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TAKOMA PARK NEWSLETTER The City publishes the Takoma Park Newsletter 12 times per year, once every month. The Postal Service delivers one newsletter to each household throughout the City, including single-family and multi-family units. Please call 301-891-7118 if you don't receive your newsletter by the 5th of each month.Click HERE for newsletter archives. CLICK HERE TO READ CURRENT NEWSLETTER

WEEKLY NEWS
Updates From City Staff

Weekly Status & Information Report:  August 30 - September 3, 2010

Official City Meetings Scheduled the Week of September 6:
- City Council meeting, Tuesday, September 7, 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
- Board of Elections meeting, Wednesday, September 8, 7 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room
- Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting, Thursday, September 9, 8:30 a.m. in the Hydrangea Room
All meetings are held 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)

Takoma Park Small Community Grant Program: The deadline to apply for funding under the City’s Small Community Grant Program is Monday, October 4. The program competitively awards small grants (up to $2,500) for projects that help to further the goals established in the Strategic Plan. A copy of the Strategic Plan, full description of the Small Community Grant Program, and application form is available at www.takomaparkmd.gov/clerk . Interested applicants may contact Jessie Carpenter for additional information (JessieC@takomagov.org or 301-891-767). (City Clerk)

New Parking Meter Rates Effective September 27, 2010:
Effective September 27, 2010, rates for City of Takoma Park parking meters will be as follows:
- All parking meters shall have a minimum rate of $0.25.
- Parking meters with a 30-minute limit, one-hour limit, or two-hour limit shall have a rate of $.075 per hour.
- Parking meters with an eight-hour limit or 12-hour limit shall have a rate of $0.50 per hour.  (City Clerk)

Parking Meters on the Commercial Side of Laurel Avenue: The City Manager has received a request to adjust the parking meters on the commercial side of Laurel Avenue from 30 minutes to one hour. If approved, the change would become effective on September 27. Residents or businesses may send comments on this proposal to City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or by e-mail to Clerk@takomagov.org. Deadline for public comments: Monday, September 20, 2010.   (City Clerk)

SPECIAL NOTE - Metro Labor Day Weekend Redline Track Work Will Have an Impact on Traffic Flow:  Beginning Friday night, September 3, at 10:00 p.m., through Tuesday morning, September 7, at 1:00 a.m., five Metrorail stations on the Red Line will be closed: Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma.  In order to help people get around the station closures, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations.  This shuttle bus service will greatly increase bus traffic throughout the area.  The Metro Transit Police are increasing the number of uniformed officers throughout the area.  As part of the overall service plan to support the rail shutdown they have established three shuttle lines to coincide with the rail station closures. Those shuttle lines include one route serving: Glenmont to Fort Totten via Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma (Red); another route from Silver Spring to Fort Totten via Takoma station (Yellow), and a third route from Glenmont to Petworth Station via Wheaton and Silver Spring stations (Green).  (Police)

Public Works Services: Public access to the Public Works facility at 31 Oswego Avenue is closed during construction. The office staff have been relocated to the Community Center at 7500 Maple Avenue. Please pay fees or submit permit applications at the Community Center. Drop-off of electronics and CFL bulbs has been curtailed during construction. Alternative locations for these items will be listed on the City website. Mulch may still be picked up and used motor oil deposited in the oil tank, as those areas are outside the work zone.  (Public Works)

New Sidewalk Installation: New Sidewalk will be installed in the 100 block of Lee Avenue the week of September 7. The project is funded through the Speed Camera Fund. In addition to the installation of a missing section of sidewalk, other non-compliant sections of curb ramps and sidewalk will be corrected on Lee Avenue between Hancock Avenue and Maple Avenue.  (Public Works)

New Social Media Initiatives:  As part of the work being done by Takoma Park's new Media Specialist, the City would like to announce it has an official presence on Twitter and Facebook.  We will be working on adding content in the forthcoming months and are hoping to build a community incorporating other social media initiatives started by other departments and residents.  Everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute as Takoma Park grows into these new ways of communicating!  Twitter and Facebook are great ways of sharing events, news and other issues like utility or transportation outages.  You can join us here: http://twitter.com/TakomaParkMD (Twitter) and http://facebook.com/TakomaParkMD (Facebook).  If you have any questions or would like help with posting anything, please let Media Specialist Craig Terrill know via e-mail at craigt@takomagov.org.  (Media Specialist)

