APRIL 2013 EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | APRIL 2013 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 10.............Go See Do
12.............East of the River Calendar 18.............The Bulletin Board 22.............District Beat • by Martin Austermuhle 24.............The Numbers • by Ed Lazere 26............. Disposition of Big K Site Will Take 18 Months • by John Muller 30............. New Barry Farm Recreation Center Gets Started• by John Muller 32............. DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative Unites the Kenilworth-Parkside Area • by Charnice A. Milton 34............. E on DC • by E. Ethelbert Miller
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
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36.............In Your Kitchen • by Annette Nielsen
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38.............Dispatches from the Village of Anacostia • by Phil Hutinet 40.............Booker T, W.E.B, Hampton, and UDC • by Virginia A. Spatz 42.............The New Buzz • by Catherine Plume 44............. Rock Newman Returns to DC with New Radio Show • by Charnice A. Milton
KIDS & FAMILY
46.............Kids and Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner 50............. Fort Dupont Ice Arena and Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Bring New Opportunities for Children • by Charnice A. Milton 51.............School Notes • by Melissa Ashabranner
HOMES & GARDENS
54............. HomeSaver Extends Program to the Underemployed • by Charnice A. Milton 55.............Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton 56.............The Classifieds 58.............The Nose • by Anonymous
ON THE COVER:
2012 Bladensburg Waterfront Park cleanup. Courtesy of Anacostia Watershed Society. Story on page 10
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Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Look for Next Issue of East of the River on May 11
Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Mariessa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com
Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Hit the City: Joylyn Hopkins • joylyn@joylynhopkins.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Scott Fazzini • scott.fazzini@gmail.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Travel: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com
KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com
General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ralph Brabham • ralphbrabham@yahoo.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Gwyn Jones • gwynjones@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Alice Ollstein • alice.ollstein@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • indabsamuel@yahoo.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com
Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Rindy O’Brien • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com
Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Kyungmin Lee • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: MediaPoint, LLC Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.
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DCRA’s Permit Operations Division Announces Two New Initiatives 1) Electronic plans submission & review via ProjectDox now available, and 2) Plats can now be ordered online from the Office of the Surveyor
The SBRC Presents its “DC Farmers’ Market Seminar” April 22nd , 2013: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Room E-200 In Partnership w/ The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The SBRC Presents its “Smart Money for Small Business 8 Week Workshop” Week 1: Financial Management – March 21, 2013
DCRA Will Be Closed Thursday, April 11, 2013 for Offsite Staff Training DCRA offices will reopen at 8:30 am on Friday, April 12, 2013.
Available services: Online applications for preparing building permit applications, for getting supplemental and postcard permits, and for scheduling permit-related inspections will be available: · Online permit application · Supplemental permit issuance · Post card permit application and issuance To schedule your permit inspection - call 442-9557 and follow the prompts (more information is available on DCRA’s website).
Week 2: Credit Reporting – March 28, 2013 Week 3: Banking Service – April 4, 2013 Week 4: Insurance – April 9, 2013 Week 5: Organization Types – April 18, 2013 Week 6: Tax Planning and Reporting – April 25, 2013 Week 7: Recordkeeping – May 2, 2013 Week 8: Time Management – May 16, 2013
Note: Each session will be held in room E-4302; from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
To register for the SBRC workshops go to: https:bizdc.ecenterdirect.com For assistance with registering for the SBRC workshops call: 202-442-4538
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024
GO.SEE.DO. Overbeck Lecture: Eyewitness to the Civil Rights Revolution
On Tuesday evening, Apr 16, the Overbeck History Lecture Series will present an on-stage interview with Simeon Booker, the 94-year-old journalist who covered the US civil rights movement from its earliest days as a correspondent for Jet and Ebony and as the first black reporter hired by The Washington Post. Booker has recorded his recollections of that era in a new book, Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s Account of the Civil Rights Movement. His wife Carol, who collaborated on the book, will join the Apr 16 conversation. For African Simeon Booker Americans in the 1950s, Jet became a vital source of news of the civil rights struggle. As Washington bureau chief for the pocket-size magazine and its glossy companion Ebony, Booker was on the front lines of virtually every major event. His coverage of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till provoked a wave of outrage and inspired a new generation to demand racial justice. A longtime resident of Capitol Hill, Booker also covered 10 US presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush, and offers fascinating perspectives on Washington politics and mores over the past six decades. The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Apr 16, at the Naval Lodge Hall at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. and will conclude with a book signing. Admission is free but a reservation is required due to limited seating. Email OverbeckLecture@CapitolHillHistory.org and indicate how many seats you will need.
Smithsonian Craft Show
Basket art by Kari Lonning.
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America’s finest craft artists will come to the National Building Museum to participate in the 31st Annual Smithsonian Craft Show. Widely regarded as the country’s most prestigious juried show and sale of fine American craft. Opening Thursday, April 25 through Sunday , April 28, the show will feature One-of-a-kind or limited edition works in 11 different media—from furniture and ceramics to glass and wearable art by 121 artists, 46 first-time exhibitors. Proceeds from the Craft Show are distributed directly to the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and galleries, 9 research facilities, 20 libraries, and the National Zoo by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee through an annual competitive grants program. More than $10 million in grants and endowments has been awarded since 1966. For more information on the craft show and for a list of recent grants, go to SmithsonianCraftShow.org.
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2013 Earthday Cleanup and Celebration
On Saturday, Apr 20, 9 a.m.-noon, join about 2000 Anacostia Watershed Society volunteers as they remove thousands of pounds of trash from neighborhoods, streams, and the Anacostia River! The celebration that follows will include free food and drink prepared by Seafarers Yacht Club, a long-time Earth Day partner. There will also be live music, local exhibitors, and notable speakers. All volunteers are welcome! Registration is not required for the celebration but is required for the cleanup. There will be approximately 20 cleanup sites around the Anacostia Watershed in Washington, DC, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. The post-cleanup celebration event will be held from noobn-2 p.m. at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD. anacostiaws.org
Courtesy of Crystal City BID
Crystal City Art Underground
Five blocks of Crystal City’s interior retail space has been transformed into a vibrant arts and cultural destination with galleries, studios, interactive exhibits and activities, performance and classroom spaces, and a host of special events. Art Underground includes: Studios Underground for local artists to create, practice and showcase their talents while providing an engaging cultural experience for area residents, employees, visitors and guests; a Gallery Underground showcasing of original artwork by regional artists with monthly rotating exhibits to excite the imagination, stimulate creativity, and encourage repeat visitation; the Synetic Theater, the premier American physical theater, fusing dynamic art forms such as text, drama, movement, acrobatics, dance and music; and special events such as ArtJamz sessions. 2100 Crystal Drive. crystalcity.org
2012 Bladensburg Waterfront Park cleanup. Courtesy of Anacostia Watershed Society
Out of Site in Plain View: A History of Exhibiting Architecture since 1750
The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts at the National Gallery of Art were established in 1949 to bring to the people of the United States the results of the best contemporary thought and scholarship bearing upon the subject of the fine arts. Barry Bergdoll, The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art, and professor, Columbia University, will present the 62nd A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts. The series will include the following lectures: April 7 - Framed and Hung: Architecture in Public from the Salon to the French Revolution; April 14 - In and Out of Time: Curating Architecture’s History; April 21 - Not at Home: Architecture on Display from World’s Fairs to Williamsburg; April 28 - Better Futures: Exhibitions between Reform and Avant-Garde; May 5 - Conflicting Visions: Commerce, Diplomacy, and Persuasion; May 12 - Architecture and the Rise of the Event Economy. All lectures take place Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. in the East Building Auditorium. In anticipation of high attendance, the six lectures in this series will be video recorded. A screening of the recording will be shown the week after each lecture at noon also in the East Building Auditorium. nga.gov Barry Bergdoll, 62nd A. W. Mellon Lecturer in the Fine Arts at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art, spring 2013. Photo: Robin Holland © 2008 The Museum of Modern Art. EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 11
EMANCIPATION DAY
CALENDAR
One Hundred Years-From the Emancipation Proclamation to the March on Washington. Apr 11, 7:00 PM. Explore the journey from slavery to freedom between the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the 1963 March on Washington. The panelists will discuss the Emancipation Proclamation, and the continuing struggle for freedom, justice, and equality during Reconstruction, as well as the TildenHayes Compromise and Jim Crow laws. William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-357-5053. archives.gov Emancipation Day Parade. Apr 16, 11:00 AM2:00 PM. Emancipation Day is an official public holiday in Washington DC. It is celebrated with a parade, honoring the anniversary of the signing of the DC Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed 3,100 enslaved persons and ended slavery in DC on Apr 16, 1862. Public officials, schools and community groups come together for a family friendly event. The parade route is Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 3rd St. and 13th St. Dining Out for DC Emancipation Day. Apr 16, 11 a.m. until midnight, diners can visit LINCOLN Restaurant, at 1110 Vermont Ave. NW, in honor of DC Emancipation Day. The restaurant will donate twenty percent of sales on that day to President Lincoln’s Cottage in this first-time partnership. lincolncottage.org Book Talk & Reception with Lucinda Prout Janke. Apr 16, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. On the 151st anniversary of the signing of the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act, Janke will discuss its effects on the city’s demographics and how the law got its own local holiday. Carnegie Library, 801 K St. NW.
Eastland Gardens Flower Club Earth Day Clean-up Apr 13, 8:30-noon. Arrive at the front entrance, 40th Street and Lee NE (Kenilworth and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenues), between 8:30 a.m.noon and check in at the registration table. An Eastland Gardens Flower Club member will give you gloves and trash bags, and instruct you where to go and to leave the trash bag for pick-up.
Volunteers at last year’s cleanup. Photo: Courtesy of Eastland Gardens Flower Club
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The Original Copy of the Emancipation Proclamation on Display. The original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Lincoln, is on display in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center at President Lincoln’s Cottage. President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus in NW. The entrance is the Eagle Gate, located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Rd. NW and Upshur St. NW. The street address is approximately 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. lincolncottage.org
EARTH DAY Earth Month at Union Station. Apr 1-30. Earth Month will feature a film festival, a farmers’ market, alternative energy demonstrations, a green fashion show and a science fair with local schools. There will also be programmed activities, entertainment, discussion panels, contests, games, giveaways and much more throughout the month, with a full day
of special events and entertainment on Earth Day, Monday, Apr 22. The events are free and open to all ages. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org Celebrate Earth Day! at the Botanic Garden. Apr 19, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Join the U.S. Botanic Garden as they celebrates the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day! Come enjoy cooking demonstrations with seasonal produce and meet with representatives of environmental organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways that you can make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the plants that support life on earth. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov Anacostia River Watershed Earth Day Cleanup. Apr 20, 9:00 AM-noon. Approximately 20 sites around the Anacostia Watershed in Washington, DC, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. anacostiaws. org Earth Day Service at Kenilworth Park. Apr 20, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. Join them for the celebration of the 42nd Earth Day celebration. 150 plus volunteers are sought to assist National Park Service staff with a variety of park improvement projects. RSVPs recommended. Contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org National Zoo’s Earth Day for the Planet. Apr 20, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. Come to the National Zoo for a free public event to celebrate Earth Day and the Zoo’s commitment to green practices. “Earth Days” at the National Archives. Apr 21, 7:00 PM. In conjunction with our exhibit “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project,” they present Earth Days (2009; 102 mins.), which looks back to the dawn and development of the modern environmental movement. Denis Hayes, environmental activist and national coordinator of the first Earth Day, will introduce and discuss the film. Presented by the Charles Guggenheim Center for Documentary Film in partnership with the 2013 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-357-5053. archives.gov Reclaiming the Edge on Earth Day. Apr 22, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Through hands-on activities, tours, storytelling, and more, learn how to live greener and cleaner and leave a smaller carbon footprint. Also, see demonstrations on recycling and green container gardening. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Arbor Day at the Anacostia Community Museum. Apr 26, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Arbor Day
was founded in the US in 1871 by Sterling Morton as a holiday to encourage the planting and care of trees. Today, we highlight the importance of trees in our community with a series of demonstrations, plantings, workshops, and hands-on activities for all ages with experts from Groundwork DC, Smithsonian Gardens, and Casey Trees. Free. For reservations, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
SPECIAL EVENTS Washington International Film Festival. Apr 11-21. Now in its 27th year, Filmfest DC is back to entertain and provoke movie lovers in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Films presented in the festival are Washington, DC premieres and provide an excellent opportunity to see award-winning cinema and meet internationally renowned directors who will attend the festival to present and discuss their work. filmfestdc.org Washington National Cathedral Flower Mart. May 3-4. This wonderful annual outdoor spring festival sponsored by the Cathedral’s All Hallows Guild features plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, boutique booths, tasty foods, music and entertainment, plus fun activities for children, including rides on the antique carousel. Proceeds benefit the Cathedral’s gardens, grounds and woodlands. Free admission. Rain or shine. Tower climbs offered on Saturday, May 4. Climbs are offered from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (except noon) every half hour. $10 per person; tickets available on Saturday onsite only. nationalcathedral.org
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Mother’s Love Concert. May 11, 7:30 PM. Featuring Howard Hewett. $40. Anacostia Art Gallery and Boutique, 2806 Bruce Pl. SE. bzbinternational. com Shears Camera...ACTION: Fantasy Hair Show. Apr 14, 6:30 PM. Cherelle Renee presents Shears Camera....ACTION: Fantasy Hair Show featuring some of your favorite local and mainstream celebrity make-up artist & designers. $25. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Back to Basics Financial Literacy Workshop. Apr 16, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM. Need help understanding your finances? LIFT-DC and Capital One present Back to Basics: A Financial Literacy Workshop. Hear from experts at Capital One speak about saving, investments, bank accounts and credit options. Refreshment and transportation vouchers provided. Space is limited, please contact LIFT-DC to reserve your space or receive more information 202-450EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 13
CALENDAR Free.1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-426-6905. www.nps.gov/kepa A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail. Discover, or see with new eyes, this traditionally African American enclave in Far Northeast when you follow “A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail.” Fifteen poster-sized street signs combine storytelling with historic photographs and maps to transport you back to the days before Deanwood was Deanwood. To pick up the trail go to Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. and Division Ave. NE. Walk one block south to Foote Street, at the edge of Marvin Gaye Park. The 90-minute, self-guided tour will bring you along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, up 49th St. and along Sheriff Rd. back to Minnesota Ave. and the Metro station. Walk the trail at your own pace and take time to enjoy this small town in the city. Don’t forget to pick up a free trail guide from businesses along the way. 202-6617581. culturaltourismdc.org
11th Street Bridge Park Presentation Apr 30, 5:00-6:30 PM. in the Community Meeting Room at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. As the old 11th Street river bridges that connect Washington, DC’s Capitol Hill and historic Anacostia neighborhoods are being replaced, the District government and THEARC will transform the aged infrastructure into the city’s first elevated park: a new venue for healthy recreation, environmental education and the arts. The 11th Street Bridge Park will span the capital’s cityscape and include outdoor performance spaces, playgrounds, fruit orchards, classrooms to teach students about river systems and even kayaks and paddle boats. Bound by the Washington Navy Yard on one side and the National Park Service’s Anacostia Park on the other, the Bridge Park will be a destination for some, a pedestrian or bicycle route for others and an iconic architectural symbol across the Anacostia River.
