In D.C., Every Day Is Memorial Day
• May 18, 2016

 

Amidst the political turmoil of our time, we are coming up once again to Memorial Day, that mid-year break that has become a mixed bag and mixed signal in our American lives.
With it, we formally — with martial, but also sorrowful, pride — commemorate and memorialize those who fought (and, more pointedly, sacrificed their lives) in our country’s many wars. Our nation was given birth out of a war of independence and has continued from that beginning to fight wars that preserved our freedom, expanded our frontiers, pitted us against ourselves in the Civil War and expanded our roles and responsibilities in the world.

We fought in two world wars, at the end of which we emerged as the world’s greatest power, and a nuclear one. We have fought far-flung wars since then, in Asia, in the Middle East, in response to threats and attacks.

Memorial Day grew out of a Union soldiers’ group’s desire to haves a Decoration Day for the graves of Union soldiers in 1868. For many years, it has been celebrated in towns and cities across the country, in every place where the fallen have been laid to rest, or their sacrifice has been noted in town squares, in parks and cemeteries.

Always, there are parades of soldiers, often in the uniforms of long ago of varying fashion and color, from all branches of our military establishments. There are bands and cars and SUVs and jeeps of dignitaries. And there are beauty queens riding in convertibles and congressmen and senators and retired generals and war heroes with medals.

In the smaller towns across America, there are speeches and ceremonies, picnics and games. Memorial Day in this way also signals the beginning of summer, when school is out and the first football practice seems a long way off. All across America, for reasons that remain somewhat mysterious, mattress and furniture stores and car dealerships hold hugely advertised sales.

Memorial Day is special in Washington, D.C. The national cemetery for the fallen is here, and there is a section of the National Mall that seems reserved solely for the memorializing of the conflicts we fought in. The war memorials vary from the almost forlorn presence of the World War I Memorial, to the splendid, historic, wreathed and fountained World War II Memorial, to the clean sheen of the Vietnam Memorial, to the sculptures of the lone infantry company struggling in the barren Korean landscape.

The World War II, Korean and Vietnam memorials are especially resonant because we are among the survivors. The ceremonies and the landscapes there change a little every year: there is a kind of thinning out always present as the World War II vets dwindle in number, appearing more frail and vulnerable, like ghosts from another time. The Vietnam vets still search for missing comrades, still ride in on roaring motorcycles, but are also now visibly a part of the Baby Boomers, many tanned and tattooed, grizzled, bare-armed, carrying regimental insignias. The Korean War vets remain stuck in between, slightly younger than the Greatest Generation, quite a bit older than the ’Nam vets.

The same things happen all the time: the swaggering marchers, the high school bands, the batons thrown high in the air to catch the light, the memories, the history, the family of man on the Mall, the concerts, the reunions and old stories told over a picnic table. Every year, many go missing, the muster call marked by spots of silence.

This is what happens here: you see a man dressed as George Washington get out of a cab; you see an elderly man with medals, a D-Day veteran, wander among the fountains, being saluted by children; you see the big flags draped on the grass. Once you saw a Vietnam vet, blue jeans, sunglasses, with a striped shirt and a regimental cap, kneel and stare at a name on the wall and touch the name. And suddenly his whole body was shaking.

It was some days and a while ago, on Memorial Day.

But then, if you live here and roam, every day is Memorial Day.

Overheard at Lunch: D.C. Gossip Girl
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The Boss Goes Newsy

With all the White House Correspondents’ Dinner hype, you may have missed this one: Bruce Springsteen, the Boss himself, was in town last month for the nuptials of ABC’s Ali Weinberg, a journalist whose dad is drummer for the E Street Band, and CNN’s Josh Rogin. The Washington Post reported that it was quite the eclectic mix that attended — Wolf Blitzer and Steve Van Zandt to name two. Wonder what the topic of conversation was.

Georgetown: Neutral Ground?

Kathleen Matthews, who recently ran for Congress as a Democrat in Maryland (and lost to State Senator Jamie Raskin) hosted a fundraiser on N Street, as did Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). Georgetown — we ignore and cross state lines! Maybe they consider us
neutral ground?

Residence Juggling by Former Rep.’s Ex

Former Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) has moved out to the good old ’burbs. While he’s living the good life relatively out of the public eye, his ex-wife, LuAnn Bennett, spent the last few months getting harangued by the GOP about the condo she rents at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd Street. Republicans accused her of being an invader from D.C. (where her business is located). She told the Washington Post she rented out the property. According to her Financial Disclosure Report from the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, she received an income of $5,001 to $15,000 for the current year to filing (1-1-2015 to 3-15-2016), but the previous year she reported nothing. Zip. Zilch. Zero income. In addition to that whole mess, Bennett ran for Congress in the 10th District in Virginia, but numerous sites report that she no longer lives there and is in fact renting an apartment in McLean. Good thing Bennett didn’t win the election against Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) or else her mess would be a whole lot messier.

