East of the River_0610 by Capital Community News

East of the River Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ June 2010

2 ★ East of the River • June 2010

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CONTENTS East of the River Magazine | June 2010

20 Neighborhood News 10

East of the River Calendar

The Bulletin Board

The District Beat - Yes He Can • Mark Segraves

The Numbers - The Recession Hits Home • Ed Lazere

Ward 7 Retail Downsized • Virginia Avniel Spatz

Expanding Perspectives for Career, College Options • Virginia Anviel Spatz

“Senior” Prom Swings • Virginia Avniel Spatz

Yvette Alexander’s State of the Ward Address.... • Hunter L. Gorinson

East Washington Life 28

2nd Annual Nannie Helen Burroughs Day Parade • Shannon Holloway

A Barry Farm DOCUMENTARY • John Muller

Mo’ Better Blogs - Explosion of Neighborhood Blogs • Nikki Peele

Living Local, Viva Local • Veronica O. Davis

Change is Arriving in Historic Anacostia • John Muller

Kids & Family 36

Roosevelt Culinary Arts Academy • Jazelle Hunt

Team of Moms Create Kids & Culture Camp • Monica Utsey

Educating the District • Lisa Raymond

Kids Family Notebook • Mary-Frances Daly

Homes & Gardens 46

Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton

The Classifieds

The Nose • Anonymous

28 COVER Victor Holt is a freelance photographer specializing in photojournalism and event photography. He is also a photographer for the Washington Informer Newspaper. He is a member of the White House News Photographers Association and the United States Senate and House of Representatives Press Photographer’s Gallery. His assignments have featured the campaign and presidency of Barack Obama. He also has shot the Official City Council Portraits for the last two elections as well as working with many of the individual council members. He is available for events and any additional photography services. Victor Holt is a native Washingtonian and currently resides in the Van Ness neighborhood in northwest Washington, DC. You may view his work on his website at www.victorholtphotos.com

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HILL RAG DC NORTH EAST OF THE RIVER FAGON COMMUNITY GUIDES

Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner melissaashabranner@hillrag.com EDITORIAL STAFF

Through July 4, 2010

HOMES & GARDENS

MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman andrew@hillrag.com CFO & ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Maria Carolina Lopez carolina@hillrag.com KIDS & FAMILY EDITOR: Susan Braun Johnson schools@hillrag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mary-Frances Daly maryfrances@hillrag.com

Rindy O’Brien - Hill Gardener • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com

NEWS & NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS

ART: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com DINING: Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com LITERATURE: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu MOVIES: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net MUSIC: Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com THEATER: Brad Hathaway • brad@potomacstages.com TRAVEL: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com THE WINE GUYS: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com

WARD 1: Mark Johnson • ward1@hillrag.com WARD 2: Amanda Abrams • ward2@hillrag.com WARD 4: Tanya Snyder • ward4@hillrag.com ANC6A: Tanya Snyder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com ANC6B: Kyle Johnson • kylejoh@gmail.com ANC6C: Kyle Johnson • kylejoh@gmail.com ANC6D: Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com WARD 7: Virginia Spatz • ward7@hillrag.com WARD 8: Virginia Spatz • ward8@hillrag.com BARRACKS ROW: 202-544-3188 H STREET LIFE: Elise Bernard • inked78@hotmail.com THE NOSE: thenose@hillrag.com

CALENDAR & BULLETIN BOARD

PRODUCTION/GRAPHIC DESIGN

HILL RAG, DC NORTH & EAST OF THE RIVER: Hill Rag & East of the River Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner BULLETIN BOARD EDITOR: Mary-Frances Daly calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

LEAD DESIGNER: Jason Nickens 202.543.8300 X17 • jason@hillrag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Jason Yen 202.543.8300 X21 • jay@hillrag.com

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT

ADVERTISING & SALES

Monica Cavanaugh • monica.cavanaugh@gmail.com Michelle Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Mary-Frances Daly • maryfrances@hillrag.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Heather Schoell • hschoell@verizon.net Tanya Synder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Peter Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Paul D. Shinkman - pdshinkman@gmail.com Melanie Sunukjian - melsunuk@gmail.com Shannon Holloway - holloway.shannon@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Deborah Bandzerewicz 202.543.8300 X13 • deb@hillrag.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Kira Means 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Maria Carolina Lopez 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com

BEAUTY, HEALTH & FITNESS

WEBSITE

Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Peter Sherer • Peter@expmatters.com

WEB MASTER: Jason Nickens 202.543.8300 X17 • webmaster@hillrag.com

ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT These exhibitions examine the history, culture and art of Afro-Mexicans beginning in the colonial era through the present. For general info call 202.633.4820; for required reservations call 202.633.4844.

Public Programs at the Anacostia Community Museum (reservations required) June 5 Teach the Beat: Go-Go Music from West Africa to Washington, D.C., 1 p.m. POSTPONED. June 12 Afro-Mexican Instruments, 10:30 a.m. In a hands-on demonstration, educator Bill Jenkins discusses traditional Mexican Instruments. June 12 Artist Miguel Covarrubias Depicts African Americans, 2 p.m. Educator Teresa Grana presents on this Mexican anthropologist/artist who rendered many noted African Americans in stylized form. June 13 Decorative Tile, 1 p.m. East of the River artist Wanda Aikens shows you how to create your own special painted tiles, following the traditional Mexican decorative style. June 15 Doll Making Workshop, 10:30 a.m. Join doll artist Francine Haskins in the creation of an art doll. Fee Required. June 19 Mambo on Air, 2-4 p.m. Metro Mambo series continues with a panel of pioneering DJs and presenters discussing how they spread the gospel of Latin dance music in concert and over Washington airwaves. Dance party with Sin Miedo salsa band follows. *** June 20 Juneteenth: A Celebration of Liberation, 2-4 p.m. Rhythm Café features DJ. Cowboy Fred of WPFW 89.3 FM and other performers in an historical musical journey into Juneteenth. *** June 26 Family Fiesta: ¡Viva México!, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Bring the entire family to spend a day at the museum and celebrate México! The day includes dance, music, costumes, arts and other fun activities for all ages. *** June 27 Ojo de Dios (Eyes of God), 1 p.m. Artist and educator Camilla Younger leads this workshop on creating this special and personal item of protection. June 29 LaTercera Raiz/ The Third Root , 10:30 a.m. This 30 minute documentary film directed by Rafael Rebollar Corona focuses on the daily life and cultural traditions of Afro-Mestizos living in the Costa Chica region of México’s Pacific coast. July 3 Imagining a Gullah World, 11 a.m. Kelly Marie-Berry will lead families and others in creating song, dance, and story games in the Gullah tradition. SHUTTLE ANACOSTIA is back offering free weekend roundtrip rides from the National Mall to the Anacostia Community Museum. Take the shuttle to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival from June 24–July 5. Visit anacostia.si.edu/shuttle for the schedule. ***Extended schedule through 4:30 p.m.

KIDS & FAMILY Mary-Frances Daily • kidsnotebook@hillrag.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

SOCIETY & EVENTS

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Andrew Lightman DISTRIBUTORS: David Sledgister and Southwest Distribution DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION: distribution@hillrag.com

DEADLINES & CONTACTS ADVERTISING: sales@hillrag.com DISPLAY ADS: 15th of each month CLASSIFIED ADS: 10th of each month EDITORIAL: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com BULLETIN BOARD & CALENDAR: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

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

LAST CHANCE: Visit The African Presence in México: From Yanga to the Present exhibition closing July 4.

PUBLISHER: JEAN-KEITH FAGON • fagon@hillrag.com

*Organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, these exhibitions received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian LatinoCenter. Exhibition programs and special events are presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center, the National Museum of African Art, the Mexican Cultural Institute, and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

1901 Fort Place SE Open daily 10 am-5pm, closed Dec. 25 anacostia.si.edu

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8 ★ East of the River • June 2010

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Calendar JUNE | 2010

TOP FIVE DC AREA JULY 4TH EVENTS July 4th Fireworks and National Symphony Orchestra Concert. July 4, 8 PM. US Capitol west lawn. Fireworks at about 9:15 PM. No one will be allowed on the Capitol west lawn until 3 PM. Come early with a picnic and a blanket to the grounds of the US Capitol for the National Symphony Orchestra Annual Independence Day Concert. The fireworks can be seen from all over the mall, from many rooftops and from across the river. Just make sure that you have a clear view of the top half of the Washington Monument. You will go through security and alcohol may be confiscated. The fireworks and concert go on except in the case of extremely bad weather. Your best source for up-to-the-minute information is local TV and radio stations. Free. www.nso.org July 4th National Symphony Orchestra Concert Full Dress Rehearsal. July 3, 7:30 PM. US Capitol west lawn. You will find a much smaller crowd at the concert rehearsal. You will be allowed on the Capitol grounds starting at 3 PM. You will go through security and alcohol may be confiscated. Free. www.nso.org Patriotic Organ Concert at the National Cathedral. July 4, 2 PM. Washington National Cathedral. The all-American program opens with Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and includes opportunities for audience singing the National Anthem and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.” Free. 202-537-8980. www.nationalcathedral.org The National Archives Celebrates the Fourth of July. July 4. Band performance, 8:30–9:45 AM; Ceremony, 10-11 AM; Family activities, 11 AM-2 PM. The celebration will include patriotic music, a dramatic reading of the Declaration by historical reenactors, and exciting free family activities and entertainment for all ages. Following its morning celebration, the first-ever National Archives float will launch the National Independence Day Paradein front of the National Archives Building at 11:45 AM. Free. Constitution Ave. and Seventh St. NW. 202-357-5400. www.archives.gov “What to the Slave?” Speech Reenactment at Frederick Douglas National Historical Site. July 5, 1-3 PM. Frederick Douglas reenactor delivers the famous “What to the Slave?” (does July 4th mean) speech from the front porch of the home at 1 PM. Kids activities follow. Free. 1411 W St. SE. 202-426-5960. www.nps.gov/frdo

PATRIOTIC Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Fridays through Aug. 27. Guests admitted at 7 PM. Program begins at 8:45 PM. Marine Barracks (front gate). The Evening Parade has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines. Free. Eighth and I streets SE. 202-433-4073. www.mbw.usmc.mil Military Band Concerts at the US Capitol. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in summer (weather permitting). 8 PM. Mondays, US Navy Band; Tuesdays, US Air Force Band; Wednesdays, US Marine Band; Fridays, US Army Band. Free. West Terrace US Capitol Building. Navy Band (outdoor) “Concerts on the Avenue.” Tuesdays in summer, 8 PM. US Navy Memorial. The United States Navy Band and its specialty groups will perform. Free. Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-737-2300. www. navymemorial.org

A dance class at the ARC organized by the Washington Ballet. Photo by Courtesy Washington Ballet

10 ★ East of the River • June 2010

US Marine Band Concerts at the Sylvan Theater. Thursdays in summer (weather permitting), 8 PM. You are welcome to bring folding chairs, blankets and refreshments to the concert. Free. 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW (on Washington Monument grounds). 202-433-5717. www.mbw.usmc.mil

Air Force Band Concerts. Wednesdays and Fridays in June, July and August, 8 PM. Air Force Memorial at One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, Va. (14th Street Bridge into Virginia, merge onto Washington Blvd. and then Columbia Pike in the direction of the Navy Annex. Then just follow signs.) Expect a pleasing mix of contemporary and patriotic tunes and spectacular views of the nighttime Washington, DC, skyline. Free. www.airforcememorial.org

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD “Objectified” at Honfleur Gallery. This exhibition is open through July 23. Tuesday through Friday, noon-5 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM-5 PM. Gallery closed on Sundays and Mondays. Artists are Colleen Heineman, Jeanne Jo, Robert Longyear and Andrea Miller. 1241 Good Hope Road SE. 202-580-5972. www. honfleurgallery.com Fort Dupont Ice Arena Community Fair. Saturday, June 5, 11 AM-3 PM. Join Fort Dupont Ice Arena for a day of family fun in and out of the rink! Events include games, food, skating demonstrations, skating lesson information, and activities with the Washington Capitals. Free. 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-584-5007. www.fdia.org Fort Dupont Park Invasive Plant Removal (volunteer opportunity). June 10, 9 AM-noon. Meet at Fort Dupont Activity Center which is located on Fort Dupont Drive SE off Randle Circle, SE. Anacostia Watershed Society invasive removals employ hand-pulling, cutting (with hand pruners and cutting saws) and pulling using tools – e.g., pitchforks. These invasive plant removal outings have an educative approach – volunteers will have an introductory talk by one of the park rangers about the history of the park and other interesting facts. AWS staff will talk about some aspects of the natural history of the park and will point out interesting native plants and animals. 301-699-6204. www.anacostiaws. org/calendar/invasive-plant-removal-19 Big Chair Breakfast Bunch. Saturday, June 12, 10 AM-noon. Big Chair Coffee n’ Grill (upstairs). All are welcome to attend and discuss what’s happening East of the River. 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. 202-525-4287. “Truck Touch”. June 12, 9 AM-2 PM. RFK Stadium, Lot 7. A host of DC government agencies will present more than 20 vehicles used to provide vital city services. The event will feature vehicles from the DC Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Health, Employment Services, Parks and Recreation, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services; and also the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the DC Water and Sewer Authority. Information on various government services also will be available. Free. 202-671-2593. www.dpw.dc.gov

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The WEDJ Educational Foundation would like to thank its sponsors for their generous support of its 2010 Gala: Graduating to New Heights. Master’s Degree Quadrangle Development Corporation

Bachelor’s Degree Bernstein Management Corporation Core Ventures The Cornerstone Heritage Group, LLC Hawk Building Maintenance HCM Strategists The JBG Companies Kilpatrick Stockton LLP Andrea Hatﬁeld and Howard O’Leary Steve and Carol Orr Stephen “Dek” Potts, Jr. Andrea Shorter Anne Hatﬁeld and Howard Weir

Valedictorian Anonymous Corbett Construction Donatelli Development Friedman Computer Solutions J.E. Rice Insurance Agency, Inc. Quality Vision and Design Stephen Teach and Libby Jewett Washington Fine Properties Andrea Weiswasser

Congratulations to the Class of 2010 WEDJ PCS’ ﬁrst graduating class!

Young ballerinas work on their pirouettes during a class at the ARC organized by the Washington Ballet. Photo: Courtesy Washington Ballet

Build/Renovate Your Own Castle IV. June 19, 10 AM-2 PM. Honfleur Gallery. “What You Must Know About Building in the City.” “Where Can I Get the Money?” “Save Energy. Save Earth. Save Money.” “Collecting Art to Beautify Your Walls and Benefit Your Pocket.” “How to Design a Beautiful Space.” Free-space limited so reserve early. 1241 Good Hope Road SE. 202583-3438. www.portofharlem.net/ pohevents.html. Celebrate New Life at The Rock Christian Church. Every Saturday, 3-6 PM. If you have hurts, habits or hangups! This is the place to come to. Help is here. Free. 1300 Good Hope Road SE. Call Dwain Lynch 301523-0381 with questions. Church office, 240-770-5041. Ward 7 Parent and Family Resource Center Family Book Club. Every Wednesday, 6 PM. Enjoy the evening reading with your child, meeting other families, and strengthening your child’s reading skills. Free books and snacks. For new and struggling readers, ages 6 and under. 5601 East Capital St. SE. For more information, call Marketta Wiley at 202-724-7568. Big Chair Chess Club. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4-10 PM; Saturdays, noon-9 PM. “To teach the un-teachable, reach the un-reachable, and always think before you move” is the core mission of the Big Chair Chess Club, Inc. at the Deanwood Branch located in the nation’s capital. The organization teaches chess to inner-city children and adults, not only as a board game, but also as an application to life skills, such as improving one’s concentration and self-discipline. $30 a year for adults, $10 for kids. 4322 Sheriff Road NE. 202-396-1780. www.bigchairchessclub.org

Our website just got a whole lot better!! www.capitalcommunitynews.com

Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10 AM-6 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560. Councilmember Barry’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 9

12 ★ East of the River • June 2010

AM-5 PM. 2100 MLK Ave, SE, #307. 202-698-2185.

