East of the River Magazine April 2017 by Capital Community News

APRIL 2017

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Earth Day Special

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Earth, Spring and Blossoms Protecting DC’s Waterways and Our Natural History by Catherine Plume

Our River: The Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski

DC Eyes Becoming First ‘Green Bank’ City by Christine Rushton

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The Bulletin Board EnventU Opens Career Paths for DC’s Students by Christine Rushton

The Numbers by Jodi Kwarciany

The City Takes on a Slumlord by Jonetta Rose Barras

Safeway Responds to User Complaints by Christine Rushton

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N E X T I S S U E : M aY 13

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56 The Classiﬁed 58 The Crossword

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Ella Fitzgerald (with Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, and Milt Jackson) by William Paul Gottlieb, gelatin silver print, c. 1947 (printed later). National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Lisa Ruthel and Anup Mahurkar. See Story on pg. 30

DC Prep Brings Life Back to Historic Anacostia School by John Muller

08 What’s on Washington 10 Calendar

Tours of St. Elizabeths West Campus

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Alpha Phi Alpha Mentors Better Men by Geraldine Washington

New Exhibit Shows History and Legacy of St. Elizabeths by John Muller

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

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The Wynter Gardener by Jessica Wynter Martin

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

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Notebook by Kathleen Donner

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Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative Hosts It’s Annual Business and Community Conference

CELEBRATING 21 YEARS WHERE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY COMES FIRST! FREE For All | Saturday, April 22, 2017 | Doors open at 9AM - 4PM St. Elizabeth’s RISE Demonstration Center and Gateway Pavilion 2700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., SE Suite 304 Washington, DC 20020 Office (202) 889-1425 | Fax (202) 889-2213 www.fsfsc.org @FarSECollab

Get Your East of the River Location

Address

River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School 420 34th St , NE CVS - East River Park 320 40th St , NE Safeway – NE 322 40th St , NE 6th District Police Dept - Main 100 42nd St , NE Ward Memorial AME 240 42nd St NE Kennilworth Elementary School 1300 44th ST NE Unity East of the River Health Center 123 45th ST NE First Baptist Church of Deanwood 1008 45th St NE Deanwood Public Library 1350 49th ST NE Hughes Memorial United Methodist 25 53rd St NE Capitol Gateway Senior Apts 201 58th St , NE Marvin Gaye Rec Center 6201 Banks Pl NE Watts Branch Recreation Center 6201 Banks St , NE Langston Community Library 2600 Benning Rd , NE Anacostia Neighborhood Library 1800 Good Hope Road SE Benning Branch Library 3935 Benning Rd NE Marshall Heights CDC 3939 Benning Rd , NE Kelly Miller Recreation Center 4900 Brooks St , NE Tabernacle baptist Church 719 Division Ave NE Randall Memorial Baptist Church 4417 Douglas St NE 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 Harris Teeter Thai Orchid Kitchen St Francis Xavier Church Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church CVS – Penn Branch Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Ridge Recreation Center Savoy Recreation Center PNC Bank Rite Aid United Medical Center Benning Park Community Center Benning Stoddert Recreation Center Union Temple Baptist Church Senior Living at Wayne Place William O Lockridge/Bellevue Bald Eagle At Fort Greble Covenant Baptist Church Faith Presbyterian Church Henson Ridge Town Homes Office The Wilson Building CCN office Eastern Market YMCA Capitol View CW Harris Elementary School DC Child & Family Services Agency

2646 Naylor Rd , SE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE 3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE 100 Randle Pl , SE 800 Ridge Rd SE 800 Ridge Rd , SE 2440 Shannon Pl SE 4100 South Capitol St , SE 4635 South Capitol St , SE 1310 Southern Ave , SE 5100 Southern Ave SE 100 Stoddert Pl , SE 1225 W ST SE 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW 100 Joliet St SW 3845 South Capitol St 4161 South Capitol St SW 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW 224 7th ST SE 225 7th St SE 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE 301 53rd Street, SE 200 I Street SE

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Have You Liked Us Yet?

Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 • 202.543.8300 • capitalcommunitynews.com Executive Editor: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2016 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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East Washington News, Serving the Ward & 8 communities!

Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com

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

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GENERAL ASSIGNMENT

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Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Karen Cohen • kcohenphoto@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Christine Rushton • christine.m.rushton@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com

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REAL ESTATE Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com Heather Schoell • heathersdo@gmail.com

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

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

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FletCher’s CoVe PArk run The Fletcher Cover park run is a free, timed run at 9 a.m. on Saturdays. The run welcomes serious athletes alongside enthusiastic kids, runners of different capabilities and walkers. And, not seen in the picture, somewhere in the back, Mayor Bowser, who surprised everyone one Saturday morning. It’s free. Register at parkrun.us/fletcherscove before the first run. Everyone runs for their own enjoyment. Every week the runners grab a post parkrun coffee in the picnic area by the footbridge, weather permitting. It is entirely organized by volunteers. Email fletcherscovehelpers@parkrun.com to help. Runners at the start of the first park run in Washington, DC, at Fletcher’s Cove, on Jan. 9, 2016. Photo: Andres Falconer

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Scene from the 2016 Virginia Gold Cup races. Photo: Isabel Kurek

Virginia Gold Cup The Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase distance races held on May 6 feature fence jumping, ditch obstacles, picnicing, drinking, a hat contest, VIP tents, tailgating, Kentucky Derby viewing and a lot of fun for horse lovers. The races are run before a crowd of about 50,000 people. Dress up or not and bring a picnic. The gates open at 10 a.m. A car with up to six passengers can enter for $100. Entry is by car only. Tickets are on sale now at vagoldcup.com. Th reference address for directions is 5089 Old Tavern Rd, The Plains, VA. The Plains is about one hour directly west of DC via Route 66. vagoldcup.com.

Courtesy of the US National Arboretum

Washington National Cathedral Flower Mart The All Hallows Guild’s antique carousel. Photo: Lauren Modny

Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, holds its annual All Hallows Guild Flower Mart on May 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features an irresistible array of festival foods, children’s rides, artisanal and boutique gifts, herbs and flowers, Saturdayonly tower climbs ($10), carousel rides, tea, puppet shows, white elephant tent and more. As a special treat, DC based embassies present their one-of-a-kind floral displays that tells each country’s story in a beautiful way in the Cathedral nave. Flower Mart is free and welcomes all. cathedral.org.

Azalea Peak Bloom at the Arboretum The time to go to the US National Arboretum is when their famous azaleas are in bloom. The early azaleas typically bloom in the second week in April; the late azaleas in the second week in May. Peak bloom is in between. Because of climate change, visit usna.usda.gov for updates. The Arboretum grounds are open every day except Christmas from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Editor’s notes: The R Street NE entrance is closed to cars after 2 p.m., weekdays. Bicycles, pedestrians, official visitors, volunteers, tours, and contractors are still allowed in through R Street. Cars are always able to exit through the R Street gate. Also, public tram tours through the grounds are no longer offered. usna.usda.gov. Smithsonian Craft Show

Rebecca Hungerford’s Leafy Vessel, spun, hammered, fabricated, acid-etched and colored pewter, silver wire, H:8.00 x W:10.00 x D:10.00 Inches. $400.

The Smithsonian Craft Show is at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, from April 27 to 30. See and purchase the work of 120 jury-selected American masters. The show features jewelry, wearable art, basketry, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wood and ceramics. It is open April 27, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; April 28 and 29, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and April 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. One day admission is $17: two days, $30. smithsoniancraftshow.org.

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more fruitful indoor and outdoor gardening experiences. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov. In Bloom and Studio Spotlight at Art Enables. April 8 to June 3. Art Enables presents two new exhibitions. The resident artists have been inspired by the changing weather. Browse the Studio Gallery’s newest, brightest and “cutest” group show, IN BLOOM. Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE. art-enables.org. National Math Festival. April 22, 10 AM to 7 PM. This free and public event brings together some of the most fascinating mathematicians of modern times to inspire and challenge participants to see math in new and exciting ways. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl. NW. nationalmathfestival.org. Happy Birthday, Will! at the Folger. April 23, noon to 4 PM. join the Folger for this beloved annual tradition, as they celebrate the birthday of the Bard. From Shakespearean musical and theatrical performances to sword fighting demonstrations to Elizabethan crafts, there’s something for everyone — including birthday cake. This is also the one day of the year when the historic Reading Rooms are open to the public. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

WAshington nAtionAls

April 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30. Nat’s Park. washington.nationals.mlb.com. Nationals Manager Dusty Baker in the dugout at Nationals Park on July 19, 2016. Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

APRIL

From the Regenia Perry Collection: The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination. Through April 23. Derek Webster (1934-2009) created sculptures from scraps of wood, trash and found materials. He adorned them with costume jewelry and brightly colored house paint. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Gateways/Portales at the ACM. Through Aug. 6, 2017. This exhibition explores the ex-

EASTER The Great Vigil of Easter at National Cathedral. April 15, 8 PM. Intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW. 202537-6200. nationalcathedral.org. Solemn Easter Vigil Mass at National Shrine. April 15, 8 PM. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com. Easter Sunrise Service at Lincoln Memorial. April 16, (rain or shine), 6:30 AM. Thousands gather annually at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate Easter. Lincoln Memorial. capitalchurch.org. Easter Sunrise Service at Arlington Cemetery. April 16, 6:15 AM. The Easter Sunrise Service at the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater will begin with a musical prelude. There is no rail service at this hour but parking is free. arlingtoncemetery.mil. Festival Holy Eucharist at National Cathedral. April 16, 8 AM and 11:15 AM (free tick-

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ets required); 4 PM, Evensong on Easter Day; 5:15 PM, Organ Recital. Intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues, NW. 202537-6200. nationalcathedral.org. Easter Sunday Mass at National Shrine. April 16, 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM, noon, 4:30 PM. Spanish Mass at 2:30 PM. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com. Easter Monday at the Zoo. April 17. Throughout the day, the Zoo will offer family-focused activities, including an Easter egg hunt with prizes for participating kids, field games, special animal demonstrations and live entertainment. Don’t miss a chance to meet Easter Panda. nationalzoo.si.edu.

SPECIAL EVENTS You Can Grow It! at the Botanic Garden. Through Oct. 15. This exhibit will help experienced and novice gardeners alike have

southWest WAterFront FireWorks FestiVAl

April 15 (rain date, April 16), 2 to 9:30 PM. Fireworks at 8:30 PM. Festival, at the District Wharf, 600-650 Water St. SW, features live music, beer garden, food trucks, all ages hands-on activities’ and more. Free. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

periences of Latino migrants and immigrants in four US metro areas: DC, Baltimore, MD; Charlotte, NC; and Raleigh-Durham, NC. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Afro-Latinos in Chocolate City Panel Discussion. April 15, 4 to 8 PM. Panelists discuss how being Black and Latino have shaped and informed their lives personally and professionally. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Finder-Maker at Honfleur Gallery. April 21 to June 3; opening reception, April 21, 6 to 9 PM. Artists Eric Celarier, Ani Hoover and Nicole Salimbene use trash to create powerful pieces of art by reusing cast off items. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. Gentrification (k)NOT Film and Discussion. April 29, 11 AM to 1 PM. Gentrification (k)NOT explores the meaning of the term gentrification; and how it functions as an element of a system that displaces people from their communities. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu. East of the River Exhibition at Honfleur Gallery. June 16 to Aug. 5 (save the date). Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. Forgetting is Normal at Vivid Solutions Gallery. April 21 to June 3; opening reception, April 21, 6 to 9 PM. In celebration of a personal milestone, live video artist Kylos Brannon presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forgetting Is Normal.â&#x20AC;? The artist will use video to illustrate memories from courses of his life, while illustrating scientific information about the brain and its functions. Vivid Solutions Gallery, Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. All The Way Live Tuesdays: Jay Mills. April 25, 7 to 9 PM. This is a monthly Hip-Hop Se-

4/15 2PM Jazz Education: Jazz Camps and Year-round Classes @ Francis A. Gregory Library 3660 Alabama Ave SE WDC 20020

EAST RIVER

4/22 6:30PM Monktified - The Reason Thelonious Monk Danced @ JAZZ@Wesley 5312 Connecticut Avenue NW, WDC 20008

PRESENTS

WWW.EASTRIVERJAZZ.NET 202.262.7571

4/23 2PM Ella Swings Lightly Anacostia Art Center 1231 Good Hope Rd SE WDC 20020 4/29 2PM Night Bird Song: Thomas Chapin Film Dorothy I Height Benning Library, 3935 Benning Road, NE WDC 20019 E ast

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ries featuring a diverse array of performers and musicians. Free. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Sugar Brown at Anacostia Arts Center. April 28, 8 to 10 PM. Sugar Brown, discloses her diaries through comedy and sexy burlesque dance as she experiences her first time becoming a submissive! Sugar Brown, the slinky alter ego of Lanita Shera, explores different facets of sexuality with her original productions. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Rare Beauties in Winter at Kenilworth Park. Saturdays and Sundays through April 30, 10 AM and 1 PM. Join them for an overview of exotic plants and a special tour of the greenhouse. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq. Garden Walk at Kenilworth Park. Daily through May 1, 2 PM. Join a National Park Service Ranger and explore the gardens, marshes and woodlands of Kenilworth looking for turtles, butterflies, spiders, birds and more. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq.

Tour; May 5, An Evening w/ Draco Rosa and Big G’s Young, Fly & Flashy Birthday Bash; May 6, Marsha Ambrosius & Eric Benet and Slick Rick & E.U. w/ Sugar Bear. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at 9:30 Club. April 8, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Mr. Carmack; April 11, Son Volt; April 12, Baroness; April 14, The Motet; April 15, Biffy Clyro; April 16, Betty Who; April 19, Clean Bandit; April 20, Oddisee & Good Company; April 21 and 22, Drive-By Truckers; April 23, Hurray For The Riff Raff; April 26, The Pretty Reckless; April 27, Balkan Beat Box; April 28 and 29, The New Pornographers; April 30, The Black Angels; May 1, Bonobo; May 2, Rostam; May 3, The Maine; May 4, Highly Suspect; May 5, Jacob Sartorius; May 6, Hot In Here: 2000s Dance Party. 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com. Music at Hill Country. April 8, Carolyn Wonderland; April 9, Selwyn Birchwood; April 11, Scott Kurt Duo; April 12, Hill Country Live Band Karaoke; April 13, Dallas Moore Band; April 15, Scott Kurt & Memphis 59; April 18, Wild The Waters; April 20, K. Phillips; April 21, The Highballers; April 22, The Woodshedders; April 25, Amelia White; April 27, Danny Barnes, Jenni Lyn; April 29, Rench (Gangstagrass); May 2, La Terza Classe; May 5, Bloodshot Bill. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at Sixth and I. April 8, Anoushka Shankar; April 15, Broadway Sings. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org.

