Town Bulletin [ May-08 ]
Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday » 06.09.08 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
Actions at the April Council meeting included:
- adoption of recommended budget and tax rate for FY2009 with no increase in taxes.
- authorization to allow the VHS video "A Town Within a Forest" to be transferred to DVD format.
- accepted a bid from Trunnell Electric, Inc. for the electrical improvements to McCathran Hall.
- enacted Ordinance No. 2008-02; Regulations for the use of Woodward Park and Sports Facilities.
- authorized Forestry Committee sponsorship of the use of Town Forester Dan Landry for private consultations by Town residents. A user fee, payable to the Town, will be imposed.
- accepted the text for the commemorative plaque to be installed on the historical marker in Morgan Park.
ELECTIONS & ANNUAL TOWN MEETING!
Vote for the candidates of your choice
Saturday, May 10 between 4 and 7 p.m..
Come to the Annual Town Meeting, May 10, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Stay for a Great Party afterwards to say THANK YOU to John Compton, our out-going mayor.
3Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 05.07.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in 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 for a major building permit (addition/renovation) is $40.00. The fee for a minor building permit (fence/shed) is $10.00. Checks should be made 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 permit applications as well.
5Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Tuesday » 05.20.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: Wednesday » 07.16.07 @ 7:30 p.m. in Council Room.
The public is invited to attend. New members always welcome!
Music Weekend 2008
Mark Your Calendars Now! Invite Your Family and Friends!
- Friday, June 20: Nobody's Business
Funky Blues, Rock-and-Roll, R&B, Country
At the Gazebo, 7:30 p.m.
Bring a picnic! - Saturday, June 21: Children's Recital
McCathran Hall, 10:00 a.m.
Contact Tami Williams (301-869-8541) to sign up - Saturday, June 21: Cypress Trio
McCathran Hall
Live Cajun music, dance lesson, pizza & beer! - Sunday, June 22: Baroque Breakfast; Homewood Brass
At the Gazebo, 10:30 a.m.
Bring breakfast food to share and a lawn chair/blanket
(In the event of rain, all events will take place in McCathran Hall)
Summer In The Parks
The program is still looking for parent and student volunteers. Please contact Jessica Jones for more information; jjones@bc.georgetown.edu or 301-869-5036.
9Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
David Stopak: 301-330-6446
Betsy Klinger: 301-977-3517
Keith Gillis/Leigh Partington: 301-208-1437
Incident Report:
- March 26: Vagrancy. East Woods - A man was reported hanging out in the East Woods in the clearing where a tree house used to be. He had a bike and a backpack. He appeared disheveled but not threatening.
- March 29: Animal Sighting. Grove Rd - Resident reported seeing a sickly fox meandering down Grove Rd and was worried that it might be rabid. Apparently this fox has been around for some time. Others have reported seeing it for months.
Please report criminal or suspicious activity to your Neighborhood Watch Block Captain or Coordinators. Filing a police report, too, helps the police department keep track of criminal incidents and is necessary for police to take action. Of course, for emergency situations call 911.
10Lake Committee News
New members always welcome! Call John Hutchinson (301-926-8767) if you have any questions or suggestions.
2008 Lake Schedule
Lake opens Memorial Day week-end, full time starting June 12th.
Life Guard hours will be Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Lake closes Sunday, Aug. 26th but will be open for Labor Day week-end.
Lifeguards Needed for Maple Lake
We have several applicants, but need one or two more lifeguards. Hours are from 12-6, seven days a week. Life guards must be certified in Lifesaving, CPR, and First Aid. (We can help you get the training.) Pay is $10 to $12 per hour. Call Marida Hines at 301-519-8730, for details.
Swim Lessons
There will be swim lessons during the month of July (July 1 - July 25, 2008). Please sign up using the registration for swimming lessons form.
Geese
The geese are frequenting the lake, and may be making a nest. Please do not disturb or feed them, and tell others not to also. Call John Hutchinson or Ann Phillips if you have questions or notice any unusual activity.
Safety at the Lake
To minimize problems with vandalism, outside visitors and other problems, we will be monitoring the lake more frequently checking on the fence and surrounding area. Please do NOT tell young children or outsiders what the combination is, and always lock, and spin the tumblers on the lock after opening it. Call John Hutchinson, Jim Fletcher, or Bruce Rothrock if you notice any maintenance problems. Please report every incident of suspicious behavior, vandalism or criminal activity to the police at the non-emergency number: 301-279-8000. The police use the log of these calls to determine how closely to patrol an area. They have asked us to report all incidents. Please also alert NW (Neighborhood Watch) to any such incidents.
The inner gate padlock combination number will be changed the week-end of April 26th. Please contact the Town Office, John Hutchinson, or a member of the Lake Committee for the new number.
11Woman's Club News
Next meeting: Thursday » 06.19.07 @ 7:30 p.m. at 103 Grove Avenue.
