What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? A kid's perspective.

Cheverly resident Dionne Dobbins shares what her two lovely daughters think about what Cheverly means to them. We're so glad she asked, and we're even happier to share their thoughts...

I asked my girls, Kennedy and Cassidy, what Cheverly means to them.

Kennedy: A neighborhood that makes me feel warm and comfy inside.
Cassidy: A place with beautiful flowers and great friends.

They're both right! Every so often, we have dreams of a newer home or bigger home but then, we think again. We love Cheverly and the people we've met over the years. 

Yeah - I doubt we'll be leaving anytime soon! 


We're with you, Kennedy and Cassidy. Cheverly means HOME!

Helen Crosskey: What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you?

We love reading all your thoughts on our theme this year: Made in Cheverly. It's interesting how many people have cited home and family. We agree: Made in Cheverly means community. And that makes Cheverly very special.

Today, Helen Crosskey shares her thoughts with us:
What "Made in Cheverly" mean to me: After looking at houses in several other communities we found our house here in Cheverly.  We moved into our home in 1973.  Cheverly felt like home from the minute we came down Cheverly Avenue, and before long we found a house. We made our family here, and some lifelong friends. Our neighbors take the time to say good morning; look after each other homes and the wellbeing of our families and children.

We help contribute to keeping Cheverly the great and beautiful town which we can call home.

Thanks, Helen. Beautifully stated. We still want YOU to join the conversation! Tell us what "Made in Cheverly" means to you!

Community Groups at Cheverly Day

Cheverly prides itself on its many active community groups. This Cheverly Day, stop by the tables and learn about the activities that they do in and around our neighborhood. Community groups are truly Made in Cheverly!

Community Groups hosting tables at Cheverly Day 2012:

• Cheverly Cub Scouts
• Community Crisis Services
• Cheverly Self Storage
• Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek
• Joyce Lang - Peace Month
• New Hope Academy
• Prince George's Office of Community Relations
• Prince George's Parks and Recreation Public Affairs Department
• Prince George's County Young Democrats
• Progressive Cheverly
• Maryland State Senator Victor Ramirez
• St. Ambrose School
• Walking in Rhythm Dog Walking Services

Made in Cheverly: Pat Nelson

Pat Nelson is someone you want to know. An active community member, she's one of the people that make Cheverly Day run, having been the driving force behind the Midway for years, in addition to designing our annual Cheverly Day t-shirt. Pat is also an accomplished artist who will be showing her watercolors as part of the Cheverly Day 2012 Art Show. Here, Pat tells us what "Made in Cheverly" means to her:

What “Made in Cheverly, USA” means to me: 

In December of 2003, at a fork in the road of my life, I came to Cheverly for a visit with my daughter, Tammie, as an extended stopover on my way to Florida. With only a suitcase of summer clothes and all of my belongings in storage in New Jersey, I camped out in Tammie’s basement and was quickly drawn into the essence of Cheverly.  The beauty of both the town and the people who live here soon made me become “the guest that never left”. I had never really been a joiner but found myself participating in many of the groups and organizations here in town. I now have more friends and acquaintances here, than in every other place I have lived in my adult life, all added together.

After living in Tammie’s basement for two years, I finally became an official resident and bought the house next door, because I decided that the fork in the road had led me to the place I wanted to stay. I love living right next door. My children grew up in the same town as their grandparents. After my kids got older and moved off to places far away, I always envied the everyday relationship my parents had had with their grandchildren, something I did not see in my future. But here I am, watching my grandchildren grow up and being a part of their lives. This is something I truly cherish about living here.  

So in reverse, I have followed one of the legacies of Cheverly, generations (literally) living side by side. I have become a part of Cheverly and Cheverly has become a part of me. What is made in Cheverly? Friends, families, and a wonderful environment of community spirit and togetherness.  

Thank you, Pat. We love the fact that Cheverly is home to generations of families -- and friends. And we know how lucky we are to have you making "Made in Cheverly" mean something truly special.

What about you? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We want to know!

What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to us?

