tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70620307882196644692024-03-04T22:29:12.132-08:00Restore Shepherd ParkwayNathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-42712770228583901162019-07-05T12:52:00.004-07:002019-07-05T12:52:38.199-07:00Have your say on the new Development Concept Plan for Shepherd Parkway<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv0676915788mcnTextBlock" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; width: 100%px;"><tbody class="yiv0676915788mcnTextBlockOuter">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ward 8 Woods (formerly known as the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway) has been advocating for improvements to Shepherd Parkway since 2011.</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Now, National Capital Parks-East is creating new Development Concept Plan for Shepherd Parkway, and there's a critically important public meeting this week. If you care about the future of the park, please attend!</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Wednesday, July 10<br /> 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.</strong><br /><strong>Bellevue Neighborhood Library<br />115 Atlantic Street SW<br />Washington, DC 20032 </strong></span></span></h1>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition, <a href="https://ward8woods.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5432fc31f145e8715207d2bc7&id=e876bd9d72&e=5f126b899a" rel="nofollow" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">please submit comment online here</a>. The official comment period ends July 26. </span></span></strong></h1>
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<tr><td class="yiv0676915788mcnTextContent" style="color: #f2f2f2; line-height: 21px; padding: 18px;" valign="top"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Ward 8 Woods is advocating for:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><ul style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<li><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> New signage to identify the parkway, interpret its historical and natural significance, and discourage dumping</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Hiking trails along the full-length of the Parkway, with connections to adjoining streets and existing trails within Oxon Cove and Oxon Run.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">A year-round schedule of free NPS-sponsored public programs such as live music, environmental and historical presentations</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Enhanced dumping enforcement in critical areas</span></span></li>
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<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, "lucida sans typewriter", "lucida typewriter", monospace;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">NPS support for the removal and control of invasive species</span></span></li>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-41870476040920412662019-05-26T20:08:00.003-07:002019-05-26T20:08:41.183-07:00Ward 8 Woods project clears 55 tons of trash<a href="https://www.wusa9.com/video/news/ward-8-woods-project-clears-55-tons-of-trash/65-210697fe-1188-4d6f-a98b-8e53871e7d0d" style="background-color: white; font-family: proximanova, sans-serif;">https://www.wusa9.com/video/news/ward-8-woods-project-clears-55-tons-of-trash/65-210697fe-1188-4d6f-a98b-8e53871e7d0d</a><br />
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'Ward 8 Woods' project clears 55 tons of trash</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Washington, DC- </b> Ward 8 Woods, a new environmental justice initiative sponsored by the nonprofit Anacostia Coordinating Council, has removed more than of 55 tons of trash from wooded parkland since it began in July 2018. Five Ward 8 residents who were unemployed or underemployed and faced barriers- such as criminal records, disability, or lack of education or work history- were hired as Park Stewards to take on the epic task of undoing decades of illegal dumping and littering, and growth of invasives species. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a typical three hours shift, the crew removes an average of 1,000 pounds of trash. Robert Carpenter, 32, a father of four who lives in Garfield Heights, serves as the crew’s foreman. “I like that I can clean-up and protect the environment where I live. I’m not in Maryland or Virginia cleaning up their neighborhoods. I’ve been living in Ward 8 my entire life. As I kid I played in these woods.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ward 8 may be Washington, DC’s least affluent , but it’s also one of the greenest: interspersed with its residential neighborhoods are more than 500 acres of forested parkland. These include Ft. Stanton Park, Suitland Parkway, and Oxon Run Parkway, all under the jurisdiction of National Capital Parks-East, and Suitland Parkway, controlled by the DC Department of Transportation. Within these “Ward 8 Woods” are streams large and small, massive old trees, a rare magnolia bog, commanding views across the city, and the remains of Civil War fortifications and World War II era military training facilities. Urban forests filter pollution from the air and water, lower summer temperatures, and act as a buffer between neighborhoods and highways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sadly, the same systemic racism, disinvestment, and neglect that have made poverty and crime widespread in Ward 8 have also taken their toll on the land. In recent decades millions of pounds of trash - including tires, car parts, furniture, appliances and construction materials- have been dumped in the woods. As if this were not enough, invasive vines from other parts of the world have grown run roughshod over the forest ecosystem, outcompeting native plants and strangling trees. The parks also lack hiking trails, signage, other features common to parklands in more affluent parts of the District. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Given the racial and class disparities in DC, it's no coincidence that the parklands in Ward 8 have been abused and neglected. It’s wrong. We can and must do better,” said Art Slater, Director of Operations for the Anacostia Coordinating Council and business manager for Ward 8 Woods. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Ward 8 Woods project manager Nathan Harrington, the effort is an expansion of the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway, which he created in 2011 at the urging of longtime Ward 8 civic leader Philip Pannell. A former Prince George’s County Public Schools teacher and Congress Height resident since 2009, Harrington had led close to 100 volunteers clean-ups events in park but was troubled by the lack of involvement by residents. “Volunteers were coming from all over the DMV, but residents were always asking if we were hiring, and the answer was always no.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2018, Harrington joined with the Anacostia Coordinating Council and obtained grants from the DC Office of Planning and DC Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) to finally begin paying residents to clean-up their own communities. Ward 8 Woods recently obtained additional funding from DOEE, the Environment Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative and the Tomberg Family Philanthropies of California.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harrington and five board members are working to establish the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy as an independent nonprofit organization with a mission to use the restoration of the land as a vehicle for the healing and empowerment residents. Although there are many existing environmental groups in the District, there’s a void when it comes to the forests in Ward 8. Future plans include design and the construction of a network of hiking trails to rival those of Rock Creek Park and education and recreation programs for all ages. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christopher Williams, a young father from Garfield Heights, emphasized the scale of the work ahead. “This is really great work we’re doing. People need to see it. There’s enough work for us to stay busy for years.” </span></span></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-20147916273873028302019-01-19T16:14:00.003-08:002019-01-19T16:14:38.491-08:00The Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway is now Ward 8 Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9OMOOEGcvW0aMpoL80B3_gHpfQyDSAxbhHiSVcleBYxC2LMbF8_qJAM18WxD3Ppqo1D9KZuCdZuKJjLQ0PHVbW_BFQvEPyDdpd0EiEZeCtCNOYk2qjyXHbxaYeZMkiMDE79O9HZGZYaj/s1600/w8w_print_transparent+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9OMOOEGcvW0aMpoL80B3_gHpfQyDSAxbhHiSVcleBYxC2LMbF8_qJAM18WxD3Ppqo1D9KZuCdZuKJjLQ0PHVbW_BFQvEPyDdpd0EiEZeCtCNOYk2qjyXHbxaYeZMkiMDE79O9HZGZYaj/s320/w8w_print_transparent+-+Copy.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since 2011, the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway has mobilized over 2,000 volunteers, removed over 50,000 pounds of trash from the park, and put improvement of the park on the agenda of National Park Service and DC government officials. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As great as that is, there is still way too much trash, too many invasive species, no trails, no programs, and little signage. And, there are three other large chunks of forested parkland in Ward 8- Oxon Run Parkay, Suitland Parkway, and Ft. Stanton Park- and they all suffer from the same problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In July 2018, the Anacostia Coordinating Council obtained grant funding to give all four parks the kind of long-overdue TLC that Shepherd Parkway has received, and the Ward 8 Woods project was born. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSZ59tqRCgdrD9r0Lg4TKikv2qO4KznZHaYthUeIZC0eWoTOtC0ZTuzdWiR5BwdAFBEKhns9OX1kMZzsPLjBcalu6o8OYNQIPbTM2Kka3to9x1oCBSetNFdxo-vCxmqMd3PuLo8ZQ9JWv/s1600/cool+poses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The work do be done is so vast and we've decided to incorporate Ward 8 Woods as a new, permanent nonprofit organization. The work of the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway will continue as part of this new entity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our crew of six Park Stewards are working two days a week throughout the winter, removing trash and invasives species from all four areas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/ward-8-woods-2019&rcid=r01-154794277232-9b3d43b229ca4d7f&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w" target="_blank">Please consider a donation to our GoFundMe campaign so that we can add more work hours and get more done</a>. A little goes a long way:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSZ59tqRCgdrD9r0Lg4TKikv2qO4KznZHaYthUeIZC0eWoTOtC0ZTuzdWiR5BwdAFBEKhns9OX1kMZzsPLjBcalu6o8OYNQIPbTM2Kka3to9x1oCBSetNFdxo-vCxmqMd3PuLo8ZQ9JWv/s1600/cool+poses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSZ59tqRCgdrD9r0Lg4TKikv2qO4KznZHaYthUeIZC0eWoTOtC0ZTuzdWiR5BwdAFBEKhns9OX1kMZzsPLjBcalu6o8OYNQIPbTM2Kka3to9x1oCBSetNFdxo-vCxmqMd3PuLo8ZQ9JWv/s320/cool+poses.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">$15 pays for one Park Steward to work one hour, during which time they will remove an average of 120 pounds of trash from the woods
$45 pays for one Steward to work a 3-hour shift, removing an average of 460 pounds of trash.
$90 pays for two Stewards to work a three hours shift.
