communit02-11-14

COMMUNIT-E
November 14, 2002

TONIGHT ( NOVEMBER 14th) IN OR RELATED TO THE 'HOOD:

**** ANC 3E MEETING NOTICE
From: "Polly King" <pking@lldhhome.org>
7:30 pm, St. Mary's Armenian Church

****ANC3B MEETING,
From: anc3b@aol.com
7:30 pm, Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert Street

**** ZONING COMMISSION HEARING ON WASHINGTON CLINIC SITE
From: <Cristineromano24@aol.com>
The DC Zoning Commission will hold a critical hearing to decide whether
Stonebridge Assocs. will be allowed to build an 85-foot-tall high-rise
at Military Rd. and Western Ave. Stonebridge proposes to build a
182,000 sq. ft. complex, as compared to the 79,000 sq.ft. allowed under
current zoning [the existing Washington Clinic is about 22,000 sq ft].
6:30 P.M, Office of Zoning Hearing Room, 441 4th Street, NW - Suite 220
(Judiciary Square Metro, 4th St. exit)

[From KS: There is more about this proposal at the end of this issue of
COMMUNIT-E.]

COATS FOR NEEDY KIDS
From: Kathy Smith (Ksmith1804@starpower.net) -- If you have a child's
coat that you would like to donate, e-mail me and I'll arrange to pick
it up and deliver it to the Children's Advocacy Center. If you would
like to send a check, please make it out to Children's Advocacy Center
and mail it to them at 300 E Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001. Their
phone number is 202-638-2575. This is a really worthwhile organization
and directly helps our children who are most in need of help.
----------
From: "Insp. Lillian Overton" <lmoverto.MPD-YOUTH.MPD-HQ3@mpdc.org>
The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is the center that assists the MPD
Youth Division in preparing and providing for the needs of abused
children in the District of Columbia. As winter is fast approaching we
are greatly in need of winter coats, all sizes from infancy on up, and
underwear, all sizes toddler on up. These items are provided to a child
going into foster care without very many material items. The child is
allowed to shop for his or her new coat, new underwear and other items
of clothing so that they might maintain a level of dignity when going
to a new home environment. Backpacks for this purpose would be greatly
appreciated as well. Coats should be like new (and newly cleaned) or
brand new. Clothing items should also be like new or newly cleaned. All
underwear must be brand spanking new!!!

A PARTICULAR CRIME IN THE 'HOOD
From: "Cmdr. Jeffrey Moore" <JAMOORE@mpdc.org>
Hi Kath: As your readers have noticed - the 2-D area is experiencing an
increase in theft from autos. With the holidays just around the corner,
I would like to ask your readers to be careful not leave valuables in
the passenger compartment if their cars. Items like cell phones, lap
top computers, cameras, coats, etc., are too tempting to thieves. If
these valuables can't be taken into your readers homes or work, maybe
they could be sure to put them in the trunk.
Thanks
Jeff Moore
Commander, Second District

BE AWARE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL -- DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM
From: <Mmuzzatti@aol.com> (Officer Marcello Muzzatti)
My neighbor had an unknown person come to her door last night around
10:15 and she called the police. (I told her that she would have called
me too!) Anyway the police came and found the person walking around the
streets and was stopped and checked out but no charges could be placed
on him. He is a black male who is wandering the area and asking people
if he can rake the leaves. When people say no he continues to do it
anyway and then asks for money. He came to my neighbor's house trying
to get money for work he did at another house.

NIGERIAN SCAM UPDATE
From: Clare Feinson, cfeinson@erols.com
From: themail@dcwatch.com
For everyone who has ever gotten one of these ubiquitous scam letters,
promising untold millions in exchange for up front fees, Michelle
Singletary's column in the Washington Post last Thursday was
particularly interesting. The US Secret Service is developing a database
of all the different versions of this scam, which it is sharing with
other law enforcement agencies. You can simply forward any scam letters
you get to 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov. The link to the article in the Post
is http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20607-2002Nov6.html.

If you lost money on one of these scams, it is still worthwhile filing a
complaint with the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center at
http://www.ifccfbi.gov, but that is somewhat of a long, involved
process. If all you want to do is register annoying E-mail with the
authorities, it is much easier to forward it to the Secret Service.

AUPCA SCHEDULE CHANGE
From: <dmcmullin@juno.com> (Linda McMullin)
At the October meeting of AUPCA, a schedule change was agreed on. In
lieu of meeting every other month, our next meeting will take place of
the first Tuesday of February 2003. Following that, in place of the
normally scheduled meetings in April and June, we would like to have
some kind of social event in May. A couple of years ago, we had a "Wine
and Cheese Party" at IONA House for active members. It was a nice
change and very enjoyable. Are there any volunteers who would like to
plan something of this nature for May? If so, you can reply to this
e-mail
address.

