The Bulletin Board

Development Team for Parcel 13 Selected

The Neighborhood Development Company proposal for the development of Parcel 13 on the St. Elizabeths East Campus has been selected. The proposal from NDC envisions a mixed-use project that consists of 421 rental apartments, including 126 A ordable Dwelling Units, that will serve households earning within the 30% AMI and 50% AMI ranges. The project also includes walkable connections to the Congress Heights Metro Station, the proposed Plaza Concept at Parcel 15, and the Entertainment and Sports Arena. The commercial program includes 20,865 gross sq. ft. of land area, with 240 spaces of underground parking. NDC has identi ed at least two potential tenants, including local restaurant HALFSMOKE and workforce development provider, A Wider Circle. A Wider Circle intends to extend its Workforce Development Program to St. Elizabeth’s for Ward 8 residents.

Holiday Cheer in Congress Heights

On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 19, holiday cheer will bloom through a special visit from the Go-Go Santa Express, which will travel through the streets of Congress Heights with gifts for the community. The Congress Heights Main Street organization and Congress Heights Community Association have invited Community-Based Organizations from all over Ward 8 to come together to create a driving route accessible by families in their cars to view themed decorated Christmas trees across St. Elizabeths. Themes will include an Angel Tree to memorialize our loved ones

Left photo: Courtesy of DC Department of Parks and Recreation

#FITDC3 Campaign Empowers Residents to Take Control of Their Health

The Bowser administration has launched the #FITDC3 campaign to prepare residents for 2021 and beyond by o ering an online health and wellness resource guide designed to make healthy living easier. As the District continues its coronavirus (COVID-19) response and recovery e orts, the need for comprehenlost to violence, The Cat in sive approaches to strengthening immune systems, improving mental health, and the Hat, Healthy Food, Har- adapting to a new and healthier lifestyle is clear. Powered by AETNA, a CVS comley Davidson, Women Who pany, and executed by the Department of Parks and Recreation, #FITDC3 will be Lead, and many more. Res- a year-long campaign featuring: online tness content and nutrition information for idents and visitors alike are the body; monthly mental health checks and good habits to adopt for the mind; and invited to drive through the virtual tness events that unite and inspire communities to be their ttest selves. All Winter Wonderland, be- content and programming are available on the newly launched, FITDC3.33com. tween Fourth Street SE and Sycamore Street, specially curated to bring some so- of DPR locations. Refrigerators are sanitized and stocked cially distanced joy during a tough season. with 25 meals daily. Ultimately, each fridge will be stocked

At 2 p.m., two Go-Go Santa Express caravans will de- with up to 100 meals per day. Currently Feed the Fridge lo-part the Parcel 15 parking lot on St. Elizabeths and trav- cations are Takoma Aquatic Center, Rumsey Aquatic Cen-el throughout the neighborhood to bring music and hol- ter, Arthur Clapper Recreation Center, Fort Stanton Rec-iday gifts to Congress Heights residents. Santa and the reation Center, Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Raymond other celebration hosts will make a special drop-o of care Recreation Center, Emery Heights Community Center packages at 801 East Men’s Shelter & Housing before the and Columbia Heights Community Center. dpr.dc.gov. event ends at 4 p.m. For more information, visit chctdc. org/HolidaySoul.

Holidays at the Capitol Riverfront

Feed the Fridge Provides Free Meals to DC Residents The holidays are not cancelled in Capitol Riverfront. 12 Days of CapRiv, through Dec. 20, brings an exciting lineup of festive activities to safely celebrate the holidays in a Medium Rare restaurant owner Mark Bucher has part- fun and socially-distanced way during a time when many nered with DC Department of Parks and Recreation to holiday traditions and events are not possible. From hollaunch the Feed the Fridge program at select DPR facili- iday-themed drive-in movies and virtual winter cocktailties. Feed the Fridge places refrigerators stocked with free making classes with local restaurant bartenders, to a holand fresh restaurant-provided meals across the city to help iday family photo pop-up and pet portraits with Santa, residents in need. Feed the Fridge meals are “grab-n-go” these two weeks of remixed holiday traditions will keep and no registration or ID is required. Feed the Fridge has the reason for the season alive at the riverfront. installed an initial eight of a planned 20 refrigerators inside Activities are open to the public—some free and some

Do you need mortgage assistance due to the effects of COVID-19?

DC MAP (Mortgage Assistance Program) COVID-19 is here to help District homeowners stay in their homes during this pandemic.

As businesses in the Washington, D.C. region have had to close or reduce staff, the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) recognizes the need to provide assistance to those impacted by the pandemic.

DC MAP COVID-19 provides zero- interest monthly mortgage assistance loans that now include the coverage of condo and homeowner association fees up to $5,000 for up to six months for qualified homeowners.

Borrower Qualifications:

• Must be borrower’s primary residence and must be located in the District of Columbia • Must have been current as of the March 1st payment (prior to being affected by COVID-19) • Must be able to document income affected due to COVID-19 • Borrower must be the borrower on the home loan, not just a member of the household • Must show proof that the borrower is not eligible for forbearance or other types of relief offered through the servicer and/or Hardest Hit Funds • If borrower is still affected after the CARES Act ends, then relief may be offered at that time (See additional terms)

For a full list of borrower qualifications and loan terms, visit www.dchfa.org/homeownership

DC MAP COVID-19 financial assistance will be granted on a first come, first served basis until the program allocation has been exhausted. Homeowners seeking assistance through DC MAP COVID-19 should call 1-833-429-0537 to begin the process of applying. Questions regarding DC MAP COVID-19 may also be emailed to DCMAP@dchfa.org.

ticketed, with proceeds going to local neighborhood charities and food-support charities throughout the District. capitolriverfront.org/ do/12-days-of-capriv.

