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Takoma Weekly Report: July 12 - 16

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:22:50 -0400

1. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of July 19:
- City Council meeting, Monday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
(Vote to convene in closed session at 6:45 p.m.; reconvene in the
Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.)
All meetings are in the Community Center and open to the public unless
noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for
cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)

2. Teens On The Move: The first week of Teens On The Move proved to
live up to its name. Each day, teens began their day by engaging in
exercises via sports such as tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball
and/or a relay race. Field trips included two days of swimming,
bowling, go-karts, ice skating and a campus tour of Georgetown
University. During the home economics portion of the program, teens made
colorful pancakes from scratch and distributed samples of their
creations to the Recreation Department staff. To identify their career
paths, the teens created personal posters of where they plan to be in a
5- to 10-year span utilizing magazine pictures and articles. Another
week of Teens On The Move will take place on Monday, July 19. Limited
space is still available. (Recreation)

3. ZUMBA is Coming!: On Saturday, July 10, a free Zumba class
demonstration was given. Zumba is the newest workout craze. The Zumba
program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create
a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. The goal is
simple: We want you to want work out, to love working out, and to get
hooked. Zumba helps you achieve long-term benefits while experiencing
an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning,
body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate
for life! Stay tuned for the start date of the class. (Recreation)

4. Camp Recess Completes its Third Session: The session was sold out
and the campers had another enjoyable week. They had many successful
events and activities this week that centered on the theme of nature.
Some of the activities included were a nature walk, a game of
*Who/What* is missing in nature, *Money Ladies," as well as an
exciting kickball tournament that featured boys against girls, to name a
few. (Recreation)

5. NEW Fitness Equipment to the Recreation Center!: This week Takoma
Park Recreation Center was the recipient of fitness equipment. The
Recreation Center received 13 pieces of equipment that will assist in
the enhancement of the fitness room. The list of equipment includes one
treadmill, two stair masters, three recumbent bikes, three stationary
bikes, and four ellipticals. Come on out to the Recreation Center and
enjoy the workout. (Recreation)

6. Preparing Seniors for Emergencies: Paula Lisowski, Seniors
Program, began an outreach effort to distribute emergency preparedness
information, as well as health, recreation and general resource
information to seniors in Takoma Park. This week she visited the Meals
on Wheels headquarters, Victory Tower and Franklin Apartments. In the
coming weeks, she will distribute this information to other apartment
buildings, organizations, and locations in Takoma Park. In addition,
the emergency preparedness information is available in the Senior Room
of the Takoma Park Community Center, and a notice will appear in the
August edition of the Silver Foxes Newsletter. (Recreation)

7. Senior Mediation Event: The film, Senior Mediation, with a
discussion lead by Wolfgang Mergner, was held for Takoma Park Seniors in
the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center on Friday, July 16 at
12:30 p.m. A light luncheon was provided for the participants prior to
the film at 11:30 a.m. in the Senior Room. (Recreation)

8. Basketball, Pizza, and Neighbors!: On Thursday, July 15, residents
from the lower half of Grant Avenue provided ten pizzas to Y.E.S. League
participants an
d their friends. The Takoma Park Recreation Department
and Grant Avenue neighbors are looking forward to the summer of 2010 by
providing enjoyment, exercise, and inspiration to the children of Takoma
Park.

All high school age youth are invited to participate in this free
program.
·         Location: Outdoor basketball court * Takoma Park Community
Center (7500 Maple Ave)
·         Thursdays (through August 12), 6:00 * 8:45 p.m.
·         This basketball program is free for high school age kids.
·         For more information please call (301) 891-7290.
(Recreation)

9. RBI Baseball, Coach Gary Weinstein, and Takoma Park Recreation
Department: Recreation enthusiasts alike know the importance of
coaching youth. Coach G, an avid baseball enthusiast and active
participant with the RBI Baseball program, held a baseball camp in
Washington, DC this past Thursday. Coach G and Eric Rasch introduced
training techniques and ideas with the purpose of improving as a player,
both on the field and in life. (Recreation)

10. Y.E.S. League: Middle school games are rocking and everyone is
having fun! In case you didn*t know, the place to be on a Tuesday
night is the Piney Branch Elementary School gym. This is where you can
find Takoma Park basketball with a great atmosphere with competitive
games each night.   Similarly, the volunteer coaches are dedicated to
working with the kids and provide an unbelievable energy that the kids
and parents appreciate. For more information, call (301) 891-7290.
(Recreation)

11. Free Legal Advice - Buying or Refinancing Your Home?: Before you
sign on the dotted line, get connected with a volunteer attorney who
will explain the fine print, review your purchase contract and mortgage
documents, confirm your interest rate and let you know your legal
rights. First-time home buyers must attend a pre-purchase counseling at
a state approved nonprofit housing counseling agency. Request an
application for the free legal service by e-mail at
mfp@civiljusticenetwork.org or by calling 410-706-0174 as soon as you
begin buying or refinancing your home. (Housing and Community
Development)

12. Second Credit Management Workshop - July 28: Don't miss the
second Credit Management workshop, which will be held on Wednesday July
28 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple
Avenue. You will learn effective credit management techniques.
Pre-registration is required to attend this class by calling
301-891-7222. Class size is limited. (Housing and Community
Development)

13. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 77 traffic
stops, which resulted in citations, four vehicle impounds and two
Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) arrests from traffic.

During July 8-14, 2010, the following details were completed:

July 8, 2010
-   1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) * conducted a
60-minute detail and issued four State citations for speed and three
other citations.
-   1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) * conducted a
30-minute detail and issued one State citation for speed.

July 12, 2010
-   7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue (various violations) *
conducted a 60-minute detail and issued four State citations and one
Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO).
- 1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) * conducted a 2-hour
detail and issued nine State citations for speed and one other State
citation.
- 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) * conducted a 2-hour
detail and issued seven State citations for speed, three other State
citations and one warning.

July 13, 2010
- 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) * conducted a 2-hour
detail and issued eight State citations for speed and two other State
citations.
- 1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) * conducted a
60-minute detail and issued three State citations for speed and one
other State citation.
- 7500 block of New Hampshire Avenue (speeding) * conducted a
60-minuet detail and issued three S
tate citations for speed and one
other State citation.

July 14, 2010
-   1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) * conducted a
60-minute detail and issued three State citations for speed.
- East West Highway at New Hampshire Avenue (improper turn
enforcement) * conducted a 90-minute detail and issued five State
citations and one warning.
-   1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) * conducted a 3-hour
detail and issued 12 State citations for speed and one other State
citation. (Police)

14. Traffic Officer Stats (Cpl. Michelle Holmes):

Week ending 7/10/10
Hours worked: 28.5
Calls for service: 3
State Citations issued: 57
Safety Equipment Repair Orders (SEROs) issued: 3
Warnings: 5
Reports: 14
Court: 2.5
On View arrests: 1
(Police)

