Traffic Restrictions On Benning Road Between Oklahoma Ave and Anacostia Ave

The  announcement and information pasted below are provided as a courtesy on behalf of DC Streetcar. If you have questions or need additional information, you may contact Margaret Gentry at  202.320.8534 ormargaret@dcstreetcar.com.

Beginning Monday, June 3^rd, the DC Streetcar construction team will implement traffic restrictions on Benning Road between Oklahoma Avenue and Anacostia Avenue to facilitate installation of Overhead Catenary System (OCS) foundations. The OCS foundations are installed in the ground at designated points to provide a base for mounting the poles and wiring that deliver power to run the streetcars.

The restrictions on the north and south sides of Benning Road will be in effect for approximately three weeks each.  Work along the south side of Benning Road will begin on June 3^rd, followed by the north side of Benning Road later in the week.

The restrictions are as follows:

Ø  The south-side sidewalk from Oklahoma to Anacostia (a distance of about a half-mile including the Benning Road Bridge across the Anacostia River) will be closed to pedestrians during much of this period. The north-side sidewalk will be closed periodically. The construction team will make every effort to maintain sidewalk access along at least one side of Benning Road at all times. Signs will be installed to direct pedestrians to the accessible sidewalk.

Ø  The X1/X3 and X2 bus stops on the south side of Benning Road (just west of the entrance to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail) will be temporarily suspended during this period. As an alternative, bus passengers will be directed to the next bus stop, on Benning Road at 34^th Street.

Ø  From Oklahoma Avenue to Anacostia Avenue, eastbound Benning Road traffic will be reduced to a single lane – the  middle and right lanes will be closed. Left turns and U-turns will not be permitted at any point along the work zone.

Ø  Access to and from RFK Stadium’s Lot 6 parking lot along Benning Road will be prohibited. Access to Lot 6 will be maintained via Oklahoma Avenue.

Ø  Eastbound and westbound motorists may continue to turn from Benning Road onto Oklahoma Avenue.

Arboretum To Close Tuesday-Thursday

Effective May 13, 2013, the U.S. National Arboretum will close the grounds of the Arboretum to the general public three days per week–Tuesday through Thursday.  In addition, they will charge some user and rental fees. This is a link to a letter from the Arboretum’s director.

 

http://www.usna.usda.gov/USNA-Reduced-Visitation-Hours.pdf

 

http://www.usna.usda.gov/

Please Support the DC Library Budget

Mayor Gray has proposed a Fiscal Year 2014 budget for the DC Public Library that would allow all Libraries across the city to open on Sundays, as well as additional hours on weekdays.  It would also increase funding for books and materials, and for staff, security, and training.

The Friends of the Rosedale Library (FORL) testified before the DC Council Committtee on Education in support of the Mayor’s budget, but Education Committee Chair David Catania is instead expected to cut the Library funds in his ‘markup’ to give more money to the School System.

The proposed budget for the DC Public Library is just $53.1 Million compared to $1.3 Billion for DC Public Schools - and DCPL has never had a cost over-run and has spent its money well.  The new Rosedale Library (1701 Gales Street NE) came in on budget and has quickly become a huge asset to Rosedale and Kingman Park and residents in Wards 6, 7 and 5.

FORL believes that at this time of a rare budget surplus, there is money for both the Library and the Schools; that the Library needs to have additional funds to make up for drastic cuts over the past 5 years; and that Sunday hours will give all 630,,00 thousand residents of DC access to educational, social and cultural opportunities, such as books, study materials, and computers.

If you would like to join us in support of the proposed Library budget, please send an email to ALL five DC Education Committee members listed below, no later then Tuesday, May 7th.

We have included a draft letter for each Council Member (containing a reference to the Libraries in their Ward), which you have to edit further, inserting your name, address (and if you live in Ward 7, please tell Ms. Alexander esp. if you use Rosedale Library).

The email addresses for each of the Council Members are below.  Just open each CM-specific ‘letter’, copy and paste into an email – then edit the signature block (and any other area you want), put in the CM’s email address and send off with a nice subject line.

If you have questions, please email FORL at FriendsoftheRosedaleLibrary@gmail.com or call 571-213-1630

Thank you for your support of Rosedale and all DC Libraries.

Council Member Catania:

dcatania@dccouncil.us

Council Member Grosso:

dgrosso@dccouncil.us

Council Member Alexander:

yalexander@dccouncil.us

Council Member Barry:

mbarry@dccouncil.us

Council Member Wells:

twells@dccouncil.us

Thank you!

• Alexander FORL Member
• Barry FORL Member
• Catania FORL Letter
• Grosso FORL member
• Wells FORL Member

DC Streetcar Jobs

DC Streetcar

DC Streetcar Job Fair Alert!

