East of the River Magazine - April 2021 by Capital Community News

APRIL 2021

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE A PRIL 2021 N E X T I S S U E : M AY 8

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 10

IN EVERY ISSUE

Federal Control Complicates DC Justice: Courts and Supervisory Agencies Face Pandemic Challenges

What’s on Washington

by Gavrielle Jacobovitz

The Crossword

The Pennsylvania Avenue SE Small Area Plan: How You Can Get Involved by Elizabeth O’Gorek

The Classiﬁeds

Bulletin Board

by Katleen Donner

The Old Man of Anacostia by Phil Pannell

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Our River: Lessons From Ward 8 Helping The Healing With Nature by Bill Matuszeski

Letting the Sunshine In: New Programs to Cover Upfront Costs of Solar Energy by Catherine Plume

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 30

Vibrant Cultural Hub Opens in Fairlawn: Nicholson Project Hosts Community Garden and Art Gallery by Phil Hutinet

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

Changing Hands

by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY 34

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

ON THE COVER: Homeschooled academically and musically by parents who founded the Boys & Girls Choir of Detroit, Abraham (27), Victory (26), Angel (24), Israel (22) and Momo, (21) have performed in front of audiences since pre-K and make up the group Infinity Song. See Bulletin Board for more info.

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.

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ARTECHOUSE’S RENEWAL 2121

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Through Sept. 6, ARTECHOUSE DC, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW, presents its cherry blossom inspired installation, Renewal 2121. This original ARTECHOUSE production utilizes the power of creative technology to transport visitors into an imagined future 100 years from now where nature’s resilience takes center stage among an overdeveloped metropolis, empowering visitors to interact to help the blooms of our future continue to renew. Renewal 2121 is open to all ages, daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission for adults, $24; kids, four to fourteen, $17; students, military and seniors, $20. After 7 p.m., adult price, but all ages. artechouse.com.

A SPRING WALK ON THEODORE ROOSEVELT ISLAND

ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY’S EARTH DAY CLEANUP Registration has opened for the Saturday, April 24, Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Cleanup--AWS’s largest annual volunteer event. Typically, on the Saturday following Earth Day, thousands of volunteers come out to dozens of different sites around the watershed to pick-up trash, serve their communities, and enjoy the Anacostia. AWS’s mission is to protect and restore the Anacostia River by bringing partners and communities together to achieve a clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations. anacostiaws.org. Photo: Courtesy of the Anacostia Watershed Society

On April 21, 22 or 23, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., enjoy a socially-distanced, easy-to-moderate walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of the new book Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly two-mile path follows the island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, DC. She shares an overview of landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island. $75. smithsonianassociates.org.

DC FRESHFARM MARKETS OPENING FOR SEASON DC Freshfarm Markets that are open now are Dupont Circle Market, 1624 20th St. NW, Sundays (year round), 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Monroe Street Market, 716 Monroe St. NE, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mount Vernon Triangle Market, 499 I St. NW, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; H Street NE Market, 800 13th St. NE, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. DC Freshfarm Markets opening in May are Uptown Market, 5500 Colorado Ave. NW, Saturdays, starting May 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Columbia Heights Market, Park Road and 14th St. NW, Wednesdays, starting May 19, 4 to 7 p.m. More neighborhood markets will open in June. freshfarm.org. Photo: Courtesy of Freshfarm

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEEKEND AT MOUNT VERNON On May 1 and 2 (rain or shine), step back in time during one of the largest Revolutionary War re-enactments in the country at the estate of Gene ral Washington. Mount Vernon’s serene 12-acre field transforms into a battlefield as hundreds of Continentals, Redcoats and Hessians conduct military drills, perform cavalry demonstrations and engage in 18th-century battle reenactments. Wander through the encampment and meet the soldiers, discuss military techniques and meet General Washington. All activities are included in admission; $28 for adults, $15 for kids, five and under, free. Advance ticket purchase recommended. mountvernon.org. LEFT: Mount Vernon hosts the largest Revolutionary War re-enactment. Photo: Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon

INAUGURAL NATIONALS HOME RUN CHARITY 5K Washington Nationals Philanthropies is inviting fans and area residents to celebrate the start of the baseball season with the first-ever Nationals Home Run Charity 5K presented by Congressional Sports for Charity. Proceeds raised will support the community impact work of Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals. Registration is now open for the virtual race which takes place from April 23 to 30. All participants will receive a race shirt, bib, medal, and gaiter. To ensure the health and welfare of their racers, this family-friendly event has been adapted to a virtual format to allow fans of all ages to safely participate. To learn more and register, visit nats4good.org/Events.

OUR COMMON PURPOSE: A CAMPAIGN FOR CIVIC STRENGTH A series of new events exploring ideas and actions to strengthen America’s democracy will debut in March, April and May with the launch of Our Common Purpose: A Campaign for Civic Strength at the Library of Congress. The initiative is created and hosted by Danielle Allen, who was awarded the 2020 John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity. This new campaign will feature public events hosted virtually on the Library’s Facebook page and its YouTube site, along with workshops for K-12 educators to help educators experiment and create new ways of making civic education come to life. The first conversation from Our Common Purpose highlighted civic media as a promising counterpoint to social media. The second event in April will explore how refinements to voting procedures have the potential to increase the responsiveness of elected officials. The third event in May will look to history and search for ways to engage with the nation’s founding documents. youtube.com/user/LibraryOfCongress. Danielle Allen. Photo: Laura Rose

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AZALEA PEAK AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM Peak azalea bloom can vary by two weeks or more, depending on the weather, but usually takes place around the end of April. The earliest peak date reported in the last decade was April 15; the latest was May 4. Many azaleas are in bloom long after the peak and others might bloom early--there are usually some azaleas in bloom from early April until well into June. The National Arboretum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. usna.usda.gov Photo: Courtesy of the Friends of the National Arboretum

MOTHER TONGUE FILM FESTIVAL The Smithsonian’s annual Mother Tongue Film Festival celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity by showcasing films and filmmakers from around the world, highlighting the crucial role language plays in our daily lives. This year the festival extends through May with 45 offerings and will be hosted entirely online. This sixth annual Festival will take place via a monthly online screening series through May 2021. mothertongue. si.edu. Soori, Hakim, Akbar, and Mohammed have a collective dream: to travel from Iran to their parents’ homeland of Afghanistan and perform at their first rock concert. Working as migrant laborers during the day, the four young band members face the complicated nature of making politically minded music that reflects their lived reality as migrants from Afghanistan.

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ACTIVE HOPE PODCASTS WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

The Apollo Theater, the Kennedy Center, and National Sawdust announce a new podcast collaboration, Active Hope, exploring how artists and arts leaders can shape this transformational, historical, and polarizing moment. Listeners are invited to join a new engaging conversation each month with a leadership trio from these national arts institutions—acclaimed theater director and Executive Producer at the Apollo Theater, Kamilah Forbes; poet, TED Global Fellow, and Kennedy Center Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact, Marc Bamuthi Joseph; and award-winning composer and Artistic Director & Co-Founder of National Sawdust, Paola Prestini. To receive more information as well as updates regarding future livestreams and podcast episodes, visit pages.wordfly.com/kennedycenter/pages/21SIActiveHope_GeneralSignUp. Kamilah Forbes, Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Paola Prestini

MEN OF CHANGE: TAKING IT TO THE STREETS Through May 31, Men of Change: Taking it to the Streets, an outdoor exhibition at 4800 Meade St. NE, presents a nation’s story through the profiles of revolutionary African American men and the cultural stories they illuminate. Formerly slated to open in an Anacostia Community Museum gallery, the exhibition has been creatively reimagined for outdoor installation in the DC’s Deanwood neighborhood as a safer response to LeBron James. Collection of the COVID-19. In heralding the contriSmithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift butions of notable African Amerof Walter Iooss, © Walter Iooss ican men from across the decades, Men of Change highlights deep parallels between the past and present. While they made their mark in a variety of disciplines— politics, sports, science, entertainment, business, religion, and more all understood the value of asserting their own agency by owning their own stories. anacostia.si.edu.

CITY OF TREES: WASHINGTON, DC Known as the “City of Trees” for more than 100 years, Washington has an arboreal history that is rich and fascinating. The city boasts a diverse native flora, augmented by tree species brought to the city from many parts of the world by its international inhabitants. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were passionate tree lovers. Trees planted by Washington still thrive at Mt. Vernon, and Jefferson designed and executed the first street tree planting on record in the capital. On Thursday, April 29, noon to 1:15 p.m., via Zoom, learn about the botanical diversity and heritage of the nation’s capital, and why its tree canopy is such an essential and historic part the city’s life. $30. smithsonianassociates.org. Western end of the National Mall. Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Associates

SEEING DIFFERENTLY: THE PHILLIPS COLLECTS FOR A NEW CENTURY Building on Duncan Phillips’s founding principle of inspiring others to see beautifully and drawn from the museum’s permanent collection of nearly 6,000 works, Seeing Differently highlights over 200 diverse artistic expressions by artists from the 19th century to the present, including paintings, works on paper, prints, photographs, sculptures, quilts, and videos. The exhibition explores the complexities of our ever-changing world through four themes—identity, history, place and the senses—with a special focus on recent acquisitions that showcase how the museum’s collection continues to evolve. Seeing Differently is on exhibition through Sept. 21. Museum hours are Thursday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a final entry at 5 p.m. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org. Paul Cezanne Self Portrait, between 1878 an 1880, oil on canvas, 23.3/4 x 18 ½ in. The Phillips Collection, acquired 1928.

INHERIT THE WINDBAG (IN EIGHT EPISODES) Washington Post humorist Alexandra Petri’s pitched battle of bloviating wits revisits the televised Republican and Democratic Conventions of 1968 and the blistering nightly free-for-all between conservative pundit William F. Buckley and liberal author Gore Vidal. What ensues is a battle for history itself, in a noholds-barred brawl about another time when American politics was spinning toward entropy. A protean cast of demons bring the likes of Norman Mailer, Ayn Rand, James Baldwin and Truman Capote back to shine bright light on these preening wordsmiths, wounded warriors on the battlefield of extreme partisanship. Available through June 30. Mosaic is making Season 6 digital programming available at no cost. Optional low-cost per-episode ticket either for yourself, $10, or your group, $25. mosaictheater.org.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

LEFT: John Lescault (Left) and Paul Morella (Right). Photo: Iwan Bagus

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. HomeSaver HomeSaver is a foreclosure prevention program that assists unemployed and underemployed homeowners who may have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. The program offers lump sum or ongoing monthly assistance with a maximum assistance of $60,000 per household. The deadline to apply for HomeSaver is May 14, 2021.

