Jefferson Manor Citizens Association e i g h b o r h o o d e w s March–April N2012 JMCA, P.O. Box 4104, Alexandria, VA 22303 N • www.JeffersonManor.org

President’s Letter NEXT GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, March 20, Every March I start off my letter to the community with some pithy 7:30 p.m. observation about spring and its new beginnings. The gardens begin to bloom, Location: Telegraph Station, the moving trucks start to roll through the streets, we look forward to the 5735 Telegraph Road cherry blossom festival. What never gets mentioned is the flip side of this. For JMCA EVENTS every “SOLD” sign that goes up, a friend and neighbor leaves. Tuesday, April 17: Back in 2004, Jefferson Manor did not have a Neighborhood Watch. Matt General Board Meeting Open to the Public Haws saw this as a shortcoming in the neighborhood, and decided to do Location details will be posted on the JMCA something about it. Out of whole cloth, Matt created what is now an award- website winning program. He worked tirelessly with our community liaisons with the JMCA ON THE WEB local police to build a relationship that is the envy of other communities. Matt’s Website: http://www.jeffersonmanor.org program was held up as a model to other civic associations in the Mt. Vernon Listserv: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ precinct. He gave presentations on how simple communication tactics between jeffersonmanor residents, neighborhood watch and the police could pay visible and immediate Parents group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ jeffersonmanorparents dividends. Facebook: Search Facebook groups for Matt’s wife Rachael was also a central figure in the revitalization of Jefferson Jefferson Manor Citizens Association Manor. She was integral in the creation of our website in 2005, and heavily Twitter: follow us @JMCA22303 involved in the restructuring of the JMCA during the same time period. She has been active in our social committee planning and in the Jefferson Manor parents group. And as a team, they have created the signature JMCA annual event. Our National Night Out event started out with a few signs and a box of hot dogs on a grill. They grew this to an event that regularly hosts over 130 people on a steamy August evening. Even with a growing family, they graciously opened their yard to us all to celebrate the bonds that we have built. Matt and Rachael have made these investments to make Jefferson Manor a better, safer place for all of us. This spring, after almost a decade here, they are moving out. They leave behind them a model of what civic involvement should look like. Theirs are very big shoes to fill. Already, several individuals have stepped in to reboot the neighborhood watch program. Their new ideas and energy are palpable, and I look forward to working through this transition with them. Our first step is to reintroduce those responsible for policing our neighborhood to you all at our next meeting. Officer Greg Kotterman has been involved with the community for years, and will be here to answer your questions about public safety in our area. Submit your questions at http://tinyurl. com/7zwodux. If you would like to have an impact on the quality of life here, the elections for the JMCA Board will be held at the March meeting. Details of the positions and how to get on the ballot can be found on page 4. Professionally, I wish the Haws all the best, and thank them for their service. Personally, I will miss my sharing cigars and rum with my friends, celebrating the unique community which is Jefferson Manor. Chris Soule President, Jefferson Manor Civic Association [email protected]

¿Tiene usted preguntas sobre JMCA? Llame a Sonia al 703-329-1882. JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 2

