Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 11.14.11 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the October Council meeting included:
- approval to hire an archivist to work on the Town archives.
Town Maintenance Policy
The Mayor and Council would like to know what residents think of the overall Maintenance Policy for the Town. We direct the efforts of Steve Werts and his crew and have been very happy with the results. The new tennis fence is a standout achievement and we and many others have expressed their pleasure over it to Steve and the many volunteers who assisted him. But we’d like to know how you feel the rest of the Town is looking too. The Council will be discussing this at our November 14 meeting. You can send comments to the Town Office, talk to the Mayor or a Council member or come to the meeting that night. We’d like to know what you think and what suggestions you may have. Thanks!
Woodward Park Use Policy
There has been input from residents around Woodward Park that they feel the current use policy has led to longer and noisier use than originally envisioned. The Council will be accepting public input on this so please send emails or letters to the Town office or plan to come in person. The initial discussion will occur at the November 14 Council meeting. Our goal will be to decide what, if any, changes will best serve our town so an ordinance change (if needed) can be done before the field opens again in April 2012.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 11.02.11 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
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. Please contact the Town Office (301-926-2256) or [email protected], or see permits for more details. The Historic Preservation Commission will review most permit applications as well.
Permits approved on October 5th:
- 330 Ridge Rd. » Observatory Pod
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 11.15.11 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. Meetings are open to the public. The HPC encourages residents to come for an early consultation when planning a renovation.
Come Early!
The HPC encourages early consultation when you are considering an addition or other home project. What’s early? Early is BEFORE you spend your hard-earned money on professionally produced plans. Take advantage of their FREE advice and good ideas! It could save money in the long run.
HPC Free Workshop
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, 1:00 p.m. McCathran Hall
The HPC will sponsor a free workshop for homeowners with tips on energy-efficiency, water-proofing, and weather-proofing for your home. The workshop will be led by preservation specialist Bryan Blundell and contractor Mike Patterson.
Bryan Blundell has been president of Dell Corporation, an historic preservation contracting firm, since 1977. His company has worked on numerous large and small museums and related historic structures. Dell Corporation prides itself on its ability to save and conserve historic materials using either traditional or modern techniques. Bryan is a founder of the Preservation Trades Network (PTN) and was their Managing Director from 2002-2005. He was the Conference Coordinator for six International Preservation Trades Workshops. Bryan also provides technical support to Preservation Resource Group, Inc., a company that supplies literature, instruments, tools and products to the historic preservation and architectural conservation community.
Mike Patterson of Patterson Builders-Remodelers, LLC, has been in the building and remodeling business for the last 20 years. Mike incorporates energy efficiency and water/weather-proofing features in his projects as a matter of routine.
Bryan and Mike will first make a presentation at Town Hall, to be followed by a walk-around session to react to some real-life Grove case studies and discuss possible solutions. If you would like your home to be considered for a visit by the experts and the workshop group on the 12th, please contact Mimi Styles at 301-519-1957. A limited number of homes will be visited.
A Q&A session will follow where you can ask about your specific house issues. Refreshments while they last!
The HPC is reaching out to the preservation communities in neighboring Gaithersburg and Rockville to join us for this workshop.
Forestry News
Next meeting: TBD
Call Audrey Maskery for more information; 301-977-0582.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 12.21.11@ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend. New members always welcome!
Dance Exercise Class
Come join a FUN fusion of different dance styles – ballet, jazz, a little hip hop and other dance forms. The music is a mix of pop, classical and world. Classes run on Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:00pm. Ages 5 to 10 $5 a class; drop ins welcome.
Film Society News
November 13 (Sunday), 7:30 PM.
Shower
Da Ming’s brother tricks him into going home to Beijing, where his aging father still runs the family’s bathhouse. He finds himself caught between two worlds: the decaying district of his childhood and the booming south where he now lives with a wife who has yet to meet his family. 1999, China, Mandarin with English subtitles, 92 minutes.
November’s double bill features a film by “one of our own.”
At 7:00 p.m., preceding Shower, we will screen a 25-minute film, Forever Humbled, produced by our Town’s own Adam Booher. Tickets are not required to see this film, which documents the calm, positive spirit of people who helped one another cope with the devastation in Tuscaloosa after last April’s tornado.
Subscriptions to the 5-film series are still available. Please support the Film Series by sending a check for $20, payable to the Town, to Birgit Henninger, P.O. Box 355. All movies are in McCathran Hall; tickets at the door for each movie are $7.
MOUSETRAP CHAMBER CONCERT!
Sunday, November 20 @ 3 pm – McCathran Hall
ANTON BATAGOV, piano
Tickets: Alice Negin 301-926-2858
Belated Thanks for the Labor of Love!!
