East of the River Magazine – March 2023

16 Curbside Groceries: Capital Area Food Bank Project Brings Fresh Food to Shoppers by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ANC

34 Meet Your Neighbor: Yolandra A. Plummer, Ph.D., Professor and Director by Anthony D. Diallo

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

MANAGING

Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com

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.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

NATIONAL GALLERY NIGHTS RETURN FOR THE SEASON

On second Thursdays, March 9, April 13, and May 11, 6 to 9 p.m., the NGA East Building comes to life in this popular, free, after-hours program. Join them for themed evenings with music, live performances, artmaking, pop-up talks, and more. Light fare, gelato, and beverages, including beer, wine, and specialty cocktails are available for purchase throughout the East Building and in the Terrace Café and Espresso & Gelato Bar. Registration is required and opens one week in advance at noon. A limited number of passes are online at 10 a.m. the morning of each event, and a few passes will be available at the door—first-come, first-served— starting at 5:30 p.m. nga.gov/calendar/community-events/nights.

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF ORCHIDS AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN

The 27th annual joint orchid exhibit between the United States Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens is “Discover the World of Orchids” which is on display in the USBG Conservatory through April 30. The exhibit shares stories of the diversity of orchids and how technology advances their conservation. One of the largest plant families in the world, orchid shapes, sizes, colors, and scents vary greatly. Throughout the Conservatory, thousands of orchid blooms showcase the USBG and Smithsonian Gardens’ extensive orchid collections. The gift shop features offerings such as live plants and other botanical gift items. The Botanic Garden Conservatory is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. usbg.gov.

BALLET FLAMENCO SARA BARAS: ALMA AT THE KC

Sara Baras sits among the most renowned figures of the art of flamenco. The internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and superstar of the flamenco world returns to the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, March 29 and Thursday, March 30, 8 p.m., both days. In Alma, flamenco embraces the bolero, and the bolero is embraced by flamenco. Baras pays respect to flamenco’s techniques while fusing it with her own modern touch, brilliant footwork, and captivating stage presence. With lavish costumes and live music performed onstage featuring flamenco rhythms, Alma promises to be an exhilarating evening with the “Flamenco queen” herself. $25 to $89. kennedy-center. org.

STORY DISTRICT’S “SHE COMES FIRST”

On Tuesday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), Story District presents She Comes First, an annual Women’s History Month special that showcases true stories told live by DC’s inspiring female-identifying groundbreakers. $20. She Comes

First is at Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE. Neighborhood parking is tricky. There is a metered public parking lot on Eighth Street, SE between I Street and Virginia Avenue under the highway. themiracletheatre.com.

AVANT BARD’S “JULIUS CAESAR”

ENJOY AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH THE TEMPTATIONS

This black tie affair, which benefits the Friends of Carter Barron, takes place on April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Howard Theater, 620 T St. NW. For more information and tickets, visit www.thehowardtheatre.com.

Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, is one of the most recognized and universally loved productions. Returning from an untimely cancellation in spring 2020 (Season 30), this interpretation of Julius Caesar, directed by Kathleen Akerley, modernizes the story’s politics without targeting Caesar, but by removing Caesar entirely from the stage. The characters in this version of Julius Caesar, much like the citizens of America, are grappling with themselves as much or more than they’re grappling with any particular leader. This production uses mixed media, including film and audio elements, to create a visual masterpiece. $40. “Julius Caesar” is on stage at Avant Bard Theatre, Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two, 2700 S. Lang Street, Arlington, VA, March 9 to April 1. avantbard.org.

“ONE WORLD CONNECTED” AT AIR AND SPACE

One World Connected tells the story of how taking to the skies and stars fostered two momentous changes in everyday life: the ease in making connections across vast distances and a new perspective of Earth as humanity’s home. Featuring an array of satellites and other tools that have increased human connection, the exhibition asks visitors to consider how global interconnection touches their lives and to imagine how advances in technology might impact our near future. One World Connected is at the National Mall’s Air and Space Museum on the newly renovated second floor. airandspace.si.edu.

BLACK GIRLS ROCK (BGR!FEST) AT THE KC

BGR!FEST is an extraordinary and immersive multi-day live experience, to celebrate and recognize the exceptional cultural contributions of Black women artists, thought leaders, and creatives. Now in its fourth year, this festival spans four days during International Women’s Day weekend, March 9 to 12, across the Kennedy Center campus. BGR!FEST is on the Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. on March 9 and 11; in Studio K on March 9, 10 and 11; in the Concert Hall on March 11. For the complete schedule with details, visit ries/black-girls-rock-fest/.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivals-se-

Photo: Courtesy of Story District

DC BEER FESTIVAL

The DC Beer Festival returns to Nationals Park on Saturday, April 8, noon to 8 p.m., bringing together dozens of craft breweries that will feature spring seasonal beers, plus food trucks, dueling pianos, cover bands, DJs, and more throughout the park. General admission is $50 and VIP Admission is $90 with a choice of two sessions: noon to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8pm. Admission includes unlimited tastings, with food sold separately. VIP Admission will allow attendees to access the warning track and dugouts and receive commemorative tasting glasses and DC Beer Fest hats. beerfests.com/events/dc-beer-festival.

CHEROKEE DAYS FESTIVAL AT THE AMERICAN INDIAN MUSEUM

On Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (each day), the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian—showcase the shared history and cultural lifeways of the Cherokee people through storytelling, traditional flute music, wea-ponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pot-tery demonstrations, and music and dance performances. This is a museum-wide festival. americanindian.si.edu.

FOLGER CONSORT’S “SHAKESPEARE IN SONG AND STEP”

As part of the Folger’s First Folio celebration (the 400th anniversary), the Folger Consort returns to its home repertoire of music from Shakespeare’s time with the uniquely English broken consort, an “orchestra” of three plucked stringed instruments, flute, fiddle, and bass viol. Folger Consort’s co-Artistic Directors have often noted the similarities between this engaging style, featuring some fancy pickin’, to the music of the Appalachian descendants of British settlers—bluegrass. In this program, they explore that connection as well as songs from Shakespeare and the shared stories of ballads from both traditions. $20 to $45. The Folger Consort performs “Shakespeare in Song and Step” on Friday, March 17, 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 18, 4 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 19, at 2:30 p.m., at St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. folger.edu.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS AT CAPITOL ONE ARENA

Founded in 1926 by Abe Saperstein, the Harlem Globetrotters played their first-ever road game on Jan. 7, 1927, in Hinckley, Illinois. The Globetrotters have since become the world’s home team, synonymous with family entertainment and great basketball skills. On Saturday, March 18, your favorite Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism and a non-stop LOL good time. Join the Globetrotters as they go headto-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team. The Harlem Globetrotters., on their 2023 World Tour, are at the Capitol One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Saturday, March 18 at 1 p.m.; doors at noon. $25 to $180 (VIP BENCH, $435). capitalonearena.viewlift.com.

Photo: Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

Photo: Brittany Diliberto

SOUNDS OF THE DMV: HIP HOP SHOWCASE AT THE KC

On Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., in the Kennedy Center’s Studio K, experience the dynamism and diversity of the DMV hip hop scene. Tickets are $25 at kennedycenter.org/ whats-on/explore-bygenre/hip-hop.

MURDER CAPITAL AT DC9

The Murder Capital’s first album “When I Have Fears” had all its songs written and recorded within the first nine months of the band knowing each other. Next the band had to learn to navigate their personal relationships through the relationships they harnessed with these new songs. Without knowing what these songs would sound like, the band knew what they wanted them to feel like—and worked backwards from there. And that’s exactly how The Murder Capital ended up with an album that is both totally pure and yet completely confident in its direction. The Murder Capital is at the DC9 Nightclub, 1940 Ninth St. NW, on Friday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). $18 to $20. dc9.club.

PACIFIC OVERTURES AT SIGNATURE

Pacific Overtures is a stunning exploration of tradition and transformation based on historical events. In 1853, after 200 years of stability, Japan faces an American expedition determined to open the “floating kingdom” to trade. The isolationist island’s reckoning with the unwelcome western influence is brilliantly illuminated through a kaleidoscope of stories about sailors, samurai, “someone in a tree” and two friends who choose radically different paths. This innovative epic of East meets West is one of Sondheim’s most ambitious and rarely produced musicals. Pacific Overtures is at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, from March 7 to April 9. sigtheatre.org.

