East of the River Magazine May 2015 by Capital Community News

MAY 2015

EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE

DCRA FREE SEMINARS

FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES Senior Entrepreneurship Program Date: Monday, May 4, 2015 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: Model Cities 1901 Evarts Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20018 To Register: http://goo.gl/qhE7h6

Money Smart for Small Business Workshop: Recordkeeping & Time Management Date: Thursday, May 14, 2015 Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW, 4th Floor (E-4302), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/e2NgL7

How to Open a Small Business by Navigating through DCRA’s Regulatory Process

The District of Columbia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC PTAC) Series

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (E-200), Washington, D.C. 20024

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW, 4th Floor (E-4302), Washington, D.C. 20024

To Register: http://goo.gl/gPyuJ2

To Register: http://goo.gl/BvTeMq

The Regulatory Process of Starting a Business Date: Monday, May 18, 2015 Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Location: Tenley-Friendship Library 4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 To Register: http://goo.gl/QivTr8

SBRC One-One Session: Basic Steps to Obtaining a Business License Date: Monday through Thursday Time: By Appointment Only between the hours of 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (E-268), Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/Welcome. action (Key words: SBRC One-One Session)

For further information : Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 claudia.herrera@dc.gov Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 joy.douglas@dc.gov

East of the River Magazine May 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

In Every Issue

The Bulletin Board

The District Beat: In the Budget, Eastern Wards Win by Jonetta Rose Barras

The Numbers

Tommy Wells, The New Boss on the River

New Law Combats Alcohol Sales to Minors

Raymond Tolson: Community Servant

by Ed Lazere

by Bill Matuszeski

by Charnice A. Milton

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Washington

East of the River Calendar

Step Afrika! Celebrates 20 Years

The Classified

E on DC

The Crossword

31 32

Dancing Toward College Dreams

Jazz Avenues

by Charnice A. Milton

by E. Ethelbert Miller

by Christina Sturdivant

by Steve Monroe

REAL ESTATE

Changing Hands

by Catherine Plume

compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY

ON THE COVER:

Kids & Family Notebook

Breast Mammograms in 3D in Southwest

by Kathleen Donner

by Candace Y.A. Montague

Raymond Tolson See story on page 28. O n l in e Da ily, P rin te d Mon th ly

E as tof th e R iv e r D C News.c om

East of the River Magazine May 2015

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

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 © 2015 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

editorial staFF

Beauty, HealtH & Fitness

Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Food Editor: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com

Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com

Kids & Family Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

arts, dininG & entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com

Homes & Gardens Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com

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Calendar & Bulletin Board

ProduCtion/GraPHiC WeB desiGn

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THE DATE

Look for Next Issue of East of the River on

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Jeffrey Anderson • byjeffreyanderson@gmail.com Jonetta Rose Barras • jonetta@jonettarosebarras.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Sharon Bosworth • sharon@barracksrow.org Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Damian Fagon • damian.fagon@gmail.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com

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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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E astofth eR i verD CNews.c om

East of the River Magazine May 2015

Truckeroo Food Trucks A sure sign that summer is here, or at least on its way, is the start of the Truckeroo food truck day-long (11 a.m.-11 p.m.) eating events at the corner of Half St. and M St., SE, near Nat’s Park. You can expect gourmet hot dogs, seafood, cheesesteaks, BBQ, ice cream, pizza, tapas, crepes and more. This year’s Truckeroo dates are Fridays, May 15, June 12, July 10, Aug. 21 and Sept. 11. Truckeroodc.com

Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo The 35th Annual Washington Folk Festival is on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 (rain or shine), noon-7 p.m., both days, at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. The Festival features over 450 of the best traditional musicians, storytellers, dancers, and craftspeople. Five stages simultaneously present music and dance for a total of nearly 70 hours of live performance. The festival also includes a storytelling stage, dance workshops in the Spanish Ballroom, a craft marketplace in the Bumper Car Pavilion, and many spontaneous picking sessions in the Park’s picnic grove. It’s free but parking’s tricky. glenechopark.org Jennifer Cutting’s Ocean Orchestra will perform at this year’s festival. From left to right: Back Row: Tim Carey (Highland bagpipes), Andrew Dodds (Fiddle), Robbie Magruder (drums), Stephen Winick (vocals, percussion). Front Row: Rico Petruccelli (electric bass), Lisa Moscatiello (vocals, guitar, whistle), Jennifer Cutting (keyboards, concertina, melodeon). Photo: Erica Ginsberg

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Reporting Vietnam at Newseum Vietnam was Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first televised war. This exhibit explores the dramatic stories of how journalists brought news about the war to a divided nation. Powerful photos and news footage, evocative music and more than 90 compelling artifacts, historic newspapers and magazines will take visitors back to experience a time when America was at war and young people were rejecting the conservative values of their parents. On exhibition, May 22-Sept. 12. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888-639-7386. newseum.org Photographer Nick Ut, right, wore this jacket while covering Vietnam for the Associated Press. Bottom left: a close-up of the patches he sported on his jacket. Photo: Loan, Nick Ut

Paddle Nights on the Anacostia Thursdays, May 14-Sept. 24, 5-7:30 p.m., discover your Anacostia by joining the Anacostia Watershed Society in the free Paddle Nights on the Anacostia Program. AWS provides the canoes, life jackets, paddles and safety lesson: everything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to have a great paddling experience. The events are first-come first-served, so come early for a better chance of getting out on the water. Paddle Nights leave from different locations--May 14, June 11, July 30, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10, Paddle Nights leave from Kenilworth Park, 4000 Deane St. SE. May 21, June 25, July 16, Aug. 13, Sept. 3 and 24, Paddle Nights leave from Ballpark Boathouse, Diamond Teague Park, First and Potomac Ave. SE. May 28, June 18, July 9, Aug. 6 and Sept. 17, Paddle Nights leave from Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg, MD. June 4, July 2 and 23 and Aug. 20, Paddle Nights leave from the Anacostia Community Boathouse, 1900 M St. SE. Please register for this event at anacostiaws.org. Registration does not guarantee a canoe, but does allow them to inform you if the event is cancelled. Paddle Night at Kenilworth Park, July 24, 2014. Photo: Chris Myers, Anacostia Watershed Society

Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology Exhibition at National Geographic Upon entering, you are immersed in the world of Indiana Jones in an exhibit environment created with state-of-theart technology. Equipped with a personal video companion, you embark on a quest to uncover the true origins of archaeological mysteries. An original audio greeting recorded by Harrison Ford invites you to begin a journey into the field of archaeology. Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology features an exclusive collection of original Indy props, models, concept art and costumes from all the films. It is on exhibition, May 14-Jan. 3, 2016, at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. 202-857-7588. ationalgeographic.com Ark of the Covenant from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Photo: Courtesy of National Geographic Museum

East of the River Magazine May 2015

Opera in the Outfield May 16 (rain or shine), 7 PM (Gates open at 5 PM). Celebrate the eighth season of free live opera simulcasts at the ballpark by joining WNO for the family-friendly opera, Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella. kennedy-center.org/wno WNO Opera in the Outfield presents “Cinderella” Photo: Scott Suchman

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

East of the River Magazine May 2015

CALENDAR memorial day and relaTed evenTs

Thank You To our generous corporate sponsors, family and friends sponsors, guests and volunteers. You’re responsible for making our 2015 Annual Stars Gala a huge success & a fun night to remember! To all the businesses that donated to the auction – We are very grateful for your support!

SPONSORS: ORION:

URSA MAJOR:

URSA MINOR:

Blessing of the Bikes at National Cathedral. May 22, 5 PM. The National Cathedral welcomes members of Rolling Thunder at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend for a “Blessing of the Bikes.” Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202537-6200. cathedral.org “Flags-In” at Arlington Cemetery. Memorial Day Weekend. Each year, the 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried both at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier’s and Airmen’s National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day Weekend. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org National Memorial Day Concert. May 24, 8-9:30 PM (gates open at 5 PM). The National Symphony Orchestra performs the first of three outdoor holiday concerts. Free. West lawn, US Capitol. Wolf Trap Summer Blast Oﬀ. May 24, 8 PM (gates open at 6:30 PM for lawn). “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will launch Wolf Trap’s summer season with a program of concert band favorites. A fireworks display will follow the concert at 9:45 PM. Park will close at capacity. Filene Center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA. 703-2551900. wolftrap.org Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center. May 24, 3 PM. This is a tribute to America’s fallen heroes. Free. Tickets at 800-395-2036 or memorialdaychoralfestival.org/tickets. Memorial Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. May 25, 11 AM. Arrive much earlier. Expect heavy security. There is free parking and a free bus ride to and from the ceremony. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org

Food & Beverage Sponsors:

National Memorial Day Parade. May 25, 2 PM. Beginning at Fourth St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW and ending at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Expect a lot of music, color and oldfashioned patriotism. nationalmemorialdayparade.com Memorial Day at the World War II Memorial. May 25, 9 AM. Wreaths will be placed in honor of the veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. World War II Memorial, 17th St. between Constitution and Independence Aves. NW. wwiimemorial.com Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 25, 1 PM. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and to honor those who served in the US Armed

1

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Forces. On this special day prominent Americans from all walks of life come to the Memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. vvmf.org/2015-memorial-day Women in Military Service Honors Memorial Day. May 25, 4 PM. The program includes formal military honors, remarks from servicewomen representing each of the services and the Women’s Memorial traditional Rose Petal Ceremony with personal tributes to departed comrades. Ceremony at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. womensmemorial.org Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. May 25, noon. “Rolling Thunder” is an annual motorcycle rally held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of motorcycles will depart from the Pentagon at noon and will roar across Washington, DC on their motorcycles as a tribute to American war heroes. Assemble at Pentagon north parking lot. African Americans and WWI. May 30, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. Lecture with historian Dr. C.R. Gibbs is a post-Memorial Day homage to those who contributed so much in one of America’s costliest battles. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu

special evenTs Zoofari. May 14, 6:30-9:30 PM. ZooFari is back with more than 100 of the area’s finest restaurants. Join them for a delicious evening of gourmet food, fine wines, celebrity chefs, and conservation. $200. nationalzoo.si.edu Lamb Jam Grand Tasting at Union Market. May 17, 4-7 PM. Lamb Jam Grand Tasting Includes: 16 of the most talented chefs from the DC area; Beer and wine from DC’s top breweries and winemakers; Interactive photo booth; DIY lamb spice rub station; Butcher demonstration. $60. Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. americanlamb.com Free Admission to National Museum of Women in the Arts. May 18, 10 AM-5 PM. Free admission is offered as part of National Art Museum Day. 1250 New York Ave. NW. 202-783-5000. nmwa.org Saving DC--The Post-Civil War Transformation of Our Nation’s Capital Walking Tour. May 21, noon-1:30 PM. Tour will show how, in the decades following the Civil War, developer Alexander (Boss) Shepard, master architect Adolf Cluss, a host of other German and German-American architects and builders, and the Army Corps of Engineers together wrested a modern city out of DC’s muck. Starts at 1872 Charles Sumner School. Free. RSVP at goetheinstitutwashington.eventbrite.com. Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. June 6 and 7, 11 AM-4 PM. Discover Anderson House, Dumbarton House, Heurich House Museum, Mary McLeod Bethune

Council House National Historic Site, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, The Phillips Collection, and the President Woodrow Wilson House. All free of charge. dkmuseums.com

summer ouTdoor music and movies 2015 Twilight Tattoo at Fort Myer. Wednesdays (except July 1), through Aug. 19 , 7 PM with preceremony pageantry starting at 6:45 PM. Members of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard), the US Army Band “Pershings Own,” Fife and Drum Corps and the US Army Drill Team will perform an hourlong sunset military Pageant. Over 100 Old Guard soldiers dressed in period uniforms will provide a glimpse of Army history from colonial times to the soldier of the future. The Twilight Tattoo will be performed on Summerall Field from through June, and on Whipple Field, July through August. twilight.mdw.army.mil Marine Barracks Row Evening Parades. Fridays through Aug 28, 8:45-10 PM. Performance features music and precision marching, the Evening Parade features “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers, and LCpl. Chesty XIII, the oﬃcial mascot of Marine Barracks Washington. Reservations suggested. barracks.marines.mil Yard’s Park Friday Night Concert Series. May 15-Sept. 11, 6:30-8:30 PM. Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a 5-minute walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike. The Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. yardspark.org Marine Barracks Sunset Parades at Iwo Jima Memorial. Tuesdays, May 26Aug. 11, 7-8 PM (Aug. 4 and 11 begin 30 minutes earlier). Lawn seating. Bring blankets and chairs. No public parking available at the Memorial grounds on Parade evenings. Guests may park at the Arlington National Cemetery Visitors’ Center for a small fee. Marine Barracks provides a free shuttle bus service from the visitors center to and from the memorial grounds. barracks.marines.mil NoMa Summer Screen. Wednesdays, May 27-Aug. 19. Free outdoor film series featuring music, giveaways, food trucks, picnicking and great movies. NoMa Summer Screen at Storey Park Lot, 1005

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING WITH US? Call Laura Vucci 202-400-3510

or laura@hillrag.com for more information on advertising. East of the River Magazine May 2015

CALENDAR First St. NE, which will be temporarily transformed for 2015 into a mural-filled urban park. Here’s the lineup: May 27-Dirty Dancing; June 3-Center Stage; June 10-Bride & Prejudice; June 17-Flashdance; June 24-Strictly Ballroom; July 1-Grease; July 8-Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo; July 15-Singing in the Rain; July 22-Save the Last Dance-July 29-Moulin Rouge; Aug. 5-Stomp the Yard; and Aug. 12-Footloose. Movies start at dark and are screened with subtitles. Coolers, children and friendly (leashed) dogs are welcome. They encourage moviegoers to bring chairs, blankets, Frisbees, and picnic coolers to connect with friends and neighbors starting at 7:00 PM. nomabid.org

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea at Anacostia Playhouse. Through May 31. This is Dontrell. Young, smart, talented, motivated. He has his whole life ahead of him, but there’s one small catch. Dontrell is on a quest to swim out into the Atlantic to discover his family’s past before he can move forward and begin the next phase of his life. With the help of Erika, a young lifeguard, Dontrell will begin his journey. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.comRush Baker at Honfleur Gallery. Through June 26. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com How the Civil War Changed Washington Exhibition. Through Nov. 15. This exhibition examines the social and spatial impact of the Civil War on Washington, DC and the resulting dramatic changes in social mores, and in the size and ethnic composition of the city’s population. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Hand of Freedom: The Life and Legacy of the Plummer Family. Through Dec. 27. This exhibit looks at the life and legacy of the Plummer family in Prince Georges County, MD in the 19th century. Adam Francis Plummer (1819 - December 13, 1905), enslaved on George Calvert’s Riversdale plantation, began to keep a diary in 1841 and maintained it for over sixty years. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Rhythm Cafe-Jazz From the Land of the Morning Calm. May 16, 2-4 PM. Enjoy an overview of the origins of modern jazz in South Korea followed by a live performance from Hey Rim Jeon, Professor of Piano, Berklee College of Music, Boston and her talented jazz trio. Ms Jeon will present original work as well as interpretations of jazz standards. Call 202-633-4844 to register by phone. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Movies at Anacostia Community Museum. May 23, 2-4 PM, The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011; 96 min) closed captioned; May 30, 11 AM-12:30 PM, Egalite for All: Toussaint L’ouverture and Haitian Revolution (2009; 60 min) closed captioned; May 30, 2-5 PM, Selma (2015; 122 min) close captioned; June 4, 11 AM-1 PM, Ornette: Made in America (1985; 79 min); June 6, 2-4 PM, Diggers (1985; 79 min). Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu 3 Millimeters Greg Kahn Exhibition Artist Talk. May 30, 2:30 PM. See EOR Bulletin Board. Vivid Solutions Gallery is at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. vividsolutionsgallery.com Under Pressure by Rush Baker Artist Talk. May 30, 1 PM. See EOR Bulletin Board. Honfleur Gallery at is 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com

SPORTS, DANCE AND FITNESS The Washington Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty” at THEARC. May 30, 1 PM and 5:30 PM; and May 31, 1 PM. A timeless fairy-tale of a beautiful princess, an evil sorceress and 100 years of sleep broken by the kiss of a handsome prince. Tickets are $20$50. $15 off all tickets for Ward 7 and 8 residents. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org. DC United. May 9, 7 PM vs. Sporting KC; May 13, 8 PM vs. Orlando City; May 30, 7 PM vs. Philadelphia; June 3, 7 OM vs. Chicago; June 6, 7 PM vs. Toronto FC. RFK Stadium. dcunited.com Washington Nationals Baseball. May 9, 10, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24; June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. washington.nationals.mlb.com Free public tennis courts in Wards 7 and 8. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; KenilworthParkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st St. and Pennsylvania Ave. SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE; Bald Eagle Rec-

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

reation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr Ave. and Joliet St. SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Ave. and Randle Pl.SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first come, first served basis for one hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 2026710314. dpr.dc.gov

CIVIC LIFE

Barry Farm (indoor) pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM-8 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM-5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202-730-0572. dpr.dc.gov

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

Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Mon-Fri 6:30 AM-8 PM; Sat-Sun, 9 AM-5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov

Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-8894900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org

Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM-6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 8th St. SE. 202-645-3916. dpr.dc.gov Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for season. It reopens July 4th weekend. fdia.org

MARKETS

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

Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7-9 PM. UPO Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600.

H Street NE Farmers Market. Saturdays, through Dec 19, 9 AM-noon. Located at H St. and 13th St. NE. EBT/ Food Stamps can be redeemed at the information table. All EBT customers and WIC/Senior coupon customers will receive “Double Dollar” coupons to match their EBT dollars or WIC/Senior coupons redeemed up to $10. freshfarmmarket.org

Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE.

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

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS

Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 10 AM-1 PM. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org

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

Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting). Set up after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM-8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 5th St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8 AM-4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW. georgetownfleamarket.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7 AM-9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722. Fashion Trucks on U. Sundays, noon-5 PM. Fashion Trucks offer a mix of crafts, clothes, accessories and jewelry at the former home of the Sunday U St Flea in the parking lot, next to Nellie’s Sports Bar at 912 U St. NW. ustreetflea.com

Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE.

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

ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@ anc.dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. 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. u

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East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news

helP restore shePherd ParkwaY Volunteer from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays, May 16, June 13 and July 18. Shepherd Parkway’s 205 acres are home to two Civil War forts, two bald eagle nests, and some of the oldest forests in DC. Come and help remove trash and invasive species from this important but neglected natural area in Ward 8. Meet at the picnic tables near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Aves. SE. Gloves, bags, and light refreshments will be provided. Wear boots and clothes that can get dirty. For more information, contact Nathan Harrington at nbharrington@ yahoo.com or 301-758-5892. Visit shepherdparkway.blogspot.com The wooded hillside of Shepherd Parkway has seen decades of illegal dumping, including furniture, car parts and construction materials. Join the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Meet at the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Aves. SE. Photo: Rebecca Harlan

dc outdoor Public Pools oPen for season DC’s outdoor pools will open on Saturday, May 23. Pools will be open weekends only until school is out for the summer at which point the outdoor pools will be open 6 days a week (with 1 day a week closed for cleaning). The Ft Dupont pool is closed this season for renovations. Oxon Run and Banneker pools have undergone complete and major renovation. Outdoor public pools in Wards 7 and 8: Anacostia Pool--1800 Anacostia Dr. SE. 202-724-1441; Barry Farms Pool--1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202645-5040; Benning Park Pool--Southern Ave. and Fable St. SE. 202-645-5044; Douglass Pool--Frederick Douglass Ct. and Stanton Ter. SE. 202-645-5045; Fort Stanton Pool--1800 Erie St. SE. 202-678-1798; Kelly Miller Pool--

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

4900 Brooks St. NE. 202-724-5056; Oxon Run Pool--Fourth St. and Mississippi Ave. SE. 202645-5042. All DC public pools are free for DC residents. Have ID. dpr.dc.gov

Public Meeting on the east caPitol street and benning road intersection Project

honfleur gallerY’s eighth annual east of the river exhibition call to artists

The District Department of Transportation will host a public meeting on May 19, 7-9 p.m. to take questions and comments on proposed changes to the East Capitol Street and Benning Road intersection in Ward 7. The intersection of E. Capitol St., Benning Rd., Texas Ave. and Central Ave. is a busy and complex intersection. From 2008 to 2010, there were 102 traffic crashes that injured 54 people, including 8 pedestrians. DDOT began a planning study in 2011 to look at safety and access changes to the intersection and the larger corridor. At this meeting, DDOT will present proposed changes, the planning study informa-

Honfleur Gallery presents the Eighth Annual East of the River exhibition this summer, highlighting the creative minds of Wards 7 and 8. This year Honfleur Gallery has announced plans to focus the exhibit with showing multiple pieces from up to five artists. Small grants will be provided to selected artists. Grants will be in the range of $250-$500. The deadline to apply is May 15. Visit honfleurgallery.com for details.

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l s

East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news / bulletin board tion and proposals for review. The meeting is at the Metropolitan Police Department Sixth District Community Room, 100 42nd St. NE.

discounted tickets for the washington ballet’s “the sleePing beautY” at thearc Ward 7 and Ward 8 residents are eligible for a $15 discount on tickets for The Washington Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty” presented on Saturday, May 30, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 31, 1 p.m. The Sleeping Beauty is a timeless fairy-tale of a beautiful princess, an evil sorceress and 100 years of sleep broken by the kiss of a handsome prince. Tickets are $20$50 (not including discount). THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202889-5901. thearcdc.org.

kenilworth Park water lilY & lotus cultural festival volunteers sought Volunteers are sought to work at the annual Kenilworth Park Water Lily & Lotus Cultural Festival on Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Those interested should contact contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

3 MilliMeters greg kahn exhibition at vivid solutions gallerY 3 Millimeters explores the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where the sea level is rising at twice the global average–a process without emergency brakes. The project considers how a community’s identity, ever tied to the land, is evolving. It’s not the swift impact of a storm, but a slow drowning of a culture. These photographs depict the last breaths of a community as they are forced to adapt to the smallest but most devastating tidal wave. Exhibition is through June 26. Artist talk is May 30, 2:30 p.m. Vivid Solutions Gallery is at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. vividsolutionsgallery.com

under Pressure bY rush baker at honfleur gallerY Degrading urban environments, the spectacle of war, and political unrest are among the chaotic influences Rush Baker brings to his canvasses. Additional points of reference include the writings of Octavia Butler, Black abstraction, the New York School, and Russian Constructivism. These myriad ideas shape Baker’s studio practice, characterized by a sense of lawlessness similar to that of the subjects that fascinate him. His paintings mix traditional media with building materials in complex compositions that evoke landscapes, real and feared. Exhibition is through June 26. Artist talk is May 30, 1:00 p.m. Honfleur Gallery is at 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com

streetcars are back on h - benning After a brief pause in simulated service, the DC Streetcar vehicles are back on the roadways.

civil war herbal garden tour and workshoP at the anacostia coMMunitY MuseuM On Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m., tour the George Washington Carver Trail adjacent to the museum with Derek Thomas, WTTG Fox 5’s Garden Guy. Thomas will teach attendees how to identify native plants that helped settlers survive during the Civil War. Participants will be given information about native plants that were used as food and medicines--many still used in foods and herbal medicines today. Participants will also receive a native plant to take home and plant in their own gardens and take part in a gardening workshop at the museum. Call 202-633-4844 to register for this program. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

trinitY at thearc inforMation session Trinity’s associate’s degree program at THEARC is an excellent choice for anyone that needs college credit for employment or is working towards a college degree. There is an information session on Thursday, May 28, 6-7:30 p.m., at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Applications are being accepted for the 2015 summer and fall semesters. Trinity at THEARC features classes

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bridging the aMericas: coMMunitY and belonging froM PanaMa to washington, dc Using images and narratives, this exhibition presents the various ways in which Zonians and Panamanians in the D.C. metropolitan area think about home and belonging in and in-between Panama and Washington, DC. “Bridging the Americas: Community and Belonging from Panama to Washington, DC” is open indefinitely at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Women in polleras carry the Panamanian flag at a 1993 Latin American Festival in Washington, D.C. Photo: Harold Dorwin, courtesy Black Mosaic Exhibition Records, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

held during the evenings and on weekends; small class sizes for individualized attention; and affordable tuition and financial aid for those who qualify. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions 202-884-9400. trinitydc.edu

housing counseling services seeks helP locating hoMeless veterans Anyone with information on a homeless veteran or a veteran in imminent risk of homelessness should call Housing Counseling Services, Inc. They can be reached at 202-667-7006 or info@housingetc.org. The HCS Supportive Services for Veteran Families program provides intensive case management and temporary financial assistance to homeless veterans in DC, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria.

better backs Massage oPens in anacostia arts center Better Backs Massage opened on May 1 at the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, Studio H. Better Backs Massage, the only

licensed massage therapy business east of the Anacostia, will provide therapeutic massage, aromatherapy and hot stone services. betterbacksmassage.com

2015 disadvantaged business enterPrise suMMit and networking sYMPosiuM The District Department of Transportation and the D.C. Division of the Federal Highway Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation announce the 5th Annual 2015 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Summit and Networking Symposium on May 21, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Kellogg Conference Center, Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. NE. The keynote speaker is the District’s Congressional Delegate, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. The summit is an opportunity for DDOT and WMATA-certified DBE firms and other small business enterprises to learn about upcoming federal-assisted business opportunities. It will also offer a chance for attendees to network with highway construction-related prime contractors, civil architectural and engineering firms, DDOT’s project managers and other DBE firms and small businesses within the transportation industry. Participants may also

attend industry-related concurrent workshops. This year’s summit features an added workshop called “Contract Basics,” which will offer business tips to help DBE firms build a successful bid package. It will also feature legal experts who will discuss contract compliance, project close outs and disputes. Although the DBE summit is free, advanced registration is required by May 18 at 2015ddotdbesummit. eventbrite.com.

