Sunday, March 15, 2009

A CELEBRATION OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE



Many from Leland Street were amongst the throngs who witnessed the Inauguration Ceremony, the stories continue to be shared. Miriam Daniels spent all of Inaugural morning wandering around with a good friend visiting from California, trying to get into the Purple Section of the Mall. Finally they found a Jumbotron and were happy to see the inauguration. That evening, three of the Wolff family, Miriam, Larry, David, and friends attended the Southern Inaugural Ball and were thrilled to see President Barack and Michelle Obama as well as Vice President Joe Biden and his lovely wife, Jill.


The Kazins had a wonderful time on Inauguration Day. With many thousands of their fellow Obamaites, Beth and Michael watched the ceremonies on a Jumbotron near the Washington monument. The night before, Maia slept at a friend’s house on Capitol Hill and so got a better view the next morning. Danny saw it all on another giant TV perched in the middle of the Columbia University quad in Manhattan.

Some of the Rubashkin/Karasiks did decide to brave the cold and the crowds on Inauguration day. David discovered that Metro bus was running an express bus from CC circle to 18th and L., so Pamela, Hannah, and Sophie, dressed in many layers, with sandwiches in one pocket, a water bottle in the other, and a camera round the neck, headed downtown at 7:30 am. No traffic, and they were downtown by 8 am. They walked to the mall, with a crowd that was happy, excited, and well behaved, swelling in numbers the closer they got to the mall.

They parked ourselves in front of a Jumbotron at 12th and Constitution, surrounded by a group of high school students and their teacher (who had an infant in tow from Alaska!). The crowds kept them warm and out of the wind and the ceremony brought pride to thousands. Except for the crowds trying to get off the mall at the end of the ceremony (for some reason the park service decided that all of those in one section of the mall needed to exit through a six foot opening in a gate at 12th and Independence), the day was perfect. The family made its way back to the bus, and were home by 3 pm, enjoying a hot meal! David and Jacob joined friends in Bethesda, choosing to watch from a warm restaurant. The whole family watched the parade from home and marveled at those hardy souls who waited all day! Now back to work and school (snow storms not withstanding), Hannah and Jacob are preparing for their MCYO concerts this month. Sophie wants very much to get her new racing cycle out for a test ride in the warmer weather.

The Ayaz Family celebrated Arianna’s 5th birthday with a Glamour Girl party! We have enjoyed spending more time with friends in the neighborhood and are headed to Florida for Spring Break! We are looking forward to Spring!


Last month the Duffys enjoyed a trip to Florida. They were joined by Charles’ mother, and all had fun in the sun. One of the highlights of the trip was watching the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training practice, with Matthew an enthusiastic fan.

Matthew finds fun in both snow and sand. He made a winter friend of the last snowfall. The Duffys are looking forward to the warm temperatures of spring and seeing more Leland Street Neighbors.

Both Jimmy and Leanne Boland were out of town for the Inauguration, but watched the festivities on television. Leanne was helping parents move, and was in Louisiana again this weekend. Patrick is home and working for Insurance House. Monty is training clients in their homes in addition to his work as a certified fitness trainer at the University Club. If anyone needs some help getting into shape, he’s your man and is available daily until 3 pm. (301 767 5356).
Leanne and Jimmy are very blessed to see the grandchildren often, and can’t wait to introduce them to the town’s new playground equipment. Will is 2 1⁄2 yrs and loves to play with his uncles. Mae, quite calm in comparison to her brother, will be 5 months old in a week. Her smiles are showered on all!
Since January, Leanne has enjoyed performances by the American Ballet Theatre, The Washington Ballet and New York City Ballet.


Leanne is looking forward to working in the garden, and plans on going to the Washington Home and Garden Show with her sister who lives in Easton.



Marcy and Arthur Forrest look forward to the ballet season, in particular the astounding Alvin Ailey Ballet, which is an annual family event.

Marcy and her sister, Sheila, enjoyed a few days in Philadelphia for the annual Flower Show. This year’s theme was Italy, which unleashed such a creative force for the presenters of ten acres of the seven regions of Italian landscape, architecture, music and fashions. In celebration of the theme, Marcy wore sunflower colors and Sheila wore her sunflower pattern jacket.


Imagine stepping in from a grey, drizzly winter morning to the sensory explosion of colors, fragrances, as well as, garlic clusters, peppers, and even stalks of pasta. There were waterfalls, fountains, gondolas, statuary and some home settings from all of the regions of Bella Italia! At the close of the day we were treated to live opera performances from heart of the Flower Show .



Nicole and Steve recently spent a few days in NYC. They toured the Calder exhibition at the Whitney Museum,enjoyed a matinee performance of South Pacific, took a carriage ride through Central Park, strolled through the zoo and had brunch and cocktails with friends. Ahh...New York, New York...so much to do and see.


Zak and Chad are busy this month taking ZF-Films to St. Louis, Los Angeles.



