Hill Rag Magazine – June 2022 by Capital Community News

hillrag.com . June 2022

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202.841.SOLD (7653) TheBisseyTeam@compass.com 660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900 at Compass nformation is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite , Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900

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Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900

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IN THIS ISSUE JUNE 2022

38Election Special Coverage

14 I N s

T H E i

C I T Y

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

LOCAL CALENDAR

JUNETEENTH: A FAMILY STORY

by Pleasant Mann

JUNETEENTH EVENTS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE

Meet the Mayoral Candidates by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Trashed: The Challenges of Apartment Recycling – Why Does So Much Of It End Up in Landfill? by Mark R. Smith

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37 Election Special Coverage for the District of Columbia 2022 38

Meet the Mayoral Candidates: Three Challenge Bowser on Housing, Public Safety by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Get to Know the Candidates for DC Attorney General by Sarah Payne

Meet the Candidates for DC Council Chair by Sarah Payne

The At-Large Democratic Primary Race by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Opinion / Reform Election Petition Requirements Now! – Signature Technicalities Should Not Be A Bar To The Ballot by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

capitol streets

A Great Free Resource for Gardeners

Happiness Coaching: Help that Can Change Your Perspective

by Rindy O’Brien

by Pattie Cinelli

Trashed: The Challenges of Apartment Recycling – Why Does So Much Of It End Up in Landfill? by Mark R. Smith

DC Council Approves ANC Redistricting: Legislation on First Read. Ward 7 ANC Boundaries Altered by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Our River: The Anacostia – World Class Restorations of Nature At The Arboretum Benefit Our River by Bill Matuszeski

In Memorim: Cora Cecilia Campbell, 1936-2022 by Pattie Cinelli

Liquor License and Zoning Actions: ANC 6A Report by Nick Alberti

RFK Noise Upsets Neighbors: ANC 6B Report by Sarah Payne

Commissioners Call for Safety Beyond Speed Humps: ANC 6C Report by Sarah Payne

Yards West Development Modified: ANC 6D Report by Sarah Payne

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

homes and gardens 91

A Great Free Resource for Gardeners by Rindy O’Brien

Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair

Changing Hands by Don Denton

arts and dining 101

Capitol Cuisine by Celeste McCall

104

At the Movies by Mike Canning

106

Art and The City by Jim Magner

108

Literary Hill by Karen Lyon

110

Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon

family life 113

Happiness Coaching: Help that Can Change Your Perspective by Pattie Cinelli

116

The District Vet – The Importance of a Physical Exam by Dan Teich

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ALL OF US TOGETHER

SPECIAL CLASS OF

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A Letter from the Mayor, Muriel Bowser

122

A Letter From Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen

124

Class of 2022 Year Book

128

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

132

Kids and Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner

138

CLASSIFIEDS

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CROSSWORD on the cover: CW Mundy. Summer Fun - Sand Wagon American, b. 1945. Signed, Oil on Canvas, 36x36” for sale for $24,500 at Guarisco Gallery 2828 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007. 202-333-8533 www.guariscogallery.com

Guarisco Gallery features over 400 important 19th, 20th and 21st century American & European paintings and sculptures, offering a wide price range with conservative and competitive pricing. Additionally the gallery is known for its impeccable reputation with expertise and experience of over 40 years. Guarisco Gallery owns its inventory, allowing for better services, guarantees and pricing.

Next Issue: July 2

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GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com • www.hillrag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

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M�� E��: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com C�� F�� O��: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com E�� R��: Elizabeth O’Gorek • liz@hillrag.com K�� F�� E��: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Intern: Sarah Payne • sarah@hillrag.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment A��:

D��: L��: M��: M��: T��: W�� G��:

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Calendar & Bulletin Board

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General Assignment

Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Tom Daniel • tom@rthomasdanielrooﬁng.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com William Matuszeski • bmatsedc@gmail.com Elizabeth O’Gorek • Liz@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter Waldron • peter218@prodigy.net

Beauty, Health & Fitness

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Real Estate

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Homes & Gardens

Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Rindy 0’Brien • rindyobrien@gmail.com

Commentary

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Deadlines & Contacts

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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 may be published online at www.hillrag.com. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com. 12 ★ HILLRAG.COM

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All Credit Cards Accepted June 2022 ★ 13

S ON WHATI ’N G T O N H W A S

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T H E i

C I T Y LIVE AT THE LIBRARY: LOC WELCOMES THURSDAY EVENING VISITORS

The Library of Congress has created a new evening visitor experience featuring extended public hours and regular live programming as part of an ongoing series, Live at the Library. The Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy happy hour drinks and food available for purchase. The series features special conversations, music, performances, ﬁlms and workshops. Get free timedentry passes at loc.gov/visit. loc.gov/visit. Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle. On Thursday, June 30, Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle and Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden discuss Doolittle’s love for books, his passion for reading and his role as the team’s Summer Reading Ambassador at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Photo: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

DOWNTOWN DC’S MONTHLY POP-UP ARTS MARKET

The Capital Arts Collective takes over Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on every third Thursday of the month through October. Remaining dates are June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15, and Oct. 20. Locals and passersby can shop and explore a curated selection of items by the areas most talented creatives, including everything from jewelry, paintings, candles, custom designed items, home goods, and more. rrbitc.com/ events/capital-arts-collective. Photo: Courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

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JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS

On June 6, 6 p.m. (two virtual programs), Stephen Lewis, NMAAHC Curator of Music and the Performing Arts, will discuss the premier of the Juneteenth Playlist featuring the best of jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, gospel, classical and other genres. Same day and time, Juneteenth Dishes to Taste and Savor. The three-day SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music and Arts Festival 2022 is on Juneteenth weekend, June 17 to 19 on Independence Avenue. General admission, tier-three passes for all three days are still available at $399.50, plus fees. On June 19, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., celebrate the history, art, and culture of Juneteenth at NMAAHC with three community day events. Live. See more events online at nmaahc.si.edu.

Created by Jessie Bell Williams Telfair Freedom Quilt ca. 1975 cotton H x W: 73 × 87 in. (185.4 × 221 cm) Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Virginia Dwan

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NATIONAL CAPITAL BARBECUE BATTLE RETURNS ROCK! FEShiTghly anticipated return to thera for S L IR G K C A es its BL rchest CK! FEST mak Symphony O

RO e National BLACK GIRLS h days). Multirating with th bo lla co r, te at 8 p.m. (bot en 1 ly Ju d mustan Kenneth C 30 es this year’s on Friday June a.Arie headlin di ic. In ag M the ﬁrst time on ic irl B G of Black d-winning R& g celebration w in po er Grammy Awar e w th po in r em ue believe ll-spirited, tr fu a a is t, rie en re A ev is a. e e se to, Indi joy. Sh r velvet-rich al g, peace, and in r al he he , r fo ve lo ity Known for he read commun d music to sp . music industry er e nt th d ce yer of words an an ed ns er. kenn wide by her fa , and perform spected world er, songwriter ng si a as nt incredible tale . girlsrock.com org and back

BELA FLECK: MY BLUEGRASS HEART AT WOLF TRAP

Béla Fleck’s Grammy Awardwinning album, My Bluegrass Heart (2021), is more than just a bluegrass homecoming. It features all new compositions and musicians from both the newgrass aces of Fleck’s generation as well as the sharpest young players today. On Saturday, July 2, 7 p.m. (gates, 5:30 p.m.), he returns to the Filene Center with mandolin master Sam Bush and the Jerry Douglas Band. Tickets are $29, up. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. wolftrap.org.

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The National Capital Barbecue Battle returns in-person (rain or shine) on Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will beneﬁt the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. The two-day event along Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, between Third and Seventh, features delicious barbecue and grilled food samples all weekend, 30 bands performing across three stages, celebrity chefs, cookbook authors and local professional sports player appearances, microbrew and wine sampling, cooking competitions and more. Musical artists performing throughout the weekend include American Authors, Trevor Daniel, Nighthawks, Laine Hardy, Vertical Horizon, The Chuck Brown Band and Sam Grow. Daily pass, $20; two-day pass, $30; kids under 12, free; and family four-pack (for over 12s), $60. bbqindc.com.

Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas plays the role of Atticus Finch. Photo: Julieta Cervantes

HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork starring Richard Thomas is at the Kennedy Center from June 21 to July 10. Harper Lee thought To Kill a Mockingbird would fail. But not only was the novel a bestseller, it was followed up with an Oscar-winning movie starring Gregory Peck. It also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Today, the book sells almost one million copies per year. $49 to $199. kennedy-center.org. PS: Mary Badham, the actress who played the original Scout in the ﬁlm, plays Mrs. Henry DuBose in this touring production.

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Late Night Cabaret at the 2015 Fringe

DC JAZZFEST

The 18th edition of the DC JazzFest will take place Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, marking a permanent shift of their annual festival to the end of summer and culminating over Labor Day Weekend. With ﬁve days of concerts citywide, the 2022 DC JazzFest will be a celebration of all things jazz in more than a dozen neighborhoods including its marquis weekend at The District Wharf. DC JazzFest at The Wharf will take place Sept. 3 to 4, featuring multiple waterfront stages, as well as the DCJazzPrix international band competition at Union Stage. For the lineup go to dcjazzfest.org.

CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL RETURNS

After a two years absence, the Capital Fringe Festival is returning to one of DC’s most historic neighborhoods. This year you will ﬁnd Fringe performances at Georgetown Park in the heart of commercial Georgetown. From July 14 to 17 and 21 to 24, over 250 theatre artists will perform sketch comedy, stand-up, documentary theatre, musical theatre, and cabaret with themes reﬂecting on what is happening in our world today such as the climate crisis, our relationship with our bodies, substance abuse, motherhood, the afterlife, marijuana in gentrifying DC, Palestine, cloning, identity, the pandemic, and much more. The schedule goes live and $15 tickets are on sale starting June 21. capitalfringe.org.

The String Queens perform at the 2021 DC JazzFest. Photo: Jati Lindsay

THE OUTWIN 2022: AMERICAN PORTRAITURE TODAY EXHIBITION

The National Portrait Gallery’s triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition celebrates excellence in the art of portraiture. Every three years, artists living and working in the United States are invited by the museum to submit one of their recent portraits to a panel of experts. The selected artworks reﬂect the compelling and diverse approaches contemporary artists are using to tell the American story through portraiture. This year’s competition features 42 portraits that were selected by a jury from more than 2,700 open-call entries. The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today is on view at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G Streets NE, through Feb. 26, 2023. npg.si.edu. You can vote online only in the People’s Choice Competition at portraitcompetition.si.edu/competition/how-to-vote.

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SAVOR: AN AMERICAN CRAFT BEER & FOOD EXPERIENCE

First Prize Winner: “Anthony Cuts under the Williamsburg Bridge, Morning” by Alison Elizabeth Taylor, marquetry hybrid (wood veneers, oil paint, acrylic paint, ink jet prints, shellac, and sawdust on wood), 2020. Collection of the artist. Copyright Alison Elizabeth Taylor. Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.

On Friday, June 24, at 7 to 10 p.m., the country’s premier craft beer and food pairing event comes to The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. SAVOR marries ﬂavor-forward, independent craft beer with small bites to create an unforgettable experience for beer lovers and foodies alike. Meet the personalities behind 100 + small and independent US craft breweries and sample their rare and unique beers. All SAVOR tickets include: samples from more than 200 craft beers from more than 100 US craft breweries; unlimited food pairings; conversation with brewery personalities; event program with room for tasting notes; unlimited non-alcoholic beverages; commemorative tasting glass; an exclusive commemorative beer. $144. theathemdc.com.

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SIX AT THE NATIONAL (DIVORCED, BEHEADED, DIED, DIVORCED, BEHEADED, SURVIVED) From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix ﬁve hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power. This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. Six is at the National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from July 5 to 10. broadwayatthenational.com.

Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves, center) with (l-r) Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn) & Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon)

FIRES IN THE MIRROR AT THEATER J

On June 9 through July 3, Theater J brings Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities to the stage. The groundbreaking documentary play was conceived, written, and originally performed by Anna Deavere Smith in the wake of the violence and unrest that struck the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, in 1991. Fires in the Mirror tells the story from the multiple perspectives and wildly divergent viewpoints of those who lived through it. In a racially polarized neighborhood simmering with tensions between the Afro-Caribbean and Chabad-Lubavitcher Jewish communities, Crown Heights erupted into riots after a Black child was killed by a car in the Chabad-Lubavitcher Rebbe’s motorcade. $35 to $70. Theater J is at 1529 16th St. NW. theaterj.org. Photo: Ben Pease

WE THE PEOPLE BEFORE AT THE KC

From June 30 to July 2, the Kennedy Center presents a festival of events designed to explore and expand deep truths and reﬂections about the history and experience of this country’s Native peoples. The three-day event will feature performances, workshops, ﬁlm screenings, a cooking demonstration, discussions, and a signature multi-disciplinary stage production in the Eisenhower Theater featuring some of the greatest Indigenous performers and storytellers of our day. The highlight of the We The Peoples Before First Peoples Fund celebration at the Kennedy Center, will be a one-night-only, multi-generational, multi-genre mainstage production that takes the audience through the past, present and possible future of an Indigenous America that is grounded in spirit, land, and the principles of true democracy. All events are free but some require advance reservations. Read more and register at wethepeoplesbefore.org. 20 ★ HILLRAG.COM

SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL

Since 1967, Smithsonian Folklife Festival has been collaborating with cultural practitioners, communities, and heritage professionals to spark curiosity, catalyze intercultural exchange, and create participatory experiences that nurture human connection. Themes for this year’s Festival are United Arab Emirates (From poetry to perfume, explore past and present traditions of the region as resources for connecting communities and envisioning a sustainable future.) and Earth Optimism (Meet scientists, anthropologists, and other specialists to learn about conservation in action at the Smithsonian and in our communities.). The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is on the National Mall from June 22 to 26 and June 30 to July 4. festival.si.edu.

MEET MODERN MEXICAN CUISINE COMING SOON TO CAPITOL HILL

Our family is excited to bring authentic, family-friendly Mexican cuisine to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Our locally sourced, expertly crafted dishes will redefine the way you look at Mexican food. Experience fresh flavor, unique cocktails, and a vast selection of tequilas & more.

zocacapitolhill.com 319 Pennsylvania Ave., SE WDC 20003

Dry-aged prime steaks, freshly sourced seafood, and local produce. You will taste the passion in every bite.

Reserve your table online at

harvesttidecapitolhill.com or call 202-733-1691 212 7th Street SE WDC 20003 COASTLINE RESTAURANT GROUP June 2022 ★ 21

SILKROAD ENSEMBLE WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS AT WOLF TRAP

The Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, unites audiences through cultural experiences and underrepresented voices. Silkroad’s music is contemporary and ancient, familiar and foreign, traditional and innovative, drawing on styles from around the world to create a new musical language that reﬂects 21st-century society. “When we create music together, we listen to our differences, connecting and creating meaning from them.” Featuring Grammy Award winner and Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, on Sunday, July 24, at 8 p.m., Silkroad showcases more than 15 acclaimed musicians for an evening like none other. Tickets are $32, up. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. wolftrap.org.

DURAN DURAN AT MERRIWEATHER POST

Duran Duran is a British new wave band formed in Birmingham, England in 1978. The group was a leading band in the MTVdriven Second British Invasion of the US in the 1980s. The group was formed by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor, with the later addition of drummer Roger Taylor; After numerous personnel changes, the band added guitarist Andy Taylor and lead singer Simon Le Bon. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022. Duran Duran with Special Guests Nile Rogers & Chic are at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. (gates at 5:30 p.m.). $57.50 to $227.50. merriweathermusic.com.

GUIDED BY VOICES AT 9:30 CLUB

Guided by Voices (GBV) is an American indie rock band formed in 1983 in Dayton, Ohio. It has made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. The band has had a proliﬁc output, releasing 35 fulllength albums along with many other releases, and has garnered a dedicated cult following. Guided by Voices is at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Saturday, June 18, doors at 8 p.m. $35. 930.com.

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SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE AT THE KEEGAN

Young Will Shakespeare has writer’s block… the deadline for his new play is fast approaching but he’s in desperate need of inspiration. That is, until he ﬁnds his muse—Viola. This beautiful young woman is Will’s greatest admirer and will stop at nothing (including breaking the law) to appear in his next play. Against a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming, and backstage theatrics, Will’s love for Viola quickly blossoms and inspires him to write his greatest masterpiece. $60. Shakespeare in Love is at the Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, from June 18 to July 26. keegantheatre.com.

Guided by Voices. Photo: Tony Nelson

“CULTIVATE: GROWING FOOD IN A CHANGING WORLD” AT THE (REOPENED) BOTANIC GARDEN

The United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, at the foot of the Capitol, has just opened a new exhibit sharing the stories of agriculture—from the people that grow the food and the important cultural connections food provides to modern techniques and scientiﬁc innovations that make agriculture more sustainable and productive. The visually beautiful United States Botanic Garden is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, created in 1820. The USBG informs visitors about the importance and fundamental value and diversity of plants, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological signiﬁcance. USBG is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. usbg.gov.

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Photo: Craig Cipollini

IT’S A GAS! THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

On June 26 at 2 and 6 p.m., join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they salute the music of the “Great American Songbook” paying tribute to the music of African American artists and composers from the early 20th century (Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Lena Horne, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, and many more.) Thirteen select soloists from the Chorus will share stories as they sing from the songbook of jazz greats. Songs include “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “God Bless the Child,” and “Stormy Weather.” It’s a GAS! The Great American Songbook is at Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tyson, VA. Tickets start at $45. capitalonehall.com.

FOLGER’S “THE PLAYHOUSE” AT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM

RED VELVET AT SHAKESPEARE

In London’s Theatre Royal, 1833, history is made when Ira Aldridge becomes the ﬁrst Black actor to take the stage as Shakespeare’s Othello. As a bill promoting the abolition of slavery sends shockwaves through Parliament, how will London react to Aldridge’s groundbreaking performance? Director Jade King Carroll makes her STC debut with Olivier Award winner Lolita Chakrabarti’s Red Velvet, celebrating a pioneering actor who triumphed in his art despite a tempest of social injustice. Red Velvet is at Shakespeare Theatre’s Michael R. Klein Theatre from June 16 to July 17. shakespearetheatre.org. Amari Cheatam plays Ira Aldridge. Photo: Tony Powell

The National Building Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library are partnering this summer to present The Playhouse. July 1, through Sept. 6, visitors can step back in time with the Bard for the latest iteration of the Museum’s Summer Block Party. An exciting festival stage, developed by Jim Hunter, Department Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Carolina, which comfortably fits into the Museum’s immense Great Hall, will welcome visitors as they arrive. By day it provides a venue for unique experiences related to theater—from behind-the-scenes tours to sword-fighting demonstrations and other hands-on activities. At night, Tuesdays through Sundays, July 12 to Aug. 28, The Playhouse transforms into a stage for Shakespeare’s most famous, fairy-filled comedy for Folger Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tickets start at $20. folger.edu/theatre. The Playhouse, the 2022 National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party installation is a partnership with the Folger Shakespeare Library. It will fill the Museum’s Great Hall. Image: Alex Erkiletian

PORTSIDE IN OLD TOWN SUMMER FESTIVAL On Friday, June 18, 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 19, 1 to 9 p.m., kick off summer with the return of the Portside in Old Town Summer Festival at the Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St. This free festival features an array of live music, local craft beer from Port City Brewing Company and fun for the whole family on the Alexandria waterfront. New this year, the event merges with the 44th Annual Alexandria Jazz Fest on Friday evening to showcase jazz performances and readings by Alexandria poets. Saturday the festival continues with an eclectic musical lineup, local food, hands-on art and history activities and more. visitalexandria.com. Photo: Sam Kittner

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CLASSES Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing from an Image Starting Tuesday, June 7, 6:30pm-8:00pm Storytelling: A Workshop in Creative Nonfiction Saturday, June 11, 1:00pm-4:00pm American Roots Concert Series: Jake Blount (FREE) Sunday, June 12, 4:30pm-6:30pm MPDC Chief Robert Contee, III in Conversation (FREE) Wednesday, June 15, 7:00pm-8:00pm Family Happy Hour with King Bullfrog Album Launch Party! Friday, June 17, 5:00pm-7:00pm Homebrewing with DC Brau’s Dr. James Shellhammer Saturday, June 18, 11:00am-2:00pm Contemporary Watercolors Workshop Saturday, June 18, 12:00pm-2:00pm Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop Saturday, June 18, 2:30pm-5:00pm Frontlines: Infant and Child CPR Sunday, June 19, 1:00pm-3:00pm American Roots Concert Series: Amythyst Kiah (FREE) Sunday, June 19, 4:30pm-6:30pm Mambo Nights Feat. Los Day Trippers Friday, June 24, 7:00pm-9:00pm

GALLERIES Hill Center Galleries & CHAL Juried Exhibit Opening Reception Monday, June 13, 6:00pm-8:00pm Check hillcenterdc.org for more programs and updates!

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CELEBRATING 70 YEARS

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Hill Center American Roots Free Outdoor Concerts. June 12, Jake Blount; June 19, Amythyst Kiah. All concerts are on Sundays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Get free tickets at hillcenterdc.org.

Photo: Courtesy of Wunder Garten

Drumfolk by Step Afrika at Arena Stage. Through June 26. This immersive production will be the first of three as part of a multi-year collaborative partnership between Step Afrika! and Arena Stage. $76 to $95. arenastage.org.

Pride on the Pier on District Pier. June 11, 2 to 9 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Grab cocktails at a Waterfront Beer & Wine Garden, and dance to music from a DJ along the water. wharfdc.com. Carpe Librum Used Book Sales. On June 11 and 21 and July 9, join Carpe Librum in the southern block of Canal Park, 200 M St. SW, for an outdoor, nonprofit used book sale. capitolriverfront.org/canal-park.

Let’s Skate DC at the Wednesday at the Wharf Wharf. June 11 from 10 a.m. Yappy Hour at Wunder Garten. Concerts. Wednesdays to 2 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 3 p.m. A special day through Aug. 31, 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 12 from 3 to for the pups; $6 beer and dog treats. at the Transit Pier. Lineup: 7 p.m. on Transit Pier. Free. Wunder Garten, 1101 First St. NE. wunJune 8, Pebble to Pearl; June No pre-registration required. dergartendc.com. 15, David Thong Band; June Skate rentals are $10 for chil22, La Unica; June 29, Jimi dren only (size 12 junior-6). Smooth & Hit Time; July 6, JWX-The Jarreau WilAdults must bring their own skates. The Wharf Rollliams Experience. wharfdc.com. er Rink will also be open on July 9 and 10, and Aug. 13 and 14. wharfdc.com. Jazz and Blues in Southwest. Jazz on Fridays; Blues on Mondays, 6 to 9 p.m. $10 cover. Children Mosaic’s In His Hands. June 22 to July 17. Danare welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasoniel, a video game wizard and aspiring Lutheran pasably priced meals offered. Westminster Presbyteritor, is falling for Christian. But as these men exan Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I Sts.). westplore the potential of their new relationship, voices minsterdc.org. from Christian’s past threaten to overpower the connection they share. $50 to $68. Atlas PerformSolas Nua: Maz and Bricks. Through June 26. ing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Maz and Bricks is a passionate, angry, funny and touching play which tells the story of two young Congressional Cemetery First Friday Outpeople who meet over the course of a day in Dubdoor Movies. (Gates open one hour before sunlin. $10 to $45. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 set). July 1, Galaxy Quest; Aug. 5, HitchhikH St. NE. atlasarts.org. ers Guide to the Galaxy; and Sept. 2, Space Balls. $10. Registration required at congressionalcemeDrive-In Movies at Union Market. June 10, 9 tery.org. ◆ p.m., In the Heights; July 8, 9 p.m., Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Aug. 12, 8:45 p.m., Dirty Dancing: Photo: Nan Raphael Sept. 9, 8 p.m., Encanto; Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Black Panther. For those on foot, bring your chairs and blankets and set up shop in front of Union Market for picnic-style entertainment at no charge. Cars are $20. unionmarketdc.com. (night) Market SW. Market SW, at Fourth and M Streets SW, is open alternate Fridays, 4 to 10 p.m. Remaining dates: June 10 and 24; July 8 and 22; Aug. 5 and 19; and Sept. 2, 16 and 30. This market is a mix of local and creative businesses, food trucks, live music, a fully stocked beer garden, and family-friendly activities. diversemarkets.net. Friends of SE Library Book Sale. June 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join FOSEL to shop a range of titles with prices starting at $1. Proceeds supplement library programs. 403 Seventh St. SE. dclibrary.org/southeast.

Freedom Fireworks at Nat’s Park. July 1, after the 6:05 p.m. Nats vs. Marlins game (around 9 p.m.). Fireworks are visible from inside the park, along the riverfront, in boats and on nearby rooftops. mlb.com/nationals.

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June 2022 H 29

jUnEtEeNtH: a fAmIlY sToRy by Pleasant Mann

hen President Joe Biden the situation in the West was signed the Juneteenth Namore complicated. Other tional Independence Day Confederate armies had yet Act last year, the nation fito give up and there were nally had a national holiday even occasional hostilities. to commemorate the end of slavery in the US. Some The Confederate army in thought the new holiday should have been on the Texas did not surrender undate of the declaration of the Emancipation Proclatil June. When Union Genermation in September or its enactment in January, or al Gordon Granger took over the date of the passage of the 13th Amendment endGalveston, Texas on June 19, ing slavery. But having grown up in Oklahoma and 1865, his announcement Colorado, where Juneteenth celebrations were comthat any previously enslaved monplace, I think Juneteenth was the right choice. people were thereafter free The first big celebration of the end of slavery made that the date for comwas actually here in Washington DC, on April 19, memorating emancipation. The author at the plantation in Georgia where his great-grandfather 1866, when the Black community celebrated the There were Juneteenth celewas born. Photo: Alexander Padro fourth anniversary of the law emancipating slaves brations in Texas the followgia in 1852. He was likely liberated during Generin the District of Columbia. It started with an asing year. al Sherman’s march towards Atlanta. While there sembly of Black troops and civic association memis at least one story that said the plantation owner bers in front of the White House, where President The Mann Family Early History tried to implement Sherman’s Special Field Order Andrew Johnson welcomed the crowd and shook My family’s time in the West starts with my greatNo. 15, mandating that every emancipated family get hands with people approaching him. As Harper’s grandfather, the first Pleasant Mann, who was born 40 acres of land and a mule, Pleasant did not stay Weekly recorded the event, “The procession then into slavery on a plantation near Calhoun, Georthere. He made his way west, takre-formed and took up the line of march ing opportunities to work at sharealong Pennsylvania Avenue. In passing cropping, until he reached Texas. The ﬁ rst Emancipati on Day celebrati on in DC’s Franklin Square. the Capitol cheer after cheer rent the air Harper’s Weekly graphic. Library of Congress In 1878, he married Octavia Porter, in compliment to their legislative friends. whose father, a White man, owned There were probably 4,000 or 5,000 land. The census records for Graycolored men in the procession, while son County, Texas show Pleasant 10,000 of the same race were interestfarming next to his in-laws. Oced spectators, manifesting their joy and tavia’s father eventually formally gladness by waving their hats and handdeeded the land to his children bekerchiefs and cheering lustily the passing fore he died. procession. The celebration was closed Pleasant and Octavia quietwith religious services and the delivery ly farmed and raised eight chilof addresses in Franklin Square in the dren in Texas. According to cenpresence of a vast multitude.” sus records, they were still in Celebrations of the end of slavery Texas in 1900. By 1910, the famiin the Western United States took a difly had moved to Oklahoma. Family ferent turn. While most presume that the lore does not off er much detail on Confederate Army of Northern Virginwhat prompted the move to Oklaia’s surrender at Appomattox in April (Continued on pg. 33) 1865 marked the end of the Civil War, 30 ★ HILLRAG.COM

Using Intelligence Tradecraft to Find Ancestors How a former CIA Officer is helping families uncover their history! while still intrigued with the project, they become overwhelmed by the effort. Finally, they come to Family History Intelligence, where we provide not just the research, but we write the stories of your ancestors and present them on a private family history website to preserve and share the family legacy in a living document that can be added to and preserved in the cloud, not lost in a box.

