DECEMBER 2014
EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
CALENDAR
10......... What’s on Washington 12......... East of the River Calendar
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
18......... The Nose • by Anonymous 20......... The Numbers • by Ed Lazere 22......... Our River: Proud Histories and Pollution Legacies Industry on the Anacostia • by Bill Matuszeski 24......... Bulletin Board 30......... What Will it Take for Busboys & Poets to Open in Anacostia? • by John Muller 32......... DDOT Projects Update in Ward 7 • by Charnice A. Milton
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
34......... Developing Spaces for Artists in Ward 7 by Christina Sturdivant
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36......... Getting to an AIDS Free DC • by Candace Y.A. Montague 38......... East of the River Artist Spotlight: Sheila Crider by Phil Hutinet
40......... Jazz Avenues • by Steve Monroe
REAL ESTATE
41......... Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton
KIDS & FAMILY
42......... Kids & Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner 46......... Somerset PCS Seeks to Stay in Ward 8 by Charnice A. Milton
THE CLASSIFIEDS 48......... The Classifieds
CROSSWORD 50......... The Crossword
38 ON THE COVER:
“Black Nativity” at Anacostia Playhouse Through Jan 4. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the Christmas story from an Afro-centric perspective, infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz music and dance with griot style story telling from an ensemble cast. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com. See story on page 12.
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Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Look for Next Issue of East of the River on January 10 Online Daily, Printed Monthly | www.eastoftheriverdcnews.com
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Food Editor: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com
Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Dining: Literature: Movies: Music: Theater: Wine Guys:
Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board
Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
General Assignment
Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health& Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com
Production/Graphic/Web Design
Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Design: Lee Kyungmin • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com
Advertising & Sales
Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • Carolina@hillrag.com BILLING: Sara Walder, 202.400.3511 • sara@hillrag.com
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Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
KIDS & FAMILY
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Homes & Gardens
Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com
COMMENTARY
Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com
We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.
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How to Open a Small Business by Navigating through DCRA’s Regulatory Process
A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Planning Date:
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Date:
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Time:
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
4th Floor (E-4302),
2nd floor (E-200),
Washington, D.C. 20024
Washington, D.C. 20024
To Register: http://goo.gl/GmVJmT
To Register: http://goo.gl/9DwW01
DCRA FREE WORKSHOPS FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES
Money Smart for Small Business - Financial Management and Credit Reporting Date:
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
SBRC’s Navigating through Business Licensing and Corporations Process
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302),
Date:
Monday through Thursday
Time:
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20024
Washington, D.C. 20024
To Register: http://goo.gl/zb6r6H
To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/
For further information, please contact: Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov • Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 claudia.herrera@dc.gov • Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 joy.douglas@dc.gov EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 9
Five Guys Named Moe at Arena
The boys are back in town, with a brand new look: bigger, bolder, and badder than ever. Classics like “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby” have been remixed for an explosive, re-imagined tribute to “King of the Jukebox” Louis Jordan. Come and dance the blues away with Eat Moe, No Moe, Four-Eyed Moe, Big Moe and Little Moe, as big band meets boy band in this dynamic, dazzling musical revue. Five Guys Named Moe is at Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW, through Dec. 28. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org
Clinton Roane as Little Moe and the cast of Five Guys Named Moe at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater through Dec. 28. Photo: C. Stanley Photography
A Renaissance Christmas-Music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500
In the courts of Renaissance Italy, princes vied with each other in filling their chapels with the famous singers and composers from the North. As learned polyphony helped the rulers of Florence and Ferrara display their erudition and good taste, glimmers of a more popular native Italian style started appearing, first at the court of the Sforzas in Milan. Many of these new style works honored Mary, the most popular of all saints. From Dec. 16-23, the Folger Consort explores the contrast between these styles in this program of seasonal music by Josquin, Ockeghem, Obrecht, and Compère. $35-$50. Folger Shakespeare Theater, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu
The Folger Consort. Photo: Teresa Wood
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Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
On Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:30-9 p.m., Mount Vernon will, for the first time, open its doors for an evening of holiday-themed fireworks and special programs. Before the fireworks show at 8:45 p.m., Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon offers guests a chance to step back in time and experience a festive holiday evening at the first president’s estate. Stroll through the historic area while being serenaded by local choirs. Watch as colonial artisans demonstrate the 18th-century process of creating chocolate. Visit a winter encampment and meet re-enactors from the First Virginia Regiment. $30, adult; $20, ages 6-11, children five and under are free. mountvernon.org
Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! at the Anacostia Community Museum
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 27, 10:30 a.m.-noon and Monday, Dec. 29. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., celebrate Kwanzaa with arts, crafts, and music in the museum’s popular three-day event honoring this African American holiday. On Friday, entertainment will be provided by Nabeeh Bilal and “Winston,” his Caribbean puppet character from the children’s book “Callaloo, a Jazz Folktale.” Winston will teach visitors the seven guiding principles of the holiday. On Saturday, enjoy a performance by the KanKouran West African Dance Company on day two of the museum Kwanzaa celebration. This second day of the program takes place at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. On Monday, families can spend the entire morning participating in three different Kwaanza-themed arts and crafts workshops. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
The KanKouran West African Dance Company is featured on the 27th. For details and to make reservations for each event, visit events at anacostia. si.edu or call 202-633-4844. Photo: Courtesy of KanKouran West African Dance Company
NHL Winter Classic at Nat’s Park Blackhawks vs. Capitals
January 1, 2015 is a perfect day to shrug off the blues, rug-up and enjoy professional hockey as it should be enjoyed--in the snow, wind and cold. Nat’s Park is being re-cast as a hockey venue for the 2015 Bridgestone Winter Classic and it seems to be a great way to start the New Year. The game is at 1 p.m. As part of the event, the NHL is hosting Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages located just outside the left field entrance to the ballpark. Open to all, the event runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will feature live music; interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways; food and beverages; and an extensive selection of hockey collectibles. capitals.nhl.com
Caps-Blackhawks Preseason: L-R Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson in a celebratory hug during a Capitals game. Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Capitals
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CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH AND KWANZAA
CALENDAR
Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! at the Anacostia Community Museum. Dec. 26 and 27, 10:30 AM-noon and Dec. 29. 10:30 AM-2:30 PM, celebrate Kwanzaa with arts, crafts, and music in the museum’s popular three-day event honoring this traditional African American holiday. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park. Through Jan 1, 5:00-10:00 PM. $14 per car. Enjoy from your car. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Pkwy., Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden. Through Jan. 4, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (Tuesdays and Thursdays, open until 8:00 PM with live entertainment). Botanic Garden invites you to remember that the best things in life are free--the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree, the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations, and the delight of a child discovering the make believe world of model trains. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-2258333. usbg.gov
Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Visit pickyourownchristmastree.org for farms and directions. Then follow the prompts. The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s “A Christmas Carol”. Through Dec 20. The family-favorite classic by Charles Dickens, equipped with special effects, Victorian carols and Tiny Tim returns to the Little Theatre of Alexandria. $15. The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. Alexandria, VA. 703-683-0496. thelittletheatre.com Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Through Dec 21 (Saturdays and Sundays except Dec 20), 5:008:00 PM. Join “Mrs. Washington” as she hosts an enchanting evening of candlelight tours, fireside caroling, and festive treats. Timed tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children 11 and under. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. 703-7802000. mountvernon.org Downtown Holiday Market. Through Dec 23, noon-8:00 PM. More than 150 exhibitors and artisans (rotating on a weekly basis) selling an array of high-quality gift items including fine art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, tasty treats, and hot beverages. Market at F St. NW, between 7th and 9th. downtownholidaymarket.com Holiday Follies at Signature. Through Dec 23. Tune that piano to the key of glee for a jolly festivity featuring special guest performers, buckets of cheer and all your cherished yuletide tunes. $35. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. off I395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). signature-theatre.org Alexandria’s Holiday Market. Through Dec 24. While shopping for unique art and craft items for loved ones, at this unique holiday
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ing Covenant House Washington, Martha’s Table, Miriam’s Kitchen, So Others Might Eat (SOME) and Bread for the City, to help sustain their work with thousands in the D.C.-area who struggle with hunger and homelessness.
Christmas at Mount Vernon. Through Jan 6, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations, chocolatemaking demonstrations, and 18th century dancing. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. $17/adult, $8/child, 5 and under free. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org
“Black Nativity” at Anacostia Playhouse
Through Jan 4. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the Christmas story from an Afro-centric perspective, infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz music and dance with griot style story telling from an ensemble cast. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com Back row; Natasha Gallop, Shanté M. Moore, Thomascena Nelson, Krislynn Perry, Jakiya Ayanna; Front, G. Carlos Henderson, Ny’a Johnson
market, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, traditional European food and sweets, wine and beer. John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, VA. alexandriaholidaymarket.com
Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org
The Nutcracker. Through Dec 28. Set in Georgetown and replete with swirling snowflakes, cherry blossoms and historical characters, including George Washington as the heroic nutcracker, The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker has become a tradition for generations of family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW. 202-783-4000. warnertheatredc.com A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Through Jan 1.
Donation Drive at Ford’s for Thrive DC. During the curtain calls for performances of A Christmas Carol, the company will collect donations on behalf of the Washington-based non-profit Thrive DC. Patrons also can make donations through the Ford’s Theatre Box Office. All donation checks should be made payable to “Thrive DC.” In the past four years, the acting company has raised more than $375,000 for local charities, includ-
The Christmas Revels. Dec 1214. Celebrate the winter solstice and start your holidays with this fully staged performance at Lisner Auditorium. revelsdc.org NGA Holiday Concerts. Dec 13, 20 (caroling) and 21 ((Hanukkah concert). All concerts are at 3:30 PM in the West Building, West Garden Court. National Gallery of Art, 4th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. nga.gov Celebrate Kwanzaa at Dance Place. Dec 13, 8:00 PM and Dec 14, 4:00 PM. Kick off the holiday season with Dance Place as Coyaba Dance Theater hosts their annual Kwanzaa Celebration, displaying the excitement and vibrancy of the holiday with their work based around the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. 202-269-1600. danceplace.org Gay Men’s Chorus Rockin’ The Holidays at the Lincoln. Dec 13 and 14. Rockin’ The Holidays features the full chorus of 220 singers performing signature holiday classics and exciting new arrangements of seasonal favorites. $25-$39. Tickets
are available by calling 1-877-435-9849 or visiting GMCW.org. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org Capital City Symphony Annual Community Carol Sing Concert. Dec 14, 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Presented with the Congressional Chorus, the American Youth Chorus and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Free. capitalcitysymphony.org Thomas Circle Singers “Sing We All Nowell”. Dec 14, 4:00 PM. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Ave. NW. thomascirclesingers.org
Christmas Dinner For Those Who Are Alone or In Need. Dec 25, 12:15-2:00 PM. Dining Room of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This is a walkin meal. Just show up. To volunteer, call 202-526-8300. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. nationalshrine.com Kennedy Center Christmas Day Jazz Jam. Dec 25, 6:00 PM. Join in the All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam, a Millennium Stage tradition, with host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores Williams. Free. Kennedy Center. 202-416-8340. kennedycenter.org
Marine Big Band Holiday Concert. Dec 14, 2:00 PM. The Marine Big Band will feature standards such as Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” “Count Your Blessings,” and “Blue Skies” and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. John Philip Sousa Band Hall, 7th and K Sts. SE. The program is free and tickets are not required. marineband.marines.mil
NEW YEARS
Italian Holiday Market at La Casa Italiana. Dec 15 and 16, 9:30 AM-4:00 PM. Market features handmade art, fashion, pottery, costume jewelry, homemade sweets, and more...Exclusively made by Italian women living in the DC Metropolitan Area. La Casa Italiana, 525 3rd St, NW, Washington DC.
