East of the River Magazine – November 2023 by Capital Community News

NOVEMBER 2023

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N OVEMBER 2023 NEXT ISSUE: DECEMBER 9

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 46 47

What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

Destiny Concealed: The Story of Eagle Academy – A Documentary by Matthew McClure

Holidays Are a Time for Giving by Elizabeth O’Gorek

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 16

Celebrating Anniversaries of Partnership: The ACC Turns 40 and Pannell Completes 30 Years by Alisha Camacho Mayor on RFK’s Future: Neighbos Voice Concerns at Kingman Park Meeting

by Anthony D. Diallo

A Proposed Bridge Across the Anacostia: Impacts, Pros and Cons by Bill Matuszeski

Community Says “No” to Stadium – ANC 7D Report by Sarah Payne

Councilmember White On Public Safety – ANC 8F Report

The Old Man of Anacostia: Let’s Score A Strike For The Kids New Bowling Program at JBAB by Philip Pannell

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Meet Fana Chisolm: Hairstylist, Master Barber and Caterer

The “Other” IRA: Tax Credits and Rebates for Green Energy Investments by Catherine Plume

KIDS & FAMILY 40

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

ON THE COVER:

Colombian born multidisciplinary artist Federico (Mas Paz) Frum. See Bulletin Board – Inaugural MuralsDC Anacostia Project Unveiled

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

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

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2023 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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

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N o vember 2023

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON Rothko Room Reinstated at the Phillips

The Phillips Collection Rothko Room Courtesy of The Phillips Collection. Photo: Carl Nard

Through March, 31, 2024, the Phillips Collection presents an unprecedented reinstallation of its renowned Rothko Room, providing guests the rare opportunity to experience new works in the space. For the first time in over 20 years, three of the four original Mark Rothko paintings installed in the Rothko Room will be on loan, traveling to the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. In their place, the Phillips showcases three other Rothko paintings on special loan from the collections of Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko, the artist’s children. The intimate Rothko Room reflects the artist’s preference for exhibiting his art “in a scale of normal living.” Museum admission is $20 for adults; $15, seniors; $10, students/educators; $12, military; 18 and under, free. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, is open daily, except Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. phillipscollection.org.

Pottery on the Hill Show & Sale

On Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., see 18 of the best ceramic artists in America at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Pottery on the Hill features functional pottery, all meant to be used in everyday life. This year, they welcome ten new potters to their Pottery on the Hill family: Christina Bendo, Danielle Carelock, Guillermo Cuéllar, Andrea Denniston, Seth Gutovsky, Matt Kelleher, Shoko Teruyama, Doug Peltzman, David Young, and Junko Young, while welcoming back so many potters from previous shows. Pottery on the Hill is curated by potter Dan Finnegan who will be selling his work both in person and online for the show. On Friday, Nov. 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., get a first chance to see and purchase the works of their artists. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer included in the ticket price of $40, advance; $45, day of. The first 100 people at the door receive a handmade cup by potter Dan Finnegan. hillcenterdc.org.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Holiday Boat Parade at the Wharf

On Saturday, Dec. 2, 6 to 9 p.m., celebrate the holidays with this iconic DC event that features over sixty beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. Get into the spirit with ornament decorating and face painting by Recreation Pier. Roast s'mores at the Camp Wharf fire pit and visit their lighted 45ft. Christmas Tree. Skate at The Wharf Ice Rink on Transit Pier and sample winter drinks at their Pacifico Beer Garden. And bring your camera for pictures with Santa. wharfdc.com.

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“How Sweet it is: The Men of Soul” at Signature

From Nov. 7 to 19, groove to the classic soul of “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” “Let’s Get it On,” “Try a Little Tenderness” and “A Change is Gonna Come” as Signature salutes the smooth style of America’s Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. $45. Signature Theatre is at 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA. sigtheatre.org.

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N Michael Tilson Thomas

Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mozart & Brahms at the KC

On Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m., superstar maestro, composer, and Kennedy Center Honoree Michael Tilson Thomas makes a grand return to the Kennedy Center Concert hall conducting Olly Wilson’s Shango Memory, inspired by the Nigerian god of thunder, and Brahms’ beautiful Piano Quartet. Orion Weiss makes his anticipated NSO debut performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12. $15 to $112. kennedy-center.org.

Mickalene Thomas, Baby I Am Ready Now, 2007 acrylic, rhinestone and enamel on panel diptych, overall, 72 x 132 in. (182.9 x 335.3 cm)

“A Christmas Carol 2023” at Ford’s

From Nov. 17 to Dec. 31, join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic, with familiar characters, ghosts and a children’s ensemble in the spirit of the holidays. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Ford’s annual tradition heralded as a rich visual and vocal treat and infectiously jolly. $44 to $139. Recommended for ages five and older. 511 Tenth St. NW. fords.org. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge. Photo: Scott Suchman

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

“Singular Views: 25 Artists” at the Rubell Museum

Singular Views: 25 Artists is drawn entirely from the Rubells’ unparalleled and ever-growing collection of contemporary art of more than 7,700 works. Encompassing over 120 artworks across media, the exhibition features solo presentations of work by 25 artists, among them Amoako Boafo, Mickalene Thomas, and Hank Willis Thomas. Also featured is work by a number of DC and Baltimore-based artists, including February James, Murjoni Merriweather, Rozeal, Sylvia Snowden, and John Waters. Singular Views: 25 Artists is on view at the Rubell Museum, 65 I St. SW, through Oct. 2024. Open Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission free to DC residents with ID. rubellmuseum.org/dc.

“America is at a crossroads. Extremism and authoritarianism are not acceptable. Independents are problem solvers, centrists, negotiators, and team builders.”

TOGETHER, LET’S MAKE AMERICA WORK FOR ALL CITIZENS! HERE IS WHAT I SUPPORT: 3 Tweaking SBA To Create 30 Million New Biz Owners

3 Tweaking FHA To Raise

Homeownership To 90%

3 Returning Student Loans To Bankruptability Status 3 Reforming Healthcare, Primary

Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals aka QuigleyCare

3 Building CO2 Scrubbers & DAC,

Desalination Plants, Reforestation, Rewilding America, Electric Vehicles, Solar Homes, Wind Turbines

3 Term Limits, Supreme Court & Judicial Reform 3 Wall Street Reform, Eliminate

Speculation, Day Trading & Short Selling

3 Cannabis Legalization At Federal Level, Safe Banking, Criminal Conviction Expungement

3 Strong Military 3 Authoritarianism & Weak State’s Rights 3 Higher Minimum Wage To $16/Hr

3 Easier Ballot Access For All Federal

Candidates, Public Funding For All Federal Candidates & Universal Voting Mandate

3 Top 10% Over The Needs Of The People 3 Unregulated Abortion 3 Federal Reserve Reform 3 Mental Healthcare Reform 3 Strong 2nd Amendment 3 Housing The Homeless 3 Veterans Benefits & VA 3 Minimum Social Security Check of $3,000 Per Month

3 Reduced Taxation, Elimination Of

Property Taxes & Free Utilities For All Citizens 55 And Over

3 Freedom Of Speech On All Digital Platforms And Universally

3 Mandating Media Organizations Give

Equal Time To All Politicians & Parties In Same Time Blocks Free As Public Service For Federal License

3 That All Sexuality Issues Be Removed From Public Square & Returned To Private Bedroom Status

3 Higher Taxes On All Folks Earning More Then $1 Million Per Year And On All Wealth Above $10 Million Per Person

3 Closed Southern Border 3 Quashing Modern Drug War

3 Limitations On Non-USA Citizens,

3 Independent Taiwan & Fully Supports

3 That Believe In Global Warming 3 Candidates That Believe In God 3 Candidates That Support 3rd Parties

Perpetrated By China All Democracies

3 Reshoring All Overseas Production,

Re-establish National Cottage Industry, Expansion Of Family Farms & Sustainable Agriculture

Residents & Green Card Holders From Owning Real Estate

& Alternative Voting Systems

3 Candidates That Will & Know How To Tackle Inflation

Join Team America. Spread the word. Visit RobertQuigleyForPresident.com and donate whatever you can afford. DonorBox, CashApp, and donation flags are on the website.

Scan to learn more!

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2023

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Handel’s Messiah at the National Cathedral

On Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 and Sunday, Dec. 10, 4 p.m., join the Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra for Handel’s beloved Messiah featuring Laura Choi Stuart, soprano; Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano; Rufus Muller, tenor; and Kevin Deas, bass-baritone. The Cathedral’s soaring architecture and Gothic splendor offer a venue unlike any other in DC to experience this masterpiece. Running time is three hours with a 20-minute intermission. On Saturday, Dec. 9, noon, experience the best of Messiah with the whole family–a 90-minute performance of Messiah highlights, perfect for busy families with young children. cathedral.org.

Diana Ross at MGM National Harbor

As Billboard’s “Female Entertainer of the Century,” Diana Ross holds an unrivaled place among R&B’s rich history of legendary divas. From her time leading the Supremes to her extraordinary solo career, Ross’s supple voice, striking looks, and effortless style have made her a timeless icon, as charismatic today as she was in the ‘60s. Featuring her greatest hits, Motown-inspired backup singers, and all the costume changes you’d expect from a diva’s diva. Tickets are $99 to $342. Diana Ross is at MGM National Harbor, Oxen Harbor, MD, on Wednesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.

Winter Festival & Tree Sale at the Arboretum

On Saturday, Dec. 2, and Snday Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to buy Christmas trees and other holiday greenery, shop from over 25 local vendors and enjoy other free holiday-themed family activities at the US National Arboretum. This is the Friends of the National Arboretum’s annual winter fundraiser, and a portion of all purchases supports FONA’s work at the Arboretum. fona.org. Photo: Courtesy of the Friends of the National Arboretum

Doja Cat: The Scarlet Tour at Capital One Arena

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Her music has been described as hip hop, pop, R&B and pop rap. Her second full-length studio album, Hot Pink, is built with her own beats as well as a series of videos written and conceived by herself. She claimed the era was a firm restart for her career, and the most “refined, chiseled” representation of herself. Her escapist fantasy worldview is reflected in the music by its upbeat production style. $112 to $160. Doja Cat: The Scarlet Tour is at the Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Monday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. capitalonearena.com. 08

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May Erlewine at Pearl Street Warehouse

One of the Midwest’s most prolific and passionate songwriters, Erlewine has a gift for writing songs of substance that feel both fresh and soulfully familiar. Her ability to emotionally engage with an audience has earned her a dedicated following far beyond her Michigan roots. She shows us her heartbreak, but she also shows us her empowered and emboldened spirit. In her quest to find her most authentic self, Erlewine gifts each listener with a powerful, emotional experience that immediately connects us. Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m. $16 to $25. pearlstreetwarehouse.com.

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N o vember 2023

Photo: Anne Weathersby

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

“As You Like It” at STC

It’s the 1960s and flower power, peace, and love are in the air. The free-spirited Rosalind is exiled from court and escapes to an alternative community, where everything is possible. Mistaken identities and mixed signals come together, melding the Bard’s verse with the beloved music of The Beatles. This tuneful take on Shakespeare’s romantic classic will be perfect for the holiday season, reminding us that in times of trouble, all you need is love. Tickets start at $35. As You Like it is at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harmon Hall, 610 F St. NW, from Dec. 2 to 31. Shakespearetheatre.org.

Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival

The Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival takes over the first block of West Street on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in a family-friendly celebration of all things cocoa. This year the festival is hosting its second gingerbread house decorating contest. All the houses will be displayed at the Visitor Center at 26 West Street from Dec. 3 to 10. Stay all day for the festival because you will not want to miss the twinkling holiday lights will sparkle overhead at dusk. After, walk downtown to City Dock to enjoy the festive decorations up and down Main Street. Attendees are asked to donate nonperishable food items or make a monetary donation. visitannapolis.org.

George Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man” at Washington Stage Guild

In Arms and the Man, G. B. Shaw shatters romantic illusions about love and war in one of his most sparkling comedies. In the aftermath of the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885, heroes turn out to be hypocrites and cowards turn out to be heroes. What is a romantic girl to do when she realizes she may be in love with the wrong one? First produced by the Stage Guild in 1992, from Nov. 16 to Dec. 10, Arms and the Man makes a welcome return in a fresh take. $50 to $60. The Washington Stage Guild performs at 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. stageguild.org.

Cheers! A Cocktail for Every Day

Writer and cocktail expert Philip Greene wants you to celebrate every day with a cocktail and a toast. His new book, aptly titled Cheers! Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year, provides the convivial blueprint. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 6:45 to 8: 45 p.m., at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, Greene offers delicious cocktail recipes along with a backstory connecting the recipe to a particular day and a toast to raise in celebration. He draws on a range of interesting and (usually) fun events, some significant and some trivial, from the pages of history, literature, sports, entertainment, and more. $70. smithsonianassociates.org.

