The Week Ahead … & Some Photos from Last Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted September 22, 2024
Mike Bowers, center, with assistants Rob Studer and Eliza Nguyen.
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products at Eastern Market will celebrate its 60 year anniversary on Tuesday, October 1, with events, promotions, and giveaways planned throughout the month to mark this special anniversary.
The following is condensed from the shop’s website:
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products has served the community in the historic Eastern Market’s South Hall since 1964. That year, Harris Rockford Bowers, the grandfather of current shop owner Mike Bowers, purchased Stand 400 from the estate of William Sweeney at its present location in the South Hall.
Harris Bowers brought uniqueness to the market, sporting a straw “Boater” hat, a twinkle in this eye and adorning his shop in the great South Hall with vaudevillian signage. Working at the cheese shop back then was a family affair, with Harris, Ray Bowers (current owner Mike Bower’s father), and Mike and family friends assisting in the shop.
Harris Bowers passed away in 1976 and Ray assumed the day-to-day management of the shop while maintaining his career as a training officer with the US Secret Service. He worked to make Eastern Market a better place and to maintain its historic characteristics. Mike says he proudly follows in his footsteps.
In the 6th decade of operations, Mike owns Bowers Fancy Dairy Products and his son Ryan, now in his 7th year of cheese mongering at Historic Eastern Market, represents the future… and looks to preserve its great past.
RFK Demolition Update: Wednesday night, EventsDC held its Quarterly Meeting and provided a brief update on RFK. Demolition of the interior is proceeding and, as noted above, the raze permit deadline has been extended until year’s end, meaning exterior demolition has to begin by that deadline.
Kraft Heinz’s Oscar Mayer Wienermobile showed up on North Carolina Avenue outside of Eastern Market Thursday morning. The custom-made, hot dog-shaped vehicle travels across the United States, promoting Kraft Heinz-related events and distributing Wiener Whistles – but no hot dogs. They were there on Thursday to support an event at Eastern Market addressing world hunger.
Inside Eastern Market’s North Hall, tables were set up to accommodate some 250 volunteers who were going to pack 25,000 dehydrated soy/rice meals to ship to third world countries later that morning.. The project is a joint effort by Kraft Heinz and Rise Against Hunger. Rise CEO Rick Kearney told CHC that his organization has partnered with Kraft Heinz for over ten years to provide food security abroad. He said that “In the past three years, Kraft Heinz and Rise have impacted almost nine million people through their partnership – 650 million meals have been provided by Kraft Heinz’s support for Rise Against Hunger. The volunteers come from Congressional staff – lobbyists – anyone with an interest in solving hunger has been invited to help…” Asked to comment on a recent WP news article about 37% of families in DC, VA, and MD who experienced food insecurity between May of 2023 and May 2024, Kearney said that Kraft Heinz also has domestic partners that seek to address food insecurity here in the US. For example, he cited Alliance in Hunger – of which Rise is a member – as an organization which addresses domestic and international hunger – “we’re a Kraft Heinz international partner because hunger is a global issue. “
Gingko Gardens appears to be renovating the long-empty building on the SW corner of 11th and I Streets, SE, though progress is slow. CHC asked someone in the office what Ginko’s intent is regarding the future of the building. The reply was, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure.” The building permit says that the existing use of the building is“Restaurant A-2” and the proposed use is “Restaurant A-2.” We’ll see.
The National Community Church purchased the Navy Yard Car Barn – affectionately known in the Capitol Hill community as the “Blue Castle” – and started renovating it. Here’s a photo of the building – sans blue paint – from 8th and M Streets, SE. Rechristened the Capital Turnaround, the building has a 982 seat auditorium and numerous social event spaces.
Here’s a photo of what the building looked like circa 1919.
And here’s a rendering of what National Capital Church plans for the building’s future (looking SE from the NW corner of the building) according to their website . Not sure what the Historic Preservation Office will think about this. For more, see here: https://capitalturnaround.com/
The Week Ahead….
