Let It Snow!

It seems we've made it through December unscathed, however Winter is far from over.  It's time we prepare for snowy weather.


The DC Insider newsletter highlighted the city's Winter Weather Preparedness Plan and website in the last issue.  The website address is www.snow.dc.gov.  On the site you can find all sorts of helpful information and tips to survive a snow storm in the city.  You can check for school closures, track snow plows that are on the roads and even form a neighborhood shoveling team! 

The website reminds residents to be patient with snow removal however, I think the plow tracker will be a great way to track the progress of snow removal efforts.  Residents are encouraged to call 311 if their neighborhood has not been serviced in a reasonable amount of time.

I hope everyone is ready! After all what's winter without a little snow?!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Here's hoping you had a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a great New Year!

Just a thought...REMATCH Gray vs. Fenty

I was having a discussion with a friend and somehow the question came up, "who would win in a rematch, Gray or Fenty?"  I must say I was one of the voters that helped oust Fenty in the 2010 election, however I think if he ran again I might consider giving him another chance.  Of course this is assuming my choices were Fenty and Gray.

Let me say I don't have anything against Gray.  I think he's doing a decent job, but he's not the best we've every had.  Personally, one of the reasons I didn't vote for Fenty was because I think he forgot which side his bread was buttered on.  I'm sure when you get in office its a whole other lever of "politicking" however you must not forget where you votes come from.  Before he was Mayor, Fenty was always in the neighborhoods and I think he got so caught up in the upper-level management of running the city that he neglected the people that put him in the position.   

According to other news outlets, thus far Fenty has been mum about a possible rematch in 2014.  I think Fenty still has many supporters and unless Gray steps it up big time, if Fenty decides to throw his hat in the rings, Gray will have a tough fight on his hands.

Residential Rehab Program

The District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development operates the Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program (SFRRP).  Under this program residents can obtain grants or financing through low or 0% interest loans to pay for specified rehab or modifications to their property.

According to their fact sheet:

The purpose of the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Single Family
Residential Rehabilitation Program (SFRRP) is to help households finance home repairs that will:
* Address building code violations
* Repair roofs
* Remove threats to health and safety, including lead-based paint hazards
* Remove barriers to accessibility for persons with mobility or other physical impairments

We all know how costly home repairs can be especially roof repair.  Under SFRRP eligible applicants can receive as much as $75,000!

For more information visit www.dhcd.dc.gov

Ward 7 Winter 2011 Development Summary

In case you haven't seen it  here's the link to the Ward 7 Development Summary for Winter 2011 http://planning.dc.gov/DC/Planning/In+Your+Neighborhood/Wards/Ward+7/Ward+7+Development+Summary

The summary provides information on commercial and residential development projects in the ward.  Residential projects include The Nannie Helen at 4800 and Eden Place (Eastern Ave and Dix Street NE).  The summary also touches on environmental and infrastructure projects, including the DDOT Great Street Initiative, which is the cause of all of the crazy traffic on Pennsylvania Ave (from the Sousa Bridge through Branch)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hello Everyone! Here's wishing you a safe and happy Halloween!  Sorry for the short notice but here are a few events in the DC MINNIE area for the kiddies...

6th District HQ
Halloween Kiddie Cabaret
10/31
5-9:30pm
100 42nd Street NE

6D Boys and Girls Club #14
Ghost Town
10/31
5:30-7:30
4103 Benning Rd NE

6D CAC
Safe Halloween Party
10/31
5:30-8:30pm
1191 46th Place SE

Remember...No tricks, lots of treats!

Coming Soon to Benning Road...7-11

The signage is already up for the new 7-11 store that will soon open on Benning Rd. NE (across from Spingarn HS).  On Tuesday (10/26), the store hosted a hiring event to staff the Benning Rd. store as well as the store opening on Bladensburg Rd.  Mayor Gray was in attendance for the event.  According to the Mayor's office, of the people hired "on-the-spot" , ten were from Ward 7, three from Ward 8, four from Ward 6, and five from Ward 5.  The hiring event was part of the One City, One Hire initiative.

For more information on the City's One City, One Hire program, or for job listings visit DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) at http://does.dc.gov/does

Pictures from Make a Difference Day at J.C. Nalle Elementary

Here are just a few pictures I took at Make A Difference Day at J.C. Nalle School.  Make a Difference Day is a nation-wide event where volunteers participate in community service projects all over the country.  At J.C. Nalle, volunteers did some landscaping, painted outside areas, painted inspirational sayings around the school, painted college logos on canvases and wrote cards to the students. 

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, opens the day.

DCPS Student Alexus Taylor and I painted a message for the kiddies!

 

 

The finished product

Let's Get Involved!

We all have a vested interest in keeping our community safe and clean, however if cleaning up the park isn't your cup of tea, there are countless other services you can provide to an organization in need. Whatever gift you have been blessed with I guarantee there is an organization that can benefit from your expertise.

The organization Greater DC Cares http://www.greaterdccares.org  has a database of volunteer projects that you can search by interest/impact area.  Animals, elderly, kid-friendly, eco-based, education...you name it, they have a service opportunity for it!

Here's a project in our community this weekend: Make A Difference Day at JC Nalle Elementary School located at 219 50th Street SE, Washington, DC  20019.  They still need volunteers so if you have a few free hours please sign up!

Something to think about..."According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about a quarter of the population aged 16 and older volunteered in 2009. Persons who volunteer are most often Caucasian, female, college educated, and between the ages of 35 and 55."
 
Thanks to the community service requirement imposed by my daughter's school I've rediscovered the joys of volunteering. Even though this is something we have to do, I must say I've been enjoying it!  Doing a little bit of something beats doing nothing any day!

Getting In on the Ground Floor: Accessing Local Government

One day shortly after I moved to Ward 7 I decided to ride my bike to Anacostia Park.  I was shocked to see that there were paved paths for pedestrian traffic.  For years there had only been the vehicle lanes to facilitate all types of traffic. Now that's what a call a park! A place where you can walk, jog, bike, and enjoy the park safely without worrying about dodging cars.  I thought "boy I wish Fort Dupont Park had this!"  So I decided to look into it!

The next day I emailed my ward representative, Councilmember Yvette Alexandria.  I was quite surprised I received a response that same day!  Ms. Alexandria thanked me for my email, explained some budgetary issues that might come in to play and asked the Director of Constituent  Services for Ward 7, Amin Muslim, to provide contact information for my civic association and ANC rep!  She also requested that he follow up with me, and he did!

It turns out that since the park is under the National Park Service there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get things done, but I was amazed at how responsive the councilwoman was.

This experience showed me how accessible local government can be. Many issues that shape and change communities are first addressed at civic association meetings and ANC meetings.  And guess what?  They are open to the public.

You may not be able to change the world at a civic association meeting, but you will gain insight about the happenings in your neighborhood and possibly change your little corner of the world!

Cupcakes Have Come East of the River

Working in Georgetown has made me a savvy cupcake connoisseur. 

• Georgetown Cupcake - Delightful little cupcakes, well-balanced with good texture
• Baked and Wired - A dessert lover's dream, the cupcakes are HUGE! 
• Sprinkles - One word...YUMMY!

But a new cupcake contender has thrown their hat in the ring!  Olivia's Cupcakes is located at  2318 Minnesota Ave. S.E.You can't miss the bright purple facade among the other nondescript row houses on the block.  This family owned cupcakery has a wide array of offerings (check out their website http://www.cupcakesbyolivia.com/25901.html) and their treats are priced about $1.00 less than the places in Georgetown!

I'm headed there this weekend to give them a try.  If you are in the area please do the same!

Think Globally, act locally!

The Corner of Benning Road & Minnesota Avenue

If you've taken the bumpy ride past the corner of Minnesota Ave & Benning Road, you've undoubtedly noticed the new government building that's there, but did you know that there are even bigger plans for that intersection?!

Enter "Park 7".  Phase 2 of the revitalization plan for that intersection calls for the creation of an $80 million dollar mixed-use facility.  This project has been dubbed "Park 7" by the developer (Donatelli Development and Blue Skye Construction).  This facility will hold over 300 housing units, (some affordable rentals and some market-rate condos), 23,000 square feet of retail space and underground parking.

Don't believe me?  See for yourself! www.dc.gov, www.blueskyeconstruction.com/park7.htm

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