About JMCA Be an Ambassador for Man’s Best Friend JMCA is a volunteer citizens’ group A reminder to our many dog owners to help Fido be a good devoted to the betterment of the Jefferson Manor neighborhood. citizen. Pick up after your dog’s waste, and keep him on a leash. Membership is $20 annually, paid It’s for their safety as well as others. Please remember that the at the membership meetings or to land next to the Huntington Garden apartments is not a dog JMCA, P.O. Box 4104, Alexandria, park. We continue to get complaints about dogs off leash there, VA 22303. JMCA membership is and unacceptable amount of doggie droppings. Not only is this a annual, from January to December. For more information, visit: www. burden to the residents of the apartments, but that hill drains into JeffersonManor.org or email us at: the retention pond, and eventually ends up in the local watershed. [email protected]. - Chris Soule and Jack the hound JMCA Board Members (4/2011–3/2012) Fort Drive Grass Triangle Update Chris Soule, President JMCA is working with Delegate Sickles and Supervisor McKay to obtain permission [email protected] from VDOT to maintain the grass triangle at the corner of Fort Drive and Monticello Julie Upham, Vice President Road. We need your help designing how we would like to use the space. We envision [email protected] a “Welcome to Jefferson Manor” sign surrounded by some mulch and native plants Shawn Ulrick, Treasurer (mature growth under 4 feet to meet sightline requirements). We would like your help to [email protected] figure out which plants to use and how things should be arranged. If you have ideas for Richard Ewell, Secretary the design or are willing to share knowledge about native plants, please contact Richard [email protected] Ewell at [email protected]. Roberta Zimmerman, Director Matthew Haws, Director Transportation Updates: Kat Sumida, Director The proposal for speed humps in Jefferson Manor goes before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 20. This is a formality, and Maeve Ulrick, Director will pass. Once this step is complete, we will get a better idea of when Brian Allen, Director construction will begin. The hope is that it will be complete during the 2012 construction season. JMCA Activities Neighborhood Watch In January, the JMCA Board voted to support the proposed design of the [email protected] median strip on North Kings Highway. VDOT refused to allow a grass median due to maintenance concerns. The design can be found at www. Home Improvement Committee homeimprovement@ jeffersonmanor.org/uploads/median.pdf. The JMCA position can be JeffersonManor.org found at www.jeffersonmanor.org/uploads/median_letter.pdf. Land Use Committee [email protected] Daily Storage of Trash Receptacles Parents’ Group It’s springtime, the flowers are coming out, and the neighborhood housing market is [email protected] about to enter its annual spring and summer bloom. How our neighborhood looks will Social Committee affect all of our property values. [email protected] Outdoor trash containers serve a functional purpose but when not stored properly, Transportation Committee they take away from the curb appeal of our homes. Storing the containers out of sight [email protected] and behind privacy fences is the most ideal choice. Those who do not have privacy fences Website Committee might simply hide it behind the house itself so as to reduce the chance of the container [email protected] being seen from the street. You might also hide it behind shrubs, trees, or other dense Neighborhood News Newsletter foliage as long as it is at least 15 feet from your front lot line. Every little bit helps. (County Code requires that the containers be stored so that they cannot be seen from the Please direct any requests or street and must be at least 15 feet from the front lot line.) questions about Neighborhood News to: [email protected] If you would like to read the complete Fairfax County Code requirements for trash Kristina Mann, editor-in-chief containers and other accessory structures, please visit the following link: Kelly Marshall, distribution http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoningordinance/articles/art10.pdf JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 3 Local Events, March–April Jefferson Manor General Membership Meeting Date: Tuesday, March 20 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Telegraph Station Come vote for the 2012-2013 JMCA Board and meet our new Fairfax County Police Neighborhood Watch representative Old Town Farmers Market Date: Recurring weekly on Saturdays Time: 5 a.m.–10 a.m. Location: Market Square, 301 King Street, Alexandria appropriate for younger children start in downtown DC. For Admission: Free! more info visit: www.bikethesites.com The nation’s oldest farmers market offers a variety of Lee-Fendall House Easter Egg Hunt vendors, including baked goods, cut flowers, live plants, and Dates/Times : Saturday, April 7: 10:30, 12:30, 2:30; and crafts. Sunday, April 8: 12:30, 2:30 St. Patrick’s Day Location: Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, Date: Saturday, March 17 VA 22314 Time: 9:00 a.m.–1:30 a.m. Admission: Tickets are $10 per child, $3 per chaperone. Location: Murphy’s Irish Pub, 713 King Street, Alexandria Celebrate spring with the annual Easter Egg Hunt! Lee-Fendall Admission: Free House’s most popular family event brings fun into our half- Murphy’s opens its doors at 9 a.m., serving a seated St. Pat– acre garden where children can collect eggs, visit with the rick’s Special Menu in the upstairs restaurant until 2 p.m. Easter Bunny, and enjoy other special crafts and activities. Live Music all day with no cover. http://www.murphyspub. Due to high demand, the Hunt is being offered two days this com year. Please RSVP for your children and all accompanying chaperones for one of the two-hour sessions. This is a rain or Gunston Hall Kite Festival shine event. RSVPs will be accepted beginning Date: Saturday, March 24 March 1, and can be made by calling the Time: Noon–5 p.m. Museum at 703-548-1789. Location: Gunston Hall Plantation, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, VA 22079 Pups at the Park Admission: $10, adults; $6, for ages 6-18; Dates: April 21, June 2, July 7, Sept. 22 home games $2, ages 2-5. $25 Family Admission. Location: Nationals Stadium, Washington, DC Come fly a kite in our pastures. Write with Admission: Special outfield tickets discounted to $20 for a quill pen, play 18th-century games, see owners, $5 for dogs. Buy your ticket now, tickets sold out well period puppet shows, sample hearth cooking, in advance in 2011. climb on a modern fire truck, purchase Bring your favorite pup to Nationals Park. Event back by colorful kites, spring plants, and gently used books. Bring “Pup”ular Demand! Outfield Reserved location with larger a picnic or buy one on-site. For more info visit: www. seating area! Purchase a discounted ticket for you, your family gunstonhall.org and your favorite family pet! 100% of every $5 dog ticket Blossoms by Bike River Ride purchased will benefit the Washington Humane Society. Dates: March 24–April 15, Friday–Sunday Purchase a ticket for one game now, or click “Add another Times: 1:00–4:00 p.m. game” on the confirmation page to get tickets for additional Admission: $42 per person (includes bike rental, helmet and Pups in the Park dates. For more info and to purchase tickets guide) visit: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com Tour goes from Alexandria along the Mount Vernon 5th Annual National Harbor Wine & Food Trail and continues into DC and around the Tidal Basin Festival before heading back to Alexandria. There is also the Date: Saturday, May 5 & Sunday, May 6 option of ending in DC and dropping your bike at the Time: 1 p.m.–6 p.m. Downtown DC location. This is a moderate level ride and Location: National Harbor Waterfront on the is recommended for those 13 years or above. Shorter rides Potomac continued on next page JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 4 Jefferson Manor Citizen’s Association Elections We Need You Have you been looking to get more involved in your community? It’s an exciting time in the neighborhood with all the changes in our area of Fairfax County, and we need a board that is interested in being a voice to our local government leaders on behalf of the community. If you care about the longevity of the community and want to play a pivotal role, join the board! How Do I Run? You can email your information Not a Board-Type of Person, (name, address, phone, and email) to but Still Want to Be Involved? Candidates (as of March 4, 2011) [email protected] prior to In addition to board members, President: Chris Soule the March 20 meeting or show up on we are in need of individuals to join Vice President: Julie Upham March 20 and throw your name in the our committees—from managing Treasurer: Shawn Ulrick hat during open nominations. There are the current project with the county Secretary: Amanda Allen at least 3 new board seats that will be regarding the Huntington Station vacated this year. At Large Board Members (3 seats Plaza, to our social committee that open for re-election): What Are the Requirements? puts on our events throughout Brian Allen All you need is to be a resident of the year, to helping us modernize Roberta Zimmerman Jefferson Manor proper and a member our website. Show up on Tuesday, OPEN in good standing with the JMCA. March 2o and volunteer!

