Dear neighbors,
After two months in the US, we have more or less settled in to our new home in Leland Street. A big thank you to everyone who have greeted us and made us feel welcome! This is truly a fantastic neighborhood for adults and children alike. We are really looking forward to the years to come. Please feel free to stop by. We’ve bought a huge trampoline for the backyard (it was meant to be a bit smaller, but with our lack of understanding for imperial measurements – coming from Europe – 12 feet didn’t tell us much). Now we know – it’s huge! - and big enough for anyone who would like to come over for a jump!
As some of you know, we are from Norway. However we’ve lived in Canberra, Australia for the past two years. It feels good to be back in the Northern hemisphere with the Holiday Season being in winter! Sigrid is a diplomat, Tarjei a teacher (but working at the Norwegian Embassy now – yes, we’ve turned the place into a family business…). We have two little girls; Eira 4 years old and Mari 15 months.
Looking forward to getting to know you all better!
Take care,
The Helland Bay Family - Sigrid, Tarjei Eira, Mari
Ayaz
Nicole writes: I enjoyed attending the Towne coffee this month and I'm looking forward to meeting more neighbors through Towne events. The girls have enjoyed the changing of the season and we go leaf collecting throughout the neighborhood almost every day!
We will be celebrating Sophia's 3rd Birthday. We are also planning on visiting Homestead Farm's pumpkin patch.
Bateman
The Bateman's are looking forward to Annie and Claire coming home for fall break (from their first semester at University of Georgia and Vanderbilt respectively). Jill and Terry recently returned from a southern tour of all 3 children's colleges (including Will at Clemson, graduating this December!) Everyone seems happy with a few minor bumps during transition. All are enjoying this beautiful fall weather (Terry is on the golf course every possible moment) and Jill and Terry are really looking forward to the block party. Jill recently saw the Giorgio Morandi exhibit at the Metropolitan Musuem and highly recommends it!
Boland
The Bolands are happy to announce the birth of granddaughter, Mae Catherine, to Shannon and Joe Burkhart. Mae was born at 7:25pm on October 14th, and weighed 6lbs, 10oz. and was 19 1/2". Everyone in the family has been involved with big brother Will who turned two on Sept. 1st. Lucky for Leanne, Will adores his uncles who can be counted on to entertain their nephew.
Honoring Dorothy and Henry Bedell
Leanne Boland knows that there is an interest in dedicating a town tree, and ordering a commemorative plaque in honor of longtime Leland Street residents, Dorothy and Henry Bedell. Please send donations to Leanne so the plaque can be ordered by the town. As we walk our block we will always be reminded of our dear friends, and shaded by a beautiful canopy. --Thank you Leland Street neighbors.
Cosmas
Bill and Farrell have had a very busy October, thus far. Will was home last weekend, as was Farrell's brother Jonathan from Boston, to celebrate family birthdays. Farrell's brother Ned was 60 on October 6th and Farrell was some other number on October 4th.
We had a simply wonderful time all together. Jonathan, the youngest of Farrell's brothers, went to Urban Outfitters for party favors! To say the least, one cannot report what was printed on hats, plates and balloons in this family newspaper. Quite, quite funny.
Son Will is working hard and will be home for Thanksgiving. It was a joy to see him.
This weekend, Bill's nephew, Dean Klovens is visiting from Chicago. As Bill and Dean periodically lapse into Greek, Farrell generally has no idea what is going on, but Bill is very happy. Saturday afternoon we all went to Politics and Prose to welcome the new book by Alan Cheuse about Curtis, the great photographer of Native Americans.
Daniel/Wolf
Miriam writes: I think that we are very lucky to live here in the Fall. Toby and I just returned from a 3 mile hike in Great Falls, Maryland.
I can't tell you who enjoyed it more. It was a moderate hike that included beautiful foliage, hills and valleys and our own Potomac at the end. I believe it was called the Gold Mine Loop with a return via the Berma Road. (Apparently a misguided group once prospected for gold in Great Falls, Maryland but did not find very much of it). The hike was led by my 62-year-old friend who was celebrating her birthday. Delicious birthday carrot cake at the end.
