With the vaccine more readly available and most of our seniors already vaccinated, it looks like the pandemic is reducing it’s grip on our everyday life just a little. Time to get out and enjoy the good weather and start to get back to normal. Caution is still in order and we need to continue to be vigilant and watch the developments.
North College Park Neighborhood Facebook Group
NCPNA has an active private Facebook group. One of the administrators will quickly approve your admission to the group. Click here to go to the group page: facebook.com/groups/ncpna
May Ice Cream Social – Saturday, May 22nd from 11:30am-12:30pm Glenville Park
Since temperatures are starting to heat up, let’s get together and cool down! Join us at Glenville Park from 11:30am-12:30pm on Saturday, May 22nd for a neighborhood ice cream social. Ice cream will be provided by the Tongue In Cheek Ice Cream Truck for $2 per scoop. Tongue In Cheek is a local business run by a Richardson firefighter. We’d love our community to show this great business support while loading up on delicious treats. Bring a blanket or a chair and hang in the park with your neighbors afterwards!! There will be 5 popular flavors on hand with one non-dairy option. Email April Anderson at adawn0105@gmail.com if you can attend so we can gauge attendance.
Back Yard Tour of Homes – June 13th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Yard of the Month Committee is continuing with selections of pretty yards to highlight in North College Park. This year we would like to add a neighborhood back yard tour for our neighbors that would like to show off their back yard gardens and flowers. The deadline to enter your house to participate is June 1, and the tour will be Sunday, June 13. Tour time will be 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and all neighbors are invited to tour the back yards and judge the contest.
There will be ballots at the first house and a box for ballot collection at the last house.
There will also be a map for the tour of all houses, with each house having an assigned number. First and second place winners will be awarded a $50 gift certificate from Bruce Miller’s Nursery.
Contact Janice Gromadin at 972-849-8522 Elway100@tx.rr.com or Vicki Bean at 214-949-7805 v.bean@att.net to enter your back yard on the tour or if you have questions regarding the event.
Four of July Motorcade, Saturday July 3rd
We are not quite ready to resume the annual parade and picnic, but we are planning to repeat the motorcade we had last year. We will start at 10:00 am sharp at the Glenville Park parking lot. Decorate your car or truck in a patriotic theme. Best decorated car or truck wins $50 gift card, second place $25 gift card. Please arrive at 9:30 am so we can judge the entries and get organized.
For the safety of all involved, there will be absolutely no pedestrians or bicycles allowed in the motorcade.
The motorcade will proceed in manner as to not impede normal traffic. This is not a parade. The individual drivers are responsible to abide by all traffic regulations. Follow the route and instructions which will be provided when you check in by the organizer.
Judging of decorated vehicles will occur just before the start of the motorcade at the park parking lot.
Watch for the motorcade when it passes your home. Practice social distancing and current COVID-19 precautions.
We are considering an activity in the park after the parade, stay tuned for more information.
Yard of the Month
Our dedicated judges again roved the neighborhood looking for yards to feature for the Yard of the month.
The Runner-up for May is Michelle & Gary Whitley, 1205 Windsong. She received a $25 gift certificate from Bruce Miller Nursery.
The Winner for May is Linda Brown, 1108 Morningstar. She received a $25 gift certificate from Bruce Miller Nursery.
April/May Book Club
This month the weather pushed our plans, but we postponed one week and got to have our very first IN PERSON outdoor book club meet-up. We read and discussed Negroland by Margo Jefferson. The discussion was thoughtful and eye opening as we waded into a very important topic facing our community as much today as ever. Our next book is The Guest List by Lucy Foley, a murder mystery who dunnit. We’re changing up our meet times over the coming months, so stay tuned for our next official meet date or email April Anderson at adawn0105@gmail.com if you’d like to join!
Flag Program
Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day are coming soon and this is an opportunity to participate in the flag program. Normally Flag Day is not included as one of the flag holidays, but because of our big ice storm that occurred during President’s Day this year, we were not able to have the flags that week, so the flags will be out for Flag Day now.
