themail.gif (3487 bytes)

June 7, 2009

No Rooms at the Inns

Dear Bill Payers:

Nikita Stewart and Tim Craig broke the news in Thursday’s Post about the Fenty administration’s plan to float bonds and borrow at least $750,000,000 to finance a convention center hotel (“DC Weighs Bonds for Convention Center Hotel,” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060302867.html). After all, if there’s a shortage of anything in this town, it’s a shortage of hotel rooms. We’re about as lacking in hotel rooms as we are of lawyers. And we can be assured that the $750,000,000 figure will be an absolute cap, and that additional expenses will be well hidden in other parts of the government’s budget and never acknowledged. It’s another budget busting outrage that rivals and may outdo the baseball stadium scam of taxpayers, with the added benefit that it will break straight through DC’s debt cap on borrowing. The solution, of course, will be to amend the law to raise the debt cap, at the cost of ruining DC’s credit rating with Wall Street. But who cares, except all those NIMBY’s and nay-sayers who don’t understand why it shouldn’t be government’s business to enrich the wealthiest corporations in town.

The bill, the “New Convention Center Hotel Amendments Act of 2009,” Bill 18-310, is posted on the city council’s web site, http://www.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20090603141210.pdf, but the mayor’s cover letter for the bill is not online. Here are the two paragraphs of that letter that will be the core of the administration’s argument for this new giveaway: “This legislation would authorize the Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) to develop, construct, own, operate, and maintain the new convention center hotel (‘Hotel’) at the intersection of 9th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. The legislation authorizes the WCCA [Washington Convention Center Authority] to issue bonds for this purpose, establishes a non-lapsing New Convention Center TIF Fund, and authorizes and approves the negotiation and execution of certain documents with Quadrangle Development Corporation for the development, construction and equipping of the Hotel and with Marriott Hotel Services, Inc. to manage and operate the Hotel.

“This legislation will bring both immediacy and certainty to the development of the Hotel. Due to the conditions of the financial markets, the developer was not able to secure the financing it needs to own and operate the Hotel as originally planned, nor has it been able to state with any certainty when it may be able to secure that financing. It is critical for the continued success of WCCA, and the economic benefits the city derives from it, that the Hotel be opened as soon as possible. With passage of this legislation, WCCA will be able to go to the bond market immediately, maintain in place the present development and hotel operator team, and maintain the present schedule for construction of the Hotel.” Capitalism is dead; long live the government enterprise economy.

Food and restaurants are covered often enough in themail to require pointing out a new source of restaurant criticism. I listed a number of online sources a couple years ago, http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2007/07-08-08.htm, but the Fearless Critic book and web site are a worthy addition to the list, even though they aren’t free. The book itself is available in bookstores, with a list price of $15.95, and the web site (http://dc.fearlesscritic.com) charges ten dollars a year for a subscription.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

###############

The Best Times of My Life on the Streets of DC
Bill Welebir, www925@sccoast.net

My Name is Bill Welebir. I was born and raised in Washington, DC. Back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, I worked for detectives out of what was then the 3rd District Headquarters vice unit, on 23rd and M Streets, I think.

Well, I’m old and terminally ill now and thinking back on the best times that I had back then. They were going out and beating the streets of Georgetown and northwest in search of marijuana and other illegal substances. Naturally, it was nothing like it has become over the years. We didn’t have to worry about guns and big money, just about cleaning up the streets.

Those were the days. They’ll never come again. I just wanted to express my thanks and support for all you guys in the MPDC. Although I live hundreds of miles away from what was my home back then, I’ll never forget you all.

###############

The Washington Teacher Faces Reprisal
Candi Peterson, saveourcounselors@gmail.com

Being the author of The Washington Teacher blog has its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages are especially in the workplace. As I once testified before the DC city council, DC Public Schools have historically been a punitive place in which to work. Today, fear of retaliation is rampant in our schools. Due to this, it is understandable why many teachers and related school personnel often look the other way when illegal or inappropriate misconduct or ethical violations occur, especially when it involves school administrators. Failure to adhere to this “honor amongst thieves” mentality, will likely leave you ostracized, intimidated, threatened, excessed, placed on a 90-day plan, given the worst school assignment, or even fired .

