In this issue: CCCA Co-Sponsoring Forum Sept 10 on D.C. Council Election, D.C. Schools Begin Online Sessions For Students, ANC Candidates to Appear on September 17 Forum, ANC Seeks to Remove Newlands Name from Circle Fountain, The Process and Arguments Surrounding Woodrow Wilson High School's Renaming, What’s Happening on Chevy Chase Circle, Northwest Neighbors Village Offers Online Speakers, Jazz, Historic Chevy Chase DC Plans Fall Programs, Avalon Theatre Launches a Virtual Cinema Platform, Bus Depot Reconstruction Due This Fall, Improvements Continue in Lafayette Park, Chevy Chase Library Reopening Still on Hold

September 2020

CCCA Co-Sponsoring Forums Sept. 10 on Council Election

Our association, the Shepherd Park Citizens Association and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G are co-sponsoring three forums featuring candidates for two at-large seats on the D.C. Council in November’s election.

The first two events will be held on Zoom from 5 to 6 pm and 8 to 9 pm on Thursday, Sept. 10. Access information is given below. The third is yet to be scheduled but will announced on the CCCA website (chevychasecitizens.org) and local listservs.

Registered voters may cast votes for two candidates.

Forum moderators will be Mark Pattison of Shepherd Park and Robert Gordon of Chevy Chase. ANC 3/4G chair Randy Speck will be timekeeper. The sessions will be recorded and will be available on YouTube.

Here are the expected participants in the first two sessions. An * designates candidates who submitted campaign statements that will appear on chevychasecitizens.org.

5 pm session: Kathy Henderson, Christina Henderson, Ed Lazere*, Jeanne Lewis, Vincent Orange, Monica Palacio*, independents; Robert White, Democrat, and Ann C. Wilcox*, Statehood Green.

8 pm session: Claudia Barragan, Markus Batchelor, Franklin Garcia, Marcus Goodwin*, Calvin H. Gurley, Chander Jayaraman*, and Alexander M. Padro, independents, and Marya Pickering*, Republican.

The link for the first forum session from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm on September 10 is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89119186697, and the dial-in number (i.e., without video) is 301 715 8592, Webinar ID: 891 1918 6697. The link for the second forum session from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm on September 10 is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86719771594, and the dial-in number is 301 715 8592, Webinar ID: 867 1977 1594.

Interested in volunteering with the CCCA? Send us an email to president@chevychasecitizens.org. We are looking for people that have writing, reporting, and photography skills to prepare articles for our newsletter and website.  We also urgently need volunteers to help us with our database and technical solutions for the website.  Additionally, we are looking for people who are interested in playing leadership roles in the CCCA, the oldest non-profit serving our neighborhood.

It's time to renew your membership! Please renew or join today.

ANC Candidates to Appear on September 17 Forum

Candidates for seats on the seven-member Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G, which represents the Chevy Chase, D.C., area on issues involving the District government, are scheduled to appear at a Zoom forum sponsored by the association.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17. Please click this link to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81494792298 (Webinar ID: 814 9479 2298 or dial in at 301-715-8592)

Incumbents Randy Speck (District Three) and Chris Fromboluti (District Seven) are running unopposed for another term. In Districts One, Two and Five, there is only one candidate to replace Commissioners Abe Clayman, Chanda Tuck-Garfield and Jerry Malitz respectively.

There is a contested race in District Four to replace Rebecca Maydak, and the replacement for Dan Bradfield in District Six will be chosen by a write-in vote, with no candidates having met the District’s August 5 filing deadline.

CCCA asked all candidates for a short statement, which appears below.

Lisa Gore, District One

I'm excited to announce my candidacy for ANC Commissioner, Single Member District 3/4G-01. I’ve been a D.C. resident since 1990 and a resident of Hawthorne since 2000.   I believe in inclusive leadership, with all residents being well-informed of issues impacting our Single Member District and the ANC as a whole.  If elected, I'm committed to representing your interests with integrity, passion, and with a commitment to public service.  

