East of the River Magazine Feb 2011 by Capital Community News

EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2011 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 08 ............Go See Do 10 ............East of the River Calendar 16 ............The Bulletin Board 20 ............The Man from Anacostia • by Charles Wilson 22 ............Tribute to William Lockridge • by Charles Wilson 23 ............A Friend to DC • by Charles Wilson 24 ............What Would Rahm Do? • by Elissa Silverman 26 ............2011 MLK Peace March • by Andrew Lightman 27 ............State of the Arts in the District • by Khadijah Ali-Coleman 28 ............The Quest to Free City’s Youth • by Tiffany E. Browne

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 30 ............Critical Exposure • by Nadia Rose 32 ............Insights “Through the Lens” • by Virginia Avniel Spatz 34 ............Neighborhood Movie Theaters • by John Muller 35 ............Dr Angela Pitts • by B. Michelle Harris McQureerir

36 ............Jazz Project • by Jean-Keith Fagon

KIDS & FAMILY 37 ............Kids and Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner 42 ............AoH’s Pathways Prepares Adult... • by Steve Lilienthal

HOMES & GARDENS 44 ............Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton 46 ............DC’s RiverSmart Home Program • by L. Denise Jackson 48 ............The Classifieds 50 ............The Nose • by Anonymous

ON THE COVER: Cover artwork by Allen Stroman.

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Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner melissaashabranner@hillrag.com EDITORIAL STAFF

HOMES & GARDENS

MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman andrew@hillrag.com CFO & ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Maria Carolina Lopez carolina@hillrag.com KIDS & FAMILY EDITOR: Susan Braun Johnson schools@hillrag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mary-Frances Daly maryfrances@hillrag.com

Rindy O’Brien - Hill Gardener • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com

NEWS & NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ART: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com DINING: Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com LITERATURE: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu MOVIES: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net MUSIC: Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com THEATER: Brad Hathaway • brad@potomacstages.com TRAVEL: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com THE WINE GUYS: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com THE JAZZ PROJECT: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com

CALENDAR & BULLETIN BOARD HILL RAG, DC NORTH & EAST OF THE RIVER: Hill Rag & East of the River Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner BULLETIN BOARD EDITOR: Mary-Frances Daly calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Monica Cavanaugh • monica.cavanaugh@gmail.com Michelle Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Mary-Frances Daly • maryfrances@hillrag.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Heather Schoell • hschoell@verizon.net Tanya Synder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Peter Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Paul D. Shinkman - pdshinkman@gmail.com Melanie Sunukjian - melsunuk@gmail.com Shannon Holloway - holloway.shannon@gmail.com

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KIDS & FAMILY

Animal Clinic of Anacostia

WARD 1: Mark Johnson • ward1@hillrag.com WARD 2: Amanda Abrams • ward2@hillrag.com WARD 4: Tanya Snyder • ward4@hillrag.com ANC6A: Tanya Snyder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com ANC6B: Kyle Johnson • kylejoh@gmail.com ANC6C: Kyle Johnson • kylejoh@gmail.com ANC6D: Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com WARD 7: Virginia Spatz • ward7@hillrag.com WARD 8: Virginia Spatz • ward8@hillrag.com BARRACKS ROW: 202-544-3188 H STREET LIFE: Elise Bernard • inked78@hotmail.com THE NOSE: thenose@hillrag.com

Mary-Frances Daily • kidsnotebook@hillrag.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

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We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

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GO.SEE.DO. Frederick Douglass: Author and Book Lover Birthday Celebration. Born a slave, Frederick Douglass selected his own February 14th birthday. This year the National Park Service at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Anacostia has moved the celebration to the closest Saturday so that more people can enjoy the day. The keynote speaker is R. Dewayne Betts. His first book, the memoir “A Question of Freedom” tells his story of literature, insanity and finding manhood in prison. In 2010 Betts received the NAACP Image Award for Literary Debut. The day will also feature oratorical contest recitations, kids’ actitivies, face painting, live entertainment and food for purchase. It may be cold outside but the celebration will be in heated tents, the house itself and the auditorium. Saturday, Feb. 12, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. 1411 W St. SE. 202-426-5961. nps.gov/frdo

Frederick Douglass in his home library

Cupids Undie Run.

Hundreds of runners will hit DC’s snowy streets for Cupid’s Undie Run. Photo: M.V. Jantzen

TIt’s only the second year for Cupid’s Undie Run and already many of the slots are taken. You can, however, still enjoy this spectacle from the sidewalk. Cupid’s Undie Run, on Saturday, February 12th, is a one+ mile run by the US Capitol in the participants bedroom-best (all for a good cause) underwear. The party begins at noon at the Pour House, 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Runners then strip down for the Undie Run at 2:00 PM. The course takes them east on Pennsylvania Avenue to First Street, by the Capitol and then back again. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation which is the world’s largest non-government organization dedicated to ending Neurofibromatosis through research. Register online. cupidsundierun.com

The Entrance to the Grand Canal, looking West, with Santa Maria della Salute, about 1729, Canaletto, oil on canvas, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The Robert Lee Blaffer Memorial Collection, Gift of Sarah Campbell Blaffer

Pictured from left to right: Kelly Mayfield of Contradiction Dance, Jeramie Bellmay, and Anthony Wills Jr. performing at the Fridge’s The Sunday Circus. Photo: Elliot Richter

Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals. On view from Feb. 20 - May 30 in the East Building, the National Gallery of Art presents 21 of Canaletto’s finest paintings of Venice with 34 more by his most important contemporaries, including Gaspar Vanvitelli, Luca Carlevarijs, Michele Marieschi, Bernardo Bellotto, and Francesco Guardi. The entrance to the exhibition will feature a one of the world’s oldest gondolas. It once belonged to the American painter Thomas Moran and will be on loan from the Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, VA. The convergence of art and science will be represented in a monumental first edition of Iconografica Rappresentatione della Inclita Città di Venezia (1729), one of the greatest printed maps of cities, and two 18th-century examples of the camera obscura, an optical device likely to have been used by the view painters. 202-737-4215. nga.gov

Fresh Produce Festival of Live Art at the Fridge DC The Fridge (quirky and cool art space in the rear alley of 516 Eighth St. SE, directly across from Matchbox) is devoting the month of February to Live Art! They will be welcoming over 60 local and national performance artists to come and express themselves with absolute freedom. Most tickets are $15. Seating for each show is very limited and advance tickets are highly recommended. Order online at thefridgedc.com. Opened in September 2009, The Fridge DC is an art gallery, performance space, music venue and classroom located on Barracks Row. Their mission is to foster creativity and community dialogue by serving as a conduit for expression through the arts and providing exhibition space to emerging and established artists.

Discover Strathmore.

Children enjoying a fun project at last year’s Discover Strathmore. Photo: Jim Saah

Discover Strathmore is a free family event on Monday, February 21, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM, at the Music Center at Strathmore with live performances, demonstrations and hands-on activities. This year, Discover Strathmore will highlight Washington area musicians Luke Brindley, The Mancuso-Suzda Project, the 18th Street Singers, St. Augustine’s Catholic Church Chorale and Gospel Choir, The Washington Revels and The Youth Brothers in a variety of styles from jazz to folk to choral to gospel. The festival will also feature the art of dance with CityDance Ensemble, hip-hop poetry, theater and photography workshops, music classes by the Levine School of Music, a percussion workshop with the Baltimore Symphony, hands-on arts and crafts activities, and demonstrations by local visual artists in Sumi-e painting, watercolor, polymer clay, knitting and sculpture. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, N. Bethesda, MD. 301-581-5200. strathmore.org CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 9

CALENDAR Tribute to Dance at THEARC. Photo: Steven Stauffer

The Washington Ballet Presents a Tribute to Dance at THEARC Thursday, Feb. 10, 10:00 AM-2:20 PM. Free clinics throughout the day in African, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Modern dance. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org 10 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One. Feb. 15-16, 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM. One woman performance at THEARC Theater. Free. 901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org America I AM: The African American Imprint. Exhibition open daily, Feb. 2-May 1. National Geographic Museum. Filled with poignant artifacts covering nearly 500 years of history, “America I AM” celebrates the undeniable imprint African Americans have had on America. Visitors will encounter objects ranging from shackles used in the slave trade, to abolitionist material to the poetry of Langston Hughes. The exhibition also features items from contemporary African American figures, such as Serena Williams, Michael Jordan and Prince. An interactive area allows visitors to leave video “imprints” of their own experiences, a collection that continues to grow throughout the tour. An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle over Equality in Washington, DC. Tuesday, Feb. 8, noon. In her book An Example for All the Land, Kate Masur discusses Washington, DC, during the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War. The city became a laboratory for political experimentation as the question of racial equality produced a debate about black Washingtonians and their demands for public respect, equal access to employment, public services, and the right to vote. A book signing will follow the program. Free. National Archives, Jefferson Room (Special Events Entrance on Constitution Avenue), 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov African American Heritage Tour. Saturday, Feb. 12, 8:30 AM. Tour begins at THEARC and includes Lincoln Park and the Frederick Douglass. Tickets can be purchased at the Informer office at 3117 MLK Ave. SE. washingtoninformer.com “Authors on Deck” Black History Month Book Lectures. Feb. 15, noon. Trailblazer: The U.S. Navy’s First Black Admiral. Vice Adm. Samuel Gravely was the first African American to be commissioned a flag officer in the U.S. Navy, the first to command a Navy ship in the twentieth century, and the first to command a U.S. numbered fleet. In this memoir, Gravely describes his life from his boyhood in Richmond, Virginia, through his service on board a World War II submarine chaser, to later tours of duty at sea and ashore. Feb. 23; 6:00 PM. Navigating the Seven Seas. Two high-achieving African-Americans in the U.S. Navy share their leadership experiences over nearly sixty consecutive years of service. This book describes how Master Chief and Vice Adm. Williams navigated through the ranks by employing what they call the “Seven Cs” of leadership: Character, Competence, Courage, Commitment, Caring, Communicating, and Community. United States Navy Memorial Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. navymemorial.org

Beyond the Basics: Emancipation Records of the District of Columbia. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 11:00 AM. Damani Davis, archivist, teaches this month’s “beyond the basic” archival research skills for genealogists, held on the third Wednesday of each month (all skill levels welcome). National Archives, Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Penn. Ave.), 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov George Washington’s Enslaved Workers Lecture. Wednesday, Feb 16, 7:30-8:30 PM. Thanks to the extensive records kept by the master of Mount Vernon, enough information exists to give us a glimpse into the lives and personalities of some of its enslaved workers. Professor Peter Henriques examines six individual slaves, Sambo Anderson, Caroline, Charlotte, Hercules, Ona Judge, and Christopher Sheels. The picture that emerges gives a view sometimes at odds with most conventional views of slavery, and touches on the various ways real people tried to deal with the fact that they were considered human chattel. $12. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA. 703-7464242. alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern Sing out! Songs of Freedom. Feb. 17–18 and 24–25, 10:15 AM and 11:30 AM. We are with civil rights activists in 1960, just after the student sit-ins began all across the South. With evocative images, firstperson characterization, original dialogue, archival music, and song, we explore the meaning behind the National Museum of American History’s Greensboro lunch counter exhibit. Learn the songs the Freedom Fighters sang as they changed our nation. Educational content recommended for ages 6 and up. $6 for adults. $5 for kids (under 2, $3). Carmichael Auditorium, National Museum of American History, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-633-8700. discoverytheater.org. Umoja on U-Black History Celebration. Feb. 20, 6:00 PM. The inaugural Umoja on U-Black History Celebration hosted by Juanita Busy Bee Britton and EZ Street. Special performances by the Black Notes, Farafina Kan, Maimouna Youssef, Gods’illa and the Ballou High School Choir. $10$20. Discount tickets for seniors (65+) and children (10 and under) available at the Lincoln Theatre Box Office Mon.-Fri., 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. Lincoln Theater, 1215 U St. NW. 202-286-2688. thelincolntheatre.org Exploring the Ex-Slave Pension Movement at the National Archives. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 11:00 AM. Miranda Booker Perry, archivist trainee, discusses the quest for ex-slave pensions and the role Federal agencies played in suppressing freed people. Free. Room G-24, Research Center (Enter on Penn. Ave.). 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov Mount Vernon Celebrates Black History Month. In observance of Black History Month, Feb. 1-28, Mount Vernon interpreters highlight at the slave quarters the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★

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home of George and Martha Washington. New this year: After years of research, the refurbished slave quarters building is now open. Reproduction clothing, tools, furniture, cookware, ceramics, toys, and personal accessories outfit the space to emphasize the living conditions and experiences of enslaved people as skilled craftsmen, house slaves, and laborers on the Mansion House Farm. Throughout the month, a daily Slave Life at Mount Vernon tour explores the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at Mount Vernon. A wreathlaying and presentation occurs daily at the slave memorial site throughout the month of February. Black History Month activities are included in regular Estate admission: adults, $15.00; children ages 6-11, $7.00; and children under 5 are admitted free. 703-780-2000. MountVernon.org

LOOKING FOR LOVE Sex(pionage) Spies, Lies and Naked Thights--the Valentine Edition. Thursday, Feb. 10, 6:30 PM. International Spy Museum. From ancient intrigues to Anna Chapman, spies, counterspies, and terrorists often conduct their undercover activities under the covers! International Spy Museum Board Member, retired FBI supervisory special agent, and owner/founder of the Centre for Counterintelligence and Security Studies, David G. Major will reveal how seduction is used as a tool to attract and manipulate assets, to coerce and/or attempt to coerce and compromise targets, and to control spies in both reality and fiction. Major will tell about the spies who stop at nothing to get their man—or woman! Guests will enjoy a Zola Choctini as they gather essential knowledge for any questionable or suspicious relationship. 18 and older only. $25. 800 F St. NW. 202-393-7798. spymuseum.org

The Power of Chocolate. Feb. 12 and 13. 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. This multi-day celebration of one of the world’s favorite flavors includes free chocolate samples, food demonstrations, daily performances by three local Maya groups, presentations by an Indigenous cacao cooperative, a talk focused on the history of chocolate and hands-on activities for families, including paper molamaking. Free. National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth St. and Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-1000. nmai.si.edu In Every Language Love at the Sackler (An Open House for All Ages). Saturday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13, Noon-4:00 PM. After a slideshow of images representing love in Asian art, use printing blocks inscribed with the word “love” in more than a dozen Asian languages to make valentines. Free. Sackler Gallery of Art, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-4880. asia.si.edu Poetry at Noon at the Library of Congress. Tuesday, Feb. 15, noon-1:00 PM. A selection of love poems will be read. Free. Whittall Pavilion, Ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building. 202-707-5394. loc.gov Woo at the Zoo. Friday, Feb. 11, 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. This extraordinary evening, open to both singles and sweethearts, is a light-hearted exploration into the sexual behaviors of animals. Hosted by the Zoo’s most charismatic animal experts, Woo at the Zoo presents an opportunity to learn about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits in an honest and humorous forum. $25. 202-633-4240. nationalzoo.si.edu Evenings at the TM. Thursday, Feb. 24, 6:00 PM. The Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW. $20. Advanced registration required; space is limited. 202-667-0441. textilemuseum. org

