PEIRCE MILL OPEN HOUSE
From: "Richard Abbott" <abbott1229@erols.com>
Open House at Peirce Mill, Saturday June 14!
The Friends of Peirce Mill are hosting an open house at the mill on
Saturday, June 14, from 10 till 4.  The mill has been closed for the
past year while repairs were made to the internal structure of the
building.  We're pretty proud that this work -- the first phase of the
restoration project -- was made possible by the efforts of our volunteer
members in raising money from foundations and other donors. We've made
arrangements to open the mill for this one day to show our neighbors
what's been accomplished.  Come down to the mill (at Tilden and Beach
Drive) on the 14th and tour the mill, talk to our members, and visit the
adjoining Peirce Barn (formerly the Art Barn) to see the display of
historic photos of the mills along Rock Creek, of which Peirce Mill is
the sole survivor.  Coffee, juice and cookies available.  For further
information, call Richard Abbott at 244-2379.  See you there!
 
 
 

GARDEN LECTURE REMINDER
From:  "Tommy Tomlinson and Penni St. Hilaire" <tommyt@erols.com>
Thursday, June 5 at 7 P.M. gardening expert Franziska Reed Huxley will
be speaking on pruning at the Tenley-Friendship Library at 4450
Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.  The event is free.  It should be an enjoyable
and informative session.
 
 
 

ANC 3E MEETING NOTICE
From:  "Polly King" <pking@lldhhome.org>
Thursday, June 12, 2003      7:30 PM
St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church
42nd & Fessenden Streets, NW
   1.Announcements
   2.Open Forum - opportunity for members of the community to raise
issues of
     concern or importance to the 3E neighborhood
   3.Presentation by 2nd District Police
   4.Presentation of Spring 2003 ANC 3E grants awards
   5.Discussion of and vote on an application for a public space permit
for a circular
     driveway at 5304 Reno Road
   6.Discussion of and vote on an application for special exception
permit to allow an
     addition at 3920 Ingomar Street
   7.Discussion of and vote on an application for a public space permit
to
     re-landscape around Chevy Chase Pavilion
   8.Discussion with Ron Newmyer of Armands Pizza
   9.Discussion and update of Georgetown Day School
  10.ANC Business
          Adoption of Minutes of May 8, 2003 Meeting
          Approval of Treasurer's Report
 
 
 

CRIME ALERT FROM 2D POLICE
From:  "Buddy Yingling" <buddydc1@msn.com>
On May 29, 2003, PSA 202 suffered two burglaries within three blocks of
one another.  An attempt first-degree burglary occurred at 4909 41st St
NW @ 1110 hrs and a second-degree burglary occurred at 5020  39th St NW
between 1000-1600 hrs.  The pattern for gaining entry into both
residences appeared to have been breaking a windowpane in the  rear of
the residences.  A door-to-door canvass in the 4900 blk of  41st Street
revealed no additional information.

The suspect wanted in the attempt first-degree burglary which occurred
at 4909 41st St NW is described as a W/M, mid to late 20s, 5'10", slim
build, with reddish blond hair, light complx, with a goatee wearing a
baseball cap [possibly red], and wearing a red or gold colored jacket.

A canvass of the 5000 blk of 39th St NW revealed a lookout for an
individual a witness observed walking N/B in the 5000 blk of 39th
Street carrying what the witness described as a black laptop case and
wearing a black backpack.  The witness described the subject as a B/M,
45-55 yrs, 5'10"-6', slim build, light complx, with curly salt and
pepper hair, with a gap or missing teeth in the front of his mouth,
wearing a baseball cap [possibly blue], and wearing a red, white, and
blue athletic warm-up suit.  The witness stated red and white diagonal
strips were on the back of the jacket.  This subject was observed
walking on the street approximately 20 feet from the
driveway of the burglarized residence.

Articles of clothing were left at scene of the 39th Street burglary.  A
tan colored hunter/photographer vest and a multicolored baseball cap
with "New York" written across the top was found on the scene.  In one
of the pockets of the vest was a receipt from the Downtown
Motel of a guest named Byron Ronald.   Also, C-1 reported that a blue
athletic warm-up suit was stolen from his residence.

Anyone coming in contact with two subjects matching either of the
lookouts is ask to identify and photograph the subject[s] and forward
the information to Detective Neil Jones @ 202-282-0043 or
njones@mpdc.org.
 
