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IN THIS ISSUE MARCH 2021
spring
54
56 special issue 24 Slamming the Door On Open Plan Living: Escape from Football, and Sesame Street Too by Stephanie Cavanaugh
34 Expanding Your Living Space: Going Outdoors by Rindy O’Brien
38 A Capitol Hill Garden Design Primer by Cheryl Corson
42 Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair 44 Changing Hands by Don Denton
A Monument To Black Resistance And Strength
Happy Retirement, Jose Canales!
by Chris Myers Asch and George Derek Musgrove
by Stephanie Deutsch
84
89
Art and the City
Big Box Gyms Get Creative
by Jim Magner
by Pattie Cinelli
14
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
capitol streets 49
The Asymmetry of COVID-19 Vaccine Access: Community Organizations, Neighbors Bridge Gaps in DC Information and Registration by Elizabeth O’Gorek
54
Opinion: A Monument To Black Resistance And Strength: Considering DC’s Emancipation Memorial by Chris Myers Asch and George Derek Musgrove
55
Remove The Statue: An Opinion by Maurice Cook
56
Happy Retirement, Jose Canales! by Stephanie Deutsch
58
In Memoriam: MLB Reporter, Hill Resident Mel Antonen by Cyd Price
62
Our River: The Anacostia – Applying the Lessons of the Chesapeake Clean-Up to the Anacostia and Vice Versa! by Bill Matuszeski
64
ANC 6A Report by Nick L. Alberti
65
ANC 6B Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek
68
ANC 6C Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek
69
ANC 6D Report by Sarah Payne
72
Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner
arts and dining 79
At the Movies by Mike Canning
82
The Wine Girl by Elyse Genderson
84
Art and The City by Jim Magner
86
Literary Hill by Karen Lyon
87
Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon
family life 89
Big Box Gyms Get Creative During COVID-19 by Pattie Cinelli
92
The District Vet by Dan Teich
94
Kids and Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner
102
CLASSIFIEDS
106
CROSSWORD
on the cover: Capitol Hill House Interior – I Joseph Harrison Snyder See his work at Eastern Market https://easternmarket-dc.org/our-outdoor-vendors/page/3/ Available at www.josephharrisonsnyder.com Joseph Harrison Snyder is a full time artist, selling paintings and prints every Saturday and Sunday from 8-4. On weekends, he is usually found in a tent opposite to Tunnicliff’s Tavern on Seventh Street. Joseph lives and works just a few blocks away. DC is his adopted home and the subject of much of his work. As predictable as it may sound to say, he really loves this city. Loves it for its classical beauty and its unparalleled oddity, for its immense history and bewilderingly rapid changes, for its fascinating collection of transient people and its proudly ensconced locals. He thinks one of the highest callings of an artist is to document the community they are part of. He makes his stand here. Joseph does social and political commentary as well as painting the physical city. If he had to say, he would say his most admired artist is Honore Daumier. That is all he has to say. Its probably better for artist not to write too much. w: www.josephharrisonsnyder.com e: josephharrisonsnyder@me.com
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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. 12 ★ HILLRAG.COM
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SPYING THAT SHAPED HISTORY
WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N
In the International Spy Museum’s Spying That Shaped History gallery, the exhibits illustrate the impact of intelligence on history, including successes and failures, new tech tools, and the tension in balancing the needs for secrecy and liberty. You’ll see George Washington’s Spy Letter. In this letter, General Washington offers Nathaniel Sackett $50 a month (more than $1,000 today) to spy for the Continental Army, plus another $500 to set up a spy network. This month, the International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, reopens Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $24.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids, seven to twelve. Online ticket purchase is suggested. spymuseum.org. LEFT: George Washington (masked)
JOIN THE DISTRICT RUNNING COLLECTIVE Established in 2013, District Running Collective is a communitybased organization that uses running to promote wellness, culture, and community. Their goal is to provide all levels of runners with the best resources, community, and support along their running journey. Subscribe to their newsletter to learn more about their runs, what to expect, and their community. Their weekly Wednesday, fourpace-groups runs resume in early March. The DRC Space is at 733 11th St. NE. districtrunningcollective.com.
Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah
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VISIT BLACK LIVE MATTER PLAZA On June 5, DC renamed a two-block portion of 16th Street, NW (south of K Street, extending through I Street, and north of H Street NW) on the north side of President’s Park in front of the White House “Black Lives Matter Plaza” and had the slogan painted on the asphalt in massive, 35-foot, yellow letters as part of the George Floyd protests. Visit anytime.
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ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE: HOW SHAKESPEARE INVENTED THE VILLAIN Macbeth. Iago. Claudius. STC Affiliated Artist Patrick Page invites you to experience the evolution of evil in Shakespeare’s villains— from rogues and cutthroats to tyrants and sociopaths. Tony Award nominee Patrick Page explores how Shakespeare created the treacherous characters we all love to hate. This mesmerizing one-man performance runs until July 28, 2021 and is available online only. This production runs approximately 80 minutes and is available for 72 hours after purchase. $25. shakespearetheatre.org.
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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
A COURSE IN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART The arts blossomed in Renaissance Italy, an era that encompassed the innovations of perspective and oil paint, a new emphasis on the study of anatomy and antiquity, and the growing independence of the artist. Rocky Ruggiero, a specialist in the Early Renaissance, explores some of the great masterworks of art and architecture created from the late-14th to the 16th centuries as he examines the intellectual trends and social context that gave rise to such giants as Giotto, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. On Zoom; March 30, April 6, 13 and 20; 6:45 p.m. $90. smithsonianassociates.org LEFT: Brunelleschi’s dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL This year’s all-virtual festival will run from March 18 to 28 and feature roughly 100 films on topics related to all-things climate, activism and the outdoors. One major highlight of this year’s festival is the film Youth v Gov, a true story documenting young people taking on the world’s most powerful government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by willfully creating the climate crisis. Another film, The Falconer, is made by a DC area filmmaker and follows a local man on a mission to build a bird sanctuary and provide access to nature for a stressed, inner-city community. dceff.org. Rodney Stotts holds a redtailed hawk in The Falconer. Photo: Annie Kaempfer
CAPITAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL From March 4 through 14, Solas Nua and the American Film Institute present the 15th Capital Irish Film Festival online. The Festival celebrates Irish identity, culture, and artistry by bringing the best in contemporary Irish cinema to US audiences. Opening the Festival is the award-winning Irish-language thriller “Arracht” (Monster), screening with English subtitles, a heartrending story of individual survival in Ireland’s 19th Century famine years. It is Ireland’s selection for the 2021 Academy Award. An individual festival ticket is $12; all-access pass, $100. solasnua.org/ciff. Victim of the Great Famine and injustice in 1845 Ireland, Colman Sharkey (Dónall Ó Héalaí) is under the gun in the Irish-language thriller Arracht (Monster) with English subtitles, opening Solas Nua’s Capital Irish Film Festival on March 4, co-presented by AFI/Silver.
ANACOSTIA RIVERKEEPER CLEAN WATERWAYS CLEANUP On Saturday, March 27 (rain or shine), 9 a.m. to noon, help clean up the Kenilworth Park Bandalong Litter Trap, Deane Avenue NE. The cleanup will be divided into sublocations with groups of 25 people or less (all masked) in compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines. All supplies provided. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing you can get dirty that will protect you from the brush. Here’s the schedule: 8:30 a.m., sign in; 9 a.m., welcome and safety talk; 9:30 a.m. to noon, cleanup. Register at eventbrite. com/e/march-27th-clean-waterways-cleanup-tickets-138316487337. Read more at anacostiariverkeeper.org.
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“A Good Half Of The Art Of Living Is Resilience” -Alain De Botton
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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
THE BEAUTY OF BUZZARD POINT If you haven’t yet discovered the impressive “Beauty of Buzzard Point” mural along the Pepco substation in Buzzard Point, at S and First Streets, SW, be sure to check it out during your next stroll around the neighborhood. But before you go, enjoy this documentary video to get the inside story of how an idea among Buzzard Point stakeholders, Pepco, and the Capitol Riverfront BID became a reality. Local artists Kaliq Crosby and Rose Jaffe collaborated to create the largerthan-life mural featuring important DC icons that celebrate history and community, and reflect the rich contributions of this dynamic part of the District. youtube. com/watch?v=mc_KIdYKpbI&t=6s. RIGHT: Mural Community Paint Day
FORD’S THEATRE PRESENTS ONE DESTINY Ford’s Theatre Society has announced release of its free, on-demand video version of the popular stage play One Destiny by Richard Hellesen, directed by Mark Ramont. One Destiny On Demand is now available for streaming through June 13, 2021, with event registration on fords.org/visit/one-destiny. The 40-minute video production revisits the events of April 14, 1865, with a cast of historical characters who were present, including Ford’s Theatre co-owner Harry Ford and stage actor Harry Hawk. As they reconstruct the sequence of events, they grapple with the question: Could John Wilkes Booth have been stopped from assassinating President Abraham Lincoln? fords.org.
THE REVOLUTIONISTS (ALAS, LIVE THEATER) Through March 20, come to The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, to watch as four beautiful, sassy women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. This grand and dream-filled comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world. $21 to $29. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays, 3 p.m. thelittletheatre.com.
ABOVE: Michael Bunce and Stephen F. Schmidt in the Ford’s Theatre production of One Destiny. Photo: Courtesy of Ford’s Theatre
SIMPLY SONDHEIM Signature Theatre’s Simply Sondheim is the first production in the Signature Features 2021 Season. Starring 12 singers and an orchestra of 16, Simply Sondheim includes over 30 songs from the composer’s canon. It was filmed over the course of three days in Signature’s MAX Theatre with multiple safety protocols in place. The show will be available to stream through March 26 and for 72 hours after patron’s initial viewing has begun. Closed captions and an audio described version are available in English. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at SigTheatre.org. Tracey Lynn Olivera, Awa Sal Secka and Katie Mariko Murray. Photo: Christopher Miller
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spring
special issue
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Slamming the Door On Open Plan Living Escape from Football, and Sesame Street Too
M
by Stephanie Cavanaugh
y foyer has walls, which is a nice thing. It also has doors, which I’m also quite fond of. French doors, these are, of chestnut with many panes of glass and brass knobs. These frame the living room, creating a little air of mystery: Open them and something will happen. Sometimes I imagine I’m in a Sherlock Holmes novel: Come to my rooms for tea and watercress sandwiches at 4, or a brandy in front of the fireplace at 9. I’ll open the doors and you can have that wing chair and I’ll take this one. You simply cannot do that in a living room without walls; there might be drama in a wide open space—but no mystery. Life is totally exposed. And doors? Without them there’s nothing to slam when in a fit of pique. I suppose you could bang shut your kitchen cabinets (unless you have those hushed pneumatic things). You could also slam a closet door, but that would look silly --- un-
A cozy library seen through French doors.
We live on the back porch when the weather permits, surrounded by newspapers and brunch. Walls at either end (and a jungle’s worth of plants) keeps it private.
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less you’re extracting a coat and leaving. No, there’s nothing more satisfying when you’re really pissed off than marching through the house slamming doors as you go. If you’re now telecommuting and perhaps home-schooling too, the living is already tight in such homes as ours. Even if you’re out during the day, how do you get away from the roar of football games, or Sesame Street. No matter how small the room, it can be private space. Capitol Hill houses were built with thick plaster walls that insulated against cold and heat and sound. The doors had transoms, those rectangular windows above that could be opened or angled to move breezes through on stuffy days. Open spaces and wallboard – or exposed brick, as charming as it might appear – do neither. How I envy you that have pocket doors, often between living room and dining room. Doors that glide into the walls and keep you cozy. Close them for
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A huge mirror above the stove pops open the small kitchen, where the mess of dinner prep is hidden from guests.
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cocktails and open them with a flourish when it’s time to dine. Now that’s drama. At least we still have the original rooms and doors. These present pleasant surprises, and hide what needs to be hidden, both inside and out. Open-plan living, the very idea of what you see is what you get, is, to my mind, a bit depressing. My goodness, you have to be neat. There are walls around our dining room, separating it firmly from the kitchen, sparing the eye from the inevitable disarray caused by my enthusiastic and frequently complicated cooking. When the kitchen door is shut, the thought of cleaning up is suspended until the candles are gutted. Though washing up is always my husband’s job, I still don’t want to think about it. The kitchen is very small and – since we are blessed with so many great markets -- there’s deliberately little storage but a fine expanse of wall. There are no cabinets above the stove, nor a microwave, an appliance I do
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not understand. Instead, there’s a large and rather ornate mirror behind the range that reflects the cabinets on the opposite wall. These have glass doors to expose china and glassware and a growing assortment of pills. It has, I think, the air of a butler’s pantry. If you wander about, you might notice that most rooms have at least one, heavily framed, mirror. They play so delightfully with the light, which dances about, and expand what are in truth minuscule spaces. Then, mirrors create more rooms, a looking-glass world to step into. A gift to the imagination. I imagine a lot, often about creating more rooms. Like turning the little basement room under the front porch into an office. Originally used for coal storage to heat the house, the chute still exists in the alley. There’s a row of windows that peek out at the front sidewalk in winter and are muffled by forsythia spring through fall. A wood stove would be a pleasure when the air turns crisp, as the space lacks heat. I see myself sitting bundled in sweaters and fingerless gloves typing my memoirs. The area under the back porch, where double doors lead to a guest suite, has always been wasted as another storage area. Here I imagine a grotto, with a bistro table and chairs and a fountain on the wall. A much nicer view than the jumble of Iknow-not-what that’s now there. French doors with many panes open from the dining room to the back porch. There are walls here too, at either end, making it as cozy and as private as can be in the midst of
Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance this tightly packed neighborhood. We live outside when the weather permits, surrounded by newspapers and brunch. This is reflected in a vaguely Moorish four-paneled mirrored screen that sits at one end. I do not look into it much as it is distorted in a particularly fat way. Fences surround our 15-by-25-foot garden; these are vine-topped and too high to see over. A far too big kwanzan cherry tree provides a roof. Within the garden a gently curving river rock path passes flower beds and a fishpond on the way to the garage, which looks quite like an inviting little brick cottage, with windows flanking an antique door my husband rescued from a dumpster on Massachusetts Avenue and painted aqua. In another fantasy, the garage is called a carriage house and is not filled with husbandly rubbish. It is a studio, where I can do Jules Pfeifferesque dances, all (imaginary) attenuated limbs and thoughtfully dramatic poses. Or maybe I’d paint. Some years ago, I bought a voluminous white linen shirt with this very idea in mind—an idea that also involved many heavy rings, bangle bracelets and bushy eyebrows. Artistic talent, I felt, would surely follow. A parking pad and a rumbling garage door would never do. That this will probably never happen is neither here nor there. You need walls for such imagining, shadow boxes to put your dreams in. Stephanie Cavanaugh writes a weekly gardening column, of sorts, for the web magazine MYLITTLEBIRD.COM ◆
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Expanding Your Living Space: Going Outdoors
O
ne of the hot trends of the past year is expanding living spaces into our front- or backyards. It gained momentum after last year’s COVID protocols were put in place, encouraging socializing in outdoor areas. The National Association of Landscape Professionals noted that in 2020 creating multiuse all-season outdoor spaces was one of the top three trends. It is a smart upgrade that expands your house’s usable square footage. The options are limitless, and on Capitol Hill, where space is tight, residents are incredibly creative in their efforts. The federal Environmental Protection Agency says Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. According to many health and environment studies, spending time outdoors can do wonders for your health, including decreased rates of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Taking time away from your com-
Article and Photographs by Rindy O’Brien puter screens and indoor lighting also gives your eyes a chance to relax and reduces eyestrain. Scientific studies show that interacting with nature increases memory and cognitive skills. The National Institutes of Health has found that being in outdoor spaces helps reduce stress. If these weren’t enough reasons, creating outdoor living spaces also tends to increase your home’s value. Allie Mann of Case Design Company writes that adding outdoor living space is outpacing the effort to add interior space. She is especially excited about all the design options A choice of furniture can help define the outdoor spaces as seen in the Kasoff front yard gardens. now available for outdoor kitchens or living spaces. Whether you are the do-it-yourself type or would rather hire it out, now is a great time to plan, and here are some stories and tips to get you started.
Expanding Out Front
Ben and Barbi Kasoff created two living spaces in their corner yard at the Lincoln Park Condominiums this summer. One is formal with flagstone while the second one is pea gravel to create a less formal space.
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Ben and Barbi Kasoff moved to Capitol Hill two years ago, to the Lincoln Park Condominiums bordered by Massachusetts Avenue, 11th Street and East Capitol. They love being part of the urban scene. Barbi is a nationally recognized interior designer, currently working in the Detroit, Michigan, area. She splits her time between the Detroit suburbs and DC.
Outdoor space at the Charlotte Lee apartment building near Eastern Market has plenty of space for residents to enjoy time outdoors in the side yard.