CDBG Grant Funds - Deadline September 13:  The City of Takoma Park is accepting applications for its PY37 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.  Approximately $25,000 in public service funds and $100,000 in capital project funds are available beginning July 1, 2011. The deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on Monday, September 13. Program guidelines and an application form are available online at www.takomaparkmd.gov or by calling 301-891-7119. (Housing and Community Development)

Save the Date! "We are Takoma" Concert - Sunday, September 19:  Join us at the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium on Sunday, September 19 at 6 p.m. for a free performance by Oreka Tx.  The group is known world-wide for its unique culture-crossing rhythmic music featuring the txalaparta, an instrument similar to a xylophone, but distinct to the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France.  To learn more about Oreka Tx and  "We are Takoma," check out the 5th page of the September edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter at http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/news/newsletter/2010/september10.pdf. (Housing and Community Development)

Recreation Closings:  The Takoma Park Community Center and Recreation Center on New Hampshire Avenue are closed for the Labor Day weekend.  The centers will be closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in recognition of Labor Day. (Recreation)

First Week of Afternoon Addition!:  Afternoon Addition had a successful first week of school. Fifty-five students from Takoma Park Elementary, Piney Branch Elementary, Rolling Terrace Elementary, Sligo Creek Elementary and Takoma Middle Schools are settled in. This week, students participated in activities to celebrate "Back to School Week:” chalk art, soccer, create a foil car and pencil holder and played games outside and in the game room.  They were also able to start on their homework.  (Recreation)

Registration is Now OPEN:  Registration for Takoma Park Recreation classes and programs is open now! Register for your favorite class before it fills up. Check out our Program Guide online www.tprecreation.org for all of our program offerings and special events.   (Recreation)

Officers in Meetings:

- On August 31, Chief Ricucci met with Virginia Crime Prevention officials to discuss final preparations for a program called “Refuse to be a Victim.”  This program will be conducted for adults and seniors in October here in the City, sponsored by our Department.
- On September 1, the City Police assisted Montgomery County Police during the hostage incident at the Discovery Headquarters Building in downtown Silver Spring by taking calls in the Silver Spring district.
- On September 2, Chief Ricucci attended a special picnic for students and parents at Takoma Park Middle School.  (Police)

Officers in Training:  On September 1, Cpl. Rodriguez, Cpl. Conrad, Cpl. Malarkey and Pfc. Gaines-Brown attended E-Tix User Training at the Howard County Police Academy in Merriotsville, Maryland.  (Police)

Traffic Enforcement:  Officers conducted at least 56 traffic stops, which resulted in citations, six vehicle impounds, two Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) arrests from traffic; one Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest, and two warrant service arrests from traffic.

During August 26 – September 1, 2010, the following details were completed:

August 26, 2010
- 1000 block of East West Highway (speeding) – conducted a 2-hour detail and issued six State citations for speed.
- Kentland Avenue & East West Highway (no left turn) – conducted a 60-minute detail and issued two State citations.

August 29, 2010
- 900 block of East West Highway (speeding) – conducted a 30-minute detail and issued two State citations for speed.

August 30, 2010
- Maple Avenue & Ritchie Avenue (stop sign enforcement) – conducted a 3-hour detail and issued seven State citations.
- New Hampshire Avenue & Kingwood Drive (traffic control device) – conducted a 60-minute detail and issued three State citations and three warnings.

August 31, 2010
- 7100 block of New Hampshire Avenue (tag reader – suspensions) – conducted a 2-hour detail and issued nine State citations.

September 1, 2010
- Ethan Allen Avenue & Jackson Avenue (no right turn) – conducted a one and a 30-minute detail and issued 12 State citations.

(Police)

Traffic Officer Stats (Cpl. Michelle Holmes):
Week ending 8/28/10
Hours worked: 30
Calls for service:  7
State Citations issued: 81
Safety Equipment Repair Orders (SEROs) issued:  4
Warnings:  2
City tickets:  4
Reports:  18

(Police)