$225 pays for all five stewards to work a three hours shift and remove nearly a ton of trash. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We also welcome volunteers to join us on the job whenever we are working. Contact Nathan at <a href="mailto:nbharrington@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nbharrington@yahoo.com</a> for the schedule. </span>Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-71860287158720180342018-08-29T17:36:00.000-07:002018-08-29T17:36:20.994-07:00Ward 8 Woods project accelerates pace of clean-up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kmwGanMOWVz3TN7gvMCpHF-FBbKy2yxYIRe0BLjPspWMzCpFQftRSyZvp9RH7YDFRpz7Hd2LwoNtLn-TZ46OD_QdcnlgXF1xJIq3wmpLUMNYUB2xVw5UQSuxo6Wsf0HRjnJ_BqgIpLNQ/s1600/oxon+run+group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kmwGanMOWVz3TN7gvMCpHF-FBbKy2yxYIRe0BLjPspWMzCpFQftRSyZvp9RH7YDFRpz7Hd2LwoNtLn-TZ46OD_QdcnlgXF1xJIq3wmpLUMNYUB2xVw5UQSuxo6Wsf0HRjnJ_BqgIpLNQ/s320/oxon+run+group+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #202020;">This spring, the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway and the </span><strong style="color: #202020;">Anacostia Coordinating Council</strong><span style="color: #202020;"> </span><span style="color: #202020;">secured grants from the DC Office of Planning and DC Department of Energy and the Environment.</span><br clear="none" style="color: #202020;" /><br clear="none" style="color: #202020;" /><span style="color: #202020;">The resulting project, christened</span><span style="color: #202020;"> </span><strong style="color: #202020;">Ward 8 Woods</strong><span style="color: #202020;">, works to reverse decades of neglect by employing Ward 8 residents to remove trash and invasives species from the extensive but underappreciated wooded areas in Ward 8.</span><br clear="none" style="color: #202020;" /><br clear="none" style="color: #202020;" /><span style="color: #202020;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #202020;">Nathan Harrington, founder and chair of the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway, serves as project manager and crew leader. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One month in, our Park Stewards have accomplished a lot:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Removed nearly 4,000 pounds of trash from Ft. Stanton Park</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Removed over 3,000 pounds of trash from Shepherd Parkway</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT-aC6c-QqD8_7UAe8yaGoHEJ-8_sa36WouOo1lUS06wZXUWgzD-GoN0a5-7GyfV7NHG8ZYuSjZefEYYJyevsw5VL3xSeSgWBlq2elF8b-vNaNknhlUyrSToiUWLjlzxv0AJ5jRoUXqdA/s1600/DC-OP_logo_Lead.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT-aC6c-QqD8_7UAe8yaGoHEJ-8_sa36WouOo1lUS06wZXUWgzD-GoN0a5-7GyfV7NHG8ZYuSjZefEYYJyevsw5VL3xSeSgWBlq2elF8b-vNaNknhlUyrSToiUWLjlzxv0AJ5jRoUXqdA/s320/DC-OP_logo_Lead.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Removed 2,000 pounds from Oxon Run Parkway</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Filled 356 large trash bag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Cut invasive vines from over 120 trees</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stewards have braved DC's summer heat and humidity, scrambled up and down muddy slopes, crawled through brambles, hauled long-abandoned carpets and lock-boxes, and sawed through vines ten inches thick.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPGa3hRYhriph0QcnMD1hRgXirAQI85MLpgdlNniaU2e88WuFs-enukSB4FeVmbB82P_3A8eu_FkhIEMnH5lfeaS27qpJ8SBoyUPuINn6prHNRbWZlKIxRi5HZU6ohhznSv_Vf0443iol/s1600/Ellen+at+shooting+range.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPGa3hRYhriph0QcnMD1hRgXirAQI85MLpgdlNniaU2e88WuFs-enukSB4FeVmbB82P_3A8eu_FkhIEMnH5lfeaS27qpJ8SBoyUPuINn6prHNRbWZlKIxRi5HZU6ohhznSv_Vf0443iol/s320/Ellen+at+shooting+range.jpg" width="238" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will continue working 20 hours a week through the end of September, after which our schedule will slow down and continue until March 2019.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want to be a part of the action? The crew works most weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm, and volunteers are always welcome to join. Send up as message for details and meeting locations.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to paying the Stewards a fair wage of $15 an hour, the project requires funds for tools, outreach materials, Gatorade and snacks.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.anacostiacc.org/join-us.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Want to support this challenging and long-overdue work? Please consider a donation of any amount to the Anacostia Coordinating Council.</b></span></a></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-57311549881887940592018-05-28T20:49:00.003-07:002018-06-08T12:37:32.667-07:00Foam Ban Blues in Ward 8<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmotCxPJ6K2xfHDQebjbUIayqppJ6Wgwm6I8LtQtUMrSE0aR_MGf-Kocz2XZmgqRFSv2-NwcjeR0qv59HuISFDvXqPSTyswSD_58JPwYtWknQIhIqXBke091w9SIuy0eMlF74ceOENrw4r/s1600/Foam-Free-DC-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShFH1vVcAUU-Sz6YXp7uFfHUmxuwVndL6TRe8vOWONhFDXXFweCeqO5vb9FK5zwc5hlQm_g_aV5Fb8FKX2q859I00fSMd2YBM1ciGjnAlSrntKMGssPJ46xoLaxplGdi18AG-JAta3pBp/s1600/foam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShFH1vVcAUU-Sz6YXp7uFfHUmxuwVndL6TRe8vOWONhFDXXFweCeqO5vb9FK5zwc5hlQm_g_aV5Fb8FKX2q859I00fSMd2YBM1ciGjnAlSrntKMGssPJ46xoLaxplGdi18AG-JAta3pBp/s320/foam.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Since January 1, 2016, it has been illegal in the District of Columbia to sell prepared food in a foam containers. The mayor and Council passed the ban at the urging of environmentalists because foam is <a href="http://shepherdparkway.blogspot.com/2016/02/battling-styrofoam-with-law-on-our-side.html" target="_blank">bad news for the environment for many reasons</a>.<br />
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Your coffee should always be served in a paper cup, and your chicken wings with mumbo sauce in a paper of plastic box. Paper and plastic are recyclable, unlike Styrofoam. <br />
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Two and a half years later, the DC Department of Energy an the Environment (DOEE) claims an 85% compliance, but what I've seen suggests that the rate in Ward 8 is much lower.<br />
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Foam tends to be slightly cheaper and customers are used to it, so some business owners disregard the law. This foam ends up on our streets and in our streams, where is breaks down into millions of tiny pieces and poisons animals that eat them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmotCxPJ6K2xfHDQebjbUIayqppJ6Wgwm6I8LtQtUMrSE0aR_MGf-Kocz2XZmgqRFSv2-NwcjeR0qv59HuISFDvXqPSTyswSD_58JPwYtWknQIhIqXBke091w9SIuy0eMlF74ceOENrw4r/s1600/Foam-Free-DC-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmotCxPJ6K2xfHDQebjbUIayqppJ6Wgwm6I8LtQtUMrSE0aR_MGf-Kocz2XZmgqRFSv2-NwcjeR0qv59HuISFDvXqPSTyswSD_58JPwYtWknQIhIqXBke091w9SIuy0eMlF74ceOENrw4r/s1600/Foam-Free-DC-logo.jpg" /></a>DOEE's enforcement strategy depends mostly on tips from citizens. Carryouts and food trucks are unlikely to be visited by inspectors unless a customer reports their use of foam to DOEE.<br />
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This is where you come in. Any time you are given a foam food container, or see someone else leaving a carryout food truck with one, <a href="https://doee.dc.gov/node/1087982" target="_blank">report it to DOEE</a>. Reports can also be made over the phone or online using 311.<br />
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Only with active citizen engagement will the foam ban fulfill its intended goal of a cleaner environment.Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-80199913803926326392018-05-14T22:58:00.000-07:002018-05-14T22:58:15.964-07:00Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway Wins $20,000 DOEE Grant!<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE1BWf1BFLsgHKtPeLrbmDE2hoGNUOcAuyp2pte5EmdMHRhEOLBId-sKHU7dmvnZFt-dmF51-TPXsTFXWenmPdhCNC5zR6tAOhUbX9EoiUlHYxD-M_nErdgCLP69UbqiXU-0nl6UK5Rin/s1600/DOEE+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="1383" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPE1BWf1BFLsgHKtPeLrbmDE2hoGNUOcAuyp2pte5EmdMHRhEOLBId-sKHU7dmvnZFt-dmF51-TPXsTFXWenmPdhCNC5zR6tAOhUbX9EoiUlHYxD-M_nErdgCLP69UbqiXU-0nl6UK5Rin/s320/DOEE+logo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Huge news:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway, with the <a href="http://www.anacostiacc.org/" target="_blank">Anacostia Coordinating Council</a> as our fiscal sponsor, has been chosen by the <a href="https://doee.dc.gov/" target="_blank">DC Department of Energy and the Environment</a> to receive a Community Stormwater Solutions Grant. We're calling our project <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ward8woodlands/" target="_blank">Engaging Ward 8 Residents in Ward 8 Woodland Restoration</a>, or "Ward 8 Woods" for short. It will run from June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2019. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Our goal is to drastically reduce the burden of trash and invasive specie not only in Shepherd Parkway, but in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">the other three large wooded areas in the Ward 8 as well: Oxon Run Parkway, Suitland Parkway, and Fort Stanton Park. We'll hold at least one clean-up each month at each of the four parks, with the goal of removing at least 50,000 pounds of trash and cutting invasives vines from 300 trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After dedicating thousands of hours of unpaid work to Shepherd Parkway over the past seven years, Committee Chair Nathan Harrington will manage the project and work an average of 15 hours a week. Art Slater, Director of Operations for the Anacostia Coordinating Council, will help manage the grant, and other members of the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway will play an advisory role. We'll be working closely with our colleagues at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nace/index.htm" target="_blank">National-Capital Parks-East</a>. </span></div>
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Over the course of June, we’ll be interviewing for four Park Steward positions. Candidates must be Ward 8 residents who are unemployed or underemployed and face barriers to employment. Park Stewards will each be paid for 80 hours of work and training over the course of the year. </div>
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We’ll be walking streets and knocking on doors to recruit volunteers, and gather information about how residents use the parks and what changes they’d like to see. With our partners at the <a href="http://fergusonfoundation.org/trash-free-potomac-watershed-initiative/" target="_blank">Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative</a> we’ll be spreading the message to “Take Care of Your Trash” by not littering or dumping.</div>
