East of the River Magazine May 2017 by Capital Community News

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Celebrating Seniors 18

Bringing Healthcare Home by Candace Y.A. Montague

Ms. Pinkie, the Survivor by Candace Y.A. Montague

neIgHBorHooD neWs 26 31

The Bulletin Board Wheeler Creek CDC Turns 20 by Geraldine Washington

The Numbers by Ilana Boivie

DHCD Deﬁes Council Law by Christine Rushton

Capitol View Library Coalition Fights for Interim Services, Money for Renovations by Christine Rushton

Realizing a Future by Christine Rushton

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Capital City Creamery Busy in Congress Heights by John Muller

N E X T I S S U E : J U n E 10

In everY Issue 08 What’s on Washington 10 Calendar 64 The Classiﬁed 66 The Crossword

on tHe Cover: Lewis “Big June” Marshall Carrying the US Flag, Selma to Montgomery March, March 21, 1965. Photo: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Monica Karales and the Estate of James Karales © Estate of James Karales. See story on pg. 12

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

WeAct Radio Celebrates Anniversary by John Muller

HoMes & garDens 46

Ward 8 Homebuyers Club by Heather Schoell

Edibles in the Weeds by Jessica Wynter Martin

Light Up Your Life with Affordable and Energy-Efﬁcient LED Bulbs by Catherine Plume

The Wharf for All Income Levels

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

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Preventing Sudden Infant Death with the ABCs by Candace Y.A. Montague

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

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ACTING, DANCE, MUSIC AND ART

CLOSING DINNER THEATRE PERFORMANCE!! Acting, Dance and Music - Ages 6-12 June 19 - July 28 At Capitol Hill United Methodist Church 421 Seward Square, SE (3 blocks from Eastern Market)

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:30pm $2000 for 6 weeks ($333 per week) No extra charge for early drop off at 8:15 am or late pickup at 6:00 pm

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 © 2016 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

Fun Rehearsals • Acting & Improvisation Games • Choreography Music • Character Creation • Scene Building • Set Designs • And More

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 Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Phil Hutinet • phutinet@yahoo.com Dining: Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Max Moline • maxmoline@gmail.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • steve@jazzavenues.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Wine Girl: Elyse Genderson • elyse@cellar.com

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KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

HOMES & GARDENS Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com Rindy 0’Brien • rindyobrien@gmail.com

COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com

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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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kenneDY Center oPen House CeleBratIng Jfk at 100 On May 27 from noon to 10 p.m, The Kennedy celebrates the 100th birthday of its namesake, President John F. Kennedy (D), with a free, cross-cultural festival showcasing street arts culture, Hip Hop, spoken word and skateboard culture, as well as classical and contemporary arts. More than 30 free performances, activities and events for all ages and tastes in the center’s halls, plazas and theaters featuring artists from across the US, the DC region and abroad. Editor’s note: There will be a stand-by line in the Hall of Nations for the “sold-out,” 3 p.m., National Memorial Day Choral Festival. kennedy-center.org. BANDALOOP. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.

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Preakness Infield This year’s Preakness Infield on race day is on American Pharaoh at the finish line in the 2015 Preakness Stakes. Photo: Courtesy of Pimlico Race Track

May 20. Tickets are $100 until race day. Then they rise to $110. Purchase at preakness.com/tickets. There are wagering window. Visit Wagering 101 tent to learn how to wager. Enjoy live music all day, drinking, a bikini contest, food trucks and concessions and a just-okay view of the horses. Preakness Way Lot #4 is the best parking lot for the Infield and it is the only lot where tailgating is allowed. Editor’s note: The “official” drink of the Preakness is the Black-eyed Susan. The name is taken from the flowers that drape the winning horse. Here’s the recipe: 3/4 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, three tbs. vodka, three tbs. light rum and two tbs. Grand Marnier over crushed ice. Decorate with a cherry on top.

Passport DC Fiesta Asia Indian youth performers. Photo: Jeff Malet

Kingman Island Bluegrass and Jazz Festival Join Living Photo: Courtesy of Living Classrooms.

Classrooms on May 13 for the eighth annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival Headliners Town Mountain, Dom Flemons and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen lead an incredible cast of nearly 40 local bluegrass, folk, and Americana artists for nine hours of music spread across five stages on beautiful Kingman Island. In addition to the incredible local tunes, this “Zero-Waste” festival includes various outdoor activities, educational tents, a kids’ corner, delicious food, beer, cocktails and more. The festival has become the largest all-local music festival in the District, attracting over 10,000 guests annually since 2014. It is also a critical fundraising event for Living Classrooms Foundation, which provides handson education for disadvantaged youth. livingclassrooms.org.

Passport DC is a month-long journey around the world that highlights DC’s thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture. Celebrated annually in May, it includes 31 days of programming by 70 embassies and more than 40 of DC’s very best cultural institutions. Some highlights are an Around the World Embassy Tour on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; European Union Embassies’ Open House on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and a Fiesta Asia Street Fair on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue NE between Third and Sixth Streets. Find out more at culturaltourismdc.org.

Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movies The Capitol RivPhoto: Courtesy of Capitol Riverfront BID

erfront BID has announced the lineup for this summer’s Outdoor Movie Series in the northern block of Canal Park, located at Second and Eye Streets SE. Each movie begins at sundown. Arrive at Canal Park as early as 7 p.m. Bring a picnic and bug spray. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Here are this summer’s Thursday night movies: June 1, Ghostbusters (2016); June 8, Me Before You; June 15, Sister Act; June 29, Secret Life of Pets; July 6, Grease; July 13, Moana; July 20, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; July 27, Arrival; Aug. 3, La La Land; Aug. 10, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them; Aug. 17, Beauty and the Beast (2017). capitolriverfront.org.

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MEMORAL DAY AND RELATED EVENTS The WWI Navy: Second to None. May 16, 6:45 to 8:45 PM. For the US Navy, World War I was the first significant test of an armed force branch billed as “second to none.” In 1898, it dealt a decisive blow to the Spanish fleet during the Spanish-American war, then nine years later it dazzled when the “Great White Fleet,” 16 battleships and accompanying vessels that circled the globe as a show of power. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. $45. For tickets, call 202-633-3030 or visit smithsonianassociates.org. GI Film Festival. May 24 to 28. More than 50 films and other unique events about, by and for veterans, active duty military and their families. For details, visit gifilmfestival.com. “Flags-In” at Arlington Cemetery. Each year, the Third Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried both at Arlington National Cemetery and the US Soldier’s and Airmen’s National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day Weekend. Arlington National Cemetery. 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.mil. Blessing of the Bikes at National Cathedral. May 26, 5 PM. The National Cathedral welcomes members of Rolling Thunder at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend for a “Blessing of the Bikes.” Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org. National Memorial Day Choral Festival. May 27, 3 PM. Online ticketing for this event has closed. Reserved tickets will be distributed in

natIonal MeMorIal DaY ParaDe

May 29, 2 PM. The parade is on Constitution Avenue NW, between Seventh and 17th Streets. Expect a lot of music, color and old fashioned patriotism. nationalmemorialdayparade.com. Courtesy of the National Memorial Day Parade

the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer in front of the Concert Hall at 1 PM on the day of. There will be a stand-by line in the Hall of Nations. memorialdaychoralfestival.org. National Memorial Day Concert. May 28, 8 to 9:30 PM (gates open at 5 PM). The National Symphony Orchestra performs the first of three outdoor holiday concerts. Performers are Joe Mantegna, Gary Sinise, General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), Jack Everly, National Symphony Orchestra, Military District of Washington, US Army Herald Trumpets, US Army Chorus, US Navy Band Sea Chanters, US Air Force Singing

DaY of tHe Dog anD 5k at CongressIonal CeMeterY

May 13, 10 AM to 3 PM (5K at 9:30 AM). This beloved event features local vendors and highlights adoptable dogs from numerous rescues. From bobbing for hot dogs and competing in obstacle courses to sampling a favorite local brew or food truck fare, there’s something for canines and their humans to enjoy. In the 5K, run, walk, or amble on their flat course. The course is USATF certified, with or without a pup. congressionalcemetery.org. Courtesy of Historic Congressional Cemetery

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Sergeants and The Soldiers’ Chorus. Free. Bags are searched. No alcohol is permitted. West lawn, US Capitol. rollingthunder1.com. Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. May 28, noon. “Rolling Thunder” is an annual motorcycle rally held in DC during the Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of motorcycles will depart from the Pentagon at noon and will roar across DC on their motorcycles as a tribute to American war heroes. Assemble at Pentagon north parking lot at 8 AM. Wolf Trap Summer Blast Oﬀ. May 28, 8 PM (gates open at 6:30 PM for lawn). “The President’s Own” US Marine Band will launch Wolf Trap’s summer season with a program of concert band favorites. A fireworks display will follow the concert at 9:45 PM. Park will close at capacity. Filene Center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA. 703-255-1900. wolftrap.org. Memorial Day at the World War II Memorial. May 29, 9 AM. Wreaths will be placed in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. World War II Memorial, 17th Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues NW. wwiimemorial.com. Memorial Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. May 29, 11 AM. Arrive much earlier. Expect heavy security. There is free parking and a free bus ride to and from the ceremo-

ny. Arlington National Cemetery. 703-6078000. arlingtoncemetery.mil. Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 29, 1 PM. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and to honor those who served. On this day, Americans from all walks of life come to the Memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. vvmf.org. Women in Military Service Honors Memorial Day. May 29, 4 PM. The program includes formal military honors, remarks from servicewomen representing each of the services and the Women’s Memorial traditional Rose Petal Ceremony with personal tributes to departed comrades. Ceremony at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. womensmemorial.org. “Artist Soldiers” at Air and Space. Through Nov. 29, 2018. Through the perspectives of professional artists who were recruited by the US Army and of soldiers who created artwork, “Artist Soldiers” examines the emergence in WWI of war art that captured the moment realistically by firsthand participants. The exhibition includes artwork from the National Museum of American History not exhibited since the 1920s and photographs of underground soldiers’ living spaces by Jeff Gusky, on display for the first time. airandspace.si.edu. Hollywood Goes to War: World War I on the Big Screen at Air and Space. Fridays at 7 PM. All Quiet on the Western Front, May 26; The Eagle and the Hawk, June 16; Paths of Glory, July 14; The Millionaires’ Unit: US Naval Aviators in the First World War, Aug. 11; Gallipoli, Sept. 15; The Blue Max, Oct. 20; The Lost Squadron, Nov. 11. Visit airandspace.si.edu/ hollywood for free tickets. My Fellow Soldiers--Letters from World War I at the Postal Museum. Through Nov. 29, 2018. The exhibition, commemorating the centennial of the First World War, explores America’s role in the war through the unique lens of personal correspondence written by Americans at the front and their loved ones at home. Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. postalmuseum.si.edu. “The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now” at the National Portrait Gallery. Through Jan. 28, 2018. The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now” explores and assesses the human costs of ongoing wars through portraiture. National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets NW. npg.si.edu.

SPECIAL EVENTS The Life of a Swiss Guard: A Private View. Through May 21, daily 7 AM to 7 PM. Swiss Guards are young men from Switzerland who guard the pope, papal audiences, and the Vatican. This exhibition and shows their faith, emotions, sacrifice and sense of duty. National Shrine, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. nationalshrine.com. Punctured Landscape at Art Museum of the Americas. Through July 30. Punctured Land-

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“More tHan a PICture” at nMaaHC

Opened May 5. More than 150 photographs and related objects will be on display in the exhibition “More Than a Picture: Selections from the Photography Collection at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.” 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

scape is a meditation on the Canadian social landscape. The 17 artworks brought together in the exhibit ask the viewer to consider their interpretation of history, legacy and possible outcomes for the future. Art Museum of the Americas, 201 18th St. NW. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. AMAmuseum.org. Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour. May 13, noon to 5 PM (After party, at Gateway Art Center, 5 to 8 PM.). Artists, studios and galleries open their doors to the public. Located in the Gateway Arts District along Rhode Island Avenue in Prince George’s County, MD. gatewayopenstudios.org. Technology and the Preservation and Presentation of Memory. May 16, 7 PM. As the World War II generation diminishes, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will face a profound challenge: how to teach about the Holocaust without survivors’ unique, authentic voices. Explore the role of innovative technologies in educating younger generations on the relevance of history. Free but registration required. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW. ushmm.org. Stream live at ushmm.org/watch. Zoofari: Dine for Wildlife. May 18, 6:30 to 9:30 PM. This premier culinary event features more than 100 of Washington, DC’s restaurants and vintners. All in the wild setting of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. $200. nationalzoo.si.edu. Bike to Work Day. May 19. Find pit stops at biketoworkmetrodc.org. Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. June 3 and 4, 11 AM to 4 PM. Discover Anderson House, Dumbarton House, Heurich House Museum, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, The Phillips Collection and the President Woodrow Wilson House. All free of charge. dkmuseums.com Lamb Jam Grand Tasting at Eastern Market. June 5, 6 to 9 PM. Lamb Jam Grand Tasting Includes some of the most talented chefs from the DC area, beer and wine from DC’s top breweries and winemakers, interactive photo booth, DIY lamb spice rub station, butcher demonstration. $75. Eastern Market. americanlamb.com.

OUTDOOR MUSIC, MOVIES AND CEREMONY Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Fridays, through Aug. 25. 8:45 to 10 PM. Features music and precision marching, the Evening Parade features “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” The US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers and LCpl. Chesty XIII, the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington. Reservations suggested. barracks.marines.mil. Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series. May 6, 5 PM, Almeda; May 13, 5 PM, TBA; May 20, 5 PM, Hollertown; June 3, 5 PM, Jelly Roll Mortals; June 5, 6 PM, TBA; June 10, 5 PM, Michele McTierney; June 24, 5 PM, Batida Diferente. Corner of 18th Street and Columbia Road. NW. adamsmorganonline.com. V-E Day Observance at the WWII Memorial. May 8, 11 AM. World War II Memorial, 17th Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues NW. wwiimemorial.com. Jazz in the Garden at the NGA. Fridays, May 19 to Aug. 25, 5 to 8:30 PM. The free concerts feature locally and nationally acclaimed musicians performing a wide variety of musical genres. The full schedule is at nga.gov. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, between Seventh and Ninth, Constitution Ave. NW.

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Lewis “Big June” Marshall Carrying the US Flag, Selma to Montgomery March, March 21, 1965. Photo: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Monica Karales and the Estate of James Karales © Estate of James Karales

Sunset Parades at Iwo Jima Memorial. Tuesdays, May 30 to Aug. 8, 7 to 8 PM. Lawn seating. Bring blankets and chairs. No public parking available at the Memorial grounds on Parade evenings. Guests may park at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors’ Center for a small fee. Marine Barracks provides a free shuttle bus service from the Visitors Center to and from the memorial grounds. barracks.marines.mil. Rockin’ the Block Concert Series at Canal Park. Concerts are 6:30 to 8:30 PM. May 31, PEO & The Carriers; June 7, South Rail; July 12, Daniel Hill; Aug. 2, Mike McHenry Trio; Sept. 6, Zach Cutler. Rockin’ the Block will also feature food and beverage vendors, a moon bounce and lawn games for all ages. Canal Park, Second and Eye Streets SE. capitolriverfront.org. Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movies. Thursdays, June 1 to Aug. 17, 7 PM. Movies start at sundown. Canal Park, Second and Eye Streets SE. Find schedule at capitolriverfront.org. Rosslyn Rocks! Concerts. Thursdays, 6 to 8 PM. June 1, White Ford Bronco; June 8, Lloyd Dobler Effect; June 15, The 19th Street Band; June 22, Jeff from Accounting; and June 29, The Monster Band. Concerts on the Central Place Plaza, at N. Lynn and N. Moore Streets Rosslyn, VA. rosslynva.org. Drive-In Movies at Union Market. June 2, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids; July 7, Coming to America; Aug. 4, Chef; Sept. 1, Days of Thunder; Sept. 29, Clue; Nov. 3, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Movie start times vary. $10 parking fee per car. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Free for walk-ups. unionmarketdc.com. Golden Cinema at Farragut Park. June 2, Hidden Figures; June 9, 500 Days of Summer; June 16, Moana; June 23, The Princess Bride; June 30, Dirty Dancing; July 7, Ghostbusters (2016 version); July 14, Finding Dory; July 21, Big; July 28, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ; Aug. 4, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Movies at 7:30 PM. Rain dates are Aug. 11 and 18. Farragut Park is at Connecticut Avenue and K Street NW. goldentriangledc.com. Bethesda Summer Concerts. Concerts are 6 to 8 PM. June 8, Natty Beaux Band; June 15, Urban Funk; June 22, The Crimestoppers; June 29, Oasis Island Sounds; July 6, Caz Gardiner; July 13, Chuggalug; July 20, Joker’s Wild. Veterans Park at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues, Bethesda, MD. bethesda.org. Strathmore’s Live from the Lawn Summer Concerts. Concerts start at 7 PM. July 12, Karen Jonas; July 19, Look Homeward; July 26, Bug Ray & The Kool Cats; Aug. 2, Femina; Aug. 9, Matuto; Aug. 16, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys; Aug. 23, Uke Fest; Aug. 30, Akua Allrich; Sept. 9, Team Familiar. Free. Mansion at Strathmore (Gudelsky Outdoor Concert Gazebo), 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD. strathmore.org.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Finder-Maker at Honﬂeur Gallery. Through June 3. Artists Eric Celarier, Ani Hoover and Nicole Salimbene use trash to create powerful pieces of art by reusing cast off items. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. Forgetting is Normal at Vivid Solutions Gallery. Through June 3. In celebration of a personal milestone, live video artist Kylos Brannon presents Forgetting Is Normal. The artist will use video to illustrate memories from courses of his life, while illustrating scientific information about the brain and its functions. Vivid Solutions Gallery, 1231 Good Hope Rd SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Gateways/Portales at the ACM. Through Aug. 6, 2017. This exhibition explores the experiences of Latino migrants and immigrants in four US metro areas: DC, Baltimore; Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh-Durham, NC. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Brown Girls Museum Blog 2 Year Anniversary. May 11, 7 to 9 PM. Come and engage in the social exchange of ideas, while also reflecting on community-building and self-care. And of course, party in style to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and innovation. $5. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Healing Sessions with Queenlin. May 13 and 20, 10:15 to 11:15 AM. This healing session series will use expressive arts and community building structures to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of self for individuals dealing with oppression and disenfranchisement in our country. $20-$30. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Angel of Nanjing (2016; 70 min) In Mandarin and English with English subtitles. May 27, 2 to 4 PM. This critically acclaimed documentary examines why one of the most famous bridges in China is also the most popular place in the world to commit suicide. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu. Boxing Lives: A Collaboration with the Washington National Opera. June 4, 2 to 4 PM. Enjoy this staged reading and music performance featuring singers from the Washington National Opera which focuses on the lives of three boxing personalities: Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Emile Griffith. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Annual East of the River Exhibition at Honﬂeur Gallery. June 16 to Aug. 5 (save the date). Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com.

