East of the River Magazine – January 2021 by Capital Community News

JANUARY 2021

INSIDE: SPECIAL

ISSUE

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N E X T I S S U E : F E B R U A RY 6

EDUCATION SPECIAL ISSU E CENTER SP READ

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 08 Meet the New Ward 7 Commissioners

by Liz O’Gorek

20 Our River: The Anacostia

Fixing And Saving Kenilworth Park by Bill Matuszeski

22 The Bulletin Board

30 Health Beat / Dr. Anthony Fauci

and Me – Part 1: Making Covid 19 Plain to Our Community

by Ambrose Lane Jr.

32 Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 26 Officers Bring Joy Through 7D Toy Drive: More than 500 Gifts Distributed to Ward 8 Kids

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

28 Meet Judy R. Walton, Ph.D. –

Educator and Service Provider by Anthony D. Diallo

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 34 35

What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

29 The Old Man of Anacostia –

Resolutions: It’s Time To Be on Time, and Beautify Our Space by Philip Pannell

ON THE COVER: Junko Hurd, winner in the Landscapes Category, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Photography Contest. (See Bulletin Board, pg. 22)

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2021 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Photo: Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum

CRYSTALLINE AT ARTECHOUSE DC Crystalline at ARTECHOUSE DC has been extended to Feb. 28, 2021. Inspired by blue’s dependability, Crystalline explores the color’s connection with earth and crystals through a journey that is both adventurous and contemplative—an exploration through an illusory, blue-hued castle. Representative of our desire for a stable foundation that often feels out of reach during these turbulent times, this surreal yet familiar place offers guests a refuge from the everyday. ARTECHOUSE connects progressive ideas, artists and audiences to stimulate innovation and creativity. They believe in the power of art, science and technology to change the world for the better. $17 to $24. Advance online bookings are required for specific entrance times to ensure a contactless check-in and safe capacity limits. Open Mondays to Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m.; Fridays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ARTECHOUSE DC is at 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. dc.artechouse.com/crystalline.

Photo: Richie Downs

FOREST BATHE AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits--boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved attention and mood and hitting the reset button on life. The Japanese have enjoyed shinrin yoku for decades as a regular public health initiative. The Friends of the National Arboretum invite you to join their nature and forest therapy guide in a two-hour program as you are led to more deeply experience and interact with nature. Relax and raise your mood, immune system and sense of coherency. Each forest bathing walk will end with a modified tea ceremony. No pets or children under 16. $35. Forest bathing in daylight hours resumes in early February. fona.org/programs.

I HATE IT HERE: STORIES FROM THE END OF THE OLD WORLD

WASHINGTON IMPROV ONLINE CLASSES Meet fun and interesting people while building your improv skills. Their students and teachers have found online improv as a time to connect, and a time to break away from the relative monotony of “the new normal.” From your own home, take a regular class, an elective, a workshop, improv for business and/or improv for all. Prices vary. There are free workshops on Jan. 8, 14, 22, and 28; and Feb. 5, 11, 19 and 25. Find them at witdc.org/learn/improv-for-all/.

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An anthem for our time, I Hate it Here looks at the ways people do (and don’t) deal with a world on the brink of explosion. Commissioned by Studio Theatre to create an audio work, award-winning Chicago writer Ike Holter brings his sharp humor to the complexities of stepping into a new decade with the odds already stacked against your favor.  Listen to it, for free, through March 11 at studiotheatre.org/plays/ play-detail/2020-2021-i-hate-it-here. I Hate it Here is part of Studio In Your Ears. Intimate and immediate, Studio’s audio plays bring the thrill of great writing and great acting directly to theatregoers’ headphones. studiotheatre.org.

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

CeCe Peniston

VOLUNTEERS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Each year, Americans across the country come together on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy by serving their communities. The 2021 MLK Day of Service is Monday, Jan. 18. Go to allforgood. org for a list of local volunteer jobs you can do from home. And keep checking back for more COVID-19 response opportunities as they develop. To sign up as a volunteer for the Resident Snow Team, visit snow. dc.gov/service/resident-snow-team. Mayor Bowser clears a neighbor’s path through the snow. The Resident Snow Team is a coalition of community members who help shovel snow for seniors and residents with disabilities across all eight wards.

DANCE IN DC FESTIVAL Washington Performing Arts presents six short films that celebrate the dynamic creativity of the local dance scene alongside the entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses. Each production features a site-specific work, along with conversations between dancers and business owners who speak about their community in these critical times. washingtonperformingarts.org. Mars Arts DC is Washington Performing Arts’ signature community engagement project. Now in its sixth year, the program has grown steadily to new heights with artist residencies, partnerships, events in venues across all eight wards, and robust integration with the Washington Performing Arts main stage series, World in Our City global programming initiative and education programs.

CECE PENISTON AT THE BIRCHMERE CeCe Peniston is live at The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA, on Sunday, Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m. An American singer, Ms. Peniston, know for her Dance, R&B and Rap music, has won many national and international awards. $45. birchmere.com.

Matthew Crittenden. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor

THE POST-ELECTION BLUES: HOW CAN AMERICANS REGAIN COMMON GROUND? After one of the most polarized presidential campaign seasons in recent history, will it be possible to resurrect the very American notion of E Pluribus Unum or “out of many, one”? On Jan. 14, 6:45 p.m., a frank panel conversation, via Zoom, moderated by civility expert and Washington Post columnist Steven Petrow looks at the challenges before us, as well as some reasons to be optimistic. $25. smithsonianassociates.org. Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Associates

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Meet the New Ward 7 ANC Commissioners

Majority of SMDs Will be Represented by New Officials by Elizabeth O’Gorek

n January 2, 2021, 19 newly-elected representatives were sworn in for the five Ward 7 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs). The ceremony, like much of the campaign, took place virtually, with Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D) administering the oath of office. The large incoming class means that many Ward 7 ANCs will meet in January with a majority of their seven seats filled by new commissioners. They come to a difficult job in a difficult time, meeting virtually to help residents confront the all-too-real issues raised and, in many cases, exacerbated by the pandemic, including issues of health, public safety, education and housing. Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. Each commissioner represents a Single Member District (SMD) of approximately 2,000 residents. The ANCs’ main role in the District is to be their neighborhood’s official voice in advising the District government (and Federal agencies) on things that affect their neighborhoods. Meet your newly elected representatives below. Learn more about ANCs by visiting anc.dc.gov.

ANC 7B: Southeast Pennsylvania Heights (anc7b.com)

Chiowa J. Iwuoha (7B01) At the end of election night, Chiowa J. Iwuoha (7B01) was down by 36 votes and said she nearly conceded the race. However, as ballots continued to be counted in the days following, the tide turned. Iwuoha won the office by two votes. A native Washingtonian and the mother of an elementary-aged child, Iwuoha came to Ward 7 from Shaw seven years ago and immediately felt the disparity in access to resources and services between the two sides of town. As a mother raising a produce-loving, 7-year-old pescatarian, Iwuoha said access to fresh, affordable and healthy food is a priority for her. “I will have to go out of the ward in order to get it for her,” she said, “which is just a huge problem right now.”

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She wants to ensure people will be able to secure quality employment, and said new projects in Ward 7 should employ residents. Work enables residents to stay in their homes, she said, and COVID-19 illustrates the ways that housing and safety are critically linked. In 2018, she became an AtLarge member for the DC Democratic State Committee, encouraged by friends to run primarily because she was not a politician. After two years in the at-large role, she said she wanted to concentrate her energy on

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her neighborhood. Iwuoha said she brings a more hands-on work ethic and a democratic-socialist viewpoint to office. Public safety is a major concern, and Iwuoha said it is important to engage with youth and make them change agents. The community has the power to resolve issues that are typically handled by the police, she said. “The community knows how you feel about them based on how you treat them.” she said. “For me, it’s about how do you funnel the things into the community that show people that they’re valued, they’re worthy and that shifts the attitude and the energy of people there?” Reach Commissioner Iwuoha via email at 7B01@anc.dc.gov

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Lindsey Botts (7B03) said he was excited —and pleasantly surprised— to learn he had been declared the winner in the race to represent 7B03. The election ended in a tie between two write-in candidates, Botts and Walter Leroy Peacock III. Botts won after DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) broke the tie by drawing his name from a pot. Botts was born and raised in the District. His parents moved from Columbia Heights Lindsey Botts to Ward 7 when he was in high school. After obtaining degrees in communications at FIT in New York and journalism at the University of the Arts in London, Botts came back to Ward 7, moving into the Twining neighborhood in 2015. He currently works in operations for a media company. Encouraged by his father, Botts declared himself a candidate after learning that there was nobody on the ballot to represent the interests of neighbors. Botts said that residents have expressed concern with parking and liquor licensing for convenience stores. Development is also a major issue, with many wanting to offer their input on multi-unit projects such as those underway at 27th Street and Minnesota Avenue SE and at L’Enfant Square. Botts favors some additional commercial development in ANC 7B. “I think it’s absurd that we have to go across the bridge to either the Harris Teeter or the new Safeway there now,” he said. Acknowledging the work of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D) to bring a grocery store to Penn Branch, Botts welcomes the development of a commercial area along the Pennsylvania East Main Street Corridor. While he knows that he faces a learning curve, Botts said his lack of political experience has some advantages. Instead of coming in with political stances on various matters, he can learn and develop doing the work and through the views of his constituents. “I’m coming into this with open ears and a willingness to learn about the issues, and to extend my existing roots in the neighborhood,” Botts said. “I’m just looking forward to serving the community.” Cydne Smith Nash

