Town Topics

Robert Devaney • January 16, 2015

Construction is finishing up at the new ice skating rink at Washington Harbour. Once the ice is made and smoothed — expected to be just days before Thanksgiving next week, according to an ice rink spokesperson — skaters can begin to check out D.C.’s largest ice rink.

Here’s more from news releases from the ice rink group: The Washington Harbour will present “Winter on the Water,” a celebration of Washington, D.C.’s newest and largest outdoor ice skating rink, on Dec. 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Washington Harbour Ice Rink will be inaugurated with a fete of continuous strolling entertainers, ice skating performances, choral singers, a St. Lucia procession, and creative lighting effects, along with special food and beverages served outdoors by Washington Harbour restaurants, including the new Farmers Fishers Bakers. Special guests include radio personality Tommy McFly who will emcee the event from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., and will take the coveted opportunity to drive the ice resurfacing machine on the rink.

Winter on the Water complements the Swedish Christmas Bazaar being held at the neighboring House of Sweden from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 2900 K Street, NW, on Dec. 1. The Swedish choir will present a St. Lucia procession from the bazaar into the Washington Harbour plaza at 5:15 p.m. then perform carols at Winter on the Water.

At 11,800 square feet, the new Washington Harbour Ice Rink is D.C.’s largest outdoor ice skating venue and is also larger than New York City’s Rockefeller Center rink. The Washington Harbour Ice Rink will be open annually from November until March for recreational skating every day, including all holidays. Special programs scheduled for this year include Cartoon Skate from noon until 2 p.m. and Rock-N-Skate from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., every Saturday; College Night every Thursday; Skate with Santa from noon to 2 pm on Saturday, December 22; plus skating lessons, birthday parties; family gatherings, fundraisers, charity events and private corporate events, all through the ice skating season. For hours, rates, and all other ice skating information, email skatewashingtonharbour@ gmail.com and visit www.thewashingtonharbour.com/skating.

Winter on the Water at the Washington Harbour is located on the Potomac River water- front in Georgetown at 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC, on the lower plaza level. For more details, call (202) 295-5007, and visit www. thewashingtonharbour.com.

For more information about the Swedish Christmas Bazaar, call (703) 628-6517 and visit www.swea.org/washingtondc.

the Georgetowner Editorial Board •

Hundreds gathered inside and outside the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue Jan. 7 to stand with those in France and elsewhere in protest of the massacre of 10 journalists and two police officers earlier in the day in Paris by Islamic terrorists — and to stand for the right of free expression for everyone everywhere.

Three gunmen burst into the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical news publication also known for its provocative cartoons, shooting editors, writers and artists, and then shot a wounded police officer as they fled.

At the Newseum, many held signs that read, “Je Suis Charlie” (I am Charlie) and “Nous Sommes Tous Charlie” (We are all Charlie), supporting the right of the humor magazine to express itself, whoever or whatever is insulted. (The Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo had been bombed in 2011 because of its depiction of the Prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam.) Other signs read “The pen is mightier than the sword” and “Liberte. Egalite. Fraternite.” The group stood in front of the sidewalk display around 7 p.m. in temperatures dipping into the teens.

On hand among the crowd, many of whom were French, was Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, who echoed the sentiments of many lovers of democracy and free expression: “It’s an attack against the freedom of speech, and what it changes is that you have masses of people gathered here in Washington. You have masses of people who are standing up today to say freedom of press is critical.”

Lagarde also appeared at a silent march organized by the French Embassy on Jan. 11. The march progressed from the Newseum to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and was led by Gerard Araud, France’s ambassador to the U.S. The Washington Post estimated that 3,000 people marched with Araud.

On both occasions, the group chose the Newseum because the non-profit is a well-known museum of journalism with a mission “to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through exhibits, public programs and education.”

In the wake of the Jan. 7 terror attacks, the museum wrote: “The Newseum joins with journalists and all others who support freedom of expression to declare that such cowardly attempts to thwart free speech and a free press will not succeed, and that all people should be able to express themselves freely and without fear.”