THE KENNEDY CENTER’S “RIVERRUN”

Spanning World Water Day (March 22) to Earth Day (April 22), hundreds of extraordinary talents from around the world—musicians, actors, dancers, authors, filmmakers, chefs, and visual artists—will converge in Washington, DC, for RiverRun. RiverRun includes world-class performances from artists inspired by our world’s waterways; immersive exhibitions and interactive workshops; and films, writers, and climate experts on rivers and oceans. RiverRun will carve an artistic path through the stages, grand halls, and terraces of the Kennedy Center as well as the studios and green spaces of the REACH—which links the Center to its own river, the Potomac. On Wednesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., there will be a free, multi-media concert with music and video images from NASA and National Geographic that will dramatize the story of rivers and climate change over the last 20 years on Planet Earth. kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivalsseries/riverrun.

1972 The “Blue Marble” (Apollo 17). On April 5 at the Terrace Theater, there is a multimedia concert with music and video images from NASA and National Geographic will dramatize the story of rivers and climate change over the last 20 years on Planet Earth. Photo: NASA

SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP TODAY

Are you an aspiring or existing business in the District?

The Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) is here for you!

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

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

10:00 am

Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/58977

WEBINAR: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, SECURITIES AND BANKING COFFEE AND CAPITAL

Thursday, March 2, 2023

10:00 am

Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/59413

DLCP AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY – LEARN THE PROCESS OF STARTING A BUSINESS

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 6:00 pm

Southwest Library 902 Wesley Pl SW, Washington DC 20024 Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/60823

WEBINAR: INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Thursday, March 15, 2023 2:00 pm

Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/60449

WEBINAR: MARSHALL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (MHCDO): STEPS TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 6:00 pm Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/59409

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

Monday – Friday

By appointment between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: “TALK BUSINESS AFTER HOURS”

Wednesdays by appointment between 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

LLAMADA TELEFONICA: 1:1 PASOS PARA OBTENER UNA LICENCIA COMERCIAL CON LA SRA. HERRERA

Miercoles con cita de 12:00 pm a 1:00 pm Registro: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

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

WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM: BLACK FEMINIST DC

We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC is an unprecedented exhibition tracing Black feminism in Washington, DC from the turn of the 20th century through the civil rights and Black Power movements to today. The exhibit examines the voices and stories of more than a dozen trailblazing women, from the early Black feminism of the “Jane Crow” era to the future of Black feminism. Standing at the intersection of race, class, and gender, Black feminists fought for a definition of freedom and liberation that extended beyond their individual circumstances—work that remains unfinished today. We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC opens at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on March 31 as part of a partnership between the National Women’s History Museum and DC Public Library. womenshistory. org/black-feminist-dc.

STEP INTO A TROPICAL FOREST: BARRO COLORADO ISLAND 100 YEARS OF DISCOVERIES AND WONDER

Through 2023, celebrate the 100th Birthday of Barro Colorado Island Research Station by immersing yourself in a Panamanian jungle at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (second floor). From monkeys to microbes, research on the “most studied piece of tropical real estate in the world” gave rise to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, which now hosts 1200 scientists from 50 countries at 12 tropical research facilities, trains young biologists, and contributes new knowledge vital to the future of tropical forests and reefs. naturalhistory.si.edu.

THE MILLENNIUM STAGE

WASHINGTON WOMEN IN JAZZ FESTIVAL

Many women are active professionals in the Washington, DC jazz scene, but few are represented as performers on regional jazz festivals. Created by Amy K. Bormet in 2011, the Washington Women in Jazz Festival creates equitable performance opportunities for women while up-lifting the image of the jazz community and drawing in dynamic new audiences. The 13th annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival is from March 6 to 27 at some of the area’s best music venues: Blues Alley in Georgetown (March 6, 13, 20 and 27); Westminster Church SW (March 10); the Atlas Performing Arts Center on Capitol Hill (March 17); My Dead Aunt’s Books in Hyattsville (March 21); Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill (March 24); and Goethe Instiut, downtown (March 26). washingtonwomeninjazz.com.

Since 1999, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage has offered free, live (and livestreamed) performances in the Grand Foyer at 6 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays. From American traditional and contemporary performances…to international styles, artists, and global traditions…bluegrass, gospel, hip hop, comedy, opera, dance, spoken word, movement, classical performance and children’s theater have all been featured on their stage. Book tickets in advance online or inperson at the box office the day of each performance. Standing room is also available behind the seated area. kennedy-center.org/ whats-on/millennium-stage.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Derek Gripper is a composer, arranger, and virtuoso guitarist. He is known for evoking the West African kora on solo guitar, creating an unprecedented meeting point between the written tradition of Western classical music and the oral tradition of the West African griots. He performs on the Millennium Stage on Saturday, March 25, 6 p.m.

Photo: W. H. Spradley, May 12, 1968. Jack Rottier photograph collection, Collection #C0003, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Photo: Simon Attwell

Howler monkey eating flowers, Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Photo: Aleta Elsayed

SHOUT, SISTER, SHOUT! AT FORD’S

Inspired by Gayle F. Wald’s book “Shout, Sister, Shout! The Untold Story of Rockand-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe”, this musical tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe--one of America’s most influential rock-and-roll, R&B and gospel crossover singers and guitarists. Ambitious, courageous and uncompromisingly public, Tharpe became a pioneer of the women’s movement for racial and sexual equality and is a musical legend who redefined the national and international music scene in the 1930s and ’40s and beyond. $33 to $90. SHOUT SISTER SHOUT! is at Ford’s Theatre, 514 Tenth St. NW, from March 15 to May 13. fords.org.

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND AT THE BARNS AT WOLF TRAP

Pioneering jamgrass ensemble Yonder Mountain String Band has been redefining bluegrass music by pushing the envelope into realms of rock ’n’ roll and improvisation for nearly 25 years. The band’s Barns debut showcases how Yonder Mountain String Band has cemented their reputation as one of the most innovative groups on the live music scene. Yonder Mountain String Band is at the Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m. (both nights). Tickets start at $47. wolftrap.org.

TO THE WILD SKY: RACHMANINOFF, TENNYSON AND POE

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA’S “BLUE”

In Harlem, a couple celebrates the birth of their firstborn—a boy, Black and beautiful. As the mother worries for her son’s future in today’s America, the father wrestles with his role as a police officer, a “Black man in blue.” When the unimaginable happens years later and a white officer kills the son, their deepest fears come true. Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award–winning librettist Tazewell Thompson’s new opera is inspired by contemporary events and Black literature, including TaNehisi Coates’s “Between the World and Me” and James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time.” Tesori’s signature genre blending style captures the grief of a community, the bonds of a family, and the vulnerabilities of protecting a child. By giving voice to the joy and pain of families that are often unheard, “Blue” places timely issues at the forefront of modern opera. $35 to

“Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.” On Sunday, March 19, 4 p.m., poetry and music together paint vivid landscapes, evoking unearthly vignettes from the minds of Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra joins Cathedral Choral Society at Washington National Cathedral for this stunning marriage of music and words. The repertoire is Sergei Rachmaninoff– Isle of the Dead, Op. 29, based on Arnold Böcklin’s painting, Isle of the Dead; Augusta Read Thomas–Ring Out, Wild Bells, text by Alfred, Lord Tennyson; and Sergei Rachmaninoff–The Bells, Op. 35, text by Edgar Allen Poe. Tickets start at $25 with discounts available for educators, healthcare workers, veterans, active military and a pay-what-you wish livestream. cathedral.org.

Ken-

Carrie Compere as Rosetta Tharpe. Photo: Bronwen Houck

Yonder Mountain String Band

$179. “Blue” is at the

nedy Center Eisenhower Theater for six performances from March 11 to 25. kennedycenter.org.

L-R, Kenneth Kelloog (front, left) as the father, Briana Hunter (front, right) as the mother, Gordon Hawkins (back, center) as the reverend. Photo: Karli Cadel

Curbside Groceries

Capital Area Food Bank Project Brings Fresh Food to Shoppers

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Every Friday, Sylvia takes the elevator down from her residence in Vista Apartments (3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE) to do her grocery shopping.

That’s when Curbside Groceries pulls up. On a gray, overcast Friday, she walks up to the mobile grocery truck to buy chicken wings, tomatoes, kale, collard greens, onions, eggs and cabbage ‒oh, and turkey neck. While doing her shopping she confers with Gerald, her curbside grocer, whom she has gotten to know well. She’s been shopping at the truck for about three months now.

Curbside Groceries has been parking outside Vista for nearly a year. Before Sylvia shopped there,

The Curbside Groceries truck outside Vista Apartments.

Sylvia shops at Curbside Groceries every Friday when it stops outside her home at Vista Apartments. Mostly, she said, she doesn’t need to get groceries anywhere else. Photo: E. O’Gorek/CCN

Gerald passes bananas to a customer from the Curbside Groceries truck.

