Makeover: Edgewood Triangle Park Edition

As part of the PUD with the EYA Chancellor's Row Development was funding for them to renovate the large triangle park in Edgewood which is bounded by Lincoln Road, Franklin Street and Fourth Street NE.  Construction on the park has already started and is supposed to be completed this fall. 

Exciting News for Edgewood and Ward 5

Today I stopped by Chez Hareg to grab some cookies and ran into Hareg herself.  She shared some very exciting news about her business.  She is acquiring a warehouse in Ward 5 off of Mt. Olivet Road NE not far from the intersection of Bladensburg Road because she will soon be selling her cookies in Costco!!!  I am so happy for her as her business keeps growing and anyone who stops by and tastes her pastries knows why!

What makes this even more exciting is she is planning on turning her current location on 4th Street NE into a coffee and sandwich spot!!!  Hareg also talked about her ultimate goal to open a place similar to Tryst!!

So go stop by Chez Hareg- congratulate her, encourage her interest in the coffee/sandwich/Tryst-like shop on 4th Street then treat yourself to some amazing cookies! 

Lots of exclamations points in the post but I think it is because I am just so happy for a local business that keeps growing and all that it means for Ward 5 and Edgewood!

Safety Walk and Rally Thursday

Please see the message below:

Dear friends,

I invite you to join members of the LGBT community and the residents of Shaw, Bloomingdale, and Eckington in saying no to violence and hatred on the streets of DC.

On July 22, two men were physically assaulted while exiting their vehicle in the 1900 block of 3rd Street NE. Their assailants shouted homophobic slurs before punching and kicking the victims.

I live just a few blocks from the scene of this hate crime. Amy Loudermilk and I have been putting together this event, in coordination with the Eckington Civic Association President, and local ANC commissioners to maximize participation from the community.

Join us for a rally and safety walk through this neighborhood to make our message clear: "We shall not be moved."

Thursday, August 9

Meet at 7:00 PM at Big Bear Cafe

1700 1st Street NW (Intersection of 1st and R St NW)

Walking to 1900 3rd Street NE (3rd and T Street NE)

We will gather for a short rally outside 1st and R Street NW before the safety walk to the location of the incident. Instead of a moment of silence, we will have a "moment of noise." The march will then return to the starting point. Big Bear Cafe is located about 7 blocks east of the Shaw Metro station.

We will be joined by representatives from Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV), the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Collective Action for Safe Spaces, the DC Office of LGBT Affairs, SMYAL, and the Critical Incident Team.

No one should have to walk in fear on the streets of DC because of hate. Whenever any community is targeted, we all have a duty to stand together.

Join us.

FREE Self Defense Workshop for Community Members

DASH (District Alliance for Safe Housing) and Defend Yourself are sponsoring a night of safety.
Join us on Wednesday, Aug.8,
6:30-8 pm to learn the basics of…
4 preventing and avoiding harassment, attack, and abuse,
4 stopping a threatening situation with words, and
4 using physical strikes against attacks.
To sign up, email info@dashdc.org or call 202-462-3274, ext.116 (leave a message and someone will return your call and provide you with the address). RSVPs are required. All community members are welcome.  (If you don’t RSVP, you’re still welcome, but you will be asked to leave your ID at the door).

Anyone can do this! You don’t have to be an athlete or martial artist to help yourself be safer.

Suzanne Marcus
Deputy Director
District Alliance for Safe Housing
PO Box 73186
Washington, DC 20056
T (202) 462-3274 ext. 116
F (202) 462-3365
smarcus@dashdc.org
www.dashdc.org

CFC #99008 
United Way #9391
Now visit us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter (@dashdc) !

Celebrate National Night Out 2012 with MPD! TONIGHT

Please see the message below about Naional Night Out tonight!

Good Afternoon 5D Community & Stakeholders:

National Night Out 2012 to Kick Off in Fifth District

Rosedale Recreation Center (1701 Gales St, NE) willhave the honors of being the kickoff location for National Night Out. 
(Pool Party, Food, Fun, Music, Special Guests. 6-8pm)

The Fifth District Mountain Bike Officers will also! be riding the Metropolitan Branch Trail.  For moreinformation, visit the list of updated National Night Out Events @
http://www.mpdc.dc.gov/NNO

Yvonne Smith
Office of Community Outreach
Metropolitan Police Department

Councilmem​ber McDuffie Community Engagement Hours

Please see this message about meeting with CM McDuffie in Ward 5.

Councilmember McDuffie is coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

 
The Councilmember has held four community engagement meetings across the ward so far this month. These meetings give the community a venue to voice their concerns and offer constructive suggestions. Constituents who have attended the sessions stated that they like having the opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue with their Councilmember about their concerns and the ward. 

If you haven’t had an opportunity to come out, please join him at one of the following meeting places.


Wednesday, August 8
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Theodore Hagan Cultural Center Multi-Purpose Center
3201 Fort Lincoln Drive, NE

Tuesday, August 28
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Israel Baptist Church - Lower Level
1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE

Jeannette Mobley

Jeannette Mobley
Constituent Services Director
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Ward 5
202-724-8028
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20004
jmobley@dcouncil.us

Free Panel Discussion on Brookland Redevelopm​ent

Passing along this information as it may be of interest to Edgewood Residents since despite the events title they will be talking about developments in both Edgewood and Brookland.

