Watershed Cleanup This Saturday (4/5)

With >Earth Day coming up later in April, you’ll be seeing lots of environmentally-theme events and happenings over the next few weeks. The City has just passed along a notable one — it involves rolling up your sleeves and pitching in directly. Join your neighbors for the annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup on Saturday, April 5th at 9am!

From the City’s announcement:

Would you like to make a direct impact on helping out your local environment? Come out and be a part of the Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup, this Saturday April 5th from 9am - Noon!

The City of Rockville will be sponsoring three cleanup sites throughout the City - just show up at City Hall this Saturday at 9am for supplies and directions to a cleanup site.

Last year volunteers removed hundreds of bags of trash, discarded tires, and general junk from Rockville stream valleys alone!

For more information, email [email protected] or call 240-314-8870.

Come on out in Saturday and pitch in!

POTD: In With The New

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They tell me the weather’s about turned. About time, I say.

Collegiate Entrepreneurship Conference Focuses On Environment

>[UPDATE: Fixed link.]

An interesting event invitation crossed my desk today that I thought some Rockville Central readers might be interested in. It is a collegiate entrepreneurship conference being sponsored by the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business. Here are the details:

• What: E-Generation — an Entrepreneurship Conference
• When: Saturday, April 19th, 2008, 9 am to 4 pm
• Where: Universities of Maryland conference site (9630 Gudelsky Dr. Rockville)
• Who: Hosted by University of Maryland and Robert H. Smith School of Business

According to the announcement: “This year’s conference will have a green focus and will feature world renowned futurist John Mahaffie, a consultant to our president on future trends and concepts. Last year our student run conference had 250 attendees and was a great learning experience for all who attended, this year we expect the same.”

POTD: Jersey

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No, not the state. I am still in my industrial phase. I learned these are called K-Rails, but that’s just out west. Around these parts, they are Jersey Walls.

Weekend to Weekend 3/27/08

>Events in Rockville

Thursday, March 27

Martinis & Matisse, VisArts Metropolitan Arts Center, 6:30-9:30.$8/advance, $10/door. Cash Bar. See the exhibit Faces of the World, visit the resident artists in their studios, and decorate your own “whimsical” martini glass. Featuring the 10-man funk band, Superland (formerly Soul’d Out). They started playing cover songs then busted out with their original material, touring with many bands including Jimmy’s Chicken Shack. This month’s sponsors are Lebanese Taverna and Jerry’s Subs & Pizza.

Nelly’s Echo, Austin Grill Rockville, 8:30 PM. Acoustic set for the Songwriter’s Showcase. Up close, smooooth, and personal.

Friday, March 28

Budget On The Agenda For Mayor And Council

The >agenda for the Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, March 31 is now available at the City’s website and it reveals that there are a couple of interesting issues on the agenda.

One interesting item: the group will hold a public hearing on “Historic District overlay zone for the former Rockville Regional Library, 99 Maryland Avenue.” This is part of the ongoing controversy over the location of the new district court house.

The other interesting item: this is the first public hearing on the City Manager’s FY2009 budget. At their meeting on the 24th, the Mayor and Council were presented with a presentation on the budget. On Monday, the Mayor and Council will hold the first of two public hearings on the budget. Monday’s public hearing is on the tax rate.

There will be another public hearing on April 14, devoted (I believe) to the rest of the budget.

After the two hearings, the Mayor and Council will hold two work sessions — April 28 and May 5 — and will adopt the final budget on May 19.

To examine the budget in its entirety, go here.

(Image from the City of Rockville, doctored to give it a background that matches our fine color scheme.)

Looking For News Of Montgomery County Special Election Candidates?

You may have noticed that, compared to our coverage of >last year’s City elections, Rockville Central has been mum on the subject of the upcoming special election to fill Marilyn Praisner’s seat (District 4, east county) on the Montgomery County Council. That’s because the district falls outside of our coverage area. (Here’s a map of County Council districts with the street names helpfully left blank.)

It is a big endeavor to really cover an election, and I just don’t have the time to devote to it and still keep up all of my other obligations! There are a lot of candidates, too. However, I do know that many Rockville citizens are interested. We are the County seat after all.

