Tag Archives: Happy Holiday

2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Lottery Starts Today

Washington, D.C. – The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, held annually on the Ellipse to kick off the holiday season in our Nation’s Capital, this year will be held Thursday, December 6, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. (ET), the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced today.

Free tickets for the 90th annual tree-lighting ceremony will be awarded through an online lottery, which will open at 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, October 25 and close at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Monday, October 29. Those seeking tickets can enter the lottery by going to www.thenationaltree.org and clicking the ‘TICKET LOTTERY’ link.  Those without computer access may call 877-444-6777 (TDD 877-833-6777) to enter the lottery.  There are 3,000 seated tickets and 14,000 standing-room tickets available through the lottery.

Winners will be notified by email by November 1. In addition, lottery entrants can check the status of their requests starting on November 1 by signing in to www.recreation.gov.

The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, with support from the event’s premier sponsor, UL.  Other supporters include GE Lighting, Amtrak, Guest Services, Inc. and Hudler Carolina Tree Farms.

New Year Greetings from Lisa White, ANC Commissioner

Kingman Park Community,

As the year ends, I wanted to express my gratitude for your dedication and commitment, and for the hard work each of you made to make Kingman Park a better community!

I wanted to take a moment to wish each and every one of you happiness and peace in the New Year!

I look forward to working with you in 2012!

Warm Regards,

Lisa White,  ANC Commissioner SMD 7D01 Kingman Park

Kingman Park Holiday Party Pictures

The Kingman Park Holiday Party was a huge success! Thanks to all the community members that made food and monetary donations! Thanks to local businesses: Stadium Exxon, Langston Golf Course, T Nails, Subway at Hechinger Mall and Ross at Hechinger Mall for donations. A special thanks to DC Soundstage for hosting the Holiday Party.

The Kingman Park Holiday Party was sponsored by Friends of Kingman Park and ANC Commissioner Lisa White.

Winter Holiday Safety Tips

Christmas Tree with flashing lights plus wrapped gifts around tree.

This holiday season, don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars, muggers, and pickpockets a better chance to do their dirty work. Crooks love the holidays as much as everyone else, especially because it’s an opportune time for crime.

Homes jam-packed with glittering gifts. Stores, malls, and downtown streets teeming with unsuspecting shoppers. People rushing around, stressed out and careless, looking for last-minute gifts, trying to get everything done. It’s enough to make a crook giddy with holiday joy.

If You Are Traveling

  • Get an automatic timer for your lights.
  • Ask a neighbor to watch your home, shovel snow, and park in the driveway from time to time.
  • Don’t forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped. If it piles up, it’s a sure sign you’re gone

If You Are Out for the Evening

  • Turn on lights and a radio or TV so it looks like someone’s home.
  • Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
  • Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from outside.

If You Are Shopping

  • Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
  • Park in a well-lighted space, and be sure to lock the car, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
  • Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don’t overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
  • Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated.

  Protect Your Vehicle

Loading up on all those gifts is a sign of progress in the holiday shopping. But if those packages are left out in the open after they’re in the car, your car has become a likely target for thieves. Remember the old cliché “Out of sight, out of mind?” The same idea applies to items in your car.

Always lock your vehicle and store all items out of sight. Breaking into an empty car isn’t worth a thief’s time. However, anything left in plain view – from your holiday gifts to spare change, sunglasses, CDs, cell phones or briefcases – may tempt a thief.

Help prevent your vehicle from being stolen by always locking your car and using anti-theft devices. And although it’s cold, never leave your vehicle running while you run inside your home or a store – even if for only a minute or two.

If a Stranger Comes to the Door

Criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts. And it’s not uncommon for people to try to take advantage of others’ generosity during the holidays by going door-to-door for charitable donations when there’s no charity involved. Ask for identification, and find out how the funds will be used. If you aren’t satisfied, don’t give. Help a charitable organization you know and like instead.

Last but not least, don’t let holiday stress get the best of your holiday spirit. Make time to get together with family, friends, and neighbors. And think about reaching out in the spirit of the season and helping someone who’s less fortunate or lonely. Do your part to make the holidays a safe and happy time for everybody—except criminals.

After You’ve Opened the Gifts

Burglars know that many households have new, and oftentimes expensive, items in their homes following the December holidays – especially items such as new computers and peripherals, stereo components, televisions, cameras and other electronic equipment. In too many cases, residents make it easy for burglars to figure out which homes to target by putting boxes that identify their new gifts in plain view with their other garbage. Avoid becoming an easy target for post-holiday burglars by not leaving boxes for new electronics and other items in the alley or other garbage pick-up locations for several days at a time. Instead, break down any boxes you are throwing out, put them in garbage bags and place them inside a trash can. (In many cases, especially with computer equipment, you might consider keeping the boxes for safe storage, shipping or moving in the future.) Think about keeping broken-down boxes inside – in a garage, for example – until the evening before your regular garbage pick-up. Some burglars actually look inside garbage cans for evidence of holiday gifts. And, of course, if you see someone suspicious casing your alley, call the Metropolitan Police Department’s non-emergency number,       3-1-1. If you see a burglary in progress, call 9-1-1.

Take a Holiday Inventory

The holidays are a good time to update—or create—your home inventory. Take photos or make videos of items, and list descriptions and serial numbers. If your home is burglarized, having a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items and make insurance claims easier to file.

Make sure things like TVs, VCRs, stereo equipment, cameras, camcorders, sports equipment, jewelry, silver, computers, home office equipment, and power tools are on the list. Remember to check it twice!

Celebrate Responsibly

The holiday season is a time of celebration and revelry. Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone on the road. Anyone with a BAC of .08 or higher is in violation of DC law and may go to jail. Remember that the risk isn’t worth it–if you choose to drink alcohol at a party, don’t drive. Take a cab, use public transportation or a designated driver, or call SoberRide® (800-200-TAXI), a free cab service in DC and the surrounding area active from the middle of December through January 1. Have fun, but remember to celebrate responsibly.

NAACP DC Branch to Host Annual Meeting and Holiday Party

NAACP DC Branch to Host Annual Meeting and Holiday Party

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Washington, DC Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host its Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Thursday Dec.8 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the NAACP Financial Freedom Center, 1816 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC.  

During the event, the NAACP Branch will present its Annual Report, which summarizes the branch’s activities and accomplishments for the year. In 2011, the branch focused primarily on entrepreneurship, health and wellness, public education and securing DC Voting Rights.

The Annual Meeting is also a gathering for NAACP DC Branch members to celebrate the holiday season with food, refreshments and festivities. The event is free and open to the public.

“The NAACP DC Branch has had a successful year implementing programs and initiatives addressing health, economic, political action, and criminal justice issues facing the DC community,” said Akosua Tyus, the newly elected president of the NAACP DC Branch,

For more information, please email naacp@naacpdc.org.