Author Archives: nextstoprp

Tonight September 7: North Michigan Park Civic Association Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in North Michigan PArk

I do not usually post North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) meeting notices on the blog, but I know there are new residents who find the blog from time to time and do not realize that they live in the North Michigan Park neighborhood (generally Gallatin Street NE south). Please contact NMPCA president Carmen Williams at carm8954@aol.com to be added to her distribution list to receive meeting notices.

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From NMPCA

North Michigan Park Civic Association 

Meeting Agenda

September 7, 2022

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

President – Welcome Back from Summer Break

  • NMPCA Summer Highlights
    • Community Day Event – Jointly with Michigan Park 4 Life & DPR
    • Back to School Supply Give-a-Way
    • Community Bulk Trash Pick up
  • Reports
    • MPD
    • MPD Liaison
    • Ward 5 Councilmembers Office
    • Mayor’s Office
    • Department of Recreation

(NEW) Resident Spotlight –   September 2022

  • Dr. Debralee Kellog – Primary Care Physician

North Michigan Park Civic Association 2022 Scholarship Recipient

  • Ciara Hargrove – University of Hartford

Community Updates

September Event-

  • NMPCA Membership Enrollment Month
    • Membership is $10.00 per person annually
    • Mail payment to P.O. Box 29181, Washington, DC 20018
  • Community Clean Up – World Clean-Up Day Jointly with Brandon Butler w/ Bookings
    • September 17, 2022 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm (1333 Emerson St NE, Washington, DC 20017)
    • Meet at the Recreation Center
    • Focus –
      • South Dakota Ave from Gallatin to Sargent Road
      • Gallatin Street from 6th Place to 16th St

October Upcoming Event –

  • NMPCA and LRCA host a Councilmember at Large Candidate Forum
    •  Thursday, October 13, 2022
    • Community Questions deadline – September 23, 2022
    • Email to nmpcivicassoc@aol.com
  • Reports contd.
    • ANC Commissioners
    • 5A02- Charles Lockett        
    • 5A03-Emily Lucio
    • 5A08- Gordon Andrew Fletcher
    • Faith United Church Report and Close Out with Prayer
  • If you would like to be a Resident Spotlight or know someone we can spotlight, during the monthly meeting contact Carmen Roberts-Williams 202-841-5256
    • Guidelines
    • You Must Reside in North Michigan Park

Adjourn

Neighborhood & ANC Email Lists

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A, North Michigan PArk

Summer is winding down and that means community meetings are starting up again. Fun times!

Now is a good time to make sure you are on the distribution list for your neighborhood and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) so that you can stay abreast of meeting notices and neighborhood happenings.

Also, other elected officials and District government agencies have email lists to which you can subscribe if you like getting lots of information in your inbox.

Lamond-Riggs

  • The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) meets at 7:00 pm the 1st Monday of each month from October to June.
  • Coverage area is generally east of Fort Totten Metro red line tracks, from Galloway Street NE to Underwood Street NE/NW.

You can easily join LRCA’s distribution list by filling out the form at the bottom of the organization’s website at https://lrcadc.org.

North Michigan Park

  • The North Michigan Park Civic Association meets at 7:00 pm the 1st Wednesday of each month from September to June.
  • Coverage area is generally from Gallatin Street NE to points south.

To join NMPCA’s distribution list, email NMPCA president Carmen Williams at carm8954@aol.com.

NMPCA is having a public meeting tonight September 7.

ANC 4B

  • ANC 4B meets at 7:00 pm the 4th Monday of each month except July, August, and December.

ANC 4B does a nice job of posting meeting notices & information on its website at http://anc4b.org.

ANC 4B also has a number of committees. Meeting notices for those committees are posted on the ANC’s website.

Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) has a single member district (SMD) distribution list. Email her at 4B08@anc.dc.gov.

I understand the ANC is putting together a distribution list.

ANC 5A

  • ANC 5A meets the 4th Wednesday of each month except July & August.

To join ANC 5A’s email list, you can either –

(1) Email ANC 5A Secretary Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) at 5A03@anc.dc.gov.

