ABOUT THOSE TREES
I received about a half dozen responses about the item regarding the
trees that were cut down at 41st - Belt - Davenport. They were all
pretty much along the lines of  the following two. Thank you all for
your prompt responses:

**** From: Mitnick123@aol.com (Marla Mitnick)
I can respond to the question about the clearing of the park at Belt
Road, across from PN Hoffman's Tenley Hill townhouses. PN Hoffman, ANC
3E and the surrounding neighborhood negotiated a construction agreement
that includes provisions for relandscaping this park to make it safer,
more attractive and usable.  This was included as a benefit to the
surrounding neighborhood and we are very excited about it.

The park belongs to the National Park Service, which worked with PN
Hoffman to create a mutually agreeable landscaping plan and to identify
exactly which trees were to remain standing.  Additional trees will now
be planted. Sidewalks and curbs will be added on all sides of the park
for pedestrian safety and there will be a retaining wall built along
Davenport Street.  We had hoped to install a small playground but could
not get National Park Service approval.

While it's hard to watch trees being cut down, some were dead or dying.
Over the years this park has been a home to the homeless, a place where
people congregate for late night drinking and a source of crime.  We
hope that with people living directly across the street, good lighting
and fewer "hiding places" that many people will benefit from the
landscaping effort.  PN Hoffman will provide on-going maintenance of the
park so it will remain an inviting spot.
Marla Mitnick, 41st Street Advisory Committee representative

**** From:  "Jill Diskan" <jdiskan@worldnet.att.net>
This triangle park is National Park Service property.  As part of its
agreement with the neighbors for support of its PUD application for
Tenley Hill, PN Hoffman agreed to adopt, landscape and maintain this
park for neighhborhood use.  I believe there was concern because the
neighorhood homeless used to sleep there.
 
PN Hoffman signed an agreement with the NPS to adopt the triangle.  Its
plans for the park are on view in PN Hoffman's trailer on 41st Street,
NW
 
At one point the plan divided the park into two parts.  The north
section, adjacent to the single family houses on 41st Street, NW was to
be lowered to about four feet above 41st Street and replanted with
evergreen ground cover.  A large grass lawn would be created.  The park
will be
bisected by a path from 41st Street to Belt Road, with two sets of
stairs to the streets.  The south end of the site would maintain its
existing grade and would be replanted with additional grasses and
trees.  A new curb and new trees will be planted along Belt Road.
 
The trees that have come down are the first phase of the landscaping.  I
am told that the trees that came down were "scrub" trees and that the
largest, best trees will remain.
 
Again, people with concerns should stop by the PN Hoffman Trailer to see
the plans, or contact Tim Cooper, one of the neighbors who negotiated
the agreement with PN Hoffman.
Jill Diskan
 

 
FRIENDSHIP-TENLEYTOWN CITIZENS ASSOCIATION MEETING
From:  "kayandpaul" <kayandpaul@erols.com> (Kay McClenon)
 
Friendship-Tenleytown Citizens Association Annual Meeting and Open Forum
Tuesday, June 19, 7p.m. at the Tenley Library
The SPEAKER WILL BE DPW DIRECTOR LESIE HOTALING speaking about:
Sanitary Services -- such as solid waste collection, street and alley
cleaning
Parking Services  -- such as meter problems
Transportation Division -- street and alley maintenance and pothole
repair
Motor Vehicle Division -- permits and license plates, etc.
 
 

REMINDER - ANC3E MEETS THURSDAY, JUNE 14.
 
 

ANIMAL EMERGENCY SITUATION
From: "Free, Elissa " <Elissa.Free@turner.com>
A former colleague of mine is in a desperate situation regarding her
pets. Because of a health crisis, she is about to be evicted from her
home on Thursday, June 14th at 0:30am and has no place for her pets to
go. She is looking for temporary help (foster care) or possibly
permanent homes for:
- very sweet 7 year old, neutered male black labrador retriever
- 7 year old spayed female beagle
- 2 cats, male brothers, neutered, 3 years old (indoor cats)
If you can help or have any ideas, please let me know. Elissa Free:
elissabill@erols.com
Phone: 0-202-898-7949, H - 202-537-1434

DOUBLE PARKING NEAR JANNEY SCHOOL -- CARS MAY BE TOWED
From:  "JANICE FITZGERALD" <janfitz@starpower.net>
I wrote recently that several cars parking near Janney School have been
blocking our driveway, and wouldn't you know it, the very next day one
blocked us in when we were trying to get to the airport.  I called the
DC Police and they did ticket the car.  We were able to get out by
squeezing through and going down the curb (probably messing up our car's
alignment) and make our flight.  The officer was prepared to tow the
car, but we were in such a rush, we didn't want the tow truck to block
us further.  Can you please post something in this newsletter about this
situation?  I think the offenders need to know that they are in the
wrong, and that there will be ramifications to their actions.  Thanks,
Janice
 
 
 

MORE ON THE POLICE IMPERSONATOR AND OTHER SCAMS

**** From:  "Bonnie Gantt" <bonnie@wamu.org>
That's interesting.  About a week or so ago, a man approached me around
the corner and said the same thing.  He had one flyer and said it was
his last one and he couldn't give it to me when I asked for something in
writing.  I wrote a check instead of giving cash.  The check has not
been cashed.  Now, I know I fell for the okey-doke.