Takoma Weekly Report: May 24 - 28

Sat, 29 May 2010 18:42:40 -0400

1. Holiday Closings: Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the Takoma Park Community Center and Recreation Center will be closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Library will be open this Saturday, May 29, and closed Monday, May 31. The Computer Center will be closed Saturday (May 29), Sunday (May 30), and Monday (May 31). The Police Department is always open. (Recreation/Library)  2. Council Meeting Break: The City Council will not meet the week of May 31. The next meeting will be Monday, June 7. At this time, there are no official City meetings scheduled the week of May 31. (City Clerk)  3. Auditorium Grand Opening: On Monday, the Grand Opening of the Takoma Park Auditorium capped off two weeks of free cultural events in the Community Center. The renovation of the old council chamber was funded by Federal, State, and Washington Adventist Hospital funds. At the Grand Opening, we thanked Congressman Chris Van Hollen (represented by Karen McManus) for the Federal funds; Senator Jamie Raskin, Delegates Sheila Hixson (represented by Monica Ettinger), Tom Hucker and Heather Mizeur for Maryland Bond Bill funds; Barry Christy for Program Open Space funds; and Jere Stocks, President of Washington Adventist Hospital, for the hospital's contribution. The Mayor and these honored guests helped cut a "green" ribbon made of plant material to officially open the auditorium for use. The ceremony was preceded with a reception on the Community Center "green roof" and then followed by the first City Council meeting in the newly renovated space. (Deputy City Manager)  4. "Look In/Look Out, Portraits in Progress": The original artwork by members of Studio Downstairs/Create Arts Center, a therapeutically informed and progressive art studio program for adults living with post-traumatic stress syndrome and mental illness, will be on display in the Atrium Gallery from June 4 through July 9. Please join us at the opening reception on Friday, June 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Housing and Community Development)  5. "Unique Perspectives: The Healing Power of Making Art": A community and professional symposium, organized in conjunction with the "Look In/Look Out" exhibit, will be held on Friday, June 4 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Featured guest speaker is Matt Sesow, self-taught artist and author. Panel discussion on the personal and societal context of art making as a healing process follows. Symposium is free and open to the public. Pre-registration encouraged. CEUs available. For more information, please contact Sally Brucker at sbrucker2@gmail.com or call 301-588-2787. (Housing and Community Development)  6. New Exhibitions Director Announced: The Arts and Humanities Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Griffiths, local artist and Takoma Park resident, to the position of Exhibitions Director. In this role, Mr. Griffiths will oversee the Commission's exhibitions program, serving as the primary contact for coordinating exhibitions, working with the AHC and others to solicit and review proposals, and assist exhibitors in logistical activities. His appointment becomes effective July 1st. (Housing and Community Development)  7. Golf and Tennis Camp: Takoma Park Recreation Department's Golf and Tennis Camp, Ages 9 - 12, June 28 - July 2, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. has three spaces left. Learn the fundamentals, skills and etiquette of each sport. This specialty camp runs from 9 a.m. - noon. After lunch, campers will participate in recreational activities with a larger camp group to include art projects, sports, swimming and fun! Maximum 10. The cost of the camp is $140 for TP residents and $150 for Non-residents. Go on online to register activenet.active.com/takomaparkrecreation or stop by the office from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Recreation)  8. Seniors Gardening: Garden Month for Seniors ended on Monday, May 24 with our final presentation "Organic Gardening for Home Foods" by Marian Fryer. This presentation contained valuable information on creating your own organic garden to grow safe, nutritious foods without using any health-threatening pesticides. (Recreation)  9. Seniors and Art: Seniors traveled by Recreation Bus to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday, May 25. They enjoyed visiting the individual art studios and galleries inside the building, the beautiful waterfront outside the building, and small shops along the streets in historic Alexandria. (Recreation)  10. Officers in Meetings: - On May 24, Chief Ricucci, Lt. Bowers, Sgt. Skibicki and Cpl. Malarkey met with Dan Seid of ACS to discuss the expansion of the Speed Camera program. - On May 25, Chief Ricucci met with a District Court Commissioner to discuss applications for warrants. (Police)  11. Officers in Training: - On May 24 to 26, Capt. Coursey attended the Maryland Chief's of Police Law Enforcement Executive Officers Training Program in Sykesville. - On May 24 to 26, Sgt. Andrew John attended the first of a three week training program entitled "Leadership in Police Organizations" at the Montgomery County Police Academy. - On May 24 to 26, Pfc. Joseph Butler attended training entitled "Interview and Interrogation" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. - On May 25 to 27, various officers in the police department attended the 2010 Spring Range training at the MPCTC Firearms Training Facility in Sykesville. (Police)  12. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 55 traffic stops, which resulted in citations and four vehicle impounds.  During May 19-26, 2010, the following details were completed:  May 19, 2010 - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 3-hour detail; issued six State citations for speed; and seven other State citations.  May 21, 2010 - Flower Avenue & Jackson Avenue (3-way stop enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued two State citations. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 40-hour detail; issued 11 State citations for speed; and six other State citations.  May 23, 2010 - New Hampshire Avenue & Kirklynn Avenue (seatbelt enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued six State citations.  May 24, 2010 - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 4-hour detail; issued 12 State citations for speed; and four4 other State citations. - Lockney Avenue & Hammond Avenue (traffic circle enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail; issued one State citation for speed; one other State citation; and one warning.  May 25, 2010 - Erie Avenue & Maple Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail; issued four State citations for speed; and one warning. - 1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) - conducted a2?-hour detail; issued eight State citations for speed; and five other State citations. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 90-minute detail; issued four State citations for speed; and one warning.  May 26, 2010 - 1100 block of University Boulevard (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail; issued one State citation for speed; and three other State citations. (Police)  13. New Traffic Officer Stats for First Two Weeks (Cpl. Michelle Holmes): - Hours worked: 80 - State Citations issued: 182 - Safety Equipment Repair Orders (SEROs) issued: 8 - Warnings: 7 - City tickets: 4 - Reports: 25 (which includes selective enforcement logs and impounds) - Warrant arrests: 1 (Police)  Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

