KAZIN:
Michael and Beth had a wonderful trip to Japan this summer. They traveled to the central part of the country to visit some traditional mountain villages, most of which disappeared in the 1960s, when the rivers were dammed. It's easy to see that houses made of wood and paper and bamboo had little chance against floods and earthquakes and fire and war. But they're exquisite.
The Kazins stayed in a lovely ryokan and learned to eat eel and miso soup for breakfast. Here are some examples of typical ryokans.
Beth reports that the Kazins are all doing well. Maia is on a three week camping and backpacking trip through Wyoming and Montana, as part of Stanford's pre-sophomore year. She is with a wonderful Earth Science professor, five TAs and twenty other sophomores, learning about the origins of the universe. They're having a fabulous time, learning geology and chemistry,and reportedly spending hours in philosophical discussions about the meaning of life.
Danny is too busy for much philosophizing. He's working 16 hours a day for the Long Island Democratic Party, helping to run a coordinated campaign of 88 different local races, the largest of which is for Suffolk County Executive. The election is this November, after which he's hoping to get some sleep.
SIMPSON/PAYNE:
The Simpson/Paynes put all summer camps on hold this past summer in favor of a three week family trip to France. While the kids had visited their aunt in the South of France several times before, none of them had ever been to Paris or the Dordogne.
We got great fares on US Airways flying out of DC through Charlotte to Paris, everything worked seamlessly, no delays, and the beauty was the tickets were half of what most fares to France were going for at the time -- I wouldn't hesitate to take that route again and buy through the same web site. Yes, cheapoair.com is, in fact, a legitimate organization -- good to know. After landing in Paris we all jumped on a TGV high speed train down to Aix-en-Provence to visit my sister, spent a week in a farmhouse near there, then rented a car and drove to the Dordogne, an area of France none of us had experienced.
The kids loved every minute, especially the caving in the Dordogne. The area is renowned for its hundreds of fascinating caves; some with prehistoric paintings, others with stunning rock formations. The Gouffre de Padirac was a major highlight of our caving expeditions -- where you descend into the bowels of the earth (338 feet down) and then climb into gondola-type boats to get an amazing tour of a subterranean river system and soaring rock formations.
The Dordogne is also widely known for its foie gras and truffles. Needless to say, the adults all have been on diets since our return. After a week in our farmhouse rental in the Dordogne near the beautiful medieval town of Sarlat, we hopped on the TGV train back to Paris.
We only had two and a half days to see all the Parisian sights but we were able to squeeze the major ones in, thanks to a lovely and very centrally located hotel. Turner's favorite was the Arc de Triomphe, Jack - the Louvre and Sarah - Montmartre.
TROCCHIO:
Jennie Trocchio and Whitney Kirkland, from Miami, became engaged last weekend. He proposed as the sun was setting over the beach in Key Largo. No date is set as of yet, they are enjoying being engaged. Jennie is working on her dissertation at Barry University in Miami on communications and students with autism.
Elizabeth has started practices with Washington Wizards – yes, she is a “Wizards Girl” and looking forward to dancing at the home games.
Elizabeth was also just appointed marketing director of the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation. Julie and Elizabeth saw Wicked when it was here in DC and loved every minute of it.
LEE:
Michael and Velina, who live on Rosemary Street, have welcomed the joyful arrival of their baby, Ian. Velina's mother arrived from Bulgaria for a month long visit, so Velina really has her hands full with lots of happy events.
In July, my kids, their spouses, children and I traveled to Kenmare, Ireland. It was absolutely magical.
A friend of mine owns a house in that town where my grandmother lived and let us use her house. Since there were 14 of us, we rented Irene's cousins house nearby. (One of the most magical things was finding a week when everyone could come since the idea didn't come to me until spring).
We stayed pretty close to town realizing that the kids would not enjoy long car rides ( the oldest of the 6 children was 11). But every day we had a special event such as mountain climbing, horseback riding, taking a boat ride in Kenmare Bay while seeing seals and other wild life, visiting a chocolate shop and making chocolate bars, traveling in a valley with animals all over the road including a cow that chased my 11 year old grandchild who knew she "could outrun that fat cow" We even found and explored the shell of my grandmother’s home. We had lots of laughs and now a mountain of memories.
STROTHER:
The Strothers had a laid back summer with lots of tennis, swimming and golf, and they survived Beach Week, (a tradition among newly graduated high school seniors) at Rehoboth in June. They spent two weeks on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, where they rented a house in the historic part of Nantucket Town. They had wonderful weather and loved the beaches and great seafood there.
