Town Council News…
Next meeting: Monday, February 8, 2021; 7:30pm The public is invited to attend this virtual meeting via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/297850640?pwd=czh3ODBEdEpTeXdkRTc5bDFmLzN2UT09
Or Dial-in to 301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 297 850 640
Password: 074385
Actions at the January Meeting Included:
- Approval of Resolution 2021-12; Resolution in Commendations of The Postal Workers at The Washington Grove Post Office For Their Devoted Service During The Covid-19 Pandemic.
- Endorsement of The Mayor’s Signature Confirming Continued Support For Global Climate Action and the “America Is All In” Statement.
- Acceptance of the FY2020 Audit.
- Enactment of Ordinance 2020-15; Authorizing Termination of the Restrictive Covenant on Setback Imposed on Property at 201 Chestnut Avenue.
- Approval of Ordinance 2020-14; Amending Article XVI, Schedule of Fees, to Specify the Public Ways & Property Permit Application Fee for Proposed Work in a Public Way or on Town Property That is Adjoining Property Owned by The Applicant.
- Approval of Ordinance 2020-13; Ordinance Amending Article I, “Public Nuisances, Morals And Conduct” to: Renumber Section 14 as Section 13, Renumber Section 13 as Section 17, Add Revised Section 14 Use And Enjoyment of The Woods And Any Town Park or Land,” Section 15 “Removal of Archeological or Cultural Artifacts or Fossils And Section 16 “Injury to or Removal of Trees, Plants or Minerals in The Woods”.
Sustainability and Washington Grove: Presentation and discussion of the Montgomery County Climate Action Plan Draft
.
Virtual Presentation Tuesday February 2 at 7:30 PM
The new Sustainability section proposed for the Town’s Master/Comprehensive Plan (currently undergoing a complete review and update) will make a number of recommendations to align Washington Grove with green principles and climate action goals.
Meanwhile, in response to Montgomery County declaring a Climate Emergency in 2018, County Executive Marc Elrich set some of the most ambitious carbon reduction targets and has orchestrated a year- long grass roots effort to develop a Climate Action Plan . The Climate Task Force has released the draft for review and public comment, and we have invited them to present it to the Town Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. They are eager to hear feedback to incorporate into the final plan to be sent to the County Council in March or April. This is a great opportunity for one-on-one contact in a plan that will involve us all. For a sneak peek, here is the link to the Climate Page with the Draft Climate Action Plan: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/climate
Here’s how to attend.
Time: Feb 2, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Washington Grove Connector – Crabbs Branch Way Extension Virtual Public Meeting
Virtual Presentation Tuesday February 17 from 7:00- 9:00 PM
This will be the second public meeting on the Washington Grove multiuse pathway Connector – Crabbs Branch Way extension projects being studied by MCDOT. These projects will help connect the terminus of Crabbs Branch Way to the Town of Washington Grove and the City of Gaithersburg and will also improve connectivity to the Shady Grove Metro as well as retail and commercial areas south of MD-200 / I-370. This virtual public workshop will present an overview of the public input received to date and the alternatives developed so far.
More information is available on the project website
To attend the meeting please register thru the following link: Washington Grove Connector – Crabbs Branch Way Extension Virtual Public Meeting (https://tinyurl.com/WashGroveConnector)
Shady Grove Minor Master Plan Amendment
The Montgomery County Council will be holding a public hearing on the Planning Board Drift of the Shady Grove Minor Master Plan Amendment on February 23, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in testifying at the public hearing, please call (240) 777- 7803. Copies of the Planning Board Draft of the plan amendment ca be downloaded at the following website:
https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/midcounty/shady-grove/shady-grove-minor- master-plan-amendment/ .
If you wish to comment on the Plan and will not be testifying at the public hearing, please submit any written comments no later than February 26,2021. Send comments to [email protected] or to Council President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. If you have questions regarding the Plan or the hearing, please call Pamela Dunn at (240) 777-7940.
Town Elections…Ready or not, here they come!