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able to entertaining space. Just getting startDepending on the size and nature of an outdoor ed on such a project can be daunting. Unlike space, it may or may not require DC permits. If your kitchen and bath remodels, where informaproperty is in the designated historic zone, there are tion on cost, design and materials are readiadditional requirements. Thomas’s motto is, when in ly available, outdoor living space services are doubt, ask the Department of Consumer and Regulanot as well known. Do you need a horticultory Affairs (DCRA). Some permits can be done onturist, a landscape designer? Or will the local line. Others require a few more steps. construction company be able to do the job? All things considered, most Capitol Hill outdoor Trying to figure out a budget and what is reaprojects can be finished in three to four weeks. Many sonable to pay can be tricky. of the firms like Thomas Landscapes can be retained As in any home improvement project, for maintenance of the yard after installation. doing your homework can make a difference Spring is around the corner, so now is exactly in transforming the backyard into a thing of the right time to dream and plan for expanding your beauty for years to come or a project that is Capitol Hill outdoor space. Whether you add an inthe folly of the block. formal or formal outdoor space, a patio or a roof garThere is a range of competition, from den, the benefits will be well worth the investment. large companies like East Coast Landscape Just imagine the enjoyment you will have in the warm Design, one of the area’s leading landscape days ahead. design companies, located in Montgomery http://www.ec-landscapedesign.com County, to smaller companies like Thomas info@thomaslandscapes.com Landscapes, a full-service design firm led by https://www.casedesign.com/ Derek Thomas. Getting bids and estimates Rindy O’Brien is enjoying seeing all the new outdoor from a variety of companies is always a good spaces popping up on Capitol Hill and hopes there will idea, and is accepted practice by professionals. Jeffrey Frank and Carolina Lopez have turned their back yard be more to come. Contact: rindyobrien@gmail.com u Derek Thomas, a contributor to the Hill into a delightful living space with two seating areas, a table fire pit and grill. Rag and, for eight years, the host of the “Garden Spot” on local Fox 5, says he is always the Hill,” says Barbi, “and sitting out in our new pasurprised how little knowledge many residents tio area really is the best.” Ben says he likes being on have about landscape and garden design. an active corner and the public/private nature of their First, he says, many potential clients are surliving area. prised at the cost of outdoor living spaces. Home AdWith approval from the condo board, they took visor says the national average cost of an outdoor liva front yard that had been planted with liriope, coming space project is about $7,670. Of course, many monly known as monkey grass, and turned it into different factors come into play, but it definitely costs two seating areas. Ben took on the weekend and afmore than you might think. ter-work job of clearing out the plants and years of Thomas adds it is important for the buyer to bemulch, which had added eight inches to the garden ware. He highly recommends researching the landin spots, making the yard very uneven. It took him scape architect and company before committing. He many hours of hard work to get the space prepared notes that community organizations like Moms on the for hired workers to come and lay the substructure Hill (MOTH) are a great resource for asking around before placing the flagstone and gravel. about references and experiences. Advertisers to lo“We wanted to have two separate sitting areas, cal papers, like the Hill Rag, also have experience in where a fire pit might work in one, and the other space operating in your neighborhood, and are worth exmore formal,” says Barbi, adding that “by choosing ploring. Unfortunately, YELP and some of the bigdifferent materials we were able to create different ger internet sources are not as reliable as local sourclooks even in a small area.” Their hybrid DIY projes, and he cautions against using them. ect only took a few weeks, and the Kasoffs couldn’t Thomas’s other advice is to think ahead and be be happier with the added space. clear about how you want to use the space. “Even the smallest of outdoor spaces can be designed to be Design with a Professional beautiful and enjoyable,” he says. “You would be surMany of us on Capitol Hill do not have the time, prised at all the rooftop, terrace and side yard spaces A Capitol Hill backyard landscape design by Derek Thomas creates space for entertaining by crafting a fun pattern of skills and tools for converting our yards from unuswe have been able to transform.” pavers for the patio base. Photo: Derek Thomas 36 H HILLRAG.COM
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A Capitol Hill Garden Design Primer by Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA ural and usually least (Josef Albers aside). By contrast, Piet Mondrian arsuccessful design ranged orthogonal shapes on the picture plane in move is to create garsuch a way as to challenge the actual boundary of den beds and seating the painting. This can be done using right angles, areas that outline and or with curves. The strategy is the same, and can reinforce the property be successfully employed in garden design as well line, which is usually as in painting. also the fence line. We Lines on paper translate into spaces on the learned to color inside ground that facilitate the flow of water, create shade, the lines in kindergarenhance desirable views, or screen unwanted ones. ten and it’s a hard The dance between plan drawing and spatial realhabit to break. ity is one of the most exciting things to witness as We usually ara garden project is built. Designing within a small range furniture this rectangle can be as free and exuberant as designway too. But what if ing anything. we put the couch perWhat Do You Really Need? pendicular to a wall, The most helpful thing you can do for yourself, or on a diagonal, or in any designer or contractor you may work with, is to the middle of the ask yourself what you really want. Why do you want room? We may find Building the garden in the hot sun is hard work. Photo: Cheryl Corson to design, or re-design the garden right now? Your that by “using up” answers will help guide you, your designer, and the more space we also n spatial contrast to the predictdesign itself. create the perception of more space. It’s counterable, steady rhythm of historic row Here are some examples of what can motivate intuitive, but when there is visual and spatial comhouses on the street, the typical people to undertake their project: plexity, something to see around, or something else Capitol Hill back yard is an emp• “My youngest just left for college and I need a partially revealed, the space becomes more interty rectangle full of possibilities. In esting and feels bigsocial contrast to vibrant public ger. This is why unspaces – parks, school and comfurnished rooms look munity gardens, and commercial corridors – Capsmaller than furnished itol Hill backyards are predominantly private, with ones, as your real estypically opaque fencing above eye level. tate agent will probaThese garden spaces are more or less elongated bly tell you. rectangles, which may or may not have garages, public alleys, or mature trees in or near one’s property. The Stage and The ground level is close to or a few steps below the the Frame rear door to the house. There may be views toward If we attended a dance something interesting to inform a design: a mature performance and the tree, a church window, or even the Capitol. Parcels dancers only moved vary in their soils, moisture, air flow, light and topogaround the stage’s peraphy, so some site analysis will help guide you. Prerimeter, it would look design, your own rectangle may look and feel like a strange. So would a box, but it is really an empty stage upon which compainting that merely plex dance moves may be choreographed. traced bands of color In fact, some choreography tips apply: use in increasingly smaller the entire stage; consider entrances and exits; and parallel lines relative break up lines of direction, including the vertical. to the picture frame But this is not what most people do. The most natThe final result makes the most of the small space. Photo: Dan Mullins
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project that’s just for me” We need the yard to look better when we sell the house next year” • “I’ve decided I’m happy being single, and this isn’t the temporary house I thought it was ten years ago.” While you’re taking stock, also ask yourself: • How long do you intend to remain in your home?(not always knowable, but worth a guess) • Are there things you absolutely must have (Pink dogwood, bee hives, walking outside barefoot)? • Do any existing conditions pose a threat to your home and/or garage (dead overhead branches, damp or wet areas, loose bricks that need re-pointing)? • Do any existing conditions pose a threat to your safety (rickety steps, above-ground electrical conduit, uneven paving, poison ivy, loose hand rails, rotting deck)? Knowing these things in advance will help everyone. The design and construction sequencing can be properly planned. Cost estimates and value engineering can be most accurate. “Value engineering” is a prioritized list of what can be cut or substituted without sacrificing the overall design intent. So spend some quiet time noting these things before you send that first email inquiry and you’ll be on more solid ground. •
Water-Wise Gardening Designed with care, your new garden can help reduce the load on the Hill’s 19th century plumbing which mixes rainwater (which is non-potable) with water used inside the home (potable) that must be treated before being released
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into the Anacostia River. This is called CSS, a combined sewer system. Modern systems, by contrast, separate potable and non-potable water. One third of all DC’s water is in combined sewers, including most of Capitol Hill, and this puts a strain on our municipal water treatment facilities, and the river, when the overloaded system overflows during big storms. If your garden design includes disconnecting your downspout from your storm drain, and creatively uses your water on site, you will become part of the solution. The District’s RiverSmart Homes program offers individual homeowners up to $2,400 in incentives for incorporating garden features such as shade trees or permeable paving into new designs. They also offer guidance. For details, see: https:// doee.dc.gov/service/riversmarthomes-overview. One water wise garden tip that might seem counter-intuitive is to plant more densely. You might think that more plants would require more water, but in fact, widely spaced plants with expanses of mulch in between dry out the soil more quickly plus encourage weed seed germination. Your densely planted beds will create a leafy canopy that retains soil moisture and prevents weed seeds from landing on receptive ground. Learn to divide perennials planted three years ago or more, and you’ll find that you have plenty of plant material to go around. Divide and conquer your plant beds as one more water wise gardening tool in your toolkit.
Do No Harm Consult with a local garden center, or with a designer or con-
tractor to be sure your garden plans are suited to your site and local regulations. The District regulates the size of trees which may be removed without a permit, for example. (https://ddot. dc.gov/page/ddot-special-treeremoval-permit ). Fences, decks, and patios may require building permits, as may construction occurring on the street side, where yards may be in what is called “public space.” The Capitol Hill Restoration Society offers some guidance on this (http://chrs. org/). The District Department of Transportation’s Public Space Regulation Division provides more detail: https://ddot. dc.gov/page/ddot-public-spaceregulation-division-psrd. The District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, DCRA, has a Homeowner’s Center designed to serve individuals in navigating the permit process for your fence, deck, or patio: https:// dcra.dc.gov/service/homeowners-center. And remember that your neighbor’s tree has roots extending into your yard, so do your best to protect these largest members of the plant world offering us shade and comfort. Community is the Hill’s strongest asset and our trees remind us that we are all connected. Happy Gardening! Cheryl Corson is a licensed landscape architect, playground designer and writer practicing on Capitol Hill and beyond. She is author of the Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Manual for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, http:// cblpro.org/downloads/CBLPMaintenanceManual.pdf. Cheryl enjoys helping people learn about and enjoy their outdoor environments. www.cherylcorson.com. ◆
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The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents
Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair Where can I buy Trilliums? It used to be that you had to know a place deep in the woods where Trilliums grow in the wild, dig up a clump with great care, and protect it until you could transplant it to a shady place in your garden. To do this was frowned, because Trilliums were wild and rare. But now they are sold online, or in some hardware stores. Home Depot garden centers say they will have them. Just Google the word TRILLIUMS. They may be mailed to you bare root – a delicate growing shoot you must handle with infinite care. Plant in humus and composted leaves – well-drained, somewhat acidic soil – in shade. They will thrive and multiply, and after blooming, like true “spring ephemerals” they will disappear until next spring. Our clay soil is hard to dig. How can I loosen it enough to plant things in it? Clay is full of nutrients, and is the Trilliums
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indigenous soil on Capitol Hill. Trouble comes when it is so compacted that plant roots cannot access the nutrients. Try moistening the soil, or dig after a rain. Work small areas until you can remove, say, at least half of the clay in this small area, replacing it with compost, humus, and composted manure. Mix well with the remaining clay. Then plant. Put a light mulch overtop. Keep doing this year after year as you add other perennials and shrubs. Creating friable soil from clay takes years. The best alternative is to garden in pots. What can a gardener do about the effects of climate change in her small DC garden? Gardeners, like farmers, are in daily touch with much that is beyond our control – although when flowers bloom we tend to take full credit. Global Warming has changed our Zone maps – into warnings. Summers are hotter, for longer. We need more water. Storms are fiercer, and rains heavier. Winters, too, are hotter. Scant winter snow-cover robs old perennials of the restful dormancy they need for survival, and of water from melting snow in spring. More weeds abound, and insect pests too. But we do have some choices. One is to explore and pick so-called Native Plants, which in nature have survived the longest, often because they need less water. We can create more shade. The brilliant blooms and patterned leaves of a shade garden are unknown to too many of us. We still want “full sun”. Still -- with drying winds, and sudden freezes after buds have opened, as always, there will be death. During Covid the Capitol Hill Garden Club continues Zoom meetings at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Please contact capitolhillgardenclub.org for an invitation to the March 9, 2021Program. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Your problem might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Send them to the Problem Lady c/o dearproblemlady@gmail.com. Complete anonymity is assured. ◆
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Changing Hands Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD
William William Willi Willia am Shelton am Shelton Shelt l on lt Tree Tree Tr e Arborist Tre Arborist
PRICE
FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA
1846 Minnesota Ave SE 2106 16th St SE 2307 Nicholson St SE 2305 Nicholson St SE 1420 V St SE
$520,000 $480,000 $475,000 $475,000 $455,000
BARRY FARMS 2508 Elvans Rd SE
$520,000
BENNING HEIGHTS 3984 Blaine St NE 220 35th St NE
BLOOMINGDALE 48 W St NW 24 Channing St NW 1828 N Capitol St NW 64 Seaton Pl NW 18 T St NW
$499,900 $397,000 $1,500,000 $1,485,000 $1,195,000 $860,000 $750,000
BRENTWOOD 2418 10th St NE
CAPITOL HILL
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101 5th St NE 305 D St SE 139 E St SE 238 9th St NE 308 I St SE 662 Maryland Ave NE 240 10th St NE 627 8th St NE 504 G St SE 1 Windy Ct SE 1616 A St NE 915 5th St SE 241 14th Pl NE 229 14th Pl NE
$720,000 $2,065,000 $1,495,000 $1,355,000 $1,300,000 $1,265,000 $1,198,500 $1,160,000 $1,079,000 $1,015,000 $830,000 $756,000 $709,500 $669,000 $540,000
CAPITOL HILL EAST 1660 Ebenezer Ct SE 117 15th St SE 222 14th Pl NE
$1,500,000 $825,000 $769,388
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3794 1st SE 1201 Congress St SE 1106 Varney St SE 1028 Barnaby Terrace SE 437 Valley Ave SE 97 Forrester St SW
DEANWOOD 4935 Fitch Pl NE 4937 Fitch Pl NE
$490,000 $450,000 $450,000 $417,000 $399,000 $185,000 $550,000 $550,000
4930 Minnesota Ave NE 4615 Kane Pl NE 211 47th St NE 4212 Gault Pl NE 215 63rd St NE 243 55th St NE 5329 Jay St NE 4420 Blaine St NE 4434 Hunt Pl NE 4142 E Capitol St NE 4940-4942 Just St NE
ECKINGTON 136 R St NE 13 Quincy Pl NW 11 Q St NE 126 Todd Pl NE 220 T St NE #1
$538,000 $525,000 $502,500 $486,000 $425,000 $405,000 $389,000 $375,000 $340,000 $325,000 $255,000 $1,150,000 $857,500 $700,000 $675,000 $396,750
FORT DUPONT PARK 3350 D St SE 1790 41st Pl SE 1223 46th St SE 4100 Southern Ave SE 3947 R St SE 1506 Fort Davis Pl SE 748 Burns St SE 1110 45th Pl SE 1216 44th Pl SE 4008 Southern Ave SE
$609,000 $582,000 $500,000 $475,000 $475,000 $460,000 $450,000 $365,000 $290,000 $315,000
H STREET CORRIDOR 823 12th St NE 818 13th St NE 756 18th St NE 1802 H St NE
HILL CREST 3800 Nash St SE 1300 34th St SE 3658 Bangor St SE 1711 33rd Pl SE 3657 Alabama Ave SE
HILL EAST
1505 Freedom Way SE 1335 Ives Pl SE 1507 Pennsylvania Ave SE
KINGMAN PARK 512 15th St NE 548 23rd Pl NE
LILY PONDS
3728 Foote St NE 1501 Kenilworth Ave NE 3336 Clay St NE
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5212 B St SE
$740,000 $714,500 $539,900 $528,500 $686,000 $682,000 $650,000 $610,000 $480,000 $830,000 $775,900 $749,000 $870,000 $580,000 $515,000 $350,500 $319,000 $515,000
MARCH INTO THESE SPRING HOMES! 5218 B St SE 5214 B St SE 5222 B SE 5040 B St SE 5131 D St SE 5524 C St SE 4607 E Capitol St SE
NOMA
1125 K St NE 831 6th St NE
OLD CITY #1
1018 Constitution Ave NE 1004 Constitution Ave NE 658 Morton Pl NE 714 12th St NE 1502 E St SE 1806 Bay St SE 1714 Independence Ave SE 1353 Ives Pl SE 15 16th St NE
RANDLE HEIGHTS 2560 16th St SE 1912 Savannah Pl SE 1421 Tobias Dr SE 2104 Savannah St SE 1909 17th St SE 2403 Savannah St SE
SHAW
902 French St NW 1334 5th St NW 1536 5th St NW 704 Rhode Island Ave NW
SW WATERFRONT 821 6th St SW
TRINIDAD
1230 Trinidad Ave NE 1229 Trinidad Ave NE 1224 Orren St NE 1665 Montello Ave NE 1238 Trinidad Ave NE 1815 M St NE 1102 Trinidad Ave NE 1217 Owen Pl NE 1743 Lang Pl NE
TRUXTON CIRCLE 1617 New Jersey Ave NW 1540 1st St NW
$515,000 $515,000 $515,000 $515,000 $452,500 $415,000 $265,000
! EW G N IN ST I L
ER T! D C N A U TR N CO
$1,037,500 $880,000 $816,000 $775,000 $685,000 $661,900 $643,000 $630,000 $605,000 $480,000
645 Lexington Ave NE 5BR/4.5BA $1,798,000
ER T! D C N A U TR N CO
1015 Independence Ave SE 3BR/2BA $1,070,000
637 C St NE 3BR/3.5BA $1,350,000 DRAMATICALLY REDESIGNED DUPLEX DELIVERS FLEXIBILITY! This 3 level brick front colonial lies at the heart of Capitol Hill living, literally steps to Stanton Park or just 5 blocks in any direction Eastern Market, Union Station and H Street Corridor! Totally TRANSFORMED by the visionaries of Stanton Park Development, this home delivers an inspired and fully flexible modern home layout with new systems, brand new bright kitchen and baths, open floor main floor with French doors to deck + patio, AND 2 wood burning fireplaces! Optional lower level rental income or bonus family / office space, this is worry-free living walkable to EVERYTHING!
EW ! N ICE PR
515 7th St SE 7-10BR/5BA (Multi-Family) $2,499,000 FAMILY COMPOUND AT HEART OF THE HILL - MILES FROM ORDINARY!Nestled between Barracks Row and Eastern Market - walk or bike everywhere from this GRAND 1851 Historic porchfront with multiple units + 3 level carriage house, standing proudly in a row of striking wood frame houses! Unique investment opportunity with bountiful square footage in an incredible locale- a lovely tree-lined block at Eastern Market Metro.
FOUR TALL LEVELS ON LOVELY LEXINGTON PLACE! GRAND re-imagining of classic Arts & Crafts-style home on quiet and coveted Lexington Place – tucked away just ONE BLOCK FROM STANTON PARK, walkable to Union Station, Eastern Market, or H Street Whole Foods! 2600 SF of gracious dimensions and craftsmanship over FOUR big levels featuring all the key ingredients – stunning kitchen, wall of Southfacing glass, FIVE bright bedrooms, plus cozy lower den and INSPIRED sky-lit home office or workout room. Put a SPRING in your step with the big MOVE-UP you’ve been dreaming of!
$505,000 $463,000 $405,000 $390,000 $325,000 $282,000 $1,739,000 $1,550,000 $785,000 $747,000
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THE ASYMMETRY OF COVID-19 VACCINE ACCESS Community Organizations, Neighbors Bridge Gaps in DC Information and Registration
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n Jan. 29, Barbara and David Ehrlich parked their cars and headed towards the Howard University clinic. It was a long walk for the couple, both 85 years old, but they didn’t mind. At the end of it, they were getting the COVID-19 vaccine. But when the Southwest couple arrived at the clinic, they found the front doors locked. A simple sign was affixed. “No Vaccine,” it read. “We had an appointment, we had the paperwork. But when we got there, there was no vaccine,” Barbara Ehrlich said. The District began offering vaccine registration to residents 65 and older online and through a telephone hotline starting Jan. 11. Demand far outpaced supply. On the first day, 6,700 appointments were available to about 80,000 eligible residents and were signed up for within hours. That window of availability would shrink from hours to minutes over the following weeks, prompting comparisons to a rush to get Beyonce tickets. The process did not start out smoothly. After the first two days of registration, users complained of technological glitches, frustrating waits on the phone lines, and poor website design. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) Steve Holtzman 6B05 wrote the Mayor’s office to express concern with the process. “[I]f residents get frustrated and crazy trying to unsuccessfully get what they view as a life-saving vaccine,” he wrote in an email shared with constituents, “the result is going to be some people who give up and don’t check anymore and who, despite being in priority vulnerable groups, do not get [early] vaccinations.” The challenges faced by seniors trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the District illustrate the asymmetry of access to information and resources about registration. The ways in which communities and organizations stepped up to fill these gaps provide lessons in information dissemination and registration strategies. These lessons are important as the District opens vaccination appointments to more residents in the context of a vaccine supply far too low to meet demand.
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
John Capozzi receives the COVID-19 vaccine at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (PABC) during the Feb. 11 clinic.
Success of Senior Villages The Ehrlichs could have given up, but instead, they sought assistance and got it. They turned to their village for help. Waterfront Village is one of the District’s 14 senior villages, volunteer-based organizations providing services and resources to help seniors age in place. They are overwhelmingly located west of the Anacostia River. Waterfront Village Executive Director Len Bechtel worked with the Dupont Circle village to get the Ehrlichs an appointment at Medstar. “Len called us on a Sunday night at 8 p.m. Feb 7 to say he’d secured an appointment for Monday at 9:20 a.m.,“ Ehrlich said. “He filled our names in, made the appointment –and then he drove us there,” she said. Senior villages operate independently from the DC government, but network together to share information and resources. When they learned vaccine reg-
istration would open to seniors, the 14 senior villages in the District worked together to get information from the city and disseminate it broadly to members and those subscribed to their list. “We had members that were calling their adult children overseas to help them negotiate the portal, that’s how challenging and overwhelming it was,” said Capitol Hill Village (CHV) Executive Director Judy Berman. Faced with calls from seniors who were confused and even put off by the District’s registration system, the 14 senior villages stepped up to be advocate and guide. First, they were a trusted source of information. Second, they provided feedback to DC Health about what was going well and where improvements were necessary. Third, they centralized and distributed information, both in terms of the District vaccination procedures as well as the hospital and healthcare systems also offering vaccinations on separate platforms, including George Washington, Georgetown and Howard University Hospitals, Sibley, as well as the Kaiser and Medstar. Finally, they worked together to get appointments for seniors who reached out to them. For instance, Waterfront Village conducted a survey of membership to see who still needed an appointment and wanted help in making it. They then matched those individuals with members who had successfully registered as well as community members who helped them secure the appointments.
Lopsided Success Senior villages were overwhelmingly successful in helping those who reached out to them. By Feb 11, all but five of the 150 members of Waterfront village had received their first dose of the vaccine. 90 percent of the 400 or so members of Capitol Hill Village (CHV) had also secured the vaccine. But the people who reached out to the senior villages were overwhelmingly white and middle class. CHV’s Berman said that the villages had been discussing ways to provide village resources to all seMarch 2021 ★ 49
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DC Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt visits the PABC clinic. Photo: John Capozzi
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niors. “The village model is not attractive to all people in the same way,” she said. “It’s definitely had more of an appeal, particularly in our area, to a white and middle-class population. In my view what’s happening is that the function of the village is being served by different institutions in the Black community.” Francis Campbell, 69, struggled to make an appointment for a month after they were available. Campbell, who is Black, is not a part of a senior village. The former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) 6B10 is comfortable with technology but was still overwhelmed with the process. All through January he tried –and failed—to register himself, his sister and his 88-yearold mother. In the end, Campbell managed to secure a vaccine by word of mouth. A friend called him from a vaccination site to say there were unclaimed doses and Campbell should gather his family and get down there. “This is a frustration I’ve never had to deal with no matter how bad situations have been in my life,” Campbell said. “If a lot of the Black seniors don’t have someone who is going to advocate for them, or make sure this happens, they’re going to get passed over. That’s what’s happening.”