William is truly enjoying Trinity (CT). His classes are interesting, and he says he's working pretty hard. He has forsaken football for club baseball and reports that the parties are really fun.
Molly and Jim drove him up to Trinity in Hartford, CT and then took a four day trip down the Hudson seeing such mansions as the Rockefeller's Kykuit and FDR's Hyde Park.
It was a nice transition as it would have been depressing to come back so soon to an empty, quiet house. They really look forward to seeing William when he comes home for his fall break in Oct. and when they go up to Hartford for Parents' Weekend.
DANIELS/WOLFF:
We began our summer with a two week trip to Israel in early July to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beit Daniel (the Tel Aviv synagogue founded by Miriam’s parents), as well as the 95th birthday of Miriam’s father Gerry Daniel.
Another highlight was a visit to Ramallah, where a USAID team led by a former Rockville attorney is helping to improve the Palestinian justice system. Then in mid-July we attended the wedding of Miriam’s niece Debby held on Donner Lake near Truckee, CA, preceded the same week (sadly) in New Jersey by the funeral of Larry’s brother Gil (who died of lung cancer).
We spent late July and August at our new summer home on Pleasant Lake in Casco, Maine. Visitors included David, Becky, and her boyfriend Aaron as well as Miriam’s father and assorted friends. Here is Miriam in the kitchen of our Pleasant Lake home.
Activities included kayaking and swimming, hiking, and eating lobster at the Naples Lobster Pound and ice cream at Pear’s Ice Cream and Hoagie Shop in Casco. David enjoyed the great outdoors even found a tree to hug. This is the view of the lake from our deck.
We have settled back home again and were happy to see Leland Streeters at the 100th annual banana split party.
FORREST:
Arthur and Marcy enjoyed a low key summer basically dining and splashing in our own backyard and celebrating the fact that Nicole and Steve bought a home in nearby Chevy Chase Hamlet. As Marcy and Arthur, blew out birthday candles this summer, we realized most of our wishes have already come true. One reaches a certain time in life when every birthday with an “0” or a “5” is a really special occasion...this was one of those years for both of us. Mon Ami Gabi Restaurant of Bethesda presented Arthur and Marcy with very sumptuous birthday desserts...enjoy by all.
The Forrest family tradition of handmade cards always adds a delight to the celebration.
There were a few of quick sojourns. Marcy Vamoosed to New York City twice for friendship trips. Marcy happened to have arrived in the midst of a very spirited Pride Parade. As a “Leo” she appreciated the lions on the prowl.
Toward the summer’s end, Arthur and Marcy spent a week at their home in Laguna Beach, California. Lunching daily overlooking the beach, watching the surfers and reminiscing about Nicole and Zak’s childhood summers boogie boarding in Laguna.
We suddenly have some delightful distractions in our home in the form of two new kittens. We are having a wonderful time with a rescue kitten, found on a busy highway, which Nicole brought home to us. The kitty was just 1 pound 3 ounces and about one month old when she came to us. We’ve named her Zuzette. We also have a new Burmese kitten, named Zelda. We think they are just wonderful, but our two adult Burmese cats, Zeppo and Zooko are still sorting out their welcome routine. We never thought we would have four (!) cats and we have just about run out of “Z” names. Meanwhile Nicole and Steve also brought two new Burmese kittens, Gusto and Baci, into their lives. We are all having such fun watching the little ones.
Amongst Arthur’s birthday gifts was a mug from Nicole and Steve with our Zeppo and Zooko on it. Little did we know at the time that very soon we would be adding Zuzette and Zelda
Zak is chronicling their antics on video. Zak will be leaving soon for film work in Poland.
TAPLIN/DELANCY:
We spent the second half of June in Mill Valley, California (just outside of San Francisco) in the adorable condo that we own there. Paul spent a few days at U.C. Berkeley, participating in a soccer camp. Being from the East coast, he was somewhat of a novelty, and everyone called him “Maryland.” We did some hiking, biking, and visiting with old friends.
Highlights included the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building, and a trip to the wine country (very near where we were married) and a baseball game at A T & T Park.
(Editor’s note: A T and T Park is regarded by ranker.com as #1 amongst the nation’s top stadiums).
