Alcohol Licenses Up For Renewal or Change

Three area businesses are asking for community support to either renew or expand their alcohol licenses.  ANC 4B votes on its recommendation to the city on May 25.  The city's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board hears these cases in June.  Let us know what you think. To contact the Board, call 442-4423.

Cork 'n' Bottle's (7421 Georgia Ave.) license is up for renewal.  They have a voluntary agreement restricting the sale of single beers or malt beverages. See the agreement at my web site.

S & S Liquors' (Corner 4^th & Cedar) license is also up for renewal. There is no voluntary agreement on single beer or malt beverage sales.

El Tamarindo Restaurant (7331 Georgia Ave.) wants to add alcohol service to its second floor dining area.

Highlights from the April 27, 2006 ANC 4B meeting:

Development at Eastern/Blair/Juniper

The Commission adopted a formal resolution calling on the D.C. Office of Planning and the D.C. Office of Transportation to work with Montgomery County to evaluate safety and traffic questions for the two small buildings (10 units total) slated for the Eastern/Blair/Juniper intersection in Montgomery County. The site is at the D.C./Maryland border.

The development was approved by Montgomery County several years ago. The developer wants an extension of time to build.  The Montgomery County Planning Board considers the case on Thursday, May 4.  County agencies have said that it is safe to have traffic exiting and entering via Juniper and Blair.

A $1,000 GRANT To REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE

The Commission awarded a $1,000 grant to Peaceohoholics, Inc. for its "Rebuild the Village Week" at Emery Playground.  Peaceoholics trains teens in "truce activities" and works with Coolidge and Roosevelt High School students.

NEW HOUSE on CHESTNUT STREET

The Commission supported the design for a new home to be built on a vacant lot at 7112 Chestnut Street in the Takoma Historic District.  The 19^th Century home on the lot burned down several years ago. The two-story frame or clapboard-sided traditional home, with a porch, goes before the city's Historic Preservation Review Board on May 25 for review.

On The Agenda: At-Large D.C. City Council Member Phil Mendelson & Funding for a D.C. Police Department/ Medical Examiner DNA Laboratory.

CITY RESOURCES TO HELP YOU CLEAN UP

--  Organize a clean-up on your own block.  The Department of Public Works' Helping Hand Program will lend you tools and will assist. Call 645-7190

--  Dispose of your hazardous chemicals and pesticides, paint, old TVs, and other electronics safely on Sat., May 14, 9 AM to 4 PM, during the city's special recycling day at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre Parking Lot, 16^th & Kennedy.

CHANGES at COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

This fall, every Coolidge High School 9^th grader will be required to participate in both Junior ROTC and in band, announced Principal L. Nelson Burton, a Coolidge High School alum, during the April 27 ANC 4B meeting.  Burton said these programs teach leadership, discipline and a sense of pride.

Students will be required to take more English and math courses to graduate, and classes will run for 80 minutes instead of 55 minutes. New hires include a math/literacy coach and a parent coordinator. The librarian's job will be cut to a half-time position, among many other staff and administrative changes.

New Cafe To Open At 4^th, Cedar and Blair 

Sullano, a cafe with an Italian-European accent, plans to open in June in the vacant yellow brick building at the intersection of 4^th, Cedar and Blair (next to The Culture Shop).

Owners Michael Tengbe and Sam Fagbuyi plan on offering live jazz every Saturday night, free WIFI hook-ups, and beer and wine tastings.  They plan to ask for a license to serve alcoholic beverages on the premises.

New Community Group  Rock Creek East - Takoma

Meeting Set for Wednesday, May 24

Rock Creek East  - Takoma is a new community group organizing in our area.  The group will work on a range of development, alcohol, and community improvement issues, said Organizer Gail Davis Elkins, who lives near 8^th and Fern.  Elkins, an attorney, is one of many who oppose permitting Safeway to sell alcohol at its Piney Branch Road store. Her help with legal submissions to the city's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board on the Safeway license is invaluable. She is also one of many residents concerned about the high concentration of licensed group homes in the area.

Rock Creek is affiliated with the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations. It held only a few meetings several years ago and is reorganizing.

Rock Creek East - Takoma joins Concerned Neighbors, Inc., the Takoma, D.C. Neighborhood Association, GFEDS (Geranium, Fern, Elder & Dahlia), and the 4^th District MPD Citizens Advisory Council.  "We aren't trying to take away from any other community group," Elkins said, adding, "there is so much more we can all do together and room for many more groups who want to do it. "

The group will meet on Wednesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at Shepherd Park Library, 7420 Georgia Avenue.  Call 723-4352 for more information.