INSIDE Comunity Calendar p. 2 Music p. 3 Theatre Notes p. 4 The College Crowd p. 4 Community Action p. 5 AARP p. 6 Sports p. 6 S.E. University p. 6 Schools p. 7 Years Ago in S.W. P. 8 Calendar Jan. 26 Wednesday Fil-Am Toastmasters Club, 6:45pm Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Jan. 27 Thursday NARFE DC Chapter 2052 Luncheon 12 noon Pier 7 Restaurant at Channel Inn, 650 Water Street SW, For info., call 554-8113 Jan. 27 Thursday Mayor's Summit, University of DC at Van Ness Feb. 1 Tuesday First District Citizens' Advisory Council Meeting, 7:00 pm, DCPD, 415 4th St. SW Feb. 5 Saturday Komen Toastmasters Club 10:15 am Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Feb. 7 Monday Southwest Neighborhood Assembly Board, 7:00 pm Waterside Mall I Street side Feb. 9 Wednesday Fil-Am Toastmasters Club 6:45 pm Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Feb. 14 Monday Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2D, 7:00 pm Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St., SW Feb. 16 Wednesday AARP SW Waterfront Chapter #4751 12 noon St. Matthews Lutheran Church 222 M St. SW Feb. 17 Thursday Southwest Task Force, 7:00 pm St. Augustine's Episcopal Church 600 M St. SW Feb. 19 Saturday Komen Toastmasters Club 10:15 am Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Feb. 23 Wednesday Fil-Am Toastmasters Club 6:45 pm Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Feb. 24 Thursday NARFE DC Chapter 2052 12 noon Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Feb. 28 Monday Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, 7:30 pm St. Matthews Lutheran Church 222 M St. SW Mar. 4 Saturday Komen Toastmasters Club 10:15 am Southwest Branch Library, 920 Wesley Place SW Mar. 6 Monday Southwest Neighborhood Assembly Board, 7:00 pm Waterside Mall I Street side Mar. 7 Tuesday First District Citizens' Advisory Council Meeting, 7:00 pm, DCPD, 415 4th St. SW Please submit calendar items for the next issue by February 5th to C.W. Hargrave, 554-8284. COMMUNITY ACTION Safety Task Force Has New Officers By Gene Solon At its December 14th meeting, the Southwest Neighborhood assembly's Task Force on Safety elected Gene Solon of Harbour Square as Chair and Naomi Monk of the Carrollsburg condominium as Vice Chair. To accommodate southwest residents who have expressed interest in becoming Task Force members, meetings have been scheduled for the third Thursday of each month at 7 pm. The next meeting will take place on January 20th at the SWNA office at Waterside Mall. First District police officials have been encouraging southwesters to consolidate community meetings on safety so that police officers will not continue to be required to hop from one meeting to another. Police and southwest residents have acknowledged that crime and safety problems must be addressed in a coordinated way - so as to terminate illegal behavior completely, rather than allow illegal behavior to simply drift from one part of our community to another. The monthly meetings of the Citizens Advisory Council at First District headquarters are important, but their agendas (with guest speakers, awards, etc.) Are such that they are not the best vehicle for thorough discussions of specific crime and safety problems. The SWNA Task Force on Safety, a daughter of southwest's largest's community organization, is ready to serve as the main forum for the address of problems throughout southwest D.C. and to insure the presence at its meetings of key police officials, including the new Patrol Service Area 110 coordinator, Lt. Douglas. The Task Force's new officers encourage existing groups to continue to address localized safety problems as they wish - but urge these groups to send delegates to, or to attend en mass, the monthly SWNA Task Force meetings each third Thursday of each month. Jefferson Jr. News (captions) Jefferson students enjoy a holiday dance Jefferson Jr. High's dance troupe Miss M. Jones with Jefferson dancers and drama club Glen Owens, morning news anchor for Channel 9, WOSA-TV, visited Jefferson. Left to right are Ms. W. Holmes, a parent, Chris Battle, student, Mr. Owens, Willie Lloyd Reeves, assistant principal. Etheline Thomas Elaine Fowler, a 32 year resident of Southwest, reports the death of her loving mother Etheline Thomas on Nov. 21, 1999. Mrs. Thomas was born April 2, 1919 and leaves six children, and also four great grandchildren of Southwest D.C.. They are Taseba Fowler, Eve Fowler Lewis Takesa Jones, and Tiffany Fowler. Ms. Fowler thanks all in Southwest who showed sympathy at this sad time. Candice Bryant Heads Philip Graham Fund Southwest resident Candice C. Bryant has been elected president of the Philip L. Graham Fund, it was announced by Katharine Graham, widow of Philip Graham, former publisher of the Washington Post. Ms. Bryant has worked for The Post since 1985 in various financial management positions. She has a masters degree from Cornell University and worked for 13 years