Outer Limits of the 'Well, actually...' || Límites exteriores del 'Bueno, en realidad... 

Come dance at this July 3 adults-only Dance Party benefiting the PGIRC! 

📣 Welcome

Date 6/12/2026
Issue #28

I’ve always loved a work-to-rule protest. The idea that you can use someone’s own rules to prove your point has always felt deeply satisfying to my inner punk. French taxi drivers are particularly good at the strategically obnoxious protest, causing delays and deep frustrations by meticulously following road laws. They certainly get attention.

But now that I find myself a passenger in one of those taxi cabs, metaphorically speaking, I find myself grumbling. 

I am, of course, referring to the Mount Rainier City Council drama that garnered some attention in The Banner. What a mess! And yet. And yet. Last week, at the Mount Rainier City Council meeting, the last of the session, all the city council members sat down at the same table and continued to try to work together. Which is good. Not great! But good.

Good things don’t stay good because they’re good. Things like democracy stay good because people go to meetings, and vote, and share their thoughts*, and, when needed, lovingly tell everyone to lock it up.

Rachel Bush
Editor of the Lower Gateway Newsletter
rsbush01@gmail.com

My Top Five

1. 🚋 Trolley Trail Day — Sat, 6/13 (9 AM–11 AM)
   Mount Rainier Hub | North Brentwood Hub | Brentwood Hub | Night at the Museum Rock Concert, 5:30 PM–8 PM

2. ☕ Our Mutual Friend Coffee Cart — Sat, 6/13 (Gateway Farmers Market)

3. 🧵 Kinusaiga No-Sew Craft Sunday Workshop — Sun, 6/21 (12 PM–3 PM)

4. 🌿 Mount Rainier Community Garden Update

5. 🌻 Mount Rainier Garden Tour — Sun, 6/14 

*Mount Rainier resident? Share your thoughts with your council members:
Mayor Celina Benitez: cbenitez@mountrainiermd.org
Councilmember Danielle Carter, Ward I: dcarter@mountrainiermd.org
Councilmember Jenny Hoffpauir, Ward I: jhoffpauir@mountrainiermd.org
Councilmember Valerie Woodall, Ward II: vwoodall@mountrainiermd.org
Councilmember Joseph Jakuta, Ward II: jjakuta@mountrainiermd.org

🏛️ City Updates

The Banner's Voting Guide

Primaries are June 23

Brentwood

• Sat, 6/13 (9 AM–11 AM): Trolley Trail Day

• Tues, 6/16 (7 PM–9 PM): Council Meeting

• Wed, 6/17 (6:30 PM–9 PM): Community Garden Task Force Meeting

• Thurs, 6/18 (6:30 PM–9 PM): Community Advisory Meeting

• Fri, 6/19 (5 PM–7 PM): Juneteenth Event

• Thurs, 6/25 (6 PM–8 PM): LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration Potluck

Cottage City

• Thurs, 6/18 (6:30 PM–7:30 PM): Juneteenth Celebration Flag Raising Sunset Ceremony

• Sat, 6/20–Sun, 6/21 (4 PM–11 AM): Let's Go Camping: Cottage City Park

• Tues, 6/23 (7 PM–8 PM): Invasive Plant Workshop & Dinner

Mount Rainier

• Mon, 6/15 (7 PM–8 PM): CERT Business Meeting

• Thurs, 6/18 (11 AM): Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony

• Mon, 6/22 (7 PM–9 PM): CERT First Aid Skills Review

• Tues, 6/23 (7 PM–8:30 PM): Green Team Meeting

• Sat, 6/27 (10:30 AM–12:30 PM): Mount Rainier Pride Celebration

North Brentwood

• Mon, 6/15 (7:30 PM): Town Meeting - Mon June 15

• Sat, 6/20 (12 PM–5 PM): North Brentwood Day 2026!

🦅 Mount Rainier Elementary

The end of the year is always a rush - PreK and Kindergarten headed to the aquarium, 1st & 2nd Grade went to the Zoo, 3rd Grade is getting ready to go see our nation’s founding documents (but not steal them)  the reptile man visited the school, and all students participated in field days. In between there were promotion ceremonies for PreK and Kindergarten, and of course, our 5th graders. The PTO hosted a great morning mugs event so that parents could get together and say HAGS, and we look forward to staying in touch with everyone even though we’ll miss seeing you trekking up the mount every morning!

• 🗳️ 6/16 (Tue): Final PTO Meeting, SY Recap & Elections

• 🎒 6/18 (Thu): Last Day of Classes

🐅Thomas S. Stone Elementary 

• 🎒 6/18 (Thu): Last Day of Classes

🌎 Stay Local

📚 New Book from Brentwood Neighbor Jason Biehl

Brentwood neighbor Jason Biehl recently published Unicorns, Book One: On Discomfort, the first book in his four-part series, Unicorns: A Memoir for Young White Men. At the heart of the project is a timely question: who do we want to be?

Jason is an anti-racist educator, facilitator, history teacher, and writer whose work focuses on creating positive, supportive spaces for young men and boys to share what they are feeling, explore the values they hold, and build healthier models of belonging. He is looking to connect with schools, organizations, parents, and young men who may be interested in this ongoing work.