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. April 8, Justin Jones and Summit Saturdays; April 9, Jain; April 10, Modern English; April 12, Union Brewing & Friends Records Present…INDIE DANCE Baltimore Invasion; April 13, Diet Cig; April 14, The Wedding Present; April 15, White Ford Bronco; April 18, Pigeons & Planes Presents NO CEILINGS featuring Boogie, Kaiydo, Kemba, and Michael Christmas; April 21, Parachute; April 222, Soohan and Summit Saturdays; April 25, Panama Wedding; April 27, Lucky Chops; April 28, The Wild Reeds; April 29, Pinegrove and Summit Saturdays. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-3887625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at U Street Music Hall. April 8, Maggie Rogers; April 12, Kate Tempest and Thomas Gold; April 13, Buku & Late Night Radio; April 14, Chaz Bundick Meets The Mattson 2; April 15, Mod Sun and Cyril Hahn; April 17, Sondre Lerche; April 19 and 20, Big Wild; April 21, Luca Lush; April 22, Will Eastman; April 26, Fenech-Soler & Knox Hamilton and Kilter; April 27, Too Many Zooz and The Gaslamp KillerThe Gaslamp Killer; April 28, Lewis Del Mar; April 29, Jazz Cartier and Bit Funk & Treasure Fingers; May 1, Coin; May 4, Zebbler Encanti Experience; May 5, Eli & Fur. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at The Howard. April 8, Meli’sa Morgan and Devin The Dude & Backyard Band; April 15, MAJAH HYPE: Dat Does Piss Me Off! Part 3 and Reggae Fest vs. Soca; April 16, Harlem Gospel Choir Easter Special; April 18 and 19, Todrick Hall Presents: Straight Outta Oz; April 21, Lizz Wright; April 22, Goapele; April 23, Rhonda Ross; April 28, The Sweet Spot DC: Make It Rain Edition; May 4, T.I. Presents: The Hustle Gang

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Music at the Lincoln. April 8, Lisa Lampanelli; April 13, Welcome to Night Vale; April 20, Ainee Mann; May 4, Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds-The Final Performances. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolndc.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. April 8, Justin Jones and Summit Saturdays; April 9, Jain; April 10, Modern English; April 12, Union Brewing & Friends Records Present…INDIE DANCE Baltimore Invasion; April 13, Diet Cig; April 14, The Wedding Present; April 15, White Ford Bronco; April 18, Pigeons & Planes Presents NO CEILINGS featuring Boogie, Kaiydo, Kemba, and Michael Christmas; April 21, Parachute; April 222, Soohan and Summit Saturdays; April 25, Panama Wedding; April 27, Lucky Chops; April 28, The Wild Reeds; April 29, Pinegrove and Summit Saturdays. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-3887625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at Black Cat. April 9, Damaged City Fest; April 10, Emily Wells; April 12, Why?; April 13, Heavy Breathing; April 14, The 9-Songwriter Series; April 15, Church Night; April 16, Sweet Spirit; April 20, Vita and the Wolf; April 21, Twirly Whirlt Burly-Q; April 22, Hat Band Showcase; April 26, Foreseen; April 27, Generationals; April 28, SNLs Sasheer Zamata and Bob Mould; April 29, Arto Lindsay Beauty Pill; April 30, Shonen Knife; May 2, Redd Kross; May 4, Tommy Keene & Ivan Julian; May 6, Black Lips. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Phillips Collection Sunday Concerts. April 9, Gould Piano Trio and Robert Plane; April 16, Lukas Geniušas; April 23, Anne Akiko Meyers; April 30, Quatuor Danel; May 7, Maxim Rysanov and Alexander Kobrin. Concerts at 4 PM. $40, $20 for members and students with ID; includes museum admission. Reservations recommended. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org/music. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. April 10, Danny Blew & the Blues Crew; April 17, Memphis Gold Blues; April 24, Vintage #18 Blues Band; May 1, David Cole & Main

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for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-730-0572. dpr.dc.gov. Deanwood Pool. Weekdays, 6:30 AM to 8 PM; weekends, 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-6713078. dpr.dc.gov. Ferebee Hope Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-6453916. dpr.dc.gov.

MARKETS AND SALES Friends of SE Library Book Sale. April 8 and May 13, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast. Ladysmiths Art Jewelry Group Sale at Arena Stage. April 22 and 23, 1 to 8 PM. The sale will showcase the work of more than 20 local jewelry and fiber artists. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. St. Patrick’s Episcopal Rummage Sale. April 22, 9 AM to 1 PM. St. Patrick’s Day School Gym, 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy. NW. stpatrickschurchdc.org. Great Brookland Yard Sale. May 6 (rain date, May 13), 10 AM to 2 PM. Individual yard sale times may vary. The sale is all over the Brookland neighborhood, in individual seller’s yards and across from Turkey Thicket at 3726 10th St. NE. Find a map on GreatBrooklandYardSale.com.

Mosaic’s A Human Being Died That Night Street Blues; May 8, The Nighthawks. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Tuesdays, 12:10 PM. April 11, Rebecca Kellerman Petretta, Laura Choi Stuart, sopranos, Amy Domingues, viola da gamba, & Jeremy Filsell, continuo; April 18, Nikolai Popov, flute, Vasily Popov, cello, and Ralitza Patcheva, piano; April 25, The Dvorak Duo; May 2, Washington Bach Consort. 1317 G St. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. April 14, Good Friday Special, 2017, Bowie State Jazz Ensemble; April 21, “Diggin’ Up My Roots” (CD Release); April 28, Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald; May 5, Jazz Academy of Music; May 13, Clarence Turner Blues Band. $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. Anderson House Spring Concert Series. April 22, 1 PM, The Singing Capital Chorus; May 20, 1 PM, Tobias Werner, cellist, and Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, pianist. Free. Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org. CapitalBop DC jazz calendar. Visit capitalbop.com for the city’s most detailed jazz calendar as well as an informative online jazz periodical by noted Jazz critic Giovanni Russonello.

(L to R) Erica Chamblee and Chris Genebach. Photo: Teddy Wolff

acceptance throughout the District. WithLoveDC offers free yoga gatherings at the US Botanic Garden. This program is first-come, first served with limited space available. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mats. No pre-registration required. usbg.gov. By George, Run! Registration Open. Registration is open for the George Washington Patriot Run 5K/10K Race at Mount Vernon on Sept. 10, 8 AM. Visit mountvernon.org/patriotrun to register and for details. Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for season. Will reopen in late June or early July. fdia.org.

DC United at RFK. May 6, 6 PM vs. Montreal Impact. dcunited.com. Yoga Gatherings at the Botanic Garden. Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy, and

Barry Farm Pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM. Free

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

TWB@THEARC Adult Fitness Classes. Adult Yoga; Mondays, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.; Adult Ballet, Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 p.m.; Adult Barre, Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m.; Adult Pilates, Wednesdays 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.; Adult Modern, Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.; Adult Zumba, Saturdays 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. These classes are $6 per class for residents of 20020 & 20032 (with ID), TWB@THEARC parents and THEARC staff. There is a $12 per class drop-in rate for all others. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

April 19, 7 PM; April 20, 11 AM. Prime Evil is what South Africans call him: a paid white political assassin currently serving two life sentences for crimes committed in the name of the apartheid state. Free. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com.

Spring Art Market at Del Ray Artisans. May 6 (rain or shine), 10 AM to 4 PM. Del Ray Artisans’ Spring Art Market, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, showcases original artwork from local artists in a wide range of mediums. DelRayArtisans.org/ArtMarket.

Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh Street SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturdays to Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com. Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays, 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW.

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. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens, 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202-352-7264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster.com.

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. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org. Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@earthlink.net. ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@ verizon.net. ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-340-5362. 7D06@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202889-6600. anc8adc.org. ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org. ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774.

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

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Earth Day East of the River E ast

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EARTH, SPRING AND BLOSSOMS Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. April. The Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup will be hosting an event weekends (plus some weekdays) during the month of April. Read more and sign up at fergusonfoundation.org. Tidal Basin Welcome Area and Performance Stage. Through April 9. Welcome area open daily, 10 AM to

7 PM; performances daily noon to 6 PM. 1501 Maine Ave. SW. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Flower Power 2017! April 9, 1 to 5 PM. Flower Power is part of the Anacostia River Festival and the closing celebration of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. On the 1200 Block of Good Hope Road SE, enjoy an interactive art installation, art exhibitions,

floral arranging classes, workshops, live music and spring fashion. This event is free and family-friendly. anacostiaartscenter.com/event/flower-power-2017. Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival. April 15, 10:30 AM to 6 PM. Performers and vendors travel from all over the country and the world to DC to share their love of Japanese culture and traditions with festival attendees through art, cuisine and performances. Festival is at M Street and New Jersey Avenue SE. Tickets in advance online and at the gate on the day of for $10. Children 12 and under are free. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Celebrate Earth Day! at the Botanic Garden. April 21, 10 AM to 2 PM. Come enjoy engaging hands-on activities and meet with representatives of environmental organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways to make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the plants that support life on earth. No pre-registration required. usbg.gov.

Rowing on the Anacostia. Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Anacostia River Festival

April 9, 1 to 5 PM. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival will focus on biking in the District and will also celebrate the new extension of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to Bladensburg, MD. This free event will encourage District residents and visitors alike to explore communities and parks east of the river. In 2016, the Anacostia River Festival attracted nearly 8,000 people. Anacostia Park, at Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive SE. bridgepark.org/anacostia-river-festival.

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Carlyle House Garden Day Herb & Craft Sale. April 22 (rain or shine), 8 AM to 4 PM. Purchase culinary and decorative herbs, plants and flowers raised in Mount Vernonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greenhouses. Sale admission is free; house tour is $5. Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA. carlylehouse.org. Earth Day at Kenilworth Park. April 22, 9 AM to noon. Spend the morning removing invasive plants, picking up trash, planting native plants and performing other park projects. SSL credits can be earned. Register at friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com.

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Photo: Courtesy of the Anacostia Watershed Society

Anacostia River Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration

April 22, 9 AM to noon. Join 2,000 volunteers in cleaning up the Anacostia River, its shores and tributary streams in DC and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Dozens of cleanup sites available. All supplies and equipment provided. Registration and information is at anacostiaws.org/earthday2017. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. Arboretum Garden Fair & Plant Sale. April 28, 1 to 4 PM; April 29, 9 AM to 4 PM. Sale features new, rare and hard-to-find plants, garden supply vendors, books, children’s activities, refreshments and entertainment. Bring garden questions to National Arboretum staff members for expert advice. The event is in and around the Visitor’s Center’s R Street NE entrance. Free admission. The Arboretum is at 24th and R Streets NE. usna. usda.gov. Bourbon and Bluegrass at President Lincoln’s Cottage. May 7, 2 to 5 PM. Lounge on Lincoln’s front lawn, sip bourbon and enjoy live bluegrass mu-

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sic. $60 for adults 18 and older; $30 to children, 12 to 17; 11 and under are free. President Lincoln’s Cottage is at Upshur St. at Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. lincolncottage.org. Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour. May 19 to 21, 6 to 9 PM. Mount Vernon’s celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, appearances by “George and Martha Washington” and live jazz on the east lawn overlooking the scenic Potomac River. Visitors may bring a blanket and relax on the lawn while sampling wines from 20 Virginia wineries. mountvernon.org. Volunteer with the Earth Conservation Corps. Reach them at earthconservationcorps.org/volunteer. u

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

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

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

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

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

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Protecting DC’s Waterways and Our Natural History

by Catherine Plume

hile “statehood” and voting representation in Congress continue to elude residents, in February DC gained a state fish and more authority to protect its natural resources. In signing the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016, Mayor Muriel Bowser granted the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) more authority to protect natural resources, oversee recreational fishing, and increase environmental protections for aquatic life, wetlands, and shorelines. Importantly, the act authorizes the mayor to impose penalties on persons who knowingly transport or trade in certain invasive plants and nonindigenous species. “As the nation’s capital, we need to lead the way when it comes to preserving our environment, and part of this work includes protecting our important local wildlife and precious natural ecosystems,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today, we are taking another step to ensure that our natural habitats are protected for residents and future generations to enjoy.” Mayor Bowser used the signing event, which took place along the banks of the Anacostia River, to unveil two new DC “state” species, designating the American shad as the District’s official fish and Hay’s Spring amphipod the official amphipod. Both species play an important role in DC’s natural history. According to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) is a member of the herring family that spends most of its life at sea and returns to its natal river to spawn. Historically the shad run provided a tasty and important food source during spring, when other foods were often in short supply. Shad was one of George Washington’s favorite foods. Overfishing and poor water quality reduced the stocks, but restoration efforts have enabled the Potomac’s shad population to recover somewhat. Per the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Fishery Management Plan, the harvesting of shad and river herring is prohibited. The Hay’s Spring amphipod (Stygobromus hayi) is one of three amphipods unique to the District and has been found in Rock Creek Park. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the little crustacean measures less than a half-inch long

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and spends its life underground. Its presence is an indicator of good water quality. While having a DC state fish and amphipod are conversation fodder, the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act does much more. At a time when the federal government is sending signals that it will be relaxing environmental regulations, this amendment strengthens the District’s ability to enforce and regulate environmental laws, especially along rivers and creeks. Tommy Wells, director of the DOEE, stood with the mayor as she signed the legislation. “The DC Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act is a sign to District residents and the nation that we treasure our natural resources,” he remarked. “It allows us to promote and regulate fishing while also providing us with the ability to levy penalties on those who introduce non-native species that can harm our wildlife (like the snakehead) or do anything to harm our waterways. This is a good bill whose time has come.” As the health of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers has improved, fishing has become a more popular sport. A fishing license is required for anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 and can be obtained online for a $10 annual fee for DC residents. Due to the residual presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants, DOEE has published an advisory for the consumption of fish from DC waters, http://doee.dc.gov/ service/fishing-district. Catch and release is encouraged. Have you checked out either of DC’s rivers lately? Spring is a great time to see them in all their ever-improving glory. Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot. com; Twitter @DC_Recycler. She is also a board member for the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club. u

INSTRUMENT RENTALS, LESSONS & CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS 801 D St, NE

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Our River: The Anacostia

Restoring Shepherd Parkway by Bill Matuszeski store Shepherd Parkway. Pannell gives him the credit for getting people organized for the cleanup of the parkway. “There were so many other issues in the community – housing, public safety, and so on – that it was tough to get the cleanup to be a priority,” he says. Major efforts have gone into removing garlic mustard, English ivy, and other invasives, as well as cleaning up trash. The committee, which Harrington chairs, advocates for hiking trails and ranger-led educational programs to make the parkway accessible for residents and visitors. Educating the youth about litter and invasive plants has been a priority. After years of advocacy, the Park Service has finally begun installing signs that identify Shepherd Parkway by its name. Local activist Brenda Richardson says Shepherd Parkway “was in dire need of attention, and Na-

Nathan Harrington and “Lambchop.” Photo: Bill Matuszeski

n the far southwest side of Ward 8, overlooking the confluence of the Anacostia and the Potomac, and continuing for two miles south looking out over the Potomac all the way to the Naval Research Lab, is a very special place. It is nearly 200 acres of overlooks and forests with the name Shepherd Parkway. The area was originally an important part of the ring of defensive earthen forts built around the time of the Civil War. Remnants of Fort Carroll and Fort Greble are still identified. The National Park Service took possession of the land in 1930, and it is managed today as part of National Capital Parks-East, with the parcels along the Anacostia, the rest of the ring of forts, and other park areas. There is no “parkway” to drive on; it has no roads and not even paths or trails. City streets and alleys run through neighborhoods along the east side of it, two or

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three roads cut across it to join the freeway and occasional grassy areas, but mostly it is a wild and unkempt forest, a wilderness in the city.

