Editors Notes

By david roffman

MAY 2008

For those out-of-towners coming here for the Garden Tour, you might be interested to know that in May 1751, this Town was authorized by act of the Maryland Assembly and thereby six commissioners were appointed to lay out and erect the Town and to purchase 60 acres of parts of land owned by George Gordon and George Beall. The plat of the town, which was completed on Feb. 27, 1752, gave colorful names to the streets and lanes such as Wapping, The Keys, Fishing, Duck, and Cherry Lanes; Gay, High, and Bridge Streets; all reminiscent of the mother country. The loyal subjects gave the name of “George Town” to this important new new town to honor their king, His Majesty George II of England.

On Sunday, May 4, the Jackson Art Center in Georgetown, on R Street NW between 31st and Avon Place, will be open from 12 noon to 5 p.m., showcasing the works of its local artist members in its Spring Open Studios. Jackson opens only 2 times a year, the first Sunday of May and the first Sunday of Decembert, for this semi-annual event. It is free to the public. Jackson offers a treasury full of art hidden away in an old decommissioned DC Elementary school – a red brick Victorian schoolhouse – right across the street from Montrose Park, and just down the road from Dumbarton Oaks. If you live in Georgetown and have not visited the Jackson Art Center, then shame on you. It’s like saying you are a Georgetowner but you have never been on the House Tour, or the Garden Tour, or to Billy Martins.

It is with great sadness that we report that Linda Greenan’s sister, Betsy McDonald, passed away last week. Linda Greenan is vice president at GU in President John DeGoia’s office. Her sister Betsy lived with Multiple Sclerosis for nearly 40 years. Despite the diagnosis of MS at the age of 23, Betsy was a teacher with the Prince Georges County Public School System for nearly 20 years, where she taught children with special needs. She had been ill since December 2007 and succumbed peacefully while a resident at Collingswood Nursing Home in Rockville, where a memorial service was held on Friday, April 18. Our prayers are with you and your family Linda.