Finally feeling at home: civic duty and neighborhood pride

Finally feeling at home: civic duty and neighborhood pride

I lived in DC for almost 10 years — a lifetime in our transient city — before I set foot in the Wilson Building, home of the DC Council. On Tuesday, December 6th, I found myself waiting outside the council chamber with my seven-month-old strapped to my chest so I could look our councilmembers in the eye when they voted on a landmark paid leave bill.

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Neighbors report shaking houses, rumbling noises along Metro's Green line

Neighbors report shaking houses, rumbling noises along Metro's Green line

At the Single Member District meeting of ANC 4C Commissioner Timothy Jones (4C08), more than 30 residents met with WMATA and DC gov officials to discuss what's going on. The message from neighbors as far north as Allison, south to Randolph, and from 4th across to 7th Street and along New Hampshire Avenue is incredibly consistent: the noise and shaking started mid-summer and it's getting worse.

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A message of acceptance and welcome: How to print your own "glad you're our neighbor" sign

A message of acceptance and welcome: How to print your own "glad you're our neighbor" sign

The response to the "glad you're our neighbor" yard signs has been pretty amazing. When I posted to the blog we sold out. Then TV channels ran stories, and NPR did a national story. And we've been inundated with requests from across the country for signs.

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DC’s Sticks+Bars student marimba band to perform at Annie’s Ace Hardware

DC’s Sticks+Bars student marimba band to perform at Annie’s Ace Hardware

A youth ensemble marimba band will perform at Annie's Ace Hardware on Saturday, December 10th from 11am until noon. The Sticks+Bricks band is amazing, and recently performed this summer at the Celebrate Petworth Festival

It should be a great show that you can bring your kids out to enjoy!

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Residents raise concerns about Metrorail noise along Green line, meeting on Monday

Residents raise concerns about Metrorail noise along Green line, meeting on Monday

A group of residents along the 4000 block of New Hampshire Avenue and the 500-700 block of Taylor Street have raised concerns about recent noise and shaking that they say is caused by Metro trains running beneath their homes.

The residents have put together a meeting with Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, ANC 4C08 Commissioner Timothy Jones and a WMATA representative to discuss the issue. They're meeting Monday, December 12th at 7pm at 801 Shepherd Street. 

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Speak English and Spanish? It's a call for auditions at Teatro de la Luna!

Speak English and Spanish? It's a call for auditions at Teatro de la Luna!

My favorite local theatre, Teatro de la Luna, is looking for actors, and if you're over 18 and are bilingual in Spanish and English, this could be your break!

¿Tienes el fallo de actuación y son bilingües? Éste podría ser tu descanso afortunado. Teatro de la Luna está teniendo audiciones.

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Display your sense of civility and democracy and buy a yard sign

Display your sense of civility and democracy and buy a yard sign

Update: Sales have closed. We'll try to have them ready for pickup on Saturday, 12/10 during the Art & Craft Fair on Upshur Street around 4pm.

I saw a great sign in a neighbor's yard this week, and posted a photo to Instagram. I received a lot of questions from readers on how they can buy the same sign. Turns out, local resident Conrad Gross produced the signs based off the design originally created by the Immanuel Mennonite church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. And you can get one if you want one. 

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A look at Meals on Wheels: where local matters most

A look at Meals on Wheels: where local matters most

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and many senior citizens don’t have the necessary resources to enjoy food on the holiday. Unfortunately, this is the outcome for many senior citizens who do not have the proper support system, such as family commitment. That's where Meals on Wheels in Takoma Park continues to be a reliable source for the elderly. 

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The musical and visual journey of Bill Crandall and Místochord

The musical and visual journey of Bill Crandall and Místochord

Petworth is more than porches, it's an amazing diversity of background, skills, age and talent. One of the people who help shape the cultural fabric of Petworth is Bill Crandall. Bill has lived in Petworth for over a decade, and has long thought of ways to help encourage the creativity in our neighborhood. That effort starts at his home, with his own art and a free show at the Third Floor on Sunday, November 20th.

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Come support kids expressing themselves with DC SCORES Poetry Slam

Come support kids expressing themselves with DC SCORES Poetry Slam

DC SCORES is a very cool non-profit that provides an after-school program to elementary and middle school children, teaching them soccer, community service and poetry. What they're really teaching is kids teamwork, respect and confidence to achieve their goals.

Learn about and RSVP for the Poetry Slam!

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Converting your basement into a rentable apartment? Here's what's involved

Converting your basement into a rentable apartment? Here's what's involved

There's  a community meeting next Wednesday, November 16th on zoning and what's involved with converting a basement space into a legal rental. With the recent changes to DC's zoning regulations, many homes in Petworth changed from Zone R-4 to Zone RF-1, which allows for Flats or a two dwelling unit use of a property as a matter of right .

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Petworth residents push for paid family leave

Petworth residents push for paid family leave

Anyone winding through the obstacle course of strollers and toddlers at the Petworth Community Market on a Saturday morning would agree that Petworth is experiencing a serious baby boom. The numbers back up the anecdotal evidence—the Petworth-Brightwood-Crestwood area has seen faster growth in the number of children than any other DC neighborhood.

So it comes as no surprise that Petworth is home to fervent supporters of the paid leave legislation now before the DC Council.

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Get rid of your old paint cans for free (and keep the planet a little cleaner)

Get rid of your old paint cans for free (and keep the planet a little cleaner)

Petworth is home to many renovated houses, and likely, many half-used cans of paint collecting dust in basements or sheds. Regulations prevent homeowners and contractors from disposing of the paint via regular trash collection. But, thanks to DC’s Paint Stewardship Law, getting rid of that old paint just got much easier.     

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Bun Bun gets a TV interview

Bun Bun gets a TV interview

The story of Bun Bun became a TV news story this week, after WUSA 9 reporter Evan Koslof met with the Videnieks family and little Lindsey to talk about how she lost and then found her stuffed rabbit, Bun Bun.

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