Sign up for Hill and Go Seek!
First of its Kind Bicycle Event on Capitol Hill Benefiting Ready, Willing & Working

Saturday, August 28, 2010
5:00 – 8:00 pm (Check-in starts at 3 pm)
After party at H Street Country Club

Whether you are a bicycle enthusiast or just like a good competition, Hill and Go Seek is for you.  For a $20 entry fee, teams of two are invited to participate in this scavenger hunt style bicycle race for the thrill of victory and some amazing prizes.

Hill and Go Seek will put the riders to the test – creatively and physically. Starting at 5 pm, teams will be given a list of ten points of interest throughout Capitol Hill. From Barracks Row to RFK Stadium, Eastern Market to the H Street Corridor - it is up to the riders to choose the best route between stops.

Points will be awarded for: completion speed; checkpoints completed; tasks completed; as well as other point-earning categories like creativity and participation using correct safety gear.  Winners will be determined by greatest number of overall points, and will be announced at an after party hosted by the H Street Country Club.

Pre-registration is highly recommended and available online at www.hillandgoseek.eventbrite.com or at Capitol Hill Bikes (cash or check only) located at 719 8th Street SE.

Hill and Go Seek is produced by the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District and CHAMPS – Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by Capitol Hill Bikes, The Office of Tommy Wells, DDOT’s Capital Bikeshare and the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA).

Proceeds from Hill and Go Seek will benefit Ready, Willing & Working a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that empowers men to break the cycles of homelessness, welfare dependency and criminal recidivism through a residential, paid-work rehabilitation program offering holistic programs and supportive services that allow individuals to achieve permanent self-sufficiency.

Throughout the day, Tommy Wells has been visiting several of our Ward 6 schools for the first day of the new school year. We’ve also had staff out at various schools as well. We’ll update throughout the day with reports as Tommy and staff call in with updates. But you can also follow Tommy on Twitter as he checks in from various schools. Here are his latest Tweets from @TommyWells: 

"1st day of school! Starting at Tyler w/ new principal Fentress. School was rehabbed over the summer"

"Tyler looks great. Paint nearly dry. Love the back yard amphitheater made of boulders"

"On to Amidon/Bowen with new principal Knight."

"Look forward to seeing the Emilia Reggio program at Miner!"

"Now going to Jefferson Middle School new principal Patricia Pride"

"Impressed w/ volunteers at the SW schools. Joined by the PTA pres for Jeff, Ray Russell"

"Great tour of Miner. The teaching garden is amazing - ate a cherry tomato with a piece of rosemary."

"Off to visit Walker Jones K thru 8. Beautiful new school w/ city garden."

"The farm pic: http://yfrog.com/iyg8rhj"

"Wow. Great energy at Walker Jones with Principal Martin. School population way up. Offered me fresh squash."

"Now at JO Wilson. Generally Ward 6's highest performing elementary school."

"Each school I visit today has greater than projected enrollment - not sure if it is an anomaly or not."

Staff were also out at schools this morning.

From Linda O’Brien: “Things at Brent Elementary look great this morning. There are some issues we’re hearing about regarding after-school care. We’re working to help sort that out quickly.”

From Charles Allen: “Stuart-Hobson looks great. Lots of parents walking their kids to school today. The students are meeting in the playground to get their homeroom assignments and then headed into the cafeteria to grab breakfast. I checked in with the main office as well and they seemed to be on top of everything and said things are going well so far.”

From Anne Phelps: “Maury looks great! A very happy day for parents and students. Everyone was lined up outside to get their classroom assignments before heading indoors. The new doors and entryways -- with windows! -- look great. Fresh paint and a great 1st day.”

Also from Anne Phelps: "Eliot-Hine looked quiet - in a good way. Most students were already in the classroom by the time I got there. The principal said enrollment was up and I talked with security officers who said it was "smooth sailing"."