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“When the curtain fell on opening night, the original cast of Arms and the Man received a unanimous standing ovation, all save one critic booing in the back row. The playwright, George Bernard Shaw, stepped onstage and solemnly addressed the man in the back. “My dear fellow, I quite agree with you, but what are we two against so many?” Amelia Pedlow, The Juilliard Journal. Photo: Bernard Shaw in a 1908 Autochrome Lumière by Alvin Langdon Coburn.

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

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

“Pretty Woman: The Musical” at the National

Pretty Woman: The Musical, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman.” Pretty Woman the film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman: The Musical is at the National Theatre from Dec. 12 to 17. $50 to $110. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. broadwayatthenational.com. Are you ready to fall in love all over again? Photo: Morris Mac Matzen

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Jon Langford: Song for Song at Sixth & I

On Saturday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), two legendary artists, Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) and Jon Langford (of the Mekons and Waco Brothers), recreate their exclusive pandemic live-stream performance, song for song, for a live, in-person audience at Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW. Featuring Langford sitting alone on stage at the deserted FitzGerald’s roadhouse playing to Oldham on a laptop screen, the collaboration, meant to be an hour of music, turned into a nearly three-hour-long show. For Langford, the concert was a high point of lockdown, despite the strangeness and physical loneliness of the situation. $35 in advance; $40 day of. sixthandi.org.

Mostly recorded live, the album Emotional Contracts brings its combustible but sharply crafted sound to an often-pensive look inward.

“Fat Ham” at Studio

Hamlet, but with more barbeque and disco. Swapping a Danish castle for a North Carolina BBQ pit, Fat Ham remakes Shakespeare’s story of murder and revenge into a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy. Juicy, a Black queer Southern kid, has a lot on his plate already when his father’s ghost shows up, demanding vengeance. As generations clash at the family’s backyard barbeque, Juicy must face the legacies of violence he’s been raised with and shape the man he wants to be in James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play fresh from its Tony-nominated Broadway run. Fat Ham is at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. through Dec. 4. studiotheatre.org.

Deer Tick at 9:30 Club

Emotional Contracts, the latest full-length album from Deer Tick, catalogs all the existential casualties that accompany the passing of time, instilling each song with the irresistibly reckless spirit that’s defined the band for nearly two decades. Before heading into the studio with producer Dave Fridmann, the Providencebred four-piece spent months working on demos in a perpetually flooded warehouse space in their hometown as they carved out the album’s 10 raggedly eloquent tracks. Emotional Contracts fully echoes the unruly energy of its creation, ultimately making for a heavy-hearted yet wildly life-affirming portrait of growing older without losing heart. $28.50. Deer Tick is at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. 930.com.

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N o vember 2023

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Fleeting Moments: Street Photography at the Athenaeum

Fleeting Moments features photographs that capture candid moments, revelatory interpretations, and brilliant reflections of the mundane--work commonly referred to as “street photography.” In 1943 the New York Times referred to the street photography of Helen Levitt, as, “fleeting moments of surpassing lyricism, mystery and quiet drama.” Those qualities are the hallmark of the works selected for this show. The photos in this exhibition were selected after an open call to creatives living or working in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. A $750 prize will be awarded for best-in-show and a $500 prize will be determined by the people’s choice. Fleeting Moments: Street Photography is at the Athenaeum Gallery, 201 Prince St., Alexandria, VA, through Nov. 26. The Athenaeum Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. nvfaa.org.

Deformation to tail, possibly resulting from a ship strike in a Bryde’s-like whale from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Photo: NMFS SEFSC under MMPA permit

Amy Bruce, Flat White, Digital Photography

Scientific Symposium: Whales on the Brink

On Thursday, Nov. 16, 8:30 to 5 p.m., join the Natural History Museum (ground floor, Baird Auditorium) in celebrating Rice’s whales, large whale conservation efforts, and the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. The symposium will feature experts from the marine mammal scientific research, conservation, and management communities who have pioneered the tools and techniques used to study whales. It will highlight results to date from their research and how the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act are successfully facilitating conservation of large whales. Free and open to the public. naturalhistory.si.edu.

“One Mo’ Time” at the Anacostia Playhouse

One Mo’ Time is a musical revue and tribute to the great Black vaudeville performers that were overworked, underpaid yet persevered as entertainers, set in the Lyric Theatre of New Orleans in 1926. $35 TO $50. One Mo’ Time is at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE, from Dec. 2 to Dec. 31. anacostiaplayhouse.com.

Susto at The Atlantis

Susto (which the band usually capitalizes as SUSTO) is an American indie rock band from Charleston, South Carolina. Current band members are Justin Osborne, Marshall Hudson, Kevin Early, Johnny Delaware and Ian Klin. The name of the band is from the Spanish word "susto", meaning "an intense fear understood as a condition of the soul", reflecting the Cuban roots of some of the band, as well as being drawn from letters in the band leader's name. SUSTO is at the Atlantis, 2047 Ninth St. NW, on Sunday, Dec. 3, general admission doors at 5:30 p.m. $22, plus fees. theatlantis.com. Susto frontman Justic Osborne

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E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2023

neighborhood news

Celebrating Anniversaries of Partnership The ACC Turns 40 and Pannell Completes 30 Years by Alisha Camacho

“Goody bag,” the crowd

echoed in return as Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) presented Philip Pannell with a bottle of liquor, a book with marijuana among the pages, and one-hundred-dollar bills for “all his troubles,” serving communities east of the river. Pannell is a “friend and a fighter,” said White on stage at Sycamore & Oak in Congress Heights. He has given a lot of people hope while serving on “the battlefield of justice in Ward 8.” Throughout the evening, friends, neighbors and colleagues subjected Pannell to a roast and toast honoring his 30 years of service with the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC). The event occurred in October, soon after Pannell celebrated his 73rd birthday and days before ACC’s 30th annual luncheon cruise launched from the Wharf Marina. He is a “voice for the voiceless” and “Ward 8’s secret weapon,” said Kim Ford, a member of ACC’s board of directors. “We all love him, respect him,” she said, 16

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

Philip Pannell, executive director of Anacostia Coordinating Council. Photo: Alisha Camacho

but also laughed while recalling the spirited phone calls she used to receive from him in the middle of the night. These late-night advocacy calls were a regular occurrence shared by many in the room. Pannell, who has served as ACC’s executive director for the past 28 years, was touched by the celebration. “I really don’t think that much about the stuff I’ve done in the past,” said Pannell. “I am more concerned about the future.” As ACC turns 40 this year, vice chair Lamont Mitchell helped coordinate the event to honor Pannell’s contributions. “He’s been totally committed … for the past 30 years, to ACC’s missions and goals, and has been the driving force in so many ways,” said Mitchell.

ACC Turns 40

Forty years ago a group of businesses and residents came together to help inform the construction of the Anacostia Metro Station. As the construction wrapped up, the group recognized the need to continue advocating on behalf of Anacostia, and ACC was formalized as a nonprofit in 1993. Arrington Dixon, the chairman at the time, persuaded Pannell to consider the role of executive director. “This never would have been a job I would have applied for,” said Pannell. “And finally, I decided, sure, you’re right, this is something … I really liked doing, so why not?”. Since the initial group came together, ACC has “been

involved with practically every community issue from A to Z, aids to zoning,” said Pannell. “You name it, ACC is involved with it in terms of bringing people together, helping to discuss community issues.” The Anacostia Coordinating Council’s monthly meetings are a core part of its mission, bringing together hundreds of organizations and leaders to share information, network, advocate and organize to lift the quality of life for communities east of the river. The meetings have consistently taken place over the past 30 years and remain one of the best places to see a number of organizations represented, share information and stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the community. “I know that sounds very basic, but that’s our mission,” said Pannell. “To quote the Old Testament prophet, Hosea, ‘my people perish for lack of knowledge.’” Over the past nine years, ACC has hosted monthly breakfast meetings with clergy and faith leaders east of the river. With around 200 churches in the community, many run by faith leaders working other full-time jobs, ACC recognized the need to create an opportunity for them to meet with colleagues, talk about the issues happening in the community, and support them through compensation and communications. Pannell has helped institutionalize a few signature events that the community looks forward to every year. This past October, the council held its highly anticipated 30th annual boat ride. The cruise is their largest fundraiser and an accomplish-

Trayon White, Ward 8 Councilmember, honors Philip Pannell’s leadership during a roast and toast at Sycamore & Oak on Thursday, Oct. 5. Photo: Alisha Camacho.

ment Pannell is most proud of. “That might sound superficial … but it’s very important in terms of bringing people together,” said Pannell. “There are people who live in the city who ... never get a chance to be in a social type of event with the mayor, right?” The opportunity for “fellowship” is essential. Coming up on Nov. 30, the council is putting together its 11th annual Multicultural Holiday Celebration in partnership with Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). The event celebrates Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa while collecting toy donations for the seventh district police department’s annual party for children. ACC is proud to be the largest single organizational donor. Pannell believes that residents east of the river should consider themselves “river people” and has placed ACC at the forefront of many local environmental issues. ACC is one of the founders of Anacostia Parks Community and Collaborative (APACC), a membership-based coalition launched in 2015 dedicated to maximizing the value of public spaces along the Anacostia River for Ward 7 and 8 residents. The

Phil Pannell enjoying the program at the ACC Luncheon Cruise, an event held in October each year.

nonprofit Ward 8 Woods Conservancy is another outgrowth of ACC, working to rejuvenate and enhance the forest in Ward 8. An avid promoter of local arts and cultural events, the council has hosted, supported and sponsored many events, from theater parties at Anacostia Playhouse and Anacostia Arts Center to hosting symposiums discussing media relations with community organizations and residents. ACC has been at the forefront of dispersing information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing and distributing PPE supplies. The council continues to act as the “vanguard” of the opioid epidemic, and remains one of the most proactive Narcan distributors. In the 90s, ACC was involved in the “Do the Right Thing” campaign, preventing illegal drug paraphernalia from being sold in businesses. More recently, ACC revived the “Thou Shall Not Kill” anti-violence campaign, a program launched at the height of D.C.’s crack epidemic. In 2004, ACC became the fiscal sponsor for Ballou’s High School Marching Band after James Richardson, a 17-year-old student, was shot and killed by another student. ACC also helped revitalize the school’s parent-teacher-student association (PTSA). More recently, ACC raised money for Anacostia High School’s senior trip, and will help launch a steelband in Ward 8 to complement the East of the River Steelband. “We try to help our young people when we can,” said Pannell. It is a balance between helping at-risk kids while working with the young people who are doing the right things. “We don’t want to have them feel neglected.”

Looking to the Future

The council is in the process of developing a strategic plan to help guide their work in the coming years. “ACC is going to change,” said Pannell. “Our goal is to leave ACC better off than we found it,” noted Mitchell, while “positioning it for a future of many, many more years of work in the community.” Pannell and Mitchell are proud of ACC’s positive reputation in the community. Alluding to the possibility of retirement, Pannell says he looks forward to reading other things besides text messages, emails, and reports in the future. But for now, “community … is what keeps me going.” u

E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2023

neighborhood news

Mayor on RFK’s Future

Neighbors Voice Concerns at Kingman Park Meeting by Elizabeth O’Gorek

o neighborhood residents care about what will happen at RFK Campus? A recent meeting showed just how many people are concerned about development on the nearly 180-acre site near the Anacostia River. More than 350 people packed into the meeting room at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church (320 21st St. NE) for a discussion on the future of the RFK Campus with Mayor Mu-

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riel Bowser (D). Many dozens more waited outside the room and even the church for a chance to be part of the discussion. During the meeting, the Mayor answered questions posed by audience members. She also made some promises around community concerns. The meeting was organized by the Friends of Kingman Park (FOKP), which helped spearhead a coalition of residents from the neighborhoods surrounding RFK Campus. A survey tak-

en by 2,000 DC residents found that 67 percent were opposed to an NFL site on the park. Atlarge FOKP Board member Sarah Miller presented the survey results, quoting from one response. “The site is tremendous opportunity,” she read. “Please don’t blow it on a billionaire’s playground.” The neighborhood coalition, RFK Future, started the meeting by presenting results of the survey, which was conducted from August to October. Of the 2,000 respondents, 80 percent

were from surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the 67 percent opposing an NFL Stadium on the site said they opposed public funding for construction but also cited concerns with noise, parking and traffic. Asked to rank five different uses for the site, most chose a parks and nature complex, followed by recreation and sports and open green space and placed an NFL stadium at dead last.

“We Only Have One Site”

In her opening comments, Mayor Bowser defended her work to have the Washington Commanders return to RFK Campus, saying that there is sufficient space to do everything the community wants, from recreation, sports and nature to mixed-use development. “These are not either-or, either there would be a stadium or there would be youth sports,” she said. Asked if any other locations in the District had been considered, Bowser said no. “We only have one site,” she said.”And not only is it the best site in DC, but it is the best site in the region,” she said. One other site was considered, she added, but dismissed due to transportation issues. “One thing I think we can agree on is that the current state of RFK is unacceptable,” Bowser said. Bowser tried to focus community energies, saying change at RFK is best facilitated by residents advocating for and supporting the transfer of control of the RFK property to the District from the National Park Service (NPS). She said the first step is for Congress to approve DC control of the property, referencing legislation introduced by Eleanor Holmes Norton (DDC) and James Comer (R-KY) that would allow a 99-yr extension on the lease, now set to expire in 2032. Without that legislation, Bowser noted, the only development permitted under the current lease is for sports or recreation. The Mayor denied the District is working on a deal with the Commanders behind the scenes. “We are not working on any deal with the team,” she said. “We are working on getting control of the land.”

Questions

FOKP President Lisa White posed quesE ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2023

neighborhood news

hood around Nationals Park as proof that stadiums can lead to growth, Bowser nonetheless acknowledged that it was a fair question. “There are fewer games,” Bowser allowed. “We have to be able to commit to more activations for more than just those eight games and build a facility that supports that.” While the Mayor described a potential football stadium as beautiful and monumental with parking, which she thought should be in garages, to support the operation, she would not speculate on what size it might be. She acknowledged that the area cannot currently support large-scale events. But, she said, “when you actually plan the area for large-scale events, you will better able to manage large scale events.”

Promises Made

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) speaks at the RFK Future meeting Oct. 18. Photo: L. Nunn

tions from the civic group and submitted in writing by audience members. There was particular interest in the question of funding. Many attendees wanted to know how DC could justify funding a stadium rather than meeting other needs, such as school modernization. Bowser pointed out that the District built Nationals Stadium at the same time as it modernized schools. “The answer is, we’re a big city, we have to do both,” she said, to audible grumbling. The Mayor pointed to Audi Field as an example of where the city acquired the property but the team build the stadium. “I expect that will be the case with RFK Stadium,” Bowser said, later noting that remediation is required on the site and infrastructure is required whether an NFL stadium is built or not. (Feedback is open now on the NPS Environmental Assessment for demolition). Bowser argued that sports has a positive impact on the city. “We are indeed a growing sports capitol and it is an important part of our economy,” Bowser said, pointing to Capitol One Arena as an economic booster for downtown and arguing that the development around Nationals Park “has more than paid for itself.” “We cannot talk about sports without mentioning it also linked to how the city invests in itself,” the Mayor said. The Deputy Mayor of Planning and Development (DMPED) is working on a contract with an outside agency to study how to best support sports in the city, she said. That study includes how to best fund a new stadium. She resisted pressure from the audience members, one of whom pointed out that NFL Stadiums are not economic drivers. Referencing the bustling neighbor20

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The meeting began at 7 p.m. and was originally slated to last for 2 hours. Organizers said two days prior, the Mayor’s office indicated she had to leave by 7:35 p.m. but Bowser remained on the dais for about 45 minutes. FKOP Secretary and ANC 7D05 Commissioner Ebony Payne said the group was pleased with the way the meeting turned out. “Our goal was to have a very informative discussion with Mayor Bowser on her vision for the site, and to provide a platform for the community to voice their concerns,” she said. “We were pretty happy with how it turned out —and with the turn out,” Payne added. The level of interest in the future of the site was indicated by the bodies in, and waiting outside of, the room. Organizers had to close doors to keep the room in compliance with fire code. Payne said she heard the Mayor make promises at the meeting. “She promised that everything was possible, in that the two things that the community really wanted to see —the sports and recreation complex and housing were all deliverable,” she noted. “So I hope to see that.” The Mayor had allocated $60 million to a 100,000 square foot indoor youth sports complex on the site. She also promised to help the surrounding community deal with issues of noise, traffic and trash that they are currently experiencing around 15-30,000 person events such as Broccoli Fest and Glowfest. Bowser said those problems should be dealt with now, noting that it would years before a stadium that could hold more than twice those numbers would be built. “I can commit to you now that we’re going to work on that now, before the summer,” she said, “so that we will have better activation.” There was concern about the future of The Fields at RFK, which opened in 2019. The legislation proposed by Norton and Comer allows for 30 percent green space; neighbors wanted to know if The Fields would be preserved. “I can commit to there being fields,” she said, adding that she thought The Fields were always intended to be temporary. In the future, fields might be in another location, she said, noting that the vision is to bring people

closer to the Anacostia River. And critically, the Mayor did say there would be an agreement with the community, particularly around the number of events held at the stadium. “[As] part of any discussion that we are going to have in the community, those things are up for discussion,“ Bowser said, noting that any stadium package would be part of legislation passed by DC Council. “The community can say, we want to limit the number of days it can be used,” she said. But, Bowser said, a stadium has to make money.

Disappointment

Nonetheless, there was some disappointment from attendees. Many found the nature of her responses less than satisfactory. For instance, there was great concern around the fate of the Maloof Skatepark at RFK, designed by pro skater Geoff Rawley. It’s the last skate park in the area, after improvements south of Garfield Park removed the site under the bridge. A group of skaters sat in the front row to pressure the Mayor to maintain the park throughout construction and beyond. Asked about the fate of the park, Bowser said she would make sure it was considered in a study of infrastructure needs. After the meeting, one skateboarder said the group was concerned with the “wishy-washy” response. Tom Schrack, a father of one who lives on the Hill, said he’s seen a lot of youth use the park as an outlet over the years. “With or without a stadium,” he said, “we need accessible skateboarding for the youth in a time of youth crime skyrocketing.” Others were disappointed in the level of engagement. “This meeting was a ‘non-event’,” tweeted long-time RFK Campus advocate Skip Strobel, who has worked to preserve the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the property that bears that name. Strobel has opposed the NFL on the site for decades. He said the meeting was just more of the usual. “The mayor was not there to interact with residents,” Strobel wrote. “Attendees were not allowed to address the mayor directly. She stayed less than 45 minutes!” RFK Futures continues to focus on any plans for the campus. They will lobby Congress and DC Council to ensure that that all parties are aware of community concerns. More public forums are planned on the topic; the group hopes to have a strong dialogue on the topic with city leadership, from the start of any potential plans to their conclusion. At this point, she said, the best thing that the community can do is show that it is paying attention to details and ensure their voices are heard. “We are hopeful,” Payne said. “We are.” See the survey results, offer your views and get more information on RFK Future at https://www.rfkfuture.org. There were technical difficulties with the online stream of the Oct. 18 meeting; the Hill Rag live-tweeted it here. u

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A Proposed Bridge Across the Anacostia Impacts, Pros and Cons by Bill Matuszeski

hen we are dealing with just one part of a very complicated project, it is important to keep the other pieces in mind and not to get too far ahead of them. A good example is the new bridge that will cross the Anacostia from Kenilworth Park to the National Arboretum. How and when it is built will impact any number of other projects and issues that will affect other parts of the Anacostia River’s restoration. We are getting into this a bit late, since the National Capitol Planning Commission, which has au-

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B A S E B A L L B I R T H R I G H T. C O M 22

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thority over such actions on Federal lands scheduled a meeting on the bridge project for November 2, which is in the past for nearly all our readers. But the Commission is giving 30 days past the meeting date to receive comments; and they should be able to make the minutes of the November 2 meeting available for you to use. The bridge will be part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and at least for now will be the only safe river crossing for walkers between Benning Road and Bladensburg. The trails at the other side could go no farther than the Arboretum entrance, or they

could turn south to join up with the trail from the south which currently crosses the Benning Road bridge to existing trails on east side of the River. New trails could also continue north to a potential crossing below the railroad and New York Avenue to connect the Arboretum with the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, a trail many have dreamed about for years. Or the trail could continue under the railroad and Route 50 and run up the west side of the valley to Bladensburg. The capacity of our new bridge should reflect the likely trail construction for the next few years. Another set of issues with the new bridge relates to access by official and contract vehicles of the National Park Service. Providing for such access would mean a design to handle much more weight on the bridge and provide roadways on both sides. Aside from the visual impact of such roadways next to natural trails near the water, this would require the bridge to be heavier and larger. If bridge supports are then required in the water, this would add danger for boaters learning how to steer while heading downstream and learning how to avoid obstacles. It is not clear why vehicle access is required when the Arboretum has vehicular access down to near the water through woods on hidden trails. Overall, the issues with the bridge are related to the existing “atmosphere” of the areas on both sides of the Anacostia. The Arboretum side is essentially a narrow strip of Park Service property along the River which is mostly wild with a dock and a picnic table. The Kenilworth Park side will be managed by the City with Park Service oversight. The fields will need to undergo some upgrading to become safe athletic areas; augmenting the thin layer of soil used to cover the remnants of the previous trash and chemical disposals. The potential issues on both sides of the river are great, so stay abreast of plans for the bridge when they are announced so you can respond to the effects those plans can have in the surrounding areas.

METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

HOMICIDE VICTIM

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

VICTIM’S NAME

Charnice Milton

LOCATION

2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE DATE/TIME

Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum. ◆

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Up to $25,000 Reward

9:40 PM

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

CONTACT

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

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

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

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2023

neighborhood news

Community Says “No” to Stadium

State Superintendent of Education Visits

DC State Superintendent of Education Dr. Christina Grant briefed the commission on programming within the DC school system. In addition to its state educational functions, The Office of the State Superintendent of by Sarah Payne Education (OSSE) serves as a support system for families navigating the public school system. Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Oct. Grant discussed teacher retention, truancy and school 10 via Zoom. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), resources. She described the multitude of internship and Wendell Felder (7D03, chair), Commissioner Mike Dadual enrollment opportunities available to DC students. vis (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), A community member asked about the intersection Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, of juvenile crime and public safety. What role should the vice chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09), secretary) and Brischools play in mitigating violence? she asked. anne Eby (7D10) were in attendance. Single Member DisThe pandemic, Grant pointed out, brought nearly two trict 7D02 remains vacant. years of virtual learning for DC students, many of whom missed key components of development in a peer setting. he RFK Future Taskforce presented the pre“Our children are not out of control and our children are liminary results of the group’s online survey not bad children. They are adolescents that missed critical of public opinion on future uses for the RFK milestones and their adolescent development,” she said. Stadium campus. More than 1,700 responsGrant stressed the importance of “having additiones were received. 67 percent preferred the al support in schools” such as school resource officers so site be used for other purposes than a sports stadium. Rethat children learn how to have safe interactions with law spondents expressed interest in a park, outdoor recreation enforcement. Conflict resolution and de-escalation are esuses and a sports and learning complex with facilities and sential skills for middle and high school students to build activities for all ages. in a supportive setting, she stated. Take the online survey at rfkfuture.org or via email at rfkfuture@gmail.com.

ANC 7D Report

Councilmember White On Public Safety ANC 8F Report

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on Oct. 24. Commissioners Nic Wilson (8F01), Rick Murphree (treasurer, 8F02), Brian Strege (secretary, 8F03) and Edward Daniels (chair, 8F04), Clayton Rosenberg (vice chair, 8F05) were in attendance.

ard 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) paid the commission a visit. Aware of the issues with juvenile crime in The Navy Yard, the councilmember touted his violence prevention work. He reiterated his support for the NEAR Act, which he pointed out was never fully funded or supported by the mayor. He also has sponsored ten public safety bills. “There are lots of laws on the books, but it’s really about enforcement,” stat24

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

Other Matters

At-Large Councilmember Robert White (D) briefed the commission on the DC Council’s work on housing, public safety and violence interruption in the District. The community cannot “police its way out of a public safety crisis,” he stated, noting the importance of addressing root issues of violence and crime including education, housing stability, employment and mental health. The commission voted to: • approve several community members to serve on the commission’s Public Safety Committee (PSC); • support a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for special exception relief to construct a rear addition to an existing, attached two-story principal dwelling unit at 1602 D St. NE; • draft a resolution acknowledging the Cain family, who lives on the 1500 block of A St. SE, for their contributions in civil rights legislation; • support to the Mayor’s Special Events Task Group for Eastern High School students and alumni to host their pre homecoming grade on Friday Nov. 3; • write to the District DMV Director concerning an org tag for ANC commissioners and alumni to help build awareness of ANCs and their work in the District. ANC 7D meets next on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1. u

ed White. Pointing out the impact of the District’s struggles with its crime lab, “We don’t have the capacity in the police department to carry things out,” he stated. White cited “conflict between DC detectives and federal prosecutors” as a particular problem. Citing distrust of the police and “no snitching” mentality, the community also needs to step up and cooperate, he said. White cited the District’s difficulties staffing public safety agencies. “We can’t replace the officers as fast as they leave,” he said. Shifts are not a full staffed and officers are working too many hours, ending up exhausted. “We need something in addition to waiting for Superman to come help us in this city,” said White. There is no real strategy, he said. “The reality for me is that DC has never recovered from the Crack Epidemic,” said White. It resulted in lots of single parent homes with multiple kids. In addition, he argued, there has been a historic disinvestment. All of this drives the crime, stated White. “The greatest influence on a youth is another young person,” said White, citing the im-

portance of youth ambassadors and violence interrupters. Youth accountability begins in elementary school, White argued. He cited the utility of community members, particularly violence interrupters, as the key to reducing crime. They can identify misbehaving kids early on and correct their behavior before it becomes criminal, he said. White was questioned by community members and commissioners about the lack of programing at the Arthur Capper Community Center. He promised to look into the matter.

