Private Parties
Dear Partiers:
At last week’s legislative session on Tuesday, October 19, the city
council adopted “The Mayor and Chairman of the Council Transition
Emergency Act of 2010,” B18-1049, by unanimous vote. The legislation
provides for the “orderly transfer of . . . duties and
responsibilities” to a new mayor and council chairman. The bill
authorized Mayor Fenty to provide “resources and facilities” at no
cost to the mayor-elect and chairman-elect during the transition period,
including office space, furniture, computers, office machines, and
supplies; the services of District employees; the use of District motor
vehicles; printing, binding, and duplicating services; and
communications equipment and services. The legislation does not
appropriate any District funds for the transition. (In 2006, Mayor Fenty
received $250,000 in District funds for his transition into the office
of mayor, while Vince Gray received $150,000 for his transition to
Council Chair.) In a press statement after the legislation was adopted,
Vincent Gray indicated that the purpose of the legislation “is to
refrain from tapping into government funds because of the District’s
budget crisis, and to try to cover whatever limited [transition] costs
that may be necessary with private resources.” Gray’s statement
further indicates that he will “raise private dollars” to fund his
transition and that he will establish a separate “transition fund”
for that purpose.
At an impromptu press conference immediately following the
legislative session, Gray was not forthcoming with many details. He did
indicate that his campaign would be establishing a separate entity, a
501(c)(4) nonprofit, to raise and expend funds for his transition and
inauguration. He did not, however, reveal any of the details regarding
the new entity, its budget, whether there would be a limitation on
contributions (although the Gray campaign subsequently indicated there
would be a $25,000 ceiling); and the extent to which the campaign would
disclose its fundraising activities. Concerns regarding Gray’s
fundraising activities are heightened by the fact that District law does
not regulate transition and inauguration funds.
Last week, because of negative press stories regarding Reuben
Charles, the director of operations and principal fundraiser for the
Gray campaign, and concerns about his apparent dealmaking at fundraising
events, access to Mr. Gray’s daily campaign and fundraising schedule
was denied to the press, the public, and all but the most senior
managers of the Gray campaign. On Friday, when Dorothy made a formal
request for Gray’s daily campaign and fundraising schedule through
Traci Hughes, the campaign’s press secretary, she was rebuffed and
told that, “the town halls are the definitive campaign items on the
calendar. The fundraisers are not typically open to media,” even
though Gray had the day before sent an invitation to District clergy for
a major campaign event on Tuesday, October 26. Moreover, on Friday
night, Gray held a fundraising event that only a few of his top campaign
officials were even informed of. It was attended by a number of
out-of-town business people who flew in for the event. On Saturday
night, Gray held an unannounced and unreported major fundraiser on K
Street for his transition and inauguration that was aimed at developers
and people with business connections with the District government,
particularly under the Williams administration. Tony Williams and
developer Jim Abdo attended. When I asked the campaign for a statement
from Mr. Gray about why he and his campaign are not being transparent
about his fundraising, Traci Hughes responded, “because many of the
fundraisers are in someone’s home or place of business, the Gray
campaign does not send out advisories/schedules of fundraisers.”
Gary Imhoff, themail@dcwatch.com
Dorothy Brizill, dorothy@dcwatch.com
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Bill Turque’s DC Schools Insider blog and Fox 5 news confirmed The
Washington Teacher’s blog Friday news report that pink slips were
passed out to DCPS employees on October 22. These layoffs are a little
over one year after the anniversary date of the October 2, 2009,
reduction in force, which resulted in 266 teachers and approximately one
hundred school personnel losing their jobs. Inside sources confirm that
DCPS is significantly underreporting the total number of school system
layoffs. Could this be some type of media ploy? Central office and
special education staff have been terminated, and sources say to expect
more layoffs on the horizon due to a projected 6.5 million dollars in
cuts ordered by Mayor Fenty. The recent layoffs, which equaled only 1.2
million dollars, lead some to believe that terminations may eventually
hit our classrooms and schools. This is yet another reason why teachers
job security remains the top concern of the Saunders/Peterson team and
another reason to vote for the Saunders slate. It’s not too late for
teachers to vote for Nathan Saunders for WTU President and Candi “The
Washington Teacher” Peterson for WTU General Vice President. Mail your
WTU ballots today and check us out on the web at http://www.votesaunders2010.com
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WTU Members: Why You Should Vote for the
Parker-Egbufor Slate
Erich Martel, Member, WTU Executive Board, ehmartel at
starpower dot net
WTU members, please don’t forget to cast your ballot no later than
Monday morning for the Parker-Egbufor slate (and me!). Ballots must be
received by Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. As you know, I am a candidate for the
WTU Executive Board, high school member at-large, the position I
currently hold. I am running on the Parker-Egbufor Slate: George Parker,
seeking reelection as WTU President and Dorothy Egbufor, former WTU
Director of Professional Development, seeking election as General Vice
President. With your support, the WTU will be led by two, not one,
responsible and dependable officers. For most of the past three years,
the General Vice President has rarely shown up for work, refused to
accept assignments from the President, made grand promises to members,
but with little follow through. Dorothy Egbufor is both a team player
and an independent thinker, who takes her responsibilities seriously.
