Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 04.13.15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the March Council meeting included:
- acceptance of Potomac Disposal’s bid for Refuse and Recycling collection for the next three (3) years.
- agreement to remove snow from 2nd Avenue in the event of heavy snow during the time the current resident resides at #6 The Circle.
- introduction of Ordinance No. 2015-03; Ordinance Adopting Amendments to Article IV, Sections 1 and 10 Regarding the Issuance of Permanent Easements for Main Buildings Initially Constructed in Part on Land Owned by the Town of Washington Grove.
- approval of an additional sign (32 sq. ft.) for the McClelland Insurance Agency at 11 Brown Street
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Washington Grove Town Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 13, 2015, 7:30 PM, in McCathran Hall, 300 Grove Ave. Washington Grove, Maryland. The purpose of this meeting is to take public comment regarding the proposed Zoning Text Amendment No. 2015-03; Ordinance Adopting Amendments to Article IV, Sections 1 and 10 Regarding the Issuance of Permanent Easements for Main Buildings Initially Constructed in Part on Land Owned by the Town of Washington Grove. A copy of the proposed amendment is available for inspection upon request to the Town of Washington Grove, P.O. Box 216, Washington Grove, Maryland 20880 (301-926-2256) and on the Town website (www.washingtongrovemd.org).
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 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 (1-year term)
- Council (3-year term) » John McClelland
- Council (3-year term) » Greg Silber
PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for nominations is April 13, 2015 (2nd Monday in April).
Absentee Ballots
Residents who wish to vote by absentee ballot must call Meredith Horan to arrange for this. Only ballots that are received by 7:00 p.m. on May 9th will be counted. Meredith can be reached at 301-926-1054.
Meet The Candidates, Be an Informed Voter!
Come to "Meets and Treats" on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature the candidates for Mayor and Town Council in the May 9th elections. 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!!
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
From the Mayor…
Hopefully spring is finally here! I want to recognize and thank Steve Werts and for again providing snow removal for our roads again this year. His dedication to see our roads are clear is incredible. As one resident said to me, she feels much safer with Steve doing this job. I agree!
The Town Council awarded the Refuse and Recycling bid to Potomac Disposal. The total cost of the contract is $2029 per month. This is a three year contract. As of now Thursday remains our day for refuse and recycling services. So not to miss pickups, please have your items out by 7:00 a.m.
As you know the Annual Town Meeting is May 9 at 8:00 p.m. in McCathran Hall. Please try to attend. This is democracy at its finest and your participation is important. All are invited to the party at the end of the meeting. Our own wonderful Recreation Committee is again putting this fun event together.
Joli A. McCathran
Emergency Response Volunteers Sought
Following on the heels of the Mayor’s training in municipal emergency response preparedness, we are seeking residents interested in volunteering to coordinate and/or serve on a temporary task force to research and recommend a Town response plan, to recommend purchase of emergency supplies, etc. Please contact the Town Office if you are interested in assisting with this project.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 04.01.15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
If the spring/summer renovation bug has reared its head 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 may have some helpful information on your property, another resource when planning home modifications. The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission are here to help you with your project.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 04.21.15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. Meetings are open to the public.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
By Wendy E. Harris; Volunteer Archivist
THE TOWN’S JOURNEY TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER, PART II
The National Register of Historic Places came into being in 1966 with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act. By the end of the decade, 1200 properties had been found “worthy of preservation” and listed on the Register. Between then and 1982, the Register expanded further. By the latter year, the Register’s listing of 27,000 properties included 2500 officially designated Historic Districts, one of them being the entire Town of Washington Grove. In many cases, communities hired professionally trained historic preservation consultants to prepare the documents nominating districts to the Register. The residents of Washington Grove, of course, decided to do it themselves. Many details about this process are emerging from Planning Commission meeting minutes housed in the town archives.
As described in our last Town Bulletin article (2 February 2015), there was a genuine sense of urgency to complete the nomination and get the Town listed on the Register. According to Planning Commission minutes from the late 1970’s, its chairman, John Pentecost, led the effort and also coordinated with the staff of the Maryland Historic Trust. However, all the other members of the Commission, including Mary Kay Dubois, Ray Knight, Bob Smith and Bob Evans, appear to have played active roles as well. Reading through the 1978 minutes, we were struck by how many Planning Commission meetings were devoted entirely to determining what material would be needed and how to gather it. Equally striking to us was how much historical and architectural data was readily available from existing local sources including Rosalie Shantz’s 1975 booklet Grove Gatherings, another short history of the Grove appearing in the Town directory, the Town’s Master Plan, and oral histories and interviews previously conducted by Ann Briggs and Ray Knight.
From the beginning, much of the information about individual Grove houses came from the people who lived in them. In January 1978, we find Commission member Mary Kay Dubois offering to “discuss Town houses with Zoë Wadsworth, Nancy Forquer and Edna Reber.” For the “model” of all house descriptions, the Commission’s chose the Pughe House (213 Grove Avenue, presently owned by Joseph Hodges and Tamara Williams), prepared by Jane Pughe Rogers. Lacking any formal training in architectural history, Commission members seemed to have gradually acquired some knowledge of the subject. Reading through the minutes, we found it interesting to observe how the language used to describe historic Grove houses eventually moved beyond words like “traditional,” and “typical” to phrases such as “high-peaked roof ‘Methodist architecture’ cottages.” This probably reflects the influence of Andras Nagy, an architect then living in the Grove, who volunteered later that spring to help the Commission prepare architectural portions of the nomination.