Freedom’s Eve at President Lincoln’s Cottage. Dec 31, 9:30 PM-12:30 AM. President Lincoln’s Cottage hosts Freedom’s Eve, a New Year’s Eve party. At the stroke of midnight, Jan 1, 1863, thousands of men, women and children celebrated as the Emancipation Proclamation finally took effect. For ticket sales or more information, contact Hilary Malson at 202-829-0436 x31228 or HMalson@savingplaces.org. Entrance is at the intersection of Upshur St. and Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. Event features live music, a dessert buffet, and an open bar. Admission to Freedom’s Eve is by advanced ticket purchase only. lincolncottage.org
National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Dec 16, 4:00 PM. Event features musical performances and hot latkes and donuts. The menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah. The Menorah is on the Ellipse, near the White House. whitehouse.gov Trans-Siberian Orchestra Rock Opera The Christmas Attic. Dec 17, 7:30 PM. Verizon Center The DC Christmas Bash at the Howard. Dec 20, 7:30 PM. Featuring Oneway Boobe & Ethan Spalding with Gordo Brega, Awthentik, Girard Street Garvey, Laelo, Fito Corleone, Macklow & ChuckDogg. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com Waterskiing Santa Comes to Old Town Alexandria. Dec 24, 1:00 PM (Pre-show at 12:45 PM). Now in its 29th year, this favorite DC-area Christmas Eve event comes to Old Town Alexandria for the very first time. Alexandria’s Waterfront between King and Oronoco Sts., Alexandria, VA. waterskiingsanta.com Celebration of Christmas at the National Shrine. Dec 24, Children’s Mass with Gospel Pageant, 5:00 PM; Musical Meditations on the Nativity, 10:00 PM; Solemn Vigil Mass, 10:30 PM. Dec 25, Masses, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM; Solemn Mass, noon; Spanish Mass, 2:30 PM. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com
Masquerade Ball at The Howard Theatre. Dec 31, 10:00 PM. Their burlesque masquerade ball will feature local and national talent, including professional dancers, deejays and live acts. $35-$60. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com
First Night Alexandria. Dec 31, 7:00 PMmidnight. This annual New Year’s Eve bash takes over Old Town Alexandria with more than 100 performances at 22 indoor venues, with live music, dancing, children’s face painting and games. Fireworks at midnight on the river. $15 before Dec 17; $20, after. Kids under 12 and active military, free. firstnightalexandria.org
...because I make good food choices. My name is Genevieve and I choose fresh vegetables when I go shopping. Eating vegetables gives me nutrients, like vitamins A and C, to help me stay healthy. To see the I am healthySM series and get tips on ways to stay healthy, visit www.amerihealthdc.com/iamhealthy.
Annapolis New Year’s Eve Celebration. Dec 31, 7:30 PM-midnight. Free. Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis, MD. 410-2637940. visitannapolis.org
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Selfies with Santa Holiday Party and Open House. Dec 13, 11:00 AM. Take a #selfiewithsanta (or get a complimentary professional photo with him as well). Get a jump on your holiday shopping at their boutiques. Check out the art on exhibition. Grab a holiday snack from Nurish Food + Drink. Experience performances by DMV Soul Carolers and the dancers of Culture Shock. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 13
Luther Vandross Tribute Concert. Dec 13, 8:00 PM. A Tribute to Luther Vandross featuring William “Smooth” Wardlaw to bring in the holidays. $22.50. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org History Kitchen-Civil War Recipes. Dec 14, 2:00-4:00PM. Tory Avey gives an overview of what Union soldiers ate during the Civil War and shares her recipe for “commissary beef stew,” a common dish eaten in Army camps throughout the war. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia. si.edu Anacostia Watershed Society Nash Run Trash Trap Cleanup. Dec 19, noon-3:00 PM. Around the intersection of Anacostia Ave. NE and Douglas St. NE. RSVP required at mmaeda@anacostiaws.org or 301699-6204 x110. anacostiaws.org
bead art and how Ubuhle women transform the beadwork surface into a contemporary work of art. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
if you don’t have one, yoga mats are available for use during the class. Free. Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-281-2583. dclibrary.org/benning
How the Civil War Changed Washington. Feb 2-Oct 18. This exhibition examines the changing physical layout and the dynamic population growth in wartime Washington, DC. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Through mid-March. Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM–9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM–11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. Skating is over at 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve. No skating on Christmas or New Years. Two hour sessions begin on the hour. $8, adult; $7 seniors over 50, students with ID and kids, 12 and under. $195, season pass. $3.00 skate rental (ID required) and $.50 locker rental with $5 deposit. 7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202216-9397. nga.gov
SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Wizards Basketball. Dec 14, 16, 23 and 27; Jan 7 and 9. Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Dec 13, 22 and Jan 1, 4 and 10. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com
Improv Theater Classes at the Anacostia Arts Center. Starting in January, Washington Improv Theater will be offering an eight-week class on the Foundations of Improv for $50. Register at witdc.org.
Washington Capitals Practice Schedule. Non-game day, 10:30 AM; game day, 10:00 AM; and day after game, 11:00 AM. All practices are at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, 627 No. Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA. They are free and open to the public. kettlercapitalsiceplex.com
Ubuhle Women-Beadwork and the Art of Independence. Through Jan 4. Learn about a new form of
Yoga @ the Library. Every Saturday, 10:00 AM. Wear some comfortable clothing and bring a mat, but
Canal Park Ice Skating. Monday and Tuesday, noon-7:00 PM; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon-9:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM10:00 PM; and Sunday, 11 AM-7:00 PM. $9, adults; $8, children, seniors and military. $4, skate rental. Canal Park Ice Rink is at 202 M St. SE. 202-554-6051. canalparkdc.org Public Ice Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM and Saturdays, noon-1:00 PM. $5, adults; kids 2-12 and seniors, $4.
Photo: Alice Rose
Capitol Christmas Tree
Lit on Dec. 2, it will be up through New Years Day. Considered by many to be the most beautiful tree in town. Visit anytime.
Jim Jenkins/Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Skate Rental, $3. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. 202-5845007. fdia.org Adult Dance and Fitness Classes at THEARC. Mondays, 7:15 PM, Yoga; Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Zumba; Thursdays, 7:45 PM, Ballet; Saturdays, 9:00 AM, Zumba. Drop-in rates are $12. If you are a resident of 20020 or 20032 (with a valid ID), drop-in rates are $6. Class card which covers 12 classes and are good for up to 4 months are $100. If you are a resident of 20020 or 20032 (with a valid ID), class cards are $60. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Deanwood (indoor) Pool. MonFri 6:30 AM-8:00 PM; Sat-Sun, 9:00 AM5:00 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202671-3078. dpr.dc.gov
Zoolights
Through Jan 1, 5:00-9:00 PM nightly except Dec 24, 25 and 31. Don’t miss your chance to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks, and enjoy live entertainment. Free. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu
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Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 8th St. SE. 202645-3916. dpr.dc.gov
MARKETS PARCEL Market at Canal Park. Dec 13, noon-9:00 PM; Dec 14,
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 15
noon-5:00 PM. This new holiday market concept will light up the park’s three blocks with its 10,000 squarefoot ice rink, a large styled tent showcasing talented independent vendors, a food area from local food artisans and restaurants, music from local artists, and an interactive art installation. PARCEL Market at Canal Park, 200 M St. SE. parcelmarketdc.com DC Big Flea Market. Jan 10, 9:00 AM6:00 PM; Jan 11, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Over 600 booths featuring a diverse mix of antiques, collectibles, art, jewelry, mid-century, etc. $8 admission, parking free. Dulles Expo Ctr, Chantilly, VA. 757-961-3988. thebigfleamarket. com Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting). Set up after 10:00 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 5th St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7:00 AM-9:00 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
CIVIC LIFE Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-6788900. norton.house.gov Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30-8:00 PM at Kenilworth Elementary School Auditorium, 1300 44th St. NE. Contact Javier Barker, j58barker@yahoo.com or 202-450-3155. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2:00 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org
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Home Sewn-Quilts from the Lower Mississippi Valley
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Through Jan 4. Home Sewn features quilts created by Annie Dennis (1904–1997) and Emma Russell (1909–2004). Quilts represent classic American quilt patterns and techniques passed down through five generations. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
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Emma Russell, Circle of Stars, 85” x 83 ½”, 1990. Photo: Susana A. Raab, Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
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Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM. UPO Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6:00 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.
ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7:00 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch
Ave and S St. SE). 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b.us ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-3985100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7:008:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc. dc.gov ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-8896600. anc8adc.org
ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7:00 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7:00 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774. u
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301-702 1401 Free Gift With Ad EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 17
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
the nose
Smells Like Green Spirit! by Anonymous
I
t has been many months, Dear Readers, since The Nose’s fingers last graced his computer keyboard to compose a paean to the residents of the Wilson Building. Please forgive this poor scribbler; the lethargic mayoral race of the somnolent lulled him to sleep. Like many others of his fast vanishing brethren, he woke up on Nov. 5 to discover that Muriel “Laser Light” Bowser, successfully executing a political contortion worthy of the great Houdini himself, had become mayor. “What is your columnist nattering on about,” you might well ask. Has he been imbibing too much brown liquor in the company of his beloved Redbone Coon Hound? Let’s return, Dear Readers, to the cold days of last April. The stock of incumbent Mayor Vincent C. Gray was sinking in the wake of “Governor” Jeffrey E. Thompson’s plea admitting culpability in the 2010 Shadow Campaign. With the aid of the Washington (Com)Post’s Editorial Board, Bowser convinced a plurality of voters that she was the best positioned among a sea of challengers to unseat Gray, promising a Fresh Start. In sum, Bowser transformed herself into The Candidate of Change. Wrapping herself in the mantle of the Democratic Establishment, Bowser spent the summer courting voters in the city’s African-American northern and eastern wards, and donors on K Street. Speaking to these disparate audiences, Bowser promised not to rock the boat or derail the city’s progress. By September, Bowser had become The Candidate of Continuity. Voters in Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8, who had stayed home in the spring, voted her into office. Congratulations, Mayor-Elect Bowser for flawlessly executing the most complicated strategic pivot in District history. Here is a tune for you cribbed from a grungy songbook:
18 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Load up on funds, bring your friends It’s fun to win, let’s not pretend She’s the overlord and so self-assured Oh no, corporate contributions no longer dirty words. Hello? Hello? Hello? Where’s the dough? Hello? Hello? Hello?
With the election over, it’s less dangerous. We’ve voted now, so entertain us! Don’t feel stupid and outrageous. We’ve voted now, so entertain us! Sip cappuccino, Ask who’s the maestro? Is she really Adrian’s disciple? It’s a fresh start, Gray’s finito! Yay!
Perhaps there are no issues other than race? That makes new residents smile Since Chocolate City is hard, it’s hard to find Oh well, whatever, never mind Hello? Hello? Hello? Where’d the old heads go? Hello? Hello? Hello? With the election over, be less disingenuous We’ve voted now, so entertain us! Be empowered and outrageous. We’ve voted now, so entertain us!
Sip cappuccino, Ask who’s the maestro? Is she really Adrian’s disciple? It’s a fresh start, Chocolate City’s finito! ÍYay! Will the exact meaning of a “Fresh Start” be revealed on January 3, 2015? Inquiring minds want to know. u
In Memoriam Algernon “Jay” Johnson Cooper III
A
lgernon (“Jay”) Johnson Cooper, III died suddenly on December 3, 2014 in the house where he was born, 1212 Delafield Place NW, Washington, DC. His grieving parents are Brenda Rhodes Miller and Algernon Johnson Cooper, Jr. While still in high school, Jay was the host of Teen Summit, a weekly talk show on Black Entertainment Television. In 1999, Teen People Magazine featured him in the article 20 Teens Who Will Change the World. Jay graduated from Roosevelt Senior High School and in 2001 became the spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Strap It Up campaign to improve traffic safety in the African American community. In 2002 Washingtonian magazine named him one the city’s 25 most beautiful people. His delightful sense of humor, bold laugh and tenacious spirit were reflected in his commitment to public service, especially helping the downtrodden. Jay’s zest for life attracted allies in the most unlikely places. As the Policy Director for DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, he was well known throughout the Wilson Building, especially among those who championed the cause of making life better for young people in this city. Recently, Jay led a coalition to persuade the D.C. City Council to allocate $2M for grants in teen pregnancy prevention.
He founded Freedom Farms, a locallyowned and operated aquaponics farming system that uses waste water produced by farmed fish to fertilize plants and vegetables. His mission was to transform communities by providing access to healthy food, economic opportunity, and 21st century workforce development and leadership training programs. He built a number of school gardens in Ward 8 and was in line to build an aquaponic farm in Ward 7 in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia. Jay announced his intention to run for the Ward 4 City Council seat soon to be vacated by Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser. He “wanted to be a voice for those who have no voice, speak for those who were not being heard and represent people about whom no one seems to care.” Over the Thanksgiving holiday, he became engaged to his best friend, Ms. Ryan Palmer. Well-loved, kind, sensitive to the needs of others, wise, considerate and compassionate, Jay touched many lives and was a great source of energy and inspiration to all. Algernon (“Jay”) Johnson Cooper, III is survived by his large and loving family, devastated by this loss. Mother, Brenda Rhodes Miller (Rev. Courtenay), father Algernon Johnson, Jr. (Bj), sister Lauren Rhodes Cooper and brother Benjamin Mouton Cooper (Brea), his fiancée Ryan Palmer and a host of loving uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and associates.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 19
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
theNUMB3RS 3.327.649.10
Is the District’s Homeless System Ready for Winter?
