Right-to-Life Demonstrators Expected Next Tuesday

On Tuesday, July 27, a right-to-life group, Defend Life, will be exercising their 1^st Amendment rights by displaying large, graphic signs on the sidewalk along northbound Connecticut Avenue from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Chief Fitzgerald and Village officers will be on the scene keeping the peace and ensuring traffic and pedestrian safety.
 
The images on the signs can be upsetting to some, and young children may not understand them.  Also, traffic tends to back up on northbound Connecticut Avenue during the hours of the demonstration.  If you typically use northbound Connecticut Avenue in your travels, you may want to consider an alternative route next Tuesday between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

Pedestrian Robbed at Gunpoint on Western Avenue

Occurred in DC right near the MD line; DC police are investigating

At about 6:40 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021, an adult Village resident was taking a walk eastbound on the Western Avenue sidewalk (on the ‘Maryland’ side).  As she approached the intersection with Cedar Parkway, she noticed a man walking south on Cedar.  The man turned right onto the Western Avenue sidewalk and walked straight toward the woman.  The man stopped directly in front of the woman, lifted his sweatshirt to expose a handgun that was tucked inside his waistband, placed his hand on the gun, and demanded the woman’s purse.  The woman offered no resistance and handed over her purse.  The suspect ordered the woman to run in the direction from which she came, so she turned and ran west on the Western Avenue sidewalk (toward Wisconsin Avenue).  The victim was unharmed.

The victim called 9-1-1 right away.  The call was routed to the DC communications center, and DC relayed the call to Montgomery County communications.  Metropolitan (DC) Police officers responded along with Village Officer Timmerman and County Police officers.  Since the crime occurred in DC, the Metropolitan Police Department will be investigating.  DC and Maryland officers searched for the suspect without success.

The victim described the suspect as a medium-complexioned black male, about 50 years old, approximately six feet tall, with a slender build, a well-trimmed grey (salt-and-pepper) goatee, shaved bald head, wearing a black crew neck sweatshirt, black sweat pants, bright red sneakers and a black cloth COVID face covering which he pulled down when he spoke to the victim.   

If you see a person that matches the above description, please call the Village Communications Center (301-654-7300) right away so that a Village officer may respond and investigate.

Recent Armed Robberies Have Made Us Anxious

What are the police doing, and what should residents do?

In the early morning hours of July 4, two young men, one armed with a handgun, confronted two women on Hesketh Street and stole property from one of them.  This past Sunday (July 18) at about 6:40 a.m., a lone middle-aged man walked up to a woman taking a morning walk on Western Avenue, displayed a gun that was in his waistband, and took the woman’s purse.  Village, County, and DC police officers responded to the scenes of the robberies and worked together to gather evidence. Detectives have determined that these events do not appear to be related; the suspects and other characteristics of the crimes are different. These crimes are (thankfully) rare and unusual here, and they have us all understandably concerned.
 
So what are the police doing?

• All of our Village officers and staff are fully aware of these crimes, and we continue to be on alert as we patrol the Village around the clock.
• Chief Fitzgerald has spoken with the County Police commander from Bethesda, and they will be putting additional resources in the area, also.
• County Police detectives are responsible for the follow-up investigation of the Hesketh Street robbery.  The Western Avenue robbery occurred in DC, so DC detectives are following up on that crime. 
• Village Police are in regular contact with the assigned detectives, and we are hopeful that they can solve these crimes and make an arrest.  If they are successful, we will announce the news right away. 
• County and DC police are talking to each other and sharing information to make sure they improve the chances of identifying and charging the suspects.

• Be vigilant, and call Village Police and report any person or vehicle in the area that arouses your suspicions.  Village officers will respond promptly and investigate.
• Call 9-1-1 immediately if you see a crime in progress and for any emergency.
• Walk in pairs or groups whenever practical.  This doesn’t guarantee your safety, but it improves the chances that you will not be confronted.
• If you feel uneasy or unsafe, trust that instinct; turn around and go the other way, pull out your phone and prepare to call for assistance, and/or go to a public place.
• Install security cameras outside your home.  They will give you peace of mind, and they are invaluable in police investigations.  They have helped solve countless crimes across the country and can serve as a crime deterrent.
• Adopt security habits that help to prevent crime at your home or on your property: lock your car every time you park; lock your home using deadbolts and window locks; leave outdoor lights on at the front and rear of your home; never leave your key fob in your car; set your alarm and sign up for a house check when you go away.  These habits will not only protect your home and cars, but it will reduce opportunities for theft and discourage thieves from returning to the Village.

