Quarterly homeless count shows more people sleeping outside
• May 9, 2013

There were 165 homeless individuals in the Downtown area on the night of Monday, April 15, according to a count done by the Downtown DC BID. There was a 14.6% increase from 2012 and a 44.7% increase from the quarterly count performed in January 2013. Officials said the uptick may have been because the end of hypothermia season means individuals go from sleeping in shelters to outdoors. BID reported that 12% of respondents to the count requested help to move into permanent supportive housing. Sixty-eight percent of those counted were male, while 20% were female and the gender of 11.5% was unknown. Fifty-seven percent were African American, 12.1% were Caucasian, 1.8% were Hispanic and .6 percent were Asian. The race of 28.5% of the respondents was unknown. Almost 9% were veterans, and 22.5% admitted to having health issues, while 3% had some form of employment. McPherson Square continues to be an area with a high concentration of homeless individuals as city parks often serve as a safe haven and are accessible public space for the homeless. About five volunteers participated in April’s quarterly count, which started at 10:30 p.m. and ended between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Key Bridge Boathouse Replaces Jack’s Boathouse; NPS Continues Study of Another Boathouse
• April 25, 2013

“We look forward to working with Boston Outdoor Recreation as they continue on the tradition of providing a valuable service to visitors,” said the National Park Service’s Rock Creek Park Superintendent Tara Morrison said in a press release. “Visitors to the newly renamed Key Bridge Boathouse will find the same or similar services offered as before.”

With those words, Jack’s Boathouse is gone. The NPS awarded the new contract in March. “At some point, you can’t fight the Feds,” said Jack’s Boathouse owner Paul Simkin earlier this month. The new boathouse opened April 20. As for Boston Outdoor’s commitment to hire all of the old Jack’s Boathouse employees, that prom- ise appears to have hit a snag.

Meanwhile, the NPS continues its study of a new boating facility on Potomac in Georgetown.

The NPS states:
“The National Park Service is examining the feasibility of implementing a non-motorized boathouse zone along the District of Columbia’s side of the Potomac River waterfront upstream of the Georgetown Waterfront Park. This study represents an opportunity for the NPS to identify specific ways to enhance access to the river for user groups, as well as complement the riverside experiences provided by the Georgetown Waterfront Park and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This is particularly challenging, given that there is limited space for and a high amount of demand.

“The NPS will be studying what structures and facilities can be accommodated within this non-motorized boathouse zone that are related to waterfront, access to the river, and are con- sistent with the necessary and appropriate uses for this zone. This study will lay the ground- work for future decision-making regarding (1) scenarios for development/improvement of NPS facilities and (2) further planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance as necessary to implement the non-motorized boathouse zone.”

The NPS will host a public meeting on this study, May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., May 22, at the West End Public Library, 1101 24th St., NW. For more information, contact: Tammy Stidham, National Capital Region at 202-619-7474 or tammy_stidham@nps.gov.

Body Found in Potomac April 17
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A body was found floating in the Potomac April 17, west of Key Bridge. It was the fourth body found in the Potomac’s waters this month.

According to the Washington Post, “Wednesday’s discovery came about 12:20 p.m., when fire officials said two kayakers pulled the body of an adult male to the shore from a spot about 400 yards west of Key Bridge. Police went to the 3700 block of Water Street, NW, near the Washington Canoe Club. Authorities would not give additional details.” Observers feared that it might have been Changquing Yang, who was, according to the United States Park Police, “reported missing by his family and last seen on April at 11 a.m. on the bank (Maryland side) of the Potomac River in the area of Chain Bridge Road . . . was last known to be wearing a red sweater or jacket, a white t-shirt, and grey pants. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Chiangquing, please contact Detective Bumbray at United States Park Police Criminal Investigations Branch at 202-610-8730, reference Case #13-00145 or contact the United States Park Police Tip-Line at 202-610-8737.”

Book Hill Fundraiser Close to Goal
•

An April 10 fundraiser at the home of Cheryl and Mike Naeve helped to raise $25,000 for the complete the trident fence at Book Hill, accord- ing to the Friends of Book Hill Park. The charity needs $8,000 more to reach its goal.

Attempted Sexual Assault Near Rose Park
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The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Matthew Gabramadhin, 23, of Springfield, Va., April 15, and charged him in connection with kidnapping and assault with intent to commit first-degree sex abuse and said he grabbed a woman and “forced her to an area nearby and attempted to sexually assault her.” The incident was in the 2600 block of O Street, NW. A month ago, a man was seen exposing himself in the same area.

Georgetown Honors ‘Boston Strong’
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The terrorist Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 were a horrific shock to those on the scene and across America. Our prayers are with the dead, maimed and injured. The racers will return.

For two Georgetowners, the marathon and its after-effects were personal and shocking, of course.

Marsha Ralls, a business leader and owner of the Ralls Collection, ran the race until its last miles just as the bombs went off.
“I was at Mile 22 and saw all the runner looking at their phones,” Ralls said. “That was unusual, to say the least. At Mile 23, they told us they would stop the race at Mile 24. I did not yet know there had been a bombing.”

“My first reaction to all this is anger and shock,” Ralls said. “I will go back in honor of those killed.”

