East of the River Magazine – November 2021 by Capital Community News

NOVEMBER 2021

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N OVEMBER 2021 N E X T I S S U E : D E C E M B E R 11

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 10

IN EVERY ISSUE

Draft Redistricting Maps Released

04 42 43

by Andrew Lightman

Citizens Voice Concerns About Redistricting

What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Six Dead on District Roads in Six Weeks by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Our River: The Anacostia – With RiverSmart Homes You Can Help the Anacostia

The 2021 ACC Boat Ride by Phil Pannell; photos by Lamont Mitchell

by Bill Matuszeski

Bulletin Board

by Kathleen Donner

KIDS & FAMILY 34

Notebook

by Kathleen Donner

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 28

Physicians to Vaccinate District Children by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Changing Hands

by Don Denton

ON THE COVER: Philip Pannell, ACC Executive Director; Diane Groomes, Boat Ride Chair; Lamont Mitchell, ACC Board Chair. Photo: Lamont Mitchell

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

MIDCITY

F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

FAGON

EDUCATION

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2021 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

KRS-ONE

Old-school Hip-Hop artist KRSOne performs in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. With 20 published albums to his credit and his numerous appearances with other artists, KRSOne is believed to have written the most rhymes in Hip Hop’s history. KRS-One openly rejects such cultural exploitation and materialism grounding Hip Hop in its original principles of peace, love, unity and safely having fun. Tickets are $104 to $304. kennedy-center.org.

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N NEW GLASS NOW AT THE RENWICK

New Glass Now documents the innovation and dexterity of artists, designers and architects from around the world working in the challenging material of glass. This global survey is designed to highlight the breadth and depth of contemporary glass making. New Glass Now is at the Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW, through March 6, 2022. The Renwick is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. americanart.si.edu/visit/renwick. Andrea da Ponte, Globalized, blown glass, transferred image, 30 x 30 x 30 cm. The Corning Museum of Glass, gift of Andrea da Ponte, 2021 5.1. Photo: Courtesy of The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, copyright Rosana Silvera.

Chef Peter Chang of Nihao Thomas Moran, A View of Venice, 1891, oil of canvas, 35 1/8 x 25 ¼ in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1968. Sargent, Whistler and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the

MAGIC OF MURANO

Sargent, Whistler and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano brings to life the Venetian glass revival of the late 19th century and the artistic experimentation the city inspired for visiting artists. It is the first comprehensive examination of American tourism, art making and art collecting in Venice, revealing the glass furnaces and their new creative boom as a vibrant facet of the city’s allure. This exhibition is at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and G Streets NW, through May 8, 2022. SAAM is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. americanart.si.edu. 04

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

FIRST ANNUAL REDEYE NIGHT MARKET

Inspired by the bustling open-air night markets of East and Southeast Asia, DC’s first annual REDEYE Night Market is on Nov. 6, 4 to 11 p.m. on four blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue from Third through Seventh Streets NW. This family-friendly market brings together 50 local vendors to showcase an array of food and beverages that one might find at an Asian night market including Filipino pastries, Taiwanese shaved ice, bao and Korean fried chicken. In addition to sampling signature dishes from celebrated local restaurants including Incheon, Tiger Fork, Maketto, China Chilcano, Thip Khao, Nihao, enjoy cultural and musical performances throughout the evening. Admission is free. theredeye.nokingscollective.com.

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

PAT METHENY SIDE-EYE

As a teenager, Pat Metheny regularly jammed with Kansas City’s best jazz musicians. It was this experience of sitting in with more mature players that lead to the acclaimed jazz guitarist’s latest project, “Side-Eye.” This edition features pianist James Francies, equally at home in the worlds of jazz and R&B, and drummer Joe Dyson, a New Orleans native who has performed with everyone from Ellis Marsalis to Esperanza Spalding. Pat Metheny Side-Eye with James Francies and Joe Dyson is at the Strathmore, 5303 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, on Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $49 to 89. strathmore.org.

PRIOR TO BROADWAY: A STRANGE LOOP

Usher is a Black queer writer working a job he hates while writing his original musical about a Black queer writer working a job he hates while writing his original musical. A Strange Loop is at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, from Nov. 22 to Jan. 2. woollymammoth.net. Image: Designed by Justine Swindell

KATIA & MARIELLE LABEQUE PLAY DESSNER’S CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS

FUEGO FLAMENCO XVII

From Nov. 5 through 14, Fuego Flamenco XVII explores traditional flamenco and its breadth and diversity through contemporary expressions. This year’s program includes the return of Salvador, an autobiographical piece by Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company that traces DC-beloved choreographer and dancer Edwin Aparicio’s journey from war-torn El Salvador to his discovery of flamenco in the United States. Tickets are $35 to $55. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org. Edwin Aparicio in Salvador. Photo: Steve Johnson

FOLGER CONSORT’ MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS

For its annual holiday concert of cherished early music, Folger Consort presents an intimate program revisiting its beloved album, A Medieval Christmas. Carols in English from the Middle Ages as well as Medieval Latin carols from throughout Europe will be performed in unique arrangements for historical instruments. From Dec. 10 to 18, the nave of St. Mark’s on Capitol Hill, 301 A St. SE, provides the ideal acoustical backdrop for harmonious and joyful early music for the Yuletide season. folger.edu.

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

On Nov. 11, 7 p.m.; Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m.; and Nov. 13, 8 p.m., in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, renowned sibling pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque, who are credited with having transformed the piano duo, perform a piece composed especially for them: Bryce Dessner’s Concerto for Two Pianos. Juanjo Mena conducts the program which also includes Schumann’s Manfred and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3. $19 to $99. kennedy-center.org.

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

RENT

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

At the end of the millennium, a group of bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggle with gentrification, love, loss and legacies amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis. Through songs such as “Seasons of Love,” “One Song Glory,” “I’ll Cover You,” “Out Tonight” and more, they embrace hope, find strength and survive. Winner of the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking phenomenon defined a generation as it redefined the American musical. RENT is at Signature Theater, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, from Nov. 2 to Jan 2. $40 to $108. sigtheatre.org. Photo of Pussy Noir by Christopher Mueller

FUTURES AT THE REOPENED ARTS AND INDUSTRIES BUILDING

The historic Arts and Industries Building, America’s first National Museum, opens FUTURES on Nov. 20. On view through July 6, 2022, the exhibition is the Smithsonian’s first major building-wide exploration of the future and will reopen its oldest museum for the first time in nearly two decades. The part-exhibition, partfestival will celebrate the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary with more than 150 awe-inspiring objects, ideas, prototypes and installations that fuse art, technology, design and history to help visitors imagine many possible futures on the horizon. Visit FUTURES on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information and to plan a visit, go to aib.si.edu. Bell Nexus courtesy of Bell Textron, Inc.

GAY MEN’S CHORUS: THE HOLIDAY SHOW

Tap-dancing elves, a dancing Christmas tree, snow and much more return to the Lincoln Theatre the Gay Men’s Chorus, always popular, The Holiday Show. The festive program includes songs like “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” and features performances from the full Chorus, soloists, all their ensembles and the GenOUT Youth Chorus. $25 to $65. The Holiday Show is at Lincoln Theater, Dec. 4, 11 and 12. gmcw.org/the-holiday-show. Photo: Michael Key

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

AMERICAN AQUARIUM

American Aquarium is an American alternative country band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Their first album, “Antique Hearts,” was released in 2006, followed by “The Bible and the Bottle” in 2008. The band has continued to tour extensively, playing around 250 shows a year. Their most critically acclaimed album to date is 2012’s “Burn. Flicker. Die.” American Aquarium is at The Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE, on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $30. themiracletheatre.com.

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

neighborhood news

Draft Redistricting Maps Released

Council Subcommittee Seeks Public Comment by Andrew Lightman

he DC Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee Committee released three draft maps on Nov. 1 in advance of its Nov. 3, Ward 6 hearing. The subcommittee selected the three “discussion” maps from the more than 130 proposals received through the District’s online redistricting mapping tool. “I’ve committed to making this process transparent, accessible, and centered on community input,” said Redistricting Subcommittee Chair, At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I). “Our unprecedented 11 hearings on redistricting, the online redistricting mapping tool, and the release of these three “discussion” maps are designed to give our residents the most opportunity possible to understand the law, the choices we need to make to make sure political representation is equal and fair, and to make their voices and opinions heard,” Silverman stated. Here are the three draft maps examined in detail.

Map 1

The first draft map moves the border of Ward 8 across the river to encompass the Navy Yard neighborhood bounded on the west by South Capitol St., on the north by I-695 and the Southeast Blvd. ending at the Sousa Bridge and on the south by the Anacostia River. It also extends Ward 7 east of the river with a northern border that follows Benning Rd. NE to 15th St. NE, turns south to Pennsylvania Ave. SE and then heads back east over the Sousa Bridge. Map 1 shifts the border between Wards 7 and 8 slightly to the northwest. From the Sousa Bridge, it traces a path along Pennsylvania

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

Draft Map 1: DC Office of Planning

Table Showing Map 1 Ward Demographics. Table: DC Office of Planning

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

neighborhood news

same manner as in Map 1. The ward’s southern border with Ward 8 then follows Pennsylvania Ave. SE before taking a turn south on 25th St. SE and finally following Naylor Rd. SE to the District line. Map 2 also moves a substantial chunk of the Navy Yard to Ward 8. The section is bordered by South Capitol St. on the west. On the north, the demarcation follows I-695 to Third St. SE, heading south to M St. SE and then east to 11th St. SE. This leaves the townhouse communities in Ward 6, while moving the neighborhood’s high-rise apartments to Ward 8. Map 2 retracts the western boundaries of Ward 6 along Florida Ave. NW and Seventh St. NW. This transfers a tiny census tract bounded by Florida Ave. NW, New Jersey Ave. NW, M St. NW and Kirby St. NW to Ward 5. The remainder moves to Ward 2.