By April 1978 serious fieldwork had begun. Mary Kay Dubois and Mayor Don McCathran compiled a list of 94 houses believed to be 50 years or older. The Maryland Historic Trust had advised them to also include McCathran Hall, the Grove’s walkways, and other public areas including the East and West Woods. Working from the list and from slides taken by Tom McCathran, the Planning Commission began the process of selecting 13 houses to photograph, research, and describe for inclusion in the nomination text. The goal was to complete everything by June. It was to be a very busy two months.
In the fall of 1978, after finally receiving and reviewing Washington Grove’s nomination for National Register listing, Maryland Historic Trust staff member, Pamela James reported back to Planning Commission Chair Pentecost that the document was “wonderful.” In upcoming Town Bulletins we will write more about the nomination’s contents and the Town’s final push to complete it.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 04.15.15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. Meetings are open to the public.
Mark Your Calendars!
- Saturday, June 13, 2015; Facilitating Town Fellowship. This year, the Town will host a campout night in Woodward Park. Join us for s’mores and campfire harmonies. Bring your guitars, firewood and tents for a lovely evening of Grove togetherness!
- June 19, 20, 21, 2015; Music Weekend
- ADULT TALENT SHOWCASE – Friday, June 19, 2015. It’s time the adults took back the stage!
Summer in the Parks 2015!!!
Calling all SITP Campers — Kindergarten through 8th grade! SITP will be here before you know it. Camp will be held from July 7th through the 30th, and we would love to have you all there! It will be a fun filled month and include SITP favorites: Lake Days, Field Trips, Capture the Flag, the return of Jamboree and more! Enrollment forms are due by April 30, 2015. If you are interested in applying for a volunteer position or a Junior Counselor position there is one application form for both of these roles on the Washington Grove Website. For Campers, turn enrollment forms in to Jenn Hix; volunteers may turn their application forms in to Christine Dibble ([email protected]) and Junior Counselors may turn their applications forms in to Joey Fones ([email protected]). If you are new to SITP and would like more information, please contact: Emily Cavey ([email protected]), Samantha Beres ([email protected]) or Paige Clifford ([email protected]).
WGUMC News…
Thank you for your monetary donations and food items to help feed 200 homeless men!
- Easter Sunrise Service – April 5th 6:30 a.m. on Ridge Rd. Hot breakfast will be served afterwards in the church fellowship hall.
- Easter Service- April 5th 11:00 a.m. at the church.
- Spaghetti Dinner and Bingo Game – April 18th (Sat.), 5:30 p.m. followed by board game at 7:00 p.m. Support the church with this fundraiser.
- Children Vacation Bible School – June 22 (Mon) through June 26 (Fri.) 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The time may slightly be adjusted. Kids’ drop-off time and childcare before VBS starts will be provided. We want to give every child an opportunity to experience this wonderful adventure. Please mark your calendar. For more details, Contact Rev. EunJoung Joo; 301-869- 3753 or [email protected]
Maple Lake News…
Next meeting: Thursday » 04.16.15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
Annual Lake Clean-up Scheduled
The annual lake clean-up will be on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00 a.m. Bring rakes, gloves, wheelbarrows and enthusiasm!!
Geese Arriving at the 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!
Combo to Change
The Lake gate combination will be changed by Hutch on April 20. Please call a Committee member or the Town Office for the new numbers.
Life Guards Needed for Maple Lake
Applicants must be 17 years old and have a Red Cross Life Guard Certification. If you are interested please submit an application to the Town. Applications are available at the Town Office. Contact David Harmon, (301-972-1417) ([email protected]) or John Hutchison (301-926-8767) if you have any questions. If you know of someone who might be interested please pass them our contact information.
Woman’s Club News…
Next meeting: Thursday » 04.02.15 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse. Come to the Clubhouse to help fill Eggs for the Annual Egg Hunt.
ANNUAL EGG HUNT!!
SATURDAY, April 4, 2015, 12:30 p.m. McCathran Hall
Spring means the Annual Flower Show
Sunday, May 31, 2015 In spring a young man’s fancy may turn to love, but a Grover’s fancy turns to the Woman’s Club’s Annual Flower Show. This year’s theme is Tea in Bloom at Downton Abby. You’ll be getting more information about the event soon.
Our March Birthday Bag Stuffing event was a tremendous success, and after listening to Wendy Westbard’s interesting and informative talk about the staggering amount of poverty and homelessness in our County, we all pitched in to fill gifts bags for Interfaith Works to give out to needy children from one to 18, who would otherwise have no birthday gifts. Thanks to the generous donations of both Club members and Townsfolk, we were able to stuff 224 bags! And, thanks to Wendy Weisbard for organzing this rewarding event.
Forestry News…
ARBOR DAY – APRIL 25, 2015
10:00 AM – East Woods Trails Restoration (Trails & Chips provided)
Meet at the McCauley St. & Grove Rd. entrance or the Cherry Ave. entrance. Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes etc… OR
Help beautify McCathran Hall with new plantings!
A hot dog feast for all will be served at High Noon on the Council Room porch.
General Information…
It’s Baaaaack!! Recyclable Yard Waste Pick Up
Recyclable yard waste pick up by Potomac Disposal began in March. Our trash contractor will pick up recyclable yard waste from your properly marked containers and/or large brown bags. You may also bundle your brush and tie it with twine. Bundles should be no larger than 30” in diameter and 4 feet in length. No individual pieces larger than 4 inches in diameter, please.