OR

(2) Fill out the contact form on ANC 5A’s website at https://anc5a.org and say you wish to be added to the ANC’s distribution list.

Individual commissioners have their own distribution lists as well, so I recommend reaching out to your commissioner to find out if they have an SMD distribution list. I know that these commissioners have SMD distribution lists:

  • Commissioner Damion McDuffie (5A01) – email 5A01@anc.dc.gov
  • Commission Emily Singer Lucio (5A03) – email 5A03@anc.dc.gov
  • Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – email 5A08@anc.dc.gov

I have not inquired about other commissioners in ANC 5A, so feel free to reach out to your commissioner to ask.

Also, Commissioner Lucio helpfully posts notice of her SMD meetings on ANC 5A’s website so you can also look for her meeting notices and minutes there. Commissioner Lucio is having an SMD meeting tomorrow September 8.

Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

Councilmember Janeese Lewis George distributes a weekly newsletter chock full of information. Sign up at https://www.janeeseward4.com/newsletter.

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie

It looks like Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie distributes a biweekly newsletter. Sign up at https://kenyanmcduffieward5.wpcomstaging.com/newsroom.

DC At-large Councilmembers & DC Council Chair

Each of the DC At-large Councilmembers and the DC Council Chair distribute a newsletter.

DC Muriel Mayor Bowser & District government agencies

If you find yourself often having questions about certain District government agencies, it is a good idea to subscribe to the distribution lists for those agencies. Visit mayor.dc.gov to subscribe to newsletters and email updates for Mayor Bowser as well as a long list of District government agencies. You can also subscribe to individual agency newsletters by visiting the agency’s website.

DC MOCRS (Mayor’s Office Liaisons)

DC mayor office liaisons (known as MOCRs) typically have a distribution list. There is regular turnover in the MOCR office, as each MOCR typically serves around two years. Reach out to your Ward 4 or Ward 5 MOCR to be added to their list.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

The police department has a google group for the Fourth District.

September 7: ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee Meeting – September 2022

Virtual Meeting Details:

Hosted by ANC 4B

https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m98b0184b8ceeb9e78565f61ec2851637

Wednesday, Sep 7, 2022 8:00 pm

Meeting number: 2310 962 8531

Password: pkMFiRuV247

Join by video system

Dial 23109628531@dcnet.webex.com

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

Join by phone

+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

1-650-479-3208 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)

Access code: 231 096 28531

Agenda

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

2. Approval of September meeting agenda

3. Presentation & Discussion re Social Housing: Zachary Marks, Chief Real Estate Officer, Housing Opportunities Commission, Montgomery County & Rachel M. Cohen, Senior Policy Reporter, Vox Media

4. Administrative Items:

  • Committee Member Potluck
  • Committee Membership
  • Meeting Schedule
  • Meeting Leads & Desired Presenters

5. Future Business

6. Questions/Comments

7. Adjournment

Next Meeting: October 5, 2022

Introduction to ANC 5A09 Candidate Zachary Ammerman

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

From Zachary Ammerman, candidate for ANC 5A09, which will include The Modern at Art Place, Aventine at Fort Totten, and part of North Michigan Park.

Map of ANC single member district 5A09, effective January 2023, from DC Board of Elections.

My name is Zachary Ammerman, I’m a first-time candidate for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the brand-new single member district 5A09 which, as you may already be aware, will cover the area just east of the Fort Totten metro including part of Riggs Park, Fort Totten and North Michigan Park. 5A09 was largely carved out of the old 5A08 as a result of population changes following the 2020 Census. 

For those that aren’t familiar with the position, ANCs serve as a sort of liaison between a neighborhood district (each with about 2,000 people) and its residents and the DC government, helping to get services like trash removal, potholes filled, or a stoplight put in, among countless other things, and also advocate more broadly on behalf of the neighborhood. 

I just wanted to briefly introduce myself and let you know about some of my priorities I’ll be hoping to tackle if elected. 