An Unlikely Advocate If you really want the word on the place, ask Nathan Harrington. A local school teacher who has devoted himself to the natural restoration, preservation, and public awareness of Shepherd Parkway, in 2009 he bought a house in nearby Congress Heights and was looking for a quiet place for hiking and running. Here was this magnificent linear park with views out over the rivers and beyond. But it had no trails, was full of invasive plants, and had been collecting trash and serving as a dump for years. Harrington’s exercise plans got diverted. With the encouragement of Phillip Pannell, then the head of the Congress Heights Community Association, Harrington formed what became the Committee to Re-

Map of the location of Shepherd Park. Photo: Google maps

than took it on as a mission.” Meanwhile Harrington’s efforts have broadened to other areas. He is the go-to guy for trash cleanups and gets calls from schools as far away as Montgomery County that want to help students complete their service hours. Sometimes, if no project is ready in Shepherd Parkway, he sends these groups to Oxon Run or other nearby streams where he helps organize the efforts. He has also volunteered to set up the Ward 8 farmers’ market every year. Last year he received the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Anacostia Hero Award.

A Little History Shepherd Parkway is special for two reasons – its wild state and its namesake. Alexander Robey Shepherd (1835-1902) was known to all in DC as “Boss” Shepherd. In a few short years as head of public works and as governor of DC (1871-74), he filled the open sewer that ran down the Mall and oversaw the installation of hundreds of miles of paved streets and sidewalks, sewers, water lines, and gas mains. He brought streetlights and horse-drawn streetcars to DC. On the one hand, he saved the city from those who thought the grimy and diseased place should be replaced by a capital in the middle of the country. On the other, he ran the place into so much debt that Congress repealed the enabling legislation for the city government and replaced it with stronger controls. In 1876 he declared bankruptcy and moved to Mexico where he invested in silver mines. He has remained such a controversial figure that his statue appears and disappears at different times from in front of the city’s seat of government, the Wilson Building. If you want to learn more, check out the just-published “Alexander Robey Shepherd: The Man Who Built the Nation’s Capital” by John P. Richardson, with a preface by ex-

Volunteer Capitol Hill staffers. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

mayor Tony Williams. Aside from the moving statue and a neighborhood on upper 13th St. NW and its associated elementary school, it is Shepherd Parkway that reminds us of the man and all he did.

The Future Because it seems so central to all these local outdoor spaces, Harrington and I

talked trash for a while. He sees it as a three-part problem with readily applicable solutions. First is production and the controls that can be put on packaging to reduce the amount of trash that people have to deal with. Second is disposal, having reliable and easy-toaccess places where trash can be contained and collected for disposal. Third is education so that people, especially

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young people, learn what can be done to reduce and contain trash as well as the damage it does to public places. Much remains to be done. Those trails and educational programs Harrington envisions are not yet in place. Playgrounds and picnic areas could be expanded, the ruins of the old forts given historic context, and events like concerts held more frequently. Pannell agrees: “We need to get more people in the community involved; most are still not even aware of the name of the place. The National Park Service should help put more of a family and community focus on what is there.” Harrington would like to see in Shepherd Parkway the kind of response that has occurred along Watts Branch in Ward 7, where the cleanup of the stream and the construction of the Marvin Gaye Trail have taken a place. Over 100 abandoned cars had to be removed, and the place was converted to a clean and low-litter park that folks use and enjoy in great numbers. Unlike the areas along Marvin Gaye Trail, Shepherd Parkway has historic forts and two known bald eagle nests to build on for public support and engagement. Harrington sees so much that could be done without endangering the natural feel and almost wilderness experience of the place. It requires community efforts and support from the city and the Park Service to make it happen. Richardson sees the day when Shepherd Parkway can be “a diamond in Congress Heights.” That would make “Boss” Shepherd proud. But he would want it done ASAP! Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, a DC member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River, and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River. u

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DC Eyes Becoming First ‘Green Bank’ City Mayor Bowser Proposes a Fund for Green Projects by Christine Rushton

evelopers and renovation projects in the District could get financial assistance from the city to prioritize “green” installations through a new bill Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed

on March 15. The legislation would establish the nation’s first municipal “green bank.” Mayor Bowser has proposed that the District invest $7 million per year for five years to fund a Green Bank from a transfer of existing and future allotments in the Renewable Energy Development Fund (REDF). DC has committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2032 and 80 percent by 2050, said Department of Energy & Environment Director Tommy Wells. That requires reducing energy consumption, which comes predominately from the heating, cooling, lighting, and other needs of buildings. “The only way to reach the goal is to retrofit buildings and ensure new buildings don’t contribute to the problem,” Wells said.

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How the Bank Would Work The Green Bank would not fund projects entirely but provide guaranteed low-rate loans and reduce the risk factors for private foundations or investors who want to contribute to the projects. If the project defaults on the loan, DC ensures it will pay first, not the other investors. “The idea is – if DC invests a guaranteed $1, then that could entice otherwise wary outside investors to then bring in $5 (in theory),” Wells explained. “High-end efficiency on energy use will save substantial sums of money over a long period of time,” he said. This saves money and may encourage the building’s owners and renters to explore alternative energy sources like solar power. In buildings that require retrofitting now, this could help make the upgrades better for the District and residents. “Take some of the buildings in Southwest, for example, that were built during the 60s and 70s,” Wells said. “It’s time for them to upgrade their HVAC systems. This will give them guaranteed low-

cost loans to put in high-energy-efficiency heating and cooling systems.” Wells said the fund could grow in amounts ranging from $20 to $50 million by 2023.

Other Bank Examples In Connecticut the state invests about $35 million annually to its bank, which started in 2011. As of December 2016 the bank had invested more than $1 billion in capital for clean energy funds in the state. The 2016 report also showed a 1:6 ratio for publicprivate investment in renewable energy projects: for every public $1 invested, $6 of private funding came through. Homeowners, building owners, multifamily complexes, residential contractors, towns and cities, commercial contractors, and capital providers can apply for funds from the bank. New York State started its bank in 2013 with a $210 million investment with plans to build it up to $1 billion. Projects can include solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources, as well as residen-

tial and commercial energy efficiency projects, electricity load reduction, and onsite clean generation projects. In August 2016 New York announced a $37.5 million deal for solar projects across the state with company Vivint Solar. The total project investment, including private funds, came to about $167 million. Since its inception the bank has committed about $305 million in 18 transactions, resulting in a projected $1.26 billion for clean energy projects. Mayor Bowser wants to join the two states as a leader in supporting green energy projects. It fits her commitment made at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement to cut emissions 80 percent by 2050 and increase renewable energy and clean transportation options. “By creating a Green Bank, we will create more jobs for DC residents, which will allow us to continue our push for inclusive prosperity,” she said. “We will take an important step toward reaching the sustainability goals set forth in Climate Ready DC.”

Looking Forward to the Change Mayor Bowser’s proposed Green Bank shows great promise, said Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, who chairs the Committee for Transportation and the Environment. “I’m very enthusiastic about this,” she said. The banks in New York and Connecticut have proven successful, and since the District’s biggest energy users are the buildings, Cheh thinks this method could help curb emissions and propel the District toward its goals. District leaders tried previously to create another way for residents to get support for pursuing green installations like solar, Cheh said, but that fell through. This new proposal from Bowser could encourage residents and developers to pursue green projects, and it would be feasible owing to a fund the DC Council approved in 2016, the REDF. Cheh looks forward to discussing the measure further. u

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GOODWILL SEEkS DONATIONS AND ShOPPERS

Goodwill, 2200 South Dakota Ave. NE, is open to receive donations Mondays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The adjacent retail store is open Mondays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Goodwill’s donations center and store is open daily except Easter. Visit dcgoodwill. org to find out about discounts and specials. From left to right: Trevor Dixon, Donation Attendant; Jordan Barney, Donation Attendant; Velvin Fitch, Production Team Lead. Photo: Courtesy of Goodwill

Anacostia Arts Center Call for Proposals Anacostia Arts Center announces a call for theater company proposals. The Anacostia Arts Center is committed to providing a space to nurture performance artists and writers. Take advantage of this opportunity for funding. There are four possible levels of incubation for prospective companies. The submission deadline is May 1. Email arts@archdc.org for details.

Call for Exhibition Proposals ARCH’s creative team is looking for exhibition proposals for their 2018 season in Honfleur Gallery and Vivid Solutions Gallery. Due May 1. Apply at archdevelopment.org.

Well-Being and the Natural World Community Forum In the effort to reclaim and restore the natural world and prepare for the inevitable challenges of a changing climate, how much emphasis is placed on the importance of the various impacts on the population’s well-being? On May

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6, 2 to 4 p.m., the discussion will explore the emotional impacts a disconnection from the natural world can have on the community and the necessity of re-establishing such relationships. What power can stewardship have in forming a young person’s world view and sense of civic obligation? How can nature be used as a mediator, a place of healing as communities tackle the multitude of inter-related challenges facing them and advocate for healthy, equitable, sustainable communities? Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

Frederick Douglass National historic Site Quarter Launched The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is featured on a new quarter. On April 4, the National Park Service and the US Mint launched the quarter at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. This is the 37th coin to be released in the new America the Beautiful Quarters Program. More information can be found at usmint.gov.

help Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups every second Saturday of the

month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark your calendar: May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 13, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X avenues SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments are provided. Wear boots and work clothes. There is an open invitation to colleges, schools, churches, offices and other groups who wish to leave their mark on Shepherd Parkway. Pick a date and time. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange a group volunteer experience.

Potomac Watershed Clean-up at ThEARC Farm On April 22, 10 a.m., THEARC Farm is partnering with the Alison Ferguson Foundation to clean up the creek behind farm. Come out on Earth Day and help them clean up the creek and help with restoring the local eco-system. Sign-up to volunteer at tinyurl.com/ THEARCEARTHDAY.

Community Tree Planting at ThEARC Farm On April 25, 10 a.m., THEARC Farm is partnering with Casey Tree’s to add 12 fruit and shade trees to their orchard. Have breakfast and lunch on them while helping plant. RSVP at eventbrite.com.

Saturday Crochet Circle at Francis A. Gregory Library All levels are welcome to join in every second and

fourth Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to noon. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE. 202-698-6373. dclibrary.org/francis.

Community Resources Fair for People with Disabilities The DC Department on Disability Services will host a Community Resource Fair on Thursday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at RISE Demonstration Center, 2739 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. The Community Resource Fair is an opportunity for people with disabilities and their families to learn about support services available from an array of providers offering: Adult Day Services, Transition Services for Students and Youth with disabilities, Clinical and Wellness Support Financial Literacy and Employment Services. For more information, contact Alonzo Brown at Alonzo. brown@dc.gov or call 202-368-7093.

Anacostia Riverkeeper Free Public Boat Tours Remaining April tours are April 14, 10: 30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; April 15, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and April 20, 10 a.m. to noon. All tours leave from Diamond Teague Park, next to Nationals Stadium. Sign up at info@ anacostiariverkeeper.org.

Washington Nationals “Pups in the Park” Games

Mosaic Announces Season Three lineup Compelled to respond to changing and challenging times in our country, the 2017-18 Mosaic Theater season three grapples with our current political climate, celebrating outspoken heroines of fluid gender and sexuality in two new musicals. The productions embrace documentary inspired reportage, sharp political and social satire and stirring family drama. Here’s the lineup: The Devil’s Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith, Aug. 24 to Sept, 24; Vicuna & An Epilogue, Nov. 1 to 26; The Real Americans, Nov. 10 to Dec. 22; Draw the Circle, Dec. 1 to 24; Queens Girl in Africa, Jan. 4 to 28; Paper Dolls, March 29 to April 22; Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies, May 2 to June 3; The Vagrant Trilogy (Parts 1 & 11), May 31 to June 24; Urge For Going (Part 111 of the Vagrant Trilogy). Mosaic Theater, whose performances are at the Atlas on H Street, offers $30 tickets any day of the week to Northeast and Southeast neighbors who live in zip codes 20002, 20003, 20017, 20018, 20019, 20020 or 20032. Students and those under 30 may purchase $20 tickets any day. mosaictheater.org.

Educational Sessions on Tenant Rights

Purchase a discounted ticket for the family or favorite pet and support the Washington Humane Society. All those with tickets purchased for Pups in the Park must enter through the Right Field Gate. Before entering drop off a signed waiver for up-to-date shots. All Pups in the Park attendees must print, sign and bring the Waiver Form with them to Nationals Park. For more information, visit washington.nationals.mlb.com. Pups in the Park Games are April 29, 1:05 p.m. vs. Mets; May 13, 7:05 p.m. vs. Phillies; June 10, 12:05 p.m. vs. Rangers; June 25, 1:35 p.m. vs. Reds; Sept. 7, 7:05 p.m. vs. Phillies; Sept. 30, 7:05 p.m. vs. Pirates.

The DC Office of the Tenant Advocate will present educational sessions on tenant rights on April 26, 6 p.m.; May 20, noon; June 28, 6 p.m.; July 29, noon; and Aug. 30, 6 p.m., at Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW, suite 300N. Renters 101 is designed to provide DC tenants with information on their rights and responsibilities. Topics include leases, security deposits, how to handle housing code problems, landlord disclosures required by law, reasonable notice by landlord to enter property, evictions and quiet enjoyment. Call the Office of the Tenant Advocate at 202719-6560 to reserve a space or email delores.anderson@dc.gov. Accommodations requests must be submitted at least five days in advance. ota.dc.gov.

Swimmers Register for DC Senior Games

CAAB’s Financial Education Class at Anacostia Library

This year’s games are May 6 and 7 at Takoma Community Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. The competition is open to swimmers 50 and older. For more information, contact Rodger McCoy at 202-621-4963 at or email dcsgswimming@dcwaterwizards.com

During this free two-hour, interactive and engaging workshop learn how to gain control of finances by acquiring knowledge of relationships with money, how to budget, how to properly utilize credit, be aware of financial rights and set up for success on how to save

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National Portrait Gallery Celebrates Ella Fitzgerald 100th Birth Anniversary

April 25 marks the 100th birthday of American jazz and popular song vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will recognize the anniversary by displaying her photograph by William Gottlieb for the first time in the museum. Fitzgerald’s portrait will be on view from April 13 to May 14 in the museum’s “Celebrate” space on the first-floor north gallery. The photograph pictures Fitzgerald in performance, flanked by Ray Brown (left), Dizzy Gillespie (right) and Milt Jackson (far right). It was taken around 1947 by William P. Gottlieb (1917–2006), who learned to use a camera so that he could produce images to accompany his weekly music column for The Washington Post. Today, Gottlieb’s photographs of jazz musicians from 1930s and ’40s are regarded as invaluable visual records of jazz’s Golden Age. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and F Streets NW. Visiting hours are 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily except Christmas. npg.si.edu. Ella Fitzgerald (with Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, and Milt Jackson) by William Paul Gottlieb, gelatin silver print, c. 1947 (printed later). National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Lisa Ruthel and Anup Mahurkar

Free Small Business Legal Advice Clinic There is a Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic on Wednesday, April 12, 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, 1100 Fourth St. SW, Second Floor. This clinic is for aspiring or existing small business owners. Attendees will meet one-on-one with attorneys for brief advice on any legal issues their businesses may be facing. and invest for a better future. The class is on April 18, 6 p.m., at Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Register at caab.org.