Photo: E. O’Gorek/CCN

she would trek to the Tiger Market, about a mile-and-a-half away, or sometimes to the Giant Food near Eastover Shopping Center. “The Giant is too much for me to handle,” she said.

She doesn’t only mean getting there ‒ it’s a mile away, across the District border with Maryland. She also means walking around the large supermarket once she gets there to do her shopping, and then making the return.

Trips like the one to Giant Food are not an impossibility for Sylvia, who is 75, but it’s a tall order. The grocery truck parked outside the Vista lobby makes healthy food readily accessible, she said. “Mostly when I get everything from here, I really don’t need to go nowhere else.”

Bringing Fresh to the Community

The idea for Curbside Groceries came straight from the community. A few years ago, Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) sta did a survey to understand the food concerns in Wards 7 and 8. They heard loud and clear that access to grocery stores was a big challenge for many, especially in speci c neighborhoods.

“We recognized that there was a huge opportunity to provide groceries to those communities without grocery stores,” said Molly McGlinchy, CAFB’s deputy chief of programs and innovations.

Communities on the east side of the river have far fewer grocery stores than those on the west side. The DC Policy Center has identi ed certain areas including Historic Anacostia, Barry Farm, Mayfair and Ivy City as having most of District’s food deserts. Many have a household income well below the city’s mean and no access to a vehicle. With stores outside reasonable walking distance, it’s di cult to get healthy groceries each week.

CAFB considered a few ways to provide that access. One was by providing rides to and from grocery stores in a partnership with Lyft. At the same time, CAFB started working on the Curbside Groceries program to bring stores to the people. Today

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two Curbside Groceries trucks operate, one in Ward 8 and the other in Prince George’s County. The trucks are paid for by corporate partners including Giant Food and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

The DC truck, launched just before the pandemic hit, makes two hour-long stops daily in up to four different locations, Wednesday through Saturday. “We recognized that this was a needed resource, especially in the pandemic response,” said McGlinchy. “But we also needed to be very mindful of the way we were operating to ensure that our shoppers were safe.”

With health and safety in mind, the trucks changed the way they were initially conceived. Originally, they were to be stores on wheels. Customers were going to enter and shop inside the truck. Curbside Groceries pivoted, now operating more like a food truck. Shoppers order from a menu outside and sta retrieve the selected items.

A mobile grocery store can be particularly helpful for senior shoppers. “When we zoomed out and thought about the goal of the truck itself,” noted McGlinchy, “it’s really to address those access barriers, and oftentimes that means mobility constraints.” She continued, “Individuals don’t have the ability to get to a grocery store without taking multiple buses. This way we could provide a valuable resource and remove some of those barriers to accessing fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a whole market basket of groceries.”

A Full Market Basket

The truck’s stainless steel shelves display baskets with a colorful array of fruits and vegetables. Pricing is on par with Lidl, slightly below Trader Joe’s. Trucks accept cash, credit, debit and SNAP/EBT.

The items are carefully considered. In addition to produce, customers can buy eggs, salmon, chicken wings and milk, all kept refrigerated

and fresh, as well as canned and frozen foods. “We wanted to make sure that we have a full market basket,” explained McGlinchy.

To ensure that customers could get all the items that they need, CAFB consults with retailers to see which items move better than others. And they ask community members what they are looking for when they go to the store. When the grocery truck pulled up to Vista Apartments, it was well-stocked with the cabbage Sylvia bought to fry up for a St Patrick’s Day meal.

Fruits and vegetables are consistently the top sellers, McGlinchy said. “That tells us anecdotally what we’ve already known for so long, that there’s a huge demand for nutritious food options in some of these areas that have been labelled food deserts.”

When Good Food Markets closed down fresh food operations earlier this year, Curbside Groceries came to the site three times a week to ensure continuity of access. Good Foods’ sales data gives insight into what is selling week-to-week. “Part of the model that’s so important is that we continue to hear from our shoppers,” McGlinchy said.

Future Plans

CAFB would like to see the Curbside Groceries provide access to even more areas. The long term goal, according to McGlinchy, is to have the program operated by residents of the community. CAFB would provide the trucks and members of the community would manage the program. That idea is still a zygote, McGlinchy said. They aren’t yet sure how that might look and what role CAFB would take.

But expanding access to healthy food is the priority, and it’s definitely working for residents like Sylvia. If you want Curbside Groceries to come to your neighborhood, call Capital Area Food Bank for an evaluation to see if there is a good match. Check out www.curbsidegroceries.org. u

Talking Transportation ANC 7D report

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Feb. 13 via WebEx. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), Wendell Felder (7D03, chair), Milton Hardy (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, vice chair) and Ashley Schapitl (7D09, secretary) were in attendance. Single Member Districts 7D02 and 7D10 remain vacant.

District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Everett Lott briefed the commission. Safety, Lott stated, remains the highest priority. “Everything that we do is based on safety and improving safety and increasing safety,” Lott said.

Lott emphasized the agency’s creating equitable mobility op-

tions across all eight wards. The department is implementing an eastern extension of H Street streetcar. “We hope to have the project completed by scal year 27,” Lott said. “So, we’re about four years away from nal implementation and hopefully deliverance to the residents.”

Commissioners expressed their appreciation for the various tra c calming measures, bike lanes and other improvements. Then, they raised concerns.

“The biggest issue that I always hear is about the frequency of buses,” Commissioner Friend said.

The “pockets” across all eight wards that have limited access to transit service are a priority for DDOT, Lott responded. He promised the department will collaborate with WMATA to close these service gaps.

The new Tra c Safety Investigation (TSI) dashboard was created without any input from the commission, pointed out Commissioner Astmann. “I appreciate that it’s taking an algorithmic approach to looking at these, but my concern with it is traditionally [that] the ANC has had a voice into which TSI gets priorities, to unify and give visibility to some that they know are community problems,” he said.

Her constituents are concerned about the lack of Residential Parking Enforcement (RPP) near their homes, stated Commissioner Schapitl stated. “There are just a lot of out-of-state cars and cars without RPP parking for days and weeks at a time and there’s very minimal parking enforcement compared to Dupont Circle or other parts of downtown,” Schapitl pointed out. DDOT plays a small role in enforcement of road and tra c violations. Lott advised. Parking enforcement is the responsibility of the Dept. of Public Works, while moving violations are the purview of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). “We are not in the enforcement business besides our automated tra c enforcement cameras. We’ll have to make sure that we do share this information with MPD,” he responded

Other Matters:

Commissioners established ve committees: Housing, Economic Development and Economic Justice, Transportation and Public Space, Grants and Community Outreach, Environment and Public Safety. Current 7D commissioners plan to solicit constituent participation.

The commission unanimously supported the DC State Board of Education Youth Safety Resolution presented by Ward 7 State Board of Education Representative Eboni-Rose Thompson.

The commission unanimously DDOT’s 19th Street and Potomac Ave Cycle Track Project, stipulating that it create minimal disruption to residents. The project will improve bicycle safety and promote walking, transit and biking.

ANC 7D next meets March 13 at 6:30 p.m. via WebEx.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@ hillrag.com.

Discussion of Executive Roles ANC 8B Report

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8B met Feb. 23 at the Seventh District Metropolitan Police Station (2455 Alabama Ave. SE). Present were Khadijah Watson (8B01, vice chair and treasurer), Paul Trantham (8B02, chair and secretary), Kimberly Little (8B04), Alyce McFarland (8B06) and Joseph Johnson (8B05).

Discussion of Executive Roles

After a heated discussion over the rules governing the election of the commission’s executive, commissioners voted to approve the January minutes.

Two commissioners hold the four executive offices, elected at the Jan. 17 meeting of the commission. Watson was elected both vice chair and treasurer; Trantham was elected both chair and secretary.

That election took place according to the 2016 bylaws, which state that a commissioner must have been in office at least one year prior to holding an executive position. As all other commissioners were newly elected, only Trantham and Watson qualified.

However, Trantham said he had received an email on Feb. 24 outlining subsequent changes that had been made to the bylaws, apparently during a virtual meeting of the previous commission held in 2021. At that meeting, the commissioners voted to remove the one-year requirement, but the change to the bylaws had not been filed with the District’s Office of ANCs until late January 2023. Trantham proposed the ANC continue to operate under the 2016 bylaws until the matter was clarified.

Others strongly objected. Johnson argued that the video of the March 2021 Zoom meeting where the decision was made shows the intent of the commission was for newly elected commissioners to have the opportunity to become officers. Former 8B04 Kevin Coleman, attending the meeting in his role with Constituent Services for Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White Sr. (D), said that the rules change neither expressly forbade nor disallowed the election of new commissions as executives.

