East of the River Magazine January 2016 by Capital Community News

January 2016

YVETTE ALEXANDER ON JUNE 14, 2016

RE-ELECT

To Join Her Effort to Move Ward 7 Forward

Call 202.550.0029

Paid for by The Committee to Re-Elect Yvette Alexander 2016 4508 B Street, SE, Unit 8, Washington, DC 20019 Derek Ford Treasurer A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.

...because I get a dental check-up every 6 months. My mom and I keep my teeth healthy by: • Scheduling and going to my appointments

• Using a soft toothbrush

• Asking my dentist questions

• Limiting sugary foods and drinks, especially at bedtime

• Following the dentist’s instructions • Brushing my teeth 2 times every day

• Drinking water after every meal

For more information on dental care, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com or scan the QR code with your mobile application. To see the I am healthy series and get more tips on ways to stay healthy, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/iamhealthy. SM

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East of the River Magazine January 2016

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East of the River Magazine January 2016

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

In Every Issue What’s on Washington

East of the River Calendar

The Classified

The Crossword

The Bulletin Board

District Beat

The Numbers

Jonetta’s Take

Unity Health at 30

Readiness to Do the Job... Well

Our River: The Anacostia

by Jonetta Rose Barras

by Ed Lazere

by Jonetta Rose Barras

by Candace Y. A. Montague

by Steve Lilienthal

by Bill Matuszeski

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Anacostia Community Museum Documents a Dozen Tumultuous Years of Washington History by Pleasant Mann

The Bigness of God

How to Make a ‘Fresh Start’ in Wellness from Fit DC by Candace Y. A. Montague

Jazz Avenues

by Virginia Avniel Spatz

by Steve Monroe

REAL ESTATE

41 ON THE COVER:

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY

Moten Elementary School performs at the Eastside DC SCORES Poetry Slam! Dec. 3. Photo: Courtesy of DC SCORES. Story on page 42.

42 Da ily on l in e . Mon th ly in prin t.

Kids & Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner

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East of the River Magazine January 2016

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KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

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HOMES & GARDENS

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What’s on washington

Designing America: Spain’s Imprint in the US

Designing America: Spain’s Imprint in the US displays the important contributions that Spain has made to the construction of the US territory, landscape and cities, from the first settlements to present day. Visitors learn about the historical, political and cultural events that have marked the course of 500 years of common history: a footprint still visible on North American soil. This exhibition is at the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain, 2801 16th St. NW, through Feb. 28. Gallery hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. designing-america.com. Map of the Northern Frontier of New Spain, with Spanish Provinces and Native American Tribes 1779 España. Ministerio de Defensa. Archivo del Museo Naval AMN 7-A-1

WONDER at the Renwick Gallery

Nine leading contemporary artists--Jennifer Angus, Chakaia Booker, Gabriel Dawe, Tara Donovan, Patrick Dougherty, Janet Echelman, John Grade, Maya Lin and Leo Villareal--have taken over different rooms and have created sitespecific installations inspired by the Renwick. While these artists have creates strikingly different works, they are connected by their interest in creating large-scale installations from unexpected materials. Index cards, marbles, strips of wood—all objects so commonplace and ordinary we often overlook them—are assembled, massed, and juxtaposed to utterly transform the spaces. The Renwick Gallery—the first building in the United States built expressly as an art museum—has just reopened its doors after a two-year renovation. The Renwick Gallery is at Pennsylvania Ave. at 17th St. NW. renwick. americanart.si.edu/wonder. Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Courtesy Conduit Gallery. Photo: Ron Blunt

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Robert Stanton, Puff in The Critic and Moon in The Real Inspector Hound, at the Lansburgh Theatre, Jan. 5 through Feb. 14. Photo: Scott Suchman.

Shakespeare Theater Company’s FREE WILL Tickets

Shakespeare Theater Company reserves 1,000 tickets to every mainstage production to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis completely free of charge until they run out. After that they will do their best to get you tickets through the low-cost ticket options STC has always offered—such as their 35 or Under discounts, $25 rush tickets and the $20 tickets already available for all performances. FREE WILL tickets are available in person, online and over the phone every Monday at noon for performances that week. When the box office is closed on a Monday holiday, FREE WILL tickets will be available on Tuesday both online and over the phone. Read more at shakespearetheatre.org/info/free-will.

Capital Fringe Show “Dishwasher”

Through Jan. 31, award-winning DC-based conceptual artist Brian Feldman brings back “Dishwasher,” the most talked-about and best-reviewed show of the 2015 Capital Fringe Festival--taking place in the home of the ticket buyer. Brian Feldman’s first-ever job was as an actor with Orlando Shakespeare Theater. His second? Dishwasher at a fast-food restaurant chain. At a mutually agreed upon time, Brian will go the Photo: Edward ticket buyer’s home Alan Feldman and hand wash the dirty dishes in their kitchen sink. Once completed, they will hand him a monologue of their choosing which he will cold read on the spot. Finally, Brian will pose them a question: “Am I a better actor or dishwasher?” After receiving their answer, he will depart their home; posting the verdict on social media. Only 31 tickets are available for the Washington Metropolitan Area tour of “Dishwasher” (one per day). Get a ticket at brianfeldman.com.

East of the River Magazine January 2016

CALENDAR

calendar JANUARY

MLK Peace Walk and Parade. Jan. 18, 11 AM (peace walk); noon (parade). Peace Walk at 2500 MLK Ave. SE. Parade starts at 2700 MLK Ave. SE; ends at 4201 MLK Ave. SE. mlkholidaydc.org. Remembrance at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Jan. 18, 8 to 9 AM. Keynote by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, 1964 Independence Ave. SW. thememorialfoundation.org. Visit the MLK Memorial. Open to visitors all hours, every day. 1964 Independence Ave. SW. nps.gov/mlkm.

SPECIAL EVENTS Restaurant Week Winter 2016. Jan. 25 to 31. Threecourse fixed price lunch ($22) and/or dinner ($35) menus at 250 of the Washington DC area’s favorite dining establishments. Reserve a table at RWDMV.com. Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week. Jan. 29 to Feb. 7. More than 60 Alexandria restaurants offer a $35 threecourse dinner or a $35 dinner for two. More than two dozen restaurants are also offering lunch deals at $10, $15 or $20 per person in addition to the dinner specials. AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Twelve Years that Shook and Shaped Washington: 1963-1975. Through Oct. 23. Change was in the air, some of it unsettling and threatening. Against a national background of Lyndon Johnson’s “great society,” anti-war protests, Black Power and Feminism, this exhibition focuses on events, people and challenges that transformed the city between 1963 and 1975. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu.

free weekly JaZZerCise Class Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Jazzercise is a 60-minute workout that incorporates cardio, stretch and strength-training exercises. Bring weights and a mat. 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs NE.

MLK EVENTS Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Event. Jan. 15, 7 to 9 PM. Keynote address by Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, an on-stage discussion on “Looking Back, Moving Forward” and entertainment by mime troupe Crazee Praize Nation. Baird Auditorium in the National Museum of Natural History. Call 202-633-4844 to register. anacostia.si.edu. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Jan. 16, 8 to 10 AM. The MLK Memorial Breakfast raises college scholarship funds for deserving, financially challenged Washington, DC high school graduates. Grand Hyatt, 1000 H St. NW. Get tickets at upo.org.

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Let Freedom Ring! at the Kennedy Center. Jan. 18, 6 PM. Join the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University in a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, a Millennium Stage event featuring the Let Freedom Ring Choir and other special guests. Free. kennedy-center.org. Washington National Cathedral MLK Concert. Jan. 18, 2 to 4 PM. The Cathedral hosts a celebration to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continue his vision through music and poetry presented by the Cathedral and DC’s performing arts community. Attendees are asked to bring a new children’s book or non-perishable food item to donate.

RISE: 2016 Winter Concert at THEARC. Jan. 15, 7:30 PM and Jan. 16, 2:30 PM. Join Collage Dance Collective for a powerful concert that honors the legacy and contributions of giants and pioneers, from past to present. $30. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE.202889-5901. thearcdc.org. Denim Theatre Presents Love in the Time of HIV. Jan. 20, 8 PM and Jan. 24, 10 PM. The story follows the lives of individuals laughing and learning to love in a time where being safe just isn’t enough. When high school sweethearts Lilly and Andre are expecting their first child, they are ecstatic. $25-$25. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. AnacostiaArtsCenter.com. Film and Discussion at ACM. Jan. 21, 1 to 3 PM; American Experience, Panama Canal. Jan. 28, 11:30 AM to 1

PM; Chops. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Edges and Allowances by Lillian Hoover Opening at Honfleur Gallery. Jan. 22, 6 to 8 PM. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. Signal from Noise by Sol Hill Opening at Vivid Solutions Gallery. Jan. 22, 6 to 8 PM. Vivid Solutions Gallery, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. “Family Mess” The Play at THEARC. Jan. 24, 3 PM. It’s a blend of comedy, drama and gospel singing that features national recording artist and theater veterans Chad Lawson Cooper and Alicia Robinson Cooper. $37. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE.202-8895901. thearcdc.org. Lesole’s Dance Project at THEARC. Jan. 30, 7 PM. Lesole’s Dance Project in collaboration with Warped Dance Company, and a premier of LDP’s Pre-professional Youth Company. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE.202-889-5901. thearcdc.org.

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at Sixth and I. Jan. 9, American Spiritual Ensemble; Jan. 10, NSO In Your Neighborhood: An Evening of Chamber Music; Feb. 6, Brooklyn Rider & Gabriel Kahane. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-4083100. sixthandi.org. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, DJS Rex Riot & Basscamp; Jan. 11, Metz; Jan. 19, Torres; Jan. 22, Those Darlins “Farewell Tour”; Feb. 6, Beauty Pill. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at Black Cat. Jan. 10, The Combs; Jan. 12, King Giant; Jan. 14, Heavy Breathing; Jan. 15, Furball DC; Jan. 17, Chrome Pony; Jan. 19, Jukebox the Ghost; Jan. 20, Bayonne; Jan. 21, Elena & Los Fulanos; Jan. 23, New Order Dance Company; Jan. 24,The Go Team; Jan. 29, Awkward Sex...And The City; Jan. 30, Escort; Feb. 2, Emily Wells; Feb. 3, Young Galaxy. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Sunday Concerts at the Phillips. Jan. 10, Stewart Goodyear; Jan. 17, Yevgeny Kutik & Timo Andres; Jan. 24, Nadia Sirota; Jan. 31. Feb. 7, Sandrine Piau. $30, $15 for members, students, and visitors 6 to 18; includes museum admission for the day of the concert. Advance reservations recommended. 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org/music. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 11, Eddie Jones and the Young Bucks; Jan. 18, Vince Evans Blues Band; Jan. 25, Jacques & Margie Live!; Feb. 1, Avon Dews Blues Revue; Feb. 8, David Cole & Main Street Blues; Feb. 15, Electrified Blues Band w/Charlie Sayles; Feb. 22, Full Power Blues. The cover is $5. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Jan. 12, Schola Epihaniensis: Rachel Evangeline Barham, James Rogers, Oliver Mercer, Roger Isaacs, Voices Jeremy Filsell, piano Michelle Lundy, Harp;

Jan. 19, Theo Davis, harpsichord & organ plays Bach, Couperin, Dupré & Duruflé on Epiphany’s grand organ; Jan. 26, Tzu-yi Chen, piano; Feb. 2, Amy Domingues ,Viola da Gamba Anthony Harvey, theorbo Jeremy Filsell, continuo. Free, but offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202347-2635. epiphanydc.org. Music at the U Street Music Hall. Jan. 13, Candyland; Jan. 14, Treasure Fingers; Jan. 15, Chrome Sparks; Jan. 16, Horse Meat Disco; Jan. 21, Tomsize; Jan. 22, Mark Farina; Jan. 23, Technasia; Jan. 25, Oh Wonder; Jan. 27, Wet and Liquid Stranger; Jan. 29, &ME and Adam Port; Jan. 30, Feed Me Disco with Eau Claire; Feb. 5, Victor Calderone; Feb. 6, Shiba San; Feb. 7, PRINCE FOX with Special Guest: Stelouse. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at 9:30. Jan. 13, All Songs Considered’s Sweet 16 Celebration; Jan. 14, Marshmello; Jan. 15, Lettuce; Jan. 16, Bridget Everett and The Knocks; Jan. 17, Dark & Twisted; Jan. 18, Jess Glynne; Jan. 20, GUSTER; Jan. 21-23, Grace Potter; Jan. 24, Alessia Cara and Miami Horror; Jan. 25, Queensryche; Jan. 26, Ani DiFranco; Jan. 28, Josh Abbott Band; Jan. 29, Super Diamond; Jan. 30, No Scrubs: ‘90s Dance Party with DJs Will Eastman and Brian Billion; Feb. 3, Destructo & Justin Martin; Feb. 4-6, Greensky Bluegrass. 815 V St. NW. 877435-9849. 930.com. Music at The Howard. Jan. 15, Amy Winehouse Tribute-Thankful for Amy; Jan. 16, Reggae Fest; Jan. 17, Rare Essence with Junkyard Band and EU; Jan. 20, SWV; Jan. 25, Majah Hype; Jan. 28, Slick Rick; Jan. 29, Stratosphere All Stars; Jan. 20 Elle Varner; Feb. 3, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnight and the Akae Beka Band; Feb. 4, Arrested Development; Feb. 6, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-8032899. thehowardtheatre.com. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 15, 17th Jazz Night Anniversary Celebration; Jan. 22, The Next Generation of Jazz; Jan. 29, Antonio Parker Grits & Gravy. The cover is $5. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at the Library of Congress. Jan. 16, 2 PM, Alban Gerhardt, cello and Manne-Marie McDermott, piano; Jan. 20, 8 PM, Musicians from Marlboro. These free concerts are in the Coolidge Auditorium, ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov.