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

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Federal Control Complicates DC Justice

Courts and Supervisory Agencies Face Pandemic Challenges by Gavrielle Jacobovitz

n 2019, DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D), Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) urged the US Senate to fill the District’s Superior Court and Court of Appeals’ judicial vacancies in an expeditious manner. These vacancies, wrote Allen and Mendelson in a joint letter, adversely impacted residents’ rights and public safety. As a result, “there has been a growing backlog of cases facing both courts,” wrote Congresswoman Norton in a separate missive. They wrote the letters because the matter was outside of their control. The US President

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nominates judges serving on the DC Superior Court and Court of Appeals based on recommendations from a local commission. The US Senate, a body lacking District of Columbia voting representation, confirms the nominees. A year later, a pandemic hit. As in jurisdictions across the country, the public health emergency stalled court operations. Juries were suspended and the number of plea deals decreased. A year later, jury trials have not yet resumed, and when they do—on April 5 for criminal cases and in May for civil cases, according to the DC Courts—it will be on a limited basis. The DC Superior Court and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (USAODC), which prosecutes local felonies and misdemeanors, now face the prospect of processing both current cases and clearing the ones delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike other local courts, DC’s is partly federal. The number of defendants under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency of DC (PSA) increased as public health measures taken by the courts in response to the pandemic slowed the court system. The average number of days a defendant is supervised by the agency increased drastically, from 92 to 190 days, as of mid-February, according to PSA. A federal agency funded through the congressional budget process, PSA’s current budget is not yet reflective of pandemic conditions. The vacancy rate on the Superior Court and Court of Appeals’ benches, currently hovering around 20 percent, threatens to complicate the court’s ability to make their way through the backlog of cases once courts resume normal operations, warn stakeholders. To fill these vacancies, the city relies on the federal government: The President and the US Senate. “If we’re going to have to dig our way out of a pretty substantial backlog, it’s going to require making sure that our Court is able to operate at full capacity,” Councilman Allen told Capital Community News. Allen chairs the Council’s Committee on Judiciary and

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Public Safety. This article is the second in a series focused on the impact of the COVID pandemic on the semi-federal system of justice in the District of Columbia. The series is funded by SpotlightDC.org and supported by DC Witness. This installment examines the complications posed by the federal role in the appointment of DC Superior Court and Court of Appeals judges and budgeting for PSA.

How We Got Here

“The [District’s justice] system that we have I think is probably the last one anyone would ever design as a high functioning system,” said Allen, in terms of “jurisdictional accountability.” The DC Superior Court and the DC Court of Appeals, the city’s local courts, were established by Congress in 1970. The 1973 Home Rule Act established the city council but limited its control over the composition and jurisdiction of the city’s courts. The 1997 Revitalization Act tweaked DC’s justice system once again. The federal government stopped its annual payment to the city in return for assuming the District’s debts. It also took over custody of people serving DC Code offenses in its Bureau of Prisons (BOP), closing the Lorton Correctional Complex. The Act also awarded the federal government responsibility for local pretrial supervision, probation, and parole through two federal agencies, PSA and The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). Lastly, the federal government took over the funding of the city’s local courts. The Courts’ judges are appointed by the US President based on recommendations submitted by the DC Judicial Nomination Commission and confirmed by the US Senate. “The District of Columbia is more intertwined with the federal government with respect to its justice system than any other jurisdiction in the country,” said Jon Bouker, a partner at Arent Fox. Bouker is on the board of the DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and part of the Mayor’s legal advisory team for DC Statehood. He has been a chair of DC Vote and a member of Congresswoman Norton’s office. Beyond the courts and BOP, the USAO-DC, a federal agency, prosecutes all adult felonies and misdemeanors. PSA, which supervises defendants released pretrial, nestles as an independent entity under the larger umbrella of CSOSA, a second federal agency responsible for overseeing people on parole and probation. In contrast, the Department of Corrections, which operates DC Jail, and the Metropolitan Police Department are District agencies. The system of justice in DC “creates huge barri-

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ers without a pandemic,” said Allen. “Certainly, with a pandemic, it’s even more complicated and more difficult to navigate.”

An Incomplete Bench

At the time of Allen and Mendelson’s letter in 2019, there were 11 vacancies in DC’s Superior Court and two in the Court of Appeals. In 2019, appointments picked up and a number of seats were filled. However, 2020 saw zero appointments. Today, there are 12 vacancies in the Superior Court and two in the Court of Appeals. The “failure to confirm our judges” is a “chronic problem,” according to Congresswoman Norton, “a systemic problem,” that has “been worsened by the pandemic.” “We’ve had vacancies at the Superior Court for a long time,” said Allen. “That does impact caseload.” The vacancies “definitely [cause] a strain on the courthouse in general and [make] it harder to spread the backlog out to additional judges who might be willing to assist,” stated Attorney Julie Swaney, who practices in the Superior Court. The court system is not processing cases at its normal rate. In 2019, 6152 defendants plead guilty. In 2020, 1822 did, less than a third of the year before, according to the DC Courts. In 2020, 66 percent (10,163) of the number of cases in 2019 (15,516) were filed. While the number of felony filings decreased only slightly, 41 percent fewer misdemeanors were filed. Note, the drop in the number of pleas is proportionally greater than the fall in cases filed. The backlog in DC’s judicial system, said Legal Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia Scott Michelman, is “a significant problem beyond our control.” The local courts are “notoriously slow,” he added, noting that the pandemic “further slowed down” the system. Allen hopes the city will receive from the new administration the attention needed to fill all the vacancies expeditiously with “quality people” chosen by the local commission so the Courts can “operate at full capacity.” “That’s going to be an important part of the game of catch up,” one that will be undertaken by the courts for the remainder of 2021 and very likely into 2022, said Allen. As to whether vacancies make clearing the backlog in the Superior Court more difficult, “there’s no question about it,” Attorney Chris Gowen said. It’s a busy courthouse in a densely populated city with high crime rates, added Gowen. “There’s just not enough judges right now to cover all the work,” Gowen told CCN. “From the lawyer’s perspective, it’s clear that we’re

understaffed right now,” Gowen added. Asked whether judicial vacancies impact the Court’s current or future operations, the DC Courts did not respond. DC’s vacancies are at the mercy of a federal congress residents do not elect. In most localities, state governments typically fill vacancies through appointment or election, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a law and public policy institute. Take New York City for example. Judges in the city’s criminal court are appointed by the mayor, an elected official. This is to say, city residents have an indirect say over who adjudicates their legal matters. Matters in the state Court of Appeals are decided by judges appointed by an elected governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate. In Maryland where judges are elected, a case backlog is something candidates run on, Gowen pointed out. “Confirming DC judges does not get priority in the federal system, whether we’re talking a Democratic congress or a Republican congress,” said Congresswoman Norton. “Who gets priority there are federal judges.” With the new presidential administration, though, “we will have a heck of a better chance of focusing on DC judges.” Notably, the judicial vacancy rate doesn’t tell the whole story. In addition to the 62-person Superior Court bench, DC also has senior (‘retired’) and magistrate judges who can hear cases. Still, the city’s courts have expressed feeling the strain of vacancies in recent years. In 2015, then Chief Judge Eric T. Washington of the DC Court of Appeals and Judge Frederick Weisberg of the Superior Court, wrote about the “adverse impact that judicial vacancies are having on the Court and residents of the District of Columbia” in a letter about six vacancies in the Superior Court, according to Roll Call. In 2019, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby said that the vacancies were “slowing down the wheels of justice,” WAMU reported. Then Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Morin expressed particular concern for the civil division. While 250 was the preferred caseload, some judges had close to 400 cases. “It’s that increase of caseload, it’s hard to translate how difficult that is for the court to handle,” Morin told WAMU. “I’d like to address the backlog of cases that has been building up,” said DC Superior Court Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring in an interview with the publication D.C. Bar, just before she assumed the post. In a Feb. 11 performance oversight hearing of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, stakeholders discussed these vacancies. President Joe Biden (D) had withdrawn pending nominees, according to Emmet Sullivan, chairperson of the Judicial Nomina-

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tion Commission, not irregular during a change in administration. With vacancies up in the air, the pandemic has increased the stakes for getting these seats filled.

A Federal Budget

In Feb. 2020, PSA made their 2021 budget request. Weeks later, the city announced its first presumptive case of Covid-19. As the independent federal agency charged with supervising District pretrial defendants, PSA participates in the federal budget process. First, they submit their request to the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where it is incorporated into the budget submitted by the President to Congress. Then Congressional committees create a bill passed by both houses and signed by the President. Before the advent of the pandemic, the federal budgetary process had already allocated resources to PSA for FY 2020 and 2021. Only with its 2022 request will PSA be able to factor in the challenges created by the pandemic. “In some ways, the pandemic really just challenged us because of timing,” said PSA Director Leslie Cooper. This isn’t unique to PSA, it is how the federal budget process works, Cooper added. “We didn’t have an opportunity to get our bearings straight in order to be able to do anything really with respect to 2021.” In contrast, local justice agencies in the District are funded by the city’s budgetary process, one that is malleable, according to Allen. DC’s progressive pretrial system releases the vast majority of its pretrial defendants into the community under PSA’s supervision. However, with the suspension of trials and decreases in pleas, the court system was not processing defendants at the same rate. As a result, the population of felony defendants under supervision increased in 2020. During the pandemic, the average number of days a defendant was supervised by PSA increased by 107 percent, as of mid-February. The pandemic has prompted PSA to rethink its approach and adapt. “A key piece for us is really figuring out how to best allocate our somewhat limited resources,” said Cooper. The agency worked to find the right “dosage of supervision” for defendants depending on their level of risk for re-arrest or not appearing in court, tailoring frequency of contact in this regard. It began to supervise defendants through a combination of virtual and in person reporting, depending on need. The agency’s reported outcomes mirrored those of years past, even with the pandemic. The percent of defendants not rearrested increased from 87 (2019) to 88

