Randolph Civic Association

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has reached out to the Civic Association to solicit input from the community regarding a new crosswalk and pedestrian island on Randolph Road at Hunters Lane. Several residents have requested a crosswalk at this intersection, as many residents cross this intersection to get to bus stops on both sides of the road. The crosswalk and pedestrian island will provide a safer (and legal) means of crossing Randolph Road. Please email feedback to info@randolphcivic.org or post the Yahoo Group for all to read. This is your chance to provide input prior to the island construction starting. See the image below for the proposed location. Thank you.

The Randolph Civic Foundation recently launched the RCF Block Party Sponsorship Program. More information is available on Civic Foundation’s website.

The RCA Community Bazaar (formerly the Fall Yard Sale) is this weekend. Join us on Saturday, October 15th, 2011 from 8:00am-1:00pm at Loehmann’s Plaza.

Show up early and claim a good spot! RCA members get a free space; Non-members pay $10 per space.

On September 2nd at 7:30pm the RCA will host the final District One Council debate before the primaries. The primaries will be held on September 14th. This important event will showcase the two Democratic primary candidates, Roger Berliner and Ilaya Hopkins, and allow our residents to make an informed decision at the polls. The event will take place at the Viers Mill Recreation Center at the corner of Beach Drive and Garrett Park Road (map).

Questions will be asked by a three-person panel. The panel will consist of Barnaby Zall (Friends of White Flint and Citizens League of Montgomery County), Marc Korman (Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board), and Chad Salganik (RCA VP and Citizens League of Montgomery County). The audience will be able to personally ask questions in addition to submitting question cards, which will be given to the panelists. The candidates will each have one minute to respond and will be allowed one rebuttal for each question.

At this critical time in our County, it is more important than ever to make an informed decision at the poll. Some of the topics are sure to be the County budget, schools, economic vitality and the White Flint Sector plan. Please email dan@randolphcivic.org if you would like to volunteer at the event.

RCA Note: The RCA does not endorse candidates, but does promote voting and political engagement via forums and voter guides.

The following is the Board approved slate that was gathered during the nomination period. A call for nominations was made at the February membership meeting and posted in the previous Echo. Elections will be held on April 1st, 2010 at the membership meeting.

• President Daniel Hoffman
• Vice President One Chad Salganik
• Vice President Two David Matera
• Secretary Christiana Drapkin
• Treasurer Nick Kriesle
• Director Steve Feehan
• Director Karen Helfert**
• Director Kevin Kline**

**The Director seats held by Karen Helfert and Kevin Kline are not up for election in this period. Directors are elected to three year terms. Kevin has one year remaining on his term and Karen has two years remaining. Per our by-laws, outgoing President Matt Tifford will remain an ad hoc voting member of the Board for one year after leaving office.

This weekend, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), working with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (DOT), will shift westbound Randolph Road traffic to the newly opened westbound Montrose Parkway between Maple/Chapman avenues and “old” Old Georgetown Road.

Continue reading at Maryland State Highway Administration – Districts Page.

Viers Mill Elementary School’s PTA meeting attendance is dismal. In a school whose students represent well over 30 nationalities and languages and whose families are generally low-income, many parents are too busy working, tossing together dinner or taking care of their children to attend, said Matthew Devan, principal of the Wheaton school.

But nine years after Devan developed a monthly Family Learning Night that combined free dinner (in the form of pizza), free child care (in the form of family activities with the teacher) and PTA meetings, parents’ involvement in the school and in their children’s work has risen drastically, he said.

via Gazette.net.

Thanks to all of the supporters that came out to support the RCA members that testified at the hearing. Matt Tifford, Dan Hoffman and Cindy Zelaya each testified.

At stake is the future of the area surrounding the White Flint Metro, where county planners have recommended transforming mini-malls and asphalt parking lots into a more vibrant community of mixed use residential, commercial and retail space. The plan before the County Council proposes converting Rockville Pike into a pedestrian boulevard and making the whole of White Flint more like Arlington, Va.

via Gazette.net.

This year, the RCA will be phasing in a new Hotline number: 240-668-4RCA (4722). The old one will still work for the time being, to give people a chance to change their phone books. So, please make a note of it- and feel free to call in with your thoughts and concerns.