SPORTS, DANCE AND FITNESS Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Jan. 10, 14, 22, 24 and 27; Feb. 2, 4 and 7.Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com. Washington Capitals Practice Schedule. Non-game day, 10:30 AM; game day, 10 AM; and day after game, 11 AM. All practices are at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, 627 No. Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA. They are free and open to the public. kettlercapitalsiceplex.com. Washington Wizards Basketball. Jan. 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 28; Feb. 3 and 5. Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards.

East of the River Magazine January 2016

CALENDAR CIVIC LIFE

JFK 20K and MLK 5K. Jan. 16, 9 AM to 1 PM. The races start and finish in Carderock and will be out-andback courses on the C&O Canal Towpath. The 20K will count as the fourth DC Road Runners Snowball Series race. No race day registration. Online registration will close at 7 PM on Jan. 15. dcroadrunners.org/ sign-up/jfk-mlk.

Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. 2524 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-581-1560. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202678-8900. norton.house.gov.

Public Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon to 2 PM and Saturdays 12:45 to 1:45 PM. Public Skate, $5 for adults (13-64); $4 for seniors and children (five-12); $3, skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org.

Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Kenilworth Elementary School Auditorium, 1300 44th St. NE. Contact Javier Barker, j58barker@yahoo.com or 202-450-3155.

Canal Park Ice Rink. Through mid-March. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adults are $9; children/seniors/ military are $8; and skate rental is $4. It’s open every day including all holidays but holiday hours vary. Canal Park is at 202 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org.

Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon to 2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Skating. Through Mar. 13. Open Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. $8.50 for adults; $7.50 for age 50 and over, age 12 and under as well as students with a valid school ID for two hour session beginning on the hour. $3 for skate rental. Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202216-9397. nga.gov. Washington Harbour Ice Rink. Through midMarch. Monday-Tuesday, noon to 7 PM; Wednesday to Thursday, noon to 9 PM; Fridays, noon to 10 PM; Saturdays, 10 AM to 10 PM; Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM. Skating is $9-$10. Skate rental is $5. Washington Harbour is at 3050 K St. NW. 202-706-7666. thewashingtonharbour.com. Yoga @ the Library. Saturdays, 10 to 11 AM. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat. Yoga mats are also available. Classes are taught by a Yoga Activist and are held on the lower level of the library in the Larger Meeting Room. Free. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-281-2583. dclibrary.org/benning. Barry Farm Indoor Pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-730-0572. dpr.dc.gov. Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Monday to Friday 6:30 AM to 8 PM; Sat. to Sun., 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov. Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov.

MARKETS Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPO Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets, SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS Chocolate Covered Ants at Anacostia Playhouse Jan. 14 to Feb. 7. Adrienne Taylor (Suli Myrie) is a professor at a fictitious women’s college where she’s researching the plight of the Black woman in America. “Chocolate Covered Ants” chronicles the final leg of her research— an examination of Black men–to determine what effect (if any) they have on the mental, social and physical survival of Black women. $35. Read more and order tickets at restorationstage.biz or 202-714-0646. The Anacostia Playhouse is at 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. MarQuis Fair plays ‘Tyrone’. Photo: Jivon Lee Jackson

shine), year round, 10 AM to 1 PM. 20th Street and Mass. Avenue NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW. 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting). Set up after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD. Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh Street SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com. Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW. georgetownfleamarket.com. Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year, 7 AM to 9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.

ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch Ave and S St. SE). 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@ earthlink.net. ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@verizon.net. ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-3985258. 7D06@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-5826360. 7E@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org. ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets, SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org. ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774. Have a calendar item? Email calendar@hillrag.com. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

helP keeP unsheltered residents safe this winter Call DC Shelter Hotline at 1-800-535-7252 if you see someone in who appears to need shelter from the cold.

over 300 units of affordable housing to be Preserved in ward 8

The Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway

shePherd Parkway year in review In 2015, the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway held 20 volunteer events, with 422 volunteers logging 815 hours of work. They hosted groups from John Hopkins University, Catholic University, the US Coast Guard, the US Department of Energy, Sandy Spring Friends School and others. After four years of sustained effort, they have removed more than 90 percent of the trash that had built up over decades in the parkway north of Malcolm X Avenue. They plan to remove the last remaining debris in the north section by the middle of 2016. They have also made significant headway against the infestation of English ivy that threatens hundreds of trees in the park. The Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway is asking supporters to consider making a gift to support their work at gofundme.com/8jfab2ys. You can also help by volunteering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Apr. 9, May 14, June 11, July 9 and Aug. 13. Meet at the picnic tables near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments will be provided. Wear boots and clothes you can get dirty. For more information, contact Nathan Harrington at nbharrington@yahoo.com or 301-758-5892. Visit shepherdparkway.blogspot.com.

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On Dec. 4, ground was broken on a $69-million rehabilitation designed to preserve 303 apartments as low-income housing in Ward 8. The affordability of the renovated apartments at Atlantic Gardens and Atlantic Terrace is guaranteed for at least 40 years through: (1) an extension of the current Housing Assistance Payment contract; (2) the use of Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits; and (3) $10.6 million from the DC Housing Production Trust Fund. The two-year effort will fully upgrade and modernize the residences. It will fix kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, flooring, doors, lighting, plumbing, wiring, HVAC systems, smoke detectors and paint. Curbs, sidewalks, parking lots, gutters, fencing, lighting and landscaping will be repaired or improved. Security systems will be enhanced and laundry facilities expanded. New learning centers will be constructed on both properties. A new community room will be created at Atlantic Gardens. The community room at Atlantic Terrace will be expanded. Two new playgrounds will be constructed at Atlantic Gardens and a third will be upgraded at Atlantic Terrace. New job placement and educational programs are planned for residents at these facilities. The project will create approximately 100 construction positions and four permanent jobs. The renovation is expected to be completed in September 2017.

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The Den at Anacostia Arts Center Opens On Jan. 16, 4 to 6 p.m., come celebrate the opening of The Den’s first gallery exhibit by artist Asha Santee. Santee will be painting onsite. An inventive, independently-owned shop featuring a reading room, The Den caters to the needs of performance artists of color. It mimics a spacious family room suitable for study, book clubs, cast parties, listening parties and small group discussions. Local artists/artisans will sell original art. AnacostiaArtsCenter.com.

Jewish Civil Rights and Anti-War Activism On Jan. 24, 2 to 4 p.m., The Director of the Foundation for Jewish Studies Lauren Strauss talks about the significant role Jews played in the Vietnam War protests as well as their part in the larger narrative regarding the era’s social movements. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

Seeking Communications Manager Community of Hope is looking for a communications and community engagement manager. The person will be responsible for the organization’s communications, marketing plans and community engagement strategy. This and all current Community of Hope job openings are at communityofhope.org.

2016 Anacostia River Festival The 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service will present the

Second Annual Anacostia River Festival on Sunday, Apr. 17, 1 to 5 p.m. This premier event is the official close of the 2016 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Activities include: kayaking, boating, fishing workshops, hands-on art projects, musical performances, tours of historic Anacostia, bike parades, and other unique programs. Held in the Anacostia Park, this free event seeks to encourage District residents and tourists alike to explore communities and parks east of the river. bridgepark.org.

Edges and Allowances by Lillian Hoover From Jan. 22 to Mar. 11, Honfleur Gallery presents a new exhibit by Baltimore-based artist Lillian Hoover. In her show, Hoover walks the line between abstraction and photorealism. She explores liminal spaces comprised of patterns, textures, shapes and shadows that appear to have arranged themselves with care, awaiting the viewer’s notice. The Edges and Allowances opening reception is Jan. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. Honfleur Gallery is at 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com.

Sol Hill’s Signal from Noise Exhibit From Jan. 22 to March 11, Vivid Solutions Gallery presents a solo exhibition from artist Sol Hill. Entitled “Signal from Noise,” it interweaves the immediacy of photography in a creative process Hill dubs “energy paintings” that combines the aesthetics and visual concerns of painting and photography. Employing a digital sensor, Hill transforms images into a kind of hyperEast of the River Magazine January 2016

vision showing aspects of reality that are not normally seen. The opening reception is Jan. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. Vivid Solutions Gallery is at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com.

Jobseeker Legal Clinics at Anacostia Library Having difficulties getting or keeping a job? Attend a Jobseeker Legal Clinic at the Anacostia Library. Meet one-onone with an attorney from Neighborhood Legal Services Program to find out if you have a barrier to employment that an attorney may be able to resolve. Get information about issues like criminal record sealing, credit reports, background checks, obtaining driving and professional licenses, resolving child support arrearages, and other issues. Jobseeker Legal Clinics are on Wednesdays, Jan. 20, Feb. 17 and March 16 at 10 a.m. at Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-715-7707. dclibrary.org/anacostia.

MLK Day of Service at Kenilworth Park Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy through service on Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to noon, at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Propagate new seedlings. Work with the plants in the greenhouse. Remove invasive species and picking up trash on the grounds. Register at friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com.

Anacostia Arts Center T-Shirt Design Contest The Anacostia Arts Center will be giving $250 to the artist who creates the best T-shirt design which incorporates the Anacostia Arts Center logo. Second place wins $200 and third place takes home $150. Contact Amy Lokoff at alokoff@archdc.org for more information.

Home Pre-Purchase Orientations Throughout 2016, Pre-Purchase Orientations will be held every Thursday at 11 a.m. and the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. at Housing Counseling Services, 2410 17th St. NW, Suite 100. Registration is encouraged at housingetc.org. For more information contact them at 202-667-7006 or training@housingetc.org. All HCS workshops are available in English and Spanish. Other languages are available with advance notice.

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Learn the Regulatory Tricks for Starting a Small Business Interested in starting a small business in the District? Know the necessary regulations to get started? The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has partnered with DC Public Library to educate prospective business owners on how to start a new business in the District of Columbia. Learn about: Business Licensing, Corporate Registration, Certificates of Occupancy, Home Occupancy Permits, Grant Opportunities, Vending, Farmer markets and Certified Business Enterprises. The program is on Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dorothy I. Height Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. No pre-registration required. 202-281-2583. dclibrary. org/benning.

Turning Natural Juice Bar Opens in Anacostia Turning Natural juice bar at 2025 MLK Ave SE has opened. It specializes in juice cleansing and detox. facebook.com/Turning.Natural.

Reverse Mortgage Workshops Did you resolve to learn more about a reverse mortgage? Housing Counseling Services has two options. The first is for those who have never had a reverse mortgage. On Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. is “Reverse Mortgages for Beginners, How to Apply?” The second is for those who have a reverse mortgage but need a refresher. The “Reverse Mortgage Refresher Workshop” is on Jan. 19, 2 p.m. The workshops are at Housing Counseling Services, 2410 17th St. NW, Suite 100. All HCS workshops are available in English and Spanish. For more information, contact them at 202-667-7006 or info@housingetc.org.

District’s Population Climbs The US Census Bureau has announced that the District of Columbia gained another 12,392 residents between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015. The District’s 2015 population is estimated now at 672,228, a 1.9 percent increase over the revised 2014 population number of 659,836. The District therefore is again adding just over 1,000 residents a month. The District

CLIP & SAVE has added more than 70,000 residents since the 2010; and since 2000. This trend puts the District on track to bypass its 1950 peak population of 802,000.

EMULSION Juried Show Calls for Entries EMULSION is open to anyone 18 years and older who resides or creates art within 50 miles of East City Art’s headquarters at 922 G St. SE. This includes the greater DC and Baltimore region. The application deadline is Feb. 15. The exhibition venue is Gallery O on H, 1354 H St. NE, in the heart of the Atlas Entertainment District. The exhibition will be on view Apr. 9 to 15, with week-long programing such as panel discussions & artist talks. Read more at eastcityart.com/category/calls-for-entry.

Lowe’s Opens at Fort Lincoln On Dec. 3, Lowe’s opened a store at the Shops at Dakota Crossing, 2438 Market St. NE. This store brings 150 jobs to District. It is one of several new tenants coming to this Ward 5 development project.

Haitian Art at St. Mark’s Over 300 original Haitian paintings and a vast array of unique handicrafts will be available for sale at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE, on Feb. 5, 6 to 8 p.m. (opening reception); Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb 7, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale is free and open to the public, with handicrafts starting from $5 and paintings from $50. All sales are 50 percent tax deductible. For more information, visit thehaitiproject. org or call 845-797-2123.

Roadway Work Along Southern Avenue SE The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has begun milling and paving Southern Ave. SE. Most of this operation will be conducted during the day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Monday to Saturday, weather permitting. Work began at Suitland Pkwy. underpass (Naylor Rd. SE) and will move south toward the end point—in the 800 block of Southern Avenue SE—for 3.2 miles of roadway. DDOT will close one lane at a time to mitigate impact on parking and the flow of traffic. Variable message boards will be posted along the corridor to guide users of this roadway around the activity. DDOT’s Traffic Control Officers will be in place during this night operation helping to guide all end users safely through this corridor.

DC Foam Ban It is now illegal for businesses and organizations that serve food to use food service products made of expanded polystyrene, commonly known as foam or Styrofoam. The law applies to any food service products designed for one-time

use. These include take-out containers, bowls, plates, trays, cups, and other items. The DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) will first assist regulated businesses with achieving compliance through outreach and education. DOEE will also solicit tips from the public and conduct regular inspections, issuing warning letters. After the period of compliance assistance has ended, DOEE may issue fines to food service providers that continue to distribute foam products. For more information, contact Kate Judson at kate.judson@dc.gov or 202-645-6988.

“Vision Zero” Traffic Safety Action Plan Released The District’s “Vision Zero” plan’s goal is to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries to people walkers, bikers and drivers by 2024. The Vision Zero Action Plan is the result of an extensive planning process involving 30 government agencies, community groups and residents. The plan places a high priority on making safety improvements and refining how the city monitors and addresses hazardous street conditions. During the planning process, residents reported more than 4,500 hazardous locations. Those sites can now be mapped along with historical crash data to inform the District’s engineering, education, and enforcement efforts. For more information, visit dcvisionzero.com.

