February 2015
EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 3
Get Your East of the River Location
Address
River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School CVS - East River Park Safeway – NE 6th District Police Dept - Main Ward Memorial AME Kennilworth Elementary School Unity East of the River Health Center First Baptist Church of Deanwood Deanwood Public Library Hughes Memorial United Methodist Capitol Gateway Senior Apts Marvin Gaye Rec Center Watts Branch Recreation Center Langston Community Library Anacostia Neighborhood Library Benning Branch Library Marshall Heights CDC Kelly Miller Recreation Center Tabernacle baptist Church Randall Memorial Baptist Church East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 7-Eleven Riverside Center Mayfair Mansions Citibank: East River Park Chartered Health Center NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro The Minnicks Market Lederer Gardens Suburban Market Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Dave Brown Liquors Dave Brown Liquor A & S Grocery St Rose Pentecostal Church Malcolm X Rec Center St More Catholic Church Fort Davis Recreation Center Ferebee Hope Recreation Center Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant Giant Food Store SunTrust Bank Parklands-Turner Community Library Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office Garfield Elementary
MIDCITY
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420 34th St , NE 320 40th St , NE 322 40th St , NE 100 42nd St , NE 240 42nd St NE 1300 44th ST NE 123 45th ST NE 1008 45th St NE 1350 49th ST NE 25 53rd St NE 201 58th St , NE 6201 Banks Pl NE 6201 Banks St , NE 2600 Benning Rd , NE 1800 Good Hope Road SE 3935 Benning Rd NE 3939 Benning Rd , NE 4900 Brooks St , NE 719 Division Ave NE 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE 350 Eastern Ave , NE 950 Eastern AVE NE 5200 Foote St , NE 3744 ½ Hayes St NE 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4600 Sherriff Rd NE 4601 Sheriff Road NE 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast 4721 Sherriff Rd NE 4748 Sheriff Rd NE 4816 Sherriff Rd NE 3200 13th st SE 4275 4th St SE 1400 41st St , SE 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE 1523 Alabama Ave, SE 1535 Alabama Ave , SE 1571 Alabama Ave , SE 1547 Alabama Ave , SE 1717 Alabama Ave , SE 2435 Alabama Ave
7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE Pimento Grill 4405 Bowen Rd SE East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church CVS – Penn Branch Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Ridge Recreation Center Savoy Recreation Center PNC Bank Rite Aid United Medical Center Benning Park Community Center Benning Stoddert Recreation Center Union Temple Baptist Church Senior Living at Wayne Place Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library Bald Eagle At Fort Greble Covenant Baptist Church Faith Presbyterian Church Henson Ridge Town Homes Office The Wilson Building CCN office Eastern Market YMCA Capitol View CW Harris Elementary School DC Child & Family Services Agency
3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE 100 Randle Pl , SE 800 Ridge Rd SE 800 Ridge Rd , SE 2440 Shannon Pl SE 4100 South Capitol St , SE 4635 South Capitol St , SE 1310 Southern Ave , SE 5100 Southern Ave SE 100 Stoddert Pl , SE 1225 W ST SE 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW 100 Joliet St SW 3845 South Capitol St 4161 South Capitol St SW 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW 224 7th ST SE 225 7th St SE 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE 301 53rd Street, SE 200 I Street SE
For more distribution locations, contact 202.543.8300 x.19
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 5
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
CALENDAR
10......... What’s on Washington 12......... East of the River Calendar
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL 18......... E on DC • by E. Ethelbert Miller 20......... Understanding How Real Change Occurs by Chris Myers Asch
24......... Black History Calendar
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 26......... Bulletin Board 30......... The District Beat • by Andrew Lightman 32......... The Numbers • by Ed Lazere
34......... River Terrace Loses The Heart of Its Community by Christina Sturdivant
36......... Rail Freight Safety in The District • by Jeffrey Anderson
20
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 38......... Straight Talk About Heart Health by Candace Y.A. Montague
40......... Jazz Avenues • by Steve Monroe
REAL ESTATE
41......... Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton
KIDS & FAMILY
42......... Kids & Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner
THE CLASSIFIEDS 48......... The Classifieds
CROSSWORD 50......... The Crossword
THE NOSE
40
51......... The Nose • by Anonymous
38 ON THE COVER: “Civil Rights at 50” Police and protesters face off over voting rights in Selma, Ala., May 7, 1965, a day forever known as Bloody Sunday. Photo Credit: Spider Martin. For more information, see page 24.
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Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Look for Next Issue of East of the River on March 7 Online Daily, Printed Monthly | www.eastoftheriverdcnews.com
Editorial Staff
Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Food Editor: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com
Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Dining: Literature: Movies: Music: Theater: Wine Guys:
Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board
Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
General Assignment
Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health& Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com
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Deadlines & Contacts
Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
KIDS & FAMILY
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Homes & Gardens
Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com
COMMENTARY
Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com
We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.
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DCRA FREE WORKSHOPS FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES
Date:
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Money Smart for Small Business: Organizational Types & Tax Planning and Reporting
Time:
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Date:
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Location: Bernice Elizabeth Fonteneau 3531 Georgia Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20011
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Senior Day Program
To Register: http://goo.gl/CRlNrk
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/jws1Oy
A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Planning
Regulatory Process of How to Open a Small Business in DC
Date:
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Date:
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Time:
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Time:
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, DC 20024
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-200) Washington, D.C. 20024
To Register: http://goo.gl/vB0En7
To Register: http://goo.gl/cX9usw
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Time:
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/czYJu5
Date:
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Time:
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-200) Washington, DC 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/p3OH1P
Money Smart for Small Business: Recordkeeping & Time Management Date:
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/k0g0rE
SBRC’s Navigating through Business Licensing and Corporations Process
The District of Columbia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC PTAC) Series Date:
Meet One-on-One with a Lawyer for FREE!
Date: Monday – Thursday Time: By Appointment between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm For further information, please contact: Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 claudia.herrera@dc.gov Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 joy.douglas@dc.gov
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-268) Washington, DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com
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Botanic Gardens from Old World to New World
Botanic gardens are sanctuaries of nature. They are an image of plant diversity in an enclosed space that gives a sense of the infinite diversity of the world. While their creation is often linked to the rise of modern science, this lecture series showcases how botanic gardens, with a focus on medicinal and nutritional plants, have been present for millennia. Join Alain Touwaide, Scientific Director, Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, and Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution, as he virtually explores four gardens and periods of botanical history, investigating all four from new viewpoints--Pompeii on Feb. 6; Cordoba on Feb. 13; Padua on Feb. 20; and Birth of Modern Botany on Feb. 27. All are free, noon-1 p.m. and require registration at usbg.gov.
Image is from Alain Touwaide’s work and is of a book from the 11th century.
Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade
On Monday, Feb. 16, 1-3 p.m., the largest parade in the country celebrating Washington’s birthday marches a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town. The Reviewing Stand is on Royal Street at King Street. With nearly 3,500 participants, this community parade honors one of Alexandria’s favorite sons. The parade begins at the corner of Gibbon St. and S. Fairfax St., travels north on S. Fairfax St. and then turns west on Queen St. After one block, the parade continues south on S. Royal St, ending on Wilkes St. 703-539-2549. visitalexandriava.com. After the parade, you’re invited to tour Gadsby’s Tavern, 134 N. Royal St., for free. Learn from costumed guides and the museum’s Junior Docents about the place Geroge Washington dined and danced in Alexandria.
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The Image of Truthiness: Colbert Comes Back to the National Portrait Gallery
In recognition of the end of Stephen Colbert’s decade-long persona for Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, the National Portrait Gallery has borrowed Colbert’s portrait, which was created for the final season of the show. You’ll find Stephen on the second floor of the museum where the earlier iteration of his portrait appeared: between the bathrooms and above the water fountain. The National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Sts. NW, is open daily, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. npg.si.edu
Cupid’s Undie Run
Started in 2010, it’s hard to resist. Hundreds of attractive people running through the streets (for about a mile) in their Valentine underwear in February. This year 38 cities are participating--last year, 30. CUR is on Sunday, Feb. 15. Festivities start at noon at any one of three bars on Pennsylvania Ave. SE, between 3rd and 4th. The run itself starts at 2 p.m., heads toward the Capitol, then Independence Ave., right on First St. past the Capitol and Supreme and then back again. Sign up as an individual or team. After Feb. 8, $80 per runner. The annual run has raised millions for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. cupidsundierun.com
Courtesy of Cupid’s Undie Run
“Mingering Mike’s Supersonic Greatest Hits” at the American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s “Mingering Mike’s Supersonic Greatest Hits” presents more than 100 works of art by a Washington, DC, artist known only by his alter ego, “Mingering Mike.” The collection, created between 1968 and 1976, comprises artworks constructed as part of the artist’s youthful fantasy of becoming a famous soul singer and songwriter, including LP albums made from painted cardboard, original album art, song lyrics and liner notes, self-recorded 45 rpm singles and more, all tracing the career of a would-be superstar. The works powerfully evoke the black entertainers of the late 1960s and ‘70s and are a window onto an historical moment when black radio and Washington-based performers were gaining national attention and transforming the American music scene. The installation will be on view, Feb. 27-Aug. 2, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu
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CALENDAR VALENTINE’S Synchronicity performs at the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, Mar. 1, 5 p.m. Photo: Zavier Northrup
“With Love Yoga” Gatherings: Stop and Smell the Roses at the Botanic Garden. Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28; 10:30-11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy, and acceptance throughout the district. The Practice With Love classes aim to create an accessible space for all people to tune into their breath while enjoying the amazing spaces around this beautiful city. Free. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mats. No preregistration required. usbg.gov “What is Love? Romance Fiction in the Digital Age” Conference at the Library of Congress. Feb. 10-11. The conference is free and open to the public. Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE. loc.gov Love Rocks by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. Feb. 12 and 14, 8 PM. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave. NW. gmcw.org Love & Valor: One Couple’s Intimate Civil War Letters. Feb. 12, 1-3 PM. This PBS documentary explores a couple’s devotion to one another throughout their separation, their patriotism, loneliness, and anguish at the death of loved ones, and changing views on the South and slavery. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival
INTERSECTIONS presents over 125 performances in music, theatre, dance, film, spoken word and performance art that offer new ways to celebrate connections between the audience and artists. The 6th annual INTERSECTIONS festival showcases more than 700 talented artists from DC and beyond. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Music. Cheick Hamala Diabate, Feb. 20, 7:30 PM, Feb. 28, 9:30 PM; Washington Performing Arts and Atlas presents Face the Music, Feb. 21, 3 PM; The Chromatics / AstroCappella, Feb. 21, 4:30 PM; Veronneau, Feb. 21, 5:30 PM; Urbanarias, Feb. 21, 7 PM, Feb. 27, 9:30 PM, Feb. 28, 7 PM; Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, Feb. 21, 9:30 PM; Rachel Ann Cross, Feb. 21, 9:30 PM; Washington Dunhuang Guzheng Academy, Feb. 22, 3 PM; Invoke, Feb. 22, 5 PM; All Points West, Feb. 27, 7 PM, Mar. 6, 9:30 PM; Capital City Symphony, Feb. 27, 8 PM; Wytold, Feb. 27, 9:30 PM; David Schulmnan & Quiet Life Motel, Feb. 28, 4:30 PM; Brad Linde’s Dix Out, Feb. 28, 9:30 PM; Not What You Think, Mar. 1, 4 PM; Synchronicity, Mar. 1, 5 PM; Rajas, Mar. 6, 9:30 PM; Imani, Mar. 7, 8 PM; Olayimika Cole and L’ife Productions, Mar. 7, 9:30 PM. Dance. Furis Flamenca Dance Company, Feb. 20, 8 PM; The National Hand Dance Association, Feb. 20, 9:45 PM; Company Danzanta Contemporary Dance, Feb. 21, 7 PM, Feb. 22, 2:30 PM; Asanga Domask, Robert J. Priore & Sarah J. Ewing, Feb. 22, 5:30 PM; Deviated Theatre, Feb. 27, 7 PM, Feb. 28, 4:30 PM; Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble, Feb. 28, 1:30 PM; Jayamangala, Feb. 28, 2 PM; Airborrne DC!/Zip Zap Circus USA, Feb. 28, 5:30 PM and 8 PM; Tehreema Mitha Dance Company, Mar. 1, 2:30 PM; Nancy Havlik’s Dance Performance Group, Mar. 1, 2:30 PM; Vision Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Mar. 1, 3 PM; Jane Franklin Dance, Mar. 1, 5 PM; Dissonance Dance Theatre, Mar. 1, 5:30 PM; Moveius Contemporary Ballet, Mar. 6, 8 PM, Mar. 7, 1:30 PM; Mark H. Taiko & Uprooted Dance, Mar. 7, 1:30 PM; Pace Street Dance, Mar. 7, 4 PM; Gin Dance Company, Mar. 7, 4:30 PM; Sole Defined, Mar. 7, 7 PM; Open Marley Night, Mar. 7, 9:30 PM.
