Category Archives: News Alert

Category for Takoma alert items.

News, News Alert, Public Notices

Takoma Park is Open for Business! Introducing the Open for Business Grant Program

 

The City’s newest grant program encourages businesses to locate within the City, or to expand their current Takoma Park space. Eligible businesses include those opening or expanding in the City with an ownership deed or a signed lease of at least three years for the property with a start date no earlier than October 1, 2023.

Funding awards range from $4-6/square foot and are capped at $10,000.

How to Apply
  • Interested business owners may apply online. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Questions? Contact the City’s Grants Coordinator

Learn more about eligibility and the application process on the Open for Business Grant webpage. 

News Alert, Public Notices

Updated: Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Montgomery County Council Public Hearing

Updated: January 26, 2024
Montgomery County Planning Board 1

Public Hearing Held January 25

Montgomery County Council held a Public Hearing on the Minor Master Plan

UPDATED: January 25, 2024

The public is invited to provide additional comments on the plan during the County Council’s public hearing on the Minor Master Plan.

Meeting info:

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm

Location:
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road
Takoma Park, MD

How to watch Montgomery County Council Public Hearings:

  • Televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM) on Xfinity channels 6 and 996, RCN channels 6 and 1056; and FiOS channel 30.
  • Also available live via streaming through the Council website, Facebook Live (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil or @ConcejodelCondadodeMontgomery), or YouTube (@MoCoCouncilMD).

How to get involved:

Note: If the facility is closed due to inclement weather, the hearing will be held on Thursday, 2/1/2024, at Takoma Park Middle School.

UPDATED: December 18, 2023

Montgomery County Planning Board voted to approve the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment Planning Board Draft on December 14!

Thank you to Takoma Park residents, property owners, businesses, elected leaders, and other stakeholders for helping Montgomery Planning and the City of Takoma Park develop the draft plan. It sets the stage for a reimagined, reconnected, and resilient section of the city from the Takoma Park Community Center east to Washington Adventist University and the former Washington Adventist Hospital site.

Here’s the red-lined version of the plan’s Public Hearing Draft. The final Planning Board-approved plan will be posted soon.

The public is invited to provide additional comments on the plan during the County Council’s public hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD 20912). Sign up to testify.

UPDATED: December 15

On December 13, the City Council passed Resolution 2023-38, supporting the adoption and transmittal of the Planning Board Draft to the Montgomery County Council of the Minor Master Plan Amendment with a 6-1 vote.

The resolution included conditions that address the development scale on the Washington Adventist Hospital and University campuses, housing style diversity, school limitations at Piney Branch Elementary School, recommendations related to changes to the City’s rent stabilization policy, and the inclusion of a housing resource list. 

On December 14, the Montgomery Planning Board held Worksession #6 on the Minor Master Plan. The Board discussed each point in the City’s resolution, making amendments and decisions as they worked through the documents. At the end of the discussion, the Planning Board took two votes:

  •  Vote to approve the Public Hearing Draft as the Planning Board draft and transmit it to the County Council and Executive. Passed 5-0.
  • Approve listing the following properties to the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Properties: Heffner Park Community Center (42 Oswego Avenue); Krestview (7625 Carroll Avenue); and The Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church (7700 Carroll Avenue). Passed 5-0. 

 

Arts & Humanities, News, News Alert

“Soul of Langston” Play Explores Life and Legacy of Langston Hughes on Feb. 23

SOUL OF LANGSTON 

Free Takoma Park Arts Performance 

Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 pm 

Takoma Park Community Center 

7500 Maple Avenue 

In a one-man play written and performed by Daron P. Stewart, Soul of Langston reveals the bittersweet wit and wisdom of Langston Hughes’ poetry, the triumphs and tragedies that shaped his life, and the worldwide impact of his literary career.

In celebration of Black History Month, a free performance will be held at 7:30 pm on Friday, Feb. 23 in the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium at 7500 Maple Avenue. No tickets or reservations are required, and donations will be accepted. Some parking is available in the Takoma Park police station parking lot, the adjacent Piney Branch Elementary School lot, or on nearby streets.

Wearing a wide-lapeled suit while standing next to a desk with a vintage typewriter, Stewart personifies Hughes and the astounding arc of his life to become “Harlem’s Wonder” who helped establish the Civil Rights movement through the Harlem Renaissance.

Fused with jazz and blues, the play explores Hughes’ prodigious work as a poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright. Hughes worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. in the 1920s before achieving fame as a poet, inspiring the name of the local Busboys and Poets restaurants.

Stewart has performed across the United States and abroad, including festivals, schools, colleges, churches, and conferences. He also conducts an artist residency program and is the founder of the independent production company Norad Media. You can learn more about him and see a scene from the play at souloflangston.com.