Call for Photo Entries Attend the inauguration or any of the marches or protests between January 19 and 21? Gallery O on H, 1354 H St. NE, is looking for photos for a public exhibit from June 20 to July 28. The collected submitted photos will become a visual time tunnel challenging the viewer to reflect on how they have related to, reacted to, resisted, and re-committed in the six months since Jan. 20. The gallery is seeking a broad range of submissions from all levels of photographers. It also seeks original signs and placards used in the marches and protests. Images are requested in electronic format only. The Gallery will print the photos on individual sheets. There is no fee for submissions; the maximum number is five. Include photo credit information with each entry. Complete details can be found at galleryoonh.submittable.com/submit. The submission deadline is May 23. galleryoonh.com.

Line Dancing at William O. Lockridge Library On April 22 and 29 and May 13 and 20, 11 a.m. to noon, come out with dancing shoes on and join Patricia Sanker as she teaches the latest line dances. Patricia Sanker is a Certified Instructor in Line Dancing, Zumba, Aerobics Rector, and Pound Certified/Coach Life Wellness. Lessons are held at Bellevue Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW. dclibrary.org/bellevue.

Ward 8 Farmers’ Market The market is closed for the winter and will return on June 3, 2017. Check ward8farmersmarket.com this month for details on location and hours.

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Open Call for DC Comprehensive Plan Amendments The Comprehensive Plan is the 20-year plan the District government uses to guide future development. It contains the maps and policies that influence the neighborhoods where people live, work, shop and play, as well as the investments the city makes in its services and infrastructure. Read more at planning.dc.gov. Office of Planning has added a lot of useful information to the Comprehensive Plan website at plandc. dc.gov, including an extensive FAQs page, an Evaluation Framework outlining how proposed amendments will be reviewed and an Engagement Calendar with staffed “office hours” across the city. Residents are asked to help spread the word to those who may wish to propose a Comp Plan amendment. The open call deadline is May 26.

Immigration Scam DC Attorney General Racine has warned immigrant communities of a potential scam involving persons posing as federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and placing bogus Search/Removal Warrants on homes. The warrants threaten the occupants with searches and potential removal. They may be part of an effort to con residents of immigrant communities into sharing important personal financial information or to coerce them into making payments to avoid further action. The warrants purport to be signed and issued by a Judge with the United Stated District Court. They are not formatted correctly and contain false case captions and numbers. Receive a suspicious search warrant or similar item posted on your home? Answer a phone call from someone claiming to be a government agent and demand-

ing money? Been contacted by someone who may be falsely claiming to be a government official? Call the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 202-442-9828.

MPD’s Police Cadet Training Program Expanded Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has announced a $1.6 million investment in the expansion of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Police Cadet Training Program. The investment will allow MPD to increase the number of Police Cadets from 35 to 70. MPD’s Police Cadet Training Program allows high school graduates in DC to attend the University of the District of Columbia on a full tuition scholarship, while also working for MPD. Upon attaining 60 credit hours, the Cadets are eligible to become MPD Recruits and complete their Police Academy training. More information is available at mpdc.dc.gov.

Spring Ceremonies at the WWII Memorial This spring, join the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to mark the 75th anniversaries of the daring Doolittle Raid, April 18; the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea, May 4; and the decisive Battle of Midway, June 3. The Friends invite the public to celebrate V-E Day on May 8, and commemorate Memorial Day on May 29, and D-Day on June 6, at the World War II Memorial. Know of a WWII veteran, or know of one who would like to participate in any of these ceremonies, email hrotondi@wwiimemorialfriends.org.

Call for Graffiti and Aerosol Mural Artists The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) in partnership with the DC Department of Public Works seeks graffiti artists and artist teams to design, create and install aerosol murals. Selected artists will work with youth interested in graffiti art, introducing and refining each student’s artistic skill in the discipline of graffiti style sketch work and aerosol mural painting. Details are at dcarts.dc.gov/node/1225606. For additional information or assistance, visit DCArts. dc.gov, email cah@dc.gov or call 202-724-5613. Applicants must submit their applications through CAH’s online portal by April 14, at 4 p.m.

Tours of the Carter G. Woodson Home Offered Be one of the first visitors to step inside the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, 1538 Ninth St. NW. In celebration of National Park Week, tours will be available April 21 to 23. Please note that the site is still undergoing rehabilitation and is open this weekend by special exception. Space is limited. Call 202-690-5152 to make a reservation.

who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch to chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramine from tap water are effective in removing chlorine. Individuals with special health concerns should consult a health care provider on the use of tap water. dcwater.com.

Improving Driver Safety on BWI Parkway

Vision DC: Arts and Urban Innovation Summit

The National Park Service is removing hazardous trees and invasive plants to widen the clear zone along the Baltimore-Washington (BWI) Parkway. A wider clear zone will improve road and environmental conditions and increase visibility and safety for drivers. Through April 14, drivers should expect to see crews removing immature, invasive or unhealthy trees along the southbound lanes from Powder Mill Road to US Route 50.

On April 24, CulturalDC, Washington’s leading arts place-maker and presenter, will host VISIONDC, Arts and Urban Innovation Summit. The event will provide an opportunity for artists, real estate developers, policymakers, business leaders and the public to consider the creative trajectory of growth in the District. Featuring Washington’s first ever Art Tank, VISIONDC promises urban development in real time as a group of investors judge concepts for groundbreaking arts projects. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to watch as winning concepts are funded. At the summit, nationally recognized entrepreneurs, artists and commercial developers will explore gentrification in Washington’s neighborhoods and strategies that are being considered to foster equitable growth. How can creative thinking can be employed to address challenges and drive economic development while considering social issues in urban areas? How can crowdsourcing can be used to invest in developing creative communities? VISIONDC is at Arena Stage and is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased at visiondc.org.

Donate Wall Space to MuralsDC With more than 50 murals in every ward of the city, MuralsDC has made a definitive impact on the city’s public landscape. Murals not only help to revitalize corridors, they can increase the marketability of property and promote tourism. Walking and biking tours of MuralsDC murals are requested and led each year with hundreds of people who want to learn the historical and symbolic elements expressed through the art work. Go to muralsdcproject.com for information about donating wall space.

Spring Cleaning for DC Water Pipes Through April 17, the disinfectant in drinking water that DC Water provides to its 681,000 customers will temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine. The annual spring-time switch in water disinfection is part of a routine program to clean and maintain the drinking water system. During this time, individuals may notice a slight change in the taste and smell of their drinking water. Water authorities recommend running the cold water tap for approximately two minutes and refrigerating tap water to reduce the chlorine taste and odor. Water filters are also effective for reducing chlorine taste and odor. Individuals and business owners

DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Session On April 19, 6:30 to 8 p.m., come to the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW, and learn how to purchase your home using a DC Open Doors mortgage product. The class is free and co-hosted by the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, a lender (Chris Boston, Fitzgerald Financial Group) and realtor (Ericka Black, Coldwell Banker). dcopendoors.com. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0023-2017

EXTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) DCHA requires external auditing services for DCHA, the primary government, and its affiliates. 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, April 3, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Contact LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lmmcleod@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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EnventU Opens Career Paths for DC’s Students Collaboration with Ballou High School’s Hospitality Academy article by Christine Rushton & photos by Jai Williams | EnventU

hanya Lesane thought she would give law a try as a career after she graduates from Ballou High School (3401 Fourth St. SE) in Ward 8. The 11th-grade student has several family members in the profession and it seemed like a reasonable choice. But she had a chance to participate in the extensive events industry in the heart of DC through a program called EnventU with Ballou’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Now she sees her fu-

EnventU student’s vision boards answer ‘What’s your dream event?’

ture taking a new path. “Before I knew about EnventU, I didn’t know anything about event planning,” Lesane said. “It opened my eyes.” Lesane is one of several students enrolled in the hospitality academies at Woodrow Wilson High School (3950 Chesapeake St. NW) and Ballou who have had the opportunity to work real events in DC from conception to completion. Since EnventU launched in the fall of 2015, the program has offered students 10week courses that take them on field trips, pair them with mentors in the professional eventEnventU takes students outside the classroom at Frank W. Ballou High School.

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planning industry, and show them how to plan everything from cultural gatherings to concerts to full galas. Program founder and Executive Director Latoya Lewis started the collaboration with DC’s high schools in order to show students a career often overlooked.

Opening the Door to the Events Industry

Lewis has made her life in event planning, but like Lesane she didn’t realize it could turn into a career initially. After researching the industry she discovered many opportunities in event planning, especially in an active city like DC. “I’ve always wanted to reach back and show others a generation behind me that there is really a career path for everyone,” Lewis said. “I love events and I love the event industry.” Event planning can include multiple paths, from floral arranging, catering, and overall coordination to marketing strategies, lighting, decor, and audiovisual effects. It also incorporates creativity and leadership skills. Lewis wanted to bring these opportunities to a younger generation through her nonprofit organization, EnventU, and found a partner in the hospitality programs at Wilson and Ballou. The students take courses through the academies and EnventU brings in mentors and professionals to enhance the learning process. EnventU also gives the students a chance to work a real event, which satisfies one of their curriculum requirements. “They’re constantly working with myself and other mentors,” Lewis said. “When you work with adults you’re pushing that next level of young adulthood: How do you conduct yourself when you’re in a professional world?” This spring, students at Ballou have started helping Lewis put together a barbeque event with Old Blue BBQ catering in Alexandria. To prepare the event, scheduled for April at the Carderock Pavilion on the Potomac in Maryland, Lewis drops into the Ballou classroom each week to plan a portion of the event. During one session Lewis had the students looking at the invitations and marketing. One student commented that it looked like an ad for Old Blue instead of an invita-

The Numbers tion. Lewis takes those comments and opinions to heart in the overall design, she said. This year, event partner Old Blue has given the students even more of an opportunity. “Not only are they hoping to produce it,” said Lewis, “but a couple of the students were hired for summer jobs.” With the summer job program taking off, Lewis hopes to expand her partnership to the Columbia Heights Education Campus (3101 16th St. NW) and the Maya Angelou Public Charter School (5600 East Capitol St. NE).

Bringing in New Life, Creativity

Nick Perez remembers when Lewis approached him in fall 2015 about working with high school students in his floral-arrangements business, Multiflor. He had never worked with students before, but the three-month program opened his eyes to the industry’s possibilities and theirs, he said. “Most people, regardless of their background, really aren’t aware of the depths of the industry – how many layers, how many facets,” he noted. Perez worked with the students from inception to completion. “We started from a very basic standpoint, looking at the florals as part of a larger picture, a piece of the puzzle,” he said. “Whether it’s color scheme, style, budget, we just started from a very basic and general place.” Students came to his shop on the day of the event to help arrange, and then finished with the installation. Perez viewed the experience as a chance to bring a younger perspective and creativity to the market. It also brings a more diverse cultural background. In DC it sometimes seems most of the event planners who own businesses are white women. Opening up this collaborative program with EnventU could help bring more minority groups into ownership. EnventU and working with students is rewarding, self-fulfilling and does a great service to the market, Perez said. “The interpersonal relationships, how open the students were to me, to the whole program – I was very pleased by that.”

Finding a Path after High School

Lesane had an idea of what high school at Ballou would mean to her at the start. “I just thought I was going to come, do the four years, and leave,” she said. But after entering the hospitality program and participating in four EnventU events, she knows she wants more from her high school education. She wants to explore the events industry. “I can do it,” she said. “I love when we finish and I see the customer’s face.”

How Bowser Can Make the Most of DC’s Upcoming Budget

by Jodi Kwarciany

s spring hits the District, there are plenty of things we can expect: more sunlight, warmer temperatures, and of course, tourists. And early Aprilwill also bring the release of Mayor Bowser’s annual budget, which will help shape the District’s spending priorities for the coming year. DC’s economy is generating more tax revenues, which the mayor could use to help meet the needs of a growing city: educating a growing number of students, rebuilding Metro, coping with the loss of affordable housing and record homelessness, getting DC’s new paid family leave program going, and more. Before even thinking about that, the mayor should take a close look at the policy adopted three years ago that put tax cuts ahead of other priorities when DC revenue collections grow. This ties her hands and makes it impossible to address school, housing, and other needs. It makes sense to put tax cuts on hold, not only for these reasons, but also to help DC brace for inevitable federal budget cuts. Here are some important things to look for in the 2018 budget, courtesy of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute.

Helping all DC Residents Find a Home They Can Afford The affordable housing shortfall is DC’s most serious challenge, affecting a large number of residents. DC lost half of its low-cost housing in the last decade, and more and more residents face difficult choices about how to put a roof over their heads as housing prices rise much faster than their incomes. Sadly, DC now has the highest rate of homelessness among 32 major cities, and a tent has become a home for too many. These problems have devastating consequences that affect all of us. When children live in overcrowded conditions, move frequently, or end up in unsafe neighborhoods, they often have behavioral or atten-

tion problems at school, with long-lasting impacts. DC residents facing chronic homelessness often have lifethreatening health conditions or severe mental illness, or both. They rely on expensive emergency services and die early from diseases that could be managed better or prevented entirely if they had housing. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council have made big investments, but affordable housing is still less than three percent of the DC budget. The District should invest more in the Housing Production Trust Fund—which helps build affordable housing—and in the Local Rent Supplement Program, which uses rental subsides to make housing affordable for very low-income families.

Ensuring All DC Children Have their Basic Needs Met More than 10,000 children and their families face the loss of their entire income as a result of a rigid time limit in TANF—DC’s welfare-to-work program. Most states offer extensions to families in tough situations, but DC doesn’t extend aid even for parents fleeing domestic violence or dealing with homelessness. Families on TANF in DC often have disabilities or health problems, and others use welfare as a safety net in between low-wage jobs. Twenty years of federal welfare reform has shown that strict time limits hurt the most troubled families and push children into extreme poverty. A widespread cut-off would leave more families in unstable housing and more children going to school carrying stress that interferes with their learning. A “working group” of TANF parents, DC government officials, service providers and advocates pulled together by Mayor Bowser recommended restructuring TANF so that parents always have cash resources to meet their children’s needs. A family’s benefits would be cut partially if parents aren’t engaged in required work activities. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council should adopt this policy and fund it in 2018. (continues to pg.37)

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The City Takes on a Slumlord AG and Mayor Join Forces Against Sanford

C At t o r n e y General Karl Racine and Mayor Muriel Bowser have become embroiled in an intense and heated battle with Sanford Capital and its subsidiaries Terrace Manor LLC and Oakmont Management Group LLC. This major landlord, headed by Aubrey Nowell Carter, has built its DC business renting to low-income residents. Its apartments are substandard and some even lack heating or air-conditioning. In others, inspections have uncovered sewage leaking from the ceiling while rodents scurried through holes in walls or doors.

