JULY 2013
Photo by Marilyn DiPaolo
Pres i d ent ’s Report
There’s
Something for
Everyone Here
By Sally Determan
I moved to the Lake in 1969, and except
for a three-year stint as chair of the first
WID board, I took advantage of none of
the many social and volunteer activities
available here. As a result, except for folks
I met in my immediate neighborhood or
through my sons’ schools and teams, I had
very few Lake friends—a BIG mistake,
now that I know what I had been missing.
When I was asked to run for a term on
the LBA Board, I was happy to accept,
even though I didn’t know many Barcroft
folks. And I am so very glad that I did,
since getting involved in Lake activities and
groups has enriched my life enormously.
All of this personal stuff is a lead-in to
urging you to get involved, even if only
modestly, in some of what Lake life has to
offer. Or create your own group like the
water- cardio friends who began meeting
for exercise as the result of my LakeLink
message inviting all comers to join me in
the Lake. (We still meet every Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday, weather permitcontinued on page 23
It must be summer. The women’s kayaking group is on the Lake twice a week. Here Ruby
Pritchard, Wanda Martinson, Leigh Gonzalez, Debra Lee, Wilma Kaplan and Elizabeth Berry
paddle to the Stu Finley bridge.
It’s a Sellers’ Market
Without the Housing
Bubble Prices
By Carol Donlan Barcroft News Staff
“Sold” signs are springing up all over the
Lake. A combination of a low inventory
of houses for sale, low mortgage interest
rates and pent up buyers’ demand during the recession have made for a sellers'
market. But prices still lag behind the
galloping housing bubble prices of a few
years ago.
Realtor Burma Klein of Lakeview says
that in the first six months of this year,
25 off-Lake houses sold on average of
53 days on the market. In the first six
months of 2012, just seven off-Lake
houses sold, and they were on the market
for an average of 127 days. (See the table
on Page 10.)
As of June 24, says Burma, “seven offLake properties have contracts, and 12
off-Lake properties are available for
sale.” If the current sales rate matches
the first six months, those 12 should sell
continued on page 10
Time to Sign Up for Your New Tree Betsy Washington Barcroft News Staff
Time again for the annual Lake Barcroft
Tree Replacement Program.
every year are showing serious signs of
declining or dying.
The LBA, with matching funds from
WID, has sponsored our award-winning
Tree Replacement Program since 2008
to preserve our aging forest. More trees
Our Tree Replacement Program is important because:
The most important factor in determining the quality of a stream or
■
lake's water, is the amount of forested
land in the watershed.
Replanting trees is one of the most important thing you can do to improve
the quality of the water and the land. ■
continued on page 9
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
2
Milestones
By Kim I. Mills Barcroft News Staff
Photo from Kenyan Embassy
Published by
Lake Barcroft Association, Inc.
Carol Donlan, Editor
6516 Jay Miller Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Telephone: 703-941-0112
Email: [email protected]
Photography
Tom Donlan, Photo Editor
George McLennan, Photographer
Guy Mayer, Photographer
Production/Layout
Dominique Cavich
Don Christian
Staff
Ellen Feldstein, Senior Reporter
Stuart Feldstein, Post Production
Kevin Howe, Nature
Moe Jafari, Food Columnist
Phil Kemelor, Reporter/Photographer
Larry Golfer, Reporter/Photographer
Debra Lee, Restaurant Reviews
George McLennan, Senior Reporter/
Restaurant Reviewer
Kim Mills, Milestones Editor
Anne Murphy O’Neil, Writer
Sandy Tugwell, Reporter
Betsy Washington, Horticulture
On May 23 Denise Patton-Pace of Greentree Drive (2nd from left) and board members of
For the Kids International, a newly formed nonprofit, met with Kenyan Ambassador Elkanah
Odembo. The Ambassador requested the meeting to learn about and discuss the work
in progress at Kisima Child Care Academy in Natiri near Kitale, Kenya. Denise serves as
secretary for the FTKI. For more information visit www.forthekidsintl.org. For detailed news
about Kisima Child Care Academy visit www.kisimaacademy.blogspot.com.
The Lake Barcroft Newsletter is published
monthly by the Lake Barcroft Association.
Nobel Prize Winner,
Lake Pioneer Jerome Karle
Dies at 94
Please submit articles to
[email protected] or
Barcroft News, c/o
6516 Jay Miller Drive,
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Jerome Karle of Lakeview Drive, a
Nobel Prize winner who, with his wife,
Isabella, bought the first house in Area
1 near Beach 1, died June 5. He was 94.
Deadline for the Aug. newsletter is July 20.
Karle, who held a PhD in chemistry
from the University of Michigan, shared
the 1985 Nobel Prize with Herbert
Hauptman for the development of Xray scattering techniques for analyzing
the structure of crystals. He and his wife
moved to Lakeview Drive in 1952, borrowing from her father to come up with
$8,000 for the lot.
Publications Committee
Shane Oleson, Chairman
Don Christian
Carol Donlan
George McLennan
Advertising Rates
1/2 page $225/mo.
1/3 page $150/mo.
1/4 page $125/mo.
1/8 page $100/mo.
back cover $3900/yr.
business card service ad $400/yr.
Advertising Sales
Chris and Vince Lawson
Telephone: 703-941-2547
Email: [email protected]
Jerome Karle was born in New York City
in 1918. His parents had a strong interest in the arts, and for years he played
piano and entered in “Music Week”
competitions in the city.
“I had some modest success, but found at
an early age that I had no taste for public
performance,” he said in an autobiography on Nobelprize.org. “On the other
hand, I was strongly attracted to science
as a lifelong career at an early age.”
At 15, he entered the City College of
New York, which had no tuition and
only required $1 for a library card. He
earned his bachelor’s degree in 1937,
then went to Harvard University, earning a master’s in biology a year later.
After a brief hiatus, Karle went to work
with the New York State Health Department in Albany. At the time, fluoridation
of drinking water was just beginning and
Jerome developed a procedure for detercontinued on page 8
July 2013
3
Neighbors
A series of stories about some of the extraordinary
people at the Lake and those who have made Lake Barcroft an extraordinary place
to live. If you know someone who should be featured, contact Anne O'Neil.
Photo by Tom Donlan
2011–2012 Officers and Directors
Sally Determan, President . . . . . . 703-845-0363
J. Warren Russell, Vice President . . 703-354-1133
Lee Price, Secretary . . . . . . . . . . 703-237-4868
Jim Kilbourne, Treasurer . . . . . . . 703-256-7382
Rick Aldrich, Director . . . . . . . . . . 703-750-0488
Ann Cullather, Director . . . . . . . . . 703-256-8483
Jim Kilbourne, Director . . . . . . . . 703-256-7382
Eva Kosztarab, Director . . . . . . . . 703-354-6214
Shane Oleson, Director . . . . . . . . 703-992-7085
Pat Payne, Director . . . . . . . . . . . 703-671-1061
Frank Phillippi, Director . . . . . . . . 703-354-8343
Diane Smalley, Director . . . . . . . . 703-658-4626
Betsy Washington, Director . . . . . 703-941-6325
LBA Committee Chairpersons
Architectural Review
Rick Aldrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-750-0488
Jerry and Randa Mendenhall outside their Mansfield Road home.
Loving the Lake and D.C.—and Giving Back
By Anne Murphy O’Neil Barcroft News Staff
I’ve always liked Jerry and Randa Mendenhall’s distinctive, colonnaded home on
Mansfield Road – its dignity and originality pleases me. Inside I find a handsome
hall with floor in checkerboard black and
white marble squares and walls covered in
wide, bold, black and white stripes. To my
left stands a Chinese terra-cotta warrior,
who once guarded the tomb of an ancient
emperor. He is watchful, but not fierce – his
arrows had long since crumbled. Jerry and
Randa guided me through their home, a true
delight. Bright, open, inviting, handsomely
appointed, with objets d’art from around
the world. We sit in their living room overlooking a magnificent view of Lake.