Jim Davis will join us for our June meeting. Sandy Klingenberg has offered to host this event in her beautiful garden. Please join us under the stars for good food and great wine. Cost will be approximately $25 per person.
Directory
The beautiful new Town Directory is available for purchase for $5 each. Directories are available from Kathy Lehman in the Town Office or at the Flower Show on May 4. A tremendous thank you to all the volunteers who helped create the new directory, especially to Devon Cohen, our directory chairperson.
Yard Sale
Our annual Yard Sale will be held the first or second weekend of June. We are coordinating the date with the Animal Welfare League Sale on Chestnut Road, still to be determined. Items for the Woman's Club Sale can be dropped off on Joan Mahaffey's porch at 102 Ridge Road (240-631-8064). Larger items will be accepted at the Woman's Club House starting Monday, June 2. If you can assist in set-up, pricing, clean-up, bake sale, or any other tasks, please reply directly to Joan or Devon Cohen (301-963-2894). Let your discards be someone else's treasure.
Many Thanks!
A huge "thank you" goes to Pat and Karen Deely for organizing the Spring Egg Hunt. More than 30 children enjoyed a magical afternoon!
12WGUMC News
- May 18th: Concerned about the world-wide food crisis? Join like-minded walkers, or sponsor a walker, for this year's May 18th CROP walk, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Needwood Park. Funds go towards hunger relief and prevention, with the independent "Charity Navigator" ranking Church World Service among the best-run charities, with lowest overhead. All ages welcome to walk. You can sponsor a walker, donate by mail with a check made out to Church World Service, or donate through the church with "for Church World Service" on the comment line.
- June 6th: Don Hayden's "Swingtime Big Band" will be returning the favor for occasional use of rehearsal space by a band performance and dancing in the fellowship hall, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., on Friday, June 6th. This is for everyone in town - wear tennis shoes, and come to talk, dance, or just listen!
- Dance classes with David Rapkievian! Learn ballroom dancing on May 14th, 21st, 28th, and June 4th. Total cost for 4 classes is $30.00 per couple. Fifteen (15) couples are needed to make this class happen. Sign up by calling the church at 301-869-3753 or e-mail jsmithyoung@gmail.com. Don't delay!!
Woods Preservation Group News
Did you know...? It's spring so let's talk flowers, focusing on some of the natural ones, the woodland flowers. Right now (4/20) and for the next week a delightful small very light pink flower covers parts of the forest floor in the East Woods, particularly near the 'corner' of the Cherry and McCauley Street woods extensions. I call it a pink lady but it may have a more correct name. A ground dwelling Lilly, with small green leaves with purplish splotches is another woods ground cover plant near the creeks. Its small yellow flower blooms this week, too. Some other favorites and rough dates based on the past: 4/25 Wild Azaleas (same timing as planted azaleas); 5/5 Raspberries, Black Locust, Paulownia; 5/10 Fringe Tree; 5/20 Catalpa; 5/28 Viburnum, Mountain Laurel. Shifting topics a bit, my favorite songbird, the Wood Thrush arrives soon, the earliest date I have being 4/30.
John Bradfield
Bulk Trash Pick Up Scheduled
The Town has scheduled a bulk trash collection for May 17, 2008. Please make note of a new requirement to separate your metal from the rest of your trash. The truck will make two (2) passes through Town. They will pick up piles of metal debris first and then come back for the rest of the "junk".
15It's That Time Again...Friendly Reminders
Article III; Section 9. Designations of Street and Walkways
- The Mayor and Council of Washington Grove may, from time to time, by resolution, designate various streets and byways within the Town as walkways. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon a street or byway, which has been designated as a walkway, except that moving vans or other vehicles may transport household or other goods via walkways where safety or accessibility is a factor.
Article I; Section7. Operation of Power Mowers, Etc.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a power mower, chain saw, or other power equipment on Sundays before the hour of 12:00 Noon, except that electrically powered tools may be operated within a building with doors and windows closed.
Summary of Ordinance 2008-02:
Regulations for the Use of Woodward Park & Sports Facilities
Ordinance 2008-02 changes the permitting process and some rules and regulations for the use of Woodward Park and Sports Facilities. The new ordinance limits weekend play by large organized groups with permits to one (1) day and play during the week to no more than four (4) days. Additional changes, including a requirement for resident sponsorship of large organized groups, user fees, deposits, and clarification of closing times, have been incorporated into a resolution to be adopted by the Town Council.
17LOS Field Condemnation Update
The field condemnation process moved closer to a trial to determine fair market value after two rulings issued by Judge Bernard last week. At a hearing on April 29th, the Judge reconsidered the Town's motion to remove MNCPPC as a third-party defendant, and again granted our motion. At the same hearing, the Judge denied an MNCPPC motion to stay the condemnation proceedings pending resolution of their appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
