It's your neighbors who make it a neighborhood

It's your neighbors who make it a neighborhood

It might sound obvious, but sometimes the obvious is so much in front of you that you don't see it. Last night at the Petworth Dance Project, I realized that a neighborhood changes from just a place to live to a place where you want to live when the people around you work to make it a real community. It's where you feel engaged and connected with a sense of belonging. 

It's when people volunteer their time to clean up streets and plant new flowers, when local businesses open their doors to local events, and when neighbors bring their passion and make their work available to all. We see this right here in Petworth with the Celebrate Petworth Festival, with the Petworth Jazz Project, the Community Market, the three Social hours happening around the area -- and now the Petworth Dance Project.

Sara Herrera-Kopetchny has put together a new summertime event for people of all ages to enjoy modern dance, for free, here in Petworth. The second Saturday of each month, a dance company will come to Petworth Park (8th & Taylor St NW) and present a free dance for everyone to enjoy. Read the full article, see pictures and a video of the event after the break:

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Strawberry Festival Gallery

Strawberry Festival Gallery

A great crowd at the 149th Strawberry Festival at  St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The strawberry festival started in 1866 and has been a tradition at the 300 year old church for a century and a half (the history of the church is fascinating). 

This time around there was a lot food, bounce houses, a pony rides on a beautiful (and hot) summer day -- perfect for enjoying strawberries. A gallery from the day is after the break:

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Strawberry Festival tomorrow (6/13)

There are 200 seeds on an average strawberry and they're a member of the rose family.

Don't believe me? You can check for yourself tomorrow at the 149th Annual Strawberry Festival at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (i.e. the church in Rock Creek Cemetery). 149 years equals a lot of strawberries. 

It promises to be a great time for families and kids of all ages and sizes. There will be food, music, pony rides, arts and crafts, a moon bounce, field games and even a climbing wall. 

Plus, the ever-popular tours of historic Rock Creek Cemetery.

Oh, and there will be strawberries. 

Saturday, June 13, from 4-8 p.m. 
201 Allison St NW
(Rock Creek Church Road and Webster St NW)
stpaulrockcreek.org

When violence and shootings become the norm

When violence and shootings become the norm

There's an interesting thread going on the Petworth Listserv about the shootings and increase in violence in the Petworth area... and the lack of a communicated, comprehensive plan to deal with it. Jonah Goodman sent a well-written email to the Petworth Listserv, which I quote below. He has pulled together a number of valuable resources, including a Google Map of recent shootings.  Read the full post after the break:

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Mapping Segregation: discussion on the history of DC neighborhoods

"How did restrictive housing covenants shape DC neighborhoods?"

ANC 1A Commissioner Kent Boese posted information on his Park View blog about two upcoming, fascinating research presentations on the history and impact of segregation on DC neighborhoods. As the first presentation is in Park View, the meeting tomorrow will focus on the history of the Park View area. Below is an except of the blog post; head over to the Park View blog to read the full post.

Prologue DC historians Mara Cherkasky and Sarah Shoenfeld will present the latest findings in their ongoing research project, Mapping Segregation in Washington DC. This ongoing research project looks in depth at the historic segregation of DC’s housing, schools, recreation facilities, and more. The project’s first year has focused on racially restrictive housing covenants and legal challenges to them. 

Maps are used to better understand how many of DC’s “historically black” neighborhoods were once exclusively white, and how the city’s racial geography has been shaped by segregation. Maps tell stories that words cannot.

The first presentation is Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Park View Recreation Center (693 Otis Place NW) and the second is Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Public Library, (901 G Street NW). Both events are free and open to the public.

Mapping Segregation is an ongoing project, so check their website for updates.

Excellent Source: Park View

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Kennedy Street Festival fundraiser June 11th

The 2015 Kennedy Street Festival is coming up on June 20th, 11am - 3pm along Kennedy Street.

To help raise funds to cover the costs of the festival, they are having a Happy Hour Fundraiser at Simple Bar and Grill on June 11th from 6-9pm

They are asking for a $10 donation at the door. 

For more info, visit the festival website... or if you can't make it, you can donate online

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Crandall on Nat Geo: pics of the "real DC"

Local photographer Bill Crandall has a well-deserved reputation as a talented and prominent DC photographer. He was published today on the National Geographic PROOF website, in an article and picture story called "Forget Capitol Hill, These Images Show the Real D.C." by NatGeo Assistant Photo Editor Becky Harlan. 

Featuring Crandall's photography from around our local area (Shaw, Bloomingdale, Petworth), the pictures offer a snapshot of DC life away from the big dome downtown. 

More often than not, Washington, D.C., is associated with power and politics, with a dash of fireworks and monuments thrown in for good measure. That stereotype of the capital is exactly what photographer Bill Crandall avoids in his mysterious compositions of the District’s neighborhoods. His camera isn’t in the press pool but is turned on the “real city where people live.”

Check out the full article and gallery on the National Geographic PROOF website.

And congrats to Bill Crandall for being published on National Geographic!