Robert Devaney • December 19, 2014

A Georgetowner newspaper tradition for decades, the naming of Georgetowners of the Year include: a person who has devoted time and talent to keeping a lively band of senior citizens even more active with programs that range from recitals to lectures and field trips; a non-profit relocated to town that is making an impact in the world of music, science and social innovation; and an everyday service business that has stressed a personal touch and community involvement that leaves you feeling you’ve known them for years.

Wendy Erlanger: The Georgetown Senior Center

When co-founder Virginia Luce Allen died in 2009, the future of the Georgetown Senior Center seemed uncertain. This volunteer-run, non-profit provides lunches for older people three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at St. John’s Episcopal Church on O Street NW – along with special programs, whether it be a workshop on Facebook or an afternoon at Nationals Park. Through the year, special events include the Long and Foster picnic, an afternoon delight at Clyde’s of Georgetown, a Thanksgiving meal from 1789 and lunches at Paolo’s Restaurant and Martin’s Tavern.
While the center has quite a list of volunteers – Jill Altman, Cathy Applin, Jorge Bernardo, Barbara Downs, Claire-Lise Levin, Mary Meyer and Janice Rahimi, to name a few – we wish to single out Wendy Erlanger. She has organized the programs for years and helped to keep the center afloat after the passing of Allen. (Erlanger also volunteers at the Peabody Room at Georgetown Public Library, N Street Village and elsewhere.) Her devotion is complete, her winning positivity endearing and effective. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – Wendy Erlanger of the Georgetown Senior Center is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.

Sachiko Kuno and Ryuji Ueno: S&R Foundation

When Doctors Ryuji Ueno and Sachiko Kuno of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in Bethesda made themselves known in Georgetown by purchasing Evermay Estate in 2011 and then Halcyon House in 2012, their S&R Foundation had already been encouraging young artists and scientists for 10 years. What the married couple did next was to usher in Overtures musical series at Evermay and a business incubator fellowship and entrepreneurship program at Halcyon House, known as the Halcyon Incubator.
Whether dealing with Georgetown University, the Kennedy Center or their neighbors on 28th Street or Prospect Street, S&R’s co-founders Kuno and Ueno are graceful, creative and thoughtful, as is the foundation’s chief operating officer Kate Goodall. In a short period of time, S&R has made a big splash in town with its unique dedication to the arts and the sciences for the betterment of all.
Besides its arts programs and other seminars, what S&R shows us is how innovation is alive and well in Georgetown. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – S&R Foundation is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.

Hamood Abutaa and the Ladson Brothers: Georgetown Shell and Georgetown Exxon

When a fire destroyed a service station in 2011, the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Q Street looked half-ruined for more than a year. The owner of Georgetown Exxon, Hamood Abutaa, stepped up and put up a new gas station with service bays in 2013, inaugurating the Georgetown Shell. He also owns Capitol Hill Exxon and a gas station in Alexandria. Abutaa and his mechanics-in-chief, Bobby Ladson of Georgetown Shell and Jamie Ladson of Georgtown Exxon – yes, they are brothers – have made the town their own, quickly making friends and fixing all manner of cars. The businesses immediately embraced this community, signing up for the Georgetown Business Association, and sponsoring various town events. Meanwhile, Georgetown Exxon cannot renew its lease, as the land will become the site of another condo complex. That news is lamented by residents.
What these businesses reveal is that our local businesses can also be our friends – and when they keep the town’s cars running, especially so. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – Georgetown Shell and Georgetown Exxon are a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.
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Georgetowner • November 17, 2014

Due to cuts in the National Park Service budget, the C&O Canal National Park was unable to afford repairs for the mule-pulled barge that once took visitors along the canal. The canal’s walls, locks and towpath are also in need of constant upkeep.

“Our first-phase goal is $9 million,” said Georgetown Business Improvement District CEO Joe Sternlieb, who is part of the founding board of Georgetown Heritage, along with Richard Levy of the Levy Group, Jim Lee of Manhattan Construction and John Asadoorian and Wright Sigmund of the BID’s board of directors.