Once again, Craig English, Joli McCathran and their crackerjack team of helpers made Labor Day in Washington Grove full of energy, positive competitive spirit and just plain fun. Competitors old and young alike came together to work, play and celebrate just like our Washington Grove forefathers did many years ago. Our weekend long celebration takes a lot of time and hard work to put together, folks. We thank Craig and Joli for their commitment year after year (I hear it has been 31 give or take a year or so!)
One thing we have that our founders didn’t is the coveted Birgit Henninger first place medals and Super Grove cup and medal. Birgit has been creating our unique awards for 30 years and is retiring this year. We are grateful for the gifts, beauty and creativity she has so graciously given our Town! Thank you Birgit!!
Oh, and did we mention the Super Grove winner (and last recipient of a Birgit award…certainly an added honor) this year? It’s Gray Yachup! Congrats to Gray and all the young competitors for their hard work and super Grove spirit!!
Bluestober Fest a Huge Success!
Despite some damp weather and cool temps, Grovers flocked to McCathran Hall in droves to listen to some cool blues and gobble some hot brats at the 3rd Annual Bluestober Fest. Our hosts, Lawren and Eric Selby and family do it all: shop, decorate, organize, cook and Eric is an amazing performer. Thanks so much to the Selby’s, other helpers and all the performers for a fabulous night!
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: Thursday » 11.17.11 @ 7:30 p.m. in Clubhouse.
Our program will feature readings from poets of the Washington Grove Poetry Workshop. This Town is chockablock with people writing witty, searing, humane, weird, colorful, entertaining, breathtaking poetry. This is your chance to hear a sampling. Refreshments, of course! All are welcome.
WGUMC News
- Sun. Oct. 30th-Canned/Dried Food Collection for Gaithersburg Help. It’s that time of year again! The Washington Grove Church Sunday school will walk through the main roads in town “trick-or-treating” for Gaithersburg Help, our local food pantry. If you can donate, leave your bag of canned and/or dried food on the roadside of your home by 9 am, Sunday Oct. 30th. OR, if you want to donate during the following week, or if we don’t get to your road, bring your donation to the church (at 303 Chestnut Rd). We’ll leave a wagon in front for additional donations. Thank you so much! Gaithersburg Help really appreciates our help in keeping supplies on the shelves for those who need them most in the cold months. For a list of needs check: www.gaithersburghelp.org
- Sun. Nov. 13th-we will celebrate our 101st Anniversary during the 11 am church service, and with a pot-luck lunch following the service. All are welcome!
- Wed Nov. 23rd-Washington Grove Interfaith Thanksgiving Service At 7:30 pm on Nov. 23rd join in our traditional town Interfaith Thanksgiving, with wonderful music from Grove musicians and Cantor Susan Berkson, the reading of FDR’s Thanksgiving proclamation, a chance to donate to Gaithersburg Help, and to sing along to the classic “This Grove is Your Grove, This Grove is My Grove…”
General Information
KUDOS
…to the Maintenance Staff for their Sunday work after Hurricane Irene!!
Fall Back or Arrive Early…
Clocks change on Nov. 5, 2011…fall back at 2AM.
Clerk’s Corner
Drive 15, enjoy the scene!!
Outdoor Lighting Advisory Committee Presents
Birds and Outdoor Lighting
Wednesday, November 16, 7:30-8:30pm @ McCathran Hall
All are welcome to attend a special presentation on the effects of outdoor lighting on wild birds by visiting specialist Dr. Christine Sheppard. Christine Sheppard, PhD, is the Bird Collisions Campaign Manager for American Bird Conservancy. Previously she was director of the Ornithology Department of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. For more information, contact Carolyn Rapkievian at 301-519-2021
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, 2012, 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 Bill Robertson at 240-912-6080 or e-mail him at [email protected]
Please place your windrows along the side of the road or walkway (keeping in mind, traffic & pedestrian 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.
Bulk Trash Collection Scheduled
A bulk trash collection is scheduled for Saturday, November 19, 2011. Materials may include furniture, appliances (nothing with Freon like air conditioning units), rugs, large toys, small auto parts, etc… Materials may NOT include construction by-products, large automotive parts, or tires. Items should not contain gasoline or motor oil. Please place items “curbside” by 7:00 AM
20
YARD WASTE Collection Ends
Per our contract with Montgomery County Sanitation & Recycling, December 1st will be the last date for collection of recyclable yard waste. This service will resume in early March. Please make a note of this.
Holiday Trash & Recycling Schedule
Regular trash pickup scheduled for Thanksgiving Day will occur on Friday, Nov.25, 2011. Recycling should be held for the next regular collection day.
Please Pick Up After Your Dog!
The formula is really quite simple:
YOUR DOG = YOUR POO
If you place your dog’s waste in a plastic bag, that action does not change the ownership of its contents. That bag should make it back to your own trash can, not a neighbor’s or the can in Woodward Park or beside a telephone pole. If you don’t pick up after your dog, PLEASE be sure that the pup doesn’t foul an area where people walk. No one likes to step in it no matter how cute the doggie is!! You can do it! Thank you.