East of the River Magazine August 2017 by Capital Community News

AUGUST 2017

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 18

The Bulletin Board An Eastside View: Bigger than Basketball? by Charles Wilson

Events DC Advances Plans for RFK Site by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Building a Community-Owned Grocery Store by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Capitol Hill Library Receives Additional Funding by Cuneyt Dil

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IN EVERY ISSUE

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

30 33

08 What’s on Washington

Medical Marijuana: Not Just for Cancer by Chloe Sommers and Chloe Detrick

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

10 Calendar

44 The Classiﬁed

48 The Crossword

Keep It Moving by Rindy O’Brien

Diagnosis: Mental Health Lows and Drug Highs by Candace Y. A. Montague

ON THE COVER: DC VegFest. Photo: Courtesy of DC VegFest. See story on pg. 12.

Our River by Gabrielle Humlicek

REAL ESTATE 40

Drought, Disease & Blight by Jessica Wynter Martin

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY

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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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Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com Stacy Peterson • stacy@accelerationsports.net We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

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SOLAR ECLIPSES: PAST AND PRESENT

On Aug. 21, 2017, the moon will pass in front of the sun casting a shadow over North America for the first time since 1918. The path of the Moon’s umbral shadow begins in northern Pacific crossing the USA from west to east through parts of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. The Moon’s penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a much larger region. From noon to 4 p.m., view the solar eclipse at the National Archives through the lenses of safe solar telescopes provided by the National Air and Space Museum. In addition, look through the lens of history. See some records from the National Archives holdings about past solar eclipses. archives.gov. Still from partial solar eclipse. On Feb. 21, 2012, the Moon moved in between NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite and the Sun (Seen here in extreme ultraviolet light.) and produced a partial solar eclipse from space. Photo: Courtesy of NASA

NATIONAL CATHEDRAL GARGOYLE AND TOWER CLIMBS The destination of the Classic Tower Climb is the ringing chamber. It is 333 steps high in the Cathedral’s central tower. From here, visitors will find a breathtaking view of DC. The climb includes multiple views inside the Cathedral itself, up-close views of stained glass and access to some of the Cathedral’s oldest stairs. The Gargoyle Tower Climb focuses on the Cathedral’s two western tower. Tour includes a close look at many gargoyles and grotesques while visiting the open-air walkway that wraps around these two towers. The climb ends on the top of the northwest tower, which provides the best views of the Cathedral itself and 360-degree views of the surrounding area from over 200 feet above the ground. This tour also lasts 75 to 90 minutes. Combine both experiences into one 2.5-hour odyssey. Upcoming tours are Aug. 8, 6 p.m., Classic; Aug. 15, 6 p.m., Gargoyle; Aug. 22, 5 p.m., Combination; Aug. 24, 6 p.m., Classic; Aug. 29, 6 p.m., Gargoyle; and Aug. 31, 5 p.m., Combination. Buy tickets at cathedral.org. Photo: Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral

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BUILDING MUSEUM’S BACKYARD BARBECUE After a hiatus last summer, Hill Country Barbecue Market is holding the “Backyard Barbecue,” a summer popup on the lawn at the National Building Museum at Fifth and F Streets NW. Hill Country packs the green with furniture and lounge chairs, tents for shade and yard games. A full bar offers refreshing brews and two new frozen drinks; the Sauza Lone Stargarita and the Jim Beam Southern Slush with black tea, orange juice and lemonade. Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue is both dog- and family-friendly with live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All meats are served for $15 with choice of confetti coleslaw, cucumber salad and baked beans on the side. Backyard Barbecue operates from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays inside the National Building Museum, Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Read more at hillcountrywdc.com.

FORT DUPONT SUMMER CONCERTS This year, the Fort Dupont

GROUPMUSE CONCERT HOUSE PARTIES Groupmuse is an online social network

Summer Concerts are on Saturdays, Aug. 12, 19, 26 and Sept. 2. Gates open and DJ plays starting at 5 p.m. The main concert is from 6 to 9 p.m. and features two acts. There will be a security check; no alcohol or glass. The main driving entrances to the park are Fort Davis Dr. and Ridge Rd; Fort Davis Dr. and Massachusetts Ave.; and Randle Circle and Fort Dupont Dr. Watch for signs. At press time, the performers and performance groups have not been announced. Please visit nps.gov/fodu closer to the events. nps.gov/fodu.

that connects young classical musicians to local audiences through concert house parties. Share the great masterpieces of music with old and new friends in your own living room. It’s always free to host a concert. Groupmuse can adapt to any size space. Just set the number of guests, reserve some spots for friends and Groupmuse connects you to area musicians. Attend a concert for a $3 registration fee and a $10 donation to the musicians. Read more at groupmuse.com.

Photo: Courtesy of the National Park Service Photo: Rachel Naft Photography

Daraja, composed of University of Maryland graduate students, entertain 75 at a Groupmuse concert in the host family’s backyard on Morse Street, NE. Groupmuse wants to emphasize that 10-15 is a more typical number of attendees for a concert in a small house or apartment.

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AUGUST WORD BECOMES FLESH AT ANACOSTIA PLAYHOUSE

Sept. 7 to Oct. 8. Using spoken word, stylized movement, tableau and music, an ensemble of performers delivers a series of letters from a man to his unborn son, documenting his range of emotions, fears and expectations. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com. Gary L. Perkins III, Clayton Pelham, Jr., Justin Weaks, Chris Lane, Louis E. Davis Photo: C. Stanley Photography

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OUTDOOR MUSIC, MOVIES AND CEREMONY Jazz in the Garden at the NGA. Fridays through Aug. 25, 5 to 8:30 PM. The free concerts feature locally and nationally acclaimed musicians performing a wide variety of musical genres. The full schedule is at nga.gov. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, between Seventh and Ninth Streets on Constitution Avenue NW. Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Fridays through Aug. 25, 8:45 to 10 PM. Features music and precision marching, the Evening Parade features “The President’s Own” US Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” The US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers and LCpl. Chesty XIII, the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington. Reservations suggested. barracks.marines.mil. NoMa Summer Screen. Movies start at sunset. Bring chairs, because the site is covered in asphalt. Blankets,

frisbees and picnic coolers are also welcome. Doors open at 7 PM. Aug. 16, Lee Daniels’ The Butler; Aug. 23, White House Down; Aug. 30, (rain date). Movies are at NoMa Junction @ Storey Park, 1005 First St. NE. nomabid.org. Strathmore’s Live from the Lawn Summer Concerts. Concerts start at 7 PM. Aug. 16, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys; Aug. 23, Uke Fest; Aug. 30, Akua Allrich. Free. Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD. strathmore.org. Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movies. Aug. 17, Beauty and the Beast (2017). The movie starts at sundown. Canal Park, Second St. and Eye St. SE. capitolriverfront.org. American Roots Music at Botanic Garden. Aug. 24; 5 to 7 PM. Free, no pre-registration required. National Garden Amphitheater, US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov.

Sunset Summer Film at Stone of Hope. Aug. 24, Hidden Figures. The movie begins at 8 PM; seating at 7 PM. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and food. Alcoholic beverages prohibited. Free. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. thememorialfoundation.org. Military Band Concerts at the Capitol. Weeknights in summer, 8 PM. Mondays, US Navy Band; Tuesdays, US Air Force Band; Wednesdays, US Marine Band; Thursdays, US Army Band or US Marine Band; Fridays, US Army Band. West side of the Capitol. Air Force Band Concerts at the Air Force Memorial. Fridays in summer, 7:30 PM. Air Force Memorial at One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, VA. airforcememorial.org. Drive-In Movies at Union Market. Sept. 1, Days of Thunder. Movie start times vary. $10 parking fee per car. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Free for walk-ups. unionmarketdc.com. NSO Labor Day Concert on the West Capital Lawn. Sept. 3, 8 PM. Free. There will be a security check. No Alcohol. Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Block Concert at Canal Park. Sept. 6, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Zach Cutler. Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Block will also feature food and beverage vendors, a moon bounce, and lawn games for all ages. Canal Park, Second and Eye Streets SE. capitolriverfront.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS Flying Circus Air Shows. Sundays, 2:30 to about 4 PM. Adults, $15; $7, kids through 12 and under five, free. The Flying Circus Aerodrome is located at 5114 Ritchie Rd. in Bealeton, VA. flyingcircusairshow.com. Truckeroo. Sept. 1, 11 AM to 11 PM. Truckeroo is family-friendly and features live music, cold drinks, games and more. 1201 Half St. SE. thebullpendc.com/truckeroo.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TWB@THEARC Summer Classes. Mondays, 6:45 to 8 PM; Adult Barre, Tuesdays, 7 to 8 PM; Wednesdays, 6:45 to 7:45 PM, Adult Pilates; Wednesdays, 7:45 to 9 PM; Thursdays, 7 to 8:15 PM, Adult Ballet; Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 AM, Adult Zumba; Saturdays, 2:15 to 3 PM, Adult African. Single classes are $12. Class cards good for 12 classes are $100/$60 for Wards 7 and 8 residents. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. Fort Dupont Summer Concerts. Aug. 12, 19, 26 and Sept. 2. Gates open and DJ plays starting at 5 PM; main concert is 6 to 9 PM and features two acts. There will be a security check; no alcohol, no glass. Visit nps.gov/fodu to see the schedule. nps.gov/fodu. 2017 Summer Breeze Jazz Concert at THEARC. Aug. 13, 2 to 4 PM. Features the Tamara Wellons & Band. Refreshments served,

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tivist and founder of the United Farm Workers. Post-film discussion will be facilitated by a museum educator. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

1 to 2 PM. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. Journaling: A Self-Care Practice at The Den. Aug. 13 and 27, Sept. 10 and 24; 2 to 4 PM. From Bullet Journaling to Morning Pages, Porscha’s journaling sessions will be a chance for every sistah to learn a new way to express their feelings, be organized, create ideas or simply reflect on their day. $10 to $15. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Fort Dupont Public Ice Skating Schedule. Aug. 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28, Sept. 1 and 4; 6 to 8 PM; Aug. 12, 19 and 26, Sept. 2, 1 to 3 PM; Aug. 13, 20 and 27, Sept. 3, 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Aug. 25 and Sept. 1, noon to 2 PM. Public skat-

DC VEGFEST

ing is $5 for adults (13-64); $4 for seniors and children (5-12); $3, skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org. Environmental Film Festival Screening: SoLa at the ACM. Aug. 17, 6 to 8 PM. SoLa is a poignant look back at exactly how a gusher in the Louisiana Gulf happened resulted from corruption, malfeasance and an industry that views environmental pollution as simply the cost of doing business. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Villages of Parklands Community Dinners at THEARC. Aug. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. A hot dinner will be provided along with a screening of old school family focused sitcom (ex. Family Matters, Good Times, Etc.). Dinner is available for the first 50 people. thearcdc.org.

Sept. 2, 11 AM to 6 PM. DC VegFest is a free festival of food, music, education, inspiration and fun. More than 20,000 vegans and pre-vegans alike are expected to explore the many joys and flavors of plant-based foods, as well as discover how leaving meat off the plate helps to protect health, the planet and animals. Yards Park. DCVegFest.com. Photo: Courtesy of DC VegFest

Viva La Causa! Film and Discussion at the ACM. Aug. 18, 11 AM to 1 PM. This acclaimed documentary examines the life of Caesar Chavez, the influential human rights ac-

Black Magic: AfroPasts/AfroFutures at Honfleur Gallery. Aug. 18 to Oct. 7. Opening reception, Aug. 19, 5 to 8 PM. Black Magic Film Festival, Aug. 20, 3 to 6 PM. Cultural anthropologist and curator Niama Safia Sandy brings together seven artists for Black Magic: Afro Pasts/ Afro Futures. The exhibition is a multidisciplinary expression of Afrofuturism and Magical Realism exploring the recurrent themes of the Black Diaspora. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. Birthright Annual Concert at THEARC. Aug. 19, 6 PM. This night of elegance features a seamless, spirited African music, dance and theater performance from the Farafina Kan Family youth groups. $20 to $60. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. Music & at The Den. Sept. 7, 7 to 9 PM. Flutist Brittney Allen conducts a musical exploration of black literature in this “Live in the Den Series.” $10. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com.