 
 
 
 

CURIOUS ABOUT THIS
After the last COMMUNIT-E, several  DC government e-mail addresses were
kicked back with the following message:

Subject:  Spam mail warning notification! (Sexual Discrimination)
From:  <postmaster@dc.gov>

**************** eManager Notification *****************
The following mail was blocked since it contains sensitive content.

Source mailbox: <Ksmith1804@starpower.net>
Destination mailbox(es): Beat26<Beat26@aol.com>
Policy: Sexual Discrimination
Action: Quarantine

Sender, Content filter has detected a sensitive e-mail.

******************* End of message *********************

--------------

This happened once before and, like then, there was nothing in
COMMUNIT-E that hinted at sexual discrimination. Does anyone have a clue
about why COMMUNIT-E would have received this refuse to deliver message?
-- Kathy Smith
 
 
 

MORE THEFTS FROM DOORSTEPS
From: <MargaritaCrocker@aol.com>
I had a box of Williams Sonoma taken from my doorstep on Alton Place.
Williams Sonoma
generously resent me the items but someone made off with a box of wine
glasses and
tablecloths.  Maybe as an accent for the feast they were preparing with
the stolen organic veggies!
 
 
 

CRIMES IN THE 'HOOD FROM MAY 1  TO JUNE 3

ROBBERY:
-- fear, 4200 Fessenden, 6/3, 1155, restaurant
-- F&V, 3900 Jenifer, 5/21, 1925, sidewalk
ASSAULT:
-- 4800 Mass. Ave., 5/24, 1445, drugstore
BURGLARY:
-- 4800 Albemarle, 6/3, house
-- Wesley Circle, 6/3, house (Spring Valley)
-- 3800 Alton, 5/6, house
-- 5000 39th , 5/29, house
-- 4900 41st (attempt), 5/29, house
THEFT: 25
THEFT FROM AUTO: 12
STOLEN AUTO: 7 : 4500 Verplanck, 3900 Harrison (2 stolen), 4300
Military, 4500 Chesapeak, 4200 Harrison, 4500 Fessenden
SIMPLE ASSAULT: 3
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: 5
 
 

MORE ON METRO ASSAULT MENTIONED LAST WEEK
Detective Forshey of the Metro Police  (different from the MPD) is
investigating  this complaint. His phone number is 962-2144. Again, the
description of the person he's seeking is a black male with bad skin
(probably acne scars), tall and thin. If you see someone grab or touch
someone improperly on the Metro, Detective Forshey is  a good person to
report it to.

FTCA COMMUNITY FORUM
From:  "kayandpaul" <kayandpaul@erols.com>
Friendship-Tenleytown Citizens Association Community Wide Forum
June 17, 7:15 p.m. at Tenley Library
Subject: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Speaker David Clark, Department Director
 
 
 

YOGA FOR YOUR BONES WORKSHOP AT IONA
From:  "Deborah Dougherty" <deborahd@cpcug.org>
There are still a few spaces remaining for next week's workshop: Yoga
for the Bones Workshop at Iona Senior Services on Thursday June 12th
from 1:00 - 4:00.

Designed for anyone diagnosed with or at risk for osteopenia or
osteoporosis, participants will learn: to identify the key bone
depleting factors, the types and amounts of bone building nutrients
needed and why yoga and other types of exercise work best for building
strong bones. Workshop includes 1.5 hrs. of yoga. Extensive handout
provided. The cost is $15.00.

Iona House is located at 4125 Albemarle St. To register call Iona House
at 202-966-1055.  If you have questions about the workshop please
contact deborahd@cpcug.org. Hope to see you there, Deborah Dougherty
 
 
 

LIBRARY FANDANGO
From:  "Lefrancois/DC"   nicmich at starpower dot net
Am I the only one who believes the Tenley Library project needs adult
supervision?
The Facts:
1. the Public Library at Wisconsin and Albemarle Sts, NW, needs to be
replaced.
2. private developers are interested in building condos, apartments,
and/or offices on top of a new library building, generating substantial
tax revenue and air-rights payments.
3. the adjacent Janney Public School could benefit from construction of
a parking garage under its soccer field.
4. after entertaining zero proposals for a public/private, mixed use
project that would take advantage of a prime Metro location, the library
bureaucracy clings to a self-inflicted schedule with existing bidders,
claiming "it's now or never" and "it's too late for a great idea because
we said so."
5. the area councilwoman refuses to employ a little common sense and
influence the process so that smart, mixed use ideas can be considered
by people in government who aren't stuck in 1980s - or 1880s - thinking
["we've always done it this way, so it must be right."]
6. despite the absence of a signed contract to do any work, the
bureaucracy insists it's "impossible" to re-think and re-bid the project
[see "Catch-22"].
7. many [most?] neighborhood residents believe the Tenley
Metro/Wisconsin Avenue corridor is a smart choice for additional
housing. Is it any wonder that Washingtonians are cynical about local
government? Nevertheless, let's try to convince our city and library
officials that we
strongly wish to avoid the obvious questions in 2010:  Why did city
government and library officials spend tax money on another squat
library building on top of a Metro station?  Why aren't we collecting
any tax revenue on prime real estate?   [PS: I look forward to learning
that not one of the bidders on the library projects is a campaign
contributor, relative, or crony of the public officials involved with
the current intransigence.]
 