I’m a full-time artist and mapmaker (you can see some of my work here and here) and a former French Embassy Economic Department staffer running as a first-time candidate for ANC with three top priorities in mind: 

  • traffic safety, particularly on South Dakota Avenue, but also on some of the side streets in the SMD like Galloway and Gallatin. I plan on pushing for DDOT to take an “all-of-the-above” approach to calming traffic on South Dakota, including speed and red light cameras, installing new stop lights at intersections that don’t currently have them, considering a road diet long-term, as well as considering putting in protected bike lanes (as identified in the 2015 Move DC plan), and potentially bus lanes. 
    • I am also not waiting until I get elected to start pushing for these changes: I’ve already filed multiple requests for traffic safety investigations (which have a wait time of around 130 days, so right around the time I would be taking office) for multiple different intersections and stretches of road in our district in the hopes that DDOT will be getting around to them early next year. See my website for more details on this; 
  • putting pressure on NPS to take better care of the parks in our area, including finishing the trail between the Fort Totten metro and North Michigan Park, as well as just generally doing better maintenance like mowing and trash removal; 
  • and supporting more housing density in places like surface parking lots near the metro in order to help alleviate the region’s housing affordability crisis and contribute to DC’s climate/sustainability goals. 

You can find more detailed information about me and all of my proposals on my website, www.zachforanc5a09.com. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have via the contact me section of my website, or via email at zammermanANC@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ZachANC5A09. I’ll be campaigning more as the election gets closer and look forward to meeting many more residents in person in the next few months.

September 24: Calvary Women’s Services’ upcoming In this Together Community Walk – a family-friendly community event

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Ed. Note: Passing along information I was asked to share about an upcoming event benefitting Calvary Women’s Services. Find Calvary Women’s Services on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Calvary Women’s Services’ upcoming In This Together Community Walk will be held in person for the first time, on Saturday, September 24, at 10 a.m. at Anacostia Park.

For over 20 years, Calvary Women’s Services (CWS) has worked to end homelessness, inspire hope and transform the lives of women in the District of Columbia. CWS ensure women throughout DC have access to the proper trauma-informed healthcare and educational support they need to take positive steps toward independence. These programs include transitional and permanent housing, personalized case management, life skills and education opportunities, job training, health and wellness services, on-site therapy, and daily addiction recovery meetings. At Calvary, we believe every woman has the strengths and gifts she needs to be successful. Each woman in our programs identifies and builds on her strengths, meeting her goals for safe housing, good health, and financial independence.

Details and registration at the link.

August 31: ANC 5A Special Meeting (Updated Agenda)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Special Meeting
August 31, 2022
6:45 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88313492245?pwd=SVdjanFDUTFrS3FEZkV4VTZiaVZuQT09

Meeting ID: 883 1349 2245
Passcode: 767536

Dial In: 301 715 8592

Agenda Items

  • Budget Amendment – to Establish a Public Safety Committee Operations Budget –  Commissioner Fletcher will develop a proposed budget for consideration.  
  • ABRA-121427 – Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern – Expansion of Previously approved Class “B” Application Trinity Grill & Social Marketplace, LLC  200 Michigan Avenue NE
  • Riggs Rd NE Connector Cycle Track DDOT (added August 27, 2022)  

Save the Date – September 23: The Parks Main Street Art All Night

Posted by nextstoprp in Main Street

Ed. Note: Last year’s Art All Night by The Parks Main Street was a good time. Looking forward to this year’s event.

From The Parks Main Street

SAVE THE DATE

Art All Night @ The Parks Main Street is ONE MONTH away!

Join us Friday September 23, 2022 from 7p – 11p

The Parks Main Street (TPMS) is excited to bring to the communities of Riggs Park and Manor Park a live, in-person end of year celebration. Private spaces throughout our business corridors transform into galleries, vending booths and performances for an evening of art in all its forms.

Grab your lawn chair and hang out with us all night (well most of the night)! Come visit small businesses, shop, dine, see local art, and experience live performances by artists from Riggs Park, Manor Park, and surrounding communities in Wards 4 and 5.

Art All Night is the perfect stimulant for Art, Community, and Commerce!