11th Street Bridge Park. Image: Scott Kratz
2787. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org Carbon for Water (video) at Anacostia Community Museum. Apr 18, 11:00 AM. (2011, directed by Evan Abramson and Carmen Elsa Lopez) View the documentary Carbon for Water about the hardships of the people of Kenya’s Western Province, where safe drinking water is scarce and the wood fuel used to boil water for purification is expensive. These two factors conspire to make waterborne illness a dailyand life threatening-reality among the already poor population. The video also tells how an innovative company found a way to reduce the demand for wood fuel and provide safe drinking water. A discussion follows with Linda Maxwell, education specialist at the Anacostia Community Museum. Free; for reservations, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Metro Mambo: Tito Puente: The Definitive Celebration. Apr 20, 2:00-4:00 PM. Hosted by Jim Byers (WPFW 89.3 FM’s Latin Flavor), Metro Mambo kicks off its season of Latin-music events on the anniversary of Puente’s birth (b. April 20, 1923) with an intimate retrospective of the legendary Tito Puente! Among the special guests sharing personal insights, un-released recordings, and rare memorabilia are selected former Puente band members, as well as Puente’s archivist, biographer (Mambo Diablo), and best friend of over 40 years, Joe Conzo. During the second hour, enjoy a Dance Party featuring one of the region’s top bands. Free. For information, call 202-633-4866. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
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Da’Originalz featuring Beat Ya Feet. Apr 21 and 29, 10:30 AM-noon. This “Beat Ya Feet” dance workshop, based on an original D.C. dance form, continues by popular demand. Learn how to create your own movements with demonstrations and group practice supervised by Da’Originalz. If self-expression through movement is your preference, then Beat Ya Feet is for you. Free; for reservations, call 202-6334844. Group size is limited. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu The Gallery at Vivid Solutions. Apr 26-June 28. Featuring the works of Antoine Sanfuentes. 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. vividsolutionsgallery.com Photography Expedition: The Anacostia River and Environment, Part 2. Apr 27, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Bring your camera for this photographic experience on the Anacostia River. Master photographer Bruce McNeil and a guide from the Anacostia Watershed Society provide a unique river perspective of the local flora and fauna that characterize this special local waterway. $20. Bus leaves promptly at 10:00 AM from and returns to museum. Reserve in advance. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Photography Expedition: The Anacostia River and Environment, Part 3. May 1, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. With master photographer Bruce McNeil, participants photograph the tributaries of the Anacostia River and get a unique perspective on the intricacies of this urban river. $20. Bus leaves promptly at 9:00 AM from and returns to museum. Reserve in advance. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
Ranger tours of the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Every Saturday through Sept 7, 10:00 AM-noon. Join a Ranger for tours of the Civil War Defenses of Washington. They will lead visitors to some of the remaining Civil War forts in the Nation’s Capital. Visitors are asked to contact Ranger Kenya Finely at 202-4267723 for more information on the specific program themes. Fort Dupont Park. nps.gov/fodu Reclaiming the Edge: Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement. Through Sept 15. Based on research by the Anacostia Community Museum on the history, public use, and attitudes toward the Anacostia River and its watershed and on review of urban waterway developments in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Louisville, London, and Shanghai, Reclaiming the Edge explores various issues regarding human interaction with natural resources in an urban setting. It looks at densely populated watersheds and at rivers as barriers to racial and ethnic integration. The exhibition also examines civic attempts to recover, clean up, re-imagine, or engineer urban rivers for community access and use. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Tour Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. Open daily, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is about 700 acres and is part of Anacostia Park. The park includes the gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, ball fields and recreational facilities. It is the only National Park Service site devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants. Stop by the visitors center and ask if a ranger is free to show you around. You can also borrow a guidebook and binoculars if you leave a driver’s license.
What’s Blooming at the US National Arboretum in April and May? Daffodils, crocuses, early magnolias, Korean azalea, Japaneseandromeda, forsythias, cornelian-cherries, woodland wildflowers, epimediums, flowering cherries, arisaemas. Free. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York Ave. NE, and 24th and R sts. NE, off of Bladensburg Rd. 202-245-4521. usna.usda.gov Azalea Peak Bloom at US National Arboretum. Projected to be Apr 22-May 1. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York Ave. NE, and 24th and R sts. NE, off of Bladensburg Rd. 202-245-4521. usna.usda.gov
SPORTS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Nats Baseball. Apr 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Nationals Park. 202-675-6287. washington.nationals.mlb.com DC United Soccer Home Matches. Apr 13 vs. New York; Apr 21, vs. Philadelphia; May 8 vs. Houston. $23-$52. RFK Stadium. 202-5875000. dcunited.com Move for Mobility 5K & 5 Miler. Apr 13, 8:00 AM. At Hains Point, 900 Ohio Dr. dcrunningclub.com Washington Nationals Pups in the Park. Apr 14, 1:05 PM. Nat’s vs. Atlanta Braves. Bring your well-behaved dog (on a leash) to the ball park. Tickets for you and your dog are $30 which includes a $8 donation to Humane Society. washington.nationals.mlb.com National’s Ballpark Tours. Wednesday-Sunday (non-game days), 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. On day of night-time home games, tours at 10:30 AM. Take the Nationals Park Ballpark Tour for a behind-the-scenes look at Nationals Park. Over the course of an hour and fifteen minutes you will visit the PNC Diamond Club, the Lexus Presidents Club, the Stars & Stripes Club, luxury suites, the Shirley Povich Media Center, Nationals dugout and Nationals clubhouse. Throw a pitch in the Nationals bullpen. $12-$15. All proceeds from Nationals Park Tours will be donated to the Nationals Dream Foundation. washington.nationals.mlb.com
Free New eBook from the National Archives Celebrates Opening of Baseball Season. Just in time for Major League Baseball’s 2013 Opening Day, the National Archives has published a free eBook called “Baseball: The National Pastime in the National Archives.” Go to archives.gov/publications/ebooks. Race to Stop the Silence 8K. Apr 14, 9:00 AM. Freedom Plaza, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 301-871-0400. stopcsa. org/race Intaba 5K. Apr 20, 7:30 PM. Starts in Rock Creek Park (Rock Creek Park by Picnic Grove #24, 16th & Kennedy sts. NW. intaba.org Kettle Classic 5K. Apr 20, 8:00 AM. $15-$30. The first ever Salvation Army Kettle Classic 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in the heart of Washington, DC at West Potomac Park along the Potomac River. 202-756-3906. active.com Nike Women’s Marathon Half DC. Apr 28, 7:00 AM. Starts on Pennsylvania Ave near White House. 866-786-6453. facebook.com/NWM26.2 Public Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for annual maintenance. Will reopen July 1. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. NE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month, noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703505-3567. dcroadrunners.org Adult Dance Classes. Tuesdays, 7:008:30 PM, Pilates; Wednesdays, 7:008:15 PM, Jazz; Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 AM, Zumba. The Washington Ballet @ THEARC offers three adult classes this year. Classes are $12 each or you may purchase a $100 class card for 12 classes. Classes are only $5 for Ward 8 residents. The class card for Ward 8 residents is $50. (Valid ID required.) THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202889-5901. thearcdc.org Free Exercise Classes at Kenilworth Elementary School. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6:00-7:00 PM. Bring your own mat, water and towel. 1300 44th St. NE. For more information, email peppypromotions@ gmail.com or call 301-395-1013 Free Yoga Classes at Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Every Thursday, 7:00-8:00 PM. Yoga is a great way to relax, unwind and get grounded. Even if you’ve never done yoga before-this class is for you. Open to people of all abilities, ages and body types. All you need to bring is yourself, comfortable clothing and an open mind. Judgment free zone: having a great time is encouraged! Register in person at EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 15
CALENDAR Anacostia Neighborhood Library or call 202715-7707. 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. dclibrary. org/anacostia Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. Summer hourly fees at $6 to $10 for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202645-6242. dpr.dc.gov Free public tennis courts in Wards 7 and 8. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st St. and Pennsylvania Ave. SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE; Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr Ave. and Joliet St. SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Ave. and Randle Pl.SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a firstcome, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Mon-Fri 6:30 AM8:00 PM; Sat-Sun, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-6713078. dpr.dc.gov Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10:00-6:00 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. Oct 6. Registration open. 703-587-4321. wilsonbridgehalf.com Marine Corps Marathon Registration. Register online beginning Mar 27 at marinemarathon.com. Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 27.
MARKETS H Street FreshFarm Market Opens in April. Apr 20-Dec 21. H St. and 13th St. NE. Vendors are Atwater’s; Blueberry Hill; Cedarbrook Farm; Dolcezza Gelato; Full Cellar Farm; Garden Path Farm; Gordy’s Pickle Jar; Keswick Creamery at Carrock Farm, LLC; Quaker Valley Orchards; Red Apron Butchery; Richfield Farm. freshfarmmarkets.org Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3:00-7:00 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Union Market. Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. The newly-opened Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com
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Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com
CIVIC LIFE Ward 8 Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Town Hall. Apr 17, 6:30-8:30 PM at Turner Elementary School, 3264 Stanton Rd. SE. Mayor Gray is holding a series of town-hall-style meetings to introduce District residents to, and receive feedback from them on, his Fiscal Year 2014 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan. The $10.1 billion budget leverages the District’s strong financial position to make major investments in expanding affordable housing, strengthening education and workforce development, and safeguarding public safety without raising new taxes or fees. Follow Mayor Gray on Twitter at twitter.com/MayorVinceGray and on Facebook at facebook.com/MayorGray. Free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics. Apr 17 at noon and Apr 24 at 6:00 PM. Housing Counseling Services, a local non-profit 501 (c)(3) HUD approved agency, offers free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics to help homeowners in the DC metropolitan area in danger of losing their homes. Clients will receive valuable information and individual counseling to help them identify their realistic options for avoiding foreclosure and to avoid “foreclosure rescue scams.” Clinics will be held at 2410 17th St. NW. Call Su Cheng at 202-667-7712 for more information. Fighting the Family Homelessness Crisis Symposium. Apr 18, 7:00 PM. Friendship Place, an organization dedicated to empowering men and women experiencing homeless-
ness to rebuild their lives, is bringing together federal and local leaders for a special symposium to address the growing problem of family homelessness. The event will include a panel discussion with experts directly involved in the fight against homelessness, along with a District family that recently experienced homelessness, and will be hosted by PBS Newshour’s Ray Suarez. National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW, Stone Hall. FriendshipPlaceDC.org Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic. Apr 20, 9:30 AM-noon. The Center for Urban Progress and the DC Bar Pro Bono Program are working together to offer this free legal clinic. This clinic is for aspiring or existing small business owners. Attendees will meet one-on-one with attorneys for brief advice on any legal issues their businesses may be facing. Howard University Center for Urban Progress at Reeves Municipal Building, 2000 14th St. NW. Ward 7 Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Town Hall. May 2, 6:30-8:30 PM at the Department of Employment Services, 4058 Minnesota Ave. NE. Mayor Gray is holding a series of town-hallstyle meetings to introduce District residents to, and receive feedback from them on, his Fiscal Year 2014 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan. The $10.1 billion budget leverages the District’s strong financial position to make major investments in expanding affordable housing, strengthening education and workforce development, and safeguarding public safety without raising new taxes or fees. Follow Mayor Gray on Twitter at twitter.com/ MayorVinceGray and on Facebook at facebook. com/MayorGray. Grosso Near You (informal) Meeting. Third Thursday, 8:00-9:30 AM, Big Chair Coffee and Grill, 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. The meetings will provide the opportunity for constituents to bring ideas and issues directly to Councilmember Grosso as part of an effort to make the DC Council more accessible. Big Chair Breakfast Bunch. Saturday, May 11, 10:00 AM-noon. Big Chair Coffee n’ Grill (upstairs). All are welcome to attend and discuss what’s happening East of the River. 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. 202-525-4287. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house. gov Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM6:00 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560. Councilmember Barry’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 2100 MLK Ave, SE, #307. 202-698-2185. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2:00 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial
United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM. UPO-Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202834-0600. Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6:00 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday. 6:30-8:30 PM. Kenilworth Elementary School (auditorium), 1300 44th St. NE. Greg Rhett jrhett3009@aol.com or 202388-1532. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. ANC 7A. Second Tuesday, 7:30 PM. BenningStoddard Rec. Center, 100 Stoddard Pl. SE. 202-727-1000. 7A@anc.dc.gov. anc7a.org ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7:00 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch Ave and S St. SE). 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b.us ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202398-5258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-5826360. 7E@anc.dc.gov ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org ANC 8C. First Wednesday (June meeting is on the nineth because of the holiday), 6:30 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7:00 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202 561-0774 ANC 8E. First Monday, 7:00 PM. 3400 Wheeler Rd. SE, Eagle Academy 202-561-6616. 8e02@ anc.dc.gov u
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 17
BULLETIN BOARD Courtesy of the Eastland Gardens archive
Eastland Gardens Flower Club Arboretum Tour
LUMEN8ANACOSTIA Call for Entry
Organizers are currently seeking artists and performers for LUMEN8ANACOSTIA 2013 coming June 22. The deadline is Apr 29. There are five calls for entry--artist tents, gallery operator contest, public studio project, jewel box and performers. There will be question and answer sessions on Saturday, Apr 13, 10 a.m.-noon; Wednesday, Apr 17, 7-9 p.m. and Monday, Apr 22, 7-9 p.m. Sessions will be at the HIVE 2.0 at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. The sessions will include site visits. These sessions begin on time. Any updates will be posted online at lumen8anacostia.com.
New Affordable Senior Housing in Ward 8
Through the vision of the Allen Chapel AME Church and the dedication of the development team: Vision of Victory Community Development Corporation, District Development Group, and The NHP Foundation; Sunday, Mar. 10, marked the ribbon cutting ceremony for The Roundtree Residences, a new 91-unit senior affordable housing community in Ward 8. The Roundtree Residences, named in honor of Rev. Dovey Johnson Roundtree, represents the hard work and dedication Rev. Roundtree put into Ward 8. ABC 7’s Maureen Bunyan served as mistress of ceremony welcoming over 500 attendees. Remarks from public officials, lending partners, the development team and members of the Roundtree family described the hard work of all participants, and the positive impact this project will have on 18 H EASTOFTHEriVErDCNEWS.COM
Ward 8. 75% of the units are already preleased, and 100% occupancy is expected by the end of May.
150 Volunteers Sought for Earth Day at Kenilworth Park
150 plus volunteers are sought to assist National Park Service staff with a variety of park improvement projects. Volunteer registration opens 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. Registration will take place near the main green house just inside the park’s interior fence line (if you’re in the main parking lot you won’t be able to miss it!). This event happens rain or shine-severe weather as forecast on WTOP (103.5 FM or WTOP.com) cancels. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is located at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE and the phone number for the park is 202-426-6905. The park has ample free, off-street parking. The closest Metro station is Deanwood on the Orange line. RSVPs recommended. Contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.
Fort Dupont Park Trail Improvements
2013 will see major improvements on the Fort Dupont Park trail system. Fort Dupont Park offers over 10 miles of trails to its visitors. The seven mile long Hiker/Biker Trail connects six Civil War earthwork fortifications for mountain bikers and hikers to learn about the rich history of the Civil War Defenses of Washington while exercising in a beautiful mature forested park
Join the Eastland Gardens Flower Club on Saturday, May 4, for an overview by tram of the US National Arboretum, renowned for its unique National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the azalea collections, dwarf conifers and State Grove of Trees. The azaleas, which cover 40 acres of a forested hillside and explode in a riot of color in late April and May include historical and modern varieties. The Arboretum also has lilacs and perennials such as day-lilies and peonies as well as the National Herb Garden. History buffs will enjoy the National Capitol Columns which once stood at the east portico of the US Capitol. To cap off the visit, a lunch will be provided after the tram ride. You can enjoy the lunch in the picnic area on the Administration Building east terrace, at the National Grove of State Trees or directly behind the gift shop. You can also explore further on your own. Before you depart the Arboretum, don’t forget to stop by the Arboretum gift shop for unique gifts for gardeners and flower lovers. It is located across from the administration building parking lot. Tickets are $15 and include lunch. If interested in joining them, email webmaster@eastlandgardensdc.org for your reservation. The tram departs at 10:30 a.m. (sharp) from the main entrance at 24th and R Sts. NE. Because parking will be limited in the immediate area, arrive early. If there are no available parking spaces, shuttle bus service runs from the satellite parking lots to the tram ride pick up area.
The Washington Ballet: Peter and the Wolf
Against his grandfather’s wishes, brave Peter sets out to capture a wolf. Along the way he encounters some animal friends and becomes the hero of his village. Based on a popular Russian children’s story and set to Prokofiev’s worldfamous score, this captivating ballet performed by The Washington Ballet Studio Company will delight audiences of all ages. $35-$45. Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (both days) at THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
RFEI for Academic Program to Anchor St. Elizabeths East Innovation Hub
Mayor Gray announces the official release of the Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for an academic anchor at the St. Elizabeths East Innovation Hub in Ward 8. The principal purpose of the RFEI is to provide academic institutions with the opportunity to propose a vision for their participation in St. Elizabeths East and enable the District government to gather information about the range of institutions and consortia that may be interested in the opportunity to establish a significant presence at the technology-andinnovation hub. The RFEI will be followed by a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), to be released later this year. Interested parties are invited to attend The St. Elizabeths East PreResponse Conference on Thursday, Apr 25, hosted by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. The pre-response conference will include a formal briefing about the project and a walking tour of the campus..For more information, visit stelizabethseast.com.
Deanwood Learning Garden
Deanwood is a pulsating with new life, undergoing a powerful revitalization with economic development and environmental sustainability as key components of the resurgence. Included in this resurgence is the Deanwood Learning Garden, being installed by GWARDC and partner Parson’s the New School of Design. Located at 48th St. and Sheriff Rd. NE. in Ward 7, this project is an outgrowth of the two solar homes that Parson’s is helping to build in the Deanwood community. Students and staff from Parsons’, Groundwork Anacostia, as well as a host of volunteers have completed 7 garden boxes that have now been planted with a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers. This garden will also include a raingarden with foot bridge and a community garden box for growing edibles. Groundwork will also work with the families to educate them on how to live in a ‘net-zero’ home. Read more at groundworkdc.org.