The results of the survey sent out by AUPCA are being compiled.
Hopefully, we will be able to put these into an e-mail friendly format
and forward them to you. During the remainder of the 2002-2003
membership year, periodic e-mailings/regular mailings will be sent to
members. If you have not yet renewed your AUPCA membership, you can do
so by sending a check for $20.00 per household to: Linda Lateana, 4628
Albemarle Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016.

Hope to see you at the meeting on 4 February 2003. REMEMBER: THERE IS
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER!!!

ON STAGE AT WILSON HIGH
From: Gucurtin@aol.com (Ginny Curtin)
Wilson Senior High School has an active theater program. In two weeks
on November 21, 22, 23, the musical theater department will produce
"Footloose" at 7:30 in the auditorium. Tickets at the door are
$7/adults, $3/students. The show is director by Harriet Bronstein with
Ginny Curtin as music director. In leading roles are Jonathan Feuer as
"Ren", Sara Curtin as "Ariel", Julian Roberts as "Rev. Shaw". This 80's
rock musical is best known for it's title song and other hits like
"Let's Hear It For the Boy", "Holding out for a Hero", and "Almost
Paradise". Don't miss it!

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL CREW WREATH SALE
From: "Haber, Jon" <haberj@fleishman.com>
Wilson High School Crew is a great inter-scholastic team sport. Each
spring, teen rowers from Wilson race against other high school teams on
the Potomac and in races as far away as Philadelphia and Oak Ridge,
Tennessee.

This varsity and novice sport is supported almost entirely through
fundraising. One of the important ways the students raise money is by
selling holiday wreaths.

These are handmade wreaths from freshly cut Nova Scotia balsam fir.
They are 24" in diameter and come with a red velvet bow. They are $17,
make great gifts, and will be delivered to your home on Sunday, December
8th. If you would like to buy one, please let us know by November 24.
You can pay by cash or by check, made payable to "Woodrow Wilson Crew
Boosters," a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

Thank you for supporting Wilson Crew!
Please contact Bonnie Levin or Jon Haber at 202-362-XXXX or at
Bonlevin@aol.com

STRAY DOG FOUND -- IS IT YOURS?
From: <Brennan.Ross@epamail.epa.gov>
One of my Alton Place neighbors has taken in an apparently stray dog
that was wandering around yesterday near Nebraska Ave. at Legation St.
The dog is small and white and appears to be an elderly female
poodle/terrier mix. The dog has no tags or identification but seems
calm and good-natured. People can contact Todd Miner at (202) 409-4606
or at tminer@cathedral.org.

TENLEYTOWN HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY
From: Mary Alice Levine, tenleytownhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com
From: themail@dcwatch.com
The Tenleytown Historical Society is pleased to announce the receipt of
a grant from the DC Office of Historic Preservation for the purpose of
conducting a "Tenleytown Historic Resource Survey." This survey will be
an in-depth study of the Tenleytown area, and will provide a
comprehensive understanding and documentation of the area's
architectural, social and cultural history. It will include building
permit data, census research, oral history and research into the
cultural and architectural origins of Tenleytown in concert with the
Office of Planning's Small Area Plan for Tenleytown. The survey area is
centered on Tenley Circle and extends along Wisconsin Avenue to Upton
Street on the south and Chesapeake Street on the north, Reno Road on the
east and 43rd Street on the west.

The survey is expected to take about a year, and will result in a
written report. The Tenleytown Historical Society will work with Kelsey
& Associates, the DC Historic Preservation Office, ANC 3E and ANC 3F, as
well as community organizations. Volunteers will be needed to help with
the project. Research training will be provided. Volunteers will be
asked to attend at least one training session and to commit a minimum of
ten hours to the project. If you are interested in participating, please
contact us at tenleytownhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com. An introductory
meeting for the project is planned; date to be announced.

**** From: Kathy Smith -- Does anyone else besides me feel uncomfortable
about the above notice? I would like to ask the Tenleytown Historical
Society what they plan to do with the survey results. Do they plan to
make Tenleytown a designated historic area? Do they plan to try to have
individual homes and other building given historic status?

