The Old Naval Hospital Foundation invites the public to an informational meeting to discuss the planning for the educational programs at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, slated to open in the summer of 2011. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at Watkins School, 12 and E Streets SE. 

This meeting will also be an opportunity to solicit additional ideas for programs of interest to neighborhood residents. Jennifer Smith, ONHF Board Member and Chair of the Program Committee, will facilitate the meeting.  Ms. Smith is the former Principal of the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools.

A vibrant new facility for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and community life, the Hill Center will offer a wide range of educational opportunities for people of all ages, meeting and performance space, and offices for community organizations. Planning for the Hill Center has been underway for several years, and initial program planning has been based on recommendations from neighborhood focus group discussions, online surveys, meetings with neighborhood organizations, and consultations with many other lifetime learning facilities. Programs at the Hill Center will be offered both by the Hill Center itself and by Programming Partners, established organizations already presenting programs in our neighborhood and other areas.

Restoration of the historic Old Naval Hospital is scheduled to begin in April of 2010, with completion expected in May of 2011. 

Questions and comments are welcome at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Occasionally, our office receives inquiries about out of order fire hydrants, who is responsible for the repairs, and what the signage means. 

The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) and the D.C. Fire and EMS are responsible for the care and repair on all hydrants.  Each agency participates in the Joint Fire Hydrant Inspection and Maintenance Program. FEMS performs condition assessments of all District hydrants twice a year, while DC WASA is responsible for repair, maintenance and/or replacement of hydrants.

What's the Meaning of the Rings?

Firefighters access status information on public hydrants while en route to an emergency. Status information is available to both DCWASA and FEMS through a number of electronic devices, including laptops and handheld devices. Still, in order to give another visual clue to firefighters as they approach the scene of an emergency, the Out of Service ring lets them know to keep moving to the next available hydrant.

A red "Out of Service" ring - Identifies a particular hydrant as not being available. Out-of-service rings are placed on hydrants by both DC WASA and FEMS. This information is an important extra precaution for firefighters who frequently make quick decisions.

A green "In Service" ring - Designates a fully operational hydrant that is available for use.

A "Maintenance Scheduled" ring - Designates that a hydrant includes a missing chain, a missing cap, or a leak that needs to be attended to at some point in time, but the hydrant is usable. 

Why Hydrants May Have a Red "Out of Service" Ring?

- Hydrants can become obsolete when a model cannot be retrofitted to the national standard, and is scheduled for replacement.
- Hydrants can be damaged when struck by a vehicle, environmental elements, or improper opening for authorized and unauthorized use.
- Hydrants can become inaccessible at construction sites and roadway repairs where there is fencing or barriers that prevent the firefighter from hooking up to the hydrant.
- Hydrants may be temporarily out of services when DC WASA shuts off mains to make repairs, which in turn can restrict water flow to the hydrants. DC WASA crews place out-of-service rings on these hydrants until water is restored.

What Do the Reflective Bands Mean?

Reflective bands designate water pressure and flow, not operational status. The colors indicate two things to the fire department: that the nozzle has been upgraded to the national standard and the expected water flow during a fire:

- Red - Less than 500 GPM
- Orange - 500-999 GPM  
- Yellow - 1000-1499 GPM
- Blue -1500 GPM & above
- White -- indicates that the nozzle is upgraded but the hydrant has not been flow tested yet.

The DCWASA website also has information posted regarding the Hydrant Location & Status Information. Which is accessible through the Google Earth application at http://www.dcwasa.com/hydrants/status.cfm. 

My five-year-old daughter came home from school recently and announced that we needed to participate in the Census because, she said, “everyone counts Mom!”

She’s right – everyone does count – and every 10 years, the Census Bureau undertakes an effort to do just that throughout the entire United States. But the Census is more than just a population count: census data are used to support and shape our local communities:

· Census data are used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the subsequent redistricting of state and local governments – including our Wards and ANCs.

· Census data help to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed for important social services that affect local communities like ours.

· Census data can help fund services for people in poverty, establish facilities for people with disabilities, determine locations for hospitals and senior centers, and forecast transportation needs, such as new public transit options.

· Developers and businesses often look to demographic data to determine where to build new residences and businesses, and revitalize commercial corridors.

During the 2000 Census count, some 30,000 District residents were undercounted – that means that the District has lost out on millions of dollars in federal funds over the last decade. We need to do better this time around.

Here’s what you should know about the 2010 Census:

It’s easy. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The individual in whose name the housing unit is rented or owned should complete the form on behalf of every person living there, both relatives and nonrelatives.

It’s important. Census data are used to ensure proper district representation in government. Information from the census helps determine locations for child-care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers.

It’s safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

By now, all District residents have received Census questionnaires – if you haven’t completed it and mailed it yet, now is the time to do so. If you have questions about the questionnaire, call 1-866-872-6868 for assistance. Take 10 minutes, answer 10 questions, and help the District be accurately counted.

The following information is provided by Peggy O'Brien, Chief, Office of Family and Public Engagement of DCPS:

The community’s role in the Eastern High School principal selection process begins now!  A number of people already have registered to participate, and there is still time for others to participate.  Please take the following actions listed below, and please forward this email to other members of the Eastern community that would be interested:

1. Submit questions that the candidates should be asked during their public interviews.  Send those questions to Hilary Darilek, Director of Principal Human Capital at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

2. Participate in the process by listening to all candidates’ public interviews, contribute questions in each community audience Q+A session, and provide your feedback on each candidate to Chancellor Rhee. In order to do this, you must:

• - register to participate in this part of the process
• - attend the Prep Session on Wednesday, April 7 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Eliot-Hine MS, and the Principal Candidate Forum on Friday, April 9.  All candidates will be interviewed at this forum;  it is scheduled from 4 – 8 p.m. at Eliot-Hine MS.

3. In order to participate in the Forum, you must:

• - register, either by emailing Hilary Darilek ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or on site at the Prep Session on Wednesday, April 7th.
• - attend the Prep Session.  If you do not attend the Prep Session, you may not participate in the Forum.
• - attend the Forum on Friday, April 9th from start to finish so that you participate in the interviews of all of the candidates
• - provide feedback on all candidates

4. PLEASE NOTE:  Only those who have registered to participate in this process will be admitted to the Prep Session on Wednesday and the Forum on Friday.  There will be no opportunity to merely observe, or to attend part of the Prep Session or the Forum as an observer.  Unless you have registered, attend the Prep Session on Wednesday and attend the entire Forum on Friday, you will not be admitted. 

Questions?  Email Hilary Darilek at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-442-5032.