New and old Town residents are reminded that Washington Grove is a self-governing municipality dependent on citizen volunteers. The office of Mayor is filled every year, as are two seats on the Town Council with three year-terms. This year’s election will be held on Saturday, May 8. Nominations close April 12.
Nominations require the signatures of two Town residents as well as an acceptance by the nominee. They can be mailed to the Town Office, attention of the Board of Supervisors of Elections. Candidates for Mayor must have resided in Town for two years immediately preceding their nomination. Candidates for Council must have resided in Town for one year preceding their nomination.
Any resident registered to vote in Montgomery County at a Town address has a vote in all Town affairs. Voting will close in the late afternoon on Election Day and will be followed by the Annual Town Meeting. Here is another chance to participate in our Democracy! It may be that we can all use the practice.
Another Speed Hump Under Consideration
After hearing complaints about speeding on lower Ridge Road, the Mayor and Council are considering the installation of a new speed hump on the hill on lower Ridge Road. What do you think? To voice your opinion, please contact the Mayor and/or a Council member or send an e-mail to the Town Office for distribution.
Maryland State Income Tax
Washington Grove Subdivision Code: 1612
Every year the Town of Washington Grove receives a portion of the Maryland State income tax paid by Town residents. Because most 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 “1612” and “Washington Grove” on the tax form. For those filing electronically or using software, there should be a drop down menu to select 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 the Town receives its proper share of income tax revenue. Thanks for your help! Questions, call Treasurer Mary Challstrom at 301-926-4498.
Planning Commission News…
Next meeting: Wed., February 3, 2021; 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this virtual meeting via ZOOM. As part of the Town’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, this Planning Commission Meeting will be conducted online, rather than in person. Residents and the public may access using Meeting ID: 781 347 688
By dialing in to: 301-715-8592 and following the audio instructions. OR by joining the Zoom videoconference at: https://zoom.us/j/781347688
Building Permit Submission Deadline
The deadline to submit a building permit application for approval by the Planning Commission and review by the Historic Preservation Commission is the 2 Wednesday of the month prior to the PC meeting at which the permit will be reviewed (this will be in the following month). This timing ensures the HPC will be able to complete a formal review before the PC meeting as this review is required for the PC to approve the permit in a timely fashion. If you are considering any renovation or building project at your house, be sure to get a copy of the procedures to apply for a Town Building Permit which will help you through the Town’s process.
Building Permits Up for Approval in February:
None
2020 Comprehensive Plan
Please note that the 2020 Master Plan is now the 2020 Comprehensive Plan which is the nomenclature recommended by the Maryland Department of Planning.
The 2020 Comprehensive Plan draft versions are available on the Comprehensive Plan page of the Town website. The Agenda will be posted on the Town web site home page.
Work Session Notice:
Monday February 22 at 7:30 pm. REMOTE ACCESS ONLY
As part of the Town’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, this Comprehensive Plan Work Session will be conducted online, rather than in person. The draft version of the 2020 CP is available on the Comprehensive Plan page of the Town web site.
Work Session Access:
Residents and the public may access using Meeting ID: 781 347 688
By dialing in to: 301-715-8592 and following the audio instructions.
OR by joining the Zoom videoconference at: https://zoom.us/j/781347688
We’ve been having trouble with Zoom “bombers” recently so please make sure your name is associated with your zoom icon in order to be admitted from the Waiting Room.
Historic Preservation Commission News…
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 16, 2021; 7:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend this virtual meeting via ZOOM. For a copy of the Agenda, email Chairman Bob Booher ([email protected]).
Join Zoom Meeting:
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Commercial Corner in the 60s and 70s
The research of Robinson & Associates in preparation of the Updated and Expanded Washington Grove Historic District Nomination forms the basis of this month’s overview of our Commercial Corner’s more recent past. It is gratefully acknowledged.
