East of the River Magazine April 2018 by Capital Community News

APRIL 2018

Real Estate special 18

Five Loan Programs That Help You Win! by Jaime Young

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 22

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IN EVERY ISSUE 06 What’s on Washington

A P R I L 2018

Change Comes to Excel Academy by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Is the Anacostia River a Food Delivery ‘Red Line’? by Elizabeth O’Gorek

N E X T I S S U E : M AY 12

Residents Question Maple View Flats Development, City Ofﬁcials Optimistic About Starbucks by John Muller

08 Calendar

The Bulletin Board

52 The Classiﬁed

Hunger Internationally, Nationally and in the District by Elizabeth O’Gorek

54 The Crossword

L’Enfant Trust Readies Renovation of Four Historic Homes by John Muller

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

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Eastside Arts by Phil Hutinet

Junot Díaz, Monsters and Ward 7 by Virginia Avniel Spatz

by Steve Monroe

ON THE COVER: The Wiz at Ford’s. Christopher Michael Richardson (Lion), Ines Nassara (Dorothy), Hasani Allen (Scarecrow), Kevin McAllister (Tinman) in the Ford’s Theatre production of “The Wiz,” directed by Kent Gash. Photo: Carol Rosegg. See Story on pg. 46

Jazz Avenues

KIDS & FAMILY 46

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

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ARTES DE CUBA AT THE KENNEDY CENTER Why fly to Havana when Cuban is coming to DC? Get tickets now. May 8 to June 3, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present “Artes de Cuba: From the Island to the World,” a festival celebrating the artistic richness that has emerged from this sunny island archipelago. Featuring some of Cuba’s finest artists and leading Cuban American creators, Artes de Cuba includes more than 50 events encompassing the breadth and vibrancy of the island nation’s culture. kennedy-center.org/calendar/series/ACU. The award-winning Havana Lyceum Orchestra performs works by Cuban composers on May 10 as part of the Kennedy Center’s “Artes de Cuba,” a two-week focus on Cuban art and artists. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

SMITHSONIAN CRAFT SHOW “ASIAN INFLUENCE/ AMERICAN DESIGN” From April 26 to 29, at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, the Smithsonian Women’s Committee presents the 36th annual Smithsonian Craft Show. It features 120 premier American artists chosen from a pool of approximately 1,000 applicants. For the first time, the show will highlight Asian cultural influence on American crafts. Many of today’s top US artists creating cutting-edge art are reconnecting American modernism to its roots in Asian culture. The show is open April 26, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Friends Night Out is 5 to 8 p.m.), April 27 and April 28, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and April 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 each day; $30 for a two-day pass and $25 for Friends Night Out. There is also an online ticket purchase discount. smithsoniancraftshow.org. Kelly Claire, Glass Artist

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MARCH FOR SCIENCE 2018

In 2017, more than one million people around the world gathered together in the largest event for science advocacy in history. In 2018, they unite again to hold their elected and appointed officials responsible for enacting equitable evidence-based policies that serve all communities and science for the common good. The 2018 March for Science is on April 14 on the National Mall at Ninth Street NW. Teach-ins and educational tents open at 9 a.m.; the main stage event is at 12:30 p.m.; and the march starts at 2:30 p.m. For those looking to march, RSVP to marchforscience.com/rsvp. marchforscience.com/2018.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL FLOWER MART On May 4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine), an irresistible array of festival foods, children’s rides, artisanal and boutique gifts and, of course, herbs and flowers, once again fills the nave and grounds of the Washington National Cathedral at this year’s Flower Mart. Drawing locals and tourists alike since 1939, this festival of flowers and fun celebrates All Hallows’ Guild’s centennial of service to the 59 acres of gardens and grounds around Washington National Cathedral. Free admission. Find children’s activities in the Kids and Family Notebook. allhallowsguild.org.

NATIONAL HARBOR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL National Harbor celebrates the spring season with a waterfront festival on April 28 and 29, noon to 6 p.m. The event emphasizes food and wine pairings, artisanal and organic products and boutique wines. It includes tastings, cooking demonstrations, educational seminars on culinary and wine trends, sustainability issues and supporting local farmers and resources. The festival will offer for tasting and pairing more than 150 international wines, spirits and beers along with local and regional favorites. Live music and smooth jazz on three stages will mimic a club atmosphere as a backdrop for all this imbibing. The Cooking Kitchen will offer hands-on cooking experiences and wine pairings, and Washington-area restaurants and food trucks will also offer tastings. Tickets available at nationalharbor.com.

Flower Mart shoppers. Photo: Beth Cowie Photo: Kisha Bari

Photo: National Food and Fine Festival

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APRIL

SPECIAL EVENTS Orchid Spectrum at the US Botanic Garden (USBG). Through April 28. Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids come in a wide spectrum of diversity in color, shape, size, habitat and scent. Visit the USBG Conservatory to explore thousands of amazing orchids arranged in captivating displays. Appreciate many unique, rarely seen orchids from the USBG’s and Smithsonian Gardens’ extensive plant collections. usbg.gov. 2018 Planned Parenthood Gala. April 20, 6 to 11 PM. A celebration and benefit for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC at Union Station. bit.ly/PPMWGala2018. Shakespeare’s Birthday at the Folger. April 22, noon to 4 PM. From Shakespeare performances to stage combat demonstrations to Elizabethan crafts, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the birthday cake! This event features sword fighting demonstrations, reading rooms tours, discussions from Folger curator and scholars, birthday cake and food trucks. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu. Maryland Psychic Fair. April 22, 9 AM to 5 PM. Many of the best psychics, mediums, healers, and readers of all types, along with related arts and crafts vendors from Maryland and the surrounding areas. 1506 Defense Highway, Gambrills, MD. maryland-psychicfair.eventbrite.com. National Arboretum Garden Fair and Plant Sale. April 28, noon to 4 PM and April 29, 9 AM to 4 PM. This year’s sale will be held on the North Terrace of the Administration Building, right in the heart of the Arboretum. fona.org. Around the World Embassy Tour. May 5, 10 AM to 4 PM. Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion and music of different countries. Free. culturaltourismdc.org. Fashion for Paws 12th Annual Runway Show. May 5, 7 PM to midnight. This major fundraising event for Humane Rescue Alliance features television personality and celebrity stylist Carson Kressley. Kressley brings his love of dogs, eye for fashion and endless energy to the Fashion for Paws stage. Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW. fashionforpaws.com. Day of the Dog. May 12, 10 AM to 3 PM. Enjoy activities for both people and pups including contests, games and demonstrations. Local pet vendors and services attend.

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Pet adoption agencies and shelters will have dogs and cats ready for adoption. congressionalcemetery.org. Job Fair at Arena Stage. The annual DC Career Fair is on April 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. The event is co-sponsored by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and Councilmembers Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and Robert White (D-At Large) the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and Arena Stage. A wide variety of companies and employers will be on site including DC United, Cal Pro, District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Blue Sky Construction, Insulators & Allied Workers Local 24, Concord Hospitality, Kimpton Hotels, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Entertainment Cruises, Washington Gas, Reston Limo, Bridgepoint Healthcare, First-class Workforce Solutions, Architect of the Capitol, Big Bus, Harris Teeter, WMATA, Hyatt Hotels

sign Classes PLUS Spring Fashions, fresh food, Hands-On Arts Activities and more. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com.

and Strittmatter Construction. Participants must register in advance to receive a ticket for admission. To register, contact Jen DeMayo at 202-807-0584 or jdemayo@dccouncil.us.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Anacostia River Festival. April 15, 1 to 5 PM. Celebrate the Anacostia River. Take a canoe out to explore. Tlay lawn games with family. Experience Southeast DC’s local arts scene. Free. Anacostia Park, 1912-1998 Anacostia Dr. SE. yearoftheanacostia.com. FLOWER POWER! April 15, 1 to 5 PM. Enjoy an interactive art installation, art exhibitions, floral arranging classes, workshops, live music and spring fashion. Free and FamilyFriendly. Live Music from Dior Ashley Brown and the dAb Band! Art Exhibitions Floral De-

ARBORETUM AZALEA COLLECTIONS TOURS

April 18, 10 AM; April 25, 4 PM; April 27, 10 AM and May 13, 1 PM. See how thousands of the arboretum’s azaleas have increased their vigor and blooms thanks to the Glenn Dale Hillside Renewal Project, a major renovation completed in 2014. Registration required at usna.usda.gov.

AZALEA PEAK AT THE ARBORETUM

Peak bloom can vary by two weeks or more, depending on the weather, but usually takes place around the end of April. The earliest peak bloom date reported in the last decade was April 15; the latest was May 4. usna.usda.gov. Photo: Courtesy of the US National Arboretum

The New Thing Art & Architecture Center. April 21, 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Take part in a historic gathering of alumni of The New Thing Art & Architecture Center. This a cutting-edge, community-based arts and urban planning organization operated in Adams Morgan from 1966-1973. There will be a film screening and panel discussion. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. A Right to the City at the Anacostia Community Museum. April 21 to April 20, 2020. After a half-century of population decline and disinvestment, DC and analogous urban centers around the country have been witnessing a “return to the city,” with rapidly growing populations, rising rents and home prices, as well as deepening inequality. A Right to the City explores the history of neighborhood change in the nation’s capital, and its rich history of neighborhood organizing and civic engagement. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. All The Way Live Tuesdays presents Cecily. April 24, 7 to 9 PM. Cecily is a powerhouse vocalist and sensitive songwriter, who studied voice for more than 10 years graduating from Swarthmore College. Free. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. 30…It’s Complicated. April 26, 8 to 10 PM. This is the story of a Michael’s journey the age of 30. It discusses where he thought he would be in comparison to where he is at 30. Free. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com.

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Fresh Theatre Company Presents: Next of Kin Festival. April 27, 8 to 10 PM. This Festival is a tribute to Octavia Butler and her work, “Kindred.” This festival of one act plays written, directed and performed by Black women explores life in 2218, a future where Black woman still exist. $20. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Shaolin Jazz Live. April 28, 2 to 4 PM. Shaolin Jazz founders, DJ 2-Tone Jones and Gerald Watson bring their unique blend of jazz, hiphop and rap fusion to the Anacostia Community Museum. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. The Game Changer Stageplay. April 29, 5:30 PM. The Game Changer is about relationships, the dating games people are playing and their inevitable consequences. $15 to $30. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. The Pursuit of Happiness Exhibit by Robin Martea Johnson. May 3 to 6. The Pursuit of Happiness Art Series speaks figuratively to humanity’s continuous pursuit of happiness. The series also serves as encouragement to take risks in pursuing a goal or dream. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Flood City at Anacostia Playhouse. May 10 to June 17. In Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889, the Great Flood has decimated the vibrant steel town. It leaves behind a ragtag crew of survivors, aid workers and surveyors to assess the damage and speculate what, or who, could be responsible. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com. (Radical Neighboring Initiative. NameYour-Own-Price tickets are available for each performance of Flood City. To claim a ticket, just show up at the Box Office one hour before the show. There will be a minimum of ten Name-Your-Own-Price tickets available. theateralliance.com.) Anacostia parkrun--Weekly Free 5k Timed Run. Saturdays, 9 AM. Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE. Registration required before a first run. Join in whatever the pace. Every week runners grab a post parkrun coffee in a local café. Read more at parkrun.us/anacostia. East of the River Jazz Night (save the dates). June 13, July 28 and Oct. 13. Hear great music and check out the different plants that bloom seasonally. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Ella Fitzgerald: The First Lady of Song at 100. Exhibit closes April 29. It explores Fitzgerald’s impact on American jazz culture

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through a collection of objects, sheet music and photographs. Archives Center, First Floor, West Wing of the American History Museum. americanhistory.si.edu. Music at U Street Music Hall. April 14, Maya Jane Coles; April 19, Fisher; April 20, Lapalux & Daedelus; April 21, Baths; April 23, Yung Gravy; April 25, Mitis; April 27, Twin Shadow and Ryan Hemsworth; April 28, Jeremy Loops and Will Eastman; April 29, The Rumpus Room: A Family Dance Party; May 4, Feed Me Disco with Eau Claire; May 5, Werk Ethic: 80s and 90s House and Techno; May 10, Geographer and Calyx & Teebee; May 12, Alice Glass and Billy Kenny. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at 9:30 Club. April 14, They Might Be Giants; April 15, Hurray For The Riff Raff & Waxahatchee; April 16 and 17, Judah & the Lion; April 18, Sofi Tukker; April 20 and 21, Lotus; April 22, The Weepies; April 23, Stars; April 24, Steven Wilson; April 25, The Cadillac Three; April 27, Unknown Mortal Orchestra; April 28, Brian Fallon & The Howling Weather; April 29, Echosmith; April 30, Kate Nash; May 1, Sango; May 2 and 3, Matt and Kim; May 4, Tauk; May 5, Ani DiFranco; May 6, Bahamas; May 7, Panda Bear; May 8, Always; May 9, Marian Hill; May 11, Wye Oak; May 12 and 13, Trampled By Turtles; May 14, Fever Ray. 815 V St. NW. 930.com. Music at The Howard. April 14, Young M.A & Backyard Band; April 21, The Sweet Spot DC: Make It Rain Edition and Reggae Fest vs. Soca; April 25, Smooky MarGielaa with Jelly Gang; April 28, Afrofest 2018; April 29, Havana D’ Primera & El Chacal; May 4, DJ Muggs & Meyhem Lauren; May 5, Los Nocheros; May 11, Reggae Fest vs. Soca. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at Hill Country. April 14, Caleb Stine Band; April 15, Jess Nolan Band; April 17, Danny Barnes, Christopher Paul Stelling; April 18 and 25, May 2 and 9, Hill Country Live Band Karaoke; April 19, Ray Bonneville; April 20, Wood & Wire; April 21 Delta Spur; April 22, Jason Eady (w/Full Band); April 24, Nasty Women of Americana in the Round; April 26, Rock-A-Sonics; April 27, Skribe Trio; April 28, Randy Thompson Band; April 29, Patrick Sweany (w/Full Band); May 3, Chris Luquette Band (From Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen); May 4, Jumpin’ Jupiter, The Delarcos; May 6, Andrew Leahey & the Homestead; May 8, Christy Hays; May 9, Adam Carroll and Chris Carroll; May 10, Christian Lopez; May 11, Human Country Jukebox; May 12, The 19th Street Band; May 15, Gurf Morlix Presents A Blaze Foley Experience and John Nichols Band. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc.