Map 3

Draft Map 2: DC Office of Planning

Table Showing Map 2 Ward Demographics. Table: DC Office of Planning

Ave. SE, turns down Fairlawn Ave. SE, takes a south turn on 18th St. SE, heads east on S St. SE, turns south on 22nd St. SE, heads east again on Retta Gilliam Court SE, extends east in a straight line to Fort Circle Park, before turns south again on Good Hope Rd. SE and finally follows Naylor Rd. SE to the District Line. Map 1 retracts the western borders of Ward 6 in Shaw ceding them to Ward 2. The new line snakes along P St. NW to Ninth St. NW, then heads west briefly along N St. NW, before turning south again to M St. NW, then heading east to Seventh St. NW where

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

it turns south to follow Massachusetts Ave. NW to Independence Ave. NW. The map makes an additional adjustment on Ward 5’s western border retracting to North Capitol St. and Harewood Rd. NW. This places Washington Hospital Center and the US Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home squarely in Ward 1. The borders of Wards 3 and 4 remain unchanged.

Map 2

The second draft map moves the western border of Ward 7 west across the river in the

Map 3 moves Southwest to Ward 8. The new Ward 8 borders Ward 2 along 14th St. NW and Independence Ave. SW. The border with Ward 6 begins at Seventh St. SW, follows Independence Ave. SW to Washington Ave. SW, where it heads south along South Capitol St. to the Douglass Bridge. There, it extends north along the Anacostia River to the Sousa Bridge, where it meets Ward 7. Ward 8’s border with the new Ward 7 snakes from the bridge east along Pennsylvania Ave. SE. It turns south along 25th St. SE and Naylor Rd., then heads west along Alabama Ave. SE. Here, it cuts a jagged line along the edges of Fort Dupont Park and Bruce Ave. SE, until turning east along Suitland Parkway SE to the District Line. The change transfers Skyland, Woodland, Garfield Heights and Knox Hill Dwellings back into Ward 7. Map 3 also extends Ward 7 further into the current Ward 6. Their new border extends from Benning Rd. NE south along 19th St. SE and west along Potomac Ave. SE. After that it heads south along 17th St. SE to Barney Circle and Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Map 3 pulls the western border of Ward 6 to New York Ave. NW and Seventh St. NW. It then snakes it along Constitution Ave. NW before heading south on Washington Ave., moving The US Capitol completely into the ward. Ward 5 gains a few census tracts along border with Ward 6 near the intersection of New York and New Jersey Ave’s NW. Wards 1, 3 and 4 would remain unchanged.

Comparing The Alternatives

The District’s Charter fixes the number of wards at eight. The DC Code dictates that the city’s population must be apportioned equally (one person, one vote) among the wards, with no more than a 5% deviation permitted. Dividing the city’s 2020 population (689,545) by eight yields 86,193. To be legal, a redistricting plan must limit the population of each ward to between 81,883 and 90,504. All three draft maps keep the ward populations with the legal 5% percent deviation. However, that is all they have in common. Map 1 has a 7,924 difference between the populations of its largest and smallest. Map 2 has a similar 6,915

HELP DECIDE D.C.’S NEW WARD BOUNDARIES!

It’s time for redistricting! By law, D.C.’s 8 wards need to be roughly equal in population. According to the 2020 Census, Ward 6 needs to shrink while Wards 7 and 8 need to grow!

NEW THIS YEAR, REDISTRICTING DIY! You can draw your own map and submit it to the D.C. Council for consideration! Go to DCredistricting.esriemcs.com with training tool links available at elissasilverman.com/redistricting.

SUBMIT TESTIMONY BY NOVEMBER 12:

Email your thoughts to redistricting@dccouncil.us or call us at 202-350-1521

E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news

All three drafts maps decrease the share of Blacks in the new Ward 6: Map 1 by 1.2%; Map 2 by 2.69% and Map 3 by 5.37%. The new Ward 2 would be home to a Black population of between 10 to 12%. However, the largest impact on DC politics would be the racial composition of the new Ward 8.

Winning the New Ward 8

Draft Map 3: DC Office of Planning

Table Showing Map 3 Ward Demographics. Table: DC Office of Planning

difference. Map 3 has the lowest difference in ward populations at 2,816; and therefore is closest to the ideal of one-person-one-vote.

Three Alternatives

Draft Map 1 reduces Ward 6’s population 23.84% to 82,409; 25.25% Black (20,806). The plan increases the Ward 8’s population 8.67% to 85,965; 12.97% white (11,146). The population of the new Ward 7 grows 15.31% to 90,039 with no change in racial demographics. The new Ward 2 grows by .43% to 82,261; 9.84% Black (8,096). Ward 5’s population falls slightly to 88,725. Ward 1’s in-

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

creases 5.4% to 90,185. Wards 3 and 4 remain unchanged. Draft Map 2 reduces Ward 6 population 23.57% to 82,702; 23.77% Black (19,661). Ward 2 grows 5.05% to 86,267; 11.56% Black (9,974). Ward 8 expands 10.73% to 87,947, 11.97% white (10,516). Ward 7 grows 11.55% to 86,220, 8.65% white (7,455). Wards 3 and 4 are not impacted. Draft Map 3 reduces Ward 6’s population 21.09% to 85,378; 22.51% Black (19,220). Ward 2 grows 5.2% to 86,397; 11.45% Black (9,891). Ward 8 increases 9.84% to 87,079; 13.07% white (11,383). Ward 7 grows 9.66% to 84,412 with no impact on its racial composition. Ward 5 shrinks slightly to 87,228. Wards 3 and 4 are not impacted.

All the three draft maps create a substantial white population in Ward 8 of between 12 to 13%. This could have implications in future contests for that ward’s council seat. In the 2020 Democratic primary, voters in Ward 8 cast 8,977 ballots, while those in Ward 6 cast 18,873. The four voting precincts in Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D collectively accounted for 4,392 votes. The highest two were King Greenleaf (#127) at 1,478 and Arthur Capper Community Center (#131) at 1,353. The average voter participation was 29.27%, 11 points over Ward 8’s average. Ward 8 has historically had the lowest voter turnout in the city, 18.13% in the 2020 Democratic primary, a national contest. In an offcycle election with the ward’s DC Council seat not at issue, such as the 2018 Democratic primary, turnout can fall as low as 8.31%. Contrast this with Ward 6, whose percentages were 21.91 and 28.29 respectively. In the 2020 Democratic primary, Councilmember Trayon White (D) coasted to victory with 5,062 votes, while his challengers collectively garnered a mere 3,032. Adding several thousand highly motivated voters, many of them white, to Ward 8’s electorate would certainly alter the election dynamics. In the end, any redistricting plan has to earn a majority on the three-member committee and then on the 13-member DC Council. Silverman has stated her intention to forge a solution worthy of support from a majority of her colleagues. It remains to be seen what part of Ward 6 will be voted off the island. The draft redistricting maps are available on the DC Office of Planning’s redistricting application (https://dcredistricting.esriemcs.com/redistricting/) as starting templates or at At Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman’s (I) website (https://elissasilverman.com/redistricting). u

THE WARD 7 MAIN STREET ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY

SHOP SMALL ~ SHOP LOCAL

SHOP WARD 7!

Small Business Saturday, November 27, 2021

www.mhcdo.org latkins@mhcdo.org

minnesotaavemainstreet.org sarchibald@wacif.org

www.wardseven.com info@wardseven.com

SAVE THE DATE:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR

Are you a CBE (Certified Business Enterprise)? Is your business based in Ward 7 or Ward 8? www.mhcdo.org latkins@mhcdo.org

minnesotaavemainstreet.org sarchibald@wacif.org

Join us for the East of the River CBE Networking Mixer www.wardseven.com info@wardseven.com

Meet and network with yourMURIEL counterparts, BOWSER, MAYOR our Main Street organizations and Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Thursday, December 2, 2021 For more information visit: wardseven.com www.mhcdo.org latkins@mhcdo.org

minnesotaavemainstreet.org sarchibald@wacif.org

www.wardseven.com info@wardseven.com

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR

www.mhcdo.org latkins@mhcdo.org

minnesotaavemainstreet.org sarchibald@wacif.org

www.wardseven.com info@wardseven.com

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR

www.mhcdo.org latkins@mhcdo.org

minnesotaavemainstreet.org sarchibald@wacif.org

www.wardseven.com info@wardseven.com

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR

E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news

Citizens Voice Concerns About Redistricting

In Public Meetings New Ward Boundaries Questioned

he District’s redistricting process, undertaken every ten years to balance the population of all eight wards, is well underway. On Nov. 1, the Subcommittee on Redistricting, which directs the work of DC Council, released three draft maps for comment. In each, the borders of Wards 7 and 8 shift across the river to include communities currently located in Ward 6. Among residents on the east side of the river there seems to be consensus on—or resignation to — the broad movement of the lines on the map. However, in public meetings, residents expressed concern with the impact of redistricting on their communities. Residents repeatedly raised themes of economic development, racial identity, gentrification and representation. Many said they are worried about the impact of a “new” Ward 7 and Ward 8.

