Last week, MPD announced the arrest of two individuals in relation to a string of robberies of several establishments around the city. A few nearby establishments were targets of this robbery spree earlier this year, including the minimart on South Dakota Avenue NE, Five Guys on Riggs Road NE, and Takoma Liquors on Eastern Avenue NE.

More information at https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/mpd-and-fbi-collaboration-leads-united-states-district-court-indictments-armed-robbery.

Last week, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that Carlos Heraud will take the reins as commander overseeing MPD’s Fourth District (4D) from Randy Griffin, who assumed a command position in MPD’s recently created Technical and Analytical Services Bureau. Riggs Park sits within the boundaries of the Fourth District. Below is the message Commander Heraud shared with residents on MPD 4D’s google group:

Good Afternoon 4th District Residents,

I’m very excited about my new assignment as Commander of the Fourth District. My time as a sector captain in the Seventh District and as Summer Crime Initiative (SCI) Captain in 2018 and 2019 gave me great insight into crime trends in different parts of the city. That experience, coupled with my earlier patrol assignments, gives me the tools I need to work with our community partners as we identify ways to use traditional and non-traditional methods to address and prevent crime in the Fourth District. I welcome community input and encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns that may arise.

The Fourth District leadership team looks forward to working with the community during this transition.

Residents can always contact Commander Heraud about issues in the neighborhood. His email address is carlos.heraud@dc.gov. Riggs Park sits in Sector 2 of the Fourth District. The MPD captain for Sector 2 is John Terry. He can be reached at john.terry@dc.gov. Officer Robert Hamrick is the community engagement coordinator for the Fourth District. His email address is robert.hamrick@dc.gov. The full roster of Fourth District key personnel is available at https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/fourth-district-roster.

Conversation with the Chief of Police Robert Contee
November 20, 2021
10:00 am
Ivy City Smokehouse
1356 Okie St NE

Community networking meeting to build support to eradicate crime and violence.

This event is free to attend but space is limited.

Moderator: Tony Towns

Organizers: Lowell Duckett, Brian Sumner, Leroy Swain, and Carl Turpin

For additional information, please call 202-210-3161

DC Water has lifted the Boil Water Advisory for all customers.

Please see the interactive map at www.dcwater.com or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to verify if your address was in the affected area.

Customers residing in the previously affected area should take the following precautions before returning to normal water usage:

• Run the cold water taps for 10 minutes (if water was not used at all during the advisory).
• Discard food or ice prepared with water that was not boiled during the advisory.
• Consult the owner’s manual to find out how to sanitize appliances and home filtration systems if used during the advisory.

From DC Water

Boil Water Advisory lifted for all customers

August 8, 2021

Protective actions given for those in the smaller impact area

Este aviso y más información están también disponibles en www.dcwater.com, y preguntas frecuentes bilingües se encuentran en www.dcwater.com/BWAliftFAQ.

All DC Water customers in the impact area under the boil water advisory can use tap water for all purposes after following the instructions provided below.

DC Water issued the boil water advisory as a conservative measure to protect public health, and we sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience while we took necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the tap water we deliver.

David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water, said, “Protecting the health and safety of our customers is our highest priority. We understand actions like these are very disruptive, but we will always put our customers’ safety first.”

DC Water lifted the boil water advisory after tests confirmed that drinking water meets all water quality safety standards. DC Water tested water samples from multiple sites in the affected area and has verified that the there is no risk of water contamination from the loss of pressure in some portions of the distribution system. Therefore, DC Water has ended the bottled water distribution.

Please see the interactive map at www.dcwater.com or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to verify if your address was in the affected area.

Customers residing in the previously affected area should take the following precautions before returning to normal water usage:

• Run the cold water taps for 10 minutes (if water was not used at all during the advisory).
• Discard food or ice prepared with water that was not boiled during the advisory.
• Consult the owner’s manual to find out how to sanitize appliances and home filtration systems if used during the advisory.

On August 6, DC Water received one positive test from a sampling site located in the affected area. On August 7 and August 8, subsequent testing did not detect the presence of coliform bacteria contamination. 

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 4, 2021, crews closed valves in the area of 13th Street and Spring Road, NW in an effort to isolate a leak on a 36” water transmission line to make repairs, causing low or no water pressure to area homes. System pressure was restored and the 36” water transmission line has been repaired.