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at Black Cat. Aug. 12, Run For Cover 2017 and Singleing; Aug. 16, Fyohna; Aug. 19, Right Round and Zeno and Oaklander; Aug. 23, Sheer Mag; Aug. 26, Eighties May-

hem and Handsome Hound; Aug. 27, United Against Islamophobia feat. Drop Electric; Aug. 30, Go Mod Go; Aug. 31, Drink Education; Sept. 7, Japanese Breakfast; Sept. 8, Shabazz Palaces; Sept. 9, Big Thief Lucy Dacus. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at Boundary Stone. Aug. 12, The High and Wides; Aug. 14, 21 and 28 and Sept. 4, Open Mic & $4 Drafts with Reed Appleseed; Aug. 16, Straight Outta Compton; Aug. 19, Grand Ole’ Ditch; Aug. 23, Music 101: History of Hip Hop Live Music Break; Aug. 26, Greensky Bluegrass Livestream from Lockn’ Music Festival in Arlington; Sept. 2, Lee, Blackwood and Graham. Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW. boundarystonedc.com. Music at U Street Music Hall. Aug. 12, Mixtape; Aug. 16, Nyck Caution & Kirk Knight; Aug. 17, Sahbabii and Kahn & Neek, GothTrad; Aug. 18, A Night At The U Street Disco; Aug. 19, Juan Maclean (DJ Set); Aug. 22, Lewis Brice; Aug. 23, Nicola Cruz & Quantic; Aug. 25, The Crystal Method (DJ Set); Aug. 26, Moombahton Massive Reunion; Sept. 2, A Summers Night; Sept. 3, REV909: Daft Punk/ French House Tribute and Indie Dance Classics; Sept. 8, Tei Shi and Jackal; Sept. 9, Arizona. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Aug. 12, Rooftop DJ-Ozker-Sync, Slothrust and Summit Saturdays; Aug. 16, Mark Lanegan Band; Aug. 17, Mystery Friends; Aug. 18, Lee Fields & The Expressions; Aug. 19, Redline Graffiti and Summit Saturdays; Aug. 25, Strand of Oaks; Aug. 26, War on Women and Summit Saturdays; Sept. 2, Pure Disgust and Summit Saturdays; Sept. 3, Haken-10th Anniversary Tour. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-3887625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Free Summer Concert Series at National Building Museum. Sundays through Aug. 27, 2 PM. No RSVP required. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. nbm.org. Summer Organ Recitals at the National Shrine. Sundays, 6 PM. Aug. 13, Peter Latona; Aug. 20, Iris Lan; Aug. 27, Sergio Orabona. No admission charge; a free will offering will be accepted. All are welcome. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. nationalshrine.com. Blues in Southwest. Mondays, 6 to 9 PM. Aug. 14, Melvin Taylor Blues Band; Aug. 21, Fast Eddie & the Slow Pokes; Aug. 28, Full Power Blues; Sept. 4, Dave Chappell Blues Band with special guest, former Allman Brother Band’s Johnny Neel; Sept. 11, Ursula Ricks Project. $5 cover. Children under 16 are free. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at Hill Country. Aug. 15, Bella Hardy; Aug. 17 and 18, Ray Wylie Hubbard; Aug. 19, Rock-A-Sonies; Aug. 22, Fireside Collective; Aug. 24, The Yayhoos; Aug. 25, The Woodshedders; Aug. 26, The Flamin’ Groovies; Aug. 28, Scott H. Biram; Aug. 29, Dale Watson & His Lone Stars; Aug. 31, Wild The Waters; Sept. 7,

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One Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Unit Remains at 525 Water! NO LOTTERY REQUIRED! Unit # #102

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Purchase Price- 80% AMI Unit $219,100

Condo Fee- Includes Water, Trash, Sewer $381.36 / Month

If your annual income is less than $60,816 for a household of one, you may qualify to purchase the last IZ unit at 525 Water. Please visit the Department of Housing and Community Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (DHCD) website for qualification guidelines, program details and to register! Call the 525 Water sales team at 202.836.6996 for more information on 525 Water! Purchase of an IZ unit is subject to all terms and conditions of the IZ program and covenants, sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales agreement and the public offering statement for 525 Water.

Sales by PN Hoffman Realty

680 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 All marketing materials are for illustrative purposes only and shall not be relied upon as the basis of any contract, warranty or other claim.

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exa Tovsen, a certified instructor with Yoga Alliance, will teach the hour-long, all-level vinyasa yoga classes. After class, museum staff will be on-hand to provide a tour of the bonsai and penjing on display. $15. US National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE. bonsai-nbf.org. Outdoor Public Swimming Pools. Open through Labor Day weekend. East of the River outdoor public pools are: Anacostia Pool (closed Mondays) at 1800 Anacostia Dr. SE; Benning Park Pool (closed Thursdays) at 5100 Southern Ave. SE; Douglass Pool (closed Wednesdays) at 1921 Frederick Douglass Ct. SE; Fort Stanton Pool (closed Thursdays) at 1800 Erie St. SE; Kelly Miller Pool (closed Mondays) at 4900 Brooks St. NE; Oxon Run Pool (closed Mondays) at 501 Mississippi Ave. SE; Ridge Road Pool (closed Thursdays), 830 Ridge Rd. SE. Newly opened Kenilworth Pool (closed Mondays), 1300 44th St. NE. All outdoor pools are open weekends, noon to 6 PM; weekdays, 11 AM to 8 PM. All DC pools are free for DC residents. Have picture ID. dpr.dc.gov.

WARD 7 BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WARD 7 DAY

Sept. 9, noon to 6 PM. Ward 7 Day features live entertainment, food, children’s activities, vendors, city services, produce giveaway and more. Ward 7 Day is at Washington Parks and People’s (WPP) Riverside Center next to Marvin Gaye Park. Photo: Courtesy of Ward 7 Business Partnership

Andrew Duhon; Sept. 9, Sarah Potenza, Paleface. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at 9:30 Club. Aug. 17, Bomba Estéreo; Aug. 18, The Districts; Aug. 19, Valentino Khan; Aug. 21, Waxahatchee; Aug. 24, Delta Rae; Aug. 26, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood; Aug. 31, Washed out; Sept. 7, Pat Green; Sept. 8, The Brian Jonestown Massacre; Sept. 9, The Afghan Whigs. 815 V St. NW. 877-4359849. 930.com. Music at The Howard. Aug. 17, Residente; Aug. 18, Dru Hill; Aug. 25, Jon B; Aug. 26, Tamar Braxton; Sept. 7, Morgan Heritage; Sept. 8, Tank; Sept. 9, Chante Moore and Michel Martelly. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Jazz Night in Southwest. Fridays, 6 to 9 PM. Aug. 18, Chuck Redd & the Jazz Masters; Aug. 25, Tribute to Carmen McCrae; Sept. 1, Labor Day Special; Sept. 8, Strunkin. $5 cover. Children under 16 are free. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Southwest Chamber Players Concert. Aug. 25, 7 PM. Admission is free; donations welcome. Program includes Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, together with works of Weber, Beethoven, and Schumann. Saint Augustine’s, 555 Maine Ave. SW. southwestchamberplayers.org. Free Summer Concert Series at National Building Museum. Sundays through Aug. 27, 2 PM. No RSVP required. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. nbm.org. Music at Sixth and I. Sept. 7, Erin McKeown; Sept. 11, Alison Moyet. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org. Music at the Lincoln. Sept. 9, Apocalyptica-Plays Metallica by Four Cellos Tour. The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com.

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SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Nationals. Aug. 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Nat’s Park. washington.nationals.mlb.com. DC United at RFK. Aug. 12, 7 PM vs. Real Salt Lake. Aug. 23, 7:30 PM vs Atlanta United FC. dcunited.com.

East of the River Public Tennis Courts. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE; Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue and Joliet Street SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Avenue and Randle Place SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first come, first served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov. Barry Farm indoor pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and weekends from 9 AM to 5PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-7300572. dpr.dc.gov. Deanwood indoor pool. weekdays, 6:30 AM to 8 PM; weekends, 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov. Ferebee Hope indoor pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202645-3916. dpr.dc.gov.

Washington Mystics Basketball. Aug. 16, 18 and 26; and Sept. 1. Verizon Center. mystics.wnba.com. Yoga Gatherings at the Botanic Garden. Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy and acceptance throughout the District. WithLoveDC offers free yoga gatherings at the US Botanic Garden. This program is first-come, first served with limited space available. Bring a mat. No preregistration required. usbg.gov. Sound Health Community Yoga at the Kennedy Center. Saturdays through Sept. 30, 10:15 AM. Free, all-levels vinyasa yoga class in the Grand Foyer. An instructor from a different local yoga studio will lead each session. kennedy-center.org.

WARD 8 FARMER’S MARKET

Yoga Mortis at Congressional Cemetery. Wednesdays, 6 PM. Classes are one hour and appropriate for all experience levels. No reservations are required; suggested donation is $15. congressionalcemetery.org.

Saturdays, 10 AM to 2 PM. Market is in the parking lot behind Martin Luther King Elementary School, 3200 Sixth St. SE. ward8farmersmarket.com.

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Summer Yoga Series. Aug. 12 and 26, 8 AM. Al-

Fresh, naturally grown produce from Licking Creek Bend Farm on sale at the Ward 8 Farmers Market. Photo: Nathan Harrington

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SALES AND MARKETS Friends of SE Library Book Sale. Next book sale is Sept. 9, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/ southeast. First Fridays at Community Forklift. Last of the season, Sept. 1, 6 to 8 PM. Sale features bands, artists and food trucks. Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Dr. Edmonston, MD. communityforklift.org. SW Arts Market. Every second and fourth Friday, 4 to 10 PM. Aug. 25; Sept. 8. Fourth and M Streets SW. marketswdc.com. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD. Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 6 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open weekends, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh Street SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.org. Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; weekends, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301652-7400. unionmarketdc.com.

CIVIC LIFE DDOT Public Space Committee Meetings. Aug. 24; Sept. 28; Oct. 26; Nov. 16; Dec. 14; 9 AM. The Public Space Committee meets monthly to review and render decisions on a variety of types of permit applications for the use and occupancy of the public right of way that do not fall within the regular permitting process such as sidewalk cafes; over-height retaining walls; over-height fences and security bollards. Meeting at 1100 Fourth St. SW, 2nd Floor, Hearing Room. ddot.dc.gov/page/public-space-committee-meetings. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Ofﬁce. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton. house.gov. ANCs and civic associations typically don’t meet in August.

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Season at 15 Theater Alliance Season 15 launches in September with an encore presentation of “Word Becomes Flesh” by Marc Bamuthi Joseph. First performed as part of Theater Alliance’s 13th Season, this production was the recipient of 11 Helen Hayes nominations. The entire team returns for the production. In conjunction, Theater Alliance will curate and present a suite of auxiliary programming, featuring DC artists performing work inspired by, in reaction to or counterpoint to the themes and forms in the play. The season continues with two regional premieres of new plays in redevelopment. In February, Idris Goodwin’s “The Raid” will be directed by Producing Artistic Director Colin Hovde. In May, the final production of the season will be “Flood City” by Gabrielle Reisman, directed by Jenna Duncan. Visit theateralliance.com for more information.

Anacostia NPS Community Forum This forum, at the Anacostia Community Museum, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will highlight the various ways in which the National Park Service (NPS) can serve as a resource for communities along the Anacostia by highlighting recreational, educational and cultural opportunities offered to residents of all ages. The Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

New Anacostia Waterfront Guide There are a lot of great destinations, activities and other reasons to visit the Anacostia River. To help learn about the options, the Anacostia Waterfront Trust has launched a new guide to the waterfront at anacostiatrust.org/guide.

Volunteer at Kenilworth Park On Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., join neighbors as they partner with the National Environmental Education Foundation to celebrate National Public Lands Day. For this premiere service event, 200 plus volunteers will remove cut lotus from the park’s ponds as well as a variety of other park improvement projects including transplanting perennials, removing invasive species and picking up litter. Lunch will be served in the picnic grove. SSL credits can be earned. Register at friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com. Contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org with questions. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

Save Energy with Free Kit The DC Sustainable Energy Utility wants to help consumers lower energy bills in just a few simple steps with a free Home Energy Conservation Kit. Each kit contains six omni-directional LED light bulbs, one advanced power strip, and a bathroom faucet aerator. Order the kit at smart.dcseu.com/efficiency-kit.

KENILWORTH GARDENS NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE

On Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., join neighbors as they partner with the Student Conservation Association to commemorate the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. At this special event, cut lotus for removal later in the month, remove invasive plants and prep the gardens for the fall season. There is a free lunch and t-shirts for all volunteers. Register to help at FindYourParkSCAdc.eventbrite.com. Contact Roland Richardson, SCA Events Coordinator, at atrrichardson@thesca.org or 703-842-4234 with any questions. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. Photo: Tim Ervin

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Women’s DC Comedy Conference Women in Comedy, a national nonprofit, is hosting “Inside Jokes,” a free, interactive conference to raise awareness and support for women in the business of comedy. The Inside Jokes debuts at Drafthouse Comedy Theater on Aug. 20, 2 to 5:30 p.m. The event includes a speed networking session, a panel discussion/think tank, livestream workshops, stand-up comedy and free professional quality headshots by Andrea Rodway. Read more and register at womenincomedy.org/ comedyconference.

Take a Sustainable DC Survey As DC grows, the Sustainable DC plan also needs to evolve. To reflect changes in the District, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) has launched a community engagement process, "Sustainable DC 2.0," to learn where residentsí priorities stand. The goal of the Sustainable DC plan is to make DC the cleanest, greenest, and healthiest city in the nation by 2032. To do this, DOEE must ensure the plan makes significant investments in our residents, workers, and visitors. Nobody is better suited to tell DOEE your priorities and what you think about your community than you. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey at goo.gl/DNqeUP.

Table Top Games WashingCon Tabletop Gaming Convention. Sept. 9 and 10. Kathleen Donahue, owner of Labyrinth Games and Puzzles on Capitol Hill and co-sponsor of the event, says, ìItís incredible how many people in DC love board games and card games, so we are excited about serving this community with WashingCon 2017.î Join fellow tabletop game enthusiasts at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW. washingcon.com.