Brush Up on your Driving Skills

AARP Smart Driver Courses The AARP Smart Driver course is geared toward drivers 50+, covers practical defensive driving techniques and the normal changes in vision, hearing and adjusting reaction times associated with aging. Participants learn the latest rules of the road and tips on operating their vehicles safely in today’s challenging driving environment. DC participants should contact their auto insurance company about multi-year discounts. The award winning AARP Smart Driver classroom course is held all year, through out the city. Go to: www.aarp. org/drive & click on LOCATE to find a course near you or call-1-877-846-3299. Instructors add course locations through out the year. Or, take it online in the comfort of your home. The 6-hour basic course is for participants who have never taken an AARP driver-safety course. The 4-hour refresher is a review and update of concepts from the original course, for participants who have not taken a course during the two previous years. There is a course fee of $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members payable to the instructor for the classroom course, $19.95 & $24.95 via credit card for the online course. Looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity for the New Year? Become a Smart Driver Instructor in your neighborhood. For more information, go again to; www.aarp.org/ drive. Click on “Volunteer” on the left, fill out the application, click ‘submit’. Your application will be forwarded to the DC team for follow-up.

Free Small Business Legal Clinic There is a free Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the John A. Wilson District Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Room G-9. This clinic is for aspiring or existing small business owners. Attendees will meet one-on-one with attorneys for brief advice on any legal issues their businesses may be facing.

The District’s First-Ever Tree Summit At the Tree Summit on Dec. 18, Mayor Bowser announced the launch of Canopy 3,000, a short-term public-private partnership aimed at expanding the number of trees planted on private property and public spaces throughout the District. The 11 members of Canopy 3,000 will work together to develop a plan for planting an additional 3,000 trees in the District in 2016. Mayor Bowser announced the District would contribute $400,000 in seed funding, enough to plant over 1,300 trees. Mayor Bowser also announced the establishment of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee to expand coordination and assist the District in meeting its Sustainable DC goal to achieve a 40 percent healthy tree canopy by 2032. For more information about tree initiatives and programs in the District, visit doee.dc.gov/trees.

East of the River Magazine January 2016

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS / BULLETIN BOARD

dPr offers international lifeguard training The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) offers International Lifeguard Training courses for Summer 2016. Courses will be offered through June 2016. DPR employs certified International Lifeguard Training Program lifeguards year round. The International Lifeguard Training Program is a single, integrated curriculum that successfully trains lifeguards and lifeguard instructors through proven training methods and state-of-the-art lifeguard rescue skills. DPR is offering an incentive and will waive registration fees for any class that starts on or before Monday, Feb. 1. Interested parties should register at dcdpr.asapconnected.com. For questions concerning lifeguard training, contact Aisha Moten at aisha.moten@dc.gov.

mlk day “find your Park” day of serviCe at anaCostia Park On Monday, Jan. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., volunteers are needed to help with a massive river clean-up. Removing trash and debris from the shoreline, they will improve the health of the Anacostia River. Meet at Anacostia Park, 1500 Anacostia Dr. SE. Registration and kick-off will take place in front of the Skating Pavilion. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring extra layers as the event will take place in any weather. Please also bring your own water bottle. Breakfast and lunch for volunteers as well as work gloves and all project supplies will be provided. Free “Find Your Park” t-shirts will be given to the first 500 volunteers to register. Sign up at FindYourParkSCAdc.eventbrite.com. Contact Lori Robertson at lrobertson@thesca.org or 973-868-2189 with any questions. National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis welcomes volunteers to SCA’s 2015 MLK Day service event. Credit: Courtesy of Student Conservation Association

Personal arChiving workshoP

dC water exPands walk-in Payment oPtions

Wondering how best to maintain photos on your phone, digital camera, and social media accounts? The Library of Congress, DC Public Library, and the Historical Society of Washington, DC, invite you to join National Digital Stewardship Resident Jaime Mears for a how-to on preserving digital photographs. Workshop takes place on Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m., in the Kiplinger Research Library. Register at dchistory.org/digital-workshops.

DC Water now offers cash walk-in payments at more than 150 locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Over 50 of those locations are in the District. DC Water contracted with Global Express Financial Services, a vendor that works with local establishments to accept authorized walk-in cash payments on behalf of utilities. The payment centers have already begun accepting DC Water bill payments. The locations include convenience and grocery stores, delis and check-cashing centers. DC Water will close its 810 First St. NE payment office and drop box on Jan. 29, 2016. Payments post on the same day if paid by 2 p.m. The service is abso-

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lutely free. Authorized payment locations can be found at global-expresss.net/storelocator.

dPr announCes the arrival of PiCkleball The fastest growing adult sport in the nation has arrived in DC. The “thwack” of a paddle on a pickleball is now being heard by new and experienced players at three DC Department of Parks Recreation sites as a result of a new program. Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. The court is smaller than a tennis court; it is the size of a doubles badminton court, and therefore easier for senior adults to play than traditional tennis. This new program is offered at three pilot sites on different days of the week: King Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N St. SW from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays; Emery Recreation Center at 5701 Georgia Ave. NW from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays; and Sherwood Recreation Center at 640 10th St. NE from 1 to 3 p.m., Thursdays. Free instruction and demonstrations are available and there is equipment to borrow. dpr.dc.gov. Have an item for the Bulletin Board, email bulletionboard@ hillrag.com. u

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East of the River Magazine January 2016

neighborhood news / The district beat

Measuring School Success The District Beat by Jonetta Rose Barras

C parents and education advocates went on a test-score rollercoaster during the closing months of 2015: Results from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a new standardized assessment used by the city, indicated only 10 percent of 10th graders in public schools were either proficient or advanced in math; 25 percent reached those levels in English Language Arts (ELA). Then the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report declared the city’s fourth graders displayed one of the “biggest gains” nationally in reading since 2013, causing elected officials to cheer. That was before the second round of PARCC scores arrived, revealing that only 24 percent of students in third through eighth grades were proficient or advanced in math; 25 percent of them reached that standard in ELA. That ride didn’t produce the giddy pleasure associated with roller coasters. Rather, some people wonder whether District residents, whose tax dollars finance public education, are being fleeced. Others wonder whether test scores are the only numbers to consider when measuring the system’s success. Deputy Mayor for Education Jennifer Niles has suggested high school graduation rates, student enrollment, and school modernization are equally important. Growth in those areas, she said during a press conference last fall, “[gives] us the momentum we need to drive toward providing a world-class education to all of our students.” Eboni-Rose Thompson, head of the resident-led Ward 7 Education Council, said calculating multiple factors is important. “I do think in a lot of ways kids are better off than they were. A lot of people have the sense things are better. But do we know how much better?”

In the Mix Employing Niles’ measuring standard, the DC Public Schools (DCPS) education ecosystem seems healthy and thriving, at least on the surface. Public-school enrollment is 87,749, a two

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

percentage-point increase over last year, according to a preliminary audit released by the Office of the State Superintendent for Education of the 2015-16 populations at DCPS and charter schools. The hike, resulting in 48,653 in DCPS and 39,096 in charters, may be attributed in part to the District’s pre-kindergarten program, which allows for three- and four-year-old children to attend school full time, free of charge. Each year has seen greater demand, instigating additional classes at many schools. Sara Maldonado, a spokesperson for the charter school board, said that Pre-k 3 and Pre-k 4 students account for 19 percent of its total enrollment; that population grew from 395 in 2002 to 6,425 in the 201415 school year. While both sectors have benefited, it appears that the DCPS’ enrollment numbers begin to dip after the fifth grade through the middle years; charters have been advantaged by that decline. The total number of white students in DCPS grew in the 2014-15 school year to 12 percent, up from 10 percent the previous year. Hispanic enrollment jumped from 15 percent in 2011-12 to 17 percent in 2014-15. The number of black students dropped, however, from 71 percent in 2011-12 to 67 percent in 2014-15. The charter sector also is predominantly African-American. The Equity report, published by the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE), indicates during 2014-15 that female enrollment in public schools was slightly higher than male, and many students participated in the free-lunch program, traditionally an indicator of economic status. Translation: Public schools in the District look pretty much as they have for the past decade: minority and working class. The complexion of the overall student body may not have changed but the city has dumped loads of money into the public education coffers. According to the 21st Century School Fund, in the past eight years, DC has spent nearly $5 billion to modernize buildings. Nevertheless, there are at least two dozen facilities in desperate need of renovation. “The

state of facilities is a distinctive but important component when we think about how we are doing,” said Matt Frumin, head of the Coalition for D.C. Public Schools and Communities. “It wasn’t that long ago when [it] was one of the true scandals. Bit by bit we are making real progress. “That’s the hardware,” continued Frumin.

Turning to Gold or Gold-Plated The 2014-15 operating budget for all schools –traditional and charters –excluding construction funds, was more than $1.2 billion. That included money for salary increases for “highly qualified” instructors and the supplement for “at risk kids,” which the DC Council approved two years ago. But the abysmal student achievement levels, or what Frumin might call the software, raise questions about whether residents are getting their money’s worth. Consider those high school PARCC scores, for example. None –nada, zilch –of the students was proficient in math at eight of the 16 participating schools. One of those schools, Ballou Senior High, received a multimillion dollar renovation. Only eight percent of Wilson High School’s students scored at proficient; it too went through major modernization. Benjamin Banneker, a predominantly black application-only high school, where 48 percent of the students are considered economically disadvantaged, continues to wait for improvements to its facility; it had a proficiency rate of only 32 percent in math. By comparison, 76 percent of students at Schools Without Walls were proficient; 39 percent of the overall population is AfricanAmerican while 17 percent of all students are considered economically disadvantaged. “For eight years, DC leaders have said that the [schools] are getting better,” said Logan Wiley, a Ward 7 resident and educator. “The latest round of assessments that used PARCC showed that it was all a farce. Why should anyone listen to these snake-oil salespeople?” “We have seen consistent growth in every metric of success, and I expect to see the

Lower Your Electric Bills Using the Sun! same with PARCC in the coming years,” DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson said at the release of PARCC scores. “I am confident that DCPS is on the right track for ensuring all of our young people are college and career ready, and that we will see our scores improve each year.” Truthfully, those celebrated NAEP scores were not that great either. Only 31 percent of fourth graders were proficient in math; seven percent scored at advanced level. Only 19 percent of their eight-grade counterparts were proficient; four percent were advanced. Erich Martel, a retired DCPS teacher who has closely studied the results of education reform, noted that the NAEP scores are related to a shift in student demographics. “What they are doing is operating one mechanism of gentrification. There is a correlation between the increase of whites in the system, who are almost entirely middle-and upper-income,” he added. He has a point. The cohort of pre-kindergarten students who came into the system under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee has made its way through the system and is having favorable albeit minimal impact on academic results. “District fourth graders, who have benefitted from more rigorous instruction from the beginning of their academic lives, made significant progress in reading that outpaced gains made by other states,” said State Superintendent Hanseul Kang when announcing NAEP test results. That same trend was evident in the PARCC scores. A significant number of students were at basic. Officials expect an increasing number of them to reach proficient levels within the next two or three years. That may be why former State Board of Education President Robert Bobb has been a strong support of the Common Core curriculum and the PARCC assessment. He said the shift is “a major step forward for all students, regardless of zip-code.” He argued that under former DCPS Superintendent Clifford Janey, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and current leadership there has been a “dogged focus on leveling the playing field.” What’s more, added Bobb “Any time you can advance even a point, it’s important.”

Metric Search If education reform were a political campaign, many people would be calculating the amount of money it has taken to realize inconsistent incremental increases academic performance. But as Frumin and others have cautioned, standardized test scores cannot be treated as the Holy Grail. “The key metric has to be growth, not the snapshot measures of proficiency.” Frumin used the illustration of two classrooms to make his point. In Classroom A, 85 percent of the students have been proficient over the last two years. In Classroom B, 40 percent were proficient last year; that number is up to 60 percent this year. “Focusing on the snapshot, it could look like nothing good is happening in Classroom B, but that clearly would be wrong,” he continued. “Focusing on growth, Classroom B looks stellar while Classroom A, not so much. We’re moving toward focusing on growth more, which is positive. But we need to make it a clear focus,” he added There also are other subjective but critical, areas, like extracurricular activities or the overall school environment, that parent should evaluate. “When one walks into a school, generally you can feel it: the joy, or the pall, the energy or the lack of it. Creating environments where kids, families and communities thrive is magic. We all worry about subjective measures, but we also lose something important when we lose sight of such factors. [end quote; who is talking] In other words, Niles may be right. There can be no single metric when evaluating public education success. The whole is equally as important as the parts. Parents trying to make that all important decision of where to enroll their children have to knock on the schoolhouse door, step inside, rummage through every nook and cranny, and search for the magic while talking with faculty, students, and other parents.

You may be eligible for a solar electric system at NO cost. • Do you own your home? • Was your 2014 household income at or below the area median (AMI)? Call GRID Alternatives today (202) 602-0722. rkanchwala@gridalternatives.org or aarevalo@gridalternatives.org GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that brings the benefits of solar technology to families that need the financial savings most, while giving volunteers and job trainees hands-on solar installation experience. GRID Alternatives is a fully licensed solar contractor, DC license number 420214000145.