Please share this information with your friends and neighbors, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Please read the FAQ for action following the Boil Water Advisory which is located on the website.

DC Water will work with customers to answer questions and respond to additional issues following the Boil Water Advisory. Customers with water quality questions should contact the Drinking Water Division at (202) 612-3440 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

All other questions or suggestions should be directed to DC Water Customer Service at 202-354-3600 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400. Information is also available at www.dcwater.com and FAQs are provided at dcwater.com/BWAliftFAQ.Sign up for
DC Water News.

The Boil Water Advisory is still in effect for Riggs Park and a smaller portion of Northeast DC. Affected residents may pick up free water at North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson Street NE) today, August 7, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The rough boundaries of the area still under the advisory are:

• East of North Capitol Street
• West of Eastern Avenue
• South of New Hampshire Avenue
• North of Taylor Street

Customers can view the interactive map or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to verify if their residence falls within the area still affected.

From DC Water

*UPDATE* Boil Water Advisory lifted for most customers – continues for roughly 4,200 customers in NE

August 7, 2021

Este aviso y más información están también disponibles en www.dcwater.com, y preguntas frecuentes bilingües se encuentran en www.dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ. 

Following two consecutive days of clear samples for most of the Advisory area, DC Water is lifting the Boil Water Advisory for a portion of the impacted area. DC Water has determined boundaries for a smaller impacted area which will remain under a Boil Water Advisory until two consecutive days of clear samples are obtained. Customers can view the interactive map or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to verify if their residence falls within the area still affected. Customers located in the impacted area should continue boiling water for drinking and cooking until further notice. 

Customers who are not located in this updated Advisory area can use tap water after running cold-water taps for 10 minutes before returning to normal water usage. Running the cold-water tap will replace water sitting in pipes during the advisory with fresh water from the water main.

The impact area which remains under an Advisory includes portions of neighborhoods in Queens Chapel, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park, Chillum Station and Terra Cotta.
It is anticipated sample results for the remaining impact area will be analyzed by Sunday morning, August 8.

Customers still affected by the boil water advisory should continue to follow these precautions:

•    Discard any beverages and ice made before and during this advisory.
•    Run cold water until clear (if discolored) prior to boiling.
•    Run cold water for 2 minutes if known sources of lead are present prior to boiling. 
•    Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool. 
•    Store cooled water in a clean, covered container.

Cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for:

•    Drinking
•    Brushing teeth
•    Preparing and cooking food
•    Washing fruits and vegetables
•    Preparing infant formula
•    Making ice 
•    Giving water to pets

*Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiled or bottled water.

Customers who are still impacted by the Boil Water Advisory may receive water at North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson St., NE, Washington, DC, from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today.

Today, two consecutive days of samples taken throughout the Boil Water Advisory impact area confirmed there was no impact to water quality resulting from the pressure loss event on August 4th in most of the impacted area. However, an advisory remains in place for an isolated area where one sample was positive for Total Coliform on August 6. DC Water has taken an additional sample from the location, following localized flushing of the distribution system, and expects to have results by Sunday morning August 8. 

DC Water has consulted closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Advisory and action plan. DC Water will continue flushing water from the system, to bring fresh water into the area. The Authority will continue testing water samples to assess tap water safety. The safety and health of our customers are our top priorities, and the boil water advisory will remain in effect until we confirm that the tap water is safe.

DC Water issued the Boil Water Advisory after a temporary loss of pressure in a portion of the distribution system in the late afternoon of August 4, 2021.  On Thursday, August 5, DC Water collected water samples at 10 locations in the impacted area. Those samples were tested overnight, and DC Water analyzed the results the morning of August 6. The nine samples that were negative for coliform bacteria yesterday were also negative today. The one sampling location that tested positive yesterday for coliform bacteria today tested negative. A second consecutive negative test is required before the advisory is lifted in the remaining impacted area. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present.

The impacted area which remains under an advisory includes the neighborhoods of Queens Chapel, Fort Totten, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park and Riggs Park. The impacted area is generally:

•    East of North Capitol Street
•    West of Eastern Avenue
•    South of New Hampshire Avenue
•    North of Taylor Street

Due to the loss of pressure in the system, it may have been possible for bacteria or other disease-causing organisms to enter the water through cracks, breaks or joints in the distribution system. 

