Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 09.08.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
From The Mayor
As you may know, school started in the last week of August. This is to remind all drivers to keep an eye out for students at bus stops and to remind residents the Town speed limit through the Town is 15 miles per hour. Please obey all traffic signs, and remember it is the law to fully stop at every stop sign. Additionally, it is still illegal to make a left turn when exiting the Grove from McCauley Street or turn into the Grove driving south on Washington Grove Lane. Safety is the responsibility of all of us.
Many thanks to John Hutchinson and the entire Lake Committee for their hard work and dedication to make the lake a safe and enjoyable place to be. The Town continues to work with the County State’s Attorney to ensure police responsiveness when police services are required at Maple Lake. This is taking much longer than anticipated. The current status is we are waiting for confirmation from the State’s Attorney General. This confirmation will prove ownership of the land where Maple Lake is located and the ability for the Town to limit its use to residents only.
Parking Request
A letter was sent to the residents whose homes along Grove Avenue back up to Woodward Park. It requests residents to please park vehicles in driveways or parallel along the west side of Grove Road. Of course, it is understandable this area may be needed for parking for occasional gatherings or visitors and service vehicles. To maintain the open, park-like appearance of Woodward Park, permitted users are required to park only in the parking lots next to the athletic field and the tennis courts. When residents park along the east side of Grove Road, it leads nonresidents to do the same. This is also to maintain the beauty of our common areas we all enjoy. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
Next meeting: Monday » 09.22.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. All meetings of this committee are open to the public.
Playground Committee
Next meeting: Tuesday » 09.23.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. All meetings of this committee are open to the public.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 09.03.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Did you know there are files on many properties in Town which may contain various types of information about the property?
Some of them have old correspondence regarding the property, house location surveys, applications for building permits and other pertinent items. The House Files are located in the Town Office and residents are urged to check the contents of your house file if you are contemplating a building project or you’d like to see what’s in the file. The Planning Commission has an ongoing project to update the information in the files and urges residents to add any relevant records you have regarding your property.
The procedure to apply for a building permit from the Town’s Planning Commission is available from the Town of Washington Grove website or from the Town Office. Completed applications, including design plans and documents, will first be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and then sent to the Planning Commission for processing. Residents are encouraged to ask the HPC to review preliminary plans to gain valuable advice before the design has been finalized. Details of this process are contained in the building permit procedures referenced above.
Planning Commission Worksession Scheduled
The Planning Commission will meet in a worksession on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, 7:30p.m. to discuss a proposed text amendment and other possible updates and clarifications to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, Article VII. Once the Commission completes its compilation of recommended changes, the proposed zoning text amendment will be forwarded to the Town Council to schedule a public hearing.
Remember the T.U.P. !
If you are thinking about getting a storage pod or construction dumpster, you must obtain a Temporary Use Permit from the Town. It is a simple, no cost permit you can get at the Town Office.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 09.16.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
Meetings are open to the public.
HPC Reminder!
Residents are reminded of the change in the Town building permit process. You must first obtain a formal advisory review of your project from the HPC before turning in your permit application. The HPC review (when applicable) must accompany the building permit application.
From The Town Archives
by Patricia Patula, Town Archivist
"The Last Night"
At their last official meeting as the Camp Meeting Association Board of Trustees (May 26, 1937), the nine trustees “and their wives” sat down to dinner in the parlor of Tilden Gardens, Washington D. C. The minutes of that evening, a six-page single-typed document, present more than the results of the meeting; they reflect the writer’s understanding of the historical importance of this gathering by his capturing the emotional and social atmosphere as well.
The minutes, prepared by the Trustee serving as Secretary, reported: “The room and table (for the dinner) were tastefully decorated and an unusually fine repast was served which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present, along with more than an hour of delightful sociability.”
All were aware that after dinner, the Trustees would need to make the final decisions relating to the complex financial and legal matters of the transition from a Camp Meeting Association to a newly incorporated Town. This was no easy task and emotions ran high.
As described in the minutes, when the dinner was coming to a close, Trustee Francis L. L. Hiller rose and requested the “privilege of the floor.” He spoke, most likely rather passionately, of the “character, ideals, and labors of the founders of the Washington Grove Association, and their realization of those ideals in the Christian fellowship enjoyed in the Camp-Meeting and other religious services of the bygone years, and in the changed and blessed lives of hundreds who found a new center to their lives and peace with God, at its altars.”
In closing, Trustee Hiller asked those present to stand for a toast:
"To the founders and pioneers of Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association,
we honor you because we of today are better men and women as the result of your lives.
Honor to your purpose – Blessing to your memory – Peace to your ashes."
This is quite an impressive speech to have been placed in the formal Board meeting minutes for all of posterity to read. It certainly seems to be accurately quoted in spite of there being no tape recorder to provide proof of what words were actually delivered. By some fluke, did the Secretary Trustee who was the writer of the minutes know shorthand?
It was simply this: Trustee Francis L. L. Hiller was the Secretary and wrote the minutes himself!
Note: Despite his efforts to record all details for posterity, Trustee Hiller failed to mention Trustee Hallam in his list of the nine Trustees and that three of the Trustees were women! One wonders if their husbands were invited to that dinner.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 09.17.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in OLD Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Let There Be Singing!
Any voices want to sing-a-long? Join us on Monday, September 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in McCathran Hall. This is just an informal gathering of singers, all voices (SATB) welcome. Bring a song you’d like the group to sing. Questions may be directed to Ann Briggs, 301-926-6347 or the Town Office 301-926-2256.
WG Film Society Series XV
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
- BluestoberFest » October 11, 2014
- Film Society Starts » October 12, 2014
- Punkin’ Carving » October 25, 2014
Maple Lake News
Next meeting: Thursday » 09.25.14 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room..
Forestry News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 09.02.14 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in Council Room.
Woman’s Club News
Get your appetites ready for the Annual Pot Luck Supper on September 19, 2014!
The Pot Luck Supper will again be held at the Clubhouse on September 19, 2014, starting at 6:30pm. Everone is invited to bring your appetite and a favorite dish.
For those of you who haven’t yet gotten your 2014 to 2016 Town Directories, they are available from Kathy Lehman at the Town Office. This always useful book is still a bargain at $3! And don’t forget to support the businesses which support us by advertising in the Directory.
Speaking of bargains, membership in the Washington Grove Woman’s Club is only $15 annually, due in January of each year. These dues allow the to Club to sponsor many of the Town’s favorite events, such as September’s upcoming Annual Pot Luck Supper, January’s always popular White Elephant Sale, the mid-winter Chili Supper, April’s Easter Egg Hunt; May’s Flower Show, June’s Progressive Porch Party, and July’s Yard Sale.
Another benefit of belonging to the Club is a reduced rate to rent the Clubhouse and it’s fully functional kitchen. Both are perfect for parties and other gatherings.
Remembering last winter’s critical need for warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves for the needy children at Washington Grove Elementary School, there will be donation boxes available on the Clubhouse porch. As you begin your change of seasons closet cleaning, please keep in mind this critical need and donate your gently used winter hand-me-downs to those kids in desperate need.