GRIDAlternatives.org

Jonetta Rose Barras is a freelance writer and author. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

neighborhood news / The numbers

Paid Family Leave is Good for Everyone The Numbers by Ed Lazere

o one should have to choose between caring for the people we love and earning the money we need to get by. Yet every day in DC, too many working residents face this choice. While Social Security helps workers maintain their income when they retire or face a longterm disability, and Unemployment Insurance is there for workers who lose their job, we do not have any tools to support workers financially when they need time off to be with a new child, to recover from a short-term illness, or to care for an ill relative. Many workers simply don’t take time off, which can be harmful to their health or the health of their family. For workers who do take time off, it can mean a major loss of income and even a lost job. The District is one of a growing number of communities considering paid family leave insurance to address this gap. A proposal before the DC Council would create a fund to pay workers some or all of their wages for up to 16 weeks when they take time off for these family reasons. Paid family leave would support a healthier work-life balance in a city not known for that. When parents have paid leave, mothers and fathers develop stronger bonds with a new child, with lasting impacts on that child’s health and future success. Ensuring workers have time off during an illness or to care for an ill relative leads to better health and reduces the need for expensive interventions. And by helping workers keep their jobs and maintain their incomes, paid family leave would help DC residents pay the rent or mortgage and other bills. This would be especially helpful to low-wage workers, almost none of whom have paid leave benefits. The proposal would be funded in part by a new tax on employer payrolls, and in some cases by a deduction from employee paychecks. While it is unclear how much the program would cost, it is certain that the tax would be far smaller than what employers and employees pay into Social

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Security. A worker earning $20 an hour, for example, would pay just 12 cents per hour for this benefit under the leading proposal. Some businesses have complained that the cost of paid family leave would hurt them and the DC economy, just as they complained about indoor smoking bans and minimum wage increases, without evidence afterwards of any problems. In this case, a DC-created program would allow small businesses to provide a tremendous benefit they currently are not able to provide, and it would help all businesses by reducing turnover and enabling workers to be productive. It is hard to see how that is bad for business.

Paid Family Leave is Good for Families The United States is the only industrialized nation without paid leave. In the U.S., seven out of eight people must give up their paycheck when they have a baby, become ill or care for a family member. One in four working mothers must return to work just two weeks after giving birth because they don’t have access to paid family and medical leave. Having access to paid leave helps parents bond with their children and helps people who are ill heal properly. Mothers who take maternity leave are more likely to begin breastfeeding and to breastfeed longer than mothers who do not take leave. Access to paid family leave is associated with improved infant and young child health. And fathers who take paternity leave are more likely to be involved in child-care activities in the child’s early years. Paternal involvement during early childhood has positive effects on the child’s later success in school.

Paid Family Leave Is Good for Women By making it easier for women to stay in the labor force after having a child, paid family leave increases the chance that a mom will stay with the same employer. Research from other communi-

ties suggests that paid family leave could result in 6,500 more women working in DC, narrowing the gap in labor force participation between men and women. Paid family leave also helps women maintain their earnings, because it decreases the risk of lost work experience and lost seniority. Paid family thus could narrow the $5,800 difference in the typical earnings of men and women in DC.

Paid Family Leave Is Good for Low-Wage Workers Most low- and moderate-income residents do not have paid leave benefits and thus risk losing their jobs and getting behind on bills when they need to take time from work. At a time of falling wages and high unemployment for DC residents without a college degree, paid family leave can help more families thrive. DC residents without a college degree increasingly stay unemployed for an extended period. In 2012, for example, more than half of the city’s African American residents who lost their jobs stayed out of work more than six months. In 2007, just one-fifth of unemployed workers had this kind of trouble.

Paying for Family Leave Insurance Some businesses and business groups oppose the legislation to create paid family leave, because it would require a tax of 1 percent on payroll (or less than 1 percent when all business expenses are considered). While any new cost on business should be weighed carefully, the cost here appears relatively modest, and it generates a substantial benefit in return.

It would allow small businesses to support their workers in ways they cannot now. And it would help all businesses by reducing turnover that occurs when workers take unpaid leave. By giving workers time to attend to personal and family needs, it also would ensure that workers are at their most productive. The argument that this payroll tax will lead to business failures seems dramatic, especially given that the same claims are made every time a new business rule is raised. Businesses objected when the District required them to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave to workers, yet surveys after the fact show no widespread detrimental effects. It’s worth noting that paid family leave would be funded by a payroll deduction – rather than a tax on employers – for DC residents who work for the federal government or who work outside of DC. Yet even here the costs would be relatively modest, while giving workers a tremendous benefit. A resident earning $20 an hour would pay just 12 cents an hour, and a worker earning $50 an hour would pay 40 cents an hour. Paying a little bit from each paycheck so that we don’t have to go without pay when we have a child, need to care for an ill parent, or need time to recover from an illness is good for families, good for children, and good for the DC economy. Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. For more information on DC’s paid family leave campaign, go to www.dcpaidfamilyleave.org/ u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

neighborhood news / Jonetta’s take

Get Ready to Rumble Jonetta’s Take by Jonetta Rose Barras

Will Gray go back on the campaign trail? Photo: Andrew Lightman

or Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), 2015 may have felt like a never-ending round of political fights, as she sought to assert her executive privileges, control territory and launch somewhat controversial policies. But 2016 will make last year seem like a summer boat ride on the Potomac if former Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) implements his revenge scheme. He has threatened to run for the DC Council, representing Ward 7 or serving in an at-large capacity. While he never made it to court or jail following an extensive federal investigation into corruption in his 2010 mayoral campaign, Gray’s comeback plan seems to have the contours of someone who did—Marion Barry. After being arrested in 1990, Barry was forced to abandon his reelection bid. Two years

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later, however, the three-term mayor, who had returned from prison, decided he wanted back in the game. He staked out the Ward 8 council seat that was held by his friend and political ally Wilhelmina Rolark. Unsurprisingly, he beat her. In 1994, he ran for mayor, winning a fourth term. Punch-drunk from the whipping by the congressionally appointed financial control board that stripped him of much of his mayoral prerogatives, Barry retired in 1998. The rocking chair didn’t fit well. So, once again, he tapped the Ward 8 council seat, which was held, this time, by Sandy Allen—a woman who had helped keep his voting base intact while he was in prison. If Gray runs for the Ward 7 council seat, as many predict, he, too, will betray a former ally and protégé, Yvette Alexander. Sometimes, it seems a foot-stool life for women in DC politics. “It’s not good,” said one government official, who, like others I spoke with, asked not to be quoted by name, worrying about the potential backlash from all sides. Forget about fairness. Gray has retained strong support east of the Anacostia River. In the 2014 Democratic Primary, he bested Bowser in both Wards 7 and 8—59.48 percent in the former and 57.02 percent in the latter. With numbers like those, will Gray become the newest member of the back-stabbers club? “In her last election, Yvette only got 40 percent of the vote,” said a political operative who likely will work in Alexander’s campaign. “It’s definitely going to be a competitive race.” Tangling with Alexander could mean shadow-boxing with Bowser, who has counted the Ward 7 legislator as part of her council caucus--those members who are either enamored of the mayor’s policy agenda or worried about crossing her political machine, fondly called the Green Team. And, while that independent political action committee, FreshPac, may have closed down, as chief executive Bowser hasn’t lost the Midas Touch. She still can help candidates raise money. Who will step up and open their wallets for Gray? Can he match Bowser’s fundraising prowess--without a shadow campaign operation? Meanwhile, other primary council races

dominated by incumbents, including Jack Evans in Ward 2, Brandon Todd in Ward 4, and Kenyan McDuffie in Ward 5, promise to be sleepers. If Republican Dave Oberting gets on the ballot as that party’s at-large candidate, he probably won’t have any opposition. It’s not clear yet whether the Statehood/Green Party will have a competitive primary. As in the past, most of the infighting will be relegated to the Democratic Party. Ward 8’s LaRuby May vying for a full four-year term could have a rematch with Trayon White, who came within striking distance during last spring’s special election. A loss by May “will be by default a rejection of the mayor,” said Melik Abul, Ward 8 resident and author of the newly created Countercreed blog. A potential win by Gray in Ward 7 and White in Ward 8 would spell trouble for Bowser; her enemies would be at the door. Scrutiny of her public policies similar to that endured over her crime-busting, body-camera installation plan would become the norm and not the exception— although that might be a good thing. Reducing crime will have to be among the tangibles Bowser produces in 2016, if she wants to keep her few east of the river voters out of Gray’s pockets. The mayor might have a stellar year in 2016, said Evans, “with the building of a soccer stadium and the Wizards’ practice facility.” That would mean, he continued, “there would finally be economic development east of the river.” Gray could surprise us and run for the atlarge seat. If he jumps into the Democratic primary he could imperil incumbent Vincent Orange (D). In last year’s mayoral primary when they were both on the ballot, a politically wounded Gray slaughtered Orange. In Ward 5, for example, Orange received 573 votes (4.40 percent) while Gray received 6,155 (47. 26 percent). Since then, Orange has sidled up nicely to Bowser. He could become the recipient of her citywide voter support, campaign manpower and donor lists. Gray might have a better chance ditching the Democratic Party and making a run for the independent line, as incumbent Council member David Grosso (I) did nearly four years ago to gain his seat in the legislature.

That would amplify the action in the November General Election. Grosso has gained popularity citywide and has a strong base. But, if Orange wins the June Democratic Primary and Gray is an independent on the General Election ballot, Grosso is vulnerable. Some voters, mostly African Americans, still see race before character and policy platform. This is a presidential election year, which could result in a strong showing at the polls from Democrats in general and blacks in particular. They are likely to punch in for Orange and Gray, leaving Grosso on the sidelines—unless Bowser, buying the adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” lends the incumbent an assist. You can bet 2016 will be a hot mess. Political junkies will be on an everlasting high, although it could get nauseous at times. Council candidates are likely to use the annual budget process as their stage to highlight their policies and blowout the difference between themselves and their opponents. They also will pander to special interest constituencies, introducing legislation that has little chance of passing the council but will give the impression that they care. The campaign to end homelessness will shift into high gear, as Bowser attempts to create traction around a signature policy issue that will serve as a key platform for her 2018 reelection. It might be an undercard compared to the expected political dynamics. But as she starts constructing ward-based shelters, Nimbyism will return to center stage with a vengeance. Some residents certainly will attempt to protect the character of their communities and their safety, against a population that includes a large number of people with substance abuse and mental health problems. That’s right: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Unity Health Care’s Convenient Care Feeling Sick? Need Care Today? Visit one of our Convenient Care Locations Open 7 Days a Week! Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Saturdays & Sundays 8:00 AM to 2 :00 PM

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MINNESOTA AVENUE HEALTH CENTER 3924 Minnesota Ave., NE Washington, DC 20019 202-398-8683

BRENTWOOD HEALTH CENTER 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20018 202-832-8818 Closed on Sundays

Career opportunities on our website at www.unityhealthcare.org Unity Health Care, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit us at www.unityhealthcare.org or call: 202-469-4699

Jonetta Rose Barras is a freelance writer. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

neighborhood news

Unity Health at 30 President & CEO of the District's Largest Healthcare Provider Reflects on Decades of Healing by Candace Y.A. Montague

he Columbia Room was tapped by the federal governat the Washington ment to take over two healthcare Hilton Hotel was sites in DC, one in Northwest and filled with guests the other in Southeast. on a crisp evening Neither clinic was in the best in December. The list included faof shape. “I must say that was a miliar faces in local healthcare as challenging invitation,” Keane rewell as Congresswoman Eleanor flects in his distinctive Irish lilt. Holmes Norton, several District “We had 50 people on staff. We councilmembers, business execwere small. And here we’re coming utives, and longtime social justice into a new expansion. And as with advocates. At the center of the celmany things you worry that you ebration were two beaming membite off more than you can chew. bers of Unity Health Care's execBut we took the plunge and took utive team: Dr. Janelle Goetcheus, over the centers. We were dealing founder and chief medical officer, now with the housed population and Vincent A. Keane, president but they were also economically Unity leaders and supporters pose for a picture during the December gala. and CEO. Keane has been in that depressed. We saw that these peo(Left to right) Planning Committee Co-Chairs Debra Barrett and Teva position since 1990. He came on ple needed medicine. They were and Maria Tildon; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Unity Board of Direcboard during a time when Washa little different from the homeless tors Chair Dr. Judy Walton; Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janelle ington was grappling with a mapopulations but they were still sufGoetcheus; President & CEO Vincent A. Keane. jor crack epidemic, exorbitant fering from the same chronic illcrime, unemployment, and homenesses and the same chronic ecoless rates, and government corruption. But Kenomic condition. That kind of thing led us to tive director to advance their mission of proane was ready to serve and serve he did for the believe that this was right for us.” By 1995 Unividing healthcare to the city's most vulnerable last 25 years at Unity Health Care. Today he rety Health Care had facilities in all eight wards population. flects on how far Unity Health Care has come and an annual budget of $4 million. Vincent A. Keane took on the job with high in the quest to heal people in our beloved city. hopes and expectations. “When I joined in 1990 I felt as if I was joining a moving train. DC General and DC Jail I saw that the underlying problem was poverHealth Care for the In the late 1990s another burden on the city ty. Poverty was and is the biggest enemy of sowas getting heavier: DC General. The maligned Homeless Project cial progress. We saw many families were one hospital was bleeding the city's resources and In 1985 the rates of homelessness among indiproducing few positive outcomes. After much paycheck away from being homeless. We saw viduals and families were skyrocketing due to debate and opposition it was closed in 2000 ourselves as a temporary solution. We would high unemployment and the release of patients by then Mayor Anthony Williams. Once again address the issue but eventually these people from St. Elizabeths mental hospital in SouthUnity Health Care was tapped to take over the would be mainstreamed into the healthcare syseast. Not only were people struggling to find a clinic that remained. Keane remembers the taketem. Well that didn't happen.” permanent place to stay but they were battling over as another challenge that they conquered HCHP pressed on in the 1990s, providing demons. Mental illness, substance abuse, and with hard work and adequate funding. “The fashelter care and mobile outreach. It expandrecidivism to name a few. Dr. Janelle Goetchecilities that were attached to DC General were ed staff and services and went from a homeless us, Dr. Jesse B. Barber Jr., and Phyllis Wolfe not very good and were in a dilapidated state. project to Unity Health Care. In 1991 it began received $1.2 million from the Robert Wood What we got was very poor quality. Thankfully providing primary healthcare to people living Johnson and Pew foundations to help operaround that time the tobacco settlement monate the Health Care for the Homeless Project with HIV, an epidemic that was rapidly increasey came in and we were able to turn the clinics (HCHP), a clinic at the Pierce Street Shelter. ing in the District. Funding increased thanks to around to the point that they are now a part of Five years later they brought on a new executhe Ryan White Act. And then in 1995 Unity

