Pamela Carter-Birken, Lyon Park resident and author of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips and America’s First Museum of Modern Art (Vernon Press), delivered a captivating presentation at the historic Arts Club of Washington, located in the President James Monroe House, in September.

Her book explores the legacy of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips, founders of The Phillips Collection, widely regarded as America’s first museum of modern art. During the event, Carter-Birken highlighted how the Phillips family not only collected art but also cultivated a cultural home where artists, staff, and the public could engage deeply with modern art.

The Arts Club of Washington was honored to host Dr. Pamela Carter-Birken in the historic President James Monroe House, where she delivered a captivating presentation on the Phillips family, founders of The Phillips Collection. Her presentation revealed not only the art that graces the museum’s walls, but also the people—collectors, artists, and dedicated staff—who shaped it into both a cultural treasure and a home. With lively storytelling, she illuminated the intertwined lives of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips alongside the many others who built and sustained the Collection. The evening left our audience with a deeper appreciation of the Phillips family’s contribution to America’s cultural legacy. Her book is a remarkable testament to how art, literature, and history continue to shape the human experience and enrich our cultural life.

— Jameson Paul Freeman, President,
The Arts Club of Washington

The evening underscored the relevance of Carter-Birken’s book for scholars, students, and art enthusiasts seeking to understand how modern art entered the American cultural landscape. The Phillips Collection, founded in 1921, remains one of the most significant institutions for modern art in the United States, and Carter-Birken’s work provides a nuanced look into the lives of its founders and the community they fostered.

Duncan and Marjorie Phillips and America’s First Museum of Modern Art is available from Vernon Press in hardback, paperback, and e-book editions. 

From the July 2, 2024 edition of the washington post

Francis X. O’Leary, a longtime Lyon Park resident and community leader passed away this summer.  O’Leary was a fixture in Arlington politics for decades and contributed to making our community a better place for all of us. May his memory be a blessing. 

Francis Xavier O’Leary “Frank,” retired Treasurer of Arlington County, Virginia, passed away on June 7, 2024, after a heroic battle with leukemia.

Mr. O’Leary was first elected as Arlington County Treasurer in 1983 by a total of 89 votes, earning him the nickname “Landslide O’Leary”. He served from January of 1984 until his retirement in June of 2014. This made him the second longest tenured Constitutional Officer in the modern era in the County. He would point with particular pride to several accomplishments during his thirty years in office. His policies lowered the County’s tax delinquency rate…. achieved a higher rate of return on county investments…..[and] modernized the Treasurer’s Office to reflect the diversity of the Arlington community.

Frank O’Leary was born on July 2,1943, in New York City, NY. The son of a career Army officer, he graduated from Frankfurt American High School in Germany. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point but later transferred to Georgetown University where he graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science Foreign Service (BSFS) degree with a major in Economic Theory. He completed the course work for a Master’s degree in Economic Theory from Georgetown University in 1967.

Mr. O’Leary’s lifetime in public service included membership after college in the New Jersey and District of Columbia National Guard and continued with David Hackett Associates where he worked on a host of anti-poverty programs focused on inner city employment initiatives. 

Through many decades, Frank O’Leary was involved in numerous charitable and community efforts in his Arlington community. He served in various capacities for his Lyon Park civic association, including his role leading the successful fight against the county’s plans to turn his neighborhood street into a busy commuter thoroughfare. ¬¬¬As scoutmaster for Cub Scout Pack 104 at Clarendon United Methodist Church he reenergized what had been a struggling organization. In honor of his friend, the late Delegate Warren Stambaugh who authored the Virginians with Disabilities Act, Mr. O’Leary helped create and was the longtime President of the Stambaugh Foundation. Over the course of twenty-one years, he led the foundation in donating over $200,000 in awards to organizations serving the disabled community or paying for renovations to make local structures more accessible.

He was deeply involved in raising money for several local organizations including the Arlington Historical Society, the Arlington Black Heritage Museum, AHOME (Affordable Housing), and the Arlington Red Cross. In recent years, Mr. O’Leary was active in the Arlington Optimists and was awarded the Arlington Interservice Club Council Man of the Year Award in 2022.

Frank O’Leary was a strong Democrat who mentored scores of candidates, raised funds for local campaigns and committees and aided the Arlington Democratic Party in establishing its dominance over county elections since the 1980s. 

