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Georgetowner • July 27, 2015

Timeless elegance and dramatic design come together harmoniously in this unique “custom villa,” tucked away in Falls Church, Virginia. 3208 Valley Lane boasts more than 7,000 breathtaking square feet of historic and elegant architectural design, seated upon a beautifully landscaped half-acre lot. The 6-bedroom and 5.5-bath property includes a main house, as well as a separate legal rental unit. One enters the home through a bronze and glass front door leading to an enchanting oversized foyer. Water cascades down the fountain in the center of a hall adorned with travertine and marble treads and baseboards, truly a spectacular sight. Fine details seem to mark every room of the house. There are six fireplaces throughout, all with carved mantels. Each room in the house, including bedrooms; have well designed custom built-ins. The gourmet kitchen features heated slate floors and top-of-the-line appliances and sunny windows stretching the length of the room. There are private views from every axis of the home, proving that the exterior is just as beautiful as the interior. Extensive stone work, exposed aggregate and slate patios all wrap around the home set upon a beautifully landscaped half-acre lot. For more information, please contact JD Callander at 703-606-7901 or at www.newNOVAhome.com.”

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Georgetowner •

After pleading guilty to videotaping 52 women taking a ritual bath at Kesher Israel synagogue and being sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison, Barry Freundel will head back to the D.C. Superior Court July 31 in a bid for a lesser sentence.

The rabbi’s attorney, Jeffrey Harris, has argued in a motion to the court that Freundel should have been sentenced for one act of video voyeurism rather than for each women he videotaped. His current sentence is 45 days in prison for each of the 52 women he videotaped. Harris made the same argument about the sentence during the rabbi’s May 15 sentencing hearing, but Senior Judge Geoffrey M. Alprin and prosecutors did not accept it. Alprin will preside over the July 31 hearing, and prosecutors have notified Freundel’s victims about the recent legal developments. The Washington Post reports that “In several filings with the court, Harris and prosecutors have sparred over the legality of the sentence,” calling the new argument “unusual.”

To further his motion, Harris said that Freundel is in isolation at D.C. Jail for 23 hours a day due to threats made by other inmates. Sentencing guidelines on voyeurism cases require that Freundel serve at least 85 percent of his term.

Freundel was arrested in early October and charged with videotaping six nude women as they prepared to purify themselves in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. Ultimately, the rabbi plead guilty to charges of videotaping 52 women. But prosecutors say they found evidence of Freundel recording almost 100 other women. They are unable to bring charges on those allegations because the alleged crimes fall outside the three-year statute of limitation for voyeurism.

Read more about the initial charges here, and Freundel’s sentencing here.

Georgetowner • July 22, 2015

After decades of being labeled a local legend, a Martin’s Tavern booth is now confirmed to be the official spot where future President John F. Kennedy popped the question to Jaqueline Bouvier.

Ambassador Marion H. Smoak revealed that he was enjoying a cocktail in the restaurant the night of the proposal. “After the senator proposed, and she accepted, the news ran through the restaurant. That night we didn’t know his future and what it would bring. In hindsight, it was great fun to witness a part of history,” Smoak said.

For years, Martin’s was said to be the place of the proposal, though only from reports of the staff working at the time. Smoak’s account put skeptics to rest in time to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the proposal June 24.

Robert Devaney • July 16, 2015

America was again shocked, embittered, if not enraged, after a mass murderer shot nine persons to death in a church during bible study on a Wednesday night, June 17, in Charleston, S.C.

The suspected killer, Dylann Storm Roof, 21, was arrested in North Carolina June 18, as photos of him were viewed around the word as deeply as his mass sins were felt.

The suspect entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically black church on Calhoun Street, to sit near and observe those in prayer and reading the bible. After an hour, allegedly, the hate-filled white racist pulled out his .45 caliber pistol, which he’d gotten as a birthday present, and took away those lives that would be the opposite of his: a reverend, a coach, a librarian, a lovely old lady.

