East of the River Magazine March 2017 by Capital Community News

MARCH 2017

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 14

The Bulletin Board

Greening the District: Mayor Bowser’s Environmental Record by Catherine Plume

Plans for the Shores of the Anacostia by Katherine Antos

Our River: The Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski

District Beat by Jonetta Rose Barras

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Safeway: Feeding Many, Pleasing Few by Christine Rushton

Neighbors Fight Latest Parkside Plans by Christine Rushton

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DC’s Latest Plans to Rehab Historic Anacostia Homes by John Muller

M A R C H 2017

NEXT ISSUE: aPR 8

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

IN EVERY ISSUE

06 What’s on Washington 08 Calendar

56 The Classiﬁed

Trayon White Launches Initiative to Combat Violence by Christine Rushton

The Dietitian Next Door by Candace Y.A. Montague

58 The Crossword

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

ON THE COVER: Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) takes a ride on the Anacostia River. Photo: Andrew Lightman. See story on pg 18.

REAL ESTATE 42

Beware the Tiny Hitchhikers by Christine Rushton

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You’re Gonna Eat That? by Jessica Wynter Martin

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY

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Notebook by Kathleen Donner

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Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 • 202.543.8300 • capitalcommunitynews.com Executive Editor: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2016 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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HOMES & GARDENS Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com Rindy 0’Brien • rindyobrien@gmail.com

COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com

SOCIETY NEWS Dr. Charles Vincent • socialsightings@aol.com “Mickey” Thompson Vincent • socialsightings@aol.com

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

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BLOSSOM KITE FESTIVAL The annual Blossom Kite Festival is on April 1 (rain date, April 2), 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on the grounds of the Washington Monument near 17th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. The seventh annual Blossom Kite Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of ﬂiers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations, Rokkaku Battles and the Hot Tricks Showdown. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to ﬂy on the Public Field. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

THE SELECT (THE SUN ALSO RISES) AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE A stage littered with liquor bottles and café chairs seamlessly transforms itself from the bistros of Paris to the banks of the Irati River; a long bar table roars to life and charges a champion matador; an out-of-control dance party takes off during a night of nonstop revelry. As the story winds its way through France and Spain and lands in Pamplona where bullﬁghting and the ﬁesta rage in the streets, Hemingway’s narrator carries the heavy burdens of a war injury and his inability to have the woman he loves; a woman whose amorous escapades he follows with bemused but painful fatalism. The Select (The Sun Also Rises) is at Shakespeare Theatre through April 2. shakespearetheatre.org. The Company in Elevator Repair Service’s production of The Select (The Sun Also Rises). Photo: Rob Strong

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BEER AND WINE FESTIVALS AT YARD PARK The Clover Beer Festival, presented by Drink the District, is on March 18, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at Yards Park, 1300 First St. SE. Tickets are $20 to $49. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, they are offering tastings of over 100 beers and ciders, unlimited full pour beverages, access to DC area food vendors and live entertainment all day. cloverbeerfest.com. Drink the District’s Cherry Blossom Wine & Beer Festival is on April 1, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.; and April 2, 1 to 4 p.m., at Yards Park, 1300 First St. SE. Tickets are $19 to $89. For two days, taste over 100 beers and wines with unlimited full pours, access to DC area food vendors and live entertainment all day. cherryblossombeerandwine.com. Photo: Courtesy of Drink the District

RICK STEVES ON THOUGHTFUL TRAVEL: BROADENING YOUR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Rick Steves — acclaimed for his bestselling guidebooks and public television series — believes there’s more to travel than good-value hotels, great art and tasty cuisine. Americans who travel thoughtfully can have the time of their lives and come home smarter with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of today’s world. In an illustrated program, Steves explains how to travel with a goal of good stewardship and a responsibility to be an ambassador to, and for, the entire planet. He draws from lessons he learned while exploring Europe, Central America, Asia and the Middle East. Rick Steves on Thoughtful Travel is on March 27, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m., at Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History. $45. For tickets, call 202-633-3030 or visit smithsonianassociates.org.

Rick Steves at the “Mezquita” in Córdoba, Spain. Photo: Courtesy of RickSteves.com

A. W. MELLON LECTURES ON THE FINE ARTS Alexander Nemerov, department chair and Carl and Marilynn Thoma Provostial Professor in the Arts and Humanities, Stanford University, will give the National Gallery of Art’s 66th annual A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts, entitled, “The Forest: America in the 1830s.” The preeminent lecture series will be held in the East Building Auditorium at the National Gallery of Art, at 2 p.m., on March 26, “Herodotus among the Trees;” April 2, “The Tavern to the Traveler: On the Appearance of John Quidor’s Art;” April 9, “The Aesthetics of Superstition;” April 23, “Animals Are Where They Are;” April 30, “Emerson, Raphael and Light Filtering through the Woods;” and May 7, “The Forest of Thought: On the Roof with Robert Montgomery Bird.” These lectures are free. nga.gov. 3 to March 5. arenastage.org. Alexander Nemerov, department chair and Carl and Marilynn Thoma Provostial Professor in the Arts and Humanities, Stanford University, presents the 66th A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts on March 26, April 2, 9, 23, 30 and May 7 at the National Gallery of Art. Photo: Huey Ning Tan

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Adult ballet classes at THEARC are on Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 PM. Photo: media4artists, Theo Kossenas

IRISH BARS ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY Star and Shamrock. March 17, 8 AM to 2:30 AM. Drink specials. Live music in evening. 1341 H St. NE. 202-388-3833. starandshamrock.com. Kelly’s Irish Times. March 17, 11 AM to 2:30 AM. Live Irish music starts at 11 AM. 14 F St. NW. 202-543-5433. kellysirishtimesdc.com. Fado Irish Pub. March 17, 8 AM to 2 AM. Full Irish breakfast. $10 cover starts at noon; live music at 2 PM. 808 Seventh St. NW. 202-789-0066. fadoirishpub.com. James Hobans Irish Restaurant & Bar. March 17, 7:30 AM to 2:30 AM. Live music. 1 Dupont Circle. 202-223-8440. jameshobansdc.com. Rí Rá Georgetown. March 17, 9-10 AM to 3 AM. Live music and drink specials. 3125 M St. NW. 202-751 2111. rira.com. Dubliner. March 17, 10 AM to 2 AM. Three bands on two stages and giveaways. Full menus served with $10 cover. The Dubliner also features live Irish music every night at 9 PM; Sundays at 7:30 PM. 4 F St. NW. 202-737-3773. dublinerdc.com.

TWB@THEARC ADULT FITNESS CLASSES

Hawk ‘n’ Dove. March 17, 11 AM to midnight. Irish menu. 329 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-547-0030. hawkndovedc.com. Irish Channel. March 17, 8 AM to 2:30 PM. $10 cover after 2 PM. 500 H St. NW. 202-216-0046. irishchanneldc.com.

CHERRY BLOSSOM EVENTS National Cherry Blossom Festival. March 20 to April 16. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Peak Bloom. Peak bloom of the cherry trees is expected to occur between March 14 and 17. nationalcherryblossomfestival. org/about/bloom-watch. Pink Tie Party. March 16, 7 to 11 PM. $200. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Opening Ceremony. March 25, 5 to 6:30 PM. Enjoy spirited traditional and contemporary performances in the historic Warner Theatre. Free; Advance ticketing required. There will be a $5 registration fee when tickets are claimed. Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. Tidal Basin Welcome Area and Performance Stage. March 25 to April 9. Welcome area open daily, 10 AM to 7 PM; performances daily noon to 6 PM. 1501 Maine Ave. SW. National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. April 8, 10 AM to noon. Constitution Avenue from Seventh to 17th Streets NW. Starting at $20 for Grandstand Seating. Starting at $20 for Grandstand Seating. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/parade.

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Adult Yoga; Mondays, 7:30 to 8:45 PM; Adult Ballet, Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 PM; Adult Barre, Wednesdays, noon to 1 PM; Adult Pilates, Wednesdays 7:15 to 8:15 PM; Adult Modern, Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:30 AM; Adult Zumba, Saturdays 8:30 to 9:30 AM These classes are $6 per class for residents of 20020 & 20032 (with ID), TWB@ THEARC parents and THEARC staff. There is a $12 per class drop-in rate for all others. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.

Michael Platt at Honfleur Gallery. Through April 9. Michael Platt celebrates trailblazers, knowledge-seekers, problem-solvers and revolutionaries with larger-than-life prints on canvas in his new solo show Pathfinders. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com.

NC; and Raleigh-Durham, NC. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

From the Regenia Perry Collection: The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination. Through April 23. Derek Webster (1934-2009) created sculptures from scraps of wood, trash, and found materials and adorned them with costume jewelry and brightly colored house paint. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

Mnemonic at the Anacostia Playhouse. March 16 to April 9. Through potent physicality, inventive design, and striking visuals, Mnemonic reminds viewers of their interconnectedness in a world where people are still moving, whether by choice or circumstance. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon PL. SE. theateralliance.com.

Gateways/Portales at the ACM. Through Aug. 6, 2017. This exhibition explores the experiences of Latino migrants and immigrants in four US metro areas: DC, Baltimore, MD; Charlotte,

Risers: Film and Discussion. March 24, 2 to 4 PM. This is part of a series of documentaries focusing on the Latin experience in America and the sociology and cultural ecology of contem-

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porary urban communities. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu. IN THE BLOOD at the Anacostia Arts Center. March 30 to 31, 7 PM. IN THE BLOOD is a modern riff on the Scarlet Letter. It tells the story of Hester, La Negrita a mother of five who is living with her children under a bridge in an inner city. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. Tickets at SoulflyIntheBlood.eventbrite.com. LiveArt in a Day 24-Hour Play Festival. April 1, 7 to 10 PM. On Friday, March 31, at 6 p.m., the four playwrights will each be randomly assigned the following elements: one director; four actors; a prop; a DC landmark. Playwrights have until Saturday morning to turn around a script that is then given to their director and actors. Those teams then have roughly nine hours to take the play from “words on a page” to “live performance.” At 7 and 9 PM on April 1, the shows it the stage, their audience. $25. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. liveartdc.com. Rare Beauties in Winter at Kenilworth Park. Weekends through April 30, 10 AM and 1 PM. Join them for an overview of exotic plants and a special tour of the greenhouse. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq. Garden Walk at Kenilworth Park. Daily through May 1, 2 PM. Join a National Park Service Ranger and explore the gardens, marshes and woodlands of Kenilworth looking for turtles, butterflies, spiders, birds and more. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq.

ANACOSTIA RIVER FESTIVAL

April 9, 1 to 5 PM. This year’s festival will focus on biking in the District and will also celebrate the new extension of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to Bladensburg, MD. Free. The third annual Anacostia River Festival is in Anacostia Park, at Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive SE. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/anacostia-river-festival. Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at 9:30 Club. March 11, Railroad Earth; March 12, Sunn O))); March 15, Hippie Sabotage; March 16, Katatonia; March 17 and 18, Galactic; March 19, Tennis; March 22, Foxygen; March 23, The Zombies: Odessey and Oracle 50th Anniversary; March 24, SOHN; March 25, Rising Appalachia and Twiddle; March 26, Trentemøller; March 27, Allah-Las; March 29, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard; March 30, William Singe & Alex Aiono; March 31, Vince Staples; April 1 and 2, Portugal. The Man; April 7, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong; April 8, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Mr. Carmack. 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com. Music at Hill Country. March 11, Human Country Jukebox; March 14, Tom Rhodes, Quiles & Cloud; March 15, 22 Hill Country Live Band Karaoke; March 16, Dan Baird & Homemade Sin; March 17, Scott Kurt & Memphis 59; March 18, The Woodshedders;

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March 21, Cash’d Out; March 23, Peewee Moore; March 24, John Grave & the Tombstones; March 25, The Currys; March 28, Sarah Potenza; April 1, Western Centuries; April 3, Jon Dee Graham; April 4, Hooten Hallers; April 7, Mark Eitzel, Howe Gelb; April 8, Carolyn Wonderland. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at Black Cat. March 11, Priests and Church Night; March 12, Sam Patch; March 15, Secondhand Serenade; March 16, Foster Carrots; March 17, Dance Yourself Clean and Bump & Grimes III; March 18, People’s Blues of Richmond; March 22, The Regrettes; March 23, Boo Seeka; March 24, Minus the Bear; March 25, The Jay-Z & Beyonce Dance Party, Carter v Carter; March 26, Living Body; March 27, Laura Stevenson; March 29, Hip-

po Campus; March 31, Mac Sabbath; April 2, Moon Bounce; April 7, Crystal Fighters. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at U Street Music Hall. March 11, Hotel Garuda; March 15, WRLD & smle and A Tribe Called Red; March 16, Jens Lekman and Badass presents: Minnesota; March 17, Black Coffee; March 18, Jose James and The Magician; March 23, Downlink & Arius; March 24, Soﬁ Tukker and Arman Cekin; March 25, POWERS & Bridgit Mendler; March 26, RAM Tour 2017; March 27, Patrick Watson; March 29, Michal Menert; March 30, Bebe Rexha and Thrillseekers (open to close); April 1, Lambchop; April 4, Kyle; April 6, Homeboy Sandman; April 7, Crystal Garden (Boyd Tinsley of Dave Matthews Band); April 8, Maggie Rogers. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com.

Music at The Howard. March 11, Southern Soul Assembly and Exquisite Ghana Ball III; March 12, Go-Go Brunch feat. Be’la Dona and Mousey Thompson’s James Brown Experience; March 16, Rawayana; March 17, Somi; March 19, Harlen Gospel Choir; March 21, Nouvelle Vague; Match 22, Ella Baila Sola & Amistades Peligrosas; March 23, Monsieur Perine; March 24, The Blind Boys of Alabama and March Madness w/ UCB & WHAT Band; March 25, The Tarantino Soundtrack - Live In Concert and Reggae Fest vs. Soca; March 30, Still Dreaming w/ Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade; April 1, Saul Hernandez and Colors DC: R&B Only; April 2, Marvin Gaye Bday Brunch feat. Marcus Johnson; April 5, The Blues Brothers Soundtrack Live In Concert; April 8, Meli’sa Morgan and

Devin The Dude & Backyard Band. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. March 11, Strand of Oaks; March 17, Back to the 90s; March 18, Two Dragons and a Cheetah; March 19, Nails; March 22, Downtown Boys; March 22, The Japanese House; March 25, Chicano Batman; March 29, The Menzingers; March 30, Skinny Lister; March 31, Four Year Strong; April 1, the Slackers. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. March 13, Clarence Turner Blues Band; March 20, Lou Jerome Band; March 27, Tom Newman Blues Band; April 3, Shirleta Settles & Friends. $5 cover. Children are under 16 years

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old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Tuesdays, 12:10 PM. March 14, The Carya Ensemble with Sonya Sutton, piano; March 21, Jeremy Koch, saxophone, & Yu-Hsuan Liao, piano; March 28, Chamasyan Sisters, From Armenia with Love; April 4, Washington Bach Consort. 1317 G St. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org. Music at Sixth and I. March 15, Devendra Banhart and The Grogs; March 16, Brad Mehldau; March 25, Avital Meets Avital; April 8, Anoushka Shankar – Early Show. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org. Road Trip! Tour the USA in our Cabaret. March 16 to 19. Join a wild musical ride across America’s highways and byways in a high-energy production that celebrates the diversity of popular music from various locales around the nation. $50. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. March 17, Arnold Sterling’s Favorite Sons; March 24, Lori Williams & Friends; March 31, Howard Univ. Jazz Ensemble; April 7, Lena Swings!; April 14, Good Friday Special, 2017, Bowie State Jazz Ensemble; April 21, “Diggin’ Up My Roots” (CD Release); April 28, Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. $5 cover. Children are under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at the Lincoln. March 18 and 19, The Magnetic Fields-50 Song Memoir; March 25, The ACA-Challenge; April 8, Lisa Lampanelli. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-3286000. thelincolndc.com. Glitter and Be Gay “DC’s Different Drummers” Concert. March 25, 7 PM. The Capital Pride Symphonic Band will play a repertoire featuring composers from the LGBT community, with a variety of eras and styles. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. DCDD.org. Anderson House Spring Concert Series. March 25, 1 PM, Jinny Marsh, singer; April 22, 1 PM, The Singing Capital Chorus; May 20, 1 PM, Tobias Werner, cellist and Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, pianist. Free. Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org. Folger Consort’s Starry Messenger. March 31 to April 2. The late 16th century saw a revolution in musical practice in Italy. Renaissance compositions gave way to the innately dramatic music of the early Baroque. Folger Consort celebrates this age of revelations with music of the spheres; dramatic songs by Mon-

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teverdi, lute music by Galileo’s father Vincenzo Galilei and brilliant early violin sonatas and keyboard pieces. $40. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

10 AM to 3 PM and March 26, 1:30 to 4 PM. Sale proceeds support events and supplies for the library. Questions? Have Books to Donate? Email them at friendsofswlibrary@gmail.com. Southwest Library is at 900 Wesley Pl. SW. dclibrary.org/southwest.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Rummage Sale. April 22, 9 AM to 1 PM. St. Patrick’s Day School Gym, 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy. NW. stpatrickschurchdc.org.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public ice skating is on March 11 and 18, 1 to 3 PM; March 12, 2:30 to 4:30 PM; and March 17, noon to 2 PM. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Pl. SE. After the public ice skating session on March 17, Fort Dupont Ice Arena closes for the season. It will reopen in late June or early July. fdia.org. Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. March 14, 16, 21, 23, 25 and April 5 and 9. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com. Washington Wizards Basketball. March 15, 17, 22 and April 4 and 8. Verizon Center. nba. com/wizards. DC United at RFK. March 18, 7 PM, Columbus Crew SC; April 1, 7 PM, Philadelphia Union; April 8, 4 PM, New York City FC. dcunited.com. Senior Swim Marathon. March 25, 11 AM to 1 PM. This is a Water Wizards fundraiser. $1 per lap. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Washington Nationals. April 3 (home opener), 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30. Nat’s Park. washington.nationals.mlb.com. Barry Farm Pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and Weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-730-0572. dpr.dc.gov. Deanwood Pool. Weekdays 6:30 AM to 8 PM; Weekends, 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. 202-6453916. dpr.dc.gov.

