 DC
Water General Manager George S. Hawkins providing important updates and
information about DC Water for Ward 4 residents
©MurielBowser- My Office Hours in the Ward
located at Annie’s Ace Hardware on Upshur Street
News from Muriel
April 17, 2013
Dear
Neighbors:
I would like to pause and take a moment to pray for the victims of the
Boston Marathon attack. In the midst of
this tragedy, our city and communities across America are in solidarity against
such a heinous crime and are in full support of the great city of Boston. We will be diligent and relentless in our
protection of this city and our precious neighbors and families.
I want to thank all of my neighbors who attended my Town Hall
co-hosted with DC Water, my Office Hours in the Ward at Annie’s Ace Hardware on
Upshur and the joint education meeting with the Ward 4 Educational
Collaborative! Your input, feedback,
concerns and questions have been importantly noted and we will update you all
very shortly.
This Sunday, April 22nd, we will be celebrating Earth Day! Please refer to the Events section in
my newsletter for information about Earth Day related activities and other
important events.
Lastly, don’t forget to vote in the Special Election on April 23rd!
Two Public Hearings to Review Mayor’s FY
2014 Budget, April 22th & April 24th
The Committee for Economic Development chaired by
Councilmember Bowser will host two public hearings to review the Mayor’s Fiscal
Year (FY) 2014 budget.
On Monday, April 22nd,
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the DC Housing
Finance Agency, and the Office of Cable Television will appear before the
Committee. The hearing will take place
in room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and
will start at 10:00 am.
On Wednesday, April
24th, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
(DMPED) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will
appear before the Committee. The hearing
will take place in room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building and will also start
at 10:00 am.
For more information or if you wish you testify, please
contact the Committee Director, Rob Hawkins at 202-724-8052 or rhawkins@dccouncil.us.
Walmart Announces Retail Space Availability
Walmart has announced that they are seeking a DC-based
retailer to occupy a 1,809 square foot retail space at its new store at 5968
Georgia Avenue, NW. The deadline for inquiries from interested businesses
is Tuesday, April 30th.
If you are a business owner interested in this
opportunity, please visit http://www.klnb.com/PropDocs/7989.aspx
for details about the space.
For inquiries from interested businesses, please contact
Ben Becker at bbecker@klnb.com and
202-420-7773 or Brian Finkelstein at bfinklestein@klnb.com
and 443-632-2076.
Metro Continues Weekend Work,
April 19th – 21st
Following a four week reprieve from track work, Metro
continues with the rebuilding effort. Metro is investing $5.5 billion to install new rail, ties, platforms,
escalators, signals, lighting, communication systems, and more. It represents the largest capital investment –
and work effort – since the system's original construction in the early 1970s.
This weekend's rebuilding work will result in service
changes on all lines beginning at 10:00 pm, Friday, April 19th and
continuing through system closing on Sunday night, April 21st.
Red Line
- Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains
between Gallery Place and Union Station as workers install 600 feet
of new lighting fixtures between the tracks at Judiciary Square Station. The project is part of an ongoing effort to
improve brightness and energy efficiency. Rail service must be suspended because the
light fixtures are located within inches of both third rails.
- Judiciary Square Station will be closed
throughout the weekend.
- Trains will operate as follows: 1. Between
Glenmont and Union Station every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at regular
weekend intervals at other times. 2. Between
Shady Grove and Farragut North every 10 minutes during daytime hours and at
regular weekend intervals at other times. 3. In
addition, a special "shuttle train" will run continuously between
Farragut North, Metro Center and Gallery Place. Customers traveling between these three
stations and the western side of the Red Line should transfer across the
platform at Farragut North to continue their trip.
- Customers traveling between the eastern side of
the Red Line and Downtown destinations may wish to consider using Green Line
service between Fort Totten and Gallery Place as an alternate route.
- Customers using shuttle bus service should allow
10 to 15 minutes of additional travel time.
- Last train change: To allow for shuttle bus
connections, the last train from Glenmont to Union Station will depart 32
minutes earlier than normal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The train
will leave Glenmont at 2:05 am on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:05 pm on
Sunday.
Upcoming Police Service Area
(PSA) Meetings
PSA 403 – Wednesday, April 17th
Where: Emery
Recreation Center
When: 7:00 pm
Who: Lt. Shane Lamond, shane.lamond@dc.gov
Earth Day Events
Union Station
Eco-Friendly Exhibits, April 1st – April 30th
From April 1st - April 30th, Union
Station Will feature an interactive, eco-friendly exhibits and activities to
raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustainability. On April 22nd, be sure to check out the full
day of entertainment, discussion panels, contests, games, giveaways and much more.
The event is sponsored by the Earth Day Network, features
music, entertainment, celebrity speakers and environmental activities. It’s free and open to the public. Headlining performers will include legendary
rock group Cheap Trick, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason, pop-rock bands
Kicking Daisies and The Explorers Club.