SIGHTSEEING EAST OF THE RIVER Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. Open daily, 7 AM-4 PM. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is about 700 acres and is part of Anacostia Park. The park includes the gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, ball fields and recreational facilities. It is the only National Park Service site devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants. Free.1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-426-6905. www.nps.gov/kepa Frederick Douglass National Historical Site. Open daily, 9 AM-5 PM. Tours at 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM From 1877 to 1895, this was the home of Frederick Douglass, the nation’s leading 19th century African American spokesman. Visitors to the site will learn more about his efforts to abolish slavery and his struggle for human rights, equal rights and civil rights for all oppressed people. Free. 1411 W St. SE. 202-426-5960. www.nps.gov/frdo Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. Open daily, 10 AM-5 PM. As the Smithsonian Institution’s museum of African American history and culture, the museum explores American history, social and creative expression from an African American perspective. Free. 1901 Fort Place, SE. 202-633-4820 anacostia.si.edu A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail. Discover, or see with new eyes, this traditionally African American enclave in Far Northeast when you follow “A SelfReliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail.” Fifteen poster-sized street signs combine storytelling with historic photographs and maps to transport you back to the days before Deanwood was Deanwood. To pick up the trail go to Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. and Division Ave. NE.

Walk one block south to Foote Street, at the edge of Marvin Gaye Park. The 90-minute, self-guided tour will bring you along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, up 49th St. and along Sheriff Road back to Minnesota Ave. and the Metro station. Walk the trail at your own pace and take time to enjoy this small town in the city. Don’t forget to pick up a free trail guide from businesses along the way. 202-661-7581. www.culturaltourismdc.org Aquatic Resources Education Center of DC. Open weekdays, 9 AM-4 PM (summer hours). Sitting on the banks of the Anacostia River in Anacostia Park, the Aquatic Resources Education Center is an ideal place to study aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and local fish and fisheries. The Center features live species exhibits, interactive displays, and an indoor pond for handling live animals. Free. Anacostia Park, 2700 Anacostia Drive SE. (202) 535-2260

FESTIVALS Smithsonian Folklife Festival. June 24-28 and July 1-5. 11 AM-5:30 PM. Evening events at 6 PM. 2010 themes are Mexico, Asian Pacific Americans and Smithsonian Inside Out. Free entrance (food is extra). National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets NW. www.folklife.si.edu/center/festival DC Caribbean Carnival. June 26-27, noon-6 PM. Parade on Saturday and Caribbean style arts, crafts, food and music both days. Free entrance (food is extra). Banneker Recreation Area (on Georgia Avenue across from Howard University). 301-346-9635. www. dccaribbeancarnival.org Capital Pride Parade and Festival. Parade, June 12, 6 PM, 24th and N streets NW. Festival, June 13, noon6 PM, Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Third and Seventh streets. The Capital Pride Festival and Parade is a community event that remains focused on diversity, cultural achievement, civil rights issues and entertainment by and for gay, lesbian,

bisexual and transgender individuals, families and friends. Free. 202-7973510. www.capitalpride.org Thrive, Fresh Ideas Festival. June 19, 10 AM-3 PM. US Botanic Garden. Experience all the ways plants can impact for world in food, health and life. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. www.usbg.gov

SUMMER MUSIC ALL AROUND TOWN Summer Organ Concerts at the National Shrine. Sunday evenings, June, July and August; 6 PM (5:30 PM performance of the Knight’s Tower Carillon). Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. All are welcome to come and hear music from the majestic pipe organ of the Great Upper Church. Free. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202526-8300. www.nationalshrine.com Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Daily (including all holidays), 6 PM. The Kennedy Center Grand Foyer. “Performing Arts for Everyone” at the Millennium Stage was instituted to introduce the Kennedy Center to wider audiences by offering free performances, 365 days a year. Free. 202-444-1324 or 202-467-4600. www.kennedy-center.org Golden Triangle Summer Concerts at Farragut Square. June 10, 17 and 24, 5:30-7:30 PM. Farragut Square Park (Connecticut Ave. and K St. NW). June 10, Jah Works (reggae); June 17, Lloyd Dobler Effect (rock); June 24, Road Soda. Free. 202-4633400. www.gtbid.com Jazz Night (and fishfry) in Southwest. Fridays, 6-9 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform, and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry 5:308:30 PM. $5/general; free/children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-484-7700, www.westminsterdc.org/jazz.htm. Blue Monday Blues. Mondays, 69 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform, and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry from 5:30-8:30 PM. $5/general; free/children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-484-7700. www.westminsterdc.org/blues.htm. Capitol Riverfront Concerts. Wednesdays, through Aug. 25, noon2 PM. New Jersey Avenue and Tingey Street Plaza. Capitol Riverfront Concerts is a 10-week summer concert series with lively and diverse musical artists, performing everything from original pop to Latin Jazz, R&B, bluegrass, Caribbean. Free. 202-4657093. www.capitolriverfront.org Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. Through June 13. This festival will feature popular, signature events including the all-day extravaganza “Jazz on the National Mall” concert,

the popular “Jazz ‘n Families Fun Day,” the classic “Celebrating NEA Jazz Masters Concert” at the historic Lincoln Theatre, the “DEJF Educational Series” and, the free “International Jazz Showcase” at the Kennedy Center. 202-232-3611. www. dejazzfest.org Eastern Market Music. Sundays through June 27, 10:30 AM and 1 PM. Patio outside Port City Java, Seventh Street and North Carolina Avenue SE. June 6, 10:30 AM, Metronomes (contemporary a capella) and 1 pm, Project Natale ) jazz. June 13, 10:30 AM, Gina DeSumone & the Moaners (swing) and 1 PM, Rio Garag (Brazilian Jazz). June 20, 10:30 AM, The Sears trio (blues, jazz) and 1 PM, Reverb (a capella, r&b, gospel). June 27, 10:30 AM, The Sweater Set (folk) and 1 pm, Andra Faye & the Mighty Good Men (blues). Free. www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org\ Rhythm in NoMa Concerts. Thursdays, through July 22, 11:30 AM1:30 PM. Au Bon Plaza (off Florida Ave NE, north entrance of the New York Ave. Metro Station). June 10, Liz Briones (blues); June 17, Whop Frazier (blues); June 24, Cazhmiere (top 40); July 1, Jimi Smooth & the Hittime (Motown); July 8, 40 Thieves (Celtic); July 15, Monster Band (funk/dance); July 22, Karl Stoll & the Danger Zone (blues). Free. 202289-0111. www.nomabid.org Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Fridays through Sept. 10 (rain or shine), 5-8 PM. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Live jazz performed by an eclectic mix of top artists from the Washington area entertains visitors outdoors in front of the fountain or in the Pavilion Cafe (if it’s raining). The Pavilion Cafe features a seasonal tapas-style menu and bar service during the concerts. Everyone can enjoy these concerts. You do not have to order food or drinks. Free. 202- 289-3360. www.nga.gov Capitol Hill Choral. June 5, 7 PM; June 6, 4 PM. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. The Capitol Hill Chorale uncovers an unknown masterpiece combining the power of Orthodox liturgy and the haunting harmonies of Georgian sacred chant. This new edition of Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by Zakharia Paliashvili (18711933) has been specially prepared for these premiere performances. $25 preferred/$20 general/12 and under free. 4th St. and Independence Ave, SE. 202-547-1444. www.capitolhillchorale.org “Homegrown: The Music of America” Concert at the Library of Congress. June 23, noon. Marce Lacouture and friends (Cajun music from Louisiana). Free. Coolidge Auditorium in Jefferson Building (First St. between East Capitol St. and Independence Ave. SE). 202-707-5510. www.loc.gov Fort Dupont Summer Concerts. Fort Dupont Park. Concerts begin on July

17. See next month’s “East of the River” for details and performance lineup.

SPORTS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS African Dance Class. Every Monday, 6:30-7:45 PM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. www. thearcdc.org Pilates Class. Every Tuesday, 6:307:30 PM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi SE. 202-889-5901. www.thearcdc.org Yoga Class. Every Thursday, 7-8:15 PM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi SE. 202-889-5901. www.thearcdc.org Washington Nationals Baseball Home Games. June 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. 7:05 PM (Sunday games at 1:35 PM). $5 and up. South Capitol and N streets SE. www.washington.nationals.mlb.com. Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9 AM-9 PM; Sunday, 9 AM-6 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. $6-$10 for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-6242. www. dpr.dc.gov/dpr Free public tennis courts in Wards 7 and 8. Fort Davis Community Center, 1400 41st St. SE; Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver St. SE; Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE ; Randle Highlands Tennis Courts, 31st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE; Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Drive SE; Bald Eagle Recreation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. and Joliet St. SW; Congress Heights Recreation Center, Alabama Ave. and Randle Pl.SE; Fort Stanton Community Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. www.dpr.dc.gov/dpr Roller Skating at Anacostia Park. Skate any time. This is a covered, outdoor skating pavilion. Free. One-hour skate “rental” in summer months is free, but sizes and supplies are limited. From Pennsylvania Avenue, just before the bridge, south on Fairlawn Ave. and right onto Nicholson and then into the park. 202-472-3873. Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for annual maintenance. Reopens July 5 for public ice skating and other ice skating activities. See next month’s “East of the River” for details. ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 13

neighborhood news

>> bullentin board

Bulletin Board $7.5 million in Housing Production Trust Fund dollars and $1.9 million in 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits to The Grays development project,” wrote Colon-Francia. “The tax credits will generate roughly $17 million in tax credit equity for the developer. DHCD’s total funding impact on this project is approximately $ 24.5 million and accounts for 68% of the total The Grays total development cost.” Colon-Francia also took issue with EOR’s statement that The Grays was targeted toward individuals making “up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income,” instead preferring “individuals and households earning 60% of AMI or less.” For more information on the development, visit: www.thegraysonpennsylvania.com. Matthew Carlisle, Homestead Grays. Courtesy of the Smithsonian.

Anacostia High School Class of 1970 40th Reunion

Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia From Reconstruction to the second half of the 20th century, baseball, the great American pastime, was played in Washington, D.C., on segregated ﬁelds. “Separate and Unequaled” looks at the phenomenal popularity and community draw of this sport when played by African Americans. Featured are such personalities as Josh Gibson and “Buck” Leonard, star players of the Negro Leagues most celebrated team, the Washington Homestead Grays. The show also highlights community teams that gave rise to the various amateur, collegiate and semi-pro black baseball teams and leagues. This exhibition is on view indeﬁnitely at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. Free. 1901 Fort Place, SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu

First Organic Grocery East of the River Yes! Organic Market will open the ﬁrst organic grocery east of the Anacostia River in Ward 8. Yes! Organic signed a 10-year lease with Chapman Development for a 7,500 square foot store at The Grays on Pennsylvania, Chapman’s new housing and retail project on at 2323 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Yes! Organic is taking advantage of the District’s Supermarket Tax Credit program and a $900,000 Great Streets grant from the Oﬃce of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. It is the grocer’s seventh location in the District and is expected to open in August. The grocer 14 ★ East of the River • June 2010

has committed to making its goods in this neighborhood store aﬀordable to the diverse demographics of families in the surrounding neighborhoods by accepting supplemental nutrition assistance beneﬁts (SNAP) and vouchers from the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program. Yes! executives will hire 27 employees during the next four months including four managerial positions. The District’s economic development strategy has been heavily focused on retail attraction, particularly in bringing more grocery stores to anchor neighborhood development projects. The number of grocery stores operating in the city grew from 34 in 2000 to 51 in 2010. Chapman’s mixed-use project

also includes 118 rental units, which are expected to open in June. The units are targeted to individuals and households earning 60 percent of the Area Median Income.

“Grays on Pennsylvania” Addendum Following the publication of last month’s story on The Grays at Pennsylvania Avenue development, Angelita Colon-Francia of the District Department of Housing and Community Development contacted East of the River with a clariﬁcation of her agency’s role in funding the project. “We would like the public to know that the Department of Housing and Community Development committed

The reunion will celebrate with two spirit-ﬁlled events on October 9, 2010, at the Camelot by Martin’s. There will be a prayer breakfast in the morning and an evening dinner. The Camelot by Martin’s is at 13905 Central Ave. Upper Marlboro. MD. For those who want to have some fun in the sun, our class is sponsoring a 6-day 5-night trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, October 11 – 16, 2010. Individuals interested in any of these events may contact Lawrence Thurston, 202-8322239; Gwendolyn Black McFadden, 202 584-1050; Pam Brown Smith, 202-582-4316; or email us at anacostia70@aol.com

Pre-Purchase Orientations for First-Time Homebuyers June is national homeownership month and Housing Counseling Services, an Adams Morgan based, HUD approved, non-profit agency, will offer a series of free Pre-Purchase Orientations for first-time homebuyers at 2410 17th Street NW. These orientations offer comprehensive information on

how to navigate the home purchase process and how to take advantage of special financing offered through the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Orientations are on June 2 at 6:00 PM and June 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 11:00 AM. For more information and to find out about other programs and services at Housing Counseling Services, call (202) 667-7006.

“40 Days of Increased Peace” and “Summer of Safety 2010” East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department are calling for submission of free activities to be included on calendar for “40 Days of Increased Peace” and “Summer of Safety 2010” from June 25 through August 2. Submission(s) can include activities such as vacation bible school, revivals, block parties, workshops and training sessions. Faithbased and community organizations are encouraged to participate that serve residents East of the River. Please note all submissions will be shared with the Metropolitan Police Department to add on the Summer of Safety calendar for 2010. Email separate submission form to days.increasedpeace@gmail. com or fax to 202-373-5769. Call 202373-5767 for more information. The submission deadline is June 11.

Free Courses at UDC for Seniors You must be a DC resident and 65 years or older. If you qualify, you are eligible to take two courses a semester, tuition and fee free. If you wish academic credit, tuition and fees are half-priced. For more information, call 202-2746697 or visit www.udc.edu.

The African Presence in México: From Yanga to the Present “The African Presence in México: From Yanga to the Present” is a traveling exhibition developed by curators Sagrario Cruz-Carretero and Cesáreo Moreno at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The exhibition examines the history, culture, and art of Afro-Mexicans, and begins in the colonial era and continues to the present day. Highlights of the exhibition include discussions of African slavery in Mexico and the hero/slave rebel Yanga; artifacts related to the traditions and popular culture of Afro-Mexicans;

and paintings, masks, photography, and other works of art. This exhibition is accompanied by “Who Are We Now? Roots, Resistance, and Recognition” developed by curator Elena Gonzales. “Who Are We Now?” charts the history of the relationship between Mexicans and African Americans in the United States as well as the relationship between African Americans and the country of Mexico. On exhibition daily through July 4, 2010. Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. Free. 1901 Fort Place, SE. 202-6334820. anacostia.si.edu

DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Announces Financial Town Hall Meeting The D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) invites you to a community town hall meeting focusing on financial services, policies, and programs. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet DISB Commissioner Gennet Purcell, as well as ask questions about health care reform among other things. Also on hand will be representatives from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign up for a free bank or credit union account through Bank On DC, the District’s newest financial initiative for the “unbanked” and “underbanked.” Conversations will be held on issues related to insurance and reform, investments and retirement, mortgages and foreclosures, and financial literacy and investor education resources in the District. Federal and D.C. government officials will be prepared to provide upto-date information on these topics and the ongoing financial reform affecting the nation. This event will take place at Roosevelt S.T.A.Y. High School, 4301 13th St. NW, on Thursday, June 10, from 6:30-8:30 PM. 202-727-8000. www. disb.dc.gov/disr

Community College of the District of Columbia Joins Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count This landmark initiative aims to increase student success at community colleges. Signifying its commitment to continuous institutional improvement and student success, the Community

College of the District of Columbia has joined Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count. As part of this nationwide initiative, CCDC will identify new strategies to increase student success, close achievement gaps, and improve retention, persistence, and completion rates.Since its creation in 2004 by Lumina Foundation for Education and seven national partner organizations, Achieving the Dream has focused on creating a “culture of evidence,” collecting and analyzing data from community colleges to identify barriers to success—particularly for low-income students and students of color. The results drive the development of programs to help students stay in school and earn a certiﬁcate or diploma. Achieving the Dream’s network now includes more than 130 institutions in 24 states and the District of Columbia, reaching more than 1 million students. CCDC and 25 other colleges joining the program today have made an initial two-year commitment to focus on closing performance gaps among targeted student sub-groups including students of color and low-income students. These colleges will not only learn from other colleges that are already a part of Achieving the Dream, but also receive assistance from experienced practitioners in building a culture of evidence campus-wide, using data to identify problems, set priorities, and measure progress in increasing student success. Achieving the Dream colleges make lasting changes in policies, programs, and services that are integrated to support success for all students. Community College of the District of Columbia. 202-274-5800.

