East of the River Magazine – June 2020 by Capital Community News

JUNE 2020

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 06

Long Lines, Protests Complicate June 2 Primaries by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Unemployment Insurance In The District? by Elizabeth O’Gorek

The Numbers: Apply Recovery Principles to the District Budget

Due to the COVID-19 virus, What’s On Washington, Community Calendar, Kids and Family Notebook will not be running this month.

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by Kate Coventry and Qubilah Huddleston

Our River: The Anacostia – Great Escapes Up Along Our River by Bill Matuszeski

Anacostia, Benning Libraries Open for Take-Out by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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by Kathleen Donner

River Terrace Grad Celebrated COVID Can’t Stop The Parade

Keeping Each Other Safe Through COVID Crisis: Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid Effort Provides Support by Elizabeth O’Gorek

In Search of Dandelions: Flower Wine Making Under Lock Down by Michelle LaFranceEMT’s: Eastern H

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Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

Gap Year and the Class of 2020 by Becky Claster

From Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors to You. Congratulations Class of 2020!

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300. Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

ALL OF US TOGETHER!

CLASS OF 2020 Graduation Special by Elizabeth O’Gorek

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Time To Stand Up in Lafayette Park by Andrew Lightman Bulletin Board

The Crossword The Classifieds

ON THE COVER: Protesters at Lafayette Park, June1, 2020. Photo: Andrew Lightman

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2020 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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Long Lines, Protests Complicate June 2 Primaries Incumbents Likely to Retain Council Seats

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ith about 83,000 votes est served in refusing to release election results counted, incumbent Counthat have been returned & counted.” cilmembers Trayon White, However, the mail-in count is unlikely to Sr. (D-Ward 8) and Vincent have much effect on the Ward 7 and 8 races. Gray (D-Ward 7) appear to There were 7,233 requests for mail-in ballots have clinched their re-nomination by the Demwere received from Ward 7 and 3,800 from ocratic Party in a June 2 Primary Election that Ward 8. stretched from Tuesday into Wednesday. Long lines were reported at vote center in It was an election complicated by the COWards 7 and 8, especially at Deanwood RecreVID-19 pandemic as well as a fifth day of proation Center in Ward 7 and Malcolm X Opportests in the wake of the police killing of George tunity Center in Ward 8. In the wake of the COFloyd in Minneapolis. DC Board of Elections VID-19 crisis, voting centers were reduced in (DCBOE) reduced the number of in-person number from 144 to only 20. There were also voting centers, encouraging voters to request restrictions on the number of voters allowed inmail-in ballots to reduce the spread of the virus. side at any one time. Many did not close until In the wake of vandalism, robbery and tension well after midnight. Voters in line before 8 p.m. between protesters and officers, Mayor Bowscould vote and were officially exempt from the er ordered a 7 p.m. curfew for June 2, the night mayor’s 7 p.m. curfew. of the Primary Election. Voters were allowed However, the curfew played a role as resiout until 8 p.m. dents were forced to decide whether they would According to DCBOE, about 16 percent of venture out. Deanwood resident Cathryn Paul voters registered in Wards 7 and 8 voted as of and her fiancé, Xavier Francis, voted in-person June 3. The situation was complicated by difat Deanwood Recreation Center. ficulties requesting and receiving mail-in bal“First of all, me and my fiancé are both lots. Some voters waited at the polls more than black,” Paul said. “I think we already were feelfour hours. ing scared right now, especially with stories of Although the results are not official, White DC residents having to stay in strangers’ homes and Gray are unlikely to be defeated. As of to avoid arrest.” Wednesday morning, White had 4,050 votes Paul and Francis did not request mail(58.87 percent of those counted); his next closin ballots, planning to vote in-person at the est challenger, Mike Austin, secured 26.18 perDeanwood Recreation Center, which is a three cent of the ballots. 38 people cast their votes for minute walk from their home. “If I’d known it Nate Derenge, who clinched Republican nomiwould take more than four hours, I might have Deanwood resident Cathryn Paul and her fiancé, Xavier Francis, waited more than four nation for the Ward 8 election. made a different decision,” Paul said. hours to vote in-person at Deanwood Recreation Center June 2. Courtesy: Cathryn Paul Meanwhile, Ward 7 Councilmember VinStill, Paul found a silver lining to the wait. cent C. Gray received 4,119 votes (45.69 perWhile in line, she and Francis had conversasults until after that date. cent). His closest challenger Veda Rasheed tions about the changes that must happen in the Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6-D), Chair of secured 22.72 percent of the total counted as of Wednescommunity, about topics like gentrification, housing and the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, reactday morning. Gray won the 2016 primary by a margin of the impact of COVID-19. “It was a moment for us to reed with disapproval to the reports, saying counts should more than 27 percent. ally reimagine our neighborhood,” she said. be released as they are available. Results are not yet official. 41,000 mail-in ballots isLike Paul and Francis, many of those waiting in “Votes have been cast - they must be counted & the sued have not yet been received. To be counted, they line to vote were black. This, Paul said, added to the results made public,” Allen wrote in a June 2 Twitter must be postmarked by June 2 and arrive at DCBOE by sense of civic responsibility. “When someone was talkpost. “The polls are closed [and] there is no public interJune 12. Reports say DCBOE will not release final reing about leaving, everyone was like, ‘No. We’re doing 06

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this,” she said. Many had intended to join the protests afterward. “But everyone understood that protests go handin-hand with voting, and we have to do both,” she said. Paul and Francis finally voted at about 12:10 p.m. About 75 people remained when she left, Paul said, down from 100 or so who had been behind her when the line was cut off at 8 p.m. While voters were aware that they were in the middle of a public health crisis, they were still frustrated with the situation. “We did our part in showing up and the government didn’t do theirs to make voting accessible,” she said. “This can’t happen in November,” Paul said. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (D-At Large) visiting Ward 4 voting center Emery Rec at 12:30 a.m. on Election Day found more than 60 voters in line. Silverman plans to send letter to DCBOE asking for an explanation. Her office had forwarded about 500 requests for ballots over the two days preceding the election, she said. “A full investigation is needed given voters were likely disenfranchised due to this screw-up. Unacceptable,” said Silverman. Citing the delays, lines and missed mail-in ballots, Councilmember Allen announced a public oversight hearing focusing on the primary. The meeting will be held via zoom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19. Anyone wishing to testify at the roundtable should contact the Committee via email at judiciary@ dccouncil.us and provide their name, telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any), by close of business Monday, June 15. Witnesses should submit a copy of any written testimony electronically in advance to judiciary@dccouncil.us by the end of the business day on June 17. Copies of written statements can be submitted to the Committee at judiciary@dccouncil.us. The record will close at the end of the business day on July 3. Unofficial election results are available from DCBOE at https:// electionresults.dcboe.org/election_ results/2020-Primary-Election ◆

WARDS 7 & 8

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Unemployment Insurance In The District? Skyrocketing Claims Strain An Ancient System

t-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I) spends her afternoons on the Seventh Floor of One Judiciary Square. There she sits with 100 other District employees, some employed by DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), many pulled from a range of other District agencies, to answer the deluge of calls related to Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims. Silverman, who is Chair of the DC Council Labor Committee, works in the auxiliary call center set up in the office of the attorney general, making her way through the hundreds of pleas her office receives from constituents made desperate by a bottleneck in the UI application process. “We are seeing just depression level numbers of workers filing for unemployment,” she said. “The system wasn’t built for this kind of capacity.” A look at the District’s UI system reveals a system

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

struggling to keep up with an unprecedented number of requests from applicants. Many have waited weeks for relief to come.

The Unemployment Tsunami With 65,000 jobs lost in DC since March 13, many District residents find themselves applying for assistance for the first time, a situation Silverman said can be scary, confusing and time-consuming. It is an application “tsunami.” Between March 13 and May 21, DOES received 100,499 unemployment claims, almost four times as many received in 2019, when DC saw about 27,000 claims. Restaurant dining rooms were closed March 24. Unemployment rose to 11.1 percent from 6 percent in March. More than 40 percent of applicants for District UI are waiting for money. Of the more than 100,000 claims received by DOES as of May 21, only 59,914 people re-

Chart showing the number of UI claims made each week in the District, from March 13 to May 21, versus the number of payments made per week. Source: DOES/EOM Situational Report May 22

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ceived a check, leaving more than 40,000 people waiting for funds. About 18,000 of those are in the appeals process, said DOES Director Unique Morris-Hughes at a May 22nd press conference. Another 17,000 were received in the 21 days previous, within the time DOES tries to process claims.

