My thanks to all of you who gave me information about other internet
providers. I'll be contacting several of those providers over the next few
weeks, looking for the one that can best support COMMUNIT-E.  In the
meantime, I'll mark the end of every newsletter.  -- KS
 
 

POSSIBLE INTENT TO ROB. HAS ANYONE SEE THIS MAN?
From:   Albuckberg@AOL.COM
An unknown person was looking around on our screened in porch in the back of
our house on 45th Street in AU Park. We were eating in our dining room when
my husband noticed him. Perhaps sensing my husband's gaze, the man left and
went to the street where he got in the passenger side of a small black SUV
with Maryland tags. The car left immediately so there was evidently someone
in the driver's seat.
The man who was on the porch was black, approximately 5'10", with short curly
hair and a closely cropped beard.  Has anyone seen this man or the van?
 
 

AU CAMPUS PLAN ZONING COMMISSION HEARING
From:   dmcmullin@juno.com (Donald E McMullin)
The next Zoning Commission hearing concerning the AU 10-Year Campus Plan
will be held on Feb.26 at 7 PM.  As with the Feb. 15 hearing, it will
take place in Room 210 South, 441 Fourth Street NW. (This is the new
large building with the mayor's offices at the outlet of the Judiciary
Square Metro.)

"The American University has proposed a 10-Year Plan that, if approved by
the DC Zoning Commission ... would allow excessive building on
Massachusetts Avenue and the Tenley Campus, greatly heightened traffic on
our streets, more demand for on-street parking, and uncontrolled growth
of its campus population."

Please come and learn more about the issues in this matter. Your presence
will make a big difference.
 
 

RESPONSE TO ST. COLUMBA'S/HECHINGER'S RUMOR
From: Anonymous
I'm a pretty active parishioner at St. Columba's, and I can tell you that the
church has NO PLANS to acquire the Hechinger site. A big church such as St.
Columba's (3,000 parishioners) always feels pressed for space, but any
reference to the Hechinger site that's been bandied about at church is truly
only in a "wouldn't it be nice if . . ." context. In fact, it's more like a
running joke than anything else. Our operating budget comes in at millions
and millions and MILLIONS of dollars less than the Hechinger asking price,
plus we have no endowment to speak of. Buying Hechinger's would take a true
miracle -- a monetary version of the loaves and fishes story.
 
 

RESPONSE TO PARKING GARAGE IDEA AT TENLEYTOWN
From:   carolynlong@earthlink.net (Caroline Long)
Regarding people from outside the neighborhood parking on our
residential streets and the suggestion that additional parking be provided at
the Sears/Hechinger site: I'm curious to know if the parking garage right
beside
the Metro (above Fresh Fields and Hollywood Video) is already filled to
capacity. If not, why aren't these folks using it? I would guess that, if
they
can get away with it, they will park for free on the street rather than pay
to
park in a garage, and that adding another garage won't prevent them from
doing
it.
 
 

NCPC ANTENNA ROUNDTABLE POSTPONED
From:   johnl@erols.com (Ann Loikow)
Because of the snow the NCPC cancelled the hearing on the
revised Federal Environmental Element to the Comprehensive Plan.  I will
let you know when it is rescheduled.  NCPC staff told me they would
reschedule it for sometime in the next 2-3 weeks.

Only FOUR people had signed up to testify.  It is very important that we
get a LOT more.  I have heard that the draft EMF provisions are somewhat
controversial, particularly with the Congressional representatives on
NCPC.  As you may remember, Congress (Sen. Daschle) added a rider to the
DC appropriations bill in July 1999 removing DC's and NCPC's
jurisdiction over siting of antennas in Rock Creek Park and deeming the
National Park Service recommendation to be sufficient approval.

The DC Comprehensive Plan consists of Federal and District elements and
the DC Zoning Regulations are required by the Home Rule Act to "not be
inconsistent with" the Comprehensive Plan.  The draft revised Federal
Environmental Element contains for the first time a discussion and
federal policies on radiofrequency electromagnetic field emissions from
antennas.  Thanks to Phil Mendelson, the District environmental element
contains some brief mention of the issue and the need for application of
the principle of "prudent avoidance."

You can view the NCPC draft at:
http//www.ncpc.gov/planning_init/EnvironmentDraft.pdf
See pages 16-17, 30-31, and 44.  You can order a paper copy from the
NCPC by calling James Russell at
202-482-7248.

Among the provisions of the draft are: P. 30:
"It is in the federal interest to:
1.) Minimize the exposure of federal employees and the public to
electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

2.) Protect the health and welfare of the public by ensuring that
transmitting antennas are installed and operate in accordance with applicable
FCC standards.

3.) Conform with the intent of NEPA in evaluating major federal actions
involving radiofrequency emissions.

Federal Policies:
Federal action in the Region should conform to the following policies:

1.) Precautions should be taken in locating and operating  transmitting
antennas because of the potential for adverse radiofrequency emission
effects. ...

3.)  To minimize possible  EMF exposure and to better control and monitor
emissions, federal agencies are encouraged to reduce the number of antennas.
This could be done by arranging for joint use of antennas and consolidating
antennas at one location (e.g., antenna farms) where possible.  [Note: we
should oppose antenna farms like Tenley in populated areas.] ...

5.) Where there are multiple transmitters at a site, federal agencies should
evaluate the overall cumulative effects of all transmitters.

6.)  With respect to rooftop environments and multiple on-site transmitters,
adequate interior building attenuation measures should be incorporated to
reduce EMF field penetration into the
interior habitable areas of the building.