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our network.” Also occurring in the mid-1990s was a cry for help with DC Jail's healthcare. The jail had high rates of tuberculosis, HIV infection, and suicides. There were numerous complaints of unhygienic conditions and poor delivery of medical and mental health services. A federal court judge granted the District control over the prison in 2000. In 2006 Unity Health Care won a contract to run the healthcare facility in the prison. Keane admitted that there was a bit of angst about it at the start. “We had a lot of dialogue about this. What we realized is that these folks are really underserved. If we were going to reverse the trend of recidivism and crime with healthcare there would need to be some stability. So our focus in 2006 was helping to reintegrate these folks into society. When we took over that position in the jail it was in a terrible state. The quality of health was poor. There was a massive lawsuit. We came into that environment without a lot of experience but with a lot of commitment. Over time we were able to be recognized as the program of the year.” Dr. Diane Lapp, deputy chief medical officer, received the Haynes Rice Award from the District of Columbia Hospital Association in 2011 for her work with inmates in DC Jail.

ty now has 11 community-based health centers, 10 medical sites in homeless centers, and 5 school-based health centers. Unity completed 2014 with over 500,000 visits total. “It does bring me a significant amount of satisfaction that we have been able to serve this city. We have grown to 30 sites. It's about leadership and willingness to take risks,” states Keane. “We don't get to success without the love and support of other people. It's not just about the health care. It's about inspiring people to improve their lives.” Unity Health Care has earned its place as a top healthcare provider through strategic growth, stability, and compassion for the underserved. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News. u

Awards and Beyond Unity Health Care has been recognized numerous times for its work in the District. Millions of dollars have been granted to the provider for a variety of projects such as rebuilding health centers, deploying health technology, and implementing more care coordination. The partnerships have grown along with the services provided. Uni-

East of the River Magazine January 2016

neighborhood news

Readiness to Do the Job... Well YWCA’s Workforce Readiness Program Boosts ‘Soft Skills’ by Steve Lilienthal

h e n Yu ke enia Malcolm, a 27-year-old DC resident from Southeast, was attending high school, conflicts with students prevented her from receiving a diploma. A series of dead-end jobs followed, but the desire to better provide for her family convinced Malcolm that she needed to take action. “I was wanting, wanting, wanting,” she said, but had “nothing to show.” To really succeed in DC’s demanding job market, it takes more than a diploma or knowing reading, writing, and arithmetic. And that is why Malcolm is so appreciative of the program that she now attends. “I’ve been here three months,” she said. “But I am trying to see where I can be within the next five years.” The new school she attends offers a more uplifting environment than her old one. The National Capital Area YWCA’s program on 14th St. NW offers adult basic education and GED preparation courses, but also training in the “soft skills” that employers increasingly seek.

‘Soft’ Skills? Clearly academic credentials are necessary to succeed in today’s job market. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has projected that by 2020 over three-quarters of the jobs in DC will require postsecondary education. While not surpassing DC, Maryland (69 percent) and Virginia (67 percent) face similar challenges. Yet an estimated 60,000 DC adults lack high school diplomas. An equal number are considered to have below average skills in literacy and numeracy. It’s not surprising that Antoinette

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

ing a better working environment and to serve customers.

The YWCA Program

YWCA graduates display their certificates.

Mitchell, who oversees postsecondary and career education at the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, made the expected remarks about the importance of adult literacy and numeracy when participating in a panel discussion this September that was hosted by the DC Adult and Family Literacy Coalition. But Mitchell added that employers are also seeking employees who offer the so-called soft skills, which she defined as showing up on time, being persistent in solving problems, and exercising patience in dealing with co-workers and customers. Employees with soft skills present information well. She might also have added that they anticipate the needs of their employer and customers. Andy Shallal, the owner of Busboys and Poets, seconding the importance of Mitchell’s assertion, shared that “a lot of times people get a job only to end up losing it due to the soft skills.” At Busboys and Poets, with its diverse workforce, sometimes misunderstandings based on cultural differences can occur between workers and their colleagues or customers. Shallal and his managers work on instilling the soft skills in employees in hopes of achiev-

Dana Lloyd Bey, director of adult education and training programs for the YWCA, said that many job seekers who may have adequate academic skills and know computers are held back by their not knowing the soft skills. “Customer service is more than ringing up sales or wrapping gifts,” Lloyd Bey noted. “Students often need to know how to relate to people.” The YWCA’s Workforce Readiness program offers the National Retail Federation’s Customer Service curriculum. Students learn how to project professionalism through their appearance and conduct. They also learn workplace ethics and etiquette and how to think critically and solve problems. They are encouraged to self-reflect, identifying areas that need improvement. At a recent customer service class one student recounted the time someone asked her for help in locating GED programs. Not knowing GED programs, she felt illequipped to respond to the request. She referred him to the DC Department of Employment Services’ American Jobs Center. Suggested instructor Migonne Willis-Gray, “Why not have a resource guide at the front desk?” “We’ve been talking about it,” the student replied.

A Powerful Combination Workforce readiness is offered as a separate program, as is the YWCA’s adult education/GED program. Yet the YWCA will often impress upon aspiring students the need to participate in both programs and to apply the self-reflective skills to their own academic needs.

MIDCITY

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

Often, explained Lloyd Bey, people, particularly those who are still in their early 20s, come to the YWCA just hoping to obtain a job and try to enter workplace readiness. However, if their academic skills are substandard or they have a GED from an online program that employers look askance at, the YWCA staff will explain the importance of having not just a job but a career that can provide a stable income and advancement. That requires obtaining postsecondary education. An applicant who wants to enter the adult education and workforce readiness programs must, at the least, be able to read and do math at a sixth-grade level. The programs accept both women and men, but the YWCA emphasizes its mission is to uplift women.

COM I NG FE B RUARY 2016 SP ECIAL ISSU E

yukeenIa’S leSSonS Yukeenia Malcolm is now more positive about education, impressed that the teachers “will take the time to help you.” She is also learning through workforce readiness “how to communicate better” and to “stay positive.” Before the YWCA she would procrastinate before starting a complicated task, and her limited vocabulary might prevent her from understanding what people told her. The YWCA’s assistance with basic workforce skills is “helping me to communicate with people more.” She is working to improve her ability to write work-related documents such as memos that are more formal and to-the-point than the freestyle writing she had often done. Further improvements lie ahead before Malcolm graduates from the GED program, but already she is thinking about using her newly acquired workforce readiness and academic skills to assess jobs in nursing and health-related fields. “If you are struggling in certain areas,” declared Malcolm, whether it is the soft skills or academics, “the YWCA is the place you should be.”

C O M P R E H E N S I V E B LAC K H I STO RY M O NTH CALE N DAR H I G H LI G HTI N G TH E MANY E V E NTS AN D C U LTU RAL P R O G RAM M I N G HAP P E N I N G I N AN D AR O U N D D.C. ARTI C LE S I N R E C O G N ITI O N O F TH E R I C H H I STO RY AN D AC C O M P LI S H M E NTS O F B LAC K AM E R I CAN S Interested in advertising, contact sales today. 202.543.8300 Carolina x12 Kira x16 Andrew x19 Laura x22 Publication Date: HillRag 1/30 | East of the River & MidCityDC 2/6

Steve Lilienthal is a freelance writer who lives in Washington, DC. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

3

neighborhood news / our riVer

Winter Watershed Get-Aways Our River: The Anacostia article and photos by Bill Matuszeski

he holidays are over and we all need some time alone or with a companion or two. But we don’t need to fly off to Florida or the Caribbean. There are a number of great get-aways right here in the Anacostia watershed, places where you can walk and talk – even with yourself – while enjoying nature or history or both. While you probably have your own favorites, here are four places that will take you away, but let you get back home for dinner. And they all can be done in the winter – in fact, are probably better then than other times when they are more crowded.

the kenIlWorth aQuatIc gardenS Located in far northeast DC, this is the only National Park Service unit devoted to water-loving plants. The entire site is nearly 100 acres, about three-quarters of which is tidal marsh. In summer, the ponds are filled with water lilies and lotus in bloom, but things are much quieter this time of year. But that doesn’t mean you are alone. A recent study identified a multitude of on-site species: 150 plants , 76 birds, 18 fish and 9 mammals. Other surveys have identified a total of 257 bird species at various times of the year. In 1880, Civil War veteran Walter Shaw purchased 37 acres and began

Winter Sun on Lake Artemesia

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

to build his water gardens. After years of success, he decided to open a business and begin to sell the water lilies and other aquatic plants. In 1912, his daughter Helen took over, expanded the business and became a national advocate for water gardens. But in the 1930’s, the Corps of Engineers began to “improve” the Anacostia shoreline and threatened to condemn and fill in the land. After much controversy, in 1938 Congress appropriated $15,000 to purchase the land and turn it over to the Park Service. Today we can enjoy the benefits of this purchase. Walk around the historic ponds and enjoy the birds and wildlife; take the boardwalk trail to the marshes beyond. Or if it is open, take the River Trail out to the construction site of the new section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which will bridge the last link of the 70-mile trail system – the three mile stretch from Benning Road to Bladensburg Marina – when it opens later this year. And don’t forget your camera. The Gardens are at 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE. To get there by car take I-295 to Burroughs Avenue and turn toward the River; at the T turn right and drive north to the gate. Or take Metro Orange to Deanwood Station and walk there, starting on Polk St, crossing 295 on a pedestrian bridge and turning left on Douglas and right on Anacostia – about four blocks. Open 8-4 daily in winter.

lake arteMeSIa This is a real secret spot. Right east of the train and Metro tracks in College Park is a 38-acre lake with fish and water birds and surrounded by trails and aquatic gardens. How it got there and got named is an interesting story. In the 1890s, the area, which was low and surrounded by Indian Creek and Paint Branch, was surveyed by Arthur Drefs, who decided to use the natural ponds to raise first bass and then goldfish. He named the largest lake after his daughter, Artemesia. She donated the ten lots in 1972 for open space. Just about then, Metro was building the Green Line alongside and was looking for a cheap source of sand and gravel. So Metro ended up saving $10 million by dredging the site and donated $8 million of it to build the Lake and the Park. The result was the large lake with fishing piers, picnic areas, gazebos and trails. One of the trails has been designated by Audubon as the Luther Golden Birding Trail. The grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily. And there are seldom many people around. Part of the reason is that it is very difficult to find and to park near. Various suggestions include the intersection of Vassar Drive and Sweetbrier Drive on the east; 55th Avenue off Berwyn Road on the north; or the intersection of 54th Avenue and Pierce Avenue on the west, using the path between the school and the tracks to connect to the Paint Branch Trail. Much easier is to approach

land and the restored mill was opened to the public in 1954. Since it is not regularly staffed and is open only for events, you have to be lucky to see the interior. The trail along the Northwest Branch from the mill to the Beltway is a classic stream valley of hills and woods and worthy of a walk any time of the year. It is on my list of favorite hikes, with a broad deep valley that goes two miles to the Beltway with hardly a building in sight and only one road crossing. The stream is filled with riﬄes and rapids and the air is filled with its sounds as you walk alongside. Add it to your get-away; you won’t regret it. Park at the mill or bike up there from Metro Green at West Hyattsville.

BrookSIde gardenS

The Ponds in winter at Kenilworth Gardens

on one of the trails by bike; the Indian Creek and Paint Branch Trails join right south of the Lake to form the Northeast Branch Trail. Finally, while out there you may want to add a visit to the nearby air museum at the College Park Airport.

the adelPhI MIll

View from the Teahouse at Brookside Gardens

This is the only surviving water-powered mill in Prince Georges County, located on the banks of the Anacostia’s Northwest Branch at 8402 Riggs Road. It is operated by the County Department of Parks and Recreation and is rented out for events – very popular for weddings. A beautiful fieldstone structure dating from 1796, it has been restored inside and out and the grounds are also quite beautiful and include a restored miller’s house. The mill ground grain and carded wool and was originally run by two brothers – thus the name “Adelphi”, Greek for “brothers”. In 1865 it was purchased by George Washington Riggs, who became the owner as well of Riggs Bank, now part of PNC. In 1951 it became public park-

Many readers have undoubtedly been to Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, but only in winter to join the crowds to see the Christmas lights. But it is a great place to escape to when it’s cold and there are few folks around. It is part of the Anacostia watershed that is in Montgomery County; the Northwest Branch lies to its east and receives the waters of the streams and lakes in the garden. To the south over the hill lies the adjacent Wheaton Regional Park, which drains into Sligo Creek. Brookside Gardens is operated by Montgomery County Parks and is free to the public. It is open sunrise to sunset; the visitor center hours are 9-5 and the conservatories 10-5. It is 50 acres of display gardens, ponds, and woodland walks. There is a large pond with a gazebo in the form of a Japanese Teahouse as will as two conservatories that feature tropical plants, especially in winter. The woodland gardens and boardwalks are especially inviting, and if you are seeking more walks in the woods, the adjacent Park has miles of them. Just find your way to the gate on the far side of the teahouse. You can get to the gardens by Metro by taking the Red Line to its terminus at Glenmont and walking about a mile on Glenallan Avenue, which is on the far side of the parking garage when you come up the east side of the station. If you drive, take Georgia Avenue to right on Randolph Road and right on Glenallan at the second light. The best way to visit is to bring your bike on Metro and scoot down Glenallan to the Gardens, then return home by pedaling through Wheaton Regional Park and riding all the way down the Sligo Creek Trail to the Green Line at West Hyattsville. You will love it! Just bring warm gloves! Let me know if you have other favorite Anacostia Watershed Getaways; e-mail me at bmat@olg.com. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

East washington life

Music in DC.

ny American moving to Washington, DC, will inevitably wonder about puzzling phenomena they’ll notice soon after arriving. Why does the work of the District Council rarely appear in the paper or local newscasts? What’s so important about being a District native, and what could possibly be the function of a group called the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants? Is there a difference between a civic association and a citizen’s association? Which senator I am supposed to write if I have a problem with federal legislation? Why does the District’s unforgiving parking enforcement allow anybody to park anywhere near a church on Sundays? These quirks about life in DC arose from long struggles over race, sovereignty, and equity. The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum attempts to explain how they came about in its new exhibition, “Twelve Years That Shook and Shaped Washington: 1963-1975.” In a city where history is usually told from a top down perspective by elite leaders and institutions, “Twelve Years” tries to show how the grassroots efforts of District residents during this tumultuous period shaped the city that we live in today. The exhibition starts at 1963, when an era of change seemed imminent, marked by the enthusiasm brought by the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. At the time, District residents had virtually no voice in determining their affairs. While they had just gotten the right to vote for President and Vice President from the 23rd Amendment, all District decision-making came from federal appointees. Urban planners were still patting themselves on the back for razing Southwest Washington to create a virtual new city on the waterfront. The exhibition illustrates the smugness of the era by showing a 1964 film by the American Institute of Architects entitled “No Room for Ugliness,” which applauds the Southwest urban

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Anacostia Community Museum Documents a Dozen Tumultuous Years of Washington History article and photos by Pleasant Mann

New gay and feminist voices.

