President: Bill Walters Editor: Peg Boyne

Circulation: Kathy Bellows

The Legend

Of

Sleepy Hollow

Volume 64 Number 3

March 2019

Taste of the Hollow March 30th at St. Alban’s

Sleepy Hollow's Annual Taste of the Hollow event is on March 30 at 6:00pm at St. Alban’s Episco-pal. After a cold, wet winter come out, celebrate spring, and socialize with your neighbors while enjoying delicious appetizers/heavy hors d'oeuvres. A few important highlights about the event:

#1 - Please RSVP by 3/22! Admission is $10 per person. St. Alban’s is located at 6800 Columbia Pike, Annandale. There will be some fabulous door prizes!

#2 - Do you have that one dish for which you are famous? The dish everyone asks you to bring to every event and people always ask you for the recipe? The dish your family asks to have for every special oc-casion? Now is your chance to submit that dish for the bragging rights of "Best of the Hollow 2019." Only ten entries will be accepted for this competition! There are some rules .....like it has to be finger food and/or served in a way that doesn't require utensils (if this creates a problem, let’s talk. We will figure something out.) Email kelliesbock@gmail.com to register or ask questions. Upon re-ceipt, all details will be shared. Who will be able to brag all year long that their dish is "Best of the Hol-low 2019" !?!?! Only a few slots are left to join in this friendly competition!

#3 - This is an adult-only event with childcare provided. Advance registration of children is neces-sary to ensure we have sufficient childcare providers.

If you register children on or before 3/22, the childcare fees are: $15 for one child for the evening $20 for two or more children for the evening

A flat $25 fee per family will be charged for any child(ren) brought to the event who weren't registered in advance

Register by clicking on this link, or, if you are reading this in hard-copy, by sending an email to KellieSBock@gmail.com

Volume 64 Number 3 Page 2 Page 2

President’s Letter

Welcome to Spring?

As we turn the corner and look forward to warmer weather, please keep in mind that now might be the time to think about scheduling any maintenance necessary for your house or property.

One of our many hot topics, that has concerned us all in recent times, is security in the neighbor-hood. If you have not volunteered to be a part of the neighborhood watch, please seek out Curtis Anderson and sign up. It is a very low amount of commitment for a very good cause. Recently, there have been several attempts to break into our homes. Please keep doors, windows, cars and sheds locked. For those of you heading out on spring break vacations, be sure to let your neighbors know your status.

Courtesy of the Fairfax County Police Department, here are some tips on how to protect your home while you're away on vacation:

• Think about making an investment into a Ring door bell or like product to provide you with vis-ibility of who is approaching your house.

• Make your home look as though you are there; set lights, televisions, and radios on timers, and don’t leave outdoor lights on all day

• Check your locks to make sure that they are locked and working properly.

• Do not leave a hidden key outside your home. Consider installing electronic door locks

• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home or get a house sitter.

• Consider sharing electronic photos and memories AFTER you return home to prevent too many people from knowing that you’re away from home.

• Consider installing an alarm system.

As the time has changed, it will be darker in the morning. Keep an eye out for our early runners/walkers and their dogs. Please consider wearing a reflective vest, headlamp and/or tail lamp and don’t forget to make your dog visible as well. Some or most of us have not had coffee and will not see you walking in the dark.

A final note/plug for our famous event - The Taste of the Hollow, which will be held again at St Al-ban’s Church on 30 March. Please check your email for a note from Kellie Bock. As we continue to evolve, we have a new twist on the event, so check out the details. Child care will again be pro-vided and will most certainly help more families attend. We will also be presenting the slate of of-ficers to elect new Board members.

Thank you and be safe!

Bill Walters, President, SHCA

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Page 3 Legend of sleepy hollow Page 3

- - - - -Paid Advertisements- - - - -

Thanking Our First Responders

On behalf of the Sleepy Hollow Neighborhood, the Pika and Walters families delivered holiday greetings and a small monetary gift to our local police and fire stations in December.

All the Police cars in the area were called in and 6 cars showed up to say hello. The Fire house tour included a bunk room, hose hanging station, meeting room and kitchen tour. The trucks were out on a call. This was a great experience for the kids and adults alike. If you’d like to participate in

this community outreach next year, please reach out to the communica-tions chair at pegboyne@cox.net.

