Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday, November 9, 2015; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
From the Mayor
The Playground Committee submitted its review of the playground equipment in Woodward Park at the October meeting of the Town Council. The goal of the Committee is to provide the Mayor and Council with the information for review of a comprehensive playground improvement and maintenance plan. The Committee report highlighted the Risk Management Review performed every two (2) years by Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) and addressed the use of mulch and rubber matting around play equipment. The Committee recommended removal and replacement of the wooden balance beam now instead of in 2016. There was a discussion about the elimination of some pieces of old equipment and the cost of proposed new equipment. The Town Council asked the Committee to provide cost estimates for its recommended equipment upgrades at the February Council meeting for the 2016-17 budget discussions. During the Town Meeting on May 10, 2014, it was proposed to set aside $5000 in the Capital Improvement Projects for FY 2016 designating these funds for improving and/or adding playground equipment in the Woodward Park. Copies of the report are available at the Town Office.
Additionally, the Town Council and the Playground Committee expressed their appreciation to Steve Werts and the Maintenance staff for the drainage improvements in Woodward Park.
The Tennis Court Committee will hold a meeting on Monday, November 23, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Old Council Room in McCathran Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to review the past year for court use and costs and the consideration of an installation of a watering system for the clay courts. This meeting is open to all who wish to attend.
The Town hired Snider and Associates to survey Block 11. This is the area between Second and Third Avenues and Grove Avenue. This survey resulted in bringing to our attention the encroachment of several structures and objects on Town land. Each affected property owner was sent a letter to remove encroached items within 60 days. If you wish to review this survey, copies are available at the Town Office.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Joli A. McCathran
301-869-5358
[email protected]
Historic Preservation Commission News
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 17, 2015; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All meetings are open to the public.
Planning Commission News…
Next meeting: Wed., November 4, 2015; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
If you are considering any renovation or building project 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, another resource when planning home modifications, may have some helpful information on your property. The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission are here to help you with your project.
Permits approved on October 7th, 2015:
- 410 Brown St. Solar Panels
Recreation Committee News
Next Meeting: Wed., November 11, 2015; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
As always, the Recreation Committee welcome volunteers, even for single events, so if you’re interested, or if you have ideas for new Town activities, please email Eve Zibart at [email protected].
BluestoberFest Kudos!
Who says the fun is over once school starts up? Thanks once again to the Bluestoberfest crew, especially Eric Selby (of course), but also Lawren Selby, Mary Warfield, and grill chief Nick Suzich.
2015 Holiday Show Meeting
Join the fun and festivities!! If you are interested, in participating in this year’s Holiday Show please contact either Judy Mroczka at: [email protected] or Pat Di Bella-Kreger at: [email protected].
Film Society News
Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 15, 2015 for the Film Society showing of “Pride.” With heartfelt sentiment enlivened by humor and music, “Pride” portrays an unusual alliance during Margaret Thatcher’s premiership in Britain. A young activist in London rallies his gay friends to make common cause with striking Welsh coal miners. Directed by Matthew Warchus, 2014, UK, 119 minutes. Shown with English subtitles. Shown at 7 PM, at McCathran Hall, $7.50 at the door.
Woman’s Club News
Due to some last minute scheduling changes, our October guest speaker was Sharon Sisson, with an interesting and informative talk on the importance of good nutrition for general health and weight loss.
On November 12th, our guest speaker will be our neighbor, Howard Harary, telling us about how communities respond during natural disasters. Members, spouses, friends and neighbors are invited to join us at 7:00 PM at the Clubhouse.
In early December, the Clubhouse will close down for the winter, but the Woman’s Club won’t be inactive! In January we will be having our annual White Elephant Sale; February or March will be our always popular Chili Dinner; the end of March will be our annual Egg Hunt for the Town’s children; in April the Clubhouse will reopen and we will again be having guest speakers for our Membership Meetings; May will be the Flower Show; and June will be another Progressive Porch Party.
Forestry & Beautification News
Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 18, 2015; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. This meeting is open to the public.
Montgomery County has recently launched “Tree Montgomery.” The main aim of the program is to encourage neighborhoods to increase the County’s tree canopy, particularly on residential properties.
The new program will plant shade trees – for free!
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is looking for places to plant, especially in yards of single family homes. The shade trees will be installed and given some after care — all for free.
When installed the trees will be 10 to 12 feet tall and will eventually be more than 50 feet tall, providing decades of shade for future generations.
