Clearing up the Confusion - Man Who Shot MPD Officer is Killed

A number of news outlets are reporting that the man who shot an MPD officer on Friday also shot a PG County sheriff's deputy before he was shot and killed. While Dorian Ray was the intended recipient of the initial paternity warrant, he was not the shooter. The Washington Post clarifies the situation best:

A Prince George's County sheriff's deputy was shot and seriously wounded early yesterday in a motel room in the Laurel area by a man who had shot a D.C. police officer in the face Friday, authorities said.

Other law enforcement officers in the motel room opened fire and killed the suspect, police said. He was identified last night by Howard County police as Aaron M. Lowry, 31, of Washington.

....

The Prince George's deputy and several other members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force had gone to an EconoLodge in the 9700 block of Route 1 near Laurel about 3:30 p.m. in search of the man who shot the D.C. officer. The man was also wanted on charges of attempted murder and robbery, police said.

They found Lowry in a room at the motel, Howard police said. When he shot at them, they returned fire and killed him, police said.

....

Lowry apparently came into contact with D.C. police about 1:15 p.m. Friday in the 700 block of Irving Street NE, where members of the task force had gone to serve a paternity support warrant on another man, according to a police account.

The task force members saw someone who appeared to match the description of the man they were seeking, police said. As officers approached, Lowry pulled out a gun and fired three times, grazing Duncan in the face, authorities said. They said the officers did not fire back.

....

The gunman ran and was last seen heading south on Eighth Street NE, Lanier said. Police officers and marshals swarmed the area, which includes Catholic University, and helicopters hovered. Lanier said she extended the shifts of some officers who would have finished their days at 3 p.m.

During the search, police said they found the man wanted in the paternity warrant and took him into custody. He was identified as Dorian M. Ray, 36, of the 600 block of Hamlin Street NE. Ray was not charged in the D.C. officer's shooting.

Mount Rainier Day and More - Saturday and Sunday

From the Mt. Rainier listserv:

SATURDAY

MOUNT RAINIER DAY FESTIVAL
The Mount Rainier Day Festival will be in the 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue, 11am-6pm

· Parade starts at 12:30 and will march down 34th St from St. Johns Church to the Traffic Circle and then down to Otis and back up 37th St. Northwestern High School Band will be in the parade in addition to the Rolling Crest Community Center Pom Dance Team.

· Many of the city’s artists will be performing this year, including a salsa band and dance group from Joe’s Movement Emporium. There will also be self-guided walking studio tours throughout the entire Gateway Arts District from Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood and Hyattsville.

· Transportation has been added this year to support residents from all over the city who want to participate and join in on the fun but have little or no transportation, or for those who cannot walk to the events. THE CITY’S CALL-A-BUS WILL OPERATE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY FREE OF CHARGE! CALL-A-BUS STOPS WILL BE MADE EVERY HALF HOUR AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS FOR PICK-UP AND DROP OFF BEGINNING AT 10AM AND ENDING AT 6PM:

• Wells Avenue and Otis Street
• Wells Avenue and Perry Street
• 34th Street and Bunker Hill Road
• 30th Street and Taylor Street
• 32nd Avenue and Upshur Street
• Thomas Stone Elementary School Parking Lot
• Prince George’s Pool Parking Lot
• Rainier Manor
• 30th Street and Arundel Road
• Parking Lot on Varnum Street near 22nd Avenue and Arundel Road
• 31st Street and Bunker Hill Road

Please note that the pick up times and drop off are approximate.

GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT OPEN STUDIO TOUR
A Gateway Arts District open studio tour in conjunction with Mount Rainier Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th, 2007, 12-5pm. Over 30 artists participating in a self-guided tour of Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood and Hyattsville will occur on this date and will include painting, ceramic, sculpture, glass, mosaic, mixed media, performing arts, and more! Maps will be available at the Mount Rainier Artists’ Lofts, H&F Fine Arts, Artmosphere Café (3311 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier) and Gateway Community Development Corporation, (4102 Webster Street, North Brentwood, MD 20722). In addition, a group show of participating artists at H&F Fine Arts, will be held May 4-31, at 3311 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier.

SPECIAL INVITE FROM JOE’S MOVEMENT EMPORIUM
From Ingrid S. Nuss, Marketing & Program Manager, Joe's Movement Emporium:

Join us on Saturday, May 19th, 2007, 12-5pm, for the Gateway CDC’s annual open studio tour and Mount Rainier Day! From 2-4pm Laura Schandelmeier and Stephen Clapp will host the OPEN DOOR PROJECT for PORTALS. Building upon the storefront spirit of the old Joe’s Movement Emporium, we are opening the studio doors at the new Joe’s facility! We invite you to join us through the creation of our latest evening-length performance work, PORTALS, to premier June 23-24 at Dance Place. We invite you to create, write, dance, draw or sing at your own comfort level, offer feedback through a structured response process, have a peek at our latest evening-length work, PORTALS, and our last OPEN DOOR session before the piece debuts. For more information please contact me at 301.699.1819 or come by the new Joe’s at 3309 Bunker Hill Road.

COUNTDOWN TO SPLASHDOWN
Prince George's Community Pool Countdown to Splashdown
Saturday May 19, 2007 • 4 to 8 pm
34th & Buchanan Streets, Mt. Rainier, Maryland
The pool will open our grounds (no swimming until the following weekend) for a free early peek at what’s in store for this summer. The pool is now accepting memberships for the 2007 season.
Potluck • Open to all • Live music by Ten Feet Tall

Prince Georges Community Pool
34th and Buchanan Streets in Mt. Rainier, MD
PO Box 181, Mt Rainier, MD 20712
www.pgpool.org

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SUNDAY

HYATTSVILLE HOUSE TOUR
The 28th Annual
Historic Hyattsville House Tour
Sunday, May 20th, 2007
1-5pm

The Hyattsville Preservation Association is honored to once again showcase beautiful homes in Historic Hyattsville. This year’s tour includes nine wonderful homes and gardens. The architectural and decorating styles vary and include Cottage, Art-Deco, Sears Bungalows, a Center Hall Colonial, and a grand Queen-Anne style Victorian.

Each home showcases the owner’s unique approach to making the house comfortable for life in 2007. Our town and our homeowners are proud to share our homes and neighborhood with you. Come see why Hyattsville is a "Good Place to Live" and "A World Within Walking Distance."

The Historic Hyattsville House Tour is a self-guided walking tour through the beautiful City of Hyattsville. For those with difficulty walking the tour, Hyattsville provides a shuttle van that continuously circles the route.

Ticket Information:
Adults: $10 in Advance, $12 Day of Tour
Advance tickets will be available at Franklin’s Restaurant and Store in May. On the day of the tour tickets can be purchased at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD, the tour’s starting location. For additional information contact Ann Barrett, 240.938.6060.

Artspace to Launch Artist Survey for Dance Place Arts and Housing Project - Public Meeting, Thursday, May 10th

This would be fabulous if it comes to fruition!

What: Dance Place has an opportunity to consider redeveloping its facility, along with adjacent property owners, into a multi-story complex by partnering with Artspace Projects, a national nonprofit developer of affordable space for the arts, and Epstein Financial Organization. The complex would house the Dance Place campus, low cost artist lofts, and market rate condominiums.

Artists from Washington and the surrounding area are encouraged to attend a public meeting at Dance Place that will formally launch an on-line survey of artists space needs in the Washington area. Refreshments will be provided. Without your input, and without your help in getting the word out about this survey, we can't make the project a reality.

When: Thursday, May 10th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm
6:30-7:00 Pre-meeting gathering; wine and cheese reception
7:00-8:00 Public meeting and Q & A
8:00-8:30 Creative exchange: networking and socializing

Where: Dance Place, 3225 8th Street, NE

Etc.: The survey, conducted by Artspace Projects of Minneapolis, a national nonprofit real estate developer for the arts, is an important step in a proposal to create a new mixed-use arts center in the Brookland neighborhood. Representatives from Artspace will be on hand to explain how the survey results will be used to shape the project concept and to answer questions from artists.

To sign up to be notified when the survey is live on-line, or to receive project email updates or to take the survey (beginning May 11th) go to: www.ArtspaceWashDC.org. If you have questions about the event, call Artspace and ask for Ezra: 612.333.9012 x0.

» More from Washington Business Journal (subscription only)
» Related: Mt. Rainier Artist Lofts, one key component in the Gateway Arts District along Route 1 (Rhode Island Avenue) in Maryland.

Missing Person: James Johnson

From MPD:

The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing person identified as James Johnson, who resides in Temple Hills, Maryland.

Following a doctor’s appointment, Mr. Johnson was last seen at about noon on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in the 1000 block of North Capitol Street, NE boarding Metrobus Number 80. Metrobus Number 80 travels northbound on North Capitol Street, NE and covers the route from North Capitol Street, NE to the area of Fort Totten, NE.

James Johnson is 69 years old. He is described as a dark complexioned black male, 5'7" tall, weighing approximately 147 pounds, with brown eyes, a grey mustache, and is bald with grey hair on the sides of his head. Reportedly, he was last seen wearing a short blue jacket, champagne colored pants, and a greenish orange colored shirt with stripes of an unkown color. He may appear to be disoriented and is in need of medication.

Anyone who has information regarding Mr. Johnson’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 202.727.9099.

Washington Glass School Annual Open Studio Holiday Party - Saturday, December 9th

What: Washington Glass School Annual Open Studio Holiday Party - see, among many others, local artists and bloggers Sean (and here) and Rania.

When: Saturday, December 9th, 2006, 2-6pm

Where: Washington Glass School Studio, 3708 Wells Avenue, Mt. Rainier, MD

Carjackings and Abductions Near CUA, Hyattsville

MPD is working with the PG County Police Department on a recent series of seemingly related carjackings and abductions. From MPD:

Sometime after 7 pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, a 23-year-old female operating a 2001 Pontiac Aztec near 12th and Newton Streets, NE, stopped behind a silver Honda [Accord]. It was at this time that a man displayed a handgun and forced the woman into the passenger seat of her Aztec and began driving her vehicle. At some point, she was forced into the trunk of a Honda, while another subject got behind the wheel of her Aztec and drove away. The victim is unclear as to how long she was driven around before she was placed in the trunk of the Honda.

At approximately 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, a 27-year-old female was entering a 2006 Chevy Cobalt in a parking lot in the 300 block of Taylor Street, NE. It was at this time that she was stopped by a white Mitsubishi and silver Honda. A man armed with a handgun entered her vehicle and drove off. The woman jumped from the car and made good her escape. It is reported that a short time later that night a man and woman were abducted in Prince George’s County, Maryland [Hyattsville]. The suspect in this case attempted to force the female into the trunk of the Honda, which was already occupied by the female abducted from 12th and Newton Streets, NE. The man and woman in this case managed to escape.

The woman in the trunk of the Honda is uncertain as to the length of time she was driven around and was in the trunk of the vehicle. However, her captors released her near her car in the Northeast section of the city after robbing her of cash, credit cards and a cell phone.

The suspect in the Newton Street case is described as a black male, 18 to 20 years old, approximately 5’5” tall, weighing 130 to 140 pounds, with a long pony tail and wearing a mask. The suspect in the Taylor Street case is described as a medium complexioned black male, approximately 6’1” tall, with a slim build, wearing dark jeans and a mask.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

WaPo and NBC4 have additional details. Apparetnly the Honda was stolen on Sunday morning in Lanham and, the Post adds, "Prince George's police are investigating whether the carjackings are related to possible serial rapes. In the past month, at least four women have been assaulted after being abducted at gunpoint and forced to drive to various locations, where they were raped. [Diane Richardson, a Prince George's police spokeswoman] said that there is no evidence to suggest a connection but that police had not ruled one out."

So Much to Do this Weekend!

Just a selection of the events going on this weekend in and around NE....

BROOKLAND COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP

What: In cooperation with CUA and the DC Department of Public Works' Helping Hand Program, the Brookland CDC is sponsoring a community clean-up in anticipation of the grand opening of Yes! Organic Market (I do not know the exact opening date yet). All tools and trash bags are being supplied through DPW.

When: Saturday, November 11th, 9am-12pm. The clean-up will be followed by a complimentary buffet lunch for all volunteers at the new Cardinal Club, 3514 12th Street, NE.

Where: The clean-up will begin at 12th and Michigan, then travel south along 12th Street picking up trash and cleaning out the tree boxes and planters through Monroe.

Etc.: Contact the Brookland CDC to volunteer at 202.529.8400 or brooklandcdc@aol.com, though I'm sure you'll be welcome if you simply show up.

- - -

CHILDREN'S BOOK SIGNING AND ART EXHIBIT AT ROXANNE'S ARTIQUES

From the press release:

Roxanne’s ARTiques, located at 3426 9th Street NE, on Historic Brookland’s Gallery Row, across the street from the neighborhood landmark Colonel Brooks Tavern, will be showing art produced by the young students of the Harlem School of the Arts. The show features illustrations included in the children's book, Kara Finds Sunshine on a Rainy Day.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2006, from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, featuring a book signing by author Caroline Brewer. On Saturday, November 11, 2006, from 1:00pm - 3:00pm, there will be a reading accompanied by music, and a book signing afterwards. The show will be displayed through Sunday November 12, 2006 [I have also heard the show will be on display through November 19th].

Kara Finds Sunshine on a Rainy Day is no ordinary book! All of the illustrations were produced by children, some as young as six years old, by students attending the prestigious Harlem School of the Arts in New York City and the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey school system. The students created ceramics, pastel drawings, and collages in the style of Romare Bearden.

According to Brewer, "The theme of Kara Finds Sunshine on a Rainy Day is that the sun is always shining even when we can't see it. It's a book of hope and healing for all ages." Readers are introduced to courageous and inspirational historical figures, such as Rosa Parks, Anne Frank, Sitting Bull, Kim Phuc, Cesar Chavez, A. Phillip Randolph, and Mahatma Gandhi. A teacher/parent guide is included to help adults discuss with children coping with life's joys and pains.

Proceeds from sales of the book are being directed to book donations to Gulf Coast families disrupted by Hurricane Katrina.

Roxanne’s ARTiques is owned by Roxanne Carter, a long-time resident of Michigan Park in Greater Brookland. The gallery features artifacts and works of art by national and international artists. The Gallery is open from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, and is located one block from the Brookland/CUA Metro station on the Red Line. For more information contact Roxanne Carter at (202)-526-7020, by email at roxannesartiques@hotmail.com, and on the internet at www.roxannesartiques.com.

- - -

OPEN ART STUDIO

What: Bloomingdale resident, blogger, and artist, Sean Hennessey, is opening his studio in at the Washington Glass School in Mt. Rainier, MD to the public. Visit his art blog, Paint and Plaster, for detailed information and directions.

When: Sunday, November 12th, 2006, 1-5pm

Where: Washington Glass School, 3708 Wells Avenue (REAR), Mt. Rainier, MD

- - -

NE DC HISTORICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING

What: NE DC Historical Society Monthly Meeting - exploring the history of our Northeast Washington communities - past, present, and in years to come.

When: Sunday, November 12th, 2006, 2:30-4pm (later starting time than usual)

Where: Lamond-Riggs Library 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE (at Kennedy Street)

Presentations:
· Chris Holben of the DC Department of Transportation Bicycle Program with an update on the Metropolitan Branch Trail for commuting and communing with neighborhood history, art, and nature.
· James Loewen, best-selling author and noted sociologist on "Sundown Towns: The Exclusionary Communities Around Washington, DC."

Etc.: Meetings are always free and open to the public. For those unable to attend this meeting, don't miss our next month's meeting to be held from 2:00-4:00 pm on Sunday, December 10th, 2006. The meeting location and presentation topics will be announced early next month. Please plan to join us as we focus on more of the history of our prized neighborhoods and institutions of NE DC. Our meetings take place the second Sunday of every month. For further information contact: queenstowndc@yahoo.com.

Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour Saturday, May 20th

The ultimate in multitasking fun! Come out to support community bloggers Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan and local arts at the annual Mount Rainier Day Festival (10am-7pm) and the Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour (12-5pm). Sean has posted detailed info and directions to his and Rania's studio at the Washington Glass School here. I hope to make it out between morning and afternoon work commitments (I'm not complaining - BEA is like heaven for me).

I can't help but see the opportunities for Woodridge's "gateway" by partnering with the budding arts district just steps away. This should not be overlooked by our ANC or the Council. I guess the pestering starts here.

Also of note on Saturday: A tour of the Florida Market area, hosted by Richard Layman and Elise of Frozen Tropics. Count me in for next month!