A regular summary of irregular news and notes from neighborhood blogs and email lists around the District.
Oogly Boogly: The advice for avoiding snatch-and-grab robberies continues on the New Hill East list, this time with more boogly: “I’m 66, a woman, and energetic, but not particularly athletic. So I walk with purpose and intention, especially during more vulnerable times. I say to myself as I walk – I’m strong; don’t mess with me. And I mean it! I also add: I’m spirit – the spirit in me blesses all who cross my path (If that’s too oogly-boogly, you can skip that part!)”
Mentally Nimble 911: A member of the Eckington list has some suggestions for better service from 911 after having trouble reporting a crime. “The day after the post about delivered packages being taken from peoples’ porches, I saw two guys on bicycles racing away with what had to have been stolen packages. Reporting this to 911 was difficult. For one thing, I got cut off TWICE. Then I didn’t have a specific address to provide. No matter how good it looks on paper (GPS is so overhyped), this address-centric system is impractical. It makes catching people in the act of committing a crime harder, not easier. Also, we need dispatchers who are mentally nimble and who have extensive knowledge of DC’s geography. ‘First Street NE between Q and R’ isn’t hard to understand.” Another resident has a hiring suggestion: “i’d like to see some bold moves to hire only DC residents who are qualified. they should create a policy that any qualified DC resident gets the job over a qualified non-resident if you are working for the city. it would create jobs and attract smart people dedicated to improving their community to buy houses. from answering 911 to being the director of transportation, any qualified DC resident gets the job over a non-resident. just like veterans.”
The Ghost of Z-Burger: New Columbia Heights visited the new Z-Burger location under construction on 14th and Park and heard quite a tale about the space from one of the men painting: “[Oscar] said he was there working at about 7 am on a Saturday morning before anyone else had come in. Soon he saw two ladies and a man in front of him, dressed in what looked like nice Victorian clothes (corsets, big dresses) coming down the staircase. They said ‘hello’ in a kind of drawn out, quiet way — “hellooooo” — and he said hello back, and then they seemed to leave. Shortly after that the boss came in and Oscar told him some people were looking for him. The boss was confused and didn’t know who they might have been. Oscar and the boss then looked for the three people, not finding anyone, and then they went out to the sidewalk, which was deserted. In hindsight, Oscar said he thought they might have been actors from the theater. When I asked if he was scared or surprised, he said not really, they were nice and didn’t bother him. Peter said he’d heard many similar stories about the place for awhile. Pretty interesting stuff, if you believe in that kind of thing.”
What Not To Eat For New Year’s: There’s the standard good stuff: greens and peas may bring money into one’s life. But Penn Quarter Living also notes the foods that may bring bad luck: “Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. Chicken is also discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away.”