She knows how to aggressively advocate for both teachers and students
without losing her temper or resorting to name calling, both within the
union and with DCPS, OSSE, and council officials.
For me, working with George and Dorothy is a continuation of my
efforts to improve out students’ opportunities by improving teachers
tools (standards and textbooks) and exposing corrupt behaviors and
practices. Many of you know how I blew the whistle on the internal,
administrative practice of changing grades and certifying ineligible
students for graduation at Wilson High School in 2002 and 2006, both
confirmed by independent audits. I testified before the council about
the DCPS-wide “credit recovery” program, where students receive
credit without meeting course standards. This past year, I reported more
corrupt practices at Wilson High School: ineligible athletes,
manipulation of IMPACT evaluations by administrators (giving teachers
high evaluations without observing them), a senior class trip to the
Bahamas during four school days in April with many students ineligible
to graduate. The Inspector General is currently investigating. Then, in
August, I was involuntarily transferred from Wilson HS to Phelps ACE HS.
The WTU is fighting this retaliatory transfer, just as it is fighting
the 2009 RIFs in the court and fighting unfair IMPACT evaluations.
###############
Rumors of DCPS Layoffs Clarified
Erich Martel, WTU Executive Board, ehmartel at starpower
dot net
Washington Teachers Union President George Parker spoke by phone
today, Sunday, with DCPS Deputy Chancellor Kaya Henderson, who will
become Interim Chancellor after Chancellor Rhee’s resignation takes
effect on October 30, on the subject of rumors circulating on Facebook
and blogs about layoffs that went into on Friday, October 22. The
following is the E-mail he sent to memorialize her response to him:
“This E-mail serves to confirm your response to WTU inquiries
regarding: 1) reports that DCPS laid off up to 127 employees on last
Friday, October 22, 2010; 2) that some of the laid off employees were
WTU bargaining unit members (ET-15, etc.); 3) speculation that DCPS is
planning to RIF ET-15’s. You confirmed for the WTU that: 1) 24 special
education central office employees were terminated last Friday; 2) none
of the terminated employees were ET-15 or members of the WTU bargaining
unit; 3) DCPS has no current plans to RIF teachers or members of the WTU
bargaining unit. Thank you for clarifying these issues so that the WTU
can provide our members correct and up-to-date information.”
Please E-mail George Parker directly, gparker@wtulocal6.org,
if you need more clarification on this matter.
###############
The DC Fiscal Policy Institute has issued a new report by Ed Lazere
and Max Brauer on unemployment in DC, “Packing a Punch: The Recession
Hit African-American and Non-College Educated DC Residents Particularly
Hard,” http://www.dcfpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/unemployment10-13-2010.pdf.
“The Great Recession and its aftermath have left an impact on the
District, though its harmful effects varied by race and level of
education. While employment remained relatively steady for white DC
residents and those with a college degree, unemployment surged in 2009
for Latino and African-American DC residents and for those with less
than a four-year college education. The number of jobless workers living
in the District more than doubled in a two-year period — from 19,000
in January 2008 to 40,000 in January 2010 — as the unemployment rate
rose from 5.6 percent to 12.0 percent. By January 2010, DC’s
unemployment rate was the highest since such data were first collected
in 1976. DC’s unemployment rate has fallen since then, but still is at
one of the highest levels on record.