 
 
 
 

MASTER BUINESS LICENSE AND UNINCORPORATED BUISNESS FRANCHISE TAX
From:  "Robert Hyman" <RobertHyman@erols.com>
Recently I sent the below to council. There seems to be some confusion
regarding the D-30  Sub Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax, some
folks know about it and others do not. I wanted to inform our residents.

Dear Council Members, this year my tax accountant informed me that DC
law now requires me to fill out a D-30 Sub Unincorporated Business
Franchise Tax Return for revenue from residential rental property that I
own in DC, this resulted in a $1,426.00 annual payment. Why is a Master
Business License being considered for me in addition to this? Please
enforce current laws and collect revenue from them before considering
new laws and new taxes. If you are looking to raise revenue without
increasing taxes or cutting budgets, ask me how_ I can help. Thank you,
Robert Hyman
 
 

THANK YOU TO ROBERT HYMAN FOR DISCOVERING ANOTHER DC TAX GLITCH
From: Kathy Smith
Last week's Northwest Current ran a front page story on Robert's
discovery that certain people are applying for and getting multiple
homestead deductions that are costing the city and we taxpayers millions
of dollars. We are only permitted one homestead deduction per household.
He did months  of work on this and brought the problem to the attention
of the Office of Tax and Revenue.  They are still working to computerize
and clean up their records.
 
 
 

JOBS FOR SUMMER INTERNS
Every year the DC government hires high school and college students to
work as interns and in other types of summer jobs. It  occurs to me that
the type of data mining and records cross- checking that Robert Hyman
spent months doing could be done by some of these interns. The city's
files are full or errors that could be corrected by cross-checking. I
hope someone in the city government puts these young eager minds to work
doing this sort of data checking. We'd all benefit from it.
 
 
 

COMMUNITY BULLETING BOARD

**** From:  <PLMaurice@aol.com>
Fr: French translations --  To Carolyn:  I was born in France, I have
the French baccalaureat, and I came in the USA 20 Years ago. My french
is very good, we speak french at home, I can help you, it should be
free, just for the pleasure...If you are intested,  please call me 202
363 1193
Sincerely, Pierre.

**** From: Michael Carter <MRECarter@marinecorps.com>
Does anyone know if there is a news letter or user-group for Spring
Valley or Wesley Heights? I'm new to the area ... Where can I see a map
with ANC demarcations?
Thanks ... Michael

**** From: <Tracy_Hauser_Scarrow@cadc.uscourts.gov>
 FREE -- Craftsman 20" gas-powered lawn mower, 3.5 HP (year unknown).
In good condition but probably needs a tune-up.
FREE -- Manual pushmower. If you are interested in either lawn mower,
please call 202-364-3636 or email tscarrow@cadc.uscourts.gov to schedule
a pick-up.
 
 
 

RE: CHEVY CHASE BUICK/HYUNDAI

**** From:  "mjsimon524" <msimon@fcc.gov>
Thru:  tenleytown@yahoogroups.com
According to the information posted on the DC Chief Financial Officer
web-site, on April 8, 2003, the property [which is 22,500 square feet of
land and assessed for under $1.5 million] was sold to 5220 Wisconsin
LLC, on Radnor Road in Bethesda, Md. for $2,616,666.  The
property is zoned R-5-B.  Matter of right development would allow for
40,500 square feet of floor area, and a maximum height of 50 feet.  One
acre of land [43,560 SF] is required for a planned unit development, so
this site would not meet the minimum area require ment for a planned
unit development.
Marilyn Simon

**** From: "Kevin Pettitt" <kpettitt@yahoo.com>
Thru:  tenleytown@yahoogroups.com
According to Harry Martens, the Martens family has signed a 13-year
lease with the new owners, and plans to operate their dealership from
that site.  There is no definitive timeframe for when the operation will
move to the new location, as there are "many variables" yet to be worked
out.  Mr. Martens also indicated that using the site as an auto
dealership is grandfathered in, so there are no zoning approval issues
in this case.
 