While debate grew heated when the issue was raised again at the end of the meeting, the commissioners did not determine next steps on the matter.

Finances

A discussion on terminating the rental contract for ANC 8B offices was

tabled to the executive meeting. ANC 8B pays monthly rental fees on offices at 1809 Savannah St. SE. Trantham said the offices have not been occupied in some time and the facilities are in need of upgrade. He proposed that the commission look into terminating that arrangement and meet in District buildings, which he said were free for elected officials. McFarland said she would like to inspect the offices and look into the contract prior to voting on the decision.

Commissioners voted unanimously to pay two months of outstanding bills with AT&T, despite a lack of clarity on the amount owed. The previous commission, which left office in December 2022, had left two months’ unpaid invoices with AT&T, Trantham said. Those fees covered mobile phones, but Trantham said that the current ANC lacked the information needed for determining what was owed. Furthermore, two of the phones on the contract were not returned to the commission. One is missing after the death of a former commissioner; another commissioner informed Trantham that the phone was lost.

Johnson moved to purchase equipment necessary for ANC 8B’s administration and communications, including one laptop, one notebook and a smart phone. The commissioners unanimously voted in support.

Public Safety

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Seventh District Commander John Branch appeared to introduce himself to the commission and provide a safety update. He said that the Seventh District has the second highest decrease in violent crime, right behind the Second District, which includes Georgetown.

The biggest issue is motor vehicle theft, especially of Kias and Hyundais due to a recent TikTok challenge, a social media craze resulting from a viral video which purports to show how to quickly steal those vehicles. MPD has reached out to Kia’s corporate headquarters, which indicated it would recall the vehicles to address the issue. In the meantime, Kia owners could get theft deterrent devices free of charge from the 7D station.

Next Meeting

ANC 8B will hold the next full meeting Tuesday, March 21, at the Seventh District Metropolitan Police Station, 2455 Alabama Ave. SE. Learn more by visiting www.anc.dc.gov. u

Bike Lane Redux ANC 8F Report

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on Feb. 28. Commissioners Nic Wilson (8FO1), Rick Murphree (8F02, treasurer), Brian Strege (8F03, secretary), Edward Daniels (8F04, chair) Clayton Rosenberg (8F05, vice chair), were in attendance.

In their February meeting, commissioners voted to conditionally support for the installation of a two-way Protected Bike Lane (PBL) along M Street SE between First and 11th Streets. This requires the removal of a westbound travel lane and the installation of several bus stops. The changes are designedto increase bike and pedestrian safety.

Commissioners raised concerns about previous DDOT bike PBLs. In particular, they pointed to the half-finished PBL on New Jersey Avenue SE. The changes there left only two automobile travel

lanes in place. Now, package delivery drivers routinely block traffic to unload parking in either the travel lanes or crosswalks.

“We’ve experienced a lot of projects that are not working, they create more hazards and create problems in the neighborhood,” Chair Daniels said of their conditional support. “We need a plan B.”

The commissioners also objected to the project’s timeline. It is slated to begin during the peak seasons of the Washington Nationals, DC United and the Yard’s Park’s summer concert series, all of which bring large numbers of people to the area.

The commission is committed to pedestrian and cyclist safety, stated Daniels, but remains wary of creating new problems in the process.

“We definitely support the project and want to make sure that all of us get around our city safely,” Daniels said. “But we don’t want to continue to create more issues than we’re solving.”

Other Matters

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Captain Kevin Harding briefed the commission on crime. Car thefts, he said, continue to be an issue and encouraged residents to utilize any cameras or recording devices at their homes to help MPD find offenders.

Commissioners and community members discussed the preliminary plans for the DC Smart Streets Lighting Project which will upgrade the District’s more than 72,000 streetlights. This modernization process will include converting streetlights to LED technology, adding wireless access for repairs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by more than 50 percent. Wireless access is aimed to reduce the time it takes to repair streetlights. Learn more at streetlights.dc.gov.

The commission supported a public space application to add sidewalk seating at Swizzler (1259 First St. SE) as well as the the National Cherry Blossom Festival Petal Palooza, which takes place on April 8 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

ANC 8F generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for March 28 at DC Dept. of Transportation Headquarters, 250 M Street SE. For more information, visit anc8f.org.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

DC Smart Streets Lighti ng Project which will upgrade the District’s more than 72,000 streetlights. Courtesy: ddot.dc.gov/page/streetlights

Anacostia Arts and Culture District Unveiled

On February 23, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID), and other District o cials and community partners unveiled the Anacostia Arts and Culture District in Ward 8. The celebration featured live painting, Go-Go music, and more. During the event, Mayor Bowser also highlighted additional investments in the Department of Public Works MuralsDC program to support the development of more than a dozen new murals and the arts community East of the River. MuralsDC will work closely with the Anacostia BID and other partners throughout the spring to identify mural locations and artists. muralsdcproject.com.

Volunteer at Kennilworth

Join the Friends of Kennilworth Park’s Park Greeter program. The commitment is one to two times a month. Anyone 16 and older can be a Park Greeter. Student Service Learning hours can also be earned. Contact Shannah Cumberbatch at shannah@fokag.org or call 202-6500455 to learn more.

Anacostia Community Museum Announces “Our Environment, Our Future”

As part of a multi-year focus on community issues, the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum has announced “Our Environment, Our Future” as the theme for 2023. Through planned exhibitions, programs and the opening of a new Smithsonian Center, the museum will examine the topic of environmental justice in the Washington metropolitan area using the lens of race and gender. This theme deepens the museum’s existing work in pioneering

community-centered practices and critical environmental justice conversations. The highlight of the year will be the launch of the Center for Environmental Justice on Earth Day, April 22. The center seeks to create a future in which environmentalism is a cornerstone of civic engagement through which residents contribute to the development of healthy, equitable communities. Center sta will organize symposiums, panels, fellowships, an Environmental Justice Academy that will engage young people living in the region, as well as continue the work of well-known programs like “Growing Community,” the long-standing community gardening program. The Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

SOUND PATTERNS at Hon eur Gallery

SHAOLIN JAZZ presents the next edition in their SOUND PATTERNS Art Exhibition series with No. 8: An explo-

ration of martial arts within the Black aesthetic, on view at The Hon eur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, through April 8. There has long been a relationship between martial arts and the African diaspora which goes back for centuries. This relationship has been exhibited in a range of martial arts lms where the poor and disenfranchised ght against an oppressive force. This same sense of resiliency and afnity towards martial arts culture has also been referenced in hip hop and black music throughout the ages. The original works in this exhibition will explore that relationship through the lens of seven artists and their respective mediums: Imani, K. Brown, Maurice James Jr., Asad “Ultra” Walker, Kojo Boateng, Christopher Everett, Terence Nicholson and Aniekan Udo a. hon eurgallerydc.com.

Francis Gregory Library Spring Programs

On Wednesdays at 7 p.m., there is a Chess Club meet up

Mayor Bowers tries her hand with a paint brush.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

Visit

DC Open Doors

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

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst 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) rst-time home buyer program.

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 mortgages. You are not required to be a firsttime homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

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

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

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

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

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

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

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

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $202,000 combined. DCHFA 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. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME

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

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered 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.

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

COVID-19

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered 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.

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered 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

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.

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

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered 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.

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

COVID-19

COVID-19

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

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

with US National Chess Master David Bennett. On Tuesdays at 1 p.m., there is an adult and senior game day at the library. On Saturdays, starting March 11 at 10:45 a.m. study Kemetic Yoga with Nzinga. On Saturday, March 25, at 1 p.m., there is a senior movie day showing of “Hidden Figures.” On Thursday, April 6, 6:30 p.m., there is a genealogy program “Searching Your Family Roots.” All programs are free. Francis Gregory Library is at 3660 Alabama Ave. SE. dclibrary.org/francis.

Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly

On Sunday, April 2, noon to 3 p.m., come to Oxon Run Park, 1200 Mississippi Ave. SE, for kite programming, entertainment, and more in coordination with the Blossom Kite Festival. Celebrate the Ward 8 community with free food, kite kits, art, music, and fun kid activities and support local businesses by shopping at the Ward 8 Vendor Market. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Spring Fling at THEARC

Annual Spring Fling community event at THEARC is on April 8, noon to 3 p.m. This fun, family friendly event includes food, games, prizes, music, and a fun egg hunt with hidden treats. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. bbardc.org.