Development of culture in Washington, DC.

renewal project and considers it a model for the rest of the nation. A page from a report explains that DC’s black residents feared that there were plans to move them from the center of town to the other side of the Anacostia. With the Southwest renewal project, that is what actually happened. But things had to change. The 1960 Census revealed Washington as the first major US city with a majority black population. The initiatives of the New Frontier and the Great Society led to an emphasis on local community control of urban renewal and anti-poverty initiatives. The exhibition explains that the use of community development corporations to implement social programs led to a number of notable organizations, such as Youth Pride, a neighborhood cleanup program that grew into Pride, Inc., the city’s most visible anti-poverty program. The exhibition also screens a film, “The People and the Police,” that documents an early effort to establish a model police precinct that works with the community it serves. An important part of “Twelve Years” is its outline of the improvement of public higher ed-

Stories from Washingtonians video station.

ucation in the District. When the 1964 Chase Report to the President declared that the lack of public higher education venues in the District was hurting the economic opportunities of residents, something had to be done. Federal legislation created the Washington Technical Institute (WTI), a two-year institution, and the four-year Federal City College (FCC). Higher education also got a boost when Antioch College brought a clinic-based model of legal education to the District. WTI and FCC later merged with the District of Columbia Teachers College to form the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). After Antioch could no longer support its law school in the District, the DC Council continued to provide funds until it eventually became UDC’s David A. Clarke School of Law. The exhibition also gives a sense of the DC college scene by providing yearbooks from American University, Howard University, and Catholic University from the late 1960s. In a section called “New Voices” the exhibition outlines how the feminist, gay, and Latino communities started to develop a public pres-

ence in the District. While early issues of the Gay Blade and the feminist newsletter Off Our Backs help mark the emergence of new social groups, video reminiscences give additional insight to the new institutions that were built. A video of Arturo Griffiths describes the early days of Latino organizing, while Deacon Maccubbin gives the history of his gay bookstore, Lambda Rising, and the first Gay Pride Day. Perhaps the biggest revelation of “Twelve Years” is its documentation of the development of an indigenous arts culture. Prior to the 1960s evidence of art made in Washington was hard to find. However, the growth of public funding for the arts, along with support from major foundations, led to a flourishing of artistic activity in the District. New forums like the Washington Gallery of Modern Art gave visibility to the Color Field Painters, who were gaining acclaim in the District and nationwide. The exhibit displays the work of prominent members of this movement including Sam Gilliam and Howard Mehring, along with the tools of painter Alma Thomas. In the area of drama, the Arena Stage started to get national attention, with Richard Coe of The Washington Post declaring that “Washington is now the second most active professional theater town on this continent.” Local musicians such as Roberta Flack and Chuck Brown developed national reputations in this period. There are a few weak points in “Twelve Years.” A display outlining changes in fashion presents a dashiki and some dresses, but skips the platform shoes, capes, and plumed hats that typified the era. It is hard to imagine how the exhibition omitted novelist Rita Mae Brown, an important lesbian and feminist icon, who worked with the Furies Collective on Capitol Hill during this period. Also, by cutting the exhibition off at 1975, it just misses the establishment of a number of organizations such as d.c. space, the Washington Project for the Arts, and the 9:30 Club, some of which are still supporting DC arts and culture. The exhibition does mention the DC Riots and the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968, but has trouble explaining the reasons for their lasting impact on the District. “Twelve Years” ends with the struggle for Home Rule in DC. There had been six different bills in the Senate to give Home Rule to Washington between 1948 and 1966, but they all died in the House District Committee. After the last attempt, President Lyndon Johnson used his executive authority in 1967 to reorganize the District government, replacing the traditional three District commissioners with a mayor-commissioner and an appointed nine-member city council. From then on the District got its first elected school board in 1968, a non-voting delegate to Congress, and finally an elected mayor and city council that took office at the beginning of 1975, bringing Home Rule back to the District after a century’s absence. The exhibition is capped off with a video station, where notable residents such as politician Arrington Dixon, activist Roach Brown, and sculptor Uzekee Nelson offer their memories of the period and what followed. An expansive look at what it took to build the foundation that the District rests on today, “Twelve Years That Shook and Shaped Washington” is on exhibit at the Anacostia Community Museum until Oct. 16, 2016. u

Twelve Years that Shook and Shaped Washington.

East of the River Magazine January 2016

East washington life

The Bigness of God A Yoruba Priest Shares Struggles, Healing, Purpose by Virginia Avniel Spatz

For the fourth in a series exploring worship communities east of the river, I visited Ananda Free, Ward 7 teacher, author, and priest of Osun.

nanda Free is a priest of Osun, initiated in the Yoruba (Nigerian) tradition. She serves the community through ritual and counseling but is called particularly to teach, especially in group settings, and serve as a “conduit for healing.” In her own life Free integrates Yoruba philosophy with Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and other worship paths; as a teacher she stresses that “there are many paths to the Creator.” She hopes individuals who are not particularly drawn to Yoruba tradition will find universal themes and “take the jewels they need” from her teaching and writing. She welcomed me into her home on Dec. 23 to share her work.

Ifa, Osun, and the Ancestors Yoruba Ifa tradition originated in West Africa and is now practiced in both Africa and the Yoruba diaspora, primarily the Caribbean and the Americas. Free notes that her own teachers are of Nigerian descent and stresses that “tradition is passed down through oration.” One central practice of Ifa is divination, or “readings,” in which a priest assists others in “finding out what is going on in their lives.” Divination also helps people discover “which orisha, or manifestation of the divine, walks with them.” Through divination Free learned of her calling to heal and her connection to the orisha Osun. Osun (or Oshun) is an orisha who manifests as the goddess associated with fertility, water, feminine, sexuality, and love. Her name means “source,” as in the perpetually renewing source of a river. In addition she is identified with feminine, often water-centered, manifestations of the divine in other cultures: Lakshmi in Hindu tradition, for example. Most simply, Free explains,

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Ananda Free, Yoruba priest, author, and teacher, in her home.

Osun can be understood as “God’s love.” Free maintains a consecrated Osun shrine and altar in her home as well as a consecrated Egun shrine and altar to honor the Ancestors, an important practice in Ifa tradition. Ancestors, including blood relatives and other teachers, are recognized for their contributions in life, helping to maintain history and connection. In addition, Free tells me, “We feed the ancestors, because the ancestors assist us in our lives here.” They mediate “between heaven and here,” helping with issues like work and family, “because they know those struggles.”

“Take the Jewels They Need” “Anybody can come to Ifa,” Free tells me. “I am a Yoruba priest, a Muslim, a Christian, and a devotee of Krishna – wherever God is present

and speaks to my heart.” She is not alone in pursuing a varied path, noting that many followers of Ifa also participate in other worship communities. On the other hand, she adds, there are many religious people who believe in a single path to the divine and to righteousness. But Free insists that “more than one path leads us to God ... as a people we have got to move past our own limitations and open up to the bigness of God.” Still, Ifa is not for everyone, says Free. So, why did she include those elements, which many readers may find foreign, in her new book, “How to Make a Love Cake”? “I wrote about elevated ancestors and orisha partly because I am a priest in the Yoruba tradition ... so that’s my backdrop.” But it’s the universal themes, “feeling disconnected from spirit,” going through trauma, finding resilience, and “getting to a place of self-love and empowerment,” that she hopes readers will absorb. “An individual, if they’re open enough, will find and take the jewels that they need for themselves and leave the other aspects alone.” Free has been teaching a six-to-eight-week series for adults called “Living the Best You.” The curriculum, which addresses “barriers and blockages to being your best self – without being preachy,” is adaptable for students

H y p e r L o c a l | hīpər vine in everyday life. Any healing Free has experienced, she says, and any healing she can help others find, is a divine gift. She likens her work to that of a washing machine – “I’m the vessel, and God is the soap.” “The world teaches us to be cookie-cutter people,” Free concludes. “So many people go into IT or whatever is the hot profession of the day, but they have no idea of their calling in this world. And God wants to use each of us for a particular purpose.”

further explOratIOns For those seeking DC-based worship, Ananda Free recommends Sunday services at Temple of Nyame,15 Kennedy St. NW. Contact Chief Priest Nana Kwabena Brown; 202-725-8355. She also Ananda Free’s recent book, part of a new teaching effort. recommends the Yoruba Spiritual Center, Ile Arira with Sango Wale Atanda Ajaas young as middle school. Her book, launched in la and Iya Oyawunmi Awosade; 240-554-7254, November 2015, is part of a new phase of teachwww.ilearira.com. ing, focused on healing. Free’s years of training prepared her to conduct divination, but she usually refers those seekBeyOnd the cOOkIe-cutter ing individual readings to her godmother, Chief “How to Make a Love Cake” explores the proPriest Iyanifa Ifa Doyin of Temple Ado Tojucess of healing in story form. A fictional baker waleke in Baltimore. learns, from a variety of spiritual sources, of “inFor more information about “Living the Best gredients” she has been missing. The semi-autoYou” classes, “How to Make a Love Cake,” and biographical tale addresses specific experiences upcoming talks and webinars call Ananda Free of trauma and abuse blocking the baker’s fulfillat 443-938-8442 or visit HowtoMakeaLoveCake. ment; the ingredients she receives are universal elcom or “How to Make a Love Cake” on Facebook. ements that others can use in pursuing their own Also note: a weekly meditation group led by “baking.” Ananda Free’s husband, Zaccai Free, a teacher In conversation and online teaching, Free reof the Art of Living Tradition, is beginning soon turns to the theme of blockages – like old resentin the Free home. ments, trauma, addiction, and low self-esteem – and how these can “keep people trapped in cyclical patterns ... But with God, there is only expansion.” The book is meant to help others “come into their relationship with their higher power” and become better “vessels” for the di-

. lōk(ə)l |

connotes information oriented around a well defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of its residents. synonym: eastoftheriverdcnews.com

D a i l y on l i n e. M on t h l y i n p ri n t .

Virginia Avniel Spatz participates in a range of Jewish and other worship communities. She participated in Hartford Seminary’s “Building Abrahamic Partnerships” program and has worked on interfaith and interdenominational projects. She blogs on faith topics at songeveryday.org. u

East of the River Magazine January 2016

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East washington life

How to Make a ‘Fresh Start’ in Wellness from Fit DC by Candace Y.A. Montague

t’s January! Time to press the reset button on health and wellness. An important free resource is available that will help DC residents reach their health and fitness goals. It’s called Fit DC. Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the initiative in April 2015 in partnership with the DC Department of Health, DC Department of Recreation, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and a host of others. The mission is to motivate and inspire residents to activate their lifestyle by doing some very simple things such as changing their eating habits and increasing their physical activity. The Billion Steps challenge began in July as a citywide effort to reach one billion steps. Residents from all eight wards are encouraged to keep track of their steps and log them in steps, kilometers, or miles on the website. So far over 220 million steps have been logged. In each ward a coach is available to help residents find local resources and provide tips on how to reach and maintain goals. Christina Alexander, a development professional and self-proclaimed curvy girl, is the coach for Ward 7. Being a Fit DC coach helps her to stay on track to reach her own goals. Charles Taylor, a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, is the coach for Ward 8. He has a passion for outdoor recreation and gardening. Together these coaches have some helpful tips on how to use community resources to help begin a healthier lifestyle.

Tip #1 The world is a gym. Wards 7 and 8 may not have gyms on every corner but that doesn’t mean the opportunity to workout ceases to exist. There are many ways to use the outdoors as your space for workouts, according to Coach Taylor. “In wards 7 and 8 there aren’t many gyms so one of the best places to work out is outdoors, whether it’s riding a bike or going for a walk or going out on canoes, which includes education on environment and how to take care of the river. There’s a lot of therapeutic aspects to it. It can make you feel better.” There are several walking and biking trails, playgrounds, and athletic fields with walk-

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

ing tracks for community use. Scenic Anacostia Park has a station complete with 18 pieces of fitness equipment. All are free of charge.

Tip #2 Check out your local recreation centers. As winter approaches, workouts head indoors. Eight fitness centers and rooms are located throughout Ward 7 and 8 recreation centers. Membership is $25 per month; the drop-in rate is $5 per day. Recreation centers also offer group classes as well for those who want to shake things up. Avoid using your home as your gym, says Taylor. “Home should be a place to relax not necessarily to work out. That’s why you have gyms and places outside the home. It’s more motivating. People buy this equipment, but a lot of times they don’t utilize it well. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to get the workout in.” Alexander adds that swimming is one of her favorite activities. “One of the things I really enjoy doing is swimming. The rec centers offer classes all year long. I attend the ones at Deanwood since that’s where I live.” Check out the Department of Recreation website for more information on fitness classes and membership.

Tip #3 Use the buddy system including social media. Having a workout partner keeps you accountable and will motivate you to be persistent. It also helps for safety if you are pursuing outdoor activities. Group classes foster friendships and help create a platform where people with similar goals can encourage one another. Social media can be used to find out more information about upcoming events and help people keep track of one another’s growth and accomplishments. All Fit DC coaches have Twitter accounts, which makes them easy to follow. Alexander says on her Fit DC coach page that being a coach helps her to be accountable for her own journey to wellness.