Bacteria and other disease-causing contamination such as viruses and parasites can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

The symptoms above are not only caused by microbes in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. 

Customers with water quality questions should contact the Department of Water Quality at (202) 612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). All other questions should be directed to DC Water Customer Service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400 or the Office of Marketing and Communications at (202) 787-2200 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Information is also available at www.dcwater.com and FAQs are provided at www.dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ.

From DC Water

DRINKING WATER ADVISORY

DC Water Issues Boil Water Advisory for Customers in Some Neighborhoods of Northeast DC

August 5, 2021

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is issuing a Boil Water Advisory today for some customers after a temporary loss of pressure in the late afternoon of August 4, 2021. DC Water advises customers to not drink or cook with their water without boiling it first if they are in the impact area which includes the neighborhoods of Edgewood, Brookland, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge, Queens Chapel, Michigan Park and North Michigan Park. The impacted area is generally:

• East of North Capitol Street
• West of Eastern Avenue
• South of New Hampshire Avenue
• North of New York Avenue

DC Water advises customers to search their address on the interactive map or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to determine if they are in the impact area of this advisory. Customers in the impacted area should boil water used for drinking and cooking. Customers outside this area can continue normal water use. 

This is a precautionary notice to customers in the impacted area to boil water that may be ingested due to water of unknown quality in this localized area of the system. This advisory will remain in place until follow-up testing confirms the water is safe to drink.

Customers in the impacted area should:
•    Discard any beverages and ice made before and during this advisory.
•    Run cold water until clear (if discolored) prior to boiling.
•    Run cold water for 2 minutes if known sources of lead are present prior to boiling. 
•    Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool. 
•    Store cooled water in a clean, covered container. 

Cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for:

•    Drinking
•    Brushing teeth
•    Preparing and cooking food
•    Washing fruits and vegetables
•    Preparing infant formula
•    Making ice 
•    Giving water to pets

*Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiled or bottled water.

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 4, 2021, crews closed valves in the area of 13th Street and Spring Road, NW in an effort to isolate a leak on a 36” water transmission line to make repairs. Subsequently, DC Water received a number of calls from customers in Northeast DC who were experiencing low or no water pressure. 

System pressure was restored within the hour and service has been fully restored.  

Due to the loss of pressure in the system, it may have been for bacteria or other disease-causing organisms to enter the water through cracks, breaks or joints in the distribution system.  

Bacteria and other disease-causing contamination such as viruses and parasites can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.

The symptoms above are not only caused by microbes in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

We have no information that the water was contaminated by this incident, but issue this advisory as a precaution while we test the water.  DC Water is currently collecting samples in the impacted area. The advisory will be lifted when tests on two consecutive days show no bacteria are present and all customers can continue normal water use, which we anticipate will be on Saturday, August 7. 

Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.  

Customers with water quality questions should contact the Department of Water Quality at (202) 612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). All other questions should be directed to DC Water Customer Service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400 or the Office of Marketing and Communications at (202) 787-2200 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). 

Information is also available at www.dcwater.com and Bilingual FAQs are provided at www.dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ.  

Este aviso y más información están también disponibles en www.dcwater.com, y preguntas frecuentes bilingües se encuentran en www.dcwater.com/boilwaterFAQ. 

From the Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center

Please join us for our first Riggs Park Forum on Opioids in our Community this Saturday, July 31.

The Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (FORLR) in collaboration with the Wards 3 & 4 DC Prevention Center and DC Department of Behavioral Health are hosting a series of educational sessions on opioid misuse.

The first session is a forum in which local experts, including DC government agencies, will provide information and address community input and questions. Guests include Wards 3 & 4 DC Prevention Center speakers and others.

The itinerary follows:

Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center Community Forum on Opioids
Where:  Culture Coffee Too, 300 Riggs Road, NE
When:  Saturday, July 31, 2021 Time: 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm

The following public service announcement shows the addictive power of opioids.
To see it, please click here: Know the truth | Amy’s Story | Opioids (viewer discretion advised)

Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser cut the ribbon on a new COVID-19 mobile vaccination pod at Mary’s Center, located at 100 Gallatin Street NE near Fort Totten Metro station. According to the mayor’s press release, the pod, which can be used to vaccinate up to 400 people per day, will also help to free up resources inside the clinic so that patients can continue to access regular care.