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EARTH DAY AT KENILWORTH AQUATIC GARDENS

April 21, 9 AM to noon. Visit on Earth Day to watch the action and enjoy the park. Find other volunteer opportunities at friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. Chantilly High School students with a tire they pulled from the mud flats at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens on Earth Day 2017. Photo: Alan Spears

Music at Sixth and I. April 14, Aca-Challenge Presented by the Alexandria Harmonizers; April 29, Nancy And Beth; May 12, Chelsey Green and The Green Project. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. April 14, Lucy Dacus; April 17, the Cactus Blossoms; April 18, Russian Circles; April 19, IAMX; April 20, Capitol Hemp 10th Anniversary Celebration presents Trouble Funk; April 21, DC Brau presents Metalchi; April 24, Preoccupations; April 25, Eli Lev & the Fortunes Found; April 26, Hawthorne Heights; April 27, White Ford Bronco; April 28, Loi; May 1 Protest the Hero; May 2, Mia Dyson; May 3, Forth Wanderers & Hoops; May 4, Mt. Joy; May 5, the Weeks; May 9, Fu Msanchu; May 10, Dwarves; May 11, An Evening with Sloan; May 12, Eli “Paperboy” Reed and High & Mighty Brass Band. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at Pearl Street Warehouse. April 14, Tommy Castro & the Painkillers; April 15, Anna & Elizabeth; April 19, The Big Lebowski Experience; April 20, The Last Revel; April 21, Motel Radio Quiet Hollers; April 25, The Heavy Pets; April 26, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers; April 28, The Riverbreaks; April 29, Jon Stickley Trio; May 2, Jonny Grave; May 3, Shawn James; May 4, Dead Winter Carpenters; May 5, Chopteeth; May 6, Ruben Moreno; May 10, Luke Winslow-King; May 11, Practically Einstein; May 12, Brendan James. Pearl

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Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW. pearlstreetwarehouse.com. Music at Union Stage. April 14, Tyrone Wells and Maddie-Palooza features The Speaks, Wandering lies; April 15, U.S. Girls; April 16, Dumbfoundead: The Yikes! Tour; April 18, Jeff Rosenstock; April 19, Son Little; April 20, DC 420Fest Presented by SweetWater Brewing featuring Cris Jacobs Band & FeelFree; April 21, The Nighthawks and Play It Cool; April 23 and 25, Roy Wood$: Say Less Tour; April 24, Lindi Ortega Trio; April 26, Southern Avenue and Land of Talk at Songbyrd; April 27, An Evening with the Residents; April 28, #cancerisabish White Ford Bronco Benefit Concert and Cut Chemist; May 2, Company of Thieves; May 4, Heikh Ndoye & Friends; May 5, Super Art Fight; May 6, Liza Anne presents Fine But Dying; May 8, New Mastersounds; May 9, Josh Rouse “Love in the Modern Age” Record Release Show; May 10, Moon Boots; May 11, Runaway Gin--A Tribute To Phish; May 12, The Funk Rumble with Aztec Sun & Black Masala. Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW. unionstage.com. Music at Ivy City Smokehouse. April 15, Jazz Brunch-Kevin Cordt Quartet; April 20, Area 301. Ivy City Smokehouse, 1356 Okie St. NE. ivycitysmokehouse.com. Sunday Concerts at the Phillips. April 15, Schumann Quartet; April 22, Jean-Efflam

Bavouzet, piano; April 29, Yeol Eum Son, piano; May 6, David Shifrin, clarinet & Miró Quartet; May 13, Hermitage Piano Trio. Concerts are at 4 PM. $40, $20 for members and students with ID; includes museum admission for the day of the concert. phillipscollection.org/music. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. April 16, Swampdog Blues!; April 23, Shirleta Settles & Friends; April 30, David Cole & Main Street Blues. $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. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Tuesdays, 12:10 PM. April 17, Christopher Schmitt, piano; April 24, Tom Winpenny, organ; May 1, Washington Bach Consort; May 8, Claire Eichorn, clarinet, Igor Zubovsky, cello, and Anna Ouspenskaya, piano; May 15, Rachel Evangeline Barham, soprano, Jeffrey Thurston, violin, and Jeremy Filsell, piano. 1317 G St. NW. epiphanydc.org. Music at Black Cat. April 18, Penguin Prison; April 20, Bump & Grimes IV; April 21, Right Round; April 22, Mr. Daywalker; April 24, Lazy K covers Basehead; April 26, Kill Lincoln; April 28, B.B.; April 29, Minus the Bear; May 2, Sinai Vessel; May 4, Eighties Mayhem Strikes Back; May 5 Spedy Ortiz and Holy Hum; May 8, Power Trip; May 9, This Will Destroy You; Mau 11, Megative; May 12, Frankie Cosmos and Hot Band Showcase; May 13, Anvil. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at The Anthem. April 19, NXT Live; April 20, Black Star with Dead Prez; April 21, The Decemberists Tennis; April 26 and 27; Beck Kimbra; April 28, Old Crow Medicine Machine; April 30, Modist Mouse; May 1, Haim Lizzo; May 3, Alice in Chains; May 4, Lord Huron; May 7, Kygo; May 12, David Byrne; May 15, Big Sean. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. theanthemdc.com. Blue Monday Blues in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. April 20, Addison Brothers Salute Let-Um-Play; April 27, Tribute to Marian McPartland. $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. Music at the Lincoln. April 20, MOE.; April 27, Calexico; April 28, Robyn Hitchcock and His L.A. Squires; May 3, Trixie Mattel; May 9, Radiotopia Live; May 11, Jesse Ware; May 14, the Kills. The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com. Cuban Zarzuelas, Roig’s Cecilia Valdés and Lecuona’s María la O. April 22 to 29. A sizzling double bill of Cuba’s most famous zarzuelas. Both works are based on “Cecilia Valdés”

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Justicia

National Memorial Day Choral Festival. May 27, 3 PM. Come sing in honor of America’s heroes from the American Revolution through Operation Iraqi Freedom in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Free tickets are gone early. Online ticketing at memorialdaychoralfestival.org.

Deanwood Citizens Association. Fourth Monday, 6:30 PM. Deanwood Recreation Center, 1300 49th St. NE.

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

Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Kenilworth Recreation Center, 4321 Ord St. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202-352-7264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster.com.

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

MARKETS AND SALES

Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.

ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. HCD Housing Resource Center, 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. anc8adc.org.

Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.

ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets, SE. anc8b.org.

Community Forklift April Sales. Open daily 9 AM to 6 PM (closes on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 PM). Throughout April, modern and vintage lighting is 40 percent off. 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD. Sign up for sale alerts at communityforklift.org.

HOMBRES DE ARCILLA (MEN OF CLAY)

Through April 21. Hombres de Arcilla (Men of Clay) honors the Mexican heritage of Alberto Villalobos. In pre-Hispanic cultures, masks had a strong connection with rituals of life and death. Vivid Solutions Gallery, 2208 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. SE. vividgallerydc.com.

Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD.

by Cirilo Villaverde. They were adapted for the stage in the 1930’s. GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. inseries.org. Folger Consort’s Ovid’s Vineyard. April 27 to 29. Music of the French Baroque. $42. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

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.

Music at City Winery. April 29 and 30, Suzanne Vega Performing Solitude Standing & 99.9F In Full; May 2, Billy Squier & GE Smith; May 4, Bob Schneider (full band); May 5, Patty Smyth & Scandal; May 8, Graham Parker with James Maddock; May 10, Juicy Scoop Podcast with Heather McDonald. City Winery, 1350 Okie St. NE. citywinery.com/washingtondc.

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

DC Concert Orchestra. April 29, 3 PM. Richard Wagner, Prelude to Die Meistersinger; Claude Debussy, Petite Suite; and César Franck, Symphony in D Minor. Free; donations accepted. Benefits the DC Concert Orchestra Society. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. dcconcertorchestra.org

Benning Ridge Civic Association. First Wednesday, 6:30 to 8 PM at the Ridge Road Community Center, 830 Ridge Rd. SE

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ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS

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

ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@earthlink.net. ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. anc7c@verizon.net.

ANC 8E. First Monday, 7 PM. Eagle Academy, 3400 Wheeler Rd. SE.

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

CIVIC LIFE Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton. house.gov.

Capital City Symphony: From Sea to Shining Sea. May 13, 5 PM. The final concert of Capital City Symphony’s 50th Season is a global exploration of national identity as expressed through music. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 6 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. easternmarket-dc.org.

ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE.

Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets SE.

Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org. Central NorthEast Civic Association. Third Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Dorothy Height Public Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. For more information, contact Michele or Rick TinglingClemmons, 202-388-1111.

YOGA IN THE GARDEN

Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Flow at the Garden with these free yoga gatherings, led by WithLoveDC. These classes aim to create an accessible space for all people to tune into their breath. This program is first-come, firstserved with limited space available. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov. Photo: Courtesy of the United States Botanic Garden

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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. 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 cost 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 Restore Assistance Program DCHFA now offers a Restore Assistance Program. – A one-time payment, up to $60,000, to “catch-up” on delinquent property related expenses. Applicants must have suffered a qualified financial hardship due to unemployment or underemployment, own a home in the District and be able to sustain future payments going forward. 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 16

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FIVE LOAN PROGRAMS THAT HELP YOU WIN! Shhh...few buyers know about these options...

he multitude of factors that feed into buying a home in the District are enough to send your head spinning for days, especially for a first-time homebuyer. The current real estate market is downright competitive and, to be honest, quite complex. Obtaining information about your loan options is paramount and not easily acquired through a quick online search, as you might hope. Google is no substitute for a creative mortgage specialist when your financial satisfaction is on the line. Any lender can tell you what type of loan they think you should choose. The real value is building a partnership with a lender who is “in the know” and educates you on the local down payment assistance options and lesser known loan

by Jaime Young

programs. Understanding all loan options empowers you to make the choice your own. Making this decision is not only based on obtaining the lowest rate, the lowest monthly payment, or the lowest down payment, but also based on how it affects your total financial picture now and much further down the road. Here are examples of how the five loan programs work:

HPAP (Home Purchase Assistance Program) and EAHP (Employer Assisted Housing Program) You are a first-time buyer, purchasing in DC, and you have a little bit saved up but don’t want to deplete your savings on the down payment. You would like to purchase a home that is a bit out of your price range and a larger down payment could help you qualify. Benefits of HPAP: • Community based lending program that provides down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified low to moderate income residents purchasing in the District. • Interest free loans up to $80,000 plus $4,000 towards closing cost assistance depending on your household income level • Helps homebuyers obtain a home with very little out of pocket expense Benefits of EAHP: • Provides down payment assistance to DC Government employees and First Responders of the District • Qualified buyers may utilize the HPAP and EAHP programs concurrently • Helps homebuyers who are also DC Government employees with lowering their out of pocket expense

DC Open Doors You are a first-time buyer, purchasing a home in DC, and do not have a lot of money saved up for a down payment just yet, but you can afford the monthly mortgage payment just fine.

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Information On....

3RD ANNUAL

HOMEOWNERSHIP FAIR AND HOUSING TOWN HALL

• • • • •

Affordable Homes Down Payment Assistance Estate Planning DC Property Tax Breaks Making Your Voice Heard!