$50 Rebate from Casey Trees Trees provide extraordinary environmental and community benefits. They provide cooling shade, increase property values, filter harmful pollutants from the air, reduce stormwater runoff, and add beauty to neighborhoods. And because of these benefits, Casey Trees and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) have partnered to offer a rebate of up to $50 per tree to individuals who plant trees on residential property in the District. To qualify for the $50 tree rebate you must purchase and plant a noninvasive tree on a residential property in the District, complete a tree rebate

voucher pledging to water and care for the tree for a minimum of two years. Find the form and details online at www.caseytrees.org, call 202-833-4092 or email jwoodworth@caseytrees.org.

MY GENERATION Essay Competition The Cultural Center of the InterAmerican Development Bank, with the help of a grant from the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, announces an essay competition open to all writers of the District of Columbia, regardless of age. A First Prize of $1,000, and Second and Third Prizes of $500 will be awarded. Two Honorable Mentions with no cash attachment will also be awarded. Winning entries will be published in a brochure, which will be distributed free of charge. The title and theme of the essay is MY GENERATION. The term does not refer to any particular generation other than your own. Life is different in Washington, DC because it is the nation’s capital, and the stage for so many kinds of events. The purpose and result of your effort should be a self examination of life, at any particular moment, experienced in relation to the evolution and transformation of the city of Washington, DC. The essay should convey something about your generation that could have been influenced ONLY by living in Washington, DC; the city is the context, and events in the life of the city can define a generation. The length of the essay will be 700 words. Essays should be submitted electronically to AnneV@iadb.org, reference: MY GENERATION. The writer must be a resident of Washington, DC. Poems and short stories are not eligible. Deadline for submission is June 30. For more information, call 202-724-5613.

Community Night at International Spy Museum On the last Wednesday of every month, 5:00-9:00 PM, all area residents are welcome to experience all that the Museum’s permanent exhibition has to oﬀer, for free. See the largest collection of international espionage artifacts. Explore interactive exhibits about disguise, surveillance, threat analysis and more. International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW. 202-654-0944. www.spymuseum. org/special/community.php ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 15

neighborhood news

>> the district beat

Yes He Can by Mark Segraves

lot of people think DC Council Chairman Vince Gray doesn’t have a chance in his quest to unseat Mayor Adrian Fenty. The smart money ($4 million and counting) is on the incumbent. And it’s easy to see why. Fenty is running on a pretty good track record of signiﬁcant accomplishments. Crime is down, that’s a fact. I could use an entire column to make the case for how the DC police crime statistics are skewed, but that’s for another time. But no matter how you look at the numbers, crime is down. And like her or not, Chancellor Michele Rhee has made things better in the public schools. Not perfect and not nearly adequate, but Rhee has brought about change, and test scores are up. People have a sense that change is afoot. For many voters that’s enough to

give Fenty another four years. But Fenty has a problem. He’s not the same guy who won 142 out of 142 precincts four years ago, and many people who once loved the guy, now can’t stand him. The erosion of his popularity started in the AfricanAmerican community and has been spreading. It wasn’t a shock that at a recent Ward 8 Democrats straw poll the mayor was booed. Recent polls have shown his East of the River approval numbers are bad. But just last month, Fenty was booed in Ward 6. It was the 33rd annual Peter Bug day. It was a candidates dream, a beautiful day, hundreds of happy voters all in one place. Let the glad-handing begin. Several candidates made the rounds, Doug Sloan who wants Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton’s job was there, mayoral candidate Leo Al-

Fenty campaigns hemmed in by the Green Team. Photo: Mark Segraves

16 ★ East of the River • June 2010

Gray works the crowd assisted by neighborhood activist Chuck Burger. Photo: Mark Segraves

exander worked the crowd, of course Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells was present and accounted for, and the top two contenders for mayor were there. But in very different ways. Both Fenty and Gray showed up about the same time. Watching them work the crowd was very much like watching how they govern. Both had advance staff at the festival well before the candidates arrived. Fenty’s team was just that – a team. All of them decked out in the Fenty green jackets and hats, all armed with rolls of Fenty stickers and petitions for getting on the ballot. Fenty, surrounded by a sea of green clad volunteers, dove into the crowd shaking hands with everyone, posing for pictures and listening to individuals for a few minutes and then off to the next group. Never standing still, never allowing for any real conversations or dialog. The proverbial “meet and greet.” Before walking away from anyone, Fenty or a team member would slap a big green sticker on your chest. Including Herb Feester, of Peaches and Herb,

and Congressional Candidate Sloan got one too. Both did what many of those whom Fenty tagged did – as soon as the mayor turned his back, they tore off the sticker. By contrast, Team Gray operated in a more stealthlike and deliberative process. Much like the way Gray governs. Gray’s advance team had the advantage of being neighborhood residents who people recognized and who knew who was who in the crowd. But they were otherwise unidentifiable. No Gray hats or shirts, no rolls of Gray stickers, very low key. When Gray arrived he too worked the crowd, but unlike Fenty who darted from person to person, Gray would engage in deep, long conversations with people, listening and responding in an informed way. Where Fenty took two minutes to make a contact, Gray took 20 minutes. Not an efficient way to campaign. And that’s what Gray is going to need to work on if he is going to win. And yes, he can win. The election will likely break down along racial lines. Gray has a lock on the African-American vote,

and Fenty would seem to own the white vote. At a glance that would seem to give Fenty an advantage. But no matter how many press events Fenty has in black neighborhoods, and that’s where most of his press events are held since his poll numbers began to drop, he won’t be able to win back the black vote. On the other hand, Gray can chew into the white vote. While the majority of white voters still lean toward Fenty, they’re just leaning. It won’t take much to push them into the arms of someone else. Another DYRS juvenile escapee killing a popular school principal, another frat brother caught with his hand in the taxpayers cookie jar, another secret trip to Dubai or China. Gray only needs about 20 percent of the white vote to give Fenty a run for his money. The problem is that Gray is slow out of the gate. He’s been bogged down with the budget, and his internal campaign bureaucracy is much like the budget process. Slow and deliberate.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read If you read the Washington Post and the Washington City Paper you’re probably laboring under the misconception that the DC Council under the leadership of Chairman Vince Gray recently took a giant step forward in advancing open government. The headline in City Paper was “Power To The Peephole.” The Post wrote “Gray, a Democratic candidate for mayor, has gone even further to let more sunshine into the budget negotiations this year.” Allow me to set the record straight. What Gray did was a blow to open government and a slap in the face to the public. The last year when the council decided to meet behind closed doors to hash out the budget several reporters, including myself, complained and threatened to force Gray to throw us out of the meetings. Gray conceded and allowed reporters into the meetings. Gray kept the public out. This year as Gray and his colleagues were preparing to meet about the budget Ed Lazere of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute com-

plained of the lack of transparency just as he had done the previous year. But this is an election year, and Lazere knows how to work politicians. He penned a letter demanding the public be allowed in this time. Lazere got about 40 other groups to sign on, and he sent it to the councilmembers and the press. Gray took the bait and decided to make a change. Doing so without consulting the public, the press or any councilmembers, Gray came up with a solution. He installed a government-controlled camera and four microphones in the small room and broadcast the deliberations on the government TV channel. To make room for the government-controlled camera, Gray kicked the press out of the meetings. So, one small step forward and one giant step backward. While having a camera in the room gives the public a view they have never had, taking reporters who cover the day-to-day activities of the council and the budget out of the room made for less accountability. Watching an event on a government-controlled camera where you have only one angle and poor audio is no substitute for having the press in the room watching and recording the arm-twisting and deal making that goes on in the corner. And if anyone thinks this was anything other than a way for candidate Gray to broadcast himself as a leader, you’re fooling yourself. And proof of that is the other little reported step taken to ensure the public wouldn’t see what was actually going on. Security guards set up a perimeter outside the meeting room and would not let the public gather in the hallway. A hallway that is ﬁlled with citizens on a daily basis. Gray tells me he was unaware of the hallway closure and thought his compromise with the camera as fair. He’s says he’s open to allowing reporters back into the next round of budget meetings. An easy promise to make for someone who won’t be the council chair next year. Mark Segraves can be reached at msegraves@wtop.com. Watch NewsPlus with Mark Segraves on DC 50 TV and listen on WTOP. ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 17

neighborhood news

>> the numbers

the N U M B 3 R S

2764906

The Recession Hits Home Hardship is on the Rise in DC by Ed Lazere

hat has the Great Recession done to you? Nearly everyone has been affected one way or another — whether you or someone you know has lost a job, the value of your home or retirement savings has tanked, or your business has struggled to keep customers. Yet the reality is that the impact of the downturn has been uneven. Even with record 12 percent unemployment – and 40,000 jobless residents looking for work – there are 280,000 DC residents who are still working. Most of us have maintained most of our incomes even if our assets on paper have fallen. For me, other than being worried about the drop in our college savings fund, my family has not suffered. Yet I know many residents have. There are increasing signs that the recession is pushing more vulnerable DC families and individuals over the edge, with many facing trouble with the basic tasks of feeding their families and paying housing bills. We’ve all heard about foreclosures, but there’s more. Thousands of households have had their utilities cut off. Family homelessness has skyrocketed, as have reports of child abuse and neglect. The District’s response to the recession also has been uneven. While support for programs, such as health care, has been maintained, several programs that are vital in a recession, including emergency rent or utility assistance, have been cut. The city’s budget crisis has led to lots of service

A GROWING NUMBER OF DC HOUSEHOLDS ARE FACING UTILITY SHUT-OFF Electricity Shut-offs for Non-payment Natural Gas Shut-offs for Non-Payment

2007

2009

Change

5,812

8,359

44%

6,875

8,849

29%

Source: Data provided by DC Public Service Commission. 18 ★ East of the River • June 2010

cuts, but scaling back help for residents in crisis at a time when more and more people are in need makes little sense. It’s like ﬁnding out your child is failing math — and then pulling him out of tutoring. It shows a stunning lack of vision over how the city’s resources should be used, and it will hurt the city in the long-term as we will deal for years with the aftereﬀects of families in crisis.

DC Recession-Proof? No More There was a time when DC used to be called “recessionproof.” Our unique situation seemed to make us immune from what states would go through when the national economy nosedived. But if that was ever true, it certainly isn’t now. As unemployment soared to the highest level in more than 30 years last year, some 11,000 residents fell into poverty in 2009 (less than $22,000 for a family of four). That’s the biggest one-year jump in at least 15 years. Unemployment affects families, of course, but entire communities also suffer. The jobless rate has reached nearly 10 percent or higher in every part of the city except Wards 2 and 3. Neighborhood businesses are hurt when residents have less money in their pocket. Schools face challenges when children of the unemployed bring the stresses of home to their classroom. The signs of financial stress on DC residents are abundant. Struggling to Paying Housing Bills: Housing is outrageously expensive in DC – it is the single largest budget item for many of us. So when incomes fall, the biggest impact is on the ability of families to keep paying mortgage, rent and utility bills. The number of DC families falling behind on housing bills has jumped in the recession. One sign: 8,400 households had their electricity shut off in 2009, an increase of 44 percent since 2007. Another sign: There are more than 2,500 people in homeless families with children. That’s 37 percent more than in 2008. Hunger on the Rise: Two of five DC households with children said that they had difficulty affording enough food in 2009. More residents are turning to school lunches, and the number of food stamp recipients has grown 30 percent since the start of 2008. Demand for emergency food assistance has jumped, too. The Capital Area Food Bank reports that 88,400 people in the DC region now

Legal Services • Bankruptcy (Ch. 7 & Ch. 13) • Civil Litigation • Employment Matters • Property Tax Redemption Matters • Family Law • Real Estate Matters • Probate Matters (Guardianships/Conservatorships, Powers of Attorney, and Wills) • Contracts • Personal Injury/Auto Accidents • Small Businesses • Government Agencies • Sports & Entertainment Law • DUI/DWI, etc.

REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE UP SHARPLY 8,000 6,000

PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE. SERIOUS CALLS ONLY!

6,112 4,670

Law Office of Andrellos Mitchell, PLLC 717 D Street, NW | Suite 300 Washington, DC 20004 Tel: 202-271-9400 acmclient@aol.com

4,000 2,000 0 2007

2009

Source: DC Child and Family Services Administration.

receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, or soup kitchen – 19,000 more than four years ago. Some soup kitchens, like SOME, have seen a 20 percent increase in visitors in recent years Child abuse and neglect: The stresses associated with poverty are among the most serious contributing factors to child neglect. So when the economy suffers, children suffer, too. There were 6,112 reports of child abuse and neglect in 2009, an increase of one-third over the past two years, according to District figures.

DC Budget Cuts Have Made Matter Worse The District has faced challenges responding to this rising need, because the recession also has left the city with fewer resources, as tax collections have fallen. But budgets are about choices. And the choices made by DC’s leaders over how to respond to the recession have in many cases put the victims of the recession squarely on the budget chopping block. The District closed two social service intake centers in the past year, even though there has been a huge increase in demand, and homeless shelters were overcapacity all winter.

Yet the budget for 2011 includes no increases in homeless services. The budget proposed by Mayor Adrian Fenty and just approved by the DC Council provides less money for emergency energy and rental assistance than the city provided in 2008 — when there wasn’t even a recession. The child welfare agency has fired 100 workers. Not only does it reflect a lack of compassion, it also is dangerous for the city. The federal government understands that expanding assistance in a recession — like unemployment insurance and food stamps — is critical to stabilizing families and keeping the economy from spiraling down even more. If residents in crisis don’t get help, their problems can spiral, too, which can end up costing the city more and make it harder for communities to take advantage of the economic recovery whenever it comes. That lesson apparently has not been learned here. Maybe the mayor and council need some tutoring. Ed Lazere is the director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi. org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. ★

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capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 19

neighborhood news

use development awaits conclusion of current leases. Major work is not expected to begin until 2012-2015. Facilities for current tenants, including Safeway and CVS, have been improved, however, and Ray’s the Steaks replaced the departing wig store. City Interests is also in the process of creating a mixed-use development in the Parkside-Kenilworth neighborhood. The project is predominantly residential and oﬃce. A total of 35,000 square feet of groundﬂoor retail is proposed.

Ward 7 Retail Downsized Donatelli Scales Back, DCPCA Seeks Approval by Virginia Avniel Spatz

Health Center Replacing Housing

Grassland replaces apartments, strip mall, Auto Zone, Second Genesis, childcare center, etc. in Donatelli vision of Minnesota Avenue at Benning

wo major developments near the Minnesota Avenue Metro station are proceeding with modiﬁcations. DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA) is applying for zoning approval for a health center in Kenilworth-Parkside (west of the train tracks). It is planned for a parcel previously approved for residences in City Interests’ mixed-use development. East of the tracks, demolition of existing buildings, launched on May 27, is making way for the Donatelli/Blue Skye mixeduse development. Updated plans for the Minnesota-Benning project shrink retail by almost one-half, reduce housing and remove amenities.

Downtown Project Reduced On Oct. 28, 2008, Mayor Adrian Fenty announced the selection of Donatelli/Blue Skye to develop the publicly-owned land at Minnesota and Benning. The project included 40,000 square feet of ground-ﬂoor retail, a key element in the “new Downtown Ward 7.” At the demolition event, Fenty said the project would oﬀer 23,000 square feet of retail, a reduction of 43%. 20 ★ East of the River • June 2010

In 2008, a “5,000 square-foot retail incubator,” which would help grow local businesses, was promised. The incubator is no longer mentioned, but 4,000 square feet is now dedicated to “local and small businesses.” Also gone is the 2,500 square feet of “community space,” tauted in original plans and in the tentative Community Beneﬁts Agreement announced when the Council approved the Land Transfer. In its place now is “a community meeting room.” The aﬀordable housing component in the current plan is 14% smaller – 325 units where 375 were once planned -- and the market-rate housing has dropped by 20%, from 60 units to 48. The overall project has been reduced from $108 million, as presented to the community in 2008, to $80 million. On Oct. 20, 2008, Fenty said the project would be “open for business 36 months from today.” The opening is now projected for fall 2012.

Oﬃcials Unconcerned by Reduction “This project combines our goals

of investing in neighborhood revitalization, transit-oriented development and increased aﬀordable housing,” Fenty said on May 27. “Along with the new Benning Library, the Department of Employment Services’ new headquarters, and the recently opened Ray’s the Steaks restaurant, we are making real investments here in Downtown Ward 7.” Fenty did not reference the scaling back of the project or the lengthening of the timeline. “I’m excited about the development and expect it to be of the same quality [as Donatelli’s] other projects throughout the city,” says Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander. “The reduction in retail space doesn’t present a problem, especially since City Interests has great retail plans for their sites.”

