Residential Development Proposed For Ridge Road Fields
Click here to see a summary and learn what you can do to stay involved!
Joint Council/Planning Commission Meeting
to discuss Ridge Road fields
Monday, March 5, McCathran Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Council Notes
The next regular meeting will be Monday, March 12, 7:30 p.m., McCathran
Hall. The public is welcome. February Council actions included:
· appointed Diana Talbert to coordinate Town website (Darrell Anderson, Council liaison)
· rejected County proposal for re-numbering upper Ridge Road addresses; propose instead
seven street names for private roads leading to seven potential building lots; allows upper
Ridge Road residents to keep current property addresses
· approved hiring professional Town Forester to help manage trees throughout Town
· agreed to modification of problem Washington Grove Lane speed hump as a first step,
following County rejection of other proposed solutions
Town Master Plan Review/Revision Begins
The Planning Commission will begin a required review of the Town’s Master Plan at their next
regular meeting on Tuesday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
The agenda may also include a discussion of possible uses for the Cator property, the 2-acre
residentially zoned tract located between Railroad Street and the railroad tracks.
Town and Town Officials Found Not Liable in Adams Suit
A jury unanimously ruled in
favor of the Town, Ken McCathran, and Jim Fletcher as defendants in the liability suit brought
by Joe and Mary Adams. The plaintiffs claimed we irresponsibly failed to remove a Town tree
that later dropped a branch that injured Mrs. Adams. Legal proceedings continue, as the verdict
has been appealed on procedural grounds.
Website Happenings!
Have you noticed the Town website, www.washgrov.sailorsite.net, is
back up and running? The January Town Bulletin and Town Council meeting minutes for
January 2001 are up. Also see “NATURE Alert!” preceding the calendar.
A committee now operates the Town website, with Diana Talbert as Coordinator. The
Coordinator role acts as contact point for the website server, the Town Council (new role of
Council website liaison being filled by Darrell Anderson), residents, and web volunteers. Active
committee members to-date include Michael Shipway, Mimi Bolotin, Freda Temple. Current
activities include design, content, editing, converting text to html, and constructing a “chat
room.”
In addition to being the voice of Town government, the website will be adding sections of nonofficial
interest as residents make them happen. Suggestions so far include:
· New Neighbors section: welcome to newcomers, orientation to Town including info
about directory, taxes, committees
· Recipe section
· Kid’s page : interesting science fair projects, essays, stories
· Teen’s page: same idea as “kids” only with a more mature slant. We are looking for a
teen to manage this section.
· Profiles of Town Council members ; profiles of candidates during election periods
· Special Events section: Film Society news, Mousetrap, folk dancing, yoga
· Woman’s Club section
· News about Montgomery County affecting Washington Grove
· Restaurant reviews
· A Bulletin Board for timely announcements by residents: For example, baby sitter
needed for weekend of xx; lawn mower for sale; rooms needed for Mousetrap singers
· A “Then & Now” section with photos
What shows up on the website depends on your participation. Let us know if you would like to
contribute content or images (once or on a regular basis) or would like to coordinate a section.
Contact us if you can offer the use of equipment such as scanners or digital cameras and/or skills
in their use; html coding; editing; or design. Please email this information to Website
Coordinator at [email protected].
A Nature section has already begun for the spotting of birds and arrival of wild flowers and
blooming of seasonal plants with descriptions, maybe photos for identification, and locations.
Betsy Klinger is the volunteer coordinator for resident contributions here.
An unofficial e-group link by subscription for town residents, their families, and former residents
is available with a moderator. Contact Michael Shipway [email protected], for
membership. This e-mail discussion format could include recipes from Baroque Breakfast; “The
lake is of swimming temperature and the lifeguards are back on the scene;” in-search-of
questions; discussion of the “Casey” fields development. Click here for a link to the description
page (on yahoo.com)
Come Look at the Shiny New Windows
A contract with Heritage Builders to refurbish the
windows in McCathran Hall is complete. The contract called for all plastic and broken panes to
be replaced with glass panes, to repair damaged woodwork and for windows and doors in the
main hall to be painted and cleaned inside and out. Town Councilors Darrell Anderson and Allen
Winter have monitored the contract on the Town’s behalf and will install all the new window
hardware.
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. Please allow at least 10 days for review by the Commission. Call John McClelland at
301-963-3328 if you have questions about zoning code requirements. Interior renovations, which
involve electrical, plumbing, or load-bearing changes, generally require a County permit. The
Town must first sign off all applications for County-required building permits.
Woman’s Club Meeting
Thursday, March 15
At the Clubhouse, 7:30 p.m. Grove writer Kermit Moyer will discuss his short story
“Lycanthropy” and talk about writing short stories.
“Spring Cleaning?” – Woman’s Club Yard Sale
Remember the annual yard sale to benefit the Woman’s Club when you do your “spring
cleaning”. The sale will be held on Saturday, June 2. If you have items to part with now (no
clothing please), call Mary Kay DuBois at 301-926-8941 or Kitty Vogan at 301-840-9416.
KUDOS
To George Paine, who so ably maintained the Town’s website and added a wealth of
helpful material during his tenure; and to Trish Knox, for her enthusiasm and flexibility in
helping to get out the Bulletin each month.
Historic Preservation Group
Thurs, Mar 8, 8 pm
Forestry Committee
Monday, March 19, 7:30 pm
Town Information
Office/Clerk -Treasurer
Phone: 301-926-2256
Fax: 301-926-0111
Email: [email protected]
Web:www.washgrov.sailorsite.net
Web Coordinator: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 216
Washington Grove, MD 20880
Town Hall: Center Street & Chestnut Road
Washington Grove
Office Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Closed Wednesday mornings
Hall Scheduler Jenny Long 301-869-3824
Maintenance: Jim Fletcher 301-963-5850
Street Light Out: Vicki Erhart 301-208-9442
Building Permits: John McClelland 301-963-3328
County Animal Control: 301-279-1066
Questions About Snow and Ice Removal?
