Wed. July 21, Ward 2 Mayoral Straw Poll
Wednesday, July 21, Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle
presentations will begin at 7:30, and voting will close by 9:15
Ward 2 Mayoral Straw Poll
“Taking the Sense of the City at Its Center”
The Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) and the Ward 2 Democrats are hosting a Mayoral straw poll Wednesday, July 21st at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle. All of the candidates who filed papers to run have been invited, including current Mayor Adrian Fenty and current Council Chair Vincent Gray.
Everyone is invited to attend, but only Ward 2 registered Democrats will be able to participate in the straw poll. Registration begins at 7pm, and guests will have the opportunity to talk to any candidates who are present at that time. The presentations will begin at 7:30, and voting will close by 9:15. (Times subject to change if needed.)
Each candidate will be asked to speak on several topics. Following the presentation, registered Democrats will have the opportunity to vote.
For more information, please contact Ward 2 Democrats President Pat Allen at 202-296-0720 or LCCA President Bob Maffin 202-301-2125.
Gibson Plaza Groundbreaking July 28, Glimmer of Hope for Kelsey Gardens?
The future Gibson Plaza.
In the last few months, it’s seemed that the ice floes have started to crack and shift for development in Shaw: Project after project has broken financing deadlocks and will see shovels in the ground this year. Add another to the list: Gibson Plaza, the 10-story public housing behemoth on 7th and O Street NW, which will be getting a massive gut retrofit to upgrade its 217 affordable units, starting June 28th. The improvements, paid for by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, cover a complete facade upgrade, all new green appliances, plumbing and electrical systems, new windows, and “cultured marble vanity tops” in bathrooms.
Do you want to set up a recycling program at your workplace or office? The DC Chapter of the Sierra Club has started a new project to assist local businesses set up or improve existing recycling programs. Sierra Club volunteers can help set up an on-site program, find recycling haulers, and educate staff. We are currently trying to spread the word about the new project.
If you are interested in participating or know of any businesses that may be interested, please contact Monica at tierney9x@gmail.com. There is no cost to participate – just your enthusiasm for making DC Green!
there was a post on the Triangle blog about a 100-year old tree slated to be removed at 4th and Eye. The Paramount Development group behind the 425 Eye Street project is the entity aiming to cut the tree down. The developer has been renovating the office building for the last year and is now upgrading the sidewalks on Eye Street: http://www.mvtriangleblog.com/?p=1814
When I contacted Commissioner Keith Silver for more information, he said that he'd been coordinating with Casey Trees and that he's arranged the following event. Commissioner Silver urges all concern citizens in favor of “Saving this Historic Tree” or those in favor of “Cutting it Down” located at 425 Eye Street NW to contact him at silverk1@ymail.com within the next Ten (10) Days to determine what should be done.
Dear Friend and Supporter of "Save the Historic Tree at 4th and Eye Sts. N.W"
DC Councilmember Chairman Vince Gray was unable to attend our MVSNA membership meeting last Tuesday because he was under the weather. He did send both his Council Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to answer resident questions. We have coordinated with the Convention Center Community Association (CCCA) to hold a joint forum with the mayoral candidate on Tuesday, June 29 so that you will have a chance to ask him your questions directly. The joint meeting will be held at 7pm at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church's Fellowship Hall, 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW. Residents at the MVSNA meeting were particularly interested in Chairman Gray's positions on crime issues and legislation, which I would expect to be central to the discussion. The CCCA also has several other items on its agenda that may also be of interest to MVSNA members. Our thanks to CCCA President Martin Moulton for coordinating the joint meeting.
We will be closed temporarily on Thursday, June 10, and Friday, June 11, for construction. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you need a library, both the Martin Luther King Jr. Library and Watha T. Daniel Interim Library are nearby. Come by Saturday, June 12th and see our new look!
http://www.dclibrary.org/node/7626
First i want to thank whoever it was for nominating me for the Cafritz Award .I did not win the top award but i was a Finalist out of 230 people.So want to thank you guys you are trul;y wonderful. Next i would like to bring to your attention about the recent shootings we have had. At this point the detectives are working on information about the shootings but right now we have know ideal of what started the shootings back.
We are asking if anyone have any information about the shootings to contact the Third District Detective Office on 202-673-6918 Of the CIC on 202-727-9099. This weekend is a big event for the House of Prayer so there will be some street closuer in the area.
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans brought up communication issues w/ddot, esp. 4th st. (i'm sure he has heard holy hell from neighbors) Then he headed out, understandably wiped from marathon budget meetings. wasa school commenced...