MARKETS AND SALES Friends of SE Library Book Sale. March 11 and April 8, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/ southeast. Friends of SW Library Book Sale. March 25,

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 Weekends, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com.

al United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org. Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPO’s 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. Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.

Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 20th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS

Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays. After 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD.

ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@earthlink.net.

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.

ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@ verizon.net.

Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; Weekends, 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.

ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-340-5362. 7D06@anc.dc.gov.

Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays, 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW.

CIVIC LIFE Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton. house.gov. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens, 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202352-7264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster. com. 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 Memori-

ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202889-6600. 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 an item from the Calendar? Email it to calendar@hillrag.com.

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Gray Appoints Ward 7 Economic Development Council

and the modifications to the Comprehensive Plan, now undergoing its ten-year review. dccouncil.us/council/vincent-gray.

Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray has appointed 12 busiAnacostia River ness owners to the Ward Festival 7 Economic DevelopThis year the Anacosment Advisory Countia River Festival takes cil (W7EDAC). The place on April 9, 1 to 5 council convened their PM. It focuses on biking first meeting on Feb. in the District celebrat16. Appointees include ing the new extension of Warren C. Williams, Jr., the Anacostia Riverwalk CEO of The Warrenton Trail to Bladensburg, Group; Charles C. WilMD. Free. The third kes, chairman of The annual Anacostia RivWilkes Company; Peer Festival takes place dro Alfonso, chairman in Anacostia Park, at and CEO of DynamGood Hope Road and ic Concepts, Inc.; WilAnacostia Drive SE. nationalcherryblossomliam B. Alsup, III, senior managing director MARATHON ICE HOCKEy GAME AT FORT DUPONT festival.org/anacostia-river-festival. of Hines; David Alvaranga, owner of LiberPlayers are needed (must be 18+) for the Marathon Hockey Game at Fort ty Tax Service; Leila Batties, partner at the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Environmental Leadership Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE, on March 19, 8 a.m. to noon; noon law firm of Holland & Knight; Christopher Community Forum to 4 p.m.; and 4 to 8 p.m. All proceeds benefit Kids on Ice. For more J. Donatelli, president of Donatelli DevelopThis forum celebrates the various ways wominformation, call 202-584-5006 or rslomski@fdia.org. ment; Marisa Flowers, owner of Green Door en of diverse ages and backgrounds have adAdvisors, LLC; Douglas Jemal, president of Players from the last Marathon Hockey Game at Fort Dupont Ice Arena vocated for behalf of the environment and Douglas Development Corporation; Jair K. Photo: Courtesy of Fort Dupont Ice Arena their communities. What experiences and viLynch, president and CEO of Jair Lynch sions have they brought to advocacy work? Real Estate Partners; W. Christopher Smith, What are the various arenas in which women chairman and CEO of WC Smith Company; are leading advocacy? What steps can be takand Ms. Robin Zeigler, CEO of Cedar Realen to ensure that the next generation of young women is ready to join efforts aimed ty Trust, Inc. at creating equitable, healthy environments for all? This discussion is on March 18, The W7EDAC will be chaired by Williams. Wilkes will serve as vice chair. The 2 to 4 p.m., at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. group will meet monthly. It will focus on Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bill to lower the commercial tax rate anacostia.si.edu. in Wards 7 and 8; working to bring street cars to Ward 7, workforce housing policies

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Renovated Frederick Douglass Community Center Opens The District of Columbia Housing Authority, Office of State Superintendent of Education, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Byte Back, and Project Reboot welcomes the community to the newly renovated Frederick Douglass Community Center. The nearly $450,000 renovated building features a community space and a technology training area, a computer refurbishing and retail space and a commercial kitchen. The Frederick Douglass Community Center is at 2000 Alabama Ave. SE.

Saturday Volunteer Event at Kenilworth Park On March 25, 9 a.m. to noon, volunteer to help Kenilworth Park get the gardens ready for the season. Remove invasive plants, weed and mulch the entry gardens. Assist with other park projects. Individuals and groups welcome. SSL credits can be earned. Kenilworth Park is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

Capitol View Library Closed Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE, has closed for interior renovation. The library is scheduled to re-open in late fall 2017. The budget for this project is $4.5 million. The Library has selected the local design build team of R. McGhee & Associates and Broughton Construction for this project. Renovation features expanded space; upgrades to the heating, air conditioning and electrical systems; a larger elevator and new windows; more meeting and study spaces in varying sizes; a computer-training lab, new furniture, carpet and fixtures; and an environmentally friendly design. The nearest library is Dorothy I. Height Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. For more information, email Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov or visit dclibrary.org/capviewrenovation.

Screening of Fly by Light at THEARC As part of its 25th Anniversary Festival in March, the Environmental Film Festival will present a free screening of the film, “Fly by Light,” directed by DC-based filmmaker Ellie Walton on March 21, 7 p.m. at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. The filmmaker will be present for a post-screening discussion. The film follows a group of DC teenagers who leave the streets of Washington to play

in the mountain streams and sing under the stars in West Virginia as part of an ambitious peace education program. Together they confront the abuse and violence of their past lives. However, when they return to DC, each young person faces an unforgiving series of hurdles that challenge their efforts to build a better future.

Help Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Shepherd Parkway volunteers holds clean-ups every second Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark the calendar: April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 13, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear work boots and clothes. There is an open invitation to colleges, schools, churches, offices and other groups who wish to leave their mark on Shepherd Parkway. Pick the date and time. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena Closes After the public ice skating session on March 17, Fort Dupont Ice Arena closes for the season. It will reopen in late June or early July. fdia.org.

Food and Friends Dining Out for Life On April 6, restaurants throughout the greater DC area will donate 25 to 110 percent of proceeds to Food & Friends. With over 60 restaurants already signed up, it’s easy to support Food & Friends with a delicious meal out on the town. See the list of participating restaurants at diningoutforlife.com/washingtondc/restaurants. Food and Friends is looking for volunteer hosts to be stationed at each participating location. Make a world of difference in the lives of Food & Friends’ clients battling HIV/AIDS, cancer and other critical illnesses. Read more at diningoutforlife.com.

Get a Real LED Light for 95 Cents As of March 1, you can find DCSEU-discounted, ENERGY STAR LED bulbs at your neighborhood retailer for as low as 95¢. Read more at dcseu.com/for-myhome/lighting/lighting-guide.

Anacostia Community Museum Artist Studio Tour On April 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., catch the museum shuttle for this popular monthly program and visit community artists in their homes and studios. A $10 pre-registration transportation fee required. Pay the transportation fee online, or on the bus by cash or check. Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu.

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HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK OPENS

The woods and wetlands of Maryland’s Eastern Shore shaped Harriet Tubman’s early life in slavery, teaching her woods skills to navigate the landscape for multiple return journeys to bring friends and family north to freedom. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD, is now open to visitors. nps.gov/hatu. The front of the visitor center, designed as “The View North,” is oriented to take from the red timber of Harriet Tubman’s youth on the southern end of the building and onward to the possibilities of freedom offered in the north. Photo: NPS Photo/Beth Parnicza

Free Tax Preparation Services Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) encourages individuals and families in the District of Columbia to take advantage of trusted and high-quality free tax preparation services offered for-the-benefit of low- and moderate-income DC residents in all eight wards and online. DC residents who in 2016 earned $54,000 or less with dependents or $35,000 or less without are eligible for in-person free income tax preparation services. These services are provided by IRS-certified community volunteers who will assist. Find tax preparation sites in DC at caab.org/en/free-tax-preparation-services.

DC Certificate of Occupancy Forms Online DCRA has announced that Certificate of Occupancy forms and filing information are now online at dcra. dc.gov/service/zoning-certificates-occupancy.

Residential Street Sweeping Started Mechanical street sweeping started on March 1. To ensure streets are swept thoroughly, motorists are asked to obey the signs posted with the days of the week and hours of the day when parking restrictions will be enforced. The fine for violating this restriction is $45.

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Signs posted along street sweeping routes indicate that the program runs from March 1 through Oct. 31. To remind motorists of the restrictions, DPW will issue warnings between March 1 and 10 to vehicles parked during the sweeping periods. Parked vehicles may be towed to allow the sweepers access to the curb lane. For more information about street sweeping, go to dpw. dc.gov.

CulturalDC Hosts Arts and Urban Innovation Summit On April 24, CulturalDC will host VISIONDC, Arts and Urban Innovation Summit. The event will provide an opportunity for artists, real estate developers, policymakers, business leaders and the public to consider the creative trajectory of growth in the District. Featuring Washington’s first ever ART TANK. Inspired by the television show, “Shark Tank,” VISIONDC promises urban development in real time as a group of investors judge concepts for groundbreaking arts projects. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to watch as winning concepts are funded. The summit will explore gentrification in DC; strategies to foster equitable growth; employing to ad-

dress challenges and drive economic development. It will consider social issues in urban areas; and how crowdsourcing can be used to invest in developing creative communities in the District. VISIONDC is open to the public and will feature visionary conversations, site-specific installations, and performances by over 20 local artists. It will be held at Arena Stage. Tickets can be purchased at visiondc.org. Discount early bird tickets, ranging from $15 to $45, will be sold until March 24.

African American Art World in 20th-Century DC The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art has announced that the Wyeth Foundation for American Art Symposium, entitled, “The African American Art World in 20th-Century Washington, DC,” will be held in the East Building Auditorium at the National Gallery of Art, on March 16 and 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Symposium topics encompass Washington collectors such as Thurlow Evans Tibbs Jr.; pivotal Washington artists and art professors including Alma Thomas, Loïs Mailou Jones, and James Porter; and the history

of institutions supporting and exhibiting art by African American artists in the District. The symposium also will feature a panel of artists for whom Washington has been critical to personal artistic development: Lilian T. Burwell, Floyd Coleman, David C. Driskell, Sam Gilliam, Keith A. Morrison, Martin Puryear, Sylvia Snowden and Lou Stovall. The panelists will discuss the impact of their experiences in DC on their artistic careers. Read more at nga.gov.

Reserve Tidal Basin Paddle Boats Online Through April 16, online reservations may be made for paddle boat rides that will occur between 10 a.m. and noon, daily, during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. See the glorious cherry blossom trees from the water without having to wait in a long line. The reservation is free. The paddle boat rental is $16 per hour for a twopassenger boat; $26 per hour for a four-passenger boat; and $30 per hour for a two-passenger SWAN boat. Reserve at tidalbasinpaddleboats.com/reservations.

DC Taxis Transition to Digital Taximeter The Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) takes a big step toward digital transformation by beginning the transition to a Digital Taxi Solution (DTS) platform. The new digital meter system will replace traditional taximeter and outdated legacy equipment allowing drivers and customers to use their smartphone or tablet devices for ride and customer interaction. In addition, the app-based digital meter, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, will allow the city to be the first jurisdiction to offer dynamic pricing to passengers hailing taxis from the street. Other significant customer service benefits will include: driver ratings, estimated fare calculations, exact GPS route tracking for enhanced security as well as the convenience of electronic receipts by email, text or online retrieval. The transition to digital meters is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2017.

H Street NE Whole Foods Opens March 15 Whole Foods Market will open its newest Washington location on March 15, at 600 H St. NE. The store, designed to be the go-to destination for grocery shoppers east of the Capitol, will offer the highest quality natural and organic products, including fresh produce, meat, seafood and prepared foods. Every item sold in the store meets Whole Foods Market’s quality standards and is free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives and hydrogenated fats. The store’s 150 team members include trained butchers, fishmongers, scratch bakers and a team of chefs. The community is invited to join store and company leaders for a traditional bread-breaking ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on March 15. Opening day shoppers will be greeted with

door-buster deals and an array of product demonstrations and samples.

Ground Broken on Audi Field The official groundbreaking ceremony for Audi Field was held on Feb. 27. Including a performance by local DC Scores student-athletes, it was attended by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Audi of America President Scott Keogh and Levien as well as DC United coaches, players, staff and fans. The groundbreaking follows the DC Zoning Commission’s approval of the stadium. Audi Field will be the home for DC United. Opening in 2018, it will also host a variety of other sporting and cultural events, community activities and concerts. The state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of 20,000 fans and features 31 luxury suites, a bike valet, and 500,000 total square feet of mixed-use retail and residential space.

$13 Million for DOEE Solar Innovation and Expansion The DC Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) has made available two funding opportunities for eligible entities to install additional solar capacity and provide benefits to low-income residents. $8 million is available to install four to eight megawatts of new solar capacity on multifamily homes, commercial buildings and non-residential surface spaces. $5 million is available to install two and a half to five megawatts of solar capacity in low-income single-family homes, small business and owner-occupied nonprofits. Eligible applicants for both opportunities include nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, universities and private enterprises. More information, visit doee.dc.gov/page/grantsand-other-funding. Copies of each Request for Applications may also be picked up from the DOEE reception desk, at 1200 First St. NE, Fifth Floor. To make an appointment, call Taresa Lawrence at 202-671-3313. The application deadline is March 31, 2017, 4:30 p.m. doee.dc.gov.

DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Session On March 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m., discover how to purchase a home in the District of Columbia using a DC Open Doors mortgage product. All DC Open Doors Homebuyers’ Informational Sessions are free. This seminar is at the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. dcopendoors.com.

Utility Payment Phone Scam

by scam artists posing as Pepco threatening to shut off electric service within hours unless the customer immediately pays. The Attorney General advises consumers ignore the calls. The callers often request that the payments be made by prepaid card, money order or wire transfer, making it almost impossible for a resident or business to recover their money. Scammers’ Caller ID often falsely identifies these calls as originating from Pepco. Heard from the scammers? Contact the Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit at 202-727-4159 or mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov.