Dehumanizing One in seven District workers are employed in the hospitality industry, which has been decimated by the outbreak, especially by the March 24 closure of restaurant dining rooms. Trupti Patel is a bartender who worked her last shift on March 12. She is also the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 2A03 and an activist with the Restaurant Opportunity Centers (ROC), an organization that works to improve working conditions and wages for restaurant employees and is now acting as an unofficial unemployment consultant to restaurant workers. Patel filed for UI online a few days after she was laid off and got a notice from the system to call DOES. She spent six and a half hours on hold to resolve a small clerical error. She received a check in mid-April, four weeks after she applied. She was lucky, she says, because she had savings. “Director Morris-Hughes keeps saying we need to be patient with this, but people are starving,” Patel said. “There are people that are still waiting for their benefits, people who still haven’t gotten paid in eight weeks.” Patel said the pay of most hospitality workers had already been decimated in the weeks before closure. In her last three shifts, she said, she earned what she usually brought home after only one. Most restaurant workers, having just paid rent and bills prior to the serious decrease in pay, were broke at that point. She said the system has ‘traumatized and dehumanized’ applicants, many of whom were on hold for hours with DOES before the system abruptly hung up. Others waited hours only to be told to call back when they had correct documentation. Some found out they had been listed as contractors by their employers when they tried to file, making them ineligible for regular benefits. The unemployment application tsunami overwhelming DOES is further complicated by a recent federallydriven expansion of unemployment benefits.

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Expanding UI There is a lot of confusion around UI. UI benefits are paid by the jurisdiction where the applicant works; only about half of District jobs are held by District residents, Silverman said. The program is funded by a tax on wages paid by both the employer and employee. In ordinary times, the self-employed do not qualify for benefits. With the onset of COVID, the system has been greatly expanded to include more workers, beginning in March when Congress passed the CARES Act. That bill created three new unemployment programs. These include the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which covers many of those previously ineligible workers, such as contractors and part time and gig economy workers. The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) adds 13 additional weeks of compensation for those who exhausted their regular benefits for the year. Finally, until July 29, those eligible for UI benefits also receive the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an extra $600 a week. DC Council passed emergency legislation March 17 and April 7 that expanded eligibility, eliminating the oneweek waiting period and a work search requirement. More than $311 million has been paid in District benefits since March 13. DOES Director Morris-Hughes said some waiting applicants have very complex situations such as earning wages in another state or holding full-time jobs, in addition to the part-time selfemployed pay for which they seek benefits. Other individuals are ineligible because their reported wages are insufficient for a claim. “We know that there are individuals that have not been paid,” MorrisHughes said, “but we have to review literally every single claim that’s processed, and it just takes some time.” About 65 percent of completed applications were processed within 21 days, she added.

The UI Obstacle Course UI applicants face a number of obstacles in their quest for benefits. First, 10

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the online unemployment insurance portal is at least 15 years old. According to Silverman, it is written in computer code based on an ancient programming language that predates her birth. After council waived the job search requirement, DOES took two weeks to remove the online application question querying applicants about the details of their job search. The system is too old to be accessed via mobile, and applicants were told to apply from a laptop or desktop using Windows Explorer, an obsolete system. The District has had funding to modernize the system since 2012, a project that DOES says is currently underway. Silverman said that the Council Labor Committee has been asking about modernization since well before the pandemic, receiving only “garbled answers.” “Certainly, we could have done better if we had modernized the system so that people could file with their cell phone. We could have had unemployment call takers working remotely, for example, and had a smoother transition,” Silverman said. Aside from the issues of dated technology, many lower income applicants must either cross the digital divide to apply online or use a phone. The closure of DOES offices, recreation centers, senior centers, schools and public libraries, closed for the public health emergency, significantly decreased Internet access in Wards 7 and 8, where broadband has a household penetration rate of under 65 percent. In the absence of a smart phone app or public online infrastructure, many have been forced to apply over the phone. Callers faced wait times as long as six hours. DOES has since asked employees from other District agencies to help, as well as contracting two call centers and emergency staff, including adjudicators. A spokesperson said the wait time now averages less than an hour for initial claims. Still, the process is slow and frustrating. “I still hear from people that have been waiting two or three hours, and we’ve been hearing that people get to a certain point and get kicked out of the system,” Silverman said. “They just don’t know what’s going on.”

Failing the Most Vulnerable But unemployment is outright failing the most vulnerable members of the hospitality workforce, Patel said. Undocumented workers are locked out of relief, disqualified for unemployment as well as food stamps. “I spend 30 to 40 hours a week fielding phone calls about how to get basic necessities to members of our industry who are extremely food insecure and have no way to take care of very young children, and babies,” she said. Unlike neighboring Montgomery County, MD, which established a $5 million grant program for residents restricted from UI benefits, no program is offered by the District to support the up to 30,000 undocumented workers who live and work here. Legislative language that would have authorized cash assistance to residents unqualified for relief was cut from the council’s April 7 emergency bill. That provision offered two options, either to create a system parallel to UI or a grant program like Maryland’s. And while Events DC announced in April that it would set aside $5 million for undocumented workers, as of May 24 the sports and entertainment agency has not announced how or when that money will be distributed. For Silverman, the COVID crisis highlights why the District needs to invest in our safety net programs. After years of trying to get the system updated, she says that now that more people have interacted with it and noticed its shortcomings, she needs them to continue to apply pressure to make the system better. “I hope that COVID shows the importance of the unemployment insurance system,” Silverman said, “the importance of keeping it modern and maintaining it properly and making the investment that we need so that it works when necessary and at the critical times like these.” Do you have a confusing UI situation? You can reach Councilmember Elissa Silverman via email at esilverman@dccouncil.us or reach her office at 202-724-7772 u E ast

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The Numbers

Apply Recovery Principles to the District Budget

he pandemic is devastating District families and the local economy. Thousands of residents have tested positive for the virus, and hundreds have lost their lives. But with many businesses closed and residents spending less, the District has fewer resources to meet the increased demand for social services. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) estimates that DC will lose more than $1.5 billion in revenues—the money the city brings in primarily through taxes and fees—by September 2021. For families to come out of this crisis stronger and to build a just recovery, DC leaders need to preserve and enhance crucial investments in programs that help individuals and families secure safe, affordable housing, maintain economic security, and access high-quality physical and mental healthcare. All options to ensure a just recovery must be on the table, including examining DC’s tax structure, so those communities being hit the hardest by the pandemic—and those who were suffering even before—are not further hurt by severe cuts to critical programs. This would advance racial and economic equity: Black residents have the highest infection and death rates, and they and Latinx residents are likely to be hit the hardest by and the last to recover from economic fallouts. As the Council finalizes the budget, they should use key principles to reduce harm to communities shouldering the brunt of the pandemic and our economy:

Raise Revenue to Avoid Cuts The Mayor and Council should not take a cuts-only approach to maintain crucial programs and services and meet growing needs. Cutting vital programs will not only worsen the economy’s fall, but it will also hurt families

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by Kate Coventry and Qubilah Huddleston

that are struggling to protect their own health, eat regularly, and pay bills. Budget cuts also undermine our ability to address underlying racial and income inequities that the pandemic is intensifying and respond to the economic harm of a potential second COVID-19 phase. Policymakers’ hands are not tied; they have options for increasing revenue. During a downturn, leading economists tend to favor targeted tax increases that don’t

activity even as the economy declines. This would also make the tax code fairer. For example, a teacher earning $60,000 in taxable income pays the same tax rate that a CEO earning $350,000 does. That’s fundamentally unjust and bad economic policy. Asking the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes advances equity and racial justice—and it’s far preferable to cutting the District budget on the backs of low-income families. Ending special treatment for profitable corporations and businesses would help fix the budget crisis too. Each year, DC wastes millions on ineffective business tax cuts that don’t contribute to economic growth, including the Qualified High Technology Company incentive, which the CFO determined is ineffective and costly. There’s no single way to address the budget shortfall, but eliminating lucrative tax giveaways will help stave off painful budget cuts.

Tap into the Rainy Day Reserves

hurt the economy or low-income families over spending cuts to public programs that do. That’s because spending cuts and layoffs take money out of the local economy: when residents lose access to their child care voucher or rent assistance, they have less money to spend. On the other hand, revenue increases can add demand to the economy by protecting programs that help people secure affordable housing and provide for their children. To help balance the budget, policymakers should enact strategic and targeted tax increases on DC’s richest households, large corporations, and real estate developers that continue to have high incomes, profits, and

Given the torrential economic downpour pounding the city, it’s time for policymakers to take advantage of its reserves—or “rainy day funds”—to avoid budget cuts that would devastate communities and delay the city’s recovery. Prior to COVID-19 taking the District by storm, the city had $1.43 billion in its reserves. DC law requires local reserves be repaid within the same fiscal year and the federal government requires that funds be repaid within two fiscal years. DC leaders should waive the local requirement and ask the federal government to waive its requirements so we can fund immediate needs. Policymakers should use some of the $500 million that was leftover in the budget at the end of the 2019 fiscal year. DC law requires some of this money to be funneled into its reserves, while the remaining funds must

be split between the Housing Production Trust Fund and funds for capital projects. Policymakers should redirect the capital funds to protect urgent needs.

