Category Archives: News

Category for general news items.

Ongoing SHA Intersection Work Update

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has been improving pedestrian crossing signals and curb ramps at several intersections along MD 410 (Philadelphia Avenue) and MD 195 (Carroll Avenue). Work will continue intermittently through November. Curb ramps on the southeast side of Maple Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue are currently excavated. Due to technical issues replacement of the concrete was not able to be performed as planned. SHA contractors have filled the excavated area with gravel as a temporary surface until final work can be performed. Pedestrians are advised to use caution at this intersection.

The City of Takoma Park will be posting more crossing guards to the intersection during construction and is monitoring the construction closely. With several ongoing construction projects that have altered traffic patterns in Takoma Park we encourage all commuters to exercise caution and be patient as the school year starts.

Recreation Department registration opens Monday, August 15, 2016

Registration for the Fall Session of classes will begin Monday, August 15 at 8:30 AM, online as well as in person (unless otherwise noted). Don’t wait to register, some programs fill up fast! Most 55+ classes fill within the first hour. For more information, please visit the Recreation section of this website. A complete list of fall offerings can also be found here.

Online registration requires an ActiveNet account to be set up in advance with a valid email and password.

Ongoing Pepco Tree Work by Asplundh Tree Care

From Todd Bolton, Arborist

Asplundh Tree Care is doing work for Pepco on power line circuits that run through and around the City. The maps in this selection show what work is scheduled. There are keys showing what the symbols in the maps stand for. The yellow and green lines refer to whether the work is before or after a circuit breaker, not what kind of pruning is being done. In most cases the Asplundh crews are simply cutting back to previous cut points. Occasionally they will be making pruning cuts to mitigate poor cut location choices made by earlier crews. The Arborist is notified when crews are going to be working in town.

The yellow triangles show where both street and private trees will be removed. Removal requests that were denied, again both public and private, are shown with red squares. In the field the trees have had blue spray paint dots on them. The private tree permits have gone through the normal process with Pepco paying application fees and replacement fee in lieu if required. The property owners signed the applications that were submitted to the City for approval.

Pepco Tree Work Maps

All files PDF

If you have more questions please contact Takoma Park’s Arborist:

Todd Bolton
Arborist
Email: ToddB@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7612

SafeTrack Surge #6: August 1-7

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is implementing a plan to repair and improve the Metrorail system called SafeTrack. The plan significantly expands maintenance time on weeknights, weekends and midday hours and includes 15 “Safety Surges” – long duration track outages for major projects in key parts of the system.

Between August 1 and 7, Surge #6 will entail single tracking on the Red Line between Takoma and Silver Spring stations. The City is encouraging residents and commuters to telework, bike, and carpool. Learn more here.

 

Harry Potter Listening Session

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone audiobook cover
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audiobook cover

Calling all Harry Potter fans! On Saturday, July 30 — the eve of Harry’s birthday — the Library will have a special listening session, from 1:30-4:30 p.m., of the beginning of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. What exactly is a “listening session”? It means that we will be gathering in the Children’s Room and listening to a recording of the incomparable Jim Dale reading the beginning of the first book in the Harry Potter series. In other words, we’ll be “reading with our ears,” instead of reading with our eyes. You’re invited to bring a blanket and pillow to make yourselves comfortable as you listen; we’ll provide snacks, birthday cake, and lemonade, courtesy of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. We’ll also have some postcard-sized Harry Potter art to color as you listen. No registration required. (NOTE: The “new” Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will be formally released at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 31. We will have several copies available, hopefully during our regular Sunday hours (12-5 p.m.) It’s important to know, however, that it is not a typical fiction book, but is the rehearsal script of the play that has just opened in London. So some readers may find that the script format makes it a bit more challenging to get the rhythm of the story, at least at first).

 

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News: Children’s Room; Library Blog; Books; Teen Buzz

Grant Opportunities Available: Letters of Inquiry due July 29

Grant opportunities are available for FY17 programming and FY18 capital projects.

Which opportunity is the best fit for you?

The Community Grants Program provides funding for specific programs, projects and events which improve quality of life via enabling greater access and participation in the arts and sciences for low and moderate income residents. Programs must occur between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. 75% of program beneficiaries must be residents of Takoma Park. Grants must be between $5,000 and $10,000 with a 1:1 match by grantee.

The Community Development Block Grant Program provides funding for capital projects in designated low and moderate income census tracts. Minimum of a $10,000 award.

Letters of Inquiry are due on Friday, July 29.

Questions? Contact Emily Cohen at 301.891.7119 or grants@takomaparkmd.gov.

Takoma Junction Redevelopment Open House on July 18 at 7:00 PM

This event will provide the community with an opportunity to learn more about the proposed Development Agreement and Ground Lease agreement for the Takoma Junction Redevelopment project, as well as the anticipated development process.

Takoma Junction Redevelopment Open House

Monday, July 18
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department
7201 Carroll Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912

To learn more about the project and download the agreements, visit the Takoma Junction Redevelopment Project Inventory page.

 

 

 

Mayor Stewart Confirmed Panelist at the Energy Efficiency Forum 2016

Mayor Kate Stewart is a confirmed panelist at this year’s Energy Efficiency Forum on Thursday, June 23. For more details on the forum visit the event’s website: http://www.eeforum.net/

Mayor Kate Stewart is a confirmed panelist at the Energy Efficiency Forum 2016. Details at http://www.eeforum.net/
Mayor Kate Stewart is a confirmed panelist at the Energy Efficiency Forum 2016. Details at http://www.eeforum.net/

About the Energy Efficiency Forum

From the Energy Efficiency Forum website:

The Energy Efficiency Forum is a nonpartisan, noncommercial event that raises awareness for the many benefits of energy efficiency in buildings and transportation. This year’s theme is “Leveraging Innovation to Become an Energy Efficiency Superpower.” We’ll explore leading energy-efficiency technologies, policies and business models that can accelerate progress in the United States and other countries.

JazzFest is this Weekend!

The 21th annual Takoma Park JazzFest is happening on Sunday!

JazzFest will feature an eclectic range of primarily-local performers, on two stages, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The festival will be on Carroll Avenue, from Willow Avenue to Tulip Avenue, right here in downtown Takoma Park!

Performances will be on two stages: the Willow Stage (intersection of Willow Avenue and Carroll Avenue) and the Gazebo Stage (corner of Westmoreland Avenue and Carroll Avenue). More information and a schedule of performers is available at www.tpjazzfest.org.

Takoma Park JazzFest 21 Flyer (news item)
JazzFest is happening on Sunday, June 12 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM in downtown Takoma Park!