Easter Egg Hunt!

Sunday, April 7 (rain or shine)

1:00 pm

Twin Oak Place

Volume 64 Number 3 Page 4 Page 4

2019 / 2020 SHCA OFFICERS

and DELEGATES

Below is the proposed slate of SHCA Executive Committee

Officers and Delegates. We will vote on these at our general

meeting, to be held during the annual Taste of the Hollow on

March 30.

PRESIDENT Joe Pika

FIRST VP Bill Walters

SECOND VP/ Membership Chair Virginia Robinson SECRETARY Robert Kokta TREASURER John Cockayne

DELEGATES:

Mason District Council

Of Civic Associations Jan Keyes

Fairfax County Federation

Of Citizens Associations CharlieWilliams

Are you a member

of the

Sleepy Hollow

Neighborhood

Yahoo Group?

Get all the latest news, get help, offer help… To join, simply send an email to SleepyHol-lowNeighborhood-subscribe @yahoogroups.com This is a private group, intended only for resi-dents of Old Sleepy Hol-low. Please include your full name and address in your email so our ad-ministrator can verify that you are eligible to join.

SHCA 2019 Events All Sleepy Hollow neighbors are invited to these events, regardless of membership status.

Sat Mar 30 6:00 pm Taste of the Hollow/General Meeting – SHCA Elections

Sun Apr 7 1:00 pm Easter Egg Hunt (rain or shine)

Sat Apr 13 9:00 am Spring Community Clean-Up (rain or shine), South Street at Sylvan Drive and Tripps Run Clean-Up, Tripps Run at Holmes Run Road

Sun Jun 9 4:00 pm Summer Picnic (rain date June 16)/General Meeting

Sat Jun 29 8:00 am Summer Community Clean-Up (rain or shine), South Street at Sylvan Drive

Sun Sept 15 4:00 pm Fall Picnic (rain date Sept 22)/General Meeting

Sat Sept 28 8:00 am Fall Community Clean-Up (rain or shine), South Street at Sylvan Drive

Sun Oct 27 11:00 am Halloween Parade/General Meeting

Sat Dec 7 8:00 am Winter Community Clean-Up (rain or shine), South Street at Sylvan Drive

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Page 5 Legend of sleepy hollow Page 5

Mason District Council The MDC had a recent meeting to primarily discuss two proposed updates to county planning and zoning regulations that will be reviewed by the county's planning commission and Board of Supervisors this Spring:

1) Amendment regarding wireless telecommunications infrastructure related to small wireless facilities and their sup-port structures. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-zoning/zoning-ordinance/wireless-telecommunications-infrastructure The new regulation is meant to assist with wireless network upgrades from 4g to 5g. Residents ex-pressed concerns about the look and location of potential new wireless infrastructure to accommodate the new tech-nology.

2) Amendment on community gardens, farmers markets and gardens

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-zoning/zoning-ordinance/community-gardens-farmers-markets This amend-ment will create a process for creating community gardens on plots of land under 5 acres; update regulations for farm-ers markets; and potentially allow gardens in residents' front yards. Attendees expressed concerns about the impact

of vegetable gardens in front yards to county staff.

SHCA 2019 Earth Day Commemorations Saturday, April 13

SHCA celebrates National Earth Day on April 13 with our Spring clean-ups. Choose between the activ-ities below and bring a friend! Students, come out for community service credits! Contact Jeanine Manley for more information at 2jmanley@gmail.com.

SHCA Spring Street Clean-up: 8:00 -10:00 a.m.

SHCA’s quarterly clean-ups of our boundary streets are a partnership with VDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program to maintain our community curb appeal and keep litter from entering our waterways. Wear sturdy shoes and meet at the corner of South Street and Sylvan Drive to pick up gloves, safety vests and trash bags. Fan out to collect litter along your choice of South Street, Holmes Run Road, or the stretches of Sleepy Hollow Road and Arlington Boulevard’s access road adjoining the Hollow.

SHCA Annual Tripps Run Clean-up: 8:00 –10:00 a.m.

