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"Art-O-Matic" brings hundreds of artists and performers to S.W. Oct. 31-Nov. 30

Council, School Board, ANC Forum Oct. 28

SW-ANC 2D and the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc., will cosponsor a Candidates Forum at St. Matthew’s Lutheran church at 7 pm Mon. Oct. 28.

Being invited to appear are candidates for Council At-Large, Council Ward 6, School Board District 3 and ANC 6D.

For Information call SWNA Board Member Betty Clark or SWNA President Gerard Catus, 863-2063.

Also on the ballot on Nov. 5 will be two propositions: Measure 62 "Treatment instead of jail for non-violent drug offenders," and a charter amendment for an elected District Attorney for D.C.

Mayor Williams Explains Budget At S.W. Meeting

Mayor Anthony Williams, addressed the monthly public meeting of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc., on how he would balance the D.C. budget by holding back on some city expenditures and increasing some revenues.

The Mayor followed a 10 page handout with over 100 items of changes in expenses from the FY 2003 budget submitted to Congress last April and 50 fees or taxes to raise revenues. The District’s Chief Financial Officer has recently made new projections of revenue and expenditures for Oct. 1, 2002 through Sep. 30, 2003 and believes his earlier predictions on which the draft FY 2003 budget is based are off $323 million – mostly from a drop in income tax revenue.

Examples of the Mayor’s list of savings totaling $203 million are: Staggered closing of all libraries one week per year: .$447,000; Reduction in middle managers in Parks & Recreation: $453,000; use Local Road Maintenance Fund for some DDOT tree management, $2.2 million; DC Public Schools, $30 million.

Examples of revenue changes toward a goal of gaining $72 million include: increase liquor tax 1% for $1.4 million; increase cigarette tax by 35 cents a pack for $5.8 million; tax vacant and abandoned property at 5% of market value, for $10 million; temporary surcharge of 2/10 of 1% on income over $50,000 for $11 million; increase tax rate on public utilities and toll calls 1% for $14 million.

Three floors in Waterside Mall will be all art sales to the public and performances from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30, as Art-O-Matic brings hundreds of artists and performers to Southwest.

When the 2000 Art-O-Matic was held in the former Hechinger’s store at Tenleytown, the Washington Post used such headlines as, "700 Artists Fill A Void That Retail Can’t", "Art-O-Matic: A Visual Feast For Roving Eyes," and "Art-O-Matic Creates A Collage Of Local Visions."

Former EPA offices on the second and third floor of the Mall (entrance outside at the corner of the plaza on the I (Eye) St. side) will be display space for hundreds of area painters, sculptors, photographers, and printmakers and performances by musicians, singers, poets, dancers and theater companies.

The second floor will have artists mostly from the Maryland suburbs. Third floor will have Virginia and D.C. artists.

The event is 5 days a week Aug. 31 – Nov. 30 afternoons and evenings. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Thanksgiving Day. FREE.

INSIDE

S.W. Community Calendar p. 2

Library Closes For 3 Mo. P. 2

Help Needed With Survey p. 2

Greenleaf Ext. Fixed Up p. 3

New Amidon Principal p. 3

Viking Cheerleaders p. 4

Adult BB Champions p. 4

Misanthrope at Arena Stage p. 6

August Wilson at Arena p. 6

Downstairs Play Readings p. 6

"S.W. Drama" in community p. 7

BWI & Dulles by Metro p. 7

Alzheimer’s Tips at NARFE p. 7

Sep. 10 Primary in S.W. p. 8

New ANC boundaries p. 8

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S.W. Community Calendar Oct.-Nov. 2002

Sat. Oct. 19 Church Breakfast open to public $5, Christ Methodist Church, 4^th & I (Eye) St. S.W. 9 am-11am

Mon. Oct. 21 ANC Public meeting, Westminster Presbyterian Church,400 I (Eye) St. S.W. 7:30 pm

Tues. Oct. 22, SW Chamber Players, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 6^th & Maine Ave. S.W. 7:30 pm

Wed. Oct. 23 4^th St. Group meets at Tiber Island 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 23 WWCA Harbor Patrol 600 Water St. S.W. 7:30 pm – 9pm

Thurs. Oct. 24 NARFE, Place to be announced 12:30 p.m.

