Monthly Archives: October 2013

Options School Principal Dr. Simon Earle, Options Receiver Josh Kern, and Councilmember Tommy Wells meet community on Options Charter School

A light turnout for the community meeting on the future of Options.

Public Charter School Board Char Scott Pearson outlined the process for moving forward on deciding what happens to Options

Residents Voice Opinions on Options Charter School

Councilmember Wells Hosts Community Meeting to Hear Neighbors

by Larry Janezich

A small crowd of some 30 people attended a community meeting hosted by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells on the future of the Options Charter School.  The school went into receivership on October 3rd under the cloud of alleged financial management by school administrators.  Josh Kern was appointed receiver (see CHC  http://bit.ly/18Tpxjp) by the court, and he was joined at the meeting by Options principal Dr. Simon Earle and Public Charter School Board (PCSB) Chair Scott Pearson.

The organizers of the meeting came under fire from some in the audience who faulted the lack of notice of the meeting to parents of children attending Options.  Others faulted school administrators for failing to open and maintain lines of communication with the community.  When asked who the meeting was for, Councilmember Wells replied that it was for the people “who came tonight.”  Kerns stepped up to say it was his responsibility to reach out to parents and promised a follow up meeting in the near future for parents only.

A number of residents attending the meeting used the opportunity to cite specific examples of serious misbehavior of Option students on their way to or coming from school.  Several residents pointed to examples of unprofessional behavior by Options staff as well as lax supervision, as well as failures of school representatives to respond to residents when concerns were raised.  One resident raised the issue of the campaign contributions totaling $3,000 that Councilmember Wells had received from Board members for his mayoral bid, contributions he subsequently returned.

A Rosedale librarian rose to offer that her interactions with Options students after school had been very positive, and others spoke of the need to encourage community interactions with the school that are broader than fault-finding or problem-solving.

Kerns pledged to undertake training programs for staff and other unspecified measures and to come back to the community after a period of time to ask for a judgment on whether the changes have had a positive impact.

Asked how the process to decide what will happen to Options will unfold, Pearson said that the seven member PCSB will meet December 16 to make a decision or whether to revoke the Options School Charter.  He said that if the board found that “the school had engaged in a pattern of financial mismanagement the board must revoke the charter.”  That event would in turn trigger a process involving more meetings with the community and parents.  Options would have 15 days after a vote to revoke to request a hearing.  That hearing must occur within 30 days of the request, but Pearson said it would happen as soon as a week after the request.

The board would then decide whether it would be in the best interests of the students to bring in another operator for the school – and it appears that would depend on the ability of receiver Josh Kerns to get the school back on its feet – or to close the school.  It is unclear why the Public Charter School Board, which has arguably been derelict in its oversight duty regarding Options, was left to decide the fate of the school.  In any event, parents and the community will know the fate of Options before the enrollment for the next semester in early February.

Among those in attendance tonight were the two current candidates for the Ward Six Council seat Charles Allen and Darrel Thompson.  Only a single commissioner from ANC6A wherein Options lies showed up for the meeting – Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert.  The ANC has urged PCSB to keep the school open but relocate it to a larger unspecified building.

Thompson received a warm welcome from commissioners and residents at Thursday’s ANC6A meeting at Maury School

Thompson addresses residents in the Eastern Market neighborhood

“…we need job creation at every level…need to focus on middle and pre-school issues…”

Ward 6 Candidate Darrel Thompson Stumps for Ward 6 Council Seat

“This position should not be inherited – you should have to earn it.”

by Larry Janezich
Darrel Thompson campaigned on Capitol Hill the past few days, after time spent working the NOMA Gallaudet and Waterfront Metros.  On Thursday night, he appeared at his neighborhood ANC6A meeting and at an Eastern Market neighborhood meet and greet on Sunday.  Thompson launched his bid to succeed Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells on October 6, 2013.