Phillips after 5. First Thursday of every month, 5:00-8:30 PM. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Gallery talks. Live jazz. Museum shop. Food. Socializing in the Galleries. Cash Bar. Admission is the price of the current exhibition. 202-387-2151. www. phillipscollection.org

Washington National Opera Presents Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Feb. 26-Mar.19. The most beloved opera of all time, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, comes to Washington in performances starring famed sopranos Ana María Martínez and Catherine Naglestad. $25-$300. Kennedy Center Opera House. 202-295-2400. dc-opera.org

Washington Savoyards’ “Gondoliers” at the Atlas. Feb. 11-13. Gilbert & Sullivan’s Gondoliers will be introduced to the audience with a staged concert reading. Whet your appetite because it will be fully staged during the 2011-2012 season. Everyone loves Venice and you will love the beautiful music and the story of gondoliers and kings, mistaken identities, (unintentional) bigamy, and the requisite happy ending. $15-$25. 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare. Through Mar. 6. The Shakespeare Theatre Company premiere of Cymbeline follows Imogen on her search for reconciled love against the backdrop of a colorful and magical journey. Forbidden love, mistaken identities, banishment and a magic potion— Shakespeare combines multiple styles in this endlessly inventive fairy tale. $37-$75. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington in Concert. On Saturday, Feb. 12, 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM, celebrates the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell with Let’s Hear It For The Boys with special guest Major Mike Almy. $35. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202293-1548. GMCW.org

Spy At Night at the International Spy Museum. Every Friday and Saturday night, 6:00 PM. Every Friday and Saturday night. Pick your poison at a full cocktail bar and enjoy food fit for a global arms smuggler – it’s all prepared from the award winning Zola kitchen. Unwind, yes, but don’t let your

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guard down. $20. 800 F St. NW. 202-3937798. spymuseum.org MidCity Mixer. First Monday of every month, 6:00-8:00 PM. Cafe Saint Ex, Gate 54 (basement), 1847 14th St. NW. 202-265-7839. www.saint-ex.com First Wednesday Jazz @ The Historical Society. First Wednesday of every month, 6:00-9:00 PM. The Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K St. NW. Described as a “motivational mixer” featuring jazz, R&B and neo soul. $10 cover. Food and spirits are extra. 202-383-1850. www.historydc.org Volunteering Made Easy by One Brick. One Brick brings volunteers together to support other nonprofit organizations by adopting an innovative twist to the volunteer experience: they create a friendly and social atmosphere around volunteering, and after each volunteer event, invite volunteers to gather at a local restaurant or cafe where they can get to know one another in a relaxed social setting. www.onebrick.org

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Jordan Kasey New Works at Honfleur Gallery. On exhibition through Feb. 18. Jordan Kasey is an emerging artist living in Baltimore, Maryland. Her large scale paintings are surreal oil on canvas landscapes and portraits. She grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Baltimore in 2004 to study painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). She graduated in December 2007 and currently works as an Art Handler. 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-536-8994. honfleurgallery. The Music of West Africa. Saturday, Feb. 5, 10:30 AM. Anacostia Community Museum. Brother Ah and The Sound Awareness Ensemble lead a workshop that provides compelling rhythms of traditional Africa. The audience will participate in the drum circle. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Family Across the Sea (film). Sunday, Feb. 6, 2:00 PM. Anacostia Community Museum. Family Across the Sea traces the connection between the Gullah people of South Carolina’s Sea Islands and the people of Sierra Leone as uncovered by linguist Lorenzo Dow Turner. The film illustrates how African Americans, through speech, songs, and customs, maintained ties with their homeland over centuries of oppression. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu The Language You Cry In (film). Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:00 PM. Anacostia Community Museum. The Language You Cry In tells an amazing scholarly detective story that searches for, and finds, meaningful links between African Americans and their ancestral past. This film traces the memory of a family to their ancestral roots through a Mende funeral song. This story owes much to the

research done my Lorenzo Dow Turner, an African American linguist who heard the song from Amelia Dawley, who lived in a remote Georgia fishing village. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Big Chair Breakfast Bunch. Saturday, Feb. 12, 10:00 AM-noon. Big Chair Coffee n’ Grill (upstairs). All are welcome to attend and discuss what’s happening East of the River. 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. 202525-4287. Pardon: The Musical. Sunday, Feb. 13, 7:00 PM. After serving a grueling yet sobering seven years in prison, a former drug lord, Joseph Battle, is paroled and released to the home of his church-going relatives. Having given his life to Jesus Christ while incarcerated, he spent years communing with God in solitude and looked forward to living among people who shared his love and devotion to God, who gave him peace in his darkest hours. However, Joe’s relatives and the Saints at their local church did not share Joe’s sincere relationship with God. In fact, Joe found himself in a bitter two-fronted war for his soul against the hypocrisy of the church and the allure of his illicit past. $30. THEARC Theater. For group tickets or in-person sales, e-mail Selahtickets@Yahoo.com or call 240-257-0100 The Return of Blak Muzik: What We’ve Been Missing. Saturday, Feb. 19, 8:0010:00 PM. Kimathi Industries presents an evening with acclaimed local artists who are leaping onto the scene and taking Black Music back to what is used to be. $25-$30. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Folktales from Africa to the Americas. Saturday, Feb. 19, 10:30 AM. Anacostia Community Museum. Baba-C, D.C. griot and master storyteller, will share his unique blend of interactive storytelling, featuring West African, Afro-Brazilian and Gullah tales. Tales spiced with remarkable animals and life lessons feature Anansi the Spider, Bossy Elephant, and other memorable characters. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu 1831 Turner Street: The Life and Times of Nat Turner. Sunday, Feb. 20, 4:00-6:00 PM. Kimathi Industries presents this moving, compelling, emotional tribute to the life, times, and work of Nat Turner - the Prophet. The play will be performed by Brothas Keepa, who has blown the national Black community away. “Never before has theater been so bold and so appropriate for our condition.” $15-$30. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org The Talking Drums. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 10:30 AM. Anacostia Community Museum. Joseph Ngwa demonstrates how drums can serve to transmit messages and meaning through various sounds. School groups by reservation only. Space is limited. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia. si.edu

Living Out Loud with Author Marita Golden. Saturday, Feb. 26, 10:30 AM. Anacostia Community Museum. Marita Golden will read from her in-progress literary autobiography Living Out Loud, and discuss her career as an author of both fiction and nonfiction works. Free. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Celebrate New Life at The Rock Christian Church. Every Saturday, 3:00-6:00 PM. If you have hurts, habits or hangups! This is the place to come to. Help is here. Free. 1300 Good Hope Rd. SE. Call Dwain Lynch 301-523-0381 with questions. Church office, 240-770-5041. Ward 7 Parent and Family Resource Center Family Book Club. Every Wednesday, 6:00 PM. Enjoy the evening reading with your child, meeting other families, and strengthening your child’s reading skills. Free books and snacks. For new and struggling readers, ages 6 and under. 5601 East Capital St. SE. For more information, call Marketta Wiley at 202-724-7568. Anacostia Neighborhood Library Book Club. Thursdays, 6:30 PM. Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Book club just now forming. 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-715-7707. dclibrary.org/anacostia

SPORTS, DANCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM; Saturdays, 11:15 AM-12:15 PM; Sundays, 1:002:20 PM. $5, adults. $4, children and seniors. Skate rental, $3. 3779 Ely Place, SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org By George 10K & 5K. Saturday, Feb. 19, 7:30 AM. East Potomac Park, Hains Point. 703-481-3530. runwashington.com President’s Day Holiday Public Skate. Monday, Feb. 21, noon-1:50 PM. Children 12 and under and seniors, $4. Skaters 13 and older, $5. Skate rental is $3. 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org Deanwood Aquatic Center Indoor Pool. Mon-Fri 6:30 AM-8:00 PM; SatSun, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Free for DC residents. Have ID. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov Ferebee-Hope Aquatic Center Indoor Pool. Mon-Fri, 3:00-8:00 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Free for DC residents. Have ID. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov

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201 15th Street SE • Washington, DC 20003 202.293.2931 • www.asapservicedc.com CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 13

CALENDAR

Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Open through Mid March (depending on the weather). Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. View magnificent works of sculpture while skating in the open air and enjoying music from the stateof-the-art sound system. $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, students with ID and seniors 50 and over. Skate rental is $3. Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202289-3361. nga.gov/ginfo/skating Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (indoor courts). Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. Summer hourly fees at $6 to $10 for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-6242. dpr. dc.gov/dpr East Potomac Tennis Center (indoor courts). Open daily. Indoor courts available year round at 70 degrees. 7:00 AM-10:00 PM. Winter indoor court fees are $17-$36/ hour depending on the time. 1090 Ohio Dr. SW (East Potomac Park). 202-554-5962. eastpotomactennis.com Georgetown Men’s Basketball at the Verizon Center. Feb. 5, 13, 23 and 26. Buy and sell tickets at the “Stub Hub” on the Hoyas website. guhoyas.com Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Feb. 1, 6, 8, 12 and 25 at the Verizon Center. Buy and sell tickets on teamexchange.ticketmaster. com. Visit the Washington Capitals website at http://capitals.nhl.com. Washington Wizards Basketball. Feb. 4, 5, 9, 12, 22, 26 and 28 at the Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards National Marathon and Half-Marathon Registration Open. The race is Saturday, Mar. 26, 7:00 AM. The National Marathon is the only marathon held entirely within the boundaries of the District of Columbia. The races begin and end at RFK Stadium, 2400 E. Capitol St. providing the opportunity to run past all of the historic monuments, museums and corridors of the city. This course is the fastest flat-looped marathon in the country and is a Boston Marathon qualifying race. Registration is $105. Half Marathon is $85. Register online at nationalmarathon.com. African Dance Class. Every Monday, 7:158:30 PM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Yoga Class. Every Saturday, 10:00-11:15 AM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org

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Sustainable Sites Initiative Class. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6:30-9:00 PM. Steve Windhager will discuss the Sustainable Sites Initiative at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The Initiative was created to develop comprehensive guidelines for those who want to create and measure sustainable landscapes. A light dinner will be provided.

Last Tuesday. Noon-2:00 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900.

Trees 101. Saturday, Feb. 12, 9:00 AM-noon. Get to know Washington’s trees. This course provides a foundation in tree anatomy, tree identification and an overview of how trees function to provide the benefits we enjoy in the urban forest. The session will culminate with a street tree identification walk led by Casey Trees staff. A light breakfast will be provided.

Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday of every month. 7:00-9:00 PM. UPO-Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600.

ANC Meeting for 8-E. Third Tuesday. 7:00 PM. SE Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-561-6616. 8e02@anc. dc.gov

Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6:00 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE.

OUT OF TOWN

Innovations in Plant Health Care. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6:30-9:00 PM. This presentation will provide an update on managing landscape plant heath with emphasis on invasive exotic pests and soil health management. Emphasis will be placed on new tree injection techniques for managing exotic borers as well as other lethal tree pests, advances in Integrated Pest Management with reduced risk/natural products and beneficial releases as well as innovations in soil management strategies with emphasis on organic amendments. A light dinner will be provided. Stand Up for Trees. Saturday, Feb. 26, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. Take action and advocate for trees in your community. You will learn what tools are available through the District’s municipal services, then hear success stories and receive advice from community members who have on the ground experience in effectively increasing tree canopy in their neighborhoods. Workshop format will include action plans. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. All four classes are free and are held at Casey Trees Headquarters, 3030 12th St. NE. 202-833-9125. caseytrees.org

CIVIC LIFE Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Annual Tax Fair. Feb. 26, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. Free. Washington Convention Center, rooms 143-155, 147, 150-153. 202-7835065. norton.house.gov

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

Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. First Baptist Church of Deanwood, 1008 45th St. NE Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday. 6:30-8:30 PM. Kenilworth Elementary School (auditorium), 1300 44th St. NE. Greg Rhett jrhett3009@aol.com or 202-388-1532. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 6th District Citizens Advisory Council. Second Monday, except July and Aug. 7:00 PM. 6th District HQ, 100 42nd St. NE. ANC Meeting for 7-A. Third Tuesday. 7:30 PM. Benning-Stoddard Rec. Center, 100 Stoddard Pl. SE. 202-727-1000. 7A@anc. dc.gov. www.anc7a.org ANC Meeting for 7-B. 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. www.anc7b.us ANC Meeting for 7-C. Second Thursday. 7:00 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC Meeting for 7-D. Second Tuesday. 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov

Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM6:00 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560.

ANC Meeting for 7-E. Second Tuesday. 7:00-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov

Councilmember Barry’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 2100 MLK Ave, SE, #307. 202-6982185.

ANC Meeting for 8-A. First Tuesday. 7:00 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. www.anc8adc.org

Ward 7 Democrats Monthly Meeting. Fourth Saturday, noon-2:00 PM. Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St. NE. 202-584-8477 or info@ward7democrats. ward7democrats.org Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting.

