October 2019

 
The Ward 5 MOCRS are Dominique Chestnut (202-394-4399:  dominique.chestnut@dc.gov and Malik Miller 202-251-5049:  malik.miller2@dc.gov.  Both MOCRS represent the Mayor’s office.

Free Exercise Classes at various DC Recreation Centers for all ages.  To receive more information contact DPR (Department of Parks and Recreation) Events, go to https://dpr.dc.gov/.
​
Saturday, Oct 5 -13, Howard University 2019 Homecoming – Day of Service; Call to Chapel, Bison Madness:  Pep Rally, Lavender (LGBTQ+) Reception, Student Fashion Show, State of the University Address, The Yardfest Day 1, HU Ideas Symposia, School & College Open Houses, Greek Step Show, The Yardfest Day 2, Tailgate, The Parade (10AM), Homecoming Football Game, Call to Chapel, Alumni Jazz Brunch, & Gospel Concert. To post on social media, tag @HowardUChapel and use the #SundaysAreForChapel  hashtag on Twitter and Instagram. For any questions or assistance, please visit www.https://chapel.howard.edu/ or call 202-806-7280.  Cramton Auditorium is located at 2455 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20059.
 
Saturday, Oct 5, 10AM – 2PM, People First – Open Streets, Georgia Ave NW between Missouri Ave NW & Berry Place NW for the first Open Streets even in DC.  Open Street DC is a program that temporarily closes streets to all vehicular traffic & opens them to people of all ages & abilities to enjoy food, fitness & fun, along a nearly three mile stretch of Georgia Ave NW.  Open Streets DC is an opportunity for the city to think differently about how we use our city’s streets through physical movement, recreational activities, & community building & education.  No cars, just people.  We encourage you to celebrate all of our city’s transportation option by walking, biking, or riding public transit to the event.

Monday, October 7, 6:30PM – Edgewood Rec Center Community Meeting will meet at the Inspired Teaching Public Charter School at 200 Douglas St NE.  The goal of the meeting will be to discuss all of the feedback that have been received from the previous survey as well as to provide construction/
​project update.  POC: Brent Sisco, ASLA, CPPD brent.sisco@dc.gov.  View the project website for info & resources: https://dgs.dc.gov/page/edgewood-recreation-center

Mon, Oct 7, 7PM – Stronghold Civic Association (SCA) meets at the Inspired Teaching Public Charter School at 200 Douglas St NE every 1st Monday of each month unless it falls on a holiday, then it’s on the 2nd Monday.  POC:  Laura Jackson, President. 
SCA listserv:  strongholdcivicassociation@yahoogroups.com
E-mail: StrongholdCivicAssociation@gmail.com
Next Door website:  https://stronghold.nextdoor.com/news_feed/

​Tues, Oct 15, 7PM – ANC 5E Public Meeting meets at Friendship Armstrong Public Charter School every 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 1400 P Street NW (corner of 1st and P St NW) Web Site:  www.anc5edc.org; twitter@anc5e; POC:  Bradley Thomas, Chair.

Mon, Oct 21, 7PM – Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) meets at St George’s Episcopal Church, 2nd & U Streets NW.  BCA meets every 3rd Monday of the month but if a holiday falls on the 3rd Monday, it meets on the 4th Monday.  POC:  Teri Quinn, President (bloomindalecivicassociation.org)

Wed, Oct 23 and Sat, Oct 26, The Tours will take place in the East Building.  We will explore Newman’s iconic and challenging Stations of the Cross.  The tours will each meet at 1PM by the information desk in the East Building and each will last about an hour. Everyone is welcome!  For more information or to receive web links to works that will be described on the tour in advance, contact Lorena Bradford at access@nga.gov or 202-842-6905.  Verbally described tours are also available by request with 3 weeks’ notice by e-mailing access@nga.gov.  Use the entrance at 4th Street between Constitution and Madison for easiest access to the East Building information desk. www.nga.gov.  Co-sponsored by the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington.  https://www.nga.gov/visit/accessibility/for-visitors-who-are-blind.html.html. 