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Reach Commissioner Botts via email at 7B03@anc.dc.gov Cydne Smith Nash (7B04) A native Washingtonian, Nash is no stranger to DC politics and community engagement. As a teenager, she participated in the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute, which trains young people to become community leaders, canvassing city streets to garner support on important issues like education and economic development. Now, she plans to do the same for her neighborhood. Nash has a Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s of Science in the Social Foundations of Education. Currently, she works at a national social work education association, where she manages grants and special projects. As commissioner, she plans to focus on public safety, development, housing, and education. As the mother of a recent DC Public Schools (DCPS) graduate, she said she has seen how education and skill development are critical to developing youth into productive citDonna Robinson izens and change agents. The resources necessary to give children a good education are all the more critical in a time of COVID-19, she added, and she wants to work together with parents, community, District agencies and government to ensure children are successful. Similarly, neighbors must work with law enforcement and other city services to use a community-based approach to crime. She envisions public safety solutions that involve many aspects of the community, including healthcare experts, educators, business people, law enforcement and residents. The new commissioner also wants to work to ensure community needs are met by incoming development, including the new Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Street, the Shops at Penn

Branch, and Skyland Town Center. The area is already sought after for its leafy streets and small-town vibe, Nash said, but she wants to ensure that existing residents can remain while welcoming new families to the neighborhood. “My husband and I made a conscious choice to move to our neighborhood because of the bright future we knew was coming to this area,” Nash said, adding that they wanted to be a part of preserving the community’s history and strength. “I will advocate for smart growth without displacing our neighborhood’s pillars.” Reach Commissioner Cydne Smith Nash: 7B04@ anc.dc.gov Donna Robinson (7B05) has been a Hillcrest resident for more than fifty years. A mother of two and a grandmother of three, she retired after 22 years with MPD and is currently the Chair of the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA). Robinson has a history of working on behalf of the community. As part of HCCA, she cites a record where she confronted builders and developers on illegitimate projects in Hillcrest and exposed zoning violations and illegal curb-cut applications for proposed projects within the community. Similarly, in response to concerns of neighbors, Robinson formed and led a task force which successfully halted improper development at Branch Avenue and Gainesville Street. She also cites a collaboration with neighbors in requesting a traffic calming study which resulted in the installation of speed humps within the Hillcrest community. Robinson said she has no aspirations for political office, just a desire to answer to the needs of 7B05 residents and a proven track record for working tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Hillcrest. You can reach Commissioner Robinson via email at 7B05@anc.dc.gov Kelvin Brown (7B06) has lived in the Hillcrest community for nearly a decade. He was raised with seven brothers in a poor, working class Alabama family where he realized early on that education was his pathway out of poverty. He won a presidential scholarship at Alabama State, where he earned degrees in criminal law and business administration.

Kelvin Brown

Brown is a 10-year US Army veteran who was deployed on three different missions as a Sergeant, receiving the US Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He currently manages an affordable housing portfolio for federal affordable housing financing enterprise Fannie Mae. After his run for the Democratic nomination to represent Ward 7 on DC Council ended in June, Brown decided to enter the three-way race to represent 7B06. “What I truly do believe is that when you see an opportunity to lead and you believe you have the necessary skill and background to help communities and help people, I felt it was incumbent upon me to jump in and see where I could do the greatest good.” For Brown, all politics are hyperlocal. He said that improving living conditions, quality of life and factors contributing to the health of the District starts with the communities where we live and is particularly important during the COVID crisis. That, he said, lays the groundwork for equity on which the whole community can build another layer of success. The new commissioner wants to address neighbor concerns about traffic and public safety, particularly traffic accidents that have resulted in bodily injury and death. Brown says he will emphasize representation, and ensure that

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neighbor’s ideas, thoughts and opinions are valued as part of the decision-making process. You can reach Commissioner Brown via email at 7B06@ anc.dc.gov

know it, or the way you want it to be,” Fields said. “I can do this job, but I’m going to need the help of the community.” Reach Commissioner Fields at 7C02@anc.dc.gov

ANC 7C Deanwood-East Corner (anc7c.org)

Victoria J. Clark (7C06) came to DC in 2014 after graduating from North Carolina University and Cornell Law School. She arrived in what is now her SMD in the summer of 2018. An attorney, she worked with small businesses in her own practice and as a provisional member of the criminal justice back panel. In fall, she took a job on the Biden-Harris campaign doing voter protection. For five years as president of her chapter of the Urban League and a board member for many organizations, Clark was looking for the next way to get involved. She sees ANC commissioners as advocates for the community. That means talking to people, learning what matters to them, conveying those desires and doing something about them. “That’s what I do as a profession,” she said. Clark said that people have told her that they are concerned with safety, citing car and package thefts and house break-ins. “I think that it’s important to make sure that people are safe and feel secure in their homes,” she said, “but that it doesn’t lead to over-policing an already over-policed population.” There is also a concern with speed, and residents have asked for speed bumps. She points to a disparity in accessibility to transportation, noting that residents depend on automobiles because of the undependability of public transit. Improved transit is also important to Clark because her SMD is located in a food desert, with only two supermarkets serving the ward. That means that many residents spend tremendous amounts of time traveling into Ward 6 or to Maryland for fresh food or other necessities, she said. The new commissioner wants constituents to tell her what matters to them. “A lot of people tend to feel like they have no power, like their views don’t matter, like their needs don’t matter. But I want to reassure everyone that they should

Yolanda Fields (7C02) is not new to the role of ANC Commissioner, although it is her first term serving 7C02. She Yolanda Fields stepped down as Commissioner for 7E07 in spring 2020, after a move “just across the street,” took her out of that SMD. Later, she entered and won the three-way race to represent 7C02. Fields was born and raised in Woodland, graduating from Ballou High School. Her roots in community service go deep; for 25 years, Fields’s grandmother was president of the Woodland Terrace Resident Council and young Yolanda would be sent door-to-door on her grandmother’s business. “She was the muscle, with the pen and the paper; I was the foot, with the knocking on the doors,” she explains. Upon arriving in her new SMD, Fields met with her neighbors to learn about their concerns. She said the biggest issue in her SMD and in the wider area is gun violence. She said she will continue to work with MPD Sixth District and with No More Graves, an organization that discusses the roots and consequences of gun violence with young men, combatting the impact of death and prison on the community. Fields also wants to focus on education and employment and is planning to connect organizations to the community to help young adults work on skills from reading to resume writing. “I don’t want them to just get jobs, but to get a career going,” she said. “It’s never too late.” Finally, she wants to ensure that the community is involved with plans for development in the area, bringing developers and residents into conversations about plans before decisions are made. She said her biggest message to her community is that it is time for a change. “It’s time to get off the porch and take back the community in the way you Victoria J. Clark

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bring me their concerns,” she said. “I won’t know unless they tell me.” Reach Victoria J. Clark via email at 7C06@anc. dc.gov. East of the River Magazine was unable to connect with ANC 7C Commissioner Vince Van (7C03), the SMD formerly represented by Catherine A. Woods, in time for publication.

Milton Hardy

ANC 7D Mayfair-Kenilworth (www.anc7d.org)

Milton Hardy (7D04) A Baltimore native, Hardy moved to DC in 2017 to take a role in Human Resources with the District Government, later becoming Director of Human Resources for a large private company. Hardy said that his work has given him an understanding of business and negotiating that can be drawn on as he takes office. “There have been many lessons learned,” Hardy said, “none more important than sometimes to get what you want it takes stick-to-itiveness.” A retired 25-year-veteran of the U.S. Army, Hardy said he decided to run for ANC as part of a legacy of public service sparked in him by their annual National Night Out events. His work keeping neighbors informed as a volunteer Block Captain with the River Terrance Community Organization (RTCO), led him to believe that he could add value to the community as an ANC commissioner. A key issue for Hardy is employment. Hardy said he believes everyone who wants a job should be able to find meaningful work. “A job provides us with more sustainable needs than we first imagine,” he said, including engagement with the community. Hardy said he will draw on his background to advocate for employment and plans to hold large-scale job fairs in the area with local

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private and public employers. Another issue Hardy cites is traffic, particularly pointing to the intersection of 34th Street with Benning Road and Eads Avenue SE. Calling the situation “a ticking time bomb,” Hardy said that the illegal turns and high speeds of traffic in the area are bound to lead to a serious incident if the situation is not addressed by District Department of Transportation (DDOT). As Commissioner, Hardy Stephanie Audain plans to listen to neighbors to develop and implement strategies that will assist the community. “As Commissioner, I want the residents to be assured that I will always listen, and communicate our collective best intentions – without reservation,” he said. “None of us is as strong as all of us.” Email Commissioner Hardy at mhardyward7@ gmail.com Stephanie Audain (7D05) is originally from Brooklyn, coming to DC in 2004 to study political science and history at Howard University. After graduation, she began a career in health care, moving to what is now her SMD in 2017. She currently works in the operations department for the Council on Foundations, an organization that helps nonprofits run effectively. Wanting to ensure her senior neighbors had essential supplies throughout the pandemic, she volunteers with the Wards 7 & 8 Mutual Aid Network and Food and Friends, delivering meals to DC residents. It was her fellow Mutual Aid volunteers that encouraged Audain to run for ANC. 7D05 had been vacant, and Audain thought it was important to ensure that residents of this community have an opportunity to address the issues and changes Rebecca J. Morris that impact them. “Becoming an ANC [Commissioner] was crucial to affording my community opportunities to be heard,” Audain said. For Audain, public safety and equitable community resources are the two issues requiring the most bandwidth in SMD 7D05. “There definitely are events that

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occur in our neighborhood that could be thwarted with more presence of, not just police folks, but residents who are looking out for each other and keeping an eye on one another,” she said. In terms of equitable resources, Audain said that it is problematic that residents generally hear about plans for both commercial and residential development in the ward in the later stages. “It’s really important that our residents have a say in what comes into their space,” she said. “Getting access to food, quality food and having access to another grocery store —those are things that are important just for the livelihood of Ward 7 residents.” Audain plans to develop a Community Pulse Survey where 7D05 residents can voice their concerns in the new year. It will be an opportunity to highlight improvement areas and neglected issues and for Audain to learn what neighbors require to make their living environment as comfortable and safe as possible. You can reach Commissioner Audain via email at 7D05@anc.dc.gov.

in the face of speeding. Secondly, she wants to work towards getting a playground installed somewhere in the area, so kids have a place to play. Finally, food security is a major focus. Morris would like to establish a farmer’s market in the area. Not only will a farmer’s market provide access to healthy food, she said, but it will also draw attention to efforts to maintain the park, where she has hosted several clean-up sessions. Morris would also like to implement additional jobtraining and educational opportunities, saying that one of the reasons so many people are hanging around outdoors on street corners is because they lack opportunities inside. The New Commissioner said she is always open to listening to constituents, offering her telephone number to facilitate conversation. “I’m an open book, and if you have any issues, we can always work together,” she said. Reach Commissioner Morris via email at 7D06@ anc.dc.gov or call 571-969-6805.

Rebecca J. Morris (7D06) ended a 2020 run for the Democratic nomination for the Ward 7 DC Council seat in June. She wants to work with her neighbors and 7D commissioners to help implement her ideas to better the Ward 7 community. “Everyone’s input is important for the future of the environment which we live in,” she said. Coming to DC as a teenager, Morris graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with an Associate’s Degree. A former mortician’s assistant who worked as a server until the pandemic hit, Morris recently started a position as a CARES teacher with DCPS. In the summer, she started volunteering, partnering with St. Luke Roman Catholic Church on Fridays to hand out meals to those not qualified for food stamps. Morris said that she has three goals for her term. First, she wants to work on traffic safety, helping neighbors to get speed bumps, something she said has been called for on virtually every residential street in her SMD

Tiera J. Fletcher (7E02) has lived in what is now her SMD for three years and in DC for 15. She was born and raised in DC but left when her parents relocated during her middle-school years, returning home after she completed her post-secondary education. Fletcher is an engineer and licensed attorney. Currently, she serves as a patent examiner, reviewing intellectual property applications. Fletcher said she knows what she’s getting into as a commissioner, having regularly attended meetings of 7E ANC and serving as Secretary of the ANC 7E Economic

East of the River Magazine was unable to connect with ANC 7C Commissioner Wendell Felder (7C03), the SMD formerly represented by Artilie Wright, in time for publication.

ANC 7E: Marshall Heights, Capitol View, and Fort Davis (anc7e.us)

Tiera J. Fletcher

Development Committee. She said it was that engagement that led her to consider contributing in an elected capacity. “Serving as a Commissioner yields formal authority in decision making and more direct access to information and resources to serve the community,” Fletcher said. Fletcher literally walked to every residence listed in her SMD, knocking on doors and ringing the bells. With many people home due to the pandemic, she had many far-ranging discussions. “I think my longest conversation was three hours,” she said. Fletcher said her plan is to respond to the feedback of her constituents. Safety is a key issue in terms of traffic, public space and crime. “7E02 constituents want to see a community that reflects their pride and investment,” she said. Residents have expressed interest in the installation of traffic-calming measures and in enhancing the community aesthetic through improvement and maintenance as well as increased public patrol. They want to see more engagement with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers on foot or bike patrol, rather than in cars. Any individuals interested in actively collaborating in the work to enhance 7E02, please contact Commissioner Fletcher at 7e02@ anc.dc.gov or tiera.fletcher@anc. dc.gov, starting Jan. 2, 2021. Follow efforts and progress at tierafletcher. com or on Instagram @tierajfletcher. There was no winner in the election to represent SMD 7E03. There were no candidates on the ballot, and none of the ‘Affirmation of Candidacy’ filings received were accepted by DCBOE. Natasha Dupee (7E04) is a native of Washington DC and a graduate of DC Public Schools. She currently works in the Office of Disability Support Services at George

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Washington University (GWU) where she is also completing a master’s degree in public health policy, exploring the intersection of health care, education, and employment. After beginning her career as a high school science teacher in St. Louis, MO, Dupee worked in management and diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitation for Teach For America while engaging in independent consulting. She received her undergradNatasha Dupee uate degree in women’s studies and public health from GW and a master’s degree in education from The University of Missouri - St. Louis. In 2019, she became a homeowner in Marshall Heights. Dupee said she wanted to represent 7E04 constituents to better connect people to one another and to resources and to be a responsive point of contact for neighbors and other stakeholders in the community. She said that, as a native Washingtonian, she has witnessed a full spectrum of lived experiences. “Our community has creativity, nuance, and a lot of love,” she said. “This reality exists with historical legacies of discrimination, policies that are not comprehensive in scope and an increase in violent crimes.” Dupee said the major concerns in her SME include the development of the Fletcher-Johnson site, employment, access to amenities, youth development opportunities and violent crime. She said residents of 7E04 would benefit from increased funding to amplify the use of violence interrupters and community health workers as well the effective communication of updates for accessing things like utility assistance, workforce development opportunities, returning citizen supports, and pending development projects. Those, she said, are the issues on which she intends to focus. “My commitment is to increase collaboration for information sharing, to persistently advocate for equitable policies, and to be responsive to my constituents,” Dupee said. Reach Commissioner Dupee at 7E04@anc.dc.gov. Sharon Jafari (7E05) was born and raised in DC and is an educator at a Ward 6 public charter school. While Jafari has lived in her SMD for the past ten years, she said that during the summer of 2020 she spent more time than usual exploring the neighborhood through daytime walks and reading comments from neighbors on social media. Recognizing that she shared their concerns and de-

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sire for action, Jafari ran for office and won by an 11 percent margin. Noting the uptick in area crime over the last year, Jafari said she wants to work with the community, outreach programs and police to figure out what to do to curb some of the crime. Marshall Heights, where her SMD is located, is also growing rapidly, meaning that current residents could soon be priced out. “We need to think about that as a whole community,” Jafari said. Part of that, she acknowledges, is ensuring neighbors have a say in development. Another part is working with neighbors who are housing unstable and the organizations who work with them in the community, including staff and residents at The Horizon, the short-term family shelter in her SMD. She said her desire to help connect seniors with services and support was reinforced by social media posts. For instance, she saw posts over the summer by seniors looking to connect with a “Christmas in July” drive, which provides necessities to homebound seniors —a need increased by COVID. Jafari said that she is focused on violent crime, economic growth and its impact, affordable housing and public safety. She is prioritizing communication as she enters her first term. “I’m committed to listening to concerns and responding in a timely manner to constituents,” she said. “Because what everybody thinks is important to them, so it has to be important to me —I will always listen.” You can reach Commissioner Jafari at 7E05@anc. dc.gov.

Sharon Jafari

Kimberly Martin (7E07) is a third-generation Washingtonian. She grew up in Northeast and came to Ward 7 12 years ago to raise a fourth generation, her son. Martin has worked as a budget analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for more than 15 years. Martin said that being involved in the community and connecting people with resources is one of her passions. “I was very shocked and surprised,” Martin said of the moment she realized she had won. The neighbors provided support throughout the petition process and

Kimberly Martin

the election, she added, and they were the major reason for her run. The other reason, Martin said, was to increase communication with residents of her SMD, who found they often had to attend ANC meetings themselves to get information. Martin was already a regular attendee and contributor to ANC 7E and Marshall Heights Civic Association meetings and found herself regularly communicating happenings to neighbors. Martin said that she expects the support of neighbors to continue in the work ahead. “There’s a lot of things that people can do to get involved,” she said, including becoming block captains and participating on ANC Committees. For Martin, a major issue in her SMD is public safety. Her SMD was where 15-month-old Carmelo Duncan was shot in his family car last December. She said her neighbor was carjacked in front of her front door, and that’s aside from smaller issues like package theft. Traffic safety is also a major concern she hopes to focus on, especially in the area around Capitol Heights Metro Station. Neighbors have called for traffic calming measures, especially in areas where children are playing. “I’m here for my constituents in whatever way possible,” Martin said, encouraging neighbors to give her a call or knock on her door to share information, resourc-

es and their energies to make the neighborhood a better place for all. “I would like for neighbors to bear with me, as this is my first time,” Martin said, “but also, to work with me, too.” Reach Commissioner Martin at 7E07@anc.dc.gov.

ANC 7F Benning - Fort Dupont (anc7f.com)

Whitney Weston (7F03) and her spouse have lived just off Benning Road since 2009. She has an undergraduate degree from Hood College, a Master’s in organizational management from Trinity and currently works in the program office of an area shipbuilding and defense company. Weston said she decided to run for ANC because she wanted to make the changes she wanted to see. Ready to take on community work in an official capacity, she said she was guided by the adage, “If not you, then who?” “I can’t look for other people to make any changes in my community if I’m not going to be the one out there, really championing for those changes,” she said. Weston said the major issue she has heard residents emphasize is public safety, especially for the many children in the area. “I think it is important that we are really focusing on making sure that [youth] have the resources they need,” she said, adding that Ward 7 overall needs more recreational areas to keep kids out of streets and commercial spaces. Economic development is also a key issue, she said. There is a lack of infrastructure in the Benning Road area, Weston noted, and when development comes residents are rarely consulted. A case in point is the plan to open a halfway house at 3701 Benning Rd. NE. Weston said that returning citizens would benefit from a location with easier access to resources. Everyone understands how important it is

Whitney Weston

for returning citizens to transition into the community, she said. However, the plans were made without consultation with the people who lived there and without sufficient consideration of the impact on economic development or the need for social supports and infrastructure in the area, Weston argued. “Just because Ward 5 didn’t want it there, it doesn’t mean it has to go to Ward 7 or Ward 8,” she said. Weston said if government funding is in play, the community would like to see funds for a grocery store or earmarked to address the impacts on public health. The new commissioner said she is here to serve, support and represent her neighbors, and is excited to work towards its safety and economic growth. Reach Commissioner Weston via email at 7F03@anc.dc.gov Racquel Codling (7F04) moved to Washington D.C. in 2001 after graduating from the University of Tampa in Florida to pursue her master’s from Howard University. She became a proud Ward 7 homeowner in 2006. Codling said that she entered the race to represent ANC 7F04 because she wanted to impact policy that will bring real change and make a difference in her community. “SMD 7F04 deserves equal support and access to our government and community leadership,” she said. “My goal is to be our champion and voice in community decisions that impact 7F04.” Codling said she has observed sev-

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eral major issues that exist in her SMD, and that there will be a need to prioritize based on the immediate needs of the community. To begin with, she wants to increase the reach of the ANC, and especially to ensure that not only homeowners but also apartment residents are feeling supported and connected to the comRacquel Codling munity leadership. She sees a need to focus on crime and public safety, rent costs and affordable housing, quality public education and support for teachers, job creation and training programs, road improvements and discouraging what she characterizes as excessive littering. Codling wants to amplify the concerns of Ward 7 residents and push them to the front of the line. “It’s no longer acceptable for Ward 7 to be treated like the stepchild of our city,” she said. “I look forward to being their champion and voice on community issues that directly impact 7F04 and Ward 7. The new commissioner said she wants to work on connecting, establishing and building relationships with constituents. She encourages people to reach out to her directly with comments and concerns. Reach Commissioner Codling at 7F04@anc. dc.gov Betty J. Diggs (7F06) is a native Washingtonian who has lived most of her life in East River Heights. She is the product of DC Public School and a graduate of Howard University. Before retiring, Diggs worked for the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, supervising the Child Protective Services and then Adult Protective Services departments. A long-time activist in the community, Diggs worked to aid neighbors and beautify streets in the Betty J. Diggs

1990s with the Northeast Neighborhood Committee. In 2019, Diggs won an MPD Citizen Award for creating Porch Patrol, a program that builds relationships between officers and residents via front-stoop conversations. Recently, she created the Dialogue with the Elders program to bridge a disconnect between returning citizens and seniors active in the community. Diggs said one of the reasons she ran for office was that she noticed an increase in violent crime in the area over the last two years. A new neighbor returning home from the metro station after work one afternoon was brutally beaten and robbed. Another was getting ready to go upstairs to bed when a bullet passed through a front window, narrowly missing her. Diggs had been working alongside MPD, but said these incidents were a wake-up call. “Those things really convinced me: we really need to do more,” she said. In conversation, neighbors also described a pattern of drawn-out processes and slow responses to community concerns from District agencies. Knocking on doors during the campaign, Diggs said she found that every street struggled to have an issue addressed. On 35th, there was concern about structural damage to homes from the daily CSX trains. On 34th, it was a need for speed bumps. “So every street, almost, has a different concern —and I want to make sure I’m able to address every one,” Digg said. Working together to amplify community voice is key, she said. “I believe in community-building and I believe in an organized community,” Diggs said, “and I think that by us becoming more organized, that will be an impetus for critical positive change in our neighborhood.” Reach Commissioner Diggs at 7F04@anc. dc.gov ◆

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Our River: The Anacostia Fixing And Saving Kenilworth Park

ast November the National Park Service issued a document for public review and comment titled “Proposed Plan for Cleanup of the Kenilworth Park Landfill Site”. Comments are due by February 10. For those who might be confused, this is not the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, but 130 acres of land that has had various recreational uses in recent decades. It lies between the site of the old PEPCO powerplant and the Aquatic Gardens and its main entrance is an extension of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue. It was the City’s main solid waste landfill from 1942 to 1970. After many years of study by the National Park Service, Congress has legislated to divide the property. The Park Service will keep the third of the acreage that lies south of Watts Branch and manage it as a natural area. It will turn the northern two-thirds over to the City to be managed as an active recreation area much as it has been used, but with the addition of new soil cover to better protect the users from remnants of the landfill. The southern area will provide for the Anacostia River Trail to pass along the water’s edge, replacing the current trail, which runs around the inland edge of the acreage and passes through residential neighborhoods. This proposal is Option 3 among five considered in the Proposed Plan. There are three major findings in the Proposed Plan. First, the areas to be under active recreational use (the

Entry Road into Kenilworth Park

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Article and Photos by Bill Matuszeski

northern acreage to be turned over to the City) require a covering of new soils at least one foot deep with the top half of a quality to support grasses and other native groundcover. Second, the areas for natural and wildlife use (the southern acreage to be kept by the Park Service) can be supported with existing soil and water conditions. Finally, the site is not currently a significant on-going source of contaminants to AnAthletic Fields in the Park to be Improved acostia River water or sediments. If there are contaminated sediin the City’s hands, there may be interest in improving acments in the River near the property, they will be handled cess to the River for boating and fishing and even swimby the Anacostia River Sediment Project. ming. All those decisions lie in the future; the job of the The Park Service is in charge of the Proposed Plan and current Proposed Plan is to define and carry out the cleanthe clean-up activities, but once the restored portion of the up of the soils and any associated water issues. acreage is transferred to the City it gets more complicated. DC Parks and Recreation will manage the property, the City Department of Transportation has the lead on the Trail loA Plan 20 Years in the Making cation and construction, and the Department of Energy and The overall effort has been in motion for over 20 years. Environment covers any issues on or near the River. For exFrom 1998 to 2002 the Park Service reviewed historical ample, there may be interest in restoring wetland and other information and collected samples from the site. Further natural areas that preceded the use as a landfill. And once

Riverfront next to the Athletic Fields

Remedial Investigations were carried out in 2007-2008 to identify the extent of contamination and threats to human health and the environment. A Feasibility Study and Proposed Plan were completed in 2012 to evaluate alternatives to address the surface and underground contamination. After consideration of public comments, the Park Service decided in 2013 to defer selection of a remedy for the site until additional investigations, primarily focused on groundwater, were completed. These studies were carried out from 2013 to 2019 in conjunction with a proposed plan. With regard to future use, it was also decided that with the 2004 Congressional order to split the parcel into two parts, the southern piece would be for natural resource-based recreation and the northern for the continuation of sports and related recreation. The Park Service has determined that only those areas for active recreation such as sports fields require the clean soil cap cover. The result of all this was the November 2020 Proposed Plan for Cleanup that is the subject of the current review and that will lead to the Final Plan after the close of the public review on February 10. You may want to get hold of a copy of Proposed Plan, look it over, and possibly provide comments and further information to the Park Service by the February 10 deadline. The overall website for the Kenilworth Park is go.nps.gov/KenilworthSite. To be added to the e-mail distribution list contact the Project Manager, Donna Davies at donna_davies@nps.gov. Her phone is 202-359-3234. The mailing address is VHB Metro DC, LLC; 1001 G St. N.W. Suite 1125; Washington, DC 20001; Attn: KPL Proposed Plan Public Comments. Or comment online at www.nps.gov/anac/ learn/management/kpls.htm. So now is really your last chance to weigh in with your ideas and preferences. Let’s all work together to get the best results for everyone who wants to use this grand and beautiful space along Our River, the Anacostia. Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. ◆

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munity gatherings, picnics and play. The NPS will implement this plan in stages over several years and plans to start the design process next year. The Shepherd Parkway Development Concept Plan can be found at parkplanning.nps.gov/shepherdpkwy_dcp.

Ward 8 Woods Volunteer Opportunities Junko Hurd, winner in the Landscapes Category

Winners of Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Photography Contest Announced

Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens has announced the winners of the 2020 Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Photography Contest. This contest not only highlights the beauty of the park but also raises awareness and helps improve the park and its programs. Best in Show finalists are: Chris Rief, Lotus; Jean Althoff, Nature; Grace Hassler, Plants and Flowers; Chris Rief, Wildlife; and Junko Hurd, Landscape. kenaqgardens.org.

NPS Plans Announced to Improve Shepherd Parkway

NPS has completed a development concept plan to enhance future use and enjoyment of Shepherd Parkway. This plan proposes ways to improve safety, connectivity, and park conditions. Specific concept plan elements include the following: a series of trails, with options for a natural or more urban trail experience; a blazed trail within the park’s wooded area connecting to the under-construction I-295 shared-use path; improved signage, communication, and security measures to prevent dumping; enhanced scenic views; enhanced interpretation of Civil War forts, emphasized by improved trail connections; and flexible open green space for com22

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Ward 8 Woods engages residents and visitors in volunteer experiences. Most volunteers work in the woods removing trash and cutting invasive vines. If you like to be physically active, spend time in nature, and immediately see the results of your work, you might enjoy working with them. Remaining 2021 volunteer days are Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4. Volunteer days are every first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ft. Stanton Park. Meet at Ft. Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. To allow for social distancing, attendance at each event is limited to 10 people. Reserve your spot at ward8woods.org/volunteer.

Ward7@YahooGroups Ceases

Yahoo Groups have shut down as of Dec. 15. Ward7@ YahooGroups members will no longer be able to send or receive emails from Yahoo Groups. Yahoo Mail features will continue to function and there will be no changes to your Yahoo Mail account, emails, photos or other inbox content. All Ward7@YahooGroups addresses will be registered at GoogleGroup. The new email address is Ward7DC@GoogleGroups.Com.

Foreign Languages for Kids

EoTR Foreign Languages for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides language services to children living in Wards 7 and 8. They offer total language immersion, promote global competence, global citizenship, critical thinking, and cross-cultural in-

tegration. At EoTR Foreign Languages for Kids, your child will learn a new language, explore other cultures and make friends. Their highly engaging language classes use music, games, art and stories to teach kids new languages. While classes are currently virtual, they typically offer Spanish, French and Mandarin in classes at various locations throughout Wards 7 and 8. eotrlingokids.com.

$200,000 Awarded to Ward 7 & 8 Microbusinesses

Mayor Bowser has announced the 21 recipients of the Fiscal Year 2021 Ward 7 & 8 Microbusiness Dream Grants. Through $10,000 grants, the District will provide business development support for microbusinesses in Wards 7 and 8 that are also owned, or majority-owned, by residents of Wards 7 and 8. Fiscal Year 2021 Dream Grant Awardees are Amiracle Designs, Avi8ted Thoughts, Inc., District Art and Crafts, Ellesipea LLC, FP2 Barbershop, Granny’s Kitchen LLC, Haul Master’s LLC, Healthy Home Pediatrics LLC, I-M, LLC, J.A.W. Therapy LLC, JackiCan LLC, Lee’s Barbershop II, Capital City Specialties, LoveVi_Only, Promoting Love & Wisdom Home Childcare Center LLC, The Write Consulting Group, THINK KLEAN LLC, Total Life Consultancy LLC, Truelife Exotics, VISIONBOARD LLC, and Nail Bed & Bar. coronavirus.dc.gov/page/dc-small-business-microgrants-program-report.

DDOT Opens Car Free Lane on MLK

DDOT has announced the opening of Car Free Lanes on 14th Street NW; Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue SE, and M Street SE. Enforcement for all three has begun. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, between W Street and St. Elizabeths East Campus, is restricted to buses and bicyclists travelling northbound during the morning peak and southbound direction during the

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Ten Years of Bank on DC Celebrated

evening peak. Car Free Lanes are designated by red curb-lane paint. The fine for unauthorized driving or parking in a Car Free Lane is $200. For more information, visit ddot.dc.gov/page/bus-priority.

Encore Creativity Offers New Virtual Winter/Spring Choral & Enrichment Program

During the ongoing pandemic, musical engagement can be uplifting, especially for older adults. Encore Creativity for Older Adults is keeping the older population singing and learning with a new winter-spring session, beginning Jan. 25. Encore University is a 15-week virtual program of singing plus enrichment courses in vocal technique, music theory, music history and movement. The session culminates with a virtual spring concert, an inspiring multimedia production. No prior music experience is necessary. Encore’s faculty is comprised of wellknown conductors, musicians and teachers from the Washington, DC area, New York City and California. The session runs from Jan. 25 to May 13. Classes meet over Zoom Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An all-inclusive tuition is $235 per person. Registration deadline is Jan. 15. For details and to register, visit encorecreativity. org or call 301-261-5747.

Feed the Fridge Provides Free Meals to DC Residents

DC DPR has partnered with Medium Rare restaurant owner Mark Bucher to launch the Feed the Fridge program at select DPR facilities. Feed the Fridge places refrigerators stocked with free and fresh restaurant-provided meals to help residents in need. Feed the Fridge meals are “grab-n-go” and no registration or ID is required. Refrigerators are sanitized and stocked with 25 meals daily. Ultimately, each fridge will be stocked with up to 100 meals per day. Currently Feed the Fridge locations are Takoma Aquatic Center, Rumsey Aquatic Center, Arthur Clapper Recreation Center, Fort Stanton Recreation Center, Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Raymond Recreation Center, Emery Heights Community Center and Columbia Heights Community Center. In addition to Medium Rare, other local restaurants are also providing daily meals, with more fridges and restaurants to come. Bucher’s nonprofit We Care, Inc. is raising money through donations to pay restaurants to provide the daily meals, offering a lifeline to the local restaurant industry while confronting the food emergency. dpr.dc.gov.

You’re invited to join DC Fray for a new round of leagues in Washington, DC. Play safe with DC Fray, with your health and safety as their top priority this season. Register for basketball, flag football, kickball, soccer, softball, trivia, volleyball and yoga by January 12. Activities are at South Run in Springfield, the National Mall, Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, Anacostia, Union Market and Alexandria. dcfray.com.

Giant Food Spotlights Products Owned by Minority Businesses

Giant Food is helping customers identify products owned by minority-based businesses through updated shelf labels. Starting next month, all 164 Giant stores will feature the shelf labels, informing shoppers of products offered by businesses that are Women, Black, Asian-Indian, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian-Pacific, or Veteran owned. Over 3,100 products in Giant stores will feature the updated shelf labels, owned by 218 businesses in Giant’s network of vendor partnerships. giantfood.com. 24

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Business Law Training Series

Starting on Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. and continuing the following seven consecutive Wednesdays (The Jan. 20 session will be held at 10 a.m.), the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, the DC Small Business Development Center Network, and the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development present the How the Law Impacts Your Small Business: A Business Law Training Series for Small Business Owners. This is an eight-part course for existing small business owners, including sole proprietors, business partnerships, general managers and owners of LLCs. Participants will learn the basics of employment law, risk management, contracts, intellectual property, and accounting from experienced business attorneys and professionals. This program will be held virtually. There is a one-time payment of $35. Register at probono.center/smallbizlawcourse. Contact Alison Percich, Training and Volunteer Specialist, at probonotraining@dcbar.org with questions.

On Dec. 15, Bank on DC celebrated 10 years of providing accessible and affordable bank accounts to residents. Over the last decade, Bank on DC has helped 10,000 Washingtonians open bank accounts, collectively saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in banking and check cashing fees. Bank on DC strives to raise awareness among low to moderate income residents about the benefits of account ownership and empowers residents to work towards creating a sustainable economic future for the welfare of their households. Bank on DC has partnered with several banks and credit unions to offer accounts that have low to no minimum balance requirements and low-cost monthly fees. Financial partners also provide “second chance accounts” for people with ChexSystems histories or secondary forms of identification such as foreign documentation. Learn more at BankOnDC.org.

What DC Public Library Customers Read in 2020

The top reads at the DC Public Library in 2020 show customers exploring and adjusting to this year’s events. The top 10 non-fiction books are: “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover; “Becoming” by Michelle Obama; “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” by Trevor Noah; “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean; “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-delusion” by Jia Tolentino; “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates; “Three Women” by Lisa Taddeo; “Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators” by Ronan Farrow; “Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations” by Mira Jacob; and “Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” by J. D. Vance. The top ten fiction books are: “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng; “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens; “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones; “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood; “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead; “There There” by Tommy Orange; “Normal People” by Sally Rooney; “Circe” by Madeline Miller; “The Water Dancer” by TaNehisi Coates; and “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett. dclibrary.org.

One Eight Distilling Releases Bottled in Bond Whiskey

One Eight Distilling, 1135 Okie St. NE, has released their first Bottled in Bond bourbon. District Made Bot-

tled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey is a 5 year and 28-day old bourbon whiskey, distilled grain-to-glass from 59% Maryland corn, 24% Maryland rye, and 17% Riverbend Malted Rye (North Carolina). It is the oldest bourbon to be distilled, aged, and bottled in DC. Only 120 bottles will be available for purchase directly through the distillery. They have virtual tastings are on the first Friday of every month at 8 p.m. oneeightdistilling.com One Eight Distilling is committed to representing the nation’s capital with exceptional small batch craft spirits. A proud contributor to the revitalization of D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood since 2013, One Eight Distilling is named for Article One Section Eight of the Constitution, which provided for the establishment of a district to serve as the nation’s capital.

DDOT Extends 2020 Visitor Parking Passes into 2021

DDOT has announced that residents should continue to use the existing 2020 Visitor Parking Pass into 2021. The VPP program allows District residents to register for an annual pass that is used for guests to park for more than two hours on Residential Permit Parking or RPPzoned blocks. The District has also suspended enforcement for the following infractions: expired residential parking permits and visitor parking permits/passes; expired District license plates and inspection stickers; and expired meters. A complete list of modifications to District operations is available at coronavirus.dc.gov/page/stay-home.

Students Empowered to Tackle Climate Crisis

Washington, DC has joined 17 cities to launch Students Reinventing Cities, a pioneering competition that will enable students and universities from across the globe to share their vision for green and thriving neighborhoods. The District is inviting students to share their creative vision and fresh ideas in line with the city’s climate and housing priorities. Mayor Bowser’s Comprehensive Plan proposal has identified the area of New York Avenue, NE as a key location for future planning and analysis. Interested students can visit c40reinventingcities.org. The deadline is March 2021. Finalists will be selected and invited to submit their final proposals by May 2021. A panel of judges from the District and C40 Cities will select a winner for each city site, which will be announced at a ceremony in July 2021.

DC Residents Urged to Get Health Insurance During Open Enrollment Period

DC residents are urged to enroll in the Affordable Care Act state-based health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2021. DC Health Link’s plans cover many services like primary care, specialists, mental health, urgent care, and generic prescriptions without any deductibles. All DC Health Link health plans cover COVID-19 diagnosis, testing, and treatment without deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. District residents can enroll in a health insurance plan online through DCHealthLink.com, or by calling 855-532-LINK [5465]. Some residents will qualify for reduced premiums. Small businesses--as well as individuals and families eligible for Medicaid--can enroll through DCHealthLink.com throughout the year.

Preventing Foreclosure During COVID-19

Delano Hunter, Director of DC Department of Parks and Recreation recently joined Tom Carmichael of Sports Image, Midlothian, Virginia, for a check presentation to announce the Department’s new “Healthy Activity Initiative. The partnership, sponsored by Amerigroup DC, supports persons with disabilities, through the creation of activities tailored for seniors and youth. It recently launched at the Edgewood Recreation Center as well as the centers in Petworth, Upshur, Theodore Hogan, King Greenleaf, Randall, Benning Park, Deanwood, Kenilworth, Barry Farm, and Ferebee Hope.

The non-profit Housing Counseling Services is conducting webinars in January to provide information about available options for people who are having difficulty paying their mortgage, condo fees or property taxes. The webinars are Jan. 13 and 27 at 2 p.m. They are free but registration is required. Register at housingetc.org/webinar-registration. You may also call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at HCS at 202-265-2255.

Hypothermia Alerts

Hypothermia alerts are activated when the National Weather Service forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32° F or below; or, when the tem-

perature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is fifty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance.

