From a Department of Parks and Recreation press release: 

DPR Urges Residents to Take Advantage of Free and Low Cost Childcare
Throuhgout the District, space is available in year-round program for children ages 2 to 4.

Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

(Washington, DC) -- The Office of Educational Services of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) reminds District residents that free or low cost child care is available weekdays in the District of Columbia year-round. Residents in need of such services are asked to sign-up right away.

The agency’s Early Care and Education/Head Start program for young children is available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm throughout the year. This program uses the Creative Curriculum as a guide for a foundation which focuses on language, literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, social emotional, approaches to learning, and physical health.  Exciting field trips are also planned for children. Additionally, each day program participants receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Parental involvement is highly encouraged, and special activities are planned specifically for parent-child interactions.

Early childhood services are provided at 17 locations throughout the city, licensed by the DC Department of Health and participate in the childcare subsidy program through the Department of Human Services.

Early Care Program -- Location Address 

Atlantic Gardens -- 4228 4th Street, SE
Atlantic Terrace -- 4309 3rd Street, SE
Bald Eagle -- 180 Joliet Street, SW
Banneker -- 800 Euclid Street, NW 
Barry Farm -- 1230 Sumner Road, SE
Benning Park -- Southern Avenue and Fable Street, SE
Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) -- 3030 G Street, SE
Edgewood -- 601 Edgewood Terrace, NE
Kenilworth Parkside -- 4300 Anacostia Avenue, NE
Malcolm X -- 1351 Alabama Avenue, SE
New York Avenue -- 100 New York Avenue, NW
Paradise -- 3515 Jay Street, NE
Payne -- 305 15th Street, SE
Randall -- 900 I Street, SW
Rosedale -- 17th and Gales Street, NE
Stoddert Terrace -- 155 Ridge Road, SE
Watkins Potomac -- 1200 E Street, SE 

“In these economic times, I want District residents in need of childcare during the day to be aware of our free and low cost options,” said DPR Director Clark E. Ray. “In coming to one of our programs, parents don’t have to feel as if they are trading quality for cost. Our staff is qualified to give program participants the best.”

For more information, contact the DPR Office of Educational Services at (202) 671-0372.

As of October 19, 2008 Department of Transportation (DDOT) will officially adopt new rules about driveways and curb cuts.  In a nutshell, DDOT does not favor curb cuts.  In their first ever direct address of curb cuts they are moving to adopt rules to limit their use and make it more difficult to obtain them in the first instance and keep them if they already exist. 

As a rule, permits for curb cuts will not be granted by DDOT unless there is alley access to the curb cut or if the applicant demonstrates that there is no alternative way to access on-site parking or a loading dock through existing or proposed paved alleys or in the event the applicant has a special need. So, there appears to be pretty much no way to get a curb cut for most of us unless the area to be cut feeds into an alley.  DDOT has explained that his is for safety reasons.  The thinking goes that traffic in alleys tends to move at a slower pace and therefore makes entry easier and safer than into the regular traffic flowing down the streets.  Sounds reasonable.

Permits will be required along with payment of public space fee.  But for Ward 6 residents whose properties already have curb cuts, you should know that if you want to make substantial improvements to your home in excess of 50% of the value, then the current public space permit will expire and you will have to obtain another one.  If the DDOT  Director does not issue another permit for a curb cut or driveway the property owner must, at his/her own expense, remove the cut and restore the public space in accordance with current standards of DDOT Design and Engineering Manual and Standard specifications for Highways and Structures.

In the event a resident has a special need that a curb cut can accommodate, those residents should know that any such permits issued will require a covenant of maintenance that will be attached to the deed stating that such permit will expire upon sale of the property.  Further the homeowner should know that it is the homeowner’s responsibility, at his/her own expense, to restore the public space upon the expiration of the permit or upon the revocation by the DDOT Director of any curb cut permit. 

Homeowners should also know that at no time should their vehicles protrude in part or in whole into the public space, sidewalk or alley. 

All persons wishing to comment  on the proposed rulemaking may file comments through October 17, 2008 to Alice Kelly, Program Manager, Public Space Branch, District Department of Transportation, 2000 14th St., NW 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20009 or to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Copies of the proposal are available at cost by writing to the above address and are also available on the Department we site at ddot.dc.gov.