Blogging about DC’s departing principals landed me a special visit on June 3 from DC’s instructional superintendent, Dr. Barbara Adderley. A little after 3:00 p.m., an announcement was made on our school loud speaker that I should meet our departing principal at Garfield Elementary School in her office. I quickly obliged this request to go to the principal’s second floor office to meet with her about what I thought was a work-related matter. To my surprise, there was a woman sitting in one of the chairs in the principal’s office who indicated in response to my inquiry that she did not know where the principal was. I thought to myself that it was odd that the principal had left this lady in her office unattended. I followed up by going to the main level to locate the principal. When I did, I questioned if she wanted to meet with me and was told yes by her. She motioned me back to her office and promptly closed the door, with the unknown woman still sitting in her office. I now understand that this meeting was held because of to my writing the “DC Principal Shuffle.” Initially, the principal began a question and answer session about my blog. She queried whether my blog was somehow affiliated with The Washington Post, and was unaware of the name of my blog. At one point, Dr. Adderley chimed in, “Do you know who I am?” I responded a resounding “No,” because this was my first time meeting her. Dr. Adderley took over the meeting, seemingly with the approval of the school administrator. Questions came in rapid succession from Dr. Adderley, and she seemed particularly curious about how I had written a piece on “Departing Principals.” She stated I had not confirmed the accuracy of my story with either her or Garfield’s departing principal. When I would not name my sources for the story, Adderley suggested that the only other person who could have informed me was Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Rheely, I thought to myself, how interesting?

In my view, this meeting quickly deteriorated into a browbeating and intimidation session of which I was at first an unsuspecting participant. When I realized that I had become entangled in this kangaroo court somehow, I quickly announced to both administrators that I would not continue this discussion without a representative. After all, I added that our principal had her own representative in Dr. Adderley. Dr. Adderley looked perplexed, and made it clear that as the administrator she would have the final say whether the meeting ended or not. My response was emphatic that while I may not control whether the meeting ended, I would not be speaking any further on this issue and that Adderley would be talking to herself. Of course, she ended the meeting subsequent to this. This meeting reminded me of a similar meeting called by Chancellor Rhee last school year on March 6. I was summoned to the Chancellor’s office on what I was advised was a work related matter. Of course, I made the choice to take two representatives with me. I believe that this meeting was called because of my political activism, participation at a city council hearing, and a rally to protest school closures. Later I captured this experience in an article titled “Political Activism Gets a Thumbs Down From Chancellor Rhee,” themail, March 9, 2008.

Both of these personal experiences within DC Schools got me to thinking that these acts by Adderley and Rhee constitute an abuse of power. As much as I hate to say it, this is the reality in our schools. This reality is the reason we have some employees who choose to please their bosses even at the expense of our students while others choose to do what is right at the risk of displeasure from their bosses and the possibility of facing consequences and repercussions as a result. Someone like Adderley, who makes the choice to abuse her power, makes me question, whether this is the type of manager we want to lead us in this new era of reform.

###############

Nour, Part 6
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com

I’ve written five times about Mayor Fenty’s nomination of his personal friend and running and cycling buddy Omar Nour to be a member of the Board of Elections and Ethics (themail, February 15, February 18, February 22, May 6, and May 13). Nour testified at his confirmation hearing before Councilmember Mary Cheh’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment on May 13 and, because of the irregularities with the scheduling of that hearing that I wrote about, the hearing was continued until June 1 for further testimony.

In my testimony on June 1, I said that Nour was not qualified to be a member of the BOEE. First, he has no previous background in, experience with, or interest in elections or election issues, as he readily admitted in his testimony before Ms. Cheh. In fact, he testified that he had no previous involvement in community affairs at all; he’s starting that involvement at the top, with one of the most prestigious and important Boards in the government. He first registered to vote in 2005, and at age thirty he has only voted in one election, last year’s presidential election. Ms. Cheh, though, said that she was impressed by Nour’s testimony, and that he was a “quick study” on election matters. He should be; in his testimony he said that he had already met “numerous times” with David Zvenyach, Cheh’s chief of staff, to speak about the position and election issues, and he has bagged to friends, the executive office of the mayor, and to BOEE staffers that he would be confirmed because he was being “coached” by Zvenyach. Zvenyach’s job, of course, would be to brief Cheh prior to the hearing and to prepare written questions for her to ask the nominee at his confirmation hearing.

