- Sep 30 2012 cleanup
- From Ed Murtagh
Sweep the Creek and National Public Lands Day
- RAIN OR SHINE
- Sunday, September 30, 1-3pm
- Sligo Creek Park at the Kemp Mill Shopping Center
This fall's Sweep the Creek will be held on Saturday, September 29, from 9-11am. and Sunday, September 30, from 1-3pm. Please click the link below to view the meeting sites for each participating section.
We are also happy to announce that our Sweep the Creek will again this year be part of the larger "National Public Lands Day," the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In the past, as many as 150,000 volunteers worked together on this day throughout the country on behalf of our natural resources.
We welcome individuals, groups, families, and students-students can receive service-learning credit for their work (we provide the forms and signatures). We also provide gloves, bags, water, and guidance on what help is most needed in each section (some sections may also request help with removing invasive plants). All you need to bring is your community spirit-and a willingness to get a little wet and dirty!
There is no need to sign up ahead of time, but if you will be bringing a group or have questions, it is best to contact the Sweep Coordinator ahead of time.
We look forward to sharing the honor of stewardship with you during this fall's Sweep the Creek, and thank you in advance for your partnership in this wonderful event.
|
- Reporting Pollution in Sligo
- From Kathleen Michels
Reporting Pollution in Sligo: www.fosc.org/ReportProblems.htm
If anyone notices possible pollution, one of the quickest ways to have it
investigated is to send a quick email to the team in Montgomery County's
office of Environmental Compliance, of the Department of Environmental
Protection. Environmental Compliance's Steve Martin wrote that most of the
team receive email on their cell phones, so someone may be able to
investigate pretty quickly (during normal work hours) - although response
time will vary, depending on competing other matters and proximity. Send
email to the entire DEP team using ReportSligoPollution@fosc.org
Also please call 311 - BUT YOU MUST HAVE AN ADDRESS FOR THEM OR THEY WON"T
TAKE IT. So try ot find the nearest address- even if it is a shopping
center.
Also post it to the DEP reporting form if you want to be really thorough
(see reporting park problems on www.fosc.org for the form).
For construction site run-off also call DPS at: 240-777-6259. Again - try to
have as close an address as you can get as well as cross streets.
PHOTOS ARE ALWAYS GOOD!
|
- Sligo cleanup 25 Sep 2011
from Ed Murtagh
-
-
Mark your calendars for Sunday Septemger 25.
- Our Community Spring Clean will be from 2 to 4.
- We will again meet at the park by the Magruder's Grocery Store.
- Meet at the sign-in table to pick up supplies and directions:
- Bags and gloves will be provided, along with water to drink
- Students can get service credit
- Wear long sleeves and long pants and waterproof boots/waders for best protection
- More info at FOSC
|
- Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee
Notes from the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee (WRAC) meetings:
|
- What to do if your pet is lost
- put together some information that will be helpful in your search
(this information is also available at http://mcmdlostpets.blogspot.com/):
|
- Wheaton Rescue Squad building
-
From Kathleen Michels
Below is a a summary of the Wheaton Rescue Squad meeting.
You may also find interesting this overiview article in the Wheaton Patch:
How Green Is Their Building?
I am sorry for the delay in thanking you! Thank you very much for taking time out if you busy schedule to
come meet with members of the community! It really is much appreciated and we will relay information back to our civic associations. It was also great to meet Mark Drury the builder and former member of your Board who is savvy and enthusiastic about green building techniques. We hope you take his suggestion to write in LEED type or other sustainable alternatives to your RFPs /contracts.
We also appreciate your offer to have us look at the landscaping plans.
That might be one of the easiest places to "tweak" as Mark put it to make the building and site more
friendly to local air and water. Perhaps a "green wall or two could be worked in -
really just specialized trellises with greenery but can make a huge difference in heating cooling costs,
water quality control and air quality.
Speaking of air we really do appreciate your insistence on cleaning the diesel of particulates instead of
simply venting outside (As a neuroscientist I an tell you we are coming to learn how damaging breathing in
particulates is; not just to the lungs but also to the brain, especially the developing brain).
Given the location near residences, the library and rec center makes that all the more important.
I did receive a request after the meeting from a resident near the site- asking about a promise made years ago
with the immediate neighbors of triple pane windows for their homes on the sides facing the rescue squad
to soundproof them. Perhaps it is best if l give them your contact information.
We look forward to having the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad in our midst and as a good neighbor.
We also look forward to the follow up as we discussed on landscaping/greenery and any updated plans.
Please let us know who we should talk to about that and if we can help you in any way.