7.) Federal agencies are encouraged to seek information on EMF
radiation-related health and safety issues, ....

8.)Federal agencies are encouraged to implement a policy of "prudent
avoidance" in locating new antennas on property they control.  This suggests
that federal agencies reduce the exposure of workers and the public to EMFs
where they may be prevalent, including those from power lines, antennas,
equipment and other recognized sources of EMF emissions. ...."
Ann  Loikow
202-363-6658
 
 

NEW VIRUSES TO WATCH OUT FOR
From:   Blecherm@aol.com
Beware of  "A Virtual Card for You" and  "An Internet Flower For You."
Don't open either; just delete them.
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: billrogers@bigfoot.com (Bill Rogers)
It would  help greatly if the city removed the leaves from the street as
promised.  My neighbor raked out their leaves on schedule at Davenport @ River
Rd., but the city never removed them, so they migrate towards the drain!  The
drain on the east side of River Rd. at Davenport has always been clogged and
water backs up when it rains causing a traffic hazard for all cars charging
down the hill and into the water at high speed.  To whom should we address
concerns that the city clear out a storm drain?
 
**** From: MGB PA (Margaret Beveridge)
Does anyone have the name for a stove repair company?
My "Crown" stove needs help and this brand is no longer available.

**** From: Fds3987649 (Mr. D'silva)
The delivery service of Flowers from FTD.Com through Internet ONLINE orders
is just pathetic and sorrowful. OnValentines Day the flowers finally showed
up after 7:30pm when I had to take my wife for a dinner, in spite of ordering
on internet 5 days in advance, and request delivery before 1:00pm, received
return confirmation about the delivery from Customer service. On 14th
(Valentine's Day) I called the Customer Service toll-free number, I was on
wait for 25 minutes. This is just ridiculous, inspite of having about 5 FTD
Florist in driving distance in our neighbourhood.

**** From: Brennan.Ross@epamail.epa.gov
As a result of a request you posted in Communit-E, I got some good
recommendations from neighbors about gutter cleaning services.  I thought
I'd pass along their recommendations for a future issue of Communit-E.
(Late in the season, sorry.)  I've included folks' e-mail addresses where
they specifically gave me permission to do so.  Note that the first three
are all for Winstons (but w/ different phone numbers).

jfkhoury@erols.com: We use Winston's gutter cleaning service twice a year.
They're not cheap ($60 - 80) but they do a good job and fix the gutters
as needed as they clean them.  301-986-1804

hier@biddhier.com:  We've been using Winston's Gutter Service for many
years.  I call them, they come within 2 weeks, we don't have to be home,
then they bill us.  They also do windows as a separate service.  The phone
number is 301-986-1804.

csigler@dimuro.com:  I use Winston Gutters and they are very good.  Their
number is (301) 530-8595.  I think they are backed up right now as this is
their busy season, but it might be worth calling them.

A Brandywine St. neighbor:  We have been using a guy named Art Schultz who
charges about $120 for the house and garage.  We have a lot of trees on
the property so we have it done at least twice a year.  The best part is
that I call him, and he comes and does it and sends me a bill-no waiting
at home, etc.  It sometimes takes a week or two for him to get to the job
but he always comes through and does a very neat and thorough job. He will
also trim shrubbery, etc.  It's a very low tech operation, however, just a
message machine, the best bet is to call him at home in the evening. (703)
273-7252

JPHIPPARD@aol.com:  We have our gutters cleaned by our lawn service, which
is Wray Bros. in Bethesda, 301-654-5845.  They also do a great job on our
lawn.

Another neighbor:  Troy at D & M Roofing at 301-948-0100.  I have found
them to be very businesslike and I had tried others before them.  They
work in essentially all weather. They will however want to use an outside
hose tap and probably would love it if you had a hose out there. But you
can talk to them about that.  They charge 35 bucks to come and evaluate,
and that is charged off against any work they do.

Another neighbor:  We use "Joe the Roofer" at 301-229-2673.  He is a
retired roofer I think and has done our gutters for years.  He also does
small roof repairs.

A neighbor on Alton Place:  We used a company called Aerotech (301)
937-6535.  They were great.
 

CONCERT REMINDER
From:   Ricebill@aol.com
Just a reminder--my wife, classical guitarist Myrna Sislen, will perform
Friday,  Feb. 23rd, 8 pm at The Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Conn. Ave.
Chevy Chase, Maryland (just north of East-West Highway), as part of the
Marlow Guitar Series.  Myrna will perform Platero y Yo. Op. 190 for narrator
and guitar with acclaimed Washington actor Alan Wade.
Call 301/654-6874 for tickets or check the web site: www.marlowguitar.org.
 

AND FINALLY . . .
Mrs. Broomfield's dishwasher quit working, so she called a
repairman. He couldn't accommodate her with an evening appointment,
and since she had to go to work the next day, she told him:
"I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher,
leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you the check.
By the way, don't worry about my Rottweiler. He won't bother
you. But, whatever you do, do not under any circumstances
talk to my parrot!"

When the repairman arrived at Mrs. Broomfield's apartment
the next day, he discovered the biggest and meanest looking
Rottweiler he had ever seen.

But, just like she had said, the dog just lay there on the
carpet, watching the repairman go about his business.

However, the whole time he was there, the parrot drove him
nuts with his incessant squawking and talking.  Finally the
repairman couldn't contain himself any longer and yelled:
"Shut up, you stupid bird!"

To which the parrot replied: "Get him, Brutus!
 

__End__