Author Archives: nextstoprp

April 24 & 25: Providence Focus Groups

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Ascension Health, the owners of Providence Hospital, are hosting two meetings to solicit feedback from the community. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their throughts directly with Ascension Health.

DATES: Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25
TIMES: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
LOCATION: Providence Ground Floor Lecture Hall, 1150 Varnum St. NE
RSVP: To RSVP for the meeting and for more information, please contact communityrelationsdc@ascension.org. Guests should enter at Main Entrance and report to the Welcome Desk for Check-In/Instructions.

Main Street Seeking Board Members

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

The Board of Directors for the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street (SDRMS) is currently accepting applications for new members. Volunteers with diverse backgrounds are sought, but particular attention will be paid to those with legal, small business, marketing, promotions, communications, financial, or grant writing experience.

To apply, please fill out a board application form here by May 1 and a board member will be in touch with you. Interviews will be conducted on Sunday May 5 in the afternoon. As part of your application, please be prepared to address the following questions:

  1. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street program?
  2. What strengths will you bring to the board?
  3. Any special skills & relevant community experience to share

Below is more information about serving on the board

What are the expectations for board members?

Board members are expected to make a serious, ethical, and active commitment to support the mission of the SDRMS organization. Through this commitment, they serve on committees, regularly attend board meetings, review budget information, implement projects and policies, as well as willingly volunteer, accept, and complete ad hoc assignments. This includes staying informed on committee matters, preparing for meetings, reviewing Main Street documentation, and participating in fundraising. Importantly, Board members will work collegially and collaboratively with their colleagues on the Board, community volunteers, and the Executive Director to achieve consensus on tasks. Board members must agree to generally accepted ethical standards, regarding confidentiality, prohibitions regarding self-dealing and disclosing any real or potential conflict of interest as it relates to SDRMS business and recuse themselves from any discussion or vote regarding that particular issue.

What committees will be formed, and will board members be expected to join committees?

The foundational committees currently being established focus around Governance/Organization, Communications/Promotions, Resource/Business development/Economic Vitality, Finance, and Design to align with the Main Street approach. Ad hoc subcommittees will likely form around small business development, technical assistance, legal matters, streetscape and public space beautification, and retail surveys. Board members are expected to actively participate and be engaged in at least one committee.

How many hours are expected for Board members to commit to?

Board members should expect to commit to 6-10 hours of Board activities per month. Board members should anticipate regularly participating in the weekly hour Board conference call, at least 75 percent of the two-hour in-person Board meetings every other month per year, and a handful of hours throughout the month to achieve the goals of their agreed upon work and service to the SDRMS program.

UDC Bertie Backus Farmstand Seeking Vendors

Posted by nextstoprp in Backus Urban Food Hub

The Bertie Backus farmstand is returning this season! Last summer’s inaugural farmstand held monthly at UDC-CC Backus (5171 South Dakota Avenue NE) was a big success so UDC is seeking to expand the offerings and frequency. This year, the farmstand will be held twice per month on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month June through November.

Vendors sought:
Handmade Crafts
Speciality Prepared Foods
Musicians
Artists
Nursery plants
Fruits and Vegetables
Community Health
Educational
Baked Goods
Beverages
Children’s Activities
If you are interested in vending, please contact Maryam Sabur at
maryam.abdussabur@udc.edu.

For those unfamiliar with the farmstand, it is one component of UDC’s Bertie Backus Food Hub located at the UDC-CC Backus campus on South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. The food hub has a compost sytem, hydroponics and aquaponics garden, community garden, incubator commercial kitchen, and native plant nursery. Click here to read an article about the food hub.

May 4: Explore! Spring Community Festival

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

It’s festival season again with Explore! Children’s Museum. Lots of fun activities are planned, so be sure to register in advance for the free festival.

Explore! Spring Community Festival
May 4, 2019
10:00 am-1:30 pm
The Modern at Art Place
400 Galloway Street NE

Performance Schedule:
10:15 – 10:45am: Dance lessons with District Dance Arts
11:15 – 12:00pm: A Mad Science of DC Show: Things that go BOOM!
12:30 – 1:15pm: Popular Children’s Music Group: The Uncle Devin Show!

