SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010
KLMNO
Blossom Watch: Best Bets
Blooming period
JOHN KELLY’S WASHINGTON
21 22 23 24 29
28 4
11 30
31
1
= peak
SM T W T F S
MARCH
25 26
APRIL
5 67 8 9
Sunday’s scheduled events:
• Target stage at Sylvan Theater
Performances include: Halau
(Hawaiian dance), Lucky Day (band), O'Neill-James School (Irish dance), Ryu Kyu KoKu Matsuri USA & Imajin of Okinawa, Japan (taiko); Flo Anito (soloist).
Time: Noon Cost: Free
• Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run
World-class runners and 15,000 running enthusiasts take part in the annual “Runner’s Rite of Spring.” Entry closed. Spectators encouraged.
AMY REININK FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Cherry trees form a canopy over a street in Kenwood. The trees were part of the 80-year-old neighborhood’s original plan.
At blossom time, Kenwood basks in a glory of its own
display? Does it have its own unique story, or is it merely an offshoot of the Tidal Basin beginnings, with which we are more familiar?
—Jessie Smith, Washington
W
Offshoot of the Tidal Basin, no, but Kenwood’s signature trees were certainly inspired by Washington’s blooming cherries. Kenwood is a handsome neighborhood of $1 million-plus homes between River Road and Little Falls Parkway in Chevy Chase. It was developed by Edgar Kennedy — he of the Kennedy-Warren apartment building in the District — and his partner, Donal Chamberlin. The developers were especially interested in landscape design,
said Ted Beverly,
who has lived in Kenwood since 1978 and wrote a history of the neighborhood. They started planting the trees even before they started building the houses. The first houses were completed in 1929, but work on the landscaping started two years earlier. “It was a big job,” Ted said.
“Mr. Kennedy’s teenage son did nothing but haul water from Somerset to Kenwood one summer because the water mains hadn’t been installed yet.” The cherry trees that were planted around the Tidal Basin in 1912 inspired Kennedy and Chamberlin, but it was actually aMontgomery County resident who first proposed the blossoming trees for our area. David Fairchild was a Department of Agriculture “plant explorer” who lived in Chevy Chase. In 1906, he imported 100 trees from the Yokohama Nursery Co. and planted them on a hillside of his property, proving that the trees would thrive in our area. Kenwood’s developers used an early form of social media to increase interest in the neighborhood and persuade people to leave the city for the suburbs. A real estate agent named Charles Jerman bought a house in the neighborhood. “I think Jerman and Chamberlin had gone to Yale,” said Ted. “They contacted old Yale buddies, and a bunch of them
hat can you tell us about the history of Kenwood’s gorgeous cherry blossom
bought houses in Kenwood.” (Jerman’s main claim to fame? He was supposedly the first agent in Washington to drive clients around in his own automobile, starting a tradition that continues to this day.) Kennedy and Chamberlin’s original plan was to alternate maple trees with cherry trees. They didn’t know how long cherry trees would last. But, Ted said, “within a few years the cherries were so spectacular they didn’t plant any more maple.” By 1934, 2,000 Yoshino cherry trees had been planted. In springtime, blossom-heavy branches arch over Kenwood’s streets like a snowy ceiling. They draw thousands of visitors. If you’re overly bothered by people driving slowly in front of your house, don’t move to Kenwood. A
If you’re overly bothered by people driving slowly in front of your house, don’t move to Kenwood.
Washington Post reporter wrote in 1939: “It occurred to one that the throng might produce some resentment, but to the credit of the Kenwood population no such feeling was apparent.” The community association works out a discount with an area nursery if homeowners need to replace a dead tree. There is, however, no covenant that requires residents to replace a cherry with a cherry. “You could put a walnut tree in if you wanted to,” Ted said. “It’s strictly tradition and not necessity.” But why would you want to do
that? Ted said: “Everybody I talked to in Kenwood first became aware of Kenwood by driving through and seeing cherry trees and thinking this would be a neat place to live. A large number of people came here as tourists.” Alas, this year’s bloom is over.
“The blossoms were spectacular but very short-lived this year,” Ted said. “But I’ll let you in on a secret. In another week or 10 days, the azaleas will be out. No one comes to see them, but they’re spectacular.”
answerman@washpost.com.
LOTTERIES
April 10
DISTRICT
Mid-Day Lucky Numbers:
Mid-Day D.C. 4: Mid-Day DC-5:
Lucky Numbers (Fri.): Lucky Numbers (Sat.): D.C. 4 (Fri.): D.C. 4 (Sat.): DC-5 (Fri.): DC-5 (Sat.): Daily 6 (Fri.): Daily 6 (Sat.):
MARYLAND
Mid-Day Pick 3:
Mid-Day Pick 4:
Night/Pick 3 (Fri.): Pick 3 (Sat.): Pick 4 (Fri.): Pick 4 (Sat.): Match 5 (Fri.): Match 5 (Sat.):
8-1-9 7-3-9-5
7-7-3-0-8 5-2-1 N/A
9-3-0-9 N/A
7-8-9-4-2 N/A
1-3-6-15-26-39 *17 N/A
4-8-9
3-5-7-3 5-9-8 N/A
2-4-1-7 N/A
12-17-20-34-39 *6 N/A
VIRGINIA
Day/Pick-3:
Pick-4: Cash-5:
Night/Pick-3 (Fri.): Pick-3 (Sat.): Pick-4 (Fri.): Pick-4 (Sat.): Cash-5 (Fri.): Cash-5 (Sat.): Win for Life:
MULTI-STATE GAMES
Powerball:
Power Play:
Mega Millions: Hot Lotto:
*Bonus Ball **Mega Ball
All winning lottery numbers are official only when validated at a lottery ticket location or a lottery claims office. Because of late drawings, some results do not appear in early editions. For late lottery results, check www.washingtonpost.com/lottery.