Don’t Take a Summer Vacation from Health To combat health inequity among the District’s residents, Leadership Council for Healthy Communities (LCHC) and community health providers have reignited their commitment to connecting community members to neighborhood health centers, recreation centers, healthy corner stores, cooking classes and nutrition-diabetes education classes. Community health providers have created a strategy to ensure summer is the time Ward 7 residents learn how to stay healthy. Unity Health-Minnesota Avenue, Deanwood Recreation Center, Healthy Corner Stores, Capital Area Food Bank Grocery Plus, UDC CAUSES East Capitol Urban Farm, and DC UrbanGreens will help residents find the desired services they want to be physically active, eat well and know their health numbers. Deanwood residents

will find posters and flyers that list preventative services centered on wellness, nutrition education, healthy food access and/or physical activity. For more information, call LCHC offices at 202-5411031 or email info@lchcnework.org.

Help Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups second Saturdays of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark the calendar for Sept. 9. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear boots and work clothes. There is an open invitation to colleges, schools, churches, offices and other groups. Pick the date and time. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange your groups volunteer experience.

Blood Shortage: Please Donate The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelet donors. 61,000 fewer donations were given during the last two months causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply. To schedule an appointment to donate: use the free Blood Donor App at redcrossblood. org/bloodapp; or visit redcrossblood. org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767). The Red Cross has added more than 25,000 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country to accommodate more donors. Make an appointment and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire to help reduce donation time.

Great Streets Grant Recipients Announced Mayor Bowser has announced over $4.7 million in awards through the Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant. Ninety-eight competitive grants to small business owners looking to improve their places of business have been awarded. Awardees represent the District’s diverse business community from restaurants and retail to tech centers and creative economy spaces. There are 13 Great Streets corridors located across the District that

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0032-2017

MOVING SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires professional moving services throughout various DCHA properties. 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, July 17, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, August 18, 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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aim to transform developing commercial areas into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. The Great Streets corridors include: Pennsylvania Avenue SE; Georgia Avenue NW; Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE; Seventh Street and Georgia Avenue NW; North Capitol Street NW and NE; Rhode Island Avenue NE; Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and South Capitol Street SE and SW; Minnesota and Benning Road NE; Connecticut Avenue NW; U Street and 14th Street NW; Wisconsin Avenue NW; H Street-Bladensburg Road NE; and New York Avenue NE. All fiscal year 2017 Great Streets grant recipients can be found at greatstreets.dc.gov.

Register for the Dead Man’s Run The 2017 Dead Man’s Run will be held on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. on the grounds of Congressional Cemetery. Each registration comes with a tshirt and one free beer for those of age. In addition, the course is now USATF certified. Register at register. chronotrack.com/r/26988.

DC residents may receive free housing counseling and free legal services. The hotline is staffed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Messages will be taken during all other hours and returned by the end of the next business day. HCS may also be reached by email at info@housingetc.org.

“Pups in the Park” Games

SOLAR WORKS DC LAUNCHED On July 24, Mayor Bowser launched Solar Works DC, an eco-friendly program to install solar panels in the homes of nearly 300 low-income residents, reducing their expenses to nearly $600 annually. A collaborative initiative between the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Department of Employment Services (DOES), Solar Works DC will also provide job training for more than 200 Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program participants. Last year, Mayor Bowser signed the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Expansion Amendment

Act to increase the amount of energy from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2032, expand solar capacity in the District to five percent by 2032 and provide the benefits of locally generated solar energy to low-income households, seniors, small businesses and nonprofits. The RPS bill has provided DOEE the opportunity to award $13.2 million grants to increase access to clean energy for low-income families, create green jobs and businesses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of Climate Ready DC and Sustainable DC.

Photo: Courtesy of GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic.

Capitals Announce New Season Home Opener

The Washington Capitals, in conjunction with the National Hockey League, has announced the club’s home opener for the 2017-18 season will be on Oct. 7 against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center. Washington Capitals single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale at 1-800-745-3000, on WashingtonCaps.com, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, at all local Ticketmaster outlets and the Verizon Center box office.

The DC Office of Human Rights has published a guidance stating that all forms of public assistance, including permanent and temporary subsidies such as Rapid Rehousing, are protected under fair housing law. Turned away because of a voucher or subsidy? Speak up. Contact Housing Counseling Services, Inc., to find out more about fair housing rights and how to fight discrimination. 202-667-7006. housingetc.org.

Source of Income Discrimination

Stop a Foreclosure

Have a voucher or receive rapid rehousing assistance? Been turned away from housing because a housing provider will not accept a voucher or said that they do not accept “third party payments?” You might be a victim of housing discrimination.

DC residents in danger of losing their homes are urged to call 202-667-7006. The foreclosure prevention hotline is set up by Housing Counseling Services, Inc. and funded by the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. Depending on circumstances,

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Purchase a discounted ticket 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 more information, visit washington.nationals. mlb.com. The next Pups in the Park Games game is Sept. 7, 7:05 p.m. vs. Phillies.

NPS Finalizes Plans for Buzzard Point Park

The National Park Service (NPS) has released a Final Development Concept Plan for Buzzard Point Park. The plan incorporates public feedback on how to create an enjoyable and unique community waterfront park. NPS re-imagines 3.5-acre Buzzard Point Park as a peaceful retreat for both recreation and relaxation. The final plan incorporates the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, uninterrupted access to the river’s edge, a pedestrian promenade, a kayak launch, grass dunes, open lawn areas, restrooms and other facilities. It also draws landscape ideas from the native marshlands historically located along the shoreline. The plan is available at parkplanning.nps.gov.

Perform at 2018 INTERSECTIONS The Atlas Performing Arts Center welcomes submissions for their INTERSECTIONS Festival 2018. The festival takes place from Feb. 23 to March 10. INTERSECTIONS presents work that impacts society, culture and world. It informs, inspires, educates and entertains. It presents excellent art designed to connect the community, engage artists and audiences, and a

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create a vibrant neighborhood, city and world. The application deadline is Aug. 15, 5 p.m. Online submissions only. Read more at atlasarts.org.

Affordable Farmers Markets Produce Available DC residents who receive SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, TANF, SSI Disability, Medicare QMB or Senior Grocery Plus are eligible for the Produce Plus program. Qualified customers can get $10 per farmers’ market visit up to two times per week to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables and cut herbs. Pick up Produce Plus checks at one of the distributing farmers’ markets. Visit more than 50 farmers’ markets across the District to use the checks. For a list of participating markets, visit dchunger.org. For more information about the Produce Plus program, email DC Greens at produceplus@dcgreens.org or call the Produce Plus hotline at 202888-4834.

Summer Restaurant Week Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has announced who will participate in Summer Restaurant Week held is from Aug. 14 to Aug. 20. The semi-annual regional event features 250 local businesses. Restaurants in DC, Maryland and Virginia will serve up multi-course meals. Dinner menus will be available for $35, lunch for $22 and brunch for $22. The list is easily searchable at rwdmv.com. Throughout Summer Restaurant Week, participating locations will team up with the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) to raise funds for the food bank’s nearly 500 partners. Many restaurants have opted to donate a portion of proceeds earned during Restaurant Week to CAFB. Each dollar donated will provide more than two full meals for someone in need.

Alexandria Summer Restaurant Week Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18 to 27. More than two dozen restaurants will also offer lunch deals at $10, $15 or $20 per person in addition to the dinner specials. AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com.

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Death with Dignity Act Implemented The Bowser Administration has implemented the “Death with Dignity Act of 2016,” passed by the DC Council in November 2016. The act establishes a process by which competent, terminally ill residents of DC can legally obtain a physician’s prescription for medications to end their lives in a humane and peaceful manner. Participation in the Death with Dignity program is voluntary for physicians and pharmacists. End of life medication can be requested by a terminally-ill patient who is a District resident, at least eighteen years or older and is expected to live for no more than six months. The patient cannot be suffering from impaired judgment resulting from depression or a psychiatric or psychological condition; be capable of making the decision expressing an intent to take a medication that will cause death; and must be physically capable of taking the medication. The DOH forms and more information can be found online at doh. dc.gov/page/death-dignity-act-2016.

NPS Approves Trail for Oxon Cove Park The NPS has completed its planning and environmental review process to create a new multi-use trail at Oxon Cove Park. The proposed trail will provide new public access for recreation and connect to other local trail systems. It will highlight the park’s streams, wetlands and forests along the cove and encourage outdoor recreation and water activities like fishing and bird watching. Planned trail features include an observation deck, bench area, bike racks and a ramp. A timetable for realizing the plan has not yet been determined. The new, approximately one-mile section, will connect with an existing multi-use trail in the park creating a continuous trail from Shepherd Parkway in DC, near Blue Plains, along the cove and through Oxon Cove Park in Md. The plan/Environmental Assessment and associated documentation is available on parkplanning.nps.gov. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

An Eastside View: Bigger than Basketball?

lot has been said about construction of new the Wizards practice basketball facility scheduled to come to the East Campus of St. Elizabeths. The announcement was met with a lot of excitement that a quality development is coming east of the river. Is this good for our community? Let’s see. The development has been dubbed “Bigger than Basketball.” Is it? It can be. Let’s first address the $50 million price tag. That kind of money, many would argue, could be better used to address other needs in the ward. There is no dispute the needs are great in our community. However, I would say this is a worthwhile investment because it is the type of commitment from the District that will bring even more investment. You don’t spend that kind of money without generating broader expectations. The development community will take notice and say to themselves, Let’s take a look east of the river. Additionally, basketball fans across the region will come to Ward 8 to watch Wizards and Mystics games. Concertgoers will come to listen to their favorite music artist. Congress Heights will become a destination! When have you ever heard “Congress Heights” and “destination” in the same sentence? Becoming a destination will spark more development interest for Ward 8. The new facility and additional investment will create jobs to meet the demands of ticket buyers and address the need for more retail options in our community. How many times have you said to yourself that you’re tired of using your gas to drive to other parts of the city or neighboring states just to grocery shop, get a hamburger, or buy even

by Charles Wilson

an ice cream cone. I am crossing my fingers this will move us a step closer in the right direction. It’s been nearly a year since it was announced, and excitement has worn down because of the elephant in the room, gentrification. Yes, the facility will attract people who have never been east of the river. Once they come, they will see how nice the surrounding neighborhoods are and the convenience to get to and from downtown. We should not allow this to scare us. Instead we should use this to our advantage. Think about it. This is will be the first of many investments coming east of the river. Why not start a business and become certified with the District? For District-sponsored economic development projects, developers are required to spend 35 percent of their building cost on District-based small business, and they get extra applause if those businesses are located in Wards 7 and 8. The time is now to position ourselves for this type of opportunity. Additionally, this is an opportunity to bring even more resources via community benefits agreements. I remember former Councilmember Marion Barry stating that the benefits in these agreements should last as long as the development projects themselves. The benefits could range from scholarships to fixing some of the blighted property in our neighborhoods to make them safer and more appealing. Let’s jump at the opportunity and make this “bigger than basketball” and position ourselves to take advantage of what is to come. Charles E. Wilson is the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 8A05 as well as president and co-founder of the Historic Anacostia Block Association and River East Emerging Leaders. You can read his blog, The Art of WARd8, at www. artofward8.blogspot.com.

Photos: EventDC

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Events DC Advances Plans for RFK Site

obert F. Kennedy (RFK) Stadium opened in 1961 and has been the home for numerous events as well as the District’s major league baseball, football and, currently, the DC United soccer team. But DC United is expected to move to their new stadium in Buzzard Point next year. The time seems opportune for change, and the community has long been eager for the nearly 80 acres of parking lot that surrounds the outdated building to be converted into green or recreational fields. Events DC, the sports and entertainment authority of the District, currently holds a lease with National Parks Serve (NPS) on the property which is set to expire in 2038. In January, they presented an ambitious $500 million plan for short-term development over the next ten years, likely even before the current stadium is torn down. The longer-term project to redevelop the main stadium could take 30 years or more, but Events DC and the community have yet to decide on what will fill that space. At a community meeting July 10, Events DC announced that elements of the program will be advanced even as they seek to secure long-term control of the site in order to facilitate financing of the plans.

their research indicated that maintenance costs for artificial turf are typically 10 percent the cost of grass, and are usable for a significantly larger part of the year.

