TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Next meeting: Monday, September 10, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the August meeting include:
- acceptance of McCathran Hall stand-by generator proposal from Generating Power, LLC.
- enactment of Ordinance 2018-04; Zoning Text Amendment to Modify Special Rules for Fences and Carports, add definitions for Clarity and Consistency and Modify Accessory Buildings Setbacks
- enactment of Ordinance 2018-05; Ordinance to Amend Article IV Building Permit Regulations to Modify and Clarify Requirements for Building Permits
- introduction of Resolution 2018-09; Establishing a Town Dog Park
- introduction and adoption of Resolution 2018-12; Maple Lake Rules & Regulations
- approval to do herbicide treatment in specific areas of the West Woods in order to remove Wavy Leaf Basket Grass
Looking For Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission Alternates
Both the PC and HPC need a volunteer to serve as the Alternate. The Alternate participates in the meetings and votes when a full member is absent. The PC meets on the 1st Wed. of the month and the HPC meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. For more information contact the Town Office or a member of the Commissions.
New Process for Town Council Minutes
Unapproved, draft minutes of the Town Council meetings will now be available on the Town website or upon request to the Town Office approximately a week after the meeting date. In the near future Committee Minutes will be posted to the web as they become available.
Planning Commission News…
Next meeting: Wednesday, September 5, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Modification to Building Permit Process
The Planning Commission is changing the building permit application deadline to the 2nd 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.
Permits approved in August:
- 105 Grove Ave. Fence
- 127 Grove Ave. Addition
Historic Preservation Commission News…
Next meeting: Tuesday, September 18, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All meetings are open to the public.
Have You Lived in Your Home for 40 Consecutive Years?
If you have owned and lived in your home for 40 consecutive years, you may be eligible for a property tax credit. The assessment on your property must be $650,000 or less. Property Tax Credit for Elderly Individuals and for Military Retirees was enacted by the Montgomery County Council in March 2017. If you are eligible, a 20% credit on County property taxes only is granted for five consecutive years. For details call 311 or go to: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/finance/bill-42-16.html
Need Advice, Inspiration or Guidance for Your Home Restoration?
Take a look at issues of Old House Journal at the Town Office. Published since 1973, this magazine specializes in information about the restoration of old houses.
MAHDC Washington Grove Tour – Sunday, October 21, 2018
We are honored that the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions (MAHDC) has asked us to organize a walking tour of Town for its membership. Clare Lise Kelly (author, architectural historian and former resident) has agreed to be the speaker for the event. Since the format of the program will be a walking tour (rather than a seated lecture), by necessity, participation will be limited. We should have a better idea by next month whether registration can be opened to Town residents; more likely, we will arrange a separate tour at a later date for Washington Grove residents. Additional information should be available in the October bulletin.
Kudos to the Street Sign Rehabilitation Team!
Thanks to the persistent efforts of our indefatigable volunteers, we can report that 106 street signs have now been rehabilitated and remounted at Town intersections – and more signs are in process. Heartfelt thanks to all the cleaners, painters, artists, installers, record keepers, etc., who have devoted many hours to this herculean task.
Maple Lake News…
Next meeting: Thursday, September 20, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All meetings are open to the public.
Swimming season continues through Labor Day Sept. 4th, but the lake is still available year around – “Swim At Your Own Risk”.
Thanks to all the Lifeguards, Swim Instructor and others, too numerous to enumerate, for a great 2018 season!
Please contact John Hutchinson or the Town Office for any questions or comments.
Forestry & Beautification News…
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 6, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Old Council Room.
Woods Committee News…
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 4, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All are welcome to attend. Meetings are on the 1st Monday of each month.
The Woods Committee has been busy this summer! We are planning to hold informational meetings in the coming months to inform the Town on the progress made with our three-pronged approach to restoring forest health to include updates on non-native invasive plant control and options identified for deer management. We also will be scheduling a fall work day for manual removal of some invasive plants in the Woods. Please stay tuned for details on when those events will be scheduled. The Woods Committee is very fortunate to have members who bring their talent and expertise to help us succeed in preserving our beloved Woods. Members include a master gardener, ‘weed warriors’, a forester affiliated with national/state/county forestry boards, and a wildlife veterinarian with a Master’s degree in toxicology. Members have worked or are working for NOAA, the EPA, and the US Forest Service with connections to professional foresters and the National Invasive Species Council. We are your neighbors and thank you for entrusting us with this important goal to restore, protect, and preserve our Woods and its wild inhabitants for future generations.
Recreation Committee News…
Next Meeting: Wed., October 17, 2018; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. Open to the public.
Meditation in The Grove/Mindfulness & Meditation Class
New resident Eleni Khan invites you to enjoy group guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. We will be calming our minds, and deeply relaxing with guided breathing, singing bowls, interactive mindfulness and meditation practices for all levels. The class is geared towards adults, and is family friendly to “of age” individuals of interest.
