Cardinal's Nest Closed After Saturday's Shooting - UPDATED

I just heard on NBC4 that the Cardinal's Nest has been closed after yesterday's shooting/homicide (though the shooting did not actually happen at the club/restaurant). I can't find a link, but will hopefully post one tomorrow.

**UPDATE** Robert Vinson Brannum has just announced that the Summary Suspension against the Cardinal's Nest has been lifted and the ABC Board will not be review the matter at its hearing tomorrow as initially planned. The incident will be on the agenda for the Thursday 5D-CAC meeting.

Triple Shooting on 10th Street NE; 1 Dead

From MPD-5D, with my edits:

Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide and Sexual Offenses Branch are investigating a triple shooting which resulted in one fatality that occurred on 10th Street, NE.

On Saturday, May 17, 2008, at approximately 2:25 am, Fifth District officers on patrol in the area responded to 10th and Perry Streets, NE to investigate the sound of gunfire. Several minutes later, three shooting victims from that location arrived at a local hospital via a private vehicle.

One of the victims, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body, was pronounced dead. He has been identified as 26-year-old Clifton Nate Chaney, of the 1400 block of Florida Avenue, NW. The other two victims were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Their identities are being withheld because they are witnesses in the case.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victims had just left the Cardinal's Nest, located in the 3500 block of 10th St., NE, and while they were inside of a motor vehicle, a lone gunman approached the vehicle and opened fire. Subsequently, the suspect fled the scene on foot and the operator of the vehicle that was fired upon drove to an area hospital.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 202-727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIM[E]. Anonymous information can also be sent to the department’s text tip line by text messaging 50411.

The department currently offers a reward of up to TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS 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.

SMD 5A-09 & PSA 503 Joint Monthly Meeting - Wednesday, May 14

What: SMD 5A-09 & PSA 503 Joint Monthly Meeting

When: Wednesday, May 14 2008, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Hospital for Sick Children/HSC Pediatric Center, 1731 Bunker Hill Road NE

Agenda: Public safety and community concerns, including those addressed in the letter below, written by a neighbor on Otis Street NE:

Dear Neighbors-

In case you haven't heard, a big developer, Alliance Holdings LLC, purchased a tiny piece of land between our home and our neighbor (2212 Otis St NE, Square 4242, Lot 10). It is 25 feet wide, and according to zoning regulations the owner may NOT build as a matter of right.

We recently learned that Taiwo Demuren, presumably with Alliance Holdings LLC, has applied for significant variances from lot area, and lot width requirements, as well as from side yard requirements in order to build a single family dwelling.

In an effort to keep the lot, as it is, open green space, our next-door neighbor made numerous attempts to purchase the lot – but as you can imagine, it is difficult to outbid a developer with deep pockets.

We are very concerned about how this will change the character of our neighborhood. Many of us moved here for the space, and greenery. If these variances are granted, there are many other small lots in our neighborhood that would be able to be developed in a similar manner. Demuren's requested variances would establish a precedent to grant additional variances for these other lots to be more easily developed.

We also fear that since it is often more profitable to knock down an old home and rebuild multiple new homes within the same footprint, than it is to renovate the old home, that this decision could encourage more developers to purchase old homes on these lots, knock them down and build two or more houses in the same plot of land (We have seen this in N. Arlington, VA). Again, we believe that Demuren's requested variances will set a precedent and make the development described above much easier for the next builder.

Of an even greater concern is the beautiful and historic old oak tree that is located on the lot line between the undeveloped lot and our neighbor's home (2216 Otis St, NE). An arborist has certified that this is the SECOND OLDEST TREE IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. The tree measures approximately 180 inches in diameter and is estimated to be 300-400 years old. The arborist has also certified that because of the tree's extensive root system, the construction of a structure on the vacant lot will kill this ancient tree.

There are three meetings where attendance by the community members is important if you are interested in helping to stop the proposed development. The first is on May 14, 2008.

*The proposed use of this land is on the agenda for the ANC 5A09 & PSA 503Joint Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 6:30 PM, at the Hospital for Sick Children located at 18th St and Bunker Hill Rd., NE. ANC 5A09 Commissioner Shirley Rivens-Smith will be there and would like to know what the citizens of ANC 5 think of this development.*

* *

*The second meeting is the ANC 5A meeting on May 28, 2008, when all of the ANC 5A commissioners will vote whether to deny or approve support of the developers zoning variances. This meeting will be held at the Taft Recreation Center, 18th and Perry St NE, at 7:00 PM.*

The final meeting will be at the zoning hearing, which will take place on July 8, 2008.

We would certainly appreciate any support, advice, and suggestions from our neighbors on this matter.