We returned to Maryland for a couple of weeks, and then departed again, this time for the coast of Maine, where we spent two weeks at Vicky’s family’s summer home. Extended family gathered for a lobster dinner to celebrate Vicky’s dad’s 92nd birthday. Paul and his cousins really enjoyed the sailing this year, due to some great breezes. Even Ruby had some quality time sailing and kayaking.
We returned in August for Paul driver’s ed class. Now he has all the book knowledge and just has to get the 60 hours of practice behind the wheel before he can get his license. August was a good time for him to drive around here because the traffic was lighter than usual.
In late August, Vicky spent a week in Oregon with Russell, who has been taking some college classes out there. They attended the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, where they saw two plays, and dined al fresco on some of the charming restaurant patios along Ashland Creek.
Then they did a 4-day white water rafting trip on the Rogue River – a blast, a great trip for families to do together! They finished their week with a visit to the stunningly beautiful Crater Lake National Park.
LIPPOLD:
Anne has just returned from Amherst M.A. after visiting her college room-mate - 60 years ago! She had a great summer in Moran WY. and Paul's memorial service was lovely. Amongst my summer reading, I loved the "Elegance of the Hedgehog" by Barbewry.
LLOYD:
Florence was enjoying a delightful visit from her grandson, Michael when called by the LSSN. Florence proudly stated Michael is a senior at Hopkins and very smart and going on for graduate work.
Florence is looking forward to an October visit be Claudia Kolker a former resident of Leland Street and the very first editor of the LSSN. Claudia resides in Texas with her husband and two children. Florence is reading Claudia’s newly published book, The Immigrant Advantage. Books *A * Million comments: From an award-winning journalist comes a fascinating exploration of the life-enhancing customs that immigrant groups have brought with them to the U.S. and of how Americans can improve their lives by adapting them.
Florence also reccomends Amglish by Arthur Rowse. The author is a dear friend of Florence.
EDITOR’S NOTE: SPECIAL RECOGNITION: IN THE NEWS AND ON THE AIR!
Michael Kazin has a new book out titled "American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation."
American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation by Michael Kazin has received much acclaim.
Michael Kazin was a guest speaker at Politics and Prose Saturday, 9/17 and his book was a featured review in the Sunday New York Times Book Review 9/18.
A review from www.goodreads.com:
Michael Kazin—one of the most respected historians of the American left working today—takes us from abolitionism and early feminism to the labor struggles of the industrial age, through the emergence of anarchists, socialists, and communists, right up to the New Left in the 1960s and ’70s. Deeply informed, at once judicious and impassioned, and superbly written, American Dreamers is an essential book for our times and for anyone seeking to understand our political history and the people who made it.
Vicky Taplin recalls: I had a funny experience concerning Michael Kazin just a few days ago. I was taking Ruby for a walk and he was dashing out of his house and getting into the car. We waved to each other. Then about 25 minutes later, I was in the car listening to the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU, and Kojo introduced Michael Kazin as a featured guest in the studio. Then I listened to Michael talk about the Joe Hill and the labor movement, the subject of the show. The timing of our encounter just tickled me!
AYAZ:
We had a great summer traveling in both Southern and Northern California. We spent some time in the wine country and then in San Francisco with Tony’s family. One of the highlights for Arianna and Sophia was picking plums, figs, apples, and pears at a friend’s vineyard in Healdsburg, CA. We then drove the coastal route to Manhattan Beach to visit Nicole’s brother. We finished up the trip in Half Moon Bay, CA with trips to the tide pools and lots of coastal hikes. We owe a big thanks to the Vicente’s and Bateman’s for taking care of the new kitties in our absence. Nicole’s parents also came for a visit this summer and we all went to Bethany Beach for the 4th of July. The fireworks were great and it was the perfect escape from the D.C. heat wave.
Arianna and Sophia are really enjoying being at the same school this year! We have a great time seeing the Vicente’s and Duffy’s at the bus stop each day. We are so excited to have Tommy, Christine, Nora and Fredrick as our new neighbors and welcome them to Leland Street!
MELISSA/DOUG:
We had a delightful, but much too short, summer filled with family and friends. In a nod to family vacations from long ago, we gathered our extended clans for several weeks at Bethany Beach with grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, in-laws and kids. What a treat to have so many staying under one roof for long days in the sand and water and nights filled with good food and conversation!
Molly would highly recommend the annual Merriweather Post Pavilion Festival; a full 12 hours of music on three stages. This year featured the Black Keys, Patti Smith, Dead Maus, and Tv on the Radio.