How did you come to live here?
Jerry: Living in Chappaqua, New York, I
was president of a management consulting firm. Randa had advanced her career at
Macy’s to manager of corporate gift-giving
at their main store on Herald Square.
Randa: I was unhappy with the daily
commute and longed to be back in
Washington, where I had worked in the
White House for Pat Nixon. Jerry asked:
“What will make you happy?” I said:
"Moving back to Washington."
Jerry: The first time our real estate agent
drove by this house, I told her not to
bother taking us in. But when I toured
through the area again in April, this entire hill was ablaze with azaleas. I thought:
“Maybe we can do a little something.”
We remodeled, but two years later decided on a total renovation. We hired an architect, moved out for six months and in
three phases, created an open floor plan,
a cathedral ceiling and many more windows and skylights. Eventually we added
an office and screened porch.
How did you find the Lake in the first
place?
Randa: Before we married 32 blissful
years ago, Jerry lived on Waterway Drive.
He sponsored 50 people of Vietnamese/
Chinese heritage who had no homeland.
continued on page 21
Security
Frank Phillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-354-8343
Environmental Quality/WID Liaison
Betsy Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-941-6325
Finance & Audit
Jim Kilbourne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-256-7382
Maintenance & Improvements
Diane Davidson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-575-8187
George Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-354-1133
Legal
Eva Kosztarab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-354-6214
Membership
Ann Cullather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-256-8483
Communications & Publications
Shane Oleson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-941-1202
Special Events
Diane Smalley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-658-4626
Water Safety
Pat Payne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-671-1061
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Ralph Smalley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703-658-4626
LBA Management Office . . . . . . . . 703-941-1927
Chris Lawson (Monday–Friday)
6425 Lakeview Dr., Falls Church, VA 22041
www.lakebarcroft.org
Watershed Improvement District . . 703-820-1300
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
4
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, ‘Turn On The Lights’ –
And Always Keep Watch
By Frank Phillippi LBA Security Committee Chairman
It’s been 30 years since some community activists took a simple
public safety idea and turned it into a national campaign to help
protect our neighborhoods. The idea to “Turn On The Lights,”
is something we would do well to remember as we approach this
year’s National Night Out on Aug 6.
It is a great idea to have one night when we focus public attention
on the idea of “Lighting Up The Night” to help prevent crime, recognize the importance of our police and our Neighborhood Watch
volunteers and send a message to criminals that we are alert.
At the same time, we can create a false sense of security if we
think this is a one-night-a-year solution to continuing problems
here and in nearby communities.
Residents on both sides of the Lake have been hit by a series of
car break-ins and rifled and damaged cars. Those who attended
our annual meeting in February heard some good advice about
how to cope with these from Officer Brendan Murphy of the
Fairfax County Police Department. He urged residents to keep
vehicles locked and to remove all valuables from them. To this I
would add: Leave the outside lights on. We may not know what
motivates these thieves, but we do know they don’t want to be
seen breaking and entering cars.
Our problems with vandalism come from two sources: young
people who are residents (and their friends) and adults who trespass after dark to use our beaches for parties. Thanks to observant neighbors – and forthcoming parents – we have been able
to identify the young people who have defaced property, and
they have made restitution and performed community service.
It might help discourage future acts of vandalism if parents reminded their teenagers of how these cases have been resolved.
As for the trespassing adults, our nighttime patrols by Fairfax County Police Department officers have been helpful. So far this summer,
several people have been detained by police. Some Lake residents
have been asked to leave beach areas after closing time and a few
have been released to their parents. Please remind your youngsters
that no one is allowed on the beaches, even with tags, after 11 p.m.
Speaking of beach tags, please carry them with you whenever
you are using a beach or a common area. It is part of the lifeguards’ duties to ask to see beach tags. These tags are not transferable; they are for household members only. Displaying decals
on cars is another way we can keep track of outsiders who might
be parked in our beach parking lots.
Please make it a safe and fun-filled summer on the Lake. And
don’t forget to the leave the lights on.
Decor that reflects your style.
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sold for $866,090
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July 2013
5
Will We Be Adding Otters to Our Lake
Menagerie? By Kevin Howe Barcroft News Staff
In late January, the Tawneys of Lakeview Drive reported seeing
otters playing in the icy waters of the Lake. Although I am sure
several in the community, including me, kept watch for otters.
they were not reported seen again until ….
... early June when two young Beachway Drive residents, Justin
Woodrum and Victor McManus, were out fishing and came
upon a River Otter. While I am sad to report it was dead, I
am happy that otters could potentially inhabit Lake Barcroft.
The boys contacted their uncle, Mike Korin, also of Beachway
Drive, who alerted me.
I hurried over to investigate. Sure enough it was an otter – based
on size, it appeared to be on the young side.
The North American River Otter is widely distributed throughout North America extending into Canada and Alaska, though
absent (or extinct) from much of the central US and various
states including West Virginia. Once widely abundant, their
numbers have dramatically decreased since Europeans arrived
on the continent because of: hunting pressure, habitat loss or
modification and sensitivity to pollution from all sources.
River otters are shy animals – quite the opposite of sea otters
(along the West Coast), which tend to be curious. They are
not often seen even though they can reach 5 feet in length and
weigh up to 30 lbs. They are related to weasels and badgers and
feed mostly on slow moving fish like catfish, but also on turtles,
crayfish and the like.
While otters may have inhabited the streams that formed the
Lake, they typically prefer a medium to large size body of water.
River otters inhabit the Potomac and are known to be widespread in their travels and their dispersal tendencies – land and
water – fresh and salt. Even though they are well adapted for
water (e.g. webbed feet, water resistant fur, ability to close nostrils and ears), they can move quickly and far over land having
been recorded traveling 26 miles in one day. It seems likely that
the otter or otters in the Lake came over land from the Accotink
Watershed in Springfield. Otters have inhabited Lake Accotink
for the last 10 or so years, after not being seen there for decades
(following widespread development in Springfield).
Otters are most active at dawn and dusk, and they live in burrows, not unlike muskrats. They are quite social, even to the
extent of helping each other and hunting and playing together.
They often live in the same waters with beaver and muskrat
as there is no competition between these species for food. Although their shelter requirements are similar, shelter here is
abundant.
It would be exciting to see river otters become permanent residents of the Lake as they are playful, and have the potential to
cause little if any negative human/wildlife conflict. Lake Barcroft
can provide critical habitat for these amazing, gentle animals.
Otter Facts
Otters are semi-aquatic, spending much time on land as
well as in water
■
They are quite playful, often creating slides from the bank
into the water or rolling spots where they chase, roll and
tumble with each other like puppies
■
They often groom each other, like monkeys and parrots
■
Females have “delayed implantation,” meaning that the
fertilized egg does not implant in the uterine wall for
about a year . Only about 100 mammals out of more than
5,000 exhibit such a reproductive strategy (others include
bears, bats, kangaroos).
■
Otters can make noises from a hiss to a growl with an
alarm call referred to as an explosive snort
■
They regularly can be found in estuaries and salt water
■
They are related to the weasel and the mink
■
They readily coexist with beaver and have a similar social
structure
■
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
6
WID Prepares for Next Term of Chairman;
Nominating Committee Formed
By Sally Determan LBA President
The second five-year term of Charles de Seve, chair of the Board
of Trustees of the Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District (“WID”), will end on Sept. 15. Under WID rules, a special
committee consisting of two members of the Lake Barcroft Association (LBA) board, appointed by its president, and the two
other WID Trustees will interview some or all of the interested
candidates and submit a recommendation to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, which has final authority to appoint a new trustee.
LBA appointees to the special committee are Sally Determan of
Pinetree Terrace and Jim Kilbourne of Whispering Lane. The
two WID Trustees are George McLennan of Crosswoods Drive
and Jerry Mendenhall of Mansfield Road.