ANC Meeting for 8-B. Third Tuesday. 7:00 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. www.anc8b.org

| FEBRUARY 2011

ANC Meeting for 8-C. First Wednesday (June meeting is on the nineth because of the holiday). 6:30 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC Meeting for 8-D. Fourth Thursday. 7:00 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202 561-0774

Style and Identity: Black Alexandria in the 1970s. On view through May 7. New Exhibit: Rediscovered after thirty years, 29 intriguing portraits by Horace Day are featured in the exhibition Style and Identity: Black Alexandria in the 1970s. Ricky McNeil, J.C. Chase, and Walter Hollis are among the young African American Alexandrians who were portrayed in the 1970s by the artist and educator. This distinctive body of work provides us with a unique view into a moment in the history of black Alexandria from the perspective of an important artist and compassionate chronicler of American life. Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA. 703-746-4356. alexandriava.gov/BlackHistory “Movies with a Mission” at Alexandria Black History Museum. Second Saturday of every month. Free movies about Africa and the African Diaspora that seek to inform and inspire dialogue. Feb. 12, 4:30 PM, “The Lion Mountains: A Journey through Sierra Leone’s History” This documentary follows a journey to Sierra Leone in West Africa through the eyes of a young British filmmaker. After a long desire to visit the continent of Africa and learn more about his own history, Buckley finally decides to visit the country of Sierra Leone, as it was the center of British West Africa in the days of British imperialism. Buckley is the first member of his family to return to Africa after the momentous upheaval which saw his ancestors uprooted from Africa and transported to Jamaica as slaves. The film looks at pre-colonial Sierra Leone, questioning what happened in the days of the British Empire and how the country changed. It also examines the beginning of European and African trade, the difference between African and European slavery, and some of the effects of Western imperialism and colonial rule. (54 min.). Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA. 703-746-4356. alexandriava.gov/BlackHistory George Washington’s Birthday at Mount Vernon. Monday, Feb. 21, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. All visitors are admitted free of charge this day. Meet “George Washington”, participate in the presidential wreath laying at Washington’s tomb at 10:00 AM and enjoy music and military performances by the US Army

Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps and the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard. Mount Vernon, VA. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org Old Town’s George Washington Birthday Parade. Monday, Feb. 21, 1:00-3:00 PM. This is the largest parade celebrating Washington’s birthday in the USA!Old Town Alexandria, VA. washingtonbirthday.net Widdershins at Little Theatre of Alexandria. Feb. 26-Mar. 19. Set in Wales in 1902, a family of four disappears leaving only one mysterious clue behind – the word “widdershins” written on a scrap of paper. In comes the odd, but effective, Inspector Ruffing to solve the mystery. Ruffing’s attempt to understand what’s happened leads him deep into his own dark soul. Beautiful women, dark secrets, Impressionist artists, and Druids all figure in this unusual and thoughtprovoking play. Don’t miss the area premiere of this baffling mystery by Don Nigro, an audience favorite at the 1st International Mystery Festival in 2007. Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA. 703-683-5778. thelittletheatre. com National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park. Open daily, year-round. A brick “Walk of Honor” will link the official monument to the Visitors Information Center and the historic Firefighters Chapel.16825 So. Seton Ave., Emmitsburgh, MD. 301-4471365. firehero.org Clara Barton National Historic Site. Open daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Clara Barton dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need - both home and abroad, in peacetime as well as during military emergencies. The house shown by guided tour only. Tours at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, noon, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. 5801 Oxford Rd., Glen Echo, MD. 301-320-1410. nps.gov/clba Alexandria Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday morning (year-round, rain or shine), 5:30-10:30 AM, 301 King St. (Market Square), Alexandria, VA. The Farmer’s Market at Alexandria City Hall is thought to be one of the nation’s oldest continually operating farmer’s markets. Farmers and artists have been selling their products since 1753. The market features produce vendors, framed art, handicrafts, jewelry and other wearable art, and baked goods. 703) 838-4770. alexandriava.gov ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 15

BULLETIN BOARD ANC 7A Starts New Year with Town Hall Attended by Mayor Vincent Gray ANC 7A kicked oﬀ its year on January 18 by hosting an informative town hall meeting that featured DC Mayor Vincent Gray and Interim At-Large City Council Member Sekou Biddle. Mayor Gray discussed the problematic city budget, which is $188 million in the red. Mayor Gray also answered questions from the audience that focused on concerns about the city’s school system, including the Educare facility that will soon be built, public safety, the need for jobs and the new Wal-Mart planned in Ward 7. Councilmember Biddle also discussed needed changes to the city’s school system.

Uniontown Bar & Grill Opens in Historic Anacostia. Uniontown Bar & Grill features a menu infused with Cajun style cuisine and all natural ingredients. More than a hip new bar, Uniontown will be a great dining establishment, and not another watering hole. Pairing a natural ingredient menu with a vibrant atmosphere brings an urban inspired ambiance with deliciously fresh foods. 2200 Martin Luther King Ave. SE. 202-445-4021. utowndc.com

ASALH’s 85 Annual Black History Month Luncheon

Volunteers planting a tree in the park. Photo: Kellie Bolinder of the Earth Conservation Corps

MLK Day Pope Branch Creek Clean-Up On Jan 17, the Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance held its 5th annual cleanup of the creek, park and surrounding neighborhood. Over 200 people braved the cold to be of service in the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Pope Branch is one of two open tributaries of the Anacostia that lie east of the river in DC. The creek and surrounding park begins near Ft. Davis Dr. in Ft. Dupont Park and runs northwesterly, parallel with Pennsylvania Ave. to join the river at Anacostia Park. The Pope Branch Part Restoration Alliance was formed six years ago by the late Joseph Glover, resident, community activist, past president of the Dupont Park Civic Association and the DC Federations of Civic Associations to address the needs of this little gem of a park in southeast DC. popebranch.blogspot.com 16 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

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The 85 Annual Black History Month Luncheon for ASALH, the Association of the Study of African American Life and History, will be held Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel, 999 Nineth St. NW at 12:30 p.m. The 2011 National Black History Month Theme which is also the focus for this event is “African Americans and the Civil War.” The Luncheon will feature a book signing of world renowned authors beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Luncheon will feature Lerone Bennett, Jr., noted scholar, author, historian and Executive Editor Emeritus of Ebony Magazine as the guest speaker. A graduate of Morehouse College, Bennett has written several books, including his ﬁrst work Before the Mayﬂower: A History of Black America, 1619-1962 and Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln’s White Dream that questions Lincoln’s Presidential role as the “Great Emancipator.” Andrea Roane, Anchor at WUSA Channel 9 will emcee the event. Dr. Frank Smith, Founding Director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum is the event Honorary Co-Chairman. Sponsorship opportunities remain available. For more information on the luncheon and spon-

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

sorships call 202-865-0053 or visit asalh.org.

DDOT Seeks Anacostia Streetcar Study Input

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Your feedback is important. Please complete this survey at surveymonkey.com/s/WLMVGZ6

Monday, Feb. 7, 5:00-8:00 p.m., is the 11th annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a nationwide HIV testing and treatment community mobilization effort designed to encourage Blacks across the United States to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated around HIV/AIDS, with hopes of stifling the affliction of Black communities by the disease. The goal is to mobilize communities and address specific issues in regards to local epidemics. The program also aims to identify science based best practices that influence the course of HIV in Black communities across our country. Free. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-396-5404. blackaidsday.org

Civil War Defenses of Washington Discussion On Feb. 12, 11:00 a.m. Fort Dupont, join a ranger at the activity center for a discussion about the building of the extensive military complex that surrounded the capital and hike to investigate the Fort Dupont earthworks. Parking at Activity Center (Fort Dupont Dr. SE). nps.gov

DOES Satellite Career Center Expanded Hours

M.O.M.I.E’s TLC Annual Gala Sunday, Feb. 21 6:00 p.m., join them in celebrating Black History by honoring local change-makers in our community who are paving the way! Enjoy entertainment, food, good company, and take a tour of the 2010 Children’s Gallery of Black History! All Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St. NW. 202-545-1919. momiestlc.com

Total Family Care Coalition Black Fathers Fatherhood Initiative Community Event Saturday, Feb. 12, 1:30-4:30 p.m. The purpose of the Fatherhood Initiative is to bring disadvantaged fathers throughout the District to a central location where they can get help and make contact with valuable resources to help them become better fathers. All of these resources will be on site at the Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Contacts: Ajamu Clark 202-509-6999 or Sulayman Akbar 202-7172181 or TFCC Oﬃce 2027583281. clark@dcwrap.org

Black History Month Theater Event Benefiting the Wanda Alston House

The Department of Employment Services Satellite Career Center at 2311 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE is now open ﬁve days a week, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on a trial basis. Until now, the Center (located in the Business Opportunity Workforce Development Center) has only been open Tuesdays to Thursdays. Satellite Career Centers can help with your job search and oﬀer computer access. 202-724-7000. does.dc.gov

The Gertrude Stein Democratic Club invite you to join them for a Black History Month theater event benefiting the Wanda Alston House. Join them for the final show of the play “Marcus, the Secret of Sweet” by Tarell Alvin McCraney on Sunday, Feb 13, 2:00 p.m. at the Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. There will be a talk-back with the cast following the play. Following the talk-back there will be a 4:00 p.m. party benefiting the Wanda Alston House at 1409 Playbill Cafe. Purchase the $40

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tickets online at steindemocrats.org. They are also looking for 20 people to join the host committee with a $100 contribution. The Wanda Alston House (WAH) is the only LGBT transitional supportive housing program of it’s kind in the mid-Atlantic region. WAH provides housing and supportive services to homeless LGBT youth, most of whom have been abandoned or kicked out of their homes because of their identity. All tax deductible donations to the Wanda Alston House should be made payable to the program’s ﬁscal agent, Transgender Health Empowerment. theincdc.org

Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference Inaugurates 49th President On Jan. 10, Reverend Patrick J. Walker was inaugurated the 49th President of the 125 year old Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, DC & Vicinity. The organization is comprised of pastors and ministers representing over 500 churches throughout the DC area. Reverend Walker serves as the Senior Pastor of The New Macedonia Baptist Church, located in Southeast DC. “It is my goal as President of this dynamic body of clergy to challenge the shifting sands of the political, social, moral, and economic mores of this city and surrounding communities. Together, we will give voice to the least, the lost, and the left out of this great city.” 202-583-5555. tnmbc.org

AIDSWatch 2011 set for February 16-18 AIDSWatch is the largest constituent based Federal HIV/AIDS advocacy and education event of the year. Hundreds of People Living With HIV/AIDS, their families, friends, care providers, and other advocates will arrive at the nation’s capital to tell the powerful stories of their lives in order to educate US Senators and Members of Congress

on the most crucial issues facing the 1.3 million people living with HIV/ AIDS in the United States. 240-2470880. napwa.org

Home Save Program for DC Residents The Housing Finance Agency has received $20 million from the Treasury (left-over TARP bailout funds) and created a program that will pay 100% of the qualiﬁed and unemployed homeowner’s mortgage. This new program, which began in Wards 5, 7 and 8 on Jan. 18, will become citywide in April. It is projected to end in 2015. For details go to dchfa. org or call 202-777-1600.

American Folklife Center Announces Archie Green Fellowships The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is accepting applications for Archie Green Fellowships. They will offer scholars an opportunity to provide new documentation and research into the culture and traditions of American workers and will create digital archival materials that will be preserved in the center’s archive and made available to researchers and the public. The American Folklife Center will award up to three fellowships for the period of June 1, 2011, to May 30, 2012, that will support original, independent field research into the culture and traditions of American workers and/or occupational groups found within the United States. The materials generated during the course of the fellowship will become part of the center’s Archie Green America Works Collection. Successful fellowship projects must also create significant digital archival materials (such as audio recordings, photographs, motion pictures and field notes) that will be preserved in the center’s archive and made available to researchers and the public. For further information, visit www.loc.gov/folklife/ grants.html#archie. Applicants must submit proposals to be received by the center no later than March 11, 2011.

Housing Counseling Services Foreclosure Prevention Clinics. Housing Counseling Servicesa oﬀers free Foreclosure Prevention Clinics to help homeowners in the DC metropolitan area in danger of losing their homes. Clients will receive valuable information and individual counseling to help them identify their realistic options for avoiding foreclosure and to avoid “foreclosure rescue scams.” Wednesdays, February 2, 9 and 16, noon and Feb. 23, 6:00 p.m. Call Elias Cohn at 202-667-7006 for more information. housingetc.org

DC Preservation League Accepting Nominations for List of Most Endangered Places in Washington. The DC Preservation League, DC’s only citywide nonproﬁt organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the historic and built environment, is accepting nominations for its annual list of Most Endangered Places in Washington for 2011. Nomination form can be found at dcpreservation.org and must be postmarked no later than Monday, Feb. 21. Selections will be announced in May. Nominate your local treasure! 202-783-5144. dcpreservation.org

National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest FotoDC and the National Cherry Blossom Festival have joined to co-produce the ﬁrst annual National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest focused on cherry blossoms and the nation’s greatest celebration of spring. The contest, which runs from Feb. 11–April 9, will accept entries in three categories: Landscape, People, and Festivities, taken during this year’s Festival, Mar. 26–April 10, or taken within the previous two years. Winners of each category will receive $500 in prize money, exposure on the popular FotoDC and National

Cherry Blossom Festival websites, and recognition through a special winners’ celebration. In addition, winners and the top 100 images will be exhibited in print or projection form during FotoWeek DC’s annual festival in November 2011. Details will be available on Feb. 10, with submissions beginning on Feb. 11. FotoWeekDC.org

District IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center Offices Relocate The Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Assistance Center, formerly located at 500 North Capitol St. NW, has relocated to 77 K St. NE. Walk-In taxpayer assistance will be available at the new location Monday through Friday; from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Taxpayers can visit the Taxpayer Assistance Center to get help with IRS notices, pick up tax forms and publications, make a payment, or get assistance ﬁling their Federal Income Tax return. 800-829-1040. IRS.gov

Town Hall Meeting on DC’s Medical Marijuana Program The District of Columbia Patients’ Cooperative, a non-proﬁt corporation that formed one year ago to provide high quality and affordable marijuana to qualifying DC patients, will host a town hall meeting on the implementation of the District of Columbia’s medical marijuana program. The aim of the meeting is to provide residents with a better understanding of the laws and regulations that were drafted over the last year. The meeting will cover diﬀerent topics ranging from how the patient registration process will work to the rules surrounding the cultivation and dispensing of the medicine. The town hall meeting is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:00 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Church located at 16th and Harvard sts. NW. Space will be limited, so RSVP to DCpatients.org. ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

The Man From Anacostia

Remembering William Lockridge My Thank You to William Lockridge by Charles Wilson

ard 8 has lost a true hero. William Lockridge touched us all in his own unique way. I only had the privilege of knowing William for the ﬁve years I have lived in the Ward 8. Although I was not in his immediate family, his passing made me feel like I was a part of his extended Ward 8 family.

The Advocate One of things I most admired about William was that he was a consistent advocate for the Ward 8 community. It did not matter what the topic or who was the audience, he was always prepared to speak up for what he thought was best for his community. I remember Councilmember Marion Barry saying most people are not consistent when it comes to politics and community building. If they lose a race, they will walk away disgusted and you will most likely never see or hear them again. Not William. Despite losing a race or every once in a while putting his “foot in his mouth” he would bounce back and come back with even more energy. He would make sure that his voice was heard and you knew he was a key community stakeholder whether you were a big time developer or a local government oﬃcial.

The Mentor I remember William most of all as a willing mentor to many young people. He was always willing to share advice to help you grow. I think we can all take a lesson from him about the need to train and mentor young people to encourage them to become leaders in their community. William was also a mentor to me. When I decided to jump into Ward 8 City Coun-

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cil race in 2008, I reached out to him for advice. We agreed to meet for lunch at Georgians Restaurant. Before the meeting, to be honest, I was a little nervous because I did not know what to expect. I always thought of him as one of the rabble-rousers in Ward 8. But when we sat down to lunch, I was surprised that he was the complete opposite. We met for a good two hours and I was on the edge of my seat trying to absorb all the information he was willing to share. He not only shared his experience in running for political oﬃce, but he also shared with me some of the mistakes he has made along the way. The most important message that he left was that no matter what mistake he made, or whenever he felt beat-up from the community, he could always go home to his family and they would lift his spirits. Once he was rejuvenated he would hit the streets again to ﬁght for what he believed in.