Transportation

Commissioners closely questioned DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) Ward 6 Specialist Abraham Diallo on the progress of the M Street SE Safety Corridor. The project involves the construction of dedicated bus lanes, island bus stops and protected bike lanes between 11th and Half Streets SE. It has halved the number travel lanes on M Street SE. Construction, which began in August and was to have been completed

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7D “Uniting Communities East and West” Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods

Join us for our November Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 2023 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm How to participate:

By computer: https://zoom.us/j/98224657261 Passcode: anc7d Or by phone: 1-301-715-8592 Webinar ID: 982 2465 7261 Passcode: 421519

YOUR COMMISSIONERS ELECTED TO SERVE YOU by the end of September, is ongoing. (See: https://www.hillrag.com/2023/07/21/ construction-on-m-street-bike-bus-lanesbegins-aug-7/ and https://www.hillrag. com/2023/01/27/protected-bike-lanescoming-to-m-street-se/) “It shouldn’t be a work in progress when it is an accident waiting to happen,” stated Daniels. “Right now, M Street isn’t working,” pointing out the recent accident involving a struck police officer at the corner of M and South Capitol Streets SE due to confusing signage and construction barriers. DDOT’s earlier presentations in January and July as well as its Notification of Intent (NOI) gave the project’s western end at First Street SE, so commissioners were perplexed as to why the project had been extended all the way to South Capitol Street SE, especially since plans to bring that street to grade have yet to be finalized. Lack of signage encouraged bikers to use the protected lanes before they were completed, a dangerous situation at multiple corners where automobile right turn lanes were left unsignalized leading to conflicts between cars and cyclists. DDOT will install signals to regulate traffic, Abraham stated. Chair Daniels asked him to return with an update at the commission’s next meeting. Commissioners also received a briefing on the I-695 Freeway Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which will reconstruct all highway bridges and ramps from Second Street SE to Second Street SW. Design will be completed by February of 2024. DDOT plans a public meeting on the project shortly afterwards. Recent revisions to the project’s scope have added the NJ Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian underpass from Randall Field. The whole highway deck will have to be rehabilitated, stated DDOT’s project manager. Two travel lanes will be maintained at all times. Lighting underneath the bridges is slated for replacement. There is yet no date for construction as the project is still not funded, but construction is likely to begin in 2025. The estimated duration is 24 to 36 months. The manager promised to bring the commission a detailed traffic management plan that will take into account stadium and special events.

Other Matters

Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Lieu-

tenant Kenneth Taylor briefed the commission on public safety. The last month has seen a spike in robberies, but a drop in burglaries. Motor vehicle theft, which includes carjackings, is up 80 percent compared to 2022. However, theft from autos is down. Moreover, MPD detectives have cleared four out of the current year’s six homicides with arrests. To be more specific, The Navy Yard in the last 30 days has had no homicides, two assaults with a dangerous weapon, five robberies, seven burglaries, 27 motor vehicle thefts, 16 thefts from autos and 48 general thefts. In answer to commissioner queries, Taylor stated that MPD has moved away from foot patrols due to volume of calls for service. Cars allow officers can stay mobile, he said. Taylor warned of the tremendous uptick in parking garage thefts throughout the city. Criminals piggy back in with residents on foot or in vehicles, he said. The commission voted unanimously to write a follow up letter regarding the conditions at the Onyx, 1100 First St. SE. A representative of the building’s tenant’s association rep stated living conditions had further deteriorated. “The lion’s share of violations have not been remedied,” she said. Building management has taken measures that border on retaliation with people served with notice to vacate despite paying their rent, she stated. She accused the building’s managers of conducting inunit inspections of apartments without notice and evicting tenants based on fabricated causes. Commissions discussed issues at the Virginia Avenue Dog Park at New Jersey and Virgina Avenues SE. Despite repeated calls, the city has not fixed the dog water fountain. Commissioner agreed unanimously to send a letter requesting it be repaired. The DC Council, reported Commission Wilson, has secured funds for a temporary library at The Capper Recreation Center while the Southeast Branch is under construction. Commissioners agreed to endorse ANC 6B’s letter to the DC Public Library requesting details on planned interim services and the specific timing of the Southeast Branch closure. ANC 8F generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 28 at DDOT Headquarters at 250 M St. SE. For more information, visit anc8f.org. ◆

Who

Where

How to Contact Me

Wendell Felder Chairperson Brian Alcorn Vice Chair Brett Astmann Treasurer Ashley Schapitl Secretary Siraaj Hasan Commissioner Mike Davis Commissioner Ebony Payne Commissioner Marc Friend Commissioner Brianne Eby Commissioner

Parkside - 7D03

7d03@anc.dc.gov

Capitol Hill/Hill East – 7D08

7d08@anc.dc.gov

Rosedale – 7D07

7d07@anc.dc.gov or 202-630-1632 7d09@anc.dc.gov

Hill East – 7D09 Eastland Gardens/ Kenilworth – 7D01 River Terrace – 7D04

7d01@anc.dc.gov

Kingman Park – 7D05

7d05@anc.dc.gov or 202-427-2068 7d06@anc.dc.gov or 202-455-6238 7d10@anc.dc.gov

7d04@anc.dc.gov

Rosedale – 7D06 Hill East – 7D10

Volunteer Opportunities!

We are now recruiting community volunteers to build our five Commission committees. Our committees include: Community Outreach/Grants, Economic Development/Housing Justice, Environment, Public Safety, and Transportation/Public Space. Contact any Commissioner or 7d@anc.dc.gov for more information.

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Bird Walks at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Every week on Tuesdays, 8:30 to 10 a.m., join park rangers and expert volunteers on this special Lotus and Water Lily Bird Walk. Bring your binoculars or an ID to borrow a pair from the visitor’s center. The park grounds open at 7:45 a.m. yearround for birdwatching, photography, and morning strolls. The park is accessible by car with a small parking lot, by Metro (Deanwood or Minnesota Avenue stops on the Orange Line), by bike (via the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail), and can be explored at high tide by kayak or canoe. The park address is 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. nps.gov/keaq.

Cost-Free Updated COVID-19 Vaccinations

Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy and Mini Mart at 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, is providing cost-free COVID-19 vaccines for adults 18 years and older without insurance or whose insurance requires a copay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages six months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. grubbspharmacyse.com.

Habitat Restoration Workdays at Kingman Colombian born multidisciplinary artist Federico (Mas Paz) Frum.

Inaugural MuralsDC Anacostia Project Unveiled

The 40-foot, wrap-around mural unveiled on Sept. 27 at Sandlot Anacostia, 633 Howard Rd. SE, was created by artist Federico (Mas Paz) Frum. The design, which the artist says is a tribute to humanity, wraps around several metal container structures and is painted in the artist’s signature indigenous, abstract contemporary style. Mas Paz is a Colombian born multidisciplinary artist, based in Washington DC. He is known for his distinctive street murals that explore topics of earth preservation and indigenous peoples. His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States and Latin America and his larger murals can be found in streets and spaces internationally. Mas Paz means “more peace” in Spanish, a message he strives to embrace through art and philanthropy. muralsdcproject.com.

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

On Sunday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 18; 9 a.m. to noon, volunteers will join the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) and National Links Trust (NLT) for a Habitat Restoration Workday. During this workday you will help AWS with their invasive plant control and revegetation efforts along the riverside area of Kingman Island at Langston Golf Course. This is part of a natural resources management plan for the golf course in partnership with National Links Trust. Meet at the Driving Range parking lot of the Langston Golf Course. Read more and sign up at anacostiaws.org.

Special Waste Collection Events

Household hazardous waste, electronics recycling, and document shredding have been relocated to RFK Lot 3, 2400 East Capitol St. NE (across from the DC Armory), due to the temporary closure of the Benning Road Transfer Station. Special Waste Collection Events take place on one Thursday and one Saturday each month through March 2024—upcoming dates are Nov. 16 and 25; Dec. 16 and 28; Jan. 11 and 20, Feb. 8 and 17; March 7 and 16. Collection is Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. dpw.dc.gov.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Resourceininthe theDistrict. District. DCHFA,Your YourHomeownership Homeownership Resource

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. DC Open Doors

DC DC Open Doors Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the DCDC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the rates and Open Doors city. This program offers competitive interest city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first DCmortgage Open insurance Doors is your keytrust to trust lower costs on first

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

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans forloans downfor down HPAP deferred homebuyer or a D.C.interest resident are not provides required to befree a first-time ,serves be purchasing a home in the as a co-administrator of homebuyer orofaHousing D.C. resident serves as a co-administrator of District of Columbia. this DC Department and Community this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s first-time home buyer toDevelopment’s qualify (DHCD) for DCOD. You must, (DHCD) first-time home buyer program.

program. be purchasing a home in however, HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down

the District of Columbia.

serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time buyer years or older who have fallen behindhome on insurance program. DC4ME and tax payments a result of fallen their reverse years or olderaswho have behindmortgage. on insurance Qualified District homeowners can receive up to and tax payments a result of their reverse mortgage. DC4ME providesasmortgage assistance Qualified District homeowners can receive up to

with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME mortgage assistance optional years or provides older who have fallen behindwith on insurance down paymentisassistance totoD.C. government DC4ME offered current full- mortgage. and tax payments as a result of their reverse employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with Qualified District homeowners can receive up to optional time District employees, District government employees, employees down paymentgovernment assistance including to D.C. government of District government-based instrumentalities, employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time including employees of District independent agencies, D.C.employees, Public Charter Schools,employees District government including and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's government-based instrumentalities, of District government-based instrumentalities, employer falls under the oversight of the Council of independent agencies, Publicwith Charter Schools, DC4ME provides mortgageD.C. assistance optional the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public andpayment organizations, provided applicant/borrower's down assistance to D.C. the government employer falls under theorganizations, oversight the Council of employees. DC4ME is offered to currentoffull-time Charter Schools, and the District of Columbia. District government employees, including employees the applicant/borrower’s COVID-19 ofprovided District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance employer falls under the oversight ofto and organizations, those affected by the provided impacts ofthe theapplicant/borrower's COVID-19 employer falls under the oversight of pandemic. Qualified can receive aCouncil loan of of COVID-19 the Council ofborrowers the District ofthe Columbia. thetoDC District ofCOVID-19 Columbia. up $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage MAP provides financial assistance to for up to six months.

those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage COVID-19 for up to six months. DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of Visit www.DCHFA.org up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage tomonths. apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. forhow up to six

Homebuyers Info Sessions are Back at DCHFA Register at bit.ly/dcopendoors VisitAVENUE, www.DCHFA.org 815 FLORIDA NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. Visit www.DCHFA.org E R M N 2023 27 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. AST OF THE

IVER

AGAZINE

O VEMBER

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Future of Parkland in Congress Heights Comments Sought

The National Park Service is seeking input as they take steps to improve a 1.25acre park known as Parkland in Congress Heights. The public is invited to review the proposed design and share comments through Dec. 9. This is the last opportunity for public comment. In 2022, the NPS invited public comment on two design concepts for Parkland. A revised design is now available for public comment. The revised design reflects community needs for the park to accommodate both children and adults while preserving the existing mature tree canopy. The plan proposes an expanded playground area, incorporating play equipment for children ages two through five and six through twelve. The plan also proposes expansion and upgrades of the plaza to accommodate daily use and permitted special events. Community garden boxes, picnic areas and grills, seating, lighting, public art, and trail connections are also features of the revised design. Scroll down at parkplanning.nps.gov.

Food & Friends Thanksgiving Pie Sale (DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. BUY PIES.)

Food & Friends’ Slice of Life Thanksgiving pie sales has become a tradition in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Pie Sellers and Pie Teams come together to raise money, ensuring that neighbors facing serious illnesses can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal complete with two delicious pies. Each pie is baked fresh and picked up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at conveniently located pickup sites. Select from apple crumble, classic pumpkin, nutty pecan, sea salt chocolate chess and sweet potato. Each pie sale provides a full days’ worth of meals for a neighbor in need. There’s no easier way to give back during the holidays. Pie sales have started at sliceoflifedc.org.

DOEE Free Battery Recycling Program

The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Call2Recycle, Inc., have launched the nation’s first Extended Producer Responsibility all-battery recycling program that allows District residents, workers, and visitors to safely recycle their household batteries free of charge. Find a drop-off location at call2recycle.org/locator/. 28

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

See at Peer Outreach Specialist at Anacostia Library

A Peer Outreach Specialist helps with getting your ID, Housing and VI-SPDAT assessment. Their Peer Outreach Specialist are Renee and Jerome. Renee comes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Jerome comes on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you want to make an appointment with either one of them, call Renee at 202-486-4160 or Jerome at 202-486-4801. They welcome walkins as well. Anacostia Library is at 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. dclibrary.org.

