Robert Devaney • May 9, 2014

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a nonprofit driving sight-saving research, honored Ryuji Ueno, M.D., co-founder of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Timothy Olsen, M.D., of Emory University, with the organization’s Visionary Award, in recognition of their longstanding commitment to helping patients with eye diseases. More than 225 guests attended the 12th Annual D.C. “For the Love of Sight” Visionary Awards Dinner April 1, at the downtown Ritz-Carlton, raising $320,000 to benefit research. [gallery ids="116798,116805,116813,116789,116818,116823,116829" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Hundreds visited the home of Jeff and Elizabeth Powell on Dumbarton Street April 23 for the Patrons’ Party for the 83rd Georgetown House Tour, which will be held Saturday, April 26. The popular annual event brings neighbors, businesspeople, designers, church supporters and local media. The party was continued later at the George Town Club, which is on the tour. [gallery ids="101717,143012,143019,143017,142996,143000,143004,143009" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney • May 7, 2014

She holds a position never held before at Georgetown University: spouse of the university president. She arrived as Theresa Miller from Las Vegas on a Steve Wynn scholarship to major in psychology and minor in government Georgetown. Now, she, her husband Jack and son John Thomas (“J.T,” named for his grandfathers) reside in Hillandale.

What was your best experience as a college student?

Meeting interesting and talented students from across the country and around the world, and participating in student government while studying in the nation’s capital were the best experiences one could imagine. That and an internship in the Senate prepared me to work in the office of National Service at the White House under President George H. W. Bush. And, of course, I loved watching Georgetown basketball games.

Did you find the East Coast very different?

Extremely different! It was a bit of a faster pace, but I loved it. And I must admit I didn’t know Safeways didn’t have slot machines or poker machines until my first visit to the
Social Safeway.

Do you still have family in Las Vegas?

My parents are still in Las Vegas. I have three younger brothers, two of whom went to Georgetown. Mark was in the School of Foreign Service; John was in the Business School.
The only one who didn’t go to Georgetown is Paul, who went to Carnegie Mellon to study architecture, as we don’t have an architecture program at Georgetown.

Besides being a mother, what is your main job these days?

I earned an MSW from Catholic University,
and I concentrated on children and adolescents. So, I’ve tried to stay involved in community service issues by serving on the boards of organizations like Catholic Charities and the Washington Jesuit Academy. And I love to volunteer with the students at Holy Trinity School.

How involved do you get with university projects?

As we’re the first family to serve in this role, we try to participate together in as many events as possible. My favorite ones involve the students, such as welcoming them to campus during freshman move-in day and celebrating Thanksgiving with all the undergrads and graduate students who stay in D.C. for Thanksgiving.

How did you meet Jack? When and where did you get married?

We met during my undergraduate years at Georgetown, and our first date (a couple of years after I graduated) was with his family and mine at a Georgetown basketball game in Las Vegas! We were married in 1994 (20 years in November) at Holy Trinity Church — that’s
our parish.

Will your son be going to Georgetown University?

I would love it. Although with all the Georgetown events he regularly attends, he may want to go elsewhere. I suppose I should understand, as I went across the country myself for college.

After Jack’s presidency, what else would you two like to do?

Are you kidding? The furthest I can think right now is helping J.T. prepare for high school applications!

Robert Devaney • May 5, 2014

Albrecht Gero Muth, convicted Jan. 16 of killing his 91-year-old wife Viola Herms Drath in August 2011 in their Q Street home in Georgetown, was given a 50-year prison sentence by Judge Russell F. Canan of D.C. Superior Court April 30. The prosecutors were seeking a life sentence.

Canan said he found the evidence against Muth “overwhelming” and scoffed at his hunger strikes in the hospital, where Muth remained during the trial and the sentencing and participated via videoconference.

Muth’s lawyer Dana Page spoke on his behalf, reading a statement that claimed Muth was innocent and that his wife was killed by Iranian agents.

“For the rest of his life, Muth won’t be able to masquerade as a military officer or member of a royal family while subjecting his wife to intolerable abuse,” U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, Jr. said. “He will be a federal inmate paying the price for his brutal crime.”

