COMMUNIT-E IS BACK
After I uninstalled Outlook Express, disengaged Outlook 97, and then
replaced them with Netscape Communicator, things began to get much
better. While the individual techhies at Microsoft seemed genuinely
willing to be helpful, their programs just didn't work for me. In fact,
with the exception of Excel, it seems to me that most Microsoft programs
that I have tried are rather complicated and cumbersome to use. In
addition, the folks at Netscape received e-mail requests for help and
responded via free e-mail with good advice. I had to pay for phone
technical support from Microsoft and it was beginning to add up when I
gave up.

If you sent a notice and it does not appear in this issue of COMMUNIT-E,
please resend it. It may have been lost in the various installing and
uninstalling that was going on last week.
 
 

EARTH DAY WEEKEND CLEANUP ALONG WISCONSIN AVENUE
In continuation of the Wisconsin Avenue Beautification Project,
volunteers are being called on to help clean, plant, weed, etc. on
Saturday, April 21 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm.  Bring gloves and favorite
gardening tools. The group will meet at Fessenden and work south along
the avenue. Donation of funds for new plants and mulch would be much
appreciated, as would donation of the following plants: liriope,
fountain grass, black-eyed susans, daylillies.  Contact  Ralph at
686-9550 or Kersti at 966-8837.
 
 

JOINT BOOK SALE
Friends of the Tenley Library and the Janney School PTA are holding a
sale at the Library on Saturday, April 28. It runs from 9 to 10 am for
members only, and then from 10am  to 5pm for the general public. It will
continue on Sunday, April 29 from 11 am to 4 pm in the Hechinger/Sears
Building.
 
 

MOTHERS DAY PLANT SALE
**** From: Copingptnr@aol.com (Susan Beale)
On Mothers Day, Sunday, May 13, there will be a plant sale all morning
at St. Columba's Church, 4201 Albemarle St. NW.  We offer organic
flowers, vegetables, and herbs, hand grown in AU Park.  Proceeds go to
support a church mission in Honduras.  On good weather days, the sale is
on the balcony right in front of the church.
 
 

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING?
I missed both the last AUPCA meeting and the ANC3E meeting. Would
someone like to send me a brief note on the highlights of those meetings
so that I can share it with the COMMUNIT-E  readers?  Thank you -- Kathy
Smith
 
 

DECLINE OF OUR CHICKEN OUT
**** From: howcroft@msn.com (David Howcroft)
Having been an early convert to the Chicken Out Restaurant when it
opened in Spring Valley several years back; I have noticed a general
decline in it overall. The place appears to be mismanaged, disorganized,
questionable food, and slow service. In other words, it's sinking in
status from a viable culinary choice to a ranking close to a chain fast
food joint.  I was encouraged to see my suspicions confirmed when the
vigilant DC Health Dept closed it on March 14th for "plumbing fixtures
in poor repair, unclean food contact surfaces and equipment, improper
temperatures of potentially hazardous foods and uncovered and
unprotected food products on display" (Wash Post 3/22). Hopefully this
will be a wake-up call for the Chicken Out, otherwise let them move on -
AU Park & Spring Valley deserve better.
 
 

TIPS FROM POLICE FROM BEAT 26 NEWSLETTER
The following are some tips from the 1D police for victims of street
crime.  They are from the Beat 26 newsletter on Capitol Hill:
--  Notify police as soon as possible after you have been a victim of a
robbery, etc.  We have had good success in apprehending the perpetrators
if we can get in the area within the first few
minutes of the offense occurring.
-- Try to remember as much descriptive information as possible about the
suspects.  For example
the shoes suspects wear.  This may sound silly, however as the suspect
flees he often discards his shirt or jacket but always keeps his shoes
on.  We have had successful prosecutions based initially on the type of
shoe the suspect wore!

For the first time in a long time, there were no robberies reported in
PSA 202 during the entire month of March. MPD detectives have been busy.
But please keep the above tips in mind for future  crimes.
 
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Spring and Summer are always busy times for home clean-up, fix-up and
repair projects. Because of the many requests I receive, I'm rerunning
the community recommendations that appeared in the last Street Smart,
the Winter issue. For recommendations that appeared in COMMUNIT-E issues
after the Winter Street Smart, check back issues on the ANC3F Web Site
at: http://www.dc.net/maudlin/communit-e.html.

As the police tell us often: It's a bad idea to hire someone who comes
to your door, looking for work. Professional tradesmen don't do that but
scammers and thieves do it frequently.

The following are excerpts from recommendations sent in by readers of
COMMUNIT-E.
---Auto Body Work:
** From: Judie Guy, gpgazed@aol.com -- I recommend Petrovitch at 14th &
Florida.
---Bicycle Repair:
** Hudson Trail Outfitters at Brandywine and Wisconsin.
---Brick & Concrete Work:
** From: sellis@pd.state.gov (Ellis, Susan) -- Alphonso Gibbs,
301-499-0259.
** C. L. Williams at 301-397-4692 (beeper) or 301-856-4967.  He does
painting,
cement, driveways, sidewalks, block & brick work, and hauling.
---Cabinet Maker:
** Jeff Seeley at 363-4151 or 882-8001.
---Carpenter,  Contractor,  Handyman:
** From: mark@healthquick.com (Mark DeSimone) -- Dwight Peters (drywall,
woodwork, etc.)  301-802-2236
** From: Deborah C. Fort, FortsKDC@cs.com -- carpenter and handyman
Marcotulio
Orellana and his company 'The Home Doctor.' 301-942-7768. Cell phone:
240- 604-4742.
** From:  roths@sprintmail.com (Laura Roth) -- carpenter Dusan Bucany at
301-933-0203.
** From: Kriegi@aol.com -- Mark Verna at 301-891-2854.
---Caterer:
** From: jenrose1@yahoo.com (Jennifer Rose) -- Jerry Hollinger of
Jerry's catering. His number is 387-7531.
---Childbirth Classes:
** From: Cellia412@aol.com -- Karen van Loon's Birth Works class. She
teaches here in Friendship Heights and can be reached at
KarenvanL@aol.com or 686 6463.
---Electricians:
** Kevin Rozier at 841-8021.
** From: mark@healthquick.com (Mark DeSimone) -- Fairfax Electric (ask
for John) - 301-855-5949
** From: jenrose1@yahoo.com (Jennifer Rose) -- Evan Bestland at
301-424-0130.
**   From: skodon@zzapp.org (Emil Skodon) -- Crescent Electric at
363-7100.
---Furniture Refinishing:
**  From: Dderman527@aol.com (Connie Derman) -- Steve Yoder, S&S
Woodcrafts, Mechanicsville, MD (Southern Maryland, below Waldorf).
Steve is Amish, originally from Lancaster, PA. He does not pick up or
deliver (no car; only horse and buggy);  he also has no telephone in his
home; but a message can be left for him after 6 at 301-472-4962 - or a
note can be mailed to him at 26759 Thompsons Corner Road,
Mechanicsville, MD  20659. It takes about l-l/2 hours to drive to his
home. His charges are at least one-half of the local rates.
---Interior Decorator:
**  From: Lberger728@aol.com (Lisa Berger) --  Shari Daniels in Bethesda
at 301-654-1654.
---Painters:
** From: egreenhunter@juno.com (Elinor Green Hunter) -- Cris
Asimakopoulos of  H&A Paint Inc.--  301-942-1140
** From: jbachman@aiadc.org (Bachman, Janet) -- John the Painter --
703-560-6659.
** From: roths@sprintmail.com (Laura Roth) -- Danny Rodgers (City &
Suburban
Decorators)
** From: fabullock@erols.com (Fred and Betty Bullock) -- Tenleytown
Painting 244-2325.
** Gray Phillips at Paint-Tech-Solutions, 301-948-3434 or
pgray@erols.com.
** From: gators1@erols.com (Michelle & Ren  LeRouzes) -- Alex Santos --
Alex & Sons, via the Northwest Current.
---Pest Control:
** From: Rubacats@aol.com (Kelly Rubenstein) -- Alan Cohen of
Bio-Logical Pest Management 237-7509.  Used "organic" approach to
getting rid of wasps.
**  From: NancyLeRoy@aol.com -- I called the DC rat control office and
they sent a guy out with heavy duty rat poison.  If that's a problem,
call the GT exterminating people at 338-KILL.  They can set cages with
bait, etc.  They removed the beavers from the Tidal Basin.
---Pet Care,  Dog Walkers & House Sitters:
** From a flier delivered to my house: My name is Alex Fossi and I am
willing to take care of pets, get your mail for you, and do other
necessary jobs. I am 13 and going into 8th grade at St. Albans. I have
some past experience with pet and house sitting. I have taken care of
fish for many years and enjoy spending time with pets. If you want more
information about my services, call me at 364-8106.
**  From:  Lberger728@aol.com  (Lisa Berger) -- I'm looking for a
neighborly cat-lover: Does anybody around 41st and Garrison have cats
and want to swap cat sitting with me when we're away?  Send me a note:
LBerger728@aol.com.
---Plumbers:
** From: Cristine.A.Romano@usdoj.gov -- John C. Dorsey plumbing, 6100
Rhode Island Ave Riverdale, MD 301-927-7100.
** W.F. Collins at 301-654-9294.
---Referrals And Repair Services:
** From: Robmayers@aol.com  --  HOME CONNECTIONS,  a free referral
service for all kinds of home repairs, etc.  All of their referrals have
been checked out, (kind of like Washington Consumer Checkbook).
301-565-5902 OR 1-888-POINT-ME.
** From: Kriegi@aol.com (Ethel Kriegsfeld) -- DELBE Home Services.
Whenever anything goes wrong anywhere in or out of the house I call them
and they send good craftspeople at fair prices.  Phone Number: 237-0187.
**  From: Robmayers@aol.com --  www.servicemagic.com. I have used a
variety of service/repair people through them.
---Roofers:
** Jack's Roofing Company, Inc. 301-585-4985
** From: Lberger728@aol.com  (Lisa Berger) -- Troy at D&M Roofing.
301-948-0100.
** From: howcroft@msn.com (DavidHowcroft) --  John Gwynn on
301-530-6169.
** From: jcanon@earthlink.net (John Canon) -- Steve Piccirelli at Maggio
Roofing
301-341-4666.
---Shoes & Shoe Devices And Solutions For Problem Feet:
** Steve Fletcher, the Manager at Richey & Company shoe store at the
small shopping center at Wisconsin & Western. He is a Pedorthist--
someone trained to figure out what you need in or on your shoes to help
your foot problem. Their phone # is 301-951-4945.
---Tree Trimming:
**  From: akgulian@ix.netcom.com (Laura Akgulian) -- Wayne Anderson at
301-926-6281.
---Window Washers:
**  Kirk Weever at 301-774-7258
** From: fabullock@erols.com (Fred and Betty Bullock) -- Window Washers
at 337-0351.
** From: willie@his.com (Willie Schatz)-- I use "We do Windows," at 301
946-3697.
---Window, Frame, and Cord Repair:
** Blaines Windows at 301-933-1310 -- for all types of window repairs.

About these recommendations: Since different customers can have
different experiences, it would be a good idea to ask the individual you
want to hire for several references. Then check those references. None
of these recommendations are guaranteed.