Northwood News ♦ April 2012

Neighborly Notes

By Carolyn Ross

Books, Glorious Books

What is sure to bring folks together, perhaps second to a good meal?  How about a good book!  All are invited to an organizational meeting for launch of the Northwood Book Club on Thursday, 10 May 2012, at 7:30 p.m., at the home of Esther Starobin at 906 Malta Lane.  Come prepared with book title suggestions to get us started, or just listen to what others bring to the table and see if its something you’d like to cuddle up with on a Sunday afternoon, or to help wile away the hours on your work commute.  Then we’ll choose date, time, and place to get together for a lively, local discussion.  And because food is like the glue on the book binding in bringing everyone together, expect some refreshments, too.  Contact Esther (email redacted or 301.593.2518) or me (email redacted), to give us an approximate headcount, but all are welcome with or without the notice.  Also, if you are unable to attend 10 May, we are happy to e-mail you the next scheduled meeting details, and chosen book title.

Block Parties a Longtime North Four Corners Tradition

Sid Rosenheim remembers well the 1960s, not just because he lived through them, but because he lived all those years in between then and now right here in his same Malta Lane home since 1959.  At 90 years old, Sid — a Marine WWII Guadalcanal vet — has many memories of his time in the neighborhood we all call home.  One of his fondest is of the block parties and all the food and fun neighbors enjoyed all summer long.  While not as prevalent these days, block parties are still a popular activity and can help bring the mix of transient young families and more senior residents together.  Residents on Glenwild Road plan a party each year with food, of course, and kid-centered activities.  If you’d like to get the party started on your block, consider this tip:  plan several months ahead and involve as many neighbors as possible.  Utilize the NFCCA listserv [see sign up info.], and check out this website for more tips on organizing your event:  entertaining.about.com/cs/partygames/a/blockparty.htm.

Just Right for Kids Bicycle Exchange

Sunny days and warm breezes mean it’s time for bike riding, but, if you’ve outgrown your bike this year, don’t buy a new one just yet.  Maybe there is a neighbor with a bike just your size to exchange.  Recycle the old cycle and see if there is one in your size on Saturday, 28 April 2012, at the bottom of Lockridge Dr., near the entrance to the Northwest Branch Trail and Rachel Carson Greenway.  A $5 donation to City Bikes in Chevy Chase for a program repairing and donating bikes to D.C. area youth in need allows participants to drop-off and/or pick up a new-to-you bike.  Bike donors:  please come by between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. and get a number for your bike.  Bike seekers can try out the bikes beginning at 1:00 p.m. and sign up for the bike that fits them best.  If there is more than one rider for the same bike, we will have to do the only fair thing — a coin toss.  Please email Carolyn at [email redacted] for purposes of gauging interest, and we will see if we can help each other out.  E-mail not required to participate.  Bikes not adopted by new riders can be taken home or donated to the City Bikes program.  Thanks!

[This regular column by Carolyn Ross (Lockridge Drive) began in the last issue.  Contact Ross at (email redacted) with items on ways to be good neighbors, build community, and increase civility.]   ■