301-926-2256 [email protected]
Woodward Park walkway

Notices from the Mayor and Council

Terry Cox
Our beloved neighbor Terry Cox passed away on August 13.  You can read an appreciation of Terry on the In Memoriam page.

Attending Council Meetings via Zoom
Council meetings are held at the same Zoom web address every month; click here to join a meeting.  To view the agenda, click on “Town Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes” under the “Latest Documents” heading on this page.  The link is to join is also available from the agenda.

How to raise your hand: Move your mouse on the Zoom screen until you see at the center bottom icons with words underneath them like Participants, Chat, etc.  Click on Reactions (has a smiley face above it), then on Raise hand.  A yellow raised hand will appear next to your face/name, and will disappear once the mayor has called on you.

Want to write the Mayor and Council about Whatever’s on Your Mind? 
There’s a NEW Way to Do It!
Starting immediately, should you wish to write the mayor and council, you can send your message to a single email address: [email protected].  Your message will be automatically redirected from that single email address to the addresses of the mayor, all councilors, the Town Clerk and the Town Web Manager (for posting on this page of the website).  View more detailed information on the Written Testimony and Correspondence from Town Residents to the Town Council page.

Check out the Film Society’s 2024-2025 Season!

Join your neighbors between October and next March for a series of films that will be shown weekend evenings at 7:00 pm in McCathran Hall.  Now with free admission, and no need to get tickets!  A stimulating discussion follows each film.  Come on out to the movies and bring your friends!   You can learn about the films here. 

Upcoming Events

In the Grove…

  • Sunday, September 22, 2024, 2 – 6 pm:  A 70’s party to celebrate Grove Residents Entering Their 70s.  Join your neighbors at McCathran Hall for the fun! All Grove friends and family are invited.  We’ll have tunes from the 60’s and 70’s for dancing and entertainment and birthday cake! BYOB and bring finger-type food to share. We will provide ice and coolers.  70’s costumes/clothing are encouraged.
  • Monday, September 23, 2024:  The Baltimore Watercolor Society (BWS) is having its yearly Luncheon and Plein Air Painting Session at the Woman’s Club. You will see a few easels here and there, of about 45 watercolorists capturing the scenery of the town. Please contact Lisa Kokes if you can:
    • offer your covered porch in the event of rain, or
    • help for an hour or two with checking people in or getting the food ready (it’s catered), or
    • guide people around Grove hot spots.
  • Saturday, September 28, 2024, 10 am – 5 pm:  Fifth Annual Washington Grove Fall Festival.  Enjoy the fall weather and the work of a select group of talented artisans selling woodwork, pottery, prints, paintings, textiles, jewelery and much more. Lots of free parking; food and ice cream. Pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting for the kids, plus a musical petting zoo, live music and more.
  • Weekly Events:
    • Tuesdays, 6 – 7 pm, McCathran Hall:  An all-levels slow-flow yoga class with Ingeborg McCright.  RSVP to Eva Patrone and bring a waiver form (PDF) to your first class.  Classes are free to Grove residents, with a suggested donation of $5-$10, and are $10 for non-residents.  Ingeborg accepts cash or check.  Learn more here.
    • Wednesdays, 11 – 12:15 pm, McCathran Hall:  Tai chi with Claire Rosser.  Sessions are free to all.  Learn more here.
    • Wednesdays, September 18 through October 23, 7 pm:  Fall Session of Art Night will be held in the Town Hall (either in the main hall or Council Room). Attendees provide their own art supplies (paper, charcoal, pencils, color medium of choice, and a large drawing board).  We will provide drawing easels and tables.  There is no fee, but advance registration is required so we know how many easels will be needed.

… and Nearby

Community Shredding and Electronics Recycling Event

Saturday, September 28, 9 am – noon:  The event will occur in the parking lot at 506 S. Frederick Avenue, next to the Skate Park and Water Park. While the shredding services are free, food donations to support the efforts of the Gaithersburg HELP pantry, especially in these most difficult of times, would be very much appreciated.  Learn more here.

Casey Community Center Farmers Market

Every Thursday through November 30, 11 – 2:30 pm:   Enjoy some fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables; come get some eggs, beef or pork ready to put on the grill; bring home some savory homemade breads or artisan sweets; get some fresh ground coffee.  See their food truck calendar and learn more about the market. Casey Community Center, 810 South Frederick Avenue.

Composting the Town’s Leaves

Did you know?  The Sustainability Committee has been piloting an effort to compost the Town’s leaves with a couple of invaluable assists from:

  • the Town’s contractor, RJ Landscaping, which collects, mulches, and delivers the leaves to the test site near the town maintenance building, and
  • the King Farm Safeway Starbucks, which served as the chief donor of used coffee grounds.  The grounds increase the nitrogen content, helping to balance the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio that is necessary for effective decomposition.

Last year, the committee “harvested” roughly 2,500 pounds of shredded leaves and 400 pounds of coffee grounds. Compost created at the test site is being used to nourish the community garden and was also applied to the beds around the Town Hall and to protect several town trees. After these distributions, if compost remains, the committee will offer it to town residents. The overall goals are to improve soil health and water-holding capacity, enhance plant growth, and reduce greenhouse gas production associated with leaf management.