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Our project is part of the <a href="https://www.yearoftheanacostia.com/" target="_blank">Year of the Anacostia</a>, a watershed-wide initiative to celebrate and restore the Anacostia River.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbFAZwFTTcK5rTwUX8Hguu-XDoqpxYQYfTJ9IIjzbsq5iYPeFUPQpfkvNecuwW9GuBD5dvqS2FUyF1R8D-aygHcuXCq1FmYGqrKliUv07xEgA_0s6hmhd3gm7wsqJv0l77zTSo4r7-0Cj/s1600/Oxon+Run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbFAZwFTTcK5rTwUX8Hguu-XDoqpxYQYfTJ9IIjzbsq5iYPeFUPQpfkvNecuwW9GuBD5dvqS2FUyF1R8D-aygHcuXCq1FmYGqrKliUv07xEgA_0s6hmhd3gm7wsqJv0l77zTSo4r7-0Cj/s320/Oxon+Run.jpg" width="320" /></a>We invite all Ward 8 residents, nonprofits, businesses, churches and schools to join us as volunteers and collaborators for a healthier and more beautiful environment.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ward8woodlands/" target="_blank">Please Like and Follow the new Facebook page for Ward 8 Woods to stay abreast of developments.</a></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-70808502330666188912018-03-20T11:48:00.004-07:002018-03-20T11:50:06.510-07:00Come out and be heard as part of the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit Agreement <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 2015, the National Park Service (NPS) lost a fight with the General Service Administration (GSA) and was forced to hand over eight acres of Shepherd Parkway to make way for an access road leading from 295 onto the new U.S. Homeland Security campus at St. Elizabeths. Under federal environmental law, the GSA must pay NPS "mitigation" funds to compensate for the lost of parkland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throughout 2016, National Capital Parks-East (NACE) refused to tell us how much they were getting in mitigation or how they planned to use it. We filed a Freedom of Information Act request and learned that NACE had received around $500,000 and earmarked it for improvements to the heavily used area of Shepherd Parkway near the corner of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Avenues, which they refer to as Parkland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we met with the new superintendent Tara Morrison in early 2017, she told us that before using mitigation funds to spruce up the park, they would contracting with the Department of Sociology at Howard University to conduct a study of who uses the park, what it means to them, and what they would like to see there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday we received the following announcement of a public meeting to get input from residents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Although the notice is short, this is our chance to be heard. Please register and attend if you are able.</span></div>
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARK</div>
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Through the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit Agreement (CESU), the Howard University Department of Sociology and the National Park Service are seeking a better understanding of the resources and experiences of neighbors and visitors of Parkland, a unit of Shepherd Parkway.</div>
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Please join us for an intimate community conversation about Shepherd Park/Malcolm X, including activities that occur or that you would like to see at the park, facilities, safety, and the significance of the park to you, the community and the neighborhood.</div>
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<b>Monday, March 26, 2018<br />6:30 pm - 8:00 pm</b></div>
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<b>Bellevue/William O. Lockridge Library<br />115 Atlantic St SW<br />Washington, DC 20032</b></div>
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A4, A2, and W1 buses run near the library</div>
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*Food and refreshments provided*</div>
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To register, please visit <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2CiOTcQ&h=ATO7wyQ5dMmVBwgPRTQaEFv7NaxJdkgeP2Xj9S-6q-5w75GZKTHjlAlJaPSNzmOM5ZXlpFKhOntxB2OQYf5ip6pFeFKwYl1KCgIRTPnv7W_PBSFMSPNDRt0MqpcidE4" href="http://bit.ly/2CiOTcQ" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2CiOTcQ</a>.</div>
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**Must be 18 years of age or older</div>
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**Must be a DC resident or business owner in a zip code near the park. The park is located on the corner of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Avenues, SE.</div>
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For more information contact Naomi Adams at naomi.adams@bison.howard.edu or (708) 846-1943.</div>
Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-60758053670173072872018-02-16T22:00:00.000-08:002018-02-16T22:05:25.857-08:00Mud season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our region has been in a serious drought for several months, but Saturday, February 10 was a wet one. Ten brave volunteers braved the rain and mud to clean-up one of Shepherd Parkway's most egregious dumping sites. </span>Across from 411 Lebaum Steet, at a spot where the drop off is especially precipitous and close to the curb, someone a few months ago dumped what looked to be the contents of an entire apartment: sofas, mattresses, lamps, vacuum cleaners, TVs, clothing, and much, much more. </span></div>
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Moving all of this up to the street required repelling backward down the treacherous slope while holding on to a rope tied to a post at the top, wrestling the items while fighting to maintain one's footing, and passing them up from one person to the next.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32X45btYZoQK0wh3Z-GM7CEFpMHDjbcS_PtF6k9YcArjIy-469VX7pdRJHFJOetQ5_-CG44LG2eVMm7BVyrz27WKBOJJgWAflaIu1Qj4d-HIw5dA52dq9dW3iwIZj3TuWzKysipvV5hQ9/s1600/20180210_123056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32X45btYZoQK0wh3Z-GM7CEFpMHDjbcS_PtF6k9YcArjIy-469VX7pdRJHFJOetQ5_-CG44LG2eVMm7BVyrz27WKBOJJgWAflaIu1Qj4d-HIw5dA52dq9dW3iwIZj3TuWzKysipvV5hQ9/s320/20180210_123056.jpg" width="320" /></a>As the noon hour progressed, the rain grew heavier, and portions of the hill turned to mudslides. If any of us had had any sense at all, we would have quit an hour earlier. Some did. But for others it was exhilarating, like being a kids again playing in the mud.<br />
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When we finally quit, our clothes were soaked to the skin and caked in mud. Over 1,000 pounds of household items were sitting by the curb, ready to be picked up.<br />
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Whatever caused all those possessions (many of them usable) to be dumped in the woods, it wasn't good. Can we talk about the connections between economic justice and environmental justice?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8erGfusA0CplX7qMlrLg_qxzcd4992SbuMnI7vFH7hInP-_eHA4B9DQTQiH-9sMur5pfPQV5_jJVZl_WU7o7RvZYS7GDMjg6jXtSzt-6-h31bxPhLlwDMJ0H5DVKL1gmBvI1SIm3qTEAi/s1600/20180210_130528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8erGfusA0CplX7qMlrLg_qxzcd4992SbuMnI7vFH7hInP-_eHA4B9DQTQiH-9sMur5pfPQV5_jJVZl_WU7o7RvZYS7GDMjg6jXtSzt-6-h31bxPhLlwDMJ0H5DVKL1gmBvI1SIm3qTEAi/s320/20180210_130528.jpg" width="320" /></a>Trash in the woods are, for the most park, a consequence of poverty. Evictions- in which the human right to housing is violated for monetary gain- are common in Ward 8. When folks are evicted, and have nowhere to put their belongings, they end up on our streets for all to see, a literal airing of dirty laundry. Perhaps throwing them down the hill into the woods is an attempted avoid at least that indignity. When people are in crisis, their basic needs unmet, consideration for others and the planet becomes impossible.<br />
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Healing our natural ecosystems requires that we simultaneously heal our social fabric.Only when we stop treating people as expendable will we stop treating the land as expendable.<br />
<br />Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-42297046668840772102017-12-14T15:30:00.002-08:002017-12-15T18:36:58.197-08:00Historic graffiti carved in beech bark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SZ2hiLjLpVFWZWnZxIvjFs8NtXSfeb5Jn4R5gboRLCSbpnL3jrAQJ3J5APaYjUHUlyWsuD8DWU6y22tULy2w9H1NG-_xNQ4oC12ArYNGbxbZOXcXjHMTyXFwfTob14wh6d65Iq-uC2js/s1600/1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SZ2hiLjLpVFWZWnZxIvjFs8NtXSfeb5Jn4R5gboRLCSbpnL3jrAQJ3J5APaYjUHUlyWsuD8DWU6y22tULy2w9H1NG-_xNQ4oC12ArYNGbxbZOXcXjHMTyXFwfTob14wh6d65Iq-uC2js/s320/1920.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
In the five years I've been frequenting Shepherd Parkway, I've always admired its thousands of beech trees.<br />
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All over the United States, the smooth, light grey bark of beech trees have often been an irresistible target for those wishing to immortalize their walk in the woods by carving their names for future generations of hikers see. As the tree grows, the carving expands and stretches out like the words on a balloon.<br />
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Growing up in Boy Scouts and going to Quaker church camp, I was always taught to "leave no trace" in nature; carving into the bark of a tree was a total no-no, a desecration on par with leaving trash or cutting trees down. <br />
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But humans have always interacted with and altered nature, and the human history of a place like Shepherd Parkway is at least as important as the forest that is there now. The remains of the Fort Carroll and Fort Grebel earthworks are not considered a scar on the landscape; they are part of Washington's rich Civil War legacy.<br />
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On a recent walk through the wilds of Shepherd Parkway to scout out areas that still need to be cleaned of trash, I stopped to closely examine some the carvings, and realized for the first time their historical value.<br />
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To begin with, some of the carving are in places where it is surprising to find any sign of human presence. After walking for several minutes away from the nearest street, up and down steep ravines and through brambles, the city seems far away. There is no trail leading here, and I've been seen another soul out there.<br />
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But in decades past, I've heard, Congress Heights kids treated the park as their own Hundred Acre Wood.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkHtiymg7Wv5Fa0CWgGpTe-10AoTJ40Um0uMao7tMiZzAzyZvFrgW3NkUIHIStXww-f0JVTivDZzgqG_SFQ6-EDXccqUsHgmR2dQ3ZfxT-b9MyGZ1jZnM6lxF5OdWPactTYe5Ar3Vhq3K/s1600/Pack+67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkHtiymg7Wv5Fa0CWgGpTe-10AoTJ40Um0uMao7tMiZzAzyZvFrgW3NkUIHIStXww-f0JVTivDZzgqG_SFQ6-EDXccqUsHgmR2dQ3ZfxT-b9MyGZ1jZnM6lxF5OdWPactTYe5Ar3Vhq3K/s320/Pack+67.jpg" width="320" /></a>They are the likely creators of these carvings, which look old.<br />
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Most are just names or initials, and some are not legible. Above is the oldest dated carving I've found so far, in a beautiful area between Malcolm X Avenue and Brothers Place. It reads "A.R. Hudson 1920." That's 97 years ago, before any of us were born, and older than most houses in Congress Heights. The tree has grown a lot in that time, so the size of the words has probably more than doubled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1XHcxqynVzhKiOqu8zBklfGM4nP2rLoDcBSkM7_9yHP_R5ncY9GB8k-EZGCg8LtuHnLsRke8AtRvvmr0dpUe_JhyEntGkISJXpXGzsI3ISh28BJ32zJdptZRti4m8sDNa5YTC4Ao7KTa/s1600/beech+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1XHcxqynVzhKiOqu8zBklfGM4nP2rLoDcBSkM7_9yHP_R5ncY9GB8k-EZGCg8LtuHnLsRke8AtRvvmr0dpUe_JhyEntGkISJXpXGzsI3ISh28BJ32zJdptZRti4m8sDNa5YTC4Ao7KTa/s320/beech+heart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Nearby are several carvings from the 1950s, including "Hardy 1953" and "Pack 61 1953. Cub Scout pack, that it.<br />
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Hearts are a common motif, but this one (see left) is unusual. Instead of the lovers' names inside the heart, it appear to says "As it was right before God I'm C." What's your interpretation?<br />
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In a sad but unsurprising reminder the long history of violent white supremacy in our city, I also encountered a carving of a swastika and the word "Hitler." It looks to be least 40 year old, and could have been carved anytime since 1920, when the Nazis adopted the swastika (originally a Hindu sign of good luck ) as their symbol.<br />
