Burglaries in the Village
<bt>There have been a series of burglaries in Potomac Village in the last week.
According to police reports:
* Cash was taken from Hunter's Inn, 10123 River Rd., between 2:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 24 after robbers pried the frame of the rear door.
* Cash was taken from the TallyHo Restaurant, 9923 Falls Rd., between 9:30 a.m. on March 23 and 7:55 a.m. on March 24. Again, robbers pried the lock on the rear door.
* Robbers also broke through the side door of the Semmes Building, 10220 River Rd., between 8 p.m. on March 22 and 8:21 a.m. on March 25 although nothing was taken.
<sh>Appeals Board to Regulate Board Content?
<bt>Vince Renzi will represent West Montgomery County Citizens Association on April 10 at 1:30 p.m. when the Board of Appeal rehears the issue regarding the Board's authority to regulate the content of signs marking new real estate developments which are governed by the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance. The Board of Appeals is located in the County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Call 240-777-6600.
<sh>Online Council Agendas with Analysis
<bt>Agendas for County Council sessions and Council committee meetings, which include analysts' packets that council members use to make decisions, are now available on the Council's Web site. Packets for individual Council agenda items typically include the text of bills or appropriation requests, analysis by Council staff, and opinions pro and con on the particular items, as well as charts and maps. Materials are generally available two days before the Council session or committee meeting..
Visit www.co.mo.md.us/council, click on "Agendas and Minutes," click on "Current Council or Committee Agenda with background materials."
<sh>Potomac River Flows Low
<bt>Due to the drought, the flow of the Potomac River hovered at record low flows for this time of year during December and January, according to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.
In December, the Potomac flowed at a rate of approximately 1.5 billion gallons per day, which is only 18 percent of the long-term average of 7.9 billion gallons per day. On Dec. 31, the flow reached the month's low at 1.1 billion gallons per day.
In January, the monthly average flow of 1.5 billion gallons per day, was only 16 percent of the long-term average of 9 billion gallons per day average in January.
The amount of water used for metropolitan-area drinking water and use averaged 353 million gallons per day in December and 366 million gallons per day in January, 3 percent less than averages of December and January in 2001.
In January, the Potomac River contributed 16.8 billion gallons per day on average, about 13 percent of freshwater inflow to the Chesapeake Bay.
<sh>Residential Burglary
<bt>According to police reports, a DVD player, VCR, jewelry and computers and accessories were taken from the 9300 Block of Bentridge Ave. between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on March 22.
<sh>Village Clean and Green
<bt>Potomac Clean and Green will meet on Saturday, April 13 from 9-11 a.m. for a spring community clean up of Potomac Village. Meet at the edge of the parking lot near the Safeway bus gazebo. Wear boots or sturdy shoes, long sleeves and gloves. Litter bags will be provided. Call Peggy Dennis at 301-983-9738.
* Many of the 65 flower tubs lining Potomac Village are available for adoption. Those with a green thumb can plant any flower or plant arrangement to their liking and will be responsible for the watering and upkeep of their tub.
Call Elie Pisarra Cain, who started this annual tradition, at 301-983-1537.
<sh>Democratic Forum
<bt>A forum for District 15 Democratic candidates for the Legislature is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, at the residence of Adarsh and Suresh Gupta, 10805 Nantucket Terrace, in Potomac. Karen Britto, chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, will moderate the forum.
Democrats Kathleen Dumais, Brian Feldman, Jinhee Wilde and John Young, who have all announced their candidacy for Delegate, will participate in the forum. The filing deadline for candidates is in early July, for the September primary.
Call Milton Minneman 301-299-2551.
<sh>Environmental Expedition on Water
<bt>The Potomac Sojourn is a week-long canoeing and kayaking expedition featuring educational programs, riverside camping, restoration projects, meetings with elected officials, and more. Novice and experienced paddlers can enjoy a on-the-water experience aimed to elevate awareness of the Potomac River's importance to the region and to encourage local residents to play an active role in its restoration.
The 2002 Potomac Sojourn begins on Sunday, June 23 in Shepherdstown, West Va., and continues to Washington, DC with overnight camping stops. Participants can paddle a portion or the entire trip. Non-paddling portions are also offered.
Call Karen Fligger at 301-984-1908, x103 or by e-mail at kfligger@icprb.org.
<sh>Potomac Rotary Awards
<bt>Each year, the Potomac Rotary Club honors an area citizen with its Citizen of the Year Award. The association seeks nominations from residents for this year's award.
Nominees should be a non-Rotarian. The Rotary Club honors “service above self;" high moral and ethical behavior; and personal contributions to the nation and community.
