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.
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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.
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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.
Sadly, the poor air quality is impacting the lineup of fun neighborhood activities today and tomorrow.
Tonight’s Fridays at Fort Totten concert with Justin Trawick is cancelled.
Tomorrow’s Art Place Pop Up Vendor Market and the guided Riggs Park Art Walk are cancelled as well.
There may still be indoor activities for the Art Crawl at the Lamond-Riggs Library tomorrow. I will update the post when I learn more about these pending activities.
Update 5:00 pm, 7/17/2026: Indoor activities for the Riggs Park Art Crawl will take place at Lamond-Riggs Library on July 18 starting at 11am. Featuring music by DJ Super Sid, face painting 12-2pm, live artist painting activities, and an ANC 4B art table.
In addition, the grand opening celebration of Tz’ikin Cafe pop-up is still on July 18. From 9am-2pm, find them at their new home at 475 Ingraham Street NE. Enjoy a special opening day celebration brunch collab with Hijos del Maiz.
Passing along information from ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01)
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has issued two notices for work on Jamaica Street & Jefferson Street NE as part of the city’s Sidewalk Gap program.
Residents near Jamaica & Jefferson should have previously received DDOT’s 60-day Notice of Intent to install a sidewalk on the 1200-1299 block of Jefferson Street NE. Now DDOT is giving adjacent property owners 30 days to comment on the proposed design.
Written comments from adjacent property owners may be submitted by mail or email to the DDOT Sidewalk Gap Program Manager, Karyn McAlister, at karyn.mcalister@dc.gov or mailed to Ms. McAlister at 250 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. The deadline to submit comments is August 15, 2026.
DDOT 30-Day Notice on Jamaica & Jefferson St NE Sidewalk Design
Jamaica & Jefferson St NE Sidewalk Design Proposal
Residents will receive 15-day notice before construction.
DDOT has also issued NOI 26-208 PSD to install a crosswalk and daylighting on Jamaica & Jefferson St NE.
DDOT’s Sidewalk Gap Program plans to install:
Residents have until August 26, 2026, to submit comments with the District Department of Transportation, Planning and Sustainability Division, by mail at 250 M Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 or via email at misgna.lemecha@dc.gov.
Residents may check the status of this NOI by visiting DDOT’s NOI Portal.
Passing along information from neighbor Karen
Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 DC Master Gardener Cohort, which runs September–December 2026.
The program includes 16 sessions, primarily held virtually on Wednesday evenings (6:00–9:00 p.m.), with four in-person Saturday sessions (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) at UDC’s Van Ness campus.
The DC Master Gardener Program is designed for individuals who want to support community gardens and sustainable gardening education throughout Washington, DC. Participants must complete 40 volunteer hours to become certified. To maintain certification, Master Gardeners complete 20 volunteer hours and 10 hours of continuing education annually.
Because the program is expected to receive more applications than available spaces, selection will be based primarily on the application essay, which should demonstrate a commitment to the program’s mission and volunteer service. Priority will also be given to applicants from across the District and those who have previously applied.
Application deadline: Monday, July 20, 2026
Acceptance notifications: By August 11, 2026
Please see the Master Gardener website for more information about the course and the volunteer program.
Applications are due by Monday, July 20th. Click APPLY HERE to complete the application.
During the summer, Vision to Learn is providing no cost eye exams and prescription glasses (if needed). This service will be provided at DC Public Library locations throughout the summer, including at Lamond-Riggs Library.
Use this link to book an appointment.
Passing on information received from ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01): DDOT ANC 5A Cool Corridor Pilot Letter to Residents.
DC is launching a “Cool Pavement Pilot” to study the effects of reflective pavement treatments as part of the city’s “Keep Cool DC” strategy.
DDOT states that the pilot will evaluate whether reflective pavement treatments can:
The pilot will impact certain streets in Riggs Park (shown in pink on the map), including parts of:
Emergency no parking signs will be installed to provide 72-hour notice to relocate vehicles.
DDOT states that they anticipate starting the week of July 20, 2026 for one (1) week. They said that while the entire study for the neighborhood will take a full week, each individual block will have restricted parking for only one (1) day from 7AM-7PM to allow crews to apply the reflective pavement on the asphalt. They will not be doing all the streets at once and instead will be alternating streets to allow impacted residents to find alternative parking in the area for the duration of the study.
Questions may be sent to Christian Piñeiro, Special Assistant to the Chief Engineer, at (202) 716-0417 or christian.pineiro@dc.gov.
This Saturday, spend a little time supporting the arts and local businesses in the neighborhood. From 11am-3pm, check out the Riggs Park Art Crawl. Pick up your crawl passport at the Lamond-Riggs Library. Then from 12pm-4pm, visit the Art Place Vendor Market Pop-Up. Be sure to stop in at Tz’ikin Cafe for their official pop-up grand opening celebration to enjoy coffee, tea, and a special opening day brunch.
July 18, 2026
10:00 am-3:00 pm
Lamond-Riggs Library
5401 South Dakota Avenue NE
Join The Parks Main Street for the annual Riggs Park Art Crawl. Featuring interactive workshops, handmade crafts, and engaging activities for all ages.
July 18, 2026
12pm-4pm
5198 South Dakota Avenue NE
Join Art Place for their next vendor market pop up celebrating local creativity and community. Explore a curated selection of vendors and artists showcasing handmade goods, artwork, and unique finds. Enjoy offerings from Tz’ikin Café while experiencing live music throughout the event.
July 18, 2026
9am-2pm
475 Ingraham Street NE
Celebrate the official grand opening of Tz’ikin Cafe’s pop-up coffee shop at their new location.
* Single-sourced coffee beans – carefully selected from Finca San Rafael, Alegria, Usulutan
* Premium loose-leaf teas crafted for the perfect sip, hot or iced selected from Guatemala
* Special opening day brunch collab with Hijos Del Maíz
Hours
Mon – Fri | 7am-2pm
Sat & Sun | 9am-2pm
A few tickets remain for the 5:30 slot for this Friday July 17. Register on eventbrite. Let your neighbors know!
Download 4-H Youth Farm-to-Table Workshop Series Flyer
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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.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 