This is written to provide you with a friendly reminder of the upcoming meeting of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc. as well as to give you a sense of the issues that will be addressed in this forum. Please help us to spread the word to others about this monthly meeting and do make your best effort to attend. If you are willing to help with the circulation of flyers about this meeting, please let me know and I will get them to you.
Where: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church at 3rd and Q St NW
When: Monday Aug 3, 7pm
Speakers:
(a) As follow-up from last month’s discussion about our economic development concerns, I have asked the Ward Five Planner from the DC Office of Planning, Deborah Crain, to come out to talk about the elements of a small area plan for our commercial corridors and about other development projects that are being contemplated by the city that impact our area.
(b) In addition, I have asked Aakash Thakkar, First Vice President of EYA, and Clint Jackson, Project Manager, DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, to appear to give us an update on EYA’s development proposal for the McMillan Reservoir site.
(c) Martin Moulton, President of the Convention Center Community Association, and ANC 2C Commissioner Kevin Chappelle, have asked for time of the agenda to talk about the proposal to locate a “dog park” in the 400 block of P Street, N.W. – the site of the former Bundy School. Specifically, they would like for the BACA to take a formal position in support of this effort.
(d) Time will also be given to Mamuka Tsereteli, owner of the former Bates Market at the corner of Third and P Streets, N.W., to talk about his plans to renovate that site for an alternative use.
Committee Reports:
(a) Pete Balas, Chairperson of the Environmental Services Committee, and his Co-Chair, Anita Bonds, will update us on the work of their committee. Specifically, they are developing goals for clean-up as well as beautification initiatives for our community. If you are interested in becoming a member of this committee, please contact Pete at pbalas312@gmail.com or Anita at dcbonsa@yahoo.com.
(b) Geovani Bonilla, Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, and his Vice Chair, Jon Hasse, will provide us with their thinking about public safety initiatives that they will encourage us to support. As you may know, National Night Out 2009 (NNO) will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 and those of us who live in the service area covered by the Fifth District Police have been asked to join Council Member Harry Thomas at Langdon Park, 2109 20th Street, N.E., from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., for a kickoff celebration of NNO. This celebration will include health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, and prostate cancer, as well as refreshments and activities for children. Closer to home, a Community Walk will be held in PSA 501, from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., at the Harry Thomas Recreation Center. If you have an interest in working on this committee, please contact Geovani at MrGeovani@aol.com or Jon at jwh.east@yahoo.com.
(c) Caryn Nesmith, Jon Hasse, and Peter Katel will give the Public Relations Committee report. The Committee continues to be interested in receiving feedback from residents about the content and user friendliness of the BACA Blog. In addition, they would like to have your help in promoting its existence within your circle of family members, neighbors and friends. Finally, it is important for you to subscribe to the Blog via email. If you do, one email per day will be sent to the address of your choice in which summaries of the messages that have been posted on the Blog will be contained. To sign up, please go to http://www.dcbaca.wordpress.com.
Announcements:
Rev. Miles Holloman asked me to inform you about a youth initiative that Ebenezer Baptist Church, Mount Sinai Baptist Church, and others are co-sponsoring at the triangle park at First and Florida Avenue, N.W. this summer. Specifically, they are sponsoring a basketball tournament for area boys and girls that will culminate in a Community Day activity in the park on Saturday, September 5, 2009. The young people are holding a raffle to help to defray the costs associated with this initiative. I am certain that Miles will have flyers and raffle tickets available at our meeting on Monday. If you would like to purchase tickets in support of this project or would like to work with Miles in the production of it, he may be reached at milessh@hotmail.com.
Closing Comments: In addition to my own comments, ANC Commissioners Anita Bonds (SMD 5C01) and Sylvia Pinkney (SMD 5C02), respectively, have standing invitations to make remarks and give announcements at our monthly meetings, as does Alice Thompson, the Ward Five Coordinator of the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. It must be noted that Alice will be on vacation at the time of this month’s meeting.
Bates Area Civic Association 