Computer Basics at East of the River Libraries In this course, students learn the parts of the computer, mouse basics, typing, Internet search and electronic mail. This two-hour class meets twice per week for six weeks. Prerequisite: none. Pre-registration is required. To register for classes, call Byte Back at 202529-3395 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If registration is closed, contact Byte Back to join their calling list. Byte Back will call all interested students next time registration begins. Computer Basics classes are at Benning (Dorothy I. Height) Library, Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Library, Capitol View Library and Anacostia Library. dclibrary.org

Ground Broken on DMV Benning Ridge Service Center DC DMV is scheduled to open the Benning Ridge Service Center in 2016. The Center will be located at 4525 Benning Rd. SE and will replace the existing Penn Branch Service Center, which will close. With the opening of the Benning Ridge Service Center, DC DMV will continue to have four full service locations--one in every quadrant of the District. dmv.dc.gov

“Orange is the New Black” creator to Speak at Gala in Support of Prisoner Rights Piper Kerman, creator of The New York Times best seller “Orange Is The New Black,” will speak on prisoner rights on Thursday, May 14, at the Four Seasons in Georgetown, in support of Voices For A Second Chance, a local nonprofit that provides support to thousands East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news / bulletin board of incarcerated and newly released men and women in the District’s correctional system. Voices For A Second Chance (VSC), formally known as the Visitors’ Services Center, will celebrate 45 years of working with offenders and their families by providing an essential safety net for offenders and the most at risk--their families--who are likely to be among the most marginalized members of society. Voices For A Second Chance bridges the gap from incarceration to community for tens of thousands of men and women and their families in the District of Columbia and provides tools for second chances to aid a productive transition back into the community such as counseling services, mental health/substance abuse support, maintaining healthy connections in and outside prison, and reigniting and sustaining family connections. Approximately 14,000 inmates are processed through the DC Jail on an annual basis. Daily, the jail population is roughly 2,000. VSC serves close to 4,000 men and women and their families annually. vscdc.org

Attorney General Racine Alerts District Consumers to Scam Debt-Collection E-Mails Attorney General Karl A. Racine alerts District residents to e-mails some residents have received from a scam artist claiming to be collecting debts for Cash Advance, Inc. or one of its affiliates. Some of these fraudulent e-mail messages are designed to appear as if they came from Attorney General Racine. Anyone that comes across such an e-mail should adhere to the following instructions: Do not click on any links in the message; do not provide any personal information; and do not send any money. If the e-mail refers to Karl Racine or the District of Columbia Government, or if is addressed to a District of Columbia resident, forward the e-mail to the Office of the Attorney for the District of Columbia at consumer.protection@ dc.gov. Otherwise, report the e-mail to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. For more information, call the DC Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 202-442-9828.

Sunday Shoreline Sweep-up at Oxon Cove Park On the first Sunday of every month, 1-3:30 p.m., join Ranger Steph and

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fellow park-lovers as they clean up the trash that finds its way onto the banks of Oxon Cove. Spend the afternoon in the fresh air, getting some exercise, earning service hours needed, and making a visible difference. Wear old clothes and shoes that can get wet and muddy. They will provide work gloves. Come alone or bring a group. Meet in the parking lot, no later than 1:30 p.m. This event is canceled in the event of inclement weather. Young people under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. For more information, call 301839-1176. Oxon Cove Park is at 6411 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD.

Prepare For Your Trip to Nationals Park Below are the transportation options for the Nationals Park. For further information about transportation, visit the Nationals Park directions on washington. nationals.mlb.com. Construction along Maine St. may cause delays. Drivers can also expect congestion at the intersection of So. Capitol and M Sts. SE. The following streets, which are adjacent to the ballpark, will be closed three hours before the start of each home game and may remain closed up to three hours after a game ends: N St. SE, between So. Capitol and First Sts. SE; and Half St. SE, between M and N. On many blocks, parking is reserved for residents only on one side of the street, and limited to two-hour parking for non-residents on the other side. Parking will be heavily enforced and baseball fans are asked to avoid parking in the neighborhoods as a courtesy to residents. During game days, the DC Circulator will extend service on the Union Station--Navy Yard routes. For more information, visit dccirculator.com. The nearest Capital Bikeshare stations are at 1st/K Sts. SE, M St./New Jersey Ave. SE and 1st/N Sts. SE. For more information, visit capitalbikeshare.com. There are more than 250 bike racks around the ballpark and Nationals Park offers a free bike valet located in Garage C at the corner of N and 1st Sts. SE. Take the Green Line to the Navy Yard station. The Center Field gate is located one-half block from the station. The following Metrobus routes serve the ballpark: A9, 74, 90, 92, P6, V7, V8 and V9. For more information visit wmata. For the 2015 baseball season, DDOT updated signal timing plans used during game days for pre- and post-game traffic conditions. This included the development of timings to accommodate traffic

volumes in the vicinity of Nationals Park on game day at 42 signalized intersections.

Pepco Reminds Customers to Call 811 and Steer Clear of Overhead and Underground Utility Lines The 811 service was created by the Common Ground Alliance, which works with all industry stakeholders to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure such as gas and electric lines and to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Whether planting shrubbery or installing a fence, deck or mailboxes, call 811 for the safety of family and neighbors and to avoid fines and repair costs. By law, the underground utility locating service must be called at least two days in advance of digging. Also, for anyone working outdoors, Pepco urges they avoid power lines when carrying long or tall items, such as ladders, scaffolding, tree saws and pool cleaning equipment by holding them parallel to the ground. Remember to look up before raising any long or tall objects to ensure they are clear of any overhead wires. Electricity can move through conductive materials such as water, metal, wood, aluminum, string and plastics. Certain critical clearances are required by law and a minimum of 10 feet must be maintained when working near power lines. pepco.com

Record Your Rabbit Sightings and Become a Citizen Scientist The DC Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Wildlife Division is monitoring the population of Eastern cottontail rabbits in the District. Become a Citizen Scientist by recording all rabbit sightings and sharing them with biologists. These efforts play a vital role in helping protect and conserve rabbits in the city. For more information on the program and how to become a volunteer, contact Lindsay Rohrbaugh at citizen.science@dc.gov. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news / the district beat

In the Budget, Eastern Wards Win the mayor lays out her vision by Jonetta Rose Barras

udgets, whether federal or local, have never been purely about the numbers. Presented in pie charts or rows of graphs and contained in clunky books the size of old telephone books, they are essentially policy and political statements. Through them elected officials telegraph their priorities and identify favored constituencies. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s $12.9 billion fiscal 2016 budget and financial plan, which she says is “good news for DC and its residents,” may be in that tradition. She emphasizes, among other things, affordable housing, ending homelessness, economic opportunity and education. Those altruistic priorities excite many people, particularly nonprofit contractors and a community of social service advocates; they even earned Bowser the nod of The DC Fiscal Policy Institute’s Ed Lazere. But who would would argue with the goals of ending homelessness and making housing less costly, asks government watchdog Dorothy Brizill. “That’s like motherhood and apple pie.” The larger question is how Bowser intends to implement her budget and “who’s it going to benefit,” adds Brizill. “There is always the case that one is looking very much ahead,” says Federation of Citizens Association President Anne Mohnkern Renshaw, telling a story about a diplomat who asks a congressman if he simultaneously received calls from a constituent and a benefactor, which would he answer first. “The benefactor,” answered the congressman. Is Bowser’s looking ahead? Is her budget designed to ensure her reelection in 2018? Who are the people she thinks she needs? Who are her political benefactors?

The Political Compass Points East Bowser won six of the city’s eight wards during last year’s general election. Her strongest showing was in areas rich in black voters--Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8. The latter two helped her seal both the Democratic primary and the general election. What happens the next time around, however, if instead of squaring off with a white, gay man, who was demonized for his former Republican Party membership, Bowser faces a strong black candidate? An absence of significant African American support could sink her reelection much as it cost her mentor Mayor Adrian M. Fenty his reelection in 2010. Bowser apparently learned from that lesson. Reviewing her budget proposals, it appears significant spending, directly or indirectly, is slated for communities that helped usher her into the mayoral suite. Consider, for example, her plan to expand the summer jobs program. This $5.2 million expenditure is for residents 22 through 24 years of age. Most of the beneficiaries likely will hail from Ward 5, 7 and 8 where unemployment is highest. Homeless programs will get an $18.7 million boost, in Bowser’s budget. She also plans to spend $44.9 million to replace DC General and create “new family shelter options.” Fulfilling a campaign pledge, $100 million is slated to construct and preserve affordable housing. While there are

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

advantages for the entire city, residents in east Washington, many of whom spend large portions of their income on housing, stand to benefit the most. Bowser also commits in her budget to extending the city’s aid to welfare families. If the council agrees, $5 million will be spent to keep individuals in the program beyond the fiveyear deadline established by the federal government in the 1990s. Not all recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) live in east Washington. However, significant African American and Hispanic populations, served by the program, live in at least four of the wards that went for Bowser in 2014. The list of benifits for east Washington and Bowser political strongholds continue. There is $94 million for two middle schools—one in Ward 4 and another in Ward 7; $13.5 million for the Benning Road Recreation Center; and $3.5 million for the one in Anacostia. The Fort Dupont Ice Skating Rink could receive $17.9 million. Then, there is $124 million for that east end medical center, an idea that she and other council members pooh poohed when former Mayor Vincent C. Gray included it in his final budget. And, Bowser promises an extension of the, albeit seriously delayed, streetcar system to “downtown Ward 7.” But east Washington didn’t receive everything on its wish list. Most of the economic development projects like Barry Farms, Skyland Shopping Center and McMillan Reservoir, have been on the books for years.

The West Gets Rhetoric Many residents in Wards 2 and 3, which Bowser lost in the recent mayoral election, are feeling left out. She says her budget decisions were guided mostly by discussions with citizens during three budget forums. According to government documents, at least 41 percent of people identified education as their top issue; the remaining percentages were divided between economic opportunity, infrastructure, public safety and neighborhoods. On the surface Bowser’s budget suggests a synchronicity with those issues. Speaking be-

fore the council, she cited funding for a streetcar system from Benning Rd NE Metro station to Georgetown. That vision is designed to placate businessmen in western wards; many of them have lamented the fact that Georgetown was not included in the subway system. But upon closer questioning by Ward 3 council member, Mary Cheh, Bowser admitted funds were not included in the 2016 budget or the financial plan, which extends to 2021. Additionally, Bowser proposes to eliminate funding for the much anticipated 11th Street Bridge Park. Groups like the H St Main Street, which has worked in partnership with the city and demonstrated an ability to revitalize its community, also appear to have been short changed. Anwar Saleem, head of H St. Main Street, says $18 million that had been set aside for his community is reduced to $11 million. In fairness, Bowser does increase by $31.4 million spending on public education, bringing the total allotment for charters and traditional schools to $1.6 billion. Most of those operating dollars cover an expected enrollment increase. But the praise she may receive stops there. Education spending, particularly by DC Public Schools, is one of the areas where residents claim there is the greatest amount of disparity and politics. East Washington and Ward 4 get new middle schools. But other neighborhoods—some of which have been on a waiting list for years—aren’t so lucky. Education advocate Matthew Frumin and a group of like-minded citizens have performed an analysis of operating and capital improvement spending for schools. He says some Ward 2 and Ward 3 schools, like Murch Elementary and Garrison Elementary School, may be receiving funding for renovations and modernization. But when general operating money including new allocations for at-risk students is considered “The western part [of the city] gets the least,” adds Frumin. “She wants to be the mayor for all eight wards,” says Alex Padro, head of Shaw Main Street in Ward 6. “She’s not showing it to us over here.”

Padro says his community is “upset” that Bowser cut $54 million from the capital budget that had been allocated to begin construction of a new Shaw Middle School. The money doesn’t show back up in the financial plan until 2021. “People start feeling they’ve been fed a pack of lies,” continues Padro, adding that those sentiments combined with delays in modernization, could cause some families to leave the neighborhood or enroll in charters. “I don’t understand what the motivation is to upturn the cart,” adds Padro. One-third of the schools Bowser eliminates from the capital improvement school modernization plan are located in Ward 6, says Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6). “That puts a strain on families,” he told Bowser. “It’s going to be a priority of mine to make sure we make good on that commitment.” Bowser says there is only a finite amount of money. But the shifts in spending priorities read politics to many people. “It will be over to the electorate to determine if they think [Bowser’s] proposed budget best addresses real needs and priorities or was unduly influenced by other factors,” says Frumin. It’s not just the numbers, cautions Brizill, “The mayor also is trying to consolidate power.” She cites Bowser’s budget legislation that would eliminate term appointments for some key executives. She also seeks to capture for her office responsibilities and authority assigned through the Home Rule Charter to the Office of the Attorney General. “The devil is in the details,” opines Brizill. Interestingly, Terry Lynch, a Ward 1 resident and education advocate, says politics may be involved. But, cit-

ing the spending hit at the popular Wilson High School, he says it’s a brand of “inept” politics. “No right thinking politician would ever cut Wilson High School’s budget by nearly $1 million, continues Lynch. “The political pain it will bring is significant. Hopefully, the council will fix the problems.” At a public hearing last month, where more than 150 individuals signed up to testify, At-large Council member David Grosso, chairman of the Committee on Education, made clear that he might be inclined to accept Bowser’s general operating budget proposal for DCPS. “[But], I can’t in good conscience urge my colleagues to pass this capital budget as is,” he continued. Not only are there certain projects that have become too costly and in a sense are out of control, but I am also deeply concerned about equity.” Will his colleagues join him? Once again, politics may be the driver. As well as Grosso, several council members, including Jack Evans, Yvette Alexander, and Vincent Orange are all up for re-election next year and will be interested in pleasing potential voters. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news / the numbers

Mayor Bowser’s First Budget

less each year. Due to limited resources, the city largely turns away families seeking shelter in warm weather months, even when they have no safe place to go. Getting to the point where families have access year-round will depend on the success of efforts to get families out of shelter faster.

key investments will reduce inequality wand expand opportunity by Ed Lazere

t does not take a financial wizard to spot the priorities in Mayor Bowser’s first budget: She wants to create more affordable housing, address rising homelessness, and protect thousands of families with children from losing basic income support. These will help residents cope with the dramatic disappearance of low-cost housing and an economy that is failing to create good-paying job opportunities for residents without a college degree. Mayor Bowser’s first budget makes new investments even though she faced a shortfall of revenue compared with the costs of maintaining services. To make it all work, some parts of DC government will get little or no new funding next year – like schools. And there are a number of reductions, too, some from outright cuts in services and many others from improved efficiency. The budget also includes modest tax changes, including a sales tax increase that will add 25 cents to a $100 purchase. That is a small price to pay for a budget that puts DC on a path to ending long-term homelessness. This analysis is part of an online “Budget Toolkit” developed each year by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, which can be found at www. dcfpi.org.