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MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at The Howard. May 6, Marsha Ambrosius & Eric Benet and Slick Rick & E.U. w/ Sugar Bear; May 7, Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack and Beanie Sigel; May 9, Marsha Ambrosius & Eric Benet; May 10, Chrisette Michele; May 11, Fab 5, Lovindeer, Boris Gardiner & Gem Myers; May 12, Suicide Girls: Blackheart Burlesque; May 14, Harlem Gospel Choir Mother’s Day Special; May 16, Digable Planets; May 18, DMX; May 19, La Oreja de Van Gogh; May 20, Middleway Music Recital and Wavez Silent Party DC; May 23, Capleton; May 26, Reggae Fest vs. Soca; May 31, Harlem Gospel Choir Sings Adele. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at Black Cat. May 6, Black Lips and Heavy Rotation; May 9, Lazy K Listening Party; May 10, Serpents of Secrecy; May 11, Humble Fire; May 12, Pond; May 13, No BS! Brass Band and Church Night; May 15, Mystic Braves; May 16, Lanternfish; May 18, Jack On Fire; May 19, The Make-Up; May 20, Collider (record release); May 21, Gringo Star; May 24, Drunk Education: May 25, Stone Driver; May 26, Elizabeth Croydon; May 27, The Orwells; May 29, We Rock! DC Camp Showcase; June 1, Richard Lloyd; June 2, Super Art Fight in 3D. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at 9:30 Club. May 6, Hot In Here: 2000s Dance Party; May 9, Twin Peaks; May 10, San Fermin; May 11, DESIIGNER; May 12, Giorgio Moroder; May 13, Los Amigos Invisibles; May 15, Perfume Genius; May 16, Real Estate; May 18, DREAMCAR; May 19, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe featuring Melvin Seals; May 20, Whitney and Cloud Nothings; May 21, Laura Marling; May 22, Animal Collective; May 23 and 24, Mac DeMarco; May 30, JMSN; May 31, Frightened Rabbit. 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. May 6, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Summit Saturdays; May 7, Bleeker and Beware of Darkness; May 9, The Family Crest; May 10, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes; May 11, Sun Club; May 12, Run Come See; May 13, Broke Royals and Summit Saturdays; May 14, Face to Face; May 15, Holy Fuck; May 17, Pup; May 18, Obituary; May 19, Tigers Jaw; May 20, Nick Hakim and Summit Saturdays; May 23, Kevin Morby; May 26, Vancouver Sleep Clinic; May 27, Prom and Summit Saturdays; June 1, Pallbearer; June 2, (Sandy) Alex G; June 3, Brother Ali. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at U Street Music Hall. May 8, Nancy & Beth (Megan Mullally, Stephanie Hunt); May 9, Run River North; May 10, Warm Up; May 12, Louis Futon; May 13, Dirtybird BBQ and Wavves; May 14, Meat Puppets and mike watt + the jom & terry show; May 17, Doorly; May 18, Unlike Pluto; May 19, Com Truise & Clark and Thomas Gold; May 20, Louis Watson and Deep Sugar DC: Ultra Naté & Lisa

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Moody; May 28, LP; May 31, Stööki Sound & Joker; June 2, Tuxedo and Kill Paris; June 3, Roosevelt. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at Hill Country. May 8, Tim Easton; May 9, Old Salt Union; May 10, 17, 24, Hill Country Live Band Karaoke; May 11, Shawn James; May 12, The Whistles & The Bells; May 13, Dibbs & The Detonator; May 15, Gurf Morlix; May 16, Colonel Josh & the Honky Tonk Heroes; May 18, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers; May 19, The Highballers; May 20, Kiti Gartner; May 23, Jason Ringenberg; May 25, Shannon McNally; May 26, Charlie Owen & Pocket Change; May 27, Scott Kurt & Memphis 59; June 1, Gangstagrass, The Whiskey Gentry; June 2, Billy Joe Shaver; June 3, Strahan & The Good Neighbors. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Blue Monday Blues in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. May 8, The Nighthawks; May 15, Swampdog Blues!; May 22, Big Boy Little Band; May 29, Nadine Rae & the All-Stars. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at the Lincoln. May 9, Rhiannon Giddens; May 11, Dwight Yoakam; May 13, Demetri Martin: Let’s Get Away Tour; May 22, An Evening with Old Crow Medicine Show; June 3 and 4, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington presents: And the Tont Goes To...Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolndc.com. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Tuesdays, 12:10 PM. May 9, Carlos Rodriguez, Paul Bratcher, & Sam Post; May 16, Ronn McFarlane; May 23, Valor Brass Quintet; May 30, Robert Capocchi. 1317 G St. NW. 202-3472635. epiphanydc.org. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. May 12, A Native Son, Herb Scott; May 19, Akua Allrich & the Tribe; May 26, Legendary Rick Whitehead Live! $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Encore Chorale at DAR Constitution Hall. May 13, 3 PM. Encore is presenting 600 Encore Chorale singers and 200 Encore ROCKS singers in “Let There Be Music” celebrating their enormous success in ten short years. Performance is free but tickets are required. For more information, visit encorecreativity.org. Music at Sixth and I. May 14, Kennedy Center Chamber Players; June 10, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org. Thomas Circle Singers’ Discord to Harmony: The Struggle for Peace. May 20, 5 PM. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G St. NW. thomascirclesingers.org. 2nd Annual Blue Monday Blues Festival.

DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND PRELIMINARY FINDING ON RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION FOR ANACOSTIA BID CORPORATION, INC.; CAPITOL HILL BID, INC.; CAPITOL RIVERFRONT BID, INC.; DOWNTOWN DC BID, INC.; NOMA BID, INC.;

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to section 6 of the Business Improvement Districts Act of 1996 (“Act”), D.C. Official Code § 2-1215.06, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) will hold a public hearing on the recertification application of five Business Improvement Districts (BIDs): the Anacostia Business Improvement District Corporation, the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District, the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, and the NoMa Business Improvement District. The public hearing will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2017 in Suite 805S, 441 4th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. DSLBD Director Ana R. Harvey has informed the Anacostia Business Improvement District Corporation, the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District, the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, and the NoMa Business Improvement District, announcing her preliminary determination that the filing criteria set forth in D.C. Official Code § 2-1215.04 have been met and their applications are otherwise in conformity with the Act. The BID applications are available for review by the public online at www.dslbd.dc.gov. DSLBD invites the public to testify at the public hearing. Witnesses should bring a copy of their written testimony to the public hearing. Additional written statements are encouraged and will be made part of the official record, if received before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017. Written statements may be submitted by e-mail to lincoln.lashley@dc.gov or mailed to: Lincoln Lashley, DSLBD, 441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 850N, Washington, DC 20001. The public hearing record will close five business days following the conclusion of the hearing, or Friday, June 30, 2017. Persons submitting written statements for the record should observe this deadline.

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May 20, noon to 7PM. Dozens of great blues artists, artists, vendors and health fair. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Anderson House Spring Concert. May 20, 1 PM, Tobias Werner, cellist, and Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, pianist. Free. Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org. DC Concert Orchestra Concert. May 21, 3 PM (reception follows). Featuring Samuel Barber, First Essay for Orchestra, Op. 12; Serge Koussevitsky, Double Bass Concerto; Douglas Rathbun, Double Bass; and Howard Hanson, Symphony No. 2 (“Romantic”). Free admission; donations accepted. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202-347-2635. dcconcertorchestra.org. Summer Organ Recitals at the National Shrine. Sundays, 6 PM. July 2, Nathan Davy, organist & Alex Trygstad, viola; July 9, Marina Omelchenko; July 16, Benjamin LaPrairie; July 23, Peter van de Velde; July 30, Dan Aune; Aug. 6, Michael Emmerich; Aug. 13, Peter Latona; Aug. 20, Iris Lan; Aug. 27, Sergio Orabona. No charge; a free will offering will be accepted. All are welcome. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. nationalshrine.com.

DANCE AROUND TOWN Leah Glenn Dance Theatre at Dance Place. May 7, 3 PM. $18 to $20. Leah Glenn Dance Theatre (LGDT) presents an eclectic repertory inspired by a variety of themes ranging from mental health issues such as Autism and PostTraumatic Stress Disorder to lesser known historical figures such as Carlotta Walls Lanier, the youngest of the Little Rock Nine. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. The Washington Ballet Presents Frontier. May 25 to 27. Artistic Director Julie Kent’s firstever commissioned work, Frontier is choreographed by Ethan Stiefel for The Washington Ballet. The work is inspired by President Kennedy and his aspirations for America to be a leader of artistic, cultural and intellectual excellence. kennedy-center.org. Raw Element Dance Presents: Show 25. May 27, 7 and 8:30 PM. One of the HOTTEST dance companies in the DMV, this group is versatile, young and talented. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. DanceAfrica, DC 30th Anniversary. May 30 to June 4. African Marketplace, free outdoor activities and performances, June 3 and 4, noon to 7 PM. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. Find performances at danceplace.org. TWB@THEARC Adult Dance and Fitness Classes. Adult Yoga; Mondays, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.; Adult Ballet, Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 p.m.; Adult Barre, Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m.; Adult Pilates, Wednesdays 7:15 to 8:15

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p.m.; Adult Modern, Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.; Adult Zumba, Saturdays 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This schedule is good through May 27. These classes are $6 per class for residents of 20020 & 20032 (with ID), TWB@THEARC parents and THEARC staff. There is a $12 per class drop-in rate for all others. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. Joy of Motion Dance Festival. June 10, 9 AM to 3 PM. The Joy of Motion Dance Festival (JoyFest) is a unique outdoor festival, more than 800 dedicated young dancers will perform in over 100 dance pieces. In addition to the performances, family-friendly activities are scheduled throughout the day. Fort Reno Park. joyofmotion.org/spring-dance-festival.

SPORTS AND FITNESS DC United at RFK. May 6, 6 PM, vs Montreal Impact; May 13, 7 PM, vs Philadelphia Union; May 20, 4 PM, vs Chicago Fire; June 3, 4 PM, vs LA Galaxy. dcunited.com. Washington Nationals. May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Nat’s Park. washington.nationals.mlb.com. Yoga Gatherings at the Botanic Garden. Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy, and acceptance throughout the District. WithLoveDC offers free yoga gatherings at the US Botanic Garden. This program is first-come, first served with limited space available. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mats. No pre-registration required. usbg.gov. Barry Farm Pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202730-0572. dpr.dc.gov. Deanwood Pool. Monday to Friday 6:30 AM to 8 PM; Saturday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202671-3078. dpr.dc.gov. Ferebee Hope Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov. Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for season. Will reopen in late June or early July. fdia.org.

MARKETS AND SALES

Arts Market. Every second and fourth Friday, 4 to 10 PM. May 12 and 26; June 9 and 23; July 14 and 28; Aug. 11 and 25; Sept. 8 and 22; Oct. 13 and 27. Fourth and M Streets SW. marketswdc.com.

Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPO’s Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600.

H Street NE FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, through Dec. 16, 9 AM to 12:30 PM. 800 13th St. NE. freshfarm.org.

Marshall Heights Civic Association. First Saturday, 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Benning Park Recreation Center, 5100 Southern Ave. SE. For more information, contact info@marshallheightsdc. org or call Keith Towery at 240-340-2198.

Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Weekends, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. sternmarketdc.com. Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 20th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD. Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh Street SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com.

Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@earthlink.net.

Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturdays to Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com.

ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@ verizon.net.

Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays, 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW.

ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-340-5362. 7D06@anc.dc.gov.

CIVIC LIFE

ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@ anc.dc.gov.

Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house.gov. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens, 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202-352-7264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster.com. Central NorthEast Civic Association. Third Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Dorothy Irene Height Public Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. For more information, email miricotc@gmail.com or call 202-388-1111.

ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202889-6600. anc8adc.org. ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org. ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244.

Friends of SE Library Book Sale. May 13, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast.

Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon to 2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900.

ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774.

Southwest DC Community Farmers Market. Saturdays, May 13 through Nov. 18, 9 AM to 1 PM. Fourth and M Streets SW. dreamingoutloud.org.

Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org.

Have an item from the Calendar? Email it to calendar@hillrag.com.

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Bringing Healthcare Home W h e r e t o g e t p r o f e s s i o n a l h e a lt h c a r e a t y o u r d o o r s t e p by Candace Y.A. Montague

here are several ways to be pained in health. One is the physical pain that could land you in a hospital. Another pain could be the road to recovery. Yet another is the pain of finding reputable, dependable providers that will take care of your needs without emotionally and financially draining you. When healthcare transitions from the hospital to the home, new challenges present themselves. Who will come to your home to care for your loved one? How do you select a provider? Who will pay for their service? Last May, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable (CARE) Act of 2015 into law. The CARE Act requires that hospitals provide patients with an opportunity to select a caregiver after hospital admission, and that hospitals record contact information for the caregivers and consult with them about the patient’s care plan after discharge. The good news is that hospitals will help examine care beyond their walls and work with families to determine the next steps. The anxiety-inducing news is selecting the right care provider. Many times family members are the caregivers, and they do the best that they can. But when the care becomes more nuanced and the family is not skilled in providing that kind of service for an ill loved one, they must rely on a third party for help.

Palliative Care and How to Select a Provider

Palliative care is the relief of symptoms from advanced illness. Conditions such as congestive heart failure, COPD or lung disease, cancer, HIV, kidney disease, or stroke may result in physical discomfort and change in overall life trajectory. Unlike hospice care, palliative care assists individuals with symptom management and being more comfortable as they recover. Once the patient is cleared to go home and the attending physician has certified that home healthcare is necessary, the search begins. According to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, there are a few key points to look for when selecting a provider, things like: • How they supply and explain literature such as the Patient Bill of Rights • How long they have been serving the community • The inclusion of family members in developing a care plan • Documenting the care plan and clearly establishing everyone’s responsibility in carrying it out

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Capital Caring (www.capitalcaring. org) has been providing palliative and hospice care for 40 years around the DC area. It customizes the care around medical orders from physicians. Its palliative care is a fee-for-service program, so it would need to start building a plan around a symptom from a chronic illness. Capital Caring offers a wide range of home medical services. The care plan is built from a doctor’s orders and includes the family caregivers so that they can assist with recovery. Capitol Hill Village (www.capitolhillvillage.org), located on Eighth Street in Southeast, is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that helps individuals live long and comfortably in their own homes. It provides referrals to fee-for-service home healthcare providers in the area. It also provides help with safeguarding homes to prevent falls and other accidents. Amedysis Home Health Care (http://amedisys.com), located on H street in Northwest, offers recov-

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ery and management for people living with chronic conditions as well as rehabilitation therapy, wound care, and psychiatric care for those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Amedysis deploys a team of professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, home healthcare nurses, and medical social workers to provide comprehensive care. MedStar Visiting Nurse Association (www.medstarvna.org) also offers an assembly of therapists, nurses, and social workers to meet home healthcare needs. Working from a doctor’s order and a plan for care, MedStar VNA workers visit homes two or three times a week on average. They also offer ostomy care and education for individuals so that they can learn to care for their ostomy pouch independently. Americare in Home Nursing (www. ameri-nurse.com) has been providing home healthcare since 1974. Located in Falls Church, Va., its staff provides care for people in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Along with the traditional services, Americare offers oncology services, fall-prevention evaluations, and joint replacement therapy. Why is home healthcare preferred over hospitalization? Research shows that people recover quicker at home, and with appropriate customized care they can prevent readmission. Dr. Cameron Muir, executive vice president of quality and access and chief medical officer for Capital Caring, explains why palliative is preferred among patients. “People living with an advanced illness want to be at home. That’s the human answer to that question. On the other side, 50 percent of people die in hospitals and another quarter of Americans die in nursing homes. So Capital Caring provides palliative consulting in many hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. We do outpatient clinics. We also see people who are homebound and really cannot get to the office.”

How to Afford Care

DC’s Medicaid has a program called the Elderly and Disabled Program, or EDP. It offers a waiver to cover the costs of most sup-

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portive in-home services. The program offers assisted living help, personal care aide services, case management and respite care, and more. In order to qualify, individuals must be 65 years old or over, or between 18 and 64 years old and living with a disability. They must also be eligible for DC Medicaid and require assistance with daily living. The cutoff for income requirement has just recently been lowered to $2,200 a month. Medicare will only pay for a certain number of hours of part-time, skilled, intermittent home healthcare. Most people who are eligible for Medicaid are also eligible for Medicaid waiver programs. Shane Johnson, senior director of health policy at TDP Consulting Inc. in Silver Spring, explains that the waiver programs can alleviate some of the financial burden. “The beauty in that is that people would have access to an array of services that wouldn’t be covered under traditional plans. States have greater flexibility to those who need it the most. Medicaid waiver programs will pay for attendant care and custodial care as long as they meet medical necessity criteria and the healthcare team can demonstrate a need for those services.” Commercial (private) insurance rarely covers custodial or attendant care. There are cases where people can get the coverage, but medical necessity must be proven, which can be difficult. Individuals can still apply for Medicare and Medicaid, but the commercial insurance will be the primary contributor. For more information about DC Medicaid services and to see if you qualify for financial assistance, visit the DC Department of Health Care Finance page at https://dhcf. dc.gov/. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.