In the 1960s, property owner Kay Bowling, and later her son Bobby Lee, pursued various additional uses and alterations to the Commercial Corner. Their proposals included gutting, and later demolition, of the Odd Fellows Hall, conversion of the Hall to multi- family dwellings and retail space, the addition of five small stores to the property, and adding a paint store use. None of the proposals were met with approval by the Town. Battles ended with the court in 1968 enjoining the Town from denying Bowling a permit for a store downstairs and an apartment upstairs in the Hall. A new kind of grocery, Fast Foods, Inc., a low- key operation, moved from the old Fulks/Walker general store to the first floor of the Odd Fellows Hall.
In 1971, Bobby Lee, then owner of the old general store building and the Odd Fellows Hall comprising the Town’s commercial corner, requested a permit to redevelop the lots. His plan proposed demolishing the old general store and replacing it with a modern shopping center that would be anchored on the south by the Odd Fellows Hall and on the north by a 7- Eleven convenience store.
The plans were approved, and the project was completed in 1973. To integrate the Odd Fellows Hall with the new construction, the front façade of the molded concrete block building was faced with brick veneer and given a faux Mansard roof. The original stepped parapet at the front gable peak of the Hall was eliminated in the renovation. The original concrete block remains visible along the secondary elevations. Among the new tenants of the shopping center was the U.S. Post Office, which relocated from Hershey’s on Oakmont Avenue to the Odd Fellows Hall.
The 7-Eleven was a one-story, brick veneer building with large, plate-glass windows fronting Washington Grove Lane. Its low-pitched, cross-gable roof was embellished with Colonial Revival elements, including a roof balustrade, cupola, and weathervane.
Conflict over the Commercial Corner
One of the defining events of Washington Grove’s current past was its successful lawsuit against The Southland Corporation, an international conglomerate and parent company of the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores. As one of the only convenience stores in the area, the 7-Eleven offered lottery tickets, pinball machines, video games, and movie rentals, attracting heavy foot and automobile traffic from all directions, but primarily along Washington Grove Lane and through the town’s adjacent streets and avenues. This brought complaints of litter, petty crime, and car break-ins. Young African Americans walking from nearby Emory Grove, which had been recently subjected to an urban renewal demolition project, bore the brunt of the accusations. By 1975, the store was operating twenty-four hours a day, and the commercial corner had become an epicenter for littering, noise, loitering, vandalism, and other illegal activities. As the years passed, the issue became more acute and battles over Town control escalated. The 7- Eleven was declared a public nuisance, and the issue was frequently and passionately discussed at town meetings, special meetings, and conferences between town officials, the police, and neighboring communities. Citizens committees were formed to document the frequency and severity of problems and to establish a legal defense fund to cover anticipated legal fees. Finally, the Town took action in 1983 when it added an article to its ordinances that regulated commercial activity, required business licenses, limited business hours, and required deposits on beverage containers. This, in effect, declared certain previously valid uses of the commercial corner to be nonconforming, resulting in a two-year legal battle with Southland. This was a formidable task for the small municipality and its cadre of activists and was viewed by many as having little chance for success. Washington Grove’s annual budget was less than $150,000, and Southland was an international corporation that had recorded $1 billion in sales in 1971. The Town faced years of legal battles and potential ruin. The case was proceeding to trial, when, in 1985, a settlement was reached in the Town’s favor. Southland agreed to immediately reduce its hours of operation and to relocate within five years. In turn, the Town agreed to issue a business license to Southland and agreed not to enforce its beverage container deposit requirement. The settlement left the 1983 ordinance amendment intact, demonstrating the Town’s ability to respond effectively to conditions that threatened the community life, welfare, and safety of its residents. A key player in the settlement was Grove resident Barbara Hawk, who joined the Town Council in 1979 and was elected the first female mayor in 1983. Hawk was a fearless advocate for Washington Grove during its long and bitter battle to protect the Town’s character and safety and was a key player in the successful settlement of the Southland dispute.