Charles has said he will serve a third five-year term, if he is selected by the special committee. Other qualified candidates also
will be considered. If you are interested in being a WID Trustee
candidate and are a Lake Barcroft resident and homeowner,
please send an email to each of the search committee members
(addresses below) indicating your interest and including information about your qualifications. Your emails must be received
no later than Aug. 1.
Among other considerations, the committee will take into account (in no particular order):
An unblemished record of integrity
History of service to the community
■ Demonstrated ability to work collegially, cooperatively, and
reliably on community matters
■ Commitment to seek compromise to achieve results in the
best interests of the community
■ Familiarity with the work of the WID
■ General familiarity with financial matters, including budgeting and cash management capacity to devote 20-30 daytime
hours per month to the work of the WID during the course
of a five-year term
■ Management experience and problem-solving skills
■ Strong writing and organizational skills
■ Leadership capacity, including public speaking
■
■
In August, the committee will consult with members of the
community, interview some or all of the candidates who meet
the requirements (at mutually convenient times) and choose a
final nominee. If Charles is selected, under the rules his nomination must be first ratified by vote of the LBA Board, because
he has already served two terms. For any other nominee (and for
Charles, if the LBA Board ratifies his nomination), the nominee’s name and credentials will be forwarded for approval to the
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.
Send applications to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
Photo by Tom Donlan
We caught the new LBA Board and other people important to
the Lake having fun at LBA President Sally Determan’s house.
From left: George McLennan, WID trustee; Charles DeSeve, WID
chairman; George Waters, Maintenance and Improvements;
Carol Donlan, newsletter editor; Chris Lawson, LBA manager;
Jim Kilbourne, Finance; Shane Oleson, Communications; Betsy
Washington, Environmental Quality; Frank Phillippi, Security; Diane
Smalley, Special Events; Pat Payne, Water Safety; Ann Cullather,
Membership; Rick Aldrich, Architectural Review, Sally Determan,
president; Eva Kosztarab, Legal; and Lee Price, secretary.
July 2013
7
Village To Host Emergency Preparedness
Session for All Lake Residents
By Larry Golfer Barcroft News Staff
Lake Barcroft got off easy during the
storms that blew through on June 13,
despite the predictions for potentially
severe damage. We remember last June
29, when many of us suffered damage
and extended power outages from the
Derecho.
In an effort to increase awareness of how
to prepare for weather-related and other
potential emergency situations, Lake
Barcroft Village is hosting a forum on
July 29, at 7 p.m., at the Mason District
Governmental Center for all Lake Barcroft residents.
Featured speaker will be Judy Howell,
volunteer public information officer for
outreach from the Fairfax Community
Emergency Response Team. The CERT
Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may
impact their area and trains county
residents in basic disaster response skills,
such as fire safety, light search and rescue,
team organization and disaster medical
operations. Using the training from the
classroom and exercises, CERT members
can assist others in their neighborhood
or workplace when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
CERT members also are encouraged to
support emergency response agencies by
taking a more active role in emergency
preparedness projects in their community.
Judy Howell will discuss 72-hour emergency kits, water storage and purification, and food storage beyond 72 hours.
She will also describe the CERT training
offered by her office and will have handouts to distribute.
***
On the lighter side, the Village will be
hosting a members-only Island Party featuring tropical fare, drinks and fun – a
perfect opportunity to break out those
Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts. Festivities will take place at the beautiful Lake-
side home of Susan and Dennis Crawford, 6308 Crosswoods Circle, Saturday,
Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Members
should RSVP by July 27 to Barbara
Rothman at 703-354-2697 or Cathy
Williams at [email protected]
Not a member? Find out more about the
Village and all it has to offer. Joining the
village gives residents the opportunity to
continue to live in and enjoy our Lake
community and obtain many of the
types of services and social activities they
would normally receive only by moving
to a senior living center.
And, don’t forget to mark your calendars
for Tuesday, Sept. 10 for the community-wide Lake Barcroft Village Dinner and Auction to benefit our Village.
Many community and local artists are
donating their work. The Village wel-
comes other neighbors’ tax deductible
donations of barge trips, dinners, local
services and vacation homes. Please contact Janet Hall at [email protected] for
more information.
Check LakeLink for latest details on time
and place for all upcoming Lake Barcroft
Village events.
Lake Barcroft Village is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to allow senior residents of the community to “age in
place” with a variety of support services and
programs. Support the Village with your
tax deductable donation. For more information or to make a donation, contact the
Village Coordinator, Moya Atkinson, at
703-354-0652 or send an email to [email protected].
o
w
T
f
o
r
e
w
o
he P
FOR THE BEST OF LAKE BARCROFT
T
•
•
•
•
Long-time Lake Barcroft residents
Karen Freije
Nan Brent
We are your neighbors and your realtors
703-402-6133 703-220-2216
Listening to you and working for you
Representing lake sellers and buyers for over
25 years
• Conscientious, dependable, responsive
• Expert knowledge of current market conditions
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Lake Barcroft Newsletter
8
Milestones, continued from page 2
He enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1940, where he met his future
wife, then Isabella Lugoski, who was
also studying physical chemistry. They
were married in 1942 and in 1943 went
to work at the Manhattan Project at the
University of Chicago. Isabella joined
him, becoming one of the youngest scientists and few women to work on the
development of the atomic bomb. Jerome was awarded his PhD in 1944.
That year, the Karles returned to the
University of Michigan. Jerome worked
on a project for the Naval Research
Laboratory and Isabella as an instructor
in the chemistry department. In 1946,
both Karles moved to Washington to
work for the Naval Research Laboratory.
Hauptman later joined the lab, where he
and Karle collaborated on research into
crystal structures.
“While all this was going on and with
hardly missing a step from her research
activities,” he wrote, “Isabella mothered
three children, Louise in 1946, Jean in
1950, and Madeleine in 1955.” Louise
became a theoretical chemist, Jean an organic chemist and Madeleine a museum
specialist trained in geology.
inside of a cell, a step that is fundamental
to virtually all physiological functions.
NAS Photo
mining the amount of fluorine in water
supplies that became a standard method.
“This was my first modest contribution
to science,” he wrote.
Jerome and Isabella retired from the Naval Research Laboratory in 2009, after a
combined 127 years in federal service.
Jennifer Aument of Jay Miller Drive
has been named group general manager
for North America by Transurban, an
international infrastructure investment
firm. It is the investor and operator of
the I-495 and I-95 Express Lanes. In
December, Jen received her MBA from
George Washington University’s World
Executive MBA program.
K. Christopher Garcia, son of Ramon
and Nancy Garcia of Waterway Drive,
was elected to the National Academy of
Sciences in May. Christopher is a professor in the department of molecular and
cellular physiology at Stanford University
Medical Center. There, he heads a lab that
investigates how receptors on a cell surface
relay information from the outside to the
Stanford University professor Chris
Garcia, son of Ramon and Nancy Garcia
of Waterway Drive, signs the historic
membership book after becoming a
member of the National Academy of
Sciences on May 26. President Abraham
Lincoln founded the Academy and was the
first to sign the book, so it is traditional that
all new members sign it. It happens that
2013 is the 150th Anniversary of the NAS.
David Warshauer, son of Ann Warshauer of Lakeview Drive, has won a
Telly Award for his commercial of an
Audi R8, “What It Takes.” Proud mom
Ann says he shot it in Germany “while
continued on page 13
Recent Property Sales in Lake Barcroft
Address
Rambler
Days on
Market
Sold
Price
Bed Bath Carport/ Settlement
Garage
Date
2013 Tax Price To
Value
Tax Value
3703 Whispering Ln.
3
$501,000
5
2
0/0
June
$575,880
-13%
3425 Stoneybrae Dr.
38
$665,000
4
3
0/1
May
$680,020
-2%
6338 Crosswoods Dr.
5
$675,000
4
3
2/0
May
$626,650
8%
6123 Beachway Dr.
2
$740,000
4
3
0/0
June
$654,750
13%
6511 Jay Miller Dr.
33
$804,000
3
3
0/2
June
$697,590
15%
Colo/Contemp 6423 Lakeview Dr.