From 10:00am – 1:30pm:
Petting Zoo
Color with Luna
Face Painting by Fairy Jennabelle
Digital Drawing Station & Educational VR by Samsung
Mother’s Day card Makerspace with District Dance Arts

Next Stop Neighbors: The LRCA Forward Team

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Guest post by David Kosub

Welcome to Next Stop Neighbors, where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50 years, we all have a story to tell.

Lisa Wray, Tischa Cockrell, & Gwen Cofield

Today, as the birds chirp and metro passes by on 2nd Street NE, we meet the LRCA Forward team – Gwen Cofield, Tischa Cockrell, and Lisa Wray running as the next Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President , respectively. Join us to hear about who they are, their vision for the community, what is working well, where we can improve, and some quirky things about them too. Voting will occur at the May LRCA meeting, so stay informed! And, don’t worry folks, no “dirty tricks” went into the recording of this podcast.

Click here to listen to the conversation

Like the Next Stop Neighbors podcast and want to tell the story of someone in the community? Well, we welcome recommendations and, better yet, your own 10-minute interviews too!

Can’t get enough Next Stop Neighbors? Check out these past conversations: Ramdass Pharmacy (March 2019)

New Neighborhood Storm Drain Murals

Posted by nextstoprp in Environment, Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Note: On April 6, 2022, we received a request from one of the three artists who was featured below to remove her name and artwork from the blog post. We have done so. That mural is located on the corner of 3rd Street and Chillum Place NE.

Be sure to check out three cool new storm drain murals here in Riggs Park. These murals are designed to educate people about the Anacostia River and inspire us all to keep trash off the street and out of the river. Guest contributor David Kosub previously wrote about the selected designs here.

At South Dakota & Galloway Street NE is “Jahlil Wormley” by artist Elizabeth Sampson.

“Anacostia River View” by artist Lovancy Ingram is near 219 Riggs Road NE (near Food & Friends).

This was a really fun activity funded through DC’s Department of Energy and Environment’s Community Stormwater Solutions Grant and sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society and the environment committee of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association. The weather was perfect for painting. Volunteers from Anacostia Watershed Society joined each artist. My kid neighbor Isabel spent all day painting. Neighbors stopped by to say hi.

This activity followed last weekend’s cleanup of Hellbender Hill. Be sure to sign up for this weekend’s Riggs Park neighborhood-wide cleanup on April 13. All of these activities are planned by the super awesome environment committee of LRCA, chaired by Olga Naidenko and Lauren Boyd. Check out pics from the mural painting below.

Artist Elizabeth Sampson & Riggs Park resident Isabel
“Jahlil Wormley”
“Jahlil Wormley”
“Jahlil Wormley”
Samspon and Isabel
Riggs Park residents Isabel & I assisting on mural painting
“Anacostia River View”
“Anacostia River View”
Riggs Park family helping out with “Anacostia River View”
Artist Lovancy Ingram prepping for painting of “Anacostia River View”

April 13: Riggs Park Spring Clean – Register Now

Posted by nextstoprp in Environment

The Riggs Park neighborhood-wide spring clean is just around the corner on April 13, 9:30 am-12:00 pm. Please register in advance at the eventbrite link. The neighborhood has been divided into zones for the cleanup. Please select your zone when you sign up so that crew leaders know whom to expect. Let your neighbors know, bring your kids, and let’s make it bigger than last year’s. The cleanup is being hosted by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, Anacostia Watershed Society, and the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street.

Cleanup zones for April 13th cleanup

A couple dozen residents came out for the Hellbender Hill cleanup on April 6 March 30. We had great weather and a good time. We especially loved all of the kids that came out with their parents to help clean up. Thanks to Hellbender for providing water during the cleanup and free beverages after the cleanup. Thanks to the Anacostia Watershed Society for supplies. Special shoutout to resident Susanna Murley and other members of LRCA’s environment committee for doing such a great job organizing the cleanups (and being patient with last minute requests). Reported haul from the cleanup: 13 tires, 2 cones, 1 bike, 1 fire extinguisher, 4 car batteries, HVAC pieces, and about 40 bags of trash and recycling. Check out photos from the April 6th cleanup and be sure to sign up for the cleanup on April 13.