We are not against development – we just believe that the zoning regulations were established for a reason, and chose to move to this area because of the open space and the character and charm of our neighborhood. Although we do love our neighbors, and feel rather fortunate to know such nice folks on our block, if we wanted to be on top of them we would have stayed in a condominium. We also love the beautiful old trees and feel it would be a terrible shame for this gift of nature to be destroyed.

We understand there is an expectation of many more jobs and people moving to the area over the next few years, but as a realtor I can tell you there are plenty of vacant properties available for housing all over the city, and not enough buyers and renters to fill them.

Again – we feel this could set a terrible precedent that could significantly affect the character of the greater Brookland/Woodridge/Michigan Park neighborhood, and are *asking for your support*.

Please join us at the ANC 5A09 meeting to show your support.

Thank you!

Brookland Farmers Market Opens!

The market will open this Sunday from 10am - 2pm located next to the CVS on Newton, off 12th St.

The market will have Agora Frams veggies, New Starts Farm with starts for your garden, and soon enough the bread guy Chris will be back (with the best chocolate croissant in the city, in my studied opinion)

The market has a new manager, Avner Ofer, who is looking for more vendors, including artisans. If you have any ideas or suggestions, contact him directly. One good question: willwe be having the Tuesday market as well? My week is not complete without visiting Mike Tabor and getting apples for the kids.

Photo from Tuesday Market.
Learning about fresh produce at the Tuesday Farmers Market, Brookland, DC
Originally uploaded by brooklandcdc.

8.5% Rate Increase from WASA?

If this is a concern to you, DC WASA has set up a series of community meetings.
The Board reports that the new rate will raise the average monthly bill by approximately $4.24.

The local meeting is:
TUESDAY, MAY 20 6:30 pm- 8:30 PM
Washington Center for the Aging
2601 18th Street, NE

For a full list of the meetings across the District, visit their online release.

photo by Linda Badner

May is National Foster Care Month - FAN Needs Your Support

As the founding vice-chair and current secretary of the board for Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso (FAN), I find myself in the delicate situation of asking for your financial support for our grassroots 501(c)3 on our community blog. I keep reminding myself that I've asked my readers to support a number of community organizations and events that I have no official ties to, all in the name of community and civic investment, and this is really no different aside from my personal commitment to FAN. This is not my day job, it truly is a volunteer labor of love. Please, read the information below, and, if possible, contribute to FAN and help us stay on track in fulfilling our mission to provide safety, security, love, and understanding for DC's foster adolescents....

Can you imagine being separated from your family, moving from place to place, not knowing if you'll be in the same school, same neighborhood, or same house from one day to the next?

Nearly 3,000 children in foster care from Washington, DC live with this uncertainty every day, staying in care for 3 years on average and living in 3 different homes during that time. The crisis-driven child welfare system is so focused on what's wrong with teens in foster care, that they fail to see what's "right" with this group of young people.

FAN works with some of the city's most vulnerable youth: teens in foster care, in a daily after school and summer positive youth development program that engages youth in academic support, extracurricular instruction, community service, group mentoring, and cultural enrichment. Youth are provided with opportunities to belong, to develop their talents and skills, to develop meaningful relationships with peers and adults, and to experience success. FAN serves as a source of stability, consistency, and support that enhances the well-being and positive development of youth. Please visit our website at www.fan-dc.org to learn more about our organization and to join our mailing list.

May is National Foster Care Month. Make a difference in the lives of teens in foster care with your tax deductible donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, or more. To be a part of FAN's success, please mail a check today or donate online on our website through Network for Good.

I cannot thank you enough for your generosity!

Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso / FAN
1227 Good Hope Road SE, Room 106
Washington, DC 20020
202.889.5000 x114
202.889.5035 (fax)
www.fan-dc.org

Arrest made in Ward 5 shooting

On Saturday, May 3rd, 5th Police District made an arrest in the slaying of a local youth. On Sunday, April 20, 2008, George Douglas, 18, of 35th Street NE as found slain at the 2700 block of 26th Street, NE.

MPD report online.
WaPo article online.

The arrest happened on the year's first All Hands On Deck initiative. Thank you to MPD 5th District! The 5D Citizens Advisory Council/CAC Monthly Meeting meets 4th Thursday of every month at 7pm, Fifth District Police Station, 1805 Bladensburg Road, NE.

Michigan Park Citizens' Association Monthly Meeting

What: Michigan Park Citizens' Association

When: Tuesday, May 7, 2008, 7:15 pm

Where: Bunker Hill Elementary, 14th Street and Michigan Avenue, NE

On the Agenda:
The neighbors of Michigan Park Citizens Association will host Mayor Adrian Fenty next week to discuss issues relevant to the community.

1. Excessive Speeding along South Dakota and Michigan Avenues
2. Real Estate Management within the neighborhood

All are neighbors are welcome to join.