November News Bytes
By • November 10, 2025 0 556
Old-Fashioned Fun at the Grand Old Ditch
Constance Chatfield-Taylor with mule Kismet at Canal Day Oct. 19. Photo by Robert Devaney.
The first-ever Canal Day gathered family and friends on a perfect Sunday, Oct. 19, to recognize one of Georgetown’s crown jewels — the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, an engineering marvel opened in 1830.
“Canal Day was a way to bring together the community to celebrate our beloved C&O Canal and remind everyone that water will be back in the canal and our boat will be back in operation in 2026,” said Maggie Downing, executive director of Georgetown Heritage, organizer of the event.
Science Guy’s Circular Reasoning
Appliance-lifting crane on Dumbarton Street. Photo by Robert Devaney.
Does it take an astrophysicist to offload your appliances? Because of twisting stairs, Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” had to order up a crane to move a washer and dryer over his attached house to the back door on Oct. 25, but his Dumbarton Street neighbor refused to allow material above his roof. So, the CEO of the Planetary Society had to have the crane operator circle 270 degrees, not 90, with items hanging over the other side of the street. Now, that’s an annoying neighbor.
31st St. Neighbors Get Along Despite Differences
Paynes’ whimsical front window: a skeleton in a chair and a sign that reads, “Wish I had taken my vaccine.” Georgetowner photo.
David and Christine Payne are advocates for vaccines, for general and personal reasons. The front of their house and window on 31st Street often display decorations for various holidays and causes. This Halloween, the Paynes’ window showed a skeleton in a chair holding a sign that read, “Wish I had taken my vaccine.” Funny thing is that next door resides Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is changing U.S. vaccine policies. Trolling your neighbor? The Paynes maintain: “We like and admire RFK, Jr. and Cheryl as neighbors. However, we don’t agree with his politics.”
National Guard Protects the Torah, Too
Kesher Israel congregation celebrates Simchat Torah on Oct. 15 protected by the National Guard. Photo by Peggy Sands.
At Kesher Israel on N Street, congregants celebrated Simchat Torah, also spelled Simhat Torah, on Oct. 15. It is a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and can involve dancing in the street, while the rabbi holds the sacred scroll, outside the synagogue. New observers and protectors this year were members of the National Guard.
Guard Helps at Old Stone House
Neighborhood volunteers who routinely clean up and clear out the large, back garden of the Old Stone House at 3051 M St. NW got some unexpected help last month. About 15 National Guardsmen were happy to provide additional yard work and lawn service.
Multi-Agency Raid Hits Wisc. & O
“A pre-dawn raid on Friday, Oct. 24 at a residential building at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street NW jolted Georgetown awake as a multi-agency team forced its way inside, zip-tied residents, and removed at least 10 to 12 people,” according to Migrant Insider.
Two residents described “a chaotic operation that began before dawn, around 3:30 a.m., with a helicopter overhead and a perimeter they believed included National Guard members.”
One resident said. “Suddenly there were half a dozen U.S. Marshals, [U.S.] Park Police, ICE, and [D.C.] police as well, pointing guns at me.”
“After the raid, the building’s Latino tenants were told by the landlord to vacate by the end of the month,” Migrant Insider reported.
Book Hill Park’s $300K Refresh
Book Hill Park at Wisconsin & Reservoir will undergo improvements at a cost of $300,000 under a project by the Department of Parks & Recreation and Department of General Services.
“The project goal is to improve circulation, safety, and incorporate new design features at Book Hill Park,” the agencies say. “Site improvements include new handrails along the existing stairs, stair lighting, new site furniture, repairs to the brick path and hilltop green space, a potential new plaza space, repairs to existing water spigot, a potential second water spigot.”
Completion is expected in fall 2026.
For details, visit dgs.dc.gov/page/book-hill-park-improvements.
