Local News

Free Homecoming community event at Lincoln’s Cottage Sept 19

Join President Lincoln’s Cottage on September 19, from 10am to 2pm, for their free annual Homecoming celebration inspired by the Lincoln family’s time living on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home, here in the Petworth neighborhood.

Live music, dancing, fitness, and a giant book sale: The Parks at Walter Reed

Summer isn’t over yet! The Parks at Walter Reed has a full lineup of family-friendly neighborhood events coming up from August and into November, including free concerts, outdoor fitness classes, dancing, flea markets, community festivals and a massive used book sale.

Lincoln's Cottage hosts free events for America’s 250th

The Cottage is hosting a series of fun, informative and free events for the neighborhood and friends to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday and shine a light on civic mindfulness.

Porchfest is Saturday, May 30th — get ready!

Petworth Porchfest kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, May 30th with 430 bands from 31 different musical genres playing on 164 porches across greater Petworth neighborhoods.

Featured

Take advantage of the DC Security Camera Rebate Program (updated)

Here’s how to take advantage of DC's Private Security Camera System Incentive Program. DC offers up to $500 to residents and up to $750 for businesses and churches to cover the hardware costs. Article includes background, how to sign up and camera suggestions.

Petworth Area Groups & Listservs

February 25, 2015

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February 25, 2015/ Drew

Questions about tomorrow's pot legalization? Here are some FAQs and an infographic prepared by the DC government. from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 24, 2015

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February 24, 2015/ Drew

The ANC 4D meeting was tonight (it was rescheduled from last week due to the snow). I have meeting notes and pictures and will share them tomorrow evening. Sorry it's not sooner. It's insanely busy week at work and at least I managed to get to the meeting!

Cheeers from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 24, 2015

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February 24, 2015/ Drew

I have to share this awesome email from Gunner Hamlyn on the MPD listserv about DPW's problems with figuring out how to collect trash on snowy days. Brilliantly done, Mr. Hamlyn. Slow clap.

"Dear Kevin and Adam,

First, I agree with you both in every way - but why is this on the MPD4 listserv? MPD still deals with icy alleys if they like it or not, so my apologies in advance for an email complaining about trash among those about arrests and assaults.

In a previous job I held a commercial driver's license, and I am 100% sympathetic to the risks faced by the drivers on icy streets or alleys. What I also recall from that job is that drivers, trucks, and crews go where they are scheduled and sent.

I assume that tomorrow I will join the "3 Week Trash Club" with Adam and a large part of Ward 4. However, on Friday the 20th before it snowed again my alley was clear enough for me to wonder where DPW was. I waited all day, there with my trash, and nothing. No love from DPW. A little overtime and someone checking the weather would have gone a very long way.

I agree that a contingency plan should be put in place. I’m not a climate change denier, but there’s a really good chance it will snow next winter. If you ask me, I bet it will snow for the next 3-5 winters. In my opinion having a contingency is a good return on investment.

I moved here from Chicago, so this is the one time of year I get to say that like it might be relevant. They salt the alleys. They put plows on the trash trucks. I don’t think rocket scientists were involved (it’s Chicago, after all), but there’s an investment made by a city betting on a really solid trend. Let other places do the thinking and let's just copy them.

In the short term, I think it's only fair that residents who take their own trash to the Fort Totten Transfer Station have the trash portion of their water bill prorated for the 3 weeks of missed collections. Please let me know if I should get a signed letter from the transfer station or if they have a form I can fill out to show I really did take my trash down there. Also, please let me know where I can present that letter for what I can only assume will maybe cover my gas there and back. I would be happy with a free frozen yogurt. Whatever works. The time I will donate, free of charge because I'm running out of places to keep 3 weeks of used kitten litter.

Adam, if you and other Ward 4 residents want to get some shirts printed up that say “3 Week Trash Club,” let me know. Until snow planning is put into effect there’s a good chance those shirts will be a good return on investment for at least 3-5 years.

