LRCA LINK SUMMER NEWSLETTER June 2018 • LITTLE RUN CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Happy Birthday America - July 4th Parade and Festival Get ready for our biggest and best 4th of July Parade and Festival returning Wed. July 4. Registration is 11am (corner of Maurice Lane and Willet Drive) with the parade starting at 12 Noon, followed by the festival at Ilda Pool parking lot at 12:30pm. We’re adding some fun games in addition to our traditional cakewalk, moon bounce, watermelon-seed spitting contest and free snow cones. All LRCA members are invited to participate and be guests at the pool thanks to Ilda. Contact Derrick Chamlee (dchamlee@verizon.net) to volunteer.

Annual Meeting Recap Thank you to outgoing Board Members Paula Weis, Valerie Smith and Wei Lu for their service and welcome Ben Woodson, LRCA’s new Neighborhood Watch captain who was nominated at the Annual Meeting. Andy Sheffield (At-Large) and Margie Madsen (Events Coordinator) are also proud new Board Members who recently joined the team as well (after the meeting). The Annual meeting opened with a performance by some talented musicians from WT Woodson HS and consisted of some healthy civic engagement, information sharing and friendly interaction among our invested neighbors. Thanks to our trio of community speakers Delegate Vivian Watts, State Senator Chap Peterson and Braddock Supervisor John Cook for joining us and providing timely updates. Congratulations to all of our door prize winners.

New Community Grants Program Honoring Longtime LRCA Member Announced At the Annual meeting, we were pleased to introduce a brand new community grant program named for Jim Williams, former LRCA President and long-time neighbor who passed away in late 2017. Look for full details this fall on how members can apply for a grant to help fund a community improvement project.

Remember Your 2018 Membership Dues As we begin summertime, have you remembered to pay your annual dues? If not, please consider submitting now. The fee is $25 for returning members; new neighbors pay $20. Head over to our website, www.lrcaonline.org/membership, for payment options (cash, check or PayPal available).

All Hail our Chili Cook-off Winners! Congratulations to our 4th Annual Chili Cook-off Contest winners pictured from left to right – Jeff Evans (1st), Bob Kachur and Todd Schmittou (2nd - Tie). Thanks to our organizer Valerie Smith, and all competitors! Ilda Pool Passes After years of collaboration and partnership, the LRCA cemented its relationship with Ilda Pool by purchasing a share in our community pool. As part of our arrangement, we have individual guest passes and a handful of family passes (good for up to 6 people) available to use by our members. While we strongly encourage LRCA members to join the pool on their own, the passes will allow new neighbors to ‘test-drive’ the pool or former pool members to re-visit for a serene Sunday or a summer Friday Night social. Supply is limited and members must be in good standing with dues. Contact Brian Bishop at LRCApresident@gmail.com with your request.

Congrats to LRCA Grads

• Naomi DuCharme – WT Woodson HS graduate headed to William & Mary this fall. • Annaugh Madsen – a WT Woodson HS alum, graduated from The University of Virginia in May with a degree in

English (yes, English!) and earned her varsity letter from the women’s soccer program! She was published in the Richmond-Times Dispatch in May and is currently pursuing a full-time job, preferably in a writing/editing capacity! Ryan Sarratt – WT Woodson HS graduate attending Norfolk State University this fall on an Army ROTC Scholarship. He will be studying history and military science while pursuing his dream of becoming a career Army Officer.

• Michael Szabo – Longwood University graduate pursuing job in criminal justice.

Neighborhood Watch Keeping an eye on our neighborhood is an important and valuable part of living in this community. Whether you make the rounds as an official part of the neighborhood watch program or simply help keep an eye out while walking your dogs, doing your part can be rewarding and very helpful.

Return of Home Tours; Potluck Socials in the Future? If there is interest and support, we’re considering bringing back Home Tours - the opportunity to check out remodeling and renovation projects by your neighbors in our community – as well as establishing regular Potluck Socials. To join an

exploratory committee for either initiative, please reach out to Margie Madsen at mrmugu2@verizon.net.

If you have a submission idea for the next LRCA Link, contact Brian Bishop in July. Remember you can find more community information and lots of resources online at www.LRCAonline.org.