Northwood News ♦ June 2004

President’s Message

By Charlie Pritchard

We are approaching our summer break for the period 9 June-8 September 2004, during which there will be no executive board or membership meetings scheduled.  Only an extraordinary event will interrupt this summer hiatus.  There is, however, at least one issue that could become “extraordinary” and that is any action in the near future by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) and/or the County Recreation Department to initiate action on the North Four Corners Park for which both agencies have announced development plans.  It is worth reminding everyone in our civic association that these agencies, in a spectacular demonstration of bureaucratic bumbling, have spent and continue to spend taxpayer dollars on competing plans, neither of which have been greeted with approval by our civic association.  A decision on this issue may have to be faced head-on and could require action on our part.  This would not be the first time that we have opposed actions by our governing bodies, namely, MNCPPC and the County Executive and Council.  We have a special committee headed by Carole Ann Barth and Jim Zepp dedicated to consideration of this problem.

Another interim action must be taken in accordance with our by-laws through appointment and action by a Nominating Committee to determine and present a slate of candidates for the coming 2004-2005 year.  Election of officers must take place after 1 September (Labor Day), presumably on the first scheduled meeting on 8 September 2004.  Officers must be elected for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four directors.  I will endeavor to appoint a committee.  Applicants can contact me [contact details redacted].

Pluses and Minuses

We have seen some improvements in our quality of life during the past year.  The arrival of the Trader Joe’s store, replacing a long vacant and eyesore retail building, should prove to be a positive benefit.  At the same time, work advances on the construction of a facility for the Federal Drug Administration at White Oak, which will provide a stable work force and, hopefully, new residents.  The State Highway Administration (SHA) is carrying out intersection improvements at several choke points along Route 29 (Colesville Road) that may provide some relief from the crushing congestion on this major north-south arterial road.  Plans for HOV/HOT lanes on the Capital Beltway (I-495) may alleviate similar congestion.  Both the County Executive and Governor Ehrlich are pressing for funding and construction of the InterCounty Connector, which they and its proponents promise will further reduce congestion (see article).

We have a new environmental group — Neighbors of the Northwest Branch — which has assumed stewardship of one of our most precious natural resources:  a stream valley of surpassing natural beauty and charm as well as providing healthy outdoor recreation.  The Neighbors will join other similar stream steward organizations in maintaining clean water and natural habitat standards of the Northwest Branch.  The “Neighbors” are concerned by the loss of trees carried out as part of the Trader Joe’s project.  They would like to know what the site plan is for the project and whether or not parking will produce more storm water runoff into the Branch (see article).

Our property values remain high and crime is relatively low by comparison with “hot spots” not far removed from us.  Gang activity in the “down county,” however, seems to be increasing.

Our military involvement overseas has led to fears of increased international terrorism and local terrorism, resulting in threats against the general national capital area, which suffered attacks on the Pentagon in September 2001, the following anthrax crisis and the “sniper crisis.”  We have also suffered the vicissitudes of tropical storms — most recently, Tropical Storm Isabel — with power outages and extensive damage to our trees.  Our local county government is striving to assume a posture of emergency services that will mitigate these threats.  The Montgomery County Civic Federation has established a Public Safety Committee with subcommittees specializing in issues relating to the police and fire departments, homeland defense, public health, and natural disasters.  We have representation on some of these subcommittees.  We also support the local police through annual Night Out celebrations (see article) and by lobbying for a public safety helicopter unit that the County Police Department currently lacks.

Appreciation

At this time, I would like to thank the members of the present board of directors and our newsletter editor from the bottom of my heart.  I could not have had a better or more dedicated group to support our neighborhood.

Living in Montgomery County, which has endured a recent period of financial loss of revenue and curtailment of public services, has not always been easy.  We need an active and responsive civic association to follow events and policies that can radically affect our quality of life.  There has been, moreover, a generational turnover, some movement of long-time residents to other areas, spurred by favorable increases in home values, and replacement by new neighbors.  I hope that these new arrivals will consider service to our neighborhood as a needed contribution of time and energy.   ■