Passing of Lloyd Richards

Dear Neighbors,

We are sad to report the passing of Lloyd Richards, a former resident of St. Alban Circle and River Forest Lane. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Lloyd Wayland Richards, Capt. USN, Retired

Lloyd Wayland Richards, Captain, USN, Retired passed away peacefully October 26, 2017 with his loving family by his side in Phoenix, Arizona.  Lloyd was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska on March 1st, 1931 (St. David’s Day in Wales) to Lloyd R. and Esther (Rice) Richards.  Growing up in Nebraska with younger brother Kenneth and sister Elizabeth, one would not expect that Lloyd W. would find a career in the US Navy. 

Yet, while attending the University of Rochester, Lloyd became deeply involved with the USN ROTC, which sealed his career.  There he met and married his first wife Joy E. Riefler, the mother of his four children; eldest son Jeffrey, daughters Holly, Tamara and Monica.  Joy passed in 1971 and Lloyd married the love of his life, Leola White in 1972.

Lloyd's career in the Navy advanced rapidly as a pilot of both the A-3 Skywarrior and A-6A Intruder.  During the Vietnam conflict, Lloyd deployed 7 times aboard USN Carriers, serving in Attack and Heavy Attack Squadrons; VA-215, VA-122, VAH-123, VAH-2, VA-128 and VA-196 earning the Bronze Star.  In 1969, Lloyd was shot down and severely wounded over Laos, earning him a Purple Heart.  Upon recovery, Lloyd returned to combat as the commanding officer of Attack Squadron VA-196.  Returning to the States, Lloyd attended and completed an MS degree at the National War College in Washington DC, achieving the rank of Captain in the USN and serving at the Pentagon.

Upon retirement, Lloyd along with Leola sold real estate for 24 years in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C.  His recreational interest was golf and lawn bowls.

Predeceasing Lloyd are his parents, his first wife Joy, his daughter Tamara and grandson, Jesiah Richards.

Surviving him are wife Leola, younger siblings Ken, Liz, his son and remaining daughters, 17 remaining grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Lloyd and Leola recently moved from Oak Harbor Washington to Sun City West Arizona where they are fortunate to have many friends.

Interment will occur at Arlington National Cemetery Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 9 AM. If you’re planning on attending, meet at the Administration building prior to 8:15am. Cars will caravan to the gravesite.

Following the service, there will be an informal reception from 11am to 2pm at the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston (4610 Fairfax Dr. Arlington VA 22203, Phone 703-243-9800).

Refreshments will be available.

With questions or concerns please email Leola at, leola@richardsweb.com or call 360-632-8092.

Donations may be made in memorandum to the US Navy League or the Tailhook Association.

Prince George’s approves matching funds for local candidates — starting in 2026

(Click on the image for Rachel Chason's report in The Washington Post)

• The Prince George’s County Council narrowly approved public financing for local political candidates early Wednesday, following a marathon meeting that marked the end of this year’s legislative session.
• Citing concerns about how the county would afford to provide matching funds to political candidates who agree to forgo large donations, the council delayed implementation of the bill until 2026.
• To participate in the program, candidates must not accept donations exceeding $250. Donations up to $150 that do not come from family members would be matched by public dollars.
• Advocates heralded the bill, which passed 5-to-4, as a key way to open politics to new, diverse candidates and increase the power of small donors. Its opponents said taxpayer dollars would be better spent on issues such as education and public safety.
• “It’s about democracy,” said bill sponsor Mary A. Lehman (D-District 1). “It’s about allowing people to run on ideas . . . not dialing for dollars, actually talking to voters.”

Prince George’s County Council approves strict regulations on short-term rentals

(Click on the image for Rachel Chason's report in The Washington Post)

• "One week after the D.C. Council delayed a vote on similar legislation, the Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to ban residents from renting out second homes on short-term platforms such as Airbnb."
• "The bill prevents homeowners from renting their properties on platforms such as Airbnb for more than 30 consecutive days. They can rent their properties for up to 90 days a year when they are not home, or up to 180 days a year when they are home — but the total number of rental days cannot exceed 180."

The Campaign to End Loneliness

(Click on the image for the campaign's homepage)

The Campaign to End Loneliness believe that people of all ages need connections that matter.
There are nine million lonely people in the UK and four million of them are older people. Many older people find constant loneliness hardest to overcome. They lack the friendship and support we all need.
[Note: Loneliness is not just a problem in the UK and it's not just a problem for older people. "A survey by Action for Children found that 43% of 17 – 25 year olds who used their service had experienced problems with loneliness, and that of this same group less than half said they felt loved.
Action for Children have also reported 24% of parents surveyed said they were always or often lonely."]

Advice From Health Care’s Power Users

(Click on the image for Margot Sanger-Katz's New York Times report)

"If the health care system seems confusing to you, you are not alone. In a large recent survey of the most seriously ill people in America, we learned that they, too, find it difficult to navigate. But they have developed a few strategies for getting through. Here are some tips and pitfalls about how to be sick from a group with lived experience."

• Keep records and bring them
• Find an advocate
• Ask questions, and listen

"When asked about specific types of misunderstanding, 18 percent said advice by different medical professionals conflicted, and 15 percent said they couldn’t even understand what was being done to them. Twenty-two percent said that hospital staffers weren’t responsive to their needs.
Perhaps that’s why seven of the survey’s respondents also offered the following advice: Pray."

Thank you to our 3 volunteers for Clean Up, Green Up Day

Despite one of our lowest turnouts ever (only 3 other people participated), we still managed to plant 5 crape myrtle trees, 10 red bud trees, 50 daffodil bulbs, and pick up trash.  The trees are along Fort Washington Road between St. Andrews and the southern intersection with West Tantallon Drive.  We added one crape myrtle on the small island on St. Andrews Drive to replace the tree that had died there a few years ago. 
Thank you to Carter Ferrington (who helped me plant the trees), Jacque Akselrad, and JoAnn Davis.  And a big thank you again to Mariano Flaim, of Flaim Brothers, Inc., for picking up the trees, mulch, and bulbs from the county!  We really appreciate his help, as I would not have been able to pick up the trees myself.
Please consider helping us in the future.  It doesn't take that long, and we all enjoy the fruits of our labor.
The trees will need water, so if anyone is interested in watering them, please let me know.   We could also use some help trimming the vines off of the fences along Fort Washington Road. 

--Jamie Crist