Every Tuesday and Thursday Friday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

ustreetnews
bgsmith122 is fed up with gang shootings, and he is almost as fed up with superficial police work. Despite a pair of homicides in the neighborhood, he writes, the cops aren’t doing much to make the neighborhood safe. They haven’t checked out a tip on a car that drug dealers were using, and they haven’t come near to ending “this little ‘gang war.’” They have, however, put up spotlights. “The lights do NOTHING but push the crime one one block away in every direction,” he writes. One went up 7th and Q Streets NW, but three drug deals happened nearby without interference, the poster reports.

TakomaDC
The Lamond Recreation Center has been open for only four months, but shawn_mc_carthy dropped by and found the doors locked. A sign read, “Closed Until Further Notice.” “This does not sound like a small thing,” he writes. “’Until further notice’ has a certain permanence to it.…Also, I’ve noticed that the fitness room has had a broken, out-of-order weight machine since October, and I’ve watched dirt pile up under and around the Cardio equipment without a thorough cleaning for many weeks.” ginadouglas replies that she heard something was wrong with the gym floor. Alonzo Patterson of the Department of Parks and Recreation confirms the rumor. He doesn’t say when the center will reopen.

HillcrestDC
Thieves are into remodeling: hbv25_kathy hired workers to fix up her house. When they began carrying in their tools, a chop saw and two hammers vanished from the truck.

On the morning of Nov. 11, Yvonne Smith was driving through Hillcrest on her way to work at the Metropolitan Police Department. Along the 2200 block of Branch Avenue, an orange dump truck belonging to the Department of Public Works pulled out in front of her. Smith was shocked to see a legless, busty mannequin wearing a racy black top strapped to the truck’s grille.

This wasn’t the first time that someone has found a DPW driver’s aftermarket adornment to be tasteless. Two weeks ago, another resident saw a garbage truck displaying a Dora the Explorer doll like a roadkill trophy. That resident couldn’t catch the truck’s license-plate number, but Smith was more determined: She made a U-turn, wrote down its tags, and then called the city to report it.

“I was offended because of all the issues we have about domestic violence,” says Smith. “And because of the big boobs and the little top the mannequin was wearing, it was in my opinion a form of sexual harassment against the neighborhood.”

Smith was transferred around DPW, but no one seemed to take her complaint seriously. When Smith, a Prince George’s County resident, got to work, she went onto the Hillcrest Internet group and recounted what she had seen. Within an hour, the truck had been located, the mannequin had been removed, and a DPW supervisor had phoned Smith to apologize for the incident and promise that disciplinary action would be taken against the offenders.

DPW spokesperson Mary Myers says that while the employees were told in no uncertain terms that such behavior was unacceptable, the agency doesn’t break down what is and what isn’t appropriate for drivers to put on their trucks. “I don’t think an incident like this has ever come up,” she says. “We don’t have anything specific on mannequins.”

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

AdamsMorgan
The AdamsMorgan listserv went unmoderated at the end of October. Since then, writes Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, there’s been rioting in the (virtual) streets. “[I]f someone doesn’t act soon, the same fate will occur here as has occurred in other ward one list serves,” Graham writes. “People just drop off, out of reaction and disinterest. Before you know it, its just a hand full of people—some entirely outside of the neighborhood and even the city—going at each other.” Graham’s attempt to play sheriff generated 18 responses between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, some lauding his boldness and others wishing he’d keep his mouth shut. By its end, the discussion degenerated into accusations (”you are rather combative”) and shouts (”THIS IS THE POINT”). Graham, for the record, spoke out only after a Nov. 28 post compared him to Saddam Hussein.

