Online: thesouthwester.com The @TheSouthwester Serving the Southwest and Capitol Riverfront Communities SouthwesterCopyright © 2013 Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc., All rights reserved. July 2013 Circulation 12,000 FREE Published by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc. (SWNA) — a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation. ith 32 consecutive wins and back-to- matches between Washington and New York back perfect seasons, the Washing- Kastles Look to Make History! have ended in a Supertiebreaker, including three Wton Kastles return to the Southwest during the Kastles’ current unbeaten run. Wash- Waterfront this month on the cusp of making ington saved a combined 10 match points to history. sweep the Sportimes in those matches. The three-time World TeamTennis cham- Venus Williams and the Kastles return one pion Kastles have already surpassed the longest night later on July 9th for a potential record- winning streaks in NFL, MLB, NHL, WNBA breaking match with the Lobsters. Washington and MLS history. The 1971-72 Los Angeles is 10-0 all-time with Williams in the lineup, Lakers won 33 straight NBA games, but that which bodes well for the Kastles as they play mark is in jeopardy this month. to extend their winning streak into the history Venus Williams leads the Kastles in a pair books. of must-see home matches to start the season In Washington’s third home match of the - against the New York Sportimes on July 8th season, former World No. 1 and US Open and the Boston Lobsters on July 9th. Should the champion Andy Roddick heads the Springfield Kastles beat both the Sportimes and Lobsters, Lasers against the Kastles on July 11th. Roddick they will run their winning streak to 34 and pass went 30-6 with three titles at DC’s Citi Open, the Lakers’ longstanding record. where he routinely played to sold-out crowds. Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds, Anastasia His debut at Kastles Stadium should be no dif- Rodionova and Coach Murphy Jensen are all ferent, so you’ll want to get your tickets before returning from Washington’s 2012 champion- it’s too late. ship team. They will be joined by reigning WTT Washington welcomes Martina Hingis to the Female MVP and former singles and doubles team July 15-24 for the final four home matches World No. 1 Martina Hingis for matches July of the regular season. The former Sportime 15-24. But the competition coming to DC led the league the last two seasons in women’s is fierce, highlighted by Andy Roddick of the Washington Kastles celebrate. singles with a 20-4 record, defeating World No. Springfield Lasers on July 11th. 1 Serena Williams and 11 other players currently Washington is 14-0 at Kastles Stadium at nis. The Kastles will be counting on the same receive a complimentary Kastles championship ranked in the WTA Top 200. The Wharf since the venue’s debut on July 5th, home-court advantage this season, beginning T-shirt, courtesy of GEICO. The Eastern and Western Conference teams 2011, with tens of thousands of fans flocking to on July 8th. If history is any indication, Win No. 33 in that finish the regular season with the best the Southwest Waterfront for world-class ten- All fans in attendance on opening night will a row won’t come easy for the Kastles. Six prior See “Kastles,” page 6 Southwest Community Gardens Build Day By Sam Marrero e sure to reserve Wednesday, July 31st on your calendar and come to Lansburgh B Park to give a hand in building South- west’s newest community garden. To be constructed on an undeveloped 4,958 square foot swath of Lansburgh Park, the new Southwest Community Gardens was selected from over 400 qualified applicants as the Fiskars 2013 Project Orange Thumb recipient. On the July 31st Gardens Build Day, check-in and breakfast will start at 7:00 a.m. and the first 50 Artist’s rendering of new waterfront. volunteers will be provided with t-shirts. If you have not yet done so, all volunteers must register at www.swgardens.org. Volunteers Three Billion Dollar Makeover for Southwest are asked to stay all day if possible, from first dig at 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fiskars will provide breakfast and lunch, and at 4:00 p.m. there will Underway – How Did It All Start? be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration of By Kael Anderson, President, out of its headquarters in the heart of South- long research effort. the newly built garden. Southwest Neighborhood Assembly west. Southwest’s Town Center, later known as “We are so excited to build a new garden in The shock of this announcement roused Waterside Mall and Waterfront Station had Southwest DC. As development continues to early 20 years ago Southwest’s larg- the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly been designed as a regional shopping and change our neighborhood, we want this garden est landlord, the U.S. Environ- (Assembly), as the SW locally elected civic employment center, but by the time it was to be a place where diversity is protected and mental Protection Agency (EPA), N association, to undertake an exhaustive year- everyone is welcome. The garden will be a posi- announced it was moving its 4,500 employees See “Makeover,” page 7 See “Gardens,” page 6 Page 2 The Southwester July 2013 St. Dominic Celebrates Installation of New Altarpiece Dogs Don’t Have Thumbs hanks to a very generous donor, By Kate Renner St. Dominic Catholic Church A Message from the PAWS of SW Dog was able to complete the instal- T Park Group lation of a magnificent, wood-paneled altarpiece, also known as a reredos. The Breaking news: Dogs don’t have word “reredos” comes from Latin mean- thumbs! They need help opening cans ing “wall behind the altar.” At the center of dog food and turning round door of the reredos is a gothic tabernacle that handles. They also need help scooping up is 9 feet tall. Consistent with the original their poop. gothic architectural design of the church, Dog poop is not compostable, nor is the reredos provides a splendid aesthetic it a fertilizer (In general poop from any for the Catholic mass. The original rere- carnivore is not effective as a fertilizer). dos was dismantled in the 1960s after No one wants to step in it either. Dog being damaged by termites. This restora- poop can harbor bacteria that can spread tion of the sanctuary provides a beautiful to wildlife, waterways, and even humans. centerpiece of ritual and liturgy that will If you have a problem with touching inspire all who enter the church. warm poop or can’t stand the smell, or The installation of the new reredos just don’t purchase bags, you can purchase marks the continuation of the parish’s efforts to restore the historic church, now a pooper scooper. It may be cumbersome over 160 years old, and the sixth oldest to carry around, but you won’t have to in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. touch the poop. Cleaning up your dog’s Last year, the church installed a new poop not only shows others that you care altar of sacrifice, also in keeping with about the neighborhood, but also helps to the church’s gothic design. The beautiful make the neighborhood a better place for wood-paneled altar depicts St. Dominic all of us to enjoy. St. Dominic’s New Altarpiece. and a number of Dominican saints. The Simply put: Dogs don’t have thumbs. marble baptismal font is currently being It’s up to you pick up the poop. restored. During the summer, the church PAWS of SW will be hosting “We Love will repair and paint the window frames around the bottom of each window a Dominican saint is View Millworks in West Virginia and then Southwest Too – Please Pick Up Your Poo” delivered and installed in St. Dominic during the all the stained glass windows and then make shown. Other attractive windows depict themes - a dog poop clean up day on July 13th at structural repairs to the steeple. and images integral to the Dominican religious month of May. The parish also removed the red 9am. We will be meeting at the duck pond. The historic church, which has been a land- order. The distinctive tall, green steeple pierces carpeting from all the aisles and refinished the Everyone is encouraged to come out and mark in the Southwest since it was dedicated the Southwest DC skyline and attracts the atten- original terrazzo tile floors. People are welcome in 1875, features 24 stained glass windows that tion of drivers coming over the 14th Street bridge to the parish’s weekday (8:00 a.m. & 12:10 p.m.) help. We will pick up trash in addition to illustrate important events in the life of the from northern Virginia. and weekend masses (Saturdays - 5:15 p.m. and abandoned poo piles. Please see PawsofSW. church’s patron St. Dominic (ca. 1171-1221). At The reredos was fabricated by Mountain Sundays – 8:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m., & 5:15 p.m.). org for more information. July 2013 The Southwester Page 3 OPED: We Deserve Statehood Dear Neighbors, out in support of statehood for the residential We are the citizens of the District of Colum- and commercial portions of the District of bia, and on Flag Day 2013, we want to say Columbia. The Constitution sets an upper limit clearly that we deserve statehood. We are your on the size of the federal district, but no lower; fellow Americans, your neighbors, your brothers thus DC statehood is indeed valid under the and sisters, your fathers and mothers, your long- Constitution.