Free Panel Discussion on Brookland Redevelopment

Brookland: Building for the Future
(August 17 at 6.30pm, 12th Street Gallery)

With the face of Brookland changing daily, come and take the opportunity to meet some of the people behind Brookland’s bright new future.

Representatives from
the Bozzuto Group and ABDO Development (Monroe Street Market), EYA (Chancellor’s Row), the Menkiti Group (901 Monroe Street) and Carla Perlo, Founding Director of Dance Place (Moving Forward Campaign), will be on hand to talk about these new developments, and to take part in a Q&A session.

About the Venue:
12th Street Gallery is a temporary art space (Temporium) housed in a vacant storefront, which has been brought to life as an exhibition space for visual arts. As well as providing a showcase for local artists and craftsmen to display and sell their work, the 12th Street Gallery also hosts spoken word and poetry performances, film screenings and discussions.

WHAT:
Brookland: Building the Future. A free panel discussion on Brookland’s redevelopment plans. Part of the Artland Temporium Project.

WHEN:
August 17, 6.30pm

WHERE:
12th Street Gallery, 3500 12th Street NE, Washington DC 20017

TICKETS:
This event is free.

Full details at www.danceplace.org/events/artland

Biking in Edgewood and Beyond

The evolution of my life with a bicycle began as it did for many children with a tricycle and then the upgrade to a two-wheeler with training wheels.  I will never forget the first day I rode without the training wheels as I donned a cape and was simultaneously angry and excited when I realized that my dad had let go and I was riding on my own!  As a child I rode my bike with my friends everywhere- to each other's houses, to the pool and to the store.  We never really thought about it as transportation just as freedom to go where we wanted without adults and mostly fun.  Once I got my driving license the car became our freedom as we could travel further and faster leaving my bike behind.  In college I was able to walk everywhere and that became my main method of transportation.  They also made all the buses free in Chapel Hill while I was there so riding the bus was the best and cheapest way to travel further distances. 

When I moved up to the DC area after school for a job I fell in love with being able to walk or take public transportation everywhere.  I bought a new bike, but this time it was a road bike for exercise.  I would ride with my boyfriend for the sole purpose of working out.  Then I moved into DC proper and decided to go carfree.  A few years later Capital Bikeshare came and I joined right away.  I have grown to realize that biking in the city was not as scary as I thought it was once I was not clipped into my road bike's pedals.  I still plan out my routes well in advance, try to use bike lanes or paths as much as possible and ask other cyclists' advice on the best way to go.  In Edgewood we are really lucky to have the Met Branch Trail allowing the beginning and end of most bike trips to be off road.  This year I bought my own city bike with a basket for my dog and now we ride everywhere.  So it looks like I have come full circle with my biking as I now use it once again for transportation and freedom.  I have been reminded of how much fun a bike ride with friends can be just like it was as a child.  I am constantly asking neighbors if they bike and want to go on various rides.

In fact there are two rides this weekend that I and some Edgewood neighbors will be doing.  Please send me an email if you want to join us!

Tonight leaving Edgewood at 7:30 p.m. to do the BicycleSpace Kingman Island Ride and Luau

http://www.bicyclespacedc.com/blog/2012/7/31/lets-get-tropical.html

Sunday leaving Edgewood around 1:00 p.m. to do the Lion Ride in Anacostia.

REMINDER: Edgewood Neighborhood Cleanup TOMORROW!

The weather is looking HOT for the cleanup tomorrow! Please bring some water and we will have Popsicles, hot dogs and drinks for afterwards.

Just wanted to send out a reminder that tomorrow is the Edgewood Neighborhood monthly cleanup. The group meets in front of the Edgewood Rec Center at the corner of 3rd and Evarts NE at 10:30 a.m. The cleanup is sponsored by the Friends of Edgewood Recreation Center and occurs the first Saturday of every month same time and location. The group picks up trash around the neighborhood including the rec center and has a cookout afterwards.

This is a great way to meet your neighbors and show pride in our neighborhood!

If you cannot come try and cleanup around your block today or tomorrow morning so we can cover more areas!!!

Community Tree Care Event on the Metropolitan Branch Trail

It is hard to believe that is has only been a year since we planted the trees along the Met Branch Trail because they already make sure a big difference!!

See the note below about an event to help us learn to take care of them so they continue to thrive!

Hello MBT friends!

With your help, Casey Trees and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy planted several trees on the Met Branch Trail last spring. Let’s make sure the trees continue to grow and thrive! Join us for a Community Tree Care Event next Saturday, August 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. As a group we will weed and water trees along the trail that were planted by Casey Trees. You’ll also learn basic tree care maintenance – lessons you can use in your own backyard!

WHAT: Community Tree Care Event- Metropolitan BranchTrail
WHEN: Saturday, August 11, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Registration is from 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.)
WHERE: Registration will take place at the corner of 4th Street and S Street NE (MAP)
WHO: You, your neighbors and friends!

To help you come prepared, note the following:

FREE FOOD! Lunch will be provided but please bring your own water bottle.
Each volunteer must turn in a signed Volunteer Waiver Form. You can complete one in advance or on-site. Those under 18 years of age must turn in a Volunteer Waiver form signed by their parent or legal guardian, and be supervised at all times.
Dress comfortably and for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required. Casey Trees will provide safety gloves and vests.
We will meet rain or shine!

Space is limited – register today! Contact Juliana Villabona at juliana@railstotrails.org or 202.974.5129

We hope to see you there.
 ___________________________________________

Kelly Pack
Director of Trail Development
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy