Who We Are
Initiated in 1955, the Bluemont Citizens Association is structured
as a neighborhood association, dedicated to the betterment of
the Bluemont area. As an unincorporated village, Bluemont
collects no municipal taxes and has no elected local governance.
BCA is a 501(c) 4 organization that serves residents of the Bluemont
zip code (20135 in Loudoun and Clarke counties) or with
a 540-554-xxxx telephone number. The meetings
are held the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., and all
are welcome to attend and give their input.
The Bluemont Fair
The BCA is the rock that supports the remarkable production of
the Bluemont Fair held annually during the third weekend in September.
The all-volunteer-organized fair began in 1970 and generates funding
for all BCA projects, including many charitable activities.
Proceeds from the fair fund Bluemont’s modest but essential
infrastructure, including sidewalks and streetlights.
Serving Bluemont in Many Ways
As an unincorporated area, Bluemont operates through the volunteer
tradition. There are many local organizations, and most are in
touch with BCA in one way or another.
BCA meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00
p.m. in the Bluemont Community Center (at 33846 Snickersville
Turnpike).
The monthly BCA meeting is a good place to air an idea--and often,
to get support for it.
BCA is one of the reason that today's bright ideas often become
tomorrow's Bluemont traditions.
In 201, BCA backed the idea of an annual party for Bluemonters--the
Bluemont Spring Fling--which has now become an annual event.
The local historical association Friends of Bluemont has received
considerable support for its project to restore the Snickersville
Academy (1825) Bluemont's first school and church.
The BCA Bluemont Heritage Committee was formed recently to solidify
Bluemont's appeal as a place of historical interest in preparation
for the E. E. Lake store becoming a Loudoun County Welcome Center.
The organization plays many roles.
BCA is the rock that supports the remarkable production of the
Bluemont Fair (http://bluemontfair.org/) held annually during
the third weekend in September. The all-volunteer-organized
fair began in 1970 and generates funding for all BCA projects.
Proceeds from the fair fund Bluemon's modest but essential infrastructure,
including sidewalks and streetlights, since, as an unincorporated
area, Bluemont collects no municipal taxes.
Partnering with Loudoun County, BCA has obtained several grants,
mostly public funding, to preserve the historic E. E. Lake Store.
The county holds the property title while BCA’s Lake Store
Committee plays a managerial role.
BCA has taken formal positions on issues of general
concern; for example, petitioning the Loudoun Zoning Board
to waive a requirement that would have forced the Village Montessori
School (then preparing to open), to install a broad asphalt
walkway all along the front of its property. (This requirement
would have sacrificed several mature trees and the old stone
walls.) More recently, BCA lobbied the Loudoun County Board
of Supervisors to fund speed-readout cameras for the village.
Henry Plaster--Chairman of the Snickersville Turnpike
Association (STA)--is as regular at BCA meetings who acts as
watchdog and advocate with the Virginia Department of Transportation
(V-DOT) for Bluemont road maintenance. In recent years, BCA
helped fund the STA-spearheaded historical markers placed from
Aldie to Bluemont on the historic turnpike.
Jen Stone dreamed up and manages the Bluemont neighborhood
email list. To be included on the list, email jenclark@stonefrog.com.
At the suggestion of Bluemonter Jen Stone, BCA established
and updates the events sign in front of the Bluemont Community
Center.
BCA also organizes local road trash cleanup under the
auspices of Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB) every April.
BCA purchases the bedding plants for the village flower
barrels in spring, which are set out and watered during dry
spells through volunteer efforts, refreshing them with colorful
fall chrysanthemums just in time for the Bluemont Fair.
BCA sponsors local community forums with members of Loudoun
County's Board of Supervisors and planning and zoning staff.
The Bluemont Citizens Association performs much charitable work.
BCA supports neighbors in need of assistance: providing Thanksgiving
and Christmas dinners; giving Christmas presents to children of
needy local families; making local food bank donations; supporting
the Volunteer Fire Department; donating to "Christmas in
April;" donating two chairs at the Franklin Park Arts Center;
contributing to alcohol-free After Prom and After Graduation celebrations
for high school seniors; and responding to special needs for day
care children at the Community Center.
The association also awards scholarships to local graduating
seniors who have performed community service in the Bluemont area--
over $10,000.00 in total over three decades.
To find out what's going on in Bluemont, to propose a civic
project, to get buy-in for your own pet project, to make an
announcement, or to meet and work with some of the most capable
people in local affairs--come to one of the monthly BCA meetings.
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