Reminder: LRCA Scholarship Applications Due May 5, 2023

Reminder that LRCA applications are due in one week! Please let your neighbors know.

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Scholarship Opportunity

Applications for the 2023 Scholarship Award Period are Due by Friday, May 5, 2023.

Applications available online at https://lrcadc.org/scholarships.

  • Are you a graduating High School Senior?
  • Will you be attending college this coming Fall, 2023?
  • Are you a resident of the Lamond-Riggs community?
  • Do you attend a DC public school (traditional or charter)? 

If you meet the requirements listed above, then consider applying for this great scholarship opportunity!

Note that the application package requires two recommendation letters. Allow time for recommenders to timely submit the letters either online or by mail.

LRCA 2023 Scholarship Promotional Flyer for Download.

LRCA Boundary Map

May 1: LRCA Public Meeting

Read LRCA’s May 2023 Newsletter.

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting
May 1, 2023
7:00 pm

LRCA May 2023 Meeting Agenda

1. Welcome/Invocation
2. Officers Report, Minutes, Treasurer Report
3. Updates from Elected Officials & PSA
4. Remarks from the DC Office of the Attorney General
5. LRCA Nominating Committee—May election process and procedures; Board position nominations
6. Community Concerns/Closing

To view the meeting online click the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87950325529?pwd=VXJkZ3JpalZvT2NCVWVzbEkvRldqQT09

Meeting ID: 879 5032 5529
Passcode: 993136

Dial into the meeting by phone

301-715-8592

Meeting ID: 879 5032 5529
Passcode: 993136

From LRCA

The meeting on May 1 is your chance to meet your neighbors running for the 2023-2025 term. You can also nominate another member for leadership or throw your hat in the ring yourself. Candidates must be present to accept the nomination.

  • Only members who paid dues by April 3rd, 2023 are eligible to vote. 
  • Voting by electronic ballot will be on May 2nd, from 9:00am ET to 8:00pm ET. All active LRCA members (must have paid membership dues no later than April 3, 2023) will receive an email by Sunday afternoon, April 30, with login information.
  • If you prefer to vote in person, please contact Heather Rodgers at heather@lrcadc.org or 803-269-8415 by Monday, May 1st. In person voting will be held at the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library on May 2nd from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

For your reference, the Nominating Committee has received the following commitments from Lamond-Riggs residents who have been verified to be active LRCA members, and who will be running for Board election/re-election (per the committee’s records as of April 27, 2023):

Board Executives

Barbara Rogers (President)
Tischa Cockrell (1st Vice President)
Danielle Lewis-Wright (2nd Vice President)
Shawaan Robinson (Treasurer, was formally running for Parliamentarian)

Trustees

Angelyn Boose
David Trigaux
Edgar Allen Sheppard
Rev. Johnnie Mays
Vandalia Joyner-Taylor

April 29: ANC 4B Earth Day Resource Fair

ANC 4B Earth Day Resource Fair
April 29, 2023
11:00 am-2:30 pm
Whittier Elementary School
6201 5th Street NW

Join neighbors for an Earth Day Resource Fair on April 29, 2023, from 11 am – 2 pm at Whittier Elementary School. Hosted by ANC 4B’s Executive Committee.

The Resource Fair is co-sponsored by Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson. It will include dozens of government agencies, non-profits, neighborhood groups, and more – with the goal of sharing resources and opportunities for engagement around environmentalism. There will be food trucks, activities for kids, and cherry-blossom themed raffle prizes, so it should be both informative and fun! 

RSVP encouraged but not required. Visit https://rebrand.ly/ANC4BEarthDayFair.

Download flyer to share.

April 25: Metro “Better Bus” Route Redesign Event at Fort Totten Metro Station

Metro recently released a draft visionary network of redesigned bus routes called the Better Bus Network. Better Bus is just an aspirational vision for redesigned routes. No changes would go into effect before 2024, if at all. Read the fact sheet and FAQs. View the draft Better Bus maps & route profiles for DC, Maryland, and Virginia and play around with the Better Bus trip planner.

Metro is seeking input on the draft redesign and is holding a pop-up Better Bus event at Fort Totten Metro station on April 25, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Metro is also holding informational webinars focusing on specific jurisdictions (MD is April 27; Virginia is May 4; DC is May 9).

You can submit comments online on particular routes or fill out an online survey. Visit https://betterbus.wmata.com/share.