- Trees protect soil and help prevent erosion.
- They absorb carbon dioxide and improve local air quality.
- They filter storm-water runoff to improve local water quality in streams, rivers and tributaries.
- Native trees are drought-tolerant and need less water than non-native trees.
If you are interested in a shade tree, sign up for more information!
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/Tree/Tree-request
You will need the property tax account ID – or property address. This is a great opportunity to get a free tree for your yard. We understand there’s already a waiting list, so sign up soon!
Woods Group
Next Meeting: Monday, Nov. 2, 2015;
Our Town Woods Group, chaired by Joan Mahaffey and Pat Klein, meets the first Monday of each month in the Council Room of McCathran Hall at 7:30 PM. The group discusses current issues and ongoing efforts for the maintenance and preservation of the East and West Woods. Town residents are welcome to attend.
WGUMC News
Thanksgiving Dinner at 2:00 p.m. at Washington Grove UMC fellowship hall. Anyone can come and enjoy a family like Thanksgiving dinner. An RSVP will help those who are preparing the food.
Contact: [email protected] or 301-869-3753
General Information
Vacant Homes Task Force Formed
This group will have its next meeting on Monday, November 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The meeting is open to the public.
Emergency Preparedness Committee
The WG Emergency Preparedness Task Force will meet in the Town Council Room at McCathran Hall on: Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.
Leaves Are Falling
New and long-time residents alike are reminded of the Town contract for bulk leaf removal each autumn. The contractor, Green Earth, Inc., will make regular but unscheduled pickups of leaves raked or blown into windrows within six (6) feet of any roadway or walkway, excluding Railroad Street, 2nd Ave., 3rd Ave., 4th Ave., 5th Ave., and Boundary Street. This service begins October 31 and ends January 1, 2016, or as soon thereafter as we agree the work is complete. This is the only time to have leaves removed without bagging for recycling.
The contractor will time pickups based on the availability of full truckloads for vacuuming. One or two spectacular fall weekends in November or early December usually have most of us raking at the same time. If you rake when most others are raking, the windrows will probably disappear relatively quickly. Please place your windrows within six (6) feet of the road or walkway (keeping in mind car & pedestrian traffic).
Green Earth will collect leaves by working from one end of the Town to the other, typically starting with Ridge Road working their way across the community, first removing piles along roads for safety reasons. After making one pass along roads, they will focus on walkways. If roads become obstructed before walkways are completed, roads will be cleared until they are safe. Then collection will resume along walkways.
Weather may affect this process. Rain can restrict movement of large trucks on the avenues and accumulated snow or freezing rain may make piles too heavy to vacuum. The contractor will not remove leaf piles that contain branches, brush, pruned limbs, and cut ornamental grasses. Please do not add these to leaf piles. They foul the vacuum and Green Earth will not collect piles containing this material.
If a particular leaf pile has lingered for an inordinate amount of time, please call Kathy Lehman at the Town Office, 301-926-2256, or by e-mail [email protected].
Happy raking! It’s the rite of autumn, particularly in a town graced by so many beautiful deciduous trees.
Bulk Trash Collection Scheduled
There will be a bulk trash collection on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Potomac Disposal will NOT pick up the following:
- Liquids or chemicals in any form, including paint, gasoline, oil etc… NO FREON!
- Tires
- Rugs and/or padding which is not cut into three (3) foot rolls
- Large wall units (shelving) not broken down
- Fencing
- Mirrors or glass larger than 3’ x 3’. Please tape to prevent injury.
- Large amounts of construction debris, specifically material left by a contractor. If homeowner is doing their own repair work they can call PDI to set up the bulk pick-up.
If residents have questions about certain items, feel free to call Jana or Cheryl at 301-294-9700.
ITEMS SHOULD BE PLACED “CURBSIDE” BY 7:00 A.M.
Yard Waste Collection Ends
Please note that December 31, 2015 will be the last date for collection of recyclable yard waste by Potomac Disposal. This service will resume in early March.
Deer Fences Down
Residents are reminded that deer fencing must be down by November 30th per Town Ordinance 3.328(g). Thanks!
Thanksgiving Refuse Collection CHANGE !!!
Because of the conflict with our refuse collection day and the Thanksgiving holiday, the collection that week will take place on WEDNESDAY, November 25, 2015. Please make a note of this change.