News & Politics

Gary Tischler • January 6, 2014

In this our town, in the year of Our Lord 2013, nonprofit is a year-round word. It’s a definition, in economic terms, in which institutions and organizations tell the world that their mission is not turn a profit. They’re doing what they’re doing to help those in need of homes, food, health care and education. In this our town, helping nonprofits do what they do is a major part of the social and political landscape. In a rich city, there are many who need much. Everybody can help, but we can’t help everybody and so have to choose. In our cultural scene, major organizations haves their donors, their subscribers, but others don’t always fare so well. This season, let’s see if we can’t spread the wealth among the smaller theater groups, the orchestra without a home, the theater without a stage, the dance company without a venue. We may be the culturally richest urban area around, but it doesn’t mean that culture is only for the rich.

We can’t help or even mention all the deserving groups and nonprofits in the DC area that need your help, but we have picked out a few that have held our interest enough to share them with you.

HOPE FOR CHILDREN UNITED STATES—Hope for Children-United States is a US nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Ethiopia affected by HIV/AIDS. HFC-US works with HFC Ethiopia, which founded the organization in the capital city Addis Ababa in 2001 under the leadership of Yewoinshet Masresha. HFC-US offers child sponsorships with annual commitments of $350 for each child for food, shelter, clothing, school fees and uniforms and access to all HFC programs and activities until age 18. It also sponsors a youth center in Addis where sponsored children are educated to make the transition to independence. The center has been in operation since 2007. In addition HFC-US began awarding vocational school scholarships for older students, sponsored its first youth group home in Addis in 2011 and supports the St. Yared’s School, also in Addis, which is run by HFC-Australia.

This year, with T-H-E Talent Agency providing the fashion, Hope for Children United States held a dinner-fashion gala at the Embassy of Ethiopia, led by HFC-US Board President Carol A Rhees, to raise funds for HFC-US programs.

Elizabeth McDavitt-Centenari,Vice President and Director of T-H-E Artist Agency, got involved after her daughter Madison, then a Senior at Maret School and now a sophomore at Skidmore College in Saratoga, New York, took up the HFC-US projects in Ethiopia as a Senior project in 2012. “We all went to Addis Ababa, Madison, her sister Isabella and my husband Paul, to see the programs, the school and the youth center there. It was an amazing experience for us,” McDavitt-Centenari said. “ I think Carol Rhees, the President of HFC-US is an extraordinary leader and human being. Her tireless and passionate effort is beyond extraordinary.”

Contributions to Hope for Children can be made at www.hopeforchildrenus.org

JOSEPH’S HOUSE—Joseph’s House in the residential heart of Lanier Heights in Adams Morgan opened in 1990 in response to the growing AIDS crisis in Washington. It began as and continues to be a remarkable welcoming community. It offers comprehensive nursing and support services to homeless men and women dying of AIDS and cancer.

Joseph’s House is a hospice, but operates and focuses on caring in a unique way with a clinical staff and trained caregivers working to create a home where the values of unreserved love and friendship are practiced. “Together, we nurture the living and accompany the dying, providing a depth of physical emotional and spiritual support that creates the possibility for profound healing and their restoration of individual diginity.”

Joseph’s House is an integral and familiar part of the Lanier Heights neighborhood, inviting neighbors into their healing community as volunteers and visitors and taking part in neighborhood activities. It’s motto: “Small acts, great loves”.
For information on donations, helping or volunteering, email info@josephshouse.org

THE CHANCE FOUNDATION—The Chance Foundation is operated by Country Club Kennels, a one-of-a-kind boarding and training facility. It has locations in Fauquier and Orange County, Virginia, and is an all-breed, no-kill rescue arm of the kennels.(See photos on opposite page of dogs needing adoption.)

The Foundation helps homeless, neglected, abused and abandoned dogs. The Foundation takes in as many dogs as it can afford at any given time. Currently, a number of dogs are still available for adoption, including Dusty, a wire haired fox terrier; Kyra, a hound; Pumba, a two-year-old rat terrier mix; Howard, an Anatolian Shepherd mix; and Adam, a two-year old long haired German Shepherd mix.

For information for adoptions or donations, call 1-540-788-3559 or e-mail at carlacck@aol.com. The Country Club Kennels are located at 10739 Bristersburg Road, Cattlett, VA 20119. The owner is Carla Namack.