“While unemployment in the District rose across virtually all
demographic groups, some groups of District residents were hit
especially hard by the recession, while others were largely insulated
from its effects. For some groups, employment conditions are now at the
worst level in thirty years. 1) The unemployment rate jumped fastest for
DC Latino workers, from 4.7 percent in 2008 to 8.4 percent in 2009, an
increase of three-fourths. The unemployment rate for African-American
residents rose by roughly half — from 10.4 percent to 15.6 percent —
the highest rate by race/ethnicity in the city. For white residents,
unemployment rose from 3 percent to 4.1 percent in this period. 2) In
fact, unemployment among DC residents with a high school education in
2009 was nearly as high as for those without a high school education.
Unemployment reached 19 percent in 2009 for residents with a high school
diploma or GED, far higher than at any point in last 30 years. For
residents without a high school diploma, unemployment reached 20.3
percent. Meanwhile unemployment stood at 4.2 percent for those with a
college degree.
“Looking over a longer-term period, employment prospects have
worsened noticeably over the past two decades for Black District
residents and for residents with no post-secondary education. For these
residents, job conditions have worsened even in periods when DC’s
overall economy was growing. 1) Employment among African-American DC
residents has fallen steadily since the late 1980s. The employment rate
fell from 62 percent in 1988 to 56 percent in 2000 and to 49.5 percent
in 2009. (The employment rate is the share of adults with a job.) If
employment had not fallen since the late 1980s, some 31,000 additional
African-American residents would be working today. Meanwhile, the
employment rate for white residents has remained relatively steady. 2)
The employment rate for DC adults with a high school diploma or GED and
no post-secondary education is at the lowest level in thirty years.
Employment fell from 67 percent of adults in 1988 to 58 percent in 2000
and 48 percent in 2009. If this rate had not fallen since the late
1980s, an additional fifteen thousand DC residents with a high school
education would be working today.”
###############
Catania Has Serious Conflicts of Interest
Richard Urban, rurban@rufordc.com
David Catania has shown a lack of integrity in carrying out his job.
According to Catania’s financial disclosure forms as reported in Pete
Tucker’s Blog, The Fightback (http://thefightback.org/),
Catania receives $10,000 per month as general counsel to OpenBand LLC,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MC Dean, a company that has done
$130 million worth of business in the District, including $9.3 million
last year. Another indicator of a lack of integrity is the fraudulent
ballot petitions that were submitted by Catania’s campaign . A
councilmember should serve the best interests of the constituents
served, who are the people of Washington, DC. Self enrichment from
companies doing business before the district does not show an unselfish
attitude. Conflicts of interest can also cause adoption of policies that
are harmful to constituents. As your Councilmember At-Large I will work
adopt rules that make such blatant conflicts of interest illegal.
One example of a harmful policy is the HPV vaccine legislation
coauthored by Catania. This unnecessary and dangerous bill mandates that
all incoming sixth grade girls receive a regimen of three HPV shots that
are produced by the Merck company. There have been a thousand serious
adverse reactions to this vaccine, and forty-two people have died after
receiving it. Perfectly healthy girls have become paralyzed after
receiving the vaccine. This vaccine does not conform to the usual reason
a vaccine is given, which is to prevent a disease that is easily
transmitted in a public environment, such as a school. Rather, HPV can
only be transmitted by having sex. On average eight deaths occur each
year due to cervical cancer in DC. While that is regrettable, it is
hardly the emergency it is made out to be. As the Washington Examiner
columnist Jonetta Rose Barrras stated:
“But what may also raise concerns is Catania’s answer to my
question about why the council decided to impose a mandatory vaccination
regimen. ‘Those on Medicaid can get the vaccine,’ he says. ‘[But
private] insurance companies will not pay for it unless it’s
mandatory.’”
Are local District politicians trolling for dollars for a giant
pharmaceutical company? I wonder.
###############
DC Entrepreneur Warren Brown
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com
A sweet story about Cake Love founder Warren Brown is featured on the
Dell web site, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZw5quz3Hjg)
If Cake Love sold peach cobbler, I’d be down there in a minute.
###############
We Want Justice for Our Fallen Coworker
Kevin B. Twine, kevin.twine@dc.gov
Larry Hutchings, our beloved coworker at the Department of Public
Works, was shot and killed while at work in the 1200 block of W Street,
NE, on Wednesday, October 13, at approximately 6:10 a.m. If anyone has
any information that can help solve this crime, please contact Detective
Norma Horne, 359-7777 or 645-7179, or Detective Joshua Branson,
491-7841. You may also call the crime tip line anonymously at
888-919-CRIME or send a text tip to 50411.