The reason I have misgivings about this is that once a building has been
granted historic status, its owners cannot make major and sometimes
minor changes without obtaining permission from the Office of Historic
Preservation. If an owner wishes to pull down a building and build
something on that spot, he cannot. Some of the buildings in Tenleytown
may have lived past their usefulness and we would be better served if
they were demolished and something else built on that site. I am
thinking about the Sears/Hechinger building in particular. This
building, unfortunately, has historic status and cannot be demolished.
It has been vacant for a number of years now and the owners have been in
negotiation with the Office of Historic Preservation in their attempt to
build apartments on top of the building. Those negotiations seem to have
been going on a long time. Can somebody tell me what the status is?

I'll take a lot of heat for saying this, but sometimes quality of life
is better is we don't try to hang on to the past. Personally, I think
the Office of Historic Preservation has too much power over homeowners
who happen to be living in old houses. If you live in or own an old
building in the area covered by this grant, you might want to find out
more about this. Particularly you should ask what rights you have, if
any, if you don't want your property to be declared historic.

I understand that the survey does not mean that a building will
necessarily be given historic status, but that is often the next step.
Otherwise, why do the survey?

MORE ON ON-LINE AND OTHER AUTO REGISTRATION

**** From: "Emily Yoffe" <eyoffe@worldnet.att.net>
Regarding registration renewal on-line. I tried to do it and the system
added a $25 "inspection fee" to my renewal. This was after I had
received a new inspection sticker in the mail because our car was only
two years old. Not wanting to pay this extra fee, I called DMV and asked
why on-line renewal cost $25 more than renewal by mail. The woman who
answered said she got asked that all the time, she didn't know why, and
no, I couldn't speak to a manager because they had all left (at 3:30
pm). She said I could come downtown and ask my question in person!
I sent in a check.

**** From: "Barbara R. Bergmann" <bbergman@wam.umd.edu>
If you have to go to a DVM office, I recommend the Brentwood office. I
was there at 2pm Friday, and had to wait only 10 minutes. The staff was
pleasant and helpful and there is good parking.

**** From: nancila@att.net (Nancy LeRoy)
Regarding the comments re vehicle registration and inspection
notification: I was notified re registration and received the new
sticker w/in ten days. However, I don't recall if notification of
inspection due is sent by the DMV or if one is just expected to pay
attention and renew by the date and month punched on the expiring
sticker. I failed to notice that my inspection was due in October and
had my car parked on a street in Cleveland Park on Nov. 1 (I live in AU
Park and my car is kept in my garage, not on the street.) I got a $50
ticket. I was unable to go to the inspection place on Half Street until
Nov 5. My car passed inspection but I was fined a $30 ($15 for each
month or part of a month late) fee. $80 bucks total. I assumed that
it's up to the car owner to know when the inspection is due. Does
anyone know if that's the case? (I hated to part w/ the $80, but
assume it is my fault, which makes it easier to pay up.)

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: "KD McLynn" <kdmclynn@starpower.net>
A senior citizen returning to school at UDC could use a computer for her
college work. No frills is fine, as long as it is internet compatible.
Call Bernice McCallum (w/ Mt. Rona Baptist Church) on 726-5852 or
Kathleen McLynn on kdmclynn@starpower.net.

**** From: Lorie Leavy, lleavy@email.usps.gov
Would appreciate recommendations for reasonably priced leaf cleanup
services, as our regular lawn service has priced itself out of
consideration. Thanks!

**** From: "Aaron Epstein" <aajacks@starpower.net>
I need someone to do fence repairs. Any recommendations?

**** From: Cummins1@aol.com
Can anyone recommend a good and reliable chimney cleaning/restoration
company? We have received one estimate and we would like to get two
more. Please email your recommendations to cummins1@aol.com. Thank you.

**** From: "Ana Maria Boitel" <Amboitel@opxglobal.com>
Does anyone know of a good exterminator they can recommend? The floor
boards by my front door are getting soft and I am concerned there may be
bugs causing damage. Thank you.

**** From: "Joanne Capper" <jocapper@worldnet.att.net>
Plants for sale. I have two pyracanthas for sale at $10 each and one
Jasmine plant for sale at $8.00. All are in excellent health but need
more sun (and space) than my yard provides. Call Joanne at 202-537-1620.

Item deleted

MORE ON CRICKETS

**** From: "Buddy Yingling" <buddydc1@msn.com>
From: tenleytown@yahoogroups.com
I have them in a crawl-space at my house too. They are very common in
crawl-spaces and basements around here. I've heard them called "spider
crickets" but I think perhaps they are "camel crickets" as described on
this website: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2066.html

**** From: "Deborah Kennedy Coster" <kennedycoster@netacc.net>
Re Peggy Sullivan's question in today's Communit-E, those bugs are camel
crickets. They're harmless, but they're a nuisance. There's some
information about them at
www.insectsafari.com/insectid/camel_cricket.asp
I think if you look back at Communit-E issues from this time last year,
you'll see that this same question came up then.

