ANC-5B Monthly Meeting - Thursday, November 1st

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, November 1st, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Washington Center for Aging Services, 2601 18th Street, NE

Agenda: TBA

**Also of note - ANC-5B has started a Google group (similar to the Yahoo! groups many neighborhoods in DC use). You can join here.**

The Library Saloon's Open House for Brookland - Saturday, October 27th

In response to the recent grumblings from the Brookland community, The Library Saloon is having an open-house with free food and soda tomorrow night for the locals from 5-7 p.m. Additionally, owners Brian Westlye and Gaynor Jablonski recently posted the following response to reoccurring complaints on the Brookland listserv:

1- We appreciate all of the feedback we have received, both positive
and negative, with that feedback we can do our best to try and give Brookland residents a place they can enjoy. Keep it coming please!

2- As of this week our beer selection will be increased to more than three times of what we were originally carrying. Unfortunately, due to the size of our cooler and amount of draft lines we have, a majority of the selections will be in bottles. They range from a nice selection of Light beers to select imports and a few micro-brews. Please come check that out sometime later this week.

3- The glass issue is a work in progress. Glass will be used until a certain point in the evenings where it gets extremely busy. We have been working very hard with our Security staff to do our best to prevent any cups leaving our establishment.

4- The surly bartender who has drawn the ire of many Brooklanders (and us) has been let go. We are currently looking for a new bartender with a more sunny disposition. I myself will be there on Tuesday through Happy Hour if anyone would like to come in and give me some feedback in person.

More on The Library, Cardinal's Nest, and Ellis Island from CUA's The Tower:
» "'Library' Owners React to Local Concerns: Say They Are Cracking Down on Underage Drinkers, Want to be 'Neighborhood Saloon'" - 10.19.07
» "Card's Nest, Ellis Seek Changes To Liquor Licenses" - 10.19.07

While I Was Out....Homicides in Ward 5

In Carver-Langston on Sunday, from MPD:

At approximately 3:30 am, Sunday, October 21, 2007, officers of the Fifth District responded to the 900 block of 21st Street, NE, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found 20-year-old Ashley M. Black, of the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to the Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar Unit where she was pronounced dead.

The case is under investigation by members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

And, a man found shot inside his car on Rhode Island Avenue in Woodridge on Monday has died:

A 44-year-old Temple Hills man who was found shot inside a vehicle on Monday in the 3100 block of Rhode Island Ave. NE has died. The Metropolitan Police Department’s preliminary investigation revealed that Clive Valentine of the 2700 block of Bell Brook Street in Temple Hills, Md. may have been shot when another vehicle pulled up alongside and fired shots into his vehicle.

Police responded to the report of a shooting on Rhode Island Avenue at approximately 11:36 pm on Monday, October 22, 2007. Valentine was transported to the Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar Unit and admitted in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 11:15 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2007.

The case is under investigation by members of the department’s Violent Crimes Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The department offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

MPD-5D has reported that the driver of a silver Honda or Volkswagon is the suspected shooter. The suspect was last seen turning right (south) on Eastern Avenue.

Quick Links

I'm on my way out of town for a week, so posting will be light-to-nil. I don't have the time to create posts for each of the links below, but I wanted to share them in case you missed them in the news this week (and I think this may be a good way for me to get info out quickly and more frequently):

» "1300 Rhode Island Avenue - New Name, New Birthday" - DCmud, Friday, October 19th - The "1300 Rhode Island Avenue" development is now dubbed "Brookland Square"
» "Academy Expands Facility, and Hope" - WaPo, Thursday, October 18th - Inspirational news from the Academy of Hope, now located in Edgewood Terrace
» "4 Catholic schools to fight charter conversion" - The Examiner, October 18th - St. Francis de Sales in Woodridge is one of the schools trying to escape charter conversion; St. Anthony's in Brookland will remain under the Archdiocese of Washington's umbrella
» "Owner's letter OKs crackdown" - The Washington Times, October 18th - The company managing the Rhode Island Place shopping center has authorized the MPD to crack down on crimes being committed by day laborers who go there seeking work

ANC-5A Monthly Meeting - THURSDAY, October 25th

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5A Monthly Meeting

When: THURSDAY, October 25th, 2007 at 7pm (note change from Wednesday to Thursday this month)

Where: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, 3100 Ft. Lincoln Drive, NE

Agenda: Update discussion on Ft. Lincoln retail development and community concerns

Woodridge Library Programs This Weekend

The Woodridge Branch Library is having two programs of interest to the community this weekend.