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Redistricting

Economics

All of the District’s wards grew in the last decade. Ward 7 expanded by 6.3 percent and Ward 8 by 6.6 percent. But Ward 6 grew by an astounding 41.6 percent, driven by tremendous development and an influx of largely affluent, white residents. Many residents said redistricting was an opportunity to distribute that opportunity and the resources and amenities that come with it. “Unfortunately, this process is about equal representation in political power,” Subcommittee Chair Elissa Silverman told a meeting of the Ward 8 Democrats. “It’s not about equal representation in economic power, which maybe it should be, because that’s where we really have inequities in our city. But many residents placed economic arguments at the basis of their proposals to redraw political boundaries for Wards 7 and 8. Many argued that redistricting was the opportunity for historically Black communities to have a voice in District development. At the Subcommittee hearing on Ward 8, Commissioner Jamila White (8A05) said that including upand-coming neighborhoods in a newly defined Ward 8 could allow a wider section of the community to benefit from growth. White proposed leveraging development on the west side of the Anacostia to get additional amenities on the east side. “Development will have to shape not only the whole ward, but the whole city,” White told Silverman during the Ward 8 hearing. At the Oct. 16 meeting of the Ward 8 Democrats, Chair Troy Donté Prestwood said many people see redistricting as an opportunity to loop additional grocery stores into Ward 8. “I think psychologically, it does make a difference for many people in our ward,” Prestwood said. “It is a thing.” Commissioner Brian Thompson (8A03) proposed that the area east and south of the river be represented by council members from Wards 6, 7 and Silverman pointed out that re8. Screenshot: DC Granicus/DC Council Video 16

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

The process of redefining electoral districts is undertaken by every state (and DC) every ten years, designed to ensure that every vote carries equal weight. DC Council has appointed a Redistricting Subcommittee to direct this work. Chaired by At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I), it also includes two other at-large members, Anita Bonds (D) and Christina Henderson (I). In 2020, 689,545 people lived in DC. The Council has to make sure each of the eight wards will have a roughly equal population, about 86,193 residents. To do that, the lines must be redrawn to place at least 17,699 Ward 6 residents in another ward, and to place 3,370 more in Ward 7 and 5,628 in Ward 8.

WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE Savings in store and online

simplywide.com Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots • Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking • Cradles • Easy Street

drawing ward boundaries will not improve access to amenities. “Those folks who are struggling to get to a grocery store now are still going to be struggling to get to a grocery store after redistricting, unless we drive economic development where it needs to go and incentivize economic development in parts of Wards 7 and 8, where we need to do that,” Silverman told Prestwood. But there was no consensus on the potential economic benefits of redistricting among the subcommittee. At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds said that redistricting is not unrelated to economic power. “Your boundaries do kind of help you, assist you in where development is,” she said at the Oct. 18 meeting of the subcommittee.

Practical Concerns

However, many argued that expanding those boundaries to include affluent residents could be a double-edged sword. At the Ward 7 subcommittee meeting, DC Health Alliance Network Founder Ambrose Lane said an increase in area median income (AMI) might stimulate development. But he worried that the resulting shift in data such as health statistics could affect access to programs and services for those in need. There are practical differences between the communities in Wards 7 and 8 and those that could be added. One is in how they communicate, residents said. If a future councilmember relies on online messaging, some parts of the community will be more informed than others on matters that could affect their lives. At the Ward 7 meeting, Commissioner Dorothy Douglass (7D03) said that many residents weren’t even aware that redistricting was happening. “How you all going to make sure those that can’t read, those that don’t have computers, those that want [to] can address these issues?” Douglas asked. Residents said they are worried they will lose part of their collective identity. Commissioner Brittany Cummings (8E06) said that residents have expressed concern that adding more affluent white neighborhoods like Navy Yard or The Wharf to Ward 8 could lead to DC becoming less Black. “DC has already lost so much of its Black population that the ‘Chocolate City’ nickname doesn’t always feel like it applies,” said Cummings. “We really want to make sure that we’re doing all we can to keep DC and keep the ward Black and not help gentrification continue to displace residents.” But others argued for greater diversity. Ward 7 Commissioner Delia Houseal (7E06) said that

she would like to see Ward 7 reflect more of the diversity and richness of the differing cultures and socioeconomic statuses that exist throughout the District. “There is strength in diversity,” Houseal said. “I think there is value in mixing both individuals from different social demographic characteristics and backgrounds.”

Representation

Councilmember Henderson asked attendees of the Ward 7 meeting if they had any concerns about political representation that might come with the change in Ward 8 demographics when Ward 6 residents are included. Commissioner Salim Adofo (8C07) said he did not see the addition of a few thousand people, not all of whom would be eligible voters, as having a significant impact on Council elections. Still, others said they feared that redistricting could lead to a loss of political voice. Commissioner White said she grew up in Barney Circle. When that neighborhood moved into Ward 6 as part of a previous redistricting, she said it felt like the neighborhood lost their voice and made it difficult to advocate for change. Now she feared the same thing might happen to her current neighborhood, Anacostia. ”If Anacostia were to go back to Ward 6, would we really have that voice? Would we be overshadowed? Because we know that those with the greatest money usually have the greatest influence,” White said. Conversely, she said bringing historically Black communities of the Ward 6 waterfront into Ward 8 would give them a louder voice in allegiance with neighborhoods east of the river. But others argued for more representation, proposing Wards 6, 7 and 8 be redrawn to the east and south of the river so that more council members could speak to area concerns. Commissioner Brian Thompson (8A03) said such a change would help get rid of what he called “the whole ‘east of the river’ stigma,” bringing more economic areas into Ward 8 but also facilitating greater interaction between people in different neighborhoods. “I want people living in a condo in Navy Yard to meet people from Congress Heights at Ward 8 events,” said Thompson. The final city-wide redistricting hearing will take place at noon on Friday, Nov. 5. Watch it live at https://dccouncil.us/council-videos/ Learn more about the redistricting process by visiting https://www.elissasilverman.com/redistricting. ◆

10 off

All Sales

Limited Time simplywide.com

Lots & Lots

All Day Comfort

Wide Width Shoes

4279 Branch Avenue Marlow Heights, MD 20748

301-702 1401

E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news

Six Dead on District Roads in Six Weeks Seven Have Died Since DC Auditor Announced Review of Vision Zero Program Chart showing traffic deaths in DC, 2001-20. Image: MPD.

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ix people died on District roads in the 18 days between Oct. 9 and Oct. 26, according to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reports. The dead include two pedestrians, two drivers and the operators of two motorbikes. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) launched the Vision Zero program in 2015 to reduce traffic deaths to zero by 2024. Since 2015, the number of deaths on District roads has increased, except for a dip in 2019. So far in 2021, 35 people have died, a 9% increase over this time last year. In 2020, 37 people died, the highest number of traffic deaths in 14 years. The deaths include seven since Sept. 23, when the DC Auditor announced a 10-month review of Vision Zero. The audit seeks to determine if the program has been implemented equitably throughout the District. It will include interviews with staff members and stakeholders as well as a review of laws, policies and procedures, budget and expenditure reports and program data. “Our audits and evaluations provide valuable insight regarding whether an agency’s business practices are efficient, its policies and procedures are effective, its internal controls need to be improved, and its programs are delivering the intended results,” wrote DC Auditor Kathy Patterson in the engagement letter. 18

DDOT’s Efforts

DDOT has made efforts to improve traffic safety. It has reduced speed limits on local streets to 20 mph and focused on intersections with high crash levels. It expects that the installation of protected bicycle lanes throughout the city will reduce traffic and lower speeds. Acting DDOT Director Everett Lott welcomed the review. “DDOT has a robust set of safety programs in place to achieve Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero goals, and we look forward to working with the DC Auditor to help increase the public’s understanding of those efforts,” he said in an email. On Oct. 12, DDOT announced a plan to accelerate roadway improvements, such as streamlining internal procedures to complete projects quickly and accelerating the process of installing roadway improvements to protect pedestrians, including curb bump-outs, speed bumps and stop signs. At a press conference two weeks later, Mayor Bowser announced that the program had led to installation of 91 speed humps, 16 stop signs and four right turn hardening devices since the Fall Safety Blitz was introduced. Speaking at that event, Ward 3 Councilmember and DC Council Transportation Committee Chair Mary M. Cheh (D) said the District needed to do more to make streets

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

safer, citing a need for the expeditious resolution of community requests and proactive action. But she said Vision Zero could not be achieved unless the District also combined enforcement and education. “We definitely need enforcement,” Cheh said. “We can have wonderful crosswalks, but if the cars are not following the rules and stopping for pedestrians, that doesn’t help very much.”

Two Pedestrians Killed

Even as DDOT was implementing its program, people continued to die on District streets. On Saturday, Oct. 9, 35-year-old Elizabeth Burdette, of Cowansville, Pa., was killed on the 1200 block of New York Ave. NE. A westbound vehicle stuck her and then fled the scene. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DC FEMS) transported her to an area hospital, but Burdette died on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Police are still searching for the driver. Eight days later, on Sunday, Oct. 17, a man was killed on the 3900 block of Benning Road NE. He was trying to cross the street at 10:07 p.m. when an eastbound 2011 Ford Focus struck him. The driver remained on the scene. DC FEMS responded, but life-saving efforts failed, and 73-year-old Gary Minor, of Northeast DC, was pronounced dead.

Three Motorbike Riders Killed

Five days after the audit of Vision Zero was announced, a 39-year-old on a motorbike was killed when he collided with a Volkswagen traveling in the opposite direction at the intersection of Bowen Road and Ridge Road SE. Police cited the speed of the motorbike as a factor in the crash. Two drivers, one of a motorbike and the other driving a dirt bike, died on Southern Ave. SE when they struck other vehicles. Officers cited the speed of the motorbikes as a factor. At around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, the driver of a Yamaha dirt bike was speeding northbound on the 4700 block of Southern Avenue SE. As the driver of a Chevrolet Equinox going southbound tried to turn onto Boones Hill Road, the Yamaha struck the passenger side door. The impact threw the Yamaha driver from the bike. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment, but 21-year-old Shaun Robinson Jr. succumbed to his injuries the following Monday. A week later, at 12:09 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 25, the driver of a Suzuki motorcycle was going northeast on the 800 block of Southern Avenue. Officers said the motorcycle was speeding when it hit a Metro Transit bus that was turning onto Southview Drive. The impact threw 30-year-old Southeast resident Ronnie Lyons from the Suzuki, and he died at an area hospital.

Two Drivers

Speed also contributed to the deaths of two drivers who died after losing vehicular control. At 2:17 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, the driver of a Kia Optima was speeding down the northbound lane of the 600 block of South Capitol St. SE. When the driver lost control, the car mounted the curb and struck a light pole. The impact threw the driver from the vehicle. DC Fire and DC FEMS transported 38-year-old Jamal Braddy, of Temple Hills, Md., to an area hospital, where he died. A little less than 14 hours later, at 3:58 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 24, a Toyota Camry was speeding southbound on the E Street Expressway. After passing under the tunnel, police said, the vehicle went out of control. It struck a metal guard railing and then a light pole and rolled over. DC FEMS pronounced 24-year-old Saket Kanade of Herndon, Virginia, dead at the scene. Anyone with knowledge of the above incidents should call the MPD at 202-7279099 or text the Department’s Text Tip Line at 50411.

Tools Exist

Tools exist to accelerate roadway safety improvements. The DC Council unanimously passed the Vision Zero Omnibus Act in 2019, which requires roadway improvements under certain conditions, creates stronger enforcement of existing speeding, parking and traffic laws and requires DDOT to update its transportation plan once every two years. That legislation is currently unfunded. On Sept. 28, Councilmembers Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), chairs of the committees on Judiciary and Public Safety and Transportation respectively, wrote Acting Director Lott, asking DDOT to use its resources to implement parts of the legislation. They stated that the agency could have implemented many of the policies regardless of funding. “To put it another way,” they wrote, “you could be ‒ indeed, you and your predecessors could have been for years ‒ doing nearly everything in the Vision Zero legislation, and in so doing, you might have prevented the death of a 5-year-old girl, a 90-year-old woman, or any of the others on our road.” ◆

G E T YO U R B E A N S DELIVERED

660 Pennsylvania Ave SE 1718 14th St. NW Union Market www.peregrineespresso.com E AST

OF THE

Order With Joe’s Coffee App

JOE.COFFEE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news

Our River: The Anacostia With RiverSmart Homes You Can Help the Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski

e all know that part of the pollution in our river, the Anacostia, comes from runoff and overflow of storm water and that all homeowners are contributors. But what we don’t all know is that an effective and active program pays homeowners a large part of the cost of reducing or eliminating the pollutants and

A Benning Ridge home’s rain barrel. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

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

the volume of the runoff from their property, and getting other benefits in return. Let’s take a look at what RiverSmart Homes can offer. It is a program of the DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) carried out under contract with the nonprofit Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The DOEE and the alliance recently gave a tour of RiverSmart projects in the Benning Ridge neighborhood of Anacostia, bordered by C and D streets SE Rain garden, permeable pavers and a rain barrel. Photo: Bill Matuszeski and Texas Avenue. Project representatives and enthusiasThe visible results are beautiful yards everytic homeowners shared their experiences where you look! Less immediately visible results with the program. The owners have beauare the benefits to our river and the streams leadtified their properties, are saving on utility ing into it, paid for in part by generous homeownbills and have improved on the use of rainers who have dedicated funds and hard work to water and drainage controls. The benefits to the Anacostia. the District and the Anacostia are improved Some of the most enthusiastic expressions for water quality, reduced levels of herbicides, progress came from staff of the Alliance for the pesticides and fertilizers, and more stable Chesapeake Bay who were on the tour. Projects Assoils to prevent erosion. sociate Amanda Bland pointed out, “After so many How is this funded, and how much of it ‘virtual’ events over the past year, it is wonderful to does the homeowner pay? In most cases, a be with residents in their own community talking homeowner’s co-payment covers the costs about solutions to stormwater issues.” that are providing clear benefits for them. Her colleague Carly Starobin added, “I like For example, rain barrels carry a one-time working in the Anacostia – people here have a strong charge of $50-70. They capture roof runconnection to the river.” off and make it available for watering plants, So, what are the next steps to creating a RiverSwashing the car or whatever, thus saving on mart Home on your property? the bill from DC Water. The homeowner First, make an application online at www.doee. also pays $100 per 50 square feet of rain dc.gov/get-riversmart or by phone to the DOEE at gardens or 120 square feet of bayscaping. 202-535-2600. After you submit the completed apThere is no owner charge for shade trees, plication, you will join the waitlist for a site audit. and only $10 per square foot for replaceThe audit examines ground slope, roof size, paved ment of impermeable surfaces with permeareas, existing gardens, shade and the like as the baable pavers, and $5 per square foot to resis for deciding which projects are most appropriate place them with vegetation.

for the property. The wait-time for the audit averages two to four months, and you must be present at the audit, which usually takes about a half hour. You will receive the auditor’s report with recommendations for features and projects on your property. You then tell DOEE what features you wish to have installed. The alliance or the contractor will coordinate the installation. The timeline for co-payments will vary by project and completion time. After completion, your primary duty is to enjoy and maintain the features consistent with information provided at the

Front garden partnership with a rain barrel. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

time of installation and also available online at www.riversmarthomes.com. Everybody wins with RiverSmart Homes, especially the Anacostia! Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River and the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of the Friends of the National Arboretum and on citizen advisory committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia rivers. ◆

“High quality design and preservation framing are our top priorities” Serving Capitol Hill since 1984 Custom designed mats • Wide selection • Work done on premises 513 11TH ST. SE (EASTERN MARKET METRO)

202.544.7577 www.newmangallery.com ROTAT I N G E X H I B I TS O F LO C A L A RT I S TS E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news

Photo: Aaron

Schwartz

Tree Planting in Oxon Run Park

On Oct. 22, employees of the National Cherry Blossom Festival joined three-time event sponsor Chase for a tree-planting ceremony in Oxon Run Park in Ward 8 in honor of the first 30 children who earned a Blossom Badge through the festival’s Blossom Kids program (www.NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org).

“A Chorus Within Her”

Through Nov. 14, the first live production of Theater Alliance’s 2021-22 season, “A Chorus Within Her,” uses the lens of women’s experience to interrogate and explore the pandemic year. Poets, choreographers and actors have spent months conducting Zoom interviews, issuing social media surveys, mining their own identities and experiences to create an experiential evening of theater. $25 to $35. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. www.theateralliance.com

Southwest Nights at Arena Stage

People who reside or work in Southwest DC can buy discounted tickets for specially designated Southwest Night performances of each production. Tickets are $36 for musicals and $26 for non-musicals, plus fees. Proof of South-

west DC residency or employment for each member of the party must be presented at the time of pick-up. Tickets are based on availability. Upcoming Southwest Nights are: “Celia and Fidel,” Nov. 18, 8 p.m.; “Seven Guitars,” Dec. 24, 8 p.m.; “Change Agent,” Jan. 27, 8 p.m.; “Catch Me If You Can,” March 11, 8 p.m.; “Cambodian Rock Band,” April 13, 7:30 p.m.; “Drumfolk,” June 1, 7:30 p.m.; “American Prophet,” July 19, 7:30 p.m. www.arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs

“Umbrella” Art Show

From Nov. 12 to 14, the DC creative agency No Kings Collective and Events DC are bringing together more than 100 artists and independent curators for the second Umbrella art show. This free event will take place across 25,000 square feet of retail space at the new Collection 14, 1400 W

“Ice and Lights” at Cameron Run

The “Ice and Lights” holiday show at Winter Village features ice skating, an interactive orb field, starland display, a 100-foot tunnel arch, a walk-through tree, food concessions and light displays. It is open daily, Nov. 19 to Jan. 2, from 5:30 to 10 p.m.; ice skating only on weekends and holidays, Jan. 8 to Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Village admission is $9 per person (under two, free) and $22 which includes skating. Winter Village at Cameron Run is at 4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, Virginia. www.novaparks. com/events/ice-lights 22

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

St. NW. Umbrella is on Friday, Nov. 12, from 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday Nov. 13, noon to midnight, and Sunday, Nov. 14, noon to 8 p.m. A ticket is required for entry. For free tickets, visit the Eventbrite link.

Food & Friends’ Slice of Life Thanksgiving Pie Sale

Now in its 15th year, Slice of Life has become a metro-area tradition. Pie sellers and pie teams come together to raise money, ensuring that neighbors facing serious illnesses can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal complete with two delicious pies. Each pie is baked fresh by gourmet bakery Whisked and picked up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at a conveniently located site. Choose from apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and sea-salt chocolate chess pie. Each sale provides a full day’s worth of nutritious meals for a neighbor in need. Place orders by Friday, Nov. 19. www.sliceoflifedc.org

Flu Shots at Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

District walk-up vaccination sites have begun offering annual flu shots. Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE, and Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE, now offer flu shots for residents ages three and older, in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations for those who are eligible. Like the COVID-19 vaccine, flu shots are free at the District’s walk-up vaccination sites. While residents are encouraged to bring their insurance information, it is not required. Individuals without insurance will still receive vaccination. No one will be turned away and no one will be charged. www.vaccinate.dc.gov

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer program.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Qualified District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Veterans Day Observance at The Wall

The Vietnam Veterans Day Observance at The Wall is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 11, from 1 to 2 p.m. On this day, prominent Americans will come to the memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. To RSVP for this ceremony, visit www.vvmf.org/2021-veterans-day. A broadcast of the event will be available on this page and VVMF’s Facebook page. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is at Constitution Avenue and 21st St. NW. www.vvmf.org

Ice Skating at Fort Dupont

Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Place SE, is open for public skating through the end of 2021 on Sunday, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.; Friday, noon to 2 p.m. Adult admission is $5; kids, $4. Skate rental is $3. www.fdia.org.