6
$866,090
4
3.5
0/0
May
$687,430
26%
Split 4-Level 6205 Lakeview Dr.
20
$599,999
4
3
2/0
May
$609,800
-2%
4
$735,888
3
3
2/0
May
$588,650
25%
71
$679,900
5
3
0/0
May
$616,750
10%
3426 Barger Dr.
Cape Cod 6372 Cavalier Corr.
Source: MLS and Fairfax County tax records to June 21.
All real estate companies are included in this list.
Choose Burma
to Sell Your Home!
(703) 642-1924
ClientRatings.BurmaKlein.com
Burma Klein
Associate Broker
Certified Residential Specialist
[email protected]
July 2013
9
A mature tree can take up 500 gallons
of water each day in hot summer
months. Now that's a lot of free stormwater services and flood prevention.
■ Trees pull this water up through their
vessels and release it through their
leaves, cooling the surrounding area
by 10 to 15 degrees. That's a lot of
energy savings.
■ A healthy forest can provide critical
services – from filtering pollutants and
sediments from the water to preventing
erosion on steep banks and shorelines
to preventing flooding. That’s worth
billions of dollars. A healthy forested
stream provides it all free of charge. ■ We are fortunate to live in an extraordinary urban forest that protects our
Lake and watershed every day. This
program insures that our aging forest
will continue to grow and thrive far
into the future providing a beautiful
Lake and significant savings.
Photo by George McLennan
Tree, continued from page 1
■
We are again offering a beautiful native
overstory tree to any resident who has
recently lost a shade tree or who has a
property with few trees but would like to
add one. Trees are offered on a first-come,
first-served basis, so sign up soon. Delfino
and his skilled crew will even plant your
new tree for you to get it off to the best
possible start. What more could you ask?
Prices of trees and transportation have
increased this year and we are suggesting
a modest donation of $40 per family to
help defray the additional costs and allow
us to “grow” this program so that we are
able to offer a tree to all interested residents. A similar tree delivered and planted
by a local nursery would likely cost $300
- $500 (or more), so this is an incredible deal. Increase the value and beauty
of your own property and help preserve
the health of the Lake’s forest, by taking
advantage of the free Tree Replacement
Program. And be sure to thank WID and
your board members for their foresight in
sponsoring this exciting program.
The list of native overstory trees available
this year includes: White Oak (5-6 feet
high), and Northern Red Oak, Willow
Oak, Black Gum, and River Birch (7-8
feet high). Because availability of some
of these trees may change before fall, you
might want to consider having a second
Betsy Washington consults with David Apple from Campbell and Ferrara as they arrange the
new plantings at the Community Garden.
choice in mind, in case your first choice is
not available, however we promise to do
our best to be sure you get the tree of your
dreams. We expect the new trees to be delivered and planted in late September.
Check out the Lake Barcroft website,
http://www.lakebarcroft.org/docs/environment/treereplacement.html, for a list
of recommended native trees and to find
out more information about the species
included in the tree replacement program.
Watch for updates on Lakelink or email
me at [email protected] or Elaine
Lindstrom at [email protected] to
sign up.
Mark Your Calendars!
Visit Tuscany this fall
Stay in a lovely Italian villa
Enjoy elegant meals-Tuscan style
Go Italian high-fashion shopping
Explore quaint historic walled cities, cultural arts, AND
Participate in beginning or advanced Pilates & stretch classes
This is Studio Body Logic’s Seventh Pilates Retreat
September 28 through October 5, 2013
Assisting Ms. Garcia will be Louise Garcia Ziebell. For more information, visit the Studio Body Logic web site: www.studiobody
logic.com. Your package, excluding airfare, will include your room
for seven nights, three daily Pilates and fitness classes, all your breakfasts and lunches, and several elegantly catered dinners. You can fly
to either Pisa or Florence and take a train to Lucca where you will be
met by a representative of Studio Body Logic for transportation
to the villa. After this action- and fun-filled week,
consider taking advantage of Italy in the fall with a
couple of days or a week visiting Italy’s broad range
of cultural and scenic attractions.
Studio Body Logic
2417 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301
703.739.7601
Karen Garcia
Director, Owner
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
10
in about 2.8 months. In a balanced market, that inventory should sell in about
six months. Lake Barcroft is in a sellers’
market because the inventory is low.” How is the Lake Barcroft Real Estate market doing?
Realtor Jennifer Talati of Edgewater Drive
agrees. “There’s been a scurry to get houses,” she says. “Houses that are priced well
and presented well are selling very quickly.”
Jen adds, “We started to see a change in
late fall and early winter. The spring market started very early and houses moved.”
“For example, a contract, obtained in two
days at the end of May, fell through for a
house on Stoneybrae. Fourteen days later,
the property had a second contract,” says
Burma. “There are people looking to buy.
People are encouraged that we are coming out of the economic slump. There’s
more confidence. There were people all
along who had the income to buy, but
they were afraid because we kept hearing
about a double-dip recession. Folks are
coming out who were reluctant before. “
Interest rates are also pushing sales. “In
late June the interest rate was in the 4%
range,” says Burma, “By next week it
could be back into the 3% range where
it was a little earlier.”
Time Period
Off-Lake
Houses Sold
Avg Days
On Market
Avg Difference Btwn Orig
Price and Sold Price
1/1/ to 6/24/2011
15
82
5%
1/1/to 6/24/2012
7
127
3%
1/1 to 6/24 2013
25
53
3%
1. More properties sold in 2013 than in 2012 and 2011 combined, and in a
shorter time.
2.On average, buyers paid 3% below the original list price in 2012 and 2013,
indicating that buyers and sellers were closer in their perception of property
values than they were in 2011, when on average buyers paid 5% below the
original sales price.
3. Ten properties had contracts in eight days or less in 2013; two properties had
contracts in eight days or less in 2012; three properties had contracts in eight
days or less in 2011.
4. In 2013, five properties took more than five months to sell; in 2012, 4 out of 7
properties took more than 5 months to sell; in 2011, four properties took more
than five months to sell.
However, we are not back to the housing
bubble prices of a few years ago. Burma
offers three examples:
A house on Jay Miller Drive sold for
$799,000 in 2010. It came on the market in April with a $824,900 asking
price. It sold for $804,000.
JUST liSTeD!
3710 Woodland Circle
$739,000
5br/3ba contemporary
split level; cathedral ceilings;
new kitchen w/ granite!
JUST liSTeD!
3703 Tollgate Terrace
$699,900
Spacious 3br/3ba; updated
kitchen with fp; new master
bath; deck, patio & sunroom!
Jennifer TalaTi
Realtor, GRI
neW PriCe!
UnDer ConTraCT!
6365 lakeview Dr
now offered for $695,000
4br/3ba raised ranch;
gorgeous landscaped
garden; Pella windows!
Multi-Million Dollar
Producer
Long & Foster
President’s Club
Lake Barcroft resident
for 20+ years
3421 Stoneybrae Dr
$649,000
4br/3ba mid-century; high
ceilings; large windows;
spacious kitchen, 3 gas fp’s!
jennifer.talati@
longandfoster.com
703.944.3874
703.534.9660 office
Jennifer Talati and Burma Klein give their
views of the real estate market.
A house on Lyric Lane bought eight
years ago for $752,589 was sold in just
two days for $717,000.
An off-Lake house on Lakeview sold in
2006 for $889,000. It recently sold for
$866,000.
