Block Party Wrap Up!

The evening of Saturday, June 22 was a perfect day for the annual Raymondale Block Party held in Ellis Court! Oh what fun for all of the neighbors who attended! Lots of food, cool beverages, and activities for everyone! Just take a look at the many photos below!

 Neighbors chatting, catching up, and relaxing under the shade of the maple trees.

 Crafts! Duct tape bracelets in process.

 Hopscotch on the way! Get ready!

 Everyone got into the fun of making chalk art, turning Eliis Court into a whimsical, colorful art gallery!

 Some couldn't resist the thrill of seeing how high and fast the swing could go!

 Setting up the "groaning board" was a snap with so many delightful dishes brought to share!

 Freshly made blueberry pie, anyone?

 A big treat was the arrival of the neighborhood Grillmaster who braved the heat to make tasty treats!

 Yum yum! Let's dig in! Plenty of goodies for firsts and seconds!

 After dinner MORE fun, this time with bubbles!

 Who let the dogs out? Fur Friends were welcome too!

 MORE bubbles! Always a summertime treat!

 Hey, Grillmaster, where are you going? Look at that nifty skateboard wheeling that Weber!

 More chalk art from this wee Rembrandt!

 More relaxing and chatting!

 Here is one of those wonderful duct tape bracelets! So pretty!

 This doggie wants more hot dogs! But it is time to pack up and end the block party. A lot of food, friendship and fun filled the three hours of this wonderful Raymondale event!

Storm Season: Be Prepared!

Remember last year's Derecho that occurred on the evening of June 30, 2012? Well, so far this late spring/early summer has been quite wet and stormy, and we have seen our streets, sidewalks, and gutters turn into kayak-worthy waterways.

As the storm season is upon us, here are some tips to be prepared that has worked particularly well in our household. You may have already implemented some of these ideas in your own "be prepared" plan and some may be new to you. After last years Derecho we all are aware of how suddenly weather can drastically change our daily routines.

This list is by no means complete, but it is my family's "be prepared" list when bad weather threatens.

1. Have D batteries on hand for flashlights.
2. Fill up/top off the gas tank in each car (remember last year when many gas stations didn't have power?)
3. Keep a large bag (or two) of ice in the freezer. If the power goes out this will lengthen the time your freezer goods stay frozen.
4. Charge up all cell phones and any other necessary electronic devices prior to bad weather.
5. Keep protien based non-perishible food on hand, ie. peanut butter, trail mix, canned meat, chicken, or fish AND keep some small packets of condiments around.
6. Keep (and call if necessary) Dominions VA Power's report an outage number: 1-800-DOM-HELP in an easy to get to place.
7. Clear the outside drain(s) near your basement door (if you have them) of dirt, leaves, and other debris.
8. Have camp lanterns (not candles!) on hand with batteries. ALSO have some of those battery powered tea lights (one in each room) around--the dollar store is a good source, about 2 for a dollar and they come with batteries in them.

Please leave a comment below of your favorite "be prepared" tip for your Raymondale neighbors.  Thanks and have a wonderful day! AND mark your calendar for the Block Party on June 22nd!

Come on to The Annual Raymondale Block Party!

 Hello, Raymondale!

Have you ever been to one of our neighborhood's fun block parties? If you have, you know how FUN they are! Casual and laid back, the block party is a great time to meet neighbors you may have seen in passing as well as reconnect with old friends! Great food provided by YOU--bring your favorite dish to share---AND beverages as well as all picnic necessities are provided by the Raymondale Civic Association! Kids activities are provided--and some of the grown ups join in too! Bring a lawn chair and join your neighbors! Please read the particulars below...

Saturday, June 22

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

at Ellis Ct.

Start off your summer the old-fashioned way – with a neighborhood picnic!

Meet new neighbors and reconnect with old friends at Raymondale’s annual block party, a long-standing potluck tradition. Come enjoy some informal time with great company, great food, and children’s activities. The block party is free and open to all neighborhood residents. The Raymondale Civic Association will provide drinks and eating utensils. Please bring a favorite dish to share.

For more information, call 703/641-4714. 

See you there!

Get Ready for the Invasion!

Here is a little visitor that came to Brad Street this morning, May 22nd and landed in our lettuce garden. I think he is bringing about 5 million of his closest friends. Get ready!

And please check out the blog post before this one, as it contains the Minutes of the April 11th RCA board meeting. FYI!