Thankfully, a blog for which I have extremely high regard has been diligently covering this election and plans to do more of it. Dan Reed’s Just Up The Pike is in the midst of a series of sit-down interviews with all of the candidates. Dan conducts a great interview and his writeups are excellent.

So, bookmark JUTP to keep up on the District 4 special election. The primary is April 15 and the general election is May 13.

POTD: Stacks

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While following a tip from a friend and looking for dramatic images from this fire, I found everything to have been put back pretty much as it had been. Instead, I happened upon a treasure trove of cool images. So I guess you can say I am now in my “industrial” phase.

Speaking of tips — I love to hear about breaking news going on in Rockville. If you see something interesting, please let me know!

Join Us For "Rockville Central Radio" on April 4 at Noon!

We’re always interested in trying out new ways to connect with our fellow Rockville residents here at >Rockville Central, and we’re delighted to let you know about a new experiment.

Starting Friday, April 4, at noon, we are launching a weekly radio talk show called “Rockville Central Radio!” Over the next couple of weeks, you will be hearing more about it, including scheduled guests. We think it will be a lot of fun.

No, we don’t have a deal with Clear Channel — it’s on The Internets at BlogTalkRadio.

It’s completely easy to listen to: Just go to this page at noon on Friday, April 4 to start listening in. You’ll need a computer, an Internet connection, and speakers.

But, we really hope you’ll call in and talk to us! Just dial (646) 200-3332 and you will be connected. (We’re only going to take one caller at a time, and we will try to get to everyone.)

Since this is the first show, there may be glitches. Please be patient with us. We apologize ahead of time for any mistakes! If you have thoughts for guests for this or other shows — or have an idea for a segment — let us know.

If it goes well, we will keep it up! If not, then it didn’t hurt to try.

Thanks for all your support.

(That coffee cup is merchandise from a certain band. You can get one here.)

Understanding "Mansions" In Rockville

This from the >Credit Where Due Department:

In today’s Gazette, Warren Parrish has written an excellent and balanced article discussing some of the tensions facing Our Fair City as we struggle with how to grow, how to accommodate individual property rights, and how to balance one person’s homey abode with another person’s eyesore. There aren’t easy answers to these questions and our city planners have been working hard to devise a fair and workable solution.

Key quote:

The issue of so-called mansionization, which for years has taken the spotlight in older communities in the county, such as Bethesda and Aspen Hill, is being considered by the Rockville Planning Commission as it ponders changes to the citywide zoning code put forth by the Representatives of Rockville Zoning Ordinance Revision (RORZOR) committee. The City Council has the final say.

Residents are split. While many say they want to halt excessively large homes that are disconnected to the character of the neighborhoods in which they’ve popped up, there are others who fear tougher zoning could prevent existing homeowners from improving their properties.

Warren’s article uses as its pivot point two neighbors of mine, but that’s not the only reason I like it! It doesn’t pretend to hit every tension and recap every argument — but it hits the chief ones.

I highly recommend the piece.

Getting Ready for Baseball

Spring is definitely in the air which means it’s close to baseball time. Our local leagues are gearing up and they can use your help to make the 2008 season great.>

Rockville Express

The Rockville Express is the defending champion team of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Players are recruited from premier colleges and live with local volunteer host families during the summer. You could host from June 1st to August 3rd and really be part of the action. Hosts provide a clean and pleasant environment for sleeping, meals, and access to laundry equipment. Players are a great role models for children. Several former players have been drafted into Major League Baseball!

The team has added two new sponsors, Commerce Bank and Woodfin Suites Hotel. The Rockville Branch of Commerce Bank has been providing banking services for the team. Woodfin Suites will be providing special guest rates for families, friends, scouts, and college coaches. Businesses interested in receiving information on this great opportunity to sponsor the team should contact the Express.

With the unanimous support of Rockville Community Baseball, Inc., James Pereira has just been hired as the new manager for the 2008 season, which consists of 40 games and playoffs. His professional career includes scouting for the Cincinnati Reds in the Northeast and Canada, working as assistant coach for two teams in the Cape Cod Summer Baseball League, and serving as pitching coach at Curry College in MA.