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percent (2020). In 2020, 91 percent of defendants made all scheduled court appearances compared to 88 percent in 2019. Finally, the percentage of defendants called in for non-compliance decreased by just two percent. Still, had she known about the pandemic, Cooper would have included a section dedicated to the pandemic in the budget request, she told Capital Community News. This would have included a request for resources that PSA spent additional money on to ensure the health and safety of her agency’s workforce and supervisees: Supplies for disinfection and protection from the virus in larger volumes, weekly deep cleaning, and architectural barriers. The agency, Cooper stated, would also have requested resources for its GPS monitoring services. The agency’s formula for budget calculations for GPS services factors in the amount of time that each defendant typically uses a device. “The average length of stay is ticking up and there’s obviously a cost to that, so we would probably ask for money in that regard,” said Cooper. In an interview last November, Capital Community News asked Cooper about a backlog in PSA, in reference to an increase in the average time a defendant has been under supervision discussed in a September public meeting in the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Did she foresee a backlog, and was there already one? Did she foresee this overwhelming or straining PSA’s resources? Has it already? “Yes, yes and yes,” Cooper responded. “There’s a higher number of people under supervision, but it’s not because more people are coming [into supervision],” Cooper later added. “It’s because more people are staying.” PSA’s resources are calculated based on an average over a number of years and on the assumption that cases will cycle through the justice system at a steady rate. Now, with the “slow-down” in case processing, PSA is “feeling the effect,” Cooper said. Pretrial Services Officers (PSOs) now supervise defendants for longer as cases are divided among current staff. Cooper considers this strain caused by the pandemic a “situational factor” rather than a ‘backlog’, she explained, because the latter term suggests the circumstances are “within our control exclusively,” while the agency is working hard to rectify the situation. The DC Courts navigate a similar budgetary process to PSA. “The DC Courts’ budget has adequately addressed our pandemic related expenses to date,” the DC Courts said in a statement. So does CSOSA. In a statement, CSOSA Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist Bill Miller said the agency has “ample resources” to fulfill its responsibilities. “CSOSA has worked within its budget to accomplish its objectives in a safe and effective manner and the federal Office of Management and Budget has been a close, re-

sponsive supporter of ours during the pandemic,” wrote Miller. “We have kept OMB informed of the extra costs we have incurred as a result of the pandemic but have not requested additional funds as of yet. Our continuing dialogue with them has been very helpful,” he later added. In contrast, local justice agencies in the city have distinct budget processes. According to Allen, if DOC came to the council asking for equipment or investment for court appearance infrastructure, they can help, unlike with PSA. In fact, Allen said he’s in touch with the head of DOC regularly and feels they know to ask for resources if they need them, from the council or the Office of the Mayor. DOC did not respond to a request for an interview. “The system is malleable,” said Allen. Agencies can make mid-year adjustments. A million dollars is the line in the sand, explained Allen—if a request is less than a million dollars, agencies can make changes internally without council approval. If it’s more than one million dollars, the council would need to approve the contract, though they can meet urgent needs through their oversight. However, if federal agencies need funding, they must look to the US Congress. “It’s an impossible situation,” said Bouker. If DC wants to allocate emergency spending, it can respond “lightning fast.” In contrast, “[t]he Congress of the United States is a slow-moving glacier.” “It’s difficult enough, I think, in a pandemic, to run a government and to meet the needs of your residents,” Bouker said earlier in the interview. “It’s even more difficult when your hands are tied behind your back with respect to one of the most critical functions of a government--which is the criminal justice function.” Gavrielle Jacobovitz is a recent graduate of Columbia University and a reporter at Capital Community News. She has previously interned with HuffPost Politics and NBC Owned TV Stations. DC Witness, a non-profit dedicated to creating transparency in the District’s justice system, is providing data on criminal cases for this project. For more information, visit www.dcwitness.org. This article was supported by a grant from Spotlight DC: Capitol City Fund for Investigative Journalism. Spotlight DC encourages the submission for proposals by independent journalists. For more information, visit www.spotlightdc.org. u

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The Pennsylvania Avenue SE Small Area Plan How You Can Get Involved by Elizabeth O’Gorek

hat do you want the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor on the east side of the Anacostia to look like in the next five to ten years? What should be preserved, and what should change? What about development, or green space? If you have ideas or opinions on these topics, you’ll want to get involved with the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Small Area Plan. A Small Area Plan (SAP) is a neighborhood-specific companion to the Comprehensive Plan. It adds additional details, recommendations and strategies for particular corridors and sites in the city. The Pennsylvania Avenue SE SAP study area extends along Pennsylvania Avenue SE from the eastern landing of the Sousa Bridge to Southern Avenue and a quarter mile to the north and south of the corridor. The Office of Planning (OP) will take the lead in working with the community to develop a vision for a gateway corridor that is vibrant and meets the needs of adjacent neighborhoods. While an SAP was already completed for Pennsylvania Avenue SE in 2008, this round builds on the ideas and turns toward implementation. The plan is also meant to further the city’s goals around racial and socioeconomic equity. The plan will develop recommendations that can be implemented within a 10-year horizon to meet the following project goals: • Enhance a safe, accessible, vibrant public realm; • Encourage economic development and retail opportunities; • Improve transportation access and connectivity; and • Explore housing opportunities to improve access for upward mobility. • Opportunities in Pennsylvania East The SAP is not the first sign that the District is focusing on development in the area. The Pennsylvania Avenue East Corridor was designated a Main Street in July 2020. Main Streets is a comprehensive program that promotes the revitalization of business corridors. Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Street (PAEMS) Director Latisha Atkins said the organization will work to re16

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vitalize the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor by retaining and recruiting businesses, improving commercial properties and streetscapes, and attracting consumers. The SAP is very important to those goals, she said. “This plan will be vital in helping to address longstanding issues and concerns, such as better retail options while placing special attention on things like walkability, transportation and housing concerns,” Atkins said. The plan will also factor in the needs of existing businesses. It will also create better access to the corridor as well as surrounding amenities and resources, Atkins said, and marketing efforts to attract development. However, public participation in the SAP process is key to ensuring the voices of the residents and stakeholders are being heard, Atkins noted. “Simply put, decisions are made by those who show up,” she said. “The community must actively participate in the process if it hopes to see change that will benefit the community and its residents.” ANC 7B02 Commissioner Kelvin Brown agreed, saying the SAP is an opportunity for neighbors to advocate for changes they want to see over the next five to 10 years. Brown said this is particularly important to communities in Ward 7 and 8, who often do not receive the same resources as the rest of the city. “The plan puts into motion what is to be done as far as amenities, neighborhood improvements to infrastructure and other social services and benefits that are needed by our community,” Brown said. Brown, whose SMD borders the corridor, said he knows what he’d like to see included: participatory economic development, including grants and loans that can help build generational wealth; an equitable transportation access plan; and state-of-the-art public facilities, such as schools, libraries and recreation centers.

The Pennsylvania Avenue East Corridor is the subject of the latest Small Area Plan (SAP) from the DC Office of Planning (OP).

“It’s an opportunity [for neighbors] to ensure we have a collective part in the wave of economic prosperity [and the] updates to amenities, transportation and infrastructure that’s coming and is going to impact our lives east of the river,” Brown said.

Southwest Experience Residents of other neighborhoods have already seen the impact of that development and the useful role an SAP can play. After 18 months of work, DC Council approved the Southwest SAP in 2015. In the wake of significant development nearby, including the Wharf and Nationals Park, neighbors realized that they could be “steamrolled” by developers without some sort of guidance, said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) Andy Litsky (6D04). That revelation was triggered by a 2013 effort to develop a high school on the recreation space now known as Ryan Zimmerman Field. Now a brand-new recreational facility, at the time it was a less well-maintained green space that was nonetheless widely used by people throughout the city. “There was the recognition that if we didn’t step up as a community, we would wind up losing small chunks —and then larger chunks— to unbridled development,” Litsky said. Litsky said an SAP was key to defining the way that

the community wanted to be perceived, and how they want it to grow. The Southwest community included green space, retail and transportation as key elements of their SAP, but really prioritized the creation and preservation of affordable housing. One goal was that nobody would be forced from their homes due to development, and that goal was met, Litsky said. The SAP does not only help communities work through matters of development. Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) Executive Director Stephen Moore said the SAP process and plan were key in identifying big issues and local opportunities in the area. The Southwest SAP provided the starting point for creating the SW Farmer’s Market, as well as renovations to the Duck Pond, the site of the BID’s August Sunday Suppers. “It opened up a real kind of agenda for us,” Moore said.

How to Participate The public kick-off meeting for the Pennsylvania Avenue East SAP will take place on Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. The virtual meeting will be broadcast online at publicinput.com/PennAveSEPlan. If you are unable to join online, you can dial-in at: 855-925-2801 (pin: 9252). The April 14 meeting will answer questions that include: • what is a Small Area Plan and the role it plays in the future of the Pennsylvania Avenue East Corridor • the topics and goals that are the focus of the Pennsylvania Avenue East SAP. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss the project with the OP project team. But OP said that the public kick-off is just one of many opportunities to learn more and stay engaged in the planning process. Throughout the process, community members and stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide critical feedback through survey questions, discussions with the project team, and participation in community meetings. Get involved today by visiting: publicinput.com/PennAveSEPlan. Take the survey at https://www.publicinput.com/pennaveseplan. Questions? Reach out online at PennAveSEplan@dc.gov or on the phone at 855-925-2801 (pin: 9252). u E ast

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outside. Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. so volunteers can get started on time. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. kenaqgardens.org.

& cally by parents who founded the Boys Homeschooled academically and musi Angel (24), Israel (22) and (26), ry Victo (27), ham Abra it, Girls Choir of Detro up the of audiences since pre-K and make Momo, (21) have performed in front group Infinity Song.

Arts Across America Returnss, Arts Across America, continues this

The Kennedy Center’s free digital serie and public healing, exploring topspring with a focus on cultural leadership ty, mental and physical health, equi ics including racial sensitivity, economic ted by singer and emcee Maimouland and water protection, and more. Hos olds, and playwright, actor, and na Youssef, best-selling author Jason Reyn llment features performances and model Sejahari Saulter-Villegas, each insta ities, and selves. Free new epmun dialogue aiming to heal our country, com and can be viewed on Facep.m. 6 at rday isodes will air every other Satu Center website. The first two epibook Live, YouTube, and the Kennedy ily Johnson. kennedy-center.org/ sodes will spotlight Infinity Song and Em digitalstage/arts-across-america.