‘night Mother at the Anacostia Playhouse

On a seemingly normal evening, we meet Thelma Cates, an aging mother and widow, who lives with her daughter, Jessie. When Jessie confesses she plans to kill herself with her father’s old revolver, the two build a bond that changes their lives forever. $35 to $50. ‘night Mother is at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE, from April 19 to May 14. anacostiaplayhouse.com.

“New Voices New Works” Play Festival at the Anacostia Playhouse

Anacostia Playhouse’s annual new works series showcases new, unproduced plays. Selected playwrights will work with a professional director and actors to prepare their 10-minute plays for a staged reading. This year’s theme is “Love will make you do right/make you do wrong.” Pay-what-you-can on Mondays, April 24, May 1 and 8, at 7 p.m. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. anacostiaplayhouse.com.

First Volunteer Event of the Season at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

On March 25, 9 a.m. to noon, join Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Ana- costia Ave. NE, for their rst monthly volunteer event of the season. Work alongside Park Rangers as the group com- pletes projects that help main- tain this beautiful oasis. Waders provided. Registration is required at kenaqgardens.org.

Pups in the Park

Pups in the Park is an opportunity to bring your dog to a Nationals game and enjoy the game from seats in a pet-friendly out eld reserved section. Participants must complete the waiver and bring it to the game in order to bring your dog into Nationals Park. The full information regarding Pups in the Park will be emailed to all special ticket event buyers 24 hours prior to the game. Human ticket price is $35; plus $10 per dog. This year’s games are Sunday, April, 16, 1:35 p.m. vs. Cleveland Guardians; Friday, May 19, 7:05 p.m. vs. Detroit Tigers; Wednesday, June 7, 7:05 p.m. vs. Arizona D-backs; Wednesday, Aug. 16, 7:05 p.m. vs. Boston Red Socks; Tuesday, Sept. 5, 7:05 p.m. vs. New York Mets; and Saturday, Sept. 23, 1:05 p.m. vs. Atlanta Braves. All proceeds from the dog ticket sales are donated to the Humane Rescue Alliance. For more information or to purchase a group of 20 or more, contact Trevor Mann at 202-640-7069 or Trevor. Mann@nationals.com.

Two for the Trails Cleanup: Anacostia Park

Join Anacostia Riverkeeper on Saturday, March 25 (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to noon, for a cleanup at Anacostia Park, 1100 Good Hope Rd. SE, and help them stop trash from entering the river. All supplies provided. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing you can get dirty that will protect you from the brush. Register at anacostiariverkeeper.org. The Anacostia Riverkeeper’s Clean Waterways Earth Day Cleanup is on Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. to noon, at Kenilworth Park.

Murals DC Seeks Artists

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the DC Department of Public Works, seeks mural artists, gra ti artists and/or artists/artist teams who work with aerosol to design, create and install exterior public art murals as part of the MuralsDC program. MuralsDC seeks bold, new, and next-level designs from artists across mediums that embrace traditional aerosol gra ti styles in their mural practice. Muralists must demonstrate experience executing large-scale exterior murals. Muralists with experience that showcase content that touches themes of Community Pride, Community Voices, Local History, Environmental Scenes, and colorful design are encouraged. The MuralsDC program was established to beautify neighborhoods and communities in the District of Columbia with artistic works. This initiative also aims to positively demonstrate the culture and techniques of gra ti art to the District; promote respect for public and private property; and heighten community pride through public art. dcarts.dc.gov/page/murals-dc.

Giant Presents $50,000 to Martha’s Table

On Feb. 27, Giant presented a $50,000 check to Martha’s Table to support their ‘Health and Wellness Initiatives’, which includes fresh food distributions, nutrition education in DC schools, and holistic health services for the whole family. Martha’s Table continues to support 5,000 families each week by distributing no-cost fresh produce and nutritious non-perishables, speci cally in Ward 8. After the check presentation, Giant Food associates volunteered at Martha’s Table to support their weekly market, where fresh produce from Giant was handed out to local community members. marthastable.org.

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Easter Sunrise Services

Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial begins at 6:30 a.m. Over 6000 people gather annually at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. national. cc/events/details/easter-sunrise-service. Easter Sunrise Service at Arlington Cemetery is on April 9. It begins at 6:15 a.m. with a musical prelude. Enter Arlington National Cemetery via Memorial Avenue and park at the cemetery’s parking garage, where parking is free from 5 to 9 a.m. (fees for parking begin at 9 a.m.). There is no walking to the amphitheater from the parking lot; a free shuttle service will transport all guests from the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center and transport them back. arlingtoncemetery.org.

Arboretum Eagle Update

According to experts at the National Arboretum and DC Department of Energy & Environment, the Arboretum’s nesting pair of bald eagles have built a new nest for the 2023 season. Mr. President and LOTUS built the new nest on Arboretum property in the woods between Fern Valley and the Langston Golf Course. The new nest is much bigger than the previous one, and is located closer to the Anacostia River, the eagles’ main food source. Mr. President and LOTUS performed bonding ights throughout the fall. Based on their current behavior in the nest, it is highly likely they have already laid an egg. While there won’t be a livestream camera in the nest this year to watch the eagles in action, they are often seen ying over the Arboretum. Due to the nest’s isolated location and large size, it is di cult to see the eagles when they are in the nest. All are reminded to mind the trails that are closed o between the Fern Valley parking lots and the Langston Golf Course and give the eagles their space. usna.usda.gov.

Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium

Speakers Announced

After virtual symposiums from 2020 to 2022, Ford’s Theatre Society and the Abraham Lincoln Institute present the return of the Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium on Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Ford’s Theatre. In the 2023 symposium, noted authors and historians Terry Alford, Fred L. Hord, David J. Kent, Jon Meacham and Diana Schaub will discuss aspects of our 16th president’s history. This free full-day symposium is focused on the life, career and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. This event is free and open to the public. Advance registration for tickets is encouraged and available now through March 25. Day-of tickets will be available on March 25 on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Books will be available for purchase at the Ford’s Theatre Gift Shop on the day of the symposium. fords.org/event/abrahamlincoln-institute-symposium.

Free Steering Wheel Locks

DC residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai vehicle are eligible to receive a free steering wheel lock from an MPD District station. MPD is partnering with Kia and Hyundai corporations to combat motor vehicle theft after a social media challenge that encourages using a USB cable to steal these types of cars led to a substantial increase in Kia and Hyundai car thefts. Residents who qualify for the steering wheel lock must have a 2011-2021 Hyundai or Kia, a steel key ignition (keyless entry/push-to-start vehicles are not impacted), proof of DC registration and a District ID. Steering wheel locks will be given on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Residents can check to see if their local District station has any wheel locks remaining by going to mpdc. dc.gov/autotheft.

Sunrise photo at the Lincoln Memorial

Photo: Courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service

Contract Awarded for Lincoln Memorial Visitor Experience Transformation

The National Park Service has awarded a contract to add an immersive museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial and other upgrades to the visitor experience. Construction is expected to begin this month with completion targeted for 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The nearly $69 million project will create 15,000 square feet of exhibit space that tells a more complete story of the Lincoln Memorial and provides a look at the structure’s foundations in a cavernous area known as the undercroft. New museum exhibits and multi-media presentations will highlight the construction history of the memorial and discuss how the Lincoln Memorial has become the nation’s foremost backdrop for civil rights demonstrations. The project also includes new restrooms, a larger bookstore and a refurbished elevator to the chamber level of the memorial.

DC Nightlife’s Cherry Night

On Friday, March 31, 7 to 11 p.m., enjoy Cherry Night, an exclusive, one-night-only cherry blossom-themed celebration of DC nightlife through music, fashion, and food. Selected venues throughout the DC area elevate the dinner scene with custom springtime menus, blossom décor, and live entertainment. Sign up for the festival’s emails for the latest updates on participating Cherry Night venues at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/join-email-list.

Arboretum Native Plant Sale

On Saturday, March 25, 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., get a head start on spring at one of the earliest plant sales in the area. The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) annual native plant sale includes vendors from across the mid-Atlantic selling spring ephemerals and many other choice perennials and woody plants. The sale is along Meadow Road between the National Arboretum’s Visitor Center and National Herb Garden—GPS 2400 R St. NE. fona.org.

Fundraiser Viewing of “The High Ground” at Arena Stage

A Black man in an army uniform stands his ground atop Tulsa’s Standpipe Hill, bearing witness to the destruction and desecration of Tulsa’s Greenwood District--but other forces, both friendly and hostile, conspire to remove him. A play in conversation with Tulsa, Oklahoma’s 1921 race massacre, The High Ground is an unexpected love story that traverses space and time and reminds us of what it takes to re-emerge from the devastation. There is a fundraiser viewing of “The High Ground” on Friday, March 17, 7 p.m. $60 to $100. This event includes a preproduction reception and postproduction discussion with cast. Arena Stage is at 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.