Drop-in Computer Help at Benning Library ving Morning America’s Trot for Hunger on Thanksgiion at SOME’s (So

This Thanksgiving be part of a time-honored DC tradit Hunger 5k on FreeOthers Might Eat) annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for morning checkRace NW. St. dom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenuwe and 13th waves begin at 5k a.m.; 8:30 at is iler in is at 7 a.m.; Little Turkey One-M an official 5k is and e Avenu a ylvani Penns along runs 9:15 a.m. The route $65; $35 for is course and is timed and certified by USATF. Registration from Ameriraised Funds . Little Turkey One-Miler for ages ten and under includbors, neigh DC our of ands thous t ca’s Trot for Hunger help benefi ng, achousi food, ed -need much ing provid by y, ing families and the elderl . er.org cess to healthcare, and employment training. trotforhung

Ward 8 Environmental Justice Task Force Forming

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m., Commissioner Salim Adofo, Chairman of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8C is hosting an Environmental Justice Town Hall Meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to bring Ward 8 based organizations together to develop a strategic plan to address critical environmental justice issues throughout the ward. Organizations include Ward 8 Woods, We Act Radio, and the NAACP DC Branch. The meeting is at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center, 2730 MLK Ave. SE. Contact Salim.Adofo@ anc.dc.gov or 202-455-6346.

2024 Hill Center Galleries Juried Art Exhibition: Call for Entries

The Hill Center Juried Art Exhibition is open to DC, Maryland and Virginia artists. The exhibition is from Jan. 10 to May 4. Submission deadline is Nov. 21. Hill Center is at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Read more at hillcenterdc.org/galleries.

Get computer help on Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Benning Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. Library staff will help with computer basics, email and internet, using a personal device—phone, laptop or tablet, filling out complicated forms and PDFs and printing. If you have questions, call 202-281-2583 or email digital.inclusion@dc.gov. dclibrary.org.

Jazzy Colors at Capitol View Library

On Wednesdays, noon to 2 p.m., at Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE, seniors can come and relax to the sounds of old and new jazz while coloring. dclibrary.org.

District’s First Stabilization Center Opens

On Monday, Oct. 30, DC’s first Stabilization Center opened at 35 K St. NE. The new 6,400 square-foot healthcare facility provides emergency crisis intervention, typically lasting 24 to 72 hours, for adults who are experiencing substance use disorder. Services will be available 24 hours a day for those who are 18 years and older and is free of charge with no insurance or residency requirements necessary. DC’s Stabilization Center offers individuals a safe and comfortable space to receive immediate care, along with individualized supports such as peer counseling and resources to sustain long-term recovery. Upon arrival, patients will receive a comprehensive medical and psycho-social evaluation, as well as an individualized treatment plan. The center also offers patients with approved buprenorphine medication on the spot, which, when combined with counseling, is effective

in treating opioid use disorders and can help individuals sustain long-term recovery. dbh.dc.gov/service/dc-stabilization-center.

Walk to End HIV at Anacostia Park

Held for the past 37 years, the Walk to End HIV is WhitmanWalker’s signature fundraiser that calls on thousands to lace up their shoes and walk or run to support WW’s mission of providing dependable, high-quality, comprehensive and accessible health care to those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The 2023 Walk to End HIV is on Saturday, Dec. 2, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at Anacostia Park. Volunteers are needed throughout the morning. If you are interested in volunteering (either as an individual or as part of a group), contact Dave Mallory at dmallory@whitman-walker.org. When you donate or raise $35 for the walk, you qualify for their signature t-shirt. walktoendhiv.org.

Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden

Open on Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 1 (except Christmas), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the popular annual holiday display at the US Botanic Garden features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the Conservatory features poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains circulate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. These scenes range from oversized models of native US flowers, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds to an orchid bee pollinating a vanilla orchid flower, a chocolate midge pollinating a cacao flower, a lemur pollinating a traveler’s tree flower, and more. Season’s Greenings is also open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 14, 21 and 28. usbg.gov.

NGA Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Opens for Season

US Capitol Christmas Tree Delivery to the West Lawn

On Friday, Nov. 17, after multiple stops in West Virginia along the way, the Truckload Carriers Association will deliver the tree to the Capitol West Lawn. Santa will be present. For more than 50 years, a Christmas tree has graced the West Lawn of the US Capitol for the holiday season. The 2023 tree will come from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Tree lighting date/time is not yet public. truckload.org/cct.

The 2023–2024 Sculpture Garden Ice Rink season runs from Monday, Nov. 20, through March 3 (weather permitting). The ice rink is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1). Skating sessions begin on the hour and last 45 minutes, leaving a 15-minute break for ice maintenance. To celebrate the start of the skating season, the ice rink hosts figure skaters from Team USA for pop-up performances at 6 and 7 p.m. on opening day, Nov. 20. Two back-to-back sessions cost $12 for adults and children

13 and over. Adults 60 and over, children 12 and under, military servicemembers, and students with a valid school ID pay $10. Skate rentals are $6, and free lockers are available--first come, first served. nga.gov/skating.

Organic Trinidad Farmers Market Opens

Trinidad Farmers Market is open year-round most Sundays (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1299 Neal St. NE, in the parking Lot of Joseph Cole Community Center—in the southern border of DC’s Trinidad neighborhood and a short walk from H Street NE. (Market closed on Sunday of Thanksgiving week and Dec. 24 and

31.) Trinidad Farmers Market has a variety of producers, from those selling locally farmed, locally produced vegetables and fruits, cheeses, and baked goods to producers who sell eggs and meats. All the foods that their producers sell are organic, although they may not be ‘certified’ organic in some instances because obtaining a certification can be a financial barrier for some small farmers. trinidadfarmersmarket.net.

Congressional Cemetery Holiday Market

Congressional Cemetery’s Holiday Market is Sunday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Market fea-

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

Downtown Holiday Market Opens for Season

DC’s annual Downtown Holiday Market kicks off the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 17 and runs daily (except Thanksgiving, Nov. 23 and Dec. 4) through Dec. 23, from noon to 8 p.m. The outdoor market supports small businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, welcoming shoppers for a safe, secure and enhanced shopping experience in the heart of the District. This year’s retail lineup will feature more than 70 exhibitors including Black-owned and minority-owned businesses from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development’s (DSLBD) Made in DC program. Six food vendors will provide tasty treats and hot beverages, spread across the market. Additional exciting and entertaining new features include a live stage of exceptional regional performers. The market is on F Street, NW between Seventh and Ninth. downtownholidaymarket.com.

tures one-of-a-kind gifts, handcrafted treasures and delectable treats. Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.

ble. To learn more about the available opportunities, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Questions? Email ncbf@ncbfdc.org.

Eagle Academy Distributes Thankful Meals

Thanksgiving Organ Recital at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Nov. 18, 2 to 4:30 p.m., MONUMENTAL Basketball and Eagle Academy PCS, 3400 Wheeler Rd. SE; players, coaches, staff and family members will distribute hot pre-Thanksgiving Day meals to DC area residents. Meals are first come, first served. eagleacademypcs.org.

PEPCO Open House at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center

On Nov. 19, 2 p.m. join the National Cathedral for a recital featuring Caroline Robinson, Organist and Associate-Choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. No tickets necessary to attend in-person. cathedral.org.

DC Leaf Collection Begins

On Saturday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pepco will be hosting an Open House to share details about the benefits of their multi-year rate plan as well as other programs they currently have in place to reduce their carbon footprint, address energy assistance, promote workforce development, and enhance reliability service. The Open House is at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center, 2730 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. SE. PepcoOHWards78.eventbrite.com.

DC DPW has begun Leaf collection. This year, adjustments have been made to the leaf collection program to make it more efficient. DC’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes funding for new equipment, including 40 new electric leaf blowers, six more leaf vac trucks, 18 additional dump trucks to haul the vacs, and three new buckets that can be attached to the agency’s trucks and that will allow crews to collect leaves at a faster rate than in years past. Check DPW’s website at dpw.dc.gov to confirm your area’s leaf collection dates.

Intern with the Cherry Blossom Festival

Donate A/C Units to Community Forklift

Discover what the National Cherry Blossom Festival has to offer behind the scenes. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is seeking Spring 2024 interns who are interested in a valuable hands-on learning experience across different areas that help make the festival possi30

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

If you’re removing an A/C unit in preparation for cooler weather and are thinking about getting rid of it, consider donating it to Community Forklift. Every year they provide dozens of free air conditioners to households with limited incomes. You can donate unneeded window or

in-room air conditioning units (under 10 years of age and including all their pieces) at their reuse warehouse at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD. Open daily, noon to 5 p.m. communityforklift.org.

Hypothermia Alerts

Hypothermia alerts are activated when the forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32° F or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is fifty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. When calling, include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance.

DC Encourages Residents to Get Covered

DC Health Link encourages residents to sign up for highquality, affordable health insurance at DCHealthLink. com, the District’s online state-based health insurance marketplace. Open Enrollment for DC individuals and families runs through Jan. 31, 2024. Some residents will qualify for reduced premiums. Eligible residents who enroll on or before Dec. 15, will have their coverage effective Jan. 1, 2024. After that date, plan selections made by the 15th of each month during Open Enrollment will be effective on the first day of the following month. Small busi-

nesses--as well as individuals and families eligible for Medicaid--can enroll through DCHealthLink.com throughout the year. Eligible District residents can enroll in a health insurance plan online through DCHealthLink.com, or by calling 855-532-LINK [5465].

November Foreclosure Prevention Webinars

vention webinars in November about options for people who are having difficulty paying their mortgage, condo fees or property taxes. You may participate in the webinars by internet or telephone. Free. Registration is required. Register at housingetc.org/webinarregistration. If you have questions, call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 202-265-2255. housingetc.org. ◆

The non-profit Housing Counseling Services is conducting Foreclosure Pre-

Changing Hands Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD

ANACOSTIA

1123 Chicago St SE 1344 Valley Pl SE 1601 17th Pl SE 1760 W SE 2213 Retta Gilliam Ct SE 2237 Nicholson St SE 2431 Elvans Rd SE

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 161 Elmira St SW 41 Brandywine St SW 610 Darrington St SE 919 Blakney Ln SE

DEANWOOD

100 46th Pl NE 4008 Blaine St NE 4241 Dix St NE 4740 Blaine St NE 821 50th Pl NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 206 36th St SE 5053 Benning Rd SE 700 Ridge Rd SE

Free Digitized Archive Connected to Black and Native American Soldiers from the Revolutionary War

Nearly 200 rare documents bearing the names of Black and Native American soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War are now accessible online to everyone at no cost, thanks to a partnership between Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution and Ancestry, the global leader in family history. The Patriots of Color Archive was acquired by the Museum in 2022 from a private collector, following the contributions of several donors. The collection of original muster rolls, pay vouchers, enlistment papers, discharge forms, and other documents was assembled from auctions, rare manuscript dealers, and other collectors over the past two decades. As part of their commitment to preserving history that is at risk of being forgotten, Ancestry has digitized the collection and made it available. Now, everyone has the opportunity to explore the lives of hundreds of veterans of color and better understand their often-complex relationship to the American Revolution by visiting Ancestry.com/AmericanRevolutionBlackandIndigenousSoldiers.The Museum of the American Revolution is at 101 S. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA. AmRevMuseum.org

BR CONDO

FEE SIMPLE

BARRY FARMS

Photo: Courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution

PRICE

FORT LINCOLN

3627 Hansberry Ct NE 3810 Fort Lincoln Dr NE

HILLCREST

2907 Denver St SE 3016 Nash Pl SE

KINGMAN PARK 1619 Rosedale St NE 519 23rd Pl NE LILY PONDS 114 33rd St NE 3460 Dix St NE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5543 B St SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2208 R St SE 2429 Skyland Pl SE 3120 20th St SE 3406 23rd St SE

RIVER TERRACE 121 Anacostia Ave NE

ANACOSTIA

2123 Young St SE #201

$265,000

$280,000

$499,900

$375,000

$400,000 $440,000 $780,000 $345,000 $595,000 $340,000

3 3 12 4 3 3

$530,000

CAPITOL HILL EAST

$448,000 $365,000 $220,000 $474,000

3 3 3 3

CAPITOL RIVERFRONT

$508,000 $510,500 $475,000 $575,000 $420,000

3 3 3 4 3

CONGRESS HEIGHTS

$305,000 $299,000 $300,000

2 4 4

$705,000 $725,000

4 4

$460,000 $700,000

4 4

$445,000 $440,000

3 2

$465,000 $455,000

2 3

$250,000

$340,000 $550,000 $440,000 $235,000

2 3 3 2

$399,900

BARRY FARMS

2605 Douglass Rd SE #401

CAPITOL GATEWAY 88 V St SW #510 256 15th SE #5

1211 Van St SE #914

$240,200

$315,000

$129,010

3911 Pennsylvania Ave SE #P24$15,999

CARVER LANGSTON 2001 I St NE #7

3865 Halley Ter SE #203

FAIRFAX VILLAGE IVY CITY

1921 Capitol Ave NE #1 ◆

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

$475,000

N O VEMBER 2023

east washington life

Destiny Concealed

The Story of Eagle Academy: A Documentary

by Matthew McClure, photos courtesy Eagle Academy

estiny Concealed: The Eagle Academy Public Charter School Story is a powerful documentary film that honors the founders of Eagle Academy Public Charter School and marks its 20th anniversary. Eagle’s inaugural campus, the first public charter school for PK3-K in the District, opened in the “Blue Castle” at the corner of 8th and M streets SE in 2003 with 114 students. After rapid expansion, a second location opened its doors a few blocks away on New Jersey Avenue Southeast in 2010. Today, Eagle operates two state-of-the-art campuses in the Congress Heights and Capitol Riverfront neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., bettering the lives of hundreds of children across the city. When the Covid 19 pandemic shut the world down in early 2020, Karen Alston—the Chief Marketing Officer for Eagle Academy Public Charter School—had an idea. Cassandra Pinkney, the co-founder of Eagle Academy, had passed away four years before, and Alston wanted to honor her contribution to early childhood education in DC’s Southeast wards. She reached out to her friend Cheryl Montalvo, an experienced film director, to see if she would be interested in telling the story of Cassandra Pinkney and Dr. Joe Smith, an advocate with expertise in public charter schools, and how they came together to create the school. She was. And so Destiny Concealed: The Eagle Academy Public Charter School Story documentary, was born. Mon-

