Thank you to all the Veterans and their families. Your service is not forgotten.
quality of life
Photo by PoPville flickr user blueiris2006
Dear PoPville,
I am a resident of Cleveland Park. Last night after hopping off the bus, I was approached by a woman who explained to me that she had been in a car accident, her car had been towed, she lives in Stafford, VA, and is newly employed at the National Zoo in communications. After a long back and forth with me about her situation, which included having recently moved here from Atlanta, people at work and in the city not being friendly, her mother being a cop without a cell phone number she was “allowed to have”, her daughter being stuck in daycare in Stafford, and not knowing anyone in the city, she asked me for $140 to take a 2 hr. cab ride home to VA.
I know in writing this whole thing sounds ridiculous, and anyone would have said no and walked away, but I felt terrible. She was crying, and genuinely seemed lost and helpless. I suggested several alternatives, like asking her daughter’s daycare to foot the bill for the cab (especially since she pays them every day to take care of her daughter), but she insisted the nanny would not comply. After I kindly refused to give her the total sum, she asked for any cash towards a ride home. She even offered to let me pay the cab driver directly, and give me her ss# to track her down at her work tomorrow! She was even wearing a work badge! Still, something didn’t feel right, so I apologized again and went on my way. She closed our conversation with some mention of knowing that there are other good Christians like her out there who would be willing to give her the money, and that I’m the one who will have to live with this.
I noticed as I was walking away that she had immediately approached another young woman to explain her situation to new ears. I am wondering – did anyone else speak to her last night in Cleveland Park? Did anyone give her any money? I am feeling guilty but of course did not want to be naive and give cash to a stranger. Thoughts?
Thanks to a reader for sending the video from outside Metro Center yesterday morning.
A reader finds a turtle wedged between his lawn mower and AC unit in upper Petworth.
Turtle understandably freaks out a little:
Good Samaritan releases a very thirsty turtle that drinks for 10 straight minutes:
Then off for a leisurely swim:
Thanks to the reader for documenting the adventure. And farewell turtle.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC
Dear PoPville,
There is a man in our neighborhood who walks his pit bull daily up and down our street with no leash. The dog hasn’t attacked a person or another animal as of yet, so that’s not the immediate issue (we’ll save that for another day). The problem is that the owner allows his dog to crap anywhere and doesn’t even attempt to clean it up. Now let me clarify; when I say anywhere, I mean anywhere, which includes people’s yards, the middle of the sidewalk, and even people’s front stoop steps! This is no small dog and thus no small load of crap. It’s absolutely disgusting! This issue was recently brought up at an HOA meeting and while everyone has seen the perpetrator at one point or another, no one has seen him recently (though the crap out front lets us all know he’s around) and no one knows where he resides.
I’ve contacted 311 about this issue and was told to contact MPD (via 911) the next time he is seen so that they can issue him a ticket for walking the dog without a leash and failing to clean up after the dog. The problem is that 1) I think calling 911 over this issue is a bit extreme and 2) it’s highly unlikely that they’ll make it there in time to catch the guy. Should I call 911 and report these incidents anyway just so there’s a record of such transgressions or are there other alternatives that I could explore? Yes, I could stake out the front of my house and then have a conversation with the guy but since he seems so elusive at the moment, I need other alternatives while I continue to clean up dog crap from the yard and walkways. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Dear PoPville,
I live off the U Street corridor with my hubby and two kids–5 and 1 1/2. We had our pumpkins, that my daughter lovingly picked from a pumpkin patch, outside (not yet carved) inside of our small fenced in yard. Someone stole all 4 of our pumpkins in broad daylight. I was so upset, I put up a sign saying “To the person who stole our pumpkins, we have a very sad 5 year old. Please return them.” Jump to 8:30 pm, my doorbell rang.
There was a woman in a wheelchair–had to be in her 60s or 70s – who read our sign and was so upset, she went to the store to buy a pumpkin for my daughter!! A huge pumpkin! That this poor woman had to carry from the store in her wheelchair to our house! I was taken back by such a kind gesture. I told her I couldn’t accept, but she insisted, and I asked if I could please, please give her something (as I didn’t mean for someone ELSE to replace the pumpkins!) and she just said that I should do something nice for someone else.
My daughter told the story last night to her grandparents. When they asked if she knew who the woman was she said, “an angel.”
Thought it was amazing! Faith in humanity restored.
Awesome.
Johnna Rowe is the author of the great food blog Johnna Knows Good Food.
Living in DC for over 10 years now, I thought I knew everything there was to know about each and every neighborhood. Funny, but I found out just a little over a year ago how little I really know about this town. Having spent many of my years on Connecticut Avenue in the upper Northwest neighborhood of Vann Ness/UDC, I had developed the kind of comfort level that made me never want to leave that area. Quiet, young professionals everywhere and a few Metro stops from work…why would I ever leave?? That was my mindset until I began the house hunt in the District of Columbia.
For a little over a year, I visited every neighborhood in the District looking for my dream home. My journey began with my upper Northwest neighborhood but I soon got a tip to branch out my search to the Southwest quadrant of D.C. My reluctance stepped in because Southwest is still in the transition phases of becoming a more vibrant neighborhood. The minute I stepped in my new place, all of that reluctance went right out the window. Besides the bang for your buck, the neighborhood is close to practically every major destination in the city. The National Mall, The Wharf, Arena Stage and Eastern Market lie right at your fingertips.
There were so many pluses to living on Connecticut Avenue, but I soon found out Southwest has its own handful of wonderful new experiences in store. Offering a quiet, serene vibe where you are literally minutes away from the bustle of Downtown DC, the neighborhood has attracted residents from all cultures and ethnicities. Apparently, someone else sees my vision for this neighborhood because there is a massive renovation plan set in place for the Southwest waterfront in 2013.
At this point, I know I sound like a cheerleader flaunting the SW letters but I am truly in love with this quadrant. Perhaps it’s the nights I am walking from Downtown DC and look up to find The Capitol standing on my left hand side and the Washington Monument on my right. Perhaps it’s the tingly feeling I get when I realize I can walk to a Nats game and avoid the parking or Metro crowds. It could be a host of reasons, but one thing is for sure: I made the right decision.
If you’d like to share some love of your neighborhood – send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail with the ‘neighborhood love’ in the subject line.
From the Adams Morgan listserv:
Has anyone dealt with the issue of homeless folks straying onto their property, loitering, and otherwise taking care of their personal business. We live in a 24-unit building. My poor neighbor has had to resort to shoveling excrement to keep it from getting under our cars and our feet. It’s disgusting and it’s got to stop…
We’ve tried to talk to them, and most times they listen. But two of them sometimes get belligerent, and they almost all keep coming BACK!!
What are our legal options here? Would a restraining order work? Are there other legal things we could do?
Are there other things we can do at the back of the property to dissuade homeless (and for that matter drunk people) from using the area around our trash and recycling bins as public bathrooms? Does signage about monitoring or fines work?
We are at our wit’s end.
HELP!
Photo by PoPville reader Wayan
Dear PoPville,
Thank you Mr. Demolition Man for clearing out the rot and debris of 409 Varnum Street NW. An eyesore for a decade, then vacant for a year, you are a welcome sight to neighbors and the city at large. Sad will be the rodents and dealers, evicted from their squat as the community cheers. Pay no mind to those who bemoan change, it’s the only constant in the city, and you are the beneficial agent.