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                            LAST STREET SMART

STREET SMART was launched in May 1991 and thrived over the past decade
with the support of the AU Park Citizens Association, ANC3E, the many
residents who took turns distributing it or called me with information,
and the 2nd District Police who provided safety tips and crime data.  As
e-mail became popular, COMMUNIT-E was born. I find that I cannot
continue to put out both newsletters and believe it is time to say
farewell to STREET SMART.

Those of you who are not interested in getting a computer, but would
like to receive COMMUNIT-E,  should know that there are several
relatively inexpensive devices available that enable you to receive and
send e-mail through your telephone wires without a computer. Some places
to look for them might be Graffiti and Radio Shack on Wisconsin Avenue,
Circuit City, or other electronics stores.

To receive COMMUNIT-E,  e-mail me at Ksmith1804@starpower.net.  Back
issues may be viewed on the ANC3F web site at www.anc3f.org.
 

The following are excerpts from the latest COMMUNIT-E:

COMMUNIT-E
November 13, 2001

CRIMES IN THE 'HOOD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO 31
(Hundred blocks shown; not actual addresses)
ROBBERY
3900 Nebraska, F&V, 10/20, 2130, sidewalk
3800 Huntington, Attempt, 10/21, 2050, sidewalk (closed)
4800 Massachusetts, Attempt, 10/19, 1238, bank
3800 Albemarle, F&V, 10/31, 1030, sidewalk
4500 Wisconsin, Attempt, 10/30, 1515, alley (closed)
4000 Chesapeake, Attempt, 10/31, 2130, sidewalk
BURGLARY
4600 Butterworth, 10/19, 1930, house
4400 39th, 10/16, 1200, house
4500 38th, 10/20, 1530, house
4600 Wisconsin, 10/11, 0300, bar
4600 Wisconsin, 10/29, 2330, bar
4700 Asbury, 10/5, 0930, house
3700 Yuma, 10/18, 0750, house
4200 Ingomar, 10/31, 0915, house
THEFT - 17 (4 closed)
THEFT FROM AUTO - 7
STOLEN AUTO - 8  (three were Attempts)
SIMPLE ASSAULT - 6 (2 closed)
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - 2
FRAUD
5200 Western, 9/21 and  10/11, 1435, department store (closed)
4600 Alton, 10/25, 1700, house
FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE WARRANT - ARREST
3900 Huntington, 10/21, 2051, sidewalk (closed)

Total for October --  57
 

SOME OTHER MONTHLY TOTALS, 2001:
January -- 68; February -- ; March -- 57; April -- ; May -- ; June
--64,  July --;  August --;
September -- 65

SOME MONTHLY TOTALS, 2000
Jan - 73;  Feb - 73;  Mar - 59;  Apr - 65;  May - 64; June - 46;  July -
51; Aug - 84;
Sep - 64; Oct - 44 (up to Oct 29).

I have read in the papers that crime has increased since September 11.
However, this does not appear to be the case in our area, with the
exception of  robberies and assaults which are up since last year.
Generally, we seem to be well within the range of normal monthly
fluctuations, compared to earlier months this year.  Stats for the above
months were easy to find. I did not bother to go back through old issues
to find all the months. But these give a good idea.

At the recent 2D Citizens Advisory Council, Commander Newsham said that
crime has gone down in 2D overall since September 11. Officers were
pulled off their normal beats for about 8 days after Sept. 11, but are
now back except for a few who have been assigned to guard the reservoir
and the Vice President's house. This latter assignment may end soon.
They are also back to normal hours after being placed on 12-hour shifts.

In response to a complaint about the 911/311 phone system, Commander
Newsham asked that anyone who has a long wait until the phone is
answered to please document the problem and send it to Chief Ramsey. He
asked that you note the time, date and length of time until the phone
was answered.

Ten pedestrians reported being struck by vehicles in 2D during the month
of October.