Takoma Weekly Report: May 17 - 21

Sat, 22 May 2010 13:06:39 -0400

1. Dedication and Tour of the Auditorium: The City Council will begin meeting in the new auditorium on Monday, May 24. Residents are invited to join the City Council and other elected officials from 7 - 7:45 p.m. for a reception and walk through of the auditorium from 7 - 7:45 p.m. At 7:45, there will be a ribbon cutting. The City Council meeting will begin at 8 p.m. (City Clerk)  2. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of May 24: - City Council meeting, Monday, May 24, in the Auditorium (vote to convene in closed session at 6:00 p.m.; recess at 6:30 for the reception and Auditorium tour; reconvene for the City Council meeting at 8:00 p.m.) - Recreation Committee meeting, Monday, May 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room - Tuesday, May 25, Arts and Humanities Commission meeting, 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room. All meetings are in the Community Center and open to the public unless noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)  3. Sligo Creek Parkway: Sligo Creek Parkway, which was closed due to water and sewer line projects, was re-scheduled to be opened on May 17, but work has been delayed. WSSC has informed the City that the parkway will be reopened by next Friday, May 28. (Public Works)   4. First Time Home Buyer Class Held May 15: Seven prospective home buyers attended the first time home buyer class sponsored by the City of Takoma Park and LEDC (Latino Economic Development Corporation) last Saturday. All attendees earned a certificate of completion for a First time Home Buyer class which can be used to access low interest loan products offered by Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. The next class will be offered in English and will be held on Saturday June 26, from 8:30am-1:30pm. Pre-registration is required by calling 301-891-7222. (Housing and Community Development)  5. Free Legal Services Available for First Time Home Buyers and Refinancing Owners: Civil Justice, Inc. a non-profit public interest law firm has been funded by the Governor's Office on Crime Control and Prevention to provide free legal review to first time home buyers and to owners who are refinancing their homes. Before you sign on the dotted line, request an application to see if you are eligible to receive this service, free of charge. An attorney will review your purchase contract and mortgage or refinance documents. First Time Home Buyers must have attended a pre-purchase counseling class at an approved agency. To request an application, call 410-706-0174 or e-mail mfp@civiljusticenetwork.org. (Housing and Community Development)  6. Help Thank the Funders of Our New Auditorium!: Stop by the Takoma Park Community Center on Monday from 7 - 8:15 pm, walk through the new Auditorium and Green Roof and have some refreshments. At about 7:45 pm we will cut a "green" ribbon and thank Chris Van Hollen for federal funding, District 20 Representatives and Barry Christie from Program Open Space for State of Maryland funding, and Jere Stocks, President of Washington Adventist Hospital, for the hospital's funding. No City of Takoma Park or Montgomery County funding was used in the renovation of the auditorium or the creation of the green roof. Come and enjoy these new community spaces and contributions to our "green" infrastructure! (Deputy City Manager)  7. County Council Restores $300,000 of $600,000 Cut: At Friday's straw vote on County Budget Reconciliation items, the Montgomery County Council restored half of a $1.5 million cut to Montgomery County municipalities. With a proposed cut of $600,000, Takoma Park was hardest hit by the cut to tax duplication payments made by the County Executive in response to declining County income tax revenue. (Deputy City Manager)  8. Bulk Buy Tree Planting: Twenty-five (25) trees purchased in the spring bulk buy were planted this week. (Public Works)  9. Bid Opening: Public Works Renovation bid opening occurred on Thursday, May 20. Nine bids were received. The bids appear to be within budget and will be evaluated over the coming week. (Public Works)  10. Partnership with The Friends of Takoma Park Library Continues: The Friends of the Takoma Park Library made a donation to the Takoma Park Recreation Center. A book case and 76 books were donated to the Kidz City after School Program. A reading program will be implemented through Kidz City in which participants will receive credit for completing each book. (Recreation)  11. Aesthetically Pleasing: The Recreation Center received a face lift on the far wall of the gymnasium with the arrival of new wall mats. Faced with peeling paint on the wall from the removal of mirrors that have been there for over 20 years, the Takoma Park Public Works Department was able to install wall mats to enhance the appearance of the gymnasium. (Recreation)  12. Seniors Enjoy Gardening Tips: Seniors kicked off Garden Month with presentations by Master Gardeners: Pat Kenny, Container Gardening, and Growing and Using Herbs, on Friday, May 14, and Gary Cahn, Starting Seeds Under Light, on Tuesday, May 18. The next presentation by Marian Fryer, Organic Gardening for Home Foods, will be in the Senior Room on Monday, May 24, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Recreation)  13. Seniors on the Go!: Seniors traveled by recreation bus to Old Country Buffet on Wednesday, May 19, and to the annual Senior Celebration in Cambridge, Maryland on Thursday, May 20. Delicious food and beautiful weather made for some memorable excursions. Next week, the Seniors will round out this active month by traveling to Alexandria, Virginia, to visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Tuesday, May 25. (Recreation)  14. Recreation Department Teen Leadership Council - Coming Fall 2010!: - What is the Teen Leadership Council?: The Takoma Park Recreation Department's Teen Leadership Council will be comprised of a group of diverse teenagers ages 13 - 18, representing the youth voice of the Recreation Department and Takoma Park community. Youth participants will strengthen relations between youth and their community through innovative leadership opportunities in recreation and service learning.  - What will the Teen Leadership Council Do? The Teen Leadership Council will assist the Recreation Department staff in generating fresh ideas for youth programming ensuring relevance to the City of Takoma Park youth population. Participants will also attend developmental workshops to improve leadership, social skills and develop a service-learning project.  - Why should you apply to join the Teen Leadership Council? By participating in the TLC you will be able to assist in developing programs and services to benefit Takoma Park youth. You will participate in valuable learning experiences and gain knowledge and skills that will prepare you for college or future endeavors. - How Do I become a member of the Teen Leadership Council? There is a two-step process in becoming a member of the Teen Leadership Council. The first step is completing a TLC application that can be picked up at the Takoma Park Community or Recreation Center or by calling 301-891-7289. The next step will be to have fun! Both steps "must" be completed to be considered for the Teen Leadership Council. Applications will be made available in September 2010. - Do I get service-learning hours for participating on the Teen Leadership Council? The Teen Leadership Council will plan and implement their own service learning project for which participants will receive SSL hours. In addition to all of the above, this kind of experience looks great on college and job applications! (Recreation)  15. Workout for Y.E.S. League! (Monday, May 24): The 2010 Y.E.S League workout will take place on May 24 at Piney Branch Elementary School. Each Division will be broken down by the following times.   5th-6th Grade - 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.; 7th -8th Grade - 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.; 9th- 10th Grade - 7:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.; 11th-12th Grade - 8:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.  Sign up on or before Monday, May 24, to take place in the organized workouts. During the workout, coaches will evaluate players based on skills and abilities. This program is provided by the Takoma Park Recreation Department. Please call 301-891-7290 for more information. (Recreation)  16. T-Ball is Almost Full!: We only have a few more spots for the K-1 Takoma Park T-ball program. If you are thinking about registering, now is the time. For more information please visit http://takomaparkmd.gov/recreation/ or call 301-891-7290. This program is provided by the Takoma Park Recreation Department. (Recreation)  17. Officers in Meetings: - On May 18, Chief Ricucci met with the residents of the SS Carroll community to discuss community concerns. - On May 19, Chief Ricucci held his monthly Chief's Advisory Board meeting. (Police)  18. Officers in Training: On May 17 and 19, various officers in the police department attended the 2010 Spring Range training at the MPCTC Firearms Training Facility in Sykesville, Maryland. (Police)  19. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 38 traffic stops, which resulted in citations and one arrest from traffic.  During May 12-18, 2010, the following details were completed:  May 12, 2010 - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (no right turn) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued 10 State citations. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 3?-hour detail and issued 13 State citations for speed, and three other State citations.  May 13, 2010 - University Boulevard & Anne Street (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued one State citation for speed. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 4-hour detail and issued nine State citations for speed and nine other State citations. - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (no right turn) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued eight State citations.  May 15, 2010 - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. - Maple Avenue & Lincoln Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. - Philadelphia Avenue & Holly Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued one citation and one warning.  May 17, 2010 - Poplar Avenue & Spring Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued three State citations for speed, one other State citation and one warning. - Flower Avenue & Garland Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued six State citations.  May 18, 2010 - 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 3-hour detail and issued 11 State citations for speed, and five other State citations. (Police)  Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

Auto Break-ins Hit SOSCA

Mon, 17 May 2010 22:03:23 -0400

On Saturday, May 15, 2010, beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m., through to Sunday, May 16, 2010, at approximately 7:30 a.m., there were seven (7) theft from autos reported that occurred at the following locations:

600 block of Houston Avenue
1000 block of Heather Avenue
7200 and 7300 blocks of Trescott Avenue (2)
100 block of Elm Avenue (2)
500 block of Lincoln Avenue

There is no suspect information at this time. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to please call us at 301.270.1100.

You can now use your cell phone to send a tip to the Takoma Park Police Department and remain 100% anonymous.

* Text to 847411

* Type TPPDTIP at the beginning of your message.

* Type your message including as much detail as possible to ensure that your tip is thoroughly investigated.

* Send your tip, knowing that you are helping to reduce crime in your community while remaining 100% anonymous.

Your tip is important and CAN make a difference!

If you see a crime in progress and need to contact the Takoma Park Police, please call 301-270-1100. If you need to report an emergency that involves the need for fire or rescue services, you must call 9-1-1.

Below are safety tips to take into consideration:

If you leave valuables in your vehicle, will they be there when you return? If they can see it, they can steal it. So, secure it!

Theft from auto can occur at any time, from any vehicle. Often, valuables left in a car are taken during the night, but daytime thefts can occur on busy streets, with nobody reporting any suspicious behavior.

What Property Is Stolen? The following items, although not all-inclusive, should be taken into your home, or you risk them being taken by thieves: cellular phones, money, purse, wallet, briefcases, CDs, iPods, portable GPS systems, laptop computers and sports equipment. Auto parts are also taken, including a vehicle’s license plate.

How? Method of entry varies too. Unlocked cars with valuables in easy reach are as common as a window or door lock broken to gain entry.

Deterrents:

Vehicle Theft: Many auto parts stores sell steering wheel locks which are inexpensive; these are a major deterrent to vehicle theft.

For License Plate Theft: a unique screw, which requires a special tool to release the license plate, is available from auto parts stores. The cost can be as low as $4.

What you can do:

Lock doors and close windows completely.
Remove valuables from the vehicle or lock them in the trunk where they are out of sight.
Do not leave electronic devices or accessories visible. (A cigarette lighter plug or cassette adapter are tell-tale signs of valuables in the car. Replace the lighter when exiting the vehicle.)
Do not leave money in the car.
Park in your garage, if you have one, or in a well-lit area.
Install "tapered" door lock or an anti-theft device that has a visible indicator.

Aid to Recovery: Some valuables can't be taken out of the vehicle, such as a stereo or speakers. When installing custom sound equipment, record the serial numbers and/or engrave your driver's license on the items before installation. If stolen, those numbers could make a difference in locating and recovering the property, and prosecuting the thieves.

