RCHCA Neighborhood News and Information

Spring, 2003

NEXT MEETING

The next RCHCA Meeting is scheduled for TUESDAY, May 13, 2003. Our meeting will run from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. and will be held at Grace Episcopal Day School (9411 Connecticut Ave.). The meeting had to be moved to Tuesday to accommodate the school.  Babysitting will be provided.

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

President
Marty Durbin
Vice President
Joe Rosenberg
Treasurer
Deanna Marcum
Secretary
Mike Baker
Past President
Shannon Hamm

Well that was a winter-and-a-half!  We blew through every snow day and snow shovel around, but it sure makes you appreciate this beautiful, blooming neighborhood even more.  Perhaps being shut in by bad weather made everyone anxious to reconnect, but as you’ll read in the Treasurer’s report below, we have greater participation and more dues-paying members in the association than we’ve had in some time.  We appreciate your participation, and hope you’ll join us at our meeting next Tuesday night (see notice above) where we will discuss potential projects and events for the rest of the year.

Among the items funded by your dues is a community directory.  The Directory was just updated in March, and you should have received your copy by now [thanks to Ryan Hamm for hand-delivering the directories as part of his Eagle Scout project].  Please let us know if there are any updates or edits needed to the directory, and we will post them in future newsletters.  If, by chance, you do not have a directory, or you are new to the neighborhood, I will bring extra copies to the meeting next week and to other events throughout the year.

Speaking of other events, we are planning to host the fourth annual “Concert in the Park” in September (tentatively Sept. 28), the Halloween Parade and Pot Luck October 26, and the annual meeting and potluck dinner in January, 2004.  We’re looking forward to a great year!

If you have questions about items in the newsletter – or items not covered in the newsletter – please don’t hesitate to contact any of your Board members.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Dear Rock Creek Hills Neighbors,

Thanks to all who have paid dues for 2003. You will see from the Treasurer’s report below that our financial position is better than it has been for several years (certainly for the four years I have served as Treasurer). I am deeply grateful to all of you who responded to our letter. Thanks to you, RCHCA will be better able to respond to the needs identified by the association.

We appreciate your contribution to our community.

Cordially,

Deanna Marcum, Treasurer

Rock Creek Hills Citizens’ Association

Financial Report

April 1, 2003

Balance, January 1, 2003

$6,877.43

Dues collected

13,501.00

Total Income

$20,378.43

Expenses:

 

Mailing of newsletters

468.95

Mailing of dues notices

636.37

WSSC

12.75

Replacement grills

825.00

Web hosting

75.00

Potluck supper expenses

195.22

Bank fees

75.43

Total expenses

2,788.72

Account Balance, March 31, 2003

$18,089.71

Respectfully submitted,

Deanna Marcum, Treasurer

 

COVENANT APPROVALS

9816 Old Spring:          Deck installation

9807 East Bexhill:         Deck and fence installation

*Please look on our web site (www.rchca.org) for a home improvement “check list” and sample “neighbor notification” form.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

May 13, 2003              RCHCA Mtg., 7:30pm Grace Episcopal

Sept. 28, 2003             Concert in the Park (tentative date)

Oct. 8, 2003                RCHCA Mtg., 7:30pm Grace Episcopal

Oct. 26, 2003              Halloween Parade and Pot-Luck

DIRECTORY UPDATES

As you are aware, an updated RCHCA Community Directory was published last month and each household should have received a copy.  Please be sure you make note of any corrections, additions or changes and send them in writing to Sam Hoxie (9711 E. Bexhill Drive), or by email to samhoxie@comcast.net

If you did not receive your copy, please contact Marty Durbin, or just plan on coming to the May meeting where copies will be available.

TRAIN NOISE UPDATE

On February 24, 2003, a letter from RCHCA was sent out to Council members Silverman and Perez, with copies to other Maryland officials at the local, state and national level.  The purpose was to bring them up to speed on this issue, especially in light of the fact that FRA indicated they would be promulgating their final regulations "soon", and that Council member Derick Berlage, who had been quite helpful on this issue, was no longer on the County Council.  Responses to us came from Council member Silverman and Senator Mikulski, both expressing interest in assisting on this matter as soon as FRA goes public with its final regulations.  As to when that will be, FRA remains optimistic that we are still talking about a short period, and when I inquire if that means a few more months, they say quite possibly. Depending upon how long this drags on, we will see whether a request from a public official for a more explicit timetable can be obtained from FRA.

SAFEWAY REPLACEMENT UPDATE

The preliminary plan for remodeling/expanding the Kensington Safeway was submitted to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission in early April.  MNCPPC is requesting comments from residents of Kensington, including RCHCA, for their review.

Without our input, we will not have a voice.  The plan is on display at the Town of Kensington, but it is subject to change.  Please send comments to MNCPPC, Development Review Division, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910.  Phone number is 301-495-4595.  Please refer to file number 1-03075.

WE LOVE OUR DOGS….but

WE LOVE OUR DOGS!  Please remember, however, to pick up after your pets, and to be considerate of neighbors if your dog(s) are barking late in the evening.  THANKS.