You probably know Dave & Casey. Their house is one of the most popular destinations in Cheverly every Halloween, they are active with the Prince George's Master Gardeners and share their knowledge at the Cheverly Community Market, they are fixtures at the pool, CHVProm, the Garden Club, History Club, Green Infrastructure, and more. Casey is featured in this year's Cheverly Day Art Show & Fair, and Dave was the recipient of the Mayor's Award at Cheverly Day last year and writes for ChvBlog. So even if you don't think you know Dave & Casey, you probably do! They are some of the very special people who make Cheverly what it is, so we were curious to find out just what "Made in Cheverly" means to them.

Dave & Casey in the 2011 Cheverly Day Parade

What does 'Made in Cheverly' mean to us?

When we think of “Made in Cheverly”, we think of all the friends we have made in Cheverly in 25 plus years. There are so many opportunities to meet and learn about our neighbors. Cheverly’s many town organizations give anyone the chance to find others who share common interests. By joining in and volunteering, we have found several occasions to make friends. Cheverly Day itself is a perfect example! We like to think that the community that is Cheverly has helped to make us who we are today.

Thanks, Dave & Casey! We couldn't agree more. 

What do you think? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We'd love to have your voice in this conversation!

What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you?

We're excited to share this perspective from Liz Lescault on our conversation about what "Made in Cheverly" means to the people who live and work here. Liz, a long-time resident is well known for her amazing work as a ceramic artist and painter, and for her art classes for both children and adults.  Wondrous creativity has blossomed under her tutelage, and we are so very lucky to have her in our neighborhood. Here's Liz's take on "Made in Cheverly":

Liz Lescault and Pat Nelson enjoy a laugh at Cheverly Day

We -- my husband, Mike, my son, Matthew, and I -- moved to Cheverly 1986.  I set up my home ceramic studio in 1987.  I hosted my first Holiday Home Show in 1989, and in 1991 I started teaching art classes for children in my Cheverly home studio.  In 1996, I started teaching adult watercolor classes. 

Throughout the years I have organized and staged numerous art exhibits for Cheverly Day, including the 75^th Anniversary Cheverly Day Art Show. It included over 100 exhibitors.

It has been such a joy to live in Cheverly and share my passion for art with the community. I cannot believe that Christian Horchler,  son of Illona Horchler,  the first child of one of my first students, is now in my sketching class this spring. I have watched so many Cheverly children grow up. Gynn Manty and Kayah Manty started with me when they were six years and eight years old and continued to take classes with me until they graduated from high school. I have even had a few of the children join my watercolor class as adults. I feel that I may have a very biased view of the talents and creativity, not to mention the loving kindness of  children from my experience with the extraordinary children of Cheverly, but I am always amazed and humbled by their creations. 
 

Although I have new students in my adult watercolor class and some who do not stay with me long term, I have a devoted core of watercolorists, some who have been with me for ten years. With these talented artists, whom I count as friends, and other friends and acquaintances I have in Cheverly, I feel surrounded by the warmth of the community. Although Cheverly is inhabited by highly accomplished, intelligent, community-minded and committed residents, there seems to be a humility here that does not exist in some other communities of wealth and privilege. In Cheverly, our privilege and wealth are our human resources and a cooperative human spirit where people look out for each other and make living in this world just a little easier.


Cheverly.  "Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."  (Garrison Keillor)

We still want to hear your story. Let us know: What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you?

We love your "What does 'Made in Cheverly' mean to you?" responses!

We've been asking friends and neighbors in town what "Made in Cheverly" means to them, and we've had some great conversations as a result. Today, Barbara Michelman shares her view:

"Made in Cheverly" makes me think of all the factors responsible for making this town the type of place where you want to put down roots and raise a family, such as: 

Barbara's daughter, Ava, in the 2011 Cheverly Day Parade

• A police chief who personally answers your emails.
• The public works employees who take your trash cans to the street when you are physically unable to do so.
• Neighbors who sign up to deliver home-cooked meals to families with new babies--families that they don't even know personally. 
• The women who open their homes to run daycare centers and help us raise confident, happy kids who are ready and excited to enter preschool. 
• The volutneer coaches, directors, artisans who introduce--and give our kids an appreciation for--the arts, music, theater, sports. 
• Citizens who fill in the gaps with their own time, talents and money when budget shortfalls cannot meet all the needs of our local public schools.  
• A community market that not only supports local farmers but showcases the beautiful, creative and/or delicious handmade crafts of our neighbors.

