Blather Free themail
Dear Correspondents:
Thank you for sending so many informative and interesting postings
that I have a good excuse not to add my own opening message. I'll be
back, blathering as usual, on Sunday.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Glad to see themail back up, just in time to help save access to Rock
Creek Park. Too few people seem to be aware that there are four
proposals on the table right now concerning the future of this unique
national park. The complete plans can be read on the web site http://www.nps.gov/planning.
There is a public meeting to debate the plans on Thursday, May 22, at
UDC auditorium from 5:30-9:30 p.m. The most drastic of the plans,
alternatives C and D, would allow rush-hour commuting through the park
but completely close down three sections of Beach Drive to cars from
9:30-3:30 during weekdays (the same sections that are currently closed
on weekends.) Alternative A would initiate HOV restrictions during rush
hour and strict speed controls while keeping the road open to drivers
who wish to access the park. Alternative B is to continue current
management with no change.
I believe I could be considered an “apex” user of Rock Creek
Park. I have gone there practically every day for the past twenty years.
I hike or run all the trials, cross-country ski when I can, and walk my
dog there. I think the weekend closings of Beach Drive are one of the
best reasons to live here, and I roller-blade or bike there every week.
But shutting down these sections of the road during weekdays as proposed
in plan C and D is a classiest and elitist plan to restrict access to
this national park. For those who live in the bucolic green of upper
northwest neighborhoods it would be little trouble to circumvent the
proposed road closings. But those of us in the Columbia Heights, Mt.
Pleasant, or Georgia Avenue areas would be greatly restricted. The
southern section of the park is most available to us, and the lower part
of Beach Drive is the only way to access this area. Closing this section
would also eliminate access to the best trail for the elderly,
handicapped, and mobility impaired.
The only section of hiking trail that is flat and wide enough to
allow walking side by side (such as these people may require) is along
the horse trial on the west side of the creek on the lower section of
Beach Drive. While there is access to this trail from both ends when
Beach Drive is closed, there is a steep hill at the south end and two
small, but daunting enough, hills at the north end (Joyce/Military
Road). The only access to this wide level trail for the impaired is from
the small roadside parking area by the Rapids bridge. Closing Beach
Drive would prevent this access. This trail, being on the valley floor
alongside the creek is also the coolest, prettiest place in the summer,
and one of the few areas where I frequently see people, particularly
residents from east of the park, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the
only way to get to the park right now is by driving or biking. There is
no public transportation. This is no problem for those living nearby, or
for a young, healthy cyclist. But a mother in Columbia Heights is not
going to get on a bicycle with three young children and pedal two miles
to use the park, especially when the return trip is steeply uphill! All
east-west roads into the park are hills.
Rock Creek Park is a unique, precious and sadly underutilized
resource. It gives city dwellers the opportunity to incorporate a
wilderness interlude into daily urban life. I choose my bank, grocery
store, library, hardware store, etc., specifically in locations that
involve a trip across the park, thereby allowing me to stop off for a
hike along the way. But usage of the hiking trails is amazingly low. I
almost never see another person on the trails during the week and
remarkably few even on weekends. And while the weekend road closings
bring out a good crowd of skaters and cyclists on brilliant sunny days,
a little drizzle or a cold winter day and the road is virtually empty.
Who exactly are all these people who will be given exclusive access
every day? Don't most people work on workdays? Alternative A is by far
the best plan. It calls for HOV restrictions during rush hours and more
speed control all the time -- both long overdue, and both sufficient to
enhance the enjoyment of cyclists on the road. With only two lanes and
limited entry points, ticketing speeders on Rock Creek Drive should be a
piece of cake. Two cops, a radar gun, $100.00 fines and we can all enjoy
the park as it was meant to be.
There are other aspects to all the plans, and I urge everyone to
check them out and make your opinion clear. The National Park Service is
soliciting E-mail and letters. As usual in the oddly polarized passion
surrounding use of Rock Creek Park (i.e., Klingle Road) there are some
groups actively, and somewhat disingenuously, campaigning for their
positions, while others who may care as much but lack rabid
organization, risk losing out. If you care about keeping this National
Park, (which is supported by your tax dollars) open to everyone, please
study the proposals and make your voice heard.