As ANC Commissioner, I pledge to:

• Build a strong communication network to ensure residents are informed of issues affecting our Single Member District, the ANC, and local government;
• Leverage our collective ideas and solutions to assist the ANC in making decisions on policies, resolution, and issues affecting our community; and
• Hold our elected officials accountable to our priorities and values in the ANC and the D.C. government.

I believe the ANC Commissioner position is genuinely one of public service, and it would be an honor to serve as your next Commissioner. This is our community, and it’s our voice. To learn more about me and my campaign, please visit Lisa4ANC.com, follow me on Twitter @GoreforANC34G01, or email me directly at GoreforANC34G01@gmail.com.

John Higgins, District Two

I have been a resident of Northwest DC for just over 50 years. My wife Katy and I raised our two sons here and both attended Murch Elementary School. In fact, Katy was the librarian at Murch for 23 years. Before retiring. I was a reporter and editor for several McGraw-Hill business publications, including more than 10 years with Business Week magazine in Cleveland, Minneapolis, and the national bureau in Washington.

Last November we sold our home in DC and moved just seven blocks to the Knollwood life care community adjacent to Rock Creek Park, where we have found a new, welcoming, and very enjoyable senior living experience. To the degree that civic issues in ANC 3G-02 coincide with those of my entire “constituency” I will endeavor to pursue them. Mainly, I hope to bring the perspective of a long-time resident to my role with the ANC, and contribute to the continued quality of life in NW as we navigate through these challenging times.

Randy Speck District Three

I’m a retired lawyer and have enjoyed using my experience in a different context on behalf of my neighbors. I’ve served on the Commission almost eight years — including six years as Chair. The Commission has taken on major issues for our community, including securing funding for a modernized Community Center and Library, obtaining key changes in the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments and funding for a Small Area Plan for the Chevy Chase Gateway, and initiating a task force to address racism. In the last two years, I’ve represented the Commission in testimony before the Council more than 25 times on issues affecting our community. I’ve also represented the Commission at hearings before District agencies on the use of public space, zoning variances, and preservation of the E-6 bus route. I’ve advocated for my constituents on their concerns with the Department of Transportation, Washington Gas, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, DC Water, MPD, the Urban Forestry Administration, the National Park Service, and others.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities as we plan for our new Community Center/Library, develop plans for the Chevy Chase Gateway, and strive to create a more equitable community.

Stacy Beck, District Four

I am running for ANC 3/4G-04 to serve as a voice for the residents of Chevy Chase.

As a small business owner, I know the frustrations of trying to navigate the city bureaucracy. I will help my neighbors cut through the red tape.

As the mother of three DC public school students, I know that our local schools are overcrowded and under-funded. I will fight to ensure that Lafayette, Deal, and Wilson get the resources they need, so that every student can succeed.

As a longtime community volunteer, I have proven myself to be a hard worker. I currently co-chair Lafayette Gives Back, our school's community service program, and serve on the Board of Impact100 DC, a women's philanthropic organization. I previously served on the Lafayette Home and School Association Board, as a volunteer for the Alice Deal Community Association, and five times as a Lafayette Room Parent. I will bring the same dedication and commitment to the role of ANC Commissioner that I have brought to these roles.

Everyone should feel welcome in our community. I will work with other local leaders to identify systemic racial inequities and propose concrete solutions.

I hope to earn your trust and your vote. My website is https://www.stacybeckforanc.com/

Michael Zeldin, District Four

I am excited to be running to be your ANC representative. I will work tirelessly for you on the issues we face day-to-day as individuals and as a community.

I have lived in DC for nearly 50 years and on Tennyson Street for over 30. I am married to Amy Rudnick. Our two children were born and raised in DC.

I have the experience and skills needed to be an effective advocate. I am a consensus builder who listens, learns, empathizes, and will work to build a more inclusive community.  I have been involved in local politics for many years and have worked with the agencies that most directly impact our lives I enjoy the support of many community leaders.

Professionally, I have been a Legal Aid and defense attorney, federal prosecutor, Congressional counsel, consultant, and high school, college, and law school educator.  Most recently, I was an on-air CNN Legal Analyst.