T
he first cold weather of the season has arrived, and believe it or not, that is good news for DC’s homeless families. That’s because this is when families with children have the legal right to shelter. From April until November, the city turned away most homeless families, leaving them to sleep in cars, return to living with an abuser, or some other unstable situation. As families start coming into shelter again, memories of last winter are still fresh – a city caught flatfooted with little capacity to provide shelter and even less ability to help families move from shelter. A little girl disappeared after being in DC General for more than a year. It is a situation that no one wants to repeat. But have the District’s leaders learned from last year’s problems and responded adequately? A report card on DC’s homeless services gives the city mixed grades -mostly C’s and D’s -- but notes signs of improvement. A new program to keep families from becoming homeless was launched, new funds for affordable housing are available, and the District secured additional shelter space by renting an entire motel. And the city released a plan to replace DC General with smaller shelters, but a lot will be needed to make that plan a reality. Amidst these gains, however, tremendous problems remain. The city is not moving families out of shelter fast enough, due to flaws in its “Rapid Rehousing” program. Little has been done to address the unique needs of very young homeless families, who are half of the families coming into shelter. These parents have almost no experience with adult responsibilities -- running a home or balancing work and child care or school on their own. That means Mayor-elect Bowser and the new 20 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
by Ed Lazere
DC Council have their work cut out for them. They will need to finalize a plan for a new shelter system, strengthen programs that keep families out ofshelter, and create more affordable housing to address the underlying cause of growing homelessness in DC.
Doing More to Keep Families Out of Shelter
The District recently launched a new homelessness prevention program, modeled after successful programs in New York City and Massachusetts. The city will devote $2 million and partner with five community-based organizations to provide services. The District also has begun efforts to help families reconnect with relatives and friends, while avoiding asking them to go back to unsafe or unhealthy situations. This is modeled on a successful
Cleveland Mediation Center. DC is better prepared to shelter families this winter. Last winter, the District responded to the increase in families seeking shelter by placing some families in rec center gyms, with flimsy partitions that did not offer privacy or quiet. The District’s homeless services leaders also chose to offer families shelter just one night at a time, requiring them to reapply each day. It looks like things will be different this winter. Two courts ruled that recreation centers pose risks of harm to children, and the DC Council adopted legislation clarifying that families should be sheltered in a private room and allowed to stay until they find safe housing. In addition, the Department of Human Services is actively seeking additional shelter space. In late November, the city announced that it would lease an entire motel for the winter – the Days Inn on New York Avenue, NE. This will make it easier to provide case management and keep children connected to their schools. It is not clear whether this will be enough space, however.
DC Is Creating More Affordable Housing, But More Is Needed
Efforts to move families out of shelter quickly depend on having a supply of affordable housing. The 2015 DC budget includes funds to provide rental assistance to 200 very low-income families. And the city’s housing department established preferences for construction of new affordable homes with enough bedrooms to meet family needs. These small, incremental investments will need to
continue, especially to create more low-cost housing than what is lost in the private market to rising rents.
A Plan to Replace DC General
In October, the Gray administration released a plan to close DC General and replace it with a series of smaller shelters. Yet it is a plan without a lot of details or timelines, and it doesn’t appear to call for enough shelter capacity. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council will need to take the next steps to flesh out the plan and identify the needed funding.
DC Gets Poor Grades for Efforts to Get Families Out of Shelter
While the District’s leaders deserve credit for addressing some major shortcomings in homeless services, fundamental flaws remain in the programs to help families get out and stay out of shelter. The DC General Shelter will need to be used for at least 18 months until a replacement shelter system is ready. So services should be improved there, rather than waiting for new shelters. The DC Council allocated funds to add 10 case managers at DC General, but the hiring process has not started. The District also has not responded to requests to make unused space at the shelter available to nonprofits who want to provide play space and family programming. It took months to get a playground built, despite early offers from the business community. Also Rapid Re-housing, the key program to move families from shelter, remains troubled. To prevent shelter over-crowding, the District needs to be able to move 100 families out of shelter each month, yet it currently helps closer to 60. Rapid Re-housing provides 4-12 months of rental assistance and supportive services, at which point families are expected to pay market rent on their own. The program remains understaffed – without, for example, a dedicated person to find suitable apartments. Also, the District has not finalized important rules, such as how to help families who start to falter
once on their own. And it is not collecting data to see how well the program is working and what kind of improvements are needed. Finally, the District is not doing enough to help young families. Nearly half of families in shelter are headed by a parent 24 or younger, many of whom lack a high school diploma or GED, have limited work experience and have never had their own home. Helping these families requires special case management and a longer timeline to get to stability. While some communities across the country offer specialized services for young homeless families, DC uses a onesize-fits-all approach.
How DC Can Get a Better Homeless Services Report Card Next Time
A great deal of work needs to be done to avoid a repeat of last winter’s family homeless crisis. The most urgent needs are to finalize a plan for a new shelter system, strengthen Rapid Re-housing, and improve conditions at DC General. For both the short-term and long-term, Mayor Bowser and the DC Council need to shift increasing energy and resources to creating affordable housing. Most low-income households already spend more than half of what they take in each month to keep a roof over their head. And housing prices in DC are only going in one direction. Homelessness is the extreme manifestation of the challenges faced by thousands of DC residents struggling to cope with the rising costs of living. Expanding the city’s role in affordable housing is critical not only to reducing homelessness, but also to ensuring that the District remains home to a diverse population. Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www. dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 21
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Our River
Proud Histories and Pollution Legacies Industry on the Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski
P
icnicking on the lawn enjoying live music at Yards Park, biking the Anacostia Riverfront Trail or kayaking past the Arboretum, we think less and less these days about the industries that once consumed much of the river’s edges. While their remnants are being cleared away (the last of the Benning Road PEPCO Powerplant gets taken down this month), we will be dealing with the pollutants left behind on their sites and in the river for many more years. And while that does not prevent recreation of many types, swimming in the river and consuming the fish we catch there are still well off in the future. The full list of toxic cleanup sites in the District includes Kenilworth Park, which was a city dump for decades; the PEPCO plant; the CSX Rail Yard; Washington Gas; the Navy Yard; and Poplar Point. Each of these has an interesting story to tell; this month let’s take a look at two adjacent sites that meet under the 11th Street Bridge, Washington Gas and the Navy Yard.
Washington Gas
This site is located south of M St SE to the river and from under the 11th Street Bridge for several hundred yards north along the river. Water Street splits the site. Much of the area north of Water Street has been developed into office space and parking lots (Maritime Plaza on the chart). The production facility came down in 1986, and the storage tanks in 1997. The remainder of this part has the old buildings of the gas works, which operated for nearly a century from 1888 making gas from coal and oil to use for lighting and heating. The main contaminant from the operations was coal tar, which contains arsenic, lead and other toxins. This part of the site is undergoing cleanup of the wastes and pumping and treating of groundwater. The focus is on ground22 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
water and its contamination of the river and its sediments. The part of the site south of Water Street to the river is of greater interest to the public, since it is government property that will eventually become open space shoreline along the river. Here the solutions are different. Because the contamination here is in the soils and riverbank, the soil and subsurface soil down to as much as three feet will be removed and replaced with clean fill and topsoil. There will also be an on-going Institutional Controls Program to monitor for potential future risks. Although the land is owned by the city, the National Park Service, which manages much of the land along the River, is responsible to ensure that Washington Gas carries out all of the remedial actions on schedule. The removal and replacement of soil means that the site may be closed to the public for up to two years after completion to assure that vegetation has taken hold in the new topsoil. Work on the soil removal on the part near the river will begin this month. The last part of the Washington Gas cleanup is still in the planning stage. This involves an evaluation of the extent of contamination from the site of the sediments entering and settling on the bottom of the River and as well as the impact of all this on the River water. Investigations will begin once there is agreement on a work plan, which often takes many months. In this case the schedule may need to be speeded up, since the project will need to be coordinated with the District’s overall study and plan to remediate contaminated sediment throughout the water and the bottom of the River. This study has been underway since summer and must develop a remediation plan by 2017. Updated information on the Washington
Map of Washington Gas Site. Credit: District Department of the Environment
Gas site is available at: www.nps.gov/nace/parkmgmt/apecp.htm.
Washington Navy Yard
Downstream of Washington Gas and nearly a century before, the Washington Navy Yard began building ships in 1799. After the War of 1812, when the Commandant set fire to the place to prevent it from falling into British hands, it shifted its mission to ordnance and technology and was even renamed the US Naval Gun Factory in 1945. Today the old factory buildings have either been converted to or replaced by offices, as the (renamed again) Navy Yard serves as a large consolidated administrative center for Naval District Washington. The USS Barry is open to tourists as a museum ship tied to the wharf along the Riverside Walk , which runs from Yards Park to the 11th Street Bridge. But all this past activity and the current role as a major office complex have left the need to clean up a lot of toxic pollution from nearly two centuries of manufacturing, guns, torpedos, turrets and all manner of munitions. Even the first shipboard aircraft catapault was tested in the Anacostia in 1912. The toxic legacy from these industrial activities included lead, arsenic, mercury, iron, beryllium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), petroleum hydrocarbons and pesticides. Many of these were in the groundwater and as well as the soils, migrating
to the river and its sediments and fish. In short, the Navy Yard was DC’s first full-fledged Superfund site. After several decades of effort, nearly all of about two dozen toxic sites on the property have been cleaned up to the point that it is safe for the thousands who now work there. The movement of toxics through the groundwater to the river and the sediments is a different story, and has taken much longer to pin down. An early experiment to cap some of the sediments had inconclusive results, and there is still not agreement among EPA, the city and the Navy on how to proceed to fill data gaps from earlier studies in the water column and sediments. Like the situation at the Washington Gas site, agreement needs to be reached soon so the data can be factored into the District’s overall study and plan to clean up the sediments in the entire nine mile stretch of the river. And unlike Washington Gas, the Park Service has no role here, so there is no easy way to keep up to date. Neither the city nor the Navy provides regular updates on a readily accessible site, and the most recent update on the EPA Superfund website is (believe it or not!) August 2011. The best way to keep abreast of progress is through a blog at the Anacostia Watershed Society at: http://www. anacostiaws.org/news/blog/toxics-cleanup-efforts-review-pastand-present-activities. The best thing we can all do is to firmly support the overall sediment clean-up effort being led by the DC Department of the Environment, making sure they stay on schedule and incorporate the water and sediment quality studies from these and other sites along the river. After all, though the Anacostia is looking better and better every month, it still needs a lot of work so our children’s children can swim in it. u
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redit Union House is a gracious, well-appointed facility conveniently located in the heart of the historic Capitol Hill neighbor neighborhood. Our outdoor entertaining space offers stunning views of the U.S. Capitol Building, Library of Congress and U.S. Supreme Court. We have a wide-range of audio/ visual equipment included with rental to meet your event’s needs. Credit Union House can accommodate up to 84 guests for a seated meal or 125 people for a standing reception.
www.cuhouse.com Credit Union House 403 C Street, NE | Wash., DC 20002 p: 202-548-3131 | f: 202-548-3148
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 23
BULLETIN BOARD Anacostia River Festival Scheduled for Spring
N
ew in 2015, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Anacostia River Festival will take place in Anacostia Park on Sunday, Apr. 12. The event merges the arts, health, environment, and recreation, with activities including canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, bike riding, and nature walks. On Apr. 18, a new National Greenscape Corridor Bike Tour will connect the US National Arboretum, the National Mall, and Arlington Cemetery. The 6-mile trail has key markers that discuss tree care and the history of Washington, DC. The 2015 National Cherry Blossom Festival is Mar. 20-Apr. 12. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library Friends Group Forming
The Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, is forming a Friends group. The mission is to promote library services, raise funds for special events and advocate for the library. Reach them at rworld20017@yahoo.com.
Hill East Redevelopment Plan Takes Step Forward
Recent passage of legislation regarding the development of Hill East District Waterfront (formerly known as Reservation 13) will allow the District to dispose of the property to the development team of Donatelli Development and Blue Skye Development in order to create a vibrant, mixed-income, mixeduse urban waterfront community. Hill East District Waterfront is 24 H eASTOFTHerIVerDcNeWS.cOm
comprised 67 acres located between the eastern edge of the Capitol Hill neighborhood and the western shore of the Anacostia River. It hosted the former National Capital Medical Center campus, (formerly known as DC General Hospital) now closed, the Central Detention Facility/DC Jail, and other buildings and parking lots, none of which uses invited or made accessible the waterfront to the adjoining neighborhood. The District of Columbia plans to redevelop 50 acres of Hill East District into a vibrant, mixed-use urban waterfront community in accordance with the Hill East Master Plan approved by the DC Council in October 2002. Subsequently, in April 2009, the DC Zoning Commission approved the new-form based zoning codes specific to the future Hill East development. Once fully built, this new waterfront community will connect the surrounding Hill East neighborhood
to the Anacostia waterfront via treelined public streets, recreational trails, and accessible waterfront parklands.
Mashup: Seeking Grafitti Artists/ Muralists and Film/Video Artists
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) seeks proposals from street/ graffiti artists, muralists, and film/ video artists for a collaborative gallery experience that will result in an exhibition onsite at one or more of ADC’s projects. Selected artists will be put in pairs (one graffiti artist or muralist, and one film/video artist) to create an immersive exhibition that asks the viewer to consider graffiti/street art, which is typically consumed by a passive public audience, in the more focused/controlled environment of a gallery. This is an open call, but preference will be given to artists from Washington, DC and the greater Metropolitan area.
