This fall, the Crossing Georgia team gave out these delicious M&Ms, with a special message, to our local politicians and activists. Thank you to Michael Ravnitsky for harnessing the power of sweet sweet chocolate to make our citizens safer!

I first met Jane at the Wheaton Arts District kickoff last summer. At that time, we were launching our guerrilla campaign for a new Forest Glen Metro entrance and we were busily accosting every politician we could find. But Jane was different from everyone else. She was funny, curious, chatting, laughing and utterly without pretension. And she didn’t even mention she was running for office despite the intensity of the campaign season (and the nearby presence of several opponents). Can you imagine that?

But Jane was full of surprises. When ten of us showed up at a state hearing to testify about the horrible Georgia-Forest Glen intersection, Jane actually cheered us on. She told us, “I love you guys! Keep it up!” Far from retreating from us, she embraced us and treated us as if we were her kids.

Others will comment on her political career, including her apprenticeship with U.S. Speaker of the House Carl Albert, her long service as mayor of Chevy Chase, her dominance of the 2006 District 18 delegate election and her remarkable effectiveness on environmental legislation. It is a great shame for Maryland environmentalists that she only served through two general sessions because she had a lot more to offer on protections for the Bay.

But the Jane I will never forget is the sweet, beautiful lady with a great big laugh, a great big smile and a great big hug. Sure, Jane liked to talk about politics, policy issues and the rapacious cable companies she chased in her day job. But she also liked to talk about food, her neighborhood, what was happening in my life (or anyone else she was talking to), and especially her daughters. Jane loved her daughters and could not stop talking about how proud she was of them. She was a sheer delight to be with. Any room Jane entered was a happier place once she walked in. If you were lucky enough to know Jane, you trusted her and you loved her. And she loved us in return.

There will be other state delegates in District 18. But there will never be another Jane Lawton.

-- Adam Pagnucco 

Want to see what this intersection is like, day in, day out? View the Crossing Georgia video by clicking one of the links below. You'll see how illegal left turns and gridlocked traffic are an everyday occurrence at Georgia Avenue. And you will see how it takes a normal healthy person the full amount of time to cross the intersection, leaving the elderly, mothers with strollers, and pregnant women to have to scramble for their lives. Considering this intersection is the closest major artery to Holy Cross Hospital, this point cannot be overstated.

What is most amazing is that it took us only two 10-minute sessions to record all of the footage used in this video (except for the bus scene). It's all we needed to chronicle the constant problems at this intersection.

View the video (Small) : Windows Media or Quicktime

View the video (Large) : Windows Media or Quicktime