I am a Board member of KEEN Greater DC-Baltimore (providing free programming for young people with physical and developmental disabilities), an Auction Committee Chair for KidSave (providing adoption services for older children), and a reading tutor in the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation Scholar-Athlete program.

For years, I coached my children’s DC Stoddert soccer teams. I ride for the DC Velo bicycle team. I’m a sports fan, a music lover, and a budding photographer and guitarist. I invite you to learn more about me at MichaelZeldin.com

Connie Chang, District Five

Hello neighbors! I am Connie K. N. Chang and I am running for ANC 3G-05 Commissioner. I want to serve as your advocate and help reimagine and improve our neighborhood. I have been a DC resident for 25 years. My husband Nathaniel and I moved to this neighborhood in February 1998, when we bought our first house. Our oldest daughter, who just left for college, is a product of Lafayette Elementary School, Deal Middle School, and Wilson High School. Our youngest is a sixth grader at Deal. 

I grew up straddling two cultures—public school where few looked like me, and weekends in Manhattan’s Chinatown where my parents owned a retail furniture business. I know the importance to communities of retail businesses, available and attainable housing, and public spaces where residents can gather and meet.

I will bring to the ANC years of consulting with and employment in government, a dedication to public service, and experience with public-private partnerships. I seek to build bridges, keep my eyes on the big picture, and get the details right. I ask for your support and your vote. You can find me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/connieknchang. You can reach me via email at: connieknchang@gmail.com.

District Six

No candidate filed for the District Six seat by the Aug. 5 deadline. CCCA will post statements of anyone seeking write-in votes on our website.

Chris Fromboluti, District Seven

I am running for a seventh term as Commissioner for 3G07 as it keeps me in touch with what is happening in our neighborhood and I enjoy representing my constituents on the Commission.  Particular issues that I am interested in during the upcoming term are: the DDOT study of the Connecticut Avenue reversible lanes, discussing affordable housing in Chevy Chase, rebuilding of the Community Center and new construction zoning code compliance issues.  Being an architect gives me a professional view of problems involving visual and spacial criteria which is useful to the commission.

George Vows Active Constituent Services

Janeese Lewis George, Democratic nominee for the D.C. Council from Ward 4, which includes part of Chevy Chase, D.C., says she will concentrate on serving constituents if she wins the November election for the seat. In a listening session for residents of our association's area in late August, Lewis George said she would set up a "remote office" in Ward 4, hire a constituent services team with expertise in social work and public health, host "political education" workshops and "teach ins" for community members, and bring "campaign tactics" like phone/text banking and oor knocking "to build community engagement and sustain outreach." Among subjects raised by residents during the session were the E6 bus line, D.C. public schools and affordable housing in our area.

CCCA Supports Chevy Chase Main Street Proposal

Recently, walking along Connecticut Avenue, I was struck by how many storefronts are vacant and how many small businesses appear to be struggling to survive. Only a year ago, upper Connecticut Avenue had become a foodie and shopping destination. Less so now. Some of this can be blamed on Covid-19. Even CCCA has had to cancel one of our signature events -- Chevy Chase DC Day. One bright sign is that in August we were asked to participate in an exciting program that we anticipate will make a positive difference to our neighborhood.

Every year the District government invests millions of dollars in grant money for DC Main Streets, a program that supports economic vitality along major DC corridors. There are currently twenty-four Main Streets in DC. The CCCA executive committee is backing a bid to bring a Main Street program to upper Connecticut Avenue. The annual DC government grant is for $150,000 in city funds plus more in local contributions. The money is used to hire staff (required by statute) and to support local initiatives for neighborhood improvement and small business development.

The core work of the Chevy Chase Main Street (CCMS) is to provide consistent, capacity-building technical assistance to small businesses and engage a wide range of people in the development of the neighborhood.  This has never been more needed than now, during the COVID-19 crisis, but will continue to be vital as we work to rebuild our economy and make our community more resilient.

