Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 12.10.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the Nov. 12th and Nov. 26th meetings included:
authorization to grant a 1-year easement to owners of Hanagan’s Auto Repair for the westernmost 120 ft.+/- wide Town-owned strip of property that is contiguous with rear boundaries of two parcels along Railroad Street. Such easement is for the purposes of erecting and maintaining a fence or other barrier on said Town-owned land that will prohibit unauthorized use of said land and keep it clear of accumulated vehicles, auto parts, and trash. The easement will be renewable on an annual basis upon approval of the Town Council.
appointment of Planning Commission Alternate Joe Clark to a full member of the Commission.
passed Ordinance No. 2007-10, Cable Franchise. This ordinance will grant Cavalier IPTV, LLC a non-exclusive franchise for the operation of a cable communications system within the corporate limits of the Town of Washington Grove.
Piedmont Crossing
This site plan was approved by M-NCPPC on November 1, 2007. Any further action on this can not be determined until a legal opinion is rendered by M-NCPPC. Stay tuned…
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 12.05.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Building Permits
If you are going to erect a building or structure (including fences), make structural alterations to, or move any existing building or other structure, you must first obtain a building permit from the Washington Grove Planning Commission. The Town zoning ordinance governs setbacks, lot coverage and height. Applications are available at the Town Office at 301-926-2256. The permit fee is $10.00, payable to the Town of Washington Grove. Interior renovations, which involve electrical, plumbing, or load-bearing changes, generally require a County permit. A shed requires a County permit as well. The Town must first sign off all applications for County-required building permits. The Historic Preservation Commission will review most permits as well.
Looking for an Alternate
The Planning Commission is looking for a volunteer to serve as an alternate. For more information or to volunteer please call Chairman John McClelland at 301-963-3328 or Mayor John Compton at 301-330-8264.
WANTED…Planning Commission Secretary
Missy Yachup is stepping down after six years of dedicated minute-taking. Thank you, Missy!!! The PC Secretary takes the minutes at the monthly meetings and transcribes them for approval at the next meeting. The time involved is approximately 4 hours per month and the pay is $11.50 per hour. If you are interested, please call the Town Office, 301-926-2256.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 12.18.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Historic Marker for Morgan Park
The HPC is proposing to place a historic marker plaque near the entrance to the Town near the intersection of Grove Road and Brown Street in Morgan Park. The memorial would consist of a plaque stating some important events in the history of Washington Grove. The plaque would be made of bronze and would be affixed to a 4 ft. tall by 5 ft. wide by 3 ft. deep granite stone. The stone would weigh approximately 1.5 – 2 tons and would be supported by a deep bed of gravel. The HPC would appreciate any comments or suggestions positive or negative on this project. Please send your written comments to the Town Clerk by email or letter.
The current wording is as follows:
WASHINGTON GROVE
A TOWN WITHIN A FOREST
Founded in 1873 along a new branch of the B&O Railroad, the collection of tents and small cottages at its center flourished for many years as a private Methodist camp meeting association. Discovered by Chautauqua in the 1890s, the Grove became somewhat of an artists’ colony, with plays and performances by residents and visiting lecturers. Its wide, shady avenues, ornamented with Victorian-era summer houses, were for promenading – wagons were kept to the narrow streets and alleys. The rise of the automobile, the decline of the camp meetings and revivals, and the sting of the Great Depression sounded the death knell of the camp meeting association, but its best traditions were reborn when the Grove became an incorporated municipality in 1937, the first and only Maryland town to be ruled by the Town Meeting form of government. In 1980, the Town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique design, architecture, and governance.
Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
David Stopak: 301-330-6446
Betsy Klinger: 301-977-3517
Keith Gillis/Leigh Partington: 301-208-1437
Incident Report:
October 17: Vandalism. West Woods – Evidence of a fire found in the West Woods along the perimeter path around the lake.
October 28: Suspicious Activity. 100 block Grove Ave. – Suspicious vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser) parked in driveway of a vacant house in the 100 block of Grove Ave around 2:30 AM. Three to five figures were seen in the road near the vehicle. Reported to police.
October 30: Burglary. 500 block Brown St – Home was burglarized between 11:30am and 2 pm. Entry gained by busting open the back door to the garage and kicked in the door to the house from the garage. Thieves took a Nintendo Wii and other small electronics, but were apparently interrupted when the owners returned home. Reported to police.
October 31: Vandalism. 100 block Grove Ave. – Homeowner reported that sometime in the last 2-3 weeks the screen in den window was slit on both sides. The cuts were approx. 6 inches long and the tabs that hold the screen in were disengaged.
November 5: Suspicious Activity. 100 block Washington Grove Lane – Possible phony contractors soliciting in town for remodeling.
November 8: Burglary. 200 block Grove Ave. – Home burglarized between 9:30 AM and 5 PM. Entry gained by breaking a window and kicking in doors from the porch. Laptop computer, 2 iPods, digital camera, and Halloween candy were stolen.
Please report criminal or suspicious activity to your Neighborhood Watch Block Captain or Coordinators. Filing a police report, too, helps the police department keep track of criminal incidents and is necessary for police to take action. Of course, for emergency situations call 911.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 12.06.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
The public is invited to attend. New members always welcome!
The Washington Grove Holiday Revels
Saturday, December 15th at 7:00 PM in McCathran Hall.
“A Town for All Seasons” – an original drama of music and dance will be performed by extraordinary Town talent and some surprise guests!