Thanks,

Gunner Hamlyn" from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 22, 2015

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February 22, 2015/ Drew

The next MPD PSA 404/407 meeting is this Thursday, Feb 26. (PSA is Police Service Area). Meetings for PSAs 404 & 407 are combined and held quarterly (only 4 times a year). It used to be monthly but you never came and the police got lonely so they reduced the meetings. If you want to be involved, informed and active, this is a great meeting to attend. Very casual.

Come out to meet with the lieutenants and some local patrol officers for your area of Petworth. Commander Manlapaz should also be there.

7:00-8:00 PM in the community room of the Petworth Boys & Girls Club located at 801 Shepherd St NW.

Maps of PSA 404 and PSA 407 attached below.

Hope to see you there! from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 22, 2015

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February 22, 2015/ Drew

DC in February: When 45 degrees feels like Spring. Hope you're enjoying your warm Winter day! from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 22, 2015

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February 22, 2015/ Drew

ANC 4D has rescheduled their previously snowed-out February meeting to this Tuesday, 2/24, 7pm - 8:45pm at Truesdell Education Campus (800 Ingraham St NW). *I will try to attend so I can share notes*

Agenda for Feb. 24 public meeting of ANC 4D:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call, Determination of Quorum

3. Approval of Agenda, Addition/Deletion to Agenda

4. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

5. Treasurer’s Report

6. Guest Speakers: - Sarah Fashbaugh, Community Resource Advisor ABRA - Benjamin Bartley, Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture

7. Old Business: - Georgia Line liquor license renewal - Lucky Corner Store liquor license renewal

c. ANC traffic study requests to DDOT

8. Community Comments (3 minutes)

9. New Business

10. Announcements

11. Adjournment from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 21, 2015

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February 21, 2015/ Drew

If you live up in north Petworth / 16th Street Heights area, there is an upcoming meeting regarding the new Military Road bridge. (DDOT is replacing the 16th Street bridge at Military Road.) Sponsored by commissioners from ANCs 4A, 4B & 4C, the meeting is a joint endeavor with DDOT and WMATA as invited guests to discuss their specific traffic, routing, rerouting and schedule plans for 16th Street between Arkansas and Alaska Avenues.

The meeting is next Wednesday, February 25, 2012 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Emery Recreation Center (5701 Georgia Avenue NW, Georgia Ave & Madison).

Learn about how the bridge's closure is going to affect traffic, including bus routes, along 16th Streets and reroutes that may come through your neighborhood.

WMATA will also be present to discuss the affects of these closures on their bus routes and schedules along the corridor.

ANC Commissioners:

Taalib-Din Uqdah, SMD 4C01 Joseph Maloney, SMD 4C02 Jeff Standish, SMD 4C03 Rickey Williams, Jr., SMD 4C04

Andre Carley, SMD 4B01 Frank Jones III, SMD 4B02

Acqunetta Anderson, SMD 4A01 Dwayne Toliver, SMD 4A02 Karrye Braxton, SMD 4A06

(h/t Taalib-Din Uqdah) from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 20, 2015

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February 20, 2015/ Drew

Snow time in Petworth! I stopped by the Old Soldier's Home to deliver Stars and Stripes, and then got half my block shoveled. In 10 minutes you won't be able to tell I shoveled though, lol. Be safe, be dry and have a great day! from Petworth News http://on.fb.me/1BVZwus

