Author Archives: mrskerin

Pickleball on the Mall!

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If you were on the Mall September 19-21, you could not
help but notice the National Mall of Pickleball event.

A dozen temporary pickleball courts attracted
thousands of people from across the country and
around the world.

Center Court featured pickleball pros showing off their
skills, as well as opportunities for the amateurs to
compete.

Throughout the weekend, Lyon Park’s very own Helen
White, official U.S. Pickleball Ambassador, coached
pickleball enthusiasts, many of them first-time players.

Pickleball is a fabulous sport for young and old, as well
as the fastest growing sport in America! Helen will be
happy to share her addiction with you!. 

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Centennial Picnic Extravaganza Recap

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By Elizabeth Sheehy

On Saturday July 26, Lyon Park friends celebrated the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Lyon Park Community House. Despite the monsoon rains, a good time was had by all. The sun came out just in time for Arlington County Board member Susan Cunningham to read an official proclamation and Peter Vaselopulos from the Arlington Historical Society to say a few words. The evening continued as the Mandoleers and Jelly Jammers performed from the finally-dry patio, a perfect ending to a memorable community event. 

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Texas Jack, America’s First Cowboy Star

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By Gary Putnam

Those of us in Lyon Park and Ashton Heights who used to go for Whitey’s Broasted Chicken know it’s now Texas Jack’s Barbeque Restaurant. Do you know where the name comes from? If you’re looking for a good read, try Matthew Kern’s Texas Jack, America’s First Cowboy Star for a lot of exciting answers to that question. 

“Texas Jack” was a native-born Virginian, born in Palmyra, July 27, 1846 as John B. Omohundro and he lived fast, made a lot of spectacular splashes, and died way too young. His family farm was in Fluvanna County (near where Cunningham Creek runs into the Rivanna River). He tried to enlist in the Confederate Army at age 14. He was rebuffed several times, but later lied his way past the age limit and served as a scout and spy until the end of the war. Just weeks after the end of hostilities, at the ripe old age of 18, he headed to Florida and then west to the Taylor Ranch in Brazos,Texas where he hired on as a cook. He soon started working his way up to being a cowboy which was more exciting and suited his personality much better.

As he became more experienced, he drove cattle over the famous Goodnight-Loving and Chisholm trails to provide beef for states left with diminished larders due to the long war. It was on one such drive herding cattle to Tennessee where he received his nickname “Texas Jack.”

Punching cows must have surely provided less excitement than he wanted in his life. By 1869, he drifted into Hays, Kansas, where he met up and befriended Wild Bill Hickok. Later that same year, he met and began a life-long friendship with William F “Buffalo Bill” Cody. He soon joined Cody who was working as a scout and guide for the 5th US Cavalry. Cody convinced the cavalry to hire Jack even though he was a confederate veteran. He soon earned the cavalry’s respect and became a popular guide. 

Since the job was only part-time, he began hunting and guiding affluent sportsmen—both American and foreign.

In 1872, he and Buffalo Bill were persuaded by Western author Ned Buntline to put on a Wild West Show—Scouts of the Prairie—in the fashion of the dime comics that were so popular at that time in the US and Europe. They chose Chicago to open and Buntline was to write all the scripts for the event. Four days before the event, he had not produced anything more than a promise.

Being amateur actors, Cody and Texas Jack inevitably flubbed their lines and soon reverted to just brawling with each other and the Native American cast members. Instead of turning out to be a disaster, the audience loved it. It became the standard format for wild west shows which soon sprung up in the US to wildly popular success. They were joined the following year by Wild Bill Hickok, who was perhaps the least qualified of them as an actor. They had to fire him after less than a year because he refused to learn his lines, quarrelled way too much, and even shot out the annoying spotlights on one occasion! Jack left the show soon after marrying the dancer in the show, Giuseppina Morlacchi. They remained married until separated by death.

Cody, Hickok and Jack remained good friends the rest of Jack’s life. He died of pneumonia in Leadville, CO, in 1880, just shy of his 34th birthday.

For further reading, visit:

Facebook, HistoryNet, and Wikipedia. 

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A Tremendously Successful 2025 Lyon Park Spring Fair!

