Jacqueline Kennedy Celebration Touches SW

A citywide "Summer of Culture" in D.C. was launched on June 5^th aboard the Presidential Yacht Sequoia, docked at Gangplank Marina at 6^th and Water St. S.W.

With the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s blockbuster exhibit Jacqueline Kennedy: The White house Years as its centerpiece, a series of 60 Kennedy-inspired tours, talks, exhibitions and performances "will show how Mrs. Kennedy’s grace, style and intellect stretched beyond the grounds of the White House to captivate and change the city in which she lived," according to the sponsors, the DC Convention and Tourism Corp. and the D.C. Heritage Tourism Coalition.

The Presidential Yacht Sequoia, now privately owned and available for charters, was used extensively by President and Mrs. Kennedy, and also by 7 other presidents.

Among other events in or near Southwest listed for the summer celebration are a display, "Remembering Mrs. Kennedy," at the National Gallery of Art, the play "Moon for the Misbegotten," at Arena Stage and Apollo 11 space ship and space suits from the first moon landing, at the National Air and Space Museum at 6^th St. S.W. and Independence Ave. S.W. President Kennedy’s 1961 words "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth," are quoted in the brochure for the celebration.

Even President Kennedy’s service in Navy PT Boats and his use of The Sequoia are featured in events at the nearby Navy Yard on M St. S.E.

Restaurants will have special features. For example, each week the Rooftop Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center will recreate a different dinner menu from Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House years. During July many restaurants, including Le Rivage at 10^th & Water St. S.W., will serve three-course fixed prix luncheons for $20.02 and dinners for $30.02.

"Jackie O Cocktails" will be served on Odyssey Cruises, based at 600 Water St. S.W.

SWNA Hears Details On Waterside Mall

By Dale MacIver

Removing the center part of Waterside Mall to a width of 90 feet will take only a few months. Rebuilding the two buildings to eight stories – one on the East side and one on the West of 4^th St. – for retail tenants will take two years. That is part of the description of activity at Waterside Mall given by developers at the May 20 meeting of SWNA.

Here is a paraphrase of some of the other remarks by Forest City Enterprises and Kaempfer Co.:

There will be one lane of traffic in each direction, north and south (narrower than the other parts of 4^th St.). In between will be a turning lane for left turns. And curbside parking. Fairly wide sidewalks – 17 feet – and seating for cafes. All that will open up to a fairly generous pedestrian plaza. On the west side of that will be the Metro escalator – covered. On the east side of the plaza will be Safeway and to the north more retail.

(Ed. Note – a reporter for the Southwester collected comments and gives her views in the following report which continues on page 5. On page 2 is one of the statements distributed by Gene Solon).

Developers Unveil Plans For Waterside Mall

Developers of the Waterside Mall site last month presented an architectural model that shows retail stores located along the sidewalks of a newly-opened Fourth Street SW, two multi-story office towers set on M Street, three additional office buildings on the remaining sides, and a residential tower scheduled to be built by 2022.

(Cont’d on Page 5 DEVELOPERS’ PLANS)

City’s Plans For Emergency On SWNA Agenda

At the 7:30 pm June 24 meeting of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly at St. Matthew’s Church representatives of the D.C. Emergency Management Agency will give advice and answer questions about actions that residents can take and that the city will conduct if more terrorist acts occur.

Also on the agenda will be an explanation of the new ballot system for the Sep. 10 Primary and Nov. 5 General elections.

Party Animals At Waterside Mall

Waterside Mall at 4^th and M St. S.W. inside at the top of the Waterfront Metro elevator now has two of the artist-decorated statues of a donkey (to represent the Democratic Party) and an elephant (to represent the Republic Party).

PAGE TWO

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10% discount on first order for SW residents

A & A House Cleaning. First call 20% discount. Telephone 202-483-7289, 202-425-5310. 24 hours, 7 days/week.

(caption)

The Honorable Delores J. Killette, left, Postmaster for Washington, D.C., visited the Southwest Branch Post Office at L St. S.W., where she talked with visitors to the post office.