Who We Are

the author Aldous Huxley, and a knighted Nobel Prize winner. One day, while digging through this client’s 3rd-great-grandfather Thomas Henry Huxley’s (1825-1895) journals, we discovered original drawings from his unpublished sketch book of a Tasmanian Tiger “Thylacine” which became extinct in 1936. Huxley served as assistant surgeon aboard the H.M.S. Rattlesnake– an exploratory posting that

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Intelligence was a wonderful experience. Family History Intelligence CEO and Founder Lisa Maddox The resulting website has been invaluable started this boutique family to our family as we work on exploring and history business after serving 15 preserving family history.” years as an intelligence officer, including a career at the CIA. - Elsa and Sam Huxley Maddox brings her extraordinary Lisa Maddox, CEO & Founder of Family History Intelligence research and writing skills to every Designed by The Scout Guide in Alexandria, Virginia. family’s story, which contribute would define his scientific and literary reputation. to FHI’s polished and thorough work. She ave you thought about creating He assisted the naturalist John MacGillivray in also discovered that her terrorism targeting and cultivating the history of your describing, naming, and cataloging previously work could be applied quite effectively to the unrecorded species from the area of Australia family as a matter of interest to art of genealogy. She and her team are not and New Guinea, working with and defending yourself and as a gift to future traditional genealogists, as they employ some Charles Darwin and becoming known as generations? Many people are intrigued by of their intelligence and targeting tradecraft. “Darwin’s Bulldog.” Instead of delivering the standard genealogy this idea, and when they find themselves reports with pedigree charts and chronological working with Family History Intelligence lists on paper, FHI takes a new approach and (FHI), they receive a personalized, thoroughly offers their final product as a website with researched, and beautifully presented study narratives of ancestors containing historical How do you get started? Visit our website at of their family’s distinct context, family photos familyhistoryintelligence.com and purchase and intriguing story. and documents, maps, and the Preliminary Dig. We will get in touch Our clients generally analysis. It’s the full story with you to collect some details about your follow this path: First, they and it can be shared with ancestors. Our genealogists then will conduct want to better understand your family in a new and preliminary research into your ancestry to and document their family’s craft options for a customized family history exciting way. ancestry. Second, they get project for you. The cost of your preliminary an account with Ancestry. dig will be applied towards a larger project, com or Findmypast.com should you decide to pursue one. A larger and start the arduous task project could include exploring a family line We will never forget of researching. Third, they back as far as possible or broadly mapping one special client from become frustrated with out all of your great- and great-greatCapitol Hill, whose ancestors the amount of time and grandparents. We tailor the project to your included Revolutionary effort needed to conduct interests and available information. and Civil War generals, Designed by The Scout Guide in Alexandria, Virginia. genealogical research, and

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www.familyhistoryintelligence.com June 2022 ★ 31

JUNETEENTH EVENTS

at the National Museum of African American History & Culture (all programs are free and require registration.) Tuning in to Juneteenth. (virtual) Monday, June 6 at 6 p.m. Stephen Lewis, NMAAHC Curator of Music and the Performing Arts, will discuss the premier of the Juneteenth Playlist featuring the best of jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, gospel, classical and other genres. Juneteenth Dishes to Taste and Savor. (virtual) Monday, June 6 at 6 p.m. NMAAHC Curator Joanne Hyppolite and Sweet Home Café Executive Chef Ramin discuss how at-home audiences can design and cook a delicious Juneteenth Day menu—inspired by longtime honored recipes reconceptualized for today’s palate. Texas Freedom Colonies. Saturday, June 11; noon to 1:30 p.m. Dr. Andrea Robert, University of Texas at Austin professor, discusses her work researching, documenting, preserving, and mapping “Freedom Colonies”—areas where African Americans started intentional communities between the years 1865 and 1935. Live and streaming. Watermelon & Red Birds—A Conversation with Nicole A. Taylor. Monday, June 13; 7 p.m. American writer and cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor discusses her book Watermelon and Red Birds, which includes documentation of 19th century Juneteenth celebrations, and recipe updates to 21st Century tastes. Live. One Year Later: Juneteenth for all Americans. Wednesday, June 15; 7 p.m. Kevin 32 ★ HILLRAG.COM

Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of NMAAHC, moderates a panel of scholars as they discuss the historic and social complexity of Juneteenth. Live. Juneteenth Community Day. Sunday, June 19, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate the history, art, and culture of Juneteenth at NMAAHC with three community day events. Live. Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings. Monday, June 20; 3 p.m. Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings weave together the sounds of New Orleans to demonstrate the history of the trumpet and the story of jazz for an immersive jazz experience for all ages. Live. A Soldier’s Story. Monday, June 20; 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Learn how the United States Colored Troops came into being, what the Emancipation Proclamation really did, the significance of Juneteenth, and how they affect us today. Live. Light in the Darkness: When Monuments Attack. Tuesday, June 21; 7 p.m. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, host a discussion exploring the politics of memory and how questions and debates about memorials and monuments help to understand the past and present around matters of race, community, identity, and nation. Live and streaming. Registration encouraged. ◆

(Continued from pg. 30) homa, but Pleasant did it in his mid-forties. He and his family, and at least one of his in-laws, moved to the all-Black town of Grayson. Oklahoma attracted a number of Blacks in this period, with notable Black towns such as Boley, which still has an annual Black Rodeo, and Langston, formed with the intent of creating a Black state in Oklahoma Territory, and the location of a Historically Black College. Some of this migration was encouraged when the Creek Nation was forced to break up the land it held in-common and give it out as individual parcels to tribal members. A number of Creeks divided their 160 acres into smaller lots that Blacks moving to Oklahoma could purchase. Being in the West, Juneteenth was the celebratory day for Oklahoma Blacks. Indeed, the last novel by Oklahoma-born author Ralph Ellison is entitled “Juneteenth.”

The Tulsa Massacre and Aftermath Pleasant’s children did not stay on the farm for long. Ben, the oldest, wound up in Okmulgee and started a grocery store. The next oldest, John Douglas “J.D.” Mann moved to Tulsa and set up his own grocery on Greenwood Avenue. Not long after, my grandfather McKinley Mann and his brother Obie opened a grocery on Lansing, appropriately named Mann Bros., just before the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. Obie Mann is credited in books like “The Burning” with leading the resistance to the attacks against the Greenwood community during the riot. After hostilities ended, Obie had to skip town for a time until it became clear that the indictment issued against him after the riot would not be carried out. While Mann Bros. had been burned out, there were enough

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Mann Bros. Grocery in Tulsa with McKinley Mann (far right). Photo courtesy of the Mann Family

savings that my grandfather could rebuild it. He married my grandmother, a member of the Creek Nation, three months after the Tulsa riot. Eventually all of Greenwood was rebuilt. This was bolstered by the fact that Tulsa’s Blacks had little inclination to patronize White stores, encouraging the development of a full spectrum of Blackowned businesses. When my mother’s family came from Kentucky to visit, they were amazed at the strong Black community they found there with its own retail, doctors, dentists and even its own hospital. Still, there were some adjustments required. Greenwood had a barbeque joint with separate entrances for Whites and Blacks. My father also told me of a drive-in theater that prohibited Black patrons, even though a Black man owned the land under it. There is also an emancipation story on my mother’s side of the family. Her great-grandfather, Green Thurman, was allowed to join the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. He fought in the Battle of New Market Heights near Richmond in September 1864. After the war, he went back to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and became a tobacco farmer. When he applied for a soldier’s pension in the 20th Cen34 H HILLRAG.COM

tury, his file included an affidavit: “I knew Green Thurman. My father gave him to me.” Obie Mann died in 1946, and after my grandfather died, Mann Bros. grocery closed in 1961. Soon after, my father moved the family to Denver. As Black Consciousness grew in the Sixties, Juneteenth became the obvious time for celebrations. As schools integrated, Negro History Week had started to diminwh as an important date on the calendar, without the prominence that Black History Month has today. One of the first big Black cultural celebrations I remember was in June 1969 at Five Points, the heart of Black Denver since the time that Madame C.J. Walker and Hattie McDaniel lived in the city. Juneteenth has now come full circle, growing from a Western holiday to a national one. My family, with branches around the country, and the rest of the nation now have an official date to celebrate emancipation. Happy Juneteenth! Pleasant Mann is a 35-year resident of the Shaw neighborhood and is wellversed in its history and community development. He writes the monthly “Shaw Streets” column for MidCity DC. u

20th Annual Capitol Hill FOURTH of JULY PARADE MONDAY, JULY 4TH

Photo: Andrew Lightman

DON’T MISS! H Naval Lodge No.4 H All of your neighbors, friends, their dogs and cats H Grand Marshall Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. from the intersection of 8th and I Street, SE and end at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza.

Find a Spot to watch the fun anywhere along Barracks Row. For more information and to register, please go to

www.capitolhill4thparade.com SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBER

CHARLES ALLEN

*Organizers encourage both groups and spectators to follow all updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. June 2022 ★ 35

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Election Special Coverage for the District of Columbia 2022

June 2022 ★ 37

2022 Election Special

Meet the Mayoral Candidates

Three Challenge Bowser on Housing, Public Safety

by Elizabeth O’Gorek n the June primary, incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser faces a trio of challengers as she seeks a third term. Two of her challengers for the Democratic nomination are sitting DC Councilmembers, including Robert C. White, Jr. and Trayon White, Sr. A third, James Butler, is a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC). Name recognition will play a role in this election, but in repeated polling voters have said they are concerned with the issues, particularly rising crime, housing and homelessness.

Mayoral Candidate and current At-Large Councilmember Robert White, Jr. Photo: Courtesy the Campaign

Meet The Candidates:

Robert C. White, Jr. (robertfordc.com): At-Large Councilmember Robert White was first elected in 2016 after an unsuccessful 2014 run. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, White graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and American University Washington College of Law. Prior to becoming a councilmember, he served as Legislative Counsel to DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Currently, White is Chair of the Council Committee on Facilities and Procurement as well as the board chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. As councilmember, Robert has supported returning citizens and advocated for minority-owned businesses. An occasional critic of the mayor even prior to the election, White has helped pass laws that imposed higher taxes on the wealthy, established paid parental leave and has advocated for shrinking the 38 H HILLRAG.COM

Incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser at the Capitol Hill July 4th Parade. Photo: Andrew Lightman

city’s spending on police in favor of alternatives. Trayon White Sr. (no website) Trayon White was first elected to represent Ward 8 in 2016 when he defeated LaRuby May, to whom he lost in a special election the year before. A Southeast Washington native raised by his grandmother, he is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He said

June 2022 H 39

2022 ELECTION Special

HOW to VOTE

he Primary Election is June 21. This is where voters affiliated with particular parties choose their candidates for office in the General Election. The General Election takes place November 8, and will involve the candidates selected by each party and those running as independents. However, DC is largely a blue city, so the primary elections usually function as the main event. Voters who register by May 31 are eligible to vote in their party primaries. The DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) started mailing ballots to voters May 16. You can mail those back immediately and track them online (https://votedc.ballottrax.net/voter/), but they must be postmarked by June 21 and received by June 28. Alternatively, ballot drop boxes open May 27. Early voting is between June 10-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at any of the 40 Vote Centers. 90 Vote Centers will be open on June 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You don’t have to go to any particular voting center, either. A full list of early and day-of voting centers is at https:// www.d cboe.o rg/Vote rs/Whe re-to-Vote/Fin d-OutWhere-to-Vote If you are a registered voter, you won’t need any particular identification to vote, unless you are doing same-day voter registration. Then you’ll need to bring proof of residence. That can include a DC-issued ID (i.e., driver’s license or REAL id), a government check or paycheck, a bank statement, a current utility bill, a lease, or any official document that includes your name and current District address. If you are incarcerated, regardless of the offense, you can vote. If you are under court supervision or residing at a halfway house after release, you can vote. If an Absentee Ballot was mailed and you were released from incarceration before it arrived, you may vote at any Voting Center during Early Voting or at any Vote Center on Election Day. Upon your release, please contact the Board of Elections to make any updates to your mailing address. DCBOE usually posts results for mail and early in-person shortly after polling places close on Election Day, followed by the day-of results. But nothing is official until results are certified on July 8. Limited races: Councilmembers for Ward 1, 3, 5 and 6; Ward-based committee members of the DC Democratic State Committee. Citywide races: mayor, attorney general, DC Council Chair, At-Large councilmembers, US Shadow Representative, Delegate to Congress (Note: The Full Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers Amendment Act, a referendum on whether DC should get rid of the tipped wage scale, has been pushed to the November General Election). Find out more about the June Primaries by visiting dcboe.org/ Elections/2022-Elections ◆ [INSERT BALLOT HERE]

40 ★ HILLRAG.COM

Mayoral Candidate and current Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. at a mural dedication December, 2021. Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN

his fight is to get adequate resources to the places that need it the most, putting people over politics. A former member of the DC State Board of Education, White has focused his efforts on raising awareness of violence in Ward 8. White has prioritized fighting gun violence, which disproportionately affects areas of the city such as the ward he represents. He uses social media to great advantage, posting constituent meetings and concerns to his followers. However, it proved a disadvantage in March 2018, when White said that Jewish banking family the Rothschilds control the climate while recording a Facebook video. White has introduced bills to help curb gentrification and co-authored legislation ending the city’s practice of suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid tickets. He recently cast the only opposition vote on a bill that would have required all councilmembers and their staff to be vacciMayoral Candidate James Butler. nated against COVID-19. Courtesy the Campaign He said while he was fully vaccinated, he did not want to force a decision on anyone else. James Butler (www. butler4dc.com): Former Ward 5 commissioner James Butler has a simple message: Everyone else on the ballot has had years to fix the issues they are talking about in the debate —and they haven’t. If the electorate truly wants change, he said, he’s the

June 2022 H 41

2022 Election Special

only candidate that can accomplish this. He launched his first mayoral bid in the 2018 Democratic primary, coming in second to Bowser with about 10 percent of the vote. Originally from Ohio, Butler, 46, has lived in the District for about 20 years, first in Columbia Heights and most recently in Trinidad, where he was elected as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) 5D03 in 2016. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Kent State University and a law degree from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He currently handles civil complaints before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the DC Office of Human Rights. Butler was disbarred in 2009, after at least 130 of his former clients contacted the DC Bar about fraud and negligence related to his former legal practice. Butler did not dispute the committee’s findings and surrendered his license. Butler focuses on public safety, arguing DC Police have insufficient officers and resources to deal with crime. Incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser (murielbowser.com) is a native Washingtonian who was raised in North Michigan Park. She graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School before getting a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Chatham University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from American University. Bowser first entered elected office in 2003 as the representative for Riggs Park ANC 4B09, and was elected Ward 4 Councilmember during a 2007 special election, winning re-election in 2008 and 2012. Bowser was appointed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority board of governors in 2011, holding the position until 2015. She won her first term as mayor in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. Bowser helmed the city during the pandemic, seeking to add to the police force and opening homeless shelters not just in low-income areas but across the city, including affluent neighborhoods. In addition, a great deal of construction has taken place throughout her two terms, including multiple real estate projects and the early completion of the Frederick Douglass Bridge. However, Bowser has had challenging moments during her eight years in office. Bowser appointee Neil Albert, the former chair of DC Housing Authority (DCHA), resigned after reports that he had authorized contracts for a design firm owned 42 H HILLRAG.COM

by a personal associate. Critics have pointed to accusations of misconduct amongst MPD officers, “squalid conditions” at the DC jail and DC’s troubled crime lab, which lost its accreditation last year.

Public Safety and Justice

Public safety and justice have been front and center during the campaign, as an uptick in violence and crime across the city has left many residents feeling uneasy. “I may be the only one —and Mr. Butler, perhaps— who is willing to include policing in that comprehensive approach,” said incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser, restating her goal to get MPD up to 4,000 officers and deriding Robert White’s plan to “streamline” police as a screen to defund officers. Bowser touted the benefits of the cadet program, which DC has funded for the last several years. The program allows the District to hire students and residents, send them to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and the police academy. Bowser has funded incentives to attract and retain officers, a strategy, she said, that will continue to build a stronger and larger police force in the District. James Butler said his goal is “to be the mayor of the safest city in America.” Butler said increasing the size of the police force is key to accomplishing this. He committed to bringing between 500 and 700 “new, well-trained officers” into the DC Police corps during his first term as Mayor. “Our police force is overburdened and doing 1.1 million hours of overtime,” Butler said. “I know that those 1.1 million hours of overtime equates to the salaries of 500 more police officers. It amounts to lower response times, it amounts to police officers working when they’re sick.” Accusing the Mayor in particular of fear mongering, Councilmember Robert White, Jr. said he would enact recommendations made by the District Police Reform Commission in the report issued two years ago and conduct an analysis of how many police are needed in the District, rather than aspiring to any “arbitrary” number. “I want people in our city to feel safe, but more importantly, I want people in our city to be safe,” Robert said. “That is why my comprehensive plan first focuses on streamlining police resources on public safety so that they can solve crime, so that they can patrol.” “We deserve more than just the police,” White said, introducing a focus on violence intervention

“that meets the scale of the problem.” “We can’t wait to lose more brothers and sisters in our city,” Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. echoed those concerns, saying neglecting a response crime has led to the 20-year high in crime that DC is currently experiencing. “I believe that police is a part of reducing crime in Washington, DC,” Trayon said. “We have neglected violent crime in this city for at least six years, with zero money going into violence prevention while this administration ran the initiative that crime was down,’ Trayon said. As a result, there is a 20-year high in crime, Trayon said. “That’s not leadership. That’s reactionary.” While acknowledging that police should be “part of ” incident response, Trayon emphasized the need for the expansion of after school programs and a focus on supporting kids working with both local and federal partners to mitigate and interrupt violence before it happens.

Housing

The mayoral race has involved frequent discussion of housing and homelessness. Bowser spoke about her efforts to combat homelessness and her CARE pilot program, intended to do intense outreach to people in encampments and find them housing. Bowser expressed frustration with DC Council’s decision to halt her pilot program, which she said aims to clear tent encampments and provide stable and secure housing to unhoused residents of the District. Robert White said his approach to encampments would diverge significantly from the Mayor’s current strategy by taking “a strong, empathetic and studied approach.” He argued that the “quick fix, headline stuff isn’t working,” asserting that unhoused residents often don’t seek services due to a lack of trust in government. “If our Mayor spent more time talking to people who lived there and less time talking to developers,” White said, “maybe she would understand that we need not show up with police and bulldozers.” He said the District needs to get the residents vouchers, support the organizations doing the work and get out of the way. “I have made it a major platform of my time in office to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring,” Bowser said. “The truth is that we had a pilot program to make sure that we could move

people out of tents and into housing, and council members voted to stop it. They voted to stop it,” Bowser said. That elicited a response from two councilmembers; DC Council voted down a bill to pause clearings last December. Trayon White sharply criticized the CARES pilot, calling it a “failed program” and saying that there is not a one size fits all strategy to getting people housed. White said the right strategies need to be implemented with the right people. White said the District needs to talk to homeless individuals and families about their needs. “We have all these different people that we have shuffled around in all these different programs leaving them in deep despair.” Butler said the mayor and council members were bickering over issues that they should have solved years go. “They remind me of three blind mice,” the former commissioner said. Butler said his plan was to go into existing housing stock and have homeless residents themselves build units out into Permanent and LongTerm Supportive Housing, with the District providing wrap-around services such as mental health and addiction support. Bowser defended her accomplishments in providing new housing and reducing homelessness, referencing the $1 billion invested in the Housing Trust Protection Fund (HPTF) since 2015 and $500 million in this budget for affordable housing. She pointed to studies showing family homelessness has significantly declined during her time in office. “Most residents understand that spending money and solving problems are different things,” said Robert White. He said he would “stand up to developers” and demand workforce housing for those earning between

$50-$90,000 annually. DC needs to protect affordable housing that exists, enforcing the building code in poorly maintained units. Finally, he called for social housing and community land trust as well as converting commercial properties to residential. Trayon was sharply critical of the deployment of HPTF, saying it has become “a slush fund for developers,” and calling for an investigation into the way those funds were spent. “We can’t figure out where the affordable housing is, quite frankly,” Trayon said. He said the District needs to reconsider what affordable is so truly affordable housing is available. Trayon expressed frustration with the gentrification that has forced out thousands of black residents from the city. “We have lost 20,000 black residents in the last 10 years,” White said. “We are being forced out and gentrification is being engineered by the government.” Butler said if elected, he would take steps on day one to ensure that residents have long-term supportive housing. He said the key to this is not continuing to “rely heavily” on inclusionary zoning through private developers but rather to go into the city’s housing stock and provide “deeply affordable housing” to residents and rent control for newer units. He said there should be a re-examination of the formula DC uses to calculate Area Mean Income that depends on the local data rather than regional income. Bowser refuted criticism from other candidates and touted the District’s significant investments in affordable housing. “Unlike the entire region, we have made a strategic investment in building affordable housing,” Bowser said. “When you look at the whole region, we stand head and shoulders above them all.” ◆

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June 2022 ★ 43

2022 Election Special

Get to Know the Candidates

for DC Attorney General

ncumbent Attorney General Karl Racine (D) announced last fall that he will not seek reelection, leaving the field open for the three candidates who seek the Democratic nomination in the June 21 primary election. Former front-running candidate Kenyan McDuffie (Ward-5 D) suspended his campaign May 2, after the DC Board of Elections and Court of Appeals ruled that he did not meet the statutory requirements for the position. The platforms of the three remaining Democratic candidates —Brian Schwalb, Bruce Spiva and Ryan Jones— share many of the same priorities for the District. But their backgrounds provide a unique perspective on many of the issues facing Washingtonians today including public safety, the criminal justice system, environmental issues and DC statehood.

Meet Brian Schwalb

Brian Schwalb (brian4dc.com) is a third-generation Washingtonian and trial lawyer. After graduating from Harvard Law School and completing a clerkship, Schwalb returned to the District to join the Justice Department under the Clinton adminis-

By Sarah Payne

Bruce Spiva

tration. Schwalb has worked in private practice for 30 years and has also served as the vice chairman and Partner-in-Charge of the District office of law firm Venable LLP. Schwalb said his vast experience in leadership and in representing a variety of legal cases sets him apart. He said while he did not have a long-standing dream of running for public office, he is excited about the opportunity to bring his expertise to address the inequities addressing his hometown. “I think it is a city with big challenges, but also really big opportunities in the future,” Schwalb said of the opportunity to serve. “I looked at what I thought was the biggest challenge for everybody who loves Washington, a city that has abundant resources and amazing talent, and it’s that we don’t share the opportunities and the equity equally across our city. I feel the law is the most powerful tool we have to address inequity.”

eas of civil rights, consumer protection and antitrust enforcement. Spiva has tried cases and argued appeals in courtrooms in the District and all across the country, including in the Supreme Court. Spiva has also served as an advocate for Washingtonians outside of his legal work. He has been a long-time supporter of DC statehood, civil rights, housing and consumer rights. Spiva believes that his advocacy work, leadership and legal experience and love for the District make him uniquely qualified to serve as DC’s next attorney general. “I came here for work and really loved the city,” Spiva said of Washington. “I really love the diversity of the city, and I want to continue to work to make it better, particularly for those who haven’t enjoyed the benefits of the prosperity of the city as a whole.”

Meet Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones (ryanjonesforag.com) is a lifelong Washingtonian who grew up in Ward 4. He is a practicing

Meet Bruce Spiva

Brian Schwalb

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Bruce Spiva (spivaforag.com) has lived in the District for over 30 years and founded and ran a public interest law firm. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Spiva dedicated his career to practice in the ar-

Ryan Jones

attorney who has appeared in civil, criminal, family, landlord-tenant and probate court in addition to the DC Court of Appeals and the District Court for the District of Columbia. Jones attended Southern Illinois School of Law and The George Washington University Law School for his LL.M. He founded his law firm here in the District in 2014. That practice has helped both plaintiffs and defendants, in cases including seniors, fraudulent transactions, discrimination cases, employment matters and intellectual property cases. After seeing how Washingtonians have been victimized and exploited, he said his goal is to protect DC residents with the law. Jones said he is running to give back to the city that has given him so much and wants to use the law to uplift people in the District. “When 2020 hit, I wanted to use my tested skill set in order to help more people and so that’s what pushed me to run,” Jones said, referencing the onset of the pandemic. “I felt (and) I believe that we’re in crucial and critical times that need new innovative thoughts to overcome the hardships that we’re currently in to create or implement new solutions to cure age old problems.”

KEY ISSUES: Equity Promoting equity and opportunity in the District is a top priority for all three candidates. Schwalb said that equity is at the forefront of his platform and that ensuring equity and the availability of resources to the District’s residents, regardless of the Ward they live in, is a top priority. “I thought about a city I love, what I’m good at and taking the law to address what I think is the biggest long-term threat for anybody who loves Washington, which is how do we address a widening gap between people who are enjoying certain opportunities and prosperity and others who are being left out,” Schwalb said. Jones emphasized that creating equity in the law can range from education reform to child support enforcement. “There’s an inequitable allocation of resources and opportunity and I think we start attacking that with the law, how we write the law, what’s available for people, how we’re designing our city, how we focus our resources on our residents, that’s our great-

est challenge,” Jones said. “When people start trying to isolate certain issues it overlooks the greater underlying cause, and that’s the change that I bring. I’m focusing on root causes.” Spiva said a core component of his campaign is to help the people who have been left behind. If elected, he said he wants to bring his legal experience into helping set a level playing field for all. “I want to use the experiences that I have had over the last 30 years to try to advance the public interest mission of the office and to help people in the city, particularly people who have been left out, left behind and lower income folks,” Spiva said. Public Safety and Juvenile Justice The District’s uptick in crime, specifically juvenile crime, has raised questions about best approaches for mitigating violence in the District. While all candidates agree that public safety is a top priority in the District, each candidate has a unique strategy and perspective on how to best address this issue. Schwalb has a six-point plan to address violence in the city by addressing current crime and also community mitigation and programming. He emphasized the importance of creating safe communities and preventing violence before it happens through violence interruption and other mitigation strategies. “If people don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods, we can’t get to the other really important hard work that government has to do in terms of bridging equity gaps, making sure that people have economic opportunities to build equity in their homes and in their businesses and get ahead in education and other things,” Schwalb said. Juvenile justice, something the attorney general is responsible for overseeing, is a crucial component of the job. Schwalb said he will “never give up on kids” but plans to hold them accountable for their actions in addition to addressing the root causes of crime through community programs. “We always have to remember that kids are kids,” Schwalb said. “Their brains are developing, and therefore even when we’re holding kids accountable for making mistakes, we also have to provide resources, and make sure that we’re thinking about how we help kids rehabilitate, get on paths of hopefulness, prosperity, feeling good about what they’re doing, because we all know that kids who are hopeful and who see a future for themselves are less dangerous to themselves.” Spiva said that addressing all of the issues, in-

cluding public safety and the prosecution of juvenile offenders, will require a comprehensive approach rather than a specific focus on one component of the problem. “All of these challenges really require an approach that uses all of our resources and involves us coordinating and cooperating amongst ourselves because no one agency or no one part of the government has the ability under its roof to solve these problems. It’s going to take a team effort, because these are complicated challenges that we face.” Spiva said that he sees “great promise” in violence interruption programs and that he plans to expand these programs. He said addressing the root causes of this violence is the “right thing to do for kids and the right thing to do for public safety.” Jones also advocated for a comprehensive approach to crime, but specifically advocated for increased hiring of local police officers and visible presence to deter violence before it happens. “I think we need to be hiring local residents to be police officers so that they can stay in the city and take their police cruisers home and provide deterrence to some of the criminal elements that are occurring in our city right now,” Jones said. “We need to talk about doing a gun buyback program so that we can get guns off of our streets, and if we can collaborate more seamlessly with the Mayor’s office and have Cure the Streets work with prosecutors and police, then we’ll really get better.” Jones said he plans to use both specific and general deterrence practices to hold youth offenders accountable while also working to give kids a second chance to “get better on the other side” of a poor decision. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@ hillrag.com. u

June 2022 H 45

2022 Election Special

Meet the Candidates

for DC Council Chair

hen they met for debate during the primary campaign for DC Council Chair, incumbent Phil Mendelson and primary challenger ANC Commissioner Erin Palmer had different views on nearly every issue from transportation to crime. While the two candidates share many of the same priorities, including creating a more equitable and accessible DC, they each have a unique strategy for how to address the key issues. The DC Council works to improve the quality of life of District residents’ neighborhoods by ensuring safer streets, improving education, providing oversight of the District’s government including the Mayor’s office and developing the District’s economy. Working with the Mayor and the executive branch, the Council also maintains the

by Sarah Payne

Phil Mendelson

Erin Palmer

District’s budget. The DC Council Chair works to oversee and lead the 13 members of the Council.

Meet Phil Mendelson

Current Chairman Phil Mendelson moved to Washington, DC from Cleveland, Ohio to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science at American University. In 1979, Mendelson was elected as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for his neighborhood of McLean Gardens where he fought against threats of demolition and rent increases on behalf of its residents. Mendelson said in his fight to save McLean Gardens that he became committed to remaining active in local politics. The current chairman has served on the DC Council since 1998, first as an atlarge member and then in 2012 as DC 46 H HILLRAG.COM

Council Chairman after winning a special election following the resignation of his predecessor. Mendelson has subsequently been reelected twice. Mendelson also serves as the chair for the Council Committee of the Whole (COW), which has specific oversight of the District budget, Council relations with the federal government, planning and zoning, DC statehood, the retirement system, the University of the District of Columbia, the DC auditor, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and DC Public and charter schools. Mendelson’s top priorities include increased progress in education in the District, addressing pressing public safety concerns and addressing the affordable housing crisis. You can learn more about Mendelson and his platform on his website, mendelsonforchairman.com.

Meet Commissioner Erin Palmer

The current ANC representative for 4B02, ethics

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2022 Election Special

and accountability lawyer Erin Palmer is running on a platform of progressive change. After attending the University of Pennsylvania, Palmer relocated to the District to attend law school at American University and has lived in the District ever since. Palmer is a Board Member of the Old Takoma Business Association and has previously served as Secretary of the Manor Park Citizens Association, a Board Member of the Kennedy Street Development Corporation, and a Board Member of the Student Education and Leadership Fund. At the forefront of Palmer’s agenda is her DC Council accountability plan, the first of its kind, which she hopes to use to strengthen the Council creating a well-functioning, modern, ethical and accountable standard of practice to best serve the community. Though this, she hopes to: strengthen the Council as a whole, reduce over-concentration of power in the Chair position, revitalize committees and add legislative research capacity, hold the council accountable to high ethical standards and ensure inclusivity and accessibility through use of technology to make the council more accessible to residents. Palmer’s other priorities include transportation and safer streets, housing, public education as a right and public safety. You can learn more about Palmer and his platform on her website (erinfordc.com).

KEY ISSUES: Public Safety As the District continues to report increases in crime, public safety remains a key issue for candidates and the community. Mendelson called public safety “top of mind” and emphasized the importance of government action to help community members feel safe. Mendelson’s platform emphasizes the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable and maintaining an open dialogue with city officials about resources they need to help keep communities safe. “It’s a relatively small number, several individuals repeat and repeat and repeat,” Mendelson said. “We need to focus on those assessments.” Mendelson said that while a set number of police officers is not crucial in his view, he is adamantly opposed to defunding the police. Data, Palmer said, is what drives her approach to crime. She referenced a 2017 investigation into the DC police and said “we don’t have the number 48 H HILLRAG.COM

of police officers that would make us most safe” emphasizing a need for alternative intervention. Public safety, community programming and investment in violence interruption are key components of the solution to crime in the District, according to Palmer. She emphasized a “balanced discussion” about violence prevention and mitigation is needed alongside policing and the criminal justice system. For Palmer, this includes ensuring that DC residents have basic needs such as housing and education. Funding, Palmer said, should be focused on providing for residents and on stopping violence before it happens through violence interruption programs. Housing Homelessness and affordable housing are also key issues for both candidates. Mendelson and Palmer disagree sharply on the DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) pilot program to clear encampments. Mendelson favors the Mayor’s program, saying it provided for relocation and long-term housing for residents of the District in need. While acknowledging its shortcomings, Mendelson expressed agreement with the initiative and its results calling the program “the best approach” to homelessness. “This was a pilot, so there were some mistakes that were made,” Mendelson acknowledged, “but it seemed that there were lessons learned so that the city can do a better job.” Palmer’s platform is focused on the importance of providing adequate, safe and secure housing for all DC residents without forcibly clearing the tent encampments. Palmer expressed extreme concern about the tent encampments that she said were hastily cleared. “The camps were evicted while people were still in them, so a human being was bulldozed,” Palmer said. “That’s not a mistake. That is deplorable and we need to provide housing.” Palmer said building trust with individuals experiencing homelessness is key to securing them in long term housing. She emphasized that removing encampments simply displaces the issue and does not resolve it. “They want safe, stable and secure housing,” Palmer said. “They’re entitled to that, and tent evictions displace the problem, they do not solve it. They move people around somewhere else. Housing is the solution to homelessness.”