National Christmas Tree is Open to Visitors

The National Christmas Tree at President’s Park was lit on Dec. 3. Due to COVID-19-related public health concerns, the National Park Service and National Park Foundation did not host a live audience this year. The tree area is open to visitors through January 1.

WINTERFEST at Wunder Garten

Through Sunday, Dec. 20, Wunder Garten, 1101 First St. NE, hosts its fourth annual WINTERFEST holiday pop up festival. Find everything from Christmas trees, holiday craft activities, Santa Pet Photos, seasonal beers and warm cocktails. The Giving Tree Christmas tree lot is back selling a wide variety of fresh-cut trees-from Frasier Firs, Balsam Firs, Douglas Firs, White Pine, Scotch Pine and Blue Spruce. Parking is available through PMI (entrance on L Street). Giving Tree hours are Mondays thru Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.; Fridays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 9 p.m. There will be Drag Queen Bingo, Drag Queen Trivia, and Holi-gay parties hosted by DC’s very own Queens, Crystal Edge and Katrina The Hurricane Colby. Also, WINTERFEST will host a variety of popup restaurants throughout the season. Masks are required for entry and no more

Perri Gaffney

The Essential Theatre Presents The Resurrection of Alice

The Essential Theatre has launched the rst in a series of virtual performances. The Helen Hayes Award nominated one-woman show, “The Resurrection of Alice,” is its rst presentation available thru Jan. 10, as a Pay-What-You-Can on-demand performance run. Written and performed by two time Helen Hayes Award nominee, Perri Ga ney, the play is an exceptionally heartwarming, funny and poignant exploration of a young girl’s journey into a pre-arranged marriage with a much older man to nancially sustain her family during the great depression of the 1930’s.

Recommended for audiences aged 17 and older for its mild sexually suggestive situations. Tickets are available at theessentialtheatre.org or call 800-868-3006. than six people at a table. Wunder Garten hours of operation are Mondays to Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 3-to 10 p.m.; Saturdays to Sundays, noon -to 10 p.m. wundergartendc.com.

“As a painter, I nd that I can communicate without talking, but through feeling and emotion. As a self-taught artist, my work can be categorized in different forms, but is frequently classi ed as abstract.” Dwyane Eugene Martin

Rise at Honfleur Gallery

The exhibition Rise features the work of Dwyane Eugene Martin, a DC native whose art focuses on the connection between feeling and color, highlighting the emotions they invoke. Rise is a word he uses to describe his journey as an artist thus far. Breaking through the constraints of self-doubt, hopelessness, and fear, he continues his rise. At the Hon eur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, through Jan. 9, 2021. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday by appointment. Contact Jess Randolph to schedule appointments via

email at jess@thedchive.com.

Temporary Lane Closures Pennsylvania Ave SE

DDOT is scheduled to temporarily close lanes of tra c on Pennsylvania Avenue from Fairlawn Avenue to 27th Street SE for roadway repairs. The contractor is authorized to work Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Construction is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, weather permitting.

Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period

DC residents are urged to enroll in the A ordable Care Act state-based health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2021. For coverage to be e ective Jan. 1, 2021, residents must enroll by Dec. 15, 2020. There are 25 private health insurance options from CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente for residents to t all budgets--15 of the available 25 health plans will have lower premiums than in 2020. District residents can enroll in a health insurance plan online through DCHealth-

Link.com, or by calling 855-532-LINK [5465]. Some residents will qualify for reduced premiums. Small businesses--as well as individuals and families eligible for Medicaid--can enroll through DCHealthLink.com throughout the year.

Updated DC Travel Guidance

Mayor Bowser has issued Mayor’s Order 2020-110, which modi es the requirements for visitors coming into Washington, DC and District residents returning to DC from any state or country that is not considered “low-risk.” Requirements for visitors coming into Washington, DC from a jurisdiction with more than 10 cases per 100,000 people include: Before you travel, get a test. If you test positive, don’t travel. Get tested within 72 hours of traveling. If you are a close contact of a con rmed positive case, don’t travel. If you are visitor to DC for more than three days, get tested within three to ve days of arrival. Exceptions are visitors from Maryland and Virginia, essential workers and family emergency. coronavirus.dc.gov.

Take a Survey to Shape Future of Parks and Recreation

DPR has released a citywide survey to gather public input to create, “Ready2Play”, a new 20-year parks and recreation master plan for the District. Now live on ready2playdc.com, the survey will be available until Dec. 20, 2020. Residents can also nd in-person survey copies at all open recreation centers and aquatic centers. The Ready2Play plan will take a holistic view of parks and recreational opportunities throughout the District, not just at DPR’s existing parks and recreation centers, but also at federal parks, school sites and other locations. Ready2Play will also identify key priorities and initiatives for DPR to pursue, set long-term goals, establish metrics to track progress and help prioritize where and what types of amenities, programs and investments are made. DPR will host community meetings citywide in January 2021. More information on the plan and expected timeline is available at Ready2PlayDC.com. Residents can send any comments, questions, or concerns directly to DPR by emailing ready2play@dc.gov.

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Marshall Heights Community Development Organization reaches out to Ward 7 with: DC HOPE DC STRONG

SERVING WARD 7 THROUGH CORE COMPETENCIES AND SERVICES:

•Health & Wellness • Rental Housing,

Financial Literacy, and Homeownership

Counseling • Supportive Housing

Services • Small Business Training,

Technical Assistance/

Consulting, and Back

Office Services • Real Estate and

Economic Development • Workforce Development

Be Informed DMV – Radio One, WOL AM 1450 Wednesdays – 10 AM to 11 AM

Contact us at: (202) 396-1200 www.mhcdo.org