Preserve Safety Net Programs The District should put people first to protect and strengthen services that help with basic needs like cash and food assistance, housing, and health care. The CFO predicts that DC’s unemployment rate will reach 18 percent, meaning tens of thousands of our neighbors will need more help affording the basics and paying rent. A just economic recovery also requires policymakers to advance racial justice. Black and brown DC residents are carrying an unequal burden of the virus, reflecting the legacy of racism and ongoing inequitable access to culturallycompetent health care, quality housing, and well-paying jobs that could otherwise soften the blow of the health pandemic and economic downturn. During the Great Recession, District leaders took steps that worsened inequities—including cutting cash benefits for low-income families and slashing the education budget. DC cannot repeat this history—policymakers should raise adequate amounts of revenue to pass a budget that protects anti-poverty programs that the city’s most vulnerable families need to survive the pandemic.

Engage the Community in Budget Decisions All Council committees should host at least one live, virtual hearing for public witness voices and accept additional input through multiple means of communication for the budget hearing process. Given the tough decisions policymakers will need to make, the Council should be trying to expand public participation, not limit it, to ensure that the people most impacted by the shrinking economy and public health crisis have their voices heard. Devastating budget cuts are not inevitabilities, they are choices. Policymakers must choose to lessen the harm of the pandemic by making budget and policy choices that help make our city better for all residents. u

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Our River: The Anacostia 6 Great Escapes Up Along Our River

s we all begin to emerge from our COVAD-19 isolation, we need to have places to go for quiet, for nature, for natural beauty. We are fortunate to have a number of very special places along the Anacostia River where we can get away, alone or with a few others. Some may be known to you, but others may be upstream places you never knew existed. At least one of the six I identify below was something my wife and I discovered just last month. Some of these upstream places can be reached from our neighborhoods by bicycle. Others are best reached by driving to a starting point and walking or biking from there. Still others are convenient to Metro either with or without a bicycle. They are all upstream of Bladensburg

by Bill Matuszeski

Marina and Riverfront Park, so boat access is not an option. If you are not familiar with the layout above Bladensburg, it is quite simple: about a half mile north, the Northeast and Northwest Branches come together to form the River. The Northeast Branch is widened a half mile north where Paint Branch and Indian Creek enter, then wanders into its origins in Greenbelt Regional Park. Similarly, the Northwest Branch is widened two miles north where Sligo Creek enters. There are other creeks and branches, but these are the five major parts of the watershed. The Northwest Branch comes from the farthest source in the basin – Sandy Spring in northern Montgomery County. Let’s start with the Northeast Branch and identify two “great escapes”.

Great Escape #1 – A Trip to the Farm Belt The Metro Green Line terminates at Greenbelt Station right inside the Beltway. But a half mile walk or bike ride to the other side is like a thousand mile trip to the farmlands of mid-America. There are endless acres of agriculture crops and lands that flow from I-95 across US 1, MD 201 (your best entry point), and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. There are many miles of peaceful paved and dirt roads to calm the soul. And there are also many small streams that feed into the Anacostia Northeast Branch, including Indian Creek, Beaverdam Creek and Beck Branch.

Northwest Branch – Fall Line Trail. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

Great Escape #2 – The Surprise Lake

Lake Artemesia. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

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If you are coming south from near the Beltway on Paint Branch Trail or Indian Creek Trail, you will find that they come together at a remarkable place—Lake Artemesia. The lake started as a small excavation area, but the demands of Metro construction caused it to be deepened and widened and ultimately surrounded by a beautiful park with benches, wonderful birds and other wildlife and even a picnic pavilion. On one side run the Metro

and railroad tracks, but the rest is surrounded by nature. If you arrive coming south on the Paint Branch Trail, you have just gone through the University of Maryland campus and a residential area, then take a tunnel under the railroad and out the other side–what a surprise!

Great Escape #3 – The Start of It All The remaining four areas are part of the streams of the Northwest Branch, starting at the beginning of the River in the town of Sandy Spring in northern Montgomery County. You will have to drive there; it is too far to walk and there no bike trails to speak of. Once there, everything is very walkable. The best route is to take I-95 north from the Beltway to MD 198 west, Sandy

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Spring Road. Stay on MD 198 until it goes into MD 650, New Hampshire Avenue where you go right. At Ashton, go left on MD 108; after passing a large school, start looking on the left for Meetinghouse Road and signs for the Quaker Meetinghouse, which was part of the Underground Railroad for escaping slaves (as was Our River). Continue to the end of the road and park. Walk through the fence and into the fields (public lands) along the dirt road; when the road curves right look left in the corner of the woods for a fenced off area, which is the spring where the Anacostia River begins! Enjoy your surroundings near and far; last time I visited there were crocuses in bloom where the waters came up from below.

Great Escape #4 – The Gardens Among Us The Sligo Creek Trail takes us well beyond the Beltway, ending just two blocks short of Wheaton Regional Park, on the north side of which is the beautiful Brookside Botanical Garden. An easy way to get there for hiking or biking is to take the Metro red line to its terminus at Glenmont and take Glenallan Avenue (behind the station) to the garden entrance. The gardens are quite beautiful and there are seldom many other folks around. The greenhouse is worth a visit to see a number of unusual plants. You can go from the gardens directly into the park, which has a merry-go-round, a train you can ride through the woods, and other rides as well as extensive playgrounds. A nice trip for the whole family! (Check before you go to see if some of these facilities are closed due to Covid precaustions.)

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Great Escape #5 – Deep in the Woods The Northwest Branch Trail has a number of segments. Perhaps the most beautiful stretch for glorious hiking and biking begins at the Adelphi Mill Historic Site, where the trail crosses Riggs Road (MD 212). It continues for about two miles to the Capitol Beltway, passing through a deep wooded valley where hardly a building can be seen and the only sound is the water rushing over rocks. There are many places to stop and rest and check out the stream. The

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trail below the mill is also interesting and passes through a number of neighborhoods. There is a convenient West Hyattsville Green/Yellow Line Metro Station right next to the trail below where the Sligo Creek Trail splits off. Above the Beltway the Trail is open for walkers but impassible for cyclists.

Great Escape #6 – Wild Wilderness on the Fall Line If you do continue on foot under the Beltway on Northwest Branch, you are in for a thrill. The water is rushing over rocks and fallen trees like nothing you have ever encountered. This is a two-mile stretch that makes it impossible for you to believe you are in a metropolitan area and not in some distant wilderness. For the best access to hike this segment where the stream crosses the Eastern Fall Line, take the University Boulevard Beltway exit and immediately turn right on Columbia Pike/ Colesville Road (US 29); after about half a mile there is a bridge crossing the Northwest Branch and two mills, one on each side. The site is called Burnt Mills and the mill and parking area on the right is what you want (called the East Mill). From there begins the tumult of rocks and waterfalls and nearly impassible pathways that go on and on. Eventually things calm down a bit and a reasonably walkable trail appears from time to time. It is two miles downstream to the Beltway overpass and the beginning of the bike trail. For a calming experience after this, return to the parking area and drive over to the other mill. There is a large constructed dam and a trail along the stream, which compared to what you have seen below seems like a peaceful canal. Let me know what you find and what surprised you! (bmat@primary.net) Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. ◆

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Anacostia, Benning Libraries Open for Take-Out Call Ahead to Request Books

ibrary customers can now borrow and return physical items from the DC Public Library. It’s part of a phased plan to reopen the District and to again offer services to residents. Starting Monday, June 8, the Anacostia Neighborhood Library (1800 Good Hope Rd. SE) will offer take-out service from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. Additionally, remote printing, which allows

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

customers to send documents electronically for printing, will be available. The gradual reopening of library started with the Anacostia and Cleveland Park libraries which began offering take-out service at designated points near the library entrances as of May 29. Customers will also be able to return items at these locations. Starting June 8, the Anacostia library will offer book

A man walks by the Anacostia Neighborhood Library (1800 Good Hope Rd. SE) Photo: Elizabeth O’Gorek.

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take-out service on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, remote printing, which allows customers to send documents electronically for printing, is also available. Customers are also able to return items to the Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, from 1 to 5 p.m. The public is not permitted inside any library buildings. When customers arrive, they must provide staff their name and library card number. Reserved items are placed on a table outside. Customers are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing while waiting. Markers will be placed outside the library entrance denoting six-foot increments.  Currently, residents have more than 200,000 items checked out, the equivalent of about three neighborhood libraries’ worth of materials. The phased approach allows staff to retrieve items and process them in a safe manner. The returned books will be quarantined for at least 72 hours before being checked in. It is an opportune time to return books, as there are no longer any late fees. The DCPL Board of Trustees voted to eliminate all overdue fines during its May board meeting. DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan said he was pleased that the library is ready to begin the phased reintroduction of neighborhood services. “We especially want to give customers an early opportunity to bring back the books they’ve had in their homes for the past three months,” he added. Customers can request materials for take-out service by calling the Library at (202) 747-1017 for adult materials, (202) 747-5054 for youth materials and visiting dclibrary.org to use the catalog or chat service. Library staff will work with the customer to schedule a pickup location.  Learn more about DC Public Libraries by visiting www.dclibrary.org u

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neighborhood news

Time To Stand Up in Lafayette Park Help Our Youth Preserve Democracy by Andrew Lightman

tanding along the northern fence line of Lafayette Park, my partner and I are surrounded by a sea of engaged young people. Outraged at the tragic killing of George Floyd by police officers, we have joined their nightly gathering in front of the White House on a District public street. We are here to support their peaceful insistence that Black Lives Matter. “Don’t shoot,” we shout, throwing our hands skyward signaling surrender. “We can’t breathe!” we chant. In what has become the universal gesture of protest over the shameful treatment of African American citizens, we “take a knee,” encouraging law enforcement officers to join us.