EPA National
Sustainable Design Expo and Competition, April 18th – April 19th
On April 18th from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm and on
Friday April 19th from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) will sponsor a competition for college age students to
present green innovation. In addition they will have hands-on activities
for all ages and the National Sustainable Design Expo. The event will be located on the National
Mall.
United States Botanic Garden Celebrates Earth Day
On Friday, April 19th, from 10:00 am – 2:00
pm, the Botanic Garden will be celebrating Earth Day at their Conservancy
Terrace. Enjoy cooking demonstrations
with seasonal produce and meet with representatives of environmental
organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways that you can
make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the
plants that support life on earth
The US Botanic Garden is located across from the US Capitol Building along
First Street, SW, between Maryland Avenue and C Street. Bartholdi Park sits behind the
Conservatory and is accessible from Independence Avenue, Washington Avenue or First
Street.
Earth Day at the National Zoo
On Saturday, April 20th, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, The Smithsonian
National Zoo will celebrate Earth that is free and open to the public. Celebrate meet the Smithsonian National Zoo’s
Green Team experts, participate in “green”-themed crafts, and learn simple
daily actions that help you enjoy a more environmentally friendly
lifestyle. The event will be located at
the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
Neighborhood Watch Crime Prevention
Training, April 18th
A Neighborhood Watch crime prevention training will be
conducted on Thursday, April 18th at 7:00 pm at the 3D Metropolitan
Police Department station located at 1620 V Street, NW. The training is free and open to all who are
interested in learning more about crime prevention and reducing the risk of
becoming a crime victim. Space is limited
so RSVP today!
For more information or to RSVP for the training, please
contact nolantutor@yahoo.com.
AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly Self-Help
Office, April 19th
AARP Legal Counsel provides assistant to the Elderly
every Friday. The service is free to DC
residents 60+ years old. During the
Self-Help office hours, a paralegal will assist with legal questions, claims
reports, consumer complaint letters, benefit checks, and more. The Self-Help office will take place at Iona
Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle Street, NW.
For more information, please contact AARP at 202-895-9448
(option 4) to schedule an appointment.
DDOT Public Meeting about Improvements at 4th,
Cedar, and Blair Road, April 30th
The Department of Transportation will be holding a public
meeting on Tuesday, April 30th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the
Takoma Park Library, 416 Cedar Street NW to present its conceptual plans for
improvements to the intersection at 4th St, Cedar Rd and Blair Rd NW.
This intersection has long been a major safety concern and DDOT has been
working with the ANC Commissioners and the residents. This meeting will
allow the community to discuss the draft plan and make suggestions.
Everyone is urged to attend.
For more information, please contact Manager Rahul Jain
at rahul.jain@dc.gov.
If you need special accommodations or language assistance
services (translation or interpretation) please contact Jordyne Blaise at
202-671-5117 or jordyne.blaise@dc.gov
72-hours in advance of the meeting date.
Hands Together Neighborhood Association
Neighborhood Walkthrough, May 4th
The Hands Together Neighborhood Association will host a
neighborhood walkthrough of the neighborhoods of 16th Street Heights
and Petworth on Saturday May 4th starting at 8:00 am at the
Highlands Restaurant located at 4706 14th Street. The walkthrough will be organized by the
association to understand and note the important issues and concerns of the
neighborhood streets.
For more information, please contact Pat Poyner at ppoyner684@aol.com.
Humanities Council’s Live to Read Opening Event
and Celebration, May 1st – 15th
The Humanities Council will host their opening event for
their Live to Read celebration on
Wednesday, May 1st from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Deanwood Community
Center and Library located at 1350 49th Street, NE. The opening will feature Anthony Grooms, the
author of one of the two chosen books for the celebration, Bombingham who will discuss and sign his book. The program will also feature an
intergenerational discussion entitled “Triumphs from Movement: A Reflection on
the 50th Anniversary of 1963.”
This year’s celebration will focus on the events that occurred across
the nation in 1963, with an emphasis on Birmingham, Alabama and Washington
DC. The other chosen book during this
celebration is The Watsons Go to
Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis.
For more information, please contact the Humanities
Council at 202-387-8391.
Reminder: The Links, INC to Host Panel and
Expo about Women’s Healthcare, April 20th
The Potomac Chapter of The Links, Incorporated in
partnership with Zion Baptist Church Health Ministry will host, “Know Thyself, Love Thyself,” a free,
community-wide Women's Healthcare Panel with medical experts and an Expo aimed
at preventing heart disease. The Expo
will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Zion Baptist Church in the A. J.
Edwards Fellowship Hall located at 4850 Blagden Avenue, NW.
Free screenings will be conducted for cardiac disease,
hypertension, depression and obesity, and nearly 20 exhibitors will provide
information on breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, clinical trials,
vascular health, reproductive cancers, alternative medicine and care giving.
