East of the River Magazine September 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017


NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 16

The Bulletin Board

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The Numbers by Ilana Boivie

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Don’t Tread on the District! by Josh Burch

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Gray Takes Safeway to Task by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Turning the Boat Around by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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Literacy Oasis in Formation by Virginia Avniel Spatz

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Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe

IN EVERY ISSUE 06 What’s on Washington

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Let’s Get Physical by Stacy Peterson, MS, CNS, CHHC, CSCS

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08 Calendar 56 The Classified

Recognizing the Unsung Male Caregiver by Candace Y.A. Montague

58 The Crossword

REAL ESTATE

ON THE COVER: Scene from Word Becomes Flesh. Image credit: C. Stanley Photography. See story on pg. 36

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Eastside Arts by Phil Hutinet

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Got Food Waste? by Catherine Plume

Making Produce Last by Candace Y.A. Montague

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Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY 48

Getting into the School Lottery Game by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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Notebook by Kathleen Donner


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

EDITORIAL STAFF

REAL ESTATE

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

Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com Heather Schoell • heathersdo@gmail.com

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

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

Art: Dining: Literature: Movies: Music: Theater: Wine Girl:

Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Phil Hutinet • phutinet@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • steve@jazzavenues.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Elyse Genderson • elyse@cellar.com

CALENDAR & BULLETIN BOARD

Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

KIDS & FAMILY

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

HOMES & GARDENS

COMMENTARY

The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com

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Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com Stacy Peterson • stacy@accelerationsports.net 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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Actors Akeem Davis, Peter Howard, and Jose Joaquin Perez are in the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s “The Arsonists” which runs through Oct. 8. Photo: Ben Gunderson

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DC THEATRE WEEK! From Sept. 19 to Oct. 1, twenty-nine DC area participating theatres present works priced at just $15 and $35 per seat. This celebration of Washington’s theatre scene includes musicals, dramas, comedies and shows for young audiences. “Our primary goal is to entice people to try something new,” said Amy Austin, theatreWashington’s president. Visit theatreweek.org for a complete listing and todaytix.com to purchase tickets. Some theaters may also offer theatreWeek discounts directly through the box office. Use Promo Code TWEEK17.

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JOINT BASE ANDREWS AIR SHOW On Sept. 16 and 17, experience the Joint Base Andrews Air Show. Gates open at 9 a.m. Demonstrations are from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check for exact schedules as the event nears. Some demonstrations may not happen depending on weather conditions. Admission is free as is parking. VIP seating tickets are available for purchase. Lawn chairs and cameras are permitted. Civilians park at FedEx field where shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. In-bound buses stop running at 1 p.m. andrewsairshow.org.

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CREATING CAMELOT AT NEWSEUM To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of President John F. Kennedy, Newseum is bringing back one of its most popular exhibits, “Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photography of Jacques Lowe.” The show is on display from Sept. 29 to Jan. 7. This photo exhibit showcases more than 70 intimate and iconic images of President John F. Kennedy, first Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and their children, Caroline and John. The photos were taken by Kennedy’s personal photographer, Jacques Lowe. Lowe’s photographs helped create the legend of the Kennedy presidency known as “Camelot.” Using his extraordinary access, Lowe documented Kennedy’s rise to power from his 1958 Senate re-election campaign to the White House. He also shot intimate scenes of the Kennedys at home. The exhibit explores how Lowe’s images were used in the news media. newseum.org.


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The original negatives of nearly all of the 70 images displayed in “Creating Camelot” were lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Lowe, who died in May 2001, had stored his negatives of more than 40,000 Kennedy photos in a World Trade Center bank vault. 10 negatives out on loan at the time survived. This photo of John F. Kennedy at a 1959 press conference was widely used on his presidential campaign materials. Photo: Courtesy of the Estate of Jacques Lowe

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Courtesy of The US Air Force Thunderbirds

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Photo: Courtesy of Washington National Opera

H Street Festival. Photo: Andrew Lightman

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OPERA IN THE OUTFIELD On Sept. 23, 7 p.m. (rain or shine), celebrate the 10th season of free, live opera simulcasts by joining the Washington National Opera at Nationals Park for Verdi’s Aida. Aida will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard. Free seating is available on the outfield grass and in the stands. In case of rain, some covered seating is available. Gates open at 5 p.m. for pre-opera activities such as photo opportunities for kids; chances to win prizes; performances by local artists; screening of the Warner Bros. cartoon “What’s Opera, Doc?” starring Bugs Bunny and his nemesis Elmer Fudd; a playground, a costume trunk dressup area, a craft table with coloring and face painting. For more information, visit operaintheoutfield.org.

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H STREET FESTIVAL

This year, the H Street Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 16, noon to 7 p.m. The festival is 11 blocks long, between Fourth and Fourteenth NE, and has 14 staging areas that feature music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and more. It also features food trucks, giveaways and community information tables. hstreetfestival.org.

BARRACKS ROW FESTIVAL The Fall Festival is on Eighth St. SE, between E and I, and is on Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festival features restaurants, food trucks, United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, community information tables, a main stage for live entertainment and Chesty, the Marine Corps Bulldog mascot dressed in his uniform will be walking the midway to meet fair goers and pose with fans. Eighth Street SE, is closed to traffic and booths of all description line the midway. barracksrow.org.

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SEPTEMBER

ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY

Oct. 7, 11 AM to 4 PM. Live performances, food, kids activities, art workshops and guest DJ. Activities take place outside the museum with live entertainment. Inside, there are art activities and other surprises. Artists will have tents on the picnic grounds. Invited community partners will have information tables. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. JoGo Project Band. Photo: Courtesy of JoGo Project Band

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS Maryland Renaissance Festival. Sept. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30; Oct. 1 , 7 and 8 (rain or shine). 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis, MD. rennfest.com. Adams Morgan Day Festival. Sept. 10, noon to 6 PM. Vendors, sidewalk cafes, cultural activities and performances. 18th Street NW between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road. facebook.com/adamsmorganday.

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space by converting metered on-street parking spaces into temporary parks. Read more and find parks at ddot.dc.gov/page/parkingday-dc-2017. H Street Festival. Sept. 16, noon to 7 PM. The festival is 11 blocks long on H Street NE between Fourth and Fourteenth Streets. Enjoy 14 stages featuring music, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, and poetry. hstreetfestival.org.

202 Arts & Music Festival. Sept. 9, 11 AM to 9 PM. Featuring live performances, art exhibitions, interactive workshops and more. Plus DC’s biggest outdoor dance party to end the night. Fourth and M Streets SW. dcarts.dc.gov.

Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon. Sept. 16 and 17, 9 AM to 5 PM. More than 40 artisans will demonstrate their trades and sell their wares while two stages delight audiences with 18th-century amusements. Fair included in admission. mountvernon.org.

PARK(ing) Day. Sept. 15, 9 AM to 4 PM. PARK(ing) Day is an event in which residents and businesses re-think the use of public

King Street Art Festival. Sept. 16, 10 AM to 7 PM and Sept. 17, 10 AM to 5 PM. Old Town Alexandria on King Street from Washington

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Street to the Potomac River. ArtFestival.com. Solomons Plein Air Festival. Sept. 18 to 24. Artists paint “en plein air” (outside on location) and share their creativity with the public. The art form invites viewers into the creative process: the sight, sound and even smell of the artists’ world. Artists compete for prizes over four days. solomonspleinair.com. Truckeroo. Sept. 22; 11 AM to 11 PM. Truckeroo features live music, cold drinks, games and food trucks. 1201 Half St. SE. thebullpendc.com/truckeroo. Art All Night: Made in DC. Sept. 23, 7 PM to 3 AM. The festival will take place in six DC Main Streets neighborhoods, bringing visual and performing arts including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, dance, theater, film and poetry to public and private spaces including businesses. artallnightdc.com.

The Cantina Cup to Support DC Sail. Sept. 23, 11 AM to 4 PM. Come cheer on the sailors at this annual regatta and fundraising event in support of DC Sail. 600 Water St. SW. dcsail.org. Snallygaster Beer Festival. Sept. 23, 1 to 6 PM. Features 350 craft beers and ciders, food trucks, music, entertainment and family fun. Tickets, $35 to $60. First and N Streets SE, Yards Park. snallygasterdc.com. Barracks Row Festival. Sept. 23, 11 AM to 5 PM. Festival is on Eighth Street SE between E and I. It features restaurants, food trucks, the US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, community information tables and live entertainment. barracksrow.org. ZooFiesta. Sept. 24, 11 AM to 4 PM. Family activities include animal feedings, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, educational activities highlighting conservation research


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in Central and South America and authentic gourmet cuisine at a Latin America-inspired food bazaar. National Zoo. nationalzoo.si.edu.

to 4 PM. Experience DC history firsthand by volunteering to work with local collections. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

Taste of Georgetown. Sept. 24, 11 AM to 4 PM. The event features more than 60 creative dishes from more than 30 of the neighborhood’s best restaurants. K Street NW between Wisconsin Avenue and Thomas Jefferson Street. tasteofgeorgetown.com.

J.A.M. Gr8st Hits-A Dance Spectacular Musical Revue. Oct. 6, 8 PM; Oct. 7, 3 PM and 8 PM; and Oct. 8, 3 PM. J.A.M. the Revue, the metropolitan area’s exciting song and dance revue is back with an all new production. $15 to $25. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. AnacostiaArtsCenter.com.

Jazz Preservation Festival. Sept. 30, noon to 7 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.

7th Annual Excellence in Christian Music Concert Gala. Oct. 7, 6 PM. $25. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.

Taste of Bethesda. Oct. 7, 11 AM to 4 PM. Nearly 50 restaurants and five stages of entertainment. $5 for four tasting tickets. It is on Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell, Del Ray and Auburn Avenues in the heart of Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. bethesda.org.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public ice skating is on Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30; 1 to 3 PM. Sept. 10, 17, and 24; 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Sept. 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 29; 6 to 8 PM. Sept. 15, 22 and 29; noon to 2 PM. Oct. 1 and 8; 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Oct. 6; noon to 2 PM. Oct. 7; 1 to 3 PM. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Black Magic: AfroPasts/AfroFutures at Honfleur Gallery. Through Oct. 7. Cultural anthropologist and curator Niama Safia Sandy brings together seven artists for Black Magic: Afro Pasts/Afro Futures. The exhibition is a multidisciplinary expression of Afrofuturism and Magical Realism exploring the recurrent themes of the Black Diaspora. Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com.

WALKINGTOWN DC

Sept. 16 to 24. This is a series of more than 50 free guided tours of all parts of the District. Some will be perennial favorites. culturaltourismdc.org. Photo: Ryan Schlegel

MUSIC AROUND TOWN Music at The Howard. Sept. 9, Chante Moore and Michel Martelly; Sept. 12, UB40 Legends Ali, Astro & Mickey; Sept. 14, Sizzla; Sept. 15, Andres Cepeda; Sept. 20 Lizz Wright; Sept. 21, Digable Planets; Sept. 22, Dina Martina; Sept. 24, Jen Kirkman; Sept. 29, Soca Inferno; Oct. 7, Shawn Wayans. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com.

The Washington Ballet @ THEARC. Mondays, 7:15 to 8:30 PM, Adult Vinyasa Yoga; Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 PM, Adult Ballet; Wednesdays, noon to 1 PM, Adult Barre; Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:30 AM, Adult Modern; Thursdays, 7:15 to 8:15 PM, Adult Pilates; Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 AM, Adult Zumba. Single classes are $12. A discount of $6 is granted to adults from the zip codes 20020 and 20032. A valid ID is required to receive the discount. Class cards good for 12 classes are $100/$60 for Wards 7 and 8 residents. THEARC is at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. Anacostia Community Museum Open House. Sept. 15, 10 AM to 5 PM. The Anacostia Community Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary with live performances, henna and caricature artists. One program features a portrayal of the museum’s founding director, Dr. John Kinard, followed by a book talk about his life by his daughter, Dr. Joy Kinard and a gospel tribute. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. DC History for All: Volunteer Fair. Sept. 22, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Evening program to mix and network with collections and archival workers from the cultural sector. Sept. 23, 11 AM

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Ward 8 Farmer’s Market. Saturdays, 10 AM to 2 PM. Market is in the parking lot behind Martin Luther King Elementary School, 3200 Sixth St. SE. ward8farmersmarket.com.

DEAD MAN’S RUN AT CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY

Oct. 7, 6 PM. The kids run begins shortly after, at around 6:05 PM. $40 for the 5k; $10 for the untimed kids run. Packet pickup is race-day-only and begins at 4:30 PM in the Chapel. congressionalcemetery.org. Photo: Courtesy of Historic Congressional Cemetery

Music at 9:30 Club. Sept. 9, The Afghan Whigs; Sept. 10 and 11, Nick Murphy (Chet Faker); Sept. 13, Joseph; Sept. 14, Prophets of Rage; Sept. 16, Hot In Herre: 2000s Dance Party with DJs Will Eastman and Brian Billion; Sept. 17, BadBadNotGood; Sept. 19 and 20, Broken Social Scene; Sept. 22, Aaron Watson and Space Jesus; Sept. 23, White Ford Bronco: DC’s All 90s Band; Sept. 26, Trevor Hall; Sept. 27, Mandolin Orange; Sept. 29, Thundercat; Sept. 30, Crystal Castles; Oct. 1, The Church; Oct. 2 and 3, Oh Wonder; Oct. 4, Chicano Batman/Khruangbin; Oct. 5, NEEDTOBREATHE; Oct. 6, Tash Sultana; Oct. 7, Back To Back and Troyboi; Oct. 8, Glass Animals. 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com. Music at U Street Music Hall. Sept. 9, Deep Sugar 14th Anniversary; Sept. 10, The Rumpus Room; Sept. 11, Tank and The Bangas; Sept. 12, Mondo Cozmo; Sept. 13, Sonder; Sept. 14, The Werks & Passafire; Sept. 15, MHD and


Bruno Martini; Sept. 16, Astrid S and Feed Me Disco ft. Eau Claire; Sept. 19, Kari Faux; Sept. 20, Gabrielle Aplin and Jax Jones; Sept. 21, Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones; Sept. 22, Coast Modern and J. Philip; Sept. 23, The Cribs and Mark Farina; Sept. 24, Rare Essence; Sept. 26, Yelle; Sept. 27, Saint Etienne and Solardo & Latmun; Sept. 28, Songhoy Blues and Two Owls; Sept. 29, Atlas Road Crew and Oliver; Sept. 30, Zola Jesus and DJ Pierre; Oct. 3, Saint Pé + Crocodiles; Oct. 5, Cigarettes After Sex and Bleep Bloop; Oct. 6, Hundred Waters and Sonny Fodera; Oct. 7, Luca Lush. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at Hill Country. Sept. 9, Sarah Potenza, Paleface; Sept. 12, Rod Picott; Sept. 14, Sunny Sweeney; Sept. 15, Hayes Carll; Sept. 16, The Woodshedders; Sept. 18, The Plimsouls Re-Souled; Sept. 19, The Railsplitters; Sept. 21, The Blasters; Sept. 22, Homemade Sin & Friends; Sept. 23, Kyle Lacy & the Harlem River Noise; Sept. 29, Dangermuffin; Sept. 30, Jason Eady Album Release Show!. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Sept. 9, Bottled Up; Sept. 15, Del The Funky Homosapien; Sept. 20, Middle Kids; Sept. 21, Verite; Sept. 22, Sleeping With Sirens-Gossip Tour; Sept. 23, Jay Som; Sept. 27, Touche Amore; Sept. 28, Rainer Maria; Sept. 29, Torres; Sept. 30 Pinback. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at Black Cat. Sept. 10, Beverly; Sept. 11, Black Cat 24th Anniversary Show; Sept. 12, Swervedriver; Sept. 13, Lionize; Sept. 14, Wild Belle; Sept. 15, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists; Sept. 20, Whisley Shivers, Billy Strings; Sept. 22, Frankie Cosmos; Sept. 23, 3 Kings; Sept. 24, Deqn Sue; Sept. 25, Wire; Sept. 26, Stiff Little Fingers and The Toasters; Sept. 27, Open Mike Eagle; Sept. 28, Electric Six; Sept. 29, Quicksand; Sept. 30, The Lemon Twigs; Oct. 1, Mock Identity; Oct. 3, The Huntress and Holder of Hands; Oct. 4, Sweet Spirit; Oct. 5, RAC; Oct. 6, Awkward Sex...and the City; Oct. 7, Magic City Hippies and Nate Staniforth: Real Magic Tour. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Blue Monday Blues in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Sept. 11, Ursula Ricks Project; Sept. 18, 11th Blue Monday Blues Anniversary Jam Session; Sept. 25, Eyewitness Blues. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at Boundary Stone. Sept. 11, 18 and 25. Open Mic & $4 Drafts with Reed Appleseed. Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW. boundarystonedc.com.

