and training on the administration of NARCAN.
In September, the second student death, that of high school student Jorge Chavarría Rodríguez, was reported. The Arlington Schools Hispanic Parent Association (ASHPA), and the local chapters of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the NAACP have written letters and issued press releases, calling on school and county leaders to take action to address this growing crisis.
The causes of adolescent substance use are complex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists several risk factors that substantially increase the likelihood that a young person will use substances and become addicted. Parents and caregivers should assess their child’s risk factors against the list below:
• Family history of substance use
• Favorable parental attitudes towards the behavior
• Poor parental monitoring
• Parental substance use
• Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity
• Association with delinquent or substance using peers
• Lack of school connectedness
• Low academic achievement
• Childhood sexual abuse
• Mental health issues
An adolescent’s level of connectedness to and support from their family, schools, and community is often cited as a protective factor in avoiding substance use.7 Parents and caregivers should openly discuss the facts about drug use with their children. If you don’t know the facts, then seek out sources with your child so you can learn together. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a series of publications in English and Spanish, including Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent’s Guide to Substance Use Prevention. The Arlington CCPTA has also compiled a list of national and local resources. Visit their Substance Abuse Resources and Treatment Locators page for more information.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series on adolescent drug use in our community. Part 2 will focus on the actions taken to date by APS and Arlington County to combat the rise in adolescent substance use, feedback from Arlington students on what they have to say about what could help, and ways non-profit groups, advocacy organizations, and concerned neighbors can engage to combat this growing crisis.
Dreaming of an inspiring display of youthful enthusiasm for environmental conservation, seven-year-old Sara Cakici has taken the initiative to organize a neighborhood parade with a heartfelt mission. Sara, a resident of Lyon Park and a first-grade student at the Arlington Traditional School (ATS), has a desire to motivate her community to recycle and protect the Earth. Sara presented her idea at the October LPCA meeting, and this idea has captured the hearts of neighbors and is already inspiring others to make a difference.
Sara’s inspiration came from her deep concern for the environment. Her idea is simple yet powerful: gather the community for a lively parade that celebrates recycling and emphasizes the importance of preserving the planet. She has spent days planning the event, designing colorful recycling-themed banners and writing eco-friendly messages. The event will consist of inviting kids and adults alike to design their own signs/banners with recyclable/recycled materials brought from home, followed by a parade, marching through the streets of Lyon Park with enthusiasm, holding their signs advocating for recycling, and sharing their commitment to sustainable living.
Sara hopes the impact will extend beyond the event itself, with many residents moved to become more conscious of their own recycling habits. Sara’s initiative is an example of how young voices can lead to significant change and inspire a community to come together for a common cause: protecting the Earth for future generations.
Save the date! Join us for this exciting recycling parade in proximity to Earth Day, on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Lyon Park. You can start now by gathering a couple of recyclable materials from home to make your own recycling-themed banners and bring your young eco-enthusiasts to participate in this eco-friendly event that celebrates the importance of preserving the planet!.
Earlier this year, the Arlington County Board voted to implement a new Stormwater Utility Tax that will become effective in May 2024. The new tax is based on the amount of hard surfaces on a property such as buildings, roofs, driveways, and patios—anything that prevents water from seeping into the ground and creates runoff. The additional funds raised will pay for the maintenance of over 200 miles of sewer pipes, increases to system capacity, restoration projects, management of flood plains, and other needed improvements.
This new tax will replace the Sanitary District tax, which has been bundled within the County’s real estate taxes. The cost of this tax is $.017 for every $100 of assessed value. The new stormwater taxes will be listed separately on real estate tax bills after next May.
How can you tell what you may owe? The County used GIS-mapping to estimate that an average single-family home in Arlington has 2,400 square feet of impervious surface. This represents one ERU, or Equivalent Residential Unit, and there is a scaled system of billable units (see chart below) used to calculate the tax for each property. Initial estimates are that an ERU has a sample value of $230–250, though the rate will not be set until the County Board votes this Fall, and is dependent on the adopted budget.
