As always, The Takoma Park Police Department is open 24/7 for emergency services. For a full breakdown of Holiday Closures and changes to the Holiday Collection Schedule, click "More Information".
The scheduling of demolition and construction timelines are pending weather.
The Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Avenue
Saturday, May 14, 8:00 PM
Uzbekistan, located at the heart of Central Asia, boasts a rich heritage of folk and classical dances. The award-winning Silk Road Dance Company’s “Dance Treasures of Uzbekistan” celebrates traditional women’s dances from the region and provides a glimpse into a culture unfamiliar to most Americans.
Learn more about We Are Takoma events on the Arts & Humanities page!
The Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Avenue
Saturday, May 21, 7:30 PM
Quiet Life Motel: 20912 is a serendipitous multimedia show featuring audio artist and violinist David Schulman, whose music has been described as “mysterious and beautiful” by The Washington Post, and has been heard nationally on NPR. As a montage of evocative field audio creates a shifting sense of place, David performs on electric violin. He uses live looping to create rich textures, jazz soundscapes, and frolicsome grooves. The performance features field audio recorded by international sound gatherer Félix Blume. Music at quietlifemotel.com.
Learn more about We Are Takoma events on the Arts & Humanities page!
The Takoma Park Community Center Atrium Gallery
7500 Maple Avenue
Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 PM
An exhibit featuring artwork by Mike Guy, mother-daughter duo Helen Higgins and Mary Welch Higgins, Gladys C. Lipton, and Emalie Lorens. Exhibit opens with a reception on Thursday, March 10, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The exhibit will run through May 2.
Visit Gallery Exhibits to learn more about the Galleries at Takoma Park.
The Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Avenue
Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 PM
The popular series, now in its 11th year, features the work of a wide range of poets from across the region. This installment features readings by Hiram Larew, Shenandoah Sowash, Laureen Summers, and Matthew Westbrook.
Visit Monthly Events for more information on Third Thursday and We Are Takoma’s other events.
From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park
Monday, February 15, 2016 12:30 PM
Dear Residents,
Mother Nature likes to remind us occasionally that she is in control. So today, snow came in earlier and in greater quantities than expected. One Public Works shift reported to work before 2:00 AM this morning and a second shift will be treating the roads though the evening until conditions are safe. We anticipate that warmer temperatures and rain will get rid of the snow tomorrow.
However, road conditions are expected to worsen this evening as freezing rain moves into the area. Please stay off the roads between 5:00 PM and midnight, if possible.
Because our staff will be working late tonight, trash, recycling and food waste collection may begin later in the morning than usual tomorrow (Tuesday, February 16). We’ll post any weather-related schedule changes on the City’s website and through the Takoma Park Alert system.
Stay warm and safe!
Suzanne Ludlow
City Manager
Email: SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7229
Creating Abstracts: A Coloring Book Workshop
The Takoma Park Community Center
Art Studio, 2nd Floor
Wednesday, March 16, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Abstract painter Gladys Lipton will host a free workshop that will show adults and children (ages 12 and up) how to create their own 2-dimensional abstract art work and coloring book pages.
Registration: There is limited space, and this workshop is first come, first serve to the first 10 registrants. To register, send an email with your name and the subject line “Creating Abstracts” to arts@takomaparkmd.gov, or call 301-891-7220.
Learn more about We Are Takoma events and gallery exhibitions on the Arts & Humanities page!
Regular collection of trash, recycling and food waste of Thursday routes will be attempted on Thursday, January 28, starting a little later in the morning than normal. Crews will attempt collection, but not all streets may be accessible and not all containers may be able to be collected. Residents are advised to use caution when placing their containers near the curbside. Given the limited space, please keep them out of the street. Where possible place them in a driveway opening or tree lawn areas that have been shoveled down and are level. The same information applies to the collection of Friday’s route on Friday.
Traffic restrictions put in place for the duration of the storm will continue through Sunday, January 31.
No payment is needed at the City’s Takoma Junction parking lot on Carroll Avenue or at parking meters through Sunday, January 31.
Enforcement WILL take place regarding non-monetary parking restrictions such as residential permit parking, handicap parking, no parking in loading areas etc.
Enforcement of the City’s sidewalk clearing laws begins on Thursday for sidewalks along commercial, institutional and multi-family properties. Enforcement begins on Friday for sidewalks along single-family residential property. For more information, see www.takomaparkmd.gov/snow . Enforcement officers will be lenient with properties that had snow plowed onto sidewalks from street crews.
From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 1:00 PM
Dear Residents,
I had hoped to put my Winter Storm Messages to rest, but so many have asked for additional information, that I agree it makes sense to send out a few more. I’ve changed the name to Storm Recovery Message to try to make it seem different!
It’s time to begin enforcement of our Takoma Park sidewalk clearing laws. The big effort now must be on making the community safe for pedestrians. Please shovel sidewalks in front of your home if you haven’t already. Since this storm had a snow fall that was the fourth deepest on record for this region, we suspended enforcement of our rules requiring sidewalks to be cleaned by noon after a night snowfall and by 9 pm after snowfall during the day (see www.takomaparkmd.gov/snow for more information). The rules go back into effect this week:
We will begin issuing citations for uncleared sidewalks in front of businesses, institutions, and apartment/multi-family buildings on Thursday and for sidewalks in front of single-family homes on Friday.
If you are one of the folks whose sidewalks received a big dump of snow due to snowplowing, we will not be citing you – at least certainly not at first. It is pretty obvious to our inspectors if the sidewalk has had snow plowed onto it, but feel free to send me your address if you are affected. In certain cases, we may be able to coordinate efforts to remove the snow.
We need to make the walking paths to schools safe for our young people. Ride On buses began limited service today and we need to clear the way to and around bus stops. We will be trying to widen the travel lanes on streets with Ride On and school bus routes by clearing out the piles of snow left between cars. We are urging residents who are willing and able to assist clearing snow from bus stops, from roads between parked cars (snow will need to be placed on adjacent lawns, not in the street), and from sidewalk ramps at intersections. Of course, we have crews out doing the same, but the more people and shovels we have out working, the quicker the walkways and bus routes will be cleared.
Speaking of helping out, a HUGE cheer to the Snow Angels that cleared the sidewalks, driveways and paths from over 70 houses in Takoma Park! I have received the nicest notes from the recipients of this volunteer effort of our community’s young people and a number of adults. Takoma Park is great!
Looking ahead, our goal is to have streets cleared from curb to curb and have all sidewalks shoveled as soon as possible. I’m not sure how long it will take to get there, but I would like to have it done before Montgomery County Public Schools open. Even with the sidewalks cleared, it is difficult to see around snow piles, so walking and driving are both very dangerous.
Sometimes, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to help. This morning I saw a man with a cane trying to step through a section that had been walked on but not shoveled. I was so afraid he would fall. He was sick of eating the food in his apartment and wanted to go to the store for something different. Fortunately, he was able to make it. I cleared the path so he could come back safely. It was only about ten feet of shoveling and now a whole pedestrian connection is made. If you are able, take a few minutes to look around to see where the hazards are and see if you can help make things a little bit safer.
So, today’s message is – help get the sidewalks cleared throughout our community!
And, be safe.
Best,
Suzanne Ludlow
City Manager
Email: SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7229
Two event postponements to mention:
The Celebration of Takoma Park Elders event that was happening tomorrow has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 23. The City Calendar has been updated.
The Switching to Organic Lawn Care Methods: Safe Grow Lawn Care event scheduled for Thursday, January 28 has been postponed due to weahter. We are in the process of rescheduling this event and will provide information regarding the new date as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Nima Upadhyay at 301-891-7621 or nimau@takomaparkmd.gov.
From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park
Monday, January 25, 2016 12:00 PM
Dear Residents,
Another sunny day and more snow clearing to be done!
The Police and Public Works employees that have been trading off beds in a hotel are now able to go home to their families and sleep after their 12-hour shifts. They are tired, but have done a terrific job for the residents of Takoma Park. I have a special shout-out for Public Works Daryl Braithwaite who has been spending long hours coordinating the work. I am so proud to be associated with these wonderful City staff!
Similarly, hats off to our Councilmembers! They have been out and about, checking on conditions, reporting problems, pitching in on shoveling, and cheering on the Snow Angels, neighbors helping neighbors and our City employees. It’s a great team effort!
We are continuing around the clock snow clearing of roads, with sidewalk clearing being done during daylight hours. Every street should have had at least one pass by a snowplow, but many roads still only have an 8-foot wide cleared path. We will continue to work on widening the travel lanes.
Trash, recycling and food waste collection will not take place on Tuesday or Wednesday, and may not take place at all this week. Collections not done this week will have to wait for the regular day next week. Please check the website for updated collection information.
There are several reasons we are not able to collect the trash, recycling and food waste. First, the County’s transfer station is still closed. Second, some of the same employees that clear snow do the collections and we have more clearing to do. Third, there isn’t room for trash cans to be put out and trucks to get down some of the streets until more snow clearing is done. And, fourth, it is unsafe to be lifting heavy cans over mounds of snow.
We don’t know if the City offices will be open tomorrow yet. We will wait to see what progress is made on transportation options and whether or not the Federal Government will be open. I anticipate we’ll be getting back to normal soon, however.
Finally, I intend this to be my last Winter Storm Update, for this storm at least. I will still be getting out announcements about trash collection and whether or not the City offices are open, of course. Please feel free to continue contacting me with your questions and comments – I love to hear from you!
Best,
Suzanne Ludlow
City Manager
Email: SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7229