“Even with the market improving,” says
Burma, “sellers can’t have stars in their
eyes. They can’t ask prices beyond what
the market will bear.”
continued on page 22
Chart by Burma Klein
For Sale, continued from page 1
July 2013
11
Wait Till You See What Woman’s Club is
Cooking Up for Fall By Anne Murphy O’Neil Woman’s Club President
The magic of Club gatherings is breathtaking. Imagine. Six of
us at our Spring luncheon, including Alice Lowenthal, musing
about our favorite things. I mention Fred and Ginger’s jubilant dance to Jerome Kerns/Dorothy Fields’ Pick Yourself Up,
which joyfully captures our can-do American way in less than
one minute. Alice quietly comments: “Dorothy Fields was my
aunt.” Wow – don’t tell me – two degrees of separation. The
Fields rhyme and rhythm still rev me up:
The LBA’s Ice Cream Social, is sponsored by LBA and Newcomers. Woman’s Club helps with some funding. Congratulations to Charlotte Flounders and Janet Kerley on a wonderful
event on June 16. Four hundred Lake residents got their just
continued on page 20
Nothing’s impossible, I have found, for when my chin is on the
ground,
I pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again.
I won’t lose my confidence if I slip, I’m grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again ....
This energy bubbled June 6 at our Club’s first 2013-2014 Board
meeting with friends of the board and activity group leaders.
Elizabeth Berry shared fabulous Ikebana centerpieces like those
she created for her daughter Sarah’s wedding: pink lilies swirling
in a beautiful clear glass bowl. Bonnie Blyth, Marilyn Di Paolo,
Carol Tether and I dreamed up lunch, à la française.
A large group from the Woman’s Club Downtown Attractions group
took a private tour of the U.S. Capitol’s Senate Floor and Senate
Cloakroom on May 30.
12
After June’s Big
Storms, WID Staff
Worked Quickly to
Clean the Lake
By Charles de Seve, George McLennan &
Jerry Mendenhall WID Trustees
On the Lake over the June 15 weekend, the water was somewhat
muddy, but the Lake was cleaned of the massive influx of debris
from storms over the previous two weeks. Our WID staff worked
long hours including weekend sweeps, using the mechanical harvester for the heavy, thick mats of debris and nets and hooks for
small pieces. An amazing amount of stuff lurked just beneath the
surface ready to snare propellers and snap shear pins.
All told WID staff filled 59 barge loads and many dozen trashcans with the cups, bottles, other trash, logs, branches, etc. that
ran down Holmes Run and Tripps Run. The fast racing water
has sufficient speed to toss even large logs into the Lake as it
scours upstream banks carrying everything loose with it. They
also removed three dump trucks of debris from the beaches.
Your WID trustees would like to give well-deserved kudos to the
staff on the front lines: Davis Grant, operations director, and Ken
Kopka, Sam Ellis, Brooks Wallace and Chris Williams. They enthusiastically do whatever is necessary to keep the Lake clean and
safe after the fierce storms that are all too frequent lately.
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
July 2013
Milestones, continued from page 2
CCP photo
See David’s award-winning commercial
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt
wtYi6ZjuY&feature=youtu.be
Lake Barcroft resident Alan Ladwig of
Beachway Drive gave the commencement
address for the 2013 graduation ceremony
of the Community College of Philadelphia.
Ladwig is the head of public outreach at
NASA Headquarters.
He advised the graduates to "find a career passion that is compelling, focused
on service to others and a source that
generates infectious enthusiasm within."
He also urged students to seek out mentors who will help guide them throughout their careers.
Chica Brunsvold of Wentworth Drive
will be an artist member of The Gallery
Underground in the Crystal City Shops
in Arlington. She will be gallery sitting
July 26 and Aug. 20 and invited neighbors to “pop by and see what's going
on.” The gallery is open 12-4, Mon.-Sat.
John and and Linda Hill of Cavalier
Corridor celebrated their 15th wedding
anniversary on June 6th in St Croix. “It
was wonderful!” according to Linda.
Photo by Tom Donlan
hanging out of a car going 100 miles per
hour.” The next day, he was named one
of Water Housing Hawaii's top 30 most
epic cinematographers. Water Housing
Hawaii is a company that sells underwater housings for cameras used in extreme
water photography. David has filmed in
the highest waves around the world, says
Ann.
13
Another 50-plus year resident of the
Lake, Mary Jean Slater of Jay Miller
Drive, died May 31. Mary Jean worked
for the federal government during World
War II. She later served as an election
official and volunteer for the League of
Women Voters and was an active member of the Fairfax County Democratic
Party. An avid reader, she traveled widely with her husband, Bill, who died in
2003.
Jeff Latker of Rusticway Lane writes:
I just wanted to let any who may have
known him, that my father, Alex Latker,
passed away at age 86 in Pasadena, Calif., over the Memorial Day weekend. He
lived at 3425 Barger Dr. from June,1973
until March, 2008.
In last month’s coverage of the beach
cleanups, we identified the wrong person
as Omar Khan. Here’s a picture of the real
Omar Khan, working at Beach 1 as a fill-in
for his father-in-law Chico Gholz.
COMING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Alan Ladwig of Beachway Drive gave
the commencement address at the 2013
graduation ceremony of the Community
College of Philadelphia. Ladwig is the
head of public outreach at NASA headquarters.
In his address, Alan reflected on the increasingly important role of community
colleges in the nation's education system
in general and to science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)
education in particular. Despite the fact
that NASA no longer launches space
shuttle missions, Ladwig assured the
graduates that the space agency is very
much in business, with a full agenda of
robotic and human missions. "NASA is
advancing aeronautics and space activities for the benefit of American taxpayers; improving life on Earth and protecting our planet; and strengthening U.S.
economy through science and technology investments,” he said.
Mark your calendar to attend the
First Annual Lake Barcroft Village Auction & Dinner
The event will be held at Fortune Seafood Restaurant
located at 6249 Seven Corners Center in Falls Church
Tickets are $35 • Doors open at 5 pm
Items in the auction include:
• Unique & original artwork from
Lake Barcroft artists
• Barge trips
• Dinners
• Local services
• Vacation home stays
To purchase tickets, call the Village office at (703) 354-0652 or email lbvcoord
@lakebarcroftvillage.org or email Janet Hall at [email protected]. You can mail
your check to the Lake Barcroft Village, P.O. Box 4645, Falls Church, VA 22044
Lake Barcroft Village is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation.
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
14
Include Your 2013 Lake Barcroft Activities Here! Email Wilma Kaplan: [email protected]
July
August
August 10 — 6-8 p.m.
Village – Members Only – Island Party, Crawford’s, 6308
Crosswoods Circle, Contact: Barbara Rothman, 703 354 2697
August 14 — 7:30 p.m.
LBA Board Meeting
Critter of the Month
Photo by George McLennan
july — August 25
Green Spring Gardens Horticulture Center, Art featuring works by
Chica Brunsvold
july 16 — noon
Village - Lunch, Idylwood Grill, 2190-B, Pimmit Dr., Contact:
Sheila Wayman, 703-941-6684, Terry Stone,703-256-8125
july 20 — 3 p.m.
Informal Tea and Planning Session, Woman’s Club weekend
outings for singles and weekend widows, Sally Determan’s, 3514
Pinetree Terrace
july 21 — 5 p.m.
Barcrofters Barge Party, Home of Trippi and Tom Penland, 6305
Waterway Drive, $25 for members, $27 for guests, Contact:
Roxanna Douglas, 703-256-4855
july 24 — 8 a.m.
Village - Walk in Green Spring Gardens, Meet at park entrance
off Braddock Road, Contact: Ann Cook, 703-354-7240
july 24 — 7:30 p.m.
LBWID Quarterly Meeting, LBWID Compound
july 27 — 5-7 p.m.
Village – Happy Hour, Terry Stone’s, 6318 Crosswoods Circle,
Bring beverage or appetizer, Contact: Marian Cromley, 703256-8714
july 29 — 7 p.m.
Village – Meeting, Mason District Governmental Center,
Presentation on Emergency Preparedness
This little snapping turtle has all the attitude he will need when he
grows up.