Why is the County moving to this new tax structure? There have been additional demands on the stormwater system, and the County needs to raise additional revenue to pay for planned improvements, The shift to the Stormwater Utility tax is considered to be a fairer way to assess cost because it is based on the amount of impervious lot coverage, rather than a property’s value. The new fee is demand-based: the larger a property’s impervious surfaces, the more that property contributes to runoff and puts pressure on the system. There are some properties (places of worship, non-profits, and Federal buildings) that currently don’t pay the sanitary district tax. Those properties will likely be impacted by this new stormwater tax.
The County acknowledges that property owners will be paying more under this tax structure, but there is a way owners can qualify for credits. Between November 1, 2023 and January 15, 2024, property owners are able to reduce the tax amount by making specific improvements to their properties in 2023 that reduce runoff. Additional information on the credit program, a (not-very-user-friendly) fee estimator by property, and FAQs may be found on the County’s Stormwater Utility Implementation page (go to https://www.arlingtonva.us and search for stormwater utility).
I am a biker. My health and the planet’s health are two reasons I choose to cycle. And it isn’t just for my physical health. Psychologically, it is a great way to start my day by commuting to work. If the day goes poorly, I hop on my bike and not only get to work out the stress on the ride home, but I get an endorphin hit, fresh air in my lungs, and time to reflect and de-stress before I’m home.
I want to share with you why it’s so awesome to be on a bike in this area—for commuting and recreation — and why you should do it, too! When we drive, we’re sealed inside a box with limited visibility, focused on quickly reaching our destination. When we walk, we’ve got full visibility, we experience the weather, and we can enjoy the beautiful houses, trees, and gardens of our neighborhoods but we cover less ground. Cycling is the sweet spot between these two. Instead of exploring a few new blocks while out walking, you can explore entire neighborhoods. You decide when to roll slowly, and when to push yourself on a climb. Those with electric assist get even more choices in how much they want to sweat.
During the pandemic, I rode 2/3 of all streets in Arlington, and 1/3 of all streets in DC. I found some ridiculous hills, very odd homes, amazing views, surprising history, and a great diversity of neighborhoods. Biking has helped me appreciate how wonderful it is to live in the DC area.
Though I love solo explorations, in the past year I’ve begun riding with some neighbors. This is not only fun but also motivating! It pushes us all to do more and explore more. We love riding in the hills of North Arlington and heading across the river for popular routes like MacArthur Blvd out to Great Falls, Rock Creek Park, Beach Drive, Sligo Creek and Anacostia Trail. We have biked the ever-popular Custis, Mt. Vernon, W&OD, C&O, and Capital Crescent trails. Beautiful tree-covered trails, iconic views, and robust exercise keep us pedaling through all four seasons.
Looking for support or inspiration? Arlington has some great resources.
Bike Arlington (bikearlington.com has some nice route suggestions and tools, including a “Bicycle Comfort Map” that helps you find routes appropriate for you and your family to get around Arlington.
The Washington Area Bicycle Association (waba.org) is a great education and advocacy group, and organizer of big rides. Many bike shops in the area organize group rides for various levels.
Capital Bikeshare is a great way to start. We have 3 stations in Lyon Park, and their e-bikes are really easy to use.
Our new bike shop, Vélocity Bike Co-op, on Pershing Drive can help get your bike back in shape, or help you find a new one.
I recently joined the county’s Bicycle Advisory Committee to encourage the county to make cycling safer and more accessible for residents, and because I would like to see more bike infrastructure in Arlington County. If you have suggestions or improvements you would like to see made, please reach out to me and I will submit them for discussion at a meeting. And if you want encouragement, ideas, or are interested in joining me for a weekend ride, email me at ajschuetz@yahoo.com. You can also follow me on Strava.