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Music at Sixth and I. Sept. 11, Alison Moyet; Sept. 27, Langhorne Slim; Oct. 2, Ásgeir. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org.

Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Sept. 22, 23 and 27; Oct. 7. Capital One Arena. capitals.nhl.com.

Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Sept. 15, Greg Lamont “Old School”; Sept. 22, Kenny Rittenhouse Quintet. $5 cover. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.

Yoga Gatherings at the Botanic Garden. Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy, and acceptance throughout the District. WithLoveDC offers free yoga gatherings at the US Botanic Garden. This program is first-come, first served with limited space available. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats. usbg.gov.

American Roots Music at Botanic Garden. Sept. 14 and 28; 5 to 7 PM. Free, no pre-registration required. National Garden Amphitheater, US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov. Music at the Lincoln. Sept. 16, Coyote Peterson; Sept. 25, Dylan Moran; Oct. 2, The Script; Oct. 4, The Kooks; Oct. 7, Paul Weller. The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com. An English Garden-Music from the Age of Shakespeare. Sept. 22 to 24. As the arts and culture flourished in Shakespeare’s England, musical life blossomed as well. Popular ballads and art songs from the theatre are paired in a concert with lively instrumental pieces, fit for nobles and groundlings alike. With fiddles, viol, lute, cittern, winds and soprano Emily Noël. $42. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu. The In Series: Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. Discover the enchantment of Mozart and Schikaneder’s fantastical masterpiece: princes, evil queens, dragons, young love, magical instruments, the human search for Wisdom drawing us to the eternal Feminine...new English adaptation. DC Scottish Rite Temple, 2800 16th St. NW. inseries.org. Director’s Salon. Sept. 11, 7 PM. Directors, designers and cast engage with the community: lively discussion, open rehearsal, light refreshments. All are welcome!

Yoga Mortis at Congressional Cemetery. Wednesdays through September, 6 PM. Classes are one hour and appropriate for all levels. No reservations required; suggested donation is $15. congressionalcemetery.org. Sound Health Community Yoga at the Kennedy Center. Saturdays through Sept. 30, 10:15 AM. Free, all-levels vinyasa yoga class in the Grand Foyer. An instructor from a different local yoga studio will lead each session. kennedy-center.org. East of the River Public Tennis Courts. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE; Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr Ave. and Joliet St. SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Avenue and Randle Place SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first come, first served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov. DC outdoor public pools are closed for the season.

The Golden Age of Boleros with Miramar. Sept. 29, 8 PM. Miramar will play a selection of songs from Puerto Rico’s golden age of boleros, the 1950s, including works by Sylvia Rich. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Barry Farm (indoor) pool. Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 AM to 8 PM; and weekends from 9 AM to 5PM. Free for DC residents. 1230 Sumner Rd. SE. 202730-0572. dpr.dc.gov.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 8 PM; Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-671-3078. dpr.dc.gov.

Washington Nationals. Sept. 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1. Nat’s Park. washington.nationals.mlb.com. DC United at RFK. Sept. 9, 7 PM vs Orlando City SC; Sept. 23, 7 PM vs San Jose Earthquakes; Oct. 22, 4 PM vs New York Red Bulls. dcunited.com.

Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-6453916. dpr.dc.gov.

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WORD BECOMES FLESH AT ANACOSTIA PLAYHOUSE

Through Oct. 8. Using spoken word, stylized movement, tableau and music, an ensemble of performers delivers a series of letters from a man to his unborn son, documenting his range of emotions, fears and expectations. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com. Justin Weaks, Gary Perkins III, Chris Lane, Clayton Pelham, Jr., Louis E. Davis. Photo: Courtesy of C. Stanley Photography

Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens, 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202-3527264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster.com. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon to 2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org. Deanwood Citizens Association. Fourth Monday, 6:30 PM. Deanwood Recreation Center, 1300 49th St. NE. Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPO Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets SE. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.

ANC MONTHLY MEETINGS ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom. com. anc7b@earthlink.net. ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-3985100. anc7c@verizon.net.

SALES AND MARKETS Ward 8 Farmer’s Market. Saturdays, 10 AM to 2 PM. Market is in the parking lot behind Martin Luther King Elementary School, 3200 Sixth St. SE. ward8farmersmarket.com. SW Arts Market. Every second and fourth Friday, 4 to 10 PM. Sept. 22 and Oct. 13. Fourth and M Streets SW. marketswdc.com. Friends of SW Library Book Sale. Sept. 23, 10 AM to 3 PM and Sept. 24, 1:30 to 5 PM. Books and DVDs, $1 or less. Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. friendsofswlibrary@gmail.com Christ Lutheran Church Annual Yard Sale. Sept. 30, 10 AM to 4 PM and Oct. 1, noon to 4 PM. Everything on Sunday is half price. 5101 16th St. NW. christlutheran-dc.org. 2017 Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show. Oct. 5, 6 to 9 PM; Oct. 6, 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM; and Oct.7, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, this is an annual fundraiser in support of education, research, and conservation at the Smithsonian. $15 at door. Oct. 5 opening night is $50, online sales only. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. smithsoniancraft2wear.org. Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 6 PM; Sun-

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days, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open weekends, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.org. Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD. Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturdays and Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com.

CIVIC LIFE Ward 7 Family Services, Legal Services Providers and Policymakers Stakeholder Meeting. Sept. 15, 10 AM. This group meets regularly to identify the needs facing families in Ward 7, share information about community-based resources and to enlist each other’s support for advocacy initiatives. Meeting is open to the public. Dorothy I. Height Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. dclibrary.org/benning. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house.gov.

ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 202-340-5362. 7D06@ anc.dc.gov. ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc.org. ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets, SE. 202-6101818. anc8b.org. ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202-561-0774.

Have an item for the Calendar? Email it to calendar@hillrag.com.


With Produce Plus, you can get up to $20 free EVERY WEEK to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at D.C. farmers markets.

The last day of the Produce Plus program is

September 30th so sign up today!

All D.C. residents who receive SNAP (EBT), Medicaid, Medicare QMB, WIC, TANF, or SSI Disability qualify for Produce Plus. To sign up, simply bring your photo ID and proof of eligibility to a participating farmers’ market.

Visit www.dcgreens.org/customer or call 202-888-4834 to get a list of markets and more information. Thursdays 10 AM - 12 PM Arcadia’s Mobile Market at Congress Heights SWC, 3500 MLK Jr. Ave SE

Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM Kenilworth-Parkside Farmers’ Market, 750 Parkside Pl NE

Thursdays 2 - 5 PM Minnesota Ave - Benning Rd Farmers’ Market, 3924 Minnesota Ave SE

Saturdays 10 AM - 12 PM DC Urban Greens Farm Stand, 3779 Ely Pl SE

Fridays 10 AM - 12 PM Arcadia’s Mobile Market at United Medical Center, 1310 Southern Ave SE

Saturdays 10 AM - 2 PM Ward 8 Farmers’ Market, 3200 6th St SE

Fridays 3 - 5 PM Arcadia’s Mobile Market at Barry Farm, 1230 Sumner Rd SE

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New Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Unveiled

Get Help With Government Services

The Anacostia NeighThe new Frederick Douborhood Library, partglass Memorial Bridge is nering with Community part of the South CapiConnections, provides tol Street Corridor Projsupportive services to ect, the largest construcpromote housing stabiltion project in the history ity and to prevent homeof DC Department of lessness Tuesday and Transportation (DDOT). Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The project includes reGet assistance with obplacement of the 68-yeartaining IDs and comold Frederick Douglass pleting applications for Memorial Bridge and reservices. Receive guidconstruction of the Suitance on Social Securiland Parkway/I-295 interty Disability Income. change. The new Frederick Community ConnecDouglass Memorial Bridge tions staff will be in one will be built approximately of the library study rooms. No appointHEROES OF PLAY! 5K AT ANACOSTIA PARK 100 feet from the current bridge. ment is needed. Anacostia NeighborOn Oct. 14, challenge walk or run a 5k to benefit children experiencing homelessThe South Capitol Street Corrihood Library is at 1800 Good Hope ness. The event is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Both runners and dor Project is one in a series of transRd. SE. dclibrary.org/anacostia. walkers are encouraged to join in. Proceeds will help fund programming that directportation, environmental, economic, National Public Lands Day ly benefits children living in temporary housing. Raise at least $100, and get the $35 community and recreation projects at Kenilworth Park registration fee refunded. Sign-in begins at 7 a.m.; race at 8 a.m. at Anacostia Park, developed by the larger Anacostia On Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., cele1900 Anacostia Dr. Read more and register at playtimeproject.org/heroesofplay5k. Waterfront Initiative (AWI) Program. brate National Public Lands Day. 200 From the Tidal Basin to the city’s Last year’s start of race. Photo: Courtesy of Homeless Children’s Playtime Project plus volunteers will assist with the renortheast border with Maryland, the moval of cut lotus from the Kenilworth 30-year, $10 billion AWI Program is Park’s ponds and other park improvetransforming the shores of the Anacosment projects. Lunch will be served in tia River into a world-class waterfront the picnic grove. SSL credits can be earned. Register at friendsofkenilworthand enriching nearby communities. Read more at ddot.dc.gov/page/south-capitolgardens.eventbrite.com. Contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthstreet-corridor-project-frederick-douglass-memorial-bridge.

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gardens.org with questions. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org.

Help Clean-up Shepherd Parkway Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups on the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X Avenues SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear work boots and clothes. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange your groups volunteer experience.

Alabama Avenue SE Corridor Safety Study On Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., DDOT invites the public to the final community event for the Alabama Avenue SE Corridor Safety Study. The goal of this event is to share the final draft safety recommendations and to capture additional feedback that will inform the project’s next phases. The project team will be on the corridor in Ward 8 at the Giant at the Shops at Park Village, 1535 Alabama Ave. SE, to discuss and answer questions. Look for the blue tents. For more information, contact Robyn Jackson at robyn. jackson@dc.gov. For information about the study, visit alabamaavenuesestudy.com.

Capitol View Library Renovation Meeting

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TERESTED IN202-400-3508 or kira@hillrag.com TISING WITH US?

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ore information on advertising.

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On Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m., discover how the design for the exterior renovation of the Capitol View Library is going. Get an update on interim location and share feedback with the design team. This meeting will take place at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 4925 East Capitol St. SE. For more info, contact Archie Williams at 202-727-1437 or archie.williams@dc.gov.

Reach4Success: College Prep Have college aspirations? Come to Reach 4 Success on Thursdays at noon for help with college and scholarship research; exam proctoring (by appointment) and application assistance including essay review. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE. dclibrary.org/francis.

Emergency Response Team Training Serve DC’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program trains citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergencies. When emergencies happen, CERT members provide critical

support to first responders, immediate assistance to victims and help organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with nonemergency projects that help improve the community safety. CERT training is free and open to anyone who lives, works or congregates in the District of Columbia. Training sessions are Sept. 12, 14, 19 and 21 at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register at volunteer.dc.gov/opportunities/4790.

Is it Credit or Discrimination? Been rejected for housing because of a credit or background check? You have a legal right to get a free copy of any credit or background report. Why is this important? Tenants need this information to properly fix their credit and because landlords have been accused of using credit as an excuse to discriminate against certain groups. For assistance, contact Housing Counseling Services, Inc. (HCS) at 202-667-7006 for a free credit counseling appointment. HCS, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping lower the barriers to housing for tenants in the area.

The Right to Fair Housing for Families Has a housing provider treated you unfairly because you have children? Some landlords in the District have been accused of giving families with children different treatment, charging higher fees or deposits for families with children or only allowing families with children to rent bottom-floor apartments. If your family has been treated unfairly, contact Housing Counseling Services at 202-667-7006 to find out more.

Free Foreclosure Prevention Clinic Behind on a mortgage? Being sued by a lender? Behind on property taxes? Confronting a potential mortgage scam? HUD approved Housing Counselors at Housing Counseling Services is ready to meet with you Wednesdays in September. Schedule an appointment by calling the DC Foreclosure Prevention Hotline funded by the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking at 202-265-CALL (2255). Clinics will be held on Wednesdays, Sept. 13, noon; Sept. 20, noon; and Sept. 27, 6 p.m., at Housing Counseling Services, 2410 17th St. NW, Suite 100.