According to the Charleston Courier & Post, Charleston County Corner Rae Wooten identified the victims who died as:

— State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, the church’s pastor;

— Cynthia Hurd, 54, St. Andrews regional branch manager for the Charleston County Public Library system;

— Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, a church pastor, speech therapist and coach of the girls’ track and field team at Goose Creek High School;

— Tywanza Sanders, 26, who had a degree in business administration from Allen University, where Pinckney also attended;

— Ethel Lance, 70, a retired Gilliard Center employee who worked recently as a church janitor;

— Susie Jackson, 87, Lance’s cousin who was named by a relative and was a longtime church member.
relative and was a longtime church member;

— Depayne Middleton Doctor, 49, who retired in 2005 as Charleston County director of the Community Development Block Grant Program;

— Mira Thompson, 59, a pastor at the church;

— Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, who died in a hospital operating room.

“They say to each of us, black and white alike, that we must substitute courage for caution. They say to us that we must be concerned not merely with [about] who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers. Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American Dream,” said President Barack Obama, quoting Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., of racist murders a half century earlier, to illuminate a path to a place beyond the Charleston massacre. Next to him somberly stood Vice President Joe Biden before the press June 18 in the White House briefing room.

“Now is the time for mourning and for healing,” the president said. “But let’s be clear: At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency. And it is in our power to do something about it.”

“I say that recognizing the politics in this town foreclose a lot of those avenues right now. But it would be wrong for us not to acknowledge it. And at some point it’s going to be important for the American people to come to grips with it, and for us to be able to shift how we think about the issue of gun violence collectively.”

“The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history. This is not the first time that black churches have been attacked. And we know that hatred across races and faiths pose a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals.”

“The good news is I am confident that the outpouring of unity and strength and fellowship and love across Charleston today, from all races, from all faiths, from all places of worship indicates the degree to which those old vestiges of hatred can be overcome.”

Indeed, services and meeting in prayers happened in the city of the latest mass murder as well as in the nation’s capital as lawmakers joined in prayer. “A church should be one of the safest places on the planet,” said Senate Chaplain Barry Black. “God is near to the broken-hearted, and that would match South Carolina and all of us today,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

“And if one will hold on, he will discover that God walks with him, and that God is able to lift you from the fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope, and transform dark and desolate valleys into sunlit paths of inner peace,” said Obama, invoking King’s remarks about the murder of four black girls at Selma, Alabama, church, in 1964.

The president concluded: “Reverend Pinckney and his congregation understood that spirit.  Their Christian faith compelled them to reach out not just to members of their congregation, or to members of their own communities, but to all in need.  They opened their doors to strangers who might enter a church in search of healing or redemption.”

“Mother Emanuel church and its congregation have risen before –- from flames, from an earthquake, from other dark times -– to give hope to generations of Charlestonians. And with our prayers and our love, and the buoyancy of hope, it will rise again now as a place of peace.”

Kelly Byrnes •

On June 19, 150 years ago, one of the last groups of American slaves learned that they were freed of their bondage, a moment in history that continues to be celebrated today.

Juneteenth, as the celebration is called, commemorates the 1865 announcement of freedom by U.S. Army Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas. While Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in rebel states two years before in 1863, news of the Emancipation Proclamation did not reach Texas until June 19, 1865.

Now a cultural holiday, Juneteenth is marked with events that recall the struggles and triumphs of African Americans.

Washington, D.C., has been a hub for Juneteenth celebrations in recent years, including a 2000 effort to call upon Congress to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday. The campaign proved successful, as Juneteenth is now observed as a state holiday or day of observance in the District and 43 states.

Books and reading are at the center of this year’s celebration, whose slogan is “Literacy is the backbone of freedom.”

Hosted by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the two-day Juneteenth Book Festival will feature a June 19 conference with discussion panels, workshops, as well as an awards reception at Sankofa Video Books and Cafe on Georgia Avenue NW. The main event, a family-friendly outdoor festival, is planned for June 20 at Anacostia’s St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion? at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, in which every child will leave with a book to recognize the importance of literacy in freedom and civil rights.

“The U.S. Capitol and the White House were built through the uncompensated labor of the ancestors of Americans of African descent during the tyranny of enslavement,” says Ronald V. Myers, Sr., chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign and National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. “The leaders of the ‘Modern Juneteenth Movement’ will continue to honor their contributions in building key American institutions during the annual observance of Juneteenth in the nation’s capital.”

This is the first year of the annual festival, which will feature publisher Haki Madhubuti, author Marita Golden, as well as Myers. 

Gary Tischler •

At times, the annual N Street Village Empowerment Luncheon June 18 at the Mayflower Hotel felt like a buzzing, high-energy convention of a major national sorority. There were women everywhere, all kinds of women, united in a mission of making people’s lives better.

There were retired nurses, retired psychologists and retired history professors, and there were volunteers and board members and donors, and there was Mayor Muriel Bowser, promising with force to end homelessness and lauding the rising reputation of the city over which she presides. There was singer Jennifer Holliday, the original “Dreamgirl” girl, belting out her signature song “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”

There were speeches by Pepco exec Debbi Jarvis, and Schroeder Stribling, the ebullient and impassioned Executive Director of N Street Village.

And there were direct, honest, and dramatic talks by Cheryl Barnes and Gisele Clark, both of them alumnae of N Street Village, two women of many who are the reason N Street Village exists. Barnes described how she was homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol for some 30 years of her life. “I stand before you 24 years recovered and it is a miracle that I stand here. I sit at a table of hope and vision as a former homeless representative.” “You,” she said, indicating the audience members of volunteers, contributors, directors, workers and supporters, “ are giving life and hope to all the women who come to N Street Villages for hope, sustenance and help.”

Clark, likewise an alumnae, talked about addiction and relapse, detailing her journey through N Street Village whuch ultimately led to permanent housing and fall classes at UDC.

N Street Village is a long-standing organization which empowers homeless and low-income women to “claim their highest quality of life by offering a broad spectrum of services and advocacy in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.”

Here is what N Street Village does:

– It is the largest provider of women-only services for D.C.’s homeless population, serving more than 60 percent of the city’s adult female homeless population.

– It provides a self-contained continuum of supportive services and housing in order to help women achieve stability and improved quality of life.

– It focuses on creating a safe and welcoming community where women are empowered to make positive changes in their lives.

The women who come to N Street Village, often in the beginning for respite, rest, and peace, suffer from mental illness, addition, have physical, sexual, and trauma histories. Some are living with HIV, most have chronic health problems and half are over 50 years old and one in three have no source of income.

N Street Village provides basic needs, including food, clothing, crisis support, integrated health services , housing, and a path to employment. [gallery ids="102123,133751,133747,133753,133756" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

A man was found dead June 20 after 10 p.m. in the 3600 block of Calvert Street NW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. He was identified as Joel Johnson, 53, and pronounced dead at the scene. He was stabbed and had other injuries.

Johnson was described by police as homeless and found in a courtyard of St. Luke’s Mission Center in Glover Park and next to the condominium, Georgetown Heights, close to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

According to MPD Second District Commander Melvin Gresham, “A number of homeless men were sleeping outside of the St. Luke’s Mission at Calvert and Wisconsin when an altercation resulted in one of the men being stabbed. The men were all associates, and this was not a random act.”

St. Luke’s Shelter is a small, year-round facility that helps homeless men transitioning into jobs, housing and recovery programs. The church merged with Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, where it holds services.

The Rev. Charles Parker, a pastor at Metropolitan, told the Washington Post that the killing “is a great tragedy and I think a real indictment of our community.” Parker, who said that Johnson was not staying at the shelter and did not know him, added that it is sad that those in need “don’t have the resources available that they need.”

No arrests have been made.

Georgetowner •

American Affinities: Pop Art from John Stango

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free | morgan@aproof.net | Tel: 202-803-2782 | Event Website

Artist’s Proof is proud to announce the unveiling of their upcoming exhibition, “American Affinities: Contemporary Pop Art from John Stango,” which features a compilation of works from artist John Stango starting Friday, June 26th to Sunday, July 19th. Stango builds upon traditional Pop Art imagery while incorporating influential contemporary brands and uniquely American icons to create bold, colorful, and dynamic pieces that resonate with twenty-first century pop culture energy.

Address

Artist’s Proof; 1533 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Guided Garden Tour: Historic & Growing

June 26th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | Free-$10 | press@tudorplace.org | Tel: 2029650400 | Event Website

This lively walk traces the history and horticulture of centuries-old trees, heirloom plants and flowers, and abundant English boxwood across the 5½-acre landscape. Learn how Tudor Place’s design reflects its Federal-period origins and how land use changed over time. Identify species cultivated here over two centuries, and see how four owners and six generations cared for and embellished their land as Georgetown and the Federal city developed.

