Bloomingdale Buzzby

Ellen Boomer

STEM in Action Harmony Public Charter School (PCS) students perched on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear the outcome of the science fair. When Principal Emin Cavusoglu announced the results cheers erupted from the crowd, and the proud winners beamed from the stage.

This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) focused, K-5 charter school requires all 96 students to participate in the science fair, a culmination of several months of work and dedication. The projects included a range of topics such as “The Effect of Mentos on Different Sodas,” “How to Make Slime,” and “How to Tell Time with Potatoes.”

Students used household items such as lemons, crayons, and soda in their experiments, proving that even the most mundane objects can be used to spark their curiosity.

Girls were 61 percent of the science fair winners, though they make up just half of the student body. Kindergartener Noah Rucker’s project compared how long Mylar and rubber balloons float. “I love getting balloons for my birthday, but I noticed some of them floated longer than others,” Rucker said. “I wanted to find out why.”

Her project earned her first place among kindergarteners and one of three grand prizes in the school. Rucker’s mother Negest explained, “We found the STEM program at Harmony exciting. Noah had expressed interest in science in the past. We thought, what better way to expose her to science than a STEM-based curriculum.”

Evren Culha, Harmony’s vice principal, invited STEM professionals and graduate students to judge the science fair, adding a level of importance to the occasion. “Our students will have a chance to talk to STEM professionals and learn the field from them. We plan to visit those who registered at their workplaces.”

Harmony PCS, which opened in DC in 2014 and plans to add one grade level per year, is part of Texas-based Harmony Public Schools that has provided STEM-focused education to underserved communities since 2000.

Visit Harmony DC PCS at 62 T St. NE, at www.harmonydcpcs.org, or call 202-529-7500.

Bloomingdale Buzzby

Ellen BoomerFiscally Fit Chuck Donalies of Donalies Financial Planning helps his clients get in strong fiscal shape. From budgeting to debt reduction to estate planning, Donalies offers a variety of services to urban professionals to plan for the future today.

“While I have clients in their late 20s to early 70s, my clients typically fall into two categories: young professionals and families with young children,” Donalies noted. “Both groups share a common theme: they’re busy, which means they don’t have the time, or inclination, to deal with important financial planning issues.”

A certified financial planner, Donalies started his firm in 2012 to provide non-commission-based financial advice, to be able to spend more time with his wife and their two daughters, and to provide affordable financial guidance to his peers.

“I offer a range of services because I believe there shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning,” Donalies explained. “Not everyone needs someone to manage their money. Some people need help creating and sticking to a budget. Others might need only a financial plan. Why force someone to buy services they don’t need?”

Donalies provides several services, such as Budgeting 101, which includes monthly financial reports; a Young Professional Package, which is a great choice for clients just starting out who want to create short and long-term financial goals; and even hourly planning for clients who simply need basic financial coaching.

“Chuck inspires trust,” client and Bloomingdale resident Acacia Bamberg Salatti said. “He understands that money is a currency; it's an avenue and a means for people to live the lives they want to live. We’ve become really good friends and have all of our finance meetings over a bourbon and a beer at Boundary Stone.”

Donalies and his wife have lived in Bloomingdale for 12 years and were drawn to the Victorian row houses, the proximity to museums, and the accessibility of public transportation. A triathlete and an artist, Donalies has participated in two art shows to raise money for local causes.

“There’s much to love about Bloomingdale,” said Donalies, citing the many amenities in the neighborhood. “We have a wonderful community of friends in the neighborhood. The residents on our block of R Street NW work together to purchase and plant tulips in the tree boxes.”

Contact Donalies Financial Planning at 52 R St. NW, at www.donaliesfp.com, or call 240-888-2573.

Bloomingdale Buzzby

Ellen BoomerBig Flavors in a Small Space At Meats & Foods, the menu is simple but the flavors in the homemade sausages are complex. Owners Scott McIntosh and Ana Marin have found a sweet (and savory) spot in Bloomingdale’s culinary scene and are serving up delicious meats — and foods.

Before McIntosh and Marin opened their brick-and-mortar space in August 2014, they sold their homemade sausages wholesale and at events like the H Street Festival and DC Brau’s growler hours.

“We knew even when we started dating 10 years ago that we eventually wanted to open a small, simple place,” McIntosh said. “When we found the space on Florida Avenue, we thought it would be perfect as a little lunch counter. Running it together has been a wild experience — we literally do everything, from making the sausages and chilis to washing dishes to fixing broken equipment.”

Their menu of fresh, homemade sausages includes chorizo, salt and pepper chicken, a veggie sausage as well as their signature half-smoke and special sausages such as lemongrass chicken and garlic pork. Customers can add sauerkraut, bacon, jalapenos, pickles, cheese, peppers and onions, or chili to enhance the complex flavors of the sausages. Rounding out the menu is the Frito pie, chips, various drinks including beer, and Meats & Foods signature merchandise. With each sausage at just $6, it’s easy to grab lunch and a drink for under $10.

“Bloomingdale is a great neighborhood, and one that is going to see a lot of new businesses opening in the next few years,” McIntosh said. “Our neighbors have been accepting and supportive from the minute we opened our doors, and we love being able to be a part of it.”

Visit Meats & Foods at 247 Florida Ave. NW, at www.meatsandfoods.com, or call 202-505-1384.