MPD is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who
provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person
or persons responsible for homicides in the District.
###############
Weekly Residential Street Sweeping Ends
October 29
Kevin B. Twine, kevin.twine@dc.gov
Weekly (signed), residential mechanical street cleaning will end for
the season on Friday, October 29. “No parking/street cleaning”
restrictions will be lifted and motorists may park along posted,
alternate-side, daytime street sweeping routes without being required to
move their cars on street-cleaning days. Residential street sweeping is
suspended for public safety concerns during the winter. Trucks used to
clean the streets are designed to release a fine spray of water to
control the dust as they sweep. When the temperature drops to freezing
or below, sweeping is discontinued to prevent freezing and accidents to
vehicles and pedestrians. Overnight sweeping scheduled for the District’s
major roadways, which include Pennsylvania, Georgia, Constitution, and
Independence avenues, will take place as usual all winter, as the
weather permits. Motorists are urged not to park in these areas during
the posted overnight sweeping hours. Residents and business owners will
be notified when street sweeping resumes again in the spring of 2011.
By suspending the street sweeping program, DPW personnel can focus on
leaf collection, which will begin November 8, as well as the upcoming
snow removal season. The 2010-2011 leaf season will run November 8
through January 15, 2011. During this time, leaves will be vacuumed from
each street at least twice. New brochures announcing the fall/winter
leaf collection season will be mailed to residents beginning this
weekend. The 2010-2011 leaf collection schedule will be posted at the
beginning of next week at www.dpw.dc.gov.
You can view the schedule by selecting “Education and Outreach” and
then “Brochures and Fact Sheets.”
###############
Hedgepeth and Day Receive WaPo
Endorsement
Paul D. Craney, paul@dcgop.com
Tim Day & Dave Hedgepeth, Republican candidates for Ward 5 and 3
DC councilmembers, made the following statement today in regard to their
Washington Post endorsements: “My campaign has been focused on
school reform and supporting the reforms of the School Chancellor. I am
honored to have the endorsement from the Post and hope this helps
get the message out that voters have a real choice for this November,”
stated Dave Hedgepeth (Ward 3). “Ward 5 residents care about education
reform, quality of life issues and good paying jobs. For too long my
incumbent has ignored these issues. I am very honored the Post
has decided to support my campaign,” stated Tim Day (Ward 5).
###############
It is fashionable for hate crime deniers to accuse advocates of
trying to punish thought. This is not quite true. Hate crimes deserve
enhanced punishment not because of the thought involved but the message
being sent by the crime — that message being that people who are
similar to the victim had better watch themselves, because they are not
wanted and should probably leave if they will not conform. That anyone
opposes such legislation in defense of freedom is particularly tragic
— since the whole purpose of violence against a disfavored group is to
make that group less free to live securely in society (whether that
group be homosexuals, undocumented or simply Latino workers, women in
the workplace, or African Americans — or even Anglos on the wrong bus
line). In short, hate crimes are a form of terrorism and should be
punished as such.
###############
Hate Crimes and More
Henry Townsend, henrytow@gmail.com
I agree with Ron Drake [themail, October 20]. As a straight white
male, why does an assault on me deserve a lesser penalty than an assault
on a member of a protected group? The answer is, of course, the urge of
politicians to Do Something About the Problem, even if Something doesn’t
really improve matters. In this case, if one assumes the laws Do
Something, logically it would be a shift towards beating up more people
like me.
Here’s a similar case. as any of you know who have been on a DC
grand jury, the penalties for dealing drugs in a Drug Free Zone are
doubled. For years I wondered what those Drug Free Zone signs meant, and
that’s what they do. But in DC there are so many schools and other
institutions that demarcate Drug Free Zones to make such zones almost
ubiquitous. Do high school students who want to buy drugs have the
energy and wit to walk a few yards to leave a Zone? Do drug dealers
really stop and think “Wait, I think I’ll move outside the Zone.”
And if they do, does that really stop or inhibit drug sales? So the
doubling of penalties is just another example of Doing Something About
the Problem even if Something doesn’t really improve matters.