Staffing and overhead for the new nonprofit will be taken on by the Georgetown BID, Sternlieb said. “Administrative costs will go to the BID,” he said. “100 percent [of money raised] will go to getting a new boat.”

“Lock 4 is in imminent danger of failing,” Sternlieb said. Replacement and repair of the lock will cost $5 million, he said. A new canal boat and canal educational programs will cost more than $1 million. Another hoped-for improvement: a dock for canoes near the mule bridge at 34th Street.

Designated a friend of the NPS, Georgetown Heritage will work on long-term solutions for the canal. Its website is GeorgetownHeritage.org.

Shea Simpson • November 10, 2014

Cybercrime is here to stay. There have been so many headlines about data breaches and stolen user credentials that the topic has become almost blasé. In August, the New York Times reported that a Russian crime ring had amassed a collection of 1.2 billion username and password combinations.

More corporations are suffering data breaches, now including such major players as Target, Kmart, Home Depot, even P.F. Chang’s. A recent study by HP and the Ponemon Institute found that the 2014 cost of cybercrime has risen 96 percent in the past five years. The current average is estimated to be $12.7 million per organization. For the most part, these breaches stem from criminal organizations.

Imagine the damage that could be caused if a nation-state’s full resources were committed to carrying out a security breach. In reality, there’s little imagination necessary; cyberwarfare is alive and well. Stuxnet made huge waves back in 2010, but the U.S.-Israeli joint effort isn’t even close to being the only cyber-equivalent to an airstrike.

Officials in Kiev are claiming that Russian forces are disrupting their military communication networks. In 2008, cyber-attacks overwhelmed websites and servers in Georgia just ahead of the Russian-led invasion, calling to mind a similar situation with Estonia. During a spat with Moscow, in 2007, Estonia experienced a 10-day cyber-assault on their internet services, causing major disruptions to financial systems.

The United States is not invulnerable, either. In 2008, the Agent.BTZ worm ate into the military’s classified computer networks. More recently, computer systems in the White House itself were illegally accessed.

Consider all the critical infrastructure controlled by computer systems: electrical grids, traffic systems, natural gas pipelines. Now add to these the communications backbones in use by the federal government and private industry, upon which financial services depend. That’s a lot of surface area to protect.

In May of 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned of a “gas pipeline sector cyber intrusion campaign” linked to the Chinese government. Media outlets like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and tech companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, have had their share of cyber-attacks as well, with China again the alleged perpetrator. The Chinese government is also suspected of hacking iCloud to spy on the Chinese people, according to Greatfire.org, an organization that researches Chinese internet censorship.

Cyber Command, or CYBERCOM, is America’s first line of defense against state-sponsored cyber-attacks, having been created in response to the Agent.BTZ worm. As is the case for the private sector, more cybersecurity threats mean higher costs for government, resulting in a budget explosion for CYBERCOM. Fiscal 2014’s allocation of $477 million was nearly twice the prior year’s budget.

The total expenditure on CYBERCOM since 2010 has been $1.1 billion. That might sound like a hefty price tag for a fledgling government agency, but as national security threats move from bombs and bullets to botnets and malware, it’s definitely money well spent.

Georgetowner • November 6, 2014

High-end Canadian outdoor clothing and outfitting company Arc’teryx is planning to open its first east coast store at CityCenter in the District. The outlet will be the outfitter’s fourth U.S. location; the other Arc’teryx stores are in Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle. The company was originally eyeing Georgetown for a brick-and-mortar shop, but decided that the swanky retail mix at CityCenter was a better fit for the company, whose lightweight jackets start at $325.

Edward Goldmeier of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank helped broker the deal. He told Washington Business Journal that, “with no disrespect to T.J. Maxx … when that starts to be the big face in Georgetown as opposed to what was originally proposed as a Bloomingdale’s, it does affect an outsider’s view of what’s going on there.”

Arc’teryx will join Hugo Boss, Burberry, Kate Spade, Longchamp and a number of upscale restaurants in the luxurious mixed-use development.