Mayor’s Arts Awards Finalists The 32nd Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards event will be presented on Sept. 14, 7 p.m., at the Historic Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit dcarts. dc.gov or call 202-724-5613. Finalists in Excellence in Creative Industries are Paul Marengo, Studio Theatre, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital and Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts. Finalists in Excellence in Performing Arts are Washington Improv Theater, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, Dance Place and


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Only Make Believe. Finalists in Excellence in the Humanities are Rayceen Pendarvis, Kitty Felde, Joy Ford Austin and Recreation Wish List Committee. Finalists in Excellence in Visual Arts are Sondra N. Arkin, Katherine TzuIan Mann, Cory L. Stowers and Michael Crossett. The Larry Neal Writers’ Award (Adult) finalists are Taylor Johnson, Brendan Williams-Childs, Mona Nicole Sfeir and Dionne Peart. The Mayor’s Award for Arts Education finalists are The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts, Inner City-Inner Child, Young Playwright’s Theater and Sitar Arts Center. Three individuals will be recognized as special honorees. Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, co-founder of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, will receive the Mayor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. Ari Roth, artistic director of Mosaic Theatre Company, will receive the Mayor’s Arts Award for Visionary Leadership. Jazz musician and educator Davey Yarborough will receive the Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor.

DC Step Out Walk & Tour de Cure for Diabetes On Sept. 23, the ADA National Capital Area will hold the DC Step Out Walk & Tour de Cure at the Washington Monument to raise funds for diabetes research. Across the National Capital Area, the ADA has helped more than 200,000 individuals and families living with diabetes. Through research, education and advocacy, the ADA is working to prevent and ultimately cure this disease. Over 3,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event. The event’s bike portion, “Tour de Cure,” features three cycling routes for anyone from beginners to seasoned riders and offers a closed-course bike ride. The walking portion, “DC Step Out Walk,” is a 5k presented by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. There will also be on-site entertainment, Kids’ Zone and a health and wellness expo. Register at main.diabetes.org.

Call for Singers Age 55, Up Register to sing with Capital Encore Chorale. Rehearse Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at First Congre-

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gational UCC, 945 G St. NW, on the ground floor. Auditions are not required. For information and online registration, visit EncoreCreativity.org. Send email inquiry to info@EncoreCreativity.org or call 301-261-5747. Singers from the DC area are welcome.

Fish Market Parking Tweet Parking just got easier at the Fish Market. The new garage off Maine Avenue SW is $2 for the first hour with a receipt from the market. twitter.com/ thewharfdc?refsrc=email&s=11.

New Works and Unique Performances at Keegan The Keegan Theatre has announced its new programming arm, the Boiler Room Series. Boiler Room Series has launched with international, national, and local searches for new plays and musicals that will culminate with five workshops/staged readings, two festivals, three cabarets, and two concerts over the course of the company’s 2017-2018 season. The Boiler Room Series lineup will highlight scripts selected for further development from the search, in addition to edgy takes on traditional cabarets and concerts. Boiler Room Series kicked off on Sept. 1 with a widespread, eight-month search for new plays and musicals. The submission instructions and form can be found at goo. gl/forms/I2y5Dp6Zz0cZs0j12. Submissions will be accepted until April 1, 2018. keegantheatre.com.

Humane Rescue Alliance Urges Animal Adoption With animals being relocated to Washington, DC from Texas due to Hurricane Harvey, the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) is appealing to animal lovers throughout the region who may be considering adopting a new pet to visit adoptions centers. Dogs and cats adopted will help clear room for arriving animals from Texas. All pets available for adoption at HRA have been spayed/neutered and microchipped. HRA has two adoption centers: 71 Oglethorpe St. NW and 1201 New York Ave. NE. humanerescuealliance.org.


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TOPA for Realtors, Sept. 14 Landlords and realtors should know about the District’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) if they decide to sell a property. Key topics include: Tenant purchase rights, Offers of sale, Tenant deadlines, Notice of transfer. Thursday, September 14, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm. 1800 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Housing Resource Center Conference Room.For more information visit our website at www.dhcd.dc.gov or go to dhcd. events@dc.govmore information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or email newdocents@nga.gov. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Safe at Home Program The District of Columbia Office on Aging’s Safe at Home Program provides safety adaptations in and around the homes of qualifying seniors and adults with disabilities. Safe at Home provides inhome preventative adaptations to reduce the risk of falls. Examples include handrails, grab bars, bathtub cuts, shower seat, furniture risers and chair lift. Safe at Home’s Private Security Camera Program enables eligible DC seniors and residents with disabilities to receive a private security camera system without cost. This program is intended to help deter crime and assist law enforcement with investigations. Visit dcoa.dc.gov for more information. District residents over the age of 60 or adults with disabilities, who are homeowners or renters of a property used as a primary residence may apply. For more information call 202-724-5626.

DC Farmers Markets Organizations Awarded Grant A coalition including FRESHFARM, Arcadia, and Community Foodworks has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program. The partners, private foundations, local government agencies and the private sector are matching those funds for a combined $500,000 to be spent over three years. Through the FINI grant, lowincome individuals and families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can double their purchasing power when they spend

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SW HOUSEBOAT TOUR

Southwest’s liveaboard community opens its doors to visitors on Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The self‐guided tour at Gangplank Marina takes visitors inside up to 20 of the most fun and unique homes in DC. Owners and docents will also be available to answer questions about the boat‐homes and the liveaboard lifestyle. This is only the fifth time that the homes of Gangplank Marina have been open to the public. Gangplank Marina is the largest liveaboard community on the East Coast. For over 30 years, it has been home to a diverse group including professionals, families, artists, retirees, scientists, congress members, members of the military and others. Advance purchased is required at $25 per person. Purchase tickets at dchouseboat.org. Proceeds benefit local charities. Photo: Travis Johnson

their SNAP benefits at participating farmers markets to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Shoppers can use their SNAP benefits at farmers markets with state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards. Every SNAP dollar spent on locally grown produce receives an additional dollar in “Fresh Match” rewards. Fresh Match tokens can only be used for fruits and vegetables at any of the 30 farmers markets managed by coalition partners.

Museum of the Bible to Offer Free Admission

Newseum September Deal for Seniors

Apply for International Cultural Exchange Grants

All month, the Newseum is offering a special combo ticket for seniors that includes admission to the Newseum, a “Fighting Fake News” class and a free guided highlights tour of the museum for $19.95, plus tax. Read more at newseum.org.

Museum of the Bible, the 430,000-square-foot museum opening on Nov. 17 at 409 Third St. SW, has announced it will not charge a fee for general admission. Museum of the Bible will instead suggest a $15 donation. Guests under no obligation to pay anything. Reservations for timed entry will be limited and are available at museumoftheBible.org.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) Sister Cities Grant (SCG) is currently accepting applications for international arts and humanities cultural exchange projects to be completed before


Protecting your home and belongings. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, having your own place is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in a lifetime. The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) understands the importance of sorting through all of the factors before making that final choice.

Sept. 30, 2018. DC-based nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 in funding. Organizations are required to demonstrate a one-toone cash match for the proposed project. Individuals who are DC residents are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in funding. Individuals are not required to demonstrate matching funds. For more information on the SCG grant program, contact Heran Sereke-Brhan at heran.sereke-brhan2@dc.gov or 202-724-5613. Applications must be submitted via CAH’s online portal at dcarts.dc.gov by Oct. 27, 2017, 4 p.m.

As the District’s Financial Services Regulator and Consumer Advocate, DISB offers programs, financial education resources, tips and other consumer services to help residents understand the products and services offered by financial service providers. Get answers to your home-related financial concerns – DISB can help connect you to the right resources for: • Homeownership • Late mortgage payments • Renters insurance • Reverse mortgages • Benefits in homeowners insurance policies • Tips for selecting a contractor for home improvements

810 First Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002 (202) 727-8000 | disb.dc.gov | @DCDISB

Ford’s Theatre Society Ticket Giveaway Ford’s Theatre Society has announced it will continue the popular Free First Preview initiative. Free tickets are given away to the first preview performance of all Ford’s Theatre productions in partnership with TodayTix. The TodayTix lottery will launch one week before the first preview of each mainstage production in the 2017-2018 season. This season’s Free First Preview performances are: “Death of a Salesman”, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.; “A Christmas Carol”, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.; “Jefferson’s Garden”, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m., “The Wiz”, March 9, 7:30 p.m. To enter the mobile lottery, patrons must download the TodayTix app. Open it and select “TodayTix Free First Previews” with Ford’s Theatre. Winners will be notified by email and push notification between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the day of the first preview. Winners must confirm their winning tickets (up to two) in the TodayTix app within one hour of being notified. In addition, a limited number of partial view tickets and any unclaimed mobile lottery tickets will be distributed through an in-person standby list at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office on the day of the Free First Preview. Beginning at 5 p.m., patrons may sign up for up to two tickets per person. An email address is required for waiting list entry. The box office will distribute all available tickets according to the waiting list order starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit fords.org. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletionboard@hillrag.com.

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The Numbers

Don’t ‘Repeal and Replace’ Paid Family and Medical Leave by Ilana Boivie

T

his Labor Day, DC workers should be celebrating the recent victory to adopt a paid family and medical leave program for new parents and people needing time from work to care for an ill relative. Instead, the new program is being delayed by DC Council bills, driven largely by business interests, that would “repeal and replace” it with something much worse for workers. Like federal efforts to repeal and replace healthcare, the DC paid family leave repeal and replace efforts would be bad for all of us and should be rejected. The Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA), passed earlier this year, gives private-sector workers eight weeks of paid leave to be with a new child, six weeks of paid leave to care for an ill relative, and two weeks of paid leave to care for themselves. DC’s program will be especially helpful to low-wage workers, by replacing nearly all of their wages when they take leave. Paid family leave has been shown to have great benefits, like increased breastfeeding and helping women stay in the labor market. The new program also will be good for small businesses that want to provide paid family leave but currently cannot afford it. The program’s benefits will be paid for with a modest tax on employer payrolls, about $300 a year for a worker making $50,000. Even with the new tax, a DC Council analysis shows that the new program is “unlikely to alter the current upward trajectory of the District’s economy.” However, nearly as soon as UPLA became law, several alternative proposals to “repeal and replace” it were introduced, driven in large part by business opposition. All of the new bills keep the same benefits, but most require employers to provide paid family leave benefits directly to their workers – a so-called employer mandate – rather than operating it as a government program. Businesses under the mandate would pay a lower tax than UPLA currently requires, but they would

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also have to finance their own leave benefits. An employer mandate would be much worse, especially for the workers it’s intended to benefit.

HOW THE NEW PROGRAM WILL WORK

DC’s paid family and medical leave program uses a social insurance model, a tested and successful structure similar to how unemployment insurance and Social Security benefits work. Private-sector employers in the District will pay a fixed payroll tax into a government-run fund to cover the cost of benefits for their workers. The agency administering the fund is responsible for processing claims and paying benefits. This has several benefits: a predictable tax to employers; low administrative costs with virtually no burden on employers; and use of a neutral third-party arbiter to decide whether a claim for benefits should be approved. For these reasons, the states that offer paid family and medical leave use this structure. The “employer mandate” bills before the DC Council would undermine all of these and be bad for workers, bad for many businesses, and bad for administrative simplicity.

BAD FOR WORKERS

Under an employer mandate, employees request paid leave from their own employer, rather than filing a claim for benefits with a neutral government agency under UPLA. This is problematic because employers will have incentives to deny claims. Think of the way for-profit health insurance works – where it is common for workers’ benefits to be denied –versus the way that Social Security benefits are administered, in which retirees rarely have a problem receiving their payments. This means that some employers who self-insure will discourage employees from taking leave, and some workers will be especially vulnerable. There is evidence that employers in countries with an employer mandate discriminate against workers most likely to take leave, es-

pecially women of child-bearing age. Employees in lowwage occupations will likely face intimidation, because they often experience retaliation in the form of reduced hours, worse schedules, or even termination. They often do not even ask for benefits to which they are currently entitled, such as paid sick days. An employer mandate also prevents people from accessing benefits when they are between jobs, even if contributions were made on their behalf while they were working.

BAD FOR MANY BUSINESSES

An employer mandate could be costly and unpredictable for businesses. No insurance product exists in the private market for family leave. Employers would have to self-insure, which is financially risky and administratively challenging. Self-insurance could lead to volatile costs that vary greatly from employer to employer and from year to year. For example, if a worker making $500 a week takes six weeks of leave, an employer who self-insures would have to pay $2,700. Under UPLA, the employer would pay just $161 a year into the insurance pool to provide the same benefit.

BAD FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND COSTS

Administration of DC’s paid leave program would be handled by one government agency, with costs coming from the payroll tax. Under the alternative proposals, the total costs have not been calculated, and these total costs are likely to be higher than those under UPLA. For one, rather than using the economy of scale of a single, centralized agency, an employer mandate will turn each employer into an individual program administrator. Under self-insurance, every employer would need to have staff, software, and procedures for administering this benefit. Also, an employer mandate program would require very strong education and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that workers know about their rights, so they can access their leave benefits and can seek redress when they are wrongfully denied such benefits. DC’s paid family and medical leave program, which is already adopted, was well-thought out and heavily debated, and adjusted over the course of two years. The universal social insurance model it creates makes the most sense for vulnerable workers, small businesses, and the broader DC economy. The DC Council should disregard the alternative bills and instead turn its energy on fully implementing UPLA as passed, so that workers can get the benefits that they so desperately need, as soon as possible. Ilana Boivie is the senior policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents.


Don’t Tread on the District!

Mad as Hell!

I

by Josh Burch

spent most of this summer mad as hell. I was mad as hell because the US Senate tried to rip health insurance away from 41,000 District citizens and we had no senators here to lend their voice or exercise their vote on the matter. I was mad as hell because this issue, like every other issue before the Senate in our country’s history, left out the voice and vote of the people of the District of Columbia. And I was mad as hell because many Democratic senators spent weeks urging the American people to “Call Your Senators,” yet they are mute on whether or not the people of DC should have senators of our own. Yes, I was mad at Sen. Mitch McConnell for his unprincipled legislative moves to subvert an open and transparent process, but I expect this of him. He’s a man whose moral compass constantly searches for true north but never finds it. I expect the worst from Mitch because he cares little about principle, process, or policy and only cares for politics. I have a low bar for him and he never fails to lower it further. On the other side of the aisle, however, are those I think highly of, yet their silence on the political status of the District of Columbia brings me great pain. I’ll call them the “Call Your Senator Caucus” because they preach about participatory democracy, and in many ways they have legislative track records to back it up, except when it come to the people of the District of Columbia. During the healthcare debate, they took to Twitter, Facebook, TV, and the steps of the Capitol to implore Americans to be more engaged in the democratic process, to raise our voices, and to help influence the legislative process, yet they are mute on democracy for the people of DC. The Call Your Senator Caucus is made up of Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (DConn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). All good people with legislative records I largely agree with, but of the caucus members only Booker and Schatz are cosponsors of the DC statehood bill. Every single time I heard or

saw senators urging Americans to call their senators, both quietly and at times not so quietly, I said, “Dammit, I don’t have senators to call!” We cannot let these senators turn a blind eye toward our current status nor our pursuit for equality. It’s time for those of us in the District to call the Call Your Senator Caucus and ask them to support our right to have our own senators. Call these offices and tell them that we pay taxes ($26 billion annually, more than 20 states), we have a greater population than two states (Vermont and Wyoming), and we overwhelmingly voted for DC statehood last fall (86 percent in favor) using the limited vote we have to express our democratic desire to be equal partners in the American union. Tell them we desperately want to call our senators, but we need their help and support to make it happen. Urge them to cosponsor S. 1278, the Washington, DC, Admission Act. If you too are mad as hell, or moderately upset, or minutely disturbed by the fact that we have no senators to call, give the Call Your Senator Caucus a call and ask them to stand with and up for the people of DC: Sen. Chris Murphy: 202-224-4041 Sen. Richard Blumenthal: 202-224-2823 Sen. Kamala Harris: 202-224-3553 Sen. Jeff Merkley: 202-224-3753 Sen. Martin Heinrich: 202-224-5521 I was mad as hell (and I still am), but being mad will not make us equal. Coordinated and targeted action will. Give them all a call and let us keep building a coalition of support for DC statehood. Josh Burch is a member of Neighbors United for DC Statehood (www.the51st.org), a group of residents who believe that community organizing and strategic congressional outreach are the foundation and driving force behind the DC statehood movement. He can be found at josh@unitedforstatehood.com or followed at @JBurchDC.