Karen E. Pointer is Director of Kingdom Care. The Ward 8 senior village is one of the newest and smallest villages, serving 50 members out of Greater Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist Church (FGBC) (814 Alabama Ave. SE). Pointer said that, in terms of the vaccine, she sees the role of the village as sharing information, finding out who needs an appointment and helping them to secure one. For instance, when she received an email telling her that the District had made 660 additional appointments available only through the call center, she sent a text message to all members. Instantly, two successfully booked appointments. Like CHV and Waterfront Village, Kingdom Care is part of the consortium of villages that share trusted information with members. Unlike the two Ward 6 villages, Kingdom Care is based in the church, growing out of the senior ministry. Pointer herself was a very engaged church member long before she became the village director, and she said that it was an ideal space for the village. “There was already engagement, buy-in from leadership and access for the community,” she said. “It was a win-win sort of thing.” She said that black churches are key to sharing information about the vaccine. Pastors are trusted leaders, advocates and friends, Pointer added, and messaging is better received when communicated by pastors to parishioners. “There’s a trust,” she said. “There are relationships there, there’s already been a demonstration of care and concern, of health and wholeness. You also have the collaboration among churches that helps to strengthen the community.”
Tweaking the System The inequities were apparent on Jan. 11, the first day vaccines became available to seniors. Residents of the District’s three most affluent wards claimed 70 percent of available appointments. It was clear that while COVID-19 was disproportionately affecting communities of color, more vaccinations were being administered to the white and affluent residents of the District. March 2021 H 51
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A Jan. 13th DC Council conference call became heated when Councilmember Elissa Silverman (At-Large-I) and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie suggested that vaccines be prioritized for people hardest hit by COVID-19. Silverman commented that some members of lowincome communities might not have access to computers or have the technological literacy to book appointments. DC Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt initially scoffed at Silverman’s suggestion, calling the statement pejorative. She said vaccine resistance had played a role. Results of a November 2020 DC Health survey appeared to show that about 44 percent of Black District residents would not take the vaccine. The District moved to even the playing field. Three days after the council call, Nesbitt announced that access to registration would be prioritized by ward and later by zip code. A week after the change, the ratio of appointments claimed by residents of the three affluent wards dropped from 70 percent to 49.5 percent, which Nesbitt said was an indication that the new system reduced disparities. The District took further steps to address inequity, including the introduction of the Senior Vaccine Buddies program on Feb. 4. Program staff go door-to-door in neighborhoods most impacted by the disease, offering to sign seniors up for a vaccine appointment. Finally, on Feb. 7, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that as part of the “Faith in the Vaccine” pilot program, Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (PABC) would host two vaccination clinics to increase confidence in the vaccine and support the vaccination of residents in their communities. During two clinics, hosted Feb. 11 and 13, more than 200 people were vaccinated. Pastor Rev. Dr. Kenrick E. Curry began advocating for churches to be used as vaccine distribution sites in August, before vaccines had even been approved. He argued that Black churches were centrally located, engaged in service and capable of operating during non-traditional hours – in short, all elements suited to getting the vaccine deeper into their communities. “We can do what people need,” Curry said. “that’s why people come to us.” John Capozzi signed up for the PABC Clinic at a virtual Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) meeting. Administrators not only announced the clinics, they also shared a link to register. Capozzi, who is 65 this year, clicked on
This map, created by DC Health, shows the number of successful registrations for the COVID-19 vaccine per ward on Jan. 11, the first day registration was available to seniors. Image: Coronavirus.dc.gov
the link and signed up during the meeting. A white Ward 7 resident who lives in a priority zip code, Capozzi had previously tried to sign up through the District portal but while he describes himself as an “intermediate [technology] user,” he was unable to get an appointment. PABC is particularly “outreach oriented,” long the hub of a network that not only includes other churches, but also civic and political organizations. The church drew on all those networks to get word out about the vaccine clinics.
“I started Calling People” Sometimes the congregants are the network. “After I got [my vaccine], I came home and pulled out my church directory and I started calling people,” said Barbara Savage. Barbara and her husband Paul were expressing frustration with the District vaccine registration portal when a neighbor said they should try calling United Medical Center (UMC) to get an appointment. Trying to reach the scheduler and getting a busy signal, Paul Savage redialed the number so many times that a UMC operator finally picked up. A few minutes later, a scheduler called back to make appointments for both Savages. Like the neighbor who had advised them to call UMC, the Savages shared what they had learned with members of their church and neighborhood, starting a sort of telephone chain.
Q: Do you know what makes an excellent listing agent? A: A great listing agent understands buyers’ needs because they serve as a buyers’ agent as well. JLC Team is pleased to have these properties under contract for our buyers: Barbara started calling the other members of East Washington Heights Baptist (2220 Branch Ave., SE) aged 65 and over, asking if they wanted to register for a COVID vaccine, helping to secure appointments and even taking people to appointments. Then, in an online church service, Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Kip Bernard Banks Sr. announced that parishioners wanting assistance registering for a vaccine appointment should contact the Savages. Members of the congregation began referring their neighbors, and they referred their friends. In the month since the Savages received their first dose, they have helped more than 20 people secure an appointment. Paul Savage had tried and failed to register through the District website. The short lead time on many vaccine announcements meant that he and those like him, who are not wedded to instant messaging, don’t get government notices as they come out. But it isn’t the short lead time that is the real problem, Savage said. It’s the fact that the District uses the same methods to reach the diverse communities of the District. “They still haven’t figured out how to serve African Americans and Latinos in the same manner that they do other people,” he said. “and that’s on them. There’s a history of how you do this, and don’t do this.” Paul Savage, a former District official, said that the city needs to do a better job of contacting the people who live in and care about the communities they hope to reach. “In the Black community, it’s not the internet –it’s not any of those things,” Savage said. “It’s word of mouth, in the church, or on the telephone. That’s how people disseminate information.” “What Barbara did, that’s normal. We have a long history in East Washington of community involvement with our neighbors,” Savage said. “People in this city should know that, because it’s been going on for a long time.” ◆
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Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900
March 2021 ★ 53
.capitol streets. The Emancipation Memorial in Washington, DC, unveiled in 1974, sits just a few blocks from the AHA’s offices in Lincoln Park. Photo: Andrew Lightman
/ Opinion /
A MONUMENT TO BLACK RESISTANCE AND STRENGTH Considering Washington, DC’s Emancipation Memorial by Chris Myers Asch and George Derek Musgrove
O
n Feb. 18. 2021, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton reintroduced her bill that would remove the Emancipation Statue from Lincoln Park, a federal park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC. The bill cites the statue’s problematic depiction of the fight to achieve emancipation. The statue would be placed in a museum with an explanation of its origin and meaning. In the months since the murder of George Floyd sparked a global movement for racial justice, protesters toppled monuments honoring Confederates and other champions of white supremacy, from Jefferson Davis in Richmond and Edward Colston in Bristol Harbor, to the obscure Albert Pike in Washington, DC. These efforts were not merely symbolic. They were a long-overdue recognition that for too long we have allowed our public spaces to be dominated by memorials that celebrate treason, warp historical reality, and glorify white supremacy. But then something concerning happened. Not content with targeting Confederates, some protesters trained their sights on monuments that could, through their imagery or the biography of their subject, be linked, even only tenuously, to racism. Crowds smashed a bust of Ulysses Grant in San Francisco and yanked down a statue of abolitionist Hans Christian Heg in Madison, while the Bos-
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ton Arts Commission removed a replica of Washington, DC’s Emancipation Memorial from the Common.[1] Here in the District, protestors attempted unsuccessfully to topple the original Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park. Such efforts to tear down Union and abolitionist monuments with any racist connection raise troubling questions. What if a monument’s history offers contradictory interpretations? What if many African Americans, through generations of speech and action, have transformed an otherwise objectionable statue into a symbol of resistance?” An examination of the history of Washington, DC’s Emancipation Memorial shows how complicated the answers to these questions can be. The memorial was conceived of and paid for by freedmen, particularly black veterans. Charlotte Scott, a former slave, contributed $5 to start a memorial fund in 1865 and within four years African Americans across the country had raised nearly $20,000 towards its completion. The money went to the Western Sanitary Commission, a St. Louisbased organization founded by white abolitionists. In 1869, the commission’s directors settled on the prototype “Lincoln and a Kneeling Slave” by Thomas Ball, which evoked the classic abolitionist image of a kneeling slave pleading, “Am I Not a Man and a Brother?” but requested alterations that complicated the statue’s meaning. They asked Ball to use Archer Alexander as a model for the kneeling freedman. Alexander had escaped from slavery by running to Union troops in St. Louis. When an abolitionist Union general harbored Alexander against the protests of local slave owners, Lincoln relieved him of
command. Hence, Alexander secured his freedom despite Lincoln, not because of him. Acknowledging this history, the commission requested that the figure be depicted “helping to break the chains that had bound him” in order to “bring the presentation nearer to the historical fact.” Ball did so, but he left the figure crouching, creating a contradictory image—a slave being freed while freeing himself. Present-day c3itics of the Emancipation Memorial have tapped into a long-standing African American dislike of the statue’s imagery. The statue’s unveiling on April 14, 1876, was a grand affair. The African American organizers of the annual Emancipation Day parade marched to the ceremony several thousand strong, swelling the crowd to 25,000. President Grant and members of Congress and the Supreme Court joined Frederick Douglass, the keynote speaker, on the dais. In a jarringly honest speech, Douglass expressed African Americans’ frustrations with Lincoln, noting that he had “tarried long in the mountain” before finally embracing emancipation. But embrace it he did, and Douglass offered this statue— the first paid for by African Americans and the first depicting an African American man—“in the spirit of liberty, loyalty, and gratitude.” The memorial’s imagery grated on some present that day. Though the largely African American crowd cheered uproariously when Grant unveiled the statue, Douglass reportedly expressed his displeasure with the figure of the “kneeling slave,” arguing that “a more manly attitude would have been indicative of freedom.” Indeed, before the year was out, he penned a letter to a local newspaper arguing for “another monument” in Lincoln Park with “the negro … erect on his feet,” that would tell the story of Reconstruction. Their misgivings aside, African Americans used the statue to lay claim to public space in the nation’s
REMOVE THE STATUE: An Opinion by Maurice Cook
capital and advocate for the broad notion of democracy promised in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. For the next quarter century, as Craig Schiffert explains in “Stepping Toward Freedom,” the mounted grand marshal, armed militia companies, and elaborate floats of the DC Emancipation Day parade detoured miles from their regular route to march past the statue. The Emancipation Memorial’s role as a focal point for black celebrations and calls for democracy shifted to the National Mall after the completion of the grand Lincoln Memorial in 1922. By the 1950s, Lincoln Park was crisscrossed with dirt paths. A 1974 Washington Post story noted that local neighborhood crews met there to fight, and federal planners considered paving it over with a highway. The statue represents African American resistance. That history is worth preserving. A century after its unveiling, Black women stepped in to revitalize the park and reinvigorate the memorial. The National Council of Negro Women raised $150,000 to build a statue in the park honoring its founder, Mary McLeod Bethune. It was unveiled in 1974 as DC’s first memorial honoring a Black woman. As part of the installation, the National Park Service planted trees, installed walkways, and turned the Emancipation Memorial 180 degrees to face the Bethune Memorial. In the 1990s, another Black woman, Loretta Carter Hanes, placed the Emancipation Memorial at the center of her campaign to make Emancipation Day an official DC holiday. Hanes laid a wreath at the statue every April 16, beginning in 1993. She told the Washington Post, “I was attracted to it because it was the only monument paid for by former slaves.” Beginning in 2005, Emancipation Day became an official city holiday. Present-day critics of the Emancipation Memorial have tapped into a long-standing African American dislike
of the statue’s imagery. “When I look at that statue, I’m reminded my freedom and my liberation is only dictated by white peoples’ terms,” said 20-year-old Glenn Foster, who this past June started a group dedicated to removing the memorial. But by focusing on that imagery, critics ignore the memorial’s history. From Charlotte Scott seizing the initiative to build a memorial, to Emancipation Day marchers defiantly celebrating their freedom, to Loretta Carter Hanes demanding that we honor the day our freedom came, the statue represents African American resistance. That history is worth preserving. Some contemporary activists embrace a dogmatic approach to history that “cancels” any historical figure or image that may be interpreted as racist. This perspective can create a false equivalence between a statue of Lincoln who, however reluctantly, fought to end slavery, and one of Jefferson Davis, who fought to maintain it in perpetuity. Human beings are complex, and so too is our history. If our understanding of our past informs our actions in the present—and we believe it should—then that conception must be nuanced enough to help us determine our friends, however tardy to the cause and halting in their support, from our enemies. Chris Myers Asch is the co-founder of the Freedom Project in MS Delta and the Capital Area New Mainers Project. He tweets @ chrismyersasch. George Derek Musgrove is associate professor of history at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He tweets @ gdmusgrove. He is also the author of the recently released blackpowerindc.umbc. edu, a web based exploration of Black Power activism in the nation’s capital. “A Monument to Black Resistance and Strength” was first published by Perspectives on History (www.historians.org) on Aug. 5, 2020. The original publication can be found online at https://www.historians. org.u u
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few years ago I almost lost my life in Charlottesville. James Alex Fields Jr., a white man willing to protect a statue “by any means necessary,” drove his car through a crowd of protesters including myself. In doing so, he murdered Heather Heyer, a young white woman from Charlottesville. On bad nights, I hear the impact of metal and bone, the smell of rubber and blood, complete chaos over the symbolism of white supremacy and the need to protect it. This controversy around the Emancipation statue that represents the "benevolence" of a white man "granting freedom" to a Black man is only a temporary issue. The same spirit that summoned so many of us to Charlottesville that terrible weekend called Harriet Tubman and many others to take their freedom in the famous words of Malcom X, “by any means necessary.” No man-made law can permanently stifle the desire for freedom nor dull the will to take what can't be given. Some argue that the fact that Black people financed the statue should be respected and it be allowed to remain. This position ignores the fact that these Maurice Cook at the June 23, 2020 event people had with no control over at Lincoln Park organized by the Freedom Movement. Photo Liz O’Gorek what actually was purchased. The Black benefactors of the statue had no influence on the design. This fact is the ultimate manifestation of white supremacy. That's correct, we are supposed to respect that Black people had the wherewithal to buy a house sight unseen. A house with a permanent Black lawn jockey affixed to the property. All of us in this country are taught to exalt and normalize white idolatry. I've seen up close and personal the willingness of some to commit murder to protect it. I wonder what I would do to protect a statue of a naked white man on his knees receiving a pat on his head as if a child at the boot of a Black Man? It doesn’t exist. Rather, we have hundreds of cheap statues celebrating the Lost Cause installed in prominent public squares across this country. These are the only examples that I know of in which the losers were allowed to enshrine their domination of the future. I'm certain this statue and all of the statues are a temporary issue. Black elders in the Movement, not susceptible to this charity/benevolence trope of gracious Negroes receiving the approval of freedom and humanity endowed by Lincoln, have guided me and many others. This was not how Black people acquired our freedom. Rather, thousands of Black Civil War Veterans earned it through their heroism on the battlefield. Many others through their everyday struggle to endure to fight another day so their children could bask in freedom. The young people protesting in Charlottesville a few years ago and in cities across the nation last summer know freedom from oppression is not granted, Rather, it must be taken “by any means necessary” in the battlefield of America’s public squares.
Maurice Cook is the founder of Serve Your City and proud resident of Capitol Hill. He can be found at mcook.serveyourcity@gmail.com. u
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HAPPY RETIREMENT, JOSE CANALES! After 35 years at Eastern Market, A New Phase of Life Begins by Stephanie Deutsch, photos by Andrew Lightman and so, with his father’s encouragement, he made the “difficult decision” to emigrate. Initially here illegally, he worked construction and lived in a small apartment. Supplementing his income with a job washing dishes at the Market Inn in Southwest he met Consuelo, a young woman from Ecuador who was working the salad bar. They married In February of 1973. Five years later, in Baltimore, Jose Canales became an American citizen. “What a dream,” he says, remembering that moment. “It made me feel like a million dollars.” After thirteen years working construction, ten years of it underground building the Metro system, Mr. Canales decided he wanted a change and to establish a business of his own. Hearing there was a space for sale at Eastern Market he went to take a look and quickly made the decision to buy it. It was challenging, he says. “My English was basic,” he recalls, and initially business Jose Canales last year in front of his popular sandwich stand and deli in Eastern Market. Photo: Melissa Ashabranner was slow. He remembers the day when total sales came to $83. But he took night classes and, with that and daily or the last 38 years one of the many pleause, his English improved. His wife and daughters, sures of Eastern Market has been shopping at Canales Quality Meats, not just for the huge array of sausages, cold cuts, cheeses and prepared foods but for the chance to interact with the shop’s owner, Jose Canales. Greeting every customer with warmth and courtesy, Mr. Canales has been sharing good cheer every bit as sustaining as the ham, horseradish and chicken soup he sells. Mr. Canales grew up in San Miguel, a small city in El Salvador, and was in his second year of university, with the goal of becoming a lawyer, when political unrest and a six-month long general strike interrupted his studies. He had friends who had come to the States and were settled in Washington Jose Canales helps a customer with one of his fine hams.
Mel Inman, Jr (left) of Market Poultry and Canales family members commiserate the day after a three-alarm fire destroyed much of the South Hall of Eastern Market on April 30, 2007.
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Jose Canales greets Mayor Adrian Fenty when the temporary Market opened across the street from Eastern Market in August 2007. Eastern Market was restored and reopened in the summer of 2009.
St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill Easter Holy Week Schedule Palm Sunday
Elizabeth and Catalina, then 11 and 10 years old, would come in and help out. And after his first, exhausting holiday season, “I knew I was in the right place. It didn’t take too long for people to open their arms and I felt welcomed by the other merchants and by the customers.” His wife and daughters still come in sometimes to help out. Elizabeth is now a teacher of high school history and Spanish. Catalina became his business partner as manager of Tortilla Café, the small restaurant across the street from Eastern Market they founded in 2011 which serves Salvadoran and Mexican food. As he passed his 70th birthday and began to think about retirement, Mr. Canales had hopes of sharing what he had learned about business with young people in the Latino community via a training program for teenagers. But the pandemic and other considerations scuttled that plan. Still, he will find ways to be useful and share his expertise. A couple of afternoons a week he will be helping Catalina at Tortilla Café. What used to be Canales Deli will be in good hands with new owners Rosamaria Soliz and Marcello Maturano. Longtime assistants Loly Garcia, Carla Ramirez and Marvin Bowe will stay on. And at least three young people will benefit from the wisdom and spirit of Jose Canales – his grandchildren . Oliver is 13; he loves baseball and is an aspiring pitcher. Marlee , 11, is a serious student and competitive gymnast. Jackson is seven and loves all animals, especially horses. We Capitol Hill shoppers will miss Jose Canales and hearing him end each encounter with, “Have a beautiful day.” We wish the same to him. ◆
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MEL ANTONEN
MLB Reporter and Longtime Hill Resident by Cyd Price
M
el Antonen, loving father, husband and longtime wellknown national sports reporter and baseball analyst, died of a rare acute autoimmune liver disorder and complications from COVID-19 on Jan. 30. He was 64. A resident of Capitol Hill, Mel covered sports for USA TODAY for 24 years, then spent his last decade working as a TV baseball reporter and analyst for MASN’s Mid-Atlantic Sports Report, a cable-TV enterprise that covers the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. He also wrote for Sports Illustrated and other publications, and analyzed baseball on Sirius-XM radio. He leaves behind wife, Lisa Nipp, a photojournalist, and his son, Emmett, 14. Mel hailed from the tiny hamlet of Norden, SD, pop. 550, and it was there that his love of baseball and his career as a professional storyteller began. Son of Ray and Valda Antonen, Mel was the youngest of four children, and he spent his youth immersed in amateur baseball – his father’s passion. In addition to playing
the game himself, he would call in scores from Lake Norden’s home games to two local newspapers, which he later worked for as a journalist after graduating from Augustana University. He began reporting for USA TODAY in 1986 and went on to cover nearly three dozen World Series, three Olympics and professional bowling. A highlight of his early career was covering the Tonya Harding Olympics scandal, but he quickly made his lasting mark as an MLB reporter and columnist, while regularly scoring interviews with such greats as the notoriously press-averse late Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, and covering Cal Ripkin Jr.’s history-making consecutive winning streak, among many other sports-journalism feats. One of his final interviews, months into his dual illnesses, was with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and an avid baseball fan, who threw out the first pitch at a National’s game. His last interview, a few days before he died, was with the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, to which Mel was inducted in 2017, following in the footsteps of his late father.