Tripps Run is a waterway of the Potomac River watershed and as such, SHCA’s event is a registered activity of the region-wide 29th Annual Trash-Free Potomac River Watershed Clean-up sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. More information is at this link:

http://fergusonfoundation.org/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative/potomac-river-watershed-cleanup/

Wear sturdy shoes and meet at Chris and Julie Sizelove’s, 3108 Holmes Run Road, to pick up gloves and bags. Fan out in small groups to collect litter and recyclables from Tripps Run and its banks adjoin-ing the Hollow. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.

Between scheduled clean-ups, each of us can contribute every day

to maintaining the Hollow’s community curb appeal as below.

Store trash/recycling containers out of neighbor’s views between regularly scheduled Thursday pickups.

Call 703-802-3322 to schedule free Special Pickups of brush or bulk items, or request online at https://specialpickup.fairfaxcounty.gov/ Our tax dollars pay for this service, up to five (5) pick-ups per ad-dress, per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) at no charge. Let’s use it!]

Maintain our property’s street fronts free of litter and brush. Team up with neighbors to consolidate brush or bulk items requiring Special Pickup.

Thank you!

Volume 64 Number 3 Page 6 Page 6

- - - - -Paid Advertisements - - - - -

Habitat is everything to a bird. A bird's habitat prefer-ence is related to its basic instincts and needs – food, shelter, survival, and carry-ing on of the species. Dur-ing the urbanization of rural Sleepy Hollow, the natural habitat for certain species of

birds changed signifi-cantly, and birds such as the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Bluebird, and Bobwhite, were forced to find new suitable habitat. As the open areas turned

into forests,, birds that prefer wooded areas began to popu-late the Hollow and birds such as Tufted Titmouse, Hairy Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren now live here.

During my first year in Sleepy Hollow (1995), I was ecstatic to have seen 85 bird species from our yard. My list of "Yard Birds" now documents 128 bird spe-cies. Birds seen in Sleepy Hollow, such as Cardi-nals, Crows (highly intelligent garbage collec-tors!), and House Sparrows, are here year round. Birds such as House Wrens, Ruby-Throated Hum-mingbirds and Chimney Swifts are here only dur-ing the spring and summer - their breeding season. (Yes, Chimney Swifts do nest in chimneys much to the surprise and dismay of the home owner.) Others birds only pass through on the way to their spring/summer or winter habitat. Some birds, such as Tundra Swans, may be seen as they fly-over.

The Birds of Sleepy Hollow By Sandy Holton (Valley Court)

This is the last installment of our SHCA 75th Anniversary History of Sleepy Hollow.

Over the last two years, our SHCA Historian, George Quadrino, has coordinated the compilation of a sequel to the original History of Sleepy Hollow, which was written in honor of our citizens association’s 50th anniversary in 1991.

We plan to compile all of the history articles presented in the Legend since September, 2017 into a separate document which we will make available as free e-book, and, if there is enough interest, as a softbound book for the cost of print-ing.

Sandy has some wonderful bird photos that she’s taken in her garden. The e-book and electronic version of this Leg-end will include them in color.

- - - - -Paid Advertisement - - - - -

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Page 7 Page 7

- - - - -Paid Advertisement - - - - -

- - - - -Paid Advertisement - - - - -

Although the Great Horned Owl

is no longer seen or heard in the Hol-low, we do have the impressive Barred Owl. If you hear an owl asking the ques-tion "Who cooks for you?" you will

be hearing the call of the Barred Owl. Except for the years 1996 through 1999, I have heard or seen the Barred Owl every year that I have lived in the Hollow. In early 2017, neighbors sighted and pho-tographed a Long-eared Owl at Eppard and Sleepy Hollow Road. This owl is a rare transient and win-ter visitor to Virginia.

While it is unlikely that the beautiful Eastern Blue-bird will return to Sleepy Hollow as it prefers open areas such as meadows, pastures, farmland and golf courses, many other beautiful birds prefer our trees and yards. On the following page is the list

of my “Yard Birds.” May you have many hours of enjoyment looking for these and other birds of Sleepy Hollow.