Drath was found dead in the third-floor bathroom of her home on Q Street on Aug. 12, 2011, after being strangled and beaten.

Medical examiners determined Drath’s death to be a homicide – and not a result of falling, as Muth first contended. There had been not forced entry into the house. He was arrested a few days later on P Street, after being locked out of the house and wandering around the neighborhood and sleeping in nearby Montrose Park.

A veteran journalist and married previously to an Army colonel, Drath married Muth in 1990. The couple was known around town for their dinner parties with a mix of political, diplomatic, military and media VIPs. Drath was 44 years older than Muth.

Prosecutors argued that Muth showed a pattern of abuse against his wife and was motivated by money, saying he had no steady job and was not included in Drath’s will. “He was a good little con man,” prosecutor Glenn Kirschner told the jury.

During trial testimony, Drath’s daughters, Connie and Francesca (from her first marriage), talked about Muth’s money arrangements with his wife and of his emails to them about items he wanted upon her death.

Seen around Georgetown in faux military garb, the cigar-smoking Muth was perceived by neighbors and shopkeepers as an oddball. He said that he was a member of the Iraqi Army — which the Iraqi government denied. Muth went so far as to have arranged a 2010 ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Iraqi Liberation Day. He was also known around government and foundation lobbying circles as Count Albi of the EPG (Eminent Persons Group).

Robert Devaney •

The Georgetown service office of the Department of Motor Vehicles will open for business on Tuesday, April 29.

Closed since May 19, 2012, for the reconstruction of the Georgetown Park retail spaces, DMV’s office is twice the area as the old center. As it was previously, the office is located in Georgetown Park at 3222 M St., NW.

The new 12,000-square-foot space has 150 seats. On average, the Georgetown DMV has handled 500 persons per day; the new center will be able to handle at least 600 per day.

Entry for the DMV center is at the western M Street entrance of Georgetown Park for DSW and Washington Sports Club. It is on the lower level; hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Robert Devaney • May 1, 2014

The May meeting for Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E is 6:30 p.m., April 28, at Georgetown Visitation Prep, 35th Street and Volta Place, NW, Heritage Room, Founders Hall.

The following is this evening’s agenda, as provided by ANC 2E.

Approval of the Agenda

Approval of April 28, 2014, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

Approval of March 31, 2014, Meeting Minutes

Public Safety and Police Report

Financial Report

Transportation Report

Commendation for Peter Prindiville

Community Comment

DPW Director William Howland joins us for a community conversation about the Department of Public Works functions, options for residents regarding the new trash and recycling containers, and other timely topics.

New Business

Georgetown Presbyterian Church picnic in Volta Park on Sunday, Sept. 28

WMATA proposal to remove the northbound bus stop for 30’s buses at
Wisconsin Avenue and Dumbarton Street, NW

DDOT proposal to add 40 feet of No Parking School Days on the east side of 35th
Street, NW, next to Hardy School

Application to remove a gingko tree at 1312 27th St., NW

Old Georgetown Board

MAJOR AND PUBLIC PROJECTS

SMD 07, National Park Service / DDOT / Cultural Tourism DC Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
Way-finding signs on lampposts, Interpretive signs at Tudor Place and Dumbarton House, Concept/Final

SMD 05, 3601-3607 M Street, NW, OG 14-113 (HPA 14-220) Residential, New building, Concept

SMD 06, 2709-2715 N Street NW, OG 14-143 (HPA 14-283), Alexander Memorial Baptist Church, New construction, alterations, Concept

PRIVATE PROJECTS

1. SMD 02, 1552 33rd Street, NW, OG 14-150 (HPA 14-319) Residence, Replacement metal fence on areaway, metal gate, Permit

2. SMD 02, 1686 34th Street, NW, OG 14-155 (HPA 14-325) Residence, Alterations: chimney, porch, replacement windows, Concept

3. SMD 02, 3336 Dent Place, NW, OG 14-175 (HPA 14-346) Residence, 3- story rear addition, alterations to front, Concept

4. SMD 02, 1622 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 14-157 (HPA 14-327) Mixed-use, 2-story in-fill rear addition plus basement, alterations, Permit