Register FREE to attend! All registrants will automatically be entered in drawing for gift certificates from local small businesses in Riggs Park and Manor Park!

Art All Night @ The Parks Main Street Art venue schedule:

Venue #1 – WELCOME CENTER / RIGGS PARK

Culture Coffee Too – 300 Riggs Road NE 20011

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm DJ Oxygen

7:00 pm Live to Love Family (Family Friendly Sister Rap Duo)

8:00 pm Jordan Seitz – Fire Dancer

8:30 pm Ronnette Rollins (Inspirational/Gospel)

9:30 pm Hand Dance Demonstration

10:00 pm M. Lewis (Neo Soul Vocals with Guitar)

Venue #2 – RIGGS PARK

Riggs Wine & Liquor – 5581 South Dakota Ave.NE 20011

7:00 pm -11:00 pm DJ Arturo

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Spirit / Wine Tastings – Riggs Wine & Liquor

7:00 pm Performance Pending

8:00 pm Tango Dancers

8:30 pm Jonathan Acosta (Latin Vocals & Guitar)

9:30 pm Performance Pending

10:00 pm Performance Pending

Venue #3 RIGGS PARK

Troka Insurance – 208- 212 Riggs Road NE 20011

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Music

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Food Marketplace

  • Culinary Arts – Food Trucks & Food Vendors

Venue #4 RIGGS PARK

Hellbender Brewery – 5788 2nd Street NE 20011

7:00 pm Open Mic – Cash Prize

9:00 pm Vendor Introductions

9:30 pm Comedy Show – Four Corners Entertainment

Venue #5 WELCOME CENTER / MANOR PARK

The V.I.P. Room – 6201 3rd Street NW 20011

6:00 pm – The Davis Center Dancers

6:30 pm Manor Park Business District Mural Presentation

  • Remarks Local Community Leaders
  • Meet the Muralist – Tarika Campbell

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm DJ

7:00 pm Oren Levine & Friends (Jazz)

8:00 pm Lovely Lady Boutique – Fashion Show

8:30 pm Christopher Prince & Band (Jazz)

9:30 pm Jordan Seitz – Aerial Acrobatics

10:00 pm Shirleta Settles (Jazz)

Venue #6 MANOR PARK

The Learning Curve – 6226 3rd Street NW 20011

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Music

7:00 pm Puppet Workshop – Yolanda Sampson

8:30 pm Art Workshop (Youth) – Rain Young

10:00 pm Art Workshop (Adult) – Rain Young

Venue performances subject to change

Check back for updates until September 23, 2022

August 31: ANC 5A Special Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Special Meeting
August 31, 2022
6:45 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88313492245?pwd=SVdjanFDUTFrS3FEZkV4VTZiaVZuQT09

Meeting ID: 883 1349 2245
Passcode: 767536

Dial In: 301 715 8592

Agenda Items

  • Budget Amendment – to Establish a Public Safety Committee Operations Budget –  Commissioner Fletcher will develop a proposed budget for consideration.  
  • ABRA-121427 – Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern – Expansion of Previously approved Class “B” Application Trinity Grill & Social Marketplace, LLC  200 Michigan Avenue NE  

No Bertie Backus Farm Stand August 27

Posted by nextstoprp in Backus Urban Food Hub

Update: The farm stand has been cancelled

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Original post

I was informed yesterday evening that there will not be a Bertie Backus farm stand tomorrow August 27, 2022. UDC intended to reopen the stand tomorrow but their produce vendor fell through. I am getting mixed messages about whether the farm stand will return at all this season, but I do have confirmation that there will definitely not be a farm stand tomorrow. Should know more next week about plans for the rest of the season.

August 27: Explore! Children’s Festival

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

From Explore Children’s Musuem

Calling all families to join in on the fun at the Explore! Children’s Festival located at The Modern at Art Place Fort Totten. On Saturday, August 13th, 20th, 27th and September 3rd, guests can enjoy free face painting, balloon twisting, magic shows, arts and crafts, sweet treats and snacks.