Some do. The discipline, focus and passion of these youthful protesters is inspired. When a man winds up to hurl a water bottle at police, members of the crowd gently restrain him. His behavior, they patiently explain, detracts from their message. Any violent action furnishes an excuse for authorities to respond in kind. At 6:30 p.m., my partner and I headed home respecting the local 7 p.m. curfew set by our mayor. Walking down 16th Street NW, we heard the sound of exploding grenades hitting the pavement. Are we in Hong Kong or Cairo? Is this what democracy looks like?

photo: Andrew Lightman

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After urging the nation’s governors to become modern Bull Connors, President Donald J. Trump took matters into his own hands ordering hundreds of National Guard, federal law enforcement officers and armed military police into the District. At the his direction, without warning 20 minutes before curfew, they launched ‘flash bangs’ into the midst of the unarmed, peaceful crowd. Tear gas and rubber bullets followed. Mounted officers then brutally dispersed the demonstrators. Military helicopters pursued them through downtown streets flying so low that they nearly toppled power lines. Why? To allow the president and his minions, all white, to take a leisurely stroll from his fortified residence to the steps of St. John’s Episcopal Church to wave a Bible in the air. A simple photo-op. No matter that many might be choked by gas and pepper spray or blinded by a stray rubber bullet. In his quest for ‘domination,’ the president inflicted pain and suffering on citizens lawfully exercising their constitutional right to assemble and petition their government. A true leader would have directly engaged the protesters, much as Senator Robert F. Kennedy addressed an enraged crowd in Indianapolis in the aftermath of the tragic murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trump had them gassed. In other words, the president of the United States ordered an assault on his own citizens, because they were peacefully exercising their right to protest the shameful treatment of African Americans. In the words of the great English conservative Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” District residents should not let Trump’s violation of our democratic sovereignty stand. Around the world, people have risked their lives for freedom, as did our forefathers. Can we do less? So, brave COVID. Put on your mask. Walk down to the White House. Say George Floyd’s name. Take a knee. Stand with the young protesters at the northern fence of Lafayette Park. Black Lives Matter to all of us. u

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Photo: Kristina Noell, Anacostia BID

Anacostia Starbucks Opens

The Anacostia Business Improvement District joined Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), community leaders, small businesses, residents and members of the business community in celebrating the grand opening of the first free-standing Starbucks east of the Anacostia River. The new coffee bar is on the ground floor of Maple View Flats at 2228 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. anacostiabid.org.

Ward 8 Farmers Market Opens

On July 4, The Ward 8 Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is in the parking lot behind Martin Luther King Elementary School, 3200 Sixth St. SE. ward8farmersmarket.org.

DGS Relocates to Ward 7

The Department of General Services (DGS) is moving to a new location on Minnesota Ave. NE in Ward 7. In accordance with the Mayor’s Order directing the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and DGS to identify potential relocation properties in Wards 7 and 8, the District has signed a Letter of Intent to build a new headquarters at 3924 Minnesota Ave. NE.

Summer Crime Prevention

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified six focus areas this summer for the 2020 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative (SCI): Columbia Heights (PSAs 302/304); Benning Road/ Rosedale/Langston-Carver (PSA 507); Fort Dupont/Minnesota Avenue (PSA 603); Benning Ridge/Marshall Heights (PSA 604); East Congress (PSA 704/705) and Washington Highlands (PSA 706/708). The SCI, which runs from May 1 to Aug. 31, focuses all available MPD resources and the latest technology to help eliminate violent crimes in specified areas. mpdc.dc.gov/page/ summer-crime-prevention-initiative.

Rodney McLeod Joins Martha’s Table to Distribute Masks

On May 13, Ward 7 Councilmember Gray and 22

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Philadelphia Eagles Safety and Washingtonian Rodney McLeod distributed 200 donated, handmade masks to seniors and young adults living in Kenilworth Courts, Mayfair Mansions and Paradise Acres in Ward 7. Courtesy of McLeod’s Back of House USA and Todd Patrick, the custommade face coverings were accompanied by hot meals provided by a partnership with Martha’s Table, Clydes Restaurant Group and Knead Hospitality & Design. The event was organized by Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D), Carlos Gray and Training Grounds Inc., a nonprofit organization in Ward 7 that assists youth and adults with personal, career and leadership development.

Ward 8 Rent Help

Washington Wizards All-Star guard John Wall, in collaboration with the John Wall Family Foundation (JWFF), has launched the 202 Assist program. 202 Assist is aimed at providing rent assistance to Ward 8 residents impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic. The JWFF has set a goal to raise $300,000 to assist in relief efforts. Donations are sought at housingetc.org/202assist/. All proceeds will benefit the 202 Assist initiative and provide rent re-

lief to hundreds of Ward 8 residents in need. Applications for help have opened at lh4us.org/forms.

Get a COVID Test

CVS Health has opened three new COVID-19 testing sites at drive-thru locations in DC. The testing sites are at 845 Bladensburg Rd. NE, 6514 Georgia Ave. NW and 110 Carroll St. NW. Selfswab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Patients must register in advance at cvs. com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to schedule an appointment. They are required to proceed in their vehicles to the pharmacy drive-thru window where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions. A pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days. cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid19-testing.

102 Affordable Homes Preserved

The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has closed several loans from the Oramenta Newsome Predevelopment Loan for two afford-

able housing projects in Wards 5, 7 and 8. The program offers nonprofit developers and housing cooperatives access to capital for predevelopment costs. In March, Manna Inc. received $100,000 in financing for Park Place Apartments, two buildings comprised of 21 units at 2530 Park Pl. SE in Ward 7; and $100,000 for Courts at South Capitol Street Apartments, a five-building, 48-unit complex at 3800 South Capitol St. SE in Ward 8. The loan program, named in honor of Oramenta Newsome, a key District housing advocate, was established by Mayor Bowser with $1 million in funding from the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) and $1 million from DC Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA). Financing from the program will cover a portion of the expense for architectural fees and other predevelopment costs. dhcd.dc.gov.

Watch the Ward 7 Economic Vision Debate

The Ward 7 Democratic Candidates’ ‘Virtual Economic Vision Debate’ was on May 16. The debate was moderated by Saymah Nah, Marshall Heights Civic Association’s Vice-Chair of Economic Development and Fenit Nirappil, a local journalist for The Washington Post. Those who missed the debate can see it on YouTube at youtu.be/nD33NUBK6Q.

ACM Launches Resilience Page

The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) has launched the “Moments of Resilience” online initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By gathering and sharing the stories of everyday people coping with this unprecedented crisis, the webpage seeks to give voice to the community’s resolve to survive an epidemic that is disproportionately impacting communities of color. The initiative also serves as powerful vehicle for the collecting of real-time documentation of current events, a cornerstone of the museum’s work and identity. anacostia.si.edu/collection/moments-resilience.

COVID-19 Testing at Grubb’s Grubb’s Pharmacy at 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE now offers free COVID-19 testing in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and Human Services (HS). Patients can make appointments for testing at DoINeedACovid19Test. com. Grubb’s will provide drive-up COVID-19 test collection for pre-screened individuals. Results are ready in three to five business days. DoINeedACovid19Test.com.

Select DPR Outdoor Facilities Open

The following DPR facilities are now open, with social distancing safeguards: parks; athletic fields; walking paths, trails and tracks; dog parks and tennis courts. Read more at coronavirus. dc.gov/phaseone.

Traffic Changes on the East Capitol Bridge

The DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) has changed the traffic pattern on the East Capitol Street Bridge. The south bridge is fully closed. All has been shifted to the north bridge, where three lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times. A reversible middle lane will be employed to allow two lanes of inbound traffic during morning rush hour and two lanes of outbound traffic during evening rush hour. On the east side of the bridge, temporary ramps will be used to maintain connectivity to the I-295 north bound and I-295 south bound on-ramps. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured

to the north (westbound) bridge sidewalk during construction. The reopened north bridge will have a new wider sidewalk, a pedestrian and historic bridge railing and a new deck overlay. This traffic configuration will be in place through the end of the project, anticipated for late Summer 2020. The speed limit has been reduced to 30 mph to ensure public and worker safety. Fines are doubled in construction zones. eastcapbridge.com.

DCPS Persists

DCPS Persists, an innovative program that will provide students in the Class of 2020 with a guaranteed support network as they embark on the next chapter of their educational journey. The program is the nation’s first college persistence initiative led by a traditional public school system. Eligible students who plan to go to college will be provided with a support network that ensures they have the guidance and resources they need to succeed in earning a degree. Starting with the Class of 2020, 750 college-bound DCPS graduates will be able to connect to a DCPS Persists coach to help them navigate the transition to college. Coaches will assist students with academic, financial and other resources

available on their college campus. They will support and check in with students regularly throughout the first two years of their college experience. dcpsgoestocollege.org/dcps-persists.