On Sunday, Thompson said that if elected, he would draw from his 20 years of experience working in politics, and in particular his record of working on DC issues (including local autonomy and DC Statehood) while Deputy Chief of Staff for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Thompson told a group of neighbors: “This position should not be inherited – you should have to earn it.  There shouldn’t be a handful of people saying, ‘You’re the guy.’ You should have to earn it.”

Thompson was born in DC and he and his wife are longtime Ward Six residents.  In addition to working for Reid, Thompson was the former Chief of Staff to Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate Campaign.  He is a graduate of Morgan State University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

So far, Thompson has raised $60,000 $60,000 to support his candidacy for Ward 6 City Council.  The DC Democratic Primary – which, for all intents and purposes is the real election in DC – is April 1, 2014.

The Week Ahead ….and Photo Essay on Saturday Anti-Spying Rally

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, October 29

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the ANC’s November meeting.

Wednesday, October 30

ABRA meets at 1:00pm at 2000 14^th Street, NW, Suite 400S .

On the agenda are matters concerning several bars/restaurants on H Street, NE, including a request to change hours of operation and sales for Sahra Hooka Lounge, 1200 H Street; and requests to terminate Settlement Agreements on Rock N Roll Hotel, 1353 H Street and on H Street Country Club, 1335 H Street, NE.

 Scenes from the Anti-Spying Rally, Saturday, October 26, 2013

Several thousand protesters rallied on the West side of the Reflecting Pool in front of the U.S. Capitol on Saturday.   There was a heavy media presence with at least 15 television organizations represented including television media from Germany and Spain.    Following are images captured mid-way through the rally.

View of the rally from the east side of the reflecting pool

Anonymous – the collaborative international hacktivist group – was pulled over by police and redirected away from the U.S. Capitol

The Speaker’s Stand

Anti-Spying Rally, in front of the U.S. Capitol, October 26

Rock group “Yacht” revs up the crowd with “Party at the NSA”

Crowd Shot, Anti-Spying Rally, October 26

Former Senior NSA Exec Thomas Drake, Whistleblower, recipient of the 2011 Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling and co-recipient of the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award.

12 New Sunday Vendors Coming to Eastern Market

by Larry Janezich

Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson told the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (chaired by Donna Scheeder) last night that recent efforts to recruit new vendors for Eastern Market’s outside Sunday operation have been successful and listed twelve new vendors with new products who have appeared or will appear on coming weekends.  The Eastern Market outside vending – a separate operation from the Saturday and Sunday independent flea markets on the Hine playground/parking lot – can accommodate a maximum of 125 vendors under the farmers’ shed, on 7^th Street, on the plaza outside the North Hall, and in front of the Rumsey Swimming Pool.  Typically, there are some 115 vendors on a Saturday or Sunday during the fall season.  According to Margeson, he currently solicits for new vendors in five categories every three months to create a pool from which to fill the Market’s needs.  The categories are Farmers/Growers/Producers, Artists and Crafters, Antiques/Vintage/Collectibles, Ethno-Specific Importers, and Prepared Food Vendors.  The application process is rigorous and applicants must pass review by vendors who already operate at the market.  Margeson says, “We do our best to fit in everyone who comes out. There are only a set number of vendors who are permitted to sell at Eastern Market. We try to keep it to a level where we aren’t turning people away on the beautiful days and where there is still a pretty full market on the rainy or snowy days.”

The new products, vendors, dates at the Market, and illustrations of the products follow:

Wood Wall Art

Leah Boelman uses reclaimed wood, paints it, and stitches yarn through drilled holes to create folksy, whimsical, unique pieces.  Sunday, October 27 and on select coming Sundays.

Leather Accessories

Katie Stack transitioned out of costume making for theater companies to run a small business making a line leather bags and wallets.  Most of the leathers used are factory remnants.  Each piece is designed, patterned and cut and stitched in her home studio.  Every Sunday between now and Christmas.

Water color paintings and Chines calligraphy on scrolls.

Bertrand Mao studied Chinese calligraphy and painting for over 60 years.  He says, “My paintings express a poetic state of mind.  I often finish a painting by adding a poem or verse reflecting my mood and thoughts at the time….”  Sunday November 10 and on select coming Sundays.