And, of course, given the severity of penalties for dealing in the
first place, doubling them leads to barbaric sentences. But that’s
just my personal belief.
###############
[Re: introduction to themail, October 20] Well researched, well
documented, well said, and more than enough said. Now the rest is up to
the voters of the District of Columbia, especially Gray supporters and
the local media. Or maybe the Gray detractors and/or Fenty supporters
will catch the ball, run with it, and score. The election is still a few
weeks away. This might give new meaning to “October surprise.” The
questions raised by the article ought to be answered by Mr. Gray quickly
and publicly, and future decisions about Mr. Gray’s transition (and
administration) made accordingly.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Charles Peters on Lyndon Johnson, October 26
Pat Bitondo, pbitondo@aol.com
Charles Peters, founder and former editor-in-chief of The
Washington Monthly, comes to the Woman’s National Democratic Club
this month to talk about his new book, Lyndon B. Johnson. This
compact biography, part of the American Presidents series, reminds
readers of what a larger-than-life figure Johnson was. His historic
legislative triumphs like Medicare and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are
covered, as well his personal insecurities that led to the tragedy of
Vietnam.
Following a career in politics and government that included serving
in the West Virginia legislature, working on President John F. Kennedy’s
1960 campaign, and helping to launch the Peace Corps, Peters founded and
for thirty-two years edited the Washington Monthly. He has served
as a visiting professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of
Journalism and as a public scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International
Center for Scholars. Currently, Peters is president of Understanding
Government, a foundation that is dedicated to better journalism and
scholarship about executive branch agencies.
Peters has a BA and MA from Columbia and a law degree from the
University of Virginia. Among other books he has written are Five
Days in Philadelphia and How Washington Really Works. He has
appeared on many TV shows, such as the PBS News Hour, the Today Show,
and Larry King Live.
At the Woman’s National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue,
NW, 232-7363, October 26. Bar opens at 11:30 a.m., lunch 12:15 p.m.,
presentation and question and answer session at 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Members $25, nonmembers $30, lecture only (no lunch) $10. Cosponsored by
the Columbia University Alumni Club of Washington DC (CUCDC). To
register, go to https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5880/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=19922
###############
Department of Parks and Recreation Events,
October 27-31
John Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
October 27, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Langdon Park Recreation Center, 2901
20th Street, NE. Halloween Party for ages six through thirteen. We will
have a Halloween party for the youth to enjoy themselves and to show off
their costumes. We will have music, light refreshments, and candy.
Please come out and support us here at Langdon Park. For more
information, call T-Jai Farmer, Site Manager at 576-6595.
October 27, 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Fort Lincoln Recreation Center, 3100
Ft. Lincoln Drive, NE. Fall Fest Halloween Event for all ages. This is a
collaborative event with the school, PTA, and other programmatic
partners. Children will enjoy games, rides, and a haunted house. For
more information, call Avalon George, Recreation Specialist at 576-6818.
October 27, 28, and 29, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Petworth Recreation
Center, 801 Taylor Street, NW. Halloween Haunted House for ages twelve
and under. Happy Halloween from the Petworth staff. Come and enjoy our
Halloween activities; fun will be had by all. For more information, call
Howard Marshall at 576-6850.
October 28, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Gibbs Elementary School / Rosedale
Recreation Center, 500 19th Street, NE. October Fest Carnival for ages
five through fifteen. Staff and youth will enjoy themselves while
participating in carnival style games centered around Halloween. For
more information, call Brian Williams, Site Manager, at 258.6149.
October 28, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Hearst Recreation Center, 3600
Tilden Street, NW. Haunted House for all ages. Kids will enjoy a Haunted
House. For more information, call 282-2207.
October 28, 12:30 p.m., Macomb Recreation Center, 3409 Macomb Street,
NW. Halloween Parade and Haunted House for all ages. Goodie Bags and
refreshments will be served. Sponsored by Eaton ES. For more
information, call Belinda Gee at 282-2199.
October 28, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Raymond Recreation Center, 915
Spring Road, NW. Halloween Party for all ages. Participants will play a
wide variety of games to win prizes and refreshments will be served. For
more information, call Ellsworth Hart at 576-6856.
October 28, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Fort Stevens Recreation Center, 1327
Van Buren Street, NW. Haunted House for all ages. Enter if you dare,
Come and join in of the fun with the Fort Stevens staff. For more
information, call Larry Kinney at 541-3754.
