A few exciting updates this week:
👋 Hi, mom! We're on the news!WUSA9 came out to Capitol Hill yesterday to cover what we’re building here. It's so exciting to see the word spreading beyond our hyperlocal listservs!
Watch it here → Please share widely — the more neighbors who see this, the better!
🔍 Who’s got your block? Â
Our block captain lookup system is live! Claimed blocks are shown in purple on the map. Click yours to open a contact form and your block captain will be in touch shortly. Your personal information goes directly to them and is never shared publicly. Find your block captain →Â
Don’t have a captain on your block yet? That could be you! You don’t have to go it alone — tag team with a neighbor and make it a two-person job. Volunteer here →Â
🖥️ Website updates
The Zoom recording of our community kickoff meeting has been edited with ASL interpretation displayed side by side — worth a watch whether or not you caught it live. Dr. Bart Knols’ Mosquito 101 alone is worth the time. Watch here →
We’ve also been revamping the website and adding new content throughout. We now have refined trap guidance, a dedicated block captain page, updated FAQs, improved navigation, and more.
🦟 Biogents visited this weekendÂ
We had great turnout for both the block walks and Northeast Library drop-in! Thank you to everyone who came out. Biogents left energized and already talking about return visits this summer. I’m compiling placement and prevention notes from the visits and will share over the weekend. One fun fact I learned: some mosquito larvae can survive a freeze 🤯!!!
đź’§Catch basin and vault treatmentÂ
One of the most exciting things we discovered during the block walks this weekend is just how many catch basins and telecom vaults are sitting right in the spots where mosquitoes are worst on the Hill. We’re working on securing BTi (mosquito dunks) inventory from DC Health to treat them, but first we need counts.
We're funneling these counts through block captains — Want to help? Reach out to your block captain and offer assistance with counting. We're aiming to get counts compiled by the end of this weekend.
Spread the word, share the site, and thank you for being part of this! And with rain in the forecast, go toss some standing water! Â
Michelle
Itty Bitty Mosquito Population Committee