Central Shaw Dispatch Vol 3

Greetings, Central Shaw Neighbors:

Welcome to my third neighborhood dispatch. This week’s update:  Meeting Alert; Update on Seaton Elementary Encampment; Other Topical Items; Local Biz Buzz.  Read on…

Meeting Alert!

• 6E Transportation Advisory Committee, Tuesday April 27, 6p
• 6E Commission Meeting, Tuesday May 4, 6:30p
• 6E01 Town Hall Meeting, Thursday May 13, 6:30p (Save the date!  More info soon)

Update on Seaton Elementary Encampment

The recent gun arrest of one of the occupants of the encampment on the 1500 block of 10th St NW has changed the conversation about homelessness for Seaton Elementary parents and neighbors.  Calls on the Mayor to find creative, win-win solutions for the situation on 10th street have turned into a demand for immediate resolution to this very delicate situation. 

10th street entrance to Seaton Elementary is now closed due to recent security concerns.

The ball is in the District government’s court right now as we continue to advocate for the needs of unhoused residents AND the safety and security of students, teachers, staff, and neighbors of the school.   

• Popville Article
• Notice to Seaton Elementary parents and families
• WUSA9 News segment featuring two Seaton parents

Feel free to email me your thoughts and concerns about this situation.

Other Topical Items

• I received a constituent request via Twitter about the hedges along RI Ave near 10th street.  After a few emails and phone calls, it was decided to remove them and plant street trees.  The hedges are already coming up and trees will be planted in the fall. Covid-19 vaccinations are now open to all. 
• I am hearing that CVS has many appointments available.  For more information about DC’s vaccination program and to join the official pre-registration list, visit DC’s vaccination website.  I got my first shot at CVS on April 12. 
• ZeroWasteDC is hosting FREE home composting workshops, April 23; May 4 and 8. You can also drop off food waste at nearby farmers markets.
• Join Congresswoman Norton and Georgetown Law Professor Aderson Francois for a conversation about D.C. Statehood, Tuesday April 27.
• DC Water is hosting an art competition with a $600 prize.  Theme: Cool Arts and Cleaner River.  Submissions due May 1.
• Metro Green/Yellow Line trackwork coming May 1 – 9.  Know before you go.
• Reminder, plastic bags are not accepted in DC’s curbside residential recycling program.  DC is stepping up inspections of curbside recycling until May 14.  Be a “superstar” recycler!
• Metro will start  phasing out old SmarTrip® cards!  First stations will be upgraded to new tech (that won’t work with old cards) starting no sooner than June. 
• Liquor License Updates – ABT Liquor and 8th & Rhode Island is up for renewal.  Letters of support or opposition are due June 14.  Grand Cata at 7th and Q as well, feedback due June 21.  See the ABRA website for more info.  Let me know if you have feedback on either.

Local Biz Buzz – Barber of Hell’s Bottom

I had been visiting Shaw monthly for quite some time before moving to the neighborhood, as a regular customer at the Barber of Hell’s Bottom. 

Friendly staff at the Barber of Hell’s Bottom, southeast corner of 9th and Rhode Island Ave NW

I asked my barber during a recent visit about the name “Hell’s Bottom” and she informed me it is actually a reference to a long-gone name for the Shaw neighborhood.

The Barber of Hell’s Bottom was closed for a while at the start of the pandemic but they’ve been back and cutting (shorter) hair with good COVID-19 safety protocols for a while now. They’re open 7 days with more hours per day.  If you haven’t had a haircut since March 2020, Jane and her colleagues are ready for you.  They are not doing beard trimming yet, as that would require mask removal.  Hopefully that service will come back soon as more folks are vaccinated and we can get back to some semblance of normal.  

Barber of Hell’s Bottom, 818 Rhode Island Ave NW, Book online

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