NOT SOON ENOUGH

Based on evidence from the July 10 meeting, the community is eagerly anticipating the fields. One resident said that more fields could transform the west side of the Anacostia into a regional sports center, especially if the proEvents DC President and Chief posed fields were linked to fields by Elizabeth O’Gorek Executive Officer Gregory O’Dell planned as part of improvements said of plans for the RFK Site, to other District parks, such as An“we want to convert the asphalt acostia-Kenilworth. gin as soon as early 2018. to something we can all enjoy.” Councilmember Charles Allen The Phase I environmental (Ward 6-D) said that the converPhoto: Courtesy Events DC. assessment, already underway, sion of the parking lots could not will look at the whole site, but begin soon enough. O’Dell said that NPS had suggested a way to expe“I have been a long time advocate for the fields of asdite the process. phalt around RFK Stadium to be converted into recre“[NPS is] really trying to be a great partner and ational fields, so I am so glad to see Events DC and some help us as we try to get some of these short-term eleothers embracing this idea,” he said ments done,” he said. “It’s a big step forward towards turning that asphalt On July 10 the Program Management Firm workinto something we can all enjoy.” ing with Events DC presented three possible test fits QUESTIONS for the fields. All call for three artificial turf fields with Transportation is one area of concern that remains for flexible uses, two for lacrosse and soccer and one field area residents. There is opposition to a road shown for soccer and little-league baseball. A representative in some renderings that divides the campus from the of Capitol Riverside Youth Sports (CRYS) said that

PLANS

The plan for the RFK Stadium Campus first presented by Events DC in January contains an array of attractive components: multipurpose fields, a market hall, a sports and recreation complex, pedestrian bridges connecting the west and east banks of the Anacostia River to Heritage and Kingman Islands, and a new memorial site for Robert F. Kennedy, for whom the stadium is named. Of these, the playing fields are the first elements expected to be completed. President and CEO of Events DC Gregory O’Dell said that timeline estimates were preliminary until the regulatory process had been concluded, but it was possible that construction could be-

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At a community meeting July 10, Brailsford and Dunlavey, the program management firm for Events DC, presented three evolving fit-tests for fields located in what is now parking lot space to the north of RFK Stadium. Images: Courtesy Events DC]

RFK COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY, AUGUST 19

Anacostia River. One resident said, ”I think a road of any sort in that area is going to be met with a big ‘no’ from folks.” O’Dell said that the final decision about the road had not yet been made, in part because studies had not yet determined if access needs could be met without it, but that the community concern had been heard. Other questions relate to the price tag. Cost of the fields is estimated at $12 million. O’Dell said that financing had not yet been determined, adding in a later interview that Events DC was open to third party management of the fields if that party could balance both the multiple uses of the fields and a financial investment to off-set the costs. “There’s no way we’re going to charge the community or all these leagues that amount of money to make up that difference.” Commissioner Denise Krepp (6B10) said that while it was clear tax dollars would be sought to implement these plans, she was still unsure how much money Events DC was hoping to acquire from either the District and Federal Governments.

CONTROL

But in order for Events DC to secure financing for the plans, longterm control of the site is necessary. O’Dell said that the fields were probably as far as Events DC was willing to progress on its plans before that control is secured. One possibility – and the most likely one – is the extension of the current lease that grants Events DC management of the site. The current lease expires in 2038. O’Dell said that a 30-year extension was typical but that they were working for 50 years or a transfer of title. To this end, O’Dell announced at the July 10 meeting that Events DC had hired lobbyist Squire Patton Boggs to com(continues to pg.27)

To celebrate improvements to the RFK community’s beautiful space, Events DC is planning a Community Appreciation Day. Come to the Skate Park with all your neighbors for food, games, and music. There will be skateboard and BMX demonstrations from seasoned competitors. The Skate Park at RFK Stadium is undergoing a transformation thanks to a world-renowned DMV artist who is creating a masterpiece. From removing restricting fences and creating a bicycle-friendly path, crews are extending the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to make it more accessible. And this is all just the beginning! Events DC continues to make progress in creating beautiful spaces for you and other District residents and visitors. Here are just a few ways how: • Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Codesigned by a pro skater, this 15,000-square-foot attraction has been called the top Skate Park in the DC area! Skaters of all ages and skill levels use it, and families enjoy watching the action. The Skate Park is being closed for four weeks, but for good reason. A world-renowned DMV-based artist is currently at work creating something special. Watch for the unveiling of this artwork and re-opening of the Skate Park next month at the RFK Community Appreciation Day event on Saturday, August 19 at RFK Stadium (2400 East Capitol Street, SE). • Bike-friendly extension. Last month, Events DC worked with DC Water to extend a portion of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, making the trailway more accessible for bike riding. This convenient trail will eventually span 28 miles and connect you to the Fish Market, Nationals Park, Historic Anacostia, and other neighborhoods. • Pole vaulting. In May, DC Vault created a pole vault track for their world class and amateur athletes to train on all year long. They will also provide residents with free coached opportunities to try their hand at pole vaulting. If you want to feel the rush of vaulting, you can find additional details at DCVault.org. • Batting cages. This past spring, in partnership with Capitol Hill Little League, Events DC installed batting cages at the corner of 19th and C St. You can practice your swing at these batting cages, and live and relive your baseball glory days. Check the posting near the batting cages for public use times.

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Building a Community-Owned Grocery Store Residents Plan Cooperative Grocery to Solve Problem of Food Access

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

PROVIDING HEALTHY FOOD WHERE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS HAVE FALLEN SHORT

People living east of the river exert more effort to obtain healthy food than those living in the rest of the District. A 2016 study by DC Hunger Solutions found that there were two grocery stores in Ward 7 and only one in Ward 8 – a combined three stores serving 164,000 residents. While the District has debated the issue and formed a variety of programs to address it, the problem persists. Board members of the Community Grocery Cooperative: (left to right) Ginia Avery, Damian Tired of waiting for Bascom, and Clarice Manning. Photo: CGC action, a group of Anacostia residents has decided to take food access into their own hands. In health and nutrition as well as a timely process to get March 2016, the Community Grocery Cooperative these needs addressed. (CGC) was incorporated by its founders, Ginia Avery, Those involved in the organization hope that this Clarice Manning, and Damian Bascom. Its mission is community-based solution will succeed where politito provide better access to food and knowledge about cal and corporate efforts have fallen short.

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MIDDLE OF A DESERT

Experts in food access have coined the term food desert to describe those areas that have limited access to healthy food. Recently, the DC Policy Center determined that 46 percent of the District’s food deserts are located in Ward 8, with 31 percent in Ward 7. While other wards have ready access to a variety of full-service commercial grocers, Wards 7 and 8 have seen a decrease from seven stores in 2010 to three today. “I have to cross water for just about anything I do. That’s ridiculous,” said Anacostia resident Adriana at a CGC planning meeting in July. Living in a food desert means more than having to plan grocery trips in advance and spending a considerable amount of time to complete the task. It can determine the amount of fresh, healthy food purchased. It has an even greater impact on those without their own transportation. In addressing the issue of food access, a variety of policy proposals and initiatives have been presented, including legislation proposed by Councilmember Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) that provides incentives for affordable anchor stores selling groceries and retail goods to locate to specific commercial areas of Wards 7 and 8. The bill remains under review.

FOR THE COMMUNITY, BY THE COMMUNITY

Mobilizing government and waiting for less-than-enthusiastic corporations to respond is a long-term approach to a problem that residents say requires more immediate action. The founders of the CGC hope that the cooperative approach will provide more and quicker improvement while reaping the benefits of community involvement. The cooperative has precedent in the District in many successful ventures, including Capitol Cabs, Nannie Helen Burroughs’ Cooperative Industries, and more recently the Martin Luther King Jr. Cooperative store at the Arthur Capper Public Housing Complex. Avery says a cooperative is “an autonomous association of people, and these people voluntarily get together to meet their economic, social or cultural needs. And through this cooperative effort, their aspirations are realized in a democratically controlled business.” The CGC will be a grocery store built for the community by the community. Bascom says ownership is key. Unlike big-box stores, where decisions are made in other states for stores operating in the District, CGC will be owned and run by community members who have purchased shares in the cooperative. Many of them will also be employees. Regular meetings are where decisions will be made by CGC members and where the board of directors will engage with members and implement

(continues from pg.25)

their decisions. “Decisions,” Avery says, “will be based upon what the community decides they want.” Committees have been formed to help the board and membership on organization, steering, outreach and education, and procurement. An advisory committee composed of people with experience in cooperative development and retail grocery has also been established. Once the store begins operations, the general manager and employees will be part of the structure, answering to the owners of the CGC. There will likely be opportunities to volunteer as well, both as grocery staff and as educators, in exchange for store credit. “We want everyone to have that access, regardless of income levels or whether they have income,” said Manning. She added that the CGC is “for profit. It is for the profit of the community. It’s for everybody to sustain themselves economically, and healthwise. Whatever needs to be done to better the lives of the people that are part of the coop,” she added.

WORK TO DO

Board members caution that they are still in the planning phase. The goal for the CGC’s initial location includes a 3,200-square-foot grocery store in addition to a cafe and kitchen education space. The store would carry fresh produce locally raised in the Chesapeake region and products made by local vendors. The cooperative said it envisions the space being not just a commercial destination but a community hub that facilitates dialogue and knowledge-sharing on food, health and nutrition, and other issues relevant to the community. “We want it to be a place that enhances the community, from the knowledge, the vibration, and the access to the product, that they can just pick up something and be inspired,” says Bascom. “We want it to be a warm, collective space that has a lot of inspiration and energy when you come there.” The board has had conversations with Michael’s Development Company about putting a fresh food market in the South Capitol Street Apartments, currently under construction in Bellevue at 4001 South Capitol St. SW. Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8D, which has a community development agreement with Michaels, has been supportive of this concept, Bascom says.

Ava Goldman, executive consultant with the developer, says that although the South Capitol Street Apartments could be completed as early as January 2019, it is still working with ANC 8D to determine details of occupancy for the community space. She said Michaels was in talks with many not-for-profits about use of the space, including CGC. “I will say that we do have an application for a grant in with DMPED [Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development] for a fresh food market, and we would be delighted if we were selected,” Goldman explained. “That would really move the project forward.” Whether it is located at South Capitol Street or not, the CGC store itself will probably require another two years’ work, a common timeline for coops, said Bascom. That time is necessary to secure financing and membership, establish the producer network in the Chesapeake, purchase equipment, and hire and train staff.

BUILDERS WANTED

The cooperative is confident it can succeed with the talent and resources available in the neighborhoods east of the river. Those who are interested in making this dream a reality are welcome to join the board or one of the committees. Donations are also welcome, but volunteers are needed to help with the process of building the cooperative and recruiting members. The board is especially interested in people with experience with cooperatives or retail grocery as well as grant-writing, business plan design, and clerical work. “The more people we get working together, the easier this will be,” explains Manning. “We need collective input from everybody and we need collective experience to bring this forward,” Bascom adds. “It will be a place that people will come and feel empowered.” Representatives from CGC will be at the Good Hope Family Community Day on Saturday, Aug. 19, from noon to 5 p.m., at Old Market House Square Park, 14th Street between U and V streets SE. Email the Community Grocery Cooperative at communitygrocerycooop@gmail.com or find it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/communitygrocerycoopdc.

municate with Congress. The lobbyist will be paid for by Events DC. Related news was announced July 25, when Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) told the Hill Rag that she will submit a bill to extend the lease for RFK by 50 years under the currently existing terms. The Congresswoman said the extended time will provide the long-term control of the site necessary to secure financing for development planned by Events DC. The news of Congresswoman Norton’s bill was welcomed on all sides. “I appreciate the Congresswoman’s efforts to support advancements in the programming at the site and I appreciate her efforts on behalf of the District. There are always two options on the table, and we’re happy to pursue both,” O’Dell said. Councilman Allen said he was in favor any time the District could control the land inside its borders, and that, while a transfer of jurisdiction to the District would be preferable, he said a lease extension between NPS and Events DC is the best way to go about that right now. “In all my conversations with Events DC it is very clear that they are operating on behalf of the District and in the best interests of the city,” he said. Mayor Muriel Bowser could not be reached for this article. But in a letter to President Donald Trump dated March 29, 2017, she asked for either transfer of jurisdiction from NPS to the District for RFK Stadium or a 100-year extension of the lease without restrictions on use. Congresswoman Norton said that she does not believe the bill will be controversial. She said that she was hoping the bill could be placed on the suspension calendar, generally used to quickly pass non-controversial bills in the House. A motion to suspend the rules allows members to set aside procedural and other rules that would delay them from considering the matter. Norton said Events DC had visited her office to discuss the plans, and she was delighted that they were going to take the campus and make it into something that residents can enjoy. “This is the perfect location. Whoever decided where to put this stadium picked the right place; now we’re going to give it the right purpose.” “In all my conversations with Events DC it is very clear that they are operating on behalf of the District and in the best interests of the city,” he said. Mayor Muriel Bowser could not be reached for this article. But in a letter to President Donald Trump dated March 29, 2017, she asked for either transfer of jurisdiction from NPS to the District for RFK Stadium or a 100-year extension of the lease without restrictions on use. Congresswoman Norton said that she does not believe the bill will be controversial. She said that she was hoping the bill could be placed on the suspension calendar, generally used to quickly pass non-controversial bills in the House. A motion to suspend the rules allows members to set aside procedural and other rules that would delay them from considering the matter. Norton said Events DC had visited her office to discuss the plans, and she was delighted that they were going to take the campus and make it into something that residents can enjoy. “This is the perfect location. Whoever decided where to put this stadium picked the right place; now we’re going to give it the right purpose.”

