COMMUNIT-E
June 3, 2002
 
 
 
MEETINGS IN THE 'HOOD
AUPCA MEETING NOTIFICATION
From: Donald E McMullin <dmcmullin@juno.com>
The next AU Park Citizens Association meeting will be held on Tuesday, 4
June, at 7:30 PM at the Tenley Library (2nd floor), Wisconsin and
Albemarle. We hope to have an update on the Sears/Hechinger site.
Apparently, serious negotiations are now in progress.  In addition, we
would like your ideas on the direction AUPCA should take in the future.
What should be the focus of our organization? Your input is very
important, so please plan to attend. This notice is being sent only via
e-mail to active AUPCA members, so please pass the word to friends and
neighbors.  See you on June 4!!
 
 
 
 
BACK ISSUES OF COMMUNIT-E
From: "Dinsmore, Barbara" <DinsmoreB@doaks.org>
Can you please refresh my memory as to where all the good folks and
firms are listed/compiled?  It won't come back to me.  And maybe that
information could be a one liner in each newsletter as a reminder to
everyone? Many thanks again. Barbara
 
ANSWER: Back issues of COMMUNIT-E are stored (my many  thanks to
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F)  on www.anc3f.org.  The first
compilation of community suggestions was the January 5, 2002 issue. One
of these days I will update it.
 
 
 
 
THE AIR MARSHALS ARE KILLING US
The new recruitment efforts by the federal government for air marshals
is draining away a lot of good officers from other police departments.
2D lost something like 7 new officers, just out of the Academy, in the
last month. This is true throughout the MPD. They can make about 20+
$thousand more and are already checked out and trained by the DC MPD. At
the CAC meeting several residents wanted to know why we weren't
requiring new officers to give a certain amount of time to MPD before
leaving for other departments. Even before the Air Marshals some were
coming right out of the Academy and going elsewhere.
 
There's a good chance that the next 2D CAC meeting will be a tour of
the MPD's Strategic Operations Command Center (SOCC).  It should be
interesting.
 
 
 
 
RECREATION AND MUSIC IN THE 'HOOD
 
**** From: "Reed Dewey" <reeddewey@starpower.net>
TENNIS LADDER FORMING
I'd like to start a tennis ladder in Upper NW.  The ladder will help
tennis lovers find each other and match people of similar skill levels.
My idea is to use a web-based bulletin board to keep track of the
ranking.  We'd have everyone's name and telephone number on a website
and members could update it, using the honor system.   Wouldn't it be
nice to have the names of
numbers of 30 folks who play tennis near you?  If you're interested,
please contact reeddewey@starpower.net or give me a call at 202
363-8433.  The ball's in your court!
 
**** From: Jared Hughes <jhughes_2000@yahoo.com>
Piano Recital and Dessert Reception Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. The
Methodist Home of
DC at 4901 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Featuring award-winning recitalist,
NCS Junior Rachel
Bussey with her mentor and well-known instructor Victoria Wyatt.  A
free-will offering will be received. For more info call 202-777-3413.
 
 
 
 
 
LEFTOVER BOOKS FROM BOOK SALE
From:  Marthans@aol.com
The Friends of the Tenley-Friendship Library have hundreds of used books
left over from our recent book sale.  We would like to donate them to
anyone who wants to use them for their own sale.  Many are in excellent
condition, all topics -- fiction, politics, business religion,
literature, etc.  No children's books, as we have already found a home
for those.  If anyone is interested, please contact, Martha Saccocio at
MarthaNS@aol.com or 202-237-6967.  Books must be picked up at the
library.
 
 
 
 
MORE ON OUR MISSING HARDWARE STORE
There was a depressing story in the Business section of this Sunday's
Washington Post about the nature of hardware stores and how expensive
they are to maintain and run. According to the story, Madison Retail
(owners of Sears/Hechinger's) are willing to charge half the rent, for
the 12,000 square foot spot it is leaving for a hoped-for hardware
store, that it is charging to its other stores in this building.
However, that is still way too much for the local hardware stores to
consider.  Looks like we're going to have to get used to going to Dupont
Circle or out to the burbs for home repair items. The story  in the Post
is "Want a Screwdriver? Go to a Bar"  by Margaret Webb Pressler.
 
 
**** From: Richard Clark <biking2@yahoo.com>
I certainly can't address their rent issue, realizing that the cost of
the building was probably so high they might have to charge high rent.
But my experience with a couple of private small businesses that left
the Tenleytown area did so because of the excessive greed of owners.
More than one business had their rents doubled by the same owner who had
owned the building for years.  I can see increases due to tax increases,
newer maintenance cost, increase in repair cost, etc, but when a long
owner of a building jumps the rent sometimes double or more, it makes me
wonder if it's sheer greed or what. I don't know all the in and out of
business, but common sense would tell me that cost don't double over
night.
 