More importantly, Nour confirmed in his testimony that he had a “social relationship” with the mayor. He confirmed that he had been a financial contributor to the mayor’s 2010 reelection campaign; a company that Nour co-owns with his brother gave the campaign $1795. He did not mention, since the issue was not raised, that even after his nomination to the BOEE he had accepted gifts and favors from the mayor, such as free baseball tickets. (Mark Segraves’ May 19 story, “Fenty Doles Out Nats Tickets to Friends, Contributors,” http://www.wtop.com/?nid=596&sid=1678891, lists both Nour and his brother, Diaa Nour, as recipients of tickets in the mayor’s skybox at Nationals Stadium.) Nor did he mention that he has been putting out feelers with the District government and even with the staff of the BOEE itself about getting contracts for his company. There has to be a strict firewall between members of the Board of Elections and elected officials; there cannot be any suspicion of favoritism or bias. But when Ms. Cheh asked Nour after his testimony whether, in light of his ties to Mayor Fenty, he would recuse himself from any issues involving the mayor personally, Nour would not commit himself. He said, “The way I see it is that my number one allegiance is to the position. At the end of the day, the decision is mine and the Board’s.” Of course, even a commitment to recuse himself in cases directly involving the mayor would not be sufficient to give an impression of impartiality, since the mayor will have an interest in almost every issue or individual that appears before the Board. The fact that Nour is so entangled with the mayor as a friend and supporter will give the appearance that every decision reached by the Board is tainted. But his refusal to commit to recusing himself even from cases that directly involve the mayor should disqualify him from consideration.

###############

Apps for Democracy Winners Announced
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

This is how government is supposed to work — challenging community members to rise to the occasion and honoring those who do. In this regard, Shireen Mitchell and Jill Foster were recently chosen as winners of the Social Citizen Award in the Apps for Democracy contest held by the DC government. (see http://tinyurl.com/lrujvc). For many years Shireeen Mitchell has been working to bring technology empowerment to youth, particularly young women of color, here in DC. Along with her local work, Shireen has done national work in this field and is widely known in other cities around the country. Jill Foster is one of the founders of DC Media Makers, a no-dues group for people interested in using video and social media on the web. DC Media Makers has free monthly meetings at National Public Radio and hosts a free YahooGroup E-mail list, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcmediamakers Newcomers to media making are welcome at these meetings.

Congrats to both Shireen and Jill for their leadership and initiative. You can continue learning from them by following them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/digitalsista and http://twitter.com/jillfoster

###############

Youth in Transition Program
Robert Ridley, rridley@efa.org

The Epilepsy Foundation Metropolitan Washington offers an array of programs and services to people with epilepsy in the Metropolitan Washington area, including: school, business and community education forums and conferences; epilepsy camp scholarships; advocacy training; support groups; case management for transitioning youth; and referrals to community partners for epilepsy diagnostic screenings, continuous treatment, and other related services.

The Epilepsy Foundation Youth in Transition Program is funded by District of Columbia Department of Health. The Youth in Transition Program will provide transition services to sixty District of Columbia youth with epilepsy from ages 12-19. Program activities include involving parents/family in the decision making process and training activities, promoting high standards of academic achievement, locating physicians that specialize in epilepsy treatment, ensuring early and continuous health care screenings, providing quality extracurricular support, expanding leadership opportunities, and attending monthly support groups.

To get more information or enroll in the Youth in Transition Program, please contact Robert Ridley, Director of Transition Services with the Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan Washington, at 301-918-2121; rridley@efa.org. Space is limited so don’t delay!

