Spruce Hill Community Association

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30 PM via Zoom. At the annual meeting, we elect officers and board members and invite guests to talk about important community issues. The event is free and all community members are invited to attend, learn more about the organization, and get involved. If you plan to join the meeting please register online to obtain the Zoom link. This year's meeting will feature Penn Al...exander Principal Lauren Overton, who joined the school this year as the newest Principal. She'll be sharing her perspectives and long-term plans for the school. Along with annual committee reports, elections will be held for SHCA officers and board members. The nominating committee’s slate is running unopposed. Officers running for returning one-year terms include Monica Calkins for executive vice president, Veronica Alvarez for vice president (operations), Leslie Medley for secretary, and Andrew Richman for treasurer. Richard Moore will be running for the position of President this year, and 10 returning board members will also be elected. We hope to see to see you there!

The Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary will be closed this Wednesday, November 4. The large Norway Maple will be removed. It has been declining for a while and has died. We are hoping to replace it with a native tree that will grow just as large and benefit birds and other wildlife. We will use some of the Norway Maple branches to line the paths, and volunteers will spread the wood chips along the paths Wednesday evening.

Not our normal neighborhood Halloween extravaganza, but we can still celebrate and have fun!

Don't forget about the SHCA Halloween Scavenger Hunt! Search the Spruce Hill community for the 10 letters that spell "Spruce Hill" and win some great prizes to local businesses. More information can be found at www.sprucehillca.org. Ends at midnight 11/1 so don't delay!

Is that a ghost in the Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary? Yikes - It is!

Hello all Spruce Hill Ghosts and Goblins! Our Halloween Scavenger hunt is alive and ready to challenge neighborhood children! Spread throughout Spruce Hill are the 10 letters that spell Spruce Hill. All you have to do is find all 10 letters! Full instructions, along with clues and a submission form, can be found on our web page at www.sprucehillca.org. The first 100 entries with all 10 correct locations will receive a small prize supporting one of our local businesses after the hunt closes! Deadline for submission is Sunday November 1st at midnight. Good luck!

Hi Neighbors! As I'm sure you all know, because of COVID ghouls we won't be holding the annual Spruce Hill Halloween parade and block party. However, to help keep the Spruce Hill Halloween spirit alive, we do have some exciting socially distant and virtual plans in the works. 1. We've got 45 cardboard "candy chutes" for socially distant candy delivery, available FREE to our neighbors on a first-come, first-served basis. These six-foot long tubes can be decorated and used to ...deliver candy from your porch, window, or front stoop to awaiting trick-or-treaters. To receive a tube, please register using the link below and we'll follow up with pick up information. 2. We're also planning a Spruce Hill neighborhood scavenger hunt, which will launch this Friday. More details will be distributed shortly, but there will be a bunch of great prizes to those that successfully complete the search. Finally, we'll be hosting a virtual Spruce Hill halloween parade online at www.sprucehillca.org. Submit photos of your Halloween costumes or decorations via email to [email protected], or tag your Instagram or Twitter posts with #SHCAHalloween from October 30 to November 1 and you'll appear in the virtual parade! See more

Halloween 2020 Update from SHCA President: Hi Neighbors - I know that many of you look forward to the annual Halloween parade and block party with glee. Who wouldn't love an opportunity to put on ridiculous outfits, eat and/or collect an overabundance of treats, and socialize with neighbors? Alas, this year is very different and because of COVID-19 restrictions we're unable to host the event with the Little Osage neighbors as we normally would. ... Don't fret, though - we've got some alternate plans in the works to help keep the halloween spirit alive and give people an opportunity to celebrate in a socially-distant way! While we have yet to formalize the activities we've been discussing a number of fun ideas that include house decorating, a kid-friendly, halloween themed activity, and a way to help encourage trick-or-treating while maintaining a safe distance. We'll communicate more as plans solidify, but we're excited to try and present some alternative halloween festivities that can keep the neighborhood tradition alive. More to come.... Thanks! Evan

Wednesday night, July 8 at 6:30 p.m., State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams will be hosting a virtual community meeting streamed live on Facebook. Details are available in the attached invitation.

The HMS School, a Spruce-Hill based non-profit that offers support to students with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological impairments, has lost a significant portion of it's funding for the upcoming school year. Please visit their Facebook fundraiser if you're able to help. https://www.facebook.com/donate/571376893773945/

America's Farmlands Trust is holding its 2020 Farmer's Market Celebration, and you can help your favorite market win $1,000, including our own Clark Park Farmer's Market. Follow the link below to vote! https://markets.farmland.org/mar/clark-park-farmers-market/

Great way to support local businesses!

A group of local middle- and high-schoolers calling themselves "Little Angles" has organized a Go Fund Me campaign for the local Ronald McDonald House during the COVID-19 epidemic. Funds will be used to help support the organization during a time when volunteers are unavailable and resources are limited. They're only $405 away from their $2,500 goal! Please visit the link to donate and help them make their goal. gf.me/u/x2vk57

Planning to donate to UCD's Retail Restart Fund? SHCA will match your donation! Contribute online or via check, and make sure to note "SHCA/Retail Restart Fund" so we can match your donation. We're matching funds up to a total of $2,000 to help independent local business with their COVID-19 response/reopening plans. Donation deadline is June 15! https://www.universitycity.org//support-local-businesses-t