City Officials in attendance! Free childcare provided! Questions? Alexandra Herzog at aherzog@mannadc.org or 202-534-1044 http://www.mannadc.org/homebuyers-fair/

Saturday, April 21st 12:30-4 PM Thurgood Marshall Academy Gym 2427 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Near Anacostia Metro Town Hall Begins at 2 pm | Tables and Workshops at 1 and 3 PM

Financially Fit DC

DC BizCAP

Helping residents of all ages to be financially fit by creating savings, building wealth, and managing credit

Access to capital programs that help District small business owners and entrepreneurs with start-up costs, working capital, procurement, hiring, renovation of commercial property, and purchasing equipment and inventory

Finding affordable banking options through Bank on DC

Student Loan Borrowers

Financial Fraud Prevention

Identifying strategies for parents and students to pay for college Navigating student loan debt forgiveness and repayment programs Resolving complaints with student loan servicers Contact the Student Loan Ombudsman at dcloanhelp@dc.gov

Protecting older adults and vulnerable populations from financial scams Understanding reverse mortgages Request a speaker to come to your community event to share tips on how to avoid being a victim of financial fraud

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH DISB

If you are a victim of a financial crime or scam, or you feel you are being treated unfairly by a financial services provider operating in the District of Columbia, you should report it to DISB:

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SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! bat

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Benefits: • Zero down payment required for qualified first time DC homebuyers • Helps buyers invest in their new home sooner with no down payment requirement • Reduced mortgage insurance rates which yields a lower monthly payment

FHA 203K Renovation Mortgage and Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation Mortgage You are in love with a specific neighborhood but the only homes for sale need a lot of TLC or, at the very least, an updated kitchen and you don’t wish to spend your savings on the much-needed renovation. Benefits: • Allows you to “roll in” the cost of the renovation for a purchase or refinance with only 3.5% down for the FHA 203K and 5% down for Fannie Mae Homestyle • Great for homes in need of a little face lift (update the kitchen and bathrooms) or a full gut renovation • Make your new home your dream home without breaking the bank

Bridge Loan Financing You have a home to sell before you buy and cannot qualify carrying both mortgages but have just found the PERFECT home. You would like to write an offer with no contingencies to compete against the four other offers on this home. Benefits: • Short term financing that helps bridge the gap between selling your current home and buying the new home without

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the need to qualify carrying two mortgage payments • Write a sales contract that is not contingent upon selling your current home to help set you apart from the competition • Tap into the equity in your current home and receive cash to purchase the new home before you sell Buying a home is truly an exciting time in your life, but also an integral piece of your total financial portfolio. Building the right team and selecting the best loan program ensures that you create a solid foundation for your current and future financial success. Jaime Young is a Senior Loan Officer at MVB Mortgage located downtown on 14th and K Street, NW. She has delivered her mission of education and empowerment to thousands of homeowners over the past 20 years. She is a specialist in local down payment assistance programs, new construction, renovation loans for purchases and refinances and everything in between. Intrigued by these options? Reach out to Jaime to learn more: jyoung@mvbmortgage.com or 571-244-4352. MVB Mortgage, MVB Mortgage of PA, and MVB Mortgage of KY are registered trade names of Potomac Mortgage Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MVB Bank, Inc. • Company NMLS ID #181319 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess. org) • Equal Housing Lender. Jaime Young NMLS ID#299882

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.

Joel N. Martin Licensed in DC, MD & VA Since 1986 DC resident since 1970 / Shaw resident since 2002

NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE

HILL CREST

HOMES ANACOSTIA

1724 16TH ST SE 1503 19TH ST SE 1437 22ND ST SE 1524 19TH ST SE

CHILLUM

216 MADISON ST NW

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 452 OAKWOOD ST SE 111 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE 909 ALABAMA AVE SE 4305 SOUTH CAPITOL SW 3815 1ST ST SE 754 UPSAL ST SE 4029 1ST ST SW 1212 BARNABY TER SE 112 FORRESTER ST SW 645 BRANDYWINE ST SE 131 DARRINGTON ST SW 500 FOXHALL PL SE 450 XENIA ST SE #2

DEANWOOD

4223 CLAY ST NE 18 ANACOSTIA RD NE 565 45TH ST NE 5423 HUNT PL NE 5211 JAY ST NE 5070 CENTRAL AVE SE 5701 EADS ST NE 26 35TH ST NE 5116 JUST ST NE 4940 EADS PL NE 4903 JUST ST NE 156 35TH ST NE 5100 LEE ST NE 149 47TH ST NE 855 52ND ST NE 5329 JAY ST NE 828 46TH ST NE 4226 EDSON PL NE 4929 SHERIFF RD NE 215 63RD ST NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 3909 S ST SE 1740 40TH ST SE 4012 ALABAMA AVE SE 1503 FORT DAVIS ST SE 4267 HILDRETH ST SE 1167 46TH PL SE 302 BURBANK ST SE 4339 GORMAN TER SE

4016 ELY PL SE

$540,000 $455,000 $345,000 $250,000

4 4 2 2

3454 NASH PL SE 1722 33RD PL SE 2402 LENFANT SQ SE 3644 SOUTHERN AVE SE 1100 ANACOSTIA RD SE 2718 MINNESOTA AVE SE 2622 MINNESOTA AVE SE

$575,000

KINGMAN PARK

$455,000 $445,000 $439,900 $430,000 $377,000 $370,000 $355,000 $349,900 $280,000 $225,000 $188,000 $180,000 $88,000

4 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 2 2

MARSHALL HEIGHTS

$395,000 $380,000 $359,900 $335,000 $325,000 $315,000 $310,000 $298,697 $297,800 $290,000 $285,900 $280,000 $280,000 $280,000 $279,000 $221,000 $219,900 $203,000 $165,000 $135,000

3 3 3 4 2 3 3 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 2

$386,000 $382,000 $360,000 $358,000 $348,000 $290,000 $235,500 $220,000

3 3 4 2 2 3 3 2

647 20TH ST NE

5502 B ST SE 5345 ASTOR PL SE 4943 A ST SE 5519 B ST SE 726 51ST ST SE 5116 SOUTHERN AVE SE 842 51ST ST SE 138 53RD ST SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS

2803 BUENA VISTA TER SE 2712 KNOX ST SE 2021 SAVANNAH PL SE 2349 SKYLAND TER SE 2466 SKYLAND PL SE 1425 HOWARD RD SE 1480 CONGRESS PL SE 1824 GAINESVILLE ST SE 3466 23RD ST SE

$205,000

$580,000 $450,000 $412,500 $399,999 $399,999 $370,000 $285,000

3 3 4 3 3 3 3

$390,000

$378,750 $375,000 $350,000 $330,000 $309,000 $300,000 $279,000 $225,000

3 4 4 2 4 3 2 3

$331,500 $320,000 $310,000 $310,000 $290,000 $275,000 $275,000 $248,000 $192,000

3 4 2 3 3 2 2 2 3

$190,900 $110,000

1 2

$179,000 $163,715 $147,500 $125,000 $69,900 $285,000 $274,500

2 2 2 2 1 2 2

$83,622

$140,000 $110,000 $81,000

2 2 2

202-274-1882 office direct 202-338-8900 office main

“honesty, integrity, service & market knowledge” each office independently owned & operated

CONDOS CONGRESS HEIGHTS

1110 SAVANNAH ST SE #32 709 BRANDYWINE ST SE #304

HILL CREST

3861 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #B 2034 FORT DAVIS ST SE #B 3918 SOUTHERN AVE SE #A 2065 38TH ST SE #A 2124 SUITLAND TER SE #201 2912 NELSON PL SE #3 2912 NELSON PL SE #1

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4508 B ST SE #3

RANDLE HEIGHTS

1719 GAINESVILLE ST SE #301 2844 HARTFORD ST SE #101 2315 ALTAMONT PL SE #2

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neighborhood news

Babatunde Oloyede Named MHCDO President Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc. (MHCDO) has appointed Babatunde Oloyede its new president and chief operating officer. Oloyede’s career has included advising clients, streamlining operations, negotiating contracts, managing assets, conducting due diligence as well as developing strategic initiatives for both the private and public sectors. He has developed, renovated and managed over 40 single-family and multi-unit residential properties. He served as a member of former Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s Comprehensive Affordable Housing Task Force. Oloyede earned a BS from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester with a concentration in Finance and Entrepreneurship. He has received fellowships from Artemis Real Estate Partners, Global Diversity Summit, Management Leadership for Tomorrow and the Consortium.

New Marvin Gaye Rec Center Opens On April 7, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Department of General Services (DGS) opened the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center, 6201 Banks Pl. NE, in Ward 7. The new $14 Million facility was designed by IStudio Architects and built by MCN Build. The modernized rec center and trail includes a new two-story 7,200 square foot recreation center with exterior amenities and improvements along the existing trail. The building features a music room, art gallery, tech lounge, fitness center and a senior room with floating balcony. Other improvements include an NBA regulation basketball court and multi-sport practice field. Trail enhancements include a fitness station, community garden. A memorial bronze statue of Marvin Gaye will be added in late spring. A splash pad will open this summer. Programming at the new center includes a summer camp. Visit dpr.dc.gov/page/marvin-gaye-recreation-center.

Water Lily and Lotus Festival Seeks Volunteers Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is looking for volunteers to help with the park’s “The Water Lily & Lotus Cultural Festival” on July 21. Positions include assisting with set-up or breakdown, moving coolers full of water, cleaning up trash; staffing the Welcoming Tent; riding the shuttle bus to inform visitors about event. Volunteers must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time, and be available for a two-anda-half-hour shift. Visit friendsofkenilworthgardens.org to volunteer.

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ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY’S EARTH DAY CLEANUP

The Anacostia Watershed Society’s (AWS) Earth Day Cleanup is the organization’s largest annual volunteer event. On the Saturday following Earth Day nearly 2,000 volunteers come out to 30 different sites around the watershed to pick up trash, serve their communities and enjoy the Anacostia River. The 2018 event will be held on April 21. Visit anacostiaws.org for details and to sign-up. Photo: Courtesy of the Anacostia Watershed Society

Block Watch Block Watch is a participatory community art project meant to weave together imagery culled from archival photographs with the present physical landscape of Anacostia to create a playful, abstracted representation of the community, its history and future. The public may embed their own words and images related to their experiences into the work’s three dimensional, collaged layers of drawings. The goal is to create a tapestry of voices in vignettes throughout the bold, broad structural lines of the piece. Take part in the opening ceremony on April 28 from noon to 2 p.m. Block Watch opens to the public from Wednesday to Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Look for the Block Watch shipping container in the museum parking lot. Anacostia Community Museum. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

DDOT Installs New Pedestrian Safety Device The District Department of Transportation has activated a new pedestrian HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalk) signal at the intersection of South Capitol, South-

west and Danbury Streets SE in Ward 8. It’s the third activated by DDOT in the past week. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) have been installed at 830 Ridge Road SE and at Rhode Island and Newton Street NE. These new traffic control devices are designed to help pedestrians more safely cross streets at crosswalks without traffic signals.

MANNA Homeownership Town Hall On April 21, 1 to 4 p.m., join MANNA’s Housing Advocacy Team at their annual Homeownership Town Hall. The first and last hour of the program will consist of resource tables and workshops on a variety of subjects including: credit building, down payment assistance, DC property tax programs and advocacy. The MANNA Homeownership Town Hall will be held at Thurgood Marshall Academy Gym, 2427 MLK Ave. SE. Childcare, Spanish translation services and refreshments provided. For more information, contact Jonathan Nisly at jnisly@mannadc. org. mannadc.org.

Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments are provided. Wear work boots and clothes.

DC Breaks Ground on 200 Plus Units of Affordable Housing On March 26, Mayor Bowser, District of Columbia Housing Authority (DHA), DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) and their partners broke ground on a massive rehabilitation of the long vacant Parkway Overlook Apartments, which are located at 28352841 Robinson Pl. SE. The $82.2 million gut rehabilitation of the complex will deliver a total of 220 units that will be comprised of one,

Vote Tuesday, June 19 in the 2018 Primary Election Polls will be open from 7am to 8pm. During a Primary, only Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or DC Statehood Green voters may vote on the candidates. All voters, regardless of affiliation, may vote on nitiative 77, which will appear on the Primary ballot. nitiative Measure o. 77, the District of Columbia Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2017 f enacted, this initiative will: radually increase the minimum wage in the District of Columbia to 15 hourly by 2020 • Gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped employees so that they receive the same minimum wage directly from their employer as other employees by 202 eginning in 2021, re uire minimum wage to increase yearly in proportion to increases in the consumer price inde . The minimum wage increase under the initiative will not apply to DC government employees or employees of DC government contractors.

oters will be as ed to vote S to approve or O to re ect the initiative. All voters regardless of affiliation, may vote in the eneral lection on ovember , 201 . o find your polling place or confirm your registration information, visit dcboe.org or call (202) 727-2525.

Want to Vote Early?

arly oting will start at One udiciary S uare on une 4, and at other arly oting Centers on une . arly oting Centers are open daily from :30am until 7pm, through une 15, 201 .

Early Voting Centers

Our arly oting Centers for the Primary are listed below: Monday, une 4 Friday, une 15 Ward 2: One udiciary S uare, 441 4th Street W (Paper

ouchscreen allots)

Friday, une Friday, une 15 Ward 1: Columbia eights Community Center, 14 0 irard Street W Ward 3: Chevy Chase Community Center, 5 01 Connecticut Avenue W Ward 4: a oma Community Center, 300 an uren Street W Ward 5: ur ey hic et ecreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue Ward : Sherwood ecreation Center, 40 10th Street Ward : ing reenleaf ecreation Center, 201 Street SW Ward 7: Deanwood ecreation Center, 1350 49th Street, Ward : Malcolm Opportunity Center, 1351 Alabama Avenue S *Touchscreen Ballots Only

Need to Register?

o register at the polls, bring a driver s license or DM identification card.

No driver’s license? Bring any of the following showing your current name and address in the District:

• • • •

Bank statement Utility bill Lease or residential agreement Occupancy statement

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two and three-bedrooms. All will be affordable to households making up to 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) or about $54,600 for a family of four. Eleven units will be available for households at or below $33,090 (30 percent of AMI). They will be set-aside as permanent supportive housing. The project includes 13 units that will be handicapped accessible. Training and classes in workforce development, financial literacy and after-school activities will be offered based on community needs.

NMAAHC Offers April Walk-Up Wednesdays The Smithsonianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NIMAAHC) offers Walk-Up Wednesdays in the month of April. Individuals without timed-entry passes may enter the museum on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-up entry is subject to building capacity. The museum is launching Walk-Up Wednesdays in April as a pilot to test no-pass entry. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu/ walk-wednesdays-april.

Job Fair at Arena Stage The annual DC Career Fair is on April 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. The event is cosponsored by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and Councilmembers Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and Robert White (D-At Large) the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and Arena Stage. A wide variety of companies and employers will be on site including DC United, Cal Pro, District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Blue Sky Construction, Insulators & Allied Workers Local 24, Concord Hospitality, Kimpton Hotels, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Entertainment Cruises, Washington Gas, Reston Limo, Bridgepoint Healthcare, First-class Workforce Solutions, Architect of the Capitol, Big Bus, Harris Teeter, WMATA, Hyatt Hotels and Strittmatter Construction. Participants must register in advance to receive a ticket for admission. To register, contact Jen DeMayo at 202-807-0584 or jdemayo@dccouncil.us.