Our office gets information about various programs the city runs to help residents in need. I want to share updated details on two such programs for anyone needing help managing through these tough economic times.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Also know as "LIHEAP". The low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) opens on November 17 for regular applications. But emergency assistance is still available, on a case-by-case basis. Contact the District Department on Energy and the Environment (DDOE) Energy Hotline for details (202-673-6750).

Outreach Energy Coordinators are visiting senior buildings throughout DC to collect energy assistance applications in advance of the heating season. Contact program manager Nickie McKenzie (202-462-6401) to make sure your facility is on the list.  Energy Coordinators begin their weekly office hours at local health clinics:

- Developing Families - Tracey Turner, Mondays, noon to 3 pm at (801 17th Street, NE)
- Max Robinson Foundation - Nathaniel Murrell, Tuesdays, 2 to 4 pm at (2301 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave, SE)
- Bread for the City -Belinda Pearson, Wednesdays, 9:30 am to noon at (1525 7th Street, NW)
- Upper Cardozo Health Center - Jenny Mendez, Wednesdays, 2 to 4 pm at (3020 14th Street, NW)

DC REACH and Energy Assistance in the District of Columbia 
The District Department of the Environment offers programs that protect you by lowering home energy bills and putting dollars into your client’s pockets, including:

- Energy assistance (see LIHEAP above)
- Discounts on water, gas, electric and basic telephone service
- Home energy audit and weatherization
- Free Energy Star appliance replacement (the Reliable Energy Trust Fund)

DC REACH is a pilot project to make sure that all low-income residents, especially those who are homebound or living with multiple health challenges, know about energy assistance and apply to participate. DC REACH offers

- Quick intake, by appointment, at a client’s home or DC REACH field site
- Holistic counseling about budgeting, housing, and referrals for food, clothing, job training, childcare, - health and community resources to help pay utility bills
- Education about energy efficiency, and health and safety

Residents who have received a disconnection notice for electric or gas service, or is currently disconnected, emergency assistance is available on a walk-in basis; contact the DC Energy Hotline for more information (202-673-6750). Any DC residents who meet federal income guidelines are eligible for assistance:

- Household Size 1 - Yearly Income No More Than $22,330
- Household Size 2 - Yearly Income No More Than $29,201
- Household Size 3 - Yearly Income No More Than $36,072
- Household Size 4 - Yearly Income No More Than $42,943
- Household Size 5 - Yearly Income No More Than $49,814

To apply for or Make a Referral you can Call the DC REACH Program Manager at the United Planning Organization at 202-462-6401 or 202-439-3678, Ms. Nickie McKenzie for English or Ms. Jenny Mendez for Spanish.  You may also call the DC REACH Energy Coordinator for your Ward:

- Wards 1, 2, and 3 - Jennie Mendez, 202-462-6401, cell 202-365-1869
- Wards 4, 5 & 6 - Belinda Pearson, 202-610-5900; cell 202-439-3657
- Ward 7 - Tracey Turner, 202-396-1201 x140; cell 202-409-2348
- Ward 8 - Nathaniel Murrell, 202-562-3800; cell 202-330-7495

Call the District Department of the Environment’s Energy Hotline (202-673-6750) to check the status of your application.

The John A. Wilson Building, popularly known as the District Building from its construction in 1904-1908 until it was renamed in 1994, houses the offices of the District of Columbia mayor and the City Council. It is named to honor John A. Wilson, former chair of the City Council and council member of Ward 2 for 12 years. Designed in classical style of white marble, the building provided office space for the three presidentially appointed commissioners who ran the city government until 1967, and then for the appointed and elected DC City Council and mayors. In 1995 the DC City Council gave a real estate developer authority to negotiate a 20-year lease with the federal government to take over nearly two-thirds of the building because the city could not afford to repair it. In 1999 the mayor and City Council persuaded the U.S. government to allow the city to take the building back as the headquarters for the mayor and the City Council. (excerpt from Cultural Toursim DC) 
 
Please join us for the Celebration of the 100th Year of the John A. Wilson Building and DC Flag Day on October 15, 2008 from 10:00 am – 12:00 Noon, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.

- 10:00 am, Centennial Ceremony with Mayor Adrian Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray
- 10:30 am - Noon, Guided Tours
- 5:00 pm - 6:00pm, Mark Plotkin and Kojo Nnamdi share intriguing stories about the Wilson