Northwood News ♦ February 2017

President’s Message

By David Rotenstein

Happy New Year, neighbors.  The election’s history — in more ways than anyone could have imagined — and the holidays are over.  We’re on the upward swing in the calendar towards spring and, as presidents are fond of saying this time of year, the state of our union, er, neighborhood, is strong.  Our neighborhood association has money in the bank, a core group of dedicated volunteers, and the best newsletter in Montgomery County.

Ever since Northwood Park was platted and the first homes built in 1936, our neighborhood has had civic organizations devoted to building community and advocating on our behalf with county leaders.  That’s 80 years of community engagement that has been passed from one generation to the next.  The newest leaders, yours truly included, always benefit from our predecessors whose indefatigable work has left its mark.  I was reminded of this around Thanksgiving when we learned that longtime activist Jim Zepp suffered a debilitating stroke.

Jim is in rehabilitation now and folks from across the neighborhood have been visiting him and supporting Jim’s wife, Carole Barth, with meals for him.  NFCCA board member Kevin Harris created an online tool to register volunteers to help.  It’s people like Jim, Carole, and Kevin who remind me why I love this neighborhood.  At the December membership meeting, several cards were passed around for Jim and folks were able to send their wishes for a quick and full recovery.  I would like to underscore that sentiment here:  Get well soon, Jim.

Also at the December meeting we heard from Councilmember Tom Hucker.  Again, we gave him an earful about the lack of progress in resurfacing our roads and he assured us, again, that our roads will be fully rehabilitated in the 2017 construction season.  I hope so.  It’s a promise that we’ve heard far too many times only to learn that it’s as sound as the crumbling asphalt in front of our homes.  I’m not reassured by the lack of progress made before winter forced the county’s contractor to pack up for the season but I am still willing to give Councilmember Hucker and the DOT staff the benefit of the doubt.  Stay tuned; construction season begins soon.

Speaking of winter, even though we’ve had some really warm days recently — 70 degrees the second week in January — there’s still lots of time for us get another Snowzilla-Icemageddon or whatever the name du jour will be.  In the last newsletter we announced the start of a Snow Angels program.  It pairs willing snow shovelers with elderly residents who might need help when the big one falls.

Sidewalks that haven’t been shoveled are dangerous and they’re much more than a simple inconvenience.  Obstructed and icy sidewalks make it difficult for folks with mobility issues — the elderly and people who must use walkers and canes — and they make it unsafe for children walking to school or to bus stops.  Plus, it’s the law:  Montgomery County code requires all sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours after the end of a precipitation event.

No one is exempt:  homeowners, renters, and businesses.  Homeowners can be fined $50; an amendment to the law last year created higher penalties for businesses, up to $750 for repeat offenses.  To report un-shoveled sidewalks, call 311 or 240.777.0311.

Finally, if you’re reading this newsletter, then you’re engaging with your neighbors and your neighborhood association.  This newsletter is delivered to almost 1,500 homes in our neighborhood.  But there’s a lot more to NFCCA than what you read here or online.  Wouldn’t it be great to find out what some of us who write these articles look like?  Or, better yet, discussing some of the subjects you read about here with the county officials we entrust with our tax dollars?  Contrary to neighborhood folklore, our meetings are much more than flogging sessions for the latest Montgomery County public enemy.

Why not take the next step and come to the next NFCCA meeting?  Introduce yourself, have a snack, maybe win a prize, and help keep our organization relevant and one of the unadvertised amenities you get when you move to the neighborhood.  Just like spring, the next generation of community leaders is just around the corner.  All we need to do is meet you.   ■