Uber Hourly Booking

Uber riders are now able to book a ride for $50 an hour for up to seven hours. Use the app to request this trip as you would any on-demand ride, while setting multiple stops as needed. Look for a match with a driver who has a more spacious and newer vehicle type. uber.com.

Convention Center Becomes Alternate Care Site

The Walter E. Convention Center has been converted into an alternate care site to support the District’s coronavirus (COVID-19) medical surge response. The Convention Center’s Hall A can now accommodate 437 beds and is ready to accept 100 patients. The site is fully stocked with general medical and emergency medical supplies, including: items from two federal medical station caches, 50 Cardiac Monitors and 50 AEDs, pharmaceuticals from the Strategic National Stockpile, E AST

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ability to do onsite radiology and ultrasounds, multiple nurse stations with easy access to patient rooms and Nurse call system that alerts staff to emergencies in each care space, shower or bathroom. The site also includes dedicated patient showers; dedicated staff showers and lounge area; dedicated fire alarm system; dedicated IT networks for staff, patients and equipment; dedicated oxygen system and multiple redundant power backups. coronavirusdc.gov.

DC’s COVID-19 Hotline

District residents who are homebound due to CO VID-19 can request support from the District for food and other essential items. Call 1-888-3498323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov/gethelp.

National Book Festival Goes Online

The 20th Library of Congress National Book Festival will celebrate “American Ingenuity” in 2020, featuring the creativity and inspiration of some of the nation’s most gifted authors in a reimagined virtual festival the weekend of Sept. 25 to 27. loc. gov/bookfest.

AWS RiverSmart Applications Open

The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is partnering with the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) to administer the District’s RiverSmart Communities grant program. This program provides complete financial and technical support to houses of worship and non-profit organizations for installing small-scale, river-friendly landscape features that will beautify their property and provide numerous benefits to the environment. doee. dc.gov/riversmart.

Student Loan Relief Announced

District residents who are struggling to pay private education loans due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency can take advantage of expanded financial relief options. Qualifying residents can obtain loan forbearance and other protections. Options include providing a minimum of 90 days of forbearance; waiving late payment fees; no negative credit reporting; ceasing debt collection lawsuits for 90 days and other borrower assistance programs, such as income-based repayment. To get details, visit the US Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System at nslds.ed.gov, or call Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4333243 or 1-800-730-8913 (TDD). Borrowers with private student loans should check the contact information on their monthly billing statements.

DC Water Assistance

DC Water is providing emergency relief to District residents struggling with unpaid water bills during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency and 105 days thereafter. DC Water residential customers can apply to the DC Department of Energy and Environment for help from the fund established for the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) to help pay all or part of an outstanding water-bill balance and for ongoing monthly CRIAC discounts. doee.dc.gov/service/criac.

Financial Services for Returning Citizens

Capital Area Asset Builders has partnered with the DC Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA) to launch a series of Financial Education Workshops and provide One-on-One Financial Coaching Sessions to DC returning citizens. MORCA clients interested in taking advantage of these virtual services, register at orca.dc.gov/services.

Online Smoking Cessation

Breathe DC, a non-profit organization supporting clean air and healthy breathing, has launched free online cessation services to help smokers kick the habit. Virtual classes run for four weekly sessions. Participants can choose from morning, afternoon or evening classes. Classes are hosted on Zoom and offered throughout June on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. Sign up at breathedc.org/cessation.

Online Teen Alcohol Awareness

Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) popular Alcohol Awareness for Students has moved online. The multi-media outreach effort features an interactive PowerPoint presentation, video and Fatal Vision goggles to educate teenagers and young adults about the dangers of underage drinking. Visit youtube.com/user/WRAPSoberride/videos. wrap.org. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email the information to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PROPOSED 2021 MOVING TO WORK (MTW) PLAN The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is providing notice of a Public Hearing and Comment Period to solicit comments on the agency’s proposed 2021 Moving to Work (MTW) Plan. MTW is a HUD program that allows select public housing authorities to design and implement innovative programs and policies with the intent to: 1) reduce costs and improve efficiencies; 2) encourage residents to obtain employment and become economically selfsufficient; and 3) increase housing choices for lowincome families. The Public Hearing will take place online on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. Email MTW@dchousing.org to register. COMMENTS Written comments will be accepted through Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Email your comments to MTW@dchousing.org. Alternatively, you can mail comments to: Hanna Koerner, Policy Analyst DCHA 1133 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20002 To request a copy of the MTW plan, please call (202) 918-1965; send an email to MTW@dchousing.org; or download from the DCHA website at www.dchousing.org/mtw2. REQUESTING A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION DCHA is committed to providing equal access to this event for all participants & residents with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter service, please contact our ADA/504/Language Department at 202-535-2737 or ADA504@dchousing.org with your complete request. Please allow at least 3 business days to make the necessary arrangements. If you need a foreign language translator, please contact our ADA/504/Language Department at 202-535-2737 or email ADA504@dchousing.org. Please allow at least 5 business days to make the necessary arrangements. AVISO IMPORTANTE Este documento contiene información importante. Si necesita ayuda en Español o si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este aviso, por favor llame DCHA al (202) 535–1000. Infórmele al representante de atención al cliente el idioma que habla para que le proporcione un intérprete sin costo para usted. Gracias.

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River Terrace Grad Celebrated COVID Can’t Stop The Parade

Shelbi Harris-Mowat graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology). Courtesy Kim Harris

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

helbi Harris-Mowatt stands in the front yard of her childhood home in River Terrace. The retaining wall of the front yard provides a stage. Draped in a Phi Epsilon Kappa stole and a dark blue cap and gown, she waves wildly at a passing row of about 25 gleaming cars. Many sport balloons and signs. As they cruise down the street, cars sound their horns honoring her graduation.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

TOP: LEFT TO RIGHT: The parade was led by Kim Harris’s cousin Sylvester Barnes in his yellow corvette, pictured here with Shelbi. Photo: Kim Harris

One of them even has a siren. Neighbors line the street, some standing in their yards filming the excitement with their phones. Others stand on sidewalks holding signs and waving at the passing parade. A young girl across the street sits with her family, waving a Congratulations Shelbi! sign; down the road, neighbors toast the passing cars and wave furiously. Several lay cards or tokens on the retaining wall at the feet of Harris-Mowat, con-

Shelbi waves at a car in the graduation parade. E.O’Gorek/CCN BOTTOM; LEFT TO RIGHT: Ms. Dawn, a neighbor who watched Shelbi grow up, poses with her signs at the parade. Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN Shelbi Harris-Mowatt is pictured with her mother, Kim Harris, outside their River Terrace home. E.O’Gorek/CCN

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gratulating her. “I’m so proud of you,” one says. “Haven’t I known you since you were small?” “Sure have,” says Harris-Mowatt, smiling back at her.

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Harris-Mowatt was set to graduate Cum Laude from Hampton University on May 10, 2020. More than 20 family and friends were eager to watch her walk across the stage to collect her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. COVID-19 changed everything. The pandemic cancelled not only convocation, but scrambled the celebration plans of loved ones. “I was very upset when I first received the news that we would have to cancel the rest of the semester,” HarrisMowatt said. “I just felt robbed of my senior year. The Shelbi and Nicholos. Photo: Kim Harris

moment that I worked so hard for was taken from me and my friends.” Her mother, Kim Harris, refused to miss the onein-lifetime opportunity to celebrate her daughter’s achievements. “My heart broke for all graduates, so I needed to do something for her. I saw a few celebrations on the news and thought, what a great idea!” Harris got to work planning a parade of cars to allow friends and family to safely congratulate her daughter. She organized balloons, signs and a lot of noise. The celebration was a brilliant success. Harris-Mowatt is not usually a fan of the spotlight. However, she decided to have fun with her family and friends. As she watched the waves of congratulations and well-wishers pass before her, it was clear she was visibly moved. “It’s more than I expected,” she said. “It’s great, it’s wonderful. It brought tears to my eyes.”

A four-year-old Shelbi Har ris-Mowatt was picture d on the July 2003 cover of East of the River.