- Hour long classes will take place on Wednesday evenings
- Cost: $10.00 (Depending on amount of interest, the class may also be held bi-weekly or monthly)
- Please e-mail Eleni directly at: [email protected] for inquiries and to be added to the sign up list. We will then confirm the time and schedule depending on interest received.
Let There Be Dancing!
Mark your calendars! Betsy and Al Taylor, callers for Taylor Made Squares, are happy to announce we have scheduled a series of dances on the First and Third Mondays. Please join us on the following dates: September 17, October 1, October 15, November 5 and November 19. We will be dancing from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Questions? Call 301-977-8937 or email [email protected]
Yoga in The Grove
Ongoing Yoga Class is designed as an open/drop-in format 90 minute class for beginners to experience Hatha (poses), deep relaxation, chanting and breathing practices with an emphasis on listening to the body and stress reduction.
Open to anyone 12 and older, we meet on Tuesday nights from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Please wear comfortable clothing, bring a yoga or Pilates (thicker and more comfortable on our hardwood floors) mat and, in cooler weather, a blanket.
Cost is $10.
Feel free to reach out with any questions/concerns directly to the instructor at [email protected] or text/call her at 240-731-1848.
Terry trained and taught open classes, prenatal and postpartum class and therapeutic yoga at the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in NYC as well as working with heart and cancer patients in hospital settings.
Let There Be More Dancing!
Youth dance class starting at 12 years old and up. We start the class with a good stretch, and do a mix of ballet, modern and jazz. The class also does a couple of Zumba dances each week and we typically perform twice a year. Class is tentatively scheduled for Fridays at 5:30. All levels of dance welcome. $7 a class. Call or text Samantha Beres for more info: 515-450-9167.
Film Society Kicks Off New Season in October
The 19th series of the Washington Grove Film Society will begin on October 7 (see insert in this bulletin). Subscriptions go on sale at the Labor Day Weekend Field Event, Saturday, September 1, 10 AM to 1 PM. Come to the Film Society table to learn more about the season and sign up for your subscription.
BULLETIN CORRECTION
Instead of the Soccer Skills competition listed in the August Town Bulletin for Monday, September 3rd at 10:00 AM, we will have the Traditional Grove Ballgame in Woodward Park. Bring your bats, balls, gloves and enthusiasm to this fun Grove tradition!
Mark Your Calendars! Irish Ceili Dance
will be on Friday October 12, 2018 @ 7 p.m. in McCathran Hall. Details in the October Town Bulletin.
Bluestober Fest is coming
October 13, 2018 in Zoe Wadsworth Park. More details in the next Bulletin.
Labor Day Activities Schedule
SATURDAY, SEPT. 1st Woodward Park
- 10:00 AM – 1:00PM Field Events
- Six (6) contests for kids and adults of all ages. Registration begins promptly at 10:00 AM. Don’t be late!
- 4:30 PM – 35th Annual Grove
- Triathlon. Start at Maple Lake. Pre-register by calling Craig English 301-840-1897 or sign up at the Field
SUNDAY, SEPT. 2nd
- 9:30 AM – Tennis – Adult Mixer
- 4:00 PM – Bike Races
- 5:00 PM – Running Races
- (Grove Rd. across from courts)
MONDAY, SEPT. 3rd
- 10:00 AM – Traditional Grove Ballgame
- (Woodward Park)
- 1:00 PM – 31st Annual Croquet Tournament. Everyone invited!
- (Woodward Park)
- 6:00 PM Potluck Dinner & Awards (Town Hall)
Woman’s Club News…
Our Pot Luck Supper, Auctions, and Other Community Outreach Programs
September 21st Pot Luck Supper and Auctions at McCathran Hall
This year’s Annual Pot Luck Supper will be a very special event! As part of our support for the Washington Grove Elementary School, in addition to the Pot Luck Supper, we will be holding two fun auctions to raise money for a Field Trip Fund, to help ensure that all students at Washington Grove Elementary School can participate in the educational benefits of going on field trips. So please, bring your favorite dish and join us for a fun time.
The evening’s schedule is for bidding on the auction items to begin at 6:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. The supper will start at 6:30 p.m.
What, you ask, are the two fun auctions? Well, one is A Chinese Auction, where tickets are sold for 50 cents each, and these tickets are then placed in the container in front of the item. At 8:00 p.m. a ticket will be drawn from each container and the winners can claim their prizes. This type of auction is especially fun for kids.
The other is A Silent Auction, where a bidding sheet is placed in front of each item, with the approximate value of the item, the opening bid and the bidding increments listed at the top, and at 8:00 p.m. the sheets are collected and the last bid wins.
To make these two auctions successful, we need donations of goods or services, with various items suitable for all age groups. We’re asking for new items, artworks, antiques and, of course, we always appreciate checks! The deadline for auction donations is Friday, September 14th, and they can be dropped off with any of the Auction Committee members: Brenda Gumula (301-869-5118 – 207 Maple Ave.), Terry Kirtz (301-990-7935 – 102 Center Street), Liz Robertson (301-407-1985 – 315 Brown Street) or Wendy Weisbard (301-330-1012 – 119 Grove Road).