I hope to see more neighbors biking around the community on these beautiful fall days. And if you drive, thanks for sharing the road! Cycle on!
Respiratory virus season is this fall and winter, and new protections are available against three of the most common causes of hospitalization: COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community by getting your recommended vaccinations.
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines changed this September as these products moved onto the commercial market and an updated version was released. These new vaccines are well adapted for currently circulating variants, such as XBB sub lineages. The new COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost for most people through their private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. Adults without health insurance and adults with insurance that does not cover COVID-19 vaccines are also eligible for free COVID-19 vaccinations. Visit vaccines.gov to find a provider that offers no-cost COVID-19 vaccines. Options in Arlington County to get your COVID-19 vaccine include your healthcare provider, federally qualified health centers, CVS, and Walgreens.
The flu virus evolves and everyone over 6 months old, with rare exceptions, should get a flu vaccine annually. Each year different strains of the virus circulate, and the flu vaccine is updated. Flu vaccines are available in Arlington County. RSV is a common respiratory virus. While most cases are mild, RSV can be serious. Infants and adults over 60 years of age are at higher risk from RSV. The CDC recently approved the RSV vaccine for people over 60 and pregnant people. Additionally, a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab is approved for children 8–19 months to protect against the worst outcomes of RSV. Learn more on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html.
We can protect ourselves and each other from these three vaccine-preventable diseases this season. You may get these vaccines at the same appointment. Schedule your appointment today!
“A nonprofit is as strong as the community that holds it up. Together, we can do more than we can do alone.” This quote is on the website of the We See You Foundation, the brainchild of 19-year-old Nick Ruge, a resident of Lyon Park.
When thinking about what inspired him, Nick recalls this incident as the catalyst for the creation of the Foundation: “During a visit to New York City, I was affected by a homeless gentleman sitting on the sidewalk with a sign that read “I feel invisible.” I crouched down so I’d be on his eye level, so he knew I saw him, and offered some food, chatted for just a moment, and touched his shoulder. I wanted him to know that he matters. After that and other similar encounters, I knew we needed to do something to make the homeless feel valued, and the We See You Foundation was born.”
Nick’s concern led him to begin volunteering with local non-profit PathForward (formerly Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network) serving meals on Sunday evenings for several years while he was in middle school and high school. At 17, he decided to create a non-profit to continue the work. He still collaborates with PathForward, often partnering with them to make bagged meals and bed bundles for distribution to people who need them.
The effort is a family affair—Nick’s brother Jake serves as the President; his mom, Lisa, is the Treasurer; and his dad, Andy, is one of the Board members. Lisa notes that she loves the work because it is another way the family can spend time together. “The Foundation really is about being kind and showing respect. That’s something everyone can do.”
If you would like to support the Foundation, you can see their Amazon Wish List, make donations, and more by visiting the website: https://weseeyoufoundation.org.
The sudden storm that walloped Arlington in late July will not soon be forgotten. Violent downbursts felled some of our most magnificent trees, many of which were oaks that came up by the root ball. This may leave some people wary of trees, but the benefits of large, healthy trees far outweigh the risks. Trees mitigate flooding, hold onto soil to reduce erosion, lower our utility bills, improve air quality—and of course are aesthetically pleasing. With the right trees properly planted and cared for, we can enjoy them more and worry about them less.
Our Extension Agent, Kirsten Ann Conrad, provided expert advice on increasing trees’ resiliency to storms. Trees should be under the regular care of a certified arborist, who will look for weak or damaged limbs and ensure proper, regular pruning. You should avoid construction and other soil-compacting actions near the roots and keep mowers and trimmers away from the tree.
Trees with deep, wide spreading root systems are less likely to blow over, so don’t plant a shade tree in an area confined by structures or pavement. In smaller areas, plant smaller native trees such as fringe tree, dogwood, American holly, and redbud. Trees planted in groups, rather than as single specimens, are more likely to weather high winds. Consider planting new trees in a grove, with several different types of trees grouped together. If you have existing single trees, plant additional trees and shrubs close by and mulch the entire area to create a landscape bed.
