Stories

The Metropolitan Police Department's crime camera at Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue has been removed. Signage in the area warning of the camera's presence has also been removed. MPD's website still lists the camera as being at that intersection.

A few weeks ago I photographed several Metropolitan Transit Police Department Officers making an arrest within a few feet of this camera.

[ May 6, 2009 UPDATE: Crime Camera was reportedly moved to Columbia Road.]

Google Streetview shows former crime camera.
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A steady stream of water pours from an Ordway Street fire hydrant. This hydrant is classified as "Mantenance Required". DC WASA considers it acceptable for fire department use. How bad must it get before WASA classifies it "Out of Serivce"?

The bus shelter on the west side of Connecticut Avenue just north of Rodman Street has been permanently removed.

Google Streetview shows the former bus shelter.

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China Construction America, Inc. has erected a large crane at 2708 Porter Street, NW to aid construction on the Porter Street Residences, future housing for Chinese Embassy workers. Construction is estimated to continue for another year on the 3-story above ground level structure.

Across the street, 2 apartment buildings, Quebec House and 2501 Porter Street seek new tenants.

The Catholic Standard is reporting that a staff member has a probable case of the H1N1 virus at Our Lady of Victory School. The school will be closed for the remainder of the week.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer began on Saturday and will conclude on Sunday.

This Saturday morning, a crane parked on the street hoisting materials to the top of 4201 Connecticut Avenue backed up south bound traffic from Van Ness Street to Albemarle Street on Connecticut Avenue.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) protested outside 4201 Connecticut Avenue for better pay on behalf of homecare workers. VMT Home Health Agency is located in this building.

The first day of the 2-day 2009 National Cathedral Flower Mart was windy and a little rainy.

Traffic was limited by police activity on Connecticut Avenue between Yuma and Albemarle Streets for about 20 minutes around 11am.

Many officers from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Uniformed Secret Service were on the scene.

Traffic cones and yellow caution tape surround the collapsing pavement above a sinkhole forming on 36th Street just south of Albemarle Street.

Signs are sprouting on female ginkgo trees announcing upcoming spraying. The city's Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) routinely applies chemicals to the female trees to limit production of odorous seeds.

Currently UFA uses Arbor Systems Pinscher BGR to inhibit seed production.

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Construction on the Walgreens which is replacing the historic Yenching Palace restaurant continues to slow south-bound daytime Connecticut Avenue traffic. Work beneath the street requiring a hole spanning 2 lanes backs up traffic as far north as Tilden Street.

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Bus stop shelters on the east side of Connecticut Avenue at these cross streets have been removed:

• Yuma
• Albemarle

New bus stop shelters with new foundations and electrical wiring will be installed in the coming weeks.

Spring 2009 is projected for the renovations at Fort Reno Park to be completed. Work is being conducted under the direction of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation.

Renovations include:

• Updated baseball field
• Championship soccer field
• Multipurpose field

Saturday April 18, 2009 at the Hearst Elementary School parking lot, 11,000 pounds (5.5 tons) of electronics were collected destined for the Fort Totten Transfer Station. The 3 hour event was sponsored by the Hearst Green Team. Dozens of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors accumulated in the lot.

This was not just a convenient  dumping site. Participants were encouraged to take away any equipment which they could use. I walked home with a Dell Dimension 4600 sans hard disk, a 2 inch portable TV ( 2 months of life left in it), and a telephone line testing device.

Hopefully, there will be more of these Community E-Cycle events in the future.