###############
One public hearings on the Park Service's proposed management plans
was held yesterday (May 20), and another will be held tomorrow (May 22).
The Park Service favors a proposal that would close parts of Beach Drive
from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, the same sections presently
closed on weekends. Based on listening to testimony at the hearing, the
primary supporters of this proposal are environmental groups and
bicycling enthusiasts. Closing Beach Drive during daytime hours provides
no benefit to the vast majority of weekday bicyclists, since there is no
change during rush hour, when most cyclists would presumably by riding
to and from work. Environmental benefits are highly questionable as
well, since the cars won't disappear but rather be diverted, likely
producing more pollution since the alternate routes have far more
stoplights and stop and start traffic. In fact, it is unclear how this
proposal benefits anyone except perhaps for the class of cyclists who
don't work between 9:30 and 3:30. The logical conclusion is that this is
simply a ploy to eventually close Beach Drive all the time. In fact, Jim
McCarthy, who testified at the hearings yesterday on behalf of WABA,
admitted as much two years ago when responding to a WABA member who,
like myself, questioned the purpose of these weekday closures: http://www.waba.org/new/news/30310.php.
I sympathize with the desire for bicyclists to have a safe commuting
route through the park. I myself would become a bike commuter, since I
live in Mt. Pleasant and work in Silver Spring, if there were a
reasonable rush hour route. So why are they wasting everyone's time and
energy with this lame foot-in-the-door tactic? Let's focus instead on
meeting that need with alternatives that everyone can live with. There
are many possibilities that would address that need without dramatically
limiting access to Rock Creek Park by automobile, yet they aren't even
on the table. What about closing the reverse-commute lane during rush
hour to cars, reserving it for two-way bicycle traffic? What about
seriously looking at ways to complete the paved bike trail, such as
converting parts of a horse trail into a paved bike route? These are
just a couple ideas that might work to create safe bicycle routes for
commuters without closing the road to the majority of the city's
residents. Without any really practical proposals on the table now, the
only sensible thing to do is go with the “no action” alternative.
Let's move forward in creating good bike routes, but let's not hold the
park hostage with this backwards plan in order to meet this end.
###############
Utter Frustration with Parking Issues
Dennis A. Dinkel, d.dinkel@verizon.net
For any number of months now, on the southwest corner of 4th and E
Streets, SE, parked at a sign that says, “No Parking at Any Time,”
there have been cars parked bearing out-of-state license plates. There
is a car from North Carolina; and the last few weeks there has been a
car with Georgia plates. I have contacted the offices of the mayor, and
Council Members Schwartz, Brazil, Ambrose, Catania, and Mendelson. None
of these contacts has resulted in any action being taken in either
getting these cars ticketed or towed, or in turning the “No Parking”
space back to a parking space which can be used by all. Council Member
Mendelson asked an aide to look into the problem. He got details from me
— but for two weeks now, I have heard nothing. Council Member Ambrose
responded that they would check into the problem. Again, for two weeks,
nothing has happened. And the same for Council Member Catania. I have
heard positively nothing from the mayor or council members Schwartz or
Brazil. I presume they will not be as sanguine in a few years when they
solicit my vote, and I respond that they will hear nothing from me at
the ballot box.
A worker from the District, a Mr. Cartwright, did call me and, after
arguing with me for a half hour about whether I had said the 600 block
of E Street, SE, in my letter — which I had not, and was able to refer
him to the letter — then he became defensive and said that it was a
problem for enforcement and not the agency for which he worked. After I
told him I did not care whose problem it was, I just wanted a solution,
he promised to check into it — and, naturally, I have heard nothing. I
note — with, yes, a considerable degree of sarcasm — that it surely
is nice to be an owner of a car from North Carolina or Georgia and have
a reserved spot on the car-congested streets of Capitol Hill, and be
able to park in a “No Parking” spot with impunity. I watched for the
past weekend: at no time were those cars ever moved. They sat there the
entire time. Nothing was done. And despite all my entreaties, nothing is
being done by our overpaid, underworked, worthless city council and
mayor. I hope they remember this the next election cycle. Trust me: I
certainly will. Promises of action are just that: promises. Unless
action is taken, they are merely the wind of another politician, blowing
aimlessly and — as with Shakespeare's idiot — signifying nothing.