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By Paul Showalter

The 99th Spring Fair was a sunny experience of joy, sugar, and fun. 

Setup for the Fair began on Friday with several people (David Grahn and Peter Zirnite) bringing all the games, tables and supplies out of the basement before the torrential rainstorm hit. Darcy Rosenbaum (the Spring Fair chair) and son Benton and husband John worked late into the night prepping the center for a day’s worth of fun.

Saturday morning started early for a bunch of us, to make sure the day went off without a hitch. And it was a spectacular day. The sun was shining; the park was full of kids playing games and bouncing in the moon bounce; cookies and other baked goods were selling quickly at the Woman’s Club bake sale; the kitchen was pushing out Danville Street hot dogs, Troy’s pizza, fresh pasta, and lots lemonade; lions and tigers were painted on faces; popcorn, popsicles, and cotton candy were sold; and prizes were exchanged for prize tickets. We played numerous games of “Cake-A-Bout” in the sun, with kids winning baked goods (I served as the event’s emcee).

The Rosenbaum’s homemade games were a big hit again this year. The “Bull Ringer” – “Hole in One” – “Frog Flinger” and the reimagined “Duck Pond” fascinated the kids once again.

This event, like every event at Lyon Park, could not happen without a large group of volunteers. The Danville Street Crew (Mark Trachtman, Charlie Wall, and Sharon Showalter) staffed the kitchen and fed lots of hungry kids. Many other neighbors stepped in to help and it was appreciated. 

We had more than twelve high school and college volunteers with us on Friday and Saturday. We even had a crew of Long Branch Elementary school students (Alex and Helen Peters, Benton Rosenbaum, Alexys & Alejandro Linder, and Niam and Dhilan Bahl) running games and painting faces (Their parents even pitched in to help). All volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day to make sure everyone had fun—and we appreciate their efforts. 

Special thanks to Tyler Hawkins, Theo Roiniotis, and Tabitha Ricketts for sticking around and helping with the cleanup. They packed away every game, tent, and table. They even carried everything into the basement. An extra special thanks goes to my wife Sharon, for not only helping with setup on Friday night, but working all day in the kitchen, and cleaning until the last box was packed away in the “little blue pickup truck.”

Next year, we celebrate our 100th Spring Fair. For our signature event to be a success, we need more people to be involved in producing the Fair. Please step up and offer to help. We need you. Reach out to LyonParkEvents@gmail.com if you are interested.

If you have a rising sophomore, junior or senior who wants to volunteer in our community, have them reach out to LyonParkEvents@gmail.com. We have many volunteer opportunities during the summer and fall. 

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Team Burns Trash Walk

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By Tabitha Ricketts

If you’ve taken a stroll around Lyon Park on a Sunday evening, you may have crossed paths with the Burns family—on foot and on skates—out and about on a unique family mission: to enjoy the nice weather, and clean up our neighborhood. 

Always an active family, Kelly and Josh Burns have long embraced the tradition of a family walk after dinner. As often as weather and schedules allow, Micah and Levi strap on their helmets and grab their skates, scooters, or bikes to keep pace with their parents for a neighborhood stroll. One evening last spring, then-six-year-old Micah suggested an update to the tradition: picking up trash.

“Team Burns Trash Walks” are now a regular part of the family routine. The whole family sets out together on their usual routes through the neighborhood, sometimes deviating to higher-traffic streets with a higher trash yield. Each member of the family carries a plastic bag and hunts down scraps of litter like a lightly competitive game of “I Spy,” with extra cheers of victory for larger pieces of trash like a water bottle or chunk of styrofoam. The walks aren’t terribly long, but they have no problem filling up their bags, sometimes redistributing the trash if someone runs out of room. 

There are a few rules: they don’t touch cigarette butts, for example. The kids are careful of traffic, even when they spot a choice piece of trash just across the road. Navigating trash pick-up on wheels isn’t the easiest task, either, although the kids bounce up from each collection with limitless energy. And the task isn’t without its frustrations—the Burns were upset to actively witness littering in our neighborhood, and on Earth Day of all days! But the family keeps at it with good cheer and open hearts, folding their care for our community and the environment into their routines and core values. 