February 18, 2015

It’s time for another “Better Know a Commissioner!” This ongoing series is about the ANC 4C & 4D commissioners that serve our Petworth neighborhoods, sometimes in anonymity, sometimes not. The ANCs can be helpful and they can be roadblocks — it’s up to the commissioners. I think we’re lucky to have very dedicated people serving our ANCs here in Petworth. That’s why I’m pleased to introduce my next interview with Joe Maloney, ANC 4C Commissioner for SMD 4C02 and all around good guy. Joe became a commissioner in 2014 after the unexpected death of the incumbent commissioner at the time. As Joe recalls, “I assumed the job at the very unfortunate passing of our previous commissioner, Janet Meyers. I decided to run in a special election when, 48 hours before the filing deadline, no one had yet stepped forward to run.” Joe barely made the filling deadline to get his petition into the Board of Elections. Since being seated in January 2014, he has spent his time trying to understand and promote the ANC's role in the community, and how, as he puts it, “to best pull the levers of the slow-churning DC government to the advantage of residents in my SMD.” Speaking of which, Joe describes SMD 4C02 as “home to many religious institutions, private schools and a DCPS school, West Education Campus.” The SMD is, as he puts it, “only slightly gerrymandered, but the easiest way to think of it, if it were a nice rectangle (which it nearly is), is Crittenden Street to the south, Ingraham to the North, and 16th Street to the west with Georgia Ave as the eastern border.” His Single Member District includes a very large portion of 16th Street Heights, and connects to the commercial corridor of 14th Street, “the side that bumps against the WMATA bus barn.” (No worries, check the map included with this article.) While serving his SMD is very important to Joe, his focus is on his family. "I am a husband to my amazing wife, a dad to an incredible 18 month old boy, and a working professional.” Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Joe moved to DC after college because “I watched so much of the West Wing that I figured living and working in Washington had to be like it was portrayed on that show. I wasn't far off. It has been an exhilarating journey in this city over the last 12 years.” Joe is now a partner in a public affairs firm he started with a good friend. His firm advises corporations, non-profits, and trade associations on leveraging their voice, members, employees, and relationships to impact immediate and long-term public policy objectives at every level of government. “I love my job," he said, "and feel fortunate to have the colleagues and clients that I am eager to work with every day.” As far as priorities on the ANC, Joe feels that so much of his job as commissioner is reacting to needs of residents. “We have crime and safety concerns throughout the SMD, which I am working with MPD and active neighbors on. I'm committed to working with our merchants and business leaders on sparking continued growth and investment on 14th St NW. Finally, I would like to see a more responsive DDOT to the bevy of transportation concerns in this SMD, considering we have two major north-south corridors." While Joe does not hold regularly scheduled SMD meetings, he said that ANC 4C is embarking on multiple SMD community forums on larger topics, so as to preserve more time at their public meetings for official business in the upcoming year. “As an example of this,” Joe said, “we’re working with fellow 4C and 4A commissioners to actively try to schedule a DDOT community meeting on the planned 16th Street improvements at the intersection of Military Road.” Joe is also working with WMATA to identify the appropriate time for a community meeting on the bus barn on 14th Street, what it does, who it serves, and how it acts as a partner in the community. “Stay tuned for more info,” he said. Joe attends local neighborhood association meetings, and while he hasn’t gone to an MPD PSA meeting yet, he is looking forward to participating in the future. “I have been fortunate to be involved with the Community Alliance for Upper 14th Street (CAUFS). They are a wonderful organization devoted to revitalizing Upper 14th Street. I am very impressed with their leadership and willingness to advocate on behalf of the corridor." When asked if he had anything to add, Joe said, ”I am very proud of our community. Across so much change in our neighborhoods, it has been wonderful to witness how both new and long-time residents have come together to address challenges and celebrate successes.” “Above all, I view this ANC post as being an advocate and an evangelist for the SMD and for our broader Petworth/16th Street Heights community. From our businesses, to our schools, to our community organizations, we are showcasing what makes us such a desirable place to raise a family. If I can ever be your advocate or evangelist (or problem-solver, too), please do not hesitate to reach out to me." You can reach Joe at 4c02@anc.dc.gov. (He is very responsive on email.) He says that while he might not always have immediate answers, "I can assure you that I will respond, acknowledge receipt, and get to work on your request.” You can also contact Joe via phone at (202) 600-9527. He’s pretty active on Twitter, so follow him at @joeymaloney. “I would also encourage all members of the community to access the ANC4C website www.anc4c.org.” ANC 4C meets the second Wednesday of every month, beginning at 6:30pm at the Petworth Library. Thanks Joe!

February 18, 2015/ Drew