Test My Breasts 5K and Wellness Fair DC has the highest number of new breast cancer cases than any other city in the US. Rates for African American and Latino women are higher. On April 29, join the Natalie Williams Breast Care Foundation and the ladies of WHUR 96.3 for the second annual “Test My Breasts” 5K Walk and Wellness Fair at the Tidal Basin. This annual event welcomes all women and men for a day of exercising, check-ups and bare facts about breast cancer among women of color. Thousands of survivors and supporters of this cause will come together to spread the message that testing breasts can save lives. For event information, vendor and sponsorship opportunities and to register, visit testmybreasts.com.

Marine Corps Marathon Lottery Opens Registration for the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 22 is conducted via online lottery. Runners declare their intent to participate by registering for the 2017 MCM Lottery from March 22 to 29. Notification emails regarding 2017 registration status will be sent on March 30, 2017. The 2017 MCM registration fee is $155. marinemarathon.com.

Register for Artomatic Artomatic, March 24 to May 6, will return to Crystal City for the third time in 2017. The event is free to the public and features hundreds of artists including visual arts, musical performances, dances, fire performers and more. Subscribe to their newsletter at artomatic.org. Artomatic is a volunteer-run 501c(3) nonprofit arts festival. They’re best known for hosting huge unjuried arts festivals in the area every 12 to 18 months, usually in a commercial site slated for demolition or newly constructed and not yet occupied. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

DC Attorney General Karl Racine (D) has alerted District residents and businesses to recent telephone calls

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Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses environmental and sustainability issues related the Paris Climate Change Agreement at the biennial C40 Mayors Summit 40 Mayors in Mexico City in 2016. Photo: DOEE

Greening the District A Midterm Reflection on Mayor Bowser’s Environmental Record

by Catherine Plume

anuary marked the halfway point of Muriel Bowser’s current term as mayor of the District of Columbia, an opportune time to reflect on her environmental record. While environmental issues were not a central concern of her 2014 campaign, to the surprise of many environmental leaders – especially those focused on the Anacostia Watershed – the mayor has demonstrated a progressive environmental agenda. Jim Dougherty of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club notes, “Frankly, I’m impressed. She’s put some excellent people in place. She even attended the mayors forum on climate change in Mexico

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City last fall. We’re on the right track.” Dougherty is not alone in his praise. “Mayor Bowser astutely continued many of the environmental and sustainability initiatives that were started in previous administrations – and built on many of these,” notes well-known East of the River environmentalist Dennis Chestnut. Mayor Bowser embraced “Sustainable DC,” a District government-led plan initiated under the Gray administration to make DC the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the US by 2032. “The Bowser administration is continuing the tradition of environmental sustainability that other DC mayors such as Fenty and Gray started,” states Anacostia Trust Board Member Michael Stevens.

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The Right People

It is with her appointments that Bowser has stepped out of her predecessors’ environmental shadow. She chose former Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, a rival in the 2014 primary, to head the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). Wells had authored legislation to remove trash from the Anacostia while on the DC Council. Bowser then replaced William Howland, who had served two mayors as head of the Department of Public Works (DPW), with Christopher Shorter. Sharing Wells’ green orientation, Shorter has refocused his agency on waste reduction and recycling. Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) believes that “Mayor Bowser has assembled a great team, with DOEE leading the way.”

The Making of an Environmentalist

What brought Bowser into the environmental fold? She certainly did not campaign on green issues in 2014. According to the mayor, the District’s wind-power agreement brokered in July 2015 through the DC Department of General Services (DGS) played a key role. The pact represents the largest wind-power deal of its kind for an American city. Approximately 35 percent of the District government’s electricity will be sourced through wind power over the next 20 years, saving DC taxpayers $45 million while significantly reducing DC’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The wind-power purchase gained international recognition in 2015 when DC was awarded the global award for green energy by the C40 Climate Leadership Group at the Paris Climate Talks. “The award showed the world that DC is playing a global leadership role in green energy. I realized, ‘Well, that was easy enough.’ What else can we do?” Bowser concluded. However, Tommy Wells, DOEE’s director, suspects that Bowser’s environmental roots run deeper. “She grew up here in DC and she’s obviously very proud of the city. We walk through a DC neighborhood together at least once a month. She’s genuinely

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green energy initiatives. DOEE is promoting solar energy incentives for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signs the Fisheries & Wildlife Omnibus government offices as well as residencAmendment Act of 2016 on the banks of the Anacostia es and businesses. A $100 million, River. Photo: Andrew Lightman five-year contract recently negotiated with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU) will provide green financial incentives and technical assistance to residents and businesses. Influenced by Wells, an inveterate recreational sailor, the mayor is pursuing a swimmable Anacostia River with DOEE leading the way. Doug Siglin, executive director of the Anacostia Waterfront Trust, notes that “while many environmental issues are beyond the scope of DC, we can impact local water quality. The DC government is doing a good job.” The District is taking a holistic approach to its rivers, addressing the source of pollution and removing trash. DOEE’s RiverSmart Homes Program and Bag Fee Law continue to reduce trash while raising funds for cleanup and education initiatives. Polystyrene (Styrofoam), which has long accounted for much of the river’s trash, is now prohibited in DC restaurants including food trucks and food service organizations. DOEE’s hands-on community cleanup efforts at sites such as Nash Run and Watts Branch Park have been very successful. DC Water, led by former DOEE director George Hawkins, has been an important ally. Nathan Harrington of Ward 8’s Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway notes, “The tunnels DC Water is building to hold excess sewage and stormwater during rain events until it can be processed at Blue Plains are a game changer. When complete, the amount of untreated sewage discharged into the Anacostia will be significantly reduced. While this project has been in the works for many years, concerned about trash and waste disposal issues that it’s an important environmental milestone that’s hapwe come across. I think that concern has brought her pening under her watch.” into broader environmental issues.” As a city framed by two free-flowing rivers, the District is vulnerable to flooding. The mayor has expandWhat Has Bowser Done? ed the Sustainable DC program by creating “Climate Recognizing the impact that the DC government could Ready DC,” a plan for adapting to more heatwaves, seplay in reducing GHG emissions, Mayor Bowser exvere storms, and flooding. The plan assesses the risks panded the purview of the DOEE to include more of climate change to infrastructure, public facilities,

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and people and identifies actions to reduce them. The pioneering work at DOEE has been matched at DPW. While some DC food waste is diverted to energy and biosolids production at DC Water’s Blue Plains Facility, most is burned or ends up in landfills. With a residential “recovery” rate (amount of refuse diverted from landfills) of only some 20 percent, DC lags woefully behind other cities when it comes to recycling and composting. (San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle all tout rates upwards of 60 percent). DPW under Shorter’s leadership is finally making environmental strides. It created a new Office of Waste Diversion that has recently published the “Mayor’s List of Recyclables,” a single, comprehensive list of recyclable and compostable materials for DC residents and businesses that will be enacted in January 2018. DPW (finally) has composting on its radar. This spring, composting dropoff locations will be established in each ward. Paint can now be recycled at a growing list of paint stores across the District through collaboration with PaintCare.org. In late February Mayor Bowser joined DOEE Director Wells on the banks of the Anacostia to sign the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016. In addition to establishing the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) as the DC state fish, the legislation grants DOEE more authority to protect natural resources, regulate recreational fishing licenses, and increase environmental protection for aquatic species and areas of biodiversity. It also authorizes the mayor to impose penalties for the transport or trade of certain invasive plants and nonindigenous species.

What’s Next?

The environmental elephant in the room is how the District will deal with toxins in the Anacostia River. Harrington notes, “We still have toxic sites such as Buzzard Point, Poplar Point, the old Pepco plant, and Kenilworth Park that have yet to be properly cleaned up.” While a Steering Committee for a Cleaner Anacostia has been created, there’s still much work to be done. Bill Matuszeski, retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program and longtime Anacostia proponent, agrees. “The toxins in the Anacostia are being addressed slowly, but cheap solutions like capping the polluted sediments must give way to more expensive removal and disposal.” Mayor Bowser recognizes the seriousness of the situation. “Before we can decide how best to clean up the Anacostia River, we must understand exactly what we’re dealing with. DOEE and the National Park Service have implemented the Anacostia River Sediment Project – to determine the amount, type, and source of the river’s contamination. Once the research is complete, we will put forth recommendations for how we

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Department of Energy and the Environment Director Tommy Wells helps remove trash from the Anacostia River. Photo: Courtesy DDOE.

can remediate these contaminants. The project is currently on track, and we expect recommendations to be made in 2018,” she says. And there are areas for improvement. Environmentalists note that some restaurants east of the Anacostia are still using foam containers, as are some of the food trucks downtown. Many think that a bill giving value to plastic and glass bottles would also be welcome. But Dougherty notes, “ultimately it’s climate issues that are really going to impact DC. The Climate Ready DC Plan and its analysis of flood prediction models to ensure that there are sufficient cooling/relief centers is a great start, but what about urging people to drive less and consume less energy? These elements really aren’t addressed in the plan.” Harrington agrees. “A tremendous amount of energy is wasted in the District by leaving lights, computers, and copiers on at night and on weekends. A lot of people still seem to be totally indifferent toward energy conservation.” Bowser also made one decision that has angered and disappointed environmentalists – with her sup-

port for the Pepco-Exelon merger. While she eventually withdrew her support, much damage was done. Councilmember Cheh (Ward 3) notes, “I consider the administration’s support of the Pepco-Exelon merger to have been a grievous misstep. However, Director Wells has promised me that DOEE will formulate an extensive energy plan, and I look forward to working with him on that effort.” In late November 2016, and as a follow-on to the 2015 Paris event, Mayor Bowser attended the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City. The event was attended by Fortune 500 companies, representatives from various world governments, and prominent nonprofit leaders. There and on a global stage Bower reassured a nervous international audience that a presidential election would not sway a city’s conviction to green values. It was an opportunity for her to acknowledge just how important DC’s environmental work is. Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter @DC_Recycler.

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Plans for the Shores of the Anacostia

ormer Mayor Anthony Williams, one of the most prominent visionaries for the river flowing through Washington, DC, began the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) in 2000 to create a world-class waterfront through a cleaner river, new parks and recreational facilities, job-creating commercial centers, revitalized residential neighborhoods, and multimodal transportation options. Since the District of Columbia completed the AWI Framework Plan in 2003, in partnership with 19 regional and federal agencies, multiple entities have led many large and small planning efforts along the Anacostia and in surrounding neighborhoods. Here I explain some of the major planning activities underway within the Anacostia River Corridor, defined as the river, surrounding public land, and neighborhoods and properties within easy walking or biking distance. This post is admittedly longer than any blog should be due to the number of players and plans. However, it’s critical for partners who want to improve the health of the Anacostia and the surrounding lands while providing opportunities for nearby residents to understand how planning elements and agencies fit together.

Key Players

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is the federal government’s central planning agency in Washington and the surrounding counties of Maryland and Virginia. It does not own land, but it develops and reviews plans affecting federal properties for the region. The largest landholder within the corridor is the National Park Service (NPS), which manages Anacostia Park’s natural and cultural resources and provides a variety of visitor experiences. The park embraces approximately 1,200 acres along both banks of the river and includes Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Buzzard Point Park, and James Creek Marina. The NPS also owns the land that houses RFK Stadium, the Armory, and the surrounding parking lots and leases it back to the District. The NPS has limited ju-

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by Katherine Antos

risdiction over the river bed in the District. The District owns key parcels within the corridor, including Kingman Island and Boathouse Row; select NPS parcels (Poplar Point, Kenilworth North) will transfer to the District when certain conditions are met. When it comes to planning, the key players are: NCPC; the NPS for land use and programming on its property; the DC Office of Planning (OP) for land-use planning of parcels that will transfer to the government of the District of Columbia; and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) for development of those transferred parcels. OP, in collaboration with affected communities, also develops small-area and other neighborhood-level plans for neighborhoods and properties within the Anacostia River Corridor. DMPED implements development projects on District-government-owned properties that could provide greater economic opportunity and affordable housing. The Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) is also engaged in plans to clean up contaminated sites within and along the river, minimize environmental impacts of new development or redevelopment and climate change impacts on the waterfront, and identify and address opportunities to restore ecology.

Largescale Planning Efforts

The broadest plan is the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital (Comprehensive Plan), which guides long-term planning guidance for the District of Columbia. It is divided into two components. The Federal Elements are developed by NCPC and provide guidance for federal properties in the District and region. The District Elements are developed by OP and are adopted as legislation by the DC Council. Both the federal and District elements are approved by NCPC and Congress. NCPC updated the Federal Elements (except for the Parks & Open Space Element) in 2016 and added a new Urban Design Element. The Federal Elements provide a policy framework for the federal government’s lands and activities. NCPC will update the

Federal Parks & Open Space Element in 2017. The District Elements, also known as the District’s Comprehensive Plan, establish the 20-year vision for the future planning and development of the District of Columbia. The District’s plan was first adopted in 2006 and includes several Area Elements (chapters) that provide long-term land-use policy guidance affecting specific District and federally owned sites and communities along the Anacostia waterfront. They include the Lower Anacostia Waterfront and Near Southwest Area Element, Far Southeast and Southwest Area Element, Far Northeast and Southeast Area Element, Capitol Hill Area Element, and the Upper Northeast Area Element. The District’s Comprehensive Plan was amended in 2011, and OP launched the second amendment cycle in 2016 with a series of community meetings to hear feedback about neighborhoods and the District’s future. The second amendment cycle is addressing land use, environmental protection, economic development, parks, recreation, and open space, among other topics. It will also include the creation of a new Resilience Element that will address “the capacity of individuals, neighborhoods, institutions, businesses and systems to thrive in an inclusive manner … and plan for [and] recover from … adverse events.” OP is engaging the public throughout this process and anticipates submitting proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan to the DC Council by early 2018 to begin the local and federal approval process. The NPS also plans at the large scale to support its vision for Anacostia Park as a model urban park that demonstrates how the Park Service can support historically underserved communities, provide economic drivers for revitalizing urban areas, and offer highquality outdoor experiences, a healthy environment, and enhanced quality of life. The NPS specifically envisions a park that offers: • A clean and healthy river • A recreation destination for neighboring communities • Hiking, biking, and paddling • Playing fields and other opportunities for sports • Restored wetlands that provide habitat and storm resiliency • Truly unique places and experiences On February 1, 2017 the NPS released a draft Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for all of Anacostia Park for a comment period that runs through March 18. The management plan will serve as the primary park guidance document for the next 15-20 years and will be supported by subsequent, smaller planning efforts. The document will be available for review and comment on the NPS’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website. I intend to discuss the plan in future blog posts when it is publicly available and to

work with NPS and local organizations to engage community members in understanding, sharing feedback, and implementing elements of the plan.

Neighborhood and Parcel-Level Plans

Both the NPS and OP have finer-scale, neighborhood and parcel-level efforts underway for Buzzard Point, located near the confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers in Southwest DC. The NPS’s Buzzard Point Park is a 3.4-acre waterfront park at the southern tip of the neighborhood. Though small, its 1,500 feet of shoreline create an important link in continuing the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and improving access to the river. The NPS released the Buzzard Point Development Concept Site Plan on December 13, 2016, and collected public comments through January 27, 2017. Following review of the public comments, the NPS will develop the plan to include a summary of the process, details about the concepts, and a set of recommendations. NPS expects to release the plan in April 2017. It will then seek funding to start an environmental assessment that will refine alternatives and evaluate impacts to park resources. This will be a public process. NCPC would review any projects to be built on NPS land as a result of the plan and assessment. In parallel, OP is completing the Buzzard Point Vision Framework and Implementation Plan, which covers several blocks in Southwest DC adjacent to the NPS land on the Anacostia and Fort McNair. The framework is intended to “guide public and private development decisions” on the transition of an industrial area to a “mixed-use, highly walkable and environmentally sustainable neighborhood oriented toward an enhanced waterfront” and featuring a new DC United soccer stadium. When Congress authorized the transfer of Poplar Point from the NPS to the District in 2006, it required the District to adopt and the Secretary of the Interior to certify a land-use plan. OP and DMPED are initiating a small-area plan for 110-acre Poplar Point. The 2006 legislation also requires 70 acres to be park land. The District envisions the remaining approximately 40 acres as supporting a range of uses as well as accommodating changes to South Capitol Street, the new Frederick Douglass Bridge, and the I-295 interchange. The small-area plan will frame the vision for this critical waterfront site, and the final version will be submitted to the DC Council for approval. These are not all the plans or developments recently completed, underway, or expected along the Anacostia Corridor. DMPED is leading the effort on Hill East District Redevelopment (formerly known as Reservation 13), and Events DC has developed short-term planning scenarios for RFK Stadium, both located at Capitol Hill’s eastern edge along the Anacostia. NCPC also proposed potential reuse strategies and enhancements to the RFK Stadium site in a 2006 study. The US

Department of Agriculture will be updating its master plan for the National Arboretum. Even a self-professed long blog has its limits and can’t dive into all projects along the corridor.