###############
News About the DC World War Memorial in West
Potomac Park
Mark David Richards, Dupont East, mark@bisconti.com
Last year about this time I unraveled the long forgotten history of
the District of Columbia World War Memorial, the only DC-specific
memorial on the National Mall (see http://www.dcwatch.com/richards/020526.htm).
The Veterans Committee of Stand Up for Democracy in DC organized an
event with other DC democracy groups on Memorial Day calling for full
and equal political rights for DC residents and restoration of the
neglected Peristyle Doric Temple that was built to memorialize local
heroes who served the nation in World War One. Tom Sherwood and I
co-authored an op-ed in The Washington Post, titled
“Responsibilities without Rights,” describing the history and the
event.
Since that time, the National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that it is
responsible for upkeep of both the grounds and the structure. There has
been no major work on the DC World War Memorial for thirty years. Thanks
to two NPS employees who have taken a personal interest, the NPS
repointed the base of the memorial and is testing a new lighting system
in the inside dome, connected to the original timer in the floor. But
the memorial still needs to be moved up in priority. It needs a complete
structural evaluation, complete repointing, cleaning of the white
Vermont marble that is badly stained, and signage. Earlier this month,
to draw attention to the site significance, the DC Preservation League
added the DC World War Memorial (along with the National Mall) to number
nine on its 2003 Ten Most Endangered Places list. (The mayor was
supposed to attend the event but it was announced that he was dining
with George Bush at the time.) Last week another loyal group of memorial
enthusiasts, the DC War Memorial and May Day Corporation, held its 68th
annual commemorative observance. It is good to see a growing number of
friends of the memorial. We can hope that one day soon this gemstone in
the crown of local DC memorial architecture will be restored to its
original glory and that DC veterans will one day return from service in
the armed forces to find they are no longer third class citizens, but
have full and equal political rights.
###############
Tudor Place, the house at Q and 31st Streets in Georgetown, held a
fundraising party last night, and the overflow parking jammed up the
rush hour traffic in the neighborhood all night. They rented the parking
lot of the Chevy Chase bank, but the valet parking service they hired
seemed to do more harm than good. I saw Q Street blocked repeatedly
while they moved cars in and out. The city does nothing to control such
affairs, and Tutor Place feels like it's entitled to behave this way.
###############
Where’s the Steam?
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
On my normal early a.m. constitutional up Massachusetts Avenue to
Westmoreland Hills I always pass right by Bagel City on Mass. Ave. and
49th Street, NW. Up until several months ago there was always a lot of
condensed steam on the inside of the cafe's large windows. The steam
came from the large bagel boiler operated by a little man getting fresh
bagels ready for that day. No more steam means no more bagels boiled and
baked on site at Bagel City.
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What’s the Real Deal with the Proposed PSA
Redistricting?
Cary Silverman, csilverman@anc2f.org
As many of you may know, there is a move to drastically change the
PSA lines and number of PSAs around the city. The current plan would
drastically cut the number of PSAs citywide. Supposedly, this will
increase manpower and the flexibility of deployments. My instinct and
logic tells me otherwise. It seems to be a convenient way to (further)
reduce the need to find, train, and pay qualified PSA Lieutenants. Chief
Ramsey admitted as much in an article that appeared in The Current.
The proposed plan is also supposedly an attempt to redraw PSA lines
to better conform to community boundaries. I think that is a positive
goal, and that there is room for improvement in that area. And, if, in
accomplishing this there is a slight net reduction in the number of PSAs,
I would certainly not protest -- though a goal in any redistricting
should be to roughly keep the current number of PSAs. The current
proposal, however, opts to use the arbitrary Cluster boundaries rather
than ANC or community organization lines. Hardly an improvement in
defining neighborhoods, extraordinarily successful in reducing the
number of PSAs.
