HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
This is the last COMMUNIT-E before the new year. See you in 2002.
 
 

IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS RECEIVING COMMUNIT-E
Let me know if sometimes you get the newsletter and sometimes you don't.
I've set up a special group address list for those who, because of their
AOL or MSN problems, sometimes don't get it. I'll add you to that list
and forward the latest copy to you, in addition to the one you are sent
on the regular list.
 
 

2DCAC MEETING DATE CHANGED
The January 2D CAC (Citizens Advisory Council) will meet on Wednesday,
January 9, instead of January 2. As usual it will be at 7 pm at 3320
Idaho Avenue. As of this writing it is expected that Chief Charles
Ramsey will be the guest speaker.
 
 

CRIMES IN THE 'HOOD --  December 1 to 16
ROBBERY
3800 Veazey, gun, 12/9, 0005, sidewalk
5000 Wisconsin, attempt, 12/5, 1930, bank
4500 Wisconsin, gun, 12/13, 0045, drugstore
4100 Jenifer, gun, 12/13, 2125, street
4300 Harrison, knife, 1727, sidewalk
ASSAULT
5300 Wisconsin, 12/2, 0300, street
BURGLARY
4400 Nebraska, 12/7, 1700, school
4500 Garrison, 12/14, 1630, house
4400 Faraday, 12/14, 1400, house
THEFT -- 6
THEFT FROM AUTO -- 8
Three of these were from 3700 to 3900 Chesapeake
STOLEN AUTO
4100 42nd St, 12/5, 2330, street
4400 Wisconsin, 12/2, 1600, street
4400 Garrison, 12/10, 2330, street
SIMPLE ASSAULT
3900 Chesapeake, 12/11, 1130, office
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
5200 Wisconsin, 12/2, 0300, street
3900 Chesapeake 12/3, 1530, street
4200 42nd St, 12/6, 1630, street
4200 45th, 12/8, 2100, street
MARIJUANA ARREST
4700 Belt, 12/9, 0150, street
FRAUD
5200 Western, 12/13, 1700, department store
 
 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
There has been a fair amount of sturm und drang lately on the part of
the City Council over the number of MPD officers in uniform on the
street. This is always a hot topic because the community wants to see
more officers out there and tells the Council so. The problem with this
staffing issue is that a lot of very effective police work is done in
plain clothes where the police can get to the bad guys without being
spotted a block away. When every officer on the street is in uniform,
the bad guys just stage a lookout or wait for the uniform to go by and
then commit their crimes. Some of these plain clothes units are very
specialized and very effective at what they do because they are
targeting the specific criminals doing certain crimes. No amount of
random patrolling in a police car can even begin to accomplish what
these task forces accomplish. They actually arrest the guys doing the
crimes. Believe me, a good arrest is a better deterrent than a uniform
cruising down the street.

There will never be enough officers to suit everyone. Civilians are
replacing sworn officers in desk jobs but, for some of these jobs, it
will probably take a few years to find and train a civilian to do the
job.  I doubt that the training academy will ever go completely civilian
since experience in the job is required to teach some of the courses.

I get very uneasy when Council members tell the experienced Chief of
Police (Number 2 in Chicago PD before he came here) that he must put a
certain percentage of officers in uniform on the street. That's a bit
like the Chief telling the Council they must pass a certain percentage
of laws on a particular topic over the next year.

I'd like to think we have a good police chief and a good council, each
knowing how best to run their organization and do their jobs.  There
will always be plenty of pressure on both the Chief and the Council
members but I prefer to give each some latitude on how to arrange their
personnel to fit whatever crisis is occurring.

And speaking of looming crises: This year some 2,500 district inmates
were released from prison to return to the city. Next year it will be
5,000. I'd like to think there was some specialized police units out
there keeping an eye on some of these guys. Recidivism rates suggest
there will be some major crime increases next year.
 
 

GETTING THE LATEST CRIME REPORTS
From:  "Kate Bloniarz" <KateB@cbo.gov>
I called my [DC Police] district about finding crime statistics, and
they said that I could get most of what I was looking for on the web,
and pointed me to ttp://www.crimereports.com/states/dc.html
which has all crime reports in your area up to the previous day!  The
reports are listed numerically by PSA. They also have some statistics on
the MPDC website for the previous month.  I was surprised there was so
much on the web.
 
 

CHECK OUT THE NORTHWEST CURRENT
This week's issue has a number of particularly interesting items
relating to our 'Hood (Roundtable, development of bus barn site at
Jenifer, etc).  It's always a good idea to read the Current since they
often carry items that I don't duplicate or don't mention because I know
they probably will.
 
 

REGARDING PARKING METERS
From: "Pinder, Joe" <Joe.Pinder@mail.house.gov>
To Dan Parker: [Re: item in December 11 COMMUNIT-E]
It is Lockheed-Martin, in Bethesda, that has the contract. You might be
interested to know that the meters, made in Arkansas, could also take
your one-dollar coins, if you had any, and also stored-value cards, but
the city has not chosen to install the software and remove the blocks to
the slot for the card and enlarge the slot for the coins by taking out a
filler piece.
 