DC Water Offers One-time Catch-up Offer

DC Water has created a one-time o er for eligible customers with a past due balance. DC Water will waive some penalties and late fees, and then reduce the bal-

ance by ten percent. This incentive, called Customer Catch Up, is available to those who qualify if they pay their reduced balance by May 31. There is no application process and no waiting period. Eligible customers with balances outstanding for 30 days or more as of Dec. 31, 2022, will be contacted directly by DC Water with more information. Penalties and late fees accruing after Dec. 31, 2022, are not eligible. The full Catch-Up balance must be paid by May 31. For faster posting, customers can pay by phone at 202-354-3600 or online at mydcwater.com.

Anacostia River Festival (save the date)

This year the 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the ninth annual Anacostia River Festival on Saturday, May 20. This family-friendly event will be lled with fun outdoor activities, local performances, food trucks, and more. Visit bridgepark.org/ ARF for more information. ◆

Money & Sense Boost Your Income with the Earned Income Tax Credit!

by Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz

How would you feel if you saw an envelope with your name on it stu ed with over $11,000? If I were you, I would pick it up and bring it home to my family. We could de nitely bene t from that money.

Right now there are about 20,000 families in Washington DC, primarily east of the Anacostia River, who are not getting the money that is rightfully theirs. They could use the money to pay for necessities, rent and food and clothes for the kids, or save, invest in a small business, pay down debt, or address other nancial goals.

If you worked in 2022 and have kids, you need to know about how the tax system can help you. Let’s make sure that you don’t let Uncle Sam keep your money!

Even though talking about taxes usually causes a headache, it’s extremely important that you know about nancially empowering yourself and your family. Did you know that you may be eligible for tax credits that can give you money back and boost your income?

The earned income tax credit (EITC) is available for individuals and families. For the past 45 years, it has made life better for millions of workers throughout America. You may have extra money waiting for you.

If you qualify and claim the credit, it could be worth over $6,900 from the federal government for some workers and their families. Additionally, the District of Columbia has the nation’s most robust state level EITC, which can provide 70% of the tax credit approved by the IRS. This could mean another $4,800 for some workers and their families.

Eligible Washingtonians could make up to $22,610 without kids or $59,187 with kids in 2022 and qualify for the EITC.

But wait, there is more! The federal child tax credit (CTC) is also available for those who worked in 2022 and earned more than $2,500. The CTC o ers up to $2,000 per quali ed child. Children must be 16 years old or

younger and have a Social Security number (SSN) to be claimed for the CTC. You and your spouse must have an SSN or individual taxpayer identi cation number (ITIN).

These tax credits are not a loan. File your federal taxes by April 18, 2023, to receive this income boost.

Because of the pandemic, the EITC and CTC were expanded and made available to more families. That expansion has since ended, BUT here’s the good news – if you were eligible for the 2021 expanded EITC, the 2021 expanded CTC, or any of the three rounds of stimulus checks and didn’t claim them, it’s not too late! You can le prior year taxes up to three years past the original due date.

High-quality, trusted, reliable and free tax preparation services are available for Washingtonians who made up to $60,000 in income last year. For more information on these in-person, virtual and online services, visit www. caab.org/en/dceitc.

At Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) we are committed to assisting Washingtonians learn about and claim the earned income tax credit ‒ at the federal and DC levels ‒ and the child tax credit to boost income and help with the high cost of living.

CAAB is a Washington-based nonpro t organization with a mission to create opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals in Washington and the greater DC region to build nancial security, savings, and wealth. Our DC EITC Campaign provides access to information and informs Washingtonians on free tax preparation services throughout the District and online. The campaign is made possible through support from the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) as well as private-sector partners.

Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz is the CEO and executive director of the DC-based nonpro t organization Capital Area Asset Builders. ◆

Meet Your Neighbor: Yolandra A. Plummer, Ph.D.

Professor and Director

by Anthony D. Diallo

Educating and empowering young adults at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) has been at the forefront of Yolandra Plummer’s decade-long mission as both an award-winning professor and a program director. The educator, who has resided in Ward 7 for almost 25 years, enjoys her four-bedroom, two-anda-half-bathroom, colonialstyle-house that is nestled in the Hillcrest/Penn Branch neighborhood.

The University of the District of Columbia

Plummer’s life has revolved around UDC since 1993 when she earned a Master’s in Public Administration at the city’s only public university. She received her doctorate a few years later at Howard University where she had earlier obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism and multicultural studies.

“Overall, it has been a great experience. I have had great mentors [at UDC and within the District of Columbia Government]. Each year I have grown and learned to incorporate immersive technology into my courses. For example, students enjoy being able to access the course syllabus by using a QR Code,” said Plummer, who has called southeast home for nearly half of her life.

She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the School of Business and

Dr. Yolandra Plummer delivering a short speech after accepting the Penczek Award. The ceremony was held at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

Public Administration.

Recently Dr. Plummer began teaching Ph.D. courses within the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences. UDC is recognized as the only urban public land-grant university in the United States.

“My research interests include the dimensions of digital learning experiences for low-income populations and especially individuals with learning differences,” said the tenured professor who also serves as a Dissertation Advisor in the Ph.D. program.

Ties to the DMV

Although Plummer was raised in an Atlanta suburb, she spent part of her childhood locally when she attended Forestville Elementary School. Her mother worked for the federal government while her father worked for Delta Airlines. The family lived in Prince George’s County at the time and relocated back to Georgia for professional advancement when Plummer began middle school.

Kudos and Awards

Plummer, who serves as UDC’s Chair of the Institutional Review Board and is also an executive board member of the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, has recently received noteworthy awards and recognition.

She received the Alan G. Penczek Service-Learning Faculty Award in December 2022. The award recognizes and honors a faculty member in public universities, community colleges, and independent colleges/universities for excellence in the integration of service learning into the curriculum and for impact on students and the community.

In addition, she was appointed as a 2022 Myrtilla Miner Fellow. The Myrtilla Miner Faculty Fellows Institute acknowledges educators who enhance teaching and learning metrics.

Paving Access Trails to Higher Security

Besides being a valued and award-winning professor, Plummer is also the director of UDC’s Paving Access Trails to Higher Security (PATHS) program. The work readiness program serves District residents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. The program trains, up to 400 individuals annually, in Digital Lit-

eracy, Contact Tracing, and Community Health Worker certifications.

“As far as the work itself, it wasn’t too hard. You have to do a lot of your advocating for yourself or you won’t make it. You have to have a goal and stick to it,” said Alethea Hicks who finished a certification in CompTIA A+ in November 2022. Hicks learned and mastered networking, virtualization, cloud computing, and security topics. She awaits her background check to be completed so she can start working at the Pentagon as a PC Technician.

“The partnership with UDC [and the District of Columbia Government’s Department of Human Services] has exceeded over twenty years. Currently, under the leadership of Dr. Yolandra Plummer, she is equipping citizens in the District of Columbia with skills in digital skills, skills in contact tracing, and business administration. UDC and Dr. Plummer play a critical role in the transformation of our citizens citywide to uplift and enrich their lives,” said Dr. Victor McCrary, the Vice President for Research at UDC.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

“I remember my husband thinking that we’d just buy one of those ‘mini mansions’ in one of the Maryland suburbs like several of our friends and family. But I reminded him that Washington, DC would remain the nation’s capital and that maybe we should just live here. He agreed and we never regretted that decision. This area is a city for all seasons. The [Hillcrest/Penn Branch neighborhoods] have a rich history in African American culture. There is a warmth and caring here,” Plummer fondly proclaimed.

Besides appreciating her community, Plummer enjoys traveling on family vacations or getaways with good friends. The pescatarian also appreciates fine seafood like the traditional Maryland Crab Cake or Caribbean cuisine featuring shrimp rotis, escovitch king fish or steamed red snapper, callaloo, rice & peas, and sweet fried plantains.

Encouraged by the daily meditations that she digests, Dr. Plummer became an educator “to empower students and especially those of color in a culturally relevant setting. Many do not understand the power of information. I want my students to understand the importance of information and how to access and use it to their advantage in their professional and personal lives. When my students see me, they know that they matter because I care about them.” u

Dr. Plummer holding the framed award. Karin Abma, the representative from the nonprofit, Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA), is wearing the red jacket. Two other unidentified TMA members are in the photo as well.

Come

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PREK 3 - GRADE 5

The Eastsider

The Hidden Deanwood: The Legacy of Nannie Helen Burroughs

by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

Nannie Helen Burroughs School is a few blocks away from my home. Recently, I walked past the school to reflect on and develop more depth for this article. From a distance I saw the entrance, a faded white arch with fancy cursive writing that read, “Progressive National Baptist Convention.” I imagined a woman standing tall with shoulders back, wearing a longsleeved white dress buttoned to the neck with a dramatic collar, similar to the images I had seen in history books, and dark skin that reminded me of my aunts, cousins and close friends.

I imagined a woman who lived in a world that didn’t represent the life she desired for herself and others. Slowly and patiently she fought to create the world that lived in her heart. A world that allowed women to vote, earn a living wage and develop skills beyond domestic work.

As I walked the school grounds, a deeper appreciation grew inside of me. A respect beyond gestures that had become trivialized, such as May 10 being designated Nannie Helen Burroughs Day, or the naming of an avenue. I became curious about the woman excluded from most school history books and curricula but revered and celebrated by the seniors in my neighborhood.

Deanwood is a lovely community, a two-square-mile enclave with a rich history, particularly women’s history. Neighborhood folks are greeted by murals celebrating the contributions of great leaders; dozens of cultural and historical markers celebrate the community’s resilience.

My daily commute includes traveling down Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, turning left onto Minnesota Avenue and riding the train to work. Although Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue is a major artery, I had never paused to research Burroughs and her ties to the Deanwood community. Every neighbor I talked with recognized her name, but many were surprised when I shared some of the extraordinary contributions she made to the women’s suf-

frage movement and women’s liberation. Realizing that key parts of Burroughs’ impactful life were not common knowledge prompted me to honor Women’s History Month by shining a light on her life and linkage to Deanwood. Burroughs was born May 2, 1879, in Virginia. After the death of her sister and father she and her mother moved to DC. She did well in school and graduated from M Street High School (now Paul Laurence Dunbar High School). She looked to Anna J. Cooper and Mary Church Terrell, black women leading the way in the suffrage movement, as role models and friends.

The Nannie Helen Burroughs School, formerly known as the National Training School for Women and Girls Inc., is located in Deanwood at 601 50th St. NE. Founded by Burroughs in 1909, the school started as a private coeducational elementary school. It was the first school in the nation to provide vocational training to African American females, who had limited opportunities at the time.

During the formative stages Burroughs taught all the classes herself in a small farmhouse, with a student population of 31. Owing to the high teaching quality, the school began to grow, gaining national popularity. By 1920 it had over 100 students and an international student body. Women were able to learn an array of vocational and academic subjects and skills ranging from public speaking to sewing, printing, laundering, shoe repair, cooking, music and physical education.

The school was revolutionary for the time, offering curricula such as African American history to educate women to be proud of their race. By 1928, the Trades Hall, now a historic landmark, was built, and its dedication ceremony featured such notable speakers as Mary McLeod Bethune.

Burroughs died in Washington of natural causes in 1961 at the age of 85. She never married or had children. Her entire life was dedicated to the elevation of women and girls and to social justice work. The Nannie Helen Burroughs school is cloistered away from the buzzing parts of the Deanwood community. Although marked with a placard on the Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail, the school is easily overlooked by neighbors and passersby.

After doing my research the walk down Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue feels different. I am more informed, reflective and appreciative of the work and legacy of a courageous woman who sacrificed much to benefit many.

Leniqua’dominique Jenkins works on the DC Council but the views expressed here are her own. She can be reached at jenkinseastoftheriver@gmail.com. u

A resident standing next to a Nannie Helen Burroughs mural in Deanwood.

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.

kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Watch Asian Elephant Nhi Linh Play

On Jan. 16, the National Zoo’s nine-year-old Asian elephant got a kick out of her enrichment toy as she and her mother, Trong Nhi, played in the Elephant Community Center. In the wild, Asian elephants use their bodies to fell trees and their trunks to move logs. Keepers give the elephants enrichment to encourage these natural behaviors. Toys like this help them keep physically fit and mentally sharp; they also encourage them to socialize and play. Watch Asian Elephant Nhi Linh Play at nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/watch-asianelephant-nhi-linh-play.

Two Big Family-friendly Festivals on the Waterfront

Bloomaroo is at the Wharf is on Saturday, April 1, 2 to 9 p.m. Bloomaroo is a spring extravaganza featuring a full day of cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks, and family-friendly fun along the waterfront. Enjoy beer gardens on District pier, s’mores at their firepit, live music and fireworks finale. wharfdc.com.

Petalpalooza at Capitol Riverfront at the Yards is on Saturday, April 8, 1 to 9 p.m. It brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations through the Petalpalooza Art Walk, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming DC sports mascots and entertainers, fireworks and more. Fireworks are also visible from Anacostia Park. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Blossom Kite Festival

On Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., (rain date, March 26), discover the joy of kite-flying on the Washington Monument grounds. The Blossom Kite Festival is a long-standing DC tradition encouraging attendees of all ages to fly kites among the cherry blossom trees. The iconic outdoor event is fun, free, and open to the public. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Photo: Ron Engle

Out of this World with the Science Guys of Baltimore

On Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. at the Discovery Theater, send your kids to space with the Science Guys. Using a huge Hoberman sphere, we’ll create the earth’s rotation as it spins through space, simulate how day and night occur, learn how long a year is, and demonstrate what causes the seasons. This show is all about the Earth’s place in the universe, but they’ll also blast o rockets to learn about the vacuum of space and how astronauts live in the international space station. $8 for adults; $7 for kids; $3 for kids under two. Tickets on sale now. It is recommended for ages seven to eleven. Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center is at 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW (on the National Mall). discoverytheater.org.

New School

Capitol Hill Christian Academy (CHCA), is a new classical, K-12, fulltime school that plans to launch classes in Fall 2023. CHCA exists to partner with families and churches to provide a Christ-centered education to cultivate a lifelong curiosity, and a love of learning and service, in pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful. The location in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, near Eastern Market, will be announced soon.

Saturday Morning Live! at the National Fun takes center stage at the National Theatre for Saturday Morning Live.

Kids are invited to the Helen Hayes Gallery space on select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. for entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music. On March

Cenicienta: A Bilingual Cinderella Story at the KC

Ten-year-old Belinda loves to tell stories, but when she’s in the basement preparing for a party upstairs, she’ll have to get creative. Using everyday objects like a teapot and doily, Belinda recreates the classic tale of Cinderella. Glass Half Full Theatre from Austin, Texas, presents its awardwinning “story within a story” using puppetry, Spanish, and English. As Belinda confronts her stepmother and stepsisters, she’ll learn to embrace her love of poetry and stand up for herself. This captivating Cinderella for all ages tackles cultural heritage, family, and the power of language. $20. Cenicienta: A Bilingual Cinderella Story is at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, April 1, at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 5 p.m.; and Sunday, April 2, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. It is most enjoyed by ages five, up. kennedy-center.org.

11, see We Can Do It! by Bright Star Theatre. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment with We Can Do It: American Women in History. A fascinating adventure featuring some of the world’s most remarkable female pioneers, audiences will discover trailblazers like Amelia Earhart, Sacajawea, Susan B. Anthony, and more. On April 1, see Callaloo Kids by Canady Foundation for the Arts Repertory Theatre. Join the CFA Repertory Theatre as they adventure to the Gullah Sea Islands in search of a long-lost patch for Zoe’s grandmother’s quilt. Celebrating African-Diaspora folklore, this performance includes puppetry, drumming, and storytelling for the entire family to enjoy. Best enjoyed by ages three to six, but anyone is welcome to join in the fun. Tickets are free, but register in advance. Walk-up tickets are subject to availability. Masks are optional, but highly recommended. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morning-live.

This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration

During the time of the Great Migration, millions of African American families relocated from the South, seeking better opportunities. The story of one family’s journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in

Second Saturday Sungazing

On the Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., become an astronomer and observe the Sun safely with a filtered telescope. Join museum staff outside the Air and Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center entrance to view a variety of features on the Sun. Knowledgeable staff will be there to answer questions and guide observing. If clouds are blocking the view of the sky, find them inside the Museum’s Space Hangar to see images of the Sun taken by a satellite. Free but parking is $15. airandspace.si.edu.

South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family’s history, but for three generations, that rope is passed down. This world premiere NSO Family Concert features Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson reading This Is the Rope onstage, along with brand-new music played by the National Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Kyle Dickson. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration is in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, April 2 at 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $20. Recommend for ages seven, up. kennedycenter.org.

Kid Flicks (inventive first films for ages five to ten) at the NGA

On Saturday, April 1, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., let your imagination take the wheel with Kid Flicks One. Whether dreaming up the fantastical, like a cat the size of a house, or the practical, like finding a beloved teacher a summer romance, these shorts are sure to surprise and delight. Kid Flicks are in the NGA East Building Auditorium. nga.gov.

Spark!Lab at the American History Museum

Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors. The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation invites children between the ages of six and twelve to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment and invent. Activities for children and families incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with art, history and creativity. Spark!Lab, on the first floor (west wing) of the museum, is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. americanhistory.si.edu.

Príncipe y Príncipe (Prince & Prince) at GALA

Based on the children’s book King and King by Linda Haan and Stern, Príncipe y Príncipe captures the charm of fairy tales at

Photo: Chris Owen

Wake Up, Brother Bear at Imagination Stage

Sister Bear and Brother Bear are back from hibernation to take little ones on an interactive journey through the seasons. Meet a curious butter y, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs as the bears frolic through the forest in an unforgettable theatre experience. Children sit in a circle on the stage, with their adults sitting behind them. Wake Up, Brother Bear is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, from March 11 to April 8. It is best for ages one to ve. Observation seats are for audience members who prefer to sit away from the action and watch the show from their theatre seats. These seats are comfortable and distanced, and people sitting in them do not participate in the interactive aspects of the show. $16.50 per ticket. imaginationstage.org.

their nest. When a Queen calls together all the unmarried princesses in the land to meet her son, he must discover which will be his true love. But it may not be a princess he’s searching for… A funny, sweet, and heartwarming celebration of love in all forms. The bilingual Príncipe y Príncipe is at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, on Saturdays, March 11, 18 and 25, at 3 p.m. $12 for ages two to twelve: $14 for adults. galatheatre.org.

Culture Queen Kids Hour at the ACM

On the first Saturday of each month through June, 11 a.m. to noon, Grammy-

nominated children’s entertainer, Culture Queen, holds court with live performances, interactive community building, stories, crafts, movement, and more. Kids’ Hour features programs that encourage diversity, community and self-love. April 1—Create-a-Community--Participants will learn about community-building activities and design their own 2-D communities. May 6_ Manners Matters—Participants will explore etiquette traditions from around the world and learn how to carry themselves royally in various environments. June 3—Create-a-Holiday—Participants will create holidays celebrating the people, milestones, and things that matter most to them. The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. Free registration at anacostia.si.edu.

The Hula Hoopin’ Queen at Imagination Stage

Kameeka is con dent that today she will nally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street in Harlem. But she has to prepare for Miz Adeline’s birthday party, and almost ruins the day. Until Miz Adeline confesses that she’s also got the itch--the hula-hoopin’ itch. Her ngers start snappin’. Her hips start swingin’. Soon everyone’s hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street. The Hula Hoopin’ Queen is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, through April 8. It is best suited for ages ve to eleven. imaginationstage.org.

Sleeping Beauty at Glen Echo

A funny frog storyteller ribbits the tale of o ended fairies, silly royalty, and magic spells. On March 5 to April 9, relive this classic fairy tale in this lovely Legacy rod-puppet show. The show runs Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is recommended for ages four, up. $15; free for under age two. Sleeping Beauty is at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. Upcoming shows are Jack and the Beanstalk, April 20 to May 21; Guest Artists-Dino Rock, June 1 to July 9; Beauty and the Beast, July 20 to Aug. 20; Magic Mirror, Aug. 31 to Sept. 17. thepuppetco.org.

Infant and Child CPR at Hill Center

There is a two-hour Infant and Child CPR class at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, on the third Sunday of the month through June 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. During this class you will learn Infant and Child CPR, AED and what to do if your child or infant is choking. The class applies to infants and up to age 12. These are skills everyone caring for an infant or child should have to ensure their safety. This is the perfect class for parents, nannies, babysitters, or family members who might be caring for your child. For more information, email lpunaro@frontlinescpr.com or visit frontlinescpr.com to sign up for the class. Space is limited and classes generally sell out weeks in advance. hillcenterdc.org.

River Island | Isla de Ríos at the KC

Created in collaboration with award-winning author and illustrator Edwin Fontánez, from April 4 to 16, River Island, open at 10 a.m., is an immersive play space for children—featuring books, videos, and activities about nature and the environment—inspired by the culture of the Taínos, the indigenous inhabitants of Puerto Rico. River Island is located at PT109 at THE REACH. Free admission. kennedycenter.org.

At the RiverRun Fun Festival on Saturday, April 8, starting at 11 a.m., families can enjoy playing in the River Island/Isla de Riós room, learning about conservation from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and watching artists paint outdoors at this special free event. kennedycenter.org.

Family Happy Hour with King Bullfrog

On Friday, March 17, 5 to 7 p.m., bring the family out to enjoy an evening lled with live music perfect for all ages. This concert is indoors on the second oor of the Hill Center--if the weather is unseasonably warm, they may move the event outdoors. This happy hour is perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh, and play to the beat of their favorite songs. Featuring Mr. Jeremiah and Mr. Steve—both Capitol Hill-based dads and music teachers—the duo’s roots-and-blues tunes are carefully tailored to get children dancing while delighting grownups. King Bullfrog is the hottest sensation in family music in the DC area. $10 per child two and older; $5 per grownup. Beer, wine and pizza for purchase. Hill Center is at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Tickets at hillcenterdc.org.

native creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story lled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. The Lion King also features some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Awardwinning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. $39 to $185. It is recommended for ages six and up. kennedy-center.org.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park

Kids ages four to twelve can run the bases after every Sunday Washington Nationals day game. This season’s dates are April 2, 16 and 30; May 14 and 21; June 4 and 18; July 9 and 23; Aug. 13; and Sept. 3, 10 and 14. An adult must accompany runners to the eld. Starting at rst base, kids will be directed to run around the bases as the adults continue along the warning track and meet the runners near home plate. Once the baseball game has ended, kids and parents/guardians can line-up at the end of the seventh inning. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Explore Exhibition Hall at the Capitol

Experience the Capitol’s interactive exhibits dedicated to telling the story of Congress and the US Capitol. Learn how citizens interacted with Members of Congress in the development of 12 major pieces of legislation. Participate in hands-on learning activities in the Democracy Lab. Try your hand at passing legislation. See architectural models showing how the US Capitol has changed over time and view the table from President Lincoln’s second inauguration. See the many beautiful rooms of the Capitol on a virtual tour. Learn about the work of the rst Congress in their special exhibit “A Republic if You Can Keep It”. Enter behind the Statue of Freedom on the lower level. Exhibition Hall was designed with accessibility in mind. The Capitol Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Visitor Center is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day. visitthecapitol.gov.

The Lion King Returns to the Kennedy Center

On June 21 to July 19, The Lion King returns to the Kennedy Center. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this landmark musical event brings together one of the most imagi-

Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Nationals

XWORD

Animal Noises

Across:

boxer

123. Frog noises 125. Wolf noises

130. Jukebox faves

131. Out

132. Turned state’s evidence

133. Eye with intent

134. Most edgy

135. Kind of question

Down:

1. Tied a shoe

2. Massey of “Balalaika”

3. One who spikes the punch

4. “’Tis a pity”

5. Calypso offshoot

6. Soft foot covering

7. Terminator

8. Computer created by Arthur C. Clarke

9. Wordsworth work

10. Italian resort

11. Himalayan cedar

12. One of

Look

14. Lacto- __ -vegetarian 15. Afresh

Emily of the Dixie Chicks

to a Venetian

47. “Picnic” dramatist 49. Cardin rival

Lick

Idle 52. Hosp. room

Erect

Mandela’s org.

New beginning? 57. Antelope with tufted tail

Originates

Sci-fi extra

Beach-closing phenomenon 72. Warren Buffett, e.g.

Droops

Light beige

Thrash

Volcanic fallout 78. Girl from Ipanema’s home

Space exploration mission 80. Authorized to travel

81. Biblical birthright seller

82. One of the Bobbsey twins

84. Introspect 85. Kind of rug

86. Hit alternative 90. In the know 93. Compass point 95. Word form for “trillion” 96. Cozy 98. Branch headquarters?

102. Did a double take?

103. Chant

104. Compromised computers running on automatic 105. Military sch.

106. Maj.’s superior

107. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Combs

108. Cathode’s counterpart

109. Way up

112. Makes warmer 114. Peddles

115. Woody of “Manhattan”

116. Bungle

118. Attention getting sound

119. Kind of song

121. Military rank, abbr. 124. Mauna ___ Observatory 126. Mormons, abbr.

127. Envelope that comes back, abbr.

128. Alien’s gun

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com E astofth E R iv ER DCN E ws C om 46