**** From: "Emily Yoffe" <eyoffe@worldnet.att.net>
Re: the cricket debate. Sounds like cave crickets. Mine got to be the
size of cats. Alan Cohen, who runs Bio-logical Pest Management uses
non-toxic means to exterminate pests (no duct tape, either). He took
care of our cave cricket problem for a very reasonable fee. He's at
237-7509.

**** From: "Simon, Diana" <dSIMON@iie.org>
I have a comment re: crickets. We have crickets in our basement, but
they are kept well under control by the perfect solution: our two cats!
They maintain a regular patrol for any kind of bug that should be so
unfortunate to enter our home. And as evidenced by the postings in this
newsletter by the Feline Urban Rescue, you too can easily share in this
simple and effective solution through the kind act of adopting a cat or
two. We also recommend the Feline Foundation of Greater Washington, at
www.ffgw.org.

**** From: "John A. Moody" <johnamoodydc@att.net>
Mr. Bensfield, I'm willing to try anything if you would be so kind as
to come over and show me where their points of entry are. The cellar
door opening is merely a very minor entry point among many. My house has
had some 67 years to settle its foundation here and there, with by now I
am certain, numerous little cracks, hairline being sufficient, without
regard to such additional entry points as water and sewer lines,
electrical cabling, telephone wiring, etc, etc, which now penetrate
the foundation.

I also have a little problem with your suggestion to tape (and I presume
you mean the threshold section of the door) as I am in and out of the
basement anywhere from between 1 and 10 times a day depending on the
season, the weather, and my chores to be done outside. Were I to leave
through my cellar door I would have to tape the outside of the door each
time I passed. And if I didn't use that door I would tape the
inside. But in any case, I would need two tapes, one inside and one
outside and I would be forever taping and retaping - to say nothing of
the enterprising crickets lying in wait outside my cellar door for the
opportunity to sneak past me however rapidly I open the door, like an
impatient cat that "wants out". But going the other way.

I've given this matter serious thought and am slowly coming to the
conclusion that cellar frogs are nature's answer. But I will have to
find out whether I need a city license to keep frogs. As for the
"humanitarian" or "compassionate" aspects, I don't know if frogs just
swallow the live crickets whole, or whether they gum them a bit before
swallowing. And I have no idea where I might obtain silent frogs as I
am a light sleeper and don't particularly care find out whether frog
croaking at all hours will disturb my sleep. Nor my neighbor's.

And I am unfortunately not in agreement with your statement that
crickets are "harmless". Do you have any idea what crickets eat? They
are not nature's perpetual motion machines. If they don't eat, they
don't live. And what is in my house, I own. The bank's been paid off
long ago. Unless guests are invited, I don't like uninvited things that
eat my stuff. But thank you for your suggestion to tape my cellar door.
John A. Moody

**** From Kathy Smith -- How about making a live trap with a shoe box, a
funnel, and some cut up potatoes in the shoe box for bait? Put a small
hole in the box; lay the funnel on its side with the small end going
into the side of the box. Put the box on the floor near the door. When
the crickets get inside the box, take it outside and let them out. I
haven't tried it but it seems like a good idea. If anybody does try it,
let me know if it works. Thanks.

COUNCILMEMBER KATHY PATTERSON'S E-NEWSLETTER #10
From: "Pagano, Penny (COUNCIL)" <Ppagano@dccouncil.washington.dc.us>
DIRECTORY OF TOPICS:
Municipal Bonds - Council votes to remove tax on out-of-state municipal
bonds.
Video Surveillance - Councilmember Patterson introduces video
surveillance legislation.
Iraq Resolution - Council approves resolution introduced by Patterson
and Council colleagues favoring consultation before any military action
in Iraq.
AU Bond Issue - Statement of Councilmember Patterson on Council approval
of AU Bond issue.

COMMENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WASHINGTON CLINIC SITE
Below are some comments both for and against the proposed development of
this property at Wisconsin and Western, near the Friendship Heights
Metro. Yesterday's Northwest Current ran a fairly extensive story on
it. There was a lively and very detailed exchange between Allison
Barnard Feeney <abf@cme.nist.gov> and Laurence Freedman
<Laurence.Freedman@usdoj.gov> in the Tenleytown Yahoo Group listserve
over the last several days. I was planning to run some of it but,
frankly, I got lost in the details and gave up. If they would like to
submit a briefer summary of the facts, I would be happy to run them in
the next issue of COMMUNIT-E. They both appear to have researched this
very thoroughly. -- KS.

