Spring 2012 WECA Items of Interest

Rockville Homes & Hospitality Tour - a great Mother's Day gift! Join Peerless Rockville on Saturday, May 12th from 1-5 pm for the 2012 Homes & Hospitality Tour. The tour features a variety of historic and beautiful homes along with the newly renovated Pump House in East Rockville. In addition to live music, delicious hors d-oeuvres, and a selection of beverages, the tour offers visitors an opportunity to mingle with fellow residents and public officials. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 301-762-0096 or visit www.PeerlessRockville.org

Montgomery County School Board Candidates Forum: There will be a candidate’s forum for the five candidates running for the Montgomery County School Board District 2 seat on Thursday, March 29th at 7:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville, MD). This candidate’s forum is being co-hosted by the Rockville Community Coalition and the League of Women Voters. The primary elections will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd.

WECA Annual Election of Officers Nominations: If you would like to be considered as a candidate for a WECA officer position, or would like to nominate a WECA neighbor (with their approval!) to serve in one of these positions, please contact Jack Gelin at gelinjac@verizon.net , chair of our nominating committee, no later than Monday, April 2nd. WECA elections will take place at the General Membership Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 17th.

March WECA Meeting - Thurs, March 15th at 7:00pm

The March WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, March 15th at 7:00pm. Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

Updates will be provided on the following items from the last meeting:
* Jehovah’s Witness Project
* Town Center Phase II
* Neighborhood Conservation/Historic Designation – Kermit Mohan house
* WECA Nominating Committee

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend WECA meetings, and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening!

Update on Jehova's Witness Church Project Meeting

The planners for the Jehova's Witness Church project (across from Julius West Middle School) apparently failed to follow proper procedure, and as a result, their official area meeting is being rescheduled, date TBD. It had originally been planned for Thursday, Feb.23. Due to the late notice, the developer will still have a "courtesy meeting" on Feb 23 at 7pm at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, 624 Great Falls Road, where neighbors are welcome to ask questions about the present plan.

February WECA Meeting on Thurs, Feb 16th at 7:00pm

The February WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, February 16th at 7:00pm. Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

One topic which will be discussed is the status of the Jehovah’s Witness expansion project (across from Julius West Middle School). Rose Sharkey will provide an update. For those further interested, there will be an Area Meeting on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:00pm at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, 624 Great Falls Road.

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend WECA meetings.

Janaury WECA Meeting on Thurs, Jan. 19th at 7:00pm

The January WECA meeting will be held on Thursday, January 19th at 7:00pm.

Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

One topic which will be discussed is the extension of the sound wall along I-270 and Nelson Street. Mr. Don Kettlestrings will be providing an update.

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend WECA meetings. See you this Thursday evening to kick off the New Year with your neighbors!

November WECA Meeting Announcement

The November WECA meeting will be held on Thursday, November 17th at 7:00pm.

Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend WECA meetings. We look forward to seeing you there!

WECA Candidates Forum for Rockville Election: Oct 27 at 7:00pm at City Hall‏

A WECA sponsored Candidates Forum for the upcoming City of Rockville elections will be held on Thursday, October 27th, 2011, at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue. This forum will be televised live on Rockville Channel 11, the City's cable station, and will start promptly at 7:00 pm.

WECA members are encouraged to submit questions in advance by e-mail to forum@weca.us, as this gives WECA and the forum moderator an opportunity to carefully consider good questions. Questions may also be submitted at the debate.

City of Rockville elections are held every two years, at which time the mayor and four council seats are up for election.

For the mayoral seat, current Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio is seeking re-election. Current Councilmember Piotr Gajewski will also run.

Eight candidates will vie for the four council seats. They are:

* Les Francis
* Richard Gottfried
* John F. Hall Jr.
* Tom Moore
* Bridget Donnell Newton (seeking re-election)
* Virginia Onley
* Mark Pierzchala (seeking re-election)
* Dion Trahan

Current Councilmember John Britton will not seek re-election.

The elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8th.

We look forward to seeing you at the WECA Candidates Forum on Oct. 27th, and then at the polls!

September WECA Meeting Announcement

The September WECA meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15th at 7:00pm. Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

Our featured speaker will be Ingrid Manfredo, Director of Rainbow Place. Ingrid will be discussing Rainbow Place's progress, as well as concerns and preparations for the upcoming shelter season.

There will also be a discussion of the Annexation and proposed development of the Reed Property.

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Photo Tour of Historic West End Homes

Neighbors - Rockville Patch recently posted pictures with narratives of some historic West End properties. Please click on the link below to enjoy the photo tour!

http://rockville.patch.com/articles/viewfinder-past-preserved#photo-7379078

WECA General Membership Meeting: Thursday, June 16th

Come Join Us for the WECA General Membership Meeting!

Thursday, June 16th at 7:00pm

Annual Election of Officers to WECA (slate below)!

Meet Your Mayor & Council (all of them)!

Ice Cream Social Prior to Meeting!

6:30pm - 7:00pm available for purchase from Carmen's Italian Ice

The WECA Annual Election of Officers Slate:

President: Susan Prince
Vice President: Vicki McMullen
Corresponding Secretary: Jack Gelin
Treasurer: Noreen Bryan
Recording Secretary: Jan Balkam

Meeting will be held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church

215 W. Montgomery Avenue (park behind the church, via Harrison Street)

We invite you to join your neighbors for this special and important meeting!

June 2nd Community Forum on the APFO

On Thursday, June 2nd at 7:00pm at City Hall, the City will be hosting a public forum on the APFO (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance). Residents will be able to share their views and listen to the community discussion on this important topic.

Full details on the meeting, and how you may sign-up to testify, can be found here:
http://www.rockvillemd.gov/news/2011/05-may/05-19-11b.html

And a link to the meeting agenda is here, along with some previously submitted public testimony: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/government/commissions/pc/apfo/2011/060211.htm

WECA Statement on the Rockville Pike Plan

On April 29, 2011, with unanimous approval from the Executive Board, WECA's Corresponding Secretary submitted a Statement on the Rockville Pike Plan to the City of Rockville and the Planning Commission. A draft of this plan was distributed to all members of the WECA listserv on 4/20/11, to solicit community input.

To view WECA's Statement on the Rockville Pike Plan, please click here.

May WECA Meeting Announcement

The May WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, May 19th at 7:00pm. Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

April WECA Meeting Announcement

The April WECA meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28th at 7:00pm (Note: This is one week later than normally held, due to spring break). Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

The main item on the agenda will include a review and discussion of WECA's position on the Rockville Pike Plan. To review the Draft Pike Plan, please link here:
www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillespike

All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

March WECA Meeting Announcement

The March WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, March 17th at 7:00pm. Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street.

Main items on the agenda include:

• * A general discussion and opportunity to provide your input to WECA's Executive Board on the Rockville Pike Plan, as presented at last month's meeting and outlined on the City website here: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillespike/ [Note that a Rockville Planning Commission Public Hearing is being held the day before, on Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00pm at City Hall. That meeting is your best opportunity to get your personal comments reflected in the official record.]
• * An update on the work of Rockville's Communications Task Force

Finally, there will be a Town Center Action Team (TCAT) meeting on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:00pm at City Hall. All interested citizens are invited to attend.