The ordeal culminating in the end of the 7-Eleven operation, under the leadership of Mayor Hawk, tested and proved the Town’s mettle. Town Attorney Steve Johnson expressed it this way, in a letter to the Gaithersburg Gazette:
“From the outset, this case was viewed by many as a David and Goliath confrontation. Support, encouragement, and optimism came from few quarters. The Maryland Municipal League, as well as most of my colleagues, thought the odds of the Town ultimately prevailing were between slim to none. But they did not know the Town of Washington Grove! This tiny, historic enclave is filled with well-informed, civic-minded, dedicated residents. Countless hours of planning went into the drafting of legislation under the leadership of Mayor Barbara Hawk. The Town is justly proud of its victory and I am proud of my client in its steadfastness. In the showdown of David and Goliath, the giant blinked first.”
The 7-Eleven operation moved out of the Commercial Corner following the settlement, and a new tenant, the Washington Grove Post Office, moved in from the Odd Fellows Hall at the other end of the strip. Today, except for the loss of its iconic 7-Eleven cupola, weathervane, and roofline balustrade during recent roof repairs, the 7-Eleven building exterior has undergone no substantial change. It remains a physical reminder of a long-fought battle by a town to protect its character, safety, and civic identity.
Racial Equity Committee…
Next meeting: Sunday, February 21, 2021; 2:00 p.m. All are welcome! Folks who would like to attend should email [email protected] to get the Zoom link. And more information on how to join the committee, our goals, past meeting minutes, and historical resources can be found here: https://linktr.ee/RacialEquityGrover.
Forestry & Beautification News…
Next Meeting: March 10, 2021, 7:30 p.m. via ZOOM Video Conference
The Forestry and Beautification Committee is on hiatus for the winter. A total of 14 new trees were installed this fall. This is a great time of year to admire the “bones” (aka structure) of our many beautiful trees. On a sunny day with some fresh snow the lacy appearance is particularly striking. When we begin meeting again in March, we will be choosing sites for spring tree planting. More info will be in the March Bulletin. We look forward to you joining us; all are welcome!
Woods Committee News…
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 1, 2021; 7:30 p.m. The February Woods Committee (WC) meeting will be held by remote access via Zoom Video Conference. Our meetings are routinely held on the first Monday of each month. Our March online meeting will be held on the 1st.
Join Zoom Meeting:
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By phone: 301-715-8592 / Passcode: 798005 Meeting ID: 847 5285 4366
The volunteer Bow Hunter Firefighters of Maryland (BHFFMD) continue a Town-approved managed deer hunt in the East and West Woods. One doe was harvested in the West Woods in January. The 2020-21 Maryland archery deer hunting season will end January 30, 2021.
The WC is developing a trail maintenance plan to improve several frequently wet sections of East Wood trails, During the next month you may see workmen improving drainage and raising trail levels in three areas along trails in the East Woods. Several large dead trees, mainly along the Challstrom Trail in the East Woods, pose a danger to walking trail users. The WC is working with a local tree service contractor to remove these trees during the winter months.
A Town Ordinance to clarify activities not permitted in our Woods Preserves, Town Parks, and other Town land was approved at the January 2020 Town Council Meeting. The Woods Committee is investigating new signage at the entrances to the East and West Woods to ensure recreational uses which foster preservation and rejuvenation of our treasured Woods. The WC is also working on trail markers to identify the authorized walking trails.
There has been a recent report by a Saybrooke community resident of ‘campfires’ in the West Woods. Burned wood and aluminum pans were discovered in several locations in the Woods. The WC notified Mayor Compton and asked him to inform our MoCo police liaison of this dangerous vandalism. Please be vigilant when walking in the West Woods and immediately contact the Town Office if you notice any suspicious activity in our Woods.
The WC occasionally requests Town maintenance to have our Town-authorized tree service contractor to place wood chip piles near East Woods trail entrances so our volunteers can spread these chips to identify and maintain the trails. Town residents should not use these wood chips. Further, private contractors and Town residents may not dump chips or other landscaping debris in the Woods. Please help us to preserve our Woods Preserves for the enjoyment of current residents and future generations.