The Mayor Joins the AG

Racine filed two lawsuits in 2016 demanding immediate repair of Sanford properties in Congress Heights and the 11-building, 61-unit Terrace Manor, also in Ward 8. As East of the River first reported, the AG also decided to deploy the city’s Consumer Protections Act to seek reimbursement of rents paid at Terrace Manor over the past two years. Bowser recently joined the fight after published reports indicated that housing vouchers were financing hundreds of the company’s deteriorating units. That kind of battering would sway the average landlord to do the right thing. Maryland-based Sanford Capital has been unfazed, however. Racine asked DC Superior Court Judge John M. Mott last month to

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by Jonetta Rose Barras

hold Sanford and its partners in contempt in the Terrace Manor case. In his filing Racine also requested the appointment of a receiver with “the expertise to develop and supervise a viable financial and repair plan for the satisfactory rehabilitation of Terrace Manor Apartments.” He noted that Sanford had failed to make emergency repairs cited by the inspectors within the required 24 hours, as agreed in an earlier court-approved abatement plan. Sanford even blocked the entry of an inspector into one of the apartment buildings. Sanford’s defiance is breathtaking. In one instance, court-approved inspector Michael Lampro discovered a burst pipe in the basement at 3373 23rd St. SE. Entering the basement, he saw mold covering the walls and ceilings and approximately an inch of standing water. A broken pipe “with a green secretion dangling from the ruptured end” was the source of the problem, Racine recounted in court documents. When Lampro reported the problem, Carter disputed the finding. The inspector promised to return, hoping the necessary repair would be made. That was on Feb. 22, 2017. Lampro returned on March 1 and found no improvement. Not until March 21 did Carter finally have the pipe repaired, stated the AG. Sanford Capital “has proven that it is unwilling or unable to live up to the minimum duties of any landlord,” stated Racine. “We will hold Sanford accountable under the law.” Stephen Hessler, Sanford’s attor-

ney who helped negotiate the Terrace Manor repair plan, could not be reached for comment. Sanford, however, has filed its own lawsuit against the District, charging that actions by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) prevented it from securing the financing needed to make repairs at the Southeast property. That doesn’t explain why Sanford violated the housing code at several other apartment complexes east of the Anacostia River. Racine said Sanford’s lawsuit is “superseded by the abatement agreement they reached with us.” For all practical purposes the counterclaim is “moot.” Speaking at her annual state of the District address, Bowser said she was “horrified” when she read about the conditions at Sanford-owned properties, specifically those where tenants use housing vouchers to guarantee payment of their rent. She said if the company doesn’t fix the properties, the city will see them in court. Bowser, Racine, and Council Chair Phil Mendelson met about Sanford before she delivered that speech. Racine said he urged them to “coordinate and collaborate on a long-term policy to deter conduct like that in the Sanford case.” He has not ruled out taking additional legal action against the company. “All options are on the table.” “Maybe when we have repeat offenders we may want to lock them up,” said At-large Councilmember Anita Bonds, who heads the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Development. Bonds was instrumental in the

AG’s decision to file the first lawsuit last year against Sanford Capital, related to property on Alabama Avenue SE in Congress Heights. Bonds has worked to secure Council approval of additional authority so Racine can recover rents paid by tenants at Terrace Manor, including those who moved out in search of safer housing.

Too Little, Too Late?

The casual observer might conclude that the government is on top of the problem with slum landlords and other housing-related issues. Properly assessed, however, the Sanford case may be too little, too late. “I don’t think you can ever do anything too late to make sure people aren’t living in hazardous property,” countered At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman during a recent interview with East of the River. “The question we have to ask is, are we approaching this in a proactive way instead of a reactive way,” continued Silverman, who is a member of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization. The partial answer to that question can only be the latter. Bonds cited delays in getting the city, particularly DHCD, to act quickly in helping residents at the Sanfordowned property near the Congress Heights Metro station. “We went out to that property on Alabama Avenue, and Polly Donaldson [DHCD’s director] was there. At that time there was no strong commitment from her,” continued Bonds, noting that three months later the director still had

not decided the direction her agency would take to help tenants. 90 days after that, DHCD decided to auction an adjacent building not owned by Sanford. This action threatens to inflate the value of the tenants’ property, which they are now trying to purchase. Bonds added, “It seems we may have all these tools but we take a heck of a long time to utilize them.” Until the AG stepped in, renters at Sanford properties had been begging agencies for help. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) had conducted inspections but not taken any aggressive legal action. While it has a fund to help mitigate violations when landlords are slow to make critical repairs, none of that money had gone to tenants at Sanford properties. DCRA officials said the fund is too meager. To date, however, they haven’t requested to increase the amount available, as reported in the December edition of East of the River. Racine said DC needs more inspectors and that he was “pleased” to see the mayor allocate additional funds for that purpose. “The city should do what it takes to implement a process that more efficiently and effectively imposes and collects fines from slumlords.” He added, “I share Chairman Mendelson’s interest in enacting a clean-hands requirement that would deny landlords who have been found to have repeatedly violated DC laws the privilege of receiving government subsidies.” Not only should there be more inspectors, said Bonds, “the government should hire more with specific expertise.” When a pipe bursts, for example, someone from the city would not just order the repair but would examine the work to ensure it is well-done and permanent.

ficials have made constructing and preserving affordable housing a prime directive of the government. Silverman in a letter to Bowser earlier this year asked for allocation of more money for preservation in the Housing Production Trust Fund. Money is not the problem, however. Consider that one of the recommendations made by the mayor’s Housing Preservation Strike Force was the creation of a preservation division within the DHCD. Said Silverman, “We need a nimble group of people who could look at the housing stock and develop a strategic plan on how to preserve affordable units.” Nothing is stopping the administration from reaching that goal. After all, $10 million already has been set aside for the DHCD preservation division. The agency just hasn’t seen fit to establish it. It also hasn’t made operational the District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA), which was passed more than a decade ago. That law, said Silverman, could be used to serve as a “pause button.” When tenants aren’t able to exercise their right to purchase the building, the city could “step in and sign a contract with the seller and then look for a nonprofit developer,” she said. That underscores Bonds’ comment about the District having sufficient programs to address tenant problems. So why hasn’t it been able to coordinate its actions and use the resources more actively to protect vulnerable low-income tenants? “It’s a great question,” responded Silverman. “It’s one that wears me down, quite honestly.” Jonetta Rose Barras is a DC-based freelance writer; she blogs at jonettarosebarras.com.

Larger Solutions

Often tenants, including those at Terrace Manor, have been forced to endure slum like conditions for fear that they would be unable to find something at a comparable rent. Bowser and other of-

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Responds to User Complaints Neighbors, Safeway open dialogue following an East of the River article in March

afeway has changed management and plans to upgrade service after community frustrations bubbled over in March regarding the store’s Ward 7 operations at 322 40th St. NE and 2845 Alabama Ave. SE. Residents want store representatives to bring the discussion to the community in a public meeting. Following a March report in East of the River that detailed the differences between product choices, cleanliness, and amenities in Safeways in Ward 7 and other wards, a meeting with the store was announced by local leaders and then abruptly cancelled on March 16. The community wants to renew a years-long conversation about the Ward 7 stores’ substandard service and low-quality food options. “The article brought to light some of the complaints that people have been voicing for some time,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D Chair Sherice A. Muhammad. Her constituents shop at those Safeway stores.

Fighting the Grocery Deficit

Residents in Wards 7 and 8 continue to fight for access to grocery stores in their own ward. Quality is a whole additional issue. In Ward 7, with a population of more than 70,000, residents are limited to two main grocery stores, the Safeways, according to DC Hunger Solutions. To contrast that, in Ward 6 residents have access to multiple Harris Teeters, three Safeways, Gi-

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by Christine Rushton

ant, Yes! Organic, fresh markets, and the new Whole Foods store on H Street NE. A Trader Joe’s is also expected near Eastern Market. Residents want to know what the District and grocers have planned to solve this unequal access to a basic necessity, said Muhammad. Commissioners and residents plan to talk with the Deputy Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (DMPED), the Department of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs (DCRA), and Councilmember Vincent Gray to address the problems. “This is not neuroscience, this is basic, day-to-day business operations,” Muhammad said. “We have a market, we have a demand, and we’re trying to meet the people and their needs.” Ward 7 Councilmember Gray called the problem in Ward 7 “very urgent” when it comes to keeping residents healthy. Statistics show high rates of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and other health problems east of the Anacostia, which he said is related to a lack of access to fresh food and convenient grocery options. “Having affordably priced food available for purchase for yourself and your family is urgent,” Gray said. “It is fundamental.”

DMPED’s Plans

DC launched a grocer tax-incentive program, the Supermarket Tax Exemption Act, in 2000 for new grocers. The two Safeways in Ward 7 didn’t qualify because they were established stores. Despite this incentive, grocery options in Wards 7 and 8 have decreased during the last decade. In January 2016 Wal-Mart cancelled plans to

develop two stores in DC, one each in Ward 7’s Skyland Town Center and the Capitol Gateway project. DMPED, the Department of Health, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, and the Food Policy Council have continued to work on expanding fresh food options in both wards, said DMPED spokesperson Joaquin McPeek. “We are working to both utilize existing tools and incentives, including tax incentives, New Markets Tax Credits, and District-owned land, as well as to determine what other tools and resources may be needed,” he said. McPeek pointed to several ideas in consideration such as a plan to attract a full-service grocer in Skyland, a Whole Foods market popup at the Gateway Pavilion, farmers’ markets, and smaller grocers like the Good Foods Market. Gray introduced three bills in the DC Council in March that look at drawing affordably priced grocery and retail options to the area. He introduced a fourth piece of legislation in January. “Upon approval, this legislation will spark an immediate surge of new economic development and job creation for neighborhoods on the East End of the District of Columbia,” Gray said. “New businesses will move to the East End of the city and existing businesses will have more money to hire new workers, raise wages, or to re-invest in the business.” One of the measures, a real property tax rate reduction act, would lower the Class 2 real property tax rate for commercial properties east of the Anacostia to 85 cents per $100 for 10 years. The idea is to stimulate business growth and bring jobs and shopping options. But as residents wait for developers to bite and legislation to pass, they want the few available options to clean up their act.

Skeptical but Hopeful

Community members want Safeway to come to the table. They want access to products and services comparable to those in the other wards. And they want Safeway to treat them, the actual residents and not the politicians, seriously, said longtime Ward 7 resident and former ANC commissioner Greg Rhett. “If they think that they’re going to work their way through this via political contacts in the Wilson Building, that’s an ill-advised approach,” Rhett said. “There aren’t enough people in that building to keep Safeway open.” Rhett sees the problem as a consumer-base issue, not a political or public relations concern. If Safeway wants to keep its customer base and expand, it has to address the service and quality problems. It comes down to providing a good shopping experience for customers. Rhett and his family haven’t shopped at a Ward 7 Safeway in close to a decade because of the horrible experiences, he said. He now goes to the Safeway on Capitol Hill along 14th Street SE.

“I don’t need Safeway to make me feel good. I need them to offer a quality product with affordable prices,” Rhett declared. Safeway has brought in two veteran managers for the 40th Street and Alabama Avenue stores, Dale Norton and Spiro Laventis. They also upgraded the scheduling technology to improve rush-hour staffing. They have led Safeway teams through “super cleaning” programs to improve maintenance and are planning to bring in a new assortment of products based on customer input, said Beth Goldberg, spokesperson for Safeway’s Eastern Division. Community leaders like Michele Tingling-Clemmons, president of the Central Northeast Civic Association; Rochelle Frazier-Gray, president of the Eastland Gardens Civic Association; and Rhett and Muhammad insist that Safeway hold a community meeting to hear complaints and address concerns. “It is my hope that they will reschedule,” Frazier-Gray said, “but with each passing day, it seems more unlikely.”

Upcoming Plans to Meet

The meeting with the store that local leaders advertised and then Safeway cancelled on March 16 won’t be rescheduled as an open community meeting, Goldberg said. The original meeting plan involved Safeway representatives meeting with a few residents about a complaint – Safeway didn’t intend the meeting as a public forum. Goldberg clarified that Safeway welcomes feedback at any time (customers can call the store or email Goldberg at beth.goldberg@safeway.com). “When customers give us feedback on what they enjoy and the enhancements they want to see in their shopping experience, they help ensure that we are offering the products and services they want in their neighborhood store,” she said. Councilmember Gray plans to discuss the community concerns and complaints residents voiced in the East of the River article with Safeway, said his spokesperson Janis Hazel. He also wants to know what Safeway’s vision is for the stores and possible expansion. “Retailers must be responsive to their customers,” Gray said. “Any time complaints along the lines of outdated food, unsanitary conditions, poor customer service are voiced, my expectation is that the retailer will address and correct these deficiencies immediately.” Community members appreciate the renewed discussion but still want to see talk turn into action. If you have a complaint about Safeway call the store manager and email Beth Goldberg, spokesperson for Safeway’s Eastern Division, at beth.goldberg@safeway.com.

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Helping All Children Succeed in School There is nothing more important to DC’s future than supporting our children in their early years—birth to age three—and then supporting them in school. There are big gaps that we can start to fill next year. Access to high-quality early learning can reduce the achievement gap that begins before children even reach a pre-K classroom. A history of underinvestment in DC’s child care subsidy program has left many child care providers struggling to provide quality care. Many operate at a loss and are at risk of closing, taking away choices for working parents. Child care workers earn very little, making it hard to attract and retain staff. Investing more will help create better learning environments for young children. In addition, while the District has adopted smart policies to identify infants and toddlers with developmental delays, efforts to expand this have not been funded. This is a missed opportunity, because intervening early can prevent a small problem from holding a child back. DC schools—DCPS and public charter schools—need more to keep up with rising enrollment but also to better serve each student. A workgroup convened by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education recommended increasing per-pupil funding to start addressing a 15 percent gap between current funding and the amount considered adequate. Without enough money, DCPS has resorted to raiding its “atrisk” funds—money intended to provide special services to low-income students—just to fund the basics. Anacostia High School lost over 80 percent of its at-risk funds this way. Giving more to schools will help make sure high-poverty schools get the added resources they need.

Giving All DC Residents the Chance to Lead a Healthy Life With access to health insurance threatened at the federal level, it’s important to remember that DC has been a health care leader. We should work to maintain high rates of coverage no matter what happens. There is one dark spot, however, in DC’s health system. Six years ago, the District adopted new rules to make it much harder to get care through the DC Healthcare Alliance, which serves low-income DC residents who don’t qualify for other programs like Medicaid. Within a year, thousands of residents

fell off the program, in part because working residents or those with childcare needs could not take the time off needed to go through the frequent interview requirements. The District should eliminate unnecessary barriers to the Alliance to help eligible DC residents keep their health insurance.

