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.
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.
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:
Reduce pavement surface temperatures
Improve pedestrian comfort during periods of extreme heat
Support public health by reducing heat exposure
Complement tree canopy and other cooling investments
Generate data that informs future infrastructure decisions
The pilot will impact certain streets in Riggs Park (shown in pink on the map), including parts of:
Galloway Street NE
Hamilton Street NE
Jefferson Street NE
Kennedy Street NE
Jamaica Street NE
11th Street NE
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.
Photos courtesy Aminta Cuellar, Mamie D. Lee Community Garden
By Christina Scheltema, At-large board member, Mamie D. Lee Community Garden
June 22-28 is national Pollinator Week. The Mamie D. Lee Community Garden is celebrating!
The garden, located along the footpath between the Ft. Totten Metro and the unit block of Gallatin Street, NE, has installed small pollinator gardens in otherwise unusable parts of the garden. You can see two such gardens from the footpath: a pocket herb garden in the southeast corner and a small pollinator garden in the southwest corner. All of the pollinator gardens are tended by members of the garden as part of their commitment to perform annual community service. For more information on the pollinator gardens, please email pollinatorgarden@mdlga.org; for information on garden plots, email info@mdlga.org.
This year’s celebration features a music playlist on Spotify, a Monarch Life Cycle Coloring activity for children, and a blog series with information on pollinators. Check out the garden website/blog and garden fence for more information.
Anyone can listen to the playlist, “Roots, Rhythms & Blooms,” to celebrate the plants, pollinators, people, and cultures that make our garden and the surrounding neighborhoods of Ft. Totten, Riggs Park, and Petworth special. The playlist features a mix of R&B, Soul, Pop, African, Afrobeat, Latino, Reggae, and feel-good classics, selected to reflect the garden’s diversity, joy, and sense of community.
A neighbor passed along information about an upcoming District Waterways Advisory Commission meeting and survey.
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The District Waterways Advisory Commission invites District residents, partners, and waterway users to participate in shaping the future of our rivers and waterways.
District Waterways Advisory Commission Virtual Meeting April 22, 2:00–4:00 PM This meeting will focus on: • Boating and recreational use of District waterways • Environmental restoration and longterm waterway management
This meeting is open to the public and interested stakeholders are welcome to join as Commissioners begin the work of identifying goals and strategies to promote the diverse uses of the Anacostia and Potomac River, the Washington Channel, and adjacent land.
Share Your Experience Through the Waterways Survey The Waterway Commission wants to know how YOU use the waterways to better understand how residents and visitors experience the District’s waterways and what improvements they have in mind. Whether you boat, paddle, cycle, stroll, or fish along the waterfront, or simply value our rivers, your feedback is important.
ANC Commissioner Danielle Geong (4B09) passed along information about a new Casey Trees pollinator program. Individuals in certain areas may receive a free pollinator garden installation and/or a new tree.
DPW is working to get back on track with trash collection this week. Residents with alley collection should put trash/recycling containers out on their regularly scheduled day. If it is not picked up on your regular day, leave it out. If it is not picked up two days after collection day, report it to 311.
Also, I was informed by the Ward 5 MOCR that residents in ANC 5A may also dispose of trash at the Fort Totten transfer station 10am-2pm today, Tuesday, February 3.
Location: SoDaRiggs Park on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE
Join ANC 4B & 5A Commissioners,* the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, and The Parks Main Street for a clean up day and park concept plan review on June 28, 2025!
Meet at the green space on the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE to help mulch and pick up trash around the green space or along your street. Water, trash bags, rakes, and grabbers provided.
RSVP to ANC Commissioner Keith Sellars (5A01) at 5A01@anc.dc.gov and ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09) at 5A09@anc.dc.gov.
*ANC Commissioners Keith Sellars (5A01), Shelagh Bocoum (5A09), Garrett Moore (4B08), & Danielle Geong (4B09). Assistance provided by The Parks Main Street Clean Team, Casey Trees, and DC Department of Public Works (DPW).
If you have newly planted street trees in front of your house, please water them. Last summer was pretty dry and a bunch of the newly planted trees suffered. If we want a healthy tree canopy to help us breathe and provide shade in the heat, we need to take care of the street trees.