“Weed Warrior” Training at Kenilworth Park
Become a certified Weed Warrior! Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is working with DC Weed Area Management Cooperative to create a cadre of weed warriors to help reduce the negative impact of invasive, noxious weeds in public places, such as parks, trails, and open spaces. This three part training (two online components and 1 field training) offers education about
invasive weeds and methods for control or eradication of these weeds. RSVP to tina@ friendsofkenilworthgardens@org. Participants will need to complete online training before participating in this event. Training is on Apr 27, 9 a.m.-noon at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org
Figures in Jazz by John K. Lawson at Honfleur Gallery
Figures in Jazz by John K. Lawson at Honfleur Gallery presents large-scale vibrant collage portraits of jazz legends, including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Wynton Marsalis, and Miles Davis. There will be a joint opening reception with the artists on Friday April 26, from 6-8 p.m., with a performance by the Nasar Abadey Trio from 8-10 p.m. There will be two additional jazz performances at Honfleur Gallery during the course of the exhibitions; on May 16 and on June 6. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com John K. Lawson was born in Birmingham, England in 1962 and raised mostly in the countryside until his family moved to South London when he was a young teenager. He first came to America on a student exchange program in engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. There his artistic abilities were encouraged, and he returned to England two years later to concentrate on landscape painting. Eventually, Lawson was drawn back to the Deep South, and soon became part of an underground art culture in New Orleans that included working in tattoo, T-shirt and mural designs long before these mediums became mainstream. Hurricane Katrina submerged his studio and destroyed 25 years’ worth of artwork and ephemera. Lawson began to rework the damaged remnants into collages and started working in the manner in which he made the Figures in Jazz portraits.
Redevelopment = Gentrification? Panel Discussion
What is it going to take to have vibrant retail East of the River? However, the big questions are “How are we going to get there and how are we going to be able to participate in these changes?” r.e.e.l. is still asking if Redevelopment = Gentrification? Join them on Apr 17, 7 p.m., at the Old Birney School, 2501 MLK Ave., SE, for part 2 of this discussion as they continue to search for answers. They have invited an esteemed panel of business owners, developers and market
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BULLETIN BOARD mation, contact Scott Kratz, scottkratzindc@gmail.com. 202-6690951. The 11th Street Bridge Park Presentation is at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE.
Universoul Circus Headed to RFK Stadium Festival Grounds
Anacostia’s We Act Radio
We Act Radio broadcasts from Anacostia, asking listeners in DC and far beyond to become informed and “do something!” Local Live Wire programming, weekdays at 11 a.m., includes “The Politics of Health” with Ward 7’s Samuel Jordan (Tuesdays) and “The Education Town Hall” with Ward 8’s Thomas Byrd (Thursdays). Listen on 1480 AM or streaming at WeActRadio.com. Join the conversation by calling 202-889-9797. Miss a show? Listen anytime through MixCloud.com. analyst to discuss what is needed for vibrant retail and the lessons they have learned when neighborhoods are redeveloped.
Nash Run Trash Trap Cleanup Volunteers Needed
The Anacostia Watershed Society needs about 10 people for this cleanup. AWS has been experimenting with a stationary device built to strain the trash from the flowing waters of Nash Run, located adjacent the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the trash challenges of the Anacostia and what is being done to address it. The task requires squatting down for a relatively long time, and may be physically demanding. Please RSVP because they need to communicate with you prior to the event. This event might be canceled suddenly because the trash trap lies across a small stream and we cannot work during high-flow events. Also, there may be no trash at the end of the month if there is no intense rainfall event by 20 H EASTOFTHEriVErDCNEWS.COM
Thomas Byrd, host of The Education Town Hall, with frequent guest Deborah Simmons, of the Washington Times, and Peter MacPherson, long-time Hill parent and activist on school and library issues (March 14, 2013). Photo: V. Spatz
then. For more information, contact Masaya Maeda at mmaeda@anacostiaws.org or call 301-699-6204 x110. Dress for field activities. The cleanup is on Apr 27, 9 a.m.-noon, around the intersection of Anacostia Ave. NE and Douglas St. NE. This site is about an 8-minute walk from the Deanwood Metro station on the Orange line. anacostiaws.org
11th Street Bridge Park Presentation at THEARC
On Tuesday, Apr 30, 5-6:30 p.m., there will be a presentation by Virginia Tech graduate students who have spent the entire semester studying the 11th Street Bridge Park. Presentations will include: recommendations to ensure that the Bridge Park is deeply stitched into surrounding neighborhoods; assessment of nearby playgrounds, cultural amenities and gardens; case studies of similar transformed infrastructure projects across the U.S.; and recommendations for continued community engagement. This program is free. For more infor-
UniverSoul Circus will return to the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds June 5-9 as part of a multi-year deal. The 2013 edition, titled the Turn’t Up Tour, will feature intimate theatre-in-the-round seating, dazzling lights, energetic sounds and a cast of A-list performers from around the world under a newly designed red and yellow Big Top. The Turn’t Up Tour includes new acts, such as a neck-breaking, head balancing act from Vietnam, beat box and a cappella vocalists from Atlanta, and a hip hop inspired Magic Cat Illusion featuring live tigers. From start to finish, UniverSoul Circus has assembled its most sensational lineup of performers to date including artists from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, France, Vietnam, South Africa, Russia, Brazil and West Africa. With a mast standing 70-feet tall at its highest peak and spanning 158-feet in diameter, the new UniverSoul Circus 2,278-seat tent was designed and constructed in collaboration with the famed Italian design firm Canobbio. The 26,000 square foot tent system includes the Big Top, Concessions Tent, Ticket Takers Tent and Artist Entrance. For the past five years, UniverSoul Circus has consistently ranked in the top 10 of Ticketmaster’s Top 25 Most Requested Family Events in the U.S. by fan-search requests and online event page views. Showtimes are Weekdays: 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: noon, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $16 to $32 and are on sale via Ticketmaster.com and 1-800-745-3000. Children under 1 are free. The RFK Stadium Festival Grounds are easily accessible by Metrorail on the Blue and Orange lines (Stadium-Armory station) and numerous bus lines. On-site parking is also available. eventsdc.com
Free Postgame Concerts at Nationals Park
Blues Traveler ( June 8), Thompson Square ( July 6), Gavin DeGraw (August 31) and Montgomery Gentry (September 21) will comprise the lineup for the 2013 NatsLive Free Postgame Concert Series following select Nationals home games throughout the summer. The performances will begin approximately 15 minutes after the final out of each Nationals game. Fans who wish to attend the free concerts must have a valid ticket for that day’s Nationals game, which can be purchased at nationals.com/NatsLive. The Double Play Giveaway & Concert Packs are also available at nationals.com/flex for those who want to ensure their seat for each of the four postgame concerts.
THEARC Launches Free Shuttle
Through support from the John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation, THEARC is now able to provide free shuttle bus transportation to THEARC members at select stops throughout Wards 7 & 8. This service will be available from Mar 4-May 31, 2013 from Monday-Friday, between 3-9 p.m. For more information, call 202-889-5901. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
Adult Dance Classes at THEARC
The Washington Ballet @ THEARC will offer various adult classes this winter/spring. All dropin classes cost $12. Residents who live in the 20020 or 20032 zip codes only pay $5. (Valid ID Required) Please call 202-889-8150 in order to recieve information about dance class cards. Calsses offered are Pilates/ Stretch, Tuesdays 7-8:15 p.m.; Jazz:, Wednesdays 7-8:15.m.; and Zumba, Mondays 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9-10 a.m. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
Art in the Alley 2013Call for Entries
Trinidad’s own Art in the Alley returns Saturday, May 11, 6-10 p.m.
Art in the Alley celebrates the confluence of community and creativity by exhibiting local art in local places. The event is free and open to the public. The organizers are currently seeking visual and performance artists of all types. In the past there has been everything from paintings, to photographs, to drawings, to poetry, to live music, to live painting. Trinidad DC’s local art festival is located in the alley between the 1200 blocks of Florida Ave & Morse St. NE (between Montello & Trinidad Aves). Applications accepted until opening DayMay 11. For more information on how to apply go to artinthealleydc.wordpress. com/2013/03/29/add-yourart-to-art-in-the-alley-2013/.
Report Child Abuse and Neglect
The DC Child and Family Services Agency takes reports of child abuse and neglect 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 202-671-SAFE [(202-671-7233]. This hotline is the gateway to protection and help for child victims and those at risk up to age 18 in the District of Columbia. Sometimes, people fear that reporting child abuse or neglect will destroy a family. The truth is that getting help can protect children from further harm and assist the family in overcoming problems. Your call is confidential. When you call, a trained hotline worker will ask you for the name, address, age, and gender of the child; who is caring for the child and whether other children live in the home; the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, as you know it-and any previous abuse or neglect you know about; any additional information that may be helpful. dc.gov/DC/ CFSA u
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 21
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
The Candidates Have Issues
You Have A Choice Between Six Candidates For A New At-Large Member of the DC Council by Martin Austermuhle
I
n three weeks, DC voters head to the polls to choose a new At-Large member of the DC Council. This is the third special election in as many years. Six candidates are vying for the seat: Interim Councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Ward 3 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Matthew Frumin, Ward 1 State Board of Education Member Patrick Mara, former Washington Post reporter Elissa Silverman, defense attorney Paul Zukerberg, and social activist Perry Redd. Last month we discussed the horse race element of the campaign. We put Mara as a primary contender based on him being the only Republican in a low-turnout race, along with his past electoral experience. We saw Frumin as a potential spoiler and Silverman as the progressive choice given her experience in the I-70 initiative. Anita Bond looked to split the city’s eastern wards with Michael Brown. Since that time, Mara has earned endorsements from the Post, the Sierra Club, the realtors and the DC Chamber of Commerce. Brown has dropped out of the race, but remains on the ballot. Silverman has been endorsed by Councilmember David Grosso and the new urbanists at Greater Greater Washington. She also has been endorsed by former councilmembers Sharon Ambrose and Kathy Patterson, who chairs her campaign. Buoyed by Brown’s dropping out, Bonds has secured endorsements from Councilmembers Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Muriel Bowser (Ward 4). Brown’s sudden retirement also frees many unions to choose other candidates. Silverman, the only former union member in the pack, may well benefit. In absence of any polling data, it is difficult to call the race. So, this month we turn our focus to the issues raised in the campaign.
Taxes and Budget
On the $417 million surplus that DC banked earlier this year, for example, all the candidates stuck to a cautious line during the early debates. A number wished to spend a small amount of it 22 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
on pressing social priorities, but otherwise put the rest in the bank to keep Wall Street happy. The exception is Silverman, who pushes for specific investments in job training and affordable housing. Occasionally, she is joined by Bonds. On taxes and the budget at large, Silverman and Mara stand on opposite ends of the spectrum, with the other candidates occupying the middle ground. Silverman has said that she believes that DC needs a more progressive tax code. In her job as a policy analyst for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, she lobbied for tax increases on the city’s highest earners during the city’s last fiscal crisis. The group was less supportive of a tax on out-of-state municipal bonds; Mayor Vince Gray has proposed repealing that new tax this year. Mara, on the other hand, has argued against taxes more broadly. He believes that the city effectively overtaxes residents and businesses. In the past election cycles, Mara even went as far as to sign Grover Norquist’s pledge. Bonds joins Mara on the issue of business taxes. Frumin wants to wait for the DC Tax Revision Commission to finish its work before committing to either side. Silverman has taken the same stance.
accepted such support.
Ethics
The rewrite of the city’s zoning code has inflamed passions during the campaign. Many of the candidates have taken a cautious approach. Zukerberg supports allowing more Accessory Dwelling Units. He and Silverman are skeptical of plans to do away with parking minimums for new developments near transit. Both point out that the city must conserve street parking for residents near high trafficked corridors such as H Street NE. While Redd and Bonds remain skeptical of increasing urban density, Mara, Silverman and Frumin are for it particularly surrounding Metro stations. Frumin is broadly in favor of the changes to the zoning code.
Most of the candidates broadly agreed that the councilmembers should not have outside jobs. A number also agree that candidates should not accept donations from corporations or limited liability corporations. Silverman has done the most work on this issue, having backed the citizen initiative last year that would have prohibited corporate contributions to campaigns. Silverman, Redd, Mara, Zuckerman and Bonds have stated that they will have no outside employment. Bonds has pledged to resign from her position at Fort Myer Construction, one of the city’s largest contractors, if elected. Frumin has stated that he intends keep his second job as an attorney. Silverman and Redd do not accept any corporate donations. The others have
Affordable Housing
The candidates agree that affordable housing is one of the city’s most pressing issues. Silverman wants to see an annual contribution to the Housing Production Trust Fund made a line item in the budget, rather than funding it through the deed recordation and transfer tax. Frumin advocates for a voucher program that would offer $500 a month towards rent or mortgage payments for police, firefighters and teachers. Zukerberg wants to increase the Homestead Deduction.
Education
On schools, only Redd openly said he opposed DC Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s plan to shutter schools. He is also opposed to handing over empty and unused school buildings to private entities. Mara is the group’s most consistent advocate for charter schools. Frumin is less enamored. The remaining candidates somewhat split the difference.
Zoning and Development
Public Safety
Most of the candidates say they support DC
Police Chief Cathy Lanier. They generally support an increase in police hiring more officers. Zukerberg has set himself apart from the group, arguing for the decriminalization marijuana possession which he believes contributes to the widespread jailing of young AfricanAmerican residents. The only returning citizen in the race, Redd has spoken repeatedly in support of ending discrimination against ex-offenders and investing in their reintegration. Silverman, who studied the issue of job training in her last position, argues that DC can do a better using its job training dollars to help assist this population. Nearby jurisdictions, she points out, have used bonding powers to effectively bridge the trust gap in hiring ex-offenders. While Mara has called for the resignation of the current fire chief, Sliverman is the only candidate that can off the cuff cite the number of firefighters necessary to staff a truck.
Candidate Thumbnails
So who to vote for? If only it were as simple boiling down the choice to liberal versus conservative candidates. Here are some simple rubrics. Silverman is the policy wonk of the bunch promising to dive into the budgetary thickets to discover effective strategies. Her experience as a reporter and DC budget analyst provide credibility for this assertion. She is an advocate of both progressive taxation and social investments. She supports educational reform
with a focus on cost. Redd joins Silverman, but is more interested in opposing both school closings and the expansion of public charter schools. Redd is the only candidate with a specific plan to aid returning citizens. A plucky defense attorney, Zukerberg portrays himself as the fighter for the little guy. He is focused on the decriminalization of drugs. Frumin is the folksy mediator, seeking middle ground between competing factions. His primary interest is educational reform. He cites his ANC service, but has been on the defensive on the stump regarding prior political activities outside the city. Bonds is the party favorite. A consummate insider, she has worked in the DC government, and has earned the support of three councilmembers and the state Democratic organization. Like Mara, she takes corporate dollars, but has pledged to resign her outside employment. Mara is the sole Republican. He earned credibility as an educational reformer on the School Board, and has also lobbied Republicans on the Hill for voting rights. He is a strongly in favor of regulatory reform and lowering taxes. Early voting kicks off on April 8 at One Judiciary Square, and ends on April 20th. The special election is on April 23rd. Martin Austermuhle is Editorin-Chief of DCist.com and a freelance writer. He lives in Columbia Heights. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 23
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
theNUMB3RS 3.327.649.10
DC’s Prosperity Dividend Better Funding for City Services
I
t may be cherry blossom time in Washington, but when it comes to the District’s finances, everything is coming up roses. Thanks to an improving economy, Mayor Gray submitted his first budget in three years that didn’t have to focus on closing a budget shortfall. Instead, the mayor happily announced that his 2014 proposal includes new money for many things that will make DC residents happy — including libraries, education, public safety, transportation, housing, public works, and human services. The Mayor’s budget plan is especially notable for its effort to address the city’s increasing affordable housing problems, which are putting the squeeze on a growing number of residents. He committed $100 million for housing, most of it to help non-profits build or renovate low-cost homes. At the same time, many DC residents have not felt the benefits of the recovery, and a number of programs aimed at helping these residents remain strapped. The budget doesn’t do much to solve the homeless crisis that has resulted in 600 children living in the city’s largest family shelter. For the first time in several years, the budget doesn’t call for revenue increases, but it also doesn’t propose any major tax cuts, either. After multiple rounds of cuts in the recession -which resulted in cuts to library acquisitions and alley cleaning, and saw education funding rise slower than needed to keep up with rising costs – I imagine most residents are ok with that. The mayor did throw one tax cut into the mix, for residents who buy bonds issued by other states. Given that no state offers tax incentives to invest in the infrastructure in other states, this was not the best tax-cut idea that could have been put forward.
Improved Services across the Board
It is hard to imagine a DC resident who will not notice an improvement in DC government services in 2014. Every DC library will be open seven days a week. In the almost 30 years I have lived in DC that has never been the case. A number of libraries will get renovated as well. No matter how you move around the city, the Mayor’s budget plan should make it easier. 24 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
by Ed Lazere There are new resources to replace the Frederick Douglass Bridge, get the streetcars up and running, open up a Georgetown DMV office, and expand bike lines. You’ll even see a larger Supercan for recycling come your way, though that may take a while since it is on a 5-year plan. Mayor Gray’s proposed budget makes a number of notable investments that would help less fortunate residents. The housing increase may be the largest, but there are many others that will prove very helpful. For example, it will be easier next year for families to get help for an infant or toddler struggling with a developmental delay. That means more children will start school ready to learn, which will have long-term payoffs for the city.