Catherine E. Plevy Executive Assistant Public Information Officer (PIO) Office of the Chief of Police 7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
cathyp@takomagov.org  (301) 891-7142

Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

Takoma Weekly Report: May 10 - 14

Sat, 15 May 2010 16:57:53 -0400

1. Public Hearings on the FY 2011 Tax Rate and Budget: There will be two public hearings on Monday, May 17 at 8:15 p.m. in the Azalea Room. The first will be a public hearing on a proposed real property tax increase. The second public hearing has been scheduled to provide an opportunity to comment on the FY 2011 Budget. The full public hearing notices may be found at:  http://takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/notices/index.html. (City Clerk)  2. Ward 4 Night - Monday at 6:30 p.m: On Monday, May 17, the Council will host a Ward Night for residents of Ward 4. This is part of a series of ward-focused events hosted by the City Council. Ward 4 residents are invited to gather in the Community Center Atrium Lobby at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and an opportunity to chat, one on one, with City Councilmembers. The first part of the City Council meeting, beginning at 7 p.m., will be devoted to hearing from Ward 4 residents about issues of interest and concern. (Note the time change -- reception at 6:30 p.m., comments at 7 p.m.) (City Clerk)  3. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of May 17: - City Council meeting, Monday, May 17, in the Azalea Room (vote to convene in closed session at 6:00 p.m.; reconvene for Ward 4 Night comments and Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.) - Board of Elections meeting, Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room All meetings are in the Community Center and open to the public unless noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)  4. "We are Takoma" Celebration Continues: Tonight we return to Takoma Park's rich musical tradition at 8 p.m. with performances by Billy Coulter and Maureen Andary. Drawing on influences as varied as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash to Mott the Hoople and Squeeze, singer/songwriter and 5x WAMMIE award winner Billy Coulter has defined an organic sound that seems familiar but is definitely new. According to the Washington Post, "Billy's a pro, he does Roots Rock about as well as it can be done." Maureen Andary's voice has been described as "aged beyond its years, quirky and sweet, powerful and muted, able to mold itself to each distinct mood." Maureen sings classic jazz and blues as well as original songs that are inspired by the chord changes of 1930s pop music. A great night of music! (Housing and Community Development)  5. Hyena in Petticoats: Be sure to save a spot on your schedule tomorrow night for a staged reading of selected sections of Grace Cavalieri's award-winning play, "Hyena in Petticoats." Joining Grace in the reading is Rose Solari as Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of modern feminism; Jimmy Patterson in the dual role of Wollstonecraft's lover, Gilbert Imlay, and her husband, William Godwin; and Ken Flynn as Wollstonecraft's publisher, Joseph Johnson. As with the other events being held in celebration of the opening of the Takoma Park Auditorium, performances are free. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. For more information  http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/auditorium/index.html We hope you can join us! (Housing and Community Development)  6. Book Sale!: The Friends of the Library Book Sale returns this Saturday. Join us for wonderful books at bargain prices - from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Library lawn. (Library)  7. Takoma Park Piney Branch Park Renovation Project: The Recreation Director and Assistant Director met with a representative of Maryland National Park and Planning Commission and Mr. Generlette, Principal of the Piney Branch Elementary School, to discuss the park renovation project located behind the school. Because of the scope of the project, it is being completed in phases and the group was brainstorming on ways to make areas of the park available for school recess during construction. With safety as the primary focus of the discussion, ideas were exchanged on partial fencing, adjusting the phasing, and maximizing the opportunity for taking advantage of the summer months. Given all of the complexities of contract approvals and the bid process, the actual start of construction is not yet certain. More information will follow. (Recreation)  8. Partnership Brewing: Takoma Park Recreation Department discusses programs with the Montgomery County Street Outreach Network (SON) & Takoma Park Police Department. John Webster, Takoma Park Recreation Center, met on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 with Richard Brown from the Montgomery County Street Outreach Network (SON) and Detective Charles Hoetzel of the Takoma Park Police Department to discuss programming options for high risk youth that are faced with challenging situations.  More discussions are planned and we are exploring options to introduce new activities within the next few months. (Recreation)  9. Recreation Staff Training: Recreation Department full-time and part-time staff have begun the process of re-certification in Bloodborne Pathogens, First Aid, CPR, and AED. Training sessions have been scheduled systematically over the next month and is a requirement for all staff that work in the Recreation Department. (Recreation)  10. Y.E.S. League: Registration is underway for the 2010 "Youth Exposed to Success" basketball league. Sign up on or before Monday, May 24, to take part in the organized workouts. During the workout, coaches will evaluate players for team placement. This program is provided by the Takoma Park Recreation Department. Please call (301) 891-7290 for more information. Volunteer coaches are needed! (Recreation)  11. Teen Girl Power Self Defense Class: On Wednesday, May 12, 15 teens participated in a female self defense workshop held at the community center. During the 2 hour workshop the girls openly discussed fears, concerns and realistic options regarding self-defense. In addition to engaging in physical defense methods, the girls were given effective options of how to prevent or avoid dangerous situations. Refreshments were served at the completion of the workshop and certificates will be distributed to all that participated.  (Recreation)  12. Faculty vs. Student: Gregory Clark and Eric Rasch, Recreation full-time mangers, volunteered to referee at the rematch basketball game of the faculty vs. students at the Takoma Park Middle School. The teachers won the first game back in March by two points and the students challenged them for another shot at victory. All allegations from the teachers of recreation staff favoritism toward the students is completely unfounded! (Recreation)  13. Task Force on Environmental Action Report: The City's Task Force on Environmental Action has issued its final report to the City Council. The Council is scheduled to discuss the report at the May 24 City Council meeting. The report may be viewed at: http://takomaparkmd.gov/committees/tfea/index.html. (City Clerk)  14. Setting the Bar: Chief Ricucci was informed by the University of Maryland, working with the Governor*s office, that they will be providing updated and free training on Crime Analysis and CompStat.  They also selected Takoma Park, based on our participation and current program, to be a pilot project for enhanced training, programming and evaluation. (Police)  15. Monday Recycling Collection Day To Change the Week of May 17 to 21: If you have had your recycling (commingled bottles and cans and papers) collected on Monday, your weekly collection day will change to the same day of the week that you receive trash collection. This change is possible due to the larger recycling collection vehicle and our single stream recycling collection. A flyer was been delivered to the 800 households affected. Recycling will still be collected by a separate truck. Bottles and cans should be placed in the recycling bin, newspapers and mixed papers should be put in paper bags or tied in bundles (this insures the paper won't become litter and makes it easier to separate from other recycling at the processing facility). (Public Works)  16. Community Center Sidewalk Improvement and Basketball Court Construction (City Wide): Construction work for some sidewalk improvement and an outdoor basketball court will begin on Friday, May 14, in the back of the Community Center near Grant Avenue. The work should be completed in roughly three weeks, assuming good weather condition. On-street and off-street parking along Grant Avenue will be unavailable, while the parking lots accessible from Philadelphia and Maple Avenues will not be affected. Vehicular access from Philadelphia and Maple Avenues will remain open, and disturbance to the Grant Avenue exit will be kept minimal. For more information, contact Carman Lam at (301) 891-7219, or CarmanL@takomagov.org. (Housing and Community Development)  17. Commercial District Business Questionnaire (Citywide): Planning staff distributed a questionnaire to all known for-profit and non-profit enterprises within City commercial districts this week. The questionnaire collects contact information, and asks questions related to retention and expansion as well as needs in order to better design and target City programs and deliver assistance. The aggregated data will also provide a snapshot of the City's commercial districts and market sectors. (Housing and Community Development)  18. New Hampshire Avenue K6 Bus Line Public Meeting (Ward 2, 3, & 6):  Metrobus Staff hosted a meeting for riders of the K6 bus Wednesday evening. Riders expressed concern regarding extreme crowding, traffic delays at Riggs, Blair and New Hampshire Avenue, infrequency and lateness of buses, and poor condition (including leaking roofs) of older buses. Metrobus project team members presented a variety of service changes that may be considered including limited stop express service, more buses, articulated buses, congestion pricing, breaking the line into smaller segments, and rerouting. (Housing and Community Development)  19. New Ave Greening and Gardening Grant (Ward 2, 3, 6): The City's New Hampshire Avenue Community Gardening/Greening and Beautification Program has received two applications, one in Ward 2 for a beautification screening project and one in Ward 6 for a community garden on a commercial lot. Work is in process to install water at the Ward 6 Hillwood Manor Sligo Creek community garden per a previously granted award. (Housing and Community Development)   20. Financial Planning Class Held May 12: A financial literacy class does not have to be boring! That was the lesson of the night, as Christopher King, an experienced financial counselor, spoke about how to change your life by changing your philosophy on finances. This was the second of two classes offered by the City of Takoma Park and Mr. King. Everyone who attended enjoyed the class and left very excited to begin new chapters in their lives. If you are interested in attending future Financial Literacy classes, please call Linda Walker at 301-891-7222.  (Housing and Community Development)  21. First Time Home Buying Class (Spanish) Saturday, May 15: The Department of Housing and Community Development is sponsoring a First Time Home Buying Class that will be conducted in Spanish on Saturday, May 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. The Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) conducts the class and there will be expert speakers from a lending institution, a title company, an inspection firm and a real estate office. Those attending will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class, which can be used to obtain low interest loans through the county and the state. LEDC is a HUD approved housing counseling agency. For further information about first time home buying classes, call Linda Walker at 301-891-7222. (Housing and Community Development)   22. Removal of Illegally Posted Signs and Flyers (City-wide): Code Enforcement staff focused its efforts on the removal of signs and flyers illegally posted on utility poles this week. A total of 93 illegal signs along University Boulevard, New Hampshire Avenue and Holton Lane were removed on Tuesday, May 11. Efforts will continue in the ensuing weeks. Code Enforcement staff encourages residents to remove and recycle any flyers or signs illegally posted in their neighborhood. The posting of flyers and signs on lamp posts, utility poles and other public property or in the public right of way is illegal under City Code.  (Housing and Community Development)   23. The Children*s Author: Thanks to the Friends of the Library, sports journalist and children's author Fred Bowen will be featured next Thursday, May 19 at 7:30pm, in the newly renovated auditorium as part of the opening weeks' celebration. This is a great family program. He will sign copies of his book, which will be available for sale. (Library)  24. Officers in Meetings: - On May 10, Chief Ricucci attended the Montgomery County Police Memorial Service in Rockville. - On May 11, Chief Ricucci met with the residents of the Pinecrest community to discuss community concerns; and, Chief Ricucci, along with Mayor Williams and City Manager Matthews, attended the Montgomery County Council meeting. - On May 13, Chief Ricucci attended the business meeting of the Crossroads Development Authority (CDA) at the Tiffin Restaurant, along with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, HCD Director and Councilmembers Snipper, Seamens and Schultz; also, Capt. Coursey attended the monthly Emergency Preparedness meeting. (Police)  25. Officers in Training: - On May 11 and 12, Pfc. Mitchell attended in-service training at the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy in Welcome, Maryland. - On May 11 through 19, Sgt. Gilbert, Sgt. Poole and Cpl. Rodriguez are attending an Enhanced Instructor Training Program at the MPCTC Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in Sykesville, Maryland. (Police)  26. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 71 traffic stops, which resulted in citations, one vehicle impound, two arrests from traffic, one Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) arrest from traffic and one warrant service.  During May 4-13, the following details were completed:  May 4, 2010 - 1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) - conducted a 2-hour detail and issued six State citations for speed and one other State citation.  May 7, 2010 - 1000 block of University Boulevard (speeding) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued four State citations for speed and one other State citation. - Poplar Avenue & Spring Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued two State citations. - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued four State citations.  May 8, 2010 - Poplar Avenue & Spring Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued one State citation. - 1000 East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 3*-hour detail and issued 12 State citations for speed, and seven other State citations. - Wildwood Drive & Anne Street (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings.  May 9, 2010 - 1100 block of University Boulevard (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued one State citation.  May 10, 2010 - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (no right turn enforcement) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued 13 State citations. - 1000 East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 3*-hour detail and issued 15 State citations for speed and five other State citations.  May 11, 2010 - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 90-minute detail and issued four State citations for speed and three warnings. - 1000 East West Highway (speeding) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued three State citations for speed and one other State citation. - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (no right turn) - conducted a 3-hour detail and issued State citations and three warnings.  May 12, 2010 - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued two warnings.  May 13, 2010 - Maple Avenue & Erie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings. (Police)  Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

