The annual Riggs Park & Michigan Park Reunion event will take place this Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Fort Circle Park (South Dakota Avenue NE & Galloway Street NE).
The event is pretty popular so expect a lot of cars and traffic around the park during this time.
Local election season is still going on. All eyes are on the race for the DC Council At-large seats. Voters will be able to pick two choices among the list of candidates.
Tonight, several organizations have partnered to host a public safety forum moderated by Tom Sherwood for the at-large candidates. Details and livestream information at the link.
Next week on September 14, 2022, DC for Democracy will be holding a candidate forum moderated by Kim Perry. Register and send questions in advance at bit.ly/at-large-22.
Greater Greater Washington has a handy visual of candidate answers to a questionnaire about various topics.
The DC Board of Elections will start sending ballots to voters on October 3, 2022. Ballot drop boxes will open on October 14, 2022, so I imagine there will be lots more opportunities to learn about the candidates before then.
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
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
From Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
Please join AARP DC, DPR, and Councilmember Lewis George on Thursday, September 8 at 1pm at Lamond Recreation Center to celebrate the new Fitness Park (Fitlot) donated by AARP DC to our community. And please let your neighbors know about this event and this excellent fitness resource.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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:
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
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.
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 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
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 MapWard 5 Open Streets Schedule
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 Bryantbrothers, 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.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 