He worked tirelessly to support the USS Arlington Commissioning Committee, helping to raise $438,000 to honor the US Navy ship named for Arlington’s role in responding to the attacks of September 11, 2001. After the ship was commissioned in 2013, he was active in the USS Arlington-Community Alliance established to foster links between the county’s namesake ship, its captain, crew, and the Arlington community.

Frank O’Leary is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Linda Banigan O’Leary, his brother, Terence O’Leary, his daughter, Heather O’Leary Moore (Martin), and their daughter, Brianna and his son, Brian O’Leary (Susan) and their two sons, Ian and Rory. He will also be missed by countless friends, allies, colleagues and associates whose lives he touched in his 80 years.

By Adam Rasmussen

In May, I completed my first 100-mile trail running race, the Massanutten Mountain Trails (MMT). While it is one of my greatest personal achievements, it is also an accomplishment for the community that welcomed, encouraged, and prepared me for this race. Ultramarathoning is a highly competitive sport with athletes breaking records all the time. And like many other competitive sports, corporate sponsorship has influenced the culture surrounding the elite races. Despite this, the sport remains highly accessible and encouraging for newcomers of all ages and paces at the local level. 

I’ve been a trail runner for 10 years, but never ran more than a half marathon until I decided to take the plunge into ultramarathoning last year. An ultramarathon is a run that is longer than 26.2 miles. The most common race distances in the US are 50K, 50 miles, 100K, and 100 miles.

Most runners, including myself, begin with a 50K (31 miles). That may seem daunting to most of you reading these words. I wasn’t sure I could do it either. One of the many things I learned at my first ultra last year was that I should be confident that my fellow participants and the volunteers staffing the aid stations would have my back. When I developed severe cramps in both calves due to low electrolytes, I lost track of how many runners passing me offered to pick me up, supply salt capsules, and words of encouragement. Friendly volunteers at the aid station filled my water bottles and asked me what I needed to continue, and I finished the race.

I no longer need the help of the ultramarathon community to simply survive a race. Still, I depend on them for advice on the best places and races to run, and for inspiration to push myself beyond what I thought was possible.

That takes me back to MMT. I completed the 100 miles because I trained the last 4 months and because I had a crew and pacers from the community who knew what I needed to cross the finish line. This happened despite serious physical and mental challenges. While I didn’t know it at the time, I broke my big toe 20 miles into the race. What I did know, around mile 80 (~1 a.m.), was that my left calf was in excruciating pain as I faced one of the steepest climbs of the course. When I reached the top of the ridge I couldn’t run. It took me almost two hours to hobble 3.5 miles—by far my low point in the race.

My pacer was having none of my talk about quitting at the next aid station. She and the rest of my crew committed their weekend to ensure that I finished this race, and I wasn’t about to let them down. Fortunately, the ibuprofen I had taken finally kicked in and I was able to pull it together mentally to finish the race. I have no doubt that the ultramarathon community running the aid stations, staffing my crew, and providing pre-race strategies were responsible for me finishing this race and the 10 other ultramarathons I’ve run in the last 14 months.

Even if ultramarathons are a trail too far for you, there are many opportunities to enjoy recreational and competitive trail running in the DC region. I would start with Virginia Happy Trails Running Club (https://new.vhtrc.org/). They offer weekly recreational runs for the slow and the fast and free ultramarathon distance events and competitive races throughout the year. I started with Sundays in the Park, which offers a different experience each week of 7–10 miles in Rock Creek Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail, sometimes meeting right here in Arlington at Roosevelt Island. I also recommend volunteering to staff an aid station at a VHTRC event so that you can experience what it’s like to participate before committing to the training. 

By Kathleen McSweeney

For half a century, Robert and Shelya White have lived on the corner of North Fillmore and 4th Street across from Lyon Park. In 1973 they toured what was then a dilapidated two-bedroom house. They purchased their home over the strong objections of their realtor because they liked the neighborhood, it was close to their jobs, and the house was the right price ($37,950) for their family. Talks of a metro being planned a few blocks away in Clarendon sealed the deal. They raised two sons, Steven and Robert, in that home. In 2008, Shelya and Robert did a major renovation and rebuilt the house that stands on the corner today. 

