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

NOVEMBER 2020

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N OVEMBER 2020

IN EVERY ISSUE

N E X T I S S U E : D E C E M B E R 12

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What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 10

DC Protests: DC Protest, ShutdownDC and Sunrise Movement Work to Create Local And National Change

Smithsonian Expands Reopening: Seven Museums Are Now Open to The Public by Sarah Payne

The Rise of Colorectal Cancer: Black Americans Suffer Higher Incidence by Pattie Cinelli

Changing Hands

Meet Kennedy Solaru: CEO and Child Linguist by Anthony D. Diallo

We Are Anacostia! Gateway Mural Celebrates Anacostia’s Past, Present and Future by Phil Hutinet

by Sarah Payne

The Numbers: Five Takeaways From District’s Latest Revenue Forecast by Tazra Mitchell Opinion / The Old Man of Anacostia: Our Neighborhoods Need Effective Volunteers by Philip Pannell

Green Organizations are Budding in and Along the Anacostia by Catherine Plume

Our River: The Anacostia Getting A Start On The “Hotspots” by Bill Matuszeski

Bulletin Board

KIDS & FAMILY 38

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

by Kathleen Donner

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 28

Eat Local on Turkey Day

ON THE COVER: Zoma’s Butterfly

2018, 10x10 Bevadine Zoma Terrell www.bevadinearts.com

Article and photos by Celeste McCall

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

by Don Denton

MIDCITY

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

FAGON

EDUCATION

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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

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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Photo: Alan Karchmer for NMAI

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL OPENS The National Museum of the American Indian will open the new National Native American Veterans Memorial Wednesday, Nov. 11. The moment will be marked with a short virtual message to honor the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families. The message will be on both the museum’s website, americanindian.si.edu, and its YouTube channel. The memorial design is by Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma), a multimedia artist, retired forensic artist and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. This is the first national landmark in Washington, DC to focus on the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the military. The Memorial sits on the grounds of the museum. Visit anytime. americanindian.si.edu.

AIR AND SPACE’S UNDER ANCIENT SKIES

FOOD & FRIENDS ANNUAL THANKSGIVING PIE SALE Purchasing your holiday pies through Food & Friends’ Slice of Life is the sweetest way to give back this holiday season. When you buy a pie, not only will you receive a gourmet treat baked fresh from Whisked bakery, you’ll also be supporting your sick neighbors. Each pie purchased from Food & Friends provides everything that goes into getting one full day of meals home-delivered to a person living with critical illness. Pumpkin, apple, chocolate, sweet potato and pecan pies range from $28 to $45. They can be ordered through Nov. 19. Pick up is Nov. 24 at various locations. sliceoflifedc.org.

POTTERY ON THE HILL This year, Pottery on the Hill goes virtual. Beginning at 5 p.m. on November 13, Pottery on the Hill will be your source to access some of the best pottery in the country. They’ve invited back potters from the previous nine years of Pottery on the Hill, plus emerging potters who have played integral roles behind the scenes. Pottery on the Hill is from Nov. 13 to 15. There is a silent auction from Nov. 5 to 15. hillcenterdc.org/ artist/pottery-on-the-hill-2020-2/. Pottery by Matthew Metz

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The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and Grammy award-winning musician and producer Diplo has released the album Under Ancient Skies. It expands on MMXX’s theme of connection with nature to explore the human experience in the cosmos around the globe and throughout history, from the ancient world to contemporary understandings of the universe. The album is part of a partnership between Diplo and AirSpace which is the satellite brand of the National Air and Space Museum that explores aviation and space through arts, entertainment and culture with content and experiential events that reach beyond the galleries and exhibits. airandspace.si.edu/ learn/airspace-podcast/under-ancient-skies

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

PHOTOWORKS AT GLEN ECHO PARK Photoworks is a learning center providing a personalized atmosphere for students to develop their visual talents in photography. Small classes, a variety of courses and a professional faculty of commercial and fine art photographers allow each student to develop his/her technical and aesthetic photo abilities. Register online for individual classes at glenechophotoworks.org/archives/category/ upcoming-events. In-person registration at the Glen Echo Park office is unavailable due to Covid-19. All classes that do not have a reference to use of the Zoom platform will be held in the Photoworks Studio with safe distancing, masking and sanitized surfaces. Classes beginning after December 1 for the Winter session will be posted shortly. glenechophotoworks.org. RIGHT: There is a free monthly Coffee and Critiques on Zoom on Sundays, (next ones are Nov. 8 and Dec. 13), from 10 a.m. to noon. Join them for a photo jam session to view and discuss your images. Led by a Photoworks instructor. Minimum age 15.

QUARANTINE: 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS

Photo: Courtesy of GALA Hispanic Theatre

THE DOG IN THE MANGER (EL PERRO DEL HORTELANO) AT GALA Through Nov. 22, GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, celebrates 45 Years with a new adaption of a gem of the Spanish Golden Age, The Dog in the Manger (El Perro del Hortelano) by Lope de Vega. First produced in 1618, this smart comedy explores love, fidelity and class with wry wit. After Diana, a Countess, scorns proposals of marriage from several aristocratic suitors, she falls for her male secretary who she discovers is wooing Marcela. To pursue this forbidden love, Diana must sabotage her suitors, deceive her friends, and concoct ever more elaborate schemes. So begins an emotional love triangle familiar to those who have fallen in love with someone outside the status dictated by social norms. Reservations are necessary, as only 25 patrons will be seated. Single tickets are $45 (discounts for seniors, military and students). Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays evenings and Sunday afternoons. galatheatre.org

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Five months into the pandemic-caused social isolation, the Art Museum of the Americas has launched, online, its first contemporary photography exhibition fully dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on everyday life. Conceived by multimedia artist Geandy Pavón, Quarantine: 40 Days and 40 Nights, with an essay by Lynette M F Bosch (40 Plus In Buffalo). Pavón’s photographs of the COVID lockdown is a collection of 40 photographs captured during his lockdown in Buffalo, NY, showing the vulnerability and resilience of the artist, who found himself away from home and without his equipment. inartwetrustmuseum.org/40days40nights.

Day 8. Photo: Geandy Pavón

ALL YOU CAN EAT: A CULINARY HISTORY OF AMERICA Throughout American history, food has been a battleground where culture, ethnicity, race, and identity clash. In fact, in the 1890s, New Yorkers found the Italian immigrant dish of spaghetti with tomato sauce to be so threatening to American values that some sought to outlaw it. Hamburgers, too, were once viewed by many Americans to be a disgusting foreign food. On Nov. 18, 6:45 p.m., Allen Pietrobon, an assistant professor of global affairs at Trinity Washington University and an award-winning historian, as part of the Smithsonian Associates Streaming series, guides a culinary tour on Zoom that explores our food culture since 1850 and examines how what Americans ate both drove and reflected historical changes in the country. $30. Register at smithsonianassociates.org.

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FORCES OF NATURE AT THE RENWICK

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Through June 27, 2021, Forces of Nature: Renwick Invitational 2020 features artists Lauren Fensterstock, Timothy Horn, Debora Moore, and Rowland Ricketts. Nature provides a way for these invited artists to ask what it means to be human in a world increasingly chaotic and divorced from our physical landscape. Representing craft media from fiber to mosaic to glass and metals, these artists approach the long history of art’s engagement with the natural world through unconventional and highly personal perspectives. Established in 2000, this biennial showcase highlights mid-career and emerging makers who are deserving of wider national recognition. The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th St. NW, is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free, timed-passes required. americanart.si.edu. Rowland Rickets dyeing cloth with his grown, harvested, and processed indigo.

MOIRA DRYER: BACK IN BUSINESS AT THE PHILLIPS Moira Dryer: Back in Business at the Phillips Collection, is on view through Dec. 13. Featuring 22 of her richly textured and color saturated paintings and sculptures, this is the first comprehensive museum exhibition to consider her early work. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, reopened on Oct. 15, with new safety measures in place in accordance with health guidelines and in response to the covid-19 pandemic. The museum’s Goh Annex and Sant Building are open Thursdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with tickets available on the Monday prior. All visitors will be required to reserve a timed-ticket. The museum shop will be open, but the Phillips House galleries as well as Tryst, the Phillips café will remain closed. phillipscollection.org. Moira Dryer, Fingerprint #2647, 1988, casein on wood, Estate of Moira Dryer, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, The Henry L. Hillman Fund.

John Tufts

TOUR DC’S FIRST WINERY District Winery, at 385 Water St. SE and DC’s only operational commercial winery, has begun offering tours again--regular and date night. Tours are Thursdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tours are $35 per person which includes tastings and are limited to 12 participants. districtwinery.com.

SHAKESPEARE LIGHTNING ROUND: JOHN TUFTS What’s your favorite Shakespeare play? Best disguise in Shakespeare? Most overrated Shakespeare play? On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m., tune in on Instagram Live for a free, fun, fast-paced, Shakespearean chat show. They ask their guests 30 lightning-fast questions about their favorite—and least favorite— things about the Bard. Actor John Tufts joins them on this new episode. Tufts has performed at theaters across the country, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Ensemble Studio Theater, Guthrie Theater, Primary Stages, The Mint Theater Company, and others. He is also an accomplished cook and the author of Fat Rascals: Dining at Shakespeare’s Table, a cookbook featuring over 150 authentic recipes straight out of Shakespeare’s plays. folger.edu. 08

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neighborhood news

DC Protests

DC Protest, ShutdownDC and Sunrise Movement Work to Create Local And National Change by Sarah Payne

hile protesting late last May, Justin Daniels witnessed the US Capitol Police and the WMATA Metro Police beginning to militarize. Running into another group of people marching toward the White House, Daniels diverted them. It didn’t look safe, he recalled. Daniels led the protesters back and forth to Georgetown. At the end of the march, several participants asked, “Who are you guys? What are you guys?” Inspired, Daniels created an Instagram account that has organized a march in the District every subsequent Saturday. Six months later, Daniels operates DC Protests, a website and Instagram account with nearly 8,000 followers.

DC Protest

The District is famous for its huge “Marches on Washington” that draw thousands of people from around the country. However, a number of local organizers are assembling groups of DC activists weekly to protest issues surrounding climate change, LGBTQ discrimination, racism, politics and women’s rights. DC Protest’s gatherings focus on a variety of issues including racism, incarceration, mutual aid, feeding the community and local elections. “We want people to know the power that they hold in the city,” Daniels said. “Who they elect (here) affects them a lot so we want to educate people.” The DC Protest group of about 80 to 100 meets Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Malcolm X Park, 16th St NW &, W St NW. Another group of organizers from the They/Them Collective meets at 7 p.m. at Dupont Circle. Daniels said that Black Lives Matter Plaza and Freedom Plaza are also often occupied by local activists during the week.

Sunrise, ShutdownDC Photo: James Mizon

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The Sunrise Movement and ShutdownDC were created to promote climate justice. Both have now transitioned to broader agendas.