Lingering Cuts from the Recession
While there is much to like in Mayor Gray’s budget, it leaves some notable gaps. Family homelessness has nearly doubled since the recession and once again the city’s main shelter is filled to capacity this year. Yet the mayor’s budget doesn’t appear to offer a comprehensive solution, which means we may face the same situation a year from now. In another example, the District program for residents with disabilities who are waiting
Coming to you in 2014 From the DC Budget Libraries open every day More Circulator buses A DMV office in Georgetown More affordable housing Grants for non-profits Streetcars More bike lanes New Supercans And more!
for approval of federal disability benefits — a process that can take up to two years — was cut 80 percent in recent years. The number of residents getting help from Interim Disability Assistance has fallen from 2,900 to 550, but the mayor’s new budget would allow just 40 more residents to get help. Finally, welfare reform also has been a big issue in the District in recent years. The city has done a lot to improve welfare-to-work services, but there is a good chance that many families will see a big cut in assistance this fall without a job to replace the lost income. In particular, DC offers little protection to families in dire situations, such as when a parents is fleeing domestic violence. Most states don’t impose time limits on these families, but DC does. Thousands of DC families will see cash assistance cut to just $257 a month for a family of three next year, and that will have negative ripple effects throughout the city, including increases in children who come to school hungry and stressed.
Misplaced Tax Cut
Mayor Gray would like to bring back a tax break for residents who invest in out-of-state bonds, making DC the only place to offer a tax break to encourage residents to invest in other states’ infrastructure. The out-of-state bonds tax break was eliminated just a few years ago and DC’s leaders dealt with the elimination in a reasonable way. Residents who had already made investments got to keep their tax exemption. The new rule was that the tax break would be limited to residents who invest in DC bonds, and it had an immediate positive impact. Demand to buy DC bonds increased, which lowered the cost to the city. The District should not reinstate a costly tax break that encourages residents to invest in other states’ infrastructure. Jenny Reed contributed to this a ticle. Reed and Lazere are staff at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderateincome DC residents. u
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Disposition of Big K Site Will Take 18 Months
by John Muller
“I
know there have been a lot of questions swirling around Big K,” said Denise L. Johnson, project manager of the site for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) at a public hearing last month. “I’m here tonight to dispel any rumors.” Since acquiring the Big K parcel – four properties at 2228, 2234, 2238, and 2252 Martin Lu-
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ther King, Jr., Avenue SE – in the summer of 2010 for just under $1 million, the city has held more than a dozen meetings to discuss the site’s future. According to a presentation by Johnson it will be, at best, more than a year and half before DHCD completes disposition to Chapman Development LLC, headed by Tim Chapman, the only developer to submit a competitive proposal in response to last June’s solicitation. To DHCD’s credit the most recent public hearing did dispel neighborhood speculation and was the most transparent and honest meeting I have attended in nearly three years.
Challenges of the Big K Site
“It’s extremely important for DHCD to get it right,” said Johnson in response to questions from an audience of more than 30 residents. “This site can be catalytic for the commercial corridor.” In lieu of challenges facing the commercial development of the Big K site DHCD is offering
a “subsidy” to Chapman, according to Johnson. If the conditions of the property disposition agreement are met, DHCD will sell the property for $1. “We believe this will help bring back the corridor,” Johnson said. When asked if the proposed sale price would restrict the developer from receiving further subsidies from DHCD or other city agencies, Johnson replied, “The city does not bundle all of its subsidies.” Before development happens the eventual design concept will have to get approval from the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), as 2228, 2234, and 2238 fall within the boundaries of the Anacostia Historic District, said Johnson, a former HPRB member. The wood-frame house at 2228 was demolished last summer but those at 2234 and 2238 remain. Last year Mayor Gray hinted that the deteriorated houses may have to be moved to another location although that has yet to be determined. Another challenge is the presence of the Big K parcel, 2226 MLK, on the corner lot of Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue and Maple View Place SE. Currently Dale Richardson’s Astro Motors is not part of the Big K development portfolio owned by DHCD. Acquisition of the corner lot “would be a good thing for this site,” Chapman said, extending the frontage lot on Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue east to west from Morris Road SE to Maple View Place SE. Although no deal appears in the works, Chapman said he has plans to hold “more earnest conversations” with the owner of 2226 MLK in the future. A final obstacle for the Big K site’s development will be securing financing from a bank. As Johnson acknowledged, “No development can get financing unless there’s a cash flow.”
Market Study Continues
With the recent closing of the Anacostia Warehouse Super-
market and the slow replacement of an eatery in the former space of Uniontown Bar & Grill, many neighborhood activists including James Bunn from Congress Heights, Davis White from the Chicago Street Civic Association, and Bruce Holmes offered their support for development of the Big K site. However, some residents questioned what development will ultimately materialize. “Everybody doesn’t have a problem with their kidneys or is on drugs or is an alcoholic,” said former 8A Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Greta Fuller in response to the disclosure of Chapman’s initial proposal to develop a “medical facility” on the Big K site. “What people don’t understand is that the Good Hope Institute is designated as a medical facility and it’s really nothing more than a methadone clinic. We have to be careful our community doesn’t become overrun with medical services,” Fuller said, alluding to Unity Healthcare’s new clinic on Galen Street SE, next-door to the Frederick Douglass house. With the announcement that Chapman and DHCD have agreed to contract an outside vendor to conduct an updated market study before moving ahead with the next conditional step of the disposition, Fuller waved a handful of neighborhood market studies done within the past four years by the city government, the Urban Land Institute, and others. “I want to make sure the next market study hits people in the neighborhood who want a grocery store and a place to eat, a place that can be accessed by everyone and not just a targeted group,” Fuller concluded. Ronald Williams, a licensed crabber in the Chesapeake Bay, spoke in favor of the development of the Big K site and asked how he could find support to open a seafood restaurant. “We need to be smart about what we put on this lot and think what its impact will be 5, 10, and 15 years in the future,” Williams said. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 27
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 29
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
New Barry Farm Recreation Center Gets Started by John Muller
B
y summer time residents of Barry Farm and folks throughout the metropolitan area who converge on the neighborhood to take in spirited basketball games at the famed George Goodman League will notice activity that has been a long time coming – the construction of a new recreation center. Initially conceived as a $15 million public works project during the previous mayoral administration, the center now has a projected price tag of $26 million, which Mayor Gray advanced in his budget released to the city council late last month. “The scope of the recreation center has grown in response to the direction and input we have received in ongoing conversations with the community,” said John Stokes, chief of staff for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). “This is a critical project for us.” Despite vocal concerns from residents and activist group Empower DC, who protested last month’s groundbreaking, Stokes confirmed that the existing Barry Farm recreation center at 1230 Sumner Road SE will remain open “at minimum through August.” The Barry Farm facility “will be 47,000 square feet, which will be one of the largest in the city. There are a couple that are larger, but very few that are,” said Mayor Gray, before donning the ceremonial hard hat and moving the traditional first shovel-full of dirt. Included in the new recreation
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center will be a “natatorium,” said Gray. “It’s essentially an indoor pool that will be available.” According to Stokes, “Our goal is to have the new in-door swimming pool completed in time for next summer, which is pretty aggressive.” When completed, the new recreation center will include an 11,000 square-foot indoor gymnasium, senior room, multipurpose rooms, teen room, computer lab, game area, locker room, kitchen, multipurpose field, basketball courts and bleachers, and playground. In addition it will have a parking garage. The existing court for the Goodman League, where local basketball talent competes with professional hoopsters from European leagues and stars from the NBA, such as Prince George’s County native Kevin Durant and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, will not be touched. To finance the construction of the new recreation center, monies will be combined from the New Communities Initiative and DPR’s capital budget. “Because the new recreation center will be on a housing property, we have to work through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development,” Stokes said, which adds another layer of permitting. “We are on track in getting all of those approvals.” Only then will the current recreation center be demolished. In his remarks at the groundbreaking Mayor Gray said mobile recreation vans will service
the community until the new Barry Farm recreation center opens. With nearly 40 percent of the city’s children living in neighborhoods east of the river and disparities in health outcomes, such as high concentrations of obesity and diabetes, the Barry Farm recreation center is designed for and will serve multiple needs. It will complement new facilities in Ward 7’s Deanwood, which opened in 2009, and in nearby Fort Stanton on Morris Road SE, slated to open later this summer.
Surveyors at Work
Wasting no time in Barry Farm, on the first of April stakes were in the ground around the perimeter of the existing recreation center. Orange spray paint declared “LOD,” an abbreviation for “Limit of Disturbance,” meaning the area to be cleared or graded. “Excuse me,” a young man said as he reached down and retrieved a football that had rolled to a stop under a surveyor’s tripod set up in an alley behind Sumner Road. A dozen students on spring break were playing touch-football, oblivious to the preliminary work going on around them. Chain-link fencing had gone up over the weekend around the recreation center grounds, limiting access to some playgrounds but not seal-
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS The Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc. (FSFSC) is seeking request for applications from qualified District of Columbia-based community organizations to develop and operate a Family Support Center in the Ward 8 neighborhood of Cluster 36 – Buena Vista, Garfield Heights, Knox Hill, Skyland, Woodland; Cluster 38 – Douglass, Shipley; and Cluster 39 – Washington Highlands, Belleview, Congress Heights in partnership with the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative. ing off the recreation center as some had feared.
Master Developer-Planner Proposals under Review
Fighting through the chants and persistent heckling of a dozen residents and activists with Empower DC, Mayor Gray led off his remarks at the groundbreaking with the promise that “in addition to the recreation center, there will be new housing that’s going to be constructed.” Before that happens the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) will close out a $300,000 Choice Neighborhood planning grant that they were awarded last year from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and continue moving forward with the process of selecting a master developer-planner for the redevelopment of Barry Farm Dwellings. “The Planning grant is moving right along,” said Dena Michaelson, DCHA’s director of public
affairs and communications. “We are holding meetings and developing the plans that the grant funds. We hope residents will be full and active participants in all of the committees and sub-committees in developing the transformation plan.” The separate call last autumn for applications for a master planning and development team drew seven submissions. According to Michaelson all seven were deemed qualified and advanced to the next round of the selection process. “We have invited all seven applicants to submit proposals which will be under evaluation by a panel that includes Barry Farm residents. Through this process it is our intention to select a single master developer.” u
Organizations selected to develop and operate a Family Support Center will receive between $120,000.00 and $200,000.00 to be used as leverage to support the operation of a Family Support Center. As conceived by FSFSC, a Family Support Center is a setting in which a set of activities designed to support families and provide them opportunities to engage in wholesome and healthy activities toward the goal of increased stability are delivered or arranged. A family support center is a warm and welcoming place in the community to which any family can come, not only in times of need, but as a regular part of day-to-day life. Most family support centers offer the following services: case management, family team meetings, case reviews, parenting education, parent involvement, self sufficiency programming, service coordination, health education, and information and referrals. Family support centers are found in diverse settings: free-standing buildings; schools; libraries; churches, clinics; and other locations.
Interested applicants should attend the Pre-Application Conference on April 30, 2013 at 3:00pm at the FSFSC Main Office at 2041 MLK Jr. Ave SE, Suite 304, Washington, DC 20020. To RSVP contact Cherise Mattheson at cmattheson@fsfsc.org. The application submission deadline is May 31, 2013 at 3:00pm
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | ApRIl 2013 H 31
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative Unites the Kenilworth-Parkside Area by Charnice A. Milton
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hen asked why she joined the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI), Executive Director Ayris Scales lists several reasons. “First and foremost, I’m a Ward 7 resident,” she begins. “And I’m a parent of a child who attends public school.” Scales is a product of DC Public Schools herself and experienced the impact of education on her family members’ lives. A specialist in project management and program development, Scales has the chance to marry education and community development with her position. She concisely states DCPNI’s message: “You can’t have great schools without great communities, and you can’t have great communities without great schools.”
History and Inspiration
Conceived in 2008, DCPNI is the brainchild of Irasema Salcido, CEO and founder of Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools. When she recognized that students coming to the Parkside campuses were academically unprepared, Salcido took inspiration from the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Project. According to its website HCZ aims to “create a ‘tipping point’ in the neighborhood so that children are surrounded by an enriching environment of college-oriented peers and supportive adults, a counterweight to ‘the street’ and a toxic popular culture that glorifies misogyny and anti-social behavior.” By 2009 Salcido had created a steering committee and in 2010 won a planning grant from the US Department of Education’s Promise Neighborhoods program, which was also inspired by HCZ. After DCPNI separated from Cesar Chavez it became its own nonprofit organization and hired Scales as its first executive director.
The Target Footprint
DCPNI’s programming is concentrated in the Kenilworth-Parkside area, home to six separate communities, including Mayfair, Paradise, and Eastside Gardens. Despite having green space like the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the area is cut off from the rest of the city by the Anacostia Freeway and a closed Pepco plant. It is also one of the poor32 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
est areas. According to the Urban Institute’s 2010-11 needs assessment for DCPNI, approximately half of Kenilworth-Parkside resident live below the federal poverty level. That is almost three times as much as the citywide average (18 DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI) Executive Director Ayris Scales poses percent). with America’s Promise Alliance Chair Alma Powell and community resident Sherrie Jones during February 7 tour of the Kenilworth-Parkside area. Photo: DCPNI DCPNI targets four schools: Kenilworth Elementary, Neval Thomas Elementary, and Cesar Chavez Parkside ing at Chavez Parkside Middle School. “They Middle and High Schools. During the 2009- were looking for insight into early childcare,” she 10 school year roughly two-thirds of students at explains. Woodridge is the owner and proprietor Kenilworth and Neval Thomas lacked proficiency of Smile Child Care, LLC, which currently serves in math or reading; however, Kenilworth met its five children. As for her own son, she sends him to annual yearly progress (or AYP) for 2010. At the a charter school outside of Ward 7. “I would love Chavez schools more than half of students were to send my son to a school in the area, but I felt not proficient in reading and approximately half in he needs more structure,” she says. “Some of my math. Only 59 percent of students graduated from former students went to those schools and I don’t Chavez High that year. think they were challenged enough.” Thanks to DCPNI Woodridge and Smile Child Care became part of the Early Learning Network Five Promises to Two Generations (ELN), which helps connect families with quality To achieve its goal of nurturing children “from early childcare services. In turn she started netcradle to college” DCPNI developed and recently working with partners such as Fight for Children approved a two-generation strategy that targets and DC Public School’s Early Stages. Woodridge parents as well as their children. The five promises credits Sadie Ellner, who serves as the ELN coorat the core of the strategy focus on children having dinator, for not only helping her open day camps caring adults in their lives, safe places to live and during winter and spring breaks, but also giving learn in, a healthy start and healthy future, an eduher a chance to serve children outside her own cation that equips them with marketable skills, and neighborhood. “We’re all separated by neighboran opportunity to give back to their community. DCPNI’s program helps parents provide stable hood names and apartments,” Woodridge says of homes and pay closer attention to their children’s the Kenilworth-Parkside area, “but what DCPNI education. A 2009 study shows that when a parent does is bring us together as one community.” advances their own education it influences their children’s higher educational aspirations. Growth “I want our children to have great schools in On December 22, 2012, DCPNI received a their communities and I want our parents to be five-year, $25 million grant from the US Departpart of that process and to understand why they ment of Education. During the official press conshould be part of that process and the impact that ference US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan they have on their children’s lives,” says Scales. congratulated the organization for “not only unit-
DCPNI in Action
When Mayfair resident Tracey Woodridge connected with DCPNI it was through a meet-
ing the Kenilworth-Parkside community around a common vision, but for doing so with a rigorous, research-based approach to bettering the lives of all young people in the community.” Scales calls
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the grant a “huge investment” for the organization and a “moral boost for the community to understand that this organization ... has actually been stamped and approved essentially by the Obama Administration.” Even with the funding, Scales needed to work on internal organizational issues like hiring staff and setting up an operations plan. Today DCPNI has ten staff members operating from the third floor of Kenilworth Elementary, in the center of their target footprint.
Future Plans
Going into the 2013-14 school year DCPNI will be losing one of its footprint schools when Kenilworth Elementary closes. “It’s unfortunate that the school is closing,” says Scales. “We have been working with Kenilworth ... probably for more than three years.” She adds that they included Kenilworth in their grant proposal in hope of continuing that partnership. However, DCPNI was instrumental in convincing DCPS to include Neval-Thomas Elementary as an option in its revised consolidation plan. Kenilworth’s closing will not change DCPNI’s approach. With approximately 70 percent of children going to schools outside the Kenilworth-Parkside area, the organization will continue focusing on out-of-school activities and resources and parental involvement. The grant will enable DCPNI to start administrating direct services through a new flagship program, the Mother’s Cohort. Targeting mothers with children younger than eight years old, the program will provide wrap-around services and individualized life plans. Mothers learn not only how to support their children’s educational pursuits, but also ways to increase their own chances of education and professional success. Over five years Scales anticipates directly helping 310 mothers.