THE GEORGETOWN MINISTRY CENTER—The Georgetown Ministry Center, an organization of diverse communities in Georgetown, is dedicated to guiding homeless individuals towards stability and housing. They offer a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is treated with respect. They also educate the community about homelessness. For information or donations, email info@gmcgt.org

PROJECT CREATE provides accessible arts education to promote positive development in children, youth and families experiencing homelessness and poverty. For donations or information go to www.projectcreatedc.org

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION—The National Council for Adoption is an adoption advocacy nonprofit that promotes a culture of adoption through education, research and legislative action. NCFA works to give every child a nurturing, permanent home by meeting the needs of the broad spectrum of adoption. To see what NCFA is currently doing or to help, go to
www.adoptioncouncil.org.

THE DUMBARTON OAKS PARK CONSERVANCY is a nonprofit organization established in 2010 that seeks to restore one of Americas ten greatest garden landscape designs, namely the 27-acre Dumbarton Oaks Park, which was formerly part of the Dumbarton Oaks estate in Georgetown. It is a naturalistic, but intensely designed landscape of meadows, woodlands, bulbs and wildflowers and paths and ponds, offering recreation and quiet beauty for visitors. It has greatly deteriorated over time. The Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, in partnershiop with the National Park Service, seeks to bring the Dumbarton Oaks Park back to its aesthetic splendor. If you would like to meet our board go to www.dumbartonoakspark.wordpress.com/about/board-of-directors/

HELPING OUT ON THE SOCIAL NETWORK—Often people are suspicious or afraid to explore giving to good causes on the Internet or through social media such as Facebook. Some of us, however, have found different ways to donate to different causes. We’ve seen people helping people by assisting a school get art supplies or helping an artistic youth create a web series. Best of all, social media isn’t just about money but about spreading the word. One such good cause caught our attention: a young woman, Courtney Valentine, who’s trying to raise money to remove a brain tumor. For more information, go here.
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Georgetowner •

Now that the Georgetown Business Improvement District has formally delivered its “Georgetown 2028” plan, other media outlets are chiming it on it, while local news outlets, such as the Georgetowner, have been reporting on the ongoing Georgetown BID discussions for months.

The biggest attention-grabbers about Georgetown’s possible future have been: a Metrorail station, a aerial gondola or cable car from the Rosslyn Metro stop to M or Prospect Street and streetcars along K Street and to Georgetown University. The BID plan is wide-ranging and ambitious — and required reading by Georgetown residents.

The Georgetown BID writes: “Georgetown 2028 – the eight-month-long initiative that led to this plan – was conceived as a strategic approach for the community to envision and plan for Georgetown’s business district evolution over the next 15 years. This plan ensures that today’s leaders can be certain of delivering this historic district to future generations and feel confident that Georgetown remains a world-class commercial district and one of the nation’s most desirable destinations. Simply put, the 2028 vision is to build an economically stronger and more sustainable Georgetown commercial district while bolstering the residential community by preserving what is great about Georgetown, fixing what is broken and creating what is missing.”
“This Action Agenda will be the basis for much of the Georgetown BID’s work in the coming years. The BID will use this plan to develop its five-year renewal plan in 2014, anticipating that BID staffing and budget decisions will align with the 2028 action items it is agreeing to spearhead.”

Herewith, 75 proposed action items by BID for your consideration. For the complete “Georgetown 2028” PDF — which we recommend that you take the time to read — visit Georgetowner.com for details.

Georgetown 2028 Action Agenda

Key: Major milestones in 3, 7 and/or 15 years
Priority Milestones

Canal: Restore, preserve, and activate the C & O Canal
1— Launch a multi-stakeholder planning process for the Canal’s future
2— Fundraise for a new canal barge
3— Demonstrate new programs, activities and designs for public feedback
4— Supplement and enhance the NPS Visitor Center to support more activity
5— Design educational programs that inform the public about the Canal
6— Implement Canal plan and well received demonstration projects

Wayfinding (signage): Enhance visitor’s sense of arrival and ease of navigation
7— Install previously approved wayfinding system from DDOT
8— Explore physical and mobile expansions for wayfinding in commercial areas
9— Develop and implement a gateway strategy for major access points to the commercial district

Improved streetscapes: Maintain a historic and charming character in the 21st Century
10— Develop design and material guidelines for street furniture and landscaping
11— Pilot temporary sidewalk widening programs
12— Identify and improve pedestrian choke points on commercial corridors
13— Create active pedestrian links through alleyways and side streets
14— Install parklets on commercial side streets
15— Improve the safety and convenience of pedestrian crossings
16— Improve pedestrian connections between Georgetown University and M Street

Wisconsin Avenue renewal: Foster engaging retail activity from M Street to Book Hill
17— Create a forum for property owners on 1300 and 1400 block to plan for the future
18— Establish a community-owned building for a bookstore