###############

Twitter Tip: Leave the Punctuation Out of Your Profile
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com

So you’ve heard about this web service called Twitter and you decided to sign up for an account to see what all the fuss is about? Here’s a friendly tip in filling out your Twitter profile: http://tinyurl.com/oll4x6

Yes, Twitter’s value is not clearly apparent when you’re new to the service. To get up to speed quickly find yourself a Twitter buddy to show you the ropes or read the excellent new book, The Twitter Book, by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein. Even better, do both. This screencast by educator Liz Davis, “Getting Started With Twitter,” does a fine job, too: http://lizbdavis.blip.tv/file/614017/

###############

Changing Paradigms
Michael Bindner, mikeybdc@yahoo.com

I have not always supported gay marriage, always assuming that what I had been taught on the subject was correct. What changed my mind was the existence of evidence that homosexuality is innate, not preferential. To put it more “religiously,” God made gays that way. If sexuality is a gift of God and sexual expression is a right which comes from that gift, who are we to argue with God that gay folks should have the full benefit of sexuality? Also, the fact that my younger brother came out had an effect, although I had already made up my mind on the issue before that. If homosexuality was created by God and is not going away, then encouraging gay monogamy by celebrating gay weddings seems like a natural and very conservative next step. St. Paul could not have known any of these things when advising his parish communities in the first century. If he had known about the biology of homosexuality, he might have taught different things. As it was, he was not a big fan of sex at all, since he believed that the world was about to end. People were advised to get married only if they could not stay chaste without it. As far as I know, the world is not ending anytime soon.

As for natural law arguments about childbearing — any couple can raise a child. While producing them is important, sometimes gay people who were married before have kids and the gay parent is the preferable guardian. In those cases, would you rather have a parent who has a series of relationships or a permanent spouse? Seems like a no-brainer to me. Also, Catholic natural law theory regarding marriage does not seem to interfere with canonically sanctioned marriage between people who, due to advanced age, cannot have a child. If the natural law rule was controlling, only fertile people could be married in the Church. Since it does not control in those cases, it cannot be a bar to celebrating gay marriage either.

###############

Marriage Equality
Malcolm Wiseman, mal@wiseman.ws

The question is whether government should dispense benefits to one group of citizens versus another based on sex (or location) alone. Whether the government “recognizes” or “does not recognize” a gay couple as a familial entity changes their whole life (style), on top of their already daily dealing with imperious society.

Non-recognition, a definition by lack of definition, puts gay couples in a large class of jerks, those who give and pay the same as the rest in the crowd, but get shafted, relegated, and treated to underclass citizenship. I’ll say it again: “We don’t want your kind getting married” is the same oppression as “DC, you’re too (black, brown, Democratic, or whatever) to be a state.” All we need is Golden Rule government.

Richard Urban wrote [themail, June 3], “The idea by Malcolm Wiseman [themail, May 31] that marriage should not have a religious or historical context is absolutely false.” In fact, Mr. Urban, I urged in my post just the opposite, that marriage should have religious context. Civil union should not.

###############

Demand a Referendum on the Definition of Marriage in the Nation’s Capital
K. West, KAP8082@aol.com

One of the most important institutions in the world is marriage and the family. Some believe marriage is defined and honored by a higher power, but in any case the definition of marriage is significant to all citizens. Historically it was viewed as a way to bring a man and a woman together for the purposes of raising a family and to provide benefits to support the family. In some cultures, it brought together one man and more than one woman, but that was outlawed in the United States. Marriage was seen as more of a way of protecting children than of serving adult interests. The institution still remains highly regarded, though for whatever reasons maybe less engaged. Marriage is traditionally defined as the union between a man and a woman, and many in the District of Columbia believe it should stay that way, regardless of what a handful of politicians push through the political process and regardless of how a special group tries to galvanize the ward Democratic Committee straw polls. Note that the Ward 1 Dems hasn’t had a meeting in at least a year, but it plans to hold one for this straw poll. This is suspect and quite a coincidence, when the chair of the Ward 1 Dems works in the office of the openly gay Ward 1 councilmember. By the way, how many Ward Democratic Chairs or other DC Democratic State Committee members work in councilmembers’ offices or the office of the mayor? It is conceivable, though probably rare, that one’s work situation might pose a conflict of interest between the needs of the Democratic Party and the voters and one’s boss.

Drastically changing the definition of marriage should require input from the citizens. However, elected officials of the Council of the District of Columbia and the mayor are denying the citizens of the nation’s capital an opportunity to speak to any changes to the DC law. Our elected leaders should insist on a referendum or initiative instead of voting without a hearing and burying the same sex marriage recognition language in the “Disclosure to the United States District Court Amendment Act of 2009.” How many residents knew that was about same-sex marriage until the ministers’ protests brought it to our intention? The debate on same-sex marriage centers around three arguments: marriage equality, civil rights, and human rights. There are about nineteen protected groups against hate and the homeless are about to be added. On that basis, some elected officials and proponents of same-sex marriage feel that citizens of the District of Columbia have no right to have a say on the matter; therefore voters’ issues, concerns, input, objects, feedback, or even support are ignored and dismissed. “Open and transparent government” and “inclusiveness in the process” become mere rhetoric at a time when an open process is needed most. Mistrust with government continues to breed.