Both Shelya and Robert are retired Federal employees. Shelya worked as a Human Resources Specialist for several agencies. She mentioned that she should have followed the advice she routinely gave new government hires: “Take an early retirement and then spend your life traveling.” Robert worked as a civil servant for 33 years, first as an environmental and physical scientist before retiring from Federal service and contracting with Northrup Grumman. After retiring, Shelya was able to take her own advice. She and Robert have taken trips to several places including England, France, Switzerland and the Vatican, Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti, the Carribean, Panama, and Alaska.

In addition to their busy jobs and family responsibilities, Shelya and Robert have volunteered for decades. Much of their charitable work has been as members of the Eastern Star (Shelya and Robert) and Masons (Robert) helping to raise significant funds for many worthy causes.  Both have held leadership positions and served as Grand Representatives from Virginia to Australia (Robert in 2013 and 2014) and to New York (Shelya in 2015). Robert is a founder and served as secretary of the Patriot Lodge at George Mason University, and Shelya currently serves as the Secretary of the local Unity Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. 

Locally, Robert served on the Board and was the Vice President of the Arlington Historic Society. Shelya has served for decades on the Board of the Lyon Park Woman’s Club and has been a reliable volunteer at Lyon Park annual events such as the Spring Fair, Halloween donut and cider distribution, spaghetti dinner, and regular cupcake sales. For years, members of the Woman’s Club have appreciated receiving Shelya’s hand-written cards extending good wishes for birthdays and special events, and condolences when loved ones have passed. Those cards are a meaningful and personal expression of community here in Lyon Park. 

Growing up, Robert’s family had limited means but were close and supportive. When asked why they spend so much time volunteering Robert stated that he was raised to always help people – whether they be family or members of the community. Shelya responded, “We live in such a privileged community here in Lyon Park. It is heartbreaking to witness other Arlington neighbors who need assistance, and we feel compelled to help.” 

Note: Robert and Shelya have started a 501(c)3 organization to fund research for a very rare, degenerative disease called Alexander Disease that has impacted members of Robert’s family and strikes 1 out of every 2.7 million people. If any neighbor has knowledge and can  assist them in including the charity in the annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), please reach out to them.

By Michael Doyle, founding member of NoVa Families for Safe Streets

Have you almost been hit by a car when walking or cycling?  

Now, you can report those “near misses” and help make your streets safer!  Visit the Near Miss Dashboard and report what, where, and when it happened.

Developed with support from Virginia Tech Graduate School of Urban & Regional Planning program plus a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, NoVA Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) is collecting, analyzing, and sharing the data with police and the relevant transportation jurisdictional staff to advocate for/help inform decisions to:

Improve road infrastructure,

Increase police vigilance at
specific locations,

Develop better traffic safety regulations, 

Strive to accomplish the Vision Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax. 

“People experience too many close calls on our streets—times when they were nearly in a crash or saw dangerous conditions on our streets that could lead to crashes in the future. Collecting and sharing these experiences gives us an opportunity to identify dangerous street safety patterns before crashes occur and helps us to alert the relevant authorities so such dangerous conditions can be addressed,” according to Mike Doyle, founder of NoVa FSS.

Based on incident reports logged in the Upgraded Near Miss survey since it was launched on June 17, 2021, 54 percent of the incidents involve pedestrians  and 17 percent involve cyclists. Overwhelmingly, 57 percent of the reported incidents occur when drivers fail to yield to people in a crosswalk.  In addition, speeding and stop sign running contribute to nearly 50 percent of the reported NM incidents. Time of day is a significant factor as well, with over 50% of the incidents occurring during the afternoon rush hour and spiking between 5-6pm.  

NoVA FSS /Arl FSS Mission Statement  

Northern Virginia’s Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) is the umbrella organization for an all-volunteer, nonprofit entity with three chapters in Alexandria (AFSS), Arlington (Arl FSS), and Fairfax (Ffx FSS). We have 1,500 members and we serve as a community voice to bring the municipalities of Alexandria City, Arlington County, and Fairfax County together to advocate for pedestrian and other vulnerable road users’ street safety for all.