Photo: Andrew Lightman

Their websites, www.sunrisemovement.org and www.shutdowndc.org, include: calendars with upcoming organizing events and protests; educational materials, sets of political goals, and safety guidelines for protesting during the pandemic. “A lot of people who wouldn’t necessarily have considered going to a protest might be considering it now, because of how scary the political situation is,” ShutdownDC Communications Coordinator Kaela Bamberger said. “And there are tons of opportunities to get involved and to do it safely.” ShutdownDC itself is organized into small affinity groups made up of like-minded activists, shared protest methods or old friends. Affinity groups are great for community and for sound and collective decision making, said Bamberger. These are “people that have committed to taking action together,” Bamberger said. “Any group can form around an identity like migrant justice or racial justice, sort of a theme of an affinity group. It can also just be around your neighborhood, or just a group of friends. It’s just a group of people who’ve committed to each other to take action collectively.”

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Photo: Andrew Lightman

The group meets virtually as a whole on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Details are available on their website. All are encouraged to attend. This is just one of many ways, Bamberger says, to get involved with the DC protests. The Sunrise Movement has also been active in DC most recently on Sept. 21 when over 100 people gathered at 6:00 a.m. outside U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) Capitol Hill home with noise makers, speakers and drums. Protesters held signs that read “We can’t sleep so neither should Lindsey” and protesters played reels of Graham’s quotes over loudspeakers.

Beyond November

ADVERTISE WITH EAST OF THE RIVER! Call Kira Means at 202.400.3503 Or email: kira@hillrag.com

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“Protesting the week of the election is super important and super pivotal,” DC Protest’s Daniels said. “We still want our voices to be heard because this isn’t something that is going to go away with an election. This isn’t an election issue, this is not a left or right issue. This is a human rights issue.” Daniels has no intention of ceasing to organize after November 3. Continuity of protest helps people understand the gravity of the issues. “Once they see people protesting after the election, it’s going to wake up a lot more people,” Daniels said. “This is an issue of people wanting to be treated like their fellow man.” Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with Hill Rag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@ hillrag.com. u

Do you need mortgage assistance due to the effects of COVID-19? DC MAP (Mortgage Assistance Program) COVID-19 is here to help District homeowners stay in their homes during this pandemic. As businesses in the Washington, D.C. region have had to close or reduce staff, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) recognizes the need to provide assistance to those impacted by the pandemic. DC MAP COVID-19 provides zero- interest monthly assistance loans up to $5,000 for up to six months for qualified homeowners.

Borrower Qualifications: • Must be borrower’s primary residence and must be located in the District of Columbia • Must have been current as of the March 1st payment (prior to being affected by COVID-19) • Must be able to document income affected due to COVID-19 • Borrower must be the borrower on the home loan, not just a member of the household • Must show proof that the borrower is not eligible for forbearance or other types of relief offered through the servicer and/or Hardest Hit Funds • If borrower is still affected after the CARES Act ends, then relief may be offered at that time (See additional terms)

For a full list of borrower qualifications and loan terms, visit

www.dchfa.org/homeownership

DC MAP COVID-19 financial assistance will be granted on a first come, first served basis until the program allocation has been exhausted. Homeowners seeking assistance through DC MAP COVID-19 should call 1-833-429-0537 to begin the process of applying. Questions regarding DC MAP COVID-19 may also be emailed to DCMAP@dchfa.org.

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neighborhood news

The Numbers

Five Takeaways From District’s Latest Revenue Forecast

ight now, our District is in crisis. A deeper-than-expected drop in the city’s revenue due to the pandemic-ravaged economy could mean budget cuts to education, child care, health care, and other vital services. As tens of thousands of our neighbors are out of work, going hungry, and falling behind on rent—and as small businesses close permanently—District revenues are also feeling the pinch, according to the Office of Chief Financial Officer’s (OCFO) latest forecast. The pandemic’s harm has wreaked havoc most on Black and brown residents and their businesses, as well as women in the workforce, due to structural racism and a broken economic model that too often stacks the deck against them, even in good times. The disparate harm that the pandemic is wreaking illustrates why the District should avoid plugging the resulting budget shortfall in ways that would continue to harm the people suffering the worst of the pandemic—and suffering long before the crisis. Revenue should be part of the debate to address the budget gap, including asking more from those with the greatest ability to give—such as high-income residents who’ve largely been unscathed by the pandemic—and profitable corporations that are still doing well even in this deep recession. Here are five things you need to know about the OCFO’s September forecast: 1. Revenues are projected to drop by another $782 million across the four-year budget and financial plan. Lawmakers must approve a four-year budget annually, and the OCFO publishes revenue estimates for the same

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by Tazra Mitchell

period. For the current 2021 fiscal year (FY) that began in October, revenues are projected to drop by another $212 million compared to estimates in the approved budget. Although the total level of revenue is expected to grow modestly in each of the next three years of the plan, it is projected to grow more slowly due to the steep and prolonged recession (Figure 1). Compared to pre-recession estimates in February, projected revenues in FY 2021 are down by nearly 10 percent.

2. DC now has a budget shortfall, but the FY 2020 surplus can help. The Mayor and DC Council will have to pass a supplemental budget to balance the budget. One surprise in the September forecast is that FY 2020 revenues came in above projections by $222 million, in large part due to government intervention that stimulated the economy. The OCFO will put the surplus in the Fund Balance. The Mayor and DC Council should use

that surplus to help offset the revenue losses across the 4-year plan. 3. Government intervention and telework options are helping, but more economic supports and stimulus are needed. The OCFO reported that substantial federal spending and actions to lower interest rates prevented jobs and income from falling as much as anticipated. Public investments helped buffer the District from revenue losses through programs such as the $1,200 stimulus check, boost in unemployment benefits, and PPP loans for small businesses. Higher-income residents have been able to better weather the pandemic due to telework options and steady paychecks as well as healthy stock portfolios. The data is in line with the evidence showing that this pandemic is triggering the most unequal recession in modern history. 4. Revenues may drop further. The OCFO anticipates that the District’s revenues will begin to recover in FY 2022. However, if the District does not receive further federal aid, the recession continues, the stock market declines, and/or if there are delays to a widely accessible and effective vaccine beyond the end of next year, revenue collections could worsen further. Deeper revenue shortfalls would grow the budget shortfall, threatening cuts to programs that are helping residents navigate the economic pain of the recession. 5. It is unclear how policymakers will plug the budget gap, or the process they’ll use to make those decisions. The Mayor and Council can address the revenue shortfall using a combination of the FY 2020 surplus, a portion of the $1.2 billion we have in reserves, reve-

nue increases that ask more from higher-income residents and large corporations, and any existing or new federal relief dollars that are available, among other revenue sources. Belt-tightening is also an option; however, that strategy is ill-advised during a recession because it does more harm to Black, brown, low-income residents, and our economy than it does good. It is also unclear when the Mayor will begin working on the supplemental budget, or what the supplemental process will look like. The primary goal of revenue policy is to raise enough revenue to meet the critical needs of DC residents, and a guiding principle is to do so in a way that asks more from those with the greatest ability to contribute—that is, we should raise revenues in a way that advances equity. We can and should do both. The solution is to require high-income people and corporations that continue to thrive even during these hard times to contribute more, and DC voters agree. High-income people and those with wealth have avoided the worst economic effects of the recession: they’ve been less likely to lose their jobs, benefitted from a rebounding stock market, and seen an increase in luxury home values. Meanwhile, the District’s top earners pay a smaller share of their income on total local taxes compared to the middle class—and they’re disproportionately benefitting from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which turbocharged tax cuts for the wealthy, the supermajority of whom are white. It is a policy choice to allow this to continue while half of DC children in renter households were in households that didn’t get enough to eat, were behind on rent, or both, in July. These are racialized choices, given the District’s history of systemic racism, stark racial income and wealth divides, and how the pandemic is hitting Black and brown DC residents the hardest. There are big needs in our city and these challenges will worsen if we fail to center tax, racial, and gender justice in our response. u

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/ Opinion /

The Old Man of Anacostia Our Neighborhoods Need Effective Volunteers by Philip Pannell

Our neighborhoods, city and nation could not operate effectively if it were not for volunteers. The east of the river neighborhoods depend on volunteers to run their Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, civic associations, parent teacher associations, political organizations, non-profits and other community groups. Volunteers are essential and critical to the effective functioning of the houses of worship because they are the trustees, deacons, ushers and choir members. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes volunteers to keep the village functioning. When we recently mailed in our ballots or voted in person, we were presented with a long list of candidates from president to Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. The District of Columbia has a unique form of local representation called Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC). Each ANC consists of Single Member Districts (SMD) comprised of at least 2,000 residents and every two years commissioners are elected to represent their SMDs. These commissioners serve with no compensation and most of them serve with commitment and distinction. However, in the last election there were 25 SMDs in the city that had no candidates and 10 of them are located east of the river. It is a sad state of affairs when there are vacant spots on the ballot that cumulatively represent 20,000 residents. Eventually (or hopefully) these vacant positions will be filled by write-ins or candidates will come forth to fill the vacancies in special elections. But the question is how and why were there so many ANC vacancies. Why did the commissioners who did not seek reelection not take the time to groom and encourage successors? Why did the ward Councilmembers, civic leaders and community activists not take an interest and recruit candidates so that there would be no vacancies on the ballot? The situation with ANC vacancies east of

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the river is symptomatic of the on-going challenge of having a volunteer pool of dedicated residents to do meaningful and necessary work in and for the neighborhoods. There are far too many volunteer positions that remain vacant because residents simply will not come forth. But that is not the only problem. There are persons who will volunteer or run for positions and not do the work or do it effectively. Some of these volunteers will even approach their duties with chronic absenteeism and disinterest. Too many neighborhood organizations have become basically defunct and projects have gone under because volunteers have not brought to the table the same dedication, energy and professionalism that they would give to a paid job. Not only do our neighborhoods need more residents to become involved in their community organizations but we must also come to expect and demand excellence in how they function. Also, there needs to be a concentrated effort to involve young people in community organizations. High school students need community service hours in order to graduate and our neighborhood organizations should give them the opportunities to be involved and receive those credits. Students could serve as interns for the ANCs and other neighborhood organizations. The adult leadership east of the river needs to open the doors of their organizations to meaningful participation by young people. We do not know yet what COVID-19 has in store for us in 2021, but even if our community organizations are still functioning virtually we can make a collective effort to support them and involve young people in their operations. All residents should be involved in raising the village to higher ground as we seek to achieve the beloved community. Philip Pannell is a long time Ward 8 community activist. He can be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. u