in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The Fund is a general interest foundation focusing primarily on causes and concerns in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Current annual giving is in the $4 million to $5 million range. Ben Sands In Essence Magazine Contest Benjamin C. Sands, Jr., Director of Bands at Coolidge High and former resident of Southwest, has been in Essence Magazine's "What A Man" contest. Balloting by e- mail for the contest closed January 15. He has a degree in music education from Howard University. Sands' saxophone has been heard for years as he directs and performs with The Benjamin Sands Band.. He also directs the Benjamin Sands Community Choir. (Caption) Balinese Music and Dance In Southwest The third concert in the World Music Festival series featured Balinese musicians and dancers on stage at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Pictured are some of 15 musicians at traditional percussive instruments. "College Access" Grants Start Next Fall College students living in D.C. won't have to pay the higher "out-of- state" tuition if they attend public colleges in Maryland or Virginia, starting next fall. State colleges in additional states will be included, "if funding holds up, as seems likely," according to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, co-author of the new law. The Federal Government will pay colleges up to $10,000 per student, so that D.C. students will pay no more than the "in-state" tuition charged to state residents. A smaller subsidy - up to $2,500 per year - will help students attending private colleges in D.C. or adjacent counties in Maryland and Virginia. Only students who graduated from high school after January 1, 1998, or earned a GED certificate after January 1, 1998, are eligible. Students must be enrolled at least half-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Applications will be available in February 2000. D.C. residents with financial need will remain eligible for federal student aid and loan programs such as the Pell Grant Program. Some of the places with information on college financing are: Post Secondary Education office, 727-3685; Martin Luther King Jr. library, 393-1100; Education Opportunity Center 822-5180, and high school counselors offices. Get Your Copy Of "Extending The Legacy" Call the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) at 482-7200 for your free copy of "Extending the Legacy," their colorful 66 page guide to change in the Washington, D.C. area in the next 50 to 100 years. The Southwester printed pictures of the Southwest of the future from that document in our January, 2000 issue. Get $5,000 Tax Credit Buying An Apartment The D.C. home buyer tax credit of $5,000 on the federal income tax is for anyone who hasn't owned a home in D.C. for at least a year and has income under $90,000 for singles or $130,000 for couples. It applies to houses, duplexes, townhouses, condo apartments, and cooperative apartments. Buyers of apartments at such cooperatives as River Park Mutual Homes, Harbour Square or Tiber Island Cooperative Homes and such condominiums as Carrollsburg, Riverside or Town Square Towers in Southwest are eligible for the tax break. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who got the tax credit extended to 2002 in the last days of the Congressional session, reports that Fannie Mae allows home buyers to use the credit to make a down payment on their purchase. The rate of home sales in the District increased by 50% last year, making D.C. the fastest growing housing market in the country, according to Congresswoman Norton. Police Advisors Elect New Officers Wilbert Hill was elected chair of the Citizens Advisory Council for First District Metropolitan Police. The group meets at 1D headquarters, 415 4th St. S.W. the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. Anyone can join for $2. Skip Colburn was elected vice chair, with Alice Valentine, treasurer; Bob Siegel, secretary; C.W. Hargrave, parliamentarian and Sally Byington, legislative liaison. (Caption) Residents near 3rd St. S.W. were awakened by the noise of this crash on I (Eye) St. S.W. The car on the right - apparently fleeing at high speed from trouble - hit the white car parked on I St. with such force that it was pushed under the car ahead of it. Public/Private To Compete At SE Federal Center Congress may soon pass a bill to permit private development on federal land in the 55 acre SE Federal Center at 3rd and M St. S.E. between M St. and the Anacostia River. H.R. 3069 is Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's bill for public- private redevelopment of the site. In previous Congressional hearings GSA has been asked repeatedly what they were going to do to put the area to good use. As a result H.R. 3069 may go directly to the House floor for passage without further hearings, The Southwester has been told. Water St. and 6th S.W. Now Clear & Bright Clearing overgrown foliage and upgrading existing