A Waterfront Framework

Although planning efforts described above have flowed from the AWI Framework Plan and some elements have been implemented, there has been no update to the Framework Plan since it was completed in 2003. As OP notes in the Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle process, the city is in a different place now; decades of population decline have reversed, and population has grown by 100,000 in the last 10 years. Property values are skyrocketing, and concerns about equitable development and gentrification loom large. District and federal agencies, private interests, NGOs, community groups, and residents must wrestle with the hard question of who will benefit from this cleaner river and redevelopment. The District has heard the need for more comprehensive coordination and implementation of Anacostia Waterfront plans and initiatives, and has ramped up efforts. OP has appointed a waterfront lead who is

convening an Anacostia Waterfront Interagency Working Group. DOEE has hired an Anacostia coordinator focused on the river’s cleanup. The District will also be completing a progress report on AWI implementation that will highlight opportunities. These steps are important if we want to realize the vision of improved river health, public land access, and vibrant, inclusive communities. Efforts must continue to give residents a voice in shaping the future of these resources. Katherine Antos is the Ambassador for the Anacostia River under the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. The partnership comprises 14 federal agencies and numerous state and local agencies and community-based organizations working to restore impaired urban waterways around the country and reconnect and revitalize surrounding underserved communities. Each of the 19 Urban Waters locations has an “ambassador” helping to facilitate collaboration among partners to further the goals of Urban Waters. The Anacostia Ambassador’s position is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, and Department of Energy & Environment and a grant to the Anacostia Waterfront Trust. Katherine Antos can be reached at kantos@anacostiatrust.org.

NPS TRANSFER SITES ARS/USDA NPS/LANGSTON PRIVATE DC NPS LEASE TO DC DOD GSA PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT

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Our River: The Anacostia

Your Chance to Help Plan the Future of Anacostia Park

by Bill Matuszeski

or nearly all of us, the closest open space and encounter with nature is the park land along our Anacostia River. Now we can all help plan the future look and appeal of that space, because the National Park Service has the Anacostia Park Management Plan and Environmental Assessment open for comment by March 18. The plan is considered the primary guidance document for managing the park for the next 15-20 years. It sets out goals for the natural areas, cultural sites, public recreation, and waterfront management for all 1,108 acres of parkland. It also provides nearly 200 pages of background information, issue analysis, and proposed uses and activities for all areas of the park. Your homework assignment is to read the report and provide ideas and reactions to the Park Service by March 18. You can find the document at http://parkplanning. nps.gov/anacostiagmp. Send comments online or to: Env. Protection Specialist re: Anacostia Park Management Plan, National Capital Parks – East, 1100 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC 20020. The plan considers the best mix of uses for the land and sets out three options (Nos. 2-4, see chart on next page) as well as a “no action” alternative (No. 1). The options, going from 2 to 4, put increasing emphasis on natural area preservation at the expense of other uses such as recreation or community activities. The Park Service prefers option 3. Acreage allocations are set forth in the table, but the document does not provide the acreages for current land uses. The park covers the entire east side of the river from the Maryland-DC line near the New York Avenue bridge over the river, all the way to the South Capitol Street Bridge, including the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Poplar Point. It also includes the Kenilworth Athletic Fields, National Park Service land that will be transfered to DC once it has been cleaned of toxics. On the west side the park is more splintered. It runs intact from the DC line to Benning Road, including a thin strip along the river past the Arboretum. It also runs in a thin and interrupted strip from Benning Road to the 11th Street Bridge, with Kingman and Heritage islands excluded as city property and most of RFK Stadium and surroundings under long-term lease to Events DC. Below the bridge are a few pieces including a small park and marina at the tip of Buzzard Point. The plan seeks to give coherence to all this by providing a framework for future decisions by the Park Service and others regarding operations, resource protection and restoration, and partnerships. The overall goal is to establish a “signature urban

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park” with high-quality inspirational, natural, and cultural spaces along with recreation and education for urban communities. The Park Service must address many challenging issues in trying to manage the future of the park. The central one is the need to balance the variety of visitor experiences to maximize the value of each and to minimize conflicts. You cannot have picnics on an active soccer field or contemplate nature while a kindergarten field trip marches by. Other key issues are contaminated sites in or near park land; protecting natural resource areas; improving access (roads, bridges, and railroads block the east side, and roads, a railroad line, a stadium, a golf course, and a cemetery restrict the west side); archeological sites; and historic and cultural resources, for example Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the Langston Golf Course. Some of the plan’s most interesting parts describe the past, the present, and the foreseeable future of these and other places along the river. Here are some of them. Anacostia Riverside Trail. The Eastside Trail is now complete, although the long-term plan is to relocate the portion that skirts the Kenilworth playing fields down along the river once the toxics from the fields are cleaned up. A hiker/biker bridge from the trail to the Arboretum is in the works. Langston Golf Course Rehabilitation. The focus will be on erosion control and stormwater management, including new cart pathways and a strip for the West Side Trail along the water. Wetlands and Resident Goose Management. The Park Service recently adopted a plan to reduce the number and impact of the Canada geese in wetland areas, where they are eating grasses beyond their ability to regrow. Anacostia Watershed Restoration Plan. This is the Park Service partnership with the Department of Energy & Environment to carry out a comprehensive effort to reduce toxic sources and levels in the river and eventually make it fishable and swimmable. It includes reducing sources from upstream, from old industrial sites, and from sediments. Estimated completion date is 2024. 11th Street Bridge Park. This is a public/private partnership under the leadership of THEARC to build a broad public pedestrian space with performance area, gardens, access to the river, and other amenities from one side of the river to the oth-

Anacostia Park and surrounding areas. Photo: National Park Service

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Natural areas

352 acres

536 acres

620 acres

Organized recreation

212

133

Community space

204

139

122

Golf course

167

128

er on the piers of the old bridge. It is scheduled to open in 2019. DC United Soccer Stadium. About to begin construction on Buzzard Point. Poplar Point Transfer and Redevelopment. This is the area on the east side of the river above the South Capitol Street Bridge. It comprises 110 acres and is slated to be turned over to the city once the Park Service and the city agree on a plan for its development as a combined park and mixed development. Seventy of the acres are to remain as open space. Issues of toxic contamination on the site will require attention since it was a Navy disposal area, among other things. DC Water Clean Rivers Project. This is the effort to deal with the frequent discharges of raw sewage into the river from the city’s combined sewer system due to excess runoff from storms. The solution being pursued is to store the combined effluent in large tunnels that feed it through the Blue Plains treatment plant once the storm has passed. The work is to be completed this year. New and Ongoing Transportation Projects. These include a new South Capitol Street Bridge and access streets and roads, Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard, the Pennsylvania and Minnesota avenues intersection, and the Kenilworth Avenue Study. Contaminated Sites on Park Service Property. The key properties here are the Kenilworth Park landfill under the playing fields; Poplar Point mentioned above; the Washington Gas site on the west side above the 11th Street Bridge; and the river bottom. Most of the remainder of the plan looks at management options by land type, starting with soils and sediments. The wetlands section explains that there are 105.4 acres on Park Service land, comprising half the wetlands in DC and the largest amount anywhere

in the Anacostia watershed. Other sections cover upland vegetation, floodplains, archeological resources, and cultural resources. This last grouping has a fascinating summary of the history and planned future for a number of areas where you may not have known important events took place. It includes the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens; the Langston Golf Course Historic District, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 for the role it played in the desegregation of public facilities and clubs; the lower Anacostia riverbanks, where in 1932 the Bonus Army marched into the city to claim pension benefits for veterans of World War I and stayed in a tent city until they were burned out under orders issue by Herbert Hoover and carried out by Gen. Douglas MacArthur; and the Anacostia Field House, where the 1949 desegregation of the public swimming pool was a victory for civil rights. A lot has happened along Our River! Finally, the plan takes a look at us, the users, and focuses on six groups who are a priority to accommodate in this “signature urban park.” The six are those seeking passive recreation like picnicking and fishing; those playing organized sports; athletes in training (running, biking, workouts, and aerobics); boaters; naturalists and environmental activists; and partakers of educational and cultural programs. That is a lot to cover in a plan for the next 15-20 years along Our River. Take a look, make your views known, and above all get out and enjoy what the National Park Service is offering us. Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, a DC member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River, and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River.

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The District Beat

The Politics of Legislation

fter agreeing to divvy up the prime real estate of committee chairmanships, DC Councilmembers have begun identifying their top public policy priorities. As a group they are famous – infamous even – for introducing excessive numbers of legislative proposals. Many of those bills never see the light of day; they die in committee. Others make it out and get approved by the full legislature, only to be stopped dead when the requisite funds aren’t available for implementation. The phrase “pending appropriations” has become wellknown around the John A. Wilson Building as a vehicle for placating the masses, much like a pacifier or pabulum for a baby, particularly during an election cycle. While elections aren’t until 2018, several councilmembers – Ward 1’s Brianne Nadeau for example – have announced their intentions to re-up for the job. They have started to focus more keenly, therefore, on satisfying their base and scoping out opportunities to expand it. Their legislative proposals run the gamut from affordable housing to universal paid leave, to benefits for police, improved services for ex-criminal offenders, business deregulation, and campaign finance reform.

Elections Move

Consider that At-large Councilmember Anita Bonds has reintroduced legislation favorable to the city’s renters. The Rental Housing Affordability Stabilization Amendment Act of 2017 would reconfigure the formula for annual increases in rent-controlled buildings. The Preservation of Affordable Rent Control Housing Amendment Act would “prohibit agreements between tenants and a housing provider from including terms that would result in inequitable treatment among any current tenant, or inequitable treatment of any current tenant relative to any future tenant.” Essentially it would halt the controversial voluntary rent increases into which tenants sometimes enter with landlords to effect improvements in their buildings. Those rent hikes often are imposed on new renters and have the adverse effect of removing affordable units from the market. Last year, when Bonds introduced similar bills, most of the 13 legislators joined her. That augurs well

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by Jonetta Rose Barras

for passage this time before Bonds’ name appears on a 2018 ballot. After all, councilmembers know that more than 80,000 units are under the city’s rent control law. Translation: a whole bunch of voters are watching. Council Chair pro tempore Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5) may not have that kind of smooth sailing with his efforts to beef up regulations for short-term housing rentals like those associated with Airbnb. “Critically, the new short-term rental license category limits hosts to short-term renting only their own primary residence. This requirement, when it is enforced, will effectively end commercial short-term rental operations that deplete housing and harm neighborhoods.” In addition to a new “basic” licensing regimen and limits on the number of units that could be rented, the bill would require the owner to be on the premises throughout the time the space is renting, with the exception of 15 vacation days. The legislation would establish fines for violations of $1,000 for the first and up to $7,000 for the third infraction. McDuffie could find himself on the wrong side of the issue, however. Within the last two years increasing numbers of working- and middle-class residents have used short-term renting or Airbnb as a vehicle for supplementing income. It has become a tool for getting the mortgage paid and putting food on the table. Instead of being perceived as protecting affordable housing, as he has claimed, McDuffie might be labeled a Grinch for taking money out of residents’ wallets. Alternatively he could be cast as a troll for the hotel industry, which sees short-term rental businesses as encroachment on its territory and bottom line. To emphasize that point Airbnb has started its own opposition campaign; a nasty fight has begun. It also doesn’t help that McDuffie’s bill may be viewed as anti-small business at a time when Chair Phil Mendelson has said he wants to change the notion that DC is not business friendly. Mendelson said last year that he wants a moratorium on new business regulations. Last month he and At-Large Councilmember David Grosso introduced the Local Business Support Amendment Act of 2017. “This legislation removes government-imposed roadblocks to our city businesses, which are a driving force to our economic prosperity,” Grosso stated at its

introduction. The bill would create an ombudsman in the Department of Small and Local Business Development; separate the certificate of occupancy from the basic business license (BBL); eliminate the BBL fee structure; and permit license transfers from one location to another without charging a fee A similar proposal was introduced in 2015 by Mendelson. It didn’t go anywhere. This time it may have wings. The bill could be the quid pro quo for the chairman’s aggressive support of the Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA). Still, the deregulation bill could hit a snag. Mendelson, along with three other lawmakers, has introduced legislation that would alter the original paid leave bill even before it is implemented. That action has irritated UPLA advocates including At-Large member Elissa Silverman and Grosso. Silverman may have to walk a fine line in her opposition. Privately a few business community leaders confessed to the District Beat that they are trying to recruit someone to run against her in 2018. Grosso’s seat is safe at least for the next four years.

Arrivistas

Not every legislator has the pressure of an election on his or her shoulder. People like former Mayor and Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray, Ward 8’s Trayon White, and At-large Member Robert White just arrived on the scene. Still they have to establish their bona fides. Were they the right politicians for the job? Are they prepared to deliver for their voters? Driven by the need to keep campaign promises, Robert White took the unprecedented step of sending a letter last month to Mayor Bowser urging her to increase funding for his key issues of affordable housing, job training, education, and returning citizens. “I believe [DC] faces a looming long-term risk to our stability and prosperity as a result of persistent income and wealth inequality. Compared to the nation as a whole, a smaller proportion of our residents are middle class, leaving our city starkly divided between rich and poor.” “I wanted the mayor to know I am interested in working collaboratively. We have some overlapping priorities. I hope she sees fit to fund those priorities,” said White. More specifically, White has requested the mayor provide an additional $17.4 million for permanent supportive housing, targeted housing for the homeless, and rapid rehousing aimed to keep people out of shelters. He also has proposed that Mayor Bowser put another $3 million into her financial plan to provide transportation for adults attending training programs. He has asked that she add two full-time staffers to the agency serving ex-offenders and that she fully fund the Incarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurial Program Act of 2016. (That legislation was advocated by former At-Large Councilmember Vincent B. Or-

ange, whom White unseated in 2016.) The bill would assist returning citizens in setting up small businesses. Mayor Bowser is expected to present her FY 2018 budget and financial plan later this month. As in the past, the Council will take her proposal and do with it what it wishes. That’s because the executive proposes and the legislature disposes. White knows that. By lobbying the mayor, White may be hedging his bets. If Bowser agrees, she would be seizing an opportunity to rebuild an alliance that she lost last year when three of her dependable allies were booted from the legislature during the general election. White, of course, wouldn’t present his motives in such purely political terms. He told the District Beat that he is focused on bridging the gap “between where the District has moved in recent years and people who have been left behind.” He argued that despite the recent financial reports, which present a glowing picture of the city’s fiscal health, DC faces “a great risk by not addressing the growing income gap and a dangerously small middle class … I believe [the city] faces a longterm liability to our prosperity and stability as a result of persistent income and wealth inequality.” White said after reviewing the recent 2016 comprehensive financial report that the city is in good fiscal health. “The money is there.” That may be true, but it likely won’t have White’s name on it. McDuffie has a better chance of getting his bill passed than White has of securing the additional funding he is seeking. That’s because McDuffie is a committee chair with control over the budgets of agencies under his purview. White, on the other hand, would be sitting at the table during budget discussions without even Monopoly money.