Not every family walk is a trash walk, but Team Burns is out cleaning up our streets more weeks than not. Sometimes the trash walk is a given; sometimes it’s specifically requested by one of the kids. After each walk, the Burns hold out their bags and survey their haul—bags full of good deeds and community care. It’s not their trash, but it IS their neighborhood—just like it’s all of ours. Micah recognized that at just six years old, and prompted a new family tradition to give back. Her example is an inspiration for all of us, the community, to take pride in our beautiful Lyon Park. Maybe this summer Team Burns won’t be the only team taking regular trash walks—I know you’ll see me out there!  

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Restaurant Vibes: East West Coffee Wine

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By Philippa Kirby and Philip Conklin

As its name suggests, East West Coffee Wine serves food and beverages rooted in the ‘east’ (in this case, Turkey and the middle east) and the ‘west’ (Europe and the Americas) with Turkish cuisine at the heart of the experience. This family owned and operated restaurant offers an inviting menu with fresh flavors, farm to table food quality, and a welcoming environment with a kind and attentive service staff.

Located on Highland at Wilson in Clarendon (with a sibling cafe in Tyson’s Corner), East West is both a hybrid fast casual (order at the counter) and a “be seated” (and wait staff will take your order) venue. The cafe features a coffee/espresso bar, a small but impressive pastry case, a wine bar and an expansive food menu with something for everyone to enjoy. When eating in (and socializing, working or studying), you can enjoy either the spacious sunny dining room with a relaxed atmosphere, or the very comfortable outdoor patio set apart from street noise.

On a bright and sunny Sunday morning, we relaxed outside under umbrellas on the patio. The all-day menu features pages and pages of beautifully photographed menu items evoking a culinary travelogue. We had fun poring over and discussing the array of options. A centerpiece of the menu is a Turkish breakfast featuring a literal buffet brought to your table and demands a committed team of hungry diners to finish. Though tempted, we passed on the Turkish breakfast and ordered instead a falafel salad, an adona (a ground lamb kebab sandwich), a vegetable omelet, and French toast, plus an order of spiced French fries for the table. We also ordered individual glasses of delicious Turkish tea served in simple, elegant glasses. 

The food arrived quickly, simultaneously, and freshly made. The falafel was tender and crisp and was served on a bed of fresh, nicely dressed greens and veggies. The adona featured well-seasoned ground lamb with a nice char and a moist interior, while the omelet (which looked more like a frittata than a typical American omelet) was veggie rich and tasty. Finally, the French toast was just like homemade—in the best way—with a light, crispy exterior and soft, custardy interior.

And, of course, we had to order a selection of baklava to finish. The small, rectangular baklava familiar to most Americans was top-notch, but we also had a delicious Turkish baklava with ice cream sandwiched in the middle (one member of our party found this to be nothing short of amazing).

Our order explored some of both the east and the west sides of the menu, but we barely scratched the surface of the menu’s broad array of options (such as: acuka, gambos al ajillos, chicken tenders, nachos, gyros and homemade spaghetti)* representing many different cultural traditions and enough choices to satisfy most every dietary requirement and preference. We thoroughly enjoy the experience and our meal at East West and had the impression that other diners (a diverse mix of families, couples, and seniors) were just as happy dining amidst the warm, welcoming hospitality of East West Coffee Wine.

East West Coffee Wine (3101 Wilson Blvd.): Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. daily. Phone number is 571–800–3905. Visit the website: www.ewcafe.com for more information. 

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The Changing Community Landscape: Green Valley Edition

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By Anne Bodine, VP of Development

In the mid-1970’s Arlington was one of the first places in the U.S. to adopt “Transit-Oriented Development;” increasing zoning and land use to allow major additions of housing, withing the two new rapid transit corridors for Metrorail. It worked out. Arlington grew, but in ways that kept the county semi-urban with low residential areas, while expanding along the corridors. A balance of commercial and residential space kept a pretty even keel to balance budgets. Since then, the county has added two new transit corridors, Columbia Pike and Langston Blvd., significantly increasing the carrying capacity for development. Budgets haven’t been as rosy, as commercial tenancy has declined in years since COVID-19. 