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

DC Circulator Summer Hours The DC Circulator has reverted to its standard summer schedule for the Union Station-Navy Yard and Potomac Ave-Skyland via Barracks Row routes. The new hours are weekdays, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For every Washington Nationals evening game beginning at 4:05 p.m. or later, the Union Station-Navy Yard route will operate until midnight. For Sunday home games, Circulator will operate this route from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Extended hours will last until Sept. 29. For more information, visit dccirculator.com.

Free Foreclosure Prevention Clinic Behind on on mortgage or property taxes? Being sued by a lender or confronting a potential mortgage scam? Take positive steps to address these issues by attending a free Foreclosure Prevention Clinic at Housing Counseling Services, Inc., 2410 17th St. NW, Suite 100, on April 18 at noon or April 25 at 6 p.m. Registration required. For information, call the Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at 202-265-CALL or visit housingetc.org.

IRS PIN Available to DC Residents District taxpayers can protect themselves through the Internal Revenue Service Identity Protection PIN program. It is designed to prevent identity thieves from obtaining a fraudulent refund by assigning taxpayers Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is then required for any tax filing. irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams.

Jazz Appreciation Month: Shaolin Jazz Live! April 28 | 2-4 pm Shaolin Jazz founders, DJ 2-Tone Jones and Gerald Watson bring their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, and rap fusion to the Anacostia Community Museum. Taking their musical cues from rap legends Wu Tang Clan, this six-member group has played in venues such as the legendary Blues Alley, and the B.B. King Blues Club. Register online at https://eventactions.com/eareg.aspx?ea=Rsvp or call 202.633.4868

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The Welders Playwrights Collective Accepting Applications The Welders, DC’s only playwrights’ collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new work, are searching for a third generation of generative artists to take the helm of the organization on Jan. 1, 2020. Applications are now available on TheWelders.org. Over the next five months The Welders will have a series of Welders MeetUps all over the city to answer questions about the application and play matchmaker to interested artists. Welders ask that artists apply as a group. Individuals can contact the Welders at connect@thewelders. org to connect with others. Applications are due on Sept. 1.

Parks Comp Plan Open House On April 12, 10:30 a.m. to noon, learn about the draft policies for the update of The Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital’s Parks & Open Space Element. One of the “Federal Elements,” it protects and enhances the National Capital Region’s federal parks and open spaces. National Capital Planning Commission, 401 Ninth St. NW, Suite 500N. 202482-7200. ncpc.gov.

2018 Larry Neal Writers’ Awards The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is soliciting nominations from individual writers who reside in the District of Columbia for the Larry Neal Writers’ Award. The award commemorates the artistic legacy and vision of Larry Neal, the renowned author, academic and former Executive Director of CAH. Awards are presented for the artistic excellence of adult, youth and teen writers residing in the District of Columbia. Awardees will be announced at the 33rd Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. The submission deadline is April 27 at 4 p.m. Visit dcarts. dc.gov/node/1152055 for details. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletinboard@hill rag.com.

COMMUNITY POLICING IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Through Jan. 15, 2019, the National Building Museum and the Historical Society of Washington, DC, present “Community Policing in the Nation’s Capital: The Pilot District Project, 1968-1973.” Employing original documents, maps, posters and other materials, the exhibition tells the story of the District’s innovative experiment in community policing. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of 1968 riots. The Pilot District Project launched in the summer of 1968 in what is now most of Ward 1 had broad goals for police reform and citizen participation. Although deemed a failure at the time, the it saw several important innovations during its five-year run including: 24-hour police stations, citizen ride-alongs and police sensitivity training. National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. nbm.org. Image: Courtesy of the National Building Museum

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East Washington News, Serving the Ward & 8 communities! E AST

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Change Comes to Excel Academy School to Begin 2018 Academic Year with DCPS, New Principal by Elizabeth O’Gorek

fter three months of uncertainty, students and families at Excel Academy (2501 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE) are finally sure that they can return to the school for the 2018-2019 academic year. The school will officially move to District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) under a new principal, Tenia Pritchard, in June 2018. An all-girls school serving preK-3 through grade eight, Excel Academy has the stated goal of “providing girls a solid academic foundation and enrichment opportunities to prepare them to success in high school and college and to develop the skills and confidence they need to make healthy, positive lifestyle choices.” Excel Academy had previously held a charter from the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB). In January, DCPCSB voted unanimously to revoke Excel Academy’s charter because the school had not met its charter goals. The December 2017 DCPCSB assessment noted that “While observers saw Excel PCS students working to develop the skills and confidence they need to make healthy, positive lifestyle choices, they did not see the school meeting the academic aspects of its mission.” Many Excel Academy parents disagreed with the DCPSCB decision, saying they were initially ‘devastated’ when they learned of the news. Many believed that the DCPCSB had made up their minds before they heard from parents at the Charter hearing. They say Excel provided an excellent learning environment, clear communication and support to families and they are worried that the move to DCPS might cause all that to change. Parent Shamika Cherry is proud her daughter was a student at Excel Academy Public Charter School.

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“Every single staff member and teacher that I’ve had encounters with are professional, communicate effectively and are always detailed,” she said.

Tenia Pritchard (L) receives the 2018 DCPS Principal of the Year Award from Mayor Muriel Bowser at the Standing Ovation event, held February 8, 2018 at The Anthem Theater. Photo: Courtesy DCPS.

Cherry said the support provided to Excel families “was above and beyond. As the saying goes “it takes a village” --well as a parent I truly felt that at Excel.” Clifton Whitehurst said that he removed his daughter from public school after two years of pre-kindergarten to enroll her at Excel in kindergarten. He said he noticed an immediate change in the way that she was treated by teachers, and in her learning. He and his spouse had always worked with their daughter, he said, but they had to play catch up once she started at Excel. “Her first couple of months I immediately noticed that what we were doing was not enough,” he said, “because she was reading better, doing her arithmetic far better than what we were doing with her.” “She’s a first grader now, and though we take some credit for the way she articulates herself to the positive attitude she has towards her education, I feel Excel has to get most of that credit,” he said. Whitehurst also emphasized the constant communication from teachers, facilitated by an online system that allowed parents to keep track of behavior and academic progress and to communicate with staff.

“My only fear is that with Excel becoming a public school some or all of this may change,” he said. Parent Brigette Dunn agrees. She is torn about the change, because it allows her daughter to stay at Excel but she says she is uncertain that the quality of the education will remain the same. She said her daughter was distraught over the potential closure of the school, but once she learned it would remain open with DCPS “her demeanor changed immediately. She is super excited about being able to maintain her friendships/sisterhoods she has built with her fellow scholars as well as the Excel administration.” “As a charter school, Excel administration was able to make changes for the betterment of the school with autonomy. My fear now is our girls will be pigeonholed to a DCPS curriculum which may not suit their educational needs or assist with their development.” DCPS Chief of School Design and Continuous Improvement Eugene Pinkard said that when DCPS became aware that there was a transition with Excel’s Charter, they immediately expressed interest in working with the school. “We see it as an opportunity to better serve the kids in the city, and particularly east of the river,” he said, “It is an opportunity to respond to real demands from parents in the city that have chosen an all-girl education for their children.” He said that DCPS is committed to continuity at the school, and the administration and staff have been invited to re-apply. DCPS has noted separately that they are “excited to welcome Excel into the DCPS community, and retain staff and the school culture, while dramatically raising student outcomes.” Pinkard said the addition of Excel complements the mission of the all-boys’ Ron Brown Preparatory High School, which launched in 2016. “It creates a space for young women to explore leadership opportunities and academic skills,” he said. Excel will be part of the Our Reign: Empowering Young Women as Leaders initiative which aims to build community, confidence, and leadership

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THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0013-2018

LOCAL RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT AND SPONSOR BASED ASSISTANCE FOR EXISTING UNITS The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) has $1,000,000 Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) funding for Project and Sponsor Based Assistance for Existing Units and seeks Proposals from Interested Rental Unit Owners who will commit units of rental housing to receive assistance through Project Based Vouchers (PBV) or LRSP. 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, March 19, 2018 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. Proposals will be accepted on a continuous basis due on the 1st Thursday of each designated quarterly month: May 3, 2018, August 2, 2018, November 1, 2018, and February 7, 2019. The proposals must be received NO LATER THAN 11:00 A.M. ON THE DESIGNATED DATES. DCHA will continue to accept proposals every 3-months contingent upon the remaining funds. 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.

skills in young women of color, and will give DCPS more resources to address disparities in student satisfaction, graduation rates, and PARCC scores.

Tenia Pritchard Chosen as New Principal On April 2, DCPS announced that effective June 2018, Tenia Pritchard will take on the role of Principal of Excel Academy as that school moves into the DCPS system. Currently Principal at Whittier Education Campus (6201 Fifth St. NW), Pritchard has demonstrated an ability to guide her school to academic gains. In the 2016-2017 school year, Whittier increased PARCC scores by 13% in ELA and 14% in Mathematics. Pritchard said she is excited about leading a school of minority young ladies and about the gains she expects the school to make over the coming academic year. “This is more than a job to me,” she said. “This is a commitment.” A graduate of Eastern High School and Adelaide Davis Elementary (4430 H St. NE), Pritchard spent two years teaching at Davis before moving to Whittier, where she served as a teacher, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal before becoming Principal. Pritchard said that she wants to continue to have a positive environment where girls can understand their own power and the possibilities for their lives. A resident of Ward 7, Pritchard said she was excited to come back to the community where she grew up. She said she is interested in collaborating

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with parents to understand what they would like to see in the school. Her first meeting with Excel parents took place the same evening as the announcement of her new role. “This is personal to me,” she said. “I know the teachers and people that I met along my journey, they’re the reason why I’m here today.” Parents say they are encouraged by Pritchard’s appointment. Whitehurst said that he and his spouse researched Pritchard’s accomplishments. “We were pleasantly pleased with what we saw,” he said. Dunn is also hopeful. “As a woman of color, I feel it is so important that our girls East of the River see leaders who look like them. Reading the comments and articles about Ms. Pritchard has put my mind more at ease in terms of the future of Excel,” she said. “I think her appointment is a positive start to what, for me, could be a tricky transition. The ability to earn the title of Principal of the Year is not an easy task nor is taking over the reins at Excel.” Both express hope for both continuity and improvement at Excel. “I hope DCPS’s support of Excel does not end once the transition is complete,” said Dunn. “Excel has a proud legacy of providing support to families outside of the school curriculum.” Whitehurst loves the curriculum, but says he is open to improvements. “I can only hope that the curriculum remains the same,” he said, “but like anything in life change can be a good thing. Especially when it comes to the education of my child.”

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Is the Anacostia River a Food Delivery ‘Red Line’?

East Side Residents Complain of Scant Options, Poor Service by Elizabeth O’Gorek

atricia Howard-Chittams has lived in her Southeast neighborhood for twenty years. She says very few food companies will deliver to her home, located on the east side of the Anacostia River in the 20019 zip code. She says many of those that do will not bring her order to the door, but instead ask her to come out to their vehicle to retrieve her order. “I refuse to order from New York Pizza or from any company which will require that I come out into the street to obtain my food,” she said.

‘Simply Nothing to Order’ But those principles limit her already minimal options. Few restaurants deliver to her neighborhood, and many online apps such as Amazon Restaurants list no options within her area at all. “There is simply nothing to order,” she said. “When you open the DoorDash app, it reflects no stores which deliver to this location.” PostMates and Amazon Restaurants offer no service for the 20019 or 20032 zip code. DoorDash began delivery to homes in the 20019 zip code March 28, and there are only a few options in Amazon Restaurants available to residents in 20020, located between Wards 7 and 8. For Howard-Chittams and other residents, the lack of food delivery to their home is evidence of further prejudice exhibited by businesses against residents of the neighborhoods within those zip codes. On neighborhood social media sites, some point to the lack of food delivery options as evidence that businesses view Ward 7 and 8 neighborhoods as poor and dangerous, hypothesizing that drivers fear by exiting their cars

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during delivery they will leave vehicles vulnerable to theft and themselves to robbery. “I am annoyed that the discrimination continues,” Howard-Chittams said. “Crime in Ward 7 is less than Ward 1, but you can receive delivery almost everywhere [in Ward 1]. I could order from Capitol Hill to my parents’ home in Northwest; but I was unable to have those same items delivered to my home in Southeast.” Capitol Hill is located less than two miles across the river from her neighborhood. Howard-Chittams remembers when there was a Domino’s Pizza and a Papa John’s that would deliver, but they stopped offering delivery when the restaurants located on the east side of the river closed down. Now her standbys are Thai Orchid and Mama’s Pizza, both of whom will deliver to her door. A representative for Domino’s Pizza said that delivery on the east side of the river ceased when the leases on the local Domino’s locations expired and the buildings were redeveloped. Domino’s delivery is unavailable in Wards 7 and 8, though there is a location at 900 M St. SE, just under a mile across the bridge from homes in the 20020 zip code. “Our stores have a 9-minute delivery area based on rush hour traffic,” she said. “The area you are referring to may not be reachable within our delivery time limit.”

