TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Next meeting: Monday, April 11, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
From the Mayor…
Signs: With Maryland’s Primary election coming up on April 26, I would like to send a gentle reminder to residents of the posting of signs, political or others as outlined in Article VII, Section 6.3, Accessory Signs; Billboards
Section 6.321 Where Permitted
(a) Signs are permitted in each zone subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6.3. All signs must be located on private property.
(b) Off-Site Signs are not permitted.
6.322 Permit Required. No sign may be erected, affixed, painted, hung or otherwise displayed, altered or repaired unless a permit has been applied for, together with payment of the applicable fee as set forth in ARTICLE XVI of the Code of Ordinances, and issued by the Mayor and a certificate of compliance has been issued by the Town Council, except as provided in Section 6.323.
6.323 Signs Not Requiring Permits. No permit is required for the following types of signs, where permitted:
(a) Any sign not exceeding two square feet in area.
(b) On any lot, one temporary sign not exceeding six square feet in area, announcing that the building or lot, or both, are for sale or rent.
(c) Any sign, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area, associated with a political campaign.
Maple Lake: Lake Committee Chair John Hutchinson, and I testified at the hearing of House Bill 1101: Municipal Corporations – Closed Swimming Lake in Annapolis. House Bill 1101 passed the Maryland House of Delegates 134-0. It is now headed to the Maryland State Senate as a cross-over bill. This bill will allow the Town to continue to monitor our own lake through our Lake Committee.
Otherwise, we would be subject to Montgomery County swimming pool regulations.
Tree Owner’s Manual: A new publication written by the United States Department of Agricultural is now available in the Town Office. This useful guide can assist homeowners in the planting of trees on your property. This guide is free. Feel free to pick one up during office hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays except Wednesdays. Office hours on Wednesday are 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Here is the web address: https://www.Treeownersmanual.info
Joli A. McCathran
301-869-5358
[email protected]
Important Message for Washington Grove Taxpayers
Every year the Town of Washington Grove receives a portion of the Maryland State income tax paid by Town residents. Because our residents do not have mail delivered to street addresses, this presents a challenge for the State Comptroller’s office when attributing the taxes collected to Washington Grove. It is critical that all Washington Grove residents (including renters!) designate “Washington Grove.” For Maryland iFile, under “Name of county and incorporated city, town, or special taxing area in which you were a resident on the last day of the taxable period”, select “Montgomery, Washington Grove” from the drop down menu. This block is separate from the address blocks. Turbo Tax and H&R Block software also include drop down menus where you may select “Montgomery County” and then “Washington Grove.” Please share this information with your renters and your tax preparer, if appropriate. This DOES NOT increase your taxes, but DOES help ensure that the Town receives its proper share of local income tax revenue. Thanks for your help! Questions, call Treasurer Mary Challstrom at 301-926-4498.
Town Elections
Nominations for Mayor and Council should be sent to Chair Meredith Horan at P.O. Box 337 or 127 Maple Ave. There is still time for more nominations. The deadline is April 11, 2016. The candidate must agree to being nominated and have been a Town resident for at least two (2) years for the position as Mayor and for at least one (1) year for Town Council. So far, the nominees are;
Mayor (1-year term) Joli McCathran
Council (3-year term) Patrice Klein
Council (3-year term) Shelley Winkler
Ed Roberts
(Three (3) people are running for two (2) spots.)
Absentee Ballots
Residents who wish to vote by absentee ballot must call Meredith Horan to arrange for this. Ballots will be available after the nominations close (4/11/16). Only ballots that are received by 7:00 p.m. on May 14th will be counted. Meredith can be reached at 301-926-1054.
Annual Town Meeting
This year’s Annual Town Meeting is set for May 14, 2016 in McCathran Hall at 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow the meeting.
Planning Commission News…
Next meeting: Wed., April 6, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
If you are considering any renovation or building project at your house, be sure to get a copy of the revised procedures to apply for a Town Building Permit which will help you through the Town’s process. The procedures are available from the Town Clerk or from the Town’s website. In addition, the house files in the Town Hall, another resource when planning home modifications, may have some helpful information on your property. The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission are here to help you with your project.
Permits approved on March 2, 2016:
• There were none.
Historic Preservation Commission News…
Next meeting: Tuesday, April 19, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All meetings are open to the public.
If you are considering changes to your home, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you, most preferably early in your planning process, at one of our monthly meetings, which are scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
Recreation Committee News…
Next Meeting: Wed., May 11, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
SUMMER IN THE PARKS (x 2)
SIGN UP
If your child is entering grades K-8 in 2016, enroll NOW for camp! This year’s Summer In The Parks will be held weekdays July 5-29th from 9am-12noon. Kids will enjoy games, crafts, outdoor ramblings and will end the month of July with the annual overnight Campout on July 29th.
Camper Appl.: https://goo.gl/forms/ZERCQEGb5h
DUE June 1st
Contact:
Emily Brown [email protected] with any questions.
