March 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. 
 
Monday & Wednesday Weekly – Free Strength/Tone & Yoga Classes at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1030AM - 1130AM, 1100 Michigan Ave NE; Senior Water Aerobics on Mon & Wed from 8-9 & 9-10am (DC Residents 55 plus ONLY). 
 
Monday, Mar 4th, 7PM – 9PM – Stronghold Civic Association (SCA) meets at the Inspired Teaching Public Charter School (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).  Web:  www.strongholddc.org SCA listserv:  strongholdcivicassociation@yahoogroups.com,  Next Door website:  https://stronghold.nextdoor.com/news_feed/,  E-mail: StrongholdCivicAssociation@gmail.com   

Monday, Mar 7th, 6:30PM – 8PM – Edgewood Park and Recreation Center Community Meeting. Please join the DPR for a community meeting to discuss programming related to the new Edgewood Recreation Center.  DPR’s programming staff will be on hand to help facilitate discussion & to answer any program questions.  Your attendance is greatly appreciated!  Location:  Inspired Teaching Public Charter School Cafeteria (200 Douglas St NE).  Contact:  Brent Sisco @ 202-615-9824 or @ brent.sisco@dc.gov.  
 
DID YOU KNOW?  The Edgewood Recreation Center is being constructed for your community and by your community?  Thirteen of the companies working on the new facility are headquartered in the DC.  The Department of General Services will also be working with District’s Art community, including local artists in Ward 5, to incorporate public art within the new facility along with hosting a summer intern from Phelps Architecture, Construction & Engineering High School.   For additional info:  visit www.dgs.dc.gov/page/edgewood-recreation-center.  
 
Saturday, Mar 16th, 9:30AM-2:30PM, Free Event:  DC Bar Communities 20th Anniversary Youth Law Fair – Registration Now Open.  What can happen when the people you hang out with commit a crime?  How could it impact your future?  This year’s fact pattern topic will discuss conspiracy and robbery as well as provide a discussion on the decriminalization of fare evasion.  Students meet with judges and lawyers for a behind the scenes look at the legal process.  There will be Mock Trials – Speak Out Sessions – Tours of Courtrooms led by Superior Court Judges and/or Attorneys – Exhibits.  This free event includes a catered lunch and door prizes!  Announcement sponsored by the DC Bar Communities Office @ 202-626-3463 – 901 4th St NW, Washington DC 20001.   

​Monday, Mar 18th, 7PM-9PM - Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) meets at St George’s Episcopal Church, 2nd and 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 Mon.  (bloomingdalecivicassociation.org, POC:  Teri Quinn, President) 
 
Tuesday, Mar 19th, 7PM–9PM - ANC5E Public Meetings meets at Friendship Armstrong Public Charter School; ANC 5E meets every 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 1400 P Street NW (corner of 1st and P St NW). (www.anc5edc.org – twitter @anc5e).  POC:  Bradley Thomas, Chair. 
 
Tuesday, Mar 19th; June 11th; Sept 17th; and Nov 12:  MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Community Health Department invites you to attend the AARP Smart Driver Course.  In this course, you will learn:  Safe ways to merge with traffic, change lanes, make turns at busy intersections and proper following distance; Proper use of seat belts, air-bags and getting your best seating position for driving; New technologies to assist in accident prevention such as anti-lock brakes, skid control, blind spot monitoring and collision avoidance; Effects of medications and distractions on driving; New laws &  challenges of driving in Washington DC such as bicycle lanes, scooter, traffic circles & road changes. 
 
Location: MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Tele-Center & Tele-Conference Room, 102 Irving St NW; Cost:  AARP Members: $15 & Non-members: $20 – Payment is required via cash or check at the time of class.  Register:  Call Scott Hunt @ 202-431-5107 (before 9PM.).  Certification will be provided upon completion of the course, which can be used to receive discounts on car insurance.  Please check with your insurance company about their policy. 
 
Tech Workshops: Mar 13th, 9:30-11:30AM, Smartphone 101 Workshop @ Bernice Forteneau Senior Wellness Center, 3531 Georgia Ave NW 20001;  Mar 18th, 1-3PM, Smartphone 101 Workshop @ Model Cities Senior Wellness Center, 1901 Evarts NE 20018;  April 10th, 9:30-11:30AM, Social Media 101 Workshop @ Bernice Forteneau Senior Wellness Center, 3531 Georgia Ave NW 20001; April 12th, 9:30-11:30AM, Social Media 101 Workshop @ Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, 324 Kennedy St NW 20011;  May 8th, 9:30-11: 30AM Internet Safety 101 Workshop @ Bernice Forteneau Senior Wellness Center, 3531 Georgia Ave NW 20001; May 9th, 9:30-11: 30AM Smartphone 101 Workshop @ Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, 324 Kennedy St NW 20011.  For additional info, feel free to contact 202-266-6328. 
 
