Text Box: EDWARD (“NED”) DAVIS SACKS, 1951-2006 Longtime Glen Echo resident Ned Sacks died of cancer May 16 after a long illness. He was 54. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, Ned was born in Heidelberg, Germany, but had lived in the Bethesda area since childhood. He graduated from Landon School and Valley Forge Military Academy and attended Denison University. He then began working at his family’s Bank of Bethesda, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1919, and was its vice-president until the bank was sold to Crestar Bank in 1985. He continued his involvement in his family’s business interests and provided financial support to some small business ventures, including the former Inn at Glen Echo. Ned’s survivors include Debbie, his wife of 25 years, and son Robert Davis. A memorial service held at St. Johns Norwood Parish, Chevy Chase, on May 20, was attended by many Glen Echo residents. The song, “The Parting Glass” from the movie “Waking Ned Devine” was played at Ned’s memorial service. In honor of Ned, “Waking Ned Devine” was shown at the Glen Echo Movie Festival on Saturday, May 27. Text Box: TOWN ENACTS COMPETITIVE BIDDING ORDINANCE By Tom Helf After some minor tweaking to the previously circulated version, the town council unanimously passed at its May 8 meeting an ordinance to provide for competitive bidding on certain town purchases and contracts. The ordinance went into effect on May 12, 2006, and copies of the final version were distributed to all town residents. Among other things, the new ordinance permits expenditures of less than $1,000 to be made by the Mayor without approval of the council. Expenditures between $1,000 and $5,000 could be made by the mayor subject to the consent of the council, and expenditures over $5,000 would have to be made after a competitive bidding process. Text Box: PLANT EXCHANGE A GREAT SUCCESS On a beautiful spring morning last month, some dozen Glen Echoans acquired new plants for their gardens at no cost to themselves. In the first town plant exchange, hopefully to be an annual event, each participant also contributed specimens from his/her own yard for others to enjoy. The event was organized by Carol Barton of Yale Ave. It took place at the town park on May 6, lasted an hour, and involved no preliminary work. Gardeners simply dug up some of their extra plants and displayed them for the taking while selecting from those others had brought. Curiously, there was very little duplication of plants. Among those available were hostas, Echinacea, sedum, lilac, basil, mondo grass, begonias, phlox, Wandering Jew, and many others. It was an enjoyable event, and Glen Echo gardens are the beneficiaries.