Blue plains is the largest sewage treatment plant in the world They said this like 4x;) Wasa is replacing aging lines, average age is 76 yrs. 3% is pre 1850. Water system has 26,000 valves and is controlled by super fancy computer control center. GM is a very genial man so exuberant about wasa geekery. Even wore a pristine white personalized wasa work shirt, no suit for him!
Not replacing partial lead lines (private) only full lead lines. This was stopped in 2008 because it wasn't effective.
Building tunnels to alleviate combined sewer overflow - 2/3 of which currrently goes into anacostia, rest goes into Rock creek & Potomac. Now u know what the little stone huts are for...3billion gallons of sewage & trash/yr. 25yr plan= inevitable rate increase, supposedly we have low rates compared to natl average. Tunnels also to help with flooding in NE. combined sewer area is the center blob of dc.
Gm believes water is safe...but not sure about the pharmaceuticals. Filters don't remove Viagra & estrogens. Not all filters remove lead. Check q&a on dcwasa.com site & this from WASA:
Here is the fact sheet. The Washington Aqueduct, which treats the drinking water for the District, also has a working group studying issues related to pharmaceuticals.
http://www.dcwasa.com/waterquality/Pharmaceuticals%20in%20Drinking%20Water.pdf
New communication system being put into place hopefully this year called Envista - central public schedule database of ddot & ALL utility projects. (about time!)
99% +of hydrants are operational, @2% might be blocked by construction. Fire dept has been coordinated with. Fancy GIS based.
Wasa contact info@dcwasa.com
354-3600, 612-3400 emergency, public affairs 787-2200
4th st, patch is awful! A giant chunky asphalt mound. Are they going to tear up the street or the sidewalk to replace the line?
4th st: I spoke with Deirdre the construction manager who exuded capabity juju. I showed her the below pic of the crappy wasa "patch" aka impassable mound, which she will address. We lamented how DDOT chose to repave 4th st-as in the road- yesterday. DDOT has known for over a week via our bitching that wasa is going to work the road & the sidewalk, yet they STILL paved the road AFTER!!! More wasted work! really!!
Wasa is going to primarily dig the road to replace the line. They will also "mole" the sidewalk where possible. So we will end up with spots in the sidewalk & smaller ones in our front yards. Not the long asphalt hump taking up half of the sidewalk a la gas co. The work is planned to start on Monday, 6/7/10 and complete by July 30,
2010. Will work directly with wasa so they can coordinate with the residents, developers and ensure the brick gets put back properly. Anyone on 4th st please email me niello8(at)yahoo.com or ANC 6C P&Z Chair Rob Amos robamos(at)yahoo.com and we can get you in touch with the project manager.
Asked if the new envision system would help us avoid clusterflucks like this in the future, I got an emphatic YES. so...here are the pics of the crappy 4th st patch (which will be dealt with) and the fresh DDOT paving of 4th st. enjoy it for precisely 11 days!
Folks,
I received an email from a dear friend who is asking for help to spread the word. Two completely cute, very adorable pups (pic on request) were abandoned this morning by some thoughtless %^&*#@.
These pups need to at least be fostered until something can be done. I have the email addresses of the two folks who simply picked the dogs up from the street. If you, or someone you know, is interested, contact me. I'll send you the most adorable puppy pic you've seen in awhile, along with the points of contact.
Thanks!
Nancy E. Wigal
Choose Your Movies!
Since our April MVSNA membership meeting, a group of community leaders have been working with the city, the parking lot operators, and the future developers of the lot at 5th and Eye Street on turning lemons into lemonade. Since the development of the lot stalled due to the availability of financing, the city permitted its use as a parking lot for the next two years. While not ideal, we are working to make the best of it. The city has approved our recommendations to improve the physical condition of the lot, as well as our proposals to have Sunday movie nights and a crafts/farmer's market on Sundays.
Planning for the market is ongoing, but I do have information to share on the Sunday films. We plan on showing a series of 8 movies. We would likely kick off after July 4 and continue into September. Food would be available for purchase on site. The ability to move forward with this program is contingent on finding sponsors (ANC, community associations, local businesses, major companies) to fund it.
We are looking at having an Asian theme, which provides something unique given the many outdoor movie programs over the summer, and ties into the location being just north of Chinatown.
