On Saturday, June 14th, 2008, Wholeness for Humanity (WFH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host the Anacostia EcoTour in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club. Building upon the success of the MLK Anacostia EcoTour and the Cherry Blossom Anacostia EcoTour, the tour will:

• Connect community leaders with citizens;
• Promote environmental and community stewardship; and
• Raise awareness about the health of the Anacostia Watershed.

Join this leisurely 12 – 15 mile bike ride through the Anacostia Watershed. The Anacostia EcoTour will give participants a first-hand look at the environmental achievements and contributions of concerned citizens in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. Anyone interested in becoming an EcoTour guide will have the chance to lead legs of the Anacostia EcoTour and afterwards, participants will get a chance to mingle with the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club at the Black Hill Regional Park Picnic.  The free Anacostia EcoTour can only accommodate 30 cyclers, so you must register soon!  There will also be another tour on June 28th. Click June 14th Eco-Tour or June 28th Eco-Tour for more information.

WHEN:
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
9:30am – 10:00am: Anacostia EcoTour Registration
10:00am – 1:00pm: Anacostia EcoTour
1:00pm – 3:00pm: Black Hill Regional Park Picnic

WHERE:
Navy Yard Green Line Metro on New Jersey Avenue (Behind US DOT) 200 M Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 -- Anacostia EcoTour Registration and Departure Point

Anacostia EcoTour Stops:
• U.S. DOT Headquarters Building/Triangle Park
• Virginia Avenue Community Garden
• Eastern Market
• Judy’s Solar Home
• Ward 6 RiverSmart Home
• Kingman Island
• Benning Road Bridge
• Marvin Gaye and Lady Bird Johnson Park
• The Urban Tree House at Anacostia Park
• Poplar Point
• The Syphax School
• Nationals Park

By now, you've probably heard about the Mayor's new "Neighborhood Safety Zones" that include check points in targeted neighborhoods with high levels of crime. The plan is currently focused in the Trinidad community where gun violence and murders has rocked that neighborhood in recent months. It's been met with mixed reaction from neighbors, but we'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter. If you're not familiar with the plan, you can read more here and here.

Councilmember Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for 2 pm next Monday at the John A. Wilson Building.

The hearing is open to the public and any resident can testify. If you would like to sign up for the hearing, please contact Victor Bonett at (202) 724-4865, by fax at (202) 724-6664 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Regardless of whether you can attend the hearing or not, what do you think of setting up Neighborhood Safety Zones? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Dear Neighbors in and around Potomac Gardens,

I want to thank all those who have participated in our first two Friday night pot-luck dinners at Potomac Gardens.  At our first dinner, we introduced the concept of these discussions in Potomac Gardens and let all residents share concerns about delinquent activity of the children.  Chief Groomes did a great job at the second dinner continuing to focus on issues related to crime.

For this Friday, I have asked Michael Kelly, the head of DC Public Housing to join us to hear the complaints and concerns of the residents regarding living conditions at Potomac Gardens.  Many of us heard the complaints at our meetings, including from the youth who want their basketball court restored.  I expect Mr. Kelly to communicate a plan for addressing the problems raised by the residents. I encourage the neighbors around the neighborhood to join us in support of improving the conditions of the housing complex.

At the following Friday pot luck dinner, our fourth, I hope to move us to a deeper dialogue with everyone to see what we can do about ending the delinquent activity through joint action.  It will be a solutions oriented discussion and I look forward to increased participation from the neighborhood at the meeting.

Tommy Wells

For all of you who come out to the parade on the fourth of July and may not know it – there is more fun to be had after the parade is over.  The Naval Lodge on Capitol Hill in conjunction with Tiber Creek Associates of Capitol Hill is sponsoring a Family Picnic at Hine Jr. High on the parking lot right after the parade ends, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. The Naval Lodge has been a strong supporter of the cluster schools through their Back to School Fun Fair.

The Family Picnic is organized to benefit the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools and also provides a nice opportunity for neighbors, organizations and community leaders to meet and catch up on all the latest neighborhood doings. 

As you know the parade begins at 10:00am at the Marine Barracks at 8th and I Sts., SE and ends at Eastern Market.  The picnic will follow immediately on the parking lot at Hine.  Anyone interested in having a table or wishing further information should contact Sharon Boesen at 202.543.5755 or via cell at 202.230.4588.