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Gray Takes Safeway to Task

A Councilmember Presses Grocery Stores to Improve the Shopping Experience article & photos by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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he long hot days of August are not traditionally cluttered with business for politicians in the District. But Councilmember Vincent Gray has been busy pressing Safeway to make improvements to its two stores in Ward 7, at East River Park Shopping Center (322 40th St. NE) and Good Hope Marketplace (2845 Alabama Ave. SE). The two are the only full-service grocery stores in the entire ward, which has a population of more than 70,000.

Many customers have few or no alternatives to shopping at these stores. Those without vehicles do not have the option of taking their business elsewhere. Customer complaints regarding conditions and service at the two Safeway stores were the subject of articles published in the March and April 2017 issues of East of the River. Customers described waiting in line for up to an hour and a half to pay for damaged or moldy produce. The poor service, lack of selection, and low quality of products were often perceived as evidence of disrespect for customers and the community.

Councilmember Gray inspects paper towels absorbing leakage from a refrigerator unit holding roast poultry at the East River Park Safeway.

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In April, a Safeway executive met with Councilmember Gray and promised to improve the shopping experience at the two stores. In June, he provided Gray with a Ward 7 action plan that outlined improvements to customer service, cleanliness, checkout wait times, and product assortment that were to be made on a 30-, 60-, and 90-day timeline. Four months after the initial meeting, Gray said he was still hearing complaints about the stores. This prompted him to conduct a surprise inspection to see the situation for himself. On Thursday, Aug. 17, Gray visited the two stores unannounced. He found long lines and few open registers, equipment in disrepair, moldy produce, and discolored meat. “This says it was packed on the 16th,” he said, holding up a dripping brown package of New York strip steak in the East River Park store. “What could have happened that it was packed on the 16th and it looks like this today?” Frequent customer Brian McLaughlin looked on as Gray inspected the store. McLaughlin lives down the street and comes as many as two or three times a day. He was clear about his concerns, saying, “The issue is the service, and having to wait in line for up to 30 minutes just to pay for one thing.” He said he asked the manager about it and was told there were a limited number of hours for which management could schedule employees. Gray said that Good Hope Road Safeway, where he regularly shops, was slightly better. But still he found only three open checkout lanes, with long lines containing mostly seniors waiting to purchase groceries. “If Safeway wants to be a respected part of the retail community, then they have to respect the people who they want to serve in the community,” said Gray. McLaughlin was sure Gray’s inspection would make a difference. “Just seeing him in here, he’s so good,” he said. It seems that at least in the short term McLaughlin was right. Immediately following Gray’s inspections, Safeway called to request another meeting with the councilmember for Aug. 24. At the meeting, a number of Safeway executives met with Gray, including the president of Safeway’s eastern division, Dan Valenzuela, and the director of the government affairs division, Stephanie Maxwell Ridore. Across town, as the meeting was taking place, the two Ward 7 stores underwent what Safeway calls a super cleaning. The Washingtonian reported that staff scrubbed refrigerator units, painted over discolorations, and pulled expired items from shelves in direct response to Gray’s two inspections. Beth Goldberg, Safeway’s senior manager of community and public affairs, said that the super-cleanings were standard procedure in the stores. On social


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Councilmember Vincent Gray speaks with Jerome Jackson, assistant manager at the Safeway at the East River Park Shopping Center, on Aug. 17. Gray said that the goals to improve the shopping experience at the two Safeway stores in Ward 7 have not been met.

Mold is visible on strawberries sold at the East River Park Safeway

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media, community responses to notices of the cleanings provided by East of the River appeared to indicate surprise and a desire for further efforts. “Bout damn time! Couldn’t stand taking my mother there. I stayed in the car!” said one. “It is a start,” said another. However, after the meeting, Gray said that he could not give assurance that improvements were imminent.

“They claimed much of what they gave us in terms of a correction plan has been implemented,” he said. “It is very hard to see.” The Safeway executives, however, expressed an eagerness to continue improvements. Following the meeting, Ridore said via email, “We know we have work to do to overcome the challenges surrounding these stores, and we are pleased to have Council-

member Gray’s support in that effort.” She was also quick to point out the challenges facing management of the two stores, saying that loss of inventory in Ward 7 is nearly double that of other division stores. Vandalism and violence are also a problem, as are staffing and security. “While turnover in the grocery industry is usually higher than other industries, we’re finding that turnover rates in those stores can be as high as 150 percent, akin to replacing the entire staff nearly every six months,” she said. Issues of safety were raised by East River Park assistant manager Jerome Jackson during the inspection of the store. He said that he had to deal with people drinking alcohol in the aisle, hiding in bathrooms after closing, and behaving aggressively toward staff. The East River Park Safeway is currently without a manager. Gray said he was told at the Aug. 24 meeting that the store manager, whom he had hoped to speak with during his Aug. 17 inspection, “had been threatened and was in fear for his safety and had not reappeared since.” Another issue faced by customers and raised by Gray in his meeting with the Safeway executives is the recent change in hours at the East River Park location. During the second week of August, its daily hours were reduced by two, with little notice to the community. The change from a 6 a.m. open and 10 p.m. close to a 7 a.m.


open and a 9 p.m. close made it even more difficult for residents to purchase groceries. Gray said that he asked Valenzuela to rescind the change, but the eastern regional president told them he could not do that because the store was not sufficiently profitable. “He would not make a commitment to do that, but he wasn’t taking it off the table. You can interpret that however you wish to interpret that,” said Gray.

break that commitment would then be obligated to pay prorated costs back to the city. “To me, it’s an enormous incentive to get people who otherwise might not come, to come to the East End of the city,” Gray said. “We want to make it as easy as we possibly can to serve people who otherwise might not be served, or who otherwise haven’t been served. The door is open.”

WHERE ARE THE OTHER RETAILERS?

Gray says that his efforts to expand East End retail, especially grocers, will not lead to a reduction in his efforts to hold Safeway accountable for store conditions. “People are very insulted. They’re upset about the way they’ve been treated,” Gray said in an interview. “They realize that they’ve been treated poorly, and they want to see the pressure to continue on Safeway.” Gray said that he was more than willing to do that. “That’s the important message from all of this – this is not a one-off experience. This is what will be a continuing effort to try to improve the quality of the retail experience, especially the food shopping experience for people who live on the East End.” At the Aug. 24 meeting, Gray said that the Safeway executives expressed dismay at what they called the “negative media coverage” initiated by Gray’s surprise inspections, saying it might make things more difficult. But Gray said he will continue to press Safeway for improved service and accountability. His inspections caused quite a stir, both among customers surprised by his presence and Safeway management who said that cameras would not be permitted in the stores. Gray continued his inspections that day, refusing to dismiss the cameras. “There needs to be a stir,” he said.

Gray said that Safeway has made it clear that it is aware that it is the only grocery option in the area. “Some of what we heard in the beginning, which I didn’t find acceptable at all, was ‘We’re two stores, at least we’re here, where are the other retailers?’ Well, they’re not here, you guys are here,” he said he told them, “and we certainly have expectations.” Gray said that while addressing issues at the two Safeway stores is necessary, the way to address them in the long term is with increased competition. “In the absence of competition, they will continue to get away with the kinds of things that they’ve gotten away with,” he said. It was then-Mayor Gray’s desire to create additional retail competition in the East End that spurred his 2012 deal with Walmart to build five stores in the District. The retail giant built and opened three stores in more affluent areas of the District, before backing out of the two that were to be located in Ward 7 in 2016. Gray says the office of the attorney general will have to decide if the District will file suit. Gray has not given up. He has introduced no less than four pieces of legislation intended to facilitate retail competition. The East End Health Care Desert, Retail Desert and Food Desert Elimination Act of 2017 and the East End Grocery and Retail Incentive Program Tax Abatement Act of 2017 had public hearings in the spring. The former bill allows the District to construct buildings and lease them to retail operators for a nominal fee in exchange for a long-term commitment to the site. Companies who

NEEDS TO BE A STIR

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0021-2017

FIRE ALARM AND SECURITY SYSTEMS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Fire Alarm and Security Systems Preventive Maintenance and Repair Services. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, August 28, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 11:00 PM. Contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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WHAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR

Turning the Boat Around The New Owner of the Shrimp Boat Plaza has Something for Everyone article & photos by Elizabeth O’Gorek

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oundim Demissie has big plans for the Shrimp Boat Plaza Restaurant, which opened its doors on July 25. He intends to make the iconic restaurant, which he spent a year renovating, a destination that serves the neighborhood. Demissie has been listening to the community and shares their dreams for more. He has plans to add a sit-down restaurant and a small grocery store selling organic produce. Both would serve a real need in a ward that has one restaurant, a Denny’s, and only two grocery stores. Woundim Demissie in front of the Shrimp Boat Plaza. Demissie opened in the iconic building on July 25.

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Demissie behind the counter at the Shrimp Boat.

Demissie is Ethiopian by descent, a trained pharmacist with an entrepreneurial spirit who owns four 7-Elevens in the District. He bought the Shrimp Boat property, at 4510 East Capitol St. NE, intending to install a Checkers franchise. Opening a Checkers would have been easy, especially when it came to financing. But after listening to the community, he found they were looking for something more. Janis Hazel, commissioner with Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7D, described how, at meetings of ANC 7D, residents voiced support for a place where they could get healthy food, be it a grocery or a restaurant. The ward also lacked a coffee shop. “We do not need any more fast food in Ward 7. What we need are healthy choices,” she told Demissie. Going against his own business interests, Demissie opted for community interests instead. He paid $1.3 million out of his own pocket to get the business up and running. At the Shrimp Boat Plaza, there is something for everyone. There is Ida’s Restaurant (named for Demissie’s wife), which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features salads, green vegetables, and fish. There is an ice-cream shop that also offers smoothies, Ethiopian espresso, and made-to-order doughnuts, icedtea, and lemonade. The building also houses a Metro PCS microstore. “It’s a destination that he’s creating,” Hazel said. Beth, a regular customer, agreed. A native Washingtonian, she lives in Northwest but works in Southeast. She remembers the original Shrimp Boat restaurant and said that the newly opened plaza is a great addition. “There’s so much variety – the doughnuts, coffee, lemonade, the food,” she said as she chose from the menu at the restaurant. “The community really needed a place like this.”


BIG PLANS

These amenities are only Phase I of Demissie’s grand plan. His ultimate plan, Phase III, is to expand the building to nearly 5,000 square feet to offer 25 to 30 percent organic food and fresh food from farmers’ markets, with affordable prices. “The grocery store is a must. It has to be here, because these neighborhoods don’t have that kind of stuff,” he said. “I can see people coming out of the Metro all day, with Whole Foods and Harris Teeter bags.” The Benning Road Metro station is just north of the restaurant, across Central Road NE.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROSPERITY

Demissie explained that it’s harder to get banks to take a risk on a small local business than a big franchise name. To fund his market plans, he applied for a District Neighborhood Prosperity Grant from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). The request for application states its goal is to fund mixeduse real estate in census tracts where unemployment is 10 percent or greater, with “preference given to ground-floor retail space which will enhance the pedestrian and retail experience.” Demissie had reason to be optimistic. The Shrimp Boat Plaza is ground-floor space in an area of high foot-traffic, right outside a Metro and a Capital Bikeshare. The project is in a census tract with up to 23 percent unemploy-

ment, and a coffee shop, fast-casual restaurant, and grocery store are included in the plans, all of which are listed as application examples. But still, his application was not successful. Hazel was disappointed that his project did not qualify, saying that the Shrimp Boat Plaza project has everything the application required. “His project appeared to hit all the marks,” she said. “It has everything they’re asking for.” She added, “From my perspective as the ANC commissioner, he has an incredible project that would fill so many voids here in the food desert.” Demissie has every intention of building the market. In part, that depends on what he can do with Phase II, the second floor and rooftop. Interested in leveraging the second-floor space as an asset in his pursuit of financing, Demissie says he is in talks with a nonprofit economic agency to rent the second-floor space as offices. The agency would provide the secure income he needs to get financing for the grocery store project. If the lease is signed, Demissie will move forward with the market as soon as possible. If not, Demissie will go ahead with a sit-down restaurant on the second floor instead, aiming to open it a year later. Councilmember Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) said that he was pleased the restaurant had reopened. “It is wonderful to see the Shrimp Boat Plaza fully operational again. It has an iconic place in the city and in the heart of Ward 7,” he said. “The new presence will be a significant addition, especially for commuters using the Benning Road Metro.” Demissie invited the community to check out the new Shrimp Boat. “Come and try it,” he said. “See what we are doing and support the business so it will continue to the next phase.”

Have You Liked Us Yet?

East Washington News, Serving the Ward & 8 communities!

A regular customer examines the offerings at Ida’s Restaurant. “The community needed something like this,” she said.

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t started as a trickle. Small piles of books pooled around the radio station in response to a local teacher’s call for help. A weekly open house served as collection night. A nearby business rewarded customers who brought book donations. Individuals and groups brought different ideas and energies. By August, We Act Radio in Historic Anacostia had collected more than 1,100 books and an informal network committed to creating the Charnice Milton Community Bookstore. Anacostia is the starkest of urban “book deserts,” according to a 2016 New York University (NYU) study. But human and print resources were coalescing around one teacher’s vision for a “literacy oasis.” A break-in, on Aug. 23, sabotaged We Act Radio’s core business and threatened the bookstore’s future. At press time, however, the station expected to be back on the air after Labor Day, and bookstore plans for National Literacy Month were moving forward.

