Text Box: HISTORY OF CABIN JOHN PORTRAYED IN NEW BOOK Who or what is Cabin John? That’s what Judy Welles’s new book, “Cabin John: Legends and Life of an uncommon Place” is ready to tell you. The 144-page book was just published by the Cabin John Citizens Association and was a featured attraction of the community’s June celebration to honor the 400th anniversary of Capt. John Smith’s journeys up the Potomac River. This fascinating book contains chapters on the legends around the name “Cabin John;” on the river, canal, and roads; the Union Arch Bridge; and the old Cabin John Hotel, as well as the variety of houses and people who have settled there. It is lavishly illustrated with old photos, some never-before-published, culled from many private and public collections. The book is available at the Bethesda Coop in Cabin John or directly from Judy Welles for $15 plus $2.70 postage if mailed. You can contact her at 8301 River Trail Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817 or judywelles@verizon.net. Text Box: TOWN COUNCIL NOTES May 27 The council discussed the new park established on land donated by the late Shirley Strong at the corner of University and Princeton Aves So that plants and flowers planted by Ms. Strong could be made available (free) to town residents, the town's contract with John Shorb Landscaping provided that no work should be done on the rear of the park. The result was an unsightly area of weeds and potholes, noted Councilmember Robin Kogelnik, who offered a motion to have Chapel Valley Landscaping dig up the weeds, fill the holes and put in sod. Councilmembers Nancy Long and Steve Matney abstained, but Ms Kogelnik's motion was approved by Mayor Beers and Councilmember Eve Arber. (The new work has been accomplished, according to Clerk-Treasurer Cathie Polak.) The council discussed a draft of a letter to David Vela, Superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, from the town's attorney, Norman Knopf, which attempts to finally get the U.S. government to formally agree that Oxford Rd. is town property. In October 2006, the town was advised informally that legal counsel for the National Park Service had concluded that the street was a town road, and that the town would receive a written confirmation of this conclusion. Nothing has come of it to date. But Councilmember Steve Matney objected to the draft letter's warning, printed in bolded italics, that if the NPS does not confirm the town's ownership, or provides documentation disputing the town's position, within 30 days, "this letter will be considered an acknowledgement by the National Park Service that the National Park Service does not own Oxford Road but that it is a Town road under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of the Town." Mr. Matney said the town could not "legally dictate to the federal government" and suggested softening the language. He also asked whether the letter ought to be addressed to someone higher than the acting superintendent (Mr. Vela has been reassigned to Atlanta), such as the regional director. (The letter is being rewritten, according to Clerk-Treasurer Cathie Polak.) --Rex Rhein Text Box: DIDN’T GET YOUR ECHO ON TIME? The scheduled delivery date for The Echo is the Sunday before the first Monday of each month. If you don’t get your copy by that date, please notify circulation manager Jane Stevenson at 301-229-3578. It is only by hearing from you that we know there is a circulation delay.