For runners tired, but happy to be close to the finish, “it was emotional,” she said. “No one could reach me at first. I didn’t know anyone’s number. Next time, I will have my boys’ numbers on me. My friends were going to the finish line to meet me.”
It was doubly emotional for Ralls, as she was running “for my mother and a little boy who died.”

The Boston Marathon is a race for elite runners. Ralls was stopped at Mile 24 with her time at 4:04. She is pictured at the top of Heartbreak Hill, about four miles from the finish line. Ralls plans to return for a third time to the marathon: “I am with you, Boston, and will be back next year.”

For Ryan Samuel, co-owner of Booeymonger’s on Prospect Street, the race was over in just over three hours. He had run with a friend, keeping his pace. The two were back in their hotel by the time of the bombing. Samuel, too, was angry and shocked but had no doubt the marathon would continue next year.

Dahlgren Chapel Vandalized
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Dahlgren Chapel, a place of worship at the center of Georgetown University’s main campus and campus ministry, was vandalized April 14. Chairs were tossed and broken as was a crucifix, according to university spokespersons. The organ was also damaged. The university said it would increase security at the historic chapel, built in 1893, which was been the site for many Georgetown alum weddings.

Georgetown University President John DeGioia issued a statement on the vandalism: “The preliminary investigation indicates that there was no desecration of the Blessed Sacrament or any religious symbols. The primary damage was to furniture and other fixtures. . . . I must underscore that acts of vandalism, especially of sacred places, have no place in our campus community. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, we are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming to people of all religions, races and ethnicities and that values understanding, inclusion and respect. While we do not know the motivation of the person or persons who committed these acts, nor whether or not they are members of the university community, they are of great concern.”

Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, told the student-run Georgetown Voice that “the crucifix was damaged in a minor way, though it did not constitute ‘desecration,’ which is property damage with intent to religiously offend.”
Nevertheless, the damage was enough to force the sudden relocation of the 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday Masses. The 5 p.m. Mass was celebrated at Dahlgren.

University spokesperson Rachel Pugh told the Georgetowner: “Georgetown University’s Department of Public Safety is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Department in investigating this crime. Security has been increased. Currently, no other details are available to be released as this is an ongoing active investigation.”

The university urges anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact DPS at 202-687-4343.

Georgetown Honors ?Boston Strong?April 24, 2013
• April 24, 2013

The terrorist Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 were a horrific shock to those on the scene and across America. Our prayers are with the dead, maimed and injured. The racers will return.

For two Georgetowners, the marathon and its after-effects were personal and shocking, of course.

Marsha Ralls, a business leader and owner of the Ralls Collection, ran the race until its last miles just as the bombs went off.
?I was at Mile 22 and saw all the runner looking at their phones,? Ralls said. ?That was unusual, to say the least. At Mile 23, they told us they would stop the race at Mile 24. I did not yet know there had been a bombing.?

?My first reaction to all this is anger and shock,? Ralls said. ?I will go back in honor of those killed.?

For runners tired, but happy to be close to the finish, ?it was emotional,? she said. ?No one could reach me at first. I didn?t know anyone?s number. Next time, I will have my boys? numbers on me. My friends were going to the finish line to meet me.?
It was doubly emotional for Ralls, as she was running ?for my mother and a little boy who died.?

The Boston Marathon is a race for elite runners. Ralls was stopped at Mile 24 with her time at 4:04. She is pictured at the top of Heartbreak Hill, about four miles from the finish line. Ralls plans to return for a third time to the marathon: ?I am with you, Boston, and will be back next year.?

For Ryan Samuel, co-owner of Booeymonger?s on Prospect Street, the race was over in just over three hours. He had run with a friend, keeping his pace. The two were back in their hotel by the time of the bombing. Samuel, too, was angry and shocked but had no doubt the marathon would continue next year.

D.C.?s ?Potholepalooza? BeginsApril 24, 2013
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It?s really not about music or about grass, although the word sounds that way. Potholepalooza is the District?s month-long spring campaign to repair damaged roadways across the city. Residents and commuters can notify DDOT about pothole in a variety of ways:
1.Call the Mayor?s Call Center at 311;
2.Use the On-line Service Request Center at 311.dc.gov;
3.Tweet to twitter.com/DDOTDC;
4.Email to Potholepalooza@dc.gov;
5.Use the District?s new DC311 smartphone application ;
6.Post a comment on the Potholpalooza Facebook page

Bouvier House Sells for $8.6 Million
• April 19, 2013

An O Street house, built in 1874 and once owned by the mother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, has sold for $8.6 million. It also has been owned by Armistead Peter, Laughlin Phillips and Louis Mackall. Janet Lee Bouvier and High Auchincloss owned it in the 1960s.

Washington Fine Properties managed the deal for owner Donald Roth of EMP Global, who bought it in 2001 for $3.7 million. WFP agents Kimberly Casey and Daryl Judy represented the buyer, while Willliam F.X. Moody, Robert Hryniewicki and Adam Rackliffe represented Roth.

Bill and Hillary Clinton looked at the corner house at 3044 O Street, across from Christ Church, in 2000 but instead chose to move to the most secluded Whitehaven Street.