The Chevy Chase Main Street proposal is due to the Department of Small and Local Business Development this month and is being prepared by District Bridges. District Bridges is a professional 501(c)3 non-profit that manages six Main Street programs across the District. Bridges provides professional staff, management experience and tested financial systems.

We ask our local businesses and individuals to prepare letters of support and send them to the non-profit District Bridges. Please send support letters or to obtain more information write to Brianne@districtbridges.org. We also hope that some of you would like to volunteer and participate in the Neighborhood Strategies Council, the body that helps set direction for the Bridges’ activities.  CCCA intends to have a representative on this Council.

In our conversation with the Executive Director of District Bridges, we spent a few minutes brainstorming a few things that Main Street could help with in the first year, including

• Cost sharing and helping organizing Chevy Chase Day.
• Funding, promoting, and organizing Spooktacular.
• Landscaping and beautification for library/community center garden, tree boxes, other public spaces, such as Chevy Chase Circle.
• Public art such as decorating call boxes, commissioning murals (on large walls that demonstrate the Chevy Chase identity).
• Training for businesses focusing on improved electronic media communications.
• Small cash contributions to businesses for specific projects such as decorating the exterior of shops, window decorations.

CCCA joins with other key organizations in the neighborhood to support the Chevy Chase Main Streets Program and upcoming local initiatives. These include: 

• ANC 3G
• Ch/ART
• Historic Chevy Chase DC (HCCDC)
• Friends of Chevy Chase Circle
• Northwest Neighbors Village

Each one of these organizations feels that Main Street will be good for the neighborhood and will support its institutional goals.

--Robert Gordon

D.C. Schools Begin Online Sessions For Students

The school year at Lafayette Elementary School and other local D.C. public schools started  this week much differently from years past as virtual learning for the first time in history because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under an order from Mayor Muriel Bowser, all schools are operating virtually until at least November 7.

As the largest elementary school in D.C., with more than 950 children enrolled, Lafayette  students are receiving a mix of live instruction and online learning, depending on their grade level. The learning is supplemented with special programs such as art, music, Spanish language and an award-winning peace program. 

Tablet computers have been provided to students in need from the public school system to help bridge any technology needs. The administration, parents and students are all adapting to this new reality. While it's challenging, the spirit of community is as strong as ever, reports the Home and School Association’s Anastasia Khoo.

ANC Seeks to Remove Newlands Name from Circle Fountain

Black Lives Matter supporters demonstrate at Chevy Chase Circle on August 20 (Photo by Judy Licht)

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G has asked federal officials to remove the name of former Sen. Francis Newlands of Nevada from plaques dedicating the fountain at Chevy Chase Circle to him.

In a unanimous vote on July 27, the ANC said Newlands “perpetuated racial discrimination and injustice as evidenced by the historical record of his own words, speeches, publications, and actions.” Among other things, Newlands, who died in 1917, said he believed “this should be a white man’s country” and called for amending the Constitution to prohibit African Americans from voting and to limit immigration to whites.

The ANC said removing Newlands’ name was warranted “as part of our Chevy Chase community’s holistic healing process of acknowledging the present and past racial injustices committed by individuals and institutions within the Chevy Chase community.”

Newlands founded the Chevy Chase Land Co., which developed the area that includes Chevy Chase, D.C. The company supports removing his name.

The ANC addressed its resolution to the National Park Service, which manages the federal land on which the circle is located. The agency said that because Congress established the fountain as a memorial, Congress would have to change the name. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland are introducing a bill to do that.

The ongoing ANC Task Force on Racism will recommend a new name for the fountain. 

Woodrow Wilson High School has been a prominent point in our community for years. Opening on September 23, 1935, it was originally an all white school. Once segregation was ruled unconstitutional, other races were allowed to attend Wilson, and around this time there was an original push to rename the school. In the spring of 1970, there were multiple demonstrations at the school to bring attention to racism and bigotry in the system. Since this point, the demographic has changed drastically and today the school is 37% white, 31% black, 6% Asian, and 4% mixed race.

With the current Black Lives Matter movement, many students are calling for the DC Public School System to change the name of the school. This call has only strengthened since Princeton, a school very much surrounded by Wilson’s legacy, removed all namings of him from their campus. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States, and a staunch racist. He re-segregated federal buildings and stated that “he viewed segregation in his federal agencies as a benefit to blacks.” 

Wilson High School represents many black communities and students believe the school should be renamed to give respect to all the people the president had fought to put down. Aaron Gorman, a rising sophomore, remarked that “Wilson students are tired of having their school be named for a complete bigot. If we continue to allow our school to be named after Wilson, we are saying that racists like him deserve to be glorified, and we cannot say that.”

Others argue that the school should not be renamed, since what happened in the past is unchangeable and it would cost money to rebrand and rename the whole school building. Wilson has been named after the 28th president longer than all of us have been alive. Something worth noting is that many in favor of not changing the name are parents, rather than students or faculty themselves.

Choosing a suitable new name for the school might be the most difficult part of the process. Some names frequently brought up are Marion Barry, August Wilson, Barack Obama or a geographical name such as Tenleytown or Reno High School. Rising senior Emma Harris stated that she would be “in favor of changing it to August Wilson because he was a great black playwright and [it is a] relatively easy switch.” 

Another option many favor is naming it for Marion Barry, who served as mayor of DC from 1979 to 1991 and 1995 to 1999. Nonetheless, Barry had a history of cocaine issues and made racist remarks to Asian Americans, referring to stores owned by them as ‘dirty.’ 

Lastly, a geographical name would make the issue of a troubled past obsolete, but there could be confusion as Reno is also a large city in Nevada.

So far, there has been no formal movement by the DC Council to rename the school. A representative for Councilmember Mary Cheh of Ward 3, where the school is located, has said she signed the petition to change the name of the school. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also expressed her support for the renaming, but the Council must approve a change.

On Sept. 1, a task force named by Mayor Muriel Bowser called DC FACES issued a report calling for a name change for Wilson and many other public buildings and monuments. The task force did not recommend a new name. The public school system will make a recommendation to Bowser for DC Council approval "after a community engagement process." Council members also may introduce their own legislation.

Either way, we are seeing a monumental change in our society. Currently, Woodrow Wilson High School stands for a bigot whose policies affect black communities to this day. With Mayor Bowser and the student body pushing for the renaming of Woodrow Wilson High School, we should all become comfortable with the idea of seeing a different name on our neighborhood's high school.

--Deirdre de Leeuw (sophomore at Woodrow Wilson High School)

What’s Happening on Chevy Chase Circle

Newly-painted lane markings on the circle seem to be helping, reports Ruth Robbins of Friends of Chevy Chase Circle. There have been fewer fender-benders reported and drivers generally seem to be using the reduced-lane configuration at the north and south ends of the circle appropriately. 

Friends of Chevy Chase Circle initiated this first-time ever coordination between Maryland and D.C. traffic authorities for a new and improved traffic plan. They met frequently with many of the circle’s stakeholders to discuss the improvements. The plan will continue to be reviewed and analyzed for improvements, and new signage is expected soon .

Updating the fountain’s antiquated plumbing system and re-lining the leaky basin will be part of the rehab plans. The preliminary planning process is on-track to be completed in October. The National Park Service, which owns the circle, has long targeted the fountain for modernization. Funding for the project could come as soon as 2021.

Lights will be coming to the fountain in coordination with the fountain rehab project. Friends of Chevy Chase Circle successfully shepherded the design through the exacting Commission of Fine Arts. Lights will illuminate the water plume as well as the exterior of the fountain. No matter the time of year, the fountain and the circle will not fade away in the dark, a certain improvement to night-time navigation.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Chevy Chase Garden Club, a new landscaping plan for the circle's flower beds is under development. It’s been twenty-five years since the last upgrade to the circle’s green space. Look for bold swatches of color, low maintenance and drought- tolerant installations.

The National Park Service, with the input of community groups including Historic Chevy Chase DC and Friends of Chevy Chase Circle, is working on erecting informational signs known as a  “wayside exhibit” that will highlight some of the historical issues relating to the fountain and the Chevy Chase community as a whole.