City Interests’ Retail Plans City Interests plans to re-develop East River Park shopping center, located on the southeast corner of the Minnesota-Benning intersection. Ofﬁces, residences and 800,000 square feet of ground-ﬂoor retail are planned. Transformation of the suburban-style shopping center into an urban mixed-

City Interests plans offices, residences and some retail across a 15acre Planned Unit Development (PUD) between the Minnesota Avenue Metro station and Neval Thomas Elementary School. The overall project received first-stage PUD approval for residential development. Since the initial approval, DCPCA approached City Interests about purchasing one parcel for a “stateof-the-art health center to replace the existing Hunt Place” facility. The 65,000 square-foot center – including a parking level -- would provide urgent and primary care as well as health and wellness activities. DCPCA purchased the parcel at Kenilworth Avenue and Hayes Street, NE, in July 2009. The organization filed an “Intent to File Zoning Application” on April 30, requesting modifications from the residentiallyoriented PUD. The PUD process is expected to take 12-18 months. Stakeholders have raised some concerns about the health center and how it fits the area’s larger development goals. The PUD modification is before ANC 7D for consideration.

Community Engagement Still Awaited The market-rate housing, added by Donatelli/Blue Skye on community request, was placed along the Benning Road Bridge. At the D.C. Council’s July 2009 roundtable, this drew concerns, including noise, emissions and limited daylight. The Coalition for Smarter Growth also testiﬁed that “commercial uses...along with public space, would

be more appropriate for this busy corner of the downtown district.” In current plans, townhouses remain facing the bridge. Community members requested that the project reflect Ward 7 arts and culture and fit the surrounding neighborhood. Current renderings include no site-specific elements or neighboring structures. After months of silence from both the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and the developer, DMPED announced on May 7 an update meeting for May 12. The meeting, held at the Boys and Girls Club on Benning Road, was sparsely attended. Copies of updated development plans were even sparser. The ANC has been electronically sharing copies, however, and stakeholders continue to hope that engagement with Donatelli and some modifications are possible. A Community Benefits Agreement is not yet public and or legally binding.

Transportation and Related Issues At the May meeting, the District’s Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) shared Great Streets plans: curb cuts, sidewalk and crosswalk enhancements, lane re-conﬁgurations, tree placements, etc. DDOT said the plans, 65% complete on May 12, would be entirely complete by September. Participants asked for another update this summer. In addition, they encouraged coordination between DDOT, DMPED and other agencies; WMATA, which has recently conducted a bus transportation study that could help inform planning; developers and stakeholders. ANC 7D meets at the 6D Police Station, 100 42 St., NE, on the second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. Some development materials are available at ward7. wordpress.com. ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 21

neighborhood news

employers also seek attributes like honesty, a good attitude and punctuality. In other workshops on this particular morning, students learn to create resumes, explore the “anatomy of a company” and participate in “speed networking” with professionals from the community.

“Tomorrow is Today” Expanding Perspectives for Career, College Options by Virginia Avniel Spatz

Varieties of Options

Students in the CCC show off their Gold Rush program tee-shirts. Photos courtesy of CCC.

“T

omorrow is today,” says Teressa Wooten, a management consultant for Deloitte and a volunteer with the nonproﬁt College & Career Connections (CCC). CCC works with middle schoolers in Wards 7 and 8 to build career and college awareness and help students see connections between school and employment. This is a good match, Wooten explains, with Deloitte’s outreach philosophy: “If we want to have intellectually prepared workers in the future, we have to invest now.” But Wooten also volunteers with CCC for more personal reasons. She remembers how little career awareness women, especially women of 22 ★ East of the River • June 2010

color, had in her youth. “If you had an education, you were supposed to be a teacher, give back to the community. That was it.” She’s glad to help today’s students explore a wider set of options. CCC brings Wooten and other professionals to Cesar Chavez Public Charter School-Parkside, Friendship Tech Prep, The SEED School and other middle schools as part of their in-school, early college and career exploration and planning workshop series. These workshops, along with local college and workplace ﬁeld trips, increase students’ knowledge about options for the future and help them begin building relevant skills.

“Soft” and “Hard” Skills “We are learning how to be suc-

cessful,” student Australia Humphries explains quietly during a recent workshop at Friendship Tech Prep. “When we get to college, we will learn hard skills. CCC is helping us learn soft skills now, to get ready for college.” Soft skills? Students are breaking it down: paying attention, communicating, knowing how to practice, patience. “Sleeping,” one student oﬀers. The workshop leader is unconvinced. The student persists: “Sleeping means you can pay attention when you get to school.” Students and leader agree that “soft skills” include the development of healthy personal and social habits. Hard skills – like word-processing, biology or history – are important, this workshop teaches. But

As part of the “Anatomy of a Company” workshop, students are asked to consider how many different jobs are required to make a company work and to develop a new iPod. Research and Development creates and tests the product. Facilities Management and Informational Technology ensure a good working environment and the proper tools. Legal checks out patents and state-by-state permits. Human Resources, Marketing and Finance personnel perform specific functions. Toward the end of the workshop, small groups present detailed reports of how their “department” would contribute to the development of the iPod, ending with a marketing rap. Down the hall, community volunteers, led by Wooten, meet students in a “speed networking” process. In small groups, students ask volunteers a prepared set of questions , such as “What education is needed for your job?” and “What do you like and dislike about your job?” A lawyer, an events planner, a literacy advocate, an entrepreneur, a college counselor and other professionals rotate through the groups offering a glimpse of their work and the preparation needed to do it. Students also ask their own questions: “In your job, do you have to deal with people who make you angry?” “Did you change your dream?” “Management consultant?” Wooten laughs, “Even today, most grown-ups don’t know what that is.... If someone had told me when I was a girl that there were different career paths, it could have made a big difference. And now, I tell the students, they might even take more than one career path. I was in accounting and

Student Thwarts Burglars On May 16, the CCC oﬃce on Alabama Avenue was burglarized. As it happened, however, a ninth grader familiar with CCC was passing on the bus and noticed lights, late on a Sunday. The student phoned Executive Director Deann Ayer, who alerted police. The burglary was interrupted before all valuables – piled in the middle of the room – could be removed. Ayer is grateful for the student’s quick thinking and the rapid police response. Losses might have been much greater. But CCC must still replace equipment – including two laptops -- essential to their work. The organization is also installing a security system. Contributions to oﬀset these losses are welcome.

A seminar on “soft skills” such as practice and patience that help insure success in school.

investment banking before becoming a management consultant.”

Program Impact Following the morning at Tech Prep, students said they enjoyed “meeting good people from companies I’ve never heard of before,” and “talking to diﬀerent people because it really helped me think about what I want to be.” Overwhelmingly, students report that such programs help them understand the range of skills needed for any job, the options for work within a company and the kind of preparation needed to perform those jobs. In DC, about 50% of high schoolers graduate. Only 5% of high school graduates east of the river complete college within ﬁve years. Research shows that the conditions for dropping out develop in middle school, and that most who drop out do so by the end of 9th grade. While most college access programs focus on older students, CCC has found the need, and the opportunity, is much earlier.

CCC exposes 8th and 9th grade students to career and college opportunities and helps them see how their current choices are relevant to their future options. Deann Ayer, Executive Director; Meghan Behnke, Director of Programming; and trained facilitators plan and implement the program - workshops, ﬁeld trips and in-school activities - for over 500 students. This early exposure helps students understand the importance of utilizing all four years of high school well -- from choosing challenging academics to participating in a variety of extracurricular activities. “CCC reminds us we don’t have to follow some thug. It looks like they’re doing something, making money. But we’re looking to a future,” one middle schooler explains. Contact Deann Ayer, 202-536-4907. College & Career Connections, 4620 Alabama Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20019. Find CCC on Facebook and at www.collegeandcareerconnections.org. ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 23

neighborhood news

“O

ur grandkids think we sit around and don’t do anything. But that’s not true,” said Rosa Hamlett (ANC 7E) taking a break from the dance floor at the “East River Swing: A Ward 7 Prom for Seniors.” More than 150 elegantly attired guests enjoyed dinner and dancing at the May 27 event held at St. Luke’s Center, 4925 East Capitol St., SE. The first annual prom was a special activity of the East River Family Strengthening Collaborative (ERFSC) KEEN Seniors Program. The KEEN Program, directed by Lisa Bryant, regularly provides meals, counseling and case management as well as nutrition and recreational offerings for seniors. The staff of 21 – who operate at six locations across Ward 7 -- is supported by the D.C. Office on Aging. Bryant said approximately one-fourth of the prom crowd was drawn from regular KEEN pro-

“Senior” Prom Swings Ward 7 Fancy Footwork, Food and Fun by Virginia Avniel Spatz

CLOCKWISE from TOP 1. Line dances drew many prom participants to the dance floor at the first annual “East River Swing.” 2. Charisma Wooten (front) and Sharon Bowman, Kathy Jones and Marie Anthony (l-r) spontaneously embody The Supremes. 3. Earl Calloway and Viola Graves, with other Fancy Footwork dancers, demonstrate Hand Dancing. 4. Walter and Betty Millender celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary at the prom.

gram participants. “The rest just came to join the fun.”

Dancers, Non-Dancers Unite Jesse L. Martin, a lifelong resident of Ward 7, regular participates in the KEEN Seniors Program. Martin, whose 90th birthday is on July 27 this year, was among a number of prom participants who did not frequent the dance ﬂoor but partook of the meal and conversation. “I don’t dance,” he reported, “but I’m enjoying this event.” Bettye Moore, a 54-year resident of Ward 7 and another KEEN program regular, also watched the dance ﬂoor from her table. But she dressed 24 ★ East of the River • June 2010

for the prom and, gesturing to the decorations, the meal and the dancing, said: “I love all this.” Sylvia Butler, a 48-year resident of Ward 7, ordinarily participates in line dancing but was “just enjoying” at this particular event. Betty and Walter Millender, however, were among those who traveled to the event speciﬁcally for the dancing. The Millenders, who reside in Maryland, accepted an invitation from fellow dance enthusiasts to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary at the prom. Arthur Scandrett also said he came especially for the dancing. He did the limbo from his wheelchair, but

WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE also rose to join the dancing. “I’m happy to see the older generation enjoying themselves,” Hamlett concluded, watching the crowded dance ﬂoor. “But we have to pass the torch....I would like to see an intergenerational event, with older and younger dancers.”

Fancy, and Less Fancy, Footwork “Some of these people know all the steps,” said one participant. “But, really, seniors just need to move.” Drama instructor Charisma Wooten, followed by Sharon Bowman, Kathy Jones and Marie Anthony, seemed to agree, as they responded to a Supremes song with a spontaneous performance embodying the group. Line dances drew many individuals to the ﬂoor. Couples also enjoyed a variety of dance forms. An informal group of dancers, known as “Fancy Footwork,” joined others on the ﬂoor and also demonstrated Hand Dancing (AKA “DC Swing” or “DC Hand Dance”). “I grew up Hand Dancing,” says Earl Calloway, of Fancy Footwork. He reports being so fond of the art form, in fact, that he attended Cardozo’s senior prom in 1960 “with two girls, one on each arm....But then came Disco, and Hand Dancing slipped to the wayside. So we formed an association to bring it back.” Calloway became a founding vice president of the National Hand Dance Association, organized “to preserve, to educate and to promote the art form of Hand Dancing in the community.” He believes classes help people enjoy dance – whether they want are interested in art, exercise or plain fun. But not everyone approaches dance the same way. “I never took classes,” says Viola Graves, also of Fancy Footwork. “I just watched and then danced.” ★

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neighborhood news

“The Dream is Becoming a Reality” Yvette Alexander’s State of the Ward Address Celebrates Community Involvement, New Development by Hunter L. Gorinson

Yvette Alexander talked up Ward 7’s continued ascent at Sousa Junior High on May 27.

“W

ard 7 is at a very powerful moment,” said Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander as she delivered her third annual State of the Ward address from the stage of John Philip Sousa Junior High School on May 27. By all accounts, it has been a banner year for the Ward 7 representative and her speech was a victory lap of sorts, covering the milestones in development and community services achieved over the past 12 months. Still, Alexander was quick to apportion the credit for those accomplishments appropriately. In keeping with the theme of her address, “Making Ward 7 One,” the council member speciﬁcally singled out the presidents of community associations from her ward’s 29 distinct neighborhoods for commendation. “[Your] individual organizations are all very accomplished and now I ask all of you to take it to the next level,” said Alexander, challenging the community groups to cross-collaborate in the hopes of accruing more local development and prosperity. From that perspective, there was more than a fair share for Alexander to boast about in 2009. The councilmember beamed as she recounted 26 ★ East of the River • June 2010

the list of development projects that finished work or broke ground in the past year with a constant of refrain of “the dream is becoming a reality.” “The dream of new development, better amenities and first class services is all becoming a reality and I will continue to work with you to bring more diverse retail and restaurants to the ward,” said Alexander, citing the recent high profile openings of the Benning Library and Ray’s the Steaks -- one of the first new sit-down eateries for the area in recent memory. In addition to those now fully functional local attractions, Alexander talked up soon-to-be completed projects like the Deanwood Recreation Center, the Department of Employee Services new Minnesota Ave. headquarters -- a project she dubbed “the new anchor of the new downtown Ward 7” -- and the Yes! Organic Market slated to open this August along the border with Ward 8 on Pennsylvania Ave. Alexander also talked about projects lined up for the coming year, including the all-affordable, 125-unit Pollin Memorial Community Development in Parkside, the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center – made possible by funds she procured -- and a new 500,000 s.f. medical facility from the DC Primary Care Association.

But the item that clearly roused the most community enthusiasm was the new, $96 million dollar H.D. Woodson High School, which the councilmember called “the crown jewel of all our combined efforts” and “the ultimate state of the art high school in the District of Columbia.” All of this work, said Alexander, will serve as a catalyst for the continued revitalization of the ward. “Almost $300 million in public and nonprofit development will spark even more interest in private development… Even in these tough economic times, I see the revitalization of Ward 7 progressing like never before,” she said, adding that crime rates continue to fall and, with three city council members now residing in Ward 7, the spotlight has never been brighter on her corner of the city. Alexander said that while the city is dealing with significant “budget shortfalls,” she has been working to maintain the livelihood of her ward’s residents. She pointed to legislation that will allow foreclosed District homeowners -a population on the rise in Ward 7 -- to rent back their properties, and her work on the District Domicile Act, which will require any city employees with a pay grade of 12 and above to reside within the District proper.

“The District of Columbia jobs are your jobs and I intend to fight for [them],” she said. With unemployment now hovering around the 20 percent mark for the ward --nearly twice the District average -- Alexander also pointed towards constituent services expenditures that she said have set “a new standard for the ward,” and gone towards the upkeep of abandoned homes, increased trash collection and alley clean-ups, crime hotspot monitoring, tenant court advocacy, and more than $100,000 in financial assistance. “We’ve had our challenges and we need to make more opportunities,” Alexander told East of the River after her address when asked how she plans to keep that momentum going in light of the city’s financial difficulties and her sizable amount of out-of-work constituents. “I’m really working hard toward UDC possibly opening… a new satellite campus in Ward 7, more adult literacy programs, more incentives to keep our kids in school and more incentives to…make sure that most of the developers and most of the businesses in Ward 7 are employing residents.” The outcome of this fall’s upcoming mayoral election too could have an impact on how Ward 7 fares with current City Council Chairman, Hillcrest resident and Alexander’s predecessor, Vincent Gray vying to take the seat of the District executive in 2011. “I just see more attention being given to Ward 7,” said Alexander of how she sees the ward’s prospects in a year’s time. “It used to be that we didn’t get any services, we didn’t get any development, we didn’t get anything. We were like second-class citizens and I definitely see a shift [coming].” On the whole, those in attendance at the State of the Ward address seemed wholly impressed by Alexander’s results. Fifty-seven-year-old Parkside resident Angela O. Lewis, herself unemployed, was comforted by the councilmember’s message of continued resiliency and revitalization. “Things that were talked about several years ago have now come to fruition,” said Lewis. “I’m very proud of her for being involved in so many of the issues that involve Ward 7… I think she is wonderful—so intelligent and so dedicated.” ★

The De Colores Mexican Folk Dance Company is one of the groups performing at the FAMILY FIESTA.

