Brookland Avenue

ANC 5A07 Commissioner Carolyn Steptoe

After posting about the ANC 5A 2010 Candidates (So far) a reader informed me that current Brookland resident and ANC 5A07 Commissioner Carolyn Steptoe is circulating a petition for the November 2nd 2010 general election for At-Large member for the Council.

The DC Board of Elections and Ethics does indeed have Commissioner Steptoe in their List of Candidates Circulating Petitions for the November 2, 2010 General Election as of August 2, 2010 *.The DC Office of Campaign Financing have Commissioner Steptoe on their Candidate List 2010 as well.

Commissioner Steptoe ran for council previously in 2006 as a green candidate for Ward 5 winning 7.91% of the vote. In 2008 Commissioner Steptoe won election as ANC Commissioner of SMD 5A07 with 59.95% of the vote (530 votes). She is registered this year as an independent candidate for At-Large.

Carolyn Steptoe has been involved in local activism over the years including the opposition of Brookland as a Historic District, the closing of Ward 5 schools, opposition of marriage equality, among others.

What do Brookland and Ward 5 folks think about Commissioner Steptoe running for an At-Large seat?

Related Links:

• Mike DeBonis on Local Politics
• Washington Post 2006 Profile
• Elect Steptoe 2006

This coming Monday August 23rd from 6pm to 830pm the Ward 5 Democrats will be conducting a Straw Poll & Endorsement for the 2010 primary.

The Straw Poll and Endorsement will include votes on:

• Delegate to the U.S. House of Representative
• U.S. Representative
• Mayor of the District of Columbia
• Chairman of the Council
• At-Large Member of the Council
• Ward 5 Member of the Council

When: Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Where: Michigan Park Christian Church
1600 Taylor Street NE, Washington DC 20017

Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm

Michigan Park Christian Church

Lost Dog Rosie

The following note was submitted by a Brookland Avenue reader about their lost dog.

One of our newest residents is tiny, speedy, and wary in the extreme. The much-distraught owners of Rosie the dog report that she bolted from them just hours after adoption and has set up a loop around their Mount Rainier home that extends well into Brookland, with sightings around 22nd and Taylor and at the Gift of Peace monastery, confirmed by a scent-tracking dog (!)

A Vallhund (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Vallhund) mix with a sad history, she has the perfect mix of small size, high speed, wiliness, and mistrust of people that may make her retrieval and capture a major production.

If you happen to see her, her owners request that you keep an eye on her (but do not chase! Maybe sit down and make happy nonsense dog talk if circumstances permit) and give a call to (703) 517-1276 or (202) 590-8609.

http://findrosie.wordpress.com for more details…

Welcome to Brookland

DC Urban Turf posted a recent article on Brookland and the upcoming development that is coming to the surrounding area.

The post called Brookland: New Development Could Shake Up Pastoral Peace is a pretty comprehensive piece about the current state of the neighborhood and some of its history.

Overall I think its a good post however however not sure I would say that Brookland has a “Midwest Vibe”

Brooks Mansion

The next meeting of the Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM in upstairs Studio B at the Brooks Mansion at 901 Newton Street, NE.

This meeting’s special guest will be Anya Schoolman of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative. The Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative is an association of Mt. Pleasant residents working to bring solar energy to DC neighborhoods. By working together to purchase and negotiate as a group, they hope to cut the costs of residential solar in Mt. Pleasant and develop a model there that can be rolled out anywhere in the city. If you’ve ever thought about striking your own blow for energy independence, then this is the meeting for you!

We’ll also hear from Laurence Jones from the Office of Peoples’ Counsel’s Consumer Services Division. Mr. Jones will provide information on

1. A recent decision on Pepco rates
2. The revised Utility Consumer Bill of Rights
3. Verizon’s Disconnection for Non-Payment policy.

And, lastly, we’ll hear an update and discuss several important Brookland issues including the Brookland Green, undergrounding the utility lines on 12th Street, and the development planned for the block containing the Colonel Brooks Tavern.

Contact: Caroline Petti carolinepetti@yahoo.com
President, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association

It’s not too early to mark your calendars for BNCA’s July 20th meeting. Our Special Guest for July’s meeting will be Robert Malesky. Mr. Malesky is a 40-year Brookland resident who has just completed a book on the history of Catholic University entitled The Catholic University of America. Mr. Malesky will describe the history of Catholic University and its relationship with Brookland, will share slides of historical photographs, and will be available to sign copies of his book.

Brooks Mansion

Cyclists on MBT (Courtesy of Rail to Trails)

The Metropolitan Branch Trail grand opening celebration is this Saturday June 5th from 10am-2pm.

Its a great opportunity to meet neighbors from nearby neighborhoods and to check out the trail.

The main activity center will be 700 Rhode Island Ave., NE, Washington, DC (Parking lot at Rhode Island Ave. Shopping Center, in front the Edgewood mural, both The Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association and the Edgewood Civic Association with be there so be sure to stop by and say hello.

The BNCA is sponsoring a “Stroll-the-Met” walk from Brookland to the Meet-the-Met party. Bring the kids! Bring the stroller! Bring the dog! The walk will meet at 11:00 am in front of Colonel Brooks Tavern at 901 Monroe Street and it’s about a 1 1/2 mile walk to to the Meet-the-Met festivities at the activity area.