​Upcoming accessible programs at the National Gallery of Art, including the “Picture This” tours; Just Us at the National Gallery of Art, for people with memory loss and their care partners; ASL at the NGA tours; ASL Video Tours; Tours alternate between the East Building and West Building.  Please be sure you know where the tour meets each month.

Picture This!  Tours for People with Low Vision and Who Are Blind at the National Gallery of Art “Picture This” tours incorporate vibrant verbal description with information about works of art. 
 
Just Us at the National Gallery of Art:  This interactive program is designed for people with memory loss and their care partners. Registration is required but spaces for fall and winter programs remain! Please email Lorena at access@nga.gov or call 202-842-6905.  https://www.nga.gov/calendar/guided-tours/accessible-programs/just-us-at-the-nga.html
 
ASL at the NGA: An Introduction to the National Gallery Collection - The monthly ASL at the NGA tour is coming up on Saturday, October 12 at 1:00 pm in the East Building.  The free tour meets by the information desk and lasts about an hour.  Tours are interpreted into spoken English. All are welcome!
http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/calendar/guided-tours/accessible-programs/american-sign-language.html
 
ASL Video Tour of the East Building Highlights - In addition to the Director’s Tour of West Building highlights, we also feature 36 ASL videos with highlights of the newly reopened East Building!  The tour can be viewed on personal devices, both on- and offsite, at http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/audio-video/video/collection-highlights-east-building-asl.html.  The West Building ASL video tour is still available at http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/audio-video/video/asl.html

Assistive Listening Devices Available - ALDs are available for use on any public tour with three weeks’ advance notice if possible.  To view a full listing of tours, visit www.nga.gov and click on the “Calendar” tab near the upper right corner. Then contact Lorena Bradford at access@nga.gov or 202-842-6905 to arrange the use of ALDs.
 
To find other accessible programs and performances in the DC metro area, check out the calendar posted at the DC Arts & Access Network! http://www.dcaan.org/ - POC:  Lorena Bradford, Accessible Programs, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 202-842-6905
 
Mon, Oct 6 and Wed, Oct 16, 6:30-8:30pm.  DC Grassroots Planning Coalition: Study Circle Series
The Comprehensive Plan & Your Community.  Learn about the Comprehensive Plan – The DC’s guiding plan for development: “What it says about your community” and “How you can help shape it to protect affordable housing & other neighborhood priorities”.  The Council is considering the Framework Element (the introduction to the Plan that provides overall guidance on all the specific elements of the plan) is expected to pass in October.  Meanwhile, the Office of Planning has assembled many proposed amendments to various elements (chapters) of the Comprehensive Plan for consideration after the Framework Element has been passed.

Empower DC has information on the Plan and is conducting a series of study circles to look at the Area Elements of the Plan. For Comprehensive Plan purposes, the city is divided into 10 areas, called "elements," that are not the same as the Wards but in many cases close to them.

The Upper Northeast area study group will meet on Mon, Oct 7th @ Bethesda Baptist Church, 1808 Capitol Ave NE and the Mid-City area study group will meet on Wed, Oct 16th @ St Stephen & the Incarnation, 1525 Newton St NW.  

​The Upper Northeast Element includes Stronghold and most of Ward 5; the Mid-City Element includes Bloomingdale & Eckington and much of Ward 1. To learn more about your neighborhood-on the current Comprehensive Plan for where you live, attend the meeting for your area element.  RSVP online @ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/studycircle.
 
Thurs, Nov 14, 7PM, MAG Meeting to be held at the Inspired Teaching Public Charter School, 200 Douglas St NE; Minutes from the September 12 meeting will be posted by the next MAG Meeting at its web page.  This is an election meeting for the Vice Chair.  POC:  Kirby Vining

2020 CENSUS GET COUNTED – NOW ONLINE:  In 2020, the US Census moves to the internet.  Online forms will be available in multiple languages.  The CENSUS MATTER TO DC:  The federal government distributes over three billion dollars annually to the District to support vital programs based on census data.  Census data is used to update Ward & ANC boundaries to reflect population growth & movement across the District.  District agencies rely on accurate census data for budget, planning & policy decision making across the city.  USES OF CENSUS DATA:  RESIDENTS use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality of life & consumer advocacy.  BUSINESSES use the census data to decide where to build offices & stores – creating jobs for the community.  Every household will have the option of responding online, by mail or by phone.  For more information on how to get involved:  dccensus2020.dc.gov.  Every 10 years, the U.S. Constitution requires that we take a count of America’s population.