Education Both candidates agree on the importance of education to the District’s communities and the vitality of continuing to improve access to education. While Palmer said there were a handful of things that led her to challenge Mendelson in the primary election this summer, she said education and how schools and families were handled throughout the pandemic stood out to her. Chairman Mendelson dissolved the standalone education committee during his tenure, something Palmer said she plans to reinstate if elected. “I think that has really done a disservice,” Palmer said. “Dedication to our public schools, and the oversight necessary to balance out a mayoral control governance system really requires a dedicated committee and the institutionalized support staff that comes with that. We have seen and felt the consequences of not having that over the course of these last several years.” Mendelson emphasized the importance of education and continuing to make improvements to the DC Public Schools and that improving outcomes in schools will in turn advance communities across the District and help to ameliorate many other challenges facing the District’s residents. Mendelson, after becoming Chairman in 2012 reinstated the independent education committee but felt there was insufficient progress. He now stands by his decision to again dissolve the independent education committee as the current committee as a whole is providing more oversight. Palmer said that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many of the “deep deep failures” of the DC public education system. Education as a right as well as additional funding for students classified as at-risk is also a component of her DC Council Accountability Plan. The DC primary election will take place on June 21, 2022. Early voting will take place from June 10 to June 19. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is June 6, and absentee voting is taking place May 27 through election day. You can learn more about the primary election and voting process at (dcboe.org). Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter at Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@ hillrag.com. u

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The At-Large Democratic Primary Race

hree candidates are challenging incumbent Anita Bonds for the Democratic at-large nomination. The other Democratic at-large seat is currently occupied by Robert J. White, Jr. who is currently running for mayor but is eligible to hold his seat until 2025. Two seats designated for the non-majority party are currently Lisa Gore occupied by Christina Henderson (I) and Elissa Silverman (I), the latter of whom will appear on the ballot in November; because she is an independent candidate, there is no primary.

by Elizabeth O’Gorek ginia and is finishing a master’s degree in management from University of Illinois. Currently Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) for 3/4G01 and a resident of U Street, Gore spent 23 years as a federal special agent for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), rising to Special Agent In Charge. She recently retired from government service after a

Meet the Candidates

Born and raised in Hillcrest, Dexter Williams (www.dexter4dc. Dexter Williams

com ) graduated from Friendship Collegiate Academy before obtaining a bachelor in health administration from Howard University and a master in public administration from the University of Baltimore. Williams worked as legislative assistant for Councilmember Robert J. White, Jr. until 2020. Since then, Williams has worked for RepresentUs, an organization that lobbies for electoral reforms like ranked-choice voting and voting by mail. Born in Roanoke, VA, Lisa Gore (https://www. gorefordc.com) graduated from the University of Vir50 H HILLRAG.COM

Nate Fleming

stint with the Inspector General (OIG) office in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Nate Fleming was raised in Ward 8 and obtained his Bachelors in political science from Morehouse College, a law degree from the University of CalAnita ifornia, Berkeley and finally, a Bonds master’s in public policy at Harvard. In 2013, Fleming was elected as DC’s Shadow US Representative. Currently a resident of Deanwood in Ward 7, Fleming has worked in the office of Councilmember Trayon White Sr. (DWard 8) since 2017 as both a Legislative and Committee Director. The trio face incumbent Anita Bonds. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley who was born and raised in Southeast and is now a resident of Northwest. The incumbent has been involved in District politics for more than fifty years, starting behind the scenes helping Marion Barry run for school

board in 1971 and then during his campaign for mayor. She later joined his administration in multiple capacities, including as his special assistant for constituent services. Bonds has been At-Large representative on DC Council since 2012, filling the vacancy created when Phil Mendelson (D) won a special election for DC Council Chairman. Bonds has been re-elected twice since then, defeating two primary challengers in 2016. Currently Chair of the Council Committee on Housing and Executive Administration, Bonds points to legislative successes including the Vacancy Increase Amendment Act of 2020 which limits rent increases on vacant units; and Limited Equity Cooperative Task Force Act 2018, which established a task force to provide policy recommendations to improve existing and add new cooperative housing in the District. “As an at-large council member for all eight wards, I am focused on providing reasonable and resourceful leadership on legislation and constituent services,” she said. During the campaign, the four at-large candidates met virtually and in-person at multiple debates including one sponsored by the Hill Rag and Ward 6 Democrats at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ae. SE) May. During these encounters, the three challengers tried, and at times struggled, to differentiate themselves from one another. For her part, Bonds was often the more likely to offer opposing views. Two matters dominated much of the discussion: public safety and housing.

Crime

Public safety and a rise in crime are major issues during this year’s District election cycle and it was no different during the at-large debates. Bonds was the only candidate to say she is in favor of a proposal from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) to increase Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) ranks to 4,000 officers, noting that she was a “big proponent of community policing” while suggesting that more officers could help improve the police department’s clearance rate in solving crimes and help the community feel safer. Acknowledging that societal interventions are

June 2022 H 51

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needed, Bonds emphasized that the community wants additional police support. “I really and truly believe that we need to see more officers on the streets,” Bonds said at the Hill Center forum. “Whether it is a forgone conclusion or not, people feel comfortable when they see an officer in their community and we just don’t have officers in our community as we once did.” Meanwhile, former law enforcement manager Gore said she sees the importance of police in crime prevention but said there is not a “magic number of officers who will make the city safer.”. “I think we need to give MPD what they need, but I would do that with great oversight,” she said at the Hill Center forum. Allocating resources is a difficult balance, she said, adding that DC Council needs to dig into the MPD budget to make sure the agency is effectively positioned to respond appropriately in an efficient and effective way, and to make sure resources are not being allocated where not needed. Both Williams and Fleming opposed an increase in officers. Williams addressed the importance of identifying and addressing the root causes of crime in the District rather than adding uniformed officers to the streets. He called for equitable resource allocation across wards, especially for education, school nutrition programs, after-school programs, mental health support programs and opioid treatment. “We have to invest in causes,” Williams said. “I don’t think increasing the number of police officers is actually going to solve crime; it gives us a false sense of security.” Instead, he proposed the city needs to expand the Mental Health Emergency Dispatch Program to direct certain 911 mental health calls to social workers instead of going directly to MPD. “By not having the police as the sole crisis responders,” Williams added, “we will start eliminating the risk of harm to both residents and the police.” Fleming agreed, saying a comprehensive approach is needed. He said improving outcomes for young people can help address the root causes of crime. Instead of increasing officer corps, he advocated for the implementation of year-round universal after-school programming. “[Crime] is a reflection of our young people being in crisis and we have to address that issue both in the short term by improving community and police relations,” Fleming said, adding that this could be addressed in the long term with educational and economic opportunities and expanded mental health care. Fleming said one way to do so is to create jobs and expand entrepreneurship, while avoiding dis52 H HILLRAG.COM

placement and securing affordable housing. “Making sure that our young people are engaged, I think, is at the heart of this matter,” he said.

Challenging Bonds on Housing

Incumbent At-Large Councilmember Bonds is the Chairperson on the Committee on Housing and Executive Administration. There’s no guarantee that the next at-large council member will serve in the same role, as chairs of council committees are elected by the Committee of the Whole at the start of each two-year council period. Still, given that Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has referred to Bonds as “the Chair of Housing,” it is no surprise that housing dominated much of the discussion between candidates. Pointing to her record, Bonds said that since accepting the assignment as chair of the housing committee DC has been recognized as a national leader on affordable housing. “Building, preserving and providing housing at a rent that residents can afford are challenging processes, but DC is slowly overcoming,” she said. Bonds said she was working to ensure that every District resident has a safe, sanitary, and affordable place to call home, pushing for policies that expand tenants’ rights, increase opportunities for homeownership and preserve and increase of the District’s affordable housing stock. Bonds said there has been progress made but much work still needs to be done on affordable housing in the District. In April, she created a stir when she said she had not heard of the District’s 37,000long housing-voucher wait list. Asked about it at the Hill Center Forum, Bonds said that she was misquoted. She said she was aware of a wait list for public housing, but noted that there is no list for the local voucher program. Of note, Bonds said the Council is researching the public housing waitlist to see which families have already been assisted. The incumbent said the government thinks it likely that many have had their needs met in the time that has elapsed since they were added; “We don’t know that,” she acknowledged, “but that’s what we’re working on.” Gore, former council staffer Dexter Williams and former shadow representative Nate Fleming all pointed to the council’s lack of oversight of the Housing Production Trust Fund as a particular concern. Since 2015, more than $1 billion has been added to the fund, which by law is required to spend half its outlay on funding the construction of units reserved for residents earning below 30 percent of the area me-

dian income (AMI). A recent inspector general report found the fund was significantly missing that target. During the virtual Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) debate, Gore quoted a report issued last year by the Office of Inspector General which found that contracts for affordable-housing development projects were sometimes awarded to applicants besides those recommended by the finance committee. “And we know the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) has been in the news lately with the inappropriate spending of over $82 million in terms of deeply affordable housing,” Gore said. “That is where good oversight comes in.” Responding to a question about which barriers to building housing should be removed, Williams and Fleming also pointed to HPTF. Williams said mismanagement is putting money in developer’s pockets and preventing the city from building as much affordable housing as possible. “We have policies that can address these issues, but they aren’t being implemented well,” he said at the OCF debate. Bonds said that a problem with the HPTF is that developers have trouble getting funding to build units in the 0 to 30 AMI range. In response to another questions, she also pointed to the cost of land as a primary barrier to housing construction. “Land prices are so exorbitant it makes it very difficult to build the housing that we need uniformly across the city,” she said.

Affordable Housing

The city is experiencing an affordable housing crisis even as housing prices rise. Fleming emphasized the need to make affordable housing a “priority” in the District and said that unconventional and creative problem solving could be the solution. “We have the least affordable housing market in the country, we have the highest rate of black displacement in the country, we have the largest achievement gap between black and white students, public safety, crime is on the rise,” Fleming said. “So we need creative leadership that can work to solve these problems.” Williams emphasized a need for increased housing for the middle class as well as affordable units. He pointed to the potential of development around Reservation 13 to fill housing needs. “I have friends who make a high six-figure income [and] they cannot afford to live in this city,” Williams said at the Ward 6 Dems At-Large Candidate Forum. “So I think it gives us an opportunity to build more workforce housing and, as a Councilmember, to advocate for more funding so that we can make those strategic investments.”

Gore said the city can integrate community land trust and social housing models that center permanent affordability. But, she said, DC won’t get out of the affordable housing crisis using one type of model. While DC has built a lot of marketrate units, there’s been less investment in affordable. She said DC should look at new ways to invest, such as the Community Land Trust model used in New York. Gore said DC could close loopholes in rent control law and to make sure to preserve affordable and multi-family units during conversions. DC should also fund public housing repairs, rehabilitating and maintaining deteriorating units. “Public housing residents deserve to live in homes that are safe, healthy, and thriving,” Gore said.

Quick Stands

Positions on other issues were offered in short-answer questions posed at both the OCF and Hill Center forums: • All four candidates oppose District financial support for a new Washington Commanders stadium. • Bonds favors removal of encampments, noting housing is available to residents. Williams, Fleming and Gore oppose removal. • Bonds is also the only candidate to oppose ranked-choice voting and voting for those under 18. She is the only candidate who supports continued mayoral control of District schools.

The winner of the June 21 Democratic Primary will appear on the ballot for the Democratic Party in the November 8 general election. Learn more about the 2022 Primary Election by visiting dcboe.org/PrimaryElection2022 ◆

A STRONGER D.C. FOR ALL. I am running for re-election because I am devoted to our community, and we need steady, dedicated, honest leadership now more than ever. My focus is simple: providing strong, independent leadership and working to create a stronger D.C. for all of us.

I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. UN DISTRITO DE COLUMBIA MÁS FUERTE PARA TODOS Me postulo para la reelección porque estoy dedicada a nuestra comunidad, y necesitamos un liderazgo estable, dedicado y honesto ahora más que nunca. Mi enfoque es simple: proporcionar un liderazgo fuerte e independiente y trabajar para crear un DC más fuerte para todos nosotros.

HUMILDEMENTE LES PIDO SU APOYO.

Vote Anita Bonds - #3 on the ballot

www.anitabonds2022.com

Endorsed by: DC Women in Politics • LiUNA • UNITE HERE Hospitality Workers’ Union

Paid for by Anita Bonds 2022, Don Dinan, Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the DC OCF, Washington, DC.

June 2022 ★ 53

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/ opinion /

Reform Election Petition Requirements Now!

Signature Technicalities Should Not Be A Bar To The Ballot

n November 2021, I announced I was running as a Democrat for the At-Large DC Council seat, in Washington, DC. Six months later I was unceremoniously kicked off the ballot by an opponent who successfully challenged my petitions. This tactic is commonly employed by candidates to thin the ranks thereby increasing their electability. Essentially, my opponent used the petition process to bar me from public office. Perhaps, I am naïve, but I always thought the choice of who best to serve District citizens lay in the hands of its voters. In DC, council candidates for At-Large seats are required to collect 2,000 signatures from registered voters to qualify them for appearance on the ballot. I collected 2,049 signatures. A novice for citywide public office, I was unaware that this razor thin number put my candidacy in jeopardy. Opponents challenged the validity of the signatures on my petitions alleging missing dates, incomplete forms, illegible or unauthentic signatures and in some the concerns were manufactured completely out of whole cloth. A sufficient number were called in question for the DC Board of Elections to summon me for a mediation. After a failed attempt at mediation, I subsequently appeared in court to defend my petitions. I was consumed by anxiety. I was not worried about meeting the required number of signatures. I had neighbors and supporters rooting for me. Donations were flowing in daily. Rather, I feared the judicial system was about to fail me. I spent days securing affidavits from challenged

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by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins signatories and assisting voters in updating their addresses. I came with 64 pieces of evidence. However, as a preschool teacher and mother of two, I did not have the resources to pay an attorney. Neither

despite my best efforts. I was barred from the ballot giving DC voters no chance to decide on my merits as a candidate. Had I received court-appointed legal aid, matters might have ended differently. A modernized petition system might also have permitted my petitioners to correct their voting credentials and sign their names electronically, preventing confusion. No one gave me a blueprint on running for District office that would guided me around the perils of petitions. I still do not have one. However, I do possess grit, courage, genius and a sincere avocation to improve our city. I will do this even in the absence of an official title. The election petition process should not be weaponized. The Board of Elections must do a better job adjudicating petitions, create an electronic alternative to paper or simply dispense with the qualification entirely. I hope to be the last Black Woman removed from the ballot by an antiquated, cumbersome, weaponized petition qualification. Leniqua’dominique Jenkins holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Houston. She worked on Capitol Hill and in Africa, India and Spain. Currently, she serves as a preschool teacher at a language submersion school in Ward 7. u

did the Board provide one gratis. In the end, a loaded docket and over extended Board ruled against me

RE-ELECT

From great neighborhood schools to beautiful libraries to welcoming public spaces, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Ward 6 the incredible place it is. I’m running for re-election because we need leadership who will guide us not just back to normal, but to a better community for everyone. I know I can help do that.

I HOPE I CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT.

www.C h a r l e s A l l e n 2 02 2 .co m ENDORSED BY: DC For Democracy • Sierra Club DC Chapter • National Organization for Women DC Chapter Capital Stonewall Democrats • Greater Greater Washington • SEIU 32BJ • AFL-CIO Metro Washington Labor Council DC Fire Fighters - IAFF Local 36 • American Federation of Government Employees Local 1975 Washington Teachers Union • LiUNA! • Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund • DC Working Families Party DC Association of Realtors • DC Latino Caucus

Paid for by Re-Elect Charles Allen for Ward 6 2022. 635 5th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Patrick Johnson, Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance of the District of Columbia Board of Elections.

June 2022 ★ 55

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capitol s ree s t

T THE RA S H E D CHALLENGES OF APARTMENT RECYCLING

Why Does So Much Of It End Up in Landfill?

nder her Zero Waste Initiative, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has publicly committed to diverting 80 percent of the District’s waste from incinerators and landfills by 2032. In December of 2020, she signed the Zero Wast Omnibus Act, which directs the city to reduce the contamination of recyclables to attain that lofty goal. In 2018, District multi-unit, residential dwellings generated approximately 24,470 tons of recycling, roughly twice as much recycling as the single-family households directly serviced by the DC Department

by Mark R. Smith of Public Works (DPW). That number is projected to rise 54 percent to 33,422 tons in 2038. DPW estimates only 13 percent of potential recyclables in such buildings are successfully recycled, according to the agency’s 2021 Desktop Waste Character Study. Many residents of these buildings are good environmental stewards, carefully segregating plastics, paper and metals from their trash for recycling. Yet, these sincere efforts are largely doomed to failure by a flawed, unaccountable, waste hauling system regulated by an agency asleep at the switch. This third installment of a Spotlight DC-funded investigation of recycling reveals that the District government pays little or no attention to large, multi-

unit dwellings’ compliance with recycling regulations, nor does it make significant efforts to directly educate their residents regarding best recycling practices. It also does not audit the operations of the private commercial haulers servicing these apartments, which function as recycling gatekeepers, choosing whether loads are headed to landfill or to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) for processing. Unless the District regulates and audits recycling operations at large apartment buildings and polices the operations of their private haulers, Zero Waste will likely remain a pipe dream. The story begins with case studies of the recycling efforts in two distinctly different large residen-

June 2022 ★ 57

.capitol streets.

tial buildings. First up is The Velocity, a modern condominium in Capitol Riverfront, built with recycling in mind. The second, Town Square Towers, is an older structure in Southwest dating from the late 1960s, before the practice was commonplace. The inquiry then follows the trajectory of recyclables as they travel from these two sources to either being successfully processed or ending up burned in an incinerator or buried in a landfill.

kmG Hauling, the trash/ recycling contractor for Velocity, makes very clear to the building’s residents which products are recyclable and which are not. Note kmG’s refusal to accept pizza boxes, even though they are made of valuable cardboard – since they are often contaminated.

Built to Recycle Velocity Condominium General Manager Bryan Burke and Assistant Manager Michael Hunt are well acquainted with the challenges of recycling. They work hard to ready “clean recycling” for pickup at their 200-unit building. Completed in 2009, the Velocity was designed with two serrated chutes: one for trash and the other for recyclables. Residents deposit loose recyclables in the appropriate chute on each floor, leading to a dumpster in the trash room. If a particular dumpster is contaminated by soiled pizza boxes, residue-lined peanut butter jars gn Posting recycling instructions in forei hics) is or perhaps the grap languages (as well as simply using icate the mun com to way tive prime offendeffec an as seen hington. rules in an international city like Was er, the plastic bags that threaten to clog sorting machines at the MRFs (pro-

At Town Square Towers a check on the recycling cart shows comtamination.

Recycled cardboard is very valuable in today’s market – so much so that management at Velocity would like to find a way to make and keep the money it generates.

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nounced “murphs”), the entire load is considered “dirty” and is routed to a landfill or the incinerator. Glass requires special handling. Velocity provides a separate bin in every trash room to avoid glass contaminating the recyclable carts. Glass, while on DC’s official recycling list, is not processed by the building’s recycling contractor and therefore must be segregated and picked up separately. The recycling collects in large carts in Velocity’s trash room at the bottom of the recycling chute. The building’s 435 residents collectively generate six weekly cartloads, each containing roughly two cubic yards of material. Their contents are collected thrice weekly by kmG, Velocity’s Potomac Falls-based recycling hauler. Burke and Hunt focus on getting the cleanest loads to their hauler. Mondays are the “toughest” recycling days, said Burke, because staff has to sort through the weekend’s detritus. Velocity’s managers make every effort to educate residents. They have mounted signs in the trash rooms on each of the building’s 14 floors in English and Spanish. Among other cumbersome items, they warn against the perils of chucking pizza boxes that clog the chute. There is a labeled recycling bin in the mail room. But the key to the building’s recycling success, they say, is the behavior of Velocity residents. “Most are doing a good job with it and that does make our jobs easier,” said Hunt, “but in any group of this size, there are always a number of [residents] who simply don’t [follow the rules].” Consistent staffing in another key to Velocity’s effort. “Our three cleaning employees have all been here for several years,” Hunt said, “and they know what to look for and correct.” Velocity residents play an important role in keeping a focus on proper recycling and educating their neighbors to achieve the best results. “Yes, people do get busted,” Hunt reported with a smile, adding that there is “good communication” among them about doing it right the next time. All told, Burke and Hunt are content with both their residents and kmG. The extra money the building pays each month for recycling is worth it, in their estimation. The trash/ recycling room on the north end of the 8th floor at Town Sq Towers.

Velocity has an annual budget for waste removal of about $21,000. That breaks down to $1,750 per month, about $250 of which is for the separate recycling pickup. There are two other rental apartment buildings immediately adjacent. If they pay their recycling haulers the same rate, that block would yield about $60,000 per year. To expand this hypothetical, the 12 blocks bounded by I Street and M Street SE and New Jersey Avenue and South Capitol Street, would generate roughly $750,000 annually. One thing is for sure, there is plenty of money to be made in waste removal, mostly for trash, and more on the recycling side.

A Legacy Building There is a different tale to tell at Town Square Towers (TST). This nine-story condominium at 700 South Seventh St. SW, just across the street from The District Wharf, dates from 1969. Unlike its younger neighbors, it was not designed for recycling. TST was built with two trash chutes for its 285 units, one on each side. Neither are dedicated to recycling. Rather, all trash rooms are equipped with two blue bins, one reserved for paper/cardboard and the other for plastic and glass. The latter bin is outfitted with replaceable clear plastic bags. TST’s cleaning staff picks up the recycling from each floor in carts. The glass and plastics are contained in clear plastic bags while the cardboard and paper remain loose. The materials are then transported to special recycling bins in the northern trash room. According to TST General Manager Ronnette Bowlding, the building generates two cubic yards of recyclables per pickup or 40 cubic tons a month. Bowlding selected PittsburghJune 2022 H 59

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based Roadrunner Waste Management (www.roadrunnerwm.com) to handle her building’s recycling needs. The company, a “trash and recycling broker,” contracts Uber-style with independent haulers, who pick up both TST’s trash and recycling thrice weekly. The company hand sorts recyclables, reselling them on the open market to local buyers. Roadrunner’s unique business model for dealing with commingled recyclables saves the company a tremendous amount of money, since it does not have to directly bear the costs of a fleet of trucks, said Senior Account Executive Chris Smith. “If we pick up cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum, they (Roadrunner clients) get a report on all four streams, with the tonnage numbers broken down by month,” Smith said, “as well as how much of the recycled material is diverted from landfills.” The new deal with Roadrunner is going well. “Now, we basically have one set price with them, so we don’t get charged for overages,” Bowlding said. “That wasn’t the case with Republic (the former contractor). We paid whatever they charged, which varied from month to month. They would also charge us for coming back to pick up contaminated loads without informing our office, so to make cost comparisons, we had to guesstimate what we paid the same month in the previous year.” Roadrunner, Bowlding said, “picks up whatever we have for the same flat fee every month, including contamination, for $3,100. So, no more overages.” The TST office works hard to ensure residents understand how to recycle. The weekly newsletter offers suggestions. There are posted instructions in every trash room. As for Town Square residents, they are “not good” about recycling, said Bowlding. “Nobody cooperates, nobody reads the instructions. About

half of the residents, if they see contamination atop the recycle bins,” she added, “will throw it in the trash. But that’s it.” The key, Roadrunner has told her, is to keep the wet bottles and cans from soaking the valuable commingled cardboard, which is why that is separated by the cleaning staff in clear plastic bags. A simple inspection demonstrates the challenge at TST. Residents don’t clean glass or plastic bottles, aluminum cans or plastic containers. They also often put their recycling out in supermarket plastic bags, which badly clog most recycling sorting machines. Even if residents and management companies are attentive, haulers themselves may judge recycling loads contaminated. In which case, they are dispatched directly to the incinerator or landfill.

Hauling It Away Hauling is the next step in recycling materials from large residential communities. The road to getting started as a hauler in DC is relatively easy. The city’s Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) licenses all hauling companies in the District. The DCRA application requests a company’s contact information, a list of all collection vehicles and an email address. It must be completed annually. Companies are also required to register with the DC Dept. of Public Works (DPW). DPW requires them to report the location, name, material type, tonnage and destination facility for all “solid waste deliveries,” which includes recyclables. The reporting must be broken down by quarter, but can be submitted annually. The two largest haulers in the city are Waste Management and Republic. WB Waste Solutions, WB Waste, Goode Companies Inc., Bates Trucking & Trash Removal and Lawrence Street Industries number among the other key players. The remaining smaller operations include kmG and a pleth-

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ora of mom ’n pop operations equipped with pickup trucks. In total, there are approximately 50 haulers serving the District. Republic services “about 4,000 business customers in the city,” said Republic’s DC General Manager Lisa Mears. The company runs “about 20 routes” in the city that make from 65 to 100 stops daily, six days a week. Each of their trucks holds five tons of recycled materials. Their dumpsters hold up to eight cubic yards of material. First, two-person teams check each receptacle for contamination; there’s nothing scientific about their approach. “Eyeballing the contents works just fine,” said Mears. “It’s very easy. If they see a toter (container) with a few plastic bags in it, it becomes trash. Bags are strictly prohibited because they badly clog the sorting equipment at the MRF and we don’t know what’s inside of them.” “If there’s broken glass or a dirty needle in it, we don’t want anyone getting hurt,” Mears said. “So, it gets tossed.” If a container is deemed to be fully contaminated, the driver informs dispatch, which notifies the customer. Customers either clean out the bin themselves or have Republic come back and deal with the issue by paying a contamination fee based on the size of the container. “That,” Mears said, “is the only way to change the behavior.” “Some people will do it right to save the planet,” Mears said, “and others will if there are financial repercussions.” Haulers transport clean loads to a transfer station, such as the District’s Fort Totten Transfer facility. There it is dumped on the “tipping floor” to recheck for contamination. Rejected loads are sent to the incinerator or landfill. Clean loads are aggregated and placed on 55-foot tractor trailers that can hold up to 13 tons of recyclables. The city generates approximately four loads a day from Fort Totten. The tractor trailers haul the recyclables to MRFs such as Republic’s Manassas operation or Waste Management’s Elkins, West Virginia, facility. There is a catch, however, even for bringing clean loads. “The employees at the MRF will come back and charge me a significant fee for anything that has to be disposed of as trash,” Mears said. Then after the materials are sorted and bailed, the company’s materials group takes over. “It goes on the open market,” Mears said, “and they constantly look for who’s buying what product and for what rate, which depends on the supply and demand that day.” 62 H HILLRAG.COM

Recycling By The Numbers Operating a recycling truck “costs $150-$250 per hour. So, you first have to charge to cover those expenses,” said Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Executive Director David Biderman. That’s part of what makes rejecting contaminated loads at multi-unit dwellings expensive. “It’s doubly important for collectors to educate those customers and that means doing it in multiple languages, even three or more,” said Biderman. “That’s especially necessary in DC, since a significant portion of the population is comprised of immigrants from all over the world who often come from places that don’t recycle. And many of them live in multi-family housing.” The practical mantra for recycling is “loose, clean and dry,” said Biderman. “Those are the three words that haulers and local governments need to communicate better.” Moving forward is about common sense. “For instance, it’s important to remind people to never place plastic bags, obviously, or lithium batteries in with their recycling,” Biderman said. “The batteries can often catch on fire in recycling and disposal facilities.” Some haulers fight back against contamination by placing a sticker on the dirty bins. “Haulers don’t pick them up. That is typically done by those working in the single-family home market. “It’s tough to do that in the private market because there can be 70 people living on one floor and you’re hoping they all do the right thing,” said Biderman. Given the involvement of DCRA and DPW in licensing and monitoring DC’s haulers, one would imagine the industry operates under a microscope. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The Regulators: Asleep At The Wheel DPW’s Office of Waste Diversion (OWD) requires solid waste collectors to register their business and report waste tonnages annually. The agency’s Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) oversees enforcement including the operations of recycling commercial private haulers. The program has three Environmental Crimes Unit Investigators and 23 Solid Waste Inspectors. None of these staff are assigned specifically to audit the operations of private recycling haulers, stated the agency in its responses prepared for the DC Council FY-2021-2022 performance hearing last winter. SWEEP works with DCRA to maintain an accurate list of active solid waste haulers and ensure that

these companies comply with the city’s solid waste reporting rules, which require companies to report the origin, destination and composition of every solid waste delivery on an annual basis. 109 landscaper/ haulers registered in FY 2020 for an estimated 87 percent registration compliance rate, the agency stated. “At this time our ECU team is responsible for ensuring that private haulers who operate in DC are properly licensed and comply with DC hauling regulations. Our solid waste inspectors are tasked with making sure that all private haulers are providing commercial establishments with trash and recycling containers or dumpsters that are free of defects. They are also responsible for making sure commercial properties have a minimum of twice weekly solid waste and recycling collection,” the agency stated in response to this reporter’s queries. DPW also maintains “high standards” for the quality of single-stream recyclables that are transferred through Ft. Totten Solid Waste Transfer Station. When contamination exceeds 18 percent, DPW charges haulers applicable fees for reclassification of material as trash or refuse and an administrative fee for the contamination, DPW stated. “All SWEEP inspectors/investigators have the authority to, and are tasked with, ensuring private haulers are in compliance with DC laws and regulations. When a hauler is found in violation of the law, they are issued a citation,” an agency representative stated. “While we have the authority to inspect trash and recycling rooms in multi-unit dwellings to ensure separation compliance, we do not have the authority to stop or inspect vehicles used by private haulers,” DPW stated. However, “Inspectors witnessing an infraction can issue a warning or a Notice of Violation.” Asked how many inspectors DPW employs to inspect recycling operations or police haulers, DPW responded “None.” Agency inspectors also do not monitor the tipping operations at Fort Totten. In FY 2021, DPW issued a total of 44 citations to errant haulers. Of these, 23 involved a failure to have a valid recycling registration. One involved a lack of a valid solid waste collector’s registration. 13 involved a failure to submit required quarterly reports and another five were for failure to file annual reports, stated the agency in response to Council queries. In other words, all of the 44 DPW enforcement actions involve reporting or registration infractions. The program took no action against any recycling hauler relating to actual non-compliant recycling operations.