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

talvo’s background is in news gathering. Togethpriority to the voices of Cassandra S. er with a powerful team, she helps to tell nuanced the community. Pinkney, Eagle Academy coand diverse human-interest stories, creating conPerhaps the most founder tent for high profile networks and agencies such impactful contribuas CNN and HuffPost. Since 2023 marked the 20 tions are those of Dr. year anniversary of the opening of the first Eagle Joe Smith and Onari Academy, the time was right for a commemoraJackson, Pinkney’s tion of Pinkney and Smith’s efforts to shatter the only surviving child. neglect by city services in neighborhoods east of Jackson is the Execthe Anacostia River. utive Director of the Montalvo and her crew started filming in Cassandra S. Pinkney early 2020. They spent over 16 months conFoundation. Through ducting 38 interviews with parents, staff and the eyes of these two alumni of Eagle Academy, communipeople who arguably ty members, Pinkney’s family, and the spent the most time Dr. Joe Smith, many whose lives had been changed by with Pinkney during her jourEagle Academy a woman that many viewed as a modney, we learn more about Delco-founder ern-day biblical matriarch. Pinkney, rico Tyrone Durham, Pinkney’s as we learn through the documentary, son and the inspiration for the was someone who – through the strugcreation of Eagle Academy. We gles she faced with her own son as a come to understand how, when young mother in an underserved comPinkney worked with Smith to munity – was inspired to help build inopen the first Eagle Academy tellectual generational wealth for hunPublic Charter School, she had dreds of families. young mothers in mind who Stylistically, Montalvo’s Destiny were juggling jobs and parentConcealed is a quietly powerful piece of ing along with family responsidocumentary filmmaking. There is no bilities and commitmediator. No ments within social superfluous technical deand economic sysOnari Jackson, Executive Director of the Cassandra S. Pinkney tail interferes with the intems that weren’t Foundation Eagle Academy Congress Heights campus herently powerful subject sympathetic to their matter. “What’s unique needs or the specifabout this documentary ic requirements of is that I used one cameratheir young children. man. One Director of Pho“The passion that tography.” Montalvo says. you see from Onari “Having just one person as she’s talking about and myself created a levthe journey and how el of comfort not only in Joe and her moththe communities but also er came together rewith those I was able to sit ally set the pace of down with and interview.” where we went with The result of this intenthe story and who we tional and sensitive approach is talk to next.” Montalvo says, explaining how she decida piece of film making that gives ed to guide the production and tone of the documenta-

Destiny Concealed Director Cheryl Montalvo

ry. “Everyone who spoke of Cassandra and spoke of Joe, they were full of passion. It was invaluable to hear these stories. Hear how Cassandra affected them and the families and children.” Throughout Destiny Concealed, Montalvo is particularly successful at detailing the context of the communities and neighborhoods that Pinkney, Smith and their colleagues were working in without making gun violence, substance abuse, lack of quality education and nutritional challenges in these areas the primary focus. Through Ronald Hasty (former principal of the first Eagle Academy Campus), Aaron Lecoin and Royston Lyttle (principals at the Congress Heights and Capitol Riverfront Eagle Academy campuses respectively), we learn about how families in DC’s wards 6, 7 and 8 struggled to find safe spaces to grow, and found them in the school. If you need two good reasons to watch this documentary (there are many), do it to learn more about the famous swimming pool at the Eagle Academy Congress Heights campus that Pinkney fought for, and to witness firsthand the effect that Pinkney’s legacy had on her young grandchildren through a powerfully raw interview with them. Be sure to keep your tissues handy. Destiny Concealed: The Eagle Academy Public Charter School Story can be streamed by creating a free 30-day account at umff.com u E ast of the R iver M agazine

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east washington life

Holidays Are a Time for Giving by Elizabeth O’Gorek

very month for the last 20 years, John M. has been giving $120 to organizations he selected through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). He chose nonprofits that work for causes he believes in and has personal links to, including the Capital Food Bank (CFC # 30794), where he has volunteered. John is one of nearly 81,000 people who together donate over $70 million a year to nearly 5,000 charities through the CFC. That’s an average of about $73 dollars a month for each person. With the strength of tens of thousands of people contributing consistently over a year, it makes a real difference to those causes that receive their support. “People should give however feels best for them, based on the avenues that are available,” said Kate Akalonu of Everyone Home DC (everyonehomedc.org, CFC #36006), a nonprofit that works to provide services and secure housing for District residents. November is about being thankful; it is also about paying forward that gratitude through giving, providing organizations with resources to transform our communities and the world. One study estimates that 17 percent of annual giving happens in December alone. For those with

the desire and ability to do so, there are many ways to give.

Direct to Charities

The most obvious way to donate is to choose a nonprofit and write a check. While direct giving requires you to put in the time and research, it also Volunteers help sort diapers in the warehouse at the Greater DC Diaper Bank, which provides basic baby needs and personal hygiene products to ensures that your gift will be directly allocated to people in the DC Area. Courtesy: GDCDB causes and organizations that you wholeheartedly support. Search for charities on give.org, a website run ed to where you live. Donors can select from 8,000 difby the Better Business Bureau. One feature of the site is ferent nonprofit organizations, including more than 500 that administrative costs are listed. District-based nonprofits. These include So Others Might Smaller charities might not be listed on give.org, but Eat (SOME, CFC #237098123), Sasha Bruce Youthwork you can still vet charities in your neighborhood. One way (CFC #71809), The Anacostia Community Boathouse is to visit the nonprofit websites. The National Council of Association (CFC #87883) Capitol Hill Village (CFC Nonprofits says nonprofits are required to have three years #55474) and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CFC of financial reports and tax forms available to the public on #50747). Search for your favorite organization at cfcgivrequest; most have them available online. ing.opm.gov/offerings. If your time allows, get up close and investigate by volThere are opportunities for those nonprofits to meet unteering with an organization yourself. That can give you with donors, too, building local connections. Corinne Cana sense of their mission and spirit and the way they opernon, founder and Executive Director of the Greater DC ate, in addition to being a valuable gift to the orDiaper Bank (GDCDB, CFC #18074), a nonprofit dediganization itself. cated to providing basic baby needs and personal hygiene Finally, you can contribute to the organizaproducts to individuals and families in the DC Area, said tions that you have seen and continue to see doGDCDB sets up info tables frequently during the height ing work in your community. When you pass by of the CFC season. These events help get federal employa back-to-school fair, check which organization ees engaged in the fundraising campaign, Cannon added. is offering back-to-school supplies to students “One of the things we really love doing is getting in front with limited means. of employees and telling them about the work we do,” she said. “It makes a big difference in the turnout [of donors].” Steve Park, Executive Director of Little Lights Urban Federated Funds Ministry (CFC #89156, littlelights.org), said donations Another way to donate is by contributing to through CFC provide much needed unrestricted funds federated funds. These are a group of nonprofthat allows the organization the flexibility to put dollars its that voluntarily work together for the purwhere they are needed most. “Whether it is for our new pose of raising money, distributing or delegatCollege and Career Program or for the Clean Green Team ing the administrative burdens. [or] our landscaping social enterprise, donations from the In addition to the CFC, some of the most CFC help strengthen Little Lights to better serve our youth well-known federated funds are the United Way and families living in public housing,” Park said. and America’s Charities. Many of these operThe downside of federated funds is overhead costs, ate as payroll deduction programs as well, like which reached 19 percent for CFC in 2019. Nonprofits the CFC, the largest of the US federated funLittle Lights is an award-winning nonprofit on Capitol Hill serves vulnerable have to apply to be part of the campaign, with application draising organizations. Donations to the CFC residents living in public housing. All funds help to empower children, youth, and listing fees starting at $364. That process and cost can of the National Capital Area can be allocatand families in our community. Photo: Courtesy Little Lights Urban Ministries 34

EastoftheRiverDCNews.com

mean newer or smaller nonprofits might not be part of the program.

Payroll Giving

As noted, federated foundations like the CFC are often part of employer-sanctioned campaigns. This is part of payroll giving, when an employee designates a charity and the amount to donate directly through payroll deduction. It is an easy way to make tax-deductible donations to charities employees select from a portfolio of options that range from a couple of nonprofits to thousands. But the awards can literally multiply. Many companies will double –or even triple – donations allocated to charity. Donation matching by employers has become so common at some larger companies that many employees don’t even realize it is possible. That can be true even for direct contributions to a nonprofit. It is worth inquiring at your office. The World Bank Group (WBG), for example, has an in-house payroll giving program, the Community Connections Program. The WBG matches employee donations made through the program. When the campaign reaches set annual goals, employees can earn rewards from the Bank. One benefit of a payroll giving campaign, like federated foundations, is that selected charities are generally vetted. And not only are deductions an easy way to ensure you are giving back, often within your local community, but since most deductions are taken from after-tax earnings, they are tax deductible. Regardless of whether they are made directly to the nonprofit, through employer programs or federated foundations, regular donations are beneficial to the charities because they provide a consistent source of income, allowing them to better plan their work because they have a baseline of support. If a company targets payroll donations to a single cause or charity, the giving is multiplied; a $10 donation monthly from 1,000 employees is $10,000 a month. That is a lot of punch.

Community Fundraising

Another way to ensure you give where you live is to donate to a community foundation. Community foundations pool dona-

tions from a particular region or community. The foundation board then selects nonprofits to receive grants, usually made with the goal of improving and enhancing the lives of people in a defined local area. There are more than 900 community foundations throughout the nation. Examples of these organizations in DC include the Greater Washington Community Foundation (https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/about) and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF, https://capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org/) which has been actively supporting Hill schools and organizations for over 30 years. The benefit of these local foundations is that they and their board members are part of the community, familiar with the individuals and organizations that call it home. The combination of their usually small size and proximity to the people and problems where they live mean they are often able to meet concerns swiftly as they arise, addressing needs in areas from arts and education to disaster mitigation. For example, in 2020 CHCF managed to augment their usual grants with an additional $100,000 in special grants to organizations struggling to meet community needs during the pandemic. That was on top of the $220,000 in regular grants provided that year. Funds for CHCF grants come from residents and businesses of the Capitol Hill community. There are no paid staff; everything is done by volunteers. The 28-member Board covers all administrative costs. “We pool the resources of everyone in the community to make big things happen,” said CHCF President Nicky Cymrot. Since its founding in 1989, CHCF has donated more than $13 million to a broad range of local organizations and initiatives.

Giving Circles

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MURIEL BOWSER, MAYOR

(Continued on pg. 37) EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2023

east washington life

Caterer Fana Chisolm

Meet Fana Chisolm Hairstylist, Master Barber and Caterer by Anthony D. Diallo

Tharps, entitled Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America, various ethnic groups throughout Africa had unique braiding styles to set them apart—from warriors and kings in Ethiopia to young women coming of age in West Africa. The authors emphasize that slave traders immediately shaved the heads of their African captors for supposed sanitary reasons, but this also eradicated elements of their culture. Chisolm has visited Dakar, Senegal, and West Africa four times since 1983. She has led tours and small braiding groups to the “Motherland” to study the authentic culture.

Start in Blue Grass and End in the Land of Go-Go

ome people embrace change and caterer Fana Chisolm—who first started as a hairstylist and expert barber—is definitely one of them. She remembers always being a creative artist and expressing herself uniquely, starting with her attire. The first time Chisolm braided someone’s hair and enhanced a person’s appearance was under the guidance of her grandmother, a cosmetologist in Lexington, Kentucky. “I started creating hair as an art form. We brought a particular hair braiding here and to the East Coast that involved beads,” Chisolm said about her unmistakable brand of hair braiding she calls “creative, ancestral braiding that is creatively inspired beyond labels.” “I came here when I was about 18 or 19 years old in 1979,” the native of Kentucky, now 64, recalled while sitting in her Anacostia home where she has lived for the past eigtht years. The svelte sexagenarian, who appears 20 years younger, walks and runs five to 10 miles daily.