We have developed the list of potential movies below and would appreciate your suggestions and feedback. Please note, the available movies are limited because in order to have a public showing, one must obtain a license and there is only one company that offers licenses for shows such as this. This limits the availability of independent and foreign films. Nevertheless, I think we have many good options. We want your opinion. Here are the nominees...
Godzilla
One of the following classic Godzilla movies may be available: Godzilla (1956), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963), Godzilla v. Mothra (1964), Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster (1966).
Enter the Dragon: Special Edition (1973) R
Shot on location in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee's final movie is now a certifiable martial arts classic. Lee plays a monk (also named Lee) who enters a brutal championship tournament to which only the best are invited. His athletic prowess lands him there, but he's also serving as a spy for the British government -- and he's out to prove that the contest's manager, Han, is also a player in the drug trade. Will Lee be the last man standing? Recipient of an American Film Institute award.
The Last Dragon (Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon) (1985) PG-13
Motown music mogul Berry Gordy produced this all-purpose pastiche of 1970s and '80s pop culture, which features martial arts, funk, blaxploitation, disco and recording star (and former Prince protégé) Vanity. The plot concerns Bruce Lee wannabe Leroy Green (Taimak), who must protect Laura (Vanity) from a gang boss (Julius J. Carry). Directed by Michael Schultz (Car Wash, Krush Groove), the film also marks Chazz Palminteri's screen debut.
The Last Emperor (1987) PG-13
Peking, 1908: A three-year-old boy is removed from his home and his mother and is carried through the night to the Forbidden City, the heart of China. His name is Pu Yi and his abduction will alter China's history forever. Despite its cast of thousands, its palatial and exotic locations, and its sumptuous designs, the film remains an intimate portrait of an extraordinary and unique man and his journey of self-discovery. Winner of Nine Academy Awards® Including Best Picture and Best Director.
Once Upon a Time in China (1991) NR
Fists and feet fly like veritable lightning bolts when the brave Wong Fei-hung steps up to defend a noble martial arts school from corrupt government officials, a renegade swordsman and an illegal slave ring. A classic example of the Hong Kong school of filmmaking, this action-packed flick ends with an explosive finale in which Li uses every square inch of an old warehouse to pull off an array of intricate fight choreography.
The Joy Luck Club (1993) R
Four remarkable Chinese mothers' and their American daughters' extraordinary lives are filled with love and tragedy, richness and magic. This epic film, based on the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, beautifully reveals startling events and conditions that have shaped the lives of several generations of Chinese women.
Eat Drink Man Woman (Yin shi nan nu) (1994) NR
Distracted by their complicated love lives and secret ambitions, three adult sisters reluctantly humor their widower father (Sihung Lung) by enduring the elaborate, traditional Taiwanese dinners he insists on having every Sunday. Ang Lee directs this charming tale that humorously examines the clash between
modernity and tradition within the contemporary Taiwanese family. Yu-Wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu and Kuei-Mei Yang co-star. 1995 nominee of Academy Award, BAFTA, Independent Spirit Award, and Golden Globe.
The Legend of the Drunken Master (2000) R
Wong Fei-Hong (Jackie Chan), young master of the "drunken" fighting style, comes into possession of stolen jewels. Jewel thieves are in hot pursuit of the inebriated Wong as he tries to return the jewels to their rightful owner. Martial arts fans will love the fantastic fighting sequences.
Shaolin Soccer (Siu lam juk kau) (2001) PG-13
Former soccer star "Golden Leg" Fung is on the outs with his boss, and former team owner "Coach Hung" when he meets down-and-out Shaolin Kung Fu expert "Mighty Steel Leg Sing". Golden Leg sees an opportunity to get even with his former coach, the man whose corruption led a furious crowd to attack and cripple him forever; thus ending his career. The two new friends visit the former Shaolin brothers to recruit a soccer team and go for the 1 million dollar prize. They blow past the competition easily, but find an unexpected challenge- and ally, in the final round. Winner of Blue Ribbon Award, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award, Hong Kong Film Award, Golden Horse Award, and Golden Bauhinia Award.
The Qin King has long been obsessed with conquering all of China and becoming her first Emperor, which makes him the target of three legendary assassins. As a result, he promises great power to anyone who can defeat them. Jet Li heads the stellar cast as Nameless, the enigmatic county sheriff who earns his audience with the mighty King and stands to win mountains of gold in the process. Zhang Yimou directs this lush, Oscar-nominated epic.
Zatoichi is a blind wandered who, though he makes his living gambling and giving massages, is a master swordsman with breathtaking precision. When Zatoichi encounters two beautiful yet highly dangerous geishas he is soon involved with a sinister gangster who will meet him for a violent and action packed showdown.