River Terrace Born and Raised Harris-Mowatt grew up in the River Terrace neighborhood, but attended private schools. Still, she cultivated many friendships with neighborhood kids. An athlete, she played soccer and studied taekwondo. Honing her basketball skills on the neighborhood courts, she started for St. John’s and Bishop McNamara varsity teams. She was also active Girl Scout Troop #5481. “Growing up in River Terrace was fun,” Harris-Mowatt said. “I didn’t attend the neighborhood school, but I still had my neighborhood friend, Nicholos Cooper. He most definitely taught me street sense and an understanding of what group of people I wanted to hang around.” Harris-Mowatt was an altar girl at St. Philips Episcopal Church. 2001 14th St SE. It was there that East of the River first met her. At the age of four, her photograph at church graced the cover of the July 2003 issue. The pandemic has put Harris-Mowatt’s future plans on hold. She has been interviewing for jobs and is applying for graduate school. With her official convocation rescheduled for Sept. 27, her mother is praying the family will have the chance to watch Shelbi walk across the stage. Her pride is palpable. “I feel very proud of her accomplishments, both academically and personally,” she said. “I never doubted her abilities and I feel confident she will continue to be a bright star in our society.” Harris-Mowatt is looking forward to her official graduation. But she also sees the significance of being part of the unique graduating class of 2020. “I realize that this year is monumental in terms of how it contributes to history,” she said. “I’m proud to be a part of this now-historical class.” ◆ 30

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Gap Year and the Class of 2020

s a college and gap year counselor, I always get excited when high school students ask me about the possibility of taking time off after graduation before starting college. They have exciting ideas about travel, internships and all kinds of enriching experiences they want to have before resuming their academic work. But like so much else this year, gap year conversations right now are different. Most students I’m talking to would much rather be on campus in the fall, but they’re concerned either that that won’t happen or won’t be worthwhile. They’re asking, if I request a deferral for a gap year, will it be approved? If not, should I take my chances on reapplying in the next cycle? And most importantly, what should I do for the next year of my life if I’m not going to college? Even for students who were planning gap years before COVID-19 hit, the discussions are different since we aren’t sure what programs will be operating and whether it will be safe to travel. My first piece of advice, however, is the same as it always is: gap year students should start by identifying and articulating their goals for their time away from school. This is even more important for students who are motivated by not wanting to be on campus or studying online in the fall. Even if this is your primary rationale for a gap year, try to focus on the opportunity you’re creating for yourself. Are there specific skills you want to learn or strengthen, like a foreign language or wilderness first aid? Do you have projects you’d like to complete, such as artwork or writing, or a robot or other item you’d like to design and build? Are you hoping to beef up your resume with an internship or service project, or are you interested in a cultural immersion experience? Are there people you’re hoping to spend time with before you start college? It’s certainly possible to have a good gap year without thinking too hard about the big picture, but your experience will be richer if you invest in some reflective goal setting up front. The next step is to develop a plan that is

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

by Becky Claster

aligned with your goals, which might be a more challenging task this year since so many options are unavailable or unclear. As I write this, many summer programs have been canceled and we don’t know which ones will be running by fall, or even what criteria program operators will be using to decide whether to open. However, more options will likely be available by next spring and summer, and students should keep in mind that most gappers don’t do one single thing for the entire year anyway. Plan your time in phases based on what you might be able to do at different points in the year, also keeping your goals in mind as you plan. Take a student whose goals include improving her Spanish, experiencing the culture of Latin America, and participating in a service project with her best friend. In 2019 she might have spent the summer and fall working to pay for travel, with a big trip to Peru planned in the winter and spring and the following summer at home getting ready for college. In 2020 she might instead spend the summer and fall studying Spanish through remote learning opportunities and volunteering online for a community-based organization that serves Latino families in her area. As public health conditions improve and local restrictions are lifted, she might get a job, and perhaps continue volunteering in person, which could offer additional opportunities to develop her Spanish. And if there’s a vaccine by March or April next year, she and her friend might be able to travel from May to July, with a few weeks back home before the fall 2021 semester starts. While it may not be her dream itinerary, this student could start college having met her gap year goals. If students have a strong commitment to service, I always encourage them to consider AmeriCorps. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program is a team-based program for 18-24 year-olds and is accepting applications until June 30 for a ten-month term of service beginning in October 2020. Not only would this opportunity boost your resume and give you a meaningful experience serving your country at

a time of great need, it also offers a stipend while you’re serving, an education award for college, the possibility of domestic travel if conditions allow, and time to spare before enrolling at college in the fall of 2021. The NCCC program has additional start dates at other times of year as well, and other AmeriCorps programs are run by national and local nonprofits serving communities around the country. Visit www.nationalservice.gov to learn about opportunities that might be a great fit for you. Despite their benefits, gap years are not right for everyone and there are some unique considerations this year. Students who have committed to a college should be certain they understand their school’s policy about whether they can defer admission or whether they’ll have to reapply this fall in order to enroll next year—and note that a previous policy may have changed. If you’re planning to take classes during your gap year, keep in mind that most colleges won’t allow you to enroll elsewhere during that time. In fact, if you complete credits at a community college or another local or online institution, you might have to reapply as a transfer student. Students with physical or mental health conditions will also want to make sure their gap year plan includes the support they need. The Class of 2020 has demonstrated strength and creativity in coping with the curveball that’s been thrown at them, and those of you who choose to take a gap year will be well-served by these qualities as you define your goals and plan the upcoming months. The experiences you have during your gap year can offer insight into yourself and your values that will build on the talents you’ve already developed and enrich your college experience when you enroll. It’s well worth it to invest the time and thought now so you’ll get the most out of your gap year before, during, and after the experience. Becky Claster is an educational consultant and a member of the Gap Year Association. She can be reached at becky@clastereducation.com. ◆

Michal Tucker graduated from grade 11 this year and will be entering her Junior year at The School Without Walls. She was accepted into the GW Early College Program as an Associate of Arts degree candidate starting this fall. Photo: Courtesy Erin A. Martin Shaunda Tyler is a graduating senior at Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS. Photo: Courtesy Paula Tyler

Nya Tucker, a graduating 8th grader from KIPP DC KEY Academy, is pictured in cheerleading uniform at the basketball season opener. The Honor Roll student, who lives in Benning, will be an incoming freshman at McKinley Technology High School for 2020-2021 academic year. Photo Courtesy: Erin A. Martin

From You Family, Friends, and Neighbors to You. Congratulations Class of 2020!

Dereus and Kaila Butler: Dereus Butler completed the Eighth Grade at Jefferson Arin Tucker, pictured at his March 11th induction into Middle School Academy, where he was on the Principalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the National Junior Honor Society, is a graduating and Honor roll throughout. The Hillcrest resident is Eighth Grader from KIPP DC KEY Academy, The Benning excited about heading to high school. Photo: Courtesy resident is an Honor Roll Student who was also on the Congratulations to Khyrie Proctor of Naylor GarLaKia Bowen. basketball team. He will be an incoming freshman at dens, who graduated from Fifth Grade at Friendship McKinley Technology High School in 2020-2021 Photo: Aidan Winston graduated from Wat- Kaila Butler graduated from Amidon Bowen Elementary, PCS this year. Photo: Courtesy Krista Ruley kins Elementary School on May 28. where she participated in many activities including the Courtesy Erin A. Martin soccer and basketball teams, school choir, the FBI menThe Fort Lincoln resident will begin Sixth Grade at Stuart-Hobson Middle toring program and the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition cheer team. School this fall. Photo: Shayne Wells She is a member of the DC Honors chorus. Kaila looks forward to middle school. Photo: Courtesy LaKia Bowen.

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east washington life

Keeping Each Other Safe Through COVID Crisis Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid Effort Provides Support

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ariha Huriya interrupts our conversation to answer the door. Someone is dropping off supplies for the Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid Network (Mutual Aid). The supplies are welcome. Fariha Huriya, an organizer with the effort who is also Co-Manager at Peace House DC, has just returned from delivering food and essential items. Needy families impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting economic meltdown call Mutual Aid, in search of food, supplies and often emotional support. “When we want to talk about healing in mutual aid, it is an emphasis of our work, providing community care,” said Huriya. “It’s not just delivering groceries and essential items; it’s all really mutual aid.”

Mutual Aid Each of the District’s six other wards had established a single Mutual Aid Network group to help neighbors in their respective ward through the public health crisis. However, organizers in Wards 7 and 8 decided to band together to serve their communities. Huriya said it makes sense to unite, since residents face many of the same problems, many of which are not new. “We are the most impacted for police brutality, police violence, increased police sur-

Fariha Huriya of Peace House DC (foreground) and Naana Ewool package supplies for the Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid Effort. Photos Courtesy Huriya/ Wards 7 & 8 Mutual Aid

veillance, gentrification and for Coronavirus,” she said. “Wards 7 and 8 are always feeling whatever DC is feeling the most.” While mutual aid groups have become more visible during the ongoing COVID crisis, the concept is not new. Neighbors have long organized to serve their communities. An idea that is summed up in the Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid slogan, “We keep us safe.” While volunteers are accepted from throughout the DMV, the effort is run by leaders from the communities served, who are marginalized and impacted, said Kay. The network was established early on in the pandemic. Organizers built on already established relationships and experience. Activists from Dreaming Out Loud, Black Lives Matter DC, the Black Swan Academy, the Peace House DC, Peace Fellowship DC, Deanwood Tenants Association, BYP100 and Anthony Lorenzo Green all pitched in. “History has shown us that the government has failed so many times, especially filling in the gaps for communities who are marginalized and who are impacted the most,” Huriya said. “You know, marginalized people are always under attack.”

How It Works

NeeNee Taylor, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, and Jewel Stroman, a long-time advocate for the homeless community, pose in PPE as they prepare for deliveries.