The First Annual Multicultural Program will be held on Saturday, October 20th from 1:30-3:30 p.m. This is a family program for all ages.

On Sunday, October 21st, a celebration of Young Adult reading will be held for teens ages 12-19 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Holla'Back and Teen Read Week participants can extend the fun of reading, games, chats, and more - including door prizes and refreshments!

The Woodridge Library is located at 1801 Hamlin Street, NE at the south corner of Rhode Island Avenue and 18th Street.

For more information call the library at 202.541.6226.

Estella's Hats & Boutique Building For Sale

Estella Wheeler (be sure to click on the link for a lovely tribute from NPR's All Things Considered) passed away earlier this year, and now the building that has long been home to Estella's Hats & Boutique is for sale (login required, MLS #DC6564419). The current list price for the 2 retail storefronts with 4 apartments above is $825,000.


» NPR/All Things Considered - June 14, 2007, "Hats Off to Beloved D.C. Haberdasher"
» NPR/All Things Considered - March 27, 2005, "Easter Hat Roundup: Estella's View from Church"

ANC-5C Monthly Meeting - TONIGHT

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C Monthly Meeting

When: Tuesday, October 16th, 2007, 7-8:30 p.m.

Where: St. George’s Episcopal Church, 160 U Street, NW

Agenda Includes:
· Alice Thompson, Ward Coordinator, Community Relations and Services Office
· MPD-5D Public Safety Update
· Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr.
· Dance Place Expansion Presentation and Coyaba Dance Group Introduction
· Children's National Medical Center East Wing Expansion Presentation
· Announcement of Procedure to Fill Vacant 5C-05 Seat

**Kudos to 5C for keeping up on their minutes!**

NE DC Historical Society Meeting: DC's Climatic History and the Future - Sunday, October 14th

What: Join the NE DC Historical Society as they continue to explore the history of our Northeast Washington communities - past, present, and in years to come. This month's meeting will take place in the Kenilworth community. Chris Weiss, Director of the DC Environmental Network, will provide us with a "Briefing on the Activities of the Capital Climate Coalition."

When: Sunday, October 14th, 2007, 1-3 p.m. (please note earlier time!)

Where: Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE

Etc.: For those unable to attend this meeting, don't miss next month's meeting to be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, November 11th, 2007. The meeting will take place at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE. Speakers will include Diane Dale, president of the Anacostia Historical Society presenting on "The History of Black Anacostia" and Claire Douglass from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network speaking on "Global Warming and What You Can Do About It."

NE DC Historical Society meetings take place the second Sunday of every month. Contact queenstowndc@yahoo.com for further information.

SMD 5A-09 Monthly Meeting - Sunday, October 14th

What: SMD 5A-09 Monthly Meeting with Commissioner Shirley Smith

When: Sunday, October 14th, 2007, 2-3:30pm

Where: Woodridge Library, 1801 Hamlin Street, NE

Agenda: TBA

Future Meetings:
Sunday, November 11th
Sunday, December 9th

Chairman Gray Attending Brookland Civic Association Meeting - Thursday, October 11th

What: Council Chairman Vincent Gray will be the special guest at the next Brookland Civic Association meeting. Chairman Gray will answer questions on public safety, education, infrastructure, and economic development.

***This would also be a good time to voice your concerns over the demolition of previously hidden and original Deco detailing on the shopping center at 10th and Perry. View pictures taken last week after the most recent façade was removed for renovation. Since those photos were taken, the panels have been removed and the Historic Preservation Office deemed the structure to be of no historical merit. This is what the final renovation is slated to look like - bleh in comparison to the original - and seemingly well preserved - enamel panels.***

When: Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE

For more information: Contact Mary Baird Currie, President, at 202.635.1970

Ward 5 Meeting on Crime & Safety - TONIGHT

What: Ward 5 Constituent Meeting - Share your thoughts on crime and safety concerns in Ward 5 with the new Commander of the 5th District, Lamar Greene.

When: Tuesday, October 9, 2007, 6-8:30 p.m.; reception will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Noyes Elementary School, 2725 10th Street, NE

For additional information contact the Ward 5 Council Office at 202.724.8028

Listerv Squabble Over "The Library" Makes the News

Because what we say on our neighborhood listservs isn't behind closed doors....FreeRide also points to a CUA Tower article on students being arrested recently for providing false IDs on the way in.