Some activists, including politicians, don’t think a referendum will pass. Then give it a chance. There is a silent majority waiting to vote on the issue to put it to rest. There are about thirty states that have banned same sex marriage and several states overturned legislation so that same sex marriage would be illegal. About thirty ballot propositions concerning same sex marriage have come before the voters in the last ten years, and twenty-nine of them have passed, often with margins greater than 30 percentage points. According to research, the only measure to fail was Arizona’s Proposition 107 in 2006, which lost, though narrowly, because it included limits on civil unions as well as marriage.

Proponents of same-sex marriage tend to focus on the theme of civil rights as an anchor for discussion, particularly interracial marriage, which is still between a man and a woman. They invoke the name of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an icon and religious leader, as if he would have been a proponent of same-sex marriage. No where do his writings or speeches suggest that. The theme of civil rights plays on the sympathies of the audience, particularly African Americans. In a way, it is “playing the race card.” African Americans have voted overwhelmingly in other states to oppose same-sex marriage and that could be the case in Washington, DC.

Opponents of same sex marriage and government should go beyond considering a referendum that merely repeals the “Jury and Marriage Act’ that recognizes marriage from other jurisdictions. Ideally there should be several questions on the ballot; for example: 1) should marriage in the District of Columbia include partners of the same sex; 2) should same sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions be legal in the District of Columbia; 3) should the District of Columbia define marriage as between one man and one woman only; and 4) should the District of Columbia repeal the law to recognize same sex marriages from other jurisdictions? All these questions need to presented to voters in order to be able to truly address the issue, though the measure currently filed should be allowed to go through. The DC council should put an advisory referendum measure on the ballot. That is covered under Title 3, District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Elections and Ethics, (March 2007), Chapter 19, “The Advisory Referendum Process.” These regulations allow the council to put the measure on the ballot without the need to collect signatures. The council should do this instead of putting citizens through the effort of collecting signatures, when the council did not follow its usual process of holding public hearings. There could be a backlash to the way the elected leadership handled this issue.

In closing, the United States of America was founded on religion. “In God We Trust” is even on our currency. Laws have evolved from religious doctrines such as the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Laws also evolve from societal norms, mores, morals, public opinion, traditional beliefs, cultural beliefs and so forth. They take into account social taboos as well. Society was against polygamy and that is why it is not allowed. Marriage between an adult and child are not allowed, nor is it allowed with closely related family members. The belief system in America still tends to favor barring same-sex marriage and wants it to remain defined as the union of one man and one woman. Many Americans do make concessions for civil unions or domestic partnerships, but that is another discussion. Most Americans do favor some type of benefits for gays. Many citizens do not feel that gay and lesbians are born that way, but instead choose their lifestyle and so are not discriminated against like African Americans. There is no definitive word on the nature versus nurture arguments on gays and so there is little substantiation or corroboration that one is born that way and therefore entitled to anything. It is a choice by today’s observations.

Therefore, it is time to test the beliefs of the citizens of the District of Columbia. Get their approval or disapproval through a referendum or initiative. Pose the issue on the ballot: is marriage in the District of Columbia to be the union of one man and one woman? I hope so, but I allow my beliefs and the beliefs of others to be tested with a ballot measure. Give power back to the people with their vote on same-sex marriage. Just say no when time to vote.

###############

CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS

Environmental Health Group (EHG) Events, June 9
Allen Hengst, ahengst@rcn.com

World War I munitions, bottles filled with chemical warfare agents, and contaminated soil have been found in and around the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest DC. The Environmental Health Group (EHG) seeks to raise awareness of the issues and encourage a thorough investigation and cleanup. Every Sunday at 1:30 p.m., please join the Environmental Health Group for an informal discussion about Spring Valley issues, at Glover Park Whole Foods Market, 2323 Wisconsin Avenue, NW (one block south of Calvert Street). For more information, visit the EHG on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Environmental-Health-Group/67807900019.

