Happy Thanksgiving
Dear Celebrators:
Don’t even thing about it. Just let your worries disappear for the
day, and enjoy.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Metro and Metro Emergencies
Stephanie Clipper, Woodley Park, cyradaria@yahoo.com
I’m proposing that Saturday, November 19, represents the nadir of
Metro’s train operations downtown. Saturday was a perfect storm: hot,
crowded platforms and cars, delays and infrequent trains, competing
messages by operators and the ever-mysterious “Central,” and blocked
platforms from construction (e.g., Farragut North). I won’t
talk about escalators. At Dupont Circle, around 5:30 p.m., ‘Metro Math’
was in full operation as three-minute waits and trains destined to move
“shortly” (that word!) sat for ten, fifteen, twenty minutes. Trains
were hot and stuffy; platforms crowded. There were requisite
announcements about single tracking; operators tried to keep the
communications pipeline open to ticked-off passengers who faced being
late to their destination and learned to hate the word “shortly”
even more than they did before.
At Gallery Place, there was a near riot as trains appeared to be
servicing only one side of downtown stations and came packed. Platforms
were crowded to dangerous levels; tensions were at a height; there was
shouting; and a disabled person in a motorized wheelchair had no prayer
of getting onto a train. Those with suitcases and strollers, who had
waited a long time for a train, had to try to get onto packed trains
before doors closed on them. There were no officials on the tracks to
help manage this Metro-made fracas, nor were there any ads around
saying, “Take Metro and Take it Easy.” Memo to Metro: when trains
are crowded, you can’t hear messages. They would know this if they
went through what the rest of us go through.
At L’Enfant Circle, the scene was no better. I got off my train
trying to find a map to help me navigate the destinations and directions
of the two Yellow Line trains. Not one map anywhere near me. From what I
can see, many platform maps have been replaced by revenue-generating
ads. Three lines, three trains, and one hour to go from Woodley Park to
Capitol South in a scene ripe for emergencies: a violent crime, an
accidental tumble onto the tracks. And what if there were an emergency?
There are ads on trash cans featuring QR codes. They either mean nothing
to some riders or they can’t be read by the mobile devices of others.
There is a phone line, 962-2121, that I bet hasn’t been memorized by
most riders and isn’t programmed into their mobile phones. Not that
their mobile phones would work in a tunnel. We talk a lot about
emergency coordination, but you don’t dial 911 in a Metro emergency.
There is good news. First, there’s a basketball shutout so the
crowds on Saturday were better than they would’ve been. Second, the
escalators on the south side of Dupont Circle are back up. But I’m
taking the bus. Care to join me?
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DPR Grass Fields Close for Winter Season
John Stokes, dcdocs@dc.gov
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has announced the
closure of all grass fields for the winter season. DPR grass fields will
be off line until Saturday, March 17, 2012. Artificial turf fields will
remain open and available for permits during the season except when
severe weather makes the fields unplayable. For more information, call
the DPR weather hotline, 671-0331; visit the DPR athletic fields
information page; or follow us on Twitter @DCDPR.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Small Business Saturday in Shaw, November 26
Alexander M. Padro, padroanc2c@aol.com
On Saturday, November 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Shaw will
celebrate Small Business Saturday, as part of a nationwide shop local
promotion sponsored by American Express. This is the second year for the
national promotion, but the first time DC Main Streets will participate.
Bus posters featuring three Shaw businesses are part of the overall
promotional package. Check out the activities taking place on Saturday
and come out and join the fun. Get free reduced size color reproductions
of the Metrobus ads autographed by the business owners, and free Shaw
Main Streets recyclable shopping bags, while supplies last.
Here’s the schedule of events: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: open house at
participating Shaw Businesses. Free Shaw Main Street open house
passports available at each location will entitle you to enter a drawing
for prizes from all participating businesses. Each business will provide
free food samples, refreshments, or special offer coupons. Passports can
be picked up at the three businesses featured in the bus ad campaign
(see below), and other participating businesses. 1:30 p.m.: poster
signing at Wagtime Pet Spa and Boutique, 1232 9th Street, NW. Free
11" x 14" posters will be available, while supplies last. 2:30
p.m.: poster signing at Cheryl A. Lofton and Associates and A Divine
Shine, 719-723 T Street, NW. Free 11" x 14" posters will be
available, while supplies last. 3:30 p.m.: poster signing at Nellie’s
Sports Bar, 900 U Street, NW. Free 11" x 14" posters will be
available, while supplies last. 4:00 p.m.: drawing for prizes, Old City
Green, 902 N Street, NW.
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DC Federation of Citizens Associations,
November 29, December 8
Anne Renshaw, milrddc@aol.com
Tuesday, November 29, 6:45-9:00 p.m. A “populist” Washington
Post: In Your Dreams or in the Works? Guest speaker, Patrick B.
Pexton, Washington Post Ombudsman, will discuss his “populist
notion” that the Post “must be hard-hitting, scrappy and
questioning -- skeptical of all political figures . . . (and) passionate
about the news.” Far out or on the mark? And although District news
seems to be a low Post priority, what local topics/issues would
citizens recommend that merit frequent media coverage?
Meeting location: All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church, 2300 Cathedral
Avenue, NW; entrance off the church parking lot on Woodley Place, NW.
Thursday, December 8, 12:00 p.m. Citizens Federation’s Annual
Holiday Luncheon at the Dacor Bacon House. A traditional sherry
reception opens the event at 12 noon, followed by the holiday luncheon
at 12:30. The cost is $35 per person. Checks payable to the DC
Federation of Citizens Associations should be sent to Dacor event
treasurer, Armen Tashdinian, 2728 Cortland Place, NW, Washington, DC
20008. Reserve now as seating is limited. Luncheon location: Dacor Bacon
House, 1801 F Street, NW.
Luncheon guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or item of
clothing for a DC foster child (ages infant to 21) to the Dacor
luncheon. This is the Citizens Federation’s third year cosponsoring
the Holiday Gifts for DC Kids campaign with Sport and Health and the
Janney School. Last year, the drive netted over four hundred gifts that
were turned over to the DC Child and Family Services for distribution to
DC foster children. All gifts are greatly appreciated.
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National Building Museum Events, December 6
Stacy Adamson, sadamson@nbm.org
Tuesday, December 6, Readings at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., Book of the
Month: Gingerbread Baby. Free with paid admission to the Building
Zone. Recommended for ages three to five. Join us for an interactive
reading of Gingerbread Baby. Celebrate the winter and make your
own winter home while learning about shapes and patterns. At the
National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Judiciary Square Metro
station. Register for events at http://www.nbm.org.
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Housing for All Rally, December 10
Shaunte Wilcher, intern@cnhed.org
It’s time for DC to restore the commitment to affordable housing!
Rallly from noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, at Martin Luther
King Library, 901 G Street, NW, Chinatown Metro. Hosted by the Coalition
for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development. English to Spanish
interpretation provided. Children welcome.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth
Falcon at the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development
at efalcon@cnhed.org or 745-0902 x205.
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