2 More Children Missing FOUND in NE

**UPDATE** from WUSA9:

Missing siblings 4-year-old Wali McJunkin and 15-year-old Chantryce Johnson have been found safe.

The brother and sister were located, apparently safe and healthy, at a location on Rhode Island Avenue NE, this afternoon. DC police officials are reuniting the two children with the parents. Their mother told 9NEWS NOW that she planned to hug them and kiss them, and to get help for her daughter.

Previously from WUSA9:

On WTOP this morning, Police Chief Cathy Lanier said police may have a lead in the case of missing siblings 4-year-old Wali McJunkin and 15-year-old Chantryce Johnson.

They have been missing since yesterday when Johnson picked up McJunkin at the Peaches 'N Cream Day Center located in the 300 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.

Police sources say Johnson has been listed as a runaway since September 22. She was spotted Wednesday for the first time when she picked up her little brother from daycare.

Police tell 9NEWS NOW that they have set up two command posts in the girl’s Southeast neighborhood and in the 300 block of Eastern Ave. NW at the daycare center.

The children’s mother, Gwen Johnson, tells 9NEWS NOW that she finds it difficult to eat or sleep with two of her children missing. She says the staff of Peaches 'N Cream Day Center should never have allowed a minor to take her son.

The mother of five children says she has tried everything she could to get help for the 15-year-old. She says, her daughter has run away eight times since December. She had her daughter in therapy prior to the disappearance.

Two 9-Year-Old Girls Missing FOUND; Last Seen in NE

WTOP is reporting that Brittany and Deasia have been found by PG County police.

From NBC4:

The Metropolitan Police Department asked for the public's help in locating two missing 9-year-olds on Wednesday night.

Deasia Tashay Wooten and Brittany Bennett went missing from Rudolph Elementary School in D.C. around 3:17 p.m.

They were last seen at a McDonald's restaurant on South Dakota Avenue and Delafield Street.

Wooten is black with black hair in cornrows and brown eyes. Family said she is about 4 feet 7 inches or 4 feet 8 inches tall and was wearing a white shirt and blue jumper.

Bennett is black with a medium complexion. She is about 75 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. She is 4 feet 5 inches and was wearing a white jacket with blue pants.

Police said anyone who locates the children should immediately call 911.

Updates on Artist Housing in Woodridge and Brookland

I missed it a couple of weeks ago, but the Post ran a piece on artist housing in DC, featuring the Douglass Street project I mentioned back in July. The application process will likely open up again in the spring, and I'll post the info here if I catch it in time. Overall, a good article, if you just strike the following:

The biggest downside of the Douglass Street project is its location. While Mather Studios is in the heart of downtown, the Douglass [sic] Street project is in Northeast, near New York Avenue.

God forbid. Seriously, who wants to live near the Arboretum, the Gateway Arts District in Maryland, or Abdo's forthcoming Arbor Place? Oh, maybe it's not that bad....


But I digress. Artspace's Dance Place Project is gathering steam, with construction estimated to start in early 2008:

Artspace will develop a mixed-used project that will include 30 to 40 affordable live/work units for artists and a new home for Dance Place, a nonprofit organization that operates a dance company, a school, and a variety of children's programs. Two existing buildings on the site will be torn down to make way for the project.

A hearty welcome to our future neighbors!

Brookland Preservation Meeting - TONIGHT

Concerned Brookland resident Dan Vera has called an emergency preservation meeting this evening:

We're having a meeting this evening at 6 p.m. to see what can be done about the beautiful art-moderne façade imperiled in Brookland at the 10th Street market. We'll be meeting there to look at the beautiful tiling underneath and then having coffee or whatever at Cardinal's Nest in the complex.

If you only know this place from the last 30 years of its being covered up, you really owe it to yourself to see what lies underneath. It is reminiscent of the Stop-and-Shop on Connecticut Avenue, and we're trying to get people to do what they can to stop further demolition.

It's a glimpse into Brookland's unique beauty.

I know it is short notice but you can do something about this. We all can.

Hope you can join us. We *especially* need old hands in historic preservation.

6 p.m. Tonight!
Cardinal's Nest, 3748 10th Street NE (across from Turkey Thicket)

» You can view Dan's photos, taken today, here.