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Ms. Pinkie, the Survivor Muriel Langford has fought t h e b at t l e a g a i n s t breast cancer and won twice article & photos by Candace Y.A. Montague

ou may see her power-walking through the streets of her Congress Heights neighborhood. Smiling. Waving. Giving out hugs here and there. On Sundays, you will most definitely catch her at Park Road Community Church praying and worshipping God. Once a year, you will see her strutting on the Mall, donning her pink, monogrammed walking shoes for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk. Muriel Langford, also known as Ms. Pinkie, is a very visible woman. But the invisible side of this Washington native is the part that makes her so inspirational to women everywhere.

‘I think I feel a lump’

Langford was having typical day on her job at the US Tax Court in the summer of 2007 when she went to scratch her chest. Right then she felt something. “I went to my coworker and said, ‘You know, I think I feel a lump.’” Her colleague advised her to see someone immediately. Langford got an appointment at Kaiser Permanente, where they ran a series of tests including a biopsy. The results came back positive for breast cancer, stage one. “I was in denial. She gave

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me all this information to read and she said you can have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. I got on the train and went to work. It didn’t kick in until I talked to my supervisor. I said I just went to the doctor and they said I had cancer. That’s when I broke down. I cried and cried.” By the day’s end she had made up her mind to have a lumpectomy. She went home to break the news to her family. “I was more scared than anything. I was the first in my family to have breast cancer. And the next thing I knew, my aunt, my cousin, and my aunt’s daughter were diagnosed with it too. But my family and my coworkers and church members were so supportive.” Her lump was removed at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. She began her rounds of chemotherapy after surgery. “I would go at 6 a.m. and get my chemo. I would sit for hours. I would leave Kaiser and go to work. I wasn’t tired at all. After work, I would go home and go to bed. And that was my routine.” On days when she didn’t have to report to Kaiser, her daughter Regan would come by her home on early mornings to administer shots.

Round Two with a Twist

In June 2011, Langford had gone through her last round of Tamoxifen. The bills were stacking up. Her co-

Muriel Langford, longtime District resident, sports her pink bag as testimony of her survival.

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pays were stacking up too. Ms. Pinkie was ready to get on with her life. But the doctors found a mass in her lymph nodes. “I had to get the nodes removed and go through the chemo, shots, and everything all over again.” She pressed on in spite of her current situation. The second round of chemo was harder than the first. And the cancer drug that she was prescribed this time had terrible side effects. “The side effects nearly killed me. My joints were killing me. I couldn’t sleep well. They had to give me another drug to help me sleep. I prayed that God would help me get off of this medication.” In addition to battling cancer, Langford found out that she had hepatitis C, a dangerous virus that attacks the liver. “I couldn’t figure out how that could happen. I’m not a drug user. Never had been. I don’t drink or smoke. I was confused about how this could happen. So I had to take medications and shots just like I did for the cancer. My stomach was so bruised up it looked like a grape.” She was on medication for HCV for several months.

Breast Cancer Doesn’t Always End with Therapy

The highest risk of breast cancer recurrence is during the first two years after treatment. Recurrence can be local or distant. Local recurrence happens when the cancer returns close to or at the same place as the location where the first tumor was found. If the lump was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation the first time, then the second treatment plan would most likely be a mastectomy. Distant breast cancer recurrence, or metastatic breast cancer, is when the cancer spreads to another location in the body. Metastatic breast cancer is not curable, but don’t panic. Doctors can treat it as a manageable chronic disease and pro-

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long the patient’s life. What are the chances that the cancer will come back? According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation website, if a woman had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy, her chance of local recurrence in 10 years is between 3 and 15 percent. If the woman had a mastectomy, look at her lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes do not contain cancer (the more lymph nodes you have the greater the risk), the chance of local recurrence in five years is about 6 percent. The chance rises to 23 percent in five years when the lymph nodes do contain cancer.

Early Detection: The Thin Line Between Life and Death

Studies show that African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts. One cause for this grave disparity is late detection. Lack of health insurance, lack of a steady primary care physician, low income, and fear of bad news are just some of the barriers. However, chances for survival are much higher when the cancer is caught early. “Most forms of breast cancer, when caught early, can be successfully treated and cured,” states Beth Beck, co-founder and director of Breast Care for Washington, the only licensed and FDA-accredited mammography facility east of the Anacostia River that offers patients 3-D imaging. “We have found in using 3-D, state-of-the-art imaging technology that we are able to increase the detection of invasive breast cancers earlier on in the disease process, which means better health outcomes for the patient,” states Beck. Breast Care for Washington, located in the Conway Health and Resource Building on Atlantic Street, opened three years ago this May. “In our first three years, we have screened over

2,500 women for breast cancer and identified 27 cases of cancer, which is higher than average. We believe that all women beginning at age 40 should have a yearly mammogram.” Breast Care for Washington is a Susan G. Komen Foundation grantee that offers routine breast screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and clinical breast exams. Most of the services are covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Langford took her last dose of cancer medication on Feb. 28. She is officially a two-time survivor. She announced it at church with great joy

and praise to God. Now she’s gearing up for the next Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk in Washington in September. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough for others. God has been so good to me. I pray that God continues to heal my body. I want to stay healthy. It’s so much when you’re going through cancer. I’m just thankful to be here.” Need to get screened for breast cancer? Call Breast Care for Washington for an appointment at 202465-7164. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.

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11th annual east of the river exhibition

and the surrounding neighborhoods. WCCDC delivers “housing” in an aesthetically pleasing neighborhood. Recipient of numerous awards for excellence, WCCDC also transforms lives through job training and empowerment programs.

The 11th annual “Adjacent Elements” returns to the Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, on June 16. This event provides a platform for the creative talent emerging from the Southside of the District. Artists Elana Casey, Sheila Crider and Amber Robles present their highly anticipated mixed media exhibitions. “Adjacent Elements” will run through Aug. 5. The opening reception is June 17, 2 to 5 p.m. All are welcome. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. and by appointment. Honfleurgallery.com.

east of the river animal Health fairs The Ward 7 Animal Health Fair is on June 3, 9 to 11:30 a.m., at Triangle Park, Croffut Pl. SE. The Ward 8 Animal Health Fair is June 3, 1:30 to 4 p.m., at the Bald Eagle Rec. Center, 100 ML King Jr. Ave, SW. There will be free vaccinations, dog licenses, emergency preparedness and an Ask the Veterinarian session. Dogs must be secured on a leash and cats must be in a carrier. For more information, contact the DC Department of Health Animal Services at 202-535-2323.

wheeler Creek CdC Celebrates 20 years Wheeler Creek Community Development Corporation, 1130 Varney St. SE, celebrates its 20th Anniversary Celebration on May 19. There is a commemorative plaque installation at 10 a.m. and a community forum at noon. There will be an awards gala on June 9, 6 to 9 p.m. To reserve tickets, call 202-574-1508. In 1997, the concerned and dedicated residents of the former Valley Green and Skytower Apartments formed a partnership which became the Wheeler Creek Community Development Corporation (WCCDC). For 20 years, this community-based non-profit has improved the quality of life for residents living in the Washington Highlands area of Southeast Washington

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

Help Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Photo: Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Volunteer Debora McCallum

kenilwortH GardenS’ annual water lily & lotuS feStival SeekS volunteerS

On July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., join other Kenilworth Gardens volunteers for The Water Lily & Lotus Festival. Enjoy music, cultural arts and crafts and live animal exhibit for kids. The lotus will be in full bloom. Volunteers are needed to work two to three hour shifts throughout the day to help with set-up and take down, organize events and orient visitors. Register at goo.gl/forms/vpT5CfUB9f. For more information, contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups the second Saturdays of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark the calendar for May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 13, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X avenues SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments are provided. Wear boots and clothes that can get dirty. There is an open invitation to colleges, schools, churches, offices and other

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learn how to gain control of your finances. Understand how to budget, properly utilize credit. Be aware of financial rights. Discover how to save and invest. To register, visit Capital Area Asset Builders at caab.org. CAAB also has one-on-one financial coaching on Wednesday, May 24 at Anacostia Library. During a 45-minute session, one of Capital Area Asset Builders’ Financial Coaches reviews your personal financial situation/ challenges to develop an action plan to achieve financial wellness. The session is confidential and free. To ask for a personal coaching session, register at caab.org. On June 3, 10 a.m., there is free day-long, interactive and engaging “boot camp.” Learn how to gain control of your finances.

dC open doors Homebuyers’ informational Session

Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation

outdoor PuBliC SwimminG PoolS oPen memorial day weekend

DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor swimming pools operate on individualized summer hours during the summer season, starting Memorial Day Weekend and closing Labor Day weekend. Nearby outdoor pools are East Potomac Pool (closed Wednesdays) at 972 Ohio Dr. SW; Randall Pool (closed Mondays) at South Capitol and I Streets SW; and Rosedale Pool (closed Wednesdays) at 1701 Gales St. NE. All outdoor pools are open weekends, noon to 6 PM; weekdays (after school year ends), 11 AM to 8 PM. All DC pools are free for DC residents. Have picture ID. dpr.dc.gov.

groups who wish to leave their mark on Shepherd Parkway. Pick the date and time. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange your groups volunteer experience.

CaaB’s financial Boot Camp During this free two-hour workshop on May 17, 6 p.m., at Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE,

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Homebuyer education contributes to successful homeownership. On May 17, 6:30 to 8 p.m., come and learn how to purchase a home in the District of Columbia using a DC Open Doors mortgage product. All DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Sessions are free and co-hosted by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, and a participating lender. This session is at the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. Contact Bill Milko at SingleFamilyPrograms@dchfa.org or 202-777-4663. dcopendoors.com.

apply for a dC Commission on the arts and Humanities Grant

Applications are now available for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) FY18 grant programs for the spring/summer application cycle. Individual grants available include: Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program (May 26 deadline); Projects, Events or Festivals-Cycle 1 (June 9 deadline); Public Art Building Communities-Cycle 1 (June 16 deadline); Art Bank: The Washingtonia Collection (June 23 deadline). Grants currently available for organizations include: Arts Education Projects (June 2 deadline); East of the River Projects (June 2 deadline); Upstart Program (June 9 deadline); Projects, Events or Festivals-Cycle 1 (June 9 deadline); Public Art Build-

ing Communities-Cycle 1 (June 16 deadline); Art Bank: The Washingtonia Collection (June 23 deadline). For guidelines on each available grant program, visit Current Funding Opportunities at dcarts.dc.gov.

tour de dCPl viii The Tour de DCPL is a free, community bike ride that visits several DC Public Library locations. Every year, to celebrate National Bike Month, a group of library staff, advocates and community members strap on their bike helmets to help the DC Public Library promote environmentally friendly transportation and libraries. The Eighth Annual Tour de DCPL will visit the following neighborhood libraries in Wards 6, 7 and 8 on May 20: Southwest, William O. Lockridge, ParklandsTurner, Francis A. Gregory and Southeast. Arrive at the Southwest Neighborhood Library at 9 a.m. All riders will check-in and sign a waiver. The ride will depart at 9:30 a.m. Snacks and water will be provided at each stop along the route which is approximately 13 miles. Email bikedcpl@gmail.com with questions. Register at dclibrary.org/node/56647.

volunteer at kenilworth aquatic Gardens On May 20 (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to noon, volunteer at the park picking up trash, thinning water lilies in the ponds, and removing invasive English ivy and honeysuckle. Individuals and groups of all ages welcome. SSL credits can be earned. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. Register at friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com.

Celebrate international migratory Bird day at kenilworth On May 13 celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. This year the theme is “Stopover Sites: Helping Birds Along the Way.” Find out what a flyway is and how to assist birds during spring migration. Family fun activities will begin at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at 10 a.m. featuring beginner bird walks, educational bird games and crafts throughout the day. There will be exhibitors, a dance performance, and raptor shows in the afternoon. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. nps.gov/keaq.

assist rice rangers at kingman marsh On May 17, 8:30 to 10 a.m.; May 18, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; May 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; May 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., volunteer help the Rice Rangers educational program. Assist students planting wild rice seedlings in the marshes of the Anacostia while learning about wetland habitat and restoration. Only adults may volunteer for these programs. This project involves walking on uneven services while bending and lifting in the marshes. Get muddy while working alongside enthusiastic children. For more information, contact Emily Castelli at ecastelli2@anacostiaws.org or call 301-6996204 x103. Read more at anacostiaws.org.

How to Present with Confidence Learn to deal with difficult and challenging people in the workplace. On May 23 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., discover what bugs you, how to stand your ground and when to walk away. The training will provide specific strategies for being more assertive, speaking up, quieting down and defusing volatile situations. Cooperation, collaboration and compromise creates a more productive and efficient workplace for everyone. This training is presented at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Course fee is $25 for nonprofits serving East of the River communities. Read more at thearcdc.org.

nCC’s dr. evelyn lewis recognized The National Children’s Center (NCC) has announced that Dr. Evelyn Lewis, Vice Chairman of its Board of Directors, has been chosen as a 2017 Blacks in Healthcare honoree. NCC is one of the region’s largest care providers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. BlackDoctor.org, in partnership with The George Washington University, chose Dr. Lewis in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments and career service. BlackDoctor.org is an organization that works to impact the health disparities of African Americans by offering culturally relevant solutions to preventable diseases. BlackDoctor.org is the leading health destination for African Americans.

food Justice Conference Proposed A conference is being proposed for early 2018 to educate and be educated about hunger, food production, food access, food resources, food distribution and to help develop organizations to fight hunger. To get involved or for more information, call 202-3881111 for Michele or Rick, or email miricotc@gmail.com.

“Pups in the Park” Purchase a discounted ticket a favorite canine and support the Washington Humane Society. Drop off a signed waiver for your dog’s up-to-date shots. Enter through the Right Field Gate. Find the Waiver Form at washington. nationals.mlb.com.

In Loving Memory

Marshall Brown 1945-2017

My father Marshall Brown was a friend who will be remembered by me for his political insight and love for his family. In his most recent years, he was Ben’s Chili Bowl’s official on-site historical spokesman who gave many a tourist a colorful history of U Street and the “Bowl”. Often mistaken for the original founder, Ben Ali, Marshall had this ability to connect with people, no matter where in the world they were from. He could give life lessons to bus loads of visiting tourist, students and families with his unique form of urban wisdom. He even made friends with a handful of Chinese visitors and next thing I knew, he was on his way to China, all by himself!!! Love of family was priority number one with Marshall. Proud beyond words of the many achievements of his children and grand children, he would beam with pride on how they were doing in school or in business. We’ve lost a true political warrior who was not afraid to be on the front lines of the movement or out on the streets campaigning where many a local politician cherished his advice and because of his knowledge, paved the way for his son, Kwame Brown, to become not only an At-Large Councilmember, but ultimately Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia. Rest in peace my friend and father for you have lived a full life and your legacy will continue to shine in our great city. Kwame R. Brown

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Remaining Pups in the Park Games this year are: May 13, 7:05 p.m. vs. Phillies; June 10, 12:05 p.m. vs. Rangers; June 25, 1:35 p.m. vs. Reds; Sept. 7, 7:05 p.m. vs. Phillies; Sept. 30, 7:05 p.m. vs. Pirates.

Mayor Bowser Kicks Off AlleyPalooza 5.0 Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has kicked off AlleyPalooza 5.0, the first to include the creation of green alleys. While renovating eight alleys in all eight wards over eight weeks, the District Department of Transportation will work in partnership with DC Water to create five green alleys that feature the use of permeable pavement. This green Infrastructure technique captures and filters storm water runoff before it pollutes rivers and streams. Report their alley repair issues to 311 to have an alley included in future AlleyPaloozas. Track the daily progress of work at ddot.dc.gov.

Educational Sessions on Tenant Rights The DC Office of the Tenant Advocate will present educational sessions on tenant rights on May 20 at noon; June 28 at 6 p.m.; July 29 at noon and Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. All sessions are held at Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW, suite 300N. Renters 101 is designed to provide DC tenants with information on their rights and responsibilities. Topics will include leases, security deposits, how to handle housing code problems, landlord disclosures required by law, reasonable notice by landlord to enter property, evictions and quiet enjoyment. Call the Office of the Tenant Advocate at 202-7196560 to reserve a space or email delores.anderson@ dc.gov. Accommodations requests must be submitted at least five days in advance. ota.dc.gov.

The Wharf Offers Affordable Rentals Affordable housing leasing begins at the Wharf in lateMay. Move-ins start in August for two new apartment buildings, the Incanto and The Channel. There will be a lottery held on June 22 to select candidates for the Affordable and Workforce units. Sign up by June 16. Go to wharfdc.com, click “Residences.” Visit www.dcchannel.com and www.incantodc.com and enter contact information to register. Alternatively, call 866-3399293 to register and get more information. The Wharf Apartment Rental Center opens in late-May. Facing Foreclosure? Got Questions? DC residents who find themselves behind on their mortgage or property taxes, being sued by their lender or confronting a potential mortgage scam are urged to attend a Foreclosure Prevention Clinic on May 17 at noon or May 31 at 6 p.m. at Housing Counseling Services, Inc., 2410 17th St. NW, Suite 100. For information, call the Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at 202265-CALL or toll free at 855-449-CALL. Depending on the circumstances, DC residents may receive free housing counseling from a HUD approved, non-profit housing counseling agency and free legal services. The Hotline is staffed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Messages will be taken during all other hours and returned by the end of the next business day. Visit housingetc.org. Line Dancing at William O. Lockridge Library On May 13 and 20, 11 a.m. to noon, Patricia Sanker teaches the latest line dances. Sanker is a Certified Instructor in Line Dancing, Zumba, Aerobics Rector and Pound Certified/Coach Life Wellness. Lessons are held at Bellevue Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW. dclibrary.org/bellevue. MANNA Homeownership Town Hall MANNA’s second annual Homeownership Town Hall is on June 3, 1 to 4 p.m., at Thurgood Marshall Academy Gym, 2427 MLK Ave. SE. The first and last hour of the program will consist of resource tables and workshops on a variety of subjects including credit building, home maintenance, down payment assistance, DC property tax programs and advocacy. In between hear from DC policy makers on what’s happening to promote affordable housing in the District. Childcare, Spanish translation services and refreshments provided. mannadc.org.