The result in my area, for example, is that Logan Circle would fall
within new PSA 306 — which would extend from 15th Street as far east
as New Jersey Avenue! (We currently are within PSAs 309, 310, and 313,
staffed by two excellent Lieutenants.). Can you imagine having to share
one PSA Lieutenant with this wide an area? “Community policing” and
the personal relationships that the PSA system allows to develop would
be a thing of the past. I'm very skeptical for the motivation for such a
drastic change to the PSA system, something that I think has worked
well, at least for us. As they say, “if it ain't broke, don't fix
it.” I tend to think that this is a way to save money and shift police
deployments from residential areas to other places in the District. Why
not just make the city one big PSA and let the Chief do whatever he
wants? Am I missing something?
###############
Fire Ramsey Now and FOP and Chief Ramsey (May
19, 2003)
S. Henery, She741@aol.com
Law enforcement certainly doesn't seem to be Chief Ramsey's forte;
public relations is. Ramsey is a “spin doctor,” who can spin a tale
quicker than you and I can blink. While crime continues to soar in the
city, we have to listen to his redundant rhetoric and never get any
solid answers to questions, much less solutions to safety issues.
Perhaps that is the reason he balked at having performance measures in
his contract.
The fact that he was even offered a new employment contract is an
“assault” on the intelligence of taxpayers.
###############
Most of the problems DC has with our over paid police are because
that they can barely read or write. Result: no police reports unless
they're absolutely required.
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Sign the Petition Opposing Chief Ramsey’s
$25,000 Raise
John Aravosis, John@SafeStreetsDC.com
Please sign a new petition opposing Chief Ramsey's proposed $25,000
raise that the city can't afford, and the Chief doesn't deserve. At a
time when DC is being forced to cut budgets for senior centers and
libraries -- and salaries for other cops -- and when violent crime
continues to rise and DC has just again been named the "Murder
Capital" of the US, increasing Chief Ramsey's salary to $175,000 a
year is simply inappropriate. The raise won't become law unless a
majority of the city council approves it. Numerous city council members
have already spoken out in opposition to the raise, but they need to
hear from you to convince a majority to oppose this outrageous raise
before it's too late. They could vote on it any day now. Please visit
this Web site and sign the petition opposing Chief Ramsey's raise: http://www.safestreetsdc.com/petition.html.
Then use the contact information for the city council at the bottom
of the same page to call and E-mail your city council members (and be
sure to pass this E-mail to others). When signing the petition, you can
add your own personal comments about Chief Ramsey and his pay raise.
Thanks so much. You'd be amazed at what people are saying about the
Chief — the signatories are from all over the city, every ward, and
it's a pretty telling collection of comments. I've posted a number of
the comments here: http://www.safestreetsdc.com/subpages/speakout.html.
###############
In reply to Karen Alston's question whether there has been any
success in fighting the sale of single bottles of liquor: In Mount
Pleasant, the ANC was successful in having the ABC Board ban the sale of
single beers within the neighborhood. This has been in effect for the
past three years, and in the opinion of many (including me) it has
reduced, though hardly eliminated, public drinking in the neighborhood.
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St. Coletta’s Controversy a No-Brainer
Tim Siegel, Takoma Park, MD, timsiegel@earthlink.net
DC is desperately in need of a local topnotch school for handicapped
District children now. The feds, not DC taxpayers, have committed at
least $15 million toward construction. St. Coletta's has secured
additional millions of dollars in additional commitments to fund
construction for this school for District children. The City has
essentially turned over the raw land for this school for District
children, recognizing that the City has failed in adequately educating
these kids. District children attending St. Coletta's in DC will see
their commuting time cut in half. Yes, the community surrounding the
school was probably not adequately informed. (But neighbors and
competing uses are typically not when trying to acquire and build
something urgently.) Yes, St. Coletta's tuition is high, but their
quality is clearly of a level the District should incorporate, if not
import. If we're keeping the children! most in mind, then helping create
this model school for DC children in DC would seem a no-brainer.
###############
Stop Signs and Stops on the Hill
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com
Christopher Koppel wrote about the problems at 7th and E Streets, SE,
and the many drivers who don't stop. We on 5th Street, SE (between
Seward and Independence), have also fought this for years. We were able
through Phil Mendelson's office (another public thank you) to get new
stop signs and crosswalk marks put in. Especially at Independence, it is
taking one's life in hand to try to cross on foot or to go through the
intersection in a vehicle. I agree, Christopher: the District could make
a ton o' money by being there and issuing tickets. I'd be glad to help!
