Awards Ceremony for 1st District MPD and Citizens Advisory Council a Great Event!

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the First District Metropolitan Police Department and the Citizens Advisory Council honored MPD officers, citizen and business partners at a fabulous Gala Dinner held at the PNC Diamond Club at the Nationals Ballpark. Councilmember Tommy Wells joined 1D Commander David Kamperin in the awards presentation.  Honorable Ronald Machen, Jr. -- the new United States Attorney for the District of Columbia -- was the keynote speaker.  The mistress of ceremonies was Ms. Jackie Bensen of NBC-Channel 4 News.

The Special Commander Awards were presented to the Chinatown Community Enhancement Policing Initiative; PSA 104, Special Award for Citizenship Leadership in Memoriam to Miles Groves and the Washington Nationals All-Star of the Year (1D Member of the Year) Officer Joshua Martinez PSA 107.  Special Citizen Award for Community Service was presented to Mark Dixon, the Business Partner Award to Bernard and LaVerne Miller, and the CAC Charles C. Cephus Community Service Award to Officer Lisa Worrell.    The PSA Officers of the Year included:  PSA 101 Officer Jeffery Weber, PSA 102 Officer Peter Frenzel; PSA 103 Officer Andrew Horos; PSA 104 Officer Dustyn Hugee; PSA 105 Officer Marvin Williams; PSA 106 Officer Willie Harris; PSA 107 Officer Charles Viggiani.

The First District Citizens Advisory Council 2010 Awards Committee included Commander Kamperin; Inspector Michael Reese; Nancy Rosen, CAC Chair; Will Hill, CAC Vice Chair; Charles Young, CAC Treasurer; Kris Lafko, Patty Budka, Adrienne Sedgewick and honorary awards committee members Irv Gamza and Alice Valentine.

If you live, work, or travel near the 14th Street Bridge Corridor, you may want to attend one of two upcoming meetings hosted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The information meetings will discuss the 14th Street Bridge Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a study to identify ways to educe congestion, enhance safety, and improve traffic operations on the corridor.

May 25, 2010
Westminster Presbyterian Church
400 Eye Street SW
Washington DC 20024

May 27, 2010
Walter Reed Community Center
2909 16th St. South
Arlington, VA 22204

Both meetings have the same agenda:

6 – 6:30 pm: Open House
6:30 – 8:30 pm: Presentation and Open House

The purpose of the meeting is to present preliminary traffic results and the scope of the environmental assessment for the 14th Street Bridge Corridor alternatives. Officials will be available to answer questions, as well as receive your comments. For more information, please contact Justice & Sustainability Associates at 202.610.0005 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bike to Work Day this Friday, May 21, 2010

The streets will be filled with cyclists this Friday as the District participates in Bike to Work Day.  Coordinated by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and Commuter Connections, this annual event brings cyclists from all experience levels together to promote alternative commute options.

The event includes 35 regional “pit stops” with prizes, food, entertainment, and representation from local and national bike enthusiasts, including our own Councilmembers Tommy Wells, Mary Cheh, and Michael Brown, as well as national figures such as Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR). District pit stops include Washington, DC: Buzzard Point, Nationals Park, and Freedom Plaza.

Groups from each pit stop will continue to work as part of commuter convoys and end up at Freedom Plaza at 13th and Pennsylvania Ave NW. This final pit stop will also include the ribbon cutting for the opening of the new bike lanes along Pennsylvania Avenue.

If you haven’t registered yet for this free event, please visit www.waba.org. For questions about Bike to Work Day, please call the Washington Area Bicyclist Association at (202) 518-0524 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tour De DCPL - Library Bike Ride

Join bicycle-loving DC Public Library staff on Sat. May 22nd as they lead a library-oriented bike ride of downtown DC, stopping at five neighborhood libraries along the way. The event begins at 9 a.m. at Martin Luther King Library (901 G St. N.W.) and will end there at 12:30 p.m. Register by sending an e-mail to  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   for more information.

Bike DC: Pedalpalooza on Pennsylvania this weekend

On May 23rd join bicyclists from all over the region in a 19-mile ride Sunday morning, beginning on a car-less America’s Main Street, Pennsylvania Avenue. The Pedalpalooza on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, begins at 7 am between 7th and 14th Street NW and includes activities, information, and entertainment. All activities are free and open to everybody, whether or not you are participating in Bike DC. See the complete event schedule.

The ride continues by other historic sites, include the White House, the Marine Corps Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery. For more details, take a look at a map of the routes.

Bike DC is free to all children 12 years old and younger and the event includes two short cut routes for those who prefer a shorter and less hilly route. For more information on the event, visit http://bikedc.net/.

This Sunday, May 16th, marks the 31st running of the Capitol Hill Classic. The race is a 30 year community tradition on Capitol Hill and a fundraiser on which the Capitol Hill Cluster School depends to fund art supplies, field trips and other important initiatives.

Over the last several years, especially after September 11th security measures were put in place, the cost of MPD and other security requirements have grown from $8,000 in 2002 to $29,000 this year. The escalating costs put the race at risk. Organizers openly acknowledged that this year the race would only break even and not raise funds for the school; and the race may have to be cancelled next year rather than face taking a loss in funds.

Councilmember Tommy Wells has been working with Mayor Fenty to have the fees waived and we were informed last night, and confirmed this morning, that the Mayor has found a way to waive the fees for this year's race. We'll continue working with race organizers and the city to find relief for next year, but for now, everyone can breath a big sigh of relief and have a great race this Sunday!

See you there!