DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Huzzah for Friday!

Students From Watkins Elementary School Pay Tribute To Martin Luther King, Jr. “For the seventh year, fourth grade students took buses to the Lincoln Memorial and recited the words of Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Each of about 100 students read one part of the speech, a sentence or two or sometimes just a phrase. But do students at such a tender age really understand the words and the legacy of the Civil Rights legend? Students told FOX 5 the speech means everyone, no matter who, is entitled to equal rights. As for whether King’s dream has come true, one student said, “No, not yet. It’s come close, but not yet.” (myfoxdc.com)

Md. father uses robocall to get revenge on school officials “At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, phones began ringing with 29 seconds of automated, mocking objection: This is a Prince George’s County School District parent, calling to thank you for the robocall yesterday at 4:30 in the morning. I decided to return the favor. While I know the school district wanted to ensure I drop my child off two hours late on a snow day, I already knew that before I went to bed. I hope this call demonstrates why a 4:30 a.m. call does more to annoy than to inform.” (The Washington Post)

Eww: Metro Employees Urinate and Defecate on Trains and Buses “…Metro employees aren’t only using pocket tracks to relieve themselves during their shifts — some have even taken to urinating and defecating inside trains and buses…one bus operator told Weir that she “used to go into a cup or bag at the back of her bus when a bathroom stop wasn’t an option” — though that kind of behavior has been slightly curbed since WMATA installed cameras on its buses. According to the transit workers’ union, the reason for the peeing and pooping all over Metro’s property is that operators don’t have sufficient time to use the bathroom during their breaks, even when there is a bathroom nearby…” (DCist)

Ellwood Thompson’s ends DC USA lease “…the news is now official: Ellwood Thompson’s has decided not to open a grocery store within the DC USA development in Columbia Heights. In a statement Thursday, the Richmond-based grocer said the company has come to a mutual agreement with Grid Properties Inc., which developed DC USA, to terminate the lease. Ellwood Thompson’s cited “challenging economic circumstances” as the reason for terminating…Broker Dave Dochter of Cushman & Wakefield, who represents DC USA, tells me that the company has been engaged in discussions with several grocery operators as possible backup tenants for Ellwood Thompson’s.” (bizjournals.com)

D.C. Most Popular Place to Move “A new migration study by United Van Lines ranked the District as the most popular destination to move to in 2010. The study tracked where customers of the company moved from and where they moved to over the past 12 months. This is the third year that the District has come out on top. The Situation in the Garden State, however, looks bleak. New Jersey, despite being Snooki-rific, was the state with the highest outbound traffic.” (NBC Washington)

D.C. Considers a Name Change for Pennsylvania Avenue “…residents of Washington, D.C., are considering a ceremonial name change for the District’s most famous street. Despite years of agitating, D.C.’s 600,000 residents still don’t have any representation in Congress (and the president won’t even rep their license plates), so they’re looking to draw attention to their plight with what Lydia DePillis calls “guerilla public space planning.” The possible rechristening of Pennsylvania Avenue will be up for discussion…Lawmakers won’t even attempt to strip the street of its original moniker, but they could put up “ceremonial street designation signs” under the more traditional ones.” (slatest.slate.com)