For more information, please call The Links, Incorporated
at 202-302-2271.
Reminder: Brightwood Park Citizens
Association Earth Day Clean-Up Event, April 20th
The Brightwood Park Citizens Association will host an
Earth Day Neighborhood Clean-up event atEmery Park on Saturday, April 20th
from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. The group will
meet at the Emery Recreation Center located at 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW and will
provide free District Department of Environment (DDOE) reusable bags for
participants.
For more information, please contact Bryan Lozano at
202-724-8052 or blozano@dccouncil.us.
©Muriel Bowser- Co-hosting a
meeting with State Board Member Kamili Anderson and members of the Ward
4 Education Collaborative to discuss important education matters in our
community
Education Meeting Update
This weekend Councilmember Bowser, along with State Board
Member Kamili Anderson and members of the Ward 4 Education Collaborative,
hosted a meeting to discuss urgent education issues we are facing in Ward
4. Discussion topics included:
Modernizations of Roosevelt and Coolidge Senior High Schools, programming
options for the newly renovated Roosevelt, DCPS plans to revise the
boundary/feeder pattern, DCPS plans to combine Sharpe Health with Mamie D. Lee
at the River Terrace Campus, and other highlights of the Fiscal Year 2014
budget on Ward 4 schools. Representatives
from the Department of General Services were on hand to answer questions
regarding modernization projects throughout the ward. The Collaborative will be
convening further meetings in the near future and will notify the community
when updates are available.
For more information or to get involved with the Ward 4
Education Collaborative please contact Shayne Wells at swells@dccouncil.us.
Walter Reed Special Assessment/Increase
Property Tax Clarification and Advisory Group Community Meeting, April 30th
Earlier this week, there were a series of messages
disseminated on the list serves about the potential for a special tax to
support the redevelopment of the project. The DC Office of Planning would like to
clarify that there is no plan to set up a special assessment or increase
property taxes for existing homes and businesses around the Walter Reed
facility.
The office recently engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI)
to convene a panel of outside independent industry experts through a Technical
Assistance Panel (TAP) to present and share ideas about how temporary uses may
be implemented on the campus as development is underway. As part of this exercise, the panel shared
several ideas and initial approaches that the District could possibly evaluate
to undertake. Amongst many ideas, the
panel also mentioned that at some point, if there is a need and value that this
assessment could be implemented with the community's support to a larger area
outside of the facility.
It is critical to note that these are ideas. These approaches will be evaluated in greater
detail once the final TAP report is complete in late May and as the District
has a stronger grasp of the actual development and operation costs for the
site. The office greatly values the support of the community and having clear
communication about the project. They invite everyone to attend their next
Community Advisory Group meeting, April 30th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Fort
Stevens Recreation Center, 1327 Van Buren Street, NW.
For more information on the WRAMC ULI TAP, please contact Martine Combal,
Walter Reed LRA Director at martine.combal@dc.gov
or Jason Cross, Project Manager, Jason.cross@dc.gov.
DPR Hiring Summer Lifeguards
The Department of Parks and Recreation is currently
hiring summer pool staff, primarily lifeguards as well as a few managers,
assistant managers and customer service representatives.
For more information, please visit their website on
lifeguard jobs CPR and lifeguard certification:
http://dpr.dc.gov/DC/DPR/About+DPR/Employment/DPR+Summer+Employment
Reminder: Seeking Volunteers to Help Water
Trees at Takoma Recreation Center
In the last year, over a 100 trees have been planted at
the Takoma Recreation Center through generous grants from Casey Trees. To keep these newly planted trees alive, we
need help from any and all volunteers!
Please consider volunteering to water them. The only commitment needed is about three
hours of your time on an occasional weekend.
We will pair you with an experienced volunteer so you can learn on the
job. This is also a great way for
students to earn volunteer service hours.
For more information, please contact Steve Saari at
202-535-2961 or flick_9@yahoo.com.
Reminder: DPR Announces Registration for the
30th Annual DC Senior Games
The DC
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has opened registration for the 30th
Annual DC Senior Games. Registration
continues through Wednesday, May 1st. The DC Senior Games are scheduled to take
place Monday, May 6th to Monday, May 13th at various locations
throughout the District of Columbia.
Registration
for the DC Senior Games can be completed online by visiting the 2013
Senior Games web page or seniors may apply in person at one of DPR's
recreation centers.
For more
information, please contact DPR Customer Service at 202-673-7647 or please the
DPR website: http://dpr.dc.gov/DC/DPR.
Reminder: Early Voting for the Special
Election. April 8th – 20th
Qualified
electors may register to vote and cast in-person absentee ballots at the Board
of Election’s office at One Judiciary Square early voting center located at 441
D Street, NW, between the period of Monday, April 8th and Saturday,
April 20th from 8:30 am and 7:00 pm.
For more
information, please contact the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2525
|
