If you want to learn something about computers or you want to learn how to compute a little bit better -- the resource is right here in Southwest.

For the first time in many years, a District of Columbia mayor has held a Ward 2 town meeting here in Southwest. About 300 people from throughout Ward 2 gathered together on the evening of May 11 at the Jefferson High School auditorium and heard Mayor Anthony Williams describe how his proposed budget reflects a well balanced address of the city's needs of coordinated citywide planning, neighborhood improvement, safe streets, environment protection, judicious tax cuts, and education system improvement, giving highest priority to the nurturing of our city's children and to the provision of a safe, bright future for them.

Ward 2 Coordinator Budd Lane called the meeting to order. Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans made a short presentation emphasizing cooperation between mayor and city council. Southwester Gene Solon welcomed the mayor and the other Ward 2 residents to Southwest DC and thanked the "Welcoming Committee" whose members from all over southwest helped him publicize and otherwise prepare for the meeting. Ward 2 Assistant Coordinator Susan Meehan then introduced Mayor Williams.

A good number of Southwesters were among the many people who lined up at microphones to comment and to request that the new mayor take action on a host of neighborhood issues.

From southwesters, including Margaret Feldman, Roxanna Folescu, Rev. George Holmes, Gwyn Jones and Richard Westbrook, Mayor Williams heard, first hand, about the southwest community's concerns: Waterside Mall's future, waterfront revitalization, Arena Stage's future, buckling sidewalks, southwest's proverty pockets, recreation needs, crime reduction and other issues. Some suggestions were controversial, such as Mr. Westbrook's suggestion that tax levels fluctuate with revenue levels, and Ms. Feldman's advocacy that the city government should guarantee sole-source city data processing business to a would-be business owner in exchange for his commitment to hire disadvantaged Southwest residents. Mayor Williams promised that the federal General Services Administration and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) would be contacted in an effort to stabilize Waterside Mall tenancy and erase concerns about proposed EPA occupancy of Wilson Building quarters. Just after he addressed that issue, the mayor announced that his administration had dedicated some $5 million to a multi-jurisdictional program for Anacostia River cleanup.

The town meeting format not only allowed Mayor Williams to hear directly from Southwesters, but also allowed Southwesters to listen to the concerns of their fellow citizens from Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Shaw, and other Ward 2 neighborhoods. At one point, Mayor Williams promised a Shaw resident that our buses, Southwesters don't want idling on Maine Ave., SW, would not be permitted to park and idle, as planned, near a senior citizens' residence in the Shaw area. The mayor promised that a suitable third site would be found. Ward 2 school board member Westy Byrd stressed that, while it may be necessary to construct new buildings, for the Red Cross at Foggy Bottom, for example, building design must not compromise the residential character of neighborhoods.

Residents' identities and concerns were diligently recorded by the mayor's staff. John Fanning and his colleagues at the mayor's Office of the Public Advocate made key publicity, logistics and registration contributions. Temperature and acoustics problems notwithstanding, meeting attendees deemed the May 11 event a success.

A SIDEBAR: Thanks to all who helped!
Members of the Welcoming Committee attending the meeting were southwesters Audrey Austin of Tiber Island, William Byrd of Carrollsburg Square, Shirley Dabney of 700 - 7th St., Reve. George Holmes of Potomac Place, Harvey Jones of Carrollsburg Square, William Marbury of Town Center, Davie Renshaw of Tiber Island, Fumiko and Jim Rhodes of River Park, and Emma Ward from the Syphax School area.

Members who helped with preparations, but who could not attend, were Patricia Neverson and son David of 700 - 7th St., Robert Patrick of Channel Square, and Natan Polster of Capitol Park.

After much planning and a dry run, three of us, cameras in hand and all residents of Southwest, flew over the area in a helicopter at low altitude. The primary mission: to take aerial photos of Southwest DC for display on the new swdc.org Internet Web site. The weather was near-perfect, except for some scattered clouds, and visibility was excellent. To improve the view even more, the pilot removed the helicopter doors for us!

We took off from the new South Capitol Street Heliport, which has only been in existence since last year. They are set up to provide transportation, tours, and photo-flights of the type we were taking. They are locatead at 1724 South Capitol Street, SE (Telephone: 202-484-8484).

Richard Westbrook, Perry Klein and Harold Dorwin participated in photo-flight. Harold is a professional photographer with the Smithsonian, who volunteered his services. Washington Cable sponsored the flight.

Because no one can be certain about the effects of the Y2K problem, the American Red Cross has developed the following checklist for you.

Copies of the checklist were given out at the May meeting of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) in the SW library.

Disaster supplies (food and water), extra cash or traveler's checks, extra blankets, coats, hats and gloves, flashlights, battery operated radio and extra batteries are on the checklist of the American Red Cross for the disruption that might occur next January 1, 2000, when some computers may think it is January 1, 1900.

Preston Davis spoke at the NARFE meeting. Sharon Atlee of the Red Cross has copies of the Y2K pamphlet at 202-728-6401.

On April 10, 1999, the Air Force Association, Thomas W. Anthony Chapter presented one of their "Women of Distinction and Community Leaders" Awards to Mary Ann Bailer. We in Southwest have benefited greatly from her activism and community work; we are very proud that she received this fine award.

She has been a fixture of Southwest Washington, DC since 1960. Mary Ann is truly a renaissance woman: teacher, motivator, peace-maker, activist, a builder of strong minds and bodies, a devoted mother of two and grandmother. From her very first years, she has performed outreach services to the community.

When Mary Ann began working full time, she still found time after she finished her full time job to "take on the city" by going out to different parts of the community where she was needed, to share her vision for improving lives. From little children to senior citizens, Mary Ann taught exercise, nutrition, and the care of the body, providing encouragement to thousands of people.