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Mel Antonen with wife Lisa Nipp and son Emmett.
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Mel Antonen and son Emmett (now 14) in an undated photo, Nat’s Stadium.
“Mel was a baseball genius,” said one friend, a regular follower of his former column. But to those who knew him in his Capitol Hill neighborhood, Mel was just a regular guy, that funny, friendly neighbor who was often seen walking his dog in Lincoln Park or chatting amiably with folks on the street. As neighborhood friend Jim Monke put it, “To me Mel was a fellow dad. On weekends, my son and I would walk with Mel and his son to a neighborhood baseball field. (These were the mornings after Mel finished working at Sirius radio at 2 a.m., and before he would go teach Sunday School.) Mel and I would play catch to stretch out our old guy arms while our boys warmed each other up. Then we’d practice fielding grounders, and Mel would throw batting practice.” Following these outings, the dads and their boys would visit nearby Mott’s Market, then sit outside on Jim’s front stoop, slurping “freezies.” Mel took a genuine interest in everyone he knew; he always wanted to know how they were, what
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In Loving Memory Of
Ray D Steele January 15, 1943 – February 4, 2021 Ray Steele, a 54-year Capitol Hill resident, died on February 4th. He was born, raised and attended school in Phil Campbell, Alabama. Academically successful, he was salutatorian of his high school graduating class. In 1967 he moved to Washington, DC and became an independent contractor working in the Construction, Real Estate and Property Management businesses with several of his brothers and a cousin. They resided at 1103 East Capitol Street, SE and next door at 1105. They all worked initially for partners Jim Benford and Charles Chrisler. After his brothers and cousin moved on, Ray stayed on Capitol Hill and had extensive relationships with Robert Herrema Associates, Stan Bissey Associates, Property Associates, John C. Formant Real Estate and Tiber Realty Group. He was instrumental in the Construction and Maintenance of Kentucky Manor, Hawthorne, Tuscany, Carbery School, Grace Church and Logan School Condominiums along with single and multiple family homes and apartments throughout DC. Ray is survived by his sister, Barbara Steele Hasheider, his brother, Thurston Steele and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pauline and Thomas Steele, sister Margaret Wood, and brothers Billy, Franklin, George (aka Jimmy) and Harry. Ray was a sports enthusiast and travelled extensively to sports venues in New York, Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, DC to enjoy football, basketball, baseball and hockey. His travels also included a Bucket List trip to Hawaii. Donations in Ray’s memory may be made to Phil Campbell Church of Christ, 1207 Pike Avenue, Phil Campbell, AL 35581.
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they were up to, even until the end, when he would brush off questions about his failing health, and instead focus on their “stories,” their lives. Indeed, it was said had he not gone into baseball reporting, he would have become a pastor in the Lutheran Church, and his passion and concern for others is what many people remember about him most. Another neighbor, Michael Lawson, perhaps summed it up best: “I struggled to find something witty to write in tribute to Mel. My friendship with him seemed utterly quotidian. A friend, neighbor, fellow parent. But [then], it hit me: the extraordinary nature of the ‘ordinariness’ was vintage Mel. In the outpouring of condolences from Mel’s fellow sports writers and baseball players, one theme connects them all—Mel’s ability to simply listen. [And] this theme wasn’t just evident in his professional interactions. It was core to his very being. “In [our conversations], whether it be our frequent lunches at Tunnicliff ’s or during his illness, he always managed to get the conversation turned back to me [and my family]. And this persisted until our last conversation—the Wednesday prior to his passing….Being a careful listener with intense interest in the stories of others was something core to his soul. He was such a decent human being…I’m so glad to have been blessed with his friendship. I will miss him dearly.” As will all who knew him. R.I.P., dear Mel. In addition to his wife and son, Mel is survived by sisters Kathy and Carmen, and brother, Rusty, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. u
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0002-2021
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/ Our River: The Anacostia /
APPLYING THE LESSONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE CLEAN-UP TO THE ANACOSTIA and Vice Versa!
Chesepeake Bay. Photo Andrew Lightman
by Bill Matuszeski
I
n looking around for lessons from elsewhere to apply to clean up the Anacostia, we need turn only to the nearby Chesapeake, whose watershed we are really a part of. The restoration efforts there have been underway for decades, and much has been learned about how to go about it. But what many may not realize is that we have learned a lot of lessons right here on Our River that might be well-applied to the Chesapeake. Trading experiences and lessons learned is one way we can all benefit, so let’s take a look at four possible experiences to pass each way, starting with Chesapeake lessons for us, then sending on four of our own.
Lesson Number 1 from the Chesapeake to the Anacostia: Reporting Progress in an Understandable Manner Both the multi-agency Bay Program and the citizenbased Chesapeake Bay Foundation report progress to the public on a regular basis. The foundation gives the effort a grade each year, with most recent years getting a passing C or D. The program provides credible progress measures in a number of arThe Anacostia. Photo Andrew Lightman
eas the public can readily understand – such as fish, grass beds, upstream water quality, source reductions. Progress reports show how the elements fit together and where more progress is needed, especially from agriculture. While the Anacostia clean-up tries to report progress, it is not provided to the public on such a regular basis, and the various measures are not integrated into an overall sense of progress and what areas need to do more to keep up.
Lesson Number 2 from the Chesapeake to the Anacostia: Giving a Sense That Everyone and Everything Can Benefit from the Restoration There is an overall sense that a well-designed and executed restoration of the bay and its watershed of creeks and rivers and nearby lands can accomplish benefits for all aspects of nature and humanity. The related message is that we all need to do our part, and that doing so provides benefits not just to ourselves, but to nature and to human communities. In the Anacostia an additional effort needs attention, namely, assuring that all the nearby neighborhoods and communities are made aware of what is happening to restore the river, and providing knowledge to the general public of the wide range of opportunities for recreation and other enjoyment.
Lesson Number 3 from the Chesapeake to the Anacostia: Measuring Progress against Goals That are Readily Understood by the Public The Bay Program, through such widespread information 62 H HILLRAG.COM
sources as the monthly Bay Journal and regular press releases, is able to keep folks informed about where efforts have resulted in progress and where more investment of time and money is needed. This is helped by adopting clear and measurable goals and making evident how actions taken affect their attainment and their relationships to other goals. This is not an easy undertaking, and the Anacostia effort should try to learn how the Bay Program has accomplished this. While much is measured in the Anacostia, the way the different actions taken relate to each other and to progress toward goals could use refinement through a regular reporting system that the public can anticipate and react to.
Lesson Number 4 from the Chesapeake to the Anacostia: Engaging Leaders on a Regular Basis and Reinforcing Their Commitments The Bay Program holds an annual public meeting with a private session among the governors of the watershed states, the mayor of DC, the administrator of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agency heads to review progress and renew commitments. Meetings are critical for holding the attention and support of the top political leaders in the agencies and jurisdictions and provide a regular opportunity for recommitment to the goals of bay restoration. Although they faithfully attend these Chesapeake annual meetings, the governor of Maryland and the mayor of DC have no similar event with respect to the Anacostia, and they should.
Lesson Number 1 from the Anacostia to the Chesapeake: Making Sure That Upstream and Downstream Communities Learn How to Work Together The Anacostia recovery has benefited from excellent communication and joint support from communities
throughout the watershed. Although the interests of upstream, non-tidal, freshwater communities differ from those of downstream, tidal and saline water communities, they have much in common and have supported efforts that benefit others more. Admittedly, these groups are physically a lot closer in the Anacostia than the farmers and fishermen of the Chesapeake. But lessons to be learned about meeting and working together and sharing successes and failures could help the Chesapeake.
of what is available for their use and enjoyment. This is a problem area for the Chesapeake, where the absence of access to large tidal and non-tidal areas has given the public a sense that access is limited to locals and wealthy landowners of the waterside. In addition to benefits for upstream users, innovative access programs such as hiking and biking trails, camping areas, extended waterside recreation areas and other investments can make all areas attractive and gain broad-based public support.
Lesson Number 2 from the Anacostia to the Chesapeake:
Lesson Number 4 from the Anacostia to the Chesapeake:
Leading in the Development and Use of New Technologies to Increase Public Support People take pride in their public agencies’ leadership and use of the latest means to help clean up the waters. The Anacostia has led, at least the region and maybe the nation, in a number of areas, including the highest achievable level of nutrient reduction by eliminating 98% of combined sewer overflows, and the very successful daylighting of storm sewers such as Springhouse Run through the National Arboretum – recreating streams, fish and wildlife where there was before just a pipe. Such successes could be adopted by other areas of the Chesapeake watershed, bringing the benefits of support from the public for such impressive changes.
Learning, from What the Federal Agencies Are Doing along the Anacostia, What More They Can Do along the Bay and Its Rivers Because the Anacostia runs through DC, federal agencies have come forth with help in a number of areas. The National Park Service owns the tidal river-bottom and much of the shoreline; the local and federal departments of transportation have helped on building and maintaining the trails and the Navy has carried out cleanups and provided extensive access along the shoreline. While federal lands and waters are more limited in the Chesapeake watershed, there may be opportunities to engage them in the clean-up and the provision of improved access. While local federal officials are prone to claim a lack of funds or authority, the Anacostia experience offers examples worth pursuing and many contacts to draw upon from the local agencies and environmental groups. We are all in this together, and we need to learn lessons from each other.
Lesson Number 3 from the Anacostia to the Chesapeake: Providing Recreation and Access to the Water for All Builds Political Support Public ownership of much of the Anacostia shoreline has made it relatively easy to build access points to the water, trails along the tidal and non-tidal waters and other water-related public facilities. With good publicity, the broad range of potential users is made aware
Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River and the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on citizen advisory committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia River. u
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Allen to Hold Budget Town Hall ANC 6A REPORT by Nick L. Alberti Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the Feb. 11 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via Webex, with Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01), Phil Toomajian (6A02), Mike Soderman (6A03), Laura Gentile (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) in attendance. Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert was absent.
Updates from Ward 6 Councilmember Allen Councilmember Charles Allen (DWard 6) expressed his frustration and that of his constituents with the process for scheduling a COVID vaccine appointment, saying the vaccine is being disproportionately distributed to the
wealthiest DC residents and seems to be pitting neighbor against neighbor. Mayor Bowser’s team announced that in March DC will be implementing a new system that will require a one-time registration. As doses become available, the system will automatically contact residents to schedule an appointment. To offer immediate assistance, Yellow Cab has agreed to offer $5 flat fares to transport DC seniors anywhere in the city for their vaccination appointment. Mayor Bowser will be releasing her proposed city budget this coming spring. In preparation, Allen will be holding a budget town hall meeting shortly after the budget has been released so constituents have a time to read through it and come to him with questions and suggestions. Though a citywide budget can be difficult to predict during a public health crisis and corresponding recession, Allen pointedly shared his disappointment with the unexpected $500 million budget surplus in this past fiscal year when thousands of residents and small businesses were struggling financially. Portions of this surplus could have been spent supporting and offering relief, he said, but now, by law, must be split between a fund to pay for affordable housing and others that support infrastructure projects. To contact Councilmember Charles Allen, e-mail callen@dccouncil.us or visit charlesallenward6.com.
Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL) Committee
The commissioners voted, unanimously, to authorize the co-chairs of the ABL Committee to negotiate and sign a settlement agreement with representatives of a new establishment seeking a Class C tavern license for operations at 1378 H St. NE. The commissioners voted, unanimously, to authorize the co-chairs of the ABL Committee to submit to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA), on behalf of the ANC, a letter of support for a stipulated license for the new establishment seeking a Class C tavern license for operations at 1378 H St. NE, upon completion of a settlement agreement and receipt and review of a satisfactory placard for said establishment consistent with the discussion during the January 2021 ABL meeting. The commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve the revised template settlement agreements. They voted, unanimously, to remove from template settlement agreements the requirement that establishments ask loiterers to move away from premises, and authorized the co-chairs of the ABL Committee to make any corresponding changes required. The commissioners voted, unanimously, to authorize the cochairs of the ABL to make additional non-substantive changes to the template settlement agreements as needed. The commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve the appointments of Kate Rob-
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ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, AMBERANC6A@GMAIL.COM Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and H Street communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.
www.anc6a.org
ALL ARE WELCOME inson and Mona Hatoum to the Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee. The ABL Committee meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.
Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee The commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve the appointment of Matthew Frutig to the Transportation and Public Safety Committee. The committee meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.
New Business The commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a special exception from the minimum vehicle parking requirements to convert an existing, detached, two-story carriage house to a principal dwelling unit at 1608 East Capitol St. NE (BZA Case #20393) in the RF-1 Zone, with the caveat that the owner post a no-parking sign on the building, stipulate in the lease that residents are not allowed to park in the alley. The commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of conditional support to the BZA for a special exception under the residential conversion requirements and the rooftop and upper-floor restrictions to construct a third story, with rear and side additions, and to construct six residential units, to an existing two-story, detached building at 1300 I St. NE (BZA Case #20436) in the RF-1 Zone, with the caveats that the developer make best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors and add a bike rack or other amenities to encourage non-car transportation. Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of meeting times, meeting agendas and other information. u
Allen Pushes For Vaccine Preregistration ANC 6B Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek All 10 commissioners were present at the Feb.9 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B: Jennifer Samolyk (6B01), Gerald Sroufe (secretary, 6B02), Brian Ready (chair, 6B03), Kirsten Oldenburg (parliamentarian, 6B04), Steve Holtzman (vice chair, 6B05), Corey Holman (treasurer, 6B06), Edward Ryder (6B07), Peter Wright (6B08), Alison Horn (6B09) and Denise Krepp (6B10).
The Next meeting is 2nd Thursday, March 11, 7:00 p.m. Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Community Outreach Committee meeting 4th Monday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, March 15, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, March 23, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via WebEx Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Hot Topics at anc6a.org. Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. You will be able to enter the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled start time.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C
Changes to Vaccine Registration in March Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) discussed upcoming changes to the District’s COVID-19 vaccination registration system and plan at the Feb. 9 meeting. Allen told commissioners that DC Health would meet later that week to revise the tiered system that has been in place since early January. (An announcement was made at Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Feb. 11 Situational Update.) Allen said that he had heard from neighbors frustrated by the process and by the fact that many, although eligible, were still unvaccinated. “The weekly pitting of neighbors against each other to compete for a small number of vaccine doses is not the best way to do this,” Allen said. “It creates a lot of frustration. It also, of course, creates a system that has significant disparity, which we have seen play out.” Allen said he was pushing for DC Health to create a preregistration system, such as those used in other jurisdictions, notably in New Jersey and Oklahoma. With preregistration, residents would enter necessary informa-
P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168
Next meeting Wednesday, March 10. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.
ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Christine Healey 6C01@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C02 Karen Wirt 6C02@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C05 Joel Kelty 6C05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C03 Jay Adelstein 6C03@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C06 Drew Courtney drewcourtney.anc @gmail.com
ANC usually meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, 214 Massachusetts Ave, N.E. Please check the ANC 6C website for dates.
ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcoholic Beverage Licensing First Monday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com Grants Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants Environment, Parks, and Events First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: 6C06@anc.dc.gov
Transportation and Public Space First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development First Wednesday, 6:30 pm Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov Twitter: @6C_PZE
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more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. While the Biden administration increased the District’s weekly shipment by 15% last week, that was still insufficient to meet District needs.
Opposition Continues to Handle 19 License
Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) speaks at the Feb. 9 meeting of ANC 6B. Image: Webex screenshot
tion prior to vaccines becoming available. DC Health would then contact eligible vaccine recipients by tier as appointments become available. Allen said that a preregistration system would reduce stress and also make registration more accessible to those without access to internet or who are less technologically savvy. He said that early messaging by DC Health about priority access to registration by ZIP code was unclear. While 20002 was included in the latest priority list, the 20003 code, which covers much of Capitol Hill, was not. “A lot of Ward 6 neighbors reached out to me to say that Ward 6 was ‘excluded’ from vaccines, and that is, of course, not the case,” Allen said. In fact, according to data provided by DC Health, as of Feb. 6 Ward 6 had the highest number of fully vaccinated individuals by ward in the city, with 1,119 people fully vaccinated, compared to 390 and 334 in Wards 7 and 8 respectively. Still, Allen said that he did not think ZIP codes were the most efficient method of organization. He said that there is a lot of disparity among residents in the 20003 code, adding that he hoped the District would find better ways of reaching the most vulnerable. In addition to the creation of a central registry, Allen pointed to two changes that were likely to be made to the District vaccination plan. First, it was likely that pregnant women will be moved to a place closer to the front of the line. Although the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said that pregnant women are at greater risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, they do not qualify for earlier vaccination in DC. Second, Allen hoped there would be revisions to the age cohorts used in the tier system. Currently, individuals are either categorized as 64 and over or from 18 to 64 – a large range that Allen said he hoped would be subdivided, for instance from 50 to 64. However, Allen said the District simply needs 66 H HILLRAG.COM
Commissioners discussed the status of the liquor license application for Handle 19, a restaurant and sportsbook planned for 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. On Jan. 28, the Office of Lottery and Gaming issued an executive order denying the application for a sports wagering license, citing background-investigation evidence that the applicant did not meet the requirements for licensure. That is separate from the liquor license. Commissioners briefly debated the merit of revisiting the allocation of $14,000 toward legal support in the ANC protest of the Handle 19 liquor license. It was decided not to make any changes to avoid an impact on the protest process. Commissioners also cited the unique nature of the applying business, and the role of the case as precedent for future sports wagering applications in the bounds of the ANC. ANC 6B filed a motion to dismiss the liquor license application on the basis that Handle 19 does not qualify as a restaurant according to the DC Code. That motion was dismissed the day after the February meeting by the Alcohol Beverage Control Board, which said that the question could only be resolved at hearing. The protest hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., April 8.
In Other Business The ANC unanimously voted to support a resolution addressed to the DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser asking them to oppose permanent fencing around the Capitol grounds and to work with the US Capitol Police to ensure the restoration of bicycle and pedestrian access to the grounds. They also asked that Independence and Constitution avenues, currently blocked by fencing at Second Street, be reopened as soon as possible to restore transit routes. Finally, the ANC requested that if permanent measures are implemented, that addressees work with federal authorities to ensure integration with the landscape and that access is still possible to all public parks and paths accessible prior to Jan. 6, 2021. ANC 6B voted unanimously to reestablish the following committees and task forces, reelecting the incumbent chairs:
• Hill East Task Force (HETF), Denise Krepp • Livable Communities Task Force (LCTF), Steve Holtzman • Delegate to Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC), Gerald Sroufe • Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Committee, Brian Ready • Transportation Committee, Kirsten Oldenburg • Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Committee, Corey Holman The Working Group on Barracks Row was renamed the Capitol Hill Business Interest Working Group and its purview expanded to assisting all local businesses, not just those on Eighth Street SE. Brian Ready will be the sole chair of the committee. Last year, he co-chaired with then-6B08 Commissioner Chander Jayaraman. 24 resident members were also appointed to committees:
Planning and Zoning Committee • • • • • • • • • •
Lauren Friedman (6B01) Bryan Dierlam (6B02) Gerardo Mijares-Shafai (6B03) Frances McGaffey (6B04) Ken Jarboe (6B05) Ryan Danks (6B06) Sharon Ryan (6B07) Amanda Thomas (6B08) Daniel Garry (6B09) Francis Campbell (6B10)
Alcohol Beverage Control Committee • • • • • •
Janice Kruger (6B02) Katherine Szafran (6B03) Clare Palace (6B04) Ellen Opper-Weiner (6B05) Chander Jayaraman (6B08) Ryan Fochler (6B09)
Transportation Committee • • • • • • • •
Floyd Brown (6B01) Kevin Morarity (6B02) Brian Kirrane (6B03) John Manley (6B04) Paul Hyden (6B06) Stefan Katz (6B07) Carol Grissom (6B08) John Ten Hoeve (6B09)
The next meeting of ANC 6B is scheduled for 7 p.m.,
THE BOTANIC GARDENS AND THE SENATE PARK COMMISSION: THREE DECADES OF CONTROVERSY PRESERVATION CAFE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 6:30 PM Historian Matthew Gilmore will relate the titanic struggle that took place at the foot of the U.S. Capitol in the early 20th century — Washington’s planners versus the Botanic Garden. Free. Visit chrs.org/botanicgardens-pc/ for details.