Highlights:
- Monday, ANC6B Public Safety Committee hears CM Charles Allen on Office of Unified Command (911 Call Center) and on legislation coming before the City Council this fall.
- Tuesday, ANC6A ABCA Committee discusses ABCA enforcement of illegal marijuana stores located on H Street NE.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
ANC6A Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
Announcements & Updates
- Reminder of Sunday morning cleanups on I Street
- People’s Front of H Street Group
- Hakuna Matata is open
- H Street Festival
Review and Update the Advisory Neighborhood Commission
- (ANC) 6A Grant Request Application Form (revised 9/20)
- Art All Night
- H Street Alliance Bingo Night at H Street Liquors
ANC6B Public Safety Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Community Presentation – Potomac Gardens resident leader Misha Pettway: Potomac Gardens & Public Safety Concerns for ANC Consideration
- Guest Speaker – Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen: Briefing & Discussion on On-Going OUC Issues and Upcoming DC Council Legislation for Fall Session
- Resident Member Chuck Schmoyer: Update on USAO Response to ANC Letter on Data Transparency
- ANC6B’s July 2024 Letter to the USAO
- USAO’s Response to ANC6B July 2024 Letter
- Update & Next Steps on Gun Violence Reduction Strategic Plan Community Roundtable Event
- Conversation on Questions for Deputy Mayor Appiah
October 2024 Public Safety Committee Agenda Planning & Action Items for October 2024 Full Commission Meeting
- Ward 4 CM Brianne Nadeau (Confirmed)
- Deputy Mayor for Justice and Public Safety Lindsay Appiah (Confirmed)
- ANC 6B Letter to Deputy Mayor Appiah regarding implementation of the Gun Violence Reduction Strategic Plan
ANC6B SE Library Task force will hold a hybrid meeting at 6:30pm.
Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Second Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s)
For info on how to virtually join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Renovation.
- Interim Library Facility.
- Reopening.
- Strategy to increase–
- Use.
- Hours.
- Consistency of open hours.
- Meeting with Charles Allen.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
ANC6A Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
New Business
- Discussion of modification to the Settlement Agreement between ANC6A and 7 River Mart at 250 11th Street NE
- Discussion of change to ANC6A bylaws regarding liquor and cannabis licenses
- Resolution to automatically protest unless application is timely considered by full ANC
- Discussion regarding ABCA enforcement of illegal marijuana stores located on H Street NE
Update on recent ABCA actions.
- Commissioner Shapiro proposes ANC send letters
- Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to grant residents and property owners the right to protest cannabis licenses
- Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow moratorium zones for cannabis licenses.
- Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow penalties for landlords who see alcohol or cannabis without proper licenses
- Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow closure of establishments who fail to remediate violations after 30 days of presentation of probable cause
- Split Settlement Agreements
ANC6B’s Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Agenda:
To set the agenda for the full ANC meeting on Tuesday, October 8
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
ANC6C Grants Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:30pm
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/
Agenda: TBA
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28
Art All Night on Barracks Row returns on Friday, September 27, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. For more info, go here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-all-night-2024-masquerade-the-art-of-magic-tickets-948284172487?aff=oddtdtcreator
Friday, September 27 at 8:00pm.
Art All Night – Brice Harney Magical Stage Productions at the Miracle Theater, 535 8th Street, SE, Barracks Row. $20.00. For tickets, go here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/barracks-row-main-street-45270680923
Saturday, September 28th, 7:30 pm
St. Mark’s Church, 301 A Street SE
The Chiarina Chamber Players begin celebrating their 10th season with a special program featuring 2023 Grammy Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann. Alongside a guest string quartet, the group will perform Florence Price’s Fantasie Nègre and Piano Quintet in A minor as well as Robert Schumann’s resounding Piano Quintet. Tickets: $30, free for those 18 and under. https://chiarina.org/concerts/michelle-cann-and-friends/
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 