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Most fascist vandalism is (thank God) removed immediately, but this one deep in the woods has remained, much like the hatred that it represents. Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-34078061957839960012017-12-05T21:21:00.000-08:002017-12-05T21:23:17.625-08:00Community clean-ups to continue every second Saturday in 2018<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlyfV1xr0OA2a_iN_9175_lirutc46rc1W_W55aswCjFBf-tEUAFzErnnrZc9ZHYRzi5bFDSUzODx2GTRYtjURPneyXWz2uRFF2UqCE0S_wIgPhxfbqXabxqvHGQM24sWZNV30iirza7X/s1600/thumbnail+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlyfV1xr0OA2a_iN_9175_lirutc46rc1W_W55aswCjFBf-tEUAFzErnnrZc9ZHYRzi5bFDSUzODx2GTRYtjURPneyXWz2uRFF2UqCE0S_wIgPhxfbqXabxqvHGQM24sWZNV30iirza7X/s320/thumbnail+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">The last official volunteer opportunity of 2017 is Saturday, December 11 from 10:30 am to 1 pm. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Winter is a great time to clear our urban woodlands of trash and invasive species. They are easier to find when dense foliage is not covering everything, and there is little danger from ticks, bees, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">mosquitoes</span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54779" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">, or heat </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">exhaustion</span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54782" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54782" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />We will celebrate and coming winter solstice and Christmas with hot chocolate.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />While supplies last, all volunteers will receive a free Nalgene water bottle courtesy of REI! </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54913" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">We meet at the benches across Malcolm X Avenue from 555 Newcomb Street SE, Washington, DC 20032.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">We work in rugged, wooded terrain, so volunteers should wear boots and clothes they will not mind getting dirty. Gloves, bags, and water refills are provided. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Documentation of community service hours gladly provided upon request. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54887" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> For more information contact Nathan Harrington at </span><a href="mailto:nbharrington@yahoo.com" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54893" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #2baadf; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:nbharrington@yahoo.com"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512527156907_54892" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">nbharrington@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> or 301-758-5892.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Community Clean-Ups will continue to be held at the same time and place every </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>second Saturday of the month throughout</b></span></span><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"> 2018. The dates are:</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">January 13</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">February 10</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">March 10</span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>April 14</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>May 12</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>June 9</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>July 14</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>August 11</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>September 8</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>October 13</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>November 10</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>December 8</b></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-88861318837317074352017-10-30T11:04:00.001-07:002017-10-30T13:03:06.946-07:00Real Solutions for “Marion Barry Park”<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The
petition to fence off the heavily used portion of Shepherd Parkway along Martin
Luther King Avenue (see my October 16 post) may be an expression of scapegoating and despair,
but it is having a positive effect: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>those
already working to build hope and pride in the park are coming together, their passion
and resolve renewed. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For years,
local clergy and church volunteers have provided ministry, food, clothing, and other
services to needy park users. The Park Service, Congress Heights Community Association,
and others have held family-friendly events in the park, and conscientious park
users make it their business to pick up the litter. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And of
course, the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway has removed hundreds of
thousands of pounds of trash from the wooded areas of the park, including those
adjacent to the picnic area. Park users have been friendly and appreciative towards
our volunteers. Ellen Williams, our most loyal volunteer, got involved in 2015
after we invited her and others sitting in the park to join a clean-up.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In the photo above, more than 50 people gathered on October 17 for a financial empowerment workshop with real estate entrepreneur Jay Morrison. The park has also been the sight of <a href="https://policy.m4bl.org/" target="_blank">Black Lives Matter</a> protests and <a href="http://www.artallnightdc.com/" target="_blank">Art All Night</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">None of
these positive activities were even mentioned in the petition. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">On October
27, ANC 8C Commissioners Karen Lucas and Sharece Crawford convened a meeting at
the RISE Center to bring together those working to attack the root causes the joblessness,
addiction, and violence seen in the park. Many had never met and were unaware
of the others’ efforts. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">All were
united in their embrace of those who some call “the people in the park” as our
brothers and sisters, each with their own story, neighbors with as much claim
to this space as us. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Commissioner
Lucas drew applause then she broke it down: “The park will not close, because
the park is not dangerous. Trees and grass are not dangerous. Tables and benches
are not dangerous. Some dangerous things happen there, as they do throughout
our community. Some people chose to fixate on the park, but it it’s really about
our people.” </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Those in attendance
were also roused by the incisive, truth-telling words of Aiyi’nah Ford,
Executive Director of <a href="http://www.thefuturedc.org/" target="_blank">the Future Foundation</a>. Founded in 2012, the Foundation works
to “empower and activate “future adults” (13-21 years of age) and their
families with trauma-informed social justice advocacy, community
organizing and resource development skills to improve their future.” </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Ford spoke
of GLBTQ youth seeking refuge in the park after being put out of their homes
because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="margin: 0px;">The Rev. Dr.
Nicole Johnson-Douglass of the <a href="http://www.deliverancezone.org/" target="_blank">Deliverance Temple A.M.E. Zion Church</a> described
how she </span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">leads</span><span style="margin: 0px;"> Sunday worship
services in the park every Sunday; afterwards they discuss the challenges residents
are facing and help connect them with services. Contrary to the claims of some,
those who enter the park with a humility and respect for those there, are
welcomed, she said. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="margin: 0px;">Travis Dread-Hughes
of the<a href="https://dbh.dc.gov/service/access-helpline" target="_blank"> DC Department of Behavioral Health</a> promoted the department’s Access HelpLine
</span><span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">as a humane alternative
to calling the police. One of the most comprehensive services of its kind in
the United States, DC residents can call 888-793-4357, 24-hours a day,
seven-day-a-week to speak with mental health professionals who can refer them to
immediate help or ongoing care.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">National
Capital Parks-East Deputy Superintendent Ann Honious, a veteran of previous community
discussions about Shepherd Parkway, spoke about the Rapid Ethnographic
Assessment Program (REAP) being carried out by Howard University students in the
park. “Instead of rushing in and doing something that looks nice but might turn
out not to be what the community needs and wants, we are doing to take a long
hard look at what this place means to people.” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YeaEmFHX9icf8nQNLtFGDbsO4hmteC4Zh-2xRTYtp5SFBpnsWyFmK8_WHJLdmG2ErMgDBl6wb5No5JwJTGe8dc3dS_pxMCaNlKixk4qLyFvk0EYKeX6ld-g1qIOzNhFYhW0yzkURVJjm/s1600/theFutureDC+Cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YeaEmFHX9icf8nQNLtFGDbsO4hmteC4Zh-2xRTYtp5SFBpnsWyFmK8_WHJLdmG2ErMgDBl6wb5No5JwJTGe8dc3dS_pxMCaNlKixk4qLyFvk0EYKeX6ld-g1qIOzNhFYhW0yzkURVJjm/s640/theFutureDC+Cartoon.jpg" width="456" /></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This comes
as a disappointment for those impatient for long-overdue physical improvements,
but it’s hard to argue with the need for changes to be sensitive to the uniqueness
of Congress Heights.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Captain
Green of the Park Police Anacostia Station, a Ward 8 native, spoke eloquently about
his commitment to respecting the civil liberties and dignity of the citizens. He
alluded to “broke windows policing,” in which people of color are stopped by
police and often criminally charged for minor “quality of life offenses” and
concluded “That’s not going to happen on my watch.” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Echoing Mr. Dread-Hughes, he argued that involving
police should be a community’s last resort, not the first. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">He acknowledged
the problem of understaffing- four officers on duty at any given time, covering
4,000 acres of federal parkland from the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to Piscataway
Park. Still, he said his department is committed to maintaining a presence at
Shepherd Parkway. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Just because you don’t
see our cruisers parked there all day, or our officers marking arrests in the
park, doesn’t mean we aren’t working it make it safer.”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Other
panelists included <a href="http://www.markusbatchelor.com/" target="_blank">Ward 8 State Board of Education representative Markus Batchelor</a> and Saleem Adolfo of the <a href="http://www.ubfinc.org/" target="_blank">Black United Fund</a>, which works to <span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">serve critical needs of special populations; and that
promote community based problem solving</span></span></span>.” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The
meeting could have continued all night, but when the building’s closing time
arrived, all departed energized, promising to increase dialogue and coordination.
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Perhaps the
most important take-way was articulated by Aiyi’nah Ford, who referenced the Rev.
