Dear friends and neighbors,
Wanted to send along a few notes before the weekend; your occasional update on the neighborhood and activities of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.
School boundaries
Our neighborhood is blessed with excellent public elementary schools: Oyster-Adams and Eaton Elementary. I’m a little biased because my kids went to Eaton. But most of my district actually feeds into Oyster-Adams. That could change if a new proposal to shift school boundaries takes effect.
The Mayor’s Deputy for Education is conducting studies to review boundaries and school assignments. The process has recently made a proposal which would shift the Oyster/Eaton boundary two blocks to the south. Understandably, not everyone is happy with this proposal. Families that were planning to attend Oyster feel like the rug has been pulled out. And Eaton families are concerned about overcrowding. Both school communities have a number of other concerns with the plans. More than 300 people have signed an Eaton petition. More than 500 people signed an Oyster-Adams petition.
The process is meant to be completed in March and submitted to the Mayor, so this is an important moment to try to influence the outcome. Any changes are meant to take effect starting school year 2025/26.
ANC3C is taking comment from families and is considering weighing in on the issue, although time is short.
Cleaning up the creek
Late one afternoon, a hot summer day in the not-so-distant future, I want to wander down to Rock Creek and have a dip in the water to cool off. How wonderful would that be?
But today, you can’t do that. The creek is too polluted and any contact with the water is considered a health hazard. Why? And what can we do to make my dream come true?
On Tuesday, the ANC3C Environmental Justice Committee will host a meeting to talk about cleaning up Rock Creek. Jeanne Braha from the Rock Creek Conservancy will talk about why the creek is dirty and what we can do to clean it up. Tatiana Proctor from DC Water will talk about a big new project just upstream from us on Piney Branch to divert polluted storm water from Rock Creek. Join us: February 13 at 6:30pm. Register for the zoom here.
Crime
By now, you will have heard about the night of shattered glass, when thieves broke into more than 50 cars in our neighborhood. That was pretty awful and disheartening. After an initially lackluster response, the police seem to have assigned a detective and are investigating the matter and reviewing video. One of the culprits was using a dockless e-scooter, which might be a clue if they can track down who was renting it. It was a big enough event to make the news.
Update on ANC activity
The next meeting of ANC3C will be 20 February at 7pm, agenda and registration will be posted here. Let me know if you have issues or concerns to raise.
At our last meeting in January we:
Supported expanding composting services to multi-family buildings. The current pilot project only serves single-family residences.
Supported Elsa’s Kitchen to get a liquor license.
Requested support from Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton to facilitate a land transfer of Park Service land at Connecticut and Calvert (see last newsletter).
Read all about these items and more here.
As always, I’d love feedback. Even negative feedback is helpful to improve what we’re doing.
Other items of interest
DDOT is moving ahead with plans for safety improvements on Taft Bridge. Our ANC has strongly supported improving pedestrian railings as a suicide prevention measure. DDOT will be hosting a meeting to present design plans and take comments at the Oyster-Adams school on Saturday February 10 from 11am-1pm. Public is welcome.
Maret School very courteously sends out an email when they have events that might affect neighborhood traffic or parking. They are hosting their annual Scholarship Gala on Saturday, February 24 from 6:00 -11:00 pm. Let me know if you want to be added to their neighborhood list.
Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees through March 2. Please place your tree at the curb for composting. I see some folks have put them in the alleys. I don’t think they will get picked up there.
Bulk trash and debris can be dropped off at the Chevy Chase Community Center 5601 Connecticut Avenue on Saturday, February 10th, from 10am to 2pm. There’s a separate e-cycling opportunity at the corner of 39th St NW & Newark St NW from 10am to 2pm.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to friends and neighbors, especially if they live in the neighborhood.