Followup note from
Kathy.. |
And for the record - Tom explained the engines don't turn their sirens on until they are away
from the station and even then not until and unless they need to. Having lived just about next to
the Bethesda rescue squad with a newborn in an old drafty single paned window house I can attest to the
fact that there can actually be very little noise from a rescue squad. They were very good neighbors.
|
Original note from
Kathy.. |
I am confirming for tonight 7-9 pm at 2424 Reedie Dr.. In addition to hearing about the WVRS plans,
we will mention the Army Corps Anacostia watershed restoration plans for the area, the
recommendations for the neighoring library redevelopment in that plan and what similar
possibilities there might be at this stage for the WVRS site (those which could easily fit into current
WVRS plans). MIke Smith (who is a WVRS volunteer) is a member of hte Anacostia water quality advisory
group can help provide additional details on the restoration plans and a link to them. As you may know
the county is working on bioretention projects in the area - particularly in parking lots and along streets,
and the WVRS site might be a good site for such a practice integrated with the redevelopment.
|
|
- MoCo Winter Storm Information Site
-
The MoCo announcement ...
December 2010
Patrick Lacefield, Director | Bonnie Ayers, Editor
Montgomery County officials today announced the launch of a new, online tool that will make it easier
for residents to decide when to safely venture out following a snowstorm.
The map tool will show the progress of snow plows throughout the County and indicate when emergency roads,
primary neighborhood streets and neighborhood streets have been cleared.
A zoom feature allows residents to focus on the plow status of their immediate neighborhood and
surrounding streets and then zoom out to check on an entire trip route.
more details...
|
- Calling police for emergency (August 2010)
-
From Carol Hilewick... "I asked for clarification on who to call and when. Here is what Officer
Hidayat recommends.
As far as suspicious activity, my recommendation is that if someone in
your community feels that they need to report a suspicious situation to the
police, they should dial our Emergency Communication Center. The phone
number is 301-279-8000 or if it is an Emergency dial 911. The police
station number is 240-773-5500 but keep in mind that is not the number to
dial when confronted with a suspicious situation. The appropriate number to
dial is our non-emergency number 301-279-8000.
As far as when to report, I would suggest to leave that decision to the
individual. What is suspicious to one person may not necessarily be
suspicious to another person. Therefore, I would leave it up to the
individual to make that decision. However, if you believe that you or any
member of your community may have information that would lead the police to
identifying a suspect in a crime, I would encourage you to provide that
information by calling either one of the above numbers to get in touch with
us.
|
- New way to report a problem in the county (311)
-
New way to report a problem in the county (311)
http://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/Home.aspx
|
- Who to notify about power outages
-
Submitted by Kathleen Michels, 06 February 2010 Daniel, 09 December 2009
For Montgomery County residents experiencing Power outages, please call your local power company:
| Pepco | 1-877-737-2662 |
|---|
| Baltimore Gas and Electric | 1-877-778-2222 |
|---|
| Allegheny Power | 1-800-255-3443 |
|---|
Residents needing to report downed trees can call the Storm Operations Center 240-777-6000.
|
- RAINscape your yard.
-
from Kathy
Followup information on RAINscaping your yard.
If you are interested in having one of us come to assess your yard and suggest options and
possible grants/rebate programs please email/ call Ed or I (Kathy):
Remember you also can get $25 back per tree from the state and the county has programs as well.
For more information also go to:
www.rainscapes.org or
fosc.org.
The announcement of the Nov 11 meeting also contains some details.
|
- Sector plan
-
Dear Wheaton Community:
M-NCPPC-MC Planning staff will be presenting Preliminary Recommendations for the Wheaton and Vicinity Sector
Plan to the Montgomery County Planning Board on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 2009.
Public testimony will be taken.
Sandy Tallant, Lead Planner
Wheaton Sector Plan
|
- Wheaton Redevelopment
-
from Ed Murtagh
During our community meeting last month, many
indicated an interest in being involved with the
Wheaton Redevelopment. The first thing we need to do
to be effective is to familiarize ourselves with those
aspects of land planning and zoning that will drive
Wheaton redevelopment over the next 20 - 30 years.
Click here for a list of resources and organizations we
will need to be familiar with and/or be involved with.
The current Gazette has an
article on the Georgia Ave
Study. You will see that this is on the list of key studies
we need to be involved with. This study will help
drive land planning along the Georgia Ave corridor
including along Wheaton.
We held a Wheaton Redevelopment Committee meeting to
start to get up to speed and plan a meeting of the
full association featuring key officials involved with
Wheaton Redevelopment to our community.
There are other upcoming meetings noted in the
document, and more will be planned. We need to
develop a position and represent it at these meetings.
If you're interested in getting involved and not
already on the Wheaton Redevelopment Committee, please
contact Leah Haygood
|
- Traffic Cameras
-
~2007 announcement ...
Montgomery County police unveils its new Residential Automated Speed Enforcement Program
There will be a 30-day period in which only warnings are issued.
After the trial period, citations will be issued
to owners of vehicles that are photographed going at
least 11 miles per hour over the posted speed
limit, officials said. Fines for violations will be $40,
but no points will be assigned to a driving record
for convictions. Citations can be contested in
Maryland District Court.
There are also about seven mobile units that will rotate. They are vans parked on the side of the
road.
|
- Hazardous Waste Dropoff
-
Reminder: the Shady Grove Transfer Station now has a permanent HHW
receiving area, open year-round: Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m.
We have a new shortcut to our Hazardous Waste information:
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hazardouswaste
Comments? Suggestions? -- I welcome your input so that these notices
are as useful as possible for you.
Susanne Brunhart Wiggins
susanne.wiggins@montgomerycountymd.gov
Montgomery County, MD, Division of Solid Waste Services
|
- Recycling Plastic Info
-
Some interesting pointers from the county
on plastic recycling.
|
- Wheaton Survey
-
Wheaton Survey for residents
The link below allows the community to voice their opinion and/or concerns
with their local experiences in the Wheaton area. This survey helps MCPD
focus on areas of concern within our community and helps make your trip to
the Mall a safer one.
The bottom of the page also allows you to register your or your students
bicycles with MCPD, and could help you reclaim property, should it find
a new home . . summer is coming . . . . .
www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/oaklandes/montgomery_county_police.htm
|
|
Sligo Creek News
|
|---|
- MLK (Jan. 2009) Vine Clearing Event- thanks to all who turned out!
-
posted by Kathy 301-922-3816
We want to thank everyone who turned out for our community service
Vine clearing activity on MLK day in Sligo Creek Park at the Ladd St.
Access path and the trees along Sligo Creek!
Click here for the details, including a google photo of the area ...
What a great turn out! 24 people of all ages! About 75-80 person hours.
We'll post photos on the FOSC web site action log (www.fosc.org).
Volunteers also discovered a beaver dam (cool, but unfortunately using
some of the remaining trees).
We will ask the Parks asking for help in clearing, keeping clear and
replanting the area between the access path and the stormwater ponds and
around the ponds themselves. We've been trying to get attention to it
for over 10 years as we watch the trees become strangled, smothered and
finally fall, doing what we can ourselves and with volunteers. As you
saw the trees are now all gone in the area next to the path- only the
non-native invasive plants (mile a minute vine , multiflora rose,
porcelain berry and japanese honeysuckle) you were clearing away remain.
We don't want our hard work to have been in vain. So our next steps
will be to get some help from the parks to get and keep the area clear
and replant .
There was enthusiasm from community members to adopt the area and a
facebook group has already been started by one enthusiastic member of
the community (Marc) to get the word out and support the effort. We'll
soon send out information on that.
Again here is the map link to the site. I had to use an actual street
address to get a map (so 1571 Ladd) . You all worked on the area north
of the creek right next to the bridge over the Ladd St. access path to
the main bike path. On the map you seed the bright light brown areas
from the stormwater ponds on upstream to the bridge - this is all the
highly invaded streamside buffer area . We would like to see that whole
area restored by removing the invasives and replanting (including around
the stormwater pond).
Link to google map (using 1571 Ladd St)
|
- Monitoring the Health of Sligo Creek
-
A note on how you can help monitor the
health of sligo creek
|
- Spring 2005 Sligo Creek Cleanup from Ed Murtagh
-
From Ed Murtagh....
I would like to thank everyone who participated in
this year's Community Spring Clean up. We had about
25 people out there working on Sunday afternoon. The
weather was great. We found lawn mowers, fertilizer
spreaders, shovels, posthole diggers, etc., enough
lawn equipment to fill a backyard shed. We cleaned
out dozens of bags of trash (way over 1,000 pounds
removed). We all had a good time.
We have some pictures.
|
|
- Sligo wildlife (from Ed Murtagh)
-
If you are interested in the wildlife in and around
our community, you might find this interesting. As
you may know a fox has been seen running around the
community a lot recently. Owl and hawk sightings have
become more common. Recently, Amy Cassagnol mentioned
that she saw a new beaver dam in Sligo Creek just
below University Blvd. I went out there and sure
enough a big new dam was built. I posted a
photo of the dam
As
you can see, the dam is right next to the hiker/biker
path. I understand from Amy, who has been monitoring
the dam for us while goes on her runs, that the county
is now trying to remove it (it is causing some local
flooding.) If you have kids, you might want to take
them to see it before it is totally removed. A lot of
other animal sightings have been seen and
posted to the
web.
If you see anything interesting, please post it on wildlife list.
It helps us get a better idea of the ecological
health of the park and the surrounding communities.
|
|
- Pictures from Sept. 2004 Sligo cleanup
-
Firehose and
Kids hauling sofa
|
|
|
- Yard care tips
-
A synopsis of a presentation
|
|
- FOSC newsletter
-
Friends of Sligo Creek Sept. 2004 newsletter.
Friends of Sligo Creek August 2004 newsletter
Friends of Sligo Creek July 2004 newsletter
Friends of Sligo Creek June 2004 newsletter
Friends of Sligo Creek May 2004 newsletter
|
|
- June 2004 Newsletter
- It's here!
(and the Feb '04 and
the Nov '03 newsletter))
|
|
- The Nairn/Blueridge Ave development plan
- The SHCA is concerned with the proposed
housing development proposed for Blueridge Ave.
|
|
-
In July 2003, M-NCPPC announced a carry-in, carry-out policy.
-
|
|
- Past happenings and hot issues.
- Can be found here!
|