Holiday Boat Parade

More than 60 decorated boats will cruise the Washington Channel in the District’s Holiday Boat Parade, at The Wharf, on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. Landside holiday activities will include ornament decorating, live music under a lighted Christmas tree and family photos with Santa. The parade is part of a holiday tradition with the Alexandria Parade of Lights earlier in the evening. Boaters participating in both events have the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes, but captains must sign up for the DC and Alexandria parades separately. Attendance is free and open to the public, and no registration is required to view the parade and enjoy the live music and activities. www.wharfdc.com

dom Plaza. The in-person race, timed or untimed, runs on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 25, along with the Little Turkey One-Miler and a family-friendly festival. The schedule begins with registration at 7 a.m., followed by the Little Turkey One-Miler at 8:30 a.m. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. The family-friendly festival returns this year with music, games, the Kids’ One Mile Little Turkey Fun Run and live entertainment. Funds from the event benefit neighbors in need by providing food, housing, access to healthcare, employment training and long-term comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Create a team, join a team or register as an individual for $40. Kids 10 and under can register as Little Turkeys for a one-mile run. See the Kids & Family section in the back of this paper. www.some.org

Free Capital Bikeshare Membership

Mayor Bowser and Lyft have announced that to ease travel disruptions caused by reduced Metrorail service, Capital Bikeshare is offering a free 30-day membership to all DC residents. To participate, riders should go to the “Ride Plans” section of the Capital Bikeshare or Lyft Mobile app,

or the “Pricing” section, www.capitalbikeshare.com, and select a 30-day membership for $0. Registered residents may take free, unlimited 45-minute rides on the red classic Capital Bikeshare bikes, without an unlocking or travel fee. Rides longer than 45 minutes will cost five cents a minute for a pedal bike. E-bike rides will cost 10 cents a minute from the first minute, a 33% discount from the normal rate. Taxes and out-of-hub fees will be charged separately. Participants will need a credit card and phone number.

Solar for All

On Oct. 27, Mayor Bowser launched a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs and the Department of Energy & Environment to help residents participate in the Solar for All and Solar Works DC programs. Not just for people who own homes or who have solar panels, the effort enables participants to lower their energy bills by receiving solar power, either directly on the roof or through community solar, if their household income meets the required threshold. www.doee.dc.gov/service/solar-works-dc

The Clara on MLK. Image: dp+partners

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade

On Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon, see larger-than-life turkeys and penguins, glittering floats, marching bands, and Santa and his elves at the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. The DC metro area’s only Thanksgiving parade steps off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue. It is televised live on News Channel 8 and rerun on Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K

SOME (So Others Might Eat) sponsors a time-honored DC tradition, the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K, on Free24

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

“My Children! My Africa!” by Athol Fugard

Mr. M seeks to provide a future for his prize pupil Thami by forming a debate team with Isabel, a bright student from the local white school. But Mr. M’s hopes for Thami are challenged by their generational divide and the political violence brewing outside the classroom. “My Children! My Africa!” is at Washington Stage Guild, Nov. 11 to Dec. 5. $50 to $60 at the Undercroft Theatre of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. www.stageguild.org

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Reopens To Finance Affordable Housing in Ward 8

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) closed out fiscal year 2021 by issuing more than $53 million in tax exempt bonds for the construction of 182 affordable apartment homes ‒ The Clara in Ward 8. The agency issued $19.7 million in tax exempt bonds and underwrote $16.9 million in LIHTCs. Additional funding included a $14 million HPTF loan. 20 apartments will be reserved for residents earning 30% or less of area median income (AMI), and the remaining 61 will be reserved for those earning 50% or less. The development will consist of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes. Amenities will include an underground garage with additional surface-level parking, bike storage, fitness center, service space featuring an Amazon Hub and more than 5,000 square feet of retail space. Banneker Ventures and Medina Living Ideas for Family Excellence Community Development Corporation make up the development team. www.dchfa.org

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink will reopen on Nov. 19 (free hot chocolate on opening weekend). Located on the National Mall at Constitution Avenue between Seventh and Ninth streets NW, the rink will operate through March 6, weather permitting. It will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Skating sessions begin on the hour. Two 45-minute sessions cost $10 for adults and children 13 and over; $9 for adults 60+, children 12 and under, military servicemembers and students with ID. Skate rentals are $5, and

ANC-8B

Monthly Community Meetings 3rd Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm

Agenda:

4th Qtr QFR • FY 22 Budget • Commissioner Phones

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! bat

10% OFF

LIST PRICE ON ANY EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS *Exp.11/30/2021

Ava U ilab l

$25 OFF Any Service Call *Exp.11/30/2021

18 Month, 0% Interest Financing

FAST SERVICE FAST INSTALLATION

Serving Washington DC Since 2001 • Residential & Light Commercial • Roof Top Package Units • Highly Experienced Technicians • Low Prices • Free Estimates On Replacements • Convenient Financing • Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Specializing in:

Equipment: Change outs & Complete Ductwork Systems + High Velocity Systems WE SERVICE & INSTALL ALL MAKES & MODELS

ZOOM Virtual Login: Meeting ID: 516 894 8849 Passcode: OxBqv8

By Phone: 1-301-715-8592 Passcode: 714931

ALL ARE WELCOME

202-333-1310

www.polarbearairconditioning.com All Credit Cards Accepted

E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Downtown Holiday Market Opens for Season

The Downtown Holiday Market, at F Street, between Seventh and Ninth streets NW, is open daily from Nov. 19 to Dec. 23 (closed Thanksgiving Day and Dec. 6), noon to 8 p.m. This year’s retail lineup of more than 70 exhibitors includes black-owned and minority-owned businesses from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development’s Made in DC program. Six food vendors will provide tasty treats and hot beverages. New features include a live stage of regional performers. www.downtownholidaymarket.com

ter actors portraying Washington’s family, friends and enslaved or hired staff. $36 for adults; $28 for youth. www.mountvernon.org

Donate A/C Units to Community Forklift

Residents who are removing air-conditioning units in preparation for cooler weather and thinking about discarding them should consider donating to Community Forklift. Every year Community Forklift provides dozens of free air-conditioners to households with limited incomes. Bring unneeded window or in-room air conditioning units (under 10 years of age and including all their pieces) to the reuse warehouse at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, Maryland. Open daily, noon to 5 p.m. www.communityforklift.org

Annual DPW Leaf Collection

Beginning in November, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will make two one-week leaf-collection passes in every neighborhood. Residents should rake leaves into the tree box in front of the home or at the curb on the Sunday before a scheduled collection week. Leaves collected from DPW-services households will be composted. DPW-serviced households that miss leaf collection can bring leaves to the Fort Totten or Benning Road transfer stations. Call 311 to place a Leaf Season Collection service request, but place this request at the end of the scheduled week. Bad weather may disrupt the collection schedule. A brochure sent in the mail will detail the collection program and scheduled collection week. www.dpw.dc.gov/es/service/leaf-collection

Change of Drop-Off Hours at Fort Totten

lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. www.nga.gov

National Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse

Hailed by international media as “the most prominent public Chanukah event in the world,” the annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah, on the Ellipse, just across from the White House, helps launch and strengthen the celebration of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, in all 50 states and over 100 countries globally. Tens of millions across the nation and around the world view the lighting of the world’s largest menorah via news broadcasts and other media. This year’s event takes place on Nov. 28, 5 p.m. Request free tickets at www. nationalmenorah.org/tickets.

Washington Harbour Ice Rink Opens

Washington Harbour Ice Rink, 3000 K St. NW, opens for the public skating season on Nov. 12. 26

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Open Sunday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. $10 for adults; $9 for kids, seniors and military; $7 for skate rental. www.thewashingtonharbour.com/iceskating-rink

Disability Justice Virtual Forum at Dance Place

This free virtual series on Dec. 18 will spotlight artists with disabilities, as an extension of Dance Place’s ongoing equity and inclusion work for people with disabilities. www.danceplace.org/livestream

Mount Vernon by Candlelight

On Nov. 26 and 27, Dec. 3 and 4, Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 19, take a candlelit guided tour about holiday traditions in 18th-century Virginia. Visit with Mrs. Washington and other residents in a 45-minute candlelit tour of the Mount Vernon estate, followed by a reception. Learn about holiday traditions and hear stories of Christmases past from costumed charac-

Fort Totten transfer station, 4900 John McCormack Rd. NE, has new residential drop-off hours. Drop-off is now available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, the station will no longer accept household hazardous waste and electronics. Residents should instead bring household hazardous waste and electronics recyclables to the Benning Road station, 3200 Benning Rd. NE, on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Benning Road Transfer Station will also offer document shredding on the first Saturday of every month, beginning Nov. 6.

Ticket Amnesty Extended

The District has extended its Ticket Amnesty Program deadline to Dec. 31, 2021. Until the end of the year, District and non-District drivers have the opportunity to pay outstanding tickets for parking, photo enforcement and minor moving violations without the doubling penalty. www.ticketamnesty.dc.gov

Hypothermia Alerts

Hypothermia alerts activate when the National Weather Service forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32 F or below; or when the temperature is forecasted to be 40 F or below and the chance of precipitation is 50% or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To report a person outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shel-

New Private Session & Membership Special! Hot Yoga Hot Pilates Barre and HIIT Yoga Sculpt Pilates/Yoga Fusion Hot Vinyasa Flow “A Snowy Nite at the Dew Drop Inn”

From Dec. 11 to Jan. 9, Anacostia Playhouse’s madcap Dew Drop performers are letting the good times roll in the rowdiest juke joint on earth. Building on 2019’s smash hit, they revisit some great music with songs made famous by Big Mama Thornton, Fats Waller, Etta James and Dinah Washington, just to name a few. $35. The Anacostia Playhouse is at 2020 Shannon Place SE. www. anacostiaplayhouse.org

ter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, address or location of the sighting and a description of the person’s appearance.