Selected artists will be awarded an honorarium; half at the outset of the project, and half once the project is completed. Applications are due Mar. 2, 2015. Find an application at honfleurgallery.com.
Black History Invitational Swim Meet Applications Due
The 29th Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet will be held Feb. 13-15 at the Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Completed entry packages must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 27. Corrections, changes and fees are due Friday, Feb. 6. For more information, or to request an entry package, contact Robert Green, BHISM coordinator, at Robert.Green@dc.gov.
Christmas Tree Collection Dates
Between Dec. 28-Jan. 10, DPW will collect Christmas trees and other
greenery from residents whose trash is collected by DPW. Trees and greenery should be placed where the resident’s trash is collected. Remove all ornaments and lights and do not put trees and greenery in a bag.
Plans for Ward 8 Busboys and Poets Restaurant Unveiled
The Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative (FSFSC) and Busboys and Poets have announced a partnership that will result in a restaurant and hospitality and culinary leadership training institute in Ward 8 on Martin Luther King Ave., SE. At the press conference, FSFSC announced that a full service Busboys and Poets restaurant will occupy approximately 7,000 square feet in the building owned and operated by the Ward 8 based nonprofit. It will also highlight its plans to operate a full-scale hospitality and culinary arts leadership training institute and new office space for FSFSC. For eighteen years, FSFSC has partnered with residents, agencies, and institutions in the Southeast community to ensure a healthy and positive environment for families. The Hospitality and Culinary Leadership Institute will be one more step in providing resources and tools for residents of Ward 8. fsfsc.org
Shepherd Parkway Community Clean-Ups
Clean-ups are on Jan. 10 and Feb. 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet at the picnic tables in the park near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Ave. SE. For more information, contact Nathan at nbharrington@ yahoo.com or 301-758-5892.
Anacostia Streetcar Extension Environmental Assessment
The District Department of Transportation has released the Finding of No Significant EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 25
BULLETIN BOARD 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Child Soldiers During the Civil War, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2-4 p.m. Although most Civil War soldiers were between 18 and 39 years old, many young children also served. It is estimated that at least 100,000 Union soldiers were boys under 15 years old and about 20% of all Civil War soldiers were under 18. Join author and historian Dr. Kathleen Gorman as she examines the military service of young boys during the Civil War and how it parallels contemporary issues of child soldiers. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Barry Farm Aquatic Center Opens
Barry Farm Aquatic Center, 1230 Sumner Rd. SE, has been converted from an outdoor facility, to a new 8,800 square foot indoor facility. The center has a 6-lane, 25 meter, fully ADA accessible lap pool; a leisure pool with beach entry; a water-slide and will be a LEED Silver certified aquatic center. Free for DC residents. Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Impact (FONSI) for the Anacostia Streetcar Extension Environmental Assessment (EA) and Section 106 Evaluation. The FONSI documents the selection of a Preferred Alternative from the analysis of three transportation alternatives for extending the streetcar’s initial Anacostia Line into historical Anacostia. The streetcar extension would run from the Anacostia Metro Station to the foot of the 11th Street Bridge at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, and Good Hope Rd. The notification of the FONSI marks the final stage of the planning process for the Anacostia Extension, which began in 2011. The FONSI, EA and Section 106 Evaluation are available online at dcstreetcar.com/ projects/future-lines/anacostiaextension and also at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE; DC Department of Housing and Community Development, 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE; Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW; and District Department of Transporta26 H eASTOFTHerIVerDcNeWS.cOm
tion, 55 M St. SE, 4th Floor.
Knitty by Nature: Deanwood Library’s Knitting and Craft Club
What do Ryan Gosling, Julia Roberts and Omarosa have in common? They all love to knit. Drop by the Deanwood Neighborhood Library every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to learn basic knitting techniques or bring your own project to work on. Deanwood Neighborhood Library, 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary.org/deanwood
Community History Series at the Anacostia Museum
Jewish Immigrants in Washington, DC During the Civil War, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2-4 p.m. Jewish immigrants were among the largest ethnic groups to immigrate into the capital city during the war. Join curator Dr. Zachary Paul Levine from the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington as he talks about the contributions and legacy left by
the Jewish community during that time period. The following related books will be available for purchase: Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of a Community; Jewish Life in Mr. Lincoln’s City; and Pocket Guide to Jewish Sites in Arlington National Cemetery. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Freedom on the Anacostia: The Act of Cession, Saturday, Jan. 10 2-4 p.m. Geographical historian Christian Allyn Carter Addison Sr. is a seventh-generation Washingtonian and direct descendant of Jacob Moore, slave abolitionist, real estate developer, civil war soldier, teamster, and cemetery owner. Carter is also a descendant of one of Washington’s oldest families, the Addison family. Carter talks about the genesis of his book “Freedom on the Anacostia” and why it speaks so powerfully to the notion of community and personal history. A book signing follows the talk with limited copies of the book available for purchase. Anacostia Community Museum,
DC Water Receives Newest Massive Tunnel Boring Machine
DC Water’s newest tunnel boring machine (TBM) has arrived off the boat from Germany and will soon begin mining a 26 ft. diameter tunnel. This tunnel, along and under the Anacostia River, will connect to the tunnel being mined by its sister TBM, “Lady Bird,” who began the process in July 2013. This newest TBM will mine approximately 12,500 linear feet (2.4 miles). All together, the Anacostia River Tunnel is the largest construction project in the District since the Metro system was built. This is part of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows in the District for improved water quality.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Event at Kenilworth Park
On Jan. 17, 9 a.m.-noon, join them as they celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr with a day of service on Saturday, Jan. 17 (rain or shine). This project will begin at 9 a.m. with on-site registration opening 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. Arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. All volunteers are encouraged to wear long-sleeve shirts and jackets, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Gloves and all equipment will be provided. Granola bars and light snacks provided. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, parent or guardian.
RSVP recommended to tina@ friendsofkenilworthgardens. org. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org
Cold Emergency Hotline
To request transportation to shelter for people who are homeless, contact the Shelter Hotline at uposh@upo.org. An e-mailed report should include the time when the person was seen, their specific location, and a description of the person’s appearance. Individuals who are homeless who don’t have a cell phone or change for a pay phone should call the Shelter Hotline toll-free at 1-800-535-7252.
New Regulations to Streamline Inclusionary Zoning Program Announced
Mayor Gray and DC Department of Housing and Community Development Director Kelly have announced new regulations for the District of Columbia’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program that will help strengthen the city’s efforts to provide quality affordable housing. The regulations streamline the regulatory process, address building permit issues, enhance the outreach to qualified residents, and make it easier for developers to build affordable housing units. The regulations cover various aspects of the IZ program, in particular, the process of occupying IZ units. The regulations are open for public comment until Dec. 17 before becoming final. To view the regulations and the full IZ report, visit dhcd.dc.gov.
DC Recycling Trucks To Be Wrapped with Original Art
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the DC Department of Public Works will collaborate to wrap 10 DPW recycling trucks with work created by local artists to increase awareness and educaEAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 27
tion about recycling in the District and enliven the streets of the District with mobile public art works. The trucks will be unveiled in April 2015 in celebration of Earth Day, which will be recognized on April 22.
New Traffic Ticket Adjudication Laws in Effect
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The DC Department of Motor Vehicles has implemented two changes to the ticket adjudication process: submitting requests for reconsideration and filing a motion to vacate. Customers who contest a parking, photo enforcement ticket, or a minor moving violation, and are held liable now have 30 days to submit a request for reconsideration and include new evidence\documentation to support their case. The hearing examiner will evaluate the new evidence and make a final decision. If the liable decision is upheld, then customers have the option to appeal the decision. A request for reconsideration is required before an appeal can be filed. If a ticket has not been answered within 60 days and a deemed admission has been entered, or the ticket was answered and the customer failed to appear at an in-person hearing and a default judgment was entered, the customer may file a Motion to Vacate. Customers have 60 days from when the deemed admission was entered to file a Motion to Vacate unless the violation falls under one of the three categories: i) distracted driving, ii) operating without insurance, and iii) defense to parking or photo enforcement ticket is that the vehicle is not theirs, or the tags were lost or stolen when the ticket was issued. Then, they will have 365 days to file a Motion to Vacate.
Leaf Collection Season Schedule
Leaf collection runs through Jan. 10. Residents should note
that the same crews that collect leaves also remove snow, so leaf collection may be interrupted for snow removal duties. Leaves will be removed from neighborhood treeboxes at least twice, following the schedule that can be found at Find the Leaf Collection Schedule for Your Neighborhood on the DPW Website, dpw.dc.gov. DPW asks residents to place their leaves in the treebox space the Sunday before each collection cycle. Loose leaves raked into the treeboxes will be composted. Bagged leaves placed in the treebox space or where trash and recycling are collected will not be composted.
Deer Reduction in Rock Creek Park
The National Park Service has announced a window of action for deer reduction in the park through Mar. 31, 2015. These efforts are part of the park’s continued implementation of the Rock Creek Park Whitetailed Deer Management Plan. Temporary evening road and trail closures will be in effect to provide for public safety during reduction activities. Commuters are encouraged to identify alternate routes to their destination and are reminded that closures apply to all vehicles including bikes. The following road closures may be in effect from 5 p.m.4 a.m., when reduction actions are underway: Ross Dr.; Ridge Rd. south of Grant Rd.; Glover Rd. south of the Rock Creek Park Horse Center; and Horse Stable Rd. NW. Road closures may also be in effect from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.: Beach Dr.; Wise Rd.; the entire length of Glover Rd.; the entire length of Ridge Rd.; Grant Rd.; Sherrill Dr.; Joyce Rd.; Morrow Dr.; W. Beach Dr. at Parkside Dr.; Stage Rd.; Piney Branch Pkwy.; and Bingham Dr. NW. For more information, visit nps.gov/rocr/ parkmgmt/white-tailed-deermanagement.htm. u
THE LOSS OF A FRIEND
S teve Cymr ot With Gratitude and Respect Your friend, Jean-Keith Fagon
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 29
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
What Will It Take for Busboys & Poets to Open in Anacostia?
Perry Moon, executive director of the Collaborative, says the community should prepare itself for a “long process.” What will that process entail? That process will include forming partnerships with a development team and culinary training team and securing financing, none of which appear to be in place.
The Welcome Announcement is Far from a Done Deal by John Muller Busboys & Poets plans to open an outlet in Anacostia in 2016 in the old furniture store, previously a bowling alley and Masonic lodge, on lower Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
Financing
In late December 2012 the Collaborative purchased the former bowling alley and furniture store for $2.195 million. According to tax records, as of May their outstanding mortgage stood at more than $1.7 million. With a reported revenue after expenses of $540,000, mostly in the form of city grants and case management
government transfer payments, the Collaborative faces significant capital shortfalls to finance the development. Since the purchase the property has remained vacant, generating no revenue. Nearly five years ago Unity Healthcare and the DC Primary Care Association identified the building for a new health facility. The neighborhood organized opposition and Unity eventually built a complex adjacent to the Frederick Douglass House. At the announcement of the plans to open the restaurant, Andy Shallal, founder of Busboys & Poets, indicated he would be signing a 20-year lease. Moon declined to name the conditions of the lease. “They didn’t announce the lease in clear terms,” says Rev.
A look at the interior of the future Busboys & Poets
N
ow that Busboys & Poets has revealed plans to open a restaurant in Anacostia in the spring of 2016, the hard work begins. At last month’s announcement few intimate details of the deal were shared, leaving many familiar with neighborhood development to question the project’s timeline. The Far SE Family Strengthening Collaborative, which has owned the vacant building at 2004-2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE since late 2012, is primarily a case management social
30 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
service provider without a record of development experience. The non-profit will most likely have to rely on a series of substantial city funds from the Department of Employment Services, Department of Housing and Community Development, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Main Street money from the Department of Small and Local Business Development and others to make the project possible, according to a developer who asked to remain anonymous.
According to a Historic Preservation Office staff report by Tim Dennee, the building “has hallmarks of the Art Moderne style: uniform light-colored brick, a curved northwest corner, and streamlining suggested by the contrasting, projecting brick flanking the windows and the simple continuous projections above the storefront and as a schematic cornice.” An addition brings the building’s total height to 45 feet, making it the tallest building within the Anacostia Historic District. Most of the building’s structure – column, beam and slab construction with brick-faced block exterior walls – would be retained and used. The roof and one-story rear wing will be lost with the proposed addition. A storefront in the first-floor facade will also be added.
Signature Project for Mayor Bowser? Perry Moon of the Collaborative addresses the crowd at last month’s announcement.
Oliver “OJ” Johnson, a former board member of multiple community development corporations in Anacostia, who began his activism during the administrations of Mayor Washington and President Nixon. “I haven’t seen a prospectus of an agreement detailing what Busboys will or will not contribute to the buildout. There’s no evidence there’s any money in this. In order for any bank to underwrite a loan they have to see funding feasibility, the sources of expected grants and other planned revenue streams. There’s nothing here.” Johnson also questioned the decision making process narrative advanced by the Collaborative. “There’s been no public hearing process or community meetings. There were one or two invite-only meetings. Not one 8A Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner spoke at the press conference. They haven’t been given notice of what their script is. Last [month’s] event was improvised to the fullest.” Asked if partnerships with area culinary schools, Marriott Hospitality High School and others are being pursued to open a culinary institute, Moon said, “We’re looking at all options.” “There are no current plans for funding for this redevelopment because none has been applied for,” wrote Marcus A. Williams, Community Outreach Director for DHCD. “However, DHCD has had ongoing conversations with both the Collaborative and Busboys to discuss what subsidies the Department might be able to offer through an open and transparent competitive process. The developer is welcome to submit a proposal to request support for this project next spring when the Department releases information about the 2015 funding competition.” Summing up sentiments of both the neighborhood and city officials, Williams said, “We are excited to see interest in development in Ward 8 and specifically in revitalizing Historic Anacostia.”
Build-Out
The two-story building was constructed in 1940 as a bowling alley and has most recently served as a Masonic lodge and furniture store. Its current space of 20,848 square feet is not large enough to house Busboys & Poets on the ground floor and the administrative offices of the Collaborative and a culinary training school on the second floor. Plans to add a third floor and build upon the rear one-story wing passed Historic Preservation Review Board earlier this year and are incorporated into design drawings. Construction would add 7,000-10,000 additional square feet. “The build out will start immediately to bring the building into code and then it will be turned over to Busboys and Poets for our fit out,” Shallal wrote in an email.
The lone city employee to speak at last month’s event was the late Councilmember Barry’s chief of staff. The absence of mayor-elect Bowser (who was announced to speak) was telling, according to a number of developers and neighborhood activists in attendance. “Most likely no current agency director will be around when this project gets started. Nobody can make a promise or a hold a commitment right now. This will have to be a signature project for Muriel’s administration. They’ll have to wait for her to settle in which will take time,” says Johnson. A developer who spoke on the condition of anonymity offered, “Did you hear Shallal with the one-off applause line, ‘I should have been Mayor!’? Muriel doesn’t want to share the stage with him.” With Moon giving duplicative answers to a series of questions, including, “How is this really going to happen?” he closed our phone interview by saying, “This will be a long process. We’ll work to see that the community remains excited and enthusiastic and stays with us.” u
The proposed build-out of 2004-2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 31
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
DDOT Projects Update in Ward 7 by Charnice A. Milton
O
n November 17, representatives from the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) met with the Ward 7 community to update them on upcoming projects. This is the third in a series of meetings in every Ward. “Public involvement is key to everything DDOT does,” said DDOT Information Specialist Brandon Cooper. “We wanted to make sure we come to the community regularly, update them on the projects and take any feedback questions or comments on what we’re doing and how we can work better towards our mutual goal improving transportation in the District.” With a crowd at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, which included students from the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy, many question whether DDOT could do more to improve communication with the community.
moveDC
moveDC is DDOT’s federally-mandated long-term strategic vision plan, its first since 1997. Through this plan, DDOT also completed a long-range study analysis to create a local transportation plan, similar to those in other major cities. Colleen Hawkinson, DDOT’s Strategic Planning Branch Manager, stated that DDOT stayed engaged with residents throughout the 18 month study, holding multiple workshops attended by over 1,000 people and communicating through social media and the moveDC website. “The goals of moveDC, as well as the vision, were developed with input from the community,” Hawkinson said. “So we started with that foundation of the needs and desires of what the public wanted to see.” The plan was released on October 21, while a two-year action plan, which outlines the next steps, is available online (wemovedc.org/resources/Final/ActionPlan.pdf ). 32 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Benning Road
Beginning earlier this spring, DDOT is reconstructing a two-mile corridor of Benning Road, which includes roadway, bridges, and two Metro stations (Benning Road and Minnesota Avenue). The project will not only improve roadway conditions, but also provide multi-modal safety and more transit options with the upcoming streetcars. After holding two public meetings in April and May, DDOT will schedule a public hearing soon.
DC PLUG
A partnership between DC Government and Pepco, the DC Power Line Undergrounding (DC PLUG) project aims to increase the reliability of the DC power system and underground 21 poorly performing primary electrical feeders. The project, which affects five Wards, was approved in November and is currently finalizing its design. Construction should begin in the spring.
11th Street Bridge
The 11th Street Bridge project, which began construction in 2009, is DDOT’s largest to date. According to Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) Project Manager Joseph Dorsey, the project is “approximately 94 percent complete,” with the goal of reopening Southeast Boulevard to Barney Circle by this month. “What that would do is alleviate a lot of traffic for, mainly, residents and constituents of Ward 7,” Dorsey explained. The project is scheduled to finish by September 2015.
Parkside Pedestrian Bridge
Spanning the width of DC 295, the Parkside Pedestrian Bridge hopes to bring provide better access to the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station and provide a safer alternative to the
A resident (foreground) talks to a DDOT representative before the November 17 Project Update meeting. Photo: Charnice A. Milton
current bridge by making it well-lit and accessible. DDOT plans to advertise for contractor bids this winter with the hope of issuing a notice to proceed in the spring.
South Capitol Street Corridor
While the South Capitol Street Corridor project is not located in Ward 7, its close proximity to the Ward would affect residents’ commutes. Another AWI project, it is separated into two phases. Currently, the project is in its first phase, which includes replacing the aging Fredrick Douglas Bridge and reconstructing the I-295 Suitland Parkway Interchange. The second phase includes building a new interchange between Suitland Parkway and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, transforming South Capitol Street into “a grand urban boulevard,” and improvements on New Jersey Avenue. Currently, DDOT is looking at a short list of potential developers; the project is scheduled to finish by 2019.
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment
Currently under construction, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail would bring a “missing link” between
Benning Road and Bladensburg Waterfront Park. The segment is scheduled to open in the spring of 2016.
Minnesota Avenue
Originally affecting a large portion of Minnesota Avenue (between A and 34th Streets), the long-awaited revitalization project was split into two phases to better prepare for the nearby streetcar line. The meeting focused on the first phase, which will affect the portion located between A Street and 300 feet south of Benning Road. DDOT is currently advertising the project for construction, focusing on benefits including traffic signal upgrades, new sidewalks and improved streetscapes.
Six Bridges Over Watts Branch
This series of construction projects focuses on bridges located at 48th Place, 55th Street, Gault Place, 58th Street, Division Avenue and 44th Street. While some require a full rehabilitation, others require minor repairs. For instance, both Gault and 58th are closed because both require total replacement. Construction began in May and should end by January 2015.
49th Street and Sheriff Road
Beginning in October, the 49th Street
Traffic Calming and Sheriff Road Safety Improvements Projects will implement “gentle speed bumps” and other low impact measures to help slow traffic along the two roads; the latter will focus on a portion of Sheriff Road located between 43rd Place and 52nd Street. Weather permitting, both projects are scheduled to end in February 2015.
Pennsylvania Avenue and 27th Street
“We end up getting many of the projects we completed, having to go back and look at them over and over again,” James Cheeks of DDOT’s Traffic Operation Administration explained; that was the case for the Pennsylvania Avenue and 27th Street redesign project. The redesign, which should be completed by the second quarter of 2015, aims to make the area more accessible for residents.
Traffic Light Synchronization
The Traffic Light Synchronization Initiative is a program that aims to sync the city’s four networks of traffic signals. In April, DDOT completed optimization work in Wards 6 (specifically around Nationals Stadium), 7, and 8, which affects 203 signals. The optimization process included identifying bottleneck areas, as well as developing and implementing new timing plans. As a result, DDOT claims that the project saved 30 percent of overall travel time, reduced delays by 34 percent and reduced the percentage of late buses from 17 to 10 percent. The project also updated the pedestrian clearance interface for all signals to comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; this ensures that improved signal timing helps pedestrians safely cross the street.
Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development
Many of DDOT’s major projects, including the 11th Street Bridge and Minnesota Avenue, are utilizing green infrastructure (GI) and low impact development (LID) to reduce stormwater runoff. Some examples of GI practices include using permeable pavement, biorentention (rain gardens), improving tree space design and reducing paving. Also, DDOT is completing retrofit projects, including green alleys, with the goal of reducing stormwater and released its Green Infrastructure Standards.
DDOT has three Ward 7-specific projects focused on stormwater management. The first, a bioretention project located on Fitch Place, finished its design phase and is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2015. DDOT is also planning to narrow the intersection of Fort Dupont and Q Streets as a traffic-calming and stormwater capturing measure; it is currently under the design phase and construction is scheduled to start in the summer. Finally, DDOT will partner with the DC Department of the Environment (DDOE) on the Alger Park LID; this project will help control stormwater and improve the stream there.
Streetlight Upgrades
In July, DDOT completed upgrading the streetlight system on Branch Avenue, specifically between Randle Circle and Pennsylvania Avenue. By replacing HPS fixtures with LED lights, the streetlights now provide better lighting while lowering energy costs. DDOT also upgraded streetlights on Clay Street, 49th Place, Croffut Place, and Carpenter Street after receiving calls through 311 and patrolling the streets. Finally, DDOT announced a new design project for upgrading streetlights located on East Capitol Street (between 40th and 53rd Streets).
Community Concerns
While many residents participated in the Q&A session after the meeting, not everyone felt that their questions were answered. “I expected to get more answers,” said Deborah Jones, Executive Director of the Ward 7 Business Partnership. “I think a lot of the answers were more generic.” Others, like ANC Commissioner Antawan Holmes (7C07), thought the meeting could be better organized. “I expected a concise presentation about all of the projects in Ward 7; although, the reality is that a lot of other different topics let it get out of scope,” he said. “Hopefully, they will have another one that’s a little more defined and definite...You can tell that the people in the room were very concerned about Ward 7-specific issues...not the 11th Street Bridge, things that were more local, not large projects.” For more information on current and upcoming DDOT projects, visit ddot.dc.gov or call 202-671-2800. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 33
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Developing Spaces for Artists in Ward 7 Artists Look to Create Hubs for Art and Cultural Preservation by Christina Sturdivant
Black and white art photos by Raegan Mathis
W
hen residents who live near the Benning Road and Minnesota Ave. corridor shop for sneakers, groceries and necessities at the East River Shopping Center, they are greeted by faces of iconic black figures from various walks of life. Sammy Davis, Jr., Billie Holiday, Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois and Mary McLeod Bethune are included among profiles in a 130’ x 56’ mural painted by Alex Mattison in 1990. “It’s really great. They use art to depict famous black figures in our culture,” says Irwin Royster, who often challenges individuals to name all 12 of the iconic figures in the mural. Although he isn’t an artist himself, Royster recognizes the importance of utilizing art as a gateway to educating youth. When he worked at the Ophelia Egypt Program Center on Minnesota Ave. NE as Director of Outreach Services at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, he learned that conversations around public health weren’t necessarily ap34 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
pealing for neighborhood young people. However, through a partnership with the Ward 7 Arts Collective, he was able to infuse information with opportunities to create, and the story changed. “We can have a room of noisy kids and give them an [art] assignment and you’ll be surprised how it will quiet down,” he says. “Kids can really relate to art and I’m learning that art should be in everything that we do.” Offering outlets for art and creativity to youth can be relatively simple, as students often congregate in recreation centers, schools and afterschool programs. However, it is a challenge to continuously feed art into the lives of adults in Ward 7. Photographer Raegan Mathis moved to Ward 7 from Petworth over three years ago. She found an apartment with ample square footage, a galley kitchen, washer and dryer--all at an affordable price. Her neighbors include elderly residents and families with children
who have lived in their homes for decades. Everyone travels the main corridor, which sits conveniently between two metro stations-Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road. “I didn’t know what I was missing; I think the neighborhood is amazing,” says Mathis, who plans to purchase a home nearby in the future. While she enjoys the community, Mathis is among a group of artists who have to go elsewhere for their art fix. She loves cultural centers like the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum and she recently gained exposure as a selected artist for the August 2014 Cheap Thrills exhibit at the Anacostia Arts Center. She frequents THEARC on Mississippi Ave., SE to attend plays, performances, galas and workshops. But while these spaces lie east of the Anacostia River--certainly not far from home-they’re not close enough for Ward 7 artists who wish to congregate, create and be show-
cased in spaces that don’t require traveling in a car. “There are phenomenal artists in our community, however, we don’t have spaces like those in northwest and at this point even in southeast,” says Kimberly Gaines, founder of Sondai Expressions Creative. “It’s not like we’re not producing art or programming, but we want to do it closer to our home, for our neighbors.” Through her company, which focuses on
man and Dennis Mahan, it featured a variety of shows highlighting local artists. The physical center closed in May 2014, but “the mission does not need a brick and mortar foundation,” according to the center’s Facebook page. Gaines has also participated in arts events at The Riverside Center on Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. Owned by Washington Parks and People, the space is “active sometimes and inactive at other times,” says Gaines. Using spaces like the Marvin Gaye Park, she’s hosted events to generate the creative economy in the ward, if only temporarily. “I live in this community and I want to see the things that are going on across the city happen on this side of town,” says Gaines. “So wherever I can help to facilitate that happening, I kind of go for it.” The Senator Theater opened at 3946-3956 Minnesota Avenue NE in 1942. Today, the building is leased by a Subway eatery and beauty supply store. Gaines hopes that entertainment spaces like this will emerge once again. While it is but a dream at this point, Mathis believes the resources for artists in Ward 7 may not
be too far off. “It has to start somewhere,” she says. For now, that “somewhere” for east of the river is Ward 8. But decades ago, Dupont Circle was the primary destination for art galleries. Now, galleries, cultural centers and theaters can be found along the U St. corridor, in Mt. Vernon, Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, Georgetown and even into northeast. “It’s coming [and] this is a good time to jump on it and be able to say, ‘Hey, there are artists who live there—they’re not just in Ward 8.’ I’m one and I’m sure there are others.” Access to art is an important aspect throughout one’s life. “From social justice to the sidewalk on the street,” says Gaines, “artists make things beautiful. You want things that inspire you to create, inspire you to live your best life—having those spaces increases the quality of life and we definitely need that within Ward 7.” See more photos from Raegan Mathis at www.untitled1975.com. Learn more about Kimberly Gaines and Sondai Expressions Creative at www.sondaiexpressions.com. u
The murals of Eastside Shopping center. Photo: Christina Sturdivant
photography, graphic design and arts consulting, Gaines hopes to bring more programming to underserved communities. “I think my goal developed out of living in a community that is disjointed when it comes to the arts,” says Gaines, a New Jersey native who came to the District to attend Howard University. In 2003, she purchased a home in Ward 7. While arts spaces and events for artists have existed throughout the ward, says Gaines, the efforts are sporadic and thus it is difficult to build artistic momentum in the ward. Both Gaines and Mathis recall the TubmanMahan Gallery at the Center for Green Urbanism on Benning Road NE. Named after Harriet Tub-
“Unlearning While We Wait,” black and white photograph by Ward 7 photographer Raegan Mathis.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 35
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Getting to an AIDS Free DC
T
he latest epidemiology report from the DC Department of Health shows that things are looking up in the battle against the spread of HIV. So what will it take to have an AIDS free generation in the District? There was a time when the District’s HIV infection rates were comparable to those of Western African countries. Hundreds of people were being diagnosed annually, turmoil in the HIV administration presented mixed messages and efforts to combat these rates seemed to be relatively ineffective. Over the past six years, however, a positive trend has been setting in and the city is seeing a strong, consistent decline in HIV infection rates. Are we closer to being AIDS free in DC?