Address

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden; 1644 31st Street NW

Book Hill Dog Parade

June 27th, 2015 at 8:00 AM | free | Tel: 202-944-2753

At the annual Dog Parade and Show, in Georgetown’s Book Hill Park, dogs will meet Uncle Sam, strut in the parade, and compete for prizes (best costume, best couple, best trick and others). The event is open to the public. Rain date: June 28.

Address

Book Hill Park is located behind the Georgetown Library at the corner of Reservoir Road and Wisconsin Avenue.

Garden Party

June 27th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | free | art@liveanartfullife.com | Tel: 540-253-9797 | Event Website

Live An Artful Life® Gallery will host a floral celebration of art with their show “Garden Party”. The show will feature artwork depicting a garden theme from a group of talented artists residing in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The public is invited to vote for their favorite painting for the People’s Choice Award. An opening party is planned for the evening of June 27th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Show runs June 27 through July12, 2015.

Address

Live An Artful Life Gallery; 6474 Main Street; The Plains, VA 20198

Mosaic Live

June 27th, 2015 at 05:00 PM | FREE | mmcgarry@edens.com | Event Website

Join us the last weekend of June for a special FREE concert weekend presented in partnership with Jammin’ Java!

Saturday Night:

From 5-9 p.m., will feature food and drink from Mosaic partners, including DGS and Sisters Thai and concerts by

-Brain Stew, A Tribute to Green Day (6pm-6:45pm)

-Good Time Boys, A Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers(7pm-8pm)

Sunday Morning:

From 11am – 2pm, will feature local family favorites

-Rocknoceros (11:30am-12:20pm)

-Rainbow Rock (12:40pm-1:30pm)

Address

Mosaic District; 2910 District Avenue; Fairfax, Virginia 22031

El Centro D.F. Brings Back Its Popular Guacamole Festival

June 29th, 2015 at 11:00 AM | $12.55 to $14.75 | Tel: (202) 328-3131 | Event Website

Richard Sandoval’s vibrant Taqueria and Tequileria, El Centro D.F., is pleased to debut its popular Guacamole Festival, which will run June 29th through September 30th, 2015. The Festival will feature different flavors that highlight various regional experiences of preparing guacamole. Dating back to Aztec times, the traditional Mexican dip was comprised of avocado, onion, chilies, fresh tomato, and salt.

Address

1819 14th Street, NW

Tudor Tots: Summer Fun in the Sun

June 30th, 2015 at 10:00 AM | $5 per child. Free for adults | Tel: 2029650400115

Tudor Place has enchanted young children for almost two centuries. Experience it yourself on family-friendly Tuesday mornings, joining others to read, sing, and play in the picturesque gardens. Each week introduces a new theme, from “adventurous animals” to “growing gardens” and more. Children enjoy interactive read-alouds, songs, and themed movements related to the week’s topic, sharing a shady green and tranquil setting with the grown-ups who care for them.

Address

1644 31st Street NW

Peter Murray •

The Metropolitan Police Department has discovered 3 dead bodies in Washington waterways this week, and has attributed the discovery of those bodies to heavy recent rain.

The first body was found in the rear of the Swedish Embassy at the 2900 block of K Street NW. Officers appeared on the scene to investigate a “body floating in the water” and “discovered a deceased male,” according to an email from the department. Police say the body was in the water for an “undetermined amount of time” and that they do not know the cause, or the location, of the man’s death. The department has scheduled an autopsy to find out more about the man’s death Officials also said that the deceased man “carried identification” indicating North Carolina residency.

On Wednesday, police retrieved two bodies from the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River, respectively. U.S. Park Police called MPD to the scene when they discovered a partially submerged, “unconscious and unresponsive” adult male in the Tidal Basin around 6:30 a.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, MPD is continuing their investigation of the death as a homicide and asking anyone with information about the body to call the department at (202) 727-9099.

Lastly, MPD’s Homicide Branch is investigating unidentified remains that were found in the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center around noon Wednesday. The police said in a statement that MPD’s K-9 Unit was the first on the scene and that Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the body to their facilities for further investigation.