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Capitol Hill Library Receives Additional Funding article by Cuneyt Dil | photos by DC Public Library

Ongoing demolition and construction

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sers of the Capitol View Library felt shortchanged this spring by the District’s budget process. Residents hoped that, in a year or two, a gleaming, modernized library would help mark their neighborhood, which is seeing new condos and development projects go up. But after the renovation project’s $10.5 million budget was slashed by more than half, residents asked where the money went. Now some of it is back. A neighborhood group called the Capitol View Library Coalition (CVLC) successfully pushed for more dollars to give the twostory library building, built in 1965, an exterior facelift. The DC Council fast-tracked the addition of $2 million for the project, still a downgrade from the original budget but enough for a fuller modernization. DC Public Library Director Richard ReyesGavilan said that money will be available in October, thanking Councilmember David Grosso and the District government. He and the project team presented their next steps to the community on July 19. With the exterior renovation now part of the project, the library aims to reopen in summer 2018. Interior work has been underway since February, with demolition and roof work completed. Reyes-Gavilan told the community that under the original plan “we were going to have a nicely renovated interior library, but the exterior was going to look the same sort of drab, uninviting space that it is now. But that’s all going to change, thanks to the additional funding.” This fall, 3,000 square feet of temporary space will open by way of a library “modular.” The interim structure will feature computers, some tables and chairs and books, and likely be stationed at the J.C. Nalle Elementary School property, according to Reyes-Gavilan. That’s a few blocks from Capitol View Library, but members of the CVLC say the city did not take input on the temporary location site. Residents and Reyes-Gavilan alike said they want the new library to have a distinct presence in the community. The design team is looking to remake the facade, create a better “sense of arrival” with landscaping and outdoor seating, and reconnect it with the neighborhood. Concept designs show the building covered with greenery on all four sides. Seating and physical artwork could also be featured outdoors, said Ronnie McGhee, principal at the architecture firm R. McGhee & Associates. “The whole space takes on a garden-like air,” McGhee said.

As for the interior, the project emphasizes the creation of more space for the public. The amount of area devoted to meeting rooms will more than double, to 2,650 square feet, according to plans. The redesigned first floor will have an adult computer area, reading corner, and study rooms. The second floor is to be dedicated entirely to children and teens, with reading areas, storytime space, and computer desks. The lowest floor will contain a meeting room and a dedicated workroom for the Friends of the Capitol View Library. The building facade will be redesigned, with a more definite picture expected to be released in September at a community meeting. Designs will also be presented to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7E and the Commission on Fine Arts. Architects talked of various concepts, such as the inclusion of artful metal plates as a second design element to the windows and walls. They pointed to the TenleyFriendship Library in Northwest as an example. That building opened in 2011 and features orange metal screens over large windows to provide shade and an architectural edge. Larger windows is one request the CVLC has repeatedly made. Iola Anyan debated with Reyes-Gavilan and the project team at the meeting on the merits of larger windows and more sunlight. Reyes-Gavilan said the new windows will bring in ample natural light, while Andrew Blumenfeld, the library’s director of capital planning and construction, said outfitting the building with larger windows poses structural concerns. Defending the design work,

Reyes-Gavilan said, “we wanted to have a dramatic beautification of the exterior space,” and that the tight budget allows for little flexibility to plans now. For Anyan and others in the CVLC, the window discussion is just one example where the city ought to listen to the community more. Anyan has sat in DC Council hearings and private meetings with library officials on the project, but often the city has been reluctant to be forthcoming with details. For example, the CVLC wasn’t notified before the July community meeting about the planned interim space’s not opening until the fall, according to Anyan. That’s despite the CVLC’s advocating for interim sites other than J.C. Nalle, which Anyan says is atop a “huge hill” and difficult to reach for seniors. “We’re trying to work together, but it feels like it’s not being reciprocated,” she says. The CVLC – which includes groups like ANC 7E, Friends of the Capitol View Library, the Marshall Heights Civic Association – is also pursuing more funding for the new library’s opening day book collection. CVLC asked for $100,000 but the city only found $50,000 to give, according to Anyan. “I’m just interested in making sure our kids and our community have a space,” says Francel Bellinger, who has been advocating with Anyan for months on the project. While they are glad to see the additional money for exterior renovations, the city’s outreach has disappointed them. “We’re doing this out of our concern for the community, and we would rather like to work together and communicate,” Anyan says.

PARKWAY OVERLOOK LP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: POLP 0002-2017

PARKWAY OVERLOOK GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES The Parkway Overlook LP (POLP) requires a qualified General Contractor for General Construction Services for the rehabilitation of a currently vacant apartment complex located at 2841 Robinson Place, SE, Washington, DC. POLP is a District of Columbia limited partnership and an instrumentality of District of Columbia Housing Authority. 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, JULY 17, 2017 and available on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Tuesday, September 05, 2017 at 12:00 PM.

One idea for public art.

Rendering of future library.

Contact Kimberly Allen, Procurement Manager at (202) 535-1212 or by email at kallen@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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stand that the therapeutic benefits of cannabis stretch far beyond cancer treatment and management of chemotherapy’s terrible side effects. “It’s interesting given the number of DC residents that voted in favor of medical cannabis,” says Vanessa West, general manager of Metropolitan Wellness Center (MWC), a holistic dispensary located on Capitol Hill. “There was a huge voter turnout during these times, and around 69 percent of voters came out in favor of medical cannabis. The fact that the patient numbers are so low, it doesn’t match up.”

WHY THE LOW DEMAND?

Metropolitan Wellness Center Manager Vanessa West explains the benefits of a particular strain of cannabis.

Medical Marijuana: Not Just for Cancer by Chloe Sommers and Chloe Detrick

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edical marijuana is about to celebrate its fourth year in the District. However, lack of patient enrollment has the medical cannabis industry wondering if residents know cannabis can treat a variety of mental and physical conditions including chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The city supports the program, recently adding an opportunity for a dispensary license. Once awarded, it will bring the medical pot shop count up to six. Yet, less than one percent of the city’s population currently participates in the medical marijuana program. That’s around 5,000 card-carrying patients in DC compared to 107,798 in Colorado, 138,056 in Washington, and 758,607 in California (www. medicalmarijuana.procon.org). The disappointing number has the DC cannabis industry wondering if residents under-

West says there is a variety of reasons why the turnout is so low, one being lack of knowledge about the medical marijuana program, what it entails to get a card, and minimal physician participation. “A lot of people still think there is a list of qualifying conditions, or you have to be knocking on death’s door in order to have access, and of course that’s not the case,” says West. “DC is the only state that does not have a list of qualifying conditions, outside of the states that have recreational rules.” Patients who disclose why they are coming into MWC say that many of their issues stem from chronic pain including back issues, spinal injections, and herniated discs. There are also those looking to treat anxiety and depression, which West says are some of the most common issues she sees. “A lot of patients are treating for ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] and have been on Ritalin or Adderall for very long period of time and haven’t enjoyed the side effects,” says West. “They are grateful to have a place to go where they have a variety of options to choose from. We also have folks that are treating for arthritis, as well as veterans and people who have been through traumatic situations who are treating for PTSD.” Rose Feroah has been a patient with MWC for two years and credits the products and knowledge as the treatment she needed to relieve her PTSD symptoms. “Since I’ve gotten my medical marijuana license, I’ve downed my daily medicines from 14 pills to five, and three are allergy medicines,” says Feroah. “I got rid of all of my anti-depression and anti-anxiety pills, and have none of the horrible side effects with medical marijuana.” West says that finding a physician to write a recommendation isn’t usually a problem because many dispensaries have established relationships with doctors and can provide referrals, but there is still a multitude of other issues. “The physicians can’t take insurance because they are recommending a federally illegal substance, and insurance will not cover the cost of the office visit,” says West. “Sometimes the physician doesn’t want to disclose that they are writing a recommendation for cannabis, or have no idea what their legal rights are and don’t want to touch it with a 10-foot pole.” West says she and her team try to educate physicians in the area but don’t always have the resources to do the outreach that they’d like. “We try to do our part. We will

Medical Cannabis @ Eastern Market

LEGAL. SAFE. RELIABLE. sometimes jump on the phone with a list of doctors we have and make phone calls,” says West. “We’ve also done a couple of in-service presentations at city hospitals, but they’ve basically fallen flat. We don’t have the resources of an army of sales representatives to go around to doctors’ offices peddling cannabis, we just don’t.”

MORE THAN CANCER

for those suffering from arthritis it can do more harm than good. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and must be taken in large, continuous doses of 1,000-5,400 milligrams a day to be effective. Such high quantities can cause stomach pain or internal damage. Alternatively, cannabis can improve mobility and reduce morning stiffness and inflammation. Research reveals patients can reduce their use of potentially harmful NSAIDs when using cannabis as an adjunct therapy. It’s even been proven preventative in extreme cases, like rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. According to the September 2005 issue of the Journal of Neuroimmunology, Tokyo’s National Institute for Neuroscience finds that “cannabinoid therapy of rheumatoid arthritis could provide symptomatic relief of joint pain and swelling as well as suppressing joint destruction and disease progression.” Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most widely recognized qualifying conditions in most of America’s medical marijuana states.

Many patients who are using cannabis cite less severe side effects than pharmaceutical prescription drugs as one of their favorite aspects of medical cannabis. “I react poorly to opioids, and they are addicting,” says Feroah. “They would cause me to have nausea, dependency, and co-dependency with other medicine. I like that I can regulate dosage, address exactly what I need in that moment or the next three hours, and I have more control than I ever did when I was taking anti-anxiA NON-ADDICTIVE SOLUTION ety or antidepressants.” TO CHRONIC PAIN The Americans for Safe Access FoundaStudies are finding that medication typically pretion (ASAF) – the largest member-based nascribed by doctors, like opioids and other pharmaceutional organization of patients, medical protical drugs, are failing patients and their communities. fessionals, scientists, and concerned citizens The problem with clinically studying medical marijuapromoting safe and legal access to cannabis na is the plant’s status as a Schedule 1 substance. The for therapeutic use and research – published federal barrier prevents researchers from obtaining the a report on aging and marijuana. The collecmedicine for trials. It may also cost research and develtion of studies paints a picture of how cannaopment companies as well as universities their funding bis can help with conditions typical of the agdollars from state or federal grants. ing process. Some of the mental and physical Despite the hurdles, there is a growing body of reconditions of aging include arthritis, chronic search investigating cannabis as an adjunct to or subpain, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce the agitation common to Metropolitan Wellness Center carries Alzheimer’s sufferers according to a variety of cannabis strains in many the American Society of Consuldifferent preperations. tant Pharmacists. Photo: Andrew Lightman Regarding the management of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, the therapeutic use of cannabis for treating muscle problems and movement disorders is well documented. In 1839, Dr. William B. O’Shaughnessy noted the plant’s muscle-relaxant and anti-convulsant properties. Then, in 1890, Dr. J. Russell Reynolds, physician to Queen Victoria, wrote that “[for] organic disease of a gross character in the nervous centers … India hemp (cannabis) is the most useful agent with which I am acquainted.”

In pain? Stressed Out? Contact us.

(202) 902-9991 mwcdc.com/eotr

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SE DC’s neighborhood cannabis dispensary.

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INTERESTED IN202-400-3507 or maria@hillrag.com ADVERTISING WITH US?

ASPIRIN FOR ARTHRITIS? THINK AGAIN

Popping an aspirin from time to time seems harmless enough, but

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stitute for opiates in the treatment of chronic pain, among other conditions. A 2012 study concludes that the lack of federal oversight should not “dissuade medical opiate users from trying to add cannabis to their pain management regimen.” The study also describes the benefits of cannabis over opiates, concluding that “communitybased medical cannabis dispensaries have proven successful at supplying patients with a safe source of cannabis within an environment conducive to healing, and may be reducing the problematic use of pharmaceutical opiates and other potentially harmful substances in their communities.” Given that opiates have undesirable side effects and are addictive, cannabis is becoming a safe and healthier alternative for treatment. “The use of micro dosing (using the smallest dose of cannabis necessary to achieve the desired effect) can be extremely beneficial,” explains Takoma Wellness Center President Stephanie Kahn. “It can help in managing anxiety, depression, muscle spasticity, GI disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease, PTSD, and nerve pain.” Smokeless options and tapered dosages are now the norm at dispensaries. Talking over recommended doses with knowledgeable doctors and your budtender is crucial, as cannabis is not a one-size-fits-all medicine.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

East Washington News, Serving the Ward & 8 communities!

Cannabis as medicine is slowly gaining acceptance from medical professionals as it becomes more mainstream. The American Nurses Association (ANA) not only backs cannabis patients, but supports the rescheduling of marijuana for medical use. The ANA issued a resolution on the issue, announcing support for healthcare providers who recommend medicinal use. Its policy also supports “the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis.”

CANNABIS IN DC

It took more than a decade for the District to get a medical marijuana program. Voters passed a medical legalization bill in 1998, but it wasn’t until 2010 that the city passed new regulations, and the first dispensary didn’t open until the

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summer of 2013. Dispensaries are also facing regulation issues from the Department of Health (DOH), stated one DC medical cannabis advocate, who chose to remain anonymous out of fear of DOH retaliation. “The DOH, I would say, is probably the biggest hurdle that we have in the program right now,” the activist states. “Aside from the fact that the card only lasts a year, there’s an application fee every year, and the time that you have to wait to get your card is insane, so a lot of people’s cards will expire before they even have a chance to renew.” He also says the DOH is unresponsive to inquiries and passive in providing educational materials to doctors and the general public. “The DOH doesn’t answer the phone, they don’t return calls, they don’t respond to emails. They also send the cards out via certified mail, so if someone isn’t home to sign for it, it goes to the post office, and if the post office contacts the DOH, the DOH doesn’t contact the applicant to say, ‘Hey, we have your card, come pick it up.’ There are just a slew of issues,” the source states. “One of the laws is that the DOH was supposed to provide education on medical cannabis to DC physicians,” explains the activist. “Their version of that was just posting a couple of articles on their website. They are a regulatory agency and aren’t here to make sure the program is a success, so they’ve left it in the hands of the dispensaries, which don’t have the resources.” The approval of the medical marijuana industry in the area is sparking interest from highly regarded Marylandbased health institutions, with cannabis medical conferences at the National Institutes of Health and studies at Johns Hopkins University. West wants to let patients know that MWC exists and welcomes residents to stop by with any questions or needs. “From edibles to flowers, we are providing a quality product and a great alternative to whatever coping mechanism you’ve been using. Many strains are available. If you’re sick and are on a bunch of prescriptions, cannabis products are great and healthy alternatives.”

by Steve Monroe

with roots at Howard University dropped into DC at the Atlas, March 27, to close the Washington Women in Jazz Festival with a solo piano performance. Festival founder Amy K. Bormet had previously informed all that Allen was her mentor and how pleased she was to have such an illustrious performer at her festival. The high bar of anticipation was actually met if not surpassed when Allen played a set of ever-creative and melodic and lyrical beauty, reaching back to Mary Lou Williams days in New York to a “Tears of a Clown” interpretation, to her own signature tunes like “Laila’s House,” to entertain a nearly full house with absorbing symphonies of pianism. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved.

