A conversation about neighborhood blogging

My friends at 4Site Studios, a web and video firm in Columbia Heights, invited me to a casual conversation over beer and recorded a podcast about neighborhood blogging and what it takes to build a "digital community" in their Digital Engagement 4Cast series. 

If you're interested in learning a bit more about me, hearing how Petworth News came about, my obsession with metrics, what I think about when I write and more, you can find the podcast on iTunes (it's 4Cast #8).

Petworth Post Office to close in July

Courtesy Google Maps

The Petworth Post Office (4211 9th St NW) finally has its close date. USPS has been saying the location is going to close for a couple of years, but the date hadn't been known until now. It's shutting down on July 28, 2015.

That part of 9th Street (just around the corner from Upshur) has Lighthouse Yoga, Red Sun embroidery, Marshall March funeral home and El Torogoz restaurant. 

According to a few residents commenting on the Popville.com website, "the District has signed a long lease to build a Community Outreach Center. They’re going to occupy the entire building and will open at the end of the year. The Post Office has to move sometime in the coming months but he doesn’t know where they’re going to go."

It'll be interesting to see what does happen to that space. Something that serves the needs of residents with housing, jobs, etc., would be great -- especially if it brings more foot traffic to that area, helping both restaurants and retail.

Source: Popville, listservs

Petworth News Shindig is on!

Shindig is from 6-8pm at Petworth Citizen!

See you then!

Party with Petworth on Monday, June 29

The Petworth News Shindig is this Monday, June 29th at Petworth Citizen from 6-8pm.

Come out to socialize with your neighbors, a couple of DC Councilmembers, MPD leadership and a few ANC commissioners for pizzaz. It's a great opportunity to hang out with people who are passionate about the neighborhood.

There will be some tasty appetizers and a wicked good punch awaiting you. And me, I'll be there too. Hope you are too!

RSVP on Facebook or just show up between 6-8pm at Petworth Citizen (829 Upshur St NW).

"Flying Home:" DC author at Upshur Street Books

David Nicholson, a former Takoma DC neighbor, will be reading from and signing copies of his newest book of short stories, Flying Home: Stories of the Secret City, at Upshur Street Books (827 Upshur St NW) on Sunday, June 28th at 4pm.

A former editor and book reviewer for The Washington Post Book World, David Nicholson was the founding editor of the magazine Black Film Review. He has worked as a journalist for the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News and the San Francisco and Milwaukee bureaus of the Associated Press. He lives in Vienna, Virginia, where he is at work on a biography of A.M.E. Bishop William David Chappelle and a family history/memoir.

Read Washington City Paper's review of "Flying Home."

Flying Home is available at your local DC library and on Amazon.

New Principal for Powell Elementary

Powell Elementary is getting a new principal. 

With current principal Janeece Docal leaving to move with her family to Spain, the DCPS Chancellor has selected Ms. O'Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas as the next principal of Powell Elementary.

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Ms Lyons-Lucas has been a teacher since 2007, was the vice principal of Columbia Heights Education Campus and was recently the principal of Center City Public Charter Schools.

The message from Kaya Henderson, DCPS Chancellor:

"After balancing your input and recommendations with the needed experience and skills that research links to success, we concluded that your recommendation, O’Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas, is the strongest candidate to lead the Powell school community. We are happy to report that Ms. Lyons-Lucas has accepted the offer to be the Powell Elementary School principal. Her official appointment begins on June 29, 2015.

O’Kiyyah Lyons-Lucas has spent her entire career in education serving the students of Washington , DC. She began her career as a Teach for America corps teacher in 2007 at Columbia Heights Education Campus. She spent four years as a teacher before being promoted to an instructional coach position at the school. After serving as an instructional coach, Ms. Lyons-Lucas was promoted to an assistant principal position. Ms. Lyons-Lucas was an assistant principal for two years before leaving DC Public Schools to become the principal of Center City Public Charter School at the Capitol Hill campus. Ms. Lyons-Lucas holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree from American University."

There's an informal meet and greet with Ms Lyons-Lucas on Monday, June 29th, at 9:30am at Powell' summer off-site location of Sharpe Health School (4300 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20011).

Good luck to Ms Lyons-Lucas! And a fond farewell to Ms Docal, the DC Principal of the Year last year.

A partnership to help cats find their forever home

Did you need a kitty to brighten your home? The Washington Humane Society and Annie’s Hardware has you covered. The next event is scheduled for Sunday, June 28th, from 12pm - 3pm. 

Near the end of the summer in 2012, Yolanda Thomas was at Annie's Hardware when she met Anne Strom, owner of the store, and her dog. Yolanda had just left the Washington Humane Society (WHS) shelter and was wearing her WHS t-shirt.  After talking for a bit, Anne offered to host an adoption event and the rest is, as they say, a successful history.  

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Thanks to the support from Anne and her staff, the adoption event has been held almost every month since that first summer 3 years ago. Approximately twenty cats and kittens have found permanent loving homes, and they’ve been able to increase donations (both monetary and supplies) for WHS.

In fact, the first kitten adopted at the very first event was taken home by the roommate of one of Anne's employees.

And if you're interested, there are many ways to donate to support the Washington Humane Society.

Petworth Jazz Project Saturday

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Courtesy of Corey Wallace

Update: Tonight's Jazz Project is cancelled due to the rain. Next month!

I highly recommend you go to the Petworth Jazz Project at the Petworth Park (8th & Taylor St NW) on Saturday, June 27th from 6-9pm if you:

a) like jazz
b) have kids
c) like good pizza
d) wanna hang with neighbors
e) all the above

Courtesy of Baba Ras D

Baba Ras D will perform at 6pm for kids (if you don't know Baba, he's like the Bob Marley for 3 and 4 year olds, they love / are obsessed with him). He's also an incredibly nice guy. 

The Corey Wallace DUBtet will perform at 7pm for everyone, and should offer a great show. From listening to some of Corey's music, we're in for a treat.

And lastly, Timber Pizza Co will be onhand with their portable brick-oven and will be making outstanding pizzas.

Here's hoping the weather cooperates!

SW Petworth Social gathers crowd

I dropped by the Southwest Petworth Lemonade Social this evening (Kansas & Quincy). It was nice to see some of the regulars and some new faces. I grabbed only a few photos this time -- and apparently even though I left at 8:15, more people arrived after I left, including Councilmember Brandon Todd. It's great to see people coming out to meet each other!

Please feel free to tag yourself in the photos on Facebook!

I dropped by the Southwest Petworth Lemonade Social this evening (Kansas & Quincy). It was nice to see some of the...

Posted by Petworth News on Wednesday, June 24, 2015