ANC 3/4G SMD 05 Introduction
Dear Neighbors,
I was recently sworn in on January 2, 2025, as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for Single Member District 05, succeeding Commissioner Peter Lynch.
The next ANC meeting will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. The meeting will take place in person at the Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Ave NW) and will also be available virtually. If you plan to attend online, you can register in advance here and access the agenda here.
I am thrilled to serve as your new Commissioner and look forward to engaging with you all. If you are unable to attend the ANC meeting on Monday but would like to meet me or discuss any matters for our ANC, I will be at Starbucks (5500 Connecticut Ave NW) on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Please feel free to stop by! I will have a coffee traveler, veranda blend, for those who would like a cup of coffee. Also, if you know of any neighbors who are unable to connect with these updates via email, please provide me with their address and I can print out and drop off the updates to them.
During the winter months, certain groups of residents are more vulnerable to the negative effects of cold weather. If you know of any neighbors who might need assistance from the DC government during this time, please let me know, and I will do my best to help connect them with the support they need. This also applies to anyone who needs snow shoveling assistance.
Please see a few highlights and updates below.
The 60th Presidential Inauguration: As our city prepares to host the 60th Presidential Inauguration, stay ahead of street closures, severe weather, and transit updates impacting neighborhoods across DC. Sign up for real-time alerts by texting DCINAUG to 888-777. You can also visit inauguration.dc.gov.
AlertDC: Sign up for AlertDC: this service allows you to opt-in to receive emergency alerts and warning notifications via email, text message, and/or voice communications. You can sign up at: Alert DC
Resources for Being Informed about the Council: Stay informed about the work of the Council by reviewing the Hearing Management System (HMS): https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings/ and the Legislative Information Management System (LIMS): https://lims.dccouncil.gov/. You can also access the calendar of events for Council here.
Parking Permit RPP: The online portal for DC residents living on RPP blocks to apply for, use, and issue permits online can be accessed at: ParkDC Permits
Office of the Ombudsman Presents:Meet the Ombudsman January 28, 2025, at 6:00pm via zoom. You can register here.
Department of Public Works: Due to the recent snow storm that impacted DPW's normal operations, trash, recycling and food waste collections have been placed on a slide schedule. Holiday trees typically collected with weekly recyclables should be placed out in the coming week with ordinary recyclables. Leaf collection efforts will remain suspended as long as snow and ice remain on the ground. DPW will continue to monitor snow removal efforts. Dedicated DPW crews are working tirelessly to restore normal operations.
Lafayette Elementary School: Check out the most recent newsletter here. I would like to encourage families with students at Lafayette to attend the Community Meetings. The schedule for the rest of the school year is below along with the scheduled times. The Upper School (grades 3-5) meets at 8:45am (ending by 9:15am). The Lower School (grades PK-2) will begin promptly at 9:35am (ending by 10:05am). Community meetings include 1) Shared Learning 2) Shared Celebration 3) Speaking, Acting, and Moving Mindfully (SAMM) Wall of Fame 4) News and Announcements. The next Community Meeting dates are 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30, 6/17.
Principal Prall updated Lafayette parents and families via email on January 10th about outdoor recess and the outdoor playground equipment and grounds. She noted the concerns about recess and the new asphalt play surface, which was installed this fall. She stated that although the surface was confirmed to be correctly installed by the Department of General Services (DGS), concerns about it being slippery and posing a fall hazard remained. DGS has agreed to work with the school to address these issues, and there is a meeting planned for next week to explore solutions. Families are encouraged to contact the school with any questions or concerns at (202) 282-0116 or email at Lafayette.dcps@k12.dc.gov.
Murch Elementary School: Check out the current news and events here.
Deal Middle School: Check out the current news and events here.
Jackson Reed: Check out the current news and events here.
I look forward to working with you!
Best regards,
Karrenthya Simmons
3/4G Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, SMD 05