Bissey & Bissey
Historic Row House Experts
202-841-SOLD
2603 39th Street, NW #4 $184,500
Large and bright 1BR w/ FP in Glover Park’s Georgetown North Condo!
317 10th Street, NE #20 $189,000
Top Floor 1BR with Balcony & FP in the Hawthorne Condo!
1230 23rd Street, NW #918 $300,000
Luxury 1BR w/ balcony & parking in the Metropolitan!
317 10th Street, NE #14 $192,500
Another fabulous 1BR w/ hwd flrs, walk-in closet, storage & roof top deck!
For Open House schedules and up-to-the-minute information
on new home listings, call Todd Bissey at: 202-841-SOLD (7653).
225 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003
tel: 202-544-3900 fax: 202-546-1771
“ Where Washington D.C. Shops for a New Address!”
Sales Rentals Commercial Leasing Property Management
202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com
OPENHOUSE8/4
REDUCED!
COMINGSOON
OPENHOUSE7/28
UNDERCONTRACT
FORSALE
FORSALE
Todd Bissey and Stan Bissey
Pete Frias
2001 GCAAR Top Producer
26 houses & $6,000,000 in sales in 2001!
Nearly $10,000,000 in sales year-to-date!
202-744-8973
UNDER CONTRACT in July:
CAPITOL HILL HOMES
819 5th Street, NE $389,500
211 6th Street, NE $410,000
613 4th Street, NE $350,000
341 14th Street, NE $269,000
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
1355 Spring Road, NW $293,000
317 10th Street, NE #14
Another fabulous 1BR w/
hwd flrs, walk-in closet,
storage & roof top deck!
$192,500
200A Justice Court, NE
Beautiful 1BR with a
“Supreme” location in
The Court Condominium!
$205,000
2603 39th Street, NW #4
Bright 1BR w/ fireplace in
Glover Park’s Georgetown
North Condo!
$184,500
819 5th Street, NE
First Class Renovation
of spacious 3BR 212 BA
Colonial w/ huge In-Law
Suite!
$389,500
917 I Street, NE
CONDO Alternative – newly
renovated 2BR TH w/ hwd
flrs, fp, & deep yard!
$199,000
1315 D Street, NE
Beautifully renovated 3BR
3 12 BA home with finished
bsmt. and possible osp!
$349,500
Open House7/28
Open House8/4
SOLD!
SOLD!
Pete Frias, Esq.
the very clear distinction
between the question(s) posed
and that of what businesses
Capitol Hill residents would like to
see taking up shop in our neighborhood
(a distinction that went unacknowledged
in the article). In fact, I would
confidently contend that most of my
neighbors share the sentiment that what
makes the Hill so appealing is a relative
absence of the chain stores that would
otherwise degrade its charming character,
coupled with the availability of a
wide variety of retail venues mere minutes
away.
In other words, rather than implying a
need to situate one next door, any
desire on the part of a Hill resident to
patronize Staples is almost certainly
well met by the one at Potomac Yards.
For the author to overlook or possibly
sidestep this critical and rather obvious
point suggests that Schnipper the commercial
real estate broker was the one
doing the writing, rather than Schnipper
the Hill resident.
Regards,
RICH IOVANNA
6th And G Development
Drama Continues
Dear Editor:
Yes, Virginia, Pile Driving is Dangerous.
Many Voice readers are familiar with
the ongoing controversy surrounding
Drew Scallan’s Development at 6th and
G Streets, SE. I have written twice to
express my concerns about the danger
to neighboring properties during this
construction. In the last issue, Mr.
Scallan wrote a letter which I believe
amounts to mud-slinging at me. It would
be time-consuming and probably unproductive
to counter each of his statements
with exhaustive proof that I am in
the right. Let me just say that he has
made false statements. The most
extreme is his claim that I have withheld
documents from a Superior Court Judge.
I have never even been asked by a judge
to produce any documents.
More importantly to the citizens of our
Historic District, Mr. Scallan would like
us to believe that pile driving is not dangerous.
He cites my engineer’s report,
which says that he does not expect pile
driving to cause “structural damage.”
Mr. Scallan does not mention that the
very same report says that other damage
is likely, masonry cracks in particular.
Narrow “non-structural” cracks may
widen over time into larger “structural
cracks” which threaten the integrity of a
building. If anyone wants references or
examples where this has happened, just
look me up in the phone book and give
me a call, or simply type “pile driving
damage” into your
favorite web browser.
About 33,000
hits come up on
Yahoo.
Since my last
letter, Mr. Scallan’s
project has caused
additional damage to my building, and
he has refused to repair it, leaving me
with a continuing problem that is likely
to be a very long, expensive, stressful
and time-consuming saga for both of us.
It seems to me that it would be easier
for everyone, including Mr. Scallan, if he
would just come and repair the damage.
MARY-SOPHIA SMITH
Caring About Our Trash
Dear Editor:
I just read with a bit of humor “Don’t
Poop on Me” by Scott Price (‘VoiceMail,’
July). As a dog owner, I have encountered
this stance on a couple of occasions.
Now not that I am implying Scott
falls into the following category, but
chances are that if he is having a
SEVERE PROBLEM, Scott has contributed
to his own woes.
DC Municipal Regulation 21 DCMR
705.5, Residential R220, concerning
trash cans... Containers Out for
Collection at Wrong Time or Place:
“Residents of properties where solid
wastes are collected by the District,
excluding bulky waste, shall (1) Place
the solid waste in legal containers, at
the P.O.C. no earlier than 6:30 p.m. on
the day prior to collection day; and (2)
return to private property by 8 p.m. of
collection day all empty containers,
including Supercans.” Incidentally, leaving
trash cans out at the curb for
extended periods could also easily violate
R190 & R191 (see http://cleancity.
dc.gov/residential_regs.htm)
Personally, I don’t use folks’ trash
containers during the evenings after
trash collection pick-ups. However, if the
trash can is left out repeatedly and over
extended periods on any other day than
scheduled collection days, that trash
can is fair game. My feeling is simple—
that if they don’t care, my small contribution
certainly matters little.
DAVID THOMPSON
The Voice of the Hill welcomes responsible
letters to the editor for publication.
They may be sent to: Editor, The Voice of
the Hill, 120 11th Street SE, Washington,
DC 20003; submissions may also be emailed
to editor@voiceofthehill.com.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 3
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The Voice of the Hill is published
and distributed monthly to Capitol
Hill residence and business locations.
The focus is on the community
and includes contiguous
neighborhoods from Gallaudet
University to the Navy Yard and
from the Capitol to the Stadium
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Publication and distribution is the
last Friday of each month.
Advertising deadline is the first of
the month preceding publication.
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Contributing Writers
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Barbara Wells
Taking Issue With Parking
Dear Editor:
I have been living on the Hill for about
four years now and appreciate its unique
aesthetic and historical character. My
wife and I joined the Capitol Hill
Restoration Society, and I soon became
aware of the illegality of parking in public
spaces. This illegal parking is sanctioned
by the poor design of architect
Barrett Linde when he managed to
merge a garage and a Colonial-style
facade and pass it off as worthy of our
nation’s capital’s historic district.
Despite our many laws regarding such
things as satellite antenna visibility,
shrub height, and the plethora of permits
needed for all sorts of alterations
and changes that are visible, illegal
parking on the fronts of yards is sanctioned
by many players: SPNA, the chair
of ANC6A, city parking enforcement, and
the Public Space office. How one can
get away with parking in public spaces
and not get ticketed escapes me.
Meanwhile, if I incur a minor parking
infraction, like the zoning sticker on the
wrong side of the windshield, I get
slapped with a fine.
It is unfortunate that a very walkable
neighborhood has to be dominated by
the blight of machines and their undesired
effects, such as noise from signals
to stereos, harsh lighting, and the moving
hazard they pose. Then there is the
air pollution, global and local, which is
not getting any better. To have these
insidious machines (cars) then creep up
to frontage and end up a few feet from
my front door is a disgrace. Please tell
me why the city cannot enforce its laws
and a consensus cannot be reached
against the minority of people who break
the law? Public space parking is illegal,
especially in an historic district, very few
of which exist in the U.S. My outdoor art
will be an intentionally neglected landscape
until these vehicles are moved
from beside my 1895 rowhouse.
KURT PLUNTKE
Stanton Park
Survey Results Lead to
Erroneous Conclusions
Dear Editor:
As a homeowner living on the Hill for
over a decade, I perused your recent edition
on development (July) with interest.
I was, however, struck by the erroneous
conclusions drawn in “So Where Do We
Go from Here?” from the survey you conducted
on shopping preferences.
While my responses to the survey
would have been much the same as the
reported results, I would like to point out
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
4 www.voiceofthehill.com
cityDesk
COVERING THE HILL’S POLITICAL SCENE AND MORE
ALL STORIES BY MARK SEGRAVES
Boys Town Avoids Stop Work Order
New Building Permits Issued for Pennsylvania
Avenue Facility
July 11—Boys Town has been issued new building
permits for its facility on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE,
according to sources at the Department of
Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). The
move sidesteps a recent Board of Zoning
Adjustment (BZA) ruling that would have brought
construction to a halt this week.
Gina Douglas, the Public Information Officer for
DCRA, confirmed that new permits had been
issued to the Nebraska-based non-profit. “The BZA
gave Boys Town the alternative of requesting permits
for construction of four residential homes,”
Douglas said. “That request was made, and the new
permits have been issued.”
Boys Town, which plans four community-based
residential facilities (CBRF) for the site, still has
time to file an appeal of the BZA ruling. If that
appeal is granted, Boys Town could then change
the use of the homes back to CBRFs, a strategy that
Boys Town attorney, Phil Feola, outlined in an
interview with The Voice of the Hill last month. In
that interview, Feola hinted that he would pursue
this course of action as a way to avoid the costs of
halting construction. Sources close to the issue
expect Boys Town to file the appeal rather than seek
a special exemption which would call for community
input.
Auditor to Freeze ANC Funds
Fiscal Troubles Continue for 6A
Deborah Nichols, D.C. Auditor, will freeze all of
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A’s (ANC
6A) funds. Nichols, who attended July 11’s meeting,
told The Voice of the Hill after that meeting that
since the ANC is more than three quarters behind
in its financial reporting, it was within her rights to
take such action.
“They’re not making any progress toward correcting
their problems,” Nichols said.
Nichols was referring to the recent audit of ANC
6A, which found more than $31,000 in unapproved
or undocumented disbursements by the ANC
between July 1, 1998, and September 30, 2001. The
auditor’s report, issued on April 25 of this year, gave
the commissioners 90 days to resolve the discrepancies.
In addition to the past fiscal irregularities,
the current commission is delinquent in its financial
reporting.
Each ANC is funded with city money based on
the size of the ANC. ANC 6A is the largest ANC in
the city, and consequently receives more money
than any of the 37 ANCs in the city—roughly
$28,000 per year. ANCs must produce a quarterly
report every three months. ANC 6A has not submitted
a report in more than six quarters. The
Office of the D.C. Auditor (ODCA) has already suspended
any future disbursements to the ANC and
has taken control of its checkbook. The ANC had
been able to access its funds with the permission of
the ODCA for expenses such as telephone service
and storage space rental. Now the ANC will be without
those funds, jeopardizing the future of the ANC
property in storage.
The commissioners were told they had until July
25 to respond to the auditor’s report and to retroactively
approve any of the expenditures the report
calls into question, as long as documentation for
the expenditures can be provided. It appeared as
though that was exactly what the commissioners
were going to do at the July 11 meeting.
Commissioner Daniel Pernell had apparently
submitted to the auditor documentation for more
than $12,000 of the money in question. Nichols
had come to the meeting to explain the ANC’s
options, but before she and her colleague could finish
their presentation, they were bombarded by
accusations and questions from Commissioner
Gregory Ferrell.
Ferrell, who, along with commissioners McIntyre
and Edwards, was wearing a Keith Perry for Ward 6
Council T-shirt, insisted that the ANC had provided
documentation for many of the expenditures,
along with quarterly reports in the past, and that
the ODCA had not made mention of any problems
until the auditor’s report. Nichols told the commissioners
the quarterly reports were different from
the auditor’s report, and that, until recently, the
quarterly reports did not require documentation.
Ferrell and Nichols went back and forth on this
issue for some time, with Ferrell raising his voice
several times, insisting that the ODCA had much of
the documentation it says it doesn’t have. Nichols
finally told the commissioners that they were wasting
her time, and she left the meeting. If the commissioners
didn’t respond to the ODCA report by
the 25th of July, they were told, the ANC coffers
would have the $31,703.14 deducted from any
future disbursements it would receive, should its
financial situation be resolved.
Agenda issues
The commissioners, who were without a quorum
for the first hour of the meeting, voted to remove
one item from the agenda. Representatives of The H
Street Playhouse, which is owned by the publishers
of The Voice of the Hill, were on the agenda to ask for
a letter of support. Commissioner Lamar McIntyre
made a motion to have the item removed from the
agenda because the playhouse is in his single member
district and he had not been informed of the
reason for the playhouse coming before the commissioners.