lighting has brightened a dark and dangerous corner on the S.W. waterfront. The area behind St. Augustine's Episcopal Church used to make Arena Stage or tour boat patrons nervous as they sought street parking nearby. Now, thanks to local cooperation, the area is much improved. Hopefully the D.C. Department of Public Works will trim tree limbs and install bright street lighting, too, to help further. (Caption) Sixth street at Water Street behind St. Augustine's church is now much safer at night. (Sidebar) How A S.W. Safety Problem Was Solved by Davelene Renshaw Funds from local businesses and housing complexes paid for a landscape contractor and electrician to brighten the corner of Water St. S.W. and Sixth behind St. Augustine's church. You might call it a short term BID (Business Improvement District) like other areas have used. Joining forces were: . St. Augustine's Episcopal Church . Arena Stage, . Odyssey Cruises . Spirit Ships of Washington . Waterside Community Garden . Harbour Square Cooperative . River Park Friends, Inc. . Tiber Island Cooperative Homes, Inc. An excellent job of clearing overgrown foliage and upgrading lighting (at reasonable prices) were done by landscape contractor Thomas Payne of Chantilly, VA (703-661-6770) and electrician Mr. Bill of "B" Electric of Brandywine, MD (301-888-1509). References for both businesses can be obtained from Tiber Island. 554-4844. Metropolitan Police are regularly patrolling the property, according to First District Commander Kim Dine. Leadership was provided by the Arts and Culture Action Group of Council member Jack Evans Southwest Task Force. NUTRITION NEWS by Deborah A. Redman SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER Down and out in the winter? If so, you may be suffering from something called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Those suffering from SAD feel depressed in the winter when the days are shorter and there is less light. They often also have symptoms of fatigue (and thus tend to oversleep), anxiety, and weight gain due to cravings for sweets and starches. According to statistics, about five percent of the northern population is afflicted with SAD. Four times more women than men suffer from the disorder. No one knows what causes SAD, but scientists believe the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep after darkness falls, is involved. Light therapy is the usual treatment. Exposure to the sun outside and to rooms that are brightly lit (especially the use of full-spectrum light) helps regulate the body's production of melatonin and chase away the blues. 1999 S. W. scholarship recipients meeting at Jenny's (left to right) : Amber Drummond, Tiffany Haliburton, Carlena Solomon, Candace Wyder, Davina Minnik, Martrell Pyatt, Shenearah Lassiter, Patrick Bowles, Monique Pyatt, Nakia Edelin. Westminster Church's co-pastor Rev. Ruth Hamilton hands a $1,000 scholarship check to Alan Clipper, a freshman at North Carolina Wesleyan University, as his mother Daisy Clipper, and his sister Andrea look on. Tiffany Haliburton, a student at Cornell University, poses with Coralie Farlee and Keith Melder of River Park Friends, Inc., which awarded Ms. Haliburton a 1999 college grant. SWNA officials and scholarship committee members attended the scholarship dinner at Jenny's. Left to right are: Dale MacIver, Ellen Winship, Barbara Murray, Carole Early, Herbert Holmes and Rev. George Holmes. Chamber Music Spring Season The Southwest Chamber players have announced their spring season at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 6th St. and Maine Ave. S.W. All concerts are free, with donation requested. On Wed. January 19 at 7:30 pm oboist Wendy Hodge, alto Sue Goetz Ross and tenor James Lowrie join David Ehrlich for a baroque program of works of Cimarosa and J. S. Bach. Cello prodigy John Kaboff will perform Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, op. 19 on the second half of the program. On Wed. February 16 at 7:30 p.m. Linda Bryant, flute; Carolyn Kessler, violin; Tom Blackburn, cello, and David Ehrlich on the harpsichord will present Bach's Musical Offering. They will be joined by soprano Rosemarie Houghton in a brief ode to cats by Scarlatti, Rossini, and Barber. The second half of the program will feature Vera Kochanovsky on her harpsichord performing early music with violist Thomas McCracken. On Thurs. March 16 Cecilie Jones has invited a group of her friends to a potpourri of works for strings and piano. On Wed. April 5, the traditional gala Cherry Blossom Festival concert will present works of Mozart and Brahms. A reception follows each concert. (Caption) Gary Hart, sax; Butch Warren, bass; and Peter Edelman, piano, were among the Jazz musicians on Christmas eve at Westminster Church. The Jazz on Fridays program completed its first continuous year Jan. 14, 2000. SEU To Expand Inside Its Building by Maurice Cook . The enrollment at Southeastern University has grown from 350 students to 1,050 in the past three years. . A second floor in the school's gymnasium/assembly hall will be added to gain several new classrooms in the campus on 6th and I (Eye) St. S. W.. . The University will continue to use classroom space on the second floor of Waterside Mall, but on a short-term, year -to-year basis. These are some of the highlights of a recent interview with Southeastern University President Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, printed inside on page 6. (Caption) Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, President of Southeastern University in Southwest. S.W. "Ideal Location" For S.E.U. - Jarvis by Maurice Cook " SEU has expanded from 350 students to 1,050 students in the three years of Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis's presidency. It is building a second floor in the school's gymnasium/assembly hall for use as several classrooms. Regardless of the University's current and future physical expansion needs, Dr. Jarvis considers Southwest to be "an ideal location" for Southeastern University. She is committed to strengthening the University's ties to the community, as evidenced by its leading role in the establishment in 1999 of the "Link and Learn" program at Waterside Mall, and the University's ongoing support for business linkages with Friendship House, to name just two examples. From the community's perspective, the University clearly possesses many resources that can be the foundation for Southwest's future development. The growth of SEU may be attributed directly to the innovative leadership of Dr. Jarvis who is a long-term member of the District of Columbia Council and has been SEU's president since 1996. Under her stewardship the University has greatly expanded its graduate degree programs, aggressively marketed the University in the local mass media, and established strong linkages with local high schools to promote an interest in higher education among the area's low- and moderate- income youth. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore the fact that Southeastern University is growing rapidly and, after almost 30 years at its current location, now has a pressing need for room to expand (and additional parking, judging by the number of cars frequently double-parked outside the University along 6th Street). Lacking vacant land of its own on which to expand and being bounded on all sides by occupied real estate, the University's only logical place to grow would appear at present to be Waterside Mall. However, the present uncertainty regarding the Mall's future prevents the University from even considering long-range plans for using the Mall. SEU continues to lease a limited amount of classroom space on the second floor of Waterside mall on a short-term, year-to-year basis. However, when asked if the University was interested in establishing permanent offices in Waterside Mall in space vacated by the departing Environmental Protection Agency, President Jarvis's response was unequivocal. The University would be able to consider permanent use of Mall space "only if the long-term plans for the use of the Mall are consistent with the University's long- term plans." Unfortunately, as everyone in the community knows, there are as yet no clearly defined, long-term plans for the Mall. Southwest Neighborhood Summit Jan. 24 The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2D, and the Southwest Community House are sponsoring a neighborhood planning meeting for all people - businesses, clubs, etc. in Southwest at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W. on Monday, January 24, 2000, at 7 pm. President of the SWNA, Rev. George E. Holmes, says that it is important that all constituents of Southwest come prepared to shape input into plans for the neighborhood. Members of the Mayor's staff and District Council, School Board Pres. will attend, as well as the Mayor's Neighborhood Revitalization Committee with the theme "2000 and Beyond," the Supt. Of D.C. P.S and police. We're concerned about what you're concerned about. Refreshments will be served. For information call Rev. George Holmes, 202-554-8560 and leave a message on the tape. Goals of the S.W.N.A. By SWNA Pres. George E. Holmes GOAL I Increase action-oriented community based participation. Objectives Have residents canvass neighborhood to disseminate information Use area schools Have a need survey to see what the residents of S.W. want GOAL II Increase visibility (attendance in Mayoral and local meetings); and viability (keeping it alive by distributing minutes of those meetings to our constituents) Objective Insure participation with School Board, City Council, ANC, Mayor's task team, etc. GOAL III Economic growth and development Objectives encourage small business initiatives maintain collaboration of local and major corporations by having newsletters sent out request sponsorships Y2K Glitches Are Few In Southwest The Coast Guard headquarters at the end of 2nd St. S.W. had to prevent 156 ships from entering or leaving U.S. ports during the Jan. 1 weekend for failure to demonstrate Y2K compliance, and Black Diamond Computers in the Waterside Mall have had 20 or more calls for help, but others seem to have had an uneventful "rollover" to the year 2000. Small businesses like Plymouth and Washington Video had taken care of their computer cash registers long before. Washington Video was installing new software anyway and needed an upgrade in computers. The district manager for Plymouth came in earlier and corrected any potential problem. Safeway manager Donna Maxwell explained that a year ago the main office had sent in experts to have everything in shape. The computers for registering ATM and credit card sales were the main concern. The Harbor Patrol on the Southwest waterfront reported that their loran and radar continued to work without a hitch. Gerry Wenham of the Tech Corps at Link & Learn feels that if the work hadn't been done and the money spent, the problems would have been much worse than the few glitches that have been reported. (Captions) D. White of Black Diamond Computers in 401 M St. S.W. poses with his diagnostic computer and (over his left shoulder) the $69 Intellifix 2000 "the complete y2K Fix" program he sold to solve Y2K problems for his customers. Washington Video in Waterside Mall had headed off Y2K problems with new software and new computers. (Other page 1 captions) Jan. 1, 2000, fireworks at the Washington monument was seen clearly from Maine Ave. S. W. From the dock, the revelers could be seen aboard The Odyssey. Two bands performed all evening at Channel Inn. Y-2K Related Incidents Prove Y-2K No Hoax There are enough confirmed reports of computers unable to shift to the year 2000 without help that the precautions taken in recent years seem to be justified. A Y2K error at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) prevented users from terminating FDHA mortgages. A Y2K glitch in HUD's Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System made the start date field read 01/01/19.0. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported a Y2K glitch in transferring about $700,000 in tax payments from customers of 60 financial institutions in the region. Merchants using CyberCash, Inc. software charged customers double on their credit cards. A Y2K computer glitch at a Chicago-area bank stopped Medicare payments to some hospitals. Indiana's computers issued drivers licenses for 5 years instead of four. Unemployment insurance claims in Florida and Kentucky were interrupted by Y2K glitch. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Child Welfare programs in Nevada were tied up for people with birth dates in the Year 1990. Computer systems at airports in Tampa, Denver, Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago O'Hare and St. Louis failed during the rollover and had to be rebooted to clear the error. The date "1900" was displayed on equipment at airports at Rochester, NY, Greensboro NC, Memphis TN, and Birmingham, AL. National Weather Service data bore the date "2010" and was rejected about ten minutes after the rollover at flight service stations in 16 locations around the country. Notices to Airmen were interrupted at Atlanta when software failed to recognize years ending in "0". The Web page at the Naval Observatory in D.C. contained the date "19100." (These and other glitches are reported on the federal government's y2K web site: www.y2k.gov/docs. Good, Bad, Or Indifferent? What are your impressions of the Waterside Mall and surrounding areas? The SWNA Task Force on Waterside Mall/Waterfront is collecting that information and needs your input. Leave a voice mail message at the home phone of task force vice chair Nancy O'Brien (484- 1630) or write to Chair Ahmad Nurriddin, SWNA, P O Box 70792, Washington , D.C. 20024. If you have e-mail, send your comments to watersidetaskforce@hotmail.com. Come to the next meeting of the Waterside Mall/Waterfront Task Force, Wed., Feb. 2, 7 pm. Responses can be reported in The Southwester and brought to the attention of appropriate officials. Working together we can insure that the Southwest is a great place to live and work. (Caption) Ahmad Nurriddin, chair of the SWNA Task Force on Waterside Mall/Waterfront AARP Holiday Luncheon by Alberta E. White Pier 7 restaurant was again the site for the annual holiday luncheon of the SW chapter, American Association of Retired People. Guest speaker was Mrs. Gwendolyn Fields, AARP coordinator for District 2 speaking on the future of AARP in 2000. Chapter member Neil Halliday was MC; William Layton entertained with selections from books he has written.; Mary Ann Bailer danced and gave recitations. Djean Larkin read poetry. Rudolph Yates, ex president of EFEC (Efforts for Ex-Convicts, Inc. accepted gifts for children of ex-convicts donated by AARP chapter members. Poinsettias were presented to committee members: James Patton, Neil Halliday, Norma Hunton, Mary Ann Bailer and Vernice Howard. Door prizes were awarded. AARP chapter 4751 meets on the 3rd Wed. of the month at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 3rd and M St. S.W. Sept. through May, with lunch starting at 12 noon. In June the group goes to a dinner theater or other activity. Persons age 50 or over can become members and are welcome. (caption) Poinsettias were presented to AARP luncheon committee members: (L to R) James Patton, Neil Halliday, MC; Alberta E. White, coordinator; Norma Hunton and Mary Ann Bailer. (Not shown, Vernice Howard. .