The Share Input page is probably the best way to get a handle on how specific routes could be impacted. Using the “Comment on Your Route” tab, you can enter a particular route and see how the redesign compares to the existing route. It is not completely accurate, but if you know your bus routes, it is still a fairly easy way to see how routes may change. For example, the current E4 route has two route options, one ending at Fort Totten station and one ending in Riggs Park. The existing route shown on the Better Bus comment map shows only the route that ends at Fort Totten station. In any case, on the “Comment on Your Route” tab, you can comment on specific changes and also see comments from other riders.

I have not looked at impacts to all neighborhood bus routes in any detail just yet, but neighbor Gavin has and passed along some info. You will notice routes are renumbered for purposes of this redesign; Metro is also seeking feedback on this renumbering/renaming. I have not double checked everything but this is a great start to looking at the network so that we can talk to the Metro team tomorrow. Note, the information below does not include routes that only come into the neighborhood via 1st Place NE and end at Ft. Totten, or the routes north of New Hampshire.

  • There would be three routes roughly equivalent to the E2, which currently runs between Ft. Totten and Ivy City. One routing (provisionally called DC208) would still go to Ft. Totten. Another (DC209) would go on Sargent, Eastern, Chillum Pl., and Riggs to West Hyattsville. Another variant (DC207) would go from Ft. Totten to Deanwood (rather than Ivy City).
  • Aside from losing the Riggs Park loop, there would be changes to the E4 outside our neighborhood. There would be two routes roughly equivalent. One routing (DC203) would still go to Friendship Heights, but staying on Missouri/Military the whole way for a more direct route. The other routing (DC200) would keep the detour onto Kennedy St. NW, and turn left when it reaches Nebraska to go to Tenleytown and Sibley Hospital.
  • There’s also a new route, provisionally named DC302, which would go to Fort Totten through the Riggs/South Dakota Avenue intersection (unlike all the other Ft. Totten buses which either go on Galloway or 1st Pl.), which would give a bus connection to residents near that intersection and to the Walmart and library. From there, it goes west on Riggs to North Capitol, then south on Harewood to Edgewood and eventually Eckington and Union Market, more or less overlapping with part of the current P6 route on the southern end.
  • The K6 and K9 currently take different routes through the neighborhood: the K9 currently goes from Ft. Totten to the east on Riggs, whereas the K6 goes on 1st Pl. west to North Capitol, then north to New Hampshire. Their routes in the neighborhood would be consolidated into the current K6 route, and instead would have two different routings on the Maryland end (MD 144 and MD243).
  • The R1 and R2 would be consolidated into one route (MD 244) very similar to the current R2, with the same routing through our neighborhood (from Ft. Totten to the east on Riggs).
  • The 80 equivalent (DC110) (goes from Ft. Totten east on Galloway, then turns south on South Dakota) would take the same routing through our neighborhood, and keep a similar route until some changes past Union Station.
  • The F6 equivalent (MD245) (from Ft. Totten to Gallatin, then north on Sargent) would take the same routing in our area, with some changes later, ultimately ending at College Park rather than New Carrollton.

Be sure to let Metro know what you think!

Reminder April 22: Ward 4 Job Fair

The Ward 4 Community Job Fair is this Saturday, April 22 from 11am-3pm at Coolidge High School (6315 5th Street NW) in partnership with the Jobs Not Guns Coalition and ANC 4B.

The event will include government agencies, trade unions, and local businesses offering jobs, apprenticeships, and job training programs for DC residents.

Registration is encouraged but not required: www.janeeseward4.com/jobs.

Please let your neighbors know.

Save the Date–May 17: Food & Friends International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Observance

Food & Friends invites neighbors to their 2023 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Observance.

May 17, 2023
6:00 pm-7:30 pm
Memorial garden at Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road NE

RSVP at bit.ly/ICAMFF.

Free to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. Dress is casual. Attendees will receive a limited-edition screenprint.

If you are an artist or know one who would like to submit a panel for their screenprint project, please complete the survey at bit.ly/ICAM23FF.

April 26: ANC 5A Public Meeting (Virtual)

From ANC 5A

ANC 5A Meeting
Wednesday, April 26, 2022 at 6:45 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81870709297?pwd=WDRMMGpvaVVGSGc5amNSU003UDE0QT09

Meeting ID: 818 7070 9297 Passcode: 847136

Dial In: 301 715 8592

Please note: The ANC Commissioners will be admitted to the room first. Once they have joined, everyone else will be let in.