5. SMD 03, 3332 O Street, NW, OG 14-171 (HPA 14-342) Residence, Metal fence on brick wall in front yard, Concept

6. SMD 03, 1357 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 14-084 (HPA 14-158) Commercial, Three-story rear addition, Revised Concept

7. SMD 05, 3600 M Street, NW, OG 14-120 (HPA 14-234) Office building, Demo and reconstruct brick walls, alterations to roof terraces for waterproofing work, Permit

8. SMD 06, 3015 P Street, NW, OG 14-172 (HPA 14-343) Residence, One- story rear addition, dormer, Concept

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming May 1, 2014, agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time. If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, April 25.

1. SMD 02, 3205 R Street, NW, OG 14-166 (HPA 14-337) Residence, Alterations to pool house, Permit

2. SMD 02, 3314 Dent Place, NW, OG 14-158 (HPA 14-328) Residence, Alterations to rear, Permit

3. SMD 02, 3520 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 14 -122 (HPA 14-239) Residence, Replacement windows and door, Permit

4. SMD 03, 3310 N Street, NW, OG 14-161 (HPA 14-332) Alterations to stoop, Permit

5. SMD 03, 3106 P Street, NW, OG 14-165 (HPA 14-336) Residence, Rear addition at second floor, Permit

6. SMD 03, 3238 P Street, NW, OG 14-103 (HPA 14-206) Residence, Two- story rear addition, Revised Concept

7. SMD 03, 3306 R Street, NW, OG 14-177 (HPA 14-348) Residence, Dormers, Permit

8. SMD 03, 1236 Potomac Street, NW, OG 14-162 (HPA 14-333) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit

9. SMD 03, 1242 Potomac Street, NW, OG 14-148 (HPA 14-309) Residence, Replacement fence, Permit

10. SMD 05, 1101 30th Street, NW, OG 14-15 (HPA 14-323) Commercial, Back-lit sign – Georgetown Workspaces, Permit

11. SMD 05, 3060 M Street, NW, OG 14-149 (HPA 14-318) Commercial, Replacement windows at rear, Permit

12. SMD 05, 3256 M Street, NW, OG 14-035 (HPA 14-057) Commercial, Rooftop antennas Permit

13. SMD 05, 3286 M Street, NW, OG 14-034 (HPA 14-051) Commercial, Signs, alterations to parking lot, Permit

14. SMD 05, 3314 M Street, NW, OG 14-111 (HPA 14-217) Commercial, Alterations to Cady’s Alley: green screens, lighting, speeding tables, landscaping, Revised Concept

15. SMD 05, 3106 N Street, NW, OG 14-167 (HPA 14-338) Residence, Replace light fixtures – options, Permit

16. SMD 05, 3121 N Street, NW, OG 14-151 (HPA 14-320) Residence, Rooftop solar panels, Permit

17. SMD 05, 1209-1211 Potomac Street, NW, OG 14-070 (HPA 14-112) Commercial, Alteration to first floor window, 2nd floor replacement windows – existing, Permit

18. SMD 05, 3508 Prospect Street, NW, OG 14-169 (HPA 14-340) Residence, Replacement windows and French door, Permit

19. SMD 06, 1521 29th Street, NW, OG 14-164 (HPA 14-335) Residence, Replace metal fence with wood fence, terraces, Permit

20. SMD 06, 1409 30th Street, NW, OG 14-163 (HPA 14-334) Residence, Alterations to rear, rebuild garden wall, Permit – revised design

21. SMD 06, 1231-1235 31st Street, NW, OG 14-137 (HPA 14-277) Front windows, rear additions, alterations, roof terrace, Revised Concept

22. SMD 06, 1409 31st Street, NW, OG 14-168 (HPA 14-339) Residence, Alterations to rear for basement entrance areaway, Permit