October 29, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., DC Center for Therapeutic
Recreation, 3030 G Street, SE. TR’s Halloween Party for adults with
special needs. The Leisure Life Skills Program for Adults with Special
Needs will host its annual Halloween Party. Activities will include
dancing, games, and best costume contest. Light refreshments will be
served. Priscilla Jones, CTRS at 698-1794.
October 29, 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., Six Flags Amusement Park, Largo
Maryland. Teen Hollow Scream Program for ages thirteen and up. Teens
will enjoy an evening of fun on rides and games at park. For more
information, call Lou Hall, Jr., at 671-0451.
October 29, 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th
Street, NE. Dress Your Best Hollowfest for ages five through seventeen.
Youth and teens will participate in Halloween themed activities,
Halloween costume contest, and games. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact the Sherwood staff at 698-3075.
October 29, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Upshur Recreation Center, 4300
Arkansas Avenue, NW. Halloween Party for ages twelve and under. Join us
for some Halloween Treats and Fun! There will be games to play, costumes
to judge, some food to eat, and treats. For more information, call
Deyanne Nicholas at 576-6842.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Riggs LaSalle Community Center, 501
Riggs Road, NE. Costume Party for ages twelve and under. Dress in your
favorite costume and join in the fun with games, prizes and food. For
more information, call Shirleta Settles at 576-5224.
October 29, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Lamond Recreation Center, 20
Tuckerman Street, NE. Fall Festival for ages six through fourteen. The
youth participants will celebrate fall and enjoy food, music, games,
face painting and costume contest. For more information, call Kim
Campbell at 576-9541.
October 29, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Volta Park Recreation Center, 3400
Volta Place, NW. Halloweenfest for ages five through twelve. We will
celebrate this occasion by featuring face painting, playful games,
costume judging, refreshments and goodie bags. For more information,
call CM Anderson at 282-0380.
October 29, 3:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Macomb Recreation Center, 3409
Macomb Street, NW. Macomb Annual Halloween Parade and Haunted House for
all ages. All are welcome in their fantasy attire. John Eaton School,
Principal Gartrell, students and teachers, along with the community will
walk through the Cleveland Park area. The Haunted House will then open
and goody bags and refreshments will be provided. For more information,
call Belinda Gee at 282-2199.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ft. Stanton Recreation Center, 1812
Erie Street, SE. Halloween Party for ages six through twelve. Youth will
enjoy light refreshments while listening to music, playing games, and
receiving a goodie bag. For more information, call Valerie Arnold at
645-3970.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Banneker Recreation Center, 2500
Georgia Avenue, NW. Annual Haunted House for all ages. Banneker will
host an annual haunted house for the community.
October 29, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Kalorama Recreation Center, 1875
Columbia Road, NW. Halloween Celebration for ages six through thirteen.
Participants will enjoy games, a parade of costumes, treat bags, prizes,
and fun for all. Light refreshments will be served. For more
information, call John Borges, Site Manager, at 673-7606.
October 29, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Friendship Recreation Center, 4500
Van Ness Street, NW. Halloween Party for all ages. Kids will enjoy a
Halloween Party. For more information, call Enrique Leiva at 282-2198.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Banneker Recreation Center, 2500
Georgia Avenue, NW. Annual Haunted House for ages twelve and under.
Banneker Recreation Center is hosting their Halloween Annual Haunted
House. Trick or Treat, come out and have lots of fun; this is the day.
For more information, contact Ms. Joyce Carey / Recreation Specialist at
673-6861.
October 29, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Brentwood Recreation Center, 2311
14th Street, NE. Annual Haunted House for ages five through eighteen.
Participants will have an opportunity to enjoy our haunted house. Light
refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Lorenzo
Carter, Site Manager, at 576-6667.
October 29, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., North Michigan Park Recreation
Center, 1333 Emerson Street, NE. Halloween Party / Haunted House for
ages seven through fifteen. Come together in a fun filled atmosphere to
enjoy a variety of Halloween fun and games as well as enter our safe
free zone Haunted House Fun! For more information, contact Joe Clark,
Site Manager, at 541-3522.
October 29, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Watkins Recreation Center, 420 12th
Street, SE. Halloween Party for all ages. Youth will play games, receive
face painting, and dance. Light refreshments will be served. For more
information, call Brian Cobbs, Site Manager, at 724-4468.