Recreation Committee News…
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 18, 2021. The public is invited to attend this virtual meeting via ZOOM. Join Zoom Meeting
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Passcode: 611335
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Film Society News…
“Chan is Missing” — Discussion on Sunday, Feb. 21
Chan has disappeared, along with $4,000 lent to him by Jo and Steve, Chinese American cabbies in San Francisco. Determined to track him down, they hit the streets of Chinatown, interviewing those with connections to Chan. Yet it seems the more they learn, the less they know. Did his struggles to assimilate lead to the elusive immigrant’s disappearance? As Jo tells us, “This mystery is appropriately Chinese: what’s not there seems to have just as much meaning as what is there.”
Vincent Canby of the New York Times called this whimsical, black-and-white indie film “a matchless delight.” In 1997, Entertainment Weekly named it one of the “50 Greatest Independent Films.”
Directed by Wayne Wang, 1982, USA, 77 minutes, English/Cantonese, with subtitles.
Stream “Chan is Missing” free on Kanopy with your Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) card. (If you don’t have a card, you can sign up for one on the MCPL website.) Then join the discussion on Zoom on Sunday, February 21, 7:30 pm. A link to the discussion will be posted to the Town listserv a few days ahead, or request the link by emailing Freda Temple at [email protected]
Lake Committee News…
Next Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, 7:30 pm Via ZOOM Video Conference
It may be too early to think about swimming in the Lake and planning for Lifeguards & Swim Instructors, but we can get together and discuss some general plans for the summer (and watch for Geese.) New members are welcome and encouraged!
Call John Hutchinson (240-997-5820) if you have any questions or suggestions.
Join Zoom Meeting
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Find your local number:
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Washington Grove Cares News
As a COVID-19 precaution, WGC suggests ways to avoid trips to the grocery store or pharmacy:
We have a volunteer making a weekly shopping trip:
MONDAY: (notify by Sun. 5 pm) Shopping at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, MOM’s or Aldi’s; text or email
Caitlin Bethepu at 414-208-8661
[email protected]
Post your own impromptu grocery/shopping trips: If you are going to a particular grocery store/pharmacy and can pick up items for others, consider posting a message to the listserv ([email protected] ) – note the new address for the Town listserv.
If you are low-risk and willing to provide a weekly trip to a particular grocery on a specific day, please email [email protected] with your name and phone number, and we’ll call you to get the details.
Not on the new WG neighborhood Google Groups listserv? Get notices of impromptu shopping trips (and very occasional WGC-sponsored events) sent directly to your email.
Email [email protected]
WG United Methodist Church News…
Washington Grove United Methodist Church
…Sunday services continue to be online
Many thanks go out to our congregation and friends in Washington Grove, whose generosity enabled us to purchase and stuff 39 Christmas stockings for children in transitional housing in Gaithersburg this past 2020 holiday season. Each stocking was custom made to fit the child’s age and preferences and then safely delivered to the distribution point. We’re planning to make this an annual event!
As we continue to Stay at Home during the COVID- 19 crises, the Church has been enjoying Sunday morning Zoom services. If you would like to join us, please contact Pastor Andrew Peck-McClain at [email protected] to be included.
We are collecting non-perishable food donations to support the St. Martin ’s food bank. Your contributions can be dropped off on the screened-in porch at Peggy Hansen’s house, 201 Chestnut Avenue, in Washington Grove.
When once again we can go out into the world, please join us on Sunday mornings at 11:00 am at the Washington Grove United Methodist Church, 303 Chestnut Road, Washington Grove, MD 20880 (301- 869-3753).
Washington Grove United Methodist Church is a Reconciling Congregation, which means we believe that each person is a precious creation of God and is of sacred worth. We welcome and celebrate persons of every gender identity, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, and physical or mental ability into full participation in the life of this faith community. We celebrate the gift of love and affirm all loving relations and marriages.
Climate Action News…
Montgomery County’s Draft Climate Action Plan Climate change is widely recognized as an existential threat to the entire world. Joining a global groundswell of activity to reduce carbon emissions, we can act locally as individuals, as a town and as a county.