2D does not have enough school crossing guards. There are nine unfilled
positions that are then filled by police officers, taking them off of
other assignments to do so, twice a day.  Crossing guards are paid by
the hour. If you know anyone interested in doing this, have them contact
an official at 2D -- probably one of the Captains on 282-0032.

About 100 trucks a day are stopped for inspection, because of possible
terrorist threats.
 

NEW ASSISTANT US ATTORNEY (AUSA) AT 2D
From:"Graves, Charlene" <Charlene.T.Graves@usdoj.gov>
AUSA Cynthia Walicki-Chan is our new 2nd District attorney in the
Community Outreach Specialist office at MPD-2D (202) 514-7634 or
(282-0585)
 
HOLIDAY CRIME ALERT
As usual, this time of year brings out the pick-pockets, robbers and
other thieves. Be extra careful on the street.  There will be an
increase in officers around Wisconsin Avenue between 1:30 pm and 11:00
pm. As always, don't leave packages visible in the car.

Lt. Mark Carter said at the recent ANC meeting that his officers wrote
900 traffic tickets in October in PSA 202. They will continue to do this
to reduce speed. Military Road is next on his list of places to target.
 

ANTHRAX AND THE POLICE
2D had been getting 50 to 60 calls a day regarding Anthrax scares. He
said that if you think you have an exposure in an envelope, DO NOT bring
it to the police station.  Put a plastic bag over it, call the police,
and don't touch it again. DO NOT hand it to the arriving officer. Use
some common sense about this.
 

OTHER ITEMS AT THE ANC3E MEETING

I didn't stay for the whole meeting.  Highlights will probably be
covered in tomorrow's
Northwest Current.

One item of particular interest is that a group called the Capital Fire
Museum has submitted an application to the DC Historic Preservation
Review Board to grant historic status to 19 firehouses in DC, including
Tenleytown. The review board apparently does not recognize the letter of
agreement signed by Jean Pablo of the Tenleytown Historical Society and
Fire Chief Ronnie Few.

This will be on ANC3E's December agenda. In the meantime the
Commissioners have stated that they support the Pablo/Few agreement and
will write a letter to that effect and ask that the board not agree to
this other historical request.

In light of September 11, Anthrax, and all the rest of it, I and some
other residents think this would be good time for city and federal
officials to take a hard look at the firehouses in DC and decide whether
they want state of the art emergency services or museums. I don't think
we can have both.
 

TREES NEED WATER
From: trees@anc3f.org
Help Keep Our New Trees Alive and Healthy
Dear Neighbor,
Now that we have new trees in our neighborhood we should all work
together to keep them alive and healthy. Trees, and in particular new
trees, need water and lots of it. Without proper watering our new trees
will wither and die.

We are asking our neighbors for help with the task of watering our new
trees. You should water your new tree as often as every second or third
day and more frequently during dry periods. When watering you must soak
the area around the base of the tree and be sure the water penetrates to
the roots. A preferred method of watering is to run a hose out to the
base of the new tree and turn the hose on so that a trickle of water is
running. Allow the trickle to continue for about an hour. This will
ensure that the sapling's roots become fully saturated. If you cannot
run a hose out to the tree, other methods will work as well. These
include use of watering cans or buckets. Most likely several cans or
buckets full will be required for each watering). The important thing is
to make sure that the tree gets enough water to remain healthy and
attain full growth. We appreciate your help in this effort.
 