Nominations should be submitted no later than April 15 to the Rev. Anne Benefield, Geneva Presbyterian Church, 11931 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, Md. 20854.
Call Rev. Benefield at (301) 424-4347 for information.
<sh>Clara Barton House Volunteer Tour
<bt>The Clara Barton National Historical Site is holding an intake program for those who are considering volunteering at the museum but need more information.
The intake on Saturday, April 6 will include a behind the scenes tour of the site and an in-depth tour of the house.
There are several volunteer positions available, including working in the library, giving tours, assisting with school programs and museum projects, and staffing special events and open hours programs. Training is provided.
Clara Barton National Historic Site is located at 5801 Oxford Road in Glen Echo, adjacent to Glen Echo Park. Call park ranger Bob Cars at 301-492-6245.
<sh>St. Patrick's Day Citations
<bt>The Montgomery County Police Saturation Patrol — in effect between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17 in Bethesda and Rockville — gave 11 citations for driving while impaired by alcohol and driving while under the influence of alcohol, 15 speeding citations, one aggressive driving citation, one citation for a suspended or revoked license and 25 other traffic violations.
In 2001, when St. Patrick's Day was on Saturday night, Montgomery County Police made 38 alcohol arrests for driving while impaired by alcohol and driving while under the influence of alcohol between the hours of 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5:30 a.m. on Sunday.
<sh>Tour the Charity Canal
<bt>Free training programs for the 6th annual Tour de Canal, the country's longest off-road charity ride, will start Saturday, April 20 at Carderock Park, at 7:45 a.m.
The Tour de Canal, a 184.5 charity ride that benefits the programs and services of the Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area, is scheduled for Sept. 21-22, 2002 along the C&O Canal, from Cumberland to Georgetown.
Participants can join other bikers for trips of increasing lengths, starting at 12-15 miles and ending in late August with rides of 60-80 miles. Training rides will continue every Saturday through June 8 at C&O Canal at Carderock Park, off the Clara Barton Parkway, starting at 7:45 a.m.
Completing a free, 50-mile qualifying ride is mandatory to participate in the 184- and 100-mile rides on Sept. 21-22. Qualifying rides will take place at Carderock Park on Saturdays, June 8, Sunday, July 14 and Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7:45 a.m. Riders can also take part in the 100-mile and 10-mile portions of the race.
For information, e-mail tourdecanal@together.net, visit www.alz-nca.org or call toll-free at 1-866-259-0042.
<sh>Civic Calendar
<cal1>Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m.
<cal2>Public hearing on the county executive's proposed Operating Budget FY03. County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850. Call 240-777-7900.
<cal1>April 8, 11
<cal2>Public hearings on the operating budget are scheduled to continue. County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. 20850. Call 240-777-7900.
<cal1>Wednesday, April 10, 1:30 p.m.
<cal2>Vince Renzi will represent West Montgomery County Citizens Association when the Board of Appeal rehears the issue regarding the Board's authority to regulate the content of signs marking new real estate developments which are governed by the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance. Board of Appeals, County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Call 240-777-6600.
<cal1>Wednesday, April 10, 8 p.m.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association's monthly meeting. Speaker is attorney Norman Knopf, who will speak on large institutions, like churches and schools, operating in residential areas. 8 p.m. Potomac Elementary School, 10311 River Road. Visit West Montgomery at www.wmcca.org.
<cal1>Monday, April 15
<cal2>Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Meeting, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, Room A, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.
<cal1>Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m.
<cal2>Public Hearing, Department of Liquor Control Budget. Residents are invited to testify at the public hearing on the county executive's FY 2003 Recommended Operating Budget for the Department of Liquor Control, which administers the distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in Montgomery County. Written testimony on the executive's $24 million proposed budget for DLC may be mailed to Ron Berger, Office of the County Executive, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd floor, Rockville, Md. 20850. Call 240-777-1915.
<cal1>Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 a.m.
<cal2>The Board of Appeals will hear Marriott Senior Living Services' request for a special exception to operate a continuing care retirement community on Burdette Road near River Road. The request includes 240 independent living units, 20 assisted living units, 20 special care units, 43 nursing beds, a walk-in medical center, 24-hour emergency response system, store, cafe, dining room, full-service bank, computer room, club room, piano room, full service beauty/barber shop, ball room, fitness center, underground garage with resident storage units, housekeeping and laundry services, local transportation to appointments, activities and places of worship, and activities and social programs. Board of Appeals, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Md. 240-777-6600. See www.co.mo.md.us/council/board.html
<cal1>May (tentative)
<cal2>Public meeting — not yet scheduled — to be held by the Western Area Recreational Advisory Board on the issue of age restrictions imposed on use of the roller rink at the Potomac Community Center.