This sweeping romantic epic sends us through the mysterious and exotic world of the geisha. Impoverished nine-year-old Chiyo is sold to a geisha house and treated cruelly until her stunning beauty is recognized and she is rescued. Chiyo goes on to become the most famous geisha in Japan, entering a society of wealth, privilege and political intrigue until World War II changes the world forever.
When the Valley of Peace is threatened, lazy Po the panda discovers his destiny as the "chosen one" and trains to become a kung fu hero, but transforming the unsleek slacker into a brave warrior won't be easy. It's up to Master Shifu and the Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- to give it a try in this Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature. Celebrity voices include Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan.
Available Bollywood Possibilities
Sholay (1975) NR
India's best-known "curry" Western combines elements of traditional and "spaghetti" Western epics in a film that was enormously successful in its time. When a former police chief (Sanjeev Kumar) vows to get revenge on the bandit (Amjad Khan) who gunned down his family, he hires two petty crooks (Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan) to carry out his plan. A milestone in Bollywood history, Sholay was India's first 70mm production.
Monsoon Wedding (2001) R
As the monsoon rains loom in director Mira Nair's romantic drama, Lalit Verma (Naseeruddin Shah) and his extended family reunite for the last-minute arranged marriage of his daughter Aiditi (Vasundhara Das) in New Delhi. But long-guarded secrets threaten to tear the family apart. As wedding preparations proceed, five stories intersect, highlighting different aspects of love and crossing boundaries of class and continent.
Devdas (2002) NR
In this Bollywood blockbuster, Devdas and Paro have a supreme love that began in childhood when they were kindred spirits. But their love is star-crossed. In a moment of weakness, Devdas breaks the bond of trust between them. Heartbroken, Paro marries another man. Unable to face life alone without Paro, Devdas finds solace in the bottle, but it's cold comfort. For Devdas, only death can be the final release from his enduring pain. 2003 BAFTA Best Foreign Language Film nominee.
Bride and Prejudice (2004) PG-13
This film is a Bollywood version of Jane Austen's classic romance Pride and Prejudice. The Indian village of Diaspora replaces Austin's England and Mrs. Bennett is now Mrs. Bakshi but she is still in earnest search of a suitable husband for her daughters. When he headstrong daughter Lalita meets American hotel magnate Will Darcy the sparks fly, but can the two overcome pride and prejudice to let love work its magic.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) PG
Lighthearted gangster Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) and his partner in crime, Circuit (Arshad Warsi), are back in action, and this time, their adventures lead Munna straight down lover's lane. He's fallen for Jhanvi (Vidya Balan), a radio DJ. To capture her attention, Munna vows to win her station's contest, which tests the participants' knowledge about Mahatma Gandhi. But intellectualism isn't Munna's strong suit. So how will he win Jhanvi's hand?
Cheeni Kum (2007) NR
Buddhadev Gupta is the 64-year-old chef-cum-owner of London's top Indian restaurant. He lives with his 85-year-old mother and his only friend and confidante is his 9-year-old neighbor. Gupta is an arrogant, egoistic, pompous man with a singular passion in life - cooking. He is a confirmed bachelor who has never been in love until Nina Verma walks into his restaurant and life. She is a beautiful, charming, Indian woman. Gradually, the two fall in love with each other and want to get married. However, there is just one problem. Mr. Omprakash Verma, Nina's father is 58-years-old, just six years younger than Gupta, his would be son-in-law.
Om Shanti Om (2007) NR
In the 1970s, small-time actor Om (Shah Rukh Khan) falls in love with superstar Shanti (Deepika Padukone), but the two of them are later killed in a suspicious on-set fire. When he's reincarnated 30 years later, Om is determined to punish the person who ignited the blaze. In his former life, he swears he saw Shanti's secret husband (Arjun Rampal) set fire to the set … which means his only chance to expose the truth is to have the movie remade.
Billu Barber (2009) NR
Billu Barber is a story of a simple ordinary man who led an extra ordinary life. Billu Vilas Pardesi was living in his village with his wife Bindiya and two great kids. Life was bitter sweet...we can say more sweet than bitter. One day a superstar came into their lives and everything changed. Life changed, people changed, friends changed, the village changed but one man did not...Billu Barber. Will this ordinary man redefine the words ordinary? Will the world see the greatness behind his small existence? And most of all, will life ever be the same for Billu Barber again?