Some Notable Changes Mayor Bowser’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget is just a little larger than this year’s budget – a two percent increase after adjusting for inflation. The total is actually lower than the amount needed to maintain all services at 2015 levels, which means that the proposed budget is a lean one. Within that big picture, some services will be expanded, others will stay where they are, and some will be cut. The mayor found savings through efficiencies, but also cut some services, too. Some notable changes: • Record Investment in Housing: Local funding for affordable housing will reach a record high level in 2016, including expansion of programs to build affordable

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• Public Safety Expansions: Funding for the Metropolitan Police Department will increase due to contracted salary increases, 50 civilian staff added so that more officers can be on patrol, and equipping all officers with body cameras for officers. The Fire and Emergency Services Department will also grow due to base salary increases, but also due to a recent legal settlement requiring increases in overtime pay. • Public Works -- More Money for Metro: The District’s obligation to support operations of WMATA, the regional transportation system, will jump a lot next year.

Education: More Money Going to High-Poverty Schools Schools were not a big winner this year. Mayor Bowser proposed no increase to the school funding formula, not even an adjustment for inflation or rising salary costs. DCPS will direct more dollars to schools by cutting central operations. This lean year follows last school year when the DCPS budget grew six percent and charter school funding rose nine percent. Even with a flat overall budget, there will be big funding shifts within DC Public Schools, around the use of resources for “at-risk” students. The school funding formula was changed in 2014-15 to create a new “at-risk” category, adding $2,100 for every student who was low-income or otherwise at risk of academic failure. However, DCPS used the additional funds for a number of pre-planned initiatives determined by the Chancellor, not necessarily for poor students. An online data tool developed by DCFPI and Code for DC showed that many high-poverty schools did not get their fair share. In response to public criticism, DCPS committed to allocating the at-risk

housing, provide rental assistance, and provide housing and supportive services for chronically homeless residents. Most notable is $100 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund – DC’s main tool to build or renovate affordable housing. This will support construction or renovation of 1,000 or more homes affordable for residents with incomes typically under $54,000 for a year for a family of four. • Working to Make Homelessness Rare, Brief and Non-recurring: Important progress will be made to replace the shameful DC General homeless shelter over the next two years, along with other efforts to help families and individuals leave shelter quickly and to create permanent housing for chronically homeless residents. One issue that remains unclear is whether there will be enough resources to serve all families who become home-

• Summer Programs at Parks and Recreation: The budget eliminates an expansion of summer programs for children that was supposed to start this summer. • The University of the District of Columbia: UDC’s budget was cut by 5 percent, or $3.5 million. The impact is unclear. • First-Time Homeowner Assistance: Funding for the Home Purchase Assistance Program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers, was cut by about one-fifth. funds to follow the student in 2015-16, meaning schools with large concentrations of low-income students will receive their fair share of these resources, particularly schools in Wards 1, 4, 7, and 8. A review of initial school budget allocations shows that much of the funding will go towards extending the school day, for arts programming and supplies, and for middle and high school staffing. Another schools issue is a cut in funding for afterschool programs. At least 20 schools will be losing their afterschool funds next year. These programs bring community-based organizations to offer enrichment that schools often do not provide in the regular school day – even an extended school day – and support working parents by offering services as late as 6:00 p.m.

What Is Cut in the Budget? The mayor’s spending plan includes reductions in a number of program areas. These include scaling back programs and services as well as savings resulting from improved efficiency. • Payments to Hospitals for Medicaid Services: DC’s Medicaid program covers 98 percent of hospital costs, but that would be cut to cover 86 percent, which roughly matches the average among states. • Child Nutrition: The budget eliminates the new “Healthy Tots” program which is intended to improve the nutritional quality of meals and snacks at early education sites.

Modest Revenue Increases Will Support Important Initiatives The mayor proposes increasing revenues by one-half of one percent of the local budget, including raising the sales tax rate from .25 percent to six percent. That would put the District in line with the sales tax rate in Maryland and Northern Virginia, and it follows a recommendation of the 2014 D.C. Tax Revision Commission. The sales tax is a broad-based tax, but lower-income households pay more of it as a share of their income, which means it is not always the ideal way to raise revenue. Lower-income families spend all or nearly all of their income each month – including lots of taxable things like cleaning supplies, school backpacks, and clothes. Despite this drawback, the proposed sales tax increase is modest – just 25 cents for every $100 taxable purchase. That is a small price to pay to tackle an enduring problem like homelessness. In the end, the mayor’s budget shows that building a city where everyone can succeed requires substantial new commitments to housing, jobs, and other needs. And it shows that it is possible to make those investments without asking too much of DC residents. Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u

HIGHLAND RESIDENTIAL LP Request for Proposals (RFP) for Relocation Services RFP No. - HRLP 0002-2015

HIGHLAND RESIDENTIAL LP (HRLP) is a District of Columbia Limited Partnership and an affiliate of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). HRLP is seeking to solicit sealed bids from qualified, Contractors to furnish the labor, materials, equipment, travel, transportation and other necessary services necessary for and incidental to providing quality professional relocation services. The exact nature and extent of the services will be conducted as detailed within the above mentioned solicitation. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS will be available at the District of Columbia Housing Authority Procurement Office, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services, Washington, D.C. 20002-7599 (Issuing Office); between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, April 13, 2015. SEALED PROPOSALS ARE DUE: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 @ 11:00 a.m. at the Issuing Office identified above. The solicitation is also available via DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. Please contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at 202-535-1212 for additional information.

East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news / Our river

any of us were pleased and relieved when Tommy Wells was named Director of the DC Department of the Environment by Mayor Bowser earlier this year. He is a familiar face to many around the Anacostia, having served from 2007 until this year as the DC City Council member for Ward 6, which includes much of the western shoreline of the River in the District. A little background on the man: Tommy was born in Texas and received his bachelors degree from the University of Alabama, his Masters in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and his law degree from Catholic University. He started his DC career in the city child protective services agency. After six years, he became Director of the DC Consortium for Child Welfare. He represented Ward 6 on the DC School Board until his election to City Council. Perhaps most important for Our River, he keeps a day sailer at Buzzards Point and a canoe at the Anacostia Community Boat House, and he likes nothing more than to be out on the River . All the same, I wondered how Tommy would take to heading up a bureaucracy. As it turns out, he loves the variety and breadth of the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment here in DC. He points out, “Unlike the surrounding states, we are the Environment Department, the Natural Resources Department and the Energy Department rolled into one. We issue fishing licenses and act as game wardens, we set out energy efficiency standards, and we deal with air and water and land pollution. We even have a DC ornithologist to study how to protect our valuable and threatened birds. And we do all this with 370 employees and a budget of $110 million a year.” He continues, “We are also the Office of Sustainability, which opens up all manner of potential ways to improve life in the city; we oversee and advise on development of the green building code and our storm water retention rules are a required part of every construction project in the city.” And it is a different way of life from serving as a councilman from ward 6. He sees the responsibilities as broader, but the pace as more measured. On the City Council, he was constantly in demand to speak to petitioners and spent many evening and weekend hours meeting with constituents and attending events. At DOE, more time is spent in internal meetings and in focused discussions of key regulatory and program issues. “I find myself asking for more and shorter meetings, and I spend more time reviewing and signing documents. At the same time, my Council experience tells me I need to spend time out of the office talking with the citizens.“

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Tommy Wells: The New Boss On The River our river: the anacostia by Bill Matuszeski

Tommy Wells on the River. Photo: Barbara Wells

He continues, “I loved the Council, where I would deal with half a dozen very different issues in a day, and I worried that this new job might force me to limit the issues. But I can do so many different things here – travel to a site with a team of inspectors, decide in a meeting how to design storm water reduction credits, have lunch with my Maryland counterpart to discuss the potential for trading some of those credits across the state line, talk with the ornithologist – any number of things. When asked how he sees the basic work of the Department, he says, “Our job is to meet the environmental standards that have been adopted to improve our region and ultimately the planet. This means cleaning up our rivers – the Anacostia, the Potomac, Rock Creek and the streams that run into them. It also means meeting the air quality standards, especially for ozone, which is very tough and made worse by climate change. Some of the regulations to accomplish this have been slow to get promulgated – we need to speed that up – realizing that they may be costly and may even require new science to measure progress and achieve the reductions”. In terms of the Anacostia, he sees three main issues: • First, deal with the toxic sediments; this itself has three parts: cutting off the continuing sources of toxics in the water, handling the seepage from toxic sites along the River that themselves have been cleaned up but not necessarily their ground water or shorelines, and removing or capping the legacy of toxic sediments in the river bottom. • Second, handle the runoff from storms. Tommy points out, ”The Long Term Control Project will do a good job of this for the older parts of the City which are on combined sanitary and storm sewers. But the areas of separated sewers will also need major investments to reduce the erosion of our stream banks and the pollutants that come off our streets and parking lots; this is another multi-billion dollar job, but fortunately a good part of it can be accomplished by green

practices of schools, churches, businesses and homeowners – rain gardens, permeable pavement, planting trees and many other actions”. • Third, realize that while the Anacostia watershed covers about half of the District of Columbia, eighty percent of it is in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, “so we need to work closely with our friends in Maryland”. Tommy believes it is important to recognize the progress we have already made in the Anacostia, and the innovative programs that have contributed to what has been achieved to date, as well as what can be accomplished in the future. Here in DC, the RIversmart Program has made great strides by providing funds to homeowners and others to remove impermeable surfaces and install rain gardens and other technologies to retain storm water. “We are also just beginning to implement a highly innovative storm water credit program to allow developers to purchase credits from others who have installed storm water controls in order to meet some of their stringent new requirements. Our partner agencies in Maryland are likewise experimenting with new ways to meet the costs of the clean-up by engaging the private sector to develop markets for storm water improvements. Prince Georges County alone has committed $100 million to such a public/private partnership. All this gives me hope that we will achieve our long-term goal of a fishable and swimmable Anacostia River. Whether it occurs in 2024, as some of our strongest advocates have called for, or by 2032, which is DOE’s best guess of when it can happen, it WILL happen!”. Asked about any final thoughts, Tommy gets almost poetic. “You know, I often think those fledgling eaglets out in the Arboretum and along that stretch of the River. They and we are all part of the same ecosystem. There is a biological ecology to this city that includes all of us and all other living things mixed in with all the streets and buildings and yards and parks. This is the underlying rationale for the storm water controls, the toxic reductions, the tree plantings, the natural area protection and all the other things we do with the citizens. It is to make that system work as naturally as possible to benefit all living things, including us and those bald eagles”. Tommy. He’s our romantic bureaucrat and he’s the New Boss on Our River. Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, current Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River. u

New Law Combats Alcohol Sales to Minors by Charnice A. Milton

“A

lcohol is the norm in many communities in Ward 7, as it is in many communities elsewhere,” says Lois Callahan, project director of the Ward 7 Safe & Drug-Free Communities Coalition (W7SDCC). “Alcohol is a part of almost every social engagement. So, whenever families get together ... there’s alcohol everywhere.” As of January 26, there are 21 establishments with Class A liquor licenses (liquor stores) and 24 with Class B liquor licenses (grocery stores) in Ward 7. Many people are surrounded by alcohol from a young age.