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Volunteers answer a Mutual Aid Hotline. They query callers about their specific needs to ensure they get appropriate assistance. They gather prepared meals, groceries, essential supplies such as paper towels, cleaners, toilet paper and diapers as well as personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and sanitizer. Volunteers package items and arrange for no-contact delivery. As long as

Alexis McKenney of Bread for the City with food and a few Easter treats destined for families.

supplies are available, each delivery includes washable, reusable masks. Groceries and essential items are only the beginning, Huriya said. Volunteers help people deal with care of family members. They listen to the stories of families impacted by coronavirus, many of whom have lost members. Mutual Aid matches those affected by the virus to emotional or spiritual support according to their needs. Sometimes people just need a caring ear. It is a heavy lift, Huriya acknowledged. Volunteers are constantly challenged by the enormous need. “We have to come together and find the right people as well resources and connect them to our community members that are suffering,” Huriya said. For Fariha, the Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid efforts can be exhausting but also healing and comforting. Community members who have received aid call and send photos, many crying. It shows her that the work is making a small but critical impact. “I hope that this gives us the opportunity to work together to build more a world that we as organizers envision,” Huriya said. “And that’s my goal: not to just let it go, but hopefully, one day when this pandemic is over, to continue being there for our community and making each other feel safe.” Residents are encouraged to contact Ward 7 and Ward 8 Mutual Aid Network hotline at any time if they need support,

whether they have coronavirus or not. Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid is looking for volunteers to pack deliveries, and drivers to get items to those in need. They need donations of essential items, such as shelf-stable food, essential items like paper towels, toilet paper, bleach and diapers as well as scarce personal protective equipment like face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. Financial donations are also welcome. Call Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid if you need any kind of support: 202-630-0336 Volunteer online at https://bit. ly/3euWlon Donate funds online at Blackswanacademy.org/donate or via Venmo @blackswanacademy Bring essential items, shelf-stable food, masks and gloves to DC Peace House (1535 Olive St. NE). Learn more about the Districtwide Mutual Aid Network by visiting https://www.facebook.com/ groups/492881801379594/ u

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In Search of Dandelions Flower Wine Making Under Lock Down by Michelle LaFrance

t’s the first day of the stay-at-home order, but I’m in a field in Northern Virginia, fifteen miles from my home, bowing to finger through the speedwell, cleavers, purple deadnettle, purslane, chickweed, and clover. I’m collecting a plastic grocery sack full of fat, wide-open dandelions. My thumbnail is grimed with the gooey black sludge of lush stems. My fingers and palm are coated with Only wide-open flowers will do a thick yellow paste—dandelion pollen. The world feels like it’s in a scary freefall; but in this moment I’ve found a meditative rhythm. Peace of breath and motion amidst the furor. I brew flower wines. Dandelion wine is one of my favorites to make. Every spring, I am out somewhere in the DMV, collecting dandelion heads, so that I can stew the flowers with sugar, citrus fruit, and spices, then ferment the mix into a golden-yellow wine. A year and a few months later, the taste mellows into a smooth and ginger-sweet beverage. It’s been my spring ritual for five years now, but the process has taken on special significance this year, the year of Coronavirus.

The Value of Small (and Common) Things Most people think of the dandelion as a spring nuisance. They are remarked upon for their weedy tenacity—their fierce yellow heads and scalloped leaves take root in a crack in the pavement and in disturbed soils where little else would choose to grow. Found around the world, dandelion is known by a number of names that reference its bitter taste, golden and mature flowers, and its ubiquity: bitterwort, cankerwort, clockflower, common dandelion, blow-ball, puffball, Irish daisy, piss-in-bed, pissinlit, priest’s crown, swine’s snout, telltime, and yellow gowan. Its English name is said to be derivative of the French dent-de-lion or lion’s tooth. The plant itself is remarkable for its resilient bioengineering. Its tap root reaches deep into the dirt and will re-grow a whole new plant if broken off. What we see as a single yellow flower is, in fact, a head of unique florets, each with its own seed. These will dry into the highly recognizable puff ball and scatter on the winds in its later stages of growth. For wine making, you want to pick only the flower. The greens—the involucral bract, receptacle pedicel (or stem), any small trace of grass leaf or stray deadhead--will turn the wine bitter. Some sources claim that dandelion was brought to the US with early European colonists who planted medicinal herb gardens, thus seeding the North American continent. Its medical uses are extensive and the dandelion has been used around the globe—in Arabian, Native American, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal practices—to treat a range of ailments. Naturopaths and herbalists of today note the immunostimulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticoagulant, and antioxidant properties of the dandelion. There’s no shortage of online sources or recipes to harness the dandelion’s “healing” power. The origin of dandelion wine is often ceded to the ancient Celts and Anglo Saxons, though the Greek naturalist Theophratus prescribed a “dandelion tonic” to treat freckles and liver spots. Northern Europeans historically drank the wine and derivative liqueurs to prevent scurvy and as a diuretic and laxative. Folklorists have collected dandelion wine recipes from homebrewers

across Ireland, the UK, and Northern Europe, and subsequently in many US-locations where the Gaels and other Northern Europeans settled—an inexpensive and useful spring brew.

This Work of My Hands My forays for dandelions this spring have all been edged with a sense of audacity and purpose—an act of resistance in a time when leaving the house carries any number of social implications. And yet, I couldn’t shake the need; I had to make wine this year. I needed the brush with normalcy after all the other cancellations, plan b’s and setbacks of the previous months. I craved the comforts of a detailed and time-consuming project. Gathering enough dandelions is the first and the hardest step in making dandelion wine. The trick is to find a field or lawn that has not been treated with fertilizers or weed killers. I prefer to gather away from busy roads and areas that have been or may be polluted with exhaust or other run off. I also avoid the “pee zone,” which often coincides with dandelion hot spots, such as busy corners and walk ways where dogs habitually mark. Planning for and strategizing collection typically begins in mid-March as I case potential sources. Some years, when I lived in a rental house outside the city, I was

Dandelion flowers stewed with citrus and ginger

The stew is called “must.”

My forays for dandelions this spring have all been edged with a sense of audacity and purpose— an act of resistance in a time when leaving the house carries any number of social implications. And yet, I couldn’t shake the need; I had to make wine this year. 36

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homes & gardens / changing hands

able to collect in my yard and from neighbors. Another year, a friend invited me to collect on his aunt’s farm in Maryland. In other years, I have haunted the fence edges and abandoned plots of community gardens. This year, my first in the city proper, I’m sharing a 900-square foot condo in SW with my partner, so I can only turn to shared spaces—the spaces that are increasingly forbidden—for what can be collected. Parks and facilities have closed. Hains Point and the Tidal Basin are completely cordoned off. People are wearing masks and bandanas when they do venture outdoors. I’ve seen people recoil from the proximity of others—even when outside on a broad path in a city park—to maintain six feet of distance. Finding a source for dandelions in the citylimits initially daunted me. The constellations of flowers I saw in many closed parks, in the church yard just down the street from my grocery store, and beside the closed schools down the street— all—were simply out of bounds. I couldn’t be sure they hadn’t been sprayed or graced by dog or human by-products. As the weather warmed the flowers became more assertive, appearing defiant and gleeful in every patch of grass and on every corner. But none of these spots provided the right place to pick. I was anxious and preoccupied for a few days. I paced the fenced line of a vacant, overgrown lot that awaits construction, calculating whether I could jump over or shimmy under or squeeze through. Through the gaps in the landscaping fabric zip tied to the chain link, I could see plenty of clusters of dandelions waving in the wind. Over dinner, I ruminated on whether I’d be arrested if I was caught in the field. I texted friends for recommendations—one suggested a closed park in Ward 7. Others shrugged— who paid attention to dandelions? I finally made three trips to one of my usual suburban picking grounds, coming home with two good bags full of flowerheads. But these were not enough for my preferred recipe—so we took to our bikes on a scouting expedition. The fields along the Anacostia bike path offered all the dandelions I still needed, the stretches of overgrown boundary-turf hadn’t been mowed, there were no signs of spray, and the walkways had lighter dog and pedestrian traffic than usual due to the city’s closures. My partner and I picked together for an hour, him impatiently asking me if we had enough yet—did we have enough now, is this enough now, how about now? Even once we had enough, I couldn’t break my habit of scanning the greens we passed, riding up from the Nationals Stadium, over the Benning Road bridge and behind Congressional Cemetery, and back through

the Navy Yard. There’s a method to it, I’ve discovered, after so many years of picking. Rifle through the other weeds and pull the flower free of other leaves and greens. Grasp the flower just under the head with pointer and ring finger, pull the stalk taut. Sluice the head from the stem with your thumb nail. If you simply pull up, the stem will stretch and snap off closer to the leaves. You will then have to pair off that little bit of stem—which you do not want in the must. After our trip up and down the Anacostia, I tucked three plastic grocery bags full of dandelion heads in the freezer so that I could begin to brew the next day. I could breathe again. There was going to be wine this year.

