Room for All
Dear Penpals:
It has been too nice a day, and I'm in too good a mood, to complain
about the latest stupidities and outrages of DC government. And I'm too
stuffed with good food to write much about anything now (choucroute
garnie at Belgique Gourmand in Occoquan — try the restaurant soon,
because it's scheduled to close in a year if new owners aren't found,
and the moules et frites with one or two Belgian bieres make a perfect
end to a relaxing day trip to the charming riverfront town). So I won't
dwell on how awful Council Bill 14-281 is (http://www.dcwatch.com/council14/14-281.htm).
Besides, anybody who reads it understands immediately how sinister the
intentions behind it are, so I won't have to behave like a common scold.
Meanwhile, this is a short issue of themail, so remember there's room
for your submission about happenings in your corner of town. After all,
E-mail is safe — even E-mail viruses are harmless to human beings. So
use it freely.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Hogate’s Restaurant Closes
Ron Eberhardt, rge1022@aol.com
To the dismay of many, suddenly and without prior notice, Hogate's
Restaurant, which has been a staple of the Southwest, DC, waterfront for
more then sixty years, has closed its doors. Apparently, literally open
one day and the next closed and locked with a simple sign saying,
“Closed for business and thanks for your patronage.” Located at 600
Water Street, Hogate's was known for its rum buns, freshly baked on the
premises, and for a variety of seafood dishes. Hogate's was first
located on the land across the street at the site of what I believe is
now the Disabled American Veteran's Building.
I can remember eating at Hogate's in the 1970's, ten years before I
moved to Washington. To lose such a Washington landmark without notice
is indeed sad. I cannot help but recall a delightful conversation with a
server there last year whom I engaged in conversation. She revealed that
she had worked for the restaurant her entire life and the restaurant's
entire existence and had put her daughter through college. I asked her
if I could get someone to write her story at the Post. She politely
declined saying she hoped to write a book on those 60 plus years with
her college educated daughter. More than a few traditions have been lost
in the passing of this venerable restaurant.
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Haven’t Seen It All, Yet
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
Just when you think you have seen the most outrageous and stupid
thing, someone comes along and tops it. Last week I saw a driver in rush
hour traffic, heading south on Massachusetts Avenue, with TWO (count
'em) cell phones, one on each ear. Not sure who was doing the steering,
but the driver was doing all the talking. It is possible to top this
with three cell phones — maybe with one that is voice activated on the
dashboard.
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Citizen Participation
Larry Lesser, LBLesser@aol.com
I used to have a boss who told me to get comments from staff about a
proposed initiative. He said, “Let's give them a sense of
participation. But note, Larry, just a sense of participation, not the
thing itself.” That guy was an effective, if rather cynical, manager.
I fear that our mayor is more cynical than effective.
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Reservations About the Complaint Center
Frank Method, fmethod@erols.com
In reference to The Internet Fraud Complaint Center, run by the FBI
and the National White Collar Crime Center, http://www.ifccfbi.gov.
Check the privacy statement and the amount of information one is
required to provide in order to report possible fraud or other threat. I
find this very intimidating, in particular their lack of assurances to
protect the identity of the tipster — N.B. the NWCCC is a private
entity, not a government entity.
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The Real Story
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
You might be lulled by the Post story on Sunday about the
cooperation between the CIA and the military in the attacks on
Afghanistan. To get a much truer look at U.S. intelligence (an oxymoron,
at best), you should read the October 8th edition of New Yorker magazine.
The article by Seymour Hersh reveals what a bumbling, paper shuffling
bureaucracy the CIA has become. Much like today's NASA, the CIA is a
bunch of guys just collecting a paycheck and enjoying life in the
Virginia suburbs. The head guy is about ready to be fired, and the whole
agency has been in a “fatal malaise,” according to Hersh, since the
early 1990s.
It speaks volumes when high school kids in Brooklyn told their
teacher a week before the September 11 attack that the World trade
Center would be gone the following week, and the CIA knew nothing about
it. New York's Mayor, Rudy Guiliani, is being mentioned as a candidate
for the job as head of the CIA. I can't think of a more appropriate
choice.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
National Make a Difference Day — Join DC
Vote
Amy Slemmer, aslemmer@dcvote.org
Saturday, October 27, is National Make a Difference Day. DC Vote will
make a difference locally by sending volunteers into the Petworth
community to canvass door to door about “Taxation Without
Representation.” Our goal is to raise awareness about our
disenfranchisement and to encourage more local residents to join our
suffrage movement.