Thurs. Oct. 24 PSA 110 on crime, Second Union Baptist Church, 1107 Delaware Ave. S.W., 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Mon. Oct. 28 Southwest Neighborhood Assembly public meeting, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W., 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Nov. 3 Jazz Vespers $15 Christ United Methodist Church, 900 4^th St. S.W. 5 p.m., with reception following.

Mon. Nov. 4 SWNA Board at Waterside Mall office, 7 pm

Tues. Nov. 5 Police Citizens Advisory Council, 415 4^th St. S.W. 7 pm

Wed. Nov. 6 Deadline for Southwester stories for Dec. issue. 554-8560.

Mon. Nov. 18 ANC public meeting, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I (Eye) St. S.W., 7 pm

Wed. Nov. 20 AARP, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W. 12 pm

WEEKLY & BIWEEKLY MEETINGS

Komen Toastmasters, First & Third Saturdays – Place to be announced 10 am

Fil-Am Toastmaster Second and Fourth Wed. – Place to be announced, 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. Nov. 6 to 554-8560..

(caption)

Marcus Ellis, director of King-Greenleaf Recreation Center, explained the center’s program at an SWNA meeting.

S.W. Branch Library Closes For 3 Months

Until January 31, 2003, the Southwest Branch Library at K St. S.W. will be closed for refurbishing.

Book drops in front of the building will be open and checked every day for those returning books.

The staff will be reassigned to other branches for that time. Nearest branch libraries are SE Library, 7^th & D St. S.E. (698-3377) next to the Eastern Market subway stop; and NE Library, 330 – 7^th St NE (698-3320)

Help Design A Survey On Waterside Mall

The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly is looking for volunteers that have experience designing public opinion surveys to help design an independent survey of Southwest residents on issues dealing with the redevelopment of Waterside Mall. If you are available to help, please call 554-8560 and leave your name and phone number.

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Landscaping At Greenleaf Extension

After years of barren paved courtyards with auto parking, Greenleaf Extension is seeing the results of efforts by local residents to get new landscaping.

Although the sod hasn’t been installed for lawns, in these pictures, new sidewalks are joining houses and fencing will be installed.

(caption) A few years ago The Southwester ran this picture of a typical scene in parts of Greenleaf Extension. Now work is being done by the D.C. Housing Authority and its Rock Creek Region to remove eyesores and bring beauty to the neighborhood.

Mr. Goudeaux Is New Principal At Amidon ES

By Rick Bardach

The former assistant principal at the Peabody/Watkins cluster on Capitol Hill is the new principal at Amidon ES.

This year Amidon has 450 students – maximum capacity. The 50 staff members teach 22 classes, pre-K thru 6^th grade.

Amidon no longer has an after-school program, but Mr. Goudeaux hopes to have soccer, flag-footbals, chess, among the school’s extra-curricular activities.

Mr. Goudeaux lives in the LeDroit Park area of NW, D.C. His one son attends Jefferson Jr.

(caption)

Mr. Goudeaux, new principal at Amidon Elementary School.

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(CAPTION)

Viking cheerleaders for MPB&G Club #4 perform at Saturday games.

Adult Champs

Adult summer league basketball champions are (left to right in back): Coach Dino Roach, Dave Carson, Avery Norris, Calvin Turner, Kevin Patterson, with Donnell Hansberry in front

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Misanthrope At Arena Stage

Wallace Babington 
 The 17^th century is alive and well on the stage at Arena these days. Moliere’s comedy is a welcome addition to Arena’s schedule this season – a season dominated by the contemporary American theater. And what a grand, entertaining production it is. There are many reasons for seeing it. Among the most prominent is the opportunity to watch Michael Emerson bring the role of Alceste to life in all it’s humor, farce and depth. And there is depth to this role. We tend to see mainly the ridiculous posturing of all the play’s characters – but most notably the silly, fastidious Alceste. But there is more to this character than we usually encounter, if we only look for the comic. As with all good comedy, there is an underlying seriousness to Alceste. He faces a problem that is as current today as it was in Moliere’s time: To what extent should we accept society’s rules of courtesy and accommodation? And when does conformity slip over into spinelessness and the denial of principle? Mr. Emerson is wonder to behold on stage. He develops a character of complexity and intricacy. His performance is a true tour de force.