A Forager’s Meditation Collecting dandelions, their yellow heads a different sort of corona, in the age of global pandemic is low risk in comparison to a trip to the grocery store or going about many aspects of daily business as usual. There’s little risk of infecting others when out alone (or with a partner) in an empty field. But neither is going among the weeds sheltering in place. Or giving in to fear because we still cannot know what will be irrevocably changed by our global pandemic. The weeks of lock down and social distancing have brought my relationality and interdependence into much higher visibility. I have been forced to reflect on what goods and services I take for granted, the supply chain that sustains me, and the patterns of employment and movement that sustain my friends and family. None of us are able to comfortably escape questions about how we share quarters and public spaces with our neighbors, friends, and family. We have yet to see the enduring impact this experience will have upon our communities and our daily-relations going forward. I’m reminded then, that flower wine making—and so too our crafting, making, baking, singing, and sharing—are how many of us hold hope, if not optimism, closely. We imagine a future of many promises. A year from now, the flavors of 2020’s flowers will have blended with lemon zest and spices. The yeast will have fermented and died off. The wine will have been bottled. It will settle, clear, and mature. I will uncork a bottle and think back to this time in a similar spirit, grateful that our difficulties are behind us. Michelle LaFrance is a writer and poet, living in SW. An English professor at George Mason University, Michelle teaches writers to love every stage of the composing process. She loves a good homebrew, misses live music shows, and still can’t stop looking for dandelions to pick. 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

PRICE BR

4326 Chaplin St SE 4417 A St SE 4477 B St SE #301 ANACOSTIA 4560 C St SE 1502 Ridge Pl SE $450,000 4 504 Hilltop Ter SE 1633 W St SE $465,000 3 1919 T St SE $499,900 3

BARRY FARMS 1495 Morris Rd SE $409,000 2344 Hunter Pl SE $375,000 2636 Wade Rd SE #3 $117,700 CAPITOL HILL EAST 1709 D St SE $750,000 513 17th St SE $670,000 901 D St NE #205 $935,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1254 Barnaby Ter SE 130 Chesapeake St SW 3206 5th St SE 3902 1st St SE 809 Chesapeake St SE 819 Yuma St SE

$230,000 $329,000 $414,000 $485,000 $391,000 $385,000

$360,000 $480,000 $269,000 $630,000 $375,000

FORT LINCOLN

3 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3

2739 31st Pl NE #2739 $249,000 3116 Berry Rd NE #22 $395,000 3491 NE Summit Ct NE #3491 $350,000

HILL CREST 1501 27th St SE #206 2005 Branch Ave SE 2009 32nd St SE 2126 Suitland Ter SE #102 2909 O St SE 3056 Q St SE 3441 Massachusetts Ave SE 3701 Bangor St SE

$99,000 $675,000 $574,999 $105,000 $405,000 $743,000 $515,000 $735,000

3 3 2 6 3 3 3 2 1 3 3 2 3 4 3 4

KINGMAN PARK

1607 Isherwood St NE #2 $612,850 2 1607 Isherwood St NE #3 $589,900 2 412 21st St NE $775,000 4 DEANWOOD 443 19th St NE $600,000 3 1038 47th Pl NE $335,550 2 118 56th Pl SE $475,200 3 LILY PONDS 132 35th St NE $335,000 2 1416 44th St NE $490,000 3 32 35th St NE $410,000 2 333 34th Pl NE $370,000 3 3948 Ames St NE $345,000 3 3709 Franklin D Roosevelt Pl NE $470,000 3 404 47th St NE $486,000 3 3724 Burnham Pl NE #3724 $402,650 4 4208 Benning Rd NE #6 $150,000 1 4113 Meade St NE $488,000 3 4406 Eads St NE $549,000 4 4312 Polk St NE $410,000 3 4531 Eads Pl NE $389,000 3 721 Parkside Pl NE $521,090 3 4603 Hunt Pl NE $390,000 3 4708 Meade St NE $315,000 3 MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5046 Meade St NE $509,000 5 4725 B St SE $235,000 3 5112 Jay St NE $200,000 2 5348 Drake Pl SE $175,000 0 5201 Just St NE $356,800 2 5214 Jay St NE $385,000 2 5237 Karl Pl NE $430,000 5 RANDLE HEIGHTS 713 49th Pl NE $402,000 4 1800 18th St SE $350,000 3 1829 T Pl SE $290,000 3 1912 Tremont St SE $390,000 3 FAIRFAX VILLAGE 2411 23rd St SE $365,000 3 2001 38th St SE #101 $100,000 1 2418 Hillsdale Pl SE $395,000 3 3018 22nd St SE $390,000 3 FORT DUPONT PARK 3022 23rd St SE $480,000 4 1139 Chaplin St SE $312,000 4 3510 21st St SE $370,000 2 1523 Fort Dupont St SE $320,000 3 1671 Fort Davis Pl SE $360,000 3 SOUTHEAST 232 Anacostia Rd SE $457,000 3 1524 S St SE $655,000 5 4257 H St SE $335,000 2 u 4257 Hildreth St SE $419,900 2

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www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD “Colorful Shades” by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Lit 6. Wimpy’s antithesis 11. Calendar pages: Abbr. 14. Merry in disposition 16. English regatta town 17. Aboveboard 19. Straw hat 20. Peter of “Lawrence of Arabia” 21. Technology being used in auto-steering cars 22. Van Morrison sang about one 25. Color in a Beatles song 27. Very unusual 28. Credo 30. “Sin City” actress, Jessica 31. Warship 37. Even chance 40. Popular bread grains 41. Taking back choices 44. Pro Bowl locale 45. Chosen one 46. “ . . . man ___ mouse?” 47. Figure skater Babilonia 49. A.M.A. members 52. Effort 53. Dactyl 55. Going up sharply 57. Trample 61. Extravagant 64. More washed out 65. Enjoying a colorful natural view 69. Gimme putts 70. Indolence 71. Steel joists 72. ___ acid 73. Kimono belt 74. Newsstand title 76. National broadcaster 77. ___ system (car option), for short

79. Software program, briefly 82. California home of Jelly Belly 88. Simple shack 90. Grammar related 91. Omar of “Scream 2” 95. Set up for use (var.) 96. With comfort 97. Frobe who played Goldfinger 98. Burro 99. Mrs. Dithers 102. Lime and pine 104. Alice Walker book 114. Feel without touching 115. Certain sultan’s subjects 116. Amount reducer 117. Pizarro’s conquest 118. Restore to life 119. Texas trees 120. Mountain or prickly 121. “It’s ___ against time” 122. Often required on Feb 29th....

Down: 1. “Money, money, money” singers 2. Bit 3. Fabulist 4. One of four Holy Roman Emperors 5. “That was close!” 6. Taxi feature 7. “Plus” terminal 8. Footwear 9. Prefix for copter 10. ___ and terminer (criminal court) 11. Applelike fruit 12. How most rumors spread 13. Flash 15. “East” or “west” trailer 16. Georgetown U. athlete 17. Renowned ancient Greek city

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 18. Try 23. Fabricating 24. One of the Simpsons 26. Embodied 29. Hotel offering 31. Drug tsars 32. Sales caller 33. Internet provider (abbr.) 34. Earth, prefix 35. “The greatest” 36. Hamstrings 37. Albeit, briefly 38. Dinghy propeller 39. Cloth sample 42. Top rating 43. Collector’s goal 48. Progeny 49. Belief in God based on rational evidence

50. Stinks 51. Active 54. “___ Como Va” (1971 Santana hit) 56. Duke Ellington’s “Take ___ Train” 57. It may get a licking 58. Long-snouted endangered animal of South America 59. St. Paddy’s land 60. Nut pine 61. ___ Schwarz 62. A.B.A. member: Abbr. 63. The utmost (degree) 64. West Canadian province 65. “__ the Man” St.Louis Cardinal 66. Certain port 67. Flexible

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68. Having two lines 73. Cake birthplaces 74. Failing grades 75. Ballad 78. Jones and Smith, maybe 80. Bake sale org. 81. Neighbor of Ger. 83. Scale notes 84. Diamonds, slangily 85. Spider is one 86. Lucy of “Shanghai Noon” 87. Mid-seventh-century date 89. Aide: Abbr. 91. Goes with head 92. Darius’ kingdom 93. Acts like a peacock 94. Fetor 99. Pointed at the top 100. Shade of green 101. Red wine 103. Code crackers: Abbr. 105. Romanian dance 106. Like a 911 call: Abbr. 107. Vena ___ 108. Substance, lacking idea 109. Big name in rides 110. Running contest 111. They have mtgs. in schools 112. Ranger or Eagle 113. Formerly, once

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East of the River Magazine – June 2020

Articles inside

In Search of Dandelions: Flower Wine Making Under Lock Down by Michelle LaFranceEMT’s: Eastern H

Keeping Each Other Safe Through COVID Crisis: Ward 7 and 8 Mutual Aid Effort Provides Support

From Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors to You. Congratulations Class of 2020

Gap Year and the Class of 2020

Time To Stand Up in Lafayette

River Terrace Grad Celebrated COVID Can’t Stop The Parade

Anacostia, Benning Libraries Open for Take-Out

The Numbers: Apply Recovery Principles to the District Budget

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

Unemployment Insurance