Encaustic Paintings

Sarah Baker creates paintings by layering hot beeswax on wood and incorporating images from magazines, her own drawings and prints, and oil pastels.  Layers are fused with a blowtorch or iron and texture results from the either smoothing or tooling the wax or from the incorporated pieces.  Select coming Sundays.

Paper Cuttings

Voyo Woo learned paper cutting in his native Southeast China and creates intricate modern pieces which depart from the traditional style.  Select coming Sundays.

Prints

George H Smith uses traditional printmaking techniques – gouges to incise the plates and a press to transfer inked images to paper.  He also makes “abstract, cosmologically inspired paintings” on roofing tarp as well as mixed media wall masks. Every Sunday through the holiday season.

Vegan Delights

Zoheret Coats of Zoe’s Vegan Delights makes vegan food to be sold on the Rumsey Aquatic Center Plaza – pita bread with stir fried vegetables and falafels with fresh vegetable garnishes. Sundays starting November 3 through the holiday season.

Candies, Cookies, Tarts and Cakes

Megan Murray of Thunder Pig (trained in L’Academie de Cuisine’s Professional Pastry School) makes all-natural locally-sourced pastries.  Sundays starting November 9 through the holiday season.

Metalwork

Michele Edwards sells metalwork fashioned from lids of oil drums designed and made by craftspeople in Croix-des Bouquets, Haiti.  The salvaged metal is cut and hammered into art symbolic of Haiti culture and its voodoo traditions. Select coming Sundays.

Functional Wood Art

Brian Butters turns wood to make both functional wooden bowls and artistic wooden pieces.  Select coming Sundays.

Collages

Mitch Delsack creates collages using 200-300 images from Life Magazines from the 1940s and 1950s glued to canvas and covered with shellac.  Select coming Sundays.

Wood Furniture

Craig Dreyer makes wood furniture from mostly salvaged materials – his work includes chairs made from doors and tables made from rulers.  Every Sunday through the holiday season.

The Week Ahead…..Public input meeting on new H Street Condo proposal (R.L. Christian Library), H Street Liquor Licenses

by Larry Janezich

Monday, October 21

ANC6A Community Outreach Committee Meets at 7:30pm, Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith annex, 1235 C Street, NE

Tuesday, October 22

DC Streetcar Construction Update Meeting 6:30-8:00pm, Miner Elementary School

601 15th Street, NE.  DDOT will provide an update on the final roadway construction underway along the H Street- Benning Road corridor and what residents can expect as the corridor is readied for delivery of of streetcars.

Wednesday, October 23

ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee Meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE

Wednesday, October 23

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) meets at 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market.

Thursday, October 24

Meeting to receive public comments on the intention of the city to designate the R.L. Christian Library site at 1300 H Street, NE, surplus property.  Rise Development and H Street Community Development Corporation propose a mixed use building with 30 residential units and 8,000 square feet of retail.  The meeting will be at 6:30pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE.

Thursday, October 24

ANC 6A will hold a special meeting at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School at 13th Street and Constitution Avenue, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Liquor license renewals for H Street Country Club at 1335 H Street, NE; Rock N Roll Hotel at 1333 H Street, NE; Liberty Tree at 1016 H Street, NE; Rose’s DejaVu at 1378 H Street, NE; and Sahra Hooka Lounge at 1200 H Street, NE (the latter is in serious trouble with the neighbors for loud music and illegal outdoor patio). 

The ANC will also consider a motion to request an investigation by DCRA of the non-residential use of the upper floors of 1242 H Street and other new construction at the site.

Wrapping up Last Week….

by Larry Janezich

Friday night, Capitol Hill string quartet Strike warmed up at the Fridge before  performing classical pieces, from Mozart to Sibelius, as well as original arrangements of contemporary music, from David Guetta to Oasis.