**** From:  "Wexler, Mike" <Wexler@innocon.com>
I wonder whether caller-ID or dialling *69 would have yielded the number
he was calling from, (it is probably blocked, unless he is really
stupid).

(From KS -- I wish I had remembered that by dialing *69 I might have
gotten his number if he hadn't blocked it first. Also, if I had dialed
*57 and then called 1-800-246-2800, the phone company could have traced
his call and turned the information over to the police.)

**** From:  "JANICE FITZGERALD" <janfitz@starpower.net>
I got a phone call and a pledge letter from the DC Coalition of Police
asking for a donation to support a drug and alcohol program.  I don't
remember the officer's name who called, and the pledge letter looks
legitimate at first glance. There was an address and an 800 number
listed if you have questions regarding this program.  I called and a
woman answered saying "Universal"  I asked her if this was the DC
Coalition of Police and she hesitated and said yes. Sounds fishy to me.
Hope his helps.  Janice

(From KS - I turned this information, including the address and phone
number, over to Commander Winston Robinson of 7D. He said he would get
someone on it ASAP. He said he had never heard of this organization.)

**** From: Roberta Messalle <bmessalle@erols.com>
Your e-mail on the "police" call was forwarded to me.  I thought I
should pass on information about a strange experience I had on Saturday
morning, June 9.  Someone rang my doorbell repeatedly -- about 6-7
times.  When I looked out the peephole, I saw two heavy-set women on my
front porch. While I studied them, deciding whether I should even open
the door, one left the porch and walked around the side of my house,
going to rear door.  I then opened the door and asked what they wanted.
The one in the front of the house was very nervous, tried to pick up my
garden hose, then said in extremely poor English that she wanted to know
if I wanted a Bible.  She had no Bibles, no boxes and there were no
cars, vans, etc. parked near my home that might contain Bibles.  I told
her no, and then asked what the other woman was doing in my yard, and
she then appeared and said she was 'looking at a tree" but I have no
unusual or special trees in my backyard, and even if I did, they are not
visible from the street.  I told them to leave, get off my yard, and not
to ring the doorbell like that again at my house or any other homes, it
was very annoying.  I went inside and in a few minutes called my eighbor
who said no one had come to his home.  They looked to be Eastern
European and I have ever seen them in the neighborhood before.  While I
feel like I might be "racially profiling" I couldn't help but remember a
situation a few years ago where a group of what was reported as
"gypsies" were in the area forcing their way into the homes of older
women and robbing them. I called the watch commander at 2D and left a
message about this experience.

**** From: "Buddy Yingling" <ray@usp.org>
My wife received a call similar to this one, only she didn't get that
far with it.  She will pretend she is just a babysitter when people ask
for me and it sounds like a cold call.  The guy asked for me and
wouldn't leave a message other than saying he was a police officer
soliciting for donations and he would call back later.

Also, the FOP isn't all that innocent either.  I once gave them a
donation in I think October or November, then they called in March
asking for more money.  I told them I didn't appreciate being asked for
money more than once in 6 months and asked not to be called again.  A
couple weeks later they called again.  I had to insist on speaking to a
supervisor to get put on the "do not call" list.  I asked the guy if he
was a police officer, he said no, he was from a service.  I then said
next time have a police officer call or don't call at all.  I received a
letter stating that I was on their "do not call" list shortly
thereafter.

**** From:  "Mark Stein" <abalkan@erols.com>
If I'm not mistaken, even the FOP calls are not made by police officers
themselves.  Though whether that is for economic reasons or police
policy I don't know.

