Welcome to Friday, D.C. The fire department is still investigating what caused Thursday’s five-alarm fire in Mt. Pleasant, but in the meantime, we’ve had a lot of requests from readers asking how they can help those who lost their homes. To make a food or clothing donation, you can contact Neighbors’ Consejo at 202-234-6855. Clothes and goods can also be dropped off at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 1480 Girard St. NW. If you’d prefer to make a cash donation, we’ve heard that nearby Pfeiffer’s Hardware on Mt. Pleasant Street is serving as a collection point for the Columbia Heights Shaw Family Support Collaborative, which is putting together a fund to pay for emergency shelter and other crucial items like medications lost in the blaze. Also, the Mount Pleasant Main Street Association is having a wine tasting event next Tuesday at Marx Cafe on Mt. Pleasant Street, from 7-9 p.m., and will be donating a portion of the proceeds to victims of the fire.
Low Graduation Rates Hurt Local Economy: A new study by the Alliance for Excellent Education, an independent policy and research organization, says that the District would save $70 million a year in crime-related costs if the male high school graduation rate increased by 5 percent, reports the Post. Roughly 58 percent of seniors graduated from D.C. high schools last year, compared with 70 percent nationwide. The study also says D.C.’s dropouts will lose $615 million in lifetime earnings, as well as the $70 million the District spends to police, prosecute and incarcerate them.
Nationals Ballpark Neighborhood Still a Mess: WTOP reports that Nationals fans shouldn’t be surprised on opening day when they find the neighborhood around the new ballpark to be fairly rough around the edges. Things they say you’ll see for sure include missing sidewalks, half finished buildings, and dirt and mud. WMATA has said that the expansion of the Navy Yard Metro Station will be ready on time for opening day, though Adam Tuss reports that pipes and other building materials are currently stacked up at what will be the main entrance of the station.
Briefly Noted: Amtrak train traveling from D.C. to Boston strikes and kills track inspector … Foreclosures drop in D.C. and Northern Virginia … Teen accused of string of robberies in Gaithersburg.
This Day in DCist: In 2007 we shared a special St. Patrick’s Day recipe for Irish Lamb Stew and in 2006 the design for the Nationals stadium was revealed.
Photo by Bas 88