STAFF NEEDED
If you love where you live and love working with kids, come work with Summer In The Parks this year! We are currently looking for staff who are high-energy, hard-working and will enhance our community by showing our kids kindness, respect and spontaneous FUN!
Job Application: Paid & Unpaid
https://goo.gl/forms/qDe8eNCU3c
Application DUE APRIL 30, 2016
Absolutely NO Exceptions.
Contact:
[email protected] with any questions.
Fun for all Ages – Let Your Yoga Dance – Sunday, April 10
Keep on steppin’ because the Town’s new Chakra Khan, Chivonnie Gius, is leading an all-ages, all experience levels “Let Your Yoga Dance” class Sunday, April 10, at 2 in McCathran Hall. LYYD is a mix of movement and meditation designed to help you get your groove back. For more information contact Meredith Horan at 301-926-1054 (evenings). Free.
St. Paddy’s Squared: What a great double-header! Thanks to Mary and Charlie Challstrom for lining up the Blackthorn Ceili Dancers for the popular potluck. (Teaser #1); watch for possible repeat performances later in the year.) And another big thanks to all those, especially mastermind Meredith Horan and musician wrangler David Rapkievian, for putting together the first, but likely not the last, Green Green Grove at Home concert.
Music Weekend Menu (Teaser #2); Remember to mark your calendar for three packed days of fun beginning Friday, June 17, with the second weather-permitting gazebo show from Soul/R&B faves Jr. Cline and the Recliners. Saturday afternoon is the popular youth recital, so all interested entertainers should start tuning up for that (Teaser #3); and then Saturday evening get ready for the all-ages Grove talent show. And on Sunday morning….something a little new! Let’s just say the sangria will be chilled, and you might want to start hunting for wide-brimmed hats! Keep it close to the vest (let’s see, that’s Teaser #4). Obviously, more info to come!
And to all Grovers, remember: You don’t have to “join” the Recreation Committee. Everyone is always welcome to attend meetings, suggest new projects-such as the St. Patrick’s concert and the Music Weekend showcase–and provide feedback afterwards. So if there’s an event that you’re especially interested in, maybe you can lend a hand. After all, this is an all-volunteer crew.
Film Society News…
Our 2015/2016 film series is over and we would like to thank our loyal and enthusiastic audience for coming to the movies and participating in the discussions. The committee is beginning the process of selecting movies for next season, and would welcome ideas for films to show. As always, we aim to air films that are classics, indie, or foreign, and avoid movies that have shown recently in movie theatres. Also, we welcome new members to our committee. We can assure you that we meet only a couple of times a year, and have lots of fun talking about movies. If you have movie suggestions or are interested in joining the group, please contact Freda Temple, [email protected], 301-926-3066.
Maple Lake News…
Next Meeting: Thurs., April 21, 2016; 7:30 p.m.; Council Room.
We need to plan for swim lessons, lifeguards and making the lake great for this summer. New members welcome and encouraged! Call John Hutchinson (301-926-8767) if you have any questions.
Annual Lake Clean-up Scheduled
The annual lake clean-up will be on Saturday, April 9th at 10:00 a.m. Please join in and bring your leaf rake, shovel, and wheelbarrow if you have one. Rain date is Sunday, April 10th at Noon. Call John Hutchison at 301-926-8767 for details or questions.
Geese Visitors at Maple Lake
We are using the Humane Society’s protocol again to humanely prevent eggs from hatching this spring. In the past several years a pair of geese has nested in an area easily accessible to our egg-oiling team. They drive away the other geese during nesting season and then leave when their eggs do not hatch. Please do not feed or harass the nesting pair or disturb the nest. If you see a nest built, please call Ann Philips or John Hutchinson. We encourage visitors to the lake to take along a plastic bag and scoop droppings. THANKS!
Lifeguards Needed for Maple Lake This Summer
We have a couple of applicants, but need one or two more lifeguards. Hours are from 12-6, seven days a week. Lifeguards must be certified in Lifesaving, CPR, and First Aid. (We can help you pay for the training.) Pay is $10 to $12 per hour. Call John Hutchinson at 301-926-8767, for details.
Forestry & Beautification News…
Next Meeting: Thursday, April 28, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. This meeting is open to the public.
Spring Tree Planting is coming! F&B has arranged for three large Pin Oaks and two large Black Gums to be installed in the Town entrance area of Morgan Park. These 5-6 inch caliper trees will come from the tree farm owned by Ace Tree Movers. They will provide a more substantial tree presence to this very public area where we have lost several magnificent old Oaks in the past few years. Two, 2.5-3 inch caliper Sycamores have been located and will be installed in Woodward Park.
The Adopt-a-Tree Program is off to a great start! Five trees have already been selected for adoption by concerned Town residents. If this idea appeals to you, do call Carolyn O’Connor to talk about it (301-963-7735 or email [email protected]). You can have a specific tree in mind or Carolyn can point you toward a needy tree. Come join your fellow tree huggers!