Tip #4 Train your plate. Preparing healthy meals is

Fit DC coaches Christina Alexander (Ward 7) and Charles Taylor (Ward 8).

another tip for reaching health goals. The Fit DC website has nutrition tips, links to local nutrition resources, and healthy recipes to try at home. Alexander says eating more vegetables, fruits, and healthy carbs has helped her shed 50 pounds over the last 15 months. She has also learned to curb her alcohol intake. “One of the things I found is that when I cut back on the alcohol, it helped me manage my stress. My energy level was up. I didn’t feel bad. Now it can be a reward for me. If I meet my weight goal or fitness goal for the week I may reward myself with a glass of wine.”

Tip #5 Ask for help. Consulting a primary care physician is always the first step in a wellness journey. Additionally the Fit DC website is available whenever you need resources or contact information. Alexander and Taylor say they are available to help people get started to their journey. They can refer residents to recreation centers, classes, and events that will keep them interested in health and wellness.

Additional Resource The Community Wellness Collective is housed inside the Anacostia Arts Center on Good Hope Road. It is a low-cost health resource that offers fitness classes such as Zumba, yoga, Da Go-Go, and boot camp, and workshops such as health literacy and meditation. The Just Walk group gathers to on Saturdays to walk a few miles in the community. The group pledges to keep going through the winter months. See their website for more information: www.communitywellnesscollective.com. For more information about Fit DC visit www.fitdc.com. You can find the Fit coaches there or follow them on Twitter @FitDCChristina and @ FitDCCharles. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News. u

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Promoting Healthy Lung Lifestyles Tobacco & Health Education Services Asthma & Health Education Services Camp Breath Happy 1310 Southern Ave. SE, Suite G082 www.breathedc.org • (202) 574-6789 Like us on Facebook at: Breathe DC Follow us @breathedc

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River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School 420 34th St , NE CVS - East River Park 320 40th St , NE Safeway – NE 322 40th St , NE 6th District Police Dept - Main 100 42nd St , NE Ward Memorial AME 240 42nd St NE Kennilworth Elementary School 1300 44th ST NE Unity East of the River Health Center 123 45th ST NE First Baptist Church of Deanwood 1008 45th St NE Deanwood Public Library 1350 49th ST NE Hughes Memorial United Methodist 25 53rd St NE Capitol Gateway Senior Apts 201 58th St , NE Marvin Gaye Rec Center 6201 Banks Pl NE Watts Branch Recreation Center 6201 Banks St , NE Langston Community Library 2600 Benning Rd , NE Anacostia Neighborhood Library 1800 Good Hope Road SE Benning Branch Library 3935 Benning Rd NE Marshall Heights CDC 3939 Benning Rd , NE Kelly Miller Recreation Center 4900 Brooks St , NE Tabernacle baptist Church 719 Division Ave NE Randall Memorial Baptist Church 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 350 Eastern Ave , NE 7-Eleven 950 Eastern AVE NE Riverside Center 5200 Foote St , NE Mayfair Mansions 3744 ½ Hayes St NE Citibank: East River Park 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE Chartered Health Center NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE The Minnicks Market 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Lederer Gardens 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Suburban Market 4600 Sherriff Rd NE Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 4601 Sheriff Road NE Dave Brown Liquors 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast Dave Brown Liquor 4721 Sherriff Rd NE A & S Grocery 4748 Sheriff Rd NE St Rose Pentecostal Church 4816 Sherriff Rd NE Malcolm X Rec Center 3200 13th st SE St More Catholic Church 4275 4th St SE Fort Davis Recreation Center 1400 41st St , SE Ferebee Hope Recreation Center 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant 1523 Alabama Ave, SE Giant Food Store 1535 Alabama Ave , SE SunTrust Bank 1571 Alabama Ave , SE Parklands-Turner Community Library 1547 Alabama Ave , SE Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office 1717 Alabama Ave , SE Garfield Elementary 2435 Alabama Ave 7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE 4405 Bowen Rd SE Pimento Grill East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE

Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE CVS – Penn Branch 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE Congress Heights Recreation Center 100 Randle Pl , SE Johnson Memorial Baptist Church 800 Ridge Rd SE Ridge Recreation Center 800 Ridge Rd , SE Savoy Recreation Center 2440 Shannon Pl SE PNC Bank 4100 South Capitol St , SE Rite Aid 4635 South Capitol St , SE United Medical Center 1310 Southern Ave , SE Benning Park Community Center 5100 Southern Ave SE Benning Stoddert Recreation Center 100 Stoddert Pl , SE Union Temple Baptist Church 1225 W ST SE Senior Living at Wayne Place 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW William O Lockridge/Bellevue Bald Eagle At Fort Greble 100 Joliet St SW Covenant Baptist Church 3845 South Capitol St Faith Presbyterian Church 4161 South Capitol St SW Henson Ridge Town Homes Office 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW CCN office 224 7th ST SE Eastern Market 225 7th St SE YMCA Capitol View 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE CW Harris Elementary School 301 53rd Street, SE DC Child & Family Services Agency 200 I Street SE

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East of the River Magazine January 2016

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East washington life / Jazz avenues

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

in a statement, “We are excited to introduce DCJazzPrix, a national competition that adds yet more cultural significance to the DC Jazz Festival, and to the national jazz community … We envision the competition adding a bold new element to our festival, one which responds to the challenges lesser-known bands face when seeking inclusion in the major jazz festival circuit, even when they are clearly excellent and poised for greater exposure.” Winnings include $15,000 in cash and a year-long association with the DC Jazz Festival, with “extensive public exposure; business support and career navigation services; and a main stage 2017 DC Jazz Festival paid engagement.” See www.dcjazzprix.org for information on applications and guidelines.

Blanchard, Hayes, Sanchez Headline MAJF

DC’s NEA Jazz Master drummer Jimmy Cobb, who turns 87 on Jan. 20, blows out candles at his Bohemian Caverns birthday show in January 2012. Photo: Bababebop Jazz Images

Jimmy Cobb was a steady and swinging drummer. More conservative in his accompanying style than “Philly Joe” Jones, Cobb nonetheless contributed a far-reaching characteristic to modern jazz: Cobb’s ride rhythms were placed toward the front edge of the beat in a way that made them seem to pull the beat. Though this aspect is subtle, it is quite significant because drummers before Cobb had traditionally played more toward the center of the beat. - “Miles Davis, His Groups & Sidemen” in “Jazz Styles History & Analysis” by Mark C. Gridley

New Year’s Wishes Special New Year’s wishes go out to our homeboy drummer Jimmy Cobb, the living legend, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master celebrating his 87th birthday on Jan. 20. Still vibrant and active – he is to play next month with Randy Brecker, George Cables, Javon Jackson, and Eddie Gomez at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst – Cobb is most famous as the only surviving member of the classic “Kind of Blue” recording with Miles Davis and has a wealth of other classic recordings and performances under his belt as well. One of those performances was at Bohemian Caverns four years ago when he played for his hometown fans in vintage style. Happy, happy Jimmy Cobb! See www.jimmycobb.com for more information. More New Year’s wishes go to our area masters like Buck Hill, Nasar Abadey, Fred Foss; our

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

venerable venue operators like Omrao Brown of Bohemian Caverns, the Tesfaye twins of Twins Jazz, pastor Brian Hamilton of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and DeAndrey Howard and friends at the Jazz & Cultural Society in Northeast. And best wishes go to George V. Johnson Jr. and his Washington DC Jazz Network, the CapitalBop folks, and of course Charlie Fishman, Sunny Sumter, and Willard Jenkins of the DC Jazz Festival and Paul Carr and company with the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and everyone out there keeping it jamming for us on the music scene!

DCJF’s DCJazzPrix The DC Jazz Festival, coming up June 10-19 (see www.dcjazzfest.org), has announced the coming of DCJazzPrix, a national jazz band competition that “aims to identify and showcase emerging and exceptional jazz band talent from across the U.S.” Festival Artistic Director Willard Jenkins said

Right around the corner is the annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival coming up Feb. 12-14 at the Hilton in Rockville under the direction of our esteemed saxophonist, educator, and impresario Paul Carr. This year’s festival brings Terence Blanchard, Louis Hayes, Poncho Sanchez, Eric Byrd, Terell Stafford, Sharon Clark, Chad Carter, James Zimmerman, Sandra Johnson, Wes Biles, and Carr’s Jazz Academy Orchestra, along with high school band and voice competitions, eclectic vendors, and much more. See www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org for complete information.

In Review... ‘Believe’ Congratulations to Karen Lovejoy and her Lovejoy Group for their CD “Believe,” a joyful listen at holidays or anytime. It features the soulful tones of vocalist Lovejoy on the playful “Let It Snow!,” her sparkling phrasing on “My Favorite Things,” and the instrumental “Snowfall” which showcases the first-rate musicianship of the band, with Herb Smith on alto sax and clarinet, Jerry Allen, piano, Bob Shann, bass, and Lawrence “Bubbles” Dean, drums. See www.lovejoygroupmusic.com. January Highlights: … Chris Grasso Trio w/Alison Crockett, Thad Wilson, Jan. 10, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club … Lionel Loueke, Jan. 13, Blues Alley … Joe Vetter Quartet, Jan. 13, Twins Jazz … Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jan. 14, Bethesda Blues & Jazz … Marshall Keys, Steve Novosel, Wade Beach/17th Jazz Night Anniversary, Jan. 15, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Buster Williams, Jan. 21-24, Blues Alley … Marquis Hill Blacktet, Jan. 22, Kennedy Center … Sam King/Dan Wallace Play Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Jan. 22, An Die Musik/Baltimore … Tommy Williams, Jan. 22-23, Twins Jazz … Eric Owens, Jan. 27, Kennedy Center … Reginald Cyntje, Jan. 29-30, Twins Jazz … Frank Wess Tribute, Jan. 30, Kennedy Center … Ernest Dawkins Trio, Jan. 31, Bohemian Caverns … January Birthdays: Frank Wess 4; Kenny Clarke 9; Max Roach 10; Jay McShann 12; Melba Liston, Joe Pass 13; Gene Krupa 15; Cedar Walton 17; Jimmy Cobb 20; J.J. Johnson 22; Gary Burton 23; Antonio Carlos Jobim 25; Bobby Hutcherson 27; Roy Eldridge 30. Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com and followed at www.twitter.com/jazzavenues. u

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

CLOSE PRICE

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA

1603 18TH ST SE 1906 17TH ST SE 1321 VALLEY PL SE 2254 MOUNT VIEW PL SE 1323 W ST SE

CHILLUM

6427 2ND PL NW 5508 1ST ST NE 6001 3RD ST NW 29 LONGFELLOW ST NW

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1000 CONGRESS ST SE 3964 2ND ST SW 136 WILMINGTON PL SE 149 UPSAL ST SE 89 DARRINGTON ST SW 807 HR DR SE 508 FOXHALL PL SE 4005 4TH ST SE 130 YUMA ST SE 410 ORANGE ST SE 110 BRANDYWINE PL SW 1136 BARNABY TER SE 3969 1ST ST SW 3834 1ST ST SE 714 CONGRESS ST SE

DEANWOOD

4925 LEE ST NE 327 57TH ST NE 146 57TH ST SE 5656 A ST SE 5524 HUNT PL NE 811 44TH ST NE 272 DIVISION AVE NE 5103 JAY ST NE 6114 BANKS PL NE 5225 BANKS PL NE 4005 CLAY PL NE 4269 BROOKS ST NE 327 DIVISION AVE NE 908 PORTER CT NE 5010 AMES ST NE 4202 GAULT PL NE 4219 HAYES ST NE

$425,000 $289,000 $185,000 $170,000 $169,000

8 3 4 4 2

$599,000 $560,000 $440,000 $432,400

3 3 3 3

$401,750 $378,900 $367,000 $335,000 $280,000 $279,900 $270,000 $270,000 $227,000 $220,000 $215,000 $180,000 $151,100 $130,000 $79,800

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

$429,000 $349,000 $332,000 $330,000 $325,000 $310,000 $307,900 $278,500 $273,000 $249,900 $240,900 $232,500 $218,500 $216,000 $160,000 $155,000 $155,000

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

518 59TH ST NE 5040 JUST ST NE 1031 46TH ST NE 204 44TH ST NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 417 BURBANK ST SE 738 RIDGE RD SE 4615 H ST SE 4645 H ST SE 1118 CHAPLIN ST SE 377 CHAPLIN ST SE 4626 H ST SE

HILL CREST

3806 SUITLAND RD SE 2937 FORT BAKER DR SE 2201 31ST PL SE 725 32ND ST SE 1112 BRANCH AVE SE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5310 BASS PL SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS 3421 25TH ST SE 3430 21ST ST SE 3423 24TH ST SE 3534 21ST SE

$130,987 $128,000 $117,600 $105,555

4 3 3 2

$335,000 $320,000 $265,000 $260,000 $230,000 $225,000 $180,000

3 3 2 3 3 2 3

$550,000 $464,000 $442,000 $348,000 $208,500

3 3 4 3 2

$419,000

$259,000 $253,000 $229,500 $152,000

2 2 2 3

$62,000 $44,500

2 1

$100,000

$95,000 $8,000

2 0

$60,000

$68,000 $50,000

2 1

CONDO CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3866 9TH ST SE #102 14 HALLEY PL SE #103

DEANWOOD

4929 FOOTE ST NE #4

HILL CREST

2022 FORT DAVIS ST SE #A 3822 V ST SE #11

RANDLE HEIGHTS

2850 HARTFORD ST SE #101

COOP HILL CREST

2715 30TH ST SE #174 2716 29TH SE #B196 u

Hill&Hall

ConstructionCompany,LLC from residential remodels, to commercial damage repairs, insurance claims and everything in between

202-910-1056 www.hallandhill.com East of the River Magazine January 2016

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KIDS & FAMILY / NOTEBOOK

notebook by Kathleen Donner

ilies with young children. With an initial operating budget of nearly $2.5 million, the new center is projected to generate 32 new jobs.

