Town Council
Next meeting: Monday, Nov. 14, 2005; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the October Council meeting include:
Voted to hold the public record open on Ordinance 2005-05 (Zoning Text Amendment); Charitable, Religious, and Educational uses within Residential Zone for further comments from the Town attorney and the public.
Approved spending up to $5,000.00 on additional road work involving sealing large cracks in the roadway.
Engaged in further discussion about the proposed Municipal Infractions ordinance with the hopes of selecting a date for the public hearing at the November meeting of the Town Council.
Casey Field
The site plan is scheduled for development review at Park & Planning on October 24th. Town reps have met with staff to discuss issues with grading, water runoff, wetlands, height & compatibility, and reforestation that will still need to be addressed. As for purchase and annexation of the Legacy Open Space field, the Town sent a letter of intent to the property owners but has seen no formal response.
Cator Property
A prospective buyer of the property has been invited to meet with the Mayor and the Planning Commission Chairman to discuss development and annexation of the property.
Deer Park Bridge
Although this issue has been dormant for a few months, a recent letter from DPWT has awakened this sleeping giant. The Town is still waiting for DPWT to provide information about repair costs vs. replacement costs.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday, November 2, 2005; 7:30 p.m. 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.
Building permits were issued for the following:
103 Grove Ave. Fence
110 Grove Ave. Playhouse(move)
121 Chestnut Ave. Porch
350 Ridge Rd. Fence
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Nov. 15, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room. Meetings are open to the public.
The HPC would like to remind you to take a moment to fill out your questionnaires. To date, 35 have been returned to the Town Office. If the office is closed, please put your questionnaires through the mail slot in the door.
Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
Betsy Klinger: 301-977-3517
Keith Gillis/Leigh Partington: 301-208-1437
Incident Report:
Sept. 14: 200 block of Grove Avenue. Signs of attempted theft of an old motorcycle from a shed on the Grove Road side of the property.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Nov. 16, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Come Join The Fun, Groovey Grovers!
Holiday Celebration Concert – Show for all ages.
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005; 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Contact David Rapkievian for details, 301-519-2021.
Participant sign-up deadline is October 31st, so don’t delay!
Art Show Entry Deadline Approaches
The Second Annual Washington Grove Art Show will be held on Friday, November 26th (7 – 9 p.m.) and on Saturday, November 27th (Noon – 4 p.m.). The deadline for submitting entry forms for adults and youth is November 11, 2005. This will allow the organizers to plan the show layout. Other details for artists are spelled out on the entry forms which can be picked up at the Town Office or by contacting Jerry Ruley, 301-330-4589 or [email protected]
Never too Early for New Years Plans
Plan to stay in Town this year and celebrate with friends & family. The party will be in McCathran Hall and will offer dancing, libations and snacks. Details will follow in future Town Bulletins.
ANOTHER GREAT MOUSETRAP CONCERT
Sunday, November 13th, 3 p.m. McCathran Hall
Igor Gavrysh, cello
Lydia Frumkin, piano
Call Alice Negin (301-926-2858) for tickets
Calling all Grove Kids!
If you would like to sing together in the Holiday Concert on December 10th, Doris Gordon will hold three (3) rehearsals on Tuesdays: Nov. 22nd, Nov. 29th, and Dec. 6th at 4:00 p.m. in McCathran Hall. Rehearsals will be 30 to 45 minutes long, and attendance at all 3 rehearsals will not be mandatory. The group will work up 2 or 3 delightful songs for their part in the program. Any parents who can sit in on the rehearsals will be welcome. Call Doris at 301-926-8603 with any questions.
Yoga Has Changed…
Yoga classes are now on Tuesday nights from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m..
Maple Lake News
Wed., Oct. 19, 2005; Council Room; 7:30 p.m. The Lake Committee invites all residents to come discuss how kids and adults can share the lake on July afternoons during swim lessons.
Thurs., Oct. 20, 2005; Council Room; 7:30 p.m. The focus of this meeting will be to plan for next season. Topics that could be discussed are; controlling invasive plants, fishing, skating, water testing, geese, state of the dock and the bridge, and the addition of sand to the point of the island closest to the dock. Come one, come all!!
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: Thurs., Oct. 20, 2005; Clubhouse GAME NIGHT; 7:30 p.m.. Been longing to play some cards, Scrabble, Cranium, Twister, and so on? Bring your favorite game to the Clubhouse and enjoy playing some new and old games with friends. Hostesses are still needed for this evening. Please contact Ann London, 301-590-1012 or [email protected] if you can help.
Correction: The event scheduled for Sunday, October 23rd has been cancelled.
The November meeting will be on Thursday the 17th in the Clubhouse at 7:30 p.m. Kermit Moyer, creative literature professor at The American University and Town resident, will present “Writing Fiction… The How To’s”.
E-mail Updates Needed
So far, we’ve received 2 e-mail updates. Surely there are more. Last call… Please contact the Town Office if you have changed your address in the past year. [email protected]
Bulk Trash Pickup – Last one for the year.
Oct. 22, 2005. Collection may include furniture, appliances (not those with freon), rugs, large toys, small auto parts etc… Waste Management is now asking you to separate your metal items from your other items. Materials MAY NOT include construction by-products, large auto parts, or tires. Items that contain gasoline will not be taken. Please place items “curbside” by 7:00 a.m..
Good News from CSX
At last…repairs for the at-grade crossing (known as Aitcheson crossing) are scheduled for the week of November 14, 2005. Be prepared!
New County Legislation on Dogs at Large
Some time ago, the Town of Washington Grove adopted the Montgomery County legislation concerning animal control. On September 27, 2005 the County Council amended this legislation. The definition of “at large” is as follows;
A dog, except a service animal, is at large if it is outside the owner’s premises and not leashed, unless it is in a dog exercise area designated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission or is participating in a qualified activity. Any other animal is at large if it is outside the owner’s premises and is not leashed or immediately responsive to verbal or non-verbal direction. For purposes of this Chapter or any other animal control law, the common area of a homeowners’ association, condominium, or cooperative is not the owner’s premises.
Leaves Are Falling…
Leaf pickup will begin November 1st. New and long-time residents alike are reminded that the Town contracts 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, 2006, 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, pleas call Tom Land at 301-869-4334 or 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.
Clerk’s Corner
Did you know… One ton of paper made from recycled pulp saves 17 trees and saves 3 cubic yards of landfill space. Recycle your mail at home…save a tree!! :o)