THEARC Theater May Volunteer Event at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

On Saturday, May 22 (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to noon, you are invited to participate in a variety of park stewardship activities including invasive plant removal, litter collection, flower bed weeding, trail maintenance and more. Some activities involve working in shallow ponds. Plan to work 18

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Young Artist Create Series: Story Time Writing with Melissa Victor

Anacostia Playhouses’ young artists will have an opportunity to interact with Melissa Victor, the creator of “Stoopkids,” a children’s story podcast. During these sessions on May 15 and June 19 at 10 a.m., they will share ideas to create short stories or a play that will be performed by them. This is an opportunity for young artists to use their imaginations by exploring theme-based subjects or current events to develop their own new work. This series is recommended for kids eight to fourteen. $15 per session. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. anacostiaplayhouse.org.

Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan Kick-Off Community Meeting

Join the Office of Planning (OP) for the Public Kick-off Meeting for the Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan on Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. The virtual meeting will be broadcast online at publicinput.com/PennAveSEPlan.

If you are unable to join online, you can dial-in at 855-9252801 (pin:9252). At this meeting, you will learn: what a Small Area Plan is and what role it plays in the future of the Pennsylvania Avenue East Corridor; what topics and goals are focal to the Plan; and how you can continue to participate in the planning process. You will also have an opportunity to discuss the project with the OP project team. Throughout the planning process, you will have the opportunity to provide critical feedback through survey questions, join discussions with the project team during office hours, subscribe to project updates and newsletters, and participate in community meetings. Get involved today by visiting publicinput.com/PennAveSEPlan.

$2.2 Million In Great Streets Retail Grants Awarded

Great Streets Retail Grants have been awarded to 50 local businesses. Great Streets has grown into a multi-year program that has supported hundreds of small businesses in 13 designated commercial corridors throughout DC. The Great Streets Small Business Retail Grants are competitive capital improvement grants that award up to $50,000 to qualified small business owners. Ward 8 Fiscal Year 2021 grantees are Central Community Development Corporation, Paix Et Amour Nail Salon and Wonder Mart LLC t/a Wonder Mart. greatstreets.dc.gov.

Ground Broken on 88 Homes at St. Elizabeths East

Ground has been broken on 88 town homes at the St. Elizabeths East Campus in Congress Heights. The new town homes represent the first opportunity for homeownership

on the campus and include 27 affordable homes. Located on Sycamore Drive adjacent to Alabama Ave. SE and within walking distance of the Congress Heights Metro Station, https://www.districttowns. com will include 14 homes for households with an annual household income at or below 50% median family income and 13 homes for households with an annual household income at or below 80% MFI. Additionally, the developer, in partnership with MANNA, will offer a Homebuyers Club to support first-time homebuyers with education and resources.

Five New Food Businesses Coming to Ward 7’s Skyland Town Center

Mayor Bowser has announced the beginning of residential leasing and five new food service leases at Ward 7’s Skyland Town Center. Once completed, Skyland Town Center will be a town square with upwards of 450 homes, a grocery store, a medical office building, and up to 156,000 square feet of retail. The newest food service leases include: Roaming Rooster; &Pizza; Maizal; Mezeh; and Tropical Smoothie Café.

Honfleur Gallery’s New Artistin-Residence Program

This annual program is a realization of the vision of the late Sharon Hughes Gautier to provide artists with the necessities of time and funding to create their work. It is a melding of Honfleur’s ongoing commitment to artists that live and work east of the Anacostia River. This residency comes with both specific project funding and a monthly stipend. The first recipient is JaySun, a multi-talented artist who grew up and currently lives in Anacostia and uses theater, music, comedy, storytelling and film to communicate with his audiences. Project funding will go towards the production of a film “Life: On The Rocks” written by JaySun. This film depicts how life-long residents of the District are feeling the brunt of police brutality and gentrification and how “adjustments” have to be made to survive in a city that is pushing the local residents out of their own communities. Honfleur Gallery is at 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. honfleurgallery.com. E ast

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Skyland Town Center CVS Opens

The Skyland Town Center CVS, at the intersection of Good Hope Road, Naylor Road, and Alabama Avenue, has opened. Because of COVID restrictions, there was no ribbon cutting. cvs.com.

Construction Management Contract Awarded for New Hospital at St. Elizabeths

Hire Contractors with Confidence

To help District residents and businesses hire contractors and building professionals with more confidence, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs is introducing the DCRA Contractor Rating System. The DCRA Contractor Rating System arms residents with information to hire contractors with a proven track record of proper licensing, construction and inspections. It also provides free access to an inventory of contractors, architects, and other building professionals. The System uses objective data to assign a rating using between one and five stars to building professionals doing business in DC. govservices.dcra.dc.gov/ contractorratingsystem.

DC Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring

Funded by the District Department of Energy and Environment, and in partnership with Audubon Naturalist Society, Rock Creek Conservancy, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Anacostia Riverkeeper volunteers will monitor 22 sites in the District across the Anacostia, Rock Creek, and Potomac watersheds. Monitoring will occur weekly, for E. coli, turbidity, water temperature, air temperature, and pH. Virtual trainings are held on April 14, 21, and 24, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. All new volunteers will need to attend one training followed by a brief, socially distant, in person demo to be certified. Returning volunteers don’t need to attend a training, but will take a recertification test. anacostiariverkeeper.org/volunteer.

Mayor Bowser and Universal Health Services (UHS) have announced that a construction management contract has been awarded to a joint venture between Turner Construction Company and MCN Build. The team will invest at least 35% with local CBEs, meet the District’s First Source Requirements, and construct the hospital using a Project Labor Agreement. The design and construction of the new hospital will support approximately 2,000 jobs. With the design and construction teams in place, UHS and the District will move into the planning and design process, which will include robust community engagement. The project currently remains on schedule with the facilities slated to open in late 2024. Additional information is available at newhospitals. dc.gov.

Living Earth Virtual Festival: The Business of Agriculture in Indian Country

In celebration of Earth Day, the National Museum of the American Indian’s annual Living Earth Festival will be available on demand over four days, April 22 to 25. The festival will open with a message from Notah Begay III (Navajo/Isleta Pueblo), four-time PGA Tour champion, sportscaster and founder of the Notah Begay III Foundation, which provides health and wellness education to Native youth. Living Earth brings together Native innovators and practitioners dedicated to using Indigenous knowledge to protect and sustain the environment. Through cooking demonstrations, conversations and film screenings, this year’s festival explores agriculture trends, innovations and sustainability in Indigenous communities and Native-owned businesses. americanindian.si.edu/online-programs.

Bike Tour through DC, Maryland, and Virginia

In honor of National Bike Month, the second annual DMV 20

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Trails Tour hosted by Jafe Cycling will be held on Saturday, May 1, at 7 a.m. The tour will consist of four trails throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia. The event has partnered with the micromobility mapping navigation app, ScootRoute, to provide guided routes to get riders from start to finish safely. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit AWANA, a nonprofit boys and girls club, to encourage the next generation of cyclists to start early and cultivate their love for cycling. The 2020 ride had more than 127 participants. The DMV Trails Tour was founded last year by Jafe Cycling Owner, Matt Onojafe to promote health and wellness in the African-American community. $45. thetrailsdmv.com.

Free Help with Swarms of Honeybees

Now that it’s spring, some healthy honeybees may run out of hive space and go out looking for a new place to call home—swarming. Bee swarms contain thousands of harmless, homeless honeybees. These are local, sustainable bees and many beekeepers would love to give them a new hive. If you see a swarm, to ensure that it’s collected in a safe and timely manner, snap a picture call/text the DC Beekeeper Alliance Swarm Squad at 202-255-4318. There are dozens of beekeepers in every ward on standby. For more information, dcbeekeepers.org/have-swarm-bees.

The Business of the Arts Professional Development Series

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Business of the Arts Professional Development Series provides knowledge and skills related to fundraising and development, marketing and public relations, legal concerns and entrepreneurship. Free workshops and seminars are led by accomplished professionals and subject matter experts. Register for future workshops and listen-in to past workshops at dcarts.dc.gov/page/business-arts.

DC Area Wealth Managers Give Women Financial Success Tools

Beyond health, COVID-19 has inflicted a major financial toll on women in particular. Not only are they struggling with a larger share of pandemic-related job losses, they’re also dealing with career-endangering child care responsibilities. The issues are leading many women to re-evaluate their financial futures. In their new book, “Middle-Class Millionaire Women”, the DC area authors, Clark Kendall CFA, AEP, CFP, and Carol Petrov, CFP, of Rockvillebased Kendall Capital, offer life-changing tips and insights on how women can achieve financial success. Though women have historically struggled when it comes to financial literacy, studies show that 90% of women are already in control of their finances, controlling $14 trillion of the nation’s wealth. The money is there, says Kendall. Now it’s time women better understand what to do with it.

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Bike Lincoln’s Commute

On Saturdays, April 24 and May 1, 10 a.m., join President Lincoln’s Cottage and the DC Cycling Concierge as they recreate Lincoln’s three-mile commute from the Cottage in Petworth to the White House, learning about 1860’s Washington, DC along the way. $45. You can also make the commute (virtually) on Sunday, April 25, 2 p.m. for $10. lincolncottage.org.

at any time on any day via vaccinate.dc.gov, or register by phone Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DC’s COVID-19 Hotline

District residents who are homebound due to COVID-19 can request support from the District for food and other essential items. Call 1-888-3498323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov/gethelp.

Photo: Courtesy of President Lincoln’s Cottage

Graffiti and Aerosol Mural Artists Sought

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the DC Department of Public Works, seeks graffiti and aerosol mural artists and artist teams to design, create and install aerosol murals as part of the MuralsDC program. Selected artists will be expected to engage in a guided component of the program with designated youth (ages 14 to 18) to help them understand the art of aerosol graffiti mural painting and provide youth with opportunities to assist in activities such as site preparation and mural outlining. Submission deadline is Friday, April 23. Staff contact is Alissa Maru, Public Art Program Coordinator, alissa.maru@dc.gov. For more information and to apply, visit dcarts.dc.gov/page/grant-programs.

AARP Tax Preparation Help for DC Residents

Fans Return to Nat’s Park for 2021 Season

The Washington Nationals have announced that Nationals Park will welcome fans back to the ballpark for the 2021 season. In accordance with CDC recommendations and MLB protocols, the Nationals will implement appropriate social distancing and safety measures that allowed Nationals Park to host 5,000 fans on Opening Day. Discussions have begun with officials from the District about increasing capacity for the second homestand, which begins April 15. The complete 2021 Nationals schedule is available at nationals. com/Schedule.

DC United Announces Home Opener

DC United will play New York City FC on Saturday, April 17 at Audi Field with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. The following week, they will travel to Gillette Stadium to play against the New England Revolution in their home opener on Saturday, April 24 at 8 p.m. The remainder of the 2021 MLS regular season schedule can be found at matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/schedule. DC United is continuing to work with local government and health officials to safely welcome fans back to Audi Field in 2021. dcunited.com.