**** From: Cristina Mossi Rhein <CMossiRhein@DevIS.com>
Even though I live in AU Park, I feel Friendship Heights is close enough
for my two cents. It disappoints me that residents in this ward are so
closed-minded about development. I, for one, am an opponent of suburban
sprawl and uncontrolled development BUT I feel I am open minded enough
to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. High density development
does not always equate to BAD development. I support this particular
project. I think it will:

1) MINIMIZE traffic problems by offering housing near metro stops which
maximizes opportunity for residents to use public transportation AND by
providing retail and services at their door
2) and it will be EFFICIENT use of real estate by providing both
residential and retail space in an area where real estate is a prime
commodity. Particularly commendable is the space being reserved for a
day care - a much needed service in this area, and the affordable
housing units.

I, as an AU resident, wish our neighborhood had NOT stopped a high
density development in the corner of Nebraska and Albemarle. Now we
have a few outrageously priced MAC mansion type houses all squashed
together in one of the few areas where it MADE SENSE to have high
density housing and retail. The Metro (and all public transportation)
should be encouraged and providing housing next to it is one way to do
so!

A little common sense from the neighborhood commissioners would be
nice...

**** From: <mspeva02@georgetown.edu> (Ginny Spevak)
My husband showed me the submission by Allison Barnard because he knew I
would
be interested in it. I want to thank her for her thoughtful analysis of
the proposals for the Washington Clinic property. I was one of those
who was instrumental in the negotiations for Square 1661. We had some
success in decreasing the density of the commercial part of that block
and maintaining a residential component. Unfortunately I've been unable
to participate in this round of development issues due to extreme
involvement with foster care responsibilities. However, I don't
understand why we would want the Clinic property built as a matter of
right. The development seems absurdly low for a site almost on top of
the Metro stop, and housing is desperately needed in this area. I would
hope part of the trade-off would be that a reasonable percent of it , at
least over that allowed as matter of right, be designated moderate
income. All the other things mentioned by Ms. Barnard seem to me to be
reasonable tradeoffs which would benefit the neighborhood in exchange
for increased development. We fought hard in the 1980's for the current
day care center, even though some said no one would use it because it
had no outdoor play area. Anticipating that it would, indeed, be
popular, we also carefully worked out a plan so that those living in the
neighborhood would have some priority. Everything I've heard about it
indicates that it has worked well and the need for expansion is great.

**** From: "Barbara R. Bergmann" <bbergman@wam.umd.edu>
Does anyone know what "improvements" Stonebridge is offering for the
Chevy Chase playground? How to find out? Not every "improvement" (such
as lights, PA system) are welcome.

**** From: "Hazel F. Rebold" <hfrebold@earthlink.net>
I am responding to the letter published Nov. 8 on the subject of the
upzoning and PUD application for the site of the Washington Clinic and
part of the Lisner Home property. This has been opposed by ANC 3E, by
ANC 3/4 G, and by the Friendship-Tenleytown Citizens Association, among
others.

While even people living a mile from this site are free to support the
Stonebridge proposal, I find such support is often based upon
expectation of direct benefit from the proposed "amenities" -
improvements to Chevy Chase Park or benefits for the Chevy Chase Plaza
Children's Center.

Is there any consideration for the neighbors who would actually have to
live near this massive project, the trade-off for those amenities? I own
the closest house to this site, with 90 feet between our property lines.

The author states that the plan "retains mature existing trees and
functions as a buffer for the residential portion of the neighborhood. "
It does neither of these things. I would be surprised if the project
preserved a single tree, since it has a garage under the entire site of
the Clinic, including its parking lot. The trees that will be left are
on the Lisner Home's remaining property, not on the Stonebridge site.
(Lisner is free to redevelop their entire site at any time.)

And I cannot imagine how an 8 story, 79 foot tall building, with a bulk
8 times as massive as the existing Clinic (yes, eight times as massive),
can be considered a "buffer" for my home. Do those who support this
proposal expect me and my neighbors to now be the new buffer?

Please join me in opposing this exploitation. The hearing starts Thurs.,
Nov. 14, at 6:30 pm, at the Office of Zoning Hearing Room, 441 4th
Street, NW - Suite 220 (Judiciary Square Metro).