Lower Infection Rates
According to the 2013 Annual Epidemiology and Surveillance Report published in November, newly diagnosed HIV cases have 36 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
by Candace Y.A. Montague
been reduced from 1,180 in 2008 to 680 in 2012. The primary mode of transmission for new infections is men who have sex with men (MSM) among black males (25%) followed by heterosexual sex among black females (18%). But the number of cases of MSM transmission overall has dropped by 29% over the past four years. The virus still disproportionately affects African-Americans and the highest levels of diagnosed HIV cases are in Wards 5,6,7, and 8. Sadly, that statistic has remained consistent over many years. Although technically the District is still classified as having an HIV epidemic, the good news is that residents continue to live longer with the virus and avoid progressing to AIDS. Living HIV cases in DC has risen from 13,862 in 2008 to 16,072 in 2012. The number of newly diagnosed AIDS cases has fallen from 564 in 2008 to 370 in 2012. The leading modes of transmission among new
AIDS cases are heterosexual sex followed by MSM. These numbers are promising in a city where HIV is one of the top five public health concerns. Why are things improving? Better treatments such as Truvada (aka PrEP), expansion of Medicaid, rapid diagnosis and treatment, and more access to health care in general can be attributed to the decline in infection rates and AIDS diagnoses.
What’s Working?
Take a look around the city. Safe sex messages are everywhere. There are ads on buses and Metro cars. Many hospitals and clinics offer free condoms at practically every desk. Female condoms are more available at local pharmacies too. In 2008, the Department of Health’s Office of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Administration (HAHSTA) partnered with Octane Public Relations and Advertising to launch a social marketing campaign aimed
at raising public awareness about HIV in the city. The District took a bold step towards promoting protection, safe sex practices and the importance of getting tested. Social marketing campaigns are now reaching more residents. How well are they working? A recent report entitled DC Takes On HIV: Public Awareness, Resident Engagement and a Call to Action highlighted how many residents recall seeing campaigns around the city and remember what the campaigns were about. Among the residents that were surveyed, 44% recalled the DC Takes On HIV campaign and 39% recalled the Ask for the Test campaign. In addition, 54% of DC residents said that the message of getting tested was clearly received while 44% said that protect yourself was a message they inferred.
Hepatitis C - the New HIV
Another virus has been concerning health officials, health educators and physicians for some time now. Hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver, has been dubbed the new HIV because it is widespread. It is also similar to HIV in that it can be transmitted through intravenous drug injection, through sex with an infected person, and needle sticks, although the latter two circumstances are rare. Many people who are infected are unaware of their infection because typically the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents no symptoms. However, if left untreated, HCV can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Nearly 16,000 residents tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus between 2008 and 2012. Black males ages 50-59 comprise the majority of the newly diagnosed cases within that time frame. Ward 7 has the highest concentration of HCV cases followed closely by Wards 8 and Ward 5. The upside is that more people
are getting tested for the virus and that can help health officials identify patterns. But since this is a virus can be present in a person’s system for many years, there is more work to be done to get people tested. People with a history of intravenous drug use and baby boomers (people born between 1945 and 1965) are highly encouraged to get tested.
Next Steps
Lower infection rates are encouraging but the District is far from being out of the woods when it comes to HIV. In her World AIDS Day statement, Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser stressed the importance of increasing access to care for lowincome and underserved residents, preventative education, and providing quality treatment. Harm reduction programs that include needle exchange and education have been proven to lower the rates of new HIV infection. Restrictive federal bans have made things much more difficult to keep such programs going. George Kerr, Executive Director of START at Westminster, says needle exchange cannot be discounted. “As activists and community leaders, we need to work harder to increase harm reduction programs. This included needle exchange program, condom distribution and PrEP education. It is time to lift the federal ban on needle exchange.” The District has taken many important steps to decreasing HIV infection rates. But there is still more scientific research to be performed, and more creative solutions yet to be unveiled that will improve the quality of life for residents. If the upward current trends continue, an AIDS free DC can be a truth instead of just an idea.
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Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 37
East of the River Artist Spotlight
Sheila Crider by Phil Hutinet
W
ith a solo exhibition currently on view at Honfleur Gallery and the dedication of a major public art installation at Saint Elizabeth’s East Campus, the fall of 2014 marks a major milestone for artist Sheila Crider’s career. As an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, Crider completed a Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, concentrating on Government Philosophy and Afro-American studies. This interdisciplinary focus laid
Sheila Crider’s at the public dedication of Here to Here at Saint Elizabeth’s East. Photo courtesy the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
38 H eASTOFTHerIVerDcNeWS.cOm
the groundwork for her career as a writer, poet and eventually as an artist as Crider moves fluidly between different forms of creative expression. The wellspring for her artistic expression comes from her fascination and deep connection with language. Crider began her creative journey as a poet, belonging to Free DC, a writers’ workshop and collaborative. In 1979, the collaborative published an anthology of the work of ten DC-based poets including Crider, Jonetta Barras, Gladys Lee, Samuel
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Sheila Crider’s Here to Here at Saint Elizabeth’s East. Photo by Gregory Staley.
Johnson (Kwame) and Greg Tate. A student exhibition at the Corcoran titled Literary Art led Crider to publish The Use of Language as Art in 1980 and inspired her to begin using abstract art to “write.” From 1985 to 1991, she lived in Bordeaux, France. During this time, while able to speak French, Crider struggled to surmount the challenges of writing in a foreign tongue. This led her to a more visual means of selfexpression. In France, she mounted several interdisciplinary projects and exhibited a burgeoning body of work. Upon returning to DC in the early 1990s, Crider began expressing herself exclusively through fine art. She focused her attention on “abstract expressionism and minimalism, studying the presentation of artists like Sam Gilliam […] along with the functionality of art objects and natural forms in eastern aesthetics. “ While mostly self-taught, in 1999, Crider spent three months studying Sumi-e painting with Japanese painter Kohi Takagaki in central Honshu. Drawn to Japanese form, this period of study would bring a new perspective to her aesthetic. In particular, Japanese art places great emphasis on the line. This artistic concept would later resurface in
Crider’s latest public art project, Here to Here. By 2000, Crider began to understand her work within the framework of a greater narrative of expression in which she seeks to synthesize her connection to African, American and Asian art. When asked to describe her work, Crider refers to it as Blackstraction. Used as a noun, it signifies “the objectification of painting; an emotive non-representational work of art stressing formal internal relationships using African/American/Asian art practices at times employing craft techniques and three dimensional presentation.” As a transitive verb it signifies “to make markings with color on diverse surfaces that relate to each other and their environment in two and three dimensions.” Currently on view at Honfleur gallery through December 19, Crider’s solo exhibition Volume introduces
audiences to a series of sculptural paintings and monotypes. She believes that for painting to remain relevant in the 21st century, it must entertain the viewer by mentally stimulating how the viewer sees the work. Crider’s work in Volume hangs on two-sided bands of paper, engaging the viewer via its physicality and the ever changing perspective which is dependent on from which angle one sees the painting. In contrast to the two-dimensionality of her work in Volume, Crider created a series of large threedimensional sculptures for Here to Here, a public art piece selected by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities as a “way finder” at Saint Elizabeth’s East Campus. From a “way finding” perspective, the angles in Here to Here guide visitors from the campus’ entrance to the newly constructed Gateway Pavilion. Here to Here, Crider’s first public art piece, draws inspiration from the power of the line and from a year-long artist residency at the Saint Elizabeth’s Campus. Consisting of 24 angles, in eight different colors applied with
automotive paint on aluminum and spread over 1,000 feet, the angles tilt at three different degrees—at 65, 80 and 90. During her residency, Crider took a series of pictures of the campus buildings, traced the roof lines with a marker, ultimately finding three different shapes from which to design her angled sculptures in Here to Here. Often, during course of erecting public art installations, unforeseen elements come up that can change the scope of a project. Crider had envisioned the angles rising directly out of the ground. However, the aesthetic of the piece had to be altered slightly, placing each angle on 30 inch concrete plinths, to protect the sculptures’ paint from weed-whackers and lawn mowers! Sheila Crider currently lives in Congress Heights where she practices her oeuvre. Honfleur Gallery is located at Good Hope Road SE. Check with the gallery for winter hours online at www.honfleurgallery.com or call the gallery at 202.365.8392 Saint Elizabeth’s East Campus is located at 1100 Alabama Avenue SE. Visit their website at www.stelizabethseast.com u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 39
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
jazzAvenues by Steve Monroe
Smithsonian jazz, Linde, Baker among December highlights
Helping to kick off a December full of jazz treats, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra performs “Suite Ellington” Dec. 6 at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. The next night at the Caverns big-toned tenor saxophonist Tedd Baker has a run of Tuesdays including Dec. 16, 23 and 30 as the artist in residence. Baker, with his rough and ready riffs, has worked with a wide variety of great artists including Barry Harris, George Duke, Warren Wolf, Butch Warren, the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note Band and his recordings include his own “Mugshots,” and The Young Lions “Live At Bohemian Caverns” with Kris Funn, Allyn Johnson, and Quincy Phillips. See www.teddbaker.com for more information. Other December highlights: Trumpet maestro Thad Wilson leads a special tribute to Clifford Brown Dec. 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with Thinking About Jazz the next day, Dec. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., presenting “Clifford Brown: I Remember Clifford,” a free program with Nick Catalano, author of “Clifford Brown: The Life & Art of the Legendary Jazz Trumpeter,” and Harmon Carey, president of the AfroAmerican Historical Society of Delaware. Call 202-484-7700 for more information on Westminster events. “A Jazz Piano Christmas” with Harold Mabern, Cyrus Chestnut and others is at the Kennedy Center Dec. 12, with the next night at KenCen featuring Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, winner of the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.