The Softer Side One of the best qualities about William was his better half, Wanda Lockridge. While William’s style was typically in your face, Wanda always brought out the softer side of William. The woman you choose to marry can change the man you are for the better; this was biggest lesson I learned from William. Everyone loves Wanda Lockridge. Even from a distance, their a loving marriage was a public testimony to the sanctity of the African-American family. Thank you William Lockridge for being an Advocate, a Mentor, and a great example of a Family Man. Charles Wilson was a former candidate for the Ward 8 City Council and is a neighborhood activist in Historic Anacostia. He was recently elected as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Single Member District 8A04. He can be reached at charleswilsonhu@gmail.com ●

Don’t Become a Victim of Fraud!! REPORT QUESTIONABLE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID CHARGES AND PRACTICES Has this happened to you or someone you know? • • •

• •

Billed for products or services not received? Double billed for services or products received? Offered free services, equipment, or supplies in exchange for your Medicare or Medicaid number? Offered money in exchange for your Medicare or Medicaid number? Used your personal information – Identity Theft?

Report fraud, waste, and abuse Call the Senior Medicare Patrol District of Columbia Hotline 202-434-2099 (Se Habla Español) Legal Counsel for the Elderly

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 21

Individual and Family Therapy Services Most insurances accepted, low cost/free services for those uninsured •

Free Women’s Support Group Every Tuesday at 5:00pm call to RSVP

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Upcoming free parents workshop “Stopping the epidemic: Protecting our children from Sexual predators” Saturday, March 26, 2011 11:00-2:00 call to Register

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Ascensions Psychological and Community Services, Inc. 1526 Howard Rd. SE, Wash., DC 20020 202-889-4344 • www.2ascend.org

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| FEBRUARY 2011

Tribute to William Lockridge by Mayor Vincent C. Gray

he District of Columbia recently lost a community treasure, William O’Neal Lockridge. I joined many residents at his homegoing to express condolences to his wife, Wanda, children, Joy and Stefan, and other loved ones. What William Lockridge gave to the city, his beloved Ward 8 and to District children cannot be measured. Mr. Lockridge was a true public servant who was forever in the trenches working for the community, particularly people of who live East of the River. William was a familiar face in the D.C. Council Chamber, always showing up to speak up for residents who did speak up for themselves. Our friend was a fighter. He held politicians accountable and was not afraid to voice an opinion about an action that he felt was not in the best interest of residents. William would not hesitate to call elected officials on the carpet and remind us to put people and not selfinterests first. William Lockridge was a tenacious and genuine advocate who never flinched in his pursuit of justice. I recall one example of his tenacity. I was the first executive director of Covenant House Washington (CHW), the nonprofit agency that serves homeless youth, prior to my election to the D.C. Council. For no apparent reason in 1998, CHW was threatened with eviction from its Community Service Center on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. But William Lockridge was determined not to let that happen. He rallied the community to keep Covenant House from being forced out. CHW remained there for two years until it was able to acquire its own home on New York Avenue. William Lockridge was very committed to children. He gave more than 20 years of service to the District of Columbia Public Schools in various capacities, from teacher to coach to school board member. With fervor and dedication, William worked very hard to improve the public schools long before others found it to be the right thing to do. His leadership on the D.C. School Board and State Board of Education helped to shape agendas that uncompromisingly put students first. William Lockridge, along with his wife Wanda, was a good and loyal Democrat. He was a fixture in D.C. Democratic State Committee politics having served as a president and longtime member of Ward 8 Democrats. We all will miss his passionate activism. Thank you, William O’Neal Lockridge for a life of extraordinary service to our great city. ●

A Friend to DC

William Lockridge by Lisa Raymond

ike many others over the past few weeks, I prayed for the recovery of William Lockridge and then mourned his death, all the while reflecting on the legacy that he has left behind. William was a complex man who loved a passionate argument. As colleagues on the Board of Education and then the State Board of Education, William and I had our share of disagreements. At times we battled and at times I felt bruised from the experience. But over the four years that we served together, I learned that his tenacity was based on an almost frantic, deep-seated need to advocate for those who could not fight for themselves. The children and families of wards 8 and 7, and their right to a high quality education, were constantly on his mind. As the most senior member of our board, William was a treasure trove of local history. He could quickly put into context whatever education issue we were discussing and eloquently describe how our actions, or inaction, would impact his community. William and I once had a difficult conversation about school facilities. At one point he exclaimed, “You just don’t understand because you haven’t experienced segregated schools.” As a white woman growing up in New England, I certainly couldn’t argue that point; but I felt frustrated by our inability to come to an agreement. Later, I came to value that conversation tremendously. It taught me that while two people may fight passionately for the same issue, the lens through which each one views the battle is tinged by his or her unique background and experiences. That lesson has served me well in politics and in life and it’s one of the reasons why diversity in leadership is so important. As evidenced by the hundreds of people who came to his hospital bedside; comforted his wife, Wanda; stood vigil beneath his room and attended and spoke at his funeral, it’s clear that William had a tremendous impact upon those with whom he worked and lived throughout his sixty-three years. While his death at an early age was tragic, his funeral was a celebration of his life and his fighting spirit. Tears were punctuated with laughter as the speakers described how they first met William and how he became a permanent fixture in their lives, never losing faith and pushing them to fight by his side. His viewpoint was respected but his obstinate approach controversial, until one learned that it was simply his way of getting others to pay attention. “Controversy was just William’s way to get a different view on the table,” shared his best friend from Chicago. William Lockridge argued, lectured and sometimes shouted for better schools. His voice and his passion will be missed, but I am certain that the young people and others that he has inspired will keep pushing forward. And that’s the one true thing that William would have wanted.

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Lisa Raymond is the former President and Ward 6 Member of the DC State Board of Education and the current senior education advisor to DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown. ●

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS The Numbers

What Would Rahm Do? DC’s Budget Challenge by Elissa Silverman

t’s February. Our newly elected leaders have had a few weeks to settle into their offices, hire staff, and decide where to display the signed photos and footballs. So now what? It’s time to govern and start making the tough choices talked about on the campaign trail. The biggest challenge facing Mayor Vince Gray and Chairman Kwame Brown is to craft a fiscally responsible budget that keeps the District moving forward. It’s not going to be easy. Our tax collections still haven’t recovered from the recent economic downturn, and the gap between current expenses and expected revenues next year is about $400 million. With challenges come opportunities. “Never let a serious crisis go to waste,” said former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Indeed, there are a few key ways to use DC’s budget crisis to the city’s advantage: making overdue changes to our tax system, reforming the city’s process for awarding business tax breaks, improving long-neglected job training efforts for families with children, and making DC government more accessible and transparent.

cut to the point where we are not just down to the bone but into the bone marrow. Cutting further would put at risk many investments that have made our city more productive and healthy: new school facilities; new swimming pools, ballﬁelds, and libraries; new transportation systems such as buses and streetcars; and a health system that has reduced our uninsured rate to one of the lowest in the nation. Next year we have a few less options to help us close the budget gap, given the drying up of federal stimulus funds and Mayor Gray’s commitment to not dip into our budget reserves. That’s why Mayor Gray has mentioned the possibility of tax increases. This presents a good chance to do targeted changes to modernize DC’s tax system, which is imbalanced and requires a tune up. For example, DC’s top income tax rate starts at just $40,000, and there are tax incentives that have been on the books for years without any review. Then there’s the fact that DC residents with moderate earnings— between $30,000 and $60,000— actually pay a larger percentage of their income in DC taxes than higher-income earners. It’s the right time to make changes for the better.

Opportunity No. 1: Modernize Our Tax System So It Makes Sense (and Cents)

Opportunity No. 2: Make 2011 the Year to Reform the Way DC Gives Business Tax Breaks

Is the problem with our budget that DC government has gone on a Kardashian-like spending spree? A comparison of DC spending now and three years ago doesn’t reﬂect that. In fact, DC’s current budget is about $700 million less than in Fiscal Year 2008, adjusting for inﬂation. Mayor Gray has said that we’ve already

The District cannot shore up its tax system if the city keeps giving away future revenue sources. Yet that is what DC does every time it approves a 10- or 20-year property tax break for a selected business. A number of tax abatements proposed last year – for defense contractor Northrop Grum-

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man, for the retail businesses in Union Station, for a luxury hotel project in Adams Morgan – raised eyebrows and highlighted a tax abatement process that is ad hoc and lacks transparency. It is little surprise that the District got an ‘F” from a national nonprofit for the lack of public disclosure around tax subsidies. We can do better. The District needs to get a handle on the tax breaks we already have awarded — and how much it is costing the city — and we need a process going forward for making the best use of these economic development subsidies. Here are some simple questions that should frame decision-making about each proposed economic development subsidy. • Does the project represent an economic development priority for the District? • What are the costs of the project? • What are the benefits to the city? • Is the subsidy needed for the project to get built? A bill introduced in 2009 titled the Exemptions and Abatements Information Act would go a long way toward improving DC’s tax abatements, by requiring information on costs and benefits to be provided before an abatement is considered. Unfortunately it did not come up for a vote before the full DC Council last session, but the bill should be debated and approved this year. Another big chance to do better is for the Mayor and Council to decide on a tax abatement budget for each year, which set an overall amount of tax dollars that will be given away in subsidies. These reforms would force the Council to prioritize projects and

ensure that only the most worthy receive tax payer assistance.

Opportunity No. 3: Improve How We Help Parents Move to Work The District’s welfare program for families with children, known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), got a lot of attention last year, particularly out of concern that some families have received welfare for a significant amount of time. This led some policymakers to call for new welfare time limits, but it also pointed out that there are thousands of parents in the District with limited job skills who have not been well served by education and training options in the city. As DC’s economy recovers, these families could be left behind. Despite the fiscal crunch, the District need to maintain and improve investments in its residents. In the case of TANF, this means doing a better job with the training resources already available – and devoting more if needed. Welfare time limits may be debated again this spring. But time limits alone will not improve employment outcomes and the well being of DC’s families with children – which should be the real goal. To get the best results, the District first needs to identify who is ready for work and who is not, and then it needs to help prepare those who are not. That means vastly improving the system for assessing the strengths and barriers faced by parents on welfare, creating new education and training options targeted to a family’s individual needs, and setting up a system of work exemptions, such as for victims of domestic violence or

for families caring for a relative with a disability. The good news is that the District is poised to do just that. Well before time limits were raised, the Department of Human Services was working on a plan to improve assessments and expand education and training options to TANF recipients. That plan will be ready for rollout this year. Both Mayor Gray and DC Council need to make sure these positive innovations have the chance to take hold, particularly by providing adequate funding. Otherwise, the District will be handicapping its ability to use TANF for the powerful workforce development tool that it can be.

Opportunity No. 4: Make DC Government Even More Accessible A period of fiscal austerity is a great time for low-cost initiatives, like government transparency. Mayor Gray is off to a good start with a memo his first week in office requiring DC agencies to come up with ideas to enhance public participation and collaboration. That should include putting more spending information online and having agencies hold budget briefings for the public as soon as the Mayor releases his spending plan The Council could learn from Mayor Gray’s transparency initiatives. In particular, Council Chairman Brown should agree to release the Council’s final budget plan two days before the vote in order to give the public a chance to weigh in. This would avoid the streetcar debacle of 2010, where major budget changes were revealed mere hours before the scheduled vote. With challenges come opportunities. Mayor Gray and Chairman Brown have tough decision ahead but opportunities to move us forward as well. Silverman is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www. dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. ●

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CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 25

2011 MLK

PEACE MARCH

photos by Andrew Lightman

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| FEBRUARY 2011

Students in a writing workshop at Southeast Ministry in Ward 8, facilitated by writer Khadijah Ali-Coleman. Funding cuts to the arts impacts programs that hire teaching artists for classes and workshops.

State of the Arts in the District article and photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman

“T

he creative economy was and continues to be the backbone of DC’s growth,” said Cultural Tourism DC’s Deputy Director Leon Seemann in his Dec. 10 testimony at the DC Council hearing “Job Creation and the District’s Creative Economy” convened by DC councilmember Michael Brown. “It is vital that the District government, residents, and business community recognizes the value of the creative sector and realizes investing in it is an investment in the city.” The hearing, attended by prominent leaders in the creative community, such as George Koch, Chair of the annual Artomatic, Andy Shallal, owner of Bus Boys and Poets and Eatonville restaurants, Anthony Gittens, former Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and

Humanities, and Dorothy McSweeny, Board Member of Americans for the Arts, was called to discuss the Creative DC Action Agenda report that was released in May 2010 under the leadership of former Mayor Adrian Fenty. The report was intended to “quantify and put into context “the District’s creative economy by providing a blueprint that indicates where folks who work in the arts—creatives-- are working. The report also identiﬁes the audience for the arts and how the arts impact the city’s economy. While the Creative DC Action Agenda report was created based on a directive by the Fenty administration, signiﬁcant arts funding was cut during his tenure as mayor. The study and ultimate report were born from public outcry over multiple funding cuts for the arts over the past four years. The council has highlighted on

the current DC budget about half a million dollars in funding to be cut which could irreparably devastate the dozens, if not hundreds of organizations, festivals, programs and individuals throughout the city funded by the DC Commission on the Arts. “I think Michael Brown convening this forum [on Dec. 10] is consistent with the study that says that arts economy brings in revenue,” says Robert Bettman, founder of the DC Advocates for the Arts (DCAA), an organization of artists intent on changing policy through watchdog practices and organized response. “We’ve been very disappointed in what the Fenty administration has done. Cuts to the arts mean reduced programming. Arts fundings go to small organizations most times. When $80,000 is cut, that is at least one job that disappears. We have been

making the case that though they have to cut the budget, [arts funding] is the wrong part of the budget to be cut.” In Wards 7 and 8, new arts spaces are popping up to provide the local community with venues to showcase performances and visual art and sell wares. Blank Space SE, a new permanent creative pop-up space in Anacostia, is one of those places, welcoming artists to use the space as their own temporary creative home for rent. But will artists be able to afford to pay for venues in a city that is steadily slashing artist funding and opportunities for artists to have the means up front to even begin the production of new projects and performances? Bettmann asserts that this is where it gets tricky. “One of the things about the creative economy is that it’s not just the nonprofit economy,” he says. “Often, it includes restaurants, new media, clubs, etc. Businesses thrive when they have some aspect of the arts as a part of their business.” According to Bettman, at least 20 percent of jobs in the District are creative economy jobs at institutions like the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center. He suggests that arts advocates should recognize that concerns of the for-profit community may not be the same concerns for nonprofits. “When the arts community talks about city support for the arts, we are usually talking about budgets,” Bettmann says. Wearing three hats --one as a District resident, one as an arts organizational leader of the nonprofit Day Eight and one as leader of DCAA—he believes that there are ways in which District artists can advocate for themselves and that patrons of the arts can support arts funding. Ultimately, he says, DC’s economy can be strengthened by policy change that supports District artists with job training and opportunities to transition their skills into arts-based roles that impact the city. “When there are jobs that a lot of people want to do [like performing and creating art], places know that they can just find ten people that they can pay less or not at all. Reallocation of funds for job training programs or new money for job training programs will help talented people transition their skills into needed roles.” To learn more about the DC Advocates for the Arts, visit www.dcadvocatesforthearts.org. ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 27

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Frank Bryant, founder of Free My City.