Check out the links below for more information

• Meet the Met—Party on the Met Branch Trail
• Met Branch Trail Grand Opening June 5th – The Wash Cycle
• Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Celebration and Bike Ride – Life on the Edgewood

Great Brookland Yard Sale

Andrew of the Brookland Blog and The Great Brookland Yard Sale’s fearless leader has been up to his shenanigans again and has gone and organized another great event, the 2010 GYBS this Saturday May 8th from 10am-2pm.

The Great Brookland Yard Sale (GBYS) is a multi-household extravaganza located in our neighborhood of Brookland. It’s a great event where the community comes out to show why Brookland is a great neighborhood. Its also a great reason to walk around Brookland and reconnect with neighbors that you may not see on a regular basis and possible find that hidden treasure that you have been looking for.

Yard Sale

Last year’s GBYS was a blast and I met plenty of great neighborhood folks and had a great time. I even took a few photos.

To get the most bang for your buck below are a listing of a couple of associated venues that will be hosting yards sales as part of the GBYS from 10am-2pm

• St Anthony’s Market, 12th & Lawerence NE, 10am-2pm
• Greater Brookland Garden Club Plant Sale, 12th & Newton NE in the Long and Fosters Parking lot. 10am-4pm
• Guildfield Missionary Baptist Church, 1023 Otis St NE, 10am-2pm

Brookland’s own Menkiti Group is once again sponsoring the event.

Be sure to visit the Brookland Blog for latest updates for the GYBS and guides on How to Shop the GBYS and Making the Most of the GBYS

When: Saturday May 8th 2010

Where: All over Brookland

Time: 10am-2pm

Rain Date: Sunday, May 9th 2010

Great Brookland Yard Sale Map

View Great Brookland Yard Sale 2010 in a larger map

St. Anthony's Catholic Church

ANC 5A is sponsoring a community discussion this Saturday March 13th with the DC Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning . The discussion is focusing on Planned Unit Development (PUD) and the Brookland Small Area Plan Implementation and Action Items

This discussion seeks to engage and obtain in-depth community involvement in the planning process and implementation of the Brookland Small Area Plan. The recommendations and implementation emanating from this planning process will directly address community for the retention of green space, controlled development and community engagement.

Substantive information, guidance and direction about the Planned Unit Development (PUD) application, especially community benefits will be provided.

Presenters:
Harriet Tregoning, Office of Planning Director
Deborah Crain-Kemp, Ward 5 OP Liaison Zoning

Where
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church – Cafeteria
1029 Monroe Street, NE
(12th & Monroe – in the cafeteria)
Across from Brookland Post Office

When
Saturday, March 13, 2010 – 10:00AM-1:00PM

St. Anthony’s Catholic Chuch

Proposed Brookland CDC / Kilmurry Zoning Changes

Michigan Park Citizens Association will be hosting their next meeting on Tuesday March 2nd.

The Michigan Park Citizens Association will discuss the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan for the commercial district in Michigan Park and Brookland at 7:15 PM. The public may attend to hear the presentation on the proposed amendments by the Brookland CDC and Lavinia Wohlfarth.

The public is invited to attend. Only MPCA members will be allowed to vote on any resolution concerning the proposals. Residents of Michigan Park may join the MPCA at the meeting. All community concerns will be taken into account in discussion on any resolution.

Editor’s Note: Brookland Avenue has posted in the past about the Brookland CDC / Kilmurry Properties proposed amendments to the Comprehensive plan including the Office of Planning’s ANC 5A’s, and the Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association’s recommendations against these proposed amendments.

The Michigan Park Citizens Association will also present its proposed 2010 Improvement Plan for the triangle park at 12th St., Shepherd St. NE, and Michigan Av. to the community for input at 8PM. The proposed 2010 Improvement Plan calls for planting trees and renewing perennial planting beds at the park. The Plan itself will be released upon its completion.

The MPCA will also present the 2010 Improvement Plan at the ANC5A06 SMD meeting in March and the March meeting of the ANC5A, at which community members may also comment on the Plan. Further information on those meetings will be made available in subsequent postings.

Bunker Hill School

Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association Flyer

Next Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association meeting is Tuesday 02/16/2010

Please join BNCA for the next meeting of the Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association.

Special Guests: Casey Trees and the Brookland Garden Club

Casey Trees is moving to Brookland! Mark Buscaino, Executive Director of this esteemed, DC-based non-profit, will share information about Casey Trees’ move to Brookland and tree-planting projects across the city. Mr. Buscaino will be joined by Jo Moore and Mary Pat Rowan of the Brookland Garden Club. Ms. Moore and Ms. Rowan will share information about their partnership with Casey Trees and other BGC activities around Brookland.

Following this discussion, BNCA will hold its annual election of officers including President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

All BNCA voting members are eligible to become officers and vote. The criteria and procedures are simple:

1. You must reside or be employed within the geographic boundaries of the Association:

   North: Buchanan Street, South Dakota Avenue, Michigan Avenue
   South: Rhode Island Avenue
   East: 18th Street
   West: Metro tracks

2. You must have paid your 2010 dues of $10. You can do this at the meeting, itself, on February 16th.
3. At the February 16th meeting, candidates for office can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. All nominees will then be given four (4) minutes to describe why they want and are qualified for the office they’re running for. Other than from the candidates themselves, there will no speeches supporting or opposing candidates.
4. Election will take place by majority vote (of those in attendance) in secret ballot.

If you’d like more information about the upcoming elections or the duties of the various officer positions, please contact Chris Matthews at chrismatt@igc.org.

Brooks Mansion