Serving Foggy Bottom & the West End
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Vol. IX, No. 39
The Foggy BoTTom CurrenT
Rise in aircraft noise sparks appeal
AqUA VIDA
■ Aviation: Local coalition
challenges FAA’s new routes
By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer
Citizens associations and other groups representing communities near the Potomac River have been struggling for almost two years to reconcile with the Federal Aviation Administration over their concerns
about airplane noise in their neighborhoods. But last week, nine organizations including five citizens associations joined together and filed a petition for review before the U.S. Court of Appeals — the first step in what could become a lengthy litigation battle against the FAA. The Aug. 24 filing is a response to what many citizens say is an increasing problem with noise from airplanes coming in and out of Reagan National Airport.
Citizens Association of Georgetown president Bob vom Eigen said he has noticed within the past few months that planes no longer fly the route that the associations and aviation officials had agreed upon — directly over the Potomac River. Upon departure from the airport, for instance, they’re flying past the back side of the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School and Georgetown University, and over Hillandale and See Planes/Page 2
Initiative aims to beautify Dupont park By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
Brian Kapur/The Current
VIDA Fitness members and staff joined together Monday at the Penthouse Pool Club on U Street to help raise awareness and funds for ALS research by dumping ice buckets on each other. It was a continuation of the viral social media campaign that began last summer and reignited this August.
Yarrow Mamout search proceeds on Dent Place
Sonny Bono came to Washington 20 years ago, an entertainer-turned-politician who had just been elected as a California congressman. Following his death in 1998, a local friend — D.C. developer Geary Simon — memorialized Bono at a tiny triangle park in Dupont Circle, bordered by New Hampshire Avenue and 20th and O streets NW. Originally, the revamped 800-square-foot spot had elaborate landscaping, lighting and sprinklers. But over time, the park dwindled to its present condition of some grass, shrubs and benches surrounded by a low fence. Officials at the Heurich House Museum, located across New Hampshire from the park, think the site can be more, and the institution became its official D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation partner last year. “For years, we have witnessed the neglect of Sonny See Park/Page 8
Brian Kapur/The Current
The Heurich House Museum hopes to spruce up the 800-square-foot New Hampshire Avenue pocket park, created as a memorial to Sonny Bono.
Draft wildlife plan prompts heated debate over feral cats
By DEIRDRE BANNON
■ Environment: Agency says
Current Correspondent
After spending the summer heading up the Yarrow Mamout archaeological dig in Georgetown, field director Mia Carey returned to the University of Florida in late August to resume her doctoral studies. But city archaeologists continue to search for evidence of the freed slave and entrepreneur, including his possible burial site, by utilizing high-tech tools and analyzing artifacts. So far no evidence has been definitively linked to Yarrow, who owned the property at 3324 Dent Place NW until his death in 1823, but only 5 percent of the artifacts unearthed since June had been analyzed as of late August. Field workers collected about 120 grocery-sized bags of evidence and processed seven of them.
NEWS
intent is to help native species
Brian Kapur/The Current
The dig at the Dent Place property once owned by freed slave and entrepreneur Yarrow Mamout has focused on the site’s southeastern corner.
Artifacts found dating from the mid-19th century onward include a porcelain doll’s legs, toy soldiers, clay marbles, glass medicine bottles, ceramics with maker’s marks (a hallmark that distinguishes artisans or manufacturers) and pipe stems. Researchers also found animal remains at the site, including from a cow and a dog. See Archaeology/Page 8
EVENTS
Local outdoor chain Hudson Trail to shut its four area stores — Page 3
Arena set to debut telenovela-inspired ‘Destiny of Desire’ — Page 17
By DEIRDRE BANNON Current Correspondent
The D.C. Department of Energy & Environment has proposed a new Wildlife Action Plan, but the Washington Humane Society has objections to the way the city wants to handle the feral cat population. The debate stirs up a decadeslong argument over the best way to control wild cats while also protecting other native species. The public
SHERWOOD
Mayor Bowser deals with protests at police press event — Page 6
has an opportunity to weigh in on the plan until the deadline for public comment closes on Monday. The overall goal of the wildlife plan is to create a “roadmap for the next ten years of conserving, sustaining, and protecting the District’s wildlife and habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of residents and visitors,” according to its preface. “It’s the first comprehensive wildlife action plan done in the city and it’s the first time the whole plan has been built around empirical evidence, where we’re going out during the daytime and at night and observSee Cats/Page 5
INDEX Calendar/14 Classifieds/21 District Digest/4 Exhibits/15 Foggy Bottom News/9
In Your Neighborhood/12 Opinion/6 Real Estate/11 Service Directory/19 Week Ahead/3
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