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Green

Organizations are Budding in and Along the Anacostia Ward 8 Conservancy’s Robert Carpenter cuts back invasive vines along Suitland Parkway. Photo: Ward 8 Woods Conservancy

by Catherine Plume

hile there are a slew of environmental groups working locally in DC, until recently few focused on the Anacostia River and its neighboring communities in Wards 7 and 8. That’s now changing and several environmental organizations are working with residents to protect the Anacostia and create a more sustainable and healthy life for nearby residents. Two of these groups, Ward 8 Woods Conservancy and Green Scheme, were recently recognized at the DC Department of Energy and Environment Sustainability Awards held on September 30. While COVID has impacted these groups, it has also helped these organizations become more integral to their communities.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Ward 8 Woods Conservancy focuses on clean up and invasive species removal on 500 acres of the Anacostia watershed – much of it located on National Park land. The Conservancy works with volunteers and employs residents who have been incarcerated and are striving to reenter the workforce. Like so many organizations, COVID has created unforeseen challenges for the Conservancy: the Park Service shut off access to much of their lands while the DC Department of Public Works, which hauls their collected waste, temporarily suspended trash removal. At the same time, Ward 8 was suffering from the impacts of the virus, with residents facing the highest death rate in the District. The Conservancy began collaborat-

ing with DC Mutual Aid Network, a decentralized alliance of community members that works to respond to local needs. Through this collaboration, the Conservancy delivered groceries, masks, and gloves across Ward 8. Given the dearth of grocery stores in the area, they also worked with residents to create a community garden on a vacant lot located across from the Frederick Douglass house. Nathan Harrington, Executive Director of the Conservancy notes, “Working class communities like Ward 8 have been hardest hit by the pandemic, both in loss of life and economically. A lot of people are isolated, grieving, and broke. At the same time, we’ve seen a powerful wave of decentralized community-based organizing for racial justice and mutual aid. Responding to the immediate needs of our

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Ward 8 Conservancy’s Robert Carpenter cuts back invasive vines along Suitland Parkway. Photo: Ward 8 Woods Conservancy. Photo 2: DC Central Kitchen’s new onsite composter at THEARC! Photo: Loop Closing

neighbors is an act of solidarity with the broader movement for liberation.” Now, with lower COVID infection rates, the District has eased restrictions. The Conservancy has resumed their forest stewardship work, but they’re continuing their community outreach. Green Scheme also received a DC Sustainability Award this year. DC natives, Ronnie Webb and Joelle Robinson founded Green Scheme in 2011 when they saw a lack of environmental awareness in many communities – including in Wards 7 and 8. Green Scheme operates three core programs: Girls Gone Green brings women from across the District to discuss and provide training on environmental and health issues. Through this

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work, participants are encouraged to create networks in their neighborhoods and share what they’ve learned while honing their own leadership skills. Meanwhile, Code Green provides kids with a handson, how-to gardening experience while the Corner Water project teaches students about entrepreneurship and business. Access to green space has become ever more important during the pandemic. Webb noted during the Sustainable DC event, “We’re breaking barriers using outdoor spaces. We’re making (outdoor) spaces more accessible.” And there are several other environmental efforts that are happening as well – despite COVID. Through a partnership funded by Sustainable DC and imple-

SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP TODAY For existing and aspiring District businesses - the Small Business Resource Center is here for you!

mented by social enterprises Recycle Leaders LLC, Loop Closing, and Soilful, “Team Up on Food Waste @ DC Wards 7 and 8” is helping to reduce food waste. This summer, during an eight-week action research course, a team of Ward 7 and 8 residents collected data and tested strategies to reduce food waste in their own lives. The course included expert input from Calep Epps and Rhonda Keith, both DC Public School custodians who have led waste reduction and recycling efforts in schools. Collectively, participants reduced their preventable food waste by about 60%. This partnership also included the installation of a mechanized composting machine on-site compost system by Jeffrey Neal of Loop Closing at DC Central Kitchen’s (DCCK) café and youth job training site located at THEARC in Ward 8. Jeffrey Neal of Loop Closing notes, “DC Central Kitchen has long been a leader in food recovery, and now they’re composting any food waste they have on site.” There’s a big focus on greening and sustainability in Anacostia these days – despite the pandemic. Maybe you should get involved. These organizations are always looking for volunteers! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and blogger for the DC Recycler: www. DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @DC_Recycler. She is also the Chair of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, however, perspectives1 expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. ◆

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WEBINAR: FRANCHISE YOUR BUSINESS: A PROVEN STRATEGY FOR GROWTH & SUCCESS

WEBINAR: MARSHALL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIP: STEPS TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE

Monday, November 9, 2020 10:00 am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/51601

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 2:00 pm Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/51943

WEBINAR: LEARN HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (CBE)

WEBINAR: ALL THINGS NON-PROFIT

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 10:00 am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/51453

Thursday, November 19, 2020 10:00 am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/51830

WEBINAR: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, SECURITIES AND BANKING “COFFEE & CAPITAL” AT DCRA

SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: STEPS TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE

Monday, November 16, 2020 10:00 am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/51841

Monday - Friday By appointment between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

Small Business Resource Center (202) 442-4538 | dcra@dc.gov

FULL TIME JOB OPENING Direct Support Professionals

Wholistic Services, Inc. is looking for dedicated individuals to work as Direct Support Professionals assisting intellectually disabled adults with behavioral health complexities in our group homes and day services throughout the District of Columbia.

Job Requirements:

Contact the Human Resources (HR) Department at 301-392-2500 to schedule an appointment.

• Valid driver license • Ability to lift 50-75 lbs. • Ability to complete required trainings prior to hire • Ability to become Med Certified within 6 months of hire • Ability to complete a security background check prior to start date

[No walk-ins accepted.]

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neighborhood news

Our River: The Anacostia Getting A Start On The “Hotspots” by Bill Matuszeski

OORAY!! On September 30 the DC Department of Energy and Environment issued something called the “Interim Record of Decision and Near-Term Action Plan for the Anacostia River Sediment Project.” Now if this does not excite you to stand up and cheer, you may not be aware how long some have been waiting for this document. It has been under development since 2013. What makes it so anticipated is that it sets out a $35.5 million set of clean-up actions for 11 toxic “hotspots” in three areas of the nine-mile stretch of the River in DC. These are the specific locations in the River mainstem, Kingman Lake and the Washington Channel (the Southwest waterfront area) where toxics have accumulated in the sediments to the degree that they contaminate fish and endanger swimming. The Plan is to safely remove or cap the toxics, which include a number of long-standing pollutants that do not degrade in the sediments – polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCB’s), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), dioxins, heavy metals and pesticides. The Plan calls for a 90% reduction in these toxics over a number of years beginning in 2023 – the time between now and then needed to develop the specific actions for the 11 sites. First to be done will be the three Kingman Lake sites, which total six acres located close to recreation fields and education programs on the islands and lands adjacent. The toxics will be removed and/or capped. Then there will be

six sites on the mainstem of the River comprising 44 acres to be removed and capped. Finally, there are two sites comprising 27 acres in the Washington Channel; these will be contained and covered with sediment. These actions up front are intended to best protect health and the environment until a Final Record of Decision is completed for the entire water bodies, at which time some additional actions on the 11 hotspots may be needed. It needs to be understood that the entire Action Plan for The Anacostia Sediment Project is focused on cleaning up existing areas of toxic contamination in the River. As such, it is only one “pillar” among many supporting the overall restoration, although an essential part of the DOEE effort. Other pillars include elimination of combined sewer overflows, where DC Water has the lead and is well underway to a 98% reduction, a remarkable goal that they are likely to achieve in the next couple of years. For those among you who are non-sewer experts, old-

Diagram of Anacostia Sediment Issues. Photo: DC DOEE – Tetra Tech

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

er parts of US cities were built with a system of combined sanitary and storm sewers where the flush of rainwater was intended to clean out the remnants of the sewage. With the paving of streets and open lots, the rush of rainwater was too much for these sewers to handle, so rather than have the sewage back up into homes, overflow valves were installed to let the combined sewage run into our rivers untreated. Now, the DC Water project uses underground storage tunnels to retain the combined sewage until the treatment plant can handle it and is already capturing 90% of the storm volume. The Anacostia’s new system is premier in the entire nation and other parts of the DC metro area will not get the level of treatment that we will. Another pillar will be a program to reduce plastics in runoff and sewage, where they break down and affect aquatic life in the Anacostia, the Potomac, the Chesapeake and the Atlantic. Then there is the Green Infrastructure Pillar, restoring natural shoreline, protecting natural areas upstream, reducing pollution running directly into the River off the land and streets, etc. Finally, there are toxics on the lands and adjacent waters of historic industrial sites along the River, many now abandoned; among those working in cooperation with DOEE are the current owners of the old Pepco and Washington Gas sites and the Navy Yard. All these efforts are part of a unified River restoration plan under the guidance and leadership of DOEE. There is much to talk about here in future articles about the Anacostia and how so many are working on its recovery.

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But getting back to the toxic sediments, what is important now is to assure public support to move ahead and implement the Interim Record of Decision and get to work on the contaminated sediments in the River, starting with the 11 hot spots. The public needs to keep the pressure on to assure that no more time is lost – that detailed plans are developed and contracts let so that the proposed 2013 date to start the actual clean-up and covering work in the hot spots is met, and expanded to the rest of the River bottom as determined by the completed Plan for a 90% reduction of toxics. This broader effort beyond the 11 hot spots will require preparation of the Final Record of Decision, currently expected by 2025. This will set out what more is needed (1) in the 11 early action sites or “hot spots” if more can be done; (2) elsewhere in the three River areas, and (3) by using treatment options beyond removal and capping. Also to be considered are sites along the river bank and adjacent waters, both those already under restoration like the Navy Yard and newly identified sites such as the fields at the old Kenilworth dump. In addition, the overall plan will include the potential benefits from cleanup of sewer lines and upstream sources such as Lower Beaver Dam Creek coming out of Maryland and Hickey Run in the District. There are many ideas of where and how progress towards the clean-up of the River’s contaminated sediments can be achieved. The key is to settle now on some actions and get started! Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves o n the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. ◆

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

Outdoor Exhibit Highlights the Anacostia River Watershed the Ana-

The Capitol Riverfront BID celebrates the many years and transitions of DCcostia River Watershed with a moving photography exhibit of resiliency shot by nted docume who has Schlyer, Krista author and apher based award-winning photogr Park the Anacostia River and its natural habitats since 2010. The exhibit, at the Yards stunning featuring boardwalk, 355 Water St. SE, is composed of 18 4x6 foot displays g both snapshots that highlight the river’s wildlife through all four seasons. By depictin rivthe into glimpse a visitors give ts snapsho the cture, wildlife and human infrastru most ion, and degradat of s centurie istory, natural h and ation transform of er’s seasons y orgarecently, decades of the combined restoration efforts of local citizens, advocac . ront.org nizations, and government agencies. capitalriverf

South Capitol St. SW was awarded $600,000 to support a mixed-use project that will provide affordable housing units, community commercial space, and the delivery of a fresh food grocer. The joint venture between Washington Area Community Investment Fund and Anderatiam Group at 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE was awarded $600,000 to support the sustainability of retailers as well as the development of office space.

SOME’s 2020 Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive

For many low-income or homeless families in the District, the holiday season can be an especially difficult time. The So Others Might Eat Thanksgiving Dinner Basket Drive ensures that every family can enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. Last year, 640 low-income families and individuals received a Thanksgiving basket and turkey. This year, they hope to help even more people experience joy this holiday season. Donate at some.org.