Inside the transit corridors, developers regularly “bargain” with the county, usually via staff, and neighborhoods, usually through civic associations, pursuant to the site planning process. Recently, however, areas that had never seen site planning are encountering them, including ours, via the Courthouse Clarendon amended sector plan, and special GLUPs (one-off changes to the land use on a site) that bring higher density in small areas, such as the Days Inn at Pershing and Rt. 50 in Lyon Park.

Now, however, the county is expanding site planning and higher density—and with some projects a departure from transit-corridor incentives—beyond these defined areas. The April 9 approval by the County Board of a 531-unit housing complex at S. Glebe Rd. and I-395, in Green Valley sets a precedent I find troubling. The vote defied wishes of African-American leaders, the Civic Association, neighbors, churches, the Arlington Civic Federation, among others, seemingly in a push to elevate housing production over other county goals. 

For example, the vote defied County goals on equity and housing affordability (most 2-bedroom units will not be affordable to the 42% of Green Valley residents who are Black or Hispanic). Fewer than 2% of the new units will be committed affordable units provided by the developer. I believe that number did not correspond to what was truly possible under current zoning and land use law and policy. The site plan process governing community benefits was also extremely warped as the county granted so many exemptions as to boosting the future yield on the property perhaps six to eight-fold. 

These critically important land use and zoning issues were not fully fleshed out—or done so only in a way they could not be challenged as the county attorney took the Board into a backroom during one of the Board meetings. That meant we may have left more affordable units on the table. The Board also failed to require a full VDOT analysis of the S. Glebe Rd. impacts (a road VDOT manages), allowing the developer to preempt traffic design here to maximize profit. While that is expected from for-profit entities, I believe in this case the County was not deeply committed to forging the best deal for a historic Black church next to the site, for Green Valley, or for the people who live here NOW. 

The development offers 91% 2-bedroom units or smaller, thus failing to deliver family-sized units Arlington needs. It adds to the surplus of small, expensive housing and will also be 100% rentals, meaning no opportunities for tenants to build generational wealth. And 98% of units will be at market rates where the County admits it has a surplus of supply.

The project will add 23% of existing housing stock in the census tract, but the only infrastructure and “community facility” improvements designed will mainly benefit the new tenants (a new access road, new green space) and not current residents or the church; some of the benefits may never be realized (a cut through to allow a second egress point for all the new traffic depends on owners of an adjacent site!). Minimal benefits were secured by AME Lomax Zion Church and Green Valley Civic Association, although one benefit, LEED design specifications, is significant and contributes to broad county goals. Several board members behaved as if they had no other choice. This sets awful precedents for site planning across Arlington; it guarantees further gentrification of one of Arlington’s most diverse neighborhoods. I hope this project will encourage you to get involved in long-term growth policy of our county and consider how we can also be better informed about these kinds of projects within our own Lyon Park. 

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Lyon Park’s History on Display

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By Thora Colot, former President—and Lifetime Member—of the LPCA

Three exhibit cases have been installed in the hallway that separates the kitchen from the main meeting room. These three cases will be filled with historic materials, photographs, facsimiles, and artifacts to tell the story of the community and the pride generations have demonstrated in its upkeep and preservation over the years.

But—why now? Elizabeth Sheehy spearheaded a grant application to Arlington County’s Historic Preservation Fund last year. She has long been aware of the historic records from 1919 on that have never been adequately archived nor stored. Before anything further could happen to them, she applied for and got this grant to digitize the records, and through this process, as well as outdoor signs and exhibit cases, make the history of Lyon Park more available to everyone. Thank you, Elizabeth! The goal of the exhibits in the cases will be to share the unique history of Lyon Park with everyone that uses the building. Even renters will understand what an incredible space they’re able to use through the information in the exhibits—the displays will add one more reason why the Community House is so unique to Arlington. 

Our goal is that the themes in the three cases will focus on:

Recognizing the supreme contributions of the many people throughout the years that have built, renovated and kept the Community House an important and extremely usable and useful historic part of the story of Arlington

Displaying artifacts and examples of past activities that demonstrate the true meaning of community, through events such as performances, lectures, girl scout meetings, as well as minutes of the first Women’s Club.