SW Residents Need Ward 6 Stickers by June 30

That "District 2" residential sticker in your car window won’t allow you to park over 2 hours in Southwest after June 30, even if it says "Expires Oct ‘02". Since S.W. became part of Ward 6 Jan. 1, 2002, we need to scrape the old Dist. 2 sticker off and go to a Department of Motor Vehicles office, turn in your old sticker and get a new Dist. 6 sticker

Gene Solon On Waterside Mall:

Southwest resident Gene Solon has expressed his views at meetings on Waterside Mall and has submitted the following statement to The Southwester:

BECAUSE IT’S BEST FOR SOUTHWEST AND BEST FOR OUR CITY!

The Right Kind of Renovation. We need the right kind of Waterside Mall renovation, renovation that preserves a sense of community, that is "neighborhood friendly," that protects Southwest and visiting schoolchildren and seniors (including those who are handicapped) from commuter and other unnecessary automobile traffic, and that preserves shoppers’ ability to go from store to store without having to cross yet another street. We don’t need a roadway cutting through Waterside Mall, bringing cars with booming stereos and cars transporting drugs and guns – we already have enough streets here for Southwesters and visitors. We welcome visitors to shop and recreate here, but we should not do anything to encourage them to commute through our residential streets. We say, "Come to our shopping center, don’t just drive through it!"

 Good For Southwesters, New Neighbors, Tourists and Businesses. The photograph above shows an example of how our mall can be renovated so that it remains compact, and so that it will be attractive to visitors and to those who will be our new neighbors as Southwest waterfront and other development occurs. The above configuration is good for business – it features high store and office densities. Thoroughly well-lighted, it can accommodate offices on the now-unused second floor (a third floor can be added). The towers can provide some housing as well as office space. A four-story residential building can be constructed on the northeast corner of the property. Café tables can be located outside, or under the protective glass roof.

 Convenient And Safe M Street Frontage, With Well-lighted, Adequate On-Site Parking Areas Accessible Via Already-Existing Roadways. Note, in the photograph, how the shopping/office structure is "pulled" right up to M Street – strollers can shop when the spirit hits them. The north side of the structure is "shortened" to provide ample parking space -- easily accessible via asphalt roadways that already exist but that have been underutilized. This kind of renovation saves the northside park! This kind of renovation brings less disturbance to the community!

June, July, 2002

MONTHLY MEETINGS

Fri. June 21 Seniors Talent Show, King Greenleaf 1200 Delaware Ave. S.W. 4 pm

Sat. June 22 "Having Our Say" film screening. Southwest Branch Library, 900 Wesley Pl. S.W. 2 pm.

Mon. June 24 SWNA monthly public meeting – St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church 222 M St. S.W. – 7:30 pm

Wed. June 26 South Washington Collaborative meeting, St. Matthew’s Church, 222 M St. S.W. 12 noon

Sat. June 29 "Heathcare on Wheels" King Greenleaf Field, 201 N St. S.W. 11 am to 5 pm.

Sun. June 30 Deadline for Residential Parking Stickers changed to Ward 6 for S.W. rather than Ward 2.

Tues. July 2 – Housing Fair. (Housing Choice Voucher Program) D.C. Convention Center 11^th & H St. N.W. 10:30 am to 3 pm Free.

Tues. July 2 Police Citizens Advisory Committee – 415 4^th St. S.W. – 7 pm

Mon. July 8 ANC 2D Westminster Church, 400 I (Eye) St. S.W. 7 pm

Fri. July 12, Public meeting on Safety. Friendship Baptist Church

Wed. July 24 Composer Michael Raphael at SEU’s Library Salon, 6 pm

Thurs. July 25 Wiley Branton Community Development Corporation public meeting. Place to be announced.

