Month: September 2005

There is nothing to knock down your pride about your hood when you talk to other people and they give you this blank stare, as if you mentioned some rare medical disease, when you say “I’m from Shaw.”
Stare.
Then I go to explain where Shaw is and there is a slight effort to try to map it out in their heads. This is more depressing when the people you are talking to are other Washingtonians.
Suburbanites I can totally understand. Really, I do the same thing. My excuse is most of suburbia lacks a metro, thus I don’t go there. So anything along Quaker Lane in VA, I got no clue. Seminary Road. I’ve heard of it. I think there is a seminary on it. Duke Street? Yes, I know Duke Street, well at least the parts near the King Street metro, and Nora Bombay’s condo. Rockville Pike? Just the parts near Grovsner and White Flint. My familiarity with MD has more to do with having the stable of friends & family with cars living out there.
Maybe we gotta do more PR work to help suburbanites and Washingtonians who know nothing past 16th Street, NW. Maybe throw in phrases like, “There is a great play over in Shaw at the Studio Theater.” Or, “I’m going to Shaw to catch M.I.A. at the 9:30 Club.”

Okay kids, don’t hang out in front of my house, late at night, talking loud, ’cause I’ll write about you.
One of the neighborhood teenage kids was hanging out last night (within curfew) with two of his school associates out on the sidewalk. Maybe the nature of their discussions was the reason why they weren’t in front of neighborhood kid’s (NK) house.
From what I could make out (ah the joy of a house with no insulation) was NK’s friends was trying to convince him that he should join up with them for his own protection against other gangs of kids who would jump him. NK was evasive and confident that he could handle his own.
The funny thing is these kids no older than 16 were calling each other ‘son’. I realize that ‘son’ is a form of address used by popular rap artists. But really, what are you? 15? 14? Calling someone son? Well it is at least better than the ‘N’ word. But they were using a lot of that too.
Anyway, I digress. NK’s mom has stepped in before to shoo gang recruiters, like the kids hanging out, away. I think, observing NK, that she has possibly instilled in him a good reason to rebuff his little gang friends.

Shaw Main Streets, in conjunction with Georgetown University Law Center’s Harrison Institute for Public Law, will present the fourth in a series of Small Business Development Workshops on 10 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:30PM to 8:30 PM, beginning on October 4, 2005 at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW.
Topics covered will include:
* Developing Your Business Plan
* What Type of Business Entity to Form
* Getting Capital
* Finding, Leasing, and Buying Space
* Hiring Employees
* Permits, Licenses, Insurance, and Taxes
* Basic Accounting
* Marketing
Two graduates from the class held this spring have already opened new businesses. Perhaps you’ll be the workshop’s next success story. There is no charge to enroll in the class. A $25 materials charged will be collected upon acceptance into the program. Similar classes cost $250 or more. Advance registration is required.
Enrollment is limited, so register today! Attendance is required in order to receive a certificate of completion.
For more information or to register, call Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW or email info@ShawMainStreets.com.

Alex

Alexander M. Padro
Commissioner, ANC 2C01
1519 8th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3205
Voice: 202-518-3794
Fax: 202-518-0078
Email: PadroANC2C@aol.com
Website: www.members.aol.com/PadroANC2C

Gas is going up and this is one of the few moments when I’m happy not to be dependent on a car. Of course the high price of gas makes everything that has to get shipped here via truck & plane higher, but I don’t fret over the daily changes in the price of gas.
I am thankful that there is a grocery store blocks from the house to complain about. Thankful that there is a bus system that can get me from various parts of the city streaming through the hood. Even more thankful for a subway system. Basically, thankful for all the things here that make it so I haven’t needed to own a car for over 10 years.

From Jim

Neighbors,

A series of initiatives are being contemplated for implementation this year by the BACA on behalf of the elementary-aged children who attend John F. Cook School. In the past, you have been asked to donate book bags and other school supplies to give to neighborhood children for use at the beginning of the school year. However, this year we thought it might be useful to take another approach to this situation.

Specifically, we ask that you purchase a number of composition books, some three hole ruled paper, and boxes of pencils to donate to John F. Cook School for use by the children throughout the course of the academic year.
All too often, book bags and other materials are made available to needy children at the beginning of the year, but these essential resources become in short supply as the semester and the year wears on.

So, we will accept donations of these items (again, composition books, three hole ruled paper and boxes of pencils) at every monthly meeting of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc. throughout the year. For those of you who don’t have children, now is a good time to purchase these items fairly cheaply because of the annual sales that normally accompany the opening of school each year.

It is our hope that this admittedly small, yet signficant, gesture of support for our neighborhood kids will eventually translate into a closer relationship between community residents and the school as well as an enhanced belief on the part of the students that we are seriously interested and invested in their productive educational growth and development.

So, please remember to bring your donations to the next BACA meeting on 9/12/2005!

Best,

Jim Berry
BACA

NEIGHBORHOOD HAPPY HOUR ON FRIDAY, SEPT 2 TO BENEFIT
RED CROSS RELIEF EFFORT FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE
KATRINA

Dear Neighbors,
You are invited to a attend a neighborhood happy hour
to benefit the Red Cross relief effort for the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. As you know, the hurricane left
many people homeless and they need help. Details are
as follows:

Event: Happy Hour to Benefit Red Cross Relief Effort
Date: Friday, September 2, 2005
Time: 7 pm to 10 pm
Location: 2211 First Street, NW
Suggested Minimum Donation: $20

A representative from the Red Cross will be present to
accept the donations, which can be made by check
payable to the American Red Cross.

In addition, the following businesses have pledged to
match the funds our community raises at this event:
* XM Satellite Radio
* Douglas Development
* CRA Urban

Hosted by:
Andrew Acker
Corey Potter and Anson Harrison
David Lippe and Valentine Garcia
Sara Kaufman and Gordon Errington
Shane Wolfe