The History of Braiding

According to the book written by Ayana Byrd and Lori L. 36

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

Born into an extended family, Chisolm lived with her grandmother, multiple cousins, and a younger sister. She excelled in her studies and graduated high school in 1976 at 16. A few weeks later, she accepted an invitation from her Aunt Jean to visit her in Los Angeles. While there Chisolm met Nawili Ayo, an expert hair braider who became her braiding mentor and asked Chisolm to embark with her, another stylist, and Ayo’s son on a hair tour through Wisconsin, Chicago, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. The Harambe African Café, a once popular U Street venue, was the site of her first hair show. Chisolm has had the honor of styling the hair of such celebrities as Stevie Wonder, his daughter Aisha Morris, Angela Bassett, and at least one member from the groups Atlantic Starr, Starpoint, and Sweet Honey in the Rock. “I consider Fana an important stylist and heritage artist. Her [overall] work is distinctive,” said Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye, the Senior Curator and founder of the African American Craft Initiative at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage who has had her hair styled by Chisholm on more than one occasion. “She is the whole Afrocentric package. What people get from her is not only braiding but also a master barber and very much an artist. Fana is now doing installation art by using her skills on trees and plant life,” said N’Diaye, a respected writer and folklorist in her own right, who was the Program Analyst at the New York State Council on the Arts and is “honored to be considered [Fana’s] mentor.”

Master Barber

The multifaceted artist chose to branch out further after perfecting her braiding technique. She began taking classes in 1986 to learn how to barber at the now-closed Armstrong Adult Education Center under the tutelage of Derrick Davis, the owner of Davis Barbershop on Livingstone Road in Southeast DC. Chisolm acquired her master’s barbering license after completing a comprehensive test at the then John A. Chamberlain Vocational School. She owned a unisex salon called the Fine Art of Braiding & Barbering—nicknamed FABB— on Georgia Avenue.

Culinary Artist

After living in New York City for more than a decade, Chisolm came back to D.C. full-time to go to culinary school and graduated from Prince George’s County Communi-

Fana Chisolm catered for the legendary recording artists, the Temptations, a few months ago at Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

/ The Old Man of Anacostia /

Let's Score A Strike For The Kids New Bowling Program at JBAB

F Fana braids Mertine Brown's hair

ty College. She is a long-time vegetarian, but cooks for all palates. She specializes in vegan meals like kale salad with chickpeas or carrot beet salad made from the pulp of fresh carrot juice. She is most known for her healthy juices like Hibiscus/Sorrell with Ginger, Sea Moss with Pineapple and Ginger, and Watermelon Citrus with Ginger and Beet. She has more than 100 unique juices in her repertoire. She has collaborated on occasion with longtime friend and fellow caterer Lamont Mitchell. “I met her at Union Temple about 40 years ago. She is an avid walker and a really great cook and vegan chef. She worked as a sous-chef at Wegmans [in the Woodmore Towne Centre] before catering,” said Mitchell, a semi-retired caterer. “Fana is special and uplifts everyone, but especially the people East of the River!” To reach Fana Chisolm for catering, contact her at fananyc@gmail.com or 646-912-1463 ◆

by Philip Pannell

or those of us concerned about the rise in juvenile crimes—particularly carjackings—we should feel challenged to offer new, productive and safe activities for our youths to engage in. The only bowling alley east of the Anacostia River is the Potomac Lanes Bowling Center (PLBC) on the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) has met with the leadership of that military base and has made arrangements to organize a youth bowling program that will be targeted to middle and high school students east of the river. The youths who engage in the bowling program will also be given the opportunity to connect with other activities on JBAB. The bowling project is being co-chaired by ACC board members Thomas Byrd and Kim Ford. The JBAB bowling alley is ultra modern and has 30 lanes, making it one of the largest bowling facilities in DC. If the program is to be successful, the support of the community is immediately needed. ACC would like to kick off the project this fall and needs significant funding to cover all aspects of the program, particularly in the area of transportation. They are looking for organizations, companies, faith based groups or anyone who may have buses or vans. The idea is that each school would be a stop where the kids would meet, get on the bus/van and be driven to the base. A successful youth bowling project can be beneficial on several levels. By being on JBAB, it is probably in the safest location east of the river. Bowling, in addition to being an enjoyable recreational activity, can also lead to college scholarship opportunities. The JBAB military leadership has opened its doors to an exciting program for our youth. Please let us take full advantage of it. Your help is urgently needed. If you are a parent who wants to learn more about the program, or if you are in an organization that can help with transportation, please contact Kim ford at kimRford@gmail.com or Thomas Byrd at thomas.byrd@yahoo.com. If you are a parent with a child at Ballou or Anacostia High, there will be a specific point of contact that will be announced at the school. Long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell can be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. Pannell is the Executive Director of the Anacostia Coordinating Council. Help Make Wards 7 & 8 Great! Become a Member of the Anacostia Coordinating Council: Visit http://www.anacostiacc.org/join-us.html. ◆

(Continued from pg. 35) According to philanthropy magazine Alliance, giving circles were popularized in the 1980s and 1990s by women, often women of color, who were beginning to earn their own money and who wanted to distribute it in a way that challenged the patriarchal structure of giving. One of the most widely-popularized early DMV giving circles, Womenade, began when a physician working for Unity Health Care and her friends decided to make their monthly potluck gathering donation based. The monthly $35 donation was pooled and donated to a variety of worthy causes. Today, more than 2,500 giving circles exist across the nation, many in the District. Founded in 2019, Next Gen Giving Circle (NGGC, www.nextgengivingcircle.org) pools monthly donations, then makes monthly grants to causes through an applications process. In 2023, NGGC identified organizations working to advance the economic justice and financial security of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in the DC region. Giving circles allow most everyone with a modest amount of monthly income to directly participate in philanthropy. The volunteer nature of the system reduces overhead costs. The democratic nature of the process means circles have greater flexibility to meet hyperlocal needs as they arise. That means giving circles can target smaller, often overlooked needs and causes, from granting funds to purchase a projector needed for an art project to providing a deposit that secures housing for a family at risk. Giving is the important action. “People need to explore what works best for them,” Everyone Home DC’s Akalonu said. “At the end of the day, give where it makes you feel comfortable. There are so many different ways that you can support organizations and make a difference.” ◆

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2023

east washington life

The “Other” IRA

Tax Credits and Rebates for Green Energy Investments

ave you heard? Federal government rebates are no longer limited to solar installations. If you’re looking to upgrade your windows, install a wood pellet stove, purchase an induction stove or make any number of other green energy investments, your timing is ideal. The Inflation Reduction Act, also known (somewhat confusingly) as the IRA, was passed by Congress in August 2023. The IRA and its associated programs provide tax credits and rebates for a wide array of green energy investments. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been slow to provide details about which investments qualify under the IRA, it is beginning to release information at www.irs.gov/inflation-reduction-act-of-2022. The IRA provides residential tax credits ‒ which reduce the amount of tax owed or increase a tax refund ‒ for a wide range of improvements ranging from exterior doors to windows, skylights and insulation materials. Importantly, renters may also be able to claim credits as well as owners of second homes used as residences. And some clean energy investments incurred in 2022 may still qualify for rebates. The amount of credit you can take is a percentage of the total improvement expenses in the year of installation, but in general the rebates include: 2022 investments: 30% up to a lifetime maxi• mum of $500 • 2023 through 2032 investments: 30% up to a maximum of $1,200 • Heat pumps, biomass stoves and boilers: a separate annual credit limit of $2,000 with no lifetime limit. In addition to credits for home improvement investments, the IRA provides credits for the purchase of new and used electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and commercial use. While the rules on qualifying vehicles have changed over the last year, the Environmental Protection Agency now has an online calculator (fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml) that will tell if a vehicle qualifies for a credit and how much it will be. The High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA) (www.energy.gov/scep/home-energy-

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

by Catherine Plume

rebate-program) is part of the IRA and provides rebates ‒ funds credited or returned to a customer on completion of a transaction ‒ for efficient electric appliances, of up to $14,000 for low-income households and 50% of costs up to $14,000 for households where income is 80% or more but generally not greater than 150% of the average median income for a specific geographic area. In DC, median income in 2021 was $93,547 (www.datausa.io/profile/geo/ washington-dc/). That would mean households with income up to $140,320 qualify for rebates. (Check with a tax advisor for 2023 DC median income levels.) Qualified electrification projects under HEEHRA include heat-pump HVAC systems and heat-pump water heaters, electric stoves and cooktops and heat-pump clothes dryers, as well as costs for upgrading circuit pan-

You can improve indoor air quality, reduce your carbon footprint and speed up meal prep times with the purchase of an induction stove. The purchase might even qualify for a federal rebate. Photo: J. Canon

els, insulation, ventilation and wiring. Local businesses are busy meeting demand for these green energy improvements. Tracy Wilcox, vice president of finance at Wilcox Electric, notes, “We’re installing approximately two to three new dedicated circuits for EV charging stations every week. The cost of these jobs varies widely depending on the distance between the electrical panel and the intended location of the EV charging station, and whether or not that distance is a clean run or if there are obstructions. Installing an EV charging station within 15 feet of the panel may cost about $800.” Wilcox is expecting to get even busier as people learn more about the rebates. “To date,” says Wilcox, “we’ve not seen many people asking for new or expanded electrical panels to accommodate new electric appliances. I don’t think people are yet focused on and informed about what the IRA tax credits are. Wilcox Electric foresees a lot of electric work, and we are starting our education process about the rebates.” In addition to federal incentives, a green energy investment may also qualify for rebates through the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU, www. dcseu.com/). The DC SEU also provides rebates for some purchases that the IRA doesn’t cover for home or business, including refrigerators and electric lawnmowers. Ernest Jolly, managing director of the DC SEU, notes that his organization has been offering energy efficiency rebates to residents and businesses since 2011. The rules around what qualifies for an IRA tax credit and can be combined with a DC SEU rebate are evolving and specific to each individual, he explains. “We always encourage residents to review IRS guidance and consult a tax professional as it relates to tax credits for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.” Stay tuned to the IRA and DC SEU websites for more information. These rebates are helping make green investment a bit easier on your checkbook! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer and an active member of the Sierra Club DC Chapter. The perspectives expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. u

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Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden

Open on Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 1 (except Christmas), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the popular annual holiday display at the US Botanic Garden features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, while in the Conservatory there are displays of poinsettias, holiday decor and DC landmarks made from plants. Season’s Greenings is also open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 14, 21 and 28. www.usbg.gov by Kathleen Donner

Visitors experience Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” (2016) before Storytime. Photo: Kate Warren, Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum

“Snow Maiden” at Synetic Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for Storytime, a unique experience that offers kids (birth to age eight) and their caregivers a fresh theme each week. They can enjoy hands-on fun with artmaker projects inspired by the Hirshhorn’s collection, plus read-alouds filled with music, tales and movement. Storytime is always free, no reservations or tickets required. Museum doors open at 10 a.m. The Storytime group will leave for the galleries at 10:15 a.m. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the lobby and on the lower level. For access services or accommodations to make the experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation), contact hmsgeducation@si.edu. One to two weeks’ advance notice is recommended but not required. The Hirshhorn is at Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. www.hirshhorn.si.edu

My School DC Guide and Key Dates for Public School Lottery

Find critical dates for applications to public schools and most public charter schools at www. myschooldc.org. Call 202-888-6336 with questions.

