Tips from MPD 1D Commander Hickson on preventing smartphone robberies

First District Commander Hickson shared the following tips to help prevent smart phone robberies:

In an effort to make the community aware of current trends, we are posting the below three tactics being used by individuals attempting to snatch smart phones.

 

·         Suspect approaches a potential victim and ask for the time, when the victim pulls out their phone to tell the suspect the time, the phone is snatched from the complainant’s hand.
·         Suspect will approach a potential victim and ask for directions to a particular location out of the immediate area. When the victim take out their phone and look the location up for the suspect, the perpetrator will ask to see the map on the phone at which time they snatch the phone and flee.
·          Suspect will approach a potential victim and ask to use their phone to call home, usually say they need to call their parents. When the victim complies with the request, the suspect runs off with the victim’s phone.

 

This is obviously not a complete list of tactics, but they are some of the trends we have noted in the last few months. Please remember to call 911 whenever you observe any suspicious activity or suspicious persons.

 

Commander Daniel P. Hickson

First District

SoberRide available to provide free rides home after 10 pm starting this Friday, December 14 through New Year's Day

The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn’t mean the roads should be.

 

If you are trying to fight off the winter chill with a chilled beverage of your own and partake in a bit too much “mystery punch” or adult eggnog over the Holiday season, stay safe and call SoberRide!

 

Together with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) SoberRide initiative, AT&T is proud to provide free taxi rides (up to $30) to anyone over 21 in the greater Washington, DC area nightly from 10pm until 6am starting Friday, December 13^th, through New Year’s Day.  AT&T customers can call #WRAP to get a safe, free ride home, while others can dial 800-200-8294 (TAXI).

 

WRAP's SoberRide provides greater Washington, DC residents a safe way home on high-risk holidays, including the December/January holiday season, St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day and Halloween.

ANC6A to consider Joe Englert request to allow late night patio hours Tuesday, Dec 17, 7 pm @ Maury Elem (1250 Constitution Ave NE)

Joe Englert has petitioned to have the voluntary agreements that he entered into with ANC6A when he first opened a series of venues along H Street eliminated.  As part of his request, Englert is complaining that establishments that have patios on public space or rooftop decks are required to close those outdoor areas prior to last call in order to reduce the late night noise that impacts their nearby neighbors.  Englert's request to eliminate the restricted hours for the outdoor spaces will be heard by ANC6A this Tuesday, December 17, 7 pm at Maury Elementary School (1250 Constitution Ave NE).  If you have views on this issue, you should plan to attend and communicate them to your ANC Commissioner as well. 

At the meeting, there will also be an update regarding Ben's Chili Bowl who has refused to sign the agreement that every other liquor serving establishment on H Street has signed, thus forcing the ANC to protest their license application.  A note from the ANC's Alcohol Committee chair and the meeting agenda follow.

2nd Annual DC Krumpusnacht! parade along H Street tomorrow night starting at Gallery O on H (1354 H)

Please join us Thursday, Dec 5^th for one of DC's Greatest New Traditions…

 

The 2^nd Annual DC Krampusnacht!

 

With the holidays now upon us, we're all familiar w/ the story of Santa Claus. But according to ancient lore, St. Nicholas actually had several attendants, one of which was the horned satyr Krampus. Whereas St. Nick would reward good little girls & boys, Krampus would punish the bad kids. For 'truly' bad children, he'd even carry them off to later be devoured as his X-mas dinner!  
Traditionally, Kampsuslauf takes place on Dec 5th (day before St. Nicholas Day). A celebratory parade carries through the night as caricatures march their way through the streets warning attendant children to be nice. 
In a city known for its cultural diversity & multinational intrigue, this year we're proud to host the 2^nd Annual Kampuslauf on H Street. With a schedule of events that run throughout the evening, Kampusnacht offers a little something for everyone!  

 

Evening Schedule: 

 

6pm - Benefit Reception for "Santa's Cause DC" at Gallery O on H (1354 H St. NE DC).

 

        - Donations of $10 or unwrapped christmas gift requested.  

7pm - Krampuslauf Parade down H Street! 

9pm - Afterparty at Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H St. NE DC)

 

- For a more detailed history see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

- For an idea as to the Krampuslauf Tradition see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLnl5ZWG4tg

 

All parties are welcome to join in the fun! Full or partial participation is DEEPLY encouraged.  For the parade, any reasonable attempt for authentic costumes (professional or amateur) shall be openly welcome. Please join us on Facebook for information on ideas, tutorials, pics, tips, & more… 

 

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/krampusnachtdc  

Facebook Event Page:  www.facebook.com/events/226139807553184/

 

All efforts go to benefit Santa's Cause DC (www.Facebook.com/SantasCauseDC): a special project for "Family Matters of Washington, DC" - striving to enhance the lives of foster children throughout the DC area, they provide a program for personalized gifts both during the December holidays (delivered by Santa himself) as well as on birthdays. In addition, they provide needed supplies for the entire school year. We will be accepting unwrapped toys & monetary donations to benefit this most worthy cause.

 

So bring your family or friends & kick off the holidays with a fun filled evening for all! No Doubt, THIS is a night you won't want to miss! 