How to Support the Initiative
DCPNI seeks organizations to join the initiative as partners for the 2013-14 school year; the application enrollment process ends on April 19. However, most of the support depends on community members. Woodridge suggests going to community events and meetings, calling DCPNI with questions, even demanding more programming and resources. “DCPNI is a good program. I appreciate what they have been doing for the community and for my childcare,” she says. DCPNI is located at 1300 44th St. NE, Room 311, Washington DC 20019. To learn more visit dcpni.org. u 34 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
An Ode to Sweet April
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hat should a poet do in April? Walk around the city with a poem in the pocket? Wait, like Walt Whitman, to catch a glimpse of the President? Ponder the blues on the P Street Bridge like Langston Hughes? Now and then I have the urge to walk over to the garden outside the OAS building in that Foggy Bottom part of town and stare at the bust of Pablo Neruda. This sculpture by Galvarino Ponce was placed there on November 21, 1980. I fell in love with Neruda around the time I was coming of age as a poet. Yes, it was a time when my youth knew despair and her many names. Neruda opened the door to Chile and soon names like Pinochet, Letelier, and Dorfman opened windows from which I began to learn about the politics of democracy and the human rights of fractured bones and missing children. When April arrives each year it becomes a time of remembrance. If poetry does nothing else it encourages us to pay attention to every word and line written or spoken. Even when a poem appears complex in structure or meaning it might also offer clarity and insight into some aspect of the human condition. It only re-
by E. Ethelbert Miller
quires patience. April was designated National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. It’s a way of showing an appreciation for poetry and a chance to highlight it at home or in the office. We can also enjoy poetry at the various entrances to Metro stations around the city. DC Poet Laureate Dolores Kendrick’s work can be found at the New York Avenue station. Walt Whitman’s words are at the National Archives as well as DuPont Circle. My own poetry is outside DuPont Circle (Q Street) as well as the Petworth Metro station. How many of us stop and take a moment to read this public art? What does a poem do to you that the wind or sun can’t? Does it matter? I think it does. Words we find in stone, we must now touch our flesh against. This simple act reminds us what it means to be human. It’s why I think about Neruda’s head across town. Where is the rest of him? Where are Neruda’s arms and legs? What did he make love with? These questions are like the days of April; each one pregnant with meaning and possibilities. Only a few of my poems have been written about the streets of Washington. Does this mean my
imagination resides somewhere else? What do poets see when they look at this city? Is it the picture of democracy and experimentation? How do we hold fast to images of dreams while our monuments continue to dwarf us? April is the month Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died. He was very much the preacher, prophet, and poet. Where there was for too long the ruins from the riots of 1968, there are now new streets and stores. It’s time to keep a new American Journal. Poets, open your notebooks! Parents and teachers, remind us that we are the children of Whitman – whisper “sweet April” into our ears. The Depth of My Feelings Love is about forgiveness – so I forgive you for being you – for being beautiful and wonderful (all over) and laughing and giving birth to poems – for being a friend that makes me howl whenever I dreamabout your nakedness – which is so often I no longer have words for love – only tears. Yes, crying is the river I walk near when I think of you. —E. Ethelbert Miller u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 35
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
In Your Kitchen Barbara Savage and Gloria Townsend are twins who enjoy cooking together. They are in Barbara’s kitchen in DC’s Hillcrest neighborhood.
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arbara Savage and Gloria Townsend, twins, grew up with three brothers and two sisters in their family home in Horntown, on Virginia’s eastern shore. Church, school, and work centered their family life. When asked what their mother would cook for the family, Barbara and Gloria reply in unison, “Everything!” “It was truly what daddy brought home. He was a waterman or fisherman – so we’d have crabs, clams, and different types of fish,” says Barbara. “And mama would bake, too – she was known for her rolls,” notes Gloria. “She used a lot of the black walnuts from the tree in the backyard in baking, and was also known for a tomato aspic she’d make.” As twins the two spent lots of time together, often complementing each other’s actions – Barbara helped with the housecleaning and Gloria would help their mother cook – and often anticipated what the other would do. “Because we lived in the country we always listened to gospel and country music, so we learned how to sing and how to yodel,” says Barbara, “and we’d break into song at the same time.” Barbara adds, “Our father used to refer to us as ‘BarbaraGloria’ because he couldn’t tell us apart.” Recently, their mother, still living in their childhood home, passed away at age 101. The twin daughters are hoping they’ll still get the extended family to gather at the homestead for upcoming holiday celebrations. Barbara relocated from Philadelphia to Washington in 1964 and moved to her current house in bucolic Hillcrest with her husband Paul a few years
by Annette Nielsen
later. Paul, an appreciative eater, claims “Barbara cooks smart, not every day, but strategically plans and cooks so that a dish will last more than one day. She also has a repertoire of dishes she makes, so the menu varies week to week.” The couple also likes variations on beans and rice, adding turkey and flavorings to a hearty mixture. Other dishes are created substituting whole grain pasta and brown rice. Barbara also takes advantage of sales on vegetables, cooking up the excess and freezing for later use. Gloria lives nearby and prefers cooking only a couple of times a week, putting up single-serving meals in the freezer for easy reheating. Neither sister makes a habit of desserts. They both know the benefits of cooking healthfully. Barbara is looking forward to planting her backyard garden, where she’ll harvest throughout the season, adding fresh herbs and tomatoes to various dishes throughout the summer and fall. Here are a couple of recipes that will provide inspiration for busy weeknight cooking, where dinner can be on the table in about 45 minutes. Barbara says that she and her husband Paul often eat the vegetable medley without the chicken, and serve it on a bed of whole grain brown rice for a healthful meal. During the summer they’ll prepare the chicken and the vegetables on the grill, a great way to keep the heat out of the kitchen. Barbara and Gloria also suggest substituting or adding different vegetables – sweet red or orange peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, and eggplant or almost any favorite vegetable in season.
Barbara favors her colorful enameled cast-iron cookware, but regular cast-iron skillets and casseroles will work here as well.
Dr. Karen Y. Cooper
Comprehensive & CosmestiC Center, LLC Enhancing lives, one smile at a time
Sautéed Chicken Breasts
Yield: 4-6 servings 3 boneless chicken breasts, split (sliced so they lie flat like a book) 1 tablespoon black and red (cayenne) pepper mix 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning olive oil After splitting the chicken breasts, sprinkle the pepper and Italian herb seasoning on both sides and set on a plate. Place a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken breasts in heated skillet and cook for approximately 10 minutes, depending on the meat’s thickness. Look for pinkness to disappear on the bottom two-thirds of the breast and then flip the breasts over and cook another 5 minutes or so until done. If chicken is done cooking before vegetables, take off heat and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm until serving.
Vegetable Medley
This preparation is similar to ingredients found in ratatouille. Barbara will often include garlic; Gloria prefers it without. Yield 4-6 servings 3 small zucchini 3 small yellow squash
1 large Vidalia onion, sliced 2-14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes (with juice); you can use seasoned tomatoes as well olive oil Italian Tuscan blend herbs (salt-free) Wash and dry squash. Slice into disks approximately ¼-inch thick and set aside. Thinly slice onion and set aside. In a casserole or deep skillet place a tablespoon of olive oil or enough to lightly coat the bottom. Over medium heat add zucchini and yellow squash pieces and cover for 5 to 7 minutes. Add sliced onion and cook for another 10 minutes or until vegetables start to soften. Mix canned tomatoes into the vegetables and cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or so. Add an Italian blend of herbs – fresh or dried – like marjoram, oregano, basil, and thyme. Serve as is or on top of prepared brown rice. Annette Nielsen is a writer, cookbook editor, and cook who has been engaged in food, farming, and sustainability issues for over 15 years. A native of the Adirondacks and a long-time resident of both New York City and DC, she lives in Southwest near the waterfront with her husband and son. Follow her on twitter @The_Kitchen_Cab; reach her by email: annettenielsen@mac.com. u
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Barbara and Gloria prepared an easy-to-execute meal in about 45 minutes – all delicious and nutritious and ingredients easily sourced.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | ApRIl 2013 H 37
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Dispatches from the Village of Anacostia by Phil Hutinet
The Gallery at Vivid Solutions and Honfleur Gallery Jazz Series
The Gallery at Vivid Solutions and Honfleur Gallery will host two exhibitions on April 26, 2013. “Figures in Jazz” by John K. Lawson at Honfleur Gallery presents vibrant, large-scale collage portraits of jazz legends including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Nina Simone, Wynton Marsalis, and Miles Davis. “Unsung Jazz” at The Gallery at Vivid Solutions presents photographer Antoine Sanfuentes’ ongoing project of documenting the local jazz performers who have had a substantial impact on jazz in Washington but are relatively unknown outside the area. A joint opening reception with the artists is scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2013, 6:00-8:00 p.m., with a performance by the Nasar Abadey Trio from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. There will be two additional jazz performances at Honfleur Gallery during the exhibitions on May 16 and June 6. John K. Lawson was born in Birmingham, England, in 1962 and raised mostly in the countryside until his family moved to South London when he was a teenager. He first came to the United States on a student exchange program in engineering at Louisiana State University. There his artistic abilities were encouraged, and he returned to England two years later to concentrate on landscape painting. Eventually Lawson was drawn back to the Deep South and soon became part of an underground art culture in New Orleans that included working on tattoo, t-shirt, and mural designs long before these mediums became mainstream. Hurricane Katrina submerged his studio and destroyed 25 years’ worth of artwork and ephemera. Lawson began to rework the damaged remnants into collages and started exploring the manner in which he would make the “Figures in Jazz” portraits. Explaining his intentions for this body of work, Lawson noted, “My wish was for these portraits to become universal documents, exploding with an inner energy not only found in music but also in our multilayered everyday life.” Although the original 38 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
work is not for sale, limited edition reproductions of the work are available. Additionally Lawson and Honfleur Gallery produced a book to accompany the exhibition that pairs each of the “Figures in Jazz” portraits with original poems by Lawson. Copies of the book will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition. “Unsung Jazz” marries two of Sanfuentes’ personal interests, jazz and documentary photography, in an exhibition that lends an insider’s look into the Washington jazz scene. An Emmy-winning producer and talented documentary photographer, Sanfuentes also works closely with People Encouraging People, an organization that supports disabled and disadvantaged people in the Baltimore area. He is an accomplished drummer and music enthusiast. Sanfuentes received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from American University. He resides in Maryland with his wife Lisa and two daughters. Sanfuentes is the senior vice president of NBC News. Most recently he served as NBC News vice president and Washington Bureau chief. In his 20 years as a journalist Sanfuentes has covered virtually every corner of the globe including Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009 Sanfuentes coordinated the NBC News special “Inside the Obama White House,” reported by Brian Williams. Sanfuentes has also produced notable coverage from across Africa alongside Ann Curry; including reports from Darfur, the eastern Congo, and a historic interview with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Immediately following the opening reception with the artists, the Nasar Abadey Trio will play a free jazz concert from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Nasar Abadey is a drummer, composer, and leader of Supernova. Honfleur Gallery and The Gallery at Vivid Solutions are pleased to be partnering with Twins Jazz to produce the three jazz performances that will take place during “Figures in Jazz” and “Unsung Jazz.” Both exhibitions run through June 28, 2013. The exhibitions are partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
John K. Lawson _Wynton Marsalis_, mixed media, 2011. Courtesy Honfleur Gallery.
Anacostia Arts Center Update
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) announced that construction of the Anacostia Arts Center is well underway, and ADC expects that it will open May 1, 2013. The Center is located at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, the former ARCH Training Center. The former classrooms will become a series of creative spaces and the Center will also have a coffee shop offering light fare. Currently the following tenants have been confirmed: a rehearsal studio that can double up as a 50-seat flexible performance space; the relocation of Blank Space SE, a popup art gallery, from 1922 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue SE; a coffee shop and juice bar that will feature sandwiches (opening date July 15, 2013); and a wellness center for yoga meditation run by a Ward 8 resident and doctor.
The HIVE Workshop Series
“Branding Your Small Business” (Part 2 of 3) Tuesday, April 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The HIVE 2.0: 1231-B Good Hope Road SE, Anacostia The HIVE 2.0 joins forces with Washington Area Community Investment Fund to present a three-part series on branding your small business.
Attendance at all three sessions not required. Meryl Hooker is presenting this series, which focuses on branding identity and how that influences your online presence.
Crowdfunding
Black in Green will present national spokesman William Michael Cunningham to discuss the basics of crowdfunding at the HIVE 2.0 this April and May. The schedule is as follows: I. Crowdfunding Basics and Project Planning (April 13) II. Crowdfunding Campaign Market Research (April 17) III. Crowdfunding Product/ Business Plan Creation (April 27) IV. Crowdfunding Campaign Launch (May 1) V. Crowdfunding Campaign Followup (May 11) Cunningham will be available to consult with businesses at the Hive concerning management, financing, and crowdfunding. These events are free and open to the public. RSVP membership@thedchive.com
“Do Good Summit” Moving to Anacostia
Community Leaders and Entrepreneurs Show Power of Doing Good and Well. On May 3 entrepreneurs, innovators, and business and nonprofit leaders will gather in Anacostia to celebrate social enterprise, smart growth, and community development. The “Do Good Summit” is an intensive, one-day, interactive conference for small business owners, advocates, students, and changemakers who believe in the power of doing good and doing well. In its second year, the summit, hosted by Think Local First DC (TLF), speaks to the goal of leveraging relationship among people, planet, and profit, and working together to make communities more prosperous and more sustainable. Workshops, panels, and speakers teach entrepreneurs how to run successful businesses that have streamlined, innovative operations with a focus on having a positive social and environmental impact. Keynote speakers include Ben Miller, founder of Fundrise and
Popularise; Judy Wicks, founder and CEO of the White Dog Café and co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE); and Maggie Anderson, author of “Our Black Year” and founder of The Empowerment Experiment. This year’s event will be held at the Anacostia Arts Center. Serving as a community-gathering place and a regional cultural facility, the Anacostia Arts Center and ARCH Development project will add approximately 10,000 square feet of creative commercial space to Good Hope Road SE, bringing independent creative projects together under one roof. The former H Street Playhouse will open at the same time a block away. Attendees of the Summit will experience a mix of traditional and innovative conference platforms, hands-on breakout sessions, inspiring local, regional, and national speakers, and a wide array of networking opportunities designed to grow their business. Participants will join a diverse network of likeminded people through Think Local First DC and get access to yearround events and opportunities. Participants will gain skills relevant to starting, owning, and growing a small business; and they will learn about trends and share best practices in DC and more broadly, and how to benefit from the localist movement. Ticket prices are $99 for Think Local First members and nonprofits and $199 for non-members. Student tickets are $49. Special rates apply for East of the River organizations and residents. WHEN: May 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. WHERE: Anacostia Arts Center TO LEARN MORE OR TO REGISTER: www.dogoodsummit. com Phil Hutinet is COO at ARCH Development Corporation (ADC). ADC is a 20-year-old 501(c)3 not-forprofit community-based organization founded on the belief that arts and the creative economy can be employed as part of a comprehensive, synergistic approach to revitalization in the Anacostia community. Visit them online at www.archdevelopment.org. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 39
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Visiting Professor Jacqueline Lawton (back row, left) joins theatre majors gathered on March 12 before bringing concerns about their program to the DC Council.
Booker T, W.E.B, Hampton, and UDC 1940s Arts Drama Replays in 2013 by Virginia A. Spatz
“I
t’s dangerous what you’re teaching these students. Selfexpression, much good that’s going to do them. They’re Negroes. The world will only give them so much.” This speech appears in a new work of historical fiction by local playwright Jacqueline Lawton. Set in the 1940s, “The Hampton Years” follows artist/educator Viktor Lowenfeld as he struggles to establish an art department, over administrative opposition, at Hampton Institute. Lawton was originally drawn to the story, she says, by the intertwining dramas of Jews struggling to make a new life after the Holocaust and African American students struggling to make their way in the unwelcoming art world. “I knew I was writing about Margaret and Vicktor Lowenfeld rejecting Harvard and settling in Hampton, Virginia – such an isolated spot for Jews,” Lawton recalls. “And I knew I was writing about Viktor’s stewarding the lives of these young artists,” muralist John Biggers (19242001) and sculptor Samella Sanders (now Lewis, b. 1924). “What I didn’t know was how much of the story was about fight-
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ing for the arts,” Lawton continues. “I began to realize how hard Viktor had to work – he had to develop a curriculum and hire teachers and do everything a department chair has to do, but he also had to fight, every day, to prove that the arts are necessary.” Now, as a visiting professor in the midst of the University of the District of Columbia’s reorganization, Lawton finds “life paralleling art.”
