Social Committee

By Liz Blankespoor, Chair

Our TGIFs have always been popular and we’ve now been fortunate to have two within the past three months. Liz and Dave Fleming graciously hosted our summer TGIF on August 25, and we had a great turnout of around 40 people. Sandy Laeser hosted a marvelously creepy Halloween affair on Friday night, October 27, with an equally impressive attendance. Witches, cats, a Jedi master, a judge, a hot-fudge sundae, a flapper, “Slo” from “Depressive Insurance,” and even Donald Trump attended. Reston sure is about diversity!                     

Do we have any volunteers to host the next TGIF? Say sometime in January? Hosts supply the beverages and guests are requested to kindly bring an appetizer. Please let me know by emailing lizblankespoor@gmail.com.

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and the “Light up the Lake” and “Light up Lakeport” campaigns will once again take place in December. In the former, Lake Thoreau philanthropists donate $10 for every house with holiday lights facing the lake, and in the latter Lakeport philanthropists donate for every festively lit house on the garage side. This has added up to a very tidy sum in winters past, and the money has generally gone to Cornerstone and IPAR. Given the density issue (see elsewhere in this issue), however, one donor is giving money to the Reston Citizens Association this year, and donors are free to specify whatever charity or cause they choose to support. If you would like to be among the donors, please contact James Pan at jpamco@gmail.com. And, everyone, please light up your homes front and back to raise money again this holiday season.

Which leads us to yet another Lakeport tradition. The “Most Impressive Holiday Lights” contest needs judges, and everyone is invited. We’ll start at 2003 Lakeport Way at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, and walk through the cluster rating the decorations. Afterward we’ll return to 1919 Lakeport Way to tally our ratings over egg nog, mulled wine, and cookies. Winners will be announced in the next edition of Ripples, with prizes awarded to the first, second, and third place winners.