Publicists Skip WHCD, Pledge Allegiance to Bieber

Everyone knows the White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend is the hottest ticket in town, but not this year for publicists Erika Gutierrez and Victoria Michael. The self-described “Beliebers” said, sorry, but baby baby baby ohhh, we have to go to see Justin Bieber in concert at the Verizon Center April 30. Just think really hard about it, ladies, if you choose to get a new face tattoo a la Bieber.

ANC Report: Departures, Oppositions
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The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E met May 2 at Georgetown Visitation Prep and welcomed new executive director Ron Sacco. At the same time, commissioners honored departing executive Leslie Maysak and commissioner Kendyl Clausen, who had to resign as she is graduating Georgetown University and heading to Yale Law School. Commissioners authorized Rick Murphy to represent ANC 2E at the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Also, At-large council member Elissa Silverman addressed the room and spoke of her work on campaign finance reform, family leave for District workers and other programs.
Metropolitan Police Department reported that the April 24 death of Georgetown student Edward Blatz, Jr., involved no foul play and that MPD was investigating a robbery at Dolcezza at
1560 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

Citing late night noise and disturbance, commissioners unanimously protested Malmaison’s liquor license renewal application. They unanimously opposed a Board of Zoning Adjustment application at 3000 M St. NW for a roof deck, formerly the Latham Hotel property. They did support a zoning application by 3015 P St. NW for a one-story addition.
Commissioners got into a bit of pickle as residents and architects got into sharp disagreements about work and plans for 3420 P St. NW. One neighbor loudly complained of workers parking in his driveway and a long-sitting dumpster — among other comments.

DOEE to Create Green Infrastructure Credits
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Under a D.C. Department of Energy and Environment program intended to incentivize the voluntary installation of runoff-reducing green infrastructure, the Stormwater Retention Credit Purchase Agreement Program will allow the selling and trading of credits by property owners and investors in new projects within the area of the city that drains into bodies of water. While the program may increase investors’ confidence in investing in green projects, it also allows new large development sites to skirt up to 50 percent of the stormwater management regulations that went into effect in January 2014.

The DOEE has pigeonholed over $12 million for the purchase of SRC credits from private parties, educational institutes, faith-based and nonprofit organizations over a 20- to 30-year life cycle, with $500,000 reserved to support technical and outreach work to help identify cost-effective green infrastructure sites.

The program is intended to add “a market-shaping incentive for projects to be located in areas that provide the greatest benefit to District waterbodies,” according to a DOEE press release. The annualized program will allow the department to pay out much of its funding in the first few years, then reimburse itself by selling the credits to future regulated development projects.

Attorney General Appeals to FAA to Alter Noisy D.C. Flight Paths
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District residents in Foggy Bottom and neighborhoods near Georgetown University, Canal Road and MacArthur Boulevard have been seriously and adversely affected by aircraft noise from new flight paths implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration for Reagan National Airport in 2015, according to a letter D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine sent to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and FAA Easter Regional Administrator Carmine Gallo. The new low-altitude flight paths create early-morning noise and fly directly over neighborhoods and schools. Concerns about the noise have been expressed for several months.
Racine’s letter cites a precedent set in Long Island, New York, in 2013 in which the D.C. Circuit upheld an FAA decision to require helicopter flight paths to avoid residential areas, thus confirming that the FAA has the “authority to change flight paths in order to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on residents living below them,” according to the letter.
A coalition of community groups as well as Georgetown University have challenged the implementation of the flight paths in the D.C Circuit Court of Appeals. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland have also sent federal letters to the FAA demanding changes.

Zoning: Renting Out the Extra Room to Get Easier
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A new zoning code set to take effect Sept. 6 will allow property owners in low-density D.C. neighborhoods to create a rentable apartment within their house by right, rather than with a special exception as required under existing regulations. Deemed “accessory dwelling units,” certain other conditions must also be met in addition to standard building codes for safety and space, such as: no more than three occupants in the unit, in addition to three in the home; and the property owner must live there and obtain a Residential Rental Business License.

Accessory dwelling units may also be built out of new and existing accessory buildings, both attached and detached — another loosening of the previous regulation, which only allowed existing structures to be converted — but only with a special exception, which will allegedly be easier to acquire than the previous variance required (though neighbors could still possibly block the exception if during a zoning hearing they can demonstrate that the unit would place an undue burden on them). Units in accessory buildings must also have dedicated access to the street. In addition to the dwelling units, homeowners may also have another garage, art studio or storage area on their property.

The Latest Issue of The Georgetowner
• May 17, 2016

At Its 88th, Georgetown Garden Tour Impresses
• May 16, 2016

Nine gardens of Georgetown were open May 7, as neighbors, horticulturalists and the curious visited some spectacular back yards from the east side to the west side of town.