Sandy Holton Valley Court

Bring birds and

other pollinators to your garden

by growing native plants

Growing native plants will attract and protect birds and other pollinators while making your space beautiful, easy to care for, and better for the envi-ronment.

There are many native plant re-sources online.

Better yet, visit nearby Green Spring Gardens and talk to any of the horticulturists and/or ask for a copy of their Using Native Plants to Attract Birds in the Washing-ton, DC Area information sheet.

Go Paperless!

Reduce household clutter!

See color photos!

To be added to the electronic-only distribution list for The Sleepy Hollow Legend, send an email to Kathy Bellows (bellowsk@gmail.com), our circulation manager.

Volume 64 Number 3 Page 8

Vireo, Red-eyed

Vireo, Warbling

Vulture, Black

Vulture, Turkey

Warbler, Bay-breasted

Warbler, Black & White

Warbler, Blackburnian

Warbler, Blackpoll

Warbler, Black-throated Blue

Warbler, Black-throated Green

Warbler, Canada

Warbler, Cape-May

Warbler, Chestnut-sided

Warbler, Common Yel-lowthroat

Warbler, Hooded

Warbler, Kentucky

Warbler, Magnolia

Warbler, Nashville

Warbler, Palm

Warbler, Parula, Northern

Warbler, Pine

Warbler, Prairie

Warbler, Redstart, American

Warbler, Tennessee

Warbler, Wilson's

Warbler, Yellow

Warbler, Yellow-rumped

Waterthrush, Louisiana

Waxwing, Cedar

Woodcock

Woodpecker, Downy

Woodpecker, Hairy

Woodpecker, Pileated

Woodpecker, Red-bellied

Wood-Pewee, Eastern

Wren, Carolina

Wren, House

Wren, Winter

Blackbird, Red-winged

Bunting, Indigo

Cardinal

Catbird

Chickadee, Carolina

Cormorant, Dbl-crested

Cowbird, Brown-headed

Creeper, Brown

Crow, Common

Crow, Fish

Cuckoo, Black-billed

Cuckoo, Yellow-billed

Dove, Mourning

Dove, Rock (Pigeon)

Duck, Mallard

Duck, Wood

Eagle, Bald

Egret, Great

Finch, House

Finch, Purple

Flicker, Northern

Flycatcher, Acadian

Flycatcher, Great-crested

Flycatcher, Least

Flycatcher, Olive-sided

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray

Goldfinch, American

Goose, Canadian

Grackle, Common

Grosbeak, Evening

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted

Gull, Herring

Gull, Ring-billed

Hawk, Broad-winged

Hawk, Coopers

Hawk, No. Harrier

Hawk, Red-shouldered

Hawk, Red-tailed

Hawk, Sharp-shinned

Heron, Great Blue

Heron, Green-backed

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated

Jay, Blue

Junco, Dark-eyed

Kestrel, American

Killdeer

Kingbird, Eastern

Kingfisher, Belted

Kinglet, Golden-crowned

Kinglet, Ruby-crowned

Kite, Mississippi

Loon, Common

Martin, Purple

Merganzer, Common

Mockingbird

Nighthawk, Common

Night-Heron, Blk-Crowned

Nuthatch, Red-breasted

Nuthatch, White-breasted

Oriole, Baltimore

Oriole, Orchard

Osprey

Ovenbird

Owl, Barred

Phoebe, Eastern

Robin

Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied

Siskin, Pine

Sparrow, Chipping

Sparrow, Field

Sparrow, Fox

Sparrow, House

Sparrow, Song

Sparrow, Tree

Sparrow, White-throated

Starling

Swallow, Barn

Swallow, Rough-winged, No.