Woods Group
Next Meeting: Monday, April 4, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. We will finalize plans for Arbor Day and continue our work on recommendations from the Forest Stewardship Plan.
Arbor Day
Arbor Day, Saturday, April 30, 10 am to 12 noon. Please join us for this annual community service day. Activities include planting in public areas around Town and spreading chips on trails in the East Woods. Meet at McCathran Hall at 10:00 a.m.
Kudos and many thanks to the hearty crew who removed trash from the Town’s west woods on March 12th. The volunteers, too many to mention here, removed over four pick-up truck loads of bottles, cans, and paper that went to the dump. Thank you to all who participated!
WGUMC News…
Spring Yard Sale – May 21 (Sat)
Support the church by saving your treasures for WGUMC’s Spring Yard Sale.
Enjoy walking in Nature?
Join us on our Spring Walk: Becoming a Spiritual Naturalist on April 16, 2016, 8:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Turkey Run Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway Headquarters, McLean, VA
The ticket price is $20.00. If you are interested in joining us please let us know by calling 301-869-3753 or e-mail [email protected]
Woman’s Club News…
A Symphony of Flowers
The Woman’s Club of Washington Grove will present
Washington Grove Flower Show
Sunday, May 22, 2016
More information to follow in the May Bulletin, but we are seeking volunteers to help with this beautiful event. If you are interested in working on signing in entries, making refreshments, setting up the clubhouse for the event, or helping with cleanup please email Georgette at [email protected]. This is one of the glorious rites of spring in Washington Grove so don’t forget to put the date on your calendar!
It’s In The Bag….
Please bring toys & help us fill birthday bags for needy children on April 16th!!
Our next event will be Saturday, April 16th at 2:00 PM, at the Clubhouse, where we will again be filling birthday bags for needy children, ages 1-18, who would not otherwise have a gift on their birthday. Gifts should be between $1 and $5 in value. In addition to the birthday bags, this year we are also collecting school supplies and small gifts for parents to give their children.
Please bring your gift donations and come help us make life a little better for these children. If you can’t help fill the bags, but would like to participate, Wendy Weisbard has handpainted cans on both of her porches, at 119 Grove Ave, for your donations..
General Information
Vacant Homes Task Force
The next meeting of this Task Force will be on MAY 16, 2016, at 7:30 PM in the Council Room. This meeting is open to the public.
Emergency Preparedness Committee
The Washington Grove Emergency Preparedness Task Force will hold its formal meeting in the Council Room at McCathran Hall on Thursday, April 7, 2016. Meeting starts at 7:00 PM. There will also be two (2) work sessions on Saturday, April 2nd and 9th from 9:00 AM – Noon. All are welcome to attend!
Bulk Trash Pickup Scheduled
Mark your calendars! The Town has scheduled a bulk trash collection for April 23, 2016. Materials may include furniture, appliances (nothing with freon like air conditioning units), rugs, large toys, small auto parts, etc.
Material may NOT include construction by-products from your renovation projects, large automotive parts or tires. Items should not contain gasoline or motor oil. Please keep your metal separate from the rest of your trash.
ITEMS SHOULD BE PLACED “CURBSIDE” BY 7:00 A.M.
WGES Breast Cancer Research Walk 2016 “Raising Hope for a Cure”
The Washington Grove Elementary School Family lost two amazing ladies this school year to breast cancer. One of our family members is currently battling cancer. In tribute and in support, the Washington Grove Elementary School Family will be walking to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. Please join us on Saturday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. for a walk through and around the school. If you are interested in making a donation, the families have asked you donate to these two sites: Betty William’s family and Darby McElwaine have selected METAvivor – METAvivor is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively funds metastatic breast cancer research.
To donate:
https://secure.metavivor.org/page/contribute/washingtongroveelementary
Jan Leighty’s family have selected Medstar Washington Hospital Center Breast Cancer Research. Checks may be made payable to MedStar Washington Hospital Center 110 Irving Street, NW East Building, Suite 1001 Washington, DC 20010. In the memo line, please write “in memory of Jan Leighty” for the funds to go ONLY to Breast Cancer Research.
There will be many raffle items available and all proceeds from the raffles will go directly to research. T-shirts are also available for purchase. Please call the WGES office (240-740-0300) if you are interested in one.
Date: April 16, 2016 (Sat.) 9-10 a.m. Check in and Chat. Raffles are available at that time. At 10 a.m., the walk will start promptly. Raffle winners drawn at 11 a.m., you DO NOT have to be present to win. All proceeds from the raffle go directly to the charities. The walk is FREE BUT IN LIEU of a registration fee, we are asking you donate to either or both of the charities above.
Meet The Candidates, Be an Informed Voter!
Please come to a candidate forum on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature the candidates for Mayor and Town Council in the elections the following Saturday. Our current Mayor and Councilors will be there also. This is an opportunity to meet those willing to take on official duties for the good of the Grove and those who currently hold these responsibilities. Come with your questions, get a feel for Town government, put a face to a name and enjoy light refreshments!