Local Events continued from previous page Admission: General Admission and tasting glass $37 advance 100th National Cherry (online)/$45 on-site; Designated Driver Ticket: $30 advance Blossom Festival: (online) / $40 on-site; Kids 12 and under are free. March 20–April 27 Join us for the 5th Annual incarnation of the Wine and Food Blossom peak is estimated to be March Festival at National Harbor; bringing together world-renowned 24–31. Check out the website for the full list chefs, artisanal craftsmen, and culinary pioneers with thousands of activities: of Metro DC’s foodies. For more info and to purchase tickets visit: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org http://www.wineandfoodnh.com/ Family Day(s) at the National Building Museum Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour March 24–25, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 401 F St, NW DC Date(s): Friday, May 18–Monday, May 21 Kite Festival Time: 6-9 p.m. March 31, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Washington Monument Location: Mount Vernon: George Washington’s Estate & Gardens Grounds George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon SW Waterfront Fireworks Festival Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 April 7, 2:30–9 p.m. (Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.), 600 Water Admission: $35 St, SW DC Mount Vernon’s Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour celebrates Cherry Blossom Parade the history of wine in Virginia with candlelit tours of the Mansion April 14, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Constitution Ave, between 7th and live jazz on the east lawn overlooking the scenic Potomac & 17th Streets River. Guests sample wines from 16 Virginia wineries, learn about the successes and failures of our Founding Father’s wine Sakura-Matsuri, Japan Street Festival endeavors, and meet “George and Martha Washington” on April 14, 11:00 a.m.–6 p.m., 12th St & Pennsylvania Ave, the Mansion’s piazza. Sales begin April 16 at 10 a.m. at Mount NW, $5 for guests ages 13+ Vernon’s Ford Orientation Center or at www.MountVernon.org. JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 5

Land Use Task Force Update Stay Up to Date with JMCA The JMCA land use task force has completed Want to keep up to date with the latest JMCA the visioning document that will be used news and goings’ on? Join us on both Facebook and as a guide for the remainder of the current Twitter. process. The current version can be found at: JMCA has had a Facebook group for a while now; http://www.jeffersonmanor.org/landuse/ huntingtonstation/2012_JMCA_LUTF_Vision_ however, we are changing. We have migrated to a Statement.pdf. new Facebook Fan page. This will make it easier for Jefferson Manor residents to find us on Facebook. The task force continues to keep abreast of Join us today by searching Facebook groups for land use issues surrounding the community, and Jefferson Manor Citizens Association. is incorporating that information into its work. In February, the owners of the strip mall and Also, JMCA is on Twitter. If you are a Twitter the Jefferson Garden apartments were brought user follow us @JMCA22303. in to discuss their economic views of future As always we will post information to the listserv redevelopment of the site. The group is now working to incorporate this knowledge into a first draft of and within our bi-monthly newsletters. These language to amend the county comprehensive plan. additional avenues allow our neighbors to connect Updates will be available on the JMCA website and with the community through a variety of different the yahoo group. venues. Getting to know our Mt. Eagle Elementary School … and why you should Believe it or not, it’s already that time of year when parents are asked to make enrollment decisions for the following school year. Mt. Eagle Elementary School is the public elementary school for Jefferson Manor. My daughter Sarah started there as a kindergartner last fall, and we have been extremely happy with her experience at the school. The school is an important part of our neighborhood community, and it has undergone a number of changes in the past few years. So, with enrollment dates approaching, it seems like a good time to update the neighborhood on the school. Why is Mount Eagle important to our neighborhood?

The obvious answers are quality of education Mt. Eagle 1st and 6th graders (center stage) read to the full school in “Reader’s Theater” on for Jefferson Manor children and property values Read Across America Day. for all homeowners. But there are also less obvious A snapshot of Mt. Eagle: a small neighborhood school impacts: the school served as JMCA’s meeting place for years on the rise before we moved to Janet’s Java/Telegraph Station (and we We love Mt. Eagle. The school has made huge improvements may need to move back one day), it serves as the meeting in recent years and has vastly exceeded our expectations, place for local Brownie and Girl Scout troops, and the school and other Jefferson Manor parents with children there have grounds include a wonderful playground and a flat paved expressed the same sentiments. The school draws students surface that is great for riding trikes and bikes. Also, even if from the Route 1 corridor in addition to Jefferson Manor and not all of the children at Mt. Eagle live in Jefferson Manor, surrounding areas, so many of the students come from diverse many of them will grow up in and around our community. socio-economic backgrounds. Many students qualify for free Two recent big changes at the school have the potential to lunch programs, and many come from families where English really impact our neighborhood. First, last year the County is not the primary language in the home. In the not-so-distant completed a major multi-million-dollar renovation and past, the school had a reputation for low test scores and lack of expansion of the school. Gone are most of the trailers needed parent involvement, but that has changed. to address excess capacity. Added was a whole kindergarten There is now an active group of parents who participate wing, a beautiful new library, a pottery studio with kilns, in the Parent Teacher Organization. Mt. Eagle offers a additional classroom and administrative space, and lots of preschool program for lower income families so that a lot of classroom upgrades. For example, all rooms in the school now those children enter kindergarten with the same educational have Smartboards and many have brand new equipment, and advantages as Jefferson Manor kids who attended private teachers have access to a number of new technologies for use preschools. The school participates in a modern model of in the classroom. learning that has increased test scores in recent years while Second, Mt. Eagle helped parents by adding a before-and- stressing modern teaching practices, not teaching to the test. afterschool (SACC) program following the completion of the Mt. Eagle is actually one of the smallest public K-6 schools renovations. However, the addition of this program removed in Fairfax County (265 students, compared to many schools some of the previous options that Jefferson Manor parents in the County with over 400 students), which makes a had for sending kids to other public schools in the area. Until big difference. Class sizes are smaller (18–20 kids in my Mt. Eagle added the before-and-afterschool program, Fairfax daughter’s kindergarten class, compared to 25–30 in most County policy permitted Jefferson Manor parents to send their other schools) and the school has one full-time equivalent children to other public schools in the area that did have SACC (FTE) teacher position for every 12 students, as compared to programs. As a result, the quality and reputation of Mt. Eagle the state average of one for every 17 students, so the kids are may affect the decisions of more families (or prospective also more likely to get more individual attention. The principal families) choosing whether to move to Jefferson Manor and visited every entering-kindergartener’s house before school therefore could have more of an impact on property values than it has in the past. continued on next page JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 7

Getting to Know Mt. Eagle continued from previous page began to establish contact with their families and see where that kid is coming from, and then greeted each child by name when they walked into the school on the first day! We haven’t heard of any discipline problems, expulsions, or other issues that are problems even at the elementary level in other County schools. There are no big debates about the needs for video surveillance, etc. My daughter’s kindergarten class has a first-rate, absolutely dedicated teacher who presents at national conferences, is up on the most current teaching theories on reading and math, hosts periodic “author celebrations” where parents are invited to hear their children present their own short [email protected]. books that they have created, has the kids � Enroll your Giant, Safeway, and Target cards and designate Skyping with a class in Poland and Tweeting Mt. Eagle to receive funds whenever you make purchases with other classes in Canada, Texas, Indonesia, at those stores (it doesn’t cost you anything!): For more and is just an excellent educator who really cares information, see http://www.fcps.edu/MtEagleES/ about each kid in the class. Most important English/Support.html. to us, our daughter looks forward to going to school each day. � Collect the General Mills “Box Tops for Education” (the little coupon-like-things on the tops of cereal boxes, etc.) The school also has a new Principal, Jean Consolla, who and Campbell Soup product UPCs and beverage caps/sauce has big shoes to fill (she replaced a popular principal who was caps and drop them off at the school or with parents who selected to build a new school in Annandale from the ground have kids at the school. It’s easy, free, and it turns into real up). She seems to be doing a good job so far, but she just money for the school! arrived in January so parents and teachers are still getting to know her, and vice versa. The school is therefore at a potential � Donate your used printer cartridges and cell phones to help transition point, so community support becomes even more the school earn technology equipment. critical. � Volunteer at the school: read to students, help with class What can you do to support our neighborhood activities, be a mentor. school? � Spread the word about the improvements in the school! Like many schools nowadays, the teachers and For many years Mt. Eagle did not have a good reputation in administration are faced with limited budgets for classroom the community and Jefferson Manor parents were warned materials and extra-curricular activities like field trips, so to stay away. Our neighborhood has a vested interest in teachers often use personal funds to buy materials and the educating people about the school’s improvements: You PTO works to fund field trips and many other things that used never know who someone is going to talk to when they’re to be provided as a matter of course when I was in school. considering whether to move into the neighborhood! There is also always a need for volunteers and mentors. � Send your kids: Our neighborhood is filled with kids, so we � Participate in fundraisers: because of modern have a big opportunity to impact the school. The school is safety concerns, door-to-door solicitation is good enough now that you don’t have to feel like a pioneer. not encouraged. However, our parents group One key to the continued improvement in the school will is going to increase our efforts to use all the be if Jefferson Manor parents choose to bring the same communications options at our disposal to keep enthusiasm, skills, and community spirit to Mt. Eagle that the neighborhood more aware of fundraisers and other they have brought to our successful neighborhood events. opportunities to support the school financially or with Parents are encouraged to contact the school to arrange a donations of items to be raffled off. This money goes to tour and sit in on a class. funding field trips and providing improvements at the For more information about Mt. Eagle, visit the school’s school. If you are not on the neighborhood listserv but website at http://www.fcps.edu/MtEagleES/ wish to receive notifications about Mt. Eagle fundraisers and other opportunities to help, please contact Maggie —Richard Ewell, with assistance from Katie Reese, Ewell at [email protected] or Katie Reese at Sally Stephens, and Robin Nijbroek

