
The 2026 Main Street Jazz Series continues with Shirleta Settles & Friends this Thursday August 20 at 6pm at the Lamond-Riggs Library.
Hosted by The Parks Main Street and presented by the Greater Washington Urban League.

The 2026 Main Street Jazz Series continues with Shirleta Settles & Friends this Thursday August 20 at 6pm at the Lamond-Riggs Library.
Hosted by The Parks Main Street and presented by the Greater Washington Urban League.


Earlier this week, National Park Service (NPS) installed two new trash cans at Fort Circle Park along Galloway Street NE at 7th and 8th streets NE. As noted in this these posts, ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01) has been working with NPS to address issues in the park. The parkland is not actually in his single member district, but it is part of the neighborhood where we live, so he has taken the initiative to work with NPS on maintenance and upkeep issues.
One request from residents was for more trash cans. The field is used a lot for youth and adult sports. Also, sometimes people just hang out. Unfortunately enough people litter and leave their trash around instead of taking it with them and disposing of it. Neighbors often pick up trash around the park. (Commissioner Sellars was just out this morning picking up trash). Hopefully the new trash cans will cut down on the amount of litter left on the field.
From ANC 5A
Wednesday, August 19th 2026 at 6:30 pm
Join us over Zoom
https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/89897173248Call In Number
+1 305 224 1968 US
Webinar ID: 865 8430 4162
Agenda

Slots available for this Friday August 14. Register on eventbrite. Let your neighbors know!
Download 4-H Youth Farm-to-Table Workshop Series Flyer
—
From UDC CAUSES
Youth ages 6–18 discover the journey from urban farm to table — learning nutrition, sustainability, and real cooking skills along the way.
Does your child enjoy gardening, healthy foods, or hands-on activities? Join UDC-CAUSES at the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market and Urban Food Hub to explore the world of herbs through interactive monthly workshops, located at the UDC Lamond-Riggs Campus parking lot at 5171 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, D.C.
What Your Child Will Experience:
Event Details:
Workshop Dates:
Available Time Slots:
Give your child the opportunity to dig, discover, and taste fresh flavors from the garden while learning skills they can use at home!
For more information, contact causes@udc.edu or 202-274-7124.
From DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR)
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) would like to inform the community that Riggs and South Dakota Park (Corner of Riggs Road NE and South Dakota Ave NE) will close to the public starting Monday, August 17, 2026, for park renovations. Construction is scheduled to be completed in late fall/early winter 2026.
More information about the project scope and plans can be found at:
https://dgs.dc.gov/page/riggs-south-dakota-park1-0
Please visit https://dpr.dc.gov/stakeholder to sign up for project updates.
Residents are welcome to contact DPR’s Customer Care Center at (202) 673‑7647 during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). The call line is closed on weekends and holidays. You may also email us at dprcustomercare@dc.gov.

August 15, 2026
11:00 am-3:00 pm
Parking Lot at Fort Totten Station
Hosted by Metro Transit Police Community Services Bureau. Children of all ages are welcome from elementary to high school.
• Free School Supplies
• Free haircuts
• DJ and Music
• Games and Fun
• Petting Zoo
Check out the lineup of events this August at Art Place at Fort Totten, including pop-up guests at Tz’ikin Cafe and a back to school event at the end of the month.
Tz’ikin Cafe X Sam’s Favorite Things
Sam’s Favorite Things is popping up with pound cakes and more!
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: 475 Ingraham Street NE
Hijos del Maíz pops up serving handcrafted tacos, quesadillas, and more!
Time: 5:00pm-8:30pm
Tz’ikin Cafe X Sugar Bomb Cakery
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: 475 Ingraham Street NE
Summer Concert Series: Fearless Eras (Taylor Swift Tribute)
An immersive Taylor Swift tribute experience brought to life by passionate musicians and devoted Swifties.
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE
Tz’ikin Cafe X Matelna Bakes cinnamon rolls
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: 475 Ingraham Street NE
Join for an afternoon of bingo, prizes, and community fun – Free event!
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: 475 Ingraham Street NE
Summer Concert Series: La Unica
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: South Dakota Avenue & Galloway Street NE
Join for a fun-filled afternoon the whole family will enjoy!
Time: 10:30 am-1:00 pm
Location: The Modern, 400 Galloway Street NE
From ANC 5A
Tuesday, August 11th 2026 at 6:30 pm
Join us over Zoom
https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/86584304162Call In Number
+1 305 224 1968 US
Webinar ID: 865 8430 4162
Agenda
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is offering a new paid internship opportunity for DC Public High School students in grades 9-12. Details from WABA below.
—
DC Vision Zero Youth Leadership Institute
October 2026 – May 2027
$20 hr/3 hr per week
DC Public High School students grades 9-12
Applications are open through September 7th
The VZYLI program empowers youth to become advocates for safer transportation in their communities. By partaking in meaningful professional development experiences, the student interns gain leadership skills, expand their knowledge of transportation safety and acquire the tools necessary to tackle one of the largest public health crises facing our nation today: traffic violence.
Over the course of the internship students will:
Please share this opportunity with DCPS students, teachers, administrators, out of school time programs, or organizations that work with youth. Seven students will be selected to participate in this program for the 2026-2027 school year.