AUGUST DELIVERS MANY JAZZY DELIGHTS

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS: Irene Jalenti, Aug. 12, The Alex/Graham Boutique Hotel/Georgetown ... Carol Morgan, Aug. 13, Twins Jazz ... Tamara Wellons/ Summer Breeze Concert, Aug. 13, THEARC/Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus ... Josh Irving, Aug. 16, Twins Jazz ... B.J. Jansen & Common Ground/ Delfeayo Marsalis, Ralph Peterson, Aug. 17, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club ... Joyce Moreno, Aug. 17-20, Blues Alley ... Chuck Redd & The Jazz Masters, Aug. 18, Westminster Presbyterian Church ... Christie Dashiell, Aug. 19, The Alex ... Charmaine Michelle, Aug. 19, Germano’s Patti/Baltimore ... Twins Jazz Orchestra, Aug. 24, Twins Jazz ... Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Aug. 24-27, Blues Alley ... Jessica Boykin-Settles/ Tribute to Carmen McRae, Aug. 25, Westminster ... Sara Jones, Aug. 26, The Alex ... Annapolis Jazztet, Aug. 26, Germano’s Patti/Baltimore ... Ben Patterson Big Band, Aug. 28, Blues Alley ... Akua Allrich, Aug. 30, Strathmore/Live from the Lawn ...

AMP TRIO DCJAZZPRIX WINNER

The DC Jazz Festival announced the AMP Trio, featuring Tahira Clayton, based in New York City, as the second annual DCJazzPrix winning band. Vocalist Clayton and trio members Addison Frei, piano, Perrin Grace, bass, and Matt Young, drums, beat out NYC’s SULA and Durham, N.C.’s Ernest Turner Trio in the finals. In addition to a $15,000 cash prize, the winners earned professional development, business support, and a main stage 2018 DC Jazz Festival show.

Jazz offerings this month include a Summer Breeze Concert at THEARC, B.J. Jansen & Common Ground at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Cyrus Chestnut at Blues Alley, and a Jessica Boykin-Settles show at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The Anacostia Diaspora Group presents Tamara Wellons and her band in the 2017 Summer Breeze Concert at THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Center) from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13, with refreshINREVIEW... ments served from 1 to 2 p.m. DC JAZZ FESTIVAL General admission is $35 for the Jessica Boykin-Settles performs a tribute to Our favorite correspondent/ show at THEARC, 1901 Missismusician Charles Rahmat legendary singer Carmen McRae on Aug. 25 at sippi Ave. SE. See www.thearcdc. Woods on the 2017 DC Jazz Westminster Presbyterian Church. org for more information. Festival: “[It] was a celebration Bassist B.J. Jansen’s show at of the root traditions and worldwide diversity of this Bethesda Blues & Jazz on Aug. 17 features Delfeayo Marsalis, great music. We caught drummer Nasar Abadey’s imRalph Peterson, Duane Eubanks, Zaccai Curtis, and Dezron provisational excursions (with pianist Allyn Johnson, Douglas, with promises for an “eclectic program that offers bassist Steve Novosel, and trumpeter DeAndre Shafa little something for everybody,” says Jansen on the website, fer) of jazz standards at the University of the District of www.bethesdabluesandjazz.com. Admission is $40. Columbia. Vocalist Gregory Porter wowed the packed Baltimore’s pride and joy, Cyrus Chestnut, whose most crowd at the outdoor venue DC JazzFest at the Yards recent CD is “Journeys,” settles into Blues Alley for a four… The Atlas hosted bassist/bandleader/composer night stay, Aug. 24 through 27. And vocalist Jessica BoykinMichael Bowie’s music theater, ‘You Haven’t Done Settles performs a “Tribute to Carmen McRae,” Aug. 25, at Nothing!’ which was a multimedia production (live Westminster, with Brian Settles, sax, Jon Ozment, piano, Karband, recorded tracks, film slides, dance, and spoken ine Chapdelaine-Walker, bass, and Lydia Lewis, drums. word), whose creative pulse was focused on social jusREMEMBERING GERI ALLEN tice (featured members of the ensemble included MiGeri Allen, our Howard University graduate and jazz icon pichael Bowie, Michael Robinson, Kevin Jones, Deacon anist, passed on to ancestry last month. From “Jazz Avenues” Izzy, John Lee, Soloman Raul, Carrol Dashiell, Chrisof April 2013: “The Grammy Award-winner and educator tie Dashiell, Nina Harris, Tom James, Bill Brower).”

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS: Big Nick Nicholas 2; Eddie Jefferson 3; Louis Armstrong, Sonny Simmons 4; Lenny Breau 5; Rahsaan Roland Kirk 7; Lucky Millinder, Benny Carter 8; Matheny 12; Mulgrew Miller 13; Stuff Smith 14; Oscar Peterson, Mal Waldron, Bill Evans 16; Ike Quebec, Duke Pearson 17; Oscar Brashear 18; Jimmy Rowles 19; Count Basie, Art Farmer 21; Bobby Watson 23, Claude Hopkins 24;Wayne Shorter, Pat Martino 25; Branford Marsalis 26; Lester Young 27; Kenny Drew 28; Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington 29; Kenny Dorham 30 Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com and followed at www.twitter. com/jazzavenues.

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he American College of Sports Medicine has ranked DC one of the fittest cities in the nation. But this year, after holding the title for three years, DC was edged out of first place by Minneapolis. The ranking takes into account rates of smoking and cardiovascular disease deaths, consumption of fruits and vegetables, per capita expenditures for parks, and reported physical activities. Our score isn’t because of the influx of summer interns who hit the gyms, pools, and softball fields. It is actually the number of residents, many over age 50, who use parks, trails, and year-round exercise opportuarticle and photos by Rindy O’Brien nities that secured our win. For one thing, Mayor Muriel Bowser eliminated the fees at the city’s Department of Recreation centers, and that has opened the gyms and equipment to more residents. The Office of Aging has opened wellness centers in each ward that offer an array of services to help residents over 65 achieve improved health and meet the physical activity guidelines set out for their age group by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, if you are over 65 and are generally fit, you should be spending two and a half hours a week on moderatePat Taylor, Paul Cromwell, Judy Zipper, and Kathy intense aerobic activity and Smith set out on a new round of petanque. two days a week working on activities that are muscle-strengthening. Yoga, gardening, lifting weights, or using resistance bands are considered musclestrengthening activities. A brisk walk or any activity that makes you breathe harder and your heart beat faster are counted as aerobic. Luckily for older DC residents, there are so many different ways to get in that exercise. The real difficulty is narrowing down the choices. There are free yoga classes at the local libraries and some churches; free indoor pools at the Petanque players confer on which boule wins the point. William H. Rumsey Aquat-

Keep It Moving

Exercising Over 65

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ic Center next door to Eastern Market and at the Therapeutic Aquatic Center, 3030 G St. SE; and weight and fitness rooms at recreation centers like the Sherwood Recreation Center near H Street NE. Lacing up a pair of running shoes and taking a brisk walk around the park will also do. For some, joining a gym like the Sports and Health Club, formerly Results gym, provides activities to participate in under the supervision of certified trainers and instructors. There are many different combinations of memberships that can make it affordable to join as a retiree. Despite the many facilities available, it is easy to put off physical activity as you age. Finding an activity that is fun and gets you out in the community not only is physically good for you, but there are also the benefits of making friends and socializing. Having company certainly makes exercising feel less like an onerous task. If you enjoy being on a softball team, basketball team, even hockey team, there are local leagues that accommodate older players. The East Potomac Tennis Center at Hains Point hosts a seniors’ league that plays on Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Many retirees look forward to hitting the links to play golf that is reasonably priced and fairly easy to reserve. Since summer is upon us, we feature three activities that you might not have thought of – petanque, hiking, and slow-pitch softball.

PETANQUE

Every Monday afternoon at 3, year-round, a group of Hill retirees meets in Garfield Park, located at South Carolina Avenue and Fifth Street SE, to play friendly rounds of a game named petanque (pay-TONK). Some describe the game as a cross between horseshoes and Italian bocce ball. It was created to be a social activity that all can play, and that certainly is the atmosphere among the Capitol Hill players. In petanque, a participant throws three hollow steel balls, or boules, as close as possible to a small wooden ball, the jack or cohonnet (piglet). It is totally fair to try and knock opponents’ balls away from the jack. After everyone has thrown, the ball closest to the jack wins a point. The game is played to 13 points. With three to four players per team, one game can take about an hour to complete. In the game I watched, only a few times did a tape measure have to be used to determine the winner of a point. The leisurely pace of the game gives players a chance to catch up with one another’s upcoming travels and family and neighborhood news. As was pointed out more than once, the tradition of the game usually involves the serving of liquid refreshments. On this Wednesday afternoon, Paul Cromwell was leading the Capitol Hill Village-sponsored games by helping get the teams sorted out, and relaying the rules to a new player. Cromwell says he has been playing for decades, having learned the game in Africa in 1965. Most of the players own their own boule set, which costs

Albrecht says being out in nature has always been a part of his life. The Easy Hiker trails are planned to avoid uneven terrain and limit hard pavement, which makes the walk a little easier on the joints. In addition to the Easy Hikers Wednesday outings, PATC has many hikes and opportunities to volunteer for trail maintenance projects and become part of the Appalachian Trail network.

PLAY BALL!

Ward 6 Bombers at the plate.

about $30 online, but extra sets are available for those who don’t. Everyone is welcome to come and play, and Cromwell says there are usually 4-12 players every week. It is estimated that over 30,000 Americans play this game. There are 52 registered petanque clubs that play for national standing through the Federation of Petanque USA, including a club in Alexandria, the National Capitol Club. If you are looking for a game to play outdoors that is fun, social, and maybe gets your competitive juices flowing just a little, check out the games in Garfield. Garfield Park also has two bocce courts built by a DC bocce ball league and maintained by bocce clubs.

EASY HIKING CLUB

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) has been serving the hiking community since 1927. For a number of Capitol Hill retirees, the Easy Hikers group, managed through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, is the perfect way to get outdoors and hike local trails with other like-minded retirees. Gary Albrecht, former chief of the US Capitol Police, finds the weekly hike a great way to get into nature while enjoying the companionship of friends. His wife Mary Ellen joins him on the hikes, which might be as close as the US National Arboretum or as far away as Senecca Falls in Maryland. “There is not a lot of equipment needed,” says Albrecht. “You need a pair of good hiking boots or sturdy tennis shoes, dress for the weather, a water bottle, and backpack. Using a pair of hiking poles can also be handy.” The new REI store at 201 M St. NE is wellstocked with choices of poles and packs and anything else you might need to get out there. The store also has a great reference area to get topographical maps for local trails, if you are inclined to map out your own day of hiking.

The DC Department of Recreation sponsors senior softball leagues that begin in May and end with the DC Senior’s Citywide Tournament on July 1428. Currently, in the Senior Citizen Slow Pitch League, the Ward 5 Showtime team is ahead in the standings with five wins and no losses. Some teams have had rainouts and are moving to catch up on their games. Some teams are coed, with women playing a variety of positions, and women often are designated runners for players no longer able to make it around the bases. But don’t let that fool you, the Ward 8 Sluggers and Ward 6 Bombers, playing on a June morning at the Ridge Road field, were hitting the ball out of the park. Games usually are played at Deanwood Recreation Center or Ridge Road. Players go by their first name. As Mike from the Sluggers told me, “We enjoy playing the game, but even more we enjoy the chance to catch up with old friends. There are some of us on the team who have known each other since middle school.” The joy, laughter, and sportsmanship that teams display make you remember what sports should be all about. It’s a great way to get two hours of exercise into your week. Local residents bring lawn chairs and lunch to cheer their neighbors on. The schedule can be accessed by going to the Department of Recreation website – https://dpr.dc.gov/service/adult-softball. Summer is just about the best time to get out and Ward 8’s Senior Slugger Mike congratulates an opponent find your game. Try something new or connect with from the Ward 6 Bombers on his run to first base. The softan old love. Who knows? Maybe you will be in an age ball game is all about friendships, some decades old. group where finally you can be the number-one player. The Easy Hiker group brings together many Capitol Hill retirees, both new and seasoned hikers. Each Wednesday, there are two different outings planned, and no advanced reservations are needed. As Albrecht says, “You just show up to the designated parking lot at the designated time, and join the group.” All the information is available on the PATC website, www. patc.org, in the calendar section. Albrecht has been hiking on Wednesdays for 17 years and says the group averages about five miles a hike, which takes about three hours. They often pack a lunch and eat it on the trail or together after the hike is over. Over the years, he has observed a rare lady slipper’s orchid and amazing hawks and eagles. A former Boy Scout,

It takes about two and half hours to complete the holes at the East Potomac Golf Course, which meets the CDC’s senior exercising requirement.

