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July 25, 2001

Hopalong Cassidy

Dear Pardners:

This is as far away from Washington as it gets, but it's too good not to mention. Buy a new VCR, buy a satellite television system, make sure that you're subscribed to the Westerns channel, and do all this before Friday evening. Starting then, at 8:00 p.m., and running through 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, the Westerns channel will have a forty-nine-hour nonstop Hopalong Cassidy festival. Forty-one movies and a new documentary special, “Hopalong Cassidy: Public Hero No. 1.” Your idea of a movie hero may have been John Wayne or Arnold Schwarzenegger or Alan Alda or Woody Allen, but William Boyd, the one and only Hoppy, was and is my idea of a real star.

It has to do with the kind of Westerns he made. Before Westerns became “adult,” before they got filled with angst and ambiguity, they were about good people fighting bad people and winning against the odds. Hoppy, the original man in black, did it better than anybody else, including even Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Hoppy knew the difference between right and wrong, and he was for right and against wrong. He fought against crooked land dealers and crooked bankers and crooked lawyers and crooked town officials and just plain crooks. Hopalong Cassidy's strength wasn't really that he was better in a fist fight or faster on the draw; it was that he would never turn a blind eye to corruption, never apologize for it or defend it.

I told you this was as far away from Washington as it gets.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Dirty Deed Inquiry
Paul K. Williams, PkelseyW@aol.com

Quick question for all you legal real estate types out there. During the course of my investigating a deed history, it is not uncommon to have the title swap from a homeowner of several years to another party, only to go back to the owner on the same day. Why is this? Is it to clear title just before/after a mortgage or other financing? This curious procedure has happened for more than ninety years.

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New Handicapped Parking Regulations
Denise Wiktor, DWIKTOR@dccouncil.washington.dc.us

In April 2001, Congress approved DC Law 13-279, the Individuals With Disabilities Parking Reform Amendment Act of 2000, a new regulation designed to improve parking congestion in the District's major business and residential areas. Following a 30-day warning period that began July 23, the new law will be fully enforced beginning Monday, August 20. District residents holding either handicapped license plates or a hanging placard, as well as all disabled commuters and visitors to the city, should note the following changes:

1) Free, unlimited parking in time-restricted spaces (including metered and residential parking spaces) is no longer allowed. 2) All drivers, including the disabled, must now adhere to the two-hour parking limit in designated District residential neighborhoods. 3) Persons with DC-issued handicap tags or placards may park free of charge in any other time-restricted space for double the amount of time permitted by the sign or meter. Following the free period, posted time limits and meter fees apply. 4) Disabled drivers from other states must obtain a DC-issued placard to take advantage of free street parking. Otherwise, posted time limits and meter fees apply.

Beginning Monday, DPW parking officers will issue pink “Warning Tickets” to all vehicles bearing a handicap designation. DMV plans to send a mass mailing to inform residents holding handicap permits that the law will soon be enforced. Information will also be available at DMV satellite offices, as well as on agency web sites. Additionally, city agencies, community groups and business organizations will be notified by mail and E-mail.

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Handicapped Parking
Bruce Monblatt, Bruce.Monblatt@ed.gov

I understand that the District is cracking down on the misuse of handicapped parking permits by limiting handicapped permit holders to two hours at meters. As someone with a disability, I applaud this action. Working in the Southwest Government area, I notice that there are too many people who park near their office buildings all day. Leaving aside whether they are able or disabled, this foils the possibility that legitimate handicapped visitors would be able to park for a short time to shop or enjoy museums. The Federal government parking policies allow priority for disabled drivers within their own parking areas. The District did this right!