Also, I just had a repair of a hole in my dining room wall completed by an excellent painter and plasterer that I wanted to recommend to any one who needs a painter or plasterer. He does a very careful job and I have used him for several years. (painting and wallpaper) His name is Randy Wirth and his phone number is (301) 253-3863. Call me if you have questions.
Delancy/Taplin
Paul recently joined the 8th grade Eastern Middle School Humanities Program on a weeklong trip to New York City. The trip was planned with a focus on poetry and using your senses to experience the city. Paul is writing a poem about his experience. To prepare for the trip, the class read the book Time and Again, which was set in NYC in 1972 but involved time travel back to 1882. In 1882, Trinity Church was the tallest point in the city and the Brooklyn Bridge was under construction. Upon arriving in NY, one of the first things they did was walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Paul was impressed by the view into Manhattan and the sketches along the sides of the bridge that portrayed the 19th century Manhattan skyline – quite different from today!
Also in preparation for the trip, Paul had to identify someone in New York willing to be interviewed by Paul’s class. Paul selected a leading cheese authority, chef and restaurant owner. He had to pitch his idea to his classmates. Ultimately, the class selected and interviewed a stage manager who has worked on Les Mis and other Broadway shows, including the current Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. Paul saw Grease (he liked it) and Stomp (he found it unexpectedly funny.)
At the Tenement Museum, an actress guided them on an experiential tour where Paul’s group played the role of a family living in the tenement (Paul, being the tallest, was given the role of “Papa.”)
Other highlights included a nighttime trip to the top of the Empire State Building, a day view at the top of Rockefeller Center, a visit to the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon in Central Park, the World Trade Center Memorial and shopping at the giant M&M store at Central Park. Paul noticed that the World Trade Center Memorial was the one place in the city where people stand still and take notice.
Paul enjoys New York City but finds that he misses the green, open spaces of Washington. He likes the absence of skyscrapers here and the “friendly” feel of our city.
Duffy
Matthew is very excited about Halloween, and tells anyone who asks that he’s going to be a firefighter, a lion and a baseball player. This week Matthew enjoyed going with his school class to a pumpkin patch, where he had a ball sliding and climbing on bales of hay, on tractors and going on a hayride.
This weekend Matthew also enjoyed some playtime with the Boland’s grandson Will. We think Matthew may have found someone who likes to tackle as much as he does!
We are looking forward to a visit from Charles’ mother, and are enjoying having Bonnie’s brother Stephen with us.
Fendrick
Barbara wants neighbors to be aware of a house nearby for sale. Her daughter, Anne-Marie Fendrick just put her house on the market. There’ll be an open house today, October 19. The address is 4306 Sleaford Road in Bethesda. It is 3 blocks north of East-West Highway, 3 BR, 2 1⁄2 BA- charming home with a nice garden and in-law suite. “Turn-key condition.” The agent, Jane Fairweather, can be reached at 240-223-4663.
(Editors note: For all you Maryland politics buffs – this house happens to be the boyhood home of our Governor, Martin O’Malley.)
Forrest
Marcy had a wonderful evening of chat, laughter, hugs, kisses, flashbulbs and champagne in NYC, at a reunion of The Mannequin Agency hosted by the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon. Marcy often gets together with her close circle of friendship that dates back to when these women walked down the runway in the 1960's and 1970's, but a reunion offers the chance to see someone else from the past. The fun began with a luncheon, then on to the event, followed by dinner with several from the reunion and continued with a lunch the next day before returning home. What a whirlwind! See below faces of forty years of precious friendship. (Editors Charles and Bonnie Duffy note: In case you missed it, a photo of Marcy and some of the “Mannequins” she worked with was featured in the Style section of last Sunday’s New York Times.)
Nicole describes herself as a "Culture Vulture" and has discovered marvelous ticket bargains on Craigslist. In the past month she has purchased seats for four different operas and two ballets, all at incredibly discounted prices. She highly recommends this as a source for those who wish to take advantage of the events at the Kennedy Center. Nicole treated Marcy to the Suzanne Farrell Ballet. It was a presentation of pas de deaux, with seven selections including one from Don Quixote and Stars and Stripes. Ms. Farrell shared her thoughts and memories of working with George Ballantine throughout the matinee. It was a beautiful presentation. Marcy was first introduced to The Suzanne Farrell Ballet troupe by Leanne Boland last year. We had especially marveled at the talents of Bonnie Pickard.