There are many other reasons to see this production. The language is a joy to behold. It’s poetic – almost like music. A translation that is truly worthy of the French text. You could close your eyes – listen to the words – and have a rich, rewarding evening at the theater. But open your eyes to see costumes that are extravagant and lavish. The set is appropriate to the mood and tenor of the play (however, one chandelier would have been enough – seven seems excessive).

The Misanthrope by Moliere. At Arena Stage in the Fichandler through November 3.  

Playwright August Wilson Visits Arena Stage

On Mon. Nov. 4 at 7 pm, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson will be on a panel at Arena Stage in the Kreeger Theater in the first of a new series called the Think Tank, a new programming initiative of roundtable discussions that will highlight issues surrounding two Arena Stage productions. This first discussion will center on The Business of Art: Artistic Control and Financial Benefit coinciding with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Besides Wilson, panelists will be Lloyd Dangle, President of the Graphics Artists Guild; and Tazewell Thompson, director of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Through their combined experiences and training, local and national expert panelists will discuss the intricacies and significance within artistic community.

A second program is planned for May 19.

Play Readings At Arena Stage

New play development kicks off another season at Arena Stage with the third season of downstairs in the Old Vat Room. Starting October 17, Arena Stage’s downstairs fall festival, firstglance will showcase three weekends of new play readings, all at 8 pm.

Three Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights will share their latest works with Arena Stage audiences. Wendy Wasserstein, known for The Heidi Chronicles and American Daughter, will present her latest work Mighty Myths on Sun. Oct. 20. Beth Henley’s (Crimes of the Heart) latest work Exposed, (Fri. Oct. 25) tells the story of five separate lives brought together during the Winter Solstice in a modern day Los Angeles. Robert Schenkkan’s (The Kentucky Cycle) new work, The Marriage of Miss Hollywood and King Neptune, (Sat. Oct. 26) focuses on how actors, agents and the mob compete for their own success in Hollywood

For the other five readings, Arena Stage continues to recognize emerging playwrights in American theater. Brown University MFA graduate Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, (Thurs. Oct. 17) is a surrealist piece based on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. Craig Wright presents a lyrical monologue honoring the memory of poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay and early 1900s rural America, Adventures While Preaching the Gospel of Beauty (Fri. Oct. 18). Hip Hop Theater’s foremost artist and scholar Rickerby Hinds brings his play, Blackballin’ (Sat. Oct. 19) an insightful, highly theatrical discourse on the history of racism inherent in the athletic arenas of America. Jerome Hairston, a recent graduate of the Columbia University’s MFA playwriting program will showcase his newest work, Method Skin, (Fri. Nov. 1) a discourse on the development of passion, mingling the themes of love and theater in a bitingly intelligent and honest script. A Los Angeles based playwright, Annie Weisman’s newest work, Hold Please, (Sat. Nov. 2) is a humorous look at the changing world of office politics.

Leading the downstairs program is director Wendy C. Goldberg in her third season as an Artistic Associate at Arena Stage. Arena Stage directing credits include On the Jump, K2 and this season’s Book of Days. Additional directing credits include Be Aggressive, Tape (Contemporary American Theater Festival) Oleanna (Source Theater Company) Life in Refusal and Tomorrowland at Theater J, as well as new play development programs at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, the Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Women’s Project and New Dramatists.

(caption)

Arena Stage’s Artistic Associate Wendy Goldberg, (photos by Scott Suchman)

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Arena Stage Brings Drama To Neighborhood

Arena Stage is bringing its talented staff into the Southwest schools and neighborhood.

Under the umbrella name "Southwest Drama," Arena Stage will have special programs at Southeastern University and Jefferson Jr. High and will offer speakers to adult groups to talk about an Arena show and its themes.

An after-school teen drama program will meet once a week to teach writing and performing.

The theatre is looking for college students who would like to have an internship in theatre arts.