There could be a smidgen of greed here, considering an article that was
in the Northwest Current a few weeks ago about a developer that hadn't
decided what they were going to charge for some units, even though the
building was nearly 100% completed.  Their comment was  "we are checking
out the local sales of comparable units." Gives me the impression they
are going to see what the market will bear rather than meeting their
cost plus a decent profit.
 
 
 
 
DOORBELL INTERCOMS
From: Tom Bartman <trbartman@att.net>
In the May 17 Communit-E, you mentioned the usefulness of an
airphone/intercom.  My wife is hooked. Where does one purchase these
devices--Home Depot?  Or is it best to call up an electrician?
 
ANSWER:  I bought mine from an electronics place in Rockville that also
had doorbells. Unfortunately it is no longer there. I  would try Home
Depot, any doorbell place, maybe Reed electrical in Georgetown. Also,
don't forget to surf the web and see what's out there. It's probably
easy for someone who know's electrical stuff to install, but I would not
have been able to do so even though I can replace light switches and put
in dimmer switches. My advice - Get a professional to put it in and save
yourself some headaches unless you are really good at that sort of
thing.
 
 
 
 

DMV REGISTRATION AND RELATED ITEMS
 
**** From:  "Robert Hyman" <RobertHyman@erols.com>
Am I the only one having problems trying to re-register my car with
DMV?  I tried to register on line, problems with DMV web site. Then I
went to First Union a month in advance and paid hoping the stickers
would show up in time.  No luck. Now trying to e-mail and talk with DMV
to solve the problem.  Not getting very far. If you are having problems
also e-mail Michelle Smalls at michelle.smalls@dc.gov to COMPLAIN.
Robert Hyman,  Glover Park
 
**** From: "Sherwood, Tom (NBC)" <Tom.Sherwood@nbc.com>
Hi - know anyone who has gotten tickets in D.C. or suburbs because their
license tag expiration date info has moved from the tag itself to a
sticker on the front windshield?  I'm told this was done to thwart tag
theft, but few apparently few know about it.  On your radar?
 
From KS -- This kind of snuck up on me also but Commander Newsham talked
about  it at some length at the last CAC meeting.  DC police  officers
now know about it. (DMV hadn't done a very good job of getting the word
out.) If  you get a ticket because you have that new kind of sticker and
an officer  fails to look on your windshield for the correct year,  take
the car and ticket to 2D and ask that a PD11 be written up to kill the
ticket.   Someone there can look at your car to verify that you have the
correct registration decal on the windshield.
 
**** From: Benny <ourhous@bellatlantic.net>  (Richard Bienvenue)
Re: DMV  auto registrations:  where do the stickers go on motorcycles?
A friend of mine went down to DMV, and got 3 different answers from 3
different people!
 
**** From: "Marla Mitnick" <mmitnick@rcn.com>
I have searched your newsletters but have been unable to find the person
to contact about getting missing signs replaced.  Can you put your
fingers on it?
 
ANSWER: The easiest way to reach a DC government agency these days is to
call the Mayor's universal number on 727-1000 and ask for the number of
the correct department. I tend to do this now rather than trying to look
up numbers which seem to change periodically.
 
 
 
 
 
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
 
****  From: JRFleming@aol.com
Sorry.  My previous message had an incorrect phone number.  I have three
(3) glass carafes for a 12-cup Braun coffee maker, OLD STYLE (straight
sides). Our coffee maker died and I hate to throw the carafes away.
They do NOT fit the 10-cup maker.  If you want one (or more) please call
202-362-6355.
 
**** From:  "Sebsow, Helen" <hsebsow@pd.state.gov>
Does anybody have any suggestions for good interstate movers?
 
**** From: Elizabeth Rurak  <burus@msn.com>
I am looking for someone to clean my house-who one can trust. I just had
the experience of someone quoting a price and when they actually came
the price changed. Thanks.
 
**** From: Benny <ourhous@bellatlantic.net>  (Richard Bienvenue)
Re:  Carpenter & contractor that Ken Giles & Davida Perry asked about:
Pat Turvey, D.C. native, grew up and went to school in the District,
near Mass Ave & Wisc. Ave intersection, and moved to Arlington some
years back.  As honest and reasonable as they come.  And as an extra
bonus, is an excellent carpenter & craftsman.  Ph 703-241-1061.
**** From: "Phillips, Ann" <APhillips@usaid.gov>
I heartily recommend HouseCraft LLC for home renovations, large and
small.  The LLC is owned and run by Stos Wronka. He and his crew are
first rate.  They re-did my basement last August after the flood and did
such a wonderful job that they are now renovating my kitchen and sun
room.  The project includes removal of a load bearing wall.  I know that
they have done major additions and have a long list of pleased
customers.  The workers are punctual; jobs are completed in a timely
fashion. They are very careful with all household goods and keep the
sight as clean as possible.  The workers and Stos pay careful attention
to detail; they provide a quality of craftsmanship that I have not
encountered in the DC area in previous work.  Their office number is
301-249-4683.
 