June 2022 H 63

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In fact, the District make no attempt to oversee or audit the recycling operations of commercial haulers. To be more specific, SWEEP conducts no inspections of commercial waste haulers, residential buildings nor does it oversee the tipping floor at Fort Totten. As a result, the agency did not routinely issue citations for their operational infractions. “For better or worse, DPW only has about 20 inspectors,” said Charlotte Dreizen, a former DPW program analyst. “They used to have 40. So those 20 inspectors equate to about two per ward, so it’s crazy to expect that two people can oversee such a vast area.” Due to short staffing, DPW prioritizes calls to 311, the city’s Office of Unified Communications hotline, “There are so many calls that it’s like playing whack-a-mole to find an inspector,” Dreizen said. “So, they have little time to actually enforce recycling violations.” Given the DPW’s reporting requirements, citizens might think the efficacy of the District’s private haulers would be easily publicly ascertained. For the multi-family dwellings, the agency estimates that 24,470 tons of recyclables were put out for collection in 2018; the estimate for 2023 is 26,935 tons, according to the 2021 Desktop Waste Characterization Study. However, the agency’s numbers do not include recyclables mistakenly placed by residents in trash. Nor do they include contaminated loads dispatched (either by the hauler directly or after tipping at the transfer station) to the landfill or the incinerator. In fact, DPW’s 2018 Waste Diversion Report estimates only 13 percent of recyclables in these large, multi-unit dwellings end up successfully recycled. Further dismal statistics of recycling can be gleaned from the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation & Environment’s DPW oversight hearings. The recycling diversion rate is

defined as the weight of diverted waste (recyclables) divided by the weight of all waste then multiplied by 100. It has declined 1.34 during the past four fiscal years: • FY 18 – 25.24% • FY 19 -- 25.1% • FY 20 – 25.0% • FY 21 – 23.9% Furthermore, these stats are not broken down between single-family and multi-unit dwellings. So, it is impossible to ascertain whether the private hauling system is working effectively. Yet, a strong market for recyclables may still provide a pathway to zero waste.

A Flawed System Today’s market for clean recyclables provides a stronger incentive than regulation to prompt haulers to maximize the clean loads delivered to MRFs. Haulers know the value of cardboard “has been high for the past 18 months, driven in part by Amazon and general ecommerce demand,” Biderman said. “So, companies want to collect as much cardboard as they can. It’s a hot commodity.” “There are even companies like Pratt Industries, a leading consumer of discarded cardboard, that take out ads in the Washington Post that illustrate how recycling is good for the environment and creates jobs,” Biderman said. Creative haulers such as TST’s Roadrunner that hand sort comingled loads for a set price while holding their costs down by contracting out the collection, provide a possible model for the future. They earn their profits from maximizing their recycling. Thus, it would seem that private haulers have a great incentive to push clients to educate residents and charge steep fines for contaminated loads. If costs are covered by hauling contracts, then the more recycling it can sell, the more profitable the busi-

Q: I am thinking of selling my house, what is the market doing? A: Great question! The market is making a shift - but we would argue it’s a more healthy one. Homes may take a little bit more time to sell which will give buyers the opportunity to think rationally about one of the largest purchases they will ever make. ness is. However, if the reported Diversion rates for 2018-2021 are any indication that does not seem to be working. With DPW providing very limited enforcement, both buildings and haulers have little incentive to change. Inconsistent rules, uneven city educational efforts and lack of enforcement continue to doom Mayor Bowser’s commitment to diverting 80 percent of the District’s waste from incinerators and landfills by 2032. “Recycling is not working as well as it could or it should,” said Biderman. “We need to identify and take advantage of best practices in other markets and apply them here in DC to create a higher diversion rate. It creates jobs, it’s good for the environment and it’s the right thing to do. “Washington is a world-class city,” Biderman said. “It should be a leader in recycling, too.” To do that, the District will have to hold both large apartment buildings and haulers accountable. Mark R. Smith is a freelance writer based in Odenton, Md. He writes for The Business Monthly in Columbia, Md., where he also served as editor-in-chief for almost 15 years; earlier, he spent 16 years contributing to The Daily Record, in Baltimore. He has also recently worked for Expansion Solutions, the Georgetown University Law Center and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, as well as many other publications during the past three decades. This article was supported by a grant from the Spotlight DC: Capitol City Fund for Investigative Journalism. Spotlight DC encourages the submission for proposals by independent journalists. For more information, visit www.spotlightdc. org. ◆

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DC COUNCIL APPROVES ANC REDISTRICTING LEGISLATION ON FIRST READ Ward 7 ANC Boundaries Altered

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

C Council voted almost unanimously to send legislation creating redistricted Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) to a second vote. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) elected to vote “present” to draw attention to what she called the “broken process” of redistricting. The map adopted by council during the May 24th legislative meeting makes significant changes to the boundaries supported by the Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting the week prior. Silverman said that despite lengthy and, at points arduous, efforts by the subcommittee to keep redistricting discussions open and public, she was not consulted or informed about the latest changes. The changes made between the Subcommittee vote May 20 and the DC Council vote May 24 largely affect Ward 7. And they still aren’t finalized; Councilmembers have until the conclusion of the second vote, scheduled for June 7, to make any last-minute changes.

Ward 7

“The Committee believes that these changes build on the work of the Ward 7 Taskforce and the Subcommittee, and achieves a balance of cross-river cooperation, compactness of West of the River neighborhoods in a single ANC and a balance in the number of SMDs in neighborhoods,” the report accompanying the map, noting that additional changes are to be expected, especially to balance the size of the ANC 7F SMDs. The Ward 7 map advanced by the subcommittee sought to help achieve the task force goal of unity but to balance the two cross-river ANCs by ensuring each had an equal number of SMDs on each side of the river. However, in the map approved by council, ANC 7D has 5 SMDs west of the river, and 4 on the east side; meanwhile, ANC 7F includes 6 SMDs on the east side, one in the west and another that crosses the river.

Silverman Casts Protest Vote While western members argued for a standalone ANC or being placed in a single commission during the redistricting process, a majority of the Ward 7 Taskforce took the position that cross-river commissions better incorporate the new residents into the ward by compelling them to work with their eastern neighbors. In her comments on the Council draft at the May 24 meeting, Silverman noted that the Subcommittee on Redistricting had conducted innumerable in-

The new boundaries of Ward 7 encompass three neighborhoods west of the Anacostia: Kingman Park, included in 2000; the portion of Hill East that is east of 15th Street; and Rosedale. Both the latter were formerly in Ward 6. The Ward 7 Redistricting Taskforce incorporated these neighborhoods into two cross-river ANCs: 7A and 7F. The taskforce’s design of ANC 7F drew criticism from Subcommittee members, particularly the chair. As drawn, the commission was comprised of five SMDs east of the Anacostia and only three on the west. The Subcommittee redrew 7F to balance the number of SMDs between east and west using a compromise map drawn by Taskforce Member Keith Hasan-Towery. This involved moving a portion of 7B01 into the new 7F. It also involved transferring northeastern portions of the original 7F to 7D. The map approved May 24 by DC Council renames the northern cross-river ANC, formerly 7A and renames it ANC 7D, and extends it to include all of the currently developed land in Hill East. The southern cross-river ANC 7F now includes largely undeveloped Reservation 13 and the DC Jail and extends further west into much of what was ANC 7D on the Subcommittee Map. The reconfiguration necessitated the moment of other Single Member Districts (SMDs) into adjacent ANCs. With the elimination of the Subcommittee’s ANC 7D (mostly absorbed into ANC 7F), the Subcommittee’s proposed ANC 7D01 moves to ANC 7C, uniting the neighborhoods along Nannie Hellen Burroughs Avenue. ANC 7F06 Detail of Subcommittee map showing Ward 7 cross-river ANCs. Screenshot; Facebook/@ rejoins ANC 7B as advocated by the current ANC Commissioner. CMElissaSilverman 66 H HILLRAG.COM

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tense public meetings to collect feedback and make decisions. She expressed disappointment that she had not been told of the changes proposed in council, noting she had seen the Chairman at a social event over the weekend. “The [ward 7] task force’s vision – trying to unify a ward that spans a river – was the goal,” Silverman said, “to bring east and west together. And this map does that in a way that west will dominate one ANC, and east one ANC.” Silverman said that was the reason for her protest vote. “That’s fulfilling the letter, but I guess I just don’t see it fullfilling the spirit of the task force’s goal of unity,” she said. But the council changes did not affect the recommendations on ANC boundaries in other wards that were unanimously advanced by the Council Subcommittee on Redistricting at a meeting May 20. At that meeting, Silverman noted that the redistricting process has been marked by passion. “I have to say that I am greatly disturbed by the vitriol seen in this debate,” she said, pointing to

Wards 3 and 7, where the subject had grown particularly heated. “There are strong feelings here,” Silverman said. “We’re are dealing with historic issues around race, power, geography, representation and institutional biases that have led to tremendous racial and economic disparities in our city. And we shouldn’t sweep those under the rug, but we need to talk to one another in a way that gets us towards solutions,” she added. “What worries me is that if we can’t discuss ANC and SMD boundaries, how are we going to talk about the other complex challenges we face in this city?” she asked rhetorically, pointing to issues such as gun violence, public education, housing and mental health issues. “I just beg of everyone to start talking to and treating your neighbors and fellow residents with respect and empathy,” Silverman said, as she ended her remarks. The ward taskforce reports and maps function as recommendations. The Subcommittee made changes to every task force map submitted with the exception of Ward 4. June 2022 H 67

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The Subcommittee received a request from Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and Taskforce Chair Ivan Frishberg to redraw the SMDs in ANC 6C. The request closely aligns with a proposal unanimously endorsed in April by members of ANC 6C. ANC 6C’s concerns were presented at the Subcommittee’s April 28 meeting by Commissioner Mark Eckenwiler (6C04). The request does not change Detail: Subcommittee map showing portion of Ward 8 east and west the overall shape of the of the river. Screenshot: Facebook/@CMElissaSilvermanANC ANC. Rather, it eliminates a split census block and a standalone west of the river commission, ANC more equitably balances 8F, containing five SMDs and reunited historic SMD populations. Anacostia in a redrawn 8A. At the May 24 council vote, Allen asked Mendelson if the Park Kennedy Apartments (1901 C St. It’s Not Over Until The SE) and The Ethel (1901 C St. SE) were intentionCouncil Votes ally included in ANC 7F. That would separate those The Subcommittee recommendations now adresidents from all other neighbors currently in the vance to DC Council. There, all 13 members of area and within the boundaries of ANC 7D, Allen DC Council have one more opportunity to weigh noted. Mendelson said that line could be moved in in on the ANC and SMD boundaries. That means the second reading. they can still change. Council votes on the legislation that makes the new ANCs official again, likeWard 8 Proposed Changes ly on June 7. In their report, the Ward 8 Task Force proposed Councilmembers can offer amendments bea cross-river commission. Their design of ANC fore both these votes that could change boundar(8A) also incorporated a small area of the Navy ies significantly. For example, during the Council’s Yard that was placed in Ward 6 by the change in two votes on Ward boundaries, Ward 5 Councilward boundaries. Cross-ward commissions are lemember Kenyan McDuffie (D) offered an amendgally permissible and the arrangement was supment to move the Old Soldiers’ Home and Washported by the Ward 6 Taskforce. ington Hospital Center from Ward 1 back into his However, Ward 8 residents raised two main ward. McDuffie’s amendment failed during the concerns with the Subcommittee regarding the Council’s first vote, but succeeded on the second. design of 8A. First, the proposed map unnecesInformation on watching the DC Counsarily split the historic Anacostia neighborhood. cil meetings as well as the hearings’ schedule are Second, they felt the preponderance of western available at www.dccouncil.us/events/list/. The SMDs would award an outsized voice to Navy proceedings will also be televised on Channels 13 Yard residents over the Anacostia and Fairlawn or 18 on both days starting at noon. See the Subneighborhoods. committee report and the DC Council changes on In response, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayfirst vote here: chairmanmendelson.com/wp-conon White, Sr. (D) requested the Subcommittee tent/uploads/2022/05/B24-700-ANC-Redistrictadopt a compromise map created by a number of ing-Act-PACKET.pdf ◆ the Ward 8 Taskforce members. This map created

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/ Our River: The Anacostia /

WORLD CLASS RESTORATIONS OF NATURE AT THE ARBORETUM BENEFIT OUR RIVER

he DC Department of Energy and Environment has undertaken, with the cooperation and support of the National Arboretum and the Friends of the National Arboretum, a series of projects that use nature to substantially reduce pollution to the Anacostia River. These projects are so innovative and promising that they have drawn attention worldwide to how natural areas can be reestablished or improved to absorb and reduce pollution from storm sewers and ditches that otherwise would empty directly into rivers like the Anacostia. We should all be aware and proud of what is going on here in our watershed.

Rebuilding Springhouse Run The first of three current projects was to rebuild Springhouse Run. It had over the years lost much of its natural function and was a ditch that took the

New Beaver Dam and Pond on Springhouse Run

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article and photos by Bill Matuszeski content of storm sewers from about 100 acres above New York Avenue. The project was completed in 2017 for a bit over $1.5 million, not counting the large number of plants donated by the Arboretum. Near the place where the sewer entered the Arboretum there are two springhouses, marking the place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries where groundwater was bottled and sold in the City, indicative of historically good quality groundwater in the area. The restoration project reconnected the man-made pond right below the springhouses to the newly widened stream around it, with the entering waters able to drop sediments and to exit over a dam at the other end. The connecting of the flowing water also attracted to the pond to an array of fish, birds, turtles and other animals. Past the dam, the stream opens up to a wide natural habitat with mini-ponds and native plants all along it. Soils in this area were replaced by a combination of stone, soil and wood chips to attract a range of species at the bottom of the food chain. Most recently, in an expression New Submerged Gravel Wetland Awaiting Its Plantings of how much of nature has been restored, the effort was greatly complimented by the arly complete is a much more modest project, but the rival of beavers, who took advantage of the first of its kind in DC. It is on Hickey Lane right new broad land and water areas along the stream below the R Street entrance to the Arboretum. It is to build their own dam from one side to the other, called a “submerged gravel wetland.” The idea is creating a new pond! to capture runoff and hold it and treat it, with some And people are drawn to this new expression eventually slowly making its way down alongside the of nature in land and water. Children love to see road to Hickey Run. the fish and other critters. Adults are drawn by the The wetland is only about 100 feet long and a beautiful natural plants and flowers that grow high third that wide, but it can handle a drainage area of along the unpaved paths throughout the new valley. 8.1 acres, 2.2 of which are impervious runoff from It has been designed and placed to deliver cleaner R Street and the Arboretum entrance area. The dug water to the Anacostia. But by building with naout area is filled two feet deep with ¾ inch crushed ture, it has brought so much more to all of us! stone and tall plantings of species with the ability to grow in such a submerged area. In addition Hickey Run Wetlands to holding back the runoff, there is biological upThe second stormwater improvement that is neartake by algae and bacteria in the filter media and

Wesley FlexMA Finally, the degree that fits YOU! although upstream cleanup is about completed. Still, it may be difficult to replicate the recreated watershed of Springhouse Run in the Arboretum. On the other hand, there is room to spread out Hickey and make the waters wider and more shallow. Much of it also runs through mature woods, so curves and spreading out will require removal of a number of trees. But there is sizable pond part Current Passage of Hickey Run as a Ditch Through way down the stream that the Arboretum could be readily connected as was done in Springwetland plants. Physical and chemhouse and provided many benefits to ical treatments can also increase the water quality and natural recovery of absorption of organic matter, so less the stream. It will be very interestruns down the hill to Hickey Run and ing to see what the City and the Arwhat does brings little pollution. boretum and their contractors come up with to restore Hickey Run from Restoration of New York Avenue to the Anacostia. Hickey Run And we should all be anxious The final project in this group is the to see what these folks come up with restoration of Hickey Run. With next to show the world how to restore progress upstream to handle pollutthe rivers, their streams and the lands ants and the lessons and positive efalong them. fects of restoring Springhouse Run, there is much excitement over what To reach any of the three, enter from the R Street Arboretum entrance and make we can do with its big sister, which an immediate left onto Hickey Lane. The goes all the way to the Anacostia after submerged gravel wetland is on your imSpringhouse joins it. mediate left after about 200 feet. ContinBecause it drains a substantialue on Hickey Lane to the bottom of the grade ly larger area than Springhouse, and where you cross Hickey Run and can follow along it by going right at the next inbecause of years of wrong connectersection. For Springhouse go straight at tions of sanitary sewage lines to what that intersection and it takes you to the reis supposed to be another storm sewbuilt dam on the left and stream on the er, this is a substantially bigger and right. Park there and follow the path along more challenging project. After comSpringhouse Run to where it enters Hickey ing out of a sewer as it comes under Run. There are signs to help you. New York Avenue, this larger stream BIll Matuszeski is a member of the Maycurrently moves through the Arboor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anretum in a ditch built of concrete acostia River, and the retired Director of blocks about 10 feet wide and 10 feet the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also deep. It is not clear after all these serves on the board of Friends of the Nayears how contaminated the soils tional Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the are under this large strip through Anacostia. ◆ the Arboretum to the Anacostia,

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THANK YOU TO MY CLIENTS My Clients Are Saying… Dare managed the renovation of our home, including getting multiple bids from contractors... We ended up being extremely satisfied with the work that was done. We loved her attitude and approach. She was confident, and helped us move forward, without pressuring us unnecessarily. She was nonjudgmental. She gave us space when we needed. We felt like she was letting us make decisions, but also was willing to sit in the driver’s seat as much as we needed.

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CORA CECILIA CAMPBELL

She spent tons of her time -- much more than we would have expected from her. She told us beforehand that she enjoyed managing renovation projects, and it was clear that she did. She came by the property frequently during the renovations, to check on how things were going. She took the lead in marketing the home, and in negotiating the sale for us. The sale price ended up exceeding our expectations. We’d work with Dare again without hesitation. - Marc B , Seller

Dare Johnson Realtor® DC D: 202.957.2947 O: 202.545.6900 Dare@RealEstateOnTheHill.com www.RealEstateOnTheHill.com 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

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hen I opened my door on Walter Street, SE, I could see Cora’s front door across the street. Often I’d wave as she opened her door to walk her sweet pup Ginger. She was one the few long-time residents of that very special one-way street on Capitol Hill. I knew it was her family’s home, but not until her celebration of life did I discover Cora was literally born in her Walter Street home and lived there for all of her 85 years. It was Cora and other DC natives on the block that gave Walter Street the caring, generous, all-inclusive energy to which I was attracted almost 40 years ago. It’s a street that has a lot of history and was home to several Holy Comforter St. Cyprian Catholic Church residents. The street was built more than 100 years ago for parishioners of St. Cyprian Catholic Church which was around the corner on 13th and C St. SE. When I asked how long Cora was at Holy Comforter the answer was, “forever!” St. Cyprian was torn down in the late 1960s and merged with Holy Comforter on East Capitol St., SE. Cora was always a member. But Cora Campbell was not just a member of the church; she dedicated her life to God, and her life reflected everything Catholicism stands for. She was kind, generous and

unassuming. Yet, she was strong, steadfast and dedicated. She worked hard from the beginning of her career as a nurse. She found her fit at National Capitol Bank, walking distance from her Walter Street home from which she retired from 20 years ago. Because of her experience in banking, Cora was the “counter” each Sunday of the weekly offerings at the church. She was a lifelong member of the church Sodality. Cora was known as the “Ticketmaster Queen” at the church. She was a member of the gospel choir and was always the top seller of their annual concert tickets. At her funeral, Monsignor Eddie Tolentino, who was once her pastor and one of the three priests that celebrated

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Liquor License and Zoning Actions ANC 6A REPORT By Nick Alberti Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the May 12, 2022 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via Zoom with Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01), Mike Soderman (6A03), Laura Gentile (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06), Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (6A07) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) in attendance. Commissioner Phil Toomajian (6A02) was absent.

311 Reporting Chief of Operations at 311, Marcellus Walker Jr. discussed the 311 reporting system with ANC6A, reminding residents of the purpose of the system and how it functions. First, Mr. Walker, made clear that 311 does not close out service requests but rather acts as a conduit connecting resident requests with the proper government department or agency. It is the acting department, be it the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Department of Public Works (DPW), or otherwise, that has the ability to close out a service request once the actionable item has been addressed. Mr. Walker reiterated that residents may resubmit 311 requests for the same issue if they feel it has not been adequately handled. Residents have a myriad of options to contact 311; they can call “311” or (202)-737-4404, contact through Twitter via @311DCgov or download and use the 311 app on their smartphones found at ouc.dc.gov/page/dc311-mobile-app. 311 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Thus far this calendar year, Mr. Walker reported ANC6A residents have submitted 4,822 service requests to 311. The top submitted requests are for bulk trash collection, missed trash collection and parking enforcement issues. To learn more about the 311 reporting system or to view open ticket requests, visits 311.dc.gov. All of the following actions were passed unanimously by the Commissioners.

Alcohol Beverage Licensing •

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ANC 6A will protest the application of Hakuna Matata DC LLC, t/a Hakuna Matata Kitchen and Bar at 1128 H Street NE (ABRA-121081) for a Class C Restaurant License unless a Settlement Agreement is finalized prior to the protest deadline. ANC6A will protest the application of Happy Choongman,Inc., t/a Choongman Chicken and Seafood at 1125 H Street NE (ABRA108755) for renewal of its Class C Restaurant License unless an updated Settlement Agreement is finalized prior to the protest deadline. ANC 6A will write a letter of support for the application of Mozzeria DC LLC t/a Mozzeria at 1300 H Street NE (ABRA-116160) for renewal of its Class C Restaurant alcohol beverage license. ANC 6A will write a letter of support for the application of Atlas Performing Arts Center, t/a Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1333 H Street NE

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, 6A04@ANC.DC.GOV Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and H Street communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom.

www.anc6a.org

ALL ARE WELCOME •

•

(ABRA- 085207) for renewal of its Class C Multipurpose license. ANC 6A will write a letter of support for the application of 1291 Hospitality Group, LLC, t/a Stable DC at 1234 H Street NE (ABRA-105439) for renewal of its Class C Restaurant License. ANC 6A will write a letter of support for the application of Thompson Retail Food Group, LLC, t/a Milk & Honey Cafe at 1116 H Street NE (ABRA119672) for renewal of its Class C Restaurant License.

Economic Development and Zoning (EDZ) •

ANC 6A will write a letter of support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for an area variance pursuant to the new alley record lot requirements to construct six new, attached, two-story principal dwelling units in the RF-1 zone in the alley between 15th & 16th Streets and C & D Streets NE (BZA Case#20716) on condition that developers continue to make a best effort to obtain letters of support from the community.

Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of meeting times, meeting agendas and other information. u

RFK Noise Upsets Neighbors ANC 6B Report by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6B) met virtually via WebEx May 10. Commissioners Jennifer Samolyk (6B01), Gerald Sroufe (6B02), Brian Ready (6B03), Kristen Oldenburg (6B04), Steve Holtzman (6B05), Corey Holman (6B06), Edward Ryder

(6B07), Peter Wright (6B08), Alison Horn (6B09) and Denise Krepp (6B10) were all in attendance.

n early May, the Project Glow Festival took place on the RFK parking lot festival grounds and loud music from the event was reportedly heard across the District and into Maryland. Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk (6B01) said she personally experienced the noise and emphasized the importance of addressing the issue for families and community members across the city. “A lot of it seemed to end around 11 o’clock at night, but when you have kids that’s tough,” Samolyk said. “I’m not sure how it carried, but it was thumping through my house.” Commissioner Denise Krepp (6B10) expressed concern about the noise and while she acknowledged that the venue was not in 6B, she said its residents are significantly impacted due to their close proximity to the stadium. “The last three weekends have been pretty hellacious in the community because of the noise and the traffic and the lack of parking enforcement created by the events held at parking lot five,” Krepp said. “Parking lot five is now in (ANC) 7F, but the people who bore the burden of what happened over the past three weekends are in (ANC) 6B09 and 6B10.” Krepp said she wants to host a meeting with representatives from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Events DC regarding the issues facing the residents of 6B. Commissioner Holtzman (6B05) said many residents reached out to him and expressed interest in attending such a meeting and in working to prevent future events from being so disruptive to the neighboring communities. “I want to emphasize this was a problem for a large portion of Capitol Hill at lesser degrees, but I had I

The Next meeting is 2nd Thursday, June 9, 7:00 p.m. Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, June 20, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Community Outreach Committee meeting 4th Monday, June 27, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, June 28, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Instructions for accessing the meeting via Zoom 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 P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168

Next meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2022. 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

June 2022 H 75

think 15 emails from constituents, so there’s a lot of support for this and a lot of us will be interested and we want to help,” Holtzman said in response to Krepp’s proposal for a meeting with city officials. Finnell said that Councilmember Gray has been in contact with Events DC and is working with them regarding the complaints. She said commissioners and the community are “welcome to forward any concerns or complaints to (Gray’s) office,” regarding the noise, traffic and trash issues. At this time, the meeting will not be an official ANC organized meeting but rather a meeting organized by Commissioner Krepp.

Budget Updates

Read his story at CapitolHillHistory.org

Photo by Deborah Hirtz Waterman

Daniel H. “Dan” Waterman, MD, opened his Capitol Hill medical practice in the late 1970’s after learning about the growing need for physicians on the Hill. Until his retirement 35 years later, Dr. Waterman not only provided health care to his patients but also formed strong friendships with many former patients that endure to this day. Read Dan Waterman’s oral history at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.

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The DC Council took its first of two votes on the $18 billion fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget on May 10. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) attended the ANC meeting and spoke about the funds that benefit Ward 6, and specifically to items located in 6B. The council will take its final vote on the budget May 24. The current budget includes fully funding the next six years of improvement at Eastern Market in addition to the more than $700 million in funds to support the modernization of several schools in 6B. Both Brent Elementary (301 North Carolina Ave SE) and Tyler Elementary (1001 G St SE), Allen said, are in need of a “full modernization” and these have both been fully funded. The Eastern Market Metro Plaza (EMMP) park project also will receive $150,000 annually for programming development. Additionally, the budget will provide a full renovation of Fort DuPont ice arena, including funding for two sheets of ice. The District’s uptick in crime has made policing and public safety an important issue for residents and the council alike. Allen addressed this portion of the budget while acknowledg-

ing the council did not approve every item proposed. Allen said that notable components of the budget include a $20,000 signing bonus to help with both recruitment and retention of officers at MPD and additional supports for hiring. “The budget I think fully funds our public safety response, which I know is a high priority for everyone here,” Allen said. “In particular, from an MPD perspective, it is going to support the hiring for every officer that Chief Contee and the Mayor asked for, so that’s going to be those officers and cadets coming in. There was also a significant amount of retention and recruitment funding that goes into that.” Allen said while no budget would be perfect, he was pleased with what this budget could do for Ward 6 and communities across the District. “I’m excited about what this budget represents,” Allen said. “It’s a big budget.” Hill East communities to the east of 15th Street, including those currently represented by 6B09 and 6B10 are now part of Ward 7. Tamika Finnell, Constituent Services Deputy Director for Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D), highlighted the investments in Ward 7 contained in the upcoming year’s budget. The Therapeutic Recreation Center (3030 G St SE), the only recreation center east of the river, has been funded for modernization including indoor pools, a technology room and many additional amenities. For interim planning purposes, funds were also requested by Gray to ensure that the services unavailable during the renovation construction, expected to be completed in 2023, are still available to residents at alternate locations. Additionally, the new River Terrace Recreation Center received $20 million in funding. Finnell said this is especially important as River Terrace is geographically isolated and there is a lack of spaces for youth

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202-547-7772

Additional Items: •

Commissioner Steve Holtzman (6B05) introduced the idea of a public meeting on noise in public spaces during the Livable Community Task Force update. If anyone has ideas about a meeting regarding these issues, please contact Commissioner Holtzman. • Commissioner Brian Ready (6B03) will be stepping down as the chair of the Capitol Hill Working Interest Group. He plans to send an email to Commissioners to gauge interest of resident members or residents to Chair the group. The commission voted unanimously to: • Approve all ABC committee cases for renewal licensing for the following establishments: • Matchbox (521 Eighth St. SE), • American Legion (224 D St. SE), • Hunan Dynasty (215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) • Beuchert’s Saloon (623 Pennsylvania Ave SE), District Taco (656 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) • Nooshi Capitol Hill (524 Eighth St SE) • La Lomita Restaurant (1330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) • Radici (301 Seventh St SE) • Lavagna (539 Eighth St SE) • The Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), and: • Torai Grill and Sushi (751 Eighth St SE) • Support Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) applications, including requests for: • A special exception to construct a second-story accessory garage addition to an existing two-story dwelling unit at 1208 D St SE.

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A special exception to construct a second-story rear addition to an existing, attached two story dwelling unit at 109 11 St. SE. A two story addition with cellar under existing house and a two-story carriage house to replace one-story garage at 639 A St SE. A two story addition to the rear of the house and one story addition on the garage at 135 Kentucky Ave SE. A partial roof deck above an existing house, replacement of cellar windows, front windows and front steps at 510 9th St SE. Send a letter of support for a notice of intent to make intersection improvements to DDOT regarding Street, 14th Street and Kentucky Ave. Send a letter expressing support for the work the Office of Planning (OP) is doing to analyze potential for increasing alley and accessory building housing units. Send a letter to the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) regarding the rezoning of 1323 E St SE from PDR to residential. Approve the nomination of Clair August as a resident member of the 6B05 Transportation Committee.

ANC 6B will meet again via WebEx on June 14 at 7 p.m. You can register for the meeting and read more about the commission at https://anc6b.org/. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

Commissioners Call for Safety Beyond Speed Humps ANC 6C Report by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met Wednesday May 11 via WebEx. Commissioners Christine Healey (6C01), Karen Wirt, Chair (6C02), Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), Joel Kelty (6C05) and Drew Courtney (6C06) attended the meeting.

raffic safety issues across the ANC prompted commissioners to vote unanimously to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) regarding Second Street, Fourth Street and Sixth Streets NE to request a traffic safety investigation. The ANC

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Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee recommended that these streets be investigated for traffic safety related issues and traffic calming measures beyond the further installation of speed humps. Commissioners agreed that the objective of the letter is safety on the streets. Commissioner Drew Courtney (6C06) said that speed humps need not be ruled out, but that alternatives need to be explored. “I didn’t think we were going to say no speed humps, but we’re going to try to be really clear that you need to think beyond speed humps,” Courtney said. Commissioner Joel Kelty (6C05) expressed frustration with the number of speed humps being implemented emphasizing that it appears to not solve the traffic issues nor is it “the best stewardship of the taxpayer dollar.” “It wasn’t that I’m opposed to speed humps, it’s that I’m opposed to DDOT purporting to do an engineering analysis, refusing to share the analysis, refusing to share the data and then just saying the speed humps are the only solution,” Kelty said. “There are a lot of different things that could be done: additional stop signs, speed cameras, speed tables, there are a lot of different things in the toolbox.” Eckenwiler proposed adding Second Street to the motion. “If the focus is on Fourth and Sixth and doing things there, then if certain measures get taken, that’s just going to push more traffic over on the second street and make things worse,” Eckenwiler said. “I really think all three of these streets need to be looked at in combination, because they do serve fairly similar functions.” Adelstein and Courtney expressed concern about adding Second Street and the potential for overwhelming DDOT with this request. As proposed, the motion referenced only Fourth and Sixth Streets.