Literacy Oasis in Formation

TAKING ROOT

LJM began her own private campaign “to get books into the hands of children,” and started promoting reading and literacy with the hashtag #WeLuvBooks. Local churches, the US Coast Guard, and many others contributed. She brought “DC Bookapalooza” to We Act Radio, asking the media outlet and community space to serve as a drop-off/pick-up spot for book collections. As the stash grew, so did the concept of a bookstore, with community members noting the benefits of a literary gathering place. The original idea, LJM says, “took root and moved from an individual’s campaign to a community project.” Future Foundation DC celebrated Harry Potter’s 20th anniversary. EU (Experience Unlimited), featuring Sugar Bear, hosted musical fund- and awareness-raising events. We Act’s “Education Town Hall” produced special literacy segments. “We Luv Books” joined the broadcast schedule. Independent booksellers gathered for a literacy town hall. Summer youth employees produced related documentary footage. The Carolina Youth Initiative (CYI) brought “Books and Breakfast DC” (https://www.booksandbreakfastdc.org/). Organized by Lawrence Henderson and Kevin and Dayna Bell as part of HandsUpUnited, “Books and Breakfast DC” centers around a different theme each month. Constants are hot meals and books. “That warm meal is important,” Dayna Bells says, for community building and for students who rely on school meals. “We see some of the same people coming, and you can tell they are hungry.” With each theme, Bell adds, the idea is to help kids, who are “so quick to pick up an electronic device,” relate to books and expand their horizons. The August event drew some 70 people, and CYI seeks additional volunteers as they partner with the bookstore for future events, literacy, and mentoring.

From Bookapalooza to Charnice Milton Community Bookstore by Virginia Avniel Spatz

WHAT DO WE READ?

The whole thing started, explains LJM (Leslie Jennings-Maldonado), when she was teaching primary school in Congress Heights. She announced standard first-grade homework: Read for 30 minutes every night, half on your own and half with a grownup. Bewildered, the children demanded, “Miss, what do we read?” Childhood poverty east of the river, according to census figures, ranges from 6 percent (Andrews AFB) and 28 percent (Hillcrest area) to 67 percent (Historic Anacostia). Studies suggest that two-thirds of children living in poverty have no books in their homes, and research shows that children who don’t own any books suffer in many reading measures. (For research links visit www.weluvbooks.org.) Readers accustomed to e-content, as well as those who grew up considering book ownership a luxury, might be skeptical, but research shows that academic success is linked to books in the home. Although libraries and electronic materials serve important roles in promoting reading, owning books can actually counteract the effects of poverty and increase reading ability for children most at risk. Cost aside, books are hard to buy east of the river. America’s Islamic Heritage Museum (www.aihmuseum.org/) and Frederick Douglass House (https:// www.nps.gov/frdo/) in Ward 8 offer small, highly focused bookshops, and DC Public Libraries sells a smattering of books. But Battles Religious Books (Ward 7) and Pyramid (Ward 8) are long gone, and

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Bookstore launch event featuring Ballou High School alumnus Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, May 27.

Busboys and Poets has not yet opened its Historic Anacostia location. NYU’s block-by-block survey of books for sale in Anacostia found only one age-appropriate book per 830 children. LJM was not surprised by her students’ plight. “The ideology that everyone in this country, this District in particular, is being given access to resources and tools which prepare future generations for 21st-century skills, does not align with the current reality.” She was propelled to act.

WHERE LITERACY GROWS

As the book(store) project evolved, it was dedicated to the memory of Charnice Milton, the Capital Community News journalist shot to death in 2015. Her parents say she loved books, as well as writing, and they encourage people to share books they love in Charnice’s memory. Milton’s unsolved murder is also a reminder that communities with low literacy rates are often plagued by high crime and violence. For Kymone Freeman, coowner of We Act Radio, her story highlights that “literacy is a public safety issue, and we have a literacy crisis east of the river.”


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METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, DC

HOMICIDE VICTIM VICTIM’S NAME

Charnice Milton LOCATION

2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE DATE/TIME

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

9:40 PM CONTACT

Detective Chanel Howard

(202) 437-0451

(cell)

Detective Robert Cephas

(202) 497-4734

(cell)

Homicide Branch

(202) 645-9600 (main)

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

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. 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. TEXT TIPS 50411

COMMAND CENTER 202 727-9099 up to

$25,000 reward

Learn more about the MPD Rewards Program mpdc.dc.gov/rewards DCPolice

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DO YOUR PART TO HELP PREVENT AND SOLVE CRIME. The Department currently offers a reward

of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Your assistance is appreciated by your community.

@DCPoliceDept

We care. Do you?

OfficialDCPolice

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

CATHY L. LANIER Chief of Police

05.28.15 HOMICIDES/2015/MILTON_CHARNICE.PDF

Up to $25,000 Reward

of little street value, ignoring expensive equipment – was devastating. (The Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.) However, WPFW – “truly a sister station!” – donated computers to get We Act back on the air and announced an emergency fundraiser. The campaign reached its goal in just two days, and messages of support were heartening. No books were damBooks and Breakfast DC at Charnice Milton Community aged or stolen, Freeman Bookstore, Aug. 19. Photo: Lawrence Henderson adds, “but the breakin definitely slowed us Third-grade reading scores predict down. We’re dealing with a crisis. It high school graduation and college atcrippled our efforts to bring the booktendance. High school dropout rates store to fruition.” are highly correlated with incarceraStill, the commitment remains, says tion. Moreover, 85 percent of juveniles Freeman, and setbacks will not interfere in the court system are functionally illitwith plans for National Literacy Month. erate, and 70 percent of prison inmates “Thanks to an overwhelming outpourcannot read above the fourth-grade leving of love from the community, we will el. “Want to get tough on crime?” asks be back, stronger than ever.” Freeman. “Get tough on literacy.” LJM stresses related economics. In National Literacy Month at the the DC area, 47 percent of jobs require Charnice Milton Community Bookstore: college or advanced degrees (national• Sept. 7 and 14, WeLuvBooks ly 26 percent.). Only 13-16 percent of Radio Program Launch, 7-8 adults in Wards 7 and 8 have such crep.m. dentials, however, and roughly 48 per• Sept. 11, &Pizza (U Street) docent of adults east of the river are esnating $2/pizza, 6-9 p.m. timated to have below-basic reading • Sept. 16, ARTivism Afternoon: and writing skills. For individuals, this A Community Celebration for means barriers to healthcare, personOppressive Times, 3-6 p.m. al finances, and interacting with chil• Sept. 30, Politics & Prose dodren’s schools, as well as employment. nating 20 percent of profits all For communities experiencing generaday. tional poverty, the cost is incalculable. The Charnice Milton Community “A bookstore doesn’t have to make Bookstore at We Act Radio, 1918 Mara profit to make sense,” LJM argues. tin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. Visit www. Rather the key is to create a space weluvbooks.org to contribute to bookwhere literacy thrives and is celebratspace renovations and lost-income reed. “As James Baldwin said, ‘Children covery. Book donation/open house have never been very good at listenhours: Wednesday, 5-8 p.m. For more ing to their elders, but they have nevon Books and Breakfast DC or to voler failed to imitate them.’” unteer, call Dayna Bell at 301-908-0744.

CRISIS AND COMMUNITY

The theft at We Act Radio disabled the business, Freeman reports, and the targeted attack – taking items needed for broadcasting and content storage

Virginia Avniel Spatz is a long-time contributor to Capital Community News, feature reporter for We Act Radio’s Education Town Hall, and co-host of the new WeLuvBooks radio program.


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PERFORMING ART Word Becomes Flesh By Marc Bamuthi Joseph featuring additional dramaturgical compositions by Khalil Anthony and Dahlak Brathwaite. Directed by Psalmayene 24 Theater Company: Theater Alliance | Performed at the Anacostia Playhouse

by Phil Hutinet Scene from Word Becomes Flesh. Image credit: C. Stanley Photography.

Word Becomes Flesh, winner of five Helen Hayes Awards, returns for an encore production at the Anacostia Playhouse Sept. 6 through Oct. 8. This multifaced performance combines hip-hop, dance and music to inform audiences on what it means to be a black man in contemporary American society. The main character of the performance writes a series of letters to his unborn son in what critics have called “brutally honesty.” While Word voices the concerns and frustrations of young men who live in African-American communities, ultimately, it imparts a sense of hope for a brighter future. For this production of Word, the Theater Alliance partners with other nonprofits to “provide resources to transform words into tangible actions that make real change.” Word Becomes Flesh previews Sept. 6,7 & 8, opens Sept. 8 & 10 with encores Sept. 14 to Oct. 8 For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://theateralliance.com/portfolio/word-becomesflesh/ or call 202.241.2539 The Anacostia Playhouse is located at 2020 Shannon Place SE.

IN THE GALLERIES Honfleur Gallery AfroPasts/AfroFutures will be shown for the first time in DC. Curated by Niama Safia Sandy, this multi-media and interdisciplinary group exhibition includes the work of Chloë Bass, Pierre Bennu, Jamea Richmond-Edwards , Adama Delphine Fawundu, Ivan Forde, Adrienne Gaither, Charles Jean-Pierre, Tariku Shiferaw and Danny Simmons, Jr. Says the curator, “Magical realism and

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IvanForde Satan On the Bare Outside of Our World. Image Courtesy Honfleur Gallery

Afrofuturism are, in fact, two nodes on a continuum of black creative output. They act as an epi-genetic phenomenon cum worldview, celebration and a creative response of and to Black life � this is the guiding principle of the Black Magic: AfroPasts/AfroFutures exhibition. To further contextualize, I do not


east washington life

Adama Delphine Fawundu In the Face of History. Image Courtesy Honfleur Gallery

HELP Anacostia Animal Clinic Frazier Mason Funeral Home

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invoke magical realism as merely a literary genre, but instead a very active actuality for we–the black and brown people of this earth.” Vivid Solutions The poem Limbé by Léon-Gontran Damas, one of the founders of the francophone négritude movement, inspired French-Guyanese photographer Mirtho Linguet to create a series of provocative images titled Black Dolls. In Orphée Noir (Black Orpheus), published in 1948, Jean-Paul Sartre analyzed through Hegelian dialectic La Négritude concluding that, at its core, the intellectual movement employed a strategy of “anti-racist racism” with the ultimate goal of “unifying Black identity.” However, Damas’ poem Limbé, written 25 years later in 1973, goes a step further by countering western narratives of black identity and by encouraging people of African descent to define their own cultural standards and norms. Linguet, who began his career as a highly sought-after award-winning fashion photographer, poses his “black dolls” in lingerie with backdrops which

sometimes appear manmade but at other times natural. Like the environments in which they pose, Linguet’s Black Dolls appear eerily listless, almost unnatural and seemingly angered by their predicament as if to say, “Is this how you see me?” Both exhibitions run through Oct. 8. Honfleur Gallery is located at 1241 Good Hope Road SE Vivid Solutions Gallery is located within the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Road SE Washington, DC 20020. Gallery hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PUBLIC ART Craig Kraft’s DC! The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has commissioned Anacostia-based light artist Craig Kraft to create a body of work to unveiled at the 202 Art & Music Festival. The festival

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Mirtho Linguet Doll no. III (LEFT) and Doll no. IV (RIGHT), Photograph. Image courtesy Vivid Solutions Gallery

Mural: One Hundred Years of African American History. Photo courtesy James Gregg, Sign of the Times

DC!. Image courtesy: Craig Kraft

will take place Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Southwest’s Waterfront Station and Randall Field. Titled “DC!,” the neon sculpture measures 11 feet tall by 23 feet wide. According to the artist, “The 202 Art & Music Festival will be the first of many stops. The sculpture will be used to draw attention to various art events around the city.” Part of the artist’s Random Neon series, Kraft has repurposed a collection of neon tubes to fashion DC! The resulting visual effect is what he calls, “A jewel box, creating a sense of wonder for viewers.” To finish the sculpture in time for the festival, the project required employing two additional full-time and three additional part-time employees at Craft’s live-work studio space on Good Hope Road Se in Historic Anacostia. However, this is not the artist’s first major public art piece, Kraft is best known for his massive neon-light installation outside the Shaw library.

One Hundred Years of African American History Colloquially called “The Deanwood Mural” by many, One Hundred Years of African American History has a commanding presence on the outer wall of the Republic National Distributing Company’s property. The mural measures 12 feet in height and a whopping 120 feet in length. Located near the intersection of Minnesota and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenues NE, community-based nonprofit Sign of the Times Cultural Workshop and Gallery commissioned Deanwood-based artist Rik Freeman to paint the mural, completed 27 years ago. The public art piece has remains a prominent neighborhood landmark. James Greggs, founder of the Sign of the Times explains the significance of the mural as follows, “The community of Deanwood is now one of the top neighborhoods to transition from its original roots dating back to April 1862 when there were freed and newly freed enslaved people of the Deane family who received land with their freedom. Over the following century and a half, the community has been home to black laborers, craftsmen, working class and veterans.”

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Pennbranch Mini-Golf Designed by Local Artists So perhaps the new mini-golf course at The Shops at Penn Hill is not public art per se, however, each course was designed by local artists and the results are quite stunning. This new installation produced by Building Creative, a co-curatorial team made up of Karyn Miller and Patrick McDonough, bills the final project as “part art exhibit, part interactive entertainment.” The tarmac of the parking lot at the corner of Branch and Pennsylvania avenues SE now boasts nine holes in addition to a series lawn games such as corn-hole. Each individual hole was designed by a local artist including Andrew Wodzianski, Jared Davis, Nehemiah Dixon III, Lyric Prince, Katelyn Wood, Terence Nicholson, Braxton Congrove, Calder Brannock, Rachel Schmidt and Beth Ferraro. The lawn games were designed by Cory Oberndorfer. However, this course is only open to the public through Sunday, October 8, 2017. After you’ve finished playing, the interactivity with the artwork continues as you have the option of voting for your favorite artist! Penn Hill Mini Golf Pop-Up is $3 per person or $10 for a group of 4. Open weekends through Oct. 8. Saturdays from noon to 8pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm. The Shops at Penn Hill are located at 3200 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Mini-golf course at Penn Branch designed by local artists. Image courtesy Tom Kochel.

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by Steve Monroe

His group includes flutist Yana Hristova, drummer Joe McCarthy, bassist Daniel Brown, and Emmanuel Trifilio on bandoneon. Closing the month will be some familiar faces to all DC jazz aficionados – the Bohemian Caverns All Star Band. Montpelier publicity says, “Return home to the Caverns with this special performance.” Performers include keyboard guru Allyn Johnson, bassist Michael Bowie, drummer Carroll Dashiell III, trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse, and sax master Tedd Baker. The cost for shows is $25 at Montpelier, 9652 Muirkirk Road in Laurel. For more information call 301-377-7800.