Volunteers will gather at DC Vote's offices at 11:00 a.m. on
Saturday, October 27, 2001, and will work until 3:30 p.m. Saturday
afternoon. We will provide training, materials and snacks for
volunteers. In addition, DC Vote is seeking volunteers for rewarding
office work during our regular business hours (Monday - Saturday, 9:00
a.m. - 6:00 p.m.). Please call us if you would like additional
information. See you on Saturday!
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On October 27, Washington Storytellers Theater will present a special
Halloween program for adults called Blood on the Page: Literary Tales of
Horror and the Supernatural. The program will feature six of the best
storytellers from around the Washington area, performing classic tales
by Edgar Allen Poe, Zora Neale Hurston, Roald Dahl, and William Hope
Hodgson.
This performance takes place at 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the
First Baptist Church, 1328 16th Street, NW, (at O St.), near Dupont
Circle. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased in advance by calling
301-891-1129.
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Fall Cleaning in Klingle Valley
Nadia Steinzor, nsteinzor@earthlink.net
Enjoy foliage and fun while helping to improve this local treasure.
Saturday, October 27, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Cleanup bags and gloves
provided, guided nature walk to follow. Refreshments provided. Meet at
eastern end of the closed portion of Klingle Road (Porter Street).
Contact: Nadia Steinzor, 319-1410, http://www.klinglevalley.org.
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Two Saturdays — October 27 and November 17; 3:00 — 5:00 p.m.
Suggested donation: $40 (includes all tools and supplies for both
sessions!), 1836 Kenyon St., NW; Washington, DC 20010. Sponsored by
Institute for Transformation Through the Arts. ITA is a nonprofit based
in Mt. Pleasant that uses the arts to support the health and well being
of people and communities. We offer mixed media workshops and ongoing
groups to underserved and institutionalized populations, after-school
programs, community and senior centers, nonprofit organizations, and to
the community at large.
Working with clay is fun, healing, and relaxing -- a welcome respite
from the stress of these difficult times. In the first session, Mt.
Pleasant potter Susanne Brander will teach you the fundamentals of hand
building and you'll have a chance to explore and express yourself with
clay. (You can see Susanne's pottery at the Columbia Heights Market on
Saturday mornings.) In the second session, she'll guide you through the
glazing process. ITA director Juliet Bruce will share some ideas on the
healing properties of color and facilitate a short story-writing session
based on your mask. These workshops offer a place to explore your
creativity in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment, without
requiring a big financial or time commitment. Space is limited for these
sessions. Please sign up early to reserve a place. For more information,
call 667-3766 or visit us at www.artsforlife.com.
Hope to see you there!
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CLASSIFIEDS — FREE
I have a window air conditioner that I no longer need. It came with
my house, so I don't know its age, however it does work. If you would
like it, please send me an E-mail. You will need to pick it up from my
house in Tenleytown (AU Park).
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CLASSIFIEDS — VOLUNTEERS
Strategic Fundraising Skills Needed by
Nonprofit
Sid Booth, SidBooth1@aol.com
Are you an experienced development specialist who would be willing to
volunteer your talent, for a few days at most, to help our small,
nonprofit organization design a fundraising plan? The ARRIBA Center, a
Community Based Organization in the District of Columbia that serves the
independent living needs of persons with physical and mental
disabilities, would appreciate professional advice regarding how to
frame and implement a strategy for fundraising.
Interested parties are invited to contact Dr. Cris Covelli, Executive
Director of the ARRIBA Center, at 667-3990.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
Halloween Costume Stores
Jon Katz, jon@markskatz.com
Please give me your recommendations for good Halloween costume (adult
size) or make-up stores in DC, Silver Spring, and the rest of the DC
area.
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I am looking for a reliable individual gardener or gardening firm to
prune, mulch, fertilize, and clean front and backyards of Kalorama
Triangle townhouse. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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