Traffic Pattern Changes on East Capitol Street Bridge

DDOT has changed the traffic pattern on the East Capitol Street Bridge. The left lane of traffic in both the eastbound and westbound directions will be closed until the anticipated completion of the final phase of the project in December. The permanent 295 ramps will be reopened, and the temporary ramps will be removed during this final phase. eastcapbridge.com.

DC to Invest $3 Million to Improve Food Access

Mayor Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development have announced $3 million in Neighborhood Prosperity Fund (NPF) grants for four diverse projects that will support access to food, dining, and other amenities to neighborhoods in Wards 7 and 8. In Ward 7, two grants were awarded that support food access and the creation of community amenities. Muki’s Market of 4403 Bowen Rd. SE was awarded $100,000 to assist in creating a food market that includes indoor and outdoor space. In Deanwood, NHP Foundation at 5131 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, was awarded $1.7 million to support its mixed-use project that includes 550 apartment units and a fast-casual restaurant/gathering space. In Ward 8, $1.2 million is being awarded to projects that continue investments in historic Anacostia and along Good Hope Rd. SE. South Capitol Improvement LLC at 4401 24

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Farmers Markets Open for Thanksgiving Prep

Kenilworth Rec Center Farmers Market, 4321 Ord St, NE, is open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, through Nov. 21. H Street Farmers Market, 800 13th St. NE, is open Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., through Dec. 19. The Minnesota Avenue Farmers Market and Ward 8 Farmers Market are closed for the season. Eastern Market Farmers Line, open Tuesday, noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dupont Circle Farmers Market, 1624 20th St. NW, is open Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., year-round.

Unemployment Compensation Extended

The DC Council has passed emergency legislation introduced by Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At-Large) to extend unemployment compensation by seven additional weeks for eligible claimants. The emergency legislation is especially urgent for the tens of thousands of contractors and gig workers receiving weekly benefits through the

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), by extending the program from 39 to 46 weeks. The Unemployment Benefits Extension Emergency Act of 2020 allows DC to provide seven additional weeks of benefits during a high unemployment period to all District workers receiving unemployment benefits, including those not served by traditional Unemployment Insurance (UI). PUA currently lasts for 39 weeks. The emergency legislation extends traditional UI for an additional seven weeks. Right now, UI claimants can apply to extend their initial 26

weeks of benefits for up to one year with two 13-week extension programs. With the emergency legislation, UI claimants will be eligible for up to 59 weeks of benefits. lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/ B23-0983. The additional benefits are fully paid for by the federal government through Dec. 31, 2020 with funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Environmental Film Festival Nov. 12-18

The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) has an-

Photo: Tim Ervin

Artist Residencies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

The Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Capital Fringe and Caandor Labs, have announced a new seasonal artist residency at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. They are offering four paid artists’ residencies under the theme Down to Earth to provide an outlet for DC, Maryland, and Virginia artists and to create artwork or experiences that examine our ability and fortitude as human beings to tackle the climate emergency and systemic racism. Projects developed through the residency will engage the landscape and wildlife of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, using them for inspiration or as a metaphorical or literal canvas. Submissions are welcome from solo artists/creatives or in teams (disciplinary or interdisciplinary). All genres of art and performance are encouraged. They are inviting four cohorts, either solo or teams, to four 13-week residencies in 2021. Each accepted artist or team will receive $10,000--the equivalent of 20 hours of work per week plus materials. Accepted artists or teams are required to visit the park regularly during their residency period to gain inspiration. Applications will either close on Nov. 30 or remain open until each of the four residencies is filled. Each seasonal residency will have a limit of 50 applications. For inquiries, contact Julianne Brienza at julianne@captialfringe.org. E AST

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

Community In Focus Call for Submissions

The Phillips Collection invites participants to submit a photo which captures a piece of the year of 2020. Community in Focus aims to put together a collective portrait filled with bravery, humor, sadness, creativity, and kindness—human emotions that connect us all. Photographs must meet the following criteria: photos must be submitted by Nov. 29, 2020 and be from the year 2020; one submission per person; submissions must be labeled MM.DD.lastname (ie a photograph taken on April 9 would be labeled 04.09.Thomas); submissions must be at least 1080 pixels on the short side; optional description must be under 50 words; submissions must be made via the Phillips’s website phillipscollection.org/community-in-focus.

nounced the DCEFF Fall Showcase from Nov. 12 to 18. Viewers will be able to screen all films from the comfort of their homes via the DCEFF website. Many of the films screening in the showcase are DCEFF award-winners. Some of the highlights to be screened include: Okavango: River of Dreams, the new film by internationally-renowned nature photographers Dereck and Bevery Joubert that had its World Premiere earlier this year at Sundance; Cannes Best Documentary winner The Cordillera of Dreams, which investigates the relationship between historical memory, political trauma and geography in Chile; and Flint: Who Can You Trust, a film that takes an unflinching look at how the Flint water crisis came to be and who is responsible for it. For more information, visit www.dceff.org.

How to get Immediate Food Assistance

When you call the Capital Area Food Bank Hunger Lifeline at 202-644-9807, they can help you find local pantries, kitchens serving free meals, and other organizations that can assist with emergency food help. capitalareafoodbank.org. 26

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Opt-In to DC COVID Alert Notices

Mayor Bowser is urging DC residents who use iPhone or Android smartphones to opt-in to DC COVID Alert Notice (DC CAN), an alert notification system that allows mobile device users to receive an alert when they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. DC CAN is the official COVID-19 exposure notification app for Washington, DC. DC residents with iPhone or Android smartphones will receive a push notification inviting them to opt into exposure notifications. On iOS, users will be able to opt into exposure notifications through settings without having to download an app. On Android, users will be prompted to opt in and install the DC CAN app from the Google Play Store. Additionally, at any time, users can also go directly into their iOS settings to enable the system or go to the Play Store to download the DC CAN app. For more information, visit coronavirus. dc.gov/dccan.

The 35th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards

Mayor Muriel Bowser has presented the 35th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards to honor artists and organizations and celebrate the District’s arts, humanities, and creative communities. The event was produced by the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment and the DC Creative Affairs Office. Hosted by DC’s own Tommy Davidson, the Mayor’s Arts Awards winners were chosen by District residents across all eight wards via online voting. Awards were presented in 12 categories. The winners were: Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor, Virginia Ali, Ben’s Chili Bowl; Award for Excellence as a Community Arts Advocate, Ron Moten; Award for Excellence in Arts Education, Rain Young; Award for Excellence in Media Arts, Icy the Artist; Award for Excellence in Performing Arts, DC Black Broadway; Award for Excellence in Visual Arts, Rodney Herring; Award for Excellence in the Creative Industries, Nelson Cruz; Award for Excellence in the Humanities, Joy Ford Austin; Award for Excellence in the Nightlife Economy, Hendres Kelly; Award for Visionary Leadership, Tiara Johnson; Emerging Creative Award, Artbae; and The Larry Neal Writer’s

Award, Purify Love Poet. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, arts educators, nonprofit organizations, the creative community and patrons of the arts.

November Trot For Hunger 5K

This Thanksgiving, you can still be part of a time-honored DC tradition—SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K. This year, to keep their mission moving during coronavirus, Trot for Hunger will be virtual—they are encouraging their Trot for Hunger participants to run/walk in their neighborhood or local park during the month of November. Funds raised from the Trot for Hunger help benefit thousands of our DC neighbors in need, including families and the elderly, by providing much-needed food, housing, access to healthcare, employment training, and long-term comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Create a team, join a team or register as an individual for $40. Kids 10 and under can register as Little Turkeys for a one-mile fun run. See the Kids & Family section in the back of this paper. some.org.

Out-of-Town Live Music

The Birchmere, at 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, now has live entertainment. Here’s their November lineup: Nov. 8, Romeo Delight; Paula Poundstone, Nov. 13 and 14; Alex Bugnon, Nov. 15; Tab Benoit, Nov. 18 and 19; Nov. 20, Bobby Thompson & Friends; Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Nov. 21; Be’La Dona, Nov. 25; The Seldom Scene, Nov. 27; Charles Esten, Nov. 28; Will Anderson, Dec. 3; Herman’s Hermits, Dec. 6 and 7. birchmere.com. Showtime at the Drive-In, at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, MD. presents Blackberry Smoke on Dec. 12. Tickets are $50 to $250 at showtimeatthedrivein. com. The fairgrounds are at 797 East Patrick St. in Frederick. Serious COVID-19 precautions will be in place.

Rental Assistance for those Impacted by COVID-19

COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program (CHAP): provides up to three months (maximum of $4,250) of rental assistance for eligible DC tenants who have been affected by the public health emergency. For fastest results schedule an appointment online at octo.quickbase.com/ db/bfpwsjvi2?a=nwr. CHAP appointments also may be requested by calling 202-667-7339 or sending an email to chap@housingetc.org.

Keeping your Home during COVID-19

Do you own a home in DC, Maryland or Virginia? If so, the non-profit Housing Counseling Services will be conducting webinars on Nov. 4 and 18, 2 p.m., to provide valuable information about available options for people who are having difficulty paying their mortgage, condo

fees or property taxes. Registration at housingetc.org/webinar-registration is required for these free webinars. If you have questions, you may also call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 202-265-2255.

Free eWaste Recycling Events in DC

DC residents, small businesses and nonprofits can recycle electronics without cost at e-waste recycling events throughout 2020. Upcoming events are on Nov. 7, Marvin Gale Rec Center, 16 61st St. NE; Nov. 21, Brentwood Rec Center; 2311 14th St. NE; Dec. 5, Palisades Community Center, 5200 Sherier Pl. NW. All ewaste recycling events are held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Covered electronic equipment includes: desktop and laptop computers, tablets, E-readers, small-scale servers, portable digital music players that are battery powered, computer monitors, mice, keyboards, computer speakers, desktop printers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, signal converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers, and gaming consoles used with TVs. A complete list of events and acceptable items can be found at rlgamericas.com/ DCecycling.

DC’s COVID-19 Hotline

District residents who are homebound due to COVID-19 can request support from the District for food and other essential items. Call 1-888-349-8323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov/gethelp.

Join the DC Volunteer Snow Team

Join the DC Volunteer Snow Team, and help your neighbors stay safe this winter. Your help is needed clearing sidewalks and front walkways for our senior residents and those with access and functional needs during winter weather. Volunteers are deployed when there are four or more of inches snow, not ice. They complete the volunteer service within 24 hours after the winter event has ended. They clear a 35-inch pathway from door to the sidewalk (including steps), the immediate sidewalk that spans the property, and entryway to the street. Read more at communityaffairs.dc.gov/servedc. ◆

CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COVID19

• Face-Mask Donation Program

• ‘Wellness on Wheels’ every Wednesday: General Health//COVID19 Testing// Free HIV Screening

Wellness on Wheels FREE Flu Shots

• Provision of Perishable and non-Perishable Groceries • Virtual Youth Arts and Tutoring Programs

FACE-MASK PRODUCTION INITIATIVE Donation of Reusable Face-Masks: Most of our efforts are focused on making masks for donations, with a focus on Ward 7 and Ward 8 seniors and families in need. place your order here for your contactless delivery https:// faunteroycenter.org/covid19-response/ or contact the Center. Commercial Reusable Face-Mask Orders: Proceeds from commercial orders will be put back into the mask donation initiative. Order your custom masks to show your pride and brand for family events and activities, church groups, company branding, schools for children and staff, etc. We are able to add logos, names, slogans and designs you provide to us, numerous colors are available in comfortable PolyCotton or Black Muslin. You can place your inquiry here https://faunteroycenter.org/commercial-face-mask-orders/ or call the Center.

