occasional babysitting

See this message from a Bloomingdale household:

Occasional Babysitting

Our nanny, Michelle, is looking for occasional babysitting work on weekends or evenings. She has been taking care of our son and another neighborhood child for about a year and we are extremely happy with her. She is great with the children and is completely reliable and responsible – we have complete confidence in her. She is fluent in English and French.

If interested you can call her at (240) 481- 0317, or if you`d like more information from us you can call (202) 265- 7927.

seeking temporary housing

See this request from a Flagler Place NW resident:

I have a friend and her husband who is looking for a one bedroom to sublet for two to three weeks (July 13-27). She prefers it to be walking distance to the metro.

She can be reached at christinaemason at gmail.com.

stolen (?) bicycle found at the Flagler Market this morning

See this post from a W Street NW resident:

The bike in front of the Flagler Market at Flagler and W St NW) this morning is believed to be stolen. Some things are missing from it, like the seat.

It is locked inside my back yard. Interested parties may contact me at this email address: luluknight@gmail.com .

handyman referral

See this referral from a Rhode Island Avenue NW resident:

I wanted to put in a plug for our handyman, ANDY HENSLEY (301. 660. 0652). If anyone in the neighborhood is looking for a reliable person to do some carpentry or other handyman work around the house, I would highly recommend Andy.

He fixed our back fence and resealed a leaky shower for us along with a few other odds and ends around the house and did a great job. He was always on time, returned my phone calls within 24 hours, did a very professional job and cleaned up as if he had never been there. Andy is a great carpenter and is certainly up for bigger jobs - like building a fence or deck.

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale for 06/27/2010

It's really, really hot, but if you're committed to looking at houses on Sunday, here is the map of scheduled open houses. Scroll over the push pins to get info on specific listings. For those who prefer a list format, here is the list of the same information.

There is a new listing in the neighborhood this week at 23 Randolph Pl NW. This is NOT my listing, but this had been a vacant property for many years, and the group who renovated it did a beautiful job. I don't see an open house scheduled but here is the virtual tour. It is listed for $519,999. To see, call your agent or contact Kenny Silbert at 301-537-1777.

Stronghold neighborhood profiled

The Washington Post has a profile of the Stronghold neighborhood in today's paper -- produced by Amanda Adams.

(Some of you reading this may not even know where the Stronghold is!)

Where We Live: The Stronghold neighborhood of Northeast Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/25/AR2010062500216.html

One of the many candidates for the Ward 5 councilseat -- Kenyan McDuffie -- is a Stronghold resident.

The article also quotes Bloomingdale resident and Urban Pace broker Suzanne Des Marais.

And the article mentions the development plans for the landmarked McMillan Sand Filtration site.

Nice to see an area neighborhood profiled!

Want to see the Stronghold boundaries? Go here:

About the Stronghold neighborhood in Northeast Washington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/25/AR2010062500209.html

Thanks to Amanda Adams for her article!

A Brochure of Eckington

Click HERE for a PDF version of the cool new Eckington brochure.

seeking CAC system recommendations

See this message from a resident of T Street NW:

I live in the neighborhood and have a home build in the 1920`s that has no central airconditioner system. I am looking for recommendations on what types of systems are best and less obstructive to install in this older homes, based on other residents who have had to install a central air system.

What companies or individuals would you all recommend and give me also an idea of length of time to install one, costs, unit on the roof vs. backyard? The attic has not been insulated and has no venting system so the heat in the home is oppressing at times.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Active Listings in Bloomingdale

Sorry there was no list of open houses posted this weekend. All is well now, but I had an unexpected Emergency Room visit yesterday.

Here is the list of Active Residential Listings in Bloomingdale, LeDroit Park, and Eckington, ordered by what is most recently on the market.

neighbor seeking twin bed, dressers, small eating table, night tables

I'm looking for a twin bed (with mattress/box spring from a non-smoking household), 2 small/medium-sized dressers, a small eating table, and 2 night tables. My husband's parents and elderly grandmother were affected by the earthquake in Chile and will be coming to stay with us in the next few weeks (until mid-October when winter ends there).

If you are looking to get rid of anything like this, we'd be happy to take it off your hands.

Please email me at erinrebhan@aol.com and we can talk logistics (pick-up, price, etc.).

Bloomingdale resident available for babysitting

Hello Bloomingdale parents! I’m a neighborhood resident who is available for babysitting. I’m a certified elementary school art teacher, and I have been teaching in Silver Spring (Montgomery County) for 8 years. I have experience as a full-time nanny for an infant and young toddler, and as a babysitter for children of various ages. I will be teaching a few hours each afternoon at an arts camp during July, but I would like to start babysitting and meeting the children and families of the neighborhood starting this summer. I would also like to continue sitting children of interested families throughout the year. (And… if your children are into the arts, I would love to teach them a few art projects here and there while we’re spending time together… one plus of having an art teacher babysitter.)

Please contact me, Lindsey, via call or text at 202- 465- 9889, or via email at enotsnil@gmail.com.

Note: Due to my profession, I have been fingerprinted and undergone a police background check, and can provide paperwork for both.

seeking referrals for a fence contractor

LOOKING FOR A FENCE CONTRACTOR

Had some bad luck with my fence repair and would like a good referrals.

NCMS Clean Team Sentinels trash collection report for May 2010

See this message from Jonathan Taylor, Executive Director, North Capitol Main Street, Inc.:

Dear Area Residents:

As many may be already aware, North Capitol Main Street (NCMS) has diligently been working over the past 8 months to improve the physical appearance and image of our commercial business district through an aea clean streets initiative.