Rental/Utility Assistance

Stay DC is a financial assistance program for qualifying District renters and housing providers who are looking for support to cover housing and utility expenses. Funds are still available, so individuals are encouraged to complete the application process. 

The program website is https://stay.dc.gov. The website details the eligibility requirements and application process and also includes links for other supports. The hotline for assistance for the application process is (833) 478-2932.

Internet Access Assistance Programs

District officials are promoting two programs that help qualifying residents get internet service.

Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program

• Program website is https://fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
• Provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households
• Also provides a one-time $100 discount for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet for eligible households

Internet For All: DC Students Program

• Program website is https://www.techtogetherdc.com/internetforall
• One year of free internet service for eligible DC households with PK3-12th grade students enrolled at a DC traditional, charter public school, or adult charter school

United Medical Center COVID-19 Mobile Program
May 25, 2021
10:00 am-3:00 pm
Michigan Park Church
1600 Taylor Street NE
Pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccine encouraged, but walk-ups also accepted

Services:

• Free COVID-19 vaccine
• Free COVID-19 screening
• Free HIV screening
• Free wellness checks
• Free groceries & giveaways
• Gift card raffle
  

For questions/pre-registration, contact (202) 436-4317 or krwilliams@mfa.gwu.edu

Passing along information

Impact DMV C.A.R.E.S, will be giving out boxes of FREE Food this coming Saturday (and every 1st Saturday of the month) from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Please forward this information to anyone you know who would like to receive it.

We are in COVID compliance. You do not have to exit your vehicle. Our team will place the box in your backseat/trunk.

If you are a walk-up, we have tote bags for you to carry the food safely.

Impact DMV,

5335 First Place, NE WDC

(directly down the street from the Ft. Totten Metro Station).

Contact: Dr. Denise Strothers, 202-368-3203 for more information

From ANC 4B

In March 2021, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B approved a Resolution establishing a Community Safety and Support Committee. You can read the Resolution here: Advisory Neighborhood Commissions-Resolutions – District of Columbia.

The Commission is now seeking applicants for Committee membership. You must be a resident within the Commission’s boundaries to be a member. Check if you reside within the Commission’s boundaries here: https://anc4b.com/about-the-anc/.

If you are interested in serving as a member of the Committee, please email a statement of interest, including any relevant experience, by April 30th. The Commission will not be monitoring responses to the listservs. Please send any statements of interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson at 4B06@anc.dc.gov.

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, located at 4611 Sherriff Road NE, has lots of COVID-19 vaccination appointments available through Five Medicine on March 29 and March 30. The Moderna vaccine will be administered.

Open to

• Individuals 65 years old and older living in Wards 5, 7, & 8
• Individuals 18 to 64 years old with a qualifying medical condition living in Wards 5, 7, & 8

To book an appointment, go to fivemedicine.com/request-an-appointment.php.

You may want to keep an eye on this website. It looks like there is also an ability to be added to a vaccination waitlist and there may be appointments available at different churches on different dates.

From Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Office:

Johns Hopkins Medicine is partnering with the DC Housing Authority to vaccinate Ward 5 residents this Saturday at Edgewood rec center starting at 9 AM. Ward 5 Residents who are eligible (65 and older, possess a qualifying medical condition, or are a qualifying essential worker) can call 202-964-3650 to get registered.

ANC 5A Public Safety Meeting
March 18, 2021
6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Guests
Randy Griffin, Commander, MPD 4th District
Judi Jones, Chair, MPD 4th District Community Advisory Council
Silas Grant, Senior Advisor to Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
Kelly Jeong-Olson, Ward 5 Liaison, District Department of Transportation
Kimberley Pinkney and Kecia Barnes, DC Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83761607283?pwd=dWJFZmJLWkRUR2VZRGRBMFA1bWh3QT09

Meeting ID: 837 6160 7283
Passcode: 421123
Dial by your location:  1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Free COVID-19 testing will be available tomorrow, February 24, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm via a CORE Neighborhood Pop-Up at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE). No appointment necessary, but pre-registration is recommended. Pre-register at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/register. Bring your insurance card. More testing information is available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing.