Arlington will celebrate Neighborhood Day on May 10. Although North Rosslyn does not presently plan to formally participate in this event this year, we welcome suggestions either for this year's event or next. I am attaching below the Sun Gazette's article on this event, published yesterday, which should give members some idea of the sorts of thing we could put on. At present, we plan only to attend the event informally this year but to consider more active participation in future years. Your ideas, comments and suggestions would be very helpful.



by SCOTT McCAFFREY
Staff Writer

Planning for the seventh annual Neighborhood Day celebration, set for May 10, is well underway.

The theme for this year's community-wide event is "All Neighborhoods, All Walks of Life." Special events will be held throughout the county, including the traditional parade down Wilson Boulevard.

Among the highlights of the 2003 celebration:

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington will hold its annual "Walk for the Animals" celebration at Bluemont Park, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Residents and their dogs can enjoy a leisurely community stroll.

Also at 9:30 a.m., groundbreaking will be held at Powhatan Springs Park on Wilson Boulevard. The 5.3-acre park will include a skate facility, youth sports field and interactive nature center for children.

The annual Community Hero Awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. at Ballston Common Mall. The awards recognize individuals, groups and businesses that have made a difference in the social fabric of the community. The event is sponsored by Ballston Common, E*Trade and the Arlington Sun Gazette. Nomination forms are available by calling the Arlington County Volunteer Office at (703) 228-1760.

At 1:58 p.m., the Arlington Neighborhood Day Mile, conducted by the D.C. Road Runners Club, will run down Wilson Boulevard. Runners of all ages are welcome; registration will take place at the site. The cost will be $1 for adults, with children up to eighth grade running free.

At 2 p.m., the annual Neighborhood Day Parade will kick off down Wilson Boulevard, starting in Clarendon and ending in the Court House area. New this year will be formation of the "Neighborhood Day Parade Band," which will include anyone who wants to participate. Details are forthcoming.

At 6:30 p.m., Fort Myer will present its annual Neighborhood Day Twilight Tattoo, an outdoor community event that spotlights the history of the United States Army through music and action.

In addition to the community-wide events, many local civic associations and community groups hold their own special activities on Neighborhood Day. A complete list of events will be published in the Arlington Sun Gazette when it becomes available.

The Neighborhood Day celebration is a project of the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Commission, County Council of PTAs, Arlington County Civic Federation, the county school system and the county government. Inta Malis is serving as chairman of the organizing committee.

The celebration began in 1997, and was the brainchild of then-County Board Chairman Ellen Bozman. Held for the first few years in October, more recently it has been held in early May.

For updated information on the celebration, see the Web site at www.civfed.org/neighday.htm.

In order to stimulate everyone's imagination about potential activities, I attach below a list of potential Neighborhood Day activities copied from the Arlington Civic Federation's website, www.civfed.org:

Some Event Suggestions
Possible school/neighborhood programs:
Yard Sale - Bake Sale

Treasure and White Elephant Swap

Fall landscaping clean-up

Paint a classroom/floor/school

Arts and Crafts Festival

Net Day (wiring the school for Internet access)

Spaghetti supper or lunch

Canned goods fool drive

Teaching Garden

Bulb or tree planting

Invasive species plant cleanup in your park.

Treasure Hunt (school grounds or neighborhood)

Child seat safety inspection

Bicycle Tune-Up

Bicycle Helmet Tune-Up (fitting helmets. Info 486-0100)

Voter Registration -- Info 703-228-3456)

Good Neighbor Project (one school gave flowers to area residents)

Bell Ringing

Kids band performance/Battle of the Bands

Bicycle Rodeo

Parade: Build a Float for the County parade at 2 PM

Coffee, Open House, Community Breakfast

Festival

Block party

Book Sale or Exchange

Historical Tour of the Neighborhood, School or a Landmark

Notable Tree Walk

Naturalist Walk in School Grounds or Neighborhood

Picnic at the School

Neighborhood Cleanup (block assignment at the school)

Bike trail repair
Yard Cleanup -- help a senior citizen with a yard spruceup



Whatever catches your imagination!!