Other Community Outreach Programs
Since the needs of our County are ongoing, we’ve decided to make our Community Outreach Projects ongoing as well. We will be collecting items all year long for the Washington Grove Elementary School children’s Coats, Hats, Scarves and Other Winter Wear Drive; school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, glue sticks, etc. to fill the Teachers’ Closet at the Elementary School; New Underwear for boys and girls, toddlers to teens, for the needy children in the County; and white socks for our Gude Men’s Shelter Project.
For your convenience, donations for all our projects can be dropped off on Wendy Weisbard’s porch at 119 Grove Road, or in the bins on the Clubhouse porch. You bring them, and we’ll sort them ??. Checks should be made out to the Woman’s Club of Washington Grove, with a notation telling us which project you’re supporting.
General Information
Washington Grove Cares
Because Wikispaces is closing down, our Town’s shared wisdom about local professionals and tradespeople and restaurants had to be moved. Washington Grove Cares has made these recommendation lists easily accessible to all on its website at www.washingtongrovecares.org.
The list of area professionals and tradespersons (formerly called “Local Folks”) is already posted and is categorized by type of service. We’ll let you know when the Local Restaurants list is posted. Recommendations have been gathered by Betsy Klinger from the Yahoo Listserv over the last 10 years. They are current through last week. Thanks, Betsy! If you don’t participate in the listserv, you can still make recommendations by contacting Betsy.
Finally, for you or someone you know: The Maryland Office on Aging has begun a state-wide program for people over 65 who want to receive an automated daily check on their wellness. If you register, you would receive a daily phone call at a time you designate. If the call is not answered, it will be tried again twice. If those calls also go unanswered, the system will notify your chosen emergency contact person. For more information, See https://aging.maryland.gov or call 800-243-3425
Town Election Procedures
The Elections Procedures Modernization Workgroup will meet in the Council Room at 7:30 PM on Monday, September 17, 2018.
Streetlight Committee to Form …. Again!
Our old streetlight fixtures and bulbs are slipping into obsolescence. A Streetlight Committee will advise the Council on alternatives to our current fixtures. For more information about this group, please contact Darrell Anderson at 301-963-8555 or [email protected]
Bulk Trash Collection Scheduled
Mark your calendars! The Town has scheduled a bulk trash collection for Oct. 20, 2018. Materials may include furniture, appliances (nothing with freon like air conditioning units), rugs, large toys, small auto parts, etc. Material may NOT include construction by-products from your renovation projects, large automotive parts or tires. Items should not contain gasoline or motor oil. Please keep your metal separate from the rest of your trash.
Washington Grove Film Society’s 19th Season
https://washingtongrovemd.org/recreation/film-society/
Sunday Evenings at 7:00 p.m.
In McCathran Hall
5-Film Subscription $20
A discussion follows each film.
Purchase $20 subscriptions by sending a check, payable to the Town of Washington Grove, to Birgit Henninger, Box 355.
Tickets cost $7 at the door. Please support the series by purchasing subscriptions. If you miss a film, use the ticket to bring a guest to a later film this season.
Do the Right Thing October 7, 2018
Directed by Spike Lee, 1989, US, English, shown with English subtitles, 120 minutes.
This movie brought Spike Lee to the forefront of American directors in 1989. The story of a dynamic Brooklyn neighborhood simmering with racial and ethnic tension, it raises issues as important today as they were 30 years ago. Strong language throughout.
The Spirit of the Beehive November 11, 2018
Directed by Victor Erice, 1973, Spain, Spanish with English subtitles, 98 minutes.
A seven-year old girl in a village in Spain drifts into a fantasy world after watching the movie Frankenstein. It’s 1940, and everyone around her is struggling with the aftermath of the country’s civil war. Critic Roger Ebert called this mysterious drama a masterpiece.
Two Days, One Night January 13, 2019
Directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, 2014, Belgium, French with English subtitles, 95 minutes.
Acclaimed French actress Marion Cotillard plays Sandra, a Belgian factory worker who must persuade her co-workers to forfeit their bonuses to save her own job. Tension builds with each encounter, and we root for compassion and Sandra’s success.
Tulpan February 10, 2019
Directed by Sergei Dvortsevoy, 2009, Kazakhstan, Kazakh with English subtitles, 100 minutes.
On the harshly beautiful Kazakhstan steppe, Asa, a shepherd, must find a wife before he can have his own flock. He has his eye on the elusive Tulpan. The film chronicles the lives of yurt-dwelling nomads and their surprising connections to the larger world.
The Straight Story March 10, 2019
Directed by David Lynch, 1999, US, English, shown with English subtitles, 112 minutes.
A creaky Midwesterner undertakes a road trip on his lawn tractor to visit his estranged and ill brother. Richard Farnsworth is indelible as 73-year old Alvin Straight, whose real-life journey inspired this warm and gentle movie.