The Quest to Free City’s Youth by Tiffany E. Browne ressed in a gray suit with a black shirt, it is easy to peg Frank Bryant as a business man, maybe a corporate shark in training. True, the Benning Ridge resident has graduated cum laude from Morehouse College, so he carries himself in that distinguished Morehouse gentleman way. He is also a graduate of Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute and is currently a graduate student at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Yet he chooses to stay close to home for the sake of the District’s future generations. During Mayor Adrian Fenty’s four-year term in oﬃce, education reform in the District became part of a larger conversation as Mayor Fenty and Michelle Rhee, [former] Chancellor of the D.C. public school system, made their rounds speaking nationally, propelling Rhee’s reform eﬀorts. In Bryant’s eyes, Rhee did a decent job. “I felt she did a good job for the

most part, but I wish things could have been done differently. Negligent teachers are only part of the problem. Teachers can only impact a child’s life to a certain extent. The rest is about what’s going with the school, the community and at home that is affecting the student,” says Bryant. Still, he wanted in on the action. At 29 he is the founder of Free My City, a D.C. based non-profit that serves the city’s youth. The organization aims to spark inspiration within each student, in grades kindergarten to twelve, and initiate their ambitions to set life goals. Bryant is using creative concepts to get students motivated and thinking about the future. Free My City has already implemented My First MBA. My First MBA is a financial literacy program where students learn financial responsibility--from properly balancing a checkbook to managing credit. Free My City has also held information sessions about prepar-

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ing for college and a special basketball fundraising event in 2008, which eight students received full college scholarships. Bryant is also the organizer for the National Enlightenment Walk for Education Reform in America (NEW ERA), an event that he hopes will draw thousands of students and education leaders to the District for a nation-wide walk and pep rally to drive home reform issues that affect the nation’s children. The NEW ERA walk is scheduled to kick off National Education Week in November 2011. “I want to make this a really big and special event. I want this to be a pep rally, where students are receiving backpacks with school supplies. We’re looking for sponsors and celebrity figures they look up to, like John Legend who is vocal about education reform,” says Bryant. “Also, I want the kids to lead the walk. I want them to be excited and have a chance to voice their concerns.” Though he did not consciously choose the path of being an advocate for children, the blue print was in front of him. His mother was a teacher at Webb Elementary in northeast. His father was an officer at Oak Hill Youth Center, the District’s old juvenile detention center a few miles away in Laurel, Md. Thinking that he wanted to practice physical therapy, he got his undergraduate degree is in kinesiology. So how did he end up starting Free My city? “It started when I was substituting, for DCPS, mainly at Minor Elementary. After a while I noticed that some of the kids were going through real issues like homelessness, abuse and drugs,” says Bryant. The moment it all sunk in for Bryant was on a particular day as he was talking to a fifth grader. The student talked candidly about being shot and carried a knife to school for protection during his walk home. What really hit home was how Bryant could identify

with some of the young males. As a youth, Bryant would constantly get into fights at school. “I was always picked on, especially for how I dressed. And I didn’t always apply myself. So I got into a lot of trouble,” says Bryant. After gradually becoming more involved with his students, Bryant initially created Free DC clothing line. The concept derived from his observations of students wearing t-shirts that simply state in protest that the “the system” free their relative or friend from jail. The more he saw those shirts, Bryant felt his own statement brewing; the concept of freeing D.C. from some of the social ills that plague the city’s youth. From the clothing line, he branched into the non-profit and now he prepares for the NEW ERA walk. Dion’ta Curtis, a soft-spoken 13 year-old, is one of Bryant’s mentees. This year, while serving as a behavioral specialist at a public charter school, Bryant took an interest in Curtis after noticing that, while he excelled academically, his behavior was a bit disruptive to his class. After consulting with Curtis’ mother, Monique Hagler, Bryant introduced Curtis to Free My City. Curtis is often referred to as a bright student; finishing his work early and excelling in academics. He is also labeled as a class clown. Curtis’ case could easily be the classic case of how bored and unchallenged a student can feel. Hagler noticed how each report card Curtis has ever received, from kindergarten to present, always included the note about Curtis’ “class clown” behavior, with no solutions. “His teachers would always mention it, but no one took the time or proper innovation to address it. Mr. Bryant has stepped in as an advocate for Dion’ta and this is the first time his behavior is being addressed,” says Hagler. “I’ve seen a drastic change. Mr. Bryant is a positive mentor to where Dion’ta wants to prove himself to Mr. Bryant.”

“I never thought I would LOVE WORKING WITH KIDS, but IT’S TRULY A BLESSING in disguise...” - Frank Bryant

FREE Bryant has suggested that Curtis arrive at school early enough to complete online coursework oﬀered at the school and as the day goes on, that Curtis pace himself with his work. Curtis’ improvement has been gradual with Bryant and his mother continuously being his biggest cheerleaders. It has only been a year, but since his involvement with Free My City, Curtis enjoys the company of other students involved and his time with Bryant. He has also become ambitious about his future. “I would like to travel overseas and mentor or teach others,” says Curtis Despite his initial thoughts, Bryant seems to be ﬂowing naturally into his niche of becoming a mentor and a voice for a new generation sifting through the hallways of the District’s schools. “I never thought I would love working with kids, but it’s truly a blessing in disguise. I feel I am doing what I am meant to do,” says Bryant. You can reach Frank Bryant at 301-437-4700, or go to http://www.freemycitynow.org. ●

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EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Nadia Rose

CRITICAL EXPOSURE article and photos by Nadia Rose

Jaiden and Reniya.

(This photo essay was created by Nadia Rose, a student at Luke C. Moore, during a program that she participated in with Critical Exposure. Critical Exposure is a non-proﬁt organization in Washington DC that teaches young people to use the power of photography and their own words to advocate for education reform and social change. Over the years, Critical Exposure has worked with students to document issues such as poor school facilities, homelessness, teen pregnancy, school 30 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| FEBRUARY 2011

lunches and the dropout crisis. During last semester, Critical Exposure partnered with a Luke C. Moore art class to investigate ways to improve the school, while also forming a conversation about the overall success that the school is having in creating a second chance for many students who have struggled to get through high school in the past. For more information about Critical Exposure’s work, visit: www.criticalexposure. org or conctact us: info@criticalexposure.org.) - Emma Scott

CLOCKWISE from TOP LEFT 1. Self-Portrait. 2. Clean Cafeteria. 3. Anthony and Raymond outside of art class. 4. Nadia Presenting her Advocacy Project.

y kids love school, they really do, they want to go to school every day. Even on Saturdays, they love to go to school and they are smart, very smart. My kids know everything, days of the week, counting, letters; I think I did a very good job. Me and my daughter, we wear the same color uniform for school. My kids like that I go to school. First, I haven’t been to school in four years because of the jobs that I had. The jobs weren’t good enough for me so I decided to better my education, to get my high school diploma, not only for me but [also] for my kids. The school let me in because I had kids [and the principal said] that I am really focused on doing what I need to do. I love going to this school, so much more than my other schools. This is a great environment because it’s not crazy; in regular public schools it’s so dramatic. Here, everyone knows everyone, there aren’t arguments, it’s very strict here for the students. They help you, we have extra credit classes that we can do here in school or online, that’s another big help to me, so I can graduate in June instead of going to school for the summer. I like the teachers; they try to help as best as they can, as long as you’re putting your all in it. I went to Dunbar ﬁrst, then Ballou, but Luke C. Moore is my school that I will be graduating from, in 2011! Most students are here because they’re problem kids, they got kicked out of other schools or they’re older, too old to get into a regular school. More kids should have a chance to go to schools like Luke C. Moore: kids do their work here, try to make it up, anything that they have to do. It isn’t a big school, it’s real small, all the students ﬁt in the auditorium…so there is more attention for each student from the teachers, if you need help, you can go to anybody in here…any teacher, ask a friend, they can all be helpful. ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 31

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Insights “Through the Lens” Photography and Community Change by Virginia Avniel Spatz

ow do shiny new buildings affect the view from in- and outside a community? How can photography help a community reflect on changes in view? “pARTake: Through the Lens – Visions of Urban Renewal” brought community members and five DC photographers together to explore these questions. Co-hosted by Authentic Contemporary Art and The Center for Green Urbanism’s Tubman-Mahan Art Gallery, the salon touched on the concepts of “gentrification” of housing stock, government-coordinated “urban renewal” and what the District now bills as “neighborhood revitalization.” (See sidebar.) The strongest theme, however, was documenting meaning and loss in the midst of community change.

Photography and Change Kimberly C. Gaines, a Ward 7 artist-educator, works in a multicultural learning community in Columbia Heights. She traveled to Denmark in an U.S. delegation exploring “Outreach and Integration of Marginalized Populations.” Photos in her post-trip exhibit, “Urban Landscapes: from DC to Denmark,” reﬂect “the surface of a complex human condition.” Many of Gaines’ images focus on what she calls the “shiny” parts of cities she visited.“You will not always be able to identify the ‘hood’ in either place,” she adds. but you must certainly keep in mind that it exists.” Photography helps communities document what matters most to them, says Timothea Howard, community organizer and photographer. As demolition and new building occurs, communities want a record of features they’re afraid will soon be lost, she has found. “Neighbors will point to something and say: ‘Get [a picture of ] that real quick before they

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take it.’” Around the world there is a “global trend of moving the poor out of cities,” Howard argues, and photographers can document the back stories in a changing community, “telling the counter-narratives” behind that trend. The most essential counter-narrative, according to James Cunningham, a native DC artist and DCPS teacher, is simply: “All change is not necessarily good.” In addition, he argues, important counter-narratives emerge from asking children how they perceive their world. On his travels to Africa, Cunningham has seen new roads and buildings appear, bringing an appearance of new prosperity. The children he photographs, however, experience a diﬀerent reality, succinctly explaining: “We live at the end of the asphalt.” Melani N. Douglass says the view changed “block by block” in her native Baltimore and her path to school | FEBRUARY 2011

TOP: Department of Employment Services headquarters, 4058 Minnesota, NE, opened for business in Dec. 2010. Shown here as construction neared completion, this new building represents Phase I of a “neighborhood revitalization” plan for Ward 7. RIGHT: Photo taken several years after African Heritage Dance Center, 4018 Minnesota, NE, once a prominent Ward 7 cultural asset, was forced to relocate. Phase II of a “neighborhood revitalization” plan is in process. No trace of the building remains.

meant navigating multiple economic realities. As a visual/performance artist and educator who now lives and works in Southeast, her photos also reﬂect multiple realities: the feminine element of nature represented by neighborhood trees; living history in the people of Selma, Alabama; the vibrancy of Anacostia through intersections. During a period of urban transformation, Douglass says, photography can help viewers realize that

“beauty was there before things that glitter.” Alexandra Silverthorne, an artist-educator, endeavors in her own work to create new perspectives on sometimes overlooked places: photos of a local park are mounted on bricks to reﬂect the paving stones of the park itself, for example. She says newer DC residents taught her that not all meaning in a neighborhood is linked to its history. Helping ﬁrstgeneration immigrants document their surroundings, the DC native realized that her students had not inherited stories and feelings about the city from previous generations. “They saw it fresh,” Silverthorne recalls, and that inspired her to “fall in love with the city in a way that [she] hadn’t growing up.”

Urban Transformation and Race For years following World War II, federally-sponsored “Urban Renewal” brought wholesale reconstruction of neighborhoods around the country. Southwest, DC, for example, was almost completely leveled; residents were relocated to projects such as Barry Farm, and new structures in the “Brutalist” style – I.M. Pei’s Waterside towers, e.g. -- appeared. More recently, less drastic development strategies have been adopted to bring a denser population and new investment to cities. City planners – in DC and around the country -- now argue that large-scale “neighborhood revitalization” projects are necessary to bring restaurants and retail to under-served areas. Do such projects truly revitalize existing communities? Or, as suggested at the salon, does new development often put up a shiny front, “camouflaging marginalized people’s lives”? And what is the role of race in these processes? Who is moved out, who remains and who replaces former residents? One salon participant argued that “gentrification is the story of what color people will live” in an area. Another countered: “Race can be a diversion. Gentrifi-

cation really is an economic issue.” The salon reached no conclusions, and discussion will continue. Next up at the Tubman-Mahan Gallery: photography of James Cunningham. The gallery is housed at 3938 Benning Road, NE. Call 202506-3867 or visit www.authenticartonline. com for details. ●

Naming Urban Change The Oxford English Dictionary says that “gentry” were “the class immediately below the nobility” in 16th Century England. The concept of “gentrifying” an area did not arise for another four hundred years, however. American usage, meanwhile, was more general -“people of good family or superior social standing” -- and, according to the 1963 Funk & Wagnalls, “gentry” was usually a “patronizing or humorous term.” According to Twentieth Century Words, by John Ayto (Oxford University Press, 1999), “gentrify” entered written English in 1972; “gentrification,” 1973. Ayto dates the term “urban renewal” to a 1955 amendment to the U.S. Housing Act. Gentrify v. 1972, to renovate or convert (housing especially in an inner city area) so that it conforms to middle-class taste; also, to make (an area) middle-class. Usually used disparagingly, with the implication of swamping genuine workingclass culture with effete bourgeioserie. Urban Renewal n. 1955, the clearance and redevelopment of slum areas, waste land, ghettos, etc. within a city or town. Originally U.S. [capitalized as U.S. government program. “Neighborhood Revitalization,” according to DC’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, is “creating an environment that encourages growth and investment [through] Districtsponsored neighborhood development projects.”

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EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

East Washington History

Neighborhood Movie Theaters by John Muller

efore the modern era of corporately owned multiplexes, East Washington had independently owned neighborhood movie theaters from Deanwood in northeast to Anacostia in southeast. However, there are now no open movie theatres in all of Ward 7 or Ward 8. With architectural skeletons of the Strand Theater on Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, and the Senator Theater on Minnesota Avenue NE, still standing, it has been more than two decades since a movie lit up the screen of a theater in East Washington. (THEARC on Mississippi Avenue SE, for the purposes of this article, is not considered a movie theater even though they have occasionally shown a movie; it is a performing arts stage.)

First Theaters in East Washington “We don’t know where movies were first shown there, but there were probably some venues for films before 1909,” says Robert Headley, author of the definitive guide to DC’s movie theater history, “Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, DC: An Illustrated History of Parlors, Places, and Multiplexes in the Metropolitan Area, 1894-1997.” “A man named T. B. Stallings was showing movies on Nichols Avenue, now MLK Jr. Avenue, in 1909. There was an open-air theater called the Proctor, also on Nichols, in 1910,” according to Headley. “Lloyd Wineland, who would go on to build four movie houses in the area, started out in a former Masonic Hall at 2002 14th St. SE in 1923. He converted it into a movie theater and called it the Logan.” In 1929, Wineland opened the two-story brick and stone Fairlawn, the first theater in Anacostia, “built from the ground up” at 1342 Good

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Hope Road. Early ads made special mention that the theater would show silent and sound movies, known as “talkies.”