Waterfront District: Develop new retail, restaurants and programs south of M Street
19— Create frequent, recurring programs that promote street life
20— Explore policies to limit the holding of liquor licenses in safekeeping
21— Pilot parklets adjacent to retailers and restaurants
22— Promote the conversion of ground floor space into retail and restaurant destinations
23— Improve and expand pedestrian connections between M Street and K Street
24— Leverage small public spaces for seating, public art and games
25— Explore artistic installations and lighting that add interest to Whitehurst Freeway and Key Bridge
26— Improve street and bridge lighting to enhance safety
27— Integrate streetscape improvements with major transit initiatives

Office vacancy: Align with D.C. government development priorities
28— Integrate Georgetown into District’s tech sector initiatives
29— Conduct a feasibility study on ubiquitous wi-fi and high-speed internet
30— Market unique office stock to start-up and creative companies
31— Identify incentives for building renovations that increase sustainability

A Better Connected Georgetown: Improving the Transportation Experience
32 Bring a Metro Station to Georgetown by 2028
33 Bring fast and reliable downtown streetcar service to the Georgetown Waterfront
34 Study and potentially construct a gondola lift linking Georgetown to Metro
35 Form a Georgetown Streetcar Partnership to coordinate advocacy
36 Explore streetcar extensions west to Georgetown University and beyond
Transforming K Street into a Successful Gateway
37 Study a bicycle/pedestrian bridge connecting Georgetown with Rosslyn via Roosevelt Island
38— Support more water taxi service through better dock management
39— Pilot a taxi stand to serve the Waterfront District
40— Coordinate commuter shuttle services from nearby Metro stations
41— Examine limited-access vehicle crossing and other connections to Water Street
42— Improve the safety and ease of walking to/from Foggy Bottom Metro

Establish Georgetown as a Bicycle Friendly Destination
43— Connect Capital Crescent Trail with Rock Creek Parkway trail on or beside K/Water Streets
44— Install in-street bicycle parking corrals throughout commercial areas
45— Connect bikeways on Georgetown’s periphery all the way into Georgetown
46— Install at least 4 new Capital Bike share stations in commercial areas

Better Roadway Management
47— Allow direct evening rush hour access to Rock Creek Parkway from K Street
48— Improve the performance of the Canal Road, M Street, Key Bridge intersection
49— Improve the performance of intersections at the ends of the Whitehurst Freeway
50— Position traffic control officers at major intersections
51— Improve Wisconsin Ave. road allocation in Glover Park to reduce congestion & improve safety
52— Deploy automated enforcement cameras to improve flow and safety
53— Assess and improve signal timing for safety and efficiency of all modes
54— Evaluate and adapt the use of existing peak period lanes to improve efficiency
55— Establish routine meetings with traffic control officers and MPD to prioritize enforcement

Better Parking Management
56— Use pricing and hourly limits to improve availability of commercial on-street parking
57— Improve information on parking availability
58— Coordinate off-street parking resources to make off-peak capacity available
59— Improve the design and enforcement of loading zones
60—Implement shuttle services to and from off-street parking facilities
61— Improve motorcycle and motor scooter parking
62— Improve tour bus parking options
63— Study new parking options if management of existing supply is inadequate

Increasing the Efficiency and Usage of Bus Service
64— Pilot a real-time bus arrival information system
65— Advocate changes outside Georgetown to improve efficiency of Georgetown routes
66— Study options to improve bus speed and reliability within Georgetown
67— Study a free hop-on/hop-off shuttle option within Georgetown and to Metro
68— Adjust Circulator and Metrobus routing to improve efficiency and reliability
69— Pilot tip-based small electric vehicle shuttles
70— Create more welcoming places for people waiting for the bus

Ongoing Data and Analysis and Promotion
71—Assess commercial corridors and other considerations in light of streetcar and Metro status
72— Survey Georgetown visitors to understand travel preferences and behavior
73— Identify plan actions that would be impacted by Whitehurst Freeway deconstruction
74— Develop Georgetown program promoting alternatives to single occupant car travel
75— Conduct ongoing review of Georgetown 2028 pilot & feasibility studies & take appropriate steps

the Georgetowner •

A Georgetowner newspaper tradition for decades, the naming of Georgetowners of the Year for 2013 focuses on a political leader, business persons and a local nonprofit. For 2013, we select Ron Lewis, chair of the Georgetown-Burleith advisory neighborhood commission; John and Ginger Laytham and Sally Davidson of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group; and the Friends of Book Hill Park.

Ron Lewis, chairman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E: For working with groups and individuals to make the Georgetown Partnership a reality; for coordinating ANC meetings with calm reason; for his attention to detail, his fellowship with commissioners, his openness with neighbors and his respect and kindness for all. He is a leader who exudes a gentle authority, a refined reflection of Georgetown.

