Petworth Library gets a Presidential visit

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Petworth Library gets a Presidential visit

Petworth Library had its Summer Reading Kickoff celebration today, and got a visit by the 16th President of the United States! Ok, a tall fabric version, but close enough! The Lincoln mascot from the Washington Nationals came by to help celebrate summer reading and entertain kids of all ages (I think the parents were more excited than the kids, lol).

There are some great books available, from young kids to teens to adult fiction and non-fiction. Best part, they're all free. If you haven't checked out the recently renovated Petworth Library, y you're definitely missing out on a wonderful resource. You can even check out DVDs and CDs (no download required). ;)  

See all the great pics after the break:

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Powell Carnival full of fun, sun and kids

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Powell Carnival full of fun, sun and kids

The Powell Carnival is going on at Upshur Street Park (at the basketball courts until 4pm). 

There's a bouncy house, games, food and lots of neighbors and Powell parents with their kids. Councilmember Todd and his Director of Constituent Services Jackson Carnes were there (Todd even bought a Powell Elementary shirt). Carla Ferris, co-president of the Powell parents group, was doing great running the hoola hoop contest, while her husband Horacio Artiga made some outstanding hot dogs.

Andy Rowe, co-president of the Powell parents group, said "Turnout today has been great. We have folks from the school and from the neighborhood. It's been a great time!"

See pictures after the break:

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PSA 404/407 meeting notes

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PSA 404/407 meeting notes

Tonight was the PSA 404 & 407 meeting at 801 Shepherd Street. A larger turnout of residents this time, about 18 or so, each with concerns or questions. The biggest concerns were the shootings, drug dealing, public drinking and loitering by people residents considered “suspicious.” (For example, suspicious is driving up in an alley in a Maryland car, parking for 20 mins while people come to the car window, then driving off.)

The new lieutenant for PSA 404, Lieutenant Raul Figueras, arrived early and came with a chart showing crime stats for the past 30 days and calendar year. 

Read more after the break:

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Petworth Jazz Festival kicks off 5th season

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Petworth Jazz Festival kicks off 5th season

This Saturday, May 30th is the kickoff of the 5th season of the Petworth Jazz Project at Petworth Park (8th & Taylor). There's always a kids' show first, followed by a very talented jazz musician or group. 

As always Petworth Jazz Project brings the best in local jazz to the heart of Petworth, for free, outdoors, on the lawn. Is there any better way to spend your evening? Tell a neighbor and bring a friend!

Read more after the break:

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It's a Petworth News Shindig!

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Come celebrate Petworth News reaching a milestone of 1,000 Facebook Likes, a new website (this one!), and neighbors connecting with neighbors.

If I've ever committed to buying you a beer for reading to the bottom of a long post, here's your chance to try to collect.

I look forward to meeting you at the event and putting faces to the names!

 

Be sure to RSVP on Facebook!

Powell Elementary Carnival is Saturday!

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Powell Elementary is having a Carnival on Saturday, May 30th. Sponsored by the parents group (POPPS), the Carnival is a fundraiser to help with paying for technology upgrades for the students. (Here's a PDF of the flyer.)

Come to the Carnival from 11am - 4pm at the Upshur Park basketball courts. There will be cake walks, a bouncy house, bean bag toss, face painting, art stations, food, and much more.

I know some of the teachers and parents working on this event, and they are putting a lot effort in to make this a fun day for the community.

The fundraising part is a raffle to win 75,000 air miles with United Airlines. That’s like a pair of tickets to your favorite dream getaway — only $5 for a ticket. And you get to help fund the needs of the students. Win win. You can even buy your raffle tickets online.

And to make Carnival day quicker, you can pre-purchase activity tickets online (valid for games and food) as well. They ask that you keep your receipt and bring it over on Carnival Day.

Or if you’re just feeling generous, you can donate to their good cause.

Powell Bilingual Elementary School has been recognized nationally as a model for dual language education, and a shining example of what can go right in public education. Your generous donation will help to support the school with the purchase of classroom supplies and technology upgrades, as well as funding educational field trips and enrichment programming for students.

Hope to see you there!

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Lemonade Social brings new faces and good neighbors

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Lemonade Social brings new faces and good neighbors

The 2nd Southwest Petworth Lemonade Social was this evening at the triangle park between Kansas and Quincy St NW. A really nice group of neighbors gathered together.

Read more and see pictures after the break:

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PSA 404/407 meeting tomorrow

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801 Shepherd Street NW

801 Shepherd Street NW

The Police Service Area (PSA) meeting for 404 and 407 is tomorrow, Thursday, May 28th at 801 Shepherd St NW at 7pm. This is a very casual meeting and is a great opportunity to meet with local MPD officers and leadership, ask about recent incidents, express concerns or give them an 'atta boy compliment.

Not sure who from MPD will be attending, but should be the lieutenants from each PSA and perhaps Inspector Vendette Parker. 4D Commander Manlapaz attends when able.

PSA 404 & 407 meet quarterly, so if you miss this one, the next will be sometime at the end of summer.

I'll be there to take notes and will share after.

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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May 30th is going to be busy

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This weekend is busy -- EL Haynes has a festival, Powell Elementary is having a Carnival at Upshur Park at 11am, and the Petworth Library is having a Summer Reading Kickoff celebration, featuring one of the National's Presidential Mascots. Wonder who it'll be (please be Teddy please be Teddy!)

You can meet the mascot at the Petworth Library (4200 Kansas Ave NW) from 2:30 - 3pm on the 30th.

I'll post more info on all three events soon.

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Is Petworth strange & hypnotic?

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Nah, we just enjoying living here. (Ok, maybe we're a little strange.) 

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Thank You 1,000 times

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Thank you 1,000 times over for supporting Petworth News! It's a nice birthday present to have the Facebook page hit 1,000 Likes. 

I hope the blog here at PetworthNews.org and on Facebook continues to be useful to the community.

Be sure to come out to Petworth Citizen on Monday, June 29th at 6pm to celebrate!

Mildly interesting side note: the 1,000th Like was Katie Ashmore (thanks Katie!) then someone unliked the page, bringing it back to 999, then Dan Hausman brought it back to 1,000 (thanks Dan!) and Jeff Davis was 1,001 (thanks Jeff!).

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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It's a DC birthday

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I received some cool, DC-centric birthday gifts from family and friends today. A beautiful gold leaf map of DC (you can even see Petworth on it) and a signed copy of The Martini Shot by George Pelecanos. Thanks Heather & Fletchers!

And you know you're getting older when your teenage niece writes in a birthday card "Age is only a number!"  :)

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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A sign of the times in DC

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Posted on a streetlight...  "Helping DC residents grow it organically since 2015"  

Truly a sign of the times for Initiative 71 and pot decriminalization here in Washington.

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Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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A ride-along with 4D MPD, part 1

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A ride-along with 4D MPD, part 1

Last month I had the opportunity to spend a day doing a ride-along with MPD Lieutenant Van Crawford, the PSA 407 manager in Petworth. My main goal was to get an understanding of some of the issues MPD is facing regarding local criminal activity and community engagement, and share with MPD some of the thoughts and concerns of the community. It was a great ride-along and I'd like to share the experience with you. This is a long read story, broken up into two separate posts, so grab a coffee, soda, beer or your favorite snack and dig in.

Read more after the break:

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