HillcrestDC
Some menacing element has tagged garage doors, tried to steal a van, and even nabbed Christmas ornaments from a front lawn. Paul reminds his neighbors to beware the Grinch: “We are now in the Holiday Season which means that these CROOKS AND CRIMINALS WILL BE WORKING OVERTIME.” He identifies the culprit’s sleigh as a red Taurus with Virginia tags.

newhilleast
During the last nights of November, the neighborhood was kept awake by the noise of construction from the river. Jennifer asked, “Does anyone now what or where the loud rhyhtmic pounding sound is?” Another Jennifer responded: “We were checking out the Anacostia trail on our bikes this morning and ran across the pile drivers that we all heard last night. It was at the very end of the trail, near the cemetery, and it looked like they were working on the railroad bridge.” Kevin asked if a “local politician” could check into it. Peter Jones, Ward 6’s neighborhood services coordinator, took up the challenge. He found that CSX had contracted workers to repair the bridge starting at 4 a.m. until midnight. Since the land is federal, the work doesn’t require a city permit. But the contractors promised Jones they would work only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. While other posters thanked Jones, David chose to vent: “My suspicion about the apparent failure to secure a building (sic) permit and the odd middle-of-the-night pile driving are related to the several issues AGAINST CSX continuing to run freight trains through the city rather than around the city.”

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

HillcrestDC
In Ward 7, some residents seem concerned that Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty’s transition team won’t include east-of-the-river neighborhoods in their future plans. Trish contacted the Fenty team to find out if any members from Wards 7 or 8. “Mr. Clarke was only able to provide me with one name,” she writes. “He said that this information was not obtained when initially asking for participants for the various transition committees.” Lucy was disturbed that the town hall meeting for Ward 7 was held during the Thanksgiving holiday week, as she couldn’t attend. “Can this be done with more notice and not 2 days before Thanksgiving?” she writes. “I am very interested in attending but have already made other plans that include getting ready for Thanksgiving.” Lucy took the scheduling snafu as a slight: “Either this is a purely male driven idea or real public participation is not wanted,” she wrote. But according to Trish, what turned into a scheduling mishap was originally intended as an ego stroke for residents like Lucy. “I further inquired as to why the transition meeting for Wards 7 and 8 were scheduled for the holiday week,” Trish writes. “[Mr. Clarke] responded that the thinking was to have East of the River first so that they would not feel slighted.”

Brookland
In Brookland, Roomforrent’s neighbor’s dog is driving her crazy. A self-professed “dog lover,” she says that her new neighbors let their dog out at sometimes at 5:30 a.m., and the dog won’t stop barking until they let it back in. “The owners do NOTHING to curtail this behavior,” she writes. “This morning the dog has been barking NON-STOP for 20 minutes. It finally tired out but will undoubtedly get a second wind and start again.” Roomforrent’s husband was thinking of confronting the neighbors, when Heather offered this tidbit. “There is something called Bark Free,” Heather writes. “Every time a dog barks within certain amount of feet from the device it will emit an ultrahigh pitch sound when the dog barks. So the dog then learns that when it barks the annoying sound occurs and it stops. It may sound cruel to some but if you are dealing with truly irresponsible dog owners with no regard for neighborhood peace then I’d check into it.”

ustreetnews
When Shar, a resident of 12th Place NW, peered into her alley one morning, something was missing. “Someone has cut back trees/plants that spilled over my fence into the alley way,” she writes. “They also butchered my lilac tree which gently leans into the alley—as it happens, the lilac is way past it’s prime, but I’m distressed that someone would feel free to cut back a tree that is in my garden quite haphazardly without asking me.” Perturbed that her foliage had been pruned without her permission, Shar wanted to know who was so offended by her plants. But when one of her tactless neighbors had the skinny on what happened to her trees, he unwittingly sparked a conversation on web etiquette. “Welcome to the city,” Clyde started. “In case you are not aware allow me to enlighten you on the law. Foliage growing into public space (alley or sidewalk) can be cut by the city with or without your permission.…Therefore, it behooves one to trim their foliage before it is trimmed for them.” “Holy condescension!” Renee wrote in. “What’s up with being such a jerk to your neighbors? Why not nicely respond or not at all?”

Every Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

cleveland-park
It’s no secret that Cleveland Park parents often go beyond the call of duty for their children. There’s Laine, who’s looking for “high recommendations (or warnings) about co-ed sleepaway camps…for a boy who’s not a jock, but great at rocketry, web design, water sports, archery.” There’s Gilah, who seeks “a drum set for my 10-year-old future rock star.” Victoria is “ISO Indoor Soccer League for 12-year-old boys.” And then there are Pete and Beth who are looking for “Any soccor opportunities for a 2-1/2 boy - very fast, understands kicking and dribbling well (a little young for the concept of ‘passsing’ and ‘give-and-go’ plays)- but hoping the passing will come quickly while playing with other kids as a team or group.”