 📚 Pop up Coffee Cart by Neighbors Matt and Caitlin Chiron 

Two weeks ago, I started Our Mutual Friend Coffee Cart as the first step towards a more permanent location for delicious coffee and community gatherings in our little corner of the world. We had our first pop-up in the driveway of our house, and the second at Red Dirt Studio. It was really fun and encouraging to meet so many neighbors!

As the summer continues Our Mutual Friend will be at the Gateway Farmers Market every Saturday. I can’t wait to see you out there and to get your feedback. Hopefully this evolves into something wonderful!

GO SAY HI AT THE FARMERS MARKET THIS WEEKEND!

🎉Business Announcements

• Luna’s Lemonade is back at Gateway Farmer’s Market on Saturday 6/13. 40% of profits go to the PG IRC!

🎭 Neighborhood Happenings

• 🚋 Sat, 6/13 (9 AM–11 AM): Trolley Trail Day: Mount Rainier Memorial Park Hub

• 🚲 Sat, 6/13 (9 AM–11 AM): Trolley Trail Day: North Brentwood Entrepreneur Park Hub

• 🐾 Sat, 6/13 (9 AM–11 AM & 11 AM–3 PM): Trolley Trail Day: Gateway Arts Center & miXt Food Hall Hub

• 🎸 Sat, 6/13 (5:30 PM–8 PM): Trolley Trail Day: Night at the Museum Rock Concert

• 🌈 Sat, 6/13 (6 PM–8 PM): Portico Pride: Strength in Community Artist Reception and Pride Party

• 🌿 Sun, 6/14 (Time not listed): Mount Rainier Garden Tour

• 🖼️ Mon, 6/15–Sat, 8/15 (Gallery Hours): Frolic

  • 🎨 Sat, 6/20 (5 PM–8 PM): Frolic - Opening Reception

• Sat 6/20 - (8 PM) Oradell with Ino Aksentiev: SoHy Corner Shops

• 🧵 Sun, 6/21 (12 PM–3 PM): Kinusaiga No-Sew Craft Sunday Workshop

• 🎓 Wed, 6/24 (9 AM–6 PM): 2026 College & Career Tour – You're Invited!

• 🎭 Fri, 6/26 (7:30 PM–9:45 PM): Pipeline Playwrights Presents Around the Snake Turn

• 🕯️ Sat, 6/27 (Time not listed): Candle Making & Yoga Experience

• 💃 Fri, 7/3 (6 PM–10 PM): It's Our America: Now That's What I Call a Dance Party! A Fundraiser for PGIRC

🌱 Mount Rainier Community Garden Update

Community gardens are community treasures, which means they require lots of work by lots of people over long periods of time. We’re lucky to have a few in our area: Cottage City and Mount Rainier each have one, and Brentwood has one in the making. Cottage City’s really is so lovely, and folks should request a tour. (Brian Bennett’s flowers are a dream.)

Dorrissa Griffin, Esq., current secretary of the Mount Rainier Community Garden (MRCG), shared some updates about what’s hopefully coming soon to this area’s community garden. The garden, which has been growing strong on 31st Street since 2013, now includes 30 community plots and remains free to join. Gardeners help maintain the shared space through weeding, composting, filling water cisterns, and monthly workdays.

MRCG, through the City and Gateway CDC as fiscal sponsor, was awarded the 2026 PG Redevelopment Authority Community Impact Grant for $24,330 to install a waterline, ADA-accessible raised beds, and a new gate. However, after WSSC designated the garden a commercial property, the project budget nearly doubled. The City is now working to find additional funding so the waterline can be completed before the grant deadline, with Council Member Valerie Woodall leading the effort.

Here’s to hoping the garden gets the waterline, raised beds, and gate it needs to keep growing for years to come. If you're interested in volunteering, getting a plot, or supporting the waterline, email mrcgmrcg32@gmail.com.

☮️Volunteering, Mutual Aid, Advocacy

• 🆘 PGIRC Families in Need of Support Sheet — Spreadsheet of PGIRC ICE-Impacted Families currently in need. Donate and share if and when you can.

• 🐾 A Cat’s Life Rescue has rescued at least 17 cats left behind after their families were deported in recent ICE raids. Their volunteer-run team is stretched thin and could use donations of any amount.

• The IRC summer backpack drive needs 20 volunteers to help sort and pack backpacks for local families. Shifts are available Friday evening and Sunday midday at the Malinda Miles Building by Mount Rainier City Hall. Please sign up for a shift if you can help!

📚 Mount Rainier Public Library 

• Register online or at your local library branch to play the summer reading game!  Now through August 14th, track your reading and library checkouts to win prizes! For more information, and instructions on how to register, check out our website: https://ww1.pgcmls.info/summer

• Join Mount Rainier Library for our June book club meeting at miXt food hall this Tuesday, June 16th at 6:30 PM. More info here: https://ww1.pgcmls.info/event/16275459

• Join Mount Rainier Library for our June book club meeting at miXt food hall this Tuesday, June 16th at 6:30 PM. More info here: https://ww1.pgcmls.info/event/16275459

☕ Etc.