Tomorrow is Bike to Work Day. The weather forecast looks great. There will be a pit stop at Fort Totten metro station from 6:30 am to 9:30 am. For more information and to register for raffle prizes, visit the Bike To Work Day website.

Arcadia Mobile Market

Arcadia will operate a mobile food market at Providence Hospital (1150 Varnum Street NE) every Friday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, during the months of May through October.

LaSalle Food Market

Free food will be distributed at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) on May 21, 2015, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Bring your own bags.

ANC 4B09 Commissioner Doug Sloan held a fire safety meeting last night. He will update the community about any requests for assistance from the family affected by Sunday’s fire. The fire department is still investigating, but they believe the fire was accidental and that there was no foul play.

The interim fire chief and other fire department officials did a wonderful job of providing very useful information on topics such as proper use of extension cords and fire extinguishers and creating a family evacuation plan.

Residents can contact 311 (either online or by phone) to request smoke alarms and fire department personnel will install them free of charge.  The great thing is that the free alarms are 10-year lithium battery alarms, so people do not have to worry about changing the battery every six months. Fire officials also recommended having at least one working carbon monoxide alarm in the home.

DC’s Adult Protective Services will assist residents who have a dangerous accumulation of items in their home (known as hoarding) with house cleaning. This service is also offered free of charge. Fire department officials noted that hoarding is dangerous because it increases the number of items that can burn, increasing the severity of the fire and the danger of smoke inhalation. Accumulated items can also impede an individual’s exit out of danger and make it more difficult for rescue personnel to conduct their activities.

Fire department personnel mentioned they are really trying to get the word out about these services, particularly to seniors. Let your neighbors know.

Fourth District police will be out on Galloway Street NE today between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm to host a neighborhood clean-up as part of their enforcement effort for the month of April.

Fourth District police shared the following message:

Hello Fourth District Family,

For the month of April, the Fourth District is focusing efforts on littering to include illegal dumping. The Fourth District will be concentrating on and enforcing non-traffic littering which entails citing pedestrian violators for littering.  We will also be hosting several “clean-ups” in our Fourth District Community and we are asking for your assistance, by volunteering to assist with the clean-ups, and as Lt. Ridlehoover previously stated  “to raise awareness of littering, illegal dumping, and related crimes; the laws associated with them, and their social and environmental effects on our communities, economy, and the Potomac River”.

Clean-up Schedule

• 2nd & Webster AVE NE

April 1st, 2015 3:00pm to 4:00pm

• 550 Galloway Street NE

April 2nd, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm

• 3800 Block of Kansas Ave         

April 7th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm

• 7000 to the 7800 Block of Eastern Ave NW

April 14th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm

• Randolph St and Quincy Street between Georgia Ave and 14th

April 15th, 2015 4:00 to 6:00pm

• Puerto Rico Ave NE (From Buchanan to Taylor St NE)

April 22nd, 2015 4:00pm to 6:00pm

• 333 Hawaii Avenue N.E.

April 29th, 2015 3:00pm to 5:00pm

• 4900 Block of South Dakota Ave N.E.

April 29th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm

Fourth District Outreach will also revisit previous clean-up locations from our April 2014 clean-up schedule to determine if sanitation has been maintained and will notify the appropriate DC government agencies of any violations:

PSA 402 – Rock Creek Ford Rd

                    5900 block of Georgia Ave NW.

PSA 403 – The triangle and bus depot at 14th/Colorado/Kennedy

PSA 404 – 3700 9th & 3 blocks out

                    6000 Block of Kansas Street, NE

PSA 406 – Unit to 100 block Kennedy, Longfellow, Madison, Street NW, Chillum Place NE

PSA 407 – Rear of 5000 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

PSA 408 – 3100 block Mount Pleasant Street, Northwest

PSA 409 – 600 Newton St. NW.          

In addition, there will be a Fourth District officer present at each clean-up to write citations to any litter law violators.

Sadly, over the weekend a house fire claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors in the 5800 block of Eastern Avenue NE. ANC 4B09 commissioner Doug Sloan has arranged a fire safety meeting with DC fire department officials tomorrow at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Fire officials will be handing out smoke detectors. Information will also be shared about how to make donations for the surviving family members.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B

202-291-6282 (Office)

FIRE SAFETY MEETING

Commissioner DOUG SLOAN, ANC 4B09

invites you to attend

A FIRE SAFETY MEETING For RIGGS PARK

Thursday, APRIL 2, 2015

7:00 Pm-9:00 PM

AT

Lasalle Backus Education Campus

501 Riggs Road NE

 Come discuss fire safety with the DC Fire Dept. and ANC Doug Sloan in the aftermath of Sunday’s tragic fire that claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors. Free smoke detectors!

We will discuss ways to help the family.  

Contact ANC 4B for details

Commissioner Doug Sloan, ANC 4B09

4b@anc.dc.gov

Assessment change map

On March 24, 2015, DC’s Office of Tax and Revenue and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson hosted a real property tax town hall meeting. The meeting was scheduled because Riggs Park is one of the neighborhoods that has seen a large increase in assessed values. Both DC OTR and  Mendelson handed out documents (DC OTR Real Property Taxes Fact Sheet (pdf); DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson Tax Assessment Town Hall (pdf)). Below are some tips pulled from Mendelson’s handout.

