“Spray the Love” looks to bring new murals to the Kennedy Street corridor

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“Spray the Love” looks to bring new murals to the Kennedy Street corridor

Kennedy Street is having a hard time lately. From wild west style shootouts to police chases through alleys, the ongoing tragic deaths on Kennedy Street seem an almost insurmountable challenge. Covid has caused huge problems for small businesses all along the commercial strip, both long-established, and recently hatched. Through all of this, a beacon of hope shines in the form of a mural planned for the corner of 5th and Kennedy Street NW.

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DDOT says you can use your visitor parking passes into 2021

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DDOT says you can use your visitor parking passes into 2021

Each November, we remind you to sign up or reapply for a Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) if you live on a block that requires a Residential Parking Permit to lawfully park on the street for more than two hours. If you have RPP, then you normally apply for a free Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) or guests who stay at your home. But not this year… wait until next year, says the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT).

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DCPS opens CARE classrooms in Petworth as Reopen Corps start planning for Term 3 and 4

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DCPS opens CARE classrooms in Petworth as Reopen Corps start planning for Term 3 and 4

DC Public Schools has turned their attention to opening CARES classrooms for elementary students this month for Term 2, and is planning for reopening for Terms 3 and 4. DCPS made the announcement that Term 2 would remain virtual after significant pushback from teachers and parents about the reopening plans. The soon-to-open CARES classrooms will allow the most at-risk children to get support for their virtual learning at school with teachers and other adults in safer school environments than before.

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ZooLights is coming to a street (kinda) near you on Saturday

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ZooLights is coming to a street (kinda) near you on Saturday

Normally at this time of year the Smithsonian National Zoo is lit up with a myriad of lights all over the park for ZooLights. Mixed with hot chocolate, fun slides and a merry-go-round, and you have the makings of a really fun night as you walk around the park and look at the holiday lights. With the, you know, Covid pandemic, the zoological park is closed for patrons.

So they’re bringing the lights to you.

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826DC adapts to continue working with young DC writers

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826DC adapts to continue working with young DC writers

826DC is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.” This mission manifests across various programs dedicated to working with DC public and charter school students, including after-school writing labs, field trips, and in-school writing workshops. Founded in 2010, 826DC is one of ten chapters of the 826National organization founded in San Francisco by educator Nínive Calegari and author Dave Eggers.

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Holiday Lights: Local businesses spread socially distanced holiday cheer

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Holiday Lights: Local businesses spread socially distanced holiday cheer

The businesses along lower Georgia Avenue and the 800 block of Upshur Street will be decked out with holiday lights from December 1st through December 31st. You’re invited to wander the corridor with neighbors and visitors to enjoy amazing holiday specials and activities throughout the month — and take part in voting for your favorite display and a virtual scavenger hunt.

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Online holiday bazaar supports local businesses and LGBTQ+ families

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Online holiday bazaar supports local businesses and LGBTQ+ families

“Rainbow Families represents celebration.”

That’s according to Darren Paul-Vance, the executive director of the 30-year-old nonprofit Rainbow Families. Based in DC, Rainbow Families provides educational programs, professionally facilitated support groups, connections and empowerment for LGBTQ+ families and prospective parents. When the pandemic hit, the organization instantly pivoted to online events, working to keep the LGBTQ+ community connected and joyful during these isolating times. “It’s really important for our children to be around other families like theirs,” Paul-Vance says. “We have done the best we can do to provide those programs virtually.”

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General FYI: Now you can get a jury summons by email and text

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General FYI: Now you can get a jury summons by email and text

DC Superior Courts just introduced a new jury summons notification called “eSummons.”

According to their press release, the court will send text and email messages to prospective jurors to remind them of upcoming jury service dates, confirm requests to reschedule/postpone jury duty, exchange information, and alert jurors when they do not need to report for jury duty the next day.

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DC’s Winter Ready grant program helps Petworth restaurants prepare for colder months

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DC’s Winter Ready grant program helps Petworth restaurants prepare for colder months

In colder temperatures, folks may increasingly have to choose between dining indoors, at higher risk to Covid, or give up restaurants altogether.

So Mayor Muriel Bowser and Shawn Townsend, the Director of the DC Office of Nightlife and Culture, came up with a plan: they opened a $4 million grant to provide funds to restaurants seeking to winterize their space. The Streatery Winter Ready Grant Program provides up to $6,000 per restaurant for sidewalk cafes, summer gardens, and streaterys, located in DC. The grants can be used for tents, heating, lighting, furniture, and marketing – all in hopes of sustaining outdoor dining during the chillier months.

Here’s what some local restaurants are doing.

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Creating a level playing field for all kids equally #GivingTuesday

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Creating a level playing field for all kids equally #GivingTuesday

Leveling the Playing Field has been collecting new and gently-used sports and playground equipment to donate to underprivileged groups, community programs, and schools. They have been able to collect over $6.5 million in equipment to donate to youth organizations, after-school programs, schools, and sports leagues, and have impacted over 950 programs in the DMV helping to bridge the gap for the growing inequality between those that can afford to play sports and those that cannot. They are making sure no child is left on the sideline no matter what their family’s economic situation may be.

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Local school PTAs organize fundraisers to help their students and families

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Local school PTAs organize fundraisers to help their students and families

While COVID-19 has definitely thwarted schools’ ability to fundraise, local Petworth schools are still holding holiday fundraisers to benefit their students. Many local families have been hit hard by COVID-19 and are still in need of assistance. Donating to your neighborhood school if you are able is a great way to give back to your hyperlocal community. The schools thank you in advance!

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Community of Hope celebrates 40th anniversary serving DC families #GivingTuesday

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Community of Hope celebrates 40th anniversary serving DC families #GivingTuesday

Since Community of Hope (COH) opened in Columbia Heights in September 1980, the District has experienced many demographic and economic changes, but the nonprofit healthcare and housing organization has not wavered in its commitment to the people of DC. Now based in Ward 8, Community of Hope has expanded its reach, with housing and health centers in Wards 1, 5 and 8, drawing patients and families from across the city.

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Why were power and lights flickering across the area last week?

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Why were power and lights flickering across the area last week?

On Wednesday, November 11th, the local Twitterverse and email listservs lit up about homes being in the dark. People from Park View up to Brightwood and over to Crestwood and 16th Street Heights all commented that their lights were flickering on and off. What was going on?

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Opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors: Ward 4 Mutual Aid Network for #GivingTuesday

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Opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors: Ward 4 Mutual Aid Network for #GivingTuesday

Mutual Aid groups have existed across time and cultures. Normally they develop within marginalized communities, harnessing collective power to provide basic needs for people failed by government systems. Mutual aids have operated within Wards 7 and 8 for years, but now there is one in every DC Ward.

As people began to lose their jobs during the pandemic, more local residents found themselves unable to purchase basic items for themselves or their families. Simultaneously, Washingtonians wanted to assist their neighbors. Volunteers from the already existing mutual aids worked across the city to support the creation of ward specific mutual aids.

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