New Hampshire Resurfacing Begins

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 21:46:36 -0400

The State Highway Administration (SHA) has announced the start of a $1.9 million safety and resurfacing project along MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) between the DC line and MD 410 (East West Highway) in Takoma Park, Prince George’s county. Weather permitting, construction will be complete in the spring of 2011.   The project includes removing the top layer of asphalt and resurfacing the existing roadway. Other work includes cleaning and repairing existing storm drain inlets and pipes, replacing guardrails, concrete medians, curb and gutters, and installing new pavement markings. The pedestrian ramps at the intersection of MD 650 and MD 410 will be upgraded to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Video detector loops and signal upgrades to audible/countdown pedestrian signals (APS/CPS) will be installed at the intersection of MD 650 and MD 410. Traffic loop detectors will be repaired at the intersection of MD 650 and Sheridan Street, MD 650 and Ray/Poplar Road, and the Takoma Center entrance.   During construction, motorists will encounter single lane closures along northbound MD 650 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and southbound MD 650 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. In addition, there will be single lane closures overnight Sunday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the grinding and resurfacing phase of the project.   The City's Public Works Department will be communicating with the Project Manager from SHA throughout the project. Any questions about the work as it affects Takoma Park can be directed to Daryl Braithwaite, Public Works Director, at 301-891-7615 or DarylB@takomagov.org. Any other questions can be directed to SHA's District Community Liaison, Kim Frum, at 301-513-7405.   This project has received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Catherine E. Plevy Executive Assistant Public Information Officer (PIO) Office of the Chief of Police 7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
cathyp@takomagov.org  (301) 891-7142

Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

Takoma Weekly Report: Mar 29 - Apr 2

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 21:39:55 -0400

 1. Public Hearing on Proposed Issuance of a General Obligation Bond: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed issuance of City of Takoma Park General Obligation Bond 1-2010 in connection with a private negotiated bond sale to SunTrust Bank. The proposed Ordinance approves the issuance by the City of up to a $1,400,000.00 general obligation bond to pay a deficit arising from less asset value than accrued benefit for prior and current City employees under the State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland. The public hearing will be held on Monday, April 5, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Written public comments may be submitted to clerk@takomagov.org. (City Clerk)  2. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of April 5: - City Council meeting on Monday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. in the Azalea Room - Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting on Thursday, April 8, 8:30 a.m. in the Hydrangea Room. All meetings are in the Community Center and open to the public unless noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)  3. Opening Reception Tonight: "Old to New," an exhibit of found object clocks and lamps by Takoma Park artist, Randall Cleaver, will be on display in the Atrium Gallery from March 31 through April 30. Please join us at the opening reception on Friday, April 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Atrium Gallery, located on the main level of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Housing and Community Development)  4. Did You Mail Back Your Census Form?: About half of Takoma Park's households have returned their Census forms, but many more need to do so. Mail return rates from Takoma Park Census Tracts range from a low of 44% to a high of 60%. Every household not counted means fewer services and less money for each of the next ten years for our community! If you haven't mailed your form back and you have some questions, stop by the Census Questionnaire Assistance Center in the Takoma Park Community Center Atrium. It is staffed Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 - 8 pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm. (Deputy City Manager)  5. Construction Projects: - Flower Avenue Bridge Repair: As the foundation work is completed, super structure repairs and drainage correction as well as guard rail replacement is on going. There will be periodic traffic control over the bridge as necessary. - Linden Avenue Project: The construction will continue by installation of "Wet Land Modular" starting April 2. - Manor Circle: Sidewalk repair and new sidewalk extension is ongoing. - Carroll Avenue: At Sherman and Boyd (7300 Block) - sidewalk repairs are ongoing. (Public Works)  6. Accepting Applications for Exhibitions Director: The Takoma Park Arts and Humanities Commission is accepting application for an Exhibitions Director to promote and coordinate its growing exhibitions program. The selected individual will be appointed to serve one year, from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. The Directorship is not a paid position; an honorarium of $2,000 will be awarded. Deadline for submitting your application is 4 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2010. Additional information is available online at http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/arts/Exhibition%20Director%20Posting%202010.pdf. (Housing and Community Development)  7. Long Branch Sector Plan Office Hours (Ward 5): Find out more about the Sector Plan and share your thoughts on the plan with the project manager. On Tuesday, April 13, and Tuesday, May 11, Sector Plan staff will hold office hours at the Long Branch Library from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is the second of three scheduled opportunities to be offered this spring. Feel free to drop by and talk with staff about your ideas for your community. The Long Branch Library is located at 8800 Garland Avenue. "Office Hours" are scheduled for 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. For more information on the Long Branch Sector Plan visit www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/longbranch. (Housing and Community Development)  8. Save the Date! Long Branch Workshop (Ward 5): Mark your calendar for two workshops on visioning and concept refinement to take place two consecutive Wednesdays in April - April 21 and April 28. Both workshops will be held in the Long Branch Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at 8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring, and will form the basis for the Long Branch Sector Plan. Learn more: www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/longbranch. Contact: MCP-LongBranch@mncppc-mc.org. (Housing and Community Development)  9. Save the Date! Zoning Code Rewrite Project Open House (Citywide): Learn more about the M-NCPPC Zoning Code Rewrite Project and offer feedback. Meet the consultants, interact with staff, browse displays, and express your thoughts! The Open house will be held on Tuesday, April 20 from 7:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. at Park & Planning Headquarters, 8787 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring. A presentation is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.ZoningMontgomery.org, contact Lois.Villemaire@mncppc-mc.org or call 301-495-4512. (Housing and Community Development)  10. K6 Bus Study - Get on Board! (Wards 2, 3, 6): The K6 bus travels from White Oak to Fort Totten along New Hampshire Avenue. Metrobus has proposed the K6 as a priority bus corridor and is currently studying it to determine what improvements might be made to improve service. Other priority corridor projects to date include Georgia Avenue, Viers Mill Road, and Benning Road/H Street NE. Metrobus will be handing out questionnaires to riders and any others that are interested in providing their opinion on Wednesday April 21. The types of potential changes will depend on the community and jurisdictional backing for improvements. For example, substantial changes such as express buses or dedicated lanes could be considered. The website for this project is not yet online. (Housing and Community Development)  11. Which Economic Indicators Show Progress? (City-wide): Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) is asking community just that question. There are two more meetings which you may sit in on to help shape the answer. Join CHEER in the Columbia Room (Room 210) of Wilkinson Hall April 8 and April 22 on the campus of Washington Adventist University (on Flower Avenue across from Washington Adventist Hospital). Dinner will be provided at 6:30 p.m. and the session starts at 7 p.m. For more information see www.communitycheer.org. (Housing and Community Development)  12. Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Letters (Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6): Letters are being mailed to residents on street segments proposed to receive sidewalks on Central, Garland, Hilltop, Lee, Wildwood, and the Community Center notifying them that planning work is beginning and to expect a meeting later this summer once design is initiated. (Housing and Community Development)  13. Facade Advisory Board Site Walk (Ward 1 and 3): On Saturday, March 20, members of the Facade Advisory Board were joined by City staff for a site walk in the Old Town and Takoma Junction area. The walk identified ways to improve the accessibility, safety, and aesthetic qualities of the area, and items that require repair and maintenance. The Board will work with City staff in coming year to resolve the issues. (Housing and Community Development)  14. Middle School Spring Break Concert Tonight!: Rizzy, the King of Harmony, is ready to perform all of his hit songs at tonight's middle school event. Larancuent, also known as Rizzy, was born in the Dominican Republic and his music is described as a Latin-urban sound. The free event is open to all youth, grades 6 - 8, with school ID's. Doors open at 7:00 PM, Rizzy performs at 8:00 PM. Location: Takoma Park Recreation Center (7315 New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park) (Recreation)  15. Recreation Guides Are Here!: Takoma Park residents will be receiving the Spring/Summer Recreation brochure in this month's Takoma Park Newsletter so keep your eyes on that mailbox. Extra copies are available at the Takoma Park Community Center, Recreation Center and library. Register now! (Recreation)  16. Activenet Day at the Community Center: Come to the Takoma Park Community Center on Saturday, April 10, from 2-5 p.m. to learn how to use the new registration software. Recreation staff members will be on hand to help you set up an account or to register you for any of the spring or summer programs. (Recreation)  17. Co-Ed Softball: Registration is now open for the Takoma Park Adult Coed Softball League. Sunday Doubleheader Schedule. Roster limit is 25 and must consist of at least 50% T.P residents to qualify for resident entry fee. Registration limit is to eight teams, on a first-come first serve basis. Coaches meeting on April 16, 2010. Individuals interested in signing up can register and will be placed on a team by the recreation department. (Recreation)  18. Hillwood Manor Community Association Meeting: On Wednesday, March 31, 2010 Takoma Park Recreation Center hosted the Hillwood Manor Community Association meeting. This meeting was well attended by community members and served as an opportunity showcase the recreation center and some of the program opportunities that are available. The guest speaker for the evening was Police Chief Ricucci. (Recreation)  19. Winter Basketball Wrap-Up Meeting: The 2010 Winter Basketball Wrap-Up Meeting took place on March 31, 2010. Overall the coaches and commissioners were happy with the way the League ran this year and everyone is already planning for next year's league. Issues that were discussed ranged from program communication, officiating, rules, facilities as well as any other miscellaneous topics. Once again, the Recreation Department would like to thank all of our volunteer coaches and commissioners for a fantastic season. (Recreation)  20. Spring Break Teen Happenings: Spring Break week for the teens was full of excitement and education. Each day of the week teens participated in a variety of community services. Monday began with the Takoma Park version of the TV show "Flip This house". Eleven teens ventured off to the home of a Takoma Park senior citizen where they transformed her basement from a cluttered room to a big wide open area. On Tuesday and Thursday the teens provided volunteer services to the Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville, where they participated in the educational events for young children showcasing insects and reptiles. On Wednesday, they engaged in much needed services at the Takoma Park Community Center. By week's end, 14 teens successfully earned 24 SSL hours each and were treated to a fun filled day at Kings Dominion on Friday, April 2. (Recreation)  21. Spring Break Camp: Spring is in the air, but the best of summer happened this week. Thirty school age children went swimming at Rollingcrest Pool, sang camp fire songs, learned about rhythm and rhyme from Jali-D and bowled under the glow lights at Strike Bethesda. To round out the excitement we had an ice cream party, egg hunt and made spring craft projects. (Recreation)  22. Fun Day: There are still spaces available for the Fun Day Program next week. The day starts at 8:30 a.m. and pick up is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 5 we are going to Port Discovery. Tuesday, April 6 we are going to the Natural History Museum and the Botanical Gardens. TP Residents $25, Non-Residents $30. (Recreation)  23. Sign Up for 'Resume Boot Camp' with Gabriel Heilig: Sessions begin April 28. Call Ellen Robbins at the Library for more information, or check the April Newsletter. (Library)  24. Bedtime Story Hour Returns: On Monday, April 5 at 7:00 pm. Come in p.j.s and bring your favorite stuffed toy. Perfect for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their grown-ups. (Library)  15. Moby Dick: Friends Reading Group discussion of Melville's "Moby Dick" continues on Thursday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room. All welcome. (Library)  16. Petites Chansons: Join Madame Marie on Saturday, April 10, at 10:30 a.m. as she leads singing, rhymes and stories in French. For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Paid for by the Friends of the Library. (Library)  17. Officers in Meetings: - On March 31, Chief Ricucci attended a meeting with the Hillwood Manor Community Association residents. - Next week the City will participate with the County in one of its annual exercises for emergency management. This exercise will simulate a hurricane event (Hurricane Zoe). There will be tests of communication systems to simulate real-time capabilities, so people may receive messages from systems such as TP Alert. The messages will begin and end with the words "TEST" so that people will not believe them to be real, but some messages may request feedback in order to assess the extent of the communication to the public. The exercise will conclude with a day-long full scale activation of the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Thursday April 8. (Police)  18. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 69 traffic stops, which resulted in citations, four vehicle impounds, one arrest from traffic, two warrant services and one Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) arrest from traffic.  During March 26-April 1, 2010, the following details were completed:  March 26, 2010 - Poplar Avenue & Spring Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings.  March 27, 2010 Flower Avenue & Hudson Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued two State citations.  March 28, 2010 - 7500 block of New Hampshire Avenue (various violations) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued four State citations. - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued three State citations and four warnings.  March 29, 2010 - Poplar Avenue & Spring Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings.  March 30, 2010 - Spring Avenue & Poplar Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued no citations or warnings.  April 1, 2010 - Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (stop sign enforcement) - conducted a 60-minute detail and issued one warning. (Police)  Make Sure Everyone in Takoma Park is Counted! Census 2010 - It's in Your Hands.