‘A Great Opportunity’ But neighbors say there is a service vacuum where they live that local businesses could be using to expand customer base, if they’d be willing to give it a try. Jessalyn Walker moved from the Atlas District north of H Street NE to Marshall Heights a year and a half ago. Her new neighborhood is located in zip code 20019, the same as long-term resident Howard-Chit-

tams. She says that she had previously had access to a variety of options in the Atlas neighborhood, but now she has virtually none. “I’m a vegetarian and I’m sort of morally opposed to the fast-food industry,” she said. She said she chooses Thai food as the best of the options, but one of the two restaurants she depended on has since declined to deliver. “There is an opportunity for additional healthy foods to be delivering in our area,” she argues, pointing to recently opened options on the H Street corridor. “It could be a great opportunity for them to expand their customer base.”

Vicious Circle But it can be a vicious circle. Where there are fewer food options, it is harder to guarantee food quality and delivery time. So, customers located in areas with fewer restaurants also have fewer delivery options. “As we consider expanding to additional markets, key considerations include operational logistics (such as traffic and the availability of Dashers) and restaurant availability,” said a representative for DoorDash. “When DoorDash launches in a new market, it is common to have a gradual rollout across neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs. Based on a variety of factors, including restaurant density, we are able to expand our coverage areas.” Food delivery is available to some east of the river neighborhoods, but with limited choices. “In the last few months we’ve had one option, and that’s Uber Eats,” Walker said. She is pleased to have consistent delivery, but she says that the service only provides too few options to choose from, most of which are fast food. She had been accustomed to up to fifty options,

Hear The Candidates! Sponsored by The Hill Rag & The Ward 6 Democrats Event Hosts: The Capitol Hill Restoration Society, CHAMPS, The Hill Center, The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Westminster Presbyterian Church & the DC Republican Party

Will Hold a Series of Candidate Forums The Ward 6 Race April 30 - 7 to 9 PM @ The Hill Center 921 Penn Ave. SE

The Democratic Chair Primary

The At-Large Democratic Primary

May 3 - 7 to 9 PM

May 8 - 7 to 9 PM

@ Westminster Presbyterian Church 400 I St. SW

The Ward 6 Race June 5 - 7 to 9 PM @ Westminster Presbyterian Church 400 I St. SW

The Public May Submit Questions Via Email to debate@hillrag.com Please put the Ward 6, At-Large or Chair in the subject line so the question will be posed in the right forum.

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ANC 7F Chair Tyrell Holcomb says food service discrimination against residents on the east side of the river is “very evident.”

ited availability in the first phase of our launch,” said FreshDirect’s Vice President of Public Affairs Larry Scott Blackmon through a spokesperson. “Our next phase involves transitioning into our new state-of-the-art headquarters in the South Bronx in the coming months. Our move will enable continued growth, expanded capacity, and increased availability in all wards. We look forward to expanding the number of timeslots and zones in the DMV shortly.” Councilmember Vincent Gray (Ward 7-D) has been focused on issues of food access within Ward 7, notably holding grocers such as Safeway to account for the quality of food and condition and service at their stores and introducing three bills to Council in order to make the area more attractive to business. He said the lack of delivery access is another example of discrimination against residents. “[It’s] one more example of the sadly numerous ways as a result of geography, our residents here on the East End do not get the same results and options as of those on the West End,” Gray said.

‘It is Unconscionable’

with vegetarian and fresh choices among them. Uber Eats and the Uber company overall have made an effort to serve the area and to add to the local economy. Uber Eats provides a minimum of 15 options for any search, presenting availability based on an algorithm calculating restaurant locations and traffic conditions. Areas of greater restaurant density will have more options than areas with less density, they say, but the radius is extended to provide options to every user so long as those options are within an achievably deliverable location. The company has made an effort to invest in the area. In October of last year Mayor Bowser and Uber announced that a new Greenlight Hub, a support and resource center for local Uber drivers, will open this spring at the East River Park Shopping Center in Ward 7. But while Uber Eats is making an effort to provide options, Walker says many are fast food, and as a vegetarian they aren’t for her, though recently several H Street restaurants are offered including Maketto and Red Rock. And the lack of nutritious choices in restaurant delivery mirrors the lack of access to groceries.

Food Access The issue with food delivery compounds the problem with food access in the area. Residents of wards 7 and 8 continue to fight for better access to grocery stores. According to DC Hunger Solutions, with a population of more than 70,000, residents of Ward 7 are limited to

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two Safeway stores; add the single store in Ward 8, and three grocery stores serve 164,000 residents. In that context, food delivery provides a muchneeded source not only for convenience, but access to food itself. Delivery from the two grocers located in the ward, Safeway and Peapod is available. Peapod, the delivery service offered by Giant Food, says it offers full service to Wards 7 and 8, with delivery times available in twohour windows from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m. “Peapod believes everyone deserves access to healthy, fresh foods,” said Chief Market Officer Carrie Bienkowski. “Online grocery shopping is not just a convenience, but a necessity in many areas without access to healthy food.” But newer grocery delivery services are far more limited. Online fresh food retailer FreshDirect offers door to door delivery of grocery items, including fresh food as well as meal kits, appetizers and alcoholic beverages. However, for customers living in neighborhoods east of the river, delivery windows are extremely limited. A search of the site revealed that customers in these three zip codes could only place orders for delivery between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, the middle of the working day for most families. FreshDirect notes that they deliver to all wards in the District and says the limited hours can be expected to change. “Prior to our launch, we met with a number of district and community representatives to share our launch and future expansion plans. In our meetings, we shared that we would serve all wards with lim-

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7F Chair Tyrell M. Holcomb (7F01) agrees. Pointing to the discussions at ANC 7F meetings about a proposed Checkers restaurant at the former site of the Domino’s restaurant (3780 Minnesota Ave. SE), Holcomb says that the area needs more healthy options. Acknowledging legislation of Councilmember Gray that looks to reward investment on the east side of the river, he wonders if policy changes are key to meeting needs. Holcomb said the issue with food delivery is a symptom of the attitude of business towards the area. “People think they can’t make a profit in this community,” he said. It echoes concerns with the availability of other food services, such as fresh food grocery and healthier restaurant choices. The problem is not new, he noted, but he thinks newcomers to the ward are “shedding new light on the issue,” and calls for a strong stand and strong action. “It’s not a have or have not issue,” he said. “It’s a race issue. Nobody wants to say it, I’m going to say it. And it’s not going to change if we put up with it.” “We in Ward 7 deserve the same retail and amenities as the other wards.” he said “It is unconscionable. It’s downright criminal.” For residents, that expansion can’t come soon enough. With the proliferation of online food delivery services, they had hoped for additional access to food within their communities. Instead, they say, businesses are not even giving customers a chance to spend their money on good, healthy local foods. It is, they say, a missed opportunity for both customers and businesses. “We need to have the chance to avail of these services. People in our area are willing and ready consumers, and we need to be given a chance to prove that,” Walker said. “We’re ready, and we’re hungry for it.”

Residents Question Maple View Flats Development, City Officials Optimistic About Starbucks by John Muller

n his first public appearance following a series of controversial remarks on control of the weather, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center in Congress Heights last month faced a group of constituents with questions and concerns about the inner workings of the Maple View Flats development on the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. “We want to give some updates,” said White. “I want to go back real quick to figure out how we got here.” While reviewing the development’s timeline, White asked activist Charles Wilson to confirm his facts. White continued, “I guess, around 2012, Tim Chapman won the bid for Chapman Development for the Big K Liquor site, which eventually became the Maple View Flats project. And I remember during that time it was a lot of turmoil … it was a lot of meetings.” At yet another meeting, without the aid of any visual presentation or handouts, officials representing Chapman Development, Bozzuto Construction, the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity and Councilmember White’s office fielded questions and concerns from residents who expressed frustration with the development’s apparent lack of reciprocal employment opportunities and community benefits.

When completed, Maple View Flats, on the former Big K site, will contain 114 affordable housing units, within a building frame of 116,000 square feet, across four levels of Type V-A wood-frame, over a one-story podium and two levels of parking totaling 52,000 square feet of below-grade parking. Features of the development include a rooftop amenity terrace, community room, bike storage facility and fitness center. On the ground floor will be 15,000 square feet of street-facing retail space where city officials have announced Starbucks Coffee has an interest in opening a 2,500-squarefoot Opportunity Cafe.

Construction Timeline Despite two days of high-profile protests last month, which caused workers to be sent home early, according to Nick Fratino, a project manager for Bozzuto, 40 percent of construction of the $50 million Maple View Flats development is complete. Fratino announced Bozzuto was still accepting up to seven subcontracting applications for opportunities to complete remaining work including caulking, garage striping and asphalt, fencing and gates for garage access, alley and brick caulking and electric work for secure door entry and security cameras. “Our concrete actually topped out last week, [March] the 21st,” said Fratino. “Tracking to finish our

wood framing by early May. Looking for the building to be completely weather-tight in July. And then we’re going to be moving into unit turnovers in September, October, which is everything contained within the building.” The completed building is expected to be delivered by November of this year.

Starbucks Opportunity Cafe According to city officials, the Starbucks planned for Maple View Flats is part of a national initiative launched in 2015 to bring Starbucks stores to 15 “diverse low- to medium-income communities by 2018.” Last year, an Opportunity Cafe, which has been used in other countries, opened in East Baltimore. Approximately eight stores have opened as part of this program. The Starbucks in Anacostia would follow this model, according to officials with the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity. Similar stores designed to create job opportunities for youth and support local economic development have opened in Ferguson, Mo., Phoenix, the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., and Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, with other stores planned to open in Birmingham, Long Beach and Miami. These stores aim to strengthen local communities by creating jobs, working with minority-owned businesses and providing job training spaces for nonprofits to engage with local youth. “Starbucks at Maple View Flats would be a game changer for Anacostia!” Forest Hayes, senior advisor in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, declared in an email following the meeting. “We are determined to provide a fair shot for all District residents to share in the prosperity of our great city.”

Resident Reactions Throughout the meeting, a number of residents seeking employment opportunities rose to speak, along with those who offered personal insights and advice gleaned from previous experiences with community development work. Native Washingtonian Anthony Moore, whose father Robert Moore served as Mayor Marion Barry’s first director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, encouraged local activists to strategize and organize “before the shovel is in the ground.” Residents demanded that officials explain the circumstances of the city’s transfer of the Big K lot to Chapman Development for $1. Jauhar Abraham, an apparent informal advisor to Councilmember White, repeatedly said, “We need a meeting with Tim [Chapman].” Native Ward 8 resident Robin McKinney, who recently purchased a condominium around the corner from the development on Talbert Street, attended the meeting to gather information for herself and neighbors who have watched the vertical construction rise amid their panoramic sightline of the city. “Most of the constituents that live in this single member district, where the flats are located, want a Starbucks and other stores,” McKinney said. “We are ready for a positive change and we are moving forward.” Residents gathered last month seeking answers and opportunities at a meeting organized by Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White. Photo: John Muller

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Hunger Internationally, Nationally and in the District More than 100 Attend ‘Why’ Food Justice Conference

ick and Michele Tingling-Clemmons set a goal to have 100 attendees at the ‘Why’ Food Justice and Our Right to Food Conference, which took place March 23-25 at Kelly Miller Middle School (301 49th St. NE). On Saturday morning, they could look out at a crowd that had exceeded those hopes. “It wasn’t just the quantity of the people, it was the quality,” said Rick Tingling-Clemmons. “We had very confirmed, active food warriors come to the conference. They were the ones who gave it energy and juice.” Organized by the Tingling-Clemmonses together with the Gray Panthers of Metropolitan Washington and the Central Northeast Civic Association, the conference aimed to answer fundamental questions: why is there hunger in a country as wealthy as the United States, and why do we tolerate it? One in seven District families are food insecure, according to the conference program. The term is used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to denote households where nutritious and safe food are unavailable or difficult to acquire. 13.2 percent of all households in the District were food insecure as recently as 2015, and 4.8 percent of those households have ‘very low food security’, meaning that both adults and children skip meals and experience deeper hunger. In the program’s introduction, the Tingling-Clemmonses wrote that “We are the working class, the 99% who produce EVERYTHING, so why are we the hun-

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by Elizabeth O’Gorek

a conversation with a couple behind her. When it came time to pay, Douglas realized she was going to have to subtract some items from the bill. The couple stepped in to pay. “People do care,” she said. “They just need to know what’s happening.” Douglas pointed out that seniors have a particularly difficult time accessing food, even when they have the money to pay for it, in part due to the distances it is necessary to travel within Wards 7 and 8 to purchase nutritious groceries. Sessions at the Why Conference linked issues related to hunger on the international, national and local levels. Chloe Marshall of the Capital Area Food Bank and Philip Sambol of the Good Food Market Cooperatives spoke on a panel that addressed the myth of “Too Little Food, Too Many People.” On Saturday morning, Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Dr. Sabine O’Hara opened a plenary session addressing the main question: why is there hunger in the world’s wealthiest nation? Councilmember Gray (Ward 7-D) and Washington Teachers Union (WTU) Local 6 President Elizabeth Davis were among the speakers at the evening’s opening reception. Councilmember Gray, who was recognized for his “leadership in our Ward on the issue of tackling food deserts in our community,” applauded the work of Rick and Michele Tingling-Clemmons. He presented the two with an Honorary Resolution passed by DC Council recognizing their work. Gray noted the lack of healthy food access through-

Calling Michele Tingling-Clemmons and Rick Tingling-Clemmons long-time friends, Councilmember Vincent Gray (Ward 7-D) presents Michele with a Ceremonial Resolution recognizing the ‘Why Conference’ and the work of the Gray Panthers and the Central Northeast Civic Association.

gry? And further, why do we accept our suffering as normal?” Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Dorothy Douglas (7D03) attended the conference. She said that hunger in the District has always been a problem even for people who might not appear to be starving. “Just to look at a person, you can’t judge if they’re hungry or not,” she said. She shared her own experience from a trip to the grocery store many years ago when she had struck up

Rick Tingling-Clemmons, former ANC Commissioner and organizer of the ‘Why’ Food Justice Conference, after the opening reception Friday March 23.

out the District’s East Side, calling attention to the three bills he is currently working on to attract businesses such as grocery stores to the area. He issued a call for action to those present, asking them to support a legislative agenda that will combat food deserts in the District. “Let’s all resolve to do something,” he said, praising conference organizers and attendees for taking action on these issues. “We’re not going to take it anymore,” he said. The Tingling-Clemmons said the conference was a tremendous success. “It was a great thing, and it was the beginning,” said Rick, adding that there are already plans to repeat the conference next year. Conference participants left the event invigorated with plans for future action, he said. Two projects that are in the works are a Food-For-All bill and the creation of community politicaleconomy classes for the people. The Food-for-All Bill was the subject of a Saturday morning workshop. Food policy advocates on the panel included National Director for Justice Action Mobilization Network and Former Congressional Senior Legisla-

tive Associate Joel Segal. Rick said that a team of activists intends to work on drafting the bill under the direction of Segal, who possesses related knowledge and experience. “To have that level of consciousness among our people is what makes Washington, DC a great city,” said Michele Tingling-Clemmons, before linking the lack of statehood and representation to problems with food policies in the District. “We operate at a state level of function but we are not a state; and all these elements come to the fore when talking about food,” she said. “There’s a system organized to block us from getting what we need,” said her partner. “And we need to understand that so we can stop cooperating in our own demise.” “It all comes back to the question of ‘Why’?,” finished Michele. To learn more about the Gray Panthers and their work on food justice in the District visit the website of the Gray Panthers of Metro Washington https://www.graypanthersmw. org/ Contact Rick and Michele TinglingClemmons by emailing Michele at miricotc@ gmail.com.