Nicole attended three events connected with the Swedish Embassy to celebrate the opening of the Voices Exhibition, which Nicole manages for International Arts and Artists. The opening night was a dinner at the home of the Cultural Attaché. The evening was a social event to introduce the artists and included a performance by a Swedish opera star.
Marcy and Arthur express Happy Birthday Wishes to Farrell Cosmas.
Marcy and Farrell laughed through a birthday celebration lunch at Mon Ami Gabi...blowing out that next candle is more fun when perched in a profiterole.
Marcy and Arthur had lively discussion over evening tea at the Vicente home...amazing how animated discussion can be even when you all agree on the subject!
Jones (former residents of 4117)
Sylvia writes: We're enjoying fall in Napa and we have quite a bit of color from maples and sweet gum trees. Here, they call the gum trees "liquidambar" which is a beautiful word. The vines, now almost all harvested, are every color from yellow to burgundy. It still surprises me to see the magnolia trees in full blossom in the middle of October.
We spent 5 weeks in Europe this summer, returning to NY on the Queen Mary ll, for a week with Laura in Brooklyn. Then home briefly followed by a week at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in beautiful Ashland. Then home for another week before we left to visit old friends in Laguna Beach. We have houseguests this weekend and again next week, old friends from Cedar Lane UU in Bethesda. Bob has promised me that he is really ready for staying at home and enjoying our lovely little garden. I'll believe it when I see it! Love to all our old neighbors; to the new neighbors, we're getting to know you through the LSSN. You're all welcome to visit us in Napa.
Lee
From Ann: Over the last weekend of September I attended my New Trier High School reunion in Winnetka, Illinois. I'd never attended any high school or college reunion and was somewhat apprehensive. It turned out to be fantastic! One thing that made it so successful was that everyone wore a 3X4 card hanging from a ribbon around their neck.
On it was a pretty large picture of them from high school--also their maiden name (large) and city and state where they live. It was so easy to identify and remember people. I might not have attended except that a friend whom I haven't been in contact e-mailed me inviting me to stay with her in her Winnetka condo. How could I pass that up? It was 3 days of hugs and laughter. I had designed the scenery for their big musical called "Lagniappe" where all the script and music is written by the students. While we were touring the school and seeing the 1500 seat auditorium, students were rehearsing for this year's production. Fond memories. One of my old high school friends is a co-founder of Staples. She went to Harvard business school and planned on opening a chain of grocery stores. When she and her partner realized there wasn't much money to be made in grocery stores they decided to sell paper, etc. using the same model
Murtagh
Eric writes: I'll be running my first marathon Oct. 26th - The Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. (My 40th birthday present). I'm a bit uneasy about it as my training schedule was very abbreviated this summer due to a couple of sport injuries. If you see me on crutches, you'll know what happened!
I recently contracted to purchase the Bedell's house at 4111. (I hope I didn't bump someone else from the neighborhood who wished to purchase it).
I appreciate the home's architecture and grounds very much and I'm hopeful that I can work out an arrangement with the Bedell's gardener to continue the maintenance of the yard. I currently have the home up for rent if anyone would like to bring a friend into the neighborhood.
Rubashkin/Karasik
Pamela reports: The family recently went to Homestead Farm for their annual apple picking, where they picked 50 pounds of apples (and this was a light year!) They had a lot of fun, and have just begun the cooking but have already turned out apple cake, apple pie and applesauce.
Hannah is busy with her college applications. Jacob started at Eastern Middle School this year where he is in the humanities magnet program. It is a big transition though he appears to be enjoying it. Everyone is looking forward to the Leland Street Block Party.
Solomon
Fred was tickled to see the big article in Thursday's Washington Post , entitled "Getting to Know Mr. Obama's Neighborhood". The neighborhood is Hyde Park, on Chicago's South Side, around the University of Chicago. It was Fred's neighborhood-- growing up, going to the same Laboratory School the Obama daughters now attend. In fact, he lived there through college and med school, ultimately meeting and courting Dorothy there. The Post article painted a pretty accurate picture of Hyde Park, though it didn't fully capture its warmth and charm.