On an ongoing basis every Tuesday thru Sturday, The Clean Team Sentinels, with manpower furnished by Ready Willing & Working (RWW), have been collecting debris and trash articles throughout the North Capitol and First Street NW corridors from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Additionally, the clean team is involved in other activities such as setting up tree boxes, light poll baskets and graffiti removal from commercial property sorefronts.

As a part of keeping the community apprised of the progress of the clean street initiative on a monthly basis, NCMS will report out to the cmmunity at large on the progress of the program by sending a monthly Operation Clean Sweep Trash Collection Report as well as other information relevant to the program. Also, we ecourage feedback from the community regarding any concerns relevant to the pogram itself.

It is the mission of NCMS to promote economic development and business retention activities within the geater North Capitol area which include the neighborhoods of Eckington, Bloomingdale and the Truxton Crcle area of Shaw.

Here are the stats for the Month of May:

· The NCMS team collected 1,528 bags – 22. 92 tons of rubbish collected.

· The team completed a weed and mulch project in the park located at North Capitol & Florida Ave. NW.

· The team of Landscapers installed 12 additional self watering planters in designated areas within NCMS Main Street boundary

· The RWW night watering crew has been watering with Miracle Grow on a daily basis.

For additional information please contact us at (202) 905-6039 or visit our website at www.ncmsinc.org .

Jonathan Taylor, Executive Director

13 S St NE: application to DYRS for a group home

This message was posted at the Eckington list:

I stumbled upon an application to Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) for a group home at 13 S St NE. The proposed home is just feet from the Emery House homeless shelter on Lincoln Road NE and only a few blocks from the new St Martin's Apartments housing project. Haven`t us Eckington residents done enough to house the city`s social services?

The woman at DYRS, Linda Harllee Harper, was extremely responsive and helpful. She replied back confirming an application had been submitted for 13 S St NE and said they encourage vendors to speak with the community & take neighbors concerns into account. I`m trying to learn what the youths of this proposed home have done to require rehabilitation (drug use? violent crimes?) and how many it would house.

I attempted to contact our ANC representative, Sylvia Pinkney, last week without any luck.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

John

neighbor assaulted at 2nd & R I Ave NW last night by teens

See this 6/14/2010 message from a Bloomingdale resident:

I just wanted to let you know so you can inform the neighbors about the group of kids (probably 15-16 years old) and two of them who attacked me today on the corner of RI Ave and 2nd Street NW at 6:30PM.

I was walking down the RI Ave NW from 1st toward 2nd Street when I passed one group of teenagers (African-Americans, 6-7 of them). I was waiting for the pedestrian’s light to cross the Second street when two boys from the group approached to me behind my back (what I couldn`t hear as I had my iPod on) and punched me in the face. I was able to protect myself (kick one of them) while I was calling the police. It seemed they didn`t want to stop until they realized I am calling 911. They ran away toward 1st and T Street (where the Bloomingdale liquor store is). Police were there in less than 2 mins, but there wasn`t anything much they could do. They wrote a report. The boys who attacked me are around 5ft8in tall, with very short hair.

I keep reading in the Bloomingdale newsletter, and I actually saw few times similar posts about group of kids chasing people on the street. It seems it is the same group. Just want to let neighbors know so they can be cautious.

lost dog from the unit block of S Street NW

See this message received late Sunday evening, June 13, 2010:

Our dog Zoolander ``Zooey`` ran out the door after being spooked at the end of a walk from our house on the unit block of S Street NW Sunday night 6/13 around 9:30pm. He took off toward North Capitol Street and then headed north. We couldn`t catch up with him. We`ve searched everywhere up to the hospital on bikes including the alleys with no luck. We`ve had him only a month from the Washington Animal Rescue League and he`s still very skittish around new people and things and the city in general.

He`s white and tan (almost orangey) with a lot of short fluffy hair. He is six years old and about 40lbs. Zooey is on some serious daily medication which he needs to stay stable.

If spotted please call Animal Control OR Josh at (201) 452- 7600.

Cookie`s Corner re-opened today

Strolling by 2nd & Elm Street NW, I noticed a ``Now Open`` sign on the door. I stepped inside and noticed that the shelves in the public area were stocked with chips, salsa, wines (plus some groceries like toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, breakfast cereal and dog food.) There is also chilled beer, milk, assorted dairy items and ice cream. I assume that the alcohol license is for off-premise comsumption. It looks like there will be stool seating along the window facing 2nd Street NW and Parker Flats.

They weren't set up just yet to cook anything - that will begin tomorrow. A menu should be available tomorrow. Pizza and sandwiches will be prepared behind the interior window panes that separate the public space from the food prep area (and the cash register.)

And yes, the name is still Cookie`s Corner.

The hours of operation are 9 am to 10 pm seven days a week.

Stop by and check it out!

I look forward to congratulating Simon soon for achieving his goal!

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale scheduled for 06/13/2010

For those actively shopping for a home, looking around to get a feel for prices, or just curious neighbors, there are a good range of open houses scheduled for Sunday. Here is the map, which you can scroll around to get more info on each of the listings. Here is the list, which is the same info, different format.

For a complete list of properties currently listed for sale, consider joining the Bloomingdale listserv (e-mail scott @ scott-roberts dot net).

new traffic pattern at NY and Florida

here is a video explaining the new "traffic circle"

missing tulips from 1st St NW front yard

If anyone has any information about my missing tulips please contact me.

They appear to have been dug up sometime on Thursday from the front of my house, 2009 first, nw.

sloane.strickler@gmail.com.