Pepco Energy Wise Rewards Energy Wise Rewards is a voluntary program that offers customers a choice of a web-programmable thermostat or an outdoor switch, which is installed at no charge to customers. During summer periods of peak electric demand, Energy Wise Rewards works to reduce electricity usage by cycling central air conditioner compressors off and on for short periods during times of peak electricity use. As an incentive, the program participants receive bill credits in return for allowing Pepco to cycle their air conditioners a few days each year. Customers can learn more about Energy Wise Rewards by calling 1-866-353-5798 or visiting pepco.com/rewards.

2017 WNO Opera Gala Announced The Gala on June 3 includes a concert in the Kennedy Center Opera House featuring the WNO Orchestra and an array of musical stars including: legendary soprano Renée Fleming, superstar mezzo-soprano and DC native Denyce Graves and Hamilton Tony Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. Tickets are on sale at kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/WRGAL.

Call for DC Comprehensive Plan Amendments The Comprehensive Plan is the 20-year plan the District government uses to guide future development. It contains the maps and policies that influence the neighborhoods, as well as the investments the city makes in services and infrastructure. DC Office of Planning has added a lot of useful information to the Comprehensive Plan website at plandc.dc.gov, including an extensive FAQs page, an Evaluation Framework outlining how proposed amendments will be reviewed and an Engagement Calendar with staffed “office hours” across

the city. Residents are asked to help spread the word to those who may wish to propose a Comp Plan amendment. The open call deadline is May 26.

Metered Parking Installed on the Mall The National Park Service plans to install 90 multispace pay stations on streets adjacent to the National Mall and on its parking lots. Operation and enforcement of the meters is scheduled for June 12. The new metered parking will create more frequent turnover of limited parking spaces; encourage the use of public transit and provide revenue to create and improve affordable visitor transportation. Parking costs under the new system will be $2 per hour, and will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily including weekends and holidays. Pay stations will accept credit cards and debit cards. Payment can also be made via the Parkmobile app or website. The DC Department of Public Works will enforce the meters.

All the President’s Pup Tour of Mount Vernon During Mount Vernon’s All the President’s n Walking Tour, bring the dog for this 1.25-mile stroll that explores canine life at Mount Vernon from the first president’s dogs to the dogs that live at the Estate today. The tour stops at five historic locations including the historic west gate. Along the way, learn about George Washington’s love for dogs, his dogs’ unusual names, and his efforts to improve the quality of his hunting dogs through breeding. Saturdays at 10 a.m. through June. Cost for this tour is $7 in addition to general admission. mountvernon.org/spring.

Managing Deer on the C&O Canal The US National Park Service (NPS) has made available for public comment its plan to reduce overabundant deer populations that threaten the natural beauty and historic scenery at Harpers Ferry and Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal national historical parks. Overabundant white-tailed deer damage vegetation and eat nearly all the tree seedlings compromising forest sustainability. The high number of deer is also destroying smaller trees and shrubs that provide critical habitat for native birds and other wildlife. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments at parkplanning. nps.gov/NHPdeermanagement. Click on “C&O Canal NHP and Harpers Ferry NHP Deer Management Plan and EA”) no later than May 16. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email details to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

their community. With the backing of the DC Housing Authority, the Enterprise Foundation, and local private developers, a nonprofit partnership was formed, and the WCCDC, dubbed “A Corporation by the People for the People,” was born with a mission Geraldine Washington to create housing, employment, and business opportunities for residents and the surrounding Washington, DC, areas. Soon after, the self-determined group was awarded a HOPE VI grant, and in less than five years it completed the construction of a 314-unit, mixed-income housing development that gave former public-housing residents the opportunity to become first-time homeowners. In a YouTube presentation, Executive Director Dr. Bessie Swann states, “The Corporation’s purpose was to help low-income housing residents overcome the effects of poverty.” Through extensive education and training, WCCDC offered an all-embracing approach to self-sufficiency, empowerment, and economic success, and quickly established itself as one of the premier community development organizations nationwide. It is highly regarded locally as the resident expert on creating sustainable neighborhoods and communities. WCCDC has been selected often to oversee the Community and Supportive Services Program (CSSP), which is the social services component of a multimillion-dollar federal grant to demolish dilapidated properties and build mixed-income communities. In 20 years, WCCDC has successfully administered the CSSP at four different sites representing over 2,200 mixed-income housing units.

Wheeler Creek CDC Turns 20

heeler Creek Community Development Corporation (WCCDC) kicked off its 20th-anniversary celebration with an elaborate reception at its Washington Highlands office on April 27. As easy-listening music wafted through the room, board members, residents, community activists, politicians, and other stakeholders floated about sipping wine and feasting on a spread of crab balls, buffalo wings, quesadillas, and delectable salads while exchanging pleasantries and free hugs in a festive style. Happy feelings were in the air, and with two decades of 20 major accomplishments, coupled with national and citywide acclaim under their belts, it was indeed time to pop the cork and celebrate.

A Corporation by the People for the People

In June 1997, a small group of thoughtful, committed public-housing residents from the former Valley Green and Skytower apartments wanted to uplift tenants from the distressing socioeconomic conditions plaguing

First in, Last Out

Community activist and board member Harold Thomas moved to the Frederick Douglass Dwellings public housing in 1958 and was the last tenant to leave before its demolition in 1999. Spanning Alabama Avenue and adjacent to former Stanton Dwellings public housing, Frederick Douglass Dwellings was the second distressed property to be revitalized. Thomas, who was elected advisory neighborhood commissioner under former DC mayor Walter Washington, has a storied history of activism, residency, and employment with the DC Housing Authority. He worked with Kimi Gray, the one-time welfare mother who garnered national attention as a tenacious public-housing advocate from Kenilworth-Parkside in NE. Having experienced firsthand the challenges, misconceptions, and shortcomings of public housing, Thomas believes WCCDC’s vision is much needed, as the urban housing stock is increasingly becoming out of reach for low-income residents. Thomas raises a toast to another 20 years of self-sufficiency and empowerment.

A Drive Worth Taking

When board member Chanel Crump was weighing her options for homeownership in the city, she preferred to purchase in Northeast, but the cost of homes in that area drove her across town to Washington Highlands in SE. Crump is happy she made that drive in 2001. She loves her well-kept neighborhood and her neighbors, who are ‘decent.” Though her two-year term on WCCDC’s board is expiring soon, Crump says she has enjoyed the experience and learned “how to make things happen within your community.” Like Thomas and Crump, each guest attending WCCDC’s anniversary kickoff has a story, circumstance, situation, or housing issue that concludes happily ever after due to a 20-year commitment to overcome the effects of poverty.

A 20-20 Anniversary Celebration

Dr. Crystal Kuykendall was asked to offer her services as the event coordinator for WCCDC’s anniversary. Following the kickoff reception will be a May 19 commemorative plaque installation at the community center, and to cap off the 20-20 Anniversary Celebration, a Black-Tie Awards Gala at The Arc on June 9, where guests can dress in formal attire and celebrate 20 major accomplishments in a remarkable 20 years in grand style. Perhaps Dr. Kuykendall envisions partygoers getting so philanthropically drunk, they will give cheerfully to WCCDC’s continuous service to the community. “This is a good cause to give!” Bottles up! Have a comment about this story? Email jeriwashington@yahoo.com. Board members (standing, left to right): Harold Thomas, Chanel Crump, Rhonda McPherson, Aaron Coles, Caroline Jones, Shavon Smith, Dr. Crystal Kuykendall; (seated, left to right) Juanita Darden and Dr. Bessie Swann.

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The Numbers

Doesn’t Take a PhD to Understand Why ‘Kids Ride Free’ Should Include Adult Education Too

veryone knows that Metro is facing enormous financial challenges that affect not only our daily commutes but also the economic vitality of our region. And everyone knows that the income inequality gap in DC is wide and not getting better as the city continues to grow. Believe it or not, there is one simple thing the District can do to alleviate these seemingly unconnected issues: provide transportation assistance to residents in adult education classes. DC residents who try to improve their job prospects by participating in adult education programs find that transportation costs, usually bus fare, often keep them from completing their programs and fulfilling their dreams. The recent announcement that Metro bus and rail fares will rise this summer means that the problem will get worse unless we do something about it. The District’s signature “Kids Ride Free” program created a few years ago means that public school students can get to class without worrying about the cost. But this great program is only open to “kids.” Extending Kids Ride Free to adult learners would cost no more than $2 million but would accomplish two big things. It would improve the return on DC’s substantial investment in adult education by helping more students complete programs successfully. And it would shore up WMATA’s finances, because the $2 million program cost would go straight to them.

Who doesn’t love a twofer?

Unfortunately Mayor Bowser’s just-released budget proposal does not make the modest investment needed. It’s now up to the DC Council, which should find a way to fund this program before the May 30 budget vote.

It’s Important

Helping more adults succeed in education and training is important to DC’s future. By 2018 some 70 percent of jobs

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by Ilana Boivie

will require postsecondary education or training. Meanwhile 60,000 DC residents lack a high school diploma or equivalent. Over half of the students in adult education programs test at a sixth-grade level or below in reading and/or math, and it takes time for learners to build skills and advance to the next level of their career or education. Transportation cost is a major barrier to attending and remaining in educational programs. While students through age 22 do not have to pay to ride Metro bus or rail because they are enrolled in the Kids Ride Free program, students over age 22 have to pay the full price, which can threaten their ability to succeed. Over a third of DC’s adult learners reported their biggest transportation concern is cost, according to a 2016 survey of 1,000 adults by the DC Adult and Family Literacy Coalition. This significant financial burden means that many adults hoping to move ahead in their lives find themselves stuck in a frustrating cycle of enrolling and dropping out. This is not surprising given that adults in education classes often are unemployed or underemployed. Taking the bus to class can cost $70 per month, and the $0.25 bus fare hike coming in July will add another $10 per

month. With many DC households living on less than $10,000 a year, transportation costs for just one person could consume 10 percent of a family’s limited income unless we do something about it.

Transiting to ‘All Learners Ride Free’

The transportation problems of adult learners are attracting attention. Last fall, the Office of the DC Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) released a report highlighting this significant need and recommended expanding the Kids Ride Free program to all District residents enrolled in a publicly funded adult education program. It would cost $1.5 million to $2 million to serve the 7,500 students who are enrolled in community-based organizations (CBOs), UDC’s Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning programs (WDLL), and adult charter and alternative education schools – and are not currently receiving assistance.

A Smart Investment

The District currently invests over $80 million in local and federal dollars to support adult education. The relatively modest cost of expanding Kids Ride Free to adult learners – which our surveys suggest could lead to 30 percent more successful outcomes for program participants – seems well worth the additional investment. The DME’s report notes that “the current investment in adult education could yield greater results with a reduction in transportation costs for adult learners.” Expanding Mayor Bowser’s signature Kids Ride Free program to adults would be a smart and cost-effective way to provide transportation assistance. It would leverage a technology infrastructure whose kinks have been ironed out and that now runs pretty smoothly. Using Kids Ride Free would also allow DC to take advantage of the low cost negotiated with Metro. Currently DC pays Metro just $0.65 daily for each pupil. This means that the cost of providing transportation assistance though Kids Ride Free is much more cost-effective than other ways of funding such a program.

Good for Metro and Our Economy

The additional ridership would help shore up WMATA’s finances. Even at $0.65 per ride, WMATA will benefit financially since many adult education programs take place at non-peak hours, when Metro has excess capacity. At a recent budget oversight hearing, General Manager Paul Wiedefeld noted that WMATA would be able to implement the program, if it is funded, and that the added revenues and stability of ridership would help WMATA. No adult should be kept away from class by something as simple as not having bus fare. Removing the barrier of transportation costs would make it easier for adults to achieve their educational goals, and give them greater access to jobs from which they’ve been previously shut out. That will benefit not just them and their families but also Metro and our broader economy. Ilana Boivie is the senior policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues affecting low- and moderate-income DC residents.

PA R K WAY O V E R L O O K L P REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: POLP 0001-2017

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES at PARKWAY OVERLOOK The Parkway Overlook LP (POLP) requires qualified companies for Property Management Services at the Property located at 2841 Robinson Place, SE (Parkway Overlook). SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, May 1, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Contact LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lmmcleod@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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DHCD Defies Council Law It Will Award Six Blighted Historic Anacostia Houses to Nonprofits Despite New Law by Christine Rushton

1220 Maple View Place SE. Photo: John Muller.

ix historic but blighted houses in Ward 8’s Anacostia will go to two nonprofit developers, defying legislation passed by DC early in 2017. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) awarded the District-owned lots to developers Mi Casa and Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH) on April 11. For several years, the homes have remained vacant and deteriorating, which has frustrated neighbors and local representatives who asked DHCD to fix or sell them. Despite a plan to transfer four of those proper-

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ties free of charge to a separate nonprofit put forth by DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson that passed into law in 2017 – the Historic Preservation of Derelict District Properties Act of 2016 – DHCD awarded the houses to the two other nonprofits. DHCD views the move as part of the ongoing effort to relieve the District of these burdensome properties and turn them into affordable housing for residents. But Mendelson has denounced the move as costly and against the best interests of the residents of the District. The houses identified in the legislation are 1326 Valley Place SE, 1518 W St. SE, 1648 U St. SE, and 1220 Maple View Place SE. The additional two hous-

es sold in DHCD’s deal are 1528 W St. SE and 1926 15th St. SE.

Disconnect Between DHCD and DC Council

Back in September, Council Chair Mendelson introduced Bill 21-837 to transfer four properties to the L’Enfant Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and revitalizing DC’s historic neighborhoods. The L’Enfant Trust had extensive experience revitalizing historic homes in DC. After so many years, the offer to take the four properties seemed like a windfall for the District. The Council passed the bill unanimously soon after, and in early 2017 the bill became law. The L’Enfant Trust would get the homes at no cost to DC. But while the Council considered and then passed the law, DHCD had started soliciting plans from other developers. And in April, the agency went against the new law and awarded the four properties to nonprofit DCCH and two additional properties to nonprofit Mi Casa. “The law requires no payment from the Trust for the four houses,” Mendelson said in a statement after DHCD’s announcement. “Instead, the City will pay as much as $1.6 million to the inexperienced nonprofit. We’re paying for something we could have gotten for free.” That potential $1.6 million would come from the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), which DHCD said its Development Finance Division will review in order to decide the funding-gap needs of the projects and what DHCD will offer from the fund to the two developers. “The final gap financing determinations will be made during the further underwriting process, which is expected to occur in the coming months,” said Gwen Cofield, DHCD communications director.

Meeting the Affordability Needs of Ward 8

DHCD’s average median income (AMI) requirements for Mi Casa and DCCH’s revitalized properties came to between 50 percent ($54,300) and 80 percent ($86,880) for resale value. Mi Casa’s two homes at 1528 W St. SE and 1926 15th St. SE will be two- and three-bedroom units with one and a half baths at 50 percent AMI – affordable for a four-person household making $54,300. DCCH’s plans for its four units are: • a four-bedroom, two-bath home at 80 percent AMI for 1326 Valley Place SE • a two-bedroom, two-bath home at 50 percent (continues to pg.37)

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Capitol View Library Coalition Fights for Interim Services, Money for Renovations

rancel Bellinger started working on a quilt for the Capitol View Library (CVL) in Ward 7 in the fall of 2016. She wanted children who use the library to share, on the fabric squares, reasons why they love it so much, because when she was their age she went before the US Congress and shared just that – why her neighborhood needed Capitol View. The squares read: “I like when it’s quiet.” “Time to myself.” “The library is a safe place to let my imagination fly free.” “What I like about the library is that it’s quiet and I get much time to discover and explore things.” Bellinger, again a resident in the Ward 7 community, realized while looking at these answers that the children rely on the space as a place of safety and comfort from the hardship some face outside and at home. It’s their safe haven. Neighbors realized too late that the plans of the DC Public Library (DCPL) to renovate the space at 5001 Central Ave. SE included closing the building and its resources for upwards of nine months (Renovations had started on Feb. 25, 2017) without interim services. They formed the Capitol View Library Coalition (CVLC) and reached out to DCPL and DC councilmembers to request more funds for a full renovation – not the partial one planned. They also asked for programming funds, resources, books, and computers during the renovation. CVL originally had $10.5 million slotted for renovation, but Mayor Muriel Bowser’s fiscal year 2016 budget cut that to $4.5 million along with the budgets of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and Palisades Library.

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by Christine Rushton

CVL’s patrons want to know where that $6 million went and what DCPL can do to give them the renovation they feel they deserve for a library they consider a vital resource and space. In short, neighbors feel slighted.

Where’s the Money?

CVL is one of 23 full and co-located branches scattered across the eight wards. DCPL and the District have spent $162.7 million on recent construction projects to renovate or partially update these building. (DCPL doesn’t manage the four co-located libraries, so it didn’t fund their capital costs.) DCPL spent an average of $13.3 million on 12 libraries between 2009 and 2016, according to DC-

PL’s budget records. But that average includes both costs for renovating already established libraries and building new libraries. Some got as much as $19.6 million (the Woodridge Library in Ward 5) and others as little as $1.95 million (the Takoma Park Library in Ward 4), depending on the needs of the library and size of the project. Of that $162.7 million, about $54 million, or 40 percent, went to libraries in Wards 7 and 8. In Ward 7, the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library (3935 Benning Road NE) received $12 million for its 2010 opening. And the Francis A. Gregory Library (3600 Alabama Ave. SE) received $13.2 million for its 2012 opening. DCPL Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan testified at a 2015 DC Council budget hearing that the original $10.5 million for CVL was never intended to fund a full renovation. DCPL has since secured an additional $726,000 from its operating budget for furniture and equipment. Mayor Bowser has also added $2 million in the fiscal year 2018 Capital Improvement Plan for CVL’s exterior renovations. If it goes through, CVL could have a budget of $7.2 million. Neighbors, though, want the $10.5 million back and a full renovation.