Agenda

I. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm

II. Quorum

III. Agenda Review/Acceptance

IV. Commission Business

A. Secretary Update
1. Minutes for Approval (February 2023 and March 2023)
2. Website- Pictures and Bios

B. Parliamentarian Update

C. Treasurer Report
1. 2nd Quarter Financial Report
2. Cell Phones
3. Comcast for the ANC Office
4. Credit Card Authorization
5. Business cards

D. Commission Action Items
1. Special Resolution
2. 5A08: Convenience Store/Gas Station 4975 South Dakota Ave NE
3. 5A08: McDonald’s Development
4. 5A09: Fort Totten Park Toxic Waste Issue Resolution

E. Administrative Matters
1. Public Safety
2. Social Media
3. Parks Task Force
4. Transportation
5. ANC Office

V. Community Updates

A. MPD

B. Mayor’s Office

C. Councilmember Parker’s office

VI. Reports & Presentations

A. Mayor’s Budget presentation- Mr. Thomas

B. 5A01: UDC Campus Project- Ms. Gray

C. DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities- Mr. Russ

VII. Community Comment Period

VIII. Next Meeting: May 24, 2023

IX. Adjourn

“Metal canisters” found in Fort Totten Park

Update 4/19/2023, 5:50 pm: NPS shared in an email:

The park will be updating the Congresswoman with the new information in the near future.

Here’s the release we sent yesterday: https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/part-of-fort-totten-park-closed-for-public-safety-after-discovery-of-metal-canisters.htm

Here’s a brief update from today: 

The U.S. Army safely removed the two metal canisters yesterday evening and are currently analyzing them off site. The NPS is working to determine the next steps to evaluate this area. Additional information on the canisters is not available at this time.  

Fort Totten Park is open for recreation, but visitors should stay on the Metropolitan Branch Trail and the grassy areas of the fort itself (near Fort Totten Dr. And Crittenden St. NE). Visitors should not use unofficial trails through the woods.

Original post

Yesterday evening, Metro trains bypassed Fort Totten Metro station “out of an abundance of caution” after a National Park Service (NPS) employee apparently found “metal canisters” in Fort Totten Park. NPS states that the canisters were found “in a large mound of soil along Farragut St. that appears to have been pushed into the park from the road.” The U.S. Army is testing the canisters. The park is closed “east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street, and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St.”

As noted previously on the blog, Metro alerted NPS several years ago that contaminated soil was brought in from Spring Valley (a former WWI munitions testing site) to rehabilitate land on the west side of the park that had been used as a staging area for construction of Metro’s green line. NPS stated it conducted testing out of an abundance of caution and found nothing of concern. Several years later, NPS found a WWI ordnance on the east side of the park during construction of a pedestrian trail. NPS stated it did more thorough testing and found nothing of concern. NPS had to abandon the planned trail location after running into infrastructure for Metro’s tunnel.

During this time, residents shared concerns with both NPS and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office about the possibility of contamination from Spring Valley. NPS assured residents that the contaminated soil was removed (from the west side of the park) and stated that there was no reason to believe that contaminated soil was brought to other areas of the park.

On February 7, 2023, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton belatedly expressed concern and requested that NPS conduct more thorough testing of the park. NPS officials attended ANC 5A’s meeting on February 22, 2023. At that meeting, officials stated that they would have a statement in response to Congresswoman Norton’s letter by the next day (February 23) or no later than Friday (February 24). I have not seen any communication from NPS since the ANC 5A meeting. It is completely possible I missed a statement. I reached out to Congresswoman Norton’s office a couple of times in March to find out if NPS shared any communication or plan with her office. No one from Congresswoman Norton’s office responded to my emails.

It is entirely possible that these recently found canisters are just waste. But it is really baffling how elected officials in this city are just shrugging about all of this and making residents do their work.

April 24: ANC 4B Public Meeting (Virtual)

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting Agenda

Monday, April 24, 2023, 7:00pm

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83287696066?pwd=RWpZaEkvK01hQXY1N3NHeVJpWkVBdz09.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.

Meeting ID: 832 8769 6066. Passcode: 262224.

