Letters
(cont.)
Globetrotting with the Hill Rag The year was 1997 and I had just moved from overseas to Capitol Hill with my new husband, a Foreign Service officer who had a stint at the State Department. What could I do in DC after exciting years in Buenos Aires, followed by Guatemala City. My trepidation was quickly quelled when we strolled through Capitol Hill and Susan Braun Johnson, School Notes Editor with discovered Eastern Market in full swing her family in Costa Rica. one Saturday afternoon. The crowd was diA Helping Hand verse and seemed cool. We drank beer at How do I start? The paper was instrumental in our struggle to training, we came back to the Hill, and back to Tunnicliff’s and watched the passersby while I the Rag. My eldest son, then 2.5 started at the get the necessary services from DCPS for our son after he sufthumbed the Hill Rag. Later we enjoyed fajitas Hill Preschool while I strolled my younger son fered a stroke in 2004. If it had not been for the exposure from and margaritas at Las Placitas. It was all good! the interviews and articles published by the Hill Rag, DCPS around trying to sell ads. I began writing, and proAs in the previous overseas posts, I had to posed a Kids and Family section. Melissa agreed officials would have either ignored us or dragged their feet to start over and find a new job so I grabbed the and when we moved overseas again to Sofia, Bulmake the situation untenable. Rag’s classifieds, spotted their ad for a part-time garia I began telecommuting, editing the School Getting DCPS to listen was next to impossible, but seeing advertising sales person and got an interview Notes and writing an occasional travel article... the lack of action and worse, lack of enforcement in print was with Melissa Ashabranner. She hired me on oh and one more kid. Sometimes the time difthe impetus for them to try and make it right. No, we didn’t get the spot and I quickly began my beat pound- ference or conditions like power outages abroad everything, but without the exposure the Rag provided I feel ing the Hill pavement. threw a loop into deadline, but we always made there’s no doubt we wouldn’t have gotten anything! And I used Meanwhile Melissa became my mentor on it work. And still do. those same articles when he went to college to get assurance all things Hill and Rag related while Jean-Keith We went on to London, and Jerusalem that he would receive the accommodations he would need to and I became friends, chatting about reggae and and Mexico City and now we are in San Salvacomplete his education. Thank you, Andrew. jazz music while I watched him design the ads dor and I’m still doing the School Notes which I was bringing in. keeps me connected not only to Capitol Hill, Francis Campbell, fmbaytoven2002@yahoo.com But then the bittersweet news came and we but to the Hill Rag, and Jean-Keith and Meliswere headed back abroad, sa who are all as special to me as the first day I this time to Madrid. We walked into the office on 7th Street SE almost Keith was so enthusiasA Dreamer kept in touch and when twenty years ago. Happy Anniversary Hill Rag! tic, charming, and enOh yes, indeed, I have we returned four years tertaining that we always clear recollections of the later with two kids in tow Love, Susan Braun Johnson looked forward to his visbirth of the Hill Rag! for a year of language School Notes Editor its. But I can’t say that Steve and I would we were entirely conbe at work in our office vinced that that a twoat 419 East Capitol Street Happy Anniversary Hill Rag! page flyer would have and Jean-Keith Fagon In March 2003 I placed my first display ad in the Hill Rag and the impact hoped for. would knock on the door thus announced my new landscape design business. I met Well, I’m embarrassed that we were every week or so to report on the progmy first clients this way, and many of these people have beress of his new venture, the Hill Rag. blind to the possibilities. And now look come close personal friends. I met talented contractors this As I recall, the first iteration of the Rag what’s happened! way, and still collaborate with the same people. Jean Keith and Melissa Ashabwas simply a one pager, printed front The Hill Rag offered me the opportunity to share my ranner and Managing Editor Andrew and back . expertise in writing, and now I am a monthly garden Jean-Keith was just sure that this Lightman bring the entire Capitol Hill columnist. I am proud to write for one of the few rewas the beginning something big—a Community to us every single month maining independent neighborhood publications, neighborhood publication that would of the year and dreamer Jean-Keith and happy to have the editor and publisher as connect all parts of the community to- Fagon has fulfilled his crazy vision. I friends. Happy Anniversary Hill Rag! Thanks gether with advertisements and news am in awe. for all you do for the community and the city. and photographs taken by him with the big camera he always carried. Jean Nicky Cymrot Cheryl Corson, Landscape Architect
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