July 2013
15
In the Kitchen with Moe
This is the season for fresh-from-the-garden vegetables. Peppers, tomatoes and all the fresh herbs are blooming. It’s a great
time for great meals. We have been on a salad-and-dark-greens
kick ( kale, dandelion, mustard greens). Try this recipe to push
your taste buds.
Kale Chips
1 large bundle kale
■
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
■
½ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper
flakes and sea salt
■
Remove the green leafy parts from the stem, break up into
1-inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Toss with olive oil and
spices. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes till crisp. Enjoy as a
snack or go one better and follow with ...
Wild Salmon on Diced Salad
4 to 6 six-ounce filets of wild salmon (tuna or rockfish).
■
½ red onion, diced fine
■
1 mango, diced
■
½ wedge watermelon
■
¼ cup cilantro, sliced
■
¼ cup fresh mint, sliced
■
Sea salt to taste
■
1 chile/Serrano/jalapeno pepper, diced fine
■
Everyone’s invited to
Barcrofters’ Barge
Party
By Roxanna Douglas Barcrofters Chairman
The Annual Barcrofters Barge Party on Sunday, July 21, is open
to all Lake residents. It will be at Tom and Trippi Penland’s,
6305 Waterway Dr. The menu will feature assorted appetizers,
Kahlua pork, pork barbeque, potato and green salad, dessert,
wine and beer. After dinner, we’ll motor on our beautiful Lake.
Price is $25 for members; $27 for others. Note: Everyone is
also invited to volunteer as cooks or set up/take down people. RSVP by contacting Roxanna Douglas, roxannadouglas@cox.
net or 703-256-4855.
By Moe Jafari Barcroft News Staff
Rub fish with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill for two minutes,
flesh side down. Flip and cook till skin is crispy, about four
minutes. In a large bowl, mix the remaining fresh ingredients
and at the last minute cube and add the watermelon.
Plate
Place fresh diced salad on the plate. Top with salmon. Then
sprinkle on kale chips.
Wine
I am still in love with Albarino’s, and this month a little winery
in VA called Jacey Vineyards will be making its first Albarino.
I have not had it yet, but from my ventures into Virginia wine,
this should be a great little find.
Stick a Fork in Me.
The new Directory is in production.
Fact-checkers will be calling/emailing to
make sure your information is correct.
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
16
Photo by Larry Golfer
Thanks to Joann and David Dale of Ridgeway
Terrace for the picture-perfect setting for the
June 22 Newcomers’ Club Summer Solstice
Dance Under the Stars to the tunes of the Daryl Davis Band. And thanks to the sun gods,
of course, for giving us gorgeous weather. Daryl created just the right atmosphere for highspirited dancing. Both newcomers and familiar
faces celebrated the Summer Solstice with vigor
and gusto.
As usual, it takes a village to plan and coordinate. Hats off to an amazing group of volunteers including Carole Bausell of Stoneybrae
Drive, Wendy Diliberti of Barger Drive, Marilyn DiPaolo of Waterway Drive, Donna and
Randy Sanger of Edgewater Drive, Joe Pisciotta
of Crosswoods Circle, and special kudos to
Kyle Gaarder of Dockser Terrace and his buddy
Aldo for the heavy lifting and to our party assistant, Anna. Hearty thanks to many others
who helped including Tom and Trippi Penland of Waterway Drive, Charlotte Flounders
of Crosswoods Drive, Wilma Kaplan of Crosswoods Drive, Patricia and Bill Irving of Fiddlers
Green, Karen Snyder of Jay Miller Drive, Kelli
and Jim Lester, Suzy Friedman of Waterway
Drive, and Dawn Donald of Lakeview Drive.
Dancin’ up a storm at the Newcomers Summer Solstice party are from left, Betsy
Washington, Bonnie Blyth, Carole Bausel, Marilyn Di Paolo, and Nomi Taslitt. Carole
considered the event “one of those magical times that I will always remember. The
gorgeous weather, picture perfect setting of the Dale's home, and wonderful sounds
of the Daryl Davis Band created just the right atmosphere for some serious partying.”
Photo by Larry Golfer
By Nomi Taslitt, Newcomers’ Club President
A WORLD of OPPORTUNITY begins with
CONGRESSIONAL
After talking with many of my
friends in high school, I realize
how fortunate I am to have
attended a wonderful school
with excellent teachers
and amazing friends.
~ Nikhil, CSOV Class of 2010
Student at Thomas Jefferson High School
for Science and Technology
Visit our
40-acre
campus
and see
our school
in action.
Email
[email protected]
or call
703.533.9711
An independent PS - Gra
Grade
ade 8 School in Falls Church, VA
VA
www.congressionalschools.org
www
w.congr
.
res
essionalschools.org
The buffet drew a hungry crowd at the Newcomers Solstice Party.
703.533.9711
703.5
533.9711
July 2013
17
Lillian Peterson
Office phone: 703-354-1232
Cell phone: 703-909-7988
4214 Downing Street
Annandale, VA
22003
48 years experience
specializing in Barcroft and
Sleepy Hollow area
Life Member
Top Producers Club–46 years
703-534-9660 (work)
703-532-1617 (home)
703-447-9118 (cell)
Lawn and gardening • Leaf removal • Wood and stone work • Snow removal
Irrigation/sprinkler system service and installation
Serving the Lake Barcroft Community since 1989
Delfino Magallanes
STEVE SMITH
Landscape Design & Installations
Grading • Drainage Corrections
Patios • Retaining Walls – Sea Walls
Class A Licensed & Insured
Tel: 703-214-1644
Cell: 703-929-7780
Fax: 540-668-7232
36929 Charles Town Pike
Hillsboro, VA 20134
Lee’s Auto Center
DOMESTIC, EUROPEAN, JAPANESE, & HYBRID AUTOS
6116 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
Open: Mon-Fri 7:30 am- 7:00 pm, Sat 8:00 am-3:00 pm
GENERAL AUTO REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY AND EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS
703.931.2508
703.931.7519
LeesAutoCenterVA.com
[email protected]
MURPHY FUNERAL HOMES
Barry M. Murphy, Senior Advisor
1102 W. Broad St.
Falls Church
703-533-0341
4510 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington
703-920-4800
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
18
Craft Beers, Hand-Thrown Pizza and
More in Merrifield
By George McLennan and Debra M. Lee Barcroft News Staff
Photo by George McLennan
Matchbox Vintage Pizza in Merrifield’s new Mosaic District is
one of five in the D.C. area. The restaurant's name comes from
the narrow floor plan of its first restaurant in Chinatown.
Matchbox's pizza isn’t Pizza Hut – in décor or pizza. It’s a very nice
upscale restaurant that serves pizza and sandwiches with its own
unique and tasty spin, along with entrées that include seafood,
beef, chicken and pasta. It also offers a variety of craft beers on tap.
The interior has a pleasing design that combines modern and
rustic décor with lots of brick and old barn-type wood accents.
Alas, it is quite noisy when busy. We recommend asking to be
seated in the back room where it’s a little quieter. On the upside,
the booths are very private (but still noisy). If you want a closeup-and-personal view of the pizza-making, there’s a row of bar
seating in front of the two wood-fired pizza ovens.
It seemed like there was a beer to meet everyone’s taste so we will
focus on the food. Over two visits with a number of companions
we tried:
Three salads: Simple Salad (mixed greens, pear tomatoes, red
onions, dried cherries, pecorino Romano, parmesan crisp,
balsamic vinaigrette), Chop Salad (diced tomato, crispy
bacon, red onions, pasta ringlets, creamy herb vinaigrette)
and Apple and Pear Salad (mixed greens, candied pecans,
gorgonzola, honey-balsamic vinaigrette). All were quite good
and given A’s.