September’s Update:
Thursday, September 12, 7PM – The MAG (McMillan Advisory Group) Meeting:  A brief update on the Project DMPED has received the Demolition Site Permit.  Due to more court appeals, they have not started the site demolition.  The work on the site include accessing issues of the cells and other structures; removing of sand from the cells and the top soil from the top structures of the site.  As part of the new McMillan Park, the McMillan Fountain in its entirety that was station on the corner of First & Bryant where the old McMillan Park resided will now reside at the corner of First & Channing Streets NW were the new Park will be developed.  A grocery store continues to be an important part of this development.  A Walking Museums is considered for the site.  There are so many residents who continue to live here within the last 20 years, I’ve resided within the Bloomingdale Neighborhood for the last 45 years.  The Traffic Control Plan will be similar to the DC Water Plan whereas there is a proposal to close First Street between Channing Street NW and Michigan Avenue NW.  DMPED is considering whether or not to bring back the Neighborhood Photo-Op Event.

Tuesday, September 17, 7PM - Voting Items from the September’s Monthly Meeting - Projects:
Resolution Against Hate Speech, Racism, etc. passed 9-0-0
Resolution in Support of D.C. Council’s Changing Tables Amendment passed by vote of 9-0-0

BZA/ZC Matters:
BZA #20095 MiCasa Development-Florida Ave & Q St NW (2nd) passed by vote of 9-0-0
ZC #16-041   Modification of Consequence-1600 N Cap St NW passed by vote of 9-0-0
BZA #20069 Special Exception-Deborah Barksdale-100 S St NW Rooftop passed by vote of 8-0-1
Note:  Voting items are posted on www.anc5EDC.org

Thursday, September 19, DMPED have informed the MAG of three DC Court of Appeals related to the McMillan Project which have been denied.

TRAINING:
Saturday, October 5, 2019, 10am - 12pm. - The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), is offering an "overwinter" workshop. "Overwinter" is a term used to describe the process of planting cool-season crops in the late fall to get an early harvest in the spring.  Participants will be exposed to the fundamental concepts behind season extension and winter growing. Participants will learn which vegetables are suitable for "overwintering," how to time plantings, and crop-care techniques. This workshop will also include a demonstration of row-cover installation for insulating crops during the winter.  Be sure to bring drinking water and weather-appropriate clothing and footwear.  LOCATION: Firebird Research Farm, 12001 Old Baltimore Pike, Beltsville, MD 20705; PAYMENT: This workshop is FREE and open to the public.  CONTACT: Brian Barnes, brian.barnes@udc.edu

October 8 - 11, 2019, 6pm - 9:45pm. - The College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), is collaborating with the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), to offer training for pesticide application certification in the Public Health category.  Participants will be provided with study materials, informational lectures, and will be eligible for pesticide applicator and personal protective equipment raffles.  Participants must attend all days of training scheduled for the week.
The course aspires to advance the knowledge and aid preparation for the pesticide applicator certification exam for Commercial Subcategory 8: Public Health. Most questions are based on integrated pest management, public health pest threats, the behaviors and habitats of specific vectors, as well as federal and District laws and regulations. Participants must be able to read and understand all label information, including application and use directions, formulations, storage, and disposal hazards, precautionary statements, and statements of practical treatment.  PAYMENT:  This training is FREE and open to the public.  Location:  UDC-CC Bertie Backus, 5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE, Room 129; 20017 CONTACT: Dr. Megan Wilkerson, megan.wilkerson@udc.edu, (202) 274-7190