Tuesday, June 9, 7:00 p.m.: monthly meeting of the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The USACE has uncovered a number of chemical and conventional munitions and is currently planning an on-site destruction of munitions on the federal property behind Sibley Hospital in July and August 2009. At Saint David’s Church basement, 5150 Macomb Street, NW (one block north of MacArthur Boulevard). For more information, go to http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/springvalley.htm

###############

Eastern Market Vendors Need Your Help, June 10
Carole Wright, Capitol Hill Flea Market, Washdispla@hotmail.com

At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, a presentation will be made to the Capitol Hill community by bidders for the Hine School Development project. We need the Eastern Market weekend flea markets to be included in the chosen plan. These flea markets started from scratch, and it has taken more than a decade for vendors to build their businesses by providing a consistent place to shop, as well as a place for neighbors to meet on their way to and from Eastern Market.

Please be at this important community meeting hosted by Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells and support our request to be included in the development. Additionally, please E-mail your support for the flea markets to the following: Mayor Fenty, mayor@dc.gov; Neil Albert, neil.albert@dc.gov; Tommy Wells, twells@dccouncil.us; and Eyes on Hines, eohgroup@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support.

###############

DC for Democracy, Celebrate our Fifth Birthday, June 10
Keshini Ladduwahetty, keshinil@yahoo.com

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Governor Howard Dean and get involved with his campaign to preserve the public option in national health care reform. Wednesday, June 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW (a short walk from the Dupont Circle Metro). Dr. Dean will arrive at 6:45 and stay with us for a full hour. Make sure you arrive on time at 6:30, so as not to miss a minute!

For this special occasion, we’ll host a reception at the elegant Woman’s National Democratic Club, with finger food and a birthday cake. $25 cover and cash bar (pay online at https://secure.actblue.com/donate, or by cash or check at the door). Otherwise, please RSVP to dcfordemocracy@gmail.com or call Kesh at 537-6768.

###############

Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics, June 11
Beth Meyer, kensington.books@verizon.net

There will be an author talk by Armiger Jagoe on Thursday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., at Kensington Row Bookshop, 3786 Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD.

In Light Reading for Good and Wayward Catholics, author Armiger Jagoe has stomped in where angels fear to tread, and his book has both caused smiles and raised eyebrows across the country. Praised by three bishops, it has been snubbed by others. One reviewer wrote, “Hats off to Mr. Jagoe who has done a magnificent job of honing in on those issues and topics that keep many wayward Catholics at arm’s length from the Church. This book is a quick, easy read that screams out to be sheared with others.” Another critic wrote, “Humor has no place in religion, and if I were the Pope, I’d excommunicate Jagoe.”

Rev. Joseph Marini, in Oakland, Ca, said, “I predict this book will make a valuable contribution to the Church of the future. It should be read by every Catholic.” Armiger Jagoe is a Maryland writer and a Catholic convert. He has flown bombing missions in WWII; had an insurance career in Washington, DC; founded Bonabond, an organization for aiding ex-convicts; and served as president of the Salvation Army. He is the author of five books.

###############

Department of Parks and Recreation Events, June 11
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov

June 11, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Stead Recreation Center, 1625 P Street, NW. Ice Cream Extravaganza for all ages. Come out and enjoy ice cream and face painting. For more information, call Mr. Vincent Hill, Site Manager, at 673-4465.

June 11, 4:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Watkins Recreation Center, 420 12th Street, SE. Watkins Afterschool Access Closing Program for ages 6-13. Participants in the afterschool access will enjoy field games, dancing, and a delicious dinner while reminiscing on the past school year. For more information, call Brian Cobbs, Site Manager, at 724-4468.

June 11, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Stoddert Recreation Center, 4001 Calvert Street, NW. Volunteer Appreciation Day for ages 16-18. Volunteers will be recognized for their services to the recreation center. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 282-2193.

###############

Adams Morgan Concerts, June 13-July 11
Kristen Barden, Kbarden@adamsmorganonline.org

The Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the first annual free summer concert series in the new public plaza in front of BB&T Bank at the northeast corner of the intersection of Columbia Road, Adams Mill Road, and 18th Street, NW, in Adams Morgan. The concerts will be on every Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. through July 11. We will have a limited number of chairs for audience members. Please feel free to bring your own beach chair. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled for that day. Due to the nature of the series, there will not be a rain date.

