Foundation Highlights

School Libraries Project..and a Literary Feast!

Volunteers shelving books in a newly renovated school library--photo by Todd Cymrot

The month of October will be marked by several celebrations of newly transformed libraries in five Capitol Hill elementary Schools. These events are the culmination of the School Libraries Project, a major initiative of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. Thanks to an unprecedented community outpouring of support, the project has raised over $2.4 million dollars and a total of eight libraries have been renovated over the past two years. Three libraries were completed last summer, and this month will mark the official openings of the other five, with a “Ribbon Untying” ceremony being held at 9:30 am on October 24th at the Peabody School. From the curved arches at Maury to a wall that spells out the word “THINK” at Payne, the libraries offer dramatic and whimsical spaces for the students along with brand new collections of books and state-of-the art technology. This year the proceeds from the Foundation’s Literary Feast will benefit the School Libraries Project ensuring that the final funds will be available for these amazing transformations in the libraries and the schools. The Literary Feast will take place at 25 houses on Capitol Hill on October 27th. RSVPs for the Literary Feast are due by October 13th, so send in your reservation today! For more information, please visit the Literary Feast website.

Eastern Market--More than a Building
On that night in April when Eastern Market burned, many people feared that our neighborhood had lost one of its most important treasures. Yet that night proved exactly what the Capitol Hill community is capable of—and the result in terms of money and support for the affected merchants has been unimaginable. Bill Glasgow, owner of the Union Meat Company in the Market, sent the Foundation a letter that puts into words what many are feeling. Said Glasgow, “The community spirit after the fire is nothing short of amazing and seemed to come instantly...The speed in which the Capitol Hill Community Foundation organized this fund raising operation was incredible, only to be outdone by your organizational and management skills that made this fundraising an absolute success.” Over $435,000 has been raised to date—funds that have been used in direct support of the merchants and their continued success. The opening of the temporary structure this past August and the return of the final merchants in September gives us the opportunity to visit with our neighbors on a sunny Saturday morning once again over bluebucks and orange juice, and to see with our own eyes each and every day what a community can do when it comes together.

"The glue that put all this together was The Foundation. The Foundation will be long remembered in the continuing history of Eastern Market." --Bill Glasgow, Union Meat Co.; photo by Michael Skinner

Upcoming Event Highlights
Literary Feast RSVPs due October 13th...School Libraries Project “Ribbon Untying”, October 24th...Literary Feast!, October 27th...Overbeck Lecture on John Philip Sousa, November 6th...Fall grants awarded November 15th

School Libraries Project
As we get closer to the "Ribbon Untying" on October 24, volunteers have been busy at each of the libraries putting new books on the shelves and setting up the new mobile laptop labs. However, volunteers will still be needed throughout the year to help the school librarians bring these new spaces alive. Come read to kids, spend a couple of hours shelving books, or share your knowledge and experience! To learn more about the project or make a contribution, please visit our website.

Keller Award 2007 — Friends of Fort Dupont
Thanks to the 2007 Arnold Keller Jr. Award, two classes of students from Payne Elementary School and one at Stuart-Hobson Middle School are having a physical education class each week at Fort Dupont ice arena. The sessions begin with a half hour of instruction in skate lacing, stretching and nutrition followed by an hour on the ice – one half hour of formal instruction and a second half hour of practice time with the teachers. The Keller Award will support 25 class visits from schools all over Capitol Hill, including transportation for 15 visits. For more information, contact the Friends of Fort Dupont.

Overbeck History Project
The new season of the Overbeck History Project Lecture series kicked off on September 11, and was a huge success—over 200 people filled the Naval Lodge Hall to hear John R. Wennersten discuss the significance of the Anacostia river to the city and the nation. Capitol Hill historian Cindy Janke delivers the next Overbeck History Lecture on our neighborhood's most famous composer and band leader, John Philip Sousa, on the composer’s birthday, November 6. The event will be held at 8:00 p.m. in the Naval Lodge Hall at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. As usual, admission is free but a reservation is required due to limited seating. Contact OverbeckLecture@aol.com or visit the website.

Message from the President
On October 2nd, the American Planning Association (APA) named what they called the “Eastern Market” neighborhood one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America. We know that they are talking about the entire Capitol Hill neighborhood, and are thrilled to share the secret of our neighborhood with the rest of the country. The APA notes that “[t]he designated neighborhoods and streets are defined by several characteristics, including good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement.” The Capitol Hill Community Foundation is proud to be a part of this great neighborhood, to participate in exciting new initiatives like the just opened Capitol Hill Village, and to give back every day in the form of art, music, green space, libraries, books, tutors, and other supports our schools, families, merchants and neighbors need.

You can find more information on all of the work of the Foundation on our website. Please also send your comments and suggestions on this newsletter to neighbors@capitolhillcommunity
foundation.org and feel free to forward this on to your friends and neighbors.