On Tuesday, February 2, at 7:30 pm, county officials will present an overview of the newly released draft of the county’s forthcoming Climate Action Plan. Come hear all about it on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85458324724?pwd=Zjk2bzAzRUtYNUZLVWprTUUrVnhtQT09
You can also read the draft plan and submit comments at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/climate
Introducing the Washington Grove Sustainability Group
Some residents have formed the Washington Grove Sustainability Group (SG) to facilitate action to reduce our carbon footprint. We are drafting a Town Climate Action Plan that will have both short- and long-term goals. We plan to offer informative programs for residents to further these goals. To begin, we will identify the areas of greatest opportunity for carbon reduction. Soon you will receive an email with a very brief online survey about household energy. Please take a first step with us by completing the survey when you get it. Together we can make a difference. We invite everyone to join the group, attend meetings and participate in climate action activities.
Contact Bob Booher with your questions ([email protected]). The next meeting will be February 23, 7:30 pm. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3440199688
Woman’s Club News…
Congratulations to our new 2021 Officers – Liz Robertson, President; Arlene McCrehan, Vice- President; Cynthia Werts, Treasurer; Caitlin Bethepu, Recording Secretary; and Kitty Seiferlein, Corresponding Secretary.
We want to thank everyone who helped make our Virtual January Gold Elephant Auction the most successful auction yet. We raised $5,800! Unlike money raised at our other events, which goes to support our outreach programs, the White Elephant fund raiser is used primarily for maintaining our Clubhouse – paying for our insurance, our electric bills and needed repairs and improvements. This year, there needs to be a lot of work done on our porch structure and its roof.
If it’s February, it would have been time for our Chili Supper
While we’ve managed to continue many of our traditional events in Virtual forms, we weren’t sure how to do an online Chili Potluck Supper. So, instead, when so many around us would be going hungry except for the local Food Banks, we’ve decided to make it an all-month-long February event, to help support those who are helping our neighbors to eat.
Throughout this month, we will be collecting non- perishable foods, to be distributed among the various Food Banks to try to meet their current needs. The Banks send out lists of what they particularly need that week and we will endeavor to meet those needs by sending emails to the Club Members and the ListServ. Needless to say, monitary gifts are always appreciated as they let the Food Banks do some bulk purchasing. In your checks Memo field, indicate if this is where you want your donation to be used.
An ongoing and always desperate need is Similac for babies. It is expensive, so receiving it is truly a gift to mothers trying to give their babies healthy food. You can leave your donations at the Clubhouse porch or drop them off in the painted can on Wendy Weisbard’s porch (119 Grove Road). They will be collected and moved indoors daily.
Our Annual Membership Drive
If you haven’t paid your modest $15 annual dues yet, please send a check, made out to The Woman’s Club of Washington Grove, and send to The Woman’s Club, PO Box 354, Washington Grove, MD 20880. The dues make it possible for us to donate funds to help support the Summer In the Parks program, the Acorn Library and the Holiday Show, and for us to host annual Town events like the January White Elephant Sale, the February Chili Dinner, the Spring Egg Hunt, the May Flower Show, the June Progressive Porch Party, the September Pot Luck Supper, and other special events such as guest speakers and, of course, all year we collect for the following Community Outreach programs:
For the Washington Grove Elementary School
It is hoped that WGES, along with the other County schools, will be reopening in some form in March, so it’s important we have supplies ready and waiting for them.
The Teachers Closet
We collect school supplies all year round for the Teachers Closet. Our aim is to keep it filled with things like glue sticks, pencils and sharpeners, paper, hand sanitizers and tissues, and other supplies. Without our help, teachers will all too often end up buying these things out of their own pockets.
Winter Coats, Hats, Scarves and Gloves
We try to keep the Teachers Closet filled with winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves so that no child goes without through the bitter winter months.
