Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 04.12.10 @ 7:30 p.m. & Monday » 04.26.10 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the March Council meeting included:
- adoption of Resolution No. 2010-05; Budget Transfers FY 2010(2).
Tax Reminder – Washington Grove -1612
Please fill in Washington Grove 1612 in the appropriate box on your State income tax form. If someone else prepares your tax forms, include this notice with your tax information and if you file electronically be sure to select Washington Grove under City, Town, or Taxing Area. 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!
Notice of Public Hearing
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 26, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in McCathran Hall. The purpose of this hearing is to take public comment on proposed Ordinance 2010-04 to amend Article XVI of the Code of Ordinances regarding the fee for a major building permit application. The proposed change will raise the fee from $40.00 to $100.00. This ordinance will be introduced at the April 12th meeting of the Town Council. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available at the Town Office and on the Town website.
Town Elections
Nominations for Mayor and Town Council must be sent to Mary Kay DuBois by April 12, 2010. So put on your thinking caps and call Mary Kay at 301-926-8941.
Current Nominations
The following nominations have been turned in to the Board of Supervisors of Elections:
- Darrell Anderson Mayor
- Joli McCathran Town Council
- Bill Robertson Town Council
- Marida Hines Town Council
Annual Town Meeting
Vote for the candidates of your choice on Saturday, May 8, 2010 between 4 and 7 p.m. Come to the Annual Town Meeting, on May 8th beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Town Council Organizational Meeting Set
The annual Organizational Meeting for the Mayor and Town Council is scheduled for May 17, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
Meet the Candidates
Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. in McCathran Hall
Candidates will be there to talk about their priorities and find out about yours. Come and participate!
Looking For That Super Volunteer!
Each year the Mayor presents an award to the resident who represents the best of our volunteer corps. If you would like to make a nomination, please contact the Mayor at 301-963-8555 or [email protected] before April 23. The award should honor someone who has worked on various Town projects over the last year and exemplifies the true volunteer spirit.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 04.07.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
At its March meeting, the Commission…
- endorsed in principle a proposal for land swaps between 2 property owners in the vicinity of the Circle and the Town to conform the properties to newly established property boundaries;
- began consideration of a building permit application for an addition at 114 Ridge Road, the first application under new rules requiring a boundary survey;
- recommended to the Council the adoption of an ordinance raising the building permit application fee for buildings to cover the costs of the Town code inspector.
The Commission continues to work with the Historic Preservation Committee to develop ideas for addressing the problem of "mansionization" in Town.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 04.20.10 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. Meetings are open to the public.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 04.21.10 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Final Mousetrap Concert
Saxophone & Piano
Tangos, Sonatas, Italian Film music and more.
Sunday, April 18; 3:00 p.m. in McCathran
For tickets and info: call 301-926-2858.
Storyteller/Comedian Bill Lepp
Sunday, April 25, at 2 p.m., Washington Grove will host storyteller/comedian Bil Lepp in McCathran Hall. Bill is a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest and a very funny guy. Invite your friends and family and be prepared to laugh at these tales for kids and adults. For more info, go to www.buck-dog.com. Sponsored by the Recreation Committee. Free.
Washington Grove Drawing Group Art Show
Please join the Washington Grove Drawing Group at our Art Show and Opening Reception on May 2, 2010 in McCathran Hall, from 2pm to 5pm. There will be refreshments and a slide show at the reception.
The show will exhibit drawings created over the last 6 months in a series of 6-week class sessions taught by the Grove’s own Carolyn Reece Tomlin. Exhibited work will include pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, and pastel interpretations of still lives, the nude, and other subjects drawn from life. The show will include examples of the many drawing techniques we have covered, including gesture drawing, contour drawing, perspective, value studies, and much more. Many of our artists have gone from complete beginners to accomplished artists. Others have developed their skill and expanded their vision into new areas. Everyone has learned an enormous amount and enjoyed the process immensely. Please join us on May 2 to celebrate their accomplishments.
Calling All Kids!
Music Weekend is scheduled for June 18 – 20, 2010.
Planning for the Children’s Recital on June 19th is underway. To get on the program, please contact Tami Williams at 301-869-8541 or [email protected].
Save The Date…Mark Your Calendars!
June 5, 2010: Retirement party (and other festivities) for Maintenance Supervisor Jim Fletcher. Details will follow in the May Bulletin.
Lake Committee News
Next meeting: Thursday » 04.15.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. Please come and help get the lake ready for this year. Important items are: Geese control, Security, Life Guards, Swim Instructors. NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME!!
Lifeguards Needed for Maple Lake
We have several applicants, but need one or two more lifeguards. Hours are 12 – 6, seven days a week. Lifeguards must be certified in Lifesaving, CPR, and First Aid. Pay is $10 – $12 per hour. Call Marida Hines at 301-519-8730 for more information.
Maple Lake Cleanup Day
The annual cleanup will be on Saturday, April 10th at 10 a.m. Please join in and bring your leaf rake, shovel, clippers, and wheelbarrow if you have one. Rain date is Sunday, April 11th at Noon. Call John Hutchinson at 301-926-8767 for details or questions.
Geese
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 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!
Forestry Committee News
CELEBRATE THE FUTURE…
THE TOWN WITHIN A FOREST’S ARBOR DAY 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010; 9:00 a.m. – Noon
You’ll have your choice of worthy projects!
The Woods Group is sponsoring another East Woods Trails Maintenance. To participate please meet at Town garage at 9 a.m. Gloves, boots, rakes or pitchforks, wheelbarrows are needed.
The Forestry Committee is sponsoring Beautification Projects at McCathran Hall and The Circle starting at 9 a.m. There will be hour-long sessions for bedding in flowering plants around the Hall and a pruning workshop in The Circle. The bedding workshop with Joy Montefusco will focus on selection and aesthetics. The pruning workshop with Maria Montefusco will include sharpening and maintenance of pruners, then basic techniques (safety of property, health of plants, aesthetics). Please bring gloves, trowels, pruners, etc and meet at the Hall.
Did you know that Washington Grove sits in the natural range of the Native American Chestnut Tree? And that the American Chestnut Foundation has a breeding program to re-introduce these magnificent trees bred to be chestnut blight resistant? Thanks to our good neighbor, John Bradfield, the Grove is among the first recipients of the new blight-resistant chestnuts (seeds). At 11:30 a.m. please join us at the Town Hall for an AMERICAN CHESTNUT PLANTING CEREMONY with the Mayor.
There will be Refreshments!
Woman’s Club News
Our April meeting will be an outing to the beautiful Greenbridge Pottery in Howard County on Sunday April 25. Judy Young has arranged this trip for us. We will meet in the parking lot at McCathran Hall at 12:30 p.m. to carpool to Greenbridge Pottery at 5159 Green Bridge Road, Dayton, MD. Families, including children, are welcome to join us to tour the lovely gardens and visit the pottery shop. We will return by 5:00. We hope you can join us for this exhilarating spring event.
Mark your calendars for the Annual Flower Show on Sunday, May 9. You can expect a flier with this year’s theme and categories by US mail a week or two before the show.
Our Annual Yard Sale will be Saturday, June 5, at the Club House. Please start collecting items in good condition which you no longer need. We are asking you to hold onto your items until after the Flower Show. Proceeds from the Yard Sale have traditionally paid the insurance on the Club House as well as helping to fund community projects like Washington Grove Elementary School, the Acorn Library and Summer in the Parks.
WGUMC News
- Play Group on April 7th and April 21st — Meets downstairs in the church at 9:30 a.m. on first and third Wednesdays, so children can play and parents and grandparents can talk! All families welcome.
- Movement Class on April 14th — Kim Thompson’s Gentle Movement for chronic pain sufferers class meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 2 to 3 p.m. upstairs in the church. The class is free, sponsored by the County, and open to all.
- Soup kitchen on April 15th — On the third Thursday of every month we help at the St. Martin’s soup kitchen, at the intersection of Summit Ave. and Rte. 355, from about 12:30 until 4pm (or some segment of that time). This ministry is deeply appreciated, and sorely needed! For further info. call Jean Clark at 301 948 8758.
- April 18th, Rev. Tim Warner to Preach — As part of our involvement with the Gaithersburg “Neighbor Corps,” Rev. Tim Warner will speak at the 11 a.m. service. Tim, already known to many in the Grove, serves as Montgomery County’s Liaison with African American and Faith Communities, and is an inspiring speaker. He’ll be preaching about community renewal.
- Easter Service Times–for details see www.washingtongroveumc.org
- Maundy Thursday, Apr. 1st – Candlelight Tennebrae communion service at 7:30 p.m.
- Easter Sunrise, Apr. 4th – 6:45 a.m. Ridge Road Field, Breakfast follows at church.
- Easter 11 a.m., Apr. 4th – 11 a.m. service.
- Easter Children’s Drama, April 11th- 11 a.m. service.
20
Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
Joe Clark: 301-869-7944
Keith Gillis/Leigh Partington: 301-208-1437
Final Leaf Pickup Scheduled
Our Town contract for leaf collection with U.S. Lawns of Montgomery County provides for a spring pickup of leaves. All leaves that are placed in piles and windrows along Town roads and
walkways no later than April 4th will be picked up. Weather permitting; the truck will be here to suck up the leaves on Monday, April 5th or very soon thereafter.
Special Trash Pickup
The Town has scheduled a bulk trash collection for April 17, 2010. Please make note of a fairly new requirement to separate your metal from the rest of your trash. The truck will make two (2) passes through Town. They will pick up the metal first and then come back for the remainder. Collection may include furniture, appliances (not those with freon), rugs, large toys, small auto parts, etc… Materials may NOT include construction by-products, large automotive parts, or tires. Please place items “curbside” by 7:00 a.m.
Streetlight Feedback Needed
There is a streetlight on Chestnut Road directly across from the Town Office. The regular 189 watt incandescent bulb has been replaced with a 35 watt induction light. According to PEPCO, this type of light lasts longer and is more efficient. Please take a moment to check this out and let Town government know what you think. Feedback is welcome by phone, 301-926-2256 or e-mail.