RCA Newsletter: June 2025

Jol Silversmith
Jun 30
3 min read

Fourth of July

We are again regrettably unable to hold a Fourth of July event because the Brooks schoolyard is being used for staging for window replacement (the work having been delayed by the discovery of lead last year) and the lack of suitable alternative locations. However we are again gearing up to hold the revived Oktoberfest, on September 27! Details to follow in future newsletters, but volunteer support to help put it all together will be welcome.

Rosemont Citizens Association on June 11, 2025 at Rosemont Cellar.

July Happy Hour

We have scheduled our next neighborhood happy hour at the Rosemont Cellar for Wednesday, July 9, 5-7pm. Thank you to Derry Derringer and John Hill for putting this event in motion, and Rosemarie Spano for picking up the baton to keep organizing it. Please plan to join us!

Community Updates

The “Braddock West” development, across from the Braddock Road Metro station, received a short-term extension of its construction deadline from the City Council (through October), to enable community discussions about stormwater and other impacts. The project website is https://www.crccommunityengagement.com/braddock-west.

The School Board has approved a redistricting plan that makes no changes to the boundaries for elementary and middle school students in Rosemont.

PELT Committee Update

Rosemont Citizens Association adopts two neighborhood parks!

Rosemont has two wonderful recreational areas along the Hooff’s Run Greenway: the playground with slides and swings and the tennis court with a dog lot at the corner of Oak and Marsteller Streets. They are community resources enjoyed by many Rosemont residents.

The Rosemont Citizens Association just partnered with the City of Alexandria to keep these two sites litter-free. As part of the city’s Adopt-A-Park program PARKnerships with RPCA | City of Alexandria, VA, RCA volunteers will monitor and pick up trash in these two spots on a weekly basis from April to November.

But isn’t it the City’s job to keep the parks clean and litter-free? Well…it’s now a partnership.

Here’s how the program works: Once a month, a city inspector will visit the park to check for litter. If they find no litter – the City contributes to the RCA as much as $80 per month for each of the two locations. That value is reduced if litter is found. The Adopt-A-Park program is funded by a State of Virginia Litter Prevention and Recycling grant.

Two teams of Rosemont volunteers are being formed for this activity. If you want to join them – let me know and I will pass your name to the team coordinators. Or you can come to the next RCA Happy Hour on July 9th at 5pm at The Rosemont Cellar (aka The Grape &Bean).

Other Alexandria citizens associations have adopted neighborhood parks – so far, thirty-five of the city’s parks have been adopt in this manner. Our friends in Del Ray have adopted seven parks. It’s a great way to work alongside your neighbors to maintain a wonderful Rosemont gathering spot – while also strengthening Rosemont’s voice when we talk with City Hall.

Next RCA Meeting

Please join us for the next RCA meeting on September 17 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue, at 7pm.

Agenda items will be forthcoming; we expect to be joined by Mayor Gaskins!

Resources from Alexandria Sheriff's Office

The Alexandria Sheriff’s office offers a house-watching service (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/away-from-home-check). Additionally, the Sheriff continue to offer “Project Lifesaver” to help track adults and children with special needs (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/project-lifesaver) and will offer another edition of its “academy” introducing community members to its operations in September 2025 (https://www.alexandriava.gov/academies/sheriffs-community-academy).