As sad as it was to say goodbye to summer, we are enjoying our new Fall routines. Molly has once again joined the crew team at BCC, which takes most of her time outside of classes. Gordon began his last year at CCES and is happily working on his baseball skills while waiting for basketball season to begin.
RILEY:
In June Liam and I took a road trip back to my hometown of Erie, PA. Christine had to stay back for work, so it was a boys' road trip. We had a great time visiting with family and enjoying Erie's attractions.
We went on boat rides around the bay, the Erie Zoo, swimming in the lake and taking in a concert on the beach, an indoor water park, Waldameer amusement park and hikes in the woods. We finished our trip with a family reunion and a stop by my friend's house in Pittsburgh. Liam must think that Erie is the most fun place in the world because we had a new adventure every day. He loved calling Christine to tell her all about it.
In August we returned to Bethany Beach for a week with Christine's parents and her brother and his family.
We did all the usual beach activities - swimming in the ocean and pool, riding the rides at Funland, enjoying seafood, Grotto's Pizza and soft serve ice cream. Liam had a lot of fun playing with his cousins.
I have been traveling to Salt Lake City and Idaho a lot since this summer but that should thankfully wrap up in the near future. Liam has started at Wonders and is enjoying his new school. His old school in Reston closed down, but we are happy to have him getting to know other kids his age from our area. He also began taking soccer lessons with his classmates and will be taking swimming lessons this fall.
DUFFY:
Matthew started kindergarten at Rosemary Hills - he seems to be loving it. He's especially happy to ride the bus with neighbor friends and to have Sophia Ayaz as a classmate. Ryan and Charles miss having Matthew in the car with them on the way to work and daycare at the Justice Department.
A trip to northern California was a highlight of our summer. We spent several days in San Francisco, and were well equipped with recommendations from Ben and Vicky, and Nicole and Tony. We loved being in the city and staying off the beaten path in Pacific Heights. We also enjoyed seeing Point Reyes.
While in that area, we stayed at Nick's Cove - definitely worth checking out if you are in that part of the world, and especially if you like eating oysters. From there we traveled to Healdsburg for our nephew Justin's wedding. Matthew had a special role as the ring bearer - lots of fun for all of us.
Summer fun here in Chevy Chase included lots of old fashion including splashing and baseball - in the backyard, at Homerun Baseball Camp and at Nationals Stadium. Even Bonnie braved a double header.
BATEMAN:
The Batemans enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing summer - no major trips, just a lovely week at Bethany Beach with all five of us, and many family dinners at home and time by the pool. Seems the time has flown by! Terry and Will got in their share of golfing and Terry as usual spent hours in the garden.
Annie and Claire both completed very fulfilling internships (Claire at the American Institute for Cancer Research and Annie at United Cerebral Palsy) and now both girls have begun their SENIOR year of college. Gee that was quick.
Jill did her required "gallery sitting" at the Foundry Gallery in Dupont Circle (a co-op where she is a member). Jill also helped Claire move into her first "off campus" apartment the end of August. It was a fun weekend with a girls' road trip to Nashville (Vanderbilt) in Claire's new jeep and a fun night taking in some country music at Nashville's famed Blue Bird Cafe hearing Don Schlitz perform (you know songwriter of "The Gambler" etc).
Annie is doing a program at American University this fall and will heading back to University of Georgia in January to finish her last semester. So nice to have a chick back in the nest!! Will really enjoyed both of his sisters being in the area - he managed to swing by very often around dinnertime and Annie and Claire both loved hanging out at this new Glover Park apartment. Overall, it's been a great summer - already seeming like a long time ago as the first signs of fall are in the air.
PROCTOR:
Mary likes the programs and lectures offered by Ocean Learning Center. Last spring she took a course on Shakespeare and this fall she has signed up for Ibsen to Beckett. She says the catalog has a wonderful array of offerings.
KINNAIRD:
The Kinnaird Family had a wonderful summer starting with a trip to Normandy and Paris. Steve's mother and brother joined us for the trip which added immensely to our cultural knowledge. Steve's mother is a retired history professor and had led academic trips in the past to both Normany and Paris. Steve's brother, an artist, has traveled extensively through Europe and is deeply knowledgeable about art history.
It was a terrific trip! Some of the highlights of the Normandy trip were the D-Day Beaches, The American Cemetary at Normandy, The Bayeux Tapestry, Mont-St. Michel Abbey, the seaside town of Etretat made famous by impressionist painters, and Monet's garden and home.