619 reside in the city. His legislation “would draw prospective and new officers in on the front end and hopefully prevent them from moving to more affordable surrounding communities, taking their experience with them.” Like White, Allen is interested in improving the reentry of returning citizens. He said he has been exploring options with the executive, including using the DC Jail as a preparation site. Offenders would spend the last 12-18 months of their sentences there, receiving training and other services to ensure “they don’t re-offend,” explained Allen. Perhaps his most controversial proposals would be those related to campaign finance reform. Councilmembers have been promising changes for the past three years, after several former legislators were tagged by the Office of the US Attorney with felonies and Gray’s 2010 mayoral campaign was caught in an illegal funding scandal. Allen has introduced the Government Contractor Pay to Play Prevention Act with Mendelson, Silverman, Grosso, Trayon White, Robert White, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, and Ward 1 Councilmember Nadeau. That measure would prohibit businesses or individuals with contracts valued at $100,000 or more from contributing for one year to any political campaign. “As a citizen, as an individual, you can still give,” said Allen. Allen also has proposed forcing candidates to retire all their debt for any given campaign within six months after the close of the election. He has endorsed a public financing proposal introduced by Grosso. Allen said he is making a few changes but did not offer details. The bill would provide support to candidates using tax dollars based on the number of reported donors. “This is designed to empower small donors,” said Allen.

Stepping Up

The Congressional Elephant

Ward 6’s Charles Allen has money and clout as chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, one of the largest. He is in the position to make or break a few careers, including his own – although he is much too modest to make such a claim. Allen helped slap down Gray’s emergency legislation to enhance salaries of Metropolitan Police Department officers while increasing the total population of the force. “I wouldn’t take $63 million while we still have some elements of the [comprehensive crime prevention act of 2016] that have not moved forward,” Allen explained, adding that he has promised to conduct an early public hearing on Gray’s bill. Allen isn’t oblivious to the issue of police. He introduced the First Responder Housing Incentive Program Amendment Act of 2017, which would offer a $10,000 grant and a $10,000 deferred loan to officers interested in buying a home in DC and living full-time in the city. Currently, of the 3,800 officers on the force, Allen said only

How successful Allen and the deep-blue crew will be with altering campaign finance and ethics laws or implementing any of their other public policy proposals may be determined by whether Congress decides to interfere. Some civic leaders like Terry Lynch, an active civic leader, have worried aloud that the Council is ignoring the red wall around Capitol Hill. “I don’t think they understand the new political reality.” He said legislators appear willing to have their bills thrown out or repealed by Congress. “I think the most productive use of their time would be making sure they are conducting [effective] oversight.” Lynch and others have suggested that too much of the new legislation is aimed at social programs and is not favored in Congress. Under the city’s partial independence, Congress has 30 days to review legislation approved by the Council. It must act affirmatively to prevent implementation. Last month, a US House of Representatives committee with direct oversight of the local government tried to block the Death with Dignity

Act, which essentially allows a resident suffering a terminal illness, in concert with a physician, to decide if or when to take their own life. The congressional committee’s action came too late in the process, allowing the city to move forward at least temporarily. Congress can still bar the spending of city funds on the law via its appropriations process. “My sense is that it would be more productive to use the time dealing with low-hanging fruit,” continued Lynch, citing infrastructure improvements and redevelopment of facilities like the FBI Building at Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue or the “decrepit” police headquarters.” That kind of possum strategy could be useless. The District is a Democratic stronghold, which makes it a perfect target for conservatives interested in whipping their opponents. Meanwhile local officials have made no secret of their loathing of Congress and seem on a collision course with the federal overlords. The mayor and Council have asserted they will retain their “sanctuary city” status, refusing to provide any immigrant enforcement help to federal agencies. With a tinge of sarcasm, Cheh and Nadeau have each invited Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the city’s congressional watchdog, to attend local public hearings. The District’s love-hate relationship with Congress isn’t new. Federal representatives have stepped into local affairs for years. They once prevented the city from distributing needles to help stop the spread of HIV. More recently they stopped implementation of retail regulations the city would have used to capitalize on its legalization of recreational marijuana. They continue to prohibit the use of local tax dollars to finance abortions. Allen may exacerbate the congressional ire. In preparation for Congress’s repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) he has introduced the Defending Access to Women’s Health Care Services Act of 2017. It would require, among other things, that insurers cover the cost of contraceptives and sterilization procedures. This flies in the face of the intentions of House Republicans, who are threatening to bar Planned Parenthood from Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements. The Capitol is filled with “pro-lifers.” Allen seemed unfazed by the threat and has strongly disagreed with Lynch and others. Besides, the city may be building a potent posse. Last month more than 1,000 people gathered for the “Hands Off DC” campaign that Allen helped launch. “I don’t subscribe to the belief that because we have a hostile Congress that we should just stop doing our job,” said Allen. Jonetta Rose Barras, an author and freelance journalist, blogs at jonettarosebarras.com.

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Feeding Many, Pleasing Few Residents find inadequate, unequal services at Safeway stores in Ward 7 article and photos by Christine Rushton

hen Jessica Wynter Martin transplanted herself from California to the DeanShelves for pork products on Feb. 25 in the Safeway at 322 40th St. NE were sparsely stocked with butcher’s wood neighborhood in Ward 7, her choices in comparison to the nonlocal packaged options on the neighboring shelf. first stop seemed logical. She went to the local grocery to get food for her empty apartment. But a trip to the Safeway at 322 40th St. NE gave her a taste of the reality er dollars in the District. her Ward 7 neighbors have faced for several years. Other residents “I cooked the food that I got from the Safeway and I got sick,” said Martin, foundgo to the Harris Teeer and CEO of nonprofit consulting firm JWM Concepts LLC. “And the next day it ter store near Potomac all went bad. My box of strawberries, every strawberry, went to mold in two days.” Avenue SE, the Giant “It’s just deplorable conditions,” she added. on Third and H streets With only two major affordable grocery stores left in the ward, long lines and NE, or stores in Marypoor service plague residents trying to provide basic food needs for their families. land and Virginia, she Martin focuses her work on food justice, food access, and urban agriculture. said. “The real challenge She and neighbors in the Ward 7 community want better, healthier food options is that poor people have for their families, but the fight seems to go on without any real change. (Ward 8 learned to fend in a soalso faces the same grocery problems.) ciety and economy that The two main grocery stores in Ward 7 are Safeways, one on 40th Street and another is not supportive,” she at 2845 Alabama Ave. SE. Ward 8 has one Giant grocery store at 1535 Alabama Ave. SE. said, speaking of the resIn comparison, Ward 6 has at least six big grocery stores and several other organic idents who have to carry Raw chicken parts for sale on Feb. 25 in the Safeway at and other markets, even though the three wards have about the same number of resbags of groceries on the 322 40th St. NE. sat at the bottom of a dirty freezer bin. idents. According to data from the US Census of 2016, Ward 7 came in with more buses each week. than 70,000, Ward 8 more than 70,000, and Ward 6 more than 75,000. Constituents in the Eastland Gardens and Driving Miles Just for Food surrounding areas also complain of the poor quality, said Eastland Gardens Civic Ward 7 resident Michele Tingling-Clemons recalled sending her son to the store one Association President Rochelle Frazier Gray. Like those in Tingling-Clemons’ area, day to pick up a few items for an event. Once he got there, he called and asked if she many of Gray’s neighbors choose to drive out of the city to shop, if they’re lucky really needed the items because the line to the few open checkout lanes reached all enough to have a car. “I go to Harris Teeter in NoMa, Costco, Walmart in Capital Plathe way to the back of the store. za,” Gray said. “It really shouldn’t take me three stops just to buy the needed items.” “It’s understaffed, there’s not enough people working there,” Tingling-ClemHighest Grossing Doesn’t Mean Quality ons said. “I know the difference between a well-stocked, responsive store and what’s Safeway touts the Ward 7 store on 40th as one of its highest grossing stores, Tinglingnot.” Residents have shared stories of waiting an hour and a half in line at the store. Clemons said. Many people who don’t have cars or can’t take several buses just to Tingling-Clemons serves as the president of the Central Northeast Civic Associabuy groceries have limited or no other options. tion. She experiences the problems firsthand and often finds herself going across the riv“If we are the highest, why should we have to suffer?” she asked. “We feel it’s iner to Ward 6’s Safeway at 415 14th St. SE. She gets tired of waiting at the stores in her tentional on the part of the corporate structure of Safeway. They know they’re the only ward, and the one on Capitol Hill is better, she said. She’s trying to keep her consum-

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WARDS 7 & 8

Organic strawberries with dark spots and bruised sections were for sale on Feb. 25 in the Safeway at 322 40th St. NE.

game in town so they feel it’s OK to disrespect us over and over again.” A spokesperson for Safeway, Beth Goldberg, said the company values that Ward 7 store because it plays an important role in the community. “We welcome feedback from our Ward 7 customers and appreciate their input,” Goldberg said. “Our customers help us improve by telling us what they enjoy, and enhancements they want to see, in their shopping experience.” Safeway has no plans to close either of its Ward 7 stores, she added. Tingling-Clemons doesn’t believe Safeway offers supportive services, though. “The problems you want to report, there’s no manager available,” she declared. “They’re essentially telling you, We really don’t care.” Martin argues that the service they do provide doesn’t even come close to healthy. “You’re paying farmers’ market prices for the food at the Safeway that’s essentially waste,” she said. As for the number of employees working at the store and on the register, she doesn’t understand why management doesn’t hire more if the store has such a high gross and obvious demand. She would not encounter this problem in California or in other wards, she said.

FEEling PUsHED oUt

Residents in the ward sometimes take to neighborhood Listservs to lament

over the problems with the Safeway stores. But it also turns to a larger issue in the changing and growing District – signs of gentrification. Martin recalled some online conversations about the influx of higher-market housing and higher-income residents to the historically black communities in Wards 7 and 8. She said many worry this will bring in more retail befitting that market instead of the established residents. For example, a Starbucks may come in instead of a local coffee shop. Or a pricier grocer like Whole Foods instead of a more affordable Giant. “White voices end up being heard more than black voices,” Martin said. “We have people who have been calling, and they’re being ignored.” Gray added that the lack of attention paid to the residents’ complaints and needs feels wrong. “It makes us feel like second-class citizens,” she said. Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray declined to comment. Even if developers bring in a changing demographic, that doesn’t mean the current residents will move out, said Tingling-Clemons. In fact, she and others have started plans to host a “Food Justice and Our Right to Food” conference in late 2017 or early 2018. “The reality is we aren’t going anywhere, we aren’t leaving,” Tingling-Clemons said. “And we intend to survive and not just survive, but thrive.”

EAST OFTHE RIVER DCNEWS .COM

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Neighbors Fight Latest Parkside Plans ANC 7D, Civic Association Worry About Traffic, Grocery

eighbors of the Parkside development in Ward 7 remain frustrated at the lack of attention developer CityInterests has paid to retail, parking and the current residents of the community. With an already difficult transportation situation and limited access to transportation resources, the influx of potentially 400 new residential units with residents by 2020 (factoring in Parkside’s other developments) has many longtime neighbors worried. On Feb. 22, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D took up the issue at a special meeting on the developer’s latest design request for Parkside’s apartment project and voted to oppose. ANC 7D07

by Christine Rushton

Commissioner Justin Lini said that while CityInterests showed changes to the traffic and parking plans, the community wants more work and studies on the plan before it moves forward. “Many people are worried that new development is not for them, but for someone else,” Lini said. CityInterests has worked in Ward 7 for more than a decade, and some people don’t feel they’ve contributed enough to the growth of the overall community, said Eastland Gardens Civic Association President Rochelle Frazier Gray. “I believe that CityInterests is not a good community partner and developer for that area,” she said. CityInterests has worked with the community since it started the project more than a decade ago and wants to continue the dialogue, said CityInterests Part-

The proposed Parkside development. Renderings: City Interests

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ner Jonathan Novak. Parkside is a three million square foot, roughly $100 million project with the Parkside Center for Learning and Career Development, 1,500-2,000 residential units, 750,000 square feet of office space and between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet of retail.

Traffic Jam

Interstate 295 already isolates some residents on the west side of the highway from reaching retail and grocery stores without a car. Those with a car have to deal with the traffic from those major roadways and commuters coming in and out of Maryland just to get from their home to the store and back. But if a developer adds additional car traffic with apartment complexes, that will aggravate the problem, Lini said. “It’s a lot of development for a small area,” he said. CityInterests started the Parkside development plans in 2006 and included a $3 million pedestrian bridge plan that would connect the Parkside development on the west side of the 295 to the Minnesota Avenue NE Metro rail station on the east side. But the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) didn’t move on the project until recently. Many residents remain isolated if they can’t drive to get out for work and groceries. Access to the roads into the Pepco Benning Service Center that borders Benning Road just south of those communities could alleviate traffic woes. But CityInterests, DDOT and the community have not finalized any plans with the company for that access. Novak said they want to address the dissatisfaction with the transportation, but it’s going to take coopera(continues to pg.35)

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neighborhood news

DC’s Latest Plans to Rehab Historic Anacostia Homes by John Muller

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ispersed throughout the Anacostia Historic District are idle and orphaned homes whose custody is being fought over between two branches of the city’s government. Plans for rehabilitation of the long-blighted properties (1326 Valley Place, 1220 Maple View Place, 1518 W St., 1648 U St., and two vacant lots on W Street SE) owned by the city began when the L’Enfant Trust, an historic preservation nonprofit organization founded in 1978, became active in the Anacostia Historic District in 2012. Within two years it acquired, reconstructed, and sold 1347 Maple View Place and 2010 14th St. SE without the aid of city funding. It financed the projects to a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars although a portion of labor and construction costs was discounted or donated by companies they recruited. A groundswell of community goodwill and subsequent media coverage positioned the Trust to continue working in the neighborhood. The Trust twice met with officials from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) while also meeting with members of the DC Council. Chair Phil Mendelson and his staff were responsive to the Trust, and passed legislation in fall 2016 that conveyed the blighted DHCD properties to the Trust. Within a matter of days DHCD announced a solicitation for offers (SFO)

for its portfolio of vacant properties within the Anacostia Historic District. Late last month DHCD announced it had received two responses to the SFO: one from Mi Casa, a nonprofit affordable housing developer that has completed more than 500 affordable housing units since its founding in 1992, and the other from the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH), a nonprofit community development corporation that has delivered more than 131 units of affordable housing for lowand moderate-income families since its first project in 1991. The developers will be expected to complete construction and/or rehabilitation within 18 months of closing, according to DHCD.

Officials Divided

Council Chair Mendelson and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White are not in full agreement with DHCD

Director Polly Donaldson on some of the issues. Councilmember White, alluding to the role of the Trust, told East of the River, “These properties left ‘as is’ are not what the community needs, so at all costs it benefits everyone to get them back on market and sold so the community will not only look good, but also increase property values.” Mendelson also supported the Trust, saying, “What’s at issue here is there is a reputable company that has rehabbed houses in this Historic District who will do this free of charge, and the city has rejected them and instead is going with a bidder to whom the city has offered to pay $2 million.” He continued, “These precious funds are coming out of our Housing Production Trust Fund. Why should the city pay when we know for sure it can get the same product for free?” He said that DHCD was “clearly trying to thwart the Council. That’s not a good basis for public policy, in this case public policy that is going to cost us $2 million we don’t need to spend.” The expenditure Mendelson questions has been the bedrock of Mayor Bowser’s annual $100 million commitment to support affordable housing preservation or new construction. According to DHCD this commitment is “more than any city per capita in the country,” and when compared to states, “DC’s trust fund is the country’s second largest in the country.” DHCD is a lead agency in carrying out the mayor’s affordable housing policies. “Since January 2015, one of DHCD’s top priorities has been aggressively moving vacant and blighted properties out of its pipeline,” says Donaldson. She characterized the competitive solicitation process as “fair, transparent and open,” ensuring that “all interested developers have the chance to bid on properties that will ultimately result in new, vibrant affordable homes for District residents making no more than 80 percent of the area median income.” Donaldson noted that DHCD had recently closed its solicitation of offers on turning six properties in Historic Anacostia into affordable housing.