Rindy O’Brien is a longtime Hill resident who enjoys tennis and yoga and is back to training for the Ever Walk challenge in the fall. Contact her at rindyobrien@gmail.com.

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east washington life

Dual Diagnosis: Mental Health Lows and Drug Highs

Which Comes First, the Mental Health Condition or the Drug Addiction?

n order to get to the heart of America’s substance abuse problem it’s important to know that drug addiction and mental health struggles are not always mutually exclusive. As we search for more holistic ways to address drug addiction, we must include assessment of a person’s mental health to determine what can be done. Peeling back the layers to find the root causes of addiction can be an arduous task because it could mean unearthing mental health challenges as well. Ultimately, some questions must be answered. Why do people seek this high? Is that hit of marijuana for recreation or for relief ? Are they seeking a stronger heroin high because they like the thrill of the chase or because they’re chasing away demons? Once the problem has been identified, the next step is to treat it. Where to start is a question with a complicated answer.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Possible causes for mental health disruption include living in high-crime neighborhoods, poverty, childhood abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse. Even homelessness and unemployment can contribute to drug use because of the depression they bring. Overcoming these challenges takes time and requires professional help. There are also social contributors to black mental health that sometimes go under the radar. A stigma against acknowledging mental health issues is still rampant in the black community. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), only one-quarter of African-Americans who suffer from mental illness seek treatment. What does the other three-quarters do? Typically, when a person has a medical issue at home they will go to their local pharmacy to find some over-the-counter relief. The same can be expected when a person’s mental health is askew. But there are no OTC pills or liquids to consume for depres-

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

by Candace Y. A. Montague

sion, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or the like. It’s going to take more effort to relieve that discomfort. Dr. Barbara Brown, psychologist and founder of the Capitol Hill Consortium for Counseling and Consultation (CHCCC) in SE, says that people may misuse substances as a coping mechanism at first. “There is a saying that if you drink when you have problems, then you have a problem drinking. That’s true for many other issues. We see marijuana becoming a go-to rather than dealing with the stress someone has. You hear a lot of rationalization like, ‘I need it to go to sleep.’ But it’s really because they are not managing their emotions properly or anxiety or depression or post-traumatic stress disorder very well.”

CHICKEN VS. EGG DEBATE

If someone is suffering from a mental health problem and uses drugs to self-medicate, which one does the clinician address first? It’s a complex question with no easy answers. Drugs can be used to mask mental health symptoms but they can also cause the onset of new mental health conditions as well. For example, if a person is abusing a drug and is violated while intoxicated, that incident can create a new problem with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety. Intoxication can lead to poor decision making, such as having unprotected sex, which can put one at risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. That can lead to depression or deep regret. Dr. Tanya A. Royster, director of the DC Department of Behavioral Health, states that mental health and substance abuse are often intertwined. “We always get into the chicken-or-egg debate, but there is a substantial amount of evidence that supports that when people do have some mental health or emotional issues they use the illicit drugs to make themselves feel better or to mask symptoms or to escape.” Where do you start treatment? It depends. Dr.

Royster explains that there are two different components to addiction. “One is psychological, where people start using drugs because they want to escape something or erase a feeling. Then there’s the physiological or physical escape. The body physically demands the drug, and if it doesn’t get it you are physically ill.” Treatment begins with an honest conversation and introspection. Dr. Brown explains the approach her clinicians take at CHCCC. “People come to us for their mental health, but we always ask about risk factors, which include suicidal or homicidal thoughts, abuse, and trauma issues. We have them do a self-report on their substance abuse. We see a range of people who have mental health issues who are also using substances. Some are social drinkers, some are abusing it, and some are dependent on it. We make that assessment. And then we treat them for the mental health issues that are creating or that they are using the substances for a coping mechanism.”

SELF-CARE OVER SELF-SABOTAGE

The breakthrough is very important when overcoming mental health struggles and addiction. There is hope. It starts with admitting to having a problem and seeking treatment. Dr. Brown explains how her team addresses getting help. “We will often see a person who we know is dependent on medication or street medications, but we will use our mental health relationship with them to get them to a point where they are self-caring enough to get treatment for it. We will help someone get help so they can see that it’s in their best interest to focus on self-care versus selfsabotage.” CHCCC does not provide substance abuse treatment but can treat mental health issues and refer patients to substance counselors as needed. When it comes to drugs such as heroin, the risk is much higher. Heroin on the streets nowadays may be adulterated or mixed with fentanyl, a deadly additive. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to spot the bad batch. Users may self-medicate with a lethal dose. Dr. Royster describes a campaign by the Department of Behavioral Health to help users make better decisions. “We have an awareness campaign to encourage heroin users to do something different. First of all, we would love for you to get treatment. But if you can’t get treatment we want you to save your life and do something different. One of those things is use naloxone, the opioid reversal drug. We are working with the Department of Health’s needle-exchange programs to encourage people to not use alone and make sure someone has naloxone on them.” Whether you’re grappling with mental health challenges or substance misuse problems or both, know that help is available when you’re ready. The right team can get you back on track to enjoying a full, healthy life. Need help in a mental health or substance use crisis? Call the District’s Mobile Crisis Services 1-888-7WE-HELP (1-888-793-4357). Do you want to touch base with a mental health professional just to talk? Contact Capitol Hill Consortium for Counseling and Consultation, 202-544-5440.

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Our River

Research and Passion

A Wonderful Combination for the Anacostia article and photos by Gabrielle Humlicek

during the academic year and as part of a summer internship program. Camac Kyre, an intern, changed his perspective when it came to the importance of taking care of rivers because of participating in this research project. “Working on the Anacostia River gave me a profound insight on how bad the pollution truly is,” said Kyre. “Growing up seeing pictures of many plastic bottles polluting rivers, beaches, etc. did have some effect on me prior to this internship, but seeing the reality with my own eyes, along with data in our hands, the impact personally is overwhelming, an eye-opener.” Giovanna Vazquez, Prof. Solomon’s research assistant, saw an opportunity to give back to the community through the research. “Working on the Anacostia River gives me a firsthand experience of how land use and trash and sewage outfalls have an impact on the river. I was able to contribute to the research and give back to the community by being involved.” The research would not be possible without the collaboration between Gallaudet and the Anacostia Riverkeeper, an advocacy organization with the goal of restoring the river. The Anacostia Riverkeeper provides a boat for the water-sampling trips. Students collect water samples and bring them to the laboratory at Gallaudet to be analyzed for nutrients, viruses, bacteria, and algae. Using equipment to measure dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, students have observed that oxygen levels are consistent across the river but decline near combined-sewer outfalls in the lower Anacostia. The data serve as indicators of how healthy the Anacostia is and how it is changing. Sewage and stormwater that directly enter the river bring excess amounts of nitrogen, and this has an impact on the presence of different types of algae. While the excess amounts of nitrogen lead to algal blooms that have many detrimental effects, it is important to investigate which form of nitrogen is available for which species of algae. For instance, near Bladensburg Water Park, one form of nitrogen, nitrate, is more available and supports a community of algae called diatoms. Farther downriver, past the CSX

Dr. Caroline Solomon explains to her students Gabrielle Humlicek, Camac Kyre, and Anthony Laucevicius how to collect and record water samples in May 2017.

his summer, as the heat index begins to rise, Americans turn to water-based festivities in an attempt to escape the scorching sun. For residents of the District of Columbia, the Anacostia River is beginning to be a favored destination for aquatic pastimes like fishing and kayaking. Once called the “Forgotten River,” the Anacostia is now experiencing a revival owing to developments around the Navy Yards area, the new Anacostia River Trail, and kayak rentals from Diamond Teague Park and Bladensburg Water Park.

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The revival is possible because of important restoration efforts that have been on the rise through collaborations among DC government, nonprofit organizations, and universities. The efforts are supported with research done by various groups such as one at Gallaudet University, in Northeast, a mile and a half from the Anacostia River. Led in the past four and half years by Prof. Caroline Solomon, deaf and hard-ofhearing students have focused on how much nitrogen goes into the river from anthropogenic sources and how it influences the biodiversity of microbes such as viruses, bacteria, and algae. Students from Gallaudet and other universities have been involved with this research

Giovanna Vazquez, research technician, works with summer students Camac Kyre and Anthony Laucevicius in June 2017.

YOUR DAILY ONLINE NEWS SOURCE

WARDS 7 & 8

Summer interns Ana Salazar and Kiel Callahan filling up water sample bottles to be taken back to Gallaudet University during summer 2016.

railroad bridge, other types of algae, the smaller chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, appear because they are more tolerant of another form of nitrogen, ammonium. These analyses can help inform restoration efforts. Kiel Callahan, a summer intern for this research project in 2016, agreed with the importance of doing research. She explains, “The best part about the internship is that I was able to tackle an issue that is occurring in our present-day environment. It’s mandatory that we continue research like this, to better understand the present relationship that we humans have with what has been provided to us such as the Anacostia River.” By sharing data with stakeholders such as the Department of Energy & Environment and the Anacostia Riverkeeper, Prof. Solomon sees hope for the Anacostia River. More people are appreciating the river, she notes, for canoeing, kayaking, boating, explora-

EAST OFTHE RIVER DCNEWS .COM

tion, and watching the wildlife thrive. Swimming and fishing in the Anacostia River are possible as the community comes together and strives to work toward improvement of the ecosystem. As Anna McCall, an intern from 2013, says, “The community can contribute to improving the quality of the river as well as help educate others.” Prof. Solomon and her students are contributing to this goal through their research and outreach efforts. Contact Prof. Caroline Solomon at caroline.solomon@gallaudet.edu with questions or to talk with former and current interns about this research project. The research is supported by grants from the DC Water Research and Resources Institute and Maryland Sea Grant. Gabrielle Humlicek is a biology major at Gallaudet University and an intern under Prof. Caroline Solomon.

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homes & gardens

Drought, Disease & Blight Keep Garden Woes Out of Sight!

hat a wonderful summer it has been! Hot as ever, with long sunny days and a nice cool rain in the afternoon to ease the heat into the night. As the days shorten, subtle influences of fall begin to creep into each dusk and dawn, combining with the sweltering summer heat to make ideal conditions for diseases, mold, and fungi to spread. Throughout each growing season and the lifetime of each crop there are numerous opportunities for diseases to enter a garden. It can be caused by outside influences from store-bought soils and plants, or simply from the weakening of plants due to improper care. Let us look at my garden over this growing season and some of the issues I’ve had, to see if we can find helpful solutions. More likely than not, my gardening problems stem from the gardener. My indoor crops are more sensitive to their environment as they cannot dig their roots deeper to strengthen themselves in times of stress. As a busy woman, I can get forgetful, and my routine may be disrupted. My plants often oscillate between chronic over- and underwatering as a result. My mint and scented geraniums are always leggy (classic sign of overwatering) with dried and yellow leaves (signs of underwatering). The aloe is quite happy as I never neglect her for more than a week, and I prune from her daily for remedies.

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by Jessica Wynter Martin, aka the Wynter Gardener

Club rot got into my indoor system.

Having a ready aquaponics system presents its challenges as well. What to do with the wastewater? The obvious solution is to water the plants with it, but a few months later we see some negative results, or at least I did. Fish waste is full of nitrogen, which even in the right form can lower the soil’s pH and weaken the root structures, making room for fungi to enter. This is an issue for those using common fertilizers and certain composts, which all tend to have large amounts of nitrogen. Inside the tent, both the basil and the cabbage showed signs that they were getting a little too much love from the fish. More crops in the plant bed would have helped, but the heat made it impossible to keep seedlings alive long enough to be planted. Outside, the effects of overfertilization are different. A few tomatoes and some summer squash experienced blossom rot this year. That’s a phenomenon in which the bottom of the fruit, at the blossom point, turns black and sunken and begins to rot. It is caused by rapid growth or calcium deficiency in the soil. Rapid fruit growth generally occurs during times of drought. I noticed only a couple of tomatoes had this problem and they grew during that dry spell in early/ mid-July. Calcium deficiency can be treated with oyster shell, gypsum, or a calcium supplement. The good news is that it’s not a virus or fungus and will not spread from plant to plant. It will affect tomatoes, squash, peppers, and eggplant, so be watchful and water selectively if needed during dry spells.