WEEKLY & BIWEEKLY MEETINGS

Komen Toastmasters, First & Third Saturdays – SW Branch Library, 900 Wesley Pl S.W. 10 am

Fil-Am Toastmaster Second and Fourth Wed. – SW Branch Library, 6:45 pm

School Street Toastmasters, every Tuesday, 400 Virginia Ave. S.W., Room 88 – noon

S.W. Kiwanis, Every Monday – SE University, 6^th & I St. S.W. – 6:30 pm to 7:30pm

Please submit calendar items for the next issue by Wed. July 3 to C.W. Hargrave, 554-8284.

PAGE FOUR

Healthcare On Wheels At King Greenleaf

Fun and food might bring children and their families to a Saturday afternoon of "Healthcare On Wheels" at King-Greenleaf Recreation Field at 201 N St. S.W. Saturday, June 29 from 11 am to 5 pm.

Several vans with health screening and health information will be on hand, including the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic by Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Health. Health insurance and careers in health care will be included.

Sponsor is the South Washington Collaborative 202-488-7997.

(captions)

Georgetown University Children’s Medical Center will be at King Greenleaf from 11 am to 5 pm Sat. June 29.

Medical personnel perform tests at the Health Fair in Waterside Mall.

Artist Jenne Glover, seated at right, showed slides of her paintings at a Library Salon at Southeastern University. Also seated is O. D. Alexander, executive director of the salon. Among those attending were, left to right: Bernestine Benton, Myrrh Cauthen, Nicole Benton, Kenny Richardson, another student, and Freddy Kikwete.

Another salon will be held at the University Library on Wed. July 24 at 6 pm.

(caption)

At the yard sale next to Amidon School are some of the sponsors with school officials. Left to right – Jerri Smith, Lenora Mogane, Ms Brantley (Principal of Amidon), Dr. Kay Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Ashell Alston and Paula Shelton.

Hundreds of runners preparing for the Marine Corps Marathon in October gather at the park at 4^th and I St. S.W. early Sat. and Sun. mornings to make practice runs to the National Mall.

"Having Our Say" Film in SW Jn 22

On Sat., June 22 at 2 pm the Southwest Branch Library at 3^rd & K St. S.W. will show the movie "Having Our Say," starring Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee and Amy Madigan.

The free showing is part of the library system’s citywide effort "to inspire people across the city to rediscover the joy of reading."

In "Having Our Say", the book, two sisters over age 100, one who had been a dentist, one a high school teacher, speak their minds. Julian Bond says of their book "Their well-lived lives will show readers a slice of black America seldom seen and a history seldom read."

Book discussions and viewing of the film are being held in over a dozen D.C. branch libraries during May and June. The phone number at the Southwest branch is 727-4752. It is open at 10 am daily except Sundays and closes at 9 pm on Mon. & Wed. and 5:30 p.m. Tues., Thurs. & Sat.

PAGE FIVE

Some 150 Southwest residents got their first look at the redevelopment plans for the Waterside Mall site, which developers say will be renamed Waterfront. The model was presented at Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc. (SWNA)’s community meeting on Monday, May 20, 2002, at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church.

The preliminary redevelopment plan, which was previously shown on May 13, 2002, to the ANC-2D Commission, has been the subject of much debate among residents and longtime business owners and merchants.

While a majority of Southwest residents said they welcomed improvements to the Waterside Mall, more than half of those in attendance at the community meeting repeatedly questioned the impact that the plans will have on the quality of life of current Southwesters. Many of the questions centered on the opening of 4^th Street SW from Eye Street to M Street SW and the construction of two office buildings on M Street that will tower over neighboring Tiber Island and Carrollsburg Condominiums.

According to the plans presented by Project Architect Shalam Baranes, the two proposed office towers on M Street would only be ten (10) feet from the curb and would be 110-feet high. These new office towers would exceed current zoning restrictions of 70 feet (except for the

existing 130- foot high East and West Towers which are some distance off M Street). Because of these planned heights and the current zoning restrictions, the developers are forced to seek a waiver of the law before the D.C. Zoning Commission by submitting a filing for a Planned Unit Development ("PUD").