23. SMD 06, 2903 M Street, NW, OG 14-147 (HPA 14-307) Commercial, Awnings and sign – Izzy Salon, Permit

24. SMD 06, 2722 P Street, NW, OG 14-124 (HPA 14-263) Residence, Replacement windows, door, shutters, Permit

25. SMD 06, 3011 P Street, NW, OG 14-173 (HPA 14-344) Residence, Garage, Concept

26. SMD 07, 3021 Q Street, NW, OG 14-174 (HPA 14-345) Residence, Alterations to window openings at rear, Permit

27. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 14-159 (HPA 14-330) Georgetown University – Dahlgren Chapel, Installation of Healy Hall crosses in berm, landscaping, Concept

28. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 14-160 (HPA 14-331) Georgetown University – Ryan and Mulledy Hall, Alterations and replacement windows, Concept

Agenda is of noon, April 21. Contact info: 202-724-7098 — anc2e@dc.gov — www.anc2e.com.

Robert Devaney •

The District Department of Transportation will be conducting an inspection of the Whitehurst Freeway Bridge over K Street, NW, from Tuesday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 23. This will require single-lane closures and take place during off-peak hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., weather permitting.

The required lane closures and inspection activities are scheduled to occur as follows: Whitehurst Freeway over K Street, NW. On Tuesday, April 22, there will be a right-lane closure of eastbound K Street, NW, under the Whitehurst Freeway. On Wednesday, April 23, there will be a right-lane closure of westbound K Street, NW, under the Whitehurst Freeway.

Traffic controls will be in place to warn motorists as they approach these areas

Robert Devaney •

[UPDATED April 11 with list of applicants from ABRA.]

This morning, TV news crews reported on restauranteurs waiting overnight to submit their applications for a liquor license in Georgetown to the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration at 8:30 a.m. The small line-up of tents in front of the Reeves Municipal Center at 14th and U Streets, NW, looked like people waiting to buy concert tickets or the latest electronic gadget. Applicants had to wait in line because of ABRA’s policy of “first come, first served.”

Here is the list of applicants from ABRA:

1. Restaurant Enterprises, Inc. trading as Smith Point (applied for a tavern license)

2. AN & JM (trade name is TBD) (applied for a restaurant license)

3. FR & LH, LLC (trade name is TBD) (applied for a restaurant license)

4. Ching, LLC trading as So MI (applied for a restaurant license)

5. Luke’s Lobster VIII, LLC trading as Luke’s Lobster (applied for a restaurant license)

6. Georgetown Restaurant Partners, LLC (trade name is TBD) (applied for a restaurant license)

7. Restaurants, LLC trading as Yummi Crawfish and Seafood Restaurant (applied for a restaurant license)

8. Prospect Dining, LLC trading as George (applied for a tavern license)

Within the Georgetown Historic District, there are three restaurant liquor licenses and one tavern liquor license available. D.C. law allows six tavern licenses and 68 restaurant liquor licenses in Georgetown. There has been a liquor license moratorium in Georgetown since the 1990s. A tavern license allows an establishment to have a smaller percentage of food to alcohol sales.

Ben Conniff, vice president of Luke’s Lobster, which has one of its seafood restaurants on Potomac Street, arrived yesterday to pick up the proper paperwork from ABRA and decided to stay at the Reeves Center in the line. “A co-worker brought me a tent for the evening,” said Conniff, who was fifth in line. One of those in front wanted a tavern license. So, being at least fourth in line, Conniff said he was hopeful of getting a restaurant liquor license.

Of the available licenses, Amir Yeroushalmie told a Fox5 reporter, “I believe we’re going to get one.” He wants to open an upscale sushi restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue. Another person on line wants to open a crayfish restaurant.

Liquor licenses rarely become available through ABRA in Georgetown. When Gypsy Sally’s recently obtained a tavern license, it had been 20 years since such an opening.

In an earlier Georgetowner report, advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels, who heads the Alcohol Beverage Committee, said the newly available licenses were “not performing” and said he was “absolutely appreciative of what ABRA is doing here. It showed due process.” Some licenses can sit for years before put back in circulation, so to speak.

“We have some serious restaurant people looking at Georgetown,” Starrels said. “We cannot have licenses sitting on the shelf.” Fox5 News described Georgetown in its April 9 report on the liquor licenses described Georgetown as “red-hot.”