InPerson... HU Jazz Ensemble
Trumpet master Tom Williams was honored with the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award and showed he richly deserves the honors when he blew some trademark graceful, soaring lines, Kenny Nunn blew his own trademark golden tones on tenor saxophone, Afro-Blue filled the air with their pitch-perfect melodies and the Howard Univer40 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Big-toned saxophonist Tedd Baker performs on Tuesdays in December at Bohemian Caverns.
sity Jazz Ensemble’s fall showcase event provided jamming early afternoon entertainment Nov. 20 at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel on the Howard campus in D.C. Fred Irby III, professor of music at HU and director of the internationally famous jazz ensemble, led his charges through “Blues For AL,” before Nunn showed of his maturing, bigger, fuller sound on tenor sax on Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge,” powered by Savannah Grace Harris, herself a growing force as a drummer. Pianist Joseph Wilson showed fine touch on “Orange Is The Color Of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk,” and Nunn and trombonist Jarvis Hooper romped along on “Theme for Malcolm.”
InPerson... Mario Pavone’s Pulse Quintet
D.C.’s own eclectic saxophonist Brian Settles helped the Mario Pavone Pulse Quintet entertain good crowds at Bohemian Caverns last month for a Transparent Productions show that also featured Baltimore trumpeter Dave Ballou, Mike Kuhl on drums and Mike Pavone on guitar. The group featured Mario Pavone deeply grooving on bass while the other players crafted flourishes in many directions on their instruments, with Pavone’s son Mike on guitar a highlight with his flying high riffs. Settles providing honking, squealing riffs on sax, as the group played “Suitcase in Savannah,” “Refractions,” and other tunes. December Highlights: Tedd Baker, Dec. 9, 16, 23, 30, Bohemian Caverns … Marty Nau, Dec. 9, 16, 23, 30, Twins Jazz … Allison Crockett, Dec. 12, Twins Jazz … Warren Wolf, Dec. 12-13, Bohemian Caverns … Melissa Aldana/Crash Trio, Dec. 13, Kennedy Center … Shirleta Settles Quartet, Dec. 15, Vicino’s/Silver Spring … “A Redd Christmas” with Chuck & Robert Redd, Dec. 15, Blues Alley ... Warren Wolf, Dec. 20, Caton’s
Castle/Baltimore … Transparent Productions/ Jeff Cosgrove, Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Dec. 21, Bohemian Caverns … Warren Wolf New Years Jazz, Dec. 26, Westminster … Ben Williams & Sound Effect, Dec. 26-27, Bohemian Caverns … Monty Alexander, Dec. 26-31, Blues Alley … BeMo Jazz Holiday Jam/Warren Wolf, Craig Alston, Dec. 27, Caton’s Castle/Baltimore … A Jazz New Year’s Eve: Branford Marsalis, Dec. 31, Kennedy Center … December Birthdays: Wynton Kelly, 2; Jim Hall 4; Dave Brubeck, Frankie Dunlop 5; Jimmy Smith 8; Donald Byrd 9; Ray Nance 10; McCoy Tyner 11; Tony Williams 12; Clark Terry, Cecil Payne 14; Sy Oliver 17; Fletcher Henderson18; Chet Baker 23; Baby Dodds 24; Cab Calloway, Don Pullen 25; Earl Hines 28. Steve Monroe is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at steve@jazzavenues. com or @jazzavenues. u
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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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FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA
1708 R ST SE 1347 MAPLE VIEW PL SE 1416 RIDGE PL SE 1618 GOOD HOPE RD SE 1438 W ST SE 2243 PROUT ST SE BARRY FARMS 1327 TALBERT TER SE
CHILLUM
25 KENNEDY ST NE 5609 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NE
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1207 CONGRESS ST SE 447 ORANGE ST SE #1-4 452 NEWCOMB ST SE 1118 BARNABY TER SE 626 ALABAMA AVE SE 606 ELMIRA ST SE
DEANWOOD
5582 JAY ST NE 4909 MEADE ST NE 1021 51ST ST NE 3977 BLAINE ST NE 4207 CLAY ST NE 114 49TH ST NE 4243 CLAY ST NE 5441 BASS PL SE 221 44TH ST NE 836 52ND ST NE 50335039 SHERIFF RD NE 810 46TH ST NE 3972 BLAINE ST NE 316 DIVISION AVE NE 4614 CLAY ST NE 4417 JAY ST NE 321 56TH ST NE
FORT DUPONT PARK 1131 CHAPLIN ST SE 4436 ALABAMA AVE SE
1520 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4025 D ST SE 3811 BAY LN SE 1614 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4230 H ST SE 4230 SOUTHERN AVE SE 4254 SOUTHERN AVE SE
$420,000 $390,000 $320,000 $292,000 $242,000 $159,000
8 3 3 3 2 3
$222,500
2
2804 33RD ST SE 1208 34TH PL SE 2842 FORT BAKER DR SE 2946 M ST SE
$575,000 $470,000
5 4
MARSHALL HEIGHTS
$280,000 $257,000 $254,900 $201,500 $190,000 $120,000
3 4 3 3 2 3
RANDLE HEIGHTS
$325,000 $320,000 $315,000 $300,000 $280,000 $275,000 $238,500 $229,000 $227,000 $222,000 $203,500 $186,000 $185,000 $173,000 $158,000 $145,000 $73,000
4 5 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 6 3 3 3 2 3
$399,800 $394,000
4 4
HILL CREST
5035 B ST SE 5133 D ST SE 5539 CENTRAL AVE SE 207 53RD ST SE
2205 RETTA GILLIAM CT SE 2710 KNOX TRL SE 1912 VALLEY TER SE 2228 R ST SE 1922 TRENTON PL SE 1438 CONGRESS PL SE 3205 BUENA VISTA SE
$307,000 $299,000 $290,000 $213,610 $183,000 $170,865 $74,900
4 3 3 3 2 3 3
$430,000 $377,400 $376,000 $149,000
3 3 4 2
$320,000 $305,000 $239,900 $165,000
4 4 2 2
$435,000 $274,900 $261,000 $225,000 $215,000 $207,000 $160,000
3 3 4 3 3 3 8
$181,000
3
$125,000 $51,000
2 2
$210,000 $98,500
3 1
$83,500
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | NOVember December 2014 H 41
KIDS & FAMILY
Kids & Family Notebook
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. Photo: Jati Lindsay
by Kathleen Donner
Free Ice Hockey Clinic at Fort Dupont Ice Arena
In keeping with Gonzaga College High School’s 21st Purple Puck Tournament theme of “Hockey for Others,” the Washington Pride U19 College Prep Team is holding a free ice hockey skating clinic on Dec. 31, 2-3:30 p.m. at FDIA. Skaters ages 18 and younger of all experience levels are welcome. Skating or hockey experience is not necessary to be part of the fun. Free Purple Puck T-Shirt to first 30 skaters who register. Email pridepurplepuckclinic@gmail.com by Dec. 28 or call 202-215-9136 to register. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Place, SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org
Winter Wonderland Fun at Deanwood Library
On Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m., experience wintertime merriment through seasonal stories, movies, festive things to make and crafts good enough to eat. For ages 4-12. Deanwood Neighborhood Library, 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary.org/deanwood
Let’s Make Holiday Arts & Crafts at the Anacostia Community Museum
On Saturday, Dec. 20, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., artists Camilla Younger, Rain Young, and Alma Robinson lead families in a holiday arts-and crafts making extravaganza. Make tree ornaments and other holiday-inspired 42 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
objects to give as personal gifts. All art materials will be provided. Vintage Social Dancers and Dance Historians, Briant and Karin Bohleke will perform a Civil War dance performance and engage the audience in a participatory demonstration as part of the program. Register early for this fun family event at 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Arts on the Horizon: Snow Day at the Atlas
Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Family Fun Pack
Step Afrika! is back through Dec 22 to delight audiences young and old with their magical musical holiday step show. Audiences are invited to make music with DC’s internationally-known stepping company and their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom in this annual holiday tradition. Come ready to bring in the festive season with a bang featuring the electrifying artists from Step Afrika! and special guest DJ Frosty the Snowman. Tickets are $25-$38. The Family Fun Pack is $88 and includes 4 tickets, 1 snack and 1 drink each; 2 patrons must be between ages 2-16. The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org
One cold December morning, a young boy named Skip wakes up to find his entire neighborhood covered in a thick, dazzling blanket of white snow. A playful (if not a little mischievous) winter elf shows him all of the fun one can have on a snow day. This nonverbal world premiere production features live music and lots of wintertime fun, just in time for the holiday season. Best for ages 2-6. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org
Community Leaders are Readers
This popular ongoing program, a joint Anacostia Community Museum and
DC Public Library collaboration, is open to parents and their children up to 7 years to enjoy books and reading with local leaders. Children participate in a hands-on activity led by a professional artist and create an art take-away. Community Leaders are Readers is on Jan. 3, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. dclibrary.org/anacostia
Kids On Ice Holiday Show at Fort Dupont Ice Arena
The Kids On Ice Holiday Show on
Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m., is sure to please both young and old alike. Featuring music from the smash hit Disney movie, Frozen, Fort Dupont Ice Arena instructors and skaters have put together a program that highlights the skills their kids have been working to master. There will also be performances by Fort Dupont Freedom, the FDIA synchronized skating team, as well as their advanced figure skaters and special guests. Free admission with a $10 suggested donation. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Place, SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org
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Looking for more information? Check out dashboard.dcpcsb.org or data.dcpcsb.org
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 43
KIDS & FAMILY Year’s Day Hockey and Entertainment Festival at Nat’s Park
As part of the NHL Winter Classic at Nat’s Park (Blackhawks vs. Capitals), the NHL is hosting Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages located just outside the left field entrance to the ballpark. The event runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (the game begins at 1 p.m.) and will feature live musical performances; interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways; food and beverages; and an extensive selection of officially-licensed collectibles. capitals.nhl.com
Become a Reading Partner
Can you share one hour each week with a student who is struggling to read? By becoming a reading partner and volunteering as little as one hour a week, you can help a child learn to read. Reading Partners DC provides an easy to use curriculum and on-site staff support to enable volunteers to be effective tutors. Eighty-seven percent of fourth graders from low-income families do not read proficiently. Last Year Reading Partners’ DC students improved their rate of learning in reading and narrowed their achievement gap. This year, Reading Partners DC is partnering with
15 schools and is opening opportunities for 725 students. To sign up to be a reading partner, fill out the form found at info. readingpartners.org/volunteer-inwashington-dc. If you have any questions, call 202-701-9110 or email volunteerDC@readingpartners.org.
New Requirement for DC Kids Ride Free Program
In early January, District students participating in the “DC Kids Ride Free on Bus” program must “tap” their registered DC One Card on the farebox card reader each time to board the bus for free, during the
Join in the three days of Kwanzaa with performances and art activities held at the museum and the nearby Fort Stanton Recreational Center. Photo: Steven Cummings
designated program hours. The DC Kids Ride Free on Bus program allows students to ride Metrobus and the DC Circulator without charge, Mondays to Fridays, from 5:30-9 a.m. and 2-8 p.m., during the regular school year. Students may also ride free when school dismisses them early for a half day during the weekday. After 8 p.m. on weekdays, and on weekends, students may ride at a reduced fare by purchasing a monthly rail/bus pass or a 10-trip bus pass. DC students can now prepare by registering their DC One Card and confirming their eligibility in the Transit Subsidy Program on dconecard.dc.gov. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will download the electronic DC Kids Ride Free on Bus pass onto the students’ DC One Card. Students are strongly encouraged to complete this process by Friday, Dec. 19, to avoid delay in obtaining their electronic bus passes by the first day of school in January 2015. Students should continue to flash their DC One Card until the last day of school in December 2014. For more information, visit ddot. dc.gov/page/school-transit-subsidy-program.
Making Their Mark Family Day at the National Archives
Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! at the Anacostia Community Museum
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 27, 10:30 a.m.-noon and Monday, Dec. 29. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., celebrate Kwanzaa with arts, crafts, and music in the museum’s popular three-day event honoring this traditional African American holiday. On Friday, entertainment will be provided by Nabeeh Bilal and “Winston”, his Caribbean puppet character from the children’s book “Callaloo, a Jazz Folktale.” Winston will teach visitors the seven guiding principles of the holiday. On Saturday, enjoy a special performance by the KanKouran West African Dance Company on day two of the museum Kwanzaa celebration. This second day of the program takes place at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE (located one block from the museum next to the recreation center pool). On Monday, families can spend the entire morning participating in three different Kwaanza-themed arts and crafts workshops. All materials and supplies provided. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
44 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Come make your mark during the National Archives Making Their Mark Family Day on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the new Making Their Mark exhibit then try your hand at makeand-take projects, hands-on activities, games, and more all related to the exhibit. All of these exciting family day activities take place in the Boeing Learning Center. National Archives, 700 Constitution Ave. NW. archives.gov
National Children’s Museum To Return to DC in 2015
The National Children’s Museum has announced that it will relocate to Washington, D.C. from its location at National Harbor in 2015. The new location is not yet determined. ncm.museum
“Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden
Despite the cold winter outside, the US Botanic Garden Conservatory boasts a tropical paradise, one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, DC, a poinsettia showcase and a grove of conifer trees. It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without the fantasy train display in the East Gallery, which chugs along a track through imaginative structures created with plant materials. Many of DC’s landmark buildings, all made from natural materials, will be on display in the Garden Court. Open daily, through Jan. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended hours and live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov
Critical Healthy Start Funds Restored
Mayor Gray and officials from the D.C. Department of Health have announced that the District has received a Healthy Start grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds have been restored after news in September that federal budget cuts would negatively affect the District’s grant. The DC Healthy Start program is free and provides vital perinatal services and resources that help mothers, infants and families thrive. The program is intended for pregnant and parenting mothers and fathers in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8. HHS has awarded up to $7.95 million to the District for the program over the next fourand-a-half years, with $1.8 million in each of the first four years.