Jesse Jackson: The tools to heal and build up our communities already exist
within our communities. We need not, and cannot, wait for a government agency
to rescue us.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">P.S. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As noted
in previous posts, the area under discussion comprises less than one percent
Shepherd Parkway’s 197 acres and really needs a name of its own. The idea of
naming it for Marion Barry -who toward the end of his life lived a few blocks
away- seems be gaining momentum.</span></span></div>
Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-72534451999777881862017-10-16T19:05:00.000-07:002017-10-30T10:38:24.320-07:00Regarding the petition to close Shepherd Parkway<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_59e5506487e8c3760893909">
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Dear Friends,<br />
<br />
On October 10, <span class="profileLink">Nikki Peele</span>, author of the Congress Heights on the Rise blog, launched a petition on change.org to “CLOSE Shepherd Park (corner of MLK Ave SE & Malcolm X Ave SE) in Ward 8, DC.”<br />
<br />
The petition includes the phrase “Congress Heights Residents To Restore Community Safe Spaces.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
I want to make clear that the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway is not involved in this effort. We oppose the closure of the park and urge our supporter to NOT sign the petition.<br />
<br />
The text of the petition identifies serious, longstanding issues in the heavily used picnic area, a small strip of Shepherd Parkway that juts into the center of Congress Heights. It lacks an official name but has been called many things by residents and is known within the Park Service “Parklands.” It's where we meet for our monthly clean-ups. <br />
<br />
We share the author’s frustration with the littering, public intoxication, fights, and other illegal activities in park. The petition calls for meetings to “establish a plan of action that involves NPS, DC Government, local law enforcement, community groups, local businesses etc. to establish an action plan,” and we agree that this is long overdue. She calls for the opening of a day-time facility for residents of the 801 men’s homeless shelter, which is a great idea.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Ms. Peele also makes sweeping generalizations and uses loaded language to dehumanize and justify the removal or our most marginalized neighbors.<br />
<br />
The petition was launched without the input of ANC commissioners or leaders of the Congress Heights Community Association and without regard to discussions taking place between between National-Capital Parks-East and community leaders.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Her proposed solution- is to fence off the entire areas for at least 90 days- is a simple, answer to problems that have no simple answers. <br />
<br />
The people she dismisses as “the criminal element” are Washingtonians, and human beings we complex stories. The problematic behaviors she describes are symptoms of poverty, addiction, mental illness, and homelessness, with roots going deep in the history of our country, the structure of our economy, and the polices or our national and local governments. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cOEC3RNuSZHkCDyPrqduxYT3-1JytMOl_WezbOxjOCWoLiczQYd6pY30OuGb_nLIsxs8PYxPRUcxuVQkMDduO98Rzr1ADp8S9TeSsRIXnWM20tqh2ZxY6GUwYli6yIF-NBa6DyCwUReW/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cOEC3RNuSZHkCDyPrqduxYT3-1JytMOl_WezbOxjOCWoLiczQYd6pY30OuGb_nLIsxs8PYxPRUcxuVQkMDduO98Rzr1ADp8S9TeSsRIXnWM20tqh2ZxY6GUwYli6yIF-NBa6DyCwUReW/s320/013.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></b>
Closing the park might temporarily move some people and their problems to another location, but would, but it would send a terrible message about the type of community we want to be.<br />
<br />
Contrary to what Ms. Peele (and Mr. Trump) say, erecting fences will not heal our social ills or create a safe, vibrant public space.<br />
<br />
We hope that the attention generated by the petition will lead to constructive discussion of the future of the park that includes all users as partners in community. <br />
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<br />
In Peace and Unity,<br />
<br />
Nathan Harrington<br />
Chair, Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-14670679772697670382017-10-13T19:54:00.001-07:002017-10-13T20:04:14.149-07:00Energy- and impatience- at National Park Service Partnership Summit On October 10, nearly a hundred people gathered at THEARC, in the
Parklands section of Ward 8, for a "Partnership Summit" convened by
Tara Morrison, the Superintendent of National Capital Parks-East (NACE), which
is the NPS unit responsible for all federal parklands on the east side of DC
and in Prince George's County.<br />
<br />
The entire office staff of NACE- as skeleton crew of about a dozen- was in
attendance, along with a dozen others from the National Capital Region and NPS
central offices.<br />
<br />
Among the many local groups represented were:<br />
<br />
Anacostia Waterfront Trust/Federal City Council<br />
Anacostia Coordinating Council<br />
Earth Conservation Corps<br />
Casey Trees<br />
Groundwork DC<br />
Student Conservation Association<br />
Washington Parks and People<br />
Anacostia Watershed Society<br />
Washington Area Bicyclists Association<br />
Alice Ferguson Foundation<br />
Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens<br />
Georgetown University<br />
DC agencies, include Department of Parks and Recreational and Department of
Energy and the Environment, and the Mayor's office<br />
<br />
It was the most significant public outreach undertaken by NACE in many
years, and perhaps the largest gathering to date of people concerned with East
of the River parks. The sense of energy and common purpose was palpable.<br />
<br />
But so too were some harsh realities: the scandalous lack of funding provided the Park Service by Congress, and the dire conditions in many of the parks, a legacy of and the chronic neglect of low-income communities of color. This was clearly NACE's attempt to improve its relations with "the community." <br />
<br />
NACE staff led all the breakout groups, and they did most of the talking.
Their presentations were long on abstract topics of policy and structure,
delivered by means of the inevitable PowerPoint slides. The focus was
explicitly on <i>how to partner with NACE</i>, so there was limited discussion
of specific issues facing the parks or concrete action to make them better.
<br />
<br />
Their most common refrains involved "limited capacity"
"competing priorities," "doesn't happen overnight," lines
which seasoned activists have come to understand as polite ways of saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sorry, we can’t do any of what you’re
proposing</i>.<br />
<b><br /></b>
At times it was just plain boring. A guy from the C&O Canal and a woman
from President's Park spoke at length about the structures they use to manage
volunteers. During an exercise intended to map out which groups are
engaged in similar activities or serving the geographic areas, half the time
was spent explaining the procedure to be followed.<br />
<br />
The tenor of the day was constructive and civil, with none of the lively theatrics
one sometimes sees at civic meetings in Ward 8. One of the few explicit criticisms
of NACE came during the opening introductions, Representatives from Malcolm X
Day Committee and East River Jazz voiced their frustration with the slow
and unresponsive NACE bureaucracy. <br />
<br />
The most productive part of the day for me was the networking, made easy by the
participant list provided by conference organizers, complete with affiliations
and email addresses. <br />
<br />
At the conclusion of one workshop, the representative of an influential
advocacy group turned to me and asked, in earshot of the NACE officials
"What's is going to take to make them do their job?” or something to that
effect. <br />
<br />
Surprised by his candor, I told him with equal candor that the only way to
impose one's agency upon the Park Service- or any public institution, for that
matter- is to have a great deal of money and political connections. I went on
to cite several local examples of extraordinary things done by the Park Service
at the behest of the well-healed. <br />
<br />
He shook his head in sadness then said earnestly, hopefully, “We should
talk.” <br />
<br />
I am indeed hopeful that the countless contacts like this one made at the
summit will spawn new collaborations to bring more resources- and engaged residents-
to the parks. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><br />
<br />Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-2711718413724882472017-09-12T20:29:00.001-07:002017-09-12T21:44:34.772-07:00Dog days are over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQCW6iWpOed6n2FhHUmOoIJ41KJx4hycPpCuvH1xdZvzmgOQRuzlT2yTtdiz9gP-mP1koQbIa3giWAenqyq8yme0V6lttYj8768lmU0JMp0pLnG1-Mxxa2BoWwYFIWubCmpo2Vm2f5JRg/s1600/20170909_113823%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQCW6iWpOed6n2FhHUmOoIJ41KJx4hycPpCuvH1xdZvzmgOQRuzlT2yTtdiz9gP-mP1koQbIa3giWAenqyq8yme0V6lttYj8768lmU0JMp0pLnG1-Mxxa2BoWwYFIWubCmpo2Vm2f5JRg/s320/20170909_113823%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
According to legend, Washington shuts down in the summer when the big shots and professional classes head for the mountains and beaches. Notwithstanding the obvious advantages of a "working vacation" in the backwoods of Ward 8, summer has never been an easy time to recruit volunteers to Shepherd Parkway. This year five people showed up on June 10, three on July 8, and two on August 12. If you've been wondering whether or not this campaign needs you help, well...<br />
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But not all was apathy and stagnation: plenty of work got done by a trio of die-hards. Garret White, a University of Vermont graduate who recently moved to DC to do environmental work, found the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway on <a href="http://volunteermatch.org/">volunteermatch.org</a>, and joined forces with committee chair Nathan Harrington and Ellen Williams, a long-time Congress Heights resident and community volunteer. Over the course of five days this summer, the three defied the stifling heat and humidity to remove over a ton (that's 2,000 lbs) of junk from along Lebaum and 4th Streets, proving once again that the skill and dedication of volunteers sometimes matter more than their sheer numbers.<br />
<br />
And in any case, the hordes are coming back. On September 9, nine students from Georgetown University brought visual appeal back to Parkland Place, a one-way street separated from Malcolm X Avenue by a dramatic wooded hillside. It has been cleaned by volunteers repeatedly over the past five years but continues to be the target of new dumping. Undeterred by television sets, sofas, bags upon bags of clothing and a hornets nest, they bagged an estimated half ton.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fguPmIhE3DoSUI5bwf30lpyOI9LiVYy-1u0nolEZ0EBjHvOh2yK2w4mCptK3_IKDMSY6de7i4gVIuVziLSOn3QbUIk47HBJSskesMQ6mz_j1EoG-EpJY1iTEY8L7P94xArm9RvvB_mXh/s1600/20170909_113853%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fguPmIhE3DoSUI5bwf30lpyOI9LiVYy-1u0nolEZ0EBjHvOh2yK2w4mCptK3_IKDMSY6de7i4gVIuVziLSOn3QbUIk47HBJSskesMQ6mz_j1EoG-EpJY1iTEY8L7P94xArm9RvvB_mXh/s320/20170909_113853%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sunday, September 17 Shepherd Parkway will once again play host to Catholic University's Mother Theresa Day of Service. 80 students will attack a major dumping site just beyond the southern tip of Shepherd Parkway alongside beautiful Oxon Run. All are welcome to join us from 10am to 1pm. Meet at 4721 1st Street SW.<br />
<br />
Clean-up dates for the remainder of 2017 are October 14, November 11, and December 9, always from 10:30 am to 1 pm. We meet at the benches opposite 555 Newcomb Street SE in the lively "town green" of Congress Heights.<br />
<br />