Celebrate Land Conservation Day at Hellbender Brewing Company with:
Tree Tours
Live Music
Raffles & Games
BBQ Food Truck
Casey Trees Merch
And try the exclusive Casey Trees Serviceberry seasonal beer!
Tickets not required. Registration encouraged to help predict attendance. Also, there is a donation link in the event checkout to support Casey Trees.
Schedule
Event runs 2:00 pm-7:00pm.
Hellbender Beer Hall and outside patio open for the duration of the event, as well as BBQ food truck, raffles, partner tables, and several games all open 2-7pm. Exclusive seasonal Serviceberry beer brewed with berries picked from local Serviceberry trees. Proceeds from this beer support Casey Trees’ efforts to restore, enhance, and protect DC’s tree canopy.
Gather with neighbors for Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Second Annual Earth Day Fair at Takoma Elementary School (7010 Piney Branch Road, NW) on Saturday, May 18, 11 am-2 pm. Join government agencies, non-profits, neighborhood groups, student organizations, and more with the goal of sharing resources and opportunities for engagement around environmentalism!
Join neighbors, community associations, main streets, schools, local businesses, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners for community cleanups across the neighborhood over spring break week: April 13th – April 21st. Join one cleanup or all of them, and collect prizes along the way!
In addition to cleaning litter, we will share details on how to submit 311 requests for city services, support our local schools and small businesses, and build community along the way.
All are welcome! There is no need to bring anything – we will have supplies on hand. This is a great event for local students looking for community service hours.
Last year we picked up over 150 bags of litter! And this year we hope to pick up even more.
Check out the details for each cleanup:
*Saturday, April 13; 10 AM; 1st St & Riggs Rd, NE: Join Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08), South Manor Neighborhood Association, andFood & Friends to clean the neighborhood. Donuts, coffee & good company provided.
*Sunday, April 14; 10 am; Fort Slocum (Pavilion): Join Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06) and Rock Creek Conservancy to keep Fort Slocum beautiful. “Manor Park” lanyards for participants. Coffee & snacks provided.
*Monday, April 15; 3 pm; Van Buren & Piney Branch, NW: Join Commissioner Erin Palmer (4B02) and Safeway to clear litter in the streets around the store. Safeway will provide water and snacks. Erin will bring Donut Run donuts.
*Tuesday, April 16; 11 am; Butternut & Georgia, NW: Join East Rock Creek Village to clean the area by the DC Fire Department’s Engine Co. No. 22. Enjoy lunch after the cleanup at Ledo Pizza (7435 Georgia Ave, NW), including a 20% discount for cleanup participants.
*Wednesday, April 17; 11 am; Busboys & Poets: Join Commissioner Evan Yeats (4B04) and the MainStreet Takoma to help the Main Street sparkle. Grab breakfast at Busboys & Poets (235 Carroll St, NW) with neighbors before the cleanup at 10 am.
*Thursday, April 18; 4 pm; 5th St & Tuckerman St, NW: Join Commissioner Zurick T. Smith (4B03) to clean the area around Coolidge High School, Ida B. Wells Middle School, and Whittier Elementary School. Lemonade and cookies provided.
*Friday, April 19; 10 am; Quackenbos St & Georgia Ave, NW: Join Tamira Benitez and to support our Georgia Avenue businesses through beautification. We will grab lunch after the cleanup. Additional details to be announced.
*Saturday, April 20; 10 am; 9th & Quackenbos, NW: Join Commissioner Kevin Gilligan (4B05) and MPD 4th District to keep our neighborhoods clean. Enjoy food & drinks after the cleanup at Oohhs & Aahhs (5933 Georgia Ave, NW).
*Sunday, April 21; 4 pm; Cedar St & Piney Branch Rd, NW: Join Jenna Cevasco to make Takoma Elementary shine. Takoma Elementary tote bags for the first 10 participants. Enjoy food, drinks & PRIZES after the cleanup at Takoma Station Tavern (6914 4th Street, NW).
Next Stop...Riggs Park 