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Keeping Score
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

Today, Mayor Williams chose Stanley Jackson to serve as Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development (http://www.dcwatch.com/mayor/010725.htm). Jackson who has worked in the DC government since 1981, has held a variety of senior positions in the Office of Tax and Revenue. In 1995, he became Chief of Staff to Nat Gandhi, the city's Chief Financial Officer. Jackson, who has no expertise in housing or economic development, will become Mayor Williams's fourth director of DHCD in two and a half years, succeeding Richard Monteilh, Othello Mahone, and Milton Bailey.

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Homicides
Kathy Smith, Ksmith1804@starpower.net

An organization like the MPD, that had been going down hill for twenty or so years, is not going to be "fixed" in just three. When Chief Ramsey came to the job, he estimated it would take five years to make really dramatic improvements. I think it will take at least that long. But I am seeing improvements inside the department in all sorts of places. I applaud his bringing in a new chief of detectives with extensive FBI experience. The improvements in the department are happening gradually, but they are happening.

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Homicide
Kathy Patterson, KpattDC3@aol.com

I'm glad you're noting the ongoing problems with homicide. I've scheduled a follow-up Judiciary Committee hearing on the subject on September 20, following up on the hearing that was held on January 25.

[Councilmember Patterson also provided the committee report from January hearing, the MPD section of the committee budget report, and correspondence raising questions from the recent homicide review for posting on DCWatch — see http://www.dcwatch.com/police. — Gary Imhoff]

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MPD and the Levy Case
Dianne Louise Rhodes, RHODESD1@WESTAT.com

The media have been far too judgmental of the MPD in their desires to fan this case into some kind of sex scandal. From my first hand observations, I feel that the police have done a first rate job of investigating this case. What are my credentials? First of all, I live in the Newport condominium and have lived there since 1988 and have served on the Board of Directors. I live across the hall from the apartment Ms. Levy rented. Ms. Levy's parents called the front desk of the building (I believe on May 6th) and wanted the desk clerk to see if Ms. Levy was in her apartment; she was not answering their phone calls. This is not one of the desk clerk's responsibilities and he assumed that perhaps Ms. Levy was just avoiding talking to her parents. He referred the call to the building manager. On the evening of May 10, the MPD came door to door in our building with a flyer of Ms. Levy and asked if we knew anything about her absence. It was also at this point that the police asked for the videotapes from the security cameras, and asked us to remove the cover from our pool, which had not opened yet.

The police have canvassed the building apartment-by-apartment twice since then. Yesterday (Sunday July 22) they came to complete interviews with the people they have not been able to contact. When I went out to go up to the pool, I noticed that they had left a business card on the apartment next door to me. I checked all the other apartments on my floor, and none of the others had cards. The apartment next door to me is unoccupied. (Footnote, the new owners are asking for $1650 a month in rent and it has gone unrented).

In the meantime, I have been interviewed by the New York Times, ABC News, and America's Most Wanted. We continue to have camera crews who set up in our driveway, and bring their own camp chairs. Our management sent around a memo on Friday (July 20) asking that anyone who had not been interviewed by the police contact them directly. I heard this reported on the evening news as evidence that the residents of the Newport had been uncooperative with the police. It is clear to me that at this point the media have no news to report, so they are just making it up.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- EVENTS

Calligraphy Exhibition
Lorraine Swerdloff, swerdloffs@erols.com

The Washington Calligraphers Guild's 25th anniversary exhibition of calligraphic artwork and the winning entries in the 2001 Graceful Envelope Contest are on view until August 25 at Strathmore Hall in Rockville, MD. For information and to view the uniquely illustrated envelopes, see http://www.calligraphersguild.org

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DC Baseball.Org July Meeting
John Vocino, vocinodc@hotmail.com

DC Baseball Org will meet on Tuesday, July 31, at 7:00 p.m., at Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW. For all interested in working together to revive the game of baseball for our city's youths and amateurs. League commissioners, coaches, umpires, members of the local business community, and other interested stakeholders. Efforts forming around DC's fields and facilities; participation in leagues, players, teams, clinics/camps in DC; coaches; umpires; communications/media; fundraising. Your ideas and efforts are needed.