Later in the meeting, as time was running late,
Vice Chair Daniel Pernell, who was conducting the
meeting in the absence of Chairman Keith Jarrell,
removed another item from the agenda.
Community resident Joe Fengler was scheduled to
submit proposals from three different accounting
firms to help sort through the ANC’s fiscal paperwork.
Several residents voiced their displeasure
with Pernell’s unilateral discussion, and Pernell
finally allowed Fengler to present the proposals to
the commission.
One last item, a discussion about hosting a Ward
6 city council debate, was never addressed.
Treasurer’s report
Once again there was no treasurer’s report given at
the meeting. Commissioner Rob Hall, treasurer,
was absent. There was speculation among the commissioners
that Hall might not return, leaving the
ANC without a treasurer.
Zoning issues
The commissioners voted on one zoning item. JBG
6th Street Developers approached the commissioners,
seeking variances for construction of 46 residential
units at 717 6th Street, NW. The units will be
priced between $250,000 and $400,000. The developers
requested variances for a roof top deck,
required recreation space, rear yard, lot occupancy,
driveway width, and wall height of a roof top structure.
The commissioners voted to support the variances.
The commissioners also voted to support the
appeal by residents of the building permits for the
construction of three townhouses in the 900 block
of Constitution Avenue.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance were Daniel Pernell,
Janet Quigley, Ronald T.T. Nelson, Gregory Ferrell,
Lamar McIntyre, and Phillip Edwards and Wanda
Harris. Commissioners Ivette Basterrechea, Keith
Jarrell, Marvin Fields, Veronica Raglin, Joe Amon,
and Robert Hall, were not in attendance. The next
ANC 6 A regular meeting will be held Thursday,
September 5, at 7 p.m. in the Miner Elementary
School.
Waste Management to Stop
Operations at Uline Arena
City Reaches Tentative Agreement with Disposal
Company
July 16—The city has reached a tentative agreement
with Waste Management, Inc., to close the trash
transfer station at the Uline Arena as soon as August
31. The transfer station has been the source of
much controversy over the past several years.
Neighbors of the Uline (which was the site of the
Beatles’ first North American concert) have sued
Waste Management over what they see as an
invalid certificate of occupancy.
Waste Management, along with other private
solid waste disposal companies, sued the city over
what they see as burdensome regulations on interstate
commerce. The agreement, which has yet to
be signed, would not only close the Uline, but
would also settle those lawsuits.
Tom Henderson, the Solid Waste Administrator
for the city, expects the agreement to be signed any
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 5
day. “We’re getting pretty close,” Henderson said
July 16. Henderson negotiated the deal with Waste
Management.
In addition to closing the Uline, the agreement
calls for the renovation of the District’s two solid
waste transfer stations at Fort Totten and at
Benning Road. The City Council budgeted $10.5
million for the renovations, which are scheduled to
be completed by the end of 2003.
Neil Seldman, President of the Institute for Local
Self-Reliance, who has consulted with the city
about solid waste over the years, thinks the agreement
is good for the city. “I think this is a good
compromise,” Seldman said. Seldman did have
reservations about the $10.5 million figure, however.
“I think it’s a little on the low side,” he said,
adding that he was willing to give the benefit of the
doubt to the city on the costs.
Currently, there are three private transfer stations
in the District in addition to the Uline station.
Those facilities would continue to operate, but
would have to comply with a 500-foot setback rule.
Private collectors would continue to use those stations
until the renovations are completed at the
city facilities.
The District generates approximately 54,000 tons
of solid waste a month. In addition to the District’s
solid waste, the agreement would allow Waste
Management to bring up to 25,000 tons a month of
non-District waste to D.C. transfer stations.
The city would charge $6 per ton at the transfer
stations. If the city disposes of the waste it would
charge the current market rate. Seldman says this
will allow the city to offset its expenses.
Waste Management will be responsible for the
cleanup of the Uline site. Henderson says that
cleanup will be monitored by the Department of
Consumer Regulatory Affairs and the Health
Department.
Critical Dates for ANC Election
Area Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) are elected
advisory boards made up of non-partisan commissioners
that represent residents on matters such
as zoning variances and liquor licenses, among others.
Each ANC is made up of about 10 Single
Member Districts (SMD); each SMD is made up of
about 2,000 residents. Each SMD elects a commissioner
to the ANC.
The redistricting of the city will drastically
change the current make-up of the ANC’s in Ward
6. ANC Commissioners are volunteer positions,
and the term runs for two years. Below is a list of the
important dates for anyone interested in running
for ANC. To qualify to be on the ballot in
November, interested parties must submit a petition
with 25 signatures of registered voters in the
SMD in which they live. Petitions may be picked up
at the office of the D.C. Board of Elections and
Ethics (BOEE) at 441 Fourth Street NW, Suite 250
North.
Wednesday, August 7: First day nominating petitions
are available at BOEE. (90 days before the election).
Friday, September 6: Deadline, by 5:00 p.m., for
filing of nominating petitions. (60 days before the
election).
Friday, September 13: Lottery to determine ballot
position
Tuesday, November 5: General Election Day
Mark Segraves’ stories often appear on The Voice of
the Hill’s website before any other local media covers
the issues. Log on to www.voiceofthehill.com daily
to get an update of local happenings.
Grand Prix Racing Comes to the Hill
What Do You Get When You Bring 70,000 People to RFK Stadium, Add 105 Decibels of Ear-Splitting
Sound, and Have No Place for Visitors to Park?
BY MARK SEGRAVES
The Cadillac Grand Prix brought an estimated 70,000 race fans to our neighborhood the weekend of July
19-21, along with noise levels that far exceeded the permitted limits.
According to the D. C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the noise levels at RFK
Stadium reached as high as 105 decibels during the racing. Sixty decibels is the allowable level in residential
areas. David Clark, director of DCRA, said that fines of $500 per day for the three-day event would
be levied. Clark also said that next year’s race could be in jeopardy if noise levels are not substantially
reduced.
Neighborhood Concerns
The noise began early Friday morning for residents along Oklahoma
Avenue, NE. Many were awoken by the thunderous roar of high-performance
engines, as the practice runs for Saturday and Sunday’s
races began at 8 am. Some residents could feel their windows shake
as the race cars sped less than a hundred yards from their front
doors. The sound of the race cars could be heard as far away as the
Capitol building all weekend long.
Brenda Lee is a caregiver for 90-year old Clara Brown, who lives
directly across from the race track on Oklahoma Avenue. Lee says
that she had tried to call the sports commission to get some type of
relief, but her phone messages had gone unanswered.
When contacted that weekend, Bobby Goldwater of the D.C.
Sports and Entertainment Commission said that everything that
could be done was being done to ease the impact on the neighborhood.
“We’ve had requests for hotel rooms and even a request to take
someone to the library,” Goldwater said. But Goldwater admitted
that certain aspects of the event hadn’t gone as smoothly as he
would have liked. “We’ve definitely had a bump in the road,” Goldwater said referring to community
complaints.
Goldwater said that residents looking for
relief from the noise were welcome to call his
office to request hotel rooms or transportation
away from the event, or possibly even
free tickets to the race. Several residents who
spoke to The Voice of the Hill said they had
been calling the sports commission all weekend,
but there was either no answer or phone
messages went unreturned. This reporter was
able to get through on one line, but the person
answering phones knew nothing about
offering hotel rooms, adding that free tickets
could only be obtained if you received a letter
from the sports commission.
Chris Lencheski, Chairman of Cadillac
Grand Prix, said that the placement of sound
barriers between the residents and the race
track should have eased some of the noise. These sound barriers are something new for grand Prix racing.
A combination of particle boards and fiberglass, the sound barriers were still under construction as the
drivers took to the track on Friday. By Saturday, parts of the barrier were being removed to accommodate
photographers and race officials.
The 70,000 race fans had to find parking somewhere other than RFK, since there was no public parking
available for this event. Spectators were being urged to use Metro or to park at the US Air Arena and take
a shuttle. This measure was undertaken in part to ease the pollution. Goldwater had previously said that
the race would take place even if there was a code red air quality day.
The After-Effects
The event was carried live on national television both Saturday and Sunday. Scott Atherton, President of
American Le Mans Series, said this kind of publicity is a great benefit for the city. “It’s a two-hour video
postcard from D.C. that says you’re open for business,” Atherton stated. Fourteen cameras, including one
providing a view from a blimp, gave television viewers panoramic shots of the Nation’s Capital.
The event featured a celebrity race, as well. William Shatner of Star Trek fame was one of the drivers testing
the track on Friday afternoon. “I love DC,” Shatner said. “It’s a beautiful city with lovely views, but
it’s quite hot.” Shatner crashed his car during one practice round. Other celebrities included rap artist
Coolio, West Wing star Tim Matheson and supermodel Kim Alexis.
Mark Segraves can be reached at mark@voiceofthehill.com.
Please see page 46 for more City Desk, including an in-depth look at the
Eastern Market Flea Market.
Brenda Lee’s calls went unanswered.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
6 www.voiceofthehill.com
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Urban Land Institute Panel Findings
On Old Naval Hospital Released
Panel Calls Hospital a ‘Hidden Gem on Capitol Hill’
July 18—The Friends of the Old Naval Hospital
today announced that the Report of the National
Panel of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) on the Old
Naval Hospital was released to the public. Titled A
Strategy for Reuse, the report describes the findings
from intensive study and meetings undertaken last
April. It is available to the public in the Southeast
Library.
The report states that the “goal of the ULI advisory
services program is to bring the finest expertise
in the real estate field to bear on complex land
use planning and development projects, programs
and policies.” This panel’s goal was to look at two
main issues: the market for reuse of the building;
and the process necessary for redeveloping the
property.
In evaluating the market potential for the Old
Naval Hospital building, the panel consulted with
a wide range of knowledgeable people from the
community. The basic findings, laid out in detail in
the report, indicate that contrary to the panel’s initial
expectations, the property is probably not suitable
for a purely commercial use. In addition, in
order for it to be used by a not-for-profit organization,
approximately $6 million would be required
for the restoration, along with an endowment of
about $4 million to generate the revenue needed to
operate the building each year.
The panel lists several criteria for reuse of the
building: that the organization “have the ability to
raise and maintain the capital needed to occupy the
building;...that the future use of the building
should be as unique as the original use of the building
itself...and should demonstrate the building’s
status as a ‘hero building’”; ...that “reuse should
allow for community access...”; that “because there
is limited parking on the site and in the vicinity of
the facility, the use should not be parking intensive”;
and finally, that “the building should not be
just used as a shell for the future reuse but incorporate
the history of the building and its significance
in Washington and the country.”
The report also describes, in detail, a process the
panel would like to see put into place in order to
provide clear movement and direction for the
restoration and reuse of the building. While proposing
an accelerated process, the panel strongly
emphasizes the need for carefully drafting the base
documents to assure a correct restoration of the
building and to have in place a carefully managed
process to select and monitor the work and actions
of the lessee.
The “Conclusion” of the panel is significant:
“At first glance, the panel saw a building on a prime
piece of real estate on a main thoroughfare in
Washington, D.C. The fact that there was a historically-
significant building on the site was a secondary
consideration. As the panelists spent more time
in the building and talking with the community, it
came to realize that there is a hidden gem on
Capitol Hill that can become not only an asset for
the community but for Washington and the
nation. The Old Naval Hospital is a Hero Building.
Its history alone is unique and worth preserving. It
deserves the proper redevelopment process to
ensure that it is not only useful real estate but a
resource for the whole city and its visitors. The
process set out by the panel is designed to help the
city and the community realize the site’s full
potential. The panelists all look forward to returning
to see Pennsylvania Avenue’s new great asset.”
The study was underwritten by the Capitol Hill
Association of Merchants and Professionals
(CHAMPS) Community Foundation, the Capitol
Hill Restoration Society, Councilperson Sharon
Ambrose, The Holladay Corporation, the Dorothea
de Schweinitz Endowed Preservation Service Fund
and the Friends of the Old Naval Hospital.
The Office of Property Management, as owner of
the building, has scheduled meetings for obtaining
comment from the public on the reuse of the Old
Naval Hospital on August 1 and August 14 at 7 p.m.
at the Old Naval Hospital.
Barracks Row MainStreet Hires New
Executive Director
Bill McLeod Succeeds Jill Dowling
Barracks Row MainStreet (BRMS), after a nationwide
search, has selected Bill McLeod as its new Executive
Director. He is currently Senior Program Manager at
the National Trust for Historic Preservation in
Washington, DC, where he manages the Main Street
Institute in Professional Downtown Management,
the official training and certification program for
Main Street Managers nationwide. He has been at
the National Trust in the Main Street Center for the
past seven years. The National Trust created the
Main Street approach for revitalizing historic urban
corridors over 20 years ago.
In announcing Bill’s selection, BRMS CO-Chairs
Linda Parke Gallagher and George A. Didden, III
said, “We are very excited to have been able to
attract someone of Bill’s stature and knowledge
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VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 7
about the Main Street program to our organization.
We are very confident that Bill will build on the
strong foundation which the Board created with
our first Executive Director, Jill Dowling, to develop
the 8th Street corridor to its full potential. Bill is a
strong leader with skills in the Main Street
approach. He will be an amazing resource for the
merchants and is dedicated to their success.”