HillcrestDC
Kathy reports that a neighborhood police officer performed two civic duties on Election Day. “Our own Officer Cunningham caught an armed robber Tuesday night when he was returning home from voting (Cunningham was voting, not the robber!),” she writes. “A car being driven erratically happened to cross in front of Cunningham around 33rd and Camden, almost hitting Cunningham’s cruiser. Cunningham chased and caught him. Turns out the driver and his passenger had just committed armed robbery in PG County at a check-cashing store.…The passenger escaped (but may be caught by now). There were piles on money in the car, and a witness from PG County came out and identified the robber.…One can’t help but wonder why someone who just committed armed robbery would attract attention by driving crazy. Not rocket scientists.”

AdamsMorgan
Since the holiday season starts after Halloween these days, 17-year-old Brian Wong offers some advice for shoppers. “Because stores will be crowded during holidays seasons, it is in my best experience that one does shopping online or ask their loved ones in advance for their gift wish list,” he writes. “For example, my birthday is Wednesday, August 16, 1989. My grandmother could ask me on August 19, what do you want for Christmas. I tell her. Come September, she goes out and purchases it. Then when it comes Christmas shopping season, she doesn’t have to brave the long lines and high prices, regardless online or in person. Then after Christmas come September the following year, she asks me again. Then the routine would come again. My grandmother doesn’t really do this. I am sure she would, given how financially conservative my maternal grandparents are.”

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

Brookland
A California transplant needs roach advice. “For the last month, every week or so I have been finding three or so beetle looking things in my bathroom,” she writes. “Yesterday, I turned on my oven and 15 or so of the little beetle things came running out from the small gap between my counter and my oven and maybe 5 HUGE roaches ran out after them! Will they multiply and take over my condo? Is it a terrible idea to let them live in their crack?” Yes, residents respond. They suggest roach poison, boric acid, baking soda, and keeping a spotless kitchen—just don’t cede any ground to the harbingers of decay. “Roaches are not live and let live creatures,” writes a former New Yorker. “You just have to get rid of them.

shepherdpark
From assorted 4th District police reports: Sibling rivalry is a bitch: “[Complainant 1] REPORTS BEING INVOLVED IN A VERBAL DISPUTE, [Suspect 1] THEN BECAME ENRAGED AND HIT C1 IN THE FACE WITH AN AXE. THIS CAUSED A LACERATION TO THE LEFT SIDE OF C1′S FACE. C1 AND S1 ARE BROTHERS.” Now, Borf—there was an artist: [Complainant 1] REPORTS THAT UNKNOWN SUSPECT PUSHED OUT THE REAR BASEMENT WINDOW OF THE LISTED LOCATION. THE UNKNOWN SUSPECT THEN ENTERED THE LOCATION AND SPRAY PAINTED THE INTERIOR WALLS WITH THE WORD “BITCH.” Next idea—sell ice to Eskimos: [Complainant 1] REPORTS THAT [Suspect 1] CAME TO C1 DOOR AND ASKED IF C1 WOULD LIKE TO BUY A PLANT. C1 REFUSED. AS S1 LEFT THE LOCATION, S1 GRABBED A PLANT FROM THE FRONT OF C1′S HOME AND FLED.

HillcrestDC
What’s in a name? That’s what one resident wonders as he muses about the negative stereotypes associated with the moniker “east of the river.” “’East Washington’ has been a vernacular that has now seeped into the conscienciouness of many,” he writes. “Therefore, I ask, is it time that the East of the River magazine change its name, perhaps to something like East Washington News?” “This is total bs,” Orandra Cotton replies. “If these people are so disgusted and disturbed about living in SE-DC than they all should just move to another side of town. I assume they made a conscious decision to move to southeast- East of the River…what we need to be focusing on is how we as a collective community are going to move forward and rid ourselves of the growing thug mentality of our children who are terrorizing each other and eventually the adult population with their barbaric acts of violence.”