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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"Better Know a Commissioner": David Sheon

"Better Know a Commissioner": David Sheon

It’s time for “Better Know a Commissioner!”, my blatant rip-off of Stephen Colbert’s series (and for which I am duly sorry). In my version, it’s an opportunity to get to know the ANC commissioners who represent you, even if you didn’t vote for them. You’re their constituents, and you should know who they are, what they do and how they support the community. 

This time I’m happy to introduce David Sheon, ANC 4D Commissioner for Single Member District (SMD) 4D04... Read the full interview after the break:

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Celebrate Petworth Festival Gallery

Celebrate Petworth Festival Gallery

I think it's fair to say the Celebrate Petworth Festival was a success today. I arrived late, and it was still very crowded. The vendors I spoke with talked about the great day they were having selling, and kids were having fun with the music and dance area.

A gallery of pictures from today is after the break!

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Celebrate Petworth Festival is Saturday

The momentum has been building for the past few months, and now the Celebrate Petworth Festival is here. It's going to be a very busy day, with a ton of activities for kids of all ages.

Enlarge to see the schedule of events

I encourage you to check out the day's schedule of events -- since the Festival runs from 11am to 5pm on Upshur Street (between 8th & 9th Street), there are a ton of events going on all day long. 

I'll miss the first half of the day (I'll be at the MPD academy) but will be there for the last half of the day.

Special kudos to all the Celebrate Petworth planning committee, who worked hard to make the Festival happen:

  • Anna Gaseitsiwe
  • Kieca Mahoney
  • Robert Mandle
  • Chickaro Martin
  • Thomas Pipkin
  • Lucan Pipkin
  • Julie Wineinger

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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New 14th & Kennedy Street farmer's market

If you live in north Petworth and below Takoma Park, there's a new option for a farmer's market. The 14th and Kennedy Street Farmer's Market launches this Saturday, June 6th at 5500 Colorado Ave NW. The market opens at 9am and goes to 1pm and will run through November 21st. It currently features seven vendors selling meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and coffee. 

The new market would be a fun activity to do before the Celebrate Petworth Festival kicks off this Saturday the 6th at 11am on Upshur Street, between 8th & 9th Street!

As the season progresses, the market hopes to foster a deeper connection with the community and bring new and varying types of vendors each week based on the expressed needs and desires of the local residents. The market will also feature a rotating table hosting local community organizations, not-for-profit government organizations, and local community businesses to increase awareness of organizations and promote small business in the area.

The market will feature live music every Saturday.  Starting June 6th, the market will accept WIC; some vendors will accept SNAP and all vendors will accept SNAP by August 1st.

For more information about the Fourteenth and Kennedy Street Farmers Market, visit their website and Like their Facebook page to stay connected.

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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Big thanks to Fido & Kitty's World!

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Big thanks to Fido & Kitty's World at 4130 Georgia Avenue NW for being the first sponsor of the Petworth News website

My wife and I shop at Fido & Kitty’s World for our two dogs, picking up frozen and refrigerated meals (look, they’re not spoiled, they’re just gastronomically challenged. It's in everyone's interest that they don't eat Alpo or similar).

Semhar Hagos, the owner of Fido & Kitty’s World, has always been really easy to work with, and special orders the food for one of our dogs that we can't easily get otherwise. We feed one dog frozen raw food, and the other gets grain-free food. Both pups are happy.

You don’t need to special order food, they have a ton of high-quality food for cats and dogs already on the shelves.

Puppy play area behind the store.

The pet store features pet food, toys, beds and other pet needs, as well as a very cute dog play area on the back patio.

Fido & Kitty's World has been an active sponsor of many local events in Petworth, and if you own a pet, check them out as a way of saying thanks. You can find them at 4130 Georgia Avenue NW, and at fidoandkittysworld.com.

And hey, when you swing by, tell them you saw them on Petworth News!  :)

Drew

Hyperlocal community journalist in Petworth, Washington DC.



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ANC Commissioner Joe Maloney resigns

ANC Commissioner Joe Maloney resigns

Alas, it seems Joe Maloney, ANC 4C Commissioner for 4C02 is resigning from the ANC. He and his family are moving out of the area. If you live in ANC 4C02 and are considering serving, they'll need a new commissioner. Joe sent an email to the 16th Street Heights listserv earlier today:  

Read the full email after the break:

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Get ready Community Engagement Academy, here I come

Get ready Community Engagement Academy, here I come

I'm really pleased to share that I have been nominated to participate in the 1st Cohort of the Metropolitan Police Department Community Engagement Academy. Six residents from each of the seven MPD districts were nominated by MPD leadership to take part, and I was nominated by Fourth District leadership to attend.

I'm really not sure what to expect, per se. According to the nomination papers, the Academy is a six week, 28-hour training program offering information about how DC MPD operates, from the academy to station tours, overviews of specialized policing units like the harbor patrol and K-9, and class discussions on juvenile issues, policing scenarios and use of force. I'm thinking the goal is to create "champions" within the community that can liaison, promote and help MPD engage with residents. (Note that I'm not going to the police academy and not going to be a police officer... this is a learning opportunity for civilians.) Read more after the break:

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