Paid members can participate for an additional $30 and be enrolled in the flag program through the Rotary Club five times a year: President’s Day (3rd Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September plus 9/11). Membership is $25, membership with the flag option is $55.
This is discounted from the normal $40 per year for the flag program alone. Flags are placed in the parkway on the Saturday before the holiday and remain until the following Saturday.
Sign-up is easy, just go to the website http://ncpna.org/join and either pay on-line or mail in your check.
If you want a “booster” sign, please let Vicki Bean V.Bean@att.net know and we will get you a sign.
Trash Bash Report
It was a little soggy, but four members of the neighborhood met and picked up a surprising amount of trash around the neighborhood. Participants included Linda Brown, John La Greca, Phyllis Slaughter and John Slaughter.
A very full pickup load of electronics was taken to Richardson Square for recycling.
Thanks to Phyllis Slaughter who spearheaded this activity again this year.
Small Business Spotlight
If you have a small business you want to highlight, please email April Anderson at adawn0105@gmail.com for consideration. We want to support you!
Crime Watch Report
We met with our police crime prevention officer Raul Reyes and he reported that we continue to have good results. Unlocked cars and open garages continue to be a target for criminals. Internet scams are very common and getting very sophisticated. They fool even very savvy people. Take a deep breath and check it out. Stay alert, if you see activity in the neighborhood which does not feel right, call 911. We can always use additional crime patrol volunteers, on foot or in your vehicle. Contact our crime patrol coordinator for more information. Doug Freeman at d1004free@aol.com
Crime Watch Patrollers Needed
At our monthly meeting for Crime Watch Patrol, we discussed our need for more and younger patrollers. The average age of our patrollers exceeds 70 years old. Since the author of this request is 76 years old, I see that as a good thing but also recognize there will be a time when patrolling will not be possible. So, we need some young folks in their 60s to step in and help.
Patrols are simple. You can ride in your car or walk a route for exercise with or without fury friends. Many people submit a brief walk of 20 minutes or less. We never challenge or encounter criminals. We merely report what we may see as potential criminal activity or safety issues.
To become a North College Park Crime Watch Patroller, you can get more information from the police at 972-744-4955. Crime Watch Patrols are an extension of the City of Richardson Police Department Neighborhood Crime Watch Programs.
After the completion of a background check, which is confidential, you will be invited to attend a Crime Watch Patrol training session. Upon completion, you will be treated to a ride-along by one of our North College Park patrollers. Then join the fun.
Did I mention that we will soon be meeting monthly at The Line Sports Bar on the second Tuesday of each month for half-price pizza and liquid refreshment of your choice.
House Number Project
The city requires that all homes have clearly visible house numbers both front and back. Many homes are depending on curb lettering which have faded. This makes it difficult to identify a house for emergency services and deliveries. We encourage everyone to check and make sure the numbers are clearly visible in both the back and the front of the residence.
For several years NCPNA has volunteers who make house number signs for the rear of houses. This a free service, all you need do is to contact Doug Freeman at d1004free@aol.com to arrange for it to be installed.
Welcome Baskets
Vicki Bean leads a team who assemble and deliver welcome baskets to new residents.
If you know of someone new, let Vicki know and be sure they are aware of the association, newsletter and website. Vicki can be reached at V.Bean@att.net.
Newsletter
This newsletter is the collaboration of several of your neighbors. It would not be possible without their support, thank you!
If you did not receive this newsletter in your email, you can easily sign up to receive your very own copy. We send out a newsletter every month with an occasional special email. We promise to not share your email address and we won’t drown you in emails. Go to http://ncpna.org/enews and fill out the form. Be sure and look for the confirmation email and confirm the subscription.
About North College Park Neighborhood Association
NCPNA is a neighborhood association and, unlike a homeowner’s association, we do not have any authority over anyone’s property. We sponsor activities and projects to help make our neighborhood a more pleasant and safe place to live. Volunteers are always needed, and we look forward to hearing about new ways to achieve our collective goals.
Contact Robert Grinsfelder at rmgrins@aol.com if you can help with any of these activities.