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ATLAS Arts On Air: Streaming Events and Performances

On April 16, 8 p.m., DC Native and saxophonist Herb Scott, a rising star on the Washington, DC Jazz scene, performs. On April 23, 8 p.m., enjoy an evening of dance and movement. All ATLAS ARTS ON AIR events are free. atlasarts. org/events.

Find Flowering Trees Near You

Looking for blooms close to home this spring? DC has an incredible diversity of flowering trees and Casey Trees has mapped them all. Check out their interactive Flowering Tree Map and enjoy the flowering trees your local neighborhood has to offer. caseytrees.org/ resources/?search=&resource_category=maps.

DC Vaccination Help

The pre-registration system can now be accessed through vaccinate.dc.gov as well as the District’s call center at 1-855-363-0333. Eligible individuals are encouraged to visit the website or call the call center throughout the day to pre-register. With this pre-registration system, there is no need to scramble to be online or to call at a specific time. Eligible individuals can register online

DC residents can send a text to or leave a message at 202-642-9037 or email the Help Desk at DCTaxAide.Help@gmail.com if you have questions or need help with your federal or DC tax return. One of their counselors will get in touch with you by email or return your call using the number 617-675-4444. For contact free help, you can send your scanned documents to them and they will prepare your return. All contact is by video chat or phone. A copy of your completed return is then emailed to you. You sign and they eFile your return. To get started, go to aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or email the Help Desk. For an appointment, you can bring your documents to them at a designated site and either (1) they scan and return them or (2) you leave them. All further contact is by video chat or phone. You then get a copy of your completed return. You sign and they eFile your return. To get started, contact the Help Desk. If you were unable to complete your 2019 tax return, they may be able to help.

Talking to Our Time: Hirshhorn Highlights (At Home)

Unwind in a new way with today’s leading artists every Wednesday. They’ll give their perspectives on conversations you care about in real time. The new season of Talking to Our Time has started. Here’s the lineup: April 14, noon; On Art and Representation-Artist Talk with with Riva Lehrer, April 21, noon; Art and Eco-Trauma-Artist Talk with Teresita Fernandez, April 28, 7 p.m.; On Art and Other Senses-Artist Talk with Anicka Yi, May 5, 7 p.m. hirshhorn.si.edu/art-artists

Wall of Remembrance Begun at the Korean War Veterans Memorial

The National Park Service and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation have begun construction on the Wall of Remembrance and an overall rehabilitation of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The Wall of Remembrance is a new, permanent addition to the memorial which will include the names of 36,574 American servicemen and more than 7,200 members of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army who gave their lives de-

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City Nature Challenge at Ft. Stanton Park

Like observing nature? On Sunday, May 2, noon to 2 p.m., make your observations count. The City Nature Challenge (citynaturechallengedc.org/) is a friendly competition among cities worldwide to see who can spot and identify the most wildlife. Join Ward 8 Woods staff and supporters at Ft Stanton Park as they look to score big for Team DMV. Meet at Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Ft. Pl. SE. RSVP to nathan@2ward8woods.org. fending the people of South Korea. The memorial will remain open during the 18-month construction project, though some areas, including the Pool of Remembrance, will be inaccessible during the work. For more information, visit koreanwarvetsmemorial.org. Virtual Adult College Completion Fair The Office of the State Board of Education is hosting an Adult College Completion Fair on Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair is an opportunity for

prospective adult students to learn about the multiple pathways to college completion. The fair will provide opportunities for attendees to explore college and career interests, discover adult-friendly postsecondary options and find ways to pay for their education. The fair will also include resources for early childhood educators who need to earn their associates degree. Free registration is now open at osse.dc.gov/service/adult-college-completion-initiative-acc. ◆

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/ Our River: The Anacostia /

Lessons From Ward 8 Helping The Healing With Nature by Bill Matuszeski

here are some interesting developments in Ward 8 that will help in the restoration of the Anacostia River and other water bodies. But first some background. Ward 8 is the part of the city east of the Anacostia and south of Pennsylvania Avenue except for the part around Branch Avenue, which is in Ward 7. Most of Ward 8 drains into the Anacostia, but the southwest portion drains to the Potomac via Oxon Run. There are over 500 acres in forests, most in designated parklands, but very few trails. While these areas have some streams, when they enter built-up areas they usually join the heavy runoff from apartment complexes and parking lots, and discharge into sewer lines that empty into the two rivers. Compared to other parts of the City, Ward 8 has had little invested in tying its neighborhoods to its open spaces. Especially at this time of the year, that is evident by the enormous amount of litter that gathers along the edges of the woodlands, blowing in from the residential areas, thrown down by passersby or brought there and dumped. That and the absence of trails sends a strong message to residents that these green spaces are not welcoming. But that is about to change! Leading the effort to clean up and open up these open spaces is the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy led by Nathan Harrington and a small group of part-time staffers, including a group called the Park Stewards. They seek to en26

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Ward 8 Woods Trash Pick-up. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

gage youth groups, schools, churches and any other volunteers who wish to help clean up and open up the park areas with trails. Support for these efforts comes from a variety of places. The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) funds the Park Stewards. The DC Department of Transportation is preparing to fund the repair and building of trails. The National Park Service owns and manages much of the open space and provides gloves and bags for clean-ups. Riverkeeper analyzes water

samples and provides technical support for reducing pollution. And George Washington University has an Environmental Justice Group that is preparing to study the streams of Ward 8 – taking water samples, studying erosion and providing recommendations for improvements. Many of these groups could do more if they could line up and focus funds on these emerging areas to support Ward 8 Woods and the surrounding communities that have been overlooked for many decades. Where that has happened in Ward 8 the results gain community support and use of the open spaces. Things are getting organized now by Ward 8 Woods for a lot more action along these lines. More funding from all sources will be needed. What are some of the places that call out for investment in community open space? One area where Ward 8 Woods is well along with the City is to plan a hiking trail in the tangled forests that wander along the north side of the Suitland Parkway. There is already a bike trail along the edge of the right-of–way from the Maryland line to Pomeroy Road; this would be a very different experience – an unpaved walking trail through hills and ravines well hidden back from the road. The two trails would make an almost six-mile loop. Many neighborhoods along trails would benefit and help keep the trash and debris under control; folks don’t dump where they think their neighbors want to enjoy nature.

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Trees, Fauna, Flora, Wildlife Fort Stanton Park Trail. Photo: Bill Matuszeski

Mission | To address the needs of conservation of natural resources and preservation of greenspace in Ward 8.

Respecting Historical Value of Community & thePark The park is 3 miles long and adorned with majestic trees that include legacy cherryblossom trees and magnolia bogs. In 1971 thecontrol of Oxon Run Park was transferred to the district from the federal government.

Meeting People WhereThey Are Great opportunities to introduce community to bird watching, forest bathing, nature walks, outdoor learning and tree identification. Working with lots of partners both privateand public to connect citizens to nature. AB JORDAN, CHAIR

www.friendsofoxonrun.org

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

CO NNECTING DESERV ING CO MMUNITIES TO NATURE

Another project under development is to place a walking trail along the Shepherd Parkway. This area, which extends for about two miles on hillsides overlooking the Naval Research Laboratory and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, the Potomac and beyond, is not what you think of as a “Parkway.” There are no roads, no cars, not even a trail through the extended deep woods looking out to the west. But plans are now in the works with Ward 8 Woods and the National Park Service to put in a trail to allow folks to enjoy the spectacular views. There are many more prospects to work on community gardens, trails, trash removal, rest and picnic areas, you name it! There are plenty of woods in Ward 8 and most of them need trails and care. Even in Oxon Run Park in the far southwest of the Ward, the spectacularly beautiful fields and picnic areas and gardens and trails cover only part of the land; there are still many acres of unused forest upstream that could be a source of pleasure for hikers and nature-lovers. Ward 8 Woods is focused on doing what is working to heal the lands and to empower the residents with the help of agencies and public donations of time and money. It is a case of healing

Shepherd Parkway Overlook. Photo: Mary Procter

and empowerment for the land, the forests and the people. So consider helping out with your time, your money, your ideas and your cheers! To finish with some words from National Park Service Superintendent of National Capital Parks-East, Tara Morrison: “Ward 8 Woods helps us better protect park resources and serve park neighbors and visitors. We’re grateful for Ward 8 Woods and their many committed volunteers. By cleaning up tons of trash, removing invasive species, and advocating for park improvements, their team is making a big difference and helping the National Park Service better serve the community. We look forward to continuing to work with them.” 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 Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees ◆

Letting the Sunshine In

New Programs to Cover Upfront Costs of Solar Energy by Catherine Plume

f you’re a DC homeowner, chances are that you’re aware of the money saving advantages of adding solar energy to your home. While installing a solar array requires an upfront investment, most homeowners can recover this cost in four-five years while significantly reducing their electricity bills by as much as 50 percent (an average of $500 per year for a DC household) for years to come. But many people just can’t afford that upfront cost. The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) Solar for All program (https://doee.dc.gov/solarforall) implemented by the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) is working with DC solar businesses to make solar energy installations affordable for all DC homeowners. Solar for All (SFA) was initiated in 2017 with a goal of providing 100,000 DC homes with solar energy in line with the Sustainable DC Plan and the Mayor’s commitment to a carbon neutral DC by 2050. While residents must be income-qualified to benefit in the program, the threshold is approximately $100,000 for a family of four. Ted Trabue, Director of the DCSEU notes, “This spring and summer, the DCSEU is excited to work with four local solar installers -- Ipsun Solar, Greenscape Energy, Solar Solution, and WDC Solar -- to bring solar technology and critical electricity bill savings to residents who need it most right now.” Ipsun Solar (https://www.ipsunsolar.com/) is excited to be a part of the SFA cohort. Co-founder Joe Marhamati said, “We’re thrilled to be working with DOEE and DCSEU to provide free solar installations for low and middle income District homeowners. Solar for All is in line with our company ethic. It gives us an opportunity to give back to the community and install solar for homeowners who might otherwise not have the opportunity to go solar.” Through a cost-share with DC SEU, Ipsun will install solar arrays on up to 15 DC homes.