THE CAPITOL HILL HOME - PHOTO CONTEST ENTRIES DUE APRIL 1, 2021 Submit an exterior shot of what you think makes a home a Capitol Hill home. View details and past contest winners at chrs.org/photo-contest-2021/.
CONNECT WITH US! Visit www.chrs.org Email CapHRS420@gmail.com or call 543-0425 Follow us on @CapHRS @CHRSDC CapitolHillRestorationDC
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Tuesday, March 9. For information on meetings and how to join a virtual meeting via Webex, visit www. anc6b.org. Learn more by visiting www.anc6b.org or connect with the commission via email at 6b@anc. dc.gov or Twitter @ANC6B. u
Norton Bill Would Prevent Fencing Around the Capitol ANC 6C Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek All members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C were present at the June 10 meeting: Christine Healey (secretary, 6C01), Karen Wirt (chair, 6C02), Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (vice chair, 6C04), Joel Kelty (treasurer, 6C05) and Drew Courtney (6C06).
DDOT Loses Track of ANC Correspondence The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has “lost track” of some of the actionable documents sent to them by ANC 6 last year. DDOT Representative Andrew DeFrank acknowledged this at the Jan. 7 meeting of the ANC 6C Transportation Public Space (TPS) Committee, Chair Christy Kwan told the Feb. 19 meeting of the full commission. According to DC Code, the issues and concerns raised in recommendations of an ANC shall be given great weight during the deliberations by government entities such as DDOT. The impetus for the Jan. 7 TPS meeting with DeFrank was to learn what was being done to address the concerns raised in the ANC correspondence. Kwan said that DeFrank was not aware of a February 2020 ANC letter citing safety concerns and making detailed and specific recommendations for safety improvements to H Street NE, notably at the intersections with Third and Sixth streets. DeFrank told the committee that DDOT did not have a record of the resolution but said he had seen the letter at some point over the year. He indicated that DDOT had started to examine some of the concerns addressed in the letter. DeFrank said that some of the materials were sent 68 H HILLRAG.COM
by the ANC to the wrong email address. Commissioners said they had not been aware of the existence of that email address. “It was a frustrating conversation,” Kwan told commissioners. “I think things literally got lost in the shuffle,” Kwan said, adding that there were similar concerns with requests for traffic safety assessments at Seventh Street at A and C streets NE. One of those things was a request for a stop sign at the intersection of Seventh and A streets NE. DDOT had previously determined that an all-way stop was not warranted at the intersection, but DeFrank told the committee that DDOT would consider placing a stop sign on a local street anyway if the ANC supported the request, which the ANC did in May 2020. That correspondence had also been lost, Kwan said. Commissioners decided to resend all materials to DDOT over the previous 16 months to the email address they had just learned about. Eckenwiler suggested that this be brought to the attention of DC Council. “I know we sent it to somebody at DDOT,” he said, “and so somebody at DDOT got this. I just feel like an agency should not be playing these kinds of procedural games, particularly when we’re raising literal lifesafety issues having to do with a particular corridor.” Kwan has compiled a spreadsheet to track the status of the documents, and Courtney said that it was apparent that the commission needs to monitor each matter moving forward.
Eleanor Holmes Norton Presents Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) appeared before ANC 6C, speaking on several issues flagged by commissioners prior to the meeting. She noted that she had introduced a bill to prevent permanent fencing from being placed around the Capitol grounds. “I have been an outspoken critic of it, and I believe I will be able to get that bill passed,” she said. Norton noted that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was reexamining plans for the renovation of Union Station. The plans have already been approved, but FRA has been asked to significantly reduce the number of parking spaces, which Norton said she would support. On the question of helicopter noise, Norton said that over 50 helicopter operators have been conducting flights in the DC area. She said a study requested by the House of Representatives revealed serious information gaps, leading her to introduce a bill creating an information-sharing mechanism managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to generate better data on helicopter complaints and to formulate
solutions to the problem of aviation noise. She spoke to the issue of homeless encampments on federal lands. Citing the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Norton said that while no new encampments would be permitted, they should also not be removed during the public health emergency. Finally, Norton said she wanted to change the law to allow DC to sell marijuana commercially. While her previous effort had failed, she would try again in 2021. Norton requested that the ANC permit her to present at a future meeting, saying that she had more to share.
Support for Park at Dave Thomas Circle The ANC voted to support a letter to Acting DDOT Director Everett Lott, cc’ing Councilmember Allen, to emphasize the importance of the full completion of a park at Dave Thomas Circle. That circular intersection, colloquially named for the Wendy’s restaurant that sits at its center, will be redesigned following the acquisition of the property by the District government in January via eminent domain. By the end of February, the Environment Parks and Events Committee (EPE) expects to see DDOT’s “65 percent,” or intermediate design, plan, which solidifies decisions to the point that construction can begin. Work on the intersection and park space is expected to begin in 2022. NOMA Parks and DDOT will hold another round of community meetings to allow for public input. However, Courtney said that there was a potential funding issue. NOMA Parks has committed to paying for design of the park space that will be created by the reconfiguration of roadways, but it has not allocated funds to build the park. It is unclear if DDOT will commit to doing so, Courtney said. “Given the importance of this location,” Courtney, said, “I think the last thing we want to do is end with a great plan and a lot of infrastructure on the streets, and them cheaping out on the final step of putting in some trees, flagstones, benches [and] a very small play place.”
Other Business T0he TPS Committee decided to delay until March a vote on a public space application for an unenclosed sidewalk café at 111 K St. NE. The applicant was not present at the meeting to answer questions. The proposed 216-square-foot café would include 27 seats at 10 tables. Hours of application are 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Director of NoMA Parks Foundation Robin E. Jasper provided an update to the EPE Committee on Swampoodle II park, the temporary name for the property at 1100 Third St. NE. Concept plans are expected within 3060 days. The park is expected to be a flexible, usable piece with movable furniture to act as a companion to Swampoodle Park across the street. That park has a dog park and children’s play structure. Plans call for a summer groundbreaking with the park opening in 2022.
Commissioners voted to support: •
a sign-on letter sent from ANC 6E regarding the North Capitol Street Concept Study. The letter requests that the DC Council fund the study in the FY22 budget, and ANC 6C offered a friendly amendment to add reference to the MidCity East Livability Study from several years ago. • a DDOT Public Space application from Uncle Kenny’s Smokehouse sidewalk café (732 Maryland Ave. NE) for a sidewalk café. There are no changes from existing conditions. The restaurant is under new ownership, explained TPS Chair Kwan, and the new owners want to make sure all permits and licenses are in order. • a request for postponement of a hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). The applicant seeks a special exception to convert a building into a five-unit apartment house and for variance relief from the lot requirements at 622 I St. NE. The applicant intends to seek a postponement so they can negotiate with one of the neighbors. • a letter offering ANC comments on the second stage of proposed Zoning Commission amendments to accessory-building regulations in the Zoning Code. The comments focus on the inclusion of parapets in the overall measurement of height. The next meeting of ANC 6C is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, via Webex. For information and links to join meetings of the ANC and its committees, visit www.anc6c.org. u
DDOT To Eliminate105 I Street Parking Spaces ANC 6D Report by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Feb. 8 over Webex. Commissioners Andrew Bossi (6D01), Jared Weiss (secretary, 6D02), Ronald Collins (treasurer, 6D03), Andy Litsky (6D04), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (vice chair, 6D05), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06) and Edward Daniels (chair, 6D07) attended.
DDOT Proposes Eliminating 105 Residential Parking Spaces The DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) briefed the commission on its proposal to create mile-long, protected bike lanes on both sides of I Street between Fourth Street SE and Seventh Street SW. The plan would significantly reconfigure the street’s parking by removing all curbside parking on the northern side of the roadway. Parking on the southern side would remain unaffected. The plan will eliminate a total of 105 parking spaces, DDOT Bike Program Specialist Greg Matlesky stated: 78 in Southwest, 27 in Southeast.
I Street’s current two-way vehicular traffic flow will be maintained. The plan was conceived to address the needs of the significant number of cyclists who use I Street to transit to work and The Wharf, Matlesky stated. Protected lanes make the area accessible to cyclists of all ages and ability levels, not just those with significant experience riding on narrow roadways in traffic. While supporting making city streets safer for cyclists, Litsky questioned the agency’s laser focus on the I Street bikeway, pointing out the more serious safety issue posed by the absence of a traffic light at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and I Street SE. “It doesn’t make sense to get bicyclists out there if they’re only going to get killed at an intersection because there’s no light,” Litsky said. “We’ve asked for the light for over five years.” Collins echoed Litsky’s sentiment. The intersection of South Capitol Street is “one of the most dangerous in the District,” he said. Malesky said that a traffic light will be installed at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and I Street SE by early 2022. Residents wishing to comment on the proposed bike lane may email DDOT Bike Program Specialist Greg Matlesky at greg.matlesky@dc.gov. A copy of the plan can be found at www.anc6d.org/ wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Eye-Street-SW-SEpresentation-to-ANC-6D-21-2-8.pdf.
Affordable Housing Douglas Development asked the commission’s supMarch 2021 H 69
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port for a special zoning exemption to build a residential apartment with ground floor retail at 300 12th St. SW, on the site of the historic Cotton Annex. Plans call for 610 residential units, 50 to 60 to be affordable at 60% of area median income (AMI). Douglas is completely preserving the front portions of the buildings and fully restoring and rehabilitating anything that is degraded, noting that the building itself is in good condition, stated Drew Turner, the project’s manager. The developer plans to increase the historic building’s footprint by approximately 4,000 square feet. Retail will be added to the ground floor, while preserving the historic integrity of the building. To accomplish this, the project requires a special exemption to the building’s existing zoning. The case will be heard by the Zoning Commission on March 18. Bossi praised the plan to preserve the historic building. However, the project’s affordable housing component remained a “major” issue. “This project is seeking special exceptions, something that is itself above and beyond the normal baseline,” Bossi said. “This site is proposing the bare minimum affordable housing. We’re in an affordable housing crisis, and we’re not seeing that this project is also going above and beyond what it is providing.” “We’ve got a project that’s got a historic building sitting on it, taking up a third of a footprint,” Turner said. “It is a very challenging site and we’re making a serious, serious effort to make this come to life.” While open to continued conversation on the subject with commissioners, he stated, the number of affordable units offered is not up for negotiation. Pointing to Douglas Development’s failure to incorporate affordable housing in its Buzzard Point development, Litsky objected to 8% of the Cotton Annex project being af-
fordable, which is the legal minimum. “You’re doing the absolute minimum,” Litsky said. “I expect more of Douglas Development.” The commissioners agreed unanimously to defer a vote on the project’s special exemption to their March 8 meeting and to establish a negotiating committee to try and resolve the issue in the interim.
Additional Items Sullivan and Barros LLC, the developer of a hotel at 280 12th St. SW, requested the commission support its application for a special zoning exemption scheduled for a March 8 hearing of the Zoning Commission. The developer has proffered a $25,000 community benefits agreement. The commissioners voted unanimously in support of the request. The commission voted to support the application for a $400,000 grant for public park improvements along the Anacostia waterfront. The commission agreed unanimously to: • support the application of Scissors and Scotch, 1 M St. SE, Suite 100, for a Class C tavern license and its community agreement; • support the application of WSC, 71 Potomac Ave. SE, for a Class C tavern license and its community agreement; • support the application of Nara Ya, 88 District Square SW, for a Class C tavern license and its community agreement. ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for March 8 on Webex. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit www.anc6d.org. Sarah Payne, a student at the University of Michigan interning with the Hill Rag. You can reach her at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆
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BULLETIN BOARD Photo: Courtesy of Historic Congressional Cemetery
Arena Stage Theater Artists Marketplace Arena Stage Theater Artists Marketplace has trailblazed a model for regional theaters to connect art, artists and their artistry directly with the public. At the Marketplace you can commission or purchase a work of art safely, with no in-person contact, from the artists and artisans who have graced Arena’s stages. When you make a purchase through the Marketplace, you are generating much-needed financial support for artists. A percentage supports Arena Stage. There are 33 artists and over 100 works of art, lessons, or commissioning opportunities currently on the Marketplace. Check back often as more Arena Stage artists and their works will be added over time. arenastage.org/tickets/looking-forward/artists-marketplace.
Hayes Wellness Center
Congressional Cemetery Call for Actors Whether you are an experienced actor, always have had a great time doing skits, or just enjoy telling people about history--doing historical theater may be for you. Congressional Cemetery is looking for a few good actors to help with some historical theater events. It will be fun while helping them raise money for the Cemetery. The Historical Theater Interest Form is at form. asana.com/?k=XNyM8IOrXjgPtcdrhWDacg&d=1199636913810108. congressionalcemetery.org. 72 H HILLRAG.COM
The Hayes Senior Wellness Center, 500 K St. NE, offers weekday Zoom classes in dance, resistance workout, Kung Fu for seniors, nutrition, Pilates, Tai Ji, Zumba and self-defense. The Center provides activities designed specifically for adults ages 60 and up. The center includes a cardio/weight room, computer lab, multi-purpose room, kitchen, and library. Their mission is to promote well-being through physical exercise, nutrition education, health promotion, and smoking cessation which all lead to a healthy lifestyle. hayesswc.com.
East City Book Talks East City Bookshop (virtual) Book Talks in March are Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, The How and Wow
of the Human Body in conversation with Jarrett J Krosoczka, March 2, 6 p.m.; Jill Santopolo, Everything After, March 10, 7 p.m.; W. Ralph Eubanks, A Place Like Mississippi in conversation with Beth Ann Fennelly, March 22, 7 p.m. Store hours are Wednesday to Friday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. East City Bookshop is at 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. eastcitybookshop.com.
Save the Date! On Wednesday, May 19th at 7 pm the Capitol Hill Community Foundation will hold its annual Community Achievement Awards fundraising gala. Happily, because this will be a virtual gathering, everyone can attend! We will honor neighbors Bonny Wolf and Patricia Joseph with Community Achievement Awards, Kathleen Donohue with the Steve Cymrot “Spark” award, and we will celebrate two winners of the annual $20,000 Arnold B. Keller, Jr. Award – Everyone Home DC for 2020 and Serve Your City for 2021. Please join us! For more information and sponsorships contact Nancy Lazear at nlazear@aol.com.
Hill Center Call for Recipes The Hill Center is putting together a cookbook and want to include you, your recipes and the stories behind them. Contribute one or as many as you like. Don’t worry about the format but do tell them a little about where you got the recipe. And tell them something about yourself. Have you been to Hill Center programs? Taken a Hill Center class? Send recipes or questions to Bonny Wolf at bon-
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is your homeownership resource in the District from buying a home to retaining your home; we have a homeownership program to assist you. DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages. You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia. Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer program. Reverse Mortgage Insurance & Tax Payment Program (ReMIT) ReMIT provides financial assistance to seniors 62 years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Qualified District homeowners can receive up to $25,000 in assistance. DC4ME DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia. DC MAP (Mortgage Assistance Program) COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months. HomeSaver HomeSaver is a foreclosure prevention program that assists unemployed and underemployed homeowners who may have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. The program offers lump sum or ongoing monthly assistance with a maximum assistance of $60,000 per household.
Visit www.DCHFA.org for full qualification guidelines and information on how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG March 2021 ★ 73
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ny@hillcenterdc.org. The cookbook will help raise funds to support Hill Center operations as they wait for a time when we can safely reopen and welcome you all in person.
Folger’s Shakespeare Unlimited (podcasts) William Shakespeare and his works are woven throughout our global culture, from theater, music, and films to new scholarship, education, amazing discoveries, and more. In the Folger’s Shakespeare Unlimited podcast, Shakespeare opens a window into topics ranging from the American West, to the real history of Elizabethan street fighting, to interviews with Shakespearean stars. As you’ll hear, he turns up in surprising places, too—including outer space. Join the Folger Shakespeare Library for a “no limits” tour of the connections between Shakespeare, his works, and our world. Explore by play or explore by topic 150 free podcasts. folger.edu/ shakespeare-unlimited.
Capitol Hill Art League Open Call The Capitol Hill Art League presents its tenth annual metro open juried exhibition, Galaxy, April 5 to 30, online at caphillartleague.org. Galaxy evokes images suggestive of cosmic vastness, emptiness, otherworldliness, outerworldliness, yet can represent an internal as well as an outer landscape. Submitting artists are invited to explore their artwork interpretations of Galaxy through their own personal process and any media, including photography. The exhibition is open to artists, 18 and older, residing in the DC/VA/MD area, 2-D and 3-D. Submission closes on March 12, midnight. caphillartleague.org.
DC’s Planners vs The Botanic Gardens The Capitol Hill Restoration Society will host historian Matthew Gilmore in a virtual presentation on the struggle that took place at the foot of the U.S. Capitol in the early 20th century — Washington’s planners versus the Botanic Garden. The Senate Park Commission (or McMillan) Plan of 1902, a de-
sign to transform the Mall into a single, unified composition, met with considerable resistance, especially from the Botanic Gardens. Learn more on Wednesday, March 17, at 6:30 pm. Free.Visit chrs.org/botanic-gardens-pc/ for details.
Florida Avenue NE’s Virtual Circle to be Redesigned DDOT is redesigning the notorious “virtual” circle at the the intersection of New York Avenue, NE, Florida Avenue, NE, and First Street, NE, to make it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Once complete, the redesigned intersection will: realign and add two-way traffic to First Street; restore twoway traffic on Florida Avenue; add protected bicycle lanes; make other improvements benefitting safety and legibility for all modes of travel; and create three new public park spaces. The title for the property was transferred to the District by eminent domain. DDOT will complete the final design plans in Summer 2021 with plans to begin construction in the first quarter of 2022. For more information, visit floridaaveproject.com.
Frederick Douglass Bridge Opening Date Announced Mayor Bowser and the District Department of Transportation have announced that the District’s new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge is expected to open October 1, 2021. In August 2020, the Bowser Administration marked the completion of the six arches over the bridge, forever changing the District’s cityscape and transportation network. It connects the shores of the Anacostia River, creating a more connected city and shared economic prosperity between the thriving communities in Wards 6 and 8. For more information, visit newfrederickdouglassbridge.com.
Easter at the National Cathedral
Snow covers Joel Shapiro’s Untitled (1989, bronze, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 1990.29.1) in the foreground and Mark di Suvero’s Aurora (1992-1993, steel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, 1996.72.1) in the background.
NGA Sculpture Garden and Pavilion Cafe Reopen The National Gallery has reopened the Sculpture Garden and Pavilion Café to the public, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. Admission is free and all entrances and paths are open. Capacity is limited and visitors will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis. The 6.1-acre garden is located along the north side of the National Mall between Seventh and Ninth Streets NW. The East and West Buildings remain closed to the public. nga.gov. 74 H HILLRAG.COM
On Easter Sunday, April 4, at 11:15 a.m. attend the Easter service at the National cathedral on their website, YouTube page or Facebook page. At 6 p.m., Cathedral organists Thomas Sheehan and George Fergus celebrate the holiday with a selection of uplifting music on the Cathedral’s Great Organ. Join the organists after the recital for a discussion of the music and the amazing instrument. This concert includes the works of Lynn Trapp, Buxtehude, Simon Preston, John West, Florence Price, Denis Bédard and Marcel Dupré. Free but registration is necessary. Registrants will be sent a link to view the concert. cathedral.org.
NEW MILLENNIUM
PROUD TO BE AGENTS WITH THE #1 CENTURY 21 FIRM IN THE WORLD! Hill Center March Online Classes Hill Center Online classes this month are: March 1, 6 p.m., Family Style Series-Brazilian Moqueca; March 2, 6 p.m., Family Style Series-Pad Thai; March 8, 6 p.m., Family Style Series-Potato Tajine; March 15, 6 p.m., Family Style Series-Jackfruit Tacos. Online classes are $20. hillcenterdc.org.
Mt. Rainier Spring Craft Fair, March 6 The Mt. Rainier Spring Craft Fair will take place virtually this year on March 6, noon to 3 p.m. The Fair will be on the online platform, Hopin, which allows customers to explore different sessions on their own. It is open to the public with free admission. Each vendor will have a link for their website where you can purchase their showcased items. The Craft Fair features many varieties of handmade goods. joesmovement.org/craft-fair.