###############
Although Mark Eckenwiler's Constitutional Law Refresher was
informative, it drew a false analogy with respect to the evidentiary
value of fingerprints and bank surveillance cameras. The real problem
with the red light cameras is that they record vehicles, but cite owners
— owners who may not be the one driving the vehicle at the moment.
Fingerprinting and bank cameras identify the individual directly and are
thus a more reliable indicator of guilt (or at least identity). With the
District's system, an owner must somehow prove that he or she was not
the driver at the time the picture is snapped to avoid the penalty.
Here, the burden is unfairly placed on the defendant. In any other
context, simply identifying a vehicle allegedly used during a misdeed
would constitute circumstantial evidence that would be damaging, yet
would not shift the burden to an owner to prove his or her innocence.
Red light camera evidence, however, is treated as proof until a
defendant establishes otherwise. Unfortunately, it appears that in the
interest of making money, the city allows a much lower standard of proof
in prosecuting red light infractions than it does in cases where an
officer issues an infraction directly. The red light camera standard
says, in effect, “it's more likely than not that you were the driver
at the time of the infraction,” but a live officer could not get away
with such testimony. Imagine if an officer said, “well I'm not sure it
was the blue car speeding, but its more likely than not that it was.”
That officer and the ticket he wrote would be laughed out of traffic
court.
###############
Red-Light District
Mark Eckenwiler, themale@ingot.org
As somebody who can't leave bad enough alone, I feel obliged to reply
to Gary's comments on my last themail post on (heaves sigh) red-light
cameras. Gary wrote, “Owen [sic] Kerr did make the point about civil,
rather than criminal penalties, in the Volokh Conspiracy (http://volokh.blogspot.com),
but at the same time he said that a legal challenge to DC's red-light
camera program could be successful.” In fact, what Orin wrote was that
challenging the law is “very much of an uphill climb. Not completely
impossible, but an uphill climb.” Orin was being generous to say even
that. The owner of the Volokh Conspiracy blog — noted constitutional
law scholar Eugene Volokh — has opined that the cameras are
constitutional even in imposing criminal penalties. See http://www1.law.ucla.edu/~volokh/cameras.htm.
(Volokh, of course, has a marked libertarian streak — see his
extensive Second Amendment writings, for instance — so his essay is
especially noteworthy.) themail's readers will also appreciate the ease
with which he dismisses nonlegal objections such as the “just lengthen
the yellow signal” canard.
I've looked at what Gary calls the “convincing argument” in the
Ruffin and Bradshaw class action, and have only two comments: 1) it's
really arguing on the basis of DC law, not the Bill of Rights, and 2)
insofar as Ruffin and Bradshaw do stray into actual Con Law, I'll put my
money on Eugene Volokh instead any day of the week.
[I think we've exhausted the red-light camera issue for a little
while. Unless there's a new angle, let's lay off of it until there's
another development. — Gary Imhoff]
###############
I am curious which dog park Christopher Koppel is referring to in his
recent post about quality of life issues. As I understand it, there are
no city sanctioned dog parks in DC, and further, the city leash law
applies to all public space. Are there private dog parks in DC? I do
know of parks that some people refer to as dog parks. Others, including
the Department of Recreation, do not refer to them as dog parks. One
such park, Mitchell Park, was assigned to my son's t-ball team last year
by the DC Department of Recreation. Despite numerous signs posted by the
Department of Recreation that state that dogs must be on a leash at all
times, dogs ran free. Every Saturday we had to remove numerous piles of
dog waste from a designated baseball field before we could begin
baseball play. We also had to contend with dog owners who refused to
leash their dogs, despite the presence of kids playing baseball (who had
the field reserved for their use). Needless to say, more than once a dog
chased and captured the baseball. We also had dogs that chased kids.
Adults with the t-ball team were on more than one occasion threatened by
dog owners who insisted that despite the posted signs prohibiting
unleashed dogs, the park belonged to them and the dogs.