Baranes told the group of residents that developers could "as a matter of right" move forward on a large portion of the planned development without the community’s approval because the model meets current zoning requirements. But the 10-story office towers on M Street, and the new 110 foot tower on the Northwest corner of the site and the new 130 foot residential tower on the Northeast corner of the site, all of which are proposed, require approval by the D.C. Zoning Commission.

Community input and comments will be solicited during the PUD process and will be required before the developers are able to obtain the required zoning waiver of the heights and Zoning Commission approval for the proposed PUD development. The developers said they plan to present their PUD proposal to the D.C. Zoning Commission in June. A public hearing would probably be scheduled for September 2002 and thereafter.

Under the proposal presented last month, the redeveloped Mall site would contain a total of five office towers, two retail structures, and a residential tower and underground parking. The developers plan for 17 foot wide sidewalks for patrons along the two retail buildings which would run along the new extension of 4^th Street between Eye and M Street SW. In addition, the area between the Metro Escalator east towards the existing Safeway store would be an open air pedestrian plaza.

When questioned about the plan for so many tall buildings, Baranes said that the office space density is needed to fund the entire project. He added that the design of the eight buildings, as separate buildings - each with its own address and own entrance, is necessary to market the office space to a number of smaller users (even if those users are U.S. Government agencies).

However, some longtime Southwest residents expressed that additional traffic and the opening of Fourth Street, as well as the construction of additional office space in a residential neighborhood, could have an adverse effect on residential life. Those opposed to the cut-through contend that the roadway will add to congestion along the M Street corridor and render it unsafe for Southwest’s pedestrian community who now shop at Waterside Mall. Others argued that the city was premature in agreeing to open the road without first conducting a traffic study. Harbor Square resident Gene Solon has lead efforts to convince the developers, the D.C. Office of Planning, and the D.C. Department of Transportation that a pedestrian-friendly mall design, which incorporates some surface parking at the rear of the site, would best serve the community.

Supporters of the cut-through say that the new roadway will bring the community together, connecting north and south and easing traffic congestion. Developers say the new roadway will also bring additional consumer traffic to the Mall, which is necessary to ensure continued sales for retailers.

While the developers have stated publicly that they did not seek the opening of Fourth Street that runs through the site, they are now supporting this measure.

"We agree strongly with the City that the roadway will make for successful retail," Gretchen Dudney, vice president of the Kaempfer Company, told the ANC-2D Commissioners at its May 13th meeting.

The new project, which is a private joint effort by the present Mall owner, Bressler & Reiner, and their new partners, Kaempfer Company and Forest City Enterprises, Inc., is slated to begin construction early in 2003. The only stores to remain open throughout the two-year demolition and construction period are Safeway, CVS (in the present location of the Pizza Hut), and the Bank of America.

The closing of the existing retail stores and services for this period has prompted an outcry from longtime merchants and store owners, such as Jenny’s Restaurant (which is on a month to month lease) and Harry’s Liquor Store (which operates under a lease).

"We’re trying to fix what failed," Dudney said at the ANC-2D meeting.

ANC Commissioner Richard "Dick" Westbrook said that the developers’ proposal needs a bigger residential presence right away. But Baranes said that the proposed residential tower at the Northeast corner of the site is scheduled to be a part of the third phase, which means that this building is likely to be done in 2022.

Thelma Jones:

30 Years At The World Bank

Besides being toasted by her superiors and co-workers for her 30 years of service at the World Bank, Thelma Jones, former SWNA President, received the following tribute from her former boss, Jean-Francois Rischard, who is now in Paris as Vice-President for Europe of the Bank.

Thelma was born… in the tiny North Carolina town of Snow Hill. Her parents, active volunteers, imparted her from the start with a sense for the community—a precious thing she brought to Washington and to the World Bank when she joined this big international institution some 30 years ago. There, she has worked in so many departments of the Bank and on so many different things—from finance through resources, to helping the U.S. representatives on the Board --…that in this 10,000 strong institution with some 150 nationalities, Thelma got to know and be known to more managers and staffers than any other mortal.