Supreme Court Justice Breyer Takes the Bench for A Winter’s Tale of Marital Woe Oyez, oyez, oyez! Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Mock Trial is now in session—virtually. On March 10, at 7:30 p.m., audiences are invited to hear a mock appellate argument before a panel of judges, based on a legal issue arising out of a re-imagined plot point of The Winter’s Tale. Audiences will be able to watch the proceedings online and even cast their own judgment before the panel renders their verdict. Focusing on the royal rift between King Leontes and Queen Hermione of Sicily, this year’s Mock Trial scenario A Winter’s Tale of Marital Woe: Who’s to Blame? finds the Queen’s frenemy Paulina paying out of pocket after keeping the monarchs sepa-
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SHRINES: Adventure awaits. From March 21 through April 25, 2021, six curious and wondrous Shrines will appear throughout the region’s landscape, waiting to be discovered. Explorers, adventurous participants who choose to journey to one or many Shrines, will travel and enact a Ritual connecting them to the magic of a Shrine, its location, and other Explorers who have been there. Then, Explorers may uncover more by sharing their journey online and connecting with each other over the magic of SHRINES. SHRINES is free to experience, and each unique Shrine is complete and self-contained. Explorers may visit as many as they like. All they ask is that participants engage fully with any Shrine they visit and share with others to foster deeper magic and connection. SHRINES locations, rituals and media will be released in late February so Explorers can begin planning their journeys. In the meantime, Explorers may peruse the SHRINES guidebook and sign up for maps, rituals, etc. at shrines.space. Explorers can also begin to connect with one another in the SHRINES Facebook Group and use the hashtags: #SHRINES #FindYourShrine #exploredc. rated for sixteen years. $30; free for students. shakespearetheatre.org.
National Cathedral Red Cross Blood Drive The National Cathedral has partnered with the Red Cross to host blood drives on Wednesday, March 24, 10 a.m. and Thursday, March 25, 1 p.m. If you are able to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org, and in the red “Find a Blood Drive” box at the top right, enter the code “National Cathedral” for available reservation times.
Pedestrian/Bicycle Path for Frederick Douglass Bridge Closed DDOT has closed the sidewalk and trail connection on the west side of South Capitol Street SW between Potomac Avenue SW and Firth Sterling Avenue SE (including the west side sidewalk on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge) for reconstruction, starting Saturday, February 6, 2021. This is a permanent closure. Pedestrians and bicyclists will travel along the east side of South Capitol Street SE from Firth Sterling Avenue SE, cross at Howard Road SE, and continue on the existing path to Potomac Avenue SE via the east side of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. For more information, visit improving295dc.com.
Student Environmental Alliance Green Career Fair 2021
The Student Environmental Alliance Green Career Fair has gone virtual! Watch eight videos about the different paths you can choose to have a career that is good for your environment, your community, and you. Brought to you by the Anacostia Watershed Society, Prince George’s County Public Schools and other partners through Treating and Teaching, a program that aims to educate students about stormwater, in76 H HILLRAG.COM
crease their environmental literacy and empower them as environmental stewards. anacostiaws.org/blog/explore-the-path-to-a-green-career.
AARP Tax Preparation Help for DC Residents DC residents can send a text to or leave a message at 202-642-9037 or email the Help Desk at DCTaxAide.Help@gmail.com if you have questions or need help with your federal or DC tax return. One of their counselors will get in touch with you by email or return your call using the number 617-675-4444. For contact free help, you can send your scanned documents to them and they will prepare your return. All contact is by video chat or phone. A copy of your completed return is then emailed to you. You sign and they eFile your return. To get started, go to aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or email the Help Desk. For an appointment, you can bring your documents to them at a designated site and either (1) they scan and return them or (2) you leave them. All further contact is by video chat or phone. You then get a copy of your completed return. You sign and they eFile your return. To get started, contact the Help Desk. .
HumanitiesDC Call for Stories Constellation: Our DC Stories, a HumanitiesDC story-sharing initiative, invites all who live, work, play, or otherwise experience the District to share their DC story so that we may collectively acknowledge, engage, and uplift our neighbors’ stories. Their stories reflect the ordinary and the extraordinary details of day-to-day life, our individual joys and triumphs, our challenges, our shared community celebrations, and more. Explore the stories and consider contributing your own. humanitiesdc.org/ programs/constellation.
Capitol Hill Village Virtual Gala This is the time of year that Capitol Hill Village usually sponsors its annual Gala, but this is not the year for partying and dancing. However, that doesn’t mean that there cannot be fun, and that is what is on tap for the CHV Virtual Auction and Get-Together April 15-22. There will be opportunities to bid on vacation homes, virtual dinners with celebrities and political leaders, interesting auction items, and more. There will be a special event honoring CHV volunteers and celebrating the successes of the past year. Watch the CHV website for more details including how to get tickets: www.capitolhillvillage.org. The event benefits Capitol Hill Village, which works to sustain and enrich the lives of its members and the Capitol Hill community.
Support Expansion of Cultural Diversity in American History With support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Archives will offer new grants aimed at expanding cultural diversity in American history. The goals of this program, titled Start-Up Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American History, include: Reaching out to minority researchers, especially those currently studying history and ethnic studies, and providing specialized training and support in documentary editing; Encouraging and supporting innovative and collaborative re-thinking of American History— how it is conceived, whose voices it centers on, and for what purposes; Promoting planning and development of digital projects rooted in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American history and ethnic studies; and bridging institutional inequities by promoting resource sharing and capacity building at all levels. The dealine for proposals is June 9, 2021. Application information, including details and eligibili-
Law Offices Of
James m LOOts, Pc Serving the Capitol Hill Community Since 1984
The Devil’s Disciple The Washington Stage Guild is streaming George Bernard Shaw’s The Devils Disciple, set during the American Revolutionary War, on their YouTube channel, March 17, 8 p.m. to March 21, 8 p.m. Ten actors bring the script to life for you to enjoy from your own home. This limited engagement is available online at any time—day or evening. There is no ticket purchase required to attend but they would appreciate a donation. stageguild.org.
fees or property taxes. You may participate by internet or telephone. The webinars are free and registration is required. You may register at housingetc.org/webinar-registration . If you have questions, you may also call the Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 202-265-2255.
General Litigation and Arbitration Franchising and Business Organizations Commercial Leasing and Development Labor and Employment Issues Contract and Licensing Matters
Help Preserve DC’s Culture HumanitiesDC volunteer reviewers assist in reading and evaluating the hundreds of project applications for grant funding HumanitiesDC receives every year. This short-term volunteer assignment is a great opportunity to use your skills to improve our community and meet other people who share your passion for the District’s heritage and preservation activities. They accept applications year-round so that they have talented teams in place by review time. humanitiesdc.org/get-involved/become-a-grant-reviewer.
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Clean Energy DC Trivia Question
ty, is available at archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/digitaleditions.
Community Forklift Seeks Volunteers If you are a tradesperson or creative DIYer and would like to help with a workshop on practical how-to’s or creative reuse, propose your workshop idea at communityforklift.org/our-programs/ application-for-workshop-ideas.
HCS Foreclosure Prevention Webinars The non-profit Housing Counseling Services is conducting webinars every Wednesday in March at 2 p.m. to provide information about available options for people who are having difficulty paying their mortgage, condo
Solar energy may seem like a relatively new technology, but the concept of converting sunlight into electricity has been around for quite some time. In what year was solar photovoltaic energy discovered? Please submit your answer to jamie.donovan@dc.gov. The answer to their previous trivia question (name the furry animal that is responsible for about half of animal-related power outages) was answered correctly (squirrels) by Genell Anderson.
Schedule COVID Vaccination Appointments Visit coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccinatedc for continually updated vaccination information, to make an appointment and to signup for vaccination availability alerts. The portal is only to schedule appointments for the first dose; patients will schedule an appointment to receive their second dose during their first appointment. ◆ March 2021 ★ 77
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arts ining d and
AT THE MOVIES
Contrasts: An End-of-Life Road Trip and the Farm Life of A Korean-American Family by Mike Canning
Supernova
(From left) Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth star in the elegiac “Supernova.” Photo: Bleecker Street
An up-close-and-personal examination of dementia may not be everyone’s idea of a fun movie, but the new film “Supernova,” written and directed by Harry MacQueen, treats just that subject with such care, humor, nuance and taste that moviegoers will come away both moved and delighted – and newly thoughtful about end-of-life questions. It doesn’t hurt that the film is a brilliant acting pas de deux, starring Stanley Tucci (“Spotlight”) as Tusker, a writer in his 50s, the victim of early onset dementia, and Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) as Sam, a concert pianist and Tusker’s partner of 20 years. (With a running time of 93 minutes; the film is rated R.) Knowing Tusker’s diagnosis, the two agree to take a last road trip around England when they can, visiting family and past friends. Sam, who has put off his career to care for Tusker, does all the driving and heads for the Lake Country, where they can re-live memories of their life together in a kind of swan song. He even creates a useful excuse for the trip, booking a piano recital for himself at a town up north. After 20 years, Sam and Tusker are as secure in their love as they have ever been, but in the two years since Tusker was diagnosed, their lives have had to change. As Tusker’s condition gradually worsens, Sam is forced to place his own life on hold and become his partner’s full-time caregiver. Their time together has been the essence of their lives, and this road trip takes on an extra emotional weight. While Tusker had long been Sam’s rock, it now falls to Sam to take control, and he aims to offer his beloved partner as much normality and joy as he can muster. Meanwhile, Tusker knows that his condition
is having an overwhelming effect on both their lives, and that he is beginning to lose control. As their trip progresses, in a somewhat battered van, their individual visions of a possible future together begin to collide. Past secrets surface, private plans crumble and their love for each other is tested anew. Director MacQueen came up with the original story of “Supernova” after studying and researching dementia over three years, then added the gay relationship into his first outline. The casting was crucial, and he got the talent he wanted with Tucci and Firth. MacQueen said he aimed to make an open-ended movie. “I’m not interested in making films that overtly tell you what to think,” he said in an interview. “I think that’s up to an audience to decide; the idea was to set up the fact that these are two people on a precipice, and this is the thing that’s pulling them apart. There are no ends tied up in the film, and it doesn’t become one thing or another. But hopefully we allow people to think more about how we treat one another, and how difficult it is to be put in this position.”
The final casting turned into a sort of kismet. Tucci, first on board, thought he would play Sam, but, after both men read the script, Firth felt that maybe he should be Sam and Tucci Tusker. Firth began to wonder if they should flip their roles, and Tucci had been having similar thoughts. “We each read each role for Harry [MacQueen], and we knew instantly that this was how it was supposed to be,” Tucci said. “I don’t know why, it just sat better this way.” Having themselves been close friends for 20 years, the two leads wove that personal rapport fully into their fine representations in “Supernova.”
Minari America, being an immigrant nation, has long featured immigrant stories and characters in its movies. The best combine a vision of an individual’s experience in adjusting to the US while also reflecting the universal experience of the ethnic group depicted. A recent example of that narrative comes with “Minari,” an ode to Korean-American adaptation to American life. (The film, now streaming through local outlets, is rated PG-13 and runs 115 minutes.) The Yi family patriarch, Jacob (Steven Yeun), his wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) and two kids, David and Anne (Alan Kim and Noel Kate Cho), leave life in California in the 1980s to follow Jacob’s dream of owning his own farm to grow Korean produce to sell to vendors in Texas. After he purchases a plot of land in rural Arkansas, he’s optimistic about the life ahead, especially for growing “minari” (dropwort), a green vegetable popular in Asia. Jacob does receive support from a kind Christian neighbor, Paul (Will Patton). March 2021 ★ 79
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(From left) Young David Yi (Alan Kim) helps his grandma (Youn Yuh-Jung) plant vegetables in “Minari.” Photo: A24 Pictures and Plan B
Monica is unhappy with their move, where all she can find is a grim job “sexing chickens” at a nearby hatchery, dead-end employment that she and Jacob take on for ready cash. Monica also worries about her son David’s heart condition. The marriage has become shaky, and the couple bickers often. To watch the kids during the day, the Yis arrange for Monica’s mother, Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung), to travel from Korea. The feisty grandma, who has an outspoken and profane manner, clashes with David, who is forced to share a bedroom with her and resents her presence on the farm. She struggles to adjust to American life and to a strange landscape and tries to help the household by taking the children to plant minari seeds by a nearby creek, hoping for a good crop and looking to bond with the children. Unfortunately, hardships cascade on the Yis. A well that Jacob has dug runs dry, and he resents having to pay for county water, while Monica keeps urging a return to California. Then Soon-ja suffers a stroke overnight and, while she survives with medical care, she is left with impairments. Finally, things take a more positive turn. On a medical trip to Oklahoma City without Soon-ja, the family learns that David’s heart condition has
dramatically improved, while Jacob makes a deal to sell vegetables to a Korean grocer. But the couple still has issues and, after an argument, they agree to separate. Back home, Soon-ja accidentally sets the barn containing their produce on fire. The family, just returning home, tries to contain the fire, but it grows out of control, and their barn is ruined. Then their luck turns again when Jacob and David return to the creek to find the minari has blossomed in the new soil, and the farmer realizes that Soon-ja knew just where to plant it. Director-writer Lee Isaac Chung took elements of his own biography to create “Minari.” A son of Korean immigrants himself, he grew up in rural Arkansas, then studied at Yale University and the University of Utah film school and launched his first feature film in 2007. He has crafted this modest but fulfilling picture from local knowledge of the region, given it precise and careful pacing and imparted appropriate weight to each member of his ensemble. Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 and is a member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. ◆
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DELIGHTFUL KOSHER WINES FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS by Elyse Genderson
K
osher wine has a bad reputation. In the past, this was mostly due to the process of heating the wine called mevushal (which means "boiled" in Hebrew). This was done to ensure a Kosher designation even when the wine is not handled completely by Sabbath observing Jews (required under Kosher law). Of course, heating wine will kill the delicious, complex character and add unwanted flavors as well. Today, with advances in modern winemaking technology like the Flash Détente process (flash pasteurization) that quickly heats and then cools grapes just after harvest, great quality can be maintained. Wines from Israel are taking center stage for many reasons. Israel has a wonderfully unique terroir. You may think of the country as just an arid desert, but high elevation vineyards ensure drastic day-to-night temperature swings, allowing grapes to ripen fully while retaining fresh acidity and balance. The great Mediterranean terroir combined with a plethora of innovative, young winemaking talent, advances in technology, and the fact that heating can be avoided as Jews handle the wine during every step in the production process, means that Israel is the source for outstanding Kosher wine. We’ve come such a long way since the time of Manischewitz! Explore stellar examples of Kosher wines from around the world. Top winemakers from prestigious regions like the Napa Valley are taking the necessary legal steps to certify their wines as Kosher. These are wines to enjoy yearround, and not just at the Passover table. Discover a hand-picked selection of excellent kosher wines to celebrate the High Holidays. These delicious wines are exactly what you want for your Passover feast:
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2016 Herzog Russian River Chardonnay (Kosher) $38.99
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2016 Tulip Just Cabernet (Kosher) $24.99 From the Upper Galilee in Israel this deep garnet colored wine offers aromas of red cherry, black pepper spice, blackberry, and cocoa. Espresso and blueberry flavors burst from the glass. Full-bodied with a long luxurious finish. Pair with slow roasted brisket.
2016 Tulip White (Kosher) 750ml $26.99 A blend of two aromatic grapes, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc, this floral and complex white wine is just stunning. Tropical fruit flavors of lychee, pineapple, and grapefruit are balanced by white peppercorn spice. Bright, fresh acidity lifts the pronounced fruit flavors. Pair with ceviche and spicy Asian dishes or enjoy as an aperitif.
2014 Teperberg Essence Malbec (Kosher) $34.99 Essence Malbec comes from fruit from the Ayalon Valley which has a high diurnal shift in day to night temperature swings. This allows the fruit to rip-
en fully while retaining acidity. This bold Malbec shows off pronounced aromas and flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, violets, and black pepper. The delightfully firm tannins balance the bold fruit.
2016 Teperberg Impression Cabernet Sauvignon (Kosher) $19.99 Deep garnet in color, this full-bodied Cabernet offers a decedent bouquet of red cherries, blackberries, blueberries, dried herbs and garrigue. Pair with a hearty steak.
Blossom by blossom the Spring begins! 2017 Teperberg Impression Chardonnay (Kosher) $19.99 A wonderfully full-bodied Chardonnay with a luxurious creamy texture. Aromas and flavors of ripe red apple, prickly pear, lemon rind, and toasted almonds. A long and decedent finish. Pair with roasted chicken or Matzah Ball soup.
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2017 Terra Vega Sauvignon Blanc (Kosher) $10.99 A crisp, aromatic, and juicy Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Bright and tart citrus and tropical fruit flavors shine. Pair with white flaky fish.
2019 Terra Vega Merlot (Kosher) $9.99 Incredible value! This fruity and opulent Merlot shows off the Chilean terroir. Ripe plummy aromas and flavors of black cherry and baking spice are balanced by juicy acidity and soft tannins.
2014 Alexander Sandro (Kosher) $29.99 Alexander Sandro is made at the Alexander Winery at Moshav Beit Yitzhak in the Hefer Valley near Netanya. The fruit for this wine comes from the northern Galilee region and it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, with a touch of Sauvignon Blanc. Very expressive with aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries and red plums with supple, silky tannins. Elyse Genderson is the Vice President of Schneider’s of Capitol Hill. Visit her at the historic storefront at 300 Massachusetts Ave NE to discover wines you’ll love. ◆
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ARTandtheCITY by Jim Magner val Academy, beginning in 1981. Recently retired, she has published books of original poetancy Arbuthnot is writing ry and translations and painting the poetry of exfrom the Aztec and istence. It is about the sounds Vietnamese, as well and images we often ignore in our as works on naval art in daily hustle, especially birds and inWorld War II. sects … and frogs. She has written “Guiding A raven roils the air around him and sparrows Lights: Monuments and Memoare depicted as almost invisible to the city. Nancy rials of the United States Naval loves fusing poetry and painting so that the voices Academy,” which showcases some and visions of the living are seamless. 60 monuments with photographs, There are butterflies in the air and frogs in the descriptions and her own “poetic “Monarch,” watercolor, Nancy Arbuthnot. ponds of Rock Creek. Nancy, a “citizen-scientist” meditations.” with the Department of Energy & Environment, inHow does she stay so enthused? By doing You will love “Wild Washingscribes the poetry of the park, often written on the what she really wants to do: writing poetry and ton, Animal Sculpture A to Z,” an alphabet of anwatercolor paintings. She will also be an artist in painting the denizens of nature. And by “just getimal sculptures in DC. She includes her descripresidence in the Catoctin National Park in western ting started.” tions and poems along with photo-illustrations by Maryland this year, creating teaching materials for I can identify with that, but I have to admit I Cathy Abramson. school children. don’t have the mental energy that I needed when Nancy lives in Washington and is a member Teaching is what Nancy Arbuthnot has done I was raising kids and doing four things at once. of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. You can see her most of her life. She taught English at the US NaAnd painting. Always painting, except when I hit work this month in the Hill Center virtual show. (See the dry stretches. At the Galleries.) She has You know what I’m talking about. Whether it’s also joined the exhibit at making art or writing music or poems. Sometimes the Annmarie Sculpture nothing comes. Inspiration goes belly up. and Arts Center in SoloOne of my heroes, Charles Burchfield, was one mons, Maryland, which of the most prolific painters in the 20th century. runs through September. He grew up in the woods of Ohio at the turn of the Whenever there is a century. He was always of nature and not just in nachance to inhabit the natture. Everything moved. Everything was alive. Evural world, Nancy Arerything was sensed – seen, heard, smelled. The buthnot will be there, seasons and even the days had their own feelings. watching, listening, paintIt was his passion. Yet, he hit dry spells, times when ing and writing. his senses went cold and he couldn’t put a brush to www.nancyarbuthnot.com paper. He wrote about that in his journal. But then nature would sing and dance and the Jim Magner’s sun would light up his mind. In his late years, the Thoughts on Art 1950s, 60s, he entered into a natural world of fanNancy Arbuthnot is just tasy – soaring with the pure energy of seeing – flyas busy after retirement as ing through the perceptions of reality, entering the she was before. Passionatewoods joyfully. ly. She’s intensely painting, What happened? Just getting started. To start writing, teaching. “City Sparrows,” watercolor and ink collage, Nancy Arbuthnot. was to let the magic flow, let the natural world sur-
ARTIST PORTRAIT: NANCY ARBUTHNOT
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round him with all of its sights and sounds and feelings. That is what Nancy Arbuthnot says. It is all about starting.
including a series of tall narrow paintings that lead you to the heavens or to a watery reflection. www.hesterohbi.artspan.com www.foundrygallery.org
At the Galleries
“Girlhood” Mary Ellen Mark National Museum of Women in the Arts 1250 New York Ave. NW March 3-July 11 Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015) is one of the most celebrated portrait photographers of her generation, and this exhibition features 30 images that cover her 50-year career. Known for her compassionate depictions of girls and young women in a variety of conditions and circumstances, she has traveled the world simply to capture reality. Not interested in stereotypes or stage settings, she doesn’t photograph children as children. “I like to see them as adults, as who they really are. I’m always looking for the side of who they might become.” www.nmwa.org
Hill Center At the Old Naval Hospital --March 31 This is the annual Hill Center Galleries and Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) Juried Exhibition and includes 94 works by nearly 50 artists. It will be restricted to online viewing only. It was juried by Hill Center Galleries Director Nicky Cymrot and artist Alan Braley. As usual, these works feature a wide variety of mediums and viewpoints and are very, very good. The show includes Nancy Arbuthnot. (See Artist Profile.) www.hillcenter.org
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Renewal 2121 Artechouse 1238 Maryland Ave. SW March 15-Sept. 6 The fourth annual Cherry Blossom-inspired installation takes on the subject of climate change. The immersive 3-D art installation will transport you 100 years into the future. You will explore four galleries, traversing through a “cyberpunk cityscape, an interactive market, bustling alleyways and an abandoned rooftop, finding naCawing Crow,” watercolor and ink collage, Nancy Arbuthnot. ture blooming in the most unexpected places amidst this industrial future.” There are three themes of renewal: Hester Ohbi the city, nature and ourselves. Foundry Gallery www.artechouse.com 2008 Eighth St. NW March 5-28 A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim Magner can be Hester Ohbi is a painter of “abstract landscapes reached at artandthecity05@aol.com. ◆ and inner transformation.” In this show, called “Transitions,” she approaches the changes in life and “how thoughts and feelings come and go until we reclaim a calm oasis.” She reaches beyond her more recent “meditative blue” to larger works, March 2021 ★ 85
. arts and dining .
the LITERARY HILL A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events by Karen Lyon Written in a style considerable knowledge and her “gloomy musthe authors call “useings” as well as her cheerier “moments of feelful and fun, and … ing fully alive.” And she expresses her profound definitely irrevergratitude for the health and flexibility that allow ent,” “The Suffragist her to bask in the serenity of nature. “I wish evPlaybook” is packed ery stressed and overworked Washingtonian could with valuable lessons paddle around Theodore Roosevelt Island on ocand advice. Set goals, casion,” she writes. they counsel, do your Choukas-Bradley’s journal begins in July homework, don’t al2016, so her seasonal meditations are also interways do as you’re told, spersed with thoughts on what’s happening in the never give up, and, world, from the barrage of campaign rhetoric to the Lucinda Robb (left) and Rebecca Boggs Roberts co-author “The Suffragist Playbook,” a above all, take inspiraelection of Donald Trump and “the terrifying lunamanual for young activists who want to change the world. tion from the admiracy” that his tweets portend. In the end, however, nable lives of remarkable ture prevails. “We can’t cure the political world just You Say You Want women such as Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Sunow,” she writes, “but we can inhale the fragrance a Revolution? san B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells. of bald-cypress cones as In writing “The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide Lucinda Robb was project direcwe dream of better days.” to Changing the World,” Lucinda Robb and Retor for “Our Mothers Before Us: WomCalling upon a cadbecca Boggs Roberts have accomplished two aden and Democracy, 1789-1920” at the re of botanists, conservamirable goals. They have rescued key figures of the Center for Legislative Archives. Rebecca tionists, geologists – and suffragist movement from their images as “old-fashBoggs Roberts is the author of “Suffrageven family members of ioned historical characters wearing itchy lace and ists in Washington, DC: The 1913 Parade Theodore Roosevelt – judgy expressions.” And they have created a do-itand the Fight for the Vote” and co-author she fills us in on the hisyourself manual for young activists (ages 12 and up) of “Historic Congressional Cemetery.” tory of the island and its who wish to follow in the footsteps of those estimaabundant flora and fauna. ble foremothers. Full of delightful digresNature-Nourished Hearts “In the course of seventy-plus years,” they sions, snippets of poetry Couldn’t we all use some “balm for our write, “the suffrage movement had to put up with and meticulous observatroubled and grieving souls” these days? physical hardship, wars, infighting, determined options, “Finding Solace at Melanie Choukas-Bradley offers a respite position, and, from the very start, the tiresome task Theodore Roosevelt Isfrom the “soul-crushing news of the day” of changing public opinion.” Calling on their deep land” is a perfect guide through “the healing powers of nature.” knowledge of women’s history, the authors docto feeding our “natureIn “Finding Solace at Theodore Rooument the heroic efforts and setbacks that led to nourished hearts.” sevelt Island,” the naturalist invites us Nature writer Melanie Choukaswomen gaining the right to vote, and they use the Bradley shares a year of observaMelanie Choukasalong on her year-long journey explor- tions and insights in “Finding Solace suffragists as examples of how a group of deterBradley leads hikes, tree ing the waters and woods of this nearby at Theodore Roosevelt Island.” mined people can change the world. tours, forest bathing preserve of “wild beauty in the midst of They also illuminate some of the “don’ts,” walks and kayak trips in the city.” such as when the exclusion of blacks led to a schism the DC area and beyond. In graceful and fluid prose, she dein the movement. While they caution about judgShe is the award-winning scribes the bitternut hickory trees, the ing historical figures by modern norms, the authors author of several nature sneezeweed and woody vines and the ospoint out that suffrage was supposed to be based books, including “A Year preys and kingfishers she encounters. Folon fairness. “It’s just so hypocritical,” they write of in Rock Creek Park” and lowing trains of thought piqued by what this racist episode. “You would think they would “City of Trees,” and her she sees, hears and smells, she shares her have known better.” 86 H HILLRAG.COM
stories and op-eds have appeared in The Washington Post and other publications. Find more at www.melaniecoukas-bradley.com.
THE POETIC HILL
Nobody Reads Poetry “Dear Fellow Nobodies,” writes poet Mark Fishbein in his introduction to a new anthology by the DC Poetry Collective. He is taking to task an editor of the New York Times who, when asked why poetry had not been included in an extensive summer reading list, replied, “Because nobody reads it.” As Fishbein and the other poets whose work appears in “iNK BLOTS, Vol. 1” make abundantly clear, poetry is still very much alive – and welcomed by readers now more than ever. In fact, he writes, “[t]he alienation caused by COVID-19 has caused poetry to emerge with new urgency and vitality.” Fishbein and nine others have contributed more than 60 poems to the anthology, and their stories are as diverse and engaging as their work. Elizabeth Black is a former nurse turned award-winning artist who came late to poetry; she writes eloquently of toads, brown spiders and a “iNK Blots” is the first anthology of dead deer by the side of the road. LKN verse published by poet Mark Fish(pronounced LaKAN) describes him- bein and the DC Poetry Collective. self as a “global poet” who has competed in poetry slams from Singapore to Toronto and shared his poetry in 13 countries; his works challenge convention with their inventive use of language. Rebecca Wener is a global health professional whose poem, “Quarantine (When You Are Already Lonely),” movingly addresses pandemic-induced isolation. And Vadim Kagan, who writes in both English and Russian, reminds us not only that “daisies are as beautiful as ever,” but “[t]hey might save the world.” Other poets include Dana Gittings, Julie Mauer, Martin T. Parker, Zebra Black and Keith David Parsons, whose poem appears in this month’s Poetic Hill. “iNK BLOTS,” which is the first anthology published by the DC Poetry Collective (www.poetrycollective.com), offers a much-needed infusion of grace and creativity to our pandemic-fatigued souls. The book is dedicated to those who have been most affected by COVID-19, and all proceeds go to Bread for the City, a DC-based charity that provides relief to our city’s low-income residents. Mark Fishbein has been writing poetry for more than fifty years and currently has five collections of verse available on Amazon. He is also a classical guitarist and serves as “host” of the DC Poetry Collective and monthly virtual readings. www.poewtwithguitar.com u
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by Karen Lyon
eith David Parsons is “a native of West Virginia, USA, living in Washington, DC, and less conflicted about it than you might think.” He believes a poem without a message is “like a big hole without spikes at the bottom – why would you dig it?” Parsons is a member of the DC Poetry Collective (www.dcpoetrycollective. com), which recently published its first anthology of poems, “iNK BLOTS, Vol. 1” (see review in The Literary Hill). Find Keith David Parsons on Twitter @Kristophanes and Instagram @keithdavidparsons. Lifetime Pass It is just $80 for an America the Beautiful lifetime senior pass to Shenandoah National Park a steal really and 26 miles away in historic Charlottesville in 1827 Rachel a 50-year-old item of the Monticello estate could have bought her remaining years for just $5 more.
If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) u
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BIG BOX GYMS GET CREATIVE DURING COVID-19
V
irtual classes, clean facilities, safe equipment and the heightened awareness of the health benefits of working out have become the lure that is getting gym members back into the building. Gyms did not make the list of essential businesses according to DC government mandates and, even if they had, members feared the possibility of contracting the virus. Now that they are open again, Capitol Hill gyms have been forced to become more innovative to attract members. All three big box gym on the Hill are holding classes – in parking lots, parks, on a pool deck or on Zoom. All three have also upped their cleaning protocols to insure the equipment and facility remain virusfree. All three say they are compliant with all DC mandates. Their steam rooms, showers and locker rooms are not open at this time and they all are adhering to the physical distance requirements and the mask mandate for equipment use and class participation. “Capitol Hill Sport & Health is fortunate,” said Change Yi, general manager. “Our capacity based on
by Pattie Cinelli square footage and DC mandates gives us a large capacity for our big space. We don’t need to ask members to reserve gym time.” Both Balance and Vida Fitness require reservations to book a workout. “We require a member to download an app that monitors which members are in the gym at any given time,” said Antoine Robinson, general manager at Vida Fitness in the Navy Yard. “That’s where you book your time slot for our outdoor classes (held on the Penthouse pool deck or in the park at the Dept. of Transportation. At Balance gym Devin Maier, co-CEO, said, “If a member wants to access the gym he/she must book in advance a 75-minute time slot. We shut down the area in between for 15 minutes to clean. It helps us manage the size of groups coming in and cuts down exposure and makes it easier if we have to do any contact tracing.”
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Anyone else remember that saying? This old adage stresses the importance and moral correctness of keeping your body and home clean. The sentiment might have become lost in the Balance Gym Personal Training director Ali Register conducts a 3D body scan for a new personal training client. pre-pandemic times, but that has changed. Cleanliness has become a remilitary bases, hotels and hospitals – strong and efquirement for any public place fective quickly.” said Antoine. “We also have improved these days, especially a gym. our air quality. We installed air scrubbers in all comAll three managers I spoke mon areas which recycles then kicks out fresh air. We to agreed that cleanliness is the also upgraded our filters.” ticket to giving members confiHand sanitizers have been strategically placed dence to come in. Vida shared and are accessible to members throughout Balance its protocol for cleaning with and Sport & Health. Vida’s protocol is somewhat the DC Fitness Alliance. “We different. Each member upon checking in gets his/ Vida staff sanitize and disinfect equipment on an ongoing basis, as well as use a cleaning product used at her own bottle of disinfectant. “They also receive two installing air scrubbers to recycle and draw in fresh air. March 2021 ★ 89
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towels – one to use for equipment and the other for themselves. We also take a member’s temperature,” said Maier. “We go through the gym with an electrostatic sprayer every 15-20 minutes. All gyms have moved or designated usable equipment to be at least six feet apart. Sport & Health has created a zone-cleaning protocol requiring managers, in addition to cleaning staff, to clean with hospiRazonte Dunne, Explosive Performance Site Director, tal-grade disinfectant. training a member at Sport&Health “This (emphasis on cleanliness) is the new your mind, body and emotions.” A standard for the health and wellness indocumented increased interest nationdustry for the future,” said Robinson. ally in meditation since the pandemic illustrates this awareness. National Standards “We did not have your typiIt’s been a rough and sometimes fruscal New Year’s rush this year,” said trating road for the fitness business. Yi. “Slowly but surely membership According to a November study by is picking up. We are on an upward ClubIntel of 2,000 U.S. gym memtrend.” Whether it’s because of the bers, “fifty-four percent of those survaccine availability, the realization that veyed either froze or canceled their exercise is key to staying well or that memberships.” By September when people are just getting stir-crazy staymore than 87 percent of fitness clubs ing at home, Capitol Hill gyms are seeacross the U.S. had reopened “60 pering a rise in attendance. All are looking cent of members hadn’t returned to forward to getting back closer to norgyms and 20 percent stopped exercismal by this summer. ing altogether.” IHRSA (The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional and journalist who has been writing Association) estimated 15 percent of her column for more than 20 years. She gyms have closed permanently. The vifocuses on non-traditional ways to stay rus also highlighted the increased vulhealthy and get well. Book a call with Pattie nerability of those who have underlyfor a health/fitness evaluation, learn pracing conditions such as obesity which tical ways to boost immune systems and de-stress. Please email her with questions can triple the risk of hospitalization or column suggestions at: fitmiss44@aol. if contracted. com or text: 202-329-5514. ◆ The managers are hopeful. “The pandemic has shown people how important staying healthy is,” said Maier. “It also has shown the significance of enhancing the connection between
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/ The District Vet /
PREPARING OUR PETS TO RETURN TO NORMAL
W
ith cautious optimism, it is time to start preparing our furry friends for our return to a modified pre-pandemic life. As quickly as we began to be home most of the time, we can return to the office, leaving our pets at home for extended periods of time. A sudden change in our habits can have detrimental effects on our pets’ mental well-being. When cats ‘act out’ and dogs wait at the front door or yowl while you are away, they are pining for your return. This is classic separation anxiety. We have talked previously in puppy-training columns about this behavior, but it is definitely not unique to youngsters. Excessive clinginess, howling, pacing, over-grooming, urinating in inappropriate areas, and
by Dan Teich, DVM destroying items are some of the clinical manifestations of this behavior. Many times the anxiety associated with your leaving only gets worse without intervention. Do not assume that the cat or dog will “get used to it” as time goes on. Nor assume that they are getting revenge upon you. Separation anxiety needs to be addressed like any other medical condition. They are uncomfortable and it is our duty to help them. There are a few things which you should never do. First, do not punish your pet. Simply, negative interactions only make your dog or cat fear you and second, they have no idea why you are being mean to them! It will only make the anxiety worse. Second, do not praise the anxiety with love and attention. Think of it like rewarding a poorly behaving child; the reward will
only promote the behavior. While you and your family have been home, your pets most likely received more attention than pre-pandemic. Remember that you need to keep up this stimulation and exercise. Dogs and cats do sleep quite a bit, but need more than only a few minutes of stimulation per day. Consider longer walks with the dog, daycare, going to the park, teaching new tricks, etc. Play with the cat and also try new training, too! One of the main concepts of puppy-training I espouse is that a tired dog is a better dog (physically and mentally). If your dog is tired before you leave the house, they will be calmer and hopefully less stressed. Remember to adjust your behaviors when you come and go from your residence. The goal is to make your absence non-stressful. At least five minutes before you leave, do not give your pet any attention. Walk out and definitely do not say goodbye to them or even talk to them. When you come home, repeat for at least five minutes. This will prevent the ramp-up of anxiety during your absence and should make a meaningful difference in their comfort. It is vital that all members of the household practice this behavior. Also consider leaving for short periods of time now, so that your pet has time to adjust to a new schedule. For both dogs and cats, consider providing some entertainment while you are away. Hiding small treats around the house is easy and can keep them occupied for some time. Treat/food-dispensing toys are also a great distraction tool. Be creative. Separation anxiety should not be ignored. Usually the above behavioral techniques are able to decrease anxiety in your pet. Some dogs and cats will respond beautifully, whereas others may have problems adjusting to a new routine. Should your pet not transition back to their prior (or new) routine, medications may be needed, and this is a discussion to have with your veterinarian. Here’s to being hopeful. Be safe. Dan Teich, DVM, Medical Director, District Veterinary Hospital. www.districtvet.com u
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kids&family
NOTEBOOK by Kathleen Donner
Xiao Qi Ji’s First Snow On Sunday, Jan. 31, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji experienced yet another milestone—his first encounter with snow. Watch him tumble and play in the snow at nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-chill-cubs-first-snow. You can watch more of Xiao Qi Ji on the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Panda Cams. Watch giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji. Toggle between Panda Cam 1 and Panda Cam 2 using the tabs at the top of the video player for the full experience. Mei Xiang gave birth to a male giant panda cub named Xiao Qi Ji (SHIAU-chi-ji) Aug. 21, 2020. If you have a question about what you’re seeing on the Panda Cam, visit nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giant-panda-cub-faqs and sign up for the Giant Panda Bulletin to get the latest panda cub news straight to your inbox.
Jan. 31. Five-month-old giant panda Xiao Qi Ji sniffs a cub-sized snowman before taking a frosty bite.
Wendy, Where Does Our Wastewater Go? This new book, published by DC Water, aims to take complex environmental and engineering themes and make them accessible to children ages six to twelve. The story follows DC Water’s mascot, Wendy the Water Drop, as she takes a group of curious students through all the steps that wastewater takes from their homes, through Blue Plains, and eventually back to the Potomac. The book is illustrated by Deborah Han and designed by Jacob Bilich, both students at Georgetown University. Wendy, Where Does Our Wastewater Go? is available at all open DC libraries. It can also be purchased at bluedrop. co/shop/ for $12.75. 10% of each sale goes to the SPLASH Fund (dcwater.com/customer-assistance), a DC Water program that helps customers maintain critical water and sewer service in times of financial emergencies.
Baltimore’s Maryland Zoo is Open Baltimore’s Maryland Zoo, at One Safari Place, is open daily (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a new timedticket process in place and all ticket purchases are online. Admission is $22 for adults; $18 for ages two to eleven; and $19 94 H HILLRAG.COM
A Tree For You And Me Create a “wish tree” to share with family, friends, and neighbors. And the Hirshhorn wants to see your creations. Step (1) What is a wish? Step (2) Write or draw your wishes on scraps of paper. Step (3) Choose the Wish Tree project that works best for you. Step (4) Gather materials. Step (5) Cut your trunk and branches. Step (6) Tape your leaves and wishes to the branches. Step (7) Invite friends to add theirs. Step (8) Share your tree with the world on social media @hirshhorn with #HirshhornInsideOut and #WishTreeForTheWorld. hirshhorn. si.edu/explore/make-a-wish.
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for seniors. Parking is free. marylandzoo.org.
Parent Like It Matters: How to Raise Joyful, ChangeMaking Girls How do we teach girls to change the world? Janice Johnson Dias encourages parents to begin within, seeking their own fulfillment and in turn becoming self-realized role models for young women. Drawing on her knowledge as a leading sociologist and experiences raising her own changeagent daughter, Marley, she offers strategies for discussing racism and sexism, finding appropriate mentors and inspiring girls to pursue their passions. Dias emboldens girls to lift as they climb-boosting other young women as they move through their life journey. Mixing personal experience with research from the field, Dias has created the ultimate guide for inspiring a generation of girls to take charge and make change. On Tuesday, March 23, 6 to 7 p.m., join Janice Johnson Dias (online) as she discusses her book PARENT LIKE IT MATTERS: HOW TO RAISE JOYFUL, CHANGE-MAKING GIRLS with Jacqueline Woodson. politics-prose.com.
Science Moms Science Moms are a group of bipartisan climate scientists and mothers who care deeply about the planet that our children will inherit. Together, they aim to demystify climate change, talk honestly about how it will affect our children and give moms the facts they need to take action. Sign up for monthly actions to protect your kids from climate change at sciencemoms.com. 96 H HILLRAG.COM
Make Invisible Ink Learn how to make eight different formulas for creating invisible ink and don’t forget to do the Secret Message Egg Challenge on the back. Find them at spymuseum.org/education-programs/educators/lesson-plans-activities. Other activities include: Disguise for Cover--Sometimes intelligence officers and their agents need to operate in public places without being recognized. Frequency Analysis Code Cracker--Can you crack this secret message? Crack A Top Secret Code--Try your hand at cracking this top secret message. DIY Ninja!-What can you learn from Ninjas? How about strength, focus and stealth. Design Your Own Spy Gadget--It’s your turn to be spy scientist. The International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, is now open. While all children are welcome, the Museum’s content is best suited for ages nine and up. The Museum offers scheduled programs and events at spymuseum.org/ calendar/?audience=kids-families, and ongoing interactive experiences. Resources are also available here to bring out your inner spy at home! Admission is $24.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids, seven to twelve. spymuseum.org.