Pepco Donates 1,000 Smoke Detectors to DC Fire and EMS

For the 16th year, the DC Fire and EMS Department has received 1,000 new smoke alarms donated by Pepco. Working smoke alarms in homes substantially reduce the risk of fire death in residential fires. Any DC resident who is unable to afford a smoke detector can have one installed by contacting the DC Fire and EMS Fire Prevention Division at 202-727-1614 or fems.fireprevention@dc.gov.

Website Focuses on Pandemic Relief for Utility Consumers

Four District agencies charged with serving DC utility consumers have unveiled here2helpdc.dc.gov, which is designed to inform residents and businesses about energy and money-saving initiatives to help them minimize the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The website will complement the social and traditional media messages the four agencies have shared. The agencies cite tips and tools to help consumers conserve energy and water resources, reduce billing costs and use relief and payment programs.

Holiday Tree Collection

Holiday trees and greenery will be collected from homes that receive DPW curbside sanitation collection between Jan. 11 and Feb. 5. Items collected during this period will be composted; in the spring, the mulch will be provided to residents at no cost. Throughout the holidays, District residents are also encouraged to recycle holiday food containers, empty, flattened gift and cardboard shipping boxes. Holiday ribbon is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. For more information, visit zerowaste.dc.gov.

Arts Commission Issues RFA

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has established a grant program to assist DC-based arts and humanities organizations with rent or mortgage expenses. Funding is being offered in response to the financial impacts related to COVID-19 to help ensure arts and humanities organizations remain in place, vibrant, and viable to open when safe to do so. Submission deadline is Friday, Jan. 29. The complete Request for Applications is at dcarts.dc.gov/page/open-requests-applications. ◆ E AST

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east washington life

Officers Bring Joy Through 7D Toy Drive

More than 500 Gifts Distributed to Ward 8 Kids

tuart Anderson, the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) Communications Director, witnessed a lot of joy as he helped Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) personnel deliver hundreds of gifts through the 7D Toy Drive. Anderson remembers one visit to a Woodland family in particular. “In the home, they had a tree,” he said, “but there were no toys under the tree.” One little boy was handed a present, and immediately started unwrapping it, Anderson recalled, laugh-

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ing. The child was so excited he just ripped it open, unable to hear Anderson’s message from Santa that he should wait until Christmas. Discovering it was a Hot Wheels car set, he began dancing around the room. Anderson left elated, wishing that he had captured the child’s pure joy on video. The gift delivery was part of the 51st Annual 7D Toy Drive, organized by the DC Police Foundation, Starbucks and the ACC. Over the eight years it has been involved, ACC has invit-

A little boy rushes to show his present to his sister before he places it under the family’s tree.

A little girl proudly displays her new doll as she poses with 7D officers, the elves who distributed gifts from the 51st Annual 7D Toy Drive. Photos: Courtesy Stuart Anderson/ACC

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

ed guests to a Multicultural Holiday Celebration at the Anacostia Playhouse, asking for donations of unwrapped toys as part of admission. Then, gifts were distributed to children at a holiday party hosted by the DC Police Foundation at the Panorama Room. This year, there were no parties, but organizers were determined that there would be a toy drive. ACC organized a virtual “paint and sip” Multicultural Holiday Celebration, offering free kits to the first 40 people to donate an unwrapped toy. ACC members and 7D officers worked to gather donations, which were dropped off at the 7D Station

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ACC supporter Chuck Hicks drops off holiday gifts for neighborhood children.

between Nov. 25 and Dec. 18 or collected from donors’ homes and businesses by ACC members. Local organizations also worked to gather toys, including Friends and Family of Incarcerated Persons (FFIP), the Jewish Community of Am Kolel, and the DC Democratic State Committee. The toys were distributed by the 7D Community Outreach Team to children throughout Ward 8 between Dec. 14 and Christmas Eve. More than 500 children received gifts of toys and coats this year, delivered to neighborhoods such as Highland, Bellevue, Anacostia, Hillsdale and Parklands. “We try to touch as many families as possible,” Anderson said. 7D Commander Andre Wright said that the Toy Drive is more important this year than ever. “This holiday initiative is so very vital because so many of our youth within Ward 8 often times don’t receive Christmas gifts, as many parents are working two to three jobs just to provide for their children,” he said. “We are excited each year to bless

the youth with toys and coats to bring joy to them during the holiday season.” Growing up in Ward 8, Carolyn Davis was one of the kids who excitedly opened a gift from 7D officers. She remembers how the police officers would come collect students from her school, Mary Church Terrell Elementary, and bring them to the party where treats and gifts were distributed. “It was a bright joy to me to go to that party,” she recalled. Davis credits the experience with making her want to be part of the police department, where she started as a cadet before switching mid-stream to a civilian role. She now serves as the MPD 7D Community Outreach Coordinator (MPD), helping to organize that same Toy Drive event. “It was a wonderful time,” Dais said. “The impact it had on my childhood stays with me even now.” Learn more about the work of ACC by visiting www.anacostiacc.org. Learn more about MPD 7D at mpdc.dc.gov/ page/welcome-seventh-district ◆

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east washington life

Meet Judy R. Walton, Ph.D. Educator and Service Provider

udy Walton has dedicated her life to serving people in and out of her community while educating and enhancing their lives in the process. The Ward 7 resident, renowned educator and service provider has spent decades teaching, volunteering, being a healthcare advocate and motivating both the uninformed and the ill-informed.

Native Washingtonian

Walton’s story starts in northeast Washington in the 1940’s. She is a third generation Washingtonian and the oldest of Susie and Frazer Walton’s four children. The family, which included three daughters and one son, lived in the Kingman Park neighborhood near the District of Columbia Stadium before it was renamed RFK Memorial Stadium in 1960 in honor of Robert Kennedy who was a U.S. Attorney General and a New York senator, and John F. Kennedy’s brother.

by Anthony D. Diallo

training and development. As a product of the D.C. Public School (DCPS) system, Walton attended and graduated from Charles Young Elementary, Ronald H. Browne Junior High School (now known as Browne Education Campus) and Eastern Senior High School. After her high school graduation, Walton enrolled at Howard University where she completed her freshman and sophomore years. It was on that campus that Walton met activists, newsmakers and political shakers like future DC Mayor Marion Barry and

“Stamp out hesitation before it develops into fear. You know what has to be done, so do it.” Judy Walton’s mantra from Das Energi by Paul Williams “D.C. was really segregated back then. It is even more segregated now, [not physically] but in terms of economics. You couldn’t go to certain theaters, stores or restaurants,” Walton recalls. “I had a black doctor, dentist, butcher…everything. The theaters and stores we visited were black-owned.” Walton remembers the stadium being used as the community’s playground Kingman Park being a safe and enjoyable area. Her brother, Frazer Walton, Jr., an attorney and member of the civic association, played an integral role in ensuring that Kingman Park was the first dedicated and officially recognized black historic district in the city. The historic district includes the chronicled Langston Golf Course, which was the second racially desegregated golf course in DC.

Education A Priority

The now retired educator has amassed a wealth of education including a doctorate degree (as well as a master’s) from Howard University with a concentration in organizational communication that focuses on women’s issues, 28

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

Kwame Ture (who was known then as Stokely Carmichael). However, despite that abundance of energy and advocacy, or maybe because of it, the selfdescribed “free-spirit” decided to take some time off from school. Nowadays that would be called a gap year or two. “I consider myself a late bloomer. I wanted to check the world out. My father was pretty cool with my decision, but my mother wanted me to stay in school,” said Walton who went on to start working full-time with no timetable of when she would ever return to school. It was only at the behest of a friend that she agreed to keep a scheduled interview with the registrar at Federal City College (now the University of the District of Columbia). That meeting changed her life as Walton immersed herself in undergraduate courses by attending school at night while maintaining a full-time work schedule during the day. It was a fantastic experience for Walton if not always an easy and well-rested one. She was able to earn a double undergraduate degree in 1973 in the fields of English and education.

American soul and jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron, primarily known for his work as a spoken word performer, was “one of my English teachers at Federal College,” Walton said proudly.

Lifetime of Service

Dr. Walton has been instructing, motivating, counseling and mentoring “since childhood when I played teacher with my siblings.” She has also performed as a service provider since her early twenties. Walton has volunteered at the Southeast White House and the DC Dream Center for the past 11 years. Both entities are only minutes away from Walton’s home on 28th Street in the Hillcrest/Twining neighborhood. Before that Walton resided near Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast around Randle Highland. She has lived in Ward 7 since 1970. The trainer, consultant, presenter and speaker con-

tinues to be a peer reviewer for the Journal of Negro Education. It is a quarterly academic journal published by Howard University and established in 1932 by Charles Henry Thompson, the editor-in-chief for more than 30 years. She served as the former chair and board member of Unity Health Care. That position concluded in 2016. Dr. Walton is presently a member of the Howard University Hospital Patient Advisory Board and a former member of the Health Committee within the Zion Baptist Church in which she is also a member. “I met Judy while going to Howard University Law School and driving a cab around ’75 or ‘76,” said Lynn Johnson. Johnson, who is also retired, started his general practice in 1980 where he mainly dealt with probate and landlord-tenant issues. He has known Walton for decades and considers her a close associate. “She absolutely loves Ward 7 Pennsylvania Avenue and the entire far Southeast. I could always tell that was where her heart was. She never lost sight of her goals.”

University Professor and Government Trainer

After earning her master’s degree, Walton started teaching at DCPS before acquiring her doctorate. In addition, she was a college professor at Howard University’s School of Business. Dr. Walton also taught at George Washington University, Prince George’s Community College, Northern Virginia Community College and the now defunct Southeastern University for about five years. She was also a former director of an English as a Second Language Program. “Southeastern U. was a sort of international school. There were a lot of students from the Middle East, Thailand and Africa. Many of the professors had worked in the Peace Corps or the foreign service before coming there. You felt like you were in the U.N. with all the flags hanging in the lobby,” Walton said. The veteran educator is currently employed with the Graduate School USA as a government trainer where she trains individuals on how to resolve communication, management and leadership issues. This position requires Walton to travel throughout the country at various government agencies, military bases and even internationally. The classes have been converted to online instruction due to the ongoing pandemic.