The Role of Regulators “The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration [ABRA] conducts a variety of enforcement activities in all areas of the District to ensure compliance with alcohol laws,” says ABRA’s public information officer, Jessie Cornelius. “This includes sale-to-minor laws.” ABRA combats underage drinking using compliance checks and the DC Double Check 101 program. Compliance checks come in two forms: regular ID checks and the sale-to-minor program. ABRA investigators and minors from participating organizations visit licensed establishments unannounced. Under ABRA observation minors attempt to buy alcohol, using their real ID cards and giving their real age if asked. Vendors who fail this compliance check could face a fine, suspension, or loss of their license. The DC Double Check 101 Program is a collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department, the National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking (NCCPUD), the Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA), and area universities. ABRA’s participation If approved by Congress, the DC Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Amendment Act of 2014 will affect how Ward 7 liquor stores, like this one, advertise and increase the amount of inspections east of the river. Photo by Charnice A. Milton

includes on-campus alcohol awareness events as well as receiving tips about establishments suspected of serving or selling alcohol to minors. On December 3, 2013, Councilmembers Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), Anita Bonds (Atlarge), and Muriel Bowser (then Ward 4) co-introduced the Alcohol Sales to Minors Enforcement Act of 2013. If enacted the bill would require ABRA to conduct regulatory inspections for all licensees at least once a year and compliance checks for minor sales for 90 percent of licensees at least twice a year. However, as ABRA Director Fred Moosally testified, “It is important to emphasize that since [fiscal year] 2013, our Agency no longer receives funding from the Federal government to conduct compliance checks. As a result, our Agency would require additional funding and staffing from the Council ...” Under a compromise between the Business Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (BCRA) Committee and ABRA, the agency began on Jan. 1 to conduct minor-sales compliance checks at least twice a year at Class A and B licensees in Wards 7 and 8. This will continue until the end of the 2016 fiscal year. “The agency will be reviewing the results of those checks to learn whether additional measures are needed,” states Cornelius. “In addition, ABRA will be providing a report with its findings to the Council within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year.” Explains Councilmember Alexander, who serves on the BCRA Committee, “While there is no increase in penalties, an increase in inspec-

tions can ensure compliance. If you increase penalties, non-compliance can still happen.”

New Legislation On Jan. 26, Mayor Bowser signed the “Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Amendment Act of 2014.” This legislation group (which includes bills co-introduced by Councilmember Alexander) aims to address substance abuse among youth in two ways. First, it increases penalties for selling liquor to minors. “There are a lot of liquor and convenience stores in Ward 7, and kids tend to go to them after school,” Councilmember Alexander explains. “It has always been and will continue to be a concern.” Second, the new law limits the liquor advertising space permitted on store windows to 25 percent of total window space. “This is a good safety rule too,” said Callahan. “When we see these ads, not only are they a blight on the community, but you can’t look in to see what’s going on in the store before you go in.”

What Else Can Be Done? Says Callahan of W7SDCC, “We’re not just sitting back and saying ‘the legislation’s passed and now it’s out there doing its work.’ Part of our mission is to empower youth to make changes in their own communities.” To that end W7SDCC will work with youth groups and train as many as 50 teens to meet with liquor retailers throughout the ward, starting with 10 that were found to be non-compliant in 2014. W7SDCC hopes to meet with all liquor retailers by the end of the summer. Councilmember Alexander acknowledges that more work needs to be done. “We’ve had a lot of repeat offenders,” she explains. “If you know of any offending retailers, go to ABRA or the [Alcoholic Beverage Control] Board. That way licenses can be suspended or revoked.” Meanwhile W7SDCC is working with ABRA and communities around the ward. For instance W7SDCC sponsors alcohol-free events at Kenilworth Courts on Friday nights. “Families are getting behind this, because they can see this is another way youth are accepting the fact that this is the norm,” explains Callahan. “We’re trying to show the youth that you can have fun and have a good time without having alcohol and other drugs available.” The Ward 7 Safe & Drug-Free Communities Coalition is located at 4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20019. To learn more visit w7sdcc.org. Contact them at 202-329-8227 or email Lois Callahan at lncallahan@w7sdcc.org. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

neighborhood news

Raymond Tolson:

Community Servant

by Charnice A. Milton

A Rev. Andre Nero Randall, Ph.D., UPO Board of Directors receiving the EOR from Raymond

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

NC Commissioner Janis Hazel (7D05) has called 68-year-old Raymond Tolson a “neighborhood jewel, a native Washingtonian, and our community’s historian.” Hazel met Tolson at a community meet-up during President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign, and they have worked together since. A lifelong Ward 7 resident, Tolson is constantly serving his community, whether as secretary of the Central Northeast Civic Association, photographer, or church deacon. However, it is his work with fellow seniors and youth advocacy that keeps him the most active.

Cycling An avid cyclist, Tolson can be seen every day using Capitol Bikeshare around the neighborhood. “I’ve been riding all my life,” he said. “I started at nine years old, when I was delivering papers.” In recent years he gave up his car and began using public transportation, car sharing services like Car2go and Enterprise, and Uber. However, cycling is his main mode of transportation. Although Tolson has two bikes at home, he often uses Bikeshare to travel. “For $75 a year it’s worth it to leave them in the basement,” he explains. “It saves money on tires and repairs.” He recommends Bikeshare as a cheaper alternative

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. s

for recreational cyclists. While cycling is good exercise, Tolson does it to help keep the community informed. “I told Ray we needed to engage our residents and disseminate information that can assist them because the majority in our area do not have Internet access or computers in their homes and many don’t have smart phones,” said Commissioner Hazel. “So, Ray and I routinely split up the blocks and walk around to pass out my ANC 7D05 newsletter, flyers, and other publications.” Tolson also delivers copies of East of the River to homebound seniors. “When they’re home, we talk about what’s happening in the neighborhood,” he explained. “Then I’ll pass along information to those who can make the most good of it.”

PhotograPhY Tolson is a freelance photographer who uses his skills to document community problems. “I work in partnership with Ray alerting him to trash issues I’ve seen or a call or email I received from a constituent about trash, abandoned vehicles and illegal dumping,” said Commissioner Hazel. “Since he has a more flexible schedule than I do during the day and a better camera, he rides by the problem area on a bike, takes pictures, and I’ll forward them to DC 311, or if the problem persists I send the photos directly to my agency liaison to follow up to get the cleanup completed.”

soMe senior suMMer caMP This summer Tolson will continue to serve his fellow seniors during the annual Senior Summer Camp of So Others Might Eat (SOME). Twice every July the nonprofit sends low-income senior citizens to a two-week retreat at a country house in West Virginia. “It’s more like a hotel setting,” Tolson said of the experience. “You can chill out in your room or you could participate in movie nights,

church, a choir, or the talent show. They don’t put a demand on you.” After attending the program as a camper for two years Tolson was asked to serve as a counselor. He discussed it with Father John Adams, president of SOME, “and he was excited about the idea,” Tolson related. “I know that a lot of people there want to serve as counselors, but they can’t. As long as I’m healthy to serve, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Youth advocate While he enjoys helping his fellow seniors, Tolson is adamant about helping Ward 7 youth. Reflecting on his upbringing, Tolson is shocked at how things have changed. “It was a big thing when someone got shot,” he said. “Some people fight to solve their problems, but there was still a consideration for life.” Tolson argued that this consideration should be nurtured at a young age, starting at home. “You have to have someone to care about you,” he said. “If you don’t, you have to find your value somewhere else, like the streets.” The key to improving the community, he explained, is to invest in better youth programming and teach parents to instill good values and habits in their children. “Our biggest investment is our children,” he said. “If we spoil the children, then try to correct them as adults, we can never change.” This is why he campaigns on behalf of organizations like My School DC, attends community-wide meetings, and talks to representatives from the Office of the Mayor attending the Central Northeast Civic Meetings about youth jobs and education. When it comes to staying active in the community, Tolson does not see his age as a hindrance. “I don’t claim to be old,” he said. “You can still ride a bike at 68; you just have to keep moving.” As for when he will stop moving, Tolson replied, “Until my legs get rotten, I don’t expect to stop.” u

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East washington life

Step Afrika! Celebrates 20 Years by Charnice A. Milton

a traditional style created by miners. Banned from talking, they sent coded messages by tapping their boots. In December 1994 Williams partnered with Soweto Dance Theater to bring a group of Howard students to Johannesburg as part of the Step Afrika! Cultural Festival. “Since then we’ve been going strong,” he said. “We are committed to preserving and performing the art of stepping.” Today the company has 11 full-time artists, all of whom are college graduates. “College is a great opportunity, and we chose to step for a living,” commented Akpan, who has dance background and graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a degree in biochemistry. “It sends a message that we do this on a professional level, and college can open your eyes to new possibilities.” Step Afrika! during a performance. The dance company is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the Home Performance Series on June 4 through 7 and with a student-exchange partnership with DC Public Schools and the US Embassy in Croatia. Photo: Step Afrika!

“A

standard Step Afrika! show is high-energy with big impact movement,” said Mfoniso Akpan, the dance company’s artistic director. “It’s very interactive; it’s not just about you watching.” Anyone who has seen a Step Afrika! show would agree. Whether at the Atlas Theater on H Street, area schools and universities, or theaters across the country and around the world, Step Afrika! is the first professional dance company to focus on stepping, and it makes an impact on its audiences. This year the company will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a series of performances at Howard University and a new student exchange program.

History Step Afrika! founder C. Brian Williams learned of stepping as a student at Howard. “I was pledging Alpha Phi Alpha when I learned how to step,” he reminisced. “That’s where I became interested in the art form.” After graduating he moved to South Africa and learned gumboot dancing,

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Performances “We do a lot of innovative work,” noted Akpan. “We have used multimedia elements and stepped to classical, hip hop, and other music genres.” One example of this is “Nxt/Step,” a piece that combines multimedia aspects with jazz, classical, and rock. Also, audience participation is an important part of any performance. Audience members are invited to clap, stomp, cheer, and dance along with the performers. Currently the company is working on a full-length show, “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence.” Inspired by the painting series of the same name, “Migration” will tell the story of African Americans moving from the South to the North during the early 1900s.

Education and Outreach Step Afrika! is also known for its arts education and outreach programs. Through Step Afrika! Reads and Stepping with Step Afrika! the company performs at K-12 schools while promoting subjects like reading, history, and physical education. Other programs, like Step Up to College, an artist residency for middle and high school students, and Step Afrika! Scholars, a scholarship program for college students, stress the importance of a college education. Step Afrika! is also an official US Cultur-

al Ambassador, having represented the country and the stepping tradition before an international audience. According to its website the company partners with the US State Department, Navy Entertainment, and others to perform and conduct workshops around the world. One example is the partnership with the US Embassy of Croatia in Zagreb. Over the last four years Step Afrika! held international youth camps for students in the European Union. “We are going to give them a routine to learn and perform,” said Akpan. “It will teach them the three main points necessary in a step team and in real life: teamwork, discipline, and commitment.”

International Youth Exchange For its 20th anniversary Step Afrika! partnered with DC Public Schools (DCPS) to send 10 students to Croatia – the first year that American students participated in the international youth camp. The all-male group came from six high schools: Banneker, Cardozo, Columbia Heights Education Campus, Eastern, Anacostia, and School Without Walls. “I am incredibly proud of the 10 young men embarking on this special journey and excited [for] Step Afrika!,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson in a statement. “I am confident they will remember this experience forever.”

Coming Home and Looking Forward In addition to the student exchange Step Afrika! will continue the celebration with the Home Performance Series at Howard’s Ira Aldridge Theatre. “This will be our first time performing at Howard,” explained Williams. “It’s our biggest show of the year.” The four-day, five-performance series kicks off on June 4 with the VIP Gala, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Blackburn Center. The gala will continue after the 8:00 p.m. performance with drinks and dancing. The event will also feature a documentary about the company and the DCPS students in Croatia. Company members hope to continue their work in performance art and arts education. “I think that Step Afrika! will continue to be a thriving dance company,” declared Akpan. “Right now, I believe that we’re beginning to scratch the surface.” Step Afrika! is based at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. For more information call 202-399-7993, ext. 110; email info@stepafrika.org or visit stepafrika.org. u

/ E on DC

by E. Ethelbert Miller

“Part of baseball’s enduring charm, or so it is said, is the theoretical chance that a game could last forever.” – Tyler Kepner, writing on baseball for The New York Times 4/12/15

y the time you read this the Washington Nationals might either be in last or first place. The baseball season will be a month old. Somewhere a guy who tried to make the roster of a club will be sitting in a bar or the basement of a home, staring more at the darkness than the television screen. He will think about those “glory days” when the scouts called him a number one prospect. Maybe his girl-friend or wife might still be encouraging him to chase the dream, but it’s darkness that we’re talking about-- not the romantic light at the end of the tunnel. One day you’re trying to get a hit or sliding into third and the next day they cut and send you down. It’s brutal, like a ball that looks like a homer and at the last minute turns foul. Have you missed your chance or missed your life? Lately, I’ve been watching the shadows creep across the field, preparing to introduce themselves to me. It’s almost twilight and I don’t need one of my poems to tell me that. My Muse spends most of her time in Florida these days. I’m that old baseball player who had a long shot trying to make the team and as the cherry blossoms vanish, so too does youth. As a writer I never thought about not writing. So the word retirement was never in my vocabulary. Even while working at an area university, I never paid much attention to what inning it was. I simply enjoyed the game, the fans of students, the smell of books as seductive as hot dogs on a hot day. But baseball is now a business like our colleges. Presidents, deans and department chairs have mastered the art of the curve. It’s all money

ball in academia. It’s stats, numbers and profits. How many good players get traded even though they might want to stay with a club? A few weeks ago I wanted to compose a persona poem in the voice of Curt Flood, but I felt it was premature. There are a number of poets writing some of their best work in their late innings. I want to look over my shoulder at the scoreboard and know I’m still winning. I want the bullpen to be quiet. I want my arm to be strong. Is it possible to have faith without religion? If so, how is the game to be played? What rules need to be changed? Every day I think of workers across America struggling to be paid a decent wage. I think of the elderly and their caretakers. It’s baseball and the slow pace which forces one to pay attention to detail and restore compassion to the center of our lives. There is dignity to be found at every position on the field, as each man stands alone. Solidarity exists in the dugout where players play practical jokes, and the human error becomes a teachable moment. Life is filled with fear --death is the end of a rally. Yet, the game is sweet and simple, captured best by the poet May Swenson : It’s about, the ball, the bat, the mitt, the bases and the fans. E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist. His Collected Poems is being edited by Kirsten Porter and will be published by Willow Books in spring 2016. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