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L’Enfant Trust Readies Renovation of Four Historic Homes by John Muller

or nearly a half-century a vacant two-story wood frame home has wrapped the corner of Maple View Place and Mount View Place in Historic Anacostia. Built in 1902, the home at 1220 Maple View Place SE, known colloquially as “Big Green,” is one of four long-abandoned cityowned residential properties recently transferred from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to The L’Enfant Trust after more than a year long administrative tug-of-war between the Executive Office of the Mayor, DHCD and the City Council. “The recent acquisition by the L’Enfant Trust is unquestionably a win for Anacostians and the historic district because finally, after decades, these houses, which are completely dilapidated, are going to be renovated and put back into use as residential property,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told East of the River. “The neighborhood is getting rid of blight, the neighborhood will be getting new neighbors and the city is getting rid of a safety liability it was incapable of resolving on its own.” The L’Enfant Trust is no newcomer to Historic Anacostia. In the summer of 2014 the Trust led the successful renovation of a vacant home on 14th Street SE across from Market Square and a dwelling at the top of Maple View Place SE built in the late 1800s. “The Anacostia River may separate Anacostia from other parts of the city – but all neighborhoods are important to the health and vitality of DC,” says Lauren McHale, President of the Trust. “We are taking these projects on as a charitable gift to the city – no taxpayer money will be used.”

Renovation Plan According to the Trust, 1220 Maple View Place SE, the largest of the four properties, will be rezoned and reverted to its original design as a two-family dwelling. Construction on the three smaller houses at 1326 Val-

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As “Big Green” at 1220 Maple View Place SE is a much larger structure, the Trust plans for renovation to be completed on a longer schedule. The home is expected to be put up for sale by late summer 2020. The Trust has secured two low interest loans from The 1772 Foundation, a family foundation in Rhode Island, that will allow for the rehabilitation of each house. The proceeds from each sale will be used to pay off the loan. “Once we have our conceptual plans, our hope is to have regular visits to ANC 8A, Historic Anacostia Block Association, Ward 8 Homebuyers Club and other organizations to give updates, answer questions, and to receive comments from the community. Whether you’re interested in purchasing one of the properties, have a concern, or you just want to know more about historic rehabilitation – we want to hear from you,” says McHale.

Resident and community reactions ley Place SE, 1518 W Street SE and 1648 U Street SE Throughout the protracted dispute over the properties is anticipated to begin late summer or early fall of 2018 numerous residents advocated on behalf of The L’Enfant after stabilization, architectural planning and permitTrust to elected officials and agency administrators. ting have been completed. Once rehabilitation is finished, the five dwelling-units will be sold as Workforce Housing to qualified buyers earning at or below 120% of the Median Family Income, targeting teachers, nurses, firefighters and employees of the District government. The Trust will be working with the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club to focus on workforce residents looking to purchase their first home. “The L’Enfant Trust does not believe affordable housing and historic preservation are mutually exclusive, and we see the value in creating quality affordable housing and increasing homeownership opportunities while at the same time respecting a community’s heritage,” McHale maintains. ““To further the level of affordability for these buyers, we will need philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, foundations, building material vendors, and beyond.” The Trust’s first steps will be to secure the properties, stabilize the buildings and begin working on conceptual architectural plans. The Trust has five years to rehabilitate and sell the homes, but their goal it to have the smallest A sign for the L’Enfant Trust was recently affixed to the chain-link fence that has three houses completed and sold surrounded 1518 W St. SE since last summer. Photo: John Muller. by late summer 2019.

Construction of Maple View Flats across the street from Big Green, slated for renovation by The L’Enfant Trust. Photo: John Muller.

“The community fought for the properties to be transferred to L’Enfant Trust because the Trust has the level of expertise and proven track record to restore these historic properties,” says LaTasha Gunnels, a homeowner on the 1500 block of W Street SE. “The L’Enfant Trust’s preservation of the four homes will improve the quality of life of the residents who live near the homes by reducing public nuisances of illegal dumping, rodent infestations, and other illegal activities,” says Gunnels, a healthcare professional. “The preservation and restorations of these houses represents a rebirth and renewal of our community,” says Oliver Spurgeon, a homeowner on 16th Street SE who serves on the boards of the United Planning Organization and the Historic Anacostia Block Association. “Rehabilitation of these houses is important, but it is about the continued resurrection of our community, home by home, block by block,” affirms Spurgeon. “It is not just about the physical appearance of the houses; it is about the next family who will call Anacostia home.” “The Anacostia community’s strong desire to save the buildings and

put them back into use is what made this cause so important to the Trust,” says McHale. “We’re glad we helped shed light on the benefits of community revitalization and historic preservation, but it is the community and Chairman Mendelson and the DC Council that championed the legislation to save these longvacant and deteriorating properties,” said McHale. “The transfer of these properties to the L’Enfant Trust is a small, albeit important step for the future of the very fragile Anacostia Historic District,” says Rebecca Miller, Executive Director of the DC Preservation League, a longstanding advocate for the preservation of historic residential properties within the neighborhood and citywide. “Hopefully, the positive outcome for these buildings will result in other dilapidated historic properties being renovated for productive use.” For more information on the Trust visit www.lenfant.org, www.facebook.com/LEnfantTrust or follow @ TheLEnfantTrust. For more information on the Ward 8 Homebuyers Club please visit www. mannadc.org or call (202) 832-1845

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Photo: Susana Raab, Anacostia Community Museum Archives.

Exhibition at Congressional Cemetery Examines Dogs as Gatekeepers Renowned South African artist James Delaney created and donated a series of six lithographs, sold in editions of 20, for the historic Congressional Cemetery. Simply titled “Congressional Cemetery,” each of the six lithographs in the series juxtaposes a dog with cemetery elements such as gravestones. Delaney’s first visit to Congressional Cemetery inspired him to create work that reflected what he saw – a bustling necropolis filled with life, canine life specifically, amid Victorian gravestones and tombs that resemble ancient Greek and Roman monuments and temples. The dogs in his series repre-

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sent a more profound metaphor for loyalty, as humankind’s most trusted companion, as well as the loyalty families show to their departed loved ones by creating majestic markers to remember a life once lived. Dogs also represent the guards of the underworld, the gatekeepers between this world and the next. In each of the lithographs, Delaney touches on this theme with subtle differences. “Grandness of Rome” depicts a puppy merrily strolling down a grassy patch, as large plinths emerge from gravestones which resemble grand monuments. In “Library of Alexandria,” the puppy has aged some and stands still, tail wagging. In the background, Delaney has collaged

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tomb. Here the dog stands guard with a friendly stance that seems to contradict the title of the work, which references the Styx, the fabled river separating the world of the living from that of the dead. The three-headed dog Cerberus kept the dead from crossing back into the world of the living. Perhaps Delaney has a more modern interpretation of death and the underworld as reflected in the dog’s rather docile and amicable stance, as it sits between the cemetery and the Anacostia River. The tombs and gravestones fade into the background in “Opulence and Apocalypse,” as the canine subject has its back to the viewer, tail upright, watching for what is to come. Delaney writes that the dog sees the inevitable coming, death. Last, in “Three Worlds,” Delaney quotes from the ancients, who believed in three worlds, one below, where the dead are buried, the world of the living and the spirit world where the dog seems to lie. The lithographs are on view at the Congressional Cemetery through April. Proceeds from sales of the lithographs benefit the maintenance of the historic property. Historic Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE, Washington, DC 20003. Visit the website at www.congressionalcemetery.org or call 202-543-0539

‘A Right to the City’

symbols taken from gravestones at the cemetery, each representing ideas, faiths and philosophies referencing the fabled library of Alexandria and the knowledge it stored. The dog ages more in “Lines of Pedigree,” standing regally and proudly, like one of the cemetery’s many gilded gravestones. “Crossing the River Styx” departs from the other lithographs in featuring a map of the cemetery in the background rather than a gravestone or

The conversation about Washington, DC, and its future has radically changed over the last decade. Like many US cities, Washington suffered from over a half-century of disinvestment and population decline after World War II, leading to “inner-city problems” such as blight and crime. However, Washington, like many of its urban counterparts, has experienced what sociologists call a “return to the city,” resulting in an increased population and massive realestate investment, leading to skyrocketing real estate values due to property scarcity. Conversations now center less on topics such as crime and blight, although Washington certainly still has its share of violent crime. Instead, dis-

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Anacostia River Festival Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Anacostia Park

James Delaney, “Three Worlds.” Lithograph on Rives paper, 38 x 56 cm. Image: Courtesy of the artist

cussions center on combatting displacement and income inequality. In this vein, the Anacostia Community Museum has produced an exhibition discussing this shift that asks, “Who has a right to the city?” The exhibition highlights Washington’s history of civic engagement and strong neighborhood identity. Examples of public action center on access to quality education, transit, equitable development and healthy communities.

The curators have focused their extensive research on the following neighborhoods: Adams Morgan, Anacostia, Brookland, Chinatown, Shaw and Southwest. Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum is located at 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020. Visit the website at www.anacostia.si.edu or call 202-663-4820. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Christmas.

tia-river-festival or call 202-889-5901. The festival will take place on Sunday, April 15, 1-5 p.m.

Get ready to celebrate the “Year of the Anacostia!” as the fourth annual Anacostia River Festival takes place at the National Park Service’s Anacostia Park at the corner of Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive SE, on Sunday, April 15, 1-5 p.m. The event is a premiere component of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and is produced in partnership with the 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service. While the core of the “outdoor” events takes place along the river adjacent to the 11th Street Bridge, and includes demonstrations ranging from fishing to bike safety, canoeing to hiking, this year’s event spills into neighboring Historic Anacostia. In Anacostia, along the 1200 block of Good Hope Road SE, Nubian Hueman will run an artist market as part of a series of arts programs including live music from Dior Ashley Brown and the dAb Band!, along with art exhibitions at Honfleur and Vivid Solutions, floral design classes at the Anacostia Arts Center and performances at We Act Radio, Turning Natural and Caribbean Citations. Local fashionistas will spotlight spring styles, vendors will sell fresh food and there will be hands-on art activities for people of all ages. For more information about the festival visit www.bridgepark.org/anacos-

Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center Hosts Painta Day 2018 Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center will host a daylong mini-art festival named after artist Shawn Lindsay, who also goes by the alias of Painta. The event, which takes place on Saturday, April 14, at 2 p.m., will combine works by Lindsay, including several of his painted series, and interactive stations which will allow participants to view the exhibition while simultaneously engaging with it. Painta, a Forestville, Md.-based artist and graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, cites the portraiture of artists like John Singer Sargent, Henri Matisse, Alice Neil and Jean-Michel Basquiat as his primary influences. Painta focuses mainly on the human figure with particular attention to portraiture. In addition to works on canvas, Painta will exhibit apparel on which he paints his signature work. Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center is located at 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20032. Visit the website at www.chacc. org or call the center at 202-505-1938. Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, dedicated to DC’s visual arts. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com.

Photos: 11th Street Bridge Park and the Anacostia River Festival

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Junot Díaz, Monsters and Ward 7

he reads. Classes gather for photos that prompt those who have not yet seen the renovation to respond: “Wait! That’s the Capitol View library?” In addition to reading, Díaz talks about how he works, enthusiastically asks the young people about their own writing and describes how “reading and writing muscles help each other.” But the conversation quickly coalesces around monsters.

Monsters, Far and Near

“Islandborn” relates how young Lola learns from community members about “the Island,” where she was born and how it was ruled for decades by “the Monster.” “Monsters aren’t real,” the first young speaker declares. Díaz agrees and disagrees, explaining that his home country was, in fact, once “taken over by a very bad man who was kinda like a monster.” The ruthless leader’s name is omitted, along with those of heroes who “banished the Monster.” Instead of raising historical detail, Díaz concentrates on the Monster’s defeat through people joining together. Díaz fields tough questions, such as why monsters hurt people, and offers to chat afterward with the 10-year-old who raised the issue of monsters killing good people. Asked why monsters in movies always trip, the author introduces the concept of “literary trope,” reiterating that monsters have weaknesses that can be used against them. “I don’t think [local youth] need to hear anything from me about the monsters they face,” Díaz said in a brief post-event interview. “If their lives are anything like mine, they know. The key is to help them confront and work through their experiences, forge friendships and solidarities.” Libraries, he added, are crucial to this work. “They are carrying all the slack for responsibilities that our society is abdicating. Libraries create communities for people to care about the civic and each other.”