Ensuring DC residents Can Balance Work and Family Responsibilities The Paid Family Leave law recently enacted will give eight weeks of paid leave for new parents to be with their children, six weeks to workers who need to care for an ill relative, and two weeks for workers to address their own health needs. Paid family leave will benefit two-thirds of working District residents, which is the share of residents who work for a private-sector business in the city. Before this important new benefit can be made available, DC needs an IT system that will cost around $40 million; some $20 million has already been set aside. We hope the mayor and council will put that in next year’s budget.

Untying the District’s Hands to Access Needed Resources The District’s economy is healthy, adding residents, businesses and jobs. That means revenues are growing too. Yet restrictive policies force District officials to govern with their hands tied, limiting their ability to maintain a vital city. Rather than having choices over how to use growing resources, the DC Council mandated three years ago that all new revenue go to tax cuts whenever revenue goes above what’s anticipated. In other words, we have put tax cuts ahead of schools, housing, health and other needs. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council should put tax cuts on hold for 2018, which would free up $175 million for crucial services to DC residents, and put DC in a better place to manage federal budget cuts that are likely but as yet unknown. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council have plenty of decisions to make about what they’ll prioritize in next year’s budget; we encourage policymakers to consider these important ideas that will strengthen the District. Jodi Kwarciany is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase opportunities for residents to build a better future.

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Tours of St. Elizabeths West Campus Buildout Slow in Coming

by John Muller

n my first tour of the West Campus of St. Elizabeths nearly a decade ago, the only movement was an occasional flyover by a flock of birds. A couple years later, dump trucks rumbled through the grounds. On a visit last month, police and bomb-sniffing dogs greeted guests, three cranes swung overhead, pallets of bricks were numerous, the zing of electric saws buzzed through a number of buildings, and the ring of hammers pelted the ears of nearly 100 interested tour-goers. Tours began in 2008 through a partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) to draw attention and offer access to the National Historic Landmark campus. According to Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League (DCPL), neither the GSA nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had the means to register attendees, so DCPL coordinated the tours voluntarily as part of its programmatic activities.

The former Atkins Hall, Building 31, will be the Credit Union.

Fiscal and Physical State of the Campus

Since the initial proposal to consolidate DHS headquarters on the West Campus was announced in 2007, progress has been slow. Faced with cost concerns and political controversy, the plan for the 176-acre campus, containing 61 buildings of 1 million gross square feet, has undergone a series of revisions. On a recent tour, only three buildings had been completely renovated –

View from the point of St. Elizabeths.

Gatehouse 1, the Credit Union, formerly Atkins Hall, and the Dining Hall. In 2014 the Coast Guard Headquarters overlooking Interstate 295 was completed as the first project at the new DHS St. Elizabeths campus. The southern section of the West Campus, which contains the Administrative Building, looked to be untouched. In an updated prospectus from 2016, the enhanced consolidation plan moved the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters from the city-owned East Campus to the West Campus. The National Capital Planning Commission will soon review the final site and building plans. In President Trump’s proposed fiscal 2018 budget, GSA would receive a $200 million increase, but it is unclear if that would directly benefit St. Elizabeths. According to Nancy Witherell, GSA’s regional historic officer, current construction is being funded by a series of continuing resolutions. Work will continue but new work is not yet proposed.

Center Building Construction

On the most recent tour, the Center Building was an epicenter of activity. It was constructed in parts, beginning in 1852, based on the availability of federal dollars. Today it is being renovated in parts as federal funds become available. Planned as the future home for the DHS secretary, the building has been gutted to its brick shell and facades. In late September 2014, GSA awarded a $139 million design-build contract to renovate the Center

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Building, marking the beginning of the next phase of DHS’s consolidation on the West Campus. The project will involve architectural, engineering, historic preservation, construction, security commissioning, and other related services necessary to construct and renovate the building. Due to preservation law and the unique nature of the restoration work, the 20,000 panes of glass in the 1,300 windows of the Center Building will be sourced to a company in Southern Illinois, the same company that restored Gatehouse 1. Recent forecasts for renovation of the 270,000 square-foot Center Building call for completion in August 2017. According to Witherell the updated schedule is March 2018. Design for the I-295/Malcolm X Interchange along Shepherd Parkway to Gate 4 has begun. Discussions with the National Park Service, DC Department of Transportation, and Federal Highway Administration are ongoing.

Physician’s Memories

While walking the grounds, a student from Goucher College and a former trainee at St. Elizabeths, Dr. Michael Sitar, struck up a conversation. Dr. Sitar was stationed at Hitchcock Hall, built in 1908 as a performing arts space with the psychodrama department. “There were at least half a dozen different training programs in the hospital. They had psychiatry, psychology, psychodrama, movement therapy, dance therapy, art

therapy. There was a chaplain-in-training program.” When asked how he felt being back on campus, Dr. Sitar, who practices in Bethesda, replied, “It’s kind of weird. The bricks are still here but not the people.” He shared his outlook on the working hospital, “We conceptualized this place as a factory. The chronic workers were the patients, the chronic supervisors were the lifer staff, and the end product was us trainees. A new batch would come in every year. We were the raw materials that came in and went out the other end.”

Future Tours?

Tours of the campus are on hiatus while GSA assesses its development timetable. The DC Preservation League will continue to advocate for regular public access to the site. “The tours conducted by DCPL have allowed for access to thousands of visitors who have come from as far away as Maine, Kentucky, and South Carolina to see this important site,” explained Miller. “The site was not previously open to the public, so these tours offer an interpreted look into the history of the National Historic Landmark.” For more information and updates on the development of the West Campus of St. Elizabeths visit www.stelizabethsdevelopment.com. For more information on the DC Preservation League visit www.dcpreservation.org.

The Center Building is scheduled for completion in March 2018.

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DC Prep Brings Life Back to Historic Anacostia School

he former Our Lady of Perpetual Help School at 1409 V St. SE, built more than a century ago as the parish school of nearby St. Teresa of Avila, will welcome its first class of students in a decade as DC Prep opens its new Anacostia Elementary Campus (AEC) this fall. The Archdiocese of Washington

by John Muller

(ADW) closed the school in 2007 due to low enrollment. DC Prep acquired the 18,000 square-foot, three-story building from ADW and broke ground last October on a $24-million project that will include two new wings, adding 32,000 square feet of learning and community gathering spaces. I recently toured the construction site with Raymond Weeden, DC Prep’s senior director of policy and community engagement and former principal

Rehabilitation of the old gym reveals rough-cut timber more than 100 years old that will be preserved. Photo: John Muller

of its Benning Elementary Campus, and Mark DeMoura, superintendent for MCN Build, the lead construction firm for the new school.

Strong Bones

“The bones of the building are strong,” DeMoura said upon stepping into the old school. “I would say we can keep 95

Rendering of DC Prep’s Anacostia Elementary Campus at 1409 V St. SE, which will open this fall. Image: DC Prep

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percent of the original building intact.” Upon closer consideration he offered an adjustment: “No, about 98 percent.” Looking up into the rafters of the former cafeteria and gymnasium, he remarked, “That’s the original roughcut timber. More than a hundred years old and it won’t be going anywhere.” Other than a small leak in the roof, there was little damage to the school over its 10 years of vacancy, but some materials did wander off. “All the copper piping, radiators, and fixtures were gone when we got here. Anything someone could get a penny for was gone.” New utilities for gas, water, electricity, and internet are being installed. Throughout the school and its classrooms are wall paintings of cartoon characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Tweety Bird, and Casper the Ghost. Unfortunately they will be painted over to create wall space for instruction, and the original front doors on V Street with glass-formed crosses will not be kept. Old windows will also be replaced. “The limited demolition we’ve done is to create more open spaces,” DeMoura said, pointing to where the nurse’s suite and principal’s office

are planned on the first floor. Classroom dimensions will remain the same, chalkboards will be replaced by whiteboards. “There must have been carpet here at some time,” DeMoura noted, rubbing his boot over staples on a floor stripped down to its original wood. “We’ll put down tiling over this original floor and run new electric wiring.” DeMoura’s assistant explained that the new wings will have green roofs and be LEED Gold. When the Historic Preservation Review Board reviewed the construction application in fall 2015, it wrote that “the idea of the school being flanked by large wings is compatible with the characteristics of the site and with the way many historic schools have been expanded in Washington.” When completed, DC Prep’s Anacostia Elementary Campus will have a music room, science lab, art room, library, cafeteria, administrative offices, outdoor play space, and onsite staff parking. The gymnasium’s basketball court, planned for the east wing, will be open for use by the immediate neighborhood during after-school hours.

CAMPUS TRANSITION

DC Prep’s current Anacostia Elementary Campus, located in a series of modular classrooms at 1102 W St. SE, opened in the 2015-16 school year, serving preschool and Pre-K (threeand four-year-olds). It has added a class each year. In the upcoming 2017-18 school year the campus will serve preschool through first grade in the new building. At full capacity the school at 1409 V St. will serve 450 students from preschool through third grade. Wendy Scott, DC Prep’s chief financial officer and head of real estate, remarked, “Having established a footprint in the neighborhood, it was important to have a permanent location, and we were very fortunate to acquire Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.” She continued, “This is a unique opportunity to revitalize the building but also preserve an historic landmark by restoring its original use.” The close proximity of the perma-

nent campus to its temporary home helps mitigate potential commuting hardships for students and parents. A kiss-and-ride system for dropoff in front of the school on V Street or on the 15th Street side is planned for the morning arrivals. Evening dismissal will be staggered, with elementary students leaving at 4:00 p.m. and after-school running until 6:00 p.m.

AEC APPLICATIONS & AvAILABLE POSITIONS

DC Prep staff strongly encourages families to apply to the Anacostia Elementary Campus for their preschoolthrough-first-grade children. DC Prep participates in the citywide My School DC common application process. “We’re excited to expand our role in serving the Anacostia community, and look forward to showing our new building to families and community members during our open houses and hardhat tours during the spring and summer,” said Amber Walker, DC Prep’s director of marketing and communications. DC Prep is a tuition-free, public charter school network with over 1,700 students in preschool through eighth grade across three elementary and two middle school campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. The mission is to prepare students for college preparatory high schools. DC Prep has been ranked as the top charter school network as measured by statewide assessment scores for the last five years. For more information on the Anacostia Elementary Campus visit www.dcprep.org or call 202-635-4590. Additionally, DC Prep is accepting teaching and staff applications for the 2017-18 school year for all campuses and the home office. Check the website’s careers section for information on posted positions and how to apply. DC Prep’s contractor, MCN Build, works to connect qualified candidates with subcontractors who have a need. There is no guarantee that jobs are available at a specific construction site, however. For more information on the subcontractor hiring and review process contact Mika Hailstock at 202-6566325 or macaajobs@gmail.com.

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east washington life

Alpha Phi Alpha Mentors Better Men by Geraldine Washington

n a blustery Friday morning, inside Mr. Gentile’s social studies room, 22 middle-school boys sit patiently at their desks waiting for class to start. Yet, this morning’s lesson will not be the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence, and Gentile will not be instructing. As they have for nearly four years, these scholars, selected for their leadership qualities, will be learning how to achieve higher social, economic, and intellectual status. Under the watchful guidance of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, these youth of African-American, Middle Eastern, and Latino heritages are on a path to affirmation and becoming “better men.” They will have access to accomplished men who are dedicated to mentoring them beyond their circumstances toward enlightened and clear pathways of success.

Role Models for Minority Boys

Boys, particularly black, Latino, and other minorities, are viewed as being in a crisis due to the lack of positive male role models in their homes, schools, and communities. Census data from 2011 indicates that more than 24 million children live apart from biological fathers. While 72 percent of AfricanAmerican children are reared in single-parent households, the national average is only 25 percent. Even more distressing is the stark reality that 61

Mentoring Program participants enthusiastically raise hands when asked, “Who wants to go to college?”

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percent of the US prison population is African-American and Latino. Worse still, a mere 2 percent of schoolteachers are African-American males. Although studies show that black male teachers promote diversity among teaching workforces, and all cultures benefit from their presence at the head of the class, many are leaving the profession.

Alphas and Positive Peer Pressure

Since 2013 the Omicron Lambda Alpha chapter has been a consistent presence at the Center City Public Charter School in Shaw. Through its Go-To-HighSchool Go-To-College initiative it is mentoring boys once a week, teaching them life skills, conflict resolution, how to complete the high school application process, making career choices, and developing a life plan. Principal Brandy Tyson calls the mentoring program a thriving partnership. Established on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University, Alpha Phi Alpha was the first of the historic Divine 9 black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs). Forty-three years after the emancipation of slaves, Af-

Alpha Phi Alpha 13 year old 8th grader mentees from left to right Kevin Scurry, Wendell Wray, and Devontae Gliss

rican-Americans were still struggling to improve their socioeconomic and political power. For former slaves and descendants, the emergence of black-owned businesses and institutions of higher learning quickly became the means to success and prosperity. To stimulate and aid the ambitions of collegiate African-American males, the fraternity, affectionately called the Ice Cold Brothers, created a brotherhood of positive peer pressure governing the manner, behavior, and deeds of its members. It grew into 200 chapters and over 200,000 members nationwide. Across many college campuses and in political arenas, business boardrooms, and diverse communities of color and ethnicities, Alphas are revered gentlemen radiating charm, intellect, respect, and high distinction among peers. Notable Alpha Phi Alpha men include W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr., and former DC Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. “How many of you want to go to college?” Every young hand in the room rocketed in the air. Kelly Gilmore, an Alpha brother and one of four (others were James Wright, Michael Taylor, and Emerson Bretous) facilitating this morning’s session, tasked each stuOmnicron Lambda Alpha Brothers from left to right Michael Taylor, Kelly dent to write two sentencGilmore, Emerson Bretous and James Wright es describing their ideas of college life. The responses were mother became its unintended fatality. typical but thoughtful. Sports, parties, flexible schedGliss, who still struggles to recall that ules, and an option to explore any field of their own tragic day, says the Alpha brothers surchoosing were favorites, yet the recurring themes were rounded him with love and “made sure the opportunity to become better men who would make I was on the right path.” better communities for themselves and others. Every Friday, with affirmation and Kevion Scurry, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, plans affection from the Alpha brothers, into attend Duke Ellington School of Arts and later Ohio side Mr. Gentile’s social studies class, State University on a football scholarship. He appreciboys are becoming better men for a betates his mentors for showing him how to make eye conter future. tact when speaking to others, talking and acting appropriately, and being respectful to women. Have a comment about this story? Email jerTwo years ago, while 11-year-old Devontae Gliss iwashington@yahoo.com. and his mother were enjoying a Memorial Day cookout, another young man was playing with a gun, and Gliss’s

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New Exhibit Shows History and Legacy of St. Elizabeths

by John Muller

ith more than 100 unique objects, 200 hundred photographs, documentary films, architectural fragments, and a replica of the Center Building, visitors can walk through the National Building Museum’s recently opened exhibit, “Architecture of an Asylum: St. Elizabeths, 1852-2017.” It takes you back in time and place. Outside the exhibit’s entrance is a timeline of the institution’s development that features a topographical map from 1860, site plans from 1895, and a plat map from 1940. Highlights include a map of the piggery, which in 1913 housed 600 hogs, a pew and stained glass window from the chapel, books from the circulating library, architecture fragments, medical equipment, and patient-generated artwork like a lace creation from 1917 that depicts a dove, snake, animals, and the Virgin Mary. Other artistic works by patients struck a chord with the exhibit’s curator, Sarah Leavitt. “One of my favorite pieces is a patient painting of the first superintendent at St. Elizabeths, Dr. Nichols,” she said. “It was beautifully conserved as they removed it from the wall, though it does show signs of age, which brings the piece a real presence in our gallery. I am grateful we were able to tell a little of the patients’ stories along with the story of the built environment in which they lived.” Leavitt and her staff started with the collection of architectural drawings that came to the Library of Congress through the American Architectural Foundation. “We went through those and chose many of them to help tell the story of how the buildings changed over time,” Leavitt explained. “We were able to use the largescale model built in 1904 and then added to in 1935 to show-

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case the hospital at a series of World’s Fairs. It’s a really beautiful model and I think visitors are going to love it.” Panels populating the exhibit profile famous prominent patients, including a man who failed in an assassination attempt on President Andrew Jackson and an early Hollywood starlet. Other panels describe recreation activities, entertainment, farming, and daily life. They present a full range of the experiences and treatment efforts that define the mental health legacy of St. Elizabeths.

