Renovated Eastern Market to Reopen June 26; Firefighters Sue Over Dismissals

CAPITOL HILL

Renovated Eastern Market to Open June 26

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced yesterday that the newly renovated Eastern Market will reopen with a ceremony June 26 followed the next day by a community celebration.

Flanked by city officials, construction workers and merchants, Fenty (D) announced that vendors will return to the market at Seventh and C streets SE in Capitol Hill. The 136-year-old market, renowned for its food, flowers and flea markets, was heavily damaged in a fire in April 2007. Vendors continue to operate in a tent nearby while the city works on the $22 million renovation project.

Among those at the site for yesterday's announcement was Angie Brunson, who runs a flower market. "There's no place like home," she said.

The new site will include areas for the arts and cultural events.

-- Hamil R. Harris

FEDERAL COURT

Two Firefighters Sue District Over Dismissals

Two firefighters filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against the District, alleging that they were illegally removed from their jobs as arson investigators in 2004.

The two firefighters, Sgt. Wesley Hamilton and Joseph Mitchell, investigated a fire in the 3300 block of Prospect Street NW that killed Daniel Rigby, 21, a senior at Georgetown University.

Investigators initially blamed the fire on faulty wiring, triggering a sweep of off-campus housing by city inspectors. But fire officials later determined that the fire was caused by a candle. Within a month of the fire, the lawsuit alleges, Hamilton and Mitchell were accused of failing to investigate the fire properly and lying in reports. They were removed from the unit but later cleared of all charges by an internal trial board, the suit says.