JMCA NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • March–April 2012 Page 9

JMCA weed sprayer See the Space Shuttle! available For the second time in history, a space shuttle will land at Dulles airport. It’s weeding time! Spring has sprung This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a space shuttle being ferried early this year, so it’s time to nip the to the Washington, D.C. area. Discovery is scheduled to land at Dulles sidewalk weed growth in the bud. Please Airport on April 17, subject to weather conditions. On April 19, Discovery take a few minutes to weed sidewalk areas will officially be transferred to the National Air and Space Museum, when you can to keep our neighborhood Udvar-Hazy Center (NASM-UHC) during a fun-filled day of space-related looking its best. JMCA has a weed sprayer activities such as performances, appearances by astronauts, and space for community use. Please contact displays. The space shuttle Enterprise will be transported from UHC to the President Chris Soule at president@ Intrepid Museum in New York City. jeffersonmanor.org to borrow the sprayer. Please be sensitive to the fact that many This is a monumental event given this is the first time a space shuttle that neighbors do not want pesticides sprayed has flown in space will be on display for the public to view. Discovery had on the sidewalks—consider alternatives 39 successful missions, over 27 years of service, and a total of 365 days in like vinegar mixtures instead. We are also space. looking into new seam fillers for areas The shuttle Enterprise, which has been on display at UHC, was used for on Fort Drive and elsewhere to replace testing in preparation for the subsequent shuttle missions that went into the existing space. seam-fillers that have turned into For more information about events around Discovery’s arrival and planters. We’ll events, please visit: http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/discovery/ provide more —Roberta Zimmerman information on that in the future.

Jefferson Manor 2012 Membership Application Citizens Association ❑ Renewal ($20) ❑ New Member ($20) ❑ Senior ($10) Any residents of the Jefferson Manor subdivision over the age Name(s): of 18 and non-resident owners of property in the Jefferson Address: Manor subdivision are entitled to membership in the Jefferson Manor Citizens Association. Email: Membership dues are $20 per household ($10 for seniors) per Phone: calendar year. Complete this application & mail with a check ❑ I have included an additional $______as a donation to JMCA to help with the or money order to: publication cost of Neighborhood News. JMCA TOTAL ENCLOSED: $______❑ Check/money order ❑ Cash P.O. Box 4104 Alexandria, VA 22303 ❑ I am willing to help deliver newsletters (once every other month). I am interested in the following: ❑ JMCA Website ❑ Social Committee ❑ Home Improvement Committee Visit the JMCA website at Green Committee Transportation issues Land Use issues http://www.jeffersonmanor.org ❑ ❑ ❑ for a color version of this newsletter. ❑ Neighborhood Watch ❑ Newsletter Other notes:

57573535 T eTelegraphlegraph RRoad,oad, Alexandria,Alexandria ,VA VA 22303 22303 wwww.TelegraphStation.comww.TelegraphStation.com 7703.373.337603.373.3376 Monday–Wednesday: 7 am – 3 pm Thursday–Friday:Mon/Tues/Wed : 77am am – – 7pm 10 pm Thurs/Fri: 7am – 10pm Saturday:Saturday: 8 8am am –– 10pm10 pm Sunday: 10am – 5pm