BETHESDA U.P. RESTORES VETERANS PARK FLAG LIGHTING

U.S. FLAG

FLYING AGAIN

TUESDAY NIGHT

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The U.S. Flag illumination problems in Bethesda's Veterans Park I reported here Monday morning, have been corrected.

Tuesday, 8:30 PM

Workers from Bethesda Urban Partnership fixed the lighting, and by last evening, the Stars and Stripes were flapping over Veterans Park once again.

Earlier Tuesday, I received a Twitter message from Bethesda U.P. that said the lighting for the flag was going to be fixed, and in the meantime, the flag would be raised in the morning, and taken down by dark.

So I was surprised to find the flag - properly lit - already flying over the park last night.

Bethesda U.P. released photos showing workers in action Tuesday.

Bethesda U.P. workers repair flag display
lighting at Veterans Park Tuesday
[Photo: Bethesda U.P.]

Kudos to Bethesda U.P. for addressing this matter, and I highly recommend everyone stop by and see the flag in its fully-lit glory after dark.  But if you can't, I've posted a photo above.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE: KENWOOD FIREWORKS ASTOUND, POWER OUTAGES ABOUND

There were more lights in the sky over some parts of Bethesda, than there were on the ground below.

Some residents and businesses remained without power last night, including the neighborhood of Kenwood Park (bordered by River Road, Goldsboro Road, Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard) and 7-11 on River Road.

Meanwhile, many homes in hard-hit 20817 had their power restored throughout the Independence Day holiday.

While Montgomery County Government inexplicably canceled its official fireworks displays (as did cities with close political ties, like Rockville and Gaithersburg), thanks to the private Kenwood Golf and Country Club, Bethesda residents in-the-know were still able to enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.

A record crowd gathered nearby, and there was no nightmarish trip home on hot, crowded Metro cars, and no pickpockets to deal with!

If Friday's storm proved anything, it's that the demise of the air-conditioned, American indoor shopping mall, and personal automobile, have been prematurely predicted by the usual suspects.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE - POWER OUTAGES, COOLING CENTERS

Heat Alert! Storm Alert!

There is a chance of storms today, the temperature will be high (what a shock!) and many are still without power.

For those reasons, the Bethesda Library on Arlington Road will be opened as a cooling center (and as a library, of course: books, internet, etc.) from noon until 8 PM tonight.

You'll be a short walk from the barbecue on Bethesda Lane in front of Redwood between 12 and 6 PM, if you'd like a burger or hot dog.

New Power Outages

Last night's storm caused an additional 11,000 outages.

Old Power Outages

Kenwood (the neighborhood, not the club!) was without power as of 11:00 PM last night.

Power Restorations

Pepco made some progress in the hard-hit 20816 and 20817 zip codes.  Residents near Fernwood and Greentree Roads reported having power by mid-evening last night.

Gas stations on River Road reopened, but 7-11 appeared to remain closed.

Power was restored for the first time in the Springfield neighborhood off River Road.

Stay tuned to @BethesdaRow on Twitter and this blog for the latest news!

2 MORE PHOTOS ADDED TO BETHESDA STORM GALLERY

Power returns to downtown Bethesda - click here to view gallery!

VICTORY FOR BETHESDA VETERANS: NIGHT LIGHTING RESTORED AT VETERANS PARK MEMORIAL

Mission accomplished:  After raising the question last week as to why the lighting at the Veterans Park memorial has been off at night for as long as 2 years, I am pleased to report that it has been restored as of last night.

June 24, 2012

July 2, 2012

Not only are the "dancing waters," as David Letterman would call them, illuminated again, but for one night, our urban park has once again come to life.

Instead of shadowy figures slumping in the dark, the crowds were larger, there was much more energy in the area, and less of the after-hours-we're-closed ambiance the park has projected for too long.

Most importantly, the primary purpose of the park - a memorial to Bethesda's soldiers killed in action from World War I to the "Gulf Wars" - has once again taken center stage.  Monday night, I saw many people standing at the memorial and reading its inscription.

I just have to wonder, what took so long?

Why were the night lights off in the first place?

And much like the scandal of the new Bethesda Post Office, where were the members of the county council?  Why does it take a post by a citizen blogger to get things done, when we're paying these folks $100,000 a year?

It appears their lack of familiarity with downtown Bethesda also extends to its veterans' memorial.

I'd be willing to bet that at least half of our carpetbagger council has never even been to Veterans Park.  Heck, I doubt half of them even know it's there!

But then again, this is a council that includes members like George Leventhal, who infamously declared in 2010 that Bethesda had no 5 star restaurants, and that he had to go to Fairfax County to dine out.  And the same council that handed Wheaton's Veterans Park over to a for-profit developer - with no requirement that it be replaced by a new memorial!  An outrageous insult to veterans for which they were never held accountable by local media.

Our elected officials talk a good game about veterans, much like they talk about farmers, jobs, traffic gridlock, and the poor and "vulnerable."  But as I always say, don't listen to what they say; examine what they actually do.  And on each of these topics, you'll conclude their efforts haven't amounted to anything.

They have a veteran-related TV show, but they don't have a problem leaving a veterans memorial dark indefinitely.

The lights are back on, and I invite the county council to stop by and discover Veterans Park, and pay their respects.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE: SOME POWER RESTORED, WSSC LIFTS WATER RESTRICTIONS

Overnight, Pepco crews restored some power in downtown Bethesda, and in parts of the suburbs.

After one of my informants reported a Pepco convoy heading out River Road after 5 PM Sunday, residents of Wood Haven near Wilson Lane had power back around an hour later.  By mid-evening, power was restored to some businesses on St. Elmo Avenue, including Chef Tony's and Jiffy Shoppes.  Jiffy Shoppes will reopen today, and Chef Tony's plans to open at 5:00 PM for dinner until 10:00 PM, if all goes well.

Other neighborhoods remained dark, however.

Finally, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Public Information Officer Scott Graham announced that the WSSC water restrictions have been cancelled overnight.

Stay tuned to @BethesdaRow on Twitter for more storm-related news.