One of the many panels detailing the history and legacy of St. Elizabeths.

Largescale model of St. Elizabeths built to showcase the hospital at a series of World’s Fairs.

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EAST OFTHE RIVER DCNEWS .COM Patient artwork of Dr. Charles H. Nichols discovered during recent renovation of the Center Building.

The effort to gather materials and items was both local and national, including the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, National Museum of Health & Medicine in Silver Spring, National Archives, National Institutes of Health, and Library of Congress. “I had heard rumors for years that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History held Dorothea Dix’s desk, on which she wrote the legislation for St. Elizabeths, and which she donated to the hospital in the 1880s,” recalled Leavitt. To her surprise the original desk arrived at the museum in a packing crate and is now a focus of the exhibit. While visiting the exhibit I ran into Catherine Buell, formerly the director of St. Elizabeths East Campus, who was visiting from Atlanta where she serves as director of the city’s housing authority. “We have to collect the history and

tell the story of not just the District but what St. Elizabeths meant to advances in mental health care,” Buell said. When a city-produced promotional video for the East Campus flashed images of ribbon cuttings and events Buell had participated in, she expressed her genuine appreciation. “This is amazing. It’s wonderful to see the campus and its plans for the future put so prominently on display.” “Architecture of an Asylum: St. Elizabeths, 1852-2017” is presented in collaboration with the General Services Administration, with support from the American Institute of Architects, and runs until Jan. 18, 2018. Tickets for seniors, students, and youth are $7, adults $10. For information on group tours or other inquiries contact the National Building Museum at 202-2722448 or visit www.nbm.org. @BuildingMuseum

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east washington life

by Steve Monroe

We Appreciate Buck Hill

“[Billy] Hart remembers that Sonny Stitt always asked for Hill to be part of his group when Sonny would come to Washington, much as Milt Jackson has done in the same situation in recent years ... He also played with Gene Ammons ... and Miles ... even when Coltrane was in the band, Dizzy wanted Buck to go on the road with him ...” - Ira Gitler, liner notes for “SCOPE” with the Buck Hill Quartet, SteepleChase Records, 1979. Our man with the golden horn, Roger “Buck” Hill, 90, has passed on to ancestry, Hall of Fame ancestry to be sure. It has been some years since Hill played his tenor sax but all of us who heard him during his heyday can still hear his remarkable flowing, imaginative riffs. “At [the now closed uptown club] Twins Lounge, late in the group’s last set, there were still about fifteen people in the club, providing an intimate, living room feel to the music as Buck sails his way through ‘From Now On’ and ‘This Is My Shining Hour,’ with Buck’s whipping flurries from his tenor and [Cheyney] Thomas comping fluidly on bass, [Nasar] Abadey’s cymbals, ringing the tune along. Later still, Buck got down into the blues again with ‘Along Came Betty,’ then sailed off again into flurries and honks on ‘St. Thomas,’ taking the remaining faithful on a Caribbean carnival ride …” - “Violet Avenues: A Poetry of Jazz,” by Steve Monroe, 1998 Funeral services were held March 26 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with a sumptuous feast and an appropriate celebration jam afterward by many of his fellow players. We appreciate you, Buck Hill, who entertained us mightily in many an April, Jazz Appreciation Month. Steve Monroe is a freelance writer based in Washington, DC. He can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com or @jazzavenues.

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buckhill gentle smiling man cafe au lait colored man easy going on the bandstand now riffing gruff, rough tones chopping melodies into he gots rhythm we gots rhythm diving planes of hawkins divided by webster multiplied by gordon he gots rhythm. gentle breezes into guts bucket blues blowing now lullaby my sweet through your golden horn softly cymbal sighing. Clapping hands bow to you smiling man full brims golden melody.” - “Violet Avenues: A Poetry of Jazz”

Buck Hill, pictured on his “Buck Stops Here” CD in 1993 for Muse Records, passed away last month at the age of 90.

April Highlights: … Paul Carr “All In” Quartet, April 9, Jazz and Cultural Society … University of the District of Columbia Small Jazz Ensembles, April 11, UDC Recital Hall … Tony Martucci Quintet/Ingrid Jensen, April 12, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club … Twins Jazz Orchestra, April 13, Twins Jazz … Howard University Jazz Ensemble, April 13, Smithsonian National Museum of American History/Coulter Plaza … Allyn Johnson, April 14, Montpelier Arts Center/Laurel … Bowie State Jazz Ensemble, April 14, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Discovery Artist/Marquis Hill Blacktet, April 14, Kennedy Center … Tim Whalen, April 14-15, Twins Jazz … DADA People, April 15, Atlas Performing Arts Center … Integriti Reeves/Ella Fitzgerald Tribute, April 16, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Erena Terakubo Quartet, April 18, Blues Alley … JAZZForum/The Life and Music of Tadd Dameron, April 19, University of the District of Columbia, UDC Recital Hall … Lenore Raphael Quartet/Oscar Peterson Tribute, April 19, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … Todd Marcus Orchestra, April 20, Atlas … Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, April 20, Museum of American History … Roberta Gambarini, April 21-23, Blues Alley … Greg Hatza/CD Release Party, April 21, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Celebrating Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th Birthday, April 22, Wesley United Methodist Church … Luis Faife Quartet, April 21-22, Twins Jazz … Jazz Talk/Allyn Johnson, April 23, Montpelier … Dr. Lonnie Smith, April 23, Creative Alliance/Baltimore … Jessica Boykin-Settles/Ella Fitzgerald Tribute, April 23, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Calvin Jones BIG BAND Festival, April 24, University of the District of Columbia Auditorium … Afro Blue, April 24, Blues Alley … Jazz Piano in LeFrak Lobby, April 24, 25, 26, 28, Museum of American History … Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra w/Sharon Clark, April 25, Blues Alley …Cyrus Chestnut, April 26, Bethesda Blues & Jazz …. Andrew White’s 75th Birthday Celebration, April 26, Blues Alley … Jimmy Cobb/Four Generations of Miles, April 27-30, Blues Alley … George Washington University Latin Jazz Band, April 27, Museum of American History … Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald/Alison Crockett, April 28, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Thinking About Jazz/Ella Fitzgerald Celebrating 100 years, April 29, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Marty Nau, April 30, Twins Jazz … Imani Grace Cooper/Ella Fitzgerald Tribute, April 30, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Jazz Lecture/Ella Fitzgerald, Stefon Harris Master Class, April 30, Levine School of Music … 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.

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homes & gardens

The Wynter Gardener

Indoor Gardening with a Wynter Touch! by Jessica Wynter Martin

Fresh herbs in the Kitchen window

gering scent after every touch. I keep the dried leaves to make my own potpourri and bath bombs. Between propagating, mix those and other herbs from outdoor gardens by trading cuttings with fellow gardeners and planting seeds the old-fashioned way. Experiment and find what works best for you and what you are looking to grow. Lavender, for example, is difficult to germinate from seed and to propagate from cuttings, so it is worth trying both and being open to buying a full plant if you’re experiencing trouble. The mint and basil families propagate and germinate rather easily, so experiment with them while working your way up to more difficult varieties. You can grow many edible and medicinal plants inside during the coldest of winter months. Keeping a few plants on each windowsill in every room can be a truly therapeutic experience as you walk from window to window, dropping water and kind words to the

Shaded aloe plant keeping the living room fresh

pring is finally upon us! Look out for strawberries, blueberries, and all sorts of delightful springtime favorites later this year. The frost was light and came late, so many of us gardener and farmer types have already planted our early season crops and will be ready to reap

shortly. But what about those of us who just can’t wait for May? Or for us vegans who struggle to keep fresh produce in our diets during the winter months? I am one of those people and I take to indoor gardening to help the winter months slide by with a little more spice. Indoor gardening can be an invaluable resource for maintaining crops from the previous year such as herbs, to start warmer-season crops to extend harvests such as tomatoes, and to supplement the diet with fresh

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produce and oxygen grown right at home. You can do indoor gardening on your windowsill, under or near a lamp or radiator in the living spaces, or inside of a grow room or tent as a separate unit in the home. There’s no space too big or too small to keep an indoor garden! I always have a few herbs and succulents in the windows to keep fresh air in my home (especially when the windows are shut for days or weeks during the coldest months), and fresh herbs. My aloe plant supplies gel for tonics, burns, and scrapes, and I use the skin from the leaves for other treatments. Good old mint and basil keep my teas, soups, and other dishes smelling and tasting good and fresh. Lemon basil, bee balm, and catnip are good at shooing mosquitoes away; grow them inside and rub them on your skin before going outside. The geraniums in my kitchen and bedroom leave a lin-

homes & gardens / changing hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list,based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

plants while inspecting them for dying leaves, new growth, and pests. Every day, after working long hours and fighting DMV traffic (or the Metro) to get home, there is no better dose of medicine than opening the door to a bouquet of fresh scents such as mint, lavender, thyme, and sage. Potatoes, onions, garlic, and other plants can be grown right in your kitchen for use all year. Onions and garlic have strange growing seasons that can make it difficult to add to an outdoor plot, depending on access and size. Indoor growing alleviates this concern and is a free source of scallions, ramps, and other offshoots of the lily bulb family. Potatoes grow well indoors in a south-facing window year-round and can be an excellent source of fiber and starches in the cold winter months, when farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; market prices can get sky high. February is the time to start most seeds for your outdoor garden. Things like tomatoes, eggplant, okra, and other warmweather varieties will do well when started inside and nurtured before moving outside. I started quite a few seeds indoors this year with the assistance of a seed swap hosted by THEARC Farm. Keep an eye out for local groups, nonprofits, and gardening clubs that are hosting events and workshops where you can get more information and materials. To establish my windowsill gardens, I had to identify which windows face south, east, and west for the best lighting. Do this by noting the position of the sun in the windows. East-facing windows will show the sunrise, and west-facing windows the sunset. South-facing windows shed some light all day, with the most during the midday hours, and north-facing windows spend all day in the shade. Next determine what crops should go where to blend in with your eating and medicinal needs. I am blessed to have east- and south-facing windows, so I plant different herbs, greens, and foods in the windows and keep some growing there all year. Be warned, you may want to secure your pots to the windowsills during storms and windy days. They benefit from the fresh air and strong winds but not when they are blown all over your floor. I have recently taken on the world of aquaponics, the process of using fish excrement to fertilize plants growing hydroponically. From a kind donation of a fellow urban gardener I now harvest the waste from my two little koi fish and filter it into my indoor hydroponic garden. Inside my tent I have started most of the plants that will be in my outdoor plot in a few months. Lettuce, kale, and cabbage grow in clay pellets alongside common herbs such as cilantro. This system adds a few dollars to my light bill and certainly takes time and skill to maintain, but the result is homegrown food and fertilizer that I can use in all of my outdoor and indoor gardening plots and pots. Indoor gardening is a valuable tool for farmer professionals and gardening novices alike. It enables us to extend the growing season, experiment with new growing styles, and (more importantly) keep air and produce green and fresh during the wildest of winters. For more gardening tips, information sessions, workshops, delicious recipes, and products follow the Wynter Gardener on Instagram and Facebook @wyntergardener or email her at WynterGardener@gmail.com. See you next month!

Neighborhood

Close Price BR

620 49TH PL NE $137,500 50085010 JAY ST NE $130,000 FEE SIMPLE Fort Dupont Park Anacostia 4635 HILLTOP TER SE $375,000 1341 W ST SE $546,555 3 1555 41ST ST SE $336,000 1118 CHICAGO ST SE $470,000 3 3217 DUBOIS PL SE $325,000 2118 13TH ST SE $457,500 3 4322 E ST SE $300,000 1614 W ST SE $455,000 3 4340 CHAPLIN ST SE $285,000 1250 U ST SE $435,000 3 1236 45TH PL SE $226,000 2554 16TH ST SE $433,000 3 1535 41ST ST SE $220,000 1346 TALBERT TER SE $329,000 3 4296 SOUTHERN AVE SE $201,500 1618 RIDGE PL SE $290,000 2 4305 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE $159,500 1520 RIDGE PL SE $201,101 2 Hill Crest Congress Heights 3370 DENVER ST SE $600,000 4342 HALLEY TER SE $460,000 6 2825 BRANCH AVE SE $540,000 4296 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SW $435,500 4 3351 HIGHWOOD DR SE $530,200 615 BRANDYWINE ST SE $330,000 3 3729 NASH ST SE $425,000 502 FOXHALL PL SE $318,000 2 2912 NELSON PL SE $325,000 130 CHESAPEAKE ST SW $305,000 2 Marshall Heights 3626 HORNER PL SE $260,000 3 5221 C ST SE $390,000 846 XENIA ST SE $254,000 3 4808 BASS PL SE $315,000 128 YUMA ST SE $244,500 3

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Randle Heights Deanwood 2562 16TH ST SE $429,000 3 4424 FOOTE ST NE $470,000 6 2558 16TH ST SE $426,000 3 915 45TH PL NE $449,000 4 2550 16TH ST SE $421,000 3 4605 CLAY ST NE $435,000 4 $417,000 3 2556 16TH ST SE 4818 SHERIFF RD NE $420,000 5 1910 GOOD HOPE RD SE $382,500 3 4519 CLAY ST NE $395,000 4 2351 S ST SE $359,000 4 3976 CAPITOL ST NE $350,000 3 1430 TOBIAS DR SE $329,000 3 4411 GRANT ST NE $341,000 3 3405 25TH ST SE $309,000 3 206 56TH PL NE $340,000 4 1501 ERIE ST SE $250,000 0 5145 SHERIFF RD NE $310,000 3 2421 18TH PL SE $170,000 3 5049 JUST ST NE $288,000 2 2010 SAVANNAH PL SE $165,000 3 5738 SOUTHERN AVE SE $274,000 2 518 59TH ST NE $243,987 3 3956 BLAINE ST NE $240,000 3 CONDO 127 47TH ST NE $225,200 3 4510 FOOTE ST NE $190,000 2 Hill Crest 5024 JAY ST NE $185,000 3 2001 38TH ST SE #102 $92,000 2 5349 AMES ST NE $175,200 2 541 59TH ST NE $150,000 4

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

art. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

THEARC Farm Community Volunteer Day On April 15 at 10 a.m., THEARC asks volunteers of all ages to come out to the farm and assist them with turning their beds, laying compost, weeding, planting seedlings and watering. This great family-friendly activity gives everyone gardening experience. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.