Swan, Tundra

Swift, Chimney

Tanager, Scarlet

Thrasher, Brown

Thrush, Grey-cheeked

Thrush, Hermit

Thrush, Swainson's

Thrush, Wood

Titmouse, Tufted

Towhee, Rufous-sided

Veery

Vireo, Blue-headed

Sleepy Hollow Yard Birds As Of February 2019

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Page 9

Volume 64 Number 3 Page 10

Emergency Management in the Hollow Representatives from your Sleepy Hollow Civic Association Executive Committee recently attended a Saturday convening of the Mason District Leadership forum, hosted by our local representative Penny Gross. The topic was Emergency Management - very timely as we approach the spring season with changing weather! Up front: the County of Fairfax has put together a terrific website where you can learn about what it means to be prepared for an emergency in our area - find it at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency. Click the link and you’ll land at the “Ready Fairfax” page, which is an “…inclusive countywide initiative to promote preparedness amongst every demographic. Learn more about emergency preparedness (making a kit, having a plan, etc.) and how to respond to various hazards (snow, flooding, hurricanes, heat, power outages, etc.).” You can also sign up for Emergency Alerts at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts. Central to the discussion is, of course, preparedness - what does it mean to be prepared for an emergency situation in the neighborhood? First of all, recognize that no actual emergency will replicate exactly what-ever you might expect - so be prepared to adapt to reality by accomplishing several preliminary steps: Make a Plan - where will your family rendezvous in the event of an emergency? Have you designated

someone else to pick up your child at school? Have you labeled the water and gas shutoffs in your basement?

Have a Kit - experts recommend tucking away 1 gallon of water per day per person in the house, along with a small amount of non-perishable food. Might want to include a spare set of clothing for each individual.

Stay informed - see the site for Emergency Alerts above. Get involved - stay up to date with what is happening in the Hollow, and how you can make a difference

in the neighborhood. There are lots of other topic areas to explore to make sure you and your family are ready for emergencies in the area - please go to the Fairfax County website and find out what you can do to ensure you’re ready.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Page 11

SHCA Executive Committee—Summary Meeting Minutes

January 7, 2019

Mason District Council representative Joe Pika reported on his recent visit with President Bill Wal-ters to police and fire stations and discussed the briefing they received on the anticipated two to three year renovation project. Fairfax County Federation representative (alternate) John Cockayne conveyed that the Virginia General Assembly session would consider a number of re-introduced bills but that the federation did not know which bills would actually be considered.

The committee convened a task force to help assemble a slate of officers for the Nomination Committee to recommend for election at the spring general meeting. The committee discussed recruiting candidates and prospective permutations of personnel to fill the positions.

November 12, 2018

Treasurer John Cockayne discussed on the association’s favorable fiscal condition due to collected membership dues, higher advertising revenues, and lower expenditures compared with 2017-2018. Mason District representative (alternate) Charlie Williams reported on recent Mason District Coun-cil discussions on continuing care facilities and forthcoming zoning issues to be addressed by spring 2019. First Vice President Jan Keyes kicked off the discussion of the way forward on exploring sidewalks on Holmes Run Road by providing a short history of past efforts to address the issue among the roughly 47 households affected. The group noted pervasive myths about sidewalks and legitimate issues involving utilities and drainage. Noting the need for an updated, dispassionate assessment among affected resi-dents for sidewalk options, the committee agreed to ask Pericles Niachos to ascertain neighbor opinions and report back to the committee.

October 8, 2018 Social chair Kellie Bock reported that expenditures for the successful fall picnic came in under budget. After discussing timing issues and pending venue availability, the group decided on the following social calendar for 2019, including the Easter Egg Hunt, Taste of the Hollow, Summer and Fall Picnics, and Halloween parade.

Land Use co-chair Sean Fox reported on a forthcoming public hearing to discuss reducing the width of the proposed sidewalk on Sleepy Hollow Road from 7 to 6 feet. Second Vice President Kathy Bellows raised her recent interactions with VDOT on water overflow issues on Overhill Road.

Neighborhood cleanups chair Jeanine Manley raised the next neighborhood cleanup on the first weekend of December and the group agreed to promote higher turnout. She also reported that her con-tact with Falls Church Episcopal officials on neighborhood concerns involving church lighting during church construction.

Safety and Security chair Curtis Anderson flagged vacancies on the Neighborhood Watch roster and noted 11 families participated in more than one Neighborhood Watch set of assignments this year.

Summarized by Bob Kokta, Secretary

The Legend

of Sleepy Hollow

Since 1954

6500 Twin Oak Place

Falls Church, VA 22042

64.3—March 2019

- - - - -Paid Advertisements - - - - -