Commotion on H Street Commissioner Kelty addressed concerns about drug dealing in the H Street corridor (between Sixth and Eighth Street) as several community members attended the meeting to raise concerns about observed drug activity in alleys near their homes. “I think part of this has to do with the decriminalization of marijuana and the popping up of numerous weed shops on H Street,” Kelty said in response to the public comments. “My personal observation is that H Street NE has become the de facto mecca for illegal weed sales in the District, and, as a result, people who are not running the weed shops but are street dealers know that there are people coming to our neighborhood to purchase mari-

juana and other things that are sold there.” Kelty encouraged residents to report all observed incidents to the police, and to take advantage of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) camera rebate program that will reimburse residents up to $500 for home security camera installation. One resident emphasized a need for greater response from MPD regarding resident concerns and a greater police presence in the area in general. “I think the additional police presence will be helpful,” Nicholas said. “I call 911 and stuff in the past, and they don’t really bother to ever come unless like one time somebody went crazy and started tearing down fences and things like that. They came then.” Several residents of the H Street corridor also expressed concern about trash in the alleys. Commissioner Kelty spoke about wanting to organize an alley clean up for the neighborhood. Another resident, Alana, said she is concerned about the uptick in both drug use and trash around the area where many people have children and pets.

Other Matters The Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Committee chair Steve O’Neal shared the alcohol license renewals without objection from the committee including: • Hilton Washington (525 New Jersey NW) • Café Fili (701 Seventh St NE) • Shake Shack (50 Massachusetts Ave. NE) • Whole Foods (600 H St NE), Fare Well (406 H St. NE) • Streets Market (51 M St. NE) • Uncle Kenney’s Smokehouse (732 Maryland Ave. NE) • Nostra Cucina (320 D St. NE) • Hotel George/Bis (15 E St. NW) • Ethiopic (401 H St. NE) • Pho Viet USA (333 H St. NE) • The Monocle (107 D St. NE) • Le Grenier (502 H St. NE) • Charlie Palmer Steak (101 Constitution Ave. NW); and • 116 Club (234 Third St NE).

June 2022 H 79

2022 MOTHER’S DAY HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR

Many thanks to everyone who made our 65th Anniversary Tour a success! Our sponsors and advertisers; the House Tour Committee, House Captains and docents; catalog production team; tour goers - and most especially the Home Owners - without their hospitality the tour would not have been possible. If you were unable to attend the in-person tour, you may still purchase a $20 ticket to the virtual tour - 3-D scans of 6 private homes. Details:

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ENTER THE ANNUAL

PET PHOTO CONTEST! CATEGORIES: • Best Overall Photos • Darling Dogs • Finest Felines • Cleverest Caption

• Best Buddies • Human & Pet Best Buddies •Hill Haunts

Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

TO ENTER:

Email to pets@hillrag.com OR mail to PO BOX 15477 Washington, DC 20003 (make sure your photo is over 300 dpi, photos cannot be returned) • Maximum of two photos per entry. Include your name, a phone number, the name of your pet, a caption and category for the photo.

DEADLINE: 6/20/22 Capital Community News, Inc. Publishers of:

MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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The commission discussed a planned urban development (PUD) at 301 Florida Ave. NE, but no vote was taken. Plans include a 12-story mixeduse building with 115 dwelling units, all affordable to income levels at or below 50% area median income (AMI) and with approximately 3,000 square feet of ground-level space for nonresidential use. The commission voted unanimously to: • Oppose the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application at 420 Fourth St NE) of a proposal to build a garage that will take up the entire backyard. Eckenwiler said it does not meet variance standards as neither the property nor the owner are operating in unique circumstance. • Support the HPA application of Hillsdale College (227-229 Massachusetts Ave NE) for changes to a previously reviewed proposal for the addition of a fourth floor and changes to the front facades of the plaza. The commission voted to continue to unanimously oppose the removal of three sets of iron stairs going up to the building. • Support a DDOT public space construction permit at 1147 Third Street NE for the installation of fencing and an ADA compliant hand railing. • Support the DDOT construction permit at (1133 North Capitol St NE). • Request that ANC Transportation Public Space (TPS) Committee chair Michael Upright reach out to the World Mission Church of God (700 A St NE) regarding a fencing installation that has drawn questions from neighbors. Upright said he is not sure if this is a public space item and will do more research regarding the installation.

ANC 6C will meet next on June 8 at 7 p.m. via WebEx. You can register to attend the meeting and read more about the commission here. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter at Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆

Yards West Development Modified ANC 6D REPORT by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D (ANC 6D) met on May 9 over Zoom. Commissioners Dr. Marjorie Lightman (6D01), Jared Weiss (6D02, secretary), Ronald Collins (6D03, treasurer) Andy Litsky (6D04), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D05, vice chair), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06), Edward Daniels (6D07, chair) were in attendance.

rookfield Properties briefed the commission on its plans for Yards West, an 18 acre parcel between Nationals Park and the Washington Navy Yard. The developer is requesting modifications to the existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) approved by the DC Zoning Commission over a decade ago. Under consideration are the four parcels currently occupied by DC Water. Brookfield plans mixeduse development that sets aside approximately 30 percent of residential units as affordable. Half will be rented at 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and with the remainder offered at 60 percent. The proposed development will consist of four components: F1, G1, G2 and G3. F1 is a 95,000 square foot movie theatre with over 300 parking spots, G1 and G2 are mixed

EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF CAPITOL HILL & BEYOND residential and retail spaces with 15-20,000 square feet of potential retail space and approximately 250-340,000 square feet of residential living space, respectively. G3 is slated to expand Diamond Teague Park. Yards West expands Diamond Teague Park, increasing the area’s public green space by about 30 percent. Brookfield envisions the park as a community epicenter. A stage for outdoor community events is under consideration. The project also incorporates a variety of retail uses designed to encourage neighborhood services within the new buildings. They foresee the creation of a “retail incubator” designed to grow small enterprises such as art galleries and children’s bookstores, into thriving businesses equipped to lease larger permanent spaces. Brookfield plans to file its application for a PUD modification this coming summer in time for Zoning Commission approval in the fall. The affordable units are “enormously helpful” to the community, stated Commissioner Litsky. Chair Daniels echoed his sentiments, adding, “Navy Yard could definitely use a lot more cultural spaces.” “We have tons of restaurants, we’ve got the stadiums nearby, but we don’t really have a lot of neighborhood staples that residents can feel are unique to our neighborhood.”

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Flooding on Buzzard Point Due to global warming, more than 600 structures and 10,000 residents in Southwest face dangers from flooding. The existing flood plain runs from the Potomac River up 17th Street NW, down Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues and then takes a turn down Third Street June 2022 ★ 81

We Capitol community to Hillwelcome Havurah the Thanks All Hill of our Generous Flowers & Friends Donors!

join us for our free virtual Rosh Hashanah

You Help Our Community Blossom & Grow!

& Yom Kippur Services. For information, please visit www.HillHavurah.org.

Delphinium ($7500): Sheldon Harris Peony ($5000): Jane Lang and the Eugene M. Lang Foundation; Deborah & David Marcus; Preston Plous; Steven Plous; Lee Ann

Richter & John Farden; the Rosen Family; Schneider’s of Capitol Hill; Jessica Smith; Paul Goldner & Sandy Soifer

Gardenia ($2500): Julie & Scott Aaronson; Danielle Ewen & Bob Scher; Lori Genderson and family; Staci & Rick Genderson; The Jeanne Phil Meg Team; Ann & Howard Mesnikoff Crystal; Liz

& Eric Paisner; The Rob & Brent Group; Rose’s Luxury; Rob & Amy Rothman; Joyce West & Mark Kadesh

Lilac ($1000): The Ades Lawlor Family; Michael Allen & Leslie Feder; The Berger-Damle Family; Carol Caparosa; Capitol

Hill Auto Service; David & Martha Dantzic; Peter & Stephanie Denton; Donna & Bruce Genderson; Mark Hoffman; Steve

Kolb; Anne & Marc Mayerson; Gary S. Mintz & Sue-Jean Kim; The Nathanson Family; S2 Development; Edith Shine & Mark

Sherman; Marlene Singer; Leslie Swift; Elizabeth & David Thede Tulip ($500): Michele & Mark Adelson; Anne & Marshall

Brachman; The Buntman-Orozco Family; Adam Caldwell &

Xochitl Halaby; Colin Chazen & Jillian Nickerson; Sig & Susan

Cohen; Julie & Jonathan Davis; DC Access LLC; Mark Edwards,

Realtor; Eric & Jacqueline Emanuel; Gary + Michael Real Estate Team; Peter Grimm DC Real Estate Group; Josh & Morgan Genderson; Laelia Gilborn and David Weller; The Hill Rag;

Aaron & Elinor Hiller; Marcia & David Hoexter; The Jaikaran

Family; Jeff, Dunnzy, Jack & Charlie; The Kessler Family; Susan and Morris Klein; Bernie Kluger & Laurel Blatchford; Marc &

Kay Levinson; Mendelson Family; Ellen Opper-Weiner; Eloise

Pasachoff & Tom Glaisyer; The Rogger Family; Roberta Shapiro & Jerry Glandon; Shefferman Orthodontics; Sheldon Harris

Admiration Society; David Sigman & Jayme Stroud; Sobel-Kelty Family; Susannah & Kenyon Weaver

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heading south through Buzzard Point. The area is home to many seniors and people with disabilities, who pose a special challenge during any evacuations. Andrea Limauro, an environmental protection specialist from the District Department of Energy and Environment (DDOEE), spoke about the agency’s plan to promote flood resilience on Buzzard Point. DOEE is studying designs for new infrastructure designed to cope with flood water. In particular, it includes several catchment basins intended to collect water during floods. When one basin fills up, the excess is sent to the next. The main goal is “just keep water away from buildings.” Limauro said that another aim is the creation of a new network of “sidewalks, streets, parks and open spaces for the Southwest community to enjoy. “We have a great opportunity to essentially use this strategy to retain control of the public spaces in southwestern Buzzard Point and make them great places for people,” Limauro said. This project is still in its early stages. The agency is “going to be doing a lot of listening this summer” engaging the community listening sessions and workshops. The first workshop will take place on June 24.

Other Matters First District Metropolitan Police (MPD) Captain Jonathan Dorrough briefed the commission on public safety. Dorrough reported seven violent crimes, including carjackings and shootings, over the past month in addition to several reported cases of stolen automobiles and other property crime. Commissioners questioned him about juvenile carjacking and the criminal justice process, speaking of the importance of community rehabilitation efforts while working to prevent repeat offenses in the neighborhood. Andrew Galli updated the commissioners on the status of the DC Water Potomac River Tunnel Project.

The Independence Avenue SW portion of the construction is expected to be completed in September. The intersection at 14th Street in next up. Further information will be available closer to the start of that construction. Commissioners unanimously voted to send a letter to Councilmember and Chair of the Subcommittee on Redistricting Elissa Silvermann (I-At Large), DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D), Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) supporting a standalone Single Member District (SMD) ANC for Navy Yard. They spoke in opposition to the cross-river ANC proposed by the Ward 8 Redistricting Taskforce. Secretary Weiss spoke in support, saying it would be a “clean and clear and well-defined neighborhood.” The ANC voted to protest the license renewals of Boomerang Boat III and Nightingale II. Commissioner Lightman abstained. The commission voted unanimously to: • support a public space application for additional signage at Gallery 64 (64 H St. SW) and the addition of a sidewalk sculpture; • support a public space application for Silver Diner, located at Half and N Streets, to relocate their outdoor sidewalk café; • authorize Commissioner Hamilton to submit comments collected by other commissioners in time for consideration by DCHA for their moving to work demonstration for FY 23. These comments are due by May 23. • approve the cooperative agreement (CA) with Tap 99, 1250 Half Street SE, including an entertainment endorsement, a stipulated license and an extension of hours of operation; • approve a CA with Pink Taco, 100 M St SE, decrease its existing sidewalk cafe from 94 to 22

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seats as well as the addition of a 60-seat summer garden; agreed to a 20-seat outdoor space at The Green Turtle, 1237 First Street SE; protest the petition the liquor application of Oasis, 658 Wharf St. SE; Support the CA and license for Swizzler, 1259 First St. SE; protest the renewal a liquor license for Thompson Hotel, 221 Tingey St. SE, over concerns about their driveway and nearby bike lanes often blocked by their valet; protest the renewal of the liquor application for Fat Fish Rolls and Twists, 1 Market Sq. SW; supported liquor license renewals for Artechouse, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW; Courtyard Navy Yard, 140 L St. SE; Pho Junkies, 1025 First St. SE; Chopsmith, 11 District Sq. SW; Ilili, 100 District Sq. SW; MOMO, 1001 Fourth St. SW; Scarlet Oak, 909 New Jersey Ave. SW; NaRa-Ya, 88 District Sq. SW; Kruba, 301 Water St. SE; Station 4, 1101 Fourth St. SW; &Pizza, 1210 Half St. SE; Basebowl,1202 Half St. SE; Hampton Inn and Suites, 1265 First St. SE; Del Mar, 791 Ward St. SW; Surfside, 33 District Sq. SW; The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW.

ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is June 13, 2022 via Zoom. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit www.anc6d.org. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarap@hillrag. com. ◆

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BULLETIN BOARD Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K The third annual Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K is on Saturday, June 18 from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fort Stanton Park, 1829 Erie St. SE. Runners meet at sunrise (5:30 a.m.); pre-run stretch at 6 a.m.; starting time 6:19 and 6:30 a.m. Postrace festivities are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 2022 edition of the Juneteenth Half Marathon & 10K again takes you along the entirety of the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail–truly a proper trail run, i.e. dirt and elevation and definitely one of DC’s hidden gems. Free registration. Commemorative shirts available for purchase. juneteenthmarathon.org.

CHAL Exhibition at Frame of Mine Gallery The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) member show “This is dedicated to……” will run through June 25 at the Frame of Mine Gallery, 545 Eighth St. SE. The following artists are featured in the show: Karin Edgett, Tara Hamilton, Carolyn Rondthaler, Karen Van Allen, Elin Whitney-Smith, Karen Zens, Amy Bandel, Martin De Alteriis, and Tamora Ilasat. The Art League invites you to visit the gallery when shopping at Frame of Mine as well as viewing it online at caphillartleague.org/dedicatedto.

Free “Movies on the Pitch” at Audi Field Audi Field, home of DC United, and the Capitol Riverfront BID have partnered to host a special first-of-its-kind free outdoor movie series on Thursday evenings at Audi Field located in the Buzzard Point subarea of Capitol Riverfront. Here’s the remaining lineup: June 30, Sing 2; July 28, A Quiet Place 2; and Aug. 25, In the Heights. “Movies 84 H HILLRAG.COM

on the Pitch” will transform Audi Field into an outdoor cinema with showings on the stadium’s jumbotron screen. The family-friendly experience will begin at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Audi Field will offer concessions for purchase during each movie (no outside food or alcohol permitted). Movie-goers can visit fevo.me/motp to register for tickets. capitolriverfront.org/events.

Let’s Skate DC at the Wharf New to The Wharf this summer is a classic oldschool favorite—the free outdoor roller-skating rink on Transit Pier. The Wharf Roller Rink becomes the hottest party on eight wheels during the second weekends of June, July, and August. Skate outdoors for free, vibe out to great music, and watch incredible skate performances by the professionals. The Wharf Roller Rink operates on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.; and on Sunday, June 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is free for all ages, and no pre-registration is required. Skate rentals are $10 and will be available

for children only (size 12 junior-6). Adults must bring their own skates. The Wharf Roller Rink will also be open on July 9 and 10, and Aug. 13 and 14. wharfdc.com.

Village Voices’ Carol Grodzins on Social Entrepreneurship Carol Grodzins’ professional life has been at the conjunction of international development, health and public policy. After a stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia, she became a nurse, then became involved in the campaign for a nuclear weapons freeze (among other social causes), and ultimately joined the global social change association Ashoka. Living in Thailand from 2007 to 2018, she taught courses in social change and social entrepreneurship, which she calls the “citizen sector” as distinct from the private sector and the public sector. On Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m., join Village Voices via Zoom to listen to Carol talk about the work of a change agent in the US and around the world. Village Voices presentations, free and open to the pub-

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and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time employer falls under the oversight the Council of Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) District government employees,ofincluding employees the District of Columbia. ofThe District government-based instrumentalities, MCC provides an additional incentive for firstCOVID-19 COVID-19 independent agencies, D.C. Charter Schools,to time toprovides purchase a Public homefinancial in D.C. An DChomebuyers MAP COVID-19 provides assistance DC MAP COVID-19 financial assistance to and organizations, provided theofability applicant/borrower's those affected by the impacts the COVID-19 MCC offers qualified borrowers the to claim those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 employer fallsQualified under the oversight ofareceive the COVID-19 pandemic. can pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive loanCouncil ofa loanofof a Federal Taxof Credit of 20borrowers percent of the mortgage the District Columbia. up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to interest paid during each calendar year. for up sixto months. forto up six those affected bymonths. the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage COVID-19 for up to six months.

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for uphow to six months. to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. Visit www.DCHFA.org 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG to apply to WASHINGTON, any of DCHFA’s DC homeownership programs. 815 FLORIDAhow AVENUE, NW, 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG June 2022 ★ 85 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

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.capitol streets.

WABA’s The Sweet Ride On Saturday, June 18, 8:30 through 11:30 a.m., you can launch summer with a sweet bicycle ride through Arlington and Alexandria. Choose from a five-, fifteen-, thirty-, or fiftymile route and wind through Northern Virginia on a combination of bike lanes, quiet neighborhood streets, and trails. Enjoy snacks, lemonade, water, and WABA staff and volunteers cheering you on at pit stops along the way. Registration fees support the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s work in the DC region and their mission empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places. waba.org. Photo: Courtesy of Washington Area Bicyclist Association

lic, are sponsored by Capitol Hill Village. Register and join the online discussion at capitolhill.helpfulvillage.com/events/8712.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music and Arts Festival 2022 The three-day SOMETHING IN THE WATER Music and Arts Festival 2022 is on Juneteenth weekend, June 17 to 19 on Independence Avenue. At press time, general admission, tier-three passes for all three days are still available at $399.50, plus fees. The pass includes access to the main lineup, activities, food and drink vendors, and all GA areas of the festival. See the lineup and buy passes at somethinginthewater.com/home#home-lineup-content.

Meet “George Washington” on July 4 On Independence Day, celebrate our nation’s independence at Mount Vernon. During this patriotic day you can: meet “George Washington”; watch made-for-daytime fireworks; observe a ceremony in which candidates from across the world become US citizens; listen to 18th-century music in the upper garden; watch and learn about flying hot air balloons in the 18th century; and watch a musical performance by the National Concert 86 H HILLRAG.COM

Band. All activities are included in the admission price. Adults twelve+, $28; kids six to eleven, $15; kids zero to five, free. mountvernon.org.

The Wharf’s Phase 2 Brings Job Opportunities Pendry Hotels & Resorts will be opening at The Wharf this fall. Pendry Washington DC will feature 131 guestrooms and suites, three signature dining and bar concepts, Spa Pendry and 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Since this will be Pendry’s first hotel in DC., most of the positions will be filled with new hires adding to the hundreds of new jobs coming to The Wharf and the surrounding areas including The Yards. Pendry,

along with other businesses from The Wharf, Southeast DC and Capitol Riverfront, will participate in a Job Fair on Tuesday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arena Stage, 6th Street and Maine Ave. SW. Job seekers will have the opportunity for face-to-face meetings with representatives from a wide range of businesses. Training organizations will also participate to provide information for those seeking additional skills and expertise. Register at bit. ly/3l4O3Jy.

Rededicated Netherlands Carillon Concerts Resume After a two-year hiatus for restoration, Saturday at 6 p.m. concerts at the Netherland Carillon, adjacent to the US Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington Ridge Park, resume through Labor Day. The restoration, which started in 2019, represents the friendship that is symbolized by the Carillon. The NPS was responsible for the rehabilitation of the structure while the Embassy of the Netherlands took on upgrades to the musical instrument. In 2020, 50 bells were shipped to the Netherlands to be tuned and the three new bells were cast. Last spring, all 53 bells were lifted into the structure elevating the Netherlands Carillon to “grand carillon” status. Members of the public are encouraged to

Synetic’s (wordless) A Midsummer Night’s Dream Synetic Theater, the home of American Physical Theater and movement-based storytelling, announces the return of its acclaimed adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed and choreographed by company co-founders Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili. The production runs June 30 through July 24. Tickets are available now at synetictheater.org/ midsummer2022. Alex Mills as Puck sprinkling fairy dust. Photo: Johnny Shryock

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Arboretum Summer 5K: A Scenic Race On Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m. to noon, enjoy the US National Arboretum in full bloom during FONA’s Summer 5K. This race takes you past garden collections, over tree-lined rolling hills, and along streams winding their way to the Anacostia River. This race is not only scenic, but also safe and secure. All roads are closed to cars so you can safely enjoy running through this 450-acre urban green space. $55, adults; age twelve and under, free. Strollers and dogs are welcome, but dogs must stay on a 5’ non-retractable leash. fona.org. Photo: Courtesy of the Friends of the National Arboretum

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designed to expand the local green workforce, available to staff of DC Certified Business Enterprises firms and DC residents. Train Green courses will range from more broad introductory courses to more specific advanced courses in a variety of topics that include but are not limited to: energy efficiency, renewables, and HVAC. In order to access courses as they become available, all potential participants will be required to complete registration form at dcseu. com/traingreen-register.

CAH Art Bank Program Workshop

Unique Identity Posters, Customized For Your Favorite Little Person!

cinated and boosted (as applicable) and will be subject to criminal background checks, traffic record checks, or both, and pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Details about job opportunities and job listing numbers can be found at dpr.dc.gov/summerjobs. Interested individuals may apply for a job at careers.dc.gov.

DCSEU Courses are Live! Register TODAY! Register at no-cost for one of over 18 DC Sustainable Energy Utility courses that are now live. The DCSEU is offering a no-cost training, credentialing, and certification program

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The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is seeking applications from qualified artists and District nonprofit art galleries or organizations for its Fiscal Year 2023 Art Bank Program. Award amounts vary but eligible applicants can be awarded up to $15,000. There is an informational workshop on Wednesday, June 15, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Register at dcarts.dc.gov/node/1594896.

DC Arts Commission Announces Available Grants for FY23 The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2023 grant programs. Funding is available to support projects from both individuals and nonprofit organizations. Projects must occur between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30,

DC Outdoor Pools Open for Season DC outdoor pools are operating on a weekend-only schedule through Sunday, June 26. Starting Monday, June 27, all outdoor pools will operate on individual summer schedules, six days a week. All DC public pools are free for DC residents. Have photo ID. dpr. dc.gov/page/outdoor-pools.

2023. CAH grants are awarded through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. To be eligible, individual artists and humanities practitioners must be residents of DC and organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business based in the District. Non-arts nonprofit organizations that host arts projects are encouraged to apply. FY23 grant awards range up to $500,000 and support a number of initiatives including public art, arts education, and capacity building. Application deadlines vary by grant program. To learn more about CAH’s grant programs and to apply, visit dcarts.dc.gov. CAH holds live online chat sessions with the grants team to assist with the completion of all grant program applications every Friday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. through July 8. dcarts.dc.gov/ node/1115831.

Applications for 2022 Retail Grants Open Mayor Bowser and the Department of Small and Local Business Development have announced the opening of applications for the 2022 Robust Retail Citywide Grants. DSLBD intends to award up to $7,500 per business to approximately 78 businesses from the $588,000 in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2022. This grant will be operated as a reimbursement grant, awarded via lottery, to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline. Applications will be open until June 8, at 2 p.m. at dslbd.dc.gov/service/currentgrant-opportunities. ◆

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• Negative COVID-19 test results prior to start of work (taken within 3 days prior to date of hire) • COVID-19 vaccination within 45 days of hire

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PET PHOTO CONTEST! CATEGORIES: • Best Overall Photos • Darling Dogs • Finest Felines • Cleverest Caption

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Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

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Email to pets@hillrag.com OR mail to PO BOX 15477 Washington, DC 20003 (make sure your photo is over 300 dpi, photos cannot be returned)

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home and garden A GREAT FREE RESOURCE FOR GARDENERS

id you know you could borrow a weed wacker or a rototiller for free? Yes, it’s true, for free. In 2021, a partnership between Green Neighbors DC and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation’s created a lending library for garden tools, power tools, and even some camping equipment. All you need is to show a DC driver’s license or proof of DC residence, fill out a form and you are ready to go. The tool library is one of about 50 around the country. Berkeley, California opened one in 1979 that leant wrenches and caulking guns. It is managed by the city public library system. Other cities with tool libraries include Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, and Denver.

Rototillers, wheelbarrows, and other big equipment garden tools can be borrowed for a week to help you clear your garden plot or yard.

article and photos by Rindy O’Brien

Twin Oaks Location At the corner of 14th Street and Taylor Streets, NW, sits the Twin Oaks community garden, greenhouse, power tool shed and garden shed. There are picnic tables and grills for the community to use. It is clear the garden is a hub for people in this part of DC, but it also is bustling with younger residents from other parts of the city there to borrow some equipment for their home renovation projects. There is a synergy of gardeners and DIYers working to build and make DC better by sharing knowledge and tools. Deborah Broderson is a volunteer at the Tool Library and on the Sunday I visited she had just completed training two new volunteers. Deborah’s title is “tool librarian.” Currently there are over 200 active users borrowing tools. In the past few months, new borrowers have been signing up at a rapid rate. To keep all this going, Annette Olson, of Green Neighbors DC, one of the original members, says they have Volunteers help manage the Tool Library that is open March through November each year. Deborah Broderson is one of about 11 on-call librarians and the lead staffer, the Tool Librarians and assists in training new volunteers. Josh Singer from DC Parks and Recreation. “But as we grow and word spreads,” says Annette, “we will have to grow with it.” Putting a What is Available? tool library in another part of town is one long-range Deborah says her favorite items to check out so far goal of the group. has been the solar oven that she and her family used From Capitol Hill, the tool library is about a to cook pizza. Her kids have also enjoyed the snow 25-minute drive and it’s on major bus routes. The cone machine. garden share program is open from March through The s’mores maker is also very popular. The November. Hours are posted on the website and are collection includes one gadget I had never hears evolving. Generally, folks check out their tools for one of—a nut gatherer that looks like a lacrosse stick week, but “that time can be extended if there is no with an enclosed net. Deborah says someone reone else looking to use the equipment,” says Debocently took it out and thought it was the best thing rah. Failure to return the tool on time results in a one for gathering walnuts. dollar a day late fee. You are charged for each day late A full list of equipment is available at the Deuntil it reaches its approximate value. Currently respartment of Parks and Recreation website, https:// ervations must be made in advance to use the equipdpr.dc.gov/service/garden-tool-share-program. If ment, but that is easily done online. you have a weekend project to reconfigure your June 2022 ★ 91

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backyard, you could borrow wheelbarrows, tillers, hole diggers, rototillers, and more. The usual hand tools for gardening like shovels, hoes, and rakes are also available. With the current spring storms, tree care may be required. That’s when lending library tools like 14-foot pruners, hand saws, and telescoping bypass loopers come in handy. The added benefit of checking out these tools is that you are given instructions on how to use the equipment. In fact, it is a requirement that you take a short tool safety lesson before checking out. For home DIYers, the power tools include a portable tool saw, small and large miter saws, plus drill and screw sets. There are plenty of hand tools like staple guns, hacksaws, screwdrivers, clamps and scissors. Everything you need to build a cabinet or dining table. On the fun side, there are folding tables, tents, solar ovens, mushroom kits, the snow cone machine, and an apple press. The tool library also includes books including self-guides on preserving food, beekeeping, the art of fermentation, composting, and organic gardening. You don’t have to be a seasoned gardener or handyperson to benefit from the offerings.

Donations to the Tool Library Annette says the tool project is always looking for

tool donations, especially a router, another orbital sander, an air compressor, and small electric rototillers. If you have a whole garage or basement of tools you are looking to donate, take a picture and a rough inventory and the Toolshed will determine whether they can use your tools, and may even be willing to come by and and pick them up. The toolshed is also looking for camping equipment, so if your hiking camping days are behind you, this would be a great place to make a donation. As with any public enterprise, monetary donations are always very welcome. The funds raised go towards fixing broken tools. Green Neighbors DC would be the non-profit collecting the funds, https://greenneighborsdc.org/. The Tool Library is really a cool green program and it lets anyone have a chance to get started gardening. It also will connect you to likeminded DC residents interested in building a green community. Check it out. You’ll be glad you did. Rindy O’Brien is thrilled with the commitment of DC Parks and Recreation to fill Green needs in the city. Contact Rindy: rindyobrien@gmail.com. ◆

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The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents

Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair Neighbors had their dogwood tree sprayed three times this spring for something called “Discula Anthracnose.. Would you please explain what that is. We wanted to get a Dogwood this fall. In D.C. it has become a wellknown fungal blight that can kill dogwoods. First diagnosed in 1978, it spread across the southern states, and into the north, quite concentrated in cities like DC. There is no cure for this Anthracnose. However, careful pruning, and then fungicidal spraying, can keep healthy dogwoods alive. Diagnosis must occur promptly after the first sight of browning of leaves, flowers, or whitening of trunk or branches. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0011-2022 FPREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR HVAC AND WATER TREATMENT

DISTRICT of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires professional contractors to provide Preventive Maintenance and Repair Services for HVAC and Water Treatment throughout various DCHA properties. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Tuesday, May 31, 2022 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, July 1, 2022 at 12:00 PM. Email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information. 94 H HILLRAG.COM

My neighbor says he is resorting to solarization. My high school Latin tells me it involves the sun. Anyone with a bad sunburn knows the unexpected (because invisible) destructive power of the sun. Farmers use solarization to clear whole fields of grass and weeds. You can use it to clear even a small patch of grass, weeds, or a raised bed, where you want to plant something else. The only problem—it takes time—at least six weeks if you use sheets of clear plastic over the area, longer if you use just layers of newspaper. First cut whatever is growing down to

the lowest height you can. Water the area deeply. Lay the plastic, weighing it down at the edges and all overlaps. Solarization is relatively cheap, chemical free, and purges the soil of weeds, grass, seeds, pests and pathogens. But you cannot do this in the shade. We want to create a vegetable garden out of part of the back yard, and the soil is hard as a rock. Is rototilling a good idea? The smallest rototillers cost over $150 (see photo), but you need something bigger to go deep enough. Best to rent a big one for a few hours. Mow or clear the space of shrubs or ivy and big weeds. Run the rototiller in rows, back and forth, several times. Plants can’t reach the rich nutrients in compacted clay soil, so you must break up the top layer enough to remove it, and go deeper. Electric rototillers do save labor. But after you go deeper you must break up the lower layer too, enough to mix it with compost and manure, even some sand, to lighten it more. Perhaps at this point “double-digging” with a long spade might be easier. You will have broken up much of the clay, mixed it with lighteners, and brought it back to its original level. Plenty of work. Another negative—rototillers do kill worms—if any. But other worms will return.

