HOME DEPOT MEETING WENT WELL
If you didn't get to the meeting, there were several hundred people there.
Response was hugely in favor of Home Depot coming in. Questions and concerns
had to do with issues like parking, access from street, school children
safety, exterior lighting, etc. This is covered in more detail in last week's
Northwest Current.

Ann Eichenberger gave the results of her survey which are published below.
From:   aeichenberger@mindspring.com (Ann  Eichenberger)
Highlights of the survey about the former Hechinger site:  It was published
in the Northwest Current (June 12, 2000) and Community-E.  Over 360 responses
were gathered.
    a.. Almost all of those replied to the survey desperately want a hardware
retailer to occupy the former Hechinger's site [96%].  Many think a hardware
store is the highest retail priority for Tenleytown.
    b.. They want a store that carries a full product line, from the usual
hardware items to lumber and garden items.
    c.. Regarding store size, many want a Home Depot store to occupy the
space.  Others want a smaller retailer there.
    d.. High quality customer service is priority for most.  Many referred to
the service they receive at Strosniders as representative of what they expect
the new retailer to provide.
    e..  Historic preservation is not a priority for most [5% very important;
7% somewhat important; 41% not important].  Many consider the existing
building to be an eyesore.  Others consider preservation important, but not
at the expense of a hardware store occupying the space.
    f.. Several mentioned that they now make fewer trips to the hardware
store since Hechingers closed its doors.  Quite a few mentioned that they
delay projects because they must travel so far to obtain what they need.
    g..  Many would like more high quality retailers, such as Fresh Fields
and Starbucks.
For a copy of the report, send an email to hardwarestore@mindspring.com
 

ASST. DEAN OF AU STUDENTS --  AUGUST 10 ANC3E MEETING

From:   Thomas.Dibiase@usdoj.gov (Thomas Dibiase)
You might let your readers know that we've invited Valerie Vera , the
Assistant Dean of Students at AU, to come to the August 10th
meeting of the ANC to speak about the problem of off-campus students
causing disturbances in the neighborhood.  Tad

The Tenley Firehouse will also be on the agenda -- KS
 
 

DILAPIDATED HOUSE SOLD
I'm pleased to report that the house at 4617 42nd St., which has been
deteriorating for a long time, has just been sold to a young family.  I have
to think that community efforts to get DCRA to board it up encouraged the
owner to give it up.
 

RECOMMENDED HOME CRAFTS PEOPLE

*** I want to thank Tom Frank and Elinor Hunter for steering a good
electrician and a good painter my way. The electrician is Kevin Rozier at
202-841-8021 and the painter is Cris Asimakopoulos at 301-942-1140. They both
just finished work for me and I am very pleased.
I encourage all readers with good recommendations to send them this way. I'll
publish them in future issues  --  KS.

*** From: lenkind@od.nih.gov (Lenkin, Dona
TREE TRIMMING - looking for a person/company to cut off  some large branches
on a very old tree.  Contact donal@nih.gov

*** From: nevel@subdimension.com (Bonnie Nevel)
I am looking for a design-builder to renovate my kitchen and possibly
build a second floor addition. I would appreciate recommendations for
good people. I would also appreciate hearing about anyone to avoid!
Please email me at nevel@subdimension.com.

*** From: BUNNYRBTT
I am looking for recommendation(s) of stone masons or a general handyman who
will re-do my stone front walk and steps hopefully using the existing stones.
  Thanks!  Carol Barth
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

*** From: THopkins@FDIC.gov (Hopkins, Terry).
I am selling a Subaru, 1989 Justy (manual transmission).  The car has only
42,500 miles and is in very good condition. Price: $2000.  Call Terry at
202-736-0246 (wk) or 202-364-8091 (hm).
 

ADVICE AND WARNINGS FROM THE 'HOOD

*** STOLEN BLACK CATS ?
From:   Darnot
A couple of black cats have been reported missing from the neighborhood. I
was told by another resident that a woman, driving a blue station wagon, has
been stalking neighborhoods, trapping cats, and taking them to various humane
societies calling them "unwanted ferals" whereupon they are euthanized. If
anyone sees a suspicious blue station wagon, get the license number for the
police. If your cat is missing, call the washington/md/va humane societies
immediately to report it, in case it turns up there.

Note: If  you witness a catnapping, try to get the license plate number and
call 911. Follow up right away  with a call to the 2D Detectives at 282-0044.
Try to reach Lt. Trippi, or Lt Carter on 282-0038 -- KS.
 

***  PURSES IN GROCERY CARTS AND DMV
From:   JRDASmall@worldnet.att.net (Julia Small)
I was grocery shopping with my two-year-old at the Safeway on Davenport
Street.  While I was distracted with my daughter, my wallet and planner were
stolen from my purse, which was in the cart. (I've learned my lesson about
that.)  The thief then charged gasoline and $300 at the Gap in Chevy Chase in
the hour it took me to cancel my credit cards.  That in itself was bad, but
what happened after that was even worse.  The next morning I went down to the
Department of Motor Vehicles to replace my driver's license.  I was told that
my license had expired in 1997 and DMV would not give me a duplicate.  I knew
for a fact that I had renewed my license in 1997 and had a valid license
until October 2001.  But no one in DMV would listen to me nor could I come up
with a xeroxed copy of my license.  It took me a week, but with the
persistent help of Kathy Patterson's office, I finally got DMV to listen to
me and issue me a duplicate license.  Please warn your readers that the DMV
computers are terribly out of date and to keep a copy of their driver's
licenses  with all their other important documents.  It will save them a lot
of headaches if they ever encounter the problems I did.
 

*** ANNOYING TELEMARKETING CALLS
From: aeichenberger@mindspring.com (Ann Eichenberger)
Although my number is unlisted, I have been plagued by calls from physic
hotlines during the past month. I found out how you can reduce the number of
these annoying calls and wanted to pass it along.  First, contact the Bell
Atlantic Residential Business office, 202 954-6263.  Tell them to remove your
number from the Direct Marketing list that it maintains. Next you should
write to the Direct Marketing Association to remove your name and telephone
number from their telemarketing list.  The address is
Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 0914
Farmingdale NY 11735-9014
 

*** REPLACING SMART CARDS
From:   CPabon@foe.org (Chris Pabon)
This morning, the gates at Tenleytown would not accept my smart card. I
complained to the station manager, who gave me a number to call, and said she
could do nothing else after that. I asked how I would get into the metro
system, and she told me: 'Just buy a fare card'.  I then went to Metro
Center, thinking that the place where I purchased my Smart Card could help.
They also told me to 'call the number', and that there was nothing else they
could tell me to do since: 'This office only sells the card'. I tried calling
from Metro Center, but over and over could only get a busy signal.
I arrived at the office, and finally managed to get a call through. I was
informed that I had to ask the 'station manager' for a special form to fill
out. I told the person on the phone that I had never been told of any form,
despite talking to a station manager and their sales office. Nevertheless, he
told me 'they know', and I had to return to the system to get this form. I
asked when I could expect to get my card back, and his reply was that he
could not tell me, but it should be in a few weeks.
One thing has become clear to me: maybe the paper fare cards are not so bad
after all. At least someone could tell me what to do when they did not work.
The new card may be 'smart', but the people behind it are not. Make sure to
ask for this form from the station manager if your smart card breaks down.
 

Note: It's a good idea to carry an extra paper card, just in case. Also, when
my smart card doesn't work, it's usually because my last pass through a gate
wasn't recorded. If I or the station master just swipes it on the other side
of the gate and then I try again, it usually works -- KS.