As a parent with two children, outdoor opportunities for my kids to
play is very important. While I appreciate pets (I take care of a dog a
few times a year), it drastically decreases my family's quality of life,
to paraphrase Mr. Koppel, when a public park designed for people and
limited pet use is expropriated by a group of people as their own for a
limited use. If there is not a private dog park in DC, I would suggest
that dog owners who claim to be taking care of their animals buy land
and establish a private dog park with appropriate requirements for
socialization training for dogs. One further DC experience of mine —
once kids let loose a pit bull in front of my house to chase my
neighbor's cat. The pit bull caught the cat and injured it enough that
it was put to sleep. The police officer who came said the cat should
have been on a leash.
###############
Holiday Trash Collection Schedule
Mary L. Myers, Department of Public Works, mary.myers@dc.gov
In observance of Memorial Day, there will be no DPW parking
enforcement, street sweeping or trash and recycling service on Monday,
May 26. Once-weekly supercan trash collection and recycling collection
will slide one day for the remainder of the week, beginning Tuesday, May
27. Neighborhoods that normally receive twice-weekly trash service will
see their first collection slide one day, with normal collections for
the remainder of the week. DPW's schedule for the remainder of the week
will be as follows: Tuesday, May 27: Supercan neighborhoods: Monday's
scheduled trash and recycling will be collected, Tuesday's scheduled
collections will slide to the next collection day. Twice-weekly
neighborhoods: Monday's scheduled trash collected, regular street
sweeping schedule and parking enforcement. Wednesday, May 28: Supercan
neighborhoods: Tuesday's scheduled trash and recycling will be
collected. Twice-weekly neighborhoods: Tuesday's scheduled trash
collected, regular street sweeping schedule and parking enforcement.
Thursday, May 29: Supercan neighborhoods: Wednesday's trash and
recycling will be collected. Twice-weekly neighborhoods: regular
Thursday trash and recycling collection, regular street sweeping
schedule and parking enforcement. Friday, May 30: Supercan
neighborhoods: Thursday's scheduled trash and recycling will be
collected. Twice-weekly neighborhoods: regular trash and recycling
collection, regular street sweeping schedule and parking enforcement.
Saturday, May 31: Supercan neighborhoods: Friday's trash and recycling
will be collected.
###############
This is to advise that the May 2003 on-line edition has been uploaded
and may be accessed at http://www.intowner.com.
Included are the lead stories, community news items and crime reports,
editorials (including prior months' archived), restaurant reviews (prior
months' also archived), and the text from the ever-popular “Scenes
from the Past” feature. Also included are all current classified ads.
The complete issue (along with prior issues back to January 2002) also
is available in PDF file format by direct access from our home page at
no charge simply by clicking the link provided. Here you will be able to
view the entire issue as it looks in print, including the new ABC Board
actions report, all photos and advertisements. The next issue will
publish on June 13. The complete PDF version will be posted by early
that Friday morning, following which the text of the lead stories,
community news, and selected features will be uploaded shortly
thereafter.
To read this month's lead stories, simply click the link on the home
page to the following headlines: 1) “Major Projects Launching in
Columbia Heights;” 2) “Current Tenants May Foil Notre Dame's Dorm
Plan for Building it Seeks to Buy Near Dupont Circle”; 3)
“Preservation Board OKs Disputed Landmarking — Decision as Well as
Procedures Questioned.”
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Remembering Sepharad: Jewish Culture in
Medieval Spain
Elana Newberger, museumassit@bnaibrith.org
This exhibit offers a riveting visual narrative of Jewish life during
Spain's medieval period, a time of great culture and scholarship, as
well as harmony and religious tolerance, among Jews, Christians, and
Muslims. On display will be exhibits of ceremonial life, scientific
texts, and treasures gathered from Spain's national museums. The
curatorial team has woven together material evidence linking the many
facets of Jewish life in Spain. Previously held in Toledo, Spain, the
exhibition has its only North American showing at the Washington
National Cathedral.
Sepharad is the name that Jews gave to Spain in medieval times. Over
the centuries, the Jewish communities in exile who settled in Spain
experienced a significant cultural blossoming, so much so that Spanish
Jews, known as Sephardim, became synonymous with culture among all the
people of Israel dispersed throughout the world. The Jews living in
Spain formed an inextricable part of Spanish history. Jews and Spaniards
mutually benefited each other, creating a tremendous link that led to
intellectual growth in both groups. At the Washington National
Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW, continuing through
June 8. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For logistical information, please
contact Steven Gotfried, Media Relations Manager, Washington National
Cathedral at 537-6248. For information on artifacts featured in the
exhibit, please contact Juan Sell, Counselor, Embassy of Spain, at
728-2367. For information on Sephardic culture and history, please
contact Jay Garfinkel, Director of Communications, B'nai B'rith
International, at 857-6677.
