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Halloween Party Sunday, October 31 at 3:30 pm
Become bewitched at the Crestwood Halloween Party on the afternoon of October 31st. We promise no tricks and all treats in the “pumpkin patch” also known as The Point at 18th and Shepherd Streets. Bring your costumed cuties for 60 minutes of fun for kids of all ages, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
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Crestwood Citizens Association Meeting Sunday, November 14 at 1:00pm
Topic #1: Raising a Family in Crestwood
Crestwood residents face many challenges as they raise their families in the District. At the next meeting of the Crestwood Citizens Association, we will share our stories and learn the latest skills for coping with schools, transportation and the other potential problems of city life.
Note that we are scheduling this meeting on a Sunday afternoon (November 14 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm) at 1761 Crestwood Drive.
There are many other issues of concern as the Crestwood Citizens Association begins its 70th year. We hope to build a solid working relationship with the new Mayor and Council, and plan to invite the Mayor to our May meeting. Other goals include crime deterrence, continued vigilance with respect to improving service from PEPCO, instituting a Seniors Project to help residents age in place, keeping an eye on zoning changes in order to protect our low-density residential character, and identifying priorities for traffic management in and around Crestwood.
The Association is looking into beautifying and enhancing the common green space within Crestwood—including fixing up the Crestwood signs and the landscaping around them. We are working to get ANC 4A to provide funds for benches to be installed on DC property at the Point and the Triangle. The ANC already has funded the new signs and receptacles you have seen around the neighborhood for controlling dog waste.
We also are looking on with concern as dozens of households in Crestwood have been posted for foreclosure or tax sale. Most of these situations were the result of a mistake or oversight. Still, in these tough economic times, the Association urges you to monitor your tax liabilities carefully so that no errors are made. A slip-up regarding the Homestead Exemption, for example, can lead to a $20,000 error and a threat of foreclosure./p>
If you have a community concern, let the Association know. Bring your ideas to the November 14 meeting or contact an officer.
And kudos to the Communications Team for publishing the 2010 Crestwood Directory!
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Spotlight Wildlife Survey
Don't be alarmed by spotlights in the woods!
The District Department of Environment will be conducting night time spotlight surveys of the deer population on the nights of November 13, 14, 27, and 28). Thy are done on Saturday and Sunday evenings to reduce traffic problems. They will begin at sunset and will be completed by 9 pm.
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Future Calendar
There will be an art exhibit and songfest by the Grace Choir Soloists at Grace Lutheran Church, 4300 16th Street, NW (16th and Varnum), Saturday, November 6 at 4:00pm Contributions are requested, but Crestwood residents can come as Gale Black's guests.
December will be a busy month in Crestwood!
In addition to the tree planting scheduled for December 4th (see story on the Crestwood Tree Project), the Association is considering a community social event just before Christmas - more information to follow. And, as always, The Sheridans will host caroling on Christmas Eve.
Looking farther ahead, the Association meeting on Tuesday, January 18 will address the environmental health of the community. ANC 4A meetings are held each month - usually on the 1st Tuesday, but the November meeting will be on Wednesday, November 3rd (due to the prior day election). They are at 7:15 PM at Fort Stevens Recreation Center.
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Crestwood Tree Project Keeps Branching Out
As the leaves fall from the trees throughout Crestwood, the Association is working to make the autumn colors even more spectacular in the future. Work continues on the Crestwood Tree Project, whose ambitious goal is to enhance and protect the neighborhood’s distinctive tree canopy.
The next tree planting is scheduled for Saturday, December 4th from 8:30 a.m. until noon in the 1900 block of Upshur Street. Our Project partner, Casey Trees, will supply free trees, mulch, stakes and digging assistance - but we need Crestwood volunteers to help out.
The most recent inventory of trees in other pilot blocks took place September 25th. Existing tree locations are being entered into the Casey Trees database for those blocks - the 1700 block of Taylor Street and the 1800 block of Shepherd Street. The Green Team will recommend sites for new trees, and homeowners will be able to choose from a number of native species, with a planting date coming in early spring.
Participation in the Crestwood Tree Project is entirely voluntary, and the Association salutes the many homeowners who are working to renew the Crestwood tree canopy. If you have any questions, please contact Doug Barker or other members of the Tree Project working group: Frank Samuel, Peggy Beers, Bill Bentley, Gale Black, Steve Klein, Betsy Kraft, and Beverly and John Ostenso.