Rockville Baseball Association (RBBA)

Rockville Baseball Association (RBBA) fields teams for players from first grade all the way to twelfth grade. They are also in need of local businesses and organizations to sponsor the league and teams. The opening ceremony is fast approaching and will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 12 at Dogwood Park.

All this preparation means that very soon we will hear two famous words. “Play ball!”

POTD: Industry

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Growing up, as I did, in Detroit, I just dig industrial sites with lots of machines.

Stormwater Management Utility Set To Be Created

The proposed plan to create a City “utility” to manage stormwater took a step closer to becoming a reality at >last night’s Mayor and Council meeting [UPDATE: it was the 3/17 meeting...my bad], on a 4-1 vote. The Mayor and Council voted to move ahead with the City Manager’s plan to create the utility — final approval will come when the City’s budget is adopted later this spring.

While the utility was created, though, the accompanying homeowner fee was put off a year and in the meantime existing stormwater management funds will be spent down. The new stormwater management fee is slated to begin in July 2009.

According to the City’s press release:

“We are fortunate to be able to begin this program without introducing the fee this year,” said Mayor Susan Hoffmann. The first year of the program, expected to cost $3.1 million, will be funded by money in the existing SWM [stormwater management] fund. Ongoing support for the SWM program will be provided by the SWM utility fee, which will be charged to all property owners, including government, schools, churches, businesses and residents. The proposed fee is $55.80 for single-family homes. For commercial, institutional and multi-family, the fees will be based on the amount of impervious surface contained on each property. The SWM fund also will continue to receive revenue from developer fees and contributions, interest income and occasional grants.

“It is important that we start this program right away,” said City Manager Scott Ullery. “The longer we wait, the more our infrastructure deteriorates, and the more expensive it becomes. The program also will help us comply with EPA and state regulations.” The expanded SWM program includes maintaining, improving and expanding the City’s stormwater ponds and conveyance structures, reducing flooding, and improving stream quality. Related projects include upgrading old SWM facilities or creating new facilities in older areas of the city, as well as stream restoration and drainage improvements.

Mayor Hoffmann along with council members John Britton, Piotr Gajewski, and Anne Robbins voted for the measure. Council member Phyllis Marcuccio voted against.

Holland Back On The Job At Safeway

>The Washington Post reports that an area man is back on the job at the Fallsgrove Safeway after a dispute earlier this year over $1.78 worth of milk and doughnuts.

Seems Michael Holland, an 18-year Safeway veteran with physical and cognitive disabilities, was suspended from his job at a Safeway in Damascus on January 4. After his morning break, during which he consumed a donut and a carton of milk, his supervisor asked him for the receipts and he replied he had forgotten to pay for the food.

According to the Post:

[Holland] was ordered to pay for the food, fined $50 and fired in a one-sentence letter that arrived almost seven weeks after the incident.

His extended family took up his cause, worried about how he would replace the job that had been the major source of support for his wife and four children. He had worked for Safeway for almost 18 years.

On March 1, as The Washington Post was preparing a story on the incident, Safeway officials said they would make an exception for Holland because of his disabilities and longtime service. The offer was made at a meeting with Local 27 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

On Thursday, Michael signed the agreement that reinstates him, now at the Fallsgrove Safeway, here in Our Fair City.

Sadly, whereas his previous commute was fifteen minutes on one bus, Michael now has an hour trip each way on two buses. Regardless, he tells the Post: “I’m very happy about the outcome.”

POTD: Hanging By A Thread

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(With apologies to Jonathan Edwards, author of the important treatise, The Nature of True Virtue.)

This Picture Of The Day is by Rockville Central friend Rusty Morgan. Of it, he says:

“[This is a photo] of a large crane and dangling workers removing an injured tree in front of Judge Harrington’s house on Harrison Street. It is sad to see another huge tree go, but this one became dangerous.”

Want to submit a photo for consideration to be the Picture Of The Day? Wonderful! Just email it to me. Rules: a) Must be taken in Rockville; b) Must be your own work; c) Must not be published or offered for publication elsewhere; d) Should be generally contemporary (try to keep them less than a month or two old).