Takoma Weekly Report: Feb 15 - 19

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:36:39 -0500

1. Residential Traffic Management Plan Public Hearing: A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. to consider a proposed Residential Traffic Management Plan for the Sligo Park Hills and City of Takoma Park communities. The hearing will be in the Azalea Room of the Takoma Park Community Center. The proposed Residential Traffic Management Plan is intended to discourage the use of Park Valley Road, Hilltop Road, Mississippi Avenue, Sligo Creek Parkway, Maple Avenue, Ritchie Avenue, and Geneva Avenue for non-local cut-through traffic during the morning and afternoon peak periods. The complete public hearing notice may be viewed at: http://takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/notices/index.html . The Ritchie Avenue Community Proposed Traffic Access Restriction Plan may be viewed at: http://takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/notices/ritchie_access_study_110209.pdf. (City Clerk)  2. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of February 22: - City Council Meeting, Monday, February 22, 7:30 p.m. in the Azalea Room - Arts and Humanities Commission, Tuesday, February 23, 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room - Public Hearing on Sligo Park Hills/Ritchie Avenue Community Proposed Traffic Access Restriction Plan, Wednesday, February 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Azalea Room - Task Force on Environmental Action Meeting, Wednesday, February 24, 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room - Recreation Committee Meeting, Thursday, February 25, 7:00 p.m. in the Rose Room All meetings are in the Community Center unless noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)  3. Enforcement of Snow Removal Ordinance to Resume on a Limited Basis Next Week: The City will resume its enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance on a limited basis beginning Monday, February 22. The primary focus of this initial effort will be along those routes where large numbers of children walk to and from school. Courtesy notices will be issued to property owners along the following streets who have failed to adequately clear the snow and ice from their sidewalks, providing a safe and passable walkway for pedestrians: Boston, Carroll, Ethan Allen, Flower, Grant, Holly, Maple, Philadelphia, and Ritchie Avenues. The City continues to encourage residents to work together to clear, as best as possible, the sidewalks of snow and ice, to shovel out the fire hydrants in your neighborhood, and to clear the areas used by school-aged kids and others waiting for the bus. There is still a lot snow out there, despite the warm temperatures we have had this last couple of days, and your help in our ongoing effort to clear the walks and roadways is greatly appreciated! (Housing and Community Development)  4. Tonight! Opening Reception for "This is Our Body": Please join the Arts and Humanities Commission tonight, Friday, February 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Atrium Gallery at the Community Center as we celebrate the latest collaboration of local poets and artists. Tonight's reception includes performances by poets Anne Dykers, Tiziana Lohnes, Anne Becker, James Landry, and Greta Ehrig; music by Jodi Beder, Tina Chancey, and James Landry; and dancers Nettie Legters, Elly Porter, Erin Joy Seibert and Orit Sherman. The exhibit can be viewed throughout the month of March. "This Is Our Body" is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the Arts thrive. (Housing and Community Development)  5. Children's Games: Tired of being house bound while the snow flies? Come to the Library tomorrow, Saturday February 20, when we will have special children's programs. Board-Game-O-Rama from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. will feature Sonja Kueppers leading kids ages 5 to 8 in a variety of exciting board games. Registration is required for this program, and there are still openings! Call the Library or register on-line at www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html. At 10:30 a.m., 'Mr. Gabe' will do an impromptu Circle Time for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their grown-ups. No registration is required. (Library)  6. Fair Return Rent Increase Petition Training for Landlords - February 24: If you are a Takoma Park landlord subject to the Rent Stabilization law and your costs for operating your rental facility have been growing at a faster rate than your rental income, you may be interested in learning more about the Fair Return Rent Increase Petition process. A training will be held on the Fair Return process on Wednesday, February 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Registration is required. To learn more, contact Ms. Linda Walker at 301-891-7222. (Housing and Community Development)   7. Long Branch Sector Plan Community Meeting - February 24 (Ward 5): Have your say on a long-term vision for Long Branch! Tell planners what you would like to see in your community. The Long Branch Sector Plan will explore ways to improve quality of life in the Long Branch community and create a safe, walkable community served by the proposed Purple Line stations. The meeting will be held at the Long Branch Library (8800 Garland Avenue) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24. Additional information can be found online at www.montgomeryplanning.org/LongBranch or by contacting the Montgomery County Planning Department at MCP-LongBranch@mncppc-mc.org or by phone at 301-495-4614. (Housing and Community Development)  8. HomeFreeUSA and Wells Fargo - Foreclosure Assistance: If you are experiencing difficulty in paying your mortgage and your loan is with Wells Fargo, HomeFreeUSA is sponsoring two Foreclosure Prevention days on Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On these days, you will be able to meet in a private consultation with a foreclosure prevention specialist and a representative from Wells Fargo. HomeFreeUSA is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency located at 3401 East West Highway in Hyattsville. To schedule an appointment, contact James Young at 301-891-4605 or register on-line at http://www.homefreeusa.org/index.php?ht=d/Events. Don't delay, as appointment times are limited. (Housing and Community Development)  9. The Library in Winter: Last Saturday, during the Presidents Day holiday weekend, a special Circle Time with Ms. Karen drew about 45 little ones and their parents, despite the drifting snow. Another 30 kids came to our Valentine crafts program that afternoon. We had an epic day of book checkouts and returns, and we needed extra staff to man the Library computer workstations as the Computer Center was closed. (Library)  10. Jazz Band: City TV staff covered the Jazz Band Brawl last weekend. This event featured three bands competing for the headline spot for the annual Takoma Jazz Fest, to be held on June 13 this year. Performances will start airing in March. (Communications)  11. The Poetry Series: City TV also covered the Third Thursday Poetry series held February 18, and will send crews to the "This Is Our Body" art exhibit opening in the Community Center tonight, February 19. (Communications)  12. Track 'N' Train (Ages 11 - 15) Registration is Now Open!: The Takoma Park Recreation Department is introducing boys and girls to physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle through running activities. Focus will be placed on warm ups, starting, sprinting, middle distance and relay techniques. Program starts in March. Takoma Park Residents: Free; Non-Residents: $20. Space is limited - registration required. For more information please visit www.takomaparkmd/recreation or call (301) 891-7290. (Recreation)  13. 2010 Co-ed Adult Softball League: This co-ed league takes place on Sunday mornings and is a great way to meet new people and enjoy old friends. In fact this year, the Recreation Department will take individual registrations for the Softball league. Registration starts in March. For more information, please contact (301) 891-7284 or (301) 891-7290. (Recreation)  14. T-Ball: The City of Takoma Park's Recreation Department is offering a Youth T-Ball League. The goal of this program is to emphasize learning and to expand new skills, participation and fun! The T-Ball program, for grades K-1, is a safe introduction to the game of baseball. The ball is hit off a stand (tee) instead of being pitched. The main purpose of T-Ball is to teach girls and boys the basics of baseball in a positive and safe environment. Every child gets to play. The 2010 season will run from June 12 to August 7, 2010 at Jequie Park, Spring Park, or Lee Jordan Field on Saturday mornings. Registration begins March 1, 2010. (Recreation)  15. Officers in Meetings: On February 18, Capt. Coursey attended an Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting and received feedback regarding the City's performance during the recent snow crisis. (Police)  16. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least 37 traffic stops, which resulted in citations and two vehicle impounds.  Enforcement details were low again due to the blizzard.  February 17, 2010 - 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue (various violations) - conducted a 30-minute detail and issued one State citation and one Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO). (Police)

New SOSCA Weather Station

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:19:38 -0500

Joe Edgell has provided a new weather station for SOSCA, providing weather data to every SOSCA resident.

There are four ways to check the temperature, wind, humidity, and the like for our little corner of the world. You can visit Joe’s blog at greenrenovation.us , the SOSCA website , the Weather Underground where the data is housed, or get your own console.

To get information for the Weather Underground click this link, then bookmark it in your web browser. Alternatively, if you visit the Weather Underground home page and enter our zip code of 20912 into the WUNDER search box, it should bring up the current conditions at the weather station. The station should display as “Elm & Larch, SOSCA, Takoma Park, MD.” Either way, you can view both current conditions and historical information since the station went live.

Finally, you may also view the weather data if you’re within wireless range of the weather station at Elm and Larch and have a Davis Instruments weather console. There is no limit on the amount of consoles that can pull data directly from the station. To be within range of the console, you must be no more than between 250 and 1000 feet, depending upon what's in your way (like walls). You can find additional information on Davis weather instruments here.

One quick note about wind speed. Wind speed is substantially affected by local topography, trees, bushes, and the like. Joe has tried to locate the station to get the best wind coverage. But be aware that wind speeds at the tree tops will typically be a lot higher than those near the ground. So if you're standing on a hilltop that's not surrounded by trees, it's likely to be much windier than what the weather station is reporting.

If you'd like to get your own weather station, you can report your data to either the Weather Underground or the Citizens Weather Observer Program. Weather Underground provides a nice description of the types of software and hardware available. Joe would be happy to tell you more about the tools he’s using for the station and reporting, if you're interested. Just send me an email to joe_at_edgell.us with the subject “weather station info” in the subject line.