ANC3F NOVEMBER 19, 2001 MEETING
From: secretary@anc3f.org
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3F
November 19, 2001,  Monday at 7:30 pm, Capitol Memorial Church,
3150 Chesapeake Street, N.W.
Tentative Agenda:
--- "How You and Nearby Neighbors Can Plan Together for Emergencies"
Mr. Peter LaPort, Director, DC Emergency Management
--- Commander Peter Newsham, 2nd District, MPD
--- Proposed Historic District for 4400 and 4500 blocks of Grant Road,
N.W.
--- Public Space Permits:
Chipotle Restaurant, sidewalk café, 4301 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Bridge and retaining wall, 2800 Davenport Street, N.W.
--- Rumble strips, 2800 and 2900 Davenport Street, N.W.
For additional information and updates, see our web site:  www.anc3f.org
 

FALL CLEAN-UP
From: KColombant@aol.com
Wisconsin Avenue Beautification Project
Fall Clean Up, Saturday December 1, 1 pm - 6 pm
Celebrate Fall! Join with your neighbors to weed, plant, cut back
perennials, mulch and pick up litter along Wisconsin Ave. We will meet
at the Fessenden block. Bring your family and friends, gloves  and
favorite gardening tools: weeder, trowel, clippers or strong scissors,
rake, broom. Come for the whole afternoon or just an hour. Each minute
of work will help make Wisconsin avenue greener and cleaner.
Any questions: call Kersti at 966 8837 or Ralph at 686 9550

The Wisconsin Avenue Beautification Project is a partnership effort
among local residents, businesses, and institutions to relandscape
Wisconsin Avenue between Tenley Circle and Fessenden Street.
 

I CAN USE A SUPERCAN -- NEW USE FOR OLD CAN
From:  wheels-dc@att.net  (John Wheeler)
There has been some discussion in Communit-E about used supercans not
being picked up.  I would like another supercan, not for trash, but for
saving materials that I compost.  I have a very sophisticated urban
composting operation that works very well. I pick up bags of leaves in
the neighborhood and shred them with a leaf shredder I purchased at
Hechingers.  I also have a grinder for small sticks and things such as
magnolia cones.  Until Blue Mountain Coffee closed, I had a trash
container there in which they put coffee grounds and orange rinds (about
30 gallons a week). Anyway, I'm looking for a supercan in pretty good
condition for this.  I didn't write to Communit-E sooner, because I
responded directly to several people who said they had unneeded
cans--but I was too late.  So if anyone has an extra supercan in good
condition, please contact me via e-mail, or call at 362-6009.  Thanks.
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: "Elissa Blake Free" <elissabill@erols.com>
 Can anyone recommend a good math tutor for a Janney 5th grader? Thanks!

**** From: "Bullock, Merry" <MBullock@apa.org>
Want a reliable, honest and efficient house-cleaner? Will do one-time or
regular work. Please call Silva - 301-564-4348; references.

**** From: "Paula Barnes" <pbarnes976@starpower.net>
Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced termite exterminator?  Thanks
for your assistance.

**** Sibley Mobilizes Volunteers
From: Janbohlen@aol.com (Janet Bohlen, President, Sibley Volunteer
Service)
The events of September 11th and their aftermath, coupled with the
on-going threat of terrorism in this country have prompted Sibley
Memorial Hospital to launch a campaign to double the size of its
Volunteer Service.

A new film designed to attract volunteers for a wide variety of jobs has
just been completed and is being shown to citizens' and other groups
throughout neighboring communities.

Over the past two years the services Sibley offers have increased.  Its
obstetric and cancer care facilities have expanded, and it has opened a
long-term care wing and Grand Oaks, a retirement community next door.
As a result, the hospital's need for more volunteers was already acute.
The current national crisis makes Sibley's quest for volunteers even
more compelling. Sibley volunteers man the information desk, work in the
operating and emergency rooms, work directly with patients, their
families and the elderly, and help the administration in a variety of
other substantive ways.  Training is thorough and timely.

"There's a job here for everyone, a job to suit every interest, to suit
every schedule," says Katherine Keogh, Sibley's Director of  Volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer, or have an organization to which you
would like Sibley to present its new film, please call or write the
Director of  Volunteers at 202 537 4486 5255 Loughboro Road NW,
Washington DC 20016.

--END--
         Kathy Smith
         Phone: 966-1804