In addition to his work at the National Trust, Bill
is a DC resident and has been active in many local
arts and historic preservation volunteer activities.
He is the volunteer coordinator for the Filmfest DC
event, has been President and served on the Board
of Directors of an historic cooperative apartment
building in northwest DC, where he lives, The
Northumberland, and has served on the Board of
Directors of the “Friends of Meridian Park,” which
revitalized the historic park by planting 120 trees,
implementing a litter removal program and reducing
crime. He is a 1989 graduate of Houghton
College in Houghton, NY where he was Senior Class
President and was awarded the “Leadership Award”
for outstanding organization skills. Bill starts his
new duties with BRMS on August 1.
Barracks Row MainStreet is a non-profit organization,
organized by the Barracks Row Merchants’
Association in 1998. It seeks to use the Main Street
approach emphasizing historic preservation to
revitalize the 8th Street corridor between the
Eastern Market Metro Plaza and M Street, SE. This
past spring, the program was awarded official status
as one of the first five official DC Main Streets.
BRMS has been working on an historic streetscape
for 8th Street for the past two years. Construction of
the $7.5 million project is scheduled to begin later
this summer.
Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither
GLBT Arts Consortium, CHAW Present Iolanthe: The
Dyke and the Fairy
Iolanthe: The Dyke and the Fairy will be presented by
the GLBT Arts Consortium and the Capitol Hill
Arts Workshop (CHAW) for nine performances over
three weekends in August. The performances are
scheduled for August 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17, each
beginning at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be
held at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th
Street SE (corner of G and 7th Streets SE). Tickets are
$15 and are available by calling 202-547-6839, or by
clicking on www.chaw.org.
Last summer’s production of Iolanthe was a sellout.
This 2002 reprise includes additional characters
and a pit orchestra.
This loving adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s
Iolanthe is under the musical direction of Scott
Barker (DC’s Different Drummers). Jill Strachan is
providing stage direction, and choreography is by
Alvin Mayes (both are members of the Lesbian &
Gay Chorus of Washington, D.C. Mr. Mayes teaches
at the University of Maryland). Cast members hail
from the DC’s Different Drummers, the Lesbian &
Gay Chorus of Washington, DC Lambda Squares,
and the community at large. Set design is provided
in part by the Triangle Artists Group (TAG).
Iolanthe tells the story of a fairy who fell in love
with a mortal and her subsequent banishment by
the Fairy Queen. Iolanthe’s story is intertwined
with that of her son Strephon and his love for the
incomparable Phyllis, who is the ward of the Dyke
Chancellor. Sullivan’s music is glorious, and
Gilbert’s words needed little adjustment to capture
the scene in Dupont Circle. This is a story for all
ages and persuasions, where silliness reigns!
The GLBT Arts Consortium is a network of more
than 14 GLBT arts organizations in the
Washington, D.C. area that seeks to increase the
visibility of GLBT arts. CHAW is a communitybased,
not-for-profit organization that offers
numerous ways and opportunities to get involved
in the arts through classes, workshops, performance,
music, art and private music instruction. This
is the second collaboration between the
Consortium and CHAW.
For ticket information or more information
about CHAW, interested persons may call 202-547-
6839, www.chaw.org. For more information about
Iolanthe and the GLBT Arts Consortium, call 202-
546-1549, www.lgcw.org.
Morton’s Care Pharmacy Opens
Wellness Center
Center Providing Medication Counseling, Health
Screenings and More
Morton’s Care Pharmacy has opened its highly
innovative, patient-centered health and wellness
center. Morton’s Care Pharmacy, which has been
serving the Capitol Hill Community since 1969,
has now incorporated a wellness center within its
pharmacy for providing pharmaceutical care services
to patients, aiming to provide medication
counseling, disease prevention and management
services, along with health screenings to the community.
The wellness center is coordinated by Ranti
Akiyode, Pharm.D., an assistant professor at
Howard University, School of Pharmacy. Dr.
Akiyode is well trained in providing
medication/herbal counseling and disease state
management programs (i.e. diabetes, hypertension,
HIV/AIDS). The center is co-coordinated by
Essie Orekoya, RN, who specializes in breast prosthetic
fittings, flu/pneumonia vaccinations,
women’s health, and nutrition counseling. The
wellness center at Morton’s aims to provide optimal
health care in collaboration with other health care
providers (physician, nurses, dieticians, etc.). The
following services will be available at the Morton’s
Care Pharmacy Wellness Center:
• Diabetes Screening Cholesterol Screening;
• Blood Pressure Screening Osteoporosis
Screening;
• Medication Counseling Nutrition Counseling;
and
• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations Breast Prosthetic
Fittings.
Also available are:
• Diabetes Management Programs;
• Hypertension Management Programs; and
• Weight Management Programs.
Morton’s Pharmacy has also announced that veterinary
wellness services are also coming soon.
Morton’s is located at 724 East Capitol Street NE.
The wellness center can be reached by calling 202-
543-6813; the pharmacy’s line is 202-543-1616.
Worst Fire in Recent Memory Burns
Half of Block
6 Houses in the 500 Block of 5th Street, NE
June 13—A fire watch continued this morning as
DC Fireman looked for hotspots after last night’s
spectacular Capitol Hill blaze. Lisa Bass, a DC Fire
and EMS public information spokesperson, said a
three-alarm fire was reported just after 12:30 a.m. in
the 500 block of 5th Street NE. The fire started in
the rear and destroyed the better part of six row
houses in the block. Two residents who were taken
to George Washington Hospital for observation
were later released. Smoke and fire detectors in the
homes were credited with alerting the residents to
the blaze, allowing everyone to get out safely.
Ambrose, Perry Face Off To Discuss
Police and Safety Issues
Ward 6 Candidates Debate for The First Time
BY MARK SEGRAVES
Wednesday, July 24—The Ward 6 Democratic candidates
for City Council faced off in a debate for the
first time last night. Councilmember Sharon
Ambrose and her challenger, Keith Andrew Perry,
took to the stage at the Elizabethan Theater at the
Folger Library for a debate sponsored by PSA 108.
The focus of the debate was to be police and safety
issues, but at times the discussion wandered off
track.
The candidates answered questions from the
audience of about 75 residents of Ward 6, most of
whom where white. The candidates were afforded
time for opening statements before taking questions.
Mr. Perry went first and chose to speak more
about his campaign and why he is running rather
than addressing the topic of public safety.
Perry told the crowd that this election was about
competing visions for the future of the city. “My
candidacy is about this,” Perry said, “bringing the
reigns of power back to the people.” Perry, who
never referred to Ambrose by name, said that the
incumbent was not in touch with her constituents
and hadn’t been a strong advocate for the interests
of Ward 6 residents. “I’m not casting dispersions,”
Perry said. “I’m telling the truth.”
Ambrose, who sat motionless on the stage as
Perry talked, with her arms folded in front of her,
did not respond to Perry’s accusation. She preferred
to remain on topic and discussed the problems facing
the police in Ward 6. Ambrose talked about the
recent promotion of 83 inspectors to detective
grade and the impact that would have on solving
crimes. Ambrose spoke specifically about crimes
that have plagued PSA 108, which runs from
Stanton Park to Garfield Park and from the Capitol
to the Eastern Market.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
8 www.voiceofthehill.com
Ambrose talked about the changes redistricting
has brought to Ward 6 and the trouble the city has
had with hiring new officers. Ambrose was accompanied
by the president of the Fraternal Order of
Police, who has endorsed her campaign. Ambrose
went on to say that she was concerned that the
recent hiring of officers from Puerto Rico would
lead to background check problems.
Perry seized upon the background check comment
to call into question Ambrose’s record on race
relations. Perry said that “The Councilmember is
not sensitive to issues of diversity.” This brought a
chorus of boos and jeers from the audience. One
audience member yelled, “Get off the stage with
that.” Perry acknowledged that many in the audience
may disagree with him, but that the people he
had talked to throughout the Ward had made this
complaint to him.
Ambrose responded by saying that doing background
checks on people from “foreign countries”
was very difficult. Once again, the audience began
to jeer, this time directed at Ambrose. The councilmember
quickly corrected herself saying, “I
know Puerto Rico is not a foreign country.”
Ambrose pointed out that in the late 1980’s the
police force went on a massive hiring campaign
without doing background checks, and problems
ensued.
As the questioning continued, it became apparent
that Perry was falling victim to what all challengers
face when debating an incumbent.
Ambrose was able to answer almost every question
with hard facts and statistics. She would cite recent
meetings she had held with high-ranking officials
or legislation that she was working on or had
passed. Ambrose was also able to directly address
most people in the audience by name. Perry, on the
other hand was only able to speak in general terms
or to float out his vision.
When the candidates were asked about what
could be done about the rise in career misdemeanor
offenders, Perry talked about preventing crime
before it starts by giving young people options
other than crime. “We can’t possibly arrest every
offender,” Perry said. “If we could, we could not
possibly house them.” Perry spoke of his time working
in the Department of Recreation under the
Kelly administration. “I ran the roaming leaders
program,” Perry said. Perry called for full funding of
the Parks and Recreation Department so as to rekindle
programs such as roaming leaders.
Ambrose admitted that the roaming leaders program
was in need of more funding and reminded
the crowd that it was she and Councilmember
Chavous who renewed that program. Ambrose said
that she would work with the Mayor and
Congresswoman Norton to re-negotiate the memorandum
of understanding between the federal
police forces in the area and the city.
“Do you think the Capitol Police are watching
out for our houses?” Ambrose asked the crowd.
“No, they’re watching Trent Lott’s house.”
Toward the end of the evening’s debate, which
lasted about an hour, the questioning turned away
from crime. One resident ask for specifics on dealing
with the budget deficit. Perry told the audience
that it was “a question of choices and priorities.” He
said that the recent increases in property taxes was
an example of the councilmember not working for
her constituents. Perry proposed a freeze on property
taxes. “You can’t annualize property taxes with
no safety net for the elderly,” Perry said. “The people
who stayed in the city through the bad times,”
Perry said, “in better times deserve a return on their
investment.” He also proposed a restructuring of
the personal income tax.
Ambrose admitted that the property taxes came
as a “sticker shock” to many people, but said that a
freeze on property taxes would not help. “Property
and income taxes are the major source of income
for the city,” she said. “If we freeze property taxes
we’d be in deep trouble.” Ambrose said that the city
should be more diligent in seeking out its share of
federal grants.
After the debate, the candidates milled about
with the audience. Throughout the evening, the
candidates never addressed one another or shook
hands. It didn’t appear that they even made eye
contact with one another. Ambrose looked stiff and
uncomfortable most of the time while Perry was
talking, but confident and informed as she spoke.
Perry seemed more at ease and willing to engage in
a dialogue with the audience. At times, Perry chose
to stand while Ambrose spoke, other times he sat
taking notes or looking at his watch in an effort to
get the moderator to enforce the time limits.
In the end, the winners of the debate were the
residents of Ward 6 who attend the event. It was a
chance to meet the candidates and hear their views
on issues that are critical to our community.
Liber Antiquus Specializes In
Literary Treasures
Liber Antiquus, an antiquarian bookseller specializing
in early imprinted books (15th to 17th century),
invites the public to visit its showroom on Capitol
Hill at 19 D St. SE.
The business has just released its new catalogue,
featuring 80 books in subjects ranging from science
to literature to New World exploration. To request a
copy or to make an appointment, interested persons
may e-mail paul@liberantiquus.com or call 202-
546-2413. The staff at Liber Antiquus looks forward
to introducing customers to some of the most beautiful
and astonishing publications in existence
today.
At-Risk Students Find a
Friend on the Hill
’WETA’s Hometown Heroes’ Spotlights Jan Eichhorn
in July Profile
(NOTE: The following is taken from a news release).
Jan Eichhorn, the guiding force behind the Friends
of Tyler School (FOTS), was the focus of a monthlong
“WETA’s Hometown Heroes” profile, which
aired in July. WETA selected Eichhorn for organizing
an after-school program for at-risk children in
Washington, D.C.
Inspiration for FOTS began through a chance
meeting with a Tyler Elementary student while
Eichhorn was walking her dog in her Capitol Hill
neighborhood. The student stopped her for advice
on how to care for a stray he had recently adopted.
A friendship developed, and Eichhorn arranged,
with consent from his mother and Tyler
Elementary, to tutor the young boy. By March of
1990, Eichhorn had rallied enough volunteers to
tutor 20 Tyler Elementary students at Tyler
Elementary School. The program grew after it
moved to a new location on the balcony of the local
McDonald’s.
“The greatest goal we can hope for is that each
child feels valued and nurtured by the community,”
says Tommy Wells, a D.C. Public School board
member, director of the Consortium for Child
Welfare and a FOTS board member. “By building
bridges between diverse neighbors, Jan continues
to achieve this goal.” Today, FOTS offers special
one-on-one relationships for disadvantaged children.
Students aged five to 18 years receive mentoring
as well as academic and cultural enrichment
from volunteers.