Bringing Music to the Students
The school has asked us to help ensure that all children can participate in the Music Programs. We are hoping to donate resin, reeds, instruction books and other necessities for a successful instrumental music program. Checks should be made out to the Woman’s Club and marked for donation to the WGES Music Program.
Working with Interfaith Works
Small Gifts for Children
While the less fortunate children of our County need essentials, they also need occasional treats in their lives, and we help provide these by collecting Birthday Presents and small Treasure Chest items to be distributed through Interfaith works.
New Underwear for Children
There is always a need for new underwear for boys and girls from toddlers to teens. We have developed sources for purchasing the underwear, so the easiest way to help with this need is through money donations. In the memo field, indicate if this is where you want your donation to be used.
White Socks and Toiletries for Area Shelter
The small, travel sized toiletries from hotels are always needed by shelter residents, and we collect and distribute them.
Winter is hard enough for the homeless without them going without socks! We continue to collect and distribute new white socks for the men in our area shelters.
Where to Bring Your Donations
Whatever pulls at your heart strings, we have a need you can fulfill. Even though our Clubhouse is closed for the winter, we still have bins on the porch to collect for our Community Outreach Programs, or you can drop off your contributions in the painted can on Wendy Weisbard’s porch at 119 Grove Road. You bring them and we’ll sort where they go! Checks are always appreciated too, just put in the memo field if you want your donation to go to a specific project and mail to The Woman’s Club, PO Box 354, Washington Grove, MD 20880.
Lighting Committee News…
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 24th at 7:30pm, 2021 via ZOOM Video Conferencing. We will continue to meet on the 4 Wednesday of every month.
PEPCO has recently filed a major tariff that could greatly affect the lighting in TWG. TWG is on the National Register of Historic Places. PEPCO owns all the poles and light fixtures in TWG and they want to replace ALL their fixtures with brighter more centrally controlled units. There will be opportunity for the public to express their concerns to the Maryland Public Service Commission (MDPSC). TWG Lighting Committee is planning to make presentations.
We will be meeting via a Zoom Conference and all are welcome to attend!
Topic: TWG Lighting Committee Zoom Meeting – Time: Feb 24, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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The Zoom conference information will be shared again closer to the meeting.
Questions, ideas or concerns please contact Virginia Quesada at:
301-706-7933 cell. [email protected] Or Robert N. Johnson [email protected]
Emergency Preparedness Committee news…
Next Meeting: Thursday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81385220068pwd=T2dWbzkxdDA0dXluaUE5WG1VUUQzUT09
By Phone: 301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 813 8522 0068
Passcode : 358070
We are actively seeking new committee members! One committee goal is to promote a shared sense of preparedness, vigilance, and resilience to help our community cope and get through these challenging times. We welcome your input and ideas on how to achieve this and any other goals related to preparedness and safety. Please join us at our next meeting.
Recyclable Yard Waste Collection Ended
Please note that recyclable yard waste collection by Potomac Disposal ended on THURSDAY December 31, 2020. This service will resume in early March.
Tennis Court Reminder
Residents are reminded that our tennis courts are to be used for playing tennis, not for a dog exercise area or a very large chalk board. Dogs and clay courts don’t mix. Allowing dogs to run on the clay leaves an awful mess for Town Maintenance to clean up. Chalk on the tennis courts makes it difficult to see the lines. Thank you for helping up with this matter.
February Coming Events Calendar
(All meetings via ZOOM Conference)
February 1 » Woods Committee 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 3 » Planning Commission 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 8 » Town Council Meeting 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 10 » Building Permit Submission Deadline 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 16 » Historic Preservation Commission 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 17 » Washington Grove Connector Public Meeting 7:00 pm ZOOM
February 18 » Recreation Committee 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 21 » Racial Equity Committee 2:00 pm ZOOM
February 21 » Film Society – “Chan Is Missing” 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 22 » Comprehensive Plan Work Session 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 24 » Lighting Committee 7:30 pm ZOOM
February 25 » Emergency Preparedness & Safety 7:30 pm ZOOM
March 1 » Woods Committee 7:30 pm ZOOM