Dear PoPville

“the quote I received for this work from my go-to plumber was for $16,000.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I am writing in the hopes other Popvillers have advice about the installation of backflow preventers, which prevent sewage from backing up into basements. DC Water has confirmed it will reimburse me up to $6,000 for the installation of one of these devices. I was expecting I would be out of pocket for part of the installation costs. But, the quote I received for this work from my go-to plumber was for $16,000. There is a lot of distance between those two amounts!

I was wondering if there was anyone in PoPville who have had a backflow preventer installed could comment on the cost and recommend a company or master plumber for the job.”

“This is the real problem with the DCPS reopening”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Erin

“Dear PoPville,

As a DCPS teacher (who would prefer to stay anonymous) I wanted to send this because, while most of the DCPS reopening focus has been on the health and safety factors of reopening (understandably so), very little discussion has been had on how logistically terrible the plan is for students, families, and teachers.

As an example, I am a fifth grade math teacher in a school with 50 5th graders. 10 of our Students will be back in school, and will be taught by either myself or the 5th grade ELA teacher. This means that the remaining 40 students would no longer have access to the teacher they have spent the last two months learning routines, skills and structures from. DCPS has offered no further clarity on who would take on that teaching role, but I don’t think it’s out of turn to say that they wouldn’t not be as effective working with the group as I would be. (more…)

Missed Connection – 14th St. NW USPS

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I saw a really cute guy yesterday (Tuesday, October 13) at around 2:45 pm at the 14th St. NW USPS underneath the Municipal Affairs building. He had a skateboard and a very cute gray and white doggy with him. We exchanged looks and commented on the long line, but I chickened out and left without even asking his dog’s name let alone his own name or number! Please help me find the Sk8er Boy, PoPville!”

Ed. Note: If this is you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. PoPville is not affiliated with either party, please proceed with any potential connection at your own risk using caution as you would any online encounter. For those curious about passed missed connections, some have been made and when possibly I’ll try to update when/if more are made.

Let’s Talk Ballots – Drop Box Tracking and some folks still haven’t received theirs

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I dropped our ballots off in our neighborhood drop box (in front of the local library) on Monday, but the DC board of elections tracking page still doesn’t show our ballots as received. Any guidance from DC about how long we should wait before we start to panic? We thought the drop boxes were picked up daily!” (more…)

Looking for Witnesses to this Hit and Run

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I recently got into a car crash on New Jersey Avenue and O Street, NW around 8:45 pm on Sunday 10/11/20. It was a hit and run so I’m trying to find the car / driver that messed my car up. All we know is that it was a red Mercedes sedan and it should have scratches running up the driver side of it. Anyone with information can text me at (443)-878-0214 or email me at [email protected].”

Halloween Expectations This Year – To Trick or Treat or Not?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

My kids are very eager to know whether we’ll be trick-or-treating this year and I have no idea what to tell them, so I’d be curious to hear whether neighbors in petworth plan to give out candy or whether I should start downplaying expectations for them.”

Ed. Note: The photo above was sent from Woodley Park where you drop the candy down the tube so the kids don’t have to walk up the stairs. Other cool things I’ve heard is neighbors hiding candy on their lawns so kids don’t have to go to the door.

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