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Storytelling and Theater. Taffety Punk Theatre Company, Feb. 20, 8 PM, Feb. 21, 4:30 PM; The concilation Project. Feb. 21, 2 PM, Feb. 22, 5 PM; Split This Rock, Feb. 21, 5:30 PM; Folger Shakespeare Library, Feb. 21, 7:30 PM; SpeakeasyDC, Feb. 21, 8 PM; Arena Stage’s Voices of Now, Feb. 22, 2 PM; Freshh Inc (for us colored girls), Feb. 22, 3:30 PM; Wit’s End Puppets, Feb. 28, 2 PM, Mar. 7,7 PM; B-Fly Entertainment, Feb. 28, 7 PM; Dog & Pony DC, Feb. 28, 8:30 PM, Mar. 7, 3 PM and 8:30 PM; Young Playwrights for Change, Mar. 1, 2 PM; Jessa, Mar. 6, 7 PM; Goldie Deane, Mar. 6, 7:30 PM, Mar. 7, 4:30 PM; Closer Look, Mar. 6, 8:30 PM, City at Peace, Mar. 7, 2 PM. Free Lobby Performances. Veronneau Trio, Feb. 20, 7 PM; Josh Walker & Karine Chapdelaine, Feb. 20, 9 PM, Mar. 6, 8:30 PM; Boogie Babes, Feb. 21, noon, Feb. 28, 10:45 AM, Mar. 7, 11 AM; Washington Revels Gallery Voices, Feb. 21, 2:30 PM and 4 PM; Cecily, Feb. 21, 5 PM and 6:30 PM; Atlantic Reed Concert, Feb. 21, 7:30 PM and 9 PM; Musical Theatre Division of the Catholic University of America, Feb. 22, 1:30 PM; Alpha Dog Blues, Feb. 22, 3:30 PM; Andrea Wppd, Feb. 27, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM and 9 PM; Matthew Mills, Feb. 28, noon; #randomactsoftaiko, Feb. 28, 2:30 PM; Music Pilgrim Trio, Feb. 28, 4 PM, 5 PM and 6:30 PM; Flo Anito, Feb. 28, 7:30 PM and 9 PM; Mar. 1, Chamasyan Sisters, Mar. 1, 2 PM; Elizabeth, Phil & Chris, Mar. 1, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM; Herb & Hanson, Mar. 6, 6:30 PM; Elise Kress & Pat Egan, Mar. 7, 2:30 PM; Sow It Goes (closing party), Mar. 7, 7:30 PM, 9 PM, 10 PM. See Kids and Family Notebook for family programming schedule.
The Language of Flowers: Victorian Bouquet Making at the Botanic Garden. Feb. 13, 1-2 PM. Learn how to make bouquets that say “I love you”, “thank you” and “best wishes”. Free. No pre-registration required. usbg.gov SweetARTS and Valentines at the American Art Museum. Feb. 13, 11:30 AM-7 PM. Make the perfect, personalized card—they supply all the necessary materials at no cost. For those who are feeling fancy, horticulturists from Smithsonian Gardens can help them make an orchid corsage for a materials fee. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu The Loving Story at ACM. Feb. 14, 2-4 PM. This award-winning documentary tells the dramatic story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple living in Virginia in the 1950s. Their landmark 1967 Supreme Court Case, Loving vs Virginia served to invalidate a Virginia state law prohibiting interracial marriage. Discussion with a museum educator follows the film. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu ImaginAsia: Love in Every Language. Feb. 14-15, noon-4 PM. Enjoy a digital slideshow of images of love in Asian art from the Freer|Sackler collections. In the classroom, use prints that say “love” in more than a dozen Asian languages to create a Valentine’s Day card to take home, and learn how to fold heart-shaped origami. All ages welcome. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. asia.si.edu
PRESIDENT’S DAY Library of Congress Main Reading Room Open House on Presidents Day. Feb. 16, 10 AM-3 PM. Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room for a special open house to share information about how the public can access the Library’s resources year-round. Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov Free Admission to Mount Vernon. Feb. 16, 8 AM-4 PM. The traditional wreathlaying ceremony at Washington’s Tomb takes place at 10 AM, followed by patriotic music and military performances on the Bowling Green at 11:15 AM. Visitors can mingle with costumed characters from George Washington’s world from 11 AM-1 PM. “General Washington” is on the grounds to greet visitors and receive birthday wishes all day. MountVernon.org President’s Day Public Skate at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Feb. 16, 11 AM-2 PM. Free skating, skate rental and skating lessons. Skates available on a first come, first served basis. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-5845007. fdia.org
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD How the Civil War Changed Washington. Through Oct. 18. This exhibition focuses on the social and spatial impacts of the war, such as changes in social mores, the built environment, the population and its ethnic breakdown, and new collective uses of wartime elements, including the many Civil War forts constructed around the city were later turned into parks. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Frederick Douglas Day. Feb. 14, 11 AM-12:30 PM. A museum educator will provide a walk-through tour of the exhibition How the Civil War Changed Washington, then participants board the museum shuttle bus to take part in a map study of Anacostia/Uniontown. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Fringe Music in the Library-George Smallwood. Feb. 25, 6:30 PM. Born in D.C. at the end of 1945, George Smallwood is a local soul legend whose career was revived by local record collectors People’s Potential Unlimited. Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-715-7707. dclibrary.org/anacostia Michael W. Brookins and Friends in Concert. Feb. 26, 6:30 PM. Mr. Brookins has played piano for the last thirty years in the Washington, D.C. EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 13
CALENDAR and Chicago Metropolitan areas. He has been involved in the formation of several local bands that play a gospel/jazz fusion, better known as “Jazzpel.” Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202-6450755. dclibrary.org/capitolview
Mary Stuart at the Folger
Jan. 27-Mar. 8. Imprisoned by her Protestant cousin and Queen of England Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots anxiously waits for her fate to be decided. Leading ladies Kate Eastwood Norris and Holly Twyford reunite for the ultimate regal showdown in this bold new translation. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu
Adult Dance and Fitness Classes at THEARC. Mondays, 7:15 PM, Yoga; Tuesdays, 7:30 PM, Zumba; Thursdays, 7:45 PM, Ballet; Saturdays, 9 AM, Zumba. Drop-in rates are $12. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-8895901. thearcdc.org
SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Wizards Basketball. Feb. 7, 9, 20, 24, 28 and Mar. 6. Verizon Center. nba. com/wizards Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Feb. 8, 19, 21, 25 and Mar. 5 and 7. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com Washington Capitals Practice Schedule. Non-game day, 10:30 AM; game day, 10 AM; and day after game, 11 AM. All practices are at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, 627 No. Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA. They are free and open to the public. kettlercapitalsiceplex.com Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Open Tryout. Feb. 21, 10 AM-noon and 3-5 PM (Attendance at both sessions is required.). $50. Maryland SoccerPlex, Field 20, 18031 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD. Open to players 18 years of age and older. Interested players with previous college or professional experience are invited to register for the tryout online at washingtonspirit.wufoo.com/forms/washington-spirit-proteam-tryouts. For additional information, email mparsons@washingtonspirit.com.
DC United Opening Game. Mar. 7, 3 PM. DC United vs. Montreal at RFK Stadium. dcunited.com
3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-281-2583. dclibrary.org/benning
Ice Rink is at 202 M St. SE. 202-554-6051. canalparkdc.org
Yoga @ the Library. Every Saturday, 10 AM. Wear some comfortable clothing and bring a mat, but yoga mats are also available for use during the class. Free. Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library,
Canal Park Ice Skating. Monday and Tuesday, noon-7 PM; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon-9 PM; Saturday, 11 AM-10 PM; and Sunday, 11 AM-7 PM. $9, adults; $8, children, seniors and military. $4, skate rental. Canal Park
Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Through mid-March. Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–9 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10 AM–11 PM; Sunday, 11 AM-9 PM. Two hour sessions begin on the hour. $8, adult; $7 seniors over 50, students with ID and kids, 12 and under. $195, season pass. $3.00 skate rental (ID required) and $.50 locker rental with $5 deposit. 7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-216-9397. nga.gov Public Ice Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM and Saturdays, noon1 PM. $5, adults; kids 2-12 and seniors, $4. Skate Rental, $3. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. 202-584-5007. fdia.org
Frozen at the Anacostia Playhouse
Through Mar. 1. Frozen tells the story of the disappearance of 10-year-old Rhona, and follows her mother and killer over the years that follow. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. Tickets may be purchased at anacostiaplayhouse.com. frozen director delia taylor
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Barry Farm (indoor) pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM-8 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM-5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-730-0572. dpr.dc.gov Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Mon-Fri 6:30 AM-8 PM; Sat-Sun, 9 AM-5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM-6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 8th St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov
MARKETS Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM-7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM-5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM-5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays
and Sundays, 9 AM-6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202698-5253. easternmarketdc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 10 AM-1 PM. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-3628889. freshfarmmarket.org U Street Flea. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM. The market is in the parking lot, next to Nellie’s Sports Bar (three blocks east of U Street Metro), at 912 U St. NW. ustreetflea.com Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting). Set up after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3-7 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM-8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 5th St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8 AM-4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW. georgetownfleamarket.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7 AM-9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
CIVIC LIFE Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10 AM-6 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-5811560. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM-6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house.gov Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30-8 PM at Kenilworth Elementary School Auditorium, 1300 44th St. NE. Contact Javier Barker, j58barker@yahoo.com or 202-450-3155. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-8894900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7-9 PM. UPO Anacostia
Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.
ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch Ave and S St. SE). 202-5843400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b.us ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-3985100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-6101818. anc8b.org ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774. ◆
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Check our Recipes at larrysweetcorn.com EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 15
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“Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.” MALCOLM X
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
S P e C I A L S e Ct I O n
“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” W.E.B. DeBOIS “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” THURGOOD MARSHALL
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” ROSA PARKS EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEbRuARy 2015 H 17
BLACK e on dC Black History Month and Memory Loss
I
Carter G. Woodson
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By E. Ethelbert Miller
am sitting at a table next to a woman I’ve loved my entire life. She is a few years older than I am. I am showing her how to write her name again. She has trouble remembering – it’s the first stages. I print her name in a notebook and ask her which letter she would like to try and write. She picks out the “I” and struggles to make one. She knows how but she can’t tell her hand to follow directions. It’s frustrating. She looks up at my face and I’m smiling back, encouraging her to continue. For months I had been talking to her on the phone, and our conversations touched on so many topics that I thought she was well and perhaps never feeling better. But on the first day of the year I took a trip to see her. When she opened the door she was frail and behind her was an apartment having lunch with chaos. How does one prepare to be a caretaker? Where are the blueprints and directions? This February I have a better understanding of the historian Carter G. Woodson. Here was a man (responsible for starting Negro History Week in 1926) who was concerned with preserving the “collective” memory of African Americans. He was up against not an illness but rather a systemic and conscious attempt to erase the recognition of black achievements and contributions to the building of America. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and also taught at Howard University for a number of years. One of his best known books is “The Mis-education Of The Negro” published in 1933. For the last several months our nation has been concerned with the dead and the living; the past and the urgency of now. Black History consists of Selma victories and frustrations deeper than Ferguson. Woodson did groundbreaking work collecting the stories of a race and race matters. As citizens we are responsible for preventing the erasure of that history from one generation to the next. Every February I feel like a sentinel protecting a sacred trust – our collective memory. There is much to celebrate in 2015. This year my father would have been 100 years old. If he was still living, I doubt if he would want to set the clock back. The good old days were filled with segregation and hatred. Still, America is a place of hope and incredible progress. Life is lived forward and never backwards. Every February I wonder
if I’m listening to the same notes being played over and over again. What I have learned from being around a loved one battling the loss of memory is that I must be more patient than patient. I must accept terrifying news that some illnesses cannot be stopped or reversed. There continues to be a crippling fog that hurts our brains. Is there a cure for racism? I don’t know but I want someone to win a Nobel Prize one day for ending it. Until we can curtail the hidden racism in our bone marrow there is still a need to celebrate Black History Month every year. One can begin within one’s family by listening to elders. A few weeks ago I mentioned in my ENotes (blog) that we have a tendency to discuss certain historical periods more than others. Overlooked is the era of Reconstruction which is rich with stories that have yet to be told on the center stage. The years after the Civil War were filled with hope, dreams and reconciliation. It was also a period of lost opportunities and violence. Studying and talking about Black History should also include an examination of class and gender conflicts in our society. We tend to shy away from this type of analysis, but it is essential if we wish to understand contemporary economic and social conditions. February has become a month during which we exhale. Let us take a deep breath and never give up on love or change. We must have the courage to find our second wind. Black History Month is the time to remember that history is made every day we live. Memory is precious and a terrible thing to lose. u
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BLACK Understanding How Real Change Occurs by Chris Myers Asch
W
Martin Luther King, Jr. Was Important, but His Success Was the Result of Years of Work by Hundreds of Community Organizers
hen I told my five-year-old daughter that I was going to see “Selma,” the new film about Martin Luther King, Jr., and the campaign to win black voting rights, she was not impressed. “What about the other people?” she asked. “All the other people who helped him?” Yes, indeed. What about all those other people? In her five-year-old way, my daughter raised a fundamental question about our collective memory of the civil rights movement. It was, after all, a movement, the most powerful collective push for social justice in the 20th century. Yet for many Americans the “movement” boils down to King (with an occasional shout-out to his sidekick, Rosa Parks). Take a stroll down to the Tidal Basin and you will see King-centrism on full display — a mountainous Martin stares majestically over the water, with nary a word about the movement beyond him. Americans struggle to understand movements. We prefer stories of individual greatness. We want to see courage and grit and spirit embodied in a leading figure who inspires us to be better than ourselves. King certainly fits our image of a “great man,” an extraordinary leader whose courage and eloquence
deserve our nation’s admiration. But if all we remember about the movement is King, then we may find that we are learning the wrong lessons from the past. Our memory of the movement is not just a question for civil rights scholars to debate in ivory towers; it is a matter of strategic importance to activists involved in any struggle for racial justice, including the current “Black Lives Matter” protests against police brutality. Unfortunately, in shining yet another spotlight on King, “Selma” inadvertently obscures our understanding of how and why the civil rights movement was successful, as well as where it was not. I should make clear that “Selma” is an impressive movie with a strong cast and powerful cinematography. Like Steven Spielberg in “Lincoln,” director Ava DuVernay chooses not to tell her subject’s entire story from birth to death. Instead, she focuses on King’s role in the Selma campaign in early 1965. In those few months, we see King as an inspiring but flawed figure, a man deeply committed to the struggle yet burdened with guilt and weary of the responsibilities that have been thrust upon him. We see not only the depth of his per-
“Thank God almighty, we are free at last!” 5th graders from Watkins Elementary School in Washington, DC, end their annual recital of the “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, January 16, 2015. Photo: Tim Brown
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sonal commitment, but also the physical and emotional toll that the movement exacted on him and his family. The story is complex but compelling, and it does not hide the movement’s “dirty laundry,” including King’s marital infidelity, his controversial decision to stop the second Selma march, and the rift between King and younger activists in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). “Selma” shows how far Hollywood has come in the generation since “Mississippi Burning,” the wildly inaccurate 1988 film about the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers that painted black Southerners as passive, pitiful people waiting desperately for heroic FBI agents to save the day. Instead, in “Selma” we see a powerful, black-led social movement pressuring political leaders in Washington to act. The message is clear: social
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Going to a protest march may momentarily bring attention to the cause, but what happens after we go home? If we have not cultivated grassroots leadership, if we have not organized around issues that are winnable, then whatever reforms we seek will wither away. This kind of grassroots organizing may not make for a dramatic film, but it can help achieve lasting justice. - Chris Myers Asch
A scene from "Selma." Atsushi Nishijima / Paramount Pictures
change comes only when pushed from below. And yet “Selma,” too, offers a distorted picture of the movement. Much of the criticism of the movie has focused on its treatment of President Lyndon Johnson. But a deeper and more troubling problem is the film’s embrace of a traditional interpretation of the movement that emphasizes the singular efforts of male ministers who led dramatic protest campaigns between 1955 and 1965. This “top-down” interpretation has been upended by more than two decades of careful research that has shown that “the movement” was in reality a collection of countless local movements that were driven by less-visible activists working with ordinary people, particularly women, who engaged in the tedious, time-consuming, but arguably more important work of organizing their communities around issues of local importance. (For students of D.C. history, the traditional interpretation of the movement offers no guidance whatsoever — few national figures, including King, paid much attention to the city, and most of the important struggles in D.C. took place either before the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott or after the Voting Rights Act of 1965.) The traditional interpretation of a male-led,
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top-down movement grew out of contemporary press coverage. Journalists who covered the movement, like the reporter depicted in the film, often focused on King and his coterie of ministers in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) — older, educated men whom they believed were appropriate spokesmen in a movement that embraced the young and the poor. Following this narrative, the early histories of the struggle emphasized King and exalted what historian Charles Payne calls the “community mobilizing” tradition of civil rights activism. The way to create change, in this tradition, is to mobilize the community through dramatic protest. “Negotiate, demonstrate, resist,” King tells skeptical SNCC members during one crucial scene in the film. Stage a protest, get it on the nightly news, then pressure the politicians to act. “It requires drama,” he emphasizes. In that scene, King and his lieutenants dismiss the community organizing work that SNCC had been doing in Selma for two years prior to their arrival. The “big boys” come in, lecture the SNCC youngsters, then take over to get things done. SNCC is portrayed as fractious, bitter, and juvenile – not up to the challenge. The organiza-
tion that was so critical to the success of the movement in Selma and across the South then disappears from the movie altogether. Yet without the patient, unglamorous organizing work of SNCC, as well as the three decades of local organizing by Amelia Boynton and the Dallas County Voters League, King would not have found any traction in Selma. He came to Selma because the foundation there had been laid; his campaign succeeded there because local people had been primed to get involved long before he came on the scene (and would remain active after he left). SNCC’s community organizing approach, encouraged by Ella Baker, may not have attracted much media attention, but it helped build the trust and develop the relationships necessary to make any protest campaign succeed. The film’s singular focus on King’s efforts also distorts the pace of social change. The entire movie covers just a few months of a decades-long struggle for racial justice that began at least in the 1930s and extended long after King and the cameras left town. There is no question that King’s work in early 1965 was critical to building support for what would become the Voting Rights Act just a few months later – a monumental achievement. But by focusing solely on that short-lived campaign (while neglecting or belittling the work that came before and after), the movie sends a powerful but misleading message: that a magnetic figure leading a dramatic, high-visibility protest movement can effect quick changes in the system. That message is more than just historically inaccurate. It also can be discouraging and disempowering to contemporary struggles for social justice. The “Black Lives Matter” campaign has embraced the “it requires drama” approach, mobilizing supporters with marches, candlelight vigils, “die-ins,” and other creative protests that have dramatized the issue in cities across the country. Yet, all that drama has yet to yield much substantive change in the six months since the killing of Michael Brown sparked the first wave of protests. Part of the problem is that creating and sustaining drama is harder today than it was in King’s time. Our villains are not swaggering, racist caricatures such as Selma Police Chief Jim Clark; even Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who shot Brown, comes across less as a sinister, all-powerful villain than as a scared, clueless, trig-
ger-happy rookie. We also suffer from what might be called “drama fatigue” — we are exposed to so many causes, so many injustices, so many appeals to our conscience, that we can feel overwhelmed or incapacitated rather than inspired to act. But part of the problem may be in the “it requires drama” approach itself. Successful social movements require more than just drama. They require patience. In an age of Instagram and instant messaging, when we think we barely have time to make a phone call or read more than a headline, we have lost the patience of community organizing – the kind of work that SNCC engaged in. To translate anger into fundamental reform, activists must motivate people to remain committed to a tedious, long-term struggle of incremental change. Going to a protest march may momentarily bring attention to the cause, but what happens after we put our cell phones back in our pockets and go home? If we have not developed relationships, if we have not cultivated grassroots leadership, if we have not organized around issues that are winnable, then whatever reforms we seek will wither away. This kind of grassroots organizing may not make for a dramatic film, but it can help achieve lasting justice.
H y p e r L o c a l | hīpər
. lōk(ə)l |
Hyperlocal connotes information oriented around a well defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of its residents
synonym: eastoftheriverdcnews.com
Daily online. Monthly in print.
Historian Chris Myers Asch is the author of The Senator and the Sharecropper: The Freedom Struggles of James O. Eastland and Fannie Lou Hamer. He currently is working with G. Derek Musgrove on a book about race and democracy in D.C. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEbRuARy 2015 H 23
BLACK Black History Calendar “1965: Civil Rights at 50” at Newseum. Exhibit features news coverage From ‘Bloody Sunday’ to the Voting Rights Act. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave, NE. 888639-7386. newseum.org National Museum of African American History and Culture Welcome Center. Welcome Center is open MondayFriday, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture Welcome Center to learn about their programs, exhibitions, collections, and the building design. The Center features a model of the National Mall, a video presentation, and kiosks to enroll in a museum membership or to try a quiz. And make sure to take a close-up look of the construction from a special viewing window. Trained volunteers will greet you for this self-guided experience. Welcome Center is at the corner of 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu Black History Month at Mount Vernon. During February, 11:30 AM, a daily Slave Life at Mount Vernon Tour explores the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at Mount Vernon. The tour will conclude with a wreath laying at the Slave Memorial site. Tour is included in admission. mountvernon.org Madame Tussauds Unveils Frederick Douglass Wax Figure. Madame Tussauds Washington, DC presents the never before seen wax figure of abolitionist Frederick Douglass as they kick-off their tradition of celebrating Black History Month with some of the most iconic Civil Rights leaders of our nation’s past. Madame Tussauds Washington DC, 1001 F St. NW. madametussauds.com/Washington District of Change: Is D.C. Still Chocolate City? Feb 10, 7:00 PM. The District of Columbia has always been rich in black culture and history. How will the more recent years of urban development and gentrification alter the racial, cultural, and political map of our city? MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk Freedom Just Around the Corner: Black America from Civil War to Civil Rights. Opens Feb 12 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. This is the museum’s first exhibition devoted entirely to African American history. Marking 150 years since the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery throughout the United States, the exhibition chronicles the African American experience through the perspective of stamps and mail. postalmuseum.si.edu Redemption Songs: Suing for Freedom before Dred Scott at National Archives. Feb 13, noon. The Dred Scott case is the most notorious example of slaves suing for
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freedom. In conventional assessment, a slave losing a lawsuit against his master seems unremarkable. But in fact, that case was just one of many freedom suits brought by slaves in the antebellum period in an attempt to win the ultimate prize: their freedom. For over a decade, legal scholar Lea VanderVelde has been examining a collection of hundreds of newly discovered freedom suits. National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov
At the opening ceremony, the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will present songs and stories of struggle and perseverance.
Frederick Douglass’s 197th Birthday Celebration
Feb 13-14. Behind the Scenes: Archival Tour at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, Feb 13, 1:30-2:30 PM; House Party with DJ Scooter MaGruder at Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, Feb 13, 7:00-10:00 PM; Opening Ceremony at Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE, Feb 14, 10:30 AM; Walking Tour-Frederick Douglass’s Washington begins at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE, Feb 14, 12:30-1:30 PM; Frederick Douglass Actor at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE, Feb 14, 1:00-1:45 PM; Historical Trek through Anacostia and Uniontown at America’s Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, 2315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, Feb 14, 1:00-1:45 PM; A Look at Frederick Douglass’s Hillsdale Neighbors at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE, Feb 14, 2:00-2:45 PM; Genealogy Workshop at America’s Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, 2315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, Feb 14, 2:00 PM.
Frederick Douglas Day at the Anacostia Community Museum. Feb 14, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM. A museum educator will provide a walk-through tour of the exhibition How the Civil War Changed Washington, then participants board the museum shuttle bus to take part in a map study of Anacostia/Uniontown. Call 202-633-4844 to register by phone. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
TRUTH the Musical at THEARC. Feb 26, 27 and 28, 7:30 PM; and Feb 28, 2:00 PM. When a troubled urban teen with a thirst for meaning gets himself in trouble, an unlikely champion from the past appears to show him a way out. Sparks fly as Sojourner Truth takes Peter on a journey back through time, into her amazing life story, her world and its people. $15, advance; $20 at door. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org A Chosen Exile: A History of Racial Passing in American Life at National Archives. Feb 27, noon. Between the eighteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, countless African Americans passed as white, leaving behind families and friends, roots and community. It was, as historian Allyson Hobbs titled her book, A Chosen Exile, a separation from one racial identity and the leap into another. National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov Virginia Black History Month Gala. Feb 28, 5:00-11:00
PM, at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center, 1320 Central Park Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA. Keynote by Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson. For more information, call 540-907-1857 or visit vabhma. com. NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom Online Exhibition. The NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom exhibition presents a retrospective of the major personalities, events, and achievements that shaped the NAACP’s history during its first 100 years. myloc.gov/ Exhibitions/naacp Visit the MLK Memorial. Open to visitors all hours, every day. 1964 Independence Ave. SW. nps.gov/mlkm Alexandria’s Watson Reading Room. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Visitors should call in advance for holiday hours. Located next door to the Alexandria Black History Museum, the Watson Reading Room is a non-circulating research repository focusing on issues of African-American history and culture. Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA. 703-7464356. alexandriava.gov/historic u
Animal Clinic of Anacostia Candace A. Ashley, DVM 20 years of serving Capitol Hill (minutes from Capitol Hill & Southwest via 11th Street Bridge)
2210 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE
202.889.8900
American Express, MasterCard, Visa & Discover accepted EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 25
BULLETIN BOARD Last year’s See. Speak. Feel. performers and artists taking a bow after the show’s inaugural installment. Photo: Jazzmin Williams
See. Speak. Feel. at Anacostia Arts Center
In an effort to expand the voices of lesser known but quality artists into DC’s growing art scene, the second annual See. Speak. Feel. performance and art showcase will be held on Saturday, Mar. 7, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. The event will feature visual artists, musicians, singers and poets in a showcase that exposes and unites the District’s arts community. This year, 2Deep the Poetess, a member of the 2009 Busboys and Poets slam team and host of Busboys’ “11th Hour Poetry Slam” will kick off the show. Early bird tickets, priced at $15, are on sale until Feb. 9. General admission tickets are priced at $20 and will be available from Feb. 9 until the day of the show. To purchase tickets, visit seespeakfeel.com/buytickets. Event sponsorship packages ranging from $10 to $100 are also available for entrepreneurs, non-profits, small businesses and other organizations. seespeakfeel.com
Job Fair at Arena Stage
On Friday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Arena Stage, partnering with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, along with local businesses, non-profits and government employment agencies, will host a job fair. Arena Stage is at 1101 6th St. SW.
The Wacky & Whimsical Tea for THEARC
The Wacky & Whimsical Tea for THEARC is a fun-filled Sunday afternoon that will include high tea, a silent auction and creative games for kids and their families, including a treasure trove, special entertainment and other surprises. All of the proceeds from the event benefit the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC). The event is on Sunday, Mar. 1, 2-4 p.m. at the The RitzCarlton of Washington, 1150 22nd St. NW. Tickets are $160, adult and $90, ages 13 and under. thearcdc.org 26 H eaSTOFTHerIVerDCNeWS.COM
Saturday Volunteer Event At Kenilworth Park
On Saturday, Feb. 28 (rain or shine), 10 a.m.noon, come join others outside picking up trash, working on trails, and removing invasive English ivy and honeysuckle. Individuals and groups of all ages are welcome. RSVP recommended. Email tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. All volunteers are encouraged to wear long-sleeve shirts and jackets, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Gloves and all equipment will be provided. Granola bars and light snacks will be provided. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, parent or guardian. This event is eligible for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.
Free Tax Help at Capitol View and Anacostia Libraries
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate incomes, with
special attention to those 60 and older. Through a group of trained volunteers, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has helped low-to moderateincome individuals for more than 40 years in every state and the District of Columbia. Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE, has tax help on Feb. 9, 11, 18, 23, 25; Mar. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; and Apr. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15 at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE, has tax help on Feb. 10, 17, 24; Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; and Apr. 7, 14 at 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Also on Feb. 12, 19, 26; Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26; Apr. 2, 9 at 1:30-5 p.m.
Statement from DDOT’s Acting Director on the Status of DC Streetcar
Below is a statement on the status of the DC Streetcar from the District Department of Transportation Acting Director Leif Dormsjo: “Passenger safety is the number one priority for public transportation in the District of
Columbia. Further, given the need to achieve safety certification, the District Department of Transportation will not set arbitrary deadlines for the independent State Safety Office (SSO) to complete their regulatory compliance review. The Bowser Administration will work to launch the H Street line of DC Streetcar as part of our effort to expand the District’s transportation infrastructure and will put this long-delayed line on track. DDOT will continue to work with the independent SSO to ensure that Streetcar meets-and exceeds--all safety specifications before setting an official date to begin passenger service.”
