It is with great sadness that I write this. Reggie passed away quietly on the morning of August 28, 2024. He and I had discussed in some detail how to keep him alive until we could find alternative treatments that would enable him to manage his cancer. We were in the process of making plans, and we held out hope that there was sufficient time to execute those plans.

At about 1:30 am, however, Reggie’s blood count dropped to a dangerously low level and he began to experience great pain. He was offered morphine, and in true Reggie fashion, he refused it, opting to die naturally.

I know that you share my grief. It sounds odd for me to say it about my only sibling, but Reggie was among the most unique people I ever met. He faced cancer with extraordinary courage, and at no point did he ever complain or express fear about moving onto the next life.

Reggie died without life insurance or burial insurance, and so I ask you, his friends and family, for small contributions that will enable us to honor his wishes for his cremation and a fitting memorial. Some of you have already been extraordinarily generous, but we need additional funds to create an appropriate send-off.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-give-reggie-a-fitting-memorial

“We have an approved MOT that we are in the process of implementing.  Unfortunately, it was approved just before school opened and we could not have everything in place as we would have liked.  We are working with the contractor to expedite the implementation.

 The plan includes:

• Keeping the crosswalks open at 7^th Street.

• • The south cross walk will be closed during utility work on 7^th Street

• 8^th Street crosswalk is closed as noted.
• A temporary crosswalk between the closed 8^th Street crosswalk and 9^th Street crosswalk will be constructed with curb ramps, bump outs and rapid flash beacons.
• 9^th Street crosswalk will have a ramp added to the west side of the crosswalk.

• • We have touched base with the County who is looking at scheduling the repainting of the crosswalk as soon as it can be scheduled.

 We are working as quickly as possible on getting these improvements in place.  Information on the sidewalk closings were communicated when we anticipated a June start with the community and the schools.  With the delay we should have communicated once MOT details were finalized the week before school opened.  We will work on improving communication as we move forward.

The County is taking the following action:

• 9/5/24 – County TE&O staff will be marking the 9^th Street crossing from curb to curb to delineate the walk path.
• No later than next Monday, 9/9/24 – DES WSS staff will be installing a curb ramp as on the approved school MOT plans at 9^th Street on the west side of S Walter Reed to provide a means of safely traversing this crossing for pedestrians and bikes.

In the meeting with the contractor yesterday, they are working with subcontractors to schedule the installation of the temporary crosswalk with curb ramps between 8^th and 9^th Street.  They anticipate the work to be complete in about two weeks.  The only exception may be the rapid flashing beacons which are a long lead item, however we are working on an option to secure a set of these that are currently being used in a temporary use but will shortly be removed from their existing location.

I assure you we are working as quickly as possible to implement all the features of the MOT plan approved at the end of August.”

– Jeffrey Chambers & Mike Moon