Get Your East of the River Location

Address

River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School CVS - East River Park Safeway – NE 6th District Police Dept - Main Ward Memorial AME Kennilworth Elementary School Unity East of the River Health Center First Baptist Church of Deanwood Deanwood Public Library Hughes Memorial United Methodist Capitol Gateway Senior Apts Marvin Gaye Rec Center Watts Branch Recreation Center Langston Community Library Anacostia Neighborhood Library Benning Branch Library Marshall Heights CDC Kelly Miller Recreation Center Tabernacle baptist Church Randall Memorial Baptist Church East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 7-Eleven Riverside Center Mayfair Mansions Citibank: East River Park Chartered Health Center NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro The Minnicks Market Lederer Gardens Suburban Market Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Dave Brown Liquors Dave Brown Liquor A & S Grocery St Rose Pentecostal Church Malcolm X Rec Center St More Catholic Church Fort Davis Recreation Center Ferebee Hope Recreation Center Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant Giant Food Store SunTrust Bank Parklands-Turner Community Library Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office Garfield Elementary

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420 34th St , NE 320 40th St , NE 322 40th St , NE 100 42nd St , NE 240 42nd St NE 1300 44th ST NE 123 45th ST NE 1008 45th St NE 1350 49th ST NE 25 53rd St NE 201 58th St , NE 6201 Banks Pl NE 6201 Banks St , NE 2600 Benning Rd , NE 1800 Good Hope Road SE 3935 Benning Rd NE 3939 Benning Rd , NE 4900 Brooks St , NE 719 Division Ave NE 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE 350 Eastern Ave , NE 950 Eastern AVE NE 5200 Foote St , NE 3744 ½ Hayes St NE 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4600 Sherriff Rd NE 4601 Sheriff Road NE 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast 4721 Sherriff Rd NE 4748 Sheriff Rd NE 4816 Sherriff Rd NE 3200 13th st SE 4275 4th St SE 1400 41st St , SE 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE 1523 Alabama Ave, SE 1535 Alabama Ave , SE 1571 Alabama Ave , SE 1547 Alabama Ave , SE 1717 Alabama Ave , SE 2435 Alabama Ave

7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE Pimento Grill 4405 Bowen Rd SE East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE

Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church CVS – Penn Branch Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Ridge Recreation Center Savoy Recreation Center PNC Bank Rite Aid 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

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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Signs of slight nitrogen burn are coupled with underwatering in an indoor system.

Count your blessings, compost the rotted fruit, and keep it moving. Fusarium wilt certainly took hold of my tomatoes this year, what a shame. Two of my largest have been wilting from the bottom up, one never produced fruit, and the other is producing slow as ever. Identify it by older leaves drying up and dying later in the season. Pull up the entire plant when this is spotted. The disease can be spread by local pests and can manifest on dirty shears, so be sure to sanitize them between uses to reduce the exposure risk. The disease lives in the soil and can remain for years if untreated. Solarize it by covering the soil in clear plastic during the hottest time of year to “bake” out the disease. This will also remove weed seeds and other contaminants. In tandem with the white flies that ate at my mustard greens from below, powder mildew ate at them from the top. This thick white fungus grows on the top of the leaves and tends to attack all of a single crop family, meaning my kale, cabbage, and collards all suffered due to this brassica-loving fungus taking over my mustard while the tomatoes were spared. Like the fusarium wilt, this disease needs to be baked out of your soil us-

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

Powder fungus on my mustard wiped out all the greens this season.

ing clear plastic and lots of heat. How to prevent it? Keep your shears clean, prune wild brush, and keep airflow in your garden space. This condition can also be triggered by excess nitrogen in the soil. Be sure to use slow-release fertilizers and have the dogs do their business elsewhere. Club rot is the last nasty fungus that has affected my brassicas inside and out. It infects the roots, causing them to become misshapen. This is noticeable when the leaves are curled up at the edges and yellow prematurely. Prevent it by keeping your soil’s pH in balance and rotating your crops. Solarizing may be required as this fungus can last over 10 years. This year, I may need to pull the crop and solarize while the weather is still warm. Don’t be afraid to pull up today’s crop for a larger harvest tomorrow. We are fortunate to have (limited) food access in our community and usually don’t have to rely on our gardens for most of our food. Summer is almost over and harvest time is here. Next month we will learn more about harvesting techniques as we tidy up the main growing season and move into the fall and winter crop rotation. Enjoy your August! For more gardening tips, workshops, delicious recipes, and wonderful products follow the Wynter Gardener on Facebook and Instagram @Wyntergardener or email her at WynterGardener@gmail.com.

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.

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PRICE

$420,000 $398,000 $340,000 $320,000 $275,000 $275,000 $172,500

3 4 3 3 4 2 3

$672,500 $375,000

3 2

$475,300 $420,000 $405,000 $400,000 $330,000 $320,000 $318,000 $291,000 $290,000 $282,000 $215,000 $202,000

3 8 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 2

$460,000 $435,000 $420,000 $407,500 $387,000 $385,000 $350,653 $350,000 $321,500 $321,000 $319,500 $310,000 $300,000 $290,000 $275,000 $255,000 $250,000 $225,000 $214,524 $213,750 $195,000 $192,500 $190,000 $183,500 $181,500 $140,000

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HOUSES ANACOSTIA

1351 RIDGE PL SE 2250 MOUNT VIEW PL SE 1419- 1/2 22ND ST SE 1903 NAYLOR RD SE 2118 YOUNG ST SE 1610 RIDGE PL SE 2020 16TH ST SE

CHILLUM

5709 BLAIR RD NE 5505 1ST ST NE

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3318 OXON RUN RD SE 357 PARKLAND PL SE 226 MALCOLM X AVE SE 3313 7TH ST SE 21 DANBURY ST SW 52 ELMIRA ST SW 109 DANBURY ST SW 55 DANBURY ST SW 127 DANBURY ST SW 651 RALEIGH PL SE 135 JOLIET ST SW 700 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE

DEANWOOD

4256 FOOTE ST NE 4922 FOOTE ST NE 127 47TH ST NE 1130 51ST ST NE 95 55TH ST SE 1012 49TH PL NE 111 50TH ST NE 4804 SHERIFF RD NE 226 DIVISION AVE NE 4549 EADS PL NE 5609 EADS ST NE 5093 SHERIFF RD NE 260 56TH PL NE 5122 JAY ST NE 4647 HUNT PL NE 4917 SHERIFF RD NE 5222 CENTRAL AVE SE 922 44TH ST NE 822 46TH ST NE 526 44TH ST NE 4209 HAYES ST NE 29 58TH ST SE 711 49TH PL NE 248 57TH PL NE 4937 JUST ST NE 5063 SHERIFF RD NE

817 46TH ST NE 4611 JAY ST NE 4513 CLAY ST NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 3300 F ST SE 1123 44TH PL SE 4544 TEXAS AVE SE 4244 HILDRETH ST SE 1428 42ND PL SE 4720 SOUTHERN AVE SE 720 RIDGE RD SE 3436 CROFFUT PL SE 3327 B ST SE 4630 HANNA PL SE 1609 FORT DUPONT ST SE 113 34TH ST SE

HILL CREST

3608 AUSTIN ST SE 3138 WESTOVER DR SE 2116 32ND PL SE 3216 HIGHWOOD DR SE 3405 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 3670 CAMDEN ST SE

KINGMAN PARK 522 24TH ST NE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5219 D ST SE 5100 HANNA PL SE 5052 KIMI GRAY CT SE 5045 KIMI GRAY CT SE 5036 HANNA PL SE 5311 DRAKE PL SE 4641 A ST SE 5116 A ST SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS

2211 R ST SE 1911 FREDERICK DOUGLASS CT SE 2010 SAVANNAH PL SE

$100,000 $60,000 $323,600

3 1 4

$350,000 $346,000 $288,000 $265,000 $250,000 $234,900 $229,000 $200,500 $193,850 $193,000 $190,000 $160,000

2 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3

$645,000 $600,000 $525,000 $512,000 $385,000 $543,000

4 4 3 4 4 4

$600,000

$425,000 $392,500 $355,000 $325,000 $300,000 $255,000 $225,000 $200,123

4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3

$375,000 $330,000 $330,000

5 4 3

$215,000 $187,000 $60,000

2 1 2

$86,000

$25,500

Call Carolina Lopez. 202-400-3503

or Carolina@hillrag.com for more information on advertising.

CONDOS CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1110 SAVANNAH ST SE #11 210 OAKWOOD ST SE #304 4715 1ST ST SW #303

DEANWOOD

161 36TH ST NE #102

RANDLE HEIGHTS

3070 30TH ST SE #104G

E ast

of thE

R ivER M agazinE

a ugust 2017

To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.3503 or email Carolina@hillrag.com HAIR SALON

FOR RENT

PLUMBING

S TANDARD C LEANING S ERVICE I NC . Commercial & Residential

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P D EL E H NT A W

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PAINTING

Men’s Haircut - $15 Locs/Twist Specials - $50 Weaves Sewn - $100

Ana Julia Viera

Licensed Bonded Insured

1ST TIME CUSTOMER ONLY

Kenny

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703.719.9850 • 703.447.9254 Days

DC P

Free Estimates • Bonded & Insured References Upon Request

L U M M E R

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contact CAROLINA at

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BOX CLASSIFIEDS (quarterly)

VACATION RENTAL

2”x 2” 2.5” 3” 4” 5” 7”

$150 $180 $225 $300 $360 $400

• Ad design free of charge with one revision. • Rates are per publication.

NEW YEAR’S WEEK IN NYC!

Seven nights at The Manhattan Club. One bed suite, double pull out couch, kitchenette w/ microwave and fridge. Close to Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center. $2,100. 202-854-0035.

MIDCITY

LINE CLASSIFIEDS (monthly)

FA G O N C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E

$25 for the first 15 words, 25¢ for each additional word. Bold heading (25 characters max) is free.

CAPITAL COMMUNITY NEWS, INC. Hill Rag | Midcity DC | East of the River | Fagon Community Guides

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E AST

OF THE

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A UGUST 2017

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

“007” by Myles Mellor Across: 1. I found out! 4. Needlefishes 8. Italian brandy 14. Romantic connection 18. Grassland regions 21. Concerning this 22. Proofread 23. Bond film 25. Digging for dirt 26. Research facility, abbr. 27. Monetary unit of Romania 28. Disney duck 30. Grunts 35. Sludge-like 38. Hindu social division 42. Scream blue murder 46. Outside the law 49. Milk supplier 50. Rocket launch area 51. Many-stringed Japanese instruments 52. Substituting a creditor for another, insurance term 54. A means to an ___ 55. Verve 57. Lavishes one’s attention (on) 58. Want 61. Chapter of history 62. Olive, for one 64. 2009 “Survivor” setting 67. Yo! 69. Hindis’ devotional courses 73. Grating cries 74. Bond film 77. Bond agents 78. Bond film 80. It goes on forever 81. Subjects of wills 83. Qatari leader 84. Reason for a raise 86. Pig out 87. Sancho Panza’s transport 90. Odds-taker 94. Italian city 96. “Bravo!” 99. “__ Maria” 100. Sprouting 104. Completely 106. Portion of butter

107. Marauding Khan 108. Unties 109. Fundamental reasons 111. Senior member 113. Assail 115. Preﬁx with linear 116. Thick outer coat of a seed 119. Free from 121. Time for presents 125. Good looking guy 128. Bond ﬁlm, with the 135. Shiny on top? 136. Of Peru’s peaks 137. Massive snow slide 138. Indigenous Canadian 139. Next to 140. ___ brat 141. Owned

Down:

1. Italian wine region 2. Chemistry Nobelist Otto 3. Streets 4. Econ. measure 5. No matter what 6. Good way to eat vegetables 7. “Quiet, please!” 8. Monstrous 9. Gun, the engine 10. “Diamonds ___ Forever” (1971) 11. Itinerant merchant 12. Fleshy fruit 13. Not many 14. Nairobi’s land 15. Wedding vow 16. Family address 17. Place for a pig 19. “The Maltese Falcon” actress Mary __ 20. Costa del ___ 24. Grassy area 29. Dazzling successes 31. Bug 32. Apprentice 33. Martial arts sequence 34. Bakery treat 36. Elmer’s, for one 37. Tirana country, for short 39. Caused by earth vibrations

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 40. Low card 41. Night of poetry 42. Newspaper piece 43. Certain weather indicator 44. Historic Icelandic work 45. Old autocrat 47. Superhuman 48. Signifying a time in the past 53. Server’s trolley 56. Italian-born explorer of the New World 59. Rare metallic element 60. Muscle contraction 62. Well enough 63. Part of T.G.I.F.

65. Harry Potter’s mailman 66. Word in a simile 68. Supply house 70. Furrow maker 71. Put to trial 72. Representative 74. Match 75. Play 76. LAX posting 79. Fee ___ fo fum 80. Morning show time 82. @ 85. Three in one 88. Flap 89. Navigational aid

Get Tickets at:

www.washingcon.com W A S H I N G T O N D C ’ S O W N TA B L E T O P G A M I N G C O N V E N T I O N

SEP 9-10 2017 sponsored by

Reduced rate kids under 12 Special Guests Will Include: • Susan McKinley Ross Game Designer of Qwirkle • Miranda Evarts Game Designer of Sleeping Queens FB event: facebook.com/washingcon

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

91. Appetizer for Juan 92. Racetrack 93. Network of nerves, e.g. 95. It has a keeper 96. Misfortunes 97. Gooselike 98. Arena take 100. Wander 101. Self center 102. Knight clothes 103. “Rocks” 105. Drawing 110. Johnson’s successor 112. Music, exercise in technique 114. It comes before the season 117. Deck mopper 118. Sound 120. Code of life 122. Great amount 123. Turkish general 124. Outbuilding 125. British media company 126. Much decorated lobe 127. Dark beer 129. Hawaiian necklace 130. Family man 131. Bul ____ watch 132. Seafarer 133. Shade tree 134. No vote