FAMILY FIESTA: ¡Viva México!

Saturday, June 26 • 11 am-4 pm FREE Bring the family to an all-day celebration of Mexico! Join us at the museum for live music, dance performances, arts and crafts, traditional costuming and storytelling. Don’t miss your chance to break the piñata! Call 202-633-4875 for information and reservations SHUTTLE ANACOSTIA makes getting to the Anacostia Community Museum for the Family Fiesta and other programs easier! Enjoy a free ride to and from the National Mall every weekend this summer from June 19-Labor Day! Stops include the Ripley Center, National Air and Space Museum, Anacostia Metro and Frederick Douglass Home. For more info, visit anacostia.si.edu/shuttle.

1901 Fort Place SE | 202.633.4820 | anacostia.si.edu. The Family Fiesta program is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the DC Office on Latino Affairs. capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 27

Buffalo Soldiers took to the streets of Ward 7.

Alton’s Color Guard.

Chief T

2nd Annual Nannie Helen Burroughs Day Parade article & photos by Shannon Holloway

Councilmember Yvette Alexander with Ms. Senior DC and Councilmember Marion Barry.

David Johnson with nephew Triston Johnson.

28 ★ East of the River • June 2010

rom start to finish there was music in the air. The Nannie Helen Burroughs Day parade kicked off in the late morning of May 8 to the triumphant sounds of marching bands. Large crowds of people gathered together filling the sidewalks along the route. Families, friends and neighbors alike cheered loudly in support of their fellow community members. As the community sat under tentcover to share a meal that was prepared by Ward 7’s Civic Association and Touch of Love Ministries, they wound down to the melodies of steel drums. Helping to create new memories for the residents of Ward 7 while recalling some old memories, Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander’s coordination, sponsorship and team of donors provided locals with

a day of community celebration and relaxation. “It was important for the councilwoman to highlight the accomplishments of Nannie Helen Burroughs. She is a hero from Ward 7, and the avenue, school and parade is a way of showing respect to her for the contributions she made,” said Alexander‘s director of communications, Andre Johnson. “This is the second annual Nannie Helen Burroughs Day Parade to honor a great African-American woman. … We want to celebrate her life,” said Alexander. The ﬁrst annual parade was held last year in honor or Nannie Helen Burroughs, a historic woman who made a positive impact in her community 100 years ago when she founded the National Training School for Women and Girls. The parade route ran along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, the same street where the school she founded still stands and which also now bears the name of the icon. With banners put up in her honor and a local historian on hand to explain the intricacies of her life, the past and present met here as the community came out to not only honor her accomplishments, but to celebrate the current movements within the Ward 7 community. ★

Chief Three Feathers descendant of Cherokee and Blackfeet Tribes.

Kim Barnett, Stephane and Maurice Harcum enjoying some family time.

Boys from LifePieces to Masterpieces hand out cold waterto thirsty paradegoers.

The Hardy Middle School Band. capitalcommunitynews.com â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 29

east washington life

“Tendani has recorded a very rich part of DC’s history and his film is a creative documentation of this important history.” - Ms. Green

A BARRY FARM

DOCUMENTARY by John Muller

In a scene from

the

documentary “Barry Farm: Past and Present” filmmaker Tendani Mpulubusi El asks a young man in the Barry Farm community if he is familiar with Howard University. The young man affirms he knows the campus located off Georgia Avenue NW is “uptown” and, with a small smile says, “there be some girls up there. That’s what I know.” The Barry Farm community and Howard University are, in fact, linked by more than a 15 minute ride on the Metro’s green line; they are linked by a common history being brought to life in this new documentary, that makes its world premier June 5th at the Historical Society of Washington.

Barry Farm History Potomac City, Howardstown, and Hillsdale were all past names for an 30 ★ East of the River • June 2010

area of the city now known in the vernacular as “The Farms.” To put the film together, Mpulubusi El, supported by a D.C. Community Heritage Project grant, went back to when the Anacostan Indians lived in present-day Barry Farm. Archaeological evidence discovered during the Anacostia Metro station construction provided insights into the area’s earliest inhabitants. The area takes its name from white farmers David and Julia Barry’s Farm which extended from the Anacostia River to what is now known as Garfield Heights. In 1867, Union General Oliver Howard, then Commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau, utilized federal money to purchase the 375-acre site. The lots were then sold for $125-$300 per acre to families of freed slaves and refugees from the Civil War, creating the first African-American homeownership community in the city.

One of the stories brought to life in the film is the story of Solomon G. Brown, the first African American to work for the Smithsonian Institution, who lived on Elvans Road. Born a free man in Washington in 1829, he worked at the Smithsonian from 1852 to his retirement in 1906, at the age of 77. Over his 54 years of service to the Smithsonian, he held numerous positions of influence in the community. He was a trustee of Wilberforce University, and was elected to three consecutive one-year terms, 1871-1874, as a member of the House of Delegates under the Territorial Government of the District of Columbia. At the dawn of the 20th century, the Alexandria Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad began to separate the original community from the Anacostia River and Poplar Point. By mid-century, the land between the tracks and the river had been converted

to military bases, and following Ward War II, Interstate 295’s construction further isolated the neighborhood from the waterfront. In 1954, the Redevelopment Land Agency acquired much of the remaining land and built public housing for displaced residents coming from the Southwest urban renewal and other areas of the city. That public housing remains today as an amalgamation of the 624 low-income units between Barry Farm and Park Chester, off Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. One of the most powerful scenes in the documentary is when nearly two dozen students from Howard University travel to the Barry Farm recreation center to have a meeting and conversation with their peers from the Barry Farm community. Noted local historian CR Gibbs is seen in the film reflecting on the unique historic connections, “It also

speaks to how closely linked together Barry Farm and Howard University were – they share a common history. The relationship between Barry Farm and Howard University – obviously founded by the same man – it is strange. It is troubling that Howard University, today, is not more closely involved in the Barry Farm community.” The opportunity for Howard to get involved in present-day Barry Farms is closing, ever so slowly. In November 2005, in conjunction with the Barry Farm Advisory Committee, the city began a public process to create a revitalization plan for the southeast community, known as its New Communities Initiative. The plan, which spans more than a decade, would change present day Barry Farm and the neighboring Park Chester community oﬀ of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. In late December 2006, the DC Council approved the Barry Farm/Park Chester/ Wade Road Community Revitalization Plan consistent with the New Communities Initiative, the eventual goal being to revitalize the public and low income housing developments and its neighborhood into a mixedincome, mixed-use community, according to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Planning and Development. “The New Communities engagement is not eﬀective. People either don’t know this is going to happen or they know it is coming and they don’t care,” says Mpulubusi El.

The Filmmaker At 19, after graduating high school and briefly attending Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Tendani Mpulubusi El found himself homeless and being increasingly pulled into the temptation and allure of street life. But, throughthe kindness of friends attending local universities, he was able to stay in college dormitories, rent-free. At the University of Maryland he would spend hours on end in the library researching and studying business, marketing, history, and politics. Then a cousin of his, who worked for the Earth Conservation Corps (ECC), recuited him to join the AmeriCorps Program. The ECC began in 1989 as an outgrowth of a White House domestic policy initiative, and in 1992 the Hollywood environmentalist Bob Nixon took over and invested his own money. Nixon, who produced “Gorillas in the Mist”, integrated multi-media arts education into ECC’s curriculum. It was with the ECC, that Mpulubsi El was first exposed to the transformative power of film. The self-described, “historic preservationist” has come a long way from then until now, but he is by no means a newcomer to the local arts scene. He currently

serves as the Ward 8 Commissioner on the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and is an active multi-disciplinary artist with multiple public works featured throughout the city. Mpulubusi El, who has worked at DCTV and interned at National Geographic, said as he discovered elements of the neighborhood’s history, doing research at places like the Martin Luther King Jr. Library’s Washingtoniana Division, he would ask his peers if they were familiar with the history of where they live. More often common knowledge concerned the criminal justice system, not the neighborhood’s history.

The Future As Mpulubusi El uses the June 5th screening to promote an awareness of his film and the history of the Barry Farm community, Cultural Tourism DC is in the active process of generating its Anacostia Heritage Trail. Jane Freundel Levey, Director of Heritage Programs, says the heritage trail will consist of 15-18 signs placed throughout Anacostia that taken together create a self-guided tour. Through a process that mixes long-time and more recent residents, community members work hand-in-hand with professional historians. Their next meeting will be held later this summer and completion of the heritage trail is estimated to take 18 months. “Anytime there is an obvious transition going on people become interested in history. This is what has been happening in Washington,” says Levey, “Our first heritage trail was on U Street NW. We began the process in the early 1990’s. As people see change happening, they want to know what came before, and what they might lose.” By hosting the world premier of “Barry Farm: Past and Present” the Historical Society of Washington (HSW), founded in 1894 and located in the Carnegie Building at 801 K Street NW, is helping to create new audiences for people interested in the city’s history, says Dottie Green, Director of Public Programs and Education. Mpulubusi El caught her attention at an event the DCCAH held at the HSW where he mentioned a film he was working on. Ms. Green approached him and they spoke about screening the film at the HSW and making it an interactive presentation where the audience would be encouraged to share their own personal stories, giving the event an added dimension. “Our mission is not only to serve as an archive for DC history, but also to make Washington’s history a relevant part of contemporary life,” says Ms. Green. “Tendani has recorded a very rich part of DC’s history and his film is a creative documentation of this important history.” ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 31

east washington life

Mo’ Better BLOGS The explosion of neighborhood blogs East of the River

by Nikki Peele

I admit it. I’m a blogger.

I’m also a woman, a person of color, a Ward 8 resident, an entrepreneur, a democrat, a homeowner, a college graduate, a pet-owner and a community activist, but few things have defined my life East of the River as, “I’m a blogger.” That is how strangers know me and how I am introduced by friends. I can no longer count how many times I have heard, “This is Nikki and she writes the blog.” Most of the time I am met with a smile, sometimes excitement and rarely the stink eye, but overall it seems that my reputation as the blogger for Congress Heights on the Rise (www.congressheightsontherise. com) has preceded me. What a difference two years and 1,955 posts make. Before I purchased my condo in Congress Heights I did what every good little (and slightly frantic) new homeowner would do – I “Googled.” My online investigation about life in Congress Heights came up rather short. Beyond the standard and blanketed references regarding crime in “Southeast” I could not find any firsthand accounts of what it was actu32 ★ East of the River • June 2010

ally like to live in Congress Heights. Where would I go to buy groceries? Would my car be okay on the street? Would my neighbors be friendly? Would I be shot to death going out for the mail? Bewildered at the lack of information, but not discouraged I decided to expand my search to include “Anacostia.” If I were to be honest, despite having lived and worked in the metro area for 13 years, I vaguely thought (incorrectly of course) that all of DC East of the River was named “Anacostia.” I deﬁnitely had never heard of Congress Heights before I started looking at homes here.

Blogging 101 All jokes aside, I still ﬁnd it somewhat ironic that until I decided to write my own blog I had no idea what the name “blog” came from. According to Wikipedia, “A blog (a contraction of the term “web log”) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.” In laymen’s terms think of a blog as on online diary or newsletter. Unlike a typical website, a blog isn’t static. It is ever involving and changing. In fact, what makes most blogs so interesting to readers is in the frequency and type of blog posts.

What is a blogger? A blogger is the writer of a blog. Most blogs are written by one person but blogs can be written by more than one blogger. To start a blog all someone needs is access to the internet and a blogging platform. Most bloggers use Blogger (www.blogger. com), WordPress (www.wordpress. com), or Typepad (www.typepad. com) although there are plenty of blogging platforms out there. Most blogging platforms are free, you just need to create a name for your blog and oﬀ you go.

What is a blogosphere? The blogosphere is what you call a collection of blogs. Much like the internet, the blogosphere is ever evolving and changing. Blogs are created and deleted every day. The East of the River/River East blogosphere is one of the fastest growing blogospheres in the District. Three years ago what was once only one or two blogs focused on life East of the River has grown to over twenty-ﬁve. In May 2010 to help readers keep up to date on all River East blogs at once, I created River East DC blogs, www. redcblogs.com. River East DC Blogs is a blog focused on – you guessed it – River East DC blogs. The River East blog explosion Before moving East of the River, my online search for Ward 8 living led me to the And Now, Anacostia blog (www.anacostianow.blogspot.com). And Now, Anacostia is written by a relatively new yet no less enthusiastic

and committed Anacostia resident, blogger DG-Rad (David Garber). And Now, Anacostia was the first River East blog I encountered that focused on daily life in Ward 8 — and it had pictures too! Yippee! Seeing and reading about life in Ward 8 definitely played a huge part in my vast excitement about moving to my new community, my new home. As a new homeowner, I was not only excited about what was coming to Ward 8 but what was already here, the lush green spaces, the beautiful historic homes, the diverse wildlife and the friendly neighbors. I was surprised (and I am still constantly surprised) at the wonderful things I find to love about my community every day. It’s no surprise that River East residents consider River East, DC’s best-kept secret. Nearly a year after first moving to Congress Heights it was my experience as a avid reader of And Now, Anacostia that was a big motivating factor in starting my own blog, Congress Heights on the Rise. I wanted to take my excitement for my new neighborhood, the place where I purchased my first home and lived life and encourage others to do the same. I also wanted to provide a centralized place for both new and long-term residents to find information on community events, meetings and news. My experience with And Now, Anacostia mirrors that of most of my fellow River East bloggers. Many of them will point to And Now, Anacostia as the catalyst that encouraged them to start their own

blogs and thus DG-Rad is often referred to amongst us “newbies” as the “grandfather” of East of the River blogging. (hat tip to Anacostia Diaries, www.anacostiadiaries.blogspot.com, which is also a great source of news and was an earlier EotR blog). Says, Miss V, blogger for Life in the Village (www.fairfaxvillage.blogspot. com), a Ward 7 blog about her blogging start: “I had read And Now, Anacostia and I thought David [DG-Rad] did a great job highlighting his neighborhood. It inspires me to write about my neighborhood.” Miss V is not alone; many of the current East of the River bloggers found their ﬁrst inspiration amongst the posts of And Now, Anacostia and most such as myself are ﬁrst-time bloggers looking to spread the news (most of it positive) about our communities, often times setting the record straight on many incorrect pre-conceived notions. The River East revolution may not be televised but it is being blogged. Join the revolution today. Read or better yet, start your own East of the River blog today.