Want to make sure we're for real? Call Nathan at 301-758-5892 or email nbharrington@yahoo.com.Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-29841219178311089892017-06-05T21:47:00.001-07:002017-06-05T21:50:06.214-07:00Celebrate Summer in the Woods of Ward 8<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For the first time in recent memory, Shepherd Parkway has its very own sign identifying it as a unit of National Park Service (NPS). </span></h1>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sign pictured here was erected in February at the corner of 2nd and Chesapeake Streets SW. More of these are expected at several locations by the end of the year, along with new informational panels known as "waysides." <br /><br />For the past year, Ranger Vince Vaise has worked with the NPS's Northeast Region headquarters in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia to create the new signs.<br /><br />The Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway has been arguing for five years that high quality, well-placed signage is key to helping residents and visitors see the park as a valuable resource rather than a foreboding, and inaccessible dead zone.<br /><br />The Park Service has been slow to make the improvements we seek, but our persistent advocacy has finally born fruit. The new signage is an important step along the way to reengaging the public with their public land. </span></h1>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But what's that awful mess?</span></strong></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's just some of the junk that's still laying in the woods, fouling the soil and water and visually scaring a lush and otherwise beautiful landscape. We need your help to clean it all up.<br /> </span></b></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please join our next<br /><br />Community Clean-Up<br /><br />Saturday, June 10<br /><br />10:30 am - 1 pm</span></strong></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />-Meet opposite 555 Newcomb Street SE, in the park in the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE<br /><br />-Wear boots, pants (not shorts) and clothes you don't mind getting dirty<br /><br />-Gloves, bags, tools and water will be provided<br /><br />-Documentation of community service hours provided upon request<br /><br />-School, church, and workplace groups are welcome with RSVP<br /><br />-For more info contact Nathan at nbharrington@yahoo.com or 301-758-5892 </span></b></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-42488865249378154392017-04-13T20:16:00.002-07:002017-04-13T20:16:58.439-07:00Earth Day at the Parkway<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIgJw5khcGWJwRAFV1oqO36HRgkzr4WqRj1V4kXuuQmR-jeOtgJB4FZlUkNrWHTcRC9snPc4XFXPvPmfm9osh5yR3suRv0cjmmJx3bkgZgcYQjjhA8rbd3zGAYM9uGR8i-gK6ht6xgqD8/s1600/20170311_115655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIgJw5khcGWJwRAFV1oqO36HRgkzr4WqRj1V4kXuuQmR-jeOtgJB4FZlUkNrWHTcRC9snPc4XFXPvPmfm9osh5yR3suRv0cjmmJx3bkgZgcYQjjhA8rbd3zGAYM9uGR8i-gK6ht6xgqD8/s320/20170311_115655.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't miss our biggest volunteer event of the year! Shepherd Parkway is one of 30 sites participating in the Anacostia Watershed Society's</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2017 Earth Day Clean-Up & Celebration</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Saturday, April 22</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>9 am to 12 noon</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.anacostiaws.org/earthday2017/" target="_blank"><b>Click here to register</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the first time, we'll be focusing on the wide-open southern section of Shepherd Parkway, along 2nd Street SW in the community of Bellevue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #202020;">~Meet in the picnic
area at the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #202020;">~Wear boots and
clothes you won't mind getting dirty. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #202020;">~The first 100
volunteers will receive an Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day t-shirt</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~For more information
contact Nathan Harrington at nathanbharrington@gmail.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Shepherd Parkway is featured in the <a href="http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/restoring-shepherd-parkway" target="_blank">April Issue of the Hill Rag</a>!</b></span></span></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-77357027168335839542017-03-01T21:17:00.003-08:002017-03-02T13:16:49.137-08:00Why are there so many tires in the woods, and why should we care?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkS0PjY5E7bzIdbaoP1-rDC6sS-QFbawewfVFeQvBgmfNcKdq4oXAEtEf1VJSk-5YRA25dYHz7B1JdTjIMFap6Yrg7L2lk17xf7nkZqND0gU9yzTr8rMoPbJgFvPLkBU9R1KTCcqcEHzL/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkS0PjY5E7bzIdbaoP1-rDC6sS-QFbawewfVFeQvBgmfNcKdq4oXAEtEf1VJSk-5YRA25dYHz7B1JdTjIMFap6Yrg7L2lk17xf7nkZqND0gU9yzTr8rMoPbJgFvPLkBU9R1KTCcqcEHzL/s320/080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You've seen them: tires scattered incongruently in the woods amidst beech trees and ferns. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In many parts of the United States, old tires are the most illegally dumped item. The photo at right was taken in Shepherd Parkway below 2nd Street SE in 2011, before our awesome volunteers removed all the tires. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of all the things people might want to get rid of, why are there so many tires in our public land park lands? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Most tire sellers charge customers a disposal fee of a few dollars. The seller then contracts with hauler to pick up the tires. The hauler then has several options: they can pay to dispose of the tires at a landfill, which usually costs at least a dollar per tire, or transfer them to a recycler. Tires can be ground up used for as a porous paving surance for parking lots and playgrounds, or can be turned into fuel. The recycler may be located some distance away and might also charge a fee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If the hauler is unscrupulous or pressed for cash, they may risk a cheaper option: rolling the tires down a hill into the woods, usually on public land. It takes only minutes and is difficult to prosecute unless someone catches them in the act. Illegal dumping is rarely an enforcement priority for police- especially in low-income areas- state and local land managers and environmental crimes units are invariable under-staffed and spread out over a huge area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In many states, including Maryland (80 cents) and Virginia (5 cents) also require tire sellers to collect a state fee, with revenue going to offset landfill and recycling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">None of the options for disposing of tires is ideal. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tire are not biodegradable and are hard to compact, so they take up a lot of space in landfills. Recycling is also a bit of a trade-off: o</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ver a period of </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">many years, sun, water, soil and ice cause them to slowly break down. As this happens, toxic oils and heavy metals such as lead are released into the soil, where they remain for centuries, slowly leaching into the groundwater and local streams and rivers. Recycling facilities can be very loud and smelly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When tires are scattered willy nilly in the woods, they contaminate the view as well as the soil and water. They are an eyesore and an insult to the great American idea of setting aside</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> land for preservation of the natural landscape and ecosystems for future generations.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhD0MdRQbUPo2Q5ArtLLozrSLFQl0PIg4Tpz3SjG9SJbJz-O23amb75Syq1dXBlbYN5RbKqGJ4jQOljDujncsOxik6mmYWTJmNBGEdwq1RMnOd8pQ1Y71LGGsE8lo6r7SyEqJXTFpGuqo/s1600/5Z35U05X13nc3kb3o1bbd8ffff8adbc1c185b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhD0MdRQbUPo2Q5ArtLLozrSLFQl0PIg4Tpz3SjG9SJbJz-O23amb75Syq1dXBlbYN5RbKqGJ4jQOljDujncsOxik6mmYWTJmNBGEdwq1RMnOd8pQ1Y71LGGsE8lo6r7SyEqJXTFpGuqo/s1600/5Z35U05X13nc3kb3o1bbd8ffff8adbc1c185b.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The most serious threat posed by those tires laying around outside is one you won't notice until you try to pick one up. A</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nyone who's helped us remove tires from Shepherd Parkway knows that rain water accumulates inside the tires is very difficult to set out. The water is stagnant, and often warm- a perfect breeding ground for mosquitos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Given the coming of mosquito season and recent reports of Zika botched tests, the urgency of cleaning up these tires in our communities takes of greater urgency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stay tuned as I do additional research into tire disposal in the DC area. </span><br />
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-59296794056226953672016-11-25T17:54:00.000-08:002016-11-29T20:41:48.214-08:00Five Years and Still Rolling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5ZFZ1OtOjbcnwX5sNS9GuoUa9yzyNjxCH3EiP-rpoJrAg91YJePvTHsNJJfCwPOjXhK4xPAD3kU0lwoeEwsB-V289CSI5QLU_HZ85ltQon5cxujRBWcmDdhpwiPUU28iysdXE_97Oi-t/s1600/IMG_29481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5ZFZ1OtOjbcnwX5sNS9GuoUa9yzyNjxCH3EiP-rpoJrAg91YJePvTHsNJJfCwPOjXhK4xPAD3kU0lwoeEwsB-V289CSI5QLU_HZ85ltQon5cxujRBWcmDdhpwiPUU28iysdXE_97Oi-t/s400/IMG_29481.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As the darkness and cold around us grows, both climatically and politically, the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway gives thanks for all we have been able to accomplish together over the past five years.<br />
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We have held nearly 100 clean-up events with over 1,500 volunteers. We've removed hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from the park, leaving it the cleanest it's been in decades. <br />
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In 20017, we will continue to hold our signature Community Clean-Ups every second Saturday of the month. In the new year we are moving the start time up half an hour to 10:30 am, but the end time remains 1 pm.<br />
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We will continue to meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE.<br />
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Mark your calendar for 10:30 to 1 on:<br />
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Saturday, January 14<br />
Saturday, February 11<br />
Saturday, March 11<br />
Saturday, April 8<br />
Saturday, May 13<br />
Saturday, June 10<br />
Saturday, July 8<br />
Saturday, August 12<br />
Saturday, September 9<br />
Saturday, October 14<br />
Saturday, November 11<br />
Saturday, December 9<br />