Defending a Vital Community Resource

Iola Anyan loved taking the Zumba class on the second floor of Capitol View. After moving to the community for grad school almost four years ago, she found herself in the highly popular class. But she learned in the fall of 2016 that DCPL had plans to shut down the building for months to renovate. That’s when she and others decided to create the CVLC, which she now helps lead. Many community members rely on the library to prepare job applications on the computers, as a space to gather for community meetings, and for children to ac-

Quilt squares designed by young Ward 7 residents on why they love the Capitol View Library. Photo: Francel Bellinger

(continues from pg.34)

AMI for 1518 W St. SE a three-bedroom, two-bath home at 50 percent AMI for 1648 U St. SE • a split, three-bedroom, two-bath at 80 percent, and a two-bedroom, two-bath at 50 percent AMI for 1220 Maple View Place SE But Mendelson’s new law requires that at least the four DCCH houses be resold as “workforce housing” – affordable housing for people who work in the area to either buy or rent. “Instead, the solicitation of the properties specified that the homes be sold for $145,000-$250,000 (or 50 percent Area Median Income),” Mendelson said. The difference: workforce focuses on residents working in DC, but doesn’t necessarily limit the income requirement to 50 percent AMI. It can range anywhere from 60 to 120 percent AMI. The AMI restrictions don’t allow for those making an income above that 50 or 80 percent mark to buy these homes. “Placing more income-restricted housing East of the River does not produce a net gain for a neighborhood that is demanding income diversity,” he said. •

A rendering of DCPL’s plans for the children’s space and library at Capitol View Library in Ward 7. Photo: DCPL

cess the internet. “Why do they feel so comfortable to come to this neighborhood – a neighborhood that clearly needs these resources – and reduce the budget?” Anyan asked. She attended all three of the most recent community meetings DCPL hosted, but felt Reyes-Gavilan and representatives deflected their questions about the funds and the need for interim services. She said his answers felt “cavalier.” She acknowledged that community leaders made the mistake of remaining complacent in the years leading up to the renovation. But many didn’t actually understand what was going to happen to Capitol View. They didn’t realize the plans only included an internal renovation and a few outside updates like the roof and landscaping. “It was during the second meeting that it became clear that there were certain things going on … it started to become more contentious,” Anyan said. It didn’t feel like DCPL was trying to help. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ashley Emerson (7E05) said the lack of money for renovations calls into question whether or not the city has fairly distributed funds across the wards. “It’s very clear that we are not being given what’s due for us in terms of equity,” Emerson said. But Reyes-Gavilan believes that with the funds allotted, DCPL has done good work planning for this renovation project and prioritizing funds east of the Anacostia. “I’m sympathetic, but I think of other libraries we have across the city … that have zero dollars attached to it for renovation,” he said. “I want to say the city has been very good.”

At-Large Councilmember David Gross (I), chair of the Education Committee, and Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D) declined to comment for this article.

What DCPL and CVLC Can Do

DCPL renovations lasting under a year don’t put budget money toward interim services, Reyes-Gavilan said. They prefer to place it all into the renovation. DCPL also pointed to the Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library as an alternative resource for neighbors during the renovation closure. The community has pushed back for two reasons: people and students need the library to succeed in school and get jobs, and the Dorothy Height Library is a mile away, said Emerson. “People have to walk in neighborhoods that aren’t safe – busted bottles, people hanging out on the streets, lighting – it’s just not safe,” she said. DCPL and CVLC are working out a relationship with St. Luke’s Catholic Church (4925 East Capitol St. SE) across from Capitol View to offer a few days of programming and possible access to laptops or books. But anything the church can offer still won’t fill the gap CVL will leave. Bellinger wishes more for her library. She said this whole process has made her community feel like second-class citizens. “We’re just in bad shape over here, and the library exacerbates the whole situation,” she said. She’s not sure what to do about it, but she knows they need help. “It’s really important to this community,” Bellinger said. “It’s a backbone to the community, it’s where the kids come, it’s where the community meets.”

Who Has the Experience?

Mendelson also slammed DHCD for picking two nonprofits that he said have no experience rehabilitating historic properties. “The course this administration is now taking – to ignore the legal transfer of title, to unnecessarily spend precious dollars, to disregard the Anacostia community, and to award the houses to an inexperienced developer – is not governing in the best interest of the District,” Mendelson said. DHCD argued that the agency vetted the two developers’ applications for the projects and determined their experience was sufficient to make the award. It pointed to DCCH’s work on the historic Tivoli Theater (3333 14th St. NW) and Mi Casa’s work on historic housing in DC and Baltimore as examples of their qualifications. DHCD also described the sole-sourcing redevelopment plan to hand over the properties to L’Enfant Trust as against the District’s competitive bidding process. “Sole sourcing negatively impacts our goal to preserve affordability, eliminates DC’s first source and [Certified Business Enterprise] priorities and discourages the District from getting the best deal for its assets by giving them away without a competitive process,” Cofield said.

Moving Forward

After DHCD announced the awards, Mendelson and community members met with DCCH. He said the community remains in favor of L’Enfant Trust, and he was skeptical of DCCH’s plans to cover all the renovation costs. “[The] numbers said to me that economically there’s no way they can do this,” Mendelson said. “They are capped on the selling price, and they underestimate the rehabilitation costs. So, for the moment the only thing that’s clear is that the houses will continue to suffer.” Morgann Reeves owns a home near these blighted properties in Ward 8. She agreed with Mendelson’s frustrations and also called DHCD’s move not in the best interest of the community. She said neighbors want L’Enfant Trust to rehabilitate the properties because it has built a relationship with the community, has a history of success working with historic properties, and wants to finish in a timely manner. “The Trust will do the entire project at no cost to the District and taxpayers,” Reeves said. “For those reasons, the community continues to stand behind the Council passing this law and L’Enfant Trust obtaining these properties.”

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realizing a future The Potomac Job Corps Center Trains At-Risk Youth for the Workforce

group of young men crowd around a lab counter in a plumbing training workshop. It’s about an hour before noon on a Friday, and they’re studying the craft with their professional plumbing instructor, Sami Nuriddin, at the Potomac Job Corps Center campus in Southwest DC. Two in the group volunteer to lead a tour of the back workshop, so they grab their hardhats and unlock the heavy metal door. Johnnie Bentson, a 20-year-old from Norfolk, Va., explains how they use the staged bathroom setup to practice piping and installing real plumbing, using a combination of metal and PVC plastic. His classmate, Stansberry Beea, a 17-year-old from Baltimore, explains that the classroom-related instruction combined with the hands-on training sets these students at Job Corps apart from others entering the industry. “You can teach anyone how to turn a screwdriver,” Beea said. “But the ‘why’ is what sets you apart.” Beea and Bentson are two of about 330 young men and women, ages 16-24, who take classes, find jobs, and get training to enter the workforce at the Potomac Job Corps Center (1 DC Village Lane SW). The center sits on a 60-acre campus near the old Blue Plains water treatment center for DC Water and employs about 185-200 staff.

The 60-acre grounds at the Potomac Job Corps Center in Southwest DC.

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

article & photos by Christine Rushton

Center Director Mitra Vazeen outlines Job Corps goals as: giving at-risk and low-income students the opportunity to finish school, get certified in a skill or work field, and learn the interpersonal skills to interact professionally with peers and future employers. “It’s making taxpayers out of tax collectors,” Vazeen said. Because for every $1 invested in Job Corps, the center estimates a $1.91 return to the local DC and surrounding economies.

wHat is JoB corPs?

The US government operates about 127 Job Corps centers around the nation. The program started with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and is funded by the Department of Labor through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The federal government actually leases the Potomac Job Corps Center’s land from the DC government and contracts the Exceed Corporation to run it. Job Corps centers offer a foundation of programs like building-construction technology, carpentry, cement masonry, culinary arts, electrical, hotel and lodging, HVAC maintenance, office administration, pharmacy technician work, plumbing, and security and protective services. Many centers also offer advanced training programs for students with the necessary education and recent clean record. DC’s location offers advanced training opportunities in transportation, due to the Potomac Job Corps’ partnerships with nearby hubs of CSX Corporation, Amtrak, US Airways, and the US Department of Agriculture. The center also recently inked a deal with Nats Park to let non-transportation-focused students gain

work experience at the park. Vazeen said they’re also in talks with Hilton Hotels & Resorts and the new MGM casino to start a workforce development partnership. Vazeen, who has worked for the Job Corps around the nation for 17 years, hopes to continue growing her center to serve up to 400 students at a time and build out the relationships with the local and national businesses housed in the District-Maryland-Virginia region. Currently, about 36 percent of students come from Maryland, 23 percent from Virginia, 21 percent from DC, and the rest from states around the nation. She works with high school counselors, visits job fairs, advertises on social media, radio, and online, and goes to immigration centers to recruit. “You can realize your dreams here,” Vazeen said. “It’s the American dream they can realize.”

life at PotoMac JoB corPs

When students arrive, Potomac Job Corps hands them a self-care bag and introduces them to their dormitory living space. The majority of students who attend live on the campus, where they eat, participate in student government, play recreational sports, and take classes. They often only leave for work or internship opportunities. Typically, a student will stay for about a year to complete a GED or high school diploma, enter a skillsbased course, and then apply for workforce employment that can likely lead to a full-time job. But while students come to Job Corps voluntarily, they must commit to following the schedule and rules, said career technical training manager John Cox. “Students sometimes come from environments where they haven’t seen employability skills,” Cox said. So, when a student doesn’t show up for a class or speaks disrespectfully to a peer or staff member, Cox counsels them on the appropriate way to conduct themselves. “Whenever someone corrects you, you apologize and say, How can I do that differently?” he said. Some students don’t make it work and choose to leave. Others get fired from their internship or job placements. But each of these setbacks is a chance for Job Corps to assess and help the students learn why their behavior blocks their success, Cox said. “This is where the miracles happen,” he said. Vazeen added: “We try to let the students make all the mistakes here and not on the job.”

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Johnnie Bentson, 20 (left), and Stansberry Beea, 17 (right), work on their plumbing course at the Potomac Job Corps Center, April 21.

From the program, students can pursue a college education with the support of Pell Grants, enter the military, or continue in their field in full-time positions. Job Corps finishers have gone on to positions as physicians, rail conductors, military personnel, pilots, engineers, plumbers, and more.

ProViDing structure anD a future

Deanna Lewis-Williams, a 19-year-old from Delaware, came to Job Corps toward the end of 2016. She’s working on getting her high school diploma, studying through the Penn Foster independent education system. “I wanted to better my life,” she said of her decision to come to the center. Her mom lives in Delaware and has skills as a cook. Lewis-Williams hopes to train her-

Mitra Vazeen, director of the Potomac Job Corps Center.

self in hotel business management and certify in culinary arts in order to start her own business with her mom. Students like Lewis-Williams work with academic advisor Cornell Allen on a daily basis. He sees about 40 faces, both new and familiar, walk through his door to work on their high school education each day. “Every single student has individual needs,” Allen said. “You work on every student, every week.” Many also come in with little to no experience in a professional working environment, so Allen requires they make eye contact and greet him each morning. It’s practice for their real work behavior. And if they don’t try to improve themselves, they won’t get what they want out of the program. Potomac Job Corps offers many opportunities, including chances to get a job higher than the minimum wage. The students just have to take them seriously. “The only feet you can trip over are your own,” Allen said.

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A mother visits the creamery with her children on a recent weekend.

Capital City Creamery Busy in Congress Heights article & photos by John Muller

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wo summers ago, 11-year-old Tamyra Proctor walked down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and peered through the window of a vacant commercial property. She noticed activity inside and two people hard at work. Without hesitating she knocked on the front door to inquire what was going on. On a recent Sunday afternoon visit to Capital City Creamery in the heart of Congress Heights, Proctor was hanging out, patiently waiting for her moment to ask for a birthday ice cream cone. She had just turned 13. “I prefer here to the ice cream truck because you can see what they’re doing,” says Proctor, an honor-roll student at Kramer Middle School. According to Charlene and Bill, co-owners of the ice cream shop, Proctor was their first customer and hasn’t stopped coming since. “I come every day to either say hi or buy something,” Proctor says with enthusiasm and a smile. When she turns old enough to legally work, next year, she knows where she will apply first. “I told them they better have an open spot for me!”

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Community Connections

Responding to “Ma,” “Mama,” and “Aunt,” Charlene is regularly shown photos of newborns, newlyweds, and recent graduates by her customers. She graduated from Ballou High School in the late 1980s. Her mother still lives in the area and her brother is the director of the nationally known Ballou High School Marching Band. “I know the grandparents, parents, kids, and grandkids in a number of families,” says Charlene, who as a teenager in the 1980s worked at Bob’s Frozen Custard, just up the street from the creamery. During my visit, a collection of extended family members come into the shop along with a steady stream of neighborhood regulars. Nearly everyone is on a first-name basis. After requesting and receiving numerous small plastic spoons of a variety of ice cream flavors, Bryant Jenifer, 25, who is introducing his girlfriend to the shop, praises the creamery’s topnotch “sample game.” Usually choosing between a cup of cookies and cream with crushed Oreo or vanilla with granola, Jenifer, a fueler at Reagan National Airport, says he comes to the store weekly. He likes the feel of the ice cream parlor because “they don’t sell cigarettes.” Angela Burton, 23, shares, “I’ve never been here before but I feel comfortable.” “Some people say Ward 8 is the poorest part of the city, but we’re also the most self-sufficient,” declares a regular customer. “I come here because it saves me having to drive all the way to East Over,” a shopping mall on the DC-Maryland line, explains another. Sitting near the window are a couple dressed in their Sunday best. “The area needs this and the trust,” says James Littlejohn, a law enforcement official. The past three Sundays, following services at Allen AME Church on Alabama Avenue, Littlejohn has patronized the creamery. When asked if this would become a tra-

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Charlene, Tamyra, and Bill stand in front of Capital City Creamery at 3023 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE in Congress Heights.

dition, he responds, “This is great for the area. It’s not a matter of support. I’ll be here regardless.”

Opening Capital City Creamery

Bill and Charlene, married since 1989, explain that the genesis for the creamery was a weekly ritual that went on for years – driving her mother crosstown every Sunday to patronize a Baskin-Robbins at Eastern Market. “Every Sunday, we drove across the bridge and back,” says Charlene. “We thought, we shouldn’t have to keep leaving the neighborhood. Let’s open our own place.” Dedication and patience were close partners with Bill and Charlene as they waited more than a year to

open after securing their lease in July 2014. To cover costs of permitting, architect, demolition, new construction, and constant headaches from contractors, the couple initially invested $80,000. They estimate no interior work had been done on the property since the 1970s. Opening the store came as a complete surprise to their twin 17-year-old sons, Bradley, an incoming freshman at Temple, and Brandon, an incoming freshman at Norfolk State. “They brought us here one day and told us, ‘This is ours. We’re opening an ice cream shop,’” Bradley says. The family experience of working with and supporting their parents has been rewarding. “We’ve watched them become neighborhood favorites and we’ve gotten to see how much the community responds to them,” Bradley observes. Capital City Creamery opened for business in October 2015, as Rita’s simultaneously launched less than a block away. Their dual opening was not planned or known in advance. Bill says there is no competition or hostility. While Rita’s is a walk-up window and closes for the winter, Capital City is open seven days a week, yearround, and sells more than just frozen goods. “We responded to the neighborhood’s demands for more than just ice cream,” Bill says, as he sprinkles cheese on top of a small pizza and places it in the oven. Along with the self-proclaimed “best milkshakes in the city, not just east of the river,” the creamery offers wings, half-smokes, chili hotdogs, and slushies for $1. Capital City Creamery, 3023 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, across the street from the Old Congress Heights school, is open seven days a week, MondaySaturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. For more information call 202-470-1557 or email bill@capitalcitycreamery.com/ or charlene@capitalcitycreamery.com, or visit www.capitalcitycreamery.com/.

by Steve Monroe

May Highlights: Tamir Hendelman, May 10, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club … Herb Scott, May 12, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Christie Dashiell, May 13, The Alex/Graham Georgetown Hotel … Meshell Ndegeocello/Nina Simone Dedication, May 13, Kennedy Center … John “JS” Williams, May 14, DC Jazz Jam/ The Brixton … Victor Provost Group/CD Release Party, May 17, Blues Alley … The Cookers, May 17, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … Arturo Sandoval, May 1821, Blues Alley … Akua Allrich & The Tribe, May 19, Westminster … Project Natale, May 19-20, Twins Jazz … Cyrus Chestnut, May 19, Montpelier Arts Center/ Laurel … Integriti Reeves, May 20, The Alex … Shannon Gunn, May 21, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Joe Fiedler, May 21, Twins Jazz … Gerald Clayton Trio, May 22, Blues Alley … Lena Seikaly, May 23, Blues Alley … Benny Sharoni, May 24, Twins Jazz … Roy Ayers, May 25-26, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … John Russell Lamkin III, May 26-27, Twins Jazz … Rick Whitehead, May 26, Westminster … Jazz Night at the Movies/Ella Fitzgerald “Something to Live For,” May 26, Westminster … Sharon Clark, May 28, Blues Alley … Marty Nau, May 31, Twins Jazz …

And, brand new jazz comes to us thanks to 705network Music, which begins a monthly afternoon jazz series at 4 p.m., May 27, at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 202-554-3222, on the Southwest DC waterfront.

DC Jazz Festival Coming Soon

Acclaimed vocalist Christie Dashiell performs on May 13 at The Alex in Georgetown and during the DC Jazz Festival next month. Photo: Christie Dashiell

Scott, Ndegeocello, Chestnut Head May Jazz Jams

April showers have given way to May flowers, and jazz is blooming this month with a swinging variety of artists. Saxophonist Herb Scott, founder of the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation, leads a group on May 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Vocalist and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, the multi-talented, multigenre performer, presents the concert “Pour Ame Souveraine, A Dedication to Nina Simone” on May 13 at the Crossroads Club at the Kennedy Center. Cyrus Chestnut, Baltimore’s virtuoso pianist, appears on May 19 at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Md. Other top acts this month include steel drum guru Victor Provost’s “Bright Eyes, CD Release Party,” May 17, at Blues Alley; The Cookers on the same night at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club; Akua Allrich & The Tribe at Westminster on May 19; trombonist/ bandleader Shannon Gunn leading the DC Jazz Jam on May 21 at The Brixton restaurant in DC; and drummer and percussionist virtuoso John Russell Lamkin III performing on May 26-27 at Twins Jazz.

The DC Jazz Festival, coming next month, has made many recent announcements about the star-studded lineup set for venues all over the area, with upcoming news expected soon about the annual East River Jazz concerts. The festival’s preview shows, the Jazz and Families’ Fun Days, are June 3-4 at the Phillips Collection in downtown DC, with jazz and visual arts, storytelling art workshops, instrument petting, and more. Most recent news included the announcement of the 7th Annual CapitalBop DC Jazz Loft Series shows, with performers including the Brandee Younger Trio and Christie Dashiell, June 9, at the Fridge, 516 Eighth St. S.E.; Mary Halvorson Octet and Brian Settles, June 10, at Tropicalia, 2001 14th St. NW; and Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir and the Reginald Cyntje Group, June 16, at NYU’s Abramson Family Auditorium, 1307 L St. NW. Festival headliners previously announced include Lalah Hathaway at the Howard Theatre for the opening show on June 9; Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band and Ron Carter and Russell Malone on June 10 at the Howard; Afro-Cuban music with Jane Bunnett and Maqueque on June 10 at the Historic Sixth & I; An Evening with Pat Matheny on June 12 at the Kennedy Center; and DC JazzFest at The Yards shows on June 16-18, with Lori Williams, Robert Glasper Experiment, Jacob Collier, Kenny Garrett, Gregory Porter, and others. See www.dcjazzfest.org for complete information.

We Thank You, Professor Judith Korey – JJA Hero

A special shout out goes to Professor of Music Judith Korey of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), named last month as the Jazz Journalists Association 2017 Jazz Hero for the Washington, DC, area. Korey, who joined the faculty of the university’s predecessor institution, Federal City College, in 1972 and credits our area music maestro Bobby Felder for helping her get started, is well-known for being curator of the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives at UDC, but she is also the force behind UDC’s JAZZAlive concerts and programs and the annual Calvin Jones Big Band Festival. According to JJA information, Korey “wants to share the recognition bestowed by the Jazz Hero Award with those she calls her ‘awesome JAZZAlive team,’ including Allyn Johnson, Rachel Elwell, Cheryl Hawkins, Michael Fitzgerald, Dr. Eve Byford-Peterson, and Serdar Sirtanadolu.”

May Birthdays: Shirley Horn 1; Richard “Groove” Holmes 2; John Lewis 3; Ron Carter 4; Mary Lou Williams 8; King Oliver 11; Red Garland 13; Jackie McLean 17; Fats Waller 21; Sun Ra 22; Archie Shepp 24; Miles Davis 25; Hilton Ruiz 29, Benny Goodman 30; Louis Hayes 31 Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@ jazzavenues.com and followed at www. twitter.com/jazzavenues.

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east washington life

WeAct Radio Celebrates Anniversary Launches Community Bookstore

n a slow and quiet Sunday morning in the heart of Anacostia, the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. echo and ricochet up and down the avenue bearing his name. His powerful voice of protest, with its rhythmic cadence, emanates from the speakers of the independent station at 1918 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. WeAct Radio celebrated its fifth anniversary this past month. With five years of continuous operation and recent recognition from local media, Kymone Freeman’s brainchild can no longer be seen as a startup. “We’ve been here five years, which makes us an institution on the radical side of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue,” says Freeman. Calling attention to “the radical side” is a deliberate effort, says Freeman. “From our front door, we have seen a building facade, which had a large poster of Frederick Douglass, collapse. We are across the street from nothing, a vacant lot. This is where we survive, where our voice of dissent originates from.” Founded through a partnership between Freeman and Alex Lawson, executive director of Security Works, WeAct Radio has developed as a hybrid between a radio station and community center. After a protracted legal fight with the FCC and Radio One, which filed injunctions over a LPFM (100 watts low power FM), WeAct launched as a local broadcast station at 1480 AM during its first three years but is

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by John Muller

Kymone Freeman stands out front of WeAct Radio at 1918 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE during its fifth-anniversary birthday party. Photo: John Muller

now internet-based. “WeAct Radio started out with a terrestrial signal broadcasting out of Dumfries, Va., with content coming from the Anacostia location,” says Ron Pinchback, former general manager of WPFW 89.3 FM. “The station later decided to forgo the costs of maintaining a terrestrial signal and opted to concentrate on developing its

internet broadcast capabilities and video content production. What has stayed the same is the level of activism and commitment of those involved with the station.”

WeAct’s Lineup

The station’s programming delivers content from activists from all walks of life. In the early days, Freeman and Pinchback hosted a daily call-in show focusing on local, national, and international news. Called “Speakeasy,” the show was one of the founding programs. Before securing a television show with WHUT, Rock Newman broadcast a show at WeAct’s studios. Pinchback currently assists the production of “The Education Town Hall,” which airs Thursday at 11 a.m. and is hosted by Thomas Byrd and Capital Community News correspondent Virginia Spatz. “One of the reasons I became involved with WeAct was because of its potential impact on the community,” Pinchback says. “People need access to media as well as relevant programming. WeAct provides both. Students are participating and learning about the business of communications. Adults use the facility to hold meetings which are sometimes broadcast to the public. WeAct serves as a people’s communications hub for the entire community.” One of the station’s popular shows is “Clearing the FOG,” with FOG standing for “Forces of Greed,” according to the show’s co-host, Kevin Zeese, a nationally known criminal-justice- and drug-law-reform advocate. The weekly one-hour show airs from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday and is available any time as a podcast through WeAct’s website. Along with other outlets, the Progressive Radio Network syndicates the show every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Co-hosting with Dr. Margaret Flowers, Zeese usually presents one to three guests to discuss building “the mass transformational movement we need to achieve economic, racial and environmental justice as well as peace.” Freeman proclaims that WeAct Radio is a voice of dissent on the airwaves and in the community. This governing philosophy is reflected in the programming. Zeese says, “One of the greatest challenges we face in the United States is misinformation about our history and current events. This is intentional on part of those who profit from the current system and control the mass corporate media. The commercial media is losing credibility because their misleading coverage is becoming more evident to many millions of people.” Prior to working on his radio show, Zeese produced a television show advocating the reform of drug laws. It was syndicated to more than 100 PBS stations across the country. Upon meeting Freeman in the early 2000s, Zeese was invited to speak at the Black LUV Fest. They have collaborated ever since. With the anniversary now in the rearview mirror,

Get Your East of the River Location

WeAct is building a stronger infrastructure, expanding community relationships, and improving its technology, adding video production to its website. Technical mishaps, such as phone lines going down, are now a thing of the past. Launching its first fundraising effort recently, the station raised nearly $20,000.

Community Impact

terprises (CFE), a nonprofit working to promote social justice by increasing economic access and expanding opportunity for low-wealth communities. Robert Burns of CFE attended WeAct’s birthday party. “As City First Enterprises became engaged with the 11th Street Bridge Park and participated in its equitable development planning efforts, I became acquainted with WeAct and Kymone,” Burns said. “Kymone has been actively engaged in the process and has volunteered his time. I respect Kymone and admire what he and his team have been able to build with WeAct.”

From its outset WeAct sought to have an influence in the neighborhood as a public space of consciousness and conversation. During its five years, WeAct has hosted debates for local office seekers, served as a gathering point for local and Drive to Open national protest efforts, and welcomed Community Bookstore community meetings and events. To alleviate the book desert east of the For Michael Sterling, proprietor of river, WeAct Radio, under Freeman’s diCaribbean Connections at the corner of rection, is planning to open the Charnice Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and MaMilton Community Bookstore in the ple View Place, Freeman is more than a basement of WeAct Radio later this year. station manager and radio personality. The bookstore will be named in honor Before opening Caribbean Connections, of Charnice Milton, correspondent for which catered WeAct’s anniversary parEast of the River and Hill Rag, who afty, Sterling was in dispute with the ownter attending a community meeting was ers of Big Chair Coffee and had to remove tragically killed on May 27, 2015, waitthousands of dollars of equipment. In ing for her bus home at Good Hope need of emergency help, Sterling was alRoad and Naylor Road. Book donations lowed by Freeman to store his equipment will be accepted through the summer on at the radio station for nearly two years. Wednesday, 5.-8 p.m. When Sterling was preparing to open For more information on WeAct Rahis new eatery, he asked Freeman how dio visit www.weactradio.com or follow much he owed him for the storage. “Kyon Twitter @WeActRadio. mone is a community person first and social justice warrior second,” says Sterling. “When it was time to take my stuff back, I asked Kymone how much I owed him and he said, ‘Nothing.’ That’s the sort of person he is.” In the past year, Freeman and the station have embraced partKymone Freeman plans to start the first bookstore east of the river in nerships with the basement of WeAct Radio. Photo: WeAct Radio City First En-

Address

River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School 420 34th St , NE CVS - East River Park 320 40th St , NE Safeway – NE 322 40th St , NE 6th District Police Dept - Main 100 42nd St , NE Ward Memorial AME 240 42nd St NE Kennilworth Elementary School 1300 44th ST NE Unity East of the River Health Center 123 45th ST NE First Baptist Church of Deanwood 1008 45th St NE Deanwood Public Library 1350 49th ST NE Hughes Memorial United Methodist 25 53rd St NE Capitol Gateway Senior Apts 201 58th St , NE Marvin Gaye Rec Center 6201 Banks Pl NE Watts Branch Recreation Center 6201 Banks St , NE Langston Community Library 2600 Benning Rd , NE Anacostia Neighborhood Library 1800 Good Hope Road SE Benning Branch Library 3935 Benning Rd NE Marshall Heights CDC 3939 Benning Rd , NE Kelly Miller Recreation Center 4900 Brooks St , NE Tabernacle baptist Church 719 Division Ave NE Randall Memorial Baptist Church 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 350 Eastern Ave , NE 7-Eleven 950 Eastern AVE NE Riverside Center 5200 Foote St , NE Mayfair Mansions 3744 ½ Hayes St NE Citibank: East River Park 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE Chartered Health Center NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE The Minnicks Market 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Lederer Gardens 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Suburban Market 4600 Sherriff Rd NE Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 4601 Sheriff Road NE Dave Brown Liquors 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast Dave Brown Liquor 4721 Sherriff Rd NE A & S Grocery 4748 Sheriff Rd NE St Rose Pentecostal Church 4816 Sherriff Rd NE Malcolm X Rec Center 3200 13th st SE St More Catholic Church 4275 4th St SE Fort Davis Recreation Center 1400 41st St , SE Ferebee Hope Recreation Center 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant 1523 Alabama Ave, SE Giant Food Store 1535 Alabama Ave , SE SunTrust Bank 1571 Alabama Ave , SE Parklands-Turner Community Library 1547 Alabama Ave , SE Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office 1717 Alabama Ave , SE Garfield Elementary 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 4405 Bowen Rd SE Pimento Grill 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 3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE CVS – Penn Branch 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE Congress Heights Recreation Center 100 Randle Pl , SE Johnson Memorial Baptist Church 800 Ridge Rd SE Ridge Recreation Center 800 Ridge Rd , SE Savoy Recreation Center 2440 Shannon Pl SE PNC Bank 4100 South Capitol St , SE Rite Aid 4635 South Capitol St , SE United Medical Center 1310 Southern Ave , SE Benning Park Community Center 5100 Southern Ave SE Benning Stoddert Recreation Center 100 Stoddert Pl , SE Union Temple Baptist Church 1225 W ST SE Senior Living at Wayne Place 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW William O Lockridge/Bellevue Bald Eagle At Fort Greble 100 Joliet St SW Covenant Baptist Church 3845 South Capitol St Faith Presbyterian Church 4161 South Capitol St SW Henson Ridge Town Homes Office 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW CCN office 224 7th ST SE Eastern Market 225 7th St SE YMCA Capitol View 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE CW Harris Elementary School 301 53rd Street, SE DC Child & Family Services Agency 200 I Street SE

For more distribution locations, contact 202.543.8300 x.19 E ast

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M ay 2017

homes & gardens

Homebuyers Club members learn what it takes to be mortgage-ready.

Ward 8 Homebuyers Club

article by Heather Schoell | photos by MANNA

omeownership is to many people a symbol of success. It’s likely the biggest purchase of your life, and that’s a big accomplishment. MANNA is helping make that happen for scores of people through the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club. “We are the starting block for anything you need to know about home ownership,” explained Thomas “TC” Caviness, MANNA’s Homeownership Center director. “We are the starting point of where people go to get help.” What does that mean? It’s education about homeownership and financial literacy, credit counselling, and access to properties that nonmembers don’t have. “The point is getting people mortgage-ready. That’s success,” he said. The Ward 8 club grew out of a citywide club. With funding from the 11th Street Bridge project, MANNA was able to pull together a club specific to Ward 8 residents. Let’s get you started. The Ward 8 club meets on the first Saturday of the month at The ARC from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Membership is free, but there is an initial application fee on a sliding scale ($5 to $50) by income. That allows MANNA to pull your credit report and help you through the homebuying application process. You’ll do workshops on topics such as budgeting with online apps, Home Purchase Assistance (HPAP)

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program (interest-free loans and closing cost assistance), and how your credit score works. There’s a requirement to check in every 60 days to see how you’re progressing. Here’s the process: 1. First step after the application is a one-on-one meeting with a counselor to see where you are and your homeownership goals. 2. You’ll go over your credit – what can be worked on, tips for keeping your score going up, and ways to keep it there. 3. Then your counselor will go over financial products. Did you know there’s down-payment assistance that you don’t need to pay back? 4. Next, MANNA will show you options for properties that you’ll have access to, including properties the general public does not. These are not on the market through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and are not shown by real estate agents and online at Zillow and Realtor.com, but were built through nonprofits, with affordable housing grants, or are inclusionary zoning properties. They’re only available to people who are going through this process with MANNA or otherwise apply. 5. Finally, it’s all about long-term responsible behaviors. This includes credit card use – not necessarily overuse, but keeping your balance at zero when you’re applying for a loan. It’s

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in D.C. The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is your homeownership resource in the District for buying a home to retaining your home, we have a homeownership program to assist you; And now our programs include HPAP! Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) DCHFA serves as a co-administrator of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first time home buyer program, HPAP, which provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing costs assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA administers HPAP applications for households meeting very low to low income criteria.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers first-time and repeat buyers fully forgivable second trust loans to cover a buyer’s minimum down payment requirement in addition to below market interest rates for first trust mortgages for the purchase of homes.

Mortgage Credit Certificate The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) provides an additional incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home in the District of Columbia. An MCC provides qualified borrowers the ability to claim a Federal Tax Credit of 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid during each calendar year.

HomeSaver The HomeSaver Program is a foreclosure prevention resource for unemployed, underemployed or District homeowners who may have suffered a qualified financial hardship and are at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure or delinquent real property taxes. Visit www.DCHFA.org for full qualification guidelines and information on how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

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management strategies for you, and your personal habits, such as opening a savings account in another state and not getting an ATM card for it so you don’t withdraw that cash on a Friday night out. Good for you – instead of blowing it on drinks, your money is safe and sound, compounding interest! You can join the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club at any time – there’s no specific start date. If you’re not a resident of Ward 8, there’s a general citywide homebuyers club that meets on the second Saturday of the month at MANNA (828 Evarts St. NE). New at the Homeowners Club is a three-week course starting on May 17. It’s free and will include one-on-one and group settings, continuing financial literacy, budgeting, and credit insights. Club members may start at any time. A great way to start is by attending the second annual Homeownership Fair and Town Hall, June 3, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Thurgood Marshall Academy Gym (2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE), next to the Anacostia Metro station. This free event will include workshops on DC property taxes, estate planning, HPAP, and homeowner-

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

Homeownership Fair and Town Hall coming on June 3.

ship. There will be resource tables with companies offering their services – financial, home maintenance, etc. (you know that means swag!). There will be Spanish translation and free childcare, and of course they will offer light refreshments. At-Large Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D) and Elyssa Silverman (I) are confirmed to attend. Join them! Even if you’re not ready to own a home, it’s a great idea to have an idea of what you can do to prepare for it, and that starts well before you’re ready to buy. For more information on MANNA, the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club, or the Homeownership Fair and Town Hall, go to mannadc.org. You can also contact Thomas “TC” Caviness at 202534-1038, tcaviness@mannadc.org, or Pamela Johnson at 202-534-1039, pjohnson@mannadc.org. Heather Schoell is a Capitol Hill REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty and can be reached at heathersdc@ gmail.com, at the oﬃce at 202-608-1880, or by cell at 202-321-0874.

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homes & gardens

Edibles in the Weeds by Jessica Wynter Martin

Happy henbits among the chickweed.

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

s we prepare our land and plan our gardens, we often rip up everything we see. “Everything that grows must go!” used to be my motto until I learned about edible weeds. We can spare our backs, pharmacists, and pocketbooks by learning how to identify and use the plants that are already growing in our yard. Clover, burdock, and plantains (not the banana, but that is good too) are common edibles with medicinal qualities. Walking throughout Deanwood and the greater east of the river community, there are numerous examples of high-quality edibles growing wild and the residents who use them. The days of TV Land have taught us to idolize smooth grassy lawns as being clean and proper. In reality, many of us are addicted to their look and the habit of maintaining them. Each week, like a ritual, we rip up the “weeds”

to make the space, buy the sod and seed to supply our addiction, spray pesticides and herbicides to keep anything else from growing, and cut it all down when it gets too tall. Rip, buy, spray, cut, repeat every week, every year. As fun as it can be to hop on the fancy five-horsepower lawnmower to trim the turf before the kids get in a few games, why not let the butterflies flutter over the clover while the kids play? Weeds growing at many heights and in various colors and styles are labeled as wild overgrowth, and left unchecked can earn residents a fine by the Sweep team. However, if the right herbs are chosen and nurtured, your space will go from an unkempt junkyard into a pollinator’s paradise, filled with fluttering butterflies, buzzing bees, and chirping cicadas. Be sure to look for spaces with standing water, and plant a few bad-bug repellants or mosquitoes will quickly turn your paradise into a stinging swampland. Dandelions, a common yellow blight to many lawn lovers, is a powerful medicinal herb and tasty addition to a garden salad. The leaves can be washed and thrown into a salad and eaten raw or dried and drunk like tea. Dig below the surface and use the roots for even greater medicinal qualities. Check with your local herbalist or elder for uses and remedies. Speaking of our elders, my elder neighbor offered some sage advice as I pulled up this leafy green sprouting up beBunching onions blooming along the edge of my garden. tween my peppers. He calls it “poke.” “Pokeweed” is the more common name. Phytolacca Americana is the clinical name. Pokeweed is unusual in that it is only edible during its early stages. Once it grows to full size, the leaves, stems, and berries are quite poisonous unless properly cooked. The berries are used to dye foods and clothes, the roots as an anti-inflammatory and

Dandelions flourishing in the rough.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

Pokeweed poking through the garden floor.

anti-cancer medicine in teas and soups. The early shoots are often boiled and eaten like asparagus and are a favorite among our elders, especially those from the Deep South. Next to the pokeweed the bunching onions were in bloom. Wild bunching onions, some of the first indicators of spring, came up early this year along with the good weather. This variety isn’t edible, or at least I didn’t like them when I ate them, but there are many others that are spread out all over the east river area. Toward the end of their life the sweet little white flowers were blooming all over the garden space, making for a light, romantic border that I couldn’t have planted better myself. Clover is a new favorite of mine. The purple bulbs are bright and colorful and they attract bees and butterflies, making them a doubly beautiful addition. There are many varieties of clover that are also useful to remediating your soil. Let them grow and see how your soil quality improves. They add nitrogen, help break up tight spaces, and also are an excellent cover crop, useful at preventing soil

from drying out and eroding with the rain. Dry the flowers to make a good herbal tea; use the leaves to add to your salad along with the dandelions. Chickweed is a playful edible weed that spreads out nice and low in abandoned nooks or creeps up high along your fence when left unchecked. On my way home I found some chickweed drowning out planted flowers in a neighbor’s yard. Chickweed and henbit like to grow together and take over open spaces. Both can be eaten raw and make excellent herbal teas. All of these weeds make for nice snacks when walking through our neighborhoods. Take advantage of them and make yourself a cup of medicinal herbal tea for free, using what grows in your yard. I’m no doctor or medical professional, and certainly don’t take my advice without doing research. That said, I know I’m not only a gardener but a student of nature, and I trust Mother Earth to supply me with the tools I need to eat, drink, and live healthy. Here, east of the river, we are fortunate to have land surrounding our homes, and unlike the rest of the District, our land is still open and affordable (for now). The weeds may be a blight to eyes trained only to find peace in straight lines and dark Kentucky bluegrass from fence to fence. As you retrain your eyes and minds to see the beauty in the stray leaves, I hope that when you’re hungry you’ll find the edibles in the weeds.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0028-2017

ACCOUNTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is seeking proposals for Accounting Technical Assistance Services for DCHA. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/Contracts & Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, May 8, 2017; DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Issuing Office. Contact Lolita Washington Contract Specialist at 202-535-1212 or by email at lwashing@dchousing.org with a copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

For more gardening tips, information sessions, workshops, delicious recipes, and products follow the Wynter Gardener on Instagram and Facebook @wyntergardener or email her at WynterGardener@gmail.com.See you next month!

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homes & gardens

Light Up Your Life with Affordable and Energy-Efficient LED Bulbs

article by Catherine Plume | photos by DC SEU

FLs, LEDs, lumens, and Kelvins. The simple process of buying a lightbulb seems to have become a lot more complicated in recent years. Fortunately the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU; www.dcseu.com) is around to demystify this terminology and provide deep discounts for energy-saving home lighting. Energy-efficient Energy Star light-emitting diode (LED) lightbulbs are now available for as low as 95 cents from select retailers around DC, with a limit of 12 LED bulbs per residential electrical utility account. To find the ideal lightbulb for your needs, the DC SEU has an otnline Light-

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ing Guide (www.dcseu.com/formy-home/lighting/lighting-guide) offering a three-step process that The DC SEU Lighting Guide will help you select the best light bulb for your needs. will match the 1) the lighting appearance (warm, neutral, or cool, and measured in Kelvins, K) you want with 2) your qualified and why we are working so hard to educate light fixture type (ceiling fan, table lamp, etc.) and 3) residents about the issue.” the brightness, measured in lumens of light. The guide While compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) were will even help you find a nearby retailer that carries the all the rage just a few years ago, LED technology has bulb you’re looking for. quickly evolved into bulbs that are even longer lasting Most lightbulb packaging now includes lighting and – thanks to the DC SEU – now more affordable. facts that help in deciding which bulb is best for you. Both CFLs and LEDs last much longer than the oldEnergy Star bulbs provide additional energy efficiency. er, incandescent bulbs. Ted Trabue, managing director of the DC SEU, notes, Unlike CFLs, LED bulbs do not contain mercu“The DC SEU wants to ensure the residents of DC ry. When LEDs burn out they can be thrown into the have access to high quality products that will guarantee trash, whereas CFLs, with their mercury, should be them energy savings for years to come. This is why we treated as hazardous waste and disposed of accordingly. are so concerned with bulbs that are not Energy StarHome Depot, Ace Hardware, and True Value Hardware stores are just some of the businesses where you can dispose of your spent CFLs. For many of us, “lumens” and “Kelvins” are terms we heard in science class but never really associated with a lightbulb purchase that focused merely on watts. To confuse things even more, both CFLs and LEDs use considerably less wattage than the old incandescent models. The DC SEU Lighting Guide includes a table that translates watts into these measurements and can help

you figure out the best lighting for your needs.

A FEW ConSIDERATIonS

Many people who eagerly began switching to CFLs when they appeared were disappointed by the dimness of the bulbs when turned on and their tendency to flicker or hum. Technology has progressed, and CFLs no longer have these problems. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to install an LED bulb on a light switch that includes a dimmer, be sure to purchase one that is designed for a dimmer switch as identified on the packing, because regular LEDs can flicker or hum if operated on a dimmer switch. Finally, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for an outdoor light, the International Dark-Sky Association recommends lighting in the warmer range (below 3,000 Kelvin), which is less obtrusive to humans and wildlife.

The DC SEU was created by the DC Council as part of the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008. Operating since 2011, the DC SEU is overseen by the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). DOEE recently negotiated a $100 million, five-year contract with the DC SEU that will provide financial incentives and technical assistance to residents and businesses for green energy initiatives. Funding comes from the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund, which is financed by a surcharge on electric and natural gas utility ratepayers in DC. Essentially, your money is made available to help you offset the price of making smart energy investments. In addition to providing low-cost, energy-efficient lighting, the DC SEU provides a wealth of discounts and rebates for other energy-efficient investments and upgrades to home or office. They address heating and cooling (air-conditioning, programable thermostats, water heaters), appliances (washers, dryers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators), and air sealing and insulation. Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter @DC_Recycler. She is a board member of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club and Green America, but her perspectives are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of either organization.

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BULB COMPARISON CHART Lumens (Brightness)

Incandescent Watts

CFL Watts

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225 Penn. Ave, SE 1st Floor (202) 491-4406 (240) 355-6860 Mon.-Fri. 11-7pm Sat. 11-5pm

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The Wharf for All Income Levels Apartment Rentals Begin This Month

here soon will be exciting residential rental opportunities at The Wharf. Leasing begins in late-May and move-ins start in August for the two new apartment buildings, Incanto and The Channel. There will be a lottery held on June 22 to select candidates for the Affordable and Workforce units. People interested to apply must sign up by JUNE 16. For those interested, go to wharfdc.com, click “Residences,” then visit one or both buildings’ websites (www.dcchannel.com and www.incantodc.com) and enter your contact information to register. You can also call 866-339-9293 to register or get more information. The Wharf Apartment Rental Center opens in late-May. In Phase 1 of The Wharf there will be 649 total residences in two apartment buildings, (501 at The Channel and 148 at Incanto), including 131 Affordable apartments for households earning 60% and 30% Area Median Income (AMI) or less, and 69 Workforce apartments for households earning 100% or 120% AMI or less. Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, the developer of The Wharf, works diligently to ensure The Wharf is a place for everyone. Building an economically diverse community was a key part of the original Land Dispo-

sition Agreement with the District of Columbia. “The Wharf is a world class waterfront community with new apartments appealing to a wide range of tastes and income levels,” said Monty Hoffman, Founder and CEO of PN Hoffman. “This is true waterfront living as all residents will have rental access to kayaks on the Recreation Pier, and a free water jitney to East Potomac Park.” As with all residences at The Wharf, each rental apartment building offers distinct features to appeal to a variety of preferences.

The Channel

The Channel, located at 950 Maine Avenue SW, consists of two apartment towers with a total of 501 residences (studios, one- and two-bedrooms). With an industrial design aesthetic made up of polished concrete, metal and reclaimed wood, residents will enjoy stunning views of monuments, urban theatre, and water. The building offers unprecedented amenity spaces, including a one-acre outdoor green space on the sixth floor that offers an infinity pool with cabanas overlooking the waterfront, a dog run, community garden, bocce courts, grass lawn, fire pit, happy hour bar, grilling stations, a fully equipped fitness center with training rooms, library lounge, party room, and much more.

Incanto

Incanto, located at 770 Maine Avenue, offers 148 sophisticated, modern apartments. Residents will enjoy the vibrant waterfront community of The Wharf which encompasses luxury community living in the heart of DC’s newest intersection of music, shopping and dining. Incanto offers a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a fitness center, resident lounge, and landscaped central courtyard with grills and fire-pit. Front desk concierge and on-site management staff will complement the building amenities package, creating a boutique resident experience. To receive updates, register at www.incantodc.com. Both buildings are served and easily accessible by public transit including L’Enfant Plaza and Waterfront Metro Stations, multiple Capital Bikeshare stations, water taxi, and Wharf Shuttle routes. “Mayor Bowser’s top priority is producing and preserving more affordable housing across the District for our residents—in every part of the city,” said Polly Donaldson, Director of The District’s Department of Housing and Community Development. “The Wharf is a shining example of how—by leveraging the value of public lands—we now have a project that will provide safe and affordable housing in a transforming community, near retail and other amenities.” DC residents with Housing Choice Vouchers are welcome. Ronald McCoy, Director of the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the DC Housing Authority, said, “The District of Columbia Housing Authority has been working for years to give our voucher participants greater choice to move throughout the city. The Wharf presents a fantastic opportunity for all of our voucher clients, in particular those voucher clients who participate in the authority’s newest program - HALO (Housing Affordable Living Options), to be able to have a new home in a vibrant community full of amenities.” More information about The Wharf is available at www.wharfdc.com.

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homes & gardens / 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.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0026-2017

APPLICANT SCREENING SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is seeking proposals for Application Screening Services for DCHA. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/Contracts & Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, May 8, 2017; DCHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.. Neighborhood

Close Price BR

Fort Dupont Park

617 BURNS ST SE 4613 HILLSIDE RD SE 1122 46TH PL SE 5039 BENNING RD SE Anacostia 4019 E ST SE 1417 T ST SE $451,000 3 3937 BURNS PL SE 1486 BANGOR ST SE $374,900 3 824 BURNS ST SE 1825 W ST SE $365,000 3 1130 45TH PL SE 2024 14TH ST SE $289,900 3 4278 SOUTHERN AVE SE

Fee Simple

Congress Heights 761 UPSAL ST SE 4017 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SW 100 DARRINGTON ST SW 1315 BARNABY TER SE 864 BELLEVUE ST SE 643 BRANDYWINE ST SE 429 LEBAUM ST SE 831 HR DR SE 642 BRANDYWINE ST SE 214 NEWCOMB ST SE 802 MALCOLM X AVE SE 4001 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SW 4323 12TH ST SE 437 VALLEY AVE SE 4010 1ST ST SW

$350,000 $320,000 $315,000 $305,000 $305,000 $295,000 $275,000 $270,000 $215,000 $204,074 $194,000 $173,900 $169,000 $168,050 $153,000

4 2 3 3 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 2

$375,000 $362,000 $360,000 $309,000 $269,000 $261,500 $198,000 $175,000 $175,000

Hill Crest 3560 TEXAS AVE SE 3615 CARPENTER ST SE

$590,000 $565,000

Marshall Heights 5017 QUEENS STROLL PL SE 116 53RD ST SE 841 51ST ST SE 4820 BASS PL SE 4712 B ST SE 5436 C ST SE 4707 BASS PL SE

$345,000 $326,000 $312,000 $290,000 $289,900 $259,000 $160,000

4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 3

Contact Lolita Washington Contract Specialist at 202-535-1212 or by email at chmoore@dchousing.org with a copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

4 4 3 4 4 2 2 2 3

Randle Heights

1822 T ST SE $362,500 3 1481 HOWARD RD SE $349,900 3 1853 ALABAMA AVE SE $305,000 3 Deanwood 1900 TRENTON PL SE $305,000 3 234 35TH ST NE $450,000 4 2203 HARTFORD ST SE $180,000 3 1012 50TH PL NE $430,000 4 5306 EAST CAPITOL ST NE $425,000 4 Condo 724 49TH PL NE $420,000 4 3918 CLAY PL NE $415,000 3 64 54TH ST SE $389,990 4 Congress Heights 5504 FOOTE ST NE $371,565 4 724 BRANDYWINE ST SE #202 $60,000 2 3944 CLAY PL NE $367,500 4 $25,000 2 4721 1ST ST SW #303 4011 BLAINE ST NE $355,000 3 5355 HAYES ST NE $340,000 4 Fort Dupont Park 10 49TH PL NE $325,000 3 510 RIDGE RD SE #204 $55,000 2 188 35TH ST NE $315,000 3 3421 MINNESOTA AVE SE #2 $42,000 1 264 56TH ST NE $315,000 4 5073 SHERIFF RD NE $310,000 2 Hill Crest 804 51ST ST NE $285,000 3 2022 37TH ST SE #B $125,000 2 209 62ND ST NE $279,900 3 2016 37TH ST SE #302 $92,500 2 4543 DIX ST NE $225,000 2 3812 V ST SE #101 $90,000 2 275 56TH ST NE $199,900 2 2111 SUITLAND TER SE #102 $70,000 1 5209 JUST ST NE $160,000 2 5211 JAY ST NE $158,000 2 Randle Heights 827 52ND ST NE $145,000 2 1707 GAINESVILLE ST SE #301 $125,000 2 808 DIVISION AVE NE $140,000 2 2400 GOOD HOPE RD SE #203 $64,000 2 3074 30TH ST SE #302

$29,000

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Preventing Sudden Infant Death with the ABCs ‘Safe Sleep’ Campaign Raises Awareness about Sudden Unexpected Infant Death

by Candace Y.A. Montague

et ready for baby! Preparing for the arrival of a newborn can be a very exciting time. There’s lots to do. Most new parents want to learn all they can before their baby arrives so that they can be ready for practically anything. “Preventable death” isn’t typically a phrase that parents think of when “nesting.” Yet the sad truth is, babies are susceptible to untimely deaths just like anyone else. “r Sleep DC,” a new, shared effort by DC Healthy Families Thriving Communities Collaboratives and Child and Family Services Agency, aims to educate parents and caretakers about the danger of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

the cause of death for two of the infant mortality cases. In these cases, unsafe conditions such as infants sleeping on adult mattresses, on air mattresses, or with adults or other children were found. According to Sharafdeen Ibraheem, deputy director of East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, “Although the numbers are not high, one death is too many. One of the questions raised was how do we work with these communities. The numbers were higher in Wards 5,7, and 8. So we wanted to make sure we had a better outreach to show that we are educating and promoting healthy sleeping habits for infants and children. Also pay attention to environmental factors that contribute to the barriers to child development such as income level, substance abuse, mental health, lack of food.”

It Can Happen

Facts over Fear

Yes, babies can expire suddenly. Sometimes the cause is known. Other times, it isn’t so clear. As the name implies, infant death can occur without warning. The sudden death of an infant within the first year of life is called SUID or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The DC Child Fatality Review Committee published a report from the Infant Mortality Review Team in 2015 which cites SUID (undetermined) as

Proper sleeping habits for infants can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS. Photo: Tony Mobley

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Learning the facts about SUID can help overcome some of the anxiety. There is a method of putting babies to sleep that has been proven to greatly decrease the chances of infant death. The best way to put a baby down to sleep is taught with the acronym ABC: A. Alone: babies should be left to sleep on their own. When babies sleep with adults or pets they become more susceptible to suffocation.