Her recipe: working very hard and very long hours, radiating warmth and fellowship, always helping others out, deploying her unbeatable brand of humor when the going would get tough, and … generally dressing up in a way that would go unnoticed only by a dead bat.

And she had great courage to boot. Many times, when she was working with me, I would cringe at seeing her openly tease very senior executives of the Bank we were all terrified by, and getting away with it. Despite – or maybe because of all this – she had a great and variegated professional career at the Bank, and saw a lot of the world through the unparalleled prism this very large global institution offers.

Thelma could have left it at that and rested on her laurels, but she added another entire dimension almost from the start—one that led to considerable achievements in the Washington community and to a life’s dream. In fact, she was among the first who started connecting the Bank to its community. She got Southwest kids hired for summer jobs. She brought schools like Amidon Elementary, Cardozo Senior High and Jefferson Jr. High into regular contact with Bank staffers and experts from all over the world.

Thelma Jones became the founder of the African-American Association of the World Bank and the IMF. She created and chaired the Bank’s Black History Program and organized exhibits, including a noted one on Thurgood Marshall. At the same time she was busy presiding over the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly and serving people as a notary public, even winning an award as one of the country’s best. Thelma was juggling many balls in the air as she combined her busy career with these many volunteer activities.

Then, one day several years ago, the Bank’s new President James Wolfensohn decided to make the Bank’s outreach program a formal part of the Bank’s organization. Thelma was my assistant at the time and I encouraged her to serve on the working group that set up this program. Predictably, being the best at it, she ended up landing the job of her dreams – the Bank’s Community Outreach Coordinator. She still holds that job today, a job that wonderfully fits with her life’s calling.

Thelma claims that after 30 years she "might want to pursue slightly different paths." But I know, having been her supervisor during an eight year period, that it’s not any sort of year count that prompts her to say this. To the contrary, she may be thinking that once out there she can push the envelope even further in making the world a better place, particularly for the youngsters for whom she cares so much.

Anyway, whatever she does, I know I’ll keep getting her emails which sometimes read like little short stories.

In truth, I wish she’d take up writing. She has so much to tell!

Jean-Francois Rischard, Vice-President for Europe, World Bank

PAGE SIX

Arena Stage’s 2002-3 Season

A media release from Arena Stage lists the eight plays for their new season starting August 30, 2002, as follows:

"Beginning the seson in the Kreeger, Culture Class, with Director Charles Randolp-Wright, return to Arena Stage with Anthems: Culture Clash in the District – a moving and humorous snapshot written for and about Washington, D.C. Next, in the Fi;chandler, [Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly] Smith continues her commitment to one work from the world canon with the timeless social satire The Misanthrope, by Moliere, directed by Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Associate Penny Metropulos. The monumental drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the play which thrust August Wilson into the American theater spotlight, follows in the Kreeeger. Arena Stage former Artistic Associate Tazewell Thompson (Constant Star) directs. During the holiday season, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Puplitzer Prize-winning masterpiece South Pacific, directed by Smith, takes the stage in the Fichandler.

"The new year brings a new adaptation of thorton Wilder’s final novel, Theophilus North, adapted by Matthew Burnett and directed by Geva Theatre Artistic Director Mark Cuddy. Arena Artistic Associate Wendy C. Goldberg directs Landord Wilson’s latest work and murder mystery, Book of Days, in the Fichandler while the electrifying musical showcase, Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show bursts onto the Kreeger Stage, directed by Kenny Roberson. Closing the 2002/2003 season is Wendy Wasserstein’s all-American comedy, An American Daughter, directed by Smith in the Fichandler."

Season subscription packages can be bought by calling 488-4377 or on the website www.arenastage.org.

Artists Open Studios at M.A.C.

Early in June the public was welcomed to visit the studios of over a dozen artists who work at the Millennium Arts Center, 65 I (Eye) St. S.W.