6-Month Unlimited + 6 Private Sessions

Annual Membership + 6 Private Sessions

$1386

$1796

• Receive six private one-on-one sessions for less than half the price! • Sessions can be done with or without a mask and customized to fit your wellness needs.

Activate your membership and help keep our local community studio thriving! Buy at: www.hotyogacapitolhill.com 410 H St. NE • 202-547-1208 • hotyogacapitolhill@gmail.com

Find a Vaccination

Enter a Zip Code and get vaccination sites within one, five, 10 miles and farther from home, anywhere in the nation. Get information on incentives, childcare and free rides. Call 1-800-232-0233 or visit www. vaccines.gov.

Unique Identity Posters, Customized For Your Favorite Little Person!

DC’s COVID-19 Hotline

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

Ward 7’s Parkside Pedestrian Bridge

The recently opened Parkside Pedestrian Bridge in Ward 7 provides safe and accessible mobility opportunities for residents. It directly and safely connects the Mayfair neighborhood and Parkside development with the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail and bus transfer stations and the Deanwood community. www.ddot.dc.gov/page/parkside-pedestrian-bridge ◆

Choose your name, size and color combination. Printed on museum-quality, enhanced matte poster. Shipped directly to your door.

PisforPoster.com @ pisforposter (made by the Hill Rag’s art director)

E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

east washington life

Physicians to Vaccinate District Children DC Health Says Parents Prefer Healthcare to School Settings

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

n Oct. 26, a committee of vaccine advisors for the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) voted in favor of recommending emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years, according to CNN. Reports indicate that school districts are considering the use of schools as vaccination sites. According to the Denver Post, for example, Denver Public Schools is planning to offer the vaccine to kids aged 5 to 11 at school, in addition to 18 schoolbased clinics already on site to offer the vaccine to students aged 12 and older. On Friday, Oct. 29 the District announced initial plans to get the COVDr. LaQuandra Nesbitt speaks at the Sept. 20 situational update. ID-19 vaccine to children.The District is Screenshot: Twitter @MayorBowser expected to initially receive 24,600 doses, said the Office of Mayor Muriel Bowsservices,” Nesbitt said. “It was true for the 12-toer (D). Those will be distributed to phar15-year-old population; we expect it to be true for macies, hospitals and health centers across DC. 5-to-11-year-olds and we expect it to be true for 0-to-4-year-olds when it is their turn,” she continued. “So, we will continue to focus on engaging Focus on Healthcare Providers healthcare providers in the District of Columbia DC Health said it is working to ensure healthcare proto be part of that outreach.” viders are ready to vaccinate the city’s 46,010 children aged 5 to 11 but is not planning to administer the vaccine through the schools. Instead, it will focus on healthPop Up Clinics care providers, whom a representative characterized as To provide additional opportunities for access, “key to ensuring access to the vaccine.” families will also be able to go to District oper“Surveys conducted nationally indicated that parents ated pop-up sites set up specifically for 5 to 11 prefer for their children to receive vaccinations in healthyear olds. While the District will not use public care settings,” DC Health said in a statement. “DC vaccischools as the primary site to administer the vacnation data strongly supports this preference, and we will cine to students, they will use schools as sites for continue to work with healthcare providers to increase these clinics. the number of access points throughout the community.” No pre-registration will be required for popAt a Sept. 20 press conference, DC Health Director up clinics. Additional information, including days Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt was asked about plans to vacciand hours of operation for the pop-up clinics will nate children. “We have learned that parents prefer to go become available in the upcoming days, said a repto their family doctor or to their pediatrician for these 28

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

resentative for the Mayor. Asked if vaccination might become compulsory for school attendance, DC Health would only say that it is not currently required. DC Public Schools (DCPS) did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication but has said it would follow the lead of DC Health. Dr. Nesbitt said that the outreach for 5-to-11-year-olds is really about helping parents

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

east washington life

Changing Hands to have confidence in vaccinating their children. She said that the best strategy is to convey how the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks, and to help parents understand that vaccination is the best protection.

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.

1537 Fort Dupont St SE

HILL CREST

What’s Next

Even if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA grant a EUA, children 5 to 11 are at least a week away from getting their first dose. The FDA will consider the committee recommendation before making its decision. If CDC Director Rochelle Walensky approves, vaccination could begin nationally as early as the following week, starting Nov. 8, CNN reported. The recommended dose for children is a third that of adults ‒ 10 micrograms to the adult dose of 30 micrograms, said a representative for Pfizer. It will be packaged 10 doses per vial, with a unique label and different-colored cap. “The pediatric doses will be available in smaller packaging configurations to better suit the needs of pediatric clinics,” the representative said. That means new vaccines need to be ordered for children. DC Health said it anticipates being able to order vaccines once the CDC approves the EUA. The Biden administration said Oct. 20 that there will be sufficient supplies of the Pfizer vaccine for eligible children. The White House told the Associated Press that about 15 million doses could be shipped to providers in the first week after approval by the CDC and FDA. According to Pfizer, clinical trials indicate the vaccine is 90% successful in preventing asymptomatic infection in children aged 5 to 11. As of Oct. 26, the Washington Post Vaccine Tracker reported that 73.7% of the District’s population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 62.1%, or 431,798 people, fully vaccinated. See COVID-19 data for the District by visiting www.coronavirus.dc.gov/data/vaccination. u

2106 32nd St SE 2701 Minnesota Ave SE

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

$550,000 $368,000

LILY PONDS 219 Anacostia Ave NE 3728 Burnham Pl NE

$423,000 $395,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5300 Bass Pl SE 5424 B St SE

$575,000 $350,000

OLD CITY #1 1619 Trinidad Ave NE 114 16th St NE

$810,000 $708,000

3 3 3 3 4 5 2 3 2

TRINIDAD

NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE BR

1704 Montello Ave NE $830,000 4 1827 L St NE $670,000 2 1629 Lang Pl NE $470,000 2

FEE SIMPLE

CONDO ANACOSTIA BARRY FARMS 2517 West St SE 1820 Minnesota Ave SE

$260,000 $220,000

CAPITOL HILL EAST 449 17th St SE

$768,380

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 140 Wilmington Pl SE 4303 S Capitol St SW 149 Darrington St SW 468 Lebaum St SE 305 Atlantic St SE 3326 12th St SE

$599,000 $510,000 $415,000 $290,000 $277,550 $275,000

2 3

2601 Douglass Rd SE #403

602 Kentucky Ave SE #B 1516 K St SE #3A

4 4 2 3 2 2

$300,000

CAPITOL HILL EAST $842,500 $425,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 4725 1st St SW #101

$71,000

HILL EAST 1323 K St SE #301

$312,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS

4431 Foote St NE 227 56th St NE 89 58th St SE 4700 Kane Pl NE 4404 Nan. H. Burroughs Ave NE

$485,000 $414,900 $406,000 $335,000 $329,000

FORT DUPONT PARK $575,000 $440,000 $347,000 $308,000

3 3 3 3 3 4 2 2 3

3 3 1 2 1

4442 B St SE #4

$350,000

1413 A St NE #1413 1025 1st SE #314 1520 Independence Ave SE #301

$710,000 $538,000 $459,000

2 1 2

DEANWOOD OLD CITY #1 4508 Dix St NE $510,000 4

1231 45th Pl SE 4337 Gorman Ter SE 4224 Nash St SE 4617 Hillside Rd SE 30

$385,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1715 28th Pl SE #A

$295,000

TRINIDAD 1247 Holbrook Ter NE #2 1016 17th Pl NE #304 1016 17th Pl NE #201 u

$767,000 $364,900 $314,900

4 1 1

Artist: Jay Coleman

Coleman is pictured in studio with a working model for ‘Communessity,’ a completed work now outside Barry Farms Recreation Center. Photo: Elizabeth O’Gorek

IT'S WHAT WE DO. Capital Community News, Inc.

DC’s

#1 Community News Provider

Monthly in Print, Daily Online

eastoftheriverdcnews.com Wards 7 & 8

hillrag.com Ward 6

midcitydcnews.com Wards 1, 2, 4, & 5

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? CONTACT YOUR SALES REP TODAY!