To RSVP (or for additional information) please feel free to contact John Vocino, 512-7290 or vocinodc@hotmail.com, or Scott Burr, 544-2135 or techpainting@erols.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED

Temporary Office Help Needed, August-September
Anne Herr, HerrAnne@aol.com

Capital City Public Charter School, located in Columbia Heights, is looking for an enthusiastic individual to help with telephones, filing, and administrative support while our office manager is on maternity leave, beginning August 1 through the end of September. Hours would be approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bilingual capability (English-Spanish) a plus. If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, contact me by return E-mail or call Susan Sabella at 387-0309.

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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING

Seeking DC Apartment for August
Marshall Mattera, jmattera@sas.upenn.edu

I'm interning in Washington, DC, in August and am looking to sublet a room from August 1st to August 31st. Please E-mail me if you know of anything available.

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I’m Still Looking
Mary Vogel, maryvogel@yahoo.com

Conservationists wanted to share 3BR, 2BA home only ten minutes to downtown DC. Heavily wooded backyard of big native shade trees, one block to large forested Nature Park with trails. Best of both worlds: clean, safe neighborhood, with strong sense of community and environmental ethic, yet convenient to so much. Lovely walk or bike ride from Metro (Orange Line); 25 minutes to Annapolis, 10 minutes to Beltsville, 30 minutes to Baltimore, 7 minutes to Beltway; AND only 5 minutes to the National Arboretum.

Huge bedrooms with walk-in closets (one has a balcony), plus basement storage. Large screened porch. Hardwood floors and beautiful woodwork throughout. CAC, W/D, DW, FP. Rent is $475 plus one-third utilities. Strongly prefer vegetarian professional people. Must be willing to compost and to conserve, re-use and recycle resources. Sorry, no pets! Call me 301-772-9276 or write maryvogel@yahoo.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS

A Find in Adams-Morgan
Elisabeth Knauff, CalTfone@aol.com

I'd like to alert readers of this list to a new place in Adams-Morgan for a tasty and inexpensive lunch or supper -- Cafe Antoine at 2427 18th Street, up one flight from the street level. The short menu, both eat-in and carry out, features a variety of savory and sweet crepes at $4.50 per order, as well as delicious house-made ice cream and sorbet. There are also soups, sandwiches (including Croque Monsieur), salads, and omelets. Although the setting is not fancy, I found the food good and the prices much more reasonable than most other places nearby in Adams-Morgan. It's open Tuesday from 5-11 p.m., Wednesday - Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday - Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

I have no connection with the business except as a satisfied customer.

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Fun Funky Furniture?
Dru Sefton, drusefton@hotmail.com

Recommendations please for cool furniture stores in/around D.C. I'm talking funky cheap antique-ish retro-y type furniture.

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CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com

From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this Thursday:
Slightly over a year ago, former Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. declared himself the city's anti-violence czar. “I am seeking a way to serve rather than seeking the limelight,“ Barry said. ”In the coming weeks, I will be announcing a three-part major effort to end violence now. . . . The stakes are high and the impact of our effort will be critical if we are to save this generation of urban youth,” he continued. “Our course is set, our resolve is strong, and our mission is clear.”
Invisible, if you ask LL. If there was a three-part plan announced later, she never heard of it. In fact, LL's been chasing MB's phantom movement for months.
Read the entire Loose Lips column here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html

From washingtoncitypaper.com's CITY LIGHTS page, here are a few early warnings for upcoming events:
SUNDAY: Pat Dowell conducts an all-day symposium on French New Wave Cinema, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ripley Center's Lecture Hall, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. $96.
WEDNESDAY: Ed Neville hosts “Exploring the DelMarVa Peninsula,” at 7:30 p.m. at REI, 3509 Carlin Springs Road, Bailey's Crossroads. Free.
More details and more critics' picks are available online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/pix/pix.html

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