“Living My Play”
Theatre Arts at UDC has two faculty members: Assistant Professor Lennie Smith, whose position was recently terminated, and Lawton, whose year-to-year position is now more tenuous than usual. Theatre majors find this “heartbreaking” and a “big disappointment.” They fear losing faculty they counted on for advice, recommendations, and networking; some say their tie to UDC “is severed,” and one notes “they pulled the rug out from under us.” UDC spokesperson John Butler explains that 21 majors were eliminated through a “thoughtful process” ratified by the Faculty Senate. “We simply could not guarantee quality
[in every program] with the resources we have.” Many discontinued majors, including theatre arts, were to be “reconstituted in some other form, such as minors, certificate programs, and/ or concentrations.” Observers inside and outside the university agree that a minor in theatre arts can be an important complement to many major programs and career paths. There is disagreement, however, about what happened to the promised minor (see sidebar) and whether theatre arts at UDC has a future. The university struggles with “being broad and being targeted,” Butler adds. Program reorganizations were based on cost, current and potential demand, and quality. We have to ask, Butler adds: Can a program help students become “proficient and expert ... so they can work in that field?” Recent Faculty Senate minutes put it this way: UDC is in a “21st century version of the Booker T. Washington/W.E.B. DuBois struggle. [The District has] no concern for development of the mind, to live as a constructive citizen. [We’re] getting a lot of pressure to move away from
broad education and just train for jobs.” And so Lawton is struggling to support disheartened students in an environment that appears to devalue their work, while she battles to keep arts education accessible at the only institution available to many students. In other words, she exclaims, “I’m living my play!”
One Big – Unfunded – Family
Denise Hall, of Ward 7, once had a job in security at Washington Hospital Center and saw no point in a college degree. Now she’s just a few credits away from a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts and preparing for graduate school. On this rainy March morning she is gathering with fellow students to protest the disintegration of the program which has meant so much to her. “My mother was studying social work at UDC,” Hall recalls. “I’d ask her, Why do you stay in this, sun up to sundown? She said, Go and you’ll see.” Hall pauses to explain that her mother completed a bachelor’s degree in 2005, not long before being diagnosed with cancer, which sadly proved terminal. “She wanted me
UDC's Theatre Program in Limbo
UDC students prepare to testify and protest at the DC Council’s March 12 performance oversight hearing.
to get an education, so I went to UDC....At first I was undecided what to study. But I got the opportunity to be in a performance, and I found this is where I need to be.” “Now, other people who come after me will not get the experience I had,” Hall adds. “Youth are engaged through entertainment of all kinds. Having this department can help put youth on the right path....UDC is affordable, accredited, accessible...Our city needs this.” Many students note the importance of an affordable education but add that their program did not have sufficient resources. Benita Frazier adds, “as for abolishing the program, they don’t fund it anyway.” Several students stress the rich theatre resources of the District itself, however. “They offered us grand opportunities,” says senior Margaret Smith, while senior Dionne Hunte notes that Lawton helped her find work through the Theater Alliance. “We studied under very experienced and connected teachers.”
“The group is one big family,” says Lolita Rushing, a junior who hopes to attend graduate school and pursue acting, directing, and playwriting. “For them to let [faculty] go – it just doesn’t feel right anymore....They’re allowing us to finish out. But we don’t know who’s gonna advise us.” Shyia Simmons is also concerned about her future and that of the program. “Now we don’t know who will be teaching us in the fall....I feel like they just don’t care about the theatre program. But I’ve come way too far to go back now.” “The District needs a theatre program where students of limited resources can study,” says Lawton, a graduate of the University of Texas. “Without a public institution I couldn’t have afforded my studies.” After a schedule of staged reading and workshops around the country, “The Hampton Years” premieres in June at Theatre J here in the District. A DC Council hearing on UDC’s performance and budget is scheduled for April 23. u
In late 2010 the UDC faculty senate approved discontinuation of 21 programs. The Trustees' ratification reads: “Whereas many of the programs listed for termination will be reconstituted in some other form, such as minors, certificate programs, and/or concentrations.” Theatre Arts was to reorganize from a major program to a minor. New majors in theater are no longer accepted, but UDC promised to “teach out” current majors – juniors and seniors – so they can graduate. The university takes this seriously, according to Chief Operating Officer Rachel Petty. She did suggest, however, in a March 22 phone interview that students might be “better served” by taking courses through the DC-area university consortium. The minor, meanwhile, is not in place. Petty explains that Theatre Arts “has not yet presented a plan,” although the UDC website offers a detailed description of a minor. Faculty Senate minutes indicate that a general proposal on “Minors and Concentrations” – a necessary first step to putting such programs in place – was submitted to the provost over a year ago. As of press time the provost had not responded.
Waiting for the Dice to Roll
Assistant Professor Lennie Smith's position terminates at the end of this school year. Commitments to visiting professors, such as Jacqueline Lawton, are not made until late summer. At that point, Petty says, “We put theatre in with all other needs.” Without faculty, who will oversee the minor? “Terminating a faculty position doesn't mean we won't have faculty next year,” Petty responds. A visiting professorship saves the university money on benefits, while “an adjunct saves more.” “We can't keep full-time faculty for a small number of students,” continues Petty. “Students haven't registered yet, and we don't know demand.” Meanwhile Lawton told the DC Council that new students are discouraged, or even prevented, from taking theatre courses. The program has had no new students in its courses since 2011. Still, the university “is committed to the minor,” Petty reiterates, and has “the intention” to offer it.
Only for the Wealthy?
“I had one Wall Street dad accuse me of training his child to be a starving actor,” recalls Gail Stewart Beach, chair and professor of drama at Catholic University. “So I asked him if he would hire someone skilled in collaboration and creative thinking, someone who knew about deadlines and could think on his feet....Hiring managers tell me that they can teach particulars of a business but cannot teach these skills.” In addition, Beach says, arts students may be better prepared in a tough economy than those planning less flexible careers. “Part of what my students already know is that they will always have to be on top of their own work.” Still, Beach says, the idea that arts are for the wealthy is a hard one to shake – on the individual career level and on the cultural level. But DC is far ahead of other locations on both counts, she believes: DC is active in Fringe Theater and has a variety of other low-cost productions. There are free dress rehearsals, even for the opera, and students get free and reduced-price tickets. On the employment front DC is the second most active theatre market, behind New York City. Children's and other niche offerings are abundant; area rehearsals are often at night, “so that people can keep their day jobs,” and many employers are accustomed to giving vacation days when “tech” conflicts with a regular work schedule. “Theatre is such a part of life here,” Beach concludes. “A lot of theatres want to give back [through internships and jobs, e.g.], and the community is very welcoming to students.” EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 41
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
The New Buzz Bees in the District
by Catherine Plume
H
oneybee hives are popping up across the District – and in some surprising spots including the British Embassy and a Franciscan monastery as well as the rooftops of the Fairmont Hotel and National Geographic headquarters. American and George Washington university campuses host hives, while the White House kitchen garden is home to approximately 70,000 bees. Across the District residents are placing hives in their own backyards – or on their roofs. Hives take up little space, have minimal impact on people, produce a viable crop, and reinforce this city’s green initiatives. While beekeepers have been operating in an ambiguous legal capacity, new legislation is making this hobby explicitly legal in the District. Why all the buzz over bees? If you’re looking for a new and green hobby, you’ll be doing a huge service by raising bees. According to the US Department of Agriculture, one-third of our daily diet comes from crops pollinated by honeybees including blueberries, pumpkins, and almonds well as bell peppers and tomatoes. Even beef depends on bees: hay and clover, common food sources for cattle, require bees for pollination. Unfortunately honeybee populations across the United States have been falling for the last several years due to a disease known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The culprit? Studies increasingly point to neonicotinoids, pesticides commonly used to coat plant seeds to ward off diseases and predators. A March 28, 2013, article in The New York Times, “Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Height-
ening Worry on Farms,” notes that CCD “appears to have expanded drastically in the last year … wiping out 40 percent or even 50 percent of the hives needed to pollinate many of the nation’s fruits and vegetables.” We must identify the source of this disease to protect the nation’s food sources.
DC: Home Sweet Home
DC’s wealth of flowers, acorns, tulip poplars, and black locust trees provides ideal food sources for pollinators such as birds, butterflies, and bees and offers a nectar flow from April through July. The Anacostia and Potomac river basins provide a wide array of food choices for honeybees while the city’s cherry trees provide a high-protein dietary source. Charles Wilson is a Ward 8 resident who became hooked on apiculture after attending a DC honeybee seminar some two years ago. Charles equates raising bees to having his own backyard scientific experiment. “I learn something new every time I visit my bees, and I don’t need a degree to raise them! There are 30,000-40,000 bees in every hive, and every bee has a specific role to play. Nurse bees heat each cell where an egg has been laid, and the temperature determines any one bee’s destiny.” Charles has had two beehives in his backyard for the past two years. He didn’t harvest honey the first year, while he was learning techniques and allowing his bees to build on their existing honeycombs, but in his second year he harvested some 20 pounds, which he sold largely through word of
Charles welcomes a new hive to his collection. Credit: C Plume
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mouth. He says he could have harvested as much as 80 pounds, but he made some mistakes. Most experienced backyard beekeepers produce between 50 and 100 pounds of honey every year. When Charles established his hives his neighbors were curious and a bit concerned that they might be stung with hives nearby. Charles explained that honeybees are essentially harmless and aren’t actively seeking out humans to sting. This explanation, coupled with a few jars of harvested honey, has converted neighbors into fans. Unlike hornets and yellow jackets, bees sting only as a last resort. But Charles notes if you’re going to raise bees, eventually you’ll be stung. While he’s only been stung five times in two years, he’s learned that he’s allergic to their sting, so he takes great care and wears protective clothing. Charles is such a huge fan of apiculture that he recently organized a beekeeping seminar in collaboration with DC Honeybees in Ward 8. At least 12 of the participants expressed a real interest in getting involved in backyard or roof beekeeping.
The Investment
Bees are relatively low maintenance. Jeff Miller of DC Honeybees says, “Some say it’s less work than a dog, more than a cat. I would argue that it’s less work than a dog and even less work than a goldfish.” Jeff notes that beehives require most investment during the first year. A starter kit costs approximately $425, which includes a minimum of two boxes
Charles Wilson attends to his bees! Credit: C Plume
per hive and the cost of the bees. Most backyard beekeepers keep one or two hives. To establish a hive bees must be fed sugar water every day for the first 60 days. Italian honeybees are the most common species, and they can be ordered online and sent to you through the US mail.
Resources
If you’re interested in establishing your own bee hive or supporting apiculture endeavors in the DC area, here are a few resources to get you started: • DC Honeybees (www. dchoneybees.com) “educate(s) our audience about the benefits of the honeybee, the risks to the species, and the personal benefits of keeping a hive in your back yard or rooftop.” For a nominal fee DC Honeybees will provide a starter package of bees, show you the basics of hive maintenance, and assist in harvesting the honey. • DC Beekeepers Alliance (www.dcbeekeepers.org) provides a tool for communication, collaboration, and education for beekeepers in DC; a way for the community at large to work with DC beekeepers; and a resource for those interested in becoming beekeepers to learn more and get started in this fascinating and important activity. • Sweet Virginia Foundation (www.sweetvirginia.com) sells its honey to raise funds for local charities dedicated to serving the needs of those most vulnerable in our community. Their mission is to promote urban/suburban beekeeping and provide educational and volunteer opportunities emphasizing sustainable agriculture; the impact of giving and working together in the community; and the importance of cherishing life. Catherine Plume is the blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.Blogspot.com. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 43
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Rock Newman Returns to DC with New Radio Show by Charnice A. Milton
Outside Experiences
Thirty years after hosting his first radio show, Rock Newman returned to the airwaves on February 23 with a celebration that included all but one living former DC mayors. Photo: Charnice A. Milton
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S
aturday mornings are busy times at the We Act Radio station as its staff prepares for another episode of “The Rock Newman Show.” The host is already in place, chatting with his first two guests for his threehour show. “I have a faithful listener in Amsterdam,” Newman says with a smile and a laugh, adding “Not New York!” Newman prides himself on creating a show that is informative as well as entertaining. After years of being away from DC, he began broadcasting earlier this year, happy to serve the city he calls home.
Not many people know that “The Rock Newman Show” is actually his second radio show. “It’s something I did thirty years ago,” Newman said. “Since I’ve been off the air, it’s something I’ve always thought about.” He went on to amass an impressive resume outside of DC, immersing himself in the world of professional boxing as a publicist, promoter, and manager. Some of his clients included Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Michael Spinks and Riddick Bowe. He also served as the executive producer for the Bermuda Music Festival, doing deals with the likes of Beyonce, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, and others. Newman is also known for his humanitarian efforts both in and outside of the DC area. For instance, he and then-client Bowe paid $360,000 during the nation’s first Funds for Guns program and on Martin Luther King day in 1993 paid in excess of $300,000.00; taking in more than 3000 guns from the streets of the Nations Capitol. He also registered many DC residents to vote through his “Rock for the Vote” campaign. Outside the United States, Newman was
honored for his anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa and famine relief efforts in Somalia. He has met with Pope John Paul II and Nelson Mandela and worked with past DC mayors. But Newton missed being behind the microphone.
The First Show
On February 23, We Act Radio aired the first episode of the Rock Newman Show. The on-air guest list read like a who’s who of Washington and Hollywood: Former Mayors Anthony Williams, Marion Barry, and Sharon Pratt (current mayor Vincent Gray did a pre-taped message, but made an appearance on March 23), NFL broadcaster James Brown, Quincy Jones, Lynn Whitfield, Pete Rose, Judge Greg Mathis, and others joined in the celebration, which happened to be his 61st birthday. Newman even had presidential and sports announcer Charlie Brotman introduce the show. There was much laughter and smiles as Newman and his guests shared memories. He shared a story about the first time he met then-DC Chief Financial Officer Williams, who he described as “...a bean-counter who wore a
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Mayor Vincent Gray appeared on “The Rock Newman” show on March 23 to discuss city matters. Photo: Charnice A. Milton.
bow-tie; a very geeky, kinda square dude...” Knowing that Newman had an “urban reputation,” Williams greeted Newman, saying “Hello, my brother,” enunciating every word. “I said, ‘Damn Tony!” Newman continued. “If we’re going over to Southeast...you need to learn how to say, ‘Yo, Bro!’” Since then, Newman explained, “Hello, my brother” has been their standard greeting.
“What Do You Care About?”
Each broadcast starts with the question, “What do you care about?” The answer could cover a variety of local and national subjects from economics, education, religion, sports, and relationships. “It’s about all things interesting,” Newman said. “I will not be pigeonholed to one thing.” In fact, one of the reasons why he chose We Act as his broadcast home was that they let him have complete independence. “I like their progressive nature,” Newman says of the station. “It
lets me have control of the content.” Some examples of topics discussed on the show include DC statehood, the Redskins name debate, the automotive industry, and drunk driving. He has also interviewed news-makers like Angelo Carusone, who started a petition for Macy’s to get rid of the Donald Trump brand, along with Trump’s attorney, Alan Garten. Their heated debate was featured in the “Washington Secrets” column in the US News & World Report. Other news-worthy guests have included Dr. Ben Carson, Robert Griffin, III’s parents, and Oscar winners Sean and Andre Fine.
Seeing and Hearing
“The goal is to be able to do programming from a DC base that’s informative, entertaining, and impactful in a way that’s compelling and can be exported to other areas,” Newman said. With the show available for live-streaming online, he is one step closer to that goal. Not only can listeners hear
the show, they can see everything happening behind the scenes. “This way, you can see the show all over the world,” Newman said. He is currently discussing the possibility of bringing the show to other platforms, specifically network and cable television. However, the best option for the community to enjoy the show is by watching it live and in-person. Located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, the We Act Radio station is always open to visitors, especially during Newman’s broadcasts. “There’s been some dramatic moments; there’s been some fun moments,” Rock said of the live show. “It’s been a fun experience.” The Rock Newman Show broadcasts on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on WPWC 1480 AM and on rocknewmanshow.com. Past shows are available as free podcasts on iTunes. To see the show live, We Act Radio is located on 1918 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020. u
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KIDS & FAMILY
Kids & Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner
Let’s Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
On Sunday, May 5, 2-4 p.m., celebrate the spirit of the Cinco de Mayo holiday by making a variety of Mexican art-andcraft items in a workshop led by independent art and cultural historian Teresa Grana. Free. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Child making Cinco de Mayo mask. Photo: Robert Hall
Story Time at Anacostia Library
On Saturdays, Apr 20 and May 4, 10:30 a.m.-noon (both days), come to Anacostia Neighborhood Library for a wonderful Saturday morning program. Following the reading of a book by a celebrity, each child creates an artwork to take home. For kids from early childhood through 8 years with parents. Free; for more information, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE
Register Now for Summer Camp and Dance Classes
Register your children today for ballet technique, jazz, hip-hop,modern, and liturgical dance. $20 registration fee, $65 per month (ages 3-7); $85 per month (ages 8-18). Children enrolled in the year round program will have the opportunity to perform in their 33rd annual Black History Production and will have first option in participating in Northeast Performing Arts Group Summer Arts Camp. Also, register now for Summer Arts Camp, June 17-Aug 16, with 46 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Northeast Performing Arts Group. Space is limited. $20 registration fee; tuition is $85 per week. Camp includes professional staff and instruction in the performing arts (ballet, modern, jazz, liturgical, and hip‐hop) breakfast, lunch and snack, field trips and a major summer production. For more information, call 202-3881274 or visit the studio at 3431 Benning Rd. NE.
Get Kids Outdoors, Active, and Hooked on Fishing!