2-9-6 5-5-8-1
1-6-16-24-27 2-8-6 N/A
7-1-0-1 N/A
5-6-22-27-32 N/A N/A
N/A N/A
15-18-39-48-53 **3 N/A
Location: 15th Street and Jefferson Drive NW. Time: 7:45 a.m. – noon
Cost: Free
• Washington Rugby Football Club: 44th Annual Cherry
Blossom Rugby Tournament
Invitation-only rugby tournament features best teams from across the U.S. in College Men’s and Women’s Divisions and a High School Boys Division. This year’s tournament includes international competition.
Location: Rosecroft Raceway, 6338 Rosecroft Dr., Fort Washington Time: 8 a.m.
For a guide to events throughout the festival, as well as a downloadable audio tour of the Tidal Basin, go to
washingtonpost.com/cherryblossoms.
27 2 3 10
Cherry Blossom Festival
March 27–April 11
S
C3
Festival parade features finery and a famous frog
PHOTOS BY RICKY CARIOTI/THE WASHINGTON POST
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade offers frills, above, and fun, at left, for those who turn out to watch. Making their way along Constitution Avenue were members of the Eastern Shore Optimist Club Dogwood Trail Court of Baldwin County, Ala. And on several long leashes came Kermit the Frog, in fine balloon form.
McDonnell in hot water again with rights advocates in Va.
offenders from C1
tively — as well as a host of state leaders, including members of the black caucus. McDonnell later apologized and amended the proclamation, but now some of the same people who were angry about it are ques- tioning his changes to the process of restoring voting rights. McDonnell’s
administration
said the essay requirement is de- signed to put a human face on each applicant and to help staff members better understand each person’s situation. “It gives all applicants the op-
portunity to have their cases heard and have their full stories told,” said Janet Polarek, secretary of the commonwealth, whose of- fice handles the requests. “It’s an opportunity, not an obstacle.” McDonnell is revamping the entire system for felons to have their rights restored as he works to make good on a campaign pledge to process every applica- tion within 90 days, considerably faster than any other administra- tion in recent history. “Under Republican and Demo-
cratic governors, they have had to wait six to 12 months — longer in some cases — to get an answer,” Polarek said. “Under the McDon- nell administration, our goal is to restore the rights of everyone who has fulfilled their obligation in the most timely manner in Vir- ginia’s recent history.” McDonnell has not restored
any felon’s rights since he was sworn into office Jan. 16, although applications have started to be processed. The new process is still being developed and is several weeks away from being imple- mented. Polarek said she does not know whether she will need more money or staff to read the essays or speed up the process. Under Virginia’s constitution, people convicted of a felony auto- matically lose the rights to vote, serve on a jury and own a gun. About 300,000 felons who have served their time do not have those rights. A governor can re- store those rights to felons who appear to have redeemed them- selves.
Only Virginia and Kentucky re- quire an act of the governor to re- store voting rights to felons. The vast majority of states, including Maryland, automatically restore voting rights after a sentence is completed. The District allows felons to vote upon their release from prison. In Virginia, under a system de- signed by then-Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), felons convicted of nonviolent crimes have been able to apply to have their voting rights restored by filling out a one-page form with information about their arrest and conviction. Bernard Henderson, who
served as deputy secretary of the commonwealth under Warner and his successor, Timothy M. Kaine (D), said voting rights were restored to applicants who had clean records for three years after their sentences were completed.
He said that restoration was not automatic but that rights were re- stored to about 95 percent of those who applied. In coming weeks, McDonnell will start requiring nonviolent of- fenders to write a letter to him ex- plaining the circumstances of their arrest; their efforts to get a job, seek an education and partic- ipate in church and community activities; and why they believe their rights should be restored.
er individuals having their rights restored,’’ said Kent Willis, exec- utive director of the Virginia branch of the American Civil Lib- erties Union. Polarek said that if applicants had trouble with the essay, they could have a lawyer or someone else write it for them; they could even call her office for help. She said her office would hold a meet- ing with the ACLU, churches and other groups that work with fel-
“It’s an opportunity, not an
obstacle.”
—Janet Polarek, secretary of the commonwealth
Some applicants already have been notified that letters will be required.
Groups that work with felons to help restore their rights worry that applicants will be intimidat- ed by the essay and will not both- er to apply. “The governor may be able to
fulfill his campaign promise to process applications more quick- ly, but if there are fewer applica- tions due to more onerous re- quirements, there will still be few-
ons to explain the process. Applicants will be judged on
whether they have fulfilled their sentences and are contributing members of society, according to McDonnell administration offi- cials. Decisions will be made by the secretary of the common- wealth’s office and the office of the governor’s counsel. McDonnell will not review the cases. Felons who commit violent or drug-distribution crimes have to wait five years to apply to have
their rights restored in Virginia. They have to fill out a longer form, submit reference letters and certi- fied copies of court documents, and write a letter to the governor. That process will not change. Mc- Donnell will review those cases, as other governors have. Before Warner’s changes, the same process applied to nonvio- lent offenders.
Kaine restored the civil rights of a record 4,402 felons during his term, and Warner restored rights to 3,486. Republican predecessors James S. Gilmore III and George Allen restored rights to 238 and 460 felons, respectively. In the past, Republicans have
asserted that Democratic gover- nors have restored voting rights to more felons than have Repub- lican governors because felons are more likely to vote for Demo- crats.
About 650 cases remained open when Kaine left office, according to Christie Heath, McDonnell’s deputy secretary of the common- wealth. Since McDonnell’s inau- guration, Heath said applications have been received from 213 non- violent and 55 violent offenders, although 93 were returned be- cause they were incomplete.
kumaranita@washpost.com
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