East washington lifE

Ke’Asiah McLaughlin, a senior at Eastern Senior High School, leaps across the stage as a finalist in the annual DC-CAPital Stars talent competition of the DC College Access Program.

which will go toward the organization’s key services of in-school counseling for high school students, advising for college, as well as providing and finding scholarships for students in need.

tHe real comPetition

Dancing Toward College Dreams dc-cap helps students with counseling, scholarships and caring by Christina Sturdivant

or DC residents who love the arts, seeing a show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is mandatory. For performers the opportunity to grace the stage is a dream. On April 1, Ke’Asiah McLaughlin, a dancer and senior at Eastern Senior High School, had her moment at the venue’s Eisenhower Theater. She sashayed, bounced, and leaped across the stage as a finalist in the annual DC-CAPital Stars talent competition of the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP). “Nice ... very nice, very nice, very nice,” summed up celebrity judge and tap dance prodigy Savion Glover’s critique of her performance, a self-choreographed jazz piece to “Fever.” McLaughlin, who took to dancing in elementary school, said, “It’s the only thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never played a sport, been in a club or

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

anything else aside from my community service events,” she says. “Dancing is the only thing I feel good doing. Usually I’m quiet and reserved, but when I dance I can have attitude and people don’t think it’s really me. It’s like I’m acting so its fun to get into character.” McLaughlin participated in the competition with 10 other DC high school students, vying for the $10,000 grand prize college scholarship. Launched in 2009, the event is in its seventh year and has become the biggest fundraiser for the organization, which works to ensure that every DC public school student has the resources to attend and graduate from college. “It’s really become one of the most special nights, I think, in DC,” says Argelia Rodriguez, DC-CAP’s president and CEO. “In a town that’s crowded with fundraisers, this one is really, really quite special.” The event brought in a record $1.1 million,

While McLaughlin did not place in the talent competition, she will have a seat in a college classroom this fall. Most likely she’ll attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she auditioned for the dance team and was selected in February. Entering her senior year at Eastern, her plans for college were a bit more foggy. With the help of her DC-CAP advisor, Tiffany Shaw, her path became clear. “I went to her in about October and I told her I have this list. I didn’t know where I wanted to go and I felt kind of guilty about it. She said it’s OK not to have an idea,” says McLaughlin. “She made me feel comfortable that I still hadn’t made my mind up, and made the process not seem so scary or long.” Shaw became a DC-CAP advisor immediately following her graduation from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Turning down a position at The Washington Post, she was excited to give back to an organization from which she had benefited as an Eastern student. “These are the same halls that I walked, so it really makes me feel like I’ve lived a purposeful life in a sense,” says Shaw, who hosts college preparation presentations each week, meets with an average of 30 students a day in her office, and engages with parents to keep them abreast of their children’s academic opportunities. Shaw has the opportunity to see students flourish as she works with them from their freshman to senior years of high school. Her relationship with McLaughlin is no different. “When I first met her, she was such a quiet student, but now she’s really coming into herself and coming out of her shell,” says Shaw. “She’s always been a dedicated student and talented in that sense, but now I can see that she’s pushing through. She sees the finish line, so she’s excelling” The oldest of three children, McLaughlin is intent on setting a good example. As the first in her immediate family to attend college, she’s also setting a vital precedent. “My brother told my mom that he was going to go to college because [of me], and I’m smart so he wants to be like me,” she says. “He’s eight, and if he feels like that’s what you’re supposed to do then that means that I’m doing the right thing by going to school.” Planning to major in African-American studies, McLaughlin wants to attend graduate school at George Washington University before becoming a high school teacher. With ongoing guidance throughout college from DC-CAP, McLaughlin, along with many others, will be an example of what Rodriguez has seen since the organization’s inception – “young people flourishing into these wonderful adults who can contribute to society and the city.” For more information on DC-Cap visit www.dccap.org. u

/ Jazz Avenues

Honoring Our DC Jazz Festival Hero, Charlie Fishman The Jazz Journalists Association has rightly named Charlie Fishman, the force behind the DC Jazz Festival, a JJA 2015 Jazz Hero, citing the fact that “countless D.C. residents and visitors have now got a decade of musical memories thanks to Fishman’s ceaseless efforts…” That’s a reference to Fishman’s engineering the DC Jazz Festival for 10 years of citywide presentations of distinguished and diverse artists for the enjoyment and education of residents and tourists of all ages. The festival returns with another potpourri of music in glittering halls, clubs, museums, and other venues, June 10-16. DC Jazz Festival kickoff events include John Scofield, June 10; Paquito D’Rivera, June 11; and The Bad Plus and Joshua Redman, June 12, at The Hamilton and Jazz in The ‘Hoods events everywhere. See www.dcjazzfest.org and www.jjaawards. org for complete information on the JJA 2015 Jazz Heroes.

Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

Inner Harbor Revisited Carl Grubbs, award-winning saxophone master, composer, and educator, unveils his “Inner Harbor Suite Revisited: A Tribute to Baltimore” compositions with the Carl Grubbs Jazz/Strings Ensemble on May 31 at St. Paul’s Schools near Baltimore. The works, reprising Grubbs’ acclaimed 1994 CD “Inner Harbor Suite,” result from the grant he received as a 2014 Rubys Award winner in Baltimore. See www.contemporaryartsinc.org.

Cyntje’s “Spiritual Awakening” Speaking of heroes, our resident trombone guru, composer and educator par excellence Reginald Cyntje, has fashioned another winner with his latest recording, “Spiritual Awakening,” released early this month. Building on his previous CDs, “Freedom’s Children,” “Love,” and “Elements of Life,” Cyntje focuses here on more uplifting, visionary sounds. Greatly helping this recording reach its goal is the work of bassist Herman Burney, who almost steals the show with urgently compelling and melodically inspiring bass work throughout. Burney’s band mates, with Cyntje’s frequently biting, sometimes smoothly sweetening trombone accenting each tune, include Allyn Johnson and Janelle Gill on piano, Brian Settles, tenor sax, Carroll Dashiell III and Amin Gumbs, drums, Kenny Rittenhouse, trumpet, Victor Provost, steel pan, and Christie Dashiell, vocals. The recording’s highlights include “Beatitudes,” one of the standout compositional works on the disc, led by Christie Dashiell’s vocal flights and Settles’ sax work, and Rittenhouse on trumpet; “Atonement,” a subtly engaging, lilting yet urgently melodic work driven masterfully by Burney’s bluesy bass; and “Compassion,” another Burney showcase. “Ritual” is an intriguing gem all its own, highlighted by Burney, Cyntje, and Gumbs’ polyrhythmic drum weavings. And “Re-

sharp riffs on sax and Whalen rippling melodically in lilting then urgent romps. Other high points include the melancholy “Blue Pearl,” highlighted by Seppa’s grooves on bass. Whalen, Seppa, and Balbed spur “Oblivion” into a whipping, jamming ode to bebop’s finest, with Taher bristling on drums and Whalen and Taher’s interplaying on “Tempus Fugue-It.” See www.timothywhalen.com.

Bass guru James “Tex” King plays in tribute to Keter Betts, May 29, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Photo: James King

joice” is a vintage island rocker spurred by Provost’s steel pan melodies and Settles’ simpering, slicing sax riffs. Cyntje has a “Spiritual Awakening” CD release party on May 15 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. See www.reginaldcyntje.com for more information.

Tim Whalen’s “Oblivion” Tim Whalen has come to the fore as one our area’s finest pianists, and his latest recording, “Oblivion: The Music of Bud Powell,” helps cement his stature everywhere as a formidable talent. In an ambitious task, doing justice to the short but brilliant career of eclectic bop-and-beyond master Powell, Whalen largely meets the mark with creative arrangements of some of Powell’s best known tunes. Whalen’s cohorts are Paul Pieper, guitar, Elijah Jamal Balbed, saxophones, Eliot Seppa, bass, and Shareef Taher and Carroll Dashiell III, drums. “Parisian Thoroughfare” is one highlight of “Oblivion,” with Whalen tinkering with the walk-in opening to give the tune his own touch, then reprising the melody with joyful crystal clarity. Pieper’s venturesome guitar licks another inventive accent to the Powell favorite. “Un Poco Loco” is smartly snappy, driven by drummer Taher, with Balbed spurting his own

May Highlights: Frank Lacy Legacy Band, May 9-10, Bohemian Caverns … Janelle Gill, May 11, The Arts Club of Washington … Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas Quintet, May 12-13, Blues Alley … Elijah Jamal Balbed/CD Release Party, May 14, An Die Musik/Baltimore … Elijah Jamal Balbed, May 15, Mansion at Strathmore … Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, May 15-16, Bohemian Caverns … MARS-4tet, May 15-16, Twins Jazz … Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, May 15-16, Kennedy Center … John Kordalewski/Makanda Project, May 16, Michigan Park Christian Church … Reginald Cyntje/“Spiritual Awakening” CD release, May 15, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Jimmy Cobb/Mike Stern “Four Generations of Miles,” May 21-24, Blues Alley … James King/“Remembering Keter Betts,” May 29, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Jazz Night at the Movies/“The Many Faces of Billie Holiday,” May 29, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Carl Grubbs Jazz/String Ensemble, “Inner Harbor Suite Revisited: A Tribute to Baltimore,” May 31, St. Paul’s Schools/ Baltimore … May Birthdays: Shirley Horn 1; Richard “Groove” Holmes 2; John Lewis 3; Ron Carter 4; Mary Lou Williams 8; King Oliver 11; Red Garland 13; Jackie McLean 17; Fats Waller 21; Sun Ra 22; Archie Shepp 24; Miles Davis 25; Hilton Ruiz 29, Benny Goodman 30; Louis Hayes 31. Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavenues.com and followed at www.twitter.com/jazzavenues. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

REal EstatE

ast fall, DC based Nextility (nextility. com), a solar-energy and power- and gas-brokerage company, received a call from Standard Solar of Rockville, Md., a commercial solar installer. Ward 7’s Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Parkside Campus wanted to install a solar array on its roof as a way to save money, promote green living, and provide a site-based opportunity for junior high and high school students to learn about solar power. The upfront cost of the installation made the cost prohibitive in the short term, even though administrators recognized that there would be considerable cost savings and carbon footprint reduction in the long term. Essentially they needed an investor to make the idea work. Would Nextility like to make this project happen? So began a somewhat unlikely partnership among the Chavez Schools’ Parkside Campus, Standard Solar, and Nextility. Over the next few months representatives from these three organizations worked together to find a solution that would make the solar array a reality. Now, some nine months later, the Parkside Campus roof sports 551 solar panels capable of

producing over 200,000 kWh annually and offsetting carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to more than 5,000 laps around the Beltway every year. Under the terms of the 15-year agreement Nextility agreed to pay all the costs of installing, monitoring, and maintaining the $550,000 project, while Standard Solar designed and installed the solar array on the roof. Nextility sells the electricity generated by the system back to the school at a 15 percent discount compared to the cost off the standard power grid, resulting in a savings of some $4,200 per year for the Parkside Campus. In return for their upfront investment Nextility receives all solar renewable energy credit payments (SRECs) and has a guaranteed purchaser for the solar energy produced on the campus roof for the next 15 years. At contract’s end the campus will have the option to purchase the array at fair market value, remove the array, or renegotiate a new contract with Nextility. The Parkside Campus solar array is considered a large to medium-sized project for a DC commercial building. Still, it only generates some 12 percent of the campus’s total electricity needs. Thus Parkside now receives two electricity bills – one from Pepco for 88 percent of its electricity and another from Nextility covering the remaining 12 percent that is produced from solar power. The education potential for Chavez students and staff provided one of the motivations for installing the solar array. Parkside wanted to ensure that students had an opportunity to learn about and study the solar array. Nextility has provided access to web-based tools that allow students and teachers to learn how solar electricity is generated and how production can be forecast. The website measures the solar energy being generated from the roof in near real time and in the past, allowing students to compare energy production on cloudy versus clear days and during winter versus summer months. The website provides solar and en-

vironmental educational curricula, resources, and games for teachers. Nextility staff were on site during the installation process. Arik Seiler, manager for the Parkside project, recalls that students were full of questions about the project. “By bringing solar power to the Parkside Campus, the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School organization is trying to capture student interests that will lead them to pursue education in a field that is pivotal to our planet’s continuing existence. Our presence at the school sparked curiosity and conversations and encouraged the students to ask questions about renewable energy. By the time the project was completed, senior students were telling me about the alternative energy program(s) they had signed up for in college. I think Cesar Chavez Public Charter School is setting a nice tone for all schools to follow!” Joan Massey, CEO of Chavez Schools, notes, “We are proud to be one of the first to bring green technology to Ward 7. At Chavez we want our students to become agents of change for all issues, including those related to conserving the environment, energy, and resources. We are thankful to have had the opportunity to partner with Nextility and Standard Solar to make this a reality.” The Chavez School Parkside Campus is the latest DC school to install a solar array. Dunbar High School and Kipp DC Charter School also have solar installations, along with George Washington University and American University. DC Temple Sinai will be installing an array in the near future. With the cost of solar installations dropping, here’s hoping that other forward-looking institutions across DC will invest in solar power and reduce their carbon footprint. Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, recycler, gardener, dog lover, and cyclist. She blogs for the DC Recycler: www.derecycler.blogspot.com; twitter: @dc_recycler. u

Solar panels are installed on the Chavez Schools Parkside Campus roof. Photo Credit: Nextility

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

/ 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.

Experience. Integrity. Enthusiasm. Shouldn’t You Work With Someone You’d Come Back to Again and Again? “Linda Pettie and Michael Tubbs are the finest realtors we’ve ever worked with - and fantastic people too! We worked with them to purchase our first house in 2000. 14 years later when we were ready to sell, we returned to the best. Our numerous experiences with many other agents in other parts of the country over those 14 years taught us how to spot quality. Don’t let the friendly demeanor fool you - these are accomplished professionals who will shoot straight, give you the hard truth when you need it, and get you the top dollar when you are ready to sell. They know how to spot great deals, prep a place to sell, and leverage decades of experience and a wide network of supporting professionals to meet all your home buying or selling needs. You can trust the Pettie Tubbs team!”

Michael @ 202-487-7206 Linda @ 202-276-3172 Mark @ 202-390-8083 www.pettietubbs.com Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE 202-547-3525

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PROUD TO BE AGENTS WITH THE # 1 CENTURY 21 FIRM IN THE WORLD! Joan Carmichael Realtor 202.271.5198 joanvcarmichael@gmail.com Bridgette Cline Realtor 202.271.4196 bcline8041@aol.com for all you real estate needs 1000 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Wash., DC 20003 office #202-546-0055

East of the River Magazine May 2015

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KIDS & FAMILY / NOTEBOOK

notebook by Kathleen Donner

Good Neighbor Day of Service and Family Celebration at Kenilworth Park On Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., come out for Kenilworth Park’s second annual Good Neighbor Day service and celebration event. The event will start at 10 a.m. with 2 hours of volunteer service in the park, followed by a family-friendly celebration from noon-2 p.m. that includes music, park tours, scavenger hunts and face painting. RSVP for volunteering only at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. SSL credits can be earned. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is at 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org

Chess and Checkers Club Mondays at William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Library

DC Government’s Annual “Truck Touch” lets citizens get hands-on with city’s infrastructure and emergency vehicles. Photo: Courtesy of DC Department of Public Works

DC Government's Annual “Truck Touch” The DC Department of Public Works invites the public to attend a free “Truck Touch” on Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at RFK Stadium, Lot 7. A host of DC government agencies will present and demonstrate nearly 30 vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, collect refuse, clear snow, provide emergency services, administer mobile health care, and more. Last year, more than 3,000 residents came out to climb on packer, sweeper and boom trucks; sit atop MPD’s Mounted Unit’s police horse and maneuver the levers of a police chopper; ride Segways, and test drive electric sedan vehicles. Residents also learned how potholes are repaired, sewers are vacuumed, and received information about vital city services.

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

Mondays at 4 p.m., students are invited to learn and play chess and checkers. Lessons and play will continue into the evening for all who are interested. All ages and levels are encouraged to come and join the fun. There are prizes for children who participate. Chess and checkers will help students to continue to develop their critical thinking skills in a safe, fun and competitive environment. Mr. Lawrence, the children’s librarian, will be in charge of instruction and coordination. William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW. 202-243-1185. dclibrary.org/bellevue

“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” College Night “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” is at the Folger, May 12-June 21. Stoppard’s feast of wordplay and wit thrusts two of Shakespeare’s most incidental characters into the limelight. Courtiers and close compatriots, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find themselves in Elsinore with the dubious task of identifying what afflicts their childhood friend Hamlet. College Night is

d e

d t -

, . d .

. z e s

on Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, with a valid student ID to be presented at the box office. Folger Shakespeare Theater, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu

civil war tours to treasure at anacostia community museum On Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., families get a personal docent-led tour of the exhibition How the Civil War Changed Washington and participate in a self-guided treasure hunt activity. Kids receive a free museum token for finishing the hunt. Each Tours to Treasure program lasts approximately 90 minutes; recommended for families and children (6 years and up). Call 202-6334844 to register. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

sunday (kids) cinema at anacostia library Sundays at 2 p.m., families with children are invited to the Anacostia Neighborhood Library children’s program room for their weekly showing of a children’s movie. Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202715-7707. dclibrary.org/anacostia

“oPera in tHe outfield” for kids On Saturday, May 16, starting at 5 p.m., before the simulcast of “Cinderella”, enjoy entertainment and activities including a Royal Parade in which kids are invited to arrive in costume and march around the lower concourse (begins at 5:30 p.m. Meet at section 132-133 at 5:20 p.m.). There will also be photo opportunities for kids with characters from Cinderella and with the liv-

ing statue of Babe Ruth and chances to win prizes. There will be performances by students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Opera Program and the Watkins Elementary Choir. There will also be a screening of the Warner Bros. cartoon “What’s Opera, Doc?,” starring Bugs Bunny and his nemesis Elmer Fudd. Kids can play in the open playground, dress up with items from a WNO costume trunk, visit the craft table, and have their faces painted. The simulcast of “Cinderella” at Nat’s Park begins at 7 p.m. kennedy-center.org/wno

family matters gala The Family Matters of Greater Washington Annual Awards Gala, on Thursday, May 21, 6-10 p.m., is one of Greater Washington’s premier social fundraising events. The Gala includes live entertainment, a silent auction and live auction, and testimonials from Family Matters clients. A minimal registration fee of $250 will be charged to cover event costs such as the open bar cocktail reception, 3-course meal including a surf and turf selection, and wine service during the meal. The Gala is being held at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW. One of the oldest, nationally accredited social services organizations in the nation, Family Matters provides comprehensive, accessible, low-fee services to thousands of residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. familymattersdc.org

foster care information sessions Looking to make a difference in a child’s life? Foster parents provide a safe, nurturing home for children or teens temporarily separated from their families through no fault of their own. Anyone interested in becoming a foster/resource

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Pre-K to 3rd grade

Building on our strong foundation as an early childhood program

Open Houses on the following Thursdays, 9:30 am-10:30 am*:

May 7 & 21

* You must register to attend. Call (202) 726-1843, limit of 20 people per session.

Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org 2nd round applications accepted until May 8, 2015.

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Voted Best Preschool in DC,City Paper Readers Poll 2013!

Bridges PCS is an expanding elementary school growing to serve grades Pre-K–5th by 2017-2018.

• Before & After Care • Small classroom size and well trained staff • Individual planning for each student • Hands-on and project-based curriculum Free and open to all DC residents.Tuition paid by non-residents.

www.bridgespcs.org 1250 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 p: 202.726.1843 e: info@bridgespcs.org

For the 2016-2017 school year Bridges PCS will be in our new location: 100 Gallatin St. NE, Washington, DC 20011.

www.bridgespcs.org

East of the River Magazine May 2015

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KiDs & faMilY / notEBooK

parent is invited to the Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, on Tuesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m. or Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW, on Thursday, May 28, 6:30 p.m. dclibrary.org/francis

library of congress releases new student discovery sets for tablets The Library of Congress invites students everywhere to touch, draw on and explore some of its most valuable treasures through its three newest free interactive ebooks for tablets. The Library of Congress Student Discovery Sets bring together historical artifacts and one-of-a-kind documents on a wide range of topics, from history and science to literature. Interactive tools let students zoom in for close examination, draw to highlight interesting details and make notes about what they discover. The Library’s latest Student Discovery Sets are available now for the iPad and can be downloaded free of charge on iBooks. These sets cover the Industrial Revolution, Jim Crow and Segregation, and Children’s Lives at the Turn of the 20th Century. They join six previously published sets on the U.S. Constitution, Symbols of the United States, Immigration, the Dust Bowl, the Harlem Renaissance and Understanding the Cosmos. A teacher’s guide for each set, with background information, teaching ideas and additional resources, is on the Library’s website for teachers, loc.gov/teachers. Regular tips and resources for teachers are available on the Teaching with the Library of Congress Twitter feed, @TeachingLC.

etHioPian cHildren’s book autHor at sankofa Children’s book author Fitsame Teferra is visiting Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe and launching her book “My First Book of Amharic Words.” On Sunday, June 7, 3 p.m., bring the kids for storytelling, to meet the author and get a book signed. Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe is at 2714 Georgia Ave. NW. Sankofa offers the largest collection of black children’s books and an annu-

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EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

rocketsHiP education breaks ground on new scHool in ward 8 Rocketship Education broke ground for a new elementary school in DC. The school, opening in Aug. 2016, will serve K-4th grade students in Ward 8, providing an education based on three pillars--excellent teachers and leaders, blended, personalized learning for Rocketeers, and deeply engaged parents. Parents interested in more information should contact Jacque Patterson at 202-750-6402. For the school in Ward 8, Rocketship will construct a 54,000 square foot building on a campus of nearly four acres. The school’s cafeteria, learning lab, outdoor gathering space, playgrounds and southern-facing classrooms will enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding trees and hills. The campus will also include a nature trail for students to enjoy, a unique offering in the school’s urban setting. Rocketship Education Apr. 14 ground breaking.

al Magical Mirror’s Children’s Book Fair in December. sankofa.com

american revolution family Program at anderson House On Saturday, May 16, 10:30-11:30 a.m., learn how to spy for George Washington during this hands-on program for children. Dean Howarth, Fairfax County educator, introduces kids to Benjamin Tallmadge, a member of the Culper Ring, and techniques used by spies during the American Revolution, including invisible ink, cypher wheels, and Tallmadge’s numerical dictionary. Recommended for ages 9-13. Adults are wel-

come, but not required, to attend with children. Free. Reservations required. Anderson House is at 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-785-2040. societyofthecincinnati.org

victory gardens of world war ii PuPPet sHow at tHe national arcHives On Saturday, May 16, noon-2 p.m., join other families at the National Archives for a fun, interactive puppet show focusing on the Victory Gardens of World War II. Be sure to join in the other activities before or after the show. Plant a vegetable to take home and start a victory garden, or create a personalized shadow puppet, just like the

H y p e r L o c a l | hīpər

. lōk(ə)l |

Hyperlocal connotes information oriented around a well defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of its residents. synonym: eastoftheriverdcnews.com Daily online. Monthly in print.

East of the River Magazine May 2015

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KiDs & faMilY / notEBooK

“Jazz n’ families fun days” at tHe PHilliPs collection A free, fun family event, “Jazz n’ Families Fun Days” offers live jazz in the Music Room and galleries, an instrument petting zoo, art-making activities, and more. The Jazz N’ Families Fun Days are always on the first weekend in June--this year, Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m.5 p.m. and Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. There will be a Young Artists Exhibition with works by DC public school students, hear live jazz, attend an art workshop, visit an instrument petting zoo, listen to a story, take a picture in a photo booth and hear about the “luncheon of the Boating Party” painting. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. 202-3 87-2151. phillipscollection.org Courtesy of the Phillips Collection

ones used in the show. Free. National Archives, 700 Constitution Ave. NW. nara.gov

hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy music and movement activities especially designed for small children. Tickets from $20. kennedy-center.org

nso kinderclassic “teddy bear concert: violins and trombones and bears, oH my!”

“family & youtH casting call” fisHing in tHe c&o canal

“Teddy Bear Concert: Violins and Trombones and Bears, Oh My!” is on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday May 31, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Back by popular demand! A delicate violin and a brassy trombone... playing together?! How can two instruments that are so different fit into one piece of music? Find out in this show from NSO violinist Marissa Regni, one of the creators of the first Teddy Bear Concerts. Joined by NSO trombonist Barry Hearn, musical compatibility is put to the test in a program that moves between classical and popular music with some ragtime and Spanish tunes thrown into the mix. For ages 3-5. Come early for “musical playtime.” Starting a half

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

On Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. spend a free day fishing at Fletcher’s Cove on the C&O Canal, 4940 Canal Rd. NW. They provide the instructors and all the gear needed to catch fish. When not fishing, children can take part in activities including fish printing/art, knot tying, fly and spincasting instruction, watershed education activities, and fish hatching and local fish and animal displays. Partner agencies and organizations will have displays set up to learn about how they are helping fish and fishing across the country. familyandyouthcastingcall.com

new futures dc Founded in 1999, New Futures DC provides a practical yet innovative program of scholarships, career education services and support to low-income DC-area young people pursuing shorter-term post-secondary educational opportunities. New Futures has awarded $3.1 million in scholarships since 1999, and reached over 1,500 students through their Career Education Program since 2013. New Futures awards scholarships of up to $12,800 to

students in the DC metro area who are pursuing associate’s degree or post-secondary certificates. New Futures works with 14 Community Partners who help their students apply for the New Futures Scholarship. Eligible candidates must (1) have been a participant in a New Futures Community Partner’s program for at least six months; (2) be between the ages of 17-29; (3) be a current student, newly accepted student or have a pending application at a career and technical school or a community college; (4) have a GED or high school diploma or be on track to obtain a high school diploma within three months of the application date; (5) have demonstrated financial need; and (6) have a viable educational and financial plan. Read more at newfuturesdc.org.

snore & roar sleePovers at tHe zoo Perch a tent on Lion/Tiger Hill and prepare for a wild time! The overnight adventure be-

gins with an exclusive keeper-led tour of an exhibit area. Throughout the event enjoy games, activities, and a walk through the Zoo. Breakfast snacks will be provided. There are two Snore & Roar options, one for families, and one for adults-only. Adults without children may register for either, however the educational activities associated with the family programs are geared towards groups with children from 6-teen. Snore & Roar overnights take place between June and September. A maximum of twelve participants may be signed up per registration. Snore & Roar campers sleep in four-person tents. Participants are never asked to share their tent with strangers. Read more and register at nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Activities/SnoreRoar.

Registration Opens for the Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run registration opens on May 20. The Kids Run is on Saturday, Oct. 24 and will be held in the Pentagon North parking lot. Nearly 3,600 children ages 5-12 will participate in the one-mile just-for-fun event. All participants receive a T-shirt, medal and snacks at the finish line. Register at marinemarathon.com. u

East of the River Magazine May 2015

KIDS & FAMILY

Breast Mammograms in 3D in Southwest breast care for washington brings 3d mammograms to ward 8 by Candace Y.A. Montague

hen ANC 8D Commissioner Monique Diop needed to have a mammogram she called a hospital in Northwest DC to schedule an appointment. The first opening they had was four weeks out. Not acceptable for woman who is 42 years old, has a history of breast cancer in her family, and has recently discovered a lump in her breast. “Someone told me to call Breast Care for Washington. So I did and they scheduled me for the following week.” Her appointment entailed a 3D breast exam and an ultrasound because they detected a lump. The lump turned out to be an infection and is gone now. She was relieved. But what made the process more tolerable to Diop was the service she received at Breast Care for Washington. “I was very surprised that we had such great service over here in Southeast. It was very clean and thorough. The people were very nice. The follow-up was nice. They explained the entire process from beginning to end. I will never go to that other hospital again.” 3D mammography is the latest in breast cancer screenings. It was designed to give a more in-depth picture of breast tissue. But insurance companies are reluctant to cover the cost in spite of its ability to more accurately detect cancer and reduce the number of callbacks.

Incidence vs. Death Rates The incidence and mortality rates for breast cancer in 2001 were disproportionately high among the District’s blacks and Hispanics. More than a decade later the rates remain high. According to the DC Cancer Control Plan, the barriers that keep the rates elevated include lack of access of medical homes, inadequate distribution of screening facilities, and lack of culturally sensitive care. Although the District has reduced the mortality rate for breast cancer by 10 percent from the 2000 baseline rate and enjoyed increased health insurance coverage, individual wards still struggle with their rates. Ward 5 has the highest rate of female breast cancer deaths, followed by Ward 8 and Ward 7. The disparity is more visible in the death rates among breast cancer patients. Although white females in the District are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer. Late diagnosis, fear, lack of awareness, and financial barriers all pay a part in the elevated mortality rates. One of the goals of the DC Cancer Control Plan is to reduce the breast cancer mortality rate by increasing early detection. Breast Care for Washington, located inside Community of Hope on Atlantic Street SW, opened in 2014 to provide comprehensive care, education, and the latest technology for detection.

3D Mammography Why is 3D mammography the preferred choice? Simply put, dense breast tissue is harder to scan. According to the American Association for Can-

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

3D mammography improves accuracy and detects cancer earlier. Photo: Hologic Inc.

cer Research, African-American women are more likely to have denser breast tissue than their white counterparts. Additionally, the Radiological Society of North America released results from a study on 3D mammography and dense breasts. The study found that digital breast tomosynthesis (aka 3D mammograms) detected 80 percent of the 132 cancers in women who were involved in the study. Beth Beck, co-founder and president/CEO of Breast Care for Washington, says 3D mammogra-

phy helps give more accurate views of breast tissue. “3D mammography has been found to detect cancers at an earlier stage. The difference between a 3D and 2D mammogram is that the radiologist can actually see the abnormality much earlier. It also reduces the times we have to bring a woman back in for additional imaging. For example, if the doctor finds something and it looks a little funny the 3D can zoom in on that area. In many ways it reduces the call back that so many women get and fear.” Early detection is the key to

Four myths about mammograms from the US Food and Drug Administration: • Myth: Mammograms cause cancer. Fact: Mammograms use very small doses of radiation. The risk of harm is very low. • Myth: Mammograms aren’t necessary. Fact: Mammograms can help doctors detect breast cancer early. Early screenings increase a woman’s chance of survival if the cancer is caught in time. • Myth: Mammograms are painful. Fact: People’s thresholds for pain vary. However women report discomfort, not necessarily pain, when they go through the compression part of the exam. • Myth: Mammograms are inaccurate. Fact: Overall, when cancer is present it is detected nearly 80 percent of the time thanks to early screening.

stopping cancer before it spreads. So far the feedback has been positive. Diop explains that the process took approximately two hours due to her ultrasound but was worth the peace of mind. Does the 3D machine hurt? “The machine did not hurt. They put some pressure on you but it did not hurt,” she says joyfully. Beck adds that more residents like Diop are starting to see the advantage of having a state-of-the-art mammography machine in their backyard. “Once they realize what we have they enjoy it. We’ve had patients contact us because they heard we have 3D mammography on site and they don’t have to travel to Northwest to get it. So that has made our services stand out from the rest.”

e e

Insurance Coverage

In January 2015 Medicare payment rates for screening and diagnostic 3D mammography went into effect. Diop, along with 87 percent of Breast Care for Washington’s clients, relies on Medicaid/Medicare to pay for healthcare costs, so this will alleviate another barrier to

care. Private insurance still has a way to go, but Beck believes they will eventually cover the cost as well. “The fact that they [Medicare] are paying for these exams makes me think we’re going to see more of the commercial insurers follow suit. There is an enhanced cost for this exam but it’s definitely worth it to detect the cancer earlier.” For now potential clients with private insurance should contact their carrier before scheduling an appointment, to see if they are covered for 3D mammograms. Getting ahead of breast cancer through early screenings, education, and access to quality care is a surefire way to reduce disparities and mortality rates. Breast Care for Washington is on the forefront of that fight, chipping away at the numbers one patient at a time. For more information about Breast Care for Washington or to make an appointment visit http://breastcareforwashington.org/ or call 202-465-7164. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News. u

Animal Clinic of Anacostia Candace A. Ashley, DVM 20 years of serving Capitol Hill (minutes from Capitol Hill & Southwest via 11th Street Bridge)

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East of the River Magazine May 2015

“Fun-dangles”

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

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across: 1. Bottom lines 5. Rebels 11. Desire 15. Cottontail’s tail 19. Dwarf buffalo 20. Rogue 21. Camp Swampy dog 22. Coloring 23. At risk of failing 26. Pipe problem 27. Way back when 28. Shafts of light 29. ___ tuck 30. Escapade 31. View from Jidda 33. Lubricate 34. Expenditure 35. Sanctum in an ancient temple 36. Delivers upsetting news 42. Herbaceous plant 44. Learn the ___ 45. “___-Pro,” Ferrell ﬂick 48. Force units 49. Protuberant 50. Maori war dance 54. Airs 56. Bingo relative 57. Neutral nation 59. Classic rock band 60. Setter 61. Moth-___ 62. O. Henry device 63. Operate at a faster pace 69. Pullet 71. Bread and butter, e.g. 72. Slippery sort 73. Worldwide workers’ grp. 76. Frogmen, e.g. 78. Fish 79. Left 82. In the sack 83. Bring down 85. Valuable violin 86. Chill 87. Tickle 88. Most garish 90. Set more modest goals 95. Bob’s companion 99. Bologna home

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100. Alicia of “Falcon Crest” 101. Two-seater 102. Certain violin 103. Kind of queen 106. Ready for battle again 109. XXI - XIV, in ancient Rome 110. Madras dress 111. Ductwork hider 114. Actor Wilson 115. Asphalt 116. Eyetooth 117. Tennis whiz 118. Challenge for a barber 119. Austrian peaks 120. Acted badly 121. Relinquish

Down: 1. Most of Mauritania 2. Immature 3. Ode for one voice 4. Actors org. 5. Sleeper’s woe 6. Baryshnikov’s birthplace 7. SALT subject 8. Comes out with 9. Tide competitor 10. Bibulous 11. Contemptible one 12. Point 13. Gallows reprieve 14. Mason’s burden 15. Valley, in Scotland 16. Power ___ 17. Open 18. Nitramine 24. Construction site sight 25. ___ Bowl 30. Talk a blue streak? 32. One may be taken to the cleaners 33. Chooses 34. Listens to 36. ___ agent 37. Deliver a tirade 38. Bills 39. Sultan of ___ 40. Tea type 41. It’s higher on the hwy. 43. Commercial makers 45. Pork place?

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 46. Middle of a famous palindrome 47. Really big 49. Hebrew letters 50. Wife of Zeus 51. Like fans 52. He’s a real doll 53. One or more 55. Bake in a shallow dish 56. Unstable mesons 58. Exercise 61. Short musical piece 64. Knawe, for one 65. As a precaution 66. Snares 67. Moors 68. Granter of 11-Across

69. Govt. regulator 70. Chest protector? 74. Moldovan moolah 75. Keats creation 77. Pago Pago’s place 79. Nanjing nanny 80. Strong ﬁber 81. Like Cheerios 84. It might be sticky 85. Chlorella, e.g. 87. Dry as a bone 88. Back, in a way 89. Mystic 90. Supple 91. Senators’ home 92. Michigan city

93. “Seinfeld” gal 94. Identical 96. Dear Abby’s forte 97. Like marble 98. Certain settler 101. Stuck 103. Twofold 104. Party acronym 105. Primatologist’s study 106. City near Lake Tahoe 107. Blue-pencil 108. Teen spots? 111. Pool locale 112. Public works project 113. Fond du ___

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River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School CVS - East River Park Safeway – NE 6th District Police Dept - Main Ward Memorial AME Kennilworth Elementary School Unity East of the River Health Center First Baptist Church of Deanwood Deanwood Public Library Hughes Memorial United Methodist Capitol Gateway Senior Apts Marvin Gaye Rec Center Watts Branch Recreation Center Langston Community Library Anacostia Neighborhood Library Benning Branch Library Marshall Heights CDC Kelly Miller Recreation Center Tabernacle baptist Church Randall Memorial Baptist Church East Capital Church of christ Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 7-Eleven Riverside Center Mayfair Mansions Citibank: East River Park Chartered Health Center NE Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro The Minnicks Market Lederer Gardens Suburban Market Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Dave Brown Liquors Dave Brown Liquor A & S Grocery St Rose Pentecostal Church Malcolm X Rec Center St More Catholic Church Fort Davis Recreation Center Ferebee Hope Recreation Center Emanuel Baptist Church IHOP Restauarant Giant Food Store SunTrust Bank Parklands-Turner Community Library Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office Garfield Elementary

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7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE Pimento Grill 4405 Bowen Rd SE East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 1526 Howard Rd SE Dupont Park SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE

Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church CVS – Penn Branch Congress Heights Recreation Center Johnson Memorial Baptist Church Ridge Recreation Center Savoy Recreation Center PNC Bank Rite Aid United Medical Center Benning Park Community Center Benning Stoddert Recreation Center Union Temple Baptist Church Senior Living at Wayne Place Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library Bald Eagle At Fort Greble Covenant Baptist Church Faith Presbyterian Church Henson Ridge Town Homes Office The Wilson Building CCN office Eastern Market YMCA Capitol View CW Harris Elementary School DC Child & Family Services Agency

3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE 100 Randle Pl , SE 800 Ridge Rd SE 800 Ridge Rd , SE 2440 Shannon Pl SE 4100 South Capitol St , SE 4635 South Capitol St , SE 1310 Southern Ave , SE 5100 Southern Ave SE 100 Stoddert Pl , SE 1225 W ST SE 114 Wayne Place SE 115 Atlantic St , SW 100 Joliet St SW 3845 South Capitol St 4161 South Capitol St SW 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW 224 7th ST SE 225 7th St SE 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE 301 53rd Street, SE 200 I Street SE

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