Call Councilor Nick Suzich at 301-869-9638 or email
[email protected].
Save this date, kids of all ages . . .
Magician Barry Taylor to Appear
Saturday, April 28 2 p.m.
McCathran Hall
DETAILS LATER!
Think Spring!
Two Special Collections Planned
Saturday, March 31 Saturday, April 28
Collection may include furniture, appliances (but not those with Freon), rugs, large toys, small
auto parts, etc. Materials may not include construction by-products, large automotive parts, or
tires. Items must be placed curbside.
Voter Registration
– To vote in Town elections, you must be currently registered to vote with Montgomery County
at an address in Washington Grove. To verify your registration with the County, please call
County Voter Registration Information at 240-777-8683. If you need to register, please call them
soon so you will be eligible to vote at Town elections and at Town Meeting on Saturday, June 9.
TOWN ELECTIONS
Persons may be nominated for elective office in the Town by filing a
certificate of nomination on or before the second Monday in April with the chairman of the
Supervisors of Elections, Mary Kay DuBois, 119 Maple Avenue, 301-926-8941. The certificate
of nomination must be in writing and signed by at least two qualified voters of the Town. No
person may file for nomination to more than one elective Town public office. All nominees must
be qualified voters of the Town. Councilors must have resided in the Town for at least one year
immediately preceding the election. The Mayor must have resided in the Town for at least two
years immediately preceding the election.
The following terms expire in June:
· Mayor – 1-year term
· Town Councilor — 3-year term
· Town Councilor — 3-year term
Reminder!
Washington Grove Residents
“City, Town or Taxing Area”
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. Questions? Call Clerk-Treasurer Mary
Challstrom at 301-926-2256.
Enroll Now for Summer-in-the-Parks!!
As summer approaches, Grove kids eagerly await
this relaxed program of creative projects, sports, nature activities, and fun at the lake. Meeting at
McCathran Hall, the program runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for four weeks
beginning Monday, July 2. To ensure a place for your child and to determine staffing needs,
please fill out the enrollment form, available in office, and send it, along with the registration fee,
to Kathleen McCann, P.O. Box 920, by April 28. Please make out checks to “Town of
Washington Grove”. Resident fees are $80 for the first child, $65 for a second, and $50 for a
third child in the same family. Please enroll now! The program is for children aged 4-11 (4 by
7/31/2001) Extra enrollment forms are available at the Town Office, as well as program
guidelines. A planning meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, in the
McCathran Hall Council Room. Questions call Karen Kelly at 301-987-9529.
MOUSE TRAP CONCERT SERIES
CLAUDE FRANK, piano
Sunday, March 4, 3:00 p.m., McCathran Hall
Four Houses to be Built on Former WSSC Parcel
Developer Bailey-Thompson has recently purchased from WSSC the 1 1/2-acre parcel located on
the corner where Ridge Road bends to the east. In June 2000, the Town Council approved an
application to rezone the property from RR-3 to RR-1C, permitting no more than four houses to
be built on the property. The Planning Commission has approved the design, size, configuration
and placement of all buildings on the property. The land set aside for forest conservation and
dedicated to public use will be along Ridge Road and a performance bond will be posted for
post-construction repair of Ridge Road. Prior to receiving building permits, the owner and the
Town must execute a Declaration of Covenants, Public Improvements Agreement, Forest
Conservation Plan and plat of subdivision.
Recyclable Yard Waste Collection
Resumes March 7 – brown paper bags, containers
w/stickers
Hazardous Materials Disposal
Sunday, March 4
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shady Grove Transfer Station
FUNDRAISER FOR MOUSETRAP SERIES
This is the second year of a unique and memorable music series in our own Town Hall. The
caliber of the artists has been extraordinary for a small town series. In order to expand this series,
we are selling $15.00 raffle tickets for an original oil painting donated by Alexander Anufriev-a
Grove artist- in-residence. Sasha is a well-known international artist whose paintings are on
display and sold in galleries in Washington, Boston, New York as well as in Europe. Call Kathie
Evans for more info (301-869-7816).
Planning a Career in Government or Public Service?
Scholarships available. Montgomery
Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League is offering two $1,500 college scholarships to
students involved in community service and who plan a career in government or public service.
Must have good scholastic standing (at least average grades). Deadline for application is April
12, 2001. For information or application call the Town Office at 301-926-2256.
YOUR LAKE NEEDS YOU, AGAIN!
A Lake Committee meeting for planning the
upcoming season will be held on Wednesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the McCathran Hall
Council Room. New members and any interested residents are especially encouraged to come.
There is a lot of work to be planned for, and long-range planning is also needed to preserve this
unique environmental treasure. For information call Chair Sharon Hurst (301-948-2424) or
Councilor Dodie Tippens (301-869-1682). Please do join us. Save Saturday, April 21 for annual
lake clean up.
Spring Leaf Collection
U.S. LAWNS will make a service visit during the last week of March,
with pick up completed by April 1, weather permitting.
Save Wednesday, March 7
Recreation committee needs your help!
Brainstorming bash!
If you enjoy planning fun events for friends and family we need your help – special
children’s program, music weekend, talent show – new ideas – Council Room – 7:30 p.m.
– refreshments
Deadline for Bulletin
Monday, March 12
Alert – Possible Identity Theft
If you notice that someone other than Waste Management is
removing your trash, please call Chris Pacchione (Public Safety) at 301-963-7787. Report
suspicious activity.