By Tatiana Baquero Cakici

We are excited to announce that the Recycling Parade, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2024, has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 18, 2024, which will take place concurrently with the Lyon Park’s Spring Fair for your convenience. We hope that you can join us on the new date!

The Recycling Parade is an environmental conservation project from seven-year-old Sara Cakici, a resident of Lyon Park and a first-grade student of the Arlington Traditional School (ATS). The event will involve encouraging both children and adults to participate in fun activities using recyclable or recycled materials from home, followed by a parade through Lyon Park, where participants will march enthusiastically, displaying their signs promoting recycling and demonstrating their dedication to sustainable living.

The Recycling Parade will feature a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Sara is especially excited to announce three main activities for kids and their families:

Poster Station: Kids can get creative and design their own posters with eco-friendly messages to promote recycling and sustainability during the parade.

Cute Bunny Crafts Station: A fun crafting station where kids can make adorable bunny-themed crafts using recyclable materials.

The 3 “Rs” Rule Station: Learn about the 3 “Rs” of sustainability—reduce, reuse, recycle—and participate in interactive games and activities to reinforce these concepts.

Sara’s family and friends are supporting her to make this important event a reality; especially her 5-year-old sister, Sofia Cakici, who will be the leader of the Cute Bunny Crafts Station. 

Kids who participate in any of the activities will receive “tickets” that can be exchanged for prizes at the Spring Fair! We encourage everyone to mark their calendars for Saturday, May 18, 2024, and join us for a day of fun, learning, and community spirit at Lyon Park. More details about the event schedule and additional activities will be shared closer to the date.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for making Lyon Park a greener, more sustainable community. We look forward to seeing you at the Spring Fair and the Recycling Parade!  In Sara’s own words: “please come to my event to make the world and Lyon Park a greener place!” 

By Gary Putnam

Well, it’s over for another year! After a very noisy finale, the debacle known as the 2024 Lyon Park Chili Cookoff went off about as feared on Sunday, March 3. The usual raucous and rowdy occasion was probably worse this year. The noise level was so high, it flushed birds from the nearby trees.  Some of that fright came because of the chili pots that neighbors from Ashton Heights and Lyon Park brought to this year’s Cookoff. It was a mixed bag as usual. Some were noteworthy because of unexpected excellence. Some were distinct because they weren’t really that bad and some were…well, as one of the three judges said, “smelled like a damp thrift store!”

Ranking was done by popular vote, notes added are from a veteran team of three chili heads who sampled every single chili—some, more than once when disagreements arose. Tums and Gas-X were generously provided by Paul Showalter who, of course, had to resort to bribes and furnish Tums for anyone to even try his chili. 

Hauling off top honors this year was Sebastian John (Pot # 4) with a very traditional red called “Southern Red”. One of the more serious chilis of the event, it was a standout with multi-layered flavors.

Second place (Pot #17)  was Laureen Daly’s “Silly Chili” which was a dark, “visually interesting” Venison-Chorizo deep red with a pronounced punch of heat.

Third place (Pot # 16) was Mark & Tricia Montgomery’s “Highland Street Classic” traditional style meat and beans with a ketchup-and-taco flavor…in a good way!

(Pot # 18) “Baby Got Chili” by David Morgan was the highest placing veggie chili. Corn, veggies, deep interesting red and sweet. Very notable, according to the judges.

(Pot # 1) “Pork Shoulder” by Dave Schutz, smooth finish, good meat taste. 

(Pot # 2) “Hel Has Fury” by Helen White, very creative, complex, sweet & tangy butternut squash with black beans.

(Pot # 3) “Good ole Fashion Chili” by Ann Reimers, a classic meat,” gluten free, no beans, low fodmap” can’t ask for much more than that!

(Pot # 5) “Reapers Roast” by Murray Jacobson, beef and veggie with a finishing kick.

(Pot # 6) “Eliza’s Famous Cincinnati Chili” by Matt and Eliza Hall. A sweet and smoky version of a famous chili with floral overtones.

(Pot # 7) “Nanna’s Best” by Ethan and Bess Zelle, judges: a mildly seasoned all-day-eating chili.

(Pot # 8) “Better Than Canned” by Paul Showalter. Barely.

(Pot # 9) “The Day After Tomorrow” by Ethan and Bess Zelle. A spicy red with a lingering tingle of heat that danced on the tongue.

(Pot # 10) “Deathbed Chili” by Amanda Hawkins, a spicy red aromatic . Said by the maker to be the one chili you would ask for as your last meal. This recipe is a legend in the mind of it’s maker.

(Pot # 11) “A Mother’s Love” by Gary Putnam. This bowl of red was so subtle that only a mother could love it. It was so underwhelming that it got only one vote (tieing for dead last). That single vote did not come from the maker. He wisely chose someone else’s! How would you feel to know that the world loves EVERYBODY elses more than yours?

(Pot # 12) “Uncontrolled Wildfire” by Elliott and Marlene Mandel. Sweet notes of caramel and lots of beans with an attitude.

(Pot # 13) “Papa’s Campfire Chili” by Dorothy Atewologun. Bison, jalapeños, onions and beans. What more do you need? A very good pot.

(Pot # 14) “Mama And Papa’s Chili” by Tom and Elizabeth Sheehy. Straightforward traditional bowl of well-balanced red. Safe for families.

(Pot # 15) “Drunken Chicken Chili” by John and Kim Franklin. Really sophisticated hints of smoke and cinnamon spiced chicken. The judges noted that most bowls of chili benefit from the proximity of beer and bourbon.

(Pot # 18) “Baby Got Chili” by David Morgan. A veggie chili which placed really high in the popular vote. The judges reluctantly praised it in spite of it being a spin-off from last year’s vegetarian winner. Judges admitted that it looked good and tasted good. Unexpectedly corny, red and sweet.

(Pot # 19) “One Hot Grandma” by Elizabeth Wray. Perfectly done meat, very spicy and aromatic served in an early electric warmer that must be over a half century old. It was so old that Alva Edison had carved his initials in it.

The chili credentials have been awarded for 2024 and so its time to fade back into our double-wides for another year and work on those or hopefully better recipes for next year’s cookoff. 

By Jeannette Wick

The annual Valentine’s Day Cupcake Sale was a roaring success on February 10th, 2024. Neighbors appeared as soon as we opened the door on Friday afternoon for our early bird sales, and more than half of our cupcakes evaporated before the 7:00 PM closing time. Members of the not-just-for-Woman’s club opened the doors again at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning and declared the sale closed shortly after 11 when almost all of the cupcakes had been sold. Two students from Yorktown High School, Catalina and Emily, also helped, and those kids could sell honey to a bee. As always, the Red Velvet Chip cupcakes were best sellers for this romantic holiday, and this year’s surprise early sellout was the Cookies ‘n Cream cupcake.

We hear the same questions all the time, with the most frequently asked question being, “Did you bake all of these cupcakes?” Of course we did! This year a team of approximately 10 people shopped for, mixed, baked, frosted, and sold the 900 cupcakes that the neighborhood demands on such an occasion. It took roughly seven hours. The large kitchen at the Community Center becomes a veritable cloud of confectioner’s sugar perfused with the aroma of whatever variety of cupcake is parked in the ovens at the moment.

One of the biggest issues with the cupcake sale or almost any event in Lyon Park is our reliance on volunteers. For this event, the event organizer was a little bit nervous until the day before we were scheduled to bake. We were fortunate enough to have a sufficient number of volunteers. Our biggest need is for people who can frost. Handling a frosting bag is a mechanical art that takes a little bit of practice, so if you are a candidate to frost a few 100 cupcakes for the next cupcake sale, speak up!

Speaking of the next cupcake sale, we need to ensure that we have volunteers lined up. Be on the lookout for emails asking for help. The next cupcake sale will be March 30th! 

Two important issues were discussed at the January 10 LPCA meeting, held at 7:00 pm at the Lyon Park Community Center. Members were given a comprehensive review of the work of the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) and we had an in-depth discussion of the new stormwater fee that took effect 12/31/2023.

First up, representing the Community Engagement Division (CED) of the ACPD, Officer Hicken reviewed statistics for the county over the past year. Though crime stats are up in Arlington, crime is actually down in Lyon Park and its neighboring areas, notably lower in destruction of property and auto break-ins. Officer Hicken stressed the importance of locking your car and not leaving garage door openers or extra house keys where thieves can access them. Seems so basic, but it happens all too frequently. Auto thefts remain higher than in previous years, many involving delivery drivers who leave vehicles unattended. 

The officer opened the floor to questions, and the members present had plenty of them. In response to comments about specific dangerous intersections and/or traffic spots, Hicken recommends citizens request support for a Traffic Accident Reduction Program study, for which it receives grants from the state. Arlington has been quite successful in reducing traffic incidents through this program, which is part of the county’s Vision Zero project. Here is the link to request support: https://arlingtonva.qscend.com/311/request/add
Some issues, such as live/double parking, fall under the jurisdiction of transportation and parking, while ACPD focuses on emergencies. 

In response to questions about smash-and-grab shoplifting incidents, which are certainly on the rise, the officer shared that many retailers choose not to report these thefts, handling them internally, so the data is incomplete. Responding to a question about recent incidents at W-L, Hicken noted that the ACPD has less visibility of the issues as School Resource Officers are no longer on campus. Through the CED, Arlington Police encourage school engagement, including school visits, coffee with a cop, and ride-alongs, which can be requested through the website. 

Our guest speaker from Ashton Heights had to reschedule the presentation on the new stormwater fees until February, but neighbors Elaine Simmons and John Ausink, familiar with the program’s features, were able to step in and answer questions. Most homes in Lyon Park will be assessed at $258 (or one ERU), while homes with oversized footprints will be assessed higher. This fee replaces the Sanitary District Tax. Since it is a fee, the burden will hit tax-exempt entities, such as religious institutions, charities, and even the Lyon Park Community Center, which will now pay $774 per year. You can find your home’s ERU value on the county website here: https://arlgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=00ea7985a519498ba8da3f2b52bd5b43

Lots of other issues discussed, so join us in February for more great neighborhood updates.

