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Rachel Carson Turns 100

Earlier this week Maryland delegates heard testimony on a bill that would declare May 27th "Rachel Carson Day." Best known as the author of Silent Spring which led to the banning of the pesticide DDT, Carson is considered by some as the mother of the modern environmental movement. She would have turned 100 this May. The occasion will be celebrated with a variety of events in the Washington region where Carson spent most of her adult life. Metro Connection's Sidsel Overgaard reports on some of the people working to keep her legacy alive.

Kiaulani Lee performs "A Sense of Wonder" at 7:00pm on Friday, March 9th, 2007, at the Carnegie Institution at P Street, Northwest.

Grand Avenues, Complex Personality

Pierre Charles L'Enfant - his name is regularly tossed around these days as the man who laid out the plans for the nation's capital. But during his lifetime he never received credit for his work and in fact won no official recognition as the District's designer until more than 75 after his death.

A new book, "Grand Avenues: The Story of the French Visionary who Designed Washington, DC," lays out the L'Enfant story and dissects the personality of the man. We're joined by the author, Scott W. Berg. He also teaches writing at George Mason University.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - the Uninsured

WAMU Senior Commentator Fred Fiske has long believed that one of the chief purposes of government is to make life fairer for the most disadvantaged of its citizens - and although a recent poll shows that many taxpayers feel the same way, the head of the government seems to always go in the opposite direction.

Inner-City Golf

In crowded urban settings it's easier to find space for basketball courts and football fields than for an 18-hold golf course. But a program called "First Tee," sponsored by the World Golf Foundation, wants to bring the sport into DC high schools. And Mayor Adrian Fenty has been quick to endorse the idea. It was announced this week that "First Tee" will get its feet wet at Calvin Coolidge High, supplying equipment and hands-on training for an extra-curricular golf club. Program coordinators say it's all about teaching integrity, honesty and sportsmanship - not about learning the best way to curse and hurl your club when you miss a shot. Metro Connection's Stephanie Kaye was there for the announcement at Calvin Coolidge High.

Jazz in Washington - Part VI

Last week the Kennedy Center launched an eight day program called "Jazz In Our Time" that wraps up with its final concerts this weekend. As part of the festivities, here on Metro Connection we've been running a series of conversations called "Jazz in Washington, DC." Pianist and radio and TV personality Billy Taylor, and sax and flute master Frank Wess both spent their teen years in the District. Today in part six of the series, they remember some of the unsung heroes from the DC jazz scene.

"Jazz in Washington, DC" was produced by Richard Paul for ARTSEDGE, the Kennedy Center's educational media program. The Kennedy Center's eight-day "Jazz in Our Time" series ends this weekend with a concert by Ahmad Jamal Friday, March 9th, and the Hank Jones Quartet on Saturday, March 10th.

Mondo DC - the DEA Museum

When families plan trips to DC, visits to the National Archives and the Air and Space Museum are carefully planned. Today we visit an attraction that rarely makes the vacation short list...the DEA Museum. A display on substance abuse through the ages run by the Drug Enforcement Administration might not be at the top of YOUR list, but it's perfect for Jeff Bagato, author of "Mondo DC: an Insider's Guide to Washington, DC's Most Unusual Tourist Attractions." David Furst met Jeff in the Arlington museum.