Capitol View Renovations Support Expanded Programming, for Now by Virginia Avniel Spatz

uthor Junot Díaz, acclaimed for his adult fiction, just released his first picture book, and Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. NE, in Ward 7, is hosting one of his first book talks. Students from nearby Drew, C.W. Harris and J.C. Nalle elementary schools engage with the author, a New Jersey resident born in the Dominican Republic, about “Islandborn.” The March 15 event is being held in a large, bright meeting room which did not exist before interior renovations, completed in December 2017. The author uses newly installed equipment to project pages as

Where They Want to Be

Díaz presents students with copies of his new work, “Islandborn,” courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation.

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The youngest patrons move upstairs for story time, held in the new childteen space. For years, the second floor served various program needs but languished with no collection or permanent furnishings. Patrons of all ages used one fluorescentlit floor of worn-out collections and furniture.

DC Public Library renovated or rebuilt 20 neighborhood libraries, in an overhaul begun under Chief Librarian Ginny Cooper (2006-13), but improvements at Capitol View were delayed and funds reassigned. Many feared the library would be forgotten. “Old patrons have this look of amazement” when they visit the new second floor, says children’s librarian Patricia Ballentine. In addition to the “bright and inviting” design and furnishings, she says, the new collection offers “an abundance of diverse books, reflecting interests of the community.” DCPL statistics don’t show increased door traffic post-renovation, but Ballentine and children’s librarian Karla Wilkerson, who both served the “old” library as well, see increased interest in books and programs. “More people come to pick up books,” Wilkerson notes. “We have more space for display.” “It’s packed after school, with kids and families,” says Ballentine. “You see patrons enjoying the new collection, the transformation.” “People just light up” in the new space, Wilkerson concurs. The natural light is better, she explains, and the dedicated space allows staff to control sounds, use music if appropriate and add programming. They now offer three story times each week and a daily teen lounge. For teens, especially, Wilkerson adds, it’s important that they have a “place where they want to be.”

The Long Run “I am so glad to see this,” Díaz said on learning about the renovation. “I am sure it was not easily attained.” Some community members still fault DCPL for delays, lack of community engagement and a budget shortfall that resulted in no interim services for 10 months and interior-only renovations. Exterior work was funded belatedly, after community protest to the DC Council. So, Capitol View is closing again soon, temporarily, with service interruptions for interim set-up. “Inequality is real,” Díaz mused. “That we all deserve equally beautiful, equally well-funded institutions is an ideal that our society has not always lived up to.” Still, the book talk is a “great opportunity to energize students,” according to Modestine Welch-Davis, instructional coach at Drew. Watching students gather to enjoy their own copies of “Islandborn,” before heading back to school, she adds: “I hope they take some of this energy home.” “We keep up good communication with schools,” Wilkerson says, “so when there is an opportunity for collaboration, we jump on it.” The DC Public Library Foundation provided students with copies of “Islandborn” by Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa (Dial, 2018). Exact dates for closure, opening of the interim library adjacent to nearby J.C. Nalle Elementary School and reopening of Capitol View are not yet set. Visit www.dclibrary.org for construction updates and information about programming for all ages at Capitol View. Virginia Avniel Spatz can be found at the Capitol View monthly writers group and www.WeLuvBooks.org.

by Steve Monroe

“This year, JAM [at the Smithsonian] celebrates the relationship between jazz and justice by looking beyond the music to the dynamic ways jazz has played a transformative role in social justice, musician’s rights, and equality since its birth in America …” - Jazz Appreciation Month 2018: “Jazz and Justice”

Garrett, Puente, Thomas, Tyner lead April JAM events It’s easy to appreciate jazz in this April’s Jazz Appreciation Month, by enjoying the Smithsonian Institution’s JAM events, Kenny Garrett and McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente, Michael Thomas, UDC’s Calvin Jones Big Band Festival and much more music around town. As the Smithsonian, the originator of Jazz Appreciation Month, says of its “Jazz and Justice” theme, “To better tell this story, for the first time JAM will not feature a musician but instead highlight … Norman Granz, and his work as an innovative producer, tireless promoter for his musicians, and uncompromising advocate for civil rights.” Granz (1918-2001) was “one of the most influential impresarios” in the 20th century’s jazz scene, as the Smithsonian information tells us. Granz helped advance many jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson, to greatness, and his Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series is said to have marked a shift from nightclubs to concert halls and revolutionized the way audiences listened to jazz. In addition, Granz devoted his life to civil rights and equality, recognizing the power of music as a way to encourage desegregation. As a promoter and manager, Granz wrote nondiscrimination clauses into his musicians’ contracts and insisted on playing integrated concerts. Smithsonian JAM events include the George Washington University Latin Jazz Band on April 19,

Pianist Allyn Johnson’s UDC Small Jazz Ensembles perform on April 17 at UDC, and Johnson leads the UDC jazz band in performance on April 30 in the Calvin Jones Big Band Festival at the university. Photo: W.A. Brower

the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Ensemble on April 26 and the Big Band JAM! On April 27-29, with all events free at the National Museum of American History. For more on Granz and all JAM events, see www. americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz.

Elsewhere This Month The Kenny Garrett Quintet is at Blues Alley on April 14-15, with the legendary pianist McCoy Tyner at Blues Alley on April 19-20. The Tito Puente Birthday Celebration is at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, April 19. Master trumpeter Michael Thomas performs with his quintet on April 20-21 at Twins Jazz. There is a tribute to pianist and radio personality Marian McPartland at Westminster Presbyterian Church, April 27-28; and the annual Calvin Jones Big Band Festival, April 30, is at the University of the District of Columbia’s University Auditorium.

InPerson … Karen Lovejoy, WWJF Bluesy goddess of song Karen Lovejoy pleased a room full of listeners last month, at the jazz brunch at Anacostia Arts Center, on “Speak Low,” “Upside Down,” “Stormy Monday” and many other favorites with band members Nick Mack, piano, Emory Diggs, bass, and Lawrence “Bubbles” Dean, drums. Congrats to Amy K. Bormet on her eighth annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival last month, which included a rousing show before a packed house at Westminster with saxophonist Leigh Pilzer and her WWJF All-Stars, led by trombonist and vocalist Hailey Brinnel, pianist Bormet, Karine Chapdelaine, bass, and Ana Barreiro, drums.

APRIL HIGHLIGHTS: … JazzFest/Victor Provost, David Leibman, April 14-15, Levine Music/Silver Spring … Cloudburst, April 15, Jazz and Cultural Society … Tyler Cassidy, April 15, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … USAF Airmen of Note, April 16, Blues Alley … Carl Grubbs Ensemble/Dorsey Family Benefit, April 15, Eubie Blake Center/Baltimore … UDC Small Jazz Ensembles, April 17, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Recital Hall/Bldg. 46-West … Stan Kenton Legacy Band, April 18, Blues Alley … Charmaine Michelle, April 18, JACS … Twins Jazz Orchestra, April 19, Twins Jazz … Addison Brothers Salute Let-Um-Play, April 20, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Michael Thomas Quintet, April 20-21, Twins Jazz … Freddy Cole/Bethesda Blues & Jazz Youth Orchestra Fundraiser, April 21, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … Lena Seikaly, April 21, The Alex … Ravi Coltrane, April 21-22, Blues Alley … Freddy Cole, April 22, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … Steve Washington, April 22, JACS … Andrew Frankhouse, April 22, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Darden Purcell & Mason Jazz, April 25, Blues Alley … John Lamkin II Ensemble, April 25, Catonsville Senior Center/Baltimore … Veronneau “Celebrate Brazil,” April 26, Blues Alley … Juli Wood Quartet, April 26, Twins Jazz … Anthony Nelson, April 27-28, Twins Jazz … Tribute to Marian McPartland/The Three Divas, April 27, Westminster … Big Band JAM!, April 27-29, National Museum of American History … John Pizzarelli “Sinatra & Jobim,” April 27-29, Blues Alley … Calvin Jones BIG BAND Festival, April 30, UDC University Auditorium/ Bldg. 46-East … APRIL BIRTHDAYS: Harry Carney 1; Booker Little 2; Jimmy McGriff 3; Stanley Turrentine 5; Randy Weston, Gerry Mulligan 6; Billie Holiday, Freddie Hubbard 7; Carmen McRae 8; Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau 12; Gene Ammons 14; Richard Davis 15; Bennie Green, Herbie Mann 16; Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente 20; Slide Hampton 21; Charles Mingus 22; Johnny Griffin, Joe Henderson 24; Ella Fitzgerald 25; Teddy Edwards 26; Connie Kay 27; Duke Ellington 29; Percy Heath 30. Steve Monroe is a freelance writer based in Washington, DC. He can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com or @ jazzavenues.

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by Kathleen Donner

Young Playwrights Festival Young Playwright’s Theater’s annual New Play Festival features the amazing work of 15 talented young playwrights, from DMV elementary, middle and high schools. In three nights of performances, the brilliant imaginations and bold voices of young writers come to life. On May 7, night one of the New Play Festival features plays by elementary school playwrights. Night two of the festival on May 14 features plays written by middle school playwrights. And plays by high school playwrights close the festival on May 21. All evenings are 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $17. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.

Discovery Theater on the Mall On April 19 and 20, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., enjoy Tot Rock: Alex & the Kaleidoscope. Clap along, sing, dance, and improvise with Emmy Award-winning children’s arts educator Alex Mitnick in this delightful interactive concert of original songs about nature and all its creatures—including us. For ages two to six. On April 24 and 25, 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon, enjoy Happy Habitats. Follow a horticulturist from Smithsonian Gardens through the paths of the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Garden to discover habitat stations. Learn how plants, animals and humans live together and support each other. Leave with new insights about what makes successful habitats and how to help protect them. For ages 5 to 10. All shows are at the Smithsonian Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, on the National Mall. Tickets are $6 per child, $3 for under 2 and $8 for adults. discoverytheater.org.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park

Kids ages 4 to 12 can run the bases after every Sunday day game. Dates this season are: April 7, 14 and 28; May 5; June 9 and 23; and Sept. 22. An adult must accompany runners to the field. Starting at first base, kids will be directed to run around the bases as the adults continue along the warning track and meet the runners near home plate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First Street washington.nationals.mlb.com. Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club

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FAMILY & YOUTH CASTING CALL

Catch a fish. Examine it closely. Recognize what an amazing creature it is. Become an advocate and fight to protect fish habitat. These are all things DC Department of Energy the Environment (DOEE) wildlife biologists hope young people will do at the annual Family & Youth Casting Call on April 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Casting Call introduces kids, 15 and under to environmental education and provides a meaningful hands-on experience. Attendees are taught proper fishing techniques as well as the basics of catch-and-release fishing in a fun, supportive setting. Families may bring their own fishing equipment or use spin casting equipment and bait supplies provided by DOEE. Volunteer fishing instructors will be on hand to assist young participants. Other activities include watershed and pollution awareness games, fly casting, local boating and fishing club and camp information. This year’s event takes place along the banks of the Anacostia River in Anacostia Park, just outside of the Aquatic Resources Education Center and adjacent to the Skating Pavilion. Registration is strongly recommended. Visit doee.dc.gov/node/1294996. Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Energy & Environment

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Union Market Story Hour

LOC Young Readers Story Times

Politics and Prose holds Story Hour on April 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Union Market. Designed for all children under age 6, the program will be led by professional teaching artists and will include dramatic readings of favorite children’s books along with creative movement activities that explore the themes of storytelling, bravery, understanding emotions and diversity. This event is free. No reservations are required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Union Market is at 1309 Fifth St. NE. politics-prose.com.

Through August, the Library’s Young Readers Center will host story time on the last Friday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Tickets are not required. The event is free. Each story time will feature a reading of a book for children up to age 5, music and special guests. The programs will also be livestreamed on the Library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/libraryofcongress and on YouTube at youtube.com/LibraryOfCongress. loc.gov.

Bright Beginnings 5k

This is a chip-timed charity 5k walk/run at East Potomac Park, 1090 Ohio Dr. SW, on April 28 at 8 a.m. All proceeds go to Bright Beginnings, a preschool for homeless children in DC. bbidc.org.

The Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run on October 27, the day prior to the Marine Corps Marathon, is a one-mile just-for-fun running challenge for kids ages 5 to 12. Participants may select from six specific starting waves. Shuttles from Metro, post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. Registration opens at noon on April 11. All participants receive a shirt, access to the Camp Miles Family Fitness Festival and a medal at the finish line. marinemarathon.com.

Outside the Lines Two distant pen pals brighten each other’s lives from afar. However, when they magically switch places one day, an amazing adventure begins! This vibrant, nonverbal performance uses movement, tango music and projected images to celebrate our interconnected world. Best for ages 2 to 5. All patrons age 1 and above must have a ticket. $12. May 2 to 6 at the Atlas 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Arboretum Family Garden Days Join Arboretum staff and volunteers on the second Saturday of the month through October for Fami-

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Little Red & the Pigs What’s so bad about the Big Bad Wolf ? At last B.B. (Big Bad) Wolfe tells his side of the story, in rap, no less. Has the notorious pork poacher and grandma impersonator gotten a bum rap? Is he truly deserving of his moniker? This comedy includes lots of audience participation. On stage at Glen Echo, through May 12. Recommended for ages 3, up. Tickets are $12. Remainder of 2017-2018 season shows: Sleeping Beauty, May 13 to June 24. thepuppetco.org.

