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| Approximately 150 volunteers were on hand for the
Town Park clean-up. (Photo by Danny Shaha) |
By KIM RAMSEY
Editor, News aRound the Hill
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Round Hill Volunteer Fire
Department, Round Hill’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Round Hill Junior
Women’s Group, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and local residents.
All told, approximately 150 people showed up at the Round Hill Town Park
on Apr. 21, tools in hand, ready to work.
Round Hill Mayor Frank Etro was thrilled with the turnout. “After 10
years of the park’s existence, the community continues to renew its
ownership of the park with its ever-growing support,” he said.
As the fourth annual park clean-up, this year’s event was the first to
be coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office as part of its adoption of the
Town Park. Volunteers picked up trash, swept sidewalks, pulled up weeds
and planted flowers in the front of the park.
The most visible improvements, however, came in the back of the park,
where nature trails weave behind the homes on New Cut Road. The trails
were restored using mulch donated by Blake Landscapes.
During the cleanup, Round Hill resident Jenn Maulfair provided special
Earth Day activities for children, and Round Hill resident Mark Albright
treated volunteers to a pig roast, which he donated, cooked and served.
Round Hill’s Community Policing Officer Deputy Aaron Taylor was “wowed”
by the show of support for the event. “A big thank you goes out to all
the residents of Round Hill who volunteered their day to help out,” he
said. |
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RH Fire Department Volunteers
Answer Siren’s Call |
By DEBBIE DEUTSCH and JACK FREAR
Members, Volunteer Fire Department
During emergencies in the early 1900s, Round Hill citizens responded to
a clanging iron bell in a shed next to Charles Ford’s Grocery Store.
Neighbors helped neighbors fight fires with a hand-pulled cart and
lengths of hose connected to fire hydrants located in the Town.
The Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department (RHVFD) has come a long way
since then. In addition to a brush truck to respond to fires in remote
areas like the Appalachian Trail, the department also has a tanker, a
wagon and a rescue engine. With two ambulances and an equipped chase
vehicle, the department can respond to more than one rescue incident at
a time. Their service area has expanded from the Town to about 55 square
miles —from Hillsboro to Bloomfield and from Franklin Park to Bluemont.
Although they no longer use an iron bell, the RHVFD members head for the
firehouse as soon as they hear the siren, which provides faster
notification than other technologies.
Career firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) staff the
firehouse from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but volunteers still support the
community in emergencies from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Even during the day,
volunteers supplement the career staff when emergency coverage is
needed.
The department is looking for community members who would like to help
their friends and neighbors. Firefighters, EMTs and drivers are needed,
as well as administrative members to help raise funds and support
operations. Free uniforms, equipment and training are provided.
Volunteers work—and play—on a shift with other dedicated community
members and may give as much or as little time as their schedules allow.
Besides volunteering, there are other ways to support this important
community organization. Although the department has recently ceased its
weekly bingo games, it still hosts a variety of family events that
provide an opportunity for the community to gather and support the RHVFD
at the same time. Recent events include a St. Patrick’s Day pancake
breakfast and Easter flower sale. An open house and pig roast are
planned for the Hometown Festival.
To inquire about joining, contact Matt Mutschler at (540)751-0535 or at
membership@rhvfd4.org, or
stop by to get an application. Regular company meetings are the fourth
Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m.; public welcome. |
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