This Week’s Highlights
Dear Neighbors,
With Halloween less than a week away and a weekend of spooky events around the corner, my newsletter this week is focused on amplifying the exciting Halloween festivities happening around our community!
Reminder, leaf collection starts next week, and I will be holding two Ward 4 Utility Pop-Ups, one this afternoon at Petworth Library from 3 to 5pm, and the second next Wednesday at Emery Heights Community Center from 6 to 8pm.
Halloween in Ward 4
One of the most exciting times of the year is just days away — it’s Halloween in Ward 4! Get your costume ready, stock up on some candy, and check out some of these events happening around town:
8th Annual Spookyville: Haunted Alley in Takoma
On Friday, October 25th at 6pm, join neighbors for the eighth annual Spookyville: Haunted Alley in Takoma where you can come for the fun and stay for the scares! The event will take place in the alley behind 715-719 Van Buren St, and feature music, food (including s’mores and a baking contest), an outdoor movie, and fortune telling. Organizers are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help with passing out candy, roasting s’mores, scaring guests in the terrifying tunnel, and more. Sign up to lend a hand here.
BOOchanan Halloween Block Party
Saturday, October 26th is Buchanan St’s annual Halloween Block Party! From 5 to 8pm, join for a night of fun on the 1500 block of Buchanan St NW. There will be moon bounce, spooky box maze, games, live bands, and food for everyone. Costumes encouraged!
Jefferson Street Block Party
On Saturday, October 26th from 2 to 10pm, the neighbors on Jefferson St NW are hosting their annual block party between 4th and 5th St NW, featuring music, face painting, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, and s’mores and a movie! The party will also feature a potluck, so make sure to bring a dish!
St. Paul’s Halloween Spooktacular
On Saturday, October 26th from 5 to 8pm, St. Paul’s Rock Creek Church is hosting its annual Halloween Spooktacular! The event will feature food, prizes, a haunted house, and cemetery hayrides.
Sherman Circle Spooktacular
On Sunday, October 27th from 3 to 7pm, Petworth Peanuts, ANC 4D, Friends of Petworth Library, and several community organizations are joining to host the 2024 Sherman Circle Spooktacular, featuring music, giveaways, and lots of fun activities.
LCAG Halloween Parade and Party
On Sunday, October 27th from 4:30 to 6:30pm, the Lamond Community Action Group (LCAG) is hosting its Halloween Parade and Party on the corner of Rittenhouse St and Sligo Mill Rd. Join for loads of Halloween fun for the whole family!
Lamond Rec Center Spooktacular Celebration
On Wednesday, October 30th from 4 to 6pm, DPR is holding a spooktacular event at the Lamond Rec Center, with games, arts and crafts, and lots of fun. Don’t forget to bring your A-game with your costume to win a prize!
Craftoween at Merry Pin
On Thursday, October 31st from 2 to 10pm, join for Merry Pin’s first annual Craftoween! Embrace your Halloween spirit with a variety of festive activities, enjoy treats, and watch spooky movies. RSVP on Merry Pin’s website.
4th District Trunk or Treat
On Thursday, October 31st from 4 to 7pm, 4th District MPD is hosting its annual Trunk or Treat event at 4D headquarters, 6001 Georgia Ave NW. Kids are encouraged to stop by and get some Halloween treats!
Riggs-LaSalle Halloween Party
On Thursday, October 31st from 4 to 8pm, DPR is holding a Halloween Party at the Riggs-LaSalle Rec Center, with food, music and arts and crafts. Put on your best costume and join for a night of Halloween festivities!
AKA Xi Omega Chapter Trunk or Treat
On Thursday, October 31st from 5 to 8pm, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Xi Omega Chapter will host its annual Trunk or Treat event at Xi Omega Center (4411 14th St NW). Children of all ages and their families are invited to come fill their bags with lots of treats!
Community News
Kicking Off Leaf Collection Season
Leaf collection begins this Monday, October 28th for our Ward 4 neighbors who live west of Rock Creek Park and for Ward 4 neighbors who live north of Military Road and west of 8th Street (Sections 4A on the leaf collection map). This includes Ward 4 residents in Chevy Chase, Barnaby Woods, Hawthorne, Colonial Village, North Portal, Shepherd Park, The Parks at Walter Reed, Brightwood, parts of western Takoma, and western Manor Park. Neighbors in these areas are asked to rake their leaves to the curb or tree box by Sunday, October 27th. As a reminder, DPW is sharing weekly updates on which areas have leaf collection coming up (instead of a full schedule) so it can provide more accurate estimates to residents. Check out DPW’s leaf collection page for more details.
Community Resources
Ward 4 Utility Pop-Ups
This afternoon, I’m excited to host our first Ward 4 Utility Pop-Up from 3 to 5pm at Petworth Library, followed by a second on Wednesday, October 30th from 6 to 8pm at Emery Heights Community Center! These pop-ups will give neighbors the opportunity to meet with representatives from Pepco, DC Water, DOEE, and other organizations to ask questions about their accounts and learn more about available resources and support.
Ward 4 E-Cycling Event
On Saturday, November 2nd from 10am to 2pm, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is hosting an e-cycling event on 33rd St NW between Quesada St NW and Patterson St NW, near the Lafayette-Pointer Rec Center. Residents will have the opportunity to recycle electronic waste, including computers, TVs, keyboards, and other materials. Learn more here.
Lafayette-Pointer Erosion and Field Project Meeting
On Thursday, November 7th at 6:30pm, DPR, DGS, and DCPS will host a public meeting to share updates on the Lafayette-Pointer Erosion and Field Project. For more details and to RSVP, click here.
Share Comments on Piney Branch Tunnel Project
DC Water is currently accepting public input on the Environmental Assessment for the Piney Branch Tunnel Project, which is intended to keep 40 million gallons of untreated sewage & stormwater from pouring into Piney Branch. The project includes construction of a diversion structure at the Piney Branch outfall to redirect sewer flows to the storage tunnel and eventually convey to DC Water’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. Comments can be submitted here.
Volunteer at Petworth Market!
Petworth Community Market, our locally run farmers market at Georgia and Upshur, is looking for volunteers to help with set up, closing, and assisting customers. For more info, and to sign up, email davecooper@gmail.com or visit their website.
DC Water Updates
- DC Water has shared several updates on work taking place in Ward 4 neighborhoods. Here are some of this week’s updates, particularly for Brightwood Park, Sixteenth Street Heights, and Manor Park neighbors:
- Throughout next week, DC Water is expecting to conduct work on the 6100-6200 block of Blair Rd NW.
- Throughout next week, DC Water is expecting to perform installation of new water mains on the 300 & 400 blocks of Hamilton Street NW.
- Throughout next week, DC Water is expecting to perform water service reconnections to individual properties on the 5500 block of 3rd and 4th St NW.
- As part of the ongoing Piney Branch Sewer Rehabilitation Project, DC Water is expecting to perform daytime work at Georgia Ave and Gallatin St NW throughout next week.
- Starting this week, DC Water is conducting a new project in Manor Park to extend the service life of water and sewer infrastructure in the neighborhood. Work began on Tuesday on the 400 block of Rittenhouse St NW and the 400 block of Madison St NW. Stay tuned for more updates on this project.
Other Neighborhood Events
Shepherd Park Library Used Book Sale
On Saturday, October 26th from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday, October 27th from 1 to 4pm, the Friends of Juanita E. Thornton-Shepherd Park Library are hosting a used book sale at the library. Over 2,000 books will be available, with no book costing more than one dollar, and kids’ books going for 50 cents apiece.
Vintage and Vinyl Market
On Sunday, October 27th from 12 to 5pm, The Parks at Walter Reed is hosting a Vintage and Vinyl Market on the Marketplace Plaza. Come to hear live music, purchase vinyl and vintage clothing from some of the region’s best vendors, and enjoy the plaza. RSVP here.
Five Minute Horror Film Fest
On Saturday, November 2nd from 3 to 5:30pm, Petworth Library is hosting the culmination of its filmmaking workshop series with a showcase of five-minute horror films created by neighborhood filmmakers. An awards ceremony will follow the showcase, featuring special guest presenters and seriously spooky snacks. RSVP here.
For more local events, check out DPR, DC Public Library, and NPS.
Important Reminders
Office Hours in the Community
Every Wednesday afternoon, our Ward 4 constituent services team holds office hours at Fort Stevens Rec Center from 12 to 1pm, followed by office hours atHattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Community members can stop by and speak one-on-one with a member of our team about DC government services or our work in the Ward 4 community.
Heat Requirements for DC Buildings
As the weather gets colder and buildings throughout DC begin transitioning from heating to cooling, reminder that landlords must provide heat starting October 1st, and the temperature must reach at least 68 degrees inside during the day, and 65 degrees at night. Find more information on tenant temperature rights here.
Apply to Join our Ward 4 Council Team
I’m excited to share that we have three open positions to add to our Ward 4 Council team, Legislative Director (one opening) and Constituent Services Coordinator (two openings). Click on each position for the full job posting, a description of the position, and instructions on how to apply. You can also find the postings under the DC Council’s list of job openings. If you have any questions about the openings, please email our Chief of Staff, Candace Tiana Nelson, at cnelson@dccouncil.gov.
We are excited to welcome individuals to the team who are committed to serving Ward 4 residents, supporting our communities, and advancing justice and equity in the District. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please encourage them to apply!
Ward 4 in the News
Petworth News: La Coop’s Kennedy Street location Grand Opening November 1st!
NBC 4: Petworth Library showcases short horror movies from local filmmakers
Ward 4 Dispatch: Preparing for Leaf Collection Season, Supporting our Early Childhood Educators, and Standing Up for Survivors of Domestic Violence
These are news articles that mention Ward 4 or pertain to events in our community. Councilmember Lewis George does not write or endorse their content but shares them for community awareness.
On Monday, we were saddened to hear that Slash Run, the beloved Petworth restaurant and neighborhood hub will be closing after nearly a decade in the community. To all the management, staff, and neighbors who have made this such a special place for the community over the last 10 years, thank you. Their final Halloween karaoke will be tonight at 8pm — if you’re able, make sure to stop by!
Lastly, this week, the National Park Service announced Acting Superintendent Brian Joyner was named the official Superintendent of Rock Creek Park! Brian is a DC native, and has been a champion of our natural spaces, a leader in sharing our rich history, and an incredible partner to the people of Ward 4. I’m excited to continue our work together with him in this new role!
Wishing you a fun-filled Halloween weekend, neighbors!
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