Future Goals

As a notary public (commissioned from 2019 to 2024), she specifically works with clients East of the River. Walton intends to work on becoming a regular blogger. Her blog, initiated in 2019, is entitled: Good News-What’s Happening. Additionally, Walton intends to devote some time to her hobbies that include gardening, photography, sewing, cooking, reading and traveling whenever it is completely safe to do so again after COVID-19 is history! “The bible talks about your gifts. I believe my gifts are education and service. I also believe in my mantra which I got from the book, Das Energi, written in 1980 by Paul Williams. In it, it says ‘Stamp out hesitation before it develops into fear. You know what has to be done, so do it’.” u

The Old Man of Anacostia

Resolutions: It’s Time To Be on Time, and Beautify Our Space by Philip Pannell

hen a new year arrives, there are always people who make resolutions--some which they keep and others that are broken by Groundhog Day. A friend of mine told me that his resolution for 2021 is to be more punctual both professionally and personally. I told him how much I admired him for it and wish that more people would make the same resolution. At my age, time is my most precious possession and I do not like to have it abused or wasted. I have always believed that people consciously and unconsciously demonstrate their disrespect for others by the way that they deal with time. How many of us know people who are habitually late? The teasing concept of CPT has been passed down for generations in the African American community and it is time that it be buried in the same grave as the N word. There are some activists and leaders who have raised chronic lateness to an art form and the community is inconvenienced by meetings and events not starting or ending on time. The COVID pandemic has moved most meetings into a virtual environment and some of the constant late starters and latecomers have zoomed right into it. We all must make allowances for technical difficulties in this virtual environment, but please do not invite people to a meeting and have them wait for 20 minutes while the platform is being set up. If you do not know how to work Zoom, please find someone who does in advance of the meeting. These constant late starting virtual meetings are really annoying. After all, are we waiting for people to park their cars before getting started? Please remember that children are watching. I once had a teenager tell me that no one in his family is ever on time. Youths who are constantly late for school and their summer jobs are many times imitating their adult role models. I had another friend tell me that his resolution is to be involved in neighborhood cleanups. Those events are definitely worthwhile but when are we as a community going to collectively address the trash issue and mobilize for policy changes to clean up the streets? If cleanliness is next to godliness, there are some east of the river locations that look like Satan’s playgrounds. The trash and blight in our business corridors should be unacceptable. The bottles, cans and trash that litter our streets constitute environmental and health hazards. Older native Washingtonians can tell you about when our city had deposits on the bottles and kids made money collecting and returning them. Why is it taking the DC government so long to return to that practice? Why have so many of our community organizations and leaders not made the environment a priority? There is a connection between trash and crime. When children see adults littering the streets, they will do the same. When youths grow up in trash, they will think that is acceptable and will talk trash, adopt trashy behavior and sometimes trash other people. Leaving a homicide victim on the street is another form of litter. I told my friend that being involved in cleanups is commendable, but I want to see us move as a community from constantly cleaning up trash and start to focus on beautification. We must embrace our environment whether in all is grandeur or its disgrace. Philip Pannell is a long time Ward 8 community activist. He can be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. u E ast

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/ Health Beat /

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Me Part 1: Making Covid 19 Plain to Our Community

by Ambrose Lane Jr

n December 8th, 2020, The Black Coalition Against Covid (BCAC), the Health Alliance Network, Howard University, BlackDoctor.org and others sponsored a national community conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Black Community (“Making It Plain – A Conversation with Dr. Fauci and the Black Community”). Seen by over 350,000 people nationwide, I was honored to represent the Black community for this important conversation. Dr. Wayne Frederick, President of Howard University, moderated the discussion. Dr. Anthony Fauci is world renowned as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health. The following are excerpts from our exchange: Ambrose Lane Jr. (A.L.): We welcome you, Dr. Fauci, how are you? Dr. Anthony Fauci (Dr. F.): “Very well Mr. Lane. It is a pleasure to be with you, and

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I look forward to the dialogue and discussion. The comments from Dr. Frederick also ring true for those of us deeply involved in addressing this Covid 19 challenge…the painful disparity in incidence and prevalence among African Americans and people of color, and the disproportionate burden of disease reflected in increased hospitalizations that are four times the amount per 100,000 for African Americans as compared to other populations, and at least twice as many deaths that relate to factors that I hope we get a chance to discuss tonight, so that we could learn from you.” A.L.: “A recent PEW poll and other polls (like that from BlackDoctor.org) have indicated a reluctance by the Black community to participate in vaccine trials or take the vaccine once available. The immediate question is around mistrust—mistrust of the State, mistrust of white people, mistrust of the medical community, and so on. You generally hear of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and Henrietta Lacks, but it is rooted much deeper. From slavery to Jim Crow, to the targeting of Black leaders in the 60’s, to police brutality, uneven court justice, to Black Lives Matter, and now to the disproportionate impact of Covid on our community. At the same time, there is recognition of Black progress in society at all levels, including education, business and science. Because of this, the polls show an almost even split between who will and who will not take the vaccine. My question is: Why should Black People trust this process? Dr.F.: “Ambrose, I think that those of us who are trying to convince our African American brothers and sisters to take a vaccine that is ultimately to the benefit to the life and safety of the individual, families and entire community, should appreciate understanding the reasons for the mistrust as opposed to pushing back against the mistrust…. There are two major issues: Pointing out that the speed in which this [vaccine] was created, has nothing to do with compromising the safety and scientific integrity…it is due to the extraordinary advances in vaccine platform technology allowing us to do things in weeks and months that formerly took us years to achieve…. The second, the decision that determines if a vaccine is truly safe and effective, is NOT made by the [pharmaceu-

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tical] company directly. The data first comes to an independent data and safety monitoring board, made up of experienced clinicians, scientists, vaccinologists, statisticians, and ethicists. They look at the data and independently determine if it is safe and effective. Experienced career scientists, not politicians, at the FDA, then look at the data, and when the FDA’s own committee-the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee-when they say that the vaccine is safe and effective, I will tell you all that I will be comfortable taking the vaccine myself and recommend it to my family.” A.L.: “As I mentioned earlier, there have been advances in society, and as I understand it, the independent monitoring board you mentioned, has Black scientists on it. In fact, another Black scientist works with you directly. Times have changed and the involvement of African Americans in this process is much deeper than we have known. How important is it that we highlight the input of Black scientists to break down fear and trepidation regarding the vaccine?” Dr. F.: “The example that you gave, Ambrose, is an excellent one. The very vaccine that is one of the two, that has 94-95% efficacy against clinical disease, shown to be clearly safe, was developed in my Institute’s research center by a team that included Dr. K. Corbett, a Black woman scientist at the forefront of the development of the vaccine. So you may want to say to my African American brothers and sisters, that a black woman helped develop the vaccine you are about to take. Ambrose Lane Jr. is Chair of the Health Alliance Network. See the full interview at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/liv e/?v=399656351349690&ref=watch_ permalink ◆

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east washington life

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 1303 Maple View Pl SE 1242 V St SE 1385 Morris Rd SE

950,000 445,000 429,000

4 3 4

BENNING HEIGHTS 4256 Foote St NE

603,500

CAPITOL HILL 240 10th St SE 229 10th St SE 806 Massachusetts Ave NE 222 South Carolina Ave SE 107 5th St SE 1327 D St SE 145 Kentucky Ave SE 1334 Independence Ave SE 120 Kentucky Ave SE 516 10th St SE 1214 East Capitol St NE 334 8th St SE 334 8th SE 904 Constitution Ave NE 503 Constitution Ave NE 710 Maryland Ave NE 1358 South Carolina Ave SE 104 15th Street NE 121 7th St NE 1217 D St NE 310 9th St NE 120 17th St NE 624 C St SE 244 9th St SE 524 11th Street SE 619 Elliott St NE 518 11th St SE 607 E St SE 426 13th St NE 623 Massachusetts Ave NE 814 I St NE 1501 E St SE 620 11th St NE 1 Terrace Ct NE 32

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1,925,000 1,850,000 1,715,000 1,599,000 1,550,000 1,499,000 1,465,000 1,445,000 1,390,000 1,350,000 1,350,000 1,330,000 1,330,000 1,305,904 1,250,000 1,215,000 1,075,000 1,056,000 1,049,000 996,500 975,000 970,000 950,000 950,000 947,500 910,000 899,000 890,000 888,500 855,000 847,000 820,000 800,000 795,000

4 5 5 4 4 4 5 4 5 3 4 3 3 4 4 6 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 4 3 2 3 2

312 3rd St NE 1358 E St SE 1429 Ives Pl SE 416 D St NE 649 C St SE #305 333 L St NE

793,500 787,000 775,000 752,000 595,850 585,000

2 3 3 2 1 2

425,000 375,000 338,000 325,000 265,000 205,000

16 18th St SE 1831 Burke St SE

1,320,000 855,000

IVY CITY 1838 Capitol Ave NE

615,000

4 4 3 2 3 3

1646 Kramer St NE

551,000

465,000 450,000 440,000 425,000 410,000 405,000 374,900 340,000 325,000 295,000 290,000 266,000

2 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 2 2

FORT DUPONT PARK 4564 C St SE 3323 D St SE 4427 Texas Ave SE 327 Burns St SE

535,000 500,000 441,000 435,000

4 4 2 3

H STREET CORRIDOR 918 K St NE 814 8th St NE 1325 Linden Ct NE 649 Morris Pl NE 725 3rd St NE 1350 F St NE 1129 Atlas Ct NE 819 9th St NE 1715 M St NE