Family & Youth Casting Call is on May 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Fletcher’s Cove on the C&O Canal. Spend a day fishing in the C&O Canalthey provide the instructors and all the gear you will need to catch fish. When not fishing, children will participate in fun, educaitonal activities like water quality testing, fly casting or fly tying, fish art, scavenger hunts, touch tanks and so much more. Partner agencies and organizations will have displays set up to learn about how they are helping fish and fishing across the country. Don’t miss this fantastic day of family fun!
Read more at familyandyouthcastingcall.com.
Children’s Movie Nights at Francis A. Gregory Library
Every Monday at 4:30 p.m., you’re invited to the children’s room at Francis A. Gregory Library for weekly movie screenings of new family films and classic favorites. Recommended for families and children ages 4-12. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE. 202698-6373. dclibrary.org/francis
Free Screening of Brooklyn Castle
This documentary follows an inner-city school where more than 65% of students are from homes with incomes below the federal poverty level-which also happens to have the best, award-winning, junior high school chess team in the country. The film also discusses a series of recession-driven pubic school budget cuts which threatened to undermine those hard-won successes. Registration for this event is preferred, contact kdouglas@thearcdc.org for more information or if you would like to
bring a group. Apr 17, 4:30 p.m. at THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
U.S. Chess Center Youth Exhibition featuring Rochelle Ballantyne
On Thursday, Apr 18, 4:30 p.m., The U.S. Chess Center presents Rochelle Ballantyne in a 20-board simultaneous exhibition! Ballantyne was recently featured in the documentary film Brooklyn Castle, and is on track to become the first female African-American chess master. She has secured a full scholarship to Stanford University, where she will be a freshman in the fall. Come watch her take on 20 challengers at the same time in support of a fundraising event for the U.S. Chess Center. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
DC Birth and Babies Fair
DC’s inaugural Birth and Babies Fair will feature a variety of local realtors, classes and panel discussions. More than just a market, this event offers DC families a place to come together and to learn from experts
in the field. Offerings include “What is a doula and how to hire one”, “What is the best birth setting for me?,” prenatal and post-partum health, cloth diapers, babywearing, parenting support, VBACs, baby foods and more. Apr 28, noon-5 p.m. at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Learn more at dcbirthandbabiesfair.com.
National Zoo’s Elephant Community Center “Elephant Trails” Opens
Elephant Trails, which opened on Mar. 23, spans 8,943 square meters, which is large enough to accommodate up to three separate groups of elephants, including a natural, matriarchal herd of elephants and individual bulls. The Zoo’s goal is to provide all elephants with indoor-outdoor access year round. The Elephant Community Center and Elephant Barn contain nine indoor living areas, or “suites.” The outdoor component of Elephant Trails contains seven enclosures, including four exhibit yards, two paddocks, and an Elephant Trek. Sliding doors separate each area and can be opened for full access or closed for isolation of individuals or groups. By enabling or restricting access, keepers vary the level of visual and tactile access among the Zoo’s elephants. nationalzoo.si.edu
DCPS Launches Campaign to Attract Top Educators from Across the Country
District of Columbia Public Schools is engaged in a new recruitment campaign to bring the best teachers and principals in the country to the nation’s capital. As part of the campaign, the school system launched a new recruitment website, joindcpublicschools.com, featuring over 20 professionally produced videos showcasing top teachers, principals, and central office staff in DCPS. In addition, the school system has doubled the
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Somerset Prep DC Charter School Mayor Gray Breaks Ground Tuesday on the New Ballou Senior High School
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Ballou High School Groundbreaking
On Mar 26, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, and Department of General Services Director Brian Hanlon joined the Ward 8 community in breaking ground on the new Ballou Senior High School. The modernization of Ballou Senior High School will feature a monumental new design that will make it one of the finest academic facilities in the United States. The design for the new Ballou features “green” energy-efficient systems as well as high-tech multi-media data projectors, classroom sound enhancement systems, and flexible student-focused learning environments with advanced computer and science labs. Ballou Senior High School is at 3401 4th St. SE. size of its recruitment team, and is launching the “Capital Commitment Fellowship,” a prestigious program for the 50 best teacher recruits of the year. As DCPS launches this new recruitment campaign, it is also committed to retaining its top educators, particularly as it undergoes a district-wide school consolidation process.
Additionally, DC United’s annual residential camp will be held at St. Timothy’s School in Stevenson, Md., from July 6-10. An elite training environment, the five-day residential camp will provide on-field and classroom instruction of the highest level. For more information, visit dcunited.com/camps/summercamp-information.
DC United Summer Camps Open for Registration
Teen Jazz Appreciation Month Francis A. Gregory Library
DC United Summer Camps registration is now open. The camps include the popular summer camp series at DC United’s Training Complex at RFK, two Striker/ Goalkeeper camps also at DC United’s Training Complex and several week-long camps at satellite locations around the area. Series 1, 2 and 3, at RFK Stadium, will feature First Team player appearances from Brandon McDonald, Chris Pontius, Nick DeLeon, Lewis Neal, Perry Kitchen and Dejan Jakovic. The Striker/Goalkeeper camps will also feature First Team player appearances from Carlos Ruiz, Bill Hamid and Chris Pontius.
Monday, Apr 15, 7 p.m., celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in the Teen Space. We will watch videos, listen to Jazz, and maybe play some too! For ages 12-19. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE. 202-698-6373. dclibrary. org/francis
Kids Opening Day & Screech’s Birthday at Nat’s Park
On Apr 14, 1:35 p.m. at the Nat’s vs. Braves games, kids can enjoy games, “bounces” and giveaways. Kids can also run the bases after the game. washington.nationals.mlb.com
Chess Challenge in DC Rescheduled
The 2nd Annual Chess Challenge in DC Citywide Elementary and Middle School Chess Tournament has been rescheduled to Apr 20, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson High School. This is an unrated four round tournament with a blitz playoff. Registration is free. To register go to chesschallengeindc. org. For more information call 202-579-5551.
Saturday Morning at the National Free Performances
On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. there are free live performances for children in the Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickets are required and distributed first come-first seated. Tickets are distributed 1/2 hour prior to performance. One ticket per person in line. The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. 202-783-3372.
Options Public Charter School Selected to Partner with Microsoft
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education has selected Options to participate in the pilot program of Microsoft’s IT Academy. The Microsoft IT Academy Program provides students with the technology skills necessary to obtain certification, whether they decide to attend college or get a job after high school. Managed by CCI Learning Solutions, the Microsoft IT Academy Program will serve 50 of Options’ high school students. Since 1996, Options has served as a model for effectively including and educating youth in Washington, D.C. who have failed in traditional learning environments. With a studentto-teacher ratio of 6:1, Options’ general education and socialization program motivates students to stay in school by giving them the requisite social skills to improve their life outcomes. optionsschool.org u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 49
KIDS & FAMILY
Fort Dupont Ice Arena and Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Bring New Opportunities for Children by Charnice A. Milton
L
ocated off I-295, Ward 7’s Fort Dupont Park is preparing for a busy summer. In addition to hiking trails and annual free concert series, the Fort Dupont Ice Arena will reopen in July, offering classes, camps, and a way to cool off without a swimming pool. Later the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy will open, bringing the sport to an area more known for basketball and football. The ice arena and the upcoming baseball facility aim to teach children new skills and provide learning and recreational opportunities for the community.
Fort Dupont Ice Arena
The Fort Dupont Ice Arena is DC’s only public indoor ice-skating rink. Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FDIA), a nonprofit organization formed to save the arena from closure, has managed and operated the facility since 1996, bringing much-needed repairs, maintenance, and upgrades to the 37-yearold building. The process continues even when the rink is closed for spring. “There’s still a need for a lot of elbow grease, a lot of love and a lot of paint,” commented Ty Newberry, the general director and executive director for Friends of FDIA. The rink will reopen on July 1, with summer camps on July 8. “All our camps are popular from year to year,” said FDIA’s program director, Leticia Moreno Enos. This year the arena is offering three: a summer skating school, figure skating, and their first annual teen camp for girls. “There really aren’t too many options for teen girls,” Enos explained. “It’s a great way to stay active during the summer.” Unlike the other camps, the teen girls camp takes beginners as well as more experienced skaters.
Success Stories
“I have nothing but good things to say about the rink and the people who give their time and devotion to make things happen,” said Stacey Kornegay, a Ward 7 resident. Her son has participated in Kids on Ice, a free community ice skating program, since he was seven years old. “Through this magnificent program, which taught him many skills on and off the ice, he was courted by several teams,” Kornegay said. “That was about four years 50 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
ago.” Today he plays for the NOVA Ice Dogs, who considers FDIA one of their home rinks. Sheryl Segal credited FDIA for her son Steven’s current success. “Becoming a skilled skater and hockey player was invaluable to Steven while he struggled with mastering academic skills,” she explained. “Having physical expertise gave him confidence that was much needed, and I believe was instrumental in helping him to gain a mastery of academia.” Today Steven is an honor roll student, an active hockey player, and a volunteer skate guard at FDIA. “Both the staff and the coaches are so warm and dedicated,” Segal said. “They really believe in the program and go way beyond the narrow confines of work.”
Baseball Comes to Fort Dupont Park
About a block away from the rink construction is underway for the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. The product of a partnership between the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the DC government, the facility could open at the beginning of the next school year. One of its most enthusiastic supporters is Mayor Vincent Gray. “As a lifelong baseball player and fan I am enthusiastic about the Nationals bringing their Youth Baseball Academy to Ward 7,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Nationals organization to complete the Academy and develop programming that will benefit the entire community.”
What to Expect
The $15 million facility will house three types of baseball fields: regulation-size, youth, and softball. Additionally the academy will feature a twostory academic facility with classrooms, a “teaching kitchen,” and an indoor training area with batting cages. “The entire complex will be used as a classroom, and all participants will be encouraged and inspired to learn both on and off the playing field,” said Joanna Comfort, the director of communications for the Nationals. Although bringing baseball east of the Anacostia River is a major goal, the facility was inspired by Harlem RBI, a nonprofit organization that uses the
Rendering of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. Photo: Washington Nationals Dream Foundation
Basic-skills students pose with Snowplow Sam, the US Figure Skating mascot, at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Photo: Friends of FDIA
game to promote healthy living and education to inner-city children. According to their 2012 report, 96 percent of participants since 2005 have graduated high school, with 93 percent gaining college acceptance. While the Nationals will manage the complex, they are looking for an executive director to oversee the year-long program.
Support Needed
With summer approaching, both facilities need support from the community. At FDIA one of the best ways to do this is by volunteering on and off the ice or field. “If you have certain skills, then we have a job,” said Enos. Both organizations also take donations online and through special events, while FDIA will also accept gently used ice-sport equipment. Residents can also support each organization by registering their children for programs. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is located at 3779 Ely Place SE, Washington DC 20019. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. while the arena is closed for maintenance. Visit fdia.org or call 202-584-5007 for more information. The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy will be located at 3675 Ely Place SE, Washington DC 20019. Visit nationals.com/dream or call 202-640-7124 for more information. u
School Notes compiled by Melissa Ashabranner
Neval Thomas Elementary News Easter Bunny Springs into Action
On March 15th and just in time for spring, the Easter bunny hopped on over to Neval Thomas Elementary school to encourage the students to keep their minds and bodies active. As the six-foot bunny entered the auditorium, the children let out screams of excitement and several whispers of “Is that the real Easter bunny?” Mr. Bunny joined students in Save the Children’s afterschool program for some fun-filled physical activities, games, and to exercise their brain through reading. Mr. Bunny brought festive bunny ears and seasonal activity books donated by Fashion Centre at Pentagon City to spread some spring cheer. Throughout the afternoon, the children enjoyed an Easter egg roll, dyed eggs, and took a few bunny hops. The Thomas school event kicked-off the The Noerr Programs Bunny Photo Experience for the Fashion Centre in Pentagon City Mall, in Arlington, Va., and a number of other locations throughout the country. While capturing keepsake photo memories, guests can make a donation in support of Save the Children’s educational programs for children in the United States, where nearly one in four lives in poverty. “Helping children get the simple things they need like regular physical activity, nutritious snack options and a quality education sets them up for a healthy and successful life,” said Amy Rogers, Director of Resource Development for Save the
Children’s U.S. Programs. This was the Easter bunny’s first visit at Neval Thomas, but with some assistance from their partners, it does not look like it will be his last.
Reading Together: Cops and Kids
Two local “Officer Friendlies” from MPD’s 6th District joined kindergarten through fifth graders for a good book. Together, they made a special visit to Neval Thomas on February 24for a read-aloud. The officers recited the African tale of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters to the students in Save the Children’s afterschool program. The story tells the journey of two sisters. Both of Mufaro’s daughters are beautiful, but the two have opposite personalities. When the king of the land asks the daughters to appear before him so he can choose a queen, the prideful, bad tempered daughter decides to set out in the night so she can get there first. Along the path are many opportunities to show their true character. The kind daughter who follows the same path the next day makes different decisions - with different results and a surprising ending! After reading the story, the officers lead a discussion about the moral of the story and examples of good citizenship epitomized by the kinder sister. The students then had the opportunity to work in teams to show what they know by creating posters with words, phrases, and pictures illustrating what good citizenship meant to them. It was an awesome literacy event, and thank you to MPD 6D
for loaning us two of their finest! - Eboni-Rose Thompson, ebonirose@gmail.com Interested in learning more about the great things happening at Neval Thomas School. Stop by and see us or contact Tina Thompson at tina.thompson@dc.gov or Amber Tydings at atydings@savechildren.org.
Anne Beers Elementary News A STEM program shaping the future.
President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, if you were to come to Anne Beers Elementary, you would see that Stephanie Harris, our STEM Catalyst Coordinator, has been doing this for the last six years, and has been the Science Research leader for the last 10 years. Ms. Harris has cultivated partnerships, hosted biannual STEM night events, and trained teachers to help students apply mathematical concepts through science, and science concepts through mathematics, and our program could be considered the model for America’s STEM future. As the only STEM school that can also be considered a NASA Explorer School in DC, our infrastructure includes a recently upgraded computer laboratory, a full scale and portable planetarium, a high powered telescope, in-house and video conferEAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | April 2013 H 51
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encing equipment, a high fidelity shuttle cockpit, and a Mission Control Center for space shuttle simulations. Also under the leadership of Stephanie Harris and WDCSTEM, our students are able to work with the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit University participating in a program known as “eMissions: Moon, Mars, and Beyond”. Keeping up with presidential initiatives and the demand for mathematicians, scientists, and engineers is not an easy task. As our STEM Coordinator, Mrs. Harris receives help from our tireless leader and principal Mrs. Gwendolyn Payton, parents, and community partners. Also Mrs. Harris has partnered our program with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, The Monarch Foundation, Institute for Americas’ Health, IAH-WalMart WAY Foundation, the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Children’s Hospital, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and more. At Anne Beers, STEM teachers are able to construct a learning environment where students are given the opportunity to experience, talk, debate, discover, design, create, and build the skills that effectively lead the way to a better future. If you would like to know more about our Vegetable Garden, our Wellness program, and how you can help in the fight to keep us funded please contact us.– Carlos Herndon and Stephanie Harris. Anne Beers Elementary School, 3600 Alabama Ave. S.E. 202-939-4800, ptabeers@ yahoo.com.