Some shade tree species are better able to withstand strong winds than others. Trees that are best at surviving hurricanes in southern states include southern magnolia and bald cypress. Other large maturing trees that prove moderately to highly wind-resistant are hickory, persimmon, shumard oak, river birch, and black gum, also known as tupelo. All these species thrive here, but consult Lyon Park tree stewards for the best trees for your yard.
I love all these trees but if I had room for one more, I would plant an oak because oaks support more life-forms than any other North American tree genus and we desperately need to save native habitat in our neighborhood.
The LPCA History Committee is excited to share that Lyon Park has been awarded a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant through Arlington County’s Historic Preservation Program. The funds will support the “Lyon Park History Preservation and Education Centennial Project.”
This project has three primary goals:
digitizing Lyon Park historical documents and installing a display case at the Community House
designing and fabricating exterior historical markers in Lyon Park
supporting educational research and QR code signage in Zitkála-Šá Park
We are pleased to be partnering with the Arlington Historical Society and Arlington Library’s Center for Local History. They will provide guidance with best practices to safeguard Lyon Park’s artifacts and documents once they are scanned. We will also benefit from the expertise of the Historic Preservation Fund team, which will provide advice as we move forward. The HPF supports the Lyon Park project as it “will help strengthen the community’s understanding of historic preservation, Arlington’s history, built environment and/or cultural heritage….it will contribute to a stronger community by providing a link to the past, present, and future.”
The project is intended to be completed within 12 months, just in time for the launch of the Centennial Celebration of the Lyon Park Community House, which opened in 1925. From the start, the vision for the Community House was to create “A social, civic, and recreative center; so democratic as to attract the humblest; so wholesome as to appeal to the exclusive; so broad in scope as to bring youth, maturity and old age into closer companionship to the benefit of all.” That’s an inspiring mission to guide Lyon Park for the next hundred years.
And a big THANK YOU to Thora Colot and Toby McIntosh who have been instrumental in moving this project forward. This project provides wonderful opportunities for community participation. Some tasks require just a few hours to complete, while others are more detailed. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact me at elizabeth.r.sheehy@gmail.com. There is something for everyone!
On June 10, 2023, Alexandria-based non-profit Vélocity Bike Co-op cut the ribbon on their new Lyon Park location at 2647 N. Pershing Drive. They replaced the Old Bike Shop, which had operated out of that space for at least 10 years before closing their doors earlier this year.
The co-founder of Vélocity, Christian Meyers, thanked the Old Bike Shop owner, Larry Behery, for “…providing a home for quality used bike service and sales. Vélocity will build on this legacy and make safe, reliable bicycles more affordable to everyone.”
“Opening our second location provides a unique opportunity to realize our mission to grow and empower an inclusive biking community through education and affordability,” noted Joe Davison, the organization’s Board Chair. “We are honored to carry on and serve the biking community at this location while seeking continued synergy among the area’s cycling organizations, including Arlington-based non-profit Phoenix Bikes.”
While the two volunteer-driven organizations have similarities, volunteer John McClanahan differentiated the services between his non-profit and the work of Phoenix Bikes and emphasized they are not trying to compete but rather complement the work that Phoenix Bikes does in the community. Both organizations give away bikes to kids and adults, accept bike donations, and recycle and resell donated bikes and bike parts. The main difference is that while Phoenix works primarily with youth to build skills while earning a bike, Vélocity focuses chiefly on bike education and repair. They host public do-it-yourself repair workshops, offer bike repair services, and run a bicycle scholarship program to provide a safe and reliable means of transportation to low-income individuals.
Mike Pattisall, shop manager, will introduce himself at our September 13th LPCA meeting. Vélocity is always looking for volunteers. Visit their website for store hours and volunteer opportunities at https://velocitycoop.org.
lyonpark.org 