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We continue our open invitation to colleges, schools, churches, offices and other groups who wish to leave their mark on Shepherd Parkway. You pick the date and time. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange your groups volunteer experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3M4sTFd4EnsYfGD-r9UqxlxzT8lSrV0i-9BhjrI8ECisN4jeoyvo-a4Ch4tB24mu-UQ8Tpk_WsqpbO9LAE1ibtD2sSRnzDinRey-eFX2zazWjzAXP3M9gMIeb61WDiZfWzkAMzraRdJu/s1600/20161119_133125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3M4sTFd4EnsYfGD-r9UqxlxzT8lSrV0i-9BhjrI8ECisN4jeoyvo-a4Ch4tB24mu-UQ8Tpk_WsqpbO9LAE1ibtD2sSRnzDinRey-eFX2zazWjzAXP3M9gMIeb61WDiZfWzkAMzraRdJu/s640/20161119_133125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-45990708364949514442016-11-13T18:53:00.003-08:002016-11-13T19:04:29.995-08:00The forest still needs us, and we still need the forest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5f5IL7hYrue9tAKXr_vRYEIFh6NTat1MJaMDpA0r4dUCf3zw-Zf1XkRxLHAqpbyE5QPJrqq6ZZKVvaaWlgkdc1GLZBf2-CAHu6Av9xvzoIb-Xkt5eSpiKZU2RzP6w0m9o0Wt8-YlHfv1/s1600/cover1024+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5f5IL7hYrue9tAKXr_vRYEIFh6NTat1MJaMDpA0r4dUCf3zw-Zf1XkRxLHAqpbyE5QPJrqq6ZZKVvaaWlgkdc1GLZBf2-CAHu6Av9xvzoIb-Xkt5eSpiKZU2RzP6w0m9o0Wt8-YlHfv1/s400/cover1024+%25281%2529.jpg" width="303" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By Nathan Harrington</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like most Washingtonians, I am still reeling from the news that an openly racist, nativist misogynistic and Islamophobic con-man - a vacuous demagogue and crass narcissist - will be our next President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cherished illusions about what kind a country we are, how far we've come, and who we entrust with power have been painfully stripped away. The possibility that a sage, cool-headed black president might be followed by a feisty woman president was enough to provoke a fierce reactionary backlash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More people voted for Clinton, but thanks to the arcane - and insane - Electoral College, we have our second undemocratically elected president in 16 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The electoral outcome is an unmitigated disaster for "the environment" - that is, the prospects for the planet remaining habitable. While future administrations will ultimately reverse the policy outrages of the next four years, the science of climate change is not negotiable or reversible. If the President-Elect follows through on his pledges of withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords, extract and burn more coal, oil and gas, and roll-back Obama's emissions and fuel economy standards - and if Congress goes along - the survival of our children may come to depend on the pipe-dreams of Elon Musk. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OsVUrjAjpyFXyNxCKsqJ_BeC3Ghq12v1wIFx2_G_XjRIyHQuY4N05WL6axPXJCIcRxG-1adoTpYp6EGH-9ZGlxX4DoNIii1AgpYcHdHwh3Rr7JpZC48MwMthW4MC8ls216sf53JGiIFK/s1600/20161113_164732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OsVUrjAjpyFXyNxCKsqJ_BeC3Ghq12v1wIFx2_G_XjRIyHQuY4N05WL6axPXJCIcRxG-1adoTpYp6EGH-9ZGlxX4DoNIii1AgpYcHdHwh3Rr7JpZC48MwMthW4MC8ls216sf53JGiIFK/s400/20161113_164732.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's hope that this dark moment in our history will break through our complacency. As the great historian Howard Zinn said "If you want change, it matters less who is sitting in the White House than who is sitting in, <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">and who is marching outside the White House, pushing for change.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of our work for human rights, social and economic justice, peace, and a sustainable world must continue, but with a new consciousness of what's a stake. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Restoring and protecting Shepherd Parkway as a life-giving resource for the under-served Ward 8 community is one very small contribution to a better world. The forest still needs us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In times like these, we all need the healing power of nature. We still need the forest. </span><br />
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-10883696403777149512016-10-17T17:36:00.000-07:002016-10-17T17:36:14.745-07:00New Superintendent Named for National Capital Parks-East <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptFNkQVK10WqToAEc6q-HJAbW-0rgG1pT0-HYwH9FO9l2npaDVHVx6zxrQM1ehzB3XV3G8hyphenhyphenyY8kWwKtCerN2OS8WmymfxnBmhb1p3ow7IguKkinR9do08ffAMgSJD4nTsDMBPpTC9_jv/s1600/Superintendent-Tara-Morrison_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptFNkQVK10WqToAEc6q-HJAbW-0rgG1pT0-HYwH9FO9l2npaDVHVx6zxrQM1ehzB3XV3G8hyphenhyphenyY8kWwKtCerN2OS8WmymfxnBmhb1p3ow7IguKkinR9do08ffAMgSJD4nTsDMBPpTC9_jv/s320/Superintendent-Tara-Morrison_1.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1476750542829_315" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px;">BIG NEWS, Courtesy of the Anacostia Trust:</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1476750542829_340" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px;">"Tara Morrison will take over as Superintendent of </span><span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1476750542829_317" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px;">National Capital Parks–East on December 7. She will be responsible for Anacostia Park, historic homes (Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune and Carter G. Woodson), the Fort Circle parks, and several other parks in DC and Maryland.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_17_2_1_1476750542829_328" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 24px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to the release </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">announcing her appointment,</span><span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1476750542829_327" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nace/learn/news/new-superintendent-named-for-anacostia-park-historic-homes-and-capitol-hill-parks.htm" style="color: #021878; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">New Superintendent Named for Anacostia Park, Historic Homes and Capitol Hill Parks</a>, Morrison will be joined by two new staff focused on Anacostia Park, a Project Executive for the Anacostia and a Senior Project Manager. The former will move forward Anacostia Park projects, partnerships, and initiatives. The latter will focus on cleaning five contaminated sites along the Anacostia River and will work closely with DC's Department of Energy and the Environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Superintendent Morrison brings to National Capital Parks East a reputation of working effectively with park partners</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> noted Anacostia Waterfront Trust Executive Director Doug Siglin. “We look forward to working closely with her for many years to make the Anacostia Park truly a special place for all DC, but particularly for people who live east of the Anacostia River.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Morrison joined the National Park Service in 1998. She is not new to DC. Since 2011, Morrison has been Superintendent of Rock Creek Park. Throughout her NPS career, Morrison has engaged with community in a variety of ways. She has, for example, worked closely with the public during the creation of the African Burial Ground Visitor Center's first general management plan to ensure that the community was actively engaged in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Morrison attended Northeastern University and received a B.S. in African American studies. She pursued graduate studies in anthropology at the University of South Carolina.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.34px; line-height: 27.2px;">Morrison is taking the place of Gopaul Noojibail; Noojibail has moved to Wyoming to serve as Deputy Superintendent at Grand Teton National Park."</span></div>
Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-71114421332031825802016-10-08T22:00:00.002-07:002016-10-08T22:00:37.816-07:00October at Shepherd Parkway<div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4abkjwpP_kP_C55NQKGFOK9oeQV8D9U1UxG8yn40TX5Se2nUtyYPTa-iS-u6y2pVSCwyQiHcbQwESBhtHsipZOld07cbKUApWLigE-9nWTnJUdf-4xACl0ojOMczPiCEfxyKDf0327apD/s1600/Harlan_Thesis_20121020_2165_masterfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4abkjwpP_kP_C55NQKGFOK9oeQV8D9U1UxG8yn40TX5Se2nUtyYPTa-iS-u6y2pVSCwyQiHcbQwESBhtHsipZOld07cbKUApWLigE-9nWTnJUdf-4xACl0ojOMczPiCEfxyKDf0327apD/s400/Harlan_Thesis_20121020_2165_masterfile.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;">Please join our next community Clean-Up on Saturday, October 15 from 11 am to 1 pm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;">We meet at the picnic tables near the corner or Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;">Gloves, bags, and water are provided. Volunteers should wear boots and clothes you won't mind getting dirty. Bring a water bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">October is my favorite month at Shepherd Parkway. The air is fresh; the mosquitoes are gone. It is cool but not cold. The trees are a riot greens, yellows, oranges and reds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">I know you have many choices and demands on your Saturdays, but consider: these two hours will yield concrete benefits for you and your community:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">Each and every person who attends makes a measurable difference. Every can, bottle, and bag picked-up brings us closer to our goal of healthy, beautiful park.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">Research demonstrates that physical and mental health benefits of physical activity in nature. </span> </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbIO1LWZkawN9y8hW-klvu5gpeZwjp7_pQabSe3YTCmo3GHm_EQADyDQcNzNJaVCXhqLzQ6PqhRcLEvMmbvD0E1_MgRfC760pgK2aVr9xJkOpLzdSqmO8PFc105IiB3qHAHTFP4oh7K09/s1600/Harlan_Thesis_20121020_1709_masterfile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbIO1LWZkawN9y8hW-klvu5gpeZwjp7_pQabSe3YTCmo3GHm_EQADyDQcNzNJaVCXhqLzQ6PqhRcLEvMmbvD0E1_MgRfC760pgK2aVr9xJkOpLzdSqmO8PFc105IiB3qHAHTFP4oh7K09/s400/Harlan_Thesis_20121020_1709_masterfile.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif;">If you find the time to join us, you will not regret it.</span><br /><br />Peace and Blessings,<br /><br />Nathan Harrington<br />Chair, Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway</div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-14034538640636865962016-05-03T17:01:00.001-07:002016-05-03T17:01:31.653-07:00Volunteers continue to step up. When will the Park Service?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYGielJSjktQOdz00YvUOt15lExa_oW-lIoVGDKbyaL5QW7P-IFnXP6GDTl5fVlnJGOUoDrMbKQueZH5DQZFybnKt-IgLWBiU4_9P3Zjhx-EcH59l40tY8utiyZmBXIjy8UHXc38udpZq/s1600/earthday6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYGielJSjktQOdz00YvUOt15lExa_oW-lIoVGDKbyaL5QW7P-IFnXP6GDTl5fVlnJGOUoDrMbKQueZH5DQZFybnKt-IgLWBiU4_9P3Zjhx-EcH59l40tY8utiyZmBXIjy8UHXc38udpZq/s400/earthday6.jpg" width="400" /></a>Despite the often rainy weather, April was a huge volunteer month at the Parkway.<br />
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On Friday, April 22, 20 staff from the U.S. Coast Guard's Personnel Service Center cleaned the beautiful but heavily polluted area behind Brother Place SE. <br />
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The next day, April 23, nearly 100 volunteers braved a cool rain at Shepherd Parkway as part of the Anacostia Watershed Society's annual Earth Day Clean-Up. Work sites included the foot of Malcolm X Avenue, 2nd Street, the Lebaum Street.<br />
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Over the two days, we removed over 300 bags full of trash, 112 tires, and untold thousands of pounds of car parts, carpets, furniture, and other large items.<br />
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Areas of the park where you could not see the ground when we began are starting to look like healthy forests again. New dumping continues to occur but is less frequent than in the past, and we strive to undo it as quickly as possible.<br />
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Unfortunately, our heroic volunteer efforts have yet to be matched by any serious action on the part of the parks "managers" at National Capital Parks-East. After five years of clean-ups and nearly two years of meetings, Shepherd Parkway still has<br />
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-No signage<br />
-No public programming<br />
-No trail access<br />
-No anti-dumping enforcement<br />
-No historical interpretation, save for one sign<br />
-No serious plan for its future<br />
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NPS sites in the whiter, more affluent parts of DC have all of these. The neglect of Shepherd Parkway is a classic case of environmental racism, and it must end.<br />
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Please <a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/shepherd-parkway-call" target="_blank">sign the Shepherd Parkway Call to Action</a> to let NPS leaders know that Ward 8 deserves better.<br />
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Our next Community Clean-Up will be on Saturday, May 14 from 11 to 1. Meet at the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE.<br />
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While supplies last, all volunteers will receive a bright yellow Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day t-shirt. <br />