Latest Documents

Town Bulletins

Older Town Bulletins: 

Town Council Meetings: Agendas, Minutes, Recordings, Transcripts
  • September 2024 Meeting
    • Minutes – not yet available
    • Recording (on YouTube) – not yet available
    • Transcript (.txt file) – not yet available
    • Agenda (PDF)
  • August 13, 2024 Special Meeting to DIscuss Stormwater Infrastructure Management RFP
  • August 12, 2024 Meeting
  • July 30, 2024 Special Meeting to DIscuss Stormwater Infrastructure Management RFP

Should you wish to review draft minutes, or view a recording or read a transcript of a meeting that occurred prior to 2024, please contact the town clerk or the mayor.  Older agendas and minutes can be found on the Agendas and Minutes of the Town Council and Commissions page.  You can view all recordings of Council meetings, beginning in 2024, on the Town Council meetings playlist of our YouTube channel.

Historic Preservation Commission

Older agendas and minutes can be found on the Agendas and Minutes of the Town Council and Commissions page.

Planning Commission
  • September 4, 2024 Meeting

Older agendas and minutes can be found on the Agendas and Minutes of the Town Council and Commissions page.

Contact Information

Mayor and Town Councilors and their Areas of Responsibility

Mayor
John Compton
240-432-5700
[email protected]
The Mayor is responsible for all intergovernmental relationships and activities.

Need to contact the Town Office at 301-926-2256, or email the Office at [email protected].  Want to write the mayor and all councilors?  Please write to [email protected].

Contracts
Rob Gilmore

Dog Park
Mary Warfield

Emergency Preparedness and Safety
Kriss Grisham

Forestry and Beautification (includes memorials)
Barbara Raimondo

Gateway
Peter Nagrod

Historic Preservation Commission
Barbara Raimondo

Lake
Mary Warfield

Lighting
Kriss Grisham

Maintenance Coordination
Peter Nagrod

Maryland Municipal League
John Compton

McCathran Hall
Kriss Grisham

Montgomery Municipal Cable
John Compton

Planning Commission
Peter Nagrod

Racial and Social Equity
Rob Gilmore

Recreational Events/Committee/Facilities (Woodward Park, Playground and Tennis Courts)
Eva Patrone

Roads
Rob Gilmore

Shady Grove Crossing
Rob Gilmore

Shared Use Path
Barbara Raimondo

Sustainability
Mary Warfield

Walkways
Peter Nagrod

Washington Grove Conservation Park (Upper Meadow) and Piedmont Crossing Local Park (Lower Meadow)
Kriss Grisham

Website and Communications
Barbara Raimondo

Woods
Eva Patrone

Town Office Contact Info; Notaries

McCathran Hall
300 Grove Avenue
PO Box 216
Washington Grove, Maryland
20880-0216

Town Office
Located in the lower wing of McCathran Hall, the office is usually open 9:30am – 12:30pm; and 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Town Clerk Kathy Lehman is available to answer your questions. Please drop by, call the office at 301-926-2256 or send an email to [email protected].

Notaries
Contact Amanda Roberts.

Staff Directory

Clerk
Kathryn L. Lehman
301-926-2256
[email protected]

Treasurer
Jean Moyer
301-775-1168
[email protected]

Boards and Commissions

Board of Supervisors of Elections
Nick Suzich, Supervisor
Mary Blake, Observer
Margaret Cavenagh
Joe Clark
Dave Hix

Board of Zoning Appeals
Satoshi Amagai
Charlie Challstrom
Kathie Evans

Historic Preservation Commission
Bob Booher, Chair
Robert Gilmore, Council Liaison
Bill Earl
Wendy Harris
David Stopak
Mimi Styles
Samantha Suzich, Alternate

Planning Commission
Georgette Cole, Chair
Peter Nagrod, Council Liaison
Sung Chang, Alternate
Jonathan Dail
Sylvie Favret
Robert Johnson

Volunteer Committees

Dog Park
Liz Gillanders, Chair

Emergency Preparedness and Safety
Dave Lutter, Chair

Forestry & Beautification (F&B)
Georgette Cole, Chair

Gateway
Jonathan Dail, Chair

Lake
Tom Land, Chair

Lighting
Virginia Quesada, Chair

Racial and Social Equity (RASEC)
Paula Puglisi, Leadership Team 

Recreation
Lisa Bielen, Co-Chair
Kristina Kough, Co-Chair

Sustainability
Bob Booher, Chair

Woods
Patrice Klein, Co-Chair
Joan Mahaffey, Co-Chair

 

How do I… ?

Apply Now for Rebates on Electric Leaf Blower Purchases

As of July 1, MoCo has banned the sale of all gasoline-powered leaf blowers and vacuums (be they backpack, handheld, or walk-behind).

Moreover, the use of such equipment will be banned beginning July 1, 2025, with a $500 penalty for each violation.  To encourage compliance, the county is offering a rebate on the purchase of certain models of electric leaf blowers (and their associated batteries and chargers) until funds run out.  Act fast to benefit from this offer.

Apply for a rebate voucher here and please talk with anyone who helps you with yardwork about the new leaf-blowing rules and about the county’s rebates for help with the cost of replacing their old leaf blowers with new electric equipment.

Local Transportation

MARC Brunswick Line:  View the schedule and map | View alerts

MTA Bus from Shady Grove station to BWI Airport:  View the schedule and map

Ride-On Bus:  View maps and schedules for nearby routes:  Route 57  |  Route 61

Metrorail: Trip Planner  View all alerts: Weekday | Weekend

Transit nerds: Check out MetroHero’s data on the operational performance in real time of Metrorail  |  MARC trains  |  Ride On bus routes.  MetroHero also displays real-time “where’s my train?” maps for the Red Line.

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