We’d like to get your feedback on a proposed “Bike Rodeo” in Glover Park this coming spring. The tentative location is the basketball court at Guy Mason Recreation Center. Proposed dates include April 28th (Saturday), April 29th (Sunday), May 5th (Saturday) and May 6th (Sunday).

Bike Rodeo is the term Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) uses for a *fun* hands-on exercise using bikes and an obstacle course to teach kids the skills they need to safely stop and control their bikes. Anyone with a bike is welcome to participate, although WABA finds that kids up to age 12 are most interested in the event. Kids with training wheels are encouraged to participate too.

When WABA hosts a Bike Rodeo, most to all of these events are included: bicycle inspection, mounting, dismounting, straight line control, stopping ability, signaling turn, weaving & maneuvering (cones), small turning radius (“figure 8”) and slow speed control. Each participant usually takes around 15 minutes to complete the fun, interesting, educational, memorable course. Participants have fun while gaining hands-on safe biking training.

WABA instructors would host the event including design and setup of the course itself. The cost would be approximately $1,300-$1,500 ($975 for WABA instructors and equipment, plus permitting, insurance, and other expenses). If there is sufficient interest, we plan to approach ANC3B for funding.

The event would be open to participants from nearby neighborhoods assuming we are well within the 300 person event capacity.

If you or your family would be interested, please complete this very brief survey: http://goo.gl/TbVlo

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. And, if you would like to assist with event organization or promotion, please send me an email.

Mitch

mwander[at]gmail[dot]com

There has been very productive discussion and questions on the Glover Park listserv regarding situations when a resident sees a suspicious person, vehicle or situation. ANC Commissioner Brian Cohen and I worked together to confirm with MPDC Officer Neal that residents should always call 911 in this situation.

• Call 911 for when you want police, fire or emergency medical services to respond to a location.
• Call 311 for city services and police matters that do not require police to respond to a location.

The main difference from the perspective of the dispatchers is that for 911, it is understood that you will provide a location where first responders are needed.

Reference: http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1237,q,547634,mpdcNav_GID,1554.asp.

Here is a PDF version of the chart that you can post as a reminder.

This is different than it was years ago. For all of us used to the previous guidance, calling 911 for suspicious situations—not necessarily an “emergency”—is a big change. It is the current guidance to call 911.Dispatchers will determine triage and prioritization (for example, robbery in progress as compared to someone seeing a suspicious person).

Brian and I hope that this information is helpful. It may also promote additional useful discussion with MPDC officers at the upcoming ANC meeting.

Winter classes, paid classes, will be offered at the Stoddert Recreation Center beginning Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Registration will begin on Tuesday, January 10 at 9:00 a.m. online, and at 3:00 p.m. in person.

To register on line, please visit the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation website at www.dpr.dc.gov.

The following classes will be offered:

Winter Classes

Ricky Davenport-Thomas
Site Manager
Stoddert Recreation Center
4001 Calvert St NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-299-3326
ricky[dot]davenport[at]dc[dot]gov

DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will begin its annual street tree planting next week. This year, more than 3,500 new street trees will be planted in all eight D.C. wards. A map of planned planting locations, which are subject to change due to on-site conditions, can be found at http://ddot.dc.gov/trees. (Click here to go directly to the planting map.)

• Time period: Planting will occur between December and approximately May, depending on weather, emergencies, and other extenuating circumstances.
• Warranty: Each new tree is under a one year warranty by the planting contractor. Every tree that does not survive that first year for applicable reasons will be replaced free-of-charge to the District.
• Canopy Keepers: Contractor and city crews provide water to new trees throughout the year, but UFA relies on residents and businesses to consistently water young trees every week so they get established and thrive. Individuals or businesses that become Canopy Keepers receive a free watering tub for every District-owned tree adopted.

Trees can be adopted by calling 202-671-1533 or submitting a form online.

Any service request for planting, pruning, removal, or inspection of street trees can be made by calling 311 or through 311.dc.gov.

Thanks,

Tom Smith
Ward 3 Liaison
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement

The School and Home Association of Duke Ellington is pleased to announce Ellington’s Holiday Gift Bazaar & Art Show to be held Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, at 3500 R Street NW. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

The bazaar will feature fine arts and artists, silver and gold jewelry, home decor, food vendors, and performances from several of Ellington’s award-winning art departments. Gift raffles and a silent auction with items from vendors and sponsors will be held. All proceeds will benefit programs at Ellington.

Duke Ellington School of the Arts is the DC public high school that offers students pre-professional arts training in one of 8 arts majors, in addition to a full college-preparatory curriculum. With a 98% senior graduation rate, 95% college/conservatory placement rate, test scores that exceed AYP targets and annual college scholarship rates that exceed $2 million, Ellington is proof that in addition to enriching our lives, the arts really do make us smarter.

Please stop by the Holiday Bazaar on December 10 and support your local arts school and neighbor! See www.ellingtonschool.org for more information about Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and http://ellingtonholidaybazaar.wordpress.com for information about the Holiday Bazaar.

• September 21, 7:00 p.m.
• Stoddert Elementary School
• 4001 Calvert Street NW
• Light refreshments will be served

Speakers

• Deborah Rubenstein, Director of Consultation, Care Management and Counseling Services, Iona Senior Services
• Lylie Fisher, Director of Community Engagement, Iona Senior Services

Glover Park Village is pleased to present the second of a continuing series of public forums around topics that relate to aging well and building community in our neighborhood.

Caregiving for older relatives, whether they live nearby or far away, can be very challenging in our fast-paced, mobile society. But innovative strategies have been developed to overcome or reduce these obstacles.

Learn more about them and other useful tips from Deborah Rubenstein, a social worker and attorney at Iona Senior Services. Ms. Rubenstein has 18 years of experience as a geriatric care manager and psychotherapist. She is also a long-distance caregiver of older relatives. Among the topics to be covered are how to plan ahead for successful caregiving, available resources, legal and financial aspects of aging and paying for services and care, and communication and relationships.

In addition, Lylie Fisher, Director of Community Engagement for Iona, will provide an overview of the rich array of services this organization provides to older persons living in the northwest section of Washington, DC.

We look forward to seeing you!

All are welcome. Please RSVP GloverParkVillage[at]gmail[dot]com or call 202-436-5545.

Are you tired of saying the same things over and over? Find yourself giving in to your kids’ demands and/or yelling at them? Come to “Why Don’t My Kids Listen to Me?” – a free workshop presented by the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) for parents of children age 2 ½ to 18 – Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30-9:00 pm, at Temple Micah, 2829 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Learn how to gain more cooperation from your children without nagging, bribing or yelling. Space is limited and pre-registration required: Call PEP at 301-929-8824.

PEP also offers a class for parents of children age 5 through 12, “Becoming an Encouraging Parent,” at Temple Micah on Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm, Oct. 20 through Dec. 15 (skipping Nov. 24). This class teaches positive methods and tools to reverse defiance, whining, sibling fights, school issues, morning and bedtime hassles, and many other common problems.

For more information, visit the PEP website or call 301-929-8824.