**** From: NSM5221@aol.com
Hi Kathy--my business got solicited for something called DC Cops.
Later, when the FOP called they told me the DC Cops were not the Police
Dept.  Both got donations from my business but I am confused as to which
is really the DC Police.  I like to support our local programs but I
want to support only the ones that actually give back to the community.
Also I was solicited by the Fire Dept for smoke alarms.  I gave then
too.  Thanks for the right person to call to check this out.  Nancy
McClellan (Ingomar Traders, Inc.--Chevy Chase Antiques Galleria)

**** From: "Jane Khoury" <jfkhoury@erols.com>
What about the Firefighters Foundation?  Are those calls real.  They're
very aggressive. Jane Khoury
 

MY COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE -- Kathy Smith
I don't know much about the firefighter organizations. I would ask any
of my readers who do to let us know which organizations are legit.
Regarding the police and the FOP, the Fraternal Order of Police (the
Union of officers who are sergeants or below in rank):

There are a lot of bogus organizations that call themselves some kind of
police organization. I never give anything to any of them. The D.C.
Police never make cold calls asking for money, except for the FOP.  I
never give money to the FOP because, although it is a real police
union, I have never understood why I should give financial support to an
employee's union other than my own, if I belonged to one.  I  also feel
that there are times when the FOP does not act in the best interest of
the citizens. After all, its  job is to support police officers who may
be at odds with police management, for example when the Chief  is trying
to fire an officer or reassign officers to deal with an emergency
situation.  I'll probably take some heat from officer friends for saying
that, but that's my feeling. Also, the FOP uses a soliciting agency that
takes a huge cut of the money -- I believe more than 50% of the take.

Having said that, one police and firefighter organization that does not
solicit but has a good reputation is HEROES (Honor Every Responsible
Officer's Eternal Sacrifice). They provide financial assistance to
families of police and firefighters, in DC and the metropolitan area,
who are killed in the line of duty. This includes seeing that their
children can attend college.

For more information about HEROES and other legitimate police charities,
see the MPD website at WWW.MPDC.ORG.  On the left hand side of the home
page, you'll see a blue ribbon and "Heroes of the MPDC".
 
 

MORE INSTANCES OF TRASH DUMPING ON THE STREET

**** From: WeLiveInDC@aol.com (Brian Kraft)
Regarding the pile of tree trimming debris left in the 4700 block of
Chesapeake Street, we had the same thing happen about two months ago in
our alley, between Van Ness and Upton, 3600 block.

**** From: "John Borrazzo" <jborrazzo@hotmail.com>
We also have a debris pile on Murdock Mill Road between 43rd Street and
43rd Place.  I'm certain it's been dumped by a tree service.  Several
years ago, I caught someone in the act of leaving a load in front of my
house. Typically, these are relatively small pickup trucks - they drive
up, stop, and have seemingly perfected the art of gunning the engine and
getting everything to slide off the back.  It takes maybe 5 seconds -
not even enough time to get a plate number.  It seems that our
neighborhood has become a dumping ground of choice.  Now the only option
is to cajole the city into picking these piles up - I suggest going
through Kathy Patterson's office.
 
 

A COMMENT ON OFFICER SHOOTING INCIDENT
From: "Barbara R. Bergmann" <bbergman@wam.umd.edu>
RE:  OFFICER INVOLVED IN SHOOTING: I'm not Latino, but I can't let pass
the implication that we shouldn't take a shooting seriously, and that
all accusations of discrimination are unfounded assertions based on
someone's '"agenda". The case of Officer Davis will presumably be dealt
with in accordance with the evidence concerning this incident, and
testimony as to his previous character can hardly dispose of the matter.
 
 

ANC3F MEETING
From: "Robert V. Maudlin" <maudlin@alum.mit.edu>
Tentative Agenda
    ANC3F
    June 18, 2001 Meeting
    Capital Memorial Church
    3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W.
 1.)  Presentation on potential Tree and Slope Overlays and other
measures to protect neighborhood values     and the environment in
ANC3F.
 2.)  Proposed "experimental closure" of Beach Drive prior to issuance
of draft management plan for Rock Creek Park.
 3.)  Howard University West Campus noise and nuisance issues.
 4.)  DPW proposal for a test of the Edmund Burke School's  revised
traffic management plan.
 5.)  Report on Ward 3 redistricting.
 6.)  Update on Ward 3 ANC traffic issues.
 
 

RUBY TUESDAY
From: "Janet Solomon" <dr.j@erols.com>
Question:  What happened to the possibility of Ruby Tuesday, or  anyone
else for that matter coming into the old Swenson's store in the 4200
Wisconsin bldg?  That bldg has a great location but is frightfully
empty!
 
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: "Jill Diskan" <jdiskan@worldnet.att.net>
1.  Two JVC speakers and a Technics receiver - free to a good home.
2.  Well- seasoned firewood - free to whomever comes and gets it.
Contact: Jdiskan@worldnet.att.net
 
**** From: C1248@aol.com
Does anyone know of a dog walker for the week of the 27th of  June. I
can be reached at
202-686-1174. My name is Cynthia Butler and I live on 43rd Street.
 
 

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION ISSUES
I promised last week to publish comments  I have received on historical
preservation. In the interest of  keeping this issue manageable in size,
I will publish these comments in a second issue which I will put out
following this one.
 

-END-