Contributed by Greater Washington Urban League

Greater Washington Urban League Celebrates “70” Years Of Service With Kick-Off Community Festival

The Greater Washington Urban League is hosting a community festival on Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 1pm-5pm at the GWUL Headquarters located on the corner of 14th & Harvard Street, NW. This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

WASHINGTON -- Markette Smith-Sheppard is Mrs. District of Columbia– America 2008 and not since "The Apprentice" bad girl Omarosa held the title OF "Mrs. District of Columbia" has a beauty queen taken our nation's capital by storm! She was crowned Thursday evening in Frederick, Md. at the official preliminary to the nationally televised Mrs. America pageant.

Residents say Sluggish Movements and Little Improvements

Mounds of dirt, crooked wooden and metal protective fencing, heaps of lumber and construction caution signs. This is the site at the upper level of the Meridian Hill Park, which after 5 years of unsteady renovation, is yet to reopen its doors, now slated for the end of this Spring.

Reader submitted post.  Thanks John!

The Columbia Heights Public Realm Plan is getting closer to implementation. After YEARS of planning and community meetings (since 2003), the city is almost ready to start work on the central area of Columbia Heights.

Before		After

Reader submitted post.  Thanks John!

On Tuesday night, November 27th, Columbia Heights was featured on HGTV's show "Designed to Sell"! A young couple selling a two-bedroom condo was the focus of the 30-minute show. In the process of filming the redesigning of the condo, Columbia Heights was featured as a hip and sought-after place to live.

Press Release From Columbia Heights Day Initiative

LAST REMINDER TO THOSE BUSINESSES/ORGANIZATIONS/INTERESTED PARTIES THAT HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE YET AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DAY FESTIVAL:

This email primarily serves as a reminder to those vendors and businesses that wish to participate at the First Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival (October 6) but have yet to commit…we have a sign-up/informational meeting tomorrow at Temperance Hall ( 3634 Georgia Ave NW) starting at 7pm (Weds, September 19th). Most small to mid-sized businesses have donated $150 for the table space (to help pay for equipment rental), so please bring your checkbook to make the small donation if you want to participate (tax-deductible). We have ordered a limited number of tables for Year 1 of the Columbia Heights Day Festival, so don't miss your chance! Remember, the more success we have for Year 1 of the festival, the more we can grow for Year 2 to make the CH Day Festival as spectacular as other festivals in town.

We heard the buzz surrounding Columbia Heights Day several weeks ago but were unable to contact the organizers until fairly recently.  We were told that they were careful not to advertise the event too extensively until they new it was actually going to happen.  They just recently received all the necessary permits.  We requested more information on who the organizers are and how the funds they receive from donations will be spent.  We got the following response.

Press Release From Columbia Heights Day Initiative

Be a part of local history! 

The First Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th from 11 AM to 6 PM.  It will begin with an informal dog parade and community bike ride from Sticky Fingers Bakery, north on 14th Street, east on Monroe Street, and south on 11th Street to Harriet Tubman Elementary School.  Activities include, live music, dance performances, children's and senior's areas, and health and wellness expos.

Some of you may have noticed the pick up in construction activity at Meridian Hill Park in the past several months.  The National Park Service has been renovating the park since 2003 and is expected to finish the renovations in Spring 2008.  It is currently in the second phase of the two-phase renovation project.

The Department of Small and Local Business Development is organizing a Community Clean Up Day for Saturday, April 28.  It will be held between 9 AM and noon.  The starting point for this event will be Carolina's Restaurant (14th St and Spring Rd NW).