■ Wood-fired Lamb Sandwich – charred scallion yogurt, crispy
artichokes, chickpea fries, naan. This was very, very good and
would have gotten an A, but the naan wrap made it difficult
and messy to eat. See note below about the fries. (B)
■ Crabcake Sandwich – lump crab, lettuce & tomato, tangy
roasted red pepper remoulade, toasted brioche roll and
house-cut fries. It’s hard to beat crab cakes. (A-)
■ Matchbox Meat Pizza - pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage,
crispy bacon, zesty tomato sauce, mozzarella. Great tasting
and definitely for meat lovers, but might be too spicy for
some. (B+ to A-)
■ Coppa Italian Ham & Arugula Pizza – pesto, ricotta, roma
tomato and mozzarella. The idea of arugula on a pizza put
most of us off, but turned out to an excellent choice. Who
knew? (A)
■ Prosciutto & Black Mission Fig Pizza – roasted garlic, mozzarella, gorgonzola, black pepper. This odd sounding item
was declared to be “the best pizza I’ve ever had.” There is
just no accounting for taste. (A)
■ Mini Trio – two pan-seared scallops, two mini crabcakes,
two bun-less mini burgers. One of us ordered this appetizer
as an entrée and was told that the mini burgers could be
substituted for an extra scallop and crabcake. It turned out
■
Matchbox Vintage Pizza
2911 District Ave. (Merrifield next to the Angelika Theater)
(571) 395-4869 http://matchboxmerrifield.com/
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.
Entrées are $12 to $28
to be a very expensive substitution and we were somewhat
vexed. (A+, although begrudgingly)
A word about the chickpea fries. The wait staff seemed to think
they were not just unique but special. Wrong. They weren’t bad,
just lacking in taste and otherwise unenjoyable. The good news:
substituting for potato fries was a home run. Matchbox makes
the best potato fries since McDonalds stopped using tallow.
Unfortunately neither we nor our companions tried any of the
entrées. It wasn’t because they didn’t sound appealing. The pizza
and sandwiches just sounded more interesting.
Service was mixed. Matchbox offers call-ahead seating. Call before arriving to get on the waiting list, thereby shortening the
wait on a busy evening. We called and were told they were very
slow and they weren’t keeping a list. Of course when we got there,
business had picked up and we were told the wait would be 30
minutes. We were quite disappointed and made it known to the
hostess. We don't know if that made a difference, but our actual
wait was about 15 minutes.
Also, on both of our visits the food was a bit slow in coming. On
the other hand, Mike, our waiter truly excelled at his job. We gave
him high marks.
Bottom line: Entrées averaged about $14 per person. Full meal
was about $25. We enjoyed it and plan to stop back when we are
next at the Angelika Theater.
July 2013
19
Bill’s Handyman Service
CAROL HAWLEY
Life Member
NVAR Multi-Million
Dollar Sales Club
39-Year Lake Barcroft
Resident
I love Lake Barcroft…
I sell Lake Barcroft
CAROL HAWLEY
Realtor
703-534-9660 • cell: 703-975-6403
E-mail: [email protected]
Foundation Specialist, Carpentry, Masonry,
Plumbing, Painting,Drywall, and Tile Repairs
Reasonable Rates, References
Licensed and Insured,
34 yrs. Experience
[email protected]
703-863-2150
P ON
TO
B OA ON
TS
IE
HOB KS
A
KAY
Dealer for Ray Electric Outboard Motors
Del i very Avai l abl e
*Pontoon Boats *Pedal Boats *Hobie Kayaks
*Jon Boats *Sunfish *Laser *Hobie *Dinks
*Expert Fiberglass & Mechanical Repair *Accessories *Parts
Phone: 703-491-3188
Fax: 703-491-2124
[email protected] 2380 Research Ct. • Woodbridge, VA 22192
Over 24 years specializing in
Residential & Commercial Exterior & Interior Painting • Power Washing
Drywall Work/Repair • Deck Seal & Stain • Rotted Wood Repair
Call for a free estimate!
BOB KUHN
PRESIDENT
703-263-0309
703-217-5409
[email protected] or [email protected]
References available from your neighbors!
Give your home a NEWLOOK this year!
Falls Church
Foot & Ankle Center
Podiatric Medicine & Surgery
Dr. Paul B. Cannon
104-A East Broad Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
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T. 703.237.1555
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www.fcfac.com
CHADWICK, WASHINGTON,
MORIARTY, ELMORE & BUNN, PC
CHADWICK
WASHINGTON
A Full-Service Law Firm
Proudly Serving Lake Barcroft Association, Inc.
Throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia
Fairfax Office: 3201 Jermantown Road, Suite 600, Fairfax, VA 22030
Tel 703-352-1900 | Fax 703-352-5293
E-mail [email protected]
PC Setup
PC Maintenance
PC Troubleshooting [email protected]
PC Peripherals
703-862-5245
Printer Problems
Home Network Setup, Service and Repair
Custom Built Computers and Servers
Jeff Latker
20
Woman’s Club, continued from page 11
desserts. And thanks to Lake Barcroft Village for providing the
Beach 5 golf cart “limo service” to those having trouble navigating the trip from Waterway to the ice cream.
And thanks to our gifted and gifting members, our other “trips”
are pleasant and fascinating, too.
Coming In 2013-14
All-Lake Events – parades (July and Halloween), our Egg Hunt
(with grand marchioness Jeannie Meyer) and the pull-out-thestops fundraiser – the House and Garden Tour.
Member Events – major fall and spring meetings and a holiday
party in our own welcoming homes.
Activity Groups – brilliant books with Priscilla Weck; creative
crafts with Bonnie Blyth; luscious lunches with Renée Gholz;
top-rated movies with Leigh Gonzales; unforgettable tours with
Wilma Kaplan and Eva Kosztarab.
Possible New Activity Groups
Sharlene Aukofer, Sally Determan, and Sunny Greene have set
up an informal tea and organizational meeting, July 20, at 3
p.m., at Sally’s house for a new group to enjoy weekend escapades for widows, weekend widows, and other single women.
Charlotte Flounders will look into putting together a new club
toward the end of August– mentoring for younger women with
distinguished professionals living here at the Lake.
Chica Brunsvold and Ruby Pritchard are laying out a scenario
for fellow theater lovers.
Lake Barcroft Newsletter
A suggestion from our beloved past president, Dorothy Werner – members and their significant others meet one weekend
a month for conversations on intriguing subjects with Lake experts.
More ideas: A sequel to the Lake Barcroft Cookbook, single-act
play reading group; Oktoberfest; holiday baking with children
and/or adults. Louise Ziebell is looking into a costume parade
for dogs (“Barcroft Barkanalia”), building on dog shows first
presented by past co-presidents Victoria Fernandez and Eva Kosztarab.
Let us know what gets your neurons popping.
Membership News
Cathy Williams reports a current count of 118. We want to
include you. It’s easy – just email [email protected].
The modest membership fee ($30 with optional contribution)
guarantees your personal support of wonderful Lake events and
activities. It also entitles you to nominate a favorite nearby charity for an annual endowment and vote for your candidates in
September.
Submission Deadline for the
August Newsletter is July 20
July 2013
21
Neighbor, continued from page 3
Arriving here with their government-maximum of a single bag of
100 pounds of personal goods, they received Jerry’s 100% backing.
Becoming more than family in less than a year, they achieved independent lives as American citizens. They call him “Uncle Jerry.”
Jerry, as treasurer of the Watershed Improvement District
(WID), you continue making significant contributions –
now they benefit everyone here in the Lake.
lies and students from around the world. I've always loved Washington and am delighted to show off our capital city to them.
Randa invites us to a beautiful table set for tea. As she passes a plate
of savories she says, “Now you’ve heard about us. Will you tell us
about you?”
Jerry: It’s gratifying work, and I'm pleased that our Lake is at its
healthiest ever, usually reaching standards of cleanliness within
two to three days after a storm. We three trustees – Chuck de
Seve, George McLennan, and I – work harmoniously: Chuck’s
skills in analysis and management, George’s grasp of engineering principles and my knowledge of engineering and finance,
combined with Davis Grant’s practical expertise in operations
make it possible.