Congress Theater Wineland then built the Congress Theater at 2931 Nichols Avenue to serve the Congress Heights neighborhood. Opening on December 30, 1939 with a live performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Lean Brusiloﬀ ’s String Ensemble, several speakers from local citizen associations spoke in welcoming the new neighborhood theater. Double or Nothing starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye was the ﬁrst feature, with admission 20 cents for children under twelve and 30 cents for adults. During its last years, in the 1970’s, so many objects were thrown at and through the screen that it was removed and movies were shown on the painted rear wall of the auditorium. A liquor store now occupies the building.

Strand Theater The Strand Theater opened on November 3, 1928 at 5129-5131 | FEBRUARY 2011

Grant Street NE, now Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, by Abe Lichtman to serve the black community in the Deanwood neighborhood. Lichtman, known for running the Howard and Lincoln Theaters, retired from the business in 1946. By that time he ran 46 theaters in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina with a staﬀ of 425 employees, approximately 400 being black and representing all management positions. “The Strand was an extension of the neighborhood in the sense; we played all kinds of games, hide-nseek, riding bikes, roller skating, jacks, jump rope. We played in each other’s yards so going to the Strand was an extension of our street we played on,” says Celestia Tobe, who grew up on Grant Street NE. The experience of seeing movies at the Strand made a lasting impression on Tobe. “Imitation of Life stands out, because the neighborhood tough guy cried along with the rest of us.” “Today movie going is so diﬀerent. The theaters today are surrounded by so many stores and restaurants, they seem more commercial. My

memories of our neighborhood theaters were more like home,” remembers Tobe.

Senator Theater On February 19, 1942 the Senator Theater opened at 3946-3956 Minnesota Avenue built by K-B Theaters. In late 1951 it was leased by the Bernheimer organization to operate as an African-American theater. It was closed for a time in the 1970’s, but was reopened in November of 1979. The art-deco building is in use today with a Subway eatery and beauty supply store occupying the ground ﬂoor with the Senator’s blue marquee still as visible as it was when it played its last movie in 1989. “After cutting grass and making some money in the neighborhood we used to go there as kids in the seventies and see Bruce Lee movies,” said Stephon Gray.

Carver Theater The ﬁrst non-segregated theater to open in the area was the Carver Theater at 2405 Nichols Avenue in July of 1948. The theater was not suc-

cessful and closed in 1957. The Smithsonian Anacostia Neighborhood Museum opened in the building in 1967 and was there until 1987 when they moved to their current location at 1901 Fort Place SE. The Howard Road Academy’s Middle School campus now occupies the former theater.

Last Theaters in East Washington In 1940, the Highland Theater opened at 2533 Pennsylvania Avenue SE and in March of 1947 the Anacostia Theater, designed by John Eberson, opened at 1415 Good Hope Road, replacing the Fairlawn as the main theatre along Good Hope Road. Both theaters were maintained by Wineland. The Anacostia Theater closed in 1967 and was subsequently razed. In 1977 the Highland was closed and converted into a clothing store and is now a child development center. The largest movie house in East Washington was the Naylor Theater at 2834 Alabama Avenue with 990 seats. It was built by K-B Theaters and opened following the end of World War II on November 1, 1945. At the time of its opening a newspaper article predicted that “it will take the Southeast community at least 25 years to outgrow the Naylor Theater.” Acquired by Wineland in 1961, the theater eventually closed in 1970, approximately 25 years after it opened. Today, there are seven movie theaters in DC from the independent Avalon Theatre the oldest surviving movie theater in the city, ﬁrst opening in 1923 as the Chevy Chase Theater in the uptown neighborhood of the same name, to the corporate Regal Gallery Place downtown. I have often heard East Washington residents talk of the need for a bookstore on our side of the city. What about a movie theater? If you have an idea for a future history focus, email John Muller at muller.h.john@ gmail.com ●

Dr. Angela Pitts, Optometrist by B. Michelle Harris McQureerir

ast summer, I interviewed two doctors that serve patients in Ward 8. These dedicated private health care providers see patients who live and work East of the Anacostia River. They are Dr. Michangelo Scruggs, Podiatrist, and Dr. Angela Pitts, Optometrist. Both have practices at the United Medical Center. This month, the focus is on Dr. Pitt. Dr. Pitts of Precision Vision was one of the kindest and spunkiest optometrists (eye doctors) I have ever met. She was five years when she told her mother that she wanted to be a doctor. By the time she was in high school, she narrowed her specialty down to optometry. Why optometry? According to Pitts, she had worn thick glasses for most of her life. In high school, she wore contact lenses for the first time. “It totally changed my life. It is so nice to help people to see.” Dr. Pitts graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. “In college, I worked in an inner-city Baltimore clinic. I met a family who just received medical assistance. This was the first time that everyone in this family had had their eyes examined. One of the sons sat by himself in the corner, “oblivious” to what was going on around him. He seemed to be mentally retarded. It turned out that he needed a very high prescription for his eyeglass lenses. He was legally blind without glasses. His prescription was so strong, they had to adjust the strength of his prescription gradually so that he would not be overwhelmed while he got used to them. He ended up with “coke-thick glasses.” However, he could now fully absorb what was going on around him. Pitts noted, “He was not retarded at all. He just couldn’t see. “That experience made me know 100% that I wanted to be an eye doctor, especially for children. Children cannot tell their parents that they cannot see. They have no point of reference as do adults. If a child develops vision problems early, pediatricians do not always notice it. I believe that every child, before kindergarten or first grade, should have an eye screening.” She noted that if a child sits really close to a computer, TV, or a book, or if they squint their eyes and are unable to see far away, “Do not wait for the child to tell you they can’t see. They won’t tell you.”

Dr. Angela Pitts, Photos courtesy of Angela Pitts, Precision Vision

Kids (and Adults) Sometimes “Fake It” When It Comes to Vision Tests Pitts noted that many kids memorize an eye chart. In vision screenings at school, a child might hear other children and repeat what they heard them say. Children do not want to do badly on a “test”—for vision or for anything else. Even adults cheat at eye screenings. Most health insurance plans cover for children to have an eye exam every year. Adults are covered for every two years, or every year if they have a condition such as diabetes.

Eye Exams—a Glimpse Through a Window Into One’s Overall Health Most of us have heard the saying about one’s eyes being the window into one’s soul. My interview with Dr. Pitts gave me a better understanding of how one’s eyes can also be an important window through which optometrists can assess one’s overall health. Eye care, according to Pitts is very important. “Diabetes is the number one cause for blindness in people in the United States.” She noted that one of the ﬁrst signs of diabetes may be blurry vision. If a person states, “I can’t see out of these glasses anymore,” 99.9% of the time, that person has diabetes. This person needs to see a primary care physician. Glaucoma is another serious eye condition that needs to be treated. People at high risk for glaucoma are African American, those with a family history of glaucoma, and people over 40 years of age. Glaucoma has no symptoms and

no pain, but can be detected through an eye exam. “The earlier it is treated, the better.” “If found late, you can’t get your vision back. Glaucoma steals a person’s side vision. They can become clumsy, bumping into stuff, running into stuff.” Pitts noted that although diabetes is a serious threat to good vision, uncontrolled high blood pressure is another cause of blindness that affects African Americans at a high rate.” She added that eye doctors are important for referring patients to primary care providers who can treat them for diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions that, if left untreated, can rob them of their vision. Pitt could set up practice anywhere in the city—anywhere in the country. She chose to work in a medically underserved community to continue fulfilling her dream of making a difference in the lives of people. We need to keep her “dream” alive by spreading word about her practice in Southeast DC. It is a treat for those of all ages to meet Dr. Pitts.

Contact Her You can reach Dr. Pitts at 202538-1220 or 4u2c2020@gmail.com. A selection of eye glasses and contact lenses are available at her oﬃce. Spread the word so that you and your family can visit Dr. Pitts, dedicated eye doctor, soon at 1328 Southern Avenue, S.E. B. Michelle Harris, PhD, MPH, RD, is Assistant Professor at the University of the District of Columbia. Her focus is public and community health through education, information, and research. Contact her at bharris@udc.edu. Visit the UDC website at www.udc.edu. ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 35

Thoughts of a Jazz Lover! Jazz can be enigmatic, an alchemy of mysterious sounds and moods that is spontaneous and yet deliberate in its free ﬂowing creativity. The music can be complex, but good jazz feels as simple as ﬁrst love—it goes straight to the heart and rests there, beating gently. At times, the music can be so life-like that it speaks to you with honesty and love. One still gets a keen sense of understanding of the complexity of the music. There is such a high note of haughtiness, perhaps a natural aristocracy from a kind of inbred austerity about jazz that puts it in a class by itself, elevating one to a higher ground of one’s consciousness. It almost borders on elitism, and yet jazz strikes one as a beautiful music for everyone. And it is, especially for those of us who not only enjoy, but truly love, the music. True, most good jazz musicians more than likely think of jazz as the arbiter of modern music. And on a good day, I think they are correct. You can walk in your door after a hard day’s work and a harrowing Metro ride, put on Sarah Vaughn and your world is transformed. Your mind clears, your body relaxes and suddenly life is pretty good. There’s no drug in the world that can do that. Jazz is beautiful music.

Jazz Brazil •••

by Jean-Keith Fagon

Cote d’Azur •••• The Rippingtons, Peak Records Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons have thrilled their fans for more than 25 years with fun-loving music, at times to the jubilation point of ecstasy. Still, this latest release, Cote d’Aur, inspired by Mr. Freeman’s love for the French people and the revered region of the French Riviera, conjures up wild, exotic dancing and celebration and mesmerizing dreams of ancient Arabian nights. “This is the best album I’ve ever written,” says Mr. Freeman, “and unlike on any other Rippingtons recording, the music is a pristine crystallization of the way I ﬁrst heard it in my head. I think the incredible cultural connection between France and America hit me one night in Nice when I was watching a show on the history of St. Tropez.” Every musician shines on this album and every song is a surprise and a hit. Get a sneak peak of “Bardol,” “Passage To Marseilles,” “Postcard From Cannes,” and “Riviera Jam.”

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| FEBRUARY 2011

Mark Weinstein, Jazzheads Although this album is billed as Brazilian jazz the music here is too laid back and much more about Mark Weinstein with his flutes. With the exception of the title track “Brazil,” “Dawn’s Early Light,” “Memphis Underground,” and “Samosco,” the album lacks the spicy flavor and flamboyant flair of Brazilian culture and celebratory music. Supported by fine musicians Kenny Barron (piano), Nelson Matta (bass) and Marcello Pelliteri (drums and percussion), this album is worth checking out. It seems that love is, in a manner of speaking, such powerful and mysterious force that has no earthly boundaries for any of us.

Art Of Love ••• Robert Sadin, Deutsche Grammophon For those of us who have discovered and experienced love, made love, lost love and found love again, this album is a classic collection on the “Art of Love” by musicians from all around the world. There is something reverent, almost sacredly prescient, in songs like “Douce Dame” by Hassan Hakmoun, “Force Of Love” and “Helas” from Charles Curtis, “Love Without End” and “Tu, meu sonho vivo” by Milton Nascimento, “Natalie’s Song” by Natalie Merchant, and “Dame, si vous m’etes lointaine” performed by Robert Sadin.

Broke Down Beautiful ••• Steve Krause, Producer Ben Wisch “Steve Krause meditates upon the dualities of life, love and loss on the singer-songwriter’s second album, Broke Down Beautiful, an acoustic adult rock collection produced by Grammy-winner Ben Wisch. At the core of his ten original songs are his lyrics — provocative, clever turns of phrase artfully wedded to intimate melodies and a warm, expressive voice. He has a way of engaging his listeners so deeply that they feel as if they are having an intimate conversation with a friend. His soothing, resonant and occasionally haunting melodies are thoughtfully coaxed from an acoustic guitar, and range from softly finger-picked ballads to rhythmically strummed up-tempo cuts. Producer Ben Wisch adorned the tracks with gentle instrumental accents and subtle flourishes using countrified steel and cool-toned electric guitars, keyboards and organs, aching cellos and violins, and drums and percussion that further the artist’s revealing messages. Mr. Krause does not get bogged down by darkness or overwrought by emotion. Instead, he offers glimmers of comfort and hope, beacons of light leading towards brighter days. Standouts include “I Were A Book,” “Halls Of Your Heart.” All CDs and DVDS reviewed in this article are heard through Bowers & Wilkens 802D Speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, and Rotel Preamp 1070, amplifier 1092 and CD player 1072. CDs are available for purchase through amazon.com For more information about this column, please email your questions to fagon@hillrag.com. ●

KIDS & FAMILY

Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum On Saturday, Feb. 19, 10:00 AM-4:30 PM, The National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality. Kick off and celebrate National Engineers Week by participating in this handson and fun-filled festival! $5 suggested donation. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org

Courtesy of the National Building Museum. Photo: Jen Michaelree

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

President’s Day Holiday Public Skate

Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval

Fort Dupont Ice Arena welcomes all skaters on Monday, Feb. 21, noon-1:50 PM. Children 12 and under and seniors, $4. Skaters 13 and older, $5. Skate rental is $3. 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org

On Saturday, Feb. 12, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM, come to the Anacostia Community Museum for a fun-ﬁlled day for the whole family with arts and crafts workshops, storytellers, live entertainment, and costuming. Participants will get to take away a free keepsake photo dressed in festive costuming. Free. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4875.

Spring Family Program at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Starting Saturday Feb. 12 and then each Saturday in Feb., join a ranger at the visitor center at 10:00 AM for an early look at spring. The birds have paired oﬀ by Valentine Day, and trees have started to bud out and bloom in some cases. Don’t miss this ﬁrst blush of spring. The program is weather dependent. In the event of really cold weather, we will have a garden craft program in the visitor center. Suitable for 4 year olds and up. All programs are free and meet at the visitor center. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-426-6905. nps.gov/keaq

Northeast Performing Arts Group Dance Classes Northeast Performing Arts Group is accepting applications for winter dance classes on a open/ongoing basis. Register your child now for classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Liturgical Dance. $20 Registration Fee, $45 per month (ages 3-7); $65 per month (ages 8-18). All registered participants will perform in the annual Black History production “When Will It End: Slavery Now, Slavery Then.”