202.543.8300

CAROLINA x12 | KIRA x16 | ANDREW x19 | MARIANA x20 E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

east washington life

Philip Pannell, ACC Executive Director; Diane Groomes, Boat Ride Chair; Lamont Mitchell, ACC Board Chair

The 2021 ACC Boat Ride by Phil Pannell; photos by Lamont Mitchell

n Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. The Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) hosted its 28th boat ride, a tradition interrupted only briefly by the pandemic in 2020. At this “community reunion cruise,” 400 fully vaccinated and temperature-checked guests enjoyed three hours of good food and great weather on the four-deck ship. Live entertainment included a violinist, spoken word performer, an R&B and jazz duo. Of course, there was a Go-Go band. This year’s ACC host sponsor was The District’s new corporate neighbor Amazon. The company was joined by another 11 co-sponsors. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) served as table hosts. The chair of this year's boat ride was former Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes, an ACC board member and director of security for The Wharf. What made ACC's 28th boat ride its most successful was not just the record financial sponsorships, but the delight of reconnecting guests. Many of the participants had not seen one another in person since the beginning of the pandemic. The community needed and ACC delivered a true reunion! Mark your calendars for ACC's 29th luncheon cruise on Oct. 1, 2022, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit www.anacostiacc.org for more information. u

Monica Ray, ACC Board Vice Chair

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson across from Catherine Buell, ACC board member and Amazon staffer

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

Kipp and the band Pure Elegance

Stuart Anderson, ACC Community Engagement Director and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Paulette and Ashaki Holland-Jackson

Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys and Poets and ACC board member, across from his wife Marjan

Sheila Bunn, Vice Chair, Bellevue Neighborhood Civic Association

Kim Ford, President and CEO of Martha’s Table and staffers

Kenny Allen and Company

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Shaw Outdoor Family Story Time

On Saturday, Nov. 13 and 27, at 10:30 a.m., enjoy stories and songs with the little ones at family story time for ages birth through five. These 30-minute story times are full of books, songs, rhymes and fingerplays and are a great way to introduce children to language skills in a positive and fun environment. Meet at the garden at Seaton Elementary School. Enter the garden behind the school via P Street between Ninth and 10th streets NW. Bring blankets or chairs. No advance signup is needed. Show up and find a socially distanced space on the grass by 10:30 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled. www. dclibrary.org/watha

Acoustic Rooster and Indigo Blum

New York Times best-selling author Kwame Alexander brings two of his beloved children’s books, “Acoustic Rooster” and “Indigo Blum,” to the stage in a world-premiere Kennedy Center commission. Alexander tells a story about being scared and being brave. With special guests like Duck Ellington and Ms. Dairy Parton, this musical adaptation will have children and families dancing in their seats. Afterward, dive into a book to keep the fun going: Alexander’s new picture book of the same name is based on this musical. “Acoustic Rooster” and “Indigo Blume,” on stage at the Kennedy Center, Nov. 18 to 27, is most enjoyed by ages five and older. Following select performances, young audience members can ask questions and hear stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with some of the artists. $20. www.kennedy-center.org

Story Time

The National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, offers a story time on Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday in two timed sessions: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the museum is $15.95. www.nationalchildrensmuseum.org

Creating Tomorrow Together

The 2021-22 season of Saturday Morning Live! “Creating Tomorrow Together” contains five virtual series 34

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

Holiday Show by “Step Afrika!”

The Magical Musical Holiday Step Show by “Step Afrika!” is one of the most vibrant holiday celebrations in town. This family-friendly performance will have you stomping your feet and clapping your hands to energetic beats. The Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is at the Atlas Theater, 1333 H St. NE, from Dec. 9 to 30. Warning: tickets sell out. Get tickets and updates at www.stepafrika.org.

which will premiere on Facebook and YouTube. Details about each episode will come soon. Here is the schedule: “Life Now” by Northwestern University, Oct. 9 and 23 and Nov. 6; “Jessica’s Journey” by Synetic Theater on Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and 18; “Happy Soup” by Tia Shearer Bassett and Natasha Mirny of Happy Theatre on Jan. 8 and 22 and Feb. 5; “Coki” by Natasha Cosme Batista, produced by the Indigenous Cultures Institute in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 19 and March 5 and 19; “Life Now,” part 2, by Northwestern University, April 1, 16 and 30. www.thenationaldc.com

First REDEYE Night Market

Inspired by the bustling open-air night markets of East

and Southeast Asia, DC’s first annual REDEYE Night Market is on Nov. 6, from 4 to 11 p.m., along four blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue from Third to Seventh streets NW. This family-friendly market brings together 50 local vendors to showcase foods and beverages like those at a night market abroad, including Filipino pastries, Taiwanese shaved ice, bao and Korean fried chicken. Enjoy cultural and musical performances throughout the evening. Admission is free with food and beverages available for purchase. www.theredeye.nokingscollective.com

Adventure Theater’s Winterfest

Adventure Theater’s Winterfest is from Nov. 19 to Jan. 2. Get three shows for the price of one. Adventure brings

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

kids & family

Moomins

Through Jan. 9, 2022, Moomins, the fairytale creatures living in Moominvalley and created by Finnish author Tove Jansson, are the subject of a visiting exhibition at the National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The exhibition, on loan from the world’s only Moomin museum, in Tampere, Finland, showcases the universal values of the Moomins such as equality, inclusion and respect for nature. The exhibition is hosted by the Embassy of Finland. On Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m., at the National Children’s Museum, join composers Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saar for a musical ride to the fantasy world of Moomins. Hear more about how the heart-warming music score of the award-winning “Moominvalley” TV series was made. Discover the sounds different instruments make and learn more about the basics of composing. This 30-minute event takes place virtually and in-person. Admission to the museum is $15.95. www.nationalchildrensmuseum.org

favorites from the digital Jingle in July festival to the live stage. Snowflakes, frost and fantasy abound in “Uri & Ora Light the Menorah” by Robyn Shrater Seemann, “Connection” by Diego Maramba and Michelle Bowen and “Cranky Penguin” by Keegan Patterson. General admission is $20.50. Adventure is at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Maryland. www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

Lights on the Bay

Nov. 21 to Jan. 2, from 5 to 10 p.m., enjoy “Lights on the Bay” from your car. $20 per car; $30 for large passenger vans, small buses. $5 for 3-D glasses purchase. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Pkwy, Annapolis, Maryland. www.lightsonthebay.org

Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree

Photo: Derek Park

Little Turkey One-Miler

This Thanksgiving be part of the 20th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K, a time-honored DC tradition sponsored by So Others Might Eat (SOME) on Freedom Plaza. Join the in-person race, timed or untimed, on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 25, and the Little Turkey One-Miler and a family-friendly festival. www.some.org

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

For a delightful family outing, use the website below to find cut-your-own and choose-your-own Christmas tree farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Discover pre-cut tree lots, wagon rides, sleigh rides, holiday recipes and other winter activities. Visit www.pickyourownchristmastree.org for farms and directions. The farms typically open right after Thanksgiving.

“Corduroy”

Lisa is drawn to the perfectly imperfect teddy bear on display at the department store. If only she can convince her stressed-out mother to buy Corduroy for her. Meanwhile, Corduroy is determined to find his missing button and become worthy of going to a real home. After the store has closed, he goes on a hilariously destructive search ‒ with the

night watchman in comical pursuit. The ASL-interpreted performance is Jan. 2 at 1:30 p.m. The sensory-friendly performance is Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. “Corduroy,” on stage at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, Maryland, Dec. 11 to Jan. 23, is best for ages three to nine. www. imaginationstage.org

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”

Discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday tale as it comes to life on the National Theatre stage, Nov. 23 to Dec. 5. Featuring the hit songs “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, an endlessly cheerful bunch bursting with holiday spirit. Tickets are on sale now; $50 and $75. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. www.thenationaldc.org Philip Huffman as The Grinch.

Come se hine r lea n C us! h it w

YU YING IS OPEN TO ALL! • We’re one of 11 DC public charter schools with equitable access preference. • Parents and guardians – you don’t need to speak Chinese for your child to attend. Learn more and register for an upcoming virtual open house at washingtonyuying.org/enroll

PREK 3 - GRADE 5

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

Now Available ONLINE @ in the Whole Foods Section

The best corn you’ve ever had 100% ALL NATURAL!

NO added sugar, additives, coloring or preservatives

Available at I N T H E F R OZ E N V E G G I E S S E C T I O N

More info and recipes at: larrysweetcorn.com 38

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

“A Christmas Carol”

From Dec. 3 to 18, the Little Theatre of Alexandria rings in the holiday season with a return of the Dickens classic. Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly Victorian, travels with ghostly guides through Christmases past, present and future to find the true meaning of the holidays. Complete with special effects, Victorian carols and Tiny Tim, “A Christmas Carol” is a must for the entire family. The Little Theatre of Alexandria is at 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, Virginia. www.thelittletheatre.com

DC Prep campuses now accepting applications for the 21-22 school year in ward 5, 7 & 8. We’re the highest performing public charter schools serving PK3 – 8th grade.

Share Your DCSAA Photos

The DC State Athletic Association encourages parents, fans and others to submit their photos to be posted on the DCSAA’s social media accounts. Send photos from games involving DCSAA teams to dcsaa.photos@dc.gov. Be sure to include pertinent information, such as date of the game, participating teams, final score and a highlight

Call 202-780-5126 for more information or visit:

dcprep.org

EARLY CARE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Ages 6 weeks to 12 Years Old Monday - Friday | 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM

OUR PROGRAM OFFERS

Developmentally Appropriate Programs Toilet Training Certified Educators Education Field Trips LOCATIONS: Income-Based Tuition MINNESOTA Summer Camp 4021 Minnesota Ave., NE

202.397.1170 ANTIOCH 1105 50th St., NE 202.397.8754 GOOD HOPE ROAD 2503 Good Hope Rd., SE 202.582.0323

The Washingtons brought a camel to the estate at Christmas time to delight their guests and help celebrate the holidays. Photo: Alice Rose

Celebrate in 18th-Century Style

On Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., learn about the holiday season at Mount Vernon in the 18th century. Visit the 12-acre site to enjoy activities such as take-home crafts and a holiday passport to explore the estate. Between 9 and 11 a.m., Mount Vernon will welcome guests who desire a quieter visit, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory processing disorders. Holiday Family Day activities are included in the admission price. $28 for adults; $15 for ages 6-11; five and under, free. www. mountvernon.org

www.commresh.com E AST

OF THE

R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2021

WE TREAT YOUR PETS LIKE FAMILY! ANIMAL CLINIC OF ANACOSTIA Candace A. Ashley, DVM

Serving the East of the River community for over 40 years! 2210 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE

202.889.8900 I doctorashleydvm.com

Photo: GALA Theatre

Flamenco en Familia at GALA

On Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m., free interactive flamenco demonstrations with castanets, fans and zapateo for children and the entire family will be led by Sara Jerez and Ricardo Marlow. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. www. galatheatre.org

FRANKTUTORING

Need SAT Help? One-on-One Local Tutoring Service Nicolas Frank, an experienced tutor, near-perfect scorer, and UCLA student will help your child improve and meet their goals.

