The Hillcrest Heartbeat

The Hillcrest Heartbeat – August 2022

In this issue, we’ll recognize past board members, announce the HCCA scholarship winners, share upcoming Hillcrest and Ward 7 events, and more.<!–

THE HILLCREST HEARTBEAT
August 2022

A Message from the HCCA Leadership

Back to School, Back to Reality
By Villareal “VJ” Johnson

Can you believe August is here? If you have school-aged children or young adults in college, we know you know! Technically, there are only 58 days left in summer. School begins for DC Public Schools on August 29. If your children are going to college, they should be packed and ready to go, if they’re not already there.

The Association plans to conduct another hybrid meeting on Saturday, August 6 and we are asking you to attend, as well as bring a neighbor. The August meeting will be about continuing the legacy of building community and blending generations. In June, we celebrated those who came before us in service and love. In July, we celebrated those who are coming behind us, by awarding our children $16,000 in scholarships for their academic excellence. Read More >>>

Join/Renew Your HCCA Membership!

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General Membership Meetings

All Hillcrest residents are invited to join the association to promote the welfare of our neighborhood. Our August 6 meeting will be hybrid. You can attend in person at the Hillcrest Recreation Center or continue to join us via Zoom.

Meetings are typically held on the first Saturday of the month from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. If you plan to attend via Zoom, please register now for the August 6 meeting!

Missed the July meeting? Listen to the recording. (Passcode: !8KSZKk1)

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HCCA Recognizes Our Intergenerational Community

For the last two months, June and July, the Hillcrest Community Civic Association celebrated two distinct groups, which have made a positive impact in Hillcrest and in Ward 7. We celebrated two groups that are on a different spectrum of life.

Long-time former board members

At the June meeting, the HCCA recognized a few of its long-standing board members who worked tirelessly to make this community the way it is today. Although not an exhaustive list, the following are a few of the honorees:

Earl Williams who launched Hillcrest Day and helped lead other board initiatives
Philip Hammond (posthumously) served in multiple board roles such as Membership Chair and an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. His daughter Robin Marlin (former ANC chair and Legislative Chair) and wife Mary Hammond (garden tour creator) received the award on his behalf
Mary Ross, Environmental Chair for several years, taught many about the planet
Karen Williams, Board President for several terms, also served as a newsletter editor and Secretary. She was a former Ward 7 rep on the State Board of Education
Sheila Brown held multiple roles on the board, including Fundraising Chair. She, along with Michelle Peete (in pink), initiated this celebration

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Local Students Recognized with HCCA Scholarships

The Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) is pleased to announce the 2022 scholarship recipients.

The HCCA annually awards one $2,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from Hillcrest who has demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The 2022 recipient of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association scholarship is Ms. Taleyah Evans. Ms. Evans is a graduate of Benjamin Banneker Academic High School with a stellar academic and service record. She will attend Xavier University of Louisiana in the fall as a Biology Pre-Med Major.

The Hillcrest Memorial Scholarship was established in 2017 to honor the late Yantee Neufville, an active member of the HCCA board and a beloved leader in the Hillcrest community. The memorial scholarship is given to students from Ward 7 who are graduating high school students entering their first year of college or current college students who have demonstrated excellence in civic engagement, art, or mentorship. This year, seven students received a $2,000 scholarship to support their educational expenses. Read More About the Students >>>

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Connect with HCCA on Social Media
(click on the links below)

Twitter: @HillcrestWard7

Instagram: @HillcrestWard7

Facebook: All Over Hillcrest

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Celebrating Summer in Your Own Backyard

Summer is often a time when people like to get away to relax. But even if vacation isn’t on the agenda, we all still need to take a mental break. We asked a few Hillcrest neighbors to share some activities that help them destress, relax, and unwind during the dog days of summer. Here’s what they had to say:

“Relax on my back deck. It’s so green and feels like an oasis away from the business of Branch Avenue.” – Tanya, resident of 2 years

“When my teenagers are driving me crazy, I put on my swimsuit and sit in the baby pool I have out on my deck with a cool drink and a book. It is only big enough for one person at a time, which is perfect sometimes.” – Cindi, resident of 18 years

“My favorite is spending time in the garden. Walking through the garden to see how things have grown or what insects/birds are around or picking berries/herbs/veggies/flowers (then making something out of the stuff we harvested!).” – Toni, resident of 5 years

A Message from the HCCA Leadership

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