By Paul Showalter

The Lyon Park Santa Express made several runs throughout Arlington County and the Lyon Park neighborhood. Our first run, on Saturday December 16, went through the friendly streets of Lyon Park—where we were joined by four wonderful helper elves, Benton Rosenbaum, Ferdy Walsh, Alexys Linder, and Alejandro Linder, under the watchful eye of Darcy Rosenbaum. Our trip started at the Washington-Lee apartments where Santa and his sleigh were greeted by a huge crowd of kids. Everyone wanted their picture with Santa—and a candy cane! Throughout our run, Santa was greeted by cheering kids, happy parents, and smiling grandparents.

After Santa finished his run through Lyon Park, he took a short break to eat his favorite pizza at Troy’s Italian Kitchen. Energized, Santa directed his sleigh up to the park at Clarendon Crossing and then on to Ballston’s Mosaic Park. At each location, kids and parents were thrilled to see Santa arrive unexpectedly (and many more photos were taken).

Santa had so much fun visiting those two parks that he scheduled two more Santa Express runs in Arlington! Santa and his sleigh visited 8 parks in South Arlington on Friday December 22 and another 8 parks in North Arlington on Saturday December 23. During Santa’s run in South Arlington, he visited his favorite sandwich shop, the “Weenie Beenie,” for a quick bite. After his North Arlington run, Santa had to return to the North Pole to make final preparations for his Christmas deliveries. Judging by the sounds we heard on Christmas morning; Santa had visited many happy children in Lyon Park.

Santa (aka Gary Putnam) and his head elf (Paul Showalter) are taking a much-needed rest. They look forward to seeing everyone next December. Until then, Ho Ho Ho!

View more pictures of the Santa Express!

By Paul Showalter

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but the party inside the community center, held on December 10, was so delightful! Decorations were placed by the chimney with care. Children participated in activities at every table—paint and projects were everywhere. Hot chocolate flowed, mini marshmallows were dunked, and candy canes consumed. Cookies and jelly donuts were eaten by the handful. 

The elves expertly managed the lines of children waiting to visit Santa, who made an early December visit to Lyon Park. And kudos to Darcy Rosenbaum, our holiday party chair, created a magical and enchanting scene in the center—nobody decorates a party like Darcy! Natalie Roy and Kim Franklin added their expertise to ensure the event ran smoothly. Many thanks to the parents and kids who came out to enjoy the party. This is another of our treasured community annual events, which marked a terrific start to the holiday season and once more filled our Community House with the smiles and laughter of happy families.

By David Robeck

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!

What is the Bunny Hop race and who does it benefit? 

The Bunny Hop is a 5K fun run/walk through Lyon Park and Ashton Heights. Our beneficiary is Bridges to Independence, which operates a family shelter in Lyon Park. 

How many people typically sign up and how much money does the race generate for charity? 

Typically, 600 runners sign up; last year, including sponsorship, we gave $21,000 to Bridges. Including this year, the 6th running of the race, we should hit $100,000 for our combined gifts since inception. 

What are the hardest things about putting on such a race? 

Getting sponsorships, getting 100+ volunteers, and getting police support (which is understaffed) for the race.

What do you need volunteers to do? 

The race is hosted by Clarendon Methodist Church, but we need a lot of volunteers from the community to do things like distribute flyers weeks before the race, serve as course marshals at intersections on race day, and help with the block party afterwards.  

Tell us more about the block party

The post-race block party is free and open to all. It will feature two live bands, a bag piper to kick off the race, bounce houses, face painting, and snacks.  

How do people sign up to run the race and/or to volunteer?Register/volunteer at our website:  ArlingtonBunnyHop.org. The race will start at 8:00 a.m. at N. 6th and Irving Streets on April 15th.

Lots of education research confirms that children who read below grade level in the 3rd grade have a very hard time ever catching up. And if children can’t read well, they really struggle in school. If they don’t enjoy reading, they tend not to spend the time to learn to read better. Many even drop out of school early and rarely pursue post-secondary education. 

Even though Arlington is a highly educated community overall, we have lots of children in Arlington elementary schools whose reading skills fall behind. The impact may be most significant in families where there are few books at home, where the native language isn’t English, and where parents have little time to read with their children due to job schedules. COVID has obviously exacerbated this challenge.

In the spring of 2022, a few volunteers began a pilot program in partnership with Hoffman-Boston Elementary School.  That pilot was very successful and gave us an opportunity to fine tune the logistics. We’re now planning for the 2022-23 school year and expanding to Drew and Long Branch, in addition to continuing at Hoffman-Boston.

The minimum commitment is 45 minutes one day per week, between 4and 6 PM, simply reading with a student one on one and chatting about the book(s) (and anything else the child wants to discuss!).  There is a formal process for approving volunteers and a short online training class on Safe Schools. School staff provides books and coordinates the schedule for each volunteer.If you’d like more information or just want to sign up, please contact Dan Dixon (202-262-8338 or dandixon97@aol.com).