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For information about the Capitol Hill Garden Club, visit the club’s website: capitolhillgardenclub.org. The club is on summer break. Meetings will resume in September.

Because Local Experience Matters.

Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o the Editor, Hill Garden News. Your problems might even prove instructive to others and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. ◆

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. home & garden.

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. ECKINGTON 134 Quincy Pl NE 223 T St NE

$975,000 $827,500

FORT DUPONT PARK 1106 45th Pl SE 1424 42nd Pl SE 359 Chaplin St SE 3921 Burns Ct SE 4315 G St SE 432 Burbank St SE

$520,000 $525,000 $425,000 $423,000 $450,000 $313,986

H STREET CORRIDOR 1647 Kramer St NE 516 14th St NE 643 11th St NE 705 12th St NE 808 9th St NE 906 Kent Pl NE

HILL EAST 1360 L St SE 314 16th St SE

HILL CREST 3809 Nash St SE 2709 SE Alabama Ave SE 3417 Carpenter St SE 2333 Fairlawn Ave SE

KINGMAN PARK

NEIGHBORHOOD PRICE

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA 1228 Pleasant St SE 1347 Maple View Pl SE 1428 18th Pl SE 1437 Ridge Pl SE 1518 Ridge Pl SE 1910 T St SE 1933 P St SE 2239 Mount View Pl SE 2301 1/2 Elvans Rd SE

BARRY FARMS 1448 Howard Rd SE

BLOOMINGDALE 126 V St NW 18 Randolph Pl NW 2319 1st St NW 39 S St NW 45 S St NW 58 Florida Ave NW

CAPITOL HILL 103 Kentucky Ave SE 111 15th St NE 1118 I St SE 1122 G St SE 1235 Duncan Pl NE

96 ★ HILLRAG.COM

$550,000 $650,000 $610,000 $431,000 $699,000 $510,000 $349,900 $525,155 $599,900

3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 4

$299,000

$1,820,000 $915,000 $1,775,000 $1,232,500 $1,100,000 $885,000

6 3 5 3 5 3

$1,320,000 $1,055,000 $860,500 $930,000 $839,500

4 3 3 3 2

1313 Pennsylvania Ave SE 1348 D St NE 1350 C St NE 1356 North Carolina Ave NE 1376 E Capitol St NE 1437 Constitution Ave NE 144 12th St NE 1505 C St SE 1527 A St NE 1533 E Capitol St SE 16 14th St SE 211 5th St SE 233 12th St SE 250 14th St NE 30 6th St SE 310 3rd St NE 320 C St SE 323 10th St SE 324 9th St NE 328 12th St SE 329 11th St NE 335 F St NE 413 Constitution Ave NE 506 E Capitol St NE 517 5th St NE 534 11th St SE 650 Acker Pl NE 708 A St SE 720 E Capitol St NE 742 9th St SE 811 C St SE 813 C St SE 816 D St NE

$725,000 $1,200,000 $730,000 $1,187,000 $1,400,000 $1,230,000 $1,461,000 $859,000 $1,185,000 $2,105,000 $825,000 $1,053,000 $1,250,000 $780,000 $1,900,000 $967,000 $1,175,000 $1,090,000 $1,700,000 $1,830,000 $1,050,000 $1,303,350 $1,450,000 $3,125,000 $1,395,000 $1,350,534 $1,099,000 $1,700,000 $2,350,000 $810,000 $1,300,000 $1,640,000 $1,110,000

3 4 2 3 4 3 3 2 4 5 2 2 3 2 6 2 3 2 4 4 4 3 3 5 4 4 3 5 5 2 3 4 3

1621 Rosedale St NE 332 17th Pl NE 416 20th St NE 502 21st St NE

LEDROIT PARK 1901 3rd St NW 2219 Flagler Pl NW 26 Channing St NW 314 T St NW 409 T St NW 621 Florida Ave NW

LILY PONDS 102 Kenilworth Ave NE 3319 Alden Pl NE 339 35th St NE

LOGAN CIRCLE 1325 Riggs St NW 1415 Q St NW 1420 Paloma Way NW 1447 Corcoran St NW 1715 15th St NW #11 935 O St NW 942 P St NW

NAVY YARD 328 I St SE

OLD CITY #1 1116 Abbey Pl NE 1128 G St NE 1235 Walter St SE 1255 C St SE 1333 C St NE 1333 D St NE

4 4 3 4 2 3 2 2

$625,000 $992,000 $1,005,000 $1,000,000 $1,450,000 $940,000

3 3 3 3 5 3

$760,000 $1,160,000

2 4

$640,000 $600,000 $508,000 $495,000

3 4 2 2

$631,000 $425,000 $495,000 $975,000

2 3 2 5

$2,500,000 $975,000 $875,000 $879,198 $1,139,000 $1,375,000

7 4 3 2 3 4

$350,000 $576,000 $464,999

2 3 2

1401 F St NE 1441 Pennsylvania Ave SE 1710 Constitution Ave NE 1742 D St NE 1742 Massachusetts Ave SE 1809 D St SE 25 8th St SE 500 G St NE 619 21st St NE

OLD CITY #2 437 S St NW 982 Florida Ave NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1909 T St SE 2331 Altamont Pl SE 2804 Gainesville St SE

RLA (SW)

1401 Carrollsburg Pl SW 410 O St SW #107

SHAW

1412 10th St NW 1701 6th St NW 1703 6th St NW 607 Q St NW 902 S St NW

$915,000 $1,350,000 $1,300,000 $1,135,000 $1,200,000 $920,000 $1,475,000 $1,125,000 $821,000

3 4 4 5 3 3 4 4 4

$625,000 $610,000

3 2

$530,000 $360,000 $930,000

3 3 8

$1,195,000 $565,000

4 2

$1,025,000 $1,475,000 $1,475,000 $1,600,000 $1,215,000

2 2 2 4 4

SW WATERFRONT 611 4th Pl SW

TRINIDAD 1182 Morse St NE 1258 Owen Pl NE 1272 Oates St NE 1344 Queen St NE 1642 L St NE 1737 Lyman Pl NE

$1,070,000

$925,000 $975,000 $875,000 $765,000 $450,000 $649,900

3 3 4 3 2 3

U STREET CORRIDOR 1722 10th St NW

$1,870,000

CONDO 14TH STREET CORRIDOR

$1,800,000 $1,690,000 $2,399,000 $1,420,000 $615,000 $1,405,000 $1,800,000

3 5 3 2 2 4 5

$1,495,000

$665,000 $1,650,000 $900,000 $1,225,000 $1,000,000 $800,000

3 4 2 3 3 5

1323 Clifton St NW #32

ADAMS MORGAN 1901 Columbia Rd NW #602 2363 Champlain St NW #4 2550 17th St NW #206

BLOOMINGDALE 2030 1st St NW #2 2035 2nd St NW #G107 26 Bryant St NW #2 51 Randolph Pl NW #304

CAPITOL HILL

1315 Independence Ave SE #34 1419 A St NE #1419 18 9th St NE #308 270 15th Street SE #301 270 15th Street SE #401

$505,000

$449,000 $725,000 $195,000

1 2 0

$800,000 $625,000 $985,000 $355,000

3 1 3 1

$2,200,000 $705,000 $342,500 $899,900 $1,349,900

2 2 1 2 3

SUMMER’S HOT HOMES ARE HERE!

300 8th St NE #401 311 7th St NE #202 336 15th St NE #1 417 4th St SE #1 601 A St NE #5 900 11th St SE #209 901 D St NE #101 918 14th St SE #3

$589,000 $503,000 $865,000 $1,020,000 $535,000 $800,000 $1,007,000 $840,000

CAPITOL HILL EAST 1125 Maryland Ave NE #15

$290,000

CENTRAL 1124 25th St NW #201 1260 21st St NW #507 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW #1503 1010 Massachusetts Ave NW #1210 1150 K St NW #1205 1150 K St NW #1408 777 7th St NW #322 777 7th St NW #702

$415,000 $295,000 $1,075,000 $969,000 $635,000 $590,000 $357,000 $300,000

CHINATOWN 400 Massachusetts Ave NW #810 809 6th St NW #33

$422,250 $370,000

ECKINGTON 134 U St NE #1 136 U St NE 147 R St NE #11 1500 Harry Thomas Way NE #109 1500 Harry Thomas Way NE #111 1500 Harry Thomas Way NE #510 1625 Eckington Pl NE #402 1625 Eckington Pl NE #520 1927 3rd St NE #300 2004 3rd St NE #303 2118 4th St NE #2 44 Quincy Pl NE #1 50 Florida Ave NE #823 50 Florida Ave NE #826

$850,000 $1,399,999 $535,000 $839,900 $839,900 $999,900 $824,900 $709,900 $299,500 $325,000 $550,000 $790,000 $480,000 $763,725

FAIRFAX VILLAGE 2111 Suitland Ter SE #101

$169,942

FORT DUPONT PARK 3935 S St SE #203 3956 Pennsylvania Ave SE #T3 4477 B St SE #303

$124,999 $142,000 $275,000

H STREET CORRIDOR 1016 17th Pl NE #305 1350 Maryland Ave NE #UNIT 214 808 13th St NE #B

$339,900 $405,000 $599,900

HILL EAST 16 17th St NE #312 1843 A St SE #1 330 16th St SE #2 401 15th St SE #202

$735,000 $775,000 $864,500 $675,000

HILLCREST 2059 38th St SE #201 3930 Southern Ave SE #B

$160,000 $270,000

KINGMAN PARK 1612 Isherwood St NE #1 1612 Isherwood St NE #4 715 18th St NE #1 717 18th St NE #2

$675,000 $749,500 $435,000 $535,000

LEDROIT PARK 1929 1st St NW #203 235 Florida Ave NW #3

$550,000 $529,000

LOGAN CIRCLE 1420 N St NW #310

$235,000

1 2 3 3 2 2 2 2

G IN ! M N O O C O S

“A PLUS” WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION! From the local builders who delivered the tremendous property next door at 1751, this complete renovation offers wide open concept living, with a 3-bd/2-ba upper level including wide front owner’s suite, and a spacious lower level with bed/bath suite plus separate rear entry. Wide and deep rear patio + yard + 2-car parking! Broad bones, all-new structure and systems, and modern styling 1 block to Metro!

1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 1 1 3 5 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 2

G IN ! M N O O C O S

1753 A St SE 4BD/3.5BA $1,200,000

G IN ! M N O O C O S

PERFECTLY POSITIONED FEDERAL FLAT FRONT! Set along a quiet tree lined row, just steps from The Roost, Safeway, and Metro. Offers ALL above-grade living with tall ceilings and renovated kitchen with walk-out to pristine rear patio and astounding private gardens soaking up southern sun! Three bedrooms and updated bath above, and truly IMMACULATE interior finishes - floors, trim casing, doors, and more. Don’t miss it!

G IN ! M N O O C O S

249 16th St SE 4BD/2BA $1,130,000 PORCH-FRONT PERCH WITH PERFECT BALANCE OF CLASSIC, NEW, AND SMART! Brick porchfront celebrates 100 years with a COMPLETE refresh for the century ahead! All new smart systems - plumbing, radiant heat, central cool, wiring windows, roof, and more. Pristine restoration of floors, doors, hardware combined with brand new knockout central kitchen and 2 baths. Great main level flow to glass overlook and walk-out to rear deck and gardens. Upstairs, 3-bds and large hall bath plus creative home office. Lower level bonus space for relaxation zone or long term guest suite.

R ! FO LE SA

327 14th St NE 3BD/2.5BA $1,069,000

1415 E St SE 3BD/1.5BA $899,000

209 11th St SE 3BD/1.5BA $975,000 LINCOLN PARK ROW READY FOR YOU! SOLID Semi-detached Steps to Lincoln Park, with Federal flat front and rear bayfront walk-out to private patio. WIDE 20’ frontage means spacious rooms across three levels and classic floors, casing, doors, hardware, and more. Pristine renovated bath and functional kitchen ready for your dream update at an ideal Hill location!

R ! FO LE SA

IMMACULATE RENOVATION NAILS THE DETAILS! Porch front row just a short stroll to Maury Elementary, Lincoln Park, & The Atlas Theater. Designed and built by European craftsmen of Quest with impeccable attention to detail, finish, and form. Open living and dining plan, three real bedrooms, full hall bath, + laundry area, and rear patio plus detached garage.

403 11th St NE 3BD/2.5BA $1,149,000 HISTORIC HOUSE SOUL WITH SMART SYSTEMS + STYLE! Tired of cookiecutter flips - seeking old house soul on Capitol Hill? Classic porch front lovingly maintained by the old house experts of Keil Construction! Graceful floor plan plus restored and reclaimed custom built-in details abound over deep levels, alongside renovated kitchen and 2 baths + chestnut accents. Three large beds up with flex space below for den/office/family center.

2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0

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1009 O St NW #3 1108 T St NW #1108 1111 11th St NW #905 1133 14th St NW #904 1203 N St NW #B 1211 13th St NW #704 1215 N St NW #8 1225 13th St NW #311 1321 R St NW #4 1401 Q St NW #604 1412 15th St NW #11 1412 15th St NW #4 1527 12th St NW #3 1529 14th St NW #305 1529 14th St NW #402 1634 14th St NW #204 1916 12th St NW #2 7 Logan Cir NW #44 1715 15th St NW #26 1301 T St NW #2 1735 Johnson Ave NW #A

MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE 1001 L St NW #704 1110 6th St NW #6 400 Massachusetts Ave NW #712 401 M St NW #2 440 L St NW #1002 440 L St NW #709 450 M St NW #1 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #12 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #13 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #14 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #22 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #24 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #31 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #33 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #34 459 Massachusetts Ave NW #B4 910 M St NW #1003 1135 6th St NW #4 1211 4th St NW #1 1211 4th St NW #2 555 Massachusetts Ave NW #915 811 4th St NW #1209 437 New York Ave NW #1009 437 New York Ave NW #506 475 K St NW #305

NAVY YARD 1025 1st St SE #1108 1025 1st St SE #406 1300 4th St SE #911 37 L St SE #903 70 N St SE #505

NOMA

50 Florida Ave NE #114 50 Florida Ave NE #314 50 Florida Ave NE #726 76 New York Ave NW #403

OLD CITY #1

1007 Maryland Ave NE #103 1341 I St NE 1404 K St SE #1 1839 D St NE #1 2016 D St NE #1 900 11th St SE #401

OLD CITY #2 1001 L St NW #606 1311 13th St NW #407 1312 13th St NW #6 1412 15th St NW #10 1412 15th St NW #7 1615 1st St NW #1 1731 Willard St NW #101

98 ★ HILLRAG.COM

$1,170,000 $835,000 $660,000 $678,000 $475,000 $570,000 $800,000 $485,000 $1,115,000 $1,578,000 $465,000 $550,400 $933,611 $639,900 $676,000 $620,000 $1,375,000 $475,000 $690,000 $799,000 $775,500

2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 2 2 2

1741 T St NW #102 1813 16th St NW #4A 1816 New Hampshire Ave NW #809 437 New York Ave NW #Y21 910 M St NW #309

PENN QUARTER 1150 K St NW #406 631 D St NW #934 801 Pennsylvania Ave NW #PH21

RANDLE HEIGHTS 3105 Naylor Rd SE #202 3281 15th Pl SE #2

RLA (SW)

1425 4th St SW #A303 1435 4th St SW #B704 300 M St SW #N812 350 G St SW #N220

SHAW

$635,000 $780,000 $600,000 $830,000 $475,000 $515,000 $570,000 $429,900 $449,900 $525,000 $435,000 $499,900 $399,900 $464,000 $539,900 $434,900 $659,000 $737,500 $795,000 $995,000 $530,000 $499,000 $525,000 $524,900 $615,000

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 2

$415,000 $820,000 $544,000 $499,500 $575,000

0 2 1 0 1

$799,900 $709,900 $716,225 $530,000

2 2 2 2

$425,000 $800,000 $790,000 $600,000 $535,000 $825,000

2 4 2 2 2 2

$580,000 $541,000 $552,000 $899,000 $465,000 $476,000 $399,000

1 1 1 2 1 2 1

1011 M St NW #901 1211 10th St NW #2 1411 11th St NW #A 1514 8th St NW #7 1720 New Jersey Ave NW #202 2030 8th NW #504 2030 8th St NW #212 441 Rhode Island Ave NW #A 801 N St NW #306 910 M St NW #1012

$533,000 $475,000 $329,000 $570,000 $627,500

2 1 1 1 2

$445,000 $489,000 $770,000

1 1 1

$126,000 $152,000

2 2

$335,000 $490,000 $257,000 $390,000

1 2 0 1

$590,000 $900,000 $350,000 $1,135,000 $374,000 $430,000 $499,000 $643,500 $850,000 $995,000

1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2

SW WATERFRONT 525 Water St SW #401 700 7th St SW #142 800 4th St SW #N702 355 I St SW #S310

TRINIDAD

1016 17th Pl NE #208 1016 17th Pl NE #300 1028 Bladensburg Rd NE #38 1201 Staples St NE #3 1221 Oates St NE #C 1224 Holbrook St NE #2 1313 Orren St NE #4 1631 Montello Ave NE #A

TRUXTON CIRCLE 57 N St NW #234

$2,175,000 $460,000 $370,000 $495,000

3 2 1 2

$299,000 $420,000 $335,000 $599,900 $622,500 $389,900 $790,000 $445,000

1 2 1 2 2 2 3 1

$750,000

U STREET CORRIDOR 1429 W St NW #1 1324 W St NW #1 1390 V St NW #301 1451 Belmont St NW #222 1913 12th St NW #C 1939 17th St NW #4 2001 12th St NW #112 2004 11th St NW #137 2100 11th St NW #305 2120 Vermont Ave NW #319 2120 Vermont Ave NW #507 2214 11th St NW #2

WATERFRONT

45 Sutton Sq SW #506 763 Delaware Ave SW #177 765a & 765 SW Delaware Ave SW 254 M St SW #27 ◆

$700,000 $675,000 $480,000 $505,918 $1,659,000 $431,500 $693,000 $690,000 $775,000 $479,900 $517,000 $739,000

2 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 1 2

$1,800,000 $690,000 $750,000 $1,000,000

2 2 3 4

ENTER THE ANNUAL

PET PHOTO CONTEST! CATEGORIES: • Best Overall Photos

• Best Buddies

• Darling Dogs • Finest Felines

• Human & Pet Best Buddies

• Cleverest Caption

• Hill Haunts

Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

TO ENTER:

Email to pets@hillrag.com OR mail to PO BOX 15477 Washington, DC 20003 (make sure your photo is over 300 dpi, photos cannot be returned)

• Maximum of two photos per entry. Include your name, a phone number, the name of your pet, a caption and category for the photo.

DEADLINE: 6/20/22 Capital Community News, Inc. Publishers of:

MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

June 2022 ★ 99

100 ★ HILLRAG.COM

arts ining d and

by Celeste McCall

CAPITOL CUISINE

Viva Mexico!

pork sandwiches, as well as an ar“new” Santa Rosa is located just a ray of tequilas (including flights), few doors away from the original, margaritas, wine and beer. which held court at 315 PennsylThis place is well run, fovania for several years. cused and organized. Service is For a recent Friday lunch, the fairy swift, but not rushed. We beplace was jam-packed with a halfgan with a Harvest Tide beer and hour wait. Having just reopened, a Zoca Margarita. The latter, made the restaurant was still training its with tequila, fresh citrus juice and staff. Moreover, the “fast casual” agave was too sweet, but our server service—ordering at the counter Ryda provided lime wedges to remand then waiting for your food— edy the situation. was extremely cumbersome. We Freshly made guabegan with a tangy, potent margarcamole arrives in a ceita and Tecate beer, followed by a ramic molcajete. My burpair of tacos stuffed with pork belrito bowl, chock full of ly and tempura battered cod, as well Santa Rosa Taqueria, 301 Pennrice, beans, pickled on- sylvania Ave. SE, has resurfaced as chicken quesadillas and a deliafter a two-year Covid hiatus. ion and topped with avcious ear of roasted “street” corn. ocado slices, was generCarrying our loaded tray, we ous enough to share. My protein choice was climbed upstairs to the spacious dining area, which spicy chorizo; other options were chicken, afforded a panoramic view of the corner of Pennsylshrimp, pork or nothing at all. vania Ave. and Third Street. Peter’s shrimp tacos, paired with pickAmong other taco fillings are shrimp, carne asada led onion and pico de gallo, were nestled in (steak), chorizo, “sloppy Joe” (seasoned ground beef a soft tortilla. An ear of “street” corn, slathwith queso sauce). Quesadillas arrive with pico de galered with queso fresco béchamel, delivered lo, sour cream and nice chunky guacamole. You can a combination of sweetness and heat. also find chips and salsa and assorted burritos. Zoca, an upscale Mexican restaurant, has opened at 319 PennZoca is fairly pricey, but isn’t everyThere’s a kid’s menu, and a popular happy sylvania Ave. SE, a sibling of nearby Harvest Tide. thing these days? Presented in a handsome hour. For more information visit www.santarosatacigar box, our luncheon tab was $95. Zoca is queria.com. open daily; for exact hours and more information visit www.zocacapitolhill.com. Garden Delight By the way, sister restaurant Harvest Coming up June 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. is the Barracks Tide, 212 Seventh St. SE near Eastern MarRow Annual Garden Party at Little Pearl, 921 Pennsylket, now serves weekday lunch and weekvania Ave. SE. Hosting will be Chef Aaron Silverman, end brunch. For more information visit Erwho presides over Little Pearl, Pineapple & Pearls, ror! Hyperlink reference not valid. and Rose’s Luxury. Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation will jazz things up. For tickets and more information visit Mas Mexicano www.barracksrow.org/gardenparty. A few doors away, Santa Rosa Taqueria has reopened recently in a new home— Sibling Rivalry 301 Pennsylvania Ave. SE—after a twoThe Navy Yard’s popular Salt Line has unveiled a gorand-a-half-year pandemic hiatus. Operatgeous offspring: Dauphine’s Raw Bar & Boucherie, Zoca, an upscale Mexican restaurant, has opened at 319 Penned by Spike Mendelsohn and his family, the 1100 15th St. NW. The New Orleans-themed Dausylvania Ave. SE, a sibling of nearby Harvest Tide.

Zesty South-of-the-Border fare is heating up “The Avenue.” On May 5 (Cinco de Mayo), Zoca debuted at 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The “Modern Mexican” newcomer is operated by the Delaware Hospitality Group, which also runs the nearby Harvest Tide steakhouse. There’s another Zoca in Bethany Beach, DE, and the original Harvest Tide is in Lewes, DE. Zoca’s menu showcases chef Danio Somoza’s creations including whole red snapper, Mexican paella, assorted tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and barbacoa

June 2022 ★ 101

ENTER THE ANNUAL

PET PHOTO CONTEST! CATEGORIES: • Best Overall Photos • Darling Dogs • Finest Felines • Cleverest Caption

• Best Buddies • Human & Pet Best Buddies •Hill Haunts

Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

TO ENTER:

Email to pets@hillrag.com OR mail to PO BOX 15477

DEADLINE: 6/20/22

Capital Community News, Inc. Publishers of:

MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

102 ★ HILLRAG.COM

phine’s is part of Long Shot Hospitality, which brought us the Navy Yard’s Salt Line. On a chilly, late spring evening, we visited Dauphine’s, ensconced in the gleaming, futuristic Midtown Center. Designed by SHoP Architects and WDG Architecture, the 865,000 square-foot complex also houses the snazzy Japanese Anchoring the District Wharf’s Municipal Fish Marhotspot, Shoto, with more ket, Jesse Taylor Seafood will soon turn 90. restaurants to follow. After attending Peter’s longest lasting vendor at the District prep school reunion, we repaired Wharf ’s Municipal Fish Market, Jesto Dauphine’s handsome, marblesie Taylor claims an interesting history. topped bar. The menu was divided beIn 1933, founders Chelton Evans tween large and small plates. We chose and his brothers Filmore and Stanley from the latter, ordering oysters Dausailed weekly from South Island, MD, phine and gumbo z’herbes. purchasing seafoods from local fisherChargrilled with spinach and men and selling them at the Municipal pecorino (cheese) and spiked with Fish Market. In 1939, Chelton saved horseradish, the concoction was a up enough money to purchase his first riff on traditional oysters Rockefell“buy boat” from Dike Taylor. The veser. Dauphine’s soup-like gumbo was sel was named after Dike’s son, Jessie studded with moist pork morsels and Taylor. greens. An offbeat embellishment was In 1963, the District of Columbia a dollop of potato salad. Among other allowed the Taylor craft to permanentoptions are shrimp remoulade, duck ly dock at the Fish Market. Eventualjambalaya and “dirty” rice stuffed ly the Evans family was able to truck in quail. Dinner for two with a glass of their bounty rather than haul it by boat. wine apiece, came to $78 before tip. As their sales outgrew the Jessie TayService, provided by bartender Kevin, lor’s small decks, the family began sellwas excellent. Visit www.dauphinesing their products from floating barges. dc.com. But the name of the boat stuck. Also spawning an offspring is Eat Today, almost a century later, two Brgz, the corner burger eatery near of the three Jessie Taylor barges hawk Eastern Market. You’ll find the outpost raw items including crabs, shrimp, at 704 Seventh St. NW, in Chinatown. shellfish, lobsters and finfish. The third Founder and CEO Brandon Gaynor barge serves steamed crabs and shrimp, is known for mixing ingredients and soups, clam chowders and more. spices directly into each burger before Opened in 1805, The Municipal cooking them. Chinatown’s Eat Brgz Fish Market, often called DC’s Fish features a 25- foot bar with cocktails Market, is the oldest continuously opcreated by bar manager Devlin Barryerating open air seafood market in the Hoke, formerly with Pearl Dive, Maynation. It was featured on a recent epidan and Momofuku. sode of CNN’s marvelous “Nomad” series. For more information visit www. Nine Fishy Decades wharfdc.com/fish-market/ ◆ Happy anniversary to Jessie Taylor Seafood, which will soon turn 90. The

June 2022 H 103

. arts and dining .

AT THE MOVIES

Two Touching British Products: One a Familiar Charmer and the Other a Poignant Literary Biography by Mike Canning

Downton Abbey: A New Era

as Guy Dexter, the smooth star of the film, and Hugh Dancy as the decent film director, Jack Barber, who falls for Lady Mary. Major family mileposts are again marked, with the film opening with a lively wedding scene between Tom Branson (Alan Leech) and his intended, Lucy (Tuppence Middleton). There are an additional three other couplings at the end of the show, as well as one touching and considerate death. The latter provides a satisfying wrap-up for this film as well as for what has become a cultural icon (at least according to Mr. Molesley). Bon Voyage!