 
 

THE POOP ON THE PEPCO ENERGY SERVICES DOOR TO DOOR GUY
I got a whole bunch of responses to this. The following is a few of
them:

**** From:  Dick <arjay@his.com>
My experience has been favorable.  They do solicit door-to-door, and the
reason for seeing your bill is to offer to sell you energy at a lower
rate than the one shown on the bill. They also offer to sell you gas at
a lower rate than that currently charged on your gas bill.  BUT, you
must sign a long-term delivery contract to get the benefit.  It's
legitimate.  I signed up with them a couple of years ago.
RJ

**** From:  John and Linda Derrick <jolinder@starpower.net>
Pepco Energy Services is a reputable subsidiary of Pepco Holdings.  They
must get the billing information from the customer since regulations do
not allow the utility, Pepco, to provide this information to it's
subsidiary without customer permission.  In other words there is a fire
wall between Pepco and its records and competitive power suppliers, of
which Pepco Energy Services is one.

Pepco Energy Services and other competitive energy suppliers which are
licensed by the Public Services Commissions of Maryland and the District
of  Columbia are permitted to sell in those jurisdictions.

In all cases Pepco the utility continues to distribute the electricity,
read the meter and render the bill.  It is also responsible for service
reliability and restoration as in the past. Further information may be
obtained from Pepco Energy Services. Reference web page
www.pepcoenergy.com.

**** From: "Johanna Turner" <joturner@speakeasy.net>
We (in the 4400 block of Brandywine) had a team of "Pepco" folks park in
front of my house a few weeks ago and fan out for several hours.  The
two very nice young people who came to my door introduced themselves as
being from Pepco (specifically did not say Pepco Energy Services), wore
badges with "Pepco" in large print, and said that they wanted to review
my bills with me to make sure I was getting the best pricing.  Of course
real Pepco people would not have to come to the door to find that out.
After expressing no interest, I called Pepco and got much gnashing of
teeth from them.  They are apparently powerless (hard to believe) to
prevent this misrepresentation, so everyone just needs to know that the
people at the door are trying to get us to change providers unknowingly.
 

**** From: John Moody <johnamoodydc@att.net>
I suggest you might want to check this out with Wash Gas and Pepco
directly, but from what has been publicised in the newspapers and
leaflets distributed by Wash Gas and Pepco over the past couple of
years, here's what is happening.  Many people found all of this
confusing, and the info didn't "take".

 Just as Ma Bell's telephone monopoly was broken up some years ago into
the Baby Bells, the same general philosophy is being applied to our
local energy monopolies, gas and electricity, Pepco and Wash Gas.

Essentially, there are now (temporarily optional) three elements
involved which will ultimately become three independent companies with
which we will have to deal in the near future. The producers of the
energy, the transporters of the energy to the distant points, and the
local distributors of the energy - much like we today have to select our
long distance  telephone company.

 At the present time, while these fledgling companies are "getting their
feet wet", so to speak, we have the option of selecting any of them to
provide our energy service, hence the existence of such "splinter"
companies as "Pepco Energy Services", with equivalents in the gas
business.

Currently, we can continue to do business directly with Pepco and Wash
Gas as we have traditionally done. At least for the next two or three
years
or so, during which time their charges are fixed by law and cannot be
increased.   Or we can switch over to any of the three now available
alternatives who set their own prices. At present, their prices may be
lower.  But tomorrow?

But here's the hook.  While Pepco's and Wash Gas's prices are
momentarily frozen over the coming interval, all price freezes will
ultimately be removed, and our energy world will become a free-for-all
as each of the three new sub-companies will be competing for our
business - and we will (or may) be obliged to choose.

That explains why "Sale Trainees" for the new companies are today out
ringing doorbells.

I don't recall what the familial relationship is, if any, between the
original Pepco/Wash Gas and the "spinoff children", but believe all
three might well be merely new company entities created under the
existing corporate Pepco/Wash Gas family umbrellas. Makes you kind of
wish some people would leave things alone.
 JAM

****  From:   <Noguru81@aol.com>
What the trainee represented is true.  The electric power industry is
undergoing a deregulation similar to that undergone by long-distance
telephone service providers in the 1980s and 90s.  Consumers
increasingly have the right to select the source of the power that will
be delivered to them across the Pepco power lines.  My guess is that a
representative of "Pepco Energy Services" was selling the Pepco energy
source and seeking consumer commitments in the same way that, say, AT&T
or MCI sought consumer contracts for long-distance services.  My guess
is that we will be seeing a lot more of this.  I am not positive, but I
think the options are available in DC as well as in Maryland.