(caption) 10 AND UNDER BB TEAM, CLUB # 4 Front row ( L to R) Steven Jones, Tyrone Ford, Nate Ford, Donta Jones Back roe ( L to R) Robert Davis, Rodney Lawrence, Louise Bell, Rico Hines, Antonio Smith In back - Coach Ronald Hines (not shown ) Malcolm Davis Arts & Culture Action Group Meets Feb. 3 The Arts and Culture Action Group of the Jack Evans SW Task Force set its next meeting for Thurs. Feb. 3 at 7 pm in the SWNA Mall office. Speakers at its January meeting included John W. Franklin of the Smithsonian talking about the June 23 to July 4 Folklife Festival on the National Mall, and Burt Ulrich curator of the NASA art program, who is planning a millennium mural in Southwest. Link & Learn Class Registration Feb. 7-12 Computer classes for young and old at reasonable prices will be offered again at Link & Learn on the second floor of Waterside Mall from Feb. 14 to June 17. Catalogues will be available January 24 and registration - some daytime, some evening - will be Feb. 7-14. Call 554-7400 ahead of time. Neighborhood Meetings Are Part Of Community Policing Practice in talking together about disorder in the neighborhood is an important part of "Community Policing," we are learning in Southwest. What is bothering us, where, who is affected, what time of day? Sharing ideas and agreeing on which problems to address first are part of a process being tried. Other city agencies, not only the police, are involved in keeping neighborhoods safe and healthy and addressing underlying causes.. A series of meetings - the latest at Carrollsburg Condominium - is using a workbook to practice talking through actual problems in different parts of Southwest. Naomi Monk at Carrollsburg (479- 0442) and Master Police Officer 607- 0544 have been trainers. Marsha Hott (727-8751) and Lt. Douglas (727-4610) also have information. "CityCat 2K" Is Library Catalog Online A new computer in the Southwest Library - and all of the D.C. libraries - has the complete library catalog online. THEATER NOTES Wallace Babington Arena Stage We have something very special to look forward to this month at Arena Stage: A production of a recent Off-Broadway musical, "Dinah Was", about that great blues singer Dinah Washington. It promises to be a special treat for anyone who loves music, the blues and the style and energy that Dinah Washington brought to our musical heritage. The show runs January 28 through March 26 at the Kreeger. Source/Stage Guild We tend to forget that living in Southwest gives us easy access to other fine theaters in downtown Washington. For example: Source Theater Company on 14th between S and T Streets is a short subway ride for us. Take the Green Line to U and 13th Streets and walk a couple of blocks to the theater. If you do this you will be in for a very special treat next month: A production of "The Dying Gaul" by the author of the hit, "Prelude to a Kiss". The Gaul is described as a comedy that involves a grieving screenwriter, a gay chat room, lust and revenge. It shows February 5 through March 5. (Phone for tickets 202- 462-1073) Source has been recently renovated and has a new lobby, comfortable seats and valet parking. There are matinee as well as evening performances. (And we can look forward to an upcoming production in May of "The Importance of Being Earnest" with an all-male cast) Remember the Washington Stage Guild that produced those fine vintage theatrical experiences in the building on G St opposite the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library? Well, they are now temporarily occupying space made available to them at Source Theater. Next month they will show "Hughie", a rarely performed play by America's preeminent playwright, Eugene O'Neill. As in the past, Stage Guild is giving us an opportunity to see a professional production of a classic; we would do well to take advantage of it. "Hughie" will run February 12 through March 7. (Phone 202 - 529 - 2084) Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings, with matinees on Saturday. Folger Theater Remember that small theater on East Capitol Street that is part of the Folger Shakespeare Library? That was our main source for Shakespeare before the new theater on 7th Street was established. Well, the Folger is very much still in business and is bringing us "Shakespeare's R & J". This was last year's Off-Broadway hit that turned out to be New York's longest running production of "Romeo and Juliet". It is