The Obama home is on the left in the photo below:
For more photos and the Washington Post story...go to this link.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/15/AR2008101503728.html
Fred and Dorothy wish to tell neighbors about a remarkable Filipino young man (in his thirties) who keeps our lives working, allowing us to age gracefully in our home. Jerry works for us one day a week, solving almost all the household problems that have accumulated over the previous six days.
Here are some examples: Jerry will pick up a prescription on his way here; install or reset the timer for our outdoor lights; do all the gardening (at Dorothy's direction); get a friend to help him successfully patch a big hole in our asphalt driveway; sew Velcro on a wallet; prepare dinner if we need him to; or repair our basement dehumidifier- --whatever is on our list that week.
We have known Jerry's extended family for several years. He is a kind, loyal, and responsible human being--a compassionate caregiver who can be counted upon in any emergency needing his help. Originally Jerry was an "au pair" overseas for a State Department family; he accompanied them back to DC, where he continued to help raise their four children. He is now a legal immigrant and is totally fluent in English.
As you can tell, we feel Jerry is a real "find". Right now he's available two days a week; he can be engaged either occasionally or on a regular basis. Please call Dorothy at (301)656-3391 with any questions you may have.
Payne/Simpson
Editors note: Maggie’s mother, Mary Alice Simpson, passed away on September 29.
We’ve included her obituary below.
Mary Alice Simpson, 84, from Las Vegas, was a true pioneer of her generation. Her father, Clesse Turner, who worked for Standard Oil, gave Senator Harry Reid his first job as a truck driver. After graduating from Las Vegas High School, she attended nursing school. However, Mary Alice soon had an opportunity she could not pass up. In 1951, she was offered a job working for Nevada’s U.S. Senator Pat McCarran in Washington, D.C., and during that same year, she was named Nevada’s Cherry Blossom Princess. While working for Sen. McCarran, Mary Alice came upon an ad outside the Senator’s office seeking secretaries for a USAID Security Mission in Saigon, Vietnam. At age 29, Mary Alice did what few single women of her time would even consider - she decided to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
As one of the very first young American women to venture to Vietnam on behalf of the U.S. Government, Mary Alice’s eyes were awakened to a whole new and exciting world. In 1953, Mary Alice Turner (her maiden name) married a Foreign Service Officer and author named Howard R. Simpson, from Alameda, Calif., whom she met on the terrace of the Intercontinental Hotel in Saigon. They both shared the same passion for life - a “joie de vivre,” which they passed on to their four loving daughters, Shawn, Lisa, Kate and Maggie. As the wife of a rising Foreign Service Officer and accomplished novelist, Mary Alice spent the next 55 years seeing the world like few women of her generation have ever done. Her adventurous life assured her a front row seat at some of the most historic military and diplomatic showdowns in American history. In addition to two tours in Vietnam, she lived in Nigeria, Majorca, Australia, Algeria, France and Ireland, to name but a few. Mary Alice often came home to Las Vegas to visit her late mother and well known local community volunteer, Alice Turner, who died in 2002, at the age of 104, and her late brother and renowned Las Vegas engineer, Tom Turner, who died earlier this year. Mary Alice died Sept. 29, 2008, at home in Washington, D.C., with her four daughters by her side, Shawn Simpson of Aix-en-Provence, France; Dr. Lisa Simpson of Cincinnati, Ohio, Kate Simpson of Silver Spring, Md.; and Maggie Simpson of Chevy Chase, Md. She also leaves behind her eight adoring grandchildren.
Trocchio
From Julie: Jennie was home for a friend's wedding and said she had forgotten how lovely Chevy Chase is in the fall. It was great having her home. Elizabeth is getting menus for Brown Bag ready for the holiday season. Julie has been traveling and John is surviving the economy.
Cultural Opportunity at the Swedish Embassy
The Swedish Embassy is located at 30th and K Street, right next to the Sequoia Restaurant at the Washington Harbor front. The glass surround of the Embassy offers beautiful views of the harbor, Kennedy Center, Watergate and Memorials. Currently on display is "Voices of Sweden," a contemporary ceramic art exhibition. Nicole Forrest has organized the United States tour of this collection.
The Embassy exhibition is free to the public and on weekends there is a special additional offering, "Tastes and Sounds of Sweden" which includes an afternoon of music and food. There is also a wonderful photograph exhibition titled, "Sweden from Above."
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