RDMT, the DC Streetcar operator, is hosting a job fair!

RDMT/DC STREETCAR JOB FAIR
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Department of Employment Services Headquarters
4058 Minnesota Ave NE, Washington, DC, 20019

RDMT will be providing more details soon on the types of jobs they will be screening for on May 13 and the requirements for each. Stay tuned for more details as they’re available – we will update this space.

DBE

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) strongly encourages the use of DDOT-certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) for contracting and subcontracting opportunities. To learn more about DDOT’s DBE program, visit their website.

DDOT

Employment with the District Department of Transportation is offered through the District’s DC Jobs website. Current openings can be viewed here. Sorting by agency makes it easy to spot DDOT job listings. You can also call the District Department of Human Resourcesdirectly at (202) 442-9700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (202) 442-9700      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

KPR Garden Expansion

The Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden is excited to announce it is expanding its area into the vacant lot next door. We will be growing produce, flowers, and adding to the beauty of our neighborhood in the Western half of the lot to the South of the current Garden property.  The Eastern half of the South lot will remain mowed grass.

The Garden will now consist of 39 plots. 36 of those plots are used by people from the Kingman Park and Rosedale neighborhoods, and 13 of the plots are used by people who live on the four blocks that immediately surround the Garden.

If you would like to participate in the Garden or want more information, please visit our website at kprgarden.org, email our coordinators at kprgarden.coordinator@gmail.com, or call Bob Coomber, our Treasurer, at (202) 689-9377. Or just start a conversation if you see someone in the Garden!

Youth Summer Jobs and Education Programs with Casey Trees

High School Summer Crew Jobs Program

Our Summer Crew program provides jobs for high school students to serve as caretakers for D.C.’s trees in the summer. General responsibilities include watering, weeding and mulching trees. Crew members work 35 hours per week at $9 per hour and travel to worksites by truck and bicycle teams under adult supervision.

The 2013 Summer Crew session will run from June 27 to August 9. Applications must be completed and submitted online by May 18.

Learn more and submit an application.

TreeWise Summer Youth Education Program

TreeWise is our nature-and place-based summer education program developed to get youth ages six to 10 outdoors and foster appreciation and understanding of trees through fun, hands-on activities.

Summer 2013 TreeWise sessions will run from June 24 to August 9. During the first four weeks of the program, TreeWise counselors will travel to host sites located within 25 miles of Casey Trees’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. The remaining sessions will be held at the U.S. National Arboretum.

Learn more and submit an application.

Easter Egg Hunt Huge Success — Pictures Below

Over 20 neighborhood children ages 1-15 years old enjoyed some Easter fun at the Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden.

Thanks to residents Nicole Coomber, Mandie Yanasak Worsley, Jalila Simmons, Herrin Hopper, Kathleen Moore, and Commissioner Lisa White, as well as generous contributions from other neighbors, who helped make the event such a success.

HPRB Review of Spingarn Car Barn Live Stream Available Tomorrow

The Office of Planning just tweeted:

FYI for Thursday’s HPRB hearing: Spingarn HS/Car barn at 9am. Live stream: ow.ly/jIxpG

4th Annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival

Click here for tickets, or pay when you arrive.

What:  The fourth annual Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival presented by Events DC, featuring seven bluegrass bands including The Hackensaw Boys and more. The festival will celebrate local music, food, and culture as well as the revitalization of the Anacostia River.

The Festival will include seven hours of performances by local bluegrass bands, DC’s favorite food trucks, Sierra Nevada beer, bike giveaways from BicycleSPACE and tours of the island, local music busking stages, and a children’s area with crafts and games.

“DC has many local treasures with a great cultural history. Kingman Island is one of our hidden environmental jewels and bluegrass owns a remarkable musical tradition in our city. This festival celebrates both.” – Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells

When:             Saturday April 27^th

1:00pm – 8:00pm

Where:            Kingman Island located on the Anacostia River-

575 Oakland Avenue NE Washington, DC (at the entrance to RFK Stadium).

Biking and metro are encouraged. A free shuttle will run from Stadium/Armory Metro Station. Free parking is available in RFK Lot 6.

Who:   The Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival presented by Events DC, is a collaboration between Living Classrooms, Councilman Tommy Wells’ Office, BicycleSPACE, Listen Local First and media partner WAMU’s Bluegrass Country. All are welcome to attend.

Cost:    $10 Suggested Donations. Donations will support Living Classrooms’ environmental education programming for DC youth on Kingman Island.

 

Tickets can be purchases ahead of time at:http://kingmanislandbluegrass.eventbrite.com

Cameras To Be Installed in Benning and H Street Bus Shelters

DCist reported that due to recent incidents, cameras will be installed in the bus shelters along H Street and Benning Roads. The cameras will be monitored 24/7.