Takoma Weekly Report: Feb 8 - 12

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:14:22 -0500

1. Storm Update: Since Friday, February 5th, Public Works staff, supplemented by contractual assistance at times, has worked around the clock to clear City-maintained streets in Takoma Park. Given the unprecedented snowfall amounts, this has been a daunting task. The City thanks residents for their patience and understanding as crews continue their work to open up more lanes and complete the plowing of City facilities.  The primary focus of City staff at this time is to clear major thoroughfares and heavily traveled streets and to clean inlets in low lying areas to lessen the likelihood of flooding. In an effort to assist the business community, City crews devoted part of the work day on Friday, February 12 to removing snow on Carroll Avenue, which is the responsibility of the State Highway Administration.  With more snowfall projected for early next week, Public Works staff will take a well needed-and much deserved-break this weekend and through the President*s Day holiday. Staff will respond to any emergency situation.  Recycling and refuse collection will resume on Tuesday, February 16.  Because of the suspension of collection service during the week of February 8, volumes will be higher than normal. While every effort will be made to collect refuse and recyclables on the assigned day, it is likely that some portion of the routes will not be collected on their scheduled day and will be collected later in the week.  Thanks also go to the Police Department staff for its hard work during the inclement weather. Dispatch personnel served as a critical communication link between City residents and Public Works. Patrol officers provided invaluable assistance by closing roadways impacted by downed power lines or fallen trees, identifying problem areas requiring immediate attention by the Public Works Department, and performing welfare checks. (City Manager)  2. Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of February 16: - City Council Ward 6 Night Reception, Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 p.m. in the Atrium Lobby. - City Council meeting (and Ward 6 Night), Tuesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. in the Azalea Room. - Washington Adventist Hospital Land Use Committee meeting, Tuesday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room. - Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting, Thursday, February 18, 8:30 a.m. in the Hydrangea Room. All meetings are in the Community Center unless noted otherwise. Contact JessieC@takomagov.org to check for cancellations or for additional information. (City Clerk)  3. Enforcement of Sidewalk Shoveling Suspended: Due to the record-breaking storm, the City recognizes the difficulties some may face in shoveling the full width of the sidewalks near their homes and businesses. Code Enforcement is therefore suspending enforcement of the City of Takoma Park's sidewalk clearing regulations through Friday, February 19th. Nevertheless, cleared sidewalks are very important for safety. Please make every effort to get the sidewalks shoveled as soon as possible so residents can avoid walking in the street. (Housing and Community Development)  4. Clearing Sidewalks is Hard Work!: If you need assistance in shoveling out your vehicle or sidewalk, here are some options: Ask a neighbor (maybe you can babysit or provide another service in return); hire a neighborhood kid, share information on listservs about people or contractors willing to do shoveling at a fair price; or hire a temporary worker through Casa de Maryland (301-933-4461, 301-926-0810, mpaige@casamd.org). Please exercise caution when shoveling!  (Housing and Community Development)  5. New City of Takoma Park Blog!: Visit http://www.cityoftakomapark.blogspot.com/ for news and information from the City of Takoma Park! (Communications)   6. Basketball Games Canceled: All basketball games that were to be played on Saturday, February 13, in the Tak oma Park Recreation Department League are canceled. The Montgomery County Public Schools are not opening the gyms this weekend as they continue to dig out from the storm. We will resume our schedule next Saturday. (Recreation)  7. Poetry Reading - Thursday, February 18: Do you write poetry? Are you interested in sharing your work? Consider participating in the open poetry reading on Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Gallery 3 on the third floor of the Takoma Park Community Center. The event is free and open to the public. (Housing and Community Development)  8. "This is Our Body" Opening Reception - Friday, February 19: Please join us as we celebrate *This Is Our Body," an exhibition of thematically linked multi-media work which explores human (often fraught) relationships with the physical body. The exhibit is Takoma Park*s third collaboration between poets and visual artist. The exhibit opens with a public reception on Friday, February 19, at 6:00 p.m., and will be on display in the Atrium Gallery through March 29.  Featured artists and poets include Marilyn Banner and Tiziana Lohnes; John Borstel and Greta Ehrig; Bonnie Lee Holland and Dan Vera; Stephane Janin and Anne Dykers; James Landry and Anne Becker; Michael Gessner and Regie Cabico; Nicole Salimbene and Regina Coll; Ruth Stenstrom and Teri Ellen Cross. The exhibit, co-curated by Takoma Park Poet Laureate Anne Becker and David Fogel, co-founder of Studio 88, is funded in part with a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council. (Housing and Community Development)  9. Long Branch Sector Plan Meeting - Wednesday, February 24 (Ward 5):  Join County Staff at the Long Branch Library on February 24 in the evening for a community meeting to discuss the Long Branch Sector Plan.  For more information and to be added to mailing lists, contact Kathy Reilly, at kathy.reilly@mncppc-mc.org. (Housing and Community Development)  10. Fair Return Rent Petition Training - Wednesday, February 24: If you are a Takoma Park landlord subject to the Rent Stabilization law, and your costs for operating your rental facility have been growing at a faster rate than your rental income, you may be interested in learning more about the Fair Return Rent Increase Petition process. A training will be held on the Fair Return process on Wednesday, February 24, from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Registration is required by calling 301-891-7222. (Housing and Community Development)   11. Call for Public Art - Deadline March 1: The Arts and Humanities Commission is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for three public art projects - sculpture in the Long Branch area, in various public sites and for gateway signage scattered across the community. Additional information is available online at www.takomaparkmd.gov. Deadline for submissions is Monday, March 1. (Housing and Community Development)  12. Apply Now! New Ave Beautification Community Garden and Greening Grant (Wards 2, 3, and 6): Time is running out to apply for grants through the City's New Ave gardening/greening grant. This program encourages the community to become involved in and to take pride and ownership in public and quasi-public areas along the corridor. To date the City has provided three grants for projects on public and private land: Orchard Avenue Community Garden, the Hillwood Manor neighborhood association Erskine to Sligo Creek project, and the Zion Lutheran Church beautification. For more information and application, go to: http://www.thenewave.com/explore/parks-and-nature/gardening-greening-grant. (Housing and Community Development)  13. Library Hours: The Library will be open on Saturday (February 13) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will be closed Monday (February 15) in observance of the President*s Day holiday. The Computer Center will be open Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. but will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday, along with the rest of the Community Center.  Public computer workstations are available in the Library on Saturday for all cardholders. (Library)  14. Book Fines: The Library is not charging overdue fines for the period Friday, February 5, through Thursday, February 11. (Library)  15. Stories in Action: The Library program *Stories in Action* with Ariana Ross, originally scheduled for Saturday February 13, is postponed and will be re-scheduled. Contact the Library by phone or at www.takomapark.info/library/ for more information. (Library)  16. Valentines at the Library: The Valentine Craft Program, *Make Your Own Valentines,* originally scheduled for Monday, February 8, will be held this Saturday, February 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Children*s Room. Kids: Come make valentines for the special people in your life. Please pre-register by calling the Library or at www.takomapark.info/library/registration.html. (Library)  17. Circle Time: There will be an impromptu *Circle Time* with Karen MacPherson this Saturday, February 13, at 10:30 a.m. Dispel those winter blues by joining Ms Karen for stories and songs! No registration is required. (Library)  18. Comics Jam: Join Dave Burbank for *Comics Jam* at 4:30 p.m. today, Friday, February 12 * an exploration of some favorite comics and graphic novels for elementary ages. No registration required.  (Library)  19. Blues to Bop: Jazz Band Brawl 2010 "Blues to Bop". Join City TV and help support the Takoma Jazz Fest by coming out to McGinty's on Saturday, February 13 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visit www.tpjazzfest.org for more information. (Communications)   20. Helping the First Responders: The City of Takoma Park and Takoma Park Police Department would like to request that residents assist the community and their neighborhoods by digging out the fire hydrants on their streets. There is a map that has been posted by Montgomery County that can be accessed at http://gis2.montgomerycountymd.gov/ims/mcgmaps/viewer.htm. This map will assist you in locating the fire hydrants on your street and in your neighborhood. When you get to the map, select the "ZOOM IN" tool and draw a little window around Takoma Park. Then:  1. Open the "Basemap" folder and click the box next to "property" 2. Open the "Public Safety" folder 3. Open the "Fire and Rescue" subfolder 4. Click "Hydrants" and then open the "Streets and Zip Codes" folder and select the box next to street names. 5. Use the "ZOOM IN" tool to get a closer view of your area. You should be able to view what lot the nearest fire hydrant is in front of this scale.  This request is being made with the thought of your safety and your neighbors' safety in this unprecedented snowfall. Thank you for your assistance in this important safety matter. (Police)  21. Traffic Enforcement: Officers conducted at least four traffic stops, which resulted in citations. There are no enforcement details to report this week due to the blizzard detail. (Police)