The name, Friends of Tyler School, is now a misnomer;
students in need can join the FOTS program
regardless of where they attend school. After
years of moving FOTS from one location to another,
Eichhorn and the FOTS community celebrated
the official opening of the program’s new Capitol
Hill location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July
1. Nearly 75 percent of the students, ages 18 and
older, who participated in the FOTS program for
three or more years have graduated from high
school, and a majority of them are the first in their
family to earn a high-school diploma. In 2002,
eight out of 11 FOTS graduating students will
attend college or a trade school.
FOTS operates year-round and typically has
between 45 to 60 students enrolled. Students are
encouraged to come after school to participate in
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10-9
Friday, Saturday 10-6 Sunday 12-6
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classes and organized discussion groups and to
make use of FOTS’ computer lab. At 6:30 p.m., students
receive dinner and afterward pair off to study
with volunteer tutors. During the summer months,
FOTS offers a six-week day camp for children.
Computer and chess classes, books groups, arts and
crafts activities as well as variety of stimulating outings
occupy the children’s time. An eight-week
evening course of tutoring is also available during
the summer months. Visitors to www.weta.
org/heroes can learn more about Eichhorn, as well as
find volunteer opportunities at area organizations,
listen to or watch archived “WETA’s Hometown
Heroes” features and nominate a hero.
Now in its fourth year, “WETA’s Hometown
Heroes” is an Emmy Award-winning multimedia
project that heralds individuals who improve their
communities and encourages others to volunteer
service.
Parking Permits 101
Answers to Temporary Parking Concerns in D.C.
BY TAWANNA SHUFORD
Director of Constituent Services, Office of
Councilmember Sharon Ambrose—Ward 6
In response to so many requests for options available
to various temporary parking situations, I have
researched and found what is available. Unless otherwise
noted, all temporary permits are issued by
DMV.
Parking Permits for Temporary Residents -
If you are a temporary resident of DC, and meet certain
criteria, you may qualify for a reciprocity parking
permit that allows you to park your car in residential
areas of the District while keeping your
vehicle registered in your home state. The following
temporary residential parking permits are available:
Health Care Provider Temporary Parking Permit
In order to receive this, you must present the following
original documents at the DMV:
• Valid vehicle registration;
• Proof of vehicle insurance;
• Proof of residence for District resident requiring
medical attention;
• Statement on doctor’s letterhead certifying the
resident’s medical needs and the name(s) of the
persons providing care;
• The parking permit is free of charge and valid
for up to 90 days; and
• To renew the permit all information must be
resubmitted.
Contractual Employee Temporary Parking Permit
In order to qualify, one must present a valid vehicle
registration, and the vehicle MUST display commercial
license plates. In addition, the following
must be provided:
• Proof of valid vehicle insurance;
• Statement from residential property owner certifying
that construction, plumbing, painting, etc.
is being performed on the property and estimated
length of project;
• Proof of residence from the property owner;
• The permit is free of charge and valid for up to
90 days at a time; and
• To renew the permit all information must be
resubmitted.
Temporary Parking Permit for Rental Vehicles and
Temporary Plates
• Valid DC driver’s license or non-driver’s identification
card;
• Proof of residency;
• Short term rental agreement or temporary tag
registration;
• Permits are free of charge and are issued for the
duration of the rental agreement or the temporary
tag registration.
Reciprocity Parking Permit for Temporary
Residents
• A full-time student attending a college or university
in District of Columbia;
• A member of Congress or on the personal staff
of a member of Congress (must be from same home
state); or
• US military personnel on active duty.
Visitor’s Parking Permits for Guests of Permanent
Residents
Visitor parking permits are issued by the
Metropolitan Police Department. District of
Columbia residents may obtain visitor-parking permits
free of charge by making an application in person
at a police station or substation in the ward in
which they reside. Special consideration will be
given to residents who are incapacitated or disabled.
For more information, contact your district
police station.
• Applicants must provide one of the following as
proof of District of Columbia residency:
• A valid District of Columbia driver’s license;
• A valid District of Columbia vehicle registration
card;
• A current utility bill or rent receipt along with a
credit card or other generally acceptable form of
identification; or
• Any other legal document showing District of
Columbia residency acceptable to the member issuing
the visitor parking permit.
Application forms for visitor-parking permits must
show the following:
• The name and address of the resident;
• The name and address of the visitor using the
permit; and
• The license plate number, and issuing state of
the visitor’s vehicle.
To be valid, visitor permits must display the
following:
• The license plate number of the visitor’s vehicle;
• The ward number of the District of Columbia
resident; and
• The expiration date (no more than 15 days from
the date of issuance).
Visitor parking permits are issued only to eligible
District of Columbia residents and are for use only
by their bona fide visitors. For purposes of issuing
visitor-parking permits, an “eligible resident” is any
resident of a street that has been designated as a
“residential parking permit” area. A “visitor” is
defined as any person who visits a District of
Columbia residence and is a guest of an eligible resident
for longer than a two-day period between 7
a.m. and 6:30 p.m, Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
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Fulton Framing: A Full Range of Art
Services
BY JULIA ROBEY
Laura Fulton Neal began Fulton Framing Services in
1989 with the goal of creating a small, personalized
business that provides thoughtful care to the artwork
entrusted to her.
Working out of a borrowed basement, and later
her home, Laura spent as much time learning about
the higher levels of her craft as she spent building a
clientele in the DC metropolitan area. In 1995, she
began working at the National Gallery of Art for
several days a week on a contract basis; at that time
her associate, Greg DeFelice, joined her. By 1998,
Laura had DeFelice’s able help and the opportunity
to move the shop to Stanton Park (formerly the
location of Holly Ross Associates). From this new
location, the business has been able to grow, both
in size and in the scope of the services offered. And
Fulton Framing Services has recently begun reaching
out to the Capitol Hill retail community, by
becoming members of CHAMPS (Capitol Hill
Association of Merchants and Professionals) and by
advertising locally.
Fulton Framing offers a full range of art services
and welcomes posters and diplomas, fine art, historical
documents, and more. So, what makes
Fulton Framing different than other framers? Laura
says, “What perhaps sets us apart from more typical
frame shops is our flexibility of services. We
embrace new and unusual projects. Jobs that
require research and creative problem-solving
broaden our knowledge and skills while satisfying a
customer.
“And I love the design aspect of the work,” she
adds. “The greatest satisfaction is to connect with a
customer to help him or her discover the design
they will be happy with for many years to come.”
Fulton Framing offers a variety of services,
including design consultation; matting and framing
of fine art and documents; exhibition design
and installation; storage boxes, portfolios, etc. for
archival storage; conservation consultation and
referral, and specialty preservation practices such as
sealed packages for humidity control. Pricing varies
with design choice and conservation requirements.
“We will happily discuss a customer’s budgetary
concerns and give estimates with no obligation,”
Laura adds. Standard clients include institutions,
artists, collectors, conservators, interior designers,
and residential and commercial retail customers.
Laura Neal now lives on Capitol Hill and says “I
think of it as the only part the city able to capture
the feeling of my small town upbringing—but with
far more cultural advantages!”
World Cuisine Catering: Take Your
Tastebuds Around the World
Take your tastebuds around the world at Capitol
Hill’s newest gourmet café, World Cuisine Catering.
The three-year old catering company, owned by
Cara Masino and Robert Ramsey, just opened a
storefront location on Capitol Hill and has expanded
its catering services to offer coffee, pastries, sandwiches,
a plethora of interesting salads and prepared
meals. Food is offered in a take-out fashion.
The interior of World Cuisine Catering is
adorned with unique art objects and furnishings
courtesy of nearby neighbor, Alvear Designs. Next
time you’ve got a lunch meeting with the boss, why
not stop by World Cuisine Catering and pick up
some lemon caper salmon or perhaps a slice of
quiche? Just be sure you don’t forget the coffee!
World Cuisine Catering is located at 523 8th Street,
SE.
Get “Cosi” On Pennsylvania Avenue
BY CELESTE MCCALL
Look out, Starbucks—you’ve got some hot new
competition. On July 18, at 7 a.m., Cosi, formerly
Xando, opened at 301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The
debut was marked by brightly colored balloons festooning
the sidewalk by the entrance.
The Xando-Cosi morphing took place when the
two companies recently merged. Cosi is similar to
its predecessor, but the decor has been revamped
with interesting slate floors, multi-colored wooden
trim and more comfy chairs and sofas in the
upstairs bar area. Paintings by local artists adorn
the walls. Downstairs offers an array of chicken,
turkey, fish, roast beef, ham and vegetarian sandwiches
(all come with Cosi chips), salads (Shanghai
chicken, Greek, Caesar -with or without grilled
chicken) soups and something called a squagel—
square bagels. Cosi also offers an assortment of
muffins, pastries and tempting crumb cake. At 5
p.m. each day, Cosi becomes “full service,” meaning
sit-down service with hot entrees and a full bar.
Hours are 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday through
Thursday; open ‘til 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For
more information, call 202-546-3345.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
10 www.voiceofthehill.com
Business Bits
The cheerful inerior of World Cuisisne Catering. Cosi is open for business.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 11
Sharon Ambrose
1. What do you see as the greatest
challenges facing Ward 6, and how
would you address these challenges?
The greatest challenges facing Ward 6 are:
A. Improving our schools. We have had a wonderful
influx of young families into Ward 6—
Capitol Hill and Hill East, in SW, and in Near
Northeast. I intend to work with Tommy Wells, our
excellent School Board representative, to provide
our schools with the resources we need, and to
identify those Ward 6 schools where parents and
community members feel that a change in leadership
and staff is in order. I will also work with parents
to explore opportunities for new charter
schools and co-location of charter schools in existing
school buildings. This year, Superintendent
Vance has included one school—Walker-Jones in
NW 1—as a “transformation school.” I would like
to build our own, community-based “transformation
schools” list.
B. Community Policing Resource Building. Ward 6
has the strongest, most active PSA participation in
the city, but neighborhoods become discouraged
when there is constant personnel turnover among
officers, disrupting the continuity of the policing
partnership. I will work to develop a system of special
stipends for Sergeants and Lieutenants to provide
incentives for them to stay in a PSA. I will continue
to work with the MPD to ensure budget support
and the proper allocation of Homeland
Defense funding—particularly for volunteers to
Ward 6.
C. Basic City Services. I will continue to work
with the Executive Branch to ensure that all of
Ward 6 receives prompt and efficient city services.
D. Affordable Housing. Affordable housing is a
problem throughout the city, and I have been successful
in beginning to provide some new affordable
housing in the coming Kentucky Courts project.
I am also working with the Mayor’s “Home
Again” program to turn nuisance properties into
livable homes. I would like to see the mortgage
assistance for these properties targeted to entrylevel
police, firefighters and teachers in particular.
As we develop “Reservation 13,” I will work to make
sure that our residential properties on that site
include affordable units.
2. How will you improve the quality of
life for Ward 6 residents?
Basic city services have been steadily improving—
Ward 6 will have two brand new recreation centers
—Sherwood in Near Northeast and Greenleaf in
SW, as well as a refurbished Natatorium. Brick sidewalks
are being repaired, streets are gradually being
resurfaced, and our “Neighborhood Services” coordinator
Leo Pinson has been doing a great job
responding to neighborhood cleanup and other
specific needs. Similarly, Karina Ricks, our Ward 6
Planner, has been working very hard to support
efforts such as the “Main Street” designations for H
St., NE and Barracks Row.
The challenge for the next few years will be to
sustain and build on our quality of life improvements
in the midst of sharply declining revenues.
My years of experience with D.C. budgets and revenue
and expenditure challenges will be enormously
helpful to Ward 6 and the building of appropriate
strategies.
3. What do you consider to be the
primary responsibility of a city
council member?
The primary responsibility of a City Councilmember
is to stay in close touch with all neighborhoods
in the Ward, listening carefully to concerns,
and working with the community to solve problems
—either through legislation or better oversight
of administrative agencies to ensure quality services.
Keith Andrew
Perry
1. What do you see as the greatest
challenges facing Ward 6, and how
would you address these challenges?.
Our entire campaign and the legislative proposals
that we have offered are about providing a fresh
start to solve our problems and solving the most
pressing issues of our ward and its people. We need
a councilmember who will at last be a champion for
the working families of Ward 6. This is how we will
begin:
Public Safety
I have proposed the Cops on the Block Housing
Program, designed to encourage officers to live in
the city and closer to areas where crime is on the
rise. By providing below-market rate housing
opportunities for police, we would entice them
back from the counties to stabilize neighborhoods,
deter the return of criminal activity, and recapture
much-needed city resources in the form of property
taxes, income taxes and sales taxes for city programs.
It will create economic diversity. I am gratified
that since my proposing this innovation in
Ward Six City Council Election
The Voice posed three questions to the candidates for Ward 6 Democratic primary election for City Council.
The answers supplied by Sharon Ambrose and Keith Andrew Perry follow.
March of this year, the incumbent has begun to
speak in similar terms.
I will also engage the police chief and his commanders
on increased deployment of officers on
foot, bike and scooter patrols. If it is happening in
other wards (e.g. 5 and 7) with some success, we
should expect nothing less in our community.