They’re back! No, no, I do not mean another “Chucky” horror flick but rather another chapter of the “Downton Abbey” saga. The Granthams and the Crawleys are back, this time with an overseas twist. “The New Era” has, besides the familiar cast, yet another beguiling script from the series’ creator, Julian Fellowes, and is directed by Simon Curtis (The film, now in theaters, is rated “PG” and runs 124 minutes.) A pre-credit opening introduces us to the ever-anxious Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle), who offers a useful recap of the last “DownAllen Leech stars as Tom Branson and Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Smith in “DOWNBenediction TON ABBEY: A New Era,” a Focus Features release. Photo: Ben Blackall / © 2022 Focus ton” film (2019) and catches us up Features, LLC Written and directed by acclaimed on the Granthams, the Crawleys, filmmaker Terence Davies, “Beneand their extended family as well as diction” explores the complex and the staffers who serve them. the premise of the classic “Singing in the Rain,” turbulent life of renowned WWI poet Siegfried SasIt is 1928, and Violet, the Dowager Countess wherein a harsh-voiced film star is replaced by the soon (the convincing Jack Lowden), a soldier who (Maggie Smith) learns that she has inherited a villa in young ingenue whose delivery turns a silent movie survived the horrors of war. Decorated for his bravSouthern France from “an old friend.” In the meanclinker into a smash. Here, the voice savior is Lady ery, he was also an outspoken critic of the British time, Downton has been selected by a British film Mary herself, who records lines to bury the crass government’s continuation of the war. His career company as the location for a frilly period piece and cockney accent of the lead actress Myrna Dalgleish was a long one (he died in 1967), engaged in literary will be used as the film’s set. The Crawleys rough(Laura Haddock). pursuits and earlier involved with the London demily split into two factions, one to visit the villa headFor the rest, the Downton cast brings comfortmonde of creative gay life when he returned from ed by Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville able changes on their standard roles from the origiservice (the film, running 137 minutes, will open in and Elizabeth McGovern) and the other to observe nal series and earlier film. For example, hide-bound the DC area in theaters in early June and is rated the shoot, headed by Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). Carson (Jim Carter) thinks the movie escapade is “PG-13”). The English contingent is welcomed by a gean affront to Downton’s dignity while bubbly DaiHis most memorable poetry was inspired by his nial relative, the Marquis of Montmirail (Jonasy (Sophie McShera), besotted with Hollywood, grisly experiences on the Western Front, and he bethan Zaccai), but must contend with an intransigent is thrilled to ogle the stars. Lord Grantham plays came one of the best-known war poets of the era. Mademoiselle Montmirail (French actress Natalie variations on his usual befuddled self, being both After having seen his own men and others of his age Baye), who refuses the family’s right to the property. skeptical of the movie business as well as his own slaughtered in the trenches of France, he wrote his The dilemma for the group back at Downton is that lineage. Both Violet and Mrs. Isobel Crawley (Pecompany commander with a blunt critique of the war the film company—already on shaky ground finannelope Wilton) pursue their typical sniping— effort as a waste. That critique led to his being concially—learns that, with the beginning of the sound though their verbal tussling moves towards affecsigned to a psychiatric clinic in Edinburgh after the era, their silent film might be shut down. tion. Newcomers to the cast include English studs war where he met another future war poet, Wilfred In the latter instance, movie fans will recognize known to American TV audiences: Dominick West 104 H HILLRAG.COM

Check out all of our happenings at

www.Mrhenrysdc.com LIVE MUSIC Wed through Sat evenings. Tickets at

Instantseats.com Every Wednesday Capitol Hill Jazz Jam 6/2 - Pablo Regis Jack Lowden, in military garb, stars as British poet Siegfried Sassoon in “Benediction.” Photo: Laurence Cendrowicz; courtesy of Roadside Attractions

Owen (Matthew Tennyson), who ultimately returned to action and died in 1918. Comfortable as a member of the aristocracy as well as a stalwart of London’s literary and stage scene, Sassoon spent the Twenties and Thirties in affairs with several men, always producing poetry but branching out into essays and religious contemplations, all the while struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality. This interim segment, flush with Twenties clichés and swishy love objects—including the snarky songwriter Ivor Novello (Jeremy Irvine)—is too long and repetitive and weakens the picture. Eventually tiring of the gay scene, Sassoon meets and then marries Hester Gatty (Kate Phillips), with whom he lived into his 80’s. Davies, creator of only a few films, usually based on serious literary works (among them “The House of Mirth” and “The Deep Blue Sea”), here uses his usual tasteful style with fixed takes and muted background music. It is a leisurely approach that might be seen as boring, but which, for others (like this reviewer), can seem full of unspoken portent. He can also, because of his normal restraint, turn commonplace scenes into surges of emotion. The best exemplar of the latter ends the film. Fast-forwarding into the 1960’s, we find Sassoon (now a curmudgeon played by Peter Capaldi) walking home and sitting down for a

rest on a park bench. The aging poet then slowly morphs into the young soldier in military dress looking straight at the camera. As a poignant refrain from a Ralph Vaughan Williams symphony begins softly on the sound track, the young Sassoon begins to weep. Then, as the theme wells up, his agonized face slides back to almost normal, only for him to weep again. Go to black. “Benediction” also features a penultimate closing that is just as affecting. It is the reading of a poem though, curiously, not one of Sassoon’s. There is a static shot of an ailing Owen, sitting in a wheel chair back at the Edinburgh clinic, staring straight ahead, The over-voice narrator reads one of Owens’ most famous war poems, “Disabled,” giving final voice to the waste of war that never left Sassoon’s consciousness.

6/3 - Renee Tannenbaum 6/4 - Batida Diferente 6/5 - DC Jazz Singers’ Jam 6/9 - Karen Gray 6/10 - Maija Rejman 6/11 - Lena Seikaly with Chris Grasso Trio 6/12 - DC Jazz Singers’ Jam

6/16 - Beatles Extravaganza 6/17 - Eddie Anderson Project 6/18 - Darcy Cooke 6/23 - Fran Vielma Orchestra 6/24 - Eliza Tebo 6/25 - The Colesville Collective 6/26 - DC Jazz Singers’ Jam 6-30 - Kathy Farmer

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 the book “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. ◆

Mon-Fri 11am – 1:30am Sat & Sun 10:30am – 1:30am

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. arts and dining .

ARTandtheCITY by Jim Magner

ARTIST PORTRAIT: DANA SIMMONS

Dana Simmons, Ph.D.

their natural beauty and their inherent power to control our physical movement and maybe a Brain trees? Or are they dancing celot more. She digitally reproduclebrities in a Mardi Gras parade? Rufes and infuses the images into our fled rumba revelers, brightly colored minds by colorizing and arranging and ready to party. Or maybe blood vesthem in ever more imaginable configsel networks? Coral structures? Leaf veins? urations. She can provoke emotions with Yes. They can be anything your mind wants them color variations and even shift our thought to be, because that is what they are – cells from a patterns and opinions with subtle insinuahuman brain. Your brain is watching itself – looktions and inferences. ing at its mirror image…almost. There are billions of these Purkinje baThese are Purkinje cells—neurons from the bies floating around in your head right now. cerebellum. Biologist Dana Simmons is fascinatBut no two are alike! Like snowflakes. They ed with these cells because they have many more collect and exchange information with other branches – dendrites – than other neurons. They cells, from day one through your whole life. follow a pattern, called the “Purkinje Pattern,” but Every connection makes them a little bit difthere are endless variations. They line up with great “Kelect”. 2021. Neuron, fluorescent dyes, lasers. Purkinje cells ferent. Like us. precision, not seen anywhere else in the nervous exhibit an extensive branching pattern that is reminiscent Dana Simmons has a Ph.D. in neurobisystem. So why? of other branches seen in nature, such as in trees, coral, and leaves. Simmons created this piece to reflect a pile of autumn ology from the University of Chicago, where Dana Simmons—the artist—is fascinated with leaves, but she represented the leaves using Purkinje cells. she has been researching Autism spectrum disorder. She wants to understand its conAnd you see it in non-biological things like lightnection to the cerebellum. ening. Keep looking and you will see it everywhere. She would like to know where Me, I see the cells as humans, with a head and inspiration comes from. She is arms and legs – like dancers in those old calypso also searching for the answer to movies. You can intuit the sound of the music and the essential question we all have to the voices. And why not see them as humans? It is discover for ourselves. Why? If we like my brain looking at itself. get that, maybe we can figure ourIt’s a revelation to me of how everything is tied selves out. together, wondrously—teetering on the edge of imYou can see more of her work possible. The patterns may or not be universal, online at: www.dana-simmons.com. but they are certainly global. They tie us together as humans. They bind us to the physical earth—to the miracle of creation. Jim Magner’s Thoughts That Dana Simmons (see Artist Profile) sees on Art them as art is as natural as you would view any landPurkinje cell-like patterns are seen scape or figure painting, because that is what they throughout nature. It’s a pattern so are: an art form that reaches for the supernatural. It is ubiquitous you begin to see it everythe spiritual that is somehow inherent in our minds. where, in both big and tiny things. No, all art may not be sacred, but recognizYet each cell is different, just as eving pictures of the living real world, including peoery tree is different. You see the same ple, drawn on a flat surface is a miracle. They are patterns in almost every living and “Viento”. 2016. Neuron, fluorescent dyes, lasers. Simmons filled this somehow captured among the billions of neurons neuron with dye and photographed it using a high-powered microgrowing form, even coral structures. scope. This i a Purkinje cell, the most branched cell type in the brain. we call our brain. From movement and balance, to It can be seen in bacterial colonies. 106 H HILLRAG.COM

Harriet Lesser: Silicone Hills and Valleys. Playing with form and depth, Harriet Lesser presents silicone sculptures mimicking the shapes of hills and valleys. Theirry Guillemin: Bench after the Rain. Her work is an invitation to pause – take a time out from all that is frantic in the world. It works. www.studiogallerydc.com Touchstone Gallery 901 New York Ave NW Touchstone presents two parallel shows: Makda Kibour To July 3. Makda Kibour spent a lot of time studying indigenous tribes of the Omo Valley of “Branching Out”. 2015. Neuron, fluorescent dyes, lasers. To take this Ethiopia, “people unaffectphotograph, Simmons turned on the backlight in her microscope, which illuminated the brain slice in which the cell resided. She ed by the outside world who added color filters to enhance the inherent beauty of these cells. rely solely on nature to fulfill their wants and needs. Makda found her artistic voice there thought, to the flow of ideas, to the recognition also. She utilizes abstract painting as a visual lanof beauty…to the understanding of the world, guage to shape and form color and line. and who we are. Heather Lynn: Superloved, June 2 – 26. Those are the essential questions…and This is an “exploration of emotions and socianswers if we really look and listen. And inspietal constructs around happiness.” ration? Maybe it doesn’t come from the brain. www.touchstonegallery.com Maybe it is given to the mind if requested in the right way. American Painting Fine Art “The Washington, D.C. Scene” At the Galleries June 11 – Sept. 24, Studio Galley Recep: June 11, 5-8 2108 R Street NW, June 18 This begins the 15th annual exhibition of Studio Gallery brings you five very accomworks that “capture the current vitality, diversiplished artists: ty, beauty, history and cultural highlights of our Deborah Addison Coburn: For No Good Nation’s Capital.” The show includes most of Reason “No concept, no cause, just painting. the gallery’s regulars, many of whom I have proAnd fun. filed in this column. This year, a prize of $100 Joanne Levine: Earthwork: Her paintings is offered for the painting that “Most Captures celebrate the “earthworks” created by farmers the Washington, D.C. Scene.” www.classicamand others who work the land. Nature provides ericanpainting.com their raw materials and the result is a transformation of nature into wonderful works of art. A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached Wayne Paige: Be careful what you wish for. at Artandthecity05@aol.com u His “…artwork as not only beyond the fog, but also behind the curtain of technology.” This is a comment on digital technology’s transformation of our psychic landscape. They need to be seen. June 2022 H 107

. arts and dining .

the LITERARY HILL A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events by Karen Lyon

Top Dog

141/2 and Never Been Kissed

to reassess her priorities and open herself up to new possibilities. Slowly, “the forcefield of protection” she has erected around herself begins to crack, allowing her to envision a new way forward. And she even gets the answer to one of her burning questions. “Girl, Unstrung” is an insightful and entertaining coming-of-age story filled with a lot of heart, humor (including Dad jokes), and love. Handscombe has done a masterful job of embodying a teenager’s growing pains in the character of Clara, whose future may not be what she imagined but whose success as a fully realized human being is almost certainly guaranteed. Claire Handscombe is the author of a previous novel, “Unscripted,” and the editor of “Walk With Us: How ‘The West Wing’ Changed Our Lives.” A native of the UK, she hosts the Brit Lit Podcast, works at East City Bookshop, and can be found on Twitter @bookishclaire.

Meet Milton, Capitol Hill’s self-proclaimed “Top Dog.” As a 16-year-old elder statesman (112 in dog To say that Clara Cassidy has a game years), he firmly believes that his age and experiplan would be something of an unence entitle him to some respect. And he’d be the derstatement. The Pasadena high first to tell you so! school freshman and viola virtuoIn “Milton,” author Linda Bowles tells the stoso has her future all laid out: first, ry of a feisty one-eyed Jack Russell terrier with a the Los Angeles High School for the rakish eyepatch who comes to stay with her when Arts, then on to Julliard, and evenhis family goes on vacation. “They went to Floritually a chair (preferably first) in a da,” he huffs. “I went across the river to Virginia. symphony. In the meantime, though, WHAT???” she’s grappling with a new school, At first, Milton suffers from a little separation a celebrity father who hogs all the anxiety, but he eventually makes himself at home— attention, a stepmother she resents, although he is by no means the perfect housegand worrisome questions such as uest. He crowds his hostess to the edge of the bed An ambitious young viola player what people do with their noses suffers growing pains and learns and stubbornly stiffens his legs when he gets tired when they kiss. some hard truths in Claire Handof walking. And then there was that little accident. In her new novel, “Girl, Unscombe’s “Girl, Unstrung.” “When you gotta go, well, strung,” Claire Handyou gotta go!,” he breezily s c o m b e t e n d e r ly offers by way of explanation. probes the angst-ridCharmingly illustratden ups and downs ed by artist Julia Gonzales, of being an accom“Milton” is a funny and enplished but unformed gaging story for kids and teenage girl. “It’s too for anybody who has taken complicated, and too a dog into their lives—and uncomfortable, all their hearts. Bowles says that these different emohaving Milton as her housegtions,” says Clara, uest was frustrating at times. who chooses instead Linda Bowles tells the story of “He was like a cantankerous to keep her emotional a feisty Capitol Hill dog who old man, set in his ways and becomes a reluctant houseguest distance by being anin “Milton.” not about to change them.” gry—except that “it’s Funky DC But, as in the book, she had exhausting being mad Andréa Seiger not only a little tear in her eye when all the time.” Then knows all the curious corners of DC, but she also his Capitol Hill family came there’s the problem of boys—or, accan entertain you with endlessly fascinating stories to pick him up. “Milton retually, of one boy in particular. Tim, about them. In “111 Places in Washington That mains in my heart,” she with his swoopy hair, begins to make You Must Not Miss,” she goes beyond the usual writes, “as a very special litinroads into her well-protected heart, tourist sites to explore the quirkier side of the natle guy.” but Clara puts her foot down. “I’m tion’s capital. Did you know that the REI store on Linda Bowles is a renot going to be that pathetic pining the site of the old Uline Arena has a concert corner tired R.N. who lives in stereotype of a teenage girl,” she ascommemorating the Beatles’ 1964 concert there? Northern Virginia. “Milton” serts. “I’m better than that.” Or that DC is home to the nation’s oldest continuis her first book, but, happily, Alas, as they often do, her bestously operating miniature golf course? she’s planning a follow-up. laid plans take a tumble, forcing Clara 108 H HILLRAG.COM

BOOKFEST

2022

… WAS ANOTHER KS O O B R O F Y A D T A E R G AND AUTHORS ON

CAPITOL

HILL!

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING: Capital Community News, Inc. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation ANC 6C Sensical Design Tunnicliff’s Tavern Jona Colson Liz O’Gorek Shawn Henderson Elizabeth Becker Olivia Sanchez Bruce Guthrie

Elizabeth Cogan, President and Board Member Louis Bayard, Vice President Ed McManus, Treasurer Courtney Davis, Board Member

All the authors who made “Pass-theBook” videos, gave Instagram interviews, participated in our panel discussions, helped publicize the BookFest on social media, and joined us for the BookFest and the Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliff’s. Special thanks to all the hard-working volunteers, including the US Marines, who help make our event possible. And if you missed us on May 1, you can still visit www.literaryhillbookfest.org to learn more about our authors and—very soon!— to hear recordings of our panel discussions.

Tim Krepp, Board Member Nicole Siegel, Board Member Karen Lyon, Author Coordinator Melissa Ashabranner ex officio Board Member

w w w.litera r yhi l l b o ok fes t. o rg Connect with us on social media @theliteraryhill June 2022 H 109

. arts and dining .

THE POETIC HILL by Karen Lyon

Veteran DC tour guide Andrea Seiger shares some intriguing local lore in “111 Places in Washington That You Must Not Miss.”

Those and 109 other fascinating entries—from the Art-oMat installation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum to the Waldseemüller Map at the Library of Congress—are presented in an easy-todigest format, with an informative essay on one side and a gorgeous image by photographer John Dean on the other. Many DC icons make an appearance— Mumbo sauce, Chuck Brown Park, the Big Chair—but Seiger gives an interesting twist to even the more familiar landmarks. The entry for Planet Word, for example, focuses on the goofy puns that grace the restroom walls. And the Iron Gate Inn writeup is all about a Soviet double agent who was exposed after he

was lured there by a prostitute. On Capitol Hill, Seiger directs visitors to John Philip Sousa’s house (she includes a tip about Friday evening parades at the Marine Corps Barracks), points out the allegorical Bartholdi Fountain at the base of the Hill, extols the blueberry pancakes and crabcake sandwiches at The Market Lunch, and gives props to Peterbug Shoe Academy (noting in her tip that The Pretzel Bakery is nearby). All told, it’s a whirlwind tour that more than lives up to Seiger’s description in the foreword. “DC is the seat of world power,” she writes, “but the city itself has a distinct funkiness, charm, and coolness.” She invites readers—and explorers—to find their own stories, and, with “111 Places,” she’s given them a terrific head start. Andréa Seiger is a world and domestic traveler who “has worked in nearly every business involved in tourism and hospitality.” She has lived in DC for more than 30 years and claims “it is my business to know my city.” Find her on Instagram @urbansafaridc111. ◆ 110 ★ HILLRAG.COM

he Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliff ’s attracted a crowd of poetry lovers on May 1 who braved the wet weather to hear readings both by well-known local poets and by newcomers who participated in an open-mic session. The event, held in conjunction with the Literary Hill BookFest, was hosted by Jona Colson, whose first poetry collection, “Said Through Glass,” won the 2018 Jean Feldman Poetry Prize from the Washington Writers’ Publishing House (WWPH). His work has appeared in numerous publications and he is also the poetry editor of WWPH’s anthology, “This Is What America Looks Like: Poetry and Fiction from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.” In addition to the readings, Colson used the gathering to create a crowd-sourced poem. “Inspired by the community poems at many Split This Rock readings, I wanted to generate an on-site poem during Poets’ Corner,” he explains. “It was an amazing crowd; even though it was pouring rain most of the time, the energy was palpable. I think the energy and creativity of the day is reflected in this poem.”

Kindness at Poets’ Corner: A Crowd Poem Created at Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliff ’s, 5/1/22 The first line is from the poem, “Kindness,” by Naomi Shihab Nye (adapted by Jona Colson) Before you know what kindness really is, You must know the air And consider everything the air has moved through. Consider the escaped air of the gasp At an unexpected gift. Before you know meanness, consider The galaxy, the black hole, the metaverse, Then read a poem. Newton’s gravity should plummet from one line, And a red apple should shatter beneath your shoe.

E. Ethelbert Miller shares a poem at the 2022 Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliﬀ ’s reading.

Consider your inside self, relishing in Momentary hope of dance and the end of dance. Do you hear me? Is this thing on? And on. The boats against the current as the rain And clouds clear up slowly as we lean Into words in the shadow of the Capitol. The words of poets make the pandemic fade And let us not face into shades of fear, but reach Like those green tendrils in the light Like those giants that reach, defying gravity And beasts to show what joy looks like. Know cruelty because cruelty knows everyone. Walk a mile in the rain to attend a poetry reading.

Jona Colson emcees the 2022 Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliﬀ ’s reading.

Be missed and remember love and how it will surround you And the obsession of kindness. If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) ◆

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Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

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HAPPINESS COACHING Help that Can Change Your Perspective

obby McFerrin’s 1988 hit “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” with its simple melody and words, was easy to hum and remember. However, several decades later, the song’s message alludes many of us. The 2020s has been one of the most stressful decades in history. A CNN headline in February summed up the state of the U.S. “American happiness hits record lows.” Americans are not pleased with what is going on in their daily lives, the state of our nation and the state of our politics. According to CNN, Gallup has been asking Americans how they are feeling for the past two decades. This year, just 38 percent say they’re satisfied. That number is down from 48 percent in 2020 and 41 percent in 2021. Really you say? Isn’t it all woo woo stuff and a waste of time and money trying to change the way you feel? Not according to the Wall Street Journal. The paper published an article that reported that because keeping workers satisfied is tough these days, companies are putting executives in charge of employees’ happiness. “It’s a job title that prompts smirks and questions: Chief Happiness Officer (CHO).”

Look Inward Most happiness coaches would not stress acquiring “things” to make you happy. Instead of looking outside yourself try focusing inward. Trust your intuition, said Mary Frances Daly, who is a happiness coach in Washington, DC. The serious emotional, mental, spiritual and physical repercussions of not being happy were enough to cause her to shift her area of concentration from mindset coaching to happiness coaching. “I was in a contentious divorce. I had a history of six consecutive miscarriages, was dealing with an outof-control son and had a father sick with Alzheimer’s who eventually died.” She wanted to get hap-

by Pattie Cinelli

Mary Frances Daly

py and help others change their perspective as well. “Happiness is not about being happy all the time,” said Daly. “It’s about accepting your feelings and feeling them. It’s not toxic positivity. It’s learning how to sit with your feelings then let them go.” Daly studied at the University of Pennsylvania where she received a certification in positive psychology. She also completed neuroscience courses under Rick Hansen and other positive psychology classes at University of Michigan, Yale, University of California in San Diego and Stanford. She completed a master class certification with Gabby Bernstein, author of Happy Days, a New York Times Bestseller. Because Daly has a science background (an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biolo-

gy) she loves how the study of happiness is data driven. She noted scientific ways to up happiness in 30 days proven by case studies. Daly said a consistent practice for 30 days of gratitude or appreciation and/or meditation can rewire your brain. The connection between happiness and health has been studied and proven. Happiness lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease, lowers blood pressure, enables better sleep, improves diet and reduces stress. “The real casualty of COVID is happiness,” Daly said. “Fear and happiness cannot co-exist. If you google how to be happy or search on Amazon for books about happiness you will find scores of articles and publications on the topic. One of the more popular authors, Gretchen Reuben, who wrote several books about happiness including The Happiness Project, posts daily a list of five things that make her happy. A common belief is that moving or acquiring money can boost your spirits. Although evidence shows either of those actions may help you feel better temporarily, Reuben found ways to improve your happiness, without relocating or making millions.

Some Tips on Getting Happy A happiness coach is a professional who helps others evolve their lives and teaches them how to work towards achieving happiness. “I work with people who are ready to make a change,” said Daly. “I ask for a six-month commitment because it takes that long to rewire your brain.” She starts with a 30-minutes call to assess if a person is willing to receive happiness. Daly tells them to start with daily gratitudes. Write them in a book, on a computer or just say them out loud. “Being happier doesn’t mean never experiencing things that make us upset. We always have contrast but we learn to embrace the contrast, June 2022 ★ 113

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PATTIE CINELLI HEALTH & FITNESS MASTER PLAN Designed specifically for you and your unique needs and desires, Pattie listens to your goals, evaluates through conversation and demonstration and outlines a specific plan she recommends as a pathway to success. work through it and then let it go.” Learn to listen to your intuition. “If it’s not a ‘Hell Yes!’ then it’s a no. The minute you feel that something is not working, follow your instinct and get out.” Daly calls herself a “recovering people pleaser.” She now embraces the philosophy that she teaches clients – “What you think of me is none of my business.” To be happier Daly said we must let go of our shaming, blaming or complaining and learn to neutralize our judgments. For me finding that place inside where you feel calm despite what is going on in real time is peaceful. I can think more clearly, be more productive and enjoy little things more. As Daly said, “When people are in chaos they attract chaos.” Seeking happiness is not just for baby boomers or retired hippies. According to the New York Times, since Yale cognitive scientist Laurie Santos began teaching her class, “Psychology and the Good Life” in 2018 it has become one of the school’s most popular courses. Nearly a quarter of the undergraduate student body enrolled. Her course was so popular Santos created a podcast series, “The Happiness Lab.” For many years my teachers have said that what you think about you will attract. The more miserable you are the more you only see misery everywhere you look. They’ve also said that we were born happy, but our environment has taught us to ignore our inner guide and listen to voices outside of ourselves. I spent years rewiring my brain from the “what is wrong with me” upbringing I received, into seeking

something good to see in every situation. I have been told I’m a changed woman. And guess what? I’m happier than I’ve ever been. To be hap-

Don’t know where or how to start? Too many choices? Not enough time? Limited budget? Whatever is holding you back from transforming into a healthier, stronger, happier you Pattie will co-create a path for your success. Pattie focuses on solutions to get you started, keep you motivated and consistent. Work with a Certified Functional Aging Specialist

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py you first have to be happy with yourself, said Daly. Never hold anyone or anything else responsible for your happiness. Happiness is an inside job, just like love. To contact Daly: @mary_frances_daly on Instagram. Email: mary. frances.daly@gmail.com Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional and journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. She focuses on holistic and non-mainstream ways to stay healthy, get well and connect with your true self. Please email her with questions, comments or column suggestions at: fitmiss44@aol.com. ◆

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. family life .

/ The District Vet /

THE IMPORTANCE OF A PHYSICAL EXAM

or best health we visit the dentist at least once per year. And like clockwork see your physician for a physical examination. Your pets are biological creatures such as yourself and require the same amount of medical attention, if not even more. The average age expectancy for humans in the United States is 78 years, while the average dog is 1013, and average cat is 10-15. They age much faster than us, so one year to us is equivalent to much more time for them. Commonly people say that their pets (especially cats) are not exposed to outside elements, therefore as a healthy-appearing adult, they do not need to see the veterinarian. Disease knows no bounds of time, and does not recognize whether you are indoors or outside. A simple analogy is us people: sickness, cancer, metabolic disease happens even in the healthiest-act-

116 H HILLRAG.COM

by Dan Teich, DVM ing of us. Eat well? Yes. Exercise? Yup. And yet still medical issues arise. The difference is that when you are just a bit off, you see the doctor. Your cat or dog does not have that ability. Young pets, especially during growth from eight up to twenty weeks of age, need to be routinely examined to be sure they meet growth milestones and are developing normally. They are assessed for adequate and appropriate growth, skeletal abnormalities, breathing difficulties, eye development, etc. During these visits, nutrition is discussed along with behavioral techniques, socialization, and overall well-being. Vaccinations are administered along with starting a parasite prevention program. We make every attempt to start them off well so that we can aim for the best health outcomes. As our friends mature and especially when they enter their elder years, routine visits remain just as important. A pet does receive vaccinations at their visit, but much more, too. At every visit the physical examination appointment gives the clinician face-time with the client to discuss myriad health and wellness issues. A history is taken, asking about diet, digestion issues, lameness, behavior, etc. new medical findings, such as grapes being toxic to dogs, are brought up, along with new treatments, medications, and trends in behavior and nutrition. Medicine is not static; we are con-

stantly learning new information, and the examination allows time to convey this knowledge. For healthy adult pets, an annual examination is appropriate, but when they reach seniority, at about eight years, twice per year may be needed. We do not see your pet every day, therefore we see large changes, whereas you may not notice a change since it was gradual. This is especially true in terms of weight gain or loss, muscle mass dynamics, gait abnormalities, size of skin tumors, opacity of the lenses in the eyes, and much more. Think of changes like grass growing—it is not observed to change in a day, but after a few weeks, the difference is noticeable. This is what we see. Much of what we do is based upon observation from the minute your pet arrives at our facilities. While your dog is walking into the exam room, or when your cat emerges from the carrier, we are watching. This is part of why it is so important to have a trusted relationship with your veterinarian. When we get to know a pet, we observe changes from appointment to appointment. With the emergence of socalled ‘Instagram Practices,’ where there are inconsistent and rotating doctors, you lose the personal touch and trust built over multiple visits. Many of our talks are of a sensitive nature, including weight loss, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and more. When we know you and your pet well, these times flow easier through a mutual trust. Your pet even knows it! The physical examination is at the core of what we do as healthcare providers. Every time your pet sees us, we assess everything from the snout to the end of the tail. All of this with the goal of keeping your pet as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Please do not neglect annual or semi-annual visits- for health! Dan Teich is the Medical Director at District Veterinary Hospital. u

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ALL OF US

Together CLASS OF

Dear Students, Whether this was your final year of high school, your last year of elementary school, or anywhere in-between, I hope you are wrapping up a successful school year and that you are excited to celebrate summer and all that comes next. As students and as people, you have been through a lot over the past two and a half years. I know that your teachers and principals worked hard to make this school year an exciting return from many months of distance learning. I hope you enjoyed getting back to friends, group projects, specials classes, and after school activities. I also want you to know how proud I—and your community—have been of how you adapted so quickly to new ways of doing things—new COVID testing protocols, new pickup and drop-off procedures, new ways of interacting with your teachers and classmates. But you did it. I hope you will take a moment to feel proud of your accomplishments too. I also hope you will take some time to thank the people around you who supported you through distance learning and then with your return to school. One thing we know from our experience throughout this pandemic is the importance of working together as a community. As Mayor of Washington, DC, I feel incredibly proud of how our city rose to meet this once in a lifetime challenge. At every stage of the pandemic, Washingtonians of every age, and across all eight wards, have worked together to keep each other safe. Now, as you prepare for summer, my call to action to each of you is to pick an issue or problem you care about and then find other people in our community who want to help you create a solution. There is no issue too big or too small for you to care about. You might want to join the growing number of Americans nationwide who are demanding solutions to gun violence. In fact, you might already have an idea for how we can make our community safer and stronger. You might have heard about the campaign being led by professional women’s sports teams in DC to distribute free sports bras to girls who need them, and you might have your own idea for how we can help and encourage more girls to play sports. Maybe every day on your walk to school you notice a part of the sidewalk on your street that needs to be fixed and you want to do something about it. Maybe you’re just about to turn 18 and you’re frustrated about not having any United States senators to vote for and now you

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want to play a bigger role in the fight for DC statehood. Again, there is no issue too big or too small for you to care about. Being a Washingtonian is a unique and wonderful experience. Washington, DC functions as a city, county, and state. That makes my job interesting because it means I function as a mayor, county executive, and governor. For you, as a citizen, this also means that there is so much opportunity to make a positive change in your hometown. You can have an idea today and by working with other members of the community, you can bring that idea to life by the summer. And I hope you will! I always tell my team at DC Government to bring me fresh ideas. One thing I know for certain is that our young people have the freshest ideas! Again, I am so proud of DC’s students. Let’s keep setting important goals, dreaming big, and working together to keep Washington, DC the greatest city in the world, and soon to be the best state in the country!

Sincerely, Muriel Bowser Mayor

“High quality design and preservation framing are our top priorities” Serving Capitol Hill since 1984 Custom designed mats • Wide selection • Work done on premises 513 11TH ST. SE (EASTERN MARKET METRO)

202.544.7577 www.newmangallery.com ROTAT I N G E X H I B I TS O F LO C A L A RT I S TS June 2022 ★ 121

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Dear Class of 2022, It is my great honor to have the opportunity to address so many of you here in our community newspaper and to wish you the very best as you mark this important milestone on your journey. Congratulations – you did it! Words of wisdom during commencements are pretty common. Everyone has lots of advice for you because we all can see how much potential you have in whatever comes next. And I have no doubt there are great things ahead for the class of 2022, no matter where your next stop is. You have come to your graduation at a time when life can feel very urgent – and at times a bit overwhelming. But I don’t need to tell you all this. I suspect you know better than most folks older than yourself that we are facing some pretty daunting challenges. Gun violence, climate change, racial inequality, threats to women’s rights, and so many more issues are all massive challenges we face as a community and as a nation. Even as we create time and space to make sure we celebrate you and this important milestone on your journey to adulthood, there’s no sense in ignoring that you’re being asked to grow up fast. We need you. If there’s one thing I wish to impart on you, it is that you should know you can make a difference in these problems and the challenges ahead. And I know you will. There are countless paths and ways forward that can improve life, not just for you, your family, and your friends, but also for your community and for strangers you’ll never meet. You have incredible power and potential, and I wish you could see it the way your parents and loved ones can see it in you. I’ve learned there won’t be a single magic “ah ha!” moment sometime in the future when you know you’re ready. But you will be ready. And as you continue to grow, stretch, and learn, do so knowing you are fully capable of solving some of the world’s biggest problems and being a part of moving things in the right direction. Class of 2022, I have great hope for your futures. As you take your next steps, I hope you do so knowing that your community is incredibly proud of what you have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing what you do next.