Annapolis New Year’s Eve Celebration 2014
On Dec. 31, family activities fill the day and dancing fills the night. Traditionally, a first round of fireworks begins at 7:30 p.m. and the evening concludes with midnight fireworks. Free. Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org
The Joy of Christmas Family Matinee at the National Cathedral
A perennial holiday favorite from the opening procession accompanied by the great organ to the Cathedral carillon and the beloved carols old and new, this festive concert has long been a Washington family tradition and is often sold out. The Joy of Christmas Family Matinee is on Saturday, Dec. 13, noon. $15-$25. Washington National Cathedral, 101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. nationalcathedral.org
Air and Space Museum Launches “Eye in the Sky” Game
The mission: locate a missing US military aircraft and recover the top-secret technology that disappeared along with it. It is vital that this important technology stay out of enemy hands. The situation is critical and the Smithsonian TechQuest team is monitoring the operation closely. Smithsonian TechQuest’s “Eye in the Sky,” a new educational program at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, is an alternate-reality game that tests the observation powers, problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities of players ages 10 and above as they take on the role of intelligence analysts during the Cold War. TechQuest is a free program that will run the second Friday of every month, as well as most Saturdays, from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with the last briefing beginning at 2:30 p.m. More information and dates of upcoming games can be found at airandspace.si.edu/techquest. The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is in Chantilly, Va., near Dulles. It is open daily from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 parking fee. u
Accepting Applications for the 2015-2016 School Year Grades PS/PK-5th Apply for admissions after Dec. 15 at: www.myschooldc.org Application deadline March 2, 2015
With a French and Spanish immersion program and a dual focus on academic excellence and community service, Stokes School prepares culturally diverse elementary school students to be leaders, scholars, and responsible citizens who are committed to social justice.
2015 Open Houses: 9:30 am – 11:00 am January 29th • February 26th RSVP to Ms. Jo-Anne Hurlston, Parent Coordinator, jo-anneh@ewstokes.org School tours every other on Wednesday from 9:00 am -10:00 am. Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 3700 Oakview Terrace, NE | Washington, DC 20017 | 202.265.7237 www.ewstokes.org
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Pre-K to 3rd grade
Building on our strong foundation as an early childhood program
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www.bridgespcs.org 1250 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 p: 202.726.1843 e: info@bridgespcs.org
www.bridgespcs.org EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 45
KIDS & FAMILY
Somerset PCS Seeks to Stay in Ward 8
L
by Charnice A. Milton
ocated on Wheeler Road, Somerset Preparatory Academy Public Charter School opened during the fall of 2013. Boasting a school model that utilizes a “21st-century classroom,” the school scored a “rising school” rating from the DC CAS. However, when the school’s one-year lease ended in September, the DC Government released the building, making it available for other organizations to obtain the lease. After teaming with two other Ward 8 public charter schools, Somerset Prep and its staff are asking parents and area residents to support them as they apply for a new lease.
47.04, which classifies the school as “rising.” “We’re proud of our kids,” said Somerset’s Principal Jim Griffin. “Now, we’ve still got to work hard. We had great growth, but we got to work on proficiency.” He explained that at the beginning of the 20122013 school year, many students came to Somerset with “almost zero levels in reading and math;” by the end of that year, students’ scores were above the public school average.
The Incubator Initiative
Background
Somerset Prep is the first DC-based school from Somerset Academy, Inc., a Florida-based public charter school network. Founded in 1997, the network currently has schools in Florida, Nevada, Texas, DC, and online. The Somerset Academy, Inc. website states that each school “... follows a state standards-based curriculum unique to the community and students it serves.” According to Somerset Prep’s application, this meant offering, “... a well-rounded, dynamic educational program that will hold itself and its students accountable for meeting self-imposed goals, Common Core State Standards, DCPS Standards, and all relative standards associated with Advanced Placement (AP) and/or Dual Enrollment courses, in which the students may choose to enroll.” When looking for a location, Somerset Prep’s Founding Board used the IIF 2012 study, “Qual46 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Neal Ables (third from left), poses with fellow Somerset Prep staff members and representatives from MCN Build, a Georgetown-based construction company. In November, MCN donated gym supplies to the school, including two backboards, dust mops, wood chips for the floors, first aid kits, and ice packs. Photo: Charnice A. Milton
ity Schools: Every Child, Every School, Every Neighborhood,” and identified two Wards with the greatest need: Wards 4 and 8. “The current elementary schools in these Wards provide the opportunity for the school to have natural feeders based on the programs currently available,” stated the application. “In addition, the implementation of a Communications and Digital Media Arts Academy, which does not exist in either Ward, adds a choice option for students and parents.”
Somerset Prep’s First Year
Currently in its second school year, Somerset Prep serves grades 6
to 9. With the motto, “Learn. Live. Lead,” the school offers extended day tutoring and enrichment programs and “21st-century classrooms,” which utilizes technology in daily lessons. For instance, Spanish I students get to practice the language while speaking to students in Miami, FL and Spain through Somerset’s virtual school. Students can also take courses that allow them to earn college credit through the Scholars Academy or Technology Academy, which has a focus on communications and interactive media. According to the 2012-2013 DC CAS, Somerset Prep’s students earned an overall index score of
Somerset Prep is currently located in the former M.C. Terrell-McGogney Elementary, which the school leased through the Public Charter School Incubator Initiative. A partnership between the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and education non-profit Building Hope, the Incubator Initiative provides short-term transitional space for start-up public charter schools located in high-need communities. This means that the initiative gives up-and-coming charter schools a space to grow for its first few years. Today, the initiative manages six facilities, five of which are located east of the Anacostia River. Building Hope’s President and former Somerset Prep Academy Board President S. Joseph Bruno explained that a new charter school usually has a small number of students, usually encompassing one to two grade levels, with plans to increase in later years. However, with limited school spaces in the city, it can be difficult for schools to find an affordable space. “No one would take one building and put a school with
150 students in it,” he explained. “One building could hold two or three schools. Otherwise, you’re wasting a lot of money and energy.” With the initiative, schools can pay rent based on their enrollment levels. For instance, Somerset Prep’s one-year sublease allowed it to use 80 percent of its facilities allowance (which was $2,400 per pupil) as rent.
Partnerships
Somerset is partnering with two other charter schools, Early Childhood Academy (ECAPCS), which serves students from Pre-K to the third grade, and Community College Prep Academy (CC Prep), a school for adults, to buy an extended lease. “...When we get the building, we’re going to have Pre-K to [Grade] 3 on one end of the building; in the middle of the building, we’ll have Grades 4 to 12. And in the evenings, we’ll have an adult program,” said Neal Ables, Somerset Prep’s Community Liaison and Athletic Director. “So we’ll have, I guess you’d say, every level in the building.” “We knew that M.C. Terrell would be put up for sale,” said Wendy Edwards, Executive Director for ECAPCS. “When we contacted Building Hope, Tom Parker [Vice President of Real Estate Operations] was interested in a proposal from Somerset, Early Childhood, and Community College Prep.” Connie Spinner, the Executive Director for CC Prep stated that Building Hope approached her in order to help respond to the community need for high-quality adult education programs. “The building has the capacity for adults to enter through a separate and accessible entrance,” she explained.
Community Response
While the three schools worked on their application, Somerset Prep worked to gain community support. “The cool thing about Somerset is that each school tries to be a true community school,” Griffin
stated. “It’s just not a cookie cutter.” He explained that the partnership between Somerset, CC Prep, and ECAPCS is another step towards better serving their community. To that end, Somerset held community meetings and a November open house to meet with residents and plead its case. The school also created a petition on and offline for residents to sign. When Somerset turned in its application, it amassed 350 signatures; after its last public meeting, the petition received over 800 signatures. “I would like to see them stay in the school,” said Absalom Jordan, President of the Ward 8 Education Council. Although he is not supportive of the charter school movement in DC, he acknowledged Somerset’s achievements in the year and a half since it opened. “I think parents and their children will continue to get the education they need there,” he said. “I don’t want the disruption.” After two waves of school closures in the last seven years, Jordan is concerned about how it would affect the students. “In all the struggles we go through, the children are the ones that get hurt.”
Making a Commitment
“The outpouring has been spontaneous,” said Judd Starr, Somerset Prep’s current board president. “Parents have been very vocal about this.” Starr, who has been with the school since the beginning, said that Somerset is committed to Ward 8 and hopes to establish roots there. “If, in fact, we did have to leave, we will be very aggressive on trying to find a place quickly and stay in this area. That’s our goal,” said Griffin. “We wouldn’t want to move Northwest or any of that stuff. We want to stay in this area and this is our commitment to this community.” Somerset Prep DC is located at 3301 Wheeler Road, SE Washington, DC 20032. To learn more, visit somersetdc.com. To sign the petition, visit petitions.moveon.org/sign/save-somersetprep-dc. u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | December 2014 H 47
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2014 ★ 49
Iconic Couples
Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
by Myles Mellor Across:
1. Artist Bonheur 5. Terza rima, e.g. 9. Showy shooter 12. Break down 17. School text 19. Web site feature 21. Jewish teacher 22. TV couple 25. Beat handily 26. Launch site 27. Kind of crime 28. Mischief 29. Stetson, e.g. 31. Intended for southpaws 34. 4.9 milliliters 37. Strip a ship of ropes, chains and tackle 39. Present 40. Kind of diagram 41. Ancient writing materials 45. Treeless zones 49. Job 50. Political couple 54. Settles 55. National ___ 56. Form of ether 57. Chemical ending 58. Naysayer 59. Swizzle 60. Needle 62. Made shallow 64. Spites 67. Even smaller 69. Lockjaw 72. Velvet finish? 74. Blind segment 75. Somersault 79. 1969 Peace Prize grp. 80. Research facil. 82. Less of a mess 84. Olive-gray songbird 85. Movie couple 89. Beelike 90. Like leftovers 91. Rates of return 92. Depression 93. Kind of salad 95. The New Yorker cartoonist Edward 97. Bit of work
98. Implement holders 102. Lowe or Reiner 103. During 107. Persian spirit 108. Gaucho’s weapon 110. Transport to Oz 112. Political couple 118. Bedim 119. Wife of Orpheus 120. Flute sound 121. Akin and Cassius 122. Biology class abbr. 123. Singer Phoebe 124. Hordeolum
Down:
1. Sharp edge 2. Ignominy 3. Espied 4. Spider 5. University conferral 6. Crowd sounds 7. In-box contents 8. Blackbird 9. Chi preceder 10. Epoch 11. Counter for mixing drinks 12. Be reluctant 13. Trattoria entree 14. “Amazing Race” network 15. Blood-typing letters 16. Hankering 17. “Portnoy’s Complaint” author 18. Cornell of Cornell University 20. College denizen 23. Intimate 24. Prime-time time 30. Huge 32. Ethnic cuisine 33. “Steppenwolf” author 34. Dig 35. Collected 36. Looked 37. Garden decorations 38. Eucalyptus, e.g. 40. Howe’er 41. Galileo’s birthplace 42. Parallel 43. Confined 44. Washington town
50 ★ EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 46. Fed. agency 47. Big game 48. Send 49. Daphnis’s love 51. Leading fauvist 52. Tangle up 53. Some games 59. Cast 61. In addition 63. Pull in 65. Electrolysis particle 66. Bristles 68. “___ Rigby” 69. Philippic 70. Vegas visitor, maybe 71. Trifling
73. One of three vessels 76. Like some surgery 77. Furnish 78. Sacrifice 81. Dumper, for one 83. Banned insecticide 84. Cover 86. Kind of race 87. High-hatter 88. Looped fasteners 93. Of two minds 94. More sere 96. University mil. group 98. Taxes 99. With skill 100. Precious metals
101. Struck down 103. Needle 104. Photo finish 105. Murti 106. Ready to serve 107. Latitude 109. With the bow, in music 111. Donnybrook 112. “Monty Python” airer 113. Calamity 114. Grassland 115. Barbarian 116. Roth ___ 117. Churchyard tree in “Romeo and Juliet”
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