Additionally, we must fully fund our recreation
department educational offerings to provide safe,
wholesome alternatives to teens who so often find
themselves caught up in anti-social behavior due to
boredom and idleness.
Property taxes
The explosion in property taxes due to escalating
real estate values in Ward 6 has threatened the economic
security of many residents. Increases upward
of 90 percent have been reported. Additionally,
many feel that the quality of city services does not
yet reflect what is being demanded in the way of
taxes. I believe that it is time that those who bore
the burdens of citizenship in the worst of times
now reap the benefits of citizenship during better
times. Those who called 911 and received no
response—those whose children were miseducated
in our schools and then murdered in our streets—
deserve some recompense for their struggles in this
city. This problem was foreseeable when the city
annualized property tax assessments, but the council
failed to protect the interests of working families,
who struggle to balance checkbooks, while city
services (DMV, etc.) continue to frustrate, confuse
and disappoint.
A property tax freeze reflects the reality that the
city owes its first allegiance to the citizens. The cap
that was later enacted was a day late and several
thousand dollars short. It doesn’t go far enough to
protect senior citizens and the middle-income citizens
upon whose backs the budget has been balanced
for the last several years. To simply cap taxes
on the back end, after they have already reached an
unconscionable rate, as the incumbent and others
voted to do, is an attempt to have your cake and eat
it too! The later proposal signed onto by the Ward 6
incumbent, to increase the homestead exemption,
is a halfhearted attempt to get on the right side of
an issue that she was on the wrong side of when the
council annualized property taxes without any protections
for our citizens.
Development
The myriad ad hoc citizens’ task forces that have
been formed to protect the character of our community
are a testament to the importance of development
as an issue, and, sadly, to the incumbent’s
lack of effectiveness and advocacy on this issue.
When I see Ward 6 citizens locked in epic struggles
against unwieldy, unnecessary, and potentially
destructive development projects, while other
Ward 6 citizens cry out in despair due to the lack of
rudimentary commercial services and economic
development in their neighborhoods, in the words
continued on page 47
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
12 www.voiceofthehill.com
of a Unity Church what he had
learned in his nine decades of living.
His response was “divine order.” No
matter what happened during his
day, whether it involved finding the
perfect parking spot or having all the
lights turn green at the same time, it
was, in fact, divine order.
So it was no coincidence that I
met the four women mentioned in
this article in the order that I did.
They were the three stages. They also
represented stop and then move, balance,
and living consciously. Their
personal paths were no easy feat,
particularly in a world that would
much rather find the shortest route
to the end result. My journey with
them was like that of the old man
and the labyrinth.
Letting Go of Details:
Alexander Technique
It was her life in London as a freelance
photographer and wife of a
diplomat that led Susan Cohen to
study the Alexander Technique. “In
the early 80s, photographic equipment
was very heavy, particularly
when you are doing press photography
and you’re carrying several cameras
and lenses,” she recalls. “You’ve
got your photo op, and you’re standing
there - of course you’re not
breathing - and you’re waiting, for
example, for that one picture of Mrs.
Thatcher. All of this [camera equipment]
would be pulling down
around my neck and spine. Then I’d
rush to the Embassy darkroom and
stoop over trays that were too low [to
develop the photos]. Standing for
long periods in heels at official functions
didn’t help my situation. So,
I’d end up with either upper or lower
back pain.”
When someone bumped into her,
causing Cohen to fall down the
Embassy stairs, she suffered a herniated
disc. Continued work as a photographer
exacerbated this condition.
It was fortuitous when she discovered
an Alexander Technique
In Marriottsville, Maryland,
tucked away in the Howard
County woodlands, is nestled
one of the largest and
most active Catholic/spiritual
retreat centers in the
greater Baltimore/
Washington area. The Bon
Secours Spiritual Center is an
ecumenical, body/mind/
spirit facility that offers numerous
workshops and individual retreat
time, plus is home to a 55-foot, outdoor,
11-circuit labyrinth located on
a one-acre plot of “sacred space.”
To walk the labyrinth is to take a
pilgrimage to the divine. Its circular
construction is not a maze. It is a
path that leads to the center and out
again, similar to taking a walk along
a winding path—a symbolic reflection
of our lives. I chose to walk the
labyrinth because I was suffering
from extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation,
tightness in my shoulders and
general stress. The experience
involved three stages: purgation - letting
go of the details of life that lead
to distraction and stress; illumination
—a place of clarity and insight;
and union - renewed vision and a
refreshed spirit.
While on this journey, I recalled a
chance meeting with an older gentleman
who, on the day of his 90th
birthday, was asked by congregates
well
being
Conversations
with Hill Healers
BY STEPHANIE BRIGGS
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 13
school in her neighborhood. During
weekly private sessions, Cohen
learned the principles of stopping
and thinking before moving. She
soon discovered that in her daily life
she was thinking before reacting to
everyday stimuli. The value of ordinary
things had begun to change.
“My children even began to note a
change in my personality,” she
noted. “‘Mom, you’re so calm,’ they
would say. Was I beginning to
achieve a sense of serenity?”
About a year later, Cohen began
training as an Alexander Technique
teacher. After the required three
years’ study, she received her certification
from the world-renowned
Constructive Teaching Center, with
master teachers Walter and Dilys
Carrington. In 1986, she returned to
the US and settled with her family
on Capitol Hill. A member of the
American Society of the Alexander
Technique (AmSAT), Cohen teaches
both privately and in the drama
departments at Catholic and
Howard Universities. She has also
served as a consultant and teacher
with most of the major theaters in
Washington.
The Alexander Technique is a subtle
method for improving freedom of
movement, balance, flexibility, and
coordination, plus it aids in the
release of tension and stress. Cohen
explained that much of our stress
and tension is directly related to misuse
of our bodies and poor balance.
It was these kinds of observations
that steered F. M. Alexander to take
charge of his own vocal disability. F.
Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), the
creator of the Alexander Technique,
was an Australian Shakespearean
actor who suffered from chronic
voice loss when performing. With
little help from the medical community,
he spent several years searching
for a solution. With the aid of a 3-
way mirror system, he discovered
that his head-neck relationship,
along with other poor physical
habits, interfered with the coordination
of his voice and breathing
mechanisms, thus creating restrictions
on his larynx. By addressing
sensory misinformation caused by
bad habits and lack of self-awareness,
he developed kinesthetic
mind/body awareness, discovering
that it was necessary to change
habitual responses in order to allow
something new and positive to happen.
For example, the simple exercise of
sitting down and standing up
became effortless when following
the Technique. Using me as her subject,
Cohen explained the process.
“You’re thinking about your primary
control—your head/neck relationship
—and you are going to stop and
think, not move out of habit.” Next,
she gave me some Alexander directions,
which are a wish or thought,
not a doing. She suggested that I ask
my neck to be free and for my head
to take my whole body forward and
up. The first thing to lead is my head
and spine, followed by the last thing
to leave the chair, my sit bones.
Placing her hands on the back of my
neck, she directed me to release the
tightness in my neck and upper
body. No longer did it feel pinched
and short as it had been just
moments before. My body shifted
forward as my torso followed my
head, and, without effort or use of
my hands on my thighs or side of
the chair, I was standing upright.
She continued, “To sit, you just fold
back down in reverse.”
Many of Cohen’s clients are
actors, musicians, singers, lawyers,
and ‘chair-borne’ people—those
who sit at desks all day. She sometimes
accompanies them to their
places of work to observe their bodies.
“I spend a lot of time helping
people learn to work more comfortably
at their desks,” she said. One of
the most common office/work environmental
problems is the improper
placement of computer screens. “If a
screen is too high, you have to let
your head drop back. This creates a
serious problem of balance,” Cohen
pointed out. She suggests the best
position for a computer screen is at
the same height as the placement of
your hands as if you were holding a
book while reading. This will relieve
neck/shoulder tension. “I am a
guide,” she says, “guiding in ways to
sit, stand, bend, walk, lift, and carry.
The Alexander Technique is meant
to be used in everyday life. It is a
must for performers. Their bodies
must be free of tension, allowing full
breath and relaxation in order to
support whatever is needed.”
Sessions or lessons (these are not
treatments) with Cohen are about 50
minutes long—either once or twice a
week. The final 15-20 minutes are
usually spent lying on the table with
knees bent. It’s an opportunity to
“lie down, get away from gravity,
and bring yourself back into balance.”
Cohen recommends her
clients do the following exercise
every day: “Lie down with a book
under your head and knees bent
with feet on the floor. Check in and
see where you are carrying tension
and what you can imagine to let go
of that. Where do you feel tight,
tense or strain?
“Active participation is required,
but not muscular activity—rather
participation of thought and awareness,”
Cohen adds. This simple daily
exercise of “just listening” to your
body is perhaps most challenging in
today’s frenetic world. We don’t
believe that we have time. This is a
familiar scenario with many of
Cohen’s clients: they are aware they
need to figure out how to take the
time and responsibility for how they
use their bodies.
“The technique is not a panacea
that will find some magic way of
solving their physical, psychological,
and emotional problems,” Cohen
cautions. “What we think has a profound
effect on what happens in the
body. The only way we can possibly
change is by learning to stop unconscious
habits. When we have
stopped the ‘doing’, then it is possible
to proceed by giving consent to
the new messages and choices we
discover. This is subtle work that,
with time, can change your life.”
Clarity and insight —
Healing Hands
It is much too easy to define
Christine Getlein and Patricia Stocks
as licensed massage therapists, but
that is what they do. They are also
the owners of Healing Hands:
Therapeutic Massage. Yet if you log
onto their website, www.capitol
massage.com, or read their ads, you
might wonder about the other bodywork
listed. What are Lomi Lomi,
Thai Yoga, and Reiki, for example?
Before defining each of these modalities,
I thought it best to understand
the spiritual journeys of these two
extraordinary women.
Christine Getlein is a massage
therapist who opened her private
practice in 1991 and has studied
advanced Cayce/Reilly massage,
Shamanic Healing, Crystal Healing,
Shiatsu, and is a Reiki Master. Born
Catholic, Getlein’s spiritual journey
began when she informed her mother
and the monsignor that she wanted
to become a priest. Laughed at by
church members and informed by
her mother that she could not leave
the church, Getlein’s solution was to
become a saint.
This deciding moment, along with
embarking on study of the history of
saints, was the dawning of Getlein’s
spiritual journey. Joining the
Episcopal Church as an adult, she
experienced Christian meditation
and silent retreats, served as a liturgist
at Christ Church, where she
started laying on of hands during
the 1980s, and eventually made several
journeys to Germany to visit
Mother Meera, a healing presence
who works in silence using laying on
of hands. In the early 1980s, Getlein
and Stocks met in an Iyengar Yoga
class at St. James Church. It was the
inauguration of a long-term spiritual
relationship.
Patricia Stocks is a retired DC public
school art teacher who grew up in
a Christian Science home in
Berkeley, Calif., where both of her
grandmothers were healers. She
studied metaphysics in college,
always “searching for something
that made sense,” and was able to
satisfy some of her curiosities reading
the Christian Science literature
that filled her home, examining
“Science of Mind,” and visiting new
thought churches.
“I began to study meditation with
a college professor at Berkeley who
was giving a lecture at the First
Church of Religious Science in
Oakland,” she explained. “He asked
if some people would be interested
in meditation, and I joined a small
group. It was Raja meditation.”
Always interested in the “whys of
life,” Stocks studied Transcendental
Meditation and later became
involved with Siddha Yoga. It was
not until her retirement, however,
that she resolved to pursue her interest
in massage. During a
Holographic Repatterning retreat, a
process that makes it possible to create
positive change in areas where
we experience limitations, Stocks
would meet her guide. Sister Dee, a
nun in her late 60’s who had completed
her study of massage therapy
several years earlier, would share her
massage expertise in a life-changing
manner, solidifying Stocks’ desire to
pursue her hands-on mission. “We
don’t touch enough,” she recalled.
“People need to be touched.”
Yet this was not her first initiation
into the power of healing hands.
Stocks had spent earlier periods
studying assorted modalities, including
the field of bioenergy with
Mietek Wirkus, a world-renowned
Polish healer who resides in
Bethesda (Getlein also studied with
Wirkus). She had also completed her
first Reiki initiation. By the time
Stocks met Sister Dee, her transition
to massage was inevitable. “This is
what happens when your energy
builds, and all of these things came
together,” she said. In addition to
massage therapy, Stocks is a Reiki
Master and practices Thai Yoga massage
and Lomi Lomi.
Getlein’s decision to pursue massage
was more direct. During a period
of deep meditation, she was guided
toward attending massage
school. It was 1990, and her fate was
sealed, she recalled. “The next
morning I called the Potomac
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
14 www.voiceofthehill.com
This conscious
decision
is also called
intention. In
Reiki intention
is a form of
prayer. Its
Japanese translation
is
“Universal Life
Source/Energy
or God Energy.”
This ancient
form of healing,
rediscovered by
a Japanese
physician in the
19th Century,
helps to open
up blocked
energy within
the body to
restore its state
of balance and
harmony.
Through a series
of hand positions that are designed
to cover all the systems of the body,
Reiki can reduce stress and tension,
relieve aches and pains, increase
spiritual awareness, minimize one’s
sense of helplessness when facing
disease or conflicts in the world, and
offer a feeling of peace and well
being.
Thai Yoga is based on the principles
that we are all born in perfect
balance, and the changes occur as
we age. To regain that balance Thai
Yoga, which is done on the floor
with the practitioner moving the
client through a flowing series of
yoga poses, works the muscles,
meridians and chakras. By manipulating
specific pressure points, Thai
Yoga can improve flexibility and suppleness,
stronger blood and lymph
flow, and decrease emotional blockage.
Both women see clients at Patou
Personalized Beauty Care, 709 D St.,
SE, volunteer at the Carl Vogel
Center for people with HIV and
AIDS, and are Reiki volunteers at the
Institute for the Advancement of
Service in Old Town Alexandria.
They continue to study yoga at
Willow Street in Takoma Park.
I was reminded while visiting
these two healers that several years
ago I was part of a Native American
dream group that met on Capitol
Hill. Through the study of traditional
Native practices our goals were
simple—peace in the world. It was a
simple idea that would lead our
group down to the Mall in support
of Native Americans who pitched
their teepees and prayed for peace.
Add to that the fact that I am also a
strong proponent of healing touch.
We don’t touch enough in our society.
We don’t place our hands on people.
“The emphasis for me was not to
Massage Training Institute, had
them send me an application. I
applied and I went.” She would
eventually become a massage volunteer
at the St. Francis Center, just as
the AIDS epidemic was beginning to
affect people in her life, and continues
to volunteer as a massage therapist
at the Whitman Walker Center.
It has been a circuitous journey, with
roads that are not always clearly
marked, but Getlein smiled as she
quoted the Buddha, “Suffering is a
great teacher.”
“The 90’s were a major growth
period,” she believes. “I kept getting
up and meditating, and meditating
at night. I prayed and did little rituals.”
Getlein paused in humorous
reflection of a healing ritual between
herself and Stocks. “We went down
to the Capitol grounds one year—it
was the Solstice—and looked
straight out on the Lincoln
Memorial and lit some sage. Before
we knew it, police came running
around the corner with their guns
drawn!” she chuckled. So much confusion
for several people whose only
desire was to pray for world peace.
Through meditation, Getlein and
Stocks gained the clarity and insight
that led them to a study the following
hands-on modalities:
Lomi Lomi is a form of Hawaiian
seated massage passed down
through families. “It differs from
seated massage,” explained Stocks.
“You do a lot of praying. Pray before
you start, and pray throughout the
massage. You see the person as holy,
spiritual being.” Similar to Shiatsu,
Lomi Lomi is hands-on and works
through use of pressure on the
meridian points. The session often
begins with sharing that leads the
client to making a conscious decision
regarding where to direct the
energy of the session.
not sure of exactly what is it they
want to explore. They want to go
inside and take a look at what’s happening.
“I see my role as a partnership,”
she adds. “I listen to their minds,
words, body energy, intuition, internal
rhythms, and inner wisdom.
Then together we create opportunities
to achieve what they’d like to
pursue. We create different possibilities
for being in their lives.”
Bennett also teaches Integral Yoga,
a form that focuses on integrating
body/mind/spirit, and addresses the
greater whole and not just the
body. Unlike an exercise class, those
who come with hopes of releasing
stress and achieving flexibility discover
that not only do they experience
those benefits, but also they
encounter other benefits. Bennett
introduces her students to the concept
that “we are much more than
our bodies, more than what we focus
on during the day—trying to get the
project done, handling all the phone
calls. When they come into the
Integral Yoga class, there is intentional
focus and concentration on
listening to the ‘being’ we are, as
opposed to focusing on the ‘doing’.”
Bennett’s students learn about the
conscious integration of body/
battle the work world,” explained
Stocks, “but to bring in a healing
energy. [We] are not healers. [What
we are doing is] promoting healing
energy within each person to heal
themselves.”
Renewed Vision—
Integral Yoga
When exiting the labyrinth, you
return to the world with renewed
vision and a refreshed spirit. At some
point on this journey there is an
integration of body, mind and spirit
that reveals itself in the form of a
life-affirming revelation or a calming
influence for those in life transition,
bringing balance to our lives and
reminding us to live consciously.
Corrin Bennett’s journey began
during her time as a dancer and
dance therapist at St. Elizabeth’s
Hospital. During a ten-year stint in
Europe, she became interested in the
use of the body in the healing
process and began pursuing her role
as a personal and spiritual mentor.
She returned to the states in 1989,
redesigned her program, and left the
world of psychotherapy. She
explained, “I work with people who
are interested in exploring a certain
issue or question, or perhaps they are
Chris Getlein and Patricia Stocks
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 15
individual and group harmonies
that create a sacred, common
space for each person in the
class. This is followed by a
Universal peace chant in both
Sanskrit and English.
The chanting reminds me of
those inexplicable moments
when listening to an aria or a
great piece of classical music—
the moment when a singer’s
voice causes listeners to weep
with emotion, or when the
orchestra has reached a crescendo
that causes the hairs on your
arm to stand on end. At that
moment you, along with the
other audience members, have
simultaneous experiences. A
similar occurrence happens
when a group chants.
When the chanting is finished
the group begins the
asanas (postures), which are
designed to create awareness
and ease the mind, and pranayama
(breathing practice), known as the
bridge to the body and mind that,
when elevated, can quiet the mind.
Bennett explained, “You do the
same asana together with the breath
in coordination with the movement,
and it’s your individual experience.
mind/spirit and discover how to go
about their lives in a more
easeful/peaceful way. During a class,
which is 1 12 hours long, there is the
beginning intention that addresses
the group’s body, mental, and
breath/meditation level. Then there
is a Sanskrit chant, consisting of
But [at the same time] you are also
creating a group energy, even
though we are not focusing on each
other in that way.”
Students will hold a posture for a
period of time, creating the possibility
of stillness within the body and
mind. It is in that space “we are gentle
with ourselves and we can hear
the voice of spirit.” The poses are
simple for first-timers and newcomers,
so one should not feel the need
for some extraordinary flexibility.
Following the asanas, there is deep
relaxation (yoga nidra) which is
called the “sleepless sleep,” and the
session ends with a closing statement,
addressing how to take the
lessons learned in class into our relationships
and daily lives.
Transformation
Finding the courage to live consciously
or in the moment might
seem like a rallying call to give up
your day job, but for many of us, this
is not a consideration. So perhaps a
doable option is to learn to stop and
think before we move, live life as a
meditation, or take the time to
touch a friend or a stranger. Or we
can find a labyrinth to walk. And in
that moment we are no longer concerned
about the past or the future,
but are solidly grounded in the present
—we experience renewed vision.
“The only thing we need to do is
be present,” says Bennett. “Then
everything else will evolve from
there. We will get distracted, and
then we remember and find ways to
come back to being present. That’s
the transforming moment.”
For more information on Bon
Secours Spiritual Center call (410)
442-1320 or visit their website:
www.bonsecours.org/bssc. To make an
Alexander Technique appointment,
call Susan Cohen, AmSAT Certified
Teacher, at (202) 544-2448 or
SMCEagle@aol.com. To schedule a
massage or one of the other modalities
described, call Christine Getlein,
LMT, RM, at (202) 543-0441, or
Patricia Stocks, LMT, RM, at (202)
547-7104. For Integral Yoga and
meditation with Corrin Bennett call
(202) 543-5825.
Stephanie Briggs is a contributing writer
for the The Voice of the Hill, editorial
associate for Current Newspaper, and
adjunct professor at CCBC Catonsville.
She is a Reiki I practitioner, a student of
Shambhala meditation, and is a facilitator
of healing movement workshops.
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VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
16 www.voiceofthehill.com
I admit
it. I admit
it a thousand
times
over. I
wanted to
be cool. I
bought my
first pack of
smokes on the way
to Nation, a dance
club in Southeast DC,
because I wanted to fit in.
What brand did I buy? Camel
Lights. Why? I thought Camel
Lights were the coolest cigarettes for
a 20-year old young adult to smoke.
Joe Camel had seized control of my
brain long before that first pack.
Despite what they say and/or admit
to, those folks at R.J. Reynolds knew
what they are doing.
It’s common knowledge that most
people start their smoking careers
before they graduate from high
school. From the Center of Disease
Control’s website: Approximately 80%
of adult smokers started smoking before
the age of 18. Every day, nearly 5,000
young people under the age of 18 try
their first cigarette.
The anti-smoking campaign,
aimed largely at today’s youth, is
stronger than ever. Flip on the television
anytime after three o’clock, and
you’re likely to see several different
anti-smoking commercials—all of
them aimed at teenagers.
“Hello. My name is Benjamin, and I’m
a smoker…or, rather, I used to be a
smoker.”
Joe Camel, your addictive hold on
me lessens daily. Marlboro Man,
your rugged good looks and suave
persona shall tempt me no more! Mr.
Generic Cigarette, your presumed
‘bargain prices’ are, every day, seeming
less and less like a good deal.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am
quitting smoking.
I started smoking in college. I have
never illegally acquired a pack of cigarettes,
nor was I ever remotely interested
in taking up smoking in high
school. Maybe it was because I didn’t
run with the right crowds, or maybe
it was because my athletic demeanor
made smoking seem like the
absolute last thing I wanted to do;
whatever the reason, I didn’t start
until the ripe old age of 20.
People have all sorts of reasons for
smoking. Me? I smoked when I got
nervous, frustrated, upset, or worked
up. I smoked when I had a lot of
work to do, or a lot of time to kill. I
smoked so I could justify taking a
five-minute break every two hours or
so at work. I smoked when drinking
coffee, because nothing goes with a
cup of coffee like a cigarette.
Why did I start smoking? Why did
I, an athlete to the core, an educated
male who knew all the dangers of
smoking (including both the dreaded
cancerous conclusions and the
more immediate fitness-affecting
effects), buy my first pack of cigarettes?
I’ll tell you why: I wanted to
be cool.
pills to help you on your quest. The
CDC suggests:
1. Get ready.
2. Get support.
3. Learn new skills and behaviors.
4. Get medication and use it
correctly.
5. Be prepared for relapse or
difficult situations.
Maybe I’m stubborn, or maybe I
just can’t financially afford to buy
the appropriate medications, but I
want to quit on my own. Cold
turkey—sheer will power.
Regardless of your chosen quitting
methodology, step number one is,
by far, the most important. In order
to quit, you need to be dead serious
about quitting; a halfhearted
attempt will never work. Get serious
about quitting. Spend days researching
the Internet for reasons not to
smoke. Make your quitting efforts
public knowledge; tell your friends,
your family, and your co-workers.
Make quitting smoking a responsibility
that falls onto your own shoulders.
Look into medications and
other aids that can help you lessen
your dependencies on nicotine.
Recognize that yes, this is going to
be difficult, but quitting is possible;
more and more people are doing it
everyday.
A good place to start might be the
R.J. Reynolds website itself
(http://www.rjrt.com). Even if their
public image may seem to encourage
smoking, their website is oriented
quite to the contrary; they suggest
that “any smoker with a sincere
desire and determination to stop
smoking can—and should—quit. As
many Americans have quit smoking
as currently smoke.” The site itself
has links to a number of other sites
dedicated to helping people quit
Well, I
started
smoking at
20. Aren’t
20-year old
college students
supposed
to be
beyond the sway
of peer pressure,
and wise to the ways
of commercial marketing?
I guess some things never
change.
Day 0
From my first day of smoking, I
knew I was going to eventually quit.
I told myself that smoking would
just be a college thing—I’d quit after
I graduated. That was over a year
ago…funny how that works, hmm?
Declaring one’s last day of smoking
is easy. You gainfully finish off
your pack and vow that, come
tomorrow, you’ll buy cigarettes no
longer. I’ve made that commitment
several times over the past year
and—surprise, surprise—it has never
worked. Fact is, according to the
CDC, that people “usually make 2 or
3 tries, or more, before finally being
able to quit.”
There are a number of different
methodologies people use to quit
smoking. In accordance with today’s
“there’s a chemical solution for
everything” mentality, you can buy
any number of patches, gums, or
DIARY OF A
QUITTER
Breaking the Cigarette Habit—
A First Person Account
BY BENJAMIN THOMASSEN
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 17
smoking and takes a “smoking is
bad” approach to tobacco products
in general.
There you have it, straight from
the camel’s mouth. Time to quit.
Day 1
Day 1, a.k.a. the longest work day
ever. Instead of taking smoke breaks,
I chew my nails, some gum, eat an
extra-large bag of Chex Mix, and
spend a lot of time trying to stare
through my computer screen.
At the suggestion of an online
friend (and, surprisingly, the CDC
and R.J. Reynolds), I browse my way
over to http://www.quitnet.com and
join an online community of people
trying to quit smoking. You can opt
for a paid membership to the site
and its community—doing so gives
you access to expert counselors, your
own personalized quitting program,
suggested medications, and online
community support. Since I can’t
afford suggested medications anyway,
I opted for the free membership.