Step Afrika’s “Magical Musical Holiday Show” at Arena

The first holiday show incorporating the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s “Magical Musical Holiday Step Show,” is a feast for the eyes and ears. Dance along with award40

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In a frozen forest high in the mountains, a lonely boy builds a girl from snow. When she mysteriously comes to life, mischief and enchantment abound. Told through movement, dance and acrobatics, Synetic’s take on the folktale “Snegurochka” comes to life in a 45-minute production set to an enchanting score. $35. “Snow Maiden” is at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell St., Arlington (Crystal City), Virginia, from Dec. 9 to Jan. 6. www.synetictheater.org Maryam Najafzada for Synetic Theater’s “Snow Maiden” 2022. Photo: Johnny Shryock

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ages. Thursdays to Sundays, $25, all seats, all ages. The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, Virginia. www.thelittletheatre.com

Enchanted Pages Community Day at Planet Word

Planet Word presents Enchanted Pages Community Day on Saturday, Nov. 18, starting at 10 a.m. This free, all-day celebration of the people who bring us books and the readers who love them will feature pop-up appearances by authors and noted word lovers, performances that bring stories to life and book-inspired activities for all ages. Get free tickets at www.planetwordmuseum.org/events/enchanted-pages-community-day. Planet Word is at 925 13th St. NW (entrance on K Street). www.planetwordmuseum.org

Photo: R Nowitz for ACVA

Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert

On Saturday, Dec. 2 (rain or shine), at 11 a.m., this family-oriented parade begins at St. Asaph and Wolfe streets and concludes at Old Town’s Market Square with a massed band concert at 1 p.m. www.campagnacenter.org/scottishwalkweekend

winning dancers on Arena’s Fichandler Stage as DJ Nutcracker sets the tone for a family-friendly holiday “stepstravaganza.” $56 to $95. For ticket discounts, visit www.arenastage.org/tickets/ savings-programs. Step Afrika’s “Magical Musical Holiday Show” is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 8 to 16. www.arenastage.org

Discovery Theater’s “Seasons of Light”

This signature Discovery Theater show celebrates the history and customs of Diwali (Devali), Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Sankta Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the First Nations’ tradition of the winter solstice. An interactive event, “Seasons of Light” is at Discovery Theater, Monday to Friday, from Dec. 1 to 20, at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., with an additional 1 p.m. performance on Dec. 8, 13 and 15. Recommended for ages 5-10. $9 for adults; $8 for kids; $3 for kids under two. Tickets on sale now. Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center is at 1100 Jefferson Drive SW (on the National Mall). www.discoverytheater.org

Washington Ballet’s “Nutcracker” Family Day

Set in the heart of DC, this reimagined ballet features a George Washington Nutcracker who leads a heroic battle against the notorious Rat King. An interactive experience for all ages, the Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker Family Day is on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW. Children can participate in activities and festivities prior to the 1 p.m. matinee performance. Visit craft stations for coloring and search-a-word, photo ops with dancers and more. Family Day activities are included in the ticket price. Events begin at 11:30 a.m. $48 to $135. www.washingtonballet.org

“A Christmas Carol” at LTA

From Dec. 2 to 16, Alexandria’s favorite yuletide tradition returns with all the favorite Dickens characters ‒ Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family, the Fezziwigs, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come and Ebenezer Scrooge. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, $20, all seats, all 42

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Photo: Scott Suchman

“The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me” at the KC

As the first Christmas nears, who among the animals can lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? Based on the award-winning children’s book, this production features a cast from the Kennedy Center’s Cafritz Young Artist Program and the WNO Children’s Chorus. $25 to $49. Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre on Dec. 8, at 7 p.m.; Dec. 9, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. www.kennedy-center.org

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Thanksgiving Little Turkey One-Miler and Family-Friendly Festival

This Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, be part of a time-honored DC tradition at SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5k on Freedom Plaza. The Little Turkey One-Miler is at 8:30 a.m. ($35). The race-finisher, family-friendly festival, with music, activities, tastings and live entertainment, is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. www.trotforhunger.org

The Ndlovu Youth Choir on the Millennium Stage

The Ndlovu Youth Choir’s run on “America’s Got Talent” (season 14) made it the first choir in the history of either AGT or “Britain’s Got Talent” to reach the finals. It performs at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. A limited number of advance reservations is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations do not guarantee a seat, and patrons are encouraged to arrive early. Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis every Wednesday, two weeks from the date. Standing room is available behind the seated area as space allows. www.kennedy-center.org

DAR Christmas Open House

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., hear live holiday music, tour 31 period rooms, sample cider, hot chocolate and cookies and visit Santa at the Christmas open house of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new or lightly used children’s book to donate. The DAR Memorial Continental Hall is at 17th and D streets NW. www.dar.org

Pick Your Own Christmas Tree

Find a Christmas tree and winter events near you. At some farms you can select and cut your own tree, at others you choose and they cut, while tree lots offer a variety of cut conifers ready to take home. Find other winter activities like sleigh rides, hayrides and wagon rides. www.pickyourownchristmastree.org E ast of the R iver M agazine

N o vember 2023

kids & family

toy bricks, while building areas prompt visitors to build imaginative cities of their own. $10 admission for adults; $7, kids. The National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, is open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.nbm.org

US Air Force Band Holiday Concerts

Photo: Danielle E. Thomas / Washington National Cathedral

Handel’s “Messiah” (Family Edition) at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Dec. 9, at noon, experience the best of “Messiah” with the whole family. An abbreviated performance of highlights is perfect for busy families with young children. $25 to $55. www.cathedral.org

Saturday Morning at the National

The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, has announced the return of Saturday Morning Live! This year’s theme is In Harmony: Let’s Play Together! On select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., enjoy children’s entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances to puppets, dance and music. Shows typically take place on the second Saturday in the National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery. Shows are best enjoyed by children ages three to six but all are welcome. Tickets are free but a small donation is always welcome. Register in advance at www.nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morning-live. Walk-up tickets are subject to availability. Masks are optional but highly recommended. www.nationaltheatre.org

Calling Young Playwrights: Submit Your Script

Mosaic Theater is hosting its fourth annual High School Playwriting Contest for students in grades 9-12 at public and charter schools in the Washington metro area, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and North44

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

ern Virginia. Winning playwrights will receive a cash prize and have their plays read and directed by professional theater artists at the Petworth Branch of the DC Public Library during the live presentation and readings on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. Submit your play by Dec. 1 for consideration. www.mosaictheater.org/ playwriting-contest

LEGO Brick City at the National Building Museum Through spring, 2025, “Brick City” celebrates iconic architecture from cities around the world through carefully recreated constructions made from LEGO bricks by UK-based artist Warren Elsmore. Visitors discover destinations across all seven continents. Young builders channel their creativity in an interactive area where they construct their own masterpieces out of LEGOs. An expansive “graffiti wall” provides a canvas to create pixelated art using the

US Air Force Band Holiday Concerts at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW, feature the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants performing holiday favorites. The concerts are on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. Free tickets are available at www.usafband.eventbrite.com. If sold out, there are usually some empty seats on stand-by.

Family Christmas Service at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m., a menagerie of live animals helps bring the Nativity to life in this service of carols and prayers in the festively decorated cathedral nave. ASL interpretation is offered. Free in-person passes are required and available at www.cathedral.org/calendar/ family-christmas-service-2.

The Puppet Co.’s “Nutcracker” at Glen Echo

From Nov. 24 to Dec. 31, join the Puppet Co. for its annual “Nutcracker.” The celebration includes Tchaikovsky’s familiar

story of Clara and her prince, with some Puppet Co. nursery rhyme spin. On stage at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Maryland. Tickets are $15; under age two, no ticket required. Recommended for ages four, up. Masks encouraged. www.thepuppetco.org

“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins”

Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for his shtetl (village)? On stage at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Maryland. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 31. Tickets are $15; under age two, no ticket required. Recommended for ages five, up. www.thepuppetco.org

“A Year with Frog and Toad” at Imagination Stage

In this hit Broadway musical, two best friends with opposite personalities wake up from hibernation and enjoy hilarious adventures through the seasons. The show is inspired by the acclaimed children’s books. $12. Best for ages four, up. “A Year with Frog and Toad” is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, Maryland, from Nov. 15 to Jan. 7. www.imaginationstage.org

First Saturdays at the NGA

On the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the East Building of the National Gallery of Art comes alive with films, pop-up experiences and art-making for all ages. The schedule is: Storytime, 10 to 11 a.m.; Sketching Lab, Drop-in Artmaking, Kids’ Play Space and Pop-up Library, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performances, exhibition tours and film screenings run throughout the day. All activities are free and most are first-come, first-served. Some activities require registration. www.nga.gov/ calendar/festivals Visitors enjoy a Drop-In Artmaking event in the National Gallery’s East Building.

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TUTORING FOR ALL DC Children of the American Revolution Clean Indigenous Graves

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day (formerly Columbus Day), the Washington, DC, State Society of the Children of the American Revolution held an educational ceremony at Congressional Cemetery and cleaned the gravesites of indigenous peoples. This was a unique opportunity for children aged 5-17 to learn about the role of cemeteries in historic preservation, gain hands-on volunteer opportunities and learn about this important holiday.

words, a few simple props and theatrical devices, and then teach you and your young kids how to do the same. On Dec. 3, 9 and 10 at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m., celebrate the joy of Hanukkah and the power of the imagination. 1529 16th St. NW. www.dcjcc.org/programs/theater-jr

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TOTAL Christmas on the TUTOR Farm at the Virginia Museum of TUTORING the FOR ALL Civil War On Saturday, Dec. 2, from Work with experienced tutors 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., visone-on-one or in small groups to it the Virginia Museum of the Civil War to celebrate achieve your learning goals.

Theater J Introduces Theater Jr. (Theater for Young Audiences)

Investing in children inspires laughter and intergenerational conversations and has the power to be transformative. Theater J recognizes that it has a part to play and is excited to launch programming for children and their families for the first time in its history. www.edcjcc.org/programs/ theater-jr

Theater Jr.’s “Tiny Lights: Tales for Hanukkah”

There is nothing like a great story, welltold. Taking inspiration from the Hanukkah tales of Isaac Bashevis Singer, theatrical storytellers will weave tales out of

the holidays. Explore the museum and make takehome crafts, enjoy festive treats and see a special Christmas film. Take a step back to 1859 and visit the Bushong family as they cook, sing, and tell stories in anticipation of a special Christmas visitor. Stop by the military camp and see how soldiers celebrated Christmas in 1864. Tickets go on sale the dayof and can be purchased at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War. Event prices are $10 per adult; $6 per kid, 6-12; five and under, free. Bring two non-perishable canned food items to benefit the local food pantry to receive $1 off the ticket price. The Virginia Museum of the Civil War, New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, 8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, Virginia, is about two hours from DC. www.vmi.edu

Disney’s “Frozen” at the KC

A musical filled with special effects, stunning sets and costumes and powerhouse performances, “Frozen” is at the Kennedy Center from Dec. 20 to Jan. 21. $35 to $185. For tickets, www.kennedy-center. org/mytix. Recommended for ages six, up. www.kennedy-center.org ◆

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E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

N O VEMBER 2023

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD Who’s for Tennis by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. A path set aside for walking 6. Provoke 12. Texan independence landmark 17. Imprison 19. Mandarin 20. Renders unclear 22. Open stage 24. Start of a point 26. Ship 27. Relied on 28. Pro votes 30. Hunter of thrillers 31. Community spirit 34. Elementary atomic particle 37. Paddle 38. Perfect places 39. Bounding main 41. Love affairs 44. Dry up 46. Prefix with -nautics 47. Board, in a way 52. One of two smashing siblings 57. Point in tennis 58. 70s rock group, abbr. 59. Butchers’ offerings 60. Little piggy 61. Swords used to fence with 62. Aerospace educator, DeVore 64. Weapon of knights 65. Good name for a Dalmatian 67. Kid 68. Home paper 70. Aces, sometimes 72. Induction motor inventor 75. Djokovic for one 79. Liking 82. Drags 86. Anticipate 87. Singer, Rawls 88. Et ___ 90. Roger Daltrey band, with “The” 91. Woman’s tennis star 93. Tennis shot

96. Dutch Renaissance humanist 98. Infant’s achievement 99. Make blank 100. Harriet Beecher-Stow character 103. Yesterdays 105. Watch part 109. Goal 110. Comes closer 112. One showing curiosity 116. Palm reader, for one 117. Record 119. Flower holders 121. Post-E.R. place 122. Tennis court item 124. Playing a tennis shot 129. Reddish brown 130. Out of it 131. Faze 132. Old Ford car 133. Slot-machine fruits 134. Some are inert

Down:

1. Arouse 2. ‘’It’s ___-see!’’ (rave review) 3. Tennis shot 4. U.S.’s Ryder Cup foe 5. Leftover 6. Alleviate 7. Small groups 8. “Dr. No” author Fleming 9. Genetic stuff 10. Not very pretty 11. Bygone Barcelona buck 12. Lack 13. Wine sediment 14. Atlas Mtns. locale 15. Changed residence 16. Pointed arch 18. Hosp. chart 21. Sweep with binoculars 23. Capital of Italia

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

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 25. Naval rank, abbr. 29. Antonio or Andreas 32. Slow movement 33. Pine, e.g. 35. Ultimatum words 36. “Me neither” 38. Beauty lover 40. Allow 42. Palace protectors 43. Certain MD’s specialty 44. Unite 45. Fairway club 46. Meg’s “Prelude to a Kiss” co-star 48. Most juicy 49. Side squared, for a square 50. Suffix with social 51. Nasdaq competitor 52. Take in

53. Certain dyes 54. Wayside stop 55. Floor cleaner 56. Keyword improvements for a website (abbr.) 63. Wings it 66. Muscular 69. Take in, slangily 71. Tension 72. Robber’s loot 73. Open vessel 74. “CSI” character Sidle 76. Santa’s help 77. “Winnie-the-Pooh” baby 78. Explode 79. Systematic plan 80. Multitude 81. UK TV news and content provider

83. Hooting experts 84. “Whoopee!” 85. Sauce source 89. Heart’s main artery 92. Look for a seat 94. Posh British school 95. Miss 97. Kerry Washington stars in it 101. Sparked 102. Chef based in New Orleans 103. Fork protrusions 104. Goes with Spumanti 105. Nine-digit ID 106. Jordan Spieth accessories 107. Tighten, maybe 108. Moved in a curve 111. Cooking bib 113. Bagpipers’ wear 114. Etudiant’s milieu 115. Cartoonist, Goldberg’s 117. Sea eagle 118. Descartes who wrote “Cogito, ergo sum” 120. Elder 123. Switch settings 125. ___ O’Shanter 126. Strange flyer 127. ___ order 128. “___ theater near you!”

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