It's true. We make this town into a neighborhood. It's all of us -- families, neighbors, police, public works, volunteers. We all imagine what we want our home to be. And we make that home every day, right here in Cheverly.

So what about you? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We want to know!

What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you?

Kelly Fisher, known to many in Cheverly through her yoga practice her music has a wonderful take on our question, "What does 'Made in Cheverly' mean to you?" -- read on to find out how she celebrates this very special community.

Cheverly in springtime reminds me of the shire. Everything is so green and when the azaleas and dogwoods bloom it is a sight to behold. For nine years I have had the honor of teaching yoga classes here in Cheverly. It began as one all-levels class per week and has grown into six classes per week, beginner to more seasoned practitioner. It is fulfilling to see a student stand on her hands when she never even imagined that was something to do. (Don't worry, that does not happen in the beginner classes!)  It is equally fulfilling to see the smiles on people's faces at the end of class after a particularly satisfying deep relaxation pose.

And I must say, the sense of community is inspiring. This was one of the things that drew my husband and I to Cheverly in the first place. It is convenient to DC, livable, and neighbors talk to each other. I love that about my street and I love that about my yoga students. Many students walk to class and over the years have made good friends with each other. The yogis who joined me in the parade celebrating Cheverly's 80th birthday last year formed a real bond as we developed our ideas for the spectacle and then marched together.

So, "Made in Cheverly" to me means coming together to celebrate each person's unique talents. We practice yoga to reduce stress and better integrate body, mind, and heart, and that can assist anyone to feel more creative in pursuing their own interests. Made in Cheverly is the wealth of human resource we have to come together to live meaningful lives, participating in community activities like the Cheverly Community Garden or the Cheverly Community Market, and of course Cheverly Day.

Thanks, Kelly! We agree 100%. What's your take? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We'd love to include take on this ongoing conversation here on the blog.


Kelly Fisher, E-RYT 500, has been teaching yoga for over ten years.  She holds classes at the Cheverly United Methodist Church as well as in Capitol Hill and Silver Spring.  You can find her on the web at Wildflower Yoga.

Another Take on "What does 'Made in Cheverly' mean to you?"

We're still asking...what does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We make art, food, community groups, families...the idea of "Made in Cheverly" is pretty broad and the conversation can move in many directions. 


Today, Father Kevin Kennedy of St. Ambrose Catholic Church shares his thoughts:


"Made in Cheverly – To me it means creating and being a community where we live by virtues such as honesty, integrity and the common good."


Thanks for your thoughts, Father Kennedy. Community is definitely something made special in Cheverly.

What's YOUR story? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to YOU?

We asked "What does 'Made in Cheverly' mean to you?"

We've put the question to you...what does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? It's an interesting conversation: We make art, food, community groups, families... Councilmember Carolyn Cook shares her thoughts here:

I am made in Cheverly, at least the most meaningful part of me is. I planted roots here in 1999 when my husband James and I bought our first home. A month later our oldest son was born and I started to grow into someone more. The new journey of motherhood, along with the nurturing of family and friends, helped me to blossom. Thirteen years later, I feel settled in my community with my husband, my two sons, and a continuous flow of support from our neighbors in town. For me, the most important phase of my life was made in Cheverly -- becoming a mom.

Thanks for sharing, Carolyn. We love this story!

What's YOUR story? What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to YOU?

What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you?

We recently asked for responses to the question "What does Made in Cheverly mean to you?" Our first response comes from Cathy Smith, a long-time Cheverly resident who is active in many community groups, including Progressive Cheverly. You may remember Cathy from her starring role on one of the parade floats last year!

One of the best things about Cheverly is how it illustrates the role of a close-knit community on children. We now have -- what? -- at least three generations of kids born and raised here, and many of them are doing awesome things in the world. Physicists, professional musicians and actors, social activists, soon-to-be environmental engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, lawyers, dedicated moms and dads and many more come to mind. Having the love and support of a village really does take care of a child. 


Thank you for this wonderful, thoughtful response. We agree: strong, smart families are Made in Cheverly! 

We Want to Know...

What does "Made in Cheverly" mean to you? We'll be highlighting the best responses right here on the Cheverly Day blog.

It might be making art, it might mean making music, it might mean making a meal, it might mean making a family or a home. Whatever it is, we'd like to hear from you -- leave a response in the comments!