Ipsun Solar is bringing sunshine power to DC. Photo: Ipsun Solar

Marhamati and co-founder Herve Billiet met when they were both working at the US Department of Energy disbursing clean energy loans through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They decided to start Ipsun Solar in 2016. The name comes from the Latin Ipsum meaning “your own” or “itself,” as they wanted to build the kind of company that they would want to buy from. “Many of the early solar installIpsun Solar customer David Roodman is pleased with the ers were lackluster, said Marhasolar installation on his DC rooftop. Photo: Ipsun Solar mati. “They used third-party contractors for their work, they were often unresponsive to their clients, and they didn’t treat their employees fairly. We decided to become a part of the Amicus Solar Cooperative and build a company that offers a living wage and health care for our employees.” They needed an office space, and as luck would have it, a law firm moved out of top floor of the Watergate and subleased the space to them for pennies on the dollar. Joe recalls, “We were just renting one small office, but we essentially had run of the entire top floor, with sweeping views of the Potomac River. We hosted community gatherings on the rooftop. We were fewer than five employees at the time, but when people came to see, we looked like a Fortune 500 company!” Their efforts paid off. Ipsun Solar is thriving and has installed solar arrays on over 300 homes to date, with business growing exponentially every year. But they are looking for new ways to promote clean energy. Ipsun Solar is one of the early supporters of the Clean Energy Credit Union which provides clean energy loans for solar installations as well as geothermal energy, energy efficiency appliances, electric vehicles and electric bikes. The credit union will be adding a green home mortgage in the near future as well. As a not-for-profit credit union, 100% of it’s deposits (checking accounts, CDs, etc) are invested into clean energy projects. If you want to see if your household qualifies for Solar for All, visit website www.dcseu.com/SolarForAll or call 202-479-2222. There’s even a Solar for All Community Solar program, whereby residents who live in apartments or in homes that can’t support solar can sign up to receive solar electricity bill credits. And if you want to learn more about the Clean Energy Credit Union, visit www.cleanenergycu.org. Anyone who believes in this mission can open a checking account for as little as $5. Reduce your carbon emissions and make the world a better place – all while saving yourself some cash. Let the sunshine in! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, un urban homesteader, a writer, and blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @DC_Recycler. She is also the Chair of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, however, perspectives expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. u E ast

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Vibrant Cultural Hub Opens in Fairlawn Nicholson Project Hosts Community Garden and Art Gallery by Phil Hutinet

n 2014 a dilapidated property in Fairlawn caught Artist Residency and Art Gallery developer Stefanie Reiser’s eye. “I wasn’t actually Inside Nicholson Project, Reiser sought to salvage as much looking for property in that area,” Reiser confesses of the building’s interior as possible. She managed to resas she had focused mostly on rehabilitating homes cue the original floors and stairwell banister. Many of the along the H Street corridor in northeast. However, original doors were lovingly restored to their original conthis ramshackle, clapboard home drew in Reiser as its podition. It is here, inside the Nicolson Street abode, that the tential to create a community asset could not go unnoticed. art programs take place. Thankfully, Reiser had both the vision and the paTo realize Nicolson Project’s arts programming, Reiser tience for this project. The home had lain vacant for years. turned to Ian Callender who has worked on a number of The elements had taken a toll on the fragile wood-frame large visual arts project in the region including Art Whino, structure causing years of deterioration due to neglect. a former church turned art space in southwest DC which During that time, raccoons, squirrels and other wildlife is now under new management and called Culture House. had taken refuge in the home further damaging it. MakCallender now sits on Nicholson Project’s board. ing matters worse, next door, the attached home caught Amber Robles-Gordon, a DC-based artist, was selected fire, leaving additional destruction in its wake. as the first artist resident from July through October 2019. By right, Reiser could have leveled the clapboard home She lived on the second floor which includes a bedroom and built a 28-unit multi-family dwelling in its place and and a bathroom. Adjacent to the livon the adjoining vacant lot which ing quarters, Robles-Gordon accessed she had also purchased. Howeva separate studio which she used as er, Reiser had a different vision workspace. for the space, one which centered Nicholson Project’s artist-in-reson the community. Most imporident program accepts applications tantly, Reiser explains that she in October and March for one-todid not want to create a “tempothree month residencies which take rary” space; she wanted someplace twice a year. Artists are offered thing “permanent and embedlive and workspace and a stipend of ded.” It would take five years to $2,000 per month. Applications are open Nicholson Project’s doors. available through the organization’s While the rehabilitation website (see below). The residency of the wood-frame home proemphasizes community engagement gressed, Reiser spent three years as its core mission. engaging the community to creThis year, Nicholson Project hired ate a sense of what could bring Allison Nance to lead the charge. neighbors together and serve as Nance has extensive executive expean anchor and cultural hub in the rience running arts organizations inneighborhood. cluding the prestigious InternationIn collaboration with comal Art & Artists, formerly Hillyer Art munity stakeholders, three main Space, in Dupont Circle. programs emerged from the enThe art gallery, which occupies gagement period —an artist resthe ground level of Nicholson ProjView of community garden looking towards the idency program, a gallery space rear of the property. Photo: Ann Kim courtesy of ect, features rotating art exhibitions. Nicholson Project and a community garden. “Starting in April, we’ll begin install30

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Frontal view of Amber Robles Gordon 2019 Site Specific Installation “of fertile ground: mind, wombs and the earth.” Photo: Ann Kim courtesy of Nicholson Project

ing a new exhibition in the gallery,” says Nance. The Project also announced its two new spring-summer 2021 residents, A.J. McClenon , who will be completing her residency at the end of April and Stan Squirewell who will live and work onsite from May 15 through August 15. Both artists are originally from DC.

Urban Farming

Nicholson Project’s community garden provides residents with the opportunity to connect through a shared amenity. To accomplish this feat, Reiser partnered with Love and Carrots, a women-owned business that “envisions a future where vegetable gardens are commonplace in urban landscapes.” The urban farming company built a pergola with a vine canopy, five raised beds and ten in-ground beds for herbs and vegetables. Moving forward in 2021, Geoffrey “Geo” Edwards will take over as “Famer-in-Residence” to manage the garden and public programs. Edwards describes himself as “an educator and healing artist whose practice encompasses herbalism, community acupuncture, urban farming, and the creative arts.” He owns and operates Nu Healing Arts, located in Rockville, MD. His multifaceted business combines fine art and herbalism to provide holistic healing for its clients. During the 2020 growing season, Nicholson Project donated over 1,200 bags of produce which equals roughly 4,400 servings of fresh food directly to the community. The Project worked with neighbors to donate the food to the neediest neighbors many of whom were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and faced food insecurity due to unemployment.

Community Response

Neighbor Angela Byrd worked closely with Nicholson

Food produced from the gardens. Photo: Ann Kim courtesy of Nicholson Project

Project to distribute the vegetable garden’s bounty to her neighbors at an adjacent apartment complex which houses over 100 residents. Byrd first came into contact with Nicholson Project as a result of her interest in gardening. Her community outreach has been vital in ensuring full distribution of vegetables and herbs harvested. “The garden has been a great help,” Byrd explains. “I underestimated the power of vegetables. I didn’t think people would eat all the eggplants; same thing with turnips. We’ve been able to grow so much from tomatoes to okra.” Byrd underscores that Nicholson Project’s garwden is one of the only healthy food options within walking distance of her apartment. While she doesn’t mind walking across the bridge to shop for vegetables at Capitol Hill grocery stores, she laments that “the vegetables from the store are not as good as the ones from the garden!” Gayle Jordan also lives a block away from Nicholson Project. Like Byrd, she has actively connected with Nicholson Project’s garden since its inception. Jordan is especially encouraged that the garden will now have a resident farmer or as Jordan jokingly calls Edward’s position the “famer-on-duty.” She hopes his presence will allow for regular access to the vegetable plots by area residents. Sharing Byrd’s concerns about local food options, she worked with Nicholson Project in conducting a feasibility study to bring in a regular, local famer’s market to Fairlawn. “We started looking at the possibility for the community to set up some kind of farmers market nearby including partnering with a group that had a mobile

market.” While the idea is still on the table, it has not yet been realized. In addition to gardening, Jordan also enjoys the art exhibitions at Nicholson Project. She was especially impressed by Amber Robles Gordon’s site specific installation in fall of 2019 which took up an entire room in the gallery.

Looking ahead

Nance is looking forward to managing a variety of programs at Nicholson Project in service to the community. She actively seeks community participation to find out its needs and wants. For example, the Project has funds to renovate a large unused garage on the property. Nance states that, while discussions surrounding a formalized distribution of produce include storing refrigerated vegetables in the garage, the structure could also serve as a mixed use, community space. While many garden programs are in the works, the Project plans also plans to hire an art educator to pilot teen programs to teach youth how to install artwork and activate outdoor art.

Nicholson Project

Nicholson Project is located at 2310 Nicholson Street SE, Washington DC, 20020. Gallery hours are by appointment. For more information visit www.thenicholsonproject.org To engage with Nicholson project, contact Allison Nance via email at info@nicholson.org Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com. u E ast

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Ward 7 Turns Out for Democrats The Old Man of Anacostia

by Phil Pannell

n March 27, 564 residents are essential workers persons voted and did not have the flexibility in the biennial in their schedules to show up. election for offiWhile I can honestly say that the cers of the Ward visibility turnout does not rep7 Democrats at the East Rivresent our residents’ sentiments er Shopping Center. I was so of Statehood, I think there is struck by this amazing turnout still ample opportunity to eduthat I reached out to interview cate Ward 7 about the benefits Wendell Felder, the group’s newof statehood, and how it impacts ly elected chair. their day to day lives. The voting turnout in the The last two Ward 7 DemWard 7 Democrats election was ocrats presidents failed to win impressive -- particularly in light their reelections. Councilmember of the pandemic. No Democratic Vince Gray won the 2020 Demoward organization has had that cratic primary with 45% of the type of turnout for many years. vote. Is it fair to say that Ward Why was that? 7 is searching for new political My team ran a comprehenleadership? sive campaign focused on meetWhether the leadership is ing voters where they live and new or existing, Ward 7 is lookHonored and here to serve, members of the Ward 7 Democratic Team. From left: Karim Marshall, 2nd Vice-Chair; Delia identifying their needs. It was ing for something different. They Houseal, 1st Vice- Chair; Brandon Scott, Treasurer; Wendell Felder, Chairman; Naprisha Taylor, Corresponding Secreimportant to run a campaign want responsive leadership in tary; Davin Lawrence, Secretary; Tiffany Brown, Sergeant at Arms. Photo: Salim Adofo , ANC Commissioner of 8C07 that valued community engageall positions – from the Ward 7 ment, voter education, and reCouncilmember to the five AtWe plan to use the focus areas below to guide our work storing civic participation. In the end, the voter turnout Large members to the entire District government. Throughand to help us execute for our voters: was reflective of the passion, hope and energy surroundout the campaign our team heard directly from our residents 1) Increase Democratic registration and turnout ing the campaign. and the message is clear, Ward 7 residents do not feel that 2) Advocate for Ward 7 priorities and engage with Demtheir voices are being heard, nor do they believe their needs You and your entire slate won. What were you working ocratic Residents are being met. This inattention takes the form of public safewith to make that happen? 3) Support and promote Statehood initiatives ty concerns, subpar access to transportation, a lack of groMy slate is a special group of people who share a core 4) Cultivate existing and future Democratic leaders cery stores, and many other inequities, just to name a few. mission of service and are equally passionate and commitMany years ago, Woodson High School had a Young DemWard 7 is tired of being left behind. ted about moving our Ward forward. The high turnout is a ocrats club as an extracurricular activity. Do you plan to esvictory for the entire Ward and a reflection of the desire of Councilmember Gray began his elected political career as tablish such clubs in all the Ward 7 high schools? Ward 7 residents to turn the Ward around. I look forward the Ward 7 Democrats president. Might Ward 7 voters expect We understand that to effect change in our community, to working with anyone interested in doing the hard work to see you on the ballot for Ward 7 Councilmember in 2024? we must engage and develop our next generation of leaders. and addressing the needs of Ward 7 residents. My only goal right now is to focus on standing up and We want to empower young people to develop their skills rebuilding the Ward 7 Dems Organization. We must restore During the first 100 days that you and your team are in and talents, create opportunities to participate in political, the effectiveness of the Ward 7 Dems to ensure that the resoffice, what do you plan to do that will make Democrats across economic, and social dialogue, and become positive change idents of Ward 7 are treated equitability. your Ward take notice and start talking? agents within their respective communities. We will take a hard look at the operational and financial On March 22nd there were visibility actions for DC stateFor more information about the Ward 7 Democrats, visit state of the organization to make sure it is above water. While hood in each Ward. Only 15 people showed up in Ward 7. ward7dems.org. my team will bring a new and innovative perspective to the What do you plan to do to get Ward 7 residents active in the organization, we will also adopt best institutional practices statehood movement? Philip Pannell is a long time Ward 8 community activist. He can seen over the past years. Ward 7 residents care about statehood. However, many be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. u 32

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

CLOSE PRICE

HILL CREST

2319 Q St SE $856,000 3823 Pope St SE $602,000 1625 28th St SE $500,000 1734 33rd Pl SE $450,000 ANACOSTIA 3131 Lyndale Pl SE $395,000 1608 V St SE $663,000 3 2318 32nd St SE $230,000 2524 West St SE $569,000 4 714 32nd St SE $230,000 1465 Ridge Pl SE $536,000 4 2236 Nicholson St SE $525,000 3 LILY PONDS 2208 SE Hunter Pl SE $484,000 3 328 34th Pl NE $500,000 1727 16th St SE $475,000 4 3335 Blaine St NE $350,000 1417 Bangor St SE $473,660 3 3341 Ames St NE $303,000 1911 Fairlawn Ave SE $430,000 4 1518 W St SE $410,000 2

4 5 5 3 3 2 3

CONGRESS HEIGHTS

4 2 2 2

FEE SIMPLE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS

429 Woodcrest Dr SE 4018 Blakney Ln SE 326 Raleigh St SE 1278 Barnaby Ter SE 4025 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SW 4009 1st St SW 1254 Barnaby Ter SE 155 Elmira St SW 341 Parkland Pl SE 4041 S Capitol Ter SW 717 Atlantic St SE 715 Congress St SE

$495,000 $483,000 $463,000 $430,000 $430,000 $422,500 $400,000 $395,000 $379,000 $355,000 $350,000 $145,000

3 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 3

4216 Grant St NE 5012 NE Sheriff Rd NE 574 49th Pl NE 515 55th St NE 917 43rd Pl NE 1123 48th Pl NE 313 61st St NE 1606 Eastern Ave NE 4502 Dix St NE 6004 Clay St NE 820 51st St NE 4110 Gault Pl NE 5012 Jay St NE 5925 Clay St NE 848 52nd St NE 4547 Eads Pl NE 5120 Just St NE 928 47th Pl NE 5220 Dix St NE 4922 Just St NE

$575,000 $565,000 $562,000 $535,000 $534,000 $519,900 $495,000 $485,000 $464,000 $460,000 $425,000 $399,999 $395,000 $390,000 $325,000 $295,000 $280,000 $255,000 $240,000 $170,000

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

5220 B St SE 4820 Bass Pl SE 5449 B St SE 20 Bass Cir SE

$510,000 $405,000 $389,900 $325,000

3 2 2

RANDLE HEIGHTS

3526 19th St SE $435,000 3 1510 Tobias Dr SE $425,000 3 2429 Irving St SE $400,000 2 2332 Elvans Rd SE $395,000 3 THE 3012 24th Pl SE $349,900 2

CONDOMINIUM DEANWOOD 520 60th St NE $580,000 5 ANACOSTIA

FORT DUPONT PARK 1506 41st St SE 707 46th St SE 3945 Alabama Ave SE 4523 Alabama Ave SE 3223 D St SE

$455,000 $453,000 $440,000 $390,000 $302,000

2 3 3 3 3

1384 Talbert Ct SE #A 1308-1308 Talbert Ct SE #7A

$440,000 $375,000

BARRY FARMS 2301 Pitts Pl SE #204 2636 Wade Rd SE #12

$149,000 $115,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 411 Mellon St SE #UNIT 2 3366 Brothers Pl SE #1

$288,400 $225,000

FAIRFAX VILLAGE 2101 Fort Davis St SE #B

$210,000

FORT DUPONT PARK

3960-3960 Pennsylvania Ave SE #208 $220,000

FORT LINCOLN

3162 1/2 Berry Rd Ne-3162 Berry NE $465,000 3149 Berry Rd NE #19 $415,000 3481 Summit Ct NE #3481 $380,000 3112 Berry Rd NE #21 $360,000

HILL CREST 2015 37th St SE #301 2115 Suitland Ter SE #302 2110 Suitland Ter SE

$183,000 $175,000 $175,000

3 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 1

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0004-2021

LANGSTON TERRACE REVITALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY MASTER PLAN The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires experienced Master Planner /Architect services for Langston Terrace. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, March 29, 2021 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Email Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Sixth through 12th Grade Photography Contest

The Kiwanis Club of Capitol Hill is sponsoring its second annual photography contest open to all sixth through twelfth graders in DC public and charter schools. Students are asked to “celebrate the beauty of springtime” through photographs they take between April 10 and 20. The final submission date is April 21. There is no registration fee. Prizes include: First, $125; Second, $100 and Third, $75. Email photos to jmjanmb2@gmail.com. Include your name, age and school. Any questions may be addressed to that email as well. Last year’s first prize winner was De Sean Jones, a student at Capitol Hill Montessori.

Atlas Youth Summit

On May 7, 5 p.m., the Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts their annual Atlas Youth Summit. The online event will be a facilitated conversation with area youth arts organizations and their participating young artists discussing events of the past year and the impact it has had on young people’s lives and the creation of their art. Each participating organization will share a short clip of their work in the areas of theatre, dance, and music. The group discussion will be led and hosted by the Atlas’ City at Peace Director Sandra Holloway. City at Peace is the Atlas’ social justice youth development program. atlasarts.org/events/youth-summit.

“Read Like A Champion” This Summer

We Stand Together, Just Six Feet Apart (100% of Profits to UNICEF)

We Stand Together, Just Six Feet Apart is a children’s book written by three pediatricians and illustrated by artist Catherine Wilson. The book is meant to explain the changes secondary to the pandemic for kids ages three to eight and to encourage positive ongoing conversations for how we can stay healthy, happy, and kind during this time. Using sing-song rhymes and accessible language, this book gives young children a basic understanding of why these changes have happened and how we hope that, over time, life will slowly begin to get back to normal. 100% of profits are donated to UNICEF and their Covax fund (unicef.org/coronavirus/covax). We Stand Together, Just Six Feet Apart is available on Amazon.com and Blurb.com for $11.99 and $24.99 (hard cover). Image: Catherine Wilson

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The Washington Nationals have announced their eighth annual “Read Like A Champion” summer reading program. For the last seven years, the Nationals have partnered with area libraries to address the summer-slide--the loss of learning that children and teens experience when they do not read during summer vacation. This year, the Nationals are supporting the efforts of their library partners through nationals.com/SummerReading. Participants in the program will have a chance to win exciting Nationals prizes. The Nationals invite all interested library systems to work together to make the Nationals and their fans the “Team that Reads!” nationals.com/SummerReading.

Better Grades in Less Time

On April 11, 4 to 5 p.m., in this small-group (virtual) introduction to time management and study skills, middle school and high school students and parents will learn the

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Animal Family Day at Mount Vernon

On Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., meet some of Mount Vernon’s animals (sheep, ox, calves, horses and a hog) and learn about their roles in the 18th century during Animal Family Day. Learn about Mount Vernon’s animals and jobs they performed in George Washington’s time. Visit the 12-acre field to learn about their heritage breeding program and the active role they play in preserving historic breeds. Enjoy fun activities such as story time, take-home crafts and Animal Passport to explore the estate. All activities are included in admission; $28 for adults, $15 for kids, five and under, free. Advance ticket purchase recommended. mountvernon.org.

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.

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

dcprep.org

Located on the historic Charles Young Hilltop campus, Two Rivers shining new middle school brings together our two elementary schools for one continuous journey from PK3 to 8th grade.

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Signature in the Schools’ “Here’s the Deal”

Signature Theatre’s flagship education program, Signature in the Schools, now in its 26th year, has released the world premiere film Here’s the Deal. Written by Caleen Sinnette Jennings and directed by Signature’s Education Director David Zobell, Here’s the Deal features a cast and crew of 32 students, alongside professional actor Felicia Curry, and explores the New Deal and its contemporary relevance. Here’s the Deal is available on Marquee TV and is streaming on demand through the end of June. Free for students and schools; $5 for the general public. SigTheatre.org. In Here’s the Deal, people are in economic ruin and there is a hot debate over the government’s role to solve the problems of an increasingly anxious American people. Is it 1929 or 2020? Stuck learning from home during the pandemic, students in Mrs. Day’s Theatre III class must think creatively to develop a play in their challenging circumstances.