For the past six years, Hillcrest residents have donated their time to sprucing up Twining Park, a triangle park along Pennsylvania Avenue SE owned by the National Park Service. Near the end of May, the Park Service drops off about 50 flats of salvia, marigolds, black-eyed Susans, Shasta lilies, dahlias, and Canna lilies, and residents plant them.

Not this year. The flowers have yet to appear, and when Kathy Chamberlain, vice president of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association, called to find out why, she learned that there weren’t any. Someone was supposed to have ordered them in the fall, and he didn’t. So this past weekend, Chamberlain and a few neighbors dug into their own pockets and scoured the local nurseries for replacements, coming up with five flats of vincas, begonias, and petunias, a far cry from the usual haul. “It’s their park,” Chamberlain says. “They just fell down on the job without any explanation. I honestly don’t think we in Southeast get the attention that the parks on Capitol Hill get.”

Spokesperson Bill Line says the Park Service has no record of anyone calling to inquire about the flowers.

The flower beds are noticeably sparser than previous years, and if more plantings were made this late in the season, fewer would survive. Chamberlain says the neighborhood will probably make the switch to perennials this fall. “Even though they’re not as colorful, they’ll be more permanent and reduce the labor necessary for upkeep,” she says.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we run down what’s going on in local Internet discussion groups.

CherrydaleCitizens
No amount of neighborhood-pride parades or new developments named “Bromptons” can undo the damage done this week to North Arlington’s quaint façade. “Believe it or not, when driving back to work on Lee Highway after my exterminator appointment today, I saw a rat jump/fall out of a dump truck and run up the road, in front of Cherrydale Motors,” says one woman. And a man writes in to say he’s spotted larger unwanted animals in Cherry Valley Park: A homeless guy is living in the woods. “The police have been notified,” the man reports. “Those guys get all the good camping spots,” says a follow-up poster.

metromusicscene
Local band Los Pimpos gives a bitch slap to the status quo by putting out a call for new vocalist and lead guitarist. “After a solid 2 year run Los Pimpos is ready to reinvent itself in 2006,” writes frederick_house, who is presumably a member of the “Jamiroquai, DMB, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sublime, 2 Skinnee J’s, Outkast, Steely Dan and Phish“–influenced group. But not just anybody is welcome to step up with the Illin’ Ones at their gigs at Zigs and Baltimore’s Hard Rock Cafe. Quality Number 4 in the Pimpos handbook for auditioners mandates that “You drink 40s on stage and start every show by pouring one out for your homies (not to be confused with ‘pulling one out’ for your homies…that’s just gay).” Gay like homosexual, not gay like the band’s song “KY (In Ya’ Brown Eye),” given text but sadly no sound on the Pimpos’ delicious Web site: “So have another drink we’ll laugh ‘til we’re delirious/I’ll be the hamster, you be Richard Geerious” and “I’m like a storm tropper when I’m heading for your pooper.”

Ward7
There’s a proper way to handle public urinations. Conveying emotion too strong for the confines of proper capitalization, Hillcrest resident Paul Savage unleashes on a group of people who piddled in front of his house. “THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO US! IT APPEARS TO US THAT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNEMT OFFICIALS STARTING WITH DPR DIRECTOR KIMBERLEY FLOWERS SEEM TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO INSULT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS IN HILLCREST AND ANC7B IN WARD 7!” That spurred poster Trish to offer a neat solution to future defacers of Savageland. “I once caught a man doing that near the corner store,” writes Trish. “I then loudly called him out and suggested that he do that against his mother’s house. He quickly stopped, zipped up and walked swiftly away.”

3DSubstation
And then there are improper ways to handle public pissers, as this crime report makes clear: “An assault occurred on the 3500 blk of 13th St Nw at approximately 3:13 pm. Complainant reports that he told an unknown suspect not to urinate behind his apartment suspect became angry and pulled out a hatchet from under his shirt. Suspect chased complainant. There were no injuries to complainant and suspect was placed under arrest. Case closed with the arrest of Wilbert Jackson.”