And another from Anne Phelps: "The principal at Payne Elementary said things went well. Tommy's visit with Allen Lew 6 weeks ago to highlight concerns with the playground has paid off -- the new playground is under construction and will hopefully be open soon. The school has a great new marquee sign that lets everyone know the school is open and ready to go!"

From Naomi Mitchell: "Watkins Elementary opened this morning with parents walking their children to school on this first day.  Lines formed before 8:00 am for sign in and for parents to check lists as each class gathered to walk together to their classrooms.  The building entryway has a great board displayed with pictures and names of all the school personnel and their position, along with welcome signs in several languages."

From Adam Maier: “I was welcomed at the door by the Ludlow-Taylor Elementary PTA, including the PTA President; an alum of Ludlow Taylor and there with her 5 kids who have all been enrolled at the school as well. Talked with another parent (also a Ludlow-Taylor alum; and Duke Ellington alum) and he said he was very excited the school now has a full time music teacher. It was a great morning.”

We'll update this posting as we get more reports in. Do you have an update of your own? Are things going well on the 1st day of school? Use the comments section below to let us know.

Sample Some Great Food at Taste of Mt. Vernon Triangle

Saturday, August 21, 2010 – 2:00-5:00 p.m. rain or shine!

Explore the new restaurants of Mount Vernon Triangle by dining around the neighborhood tasting appetizers, entrees, drinks, and desserts from seven different eateries! Participating restaurants are Busboys & Poets, Taylor Deli, Kushi, Mandu, Henry’s Café, Papa Johns, and Buddha Bar. You can buy a master ticket for $15 in advance or  $20 at the door.  Advance tickets can be purchased through PayPal at www.mountvernontriangle.org or on the day of the event at:

5th Street Ace Hardware – 1055 5th Street, NW.

Each election cycle, the Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE) needs help at the polls for Election Day, and this year its no different. In fact, they need even more help because in addition to the traditional Election Day on September 14, 2010, this is the first year DC will have early voting sites beginning August 30, 2010.  They need over 300 volunteers from around the city to cover all the polls in DC.  Some of the need is technical and will require knowledge of computers and all positions will require varying levels of training prior to working at the polls.  No previous experience is necessary and workers will be paid, so anyone with availability on the 14th is urged to contact BOEE and sign up.

Below is the text of the BOEE call for volunteers:

The Board of Elections and Ethics is recruiting technically savvy registered District of Columbia voters to serve as Precinct Technicians and Special Ballot Clerks at the polls for the 2010 Primary and General Election. To volunteer, call the Board at 202-727-2525, complete the online application at www.dcboee.org or send an e-mail message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . In return for your service, you will receive a $140 stipend.

To be a pollworker, you must:
• Be a registered voter in the District of Columbia
• Be 16 years old or older
• Willing to work a minimum of 16 hours on Election Day*
• Complete mandatory training prior to Election Day
• Not hold any position with a political party or campaign

*Some exceptions include students and others who pre-arrange to work a split shift

Special Ballot Clerks perform the following duties:
• Ensure that all voters who are not able to cast a regular ballot are able to cast a Special Ballot on Election Day.
• Complete the forms necessary to process each Special Ballot.
• Verify proof of residence provided by Same-Day Registrants.
• Use a laptop computer to type and print voter information.
• Manage the Special Ballot process, including keeping track of voters and forms and making sure that ballots are cast in the Special Ballot Box.

Precinct Technicians perform the following duties:
• Set up the voting equipment and assist the Precinct Captain with opening procedures.
• Troubleshoot any difficulties with the voting equipment during the day.
• Assist the Special Ballot Clerk with setting up and breaking down the laptop computer and processing voters as needed.
• Assist the Touch Screen Clerk with escorting voters to the touch screen voting machine and activating their ballot.
• At the end of the night, break down the equipment and assist the Precinct Captain with Closing Procedures.
Perform such other duties as assigned by the Precinct Captain