Caring for Bedbound and Mobility-Challenged Adults
Caring for an aging parent with Alzheimer’s or a loved one struggling with cancer or a life-challenging illness can take an emotional, physical, and financial toll on a family. The Washington Home and Community Hospices is offering an interactive program to empower caregivers with information and tips that can help provide the best possible care for a loved one who is homebound or bedbound. On Feb. 19, 7 p.m. at Deanwood Library, join Denise Bethea Lewis, Clinical Liaison with the Washington Home and Community Hospices, to get important caregiving information. Deanwood Library is at 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary.org/ deanwood
Breast Care for Washington in Ward 8
Breast Care for Washington was founded in 2012 as a communitycentered breast cancer screening organization to enhance access to breast cancer screening and care among medically underserved women in the area. Their founders are two local women--Dr. Regina Hampton, a highly regarded breast surgeon, and Beth Beck, M.A., CHES, the former
executive director of Capital Breast Care Center of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Their mission is to reduce the breast cancer mortality in the Washington, DC area by promoting access to breast cancer screening, diagnostics, and treatment to all women regardless of their ability to pay. Their facility is in their Conway Health and Resource Center, 4 Atlantic St. SW, in Ward 8. They are the first and only facility to offer state-of-theart technology with 3D imaging east of the Anacostia River and the first entity to provide comprehensive breast screening services within a primary care setting in the metropolitan area. For appointments and information call 202-465-7164. breastcareforwashington.org
Black & Missing in America: A Panel Discussion at THEARC
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., a short film will be shown that highlights the work of the Black and Missing Foundation, and their quest to provide a voice and equal opportunity for missing persons of color. A panel discussion will be held after the movie with the creators of the film. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org
Nash Run Trash Trap Cleanup Volunteers Sought
On Saturday, Feb. 28, noon-3 p.m., volunteers are needed to help with this clean-up. Since its inception in 1989, AWS staff and volunteers have removed tons of trash from the Anacostia River each year. Their Nash Run Trash Trap cleanups have been a huge success in helping make progress towards the goal for a trash free Anacostia River. Located adjacent to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, this trash trap catches trash before it ends up in the River. At the event, trash from the trap will be removed and sorted it into 5 categories; bottles and cans, Styrofoam, plastic grocery bags, lumEAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 27
BULLETIN BOARD ber, and “other”. The data collected is used to educate the public and advocate for a better practice such as a Bottle Deposit Bill. For more information, contact Masaya Maeda at mmaeda@anacostiaws.org or call 301-699-6204 x110. Registration required. anacostiaws.org
Learn to Play Chess at Deanwood Library
At Deanwood Library, interested participants can learn to play chess, improve or practice their moves with other players. This drop-in group is open to all ages and experience levels and meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. Deanwood Library is at 1350 49th St. NE. 202-698-1175. dclibrary.org/deanwood
Free Home Radon Test Kits for DC Residents
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that comes from deposits of uranium in soil, rock and water. Prolonged
Supporters of Ward 8 Councilmember candidate LaRuby May wave at the crowd during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Peace Walk and Parade on Jan. 19. Photo: Charnice A. Milton
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Peace Walk and Parade
On Jan. 19, the Ward 8 celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with its Annual Peace Walk and Parade. Starting from St. Elizabeth’s East Campus, the parade, which included many Ward 8 City Council candidates, marched down MLK Avenue. Included was a performance by the Junkyard Band. Living Word Church hosted the participants afterwards.
Over 3.5 tons of trash was collected and miles of trails were cleaned. Photo: Courtesy of the National Park Service
exposure to elevated levels of radon can be harmful when found in homes. District residents can obtain a free radon test kit by calling the radon hotline at 202-535-2302 or by submitting a free radon test kit request online form at ddoe.dc.gov/radon.
Free Small Business Advice Legal Clinic
There is a Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 5-7:30 p.m. at the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Small Business Resource Center, 1100 4th St. SW, on the second floor. DCRA and the DC Bar Pro Bono Program are working together to offer this free legal clinic. It is for aspiring or existing small business owners. Attendees will meet one-on-one with attorneys for advice on any legal issues their businesses may be facing.
Secretary of the Interior Jewell and National Park Service Director Jarvis Join Volunteers in MLK Day Service Project at Anacostia Park
Over 400 volunteers joined Secretary Jewell, Director Jarvis, General Services Administrator Dan Tangherlini, and Student Conservation Association President and CEO Jaime Matyas for National Day of Service project at Anacostia Park on Martin Luther King, Jr Day. After welcome and thank you remarks, everyone was equipped with gloves, bags and tools. Park staff and volunteers formed 20 groups and went out to different areas in the park to clean up trash, remove invasive plant species, and explore the banks of the Anacostia River. Anacostia Park encompasses over 1,200 acres and acts as an urban plain, wildlife habitat, and a popular community recreation spot along the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, DC.
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DC Office of Talent and Appointments Unveiled
Mayor Bowser has unveiled the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments along with a new way for Washingtonians to join Boards and Commissions or seek senior-level appointed positions. The website, mota. dc.gov, will be the key entry point for District residents and other interested applicants to apply for appointment to leadership staff positions or boards and commission. The new office, directed by Steve Walker, will oversee a team tasked with recruiting energetic, forward-thinking individuals. The Office of Talent and Appointments is in the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 211. u
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 29
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
The Freshmen Troika Allen, Siverman and Nadeau join the DC Council by Andrew Lightman
T
to open their doors in our neighborhoods. This bill will support entrepreneurs as they take risks and bring new ideas to the marketplace,” says Allen. A third legislative measure introduced by Allen is the so-called “Books from Birth” bill. Under its aegis, the DC Public Library (DCPL) will mail a book to every child in the District, regardless of means, from birth through age five. The age-appropriCharles Allen (D-Ward 6) Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) ate books will be selected by a committee of volunAllen: First Out of the Gate teers organized by DCPL. “Thousands of District residents–many in As the chief of staff to his predecessor, Charles “Less than half of third graders in the District Ward 6–live and work near the rail lines that cross Allen (D-Ward 6) is well acquainted with the corscore proficient or advanced in reading skills. It is through our city. We can’t wait for a derailment of ridors of the Wilson Building. Allen has hit the critical that the District confront the literacy and hazardous materials or other rail disaster before ground running with legislative initiatives involvachievement gap at its starting point, well before it we act to improve safety and transparency,” Aling transportation, small business development len states. (The issue of rail safety is the subject of shows up in the classroom. Books are direct building and education. another article in the February Hill Rag.) blocks for learning, but children must be exposed to Along with Transportation Committee Chair To aid small business development in the them to use them,” says Allen. Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Allen has introduced District, Allen has introduced the Small Business the State Safety and Security Oversight Agency Allen sits on the Committee for Education; Incubator Act of 2015. This law creates a mechaEstablishment Act of 2015. This act, whose cumthe Committee for Transportation and the Envinism for entrepreneurs to obtain short-term busibersome title masks its true focus, is designed to ronment; and the Committee for Business, Conness licenses as well as expedited licenses for those bring the District into line with rail safety pracsumer and Regulatory Affairs. willing to locate in currently vacant storefronts. tices of surrounding jurisdictions. Rather than al“I am committed to making DC a great place low unsupervised transit across the District, the Nadeau: Translating Community Concerns to do business and create jobs. One way to invest act requires rail security inspection, mandates cointo Legislative Priorities in the success of our small businesses is to reduce ordination with neighboring states, and requires Nadeau developed her legislative agenda walking regulatory barriers and make it easier for them the reporting of hazardous cargo.
he election of 2014 was a watershed for the DC Council. Three long-time members left its ranks: Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), David Catania (I-At Large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). They were replaced by Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) and Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1). The change was both generational and ideological. Here is a look at their respective agendas.
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door-to-door in Ward 1. A series of four ‘community conversations’ conducted during the fall with constituents helped her refine her focus. “My role is to make sure that the community voices are coming into the process,” Nadeau states. Affordable housing tops the list of Ward 1 community concerns. “Skyrocketing prices are forcing out too many of our neighbors,” says Nadeau. From her seat on the Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development, she intends to delve deeply into the weeds of city’s execution of its housing policy and hold agencies strictly accountable. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We need to be tweaking things,” states Nadeau. In particular, Nadeau points to the process of Planned Unit Development (PUD). This is a process in which the DC Zoning Commission grants developers greater density in return for specific community benefits. Typically, developers promise to develop a percentage of affordable units in excess of the requirements of inclusionary zoning. Even though the granting of a certificate of occupancy is tied to the fulfillment of the affordable housing requirements, no agency is truly tasked with auditing PUDs after project completion, Nadeau points out. “The oversight of PUDs does not have a home.” Since the Committee of the Whole has retained jurisdiction over the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, she hopes to hold developers accountable for their promises. Nadeau is a fan of ‘Smart Growth.’ She believes that parcels adjacent to transit are ripe for denser housing. Despite this, Nadeau supports recent moves by the Office of Planning (OP) to reign in small condo development and pop-ups in R4 residential areas. “The theory is that an increase in housing reduces prices, but OP has found that condo conversions of single-family homes are not yielding that result,” she states. In its absence, she believes the cost in congestion is too high. Education is Nadeau’s second priority. Here, she squarely believes it is her role to be the advocate for her ward’s schools. While not sitting on the Education Committee, she intends on “being a partner in the public and public charter schools in Ward 1.” With the ‘community school’ model in mind, Nadeau wants each of her ward’s schools to provide wrap-around services, such as medical care and counseling, to support parent engagement and student well-being. Ethics and clean government are Nadeau’s third concern. During her campaign, she accepted corporate contributions which was legal under the prevailing rules. Moving forward, she supports a ban on such monies. She is a co-sponsor of the bill put forward by Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) to eliminate council votes on city contracts. Nadeau believes that the Council can build on earlier reforms piloted by then Ward 4 Council-
member Muriel Bowser. Citing a recent report by the Board of Ethics and Governmental Accountability (BEGA), she wants to extend the body’s authority by incorporating language to that effect into all DC governmental contracts. She also wants non-paid work placed under the same ethical regime as salaried labor. From her perch on the Committee of Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Nadeau promises a careful evaluation of the procurement process involving awards to Certified Business Enterprises. She believes that Ana Harvey, the new acting director of the Department of Small and Local Business, is off to a good start in this regard. Nadeau sits on the Committee for Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; the Committee for Health and Human Services; and the Committee for Housing and Community Development.
Silverman: Punching the “O” in Oversight
Unlike the other two freshmen who had the benefit of an eight month lame duck period between the Democratic Primary and November’s General Election, Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) is fresh off the campaign trail. Not surprisingly, she is hard at work making the transition to governing. Transparency, accountability, integrity and smart investment, themes of her race, remain her watch words. While it is the Mayor’s role to set the vision for the city, it is the job of the Council to hold the executive accountable for its actions, Silverman believes. The key to success, she argues, lies in effective legislative oversight. Councilmembers must partner with the agencies to ensure the public’s money is accounted for and its assets fully leveraged. How can agencies work better? How do we measure success? These are the questions that centrally preoccupy Silverman. ‘I am concerned about those making zero to 30 percent Area Median Income (AMI), which is basically minimum wage,” states Silverman. Not surprisingly, employment and affordable housing lie squarely at the top of her agenda. “If you don’t have a stable place to live, everything gets worse,” Silverman observes. The solution lies in preserving existing low income rentals, maintaining affordable purchase options, and maintaining existing public housing. As a member of the Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development, Silverman has spent the first weeks of her term trying to gain an understanding of the alphabet soup of District and federal programs that promote and protect affordable housing. “It is confusing. There are tons of different programs,” she states. Silverman cites the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) as one example. Under this law, renters organized collectively have the first
right of refusal when their building is offered for sale. However, lower income tenants may not have the organizational wherewithal to manage such a process. The law allows the city to exercise the right for them. Yet the District has never done so. “Are we using all the tools in our toolbox?” Silverman asks. Employment and housing are a “chicken and egg” problem, Silverman observes. One cannot find employment without a residence or secure housing without a job. “Are we spending federal and local dollars to train people for actual jobs?” Silverman asks. Washington’s economy is driven by administration, health care and hospitality. The unskilled can be trained to be phlebotomists, sous chefs, help desk staffers or dental technicians, she points out. “Are we connecting the unemployed to real unsubsidized career paths?” As a member of the Committee of Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Silverman will have a hand in overseeing the Department of Employment Services and the Workforce Investment Council responsible for many of these programs. Silverman sits on the Committee for Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; the Committee for Housing and Community Development; and the Committee for Finance and Revenue.
The Impact of the Troika
Silverman, Nadeau and Allen share a strongly progressive ideology focused on making government work cleanly and effectively for all its citizens. All share a commitment to ending corporate contributions in campaigns, tightening ethical rules and increasing transparency in government. The impact of the three will be shaped by their committee assignments. Allen, walking in the footsteps of his predecessor and mentor, will involve himself in educational, transportation and environmental issues. Nadeau will focus on health, affordable housing, homelessness, healthcare, and community development. Silverman will turn her attention to civic finances, affordable housing and workforce development. All three freshmen sit on the Committee for Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, chaired by Vincent B. Orange (D-At Large). This committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues from civic regulation to employment issues and workforce development. Given the strong ties all three have to Washington’s small business community, one can expect a major effort to simplify and streamline municipal regulations. “I have four years to make a difference here; and I am very mindful that the clock is ticking,” says Nadeau. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 31
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Left Behind
DC’s Economy is Failing Many Residents
“T
he best social program is a good job.” That’s from Bill Clinton, but it could have come from Marion Barry too, who will be most remembered for giving DC residents their first job through the Summer Youth Employment Program. A good job is important not only to meeting financial needs, but also to dignity and self-worth. But what happens when good jobs just aren’t there? When residents who want to work cannot find a job, or when the jobs they find don’t pay enough or offer enough hours to make ends meet? These questions are important because this is the reality for many DC residents right now. The District’s economy recovered well from the Great Recession, with more housing, jobs, and retail to serve a growing population. But a look beneath the surface shows that many residents are being left behind. Wages are falling for workers on the low end of the earnings scale. Residents without a college degree face unemployment levels that are almost twice as high as before the recession. People who become unemployed are staying out of work longer, and many residents work part-time when they really want a full-time job. If DC’s best social program is the economy, then it is a badly failing many of us. Rather than creating broad prosperity, the economic recovery in the District is really just a recovery for a small number of residents. There are things that can be done about this. The District has a number of strengths to build on, including a minimum wage that will rise to $11.50 an hour by 2016, and a requirement that all employers give their workers paid sick leave. But more needs to be done to strengthen literacy and training programs to so that more residents 32 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
by Ed Lazere can earn a living wage. Helping more DC residents build job skills – and making sure that jobs in DC offer the pay and benefits people need to succeed – should be top priorities for Mayor Bowser and the DC Council. This will require improving literacy and training programs, strongly enforcing the minimum wage and other employment laws, and strengthening policies to ensure that jobs in the city are good ones.