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-68276038608234234772016-03-28T12:01:00.000-07:002016-03-28T12:01:13.635-07:00An Interview with Jim Foster, President of the Anacostia Watershed Society<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What makes the Anacostia River unique?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Jim: </b>It’s the river that flows through the nation’s capital. It is certainly an urban river and has been the recipient of much abuse, like other rivers. What really sets it apart is the federal government’s influence and impact on this river compared to other rivers in the county. That’s really unique.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of all the work you’ve done to restore the river and the watershed, what accomplishment are you most proud of?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Jim: </b></span>I think we’re most proud of raising the awareness of this river after generations of telling people, “Don’t go there, that river’s dirty.” We’ve worked really hard to reconnect people to the river and weave the river back into the fabric of the communities. Is it done? Heck no. Is it better than it was? Heck yes. Mission accomplished? No. </span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Anacostiamap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="mw-mmv-final-image mw-mmv-dialog-is-open" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Anacostiamap.png" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the things that I deal with a lot as a Ward 8 resident and leader Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway is illegal dumping. We spent a lot of time removing trash that other people have thrown, but I’ve yet to glean much insight into how we might change people’s mindset or behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Jim: </b></span>I have a very literal approach to that- no pun intended. The reality is that people take care of the space when they feel connected to it and they feel part of the community. The people who are doing the dumping are coming from somewhere else for the most part.The people that are doing the littering in their communities want their space to be clean, but they disassociate themselves from the particular place where they are littering. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We are working hard to change some of that behavior: witness the bag fee and the polystyrene container ban in DC. We’ve been working this year on bottle deposit legislation in Maryland. It is really about behavior change: “Hey, I own this place, and I respect it.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Home ownership is 27 percent east of the river and 75 percent west of the river. How do we change that dynamic so more people are invested in their communities and want to help take of them?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I get the impression that Prince George’s County lags behind the District and Montgomery County when it comes to environment laws to benefit the watershed. Is that correct? If so, why do you think that is?</span></div>
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<a href="https://anacostiaproject.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/schlyer-8685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mi" height="224" src="https://anacostiaproject.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/schlyer-8685.jpg" style="margin-top: 17px;" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Jim: </b></span>In many respects they do lag far behind. It was run a fiefdom for many years. There were ten families that kind of ran the place, and it was all about them and development. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Montgomery County has been a little bit more progressive in their approach to the environment, but they’ve also done a lot of damage upfront, so they have a long way to go.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What we are seeing in Prince George’s is a sea change in the leadership. County Executive Baker has really worked hard to change things. Can you do it in eight years after 400 years of abuse? No. But he has been able to bring some progressive leadership in: witness Adam Ortiz, director of the Department of the Environment. </span></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-33876227031676774812016-03-14T21:22:00.001-07:002016-03-14T21:22:37.698-07:00March Madnesss<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2uyEsVRL654HggDJ-YNK2qRWTmFD3MN5Eq0xLSHYJ0dG6dVeWoAQxm8nrgmoh8BoAQYBPtHLwc0cofvaMrJuIr82stSHxyr3lDlkPZifvg51Swe4WS-FfM6lZNzg1qTsil1aSS2VeNja/s1600/20160312_124600_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2uyEsVRL654HggDJ-YNK2qRWTmFD3MN5Eq0xLSHYJ0dG6dVeWoAQxm8nrgmoh8BoAQYBPtHLwc0cofvaMrJuIr82stSHxyr3lDlkPZifvg51Swe4WS-FfM6lZNzg1qTsil1aSS2VeNja/s320/20160312_124600_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a>Steve Coleman, founder and director of Washington Parks and People once told me, "Backsliding is the kiss of death."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstl_6DNdGpJECD-AYEIsWIe5HdetVrCLxVLSn3-flM0CS0v16Bw__kdOTUEoM0LmGKsEBs85myyiNJ4qZoZCZED6dwOpHqcpODluWcE-0MM0S7saFa2ro91YBYbP_b_eCsTNxMq8xkcCV/s1600/20160312_120122_resized.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstl_6DNdGpJECD-AYEIsWIe5HdetVrCLxVLSn3-flM0CS0v16Bw__kdOTUEoM0LmGKsEBs85myyiNJ4qZoZCZED6dwOpHqcpODluWcE-0MM0S7saFa2ro91YBYbP_b_eCsTNxMq8xkcCV/s320/20160312_120122_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a>He was talking out illegal dumping and his experience leading the epic
restoration of Watts Branch (AKA Marvin Gaye) Park in Ward 7. As
important as it is to tackle trash that's been there for many years, he
said, it's even more important to make sure that the areas that have
already been cleaned stay clean. Undoing new dumping as soon as possible
sends a message to the community that times have changed and the dumpers
will not win.<br />
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With that in mind, the Saturday, March
12 clean-up focused in the vicinity of 249 Newcomb Street SE, where it
seems an entire apartment- rugs, furniture, mattresses, clothes, shoes,
food- was dumped in December. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFUio6z7RP7ZGJPoP8NAMlj8TBIurBv4YSqZkMFJb3oLHAlgBemoD7MxD2o6dmq8nDM7-dcDy5VgM9ocdseL3Y4YGX32HuvvhWNK113jpUuVlTHQhD9eJJDvd_L-WrTqTGS3xK9E2jITG/s1600/20160312_124211_resized.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFUio6z7RP7ZGJPoP8NAMlj8TBIurBv4YSqZkMFJb3oLHAlgBemoD7MxD2o6dmq8nDM7-dcDy5VgM9ocdseL3Y4YGX32HuvvhWNK113jpUuVlTHQhD9eJJDvd_L-WrTqTGS3xK9E2jITG/s320/20160312_124211_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fifteen
Cub Scouts from Pack 1657 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden were
there, as were stalwarts Ellen Williams, Jonathan Taylor, Erick Whitaker
and John Leach.<br />
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We removed an estimated 2,000 pounds (one ton) of man-made crap from the woods.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieET056CamIPBYPV7z_om2EpQCGK6d-xPirlBxuLqF2kaMd3NYNwhvRamk9eFTaVlLJuu5Q49i5VGaFEjAlfjZXyorgtD2zb7-WKtp3faMBYsQY7cs1sUsD4dcijgu7_hZSf3sggwsPeCx/s1600/20160312_125347_001_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieET056CamIPBYPV7z_om2EpQCGK6d-xPirlBxuLqF2kaMd3NYNwhvRamk9eFTaVlLJuu5Q49i5VGaFEjAlfjZXyorgtD2zb7-WKtp3faMBYsQY7cs1sUsD4dcijgu7_hZSf3sggwsPeCx/s320/20160312_125347_001_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a>April is going to be a huge month at Shepherd Parkway. Join us on
Saturday, April 2 from 11 am to 2 pm for a special work day with
students Georgetown University. Meet at the grassy area opposite 439
Lebaum Street SE.<br />
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The following Saturday, April 9, is
our regular Community Clean-Up from 11 to 1 at our usual meeting place
at the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE.<br />
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On Friday, April 22 U.S. Coast Guard personnel will be working from 8 am to noon at a sight to be <br />
announced.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcvAGnWBFKEdsRDRaSMi_Fh_-ObQpuS6dN6OvRCwKaWYDRYrP5WA4jhBOeHAtHTREUFZVhd-tOexyDGK6zz-TYdKpNGy34C10ev7uozFxZJVm0lT6rPISTqKkRPfQ9r0MRCTyLIR-ziVj/s1600/20160312_120710_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcvAGnWBFKEdsRDRaSMi_Fh_-ObQpuS6dN6OvRCwKaWYDRYrP5WA4jhBOeHAtHTREUFZVhd-tOexyDGK6zz-TYdKpNGy34C10ev7uozFxZJVm0lT6rPISTqKkRPfQ9r0MRCTyLIR-ziVj/s320/20160312_120710_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The
grant finale will be the Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Clean-Up
on Saturday, April 23 from 9am to noon, meeting at the corner of 2nd
Street and Malcolm X Avenue SE.<br />
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For more information on any of these events, contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com<br />
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<br />Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7062030788219664469.post-90087233462862498912016-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:002016-03-16T18:27:42.224-07:00Shepherd Parkway needs your help this Spring<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7272" style="background-color: #fafafa; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%px; word-break: break-word;"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7271" style="width: 1080px;">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7295" style="font-size: 24px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7294" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br />Here are three things you can do:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="yiv2177202607mcnTextContent" style="border-spacing: 2px; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 9px 18px;" valign="top"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">1<b>. <a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/shepherd-parkway-call" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2baadf; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Sign the Shepherd Parkway Call to Action</a></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">We've accomplished a great deal through the labors of our incredible volunteers, but Shepherd Parkway cannot realize its potential as a community asset without major investments by National Capital Parks-East (NACE), and it's up to us to create the political will.<br /><br />The Call to Action, started in July 2014, lays out our vision for the park and calls on NACE and other decision makers to do their part. Please sign if you have not already. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv2177202607mc-toc-title"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">2. </span><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/8jfab2ys" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; color: #656565; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Donate to our Go Fund Me Campaign</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv2177202607mc-toc-title"><span style="font-size: 24px;">This is a labor of love for a us, but we also need money to sustain and build on our efforts.<br /><br />Your gift will help us provide small perks like coffee and donuts to our volunteers, tools and equipment to keep them working, and handbills and lawn signs to spread the word. <br /><br />We are a grassroots, shoestring operation. Making a little bit go a long way is what we do. <br /><br />Give $5, $10, or whatever you can afford.<br /><br />The residents, volunteers, plants, animals, and river will thank you. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv2177202607mc-toc-title"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">3. </span><a href="http://shepherdparkway.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #656565; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><b>Attend a Community Clean-Up</b></a><br /><br />There is still far too much trash and invasive species in the park.<br /><br />Join us from 11 am to 1 pm on </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv2177202607mc-toc-title"><span style="font-size: 24px;"> Saturday, March 12<br /> Saturday, April 9<br /> Saturday, May 14</span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7336" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1456978450259_7334" style="font-size: 24px;">We meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Avenues SE.<br /><br />Wear boots, long sleeves, and clothes you don't mind getting dirty.<br /><br />Gloves, bags, and refreshments will be provided.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 24px;">Questions? Contact Nathan Harrington </span></span></div>
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Nathan Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08907712742847100043noreply@blogger.com0