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east washington life

Eat Local on Turkey Day

ver the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go….” Maybe not this year. As our covid-19 pandemic shutdown drags on, folks are rethinking family gatherings this Thanksgiving (November 26). But we still want to celebrate. In response, restaurants, wine shops and other purveyors near Wards 7 and 8 are revamping their services. Some offer only takeout and/or delivery. Many could not provide details yet, so be sure to call ahead or check restaurant websites. Even if your favorite restaurant is closed that day, you can usually order takeout for side dishes and other items the day before. Barrel, 613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (202-543-3623) is closed Thanksgiving week. However, it will offer Thanksgiving packages the week before. For details visit www.barreldc.com. Belga Café, 514 Eighth St. SE (202-544-0100) is offering carryout turkey dinners from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www. belgacafe.com Café Berlin, 322 Mass. Ave. NE (202-543-7656), will offer three seatings on Thanksgiving: 1, 3 and 6 p.m. Besides turkey and the trimmings, you may order wild game, German specialties and other dishes. www.cafeberlin-dc.com. DC Harvest, 517 H St.NE (202-629-3296) is closed Thanksgiving but is hosting a special dinner November 17. For details visit www.dc-harvest.com. Emilie’s, 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. (202-544-4368) is closed on Thanksgiving, but its well- stocked gourmet grocery and wine shop is open the day before. Call or visit www.emiliesdc.com. La Plaza, 629 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. (202-546-9512).

Article and photos by Celeste McCall

As always on Thanksgiving, La Plaza will be deep-frying turkeys all day for lunch and dinner. www.laplazadc.com. Masseria, 1340 Fourth St. NE (202-608-1330), is offering turkey dinners for pickup and delivery. Orders must be placed on line, and pickup is Thanksgiving from noon to around 5:30 p.m. (exact time and menu to be determined). www.masseria-dc.com. Radici, 303 Seventh St. SE (202-758-0086), will be open Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for takeout (menus to be determined), plus wines, pastries, condiments and other goodies. www.radici-market.com. Rose’s Luxury, 719 Eighth St. SE (202-580-8889). Rose’s is closed Thanksgiving and the day after. But customers may order lemon-brined roast turkey and sides in advance to pick up Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Each order includes a donation to the DC Food Program. www.rosesluxurygroupdc.com The Roost, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (www. theroostdc.com), plans to be open Thanksgiving. Inside the 12,500-square-foot space are Shelter Bar, Cameo (coffee and light fare and groceries including pancake and waffle mixes, jams and honey); Hi-Fi Taco (Red Apron Butcher), The Slice Joint (pizza). Station 4, 1101 Fourth St. SW (202-488-0987) will be open for dine-in and carryout on Thanksgiving. For details and to order visit www.station4dc.com. Tunnicliff ’s Tavern, 222 Seventh St. SE. (202-5445680) will provide the regular menu plus carryout with turkey and sides. www.tunnicliffstavern.com. Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE, is closed on Thanksgiving (www.unionmarketdc.com), but visit the day before for ingredients and other needs: District Fishwife (www.thedistrictfishwife.com) for fresh oysters, scallops, salmon and other sustainable seafoods. Harvey’s Market (butcher), is taking turkey orders until Nov. 20, for pickup two days before Thanksgiving. Harvey’s also carries duck, goose and other fowl. www.marketdc.com. Red Apron Butchery is taking orders for turkey and other meats online. www.redapronbutchery.com... And, to carve that big bird, you’ll need a sharp knife. Visit District Cutlery (www.unionmarketdc.com/retail/district-cutlery). Yes! Organic Market, 410 Eighth St. SE (202546-4325) will be open Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is taking orders for organic and natural-free range turkeys until about a week before, with pickup any time after that. The store also carries fresh and frozen produce, wines, canThanksgiving gatherings will be different this year, but turkey – prepared at dles and other items. www.yesorganicmarket.com. home or by a restaurant – will still provide the beautiful aromas for most. 28

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Chat’s proprietor Burnie Williams can select that perfect wine for your Thanksgiving feast.

Gobble Gobble

In Eastern Market, Market Poultry (202-543-2840) and Capitol Hill Poultry (202-544-4435) are taking turkey orders for pickup two or three days before Thanksgiving. The stands also carry duck, goose, Cornish hens and other items. While you’re in the Market, check out Bowers Fancy Dairy Products (202-5447877) for marvelous cheeses and other victuals.

Wine and Spirits

What’s a festive dinner without wine? Local wine and liquor stores offer delivery and pickup, and will help you select that perfect bottle. Chat’s, 503 Eighth St. SE (202-544-4600) will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but proprietor Burnie Williams will assemble a carefully chosen case of wine for pick up or delivery. www.chatsdc.com. DCanter Wine Boutique, 545 Eighth St. SE (202-8173803) will be open Thanksgiving Day for inside sales, pickup and delivery. Among turkey friendly vintages are Ries-

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Hill’s Kitchen can provide all the party needs for that festive Thanksgiving dinner.

ling, Pinot Gris, Gamay, and interesting South African vintages. www.dcanterwines.com Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, 300 Mass. Ave. NE (202-543-9300) will be closed Thanksgiving, but the day before, you can choose an Alsatian Riesling, Oregon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir at sale prices. www.schneidersofcapitolhill.com Other shops offering wine and other potent potables include: Congressional Liquor, 408 First St. SE (202-547-3803); Gandel’s, 211 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (202543-1000); Harry’s Liquor, 909 New Jersey, SE (202-4502314); J.J. Mutt’s, 643 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (202-546-2800).

Party Time

Hill’s Kitchen, 713 D St. SE (202-5431997) will be open Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop carries MultiCookers (various sizes), roasting pans, knives, napkins, towels, aprons, cookbooks and more. www.hillskitchen.com. Groovy DC, 321 Seventh Se. SE (202-544-6633) is closed Thanksgiving but carries everything you need for a festive dinner: napkins, candles, greeting cards and other party goods. Visit www. grovydc.com. District Wharf, At the Wharf, 740 Maine Ave. SW, several restaurants are serving on Thanksgiving Day, and many

are open the day before. www.wharfdc. com. Lupo Marino, 40 Pearl St. SW (202506-1306), will be open on Thanksgiving, with hours, menu and other details to be determined. www.lupomarinodc.com Mi Vida, 98 District Square SW (202-516-4656) will be open on Thanksgiving from 11:30 a.m. ‘til 11 p.m. The regular Mexican menu is available, plus specials for dine-in and carryout. www. mividamexico.com. Officina, 1120 Main St. SW (202747-5222), offers several Thanksgiving options: turkey, prime rib or ham dinner with sides, fully cooked or to cook at home, plus “curated” wine packs. Dishes are also available ala carte. Pre-order by 8 p.m. November 19, to pick up next Wednesday or Thursday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Officina also operates a (mainly) Italian grocery. www.officadc.com The Grill, 99 Market Square SW (202-916-5996), will be serving lunch and dinner; menus to be determined. For details and to place an order, visit www. thegrilldc.com The Wharf ’s historic Municipal Fish Market will be selling raw and cooked crabs and shrimp, oysters on the half shell and by the pint and quart, scallops, Maine lobster, salmon and more. Principal vendors are Captain White’s Seafood (202554-5520) and Jessie Taylor Seafood (202-554-4173). ◆

BE INFORMED WITH FURARD TATE & BEVERLY MANN

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Wednesdays – 10 AM to 11 AM (202) 396-1200

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east washington life

Smithsonian Expands Reopening Seven Museums Are Now Open to The Public by Sarah Payne

n a pleasant morning in early September, Rockville residents Sarah Brunsmeier and Lance Davis explored an eerily quiet exhibit at the National Zoo on September 8. In a park that would typically be packed with excited children and visitors from around the world, the two stood in a nearly empty area near animal enclosures with small, masked groups at a distance. But regardless of the scant crowds, they were excited to explore the outdoor attractions at the Zoo. The National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave NW) and National Air and Space Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center (14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy) reopened on July 24. Their reopening was so successful that the Smithsonian has reopened six other locations including the American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery.

Preparing for Your Visit

A zoo employee stands in the background of the signs and roped-off entry path at the National Zoo.

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

For over a century, the Smithsonian Institution has engaged locals and visitors alike with history, research and learning. Over the past several months, administrators have implemented a variety of changes to the visitor experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before visiting the Zoo, Brunsmeier and Davis had to secure a pass for timed entry, which is required for all Smithsonian locations except the Renwick Gallery

where walk-ins are permitted. Passes may be reserved online for specific times during operating hours of each location. The passes are free of charge and are designed to limit the number of visitors to accommodate social distancing. The Smithsonian sends an automated email message to guests reminding them to check for symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. While guests are not required to sign or complete the questionnaire, the institution encourages guests experiencing symptoms listed to reschedule their visit for a later date. Because it is an outdoor site, visits to the zoo are slightly different than the indoor museums. In every other Smithsonian site, guests will be screened by security personnel. While bags of all sizes are permitted on the properties, the institution is asking guests to limit the number of bags they bring to the museums to maintain social distancing guidelines and the Smithsonian does not currently provide coat or bag storage at any location.

At the Property

Brunsmeier and Davis had almost every exhibit to themselves, with the exception of the Giant Panda enclosure, as visitors are eager to catch a glimpse of the baby panda, born to Mei Xiang on August 21. While food vendors remain open, the outdoor food court was a ghost town with only a few small family groups scattered far apart. When COVID-19 hit in March, over 70 percent of the Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employees were considered essential workers and the staff were required

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$ to adapt quickly and efficiently to new safety measures. Director of the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Steven Monfort told the Hill Rag that the Smithsonian and National Zoo have been working together to ensure staff and visitors are adequately protected. “The safety and precautions that we had to take started initially with our own staff,” Montfort said. The Smithsonian implemented what Montfort called “common sense kinds of things,” including providing protective equipment and masks to employees, as well as implementing new protocols that would allow social distancing, frequent hand washing and for employees to stay home from work if sick. Montfort praised the efforts of the staff as well as visitors for following the pandemic restrictions. “There’s been no cases in Washington that have been traced back through contact tracing back to the zoo,” Montfort said. “We haven’t had any of our staff become infected with COVID.” Brunemeier said she was surprised and impressed with how well other visitors were following the newly mandated restrictions of social distancing and wearing a face covering while at the Zoo. “I haven’t really seen anybody blatantly ignoring the rules out here,” Brunsmeier said. “Everybody just wants to have fun. So might as well just do what they asked us to do.”