It’s Cinco de Mayo! On May 5, 10:30 a.m. to noon, children are invited to visit the Anacostia Community Museum on this traditional Mexican holiday. They will receive a tour of the current exhibition Gateways/Portales, participate in a scavenger hunt and then break open a traditional piñata outside on the grassy picnic area adjacent to the museum. There is a $5 admission fee for materials. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

Fish Tales Story Hour

Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Registration Opens

The Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run on Oct. 21, the day prior to the MCM, is a one-mile justfor-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 on April 27 and is $8. All participants receive a shirt, access to the Camp Miles Family Fitness Festival and a medal at the finish line. marinemarathon.com. This year, the MCM Kids Run will be held on Oct. 21, the day prior to the 42nd Marine Corps Marathon. 3,600 kids are expected to participate. Photo: Courtesy of the Marine Corps Marathon

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Earth Day at ACM! On April 21, 10 to 11:30 a.m., in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Office of Facilities Management and Reliability and Meridian Hills Pictures, the Anacostia Community Museum celebrates Earth Day with an information display on energy conservation and re-cycling, and a screening of the short film City of Trees. Tour the museum’s exhibition, “The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination.” Webster was a self-taught artist who used discarded materials to create sculptural figures. He “up-cycled” everyday objects to create

Join staff biologists at the Aquatic Resources Education Center in Anacostia Park, located next to the skating pavilion, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE, at 10 a.m., for free nature-based stories, crafts, and songs for 2 to 5-yearolds and their parents or guardians. Email doee.arec@ dc.gov to sign up for: April 6, Blue Crab Buddies; May 11, Fun with Fishes; Sept. 7, Turtle Time; Oct. 5, Aquatic Bird Adventures; Nov. 2, Marvelous Mammals; and Dec. 7, The Power of Plants. 202-535-2276.

Weekly Alateen Meeting Weekly Alateen meetings are at Dorothy I. Height Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, on Saturdays at 3 p.m. Alateen is a support program for teenagers who are affected by the drinking and related problems of a parent, family member or friend. It is not AA for teens. It is a safe place for teens to gather and share their experiences, strength and hope. This program is free and for ages 13 to 18. All are invited to join. Find out more at alateenmddc.com.

For the 2017-2018 school year Bridges PCS is in our new location:

100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011

Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation for learning

APPLY FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR APPLY TODAY FOR ALL GRADES ADDITIONAL SLOTS OPEN FOR GRADES 3, 4 and 5

Apply for admissions at:

www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED ON A CONTINUING BASIS

Open houses for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on: Fri. from 9:30 am - 10:30 am: April 14 & 28

Wed. from 6 pm - 7 pm: April 12

*You must register for these sessions by calling (202) 545-0515. Limit 30 people per session.

w w w. br i d g e sp c s . org

202.545.0515

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Voted one of the Best Preschools in DC, City Paper Readers Poll 2013 -2016!

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Empowering Fatherless Girls If you are a girl, between 13 and 17 years old, who is growing up in a home where your biological father is not present, then The Fatherless Daughter Reconciliation Project is for you. Learn how to identify the five factors of the Fatherless Daughter/Woman Syndrome. Learn how to overcome negative effects of father absence. Learn how to move past pain to empowerment. This free workshop on May 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at 1658 Columbia Rd. NW is led by Jonetta Rose Barras, the recognized national authority on father absence among girls and women. Barras is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl? The Impact of Father Absence on Black Women.” The co-leader of the workshop is Brittany Nicole Adams, a nationally known artist and therapist. Adams is co-director of The Fatherless Daughter Reconciliation Project and a co-founder of THE GIFT: An Interactive Arts Healing and Reconciliation Experience. estherproductionsinc@gmail.com.

Mosaic Theater Youth and Neighborhood Discounts Mosaic Theater at the Atlas on H Street NE offers $30 tickets any day of the week to Northeast and Southeast neighbors who live in zip codes 20002, 20003, 20017, 20018, 20019, 20020 or 20032. Students and those under 30 may purchase $20 tickets any day. mosaictheater.org.

Baby Eaglet Born! The first of two eagle eggs at the Arboretum hatched on March 29 at 7:21 a.m. Visit dceaglecam.org to watch.

Sleep Safely in DC Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SID) is one of the leading causes of preventable infant deaths. In observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the DC Healthy Families Thriving Communities Collaboratives in collaboration with Child and Family Services Agency is launching the DC Safe Sleep Campaign to remind

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parents and caregivers of techniques that can help to substantially reduce the infant death rate. The Safe Sleep DC launches on April 6, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Faunteroy Center, 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. safesleepdc.com. Here are Safe Sleep DC crib safety guidelines. Infants should always be placed to sleep on their backs in their cribs and should always sleep alone. Never put the baby to sleep with adults or other children. Always use a firm mattress with a tightly-fitted sheet. Ensure that the pack and play or crib does not contain items including pillows, toys including stuffed animals or bumpers. Never overdress the baby. Never overheat the baby.

Kids Run the Nat’s Bases Kids ages 4 to 12 run the bases after some Sunday home games. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. Dates this season are April 15 and 29; May 27; June 10 and 24; July 8; Aug. 26; and Sept. 16. An adult must accompany runners to the field. One adult per child on the field. 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. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to prepare the field. Kids and parents can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning. However, fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First Street SE. washington.nationals. mlb.com.

Family Day at Air and Space Understand how different cultures see the sky. Learn about telescopes and do some daytime observations. Explore the Universe Day is on April 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall. airandspace.si.edu.

Dairy Delights at the DAR On May 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., use recipes from the 1700s and 1800s to turn milk into delicious treats like ice cream and butter. This is a walk-in event. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org.

Earth Day Family Day On April 22, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Smithsonian American Art Museum goes green for the 47th Earth Day. Follow the rhythms of Bash the Trash as they perform with instruments made from recycled and reused materials or make artworks inspired by Mother Nature. From trees, to oceans, to critters, come celebrate the many gifts this planet has. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. americanart.si.edu.

Easter Egg Hunt at Nat’s Park On April 16, after the 1:35 p.m. game vs. the Phillies, kids get the chance to hunt for Easter eggs in the outfield after the game is over. Take home an Easter egg and basket with the purchase of a special ticket. washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Nearly Lear What if the great and tragic story of King Lear were to be told by the King’s closest companion? In this one-woman tour-de-force, Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool and every other character to tell a personal and poignant story that borrows from the Bard’s legendary words. For ages 9, up and on stage at the Kennedy Center, May 12 to 14. $20. kennedy-center.org. The 1:30 p.m. Saturday performance is sensory friendly. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families, including those with children with autism or other sensory sensitivities. Orders for these performances do not require these accessibility accommodations.

Revolutionary War Weekend This two-day event on May 6 and 7 (rain or shine) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is one of the largest Revolutionary War re-enactments in the region. Step back in time during Mount Vernon’s Revolutionary War Weekend. Watch several hundred Continentals, Redcoats, Hessians, cannon and cavalry in action on the estate. Throughout the weekend, learn more about

life in the 18th century, discuss military techniques and watch battle re-enactments. Wander through the encampment and meet the soldiers. This family-friendly event features a youth muster on the bowling green and even meeting General Washington. All activities are included in Mount Vernon admission. mountvernon.org.

Old Town Easter Egg Hunts Join the Old Town Boutique District Easter Egg Hunt April 7 to 9. Find eggs at participating shops around town. Collect stamps and be entered to win one of three amazing Easter baskets of prizes. Download a map at oldtownboutiquedistrict.com. To celebrate Easter, the Lee-Fendall House Museum’s gardens, 614 Oronoco St., will be filled with hundreds of colorful, toy-filled Easter eggs in addition to activities like crafts, snacks and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. Open to children ages 10 and under and their families. The Easter Egg Hunts are April 14 to 16; Friday at 3 p.m.; Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for kids; $5 for adults. Tickets are available at LeeFendallHouse.org.

First Dance Show for the Very Young Imagination Stage presents Paper Dreams, its first dance performance-based production in the My First Imagination Stage series. A collaboration with Mons Dansa Dance Company of Barcelona, Spain, Paper Dreams explores the many facets of creativity, including movement. It is a fun, interactive production that tells the story of two delightful, clown-like creatures and asks if one’s greatest mistake may turn out to be the next great innovative idea. Best for ages 1 through 5, it runs at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, through April 9. Performances are Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $14, with a $5 lap seat for children under 12 months. Tickets may be purchased online at imaginationstage. org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or by calling 301-280-1660. Mon Dansa: Paper Dreams is on stage at the Atlas, April 27 to 30. Tickets are $6 to $10. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-239-7993. AtlasArts.org.

The Jungle Book Mowgli is a human child brought up in the jungles of India by a family of wolves. The embittered tiger Shere Kahn may be stalking him, but Mowgli is a quick learner. Baloo the goofy bear, and Bagheera, the savvy Jaguar, teach him how to gain the trust of the four-footed hunters, the birds and the snakes so that he will never be friendless. He falls into a bad crowd of silly monkeys who lead him astray and play a mean trick on him. How will Mowgli escape from the deep, dark well? And, how will he save himself when Shere Kahn turns

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Easter Monday at the Zoo

the wolf pack against him? Kipling’s timeless classic deals with very timely issues in this lively new version. Mowgli learns to respect his environment and the wisdom of the animals. And, he realizes that, as a grown man, it’s his responsibility to protect them. Best for ages 4, up. Tickets are $15 to $35. The show runs April 22 to May 28 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. Up next is Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, June 21 to Aug. 13. 301-2801660. imaginationstage.org.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp This is Aladdin as never seen it before. Aladdin and his love, the princess Adora, must outsmart an evil Magician who wants to use the genie in Aladdin’s lamp for his nefarious schemes. Will he get away with it? Get ready for love, magic and mystery in this production for all ages. It is on stage at Glen Echo, April 7 to May 21. Tickets are $19.50. Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook is on stage next, June 23 to Aug. 14. adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a marionette romp in which three brothers get the goat of a hen-pecked troll, in their attempts to trip-trap-tromp to where the grass is greener. Three variety numbers precede the performance, demonstrating the making of a simple hand puppet and manipulation of rod puppets and marionettes. On stage at Glen Echo through April 30. This show is recommended for ages 3 and a half through 9. Running time is 40 minutes. Tickets are $12. Cinderella is on stage next, May 4 to June 11. thepuppetco.org.

Geography Day On April 27, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the National Museum of the Marine Corps celebrates all things Geography. Topics include orienteering, GIS and map making and more. The event, the museum and parking are free. 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA. usmcmuseum.com. Have an item for the Kids and Family Notebook? Email bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

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On April 17, celebrate Easter Monday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Throughout the day, the Zoo will offer family-focused activities, including an Easter egg hunt with prizes for participating kids, field games, special animal demonstrations and live entertainment. Don’t miss a chance to meet Easter Panda. nationalzoo.si.edu. Small mammals weren’t the only ones that received goodies from the Easter Bunny— he also stopped at the Bird House! Photo: Jennifer Zoon, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

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E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

A PRIL 2017

“Beautiful Songs”

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

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Mont Blanc, e.g. 4. Boxing blow 8. It delivers a message 15. Send-off 18. Chilled 21. Popular cuisine 22. Gun, the engine 23. Adele song 25. Chomped on 26. He succeeded Churchill 27. Joker 28. Pine secretion 30. Not live 35. The way things are going 39. Latin “I” 40. Anthony’s lover 44. Byzantine image 45. Padova’s region 49. Bagels’ sidekick 50. Levels 51. Blockbuster 53. Spherical food 54. Gasteyer of “Saturday Night Live” 55. Confer 57. Nose-in-the-air type 59. Abase 62. Cellphone storage card 63. Keen perception, musically 65. Future stallions 66. Instructions 68. NFL play 72. One might go for a buck 73. Adele song 78. Furniture wood 79. Covert bomber 80. Scream 81. Good point 83. Mouse catcher 84. Time zone 87. Scrape together 91. Shot, in an Eric Clapton song 93. Complete current path 96. Canada’s neighbor 97. Sundown in Scotland 98. Neck scarf 101. Ruined 103. Patch 104. More pretentious

106. Work over 107. Archie and Jughead 109. Media company 110. Baking devices 112. Offshoot of reggae 113. Cowboy activity 116. Represented 118. Aviation acronym 122. Running bird 123. Adele song 133. Stop for A.J. Foyt 134. Swell 135. Substance used in plastics 136. Swine enclosure 137. Washington town 138. Cancel a printing correction 139. Victorian, for one

Down:

1. Summit 2. Mutual fund fee 3. Jab with a finger 4. Map feature 5. Big deal 6. “That means ___!” 7. Below a satisfactory level 8. American newcomers, a while back 9. Automated teller 10. Bit of sunshine 11. None’s opposite 12. Career to now 13. John, in the UK 14. Vivacious 15. Victoria’s Secret specialty 16. Legendary humanoid in the Himalayas 17. Tied 19. Not so fast 20. Handful 24. Put away 29. It’s so much bigger than an epoch 31. Likely 32. Western friends 33. Choice for small toiletries 34. Shift, e.g. 36. ___ out (manages) 37. Yule libation 38. Kind of test 39. Malicious

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 40. Decked out 41. Situated by itself 42. Final 43. Where spores are formed 46. Novel ending 47. One trying to make the grade 48. Dinner for Dobbin 52. Thus 56. Tops of carrots 58. Beginner’s walk 60. Handel oratorio about a biblical woman 61. Big lug 63. Biblical suffix 64. Pub brew

67. End date 69. Food scrap 70. With wise and worldly 71. Salutation 73. Faucet insert 74. Affirmation 75. Just on the market 76. The Cowboys, on scoreboards 77. They’re all the same 81. Sailing the Pacific 82. Disastrous situations waiting to happen 85. Cottontail’s tail 86. Piano adjuster 88. Name of three English rivers

Come to our Annual Carnival of Games! There will be free popcorn, game demos with the designers, prizes, and more carnival fun!

For schedule of events go to: labyrinthgameshop.com 58

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89. Manipulative sort 90. Fancy marbles 92. Animal hides 93. Give up 94. Kettles and frying pans 95. Flash of brilliance, perhaps 99. From 100. O.T. book 102. First name among U.N. secretaries-general 105. Winter lake phenomenon 108. Joyously 111. Woeful 113. Gym activities 114. Skip 115. Tax 117. ___ of State 119. Showed 120. One serving well 121. Southern stew 124. Surrealist artist Jean 125. ___-Darwinism 126. Shaggy-haired ox 127. Early musical style of Bob Marley 128. Layer 129. Funk band 130. Go (for) 131. Hatfield to a McCoy 132. Diner sandwich