neighborhood news / bulletin board
Photo: Courtesy of FRESHFARM Markets
Ward 7 Democratic Candidates’ Virtual Economic Vision Debate
FRESHFARM Markets Open for Season
East of the River FRESHFARM markets are at Kenilworth Rec Center, 4321 Ord St. NE, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (starting June 6); and Minnesota Avenue, 3924 Minnesota Ave. NE, Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m. (starting June 4). freshfarm.org. In an effort to keep shoppers, vendors, and market managers as safe as possible, FRESHFARM is implementing the following safety protocols at all of their farmers markets. Market managers remind all shoppers to follow these guidelines: Keep your market visit simple and short. Leave your dogs, children, and senior family members at home. Wash your hands. Maintain a distance of at least six feet. No browsing or lingering at market tents. Try to attend the market later in the day. Stay home if you or a family member is sick. Do not eat any purchased food while you are at the market. Wash produce when you get home.
Two New Hospitals to Bring Equity to DC’s Health Care System
Mayor Bowser has announced two agreements to improve health care and address inequalities in health outcomes for District residents. The agreements include the construction of two new, state-of-theart hospitals: a 136-bed hospital at St. Elizabeths East in Ward 8, operated by Universal Health Services in conjunction with George Washington University and George Washington Medical Faculty Associates; and a 225-bed Howard University Hospital on Georgia Avenue NW in Ward 1. With construction funded by the District, the new $306 million hospital at 28
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St. Elizabeths East is expected to open in the fall of 2024 and include 136 inpatient beds, with the ability to expand to 196 beds. The District is also funding the construction of a $69 million health services complex (ambulatory center) at St. Elizabeths that is expected to open in the fall of 2023. Two new urgent care centers in Wards 7 and 8 will open in the fall of 2021 and the spring of 2022, costing $21 million to be funded by Universal Health Services. This investment will be a part of a $75 million contribution to the project. The full agreement between the parties will be submitted to the Council for approval in June. The current United Medical Center will remain open until the new hospital is completed.
The Ward 7 Democratic Candidates’ Virtual Economic Vision Debate is on Saturday, May 16, starting at 10:30 a.m., via YouTube Live. The debate will be moderated by Saymah Nah, Marshall Heights Civic Association’s Vice-Chair of Economic Development and Fenit Nirappil, a respected local journalist for The Washington Post. Each candidate will sit individually with the moderators for 15 minutes to answer three core questions that they received in advance. The link to watch the debate will be posted on all of MHCA’s social media platforms by Thursday, May 12. Information about how to register to vote, how to request a mail-in-ballot, general community announcements, and a reflection/moment of silence for those impacted by COVID will be delivered by Reverend Andre D. Ivy of the First Baptist Church of Marshall Heights before the debate begins. marshsallheightsdc.org. Marshall Heights Day, originally planned for after the debate, is postponed until fall.
ANC 7D Goes Virtual
ANC 7D May and June meetings are virtual: phone and computer. The commission is on recess in July and August. May’s meeting is May 12, 6:30 p.m. The event’ video address is 470047772@dcnet.webex.com; password is Qgw8TMFTX32. The phone call-in number is 1-650-479-3208 with access code of 470047772. June’s meeting
is June 9, 6:30 p.m. The event’s video address is 477818262@dcnet.webex.com; password is HFmAMF2ch66. Call-in number remains the same with an access code of 477818262. Fall meetings are scheduled for Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. If public meetings are still under quarantine, dial in instructions will be published at least seven days prior to the meeting.
Anacostia Watershed Society Launches Learning from Home
The Anacostia Watershed Society has announced their new Learning from Home portal at anacostiaws.org/what-we-do/ education. With many area schools moving to online classes for the remainder of the year, AWS has put together online resources so K-12 students can keep learning about their local watershed from home. Plus, students have the chance to start a Naturalist Notebook and enter a competition. anacostiaws.org.
Free Groceries
The District has ten school locations that distribute free groceries to residents in need each week at 12:30 to 2 p.m. In Ward Seven, the distribution locations are Kelly Miller Middle School (Tuesdays), 301 49th St. NE; Woodson High School (Wednesdays), 540 55th St. NE; and Kimball Elementary School (Thursdays), 3375 Minnesota Ave. SE. In Ward Eight, the distribution locations are Anacostia High School (Thursdays), 1601 16th St. SE; Ballou High School (Fridays), 3401 Fourth St. SE; and