to be directed by last season's Helen Hayes Award-winning director Joe Calarco. "R & J" will be on stage at the Folger February 18 through March 19. (Folger box office 202 - 544 - 7077). (Caption) The play "Dinah Was" comes to Arena Stage's Kreeger Theatre January 28. Molly Smith, Arena Stage artistic director says, "I know you will love this compelling, heart-rending play, packed with all those glorious, bluesy songs that this gutsy diva made famous." (Illustration by Jody Hewgill) River Park Friends Offer Help in S.W. Southwest's newest assistance group, River Park Friends, Inc., is accepting applications for small grants that will benefit the S.W., D.C. area. In 1999 Friends helped eight neighborhood organizations and is looking for others to fund in 2000. Projects should benefit Southwest Washington and be related to community development, educational needs, and charitable activities. Applications by letter should be sent to Coralie Farlee, president of River Park Friends, 389 O St. S.W., D.C. 20024. Tax deductible donations should be sent to the same address. For information, call her at 202-554-4407. An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, Mar. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the River Park meeting room, 1311 Delaware Ave. S.W. All are invited. James Earl Jones At Southwest Library Famous actor James Earl Jones read a children's story at the Southwest Branch Library recently to a group of Amidon and Bowen Elementary School children. Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages is sponsoring four storytelling sessions by celebrity readers at different neighborhood libraries to encourage reading by children. (Caption) Virginia Williams, right, mother of Mayor Anthony Williams, accepts on behalf of the District of Columbia, a check symbolizing the $20,000 Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages is giving to the District's public libraries. With her are James Earl Jones and Mary Jo Howe, Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages V.P. Mayor's Summit To Reconvene Jan. 27. On Thursday, Jan. 27, from 6:30pm to 9 pm at the University of the District of Columbia on Connecticut Ave. and Van Ness, a second "Summit" of citizens giving advice to Mayor Williams will convene. The Mayor will summarize the advice he received at the Nov. 22 summit and outline his plans to follow up. To save time Thursday evening, you can register in advance by phoning Lynn Dukes 727-8196. She is also soliciting volunteers to act as "facilitators" at the forum. Training sessions will be held Saturday, Jan. 22 from 10 am to noon at 441 4th St NW Room 1030South, and Monday, Jan. 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the same place. ANC on pay phones At its December meeting ANC 2-D agreed to ask the C & P Telephone Co. for more information on several pay phones they hope to install at 401 M St. S.W. and other locations. U.S. Prosecutor's Man Now Stationed in Southwest Lawrence E. Mitchell, Jr., a "Community Outreach Specialist" from the U. S. Attorney's office, is stationed at First District Police headquarters at 415 - 4th St S.W. His phone number is 727-5413. FAX 727- 1226. He will attend meetings of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and - on request -report on the status of specific criminal cases including the trial dates. He will coordinate education in criminal justice with police, youth groups, schools and senior citizens. Residents can bring him their "concerns, problems and complaints." Jeff Students Walk To Help Homeless On November 20 seventeen students, four parents and two faculty members from Jefferson Jr. High raised $755.4 5 by walking in the YWCA's Help the Homeless Walkathon. The Fannie Mae Foundation will double the amount raised to $1,510.90. A Winner In The Parade Of Boats Two dinghies tied behind "The _____" made the winning entry in the annual Parade of Boats in the Potomac River's Washington Channel next to the S.W. waterfront. SW Scholarship Recipients at Jennys Earlier in December, the recipients of the SW scholarships were recognized at Jazz Night December 17 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. On Thursday December 30th, there was an informational dinner at Jenny's Restaurant for the awardees, their mothers and members of the Scholarship Committee. A delicious dinner was had by all. Graduating student, [SEE PRINTOUT] addressed the group. She advised "hanging in there" and that it would get easier. The program, which allows DC residents to attend MD and VA schools while paying in-state tuition, was discussed. The students made suggestions on ways of increasing the amount of applicants. Getting the word out to 9th grade students by having one of the recipients speak to them was recommended. Also discussed were better ways to advertise the availability of the scholarships. Any parents of present or potential recipients or interested parties are invited to call the SWNA office at (202) 554-8560.