The Kazin family has returned to life as normal since the excitement and activity of the Inauguration events, at least as normal as possible during the recession. Maia did travel to Los Angeles to sing with the Maret choir, and Michael spoke at Rutgers on the past and future of liberalism. Zoe clearly enjoyed gamboling in the snow last week—but not as much as when she was a puppy and didn’t give a thought to her freezing paws.


Beth and Michael have become addicts of The Wire, a police drama series set in Baltimore, Maryland, perhaps setting a record for watching more DVDs of the show in less time than anyone in history.

Julie Trocchio is traveling to Scottsdale and LA this week, just when the weather on Leland Street is at its best, oh, well. Elizabeth had her office Christmas party last week, since she works for a caterer, December was too busy! Have you tried the new cheese stand at the farm woman’s market? Farm fresh eggs and milk too, highly recommended.

The Simpson/Payne family went skiing for the first time at Wintergreen. All three kids loved it and after one day at ski school were all doing great. Jack took to snow boarding and has declared it his second favorite sport after soccer.


The family is enjoying a new life with Chloe, a golden doodle. She is keeping them all more fit and is a source of constant entertainment. Jack and Sarah are loving their first year at Chevy Chase Elementary and the whole family is looking forward to Spring on Leland Street. If anyone is looking for last minute ideas for Spring Break/summer, the Simpson/Payne beach house is for rent.
Click on this link for more information and pictures: http://homeexchange.com/show.php?id=100930

Dorothy and Fred Solomon were visited in February by their Williamstown family, including their 13 yr old step-grandson who was especially thrilled by the Spy Museum.


Later in March, they’re expecting a visit from their Philadelphia family—which includes their granddaughter (age 7) and grandson (age 4 1⁄2). Do neighbors have any suggestions for super entertaining events or activities for this age group ? Thanks!

The Lubans are proud to announce the engagement of their son Ben to Kim Kulik, a graduate of UCLA and an LA native. Ben is finishing up an MBA at Columbia Business School. An engagement party will take place April 4 at the Cosmos Club with the wedding planned for August in LA. In expectation of many visitors, the Lubans replaced the floor tiles in the kitchen and family room.
Naomi reports that forty doctors will be at an all day retreat at her home on Thursday for junior faculty at GW medical school and Children’s Hospital. (so Leland Streeters know where to go if there is a Thursday emergency).
Naomi reports that Ben Rainey is doing well at the Armed Forces Home on Oregon Avenue and that she and Norm visit him as well as his wife Dorothy regularly. Ben and Dorothy lived for many years at 4100 Leland Street.

The Davies/Martz’s have lots of news. Stephanie has just begun work as the Chief Counsel to Senator Charles Schumer of NewYork.


Chris was just back from a six week trip to India (Mumbai and Hyderabad) and is returning next week. He is working to defend Price Waterhouse India, the auditors of Satyam Computers, of any liability, after the CEO of Satyam admitted that he was involved in a billion dollar scam.


Kyle’s hockey team won their regular season in the Capital Beltway Hockey league, but they lost 5-3 in the playoffs. Nora had a violin recital, and she is now playing Song of the Wind. Pip has been accepted to the Oneness Family Preschool where she will begin next fall.

The Wolff/Daniels were happy to have a four day visit from Becky who is working in Seattle for Microsoft as “associate product developer” for Windows Live, focusing on improving the look and feel of Microsoft’s web services. Becky says that Seattle is not as rainy as people say and she likes its informal style. She had a nice ski trip to Whistler in Canada. This weekend she met many of her college and high school friends who are living in the DC area.
David has just rented an apartment in Cleveland Park with one of his college roommates. He continues to teach music to preschoolers at Bach to Rock, as well as voice and musicianship to pre-teens, and recently joined the Cantate Chamber Singers, a local group performing classical and modern choral music. For performances go to www.cantate.org.



Larry and Miriam were in Florida where Miriam’s father received a “Lifetime Award for Service” from the American Reform Zionist Association, the Zionist arm of the Reform Jewish movement. Larry will be attending the annual conference of the Comparative and International Education Society in Charleston, SC, where he will be presenting papers on community colleges and on education assessments in Latin America. Miriam has started up again on Hebrew language lessons. After many years of begging others to help him, Larry is learning to use Microsoft Power Point in a course offered by Montgomery College’s extension division.

Leanne Boland’s book club recently compared All the Kings Men, by Robert Penn Warren, to Huey Long, by T. Harry Williams, and watched the 1949 film based on All the Kings Men.


Arthur Forrest is currently reading the new novel by John Grisham, The Associate, and also enjoyed rereading The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon.


The town has received the Bedell commemorative plaque and plans to install it once tree mulching has been completed, probably later this month. Neighbors will be reminded of Dorothy and Henry when walking past the tree between 4113 and 4111 Leland Street.

Leland Streeters send their collective thanks to Ann Lee’s Girl Scout granddaughters - those Girl Scout cookies are still the best!

The LSSN looks forward with Leland Streeters to warmer and better days to come!