Randa, you’ve had a rewarding career in public service. Did
you ever return to the White House?
Randa: During President George H.W. Bush's term, I volunteered one day a week for Barbara Bush in her literacy campaign.
I made calls to people around the country helping them find state
resources to assist people in need. At the same time, I was director
of public relations and special events for Reston Town Center. We
created a parade, like a mini-Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,
attended by about 10,000 people. I loved knowing everyone in
Reston. It was great fun when they named me Grand Marshal.
A recent challenge was becoming a “Certified Master Guide.” I
wrote a 25-page paper and passed an oral test; then led a full tour
of distinguished historians and astute professionals from the U.S.
Historical Society, the Capitol Historical Society, the Library of
Congress and the Smithsonian. Today I conduct tours for fami-
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Lake Barcroft Newsletter
22
Real Estate, continued from page 10
your
“Pricing and presentation are most important,” Jen says.
“Sometimes we can get over the asking price, sometimes not. It
depends on the condition of the property. Younger people don’t
want a fixer-upper. They don’t have the money.”
neighborhood
attorney
Both Burma and Jen recommend working to prepare your home
for sale – painting, installing new carpeting, sanding floors. Burma says even if you’re not thinking of selling today, make the
upgrades that will be needed later anyway. “You need a new
kitchen? Put it in before you want to sell,” Burma says. “Why not
enjoy it yourself?”
Jen says houses off-the-water have sold from $600,000 to
$900,000 – a huge range. Lakefront homes have sold from a
low of about $800,000 to well over $1 million. “There’s very
little Lakefront available,” Jen says. “We only have 200 waterfront homes; they don’t come up for sale that often.” Jen says
Lakefront homes that have been in families for decades often
need complete renovation, so the purchase price is only the beginning of the real cost of the house.
“The listing price determines how long a house is on the market,” Burma says, “If you haven’t matched your listing price to
the condition of the house, your property will stay on the market until you change to a more appealing price, you get and accept a lower-priced offer or market appreciation catches up with
your price. There’s a right price for every house.”
Count on garrett green to
help you out of a difficult legal
situation:
20+ years experience and a
reputation for obtaining the
best possible results
expert defense of traffic and
criminal charges, including
reckless and DUI
Nichols & Green
10617 Jones Street
Suite 101B
Fairfax, VA 22030
p 703.383.9222
f 703.383.9220
nicholsgreen.com
proven ability handling
business and civil litigation
garrett d. green
LB resident since 1965
Licensed in VA, DC, and MD
[email protected]
571.215.4718 direct
And in this market, both Realtors agree, properly-priced homes
will sell – quickly. We’re Your Minions ...
And We’re Here To Help
And no, we’re not from the government
Seriously, ever had one of those days
where you need to be in two places at
the same time? We can’t
clone you, but Your Minions
can be great problem solvers.
For example, you can go into
the office for that important
meeting while your minion
waits at home for the washer
repairman. Or, don’t have time to shop for that
party you’re planning this weekend? Give your
minion that shopping list and we’ll take care
of everything for you.
There’s no limit to the errands and assistance
Your Minions offers. Contact us to find out more.
Your
Minions
Lifestyle management and errand service
202.841.6498
[email protected]
We are a Lake Barcroft owned and operated business
July 2013
Services/
Classifieds
Lake residents may place free
classifieds. We will publish the
ad for one month, additional
months are on a space-available
basis and must be submitted
by the 15th of each month.
Classifieds can be emailed to
Chris Lawson at lachance3@aol.
com for approval. Please include
your name and day/evening
phone numbers for verification.
Non-Lake residents may
purchase a classified ad by
calling 703-941-2547 or emailing
[email protected]. Placement
is on a space-available basis.
HOUSE CLEANING Licensed
and Insured * Weekly *
Biweekly* Monthly * Saturday
appointments available * Moveins/ Move-outs * Excellent
References * Reasonable Rates
* FREE On-site Estimates, call
PAULA @ 703-909-8411 or email
[email protected]
EXOTIC PET SITTING Lake
references available. Please
contact Noah Wax, age 16, at
703-256-4581.
house cleaning Reliable
and experienced. Good
references. Flexible scheduling.
Reasonable rates. We bring
our own equipment. Weekly,
biweekly, monthly, occasionally,
one-time, move in/out, offices.
For free in-home estimate, call
Maryen/Raul at 703-321-5335.
23
President, continued from page 6
ting, at 9:30 just off my dock at 3514 Pinetree Terrace.) Dive in to one or more of
the many activities and meet interesting
and warm folks, some of whom will become close friends, I promise.
In this newsletter, Anne O'Neil, president
of the Woman’s Club, has a great article
about the many activities of this club, the
grandmother or all of our many activity
clubs. There are lots of Woman’s Club
volunteer opportunities—the July 4th
Parade, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Lake
Barcroft House Tour. All of the Woman’s
Club activities and volunteer possibilities
will open your world to new friends and
adventures. Contact Cathy Williams at
[email protected] for membership information.
And there are friend-making women’s activities through Barcrofters, with its numerous lunches for women of all ages as
well as occasional parties, which include the
guys. Contact Roxanna Douglas at [email protected]. And the Newcomers’
Club (definitely NOT just for newcomers,
but our newest neighbors are especially
welcome) sponsors some of the Lake’s best
parties – great occasions to bring neighbors
together. Newcomers’ Club volunteers
also provide and deliver welcome baskets
to new residents. Contact Nomi Taslett at
[email protected] to get involved and
watch LakeLink for party announcements.
And there’s GLOB, Gays and Lesbians
of Barcroft, an informal group for gays,
lesbians and their families and friends
that has many casual events in members’
homes. For more information, contact
[email protected]
The Barcroft Bicycle Club is for cyclists
at all levels of skill and experience. The
group gathers in good weather for biking
to local attractions. Get great exercise,
see new places, meet new friends—it’s a
“three-fer.” Contact Larry Golfer at [email protected] for more information.
Our Lake artists have created the Lake Barcroft Art League, which sponsors monthly
social meetings where members share art
with other members. The Art League
plans to organize exhibitions and sales for
Lake artists and artisans. Call 703-2562734 (Louise Ziebell) or 703-845-3434
(Jennifer Talati) for more information.
Interested in photography? There is a
Lake Barcroft Camera Club whose members are amateur and professional photographers who meet monthly to share
information, plan photography outings,
encourage each other and have fun. Contact super-volunteer Larry Golfer at [email protected] for more information.
Is travel your thing? Lake Barcroft has
a Marco Polo Club that meets monthly
in private homes for food, libations and
discussion of topics/places of interest to
world travelers. Contact Mike Sternad at
[email protected].
Your LBA offers many volunteer opportunities throughout the year Are you interested in the environment? The very active
LBA Environment Committee can use
your talents helping with the lovely Beach
Five RPA Garden, working on the very
popular Earth Day event, assisting with the
Geese Peace program, participating in the
popular tree plantings – and the list goes on. The Maintenance Committee regularly
relies on volunteers to help maintain the
LBA common property improvements,
including the boat racks, lifeguard stands,
signage, fences, picnic tables, etc. The Security Committee always needs
Community Watch volunteers. If you’d
like to volunteer for any of these LBA
activities, call Chris Lawson at 703-9411927 (but only during normal office
hours, please) and watch for volunteer
outreach messages on LakeLink. And please let us know if you would like
to join one of the other LBA committees,
listed in the newsletter and on the website, or if you would like to be a candidate
for the Board.
And last but certainly not least in the lives
of its members, the Lake Barcroft Village,
which helps seniors to remain as long as
possible in their homes by providing volunteer assistance with driving, running
errands, computer problems, in addition
to sponsoring many social events. Check
out www.lakebarcroftvillage.org for more
information.
It’s a long list but there’s truly something
going on here for everyone. You will
never be sorry that you got involved. I’m
certainly not!