Read About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with DCPS In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., DC Public Schools has curated a list of recommended books and content resources. Families can access the list through dcps.instructure.com/ courses/211378/pages/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day.
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Read his story at CapitolHillHistory.org Chris Calomiris was born at home on First Street N.E. where the Dirksen Senate Office Building stands today and worked for half a century as a produce vendor at Eastern Market. Read his oral history interview on our website – and consider joining us as a volunteer.
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The Space Shuttle at 40 Here’s a big idea: What if we could fly to space like we fly around the world? That’s not science fiction--that’s the reality of the Space Shuttle Program. From 1981 to 2011, space shuttles flew astronauts and payloads to space and then returned to Earth, like a plane returning to an airport. NASA used them for critical projects in a variety of ways, like launching satellites, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, and helping build the International Space Station. On this episode of STEM at 30, they’ll discuss the history and science of this oneof-a-kind spacecraft. STEM in 30 is the National Air and Space Museum’s webcast series for middle school students. Tune in every month to share the fascination of aviation and space. airandspace.si.edu/events/spaceshuttle-40.
Respect Her Crank!: Sounds of Blackness Black music has the ability to lullaby listeners with melodic whispers, unearth pain with crying keys, and bring bodies to their feet in celebration with breakbeats. The range in sound and emotion within Black music is driven, in part, by the ingenuity of Black women. The Hirshhorn ARTLAB’s latest series, Respect Her Crank!: Sounds of Blackness, explores the roles of Black women in American music history through weekly virtual workshops in music production, songwriting, graphic design, and surprise workshops from community partners. Through June 2021, Respect Her Crank! workshops are open to all but tailored to educators on Tuesdays and teens on
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Thursdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Up your after-school game and sign up for a workshop (they’re free)—or multiple—today. No prior experience is needed. hirshhorn.si.edu/events.
The Dance Institute of Washington’s Summer Training The Dance Institute of Washington’s Summer Training, for ages three to eighteen, is from June 28 to Aug. 6. They provide high quality dance training by world class instructors in Ballet, Modern, African and Hip-Hop. Registration is open for both virtual and limited in-person. danceinstituteofwashington.org/summer-training-2021.
Who is Sylvia Mendez? Separate Is Never Equal
Reflections on Grief & Child Loss When Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s son, Willie, died at 11 years old in February 1862, they once again experienced what is called “the greatest tragedy.” Willie was their second son to die from an illness in childhood. The Lincolns were eager for solace and a place to grieve this loss when they moved to the Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home. When describing their move, Mary Lincoln wrote, “When we are in sorrow, quiet is very necessary to us.” Reflections on Grief and Child Loss at President Lincoln’s Cottage is a first-of-its-kind exhibit that bridges the Lincolns’ experience of the death of their children with modern families whose children have died inexplicably or from illness, disease, physical and gun violence. The exhibit will remain open for at least two years. President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, is open for tours daily, except Mondays, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Admission is $6 to $15. lincolncottage.org.
Save the date for Galita’s Who is Sylvia Méndez? Separate Is Never Equal this spring (April 11 to 25). This is a joyful play that embraces diversity and tolerance through the story of elementary school teacher Sylvia Mendez who fought to end segregation in education in California, paving the way for the national ban on segregated schools. For her legacy and courage, Mendez received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama for her advocacy for educational opportunity for children of all backgrounds. $12 for adults; $10 for kids. Performances for the general public are Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m., only. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org.
Glen Echo Park Celebrates of 100th Anniversary of the Dentzel Carousel
Spy Academy & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis Spy Academy & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis is Imagination Stage’s made-for-the-virtual-world immersive online experience for kids ages five and older. Through May 23, the show--part escape room, part spy adventure, and part online game--engages children in an interactive performance as meaningful as it is delightful. The audience--no more than 15 households per performance--takes on the role of cadets at a spy academy. They are being taught by Pat, a live facilitator. When Pat gets notification that some of the academy’s adult spies need help evading the villainous Dr. Levinious as they search for the Heart of the Dragon, Pat recruits all the cadets to help them by solving various puzzles and problems. Adults will have received instructions in advance to secretly prepare some key props to have nearby for their cadets. $25 per household. imaginationstgae.org. 100 H HILLRAG.COM
Through September 2021, Glen Echo Park, together with Montgomery County and the National Park Service, commemorates the 100th anniversary of Glen Echo Park’s beloved Dentzel carousel with celebrations, including virtual lectures on the history and restoration of the carousel, summer family weekend activities, social media contests, carousel anniversary merchandise, a fundraising campaign, and the premieres of three short videos that will feature personal stories reflecting the unique and enduring role the carousel has played in the community for a century. Read more at glenechopark.org/ carousel100. Download carousel coloring pages at glenechopark.org/sites/default/files/2020_Carousel_Animal_Coloring_Pages. u
Unique Identity Posters, Customized For Your Favorite Little Person!
Choose your name, size and color combination. Printed on museum-quality, enhanced matte poster. Shipped directly to your door.
PisforPoster.com @ pisforposter (illustrated in Washington, DC) March 2021 ★ 101
Contact Carolina at 202.400.3503 & carolina@hillrag.com to get the most for your advertising dollars.
ADDRESS NUMBERS
APPLIANCES REPAIR
BASEMENT SERVICES
CLEANING SERVICES
ALL WORK ARE UNDER WARRANTY: LABOR AND PARTS
Woodland Appliances Repair, LLC
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Keeping your home and family safe and disinfected with a professional clean.
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Get A LOCAL Appliance Repair Expert
Free Service Call with Repair
GOLD & SILVER TRANSOM ADDRESS NUMBERS
202.640.2178 Service within 3 Hours!
No Extra Charge Weekends, Evenings & Holidays
202.399.3090
Call: Or Visit: www.maidpro.com/capitolhill 1405 H Street, NE • 2nd Fl
woodlandappliancerepair.com
202.251.7980
www.monumentalgraphics.net
APPLIANCE REPAIR MADE EASY
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WE INSTALL AT YOUR HOME
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We Service, Repair, and Install all Major Brands
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A Cleaning Service, Inc.
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cares about the environment in which you live
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www.prorepairappliance.com
LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
WOVEN HISTORY
We wash carpets in the traditional manner – by hand, using no chemicals or machinery. No preheated room for drying. We dry in the sun and the wind. Free pick-up and delivery for Capitol Hill residents. Call 202-543-1705. More info. at wovenhistory.com. Located at 311-315 7th St. SE. Your neighborhood carpet store on Capitol Hill since 1995. Open Tuesday- Sunday from 10 am- 6 pm.
CHIROPRACTIC Living on & serving the Hill since 1986
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Dr. David Walls-Kaufman Chiropractor 411 East Capitol St., SE All are welcome to Dr. Walls-Kaufman's free Saturday morning Tai Chi class at 8 am in Lincoln Park
202-544-6035 Because Optimal Health is Impossible Without Optimal Posture!
102 ★ HILLRAG.COM
a clean house, a clean mind. Complete Residential Cleaning, including Laundry & Ironing CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE
703.892.8648
acleaningserviceinc.com satisfaction guaranteed serving DC, MD & VA since 1985 licensed, bonded & insured
CONTRACTORS
DOORS & WINDOWS
John Himchak Construction Co. Inc.
Replacement Windows & Doors 1880 ON THE OUTSIDE
2021 ON THE INSIDE
SATISFYING CAPITOL HILL CUSTOMERS FOR OVER 27 YEARS
COMPUTER
ANCHOR C O M P U T E R S
On-site Service for Homes & Businesses Since 1994 Troubleshooting, Repairs & Upgrades Virus & Spyware Removal
Basement Excavation Underpinning Foundation Repair Waterproofing Concrete Masonry Tuck pointing Paver & Flagstone Installation Garages Repaired Garages Built New Demolition Additions Renovations
Historic Window & Door Replacement Specialists
alex@windowscraft.com 202.288.6660 www.windowscraft.com LICENSED, INSURED AND BONDED
ELECTRICIAN
UNCOMPROMISED QUALITY REASONABLE RATES WARRANTY ON ALL WORK LICENSED
BONDED
INSURED
MEMBER OF
New & Existing Computer Setup Network & Wireless Installation Data Recovery, Transfer & Back-up TV & Phone Configuration Webpage Development
Love Where you live… renovate
Speak Directly with Owner John Calls Preferred
202.528.2877
JohnHimchak@hotmail.com L A R RMORE Y ELPINER DO 202.543.7055 WITH anchorcomputers.com YOUR admin@anchorcomputers.com MARKETING
CONTACT GABRIEL TO DISCUSS YOUR NEXT HOME REMODEL
CAPITAL COMMUNITY NEWS
AD SOLUTIONS We believe in strong, targeted ad solutions and offer added value benefits to our advertisers! So what’s INCLUDED? Your campaign publicized across ALL available platforms.
Print | Digital Ads Web Editorial | Social Media
ASK CARO
202.543.8300 X12
Residential & Commercial Restoration & Historical Preservation Structure Specialists Renovations & Remodeling Kitchens, Baths & Basements Restoration & Repair
Call 202.965.1600 DCRA Lic 9115 • Insured • References
www.jfmeyer.com
Painting Concrete / Masonry General Repairs Renovations & More FREE ESTIMATES AFFORDABLE RATES LICENSED, INSURED & BONDED you saw them in
571.437.4696 lgmatluk@hotmail.com March 2021 ★ 103
Serving Capitol Community for over 14 years!
FITNESS
HOT YOGA CAPITOL HILL Tone • Stretch • Melt
Maximize your Health! Hot Yoga (26 + 2) -plusHot Pilates HIIT • Warm Flow • Piyo Spa Yoga • Sculpt & Barre Yoga Restorative • Children’s Programs 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Retreats & more
HOUSE HISTORY
Do You Know the historY of Your home? Let us create a coffee table book on the history of your home.
nmhousedetectives.com nmhousedetectives@gmail.com
OFFICE SPACE
Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT IN THE HEART OF LEDROIT PARK
Thomas Landscapes OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CAPITOL HILL
Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes
Tired of Working At Home? Need a Quiet Clean Space to Work Without Distractions? Freshly Painted, Office Space from 170 SF- 425 SF Affordable Rent $750 - $1,250 per month. All Inclusive
CALL 202-258-8812 OR 202-585-1142
Shawna Jones • LRES - Lewis Real Estate Services
Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work Restoration and Enhancement
Derek Thomas / Principal
New Student Hot Deal $39 for an entire month of unlimited classes
Certified Professional Horticulturist | Member of MD Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association
301.642.5182 202.322.2322 (Office) thomaslandscapes.com
hotyogacapitolhill.com
202-547-1208 hotyogacapitolhill@gmail.com
LANDSCAPING
INTERNET
FLOORS
PAINTING
MOVING & HAULING
BEST RATES IN DC $80 x Two Men- 2 or 3 Hours Minimum • Pickups / Deliveries
CONTINENTAL MOVERS Professional Movers Who Really Care
Residential Floors
Owner Operated Since 1982 References – Local & Long Distance Packing Services – Pianos & Big Objects
Dedicated to Perfection • Sanding and Refinishing • Installation • Repairs • Cleaning & Waxing
7 days a week - Free Estimates Reasonable Rates Residential & Commercial
Call for a FREE Quote
(301) 990-7775
202.438.1489 301.340.0602 www.continentalmovers.net
Family owned and operated 3 Generations of Experience
FOR SALES
IRONWORK
Peach Moving Services When Trust Matters Most Residential, Office & Commercial
Little Peach in Training
Short Term Notice Moves Local & Up to 300 mile Radius Expert Packing & Unpacking Temporary Storage by the Day Hourly Rates
Michael Pietsch (aka Peach) Capitol Hill Resident
202.368.7492
www.peachmoving.com
104 ★ HILLRAG.COM
Painting Division Interior & Exterior Custom Painting Drywall & Plastering
Call 202.965.1600
DCRA Lic 9115 • Insured • References
www.jfmeyer.com
G G ROOFING
PEST CONTROL
F L K Termite, Pest &
AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST
Rodent Control
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Flat Roof Specialists Modified Bitumen • Skylights • Shingles • Slate •
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Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners
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301.273.5740 301.576.3286
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WE STOP LEAKS! • Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate
• Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications
We Do Everything!
BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC.
75 years in service
LIC. BONDED. INS
BBB
Member
WOOD &
202-223-ROOF (7663)
ROOFING CONTRACTORS
SHOES
WHITACRE
30 years on the Hill Slate – Tile – Copper Specializing in all Flat Roof Systems and Leaks
PET SERVICES
FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST
FREE ESTIMATES • Work Guaranteed
JEFFREY WOOD cell
301.674.1991
www.wood-whitacre.com
Eastern Market Shoe Repair • Shoes • Boots • Purses • Luggage 645 Penn Ave., SE upstairs M-F 8:30-7 • Sat 9-6
202-543-5632
WELDING
Continental Welding
ROOFING/GUTTERS
SPECIALIZING IN IRON REPAIR WORK
4 Iron Gates & Fences 4 Railing & Stairs 4 Steel Repair Work 4 Metal Structural Support 4 Security Gates for Windows & Doors
PLUMBING
Just Say I Need A Plumber®
Dial A Plumber, LLC®
ALL TYPES OF ROOFING REPAIRS
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202-251-1479 L U M M E R
continentalwelding@hotmail.com C O N T I N E N TA LW E L D I N G . C O M
Star Roofing Company RELIABLE
Licensed Bonded Insured DC P
CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
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• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement
’
S
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I C E N S E
#707
R.W. ROOFING
We offer the most competitive price in town. All Roofing & Rubber Roofs. We do everything: replacements, repairs, maintenance and coatings. See our ad under general contracting. 202-674-0300 or 301-929-0664.
Specializing in Residential & Commercial Flat Roof Systems
202-543-6383 All work done by owner • Free Estimates Insured • Licensed • Bonded
March 2021 H 105
www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
XWORD “Foodstuffs” by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Chicken ___ masala 6. Equivalent to 3.26 light years 12. U.S. mil. award 15. Cleave 17. American aviator Earhart 18. Home planet 20. Gets educated 21. Bulletin 22. Insect-eating lizard 23. Italian cuisine ingredient 26. Salsa ingredient 28. PGA part 29. 18 wheeler 31. Avant-garde 32. 1945 conference site 38. Woman in charge of a prison 40. Terrier’s island 41. Actually 44. Place for a frog 45. Location of two of the classical Seven Wonders 46. ____ Paolo 47. ___ de guerre 49. Intl. carrier 52. Sounds from the meadow 53. Evenings 55. Bring about 57. Irks 61. Nebraska city 64. Bollywood star, Zinta 65. Tasty dessert 69. Hype 70. Male singing voices 71. Camera support 72. Cursor mover 73. Evidence collectors 74. Designer Cassini 76. Green-lighted 77. Former coin of France
79. Short for an Italian mister 82. Citrus drinks 88. Marquand sleuth 90. Quadrangle 91. Calculating types 95. Chekhov’s first play 96. Most free from pain or discomfort 97. Museo hanging 98. Social misfit 99. Of the mouth 102. Vichyssoise ingredient 104. It might include lettuce and beans 113. Cat sound 114. Computer ace 115. Cooking herb 116. Gives 117. Least cooked 118. Carpenter’s tool 119. ___ and feather 120. Habituates 121. Muscle
Down: 1. Locker room supply 2. Flash 3. Top Tatar 4. Composer, Jerome 5. “Rule, Britannia” composer 6. Romeo’s rival 7. Words of agreement 8. Adjust, as a brooch 9. Boor 10. Leprechaun’s land 11. Disaster 12. Serious stories 13. Tintoretto’s “The Miracle of __ Freeing the Slave” 14. Loosed-lipped
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 16. Subj. for immigrants 18. Wear away 19. Green light 24. Protect, in a way 25. Famous fiddler 27. “___ Como Va” (1971 Santana hit) 30. Kvetches 32. Airline to Karachi 33. Switch positions 34. Prefix with state 35. Unelevated, with level 36. Beaver home 37. He discovered “Open Sesame” 38. Mountains, abbr. 39. Revelation response 42. Shelley’s “___ Skylark”
43. Age abbr. 48. “___ beaucoup” 49. Watch word 50. Played on stage 51. Wreckage in a room 54. Fannie or Ginnie follower 56. Bring in the sheaves 57. Digital tome 58. In full voice 59. Male sheep 60. Tennis champ Monica 61. Sounds of woe 62. Hosts 63. Yellowfin tuna 64. Vine-woven trellisework 66. Ball carriers 67. Justification for existence 68. Embryonic or adult follower
TAKE A BREAK FROM SCREENS! We have games and puzzles for everyone!
Tuesday - Friday – 11am to 7pm Saturday & Sunday – 10am to 6pm
645 Pennsylvania Ave SE (Steps from Eastern Market Metro)
106 ★ HILLRAG.COM
• Educational, board and party games • LEGO and other building toys
• Chess & other strategy game • Jigsaw puzzles • Brainteasers
• Marble mazes • Corporate gifts • Much, much more
202-544-1059 • labyrinthgameshop.com
69. Medical provider grp. 73. Twist 74. Bullfighter’s cry 75. Deighton of thrillers 78. Threatening 80. Japanese statesman 81. Statehouse V.I.P. 83. Turndowns 84. Elvis’s “A Fool Such ___” 85. Owing 86. Hosp. areas 87. Matching collection 89. Albert of sportscasts 91. Explosive 92. Immediate 93. Fifth-century scourge 94. Salty oxygen 99. Different 100. Bring up 101. Is part of 103. Piggy, of a sort 105. Heart cherry 106. Neutral color 107. Suffix with west 108. Former Swedish car maker 109. Independent ruler 110. Whom Tony and Rico fought over, in “Copacabana” 111. Over again 112. “Fudge!”
FOR SALE 618 5th St, NE
2 Unit Bay 4BR/3.5ba, OSP w/ Solar! $1.389M
245 15th, SE #202
Spacious One Bedroom with Owner’s Suite and Den with Two Full Baths and Garage Parking in Boutique HILL East Building steps from Metro, Safeway, Roost and More! Now $539,900
Many More Under Contract, Pending or Coming Soon!
NOW LEASING 416 A St, SE
Eastern Market Capitol HILL Furnished Turn-key One Bedroom Units for Rent, Short Term OK, Starting at $2795/month
To
HILL
with the Suburbs!
For thirty plus years, JOHN SMITH w/ THE SMITH TEAM has sold thousands of homes in the DMV, particularly on CAPITOL HILL. As experienced realtors, we’ve helped first timers, investors, empty nesters, estates, bankruptcies, and all sorts of clients. Along the way, we promote CAPITOL HILL as THE vibrant neighborhood in the city. We support the Hill, because we Love it! CAPITOL HILL is infused with history, the center of world democracy. A Government that our ancestors demanded & we inherited. With will and luck and our active attention, we will hand it down to our descendants! The Hill offers easy access to Congress, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Folger, the Navy Yards, Union Station, and, via the National Mall, Museums, Monuments and More. Eastern Market, The Navy Yards, Barracks Row and newer venues, such as H Street, Union Market provide unique social opportunities. Well spaced and placed Parks abound, with Lincoln Park as the center and heart of the Hill. Groceries, pharmacies, wine shops, delis, cafes, coffee shops, diverse menus, pubs and bars are all within easy walking or biking for locals! For the Commuter, access to everywhere is available via 6 Metro Stations, multiple local and national bus services & the city’s only trolley! And, for long treks, there are 4 Interstate access points and two of the main eastern routes in and out of the city.
TO HILL WITH SUBURBS! Licensed in DC & MD
thesmithteam.penfedrealty.com
John Smith Aaron Smith Peter Grimm Kristine Jones Peter Davis Office
202.262.6037 202.498.6794 202.270.6368 202.415.4716 301.332.1634 202.608.1887
705 North Carolina Ave, SE Washington, DC 20003
Other suburbs in the city strive to match the ambiance, the amenities or the attractiveness of CAPITOL HILL!
BUY HERE, BUY NOW, BUY SMITH! KEEP IN TOUCH ABOUT HILL REAL ESTATE AT/ON: www.facebook.com/TheSmithTeam.DC | twitter.com/OneHillofaAgent | www.instagram.com/the_smith_team