Meeting on NPS controlled Capitol Hill Parks: Thursday, December 5, 6:30 pm at St Monica & St James (222 8th St NE)

The National Park Service – Capitol Hill Parks Community Meeting has been scheduled.  This meeting is a follow-up to previous meetings held in September, but also to discuss any new topics that may have arisen since the last meeting.  The National Park Service is responsible for Lincoln Park, Stanton Park, and the pocket park at 11th & Maryland among others. 
 

 

Date:                     December 5, 2013 (Thursday)

 

Time:                    6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

 

Location:             Parish of Saint Monica and Saint James 

                                222 8th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

                                (Lower Level Parish Hall)

DPR hosting Winter Wonderland holiday break camp @ Sherwood Rec Center (640 10th St NE) for kids ages 6-12 years old

DPR Announces the 2013 Winter Wondercamp Schedule

Registration Opens Monday, November 25; Two Sessions will be Offered

 

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will offer DPR Winter Wondercamp in conjunction with the DC Public Schools (DCPS) winter holiday break.  DPR will operate the Winter Wondercamp in two sessions.  Session one will take place on Monday, December 23; Thursday, December 26 and Friday, December 27.  Session two will take place on Monday, December 30; Tuesday, December 31; Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3.  Winter Wondercamp is offered for children ages 3 to 5 years old, 6 to 12 years old and 8 to 13 years old.  Registration will open at 10 am on Monday, November 25, 2013.  Camps will operate from 9 am to 5 pm, with before care from 8 am to 9 am and after care from 5 pm to 6 pm.  Parents can either register online or by calling the camps office at (202) 671-0372.  In person registration is not available for Winter Wondercamp.

The fees for Winter Wondercamp are as follows:

• Session 1: $30 per child; due at the time of registration
• Session 2: $40 per child; due at the time of registration
• $10 per child, per session for before care or after care; due at registration
• Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Please note that breakfast and lunch will not be provided.  Parents are required to send children with a lunch and any additional snacks for the day.  (Please note that DPR's Camp policy (click here for the policy) on food and snacks should be adhered to.) 

The theme for Winter Wondercamp will incorporate DPR’s “Move, Grow and Be Green” initiative.  The camps, specifically catered to each of the three ages groups, will include sports activities, arts & crafts, and at least one field trip.  Activities will not only incorporate personal development and environmental responsibility components, but they will also challenge and engage camp participants.

A sports camp, Camp Score, will be offered for the first time during DPR's Winter Wondercamp 2013.  Camp Score will be offered for children 8 - 13 years old at one location only, Langdon Park Community Center (2901 20th Street, NE).  Camp Score will be offered for both sessions and will not offer before care or after care.


Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th Street, NE) : Ages 6 - 12
 
Registration is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.  It is recommended that first time users create a DPR account prior to attempting to register.


To Register:

• Go to DPR's programs registration page.
• Enter "Winter" in the search field, and Winter Wondercamp will show up in the drop down selections.
• Select the program you would like to enroll your child in.  Programs will be added automatically into your cart.
• Complete registration with payment. 
• Remember, before and after care must be registered for separately.
• All fees (camp registration, before care, after care) are non-refundable, non-transferable, and due at time of registration.

For more information on DPR's Winter Wondercamp, contact DPR's Camps/Seasonal Programs office at (202) 671-0372.

Join Toki Underground, Frenchies & us at the 4th Annual FreshFarm H Street Food drive this Saturday

The Fourth Annual Food drive at the H Street FRESHFARM Market is coming up this weekend and we encourage your generous participations.

As you might recall these food drives are different than most. They collect monetary donations that they spend with their farmers; and everything that's collected then goes to their gleaning partner, First Church, which is working The Director of Community Services at Brookland Manor to identify families in need to receive baskets of fresh foods.  People can also bring non-perishable items from home, but they expect most donations will be monetary ones that are immediately spent with the farmers.

This year, First Church/Brookland Manor has requested 50 turkeys and H Street FRESHFARM is working hard to fulfill this big request. The point of the doing the food drives this way is that it is a double benefit - it helps the hungry but also helps the farmers with a boost in sales. While we can certainly get turkeys for less, in order to stay true to the organization and support our farmers, we want to get them from our farmers  (most of them are charging $4/lb). I estimate that we need at least $3000 to get requested birds.

The Market has already ordered 20 turkeys from Full Cellar Farm (who sells near the Wylie end of the market) and the past few weeks has been collecting money from shoppers by having people buy a "feather" and decorate a cardboard "turkey" at the info stand. They've already collected over $1500 as well as a generous pledge from Erik at Toki Understand.  However, we still need to collect a bunch more cash to get the remaining turkeys.

Please come to market and participate this weekend! On the day of the drive, Erik Bruner-Yang (of Toki Underground fame) is doing a demo and Frenchie's is doing Cookie Decorating activity (encouraging donations - proceeds will go to the drive). So H Streeters can stock up for the holidays, sample some great food from Toki, decorate a cookie and do some good.

If people can't make it to market but want to donate, please feel free to include my email (if you decide to post something)!  Donations can be made online (http://www.freshfarmmarkets.org/get_involved.php - just put food drive/H street in the subject line) or mailed to the address below.

Thanks!