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: Thursday » 01.17.07 @ 7:30 p.m. at the home of Kathi Kershaw
(103 Brown Street).
Please join us for our Annual White Elephant Auction. This event is always a lot of fun and is an enjoyable way to “recycle” any gifts you received that you’d like to pass on to someone else. The new officers for 2008 will also be introduced. We’d love to see you there.
The Woman’s Club wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
WGUMC News
In December neighbors and friends are invited:
Dec. 7th, 7:30–Environmental Ethics discussion–“How to be Green for the Holidays!”
Dec. 9th and 16th–Shop at the Alternative Gifts International Market, from 12:20 to 12:40 at church–“For the cost of a Barbie doll: Train one family in solar cooking. For the cost of 30 minutes massage: Nurture, plant and protect 60 trees for reforestation,” many other options also available to help out both abroad and in the U.S., with holiday cards to let others know what’s been done in their honor…Help our children reach their goal of $1000 donated this season!
Dec. 14th, 6 to 9 pm–Children’s Fun, Parent’s Night Out–Children are invited for pizza and games, while parents do last minute shopping, or have a relaxed dinner out. Call the church and let us know you are interested, at 301 869-3753.
Dec. 16th–Your second opportunity to shop at the Alternative Gifts International Market, described above.
Dec. 23rd–The Children’s Christmas Drama will be at the 11 am service, as “Santa Gives Back Christmas.”
Dec. 24th–7:30 pm, All are welcome to the Candlelight Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols
Leaves Are Falling…
New and long-time residents alike are reminded of the Town contract for the removal of leaves in bulk each autumn. US Lawns will make regular but unscheduled pickups of leaves raked or blown into windrows within six feet of any walkway or roadway, excluding Railroad Street, 2nd Ave., 3rd Ave., 4th Ave., 5th Ave., and Boundary Street. This service begins November 1 and ends January 1, 2008, or as soon thereafter as we agree that the work is complete. This is your opportunity to have leaves removed without the additional work and expense of bagging.
Weather frequently affects this process, as rain can restrict movement of large trucks on the avenues. Also, one or two spectacular fall weekends in November or early December usually see most of us raking at the same time. As the contractor will time pickups based on the availability of full truckloads for vacuuming, if you rake when most other people rake the windrows will probably disappear relatively quickly. If you feel that a particular pile has been ignored for an inordinate amount of time, please call Kathie Evans at 301-869-7816 or e-mail her at [email protected]
Please place your windrows with an eye towards traffic visibility and flow, and don’t include brush or limbs that foul the vacuum. Happy raking! It’s the rite of autumn, particularly in a town graced by so many beautiful deciduous trees.
Speaking of Leaf Blowers & Heavy Equipment…
Please be kind to your neighbors by remembering that the Town has an ordinance prohibiting the use of power equipment (by residents or their contractors) outside before NOON on Sundays. Article I, Section 7: Operation of Power Mowers Etc… “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a power mower, chain saw, or other power equipment on Sundays before the hour of 12:00 Noon, except that electrically powered tools may be operated within a building with doors and windows closed.”
Final Recyclable Yard Waste Pick Up
Per our contract with Montgomery County Sanitation and Recycling, November 29th was the last date for collection of your big brown bags, bundles, or containers of recyclable yard waste for this year. This service will resume in early March. Town Maintenance will continue to collect your reasonably-sized brush piles.
Gypsy Moth Alert
The Grove has experienced more gypsy moth infestation this year, especially in the northwestern side of town where State spaying did not occur last spring. If you noticed signs of gypsy moths in your yard (usually characterized by the presence of moth droppings (frass) or tree defoliation) you should look for egg masses in your yard. New egg masses can be seen any time after August. They will typically be found in the same places where the caterpillars were found. Common egg mass locations are the undersides of decks, rails, tables and so forth, underneath the leaves of climbing vines or ground cover plants, behind signs, under roof overhangs, where siding of a building meets the foundation, and on the bark on the trunks of trees. Ten or more egg masses per oak tree on your property are cause for concern!
Egg mass control can be done now and/or in the spring. Photos of egg masses can be seen at the following site https://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/gypsy_moth_egg_masses.pdf Large numbers of egg masses are commonly found in wood piles and on man made objects in the yard. The firewood should be burned, and egg masses can be scraped off lower parts of the trees and house and off objects in the yard any time before early-mid April when they begin to hatch. However simply scraping the eggs on to the ground will not necessarily kill them, so they should be collected and disposed of in the trash, or buried.
We do not yet know if the Sate of Maryland will be spraying in Washington Grove next spring. You can help your own trees by hunting for and eradicating egg masses in your yard. Any reduction in egg mass will help protect our town as a whole whether or not spraying occurs.
Playground Group Forming
Some of the playground equipment in Woodward Park is in need of updating or replacement. Darrell Anderson is looking for volunteers to help with the decisions involved in this task. Anyone interested in serving on this playground group should contact Darrell at [email protected] or 301-963-8555.
Streetlight Out?
The Town pays for our lights whether they are working or not. As soon as you notice that a streetlight is out, please get the 10-digit pole number and call it in to the Town Office, 301-926-2256 or e-mail, [email protected] Thanks!
Caroling in The Grove…
Come join the fun on Sunday, December 23, 2007. Meet at McCathran Hall at 7:00 PM. Return to the Town Hall after caroling for refreshments. For more details, please contact Amy or John Porter at 301-977-6768
Clerk’s Corner
Happy Holidays!