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Articles
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Citywide
| Gift requests from the animals at the National Zoo |
VOICE writes, "
By LINDA LOMBARDI
Current Correspondent
They've made a list, checked it twice -- but even Santa might be mystified by some of the gift requests from the animals at the National Zoo. What would a bird do with a feather duster -- or an octopus with a maze?
And you might guess wrong about the purpose of some of the others, too, such as the wading pools requested for the otters: No, they're not for swimming.
Many of the items on the list (at fonz.org/givingtree.htm) are to be used in the Zoo's program for what's called enrichment. According to curator Heidi Hellmuth, the purpose of enrichment is to keep animals well -- both mentally and physically -- by letting them use their natural behaviors.
Of course, there are no wading pools in the wild. Nor are there Kong dog toys or plastic balls. But because stores don't typically sell items made especially for Zoo animals, the staff has to get creative, finding ways to use available objects to elicit natural activities.
"For animals that get their food in the wild by licking, you can put peanut butter or honey inside a Kong," said Hellmuth, referring to the hollow dog toys. "And it bounces in funny ways, so an animal can stalk it.""
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Posted on Dec 13, 2007 03:53am.
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| D.C. Council members are promising tax relief |
VOICE writes, "
By ELIZABETH WIENER
Current Staff Writer
D.C. Council members are promising tax relief for small businesses, local restaurants and retailers. But finding the right formula is proving elusive.
Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans and at-large member Kwame Brown heard testimonies last Wednesday on three bills aimed at helping businesses hardest hit by a booming real estate market and city roadwork projects. Virtually all witnesses supported the concept, but officials from Mayor Adrian Fenty's administration said the bills are not properly targeted and could cause big fiscal problems.
Evans, who heads the D.C. Council's Committee on Finance and Revenue, and Brown, chair of the Committee on Economic Development, promised to work with the administration to tweak the bills into acceptable shape. They appear to have broad support within the council, but it's still not clear when they will be fine-tuned for an actual vote."
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Posted on Dec 13, 2007 03:50am.
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| Hearing yields debate on sex-education standards |
VOICE writes, "
By VICTORIA SOLOMON
Current Staff Writer
A hearing on proposed health standards for public schools in the District last Wednesday elicited a slew of opinions about when educators should start talking to children about sex and what those discussions should involve.
The standards, which the State Board of Education will consider today, outline learning benchmarks in health as well as physical education and world languages. The health requirements drew the most comments.
They outline, for example, that fifth-graders should be able to define sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS and describe behaviors that put people at risk for HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections or unintended pregnancy. They should also be able to explain why abstinence is the most effective way to prevent disease or pregnancy.
Under the proposed standards, eighth-graders should be able to define sexual orientation using correct terminology, including being able to explain that as people grow up, they might be attracted to people of different or the same gender."
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Posted on Dec 13, 2007 03:47am.
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| City demands AppleTree’s permit back |
VOICE writes, "BY BEN WEINSTEIN
The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs ignited a minor commotion recently when it approved AppleTree’s plans for a Northeast charter school.
Shortly after the school received approval, the department asked that the AppleTree Institute for Education and Innovation surrender its permit.
“DCRA notified the attorney for AppleTree that if the permit was not surrendered voluntarily, DCRA would begin proceedings to revoke the permit,” agency director Linda Argo said in a statement, adding that “any construction work at the property address would be at his client’s own risk.”
A spokesperson said the agency planned to send AppleTree a revocation notice on Nov. 19.
“I am confident director Argo means to correct this problem,” said Joe Fengler, chair of the Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commission. But, he added, the error underscores the agency’s underlying systemic problems."
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Posted on Dec 02, 2007 14:12pm.
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| 26-year-old Hill daycare searches for new facility |
VOICE writes, "By Hannah Rexroth
The Jenkins Hill Child Development Center is scrambling to find a new home before its lease in the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church comes to a premature end next August.
The agreement between the church and the nonprofit infant day-care facility, which has operated in the church since 1981, includes a clause that allows the lease to be terminated by either party with 90 days’ notice. The lease was scheduled to end in 2009.
The church is re-evaluating the use of its space and is planning to take a new direction, said the Rev. Andrew Walton, the church pastor.
“I see this as a positive thing for everyone involved,” he said. “I think this could be a great opportunity for Jenkins Hill. They’ve been doing a great work here, but on a very small scale. There is no room for them to expand.” "
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Posted on Dec 02, 2007 14:08pm.
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| Decaying Northeast firehouse, police station to be redeveloped |
VOICE writes, "BY BEN WEINSTEIN
The city is moving ahead with long-delayed plans to redevelop two long-vacant public-safety buildings in Northeast -- the Maryland Avenue firehouse and the 9th Street police station.
On Nov. 8, Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commission chair Joe Fengler announced that the Office of Planning recently asked for input on 1341 Maryland Ave. NE and 525 Ninth St. NE, sites residents have been pushing the city to redevelop for several years.
“We would encourage [the Office of Planning] to immediately develop these properties as we have waited over three years,” Fengler wrote in an e-mail to The Voice. “The city has been practicing demolition by neglect for years. It is time to end that practice. The city should hold itself to a higher standard and not allow their abandoned properties to negatively impact our community.”"
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Posted on Dec 02, 2007 14:04pm.
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| Two Southeast developments receive historic preservation approval |
VOICE writes, "BY KATIE REYES
A five-story condominium complex planned for 1010 7th St. SE and a new church proposed for 522 7th St. SE recently received thumbs up from the Historic Preservation Review Board
Condominium developer Jeremy Busse complied with improvement the board suggested at its July meeting, including the design of the mechanical penthouse structure and basement parking lot. But board members still asked Busse to scale back the penthouse walls to avoid impeding neighbors’ views.
Nancy Metzger, chair of the historic preservation committee for the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, said her group is happy with many of the improvements but still has a few suggestions."
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Posted on Dec 02, 2007 13:59pm.
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