Nico Will: Teach your student strategies to fully understand exam questions and SAT logic Analyze and target your students weaknesses to efficiently increase their score Provide ample practice material, indepth questionanalysis, and useful tips

Rates start at $60 hour

Additional subjects offered grades 5-12: Math

English

Calculus

Spanish

Algebra

History

Physics

Chemistry

Rates start at $35 hour

www.franktutoring.com ALL or TEXT (202)-417-5240 I nico.frank8@gmail.co CALL or TEXT (202)-480-2985 I nico.frank8@gmail.com

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

or two, and identify the photographer. The DCSAA seeks to raise the visibility of DC high school athletes and their teams. Contact DCSAA Sports Coordinator Desmond Stewart, desmond.stewart@dc.gov, with questions. www.dcsaasport.org

Girls on the Run 5K

The Girls on the Run 5K is on Nov. 21 at Anacostia Park. It is a 3.1-mile loop around the park. Registration will stay open until Monday, Nov. 15, at midnight for Community Buddy Runner registration and until Sunday, Nov. 20, at noon for families and community runners. Register before Oct. 17 to receive early-bird pricing. Read more at www. gotrdc.org.

Fort Dupont Public Ice Skating

Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Place SE, is open for public skating. November hours are Sunday, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Friday, noon to 2:00 p.m. Adult admission is $5; kids, $4. Skate rental is $3. www.fdia.org

“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins”

Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for this shtetl? Join The Puppet Company at 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, Maryland, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, to take home a special gift. The run itself is on select days from Dec. 18 to Jan. 3. $15 per person. Under two, free. www. thepuppetco.org

“The Nutcracker”

On select days from Nov. 26 to Jan 2, for the 33rd year, the Puppet Company brings to life Tchaikovsky’s musical adaptation of the tale by E. T. A. Hoffman. Larger than life-size costume characters and marionettes delight Clara-Marie and the audience on a magical journey through the Land of the Sugarplum Fairy. $15 per person. Under two, free. www.thepuppetco.org

“Cinderella”

Just in time for the holidays, “Cinderella” joins Synetic Theater’s family series repertoire. Led by an all-female team of Syneticons, this innovative take on the classic fairytale is a perfect fit for audiences of all ages. $15 to $30. “Cinderella” is on stage at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell St., Arlington, Virginia, on select days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 26, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free parking. www.synetictheater.org Maria Simpkins as the lead in Synetic Theater’s “Cinderella.” Photo: Johnny Shryock Photography

FUTURES Family Day

The historic Arts and Industries Building, America’s first national museum, opens its new museum experience, FUTURES, on Saturday, Nov. 20. On view through July 6, 2022, FUTURES is the Smithsonian’s first major building-wide exploration of the future and will reopen the Smithsonian’s oldest museum for the first time in nearly two decades. FUTURES Family Day is Sunday, Nov. 21, all day. This day invites families of all types for pop-up guided activities and bite-size experiences. For more information and to plan a visit, go to www.aib. si.edu. u

E ast

of the

R iver M agazine

N o vember 2021

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD “Making Breakthrough” by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Lunch or dinner? 5. Look at with smug satisfaction 10. Fairy tale character 15. S.A country 19. Nota ___ 20. Actress, Jessica 21. Rajah’s wife 22. Exceedingly (so) 23. Things that were stumbled upon 27. Free 28. Sport 29. Dacha 30. Savile Row threads 34. Editor’s margin notes 36. US bureau founded in 1947 38. Handed-down history 39. Overcast 41. Herb once thought to be an aphrodisiac 46. Fruitless 49. Santa has to navigate it 51. Superstar 52. “Seize ___!” 53. Sweeping story 54. One should have three a day 61. Comes to 65. “___ Lang Syne” 66. Thai money 68. Fluids 69. Sound during a Eureka moment 72. Astronomers’ activity 79. Honor society letter 80. Gigolo 81. Highlands hillside 82. Labor 83. Corn bit 85. Form of laundry 90. Whistler’s whistle 93. “Losing My Religion” group 95. Essex was one 96. Modernism’s predecessor 100. Charity event 106. Left out in the cold, perhaps

107. Sly 109. Robin Cook’s classic novel 110. Not shorn sheep 111. Camera output 112. Taxonomic subdivision 114. Established 118. Starch source 119. Loser of a fabled race 121. Marco Polo, et al 130. “Too bad” 131. Earliest original 132. Apologetic 133. Remote valley 134. Disburse 135. ___ President 136. Cancun coins 137. Squire

Down: 1. CEO’s wallhanging 2. Common Market abbreviation 3. Post-apartheid org. 4. Luau souvenir 5. South ___ Falls, NY 6. Come down 7. Hip 8. Foreign dignitary 9. Biz card abbr. 10. Religious artwork 11. Wipes the slate clean 12. Formerly 13. “Seinfeld” uncle 14. Bk. after Exodus 15. Winkle predecessor 16. The dark force 17. Tape recorder part 18. Bear of the night sky 24. Directly 25. Hold, as an opinion 26. Skirt 30. Bug 31. Particle 32. Bikini half 33. Cleric 34. Prince, to a king

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 35. Dress (up) 36. Web follower 37. Dew Drop __ 39. Grab (onto) 40. Pencil movement 41. Brunch beverage 42. Whiskey plants 43. PC program 44. Lucky fish 45. Abbr. after a comma 47. Expose to public scrutiny 48. ___ T on Law and Order 50. Chart topper 54. Sound’s partner 55. Relinquish 56. Humerus neighbor 57. __ insult to injury 58. Phlebotomist’s system 59. Gentle one 60. Broken pottery

62. Old-time gumshoe 63. Tablet holder 64. ___-di-dah 67. Skier’s transport 69. Lotion additive 70. München mister 71. Acts as the interlocutor 73. Conniption fit 74. Correlative neither 75. Starter’s device 76. Be ticked off 77. “The Conquest of Space” author Willy 78. Recognize 83. Bingo relative 84. “Glee” actress Michele 86. 100th of a dollar 87. Queen 88. Mess up 89. “Carte” or “mode” lead-in

LET OUR A-MAZE-INGLY KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF HELP YOU GIVE FUN TO EVERYONE ON YOUR HOLIDAY LIST.

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday – 11am to 10pm. Wednesday – 11am to 8pm. Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 7pm.

645 Pennsylvania Ave SE (Steps from Eastern Market Metro)

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

• Educational, board • Jigsaw puzzles our Help us celebratarey by and party games 11th annivers all • Brainteasers shopping sm • LEGO and other and local! • Marble mazes building toys • Corporate gifts; and • Chess & other much, much more! strategy games Shop online or in-store. We are shipping anywhere in the U.S.

202-544-1059 • labyrinthdc.com

90. Greek letter 91. Coffee pot 92. Greatest possible 94. Pizza topping 97. One-up 98. Deplete 99. Relax 100. Toned 101. Craft in the tabloids 102. Hasbro robot 103. Spanish sun 104. The second-largest living bird 105. Hit head-on 108. Dance 111. It might be cooked al dente 112. Petitions 113. Female pronoun 114. Headlight sends it out 115. Wagon part 116. Petty squabble 117. Alternate 118. Walked on 119. His alternate 120. Jimi Hendrix’s do 122. Car measurement 123. Piece of history 124. Little food measuring tool 125. Garden digger 126. It’s good if it is golden 127. Toby mug filler 128. Member of Cong. 129. Atlanta-based station

AIR & HEATING

HAIR SALON P D EL E H NT A W

Look Fabulous

To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.3503 or email Carolina@hillrag.com

UNISEX HAIR SALON

Men’s Haircut - $15 Locs/Twist Specials - $50 Weaves Sewn - $100

PAINTING

1ST TIME CUSTOMER ONLY

Nail Technician on Site MANICURES • PEDICURES • FULL SET

CLEANING SERVICES 202.581.1700 | 2203 Minsesotta Ave. SE / lookfabulousunisexhairsalon

MASONRY

GEORGE HALLIDAY

MASONRY CONCRETE & BRICKPOINTING • Restoration Cleaning on Historical Brick & Stone

PLUMBING

Just Say I Need A Plumber®

• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement

• Basements & Waterproofing

ELECTRICIAN

• Experts in New & Traditional Masonry

Chimney Repointing, Lining & Repairs! NO Job Too Small! We Do it All!!

202.637.8808 Licensed, Bonded & Insured

G G ROOFING

Dial A Plumber, LLC®

AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE”

Flat Roof Specialists Modified Bitumen • Skylights • Shingles • Slate •

Licensed Bonded Insured

•

Kenny

202-251-1479 DC P

L U M M E R

’

I C E N S E

#707

WE STOP LEAKS! • Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications

We Do Everything!

LIC. BONDED. INS

10% OFF WITH THIS AD

202.425.1614 Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners

FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST

BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC.

•

WWW.GANDGHOMEIMPROVEMENTS.NET

ROOFING

• Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate

Chimney Repairs Roof Coatings • Gutters & Downspouts • Preventive Maintenance • Metal Roofs •

75 years in service

BBB

Member

202-223-ROOF (7663)

East of the River Magazine – November 2021

Articles inside

Changing Hands by Don Denton

Our River: The Anacostia With RiverSmart Homes You Can Help the Anacostia

Six Dead on District Roads in

The 2021 ACC Boat Ride

Citizens Voice Concerns About Redistricting