Call Mr. Lassiter at 202-388-1274. nepag.net

Children’s Gallery of Black History “Rise Up! A Journey for Economic Empowerment Worldwide” Through hands-on, child-friendly exhibits, this year’s Gallery will celebrate those who pushed against the odds to attain ﬁnancial and community sustainability; including Carter G. Woodson, Nina Simone, and A. Philip Randolph. Feb. 16-19 and Feb. 22-26; 10:30 AM-2:00 PM. $.50/child, $2/ adult. Group rates available. All Souls Church, Unitarian (Lower Level), 1500 Harvard St. NW. 202545-1919. momiestlc.com

Lloyd D. Smith Foundation College Scholarships for Ward 7 Students The Lloyd D. Smith Foundation announces college scholarships for 2011 high school graduates of Ward 7. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Applications must be received by April 8. Visit lloyCAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 37

KIDS & FAMILY

Photo: Rafael Suanes, Georgetown Sports Information

“Bring Your A Game” Free Georgetown Basketball Tickets Georgetown Athletics is proud to announce the “Bring Your A Game” program, a new partnership with DC public schools which encourages and rewards students’ hard work in the classroom. By showing proof on a report card of an ‘A’ earned during the 2010-2011 academic year, the student is entitled to receive up to four complimentary tickets to the Feb. 23 Georgetown vs Cincinnati men’s basketball game. The student is also eligible for up to four complimentary tickets to any of the following Georgetown women’s basketball home games this season: Saturday, Feb. 5 vs Cincinnati, 3:00 PM; Tuesday, Feb. 8 vs South Florida, 9:00 PM; Wednesday, Feb. 23 vs Pittsburgh, 7:00 PM. For ticket redemption, parents can stop by the McDonough Arena Box Oﬃce on the campus of Georgetown University between the hours of 1:00-5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. A valid report card must be shown in order to obtain tickets. Tickets are subject to availability and there is a maximum of four tickets per child/report card shown. If you have any questions about this program, email sportspromo@georgetown.edu.

ddsmithfoundation.org to download an application. If you have questions, contact Mary Ann Smith at 202-5841826.

Education for Excellence Program at the National Cathedral The Education for Excellence Program (TEEP) is a free ﬁve-week summer program for middle school students from under-resourced communities across the city. Academic classes are taught each morning by faculty from the three Cathedral schools. Afternoon cultural and enrichment activities include community service, drama, sports, stone carving, and other activities at the Cathedral. TEEP is designed to enrich the minds and lives of students, engage them creatively, and engender a love and discipline for learning. For more information, contact Patty Johnson at 202-537-5251 or

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pjohnson@cathedral.org.

Aaron Gilchrist Judges Scripps National Spelling Bee at Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter School Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter School participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a program established to promote literacy and to help students throughout their lives, through a school-wide Spelling Bee held in January. The School-Wide Spelling Bee was comprised of 20 spellers from Grades 3-5. There was a series of rounds in which students competed by orally spelling words. The top two spellers advance to the Regional Cluster Competition with the opportunity to ultimately advance to the Citywide and National Spelling Bee. Aaron Gilchrist, anchor for the weekend editions of News4 Today of NBC4 Washington, DC, will serve as a guest judge | FEBRUARY 2011

for the event. Aaron joined News4 in March 2010 after spending 12 years at WWBT, NBC’s station in Richmond. He joined WWBT as a desk assistant and worked hard to become a reporter and an Emmy winning anchor there. Aaron moved to Richmond as a child. He attended public schools there graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in downtown Richmond. Mr. Gilchrist now lives in Washington, DC. 800-9016943. lighthouse-academies.org

as makers of history. Free registration is required. smithsonianconference.org/ freedomrides From May until November 1961, more than 400 diverse and committed Americans rode south together on buses and trains, putting their bodies and freedom on the line to challenge the Jim Crow laws that enforced racial injustice and inequality in public transportation. The Freedom Rides changed the Civil Rights Movement and demonstrated the power of individual action to change the nation.

Casey Trees Unveils Children’s Education Web Page

African American Pioneers in Aviation Family Day

Casey Trees’ new educational webpage, Arbor Kids, features fun and interactive activities to get kids outdoors and learn about trees and their many environmental, social and economic beneﬁts. Arbor Kids is a rich resource for educators, caregivers and parents alike. Each downloadable activity incorporates Casey Trees’ ROOTS (Restoring Our Own Trees Through Service) curriculum, developed for kindergarten to 8th grade students, and integrates geography, science and math to cultivate knowledge of the District’s urban forest. Activities can be done alone or in groups. Find Arbor Kids at caseytrees.org/ education

On Saturday, Feb. 12, 10:00 AM3:00 PM, visitors to the National Air and Space Museum will meet famed African American pilots from World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought discrimination both at home and abroad; talk to Museum experts; and participate in hands-on activities, story time, and book signings. 202633-1000. nasm.si.edu

The 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides On Wednesday, Feb. 9, middle and high school students across the country will join together electronically for a National Youth Summit on the Freedom Rides and activism. Freedom Rides veterans Congressman John Lewis, D-GA, Diane Nash, Jim Zwerg, and Reverend James Lawson will share how they became involved in the Freedom Rides and how their lives were aﬀected by them. They will join ﬁlmmaker Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders) and scholar Raymond Arsenault to discuss the meaning of the Freedom Rides and the role of young people in shaping America’s past and future. Students will be encouraged to participate in the discussion through email (nmahweb@si.edu), Facebook, Twitter, and the conference portal, and will be asked to think about themselves

DCPS Urban Education Leaders Internship Program The DCPS Urban Education Leaders Internship Program is an intensive multi-disciplinary internship program that runs during the academic school year, administered by the Office of the Chancellor. We are recruiting talented, entrepreneurial and committed interns and fellows who would like to explore policy in practice at the local government level, making a difference in the lives of over 45,000 public school students, principals, and central office employees. This program is designed for leaders who are near completion of their undergraduate or graduate/professional degrees by the start of the program. The program is also open to DCPS high school students in grades 10-12, who work primarily on administrative tasks. 202-442-5885. k12. dc.us/internships

Become a Host Family to African Students! Visions in Action is looking for families to host high school students aged between 15 and 18 and their teachers from French-speaking West and Central Africa as part of a youth

A Great Way For Children To Learn - Grades Pre k-12

The William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts (WEDJ PCS)

2011 Open Houses NE Campus: All at 1:30 pm Saturdays: Feb. 12, Mar. 26, May 21, Jun. 4

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Grades Prek 3 - 12 (accepting applications through 11th grade) 705 Edgewood Street, NE • Washington, DC 20017 (202) 269-4646 • (202) 269-4155 fax

NW Campus: All at 1: 30pm Saturdays: Feb. 5, Mar. 26, May 21 Grades Prek 3-8 Armed Forces Retirement Home 3700 N. Capitol St. NW • Washington, DC 20011 (202) 882-1980 • (202) 882-1936 (fax) Lottery forms are available on our website for both campuses and all grades

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WEDJ PCS CFC # 76494 United Way # 9485 Friend WEDJ PCS on Facebook and Follow WEDJ PCS on Twitter! CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 39

leadership and international exchange program supported by the State Department. The participants have been carefully selected by the Public Aﬀairs sections of the various United States embassies, and represent the best in their countries. The 20 participants this fall are from Mauritania and Burkina Faso, and will be in the Washington DC area for 3 weeks, Mar. 526. Interested families should contact Samuel Bong, Kadiatou Diallo, or Brielle Seitelman at exchange@ visionsinaction.org or by phone at 202-625-7402.

American Association for the Advancement of Science Family Science Days During AAAS Family Science Days, browse interactive exhibits, learn about cool science jobs, and have your questions answered by experts in the ﬁeld. This event is free and open to the public, especially middle school and high school students. Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20, 11:00 AM5:00 PM, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Exhibit Hall D, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. NW. aaas.org

Science Fair Website Science Fair Adventure is the authority on science fair projects, ideas and experiments. Their comprehensive listings features science fair projects across several distinct categories, including chemistry, physics, biology, and many more. Each project is listed in an easy to follow manner with step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the project. Their goal is to educate and enhance the learning experience for students and science fanatics while providing casual readers with useful and fun information. Each project is designed for the novice, with complete listing of required materials and project background. sciencefairadventure.com

Spark!Lab at the American History Museum The Lemelson Center’s Spark!Lab oﬀers visitors a number of hands-on experiments that teach about science, the invention process, and the role of technology

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| FEBRUARY 2011

in American history. Activities are organized around the invention process and will rotate on a regular basis to provide visitors with new learning experiences. Staff-led experiments are offered most days at 11:00 AM, noon, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Confirm schedule at Welcome Desk. Free; walk-in. First come, first served. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 202-6331000. americanhistory.si.edu

Centennial of Airmail Family Festival On Saturday, Feb. 19, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM, games and activities bring the first airmail flight to life at the National Postal Museum. Learn about daredevil pilot Fred Wiseman, the woman who received the first mail by airplane, and the differences between the Wright Brothers’ planes and the one Wiseman flew. Free. 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-633-5555. postalmuseum.si.edu

New D.C. KIDS COUNT Report Children born and raised in the nation’s capital–where one in three live in poverty– face increasingly difficult odds, including rising rates of child abuse and neglect, according to the 17th annual fact book from the D.C.KIDS COUNT Collaborative. Substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect increased by 27 percent in fiscal year 2009, after a twoyear decline, to 2,004 cases reported to the DC Child and Family Services Agency. The grim picture reflects the fact that the recent recession has had lasting effects on struggling families with children, who are under increased stress that may compromise their health, stability and safety. For the third year in a row, more families with children applied for and received Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, with the 2010 caseload the largest since

2005. As of July 2010, 28,752 children in the District received TANF support. While the overall child poverty rate in the District has held fairly steady, the poverty rate for black children was 43 percent in 2009–a sharp increase from 2008, when it was 36 percent, according to census statistics released in September. The report, Every Kid Counts in the District of Columbia, is available online at http://www.dcactionforchildren.org/content/researchresources. It also highlights points of progress, including increased enrollment in the District’s federally funded Head Start and public preschool and Pre-K programs. Over the past few years, efforts to boost school readiness through high-quality early care and education have brightened prospects for the District’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Black History Month Stamp Collecting. On Saturday, Feb. 12, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM celebrate Black History Month at the Postal Museum by making your own stamp collection featuring prominent African Americans such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth. After making your collection, be sure to see the Negro Leagues Baseball Stamp exhibit. Free. 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202633-5555. postalmuseum. si.edu

Corcoran Art Start--Oh, the Places We Go! On Thursday, Feb. 10, 10:00-11:30 AM, discover art with your preschooler at the Corcoran while you explore your senses through themebased stories, gallery activities, and art making workshops. Travel through the Corcoran’s collection to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and textures, from the ocean to the farm! A perfect weekday activity for parents or caregiv-

ers! This is a new preschool program at the Corcroan Gallery of Art for ages 3–5 with an adult companion. $10. 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1700. corcoran.org

Children’s Science Center Coming to Northern Virginia The Center is in the process of securing a site for the new Children’s Science Center and are scouring the region searching for the ideal location for this unique interactive math and science museum. Besides securing a site, they’re in the process of developing the interactive exhibits and family amenities that will make Children’s Science Center a world-class educational facility devoted to making math and science cool for kids. They would like to hear from you about what you’ve enjoyed at other children’s museums or would like to see in Children’s Science Center. Please send your suggestions and comments to Suggestions@ TheChildrensScienceCenter. org. 703-648-3130. thechildrenssciencecenter.org

Jon Rolle of Friendship PCS Wins DC Teacher of the Year Award Friendship Public Charter School teacher Jon Rolle has been named the 2011 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year by the Oﬃce of the State Superintendent of Education. Rolle was selected by a panel of District education leaders from charter and traditional public schools chosen by the Oﬃce of the State Superintendent of Education. The application process included a written application and essays, an interview, and a classroom observation. As the 2011 D.C. Teacher of the Year, Rolle will receive a $3,000 check and represent the District of Columbia in the National Teacher of the Year competition and program in Dallas, Texas. ●

Free Preschool Enrolling for 2011-2012 Bridges is a small, public preschool and pre-kindergarten program for children 3-5 years old. Program Features: • School Day 8:00am-3:00pm, Before Care 8:00-8:30am, After Care 3:00-6:00pm. • Small classroom size and well trained staff. • Individual planning for each student. • Thematic and project-based curriculum. Now accepting Applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Applications accepted January 1, 2011 – April 15, 2011. Applications received after April 15 will be placed on our waiting list. Applications are available at the school or on our website, www.bridgespcs.org. OPEN HOUSE / INFORMATION SESSIONS AT THE SCHOOL ON THE FOLLOWING THURSDAYS: • Thursday, February 3, 2011 from 9:30-10:30 am • Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 9:30-10:30 am • Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 9:30-10:30 am Bridges Public Charter School 1250 Taylor St. NW Washington, DC 20011

p. 202 545-0515 f. 202 545-0517 www.bridgespcs.org

Bridges Public Charter School is free and open to all DC residents. Tuition paid by non-residents.

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 41

KIDS & FAMILY Teacher Annie Murphy teaching a writing class of Pathways students.

AoH’s Pathways Prepares Adult Learners For Success by Steve Lilienthal

tudents in Annie Murphy’s writing class at the Academy of Hope (AoH) are critiquing their essays about adult education. Antoinette’s tells how she dropped out of high school in 1989 before giving birth to a daughter, how she’s suffered from health problems, and how she is just managing to support herself and her daughter. “I knew that the best way for me to make a better life for me and my daughter, was to go back to school, get my GED, and go on to college,” she writes. She also wanted to show her daughter that obstacles can be overcome. AoH is a non-profit literacy center, which prepares students like Antoinette to receive GED (General Educational Development) degrees, the equivalent of high school diplomas. As important as GEDs are, AoH finds itself flashing a “yellow” proceed with caution sign to many adult learners who’ve just received their GED degrees. AoH’s Jessie Stadd explains that upon receiving their GED, too many recipients are all too ready to rush out the front door of their adult education programs having done just enough to pass the GED test. Stadd manages AoH’s Pathways program, a “bridge” program which helps to ensure students have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in higher education or vocational training. In today’s job market, even maintenance jobs often

require certification because the duties are more complex and demand greater in-depth skills in math, writing and computer skills. Many AoH learners are interested in obtaining paraprofessional positions in health care, a growing field, but one which requires high-level skills. AoH’s executive director, Lecester Johnson, created the Pathways program in 2007 based on what she heard from veteran managers, Patricia DeFerrari and Annette Banks. They were constantly seeing former AoH students who were enrolled in higher education or who held vocational jobs return seeking help perfecting basic skills. Diplomas and GEDs are increasingly important as a step to more education, not an end in themselves. Assessing what can be done to help low-income students gain employment, the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute says greater coordination between community colleges and employers is one part of the puzzle, and others include greater literacy training and GED completion. Christina Keen, Program and Case Manager at the Washington Literacy Council, says, “Some students [with GEDs or high school diplomas] enroll in community college lacking the study and writing skills necessary to keep up with collegiatelevel work.” There is often a skills gap, she explains. For instance, a student will need to write a five-paragraph essay as part of the requirements for

42 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| FEBRUARY 2011

earning a GED. Community colleges will require research papers. “If the person lacks writing, note taking and computer skills, the student may enroll not fully ready to succeed,” says Keen, who adds that many East of the River adult learners know few people with college backgrounds. They lack the knowledge middle-class kids take for granted. “Just filling out the forms for federal financial aid can be a nightmare,” she says. That’s why Keen refers students to the Pathways program, which provides an effective bridge between obtaining a GED or external high school diploma (for adult learners age 25 and over which takes their life skills into account) and equipping students with the skills to succeed. The results speak well of Pathways. In 2009, thirteen of the nineteen Pathways program participants were able to enroll in college. Several made the honor roll. Lesha Gordon, director of enrollment at the Graduate School, says: “My overall opinion of Academy of Hope is that it not only helps the students but the community” because it provides students a low-cost opportunity to improve their academic skills. One recent graduate of Pathways is Terri, who left school her senior year, eventually finding AoH and scoring high enough on tests to win placement in Pathways. Terri credits the program with helping her to “develop skills I’d need for

college that were beneﬁcial” such as time management, essay writing and critical reading. She is completing her ﬁrst semester at the Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) and is intent on attending a four-year college.