There is still time to pick up petitions and get signatures to run for ANC in the November general election. Completed petitions must be filed at DC Board of Election’s offices at 1015 Half Street, SE, Suite 750 by 5:00 p.m. on August 5, 2026.
Visit DC Board of Election’s website for information on how to run for ANC.
ANC 5A07 is the only single member district (SMD) in ANC 5A where no one has picked up petitions to run. Current ANC 5A07 Commissioner and ANC 5A Chair Valeria Sosa Garnica has decided not to run again. ANC 5A07 has gone without representation for long stretches of time over the past several years. Besides being home to many residents in the Fort Totten neighborhood, the area includes large portions of National Park Service land, Metro property along 1st Place NE, a few charter schools and Mary’s Center. It would be unfortunate for this area to go without representation on the ANC next year, so if you know people who live in that area who would make a good commissioner, please encourage them to pick up petitions to run.
ANC 4B08, which covers part of Riggs Park north of Riggs Road NE, also needs a candidate.


Join the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) for the Summer 2026 Jazz in the Park series.
Tuesday, August 4 – Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center | 501 Riggs Road, NE
Thursday, August 6 – North Michigan Park | 1330 Emerson Street, NE
Tuesday, August 11 – Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center| 501 Riggs Rd, NE
Thursday, August 13 – North Michigan Park | 1330 Emerson Street, NE
Thursday, August 27 – North Michigan Park | 1330 Emerson Street, NE

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
Residents of Wards 5 and 6 are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum on Friday, July 31, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Come climb, build, explore, and celebrate your neighborhood alongside special guests and community partners. No advanced registration is required. Learn more about THE PLAYGROUND here. See you at The National Building Museum on July 31!
Neighbor Gavin passed along information about planned Metrorail service disruptions near or impacting Fort Totten station over the next year.
View Metro’s Maintenance Strategy & Long-Range Planning Board Presentation (July 2026)
Service disruptions directly impacting Fort Totten station in bold below.
Hyattsville Crossing – Greenbelt
• Service Pattern: Weekend shutdown
• Dates: September 5-7, 2026
U St – Georgia Ave
• Service Pattern: Single tracking
• Dates: December 16-30, 2026
Rhode Island – Silver Spring
• Service Pattern: Weekend shutdown
• Dates: February 2027
Silver Spring – Forest Glen
• Service Pattern: Single tracking (5 weekends)
• Dates: Late Spring 2027
George Ave-Petworth – Hyattsville Crossing
• Service Pattern: Extended shutdown
• Dates: July 2027
Union Station – Rhode Island
• Service Pattern: Extended shutdown
• Dates: August 2027


It’s a beautiful day for music and outdoor yoga! Let your neighbors know.
—
For the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market this Friday, UDC will have both a free beginners yoga session in the shaded agroforest area of the Food Hub and Radio One (93.9 WKYS) with live entertainment and giveaways. Let your neighbors know!
Date: July 24, 2026, 4pm-8pm
Location: UDC, 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE (access via parking lot on Galloway Street NE)
4pm-6pm: WKYS 93.9 live entertainment and giveaways
6:30pm-7:30pm: Free community yoga, all ages, beginner friendly
Download flyers:
On July 13, 2026, Food & Friends broke ground on their building expansion. NBC4 Washington covered the event. We discussed the planned expansion in this post. Food & Friends has a dedicated site for updates related to the expansion at expansion.foodandfriends.org.


Ward 5 Roll Off Day Summer 2026
Date: July 25, 2026, 10am-2pm
Location: North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street NE
Free to attend. Pre-registration encouraged but not required.
What is accepted at Roll Off Days
What is not accepted?
Please see the complete list of what cannot be accepted here: https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/page/items-not-accepted-roll-events.


For the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market this Friday, UDC will have both a free beginners yoga session in the shaded agroforest area of the Food Hub and Radio One (93.9 WKYS) with live entertainment and giveaways. Let your neighbors know!
Date: July 24, 2026, 4pm-8pm
Location: UDC, 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE (access via parking lot on Galloway Street NE)
4pm-6pm: WKYS 93.9 live entertainment and giveaways
6:30pm-7:30pm: Free community yoga, all ages, beginner friendly
Download flyers:
From the National Building Museum
Ward Days are back! On select dates throughout the summer, DC residents can enjoy free admission to the National Building Museum. Residents of the featured ward receive complimentary admission to both the National Building Museum and THE PLAYGROUND during their designated Ward Day. Ward Days take place on Fridays from 2 to 5 pm. To participate in Ward Days, visitors should check in at the Museum’s Visitor Center upon arrival.
Wards 2 & 4 – July 24, 2026

From Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
The High School Internship Program provides work-readiness skills, project-based learning, life skills, leadership development training, and work opportunities for District high school students (grades 9-12), ages 14—21. The goal of the program is to help prepare District youth to successfully transition from high school into postsecondary education, advanced training, unsubsidized employment, or a career in the military.
Learn more about the program and apply by August 1, 2026 here.




Emergency No Parking signs have been posted in the 1100-1200 blocks of Galloway Street NE alongside the parkland so that DDOT, DPW, and the National Park Service (NPS) can do work to remove vegetation, remove litter, and post “No Dumping” signs at Fort Circle Park. ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01) has been working with these agencies and with the property management team at the Michigan Park Commons apartment community to address longstanding issues with illegal dumping and littering in the park in this location.
No parking will be permitted in the restricted location from 8am-5pm on July 21 & 22.