 

REPEAT OF GOOD IDEA FOR HELPING SAVE TREES IN 'HOOD
From: "Patrick G. Talmon" <ptalmon@starpower.net>
I have a suggestion to make to our neighbors:  When going for walks in
the neighborhood I have noticed a number of trees partially, or some
cases, completely, covered with ivy.  While this may be pleasing to the
eye, ivy is a parasitical plant and will eventually kill a tree.  What
to do? Carefully cut the ivy vines in a manner not to injure the tree
bark and pull away; what you cannot reach to pull down will eventually
die so long as you cut below.  This will help preserve our dwindling
number of trees.  Thank you.
 
 

ACTIVITIES AND COMPANY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
From: "Leslie Rod" <le_rod@hotmail.com>
For anyone who is or knows of a senior citizen who'd like some company
and activities--and lunch--on weekdays between approximately 10am and 1
or 2pm, there is the BEHREND-ADAS SENIOR FELLOWSHIP (just call it the
"Senior Fellowship") held at Adas Israel Congregation, near the
Cleveland Park Metro Station and buses. Being Jewish is not required;  a
number of folks who attend regularly aren't. A variety of activities are
offered (participation is optional!): very gentle exercise, music,
current events discussion, art, informational talks by a nutritionist,
and more. Lunch is usually hot, and always filling. Call ahead 2 days in
advance to let them know you're coming, and you're good to go.

The daily programs are FREE to DC residents aged 60 and over; for the
lunch meal itself, a $2.50 donation is recommended. Optional trips (for
example, to the Kennedy Center for National Symphony rehearsals!) and
special events cost extra (but not much!). My very lively 92-year-old
father has been attending daily for longer than I can remember (we're
talking years here) and he loves it! FOR SPECIFICS AND DETAILS ON THE
SENIOR FELLOWSHIP, CONTACT MARIANA AT (202)363-7530.
Co-sponsored by IONA Senior Services, Adas Israel, DC Office on Aging,
DC Jewish Community Center.
 
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

**** From: "Polly King" <pking@lldhhome.org>
Christmas Bake and Book Sale
Silent Auction
Thursday, December 20th,  11:30am until 7:00pm
The Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home
5425 Western Avenue NW
Profits will be used to benefit the Residents of the Home.

**** From: "Buddy Yingling" <RAY@usp.org>
I'd just like to ask the COMMUNIT-E list if there is any interest in
having a web-based e-mail listserve like the one Cleveland Park has on
Yahoo! Groups.  If anyone doesn't know what that is it is basically like
an electronic bulletin board where everyone can post messages.  I'd be
willing to set one up and moderate it and/or work with somebody else who
wants to be the moderator.
Buddy Yingling
Western Ave.
buddydc1@msn.com
ray@usp.org

****From: "Stephanie Yoffee" <artwares@worldnet.att.net>
Artwares, located at 4904 Wisconsin Ave., NW 2nd floor, would like to
invite you, your family and friends to our special holiday shopping
evening. On Thursday December 20th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, the shop will
be open for holiday shopping. There will be holiday discounts on many
items throughout the shop, and lots of edible goodies to enjoy. Artwares
has gifts for artists, children and hobbyists. Customized gift packages
are also available to fit any budget.

**** From: Robin_Wolfson@discovery.com
Does anyone know how one can go about partially darkening the light that
a street lamp puts out at night?  I don't want to encourage crime or
decrease visibility, however, I would like to have less light shining in
through my bedroom window shades.

**** From: Pavukmatt@aol.com (Cheryl Browning)
A very good plumber we have used for several years is John E. Barry Co.
They are in the yellow pages.  Good work, fair to the consumer,
reasonable rates and usually right on time.  We have an old house which
has needed lots of plumbing work (such as replacing water pipes) over
the
years.

****A police lieutenant told me about a friend of his (retired from MPD)
whom he has hired himself and who he says does excellent construction
and remodelling work. The man is Daniel Schauf , designer and installer,
at 914-286-3146 or 941-764-7175. The Company is Dalu Enterprise, Inc.
It's in Florida but Mr. Schauf comes to DC frequently and will come just
for a particular job.
 
 

AND FINALLY . . .
From: edw3qc@att.net (Ed McCauley)
From:    Peter Sawitsky <psawitsky@snet.net>

A new monk arrives at the monastery.  He is  assigned to help the other
monks  in copying the old texts by hand.  He notices,  however, that
they are  copying from copies, not the original manuscripts.  So, the
new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this.  He points out
that if there were an error in the first copy,  that  error would be
continued  in all of the other copies.

The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries,
but  you make a good point, my son."  So, he goes down into the cellar
with one of the copies to check it against the original.

Hours go by and nobody sees him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to
look for him.  He hears sobbing coming from the back  of the cellar  and
finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He
asks the old monk what's wrong, and in a choked voice came the reply...
"The word is 'celebrate'."
 
 

--END--