Ward 7 Educator DC Teacher of the Year

The 18th annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam! The 18th annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam!, the largest youth spoken-word competition in the District, showcased original poetry and songs written by student participants. December’s two-night event was held at Columbia Heights Education Campus on Dec. 2 and H.D. Woodson Senior High School on Dec. 3. On the second night of the Poetry Slam!, students representing 18 elementary and middle school teams wowed an audience of more than 500 guests. The poems touched on issues plaguing our country. “Use cameras, not guns,” pleaded one student. The competition showed off students’ creativity. A choreographed boxing performance was the winner. Elementary school winners were Aiton (First); Beers (Second); and Burrville (Third). M’kya Stephens of KIPP QUEST Academy won the individual Shine Award. Middle school winners were Jefferson (First); Hart (Second); and KIPP KEY (Third). Lorenzo Johnson of KIPP KEY won the Shine Award. DC SCORES builds teams through after-school programs for 1,800 low-income DC youth at 50 sites by instilling self-expression, physical ﬁtness, and a sense of community. To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit DCSCORES.org. Moten Elementary School performs at the Eastside DC SCORES Poetry Slam! Dec. 3. Photo: Courtesy of DC SCORES

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Young Men’s Forum with Kevin Powell On Sunday, Jan. 17, 4 to 5 p.m., activist, writer and public speaker Kevin Powell will discuss pertinent issues relating to young men of color drawing from his book, “The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood.” Young men between the ages of 13 and 18 may join the discussions. The forum will be followed by a community conversation and book signing at 5 p.m. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org.

Bright Beginnings Acquires Land in Ward 8 Bright Beginnings PCS has purchased a vacant, 1.31 acre property at 3418 Fourth St. SE. The school plans to create a state-of-the-art child development center serving 100 homeless infants and toddlers on the site. The school considers the location ideal, because of its proximity to a large number of shelters that serve homeless fam-

Topher Kandik, a high-performing English language arts teacher at The SEED School of Washington, DC, has been named 2016 District of Columbia Teacher of the Year. A National Board Certified instructor, Kandik has worked for nine years as an educator at SEED DC. He has a reputation of engaging students with thoughtful lessons that are reinforced through a variety of learning experiences featuring guest speakers and field trips. The District of Columbia Teacher of the Year Program is administered annually by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. It recognizes pre-K through grade 12 teachers who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to student achievement. Nominations are accepted citywide. The winner is selected by a panel of educators, who administer an extensive application process that includes interviews, classroom observation, a formal application and a comprehensive essay. As the winner, Kandik received a cash prize of $7,500 and was entered into the National Teacher of the Year competition.

Twelve Years Tours to Treasure at the ACM Families are invited to a docent-led tour of the “Twelve Years That Shook and Shaped Washington (1963–1975).” After viewing the exhibition, kids can go on a self-guided treasure hunt, receiving a free gift for its completion. Each “Tours to Treasure” program lasts approximately 60 minutes. They are recommended for families and children, six years and up. Tours are on Jan. 10, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Jan. 16, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Jan. 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space Family Day Each February, the National Air and Space Museum celebrates the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space ex-

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ploration. Visitors enjoy presentations, hands-on activities and stories. They may have the opportunity to meet astronauts, fighter pilots, and others. They learn about historic figures such as Bessie Coleman through reenactments or story times. African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space is on Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the National Air and Space Museum, Independence Avenue at Sixth St. SW. airandspace.si.edu.

Weekly Cartoon Skate at the Canal Park Ice Rink Every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can skate with cartoon characters at the Canal Park Ice Rink. The rink is open daily and offers private skating lessons for children and adults. Ice skating rink hours are Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for children, seniors, and military. Skate rental is $4. Canal Park Ice Rink is at Second and M Streets SE, one block from the Navy Yard Metro. More information can be found at canalparkdc.org/ ice-rink/public-skating.

“My School DC” School Lottery Info Session On Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., join My School DC at William O. Lockridge Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW, to learn more about how to apply through the common lottery for DCPS and public charter schools. Questions? Call 202-888-6336 or visit MySchoolDC.org.

Poetry Extravaganza with Sistah Joy and Collective Voices On Jan. 16 at 1 p.m., honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 20th Annual Poetry Extravaganza with Sistah Joy and Collective Voices. This is a family-friendly event that features live poetry, drumming, dancing, youth performances, and much more. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk.

Indie Arcade at the American Art Museum On Saturday, Jan. 16, 1 to 7 p.m., for one day, MAGFest, American University’s Game Lab and SAAM present an indie arcade. Play some of your favorite video games, participate in game building work-

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shops and try new indie games—courtesy of the International Game Developers Association’s Indie Arcade: Coast to Coast competition. Classic arcade games include Asteroids, Pac-Man, Tron, Star Wars, Arkanoid and Donkey Kong. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets, NW. americanart.si.edu.

How Plants Work for Teachers Never have time to get to the US Botanic Garden? Join Lee Coykendall for a behind-the-scenes workshop. Learn how to use the Garden as an extension of a classroom. This workshop is designed for middle and high school teachers. Training is at the US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, on Feb. 4, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Pre-registration is required. usbg.gov.

Marmalade by Claire Parsons Company What is marmalade? Can it be cherry, figs, mint, upside down, together or inside out? Marmalade is a delicious, sensory performance about meeting, mixing and blending. Mira and Viktor taste and feel in poetic movements and circus actions in an exquisite and visual experience where the audience is invited to join in the experience. Marmalade looks at the world through body, eye, feeling and taste in a room with fluffy skirts, soft circus and Fellini music; perfect for two to six-year olds. The show runs Jan. 21 to 24. Thursdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Tickets are $9. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Our American Girl at Mount Vernon On Jan. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m., join Mount Vernon’s own American girl, “Nelly Custis” on a tour of George Washington’s estate. Enjoy refreshments with “Lady Washington” and create colonial crafts. $35 for kids; $25 for adults. mountvernon.org.

Wake Up, Brother Bear! Wake Up, Brother Bear follows Brother and Sister Bear as they experience a full year of glorious seasons. Together they see a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an elusive fish, and skate on an icy pond. Children are invited to join the action with a small bag of props that help create magical moments as actors Jack Novak and Anna Jackson bring

this story to life with accompanying live music provided by cellist Katie Chambers. Wake Up, Brother Bear, best for ages one to five, runs in Imagination Stage’s Christopher and Dana Reeve Studio Theatre, Bethesda, Dec. 19 to Jan. 31. Performances are Saturdays-Sundays at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $14, with a $5 lap seat for children under 12 months. Tickets may be purchased online at imaginationstage. org, 301-280-1660 or at the Imagination Stage box office.

Mlk stOry tIMe fOr pre-schOOlers On Jan. 13 at 10 a.m., enjoy stories, activities, and crafts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the National Archives. This program is designed for three to five year olds and accompanying adults. National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov.

chInese new year’s at the kennedy center On Feb. 6 at 11 a.m., free activities are offered for kids of all ages—including Chinese paper cut making, Beijing Opera stage makeup demonstration and costume dress-up, traditional instrument demonstrations, Monkey King mask making, Chinese knot making, red lantern making, and calligraphy demonstrations. Free, no tickets required. kennedy-center.org.

Visit www.ideapcs.org/ACAD to learn more or call 202.780.7750.

J.O. wIlsOn pta suMMer caMp faIr The J.O. Wilson Elementary School Parent Teachers Association (PTA) is hosting a Summer Camp Fair at the school on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. They have invited over 30 summer camp vendors. J.O. Wilson Elementary School is located at 660 K St. NE.

chInese new year faMIly festIval On Saturday, Jan. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Smithsonian American Art Museum celebrates the 2016 Lunar New Year. “Awaken the lion” and ring in the year of the monkey with fun craft activities, traditional performances, artists and demonstrations. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. americanart.si.edu.

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On Saturday, Jan. 30f from 1 to 4 p.m., embark on a family-friendly art adventure to celebrate the delights of the Nordic Winter. Stay warm inside the galleries and enjoy traditional art projects, stories, films, and performances from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Recommended for ages four and up. $12; free for children 18 and under. Reservations required at phillipscollection. org/events. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org.

dIsney On Ice presents treasure trOve Get tangled up in Disney’s 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn. Enter the worlds of favorite Disney princesses--Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Mulan and Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan along with the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook and his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ TickTock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice and the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army of Cards. Set a playdate with Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Disney On Ice Presents Treasure Trove is at the Verizon Center, Feb. 10 to 15, for 10 shows. Tickets, starting at $20, are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

natIOnal aIr and space Open hOuse On Saturday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., get a behind-the-scenes look at historic artifacts, documents, and works of art that are not on public display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. See what it takes to collect, preserve, and restore them. Meet curators, conservators, archivists and other specialists. Participate in activities, special tours and on-stage presentations. In the case of inclement weather, this event may be canceled and will not be rescheduled. For information on the status of this event, call 703-572-4118. Steven F. UdvarHazy Center is located at 14390 Air

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fIsh tales stOry hOur In anacOstIa park Ever hear a fish tale? Well, this one is true! Join biologists at the Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) in Anacostia Park, for Fish Tales--a nature based story hour for two to four-year-old children and their parents and guardians. On Jan. 9 and 23; Feb. 6 and 30; Mar. 5 and 19; from 10 to 11 a.m., AREC staff biologists will read stories about aquatic animals and lead corresponding craft activities for DC’s youngest naturalists. Stories will focus on the aquatic wildlife in our city and include close encounters with the education center’s resident fish, frogs, turtles and more. To register for Fish Tales Story Hour, email doee.arec@dc.gov and indicate the number of participants who are joining you.

and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA. airandspace.si.edu.

The Library of Congress seeks applicants for its 2016 Junior Fellows Summer Internship Program. This is a 10week paid fellowship for undergraduate and graduate students. For a stipend of $3,000, Junior Fellows work full-time with Library specialists and curators from May 31 through Aug. 5, 2016 to inventory, describe and explore collection holdings and to assist with digital-preservation outreach activities throughout the Library. Apply online only at usajobs.gov, keyword: Junior Fellows through midnight on Friday, Jan. 22.

unlikely friendship between a mouse and reclusive 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson. The mouse’s life changes forever when a gust of wind blows one of Emily’s poems her way. Moved by Emily’s evocative words that capture her own feelings, the mouse becomes determined to be a poet herself. Background visuals by media artist Bryan Leister are animations designed from Dickinson’s actual home furnishings. “Mouse in House” runs on Saturdays, Jan. 16, 23 and 30 at 3 p.m. at Theatre on the Run, 3700 South Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington, VA. Tickets are $15 at door, $10 in advance and $10 for children 17 and under. Admission includes free hot dogs. Order tickets online at janefranklin.com/performances/tickets.

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“Eerie Apparitions”

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

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Long-eared beast 4. Counter offer? 7. Fifth-century scourge 13. Trade punches 17. Brimmed hat 19. Fowl watcher 20. Braiding 23. Traveling slowly, as on a runway 24. Gravity hill 26. Like some lingerie 27. Caught some Z’s 29. Façade part 30. Coke’s partner 32. Compass dir. 33. Drone, e.g. 36. Atlas enlargement 37. Enjoyment spoiler 43. Leprechaun’s land 44. One of Alcott’s “Little Men” 45. Harmonize 46. Baja bread 50. Deck (out) 51. Headlight setting 52. Cheese on crackers 54. Exclamation of triumph 56. Relating to an electrode 58. Protective angel 62. Quickness of action 64. Special effects: (abbr.) 65. Forger 66. Ne plus ultra 68. Binge 69. Heir lines? 70. German city 71. Bowie’s last stand 72. Corroded 73. More flimsy 75. Stop trying 78. Athletic 82. Zoroastrian texts 83. Orient 84. It may be framed 85. Blood-typing letters 86. Breather 87. Educates 91. Can. neighbor 92. Like some parties 93. Broadway favorite

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97. OPEC land 101. A Simpson 102. Car protector 103. ___-tzu 104. Kind of gland 106. Football’s ___ Bowl 108. Proceeded in line 112. 1927 popular song 116. Draw on 118. Sioux branch 119. Edible nuts 120. Horseshoes players 121. Put in stitches 122. Lack of vigor 123. “___ la la!” 124. Mail boat

Down:

1. Exploits 2. Literally, “king” 3. Old German duchy name 4. Mediterranean capital 5. PC linkup 6. Yanks 7. Out 8. Fur cape 9. Meadowlands pace 10. Swear words? 11. Albanian money 12. Pitcher’s pride 13. Swing around 14. Citigroup’s 2010 CEO 15. Join the cast of 16. Iranian money 18. Go through 21. Christie’s “Death on the ___” 22. Itsy-bitsy biter 25. Bounding main 28. Incline 31. Military doctors 33. Dealt out 34. Away from the bow 35. Moldovan moolah 37. “La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera) 38. Subatomic particle 39. Start of a conclusion 40. Computer capacity 41. Hirsute 42. Gets

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 46. River in Argentina 47. Hair-raising 48. Sketches 49. Curse 51. Eat at a brasserie 52. Springy cord 53. Piquant 55. ___ hairdo 57. Least intelligent 58. Role for Dana 59. Most aloof 60. Lace tip 61. Lagerlöf’s “The Wonderful Adventures of ___” 63. Just right 66. Breathing 67. Surrenders

69. “___ next?” 71. Petri dish filler 73. Gorge 74. David, “the sweet psalmist of ___” 76. Approach 77. Salami choice 79. Evaluate 80. Skier’s transport 81. Eastern discipline 84. Havana residue 88. Good news on Wall Street 89. Cuckoo 90. Possessive pronoun 91. Four Corners state 92. Loot 93. Indulge

94. Face shape 95. Slobbish 96. Clumsy 97. Takes a powder 98. Creative spark 99. Stigmatize 100. Gossip 105. Grace period? 106. Sixth Jewish month 107. Saturn or Mercury 109. Emulated Pinocchio 110. Old Testament book 111. Secretary, for one 113. Resort 114. Mother ___ 115. High card 117. Likewise