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Six Metro stations will close this weekend

By WTOP Staff

Weekend Wakeup Call – Friday, Dec. 2 to Monday, Dec. 5

Topping the list of things to look out for this weekend: Six Metro stations will be closed on the Red Line; and the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k will affect traffic on Oxon Hill Road and 210/Indian Head Highway in Prince Georges County. The Washington Craft Show and the Downtown Holiday Market could cause some delays in the District, and there will be quite a few holiday events, including some parades. Check it out!

Weekend Metro track work

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday through closing time on Sunday, six stations on the Red Line will be closed while major track work advances. The following stations will be closed: Brookland, Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont. Buses will replace trains on the Red Line between the Rhode Island Avenue and Glenmont stations. The Fort Totten Station will be open for Green and Yellow Line service only. The Red Line platform will be closed.

On the Orange Line, buses will replace trains between the Deanwood and Cheverly stations while personnel make structural repairs to the elevated portion of the line and perform track rehabilitation. Both the Cheverly and Deanwood stations will remain open.

Here’s the rundown from Metro:

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 through closing on Sunday, Dec. 4

  • Buses will replace Red Line trains between Rhode Island Avenue and Glenmont stations.
  • Brookland, Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will be closed.
  • Fort Totten Station will remain open for Green and Yellow line trains only (no Red Line service).
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between Glenmont and Rhode Island Avenue stations, making all intermediate stops.
  • Red Line trains will operate normally between Rhode Island Avenue and Shady Grove.  To avoid delays, customers who drive to outlying stations may wish to consider using stations along the western portion of the Red Line, such as Grosvenor, White Flint and Shady Grove.
  • Customers using shuttle buses should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 through closing on Sunday, Dec. 4

  • Buses will replace Orange Line trains between Cheverly and Deanwood stations.
  • Cheverly and Deanwood stations will remain open throughout the weekend.
  • Orange Line trains operate in two sections: between Vienna and Deanwood on a regular weekend schedule, and between New Carrollton and Cheverly every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k

The Hot Chocolate 15k/5k will start around 7:30 a.m. at National Harbor. To be exact, the 5k starts at 7:30 a.m., and the 15k starts at 8 a.m. The 5k will be contained to the streets closest to National Harbor. The The 15k will start on Harborview Avenue and loop around National Harbor Boulevard. Racers will then run back up Harborview Avenue, cross Oxon Hill Road, and move south on 210/Indian Head Highway to turn back around at Palmer Road. This will mean road closures, so take a look at the course maps.

Here’s the 5k:

5k Map

Here’s the 15k:

Course map

Washington Craft Show

The 24th annual Washington Craft Show will be at the Washington Convention Center Friday through Sunday. About 190 craft artists will be featured along with special events, including special fashion shows on Friday and Saturday.

Downtown Holiday Market

Centered at 8th and F Streets NW, the Downtown Holiday Market begins its 7th year on Friday. Through Dec. 23, you’ll find a little “shopping village” set up between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. Lots of local boutique businesses will be featured — and on the weekends you can enjoy some live music. Check the schedule here.

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend

In Alexandria, the George Washington Masonic Memorial will be host to several events sponsored by the Campagna Center. Up to 30,000 people are expected on Friday and Saturday. The Scottish Christmas Walk parade is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m., beginning at the corner of Wilkes and South Saint Asaph Streets in Old Town and ending at King and Royal Streets. See the full schedule of events here.

Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland

Scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland festival will feature free performances, a live ice sculpting presentation in Bethesda’s Veterans Park and a visit from Santa Claus. More details here.

Greater Manassas Christmas Parade

The Manassas Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. You’ll see lots of big balloons, floats, and marching bands. The following streets will be closed at 8 a.m.:

  • Mathis Avenue from Liberia Avenue to Sudley Road
  • Carraige Lane at Reb Yank Drive
  • Sudley Road from Mathis Avenue to Centreville Road
  • Prescott Avenue from Centreville Road to Center Street
  • Center Street from Prescott Avenue to Peabody Street

Middleburg Christmas Parade

In Loudoun County, Va., the Middleburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. Officials advise drivers not to park on Route 50/Washington Street, where the parade will take place. More details here.

Gaylord National’s ICE!

Holiday fun continues at National Harbor with Gaylord National’s ICE!,  a walk-through attraction featuring characters from Dreamworks’ Merry Madagascar brought to life in the form of giant ice sculptures. The event will run through Jan. 8.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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