<sh>Take a Hike, A Blockhouse Hike
<bt>While many people who know Blockhouse Point refer to it as "the jewel of Potomac," visions of how the park should be used or conserved differ considerably. Some want to keep Blockhouse Point conserved while other want more access, including those who seek access to trails for bicycling and horseback riding.
Park and Planning staff say that natural and cultural resources at the 621 acres are among the most valuable in the county.
A public walk led by Park and Planning staff through Blockhouse Point Conservation Park is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m. (rain date, Sunday, June 9)
The walk is part of the Blockhouse Point Master Plan process and is intended to give citizens an opportunity to see the park, discuss the Blockhouse Point Conservation Park Master Plan with park staff and to offer comments and concerns about future plans for this conservation park. A public meeting to solicit comments on the staff draft of the Blockhouse Master Plan is tentatively scheduled for this fall.
Meet at the large parking lot on south side of River Road, about 1.1 mile west of Pennyfield Lock and Esworthy roads.
Call Rob Gibbs at 301-949-2909.
<sh>Residential Burglaries in Potomac
<bt>According to police reports:
Jewelry, personal papers and a safe was taken from a residence on the 11400 block of Big Piney Way between 10:15 a.m. and 12:47 p.m. on May 22 after burglars pried a door frame.
* Burglars broke a rear door of a house on the 11000 block of South Glen Road between 10:52 a.m. and 11:07 a.m. on May 22. Nothing was taken.
* Burglars entered a home in the 7100 block of Natelli Woods Lane in Bethesda , between 11:00 a.m. and 2:55 p.m. on May 22, entering through an unlocked door. Stolen were two computers, a collector’s basketball, binoculars, and household items.
<sh>Safe Neighborhood Day: Give Youth a Brake
<bt>In a county where pedestrian fatalities have outnumbered homicides, residents will rally at troublesome intersections in their neighborhoods to urge motorists to "slow down this summer and give kids a brake."
The second annual "Safe Neighborhood Day," a public safety awareness project, is scheduled for Sunday, June 9 from noon to 2 p.m.
Residents, who will be joined by police and public officials in Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., will hold signs and speed monitoring devices to urge motorists to slow down.
Get Involved: Concerned citizens, interest civic associations and related groups can participate in Safe Neighborhood Day. E-mail safeneighborhood@lycos.com or call 301-320-9677.
<sh>Election for Regency Estates
<bt>The Regency Estates Citizens Association, which consists of 990 homes, has been reactivated. The initial election of its officers and Board is scheduled for June 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the Herbert Hoover Middle School general purpose room.
E-mail Fred J. Hamburger at fjhamburger@erols.com or call Brian Feldman at 301-309-0977.
<sh>Virginia Beltway Improvements
<bt>Citizens can comment on, review and discuss with representatives of Virginia Department of Transportation the potential improvements for approximately 14 miles of Interstate 495 from Maryland line at the American Legion Bridge to the interchange at Intestates 95/395/495 in Springfield, Va. The study includes several alternatives and improvements to 10 Beltway interchanges.
Meetings will be held on Wednesday, May 29, at the Tysons Westpark Hotel, 8401 Westpark Drive and on Thursday, May 30, at the Fairview Park Marriott, 3111 Fairview Park Drive in Falls Church, Va. All meetings will begin with a presentation at 6 p.m. and will follow with a citizen comment period until 9 p.m.
Written statements may be submitted until June 10 to Capital Beltway Study, c/o Parsons Transportation Group, 10521 Rosehaven St., 2nd floor, Fairfax, Va. 22030.
Maps, drawings, a draft environmental impact statement and other data are available online at http://project1.parsons.com/capitalbeltway. Call 703-383-VDOT.
<sh>Keep Montgomery Beautiful
<bt>County residents who have captured the beauty of Montgomery County are encouraged to participate in the 11th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, sponsored by the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Task Force. All photos must have been taken in Montgomery County and will be judged in the following categories:
* Montgomery County by Day: daytime outdoor shots that depict the fun, beautiful or exciting.
* Montgomery County by Night: nighttime outdoor shots of something fun, beautiful or exciting.
* Montgomery County Landmarks: outdoor shots of a natural or manmade landmark or scene that is commonly recognized.
* Montgomery County, Her People: shots of one or more residents engaged in leisure or community service.
* Montgomery County at Work: shots of one or more citizens at work.
Photographs up to 8" x 10" in size and dry-mounted on mat board will be accepted. There is no entry fee for participation. The deadline for entries is June 30. Winners will be honored at a special ceremony this fall.
Entries should be mailed to: Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, Montgomery County Amateur Photo Contest, 101 Monroe Street, 10th Floor, Rockville, Md. 20850-2540. For complete list of entry rules, call 240-777-7155 or visit the County’s website at www.dpwt.com.
<sh>Neighborhood Beautification Contest
<bt>To recognize community enhancements through landscaping and beautification projects, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful has launched its annual community beautification contest. The Task Force encourages landscaping that uses conservation practices to keep pesticides and fertilizers out of the Chesapeake Bay. Community groups, businesses, public institutions and other organizations undertaking landscaping projects to enhance the appearance of non-residential properties are urged to enter.
Categories include:
* Commercial/retail: outdoor projects at shopping malls, restaurants, retail centers, gas stations, etc.
* Public/institutional: outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries.
* Cityscape: municipal street plantings in median strips or near traffic ramps and sidewalks.
* Community professional: landscaping projects that are designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors.
* Community non-professional: plantings or landscape projects maintained by community residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic organizations.
* Environmental/Ecological: wildlife habitat, wildflower plantings, wetlands plantings, and organic plantings.
* Youth: special projects initiated by young people, 18 years of age or younger.
* Sustained maintenance: one-, three- and five-year awards to previous three-time Award of Excellence winners.
Each category is judged on two levels — one for projects started since last fall and the other for projects begun prior to that time. The deadline for entries is June 15. Call the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful program at 240-777-7155, visit the website at www.dpwt.com or, write to: Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, Annual Beautification Awards, 101 Monroe Street, 10th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850-2540.
<sh>Civic Calendar
<cal1>Wednesday, May 29, 3-5:30 p.m.; 7-9 p.m.
<cal2>Public forum held by Montgomery County Board of Education on "Grading and Reporting." Carver Educational Services Center auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. There will be two sessions, one from 3-5:30 p.m. and a second one from 7-9 p.m. Individuals wishing to speak at the forum may call 301-279-3617. The policy being discussed may be obtained from the school system’s Web site at www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/policy or by calling 301-279-3364.
<cal1>Sunday, June 2, 1-4 p.m.
<cal2>Blockhouse Point Conservation Park Master Plan Public Hike. Starts at the large parking lot on the south side of River Road, about 1.1 miles west of Pennyfield Lock and Esworthy road. The rain date is Sunday, June 9. Call Rob Gibbs at 301-949-2909.
<cal1>Thursday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.
<cal2>Western Area Recreation Advisory Board meeting, Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac. 301-983-4467.
<cal1>Monday, June 17, 7 p.m.
<cal2>Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Meeting, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, Room A, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.