Paris was thrilling. Highlights included climbing the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, seeing the beautiful stained glass of St. Chappelle Cathedral at twilight while listening to a Bach concert, and savoring the scrumptious French cuisine over leisurely dinners.
After returning from France, David spent five weeks taking sculling and crew classes, getting his driver's permit, and starting to teach himself Italian. Joanie went for a twelve day wilderness canoe trip on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Maine. The whole family enjoyed hosting an extended family get-together of Amanda's side of the family. It was great fun to be able to host a large family gathering for the first time in our Leland Street home.
FENDRICK:
Barbara was not at home when the call came from LSSN, but luckily, Barbara’s son in law, Carl Gettinger, husband of Julia, was available to offer interesting family news. Carl and Julia are just completing their two years with the Embassy in Pakistan. Carl says that despite what one might read in the news, they have had a wonderful time in Pakistan. Julia’s work as Cultural Affairs Officer has given her particularly satisfying experiences; bringing American music groups to Pakistan, restoration of historical monuments and with educational exchanges. Carl encourages neighbors on Leland Stret to consider hosting an exchange student from Pakistan. Many of the Leland Street neighbors who remember the Gettinger children will be pleased to hear they are all doing well. Fiona has just graduated from the TASIS school in London and is now a freshman at University of New Hampshire, Daniel is a junior at Bart College in Redhook , New York and Irena is a Junior at University of Washington in Seatle.
The other Fendrick family news is John and Mary Fendrick have purchased 135 acres of farmland and are open for business May through November. Come pick your own flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. All major credit cards are accepted.
Rock Hill Orchard
28600 Ridge Road
Mount Airy, MD 21771
(301) 831-7427
SOLOMON’s greetings were sent from Florida:
Fred and Dorothy Solomon have spent much of the summer in Sarasota and are returning by auto train. Dorothy has been enthralled with the cloud formations here, which race across the sky from east to west. I will be grateful if someone can explain the phenomenon to me, their variety and how rapidly they re-form , cross the sky, and disappear. She sees famous painters' oil paintings forming in the sky, contests between Roman or Greek gods , you name it...Some of the "paintings" are by "amateurs", but most are spectacularly "professional". The horizon is visible all the way around usually, like New Mexico etc., so
we can see the clouds' entrance and departure.
While we were gone, we had lots of work done on our interior: newly refinished floors throughout, the entire house freshly painted and a powder room built on the first floor--- for the first time since we moved in in l970. Jerry Parnecio ably looked over the construction and tended the garden and yard.
Marcy and Jill helped us pick the floor color and the living room paint, by e-mail ! A big thank you to them..It will be strange to see such a brand new, pristine house all of a sudden! We had gotten used to all those paint cracks.
Jerry also tended the garden and the yard while we were away. Sheila Sherwood looked in on Dorothy’s garden will full appreciation of the blooms.
PATCH:
The Patch family had a great summer. We split time between Leland Street and Bethany Beach most of the summer. Owen participated in the St. John’s basketball camp as well as sleep away lacrosse camps at both Salisbury University and the University of Virginia. This extra practice time paid off as Owen tried out and was selected for the Breakout Blue lacrosse team this fall, which is the more competitive Breakout team in the U15 age bracket. Emma and Erin participated in a gymnastics camp together this s summer. Aside from that, they logged many hours on the beach and battling the waves in Bethany. We are pleased to report that Hurricane Irene passed by our beach house without causing any damage. It was great to see many of you at the Back-to-School Banana Split Party – the tradition lives on!
Editor’s note:
All of Leland Street that was available to attend the Banana Split party had a marvelous time connecting once again with neighbors after the long summer. The children had a marvelous time in the wonderland of the Patch backyard while the adults enjoyed a wonderful selection of refreshments and beverages.
LELAND STREET FALL FEST ANNOUNCEMENT:
Several Ladies of Leland Street met for lunch to plan the Leland Street Halloween Parade, games, prizes and sumptuous buffet dinner. The planning session took place over a lively luncheon at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda. Mark your calendar for a day of neighborhood fun and festivities on Sunday October 23rd beginning at 3:00. Look for more information via email and through flyers in your mail box. The Duffy house is already showing Halloween spirit with Matthew's handcrafted wreath made of past season Halloween Goody Bags.
FARRELL COSMAS:
“Hello to all the marvelous people on Leland Street! I'm very happy up here in the North country, but I'll never have neighbors like you. Happy Fall to All”