Judy Moody & Stink Third grade has put Judy Moody in a mood. She’s got to figure out what to include in her “Me” collage. However, her know-it-all little brother Stink

keeps getting in the way. When the Moody family drops anchor on “Artichoke” Island, they meet Cap’n Weevil. He has a secret treasure map. This launches them on a mad dash across the island in search of gold. But they’re not the only salty dogs looking for loot. Can Judy Moody and Stink outwit their competition in time? Will Judy finish her project? For ages 4, up. It is on stage at Glen Echo April 20 to June 3. Tickets are $19.50 and can be purchased online at adventuretheatre-mtc.org or by calling 301-634-2270. Have an item for the Notebook? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com

EARTH OPTIMISM DAY AT THE ZOO

On April 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., celebrate conservation success stories at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in honor of Earth Day. This year’s event features family-friendly activities, hands-on learning opportunities and interactive demonstrations. Zoo hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admittance is 4 p.m. Zoo admission is free; parking is $25. 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu. FONZ and the National Zoo host a variety of fun and educational special events and celebrations. Some are free. Some are fundraisers. All are a guaranteed great time. Photo: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

ly Garden Days. All are welcome. Enjoy learning games, nature crafts, garden work and fresh garden snacks. Suggested donation of $5 per individual. Space is limited. Register at washingtonyouthgarden.org/fgds. Washington Youth Garden is at the National Arboretum at 3501 New York Ave. NE. usna.usda.gov.

Shakespeare’s Birthday On April 22, noon to 4 p.m., enjoy Shakespeare performances, stage combat demonstrations and Elizabethan crafts. Don’t miss the Bard’s birthday cake. The event features sword fighting demonstrations, reading rooms tours, discussions from Folger curators and scholars and food trucks. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

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Robin Hood In this story from the traditional English folklore, Chris Dinolfo plays the title role. Our hero sides with the townsfolk against the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham and the even crueler, greedier King John. With his band of Merry Men and the lovely Maid Marian, Robin robs the rich to help the poor. Experience all the fun in Sherwood Forest: sword fighting, bows and arrows and miraculous escapes. Best for ages 4, up. Plays April 14 to May 20 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. Here’s the remaining lineup: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, June 23 to Aug. 12. imaginationstage.org.

THE WIZ AT FORD’S

Until May 12, ease on down the road with Dorothy and her friends Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion on their quest to meet The Wiz. In this adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s magical novel, Dorothy is whisked away by a tornado to the fanciful land of Oz. There, she and her sidekicks encounter munchkins, flying monkeys and a power-hungry witch named Evillene who vows to destroy them. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, The Wiz is a musical feast featuring soul, gospel, R&B and pop as well as exuberant choreography Ford’s Theatre. $20. The production is recommended for ages 8 and older. fords.org. Christopher Michael Richardson (Lion), Ines Nassara (Dorothy), Hasani Allen (Scarecrow), Kevin McAllister (Tinman) in the Ford’s Theatre production of “The Wiz,” directed by Kent Gash. Photo: Carol Rosegg

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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 East Capital Church of christ . . . . . . . 5026 E Capitol St NE 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 Emanuel Baptist Church . . . . . . . . 2409 Ainger Place SE 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 Pimento Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4405 Bowen Rd SE East Washington Heights Baptist Church . . . 2220 Branch Ave.,SE St Johns Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library . . . . . . . 5001 Central Ave., SE Marie Winston Elementary School . . . . . . 3100 Denver St., SE Subway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church . . . . . . . 3800 Ely Pl., SE

Anacostia Museum for African Amer History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation . . . . . . . 3030 G ST SE ARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1227 Good Hope Rd., SE Anacostia Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . 1243 Good Hope Rd., SE SunTrust Bank. . . . . . . . . . . 1340 Good Hope Rd., SE Unity Health Care Inc . . . . . . . . 1638 Good Hope Rd., SE Bread for the City . . . . . . . . . 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc . . . . . 2300 Good Hope Rd., SE Dollar Plus Supermarket . . . . . . . . 1453 Howard Rd., SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1526 Howard Rd. SE Dupont Park SDA Church . . . . . 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School . . . . . . . . 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center . . . . . . . . 601 Mississippi Ave., SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. . . 701 Mississippi Ave., SE The ARC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1901 Mississippi Ave., SE Neighborhood Pharmacy . . . . . 1932 Martin Luther King Jr., SE PNC Bank . . . . . . . . 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE Bank of America . . . . . . 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE C. Aidan Salon. . . . . . . 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE Big Chair Coffee . . . . . . 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia. . . 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE The United Black Fund . . . . . .2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place . . . . . . . . 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave., SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3400 Martin Luther King Jr., SE Assumption Catholic Church . . . .3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE CVS - Skyland. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2646 Naylor Rd., SE Harris Teeter . . . . . . . . . . 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Thai Orchid Kitchen . . . . . . . . .2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church . . . . . . .2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church . . . .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 William O. Lockridge/Bellevue . . . . . . . 115 Atlantic St., SW 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

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XWORD “Colorful”

by Myles Mellor

Across: 1. Barnyard honker 6. Scamp 11. Meadow sound 14. Sleeves go here 18. Eskimo abode 19. Before the crack of dawn 20. Church collection 22. Henry ___ 23. Colors on many flags 25. Prairie wildflower 27. Furniture from “The Office” 28. Starch resembling sago 29. Support provider 31. Pan-___ 32. Slide on snow 33. Twisted 34. Snarls up 35. Need to pay 38. Finish off 39. Sandbar 41. Shut out 45. Like Gen. Colin Powell 46. Before, to a sonneteer 47. Religious seat 48. Intro to operative 52. Wedding ending 53. Offense 54. Fall off the map 55. Protein particle 56. “Out!” 57. Zest 62. Soccer referee’s penalty 64. Harrowing experience 65. 1982 Nolte film “48 __” 66. Long ago 67. Put out of bounds, so to speak 69. Jeans brand 70. Cell with a single set of chromosomes 73. Tropical fruit 74. Law enforcement official 75. Pattern 76. Good to go 80. Royal in color 84. Weekend getaway destinations, perhaps 85. Dairy-aisle products 86. Big coffee holder 87. Beluga yield 88. Open, say 89. Partner of circumstance

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90. Fitness Center relaxation area 91. Cacophony 94. Econ. measure 95. Twitch 98. Go bad 100. Pub order 101. Time on the east coast 102. Crones 105. Unhealthy 106. Website contact 107. “Four Essays on Liberty” author Berlin 109. Perishable neckwear 110. “Hold on there!” 112. Legendary story 116. Order in a macrobiotic restaurant 118. Common bagel topping 121. “Let’s ___” 122. Highlands hillside 123. Cuckoo 124. Church part 125. Bills 126. Misjudge 127. Late 128. Passes through in circular motions

Down: 1. Surround 2. Curved molding 3. Goes with mobile 4. Take to the cleaners 5. Series of periods 6. Do a second draft 7. Tropical vacation land 8. Not very funny 9. Last, for short 10. It may be trimmed in a haircut 11. Sponge cake 12. Without exception 13. Make smile 14. Reluctant 15. Anger, with “up” 16. Not piquant 17. Kinswoman 21. Forecaster 24. Senegal capital 26. Revered poet 30. Hand woven Norse carpet 32. Understand 33. Cart part

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Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 35. Around 36. Dam 37. European erupter 39. Long-winded speech 40. Angling equipment 42. Native of an Indian state 43. Went crazy over 44. Crucifix 49. Zippo 50. Newspaper div. 51. Beatle wife 54. Useless, in batteries 55. Guy Fawkes pile 56. Move slightly

58. Court figures 59. Breakwater 60. Tokyo, during a shogunate 61. Start to peak? 63. “When Worlds Collide” co-author Philip 65. In the know 67. Rutabaga 68. Meeting points to address 69. Oodles 70. Honked thing 71. Venom source 72. Bro 74. Whacks

75. Piece of cave art 76. Cat types 77. Trim branches 78. Int’l workers’ assn. 79. Prize 80. Teacher’s charge 81. Drive 82. Years and years 83. Government branch (abbr.) 90. Canvass 91. Benin, until 1975 92. Of the hipbone 93. Fish catcher 96. Some prayer clothing 97. A street in almost every city 99. Pizza 103. Duds 104. “Lord of the Rings” setting, with “the” 107. Fairway club 108. The only one 109. Sinister look 110. Become tiresome 111. Farm worker 112. Liquify by warmth 113. Himalayan legend 114. Nicholas, for one 115. Half a matched set 116. Friend 117. Rural transport 119. Bio class abbr. 120. Possesses

Join in on

the DC Poet Project My Ancestors My ancestors picked cotton Worked hard stacked brick by brick The old say the young just scroll the mouse Facebook Instagram and click They call them the instant microwave generation smoke some marijuana now on high school graduation no job dedication but hand eye coordination quick on that Playstation

I, ME, ME, I can’t wait for the iPhone, new Playstation, Wii My ancestors just wanted to be free Free like, your night and weekend cell phone plan got welts on their back for being African when they wanted to be treated like a MAN! Now we drown our sorrow in beer from Big K liquor store Because we know we came here on a boat We ain’t get no ticket for!

John Johnson is a native Washingtonian and graduated from the University of the District of Columbia. He is a poet and playwright and has dedicated his work to capturing the narratives of African Americans that live in Washington DC. He recently has finished a project capturing the stories of residences east of the river called Anacostia Unmapped which can be explored at anacostiaunmapped.com

“The Aint’s Testimony” I met my first demon In a church pew Saw saints carry on like ain’ts So I became Confused Romans 3:23 For we all have sinned so if you falling short Why you worried about them? I met two more demons On the usher board I was floored When attitude and eyerolls greeted me at the door As though a simple smile was an arduous chore I’d meet three more demons in the alto section Fighting tooth and nail for solos Lord knows The demons in the church Are the worst Even God put an angel out the church Refer to the scripture/one of God’s favorite angels was Lucifer Many folk were raised in the church

Many more folk have fallen Due to false prophets And pimped out praise Manipulating the calling I grew up in the church So i know first hand How artistic flamboyant boys don’t stand a chance when Youth pastor preys on the baby more than he prays for them I never saw church hats or Cadillacs Stop one eviction Or my tithes flipped to start A small business So we all benefit I grew up in a church where the deacon would say He’s never seen the righteous forsaken But he only takes calls If you’re willing to get naked I’ve seen more demons in the church Than I’ve seen on the street But I need church folks to build with me A church that gave condoms and PREP Registered voters

Aiyi’nah Ford simplifies her life's work as creating a future worth fighting for. As a native Washingtonian, her experience (10+ years) as a political strategist, trauma-informed facilitator, and social justice art-ivist has been instrumental in changing regressive legislation on a local and federal level. She is also in full remission from cervical cancer. She serves as the Executive Director of The Future Foundation, a nonprofit based in Anacostia. In this role, her trauma-informed approach to leadership development and civic engagement has been instrumental in helping pave the way for leader-full youth and families. Aiyi’nah is also Founding C.E.O. of STAND Omnimedia™, a diversified digital media brand with a mission to

Paid parishioners rent Taught the illiterate to read and write What if each church let the homeless in every night And grew food in the first ladies garden What if church folk took each other to work If the church chip in on gas Folks will get their tithes worth Imagine if the sanctuary Welcomed the ain’ts How many would leave as saints I grew up in the church Met my first demon on a pew So many people broken and bruised Looking for refuge Wondering what pastors God will do Don’t be the demon they meet Show them god is love And accountability That the holy spirit symbolizes transparency And your church Could save your community

“STAND with and amplify the voices and cultures that are often silenced." Under this conglometate, she hosts “The One Mic Stand with SimplyNay” and has published “#SucessfullySingle: Confessions Of A Professional Dater.” Aiyi’nah has also contributed to such publications as “Love Letters To Our Daughters: A Collection of Womanly Affirmations” and “Shout It Out: Coming Out Black and Brown.” When she is not fighting for our collective liberation, she is sipping loose leaf tea, listening to Janelle Monae and wearing a #supportisFREE™ t-shirt. She is happily married to Eleadah "Elle" Clack. Together, they share an impressive collection of tea cups, shot glasses and protest paraphernalia.

The DC Poet Project was created by the non-profit Day Eight to surface the voices of under-served poets. Poetry is a tough profession, and one way that exclusion happens in the field is lack of economic opportunity for minority and senior poets. The DC Poet Project provides cash awards to open-micwinning poets. At the culminating event, which will happen May 5 at the Anacostia Library, all of the open mic winning poets will compete for a book contract, including $500 cash. The winning poet is selected by the audience. You can reserve tickets to the event via the Day Eight website - www.DayEight.org. Last year’s winner, Susan Meehan, worked for Marion Barry for more than twenty years as DC’s first patient advocate for alcohol and drug addicted citizens. Terrence Winch described her book, published by Day Eight, “Talking to the Night is populated with works that grab your attention with their clarity and fierce honesty.” Founded in 2005, Day Eight’s mission is to empower individuals and communities to participate in the arts through the production, publication, and promotion of creative projects. Day Eight runs an arts blog written by artists called Bourgeon, the DC Arts Writing Fellowship (a paid opportunity for early career arts writers), and various poetry projects, including the DC Poet Project. The DC Poet Project works through partnerships with the DC Public Library, Anacostia Coordinating Council, Upshur Street Books, and Brink Media