Contacts are Laura Zam, director of education, 202-234-5782 and Maya Robinson, intern coordinator, 202-554-9066.

(caption)

Laura Zam, top, and Maya Robinson described Arena Stage’s outreach programs at an SWNA meeting.

BWI & Dulles by Metro

By Peter Fischer

There’s good news for SW travelers who have a flight to catch at BWI Airport. If you are traveling light, Metro now offers you a cheap - $4.10 - and relatively hassle-free option to getting there and back by subway and bus.

Take the Green Line train from Waterfront to Greenbelt station and connect to Metrobus B 30. The train takes about 35 minutes and costs $2.10. The bus takes 30 minutes and costs $2.

At Greenbelt station B 30 leaves for BWI at 40 minute intervals, starting a t 6:10 am on weekdays and 8:40 am on weekends.

One disadvantage is that the B 30 bus does not go to BWI’s domestic terminal, but stops at the far end of the airport in from of the International Terminal.

Now that the Washington Flyer buses have stopped operating from downtown DC to Dulles Airport, the 5A bus direct from Southwest to Dulles is an attractive Metro option. 5A leaves from LeEnfant Plaza (on D St. between 6^th and 7^th St. S.W) every hour on the half hour. Although it makes two stops in Virginia, it still gets you to Dulles in less than an hour for $1.10.

Call METRO at 637-7000 and press 5 to talk to an agent for the times best for your trip.

NARFE Gets Tips On Alzheimer’s

A speaker at the monthly meeting of S.W. NARFE gave out material on research findings on memory loss, ways to communicate with an Alzheimer’s patient, and things to expect, such as agitated behavior.

(caption)

A speaker at NARFE, described her distressing experiences with a family member with Alzheimer’s disease.

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Primary Results In S.W. Precincts

By Sarah Livingston

Of the 6,303 registered voters in Near Southwest (Precincts 127 and 128) 2,241, or about a third, turned out to cast ballots in the Sep. 10 primary.

City-wide, with 301,593 registered and 104,001 casting ballots, the percentage was about the same – 34.48%.

Mayor Anthony Williams received 1,452 write-in votes from Southwest voters, to 435 for Rev. Willie Wilson, his main Democratic opponent. Three voted for Marion Barry.

With 1,326 votes for Ward 6 council incumbent Sharon Ambrose in the two S.W. precincts, she led her nearest opponent, Keith A. Perry, who had 798. At-Large Council incumbent Phil Mendelson received 1,056 S.W. votes, to 525 for Beverly Wilbourn, his nearest opponent. In the Democratic primary. Council Chair Linda Cropp was unopposed in the primary and received 1,892 votes in S.W., according to the unofficial canvas on Sep. 21.

ANC Has New SMD Boundaries

A map of the new boundaries for the single member districts of the SW/SE Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D is shown here.

Before the November election when ANC candidates will be on the ballot, each voter receives in the mail a voter’s card that states the single member district in which the voter lives.

Then, for example, on Nov. 5 a voter living on G St. west of 4^th St. S.W. is in SMD 6D01, and will receive a ballot at the polls listing ANC candidates living in that area from which the voter can choose..

The main differences in this map compared with two years ago are:

• A large area by the Navy Yard east of S. Capitol St. has been added to the local ANC
• Single member districts 6D02 and 6D03 have swapped some territory. Residents of Town Center East and 800 – 4^th St. S.W. are now in 6D03 and residents of 201 I (Eye) St. S.W. are now in 6D02

Book Fair At State Dept.

Several Southwest residents are again helping with the annual book fair Sat. & Sun. Oct. 19-20; 26-27, 10am-4 pm at the U.S. Dept. of State building – C St. N.W., between 21^st & 23^rd. Foggy Bottom Metro.

Baby Sitting Classes

Safe Sitter classes, sponsored by the S.W. Youth Activities Task Force, will be held Sat., Dec. 7 and Sat. Dec. 14 from 10 am to 2 pm in the office of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, I (Eye) St. side of Waterside Mall.

Registration is $10. Lunch will be provided.

Parents wishing to register their son or daughter ages 11 to 13 should call the Safe Sitter Instructor, Thelma Jones, at 202-488-3746.