Friday night, more than 60 jazz fans turned out at The Corner Store, featuring Peggy Stern – founder of the Wall Street Jazz Festival in Kingston, NY – with saxophonist Leigh Pilzer and guitarist Mark Johnson.

Last Thursday, a hand lettered menu at the Tune Inn offered some enticing choices at good prices.

Progress on the condo project on the site of the former Salvation Army building at 12^th and G Streets, SE.

An early morning auto-scooter accident at 8^th and D Streets SE resulted in what appeared to be serious injury to the cyclist and pointed up the dangers of the multi-street intersection.

The Flea Market

Weekend flea market vendors are grumbling over Frager’s intention to stay indefinately – for free – on the concrete slab across from Eastern Market..  The flea markets were supposed to move onto the slab once the removal of asbestos from the Hine building starts diminishing the amount of space available to them on what is now the Hine parking lot.  Environmental remediation – as the hazmat removal is referred to – could start within 30 days after the resolution of an appeal of the Zoning Commission approval of the Hine project which is now before the DC Court of Appeals.

Barracks Row Alley Issues

Progress on resolving the issues in the troublesome alley on the east side of 8^th Street between E and G appears stalled.  ANC6A Commissioner Phil Peisch says he has reached out to the city multiple times to schedule a meeting on cleaning up the alley (which was suggested by the city) but has not heard back yet.  Peisch credits the efforts of a few restaurants – the new Medium Rare and the Matchbox Food Group with working on ways to improve the alley, both with regard to trash maintenance procedures and encouraging DDOT re-surface the alley.  Peisch says he’s continued to reach out to DDOT about resurfacing the alley, and I’ve thus far been disappointed with DDOT’s responsiveness to this issue.

H Street Liquor License Protests

On Tuesday, ANC6A ABC Committee chaired by Commissioner Jay Williams, recommended that the full ANC6A protest H Street’s Sahra after complaints from neighbors about the illegal late night public space patio and loud music.  Earlier this month, the full ANC6A voted to protest the liquor license renewal for Club XII on H Street, NE.  An ANC protest starts a lengthy process aimed at bringing liquor license applicant into negotiations with the ANC and neighbors.  Negotiations \generally follow a status hearing before ABRA at which the ANC testifies in support of the protest and neighbors have an opportunity to formally file a protest individually or as a group.

Now Open:  Kraze Burger on Barracks Row and Curbside Cupcake Café at 15^th and C, SE

by Larry Janezich

Barracks Row Kraze Burger Opens Today

Kraze Burger at 415 8th Street, SE, opened today at 11:00am.  Nearby neighbors are anxious that the restaurant, opening on a Barracks Row block which has had a plague of rodent and trash issues, will live up to its commitment to become part of the solution and not part of the problem.

The South Korean based chain has an empire of more than 100 outlets and opened their first American restaurant in Bethesda in late 2011.  The menu from that outlet lists 14 burger choices which can be cooked to order, including the Hawaiian Burger with cream cheese sauce, grilled pineapple, and greens; the Vege & Bean Burger with grilled tofu patties, Swiss cheese, grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, lettuce and garlic butter; and classic beef and classic veggie patty burgers.  The menu also offers salads, other sandwiches, fries, chili, onion rings, grilled asparagus and frozen yogurt.  Patrons can build their own sandwiches, choosing their bread, protein and toppings.  See the Bethesda outlet’s menu here:  http://washingtondc.menupages.com/restaurants/kraze-burger/menu

Curbside Cupcakes Café Is Open at 15^th and C, SE

The Curbside Cupcake Cafe at 15th and C Streets, SE

The newly opened Curbside Cupcake Café in former creperie at 257 15^th Street, SE, currently   offers coffee, tea, pastries, and cupcakes from 7:00am until 10:00am, Tuesday through Friday.

Proprietors Sam and Kristi Whitfield say they will expand into lunch and weekends ASAP, but want to roll out each phase slowly to make sure customers have an optimum experience.  You can visit their website here: http://www.curbsidecupcakes.com/

Inside the Cupcake Cafe

Current Offerings