Evans Addresses 

Downtown Residents 

 Evans addresses residents at the 1150 K Street condos.

Councilmember Evans recently attended several Ward 2 neighborhood meetings, including the annual meeting of the 1150 K Street Condominium.

"These residents clearly love living in the center of everything," said Evans, "although living downtown does have some special challenges. I have always supported residential development in the downtown area and will continue to work with my downtown constituents to make sure that we tackle any issues they may have."

Evans discussed several of these challenges, including the need for residential parking in a largely commercial area and potential incentives for condominiums that make environmentally friendly upgrades to their buildings. Evans agreed to assist with the relocation of a 'Do Not Enter' sign on 10th Street and updated residents on recent legislative developments on the Council.

Sherri Kimbel is Evans' Director of Constituent Services.

Marriott Marquis
Headquarters Hotel
to Hold Pre-Bid Meeting 

Hensel Phelps Construction Company, the general contractor and construction manager for the Marriott Marquis Headquarters hotel, invites contractors and vendors to join them at their pre-bid meeting on November 29 from 4:00pm-6:00pm in Room 130 A/B of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  Hensel Phelps will have principals on hand to review the scope of work and reiterate their Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) & workforce goals for the project.  Bid packages went out on November 18 and are due by December 13. 

The current round of bids includes work in the areas of: stone flooring and paneling, stone countertops, miscellaneous metals, ornamental metals and stairs, rough carpentry, monumental millwork (pre-qualified), back of house millwork, joint sealers, interior glazing, drywall, tiling, acoustical paneling, carpet & resilient flooring, painting and wall coverings, building specialties (division 10-12), and FF&E installation.

"This project offers a great deal of opportunity for our local businesses," said Evans. "I hope that our qualified contractors and vendors will come and learn about them at this pre-bid meeting."

For additional information, please contact James Harper at Hensel Phelps Construction Company at 202-717-8420 x 222.

Windy Abdul-Rahim is Evans' Shaw liaison.  

Foggy Bottom and the District of Columbia lost one of its longest and most ardent residents earlier this month with the passing of John Charlton "Jack" Batham. Jack was born in Iowa on June 6, 1922, but moved to Washington, DC, attended George Washington University, and spent his entire adult life here. A former vice president of Riggs National Bank in the Trust Department, Jack lived for more than 60 years at his home on F Street, NW near George Washington University. He was active in both civic and charitable associations.

"Foggy Bottom and its residents are better because of Jack's civic involvement," Evans said. "I honestly cannot imagine the West End Citizens Association without Jack presiding. He worked constantly to improve his neighborhood and city and will be missed."

The family requests donations be made to the Foggy Bottom Feeding Program, 522 21st Street, NW Apt 401, Washington, DC 20006, or to a charity of choice. A memorial service will be held and hosted by Sigma Chi fraternity in DC at a date yet to be determined.

This holiday season, don't let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars, muggers, and pickpockets a better chance to do their dirty work. Crooks love the holidays as much as anyone, especially because it's an opportune time for crime.

Here are some tips on how to celebrate safely this holiday season:

If You Are Traveling:

Get an automatic timer for your lights.

Ask a neighbor to watch your home, shovel snow, and park in the driveway from time to time.

Don't forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped. If it piles up, it's a sure sign you're gone.

If You Are Out for the Evening:

Turn on lights and a radio or TV so it looks like someone's home.

Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave, even if it's just for a few minutes.

Don't display gifts where they can be seen from outside.

If You Are Shopping:

Stay alert and be aware of what's going on around you.

Park in a well-lighted space, and be sure to lock the car, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.

Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don't overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.

Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated.

Protect Your Vehicle:

Loading up on all those gifts is a sign of progress in the holiday shopping. But if those packages are left out in the open after they're in the car, your car has become a likely target for thieves.

Remember the old cliché "Out of sight, out of mind?" The same idea applies to items in your car.

Always lock your vehicle and store all items out of sight. Breaking into an empty car isn't worth a thief's time. However, anything left in plain view - from your holiday gifts to spare change, sunglasses, CDs, cell phones or briefcases - may tempt a thief.

Help prevent your vehicle from being stolen by always locking your car and using anti-theft devices. And although it's cold, never leave your vehicle running while you run inside your home or a store - even if for only a minute or two.

If a Stranger Comes to the Door:

Criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts. And it's not uncommon for people to try to take advantage of others' generosity during the holidays by going door-to-door for charitable donations when there's no charity involved. Ask for identification, and find out how the funds will be used. If you aren't satisfied, don't give. Help a charitable organization you know and like instead.

After You've Opened the Gifts:

Burglars know that many households have new, and oftentimes expensive, items in their homes following the December holidays - especially items such as new computers and peripherals, stereo components, televisions, cameras and other electronic equipment. In too many cases, residents make it easy for burglars to figure out which homes to target by putting boxes that identify their new gifts in plain view with their other garbage. Avoid becoming an easy target for post-holiday burglars by not leaving boxes for new electronics and other items in the alley or other garbage pick-up locations for several days at a time. Think about keeping broken-down boxes inside - in a garage, for example - until the evening before your regular garbage and recycling pick-up. Some burglars actually look inside garbage cans for evidence of holiday gifts. Of course, if you see someone suspicious casing your alley, call 9-1-1.

Take a Holiday Inventory:

The holidays are a good time to update-or create-your home inventory. Take photos or make videos of items, and list descriptions and serial numbers. If your home is burglarized, having a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items and make insurance claims easier to file.  

Make sure things like TVs, DVD players, stereo equipment, cameras, sports equipment, jewelry, computers, home office equipment, and power tools are on the list. Remember to check it twice!

Celebrate Responsibly:

The holiday season is a time of celebration and revelry. Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone on the road. Anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is in violation of DC law and may go to jail. Remember that the risk isn't worth it-if you choose to drink alcohol at a party, don't drive. Take a cab, use public transportation or a designated driver, or call SoberRide (800-200-TAXI), a free cab service in DC and the surrounding area active from the middle of December through January 1.  

Have fun, but remember to celebrate responsibly.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) announced this week how services will be affected in observance of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24.

Trash and Recycling Collections:

There will be no trash and recycling collections on Thanksgiving Day. These collections will "slide" to the next day. Thursday's collections will be made Friday, and Friday's collections will be made Saturday. This applies to both once-a-week and twice-a-week collection neighborhoods. Trash and recycling containers should be put out for collection no earlier than 6:30pm the night before collection and removed from public space by 8:00pm on the collection day.

Parking Enforcement:

Parking meters will not be in effect. Residential parking and rush hour lane restrictions will not be enforced. Parking enforcement will resume on Friday, November 25.

Ft. Totten:

The Ft. Totten Transfer Station, located at 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE, will be closed Thursday, November 24. It will be open Friday, November 25 from 1:00pm-5:00pm for residents to bring bulk trash.

Leaf Collections:

Leaf collections will be made from most "Area B" neighborhoods between Monday, November 21, and Saturday, December 3 (including Thanksgiving Day). DPW is following the collection schedule published in the leaf collection brochure mailed to households that receive DPW trash/recycling collections. Area B residents should rake their leaves into their treebox by Sunday, November 20 to ensure their leaves are ready when the crews come to collect between November 21 and December 3.

Sherri Kimbel is Evans' DPW liaison.