Raymondale Meeting Minutes, April 11

Below are the minutes of the April 11th Raymondale Civic Association Board Meeting as approved at the May 9th board meeting:

Sign Update:

Contract signed with Fastsigns. RCA verbally communicated with Mr. Ortega to let him know that the sign people will be taking measurements soon. Mr. Ortega was very agreeable with this development. Mr. Ortega received certified letter explaining the steps and timeline with sign installation and easement details. He was told that solar lighting would be used instead of electrical, no need for Dominion Power easement agreement.  Check for full amount delivered to Fastsigns. RCA also took $333 from final amount of proposal because Steve Simpson (7421 Add Dr.) will install. Sign address is 3325 Brandy Ct. Rendering of sign is on the way.

Rendering will accompany Spring 2013 newsletter with dues envelope and membership/fundraising letter appealing to residents to send in dues.  If rendering is too late, separate fundraising letter will go out after newsletter.  This is refill the RAC coffers as there will only be $200 left in the bank after the sign is purchased.

Possible sign dedication at the same time as block party with Penny Gross invited to cut the ribbon on the sign and then have the block party.  Possible dates June 22^nd with then 29th as a backup.  Check with Ellis Ct folks on this date.

Environmental Task Force:

Spring Cleaning in park, Saturday, May 4^th, 9:30-11:30. Removing invasive plants on Brad and Dye part of park.

Other meeting updates:

Sandy attended the Penny Gross meeting for civic associations. Topics included: storm water programs, best management practices, air quality, bay restoration, run off, aging infrastructure, stream restoration, low impart development (areas being maintained with native plants). A representative from Fairfax County Storm and Water will come talk to RCA anytime.

Future Blog Post Ideas:

Waste Special Pick-Up.

Invasive Plant Pull on Saturday, May 4th: 32 Bags FULL!

About 30 Raymondale residents, boy scouts, girl scouts, FCHS students and Broyhill Park neighbors turned out on a bright sunny day on Saturday, May 4th to do battle with the weeds at the mini-park at Brad St. and Dye Dr. 

 Thank you to all who volunteered! 

This was the Raymondale Civic Association's second annual "Clean Up the Park" day, and together the volunteers yanked enough English Ivy, multiflora rose, Japanese Honeysuckle and Wineberry to fill 32 super-size park authority trash bags. 

 

Each  year, RCA sponsors this event to reclaim one section of the Holmes Run Stream Valley in the heart of Raymondale from the invasive plant species that threaten to overtake it. Our efforts are part of a larger volunteer initiative facilitated by the FAirfax County Park Authority to create oases of native habitat where local wildlife can thrive. 

You might be asking yourself: What's so "wrong" with English Ivy and the other non-native plants? The problem is that they tend to proliferate madly but are not needed or eaten by local wildlife. As a result, they block sunlight from reaching other plants that ARE needed or eaten by native wildlife. What's more, the vines make their way up even the tallest trees,  gradually choking the trees to death and making them more susceptible to falling over in a major storm. 

In these tight fiscal times, especially, the FCPA relies on volunteer efforts such as Raymondale's Clean Up the Park Day to help manage the invasive plant problem. Raymondale's effort is only two years old, but already we're making a difference in several ways:

- By targeting the same location at Brad & Dye over and over, an "island" of native habitat will be established within a few years.  the trees will be better off, and new plants will take hold. Once an invasive-free zone has been established, Raymondale can approach FCPA to reinforce the zone by planting more native species. Good for plants, good for wildlife, good for homeowners!

- By "adopting" the parkland along Holmes Run at Dye & Brad, Raymondale is helping FCPA be strategic and targeted in its approach to invasive plant management. The FCPA could not possibly manage every spot where invasives have proliferated without such volunteer help.

- Volunteer initiatives (such as Raymondale's) help the FCPA qualify for more grant funding for its invasive removal program. Last year, our little cleanup was part of a larger grassroots initiative which ultimately led to a $10,000 REI grant for the FCPA's invasive plant removal program. (This wonderful report was submitted by RCA Co-President, Whitney Redding.)

Rabbit On The Run!

Is this your rabbit?

Look at this sweet grey bunny! He is a large fellow and has been hopping around Brad Street. He clearly is a domesticated bunny as he is tame. Grey Bunny is currently comfortably resting from his travels at the home of the Byrd family on Brad Street. If this is your rabbit please contact Beth Fedorko (the Brad Street Blogstress) at ehfedorko@peoplepc.com.

Thank you!