The free version of the site offers
serious quitters basic information
and suggestions about how to quit
smoking. It also boasts several community
forums in which one can
vent/share frustrations with others
who are in the same situation. Not
surprisingly, feeling as though you
belong to some group, all sharing in
the same quest and vision, helps a
lot. Anonymous communities such
as these can offer an instant web
(pun intended) of support and a
sense of responsibility to the communal
goal.
Creating a log-on to Quitnet.com
also gives you access to a personalized
“Q-Gadget.” After entering in
your past smoking habits, it will tell
you how many days, hours, and
minutes you’ve gone without smoking,
how much money you’ve saved,
how many cigarettes you haven’t
smoked, and how many hours of
your life have been saved in the
process. It’s a constant source of positive
reinforcement, and a great way
to distract time when you’ve got a
craving.
In addition to all this, various
QuitNet online polls tell me I am
30% addicted to smoking, quitting
will save me over $350 a year, and
my primary reason for smoking is
the actual handling of a cigarette—
the physical motions of smoking as
opposed to the nicotine-addiction
itself. Say what you like about the
validity of Internet polls, I can’t get
enough of them. The interactivity of
sites like Quitnet.com makes you feel
in control of your quitting process
and, for an Internet-junkie like me,
it’s invaluable.
Late into the evening of Day 1, I
grab my wallet and keys with the
intention of walking over to 7-11 to
break my carcinogen fast, but my
housemate stops me. Support webs,
no matter how small, are vital.
Day 2
My first smoke-free day was awkward
and unnerving; the day after that
isn’t much better. It still feels like the
skin on my arms is crawling, and I
find myself being overtly snippy and
irritable when writing email. Since
I’ve exhausted the nail-chewing
option, I’ve moved onto Skittles. The
familiar phlegm cough is increasing
as the gunk works its way out of my
system.
As hard as this might be, I’m glad
I’m finally doing it for real. A quick
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My first smoke-free day was awkward and unnerving… It still feels like the skin on my
arms is crawling, and I find myself being overtly snippy and irritable when writing email…
I’ve moved onto Skittles.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
18 www.voiceofthehill.com
Today was different. I laced up my
all-too-clean Adidas trainers, performed
a few obligatory stretches,
and took to the open road. Despite
feeling out-of-shape and a bit pale in
my seldom-worn soccer shorts, exercise
felt great. My chest hurt a little,
and I think I coughed up my own
weight in phlegm, but the wheezing
and shortness of breath from days
past had diminished significantly.
Indeed, the steps to becoming a
non-smoker are laden with rewards.
The pains associated with quitting
smoking are met head-on with the
benefits of an exponentially healthier
lifestyle. In this country, the
Surgeon General generally labels cigarette
packs with warnings of cancer.
Indeed, cancer is the most feared
endpoint of a lifetime of smoking,
but it’s not the only negative aspect
of it.
check to my Q-Gadget tells be I’ve
saved five bucks and two hours of
my life. Sha-zam!
Day 3
On my third smoke-free day, I went
for a jog around Capitol Hill. My
running shoes are still bright
white—I purchased them last
January and have hardly used them.
Being a smoker may not necessarily
prohibit athletic activity and ability,
but it sure makes it difficult.
Before I picked up smoking, I’d
been a non-stop athlete for 18 years
straight. Hardly a day would pass
without a jog, soccer practice, or a
trip to the college gym. Every now
and again, I’d try to work exercise
back into my daily routine but doing
so seemed fickle. Even a short jog
would produce coughs and shortness
of breath.
that the cigarette industry thrives
even in the face of these statistics.
Quitting smoking is hard and
takes some serious commitment…
but it is possible. Most smokers I
know have plans to quit the habit at
some point in their lives; finding the
catalyst and will power to make that
aspiration a reality is completely up
to the individual.
We all know the facts. Despite
what we might tell ourselves, smoking
is, was, and always will be bad
and unhealthy. There is no justification
for not kicking the habit—only
unfounded procrastinations. Even
the R.J. Reynolds website admits that
they “produce a product that has significant
and inherent health risks for
a number of serious diseases” and
that they “do not encourage nonsmokers
to start smoking.”
As for me, I’m a mere seven days
out of the gate. I haven’t been smoking,
but I also haven’t pronounced
myself ‘cured’ yet. Every day I make
an effort to appreciate why it’s good
that I’m finally quitting for real and
to fully enjoy the benefits of not
smoking.
Consider this my social contract.
Writer Ben Thomassen is a Hill resident.
According to the National Cancer
Institute, “within a few days [of quitting]
you will probably begin to
notice some remarkable changes in
your body. Your sense of smell and
taste may improve. You will breathe
easier, and your smoker’s hack will
begin to disappear…You will be free
from the mess, smell, inconvenience,
expense, and dependence of
cigarette smoking.”
Sometimes, in cancer’s ominous
shadow, we forget the benefits of
these very basic health benefits. I’d
forgotten how wonderful it feels to
go for a long jog and not feel like
your lungs are melting.
Days 4-7
With each successive day of being
smoke-free, my craving for a nicotine
fix diminishes. I don’t worry about
heading to the office without a pack
of cigarettes in my bag; I’m not so
concerned about giving into a temptation
of lighting up. I feel good and
confident about not smoking.
Cigarette smoking is responsible
every year for approximately 130,000
deaths from cancer, 170,000 deaths
from heart disease, and 50,000 deaths
from lung disease (source: National
Cancer Institute). It’s hard to believe
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VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 19
In the early 1860s, the monumental
struggle to preserve the Union
profoundly altered life on Capitol
Hill. The Navy Yard brought in
hundreds of new workers to service
the ships and churn out munitions
for the war effort. A neighborhood
church became a recruiting station
for U.S. Colored Troop #1. And on
the site of present-day Lincoln
Park, the largest hospital in the city
sprang up, treating thousands of
wounded soldiers.
American University professor
Edward C. Smith takes us back to
those days as leadoff speaker in the
Overbeck History Lecture Series for
the 2002-03 season. Please make a
reservation to join us for “Capitol
Hill During the Civil War” on
Tuesday evening, September 10, at
8 p.m. at the Naval Lodge Hall, 330
Pennsylvania Ave. S.E.
Professor Smith is a third-generation
Washingtonian and the
Director of American Studies at AU,
where he’s taught since 1969. He’s
also achieved a wide following as a
Civil War, African-American cultural
heritage and art history lecturer
and study tour leader for the
Smithsonian Institution, the
National Geographic Society, the
National Park Service and the D.C.
Historical Society. His writings on
history and culture have appeared
in numerous magazines, newspapers
and scholarly journals, and
an endowed scholarship was
recently established in his honor
at the University of Richmond to
further the study of the Civil War
era.
As with all Overbeck History
Lectures, admission is free, but
seating is limited, and a reservation
is required. It is preferred that
interested persons reserve by email
(info@CapitolHillHistory.org)
in order for a confirmation and
any updates to be easily sent, but
one may also leave a message at
202-544-1845. Those who phone
are asked to please provide their
name, phone number and email
address, and lecture series coordinator
Kristen Miller will contact
them.
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‘Capitol Hill During the Civil War’
Sample a taste of Temple Micah at our
Shabbat Open House…
???FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
6:00 pm Oneg Reception 6:30 pm Shabbat Service
…and pray with us on High Holy Days
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Daniel G. Zemel,
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and visit
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VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
20 www.voiceofthehill.com
Late summer in
the District: like
a hothouse.
A man rides his bike to work in a
suit, sweating and red as a pomegranate’s
innards. On heat advisory
days, children stay inside as they are
warned to do by the
weatherman. Dogs, breaking from
their Lincoln Park playtime, wait in
line for the doggy-designated water
fountain.
This year, the week surrounding
July fourth was particularly vicious
on account of soaring ozone levels
and temperatures reaching the high
90s. While very slowly exploring the
Folk Life Festival, I saw quite a few
individuals plop down onto the
grass with red skin, glazed eyes, and
dizzied expressions—classic heat
stroke symptoms. I watched frownfaced
kids with crisp, sunburned
cheeks begging for ice cream. I even
witnessed worn out canines giving
up on Frisbees.
Most will admit that the mid-
Atlantic summer can be brutal; the
temperatures may not be as high as
those in the Southwest, but the
humidity can make it feel downright
tropical. Add concentrated ozone
levels into the mix, and you’ve got a
miserable climate. Why, then, do we
Washingtonians feel we’re supposed
to simply grin and bear it?
I know that summer only lasts a
few months of the year. I can take it.
However, people who have grown up
in or spent time in parts of the world
saturated with heat must have a better
idea of just how one should
“take” the heat.
Global ‘Heat Cultures’
I asked my friend Mark Buenaflor, a
D.C. resident who grew up in
Manila, how Philippine “heat culture”
differs from the mid-Atlantic
American reaction to heat. In the
city, people make do. Air conditioning
is a rare luxury, so folks flock to
malls and theaters to avoid the tropical
heat, relax with a cool drink and
Houses are built with this in mind.
Often there isn’t glass on window
openings, so that the distinction
between inside and outside breaks
down and you catch breezes through
doorways, windows, and wide openings,”
Rebecca describes. “Water is
also used to help cool things down;
reed or straw woven mats are placed
in windows or doors, doused with
water, and then when they catch the
breeze they cool the interior down.”
Clothing in India is quite different
than American summer clothing, for
practical and traditional reasons.
Indian men and women wear long,
loose-fitting, cotton garments rather
than shorts and tank tops. Women
generally wear a sari and men a
dhoti. Both of these garments are
long pieces of fabric which wrap
loosely around the body to form a
skirt, or sometimes in a man’s case a
pair of trousers. A woman may drape
the end of her sari over her head.
The cotton remains breathable while
providing a protective shield from
the sun.
Indeed, clothing that provides
more coverage is extremely helpful
not only in the dry heat of India, but
also in tropical heat. During high
school I visited Ecuador with my
family. In Quito, the country’s capitol,
a person is elevated to an impressive
nine thousand feet above sea
level and is vulnerable, in the thin
atmosphere, to the sun’s rays. I
observed the younger senoritas to
get a clue as to what I should be
wearing. I saw flowing skirts, longsleeved
shirts and jackets made of
linen and cotton. Imitating these
young women, I managed to not
only stay cool during my travels, but
also to avoid sunburn altogether
(quite a feat for this Irish- and
Norwegian-blooded girl).
It is not only the Indians and
Ecuadorians, of course, who subscribe
to the tradition of wearing
long, loose-fitting clothing to beat
the heat. In Malaysia, men and
women wear sarongs, long pieces of
fabric which wrap around the body,
and long-sleeved shirts. In Vietnam,
a fan, and travel to the countryside
to take advantage pools and beaches,
and efficient huts called bahay kubo.
“The roof is usually made from
dried palm fronds, and the rest of
the house from bamboo,” Mark illustrates.
“Wide open windows and
bamboo slats enable air to circulate
free through the walls and floor.”
Furthermore, Filipino people
“don’t normally go out from midday
to early afternoon,” Mark explains,
because “everyone’s busy taking siestas.”
Siestas. So many people in our
world fit the afternoon nap into
their schedules. Of course, this phenomenon
does not only occur in
tropical and hot desert nations.
Indeed, most countries in Southern
Europe (at one time Northern
Europe too) organize their schools
and businesses to include the afternoon
nap. This intelligent practice,
while improving the attitudes of
businesspeople and students, allows
people to go home and rest during
the hottest time of the day in the
summer.
My college advisor Rebecca
Brown, who somehow manages to
be a fabulous resource no matter
what I’m doing, reminded me of the
saying, “Only mad dogs and
Englishmen go out in the midday
sun.” This, she said, comes from
British India, where the only individuals
who are out on the streets
between noon and four are tourists.
There is a lot of activity after dark,
rather than during the scorching
day. “Shops stay open, and the
streets seem busier at night, particularly
in the hottest season,” she
explains.
Rebecca, a scholar of South Asian
art and architecture, lives in
Virginia. She has spent a good deal
of time in and around India to do
research, and her observations of
Indian architecture are detailed and
interesting:
“Most buildings in India don’t
have air conditioning (although it’s
becoming more common in upper
and middle-class urban contexts).
Living in a
Hothouse
Dealing With Heat:
Around the World and On the Hill
BY JULIA OLDHAM
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 21
both men and women wear loose
trousers and jackets, and often
women will wear the traditional ao
dai, which is a very long coat-like
garment worn over trousers. In
Epygt, a man wears loose trousers
and a full shirt called a galabiyah,
while a woman wears long, flowing
dresses and skirts.
The pace in many hot countries is
a bit slower than the hustle and bustle
of many American cities. Alex
Huttinger, an artist on Capitol Hill
with Puerto Rican heritage, describes
how “things move slowly, at least on
foot.” She refers to this phenomenon
as “Puerto Rico time.” This is not to
say that people don’t get work done
in Central and South America.
Rather, individuals in Puerto Rico
and other hot countries take the
time to adjust to the heat, and are
probably more productive than your
typical American on a sweltering day
in July.
Alex explains that “small towns
are filled with Helado [a bit like sorbet]
and Piragua [of the snow cone
family] street vendors on the corners.”
