Neighborhood watch coming to CH

This is pretty cool to see - the Northwest Columbia Heights Community Association is starting a neighborhood watch for the area, and they're having a training session for new block captains on July 20th. The job of the block captain is basically to organize the block and help get information to and from the police and local residents. Despite the NWCHCA organizing it, it looks like they want people from all over the neighborhood.

The training is from 7 to 8:30 PM at Location: St Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St NW - use the red doors on the 16th Street side.

Here's MPD's page about neighborhood watches, and here's what the organizer, NWCHCA president Cecilia Jones, has to say:

Neighborhood Watch is a recognized way for concerned community members to get involved and make a difference. This community-based organization of citizens working together with law enforcement has helped prevent burglaries, thefts, and violent crimes nationwide for many years. Ordinary people agree to look out for their neighbors and their neighbors property.

On the full post on the CH listserve, Jones also talks about helping property values and things like that.

Ribbon cutting at 14th and Girard Park today

Just saw this:

On behalf of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, please join us along with Councilmember Jim Graham, Department of Parks and Recreation Acting Director Ximena Hartsock and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Director Gloria Nauden in the celebration of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for 14th & Girard Street Park. This will take place on Friday, July 10th at 12:00pm.

Personally, I think 14th and Girard Street Park is a pretty lame name for a park -- anybody have some ideas? Anthony Williams Park? Gheorghe Muresan Park? Or a serious name idea?

Pete's Apizza now delivering!

This is pretty cool - tasty local pizza joint Pete's Apizza now delivers. The delivery area is pretty big, from 16th to Georgia and Upshur to U.

Delivery hours are 5PM to close (10PM Sunday through Thursday, 11PM
Friday and Saturday).

In a message on the CH Listserve, they note that since it's a new service, there may be a few hiccups, and ask people to please be patient. They also ask folks to check out their Twitter page for updates on delivery service: http://twitter.com/petes_newhaven

The minimum delivery order is $20, and there's a $3 delivery fee.

Pete's is at 1400 Irving Street NW in the Highland Park building. Their number is 202-332-PETE (7383).

Wanna do some headstands?

Who doesn't! Just saw this on the CH Listserve, at the Quiet Mind yoga studio: "enjoy headstands with daniel tonight at 8pm: in a mini-workshop style class."

The studio is at 3423 14th Street NW.

CH Streetscape plan almost done, more work to start

Got forwarded a press release from DDOT -- looks like things are going well.

The work on Park Road, between Mount Pleasant and 14th Streets, is scheduled to be completed by the end of July, weather permitting. DDOT will then move forward with improvements on 14th Street, NW, including new storm drain inlets, sidewalks, granite curbs and streetlights. This work will be done concurrently with the construction that is ongoing in the Civic Plaza, located at the intersection of Kenyon Street, 14th Street and Park Road, NW.

They also note that the right lane and curb parking lane on northbound 14th Street from Columbia to Park will be closed starting on or about July 27.

In addition:

More extensive road reconstruction work on 14th Street, from Newton Street to Columbia Road, is scheduled to begin in November. DDOT will also be reconstructing Irving Street, between 14th and 16th Streets, and the entire project is expected to be completed in late spring, 2010.

Overall, the improvements to the Columbia Heights area include total roadway reconstruction, waterline and drainage upgrades, new sidewalks, landscaping, street lighting, intersection and signal improvements, enhancements to traffic operations, pedestrian amenities and safety improvements.

The Columbia Heigts Streetscape plan website has more on bus changes and such.

Casey Trees out planting and watering trees in the neighborhood

Today walking down Girard Street between 13th and 14th, I noticed some folks watering trees. Turns out they were from Casey Trees, a nonprofit that plants and cares for trees around the city. Nice to see them working in the neighborhood!

They have a pretty cool web map that shows where they've planted trees, and also resources where you can ask for trees to be planted -- for free!

Apologies for fewer posts recently

Just wanted to say sorry for the lack of posts lately -- Blogger's scheduled post function is not working recently. Usually when I get busy at work, I'll write up a few to post the next day, but since it isn't working, I have to do it when I can, manually.

Hopefully Blogger will get it sorted out soon, and I'll keep writing posts now anyway!