Highlighting photographs and other evidence that testify the community spirit is still alive through the ongoing efforts of everyone to make sure a cupcake sale, a food truck music evening, the spring fair and the Egg Hunt (among others!) continue to bring the neighborhood together. 

Every resident of Lyon Park actually owns Lyon Park and the Community House! This makes us unique among neighborhoods in Arlington. Under our stewardship, they will not only be vital to the future of the community, but also continue to bond us, nurture our children and provide a place with activities for everyone! We are so grateful for community members that have tirelessly contributed time and energy that helps to keep this mission alive. 

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Celebrating 250 Years—How Will Lyon Park Make it Special?

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By Elizabeth Sheehy

April 19, 2025 marked the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. In 1775, British troops aimed to seize military supplies stored by colonial militiamen in Concord, in the hopes of suppressing further rebellion. The colonists were warned of the impending arrival of the redcoats by Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride through the Massachusetts countryside, memorialized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem. 

The skirmish that resulted in a Patriot victory is known as the “shot heard round the world,” and is regarded as the official start of the successful American War of Independence. In Massachusetts (and six other states) April 19th is a legal holiday known as Patriots Day, and traditionally is the day of the Boston Marathon, as well as a morning Red Sox game at Fenway Park. This year, Patriot Day celebrations also marked the start of America250, the nationwide commemoration of our nation’s founding with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. 

Localities across the country will participate by highlighting historical events, cultural diversity, freedom, and community. Information about the celebrations, which will span more than a year, culminating in a nationwide birthday party of July 4, 2026, can be found at:

Home – English (July 2024)
Home
Front Page

In 1976, during the nation’s Bicentennial (200th birthday), Lyon Park created several special community projects. That year marks the start of the Lyon Park Citizen newsletter, published for the first time in September 1976. If anyone has editions from the first two years, the history committee would love copies! Another wonderful project was the planting of red, white, and blue flowers in the gardens throughout Lyon Park. For those who lived in Lyon park at the time, what else was done to commemorate the Bicentennial?

Lyon Park is a very special community and an official Historic District. We need to start planning for next year’s celebration. Come to the LPCA meeting on May 8 to share your ideas, or drop a note to lyonparkpresident@gmail.com. This is the chance not only to look back, but to look forward and create wonderful NEW memories and future opportunities.

And mark your calendars for Lyon Park’s own launch of the Semiquincentennial (quarter millennial or 250 years) Celebration at the Lyon Park Picnic in two months on Saturday, July 26 starting at 4 p.m. There will be games, music, ice cream and more! Sign up today to help or donate at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A48ACA92FA4FB6-55905801-lyon#/  

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Let’s Renovate Our Playground Together!

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The Lyon Park Playground Committee is excited to be working with the community to develop a plan for renovating the playground at Lyon Park. We are a group of volunteers spearheaded by resident Mark Ilich and began meeting in February to discuss the project and how we can “Play It Forward!”

The basic intent is to: replace the equipment, address the current drainage problems, respect the park’s natural tree canopy, and install new surfacing. However, other details and what it will look like exactly is still an open question. Throughout the spring we will be at several community events to help raise awareness of the project and hear from the community. Last month we launched a survey to better understand the community’s preferences and priorities. If you have not already shared your feedback, please follow the link below to provide your input and make sure your voice is heard! Your input is very valuable in guiding the renovation and design process, and we want to hear from as many residents as possible. Please share with your neighbors and help spread the word!

We also invite you to come to our tent at the Lyon Park Spring Fair (5/17) where we will have an activity table for kids to build their dream playground and volunteers will be available to speak with you more about the project. 

In June, based on all the input collected in our Survey, we will launch the next phase of conceptual design and begin fundraising in earnest. A generous donation has allowed us to engage a local design firm to help us shepherd the project through these initial engagement and conceptual design phases; however ongoing volunteer efforts and fundraising will be critical to turning this vital need into a reality. Please be on the lookout for ways that you can participate in and donate to the efforts and help us PLAY IT FORWARD!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LP-Playground-Renovation 

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