We love where we live, and it shows!
After our annual dinner, we hope you’re feeling the magic of our neighborhood—the kind of place where “neighbor” isn’t just a noun, but a way of life. Community like this is rare, and we’re grateful to be in it together!
Included within this newsletter issue:
(click on hyperlink section to jump to any part of the newsletter
- Annual Membership Drive
- Recap – January Annual Meeting/Membership Rally
- Recap – Community Survey Results
- Small Business Spotlight
- Lion’s Club Community Support Request
- Monthly Engagement Programs
- Connect with us!
Let’s dive right into the newsletter!
Annual Membership Drive
If you haven’t joined or renewed for 2025 it’s time to Become a Member or Renew your NCPNA Membership for $25 per household (or $65 with the discounted flag program offering through NCPNA). Please email john.e.slaughter@gmail.com with any membership questions or issues.
We will put out flags later this month for the first holiday of the 2025 flag program. If you do not receive a flag, we do not show you are a member.
Your annual $25 per household membership dues provide these benefits and much more:
- FREE Annual Amigo’s Dinner with guest speaker(s)
- Spring Celebration (games, egg hunt, Easter bunny photo op, food for purchase member specials)
- Porch Crawl (discounts on commemorative glass, food, and beverages)
- National Night Out (Berkner band performances, emergency personnel meet & greets, free and discounted member food specials)
- Holiday Cocoa & Cookies Event
- Monthly Book Club
- Crime Patrol
- Yard of the Month
- Flag Program (for an additional $40 per year discounted rate as a member you receive 5 flag deployments)
RECAP – January Annual Meeting/Membership Rally
70+ NEIGHBORS ATTENDED THE ANNUAL MEETING!
We had a great turnout for our January 30th Annual Meeting held at Amigo’s restaurant. The 2025 NCPNA Board and officers were elected and are: Robert Grinsfelder (President), Janice Gromadin (Vice-President), Doug Freeman (Treasurer), and Brandi Dawson (Secretary). Other board members are Farrah Maldonado, April Anderson, Charlie Warner, John Slaughter, and Phyllis Slaughter.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities please contact Robert at rmgrins@aol.com or speak with board member.
The annual meeting also featured comments by our Place 1 City Council Member Curtis Dorian and presentations by Jenny Davidson (Director of Library Services) and Curtis Poovey (Richardson Fire Chief).
We also recognized and thanked Janice Gromadin for her outstanding service as President for the past 5 years!!
Visit the pinned post on our neighborhood Facebook page for more details of the event and pictures.
Recap – Community Survey Results
Thank you to everyone for filling out our community survey! This helps us create the events and engagement you want to see in our neighborhood.
Every entry submitted before or during the Amigo’s dinner was entered for a prize drawing. Russ Stovall won and took home a $50 gift card for Amigo’s. More tacos just for him!!!
If you didn’t get a chance to complete the survey, you can still submit it here until Friday, February 14th. We’d love to have your input! In the coming weeks and months, we will reach out to all that selected options to volunteer as well.
We’re excited to bring back the Small Business Spotlight in our newsletter! If you own a small business or have a special connection to one in Richardson, let us know—we love celebrating the incredible entrepreneurs in our community. You can email April at info@mindsetmarvel.com for more information on the spotlight feature.
Today, we’re shining a light on Staycation, our beloved East Richardson coffee house. If you haven’t visited this charming, restored home in downtown Richardson—or met the incredible owner, Nicole—you’re missing out on a true neighborhood gem.
Unfortunately, Staycation is facing a big challenge. The city has decided to develop the land where the coffee shop currently sits, replacing it with more apartments. As a result, they’re searching for a new long-term home. Their first City Planning Commission Hearing is tonight, Tuesday, February 4th, at 7 PM, marking the beginning of this journey.
Staycation needs community support, and there are two ways you can help:
☕ Show up in person at the hearing to voice your support.
☕ Leave a public comment online to help them find a new home.
🔗 Read more on their Instagram
🔗 Leave a comment in support – submit by 5pm Tuesday, February 4th
Let’s rally behind this local favorite and help keep Staycation in our community!
Lion’s Club Community Support RequestOur community has always shown up for one another, and today, the Lion’s Club (the world’s largest service club organization with a Richardson, TX chapter) is asking for your support for Yasmin, an 18-year-old who was diagnosed with bone cancer in October. Her treatment requires frequent hospital visits, forcing her mother to stop working and putting financial strain on the family. Their oldest daughter has paused college to work full-time, and they’re hoping to move to a first-floor apartment to accommodate Yasmin’s health needs.
Rocco’s has already covered one month’s rent for the family. They’re asking for additional support to help ease their burden from surrounding communities and service organizatons.
🔹 How to Help: Donations can be made via check to Richardson Host Lions Club and dropped off at Rocco’s Italian.
Let’s rally behind Yasmin and her family during this difficult time. Every contribution makes a difference!
Monthly Engagement Programs Update
Monthly Book Club
We have a very special book club in February! On February 22nd from 1-3pm we will have the author of our selected book “Junkyard Girl” by Carlyn Montes De Oca with us on Zoom at our meeting. If you’d like to join us for this book club, start suggesting books to read with us, or just meet a wonderful group of people please email spateshannah@gmail.com.
RECAP – Crime Patrol January report
Often a newsletter article reporting, “There is no report” is bad news. However, with Crime Watch Patrol in North College Park that is great news!
Our Richardson police Department Officer communicated the assembled 11 attendees of the North College Park Crime Watch Patrol at Rocco’s Italian Restaurant on January 2nd, 2025 that there were “no reported crime events in North College Park in December”. We celebrate that report and our Crime Watch Patrol for their diligent ongoing efforts to support our neighborhood safety.
Update: The response to the Richardson Police Department’s call for the Richardson Citizen’s Police Academy brought huge amounts of interest. The class is now full and closed for applications. But don’t give up, you can apply to join this program next year.
Our next Crime Watch Patrol meeting is set for February 12th, 2025 at 6 PM at Rocco’s Italian Café next to Kroger. We are ready to welcome you. Please email Doug Freeman at d1004free@aol.com to join!
House Number Project
We have an incredibly special house number project in NCPNPA. Volunteers will create a handmade wooden sign for your back fence to comply with city regulations. This service is FREE to members. These signs make it easier for emergency services to find your residence. Contact Doug Freeman, d1004free@aol.com for yours if you don’t have one!
Connect with us!
North College Park Neighborhood Facebook GroupNCPNA 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
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About North College Park Neighborhood Association
More information may be found about NCPNA here. |