October 29, 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th
Street, NE. Dress Your Best Hallowfest for ages seventeen and under.
Youth and teens will participate in Halloween themed activities.
Halloween costume contest, games and light refreshments will be served.
For more information contact the Sherwood staff at 698-3075.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Trinidad Recreation Center, 1310
Childress Street, NE. Halloween Candy Give-Away for ages thirteen and
under. The Trinidad Recreation Center staff will pass out Halloween
candy to youth. For more information, contact Anthony Higginbotham, Site
Manger, at 727-1293.
October 29, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Joseph H. Cole Recreation Center,
1299 Neal Street, NE. Monster Jam for ages twelve and under.
Participants will have a costume parade around the community and enjoy
light refreshments. For more information, call Zenobia Moton, Site
Manager, at 442-9262.
October 29, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Brentwood Recreation Center, 2311
14th Street, NE. Annual Haunted House for ages five through eighteen.
Participants will have an opportunity to enjoy our haunted house. Light
refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Lorenzo
Carter, Site Manager, at 576-6667.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., Turkey Thicket Recreation Center,
1100 Michigan Avenue, NE. HallowScream Movie-thon for all ages. Looking
for a little ghostly fun? Or maybe you just want to turn out the lights
and get a good scare? Either way, it will be worth joining us to watch
your favorite Halloween thrillers on the big screen in the gymnasium.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair for personal comfort. Light refreshments
will be provided. For more information, contact Tiffany Johnson, Site
Manager, at 576-9238.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Ft. Davis Recreation Center, 1400
41st Street, SE. Halloween Haunted House for all ages. Participants will
walk through the scary Haunted house; afterwards they will be invited to
join in fun and games and receive hotdogs, chips, juice, and a bag of
candy. For more information, call Elijah Fagans at 645-9121.
October 29, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Edgewood Recreation Center, 300
Evarts Street, NE. Halloween Is Not Always Spooky for ages ten and
under. Families and friends will get together in their very friendly
Halloween costumes! Prizes: most original, funniest, and best family
theme. For more information, call Eugene Lutz, Site Manager, at
576-6410.
October 29, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Recreation Center, Frederick
Douglass Court and Stanton Terrace, SE. Harvest Fest for ages twelve and
under. Children will enjoy a harvest fest with games and fun. For more
information, call Barbara Jones, Site Manager, at 645-3980.
October 30, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Parkview Recreation Center, 693 Otis
Street, NW. Parkview Animated Scare Zone Haunted House for all ages.
Parkview will host a haunted house for community, and parade of costumes
For more information, call Zakiya Brown or JaMar Goodall at 576-5750
October 30, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Emery Recreation Center, 5801
Georgia Avenue, NW. Halloween party for all ages. Youth will participate
in various activities, and enjoy food, fun, and Halloween treats. For
more information, call Derrall Joyner at 576-3211.
October 30, 5:00 p.m., Congress Heights Recreation Center, 100 Randle
Place, SE. Halloween party for all ages. Music, games, and refreshments
will be served. For more information, call 645-3981.
October 30, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Ridge Road Recreation Center, 800
Ridge Road, SE. Halloween Party for all ages. Ridge Road staff will be
celebrating with a party featuring a dance contest, best costume
contest, and lots of food and fun. For more information, call Sonny
Hicks at 645-3959.
October 30, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Hardy Recreation Center, 4500 Q
Street, NW. Halloween Party for all ages. Food, festive music, arts and
crafts, and a pumpkin carving contest. For more information, call Rodney
Brown 282-2190.
October 30, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., St. Martins Pioneer Room, 1908 North
Capitol and T Streets, NW. Haunted Fest for ages sixteen and under. Kids
will have a fun and a safe time in walking through the spooky haunted
house set up by the parents and teens of Harry Thomas receiving candy
bags, dancing to music, and much more. For more information, call Tameka
Borges, Recreation Specialist, at 576-5642.
October 31, 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Arboretum Recreation Center, 2412
Rand Place, NE. Halloween Extravaganza for all ages. The Arboretum
community along with the 5th District Police Station will enjoy
Halloween festivities with all residents in Ward 5. For more
information, call Donald Perritt, Site Manager, at 673-4507.
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