Cheverly: It's Where YOU Want to Be (part 3 in a series of reflections)

We were really happy with reaction to our Cheverly: It's Where YOU Want to Be series, and we are happy to be getting reflections from other members of the community. Throughout the week, we'll be sharing these notes. This morning, Crystal and Arvind Lal share their thoughts. Even if you haven't had the pleasure of knowing the Lals, you have probably been impacted in some way by their contributions to the community. Crystal and Arvind were among the founders of Cheverly Community Market; Crystal now heads Cheverly Weekday Nursery; Arvind was a scout leader for years; daughter Abby was a sought-after sitter; and Arvind and son Nick coached Boys & Girls Club baseball, and has been a lifeguard at Cheverly Swim & Racquet Club. Cheverly is fortunate to have the Lals!

Tell us a little about yourself:
Arvind is US Attorney, but be has also been a baseball coach for the Cheverly Wolverines and for many years a Boy Scout Troup Leader. Crystal teaches at Weekday Nursery School. Both of our children were born and raised in Cheverly. Nick is 21 and attends Emory in Atlanta and works as a lifeguard at the pool. Abby just turned 25 and lives in Brooklyn but comes down to visit often with her cat Willa.

How long have you lived in Cheverly?
Since 1988

How did you first learn aboutCheerly?
We got lost looking for houses in New Carrolton!

What's the biggest challenge about living here?
Not having a local public school for all children through grade 12.

What's your favorite thing about Cheverly?
Our neighbors! They are the best!

What's the most interesting thing you've learned about Cheverly?
Corey Flintoff has a house here!

Most surprising? 
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the pool was originally dug by hand by residents - or so told once by John Garrity who was our neighbor.

What would you like people to know about Cheverly?
When we were looking for houses more than 20 years ago, we were told that Cheverly was an oasis and that it's a great place to raise children. That's still true.

Can you sum up in one sentence why Cheverly is where you want to be?
Cheverly has a wonderful sense of community and a wonderful diversity of people from all walks of life.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Crystal  and Arvind! We agree -- Cheverly is a great place to raise a family, and neighbors are THE best!

If you're interested in sharing your perspective, please email us. We'd love to include many voices in this series. And don't forget: you can show everyone that Cheverly is where YOU want to be by wearing one of our great Cheverly Day 2016 t-shirts! They'll be available on Cheverly Day at the Midway, or you can contact Pat Nelson to get your shirt early!

Cheverly Day T-Shirts...get yours early!

We are very happy to share this news...Cheverly Day 2016 T-shirts have arrived and you can get one before Cheverly Day! It would be wonderful to see some of you wearing your new t-shirt at next Saturday's parade!

Want to get YOUR shirt early? They do tend to sell out, and this year's design is sure to be a hit! Email Pat Nelson, our lovely designer & model, to arrange a time to swing by and get yours.

Cheverly: It's Where YOU Want to Be (part two in a series of reflections)

We were really happy with reaction to our first Cheverly: It's Where YOU Want to Be post, and we are happy to be getting reflections from other members of the community. Throughout the week, we'll be sharing these notes. This morning, Teresa Williams of Touch as Art tells us why she wants to be in Cheverly:

Cheverly is where I want to be because I and my family have always felt welcome here. We moved to Cheverly, from DC, after hearing about it from a friend and we immediately fell in love with the neighborhood and proximity to not one but three interesting metropolitan areas. We also have ready access to natural space, something that is very important to me. After 19 years here, I still encounter places, people and situations that delight me around Cheverly. We required a metro stop and Cheverly has one. I enjoy knowing that I can walk out of my door, greet my wonderful neighbors, board public transportation and begin a trip to anywhere in the world that I may want to go. My adventures do not begin when I reach my final destination, they begin when I walk out of my door, no matter how far my travels eventually take me. 

Our children grew up, or are growing up here, and I am proud of that. My daughter recently told me on a walk, as she was admiring her neighborhood, that it was a shame that as an adult she will never be able to live here. When I asked why not, she replied that since, we, her parents already live here she could not even consider it. I'm hopeful that she changes her mind after she has some adventures away from us. I was fortunate and happy to be able to go down a long list of people that she knows who grew up in Cheverly, went away to college or for jobs for awhile, and are now raising their own children here. Even in our own lives our baby-sitting lineage has successfully passed through generations. My daughter baby-sits for the children of one of her former baby-sitters. For some in town that lineage is four generations strong. 

I recently had the opportunity to take my sister-in-law on a walking tour of Cheverly and got to see her reaction to sights and symbols that I take for granted. I told her about the Little Free Libraries in the neighborhood as she admired the just blooming azaleas all over town. On our way to Woodworth Park, which is one of my favorite neighborhood gems, we stopped at the Elephant, ‘Puzzle It Out,’ at Town Hall. Even though our family spearheaded the effort to paint it, we could not, on our own bring it to Cheverly. It was part of a larger public art installation in DC that was ultimately intended to raise money for the arts and humanities. All of the Party Animals, including ‘Puzzle It Out,’ were auctioned off after being displayed around Washington for the summer in 2002. (Puzzle It Out was displayed at the Children's Museum in DC, which is no longer in existence.) A heartwarming and inspiring effort by the Cheverly Mayor (Larry Beyna, at the time) and other elected officials, Cheverly citizens, teachers and students at Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary and the Town Administration successfully fought off a determined and unexpected bidder to ultimately bring our Elephant home. Even though I generally identify as a donkey, our elephant at Town Hall is a reminder of the community spirit that is exhibited in so many ways in Cheverly. These are just some of the reasons why Cheverly is Where I Want to Be.

Thanks, Teresa! We love to get everyone's perspectives on Cheverly and what makes it such a special place! 

If you're interested in sharing your perspective, please email us. We'd love to include many voices in this series. And don't forget: you can show everyone that Cheverly is where YOU want to be by wearing one of our great Cheverly Day 2016 t-shirts! They'll be available on Cheverly Day at the Midway, or you can contact Pat Nelson to get your shirt early!

Preview: The Cheverly Day 2016 Tee

We're very happy to share sneak peek of our 2016 Tee with you! A stylish black cotton shirt that proudly proclaims the coordinates of the best little town around, you'll wear this one for years to come.

Coming soon!

Get Your Cheverly Day 2015 Tee!

Don't forget to pick up your piece of Cheverly Day history this Saturday. They'll go fast, so get your t-shirt early...and pick a few up for friends and family!

The Cheverly Day 2015 T-Shirt

What was the idea behind this year's t-shirt? This year's theme -- Keep Cheverly Wild -- which was inspired by the two amazing trunk sculptures that mark the entrance to Town Park and the Community Center. Honed out of dead tree stumps, the sculptures celebrate wildlife and nature in and around Cheverly.  Both pieces are by artist Joe Stebbing of Thurmont, Maryland. Joe is well known in the region for his carving (learn more about him here.)

Get your 2014 Cheverly Day T-Shirt!

The 2012 Cheverly Day T-Shirt!

Be the envy of all your friends...in a 2012 Cheverly Day T-Shirt!

The stylish black tee, designed by Cheverly artist Pat Nelson, celebrates the arts and artists of Cheverly. The design will e on the back and "Cheverly Day 2012" will be printed on the front upper left side.

Get your shirt this Cheverly Day -- add to your collection of Cheverly Day tees, or start a new tradition!