Hillbender Hill Cleanup Crew

 

April 6: Storm drain mural installations

Posted by nextstoprp in Environment
Map of storm drain mural installations

This Saturday April 6, three storm drain murals will be installed at three locations in our neighborhood.

Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm

Start point – 10:00 am at grassy area near Food and Friends (219 Riggs Road NE).

This will be a great activity for youth and adults alike. The three artists selected by popular vote at the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association monthly meeting in December 2018 will be preparing for painting the murals and carrying out their work. There will be opportunities to help with the painting and get to know the artists.

Locations of the three murals (by nearest street address):

  • 219 Riggs Road NE
  • 3rd Street and Chillum Place NE
  • South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE

This activity is funded by the District Department of Energy and Environment Community Stormwater Solutions Grant. Shout out to Olga Naidenko and Lauren Boyd, co-chairs of LRCA’s environment committee, for pursuing a partnership with the Anacostia Watershed Society to apply for the grant so that we can have activities like this and the neighborhood cleanups.

Support for Art Place at Fort Totten

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Catching up on blog news regarding Art Place at Fort Totten.

A zoning commission hearing on the second phase of the project (Block B) is scheduled for April 4, 2019.

On March 5, 2019, the developer submitted comprehensive transportation review plans. The documents are lengthy so not linking here, but will link to the transportation demand managment portion of the filing that discusses ways of mitigating traffic and parking congestion. On March 15, the developer filed a supplemental prehearing submission, which includes a construction management plan and proposed security policies. The submission also discusses further refinements to the plaza areas, including a newly proposed dog run at the corner of 4th and Kennedy Street NE.

  • Site overview of public spaces
  • Description of plazas

Civic Association

On March 19, the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association filed with the Zoning Commission a request for party status in support of the project. (Disclosure: I currently serve as president of the LRCA). As relayed by the LRCA, that decision was based on a paper and online survey conducted over several months, as well as feedback received in the multiple public meetings that have taken place on this project since the plans were originally filed in September 2018. Yesterday evening, the full LRCA body voted to support the project, concurring with the areas of concerns outlined in the LRCA’s party status application with one additional one. Full list of concerns: (1) Impacts of traffic on neighborhood; (2) Ensuring there are adequate pedestrian pathways; (3) Stormwater management; (4) Ensuring there is adequate security to protect the well-being of visitors to the neighborhood as well as residents; (5) Ensuring there is a plan to provide high-quality, sustainable retail, including neighborhood-serving retail; (6) Ensuring the project is well-integrated into the community; (7) Waste management; and (8) Rodent control.

District Agencies

DC’s Office of Planning (OP) submitted its final report on March 25, recommending approval of the project subject to receipt of additional information (copied from report below):

• Clarification of overall lot occupancy and FAR with and without public streets and alleys, distinguishing between those that would remain open and those proposed for closure;
• Clarification of proposed square footages and FARs of particular uses, noting the size of particular uses both with and without space that does not count towards FAR;
• Clarification of whether the applicant is committing to LEED Gold Certification for Building B;
• Submission of additional illustrations of the relationship between Building A and the proposed Building B, particularly a ground level view from the to-be-closed 4th Street to Building A;
• Submission of larger-scale drawings of façade details;
• Submission of diagrams showing the distribution of residential unit types throughout the east and west wings of Building B;
• The addition of balconies to residential elements;
• List amenities focused on project residents;
• Clarification of where the proffered dog run will be relocated after it is eliminated by the future realignment of Kennedy Street;
• Clarification of whether additional retail leases have been signed for Building A;
• Additional detail about wayfinding elements for pedestrians and emergency vehicles;
• Clarify amount of solar panels to be provided.

OP restated its encouragement for the Applicant to provide additional affordable units (accessible at lower family median incomes) beyond the total 171 affordable units previously approved for the entire development, of which 141 have already been constructed as part of the first phase and an additional 30 subsidized artist housing units are planned for the second phase. OP recommends that the 30 artist units be affordable for the life of the project (the developer is proposing 20 years). OP also recommends that the developer consider adding three-bedroom units to accommodate families for any future phases that will incorporate residential uses. OP encourages the developer to work with the community on securing neighborhood-serving retail and to consider neighborhood-based employment training for jobs that will be created on the site. All good ideas consistent with what the community has sought.

DC’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) also submitted its final report on March 25, not objecting to approval subject to certain conditions (copied from report below):

• Extend the northbound left turn storage at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue by 550 feet. The extension would include the restriping of the existing median area currently closed to drivers with bollards on both sides. DDOT needs the Applicant to add lane widths to the concept plan;
• Separate eastbound left and through right lanes at South Dakota and Kennedy Street. This mitigation will reduce existing on-street parking on the south side of Kennedy Street. In addition, the available roadway width of Kennedy Street does not seem to be 34 feet as indicated in the CTR but rather approximately 30 feet. Accordingly, the Applicant should commit to implement this mitigation subject to final design and approval at public space permitting;
• Add a full signal to the intersection of South Dakota Avenue and Ingraham Street. DDOT is currently developing plans to install a HAWK signal at the intersection. The Applicant should commit to install the signal subject to DDOT approval at permitting;
• Improve pedestrian infrastructure at the intersection of Hamilton, Ingraham, and the public alley at the southwest corner of the site. The Applicant should build curb ramps where they are currently missing, and should construct a sidewalk to continue across the alley on the north side of the intersection; and
• Improve pedestrian infrastructure on 3rd Street NE, which is a potential pedestrian route between the site and the Fort Totten Metro station. 3rd Street is currently disconnected and does not meet DDOT standards. The Applicant should fund improvements to 3rd Street that provide a connection for pedestrians and bicycles, which is subject to final design and approval at public space permitting.

ANCs

On March 25, ANC 4B agreed to provide a letter in support of the project. On March 27, ANC 5A voted 5-0 in favor of a resolution to support the project. Copies of those documents are not available yet.

Main Street

On April 1, the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street submitted a letter in support of the project.

So all around, there is a lot of support for the project with recommendations for further refinements and encouragement for continued collaboration with the community and District agencies. This is a remarkable and welcome change from where the project stood several years ago.

Anyone can submit statements in support of or against the project. The case number is Zoning Commission No. 06-10D

Pax Liquor Denied Liquor License-No Liquor Store for North Michigan Park

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

Yesterday, DC’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board denied Pax Liquor’s application for a new liquor license to open a liquor store at 4944 South Dakota Avenue NE (next to the McDonald’s). This is a big win for North Michigan Park residents who rallied and worked with ANC 5A Commissioners Ronnie Edwards (Chair) and Gordon Fletcher (Vice Chair) to protest the application.

The Board found approval of the license would not be appropriate because it would “encourage loitering to the detriment of peace and quiet” and that it will “likely have a detrimental effect on property values.” On the first point, the Board noted that loitering was likely given the loitering that takes place at other liquor stores in the ward. The Board also stated the McDonald’s next door would make the area an attractive place to loiter and that the overgrown alley and forest behind the lot would provide a hidden place for individuals to loiter and engage in antisocial behavior. On the second point, the Board pointed to evidence that the parking lot and building facilities of the proposed store have not been well-maintained and that the overgrown alley and forest behind the lot further demonstrate that a liquor store is not appropriate for the site. The Board cited evidence that the property owner has a history of not addressing issues on the property.

Hopefully this decision will spur the property owner to step it up and put more effort into maintaining the property.

Next Stop Neighbors Podcast – Meet Ramdass Pharmacy

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

Guest post by David Kosub

Welcome to Next Stop Neighbors where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50 years, we all have a story to tell.

Today, we meet Dr. Anthony Ramdass, Pharm.D., with Ramdass Pharmacy. Opened in 2018, the pharmacy is conveniently located at 475 Ingraham St NE in the Modern at Art Place building—steps from the Fort Totten Metro. Join us to hear about the pharmacy and its services, Dr. Ramdass’ career, his outlook on the community, as well as his vision for the future of the business.

Click here to listen to the conversation

Like the Next Stop Neighbors podcast and want to tell the story of someone in the community? Well, we welcome recommendations and/or your own 10-minute interviews too!

Sign up for Spring Clean!

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

It’s spring! That means it’s time for the 2nd Annual Lamond-Riggs Spring Clean.

The Spring Clean events will bring together neighbors to make our community healthier and more beautiful. Volunteers will remove trash from neighborhood streets and alleyways across the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood, and have an opportunity to learn about the Anacostia River watershed through the installation of three artistic storm drain murals that were selected by popular community vote at the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association December 2018 meeting.

Events are lined up for March 30, April 6, and April 13. Note: Each event would be shifted to the following Saturday in case of inclement weather on the originally scheduled date.

March 30 – Hellbender Hill Clean-up

10:00 am-Noon

2nd Street NE/Hellbender Brewery area Clean Up

Meet at 5788 2nd Street NE

April 6 – Storm Drain Mural Installation

10:00 am-2:00 pm

Storm drain mural installation at 3 sites throughout the community

  • Corner of South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE
  • In the vicinity of 219 Riggs Road NE (between South Dakota Avenue and the metro tracks)
  • Corner of 3rd Street NE and Chillum Place NE 

April 13 – Neighborhood Spring Clean 

9:30 am-Noon

Meet at the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE) to pick up bags, gloves prior to going over to different work areas throughout the neighborhood.

Please sign up at the eventbrite link.

Hosted by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, Anacostia Watershed Society, and the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street

Metro service proposal – ANC 4B resolution

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

h/t Gavin Baker

ANC Commissioner Evan Yeats (4B01) plans to offer a resolution in support of extending Metro service on the Yellow and Red Lines. Metro’s proposal was previously covered in this post. The draft resolution is here.

Metro’s Finance Committee approved the proposal on March 14, 2019, and the full board is scheduled to vote on March 28:

Did Our Federally-Elected Officials Just Do Something That Could Help Lamond-Riggs?

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

Guest post by David Kosub

On March 12, 2019, President Trump signed a bill on a federal lands package that may have direct implications for activities in the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood. The bill (S. 47), entitled the “John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act,” sets forth “various programs, projects, activities, and studies for the management and conservation of natural resources on federal lands.”

According to a press release after Senate passage from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who sponsored one of the bills in the package, the legislation clarifies that “the District of Columbia and the National Park Service (NPS) have the authority to enter into cooperative management agreements (CMAs) to maintain and operate NPS properties in the District.” The release quotes Holmes-Norton saying the bill would “allow D.C. to work with NPS to maintain and improve the many NPS-owned parks here in the nation’s capital.”

Franklin Park, one of the many NPS-owned parks in the District, is now on track to proceed more easily with a public-private partnership for  its planned rehabilitation now that the bill is law. A case study in real-time (Read more here).  

This is very interesting and exciting news to me, and it should also be for my Lamond-Riggs neighbors. There are many items on our wish-list for safety and recreational improvements  to the national parks around us—Fort Circle Park and Fort Totten Park. Let’s use this new authority to help address our interests too!

Top of mind is a long requested lit, paved, safe path across the portion of Fort Circle Park leading to North Michigan Park from the Fort Totten Metro station. Neighbors regularly share personal experiences related to safety and ease-of-access on this  informal trail connecting Gallatin Street NE and Galloway Street NE. Last summer, the NPS-proposed permeable 10-foot wide trail received final approvals, but all that was lacking was funding.

Residents in the Fort Totten neighborhood have also expressed concerns related to safety using the trail on the other side of Fort Circle Park west of the metro station, which will become part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail very soon. The primary concern revolves around personal safety, especially at night, because of burnt out lights that have not been replaced. However, despite having this issue raised at countless ANC and other neighborhood meetings, DC officials and Metro police have voiced their own concerns related to working collaboratively with NPS in the past. Our neighbors should not feel scared to use this public asset when simply attempting to walk to and from the metro.

On the lighter side of life, these national parks in our backyard are underutilized for more leisurely pursuits. As a nine-year-old resident in Riggs Park wrote in a 2016 petition, additional resources for amenities in Fort Circle Park, like a paved trail and playground, would afford us a “place to get together, exercise, and for us to play and ride.” Nearly 240 neighbors agreed with him that an enhanced trail is desired, would complement the forthcoming Children’s Museum, as well as allow the “children and adults a safe place to walk, jog, or bike ride.” Moreover, I’m still open to the idea of Fort Drum Circle too, perhaps coming this spring or summer. And, did I hear someone say dog park? All in all, it would be great to see city investment here to help improve these public lands for recreational and historical purposes, while balancing that with conserving the precious green space we’ve all come to enjoy.

I recognize much still needs to be done to see these, and other, wish-list items come to fruition.  It takes a village after all, naturally working together in a strategic, rational, civil, and non-conspiratorial manner. Perhaps as a start, we could get a representative from the Franklin Park project to speak at a neighborhood meeting about their best practices and lessons learned, which we can then apply to receive city funding to directly revamp our park. Maybe we can engage our local small businesses, neighborhood developers, UDC Backus friends, and the Main Street organization to help sponsor more projects that can activate these public resources. Encourage our youth to speak with elected officials again as Fort Circle Park Ambassadors? Or, a neighborhood yappy hour with our four-legged friends is in order? Let’s hear your ideas too!

Welcome to the New South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street Executive Director

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

The South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street volunteer community board of directors and the fiscal sponsor, Center for Nonprofit Advancement, have officially announced the hiring of Executive Director Edwin Washington. If you attended the community kickoff meeting, you had an opportunity to meet him there and learn how to get involved. Please see the official hiring announcement below.

March 11, 2019–The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is pleased to announce South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street welcomes its new Executive Director Edwin D. Washington. Funded through a grant awarded by the District Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), the new South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street organization will utilize public-private partnerships and community volunteers to build on neighborhood assets and implement strategies to support and improve the business corridors in the Lamond-Riggs and Manor Park neighborhoods. As Executive Director, Edwin Washington will serve as the lead champion, visionary and implementer of this new Main Street.

Prior to taking on this new role, Edwin provided business development and fundraising consulting through his Washington Worldwide firm and served as volunteer Church Administrative Officer with Walker Memorial Baptist Church.  

Edwin’s career has included:

•  Business leadership roles in entertainment, energy and education

•  Nonprofit leadership roles in youth development, international relations and fundraising

•  Government leadership roles in job creation and internal affairs 

He has served as Vice President of Business Development with America’s Charities and has also held leadership positions with Greater Washington Boys & Girls Clubs, Goodwill of Greater Washington, Youth for Understanding, District Cablevision and the District of Columbia Government.

Edwin holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. He resides in the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Main Street community with his wife and daughters.

The founding Main Street Board of Directors includes leadership from the Lamond-Riggs and Manor Park communities. The Center provides fiscal and organizational management, leadership and technical assistance.

Volunteer for LaSalle-Backus Career Day

Posted by nextstoprp in Education

Post updated with invitation

Our neighborhood school, LaSalle-Backus Education Campus, is looking for participants for its Career Day on April 12, 2019. Spend a few hours sharing information about your career with middle school students.

Several neighbors and I participated last year, and it was a great time. I encourage neighbors to support again this year. To sign up, contact Jessica Silva at jessica.silva@dc.gov by April 5.

Get a Free Tree from Pepco

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Get a free tree from Pepco. See press release below

Pepco Giving Free Trees to Help Customers Save Energy

Customers can reserve a free tree through the Arbor Day Foundation starting today

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 11, 2019) – Pepco is giving away 1,000 free trees to residential customers through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. This initiative helps customers conserve energy and reduce household energy use through strategic tree planting. For the ninth year, Pepco is stepping up to support this important environmental and energy saving program. Starting today, customers can reserve one free tree per household by visiting arborday.org/pepco.

“We value the strong and important relationships we’ve built and continue to cultivate with our communities across the District of Columbia and Maryland over the last 100 plus years,” said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president. “While we are known for our commitment to providing clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy service to our customers, we also see it as our duty and obligation to give back to the communities that we are a part of and that we are privileged to serve. Seeing the outcomes of our continued contributions and volunteerism, with our outstanding non-profit partners, is another reminder of our deep connection to our communities and the vested interest we have in their continued success.”

Customers will have the ability to choose from a selection of trees, including Redbud, Crepe Myrtle, River Birch, Red Oak, Red Maple, most available in varying sizes. 

One-gallon trees will be delivered to customers’ homes between April and May. All three- and five-gallon trees will be available for pickup only during company planned events in April. More information on these events can be found online during the reservation process. 

Through the “Right Tree, Right Place” tree planting program, Pepco is also offering 250 trees on a first-come, first-served basis to District of Columbia homeowners in partnership with Casey Trees, a D.C.-based nonprofit committed to restoring and protecting the nation’s capital’s tree canopy. ​ District residents can request up to two trees by calling Casey Trees at 202-833-4010. Casey Trees will send out a professional arborist to evaluate the landscape and recommend a suitable tree for the area. Once the appropriate tree is chosen, Casey Trees will come to the home and plant the tree. For the consultation and planting valued at $400, a co-payment of $50 per tree payable to Casey Trees, is required prior to planting.

Through the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, customers also have the power to explore interactive tools, including a tool to help customers determine the best location on their property to plant their tree for energy savings benefits. Properly planted trees can provide a homeowner many benefits, such as reducing energy use through summer shading and by slowing winter winds.

Throughout a tree’s growth period,trees have the potential to lower energy bills by 15 to 30 percent. Additionally, trees provide benefits to a community by improving air and water quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and adding to the visual appeal of a neighborhood. In fact, since 2012, Pepco customers have planted more than 17,650 trees, saving nearly 29 million kWh, and removing close to 363,584 lbs. of air pollutants from the atmosphere.

Prior to receiving a tree, Pepco reminds customers to call 811 to have utility-owned underground lines marked before they start to dig. One free call to 811 connects you to Miss Utility, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811.

Customers unable to reserve a free tree through the internet are encouraged to call 855-670-2772 to secure a tree.

To learn more, readers are encouraged to visit The Source, Pepco’s online news room. Find additional information about Pepco by visiting www.pepco.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pepcoconnect and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pepcoconnect. Our mobile app is available at www.pepco.com/mobileapp.      

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About Pepco: Pepco is a unit of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers.  Pepco provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 883,000 customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

More Metro service could come to Fort Totten

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Guest post by Gavin Baker

More trains could soon serve Fort Totten metro station, if approved by the Metro board.

In October 2018, Metro’s General Manager released the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020, which includes service improvements. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board is expected to approve a final budget within the next few weeks. WMATA’s Finance and Capital Committee is scheduled to consider the budget proposal on March 14.

The proposed budget would benefit Fort Totten by adding Yellow Line service during rush hour and increasing direct connections on the Yellow and Red Lines.

Currently, Yellow Line trains end at Mt. Vernon Square during rush hours and at Fort Totten at all other times. Under the proposed budget, all Yellow Line trains instead would run to Greenbelt – to and through Fort Totten.

From 2012 to 2017, Yellow Line trains ran to Greenbelt under Metro’s “Rush Plus” program. The FY 2020 budget proposal would restore that service at all times.

For Fort Totten, the proposed budget would add new service during rush hour to downtown DC, Arlington, and Alexandria (toward Huntington) and to Prince George’s County (toward Greenbelt). Outside of rush hour, there would be additional trains toward Greenbelt.

The proposal would also add more direct connections on the Red Line. Currently, some Red Line trains turn back at Silver Spring. Under the proposed budget, all Red Line trains instead would run to Glenmont, providing more trains from Fort Totten to Forest Glen, Wheaton, and Glenmont.

WMATA estimates these changes would benefit 12.4 million Yellow Line and 3.4 million Red Line trips overall next year.

For now, this is only a proposal. The WMATA board has to give final approval, and board members have criticized some aspects of the proposed budget. However, the Yellow and Red Line changes seem to have broad support among the board, according to the latest reports. If approved, these service improvements could be significant for our neighborhood, and not only in terms of more convenient transit service. In addition to adding more service generally, it would also offer a one-seat ride from Fort Totten to the future Amazon “HQ2” in Arlington and Alexandria. Amazon’s expected 25,000 jobs in Northern Virginia will make it the largest private employer in the DC area, and those employees will have to live somewhere. With direct Yellow Line service from Fort Totten to “National Landing,” maybe some of them will choose to call Riggs Park home – or at least check out Meow Wolf.