To learn more about River East (East of the River) blogs visit the River East DC Blogroll at www. redcblogs.com. ★

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east washington life

Living Local, Viva Local by Veronica O. Davis

Skyland. Photo by Andrew Lightman

hen I posted photos of Ray’s the Steaks on my blog, Life in the Village, my friends couldn’t understand why there was so much hoopla and fanfare over the opening of a restaurant. In their minds, restaurants open every day. In my world, the feeling of getting an upscale sit-down restaurant can only be matched by the feeling I had when my alma mater won the National Basketball Championship. It’s no secret that East of the River lacks basic services, retail and

34 ★ East of the River • June 2010

dining. For the ﬁrst three years that I lived east of the river, I chose to look at the glass as half empty and complain about all the things my neighborhood did not have. However, after an eye-opening discovery that led to a personal challenge, all that changed. Last summer, I was doing research for work and came across information on the DC Oﬃce of Planning website that caused me to jump out of my seat. District residents spend more than $1 billion outside of the District. Last time I checked, $1 billion was a lot of money. Heck, some

countries’ gross domestic product isn’t even a billion. I did a quick estimate of my spending (except mortgage, utilities and condo fees) from 2008 and found that I spent close to $10,000 on groceries, entertainment, dining and other miscellaneous items in the DC Metro region of which less than 2.5 percent stayed in Wards 7 and 8. Although I’m sure Northern Virginia and Maryland were more than happy to get my money, I had to admit that I was part of the problem. Armed with this new information and my contribution to the problem, I set oﬀ on a personal quest to spend my money locally. Since the general rule is it takes 30-days to form a habit, I decided to start with a 30-day person challenge. For the entire month of July 2009, my challenge was to spend as much money as possible in Wards 7 and 8. This meant I would have to research to ﬁnd the items and services I need. It also meant I was going to have to venture to other parts of East of the River. The result? I spent a total of $574 during the month of which 82 perceny went to businesses east of the river. I learned important lessons along the way. First, I had to overcome my own misconceptions about East of the River. I heard how much we lacked so many times that I bought into the hype. I assumed that we didn’t have anything, and if we did have a business, I assumed that the service was going to be substandard. I also thought that all the businesses on this side of town had plexiglass at the customer service counters. That perception had me driving all the way to Arlington to take my clothes to the cleaners. During my challenge, I discovered Park Village Cleaners on 1563 Alabama Ave. SE, and I’ve been a faithful customer since. They sealed my loyalty when they managed to get a large red wine stain out of my beige trench coat, which also happens to be

my favorite coat. My laziness outweighs price. Anyone who knows me, knows that I can hold on to a dollar ‘til it hollas. I did not realize how important convenience and access were to me until I did this challenge. I had become so accustomed to heading out of the city for even the smallest items. For example, even though I live within a half-mile of four gas stations, I would drive out of my way to Maryland to get “cheaper” gas. During the challenge, I frequented the gas stations along Pennsylvania Avenue SE. I was instantly spoiled by the five-minute drive and not sitting in traffic to get there. Paying the higher price for gas in DC outweighed the time and energy wasted driving in search of “cheaper” gas. I am only one person, but every dollar counts. If I want economic prosperity in East of the River, then I need to do my part by investing in the businesses and amenities in my neighborhood. Imagine what the impact would have been if in 2008, I spent that $10,000 only in East of the River? What if everyone east of the river made 80 percent of their purchases here? Word of mouth is a powerful tool. I learned about many of the new businesses through my neighbors and neighborhood listservs. When I needed windshield wipers, my neighbors suggested Addison Autoparts at 3908 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, which is literally a stone’s throw from my street. It inspired me to use yelp.com to provide feedback on some of the businesses I patronized to spread the word to a wider audience. My personal challenge gave me a new appreciation for what we do have east of the river. Over the next few columns, I will continue my quest to find businesses, services and amenities we have east of the river that many of us may or may not know exists. My quest to Live Local continues, and I hope you will join me. Veronica O. Davis is a resident of Ward 7 and manages the blog Life in the Village (http://fairafaxvillage. blogspot.com). ★

Change Is Arriving in Historic Anacostia Uniontown Bar & Grill set to open in the summer by John Muller

Uniontown Bar and Grill, at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE

he Players Lounge in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, well known for hosting election night parties and political rallies, will no longer be the only place Ward 8 residents can go after-hours to enjoy the company of friends, family and neighbors over dinner. With an opening planned for July, Uniontown Bar and Grill at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE is bringing a renewed excitement to Historic Anacostia. The neighborhood, which gained a new coffee shop in January, has patiently awaited the arrival of what many cross-town residents enjoy without thinking twice. “Change is coming to a community that desperately needs change,” says Greta Fuller, who represents Historic Anacostia as advisory neighborhood commissioner of A803. “DC is a walking city. We don’t have anywhere to truly walk to. I’ve spoken with many of my constituents, and they can’t wait to enjoy themselves.” The impetus for Uniontown Bar & Grill is third-generation Washingtonian Natasha Dasher, who has previously been known throughout the city for holding fundraisers for local politicians. “I was fortunate enough to grow up in DC in a civically affiliated family. Being dedicated to the economic development of the city is in my internal make-up,” says Dasher. Mindful of historic preservation, Dasher has fitted the building, which nearly a century ago housed Burys General Store at 2200 Nichols Ave., with a new façade, and the 1980s-era mural on the W Street side has been painted over. Dasher is not a fan of loud restaurants that masquerade as night clubs and says Uniontown will be family friendly. The restaurant will be open 11a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Serving American

food with Cajun options, Uniontown will have a total seating capacity of 153 spread across a large bar, booth seating and tables. Evening hours will adjust according to the season and occasion, for example, when the Redskins play at night, says Dasher. Working with Stan Voudrie, principal of Four Points LLC, to identify a high visibility location, Dasher says she wants Uniontown to be a place where the community can enjoy good food and conversation. “One of the things people always say is we need a sit-down restaurant. We’re really excited, and I’m looking forward to taking friends,” says Voudrie, who with Four Points, landlord to Big Chair Coffee, signed a 10-year lease with Dasher. “Any business in the community is beneficial. People spending money in the community is a good thing. It’s what makes the world turn,” said Paul Sweet, a resident of Hope Village, as he walked by Uniontown. “We can’t take this in isolation. The area is growing fast. There’s development in lower Anacostia, and we’re working in Congress Heights. We like the fact it’s coming, but we need more development,” said former DC Mayor and Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry. Uniontown Bar & Grill draws its name from the past. Before the Civil War, developers created Uniontown, a 100-acre grid of 700 rectangular lots in present-day Anacostia to be sold to whites. For many reasons, Uniontown as a city community never succeeded. Dasher, a marketing executive, had heard many of the “myths” surrounding Uniontown, but when she saw the Uniontown photo essay at the Anacostia UPO, she had the perfect name for her restaurant. “There are few alternatives to the fried food places to eat or gather in Anacostia,” observes Brad Karreer, a housing financial analyst with the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. “Many times office workers here organize lunch pick-up trips across the river, but now it seems there is a critical mass in the day-time crowd to have more and varied food service here in the neighborhood. This complements some of the other pioneer businesses that have taken root along MLK Avenue, and their success should be encouraging for others to invest here.” Follow the latest news on Uniontown at twitter. com/uniontownbar. ★

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Kids & Family

Roosevelt Culinary Arts Academy Training Students for Careers in Culinary and Food Service Industries

LEFT to RIGHT 1. Sophomore Malasia Hassan (right) and her classmate share a laugh while working together on their part of the assigned Caesar salad recipe. The students work on separate parts of the recipe (alone or in pairs) and communicate their progress to one another along the way. 2. Junior Lewis Dunn checks his work – fresh croutons from scratch for a Caesar salad.

article by Jazelle Hunt | photos by Tatiana Sanguinette

or a handful of students at Roosevelt Senior High School, lunchtime is class time. Each day at 11:45 a.m., half of the student body heads to the cafeteria to enjoy their lunch while these student-chefs head to the state-of-the-art kitchen classroom to prepare theirs. They each have a distinct contribution in building the recipe; and after a class period of intense chopping, measuring and stirring, their delectable classroom work stimulates their taste buds, satisfies their hunger, and strengthens their grade-point averages. The group is enrolled in Roosevelt’s Culinary Arts Academy, a program designed to train students for success in the culinary and food service industries. The academy features three elective courses over two years. In Culinary Art I, students learn the basics in a classroom setting and are given the opportunity to earn their ServSafe certification. Culinary Art II allows students to suit up in their chef uniforms (complete with the toques) for hands-on application in the kitchen. By Culinary Art III in senior year, students are autonomous—they get an assigned recipe for the class period and perform the task solo. The ServSafe Food Safety Certification requires a 75 percent or better on a 90-question exam offered by the National Restaurant Association. This certification is nationally recog36 ★ East of the River • June 2010

nized and accredited and is required for managerial positions in the food industry. So far, 12 of the 28 students enrolled in the program have earned their certiﬁcation. Chef Fredrick Monroe, the program’s chef instructor, is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and holds an associate’s in culinary arts, a bachelor’s in food service entrepreneurship, and a master’s in food service education. He has done everything from cooking at a nursing home, to coordinating catered events, to teaching classes, but this is the ﬁrst job which he “feels excited walking through the doors.” “Most students take culinary arts because they want to learn how to cook, or they want the chance to eat!” Monroe explains. “I try to teach them more than that. All I ask is that they think, and think outside of the box.” The coursework is graded on a production scale, in which cleanliness, execution/technique, presentation and taste count for the whole grade. Students also critique each other and Chef Monroe each week. On Thursdays, Culinary Art II and III students run a café known as The Roosevelt Inn. The Inn gives them restaurant experience—the patrons are charged, some students cook while others greet and serve their schoolmates and faculty who come for lunch, and everything runs on a tight schedule. Earnings go toward supplies and class out-

ings to well-known restaurants in the DC area. Malasia Hassan, 16, a sophomore and self-described “very friendly person,” always works the front of The Inn. She’s currently enrolled in Culinary Art II and received her ServSafe certiﬁcation last semester. Although she wants to become an actress someday, she chose the program because she already liked cooking and eating. “Since I was 2, I was in the kitchen helping, and as I got older I started cooking by myself,” Malasia said. “But the program has helped me with my technique.” Since entering the kitchen, she has made everything from tacos to glazed salmon to Caesar salad, complete with homemade dressing. This semester, she job shadowed at L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland and the Atrium Café at the National Museum of Natural History.

‘It’s not just cooking’ Chef Monroe makes it a point to incorporate basic math, reading, writing and technology skills into the curriculum. The students keep weekly journals (where they assess Chef Monroe), convert recipe measurements, and keep track of the inventory using computer software. Each student is also required to submit a resume, so Chef Monroe can place them in internship or job opportunities. “I believe that culinary arts is not

LEFT to RIGHT 1. A student chops lettuce for the class’s Caesar salad. Before entering the kitchen and handling supplies, culinary arts students spend a semester learning their tools and proper knife cuts, among other things. 2. A student taste-tests his Caesar salad dressing and reports to Chef Fredrick Monroe.

only cooking; reading, writing, and technology skills are essential for this business,” Monroe said. “We are training these kids for what lies beyond this program.” This was a surprise for junior Lewis Dunn, who wasn’t even sure what “culinary arts” was when it showed up on his schedule last year. “I thought about switching classes, but I decided to try it,” Lewis explained. “When I first went [to class], I thought we would be cooking the first day, but Chef Monroe told us we wouldn’t be cooking for another two months.” One challenge he faced in those two months was recipe conversions and his difficulty with math. But it didn’t stop him from getting the most out of the program. “It’s not just cooking—I’ve learned about culture, like French cuisine, for example. I’ve learned about where things come from, like how a lot of stuff we call soul food really used to be slave food. And I always thought that anything you ate would give you energy,” Lewis explained, “But different foods affect you in different ways. You really are what you eat.” Lewis also plays defensive tackle for Roosevelt’s football team. Although he’s not sure what he wants to do after he graduates, his coach helped him see that a career in culinary arts is, at the very least, a good back-up plan. Eighteen-year-old senior Markus

Freeman, on the other hand, has always been interested in a career in the food industry. He transferred into Roosevelt as a sophomore, unaware of the program until he had to choose an elective. “Cooking runs in my family,” Markus said. “Since I was 11, whether it was in my mom’s kitchen making deviled eggs or macaroni, or around the grill at a family reunion, I always wanted to be around the food.” Markus has already begun building a resume in his ﬁeld. Last year he interned at Old Glory in Georgetown, where he is now employed as a prep and grill cook on weekends. At school he prepares for this year’s SkillsUSA Culinary Arts Competition in Kansas City, Missouri, where he will be competing with culinary students from across the country for scholarship money, national recognition, and the chance to compete internationally. “I like the program because it really prepares you,” he said. “Most people start as a dishwasher at restaurants, but I started on the line. I got lucky – I already had culinary experience. [My boss] liked my speed, and I learned so fast, I was a grill cook in two months.” He also expressed how invaluable his certiﬁcation is in making jobs easy to come by. Since the academy’s inception in 1997, students have gone on to earn thousands of dollars in scholarships to schools such as Johnson

& Wales, the Culinary Institute of America, and Lincoln Culinary Institute (formerly Florida Culinary Institute). Markus hopes to join the ranks of these past students by earning a medal at SkillsUSA and someday becoming a head chef or opening his own restaurant (though he’s not sure what kind of food he’d like to serve). “And I’ve always asked myself if I could work for the president one day,” he added. For now, he’s just waiting to hear back from the three culinary schools where he has applied and thinking about what he would like to work with next, beyond the grill. He graduates on June 10. Culinary arts students complete the program on their own steam—a student can withdraw and take up another elective from one semester to the next. For these three students, however, the culinary arts program is too enjoyable and worthwhile to walk away from. “I can think back and say I know I learned a lot – Chef Monroe taught me a lot about food,” Markus said. “I put my heart into my work and take pride in what I do. I learn from my mistakes, and I am always proud of myself.” Roosevelt Senior High School is located at 4301 13th St. NW. Call 202576-6130 or visit roosevelt.k12.dc.us for more information. Contact Chef Fredrick Monroe at fredrick.monroe@ dc.gov. ★

capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 37

kids & family

Team of Moms Create Kids & Culture Camp Moms committed to offering quality camps at affordable costs to DC residents article and photos by Monica Utsey

From L-R: Jessica Silva and Sabrina Boyd talking with potential parent Bridget Obigoya.

he’s the preacher’s wife at Georgia Avenue Church of Christ, homeschooling mother of two, community activist, and part-time attorney operating out of her home office. It wouldn’t seem possible for Jania Otey of Petworth to squeeze anything else into her schedule. But she did. Otey had been thinking about a camp for her children for two years. Quality and affordability were very important. Unable to find what she wanted, Otey reached out to her mother’s groups and many answered the call, including East of the River residents Jennifer Muhammad and Jessica Silva. “The idea popped into my head that it would be nice to have structured activities for my children during the summer and expose them to areas that I had not been able to, such as chess and music,” says Otey. More than anything Otey wanted the camp to send a message to residents that mothers care about affordable, quality programs for children. “Many children of color may not have the opportunity to attend camps with high quality programming because of 38 ★ East of the River • June 2010

the cost,” says Otey. After three months of Monday night conference calls and meetings around her dining room table with the children tended to by teen babysitters in the basement, the mothers pulled the plan together. The mom team tackled projects with precision. A mom experienced in project management did the planning, while another skilled in Web and graphic design created the website and handled the creation of ﬂyers and promotional materials. Another mom with experience operating a daycare service, created the themes for the camp. Amazingly, all of this was accomplished in the same 24 hours allotted for mothering, working and, for some of the moms, homeschooling, too! “I stayed up late until 3 a.m. and woke up early on many days,” says Otey. “I work best when the kids are asleep.” Skilled in multitasking, Otey incorporated errands into the regular homeschool day and turned business trips into ﬁeld trips. What’s unique about this camp is that the parents are the teachers. At an open house for the children

in May, it was apparent that this is a labor of love for the impressive roster of cooperative teachers that includes, among others, Angela Humphrey, Jamia Eaton, Jessica Macauley, LaTeisha Williams, Oluwatoyin Tella, Sabrina Boyd and Adirah Aishet-Tsalmiel, who will not be paid for their work. Jennifer Muhammad, founder of the Little Genius Science and Math program in Southeast, has more than 15 years teaching experience. Fluent in Spanish, she will be teaching the preschool group. The super busy mother of four wanted to be a part of the vision for Kids & Culture right away. “The cooperative concept is a very unique one and speaks volumes even before you meet the staﬀ,” says Muhammad. “Because it says you care enough and believe in [the Kids & Culture Camp] enough to put your children in it. This means you are going to work to make it the best.” Each of the four sessions has a theme: Navigating the Niger (Western Africa), Guide to the Greater Antilles (Caribbean), Conquering the Congo (Central Africa) and Ascend-

ing the Andes (Western South America). Children ages 3 to 12 will also experience chess, music classes, Spanish instruction, story time at Sankofa Bookstore, theater, yoga and art. Kids & Culture will be held on the campus of historic Howard University where students will tour campus museums, radio and television stations. Jessica Silva has traveled extensively throughout Africa and Latin America and speaks Spanish. But her passion is African and Latin culture and music. Silva will be teaching the preschool group all about Africa and the Caribbean using fun hands-on activities. “This camp is focused on culture, and we are starting oﬀ with the cradle of civilization – Africa and moving on to the Caribbean, South America – other areas highly populated with African descendants,” says Silva. The theme of culture has been a big draw for parents. Otey says many camps in the area are either academic or sports driven. Kids & Culture’s aim is to teach children about culture in a memorable way. “We are making learning fun. We will be using chess to teach mathematical concepts,” says Muhammad. More importantly, Kids & Culture sends a powerful message to the children according to Muhammad. “This camp says that they are important – their history, their culture and their ancestry – that their story can be told, and they don’t have to be ashamed. They are going to learn at a very young age that they are connected to people all over the world.” Otey says the camp would not take place without the cooperative effort of the moms with backgrounds in law, theater, visual arts, accounting, biology, international studies, chemistry, Spanish, political science and hospitality management. Others in the community are donating time as well, including professional artists, librarians and personal trainers. The moms aren’t the only ones who believe in the vision of Kids & Culture Camp. The camp runs from June 28 thru July 23. For more information, visit: www.mykidsandculture.com or call 202-345-7909. Monica Z. Utsey is a freelance writer and president of the Southern DC Chapter of Mocha Moms Inc. ★

