October 16, 2015

This is what dysfunction looks like: Notes from ANC 4C October meeting

October 16, 2015/ Drew

When I attend an ANC meeting and write up my notes, I try to be objective and capture what I can from the night. As this is my blog, I might throw some opinion in here or there, add a useful link or two and offer photos of those who spoke so readers can get a clearer idea of the meeting. After all, if you live in the ANC, you should care about what happens.

I’ve been watching ANC 4C slowly deteriorate over the past 10 months under the chairmanship of Vann-Di Galloway. Wednesday night was just a culmination of all the problems hitting at once.

Read the notes. They're long but there's a lot to say...

October 15, 2015

Holiday crime prevention advice from MPD

October 15, 2015/ Drew

I told MPD that I would help get the word out about crime tips where possible either here on the blog or on the Petworth News Facebook page (you do follow the Facebook page, right?) So without further ado, crime prevention tips for the holiday season from the Metropolitan Police Department (h/t Lt. DK Augustine, PSA 409).

As the holidays are coming up MPD anticipates more valuables being left in cars, more packages being delivered and sitting on porches and people traveling. Read MPD's tips...

October 14, 2015

Uniting with DC SCORES on childhood development and being awesome

October 14, 2015/ Drew

One of the benefits of writing a blog that reaches thousands of readers is getting invited to work with organizations on some truly worthwhile causes. I'm really excited to say that Petworth News is partnering with DC SCORES, a non-profit that runs after-school programs at public schools around the city (and here in Petworth). It's going to be a great partnership -- and it benefits you, too!

Read more about DC SCORES >

October 11, 2015

Guest post: "Clean to the curb" can keep Petworth beautiful

October 11, 2015/ Drew

Local Petworth neighbor Carrie Johnson-Clark contacted me recently about “Clean to the Curb,” an initiative that encourages people to keep the area around their houses clean. Carrie asked if I’d publish something to get the word out. I offered one better — I offered to publish an article that she wrote. And here it is. I’m happy to offer an article from a Petworth neighbor who cares about how we can all do our part, even a little bit, to help keep the community looking beautiful.

October 11, 2015

DC Treasure preview party & gumbo contest

October 11, 2015/ Drew

DC Treasure store owner Noah David is having an early "preview" party for the store on Monday, Oct 12th. The new antique store at 205 Upshur St NW is next to the Slash Run restaurant and was previously the Louisiana Gumbo Express restaurant

Read more about the preview party >

October 09, 2015

Fighting to clean up vacant properties, one house at a time

October 09, 2015/ Drew

Walk around Petworth and you'll see houses being renovated on block after block, dumpsters parked on the street with duct-taped "no parking" signs on the trees. Inside you'll hear tools and men's voices as walls go up, floors are redone, new landscaping put in.

Walk around Petworth, and you'll see many examples of houses that are sitting untouched and empty, slowly falling apart with trash strewn yards and a construction permit on the window -- with no signs of construction.

Neighbors are fed up with developers buying properties and leaving them to rot while waiting for housing prices to rise. The city loses out on taxes, and everyone loses out when those properties attract rats and illegal activity.

But KSDA and ANC 4D Commissioner David Sheon are working to fix it.

October 07, 2015

Pepco Exelon merger one step closer to reality

October 07, 2015/ Drew

It looks like Exelon is one step closer in its bid to merge with Pepco and take over the DC energy market. This has been a topic that has been frustrating many local residents who are opposed to the merger. Multiple ANCs have offered their opposition to the plans, yet it looks like the Office of the People's Counsel (OPC) have come to an agreement regarding the merger.

Read more about the settlement agreement >

October 07, 2015

Draft agenda for ANC 4C October meeting

October 07, 2015/ Drew

The agenda for the October meeting of ANC 4C is below. It looks like a rather short meeting, compared to previous. Of interesting note, the ANC is hoping to establish a committee of residents and commissioners to address zoning variance issues in 4C.

See full agenda after the break:

October 06, 2015

Slim's Diner getting closer to opening

October 06, 2015/ Drew

You'd think there wasn't a plethora of restaurants on the west end of Upshur Street (there is a plethora), nevertheless, I'm stoked about the upcoming opening of Slim's Diner in the Murrell Building.

Read more to see pics of the new booths...

October 04, 2015

Petworth residents find success with sardonic JadedAid card game

October 04, 2015/ Drew

Petworth resident Wayan Vota, a fan of Cards Against Humanity, teamed up with friends Jessica Heinzelman and Teddy Ruge to create a new card game specific to their careers in international aid and development. They brainstormed on ideas and partnered with another Petworth resident, Maria Mandle, who runs CreativeCouch Designs, to create the card deck and branding. They then reached out to aid workers around the world for ideas. The result is JadedAid, a card game to save humanitarians… from themselves. Read more about JadedAid and see the HuffPost interview, after the break:

October 03, 2015

Meet ioby, a non-profit that wants to kickstart DC community projects

October 03, 2015/ Drew

Neighborhood change comes from active neighbors — clean ups, community gardens, block parties and socials. Some of these events are easy to do and don’t cost much, if anything. However, other projects do have a cost, and often the question is how best to organize and fund them?

Enter ioby. ioby is a non-profit organization that helps communities crowd-source money to fund local-based projects...

Read more about ioby, their upcoming fundraiser on October 8th and see a video:

October 02, 2015

Rain spoils Oktoberfest at AFRH, event canceled

October 02, 2015/ Drew

Regen, Regen, geh weg! Komm an einem anderen Tag zurück!

Thanks to Hurricane Joaquin and lots of rain, Oktoberfest at the Armed Forces Retirement Home has been canceled. Feel free to wear your lederhosen at home though (if you do, send pics!).

Read the full article after the break:

September 30, 2015

Grant Circle gets its stripes

September 30, 2015/ Drew

I spent way too much time sitting at Grant Circle in the past two weeks watching cars navigate the new traffic patterns set up by the new painted lines. But apparently, it was to good effect...

Read more about the latest efforts at increasing safety at Grant Circle: