Neighborhood Notes

Newsletter, Spring 2008

Memorial Day Picnic on Monday, May 26

Save the date for our Memorial Day picnic! It will be on Monday, May 26 at Woodley Gardens Park from 4-6 p.m. More details will follow. We will hold our elections at the picnic. All positions are available. Some board members are willing to continue in their current position, but if you are interested in serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary, contact any board member as soon as possible. We welcome new leadership.

Trip to State Capitol

Our State Senator, Jennie Forehand, has invited us to visit her at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis to see our elected officials at work. She recommends that we plan our visit for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between now and April 1. This would be an all day trip from 9:00 a.m. to around 3:00 p.m. If you want to go, call Erin at 301-217-0321, and we will pick a day that is convenient. If transportation is an issue, a neighbor who is planning to go has room to take up to three additional passengers. In addition, For interesting information about Annapolis and the legislature, watch STATE CIRCLE each Friday at 7:30pm on Channel 22, Maryland Public TV.

Neighborhood Directory

Patti Sorini will begin working on a new directory later this spring and into the summer with completion some time this fall.

Yellow Balloon Fair on April 12

Mark your calendars for April 12th from 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for the Yellow Balloon Fair at the Rockville Community Nursery School (RCNS) housed at the Unitarian Church. This is a wonderful fair geared for all ages and especially for preschoolers. Enjoy the good food, drinks, silent auction, and games galore.

RM Mulch Sale starts April 5

The Richard Montgomery Mulch Sale starts on April 5th. You can support the RM boosters as well as get a great deal on mulch. Bags are $4.75/3 cubic ft. Delivery is FREE for orders of 30 bags or more!

Mike Curtis Open Celebrity Golf Tournament on May 5

The Mike Curtis Open Celebrity Golf Tournament on May 5th is a Richard Montgomery Boosters event. You can sign up on line for this.

WGGC Plant Sale on May 3

The Woodley Gardens Garden Club plant sale is on May 3, at 505 Goldsborough Dr. and starts at 9:00 a.m. Does anyone want to organize a neighborhood yard sale on this date? If you are willing to chair this effort and put up signs, call Erin.

Security Newsletter for Computer Users

Radu Marin has provided copies of the monthly Security Newsletter for Computer Users (with the latest news on scams, viruses, trojans, security information for Mac and Windows users and more) for us to peruse at the WGWCA website. Here is the February 2008 letter and past issues may be found at the Computer Security Newsletter link above.

WGWCA Meeting January 7, 2008

New Zoning Ordinance for Rockville
Thanks to Jim Wasilak, City Planning, and John Tyner, RORZOR committee, for meeting with us on January 7 to explain the draft zoning ordinance for Rockville. Below is a summary:

Most of the new zones are based on the ones in the existing zoning ordinance (created in 1975 and modified 200+ times since then), with changes to accommodate Rockville's current state. With most land already developed, the changes are aimed at redevelopment to support mixed uses (especially residential and commercial), to improve pedestrian friendliness, to control 'mansionization', to enhance the environment, and to keep our park and open space. It includes things like wider sidewalk requirements, specification of paved surface percentage allowed on a lot, and in addition to building dimension and height specifications, adds a specification for the transition in height between commercial and adjoining residential areas. The new proposed zoning ordinance also replaces the 9 processes previously required for site review to a single site review process, with the inclusion of different reviewers (City council, City staff, Planning Commission) dependent on the scale of the proposed project.

The zoning ordinance works in conjunction with two other City processes already in place: the Comprehensive Transportation Review (CTR), which examines the traffic impact of any proposed developments, and the APFO, which looks at schools, EMS, utilities and other infrastructure needs associated with new development. Regulation of home businesses based on their impact on the neighborhood is also included in the ordinance. For a look at the actual Zoning Ordinance Draft and information about the process, see the City website.

CIP Project Requests
Also at the meeting, we voted to reapply to the City of Rockville's Capital Improvements Program for FY09 and request that the City:

1. Build a sidewalk along Welsh Park/Welsh Drive (Welsh Drive is the small road that is off of Mannakee Street that goes to the Welsh Park parking lot and to the Unitarian Church) to continue where the existing sidewalk ends at the corner of Mannakee Street and Welsh Drive. This is a very small area of sidewalk that would enable people to continue their walk to the park without having to walk in the street along Welsh Drive.

2. Install safety lighting in the Welsh Park parking lot so that lights are on during the same hours that the basketball and tennis court lights are on. The parking lot and playground are pitch dark at night, and it's scary to cross when walking to the basketball courts.

3. Make the speedbump at Mannakee Street and Smallwood Rd. a designated crosswalk with signage, paint, and possibly a "safety" light such as the one on Nelson Street near Woodley Gardens Park.

Our focus is on safety for all of these requests. The sidewalk continuation would make it safer for people in wheelchairs, people who are walking, people who are pushing their children in strolllers, and people helping youngsters on bikes get to the park.

If you would like clarification on this or want to add your comments, feel free to call me or email. (301) 217-0321

We all agreed that more research and discussion needs to take place before we consider asking the City to extend the sidewalk that is currently on Welsh Park up to the corner of Nelson Street and Mannakee. In these times of shrinking budgets and our desire to become a green society, we need to weigh the costs and benefits as well as the physical feasibility of this project.

Holiday Party

Thanks to everyone who helped with this year's Holiday Party, held on December 2 (2007). If you have photos to share, send them over (htriolo at this domain) and we'll get them posted.

October 11, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Thank you, Kay McMahon, for minutes from the October 11 general membership meeting.

Woodley Gardens Garden Club

From the September newsletter:

Did you know that Woodley Gardens has an award-winning Garden Club? They meet monthly in members' homes from September through May, and have programs on gardening and landscaping topics. They also engage in garden related community services.

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Recommended
This page has recommendations of our neighbors for various home-related services. Post to the email list or send direct to me if you have additions.

Neighborhood Directory
In case you need one: Directory Updates Form (return to Patti Sorini at 706 Smallwood)

City News
Here's the latest news from the City of Rockville and a list ofupcoming Mayor and Council meetings.

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Past news

June 2007 Newsletter

Message from Erin: Summer is here at last! I hope that everyone will enjoy these great summer months and all of the fun activities available in our area and beyond. Thank you to Kate Savage, our Social Events Chair, her band of volunteers, and all of you who were able to come out for the Memorial Day Picnic at Woodley Gardens Park. We had a good turnout, nice weather, delicious food, a softball game (thank you, Coach Brooks), and fun. Jennie Forehand gave a tribute to U.S. Veterans and men and women in uniform. We held our yearly election of officers. I want to express a special thank you to Helen Heneghan who served as Vice President for two years. We appreciate all of your work and help! Kerry Brenner was elected as our new Vice President. Thank you to Diane Kilcoyne for her tireless work on our directory. Patti Sorini will be our Directory Chair this year. Board members for July 2007-June 2008 are

• President, Erin Stamets
• Vice President, Kerry Brenner
• Secretary, Kay McMahon
• Treasurer, Pat Daniel

• Block Captains, Kevin Brooks
• Social Events, Kate Savage
• Directory, Patti Sorini
• Website and Email List, Helen Triolo

February 2007 newsletter

Montgomery College Capital Budget Notes and Montgomery College Fact Sheet. The College received only $1.2 million (of an anticipated $27 million for a new Science Center) in the Governor’s FY 2008 budget and is requesting help from the community to advocate for urgently needed funding. Details of who to write to/call are in the newsletter.

Minutes from 9/17/2006 general membership meeting (Word doc) -- thanks to Kay McMahon.

Snow Removal Note
When enough snow falls to warrant plowing, City of Rockville residents are asked to park off the street so the roads can be plowed. If that is not possible, please park on the even-numbered side of the street. After the odd-numbered side has been plowed, cars should be moved to that side so the even side can be plowed. Otherwise, there is no way plows can do both sides of the street up to the curb.

If you have any photos you'd like to share (especially anything seasonal for the space above), send them over, to htriolo at this domain (or drop off at 606 Mannakee).