Born in 1901 in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes sketched an unvarnished view of the struggles of Black working-class people living in a racist America but also their resounding strength and deep sense of community. In his famed essay The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, he wrote that “no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself.”

This event is part of the City of Takoma Park’s Takoma Park Arts series, including film screenings, art exhibitions, theater, film screenings, concerts, and poetry readings. All events are free, and no tickets or reservations are required. You can sign up for our e-newsletter for more info about all of our upcoming events.

Arts & Humanities, News, News Alert

Free Gypsy Jazz Concert by Franglais on Feb. 9

Gypsy Jazz Concert by Franglais 

Free Event 

Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 pm 

Takoma Park Community Center

7500 Maple Avenue 

Blending the rhythmic pulse of gypsy jazz and the improvised elegance of American jazz, Franglais will hold a free concert at the Takoma Park Community Center on Feb. 9.
Rhythm guitarist Ben Wood and vocalist Eve Seltzer formed Franglais in 2004 after being inspired by the Django Reinhardt jazz festival in France during their honeymoon. Based in New York City, the couple regularly plays with other musicians and has performed from Paris to Honolulu and cities in between.
No tickets or reservations are required, and donations will be accepted to support the band. You can learn more about Franglais and hear some of their music at franglaisjazz.com.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wood and Seltzer were stuck in their Brooklyn apartment and started recording some jazz duets to cope with their isolation. The songs became their latest album “Pairings” that was recorded and edited by Seltzer, who is a Grammy-nominated sound engineer. Each of the eight songs was paired with a drink in a nod to Wood’s work as a sommelier which also was disrupted by the pandemic shutdowns.
“I grew up in the D.C. area so we’re really looking forward to playing in Takoma Park again,” Wood said.
This concert is part of the Takoma Park Arts series organized by the City of Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division, which includes free concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings, theater, dance, and other performances at the Takoma Park Community Center. Go to takomaparkmd.gov/arts for more info and to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter.
News Alert, Public Notices

Mayor Searcy’s Statement on Motorkat Incident on Saturday, December 9, 2023

 

Mayor Searcy

On December 9th, Takoma Park restaurant, Motorkat, received an email potentially threatening the safety and well-being of its patrons. Motorkat and 17 other surrounding businesses were closed as law enforcement investigated the threat. After careful examination and diligent efforts by the Takoma Park Police Department and its partners, it was confirmed that there was not a credible threat to the area.

Although the threat was not credible, this bomb threat has sent a shockwave through our community. The City of Takoma Park is a welcoming community to all. We support and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ residents and visitors alike. The City of Takoma Park Police Department will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ community and families to ensure they feel safe when participating in events in Takoma Park.

I want to thank the Takoma Park Police Department and its partners for their investigation of the bomb threat. I also want to send my appreciation to the impacted businesses for your support during this challenging time. During this holiday season, let us remember that we are one Takoma Park and must stand together and support one another during events such as this.

News Alert, Public Notices

TKPK Submits Public Comments for Ride on Reimagined Study

City Submits Comment on County’s Draft Bus Plan

On November 15th, the public comment window closed to submit testimony for the Ride On Reimagined Draft Network Concept. The Draft Network Concept is the stage in the project’s planning process that proposes changes to existing bus routes across the County, including most routes serving Takoma Park.

The City submitted a letter of support for the proposal, with a few conditions raised. Staff analysis identified that the proposal retains the existing extensive bus network coverage and reflects some adjustments specifically requested by Takoma Park residents, such as a bus route that connects:

  • the interim library location,
  • the Recreation Center,
  • and the Community Center.

Some of the proposed changes will reduce the number of bus lines that serve certain high-volume corridors in an effort to consolidate routes that duplicate each other, including on Maple Avenue and Flower Avenue. When City staff reached out to the County’s project planner, they were notified that the frequency of bus service would not be determined until later in the process when budgetary impacts were established. For this reason, The City’s letter specifically supports the changes to routes so long as bus frequency remains similar to or better than current bus headways, especially on the corridors that serve many of the City’s residents who most rely upon public transit. 

The City’s full Letter of Support can be reviewed here [PDF].

According to the County’s project page, “the Ride On Reimagined Study is a comprehensive, forward-looking assessment of the bus network that will result in significant recommended changes to how transit operates in Montgomery County based on current and future needs. This study will take an in-depth look at Montgomery County’s existing and planned transit systems, including Metrobus services that operate within the County limits and the future Purple Line.”

The project team expects to adapt the Draft Network Concept feedback into a Service and Implementation Plan by January 2024. Any action taken on the Service and Implementation Plan will require an allocated budget in the County’s annual budget.

 

News Alert, Public Notices

Councilmember Cindy Dyballa Appointed to Serve on the NLC Board of Directors

 

 

November 30, 2023 – The City of Takoma Park is proud to announce that Councilmember Cindy Dyballa has been appointed to serve on the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors for a two-year term.  “The NLC Board gives our small community a rare opportunity to be heard on national issues that affect us (such as housing and climate) in concert with our peer communities across the country,” said Ms. Dyballa.

Ms. Dyballa has been a Councilmember in Takoma Park since 2017, representing Ward 2.

The NLC is an organization comprised of city, town, and village leaders representing more than 2,700 cities nationwide, with nearly 100 years of dedication to the strength and advancement of local governments. Their mission is to relentlessly advocate for and protect the interests of cities, towns, and villages by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership, and driving innovative solutions.

News, News Alert, Public Notices

Joint Statement – Issued by City of Takoma Park, Maryland and The Neighborhood Development Company

November 30, 2023.

The City of Takoma Park, Maryland and The Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) have reached an agreement in principle to end their relationship in connection with the development of the Takoma Junction Project. A final agreement is expected in the coming days.

Mayor Talisha Searcy and NDC CEO Adrian Washington stated: “Takoma Park is a fantastic and unique community, and we are disappointed that the Takoma Junction Project was not realized. We recognize the efforts put forward by all stakeholders in the process and are grateful for their interest.”

The City of Takoma Park will immediately begin working with the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op and other stakeholders to address usage of the existing site.

News Alert, Public Notices

Passport Services Moving to the 3rd Floor of the Takoma Park Community Center- Friday December 1

Beginning Friday, December 1: Passport Services will move to the 3rd Floor of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave. 

On Friday, December 1, passport services will move to the desk space outside the IT Department and beside the City Finance window. The 2nd Floor Front Desk will still have coverage.

Appointments are still required and can be scheduled by calling 301-891-7100. Passport service hours are subject to change without notice. Office closures will be announced on Facebook, Twitter, and the City’s website whenever possible.

For additional information, visit takomaparkmd.gov/services/passports. Questions? Email sofiav@takomaparkmd.gov.

Arts & Humanities, News, News Alert

The Sounds of Silents Film Screening with Peter Tavalin on Dec. 8

The Sounds of Silents Film Screening with Peter Tavalin

Free Film Screening 

Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 pm 

Takoma Park Community Center

7500 Maple Avenue 

Pianist and composer Peter Tavalin will bring an iconic silent film to life with a score improvised and performed live during a free film screening of the classic silent film Steamboat Bill, Jr.

In the 1928 comedy starring Buster Keaton, two college students return to the South after attending college in Boston and fall in love despite both of their fathers’ objections. The couple’s romance goes awry with prat falls, floods, a tornado, and other slapstick adventures. The film includes Keaton’s most famous and dangerous stunt when the entire two-ton façade of a house crashes to the ground around him while he stands in the precise location of an open second-story window.

No tickets or reservations are required for the film screening. There is limited parking at the Takoma Park Community Center or in the adjacent Piney Branch Elementary School parking lot.

Local resident Peter Tavalin has improvised live scores for more than 25 silent films during the past 30 years and has performed at film festivals, First Night celebrations, universities, and public schools across the country. Trained at the Berklee College of Music, he plays a synthesizer to create a modern sensibility that conveys the sounds of an entire orchestra.

“The synthesizer provides a big palette of sounds,” he said. “Simple, sweet strings with a flute for one scene, brass blaring for another with cymbals crashing when the action on the screen gets more frantic.”

Steamboat Bill, Jr. has been referenced in many movies that followed, beginning with Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie, which was released six months later and debuted Mickey Mouse.

“Before sound in films, the actors relied on body language to tell the story, and the music was always live in theaters and integral to the film’s success,” Tavalin said. “Since I’m improvising, I can play the same movie over and over again and it still feels fresh to me.”

In 1980, a friend and theater owner in Brattleboro, Vermont asked Tavalin to improvise a live score for the 1926 Buster Keaton film The General. “Two minutes into watching the movie, I was hooked,” he said. “I already knew what I could add to the experience because I grew up learning jazz so I’m comfortable with improvisation.”

Tavalin said he only has to watch a film twice before he can improvise a score. The best compliment he has received is when an audience member forgets he is playing live and thinks the score was composed for the film.

Tavalin also teaches piano and plays in the High Standards jazz group. You can learn more about him at petertavalin.com. He and his wife moved to Takoma Park in 2021 to be closer to their daughter and her family.

“Takoma Park has a great sense of community and the City’s Takoma Park Arts series offers a great level of support for local performers and artists,” he said. “After performing at other venues from New England to Florida, I’m excited to debut this performance here in Takoma Park.”

The Takoma Park Arts series is organized by the City’s Arts and Humanities Division and includes free film screenings, art exhibitions, poetry readings, theater, and dance performances at the Takoma Park Community Center at 7500 Maple Avenue. You can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter to receive more info at takomaparkmd.gov/arts.