Here in the states, such luxuries
are only found in sections of the
big cities that are well-traveled by
tourists.
Maureen Keffer is a Georgetown
student who has spent the last year
studying in Argentina and traveling
much of South America, including
Chile and Brazil. She describes
“drinking ice-cold coconut milk
from a straw poked right into the
coconut.” While this drink, Maureen
assures me, “is a miraculous godsend
of a hangover cure,” it is also a very
natural way to cool down that seems
almost too simple for our over-caffeinated,
processed-drink-and-foodloving
country.
Tips for Staying Cool
We wear the wrong clothes in the
summer. Our architecture doesn’t
efficiently air condition itself. We
move too quickly and forget to enjoy
the simple things. We believe that
taking a midday nap is a lazy act. It is
likely these facts won’t change.
So, how are we supposed to survive
the killer heat waves and suffocating
humidity? The National
Center for Environment Health
offers some helpful tips:
• Most importantly, we should
drink more fluids and limit our
intake of caffeine and alcohol. While
it might seem like a great idea to beat
the heat with a cold beer or an iced
coffee, these drinks really cause you
to lose fluid.
• During extreme heat, stay
indoors with either air conditioning
or multiple fans. Keeping your body
cool for an hour or two can help you
to stay cool for the rest of the day.
• Take a cool shower or bath if you
don’t have access to air conditioning.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
• Don’t ever leave a human or animal
in a closed car.
• Check up on people who might
be at risk for heat-related illnesses,
especially children, the elderly, physically
or mentally ill individuals, and
outdoor pets.
• Limit outdoor activity, especially
exercising, to morning and evening
hours.
• Rest in shady areas.
• Wear a brimmed hat, sunglasses
and sunscreen if you must be out in
the sun.
There are many illnesses that can
result from overheating. These
include heat stroke, heat cramps,
heat exhaustion, heat rash, and sunburn.
While some of these illnesses
are more serious than others, all of
them are harmful and unpleasant.
For a description of each illness, prevention
and treatment tips, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extreme
heat/default.htm.
It’s in the Air
Extreme summer heat in carcrammed
American cities gives rise
to bad air quality, which can also be
very harmful to people and animals.
When the powerful summer sunlight
reacts with hydrocarbons,
nitrogen oxides, auto emissions,
evaporating paints and byproducts
of combustion, a reactive form of
oxygen called ozone is formed.
While ozone is helpful for filtering
harmful rays in the stratosphere,
ground level ozone is quite dangerous.
Ozone affects our respiratory systems,
and may cause long-term damage
to lung tissues. The effect of
ozone is particularly bad on children,
whose respiratory systems are
still developing, and the elderly,
whose immune systems are weaker
than those of younger adults. Ozone
can aggravate asthma and cause
infections.
Clean Air Partners suggests that
on hot, summer days, city residents
should wait to refuel cars until
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VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
22 www.voiceofthehill.com
your flowers, much less at noon,
when water is likely to evaporate
before it hits your petunias.
Why hasn’t D.C. adopted some
water regulations for this summer?
It’s a mystery. I’ve witnessed many
sprinklers on full-blast at midday.
I’ve seen glistening, soapy cars in my
neighborhood. Worst of all, I’ve seen
fire hydrants, opened for recreational
purposes, spilling thousands of
gallons of water onto the street.
Scientist dad Nile Oldham claims
that “this water does not return to
the water table, because it does not
seep far enough into the earth;
rather, it evaporates and humidifies
the air, which is blown from West to
East. It is then rained into the
ocean, where it becomes salt water.
evening. Put off mowing the lawn,
painting, and other activities that
emit volatile organic compounds
and nitrogen oxides. Of course, try
to drive as little as possible. Carpool,
combine errands, and make a bag
lunch instead of driving to a restaurant!
For more information, visit
their site at http://www.cdc.gov/
nceh/hsb/extremeheat/default.htm.
The Water Issue
Heat and bad air quality are exacerbated
this summer by a general lack
of rain. Many cities in Maryland and
Virginia have gone to great lengths
to regulate water use, especially during
the day. In Frederick, Maryland,
for instance, you wouldn’t be caught
dead washing your car or watering
for recreation: weekends and
evenings on the mall, Lemon Ice
Bomb Pops, iced tea on restaurant
patios, kayaks on the Potomac, journeys
to the arboretum, Frisbees in
the park.
In this temperate zone of the mid-
Atlantic, it’s easy to see summer as
“just another season” in our variable
year. Summer time can be precious;
it seems to fly by for students on
break, hot weather lovers, beach
bums, and lemonade fanatics alike.
It is so easy, though, to let the summer
slip away. How do we take
advantage of the hot days and survive
to tell our kids about it?
With such rich cultural diversity
in our capital and on the Hill, there
are certainly a handful of people living
here who really know how to
embrace the sunshine and warmth.
Some of the scattered, native seasonal-
types, running around in all the
wrong clothes (and that includes
me), just might be able to pick up a
few hints from neighbors who are in
the know.
Writer Julia Oldham beats the heat at
her home in Northeast D.C.
Unfortunately, until we find an efficient
means of desalinating vast
quantities of salt water, this is a net
loss of fresh water. Ninety-eight percent
of water on the earth is salt
water. Only 2% is fresh water, and
only .3% of fresh water is usable,
because the rest is locked up in ice.”
Depletion of fresh water is not out
of the question. It’s happening right
now in Tampa, Florida, where
attempts to desalinate water from
the Gulf of Mexico are being executed.
China is buying glacier water
from Alaska to combat fresh water
depletion.
We in the States do not have one
of the more sustainable systems of
water conservation in the world. In
Japan, there are two flushing modes
for the toilet: ookii (big) and chisai
(small). In most of Europe, water is
collected from rooftops in cisterns.
This used to be a common practice
here in the U.S.A., but it has practically
disappeared.
‘Just Another Season?’
However, rants about heat, draught
and ozone temporarily aside, summer
here in our city is a great time
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We wear the wrong clothes in the summer. Our architecture
doesn’t efficiently air condition itself. We move too quickly and
forget to enjoy the simple things. We believe that taking a midday
nap is a lazy act. It is likely these facts won’t change.
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
www.voiceofthehill.com 23
sixth month–after him. Back then
the Roman calendar year began in
March, and months alternated evenly
between 30 and 31 days. Since July
had 31 days, the Senate wanted
Augustus’ month to equal it. To solve
the problem they “borrowed” a day
from February.
‘Did That Really Happen in
August?’
During the past 2000 years, numerous
events–good and bad—have
occurred during this month. In late
August 1992, Hurricane Andrew terrorized
the East coast. A year earlier,
in the old Soviet Union, the “Gang
of Eight” attempted a coup against
Gorbachev’s government. On August
9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the
first American President to resign
from office. And on August 1, 1914,
World War I began. On August 6 and
9, 1945, the first atomic bombs were
detonated over Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. The evening of August 31,
1997, Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed
were killed in a car crash in Paris.
More 20th-Century August
happenings:
• 1920: American women won the
right to vote.
• 1926: A 19-year-old New Yorker,
Gertrude Ederle became the first
women to swim the English
Channel, accomplishing the feat in
14 hours, 31 minutes.
• 1939: The Wizard of Oz premiered
in Hollywood.
August in
Washington—
you either love
it or hate it;
there appears to be little middle
ground. You swelter as the mercury
flirts with the 100 mark with humidity
to match. However, you can usually
find a parking space in front of
your home, even when returning
from an O’s game late at night. It
just might be possible to fry an egg
on the sidewalk (every year, some
newscaster pulls this stunt), but you
can usually snag a table at your
favorite restaurant without a reservation
or even a wait.
Whether you love or loath August,
consider its history. July and August
are the only months named for
Roman rulers, which is just as well.
The month of July, as every school
child should know, is named for
Julius Caesar, who reformed the
rather chaotic Roman calendar. See
what thanks they offered poor Julius
the very next year, stabbing him to
death on the steps of the Senate (no
good deed goes unpunished).
The new Roman calendar went
into effect on January 1, 45 BC, and
remained in use for the next 1600,
years until Pope Gregory made further
reforms in 1582. After Caesar’s
grand-nephew Augustus defeated
Mark Anthony and Cleopatra–thus
becoming Emperor of Rome—the
Senate decided to name sextilis— the
after National Smile Week (August 4-
10).
And duffers should practice their
putting, since August is also Golf
Month, with the 14th designated as
Puttering Around Day. Rock collectors
are also honored, and oldsters
who remember pet rocks of the
1970s should retrieve them from the
attic and dust them off in time for
Pet Rock Day on the 14th. Orville
Wright’s birthday is the 19th, and
speaking of innovations, August is
also National Invention Month. So
start thinking–maybe a new kind of
air conditioner that doesn’t conk out
on the hottest day of the year?
August on the Hill
What do Capitol Hill residents think
of August? Does everyone plan to
clear out, or are some folks sticking
around to enjoy the relative solitude?
Rob Rexroth of Doolittle’s pet
shop is fairly non-committal.
“August is a last-minute scramble for
summer vacation,” he said, adding
that his shop has to juggle the
schedules of eight employees. “And
kids are going back to school.”
Customer Christy Cunningham-
Adams, who works for the U.S.
Capitol and lives nearby, shared her
thoughts while purchasing dog food
for her poodle, Pico. “I like August,”
she said. “It’s quiet. I come from
Boston, and at first it was hard getting
used to Washington heat...I
wondered how people could live
here. Now, I’m used to it...we have
air conditioning, so what’s the big
deal? I also loved August in Rome,
where I lived for 11 years. The shops
were closed; people were away; it was
serene.”
Down the street at Clothes
Encounters consignment shop,
employee Connie Shade had this to
say: “I kinda like August because it’s
the pinnacle of summer....but it sure
is hot!” Mused customer Nicky Lane,
who was purchasing a blouse: “I’m
more of an April-May person, but
maybe I’m prejudiced because I was
born in April.” Although Lane lives
in Maryland, she’s a regular at
Clothes Encounters.
Across the street, Eastern Market
vendor Johanna Baker was displaying
colorful woven and beaded artwork
from South Africa. “I’m one of
the rare people who like D.C. summers,”
she said, as she arranged colorful
plates and bowls on her table.
“I don’t mind the humidity. I think
it’s a really relaxed time....people
leave town, and there’s no traffic!
Hawking Carolina corn, tomatoes,
mushrooms and other seasonal produce
was Dan Donahue (check out
his realistic looking turtle floating in
a tub). He injects a note of philosophy
to the discussion. “I have [a
sense of] ambivalence,” he says.
• 1959: Hawaii was proclaimed our
50th state.
• 1961: Seemingly overnight, the
Berlin Wall went up, separating the
city between east and west.
• 1963: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
delivered his famous “I have a
Dream” speech at the Lincoln
Memorial.
• 1969: Thurgood Marshall was
appointed to the Supreme Court;
that same month and year, more
than 400,000 revelers gathered at
Woodstock..
• 1989: Pete Rose was banned from
baseball for alleged gambling activities.
• 1990: Iraqi troops invaded
Kuwait.
Now for the present. On August
15, Julia Child, who taught America
how to cook, turns 90 years old, and
restaurants around the country will
salute her with festive, gourmet dinners.
Coming up August 23 is the
27th Annual Christmas in August
concert held at the Sylvan Theater.
Sponsored by WETA, the free outdoor
event has become a
Washington tradition. Featuring The
Air Force Band and Singing
Sergeants, Christmas in August was
inaugurated during a heat wave in
1971 by the late radio host Bill Cerri.
August 11 is Kite Day, and we hope
the sluggish air can stir up enough of
a breeze for kite-flying. It’s also
National Foot Health Month, and on
the 13th everyone is invited to wiggle
their toes (they might want to get
a pedicure first). That comes right
August in Washington
Love It Or Hate It, Everyone’s Got an Opinion of this
Sweltering Month
BY CELESTE MCCALL
“The weather drives you crazy, but
the streets are deserted, the money
and people all go to the beach....and
the Red Sox start losing.”
Added computer consultant Pat
Zanora, who has repaired my recalcitrant
computer several times and
whose air conditioner was on the
fritz: “It’s the HUMIDITY!” he
gasped, mopping his brow.
Paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson
was photographer Jake McGuire,
who lives in Arlington. He offers his
patriotic, framed prints Saturdays at
the outdoor flea market: “Jefferson
said that August is the time to get
out of Washington,” he said. “It’s
like a swamp.” (Actually, it was a
swamp, as Pierre L’Enfant discovered
when he laid out our city 200 years
ago).
At Alvear Studio on Eighth Street
(Barracks Row), co-owner Francisco
Pliego agrees. “August is NOT one of
my favorite months,” he said,
adding that since August is their
slowest time, he and partner Chris
Alvear can do the store’s Christmas
buying in Guadalajara and then join
friends in their vacation house in
nearby San Miguel.
Said my husband Peter McCall, a
reverse commuter who drives to
Virginia each day: “There’s less traffic
in August. But at work, sometimes
it’s hard to get information when
VOICE of the Hill /August 2002
24 www.voiceofthehill.com
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