To accomplish this, NoVA FSS:

Tells the impact stories of crash survivors and families who had a member killed by traffic violence,

Advocates for Traffic Regulation policy changes related to infrastructure, traffic laws, and penalties, 

Raises public awareness of street safety risks via public outreach forums like Farmers’ Markets and Civic Association meetings,

Educates middle school students through in-person presentations about street safety programs in the
region’s schools,

Work cooperatively with the respective City and/or County police departments and transportation
staff to promote safe streets for all vulnerable road users, and

Displays, on a real time basis, NoVA FSS’s Near Miss Survey map of near misses & dangerous intersections reported by pedestrians and other road users to identify high risk crash locations (including where pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured per Virginia TREDS’s crash data).

To receive our communications about Arl FSS activities and advocacy efforts, simply sign up: FSS Home – Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets (novasafestreets.org).  We are also looking for volunteers to help the Arlington FSS Board advance its pedestrian/cyclist street safety programs—interested candidates are most welcome!

View the NoVA FSS presentation given at the March monthly meeting.

By Kathleen McSweeney

When thinking of the neighbors who have helped build community in Lyon Park, Elizabeth Wray is at the top of the list. Even if you don’t know her, you have seen her in one of her many incarnations over the past several decades. She has been Mrs. Claus for years at the Lyon Park holiday parties, a friendly witch who has distributed donuts and cider at the annual Halloween bonfire, ticket seller at the pancake breakfast and the annual chili dinner, cupcake baker at nearly every bake sale, representative to the Lyon Park Board of Governors, and the leader of the Woman’s Club.

Elizabeth’s first career was as an elementary school teacher in Hagerstown, MD. She met her husband in Hagerstown, and his work drew them to Arlington. They moved to her Highland Street home in November 1962, with toddlers in tow, and one more on the way. The Henry Clay Elementary School, which stood on the site of what is now Zitkala-Sa Park, was a huge draw being just steps away from their new home.

In 1977, Elizabeth became a single mother with four children. She worked to support her family and still managed to volunteer in her community. She worked
for C&P Telephone company, which was called Bell Atlantic by the time she retired in 1998. (Today we know it as Verizon.) She enjoyed her work at the phone company, and she put her teaching skills to good use training new customer service representatives. She was active in the PTA and supported the activities of the Clarendon Cub Scout troops and Boy Scout troop based at Mount Olivet Church, her sons drawn by the many activities and canoe trips. Neighbors can still see the canoes Elizabeth stores in her driveway when they aren’t being used by the troop. She has been a member of the LPCA ever since she moved to the neighborhood, and chuckled when she noted that she should have thought to become a lifetime member, seeing as she has been paying her annual LPCA dues for about 62 years. 

She knocked on Lyon Park doors for years to raise money for the American Heart Association and the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, the latter a personal mission since she was one of eight children and has lost six of her siblings to cancer. For years she has made memory bears for a hospice center in Fairfax. Families provide volunteers with garments from their loved ones who spent their final days at the hospice, and volunteers like Elizabeth transform the clothes into a stuffed animal. Elizabeth finds it very rewarding to help families deal with loss and she cherishes the notes she has received from grieving yet grateful family members. 

When asked what she likes about Lyon Park, she says her roots run very deep. She has lived here for over six decades, raised her children here, and has good friends and neighbors. Elizabeth knows that if she needed anything, she is confident her neighbors would help. It should be noted that this sense of community doesn’t happen by accident. Elizabeth has been the torchbearer for many of our neighborhood traditions, and through
her kind and consistent example, has been instrumental in making Lyon Park the close-knit neighborhood that
she cherishes. 

By Kim Franklin, Lyon Park Newsletter Distribution Chief

As we reach the halfway point in our 2023–2024 Newsletter season, we would like to express our thanks to the neighbors who assist with delivering the Lyon Park Bulletin to each Lyon Park household, 10 months a year.  

Our Zone Captains include:  Jeff Baron (Zone 1), Phillip Conklin (Zone 2), Sandra Rose (Zone 3a–Washington-Lee Apts), Anju Panday (Zone 3b–Washington-Lee Apts), Naomi Wondim (Zone 3c–Washington-Lee Apts), Gary Putnam (Zone 4), Honor O’Hare (Zone 5), Michelle McMahon (Zone 6a), Mark Stafford (Zone 6b), and Chuck Phillips (Zone 7–Cambridge Court Apts).  They each receive between 115 and 350 newsletters, which they hand over to our Block Captains, the ones who go door to door to deliver your newsletter before our monthly LPCA meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. 

Our Block Captains include:  

Zone 1:  Paige Kellogg, Andrew Miller, David & Kristine Barr, Liz Tefera, Barbara Ransom, Lynn Ross, Brittany Catina, Susan Demske & Matt Whitaker, Jim Hecker, Bill Cook, Adam Rasmussen, Connie Betterton, Paul Geary, Missie Burman, Elena Vorolova, Mike Stein, and Jeremy Maier.

Zone 2:  Claire Peters, Nadia Facey, Emily Walsh, Peggy Page, Amanda Carey, Laureen Daly, Lyn Stewart, Eriko Kennedy, and Aline Motabrito.

Zones 3a, b, c:  Sandra Rose, Anju Panday, and Naomi Wondim (they act as Zone and Block Captains for 275 newsletter deliveries!).

Zone 4:  Kit Putnam, Barbara & Larry McBride, Yilien Binstock, Shikhin Agarwal, and Tom & Teresa Colucia.

Zone 5:  Ron Paletzki & Susan Leetmaa, Wendell Brown, Barbara Souders, Jim & Nancy Swigert, B. Brennan, Amanda Hawkins, David & Annie Morgan, Lynn Shotwell, and Lisa Ruff.

Zone 6a:  Laura Desai, Bev Winston, Patty Morrison, Lisa Palmer, Linda Henderson, Jill Nusbaum, Ann Reimers, Julie Young, Tanya Amos, Peter& Zoe Kant, Jill & Greg Siegal.

Zone 6b:  Mark Stafford, Rebecca Metro, Lorraine Gardner, Tracy Hopkins, Maggie Hershey, Trish Montgomery, Elaine Simmons, Aida Peck, and Janalee Jordan Meldrum.

Zone 7:  Chuck Phillips (he acts as Zone and Block Captain for 159 newsletter deliveries!)

As you can see, it really takes a village to accomplish this volunteer activity.  WELL DONE, TEAM AND THANKS!  

If you would like to get involved, please contact Kim Franklin at 571-239-1790 / blufftonjoy@gmail.com. 

By Kathleen McSweeney

Gary and Kit Putnam have lived in their historic Lyon Park home at 261 N Barton Street for four decades. It was the former residence of Raymond and Gertrude Bonnin, the latter more popularly known as Zitkála-Šá, Native American musician, composer, author, and activist. Gary and Kit fell in love with it, especially the huge windows that fill the house with sun, and purchased the home in 1983. Entering the Putnam’s living room today, visitors are greeted with a framed photo of Zitkála-Šá.

Kit and Gary were married on August 2, 1980 at Colvin Run Mill, a venue where Kit often played with her music group. Her instruments were the lap dulcimer, the fiddle, and a percussive wooden folk instrument called “dancing man.” Gary summed up their courtship as follows: “She batted her eyes, I pounded my chest, and I chased her until she caught me.” 

Originally from North Carolina, Gary began work there as a journalist. A newspaper in Richmond brought him to Virginia in the early 1960s. A man of many talents, Gary has been a journalist, a photographer, an apprentice to a dulcimer-maker (estimating he hand-crafted a total of over 300 instruments with his mentor and on his own), a talented cook (just ask attendees of the monthly Woman’s Club luncheons, or neighbors who attended his cooking classes at the LPCC), co-owner with Kit of “Black and White” a photography and archival print studio. He enjoys his role as Santa for the Humane Rescue Alliance, the annual Lyon Park Holiday celebration and neighborhood sleigh rides. Over the years, Gary has served as kitchen coordinator and cook for the annual Spring Fair, Chili Dinner, Spaghetti Dinner and other events. He currently serves as one of three Trustees of Lyon Park.

Kit was born in Richmond. After WWII her family moved to a brick duplex in Fort Barnard Heights (now part of Nauck). Her home overlooked the W&OD Railroad tracks (now the trail) and she remembers standing on the hill, waving to conductors as trains passed. She remembers that the banks of Four Mile Run were then used as a dump—the County would periodically burn the trash, tamp it down, and it became infill. She recalls when Weenie Beanie came to the neighborhood. Her family later moved to Claremont, and Kit attended the new Wakefield School from 7th grade through graduation.  She and Gary mentored high school interns in their small business and are still in touch with many of them. For years, Kit has served as a member of the Board of Governors, sells cupcakes at Woman’s Club bake sales, distributes donuts at the Halloween bonfire, and decorates for community events. With Gary, she attends the Woman’s Club luncheons and for decades has distributed the neighborhood newsletter. 