The Decision to Reopen

Smithsonian Public Affairs official Alise Fisher spoke about the decisions to reopen the Zoo and Udvar-Hazy center and said these reopening plans served to inform how the other museums could safely welcome back visitors. “We’ve taken a deliberate, gradual approach to reopening the Smithsonian across the institution,” Fisher said. “We wanted to start very slowly and began with only the Zoo and Udvar-Hazy Center, in part because these are locations that lend themselves really well to social distancing and some of these other safety procedures that we need to put in place to ensure a safe experience for our visitors and our staff.” Fisher said visitors should be conscious of the new regulations but excited about enjoying what the open locations have to offer to guests. “(We’re) all in this together in terms of taking these precautions and making sure that we’re all safe,” Fisher said. “We’ve been really

pleased to be able to start welcoming folks back safely and really love to see them back on site.” HOURS • The National Zoo and the Udvar-Hazy Center: 8 am to 4 pm, everyday. • National Museum of African American History and Culture: 11 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. • National Portrait Gallery: 11:30 am to 7 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. • American Art Museum: 11:30 am to 7 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. • National Museum of the American Indian: 11 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. • National Museum of American History: 11 am to 4 pm, Friday through Tuesday • Renwick Gallery: 10 am to 5:30 pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

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VISITING GUIDELINES • Face coverings are mandatory for all guests ages six and up. Guests aged two to six are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. • Limit personal belongings to practice social distancing as they will be subject to a thorough search. • Guests should not visit the museums or park if they are feeling ill or have experienced symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. To learn more about the Smithsonian, the new COVID-19 policies and restrictions and to reserve tickets, visit (si.edu). Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with the Hill Rag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆

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east washington life

The Rise of Colorectal Cancer Black Americans Suffer Higher Incidence

hadwick Boseman, the actor who portrayed King T’Challa in the Black Panther was 39 when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He had two strikes against him in the statistical world of colorectal cancer. He was Black and young. There’s been a two percent increase annually in the incidence of the cancer in people under the age of 50 for the past 10 years. Black people who have a colorectal cancer diagnosis are 17 percent more likely to die than their white peers. It’s also the third leading cause of death in the U.S. among Black men and women. One in 41 Black males will get colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Boseman dealt with his disease in private. Cancer is never a popular subject to talk about. But colorectal cancer? It’s rarely if ever mentioned in casual conversation. And herein lies a problem, explained Maurisa Potts, director of public relations for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “There’s a stigma against talking about it in general and specifically in the black community,” she said. “We need to become more comfortable with having open conversations that can raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms.” The stigma is not limited to

by Pattie Cinelli

just African-Americans but all people of color. A large percentage of Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans have never been screened and experience high percentage of incidence and death rates compared to white Americans.

What are the Symptoms?

Unintended weight loss, cramping, change in bowel habits, blood in your stool, especially dark blood, and nausea are some of the more common symptoms, said Michael Sapienza, CEO, Colorectal Alliance. “Often young people have to see two or three doctors before they get a proper diagnosis. By that time it’s often at a late stage. Because of this we encourage young people under 45 to be their own advocate and be aware of the symptoms.” Sapienza also said that those under 50 need to push for a colonoscopy. Many aren’t aware of Cologuard test that is non-invasive and can be done at home and mailed to your doctor. Because of the alarming statistics, the Alliance is pushing to lower preventive testing age from 50 to 45.

Communication is the Key

Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. Talk to your doctors. Talk to your children. That’s the only way the fear and the stigma associated with the disease will dissipate. Sapienza said people need to push to have their doctor listen to them. “Prevention is much easier than correction,” he said. In addition to developing body awareness and getting screened, Sapienza said there’s much that we have learned about preventive measures that each of us can practice. “Obesity, diabetes, smoking and family history play a role and can have an effect on the development of the cancer. “While there have been no conclusive medical studies, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence of the role stress plays in formation of disease,” he said. “Diet and lifestyle– eating processed food, red meat and drinking a lot of alcohol contributes to an increased risk.” Exercise and a diet high in fruits and green, leafy vegetables can help balance the colon, he said.

Even if the screening age covered under insurance is dropped to 45, a preventive colonoscopy may not have covered for 43-year old Boseman, diagnosed at 39 or 29-year-old Trey Mancini (first baseman and outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles) who was diagnosed with stage 3 this year. Mancini credits Major League Baseball for its regular screening process for finding his condition. Potts said the Alliance is also working with the medical profession on the importance of early screening. “We also want to encourage them to have more of a bedside manner with patients who have concerns about their health and are under 50.” She said that misdiagnosis is more common among younger people than older ones. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance hopes to use Boseman’s death as a catalyst for change in awareness and attitude about the cancer. While his death put the incidence of colorectal cancer in young black Americans in the spotlight, Sapienza pointed out that only 45 percent of Americans 5054 years old have been screened for the disease. His mother died of the cancer in her 50s. She had her first screening at age 56. “We have a lot of work to do,” he said. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is a national nonprofit committed to ending colorectal cancer. It supports the needs of patients and families, caregivers and survivors. The Alliance raises awareness of preventive screening and strives to fund critical research and end colorectal cancer in our lifetime. For more information visit: www.ccalliance.org. Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional who has been writing her column for more than 20 years. She focuses on complementary and nontraditional ways to stay healthy and feel good. Please email her with questions or column suggestions at:fitmiss44@aol. 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. NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA

1525 S St SE 2320 Minnesota Ave SE 1432 V St SE 1421 Ridge Pl SE 1332 Talbert Ter SE 1912 Good Hope Rd SE 1331 Talbert Ter SE 1465 Ridge Pl SE 2208 16th St SE

ATLAS DISTRICT 905 8th St NE

BARRY FARMS 2405 Bryan Pl SE 2927 Stanton Rd SE

CAPITOL HILL EAST

2 Bruce Robey Ct NE 1734 Independence Ave SE 1651 C St NE 716 13th St SE 421-423 17th St SE

CONGRESS HEIGHTS

2611 Q St SE 3327 5th St SE 3101 Esther Pl SE 4108 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SW 718 Mississippi Ave SE 119 Joliet St SW 3506 Brothers Pl SE 546 Newcomb St SE 1027 Wahler Pl SE 256 Oakwood St SE 3017 7th St SE 1246 Barnaby Ter SE 553 Foxhall Pl SE 1213 Congress St SE 101 Darrington St SW

DEANWOOD

919 45th Pl NE 4427 Hunt Pl NE 4223 Grant St NE 5502 Clay Pl NE 210 47th St NE 1609 Olive St NE 207 44th St NE 5524 Jay St NE 927 55th St NE 5208 SE Central Ave SE 4031 Clay Pl NE 4636 Hayes St NE 851 50th Pl NE 5323 NE Blaine St NE 812 51st St NE 906 52nd St NE 5112 Jay St NE 5222 Hayes St NE 214 55th St NE 4409 Eads St NE

5348 Central Ave SE 4930 Minnesota Ave NE

FAIRLAWN $586,000 $535,000 $474,000 $455,000 $445,616 $420,000 $280,000 $275,000 $260,000

4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2

$845,000

1333 T St SE 1624 Minnesota Ave SE

FORT DUPONT PARK 1218 45th Pl SE 632 Chaplin St SE 3135 Lyndale Pl SE 1814 41st Pl SE 4221 Hildreth St SE 4039 D St SE 4113 Stanley St SE 4328 F St SE 3326 Croffut Pl SE

$320,000 $169,900 $590,000 $435,000 $600,000 $505,000 $499,000 $487,000 $433,000 $425,000 $390,000 $362,000 $255,000

3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3

5 4

2518 Ralph Ellison Way NE $750,000 3266 Robert Clifton Weaver Way NE $610,000 858 52nd St NE $412,000

$1,025,000 $1,000,000 $965,000 $778,000 $768,000

4 4 4 2 2

H STREET CORRIDOR

$802,000 $624,000 $585,000 $520,000 $519,000 $515,000 $486,700 $480,000 $460,000 $450,000 $425,000 $380,000 $362,000 $305,000 $262,000 $625,000 $605,000 $562,000 $560,000 $550,000 $510,000 $505,000 $500,000 $480,000 $480,000 $450,000 $445,000 $432,000 $425,000 $420,000 $417,000 $400,000 $365,000 $360,000 $350,000

6 4 3 3 5 4 4 5 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 5 8 5 5 6 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 5 3 2 2 3 3 3

2105 32nd Pl SE 3700 Bangor St SE 2507 Fairlawn Ave SE 3401 Massachusetts Ave SE

IVY CITY

1905 Capitol Ave NE

KINGMAN PARK

526 Oklahoma Ave NE 2005 Gales St NE

LILY PONDS 328 34th Pl NE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 33 54th St SE 5021 Ayers Pl SE 5519 B St SE 223 51st St SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS

2214 Retta Gilliam Ct SE 3257 Stanton Rd SE 1832 Tubman Rd SE 2104 Savannah St SE

TRINIDAD

1710 Montello Ave NE 1417 Trinidad Ave NE 1930 Bennett Pl NE 1720 Lyman Pl NE 1273 Penn St NE 1753 Lang Pl NE 1600 Trinidad Ave NE 1242 Oates St NE 1606 Levis St NE 1321 Queen St NE

4 3

2517 Sayles Pl SE #1 2608 Wade Rd SE #102

ATLAS DISTRICT

$500,000 $242,000

HILL CREST

CONDOMINIUM ANACOSTIA

FORT LINCOLN

642 I St NE 1243 I St NE 2028 E St NE

3 4

$1,390,000 $857,000 $529,000

4 3 2

$770,000 $722,500 $437,500 $375,550

3 4 3 3

$650,000

$665,000 $585,000

3 2

$261,000

$546,657 $435,000 $380,000 $370,000

4 3 2 3

$582,100 $424,900 $410,000 $275,000

4 4 4 3

$820,000 $760,000 $690,000 $657,500 $657,000 $630,000 $630,000 $587,750 $575,000 $570,000

4 4 4 3 3 3 5 3 3 3

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1111 Orren St NE #501

BARRY FARMS

2604 Stanton Rd SE 2518 Sayles Pl SE #6 2656 Bowen Rd SE #302 2634 Bowen Rd SE #204

CAPITOL HILL EAST 913 14th St SE #2 1832 D St NE #4 1663 Gales St NE #2 1220 Potomac Ave SE #5 1220 Potomac Ave SE #1 1628 C St SE #104

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 12 Halley Pl SE #101 4130 4th St SE #103 46 Galveston Pl SW #C

FORT DUPONT PARK 3937 S St SE #206

H STREET CORRIDOR 801 9th St NE #2 301 K St NE #1 1219 Wylie St NE #2 911 2nd St NE #601 730 11th St NE #202 661 Morris Pl NE #2