Each festival will also include live performances or demonstrations from local organizations and artists.

On Saturday, August 13th we hosted Cowboy Barry’s Petting Zoo along with a Storytime event with our new neighbor, the recently re-opened Lamond-Riggs/ Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library.

On Saturday, August 20th, guests enjoyed live music from The Uncle Devin Show, an interactive musical experience for children that uses percussion instruments to cultivate their minds – a dynamic cross between DC’s Trouble Funk and Schoolhouse Rock.

This coming Saturday, August 27th, guests can enjoy free face painting, balloon twisting, magic shows, arts and crafts, sweet treats and snacks.

Guests for the September 3rd event will be announced soon.
‍

Each event is FREE to attend and has every kid’s dream activities for a fun-filled weekend

August 27: Ward 5 Open Streets

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 5

Ward 5 Open Streets, hosted by the District Department of Transportation, will take place on 12th Street NE between Franklin Street NE and Monroe Street NE on August 27, 2022, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

There is a full schedule of events for all ages and abilities. Should be a fun time. Check the website for details.

Note: 12th Street from Franklin to Monroe will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on August 27 for people to enjoy the open street. Drivers will not be able to cross 12th Street from Franklin to Monroe during this time. No street parking will be allowed on 12th Street from Franklin to Monroe from 3:00 am to 2:00 pm on August 27. Plan accordingly.

Ward 5 Open Streets Map
Ward 5 Open Streets Schedule

Washington Post Article on Lillian Huff

Posted by nextstoprp in Lamond Riggs Library

The Washington Post has a lovely article on the renaming of the neighborhood library in honor of Lillian Huff. The rebuilt neighborhood library is now known as the Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library. Ms. Huff was a longtime Ward 5 resident in the Riggs Park neighborhood and was active in neighborhood life as well as in local DC politics. She is largely credited with getting the first library built in the neighborhood in 1983. The article nicely captures the reflections of Ms. Huff’s family as they recount her significance to her family and community.

I have said it before and I will keep saying it. It would be great to have a marker outside of the library with information about Ms. Huff as well as the Bryant brothers, the architects of the first Lamond-Riggs neighborhood library. People passing by the new library should be able to readily read about the contributions of these individuals and understand the history of the library. Seems simple enough.

A Few Changes for UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus

Posted by nextstoprp in Education, Workforce Development

On July 19, 2022, Ronald Mason, Jr., president of the University of the District of Columbia, held a community meeting at UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE. The meeting took place before President Mason publicly announced that he planned to step down as president of UDC in 2023. In any case, he said he wanted to get out to the campus because he does not get out this way often enough, so he was interested in meeting nearby residents in an informal setting. An elderly neighbor mentioned that she would like to see the university offer programs free to seniors at the Backus campus. She said that 10 to 20 years ago, seniors could take all kinds of classes at the Van Ness campus free of charge.

President Mason shared just a few details about a planned expansion of the Backus campus. UDC no longer occupies a campus on North Capitol Street for its community college programs. The Backus campus will house most or all of the community college programs. Most of the workforce development programs have been moved from Backus to UDC’s Congress Heights campus. The first three focus areas for the community college will be teacher training, nursing, and technology. To accommodate the community college programs at Backus, a new wing will be built on the grounds of the existing parking lot on the Galloway Street NE side of the campus. The new wing will be about 60,000 square feet spread over 3 floors. The main Backus building will also undergo renovation (about 100,000 square feet). Some surface parking will remain. Design will take about one year and construction about 1.5 years.

In the interim, neighbors should start seeing a few small improvements to the campus. A neighbor and I worked on getting some money in the budget to spruce things up just a bit because this campus is a really great civic asset in the neighborhood.

  • Window repair/replacement, removal of mesh window covers, and installation of new window blinds
  • Painting of rails and exterior doors
  • Replacement of fence
  • Repair of masonry, concrete, and steps
  • New signage

(Also, this post discusses the renovations taking place at the Bertie Backus Food Hub).

My understanding is that UDC will have more community meetings in the coming months to provide more information about the Backus campus expansion.