Improving Necessary Skills Recently, there has been a great deal of focus in Congress and the higher education community on forprofit institutions accepting poorly prepared students. It’s not a minor issue. The danger for many GED recipients with marginal academic skills is that their financial aid will be dissipated paying for remedial courses that must be taken to improve skills, but do not count as credit for their degrees. Pathways can help to prevent students from suffering such shocks. The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, AoH’s upbeat program director Elizabeth Winn Bowman is leading a class in College Preparation and Success. Bowman starts class by having students define their learning styles. Bridget says she is a thinker, preferring to learn through facts and logical processes. Willie’s a feeler, learning by close contact with other people. Then, there’s Wesley who tells the class: “Instead of thinking inside the box, I like to tear the box up, think outside the box.” Wesley’s learning style is labeled “innovator.”

Bowman tells the class, “You need to be mindful: “I learn better this way so I need to try to get my education that way.” Sometimes it’s not possible. If that’s the case, says Bowman, “Realize Ìt’s not my comfort level [of instruction]. That does not mean it’s bad. It’s just not my comfort level.” She discusses ways to compensate. If Willie is in a crowded lecture hall, he might try to compensate by studying with a few students who also heard the lecture. “You have to think, `How can I best show them that I know these lessons,” asserts Bowman. Later, Bowman tells her class, “You spend more time talking to yourself than with other people. Be mindful of what you’re telling yourself. Are you saying, Ì’ve never seen that before.’” Instead, adult learners should be telling themselves, `Try it. I can do it.’ and, if not successful at first, `What should I try differently?’” AoH, located in the Edgewood Court housing complex in Northeast DC has just expanded operations to Southeast DC. What distinguishes AoH is its willingness to be flexible in meeting the needs of adult learners whose studies must be balanced with work, family, childcare, church, commuting.

CCDC student Terri found AoH preferable to another program she’d tried, which had strict instructors. She says at AoH “you’re not intimidated, but feel on the same level, it’s more comfortable. The staff is friendly and will work with students.” Students often start AoH, take time off due to family or work demands, then return to finish. Also, students are placed in classes reflective of their abilities in specific subjects. Cofounder Marja Hilfiker says hope is the essence of AoH’s mission. Not every adult learner succeeds. but the feeling of hope is present. When Willie and Antoinette were in Annie Murphy’s writing class, they had completed an assignment satisfactorily. Pleased, they linked thumbs and Willie gleefully exclaimed, “We’re going to college.” The adult learners’ road to college or vocational school can be long and arduous, and not always successful, but a bridge program such as Pathways helps improve the odds in favor of the learners. For more information on the Academy of Hope (601 Edgewood St NE # 25 Washington, DC 20017-3314) call 202-269-6623 or go to www.aohdc.org. ●

Preparation for College... and for Life

Accepting Applications for Pre-K – Grade 10 for 2011-12 School Year WE’VE MOVED to a newly-renovated, state-of-the-art, high-tech school at 1800 Perry Street NE, Washington, DC 20018! A • • • • •

Hyde Education Emphasizes: The discovery of one’s deeper potential Courage, Integrity, Concern, Curiosity and Leadership A self-conﬁdence and enthusiasm for life The importance of family A sense of community Admissions Info Sessions every Tuesday

Visit www.hydedc.org or call 202.529.4400 for dates and times Marja Hilfiker, the founder of AoH with a group of students.

WE’RE NOT JUST A SCHOOL... WE’RE A COMMUNITY! CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★

HOMES & GARDENS 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.

Neighborhood

Close Price

FEE SIMPLE 4516 WINDOM PL NW

$715,000

$395,000 $85,000 $76,900

3 3 4

$239,000 $207,500 $199,571 $80,000 $78,000 $65,000 $55,500 $450,000

4 2 3 2 3 3 3 6

$245,000 $229,000 $229,000 $140,000 $100,000 $95,000 $93,000 $75,000 $61,000 $61,000 $60,000 $51,500

3 5 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 2 2 2

ANACOSTIA 1988 RETTA GILLIAM CT SE 1421 RIDGE PL SE 2246 MOUNT VIEW PL SE

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 226 MALCOLM X AVE SE 108 BRANDYWINE PL SW 916 SAVANNAH ST SE 3827 1ST ST SE 212 NEWCOMB ST SE 341 PARKLAND PL SE 3844 9TH ST SE 1615 DECATUR ST NW

DEANWOOD 732 50TH ST NE 1117 48TH PL NE 4810 SHERIFF RD NE 4081 GRANT ST NE 305 56TH ST NE 5004 BROOKS ST NE 4929 BLAINE ST NE 5005 MEADE ST NE 4560 EADS ST NE 1003 49TH ST NE 6328 SOUTHERN AVE NE 4226 EADS ST NE

44 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| FEBRUARY 2011

333 54TH ST NE 241 57TH PL NE 4205 GRANT ST NE

$50,000 $45,000 $11,000

3 2 3

$249,000 $217,000 $91,900

3 3 3

$147,000 $106,050 $149,900

2 4 2

$180,000 $193,000

3 5

$76,900 $42,000

2 2

$51,000

$27,900 $357,500

1 1

FORT DUPONT PARK 1682 FORT DUPONT ST SE 4303 GORMAN TER SE 4026 SOUTHERN AVE SE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5501 BASS PL SE 5300 DRAKE PL SE 713 JEFFERSON ST NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1851 TOBIAS DR SE 2505 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE

CONDO CONGRESS HEIGHTS 717 BRANDYWINE ST SE #201 709 BRANDYWINE ST SE #201

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5 46TH ST SE #10

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2472 ALABAMA AVE SE #A-104 700 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #1515 ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 45

HOMES & GARDENS

DC’s RiverSmart Home Program Is your home sustainably smart? by L. Denise Jackson

roots help with erosion. District residents can have a tree planted for $50 from pre-selected list by Casey Trees. If you want a tree planted that is not on that list, you can apply for the Casey Trees rebate and if approved you will receive $75 for large, $50 for medium, and $25 for small trees. Casey Trees will help you choose the most environmentally beneﬁcial tree for your location from a selection of more than 12 species.

Rain Barrels

A rain garden is designed to capture and use rain.

id you know that the District has a program where your home can be sustainable and beautiful at the same time? Well you might want to know about this one. It is called the RiverSmart Homes Program. I think it is one of the least expensive set of improvements you can do to your home to save water, heating costs, electricity, fuel for your lawn mower, and time for you to enjoy other parts of your life. This same program enhances your health, your property values, and overall community appeal. How? Let’s take a few moments to talk about the ﬁve components that make up the RiverSmart Homes Program. These components can also be used for owners of apartment buildings, though apartments are not eligible for the program.

Who doesn’t want shade in the summer and external home insulation in the winter to reduce heating and cooling costs? Trees improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Shade trees are over

25 feet and have widespread, dense canopies, such as oak, maple, and elms. Planting a shade tree also reduces erosion and storm water runoﬀ s and improves the health of local area soil and streams. Leaves hold 0.10 inch of storm water and

46 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| FEBRUARY 2011

Shade Trees

Rain barrels are another smart way to be sustainable and energy efﬁcient. You can receive $50 to $100 rebates on any of the seven approved barrels for your home through DC Greenworks. All you need is to submit an application and provide a receipt and pictures of your installed barrel, or you can have RiverSmart Homes install your barrel. You can have up to two black rain barrels installed on your property for $30 each. Receiving barrels through RiverSmart will require a wait of a few months while a property storm water audit is conducted. What is a rain barrel? It is a barrel to capture and store rainwater that would normally just come through your downspout and into your grass or onto pavement, which can cause erosion and push out those elevated yard walls. With the barrel, the pure, chlorine-free water can be stored for watering plants, lawns and other landscaped areas. You can choose from a range of sizes and colors that ﬁt your needs and home décor. For a list of the approved barrels you can to go www.dcgreenworks.org.

surfaced stones. Pavers allow water to seep through their surface and keep the ground underneath moist and are a self-draining system. Pavers are decorative, reduce ﬂooding and erosion, and encourage natural irrigation and retain water, which will reduce watering the area.

Rain Gardens Rain gardens are one of the most enjoyable and creative projects of RiverSmart Homes. A rain garden is landscaped to collect, retain, and absorb storm water versus allowing the water to wash away nutrients and loosen soil. The sole purpose is to retain the water so it can be reabsorbed into the ground. Native, indigenous, ornamental plants can be planted anywhere you have runoﬀ. Maybe you need more rocks than plants. That works just as well. For this one, you might want to seek some help from someone that knows a bit about stopping erosion with this method. Sometimes topography, sun angles, drainage patterns and the type of soil has to be taken into consideration for planting. But when done correctly, there is no mowing, pesticides and harmful chemicals, minimal if any pruning, irrigation, or fertilization. Watering will be occasional as well and overall maintenance should be minor.

BayScaping BayScaping is easy, less expensive than some traditional landscaping and using vegetation native

Pervious Pavers Pervious pavers are great alternatives to concrete and just as aesthetically pleasing for walkways, patio areas, great for under decks, and diﬀerent parts of your landscaping. The pavers can be gravel, shingle, bricks, and other ﬂat

Pervious pavers allow rain water to be absorbed.

Shade trees include maples, oaks and elms among others.

to the Chesapeake Bay region which is local to the District of Columbia. This component uses turf grass and ornamental plantings. This can also be creative, fun, and very low maintenance. BayScaping has benefits similar to other components of the RiverSmart Homes, such as absorbing storm water, preventing erosion, reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and supporting local wildlife, like birds and butterflies. Do you still need help with your backyard? If you are still wondering what to do with your backyard, you need to contact the Fisheries & Wildlife Division of the DC Department of the Environment. They have created a backyard wildlife habitat education program to encourage the understanding of how to create a welcome space in your garden or yard for birds, butterflies and other small wildlife. Being a part of this program or doing it on your own will help the environment at large. So do your part and adopt at least one technique, but don’t stop there. Try to do all of them. Why not be the pioneer for your community and lead the way to healthier way of life. Contact the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) to find out when the next RiverSmart Homes demonstration is in your ward. You can find out more information here about all of these options at http://ddoe. dc.gov/riversmarthomes. L. Denise Jackson, founder of The Professional Green Network, is an author, speaker, and sustainability consultant. ●

CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM ★ 47

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.8300 x12 or email Carolina@hillrag.com

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THE NOSE

by Anonymous

he New Year must be upon us: the mailman just delivered a W-2 to The Nose. Piles of receipts and bank statements teeter on his desk much as they do in in the office of the Nitpicker. Fearing suffocation by avalanche, The Nose struggles to make sense of this chaos in advance of his accountant. It is a gruesome ritual of self-flagellation that he vows every year never to repeat. Unfortunately, in The District of Columbia, in the words of one famous hotel queen named Leona, “Only the little people pay taxes.” Yes, Dear Readers, if you are responsible for the public’s purse, there’s no need to fork over a dime to the taxman, much less file a return. Councilmember Michael “Soak the Rich” Brown, to cite an example, is on a lay-a-way program with the Fed. Recently, in response to being outted by The Nose’s dwindling fraternity, he anted up $14,117.70 to cover unpaid District property taxes. Now, it’s not as if Brown couldn’t afford an accountant to keep him straight. The man possesses a very modest six figure income. A more famous example of District tax holidaymakers is Councilmember Marion “I Forgot to Put It in The Mail” Barry, whose legendary failure to pay or even file in the first half of the decade resulted in a criminal conviction. Barry has been on probation since 2006. Moreover, he seems simply unable to help himself. In 2009, Barry almost ended up in prison for missing a filing deadline. Hasn’t Barry ever heard of H&R Block? Turbo Tax? Pocket calculators? Stamps? Even The Nose’s five-year old niece is smart enough to fill out a 1040-EZ. Unlike the Mayor-for-Life, The Nose works hard to prepare his taxes. The long hours spent poring over old bank statements have impacted his eyesight. His old rickety file cabinet constitutes and imminent fire hazard. So, why should Brown and Barry be spared this misery? As councilmembers, aren’t they responsible in part for maintaining this arcane system? Michael and Marion! It’s time for you both to grow up and serve your time in tax purgatory with the rest of the public. Cribbing from “What’s The

50 ★ EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| FEBRUARY 2011

Use?”, the famous Bernstein number from Candide, here is their imagined response: MICHAEL BROWN I have always been wily and clever at withholding and filing and such, and I feel just as clever as ever, but I seem to be losing my touch. Oh, I’m losing my touch! Yes, I’m clever, but where does it get me? The taxman still gets his entire take. All I get is my lake trout, while he gorges on truffles and cake! What’s the use? What’s the use? There’s no profit in cheating. It’s all so defeating! What can you say? Eventually I still have to pay! MARION BARRY That young Brown is no use in this Council, not a penny have I made on him yet. And the one thing that pays in this building, is my fraudulent game of earmark roulette! It’s my game of roulette, but I have to pay so much attention, to the Chairman and his henchmen. That each time when they manage detection, I’m a poor man all over again! BARRY & BROWN What’s the use? What’s the use of questionable endeavors and being so clever? Eventually we still have to pay! Since filling out tax forms and check writing seem to be such a challenge for Brown and Barry, The Nose is happy to offer his assistance. Name the time and place, and he will show up pen and calculator in hand. Hey, misery loves company. Have a comment for The Nose? Email thenose@ hillrag.com. ●

WACIF

Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) helps small business owners succeed

FREE Small Business Seminars and Technical Assistance Avoiding Audits for You and Your

Small Business Loan Day

Business Taxes Thursday, February 24 6:30-8:30pm

Saturday, February 26 11:30am-1:30pm

961 H St. NE Washington, DC 20002

4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE Washington, DC 20019

For more information or to RSVP please call WACIF at 529-5505 or visit www.wacif.org Interpretation services and accommodations for persons with disabilities are available. Contact WACIF one week prior to event for any special assistance needs. Support for WACIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs and services is provided by: DC Department of Housing and Economic Development; DC Department of Small and Local Business Development; Neighborhood Investment Fund, Government of the District of Columbia, OfďŹ ce of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; U.S. Small Business Administration; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; American Bank; M&T Bank; TD Bank; The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation; D.C. Pro Bono Bar Program; and other corporate and individual donors and investors.