HILL EAST

1500 Pennsylvania Ave SE #206 1391 Pennsylvania Ave SE #322 900 11th St SE #G08

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5206 F St SE #1

RANDLE HEIGHTS

1610 26th Pl SE #2 3281 15th Pl SE #201 1713 Gainesville St SE #T

TRINIDAD

1117 Staples St NE #2 1654 West Virginia NE #4 1654 Montello Ave NE #1 1654 West Virginia NE #2 1830 I St NE #4 1404 Holbrook St NE #2 1330 Orren St NE #102 1220 Holbrook Ter NE #105 1617 Corcoran St NE #2 1306 Childress St NE #7 1125 Penn St NE #102 ◆

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$410,000 $125,000

2 1

$565,000

$459,000 $389,900 $100,000 $100,000

3 2 2 2

$726,500 $635,000 $507,500 $425,000 $390,000 $345,000

3 2 3 1 1 1

$189,000 $165,000 $85,000

2 2 2

$112,500

$787,000 $755,000 $675,000 $500,000 $492,500 $455,000

2 2 2 1 2 2

$489,000 $404,000 $399,900

2 1 1

$215,000

$525,000 $240,000 $90,000

4 3 1

$749,900 $645,000 $625,000 $520,000 $515,000 $430,000 $350,000 $350,000 $349,000 $298,000 $220,000

3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 1

N O VEMBER 2020

east washington life

Meet Kennedy Solaru CEO and Child Linguist

ike many youths in the District, Kennedy Solaru began her work career at a summer job earning a small income. Unlike most kids in the city and East of the River, however, Kennedy started her own business by tutoring other students online in Mandarin. The 13-year-old CEO, who turns 14 on October 20th, entered a nation-wide virtual think tank competition this summer in July for children and earned the audience’s most favorite title. Despite not winning the competition, the enthralling experience gave Kennedy further impetus to continue her business. Kennedy, an only child, has lived since birth with her parents at their Washington Highlands home in Ward 8.

How the Business Started

Kid’s Tutoring Service started in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused school closures in the District and surrounding counties and forced students to engage in online learning. The idea to start the business, with the motto “For Kids By Kids,” was launched inside the family’s townhouse to aid other students. Her business email, which is monitored by her mother and consultant, is info@kidstutoringservices.com. The Instagram account is @kidstutoringservices. “When I was in school, we had two levels of school for students learning Mandarin. I was in Level II. Students in Level I came to me and asked questions. I liked helping them out. They were more comfortable coming to me (a peer) than their teachers. Some kids learn better when a friend is teaching them rather than an adult or teacher,” said the adolescent educator and public speaker who currently has 10 clients. One of those clients is eight-year-old Treandos Thornton. Kennedy has a weekly session with him that lasts 30 to 60 minutes. According to Treandos’ mother, her son is ecstatic about his tutor

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

by Anthony D. Diallo

and looks forward to their online educational sessions. “We saw a post on Instagram with Kennedy participating on a panel. I thought that was interesting since my son has been taking Mandarin since kindergarten,” said Shana Thornton, a public information officer for the city of Atlanta. “Kennedy and Treandos connected on so many levels. He and his five-year-old brother Noah are also entrepreneurs here. They started making and selling bowties and became retailers (www.tnbowties.com). Kennedy has been so inspiring.”

Education and Background

Kennedy started learning Mandarin at the age of four at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in their im-

mersion program. She attended the public charter school located in northeast from pre-kindergarten to the 5th grade. She is currently enrolled, as an 8th grader at Whittle School & Studios located at 3007 Tilden Street, NW, where she began in the seventh grade when their District campus opened in 2019. Whittle boasts of being the first global school in the District when they simultaneously opened the campus here along with the one in Shenzhen, China. The prestigious school also has a campus in Brooklyn, N.Y. with plans to open more campuses around the nation in the upcoming years. Perhaps Kennedy’s biggest educational inspiration comes from her two biggest cheerleaders – her parents Ola and Carolyn Solaru.

Celebrating Bilingual Children

October is designated as the time to acknowledge bilingual children for their unique skillsets and efforts to unify communities, countries and the entire cosmos. Language Lizard, an educational company based in Basking Ridge, N.J., founded Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month in 2006 to recognize the many children who converse in two or more languages and appreciate multiple cultures. Children who speak two or more languages prove to be insightful students in the classroom. As the world continues to grow and become more diverse, students in their pubescent years can be encouraged to become cultural ambassadors that highlight multiple similarities rather than the lesser, insignificant differences. “She is probably one of the most persevering and hard working out of all of my students,” said Yifei Huang, a long-time tutor-coach of Kennedy who occasionally instructs her depending upon the teenager’s busy schedule. “I don’t need to track her time. She is (always) prepared.”

Huang, a Chinese native who is fluent in Mandarin, started coaching Kennedy when the young entrepreneur was only in the third grade. She tutors about 25 students on a regular basis in the region.

Future Goals and Aspirations

Kennedy took and passed the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK Level III) test in December 2019. The examination assesses test takers’ abilities in the application of everyday Mandarin. It is the counterpart of the Level III of the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages and the B1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF). If she passes the final three levels as a non-native speaker, Kennedy would be eligible for full tuition at the top universities in either Beijing or Shanghai. As our nation’s economic and political connections to China become more intertwined, it is vital that American students, like Kennedy, can fully communicate and interact with their Asian counterparts. “I hope to scale my business to teach other kids to share their language. I am interviewing children and kids who are interested in tutoring on my platform,” Kennedy responded after being asked about her future goals. “I want to prepare students to become global citizens so they will be advanced in the future and now.” Know an amazing neighbor who deserves a profile? Email suggestions to Anthony Diallo at adike611@gmail.com. ◆

METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

HOMICIDE VICTIM

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

VICTIM’S NAME

Charnice Milton

LOCATION

2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE DATE/TIME

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Up to $25,000 Reward

9:40 PM

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at approximately 9:40 pm, Ms. Charnice Milton was shot and killed in the 2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE. The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding this homicide.

CONTACT

Detective Chanel Howard (202) 437-0451 Detective Robert Cephas (202) 497-4734 Homicide Branch (202) 645-9600

(cell) (cell) (main)

H O W TO H E L P O U R I N V E S T I G AT I O N

This case is being investigated by the Department’s Homicide Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the detective(s) listed above or the Command Information Center (CIC) at (202) 727-9099. Anonymous information may also be forwarded to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

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east washington life

We Are Anacostia!

Gateway Mural Celebrates Anacostia’s Past, Present and Future Article and photos by Phil Hutinet (unless otherwise noted)

Peralta mural gateway overall. Courtesy DCRA

an a mural personify the character of a community? In short, the answer is yes, especially when a community works in unison. Newly inaugurated on October 30, the “We Are Anacostia” mural runs 200 feet along Good Hope Road SE just below the 11th Bridge and is painted on a series of wooden panels that enclose a vacant lot. Led by the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID), a coalition of Anacostia residents, local artists, businesses and the DC Government helped realize the project. Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia BID, assembled a group of community stakeholders through the formation of the ACE council. The ACE council, which stands for Arts Cultural Entertainment and Education advisory council, coalesces the skills and expertise of its board members to nurture and grow the Anacostia Arts and Entertainment District. “The Council’s focus is to help develop and promote community involvement in the Anacostia BID through arts, entertainment, education and cultural activities,” explains Noel. Noell raised funds with the help of the ACE council to finance the mural. For Noell, who lives east of the river, 36

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

the project represents a means by which people who travel into Anacostia can instantly understand the neighborhood. Visually, the mural represents the neighborhood’s past, present and future. “What is touching for me,” says Noell “is that this mural is called the passage project. A ‘passage’ describes what we’ve gone through; our future looks bright though we are not there yet. The mural shows the history of Anacostia Indians, Marion Barry and the struggles that are going on now. Overall, the mural demonstrates the togetherness of this community.” ANC 8A06 Commissioner Tyon Jones, a member of the ACE council, said that, “it [the vacant lot] looked really bad. I cross the bridge every morning and evening to go to work. It’s the first thing you see as soon as you come over the bridge. Now we can see something that I, the other commissioners and, especially the residents, will enjoy.” Carol Rhodes Dyson is DC-based restaurant chain Busboys and Poets’ Chief Curator and also a member of the ACE council. She worked in partnership with the Anacostia BID to provide curatorial support for the project. “Our interest was in illustrating the richness of the arts in the community.” While working at the Anacostia Busboys

and Poets, Dyson had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of local artists from Wards 7 & 8. Ernest Chrappah, Director of DC Regulatory Agency (DCRA), a DC government agency generally associated with providing permits rather than partnering on public art projects, explained the unique partnership the DC government formed with the Anacostia BID. Chrappah describes it as “a contemporary partnership,” adding that, “No one wants to see blighted buildings. We have over 4000 vacant buildings in DC.” Just as DCRA’s Abatement Team boards up doors and windows of vacant properties, for this mural, the same team supplied and installed the wood panels used to create the canvas upon which the mural would be painted, hiding the vacant lot. When asked about the mural’s subject matter, Chapprah replied, “Personally, when I brought my daughter, she could see herself in the little girl in the mural. When other children go by they can see themselves as well.” Bevadine Zoma Terrell, a resident member of the ACE council, has lived in Anacostia for ten years and in DC for the last 45. “When I saw it first go up, I was smiling and today it’s a smile I’ll be wearing forever, she said. “I love

Ernest Chrappah, Director of DC Regulatory Agency (DCRA). Courtesy DCRA

Marion Barry.

Native American.

Luis Peralta Del Valle. Courtesy DCRA

Youth Science. Anacostia. I love what’s happening! [The mural] is a kaleidoscope of many things here—people, places, businesses, organizations, and my first love, children, who seem get left out all too often. The girl with the microscope [in the mural] reminded me of myself when I was a little girl who was inquisitive and looking for new things.” Luis Peralta Del Valle, an Anacostia resident and artist known for his portraiture, played the lead role in completing the mural. Set against a sky-blue backdrop with the words “We Are Anacostia” spelled out in large letters in the foreground, Peralta interspersed the mural with several large figures. The three-quarter portraits include a Native American woman of the Nacotchtank tribe, who were the indigenous people who lived in the Anacostia river basin, and Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass.

ABOVE: Peralta in front of the finished mural. photo: Phil Hutinet

Both represent Anacostia’s past. Representing the not-so-distant past and transition into the present is the late Marion Barry, DC Mayor and Ward 8 councilmember. Last, portraits of several youth represent Anacostia’s present and its future. Peralta worked with Professor Gabrielle Tayac, Associate Professor of History at George Mason University, to ensure that he accurately depicted the Nancotchtank woman. Peralta has often painted Douglass and Barry so he used past works as references for their portraits. For the youth depicted in the mural, Peralta used a series of creative common images which he retouched to create images of people who may remind the viewer of someone they know but in fact does not exist. Peralta wanted the youth to “reflect the community.” Other images embedded in the mural’s background include Anacostia landmarks like the Big Chair and the Arts Center. A mural that spans a length of over 200 feet requires many hands to complete it. To this end, Peralta enlisted the help of volunteers Lindsey Hand, McKenna Stahl and Mark T. Ventura. He also hired street artists Absurdly Well and Germany, who both worked on the stenciling of the letters and background. Joshua Minar and CROOK, whose acronym stands for “Creativity Rises Out Of Kings”, were also part of the paid artist crew. Artist and Anacostia native CROOK hopes to convey the following to audiences who visit the mural: “Anacostia is more than just what you hear and what you see—Anacostia is a place that you feel. I put a lot of feeling into this because I was born and raised in Anacostia.” CROOK believes that through this type of project, “We can let art preserve the culture.”

Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com. u

Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia BID. Courtesy DCRA

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Little Turkey Fun Run

This Thanksgiving, you can still be part of a time-honored DC tradition— SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K. This year, to keep their mission moving during coronavirus, Trot for Hunger will be virtual—they are encouraging their Trot for Hunger participants to run/walk in their neighborhood or local park during the month of November. Funds raised from the Trot for Hunger benefit thousands of our DC neighbors in need, including families and the elderly, by providing much-needed food, housing, access to healthcare, employment training, and long-term comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Kids 10 and under can register as Little Turkeys for a one-mile fun run for a $15 fee. All participants will receive a personalized digital certificate and medal. some.org. Photo: Courtesy of SOME

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

Gala En Familia

Gala En Familia, presented by GALA Hispanic Theater, brings you family-friendly online content with lectures, interviews, and a story time series. Each week, they feature new performances by and interviews with their artists through their website, e-newsletter, and social media platforms. For children, there are fun stories and videos to delight and discover. All content is in Spanish. Subscribe to the newsletter at galatheatre.org/post/gala-en-familia

(scroll down for kids’ educational videos). Follow them on facebook, twitter and Instagram @teatrogala.

Experience the 2020 Kids Euro Festival from the Comfort of Your Home

Did you ever want to learn how to engrave gourds? Make art out of paper? Turn plastic bottles into butterflies? Make pancake puffs? Build your own piece of Finland in

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Minecraft? Create a field of art flowers? Make a mysterious 3D lake? Play fado music? Cook Spanish food? You can do all of this and much more during this year’s virtual Kids Euro Festival. Through Nov. 29, children and their parents across the United States will be able to participate in this engaging online programming. Some events will be live and interactive, whereas others will be available on-demand. And it’s all free. kidseurofestival.org.

Find Christmas Tree Farms and Sleigh Rides

Find Christmas trees to cut (farms always provide saws), pre-cut trees, wreaths, garlands, stands, sleigh rides and other winter activities in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia at the labor-of-love pickyourownchristmastree.org. Most tree farms open

There was a popular tendency to depict Helen Keller as a demure and ladylike Southern girl, but she grew up to write fiery speeches and became a powerful advocate for workers’ rights. Photo: Courtesy of the National Museum of American History

Girlhood (It’s Complicated)

While the nursery rhyme tells us that girls are “made of sugar and spice and everything nice,” history demonstrates that girls are made of stronger stuff. Girlhood (It’s Complicated) is at the recently re-opened National Museum of American History. It showcases how girls have been on the frontlines of change and how they have made an impact on all aspects of American life. Spanning a timeframe of more than 200 years and showcasing approximately 200 objects, including some never before seen artifacts, the exhibition examines the ways American girls, from Helen Keller to Minnijean Brown to Naomi Wadler, have spoken up, challenged expectations and used their voices to effect change. Among the highlights are Helen Keller’s touch watch and Isabella Aiukli Cornell’s 2019 red prom dress symbolizing her activism related to Indigenous women. The Museum of American History, on Constitution Avenue NW, between 12th and 14th, recently reopened. The new hours are Friday through Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but reserved time-entry passes are required. To make reservations, visit si.edu/visit. americanhistory.si.edu.

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National Cathedral Coloring Sheets

Browse and download dozens of coloring sheets featuring iconic National Cathedral details, and see what their favorite gargoyle mascot, Indy Anna Limestone, has been exploring during their theme weeks. cathedral.org/visit-us/coloringpages.

right after Thanksgiving and some only on weekends. Call before you set out. Editor’s Note: You’ll love this website even if you’re not going anywhere. It’s fun, crazy and full of information.

SAAM Family Zone Activities

Enjoy all of your favorite SAAM (Smithsonian American Art Museum) family day activities, now online in their Family Zone, including step-by-step instructions for crafting at home, printable coloring pages based on artworks in SAAM’s collection, and videos from kid-friendly performers who partner with them during their family day events. americanart. si.edu/visit/family-activities.

Art & Me Preservation Family Workshop: Unlocking Secrets of the Past

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m., via Zoom, learn how Smithsonian conservators preserve ancient objects made from bone in this engaging online workshop. From a large skeleton of a mastodon to small oracle bones from ancient China, unlock the secrets of the past through close look-

TAE KWON DO WE HAVE RESTARTED! 10’ SOCIAL DISTANCING. FULLY MASKED. TEMPERATURE CHECKS. 6TH & EYE ST., NE. - PARKING • MASTERGUTMAN@GMAIL.COM

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Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Rosetta G Williams - PUT ON PORCH Congress Heights Health Center

3615 Martin Luther King Jr Ave 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE

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ing and investigation. Then try your hand at carving techniques by making your own soap and model clay figures. For ages three to eight. Register now; a Zoom link and suggested material list will be sent to registered participants 24 to 48 hours in advance of the workshop. NOTE: Select one time only. One registration per family. It’s free. americanart.si.edu/ events/kids-andfamilies. u

Alejandro Diasgranados Named 2021 DC Teacher of the Year

Mayor Muriel Bowser has presented Alejandro Diasgranados, a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Aiton Elementary School, 533 48th Pl. NE, with the 2021 DC Teacher of the Year Award. The prestigious honor is awarded annually to a public or public charter school teacher in Washington, DC who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to student achievement. It comes with a cash prize of $7,500. In addition to receiving this honor, Diasgranados will be considered for the National Teacher of the Year Award, which is run by the Council of Chief State School Officers. He will also receive an additional $2,500 to support travel to national conferences, workshops and other professional development opportunities during his one-year term. ntoy.ccsso.org.

Writers May Treuhaft Ali, Christen Cromwell, Keshe Arrington, Lyra Yang, Michelle Lynch, and Elena Valence.

Adventure Theatre’s Fairy Tale Field Trips

This fall, Glen Echo’s Adventure Theatre brings diverse stories to the 20202021 Digital Season with Fairy Tale Field Trips. They have commissioned May Treuhaft Ali, Keshe Arrington, Christen Cromwell, Michelle Lynch, Elena Valesco and Lyra Yang to partner in teams to write short digital presentations based on fairy tales from around the world. These digital presentations will provide opportunities to challenge students’ preconceived notions of traditional fairy tales or folktales and how these different versions can offer different insights of these universal stories. To learn more or to book a digital field trip, call 301-634-2270 or e-mail boxoffice@adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

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www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD “Classic Lyrics” by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Statehouse V.I.P. 4. Go for a dip 8. Gushing out 15. Toronto media inits. 18. Post office mailing term 21. Daughter of King Minos 22. “...man ___ mouse?” 23. Start of a Led Zeppelin classic 25. Peace, in Russia 26. Navy commando 27. CIA exec. 28. Kind of berth 30. Enjoyed 35. Prefix with -pathy 39. Failing grades 40. Department store sight 44. Gang land 45. Pre-knotted tie 49. ‘’Horton Hears a ___’’ 50. Get used to it! 51. Ross Sea sight 53. Women’s tennis star Ivanovic 54. Mr. Potato Head piece 55. Any clever maneuver 57. Recesses 59. African nation 62. Yang’s opposite 63. Word on either side of ‘’-a-’’ 65. Letter-shaped opening 66. Pretense 68. Scorpion star 72. Fool 73. Last line of an Eagles classic 78. Tolkien tree dweller 79. Sesame, e.g. 80. Bar order 81. Setting of “The Crucible” 83. Okla. neighbor 84. Pat, a wound for example 87. Bear-like 91. Boat with three tiers of oars 93. Pastoral 96. A Bobbsey twin 97. “We need to get a cat!”

98. Little frog 101. Water action 103. Parisian pal 104. Kind of income 106. Stallion, once 107. Gave it a go 109. Kimono sash 110. Some beans 112. Neighbor of Turkey 113. Former Portuguese province 116. Post-E.R. place 118. Exam for future J.D.’s 122. German “I” 123. Lyric from a great John Lennon hit 133. ____ Spectra 134. Hot 135. Like Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock 136. Hall-of-Fame outfielder Roush 137. Type of cottage 138. Maja painter 139. “Drums Along the Mohawk” hero

Down:

1. Transcript nos. 2. French river 3. Ancient writings 4. Intl. carrier 5. Vane dir. 6. Berg material 7. Garfield’s cry 8. Vicious 9. Backing 10. Employer number 11. Roll 12. Vow 13. Compass direction 14. Grovel 15. Provide for free, informally 16. A desperate housewife and a French cheese 17. Mystery writer John Dickson ___

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 19. Showy flower 20. Top 24. Cpl.,e.g. 29. Tire pressure fig. 31. Sight in the Seine 32. Jumper 33. Little box 34. Like a coed’s place 36. Nip partner 37. Old word meaning “before” 38. Not where it should be 39. Biol. branch 40. Porcelain piece 41. “Heartbreak House” writer 42. Iron chef 43. Scale twosome 46. Dog experimenter 47. Early Ping-Pong score 48. Big name in magazine publishing

52. Red rays 56. Ridiculous 58. Academy Awards 60. Yak, yak, yak 61. Getting it done on your own, abbreviation 63. 6th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 64. Irritate 67. Fit 69. Compass direction 70. Stuffed bear 71. Catwalk reject 73. Safari member 74. Dissimilar 75. Ohio team, on scoreboards 76. Australian stock exchange, abbr. 77. Where Switz. is 81. Footfall 82. Kind of rate

Thank you, Capitol Hill for 10 years of fun and games! Please shop local and shop small this holiday season! We’ll help find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

labyrinthgameshop.com SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE; Shipping anywhere in U.S.

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85. Actress Jessica of “The Love Guru” 86. Utters loudly and indiscreetly 88. ___ the kill 89. Dub 90. Tennyson lady 92. Skirt style 93. In a bad way 94. Gave a blow-by-blow 95. ___-bitty 99. Modern office staples 100. Queenside castle, in chess notation 102. Record label inits. 105. Shelley’s “___ Skylark” 108. Kind of diet 111. Area of coll. study 113. Emcee’s need 114. Like Wilde’s wit 115. Neighbor of Libya 117. Space visitor 119. Performed a melody 120. Type of berry 121. Be a snitch 124. ___ hurry 125. Vision health care provider 126. Manhattan addition 127. Empire State building locale, briefly 128. Shine, in product names 129. Heart dr.’s order 130. OJ’s trial judge 131. No, in Shakespeare’s English 132. Golf tour

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