Each place proved its special worth — whether it was the Pyne household on 30th Street with its unexpected spaciousness so close to M Street and the Old Stone House, the Langhornes’ sweep of lawn and pool on 31st Street, next to the Tudor Place property or Connie Milstein’s classic pool and gardens on R Street.

Across from Milstein, the Terceks’ efficiently planned patio and garden delighted, too, as did the garden of Jackie Pletcher and Charlie Eisen on O Street. Especially surprising were the gardens of Jane Hannaway on Dumbarton Street and those of John Danielson on Scott Place — tucked away and carefully thought out but with a natural flow.

Newcomer Kevin Plank and wife Desiree impressed with a re-do of the gardens on 34th Street by Amy Mills, prompting the garden club to opine: “This house and garden have recently undergone a dramatic renovation, with great care in preserving original details while implementing the latest technology. A large ballroom and outdoor terrace overlook the formal lawn while, hidden around a corner, one discovers a long lap pool. A rare treasure, the home once belonged to Evangeline and David Bruce.”

Other garden club comments — some of which are from “Gardens of Georgetown” by Edith Schafer — included the following:

The Pyne residence: “Passing into this grand and stately garden takes you into another world: a charming latticed cupola/library full of garden books, a big swimming pool, levels and terraces, a playhouse, a small octagonal ornamental pool, a greenhouse, named varieties of boxwood, and a knockout vegetable garden planted like a parterre, designed by Adrian Higgins, garden writer for the Washington Post.”

The Langhorne house: “Artifacts of historical interest have been found in this spacious and handsome garden that was once part of Tudor Place. Clever aids are incorporated into the design to provide handicap access: a special lift for the pool and very soft walkways made of shredded tires. Gordon Riggle, landscape architect.”

The Milstein residence: “This handsome and imposing garden has a distinctly European feel to it emphasized by its formal statuary and fountains. But the formality is softened by the plantings: a riot of color and a variety of interesting flowers in unusual combinations – purples and lime greens for instance—are used to great effect.”

The Danielson home: “An utterly beguiling garden! A round pond with a round umbrella-shaped red Japanese maple and a circular patio are on the upper level from which the viewer looks down on a glorious mix of small shrubs and a continuation of the round theme. The result is marvelous!”
 
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Punk Rocker John Stabb Dies Day Before Cancer Benefit
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John Dukes Schroeder, the hardcore punk rocker known as John Stabb, died Saturday of stomach cancer, age 54. ‘Boycott Cancer,’ Sunday’s John Stabb benefit show at the Black Cat, became a memorial.

Lead singer for ’80s band Government Issue, Schroeder was called the “Clown Prince of Punk.”

“We wanted to mix the anger with humor,” he told the Vinyl District. He was featured in the documentary “Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington D.C.”

The name Stabb came from the earlier incarnation of Government Issue, a band called the Stab. Schroeder performed solo and with others since G.I.’s 1989 breakup. His most recent band was History Repeated.

Bobby Polsky, who owned Smash Records when it was on M Street in Georgetown (it moved to Adams Morgan in 2007) told WTOP that when the singer came to the store with records and T-shirts, “he would ask about new bands. He was always interested in local bands.”

Schroeder had been diagnosed in February. He is survived by his wife, Mina Devadas.

Lots of Single Tracking in Metro’s ‘SafeTrack’ Plan
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On Friday, Paul Wiedefeld, general manager of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, announced “SafeTrack,” a plan to carry out three years of repairs to D.C.’s Metrorail system in a single year.

The planned work is to include repairs to rails, insulators, fasteners, ventilation systems, tunnel lighting and third-rail cables, boots and cover boards, as well as radio-system installation, debris cleaning and tunnel leak-mitigation and washing.

Starting Friday, June 3, according to the plan, extended weekend service will be eliminated, with the system closing at midnight every night. Over the course of the year, there will be 15 SafeTrack Surges, “long-duration outages on selected line segments,” the first to be on the Blue Line between Franconia and Van Dorn, from June 4 to 19.

The stated goal is to continue to provide a minimum level of service, with single tracking or “bus bridges” — shuttles of 40 to 50 buses — connecting stations, such as between Braddock Road and National Airport from July 5 to 12 and between Pentagon City and National Airport from July 12 to 19.

The draft plan awaits approval by the WMATA board, chaired by Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans. Wiedefeld, who started as GM last November, did not provide an estimate for the work’s total cost, saying that the funds will come from Metro’s capital-improvement budget, with some taken from future years.

Among those commenting on the “tough medicine,” in Wiedefeld’s phrase, was President Obama. “It is just one more example of the underinvestments that have been made,” he said. “We’ve known for years now that we are $1 trillion or $2 trillion short in terms of necessary infrastructure repair.” The president placed the blame on “an ideology that says government spending is necessarily bad.”