The Friends of Book Hill: This nonprofit group, led by Julia Diaz-Asper, has cared for the Georgetown Public Library’s southern park, rebuilt its classic Trident, wrought-iron fencing and helped polish up this section of Wisconsin Avenue. (Please ontribute to the rebuilding.)

John and Ginger Laytham and Sally Davidson: This trio of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group, along with the late Stuart Davidson, built one of Washington’s most successful businesses. From M Street to downtown D.C. to Maryland and Virginia, John Laytham and his crew have offered great food for 50 years. Clyde’s has been involved with countless community efforts, lending prestige and providing vital funding and leadership to so many worthy causes. [gallery ids="101585,147518,147521" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

1055 High, an EastBanc condo project on Wisconsin Avenue between Grace Church and the C&O Canal, will begin selling in January. There are seven units at 1055 Wisconsin Ave., NW, which have a price range of $3 to $5 million, and include two parking spaces, a balcony and three or four bedrooms. The project is named for one of Wisconsin Avenue’s earlier names: High Street. 1055 High’s rooftop will hold a pool and patio. Units should be ready by the end of 2014.

Robert Devaney •

The Georgetown Business Association held its annual meeting and holiday reception Dec. 11 at Dumbarton House — along with remarks by business leaders and politicians and its awards presentation.

Karen Daly of Dumbarton House welcomed the overflow crowd, as Joel Bennett and Janine Schoonover of the GBA summed up the year’s accomplishments. Ward 2 council member Jack Evans spoke of the economic health and dynamism of Washington, D.C., and Georgetown. At-large council members Vincent Orange and David Grosso also addressed the crowd, and another council member, Muriel Bowser, was on hand.

As for the awards: Tom Russo of Chadwick’s was named business person and Cannon’s Fish Market business of the year. Metropolitan Police Department officers Robert Anderson III and Jonathan Geer earned the Joe Pozell Public Safety Award, while the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s John Wiebenson and the BID Clean Team received the Art Schultz Communitarian Award.

Later, during the reception, Mayor Vincent Gray arrived to give the crowd a hearty welcome. Also in attendance were members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, which represents Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale: Ron Lewis, Ed Solomon and Bill Starrels. The GBA’s top officials were re-elected: Riyad Said, president; Janine Schoonover, vice president; Karen Ohri, treasurer; Molly Quigley, secretary.

Robert Devaney •

Door Store founder Norman Tolkan died Dec. 8 from pneumonia at the age of 87.

Tolkan’s Door Store was on M Street next to Georgetown Tobacco and had a warehouse at Wisconsin Avenue and K Street. The furniture was famous for its Breuer-style chair (cane back and seat with a tubular metal frame). Many still have some of those household items, precursors to the likes of Ikea. Tolkan and his late wife Constance founded the Door Store in 1954. At its height, the business had 75 stores and then declined and finally closed in 1995. Tolkan still ran a business — Homeward, Inc. — which specialized in replacement pieces for those famous chairs. He had worked for the State Department before his retail business, knew several foreign languages and graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He is survived by his son, Victor K. Tolkan, his daughter-in-law, Julia A. Springer, three grandchildren and his sister, Helen T. Greenwald.

Dave Roffman, retired editor and publisher of The Georgetowner, wrote to his old publication about Tolkan: “He was one of the founders of the Georgetown Business Association, along with Rick Hinden of Britches, Arnie Passman of Georgetown Lamp Gallery and John Laytham of Clyde’s. They held their first meeting in the upstairs office of Britches of Georgetown. I attended that meeting as the only member of the press.”

In a New York Times obituary, Tolkan was called “his own man, self-made, colorful, idiosyncratic, intensely private and honorable.”

Robert Devaney •

Ellen Steury was sworn in by Council member Jack Evans as the advisory neighborhood commissioner for single-member district 7 (SMD 07) – on the east side of Georgetown, north of P and Q Streets, including Evermay, Oak Hill Cemetery, Dumbarton Oaks, to Whitehaven Street. Steury succeeds Charles Eason who retired last month.

Robert Devaney •

Closed since May 19, 2012, the Georgetown office of D.C.’s Department of Motor Vehicles — once located in the lower level of the Shops at Georgetown Park, which has undergone major construction and is no longer a shopping mall – will return in 2014. It will be located at 3222 M St., NW, which is the address for the stores that make up Georgetown Park. Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans previously announced that an office of the DMV would re-open there, although a spokesperson for the landlord of the mall said last year the DMV would not be returning. As of presstime, a spokesperson for the Evans office said it looked like the DMV office would indeed return by May 2014. (For other locations and questions, visit DMV.DC.gov.)