1,210,000 1,115,000 1,030,000 1,000,000 965,000 945,000 875,000 712,500 692,500

4 3 3 4 3 3 2 2 4

HILL CREST 3370 Denver St SE 3706 Southern Ave SE 3556 Texas Ave SE 1211 34th Pl SE 3620 Suitland Rd SE 3025 N St SE

830,000 812,000 635,000 630,000 599,000 382,000

3 4 4 4 4 4

LILY PONDS 4416 Nash St NE 3455 Eads St NE 3420 Baker St NE

520,000 467,000 440,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS DEANWOOD 4923 Brooks St NE 5050 Sheriff Rd NE 4719 Eads St NE 5363 Blaine St NE 409 58th St NE 255 56th Pl NE 233 54th St NE 420 53rd St SE 210 57th St NE 1436 Eastern Ave NE 5065 Sheriff Rd NE 4533 Eads Pl NE

6 3

KINGMAN PARK

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 226 Savannah St SE 4833 1st St SW 747 Congress St SE 456 Mellon St SE 731 Atlantic St SE 672 Brandywine St SE

HILL EAST

513 53rd St SE 507 53rd St SE 515 53rd St SE 509 53rd St SE 853 51st St SE 859 51st St SE 206 53rd St NE 5449 B St SE 116 53rd St SE

500,000 493,483 483,137 475,150 420,000 370,000 305,000 275,000 250,000

3 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 4 2 2 3

OLD CITY #1 618 14th St NE 718 L St NE 111 15th St SE 518 14th St NE 1220 Constitution Ave NE 634 15th St NE 1337 E St SE 1834 A St SE

1,389,000 1,080,000 1,005,000 920,000 875,000 800,000 750,000 670,000

4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1829 T Pl SE 1839 Bruce Pl SE 1804 Valley Ter SE 2419 18th Pl SE 2329 Park Pl SE 1622 Good Hope Rd SE 1425 Alabama Ave SE 1883 Tubman Rd SE 2221 Hartford St SE

547,000 440,000 415,000 413,000 410,000 401,000 385,000 305,000 300,000

4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 2

1838 L St NE 485,000 2 70 N St SE #611 479,900 1161-1161 NE Summit St NE 450,000 2 OLD CITY #1 1155 Summit St NE 410,000 2 327 15th St NE #2 860,000 1201 Potomac Ave SE #2 755,000 CONDO 415 17th St NE #A 727,000 1350 Maryland Ave NE #411 505,000 ANACOSTIA 401 13th St NE #401 447,500 2123 Young St SE #202 293,000 2 1620 E St NE #1 399,000 610 14th Pl NE #4 332,500 CAPITOL HILL 2 17th St SE #102 315,000 1111 Pennsylvania Ave SE #204 999,900 2 1115 12th St NW #404 304,000 520 1/2 13th St SE #A 850,000 2 1032 6th St NE #201 175,000 300 8th St NE #311 805,000 2 1408 Q St NW #31 1,126,900 1603 Isherwood St NE #4 652,500 2 1391 Pennsylvania Ave SE #347 440 12th St NE #114 266 Kentucky Ave SE #B 1020 Pennsylvania Ave SE #204 1391 Pennsylvania Ave SE #224 315 G St NE #202 77 14th St NE #77 412 19th St NE #301 11 2nd St NE #401 105 6th St SE #201

606,000 578,000 570,000 570,000 520,000 455,000 399,999 299,900 285,000 253,000

2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0

FAIRFAX VILLAGE 2024 Fort Davis St SE #B 3709 Alabama Ave SE #301

210,000 155,000

2 2

GARFIELD HEIGHTS 2838 Hartford St SE #304

175,000

H STREET CORRIDOR 623 14th Pl NE #D 215 I St NE #1A 714 11th St NE #304 623 14th Pl NE #A 714 11th St NE #204 714 11th St NE #202 623 14th Pl NE #B 1350 Maryland Ave NE #513

799,000 785,000 530,000 495,000 490,000 450,000 450,000 415,000

3 2 2 2 2 1 2 1

850,000 849,900 740,000 670,000 585,000 510,000 488,513

4 4 4 4 3 3 3

3 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1612 26th Pl SE #2 1618 26th Pl SE #1 1719 28th Pl SE #B 1725 28th Pl SE #A

535,000 495,000 352,500 293,000

4 4 2 2

RLA (SW) 278 M St SW #278 1250 4th St SW #W210

442,500 304,000

2 1

SW WATERFRONT 350 G St SW #N210 1250 4th St SW #W815

489,900 465,000

2 2

TRINIDAD 1201 West Virginia Ave NE #2 1255 Penn St NE #3 1255 Penn St NE #2 1225 Raum St NE #4 1635 Holbrook St NE #4 2109 M St. NE #7 1632 K St NE #1 1016 17th Pl NE #204 1220 Holbrook Ter NE #205 u

840,000 650,000 599,900 590,000 490,000 430,500 401,700 354,000 334,000

3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2

HILL CREST 2760 Naylor Rd SE #T3 3819 W St SE #102

130,000 120,000

1 1

KINGMAN PARK TRINIDAD 1124 Owen Pl NE 1141 Oates St NE 1810 M St NE 1948 Bennett Pl NE 1267 Oates St NE 1344 Queen St NE 1704 Montello Ave NE

621 16th St NE #1

610,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4935 C St SE #4935 5014 H SE #102

330,000 225,000

3 2

NAVY YARD 1025 1st St SE #1009

702,000

2 E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

J anuary 2021

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XWORD

“It’s all a matter of time” by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Car club 4. Covers with crumbs 10. Cigar 15. N.C.A.A.’s Fighting Tigers 18. “___ fair in love and war” 19. Car safety feature 20. Eagle’s nest, var. 21. Cries at fireworks 22. Something emotionally nostalgic 25. ___-jongg 26. Bygone car 27. Animal and vegetable fats 28. Excitement 29. Domesticate 30. Bench 31. Arthur Godfrey played it 32. Neat 35. Dirty campaigner 38. Seed used for flavoring 39. One-piece garments 40. Merle Haggard songs, e.g. 50. Trunk item 51. Bawl 52. Netherlands cheese 54. Puzzle 55. Pronoun 57. Yells 60. Shortcoming 61. Insurer for military personnel 63. Range features 65. Class about Napoleon, perhaps 69. Chosen one 73. Biblical verb with “thou” 74. Hair pieces 78. Wee 79. Moving vehicles 81. Withdraws membership 84. El Prado hangings 85. Bookcase locale, often 86. Better 88. They sound timely alerts 94. Start of a dedicatory title

95. Sign gas 96. Driving force 99. Mountaineer’s challenge in Switzerland 101. Snake like shape 104. Amt. of interest 107. Nasty dogs 108. 911 respondent 109. King Harald’s predecessor 110. “That’s nice!” 111. “Love ___ Many-Splendored Thing” 112. What a palm reader does 119. Guinness ending 120. Individual 121. Now 122. Italian coffee brand 123. “Catcher in the __” by J.D.Salinger 124. Florida’s 2004 hangers 125. Gets cracking 126. Hispanic aunt

Down: 1. “A Delicate Balance” playwright 2. Permit 3. Gray of “Gray’s Manual of Botany” 4. Scarf fabric, sometimes 5. Winchester, e.g. 6. Wanders 7. Hematology letters 8. Water holder 9. Military rank, abbr. 10. Not so nice 11. Galley goof 12. Man-mouse connector 13. W.W. II soldiers 14. At ths time 15. Truman’s Missouri birthplace 16. Dishonor 17. Theater worker 18. Advocate for srs. 23. Old French coin 24. Sombrero

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 29. Hat ornaments 32. European resort 33. Union labor grp. 34. Kind of shot 35. Sauce type 36. Studio whose films get off to a roaring start 37. Lac contents 38. “___ Freischütz” (Weber opera) 39. Have a go at 40. ‘’Fiery’’ gemstone 41. Narrative Byron poem 42. Sketch 43. Rocker Nugent 44. OJ judge 45. A little of this, a little of that 46. Lieut.’s subordinate 47. Cease-fires 48. Midmonth day

49. Kind of package 50. Lotion letters 53. Papers for eds. 55. Road surface material 56. Mozart contemporary 57. 1963 hit “___ So Fine” 58. Egg head? 59. PC’s are part of it, abbr. 61. Colorado Native Americans 62. What followers 64. They keep “Q” from “U” 65. Popular 66. Social connections 67. Hog’s home 68. Lonely Boys or Gatos? 69. Airline, abbr. 70. Father; French 71. Animal-rights org. 72. Burdensome 74. “___ Only Just Begun” 75. The same

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76. Metro and Prizm, once 77. Fig. in identity theft 80. Female name 81. Get data 82. Speech stumbles 83. Simple sack 85. “Forest Gump” character 86. Frankenstein’s assistant 87. Microsoft letters 89. Blood test letters 90. Cry of success 91. Grief 92. Gerund’s end 93. Jackie Onassis (__ Bouvier) 96. Less emotional 97. Disheveled 98. Babble 99. Some Islamic rulers 100. BBC rival 101. Bumper sticker word 102. Hotel amenities 103. A Law and Order version 104. Wolfgang, Nobel prize winner for atomic fission work 105. “Cheers” waitress 106. People, generally 108. Only just survived 109. “Darn it all!” 112. Corporation type 113. Surprised cry 114. __ ___ roll (doing well) 115. Prof’s graders, often 116. Over the counter 117. In addition 118. ___ for tat

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East of the River Magazine – January 2021

Articles inside

Meet the New Ward 7 Commissioners by Liz O’Gorek

Offi cers Bring Joy Through 7D Toy Drive: More than 500 Gifts Distributed to Ward 8 Kids

Meet Judy R. Walton, Ph.D. – Educator and Service Provider

Our River: The Anacostia Fixing And Saving Kenilworth Park by Bill Matuszeski

The Bulletin Board