B. B ack: babies should be placed on their back in the crib. It is better for breathing. C. Crib: babies should sleep in a crib with a firm mattress (or pack and play). The crib should be free from toys, pillows, bumper guards, and blankets. The sheet should fit tightly on the mattress. It also helps to control other things such as the manner in which the infant is dressed, the room temperature, and whether or not the room is smoke-free. Rosie Parke, director of communications, partnerships, and community engagement at East River Family Strengthening Collaborative on Minnesota Avenue NE, explains that “overdressing a baby can make the baby too hot, which is not conducive for them to sleep the safest. Another part of it is making sure that the temperature in the room is comfortable. It’s not too hot or too cold. What is comfortable for you is comfortable for your baby.” Smoking during pregnancy and second-hand smoke can also contribute to SIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control, second-hand smoke increases the risk for SIDS. Cigarette smoke can deprive babies of oxygen. That deprivation can disrupt the development of the brain center which is responsible for controlling breathing. Nicotine and

es for our Spanish-speaking families. We provide home visits for the family in a bilingual, bicultural manner. They have some challenges around co-sleep culture. Some things reinforce the cosleep culture such as breastfeeding.” He notes that “it’s not just Latino communities but also African-American and white communities as well. It may be good for bonding but it’s not safe.”

What Can Safe Sleep DC Do to Help?

its byproduct cotinine can be found in smoke and in the mother’s breast milk. Infants who die from SIDS have been found to have a higher concentration of nicotine in their lungs than other infants. Keeping smokers out of the home is another way to keep infants safe.

Cultural Barriers

History shows that mothers have been sleeping with their babies for generations. It’s a bonding thing. It soothes the baby and provides some sort of peace so that mom and baby can rest better. When you ask minority families to start breaking that tradition, it’s easier said than done. The approach must take into account that parents may have a hard time breaking this tradition. Josue Salmeron, deputy director of Collaborative Solutions for Communities in Northwest, says working with the Latino community requires cultural competency. “We have different approach-

Safe Sleep DC can offer assistance to parents who may be unaware of the dangers of improper sleeping habits. Parke explains that the purpose of the program is “to notify mothers and caregivers about the importance of placing babies and infants to sleep the safest way, which is alone, on their backs, and in their own beds (crib or pack and play). The second part is to provide education to parents and caregivers. We show them what a safe sleep space looks like.” Case workers from the various collaboratives in all eight wards can offer one-on-one support or group education in the form of workshops for parents, caregivers, and even homecare providers about how to properly put infants to sleep. They can also visit the home to help prepare the space for the baby to sleep and ensure that cribs, carriers, pack and plays, and other equipment are properly installed and safe. Safe Sleep DC also provides safety-approved pack and plays to parents with children between the ages of newborn and 12 months. For more information on Safe Sleep DC, visit www.safesleepdc.com or call your local collaborative: East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, 202-397-7300, for Ward 7, and Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative for Ward 8, 202889-1425. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.

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by Kathleen Donner

CICC’s Effective Black Parenting Program at THEARC On Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon, through June 22, the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring (CICC) presents a free eight-week parenting course at Children’s Health Center at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. This nationally acclaimed parenting skill-building program, teaches parents and others how to raise African American children to become healthy, proud and capable people. The program, which was designed with the guidance and direction of African American parenting scholars, fosters effective family communication, healthy African American identity, extended family values, child growth and development and positive self-esteem. Thousands of African American parents who have enrolled in the program report that it has changed them, their children and their families for the better. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring greater peace, harmony, and respect into children’s lives. Call Ellen Wiggins, LICSW, at 202-4363076 to register.

Calling All Preschool Readers Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., readers 3 to 5 years old can grab their grownup and pay the Dorothy I. Height Library a visit. The 30 to 40-minute reading programs are designed to promote language and listening skills. Exercise the mind with stories and activities that spark the imagination and arouse curiosity. Dorothy I. Height Library is at 3935 Benning Rd. NE. dclibrary.org/benning.

Join Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from “Zhima Jie,” the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They also journey to Zhima Jie to learn about

Reading with a Kenilworth Ranger On Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon, join a Park Ranger for a fun and educational story time and craft activity. The program includes the reading of a short book and concludes with an arts and crafts activity based on the story. This program is for ages 4 to 7. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq.

Mother’s Day at the Botanic Garden Looking for a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day? It is never too early to start planning a vegetable garden. On May 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. bring mom to the USBG and help her design and plant her very own cook’s garden. Join Danielle Cook as

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Image: Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

a shared view of the sky. This program is presented in the Air and Space Einstein Planetarium at 10:30 a.m. every Friday, Sunday and the first Saturday of each month in the Air and Space Planetarium. Complimentary tickets for this program are distributed at the Planetarium and IMAX Theater Box Offices on a first come, first served basis. Runtime is 25 minutes. airandspace.si.edu.

SERVING GRADES 6-12 FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR

NOW ENROLLING GRADES 6-12 Register today at:

www.myschooldc.org What makes us successful? · Focus on student achievement and character skills. · Technology Academy - an Academy that offers students an added emphasis in Interactive Media and Communications Technology. · Scholar’s Academy - an Academy that offers a college acceleration and/or integration program, through which students may be awarded college credits. · Extended Day Tutorial and Enrichment Programs. · 21st Century Classrooms. · Athletic Programs. · Dual Enrollment.

www.somersetdc.com (202)562-9170 Lauren Catalano, Principal Lcatalano@somersetprepdc.org 3301 Wheeler Road SE Washington, DC 20032

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she whips up two recipes and savor the bounty a garden brings. This is a free, drop-in program and appropriate for all ages. United States Botanic Garden Conservatory is at 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov.

123 Andrés at East of the River Libraries On May 16 at 1 p.m., 123 Andrés takes children and adults on a musical journey through the Americas learning about music, language and culture. The program is bilingual (Spanish and English) and brings the family together with opportunities to move, sing, dance and learn. Anacostia Library is at 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. dclibrary.org/anacostia. 123 Andrés is at the Deanwood Library, 1350 49th St. NE., on May 31 at 10:30 a.m. dclibrary.org/deanwood.

International Migratory Bird Day Come join neighbors on May 13 to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. This year the theme is “Stopover Sites: Helping Birds Along the Way.” Come find out what a flyway is and how to help birds during spring migration. Family fun activities will begin at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at 10 a.m. featuring beginner bird walks, educational bird games and crafts ongoing throughout the day. There will be exhibitors, a dance performance, and raptor shows in the afternoon. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. nps.gov/keaq.

Renwick Spring Family Day On May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., check out the two exhibitions at the Renwick, June Schwarcz and Peter Voulkos. Try a clay-related craft. Listen to live music. Take a spring scavenger hunt through the Renwick galleries. Enjoy the changing colors of Janet Echleman’s work, 1.8 Renwick, hanging high above in the Grand Salon. Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Ave. at 17th St. NW. americanart.si.edu.

Discovery Theater Visits the Mall On June 1 and 2 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., gather beneath the iconic tree of life as master educator Iya Bashea Imana shares captivating folktales. Music and movement, puppets and eco-friendly crafts combine with timeless stories that offer an introduction to African traditions and wisdom. These Discovery Theater shows are at the Smithsonian Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, on the National Mall. Tickets are $6 per child, $3 for a child under 2 and $8 for adults. These plays are recommended for ages 3 to 7. discoverytheater.org.

Mouth Open, Story Jump Out at the KC

Imagination Bethesda: A Children’s Street Festival Celebrating the Arts

On June 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Imagination Bethesda celebrates children, art and all things fun. The annual festival takes place on Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda. Activity tents line the streets. Face painters bring butterflies and pirates to life. A stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing. This is a free, family-fun day. bethesda.org. The 2016 Imagination Bethesda Language Stars tent. Photo: Courtesy of the Bethesda Urban Partnership

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Don’t miss a one-man show from Polarbear, one of the United Kingdom’s most exciting spoken-word artists. International assassins, secret codes, dog-eating boa constrictors and more come to life when a boy tries to make sense of his father’s disappearance. Appropriate for ages 8, up. On stage at the Kennedy Center, May 20 to 28. kennedy-center.org.

Story Time at the National Archives Story Time at the National Archives, designed for 3 to 5-year-olds, gives children the opportunity to practice listening skills, sing songs, and make crafts. May’s Story Time is on May 17, 10 to 11 a.m., in the ReSource Room of the Boeing Learning Center. May’s theme is The Race to Space. The National Archives is at 700 Constitution Ave. NW. archives.gov.

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Shakespeare for the Young: Midsummer Magic

Jazz N’ Families Fun Days at the Phillips Collection

Shakespeare for The Young’s play Midsummer Magic takes up the characters of Titania and Oberon, Puck and Fairy and Bottom the Weaver from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A puppet of Shakespeare himself brings the story to life for young children through soft body puppetry with movement and interactive play with the audience. Midsummer Magic is at the Atlas, May 17 to 21, and is best suited for ages 2 to 8. atlasarts.org. Shakespeare for the Young is a company of puppeteers and designers dedicated to bringing Shakespeare’s stories and poetry to young audiences through the medium of puppets. shakespearefortheyoung.com.

In partnership with the Phillips, DC JazzFest celebrates the synergy between jazz and the visual arts with performances by more than a dozen regional artists and rising star ensembles. This free, familyfriendly weekend event features storytelling, unique meet-the-artist opportunities, an instrument petting zoo and a hands-on art workshops. The Jazz N’ Families Fun Days are held on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 4 from noon to 7 p.m. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. 202387-2151. phillipscollection.org.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park Kids, ages 4 to 12, can run the bases after some Sunday home games. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. Remaining dates this season are May 27; June 10 and 24; July 8; Aug. 26 and Sept. 16. An adult must accompany runners to the field. One adult per child on the field. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning. Fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game can able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First Street SE. washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Race For Every Child and Kids Dash The Race for Every Child, Oct. 17 at Freedom Plaza, is a fun event that promotes children’s health and raises funds that help Children’s National ensure every child

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“Shakespeare and his fairies” Photo: A. Houston

can benefit from world-class medical care. Last year’s Race for Every Child raised more than $1.2 million with nearly 5,000 participants. Children between the ages of 3 and 10 are eligible to participate in the Kids Dash. childrensnational.donordrive.com.

enhancing self-esteem, developing language and communication skills. It strengthens cultural identity, increases academic and vocational skill sets and promotes literacy in both English and Spanish. The workshop runs in cycles that culminate in public presentation in fall, spring, and summer. For more information and registration, call 202-234-7174 or email info@galatheatre.org.

Nearly Lear

On May 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., use recipes from the 1700s and 1800s to turn milk into delicious treats like ice cream and butter. On June 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., learn how people kept themselves and their houses clean before indoor plumbing. Try out recipes for soaps, tooth powders, stain removers and more. These are free walk-in events. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org.

What if the great and tragic story of King Lear were to be told by the King’s closest companion? In this one-woman tour-de-force, Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool disguised as a boy as well as every other character. She tells a personal and poignant story that borrows from the Bard’s legendary words. For ages 9, up and on stage at the Kennedy Center, May 12 to 14. $20. kennedy-center.org. The 1:30 p.m. Saturday performance is sensory friendly. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families including those with children with autism or other sensory sensitivities. There are no accessibility accommodations.

Paso Nuevo Youth Program

Titus

Paso Nuevo is GALA’s unique and free after-school performance workshop for kids, 12 to 18 years old. While incorporating aspects of acting technique including voice and movement, the focus is on individual creative expression and performance in a safe, collaborative environment. Theater is used as a tool for

Young Titus is in a situation that seems hopeless… he can either give up or fight. This exciting and challenging journey examines the obstacles faced by young people in the modern world. Titus is at the Kennedy Center May 20 and 21. It is for ages 13, up. $20. kennedy-center.org.

Family Events at the DAR

Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood On May 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., critically acclaimed Brooklyn-based production company Giants Are Small offers an invigorating new perspective on Prokofiev’s classic, with a narrator and the musicians of the NSO creating the sound effects on stage. This concert is for ages 5, up. $15 to $18. kennedy-center.org.

/peh-LO-tah/ (a futbol framed freedom suite) Poet-performer Marc Bamuthi Joseph found freedom on the soccer field. As a child of Haitian immigrants, he embraced the sport as a means of navigating his own American Dream. To create this powerful work, Marc has teamed up with DC Scores, an organization that teaches soccer, literacy and social issues. /peh-LO-tah/ combines Marc’s explosive Hip Hop style with the voices of young members of the organization to explore collective joys and struggles, all through the lens of this globally loved sport. On stage at the Kennedy Center, June 9 to 11. Tickets are $20. Most enjoyed by age 13, up. kennedy-center.org.

The Jungle Book Mowgli is a human child brought up in the jungles of India by a family of wolves. The embittered tiger Shere Kahn may be stalking him, but Mowgli is a quick learner. Baloo the goofy bear, and Bagheera, the savvy Jaguar, teach him how to gain the trust of the four-footed hunters, the birds and the snakes so that he will never be friendless. He falls into a bad crowd of silly monkeys who lead him astray and play a mean trick on him. How will Mowgli escape from the deep, dark well? And, how will he save himself when Shere Kahn turns the wolf pack against him? Kipling’s timeless classic deals with very timely issues in this lively updated version. Mowgli learns to respect his environment and the wisdom of the animals. And, he realizes that, as a grown man, it’s his responsibility to protect them. Best for ages 4, up. Tickets are $15 to $35. The show runs until May 28 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. Up next is Wonderland:

Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, June 21 to Aug. 13. 301-280-1660. imaginationstage.org.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp This is Aladdin as never seen it before. Aladdin and his love, the princess Adora, must outsmart an evil Magician who wants to use the genie in Aladdin’s lamp for his nefarious schemes. Will he get away with it? Get ready for love, magic and mystery in this production for all ages. It is on stage at Glen Echo until May 21. Tickets are $19.50. Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook is on stage next, June 23 to Aug. 14. adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

Cinderella at Glen Echo The elegance of 17th-century France, combining elaborate costumes of the Comédie-Française and Offenbach’s Gaiety Parisian, adorn the tale of the cinder girl who captures the heart of the handsome prince. On stage at Glen Echo, May 4 to June 11. This show is recommended for ages five, up. Running time is 45 minutes. Tickets are $12. Next up is The Wizard of Oz from June 16 to July 23 and Circus! from July 27 to Aug. 27. thepuppetco.org.

Strathmore’s Backyard Theater for Children (save the dates) This summer families can enjoy performances by top-notch “kindie rock” musicians and entertainers under the tented Backyard Theater Stage on Thursdays in July at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Here’s the lineup: July 6, Sonia De Los Santos; July 13, The Amazing Max; July 20, Falu Bazaar; July 27, Joanie Leeds & the Nightlights. Tickets for parents and children are $8 in advance and $10 day-of. Admission is free for kids two and under. Performances are at Strathmore’s Backyard Theater Stage, adjacent to the historic Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD. Picnic blankets and low beach chairs welcome. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100. Have an item for the Kids & Family Notebook? Email the details to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

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E ast

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R ivER m agaziNE

m ay 2017

Easter Animals or Relatives

Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Wind 6. Arts companion 12. Blonde shade 15. Ended an argument amicably 17. Urge on with shouts, as hounds in a hunt 18. Sharpens a knife 21. Commercial little critter with shades 24. Chinese fruit 26. ___ Annie 27. Read (over) 28. Grannies, e.g. 30. Be rife (with) 31. Princesses from Mumbai 34. Hospital cry 37. Silent or Golden 38. SA aquatic rodent 39. Dork 41. Business-card paper stock 44. One who has powers of endurance 47. More 48. Frequently 49. Do a trick like Copperfield 57. Software program, briefly 58. Limited allotment 59. Function 60. Crowbar often 62. Metric unit 63. Set down 65. Quite big 66. Like some climates 71. Swallows 73. Mexican root 74. Falls 78. “If at first you don’t succeed...” is one 81. Israeli leader 82. Spa sound 83. Collaborates 85. Miss the mark 88. Fled fast in the city, perhaps 93. ___ of words 94. Makes a blunder 95. Cuban dance 96. Indian Ocean part 100. So-called “royal herb”

102. Bring up the rear 104. Epoch 105. Watch for 107. Jet 111. Norse goddess of fate 112. Spills 114. Sticky stuff 116. One way to change color 117. Kind of bolt 119. Sees red, as a rabbit perhaps? 124. Churchill’s “___ Finest Hour” 125. Teachers on the side 126. Poking (into) 127. Whistle-blower 128. Be that as it may 129. House of a minister

Down:

1. Butter bread 2. Bamboo-eating bear 3. Cineplex ___ (theater chain) 4. Over, old way 5. Kind of nut 6. Innocent 7. Pinker 8. White, in prescriptions 9. Winter inconvenience 10. Honky ___ music 11. Shakespeare work 12. They provide holes for leather enthusiasts 13. Like Bashful 14. Trojan War hero 16. Seed 19. “I thought ___ never leave!” 20. Ooze through a crevice 22. Demilitarized ___ 23. Bygone era 25. National bird of Australia 29. Prohibited 32. Tranquil scene 33. Promise 35. Carpentry groove 36. Former division of Germany 38. Shopper’s guide 40. Typos 42. Capital of South Korea

E a s t o f t h e R i v er D C N e w s . c o m

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 43. Out of sync 44. Place for a treatment 45. Head of a steam hammer 46. Yodeler’s perch 47. Inky 50. Make up for 51. Grain storage container 52. Chant by some Olympic spectators 53. Slightly less than a dozen 54. ‘...where, oh, where can ____ ?’ 55. Fifth and Park, briefly 56. Do lab work 61. Legal item 64. Deep-six

66. Unhappy 67. Nanjing nanny 68. Boxer last name 69. Having wings 70. Updated subscription 72. Observant people 75. “Phooey!” 76. Hotel feature 77. Wingtips 78. Dr. Phil or Quick Draw 79. ___ and aahs 80. Tit for ___ 84. Master in old India 85. Shade tree 86. Yiddish mister (title of respect)

87. Knotted weave 89. Smidgen 90. Legal investigation 91. Fertilizer ingredient 92. Break in the action 96. Jack Sparrow expression, perhaps 97. Impostor 98. Spellbound 99. Catnip 100. Test tissue 101. Above 102. Big bang creator 103. Tooth part 106. Ancient assembly area 108. Excess paperwork 109. Blues 110. Small anchor 112. Medieval laborer 113. Shock 115. Siblings 118. Equivocate 120. Slop spot 121. __ now brown cow! 122. ___ de guerre 123. Government department

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