Davis Elementary School News Celebrating Read Across America Day
On March 1, Davis Elementary joined thousands of schools across the nation to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It was quite a celebration. With true Seuss variety, each class decorated their door to reflect a Seuss adventure. On one door there is “Fox in Socks,” on another “Horton Hears a Who,” and down the hall is the “Cat in the Hat.” Inside each classroom, over two dozen volunteers signed up to read classic childhood favorites, sporting hats worthy of The Cat in Hat and smiles as endearing as Cindy Lou Who. After hearing their fill of stories and rhymes, everyone filed into the auditorium to continue their very good time. Once all were 52 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
assembled the real excitement began. Principal Riddlesprigger started the program with a performance from some of her students of a poem they wrote in DC Scores, and down the aisle comes the Cat in the Hat. Then she introduced the world premiere of a video the staff had put together: “”All the Davis Scholars! with students and teachers from preschool through fifth grade. This crowd was on their feet and excited about reading! Still there was more celebrating to be done. Principal Riddlesprigger unveiled the gold, medals and trophies to recognize reading success. She called each child up individually. “This is for students who have jumped one grade level,” she said. “This is for students who have grown three levels.” There were several who had grown more than four. She explained how great an achievement this was considering most students only grow one level in a full school year and in March there is still three months of growth to go. Last, but definitely not least, Prinicpal Riddlesprigger announced the teachers whose class had demonstrated the most growth. The students and teachers leapt of their seats to cheer them on. By the end of the program everyone was full with the spirit of Seuss. – By Eboni-Rose Thompson, ebonirose@gmail.com
Leckie Elementary Nwws Renovations and Rejuvenation
Leckie Elementary, in Ward 8, has a new look, both inside and out. Some of the changes are due to the DCPS’s renovation project, while others can be credited to the school’s own initiatives. The DCPS renovations at Leckie are being conducted in three phases. The first phase began during the summer of 2012 and consisted of changes to classrooms, the area where students spend most of their time. Phase II modernization will consist of changes to the support components including bathrooms, the gymnasium, the health suite, and art and music classrooms. The third and final phase of modernization will focus on the HVAC system, roof, windows, and technology systems. Students and staff members returned to a refurbished school on August 27, 2012. Jada, a first grade student, was asked what she thought about the changes. She stated “I love
the new school; it’s pretty.” A resource teacher, Joann Rhodes, was satisfied with the changes that occurred in Phase I renovations. However, Ms. Rhodes is hoping for the installation of an elevator, and obtaining Smart boards and other technological devices for her classroom during Phase II. Marshall Moya Designs is the architectural firm responsible for the changes. Their website features a short film regarding their modernization efforts at Leckie. The film can be viewed at marshallmoya.com. In addition to the changes sponsored by DCPS, exterior changes were executed by the City Year Corp. The City Year Corp is a group of volunteers working to support Leckie Elementary. They provided a much needed transformation to Leckie’s courtyard including brightly colored planters, signs, and benches. Nick Monts, City Year Program Manager, provided background information regarding the changes at Leckie which included the installation of benches and planters. The planters will be used to plant seeds during Global Youth Service Day in April. Leckie students worked closely with the City Year staff assisting with creating boards. – By Tara M. Benn. Phillip White, Contributor
Charles Hart Middle School News
The HARTbeat of southeast is exactly what Charles Hart Middle School is for Ward 8. This full service Middle School is equipped with an amazing faculty and staff, which are not only dedicated to the betterment of the student’s education but also their emotional and physical development. This year Charles Hart is led by Principal Billy Kearney with the help of Assistant Principal Dr. Sharon Piner, Assistant Principal Ms. Crystal Cartwright and Assistant Principal Ms. Lisa Faulkner-Jones. Hart Middle School is a place
where students and parents are able to get their needs meet both academically and mentally. Charles Hart Middle School has been blessed with dynamic teachers who are committed to the development of 530 of Ward 8’s younger generation. With the help of these teachers, Hart Middle School students have accomplished things that many people would not expect to come out of a Ward 8 Public School. This year the Math and English scores have increased, the Girls Basketball Team won the DCIAA Championship, four students entered and won awards in the City Wide Science Fair, the Cheerleaders won second place in the City Championship, several of the 8th grade students got accepted to Specialty High Schools such as Duke Ellington, Phelps, Benjamin Banneker and McKinley Tech. Charles Hart students and parents are able to receive mental health, support mentorship, vocational, social and financial support from programs like DMH Counselors & Social Workers, Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital, Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative Inc., The Hero Initiative and DC Choices. These programs are bridging the gap between Charles Hart Middle School and the surrounding community, by offering mentorship for young boys and girls, case management for parents searching for housing, education and employment services, mental health services for students and parents and lastly providing programs and workshops to help the betterment of both students and parents. Despite what people may think about Ward 8 Public Schools, Charles Hart Middle School, like other Ward 8 Public Schools commits to educating, counseling and mentoring their school community. Charles Hart Middle School is located at 601 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington DC 20032 u
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ENROLLMENT ABOUT US: •
Founded in the fall of 1999
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | ApRIl 2013 H 53
HOMES & GARDENS
HomeSaver Extends Program to the Underemployed
“I
by Charnice A. Milton
was unemployed for about six to eight months,” said Anna Bavier, a Ward 7 resident. When she had trouble making house payments she attempted to apply to the DC Housing Finance Agency’s (DCHFA) HomeSaver Program. “I think I applied in the second month,” she continued, “I brought all my paperwork for my first meeting.” However, the process took so long that she was already employed by the time everything was straightened out. At the time HomeSaver only accepted applications from unemployed homeowners. However, with permission from the Treasury Department, DCHFA extended the program to help homeowners who, like Bavier, are underemployed.
January 2011. It gives eligible homeowners three types of assistance: Lifeline Assistance, Mortgage Assistance, and Restore Assistance. Lifeline Assistance gives a one-time payment of up to six-months of mortgage delinquency payments. Mortgage Assistance provides up to 15 months (maximum $32,385) in mortgage payments. Restore Assistance provides a one-time payment of up to $32,385 to a recently reemployed homeowner to catch up on past payments. All assistance is paid as forgivable loans to mortgage lenders. However, if a recipient decides to sell or refinance the home, to the extent of having sufficient equity the loan has to be repaid.
The Hardest Hit Fund
Expanding the Program
In February 2010 President Obama established the Hardest Hit Fund to provide aid to states most affected by the economic and housing market downturn. When Congress approved it in June 2010, the Treasury provided $1.5 billion to housing finance agencies (HFAs) in five states with the most need based on declining housing prices. On September 23, 2010, Congress approved the third wave of Hardest Hit Funding to states whose unemployment rate either exceeded or met the national average, which was 9.5 percent at the time. With an unemployment rate of 10.1, DC was eligible for this wave, receiving $20,697,198. “Through the Hardest Hit Fund, the District of Columbia and participating states are exploring innovative solutions to some of the most difficult challenges in an unprecedented housing crisis,” wrote Mark McArdle, the Fund’s director, in a statement. “The program has provided the DCHFA an opportunity to work with partners across the city to reach struggling families who can most benefits from the aid.”
How HomeSaver Works
DCHFA launched the HomeSaver program in
54 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
“When we opened the program we had a very specific targeted population,” said Carisa Stanley, DCHFA’s director of Single Family Programs. Originally the program was open to unemployed DC homeowners who received insurance within six months of their application. Since one of the goals was to promote sustainable home-ownership, DCHFA aimed to connect applicants to other resources, like the Department of Employment Services (DOES), to help them gain employable skills and find new jobs. On January 28 DCHFA expanded HomeSaver to underemployed homeowners. Stanley cited the decreasing national unemployment rate as the reason behind the change. In fact, the unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in February, compared to 9.8 percent when the Hardest Hit Fund was established. According to the qualifications, applicants with a 25 percent decrease in employment income are considered underemployed. “We wanted our program to continue to be effective,” Stanley continued. “We wanted to continue to get that population of DC homeowners that could avoid foreclosure, and underemployment was a natural expansion for us.”
Since its inception the HomeSaver Program has assisted about 495 homeowners. However, DCHFA’s goal is to serve between 500 and 1,000 homeowners, depending on the amount of assistance each recipient receives. Stanley maintained that even with the program’s expansion that goal will stay the same. “We didn’t get any more money,” she explained, “we just expanded the program.” Since funds are limited (it was a one-time grant) they are administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Apply
Qualified homeowners have a two-step application process. First they must apply online through the HomeSaver website, which tells them about the program and what materials they might need. Afterward they are assigned to one of five counseling agencies throughout the city, two of which (United Planning Organization and University Legal Services) have three offices east of the Anacostia River. Applicants “who have difficulty applying online or if they have challenges, or if there’s an issue compiling their paperwork, they can go to the participating counseling agencies and they will help them through the process,” said Stanley.
A Resident’s Opinion
Bavier learned about the expansion while talking to her lender and is now contemplating reapplying for HomeSaver. She remarked that opening the program to under-employed homeowners makes sense. “It will give me a real shot of making payments so I can keep my house,” she explained. For other homeowners, especially those with children, the expansion could help free up funds for other expenses. “It’s a Catch-22,” Bavier said. “No one wants to make those choices.” To learn more or to apply to HomeSaver visit www. homesaverdc.org or call DCHFA at 202-777-1690. u
CHANGING HANDS
Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.
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Neighborhood
Close Price
BR
FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA
1328 MORRIS RD SE 1411 S ST SE 1257 U ST SE
4417 TEXAS AVE SE $215,000 $199,990 $75,000
3 4 2
1264 BARNABY TER SE $205,000 4338 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SW$138,000 630 CHESAPEAKE ST SE $82,000
3 2 2
CONGRESS HEIGHTS
DEANWOOD
101 40TH ST NE 106 47TH ST NE 518 45TH NE 1111 46TH ST NE 1047 48TH ST NE 5360 GAY ST NE 1038 45TH ST NE 4321 MINNESOTA AVE NE 4920 SHERIFF RD NE 5036 JAY ST NE
FORT DUPONT PARK 1235 CHAPLIN ST SE 706 BURNS ST SE 1314 44TH PL SE 4533 C ST SE 3525 MINNESOTA AVE SE 4034 ALABAMA AVE SE 1545 41ST ST SE 1571 41ST ST SE
$310,000 $300,000 $255,000 $235,000 $205,000 $130,000 $109,900 $70,000 $65,000 $59,000
4 4 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 2
$225,000 $185,900 $185,000 $155,000 $150,000 $150,000 $138,000 $120,000
3 2 2 3 3 2 3 3
HILL CREST
2822 FORT BAKER DR SE 1708 29TH ST SE
RANDLE HEIGHTS 1924 17TH ST SE 2208 GOOD HOPE RD SE 1885 SAVANNAH PL SE
$100,000
2
$449,000 $250,000
3 3
$270,000 $259,000 $163,900
3 3 2
$45,000 $36,900
2 2
$150,000
3
$219,900 $92,000 $92,000
3 2 2
$68,000
2
CONDO DEANWOOD
250 35TH ST NE #102 210 43RD RD NE #101
HILL CREST
3810 V ST SE #101
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4939 C ST SE #4939 5000 CALL PL SE #201 300 50TH ST SE #204
COOP HILLCREST
2712 TERRACE RD SE #A-605 u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | ApRIl 2013 H 55
To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.8300 x12 or email Carolina@hillrag.com
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THE NOSE
One of These Pols Is Not Like The Others by Anonymous
A
nother election is nearly upon us. Almost nightly, Dear Readers, political candidates for Mendo’s old at-large seat are entertaining future constituents with traveling road shows. Six candidates vying for a single office creates confusion rather clarity in the mind of this poor scribbler. No presidential contest has six contestants. In a joust, there are only two knights. In marriage, there are only two spouses. Noah saved only two of each beast. Walking into the booth, faced with six choices, under pressure to make an instantaneous decision, The Nose fears his sagacity will desert him. So, Dear Readers, let the Nose share with you the mnemonic device he has created in aid of his paltry memory. Here are our candidates in all their gory glory: 1. Anita “The Apparatchik” Bonds has been endorsed by Councilmembers Muriel “I’m on Fire” Bowser, Marion “Mayor for Life” Barry, and Jack “King of Undersight” Evans. She is the current occupant of the council seat, drafted into the position by the unelected State Democratic Committee (aka the Mafia). She therefore is the candidate of the Democratic establishment. With former Councilmember Michael “The Real” Brown out of the race, although still on the ballot, she hopes to pull enough African-American votes from the city’s eastern wards to squeak through. During the campaign Bonds has played it safe, advocating no positions outside the mainstream of District politics. Vote for Bonds if you want more of the same. 2. Patrick “The Kinder, Gentler Republican” Mara is backed by big business with endorsements from the Greater Washington Association of Realtors, The Washington Post, and the DC Chamber of Commerce. He earned their support by his opposition to tax increases and strong advocacy of regulatory reform, 58 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
central planks in Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Mara is a firm backer of school reform and educational choice. Consistent support for marriage equality and the endorsement of the Sierra Club earn him his kinder, gentler label. Vote for Mara if you believe your taxes are too high, the number of charter schools too low, and in the privacy of your bedroom. 3. Elissa “Wonkette” Silverman is mistress of the budgetary thicket. Her facility with numbers is a product of recent work for the DC Policy Institute, the progressive voice on District finances. Dogging local pols for several years as Loose Lips makes her no stranger to the Wilson Building. Silverman’s support for progressive taxation and social investments in affordable housing and transportation, as well as school reform, with an emphasis on responsible spending, earned her a nod from the new urbanists at Greater Greater Washington. Her campaign for true ethics reform secured her the endorsements of Councilmember David “Blue Cross” Grosso as well as former Councilmembers Sharon “Fear Me” Ambrose and Kathy “The Smartest Girl in the Room” Patterson. Vote for Silverman if you enjoy watching agency heads squeal on DC cable access. 4. Matthew “The Spoiler” Frumin is the quintessential Clintonian Democrat. His tenure on a Ward 3 Advisory Neighborhood Commission and involvement in the Wilson High School renovation must be balanced against his occasional forays into Midwestern politics. Frumin’s slogan of “Let’s Grow Together” positions him as a centrist. He supports educational and zoning reforms but remains fiscally conservative. With lots of money raised from old White House buddies, but no real stature outside his home ward, Frumin will undoubtedly draw votes from progres-
sive Silverman and conservative Mara in Upper and Lower Caucasia, possibly throwing the election to Bonds. Vote for Frumin if you are a true believer in the Third Way and don’t care who wins. 5. Perry “Just Say No” Redd is the candidate of the DC Statehood Green Party. A returning citizen, he is the only candidate with a detailed agenda to address the problems faced by this increasing population. He has been the sole voice against school closings at the debates. Vote for Redd if you think school reform is bunk and returning citizens need a New Deal. 6. Paul “Legalize It” Zuckberg is the campaign’s sole proponent of drug decriminalization. He does a good job entertaining audiences during candidate forums, coming off as a folksy lawyer intent on defending the little guy. Vote for Zuckerman if you want to light up legally. Dear Readers, when you enter the voting booth, hum this ditty cribbed from our friends at Sesame Street: One of these Pols is not like the others, One of these Pols belongs on the dais. Can you tell which Pol is not like the others Before you tick the box on your ballot? Did you guess which Pol was not like the others? Did you guess which Pol belongs on the dais? If you guessed this one is not like the others, Then you’re absolutely right! Five of these Pols belong in private life. One of these Pols is not the same. Can you guess which one of these Pols belongs on the dais? Now it’s time to play the voting game. Make sure to vote on April 23. Every vote counts in what is likely to be a low-turnout election. The Nose loves to hear from Dear Readers. Email thenose@hillrag.com with comments or complaints. u
Get Your East of the River Location
Address
River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School CVS - East River Park Safeway – NE 6th District Police Dept - Main Ward Memorial AME Kennilworth Elementary School Unity East of the River Health Center First Baptist Church of Deanwood Deanwood Public Library Hughes Memorial United Methodist Capitol Gateway Senior Apts Marvin Gaye Rec Center Watts Branch Recreation Center Langston Community Library Anacostia Neighborhood Library Benning Branch Library Marshall Heights CDC Kelly Miller Recreation Center Tabernacle baptist Church Randall Memorial Baptist Church East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 7-Eleven Riverside Center Mayfair Mansions Citibank: East River Park Chartered Health Center NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro The Minnicks Market Lederer Gardens Suburban Market Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Dave Brown Liquors Dave Brown Liquor A & S Grocery St Rose Pentecostal Church Malcolm X Rec Center St More Catholic Church Fort Davis Recreation Center Ferebee Hope Recreation Center Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant Giant Food Store SunTrust Bank Parklands-Turner Community Library Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office Garfield Elementary
MIDCITY
FA G O N C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
420 34th St , NE 320 40th St , NE 322 40th St , NE 100 42nd St , NE 240 42nd St NE 1300 44th ST NE 123 45th ST NE 1008 45th St NE 1350 49th ST NE 25 53rd St NE 201 58th St , NE 6201 Banks Pl NE 6201 Banks St , NE 2600 Benning Rd , NE 3935 Benning Rd NE 3935 Benning Rd NE 3939 Benning Rd , NE 4900 Brooks St , NE 719 Division Ave NE 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE 350 Eastern Ave , NE 950 Eastern AVE NE 5200 Foote St , NE 3744 ½ Hayes St NE 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4600 Sherriff Rd NE 4601 Sheriff Road NE 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast 4721 Sherriff Rd NE 4748 Sheriff Rd NE 4816 Sherriff Rd NE 3200 13th st SE 4275 4th St SE 1400 41st St , SE 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE 1523 Alabama Ave, SE 1535 Alabama Ave , SE 1571 Alabama Ave , SE 1547 Alabama Ave , SE 1717 Alabama Ave , SE 2435 Alabama Ave
7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE Pimento Grill 4405 Bowen Rd SE East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church CVS – Penn Branch Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Ridge Recreation Center Savoy Recreation Center PNC Bank Rite Aid Greater Southeast Community Hospital Benning Park Community Center Benning Stoddert Recreation Center Union Temple Baptist Church Senior Living at Wayne Place Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library Bald Eagle At Fort Greble Covenant Baptist Church Faith Presbyterian Church Henson Ridge Town Homes Office The Wilson Building CCN office Eastern Market YMCA Capitol View CW Harris Elementary School DC Child & Family Services Agency
3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE 100 Randle Pl , SE 800 Ridge Rd SE 800 Ridge Rd , SE 2440 Shannon Pl SE 4100 South Capitol St , SE 4635 South Capitol St , SE 1310 Southern Ave , SE 5100 Southern Ave SE 100 Stoddert Pl , SE 1225 W ST SE 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW 100 Joliet St SW 3845 South Capitol St 4161 South Capitol St SW 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW 224 7th ST SE 225 7th St SE 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE 301 53rd Street, SE 200 I Street SE
For more distribution locations, contact 202.543.8300 x.19