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kids & family

Educating the District Making Sense of AYP by Lisa Raymond

he term “school choice” may sound enticing. I mean, who doesn’t like having options? But for many of us in DC, it can be somewhat terrifying. There’s a lot to consider when you’re choosing a school for your child or deciding if it’s where he or she should stay: parents look at everything from teacher experience and the effectiveness of the principal to playgrounds and field trips. But one thing that isn’t often at the top of the list, but possibly should be, is whether or not a school has met AYP. Put simply, Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP is part of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and is a measure of upward achievement. The score makes it easier to see how a school is achieving – or isn’t. AYP factored into my decision recently when I was considering schools across the city for my sixyear-old twins. I looked for those with diverse student populations because I believe that when kids of different ethnic backgrounds and income levels learn together, they all benefit. I also looked at test

40 ★ East of the River • June 2010

scores with three things in mind: the school as a whole had a high percentage of kids scoring well (“proficient” or “advanced”) in math and reading, kids of all backgrounds were scoring equally well and the test scores were staying at high levels across a period of time or moving up if there was room to grow. In DC, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the DC State Board of Education sets “learning standards,” which spell out what every child, in every grade, in every subject, needs to know and be able to do (View DC’s Teaching and Learning Standards at http://seo.dc.gov). The U.S. Department of Education requires each state to test all students in grades three through eight and one grade in high school – generally tenth grade – to be sure they’re meeting these standards. The test used in DC is the DC-CAS. So how do we use the DC-CAS and what does it mean to “meet AYP”? Let’s say that Jeremiah is a fifth grader at Sunshine Elementary School. Jeremiah’s score on the DCCAS will help him, his family, his

teachers and his principal see how well he has mastered the DC learning standards. His score combined with those of his classmates will help his principal understand how well Jeremiah’s teacher is helping his/ her students meet those standards. If the school is able to get a certain percentage of its students, in every group (race, gender, socioeconomic status, special education or English learner status) to meet the standards, then they have met AYP. But just because a school fails to meet AYP doesn’t necessarily mean you should take it off your list. And the reverse is true as well: a school that meets AYP isn’t automatically a good school and the numbers could be masking other problems. One example of the first type of school is Brent Elementary in Ward 6. Parents, including me at first glance, were shocked that Brent, widely regarded as a successful school, had failed to meet AYP in reading in 2009. But then I took a closer look: the number of students taking the DC-CAS was small, which could throw off the results. There was only one class per

grade in grades 3-5, for a total of 77 students in 2008 and 61 students in 2009. Between the 2008 and 2009 test, one class of fifth graders left and a new third grade class took the DC-CAS for the first time, meaning that many of the kids taking the test in 2009 were different from those who took it the year before. It’s possible that something in Brent’s academic program changed, but more likely the drop in scores can be explained by a difference in skill level between the kids who left and the new kids taking the test; or with such a small number of kids, it could have been caused by something as simple as a few students being absent on test day. A number of schools hold up well under the AYP magnifying lens. One example is Cleveland Elementary in Ward 1. Cleveland has met AYP for both reading and math for three years in a row; has a diverse population (about 70 percent black and 30 percent Hispanic) and between 2007 and 2009, scores went up significantly for black students in both reading and math and for Hispanic students in reading. There was a relatively small gap in achievement between the two groups in 2009: about 81 percent of black students and 73 percent of Hispanic students scored proficient or higher in reading. AYP is just one way to measure

how well schools are doing – and it should never replace getting to know the principal, teachers and academic program of a school – and it’s important to understand what it means, and what it doesn’t mean. But don’t go it alone; there are resources to help you understand AYP or learn more about DC public and public charter schools. The most detailed information on AYP comes from the OSSE report cards at http://www.nclb. osse.dc.gov (see “School Test Score Data”). Fight for Children’s School Chooser has lots of valuable information and can be found online (http://ﬁghtforchildren.org) or by calling 202772-0400. DCPS is currently developing a Schools Scorecard and the DC State Board just approved a new “report card” that’s designed to help parents understand AYP; look for those in the next few months. Or you can always ask me. Lisa Raymond is the Ward 6 Member of the DC State Board of Education, a parent of two DCPS students and an education consultant. ★

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kids & family

>> notebook

Kids & Family Notebook

MacFarland Middle School’s Saba Amare with the piece of artwork inspired by her poem, “My Time of Sorrow.”

Art Gala Helps Fund DC SCORES After-School Program On May 19, DC SCORES hosted its first Inspired Art Gala. All of the proceeds from the charity event benefited DC SCORES, a nonprofit after-school program that uses soccer, poetry and service-learning to inspire over 700 public elementary and middle school District youth. Held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the event was unique in several ways. A silent auction featured 70 pieces of art created mostly by local professionals that were inspired by the poems of DC SCORES students. The evening also featured performances by talented poets and spoken-word artists – of all levels. Eight DC SCORES poets – Saba Amare (MacFarland MS), Henry Lozano (Tubman ES), Ingrid Melendez and Ingrid Villacorta (Columbia Heights Education Campus), James Peters (Raymond Education Center), Daniela Shia-Sevilla (H.D. Cooke ES), Jasia Smith (Burrville ES), and A’dora Willis (Arts and Technology Academy) – and four professionals took the stage to wow guests with spoken-word performances. The professionals were: Gabriel “Asheru” Benn, a hip hop artist, educator and youth advocate who has won a Peabody award; Ayanna Gregory, a soul singer, songwriter and agent of change who has performed at major rallies with the likes of Stevie Wonder; David James, lead vocalist for Ndelible, an alternative/soul/ hip hop band that has traveled to play shows with Common and others; and Christylez Bacon, who produces an eclectic blend of classical, jazz, hip-hop 42 ★ East of the River • June 2010

arrangements and lyricism. In between performances, DC SCORES Executive Director Amy Nakamoto awarded Allen Y. Lew, executive director of the mayor’s Oﬃce of Public Education Facilities Modernization, with the DC SCORES Inspiration Award. Approximately 200 guests attended the gala, including about 30 of the artists who donated their works. For more information on DC SCORES, call 202-393-6999.

Teach the Beat: Go-Go Music from West Africa to Washington, DC Did you know that the beat that makes GoGo music go can be traced to the beats that were developed in parts of Africa many years ago? Go-Go music co-authors of “The Beat! Go-Go Music From Washington, DC”, Charles Stephenson and Kip Lornell, will lead a discussion and demonstration on how Go-Go music emerged in Washington, DC, on June 5, 1 p.m., at the Anacostia Community Museum. Other guests include: Shuaib Mitchell, the director of the Straight Up Go-Go DVD; choreographer/ dancer Melvin Deal; and musicians Thirtytwo of the Northeast Groovers and Go-Go Mickey of Rare Essence. Books and DVDs are available for purchase. Free. 1901 Fort Place SE. 202-6334844, anacostia.si.edu.

aged. 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-633-5533, www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

Flag Day Family Festival Head over to the National Museum of American History June 12, for an all-day family festival in honor of Flag Day. The celebration includes a children’s citizenship ceremony, performances from the Fifes and Drums of New York, and a ﬂag-folding activity. Free. 202-633-1000, americanhistory.si.edu.

Urban Animals Workshop The National Building Museum hosts an “Urban Animals” workshop June 20, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children ages 6 to 18 can explore wild Washington as they walk around the museum’s neighborhood searching for animals in the architecture. The funﬁlled family activity is led by children’s book author Isabel Hill and concludes with a hands-on craft project. $10-$15. Advance registration is required. 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448, www.nbm.org.

Performances at Discovery Theater •

•

A-B-C’s of Stamp Collecting Workshop Join Janet Klug on June 6, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the National Postal Museum, for a stamp collecting workshop. Klug (immediate past president of the American Philatelic Society and member of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee) guides participants through topical stamp collecting, using mounts and hinges and discovering more about their stamps. This workshop is popular with adults and kids alike. Free, but pre-registration encour-

•

AfroBEATS. June 8, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center. This percussion-focused jam features young performers from VSA Michigan’s artsJAM! Detroit Percussion Ensemble playing a variety of instruments. $4-$6. All Aboard! Songs and Stories from America’s Railroads. June 9, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center. Through songs and stories of the American frontier, Iowan Frank Strong Jr. (aka “Freight Train” Frank) delights young audiences with the melodies and memories of America’s collective past. $4-$6. The Magic Seeds, with Uganda Deaf Silent Theatre. June 10, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center. Using a sublime mixture of dancing, gesture, and sign language, Uganda Deaf Silent Theatre tells the story of a young man who is tricked into selling his pumpkins for a handful of seeds and ends up a hero. $4-$6. Dynamo Day of Dance. June 11, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center. Bringing together art-

ists from Central America and the nation’s capital, VSA Guatemala’s Youth Dance Company and Maryland’s Wild Zappers contrast the flash and spirit of traditional flamenco with the contemporary jazz/funk/hip-hop of the United States. $4-$6. • Giggles: “The Girl Who Made the Whole World Laugh.”June 12, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Ripley Center. Giggles, the 10-year-old star of McDuffle’s Circus, takes center ring every night to share her contagious giggle with the audience. Born without a voice, but with the ability to giggle, Giggles was raised by the circus when her parents left to find a cure for Giggle’s giggles. $4-$6. • Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. June 18, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Ripley Center. Everyone will groove to the positive beats, with an awesome balance of education and entertainment, this unique artist will have everyone on their feet, dancing, and shouting for joy. $4-$6. The theater is located at 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. For more information and tickets, call 202-633-8700 or visit discoverytheater.org.

2010 International VSA Festival: All Kids Can…CREATE! Each year, VSA issues a nationwide call for art through VSA state aﬃliates that encourages children and youth to share their creativity. This year’s theme, “State of the Art,” asked children to consider the roles they play within their communities. The resulting exhibition, which runs through June 12, at Union Station, features one piece of artwork from every state and the District of Columbia. All submissions are included in an online gallery. The exhibition debuts in Washington, DC, and will tour nationally for two years. This exhibit is free. For more information, call 202-6282800 or visit www.vsarts.org.

Our website just got a whole lot better!!

capitalcommunitynews.com

Family Fiesta: Viva México Bring the family to spend a day at the Anacostia Comcapitalcommunitynews.com ★ 43

Community Child Development Center “A Child’s World for Learning”

Open Year round 6:30am to 6:00pm Ages 2 to 4 plus School age Developmentally Appropriate Programs Toilet Training • Certified Educators Hot Balanced Meals • Educational Field Trips Tuition Based on Income Two Locations 4021 Minnesota Ave NE Washington DC 20019

1105 50th St., NE Washington DC 20019

202-397-1170

202-397-8754

munity Museum, June 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and celebrate Mexico in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition, “The African Presence in México: From Yanga to the Present.” Experience the sound, look, arts and culture of Mexico through dance performances, live music, costumes, storytelling, arts and crafts, and more. This day promises to be full of activities for all ages. Funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Free. 1901 Fort Place SE. 202633-4875, anacostia.si.edu.

Girls Make History Day at the US Navy Museum Children (and their dolls) are invited to spend June 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., discovering naval history through the eyes of their favorite American Girl characters. Authors Valerie Tripp and Jacqueline Dembar Greene sign books, plus there are hands-on activities that explore the eras of Felicity, Addy, Samantha, Kit, Kirsten, Rebecca and Molly. Free, but advance registration is required. The museum is located at 805 Kidder Breese St. SE. 202433-6826, www.history.navy.mil.

The Family Room Schedule for June

The East of the River Experts. Let Us Help You Find Your Dream Home! And We’ll Give You A FREE Housewarming Party!!!

Principal Broker/Owner Darrin D. Davis

202-678-REAL (7325) 2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Ste. 204 Washington, DC 20020

www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com 44 ★ East of the River • June 2010

The Family Room, located at 411 Eighth St. SE, has the following schedule for June. The calendar is subject to change, so please call to conﬁrm dates. Visit the website for detailed class descriptions. • Kindermusik Our Time, Thursdays, 1010:45 a.m., for ages 1 ½ to 3. Eight-week session began May 13, but inquire about joining and paying pro-rated fees. • Kindermusik Village, Fridays, noon-12:45 p.m., for ages newborn to 1 ½. Eight-week session began May 21, but inquire about joining and paying pro-rated fees. • Spanish story time, Tuesdays, 1:30-1:45 p.m.; French story time, Thursdays, 12:3012:45 p.m. • Music for infants, Tuesdays, noon-12:30 p.m.; Music and movement story time, Wednesday, 9:15-9:30 a.m.; Music for 1’s and 2’s, Wednesdays, 10-10:30 a.m., Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. • Activity time, Wednesdays, 2-2:15 p.m. Please call 202-640-2855 for the most upto-date information. Check out www.thefamilyroomdc.com for pricing and more details.

Children’s Programs at NCM The National Children’s Museum will host the following activities for children in June at the National Harbor’s Launch Zone: • Wee Wonders: The People in Your Neighborhood. June 8 & 15, 10-11:15 a.m. Learn about ﬁreﬁghters, policemen and women,

mail carriers, and other community heroes and the jobs they do alongside your young child in this fun, fast-paced program. For ages 2-3 with a parent/caregiver. Limit two children per adult; all non-infant children with an adult must pay and must participate; additional siblings are not permitted. $10 per child. Pre-registration and advance payment (by check or credit card only) is required by the Friday prior to the event. Please call 301-686-0225 or e-mail RSVP@ncm.museum to register. • Firefly Frenzy. June 12, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn more about fireflies and celebrate the new game on the Ready, Set, Glow! website, www.ReadySetGlow.org, with firefly crafts and a special firefly story time. Free. • Shake, Rattle and Drum Roll. June 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore various musical instruments from around the world. Try your hand at the cow bell, guiro, maracas, claves, rain stick, finger cymbals, and seed rattle. Make your own instrument to take home and be part of impromptu musical parades. Free. • Once Upon a Time. June 21, 23, 25 and 26, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the fairytale worlds of elves, fairies, goblins, trolls, giants, gnomes and magic during a story time followed by a craft. Free. • Fireworks and Patriotic Fun. June 28, 30, July 2 and 3. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate Independence Day with astonishing firework art. Designs feature images of the Washington Monument, so you can create art that looks like the firework spectacle you might see in and around the nation’s capital. Free. NCM is located at 112 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. 301-686-0225, www. ncm.museum.

Register Now for Hill Havurah’s Co-op Preschool on the Hill Hill Havurah is launching a two- to three-morning-a-week Jewish cooperative pre-school on Capitol Hill starting this fall and has openings available. This teacherled program with parental involvement will oﬀer a warm and loving environment to help socialize children and expose them to Jewish culture, including holidays, Jewish music and rudimentary Hebrew while preparing them for a life of learning. Learn more at the Hill Havurah website (www. hillhavurah.org) and click on “Hill Jewish preschool.” There is no birthday cut-oﬀ, and a $75 deposit holds a spot. Have a listing for the Kids & Family Notebook? E-mail kidsnotebook@hillrag.com by the 20th of the month prior to publication. Submissions may be edited. Publication is not guaranteed. ★

FREE SEMINARS Presented by the…

Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (WACIF)

FREE SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE!

Ward 8 Farmer ’s Market

WACIF Staff will provide:

THIS YEAR WE HAVE E 2 DAY DAYS YS AND LOCATIO LOCATIONS!

One-on-one consulting, technical assistance and business expertise to Ward 7 small businesses Monday and Tuesday • 10:00am-2:00pm Friday • 11:00am-2:00pm (by appointment)

Old Congress Heights School Parking Lot -- Our Original Location (Alabama Ave. SE & Martin Luther King St. SE).

WACIF Staff will be at: 3939 Benning Rd., Washington, DC 20019 202-396-1200

For more information Call WACIF to RSVP: (202) 529-5505 Additional WACIF information can be found at www.wacif.org Interpretation services and accommodations for persons with disabilities are available. Contact WACIF one week prior to event for any special assistance needs. Support for WACIF’s programs and services is provided by the DC Dept. of Housing & Community Development, DC Dept. of Human Services – Early Care & Education Admin., Prince George’s Co. Dept. of Housing & Community Development, MD Dept. of Housing & Community Development, US Small Business Administration, US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Economic Development and Training Institute, Inc., National Capital/RLA Revitalization Corporation, Capital One, Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, Cafritz Foundation, Wachovia Bank and other individual and corporate donors and investors.