Teen’s Corner: A Blog for DC Teens, by DC Teens

Check out dclibrary.org/teenscorner for movie and book reviews, interviews with local teens, interviews with cool adults, coverage of events and issues that matter to teens, and more. Posts are authored by DCPL’s Teen Council, MBSYEP employees and teen volunteers. If you are between 13 and 19 and interested in submitting a post, email Teen Services Coordinator Joanna Harris at joanna.harris@dc.gov.

Youth in Action: Sustainable Agriculture

On April 22 to 25, the Sustainable Agriculture panel discussion brings together young Indigenous leaders to address the role that traditional ecological knowledge plays in their work as farmers and entrepreneurs. With the onset of COVID-19 and ongoing

issues of climate change, investing in sustainable agriculture and food production more important than ever. Moderated by Michaela Pavlat (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians). Panelists include Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), Jack Poshano (Hopi) and Marco Ovando (Shoshone-Paiute Tribe). This panel is made possible with the support of the Native American Agriculture Fund. nmai.brand.live/c/youthinactionapril.

A Family Game Night

Calling all agents: Take your next family or friend Zoom gathering to a new level of cool with a live, action-packed game night. Does your family have what it takes to be spies? The International Spy Museum is infiltrating your home for an action-packed Family Game Night. Hosted by a Museum Educator, participants will race against the clock to complete mini

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Shakespeare Family Fest

Hear ye! Hear ye! Join the fun in a free weekend of virtual events for the whole family on Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days. Explore the magic of theatre with virtual performances of A Mini-Summer Night’s Dream and The Tiny Tempest, a stage blood demonstration, interactive workshops, crafting activities, and more. Meet Shakespeare Theatre Company Engagement and Education staff and teaching artists and learn more about Classes for Youth and Teens and Camp Shakespeare. Drop in for a session or spend the whole weekend with them. Recommended for ages five, up. shakespearetheatre.org/shakespeare-family-fest/. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0006-2021

DCHA EXECUTIVE RECRUITER The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires professional Executive Recruitment services for Executive and difficult to fill positons. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, March 29, 2021 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 12:00 PM. Email Kimberly Allen, Procurement Manager at kallen@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

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

missions. Can you create coded messages, slip into disguise and design a super stealthy spy gadget? Your family’s teamwork abilities and tradecraft skills will be put to the test. Family Game Night is suggested for recruits ages seven to twelve and their handlers, however ages six and up can play. It is a one-hour interactive mission led by the Museum’s professional staff. The Museum will connect with participants using our password-protected Zoom Room. Up to 20 households can participate. $285 covers up to 20 household connections. spymuseum.org/education-programs/kids-families/covertcouch-challenge.

A World in One Cubic Foot

There is a lot of life just outside our door that we never see--in the grass, under rocks, hidden bushes or in the water. Exploring this hidden life or biodiversity is a fantastic way to connect with the natural

world while practicing scientific thinking and science skills. One way to do this is to use a Biocube. A biocube is a fun, informative, and manageable way of exploring the biodiversity in the world around you by focusing on a cubic foot of space. By looking closely and documenting the life in a small area, one can get a better understanding of how different ecosystems are structured and how they function. In this activity, explorers build a Biocube out of household items, then use it to investigate nature in a small area just outside their home. This activity is intended to be done by individuals or family groups while at home. naturalhistory. si.edu/education/teaching-resources/lifescience/biocubes-exploring-biodiversity/ biocube-home.

Raising Anti-Racist Children (virtual workshops)

Raising children to build a just world

is a life-long process, as well as a difficult challenge for parents to navigate. Join DCJCC for a two-part series with expert educator Dr. Nabina Liebow, who will take you through the learning and practical steps necessary to raise anti-racist children and help create a cohort of race conscious parents in our community. This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how white supremacy and white privilege affect all parts of our lives and how to bring these ideas into conversation and action in parenting. It is meant as a beginning, and not to be comprehensive or all-encompassing. Raising Anti-Racist Children is offered on May 4 (part 1) and 11 (part 2), 8 to 9:30 p.m. $30 per household. edcjcc. org/children-families/family-programs.

DDOT Free and Discount Car Seats

DC residents who are in need of a car seat can receive a voucher for one free seat. Vouchers are distributed at 11 locations throughout the District including the

Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center Vouchers are also distributed by DDOT directly and can be picked up on the fifth floor of the DDOT main office at 55 M St. SE. DDOT also manages a Booster Seat Program in partnership with DC Metropolitan Police Department. This program provides free booster seats to children who are at least four years old and 40 lbs. “Booster Seat Tuesday” operates on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 501 New York Ave. NW where the seats can be picked up with no appointment. The staff from participating centers will also make sure that all seats provided are properly installed. ddot.dc.gov/page/car-safety-seat-program.

National Archives’ Virtual Pajama Party

This fun educational program for kids, eight to twelve, will focus on women in sports, the Olympics, and gymnastics. Their special guest is Olympic gymnastics gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars champion Laurie Hernandez, who will read from her book, I Got This: To

Gold and Beyond, and take questions from program attendees. Participants will learn about related historical records in the National Archives and create/share their own artwork and writing. Available indefinitely on youtube.com/channel/UCnAsiniI4DF7vAAe7omWWFQ.

National Arboretum Eagle Updates

This spring’s bald eagle mating season at the National Arboretum is turning into a season of The Bachelor. A new female eagle is making a play for the nest by visiting the nest frequently. Although the resident female has dive-bombed and tried chasing the visitor away, the new female keeps returning. Since the resident pair have not produced an egg together for the past two years, it is not unusual for pairs to part ways and find new partners. The next few days will determine which female wins the male’s “rose” and claims the nest. Watch the action on naeaglecam.org. u

Mo the Mars Man

Gather your little ones for story time with the National Air and Space Museum. Museum educator Ann Caspari will read the original story Mo the Mars Man, a story celebrating the landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars. After the story time, educators will lead an activity to make a mini sandbox and oobleck—a substance made of cornstarch and water—for sensory play. This story can be watched anytime and is on the Museum’s website, along with other “Flights of Fancy” story time productions, at airandspace.si.edu/events/flightsfancy-story-time-mo-mars-man.

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XWORD It’s a dog’s life by Myles Mellor by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Camera brand 6. Biting 11. Rockets’ and Suns’ org. 14. Elevator pioneer 18. “The Price Is Right” announcer Johnny 19. Aborigine signal 20. Wine: Prefix 22. End of a Caesar quote 23. Tracking dogs 25. Golden dog 27. Fun house sounds 28. Bracket shapes 29. Cry of relief 31. Miss Channing 32. “Let’s Get It On” singer 33. Agt. Mulder’s employer 34. The Crimson Tide 35. Song holder 39. Accolade 42. ___stick 46. Accept an unpleasant circumstance, ___ bullet 47. Chase scene maneuver, slangily 48. Femmes fatales 51. Schedule 52. Clock std. 53. Metal spikes 54. Vegas or Palmas 55. Springer and Sussex, e.g. 59. German dog 61. Edmonton hockey player 62. Dummkopf 63. Actress Claire 64. Ductile 67. Soapmaker’s need 68. Tough position to be in 72. Buckeye sch. 73. Hot apple __ 74. Go to pieces 75. British hunting dog with a long shaggy coat 80. German ___

84. Harper Valley ___ 85. Explore 86. Personal ID 87. “Buenos ___” 89. Dash 91. Did nothing 92. Herb 95. Active sort 96. Two caddys 98. Kind of lantern 99. Symbol of enduring life 102. Sneaky laugh 103. Imitated 104. Court site, with “The” 106. Tennis great, Arthur 108. Marc Antony’s love 109. Stadium section 113. Chinese dog breed 115. Spitz types 118. Famed runner Zatopek 119. Impertinent person 120. Smallest size 121. Ready to be drawn 122. Hunger for 123. Half a proverbial exchange 124. Sgt. Bilko 125. Delicious

Down: 1. Stud site 2. Women’s magazine 3. Wasn’t hurt 4. Whispers sweet nothings 5. Besides 6. Follower 7. Grand ___ Dam 8. Seeming eternity 9. “The Hunt for __ October” movie 10. Store for the latest electronics 11. “Me neither” 12. Muscular strength 13. Organized insect 14. Ham it up

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 15. Show saver 16. Reykjavik is its cap. 17. Title a Knight 21. Killer whale 24. Moor 26. ‘-- the Walrus’ 30. Grissom’s first name, on “CSI” 32. Secure 33. Podiatrist’s concern 34. Already 35. Media source 36. Is sick 37. Discontinue 38. __ precedent 40. Fails to mention 41. UN agcy. 43. Seat of Montana’s Lewis and Clark County 44. Ark landing point

45. Letter closers 47. “Back in the ___” 49. Benz followers 50. “--- was saying” 52. Open delight 53. Sit for a photo 56. Rejections 57. Roman numeral 58. Right angle extension 59. Used a sci-fi gun 60. Remain 64. Overly 65. Property 66. Crazy guy 67. Prefix with type 68. Chemistry Nobelist Otto 69. Richard Bach novel 70. Waiter’s expectation 71. Coll., e.g. 73. Critical golf shots

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74. “Hey you, c’mere!” 76. Has to be boosted sometimes 77. Australian hopper 78. Thumb 79. “Already under control!” 81. Heaven 82. Vex 83. Honoree’s spot 84. Doctorate 86. Obi 88. Automotive engineers’ org. 90. Delicate 91. Church tower 92. Indiana county or its seat 93. “Tommy,” e.g. 94. ___ to the bone! 97. “Zip it!” 98. Son of Mary Stuart 100. Religious lady 101. Beer barrels 104. Chrysler engine 105. Related to 106. Next to Europe 107. Aug. follower 108. “Walk Like ___” 109. Film director Wertmuller 110. They may be sown 111. Pest 112. See 113. Pizzazz 114. Tolkien creature 116. ‘’___ the ramparts ...’’ 117. “I am __ a crook!”

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East of the River Magazine - April 2021

Articles inside

Changing Hands by Don Denton

Notebook

Federal Control Complicates DC Justice: Courts and Supervisory Agencies Face Pandemic Challenges

The Pennsylvania Avenue SE Small Area Plan: How You Can Get Involved by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Letting the Sunshine In: New Programs to Cover Upfront Costs of Solar Energy by Catherine Plume

Our River: Lessons From Ward 8 Helping The Healing With Nature