“DHCD only evaluates the proposals of applicants that have formally responded to our SFOs. In the case of the historic Anacostia SFO, the only two applicants were Mi Casa and DCCH. DHCD is currently in the process of reviewing the proposals we received.” According to Lauren McHale, executive director of the L’Enfant Trust, “The city has a two-track approach – two very separate approaches in facing its obligation to the Anacostia community.” The legislative method and executive edict are two trains running in opposite directions. “Chairman Mendelson accepted the Trust’s philanthropic financing model to reclaim these derelict, scattered houses in the Anacostia Historic District,” McHale wrote in an email. “He saw our Historic Properties Redevelopment Program as a wonderful gift to the city – as did all members of the DC Council except for Ex-Councilmember May.” The same level of support was not forthcoming from DHCD, McHale said. “Donaldson maintained that her agency must ‘get the best deal for its assets’ – never addressing that these buildings have been allowed to rot for years, even decades – causing the steep costs that any developer will face when rehabbing these derelict homes.” Whether or not the door remains open for the L’Enfant Trust, McHale is aware the organization has a legacy of preservation that will continue to reverberate. “The Trust is pleased to have played its role in supporting the Anacostia community in finding a way to force the District government to take responsibility for its stewardship obligations in Ward 8.

For More Information

DHCD is completing the deliberative process of proposal evaluation and will announce the award by April. Residents with questions can contact DHCD at 202-442-7200 or check the website at http://dhcd.dc.gov/ for periodic updates. DHCD encourages residents to use the Housing Resource Center or dchousingsearch.org to find affordable housing.

(continues from pg.32)

tion and conversations among them, DDOT and the community. “We did a study almost a decade ago and highlighted the challenges that exist in making that connection (to Pepco),” Novak said. “They’re not insurmountable, but do require multiparty cooperation.” CityInterests brought revised plans to the Feb. 22 meeting that unbundled the parking from the rentals, which would require residents to pay for parking. It also included more diagrams on how Metro Rail would be made more accessible for tenants. But the plans still need more research, Lini said. The community asked the developers to factor in car shares, bicycle shares and Metro bus stops to the parking plan. “What really came out of the discussion with the community on this was that the impacts on street parking need to be explored more thoroughly…” Lini said. “It’s clear more work needs to be done to satisfy their concerns.”

Retail Desert

Ward 7 residents continue to face a dearth of options when it comes to retail and grocery stores within walking or close commute distances. Gray has argued with the CityInterests developers at ANC meetings about their plans for roughly 17,000 square feet of divided retail and no concrete ideas on if it will get a grocer. “They said they know we need retail, but they don’t build it,” she said. “It’s nothing that really benefits the community.” Residents have asked about options for grocery stores or food stores since the nearest major shopping store is the crowded Benning Road and 40th Street NE Safeway. CityInterests suggested a “Save A Lot” discount grocery or a Wagshals delicatessen and gourmet market, Gray said.

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But the first option lacks the quality neighbors seek and the second more fits a person living in an apartment in the city than the homeowners that have traditionally lived in the area, Gray said. “I asked CityInterests if they knew where most of the residents shop for their groceries,” she said. “They did not have a response.” The developer does have plans to bring in several retailers, including a small-format grocery store, Novak said. The largest planned retail square footage allowance is between 15,000 and 16,000 square feet, so large stores like Safeway or Giant don’t fit that market demand. “There’s an unmet need for a neighborhood-serving grocery,” he said. “We believe the Parkside developments will capitalize on that opportunity.”

Disregard for Current Residents

Neighbors in the Parkside, Kenilworth and Eastland Gardens area community want to know the developers take their needs into account, too, Gray said. How can a developer planning on entering into an already established community not consider the fact that some residents don’t have a pharmacy close by to get their medication or their food, she asked. “They continue to ignore what the residents need and continue to plan for their future profit,” she said. CityInterests has cited outdated data on the retail and economic situation, as well as for the traffic issues, Gray said. She also wants them to share the numbers that show the area needs more rentals, not more small homes to buy. “It’s always a fight,” she said. “It’s never a collaboration.” Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray (D) declined to comment.

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trayon White launches Initiative to Combat violence

Ward 8 residents march for the Red Ribbon Safe Communities Initiative on Feb. 14. Photo: Dana Hall

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

by Christine Rushton

n his 32 years of life, Trayon White says he has buried more than 93 people. He’s lived his entire life in DC’s Ward 8, except for the time he spent away at college, and now leads the community as its city councilmember. One of his first initiatives is to start curbing the violence that takes away so many of his residents’ friends and families. “I want to use my position on the Council to empower more people like me on this issue,” he said. On Feb. 7 White introduced the Safe Way Home Act of 2017, a bill designed to provide $5 million annually to a grant-management entity for the next three years – $15 million total. The money will go toward outreach and programming on violence in Wards 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

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White has started a community movement of his own, the Red Ribbon Safe Communities Initiative.

MarCHINg agaINst vIoleNCe

The bill stipulates that the mayor must establish the Safe Passage Community Outreach Program to manage part-time employees who will help students get to and from schools in designated neighborhoods in participating wards. “The idea is to figure out what programs have relationships in the community and give them the resources,” White said. The Councilmembers who introduced the bill are White, David Grosso (At-Large), Mary Cheh (Ward 3), Vincent Gray (Ward 7), Jack Evans (Ward 2), Anita Bonds (AtLarge, Brandon Todd (Ward 4), and Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5). This bill falls to the committees on Labor and Workforce Development, on Human Services, and on Judiciary and Public Safety. The legislation won’t start moving through each committee until June 1, so

At least two shootings happened along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on back-to-back weeks between the end of January and start of February. One injured at least four when a gunman fired into a crowd. This prevalence of violence in the community demands action now, not when a bill can go through, said White. “Just the consistency of me having to visit families whose loved ones are gone, it’s a hurtful feeling,” he said, “but it’s a part of what has to be done as a leader in the community.” In the meantime White has launched his Red Ribbon Safe Communities Initiative and organized neighbors in Ward 8 to march in support on Feb. 14. The goal is to build a community-driven outreach program against violence. Lines of people at the first Red Ribbon meeting in January went out the door, White said. At least 133 people attended, and the next time he plans to host at a larger venue. The goal, he said, is to make this a community-led effort. “We want to create smaller community based organizations to do activities like mentoring, tutoring, etc.” Several groups including the Washington Peace Center, Keep DC 4 Me, and Black Lives Matter DC have shown support for this initiative. “Community members and supporters must show up continuously and consistently to do the hard work in the streets of our community because ‘No One is Disposable,’” the Washington Peace Center wrote on its event page for the Feb. 14 march. “Interrupt violence strategically and intentionally as a community. Safe, healthy, and thriving Black communities are not only possible but essential.”

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“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Quoting the words of Martin Luther King Jr., White laid out the urgency behind reducing the violence in his Ward 8. He said that if residents work together and have a stake in what happens to their community, they will have an incentive to make permanent changes. He wants to empower the people to take back the community and use government resources both through the Red Ribbon Initiative and the Safe Way Home Act. “We’re trying to see a 25 percent decrease in homicides and violent crimes,” said White. To learn more about upcoming events with the initiative, visit www.trayonwhite8.com.

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The Dietitian Next Door Learning How to Eat Better in a Food Desert with Guidance

by Candace Y.A. Montague

hat’s for dinner? Sounds like a simple question but it can have some very complicated responses. Cooking meals at home has been proven to lead to healthier eating and

calorie control. But what do you do when nutritionally adequate ingredients are scarce and unaffordable? Call your neighborhood dietitian.

Hello! My Name Is Charmaine

Meet Charmaine Jones, registered dietitian nutritionist. Jones is a native Washingtonian who grew up in the Trinidad section of Northeast. As an undergraduate at North Carolina Wesleyan College she studied environmental science. “I just knew I was going to be a tree hugger.” After spending time working with African-American women in a study at Howard University, Jones knew that her new purpose would be to help others find ways to eat healthy. “People kept telling me that I should go to Bethesda because I can get paid. But it was my dream to work in this community because I grew up in it. The first dietitian I saw was white. I said if I become a dietitian I want to become one for my people.” Jones earned her BS and MS in nutrition and dietetics from the University of the District of Columbia. She went on to serve as a nutrition counselor for several local organizations and conducted seminars at schools, churches, and DC government offices. Now she is the owner of Food Jonezi, a nutritional consulting practice in Southwest. She provides affordable oneon-one and group consulting.

gry Is America?” The report revealed that one in six households in DC struggles to afford enough food. Even when there is enough money, shopping options are few in a grocery-store gap. Jones has a few tips for eating healthy on a budget and making the best of your situation. “Carryouts are challenging. When I counsel people, I tell them that if they have to get carryout food, go for the steamed broccoli and grilled chicken. Avoid brown sauces and fried foods. A lot of my clients shop at 7-Eleven because they just don’t have the means [to get to the grocery store]. I know that ramen noodles are a favorite because it’s an easy food. I tell them to think about it. You can get

Charmaine Jones is founder and owner of Food Jonezi. Photo: Lavan Anderson at Everydaylavan

Best Practices

Many problems can arise when transitioning to a healthier diet. The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) released a report in 2016 entitled “How Hun-

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Charmaine Jones teaches healthy cooking techniques to AmeriHealth members during the monthly cooking class. Photo: Imagine Photography

a box of spaghetti and a jar of marinara sauce. That’s more nutritious and it lasts at least two days. And it’s more cost effective.” What about parents who struggle to get or keep their children on a healthy path? Jones advises them to maintain control by enforcing limits. “For kids, I tell the mothers to give their children three options to choose from. Don’t let them choose for themselves because they are going to go for the one that is appealing or has their favorite cartoon character or celebrity. At home I tell them that if they’re going to have ramen noodles then they have to add a protein with it. It makes it a complete meal. With ramen noodles you have salt and carbs. When you add protein at least you can make a meal out if it. And if you have frozen vegetables, add that to it. Then you’re adding the nutrients they took out. You can make it into a soup.” Making prepackaged foods healthy can be an arduous task. Jones advises parents to find creative ways to sneak in those missing nutrients throughout the day.

Diabetic-Friendly Eating

The District is not immune to the diabetes crisis that is crippling neighborhoods around the nation. According to DC Health Matters.org, 8.5 percent of District residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, comparable to the national average of 8.7 percent. In Wards 7 and 8 the rates are 11 percent and 15 percent respectively. Diabetes can accelerate other health conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and renal disease. Eating habits are a large portion of the solution to controlling and preventing diabetes. Jones, who is also an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia, has a threefold explanation why diabetes continues to be a threat to wellness. “One, when people get the diagnosis from the doctor, the doctor just isn’t taking the time to explain what diabetes is. Two, people are just stuck in their ways. They don’t want to change. Three, the misconception about diabe-

tes is that avoiding all carbs will help. That is the biggest misconception. It’s true that carbs break down into sugar, and that’s not good, but the real problem is poor dieting.” Jones recommends eating every three to four hours to keep blood sugar levels steady, and exercise. “Exercise helps produce more insulin for the body.”

Class Is in Session

In addition to private counseling, Jones works in collaboration with AmeriHealth Caritas DC to bring cooking classes to its members. But if you think you’re going to watch her do the work, think again. Cooking classes at the member center on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue are interactive experiences that encourage attendees to do the work from washing vegetables to cooking. Attendees leave the class with the proper ingredients and recipes to repeat the meal at home. Darla Bishop, manager of marketing, communication, and health promotion at AmeriHealth, says the classes are helpful to members who manage chronic conditions. “Nutrition is a major focus for the program that we have. With Charmaine being a registered dietitian she can host hands-on cooking demonstrations to show members who may be struggling with eating better. She can show them easy techniques that they can use at home and tasty recipes that are on the lighter side.” Classes are held once a month at the member wellness center for a maximum of 12 members per class. The classes are free for AmeriHealth Caritas members. Charmaine Jones’s office is at 100 M St. SE, next to the Navy Yard Metro station. Find out more about her services by visiting www.foodjonezi.com. For more information about the AmeriHealth Caritas cooking and fitness classes visit http://amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/healthy-living/ classes.aspx. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.

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east washington life

Honoring Masters Like Melba Liston; Enjoying Women in Jazz

by Steve Monroe

“Melba [Liston] had the incredible ability of making musicians sound better through what she wrote for them. That’s the mark of a great arranger,” writes jazz master pianist, composer, and bandleader Randy Weston in his autobiography, “African Rhythms,” written with our own DC Jazz Festival guru Willard Jenkins. “She wrote for Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, Gloria Lynne, the Supremes, Bob Marley …” This March we celebrate Women’s History Month and honor the legacy of women in jazz like trombonist Melba Liston (1926-1999), known for her musicianship and her arrangements and for helping pave the way for those like Washington Women in Jazz Festival performers Amy Bormet, Leigh Pilzer, Sarah Hughes, and Shannon Gunn. Festival events this month include vocalist-educator Jessica Boykin-Settles’ free show, “Oh Ella! Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald,” a

Rising songstress Christie Dashiell, whose debut CD is “Time All Mine” (see www.christiedashiell.com), appears on March 11 at the Kennedy Center.

Rhythm Cafe performance at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 4, at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE. Call 202-633-4844 or see www. anacostia.si.edu for complete information. Swedish alto saxophonist/flautist and bandleader Biggi Vinkeloe leads an improvisation workshop at 2 p.m., March 12, at Robert Harper Books, 6216 Rhode Island Ave., in Riverdale Park, Md. See www. washingtonwomeninjazz for more information. See March highlights below for other events featuring women performers.

InPerson … Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

Vanessa Rubin, dazzling in her gold-sequined top and white pants, sang out to the large crowd, “Are You Ready for Me?” at the feature show on the main stage the first night of the 8th Annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival at the Hilton Hotel & Meeting Executive Center in Rockville last month. Then Rubin, with her guest Paul Carr, the festival impresario himself playing tenor sax, sang her way through a thoroughly entertaining set, including a rousing “All Blues.” Earlier that Friday, trumpeter DeAndrey Howard & Collector’s Edition, with sax man Tracy Cutler, delivered some spicy sounds in the atrium. Howard and Cutler shone on “Theme for Maxine,” “Yesterdays,” and other tunes, along with pianist Bob Butta. On Saturday the festival’s vocalist competition highlighted our own Danielle Wertz, especially on “Beautiful Love,” and had a fine performance by Monica Pabelonio, among the other contestants, but Boston’s Lydia Harrell, with her dramatic, heartfelt, and sultry phrasing on tunes like “Black Butterfly,” stole the show for this observer. The East Carolina University Jazz Ensemble with hot, swinging horns wowed the atrium crowd, with vocalist Samantha Kunz soaring on “Stella by Starlight” and “I Wish I Would Know How It Would Feel to be Free.” On Sunday the MAJF Collective, Akua Allrich on vocals, Janelle Gill, piano, and Savannah Harris, drums, was a highlight of the festival. Allrich was a witty and engaging entertainer as well as a stirring vocalist, leading the way on tunes like “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” “Black Coffee,” and her own tunes like “Take My Time” and “Red Bark,” with Gill’s insistent melodic charms on piano and Harris’ efficient drum passages complementing Allrich’s rich and bluesy vocals and scatting riffs. The Paul Carr Quartet that night featured Carr’s bluesy sax and vocalist Jamie Davis’ booming baritone on tunes like “Night and Day.” Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com and followed at www.twitter.com/ jazzavenues.