SATURDAYS 9am-2pm Starting June 5th

TUESDAYS 3pm-7pm Starting June 8th United Medical Center (formerly Greater Southeast Hospital) Front parking lot - 1310 Southern Ave. SE.

“HEALTHY FOOD, HEALTHY COMMUNITY” Fresh produce from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania farmers, plants, art, food-preparation workshops, children activities, nutrition and community information, give-always, music and more... SNAP EBT (food stamps and debit), WIC and Senior Coupons welcomed! Contact Us: Ward8FM@gmail.com • www.Ward8FarmersMarket.com

capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 45

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

Neighborhood

Price

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA 1612 18TH ST SE 1220 PLEASANT ST SE 1621 R ST SE 2302 NICHOLSON ST SE 1603 FAIRLAWN AVE SE 1817 GOOD HOPE RD SE 1356 VALLEY PL SE

$275,000 $229,000 $185,000 $133,000 $80,500 $76,000 $50,000

4 5 2 4 3 4 4

$195,000 $60,000 $72,000

2 2 4

$290,000 $289,000 $190,000

3 3 3

$231,500 $216,000 $199,900 $189,500 $180,000 $95,000 $83,900 $78,000 $76,700 $67,500 $61,500 $60,000 $50,000 $45,000 $37,900 $32,000 $21,000

3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 0 1

BARRY FARMS 2332 14TH PL SE 1488 MORRIS RD SE 1253 SUMNER RD SE

CHILLUM 5510 KANSAS AVE NW 5514 BLAIR RD NE 131 LONGFELLOW ST NW

APRIL RUBIN, MD Obstetrics • Gynecology Adolescent Gynecology • Infertility Menopause Counseling

636 A Street, NE • 202-547-4604 Blue Cross • Blue Shield Provider

46 ★ East of the River • June 2010

“The Capitol Hill Psychiatrist”

Joseph Tarantolo, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST CERTIFIED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIST HERBALIST, NUTRITION COUNSELOR

Specializing in: • Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy • Patients with the Diagnosis of Cancer • Self Exploration without Psychotropic Drugs: “Talk Back to Prozac”

202-543-5290

DEANWOOD 724 50TH ST NE 861 52ND ST NE 4032 GRANT ST NE 5348 GAY ST NE 4001 CLAY PL NE 5114 SHERIFF RD NE 4224 GRANT ST NE 34 46TH ST NE 819 51ST ST NE 82 57TH PL SE 116 SYCAMORE RD NE 221 56TH ST NE 1011 47TH PL NE 4230 DIX ST NE 5429 HUNT PL NE 1053 44TH ST NE 321 56TH ST NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 1301 45 PL SE 1521 41ST ST SE 1331 44TH PL SE 1736 40TH ST SE 4429 TEXAS AVE SE

$300,000 $260,000 $241,500 $110,000 $86,000

4 3 4 3 2

$360,000 $352,500 $317,500 $260,000 $220,000

3 3 3 3 3

$179,900 $50,000

4 4

$227,000 $183,608 $151,725

3 2 3

$9,500

$32,000 $26,900

1 1

$24,762

$109,900

$35,000

HILL CREST 2921 W ST SE 3556 TEXAS AVE SE 3412 TEXAS AVE SE 3409 CARPENTER ST SE 3116 M PL SE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 722 51ST ST SE 4943 A ST SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1841 TOBIAS DR SE 1920 21ST PL SE 3415 21ST ST SE

CONDO

on THE

BARRY FARMS 2610 WADE RD SE #205

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 4330 HALLEY TER SE #202 120 DANBURY ST SW #E

DEANWOOD 601 58TH ST NE #3

HILL CREST 2032 FORT DAVIS ST SE #A

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2472 ALABAMA AVE SE #B-203 ★

Hill Sharon L. Bernier PhD, CNS, BC

Psychotherapy 236 Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, D.C. 202-546-5311

capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 47

Classifieds AIR CONDITIONING

CONTRACTORS

AIR CONDITIONING

Over 20 years of Experience

To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.8300 x12 or email Carolina@hillrag.com

ELECTRICIAN THE HILL’S ELECTRICIAN Since 1990

HELP WANTED FOOD- TRUCK OPERATOR Food- Truck Operator needed. More information call (202) 299-8688 or (202) 558-9060.

www.wilcox-electric.com

202-546-1010

MOVING & HAULING

Polar Bear

AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

202-333-1310 www.polar-bear-hvac.com LICENSED BONDED INSURED FALL & WINTER SPECIALS FREE ESTIMATES

ATTORNEYS LEGAL SERVICES Bankruptcy (Ch. 7 & Ch. 13, Employment Matters, Civil Litigation, Family Law, Probate Matters (Guardianships/Conservatorships, Powers of Attorney, and Wills, Real Estate Matters, Contracts, Personal Injury/Auto Accidents, Small Businesses, Government Agencies, Sports & Entertainment Law, DUI/DWI, etc. Payment Plans Available. Serious Calls Only! Law Office of Andrellos Mitchell, PLLC. 717 D Street, NW, Suite 300. Call 202-271-9400 or e-mail: acmclient@aol.com.

CLEANING SERVICES

Residential & Commercial Residential & Commercial

• Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling • Hardwood Floors, Ceramic/Vinyl Tile • Demolition & Light Hauling • Drywall, Plastering & Painting • Waterproofing/Concrete Work • Roof Repair/New Roof • Carpet Cleaning

New Work • Rewiring • Repairs • Interior/Exterior Lighting

Awarded the Super Service Award from Angie's List in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Stephen D. Wilcox Master Electrician References Available Licensed - Insured - Bonded

MOVING & HAULING COMPANY • Bulk Trash • Appliances • Basement Furniture • Yard Cleanup • Weekly Trash Pickups • Evictions • Demolition • Local or Long Distance • Residential or Commercial MD DC VA • 24 Hour Same Day Service “No job too small or big”

202.396.0105 license # 1948

PAINTING

24 Hour Service

202.575.1064 240.620.2992 * Senior Discount Available * Discount for Church Members

STANDARD CLEANING SERVICE INC. Commercial & Residential

DESIGN

HANDYMAN RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Moving, Hauling, Landscaping, Painting, Cleaning, Plumbing, Electrical, Cooling, Heating, Masonry, Carpentry, Roof, Floor, Wall. Call 202.368.2628, 240.281.5513 or 703.789.4445. Email GCMANAGERS@aol.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

METROPOLITAN FITNESS & SAFETY ACADEMY @ 2201 SHANNON PLACE, SE • WDC 20020

Unique Creative Cutting Edge Ana Julia Viera 703.719.9850 • 703.447.9254 Days Free Estimates • Bonded & Insured References Upon Request 15% Discount New Customers

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER 48 ★ East of the River • June 2010

P R O F E S S I O N A L & A M AT E U R BOXING LESSONS

WAIT NO MORE PLUMBING 24 Hour Service

Specializing in Graphic Design & Website Design • • • •

brochure design advertisements website design branding design

• • • •

corporate identity signage design illustration portraits

Jason Nickens (c) 202.321.0793 (w) www.jasonnickens.com (e) artist@jasonnickens.com

PLUMBING

• ALL TYPES OF EXERCISE MACHINES Lat pull, ab crunch, back & shoulder press, etc. • DIET COUNSELING & NUTRITION

• OLYMPIC FREE WEIGHTS • FREE PERSONAL TRAINING • SENIORS WELCOME • HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

(202) 889-5711

Master Plumbers No Job Too small

Darrell White 202-575-1885 202-812-7115

DC License #1164

Just Say I Need A Plumber®

ROOF PROBLEMS?

Dial A Plumber, LLC®

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

Licensed Bonded Insured

Kenny

202-251-1479 DC P

L U M M E R

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I C E N S E

#707

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We are Repiping & Drain Cleaning Specialists · Competitive On The Spot Pricing · Same Day, Nights, Weekends & Emergency Service · Licensed Plumbers and Gasfitters · Underground Domestic Water and Sewer Line Leak Detection · Underground Pipe Locator

Hill Family Owned & Operated Call William at

(202) 255-9231 20 years of experience Licensed, Bonded and Insured LSDBE Certified

www.whsplumbingandheating.com

ROOFING

Johnston & Johnston Roofing

ABC ROOFING AND WATERPROOFING DC Lic. 6012 Flat Roof specialist, New Roofs, Slate, Shingle, Tin, Seamless Gutters, Copper, Waterproofing, Chimney, Brick Pointing.

24 Hour Emergency. OVER 30

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Residential/Commercial • Over 40 years in Business Chimney Repairs • Storm & Wind Damage Repair

• New or Re-Roofing • Tear-Off & Replacement • Flat Roof Specialist • Copper, Tin, Sheet Metal & Rolled • Seamless & Flat Roofs • Re-Sealing • Tar, Asphalt, Gravel, Hot Coats • Modified Bitumen • Ask about our gutter specials Insurance Claims • Free Estimates • 24Hr. Service

Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded “No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!

202-486-7359 All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed

FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST

Moses & Sons Rooﬁng

WE STOP LEAKS!

202-247-1516

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

Flat Roofs, Slates & Shingles

• Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications

We Do Everything!

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BBB Member

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“Try a new coating vs. a roof replacement.” • FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST • WATERPROOFING • BASEMENT LEAKS • ALUMINUM ASPHALT COATING • SLATE REPAIRS • SHINGLE REPAIRS

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• CHIMNEY REPAIR • BRICK POINTING • GUTTER REPAIR/GUTTER REPLACEMENT • INQUIRE ABOUT OUR SPECIALS • FREE ESTIMATES

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BOX CLASSIFIEDS: $25 per column inch, two inch minimum; $25 each additional inch; 3 month minimum Multiple paper discounts available. Paid in advance and billed quarterly

E-mail your ad with credit card information to carolina@hillrag.com or call 202.543.8300 x12.

202 271 4377

• Box Gutters • Gutter Guards

LINE CLASSIFIEDS: $25 for the first 15 words; 25 cents for each additional word

FREE CATEGORIES: Lost and Found, Items to Give Away, Club Meeting Notices

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EAST OF THE RIVER CLASSIFIED RATES

GET RESULTS! Place a classified in East of the River and watch your business grow!

Our website just got a whole lot better!! www.capitalcommunitynews.com

the nose

>> june 2010

by Anonymous

ecently, The Nose watched a reality TV show in which a random and somewhat bizarre group of people tried to navigate through a crisis. One of the main characters was a guy named Jack, and there was a smoky monster looming over the group called the Financial Control Board. This was the fiscal version of Lost, otherwise known as the twoday broadcast of DC Council budget deliberations last month. Dear Readers, forget the candidate propaganda and Colbert I. King rants and certainly The Washington Post election editorials. If you really want to learn about the candidates on the ballot this fall, invest an hour or two in watching this municipal mini-series. Be warned: At times it is a bit raw, and it can be scary. The camera actually shows how our elected officials think. The 13-member tribe led by DC Council Chairman Vince “The Undertaker” Gray congregated outside the council chambers to rescue the city from Mayor BlackBerry’s proposed budget that The Undertaker said would leave DC residents “nickel and dimed.” A quick spoiler: Did the council replace the more than 70 traffic tickets and fees the mayor proposed? No. In the grainy, dimly lighted room sat our DC Council: There was David “Can’tStandya” Catania, armed with his calculator and spreadsheets and highlighter pens. Directly across the table from him was Tommy “In the Name of the Father” Thomas, behind a fort of Gatorade and Muscle Milk, ready for battle over the so-called soda tax. He was flanked on both sides by Team At-Large Brown—Kwame and Michael —who didn’t seem to come with much of anything. Given the single-lens view of the chairman’s conference room, the screen looked like a cross between HBO’s The Wire and a televised school board meeting in Lake Wobegon. What about our self-proclaimed financial wizard? Mayor for Life Marion S. Barry Jr. made a cameo 50 ★ East of the River • June 2010

appearance. In the middle of the table sat The Undertaker. It was not The Undertaker’s choice to broadcast the proceedings—he brought in the cameras at the last minute only after a group of good government types threatened the council chairman with betrayal for meeting behind closed doors. But the camera presented a perfect opportunity for The Undertaker to showcase his brand of leadership and present a stark contrast to his mayoral nemesis, Mayor BlackBerry. The Nose will sum up that style here: Snoooozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzeeee. Sure, The Undertaker kept under control the diabolical rants of Jack “For Rent ” Evans, the grandstanding of Jim “Grahamstander” Graham, and the complete nerddom of Phil “Mendo” Mendelson. He also prevented Can’tStandya from putting Tommy “Bleeding Heart” Wells in a chokehold when Wells stumbled on questions about squeezing more money out of the human services agencies he oversees. And The Undertaker certainly can complain: He complained about BlackBerry’s “nickel-anddime” approach. He complained about the ballooning schools budget, and Chancellor Michelle “Red Queen” Rhee. He complained for many hours about how the mayor was draining the city’s bank account, called the fund balance. But where was the leadership? What solution or alternative did The Undertaker offer? Nickel-and-diming still in there? Yup. Schools budget still growing and seemingly untouchable? Yep. Fund balance still raided? Most definitely. Let’s look at how The Undertaker took on the thorny, controversial issues. First, the millionaire’s tax. The Undertaker built a career on fighting for the city’s most vulnerable, and what did he say to those allies when they proposed raising taxes on the top 5 percent of taxpayers to pay for critical programs that try to keep families off the street and healthy? When advocates finally cornered him, he said it was an elec-

tion year. He didn’t think there were many votes in securing the city’s safety net. And even though he happily posed for pictures with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack promoting Mary “Angry Woman” Cheh’s healthy schools initiative, he was mum about her soda tax proposal to fund it. He talked a lot about the “consensus in the room.” In these meetings, Gray said he was supportive of funding for the city’s $1.5 billion plus streetcar program. Yet funding for the program was mysteriously missing when the council met to vote on the budget, a surprise to Bleeding Heart and the Grahamstander, who have championed the project. Then the streetcars evangelicals pounded the blogosphere and e-mail and phone lines. A few hours later, Gray found new streetcar money in the form of a high interest payday loan. Hardly a profile in courage. So who was the real star of the show? Can’tStandya. Can’tStandya has always been a bit of a drama queen at these sessions, and was about one fist length away from coming to blows with former At-Large Councilmember Harold Brazil in a closed-door budget meeting years ago. But he stood out for a different reason this time. He was the only member who came to the table with a thorough knowledge of his budgets, the budgets of his colleagues, and the general fiscal outlook of other states and cities. When For Rent ranted on about cutting $165 million from the budget, Can’tStandya called that “reckless.” When the Grahamstander snuck in his pet programs, Can’tStandya pulled out his calculator. When Bleeding Heart clearly didn’t have a grasp on his critical human services programs, Can’tStandya talked about recession-related pressures and the need to challenge Dr. Natwar “Not a Beancounter” Gandhi’s assumptions. The Nose will say it now: Can’tStandya for Mayor in 2014. Have a tip for The Nose? E-mail thenose@hillrag.com. ★

Building Capacity Through Collaboration

The Ward 7 Honors Gala

Friday, June 25, 2010 from 6 pm – 9 pm

Hosted by the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network Highlighting effective collaboration, organizational leadership, quality programming, and volunteer coordination in Ward 7. Celebrating the extrodinary impact made by Ward 7 Nonprofits.

@ the IDEA Public Charter School 1027 45th Street, NE Washington DC 20019 Tickets $55 per person or $500 per table. Sponsorship & Info: Morris Redd communityrep@ideapcs.org | 202.621.2211 Ward 7 Nonprofit Network | www.w7npn.org

Kipp Student to attend Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire Nina Meyers, an 8th grader a Kipp DC Key Academy located at 4801 Bennning Rd. had an excellent school year and middle school experience. Nina’s excellent academic performance and overall school involvement led to her acceptance into the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.

Councilmember Kwame Brown and his Staff Congratulate Michael and Jennifer Price on the Birth of their Daughter, Layla Catherine Price.

This year Nina has maintained a 4.3 grade point average and earned one of the highest scores nationally on the ssat exam. Nina is the 8th grade class president and was also the 6th and 7th grade class president. Nina also scored well enough on the SAT in 7th grade to test into the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program. Nina is first chair violin in the school orchestra and recently played the role of Hero in the Shakespeare play “Much Ado about Nothing.” Nina has played softball, soccer, and basketball and enjoys basketball the most. Nina was also accepted into Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and Sidwell Friends School here in Washington DC. Nina is the daughter of J.R. and Karen Meyers.

capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 51