As an unincorporated area, Bluemont operates through the volunteer tradition. There are many local organizations, and most are in touch with the BCA in one way or another.
In 2014, the BCA backed the idea of a free party for Bluemonters—the Bluemont Spring Fling—which has now become an annual event.
The local historical association, the Friends of Bluemont, has received considerable support from the BCA 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.
Partnering with Loudoun County, the 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.
The BCA has taken formal positions on issues that impact our community—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 an asphalt walkway all along the front of its property. (This requirement would have sacrificed several mature trees and 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 a 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, the BCA helped fund the STA-spearheaded historical markers placed from Aldie to Bluemont on the historic turnpike.
Jen Stone manages the Bluemont area email list. To be included on the list, click on the link: Jen Stone Email.
The BCA also organizes local road trash cleanup under the auspices of Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB) every April and October. The BCA has been awarded an “Adopt-a-Highway” certificate as a result of these volunteer efforts.
The 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.
The BCA sponsors local community forums with members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and planning and zoning staff.
The Bluemont Citizens Association performs much charitable work. The BCA supports neighbors in need of assistance, providing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, giving Christmas presents to children of local families in difficult circumstances, making donations to local food banks, 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 requests for assistance for day care children at the Community Center.
The Association also awards scholarships to local graduating seniors—more than $15,000.00 over three decades. To qualify, seniors must live within the 20135 zip code or have a 554- phone prefix, and have demonstrated some interest and pride in their hometown—for example, volunteering to help with the Spring Fling, Bluemont Fair, or litter pick-ups.
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, to work with people on local affairs, or to simply meet your neighbors—come to one of the monthly BCA meetings.