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March highlights: … Jessica Boykin-Settles/Ella Fitzgerald 100th Anniversary, March 11, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum … Christie Dashiell, March 11, Kennedy Center … Danielle Wertz, March 11, The Alex/Georgetown … Biggi Vinkeloe Improvisation Workshop, March 12, Robert Harper Books/Riverdale, Md. … Marty Nau, March 15, Twins Jazz … Nicholas Payton CD Release Party, March 15-16, Blues Alley … Brad Mehldau, March 16, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue … Michael Thomas Quintet, March 17-18, Twins Jazz … Thad Wilson Quartet/Kristin Callahan, March 17, Montpelier Arts Center … Shacara Rogers, March 18, The Alex/Georgetown … Allyn Johnson/Meet the Artist/ Dr. Arthur Dawkins, March 21, University of the District of Columbia Recital Hall/Bldg. 46 West … Lori Williams & Friends, March 24, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Laura Dreyer/Manhattan-Rio Connection, March 24, Montpelier Arts Center …R&B Jazz Quintet/Kenny Rittenhouse, Herman Burney, March 24-25, Twins Jazz … Jordon Dixon, March 26, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Meet the Artist/ Ralph Peterson, March 28, University of the District of Columbia Recital Hall … Roy Hargrove, March 28-31, Blues Alley ... JAZZforum/Bob Porter: Soul Jazz, March 29, University of the District of Columbia Recital Hall … Reginald Cyntje, March 31, Twins Jazz … Howard University Jazz Ensemble, March 31, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Jazz Night at the Movies/ Nat King Cole, March 31, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Todd Marcus, March 31, Montpelier Arts Center …

3.18.2017/2pm Ella Infusion: Dior Ashley Brown’s Ella Fitzgerald Tribute from an Hip Hop Perspective @ Benning Library

EAST RIVER

PRESENTS

4.1.2017/2pm Meadows plays Monk: A Pianist’s Perspective @ UDC JAZZ Recital Studio 6.9.2017 to 6.18.2017 EAST RIVER JAZZFest

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March birthdays: Benny Powell 1; Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Doug Watkins 2; Jimmy Garrison 3; Ricky Ford 4; Wes Montgomery 6; George Coleman 8; Herschel Evans, Ornette Coleman 9; Bix Biederbecke 10; Leroy Jenkins, Bobby McFerrin 11; Terence Blanchard 13; Quincy Jones 14; Cecil Taylor, Charles Lloyd 15; Tommy Flanagan 16; Nat King Cole 17; Harold Mabern, Charles Thompson 21; George Benson 22; King Pleasure 24; Ben Webster, Sarah Vaughan 27; Thad Jones 28; Michael Brecker 29; Freddie Green 31.

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homes & gardens

Beware the Tiny Hitchhikers How to Handle Bed Bug Infestations

reeping, crawling, feeding under the covers of night. They move in swiftly, only to retreat soon after to the safety of cracks and crevices. They’re called bed bugs. At least two DC Public Schools (DCPS) buildings have reported incidents of bed bugs in the last two months: Savoy Elementary School (2400 Shannon Place SE) and Miner Elementary School (601 15th St. NE). Savoy closed in early February because of the problem. Miner remains open. These two infestations are part of a much larger problem in the District. A national exterminating company, Orkin, has ranked Washington number two on its list of cities with the most reports of bed bugs. Bal-

A Superior Bed Bug Solutions dog inspects a mattress for infestation. Photo: Superior Bed Bug Solutions

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by Christine Rushton

Bed bugs. Photo: Michael Raupp timore came in at number one, Chicago number three, and New York City number four. Extermination options like heat problems have “skyrocketed,” Raupp said. The bugs and chemical treatments can work, but people also have also evolved to detect increased carbon dioxide need to understand how the bugs operate in order to levels that indicate when people are asleep in one loprevent their spread in a close-quarters space like DC, cation. Then they feed. said University of Maryland Professor of Entomology Michael Raupp. How Do You Get Them? “While you can solve the immediate problem in The bugs are good hitchhikers, explained Jesse Jardim, the school, there has to be an educational element as owner and founder of Superior Bed Bug Solutions well,” Raupp said. “Otherwise this is going to become (www.superiorbedbugsolutions.com) in Alexandria. a recurring problem.” “One way they can spread is if you come into contact What Are Bed Bugs? with them, they can latch onto your clothes and will Bed bugs are small parasites that suck on human blood stay still,” he said. at any point on the body. They will Jardim, his crew of employees, and his K9 detecfeed for 3-10 minutes before returning tion unit specialize in bed bug investigation and exto cracks or safe hiding spaces. Unlike termination. Bed bugs infest and hide out in furniture, ticks or lice, they don’t need a human backpacks, clothes, boxes – any item than can give host to survive, Raupp said. them a ride to the next human source, he said. They The bugs started out hundreds of can lay eggs anywhere, and adult bugs can live for up thousands of years ago as “bat bugs.” to a year without feeding. They fed on the nocturnal mammals The main ways people get the bugs are: until humans started living in caves • picking up junked or used furniture shared by the bats, Raupp said. The • staying in a hotel, Airbnb, or a home that has bugs migrated to the humans for a richthem er source of blood. • living in an apartment complex that has an outThe bugs plague people by infestbreak ing furniture, carpets, and living spac• putting clothes, jackets, backpacks, or other es, especially mattresses. When scienitems in a communal space (like students puttists invented DDT, an insecticide now ting backpacks in a pile at school) banned for its toxic properties, it eradJardim recently treated a school for bugs and said icated much of the problem starting in the problem came from mattresses the children used the 1930s. Safer synthetic pyrethroid during naptime. The school would send the linens products took over and continued to home with the children each week for the families to work until the bugs became resistant. wash, but one set must have come back with the bugs. Since the early 2000s the bed bug Raupp has heard of outbreaks in places like cloth-

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ing stores, theaters, and businesses because people with the bugs bring them in on their clothes. “These guys are tremendous hitchhikers and very very stealthy,” he said. “They could be in a sofa or a bureau from a secondhand store, a chest of drawers that someone put out on the side of the road.” DCPS sent an updated health FAQ sheet Feb. 21 for students and families following the recent bed bug problems. It suggests that families inspect bed linens and mattresses for brown spots as indicators of bugs.

HoW to get rID oF tHeM?

Exterminators recommend heat as the most effective form of treatment, but some chemical treatments also work. Frager’s Hardware (1321 E St. SE) sells chemical treatments for the bugs that can be cheaper than the heat treatment. Heat treatments range in cost from $1,800 to $2,800 depending on the building size. The bugs can’t adapt to heat blasting as they can to some chemicals, Jardim said. He and his team will start by bringing their dogs to find the origin of the bug problem. Bed bugs give off a distinct odor, which the dogs can identify after training at the World

LICENSED - BONDED - INSURED

Detector Dog Organization. Then Jardim shuts down the space, brings in specialized heaters, and blasts the building at 135 degrees F with dry air for about three hours. His team is usually in around 8 a.m. and out by 2 or 3 p.m. depending on the size of the job. Owners have to remove a few items for safety, but the heat won’t damage electronics, seals, and other items, he said. “It works like a convection oven, like you’re cooking a Thanksgiving turkey. You get it all the way through,” Jardim said. DCPS indicated in its FAQ sheet to families that it works with the DC Department of Health and the Department of General Services to hire pest-control services in the case of an infestation. But it doesn’t stop there. People need to schedule follow-up inspections and stay on top of cleanliness, Raupp said. Remove piles of papers, clothes, or items that the bugs could hide in. Place entrapment devices on bed legs. Put on mattress encasements. Prevention requires education, he said. To learn more, visit Raupp’s website, www.bugoftheweek.com, and look for the “Bed Bugs in the News” article.

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homes & gardens

“W

hat are you doing there in that dirt? Never seen a sista getting all dirty like that before.” Points at the basil: “What is that? What do you do with it? Is it a weed?” “No, it’s hibiscus and I use it in salads for its light, sweet, yet tart, leaves.” Yes, these are among the many questions I’ve been asked as I double dig my little garden plot behind my Deanwood apartment building. I am fortunate because not only can I grow behind my building free of charge, but the building supervisor supports and defends my little plot the best he can. The soil is a rich, dark black-brown, and between the bricks, 1950s milk bottles, and unexpired condoms lives a vast community of worms and beneficial bugs, while clover on the surface strengthens the nitrogen below. Fortunate indeed! It’s a shame, however, that not all of my neighbors take advantage of our riches here east of the river. While other residents pay millions to live in a popup shoebox on the Northwest side of town, we are given one-

You’re Gonna Eat That? Home Gardening Woes East of the River by Jessica Wynter Martin

eighth to one-third of an acre to go with our two-story, unfinished-basement, single-family homes priced well under $500K. How did we get here? When looking into the rich history of food access, gardening, and farming east of the river we see that this was the original farmland for the District. The acres of housing were fields of corn, greens, and other edible delights just a few generations ago. Speaking with my neighbors I learned my street used to be filled with the buzzing of bees from one fruit tree to the next. Peaches, pears, cherries, and plums used to line these streets free for all to eat. Now only soda cans, plastic bottles, and washed up 7-Eleven pizza boxes litter the ground. “What happened?” I asked. “Well, they cut all the fruit trees down, said they didn’t like all the bees,” I’m told by a 40-year neighborhood resident. The irony of it all is now DC is in a “bee crisis” and has passed legislation to allow homeowners to keep bees so we can save our food supply. The District has also put our wards in a Supermarket Tax Incentive HUB Zone to incentivize grocery stores, and yet we still have only three stores for 150,000 residents, and two of those stores, well, that Way isn’t so Safe if

Pumpkins grow in Jessica Wynter Martin’s urban garden.

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homes & gardens / 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 Fort Dupont Park

FEE SIMPLE

1125 44TH PL SE

1208 45TH PL SE Anacostia

1413 RIDGE PL SE #1,2,3,4 2353 S ST SE 1900 Q ST SE 1909 FAIRLAWN AVE SE 2314 SHANNON PL SE 1816 MINNESOTA AVE SE

$445,000 $430,000 $390,000 $285,000 $213,500 $110,000

618 RIDGE RD SE 4218 FORT DUPONT TER SE 1539 FORT DUPONT ST SE 1107 44TH PL SE 812 BURNS ST SE 4208 HILDRETH ST SE

4 3 3 3 0 2

$425,000 $422,500 $361,000 $330,000 $308,160 $220,000 $172,500 $166,000

Hill Crest Chillum

Jessica Wynter Martin with plants for her garden.

you catch my drift. Each year around this time I plan, I dig, and I plant. I plant milkweed and black-eyed Susan for the bees; marigolds, mint, and oregano to keep the other bugs away, and many fruits, vegetables, greens, and herbs to keep me, my friends, and family well fed all year long. Now is the time for planting! And for me, now is the time for the many interesting questions to resume, though after two years at this the questions have started changing. “What are you growing this year? Will it [the garden] be as big as last year’s?” “I’ll keep an eye on your pumpkins this time [someone stole five of my big ones last year], don’t worry about giving me one, had the best pie ever.” “Will you grow tomatoes again? Those were nice.” “Do you need anything? Can I get you some soil or seeds?” “Can you help me plan my garden? Is there time?” Yes, there is time. Let me show you. The Wynter Gardener, Jessica Wynter Martin, is a Deanwood resident and an avid urban gardener. She works tirelessly to bring about greater food access and education throughout the east river community. Send your questions, comments, and suggestions to the Wynter Gardener at WynterGardener@gmail.com.

23 MADISON ST NW 38 KENNEDY ST NE 5500 1ST ST NE 5915 3RD ST NW 221 MISSOURI AVE NW

$860,000 $640,000 $507,000 $450,000 $390,000

Congress Heights

3330 10TH PL SE 346 RALEIGH ST SE 1252 BARNABY TER SE 858 YUMA ST SE 734 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE 422 ORANGE ST SE 3305 BROTHERS PL SE

$302,500 $295,000 $280,000 $250,000 $215,000 $207,000 $118,000

2730 FORT BAKER DR SE 3117 W ST SE 1242 ANACOSTIA RD SE 1125 BRANCH AVE SE 1105 ANACOSTIA RD SE

7 3 3 3 3

$515,000 $366,000 $360,000 $317,000 $315,000

Marshall Heights 5461 CENTRAL AVE SE 5204 QUEENS STROLL PL SE

3 4 3 3 3 3 2

$250,000 $83,500

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

Randle Heights

1506 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE $605,000 4 2552 16TH ST SE $421,000 3 1829 FREDERICK DOUGLASS PL SE $338,000 3 1611 25TH ST SE $335,000 6 2488 SKYLAND PL SE $298,000 3 Deanwood 3508 21ST ST SE $275,000 3 141 36TH ST NE $399,999 8 5007 AMES ST NE $349,000 3 CONDO 4704 EADS ST NE $324,500 3 5419 E. CAPITOL ST SE $320,000 5 5302 CAPITOL ST NE $318,000 3 Congress Heights 4914 AMES ST NE $309,000 3 212 OAKWOOD ST SE #114 $190,000 1 839 50TH PL NE $285,250 2 713 BRANDYWINE ST SE #B3 $56,000 2 520 49TH ST NE $270,000 3 124 56TH ST SE $265,000 3 Hill Crest 4800 JAY ST NE $249,900 2 2009 37TH ST SE #101 $77,000 1 4247 CLAY ST NE $200,000 3 849 51ST ST NE $179,000 2 Marshall Heights 4231 CLAY ST NE $160,000 2 50 49TH ST SE #103 $23,000 1 5053 SHERIFF NE $145,000 3 308 63RD ST NE $132,000 3

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

NatGeo Earth Explorers

National Geographic Earth Explorers is an interactive family experience showcasing the work of some of the most innovative and exciting National Geographic explorers. Kids imaginations run wild as they become world explorers and embark on an epic adventure to discover new species, study animal behavior and learn about the important roles that technology, innovation and ingenuity play in making and documenting these discoveries. Through interactive and immersive areas, children explore six regions of the world and can even use the methods employed by National Geographic explorers in the field. Visit a base camp in a life-sized explorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jeep. Take a simulated hotair-balloon ride and document the migration of herds across Africa. Board a deep-sea submersible for a virtual dive to survey life at all levels of the water column from abundant coral reefs to deep-sea thermal vents. Earth Explorers is at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW, through Sept. 10. Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors/students; and $10 for children (3-12). natgeomuseum.org. Earth Explorers is at the National Geographic Museum through Sept. 10, 2017. Photo: Carol Woodward/National Geographic

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anacostia Community Museum teen summit On March 25, 2 to 4 p.m., engage with area teens who will be discussing issues of importance to them, their families and their communities. This program is hosted by the Anacostia Community Museum’s Youth Advisory Council. The Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

Fish tales story hour Join staff biologists at the Aquatic Resources Education Center, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE at 10 a.m., for free naturebased stories, crafts and songs for ages two to five and their parents or guardians. Email doee.arec@dc.gov to sign up for: April 6, Blue Crab Buddies; May 11, Fun with Fishes; Sept. 7, Turtle Time; Oct. 5, Aquatic Bird Adventures; Nov. 2, Marvelous Mammals; and Dec. 7, The Power of Plants. 202-535-2276.

earth Day at aCM! On April 21, 10 to 11:30 a.m., in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Office of Facilities Management and Reliability and Meridian Hills Pictures, the Anacostia Community Museum recognizes Earth Day with an information display on energy conservation and re-cycling and a screening of the short film, “City of Trees.” Get a tour of the museum’s exhibition, “The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination.” Webster was a self-taught artist who used discarded materials to create sculptural figures. Today we would say he “up-cycled” everyday objects to create art. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu.

Wii Game Night Every Monday night, 5 p.m., at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE, play Wii games. The program is for ages six and up. dclibrary.org/anacostia.

Crafty tuesdays Tuesdays, at 4 p.m., exercise creativity as well as hands with seasonal projects. Each session is intended for children

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eight to 12, but younger participants with a caregiver are welcome. Take home a work of art or make a gift to share each week. William O. Lockridge Neighborhood Library is at 115 Atlantic St. SW. dclibrary. org/bellevue.

Shakespeare for the Young Returns On March 25 and April, 8, 10:30 a.m., the puppets return to Anacostia Playhouse. Free admission; donations welcome. Come one, come all! The Anacostia Playhouse is at 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. anacostiaplayhouse.com.