Wage Gap in DC Is at a Record Level
DC residents working for low wages have seen their pay fall in recent years, while paychecks for higher-wage workers have grown by thousands of dollars. One of five working DC residents earns $13 an hour or less, and their pay has fallen one percent since 2007. Meanwhile, earnings have risen $3 an hour since 2007 for middle-wage workers and $6 an hour for high-wage workers – to $45 an hour. Growing wage disparity is a long-term trend in the District. Hourly pay for DC residents working at low-wages increased only seven percent over the last 35 years – about two cents an hour per year, after inflation – while middle-wage workers have seen a 35 percent wage increase and high-wage workers have seen wages grow 55 percent. The gap between low and high-wages in DC is now at a 35 year high.
Unemployment Still 2 Percent Higher Than Before the Recession
The District’s unemployment rate has been falling for several years, to 7.4 percent in late 2014. But that is still higher than it was before the start of the recession – 5.5 percent in 2007 – which means that DC residents have not fully recov-
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ered from the recession. And some groups of residents have been hit harder than others. About 18 percent of residents with a high school diploma are unemployed, almost double the 10 percent rate in 2007. Workers with some college experience, including those with an associate’s degree, face an unemployment rate that is three times higher than in 2007. And 16 percent of black residents were unemployed in 2013, more than double the unemployment rate for Hispanic residents and more than quadruple the unemployment rate for white residents. When DC workers lose their jobs nowadays, they are increasingly out of work for a long time. Nearly half of all unemployed DC residents in 2013 had been looking for work for at least six months. In 2007, by contrast, over 80 percent of unemployed workers went back to work in less than 6 months. Under-employment is increasingly common. Lack of available work has forced some DC residents into jobs that do not provide them with the amount of hours they want, and in some cases caused workers to give up looking all together. Today, one-third of DC residents with a high school diploma are either unemployed, too discouraged to look at all, or working but fewer hours than they want. This under-employment rate has nearly doubled since 2007.
We Can Help More Residents Get Good Jobs
The rising cost of living in DC means that residents will face growing challenges if they are not able to find good-paying jobs. Yet the latest economic statistics show that a good job is increasingly out of reach for many residents. The District has a number of strengths to build on. The city’s minimum wage will rise to $11.50 an hour in 2016, and all workers in the city earn paid sick leave starting with their first day on the job. Legislation adopted in 2014 will prohibit employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal record until a job offer has been made. And the District operates a number of training programs for adults and youth. But that’s not enough. To more effectively combat high unemployment and lagging wages, the District should: Enforce New Wage and Job Benefits:
In addition to minimum wage and paid sick leave changes, the District recently adopted stronger penalties for employers who fail to pay their workers all they are due. These changes will need to be communicated to workers and businesses, and the District will need adequate staff to enforce them. Raise the Minimum Wage for Waiters and Other Tipped Workers: The minimum wage for workers whose jobs require them to rely on tips in addition to salary is just $2.77 an hour, and was not raised when the basic minimum wage increased to $11.50. Expand Access to Child Care: Ensuring that parents have convenient access to high-quality child-care is important to enabling parents to go to work. Yet the amount the District provides to subsidize child care is well below market rates and the level needed to provide appropriate care. Increasing child care reimbursement rates would support expansion of quality child care throughout the city. Connect Literacy Programs and Job Training: A “career pathways” task force will issue recommendations this year to better connect literacy programs and job training that leads to employment. The mayor and Council should implement those recommendations. Adopt Family Leave Insurance: The District should create a system that workers can pay into and draw from to replace wages if extended leave is needed to be with a new child or to care for an ailing relative. Some states have done this. Paid leave helps hard-working men and women balance the often competing demands of job and family without falling behind. Make Better Use of Federal Job Training Money: SNAP (food stamps) provides federal funds to cover half the cost of providing job training and work supports such as transportation or work uniforms for SNAP recipients. Yet the District does not take full advantage of this important tool. We should strive for an economy that creates good jobs for everyone willing to get up and go to work every day. There is a long way to go, but we can get there. Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u
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301-702 1401 Free Gift With Ad EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 33
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
River Terrace Loses The Heart of Its Community
A community adjusts as a school for the disabled replaces River Terrace Elementary
O
n the western edge of Ward 7, the River Terrace community lines the Anacostia River. A neighborhood isolated by the river and highways, residents must cross a main road or bridge to have access to the next closest community. For decades, this community of middle-class African American neighbors have held close relationships. At the center of the community was the River Terrace Community School. In December 2010, parents and administration at the school were told that the DC Public School Chancellor’s office intended to close the school due to low enrollment. “At the time, there were 140 students enrolled at the school,” recalls Cinque Culver, president of the River Terrace Community Organization. Cinque had four children attending the school—two in fourth grade, one in second grade and another in pre-kindergarten. Backed by a small group of neighbors, he strongly advocated to keep the school open while they worked to increase student enrollment. In February 2011, a letter to families of River Terrace was posted to the DC Public Schools website where Chancellor Kaya Henderson shared that the school would be spared from closing and would reopen for the 2011-2012 school year. She wrote: “For the past two months, my staff and I have been receiving feedback from parents, staff, and community members about this proposal, through in-person meetings, phone 34 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
by Christina Sturdivant “When we walked into the meeting with the chancellor, we’d done everything that we were asked to do as a community in order to keep the school open,” says Cinque. “The chancellor simply said that the school is closing, the decision is final and there will be no discussion.”
After the Closing
Sharon Culver’s pre-kindergarten class at River Terrace Community School, 1990. (Photo courtesy of Paul Sockwell)
calls, written comments, and email exchanges. I have listened to and carefully considered all of the questions and concerns that have been raised and have heard the persuasive testimony from many community members. Central to this testimony has been a strong commitment on the part of the school community to work to grow River Terrace’s enrollment and thus become more financially sustainable over the next year. Therefore, I have recommended to Mayor Gray to keep River Terrace open for an additional year to provide this opportunity for growth, and he has accepted my recommendation.” “I did not make this recommendation lightly as the budget challenges that face DCPS and the entire city are very serious. However, I recognize the extraordinary impor-
tance of River Terrace Elementary to the community, especially given the unique geographic isolation of the River Terrace neighborhood. I am therefore willing to provide the school and community additional time to build enrollment and demonstrate the long-term viability of the school. I hope that the same passion and energy I witnessed in the numerous meetings about the closure proposal can continue to be channeled into supporting the school.” “The maximum number of students required to attend the school was 180,” says Culver. “We raised enrollment up to 162 with at least 60 pre-k students on the waiting list.” In December 2011, a few days before Christmas, Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander called a meeting with the chancellor.
Now students from River Terrace are transported via chartered bus to Neval Thomas Elementary located in Northeast’s Kenilworth neighborhood. Student commutes have increased from a five-minute walk to a fifteen minute bus ride, if they catch the charter bus on time, says Cinque. If not, they must catch at least two metro buses to school. In the meantime, the school stood dormant during the summer of 2012, as neighbors wondered what would become of their neighborhood landmark. In September 2012, Henderson called a meeting among residents offering a choice to either renovate the school to house special-need students from across the city or give the building up--allowing the city to sell it to a charter school or private developer. Weary of the type of development that would come from a private developer, neighbors chose to keep the building as a school—a glimpse of hope for their youth. “We began to advocate again in earnest,” says Cinque. “Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we didn’t want special needs students to be at River Terrace. For most of the history of River Terrace, there have
been a mixed population of special needs students and standard elementary school students, which was more educationally and experimentally enriching for the students.” Due to findings of Native American artifacts at the school’s site, construction was halted and the school did not open on schedule for the 2013-2014 school year. This gave River Terrace residents more time to advocate. In May 2014, Sharon Culver testified at a hearing before the DC City Council. “Some people would look at River Terrace Community School and see just a building [that] has no meaning or value to the community where it resides. [They see] a building that can be torn down or remodeled to fit into the mold of people who have no connection to it, but to anyone who attended River Terrace Community School or lives in the River Terrace Community, it is much more than just a building. It is the place where I, and so many others, can remember their first day of school,” said Sharon, a 28-year-old River Terrace resident and Prince George’s County elementary school educator. Speaking about how the school was the epicenter of unity for adults and a place of opportunity for children, she said, “Relationships were built with the families of the River Terrace Community—whether you were a mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, or cousin,”
she said. “After school, the youth of the community had a place to go to keep them from getting into trouble and learn new skills and concepts that helped them to succeed in school.” While many council members and officials seemed to support River Terrace residents over the course of their fight, youth in the community will not be attending the school when it finally opens during the 2014-2015 school year.
A New School for DC’s Disabled
Cinque Culver in front of River Terrace Elementary School, 2014 (Photo: Christina Sturdivant)
Instead the site will be a model school for students ages 5-21 with profound intellectual disabilities. This includes students who have multiple diagnoses to include intellectual disability, as well as one or more the following: medical complexity, visual or hearing impairment, and autism. The students will come from a consolidation of the populations of two schools, Mamie D. Lee and Sharpe Health. “We’re very excited that we will have a state of the art school that will Construction at River Terrace Community School, 2015 (Photo: Christina Sturdivant)
serve the needs of our neediest students,” says Richard Rogers, project lead for the office of specialized instruction with DC Public schools. In addition to remodeling the 40,000 square foot building that had previously existed, a 30,000 square foot addition will exist once the building is completed. Major amenities will include a medical and dental suite, therapeutic pool, media center, art room, music room as well as separate wings for elementary, middle and high school students. All classrooms will have brand new interactive smart boards, computers, as well as HD televisions. Additionally, a Career Development Center will focus on workforce development skills in the areas of hospitality management, horticulture and health sciences. Outside of the building, there will be an enclosed courtyard with an amphitheater and two playgrounds. Public art will also be in several locations throughout the campus. “The school will also have wraparound services for students,” says Rogers, who was brought on to the project in July 2013. “...at an even better rate than we were able to do over the past several years.” As the community moves forward from a long battle, residents search for ways to integrate them-
selves into what is to become of the new community facility. At a School Improvement Team (SIT) meeting in January 2015, Claude McKay—the community’s advisory neighborhood commissioner—made a plea to include the River Terrace name within the school’s title, whether solely or as an addition to a new name. “After engaging with residents and receiving opinions, stories and anecdotes, [it’s clear] that the name River Terrace is so important to the people who live in our community,” said McKay. “It’s a part of our heritage.” The official naming of the school must pass through the chancellor’s and mayor’s office before it’s finalized. When the school re-opens, the community will be able to use the building for their community meetings and voting during election season. Additionally, the community organization also plans to form a relationship with leadership at the new school, as [senior citizens] are interested in volunteering to assist the new student population. They also plan to partner to fundraise for the new school and co-host events. “It’s slightly bittersweet,” says Cinque. “But it’s good to be a part of the process.” u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 35
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Rail Freight Safety in The District
Managing the Small Risk of an Enormous Catastrophe by Jeffrey Anderson
A
s DC lawmakers consider legislation to implement an inspection program for rail freight passing through the Nation’s Capital, the question naturally arises: What has the local government historically done to protect communities and historic structures from a catastrophic train wreck or toxic spill? The answer, unsettling as it may sound, is: Not much. CSX Transportation, the company that owns, operates and maintains some 70 miles of track in the District, says it handles 375,000 carloads of freight per year, including cars, consumer goods, agriculture products and coal. The company has about 50 employees to oversee its operations. Two passenger lines, owned-by CSX, one coming from the direction of Rockville, MD, the other from Baltimore, converge at Union Station, where they are routed through the First Street Tunnel, over the Long Railroad Bridge and into Virginia, according to a map provided by CSX. CSX’s freight line branches off the latter near Hyattsville, where it then heads south, runs parallel to the Anacostia Freeway, crosses the Anacostia River near the Navy Yard, passes through a tunnel under the U.S. Capitol, and merges with the first line near L’Enfant Plaza before crossing the Long Bridge. The CSX rail lines travel through Wards 5, 6 and 7, where, in 2007, a major derailment sent 600 tons of coal into the Anacostia River. The incident resulted from a failure to secure the brakes of an 89-car freight train that collapsed a bridge 36 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
in Anacostia Park, according to news reports at the time. CSX eventually paid the District a $650,000 settlement to create a $500,000 environment endowment fund and resolve alleged safety violations and costs for emergency response and restoration of natural resources. According to Rob Doolittle, a spokesman for CSX, there have been no other derailments in the District since 2007. However, documents obtained by this reporter also show a second derailment of 13 of 28 loaded cars on a train containing unspecified hazardous materials occurred in November 2009. A Federal Railroad Administration Incident Report states that 18 cars were carrying hazardous materials, however, the report states “N/A” in the space designated for “HAZMAT Cars Derailed.” An investigative report by the News 4 I-Team last week further highlighted safety risks of hazardous materials moving through the District. The report pointed to CSX derailments in Rosedale, MD, in 2013, and Lynchburg, VA, last April, both of which resulted in dangerous fires. Though CSX officials told the ITeam that it stopped shipping chlorine, ammonia and other explosives through the District in 2004, reporters recently observed placards for molten sulfur, ammonium nitrate and molten phenol on its rail cars -- materials that call for a mile-wide evacuation zone that encompasses the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, the Navy Yard, 10 Metro stations, Interstates 395 and 295, and federal buildings south of the National Mall.