  1. Call to Order & Roll Call
  2. Administrative Items
    • Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
    • Consideration and Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of March 2023 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
    • Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Quarterly Financial Report for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023
  3. Commissioner Updates
  4. Community Concerns
    • Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting. This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
  5. Reports
    • Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 min)
    • Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 min)
    • Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education (3 min)
    • Housing Justice Committee (2 min)
    • Vision Zero Committee (2 min)
    • Community Safety & Support Committee (2 min)
  6. Presentations
  • Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor, DC Public Schools, re: Mayor’s FY24 Budget Proposal (20-minute presentation, 10-minute discussion)
  • Amanda Zander, Public Outreach Coordinator & Private Space Implementation Manager, DC Clean Rivers Project, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, re: Rock Creek Green Infrastructure Project B (10-minute presentation; 5-minute discussion)
  • Ashley Wells, re: DC Smart Street Lighting Project (10-minute presentation; 5-minute discussion)
  1. Consent Calendar
  • Resolution 4B-23-0401: Calling for Legislative or Regulatory Action to Address Collection of Abandoned Shopping Carts (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Gilligan, Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Huff)
  • Resolution 4B23-0402: Providing Support on the Request for Special Exception at 5814 9th Street, NW (BZA 20913) (Commissioner Gilligan)
  1. Resolution 4B-23-0403: Calling on the District Government to Employ Best Practices for Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats)
  2. Resolution 4B-23-0404: Supporting and Providing Recommendations on B25-0195, Lead-Free DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2023 (Commissioner Gilligan, Commissioner Palmer)
  3. Resolution 4B-23-0405: Supporting Funding of a Public Library in the Brightwood/Manor Park Neighborhood (Commissioner Cohen, Commissioner Johnson)
  4. Adjournment

The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for May 9 at 6:30pm. 

The next Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for May 22 at 7:00pm.

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner:

ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting Agenda_24APR2023Download

Metrorail Red Line & Green Line Work April 22-23

From Metro: Union Station & NoMa Metro stations closed & Green Line single tracking April 22-23

Metrorail weekend service for Saturday, April 22 through Sunday, April 23

Advisory Effective: 4/22/23 – 4/23/23

Saturday, April 22 – Sunday, April 23

Hours: Sat 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sun 7 a.m. – midnight

Service:Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Blue Line+ Normal service

Red Line Trains operate every 8-10 minutes between Shady Grove and Judiciary Square and between Rhode Island Ave and Glenmont

Green Line Trains operate every 8 minutes between Greenbelt and Mt. Vernon Sq, and every 16 minutes between Mt. Vernon Sq and Branch Ave

Yellow Line No service through May 6, 2023, reopening on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Maintenance:

Red Line Shutdown between Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Ave for switch machine replacement

Green Line Single tracking between Mt. Vernon Sq and L’Enfant Plaza due to cable installation 

This weekend, Metrorail will serve 97 of 97 stations with scheduled switch machine replacement on the Red Line and cable installation on the Green Line. At stations served by multiple lines in the central core of the system, trains will arrive on average every 3-4 minutes.

The Yellow Line Bridge over the Potomac River is closed for construction as part of the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge Rehabilitation Project to replace the steel liner in the decades old tunnel and repair the bridge due to excessive wear, corrosion and water infiltration issues. Additional Blue Plus and Green line train service is available as an alternative. Yellow Line service will resume on Sunday, May 7, 2023.  

Service Information:

Red Line

  • Trains operate every 8 minutes between Shady Grove and Judiciary Square until approximately 10 p.m., then transitions to every 10 minutes. 
  • Trains operate every 8 minutes between Rhode Island Ave and Glenmont until approximately 10 p.m., then transitions to every 10 minutes. 

Scheduled maintenance & service adjustments

  • Shutdown between Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Ave
  • If traveling downtown, you can transfer to the Green Line at Fort Totten Station.
  • Shuttle bus services provided between Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Ave. 

Green Line

  • Trains operate every 8 minutes between Greenbelt and Mt. Vernon Sq with every other train continuing on to Branch Ave providing service every 16 minutes between Mt. Vernon Sq and Branch Ave.

Scheduled maintenance and service adjustments

  • Single tracking between Mt. Vernon Sq and L’Enfant Plaza due to cable installation.

North Michigan Park Gas Station Hearing Rescheduled to September 2023

The DC Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) rescheduled today’s hearing for a gas station proposal at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE to September 27, 2023 (BZA case no. 17963A). This is the proposal to put a gas station in front of the DC SuperMart/Z-Burger across from the McDonald’s, previously discussed in this post. The property is located in ANC 5A08.

The case will be re-noticed because the applicant needs to submit the proper application for special exception relief to operate a gas station in the MU-3A zone. The applicant had filed a modification of significance of a previously approved application to rebuild the existing convenience store with a gas station. That application was approved back in 2010 (BZA case no. 17963). But the applicant is now proposing to keep the existing convenience store and simply put a gas station in front of it. The applicant was advised that the proper application is a new application for a special exception rather than an amendment of the previously approved application.

The applicant also needs to provide certain information to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the DC Office of Planning (OP) so that those agencies can submit their recommendations. The agencies previously stated they needed more information from the applicant, as discussed in this post.