Congratulations! Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6 Chair, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety

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SERVING GRADES 6-12

YOUR LEGACY STARTS HERE. Apply today for School Year 2022-2023. Seats are limited. Complete the application online through MySchoolDC.org. #ChoosePaul and we’ll choose you back! Increase your chances of being matched with Paul PCS by making us your #1 selection.

WHY PAUL PCS FOR 6-12 GRADE?

• Tier 1 High School; on average 1:15 ratio for MS and HS classes • Guaranteed seat for Paul middle school families into Paul IHS • SAT Prep, Tutoring, Honors AP Classes, Dual Enrollment and In-House College Application Assistance

• Over 20 competitive Jr. Varsity and Varsity Athletic teams • Free daily breakfast, lunch and Extended Day after school programs • Highly Rated 6-12 Special Education Services, IEP/504 Support and Counseling After you apply, visit us during our Paul PCS Saturday Enrollment Hours:

Saturday, June 11th 8:30am - 12:30pm

Visit www.paulcharter.org to learn more. Questions? Email: Enrollment@paulcharter.org

5800 8th Street NW Washington, DC I (202) 291-7499 June 2022 ★ 123

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Way to Go, Jonas!

Congratulations, Frederick Parse!

Congratulations on your graduation from Basis DC. Your hard work and determination have paid off as you achieved the highest goals you set for yourself. You have a bright future ahead. Onward to Yale! With endless love and pride from your family.

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and so optimistic about your future. We’ve watched you evolve academically (from SWS @ Peabody to Brent to Basis DC) and athletically (from SOTH to CFC to Basis DC) and constantly challenge yourself (Chess Challenge, Youth in Government, Model UN). You’re building momentum in such a positive way as you grow into adulthood and head off to the College of William & Mary. You’re going to accomplish great things!

– Mom, Dad and Danika

– Love, Mom & Dad

CLASS OF

Temitayo Charles Adeola Temi, you’re an exemplar in your drive, determination, and ambition. You’re irrepressible. You’ve accomplished so much in academics, scholarship, and leadership – and you’re not even 17 yet! I’m glad to know you and I hope you and Clara stay besties. I have no doubt you’ll accomplish everything – you’re a star!

CLASS OF

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Clara Schoell Clara, Ms. Duckett noted in 4th grade that you’re a quiet leader. You continue to be. You’re your own person, and that strength of character has served you as you’ve plowed through school. You’re a lowkey powerhouse, well-respected, with honors. We couldn’t be prouder. Go forth, girl – look out, Boston!

CLASS OF

Congratulations, Lila! DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, CLASS OF 2022 We are so proud of you. We wish you all the success in the world.

– Love, Mom, Dad, and Levi.

CLASS OF

Congratulations! How is it possible that the four of you are just moments away from the start of amazing new adventures? We blinked, and our sweet babies have all grown up. It has been our honor to watch each of you grow into spectacular young adults. We can’t wait to see what you do next. We love you!

William Zatkowski

Rob Golin

Jac Crowell

Stella Drager

CLASS OF

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Congratulations to Lucas Guire! Congratulates the Class of 2022! I’ve loved getting to know many of you and your families, and I join them in celebrating your graduation and your future. You have so much to be proud of! Best wishes for all that lies ahead.

– Becky Claster

2022 GRADUATE OF TEMPLETON ACADEMY

Three Cheers, Sadie Cutler! GEORGETOWN DAY SCHOOL ‘22 From the Cluster to Macalester College– we’re so proud of you. Get ready for those Minnesota winters! We know you’ll bring warmth and sparkle to everyone you meet.

We are very excited for your upcoming journey at Goucher College. We are so proud of you!

– Love, Mom, Dad, Catie and Juno

We love you – our Sunshine and always a Hill kid.

– Mom, Dad, Elsa

CLASS OF

Congratulations Lily Smeltzer!

Congratulations Ava Schutter! GRADUATE OF SAINT JOHN’S COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

WASHINGTON LATIN CLASS OF 2022 ATTENDING VIRGINIA TECH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become”

–The Lorax, ily, Mom CLASS OF

Mazels, Petra Rose! We are so proud of you and know you’re going to (pink) rock college at FIT.

– Much love from Team Lily, Mom, Dad, Julia (and Newtie and Galileo)

–Love, Mama, Papa, Ori, and Apollo

CLASS OF

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We salute your many accomplishments, including your academic success, the soccer goals saved, the basketball three-pointers made, your service trips, your artwork, and especially your friendships. We know your future is bright and look forward to seeing where your next path leads!

CLASS OF

Congratulations on your graduation, Julian AND BEST OF LUCK IN BOULDER. YOU’LL REACH NEW HEIGHTS! Thanks also to all the great teachers here on the Hill at Maury and at DCI who have taught you over the years!

– Love Mom Julian Gutierrez, DC International School will graduate on June 10 on his 18th birthday!

CLASS OF

Photo digitally composed by Victor O'Neill Studios

CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022! We proudly announce that our graduates have been accepted to the following high schools: Archdiocese of Washington Catholic High Schools

Other High Schools

The Academy of the Holy Cross Connelly School of the Holy Child DeMatha Catholic High School Elizabeth Seton High School Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School

Bishop Ireton High School (Diocese of Arlington) Bishop O’Connell High School (Diocese of Arlington) Bullis School School Without Walls

Gonzaga College High School Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School St. Anselm’s Abbey School St. John’s College High School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

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SCHOOL NOTES by Susan Braun Johnson

Northeast Stars Montessori NES students have been learning about geometric solids. During circle time, a cone and a cube were presented. Each shape was named. The children also named things that have the same shape such as traffic cones, ice cream cones, ice cubes, and blocks. Northeast Stars Montessori Preschool, 1325 Maryland Ave NE; nestars.net.

Van Ness The Van Ness Elementary School DC Scores team was honored to participate in the annual Congressional Soccer Match at Audi Field. Team members were invited to escort congresspeople onto the pitch to start things off with a splash. Go Otters! Van Ness, 1150 5th St SE; www.vannesselementary.org.

Payne Elementary

Capitol Hill Day School School Within School On May 22, School Within School’s Girls on the Run (GOTR) team participated in the GOTR-DC 5K at Anacostia Park along with 50 other DC school and community teams. The GOTR program is for 3rd-5th grade girls and combines physical activity with dynamic discussions in each lesson to help build physical, social, and emotional skills in each kid while encouraging healthy habits for life. The SWS team consists of 20 kids and four coaches who have been practicing since mid-March 2022. For more info about GOTR go to gotrdc.org School Within School, 920 F St NE (current temporary location at 810 26th St NE). schoolwithinschool.org. 128 H HILLRAG.COM

CHDS fifth-graders are studying poetry in Humanities as part of a unit that asks: how should a community care for its environment? In addition to studying the environmental justice movement, students also explored how people capture their relationship with the environment through stories, poetry, and song. Last month, students took a field trip to Planet Word where they did a workshop on the sound of poetry and got to explore the gallery. Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave, SE; www.chds.org.

Payne Elementary Wildcats are wrapping up the school year with celebrations and performances. At the Spring Carnival on May 21, kids enjoyed a water slide, dunk tank, carnival games, and a magician. The boy’s and girl’s basketball teams were joined by some parents and staff at Eliot Hine’s Basketball Fever and had a great time! The Girls on the Run team completed a 5K at Anacostia Park, and the Saturday Arts Academy Showcase in June will have performances in piano, violin, guitar, drums, ballet, Tae Kwon Do, and more. Every grade is getting outside and learning about the Chesapeake Bay watershed through field trips funded through the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Payne, 1445 C St. SE; www.paynedc.org.

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Maury Bike to School Day is an eagerly anticipated event at Maury Elementary. Most students live within a few blocks of the kickoff location, Lincoln Park, and the school is just a short ride away. Families braved a light drizzle to arrive early and enjoy the speeches, warmups, treats, and tunes from the Eastern High School Band. Maury ES, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE, mauryelementary.com.

Waterfront Academy

Eastern High School

The Primary Class presented a few songs, some in Spanish and English. The Elementary classes presented a mimed play using gestures and instrumental music to tell a story of forgiveness. Individual students also had mini presentations like performing a song on the piano, a Japanese soliloquy and a stand-up comedy routine. Waterfront Academy, 222 M St. SW, www.waterfrontacademy.org

Eastern’s National Honors Society seniors passed the literal torch to the new NHS inductees. Demiyah Brown, Eastern’s Chapter Student Chair, enumerated the many service projects they had completed, and invited the new members to continue the tradition of leadership, academic integrity, and giving back to the community. Inductees are Christian Barahas, Alonee Boose, Nasim Brawley, Jarius Cain, Canon Cole, Skyler Elsner, Vernell Garvin, My-Starshia Glascoe-Newton, Lauren Handon, Ariel Hinson, Cydney Hudson, Maya Miller, Mahanna MooreDargbeh, and Kendall Rawls-Newton. Eastern Senior HS, 1700 East Capitol St, NE; easternhighschooldc.org, and follow @EasternHS, @ Photo: William E. Jenkins. Eastern_PTO, and FB: easternhighschool.

J.O. Wilson The J.O. Wilson preschoolers are tackling a global plastic waste crisis. They decided to stuff tennis ball cans full of flimsy plastic and make something beautiful and useful—a bench on Sherwood Rec Center Tennis Courts. After June 4, check out the installation and read the J.O Wilson book. J.O. Wilson Elementary School, 660 K St. NE; www.jowilsondcps.org. 130 H HILLRAG.COM

Friends Community School Each year the entire sixth grade class puts on a musical. It is a yearlong project that involves multiple disciplines and a great deal of stepping outside of comfort zones. This May students performed School of Rock and they rehearsed and performed the whole show outdoors. They sang, danced, and played all the instruments in the band! Friends Community School,5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD; www.friendscommunityschool.org.

Templeton Academy Chemistry students at Templeton Academy ditched their desks and headed to the US Botanic Garden to learn about the chemistry of medicinal plants. While there, they also got a chance to plant some flowers in the Children’s Garden. These authentic, hands-on learning opportunities are a core component of the school’s educational model. Register online to attend their next virtual open house to learn more about the school. Templeton Academy, 406 7th St NW. www.templetonacademy.org/dc

Come se hine r a le n C us! with

YU YING IS OPEN TO ALL! • We’re one of 11 DC public charter schools with equitable access preference. • Parents and guardians – you don’t need to speak Chinese for your child to attend. Learn more and register for an upcoming virtual open house at washingtonyuying.org/enroll

PREK 3 - GRADE 5

DC Prep campuses now accepting applications for the 22-23 school year, serving students PK3-8th grade in wards 5,7,8. Preparing students for an academically and socially successful future.

Call 202-780-5126 for more information or visit:

dcprep.org

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Washington Youth Garden 50th Birthday Party

On Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., all are invited to the National Arboretum Washington Youth Garden for a free, family-friendly birthday party. WYG was established in 1971 on the grounds of the US National Arboretum to teach students horticultural and life skills. They’ll have games, activities, and birthday cake. Connect with WYG staff and participants from the past and present. The event is free, but they ask that you register to let them know you’re coming at fona.org. Photo: Courtesy of Friends of the National Arboretum

y l i m a f & kids

National Capital Barbecue Battle (free, under twelve)

After taking place virtually for the past two years, the National Capital Barbecue Battle returns in-person on Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (rain or shine), and will beneﬁt the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. The twoday event along Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, between Third and Seventh features barbecue and grilled food samples all weekend, 30 bands performing across three stages, celebrity chefs, cookbook authors and local professional sports player appearances, kids activities, microbrew and wine sampling, cooking competitions and much more. Musical artists include American Authors, Trevor Daniel, Nighthawks, Laine Hardy, Vertical Horizon, The Chuck Brown Band, Sam Grow and many more. Daily pass, $20; two-day pass, $30; family four-pack (adults), $60. bbqindc.com/kids-activities-dpr.

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DC Outdoor Pools Open for Season

DC outdoor pools are operating on a weekend-only schedule through Sunday, June 26. Starting Monday, June 27, all outdoor pools will operate on individual summer schedules, six days a week. All DC public pools are free for DC residents. Have photo ID. dpr.dc.gov/ page/outdoor-pools. Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation

Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Registration Open The MCM Kids Run is on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Arlington, VA. Children ages ﬁve to twelve can participate in the one-mile fun run. Pre- and post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. The Kids Run offers families eight start time options between 9:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Registration is $15 and is now open at marinemarathon.com/events.

Courtesy of the Marine Corps Marathon

ANNUAL

2022

Location: Maury Elementary*

1250 Constitution Ave. N.E

*Pending DCPS Approval

We are a DCPS approved Community Business Organization

2022 Summer Camp Fees $74 per day $370 per week $175 per week scholarship rate

July 5th August 5th

Children Ages 3-10 REGISTER ONLINE AT:

* Families applying for the scholarship rate must submit proof of income at registration.

www.ezchildtrack.com/parent3/ParentLogin.aspx?c=politepiggys

Why Choose Polite Piggy’s This Summer?

Your child will find joy, friendships, and caring team members every day. In addition, we offer unique classes like art, music, sciences, Stemovate, chess, fitness, sports, cooking, Legos, and hiking club with Aunt Lizzie. P.S. We forgot to mention there are weekly water play sessions and plenty of popsicles!

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Whether you are looking for the morning, full-day, or eight weeks, we have you covered with top-notch programming. *We have additional COVID safety measures in place to do our best to keep everyone safe.

See Your Family Soon! For More Information:

www.politepiggys.com politepiggysinfo@gmail.com I 240-480-3195

June 2022 ★ 133

. family life .

My House, My Home at the National Building Museum On Saturday, June 18, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids in first to third grades can compare and contrast common features of houses and explore the process, tools, and materials used to construct homes before building a home of their own. Participant ticket includes access to all of the Museum’s exhibitions on this specified date. $15. National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. nbm.org.

Washington Nationals: The Team That Reads This season, the Nationals launch Summer Reading Sundays, which occur prior to select home games and feature Nationals first baseman Josh Bell and relief pitcher Sean Doolittle as Player Ambassadors. Summer Reading Sundays feature a Player Ambassador plus reading and literacy-themed programming from partner organiza-

Design Zone at the National Children’s Museum

Creating new worlds as a video game developer, crafting the perfect vibe on the dance ﬂoor as a DJ, designing a fun, thrillinducing roller coaster: It’s all in a day’s work while playing in Design Zone, National Children’s Museum’s newest visiting exhibit. This summer, Design Zone will challenge young innovators to put their creative problem solving to the test and discover how science, technology, engineering, and math concepts power design. On display through Monday, Sept. 5, 2022, the exhibit seeks to engage learners ages ﬁve through 12 as they explore a variety of creative concepts to learn the processes and tools needed to create a successful design. Highly interactive and hands-on, Design Zone is organized into three thematic zones (art, music and action). Admission is $15.95. National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is open daily, except Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. nationalchildrensmuseum.org. The “Fast Tracks” experience within Design Zone’s action-themed area. Photo: Courtesy of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

This concert is also the album launch party for Lions & Lilypads. The concert will feature the ﬁrst exclusive performances of new original tunes from the album, produced by Grammy-winning Dean Jones (Okee Dokee Brothers, Joanie Leeds). The band will be selling merchandise.

Family Happy Hour with King Bullfrog

On Friday, June 19, 5 to 7 p.m., bring the family out to enjoy a Friday evening ﬁlled with live music perfect for all ages. This concert will be outdoors at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh, and play to the beat of their favorite songs. Featuring Mr. Jeremiah and Mr. Steve – both Capitol Hill-based dads and music teachers – the duo’s roots-and-blues tunes are carefully tailored to get children dancing while delighting grownups – an approach that successfully hooks audiences young and old. With their musical stories, amusing wordplay, and close attention to all of their audiences, King Bullfrog is the hottest sensation in family music in the DC area. Or at least the most amphibian... Adult ticket, $10; child ticket, $12.hHillcenterdc.org. 134 ★ HILLRAG.COM

tions including Arlington Public Library, DC Public Library, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution and National Children’s Museum. Summer Reading Sundays will take place prior to the following home games this season: June 12 vs. Milwaukee Brewers; July 17 vs. Atlanta Braves; and Aug. 14 vs. San Diego Padres. nationals.com/SummerReading.

Market SW: Family & Pet Friendly Gathering Market SW, at Fourth and M Streets SW, is on alternate Fridays, 4 to 10 p.m. Remaining dates this season are June 10 and 24; July 8 and 22; Aug. 5 and 19; and Sept. 2, 16 and 30. With a mix of local and creative businesses, food trucks, live music, a fully stocked beer garden, colorful lights, and family-friendly activities, each market creates a lively atmosphere of a neighborhood outdoor living room. The market is directly across the street from Waterfront Station Metro and near Arena Stage. DiverseMarkets.net.

Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs & Cinderella We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories? What if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big or so bad? Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs is at the Glen Echo Playhouse on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., through July 3. Sensory-friendly performance is on June 12, 11:30 a.m. and ASL interpretation is on June 26, 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $15. Recommended for ages four, up. Rod puppets convey the classic tale of rags to riches, love at first sight (twice!), and getting what we all deserve. Cinderella is at the Glen Echo Playhouse on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., from July 21 to Aug. 28. Tickets are $15. Recommended for ages five, up. thepuppetco.org.

100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011

Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation for learning

June’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap Tucked in the woods at Wolf Trap National Park, the Children’s Theatre-inthe-Woods has been a summer tradition for generations of children and families. Here’s the June lineup: June 22, The Fourth Wall--Fruit Flies Like a Banana; June 23, Xuejuan Dance Ensemble--The Land of Mulan; June 24 and 25, Madcap Puppets--Jack and the Gentle Giant; June 28, Marsha and the Positrons-Energetic, Fun Songs About Science; June 29, Native Pride Dancers--Dancing Through Life; June 30, David Gonzalez with Daniel Kelly-Cuentos--Tales from the Latinx World. All shows are at 10:30 a.m. (gates at 10 a.m.). Tickets are $12. After each performance, children and parents are encouraged to continue enjoying the free and open space in the Park. Theatre-in-the-Woods, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. wolftrap.org.

NSO’s Toy Story in Concert at Wolf Trap On Saturday, July 30, 8 p.m., the NSO brings Toy Story in Concert to Wolf Trap, featuring the Oscar and Grammy-winning score by Randy Newman. Ever wonder what toys do when people aren’t around? Toy Story answers that question with a funfilled journey through the eyes of two rival toys—Woody and Buzz Lightyear. The full feature film will be projected in HD onto screens in-house and on the lawn and accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra. $37 to $67. wolftrap.org.

COME LEARN WITH US! PRE-K 3 – 5TH GRADE SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR ADDITIONAL SLOTS FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGH LEVEL SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.

Apply for admissions at:

www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED ON A CONTINUING BASIS

w w w. br i d g e sp c s . org I 2 0 2 . 5 4 5 . 0 5 1 5 Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park Kids ages four to ¬twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This season’s remaining dates: June 12 and 19; July 3, 17 and 31; Aug. 14 and 28; Sept. 18; and Oct. 2. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. An adult must accompany runners to the field. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to pre-

TEACHING WITH SUCCESS FOR 19 YEARS

YEAR ROUND ENROLLMENT

Potted Potter at Shakespeare Theatre

Playing to sold out houses all over the world, the Olivier Award nominated Potted Potter–The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into seventy hilarious minutes. Even if you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufﬂepuff, Potted Potter will Jeﬀerson Turner and Daniel Clarkson make you roar with laughter. in Potted Potter. Photo: Courtesy of Created by two-time Olivier Potted Potter Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, Potted Potter is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed). $49.75 to $99.75. Potted Potter is at Shakespeare Theater’s Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW, June 29 to July 17. Seventy-minute run time. shakespearetheatre.org.

STEM BASED EDUCATION WITH MONTESSORI FOUNDATION • Certified Licensed Teaching Staff • Spanish Emmersion • Kindergarten Readiness • Superior STEM based academics • Potty Training • Enrichment Classes • AM Meals Provided

SUMMER CAMP AND FALL 2022

ENROLL NOW!

13 Weeks of Science Experiments, Outdoor Exploration & Play Weekly themes compliment our STEM–heavy curriculum both in our classrooms and outside. WEEKLY ENROLLMENT | AGES 2–6, 7:30 AM - 6 PM

See our STARS in action.

@northeaststarspreschool

www.nestars.net To register or to schedule a tour

703.945.0408

northeaststarsmontessori.nes@gmail.com CAPITOL HILL 1325 Maryland Ave., NE Washington, DC 20001

ALEXANDRIA 697 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314

June 2022 ★ 135

Mr. Popper’s Penguins at Imagination Stage

s n o i t a l u t a r g n o C ! 2 2 0 2 Class of

The Sky is Your Limit,

Fly High!

Wishing you all the best, from the Hill Rag staff. ALL OF US

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CLASS OF

Mr. Popper, a painter of modest means, dreams of taking an Antarctic adventure. So he’s thrilled when a penguin named Captain Cook waddles out of a mysterious box left on his doorstep. The zookeeper donates a female companion and soon…the patter of 20 baby penguin feet. To feed all of these mouths, the imaginative Mr. Popper and his wife turn his talented penguins into a must-see traveling vaudeville act full of song and dance. But the rigors of performing take a toll on them all, and they must make a difﬁcult decision. This musical play, featuring expert puppetry, depicts a wild and witty way to follow your dreams–and your convictions. $12 to $39. ASL-interpreted performance: July 24 at 1:30 p.m. Sensory-friendly performance: July 17 at 11 a.m. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, for ages three to ten, is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, from June 22 to Aug. 7. imaginationstage.org.

pare the field. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning, however fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Semper Fi Father’s 10K, 5K and Kids’ Run On June 19, 9 to 11 a.m., the Semper Fi Father’s 10K, 5K and Kids’ Run is at Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA. Enjoy this scenic, flat 5K/10K that runs along a bike path through Mason Neck State Park. There is race day registration. Participants need to arrive around 45 minutes before the race to get registered. bishopsevents.com/event/2022-semper-fifathers-5K-10K-1m/.

It’s Never Too Early To Discover Shakespeare! Visit Folger Shakespeare Library’s Shakespeare for Kids and check out fun and informative resources for kids and for Shakespeare beginners: 10 Ways To Be a Shakespeare Expert; Cool Printing Facts; Queen Elizabeth I; Shakespeare Challenges; Shakespeare Quotations and Scripts; What is a Shakespeare First Folio?; Who Am I?; and Words, Words, Words. folger. edu/shakespeare-kids.

Blippi The Musical at the National Theatre On June 25 at 2 and 6 p.m. at the National Theater, Blippi The Musical is set to bring the vivacious, energetic, and educational children’s character from the screen to the stage for an allages extravaganza of fun, dancing, singing and meeting amazing new friends

Now Available ONLINE @

in the Whole Foods Section Photo: USBG

The best corn you’ve ever had

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onstage. For tickets and additional information, visit BroadwayAtTheNational.com. ◆

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ENTER THE ANNUAL

PET PHOTO CONTEST!

CATEGORIES: • Best Overall Photos • Best Buddies • Darling Dogs • Human & Pet Best Buddies • Finest Felines •Hill Haunts • Cleverest Caption Send us your favorite pet photos for a chance at fame! Winning entries will be published in the July Hill Rag, our Special Pet Issue, and on our website at hillrag.com.

TO ENTER:

DEADLINE: 6/20/22 Capital Community News, Inc. Publishers of:

MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

June 2022 ★ 137

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE

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CONTRACTORS

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EDDIE CONSTRUCTION

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Carpentry Plumbing Doors & Windows Kitchen & Bath Remodel Interior & Exterior Painting

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lgmhomeimprovementsinc.com

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Bikram Hot Yoga (26 + 2) -plusHot Pilates • Barre • Warm Flow Piyo and Spa Yoga

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New Student Special*

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One week class pass – all inclusive $49. *For local, new students only.

Please pre-register, and arrive 10-20 minutes before the class starts. Masks are NOT required while on your mat taking class, but are required at other times at the studio. (Subject to updates) We continue to offer ZOOM and on-demand classes.

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June 2022 ★ 139

IRONWORK

GEORGE HALLIDAY

MASONRY

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Interior and Exterior. Residential and Commercial. Call or text Garba Contractors:. 202- 368 -2628; gcmanagers@aol.com.

HOUSE HISTORY

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INTERNET

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Thomas Landscapes

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MASONRY

MOVING & HAULING

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THE HILL’S ROOFER FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS!

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ROOFING/GUTTERS R.W. ROOFING

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G G ROOFING

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WOOD & WHITACRE ROOFING CONTRACTORS

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BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC.

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75 years in service

BBB

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202-223-ROOF (7663) June 2022 ★ 141

XWORD

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

“Islands”

by Myles Mellor Across: 1. Key next to Q 4. Seaweed 8. The end of World War II Treaty city in Ukraine 13. Computer woe 18. Dip 21. Pack of donkeys 22. Like the Keystone Kops 23. Islands 25. Island 26. Perturb 27. Pacific ocean fish 28. Baseball’s Blue Moon 29. Racy Italian cars, for short 34. Way up 38. Electronics brand 40. Train directors 44. Cocinero’s pot 45. Halogen salt 49. Sheet 50. Numbers can be found in it 51. Puts back on eBay 53. One way to ship 54. Desire 55. Characterized by apery 57. Some seamstresses 59. Umpire 61. Thesaurus abbr. 62. Time of life 64. Bizarre 65. Goes (for) 67. Well-groomed 71. Provoke 72. Islands 76. Heckle 77. Wet 78. Light-footed 79. Smart ___ 81. Part of a cell nucleus 82. Lab eggs 85. Curve-shaped letter 86. Tyrannize 88. Bowl over

91. Inner part of a corn ear 94. ___ sense 95. Butt of a Jeff Foxworthy joke 98. Colloquial phrase 100. Good works ad 101. Female monster 103. Highway hauler 104. Extremely stingy 106. J.D. holder 107. Warblers 109. Away 110. Ski lift 113. Brigitte, e.g. 115. ____ A4 119. Island down under 121. Islands 129. Despite 130. Excessive 131. Teaching 132. It’s for the birds 133. Fab Four drummer 134. With skill 135. Mach 1 breaker

Down: 1. Cry of relief 2. Vibe 3. Protest singer 4. Auto insurer with roadside service 5. K-O connection 6. Word on a dollar bill 7. “Heart of Dixie” state: abbr. 8. Chicken dish 9. ___ general rule 10. The Fighting Tigers, for short 11. The Mad Hatter’s beverage 12. “____ live and breathe!” 13. London’s Old ___ 14. Bit of progress 15. Swamp thing 16. __ no good 17. Emanation point

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 19. G-rated 20. Med. specialty 24. Putin’s yeses 30. Test site 31. Con game 32. Dextrous beginning 33. Historic march site 35. Tina’s “30 Rock “costar 36. Off one’s feed 37. Thor Heyerdahl craft 38. Confirmation, for one 39. ___ Girl 40. Seek intelligence 41. Suffix with project 42. Dr. for women 43. Require 46. Common solvent 47. Oppressively hot 48. Detroit disappointment 52. Singer Easton

GAMES AND PUZZLES FOR EVERYONE!

Tues, Thurs, & Friday: 11am -10pm Wed: 11am – 8pm Sat + Sun: 10am – 7pm

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• Friendly, knowledgeable staff • Board Games • Card Games • Puzzles • Building Toys • Events

202-544-1059 • labyrinthdc.com 142 ★ HILLRAG.COM

56. Image maker 58. Wall paintings 59. Veto 60. Manning with two Super Bowl MVPs 62. “Give it ___!” 63. Serengeti grazer 65. Cognac cocktail 66. Slept noisily 68. Get behind 69. Elseways 70. Barely beat 72. Keeping papers in order 73. Hue and cry 74. Government security agency, abbr. 75. Fleur de __ 76. Cuba Gooding Jr. movie 80. Limestone region 83. Phone-on-the-web

technology 84. English-born American poet 87. Teacher’s handout 88. Crowning point 89. After a diet look? 90. Chihuahua child 91. U.S.N. rank 92. Buckeyes’ sch. 93. ___-relief 96. Australian state, abbr. 97. One engaged in, suffix 99. Hosp. procedure 102. Chases a fox into its hole 105. Out of place 108. Boy child 110. Peter for one 111. Nevada neckwear 112. Photographer’s setting 114. Actress West 116. “Mila 18” author 117. Abbot and Costello, et al 118. “___ She Lovely?” 120. Fast-moving (in sales) 121. One of Greyhound’s fleet 122. Orkin target 123. “Black box”ers 124. Warm lining 125. Secrecy agreement, abbr. 126. Name 127. Half of D 128. “Whoopee!”

To HILL with the Suburbs! There are a lot of good reasons to sell your home . . .

Maybe its a bit too cramped.

Or, too roomy, now.

Or the commute’s a little too long.

Maybe there’s too much upkeep.

Maybe the METRO is too far.

Or the views not ideal.

Regardless of the reasons, there is only one Great Real Estate Team.

Call The Smith Brothers. We will sell it for you. Office 202.608.1880 Direct 202.608.1887

John Smith 202.262.6037 Aaron Smith 202.498.6794 Peter Davis 301.332.1634 KEEP IN TOUCH ABOUT HILL REAL ESTATE AT/ON: www.facebook.com/TheSmithTeam.DC

jsmithteam@gmail.com

twitter.com/OneHillofaAgent

705 North Carolina Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003

LICENSED IN DC & MD

Hill Rag Magazine – June 2022

Articles inside

The District Vet – The Importance of a Physical Exam

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

A Letter From Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen

A Letter from the Mayor, Muriel Bowser

Happiness Coaching: Help that Can Change Your

Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon

Literary Hill by Karen Lyon

RFK Noise Upsets Neighbors: ANC 6B Report

A Great Free Resource for Gardeners by Rindy O’Brien

Capitol Cuisine by Celeste McCall

At the Movies by Mike Canning

Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair

Art and The City by Jim Magner

Commissioners Call for Safety Beyond Speed Humps ANC 6C Report by Sarah Payne

Liquor License and Zoning Actions: ANC 6A Report