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Get Out and Vote (or maybe you already have!)
Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, but early voting is underway each day from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except Sunday) at five locations: One Judiciary Square and (beginning October 23rd) at Chevy Chase Community Center, Hine Junior High School, Turkey Thicket Recreation Center and Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Tuesday, October 26. Applications may be printed from the website www.dcboee.org.
What’s on the ballot? Crestwood voters will be able to cast ballots for Mayor, Council Chairman, At-Large Council Member, Delegate to Congress, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for single-member district 4A08. Our current commissioner and Association President, Gale Black, is running for re-election unopposed. Give her your vote!
There is also a proposed amendment to the DC Home Rule Act which would change how the DC Attorney General is chosen. Currently the AG is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The amendment calls for an elected AG beginning in 2014. The Attorney General would then serve a four-year term.
As in the recent primary voting, returns may be slow in coming on Election Day since DC officials may need to count write-in votes in the mayoral race.
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New Red Light Cameras
Right now, drivers are only receiving warnings. But if you run afoul of three new red light cameras in Northwest DC beginning November 12th, you'll be hit with a $75 fine. The new locations are: southbound Connecticut Avenue at Porter Street, northbound 14th Street at K Street, and southbound 3rd Street at New York Avenue
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Meet the Councilwoman
Ward Four Council Representative Muriel Bowser will be meeting within a few blocks of Crestwood on Saturday, November 6. She is co-hosting (with AARP) a morning Coffee Talk beginning at 9 a.m. at the Oromo Center at 811 Upshur Street, NW. Among the topics to be discussed are health care reform, affordable housing, utilities, and aging in place. For more information or to RSVP, contact AARP at 202-434-7715 or by e-mail at dcaarp@aarp.org – or contact Brandon Todd on Councilmember Bowser's Staff at 202-741-0917 or btodd@dccouncil.us. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
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Crime Log
The latest crime statistics and trends in and around Crestwood are always available on the community website at www.crestwood-dc.org/crime-police-information.
In September, the following crimes were reported in Crestwood:
Thefts from Auto (6): 1600 Allison St (Mon, 9/27, 10:30am)
1700 Shepherd St (Fri, 9/24, 6:45pm)
4800 Blagden Av (Fri, 9/17, 7:00pm)
3900 16th Street (Mon, 9/27, 11:00pm)
4000 16th Street (Fri, 9/10, 12:15am)
4100 18th Street (Sat, 9/18, 12:10am)
Theft (3): 1700 Shepherd St (Tue, 9/14, 9:00am)
4400 16th Street (Sun, 9/12, 6:30pm)
4400 17th Street (Thu, 9/30, 3:30pm)
Property Damage/Destruction (2): 4500 16th Street (Wed, 9/8, 7:00am)
4600 16th Street (Tue, 8/24, 6:30pm)*
Assault (1): 3900 16th Street (Fri, 9/24, 1:00am)
Stolen Auto (1): 3700 16th Street (Sat, 9/11, 5:00pm)
Other (2): 1600 Webster St (Fri, 9/10, 6:13pm)
4100 16th Street (Sat, 9/18, 12:18am)
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ANC News
Gale Black, Commissioner for ANC 4A08 and President of the Crestwood Citizens Association, has had a busy season. Among her accomplishments, she:
- participated at a forum on Juvenile Justice.
- raised the issue of foreclosures as an issue of concern for the city and for the neighborhood in an effort to stop more Crestwood families from falling victim to the foreclosure crisis.
- testified on power outages and is working on a position regarding the undergrounding of power lines in targeted areas.
- supported the Open Government proposal.
- supported ANC 4A in urging the District government to restore Klingle Road and in voting to support an exemption request from a resident in the 4400 block of 18th Street.
- pushed for the street repairs along 1900 block of Shepherd which have done.
- supported the request of a resident on 18th Street for an exception to permit a rear addition. The Board of Zoning agreed with the ANC position and approved the request.
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In Memoriam
We remember and miss our departed neighbors:
- Judge Harry T. Alexander
- Lois Matthews Dyer (whose daughter lives in Crestwood)
- Rupertha Hunt
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