First and foremost, there was a sobering post to the Save Our Market mailing list today, noting that Market merchants and vendors, and Market-area stores (like those along Seventh and Pennsylvania) have noted declines in their business of as much as 25 to 50% over the past two weeks. That's as good an argument as any for why the temporary building needs to go up as quickly as possible, and why it's important to continue letting everyone know that until then, most every Market merchant is open for business in some capacity and that the entire community of shops and stores is still as great as ever. To this end, CHCF will host two different events at the Market -- on Saturday, the new murals covering all the boarded-up windows will be dedicated, and on Sunday (as we've previously mentioned) Mayor Fenty and Councilmember Wells will be on hand to highlight the merchants who've been able to continue their operations outside the Market. Tell everyone you know!
In addition to the above, the CHCF desperately needs volunteers to help out with the table on Seventh Street this weekend -- both helping put up and take down the tent on each day, and staffing the table in shifts of an hour or two. Please, please, please, if you can help, drop Gary Peterson a line at pgarylaw@aol.com.
There are a bunch of Market-related articles in the latest issue of Voice of the Hill (the May 31st issue), which you can pick up at locations throughout the Hill or read online. Ben Weinstein's cover article, “Online donations boost market comeback”, goes into a lot of detail of how CHCF has been able to raise money online for the Market (and I was even interviewed about how this site has helped keep the cause alive!). Celeste McCall has an article, “Market devotees in search of alternatives” that talks about how difficult regular patrons have found it to find a substitute for the food and experience of the Market. There are two op-ed pieces, one by Steven Miller reminding people that the Market is still open, and another by Eighth Street resident Gary Rahl on how the city needs to remember the neighbors while planning the temporary building and the South Hall rebuilding effort. And best of all, the back of the issue is devoted to a full-page ad declaring the Market “Open for Business!”, complete with full-bleed photo of Mrs. Calomiris offering up fresh tomatoes.
The Washington Times had an article today noting that the fire and construction process at the South Hall has led to the rats and rodents of the area relocating into the alleys of the surrounding streets, much to the chagrin of the residents. The city appears to have a handle on the situation, for now -- the Department of Health is inspecting the entire area weekly, and residents have noticed an improvement as the work has proceeded.
Remember tomorrow night's spaghetti dinner and silent auction at Christ Church -- if you're there, come find us and say hi!