• To dispute the assessment of your real property you must file a first level administrative appeal.
• April 1st is the absolute deadline for filing first level administrative appeals. Hand deliver to be sure it is received on time, or by certified mail to have proof of the postmark, or fax it and follow-up with a phone call to the assessor (whose number is on your assessment notice).
• For best results, conduct your first level administrative appeal in person. Telephone is next best. You will better  understand how to challenge the assessment by talking to the assessor.
• Verify your property data (e.g. use code, number of bedrooms, type of structure, billing data, and property class, etc). If possible get this information from your assessor before filing your appeal.
• Most appeals are based on “equalization”- that comparable properties are assessed equally. Look for three properties  similar to yours- and near yours- that are assessed lower than you.
• Take advantage of tax relief programs: Homestead deduction, senior citizen property tax relief, historic properties program, lower income homeownership tax abatement, first-time homebuyer  individual  income tax credit, senior citizen property tax deferral, schedule H/individual income property tax credit, etc.
• The tax rate for homeowners remains 85¢ and the homestead deduction is $71,400 this year. Taxes did not increase more than 10%.

Metro alert

L’Enfant Plaza Station temporarily closed; Green/Yellow service suspended in Downtown DC

Updated 5:05 p.m.

Green Line shuttle bus boarding locations –
Navy Yard – NJ Ave & M St SE
Waterfront – M St & 4th SW
L’Enfant Plaza – C St & 7th St SW
Archives – Pennsylvania Ave & 7th Street NW
Gallery Place – H St & 7th St NW
Mt Vernon Sq – M St & 7th St NW

Downtown Yellow Line customers should use Blue Line service between Downtown DC & Virginia. Transfer after Pentagon City to a Huntington-bound Yellow Line train.

Yellow & Green Line customers at Mt Vernon Sq may use Metrobus Route 70 or 79 to reach Gallery Place & Archives.

NON-METRO ALTERNATIVES
DC Circulator:  from M St/Navy Yard: 2 different routes available to either Eastern Market (OR/SV/BL Metrorail) or Union Station (Metrorail Red Line). SmarTrip accepted.
VRE:  Fredericksburg Line from Union Station or L’Enfant Plaza to Crystal City, King Street-Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield

###

Metro Transit Police and fire department personnel are on scene at L’Enfant Plaza for smoke in the station.

The source of the smoke has not been determined. The station has been evacuated and is temporarily closed at this time.

Metro has activated tunnel fans to ventilate the area.

Service Information

• Green Line service is SUSPENDED between Navy Yard and Mt Vernon Square.
• Yellow Line service is SUSPENDED between Pentagon City and Mt Vernon Square.
• Blue/Orange/Silver line trains are BYPASSING L’Enfant Plaza (passing through the station without stopping).
• L’Enfant Plaza is closed.
• Riders should consider alternate travel options. To view bus options, use Metro’s trip planner and select the “bus only” option. Expect significant delays.

News release issued at 3:54 pm, January 12, 2015.

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The National Park Service conducted an Environmental Assessment on four alternatives to the current shortcuts pedestrians use between Gallatin Street and Galloway Street NE to  access Fort Totten metro station. The NPS selected the direct path option as its preferred alternative. We covered the proposed options [(1)No Action; (2) Improve Street Side Access/Fence off Area; (3) Direct Trail; (4) Trail System] in this post last year. The NPS plans to hold a public meeting about the Environmental Assessment (date and location to be determined) during the open comment period, which runs from January 6 to February 19, 2015 .

The project website provides the following summary:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Park Service has prepared an Environmental Assessment that describes four alternatives for the Fort Totten-North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements Project, as well as the impacts on natural and historic resources of implementing these alternatives. The National Park Service has identified “Alternative 3: Direct Trail” as the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, the National Park Service would construct a paved multi-use trail through the project area, which is part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington and is managed by Rock Creek Park. The design for the trail, which would connect Gallatin and Galloway Streets, NE, would account for existing topography to allow for sufficient sight lines and proper grade for universal accessibility. In addition, existing unofficial trails would be closed and restored with native vegetation. This alternative also would include the option to incorporate low impact, fully shielded pole lighting into the trail design.

The Environmental Assessment for each option is available on the project website and also at Rock Creek Park Headquarters (3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008) and the Rock Creek Park Nature Center (5200 Glover Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015).

Comments may be submitted online by clicking on the “Open for Comment” tab on the project website or by mailing to:

Rock Creek Park
Attn: Fort Totten-North Michigan Park Pedestrian Access Improvements EA
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Stay tuned for a date for the public meeting.

A neighbor brings to our attention the “Talking Transition DC Town Meeting,” a scheduled January 17 townhall meeting sponsored by a coalition of organizations that seeks to inform Mayor Bowser’s policy priorities. An online survey is also available. From the website:

The Talking Transition DC survey is available online for residents across the city to express their sentiments on the most pressing issues at this time of transition. In total, Talking Transition DC’s goal is to obtain the input and ideas of ten thousand Washingtonians about the future of a more equitable and prosperous Washington, D.C.

Talking Transition DC Town Meeting

Saturday, January 17, 2015

9:30 AM – 3:30 PM   Doors Open at 9:00 AM

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, DC 20001

FREE LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

During this time of transition in our city, it’s important that District residents come together and help create a common vision for our future. Join us for an interactive, high tech Town Meeting that will bring together hundreds of residents from all eight wards to talk about the important issues facing Washington, DC.

• Learn about the various challenges facing our city
• Help identify priorities for the new Mayor
• Talk in small groups with people from all parts of the District
• Generate ideas about how we can make our local government more effective

All the results will be shared with Mayor Bowser and members of her new administration.

REGISTER TODAY! SEATING IS LIMITED!

Register by January 10^th to guarantee your seat at the meeting! Go to www.TalkingTransitionDC.com to register or get more information.

Registration Options:

• Online Registration at www.TalkingTransitionDC.com
• Mail completed form to: 611 Pennsylvania Avenue SE #295, Washington, DC 20003
• Email: talkingtransitiondc@gmail.com or Fax 202-462-7001