‘STRING OF PEARLS: THE MUSICAL’ ‘LIVE! AT MONTPELIER’ PROMISES HIGH ENERGY, DIVERSE JAZZ

The lush, forested hideaway of the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Md., might be your best getaway for some end-of-summer jazz. Always a favorite venue for our more traditional artists, “Live! at Montpelier” invites music fans this September to expand their horizons. Featured on Sept. 16, from 8 to 10 p.m., is the Tizer Quartet with acclaimed violinist Karen Briggs. Headed by keyboardist Lao Tizer, this dynamic group also includes drummer Gene Coye and bassist Cheikh NDoye. The Cristian Perez Quintet comes to Montpelier on Sept. 23, with Argentine guitarist/composer/educator Perez, known for weaving together “genres from around the world to reveal the universality of music,” says Montpelier publicity. Pianist Allyn Johnson performs with the Bohemian Caverns All Star Band on Sept. 30 at Montpelier Arts Center. Photo: W.A. Brower

Our Greater U Street Collective folks are presenting a special event on Sept. 23, a staged reading of “String of Pearls: The Musical,” at the African American Civil War Memorial Museum in DC. The group says “String of Pearls: The Musical” represents the group’s second album, following the successful debut CD “Ballin’ the Jack.” That recording is a rousing historical look at the American songbook – and America itself. Drummer Art Cobb says, “We wanted to explore deeper this intersection between the Great Migration and the phenomenon of so-called gentrification. But we wanted to do it in a way that was accessible, entertaining, and with a bunch of new music …” The musical follows two star-crossed lovers, Nettie and Sam, from a sharecropping farm to life in Washington, DC, through the Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and beyond. The play and music were written by Thomas View and directed by Howard University’s Eric Ruffin. On Sept. 23, there will be two shows: a 3 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening show. The African American Civil War Memorial Museum is at 1925 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001. Tickets are $32.50. For more information go to https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home. venue&venueid=420.

INPERSON … PETER EDELMAN

Just an overdue note on one of our enduring piano treasures in the area, Peter Edelman, who we managed to catch one Friday at Columbia Station playing his vintage, sweetly melodic but also bluesy, edgy, and dramatic renderings of favorites like “Blues for Philly Joe,” “Emily,” “Woody N You,” and “Anthropology.” Backed by Sal DeRaffele on bass and Christian Clark on drums, Edelman turned a drizzly, grey afternoon into a magical musical journey. Catch him when you can. Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@ jazzavenues.com and followed at www.twitter.com/jazzavenues.

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SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS: ... Terry Marshall, Sept. 10, Jazz and Cultural Society … Brent Birckhead, Sept. 10, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton ... Swing Shift, Sept. 12, Blues Alley … Lionel Lyles, Sept. 13, Jazz and Cultural Society … De’Sean Jones and Knomadik, Sept. 13, Twins Jazz … Veronneau, Sept. 13, Blues Alley … Greg Lamont “Old School,” Sept. 15, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Eugenie Jones, Sept. 15-16, Twins Jazz … Lena Seikaly, Sept. 16, The Alex/Georgetown ... Maija Reman, Sept. 17, Jazz and Cultural Society … Fred Foss, Sept. 17, DC Jazz Jam/ The Brixton ... CBCF Jazz Concert/32nd Year Celebration, Sept. 21, Walter Washington Convention Center ... Kenny Rittenhouse Quintet, Sept. 22, Westminster … Will Calhoun/ “Celebrating Elvin Jones,” Sept 22-23, Blues Alley … Nicole Saphos Quartet, Sept. 22-23, Twins Jazz … “Celebrating the Jazz Masters: Tribute to John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Ella Fitzgerald”/Carl Grubbs Ensemble, Sept. 23, Enoch Pratt Free Library – Northwood Branch/Baltimore ... Akua Allrich, Sept. 23, The Alex/Georgetown ... Cold Spring Jazz Quartet Presents Monk at 100, Sept. 23, Germano’s Patti/ Baltimore … “The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith,” through Sept. 24, Atlas Performing Arts Center… Bill Heid, Sept. 27, Jazz and Cultural Society … Terence Blanchard E-Collective, Sept. 28-30, Blues Alley … Christie Dashiell Returns, Sept. 29, Westminster … Jeff Antoniuk, Sept. 29-30, Twins Jazz … 16th Annual D.C. Jazz Preservation Festival, Sept. 30, Westminster … SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS: Art Pepper 1; Horace Silver, Clifford Jordan 2; Mickey Roker, Roy Brooks 3; Meade Lux Lewis 4; Andrew White, Buddy Bolden 6; Sonny Rollins 7; Wilbur Ware 8; Elvin Jones, George Mraz 9; Roy Ayers 10; Steve Turre 12; Chu Berry 13; Oliver Lake 14; Cannonball Adderley 15; Joe Venuti, John Hendricks 16; Brother Jack McDuff 17; Emily Remler 18; Muhal Richard Abrams 19; Chico Hamilton 21; John Coltrane 23; Gary Bartz 26; Bud Powell 27; Kenny Kirkland 28; Buddy Rich, Oscar Pettiford 30.


Let’s Get Physical mous “Joe Lewis tree.” In the last few years the tree hasn’t showed its previous size, but a few years back it was a challenging obstacle to maneuver around, something most people struggled to get past, especially the legendary boxer Joe Lewis. As for Hole 10, this is one you definitely have to test out for yourself. It is the longest from the tee “Ernie Andrews of Langston Golf Course and Bernard Shaw a CNN journalist and has multiple blind enjoying some fun laughs at Langston.” Credits: Stacy Peterson spots. First you must clear the water. Upon clearing the water, you aren’t able to see the tee, so you aim for the tween the “great ones” at Langston. After caddying for a directional flag kindly placed by Ernie Andrews, a short while, he became a junior golfer, went on to play in long-time Langston golfer and USGTF teaching pronumerous Capitol City Opens, and continues to show fessional at Langston Golf Course. his love for the game as a teaching professional at LangsMoving further into the course, Hole 13, located in ton. Having spent most of his life around Langston Golf the back, starts with having to clear a portion of the rivCourse, he has seen celebrities and local faces chaler. “Many balls have been lost in that water,” chuckled lenge themselves on the course, including Mike Tyson, Andrews. From there you can either ride your golf cart numerous congressmen, and PGA players. or pull your clubs across the bridge to finish off your par. Langston is known for the famous men who have Though many individuals have rangefinders, the taken on the course, and also for many female golfblack-and-white poles placed throughout the course ers too. Wake-Robin is one of the oldest women’s golf measures the distance from the hole to 150 yards out. clubs on the East Coast, having some of the best female This provides an idea of what club to utilize, giving a golfers the country has known. better chance of placing the ball on the green. If golfing all 18-holes isn’t of interest to you, the And before you get to the end of the course, Hole lovely practice area, which was developed in 2001, is a 17 has a challenging dogleg left. Keeping this in mind great location to test your putting. Or you can explore will help you be sure to not overthe driving range to perfect your swing. shoot or undershoot your swing. For more information about Langston Golf Course On any given day, you can visit https://www.golfdc.com/langston-gc or stop in see groundhogs, geese, bald eaand say hello to the many friendly faces who would be gles, foxes, and vultures roaming thrilled to chat with you. Langston is located at 2600 throughout the course. Benning Road NE – next to the Oklahoma Avenue/ At the Langston Grille, picBenning Road DC Streetcar stop. tures of some of the greatest to have golfed at Langston are porStacy Peterson, MS Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine, trayed on the walls, such as Rafe CNS, CHHC, CSCS, is a functional nutritionist, holistic health, Botts, Calvin Peete, James Black, wellness and strength & conditioning coach practicing wholeand Lee Elder. “These gentlefoods nutrition and physical training to individuals of all ages men helped further pave the way on the Hill. She provides an integrative approach, critical to for golfers such as Tiger Woods,” everyone’s healthcare and performance team, helping individstated Melva Ellis, general managuals reach their health goals. For recipes, nutrition ideas, and er at Langston Golf Course. exercise tips sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.accelerAndrews, who was born and ationsports.net. Connect with Stacy by email, stacy@acceleraraised in DC, started caddying tionsports.net, or by calling 805-704-7193 for a free 15-minwhen he was 10 years old. He has ute consultation, to ask questions and discuss how she can help been a part of the interactions beyou achieve your digestion, overall health, and fitness goals.

Historic Langston Golf Course by Stacy Peterson, MS, CNS, CHHC, CSCS

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ave you yet to play at the historic Langston Golf Course, located just blocks from Capitol Hill? This is a gem within our neighborhood that you don’t want to miss out on. There is no better time to explore all of what Langston has to offer than during the beautiful fall season with the cooler weather and stunning change of autumn leaves. When Langston opened in 1939, it was a basic nine-hole course. Within about five years, nine more holes were added to complete the course. The course begins moderately, as most courses do, and becomes more challenging as the holes progress. Have you tried the challenge that Hole 3, and in particular what Hole 10, offers? Hole 3 has the infaThe verdant fairway at Langston Golf Course.

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Recognizing the Unsung Male Caregiver More Men are Stepping into the Role of Caregiver for Ailing Relatives by Candace Y.A. Montague

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t’s one thing when you’re already a parent but it’s another to be a parent of someone who raised you,” says Terence Peete, reflecting on what life has been like while caring for his mother over the past couple of years. Daisy, 87, is in the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s. Peete says the signs of trouble came up one by one. “Prior to her official diagnosis, I had started paying her bills, as she wasn’t able to keep track of her debit card. She started repeating stories that she said. She would ask the same questions after they were already answered. She would enter lotteries from phone calls that were scams. When I was growing up she wouldn’t fall for stuff like that.” Daisy resided independently in New York for many years before Peete and his wife Michelle relocated her to their Naylor Gardens home a couple of years ago. A single mother who raised two children, Daisy had traveled extensively and enjoyed an active social life. Now Peete is responsible for paying her bills, making doctor’s appointments, and attending to her personal needs. Peete is among 40 million men in America caring for an ailing family member. Being the head of a household is one role many men are familiar with. But being in charge of the personal, financial, social, and medical

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Terence Peete and his mother, Daisy Mack, share a big smile.

care of a relative or spouse who was once self-sufficient is a game changer. More importantly it puts men in unchartered territory where they feel alone and helpless.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE CAREGIVERS

Alzheimer’s hits African-American women disproportionately. Who is left to care for them? Spouses, children, grandchildren, extended family members, and friends. Male and female caregivers have a lot of common ground. They are both responsible for

the care and well-being of a loved one who can no longer care for themselves. They are both put into this role suddenly. They both feel very unprepared for the task. But for men there are a few unique twists. There is a tacit expectation for men to be strong and show no emotion. Although they may feel hurt to see their loved one in a vulnerable state or feel pressure to handle everything, men don’t always express their feelings about their situation. It can lead to resentment and depression. Bathing and dressing women presents another challenge to male caregivers, particularly those who have never performed these tasks while caring for children. According to a report from AARP in 2010, 24 percent of male caregivers assist a loved one in getting dressed and 16 percent of them help with bathing. Alternatively, 40 percent of male caregivers pay health aides or nursing assistants to perform these tasks. Ana Nelson, vice president of programs and services at the National Capital Area chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the unexpectedness of being a caregiver is different for men. “Some of the earlier studies showed that males were experiencing some very unique challenges including the fact that male caregivers are more likely to say that they feel unprepared for this role. A lot of them said that they are uncomfortable in helping with personal care. Some of them say that they don’t want to ask for help.”


SELF-CARE ISN’T JUST FOR WOMEN

Caregiving is not for the weak. Those who juggle the everyday tasks of providing for an indisposed family member may find that their physical and mental health is taking a beating. Self-care is an urgent step in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. It may seem selfish at first, but taking “me” time can restore a man on many levels. Keep the weekly haircut appointments at the barbershop. Have some family fun with your spouse or children. Enjoy a sports game with friends. Indulge in your favorite hobby. Peete says that taking care of his own needs helps him deal with caregiving better. “One thing I learned as a caregiver is that you have to take care of yourself too. It can be physically and emotionally draining. As a caregiver, you have to find ways to maintain your own identity and do things for yourself.” He seeks refuge in a social group called Man Cave. “Every Thursday for three hours, we just get together and be guys.” Nelson says that although male caretakers have been quiet in the past, the tide is slowly changing with the help of social gatherings. “Men tend to not open up about their feelings and fears and concerns. We know that it can increase their chances for depression. We know that about 40 percent of family caregivers suffer from depression. And if folks don’t ask for help it puts them at a higher rate for burnout. Men are realizing that it’s okay to ask for help. One of the ways they get help is through support groups. They’re joining non-traditional support groups.” Nelson adds that support groups that are geared specifically for men-only have a higher success rate.

WHERE TO GET HELP

One common concern for caregivers, male and female, is where to begin. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis does not have to mean the beginning of the end. It does mean that families have to adjust to a new normal. But what can you expect? How much will it cost? Where are the local resources?

The DC Office on Aging is a good place to start. It offers help with respite care, financial management, behavioral symptom management, and even social activities. Call 202-724-5626 for more information. The National Capital Area chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has an array of support services. Nelson states that they have specialized services to fulfill the needs of men. “We offer educational presentations for family caregivers. We offer a place for men to turn for support. We also offer care consultations to help families plan for care. Our care consultations have grown tremendously. One of the groups that has grown in popularity is the Memory Cafe. It’s a non-traditional group for people at all stages of the disease and their caregivers. It gives them a chance to meet with other people and socialize and just to enjoy each other’s company.” Call 800-272-3900 for more information or to connect with a navigator. Family Caregiver Alliance offers state-specific information on services such as resources on living arrangements, government health and disability programs, legal assistance, and more. Call 800-445-8106 to speak with a representative. AARP offers information for those who just don’t know where to begin. Peruse information on benefits, insurance, providing care, senior housing, and end-of-life care. Call 888-OURAARP for help. For now, Peete and his wife enjoy spending time with Daisy. Whether it’s watching Judge Judy or participating in a family social gathering at the senior center or just listening to the Rat Pack radio station on the deck, the Peete/Mack family savors the quiet moments. The memories may fade but the bond never will. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.

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Got Food Waste? DC Offers Many Options by Catherine Plume

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ave you ever thought about how much food your family wastes? As waste disposal becomes an ever greater environmental, health, and social issue, cities are looking for creative ways to reduce food and yard waste. From barbeque leftovers to the overripe tomato, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated in 2014 that 133 billion pounds of the available retail and consumer food supply went uneaten – at an estimated value of $161.6 billion. A US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study in 2014 found that food and yard waste together account for 29 percent of waste, most of which ends up in landfills or incinerators and contributes to greenhouse gases and poor air quality. Meanwhile, 50 million Americans were unable to meet their food needs. Annie White at the Office of Waste Diversion of the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) notes, “Residential and commercial food and yard waste in DC adds up to over 230,000 tons annually. The Sustainable DC Plan [www.sustainabledc.org] has a goal of reducing total waste generation by 15 percent and increasing the waste diversion rate [the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills and incineration] to 80 percent by 2032. There’s a lot of effort going into achieving this goal, including an array of innovative programs already underway and others planned for the future.”

START AT HOME!

Storing food properly can make it last longer. While spinach, kale, and chard tend to spoil quickly in a plastic bag, they’ll stay crisp longer when wrapped in dry paper or kitchen towels. Radishes and turnips will stay fresh for weeks when submerged in a jar of water, while wrapping onions in old pantyhose will keep them crisp longer. SaveTheFood.com provides excellent tips for preserving food by food type. Canning, pickling, and dehydrating the season’s harvest will preserve the fresh and sweet taste of tomatoes, peaches, corn, and cucumbers all year long. Frager’s and W.S. Jenks & Son carry large assortments of canning supplies.

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DONATE IT!

Individuals and families can pass along unused food through the DC FreeCycle ListServ (https:// groups.yahoo. com/neo/groups/ freecycledc/info). Meanwhile, the nonprofit Food Rescue US picks up leftover food from businesses and delivers it to food pantries around the city. A convenient app allows organizations to donate or request donated food with just a couple of clicks. Some of Food Rescue DC’s regular food donators are Bread Furst, We, The Pizza, and Revolution Foods, while recipients include Martha’s Table, ThriveDC, and SOME, among others. According to Kate Urbank, DC site director for Food Rescue US, business is booming. Since its inception in October 2016, Food Rescue US has “rescued” over 68,000 pounds of food in DC alone. They’re always looking for volunteers to help move food around the District.

COMPOST IT!

Sometimes, food just needs to be discarded. An Aug. 7 Washington Post story reported that DC hopes to start a citywide curbside composting program in the next five years. In the meantime, residents have several composting options. • Did you know that there’s a year-round food waste dropoff every Saturday at Eastern Market (in front of the Rumsey Pool)? In fact, DPW now operates a food waste dropoff program in every Ward. See https://dpw.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff for a list of sites, schedule, and acceptable items. • The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) began operating critter-proof/smell-proof community food and garden waste composting bins in 2015. Take a one-hour training and you’ll be able to drop off your food waste at one of 50 sites around town. More than a thousand residents are participating in this program and composting some 12 tons


A young composter contributes to DPW’s Food Waste Drop Off at Eastern Market. Photo: DPW

of food and organic waste every month. To learn more see https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-compost-cooperative-network. • Veteran Compost (www.veterancompost.com), Compost Cab (www.compostcab.com), and Fat Worm Compost (www.fatwormcompost.com) are just some of the companies that provide special-event, residential, and/or commercial pickup services in DC. • Install your own compost bin. While this isn’t an option for everyone, it might work for you. There are a lot of backyard composting bin options out there, and with the right mix of “browns” (dried leaves, straw, wood chips, and/or newspaper) and “greens” (grass clippings and yard and kitchen scraps), odors and vermin can easily be controlled. Food waste is such a big deal that even Congress is getting on board. Among other things, the Food Waste Recovery Act (HR 3444) introduced in June would standardize date labels and make it easier to donate food. But why wait for Congress to act when there’s so much that you can do to reduce food waste now! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler, www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com, Twitter @DC_Recycler. She is also a board member for the DC chapters of the Sierra Club and Green America, but her perspectives are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of either organization.

Food Rescue US is ready to make another DC food run. Photo: Food Rescue US

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Making Produce Last Tips for Keeping Those Farmers’ Market Goodies Fresh in Your Kitchen

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by Candace Y. A. Montague

ow that you’ve scored some of the season’s freshest goodies, you will want to keep them as long as possible. When it comes to storage, fruits and vegetables play by their own rules. Did you know that tomatoes and watermelons are best kept on a countertop until cut? Or that placing a paper towel under the container will draw out moisture and keep berries fresher, longer?

FOUR FRESHNESS TIPS

Here are four tips on how to keep produce at its peak in your kitchen. Tip 1: Fruits and vegetables should be stored separately. Some fruits emit an elevated level of ethylene, a gas that speeds up the ripening process). Tip 2: Remove spoiled berries from the container. You know the old saying, “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch”? It’s true when it comes to berries. Pick out the ones that seem to be rotting away in order to keep the others fresh. Tip 3: Set your refrigerator temperature to 40 degrees or colder for proper food storage. Anything higher will spoil your food faster. Use the fruits and vegetables drawer for storage. There’s a reason why it exists. Tip 4: If you use bags to store produce, ventilate them by poking holes. Or use a mesh bag for storage. Produce needs to breathe.

ORGANIC VS CHEMICALLY PRESERVED

What’s the big deal about organic produce? Fruit that you get at the store is sprayed with chemicals to keep bugs and fungus at bay. Great for preservation; not so much for consumption. Some pesticides have harmful effects on the human body and have been linked to certain cancers and nerve and immune-system damage among other health issues. Ward 8 Farmers’ Market, founded in 1998 by Congress Heights residents, is a great spot to get some of the best naturally grown tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, greens, apples, pears, and plums, to name a few. Most of the produce comes fresh from the Licking Creek Bend Farm, a certified naturally grown farm in Pennsylvania. It hosts cooking demonstrations to show visitors creative ways to use the vegetables in everyday cooking. Nathan Harrington, director of the Ward 8 Farmer’s Market, suggests that when it comes to organic versus chemically treated produce, consumers should choose natural. “It’s important for people to understand that organic or naturally grown produce is grown for flavor and nutrition rather than to look beautiful or have

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a long shelf life. The fruits and vegetables that we sell are best eaten within a few days. A lot of them are delicious when eaten raw. You can also chop up vegetables to put in a soup or stir fry or a salad.”

PRODUCE PLUS PROGRAM

Ready to go shopping? Here’s a great way to save a few dollars at the farmers’ markets. DC residents who receive SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, TANF, SSI Disability, Medicare QMB, or Senior Grocery Plus are eligible for the Produce Plus program. Qualified customers can get $10 per farmers’ market visit, up to two times per week, to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs. Customers must pick up Produce Plus checks at one of the distributing farmers’ markets and can visit more than 50 farmers’ markets across the District to use the checks. This program is a great way to stretch budgets and buy fresh produce. For a list of participating markets, visit the DC Hunger Solutions page, www.dchunger.org. For more information about the Produce Plus program, email DC Greens at produceplus@ dcgreens.org or call the Produce Plus hotline at 202-888-4834.

RED & YELLOW BELL PEPPERS AND KALE STIR-FRY

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ medium red onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed 1 medium red and 1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced 1 bunch kale, stems removed and chopped 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Kosher or sea salt to taste Fresh-cracked black pepper to taste 1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and then stir in the onions. Cook for about two minutes or until the onions are soft. 2. Add the garlic and bell peppers; stirring occasionally, cook for three to five minutes or until the peppers are softened. 3. Add the kale and stir in the Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and smoked paprika. Cook for two to three minutes or until the kale is softened. Season with salt and pepper. Candace Y.A. Montague is the health reporter for Capital Community News.


homes & gardens / changing hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list,based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD

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BR

$399,999 $555,000 $329,500

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3 3 3 3 5 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 3

$355,000 $303,775 $315,000 $355,000 $157,500 $114,000 $250,000 $387,500 $365,000 $410,000 $186,309 $125,000 $416,000 $418,000 $419,000 $410,000 $191,000 $210,000 $240,000 $175,000 $365,000 $350,000 $299,900 $210,200 $399,999 $399,000

4 2 3 3 2 2 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 5 2 3 3 3 2 3 3

$416,500 $432,000 $320,000 $269,950 $220,000

3 4 3 3 3

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DEANWOOD

106 57TH ST SE 1226 47TH PL NE 1310 EASTERN AVE NE 156 57TH ST SE 238 56TH PL NE 262 56TH PL NE 3931 CLAY PL NE 4112 GAULT PL NE 4428 GAULT PL NE 4509 EDSON PL NE 4510 EDSON PL NE 4525 EDSON PL NE 4621 KANE PL NE 4623 KANE PL NE 4807 FITCH PL NE 4919 LEE ST NE 4941 BLAINE ST NE 5010 NASH ST NE 5211 DIX ST NE 5222 HAYES ST NE 53 46TH ST NE 541 59TH ST NE 5504 EADS ST NE 905 47TH PL NE 913 45TH PL NE 219 47TH ST NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 1236 45TH PL SE 1243 CHAPLIN ST SE 1639 40TH ST SE 1667 FORT DAVIS PL SE 1740 40TH ST SE

3350 ELY PL SE 4255 FORT DUPONT TER SE 4332 GORMAN TER SE 4341 DUBOIS PL SE 4360 SOUTHERN AVE SE 4382 DUBOIS PL SE 489 BURBANK ST SE

HILL CREST

1320 27TH ST SE 2133 32ND ST SE 2500 34TH ST SE 2522 Q ST SE 2930 M PL SE 3008 ALABAMA AVE SE 3011 PARK DR SE 3121 LYNDALE PL SE 3126 WESTOVER DR SE 3138 WESTOVER DR SE 3208 HIGHWOOD DR SE 3628 CAMDEN ST SE 1613 25TH ST SE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 121 47TH ST SE 4707 BASS PL SE 5224 BASS PL SE 5428 C ST SE 5524 BASS PL SE 5557 CENTRAL AVE SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS

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$447,000 $265,000 $309,000 $275,000 $306,500 $297,000 $365,000

6 3 2 2 3 3 4

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3 4 5 5 3 4 5 2 5 4 3 5 3

$288,500 $310,000 $394,000 $245,000 $172,000 $198,401

2 3 4 2 2 2

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kids & family

Getting into the School Lottery Game

A District not-for-profit helps parents negotiate the school application process by Elizabeth O’Gorek

DCSRN Executive Director David Pickens in a meeting room at the offices of DC School Reform Now on Massachusetts Avenue NW. “To get into the game,” he says, “some parents need personalized help that will meet them where they are.”

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K

eisha Campbell is a single mother of twins entering kindergarten this year. She also has a teenaged son and a time-consuming job as an operating room coordinator. A few weeks before their application was due, she says she hadn’t even thought about what schools she was going to apply to for the twins. So, when a staff member at the public charter school Apple Tree Parklands told her about DC School Reform Now (DCSRN) and its services, Campbell got in contact with the not-for-profit to start the school application for the twins. In the spring, Campbell’s twin Kendon was matched to Shining Stars Montessori Academy, and her daughter Kharis was offered a place at the school as well, after spending a month on a waiting list. Campbell says that her busy schedule did not allow her to invest the kind of time in the application process that she otherwise would have. “You want to do what’s best for your child,” she said, “and they helped me be sure I was doing that.” DC uses a single common application process through a system called My School DC to allow parents to take advantage of choice among District public schools and most public char-

ter schools. Students can rank up to 12 schools in preferred order and are then placed at participating schools through a single, random lottery process. The lottery considers the number of available spaces at each school, lottery preferences such as the presence of siblings and proximity to the school, how schools were ranked in the application, and the student’s random lottery number. The common lottery is supposed to simplify the process for families. However, DCSRN Executive Director David Pickens says the common application process can be overwhelming – and he knows from firsthand experience. “I’m so grateful that I had one of my advocates helping me through the process,” he said. “It’s just so much, you don’t have time to keep track of it.” He adds, “Many of our families are in the kind of situation where having one less thing to worry about – a thing that we know is so incredibly important – is huge.” DCSRN is a privately funded organization that works with families to help them navigate the common application process. Its primary program, the High Quality Schools Campaign (HQSC), is designed to provide support to District residents, particularly those in underserved communities, as they go through the school choice process. The organization reaches out to families through schools, community


organizations, and visits to apartment buildings and homes. Those who express interest are matched to a parent advocate. Up to 18 advocates are trained every year, although only eight will be selected to work with families. Advocates help guide parents through the process, from selecting a list of schools to filling out the application and completing the enrollment process. In addition, DCSRN offers a variety of other resources, including parent-focused materials, in-person and virtual school tours, out-of-boundary and public charter application support, school enrollment support, and follow-up. Pickens says that DCSRN is at the forefront of this type of work in the District, and possibly in the nation. “There’s not a lot of organizations out there like ours that really just work regularly with parents for free.” School choice and the platform to access it are great innovations, but many people need assistance to understand how to use the common application, or lottery, process. “If you don’t have an organization providing this kind of support,” he said, “only some people really have school choice.” Lamont Harrell is in his second season as a DCSRN parent advocate. He says parents want different kinds of support for both process and knowledge about the schools and their offerings. “A lot of parents don’t know that they have a choice besides the neighborhood school,” he notes. “We open parents’ minds to higher performance options that are going to open doors for their children, raising their expectations for their child’s school career.” Parents appreciate the depth of knowledge from the DCSRN advocates. Jana Lemons moved back to the District after serving with the Navy for several years. She knew that she wanted her son Chase to go to a diverse school as well as one with good afterschool programming. She did a great deal of research herself, but when she saw a flier advertising DCSRN’s services, she decided to use them. Her parent advocate provided in-

depth knowledge about the various schools, their locations and their facilities, and helped her balance factors such as after-school programming, commute time, and age of facilities in her rankings. The advocate was a “second support system, really making sure that I was marking everything and making the best suggestions for my list.” Chase started this year in the newly renovated Watkins Elementary, and so far things are going very well. “My son actually loves going to school, though of course it’s only been a week. He was struggling the last few years,” she says. “I’m very excited about the results.” While DCSRN’s offices are located in Northwest, parents do not need to travel there. Harrell does most of his work with parents by phone or text, making occasional visits to homes or places of work when necessary. “We never turn people away,” he declares. “We will help them. They might not get the ‘soup to nuts’ treatment, but they’ll get resources and we’ll give them advice.” Pickens says they try to recruit about 1,200 families. They still have spaces available for parents who would like to be assigned an advocate for the 2018 school lottery. If you would like more information about DCSRN and its services, call 202-315-2424, send an email to info@dcschoolreform.org, or visit dcschoolreform.org.

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Sing, Talk & Read Festival On Sept. 16, 11 a.m., learn how singing, talking and reading with a baby or young child, can help them later in school. It’s never too early to give kids a smart start. DC Public Library’s “Sing, Talk & Read” Family Festival features fun activities for kids, live entertainment, prizes and giveaways and free lunch. Sing, Talk & Read is at Deanwood Library, 1350 49th St. NE. dclibrary.org/deanwood.

Saturday Mornings at The National Visit the National Theatre on select Saturday mornings for free programs that engage and inspire young minds. Saturday programming is best suited for children 4 to 10. Siblings and friends of other ages are always welcome. Performances take place Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets may be reserved one week prior to the performance. The reservation system closes at 10 a.m. on the Friday before the performance but walk-ins are welcome if there is room. Register and get more information at thenationaldc.org. Here’s the fall lineup: Sept. 9, Bright Star Theatre - Alice in Wonderland; Sept. 16, Blue Sky Puppet Theatre - If Pigs Could Fly; Sept. 23, Michael Shwedick - Reptile World; Sept. 30, Groovy Nate.

Discovery Theater on the Mall

GALITA’S BILINGUAL “BLANCAFLOR”

In this charming Spanish fairy tale with music and puppets, a prince promises to complete a series of impossible tasks to return to his kingdom, but he can only succeed with help from the brave maiden Blancaflor. Blancaflor is at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, starting Oct. 7. Tickets are on sale now; $12, adult and $10, child. galatheatre.org. “Blancaflor” is a bilingual fairy tale about a brave magic maiden. Illustration: Tesa González, tesagonzalez.com

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ACA 50th Anniversary Community Block Party On Oct. 7 (rain or shine) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrate 50 years of the Anacostia Community Museum (ACA), the premier cultural institution “east of the river.” Live performances, food, kids activities, art workshops and a guest DJ. Fun for the entire family! Activities will take place outside the museum on their outdoor stage. Inside the museum, there will be art activities and other surprises. Artists will have tents set up on the picnic grounds to sell their work. Invited community

partners will have information tables. This free event is open to everyone. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

123 Andrés at Benning Library On Sept. 12, 10 a.m., 123 Andrés takes children and adults on a musical journey through the Americas learning about music, language and culture. The bilingual program (Spanish and English) brings the families together through movement, dance and song. Dorothy I. Height Library is at 3935 Benning Rd. NE. dclibrary.org/benning.

On Oct. 4, 5 and 26, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., African Roots/Latino Soul. How many cultures can we be? This vibrant play explores what it means to be Latino, African American and proud, growing up in the heart of the American melting pot. Written with the Young Playwrights’ Theater, this is a story of the triumphs of today’s multicultural kids. For ages 6 to 12. These shows are at the Smithsonian Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. Tickets are $6 per child, $3 for under two and $8 for adults. discoverytheater.org.

Dead Man’s Run Kids Fun Run The 5k and kids’ race is on Oct. 7 at Congressional Cemetery. The 5k starts


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RACE FOR EVERY CHILD 5K AND KIDS’ DASH

The Race for Every Child 5k raises funds to help kids grow up stronger. The race is on Oct. 21, at Freedom Plaza. Registration, open through Oct. 21, is $40/$50. The Kids’ Dash, ages 3 to 10, is $15. RaceForEveryChild.org. Young runners at the starting line Photo: Courtesy of the Race for Every Child

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at 6 p.m. near the east end of the cemetery. The kids run begins shortly after at around 6:05 p.m. Registration fee for the untimed kids’ race is $10. The distance is a little under a half mile. Register at congressionalcemetery.org.

boarding zone at the Georgetown Waterfront at the end of 31st Street NW. Tickets are $20. Read more and purchase tickets at boomerangpirateship.com/dc-pirate-ship-cruises.

Women in Aviation and Space Family Day

SAAM on Safari

Throughout the history of aviation and space exploration, women have fought to be on equal terms with their male counterparts. At this family day, on Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., learn about the significant contributions women have made. The day will feature presentations by women in the field, hands-on activities and stories. The National Air and Space Museum is at Independence Avenue at Sixth Street SW. airandspace.si.edu.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to venture on a jungle safari? On Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., take a walk on the wild side with Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and find out. Challenge yourself with a photo scavenger hunt—see if you can spot the animals hiding throughout the museum. Make your own binoculars at one of the craft tables and enjoy treats from the café. SAAM is at Eighth and F Streets NW. americanart.si.edu.

Boomerang Pirate Ship Family Boat Tours

President Lincoln’s Cottage Freedom 5k

Family Boomerang Pirate Ship Boat Tours are offered every weekend through October on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Board in the commercial vessel

On Sept. 16, join the Freedom 5k and Family Day to run, walk and play like Lincoln. Come for just the race, just Family Day activities or stick around for both. Please note, register for the Freedom 5k. All Family

EastofthERivERDCnEws.CoM

Day activities, while free, is required for a head count. President Lincoln’s Cottage is at 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. lincolncottage.org.

Night Train 57: A Folk Opera From Oct. 6 to 8, at the Kennedy Center, enter the freewheeling musical world of Grammy winner Dan Zanes, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Claudia Eliaza, and percussionist Yuriana Sobrino for an interactive folk opera that takes audiences on a far-out ride to the galaxies and back. During a joyous dusk-to-dawn trip through the stars, passengers on Night Train 57 will discover the power of friendship and community with the sounds of 21st-century handmade sing-along music. This world-premiere adventure welcomes travelers of all ages and sensory levels. $20. It is most enjoyed by ages three, up. kennedy-center.org.

Kids Comedy Theatre Coming Soon Hilarious, poignant, and physically dazzling, Robert Post’s wholesome one-man variety show fills the stage


For the 2017-2018 school year Bridges PCS is in our new location:

100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011

Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation with bumblers, dreamers and cartoonNative Gardens, Sept. 15 to Oct. 22; for learning ish heroes of every stripe on Oct. 21, 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Center. $20. kennedy-center.org.

The Pajama Game, Oct. 27 to Dec. 24; and Snow Child, April 13 to May 20, 2018. arenastage.org.

APPLY FOR THE Last Chance thisSCHOOL Season for Kids YEAR Washington International Horse 2017-2018

to Run the Bases Show Kids’ Day APPLY FOR ALL GRADES Kids agesTODAY 4 to 12 can run the bases after WIHS Kids’ Day 2017 will take place some Sunday home games. Kids Run Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. ADDITIONAL SLOTS OPEN the Bases begins immediately following FOR GRADES 3, 4 and 5 Outdoor activities will be held in front

Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation for learning

APPLY FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ALL GRADES ADDITIONAL SLOTS OPEN FOR GRADES 2, 4 and 5

Apply for admissions at:

www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 STUDENTS ENROLLED ON A CONTINUING BASIS

the game, weather permitting. The reof the Hotel Monaco at 700 F St. NW maining date this year is Sept. 16. washand face painting and other events will ington.nationals.mlb.com. be held on the Verizon Center conApply for admissions at: course. wihs.org.

Arena Stage Family Fun Pack www.myschooldc.org Arena Stage’s Family Fun Pack offers The Smartest Girl in the World or 888-6336 Studious Leo and his younger sister four call seats for only(202) $125. Orders must Lizzy couldn’t include a minimum of two beAPPLICATIONS ACCEPTED ONpatrons A CONTINUING BASIS tween ages 5 and 17 per Family Fun Pack and cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets. There is a limit of two Family Fun Packs per household. All standard fees apply. Family Fun Packs must be purchased by phone or in person. Family Fun Packs are available for

be more different. But, the two share dreams of becoming successful and making life easier for their overworked parents. When Mami and Papi forbid Leo to accept a place on his school’s TV Challenge team due to his chronic illness, Lizzy studies up to compete in his stead. But, the plan backfires when Leo feels jealous rather than grateful. Can Lizzy win the competition and regain her brother’s love? Best for ages 6, up. Plays Oct. 7 to 29, at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. imaginationstage.org.

w w w. br i d g e sp c s . org

202.545.0515

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Voted one of the Best Preschools in DC, City Paper Readers Poll 2013 -2016!

PENN HILL MINI GOLF POP-UP

On Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m., come play at Penn Hill Mini Golf. Each hole is individually designed and built by local artists. Testing your putting skills. Vote for your favorite hole. Enjoy a new taste every week from area food trucks Play your favorite games on the “lawn.” Play nine holes for $3 per person or $10 for a group of four. Check with your civic association for free passes. If severe weather is in the forecast, check shopsatpennhill. com/golf by 11:30 a.m. on weekend mornings for an update. The Shops at Penn Hill are at 3200 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. One of the lawn games designed Cory Oberndorfer. Photo: Elizabeth Harmon

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kids & family / notebook

CONSTITUTION FAMILY DAY AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia debated, compromised and came up with a new framework of government for our country. On Sept. 17, 1787, they signed the document that today lives in the Rotunda, visited by millions of people from all around the world. On Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrate 230 years of the Constitution with handson discovery at the National Archives. nara.gov. Photo: Courtesy of our founding fathers and the National Archives

Disney On Ice Disney’s Moana voyages onto the ice for the first time as Disney On Ice presents “Dare to Dream.” Hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead audiences on an expedition across raging seas and snow-covered mountains in this action-packed extravaganza. The beloved characters from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Tangled and Cinderella visit Fairfax from Sept. 29 to

Oct. 8 for 11 performances at the EagleBank Arena. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets via charge by phone at 1-800745-3000, ticketmaster.com and at the EagleBank Arena box office. Have a tip for the Kids & Family Notebook, email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

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

“Crossings” by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Allen Iverson or Vince Carter 6. Cautions 13. British Columbia lake, royal house 19. Shelters in snow country 21. Negatively charged 22. Go off 23. Dentist title perhaps? 25. Known by few 26. Item in a baby’s wardrobe 27. Unpopular spots 28. Take from forcibly 30. What trees’ rings reveal 31. “Star Trek” genre 34. Diner freebies 37. Type of headgear 38. Makes like a volcano 39. Facts fed to a computer 41. Property restriction 44. Codeine, e.g. 47. Weigh station factor 48. Rabbit homes 53. Game with partners 58. Little 59. Firecracker’s path 60. Buckeye State dweller 61. Adroit 62. Contemptible one 63. Obtain a return 65. Tennis player 66. Arrow groove 68. 78-card deck 69. Royal Indian 71. Bear’s hangout 73. Group of eight performers 76. Horseshoe, for one 80. Better suited to the occasion 83. Defeat handily 87. Anniversary offering 88. Namath’s Super Bowl 89. Cowboy gear 91. Need for a link 92. It’s mixed with lemonade in an Arnold Palmer 94. New York structure 97. Sri Lanka’s capital 99. ‘’___ brillig . . .’’ 100. Touched the tarmac

101. Fashionable London locale 104. Cambodian coins 106. Insinuated 110. Guitar pioneer Fender 111. Supports, with “with” 113. Book for a globe-trotter 117. Take all the fun out of 118. Kin of a tsunami 120. Lazing 122. Picasso output 123. Make it to 125. Water _____ 130. South China Sea sultanate 131. Small electric generator 132. Fill with air, as a sail 133. Chamber-music group 134. Feature on a peacock’s tail 135. It’s all uphill from these

Down:

1. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe 2. Hungarian language 3. Out on the stand 4. “Have I Told You Lately” Stewart 5. Beagle, e.g. 6. Lacks what it takes 7. Heavenly being 8. Last article in the Constitution 9. A billion years 10. Yet another time 11. One of three parts 12. Horror movie staple 13. Cuff 14. Blacktop component 15. Open, as a prescription bottle 16. Bit of wisdom 17. Give fresh strength to 18. Lover’s keepsake, perhaps 20. Neptune’s domain 24. Raw linen shade 29. Jet forth 32. Royal order 33. Emcee’s opening remarks 35. Came to know 36. Agra wrap 38. Overlapping fugue motifs 40. Female farm fowl 42. Chair or car

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 43. Go out for a while? 44. ____ina, wind instrument 45. Burn midnight oil 46. Clive Cussler novel “___ Gold” 47. Lift at Aspen 49. Word in a “lost” ad 50. Vessel with a spout 51. Fiddle-playing emperor 52. Mo. for many TV premieres 54. Pertaining to citizenship 55. Loafer part 56. Fed. pamphlet producer 57. List ending, abbr. 64. Musical direction

67. “The Shock Doctrine” author Naomi 70. Try 72. Fit for tilling 73. Narc follower? 74. Nickname of designer Gabrielle Chanel 75. Unit of weight in the Far East 77. Give the business to 78. Flat need 79. Regional organisms 80. Acid’s opposite 81. Buds 82. Hear

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Reduced rate kids under 12 Special Guests Will Include: • Susan McKinley Ross Game Designer of Qwirkle • Miranda Evarts Game Designer of Sleeping Queens FB event: facebook.com/washingcon

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EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

84. “Role Models” actor Paul 85. Impulsive feeling 86. Drained liquid from 90. Cheery refrain 93. Atty. assn. 95. Mouse hunters 96. ‘’Meet Me __ Louis’’ 98. Earthen vessel 102. Pea, e.g. 103. Cheesy cream sauce 104. Glowing 105. Bali or Elba 106. Seizes 107. Extremely peculiar 108. Book after II Timothy 109. Perm ending, not changing 112. More of the same 114. Soup kitchen tool 115. Atomic number 18 116. Does a slow burn 118. Prune print 119. Word after cutting or leading 121. Retrograde 124. Follower of a new name 126. USNA graduate, perhaps 127. Certain theater, for short 128. Offshore structure 129. “Well, ___ be!”


Get Your East of the River Location

Address

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

MIDCITY

FA G O N C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E

420 34th St , NE 320 40th St , NE 322 40th St , NE 100 42nd St , NE 240 42nd St NE 1300 44th ST NE 123 45th ST NE 1008 45th St NE 1350 49th ST NE 25 53rd St NE 201 58th St , NE 6201 Banks Pl NE 6201 Banks St , NE 2600 Benning Rd , NE 1800 Good Hope Road SE 3935 Benning Rd NE 3939 Benning Rd , NE 4900 Brooks St , NE 719 Division Ave NE 4417 Douglas St NE 5026 E Capitol St NE 350 Eastern Ave , NE 950 Eastern AVE NE 5200 Foote St , NE 3744 ½ Hayes St NE 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 4600 Sherriff Rd NE 4601 Sheriff Road NE 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast 4721 Sherriff Rd NE 4748 Sheriff Rd NE 4816 Sherriff Rd NE 3200 13th st SE 4275 4th St SE 1400 41st St , SE 3999 8th St , SE 2409 Ainger Place SE 1523 Alabama Ave, SE 1535 Alabama Ave , SE 1571 Alabama Ave , SE 1547 Alabama Ave , SE 1717 Alabama Ave , SE 2435 Alabama Ave

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

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

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

For more distribution locations, contact 202.543.8300 x.19



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