2023 is winding down. It’s hard to believe a whole year has ed already. We followed so many stories and asked a lot of questions during a year full of ledes.
It’s time to look back over some of the big stories and significant moments we covered here at the Hill Rag, with joy, sorrow –and hope for 2024.
January
2023 started off with a literal bang.
Folks all over the District were shocked by the sound of an apparent explosion about 10:35 p.m. New Year’s Day. The explosion was loud enough to have been heard East of the River and in Brookland.
It originated on the ice rink at Canal Park. “We found evidence of damage in the form of broken glass over by the skating rink at 202 M St SE,” a DC Fire Emergency Medical Services (DC Fire EMS) representatives said. “Our incident commander advised it is an MPD matter. There was no fire involved.” No injuries were reported. Fire units began to be returned to stations starting at around 10:55 p.m.
Newrepresented Team USA at the French Cup.
February
WMATA employee Robert Cunningham, 64, was open in Navy Yard.
March
The H Street NW Walmart closed March 31. The store opened in 2013 amid much fanfare –and controversy. As part of the deal to come to DC, Walmart proposed building six stores in the District. Walmart had promised to open two stores in Wards 7 and 8 but pulled back from plans in 2016.
Ward COVID Centers closed March 31, one signpost pointing to the end of the pandemic.
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation welcomed celebrated the 100th anniversary of the building on E. Capitol Street, including the induction of the initial entrants to the school’s Hall of Fame.
April
The Pearl Initiative presented a commemorative program, “ the Pearl,” at Westminster Church (400 I Street SW). On April 15, 1848, 77 enslaved people climbed aboard the Pearl, a schooner docked in Southwest DC, hoping to sail to freedom. Although all were recaptured, the incident contributed to the abolition of slavery in DC.
Casey Trees resign his office as of June 3 to take a role with the FBI.
May
At their pilot Compost program.
A 17-year-old was shot on a metro railcar as it pulled into the Waterfront Metro Station May 28; a 23-year-old was arrested June 9.
June
A teenager was killed June 8 at the intersection of 11th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE when the driver of a Mercedes ran a red light and struck the driver’s side of the vehicle she was riding in as a enger, causing her to be ejected from the vehicle.
Tyler Elementary (1001 G St. SE) shortlisted four new names as part of the process of renaming the school, which was originally named for John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States (1841-1845), a slaveowner who later ed the Confederacy. And the District’s only Ukrainian restaurant, Ruta (327 Seventh St. SE) opened near Eastern Market.
July
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced July 27 that DC was set off explosive devices July 2 at three different locations in the District early Sunday morning. All were detonated wthin a timespan of about 15 minutes, including one on the sidewalk in front of the doors at the Nike Store (700 block of H St. NE).
The Eastern High School Blue and White Marching Machine kicked off lost Mike Canning, our film reviewer of 30 years, a former embassy official who went on to become a professional reviewer and the author of Hollywood on the Potomac.
August
Neighbors weighed in on the potential for the2023 Boundary and Student Assignment Study, or Boundary Study, through which the Deputy Mayor of Education (DME) reviews DC Public School (DS) boundaries and feeder patterns and District-wide public school student assignment policies. Recommendations are due to be submitted to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) no later than February 2024.
We told the story of a 16-year-old who spent 40 minutes delayed to an unspecified day in 2024.
September
DC started enforcing a curfew for carjackings and robberies over the summer.
Late evening Aug. 28, Mr. Henry’s, one of the oldest Capitol Hill restaurants, suffered a break-in. The storied establishment ed a host of other small businesses on the Eastern Market area and on H Street NE that were also recently struck. It closed for repairs one day before reopening.
And DDOT introduced a bus priority project for Barracks Row in heated discussion at the Sept. 12 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B.
Finally, the Hill mourned the loss of Eastern Market artist Joe Shymanski, who was reported missing Sept. 4. A suspect was arrested a few days later and charged with his murder.
October
A Hill East couple returning from their honeymoon was devastated to learn their beloved pet dog was taken during what police say started as an attempted carjacking near Oxon Hill, MD Sept. 22. The 3-year-old black giant schnauzer was still missing as of Dec. 30.
Families reacted to DS plans for the modernization of Amidon Bowen Elementary (401 I St. SW) when parents noticed that plans included a swing space for the 2027 fiscal year that is 3.5 miles away from their home campus.
After years of work, the Friends of Lincoln Park, a a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) was officially founded to help care for and improve the park for years to come.
A driver left a 6-year-old injured in a Oct. 4arrested by police.
And H Street restaurant The Big Board, known for controversy during the early months of the pandemic, sued ANC 6C, saying the commission’s November 2022 protest of their liquor license renewal violated the owners First Amendment rights.
November
Music on the Hill (801 D St. NE) celebrated celebrated 150 years of fresh food, fun and community Nov. 11 and 12, starting with Novemberfest, a party in Eastern Market (with a special Eastern Market brew from Atlas Brewery) the event continued with concerts, special demonstrations and games.
On Nov. 20, DC Public Library announced that the Southeast Library (403 Seventh St. SE) will close for modernization on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. This closure paves the way for a $33 million modernization of the historic library.
At around 1:00 p.m. Nov. 30, Tyler [Chisholm] Elementary School (1001 G St. SE) was put on alert status due to an assault involving an adult on the property. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the incident involved an irate parent on campus. The parent was arrested and charged with simple assault.
And the Hill mourned the loss of Jim Toole, former owner and star character at Capitol Hill Books. Toole died suddenly Nov. 11.
December
Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) presented the Brickie Awards Dec. 6 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE). The Brickie Awards are an annual celebration of Ward 6, with actual bricks given as awards to winners in five categories: Neighbor, Community Organization, Business, Public Service, and Civic Pride.
On Dec. 13, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, owner of two of the District’s beloved sports teams, announced their hosted a press conference outside of the library (403 Seventh St. SE) prior to the last community meeting on the library modernization. The press conference drew attention to task force concerns about interim services expected to be provided during the expected two-year closure of the library.
But, new beginnings as soon as summer 2024: at their Dec. 16 holiday event, Mott’s Neighborhood Market LLC announced a special gift: in the new year, Peyton Sherwood will open a coffee and sandwich shop/deli/wine shop in the renovated, expanded space.