Here is the schedule of bands to perform: June 13, DownTyme (First Hour). DownTyme is an up and coming force on the DC rhythm and blues scene, combining classic 70’s R&B with neosoul, smooth jazz, and funky improvs. Singer Deedee Kirby, a Dallas native, and has been sharing her sound with the east coast for almost ten years. Citing Anita Baker, Regina Belle, Jill Scott, Maze, and Mint Condition as influences, her three-octave voice has been described as “amazing . . . old school feel meets new school attitude.” (NAW, Washington, DC) The band features Rob Orwin on keys and windsynth, Kim Maiden on guitar, Eric Carson on bass, and Dwight Campbell on drums. Northeast Jazz Trio featuring Maureen Andary (Second Hour). The Northeast Jazz Trio, featuring Maureen Andary, “a voice aged beyond its years, quirky and sweet, powerful and muted, able to mold itself to each distinct mood.” (Tom Goss, the Acoustic District). The Trio — Rob Orwin, piano, Jerry Del Rosso, bass, Eric Kreinar, drums, all veterans of the DC music scene — lend the perfect accompaniment to Maureen’s eclectic jazz stylings, serving up a steamy plate of 1930s style sounds peppered with modern-day imagery, improv, and punchlines. To learn more about each band please contact: Rob Orwin at robertorwin@verizon.net.

June 20, The Ash Lovelies. The Ash Lovelies were founded in 2008 by longtime Arlington, VA, indie singer/songwriter Lou Black (http://www.myspace.com/LouBlack) and continues to evolve as an eclectic songwriting collective bringing together local singer/songwriters looking to experiment with various pop fusions. To learn more about this band please contact Lou Black at LouSchwarz@Factor21Records.com.

June 27, Kid Goat. Kid Goat is a real American rock and roll band based in the very unreal American environment of Washington, DC. With beautifully penned songs that bring to mind the likes of Steve Earle and John Hiatt, it would be easy to simply call Kid Goat an Alt-Country band, but the melding of the backgrounds and styles of its members create a sound that can only be described as straight forward rock and roll. To learn more about this band please contact Matt Aquiline at matt@kidgoat.net or visit http://www.kidgoat.net or http://www.myspace.com/kidgoat.

July 4, Lucky Dub. We play that feel good influence from the Reggae Vibe. Our inspiration comes from early Roots Reggae, like Bob, and Toots, mix it with some Sublime, some Michael Franti, as well as the soul of 70’s Funk players like Sly and the Family Stone. We come from all walks of life and musical influences, from Reggae, Ska, Funk, Rock Alternative, and Hip/Hop, to create a sound to get down to. To learn more about this band please contact Alex Aidun at luckydub1@gmail.com or visit http://www.myspace.com/luckydubreggae.

July 11, The Public Good. Adams Morgan’s The Public Good is led by songwriters John Elderkin and Steve Ruppenthal, who were also the nucleus of North Carolina’s now legendary The Popes. One of the most acclaimed bands to emerge from the early 90s Chapel Hill music scene, The Popes’ first release, “Hi We’re The Popes,” received national airplay on college radio stations and received critical raves. This summer The Public Good is releasing a CD of new material on the “Lost Lyrics” label. The music was recorded with Brian Paulson, who has produced CDs by Beck, Wilco, and other well known performers. To learn more about this band please contact John Elderkin at jelderkin@gmail.com or visit http://www.myspace.com/thepublicgood

###############

themail@dcwatch is an E-mail discussion forum that is published every Wednesday and Sunday. To change the E-mail address for your subscription to themail, use the Update Profile/Email address link below in the E-mail edition. To unsubscribe, use the Safe Unsubscribe link in the E-mail edition. An archive of all past issues is available at http://www.dcwatch.com/themail.

All postings should be submitted to themail@dcwatch.com, and should be about life, government, or politics in the District of Columbia in one way or another. All postings must be signed in order to be printed, and messages should be reasonably short — one or two brief paragraphs would be ideal — so that as many messages as possible can be put into each mailing.

 


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)