What would you tell MPD?

4D Inspector Vendette Parker

Inspector Vendette Parker, sub-commander for the MPD Fourth District, is kicking off a new public outreach campaign this week called "I Wish U Knew." This campaign is designed to offer local residents the opportunity to tell Inspector Parker what you wish she knew about any issue affecting you, the community and MPD. It's an off-shoot of Mayor Bowser's #IWishUKnew campaign, and was Inspector Parker's idea on how to reach out to and engage with the community.

This will be a weekly series of meetings outdoors in public spaces, where pedestrians can easily come up and talk to MPD.  Inspector Parker will be setting up a tent at the Georgia Avenue Metro this Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:00pm to 7:30pm. She's asking for residents to come by, meet her and some fellow officers and share your thoughts, concerns, complaints and compliments. The next meetings will take place in Mt. Pleasant and Riggs-Park. Inspector Parker will announce other locations in the weeks ahead.

They're suggesting you use use hashtags #iwishuknew and tweet to @dcpolicedept on social media.

Inspector Parker has an impressive background with MPD, serving for more than 21 years across DC in all 7 police districts. Read her MPD bio here, and if you can, stop by to talk and meet Inspector Parker.

Help fund the arts in Petworth

The Petworth Dance Project needs your help. A great addition to our local culture in Petworth, the Dance Project brings modern dance to Petworth Park on 8th & Taylor, free for residents.

They need help funding the project. They're only 17% of the way toward their goal, and they only have 40 hours left. If you can afford to drop them $5, $10 or $50, I know the organizers will appreciate your help, and you'll know you're supporting the arts in Petworth.

The next two events coming up in June and July sound great, and the one in July takes places in the Spray Park! 

Visit their Indiegogo campaign site today, and donate a little Petworth love to them.

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!

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!

Because the rats are hungry?

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Do birds eat spaghetti?

A reader shared this photo of food scrapings left piled up on the grass in front of the Hebrew Home on Spring Rd NW. He's looking for suggestions on how to deal with it. Todd says:

This is a regular occurrence in my corner of Petworth. This specific location is directly in front of the Hebrew Home (1125 Spring Rd NW), though I've seen it other places.

Someone comes and deposits their leftovers, presumably to feed birds or squirrels. I think we all know that rats are the primary consumers of this buffet. (Really, do birds eat spaghetti?).

It's both baffling and disgusting. Someone clearly goes out of their way to bring this - it doesn't seem to just be the same as casually tossed aside chicken bones. This is probably better suited for the Rant category, as I'm guessing whoever does it is likely either mentally ill, and not just ill informed. Short of grabbing a garbage bag and rubber gloves or putting up "No Food Dumping" signs, I don't know how to fix this.

What are your suggestions on how to respond / stop this? Comment below or on Facebook.

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.

Is Petworth strange & hypnotic?

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

What is it about Petworth that inspires so many strange, hynpotic blogs? http://t.co/cGnQXlUiuV

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) May 26, 2015