CSX went to federal court in 2005 to challenge a District ban on shipping hazardous materials, and the court agreed that the law does not prohibit such shipments. When asked about its current protocols for ensuring safe passage of hazardous materials, the D.C. Department of Transportation said in an email last week: “The city has left [rail safety] inspections to the rail companies and federal agencies since ultimately the [federal government] has enforcement power. It’s not required by each state.” DDOT referred further questions to the DC Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency and DC Fire and EMS. In an email, a spokesman for HSEMA said the agency coordinates with CSX and FEMS by providing “situational awareness” on hazardous materials, but that it has no regulatory oversight over the rail line itself. FEMS has authority over hazardous material incidents that occur in the District, the spokesman said, and trains CSX employees on emergency response procedures. FEMS officials did not respond to a request for comment. Doolittle stated the company works with DC agencies to ensure they have the information needed to protect the public’s interests. The company evaluates 27 factors recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation to determine the safest routes for any given shipment, he said, noting “Rail transportation remains the safest means available for transporting hazardous materials, and safety is CSX’s highest priority,” Doolittle said.
State Rail Safety Participation Program
So how do other states approach the issue of rail safety? Authority for railroad safety inspections rests with the Federal Railroad Administration, under the jurisdiction of the USDOT, which requires FRA to conduct oversight
of rail freight through unannounced inspections and audits and to take enforcement action as appropriate. The FRA also works in conjunction with at least 30 states through the State Rail Safety Participation program, which allows state inspectors to receive training in the same disciplines as federal inspectors and to report findings to the FRA database. DC is the only jurisdiction in the mid-Atlantic region that does not already participate in the program. Inspectors with Virginia’s Division of Utility and Railroad Safety investigate accidents and inspect railroad tracks, bridges, rail cars and locomotives to ensure compliance with FRA standards on major and short line railroads over thousands of miles of track, according to Ken Schrad, a spokesman for the State Corporation Commission. The division has five employees who conduct inspections and one administrator who monitors more than 3,500 miles of track, Schrad said. In 2014, the division inspected more than 10,000 “track units,” which include miles of track, freight records, grade crossings, locomotives, rail cars and power equipment, he said, noting that last year inspectors found more than 5,000 defects, cited 20 violations and investigated 22 accidents and 20 complaints. Inspectors also assess switchyards, field offices, yard offices and dispatching areas for compliance with FRA regulations. In Maryland, where the memory of the 2001 Howard Street Tunnel fire still haunts, three inspectors conduct roughly 650 inspections per year, according to Chief Railroad Inspector Charles Rogers. “If we find something broken on the locomotive, rail car or track, we notify the railroad and they fix it,” he said, adding that measuring the program’s effectiveness is an elusive task. “It’s hard to prove a negative,” he said. A philosophical attitude seems to come from experience -- something
that DC lacks. One former Pennsylvania railroad safety inspector, who has since returned to the private sector, said that 2013 was the safest in rail history. (Figures for 2014 have not been released.) A more pressing concern, the former inspector said, is holding on to qualified people, as government salaries can be as low as $40,000 a year. “Government inspectors do what industry inspectors do,” he said, “but you can make into six-figures if you’re working for the railroad.” Rodney Bender, manager of the transportation division for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, said salary disparity could be a challenge in DC, due to the cost of living. His state has more miles of railroad track than almost any other state except California, with eight inspectors trying to inspect 20,000 rail cars and 400 locomotives per year, over 1,500 miles of main line track and 50 miles of yard track. “California has something like 30 inspectors,” Bender said, acknowledging his outfit’s relatively small size. “But rail safety has improved, and we feel like we’re part of that.” Bender’s colleague, FRA Program Manager Lugene Bastian, is not swayed when a reporter suggests that although the risks may have decreased, the stakes are high, particularly in capital cities. “Right behind the state capitol is the Harrisburg Rail Yard, and it’s six miles long,” said Bastian. “Across the river is the Enola Yard, one of the oldest in the country. These crude oil trains pass right by every day. You could probably see the engineer in the cab if you’ve got good eyesight.” Yet Pennsylvania experienced just “a few derailments” last year and no leaks, she said. “It has the potential to be ugly, but it’s still one of the safest ways to move more products.”
Legislative Reform in DC
DC Council members have acknowledged the District’s regulatory shortcomings. The Rail Safety and
Security Oversight Agency Establishment Act of 2015, introduced January 6 by Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen, Ward 3 member Mary Cheh and At-Large member David Grosso, proposes to tighten rail cargo transparency and reporting rules by requiring the District to conduct rail security inspections, coordinate those activities with neighboring jurisdictions and report hazardous cargo to the FRA. “I don’t think DC is prepared to know what is happening on the rail lines and it is not prepared to respond and manage the system the way it should or could,” Allen said last week. Allen was at a Council hearing last year and was struck by all the finger-pointing after questions arose about what travels through the city. “The hearing showed me that no one is in charge,” he said. “We need to know that DC has a plan for rail safety. This creates a new system of accountability to know what’s on the rails and to have some degree of oversight on what we don’t want.” Residents in neighborhoods where CSX operates are keenly interested to see how the Council handles the measure. Ward 6 resident Maureen Cohen Harrington has testified before the DC Council, urging mandates for staffing, risk assessment and reduction, adequate funding, performance standards and transparency measures. “On one level it’s a big ‘Duh,’” Harrington said. “It’s inconceivable that it ever passed the laugh test [to not have a program].” Monte Edwards, a Ward 6 resident who, like Harrington, sits on the Federal City Committee of 100, criticized the District for not imposing speed limits, operational requirements and rail inspections. Edwards is working with Allen’s office to study how the proposed legislation differs from what other states do. “Federal certified inspectors get a car-by-car look at rail cargo,” Edwards said. “We’d have the right to see what is coming into our city in real time.” Ward 7 residents have reason to support the bill as well. Dennis Chestnut, executive director of Groundwork Anacostia River, DC, an environmental advocacy nonprofit, said CSX trains carrying “all kinds of chemicals” are within the evacuation zone of Historic Anacostia, Metro lines,
schools, businesses and residences. The community already is plagued by toxic sites, said Chestnut, pointing to the Kenilworth Landfill, the former PEPCO plant and Poplar Point, where vacated greenhouses once used by the US Department of Agriculture sit and deteriorate. “The area is saturated with people,” Chestnut said. “An accident involving hazardous material would be horrendous.” Doolittle, the CSX spokesman, said the company is sensitive to community concerns about the shipment of hazardous materials. “We are currently evaluating the proposed rail-safety legislation and will provide comments as the DC legislative process moves forward,” he said. Council member Cheh did not respond to a request for comment. Council member Grosso’s office said he was not available at press time for this article. Aside from HSEMA and FEMS, the other District agency with any authority over rail cargo is the DC Department of the Environment, but that is in reaction to a spill caused by derailment or other malfunction. DDOE Director Tommy Wells said DC has lacked a rail safety oversight program because it is not a port city, was under federal control until 1975, and still has a unique relationship with the federal government. Wells said he supports creating an inspection program but with some consideration of “what problem we are solving.” He said HSEMA has “semi-confidential” access to information about hazardous materials passing through the District, and that to assume they are not doing some level of inspection “is probably not true.” Besides, he said, the chemicals noted by the News 4 trainspotters were low ignition: “We do have molten sulphur, and if it spilled it would be a smelly mess, but that would be more of an environmental issue. And just because we haven’t been a part of the FRA program does not mean CSX gets a pass on meeting federal safety requirements.” To Allen, the devil is in the details, and looking to the FRA participation program is only the beginning of a long-overdue process. “As we go through the legislative route it will allow us to hear from more experts to see what is needed and how to implement it.” An earlier version of this story may have mistakenly given the impression that CSX routed freight through Union Station. CSX freight trains moving through the District pass through Anacostia and then through the Virginia Avenue Tunnel on their way to the Long Bridge. CCN regrets the error. Additional information concerning a November 2009 CSX derailment has been added to the story since its publication on the web and in February 2015 The Hill Rag newspaper. u
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | February 2015 H 37
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
Straight Talk A bout Heart Health Hea rt diseas e d oes n’ t h av e t o be a matt er of l if e or d eat h b y C a n d a c e Y. A . M o n ta g u e
Caring for your heart now saves it from problems later on. Photo: Dolgachov
aybe you have been here before. Chest and upper abdomen pains. Shortness of breath. Nausea. Sweating. Maybe you chalked it up to something you ate and took indigestion medication. But what if it was something more? Would you know the signs of ‘something more’? February is Heart Health Awareness month across the country and it’s a critical topic of health in DC. Heart disease leads the pack in causes of death. And even with health insurance coverage at an all time high and residents reporting regular visits with their primary care physicians, people are still being diagnosed and dying at high rates from this disease. When it comes to matters of heart health, what are we missing and how can we fix it?
Who has heart disease?
Cardiovascular disease is the umbrella cause of most heart attacks and strokes. It is the leading cause of death in the District and nationwide. Among African Americans, heart disease is listed as one of the major causes of death. According to the American Heart Association, 44% of African-American men age 20 and older and 49% of African American women in the same age group have heart disease nationally. In the District, the numbers have remained stagnant overall. In 2007, heart disease was the cause of 1,367 deaths. 38 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
In 2010, it was 1,300. Heart disease is the among the top 5 causes of death for residents in wards 5, 7, & and 8. So who exactly is at risk? Men and women over the age of 20, people with a family history of heart disease, and ethnic minority populations such as African-Americans and Hispanics are all at an elevated risk for heart disease. Other factors that can increase the risk are: • Smoking
• Having uncontrolled high blood pressure and/or diabetes • Having high cholesterol (total 200 mg/dL or higher) • Being inactive
• Having a diet high in saturated and trans fats and sodium
• Maintaining high levels of stress • Being obese
Racial disparities such as Black residents being disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and geographical inequities (there are less health care facilities located in wards 5, 7, and 8) play a significant role in the high rates of heart disease. What is becoming less of an issue is access to care. The most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey found that
83 percent of District residents have at least one person they consider to be their personal physician. The survey also reports that Ward 8 adult residents are more likely to visit their doctors for routine check ups than any other ward within the past year. Food deserts also play a role in putting people at risk for heart disease. Communities with less access to fresh produce and high quality meats tend to have a greater dependence on prepackaged foods and take out loaded with sodium and trans fats.
Female vs. Male heart attacks
Although men and women are susceptible to heart disease and heart failure, a heart attack may present differently in each sex. Both men and women may experience chest pressure and shortness of breath. For women the chest pressure may be light. They may also have dizziness, light-headedness, back and jaw pain, nausea, shortness of breath, and vomiting. The real danger is that women may experience one or more of these symptoms and dismiss them. Recognizing the warning signs could save many lives. Traditionally, women are more likely to visit physicians for routine check ups. Yet the heart attack and stroke incidence rates for women is higher than men. Why is that? One factor is age. Women who are post menopausal have an increased risk for heart attack. It could also be
What You Can Do to Control the Risk of Heart disease •
Don’t smoke.
•
Treat high blood pressure and/or diabetes.
•
• • • •
Commit to losing weight. Just losing 10% of your total weight can have a big positive effect on your heart health.
Take stains for high cholesterol (total 200 mg/dL or higher).
Exercise. Any movement is better than none. Eat a diet low in saturated and trans fats and sodium.
Combat stress with relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation
misdiagnosis. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, women’s heart attack symptoms are seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed. Women are often told that they are suffering from stress or symptoms from bad diets and sent home which could be deadly.
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
The news surrounding heart disease is not all gloom and doom. In fact, it can be prevented in most cases. A few best practices for halting heart attacks include regular doctor visits, lifestyle changes, and education. Adults should make every effort to see their doctor regularly for annual physicals. Physicals or well visits are now covered as an essential benefit for all health insurance plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) so cost should not be a barrier. Although people may not be able to control their gene pool, they can control their diet and exercise regimen. One diet plan that addresses high blood pressure and has been recommended by the Ameri-
can Heart Association for many years is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The DASH diet was designed to address hypertension and lower systolic blood pressure which can positively impact health outcomes. The plan stresses consumption of vegetables, fruits and whole grains and restricting sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams a day. Nutritionists can help develop eating and workout plans that will suit many budgets and schedules. Some health insurance plans may even cover their services. All it takes is an inquiry. Aside from access to care and referrals to specialists whenever possible, there are dozens of programs aimed at educating people on the signs of a heart attacks and suggestions for a healthier lifestyle. Enter the Million Hearts Campaign. The goal of this campaign is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Learning how to prevent heart disease is a key piece in making sure that heart attacks do not occur. How does one do that? By knowing the ABCS of heart disease: Aspirin for those at risk for a heart attack, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, Smoking cessation and Sodium reduction. Locally, residents can consult with health insurance plans such as Unity Healthcare, Amerihealth and Trusted Health to see what programs or services are available for heart health. Heart disease is not to be taken lightly. Warning signs exist for a reason and they should be respected. But there are many ways to avoid having a heart attack or stroke. Prevention and care can go along way. It may be in your family but that doesn’t mean you are helpless against it. Consult with your primary care physician to see if the DASH Diet is right for you. For more information about the Million Hearts Campaign, visit www.millionhearts. hhs.gov
HEAR T H E C A N D I D AT E S
SPEAK! WARD 8 CAN D I DATE FO RU M HOSTED BY EAGLE ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
February 18 at 7 PM Eagle Academy Public Charter School 3400 Wheeler Road SE All candidates running for Ward 8 City Council have been invited to participate. Ward 8 community leaders, Mr. James Mullings and Mr. Kim Ly Sarin, will assist moderating the forum. Light refreshments will be served.
