Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time to practice conscious gratitude for the many blessings that life brings. Although the year to date has had plenty of trying moments, I am grateful for the small acts of kindness and grace that I witness throughout Ward 5 every day. Here are just a few examples:
When my team was preparing for a press conference to announce the introduction of the Environmental Justice Amendment Act, we saw an OSSE school bus driver stop to give bottled water to an individual in distress. It was clear that this was not their first encounter and just as clear that the responsibility the driver had assumed was a personal act of kindness–not an expectation.
I am similarly grateful for the way that Ward 5 residents care for one another. The community’s response during and after the Petit Scholars incident in Bloomingdale is a perfect example: neighbors rushed to the assistance of the educators and children to stop the assault, and the community rallied to support the educators to ensure they had the resources needed to assist with their recovery. I am grateful to live among neighbors who are quick to assist others in need.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank the many individuals throughout the ward who enrich our communities by volunteering for our civic, religious, and charitable organizations. Whether you serve in an advisory neighborhood commission, civic association, parent-teacher organization, mutual aid group, church, mosque, synagogue, shelter, food kitchen, community garden, senior home, or any other way that you get involved and care for your community, know that your contributions are valued.
There are many individuals this time of year who struggle to put food on the table, so I hope you will join me in finding a way to support those in need this holiday season. As a reminder, my office is holding a Turkey Giveaway on November 20. All turkeys have been reserved; but if there are leftovers, they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on November 20 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Langston Golf Course Parking Lot (2600 Benning Rd NE).
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, please remember that government services will be modified next week. My office will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The executive will announce changes to affected services next week, but it is safe to plan on the following adjustments based on previous years:
- DPW will not collect household trash and recycling on Thursday November 23 or Friday November 24. Collections normally scheduled for both days will “slide” to Saturday, November 25. Leaf collection will operate on schedule.
- All parking enforcement will be suspended on Thursday and Friday, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing.
- DC Public Library neighborhood locations (including the Woodridge location in Ward 5) will be be closed on Thursday and may have modified hours on Friday.
- DC Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
This edition of the Ward 5 Weekly newsletter also includes information about my week, DC Health Link Open Enrollment, important dates for the MySchool DC lottery and EdFEST, DDOT updates about trail projects in and near Ward 5, open registration for DPR Winter Programs, and events in Ward 5 and across the city including an event marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Saturday in Brookland. Keep reading for more!
