D.C. news in brief

Skaters come to RFK on Saturday for national race

In-line skaters from across the nation will compete for cash prizes in the National Inline Grand Prix as part of the 2012 Skate of the Union events from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at RFK Stadium. Saturday’s proceeds benefit D.C. Inner City Excellence youth skating programs.

Other races at RFK include 5K and 10K events, a 2.5K kids fun roll and a 100m skateboard sprint. The morning ends with an Olympic Day ceremony at noon and the final leg of the U.S. Olympians’ Walk to London campaign.

More skating activities are planned Thursday through Sunday on the Mall and at the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, Temple Hills Skate Palace and Fairfax Police Track in Chantilly.

For information or to register, go to www.skateoftheunion.org.

Seniors to compete for pageant title Sunday

The Ms. Senior D.C. pageant will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. Contestants will be judged on a personal interview with the judges, their philosophy, talent and an evening gown competition.

The winner will represent the District in the Ms. Senior America Pageant, planned for October in Atlantic City.

A donation of $20 is requested. For information, call 202-724-5626 or 202-289-1510, Ext. 1170.

DDOT introduces short form to report fender benders

The D.C. Department of Transportation is using a new short crash form to better identify crash locations throughout the District. The new Property Damage Only Crash Form is a voluntary report for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians involved in fender-bender incidents without bodily injuries. D.C. police typically only take reports when a crash involves an injury, damage to public or government property or an inoperable vehicle.

Residents can obtain the form from a D.C. police officer or online.

For information, go to www.ddot.dc.gov.

D.C. Library seeks Chuck Brown memorabilia

The D.C. Public Library is seeking memorabilia for an archive devoted to go-go singer and guitarist Chuck Brown, who died May 16. Flyers, posters, photos, ticket stubs, videos or DVDs, CDs and audio recordings of Brown and other go-go musicians can be brought to the Washingtoniana Division in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Archivists are also interested in letters that describe attending a Chuck Brown or go-go concert.

The library will review the donated materials and preserve those selected.

For information, go to www.dclibrary.org.

SOME opens affordable housing at Griffin House

So Others Might Eat held a dedication June 6 for Griffin House, a 40-unit affordable housing building at 2765 Naylor Rd. SE. The 40-unit structure will house 22 homeless and poor families, including approximately 70 children and 18 single adults.

The nonprofit organization provides shelter, food and health-care services to the homeless and impoverished residents in the District. Since 2005, So Others Might Eat has developed 296 affordable housing units, many from previously abandoned or dilapidated buildings.

For information, go to www.some.org.

New Lockridge/Bellevue library has opened

The new William O. Lockridge/Bellevue library at 115 Atlantic St. SW opened on June 13. The building, designed by architects Adjaye and Associates and Wiencek Associates, has 36 public-access computers, a 100-person meeting room and space for up to 80,000 items.

Architect David Adjaye is known for his British library designs, which maximize natural light sources. In the District, he has designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is currently under construction.

For information, go to www.dclibrary.org.

Farmers market opens in NoMa

The NoMa Farmers Market will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 31 at 1325 Second St. NE (Second and N Streets), a site adjacent to the Florida Avenue entrance of NoMa-Gallaudet Metro station.

For information, go to www.nomabid.org/farmersmarket.

— Compiled by Terence McArdle