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Healthier Kids: The Impact of School Policies and Programs on Student
Health, June 3, 10:00 am - 2:00 p.m., Children’s National Medical
Center. The forum features panels on childhood obesity, the school
health program and violence in schools as a public health issue. A
question and answer period will follow the panel presentations. A
registration form is available by fax and E-mail; contact DC ACT,
234-9404. The fee covers materials, continental breakfast, and lunch.
Registration deadline is May 27. More information is available from
Frankeena Wright, Health Policy Coordinator, fwright@dckids.org,
234-9404.
###############
Jim Hightower at PEER’s 10th Anniversary
Celebration, Lincoln Theater, June 12
Mark Davis, mdavis@peer.org
Author, humorist, and populist activist Jim Hightower will headline
the 10th Anniversary Celebration for Public Employees for Environmental
Responsibility (PEER) on June 12 at the Lincoln Theater, 1215 U Street,
NW. The main event will begin at 8:00 p.m., with a VIP reception at 6:30
p.m. Tickets are $20 for the main event and $50 with the VIP reception.
PEER is the nation's only watchdog organization dedicated to
defending public servants who raise environmental issues. Other guests
include Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Congress's staunchest defender
of government whistle blowers, who will introduce former public
employees who will share their personal stories of courage under fire.
For more information and to order tickets, please call PEER at 265-7337
or E-mail Info@peer.org.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HELP WANTED
Gardening assistance needed ten hours a week -- planting,
transplanting, weeding, compost, mulch. Flexible hours, NW Washington,
near bus but not near Metro. Respond to ExpresDesign@starpower.net.
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CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING
Summer rooms in Crestwood townhouse available June 1 through Labor
Day for one or two responsible, nonsmoking grad student(s), intern(s) or
professional(s). Safe, quiet neighborhood; 16th Street bus stop at the
corner, Metro a few blocks away. Furnished two-room suite $850/month;
single BR $675/month. Call 726-4896 or E-mail newleasonlife@juno.com.
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Summer House Rental
E. James Lieberman ejl AT gwu DOT gwu
Three-bedroom townhouse near Wisconsin and Porter, NW. June through
August. Call Linda, 244-7895.
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CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
American Push Reel lawn mower, great condition, approximately three
years old. $50.00 or best offer. Contact rkelley@asprs.org.
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CLASSIFIEDS — WANTED
Piano and Car Stereo Wanted
Phil Greene, pgreene@doc.gov
Wanted, a good quality used piano, preferably baby grand or upright.
Also wanted, a good quality used car am-fm-cd player, in dash model.
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CLASSIFIEDS — JOB TRAINING
The ARRIBA Center for Independent Living is committed to serving the
minority and the Hispanic-Latino population in the District of Colombia
by providing work skills training to clients who have suffered loss of
limbs, or the ability to: walk, see, or hear. The services of the ARRIBA
Center are provided by professionally trained staff, some with
disabilities who have achieved complete self-sufficiency and who serve
as role models to our clients. Clients learn the necessary life and work
readiness skills needed to obtain and maintain gainful employment, which
ensures economic self-sufficiency and reduces dependency on the welfare
system.
The ARRIBA Center will deliver a twelve-week training program four
times a year for clients between the ages of 14 and 65. The training is
provided free of charge due to a grant received from the Executive
Office of the Mayor, District of Colombia, Office of Latino Affairs (OLA).
For more information, call Dr. Cristobal Covelli at the ARRIBA Center,
at 667-3990.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
Sophisticated Plumbing Services Needed
Stephen E. Levy, slevy@kalorama.com
After years of having my basement drain backup and flood, I have
decided to take action. Does anyone know a reliable plumbing service
that can perform drain scans, install a multi-layer drain screen, and
clear a seriously clogged drain?
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