Candace Y.A. Montague is a health reporter for Capital Community News u EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2015 H 39
EAST WASHINGTON LIFE
jazzAvenues by Steve Monroe
From Where We Came... Riffs From D.C. Jazz History
For this Black History Month, February 2015, as we celebrate the heritage that has given us the many performers of the music we will enjoy this month -- see highlights below – courtesy of the Historical Society of Washington’s special “Washington History – Jazz in Washington” Spring 2014 publication, here are excerpts from Maurice Jackson’s fascinating article “Great Black Music and the Desegregation of Washington, D.C.”: Washington was home to two of the founders of Great Black Music, Will Marion Cook and James Reese Europe. A concert violinist, Cook received excellent classical training in both this country and Europe, but as an adult found inspiration in traditional African American folk tunes and spirituals, incorporating them in his compositions. Bandleader and composer Europe was outspoken in his belief that “we colored people have our own music that is part of us. It’s the product of our souls; it’s been created by the sufferings and miseries of our race.” …Through his own works (in collaboration with poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, [Cook] composed the musical Clorindy; or, The Origin of the Cakewalk) and with personal connections with rising musicians like Duke Ellington, [Cook] had a profound effect on the emergence of Great Black Music and, ultimately, jazz… … In 1913 Europe began performing with the famed white dancers Irene and Vernon Castle, serving as their bandleader, with Ford Dabney as the arranger. The Castles developed the fox trot “from steps Europe had learned from W.C. Handy, and a score thrown off from Europe.” Although some saw such collaboration of white and black music and dancing as “the devil’s work” eventually even the Ladies Home Journal wrote approvingly of the Castles and their dancing… … Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun, sons of the Turkish ambassador to the United States, had a profound impact upon the Washington jazz scene. Arriving in Washington in 1935, the young men and their 40 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
sister Selma quickly developed a love and appreciation of African American music of all kinds: blues, spirituals, gospels, jazz, and later, rhythm and blues…Beginning in 1940 the brothers began to invite musicians they had seen play on Saturday nights at the Howard Theatre and elsewhere to the embassy for Sunday lunches, where jazzloving friends and whichever band was in town would play, including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Rex Stuart, Joe Marsala, Lester Young, and Meade Lux Lewis…The Erteguns smashed boundaries posed by culture and race when they organized [the] first interracial concert in Washington, located on Sixteenth Street about a mile north of the White House …The music was played by a racially mixed jazz orchestra for a mixed audience. Interracial audiences began to be more common in the D.C. jazz clubs … Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun moved to New York and in September 1947 founded Atlantic Records, where they worked with the greats of American and world music of all colors, races, and religions …
In Review... Brad Linde/Team Players’ “Draft”
Belated Kudos to Brad Linde for his Team Players “Draft”2014 with Linde on muted alto saxophone and tenor sax, Billy Wolfe, tenor sax, Aaron Quinn, guitar and effects and Deric Dickens, drums, cymbals, percussion and whistle. On the Bleebop Records label, “Draft” highlights include the snappy “Skippy Lou,” featuring Dickens’ whipping drums and Linde and Wolfe on horns, and the intriguing “The Sound of Snow Under Feet” with its lilting almost waltz-like hypnotic rhythms, and the multi-colored jam “Devin Aromashodu” featuring Quinn’s liberal spicings. See www.bradlinde.com for more information.
MAJF is back
Paul Carr again brings us a jamming MidAtlantic Jazz Festival Feb. 13-16 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel
Saxophonist and educator Paul Carr also turns festival producer again this month, bringing his Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival back for another year Feb. 13-16 in Rockville.
& Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Md., with school band competitions, master classes and exotic vendors. Headliners include Maurice Lyles, Paul Carr, Sean Jones and Marcus Strickland Feb. 13; Terry Marshall, Sam Prather and Chelsey Green Feb and Chad Carter and Winard Harper Feb. 14; and Rufus Reid, Craig Handy, Jimmy Greene with Kenny Barron, and Carmen Lundy Feb. 15. See www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org. February Highlights: … Carol Chandler Jazz, Feb. 13, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Irene Jalenti, Feb. 13-14, Twins Jazz … Duke Ellington Orchestra, Feb. 14-15, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club … Rick Henderson Tribute/Bowie State Jazz Orchestra, Feb. 20, Westminster … Alex Norris, Feb. 20-21, Twins Jazz … Transparent Productions/Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Feb. 22, Bohemian Caverns … Tim Green, Feb. 27-28, Bohemian Caverns … Thinking About Jazz/Clark Terry, Feb. 28, Westminster … Eric Owens/Music of Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman, Feb. 28, Kennedy Center … Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra/Chasin’ the Trane, Feb. 28, Natural History Museum … Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival: Brad Linde’s DIX OUT Plays Fats Waller, Feb. 28, Atlas Performing Arts Center … Eric Byrd Trio, Feb. 28, Randallstown Community Center/Baltimore … February Birthdays: James P. Johnson, Joshua Redman 1; Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz 2; Eubie Blake 7; Chick Webb 10; Machito 16; Stan Kenton, David Murray 19; Nancy Wilson 20; Tadd Dameron 21; James Moody 26; Mildred Bailey, Dexter Gordon 27. u
Anacostia River Realty
CHANGING HANDS Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. Neighborhood
Price BR
FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA 1413 S ST SE 1440 W ST SE
CHILLUM
5416 NORTH CAPITOL ST NW
$290,000.00 $225,000.00
3 2
$340,000.00
2
$380,000.00 $160,000.00 $140,000.00
4 6 3
FORT DUPONT PARK
$325,000.00 $300,000.00 $260,000.00 $252,400.00 $250,000.00 $231,750.00 $206,000.00
4 3 5 3 3 2 2
HILL CREST
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3329 7TH ST SE 3211 5TH ST SE 400 ORANGE ST SE
DEANWOOD 5308 JAMES PL NE 5213 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 4801 MEADE ST NE 805 51ST ST NE 845 50TH PL NE 5603 EADS ST NE 4912 MINNESOTA AVE NE
5220 KARL PL NE 810 52ND ST NE 4620 LEE ST NE 4907 CENTRAL AVE NE 4221 GRANT ST NE 210 56TH ST NE 5155 SHERIFF RD NE 219 44TH ST NE 4306 HAYES ST NE 918 55TH ST NE
1030 BURNS ST SE 1511 FORT DAVIS ST SE 638 CHAPLIN ST SE
3429 CARPENTER ST SE
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5057 D ST SE 5427 B ST SE 5503 CENTRAL AVE SE 4715 BASS PL SE
$204,000.00 $204,000.00 $199,999.00 $185,000.00 $180,000.00 $175,000.00 $155,000.00 $145,000.00 $135,000.00 $130,000.00
3 2 2 3 4 2 2 3 3 4
RANDLE HEIGHTS 2429 SKYLAND PL SE 2402 24TH ST SE 3245 STANTON RD SE
4 2 2
$303,000.00
3
$319,500.00 $175,000.00 $105,000.00 $96,000.00
4 2 2 3
3 3 3
$52,000.00 $42,500.00
1 2
$40,000.00
2
Sales. Rentals. Property Management.
$69,000.00
2
202-678-REAL (7325)
$65,625.00
2
CONDO CONGRESS HEIGHTS 310 ATLANTIC ST SE #302-B 4715 1ST ST SW #102
DEANWOOD
4810 QUARLES ST NE #402 $299,888.00 $185,000.00 $150,000.00
$348,000.00 $263,500.00 $229,900.00
HILL CREST
3713 ALABAMA AVE SE #301
RANDLE HEIGHTS
3101 NAYLOR RD SE #103 u
1920 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE Washington, DC 20020
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2015 H 41
KIDS & FAMILY
Kids & Family
Courtesy of the National Building Museum
Notebook by Kathleen Donner
Lloyd D. Smith Foundation Announces Scholarships for Ward 7 Students
The Lloyd D Smith Foundation announces college scholarships for 2015 high school graduates of Ward 7. Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded, provided the applicants meet all eligibility requirements. Applications must be received by the Lloyd D. Smith Foundation, P.O. Box 10473, Washington, DC 20020-9994 by Apr. 16. To download an application, visit lloyddsmithfoundation.org or email the Foundation at info@ lloyddsmithfoundation.org. For any any questions, call Mary Ann Smith at 202-584-1826.
Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy
The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy core programs include its After-School Academy, which operates from 3:30-7:30 p.m., three days a week during the school year and its Summer Academy, which run full-day programs for six weeks every year. These programs engage the Academy’s scholar-athletes in academic enrichment, baseball/softball instruction, and nutrition education, and the strategic partnerships will guarantee the highest quality of program delivery. Though space is limited, interested 3rd and 4th grade students residing in Ward 7 or 8 are still eligible for enrollment and are encouraged to apply. Get application and learn more at washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/youthbaseballacademy.
Taratibu Youth Association Black History Program at THEARC
Harambee! is a dance production featuring Taratibu Youth Association powered by I CAN Technical Theater Interns. On Sunday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m., the Taratibu Youth Association comes together with the Bokamoso Youth Center, from Winterveld South Africa, the Jones & Haywood 42 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum
On Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite everyone to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality. Celebrate National Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. Discover Engineering Family Day is designed to introduce students ages 6-12 to the wonder of engineering and the importance of technological literacy. This is a free, drop-in program. $5 donation suggested. The National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. engineeringfamilyday.org Dance School, Visions Contemporary Dance Ensemble and the Farafina Kan Drummers to present a captivating and exciting experience of Black History and Culture. General admission tickets are $20. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
Mardi Gras Family Day at the Anacostia Community Museum
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., join in on the fun with this popular annual museum event featuring storytelling, face painting, maskmaking, other hands-on activities and live per-
formances. Attendees can also participate in the popular Art of Adornment workshop with artist and entrepreneur, Januwa Moja-Nelson, or get a complimentary picture of themselves dressed in Januwa’s individual designs. Those interested in the Adornment workshop should sign up on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Call 202-633-4844 to register. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu
Pepco, Discovery Education and Boys & Girls Clubs Kick-off STEM Club at THEARC
Pepco, Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Pre-K to 3rd grade
Building on our strong foundation as an early childhood program
Open Houses on the following Thursdays, 9:30 am-10:30 am*:
February 19 & 26 March 19 & 26
Congratulations to the 2014 Tier 1 Schools
* You must register to attend. Call (202) 726-1843, limit of 20 people per session.
Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org Application deadline March 2, 2015.
WARD 2
KIPP DC - WILL Academy PCS Two Rivers PCS
BASIS DC PCS
WARD 4
Capital City PCS - High School Center City PCS - Brightwood Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS Washington Latin PCS-Upper School
Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Voted Best Preschool in DC,City Paper Readers Poll 2013! • Before & After Care • Small classroom size and well trained staff • Individual planning for each student • Hands-on and project-based curriculum Free and open to all DC residents.Tuition paid by non-residents.
Bridges PCS is an expanding elementary school growing to serve grades Pre-K–5th by 2017-2018.
www.bridgespcs.org 1250 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 p: 202.726.1843 e: info@bridgespcs.org
For the 2016-2017 school year Bridges PCS will be in our new location: 100 Gallatin St. NE, Washington, DC 20011.
www.bridgespcs.org
WARD 5
DC Prep PCS - Edgewood Middle Friendship PCS - Woodridge Middle KIPP DC - College Preparatory PCS Washington Yu Ying PCS
WARD 6
Center City PCS - Shaw Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Middle
WARD 7
César Chávez PCS for Public Policy – Parkside High School KIPP DC - KEY Academy PCS KIPP DC - Promise Academy PCS SEED PCS of Washington DC (High)
WARD 8
Achievement Prep PCS Wahler Place Middle Center City PCS - Congress Heights Friendship PCS Southeast Elementary Academy KIPP DC - AIM Academy PCS Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS
Looking for more information? Check out dashboard.dcpcsb.org or data.dcpcsb.org If you need more information about DC public charter school options, look for a 2014 Parent Guide or visit www.dcpcsb.org.
EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2015 H 43
KIDS & FAMILY Clubs of Greater Washington kicked-off the Pepco STEM Club at THEARC. The Pepco STEM Club exposes and prepares 5th-8th grade students for career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. The kickoff focused on challenging some 100 or more middle school students to create mechanisms that transfer energy from one object to another in the tradition of inventor and engineer Rube Goldberg. Goldberg’s creations were famous for using convoluted methods to perform simple tasks. Pepco commissioned Discovery Education to compile the digital curriculum on energy and infrastructure that makes up the Pepco STEM Club. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
Empower Males of Color Initiative
Mayor Bowser and District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Henderson have launched Empowering Males of Color. The effort is part of the Bowser Administration’s effort to advance achievement and opportunity and reduce racial disparities for boys and men of color across Washington, DC. Currently, male students of color make up 43 percent of the overall DCPS student population and those students, as a whole, are not meeting their potential. Black male students in particular have the lowest attendance and student satisfaction rates. The Bowser Administration will invest $20 million over the next three years in Empowering Males of Color to target the most urgent and persistent challenges. In partnership with the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper effort, DCPS will use three key strategies to address the needs of male students of color: mentoring, targeted funding for grants to schools, and a new allmale college preparatory high school. To learn more, visit emocdc.org.
President’s Day Public Skate at Fort Dupont Ice Arena
The President’s Day Public Skate at Fort Dupont Ice Arena is on Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There is free skating, skate rental and skating lessons. Skates are available on a first come, first served basis. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org
Family Performances at Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival • Arts on the Horizon: Sunny and Licorice. Can two very different orangutangs become friends? Find out in a delightful non-verbal play with music 44 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
created especially for ages 2–5. Feb. 27, 28, Mar. 6, 7 at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Mar. 1 at 11:30 a.m. $8.
• Happenstance Theater: Pinot & Augustine. Enjoy laughs galore when two very silly clowns are viewed in a show that bubbles over with physical comedy, virtuosity, and musical surprises. Ages 3+. Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. and Feb 28 at 11:30 a.m. $10-$15. • AirBorne! DC & Zip Zap Circus: Â Above and Beyond. Two international circus stars from South Africa join daring aerialists from DC and beyond to salute the bridge-building power of risk and love. Ages 5+. Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. $16.50-$27.50.
• Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble. This world premiere by Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble, an electrifying, young repertory tap dance company, will explode all notions about tap. Ages 8+. Feb. 28, 1 p.m. $16.50-$22.
Free in the lobby are Boggie Babes on Feb 21, noon; Feb. 28, 11 a.m. and Mar. 7, 11 a.m.; National Gallery of Art collage creation on Feb. 21, noon-3 p.m.; and Capital City Symphony Musical Instrument Petting Zoo on Mar. 7, 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. INTERSECTIONS presents over 125 performances in music, theatre, dance, film, spoken word and performance art that offer new ways to see oneself and to celebrate connections between the audience and artists. The 6th annual INTERSECTIONS festival showcases more than 700 talented artists from DC and beyond. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-3997993. atlasarts.org
Washington Capitals Forward Joel Ward Presents Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Program with $26,000 Check
Washington Capitals forward Joel Ward presented the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Program with a $26,000 check on behalf of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. These funds were raised through a grant from the Teammates for Kids Foundation. Each year individual Capitals players pledge to contribute to Teammates for Kids, a foundation that supports inner-city and underserved children in the areas of health and education. Teammates for Kids then makes a donation to MSE Foundation based on the number of Capitals players who participate. During the 2013-14 season Washington Capitals players Karl Alzner, Nicklas Backstrom, Troy Brouwer,
John Carlson, Jason Chimera, Eric Fehr, Mike Green, Jack Hillen, Braden Holtby, Marcus Johansson, Steven Oleksy, Aaron Volpatti, Joel Ward and Tom Wilson made pledges to Teammates for Kids. Through grants received from the Teammates for Kids Foundation, the Washington Capitals have donated $113,000 to the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Program since 2004.
African American Pioneers in Aviation Family Day at Air and Space
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 10 a.m.3 p.m., celebrate the many accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of aviation and space exploration. Visitors enjoy presentations, hands-on activities, and stories, and may have the opportunity to meet astronauts, fighter pilots, and others who will share stories of their challenges and accomplishments. They also learn about inspiring historic figures like Bessie Coleman through reenactments or story times. National Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave. at 6th St. SW. 202-633-2214. airandspace.si.edu
WATERFRONT ACADEMY
Kids Celebrate African American History Month at Oxon Cove Park
On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2:30-3:30 p.m., kids ages 7-13 can learn about “Civil Rights: Why Are We Still Talking About This in 2015?” One weakness of the Bill of Rights was that it largely left unprotected the majority of people who lived on the Mount Welby property, present-day Oxon Hill Farm. Who were these unsheltered people and why were they not protected by the Constitution’s first ten amendments? There will also be discussions on what actions the government has taken since the Bill of Rights to protect all citizens’ civil rights and why civil rights is still an important topic in 2015.
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KIDS & FAMILY On Sunday, Feb. 15, 1-2 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 16, 9:30-10:30 a.m., kids ages 0-4 can hear “Reading Stories with Ranger Steph: West African Tales for Your Ding Ding Kende (Good Little Child).” At Oxon Cove Park every third Sunday and Monday of the month, kids can listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy other activities. For Black History Month, meet Clever Anansi, Boastful Bullfrog, and other characters from West African oral tradition. For centuries, griots have delighted children with these colorful tales, full of rhythm, music, and opportunities for listener participation. Storytelling was an important connection that the enslaved could share with their ancestors and with each other. Meet Ranger Steph in the Visitor Barn. Oxon Hill Farm is at 6411 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. For more information, call 301-839-1176 or visit nps.gov/oxhi.
NPS Washington Monument Family Activities
On Saturday, Mar. 7, noon-5 p.m., the National Park Service will provide four activity stations exploring aspects of the Civil War in Washington using ex-
cerpts from the Civil War-era diary of 27-year-old DC resident Mary Henry. Mary’s diary provides a detailed account of what daily life was like in the nation’s capital. Participants can pick up an activity book from any of four stations at the Washington Monument. The activities focus on technology, service to country, fun and games and legacy.
Weekly Reading Ranger Event at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Join National Park Service Rangers every Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, 1318 Vermont Ave. NW, for a fun and educational story time and craft activity. Reading Ranger programs are geared toward children under 5 years old and their caregivers. These events are free and open to the public. All children must be accompanied by an adult for the entirety of the program. Mary McLeod Bethune demonstrated the value of education, a philosophy of universal love, and the wise and consistent use of politi-
Washington Mystics guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt works on a mural at Kimball Elementary School as part of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service project on Jan. 19. Photo: Courtesy of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation
cal power in striving for racial and gender equality. The 15th of 17 children of former slaves, Bethune grew up amidst poverty and oppression of the Reconstruction South, yet rose to prominence as an educator, presidential advisor, and political activist. Through her own schooling by missionaries in South Carolina, Bethune recognized the importance of education in the emerging struggle for civil rights. In 1904 she founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial School for Negro Girls in Daytona Beach, Florida, which later merged with the Cookman Institute to become Bethune-Cookman College, now University. Mary McLeod Bethune worked tirelessly to influence legislation affecting African Americans and women and continued to be an important voice for human rights until her death in 1955 at the age of 79.
Chinese New Year Family Festival at the American Art Museum
On Saturday, Feb. 14, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., help the American Art Museum bring in the year of the sheep with craft activities, traditional performances, artists, and demonstrations. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu
OrKID Family Festival at the Museum of Natural History
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., visitors of all ages are invited to explore the world of orchids at the OrKID Family Festival. This funfilled day of free activities celebrates the exhibition, Orchids: Interlocking Science and Beauty. Activities include constructing a field journal, an orchid corsage and an orchid puzzle. Visitors can pot an orchid to take home. Orchid experts from the Smithsonian and US Botanic Garden will be available to answer questions and tell visitors about unique plants from their collections that will be on display. This free program is at the Evans Gallery at the Museum of Natural History. No pre-registration required. usbg.gov
Summer Teacher Workshops: The Seat of War and Peace at Ford’s
Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and Playworks Washington, DC Participate in MLK Day of Service Project at Kimball Elementary School
Washington Capitals Hall-of-Famer Rod Langway and Mystics guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt participated in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service project at Kimball Elementary School on Jan. 19. They were joined by more than 60 Capitals, Mystics and Wizards fans who took part in tasks that included painting murals, cleaning and painting classrooms and organizing storage rooms. In addition, volunteers painted canvases to spell out “Kimball Elementary” and created a large art project using photos of students and teachers for the school’s Hall of Recognition. 46 H EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
From July 5-11 and July 26-Aug. 2, teachers are invited to one of two week-long Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops. Ford’s Theatre Education brings renowned scholars and teachers together to explore the Lincoln assassination and its continuing resonance in American history through place-based learning, digital resources and cutting-edge scholarship. These workshops are made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Applications due Mar. 2, 2015. Apply fords. org/home/education/teacher-programs/neh. u
Enc Empowouraging e Imagin rment and Safe anation in a d Enviro Caring For Chnment ild Ages 3 ren -9
From June 22 - August 14, 2015 Younger children (ages 3-5) will enjoy performances, trips, picnics in the park, water play. Older ones (ages 6-9) will enjoy science classes, field trips, Labyrinth games, fitness classes, arts, weekly visits to the pool, gardening, cooking classes and more.
Registration Begins February 2 Download applications at www.politepiggys.com Mail to PO Box 31215, WDC 20030 Flexible Scheduling: ages 3-5: ages 6-9:
Weekly $315 $345
Whole Day $60 $69
Early Bird Discount 5% OFF Sibling Discount - 25% OFF
Half Day $41 $46
Drop In $66 $71
(any week of camp paid in full by 5/8/15)
More Info: 240-396-8957 ask for VanNessa www.politepiggys.com politepiggysdaycamp@yahoo.com EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2015 H 47
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EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2015 ★ 49
“Reversal of Fortune”
Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
by Myles Mellor Across:
1. Spawning fish 5. Nobel Peace Prize city 9. Get some air 15. Number for one 19. Cruiser 21. China clay 22. Flew 23. Too much of a good thing, including reversal of fortune 26. Discontinue 27. Grand 28. Wranglers alternative 29. Pantywaist 30. Darlings 32. Indigenous Brazilians 35. Place to bring up 37. Crack 40. Simple wind instrument 43. Sheen 47. Financial calculation, including reversal of fortune 50. Bad thing to blow 51. Like some pools 52. Cruising 53. Large casks 55. ___ seul (dance solo) 56. Inn inventory 57. Inflatable things 58. Proper ___ 60. Oversight 62. Galoot 63. Resided 65. Common allergen 66. Pirate quest, including reversal of fortune 73. Foreign heads of state 74. Change 75. “That’s terrible!” 76. Grassy plain 77. Like some muscles 78. Eur. think tank 80. Coatrack parts 84. Listen here 85. Wild guess 87. Booze 89. Bantu 90. Like many a mistake 92. Redistributing money, including reversal of fortune 96. Layers 98. Most skinny
99. Elevates 100. Neighbor of Earth 102. Naysayer 103. Ain’t right? 104. Philosopher William of ___ 107. Card game for two 109. Mop 112. Mississippi’s ___ State University 116. “Playhouse 90” time, including reversal of fortune 121. ___ it out 122. Ethically neutral 123. Certain denizens 124. Takes out 125. Boar’s abode 126. Pound (down) 127. Convenience
Down:
1. Small detail? 2. Word with plate or sick 3. Jessica of “Dark Angel” 4. Dispersions of people 5. Robert Burns’s “Whistle ___ the Lave O’t” 6. Skedaddles 7. Punishment for a sailor, maybe 8. Guesstimate words 9. One of the Clantons 10. Photographer Goldin 11. Communications link 12. Frostbite treater 13. Certain inmate 14. U.S.N.A. grad 15. Desirous 16. Legendary elephant eaters 17. Camera diaphragm 18. Unsubstantial 20. Relating to a doctrine 24. Change, in a way 25. Son of Rebekah 31. Young sheep 33. Major or Minor 34. Trading place 36. Zip 37. Numbers to crunch 38. Like Darth Vader 39. Let go 40. Not fooled by 41. British tax 42. Quick 44. Drink
50 ★ EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 45. Magical Mr. Clean product? 46. Forwarded 48. Zealous 49. Overhead light? 54. Trudge 57. Group of poems 58. Essential 59. Hoary 61. Cookbook phrase 62. Thick dos 63. Nest 64. Come out on top 65. Some dogs 66. Slovakian monetary units 67. Diacritical mark 68. Closer 69. Half a score
70. Monkey-bread tree 71. Strike-caller 72. Mauritius money 77. Word of support 78. Abridges 79. Real 80. Chivalry 81. Logan postings 82. Indian dish ingredient 83. Propagates 86. Anastasia’s father, for one 87. Huffy state 88. Certain discriminator 89. Double 91. Litigant’s goal 93. Lions, e.g. 94. Roadhouse
95. Mins. and mins. 97. Subdued 101. Master 103. Construction piece 104. Bookie’s quote 105. Game name 106. Furnace fuel 108. Wide-eyed 110. Broke down 111. Stewpot 113. Andes capital 114. Ballerina’s pivot 115. British royal 117. Break 118. Meal starter 119. Bug out 120. Kind of treatment
THE NOSE
Trashing a Candidacy by Anonymous
A man walks into a bank and asks a teller to make a $20,000 cash withdrawal. This, Dear Readers, sounds like the commencement of a long-winded saga that one might overhear late in the evening while deep in one’s cups at the bar of the Tune Inn. Yet such a scene played itself out in a time not so long ago, in a galaxy not so far, far away. On Jan. 13, 2015, according to a police report, MC “Baby” Barry allegedly walked into a northwest branch of PNC Bank and requested $20,000 from his account. The teller informed Baby Barry that the funds in the account were insufficient for the transaction. Undeterred, Barry requested $6,000 in cash. At this point, the teller informed him that he could not fulfill the request because account was already overdrawn by $2,000. (A check deposited the day before, it appears, had not as yet cleared.) How many of you, Dear Readers, have ever withdrawn $20,000 in cash from a bank? The average Joe writes a check when he needs to move such copious cash from point A to point B. The Nose, much like many of you Dear Readers, has never seen that much scratch in one place. And how did Barry propose to carry the $20,000 out of the bank? Had he the forethought to bring briefcase along to avoid the five-cent bag tax? Equally perplexing is Baby Barry’s reaction to the teller’s refusal of his withdrawal. “I’m going to have someone meet you when you get off; better yet I’m going around the corner and coming back,” he yelled as he began walking towards the exit, stated witnesses. Then, inexplicably, Barry allegedly picked up a metal trashcan and threw it over the Plexiglas wall separating the tellers from their customers. If Baby Barry is elected, what does this portend for future council budgetary sessions? Will ‘duck and cover’ be elevated to the pinnacles of
political negotiation? Will chairs join trashcans as the weapon of first resort? Will the dais in the Wilson Building become the new ring for World Wide Wrestling? With apologies to the great Bob Marley, Baby Barry, here is a song for you: I threw the trash can But I didn’t hit the teller, oh no! Oh! I threw the trash can But I didn’t hit the teller, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh. Yeah! All around in my home town, They’re tryin’ to beat me down; They say they want to bring me in guilty For the throwing of a trash can, For the throwing of a trash can. But I say: Oh, now, now. Oh! I threw the trash can. - the trash can. But I swear there is no evidence. Oh, no! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah! I say: I threw the trash can - Oh, Lord! And they say it is a misdemeanor offense. Yeah! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah! PNC bank always hated me, For what, I don’t know: Every time I ask for a withdrawal, The teller say you must make a deposit before it goesMake a deposit before you know. And so I say.... The Nose has a few words of advice to those planning the Ward 8 electoral debates. Make sure all the trashcans and chairs are firmly welded to the floor. u