Northwest Neighbors Village Offers Online Speakers, Jazz

The Northwest Neighbors Village (NNV) organization is offering a free speakers series and live jazz music online. To register and receive a link, visit the group’s website, https://www.nnvdc.org/. 

Live jazz with Carey Smith starts at 6 pm. every Thursday. At 11 am Tues., Sept. 8, Andrea and Sal Selvaggio will talk about “How Junk Can Become Art: The Transformative Power of Found Art.” At 11 am Tues., Sept. 15, Alan Lichtman discusses, “Who Will be the Next President.” At 2 pm Fri., Sept. 25, there will be a program on Preventing Unnecessary Hospital Visits. At 11 am, Tues., Sept. 29, Suzanne McGovern will speak on “Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Scams.” At 2 pm, Thurs., Oct. 8, Barbara Mathias Riegel discusss her book, “Ocean Breathing.”

At 10 a.m. on Thurs., Sept 10, NNV will hold a new volunteer driver orientation. For more information, see the NNV website.

Historic Chevy Chase DC Plans Fall Programs

Historic Chevy Chase DC (HCCDC) will sponsor a Zoom seminar, “Jim Crow Comes to Chevy Chase,” on “Captain” George Pointer and his descendants as part of its “race matters locally” series. The event, starting at 7:30 pm, Wed., Sept. 16, will feature Tim Hannapel, who grew up in our neighborhood and James Fisher, Pointer’s eighth-generation descendant. To register, send an email to hccdc@comcast.net or see the group’s website, https://www.historicchevychasedc.org/  

The group’s annual walking tour for September has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 24, HCCDC and Northwest Neighbors Village will host a Zoom seminar featuring Mara Cherkasky of Prologue DC, co-creator of the mapping project mappingsegregationdc.org. People may volunteer for the forensic work on property squares in our neighborhood, which involves its own training seminar.

HCCDC is planning a Zoom seminar for 7 pm Oct. 15 on how Lafayette and George Washington viewed the American experiment. It will feature Julien Icher, director of The Lafayette Trail, an organization marking the 200^th anniversary of Lafayette’s last visit to the U.S., and Reba Carruth, a scholar on European affairs and transatlantic relations.

Avalon Theatre Launches a Virtual Cinema Platform

The Avalon Theatre has joined a consortium of independent cinemas from around the country to launch a virtual cinema platform designed to provide an easier way for patrons to experience the best of virtual cinema while supporting the theater during its closure period. The easy-to-remember URL virtualavalon.org, will bring patrons to a single location to view and keep track of all Virtual Avalon ticket purchases in one account.  Moving forward, the majority of the Avalon’s new releases will be available at virtualavalon.org. Visit virtualavalon.org to see the list of films offered and to set up an account.  

Bus Depot Reconstruction Due This Fall

The long-delayed overhaul of the bus depot south of Chevy Chase Circle should be completed by next spring, says the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). A contract was awarded to the apparent low bidder, Potomac Construction Co. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G and our association have supported additional public uses for this space, but WMATA had no plan for that as of this writing.

Improvements Continue in Lafayette Park

Construction on the new Lafayette Park Recreation Center continues at a good pace, reports Friends of Lafayette Park (FOLP). Installation of the replacement landscape materials along 33rd Street was completed in late August. This landscaping replaced plants and trees that were removed to install the new drain line for a stormwater retention area being installed near the new field house. FOLP has installed signage in the park’s garden beds making our neighbors aware of who installed and maintains the gardens, including contact information.

Chevy Chase Library Reopening Still on Hold

After being closed for three years to undergo a $211 million modernization, the central MLK library in downtown Washington is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, September 24. The Tenleytown and Cleveland Park branch libraries continue to remain open during reduced hours and with limited services. No date has been set for reopening our Chevy Chase branch.   At a city-wide staff meeting in August, employees were told that, with the exception of MLK,  "no further libraries will reopen in the near future." 

It's time to renew your membership!

Please renew or join today.

This message was sent to you by the Chevy Chase Citizens Association

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time