Free Tech Support: “All Hands On Tech Initiative” provides free tech support to DC residents.   Connect DC OCTO helps bring you All Hands on Tech.  One of the most important things a person needs to fully access technology is a functioning computer.  Unfortunately, the cost of computer repair is too high for many DC residents.  Whether you have a laptop with a virus or don’t understand how to use your smartphone, we are here to help.   
 
Locations:  Mar 30th; 10:30AM-3PM, Shepherd Park (Juanita E. Thornton), Neighborhood Library, 7420 Georgia Ave, NW, 20012; May 4th; 10:30AM-3PM, Benning (Dorothy I. Height) Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Road NE 20019; May 11th, 10:30AM-3PM, UPO Petey Greene Community Service Center, 2907 MLK Jr Ave SE 20032.   For more info text FIXED to 83224 or visit connect.dc.gov/free-tech-support.  
 
Opportunities Industrialization Center:  Family to Family Mentoring Program (Hours: Tuesday – Thursday from 11AM – 2PM - Featured Workshops:  Parenting Skills, Family Budgeting, Employment Skills, Life Skills/Self Awareness; Program Benefits:  *Biweekly Participation Stipend of $50*, Mentors Provided, Professional Resume Assistance, Wrap Around Services/Resources, Job Placement Assistance, Educational Development, 12 Week Program; Special Activities: Family Fun Nights, Guest Speakers, Work & Family Workshops, Family Support Workshops & Community Meetings & Events. 
 
Enrollment Requirements:  Resident of DC, High School Diploma or (GED); Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment (CASAS) Evaluation Test; As Least 2 Children living in the household under 18 yrs.  POC: Kim Jenkins, Coordinator/Case Manager, 3016 MLK JR Ave SE, 20032, kjenkins@oicdc.org, 202-37309330. 

COMMUNITY ISSUES: District Department of Transportation (DDOT): The 311 # is the option for citizens to notify the city about traffic-related mechanisms that have been implemented & are faulty (warning signs, faded crosswalk lines, etc.).  New traffic-related safety mechanism should be sent to DDOT through their website.  Visitor Parking Passes are not automatically mailed to residents.  Call 311 to request a Visitor Parking Pass for your residence or go to ddot@dc.gov.  Open the visitor parking pass site on the left side of the screen and fill out application.  You can use the following ID - DC driver’s license, DC ID, or if a homeowner, use the Square and Lot number. 
 
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs: Construction will not be permitted on Holidays. On this day, all construction work, for which a permit is required, is illegal and could result in a Stop Work Order and may be subject to fines.  For more information visit: dcra.dc.gov/service/report-illegal-construction or call (202) 442-STOP to report illegal construction. 
 
Department of Public Works:  Avoid sanitation tickets:  It’s the law; we should pull our trash cans into our yards after each trash pickup.  To help keep the rodents down, please help keep the alleys free of litter and trash by cleaning up near your home. 
 
Regular Trash Collection:  Place trash and recycle containers out for collection no earlier than 6:30 PM on the night before - no later than 6 AM the morning of collection day.  Residents are required to remove trash and recycle containers from public space (the alley) by 8 PM on your collection day. 
 
Bulk Trash Collection:  Call 311 to set up appointments before placing bulk trash out (7 items) for collection.  Place bulk trash out no earlier than 6:30PM the day before and no later than 6 AM on collection day.  Place them where the trash and recycle are collected.  Mattresses must be covered in plastic.  Without appointment: Take bulk items to the Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Drive NE. 
 
City Services include abandoned autos, alley cleaning, illegal dumping, parking enforcement, potholes, trees, & street lights.  The rep will provide a tracking # of your request. 
 
Yard Cleaning and Grass Cutting:  Residents are responsible for the up keep of the area abutting the front and back of their homes.  This may include front and back yards, sidewalk and alley abutting your home. Fines may occur from the city if DPW or other agencies have to come out to accommodate this request.