They are most proud of the three years of circulating petitions and working with neighbors and the County to close their end of Barton Street at Washington Blvd.  Closing the street created the feel of a small village. They have enjoyed watching two generations of families grow up on Barton Street and are gratified to be a part of this community. When they retired in 2008, they decided to stay because of their community connections and inclusiveness of Arlington.  They describe Lyon Park as “a very special place.” 

By Kailyn Diaz & Kylah Jackson Lott

MaryAnn Hazel-Jackson, better known as Mrs. Jackson to the Long Branch community, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023. Mrs. Jackson loved making rice crispy treats, building a koi fishpond, Black Friday shopping, which was an Olympic sport to her, decorating her front yard with life-size Christmas characters and planning the annual family summer vacation. Mrs. Jackson’s strength and perseverance were a true testament to her character. Her final days were spent surrounded by her loving husband and children. Now she rests in eternal peace. Mrs. Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Arlington, VA. She received her formal education in Arlington Public Schools. She also attended Virginia State University and the Art Institute of Atlanta. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she developed a passion for early childhood education. She spent most of her summers with Arlington County Recreation as a Tot Camp Director at Fairlington Community Center. She began a life-long career with Arlington Public Schools as a before and after-school program (Extended Day) Supervisor until she retired in 2021. Most of her 30 plus years in APS were spent working at Long Branch Elementary School. She made sure that the Extended Day program was a home away from home for all students but better! She put on big eventful productions for Extended Day. Some of those events included; spring carnivals, talent shows with custom t-shirts for the performers and backstage crew, 5th grade graduation party with live DJ, and a plethora of clubs! She had a big heart and was a giver. She attended and supported students in their extracurricular sporting events, recitals, performances, and walks for a cause. While managing her own health challenges, her unwavering commitment to help others in need and participate in events to end breast cancer, and other severe illnesses was relentless. It goes without saying that Mrs. Jackson’s strength and perseverance were a true testament to her character. As we remember Maryann, we celebrate a life well-lived, a love well-shared, and a legacy that will live on forever. 

By Kathleen McSweeney

It is hard to speak with Lyon Park neighbor Darcy Rosenbaum on any topic without noting her energy and constant stream of ideas. Asking her about her involvement in Lyon Park brings her enthusiasm to the next level. She reminisces about contacting Jeannette Wick in 2017 to volunteer and it was suggested she chair the annual Spring Fair. To many people, that would not be the ideal entry-level volunteer opportunity. But this is Darcy, who professionally had served for almost two decades as the membership director, development leader, and then Chief Operating Officer of The Arc—a community-based advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental challenges—and she was used to organizing big events. She jumped right in.

She has chaired the Spring Fair a few more times since, and each time has introduced improvements to the games and activities. In 2023, she retired the decades-old wooden corrals, and gave the fair a fresh look (and shade for volunteers) by purchasing matching pop-up tents to house the carnival games. She fondly remembers learning how to assemble the old fair corrals from now-deceased neighbor and volunteer extraordinaire Michael O’Connor, and how neighbors Chuck Phillips and Paul Showalter are always on hand to provide their expertise or an extra set of hands.

“When you start volunteering for one thing, it is easy to volunteer for other neighborhood events.” Darcy has
held the many volunteer positions since she started volunteering seven years ago: Spring Fair coordinator, 

LPCA Co-President (with Peter Zirnite), membership chair, prior webmaster, coordinator for the Kids Holiday Party, Centennial Celebration co-chair, assisted with the Santa Express, and continues to update the Teen Services listing for the LPCA newsletter. She also has the clean-up checklist for the community center committed to memory.

Volunteering is a family affair. Husband John is often seen compiling, constructing, hammering, and hauling for events, and famously built the Speakeasy door neighbors used to enter the Lyon Park Centennial Celebration in 2019. Their son Benton has been a volunteer since he was three, when he made his debut as an elf on
Santa’s sleigh.

Darcy loves the rich history of our neighborhood and notes that having volunteers maintain the park and community house is a large part of what makes Lyon Park a special place. Neighbors like Darcy—who orchestrates fun events and implements new ideas to reinvigorate neighborhood traditions—play a substantial role in creating a strong sense of community in Lyon Park.