Dear PoPville

“Ward 2 Election?” and Have those who’ve requested absentee ballots gotten them?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

I’m all in for getting rid of the overwhelming stench of Jack Evans and his pay-to-play version of public “service” (groan), but I’m a little overwhelmed by the number of candidates running to replace him. I fear that Jack will squeak back in with all the anti-Jack votes split between the candidates. Candidate forums ain’t happening these days, so what suggestions do you and/or your readers have for how I can make a good decision?

Given the volume of full-color flyers I’m getting in the mail, the candidates are spending some serious bucks to get my vote . . .”

And while we’re on the subject:

“Dear PoPville,

My husband and I requested absentee ballots for the upcoming primary and general elections via the “Vote 4 DC” app. I received my ballot a few days later, voted, and as of this morning the DC BOE has posted on their website that they have accepted my ballot. It couldn’t have been easier. However, my husband, again using the same app, address, and no new updates since the last election, has not had any reply. He tried again this morning on the app and only got a generic absentee ballot request form to print out and mail in to the BOE.”

A Milk Mystery in AdMo Continues”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’m Mary’s neighbor from this post in January.

Since then, we’ve gotten two more mystery milk dropoffs. One in March, and one today (gotta say, quarantine has made me appreciate free shelf stable milk–after I disinfect the carton!) (more…)

“Looking to do outdoor day trips/hikes”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

We’re looking to do outdoor day trips/hikes but having a hard time finding options or actually what is open.I’m assuming people aren’t sharing bc they don’t want it to get crowded but is there a way to check easily? Each park site is confusing and I don’t know what is closed?”

“Were we marked by some bizarre penny cult?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

This morning I took my dog out and noticed a couple penny’s on our front stoop. We checked the security camera from last night and it captured this person who stopped and abruptly threw penny’s onto our stoop. Were we marked by some bizarre penny cult? I’d be curious what stories Popville readers might come up with for why this happened. These are weird times.”

Cremated Remains Stolen By Package Thief in Shaw – Devastated Family Seeks Your Help Looking For It

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I am hoping that broadly disseminating my story to the faithful will generate some leads in helping me get through a terrible situation. My mother died a horrible death on a COVID-19 ward in San Diego recently. Due to the situation, I could not have a proper service and memorial so she was cremated, and her remains shipped to my home in DC. The US Postal Service delivered her remains and urn to the concierge desk of my building on 4/15/20, but I never received notification of it from them or my building. We searched for it for weeks. Nothing.

I was finally able to obtain security footage from my building for the day/time in question and was beyond devastated to see a man gained access to my building and stole the package containing my mother’s remains. (more…)

Robocalls – Increasing, Decreasing or the Same since the Pandemic Started?

By Prince Of Petworth

First, specifically a reader asks:

“I get 3 or 4 robocalls a day on my land line, and Caller ID shows that they’re all from 202-774- (and 4 more numbers). What is the 774 exchange?”

“All the flipped houses”

By Prince Of Petworth


‘Flipper gray’ emerged circa 2012-2013, prior to that was known as ‘Flipper yellow’

“Dear PoPville,

I’m a new DC resident and love, love, love my new neighborhood (16th St heights) and especially love the townhouse architecture (I’m from Oregon where row houses absolutely do not exist). But since I have moved here I have seen not one, not two, but THREE houses flipped, gutted, painted some variation of grey with black trim windows, black modern railing, and the SAME MODERN LIGHT FIXTURE in the “open concept” kitchen in a block radius from our house. They just started work on a fourth around the corner. What is this all about?? (more…)

“looking for a non-grocery source of fish”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Clif Burns

“Dear PoPville,

I’m trying to avoid grocery stores as much as possible. That’s been doable for produce and pantry staples so far, and I know we can get meat directly from farms at the farmers’ markets that are still open. Does anyone know of good sources to buy fish (either fresh or frozen)?”

“Any advice?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

All of my FedEx packages keep coming like this to my place in Shaw. No matter how many times I’ve called FedEx they don’t seem to care. I am not getting anything fancy delivered but its kind of annoying. See video below for today’s drop off. Any advice?” (more…)

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