Anacostia River Festival

The third annual Anacostia River Festival is on April 9, 1 to 5 p.m., in Anacostia Park, at Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive SE. This year’s festival will focus on biking in the District and will also celebrate the new extension of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to Bladensburg, MD. This free event will encourage District residents and visitors alike to explore communities and parks east of the river. In 2016, the Anacostia River Festival attracted nearly 8,000 participants. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/anacostia-river-festival. Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Child Car Seat Inspections

Black Kids Swim

With a mission to ensure children are properly secured in safety seats and belts, DC Safe Kids in partnership with Children’s Health Project of DC holds free child safety seat inspections at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot. For more information, call 202-476-3618. thearcdc.org.

The Black Kids Swim website celebrates and publicizes the truth that African-American children can and do excel in the sport of swimming. Black Kids Swim highlights the accomplishments of these children in the sport of swimming. It also serves as a resource for families with experienced swimmers and those with children who want to explore the sport. There are also multiple resources to help African-American children learn basic water safety skills. Black Kids Swim wants to see children do more than simply survive in the water. They want them to develop valuable techniques that can benefit them physically and professionally throughout their lives. blackkidsswim.com.

Reading with a Ranger Sundays, 11 a.m. to noon, join a Park Ranger for a fun and educational story time and craft activity. The program includes the reading of a short book and concludes with an arts and crafts activity based on the story. This program is for ages 4 to 7. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202-692-6080. nps.gov/keaq.

Kites of Asia Family Day On March 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate spring at the National Air and Space Museum’s Kites of Asia Heritage Family Day. Talk to kite experts. See pan-Asian kite displays. Marvel at indoor kite flying. Make a kite. Take a dance lesson. airandspace.si.edu.

Join the 2017 WIHS Junior Committee Teens can apply for the experience of a lifetime working behind-the-scenes at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the most prestigious equestrian sports and entertainment events in North America. Each year, through an application process, new members are selected to join the WIHS Junior Committee. This group of teens from Maryland, Virginia and DC, works with the WIHS management team over the summer and fall and during the show to help prepare for the week-long event. Applicants must be students between the ages of 14 and 18 enrolled at area schools. Review the requirements at wihs.org. The application deadline is Monday, April 3.

Arts on the Horizon: Nutt and Bolt at the Atlas Nutt and Bolt are robot rivals. They spend their days using the random junkyard objects around them in games of skill and sound rallying the audience for support. As the competition builds to a frenzied pinnacle, Nutt and Bolt realize that by cooperating they can make something even more wonderful. Together, sounds become stories, notes become music and the world becomes full of possibility. $6 to $10. Performances are March 29 to April 2, at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Kid’s Movies at the NGA Long Way North, March 18 and 19, 11:30 a.m., in the East Building Auditorium, is for ages 11, up. Set in 1892, this animated adventure follows 15-year-old Russian aristocrat Sacha as she leaves behind her comfortable Saint Petersburg life in the hopes of tracking down and saving her beloved grandfather, Oloukine, a famous explorer who has gone missing near the North Pole. But Sacha’s parents strongly disapprove of her ambitions and, in fact, have already arranged her marriage. Defying her destiny, Sacha flees her home and launches a daring quest toward the Great North in search of Oloukine and his ship. (Rémi Chayé, France/ Denmark, 81 minutes) The Eagle Huntress, March 25 at 11:30 a.m., in the East Building Auditorium, is for ages 11, up. Among the isolated Kazakh tribe in the mountains of north-

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

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Capital Cycle Camp 2017 SUMMER CAMP ON WHEELS! DCPS Spring Break (April 18th April 21st)

Summer Week 1: June 19th Summer Week 2: June 26th (MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OFFERED.)

Summer Week 3: July 3rd (4 day week) (OVERNIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM OFFERED.)

Summer Week 4: July 10th Summer Week 5: July 17th Open to children entering first grade through middle school, who can ride a two-wheeled bicycle.

www.capitalcyclecamp.com | capitalcyclecamp@gmail.com L O C A L LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

west Mongolia, the long tradition of eagle hunting has only been practiced by men. This documentary follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in 12 generations of her family to become an eagle hunter. Her decision causes controversy amongst older members of the community, but Aisholpan boldly embarks on a strict program of training. This inspiring film captures her courage. (Otto Bell, US, 2016, 87 minutes) Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. No advance registration is required. nga.gov.

saturday Morning at the National

3 0 ,

RESIDENTS LL UR AD RIG CO I H U HT YO LD 0 G N 0 EIN O W 0 E S

E B

Visit the National Theatre on select Saturday mornings for free programs. The programming is best suited for ages 4 to 10. Performances take place Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets may be reserved one week prior to the performance. The reservation system closes at 10 a.m. on the Friday before the performance. Walk-ins are welcome if there is room. Register and get more information at thenationaldc.org. Here’s the remaining spring lineup: March 18, Christylez Bacon; March 25, Bilbo’s Journey; April 1, Papgeno!; and April 8, Unified Jazz Ensemble.

To advertise, contact Kira 202.400.3508 or Kira.Hillrag@gmail.com

seven DC public Charter schools Go solar Seven DC Public Charter Schools have signed contracts to go solar through a group purchase negotiated by the Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA), a member-owned purchasing cooperative based in DC. The innovative deal allows schools to install solar panels on their rooftops at no cost, receive the electricity generated by those panels for free and earn additional revenue by taking advantage of the DC’s recently expanded solar incentive program. Participating schools include, Capital City Public Charter School in the Brightwood, Academy of Hope PCS in Langdon, Two Rivers PCS in Rosedale, Two Rivers PCS in NOMA, Maya Angelou PCS in Deanwood, Paul Public Charter School in Brightwood, and KIPP DC in Fort Dupont. At least three more charter schools are expected to join CPA’s

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Solar Schools Initiative over the next few months and the solar power systems will likely get installed by the end of 2017.

Discovery Theater March Shows On March 17, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., celebrate Paddy’s Day with dancer-musician Shannon Dunne and musician Alex Boatright in their joyful show includes old-style sean nós dancing, singing, and the sounds of traditional instruments. Experience a little taste of Ireland as you join the floor-stomping fun. All Ireland is for ages five through ten. On March 22 and 23, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Monica can’t wait for the newest member of the family to arrive. But a broken leg sends her to the emergency room with her mom. In a musical medical adventure, Monica discovers that a hospital isn’t such a scary place and that a baby brother might join you on the trip back home. “Monica Becomes a Big Sister” is for ages 3 through 7. On March 28 to 31, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., this fun, interactive Discovery Theater original explores the origins of the planet, the water cycle, and humans’ important role in the ecosystem, as well as folklore about earth. Kick off Earth Month by pledging to become an Earth Warrior, and find out some great ways to start right away. “Mother Earth & Me” is for ages 5 through 10. These shows are at the Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, on the National Mall. Tickets are $6 to $8. discoverytheater.org.

with creativity and joy. In this whimsical tale, Grug goes on an epic adventure to find a rainbow. Though its spectacular hues seem always just beyond his grasp, he is full of determination and ever ready for whatever surprises come his way. Adapted from the beloved picture books by Ted Prior, this colorful 35-minute show is filled with exquisite puppetry and the gentle storytelling that has delighted audiences around the world. It is the perfect performance for even the littlest theatergoers. “Grug and the Rainbow” is on The Washington Ballet stage at the Kennedy Center, March Presents Aladdin! 18, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and An adaptation of the classic fairy tale, March 19, 1:30 and 4 p.m. It is most Aladdin journeys to find a magic lamp enjoyed by age 2, up. $20. All patrons and seeks answers and advice along the must have a ticket. kennedy-center.org. way. Aladdin! is on stage at THEARC, To Sail Around the Sun 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, March 18 and Four seasons. Four stories. Four dancMarch 19, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., both days. es! Directed by Paul Gordon EmerTickets are $25 to $50. Ward 7 and 8 resson, and choreographed by Mr. Emeridents receive $15 off the original ticket son and Company, “To Sail Around the price. thearcdc.org. Sun” is a unique and moving display The Washington Ballet presents Aladdin of imagination and enchantment set to with Nardia Boodoo and Darion Flores. the timeless music of Antonio Vivaldi’s Photo: Dean Alexander “The Four Seasons.” Superb dancers grace the stage as the gorgeous score is played by a quartet of National Symphony Orchestra musicians: Jennifer Kim and Wanzhen Li, violins; Tsuna Sakamoto, viola; and Eugena Chang, cello. The artists move seamlessly together to the music in this multimedia work. “To Sail Around the Sun” is on stage at the Kennedy Center, March 25, 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and March 26, 1:30 and 4 p.m. It is most enjoyed by age four, up. $20. All patrons must have a ticket. kennedy-center.org.

Locals for Locals Good-bye Winter 5K Locals for Locals 5K, March 19, supports CASA DC to help foster children here in the District of Columbia. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of DC is a 501(c) (3) non-profit whose mission is to promote court appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused and neglected child in the DC foster care system can be safe and establish permanence. This mission is carried out through the recruitment, training and support of volunteer advocates. Register for the run at localsforlocals5k.com.

Colonial Career Day On April 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) holds a Colonial Career Day. Imagine selecting a career in the 1700s? A good carpenter? A weaver? An apothecary? Come learn some new skills and figure out how to survive in the time of George Washington. This is a walk-in event. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org.

Grug and the Rainbow

The (Hip Hop) Freshest Snow Whyte

Grug is a small guy bursting with big curiosity. Beginning his life as the grassy top of a Burrawang tree, he is fascinated by the world around him, solving everyday problems

Fans of past Hip Hop shows at Imagination Stage will love this radical update of a familiar fairytale. Set in the year 3000, we meet Snow Whyte — a graffiti-artist locked in

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competition with her arch rival, Kanye East, over which of them makes the “freshest” images in the universe. Both depend on a Simon Cowell-type celebrity called Mira to decide which of them is the best. After her exile to a distant planet, Snow Whyte is sheltered by two rapping alien twins (reminiscent of the Seven Dwarves), and survives two visits from the vengeful Kanye dressed in crazy disguises. She then uncovers the true secret to talent: it is shared equally among all people, and not the exclusive property of anyone. Witty raps, cool moves, and a beat that just won’t quit. Best for ages 5, up. Tickets are $15 to $35. The show runs through March 18 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. 301-280-1660. imaginationstage.org. Here’s the season’s remaining lineup: The Jungle Book, April 22 to May 28; Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, June 21 to Aug. 13.

Ella Enchanted Based on the Newberry Honor book Gail Carson Levine, Baby Ella of Frell is given the “gift” of obedience by Lucinda, a misguided fairy. Suddenly, she cannot disobey any direct order. Then when tragedy strikes, Ella is reduced to an obedient servant in her new home with Dame Olga. Can Ella find a way to rid herself of the troublesome curse? Ella Enchanted is a production of Adventure Theater. It is recommended for all ages and is on stage at Glen Echo, through March 19. Tickets are $19.50. adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Here’s the season’s remaining lineup: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, April 7 to May 21; and Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, June 23 to Aug. 14.

Jack and the Beanstalk Fe-fi-fo-fum. A timely version of the classic children’s tale about the young lad that doesn’t know beans about trading, but still manages to climb his way to the top. Jack finds that happiness lies in helping others rather than mere personal gain. Told with rod puppets and some surprising twists, Jack has long been a favorite of Puppet Company audiences. On stage at Glen Echo through March 26. This show is recommended for ages 5 through 9. Running time is

45 minutes. Tickets are $12. thepuppetco.org. Remainder of 2016-2017 season shows: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, March 30 to April 30; and Cinderella, May 4 to June 11.

Revolutionary War Camp Anderson House invites kids ages 8 to 11 to Revolutionary War Camp-Washington’s Spies. This day camp for boys and girls is about espionage and the American Revolution. During the week, campers will learn about the diverse people who acted as spies during the Revolutionary War. They will dress in period costumes and enjoy handson activities, including creating secret codes, writing with invisible ink and orchestrating covert drop points. The camp will conclude with an open house for parents and friends to see demonstrations of what campers learned during the week. $400. Camp is July 24 to 28; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and to register, contact Kendall Casey, museum education manager, at kcasey@societyofthecincinnati.org or 202-495-7127. Anderson House is at 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org.

The Children’s Inn at NIH Charity Gala The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced details for the 2017 An Evening for Hope gala. All net proceeds are donated to The Inn to provide “A Place Like Home” for children undergoing medical treatment at the NIH. Best-selling author and psychological illusionist Joshua Seth will entertain with an interactive performance. The gala is on April 29, 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the RitzCarlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA. childrensinn.org. Have an item for the Notebook? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

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“Tom Starts”

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

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Dismissal from a position 7. Mythical twin 14. Social class 19. Found 20. Iridescent 21. Arches 22. See someone committing a crime 25. Despite 26. They are Blue in Vegas 27. Turkish title of rank 28. Many months of Sundays 29. “Thanks a ___!” 30. Massage locale 32. Get hot under the collar 34. Locate 39. Porcino 41. Oafish 44. Attend, as a movie 45. Wreak havoc 46. Farm animal 48. Consider 50. “Who ___ we kidding?” 52. Puppy’s cry 53. What a bulldozer runs on 59. Sue Grafton’s “___ for Lawless” 60. Bay of Naples isle 61. Fading 62. Head problem 63. Binary 64. “Don’t ___!” 65. Justified 66. Scrooge’s cry 69. Civil War battle 71. Grass 74. 1984 Leon Uris bestseller, with “The” 76. Interstellar gas cloud 78. “If only ___ listened ...” 79. Excel chart 81. Native American 83. Last, for short 85. Vitamin C ingredient 86. Grant voting rights to 90. Necktie 91. Gangster gun 94. 1958 Elizabeth Taylor/ Paul Newman drama 96. WWII coalition of countries, with The

98. Belief 99. Tolkien creatures 100. Costume mo. 101. Gentle breeze 103. Square _____, round hole 106. Lateen-rigged sailing vessels 108. Galahad’s title 111. Departure 112. Undergo diffusion 114. Comic character comment 116. Electrical unit 118. Kernel keeper 120. Oft-broken promise 121. Reliever’s stat 123. Spokes 125. What anglers are often doing 131. Old Irish writing 132. Inculpate 133. Crisp bread 134. Fertile soil 135. Physician’s prescription 136. Most crafty

Down:

1. _____’s Razor 2. European language type 3. Arbitrate 4. Dashboard instrument 5. Group character 6. Legal thing 7. “La Dolce Vita” setting 8. Sports event 9. Kind of jacket 10. Arm bones 11. Feudal lords 12. Certain Christian 13. Pol with a six-yr. post 14. Small salmon 15. “To do” list 16. Dead, e.g. 17. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone, e.g. 18. D.C. time setting 23. Arabian Peninsula land 24. Course area 31. Loading site 32. Inscribed pillar 33. Ticker 35. Climbing plant 36. Scottish Highlander

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Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 37. Wrinkled skin fruit 38. Brings spirit 40. Tube-nosed seabird 42. Newspaper executive 43. Lambaste 45. Election extender 47. Chinese river 49. Latino rock group 51. Bust, so to speak 53. Hiding place 54. Garden pest 55. Handle rudely 56. Hurry up 57. Currency of Bangladesh

58. Leg joint 60. Alternative to plastic 63. Feature of the top of Mt. Everest 66. Swindle 67. Nonchalant 68. “Stop!,” at a checkpoint 70. Gp. with Indonesia and Algeria as members 72. Chinese currency 73. European erupter 75. The right way 77. Makes foolish 80. New newts

82. Reflection of sound 84. Wahine accessory 87. Frolics 88. Large group 89. Desire 90. Semicircle 91. ___ Strip 92. Pink-slipped 93. Indian lodging (var) 95. Nozzle 97. Lady described 102. Desert bloomers 104. Migrator 105. Film-maker, Jean-Luc 107. Prosperity 109. Treat with element 53 110. Large-horned mammals 112. Samurai’s sash 113. Pinger 115. African pen 117. Strength 119. Current measures 121. Units in physics 122. Torn 124. Italian wine center 125. Army rank, for short 126. “Long, long time ___” 127. Specifying article 128. Bag 129. “___ Hard” Willis film 130. Typographer’s concern

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