The Lantern March 2025
- Catalina M.
- Mar 20
- 4 min read
The Lantern
Dunn Loring Woods Civic Association dlwca.org
March 2025
Welcome to Dunn Loring Woods!
People who move here tend to stay here, because it’s a great place to live! For those that are new, we want to welcome them as a community, and let them know about everything available to them, so the DLWCA is reinvigorating the “Welcome Wagon.”
What is a Welcome Wagon? Volunteers will greet new neighbors, bring a small gift that contains some goodies, a directory (while supplies last) and information about our area along with our covenants and website info. In 2024 and early 2025, we had 20 new neighbors, so in chilly February, we went knocking on doors to say hello!
If you’re interested in helping with the Welcome Wagon, please contact Ana Cainelli (acainelli@gmail.com) or any board member. It’s not a big time investment, but the friendships you may forge pay huge dividends! And it’s just a nice thing to do, Happy Spring!
Time To Celebrate 60 Years!
May 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Dunn Loring Woods Civic Association and it is time to celebrate! We will have a Dessert Party during our Spring Membership Meeting May 13th at Stenwood Elementary School.
We encourage everyone to join the fun, meet some new neighbors and gain some important
information from our speakers! We are finalizing our guest speakers for the meeting and will send that information soon. If you would like to contribute a delicious item for the Dessert Party or have suggestions for an interesting guest speak, contact imanbutler68@gmail.com.
DLWCA Scholarship
The DLWCA Scholarship Program has been a longstanding valuable pursuit to recognize qualified DLW student residents for their educational and community efforts.
Children and grandchildren currently living with a DLW resident are eligible to apply for a $1,000 DLWCA scholarship. Applicants should be high school seniors planning to attend an accredited college full time by Fall/Winter or to pursue a vocational education such as through an accredited trade school.
Applications must be submitted by April 25, 2025. Applicants should provide the following:
Written recommendation or character reference from a teacher, counselor or member of the DLW community.
Copies of entrance examination scores, as applicable.
List of awards, achievements and/or community service activities.
Statement on applicant’s views on civic responsibility and what the applicant has done during the past year that has benefitted their community.
The top 5 candidates may be contacted for an interview. Scholarships will be awarded at the May DLWCA membership meeting and winners will be featured in The Lantern. Application packages should be delivered to DLWCA Scholarship C/O Ken Quincy, 8225 Bucknell Dr., Vienna, VA 22180 or email to ken_quincy@hotmail.com
So Cute and Fuzzy!
Our area is home to deer, foxes, coyotes, chipmunks, squirrels, field mice and more! They share our neighborhood freely, but their habitats have been severely diminished by construction, home building, road work etc. They are majestic, and they are wild; please, let’s keep them that way. Feeding wildlife can change their behavior, causing them to stop fearing humans, putting everyone at risk. Foxes and coyotes will not hesitate to attack a pet rabbit, cat, or small dog. Small children playing outside could also be viewed as prey. Should a family member or pet get bitten or scratched by a wild animal, rabies cannot be ruled out, leading to a painful series of rabies shots.
Many of us find deer to be majestic animals that we love to hate. I found myself in awe watching a nine-point buck in DLW. He did not budge or run away, and stared at me for what seemed like an eternity. It felt like a communing with nature moment, but it is not uncommon for a buck to chase down and injure someone, especially during rutting season... A male deer with a rack is unpredictable and could be dangerous.
Please refrain from feeding wildlife as this could desensitize them to humans. Enjoy their beauty and charm, while respecting that they are wild creatures and often unpredictable.
Catalytic Converter Thefts on the Rise in our Area
In late 2024, several vehicles in Stonewall Manor had catalytic converters stolen. Neighborhood cameras caught cars cruing slowly between 2:00-4:00 am. The model cars targeted were Honda and Prius, according to the SWM mail group. Per CARFAX, the top 10 targeted vehicles (in order) are: Ford F-150, Ford Explorer, Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, Chevy Equinox, Toyota Tacoma, KIA Soul, Chevy Traverse and Chevy Cruze.
Thieves get $$$ for a catalytic converter, from hybrid vehicles can sell for up to $1,400. Why so much for hybrids? More precious metals are needed for a hybrid’s catalytic converter. Tips to safeguard your catalytic converter:
Install motion lights; park in a garage or well-lit areas; set car alarm
Install a catalytic converter protective cage or metal shield
Paint or engrave your catalytic converter: Use a high-temperature fluorescent paint and inscribe your vehicle's VIN number on the painted surface.
We always hope this will not happen in DLW, but it already has happened on several occasions, and now SWM was vandalized multiple times in one evening. Please be vigilant and take protective measures. Report suspicious activity to police.
VA Summer Youth Program Opportunities
Washington DC VA Medical Center seeks enthusiastic youths, age 14-17, for the Center for Development & Civic Engagement Summer Youth Volunteer Program. This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, enhance skills, and contribute positively to various departments. Applicants must complete and submit a resume, application and 500-word essay to Jami.Henderson@va.gov no later than April 21, 2025. Volunteers will need to
commit to serving 100 hours during the full program, June 23 to August 7, 2025. See their website.
Please note, 2025 info not yet posted, but requirements similar to 2024 post.
Subscribe to The Lantern
This newsletter, The Lantern, is no longer distributed in print. It is uploaded to DLWCA Website as a standalone page, and as a Blog Post; subscribe using any RSS Reader at https://www.dlwca.org/blog-feed.xml.
The Lantern is also mailed to the DLWCA-Talk mailing list, which you can subscribe to as a resident or renter.
And now, you can subscribe to receive The Lantern directly to your inbox starting with the next newsletter by filling out this form. **We have limited paper copies by request. Contact imanbutler68@gmail.com or ken_quincy@hotmail.com.
New resident / renter? Check this out for important info,
and welcome! https://www.dlwca.org/movein
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