While, for most of us, the differences among power sources may now be of
little consequence, we can expect competition to develop for price and
other values.  Environmentally conscious consumers, for example, may
seek to elect sources that supply a higher portion of their electricity
from renewables such as wind and small hydro, or that that pursue
conservation more aggressively than their competitors.  As the market
matures, we should expect to see more information and visible
competition among suppliers.
Kaid Benfield

**** From: "Karen Hopfl Harris" <karen@hopflharris.com>
Green energy/electricity
Thru:  <tenleytown@yahoogroups.com>
For those interested PES also offers green energy choices if you want to
pay more see
http://www.powerchoice.com/residential/default.cfm?zip=20016
Click on green energy.

Green Electricity is generated from renewable resources, which include
hydroelectric plants, solar panels, wind farms and biomass fuels. The
generation of Green Electricity produces almost none of the pollutants
commonly referred to as "greenhouse gases". These pollutants (such as
carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide) contribute to global
warming, smog, acid rain, and can result in damage to the environment.

-----------

I may be the naive one of the bunch, but I showed him my bill and he
took a look at the rates per KWH (electric) and therm (gas) and said I
was getting the lowest rates he had seen thus far and couldn't offer me
anything better and left.  I should also mention I got these rates last
year from a similar guy who came to the door.

I have gone back and compared my bill before and after I signed up for
the service and the differences are below for those who want too much
information (but I hope helpful). After looking at the info below..I
would be curious to know what rates others are getting. Keep in mind
that these are my bills and before you sign up for anything new, you
should ask a lot of questions, as rates may have changed since I signed
up.

Electricity:
Distribution charge includes (these should remain more or less the same
as Pepco still distributes the electricity no matter who generates it)
Pepco:
Minimum charge
Energy charge
Public service occupancy surcharge
Delivery tax

Pepco Energy Services
Same as above except no Public service occupancy surcharge
And a credit appears each month called generation procurement credit

Generation charge:
Pepco
Flat rate for first 30KWH (kilo watt hour)
Minimum charge for next 370 hours
Energy charge for everything after that

These rates seem to change seasonally - getting higher in the summer.
Under Pepco in Feb 2002 rates my rate were
First 30 KWH included for $1.36
3.116 cents per first 370 KWH
5.469 cents per each KWH over that

In June 2002 rates are
First 30 KWH included for $1.36
3.116 cents per first 370 KWH
7.559 cents per each KWH over that

Pepco Energy Services
4.9 cents for every KWH (this is the same for all months of the year and
the rate is guaranteed for 18 months)

Transmission charge
Pepco
Flat rate for first 30KWH (kilo watt hour)
Minimum charge for next 370 hours
Energy charge for everything after that (although the minimum and energy
charges/KWH seem to be the same)

Pepco Energy Services
No additional charge

Summary for electricity
Distribution charge - difference is negligible
Generation charge - depending on your usage (How many KWH you use each
month) and the current rate PES is offering, you could save.
Transmission charge - additional under Pepco, no additional charge under
PES
-------------------------------
Gas
Gas bill has 5 charges
Distribution charge (rate per therm)
Customer charge
DC rights of way fee
DC gross receipts tax
PGC (purchased gas charge)

The first 4 charges are the same whether you have Washington gas or
Pepco Energy Services (PES) as your supplier.
Only PGC is affected.
The PGC rate changes slightly each month under Washington Gas.  Under
PES you lock in a rate for 12 months.  My rate is .545/therm or 54.5
cents/therm.  My bill lists the PGC rate for each month as well (I
assume this is to keep me informed of what I could get if I used
Washington Gas as my gas supplier) and most months were higher than my
54.5/therm rate (more like 55-63 cents/therm).
 
 
 

THE BRAZIL BULLETIN
From:   "Heilbron, Shana (COUNCIL)"
<SHeilbron@dccouncil.washington.dc.us> In This Week's Issue...
Brazil Holds Committee on Economic Development Hearings
 
 

A BILLION
From:  <edw3qc@att.net>
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one  advertising
agency did a good job of putting that figure  into perspective in one of
its releases:
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate
Washington spends it.
 

-- END--