Listed for visiting were the following artists:

Brenda Belfield, Barbara Kerne, Judy Jashinsky, Andres Tremols, Noche Crist, Ronnie Holland, Sherrell Medbery, Mark Planisek, Claudette Lopez, Ellen Sinel, Betsy Stewart, Meltdown Glass Studio, Ann Creager & Quentin Rankin (conservators), Colby Caldwell.

Major exhibits were also on view, including Pyramid Atlantic of Riverdale, MD, (a print exhibit), Art Enables (Creative Routes to Work), and a large display of art and metal work from Meltdown Glass Studio.

M.A.C. can be reached at 479-2572.

Senior Talent Show June 21

At Greenleaf Senior building at 1200 Delaware Ave., S.W., there will be a Senior Talent

Show at 4 pm Friday, June 21.

PAGE SEVEN

Youth and

Schools

(caption)

Members of the winning Club #4 baseball team (ages 13-15) are: Back row, left to right – Coach Calvin "Busta" Waldron, David Gamble, Michael Locksley, Kenneth Collins, Radford Ferguson, Ricardo Lucas, Tyrone Burnette, Natherial Waldron, James King

Front row: Devon Yeldell, Antonio Smith, Rodney Lawrence & Terrace Ross.

.

"Everybody Wins" At Amidon

The end of the Year celebration of "Everybody Wins" (Adults Reading to Children) brought excitement and fun to the gym at Amidon Elementary School.

Volunteer mentors from the.U.S. Departments of Education, Energy and of Health & Human Services, and from Batelle have helped the children.

Shown here are the school cheerleaders.

Bowen Volunteers Are Thanked

"Volunteers Have Hearts of Gold," was the theme of an appreciation program for volunteers at Bowen Elementary School. Shown here are one of the drummers on parade, and Principal Almeta Hawkins with Assn’t Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kay Williams

Tennis Camp Ends, Starts

Southwest kids took tennis lessons al winter at the Carter Baron tennis center on 16^th St. N.W., thanks to volunteers who helped the SWNA Youth Activities Task Force, and the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation

(caption)Shown doing their home work before starting Friday afternoon tennis lessons at Carter Barron are, left to right, Kendra Buckley, James Anderson, Shayne Anderson, Correy Janifer, Amber Anderson and Steven Powell.

At the Carter Baron tennis center are: (Adults in back, Rick Bardach and Tennis Instructor Chris Woodruff. Standing left to right, Kendra Buckley, Amber & Shayne Anderson, Ikesha Smith, Steven Powell and Keith Gilmore. Kneeling in front are Antonia Rogers & Ikea Powell.

"School To Careers" At Amidon E. S.

Men and women in various careers talked and demonstrated their skills to Amidon student. Three examples are shown on the left At the top is Chef Ghazizzdah. Next is the Arellano Family of Musicians. Then Mr. Baroody who runs a Tae Kwon Do school.

Keynote speaker was Dr. Roslyn Adele Walker, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. Amidon students will "shadow" Dr. Walker as she works through a day at the Smithsonian.

A student was selected to sit for a portrait by artist Gordon James, who said it was in the fourth grade that he recognized his love for art. He is an illustrator for Hallmark Cards.

Students were allowed to see, touch and sit inside a fire engine of S.W. Station #7, and to visit units of the Metropolitan Police Department, including motorcycles, helicopters, mounted police, K-9 dogs and the Harbor Patrol unit.

Others demonstrating their careers were Marcia Stokes, caterer; Bonito Cacho, African drummer and dancer; and violinists Garcia and Bender.

Patricia T. Brantley is interim principal at Amidon. School counselor Geralyn C. Wicker headed the School-To-Careers Committee.

PAGE EIGHT

I have Southwest friends who came back from a trip to England and went to your restaurant again for dinner. "Jenny’s food just gets better and better," they told me. I certainly agree. I hope we will have your friendly staff and delicious food nearby for a long time.

Sincerely,

Dale Maclver

Federal retirees and employees will get an application for the new long term care insurance

in the mail during July if they leave their name and address on the phone at 1-800-582-3337 or

on the web at www.Itcfeds.com.