A representative for the applicant did appear at the North Michigan Park Civic Association meeting on April 5. Not much came out of it except it was clear then that the hearing would likely have to be postponed. I will share information about that meeting in a separate post.

We will see how everything shakes out once the applicant submits all of the required information. Hopefully that will all happen before the ANC recesses during July and August. The September ANC meeting is the same date as the new proposed hearing date.

Expanded Hours at Neighborhood Rec Centers

Today, the DC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) announced expanded hours at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE), Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE), and at North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson Street NE).

 Old Hours*New HoursDaily Operating Hours Change
Monday – Friday12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.8 ➔ 12 hours per day
Saturday9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Closed9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.4 ➔ 8 hours per day

DPR indicated that the expanded hours address usage by teens.

The expansion of hours addresses a growing desire among teens more interested in leisure usage of DPR’s gyms, fitness centers, eGaming lounges, etc. DPR will limit programming and permits during the expanded hours to ensure availability of these highly utilized recreation assets for teens. April 10th, is a professional development day at DC Public Schools which means youth are out of school. 

To view all DPR recreation and community centers, visit dpr.dc.gov/RecCenters.

DPR also announced hiring opportunities.

DPR is Hiring

DPR also is also hiring for the summer, with over 600 positions available. Positions available include summer camp, roving leaders, lifeguards and pool operators, urban park rangers, summer meals program, environmental division, and warehouse and transportation.  

Residents can find a job or sign up to attend our next hiring event on Saturday, April 15 at earnwithdpr.com.

LRCA Scholarship Applications Due May 5, 2023

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Scholarship Opportunity

Applications for the 2023 Scholarship Award Period are Due by Friday, May 5, 2023.

Applications available online at https://lrcadc.org/scholarships.

  • Are you a graduating High School Senior?
  • Will you be attending college this coming Fall, 2023?
  • Are you a resident of the Lamond-Riggs community?
  • Do you attend a DC public school (traditional or charter)? 

If you meet the requirements listed above, then consider applying for this great scholarship opportunity!

Note that the application package requires two recommendation letters. Allow time for recommenders to submit the letters either online or by mail.

LRCA 2023 Scholarship Promotional Flyer for Download.

LRCA Boundary Map

Tonight: North Michigan Park Civic Association Meeting on Gas Station Proposal

The North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) sent notice yesterday of their meeting tonight where a representative will discuss the gas station proposal at 4975 South Dakota Avenue NE.

From NMPCA

North Michigan Park Civic Association 

Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting

Meeting ID 882 7345 2110

Passcode 930240

Call In 1-301-715-8592

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88273452110?pwd=dmZ3R1liOTRKY1FyS3hlYlBqWnBWUT09

Unfortunately, no face-to-face meeting at the NMP Recreation Center – Recreation Center new hours of operation close at 8:00 pm

·         Call to Order

·         Opening Prayer – Silent

·         Roll Call of Officers

Meeting Protocol

  • Phone call should remain on mute unless asked to unmute. 
  • Respect others when speaking
  • Respect our guest.
  • Raise your hand if you have a question and wait to be acknowledged.

Presidents Update

  • Scholarship Applications due by May 15th  
  • NMPCA meeting face to face May – June
  • Bulk trash for NMP residents – May – Seniors will need to register for home pick up
  • Farewell to a fabulous community leader – Grace Lewis

Community Leader Report

  • Mayor’s Office – MOCR – Christian Starghill / Christopher Ingram
  • Ward 5 Council member’s Office –  Carlos McKnight

Guest Speaker
Bhoopendra Prakash – ZBurger / Gas Station Proposal
Q&A

Guest Speaker
Keara Mehlert – Board of Zoning
Q&A

Community Leader Reports

  • Faith United Church

ANC Commissioners that represent NMP

  •     5A02 – Karlus Cozart
  •     5A03 – Emily Lucio
  •     5A08 – Gordon Andrew Fletcher
  •     5A09 – Zachary Ammerman

 Coming Events in 2023

  • February – Scholarship application begins (2 @ $1,000.00 scholarships) applications available at the Recreation Center email to individuals on NMPCA registered listserve
  • May – Community Clean Up also with Bulk Trash pick up
  • June – Scholarship Night
  • June – Community Yard Sale
  • June – August – Community Day Saturday, August 12, 2023
  • August – School Supplies and Backpack event
  • September – Community Clean Up with Bulk Trash pick up
  • November – Toy Drive
  • December – Holiday Party

Adjourn