**** From:  Christopher Li <monkeyking@starpower.net>
For Sale: Craftsman 6.5HP woodchipper/shredder. Barely used. New $600.
Yours $395.
Chris  966-2828.
 
 
 
 
 
RENTAL UNITS IN THE 'HOOD
 
**** From: Andrea Grant <agrant_homestay@yahoo.com>
Individuals and Families with Furnished Spare Rooms and Private
Apartments are Needed to Become Host Families for American and
International Interns, Scholars, Business and Medical Professionals and
Students Working and Studying in the Washington Metro Area.
  Short-term (1 - 4 months)
  Host Families Receive $600 - $1,500 monthly
  No Cost to Host Families
For more information, call (301) 649-2389.
 
**** From: "Wiss, Marcia A." <MAWiss@HHLAW.com>
CHARMING COTTAGE, 1 bedroom plus kitchen/dining room combo on 1/6 acre
near park, 5
blocks from the Van Ness Metro.  $1100 per month plus utilities.  Call
202-686-9062 or email MAWISS@HHLAW.COM.
 
**** From: "Karen Zittleman" <kzittleman@earthlink.net>
I am a doctoral student at American University and am looking for a
studio or one-bedroom apartment in the Tenleytown/AU Park area as of
mid-June/beginning of July. I look forward to hearing about any
apartment options. 202.364.3618  Thank you.
 
**** From:  jcapper@worldbank.org
I have a sunny, cheerful basement apt in the Tenley area.  The rent is
$1000 per  month, utilities included.  Call 202-537-1620 if you're
interested in seeing it. No smokers and only one person.
 
 
 
 
 
EXCERPTS FROM NEWSLETTER FROM HAROLD BRAZIL
From: "White, Jessica (COUNCIL)" <JWHITE@dccouncil.washington.dc.us>
From the desk of  HAROLD BRAZIL, At-Large Councilmember
Chair, Committee on Economic Development
1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 404
Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 724-8174
For the Week ending May 24, 2002
EMAIL: hbrazil@dccouncil.washington.dc.us or visit our website:
www.haroldbrazil.com
 
Councilmember Brazil, chair of the Committee on Economic Development,
attended the Spring Convention of the International Council of Shopping
Centers  in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Convention is attended by 30,000 or
more people -- real estate brokers, developers, suppliers of goods and
services, retail representatives and local government officials. In
addition to Councilmember Brazil, the DC delegation included Mayor
Anthony Williams, Eric Price, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic
Development <http://dcbiz.dc.gov/main.shtm>, representatives from the DC
Marketing Center <http://dcmarketingcenter.com/business/default.asp>,
the National Capital Revitalization Corporation <http://ncrcdc.com/> and
others. The delegation met with representatives of Wal-Mart, Target,
Costco and several other retailers to convince them to locate their
stores here.
 
Councilmember Harold Brazil will hold a hearing on the cable franchise
agreement reached between the District's Office of Cable Television and
Telecommunications and Comcast.  Mr. Brazil passed emergency legislation
recently that allowed the parties to conclude the agreement. "My hearing
will determine if the agreement reached includes the state-of-the-art
system we desire, and ensures superior consumer services and
protections," stated Brazil.

The Mayor submitted an RFP to the City Council for the redevelopment of
the existing convention center site on May 2, 2002, but formally
announced this submission only recently.  If approved, the city's
request for proposed redevelopment plans for the 10.5 acre site would be
the largest mixed-use development project in decades. The RFP includes
600-900 units of residential housing; 300,000 square feet of unique
street-oriented retail which will line street edges and face onto public
outdoor spaces; and one acre of public open space which could be used
for concerts, summer film screenings, and other cultural activities.
Other potential applications include educational and civic uses such as
a state-of-the art library, a performing arts center, and a National
Music Center with performance space, a school, and a music museum.
 
George F. Gray, accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy in
Southeast Washington last year, was ordered held for another month
yesterday while doctors determine whether he is a sexual psychopath.
Harold Brazil has introduced legislation that would allow the courts to
order the civil commitment of mentally retarded defendants who are
accused of violent crimes but unable to stand trial.
 
Jessica White
Communications Director
Office of Councilmember Harold Brazil
Chair, Committee on Economic Development
(202) 724-7782
www.haroldbrazil.com
 
 
-- END --