 
The Village Police are working to keep you safe.  

Video of Western Avenue Armed Robber

He is driving a gray Ford Escape SUV

The DC Detective assigned to investigate the robbery on Western Avenue near Cedar Parkway sent the below YouTube link to Chief Fitzgerald this afternoon (July 20).  The detective is confident that this suspect is responsible for two robberies: the one on Western Avenue at 6:40 a.m., and a second one at 7:35 a.m. in the 3000 block of Q Street Northwest near Georgetown.  The DC police pieced this video together from several private cameras belonging to homeowners in the Georgetown neighborhood where the suspect committed a second robbery.
 
As you will see in the video, the suspect is driving a gray Ford Escape SUV with a roof rack.  He parks the car, approaches the victim on foot, then he runs back to the Ford Escape to get away after the robbery.
 
The suspect is described as a medium complexioned black male, about 50 years old, shaved head, neatly trimmed gray (salt and pepper) goatee, black crew neck sweatshirt, black sweat pants, red sneakers, armed with a black handgun.
 
If you see a man or an SUV matching the above descriptions within the Village, please contact the Village police immediately at 301-654-7300.   If you spot either of them in DC, call 9-1-1 to report your sighting.
 
See the video at the below link (copy and paste into your browser):

https://youtu.be/Woqtd-9OaDs

Village Board Adopts
Juneteenth National Independence Day

At its meeting on July 12, the Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers voted unanimously (of those in attendance) to adopt Juneteenth National Independence Day as a designated holiday for Village employees.
 
The Village joins federal, state, county and local governments across the country in adopting Juneteenth in recognition of both the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the notification of the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas by General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, that they were free, almost two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
 
With the adoption of Juneteenth, the Village now recognizes a total of ten holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

"Right of Way" Maintenance Outside Your Fenced Yard

Residents are reminded that they are responsible for maintaining the right of way outside of their fenced yards abutting Village streets. This includes the tree box (the area between the curb and public sidewalk) and between the front property line and the curb (when there is no public sidewalk). In cases where there is fencing abutting the roadway, residents are responsible for maintenance of the area outside the fencing.

We have seen an increase in shaggy unkempt areas outside of residents’ fenced yards.
Please be considerate and follow the Village regulations by maintaining that area.   

Thrive Montgomery 2050
Draft County General Plan Calls for Increased Density

Thrive Montgomery 2050 (or “Thrive” for short) is Montgomery County’s general plan update. It is the blueprint for how and where the County will grow over the next 30+ years.  On its own, Thrive does not modify any laws, but it sets the policy agendas for the County Council and County Planning Department, and will impact all future Master & Sector Plans. 
 
Recordings of the County Council’s two Public Hearings can be viewed at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html. The council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee will dive deeper into the plan during its four scheduled work sessions (July 26 and at least four additional sessions in September) and present its recommendations to the full county in the fall.
 
Click on the below link for additional information, including a sample letter that residents can use to write the County Council:

https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=925

The Village Hall is Open for Business

After more than 15 months, the Village Hall was reopened to the public on Monday, July 5.

Below are protocols and updates for your reference:

• The Village is following the county’s guidance, which has reopened government buildings with no access, social distancing or mask/face covering requirements; however, unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask/face covering and there is posted signage communicating this message.  
  
  
• Private rentals may resume at full capacity, as well as classes and organizational activities, such as Chevy Chase@Home events.
  
  
• Administrative personnel will return to the office; however, some members of the staff will continue to work a hybrid schedule to leverage opportunities for focused, uninterrupted work time and on days when working partial days to avoid unnecessary commuting time.  Residents are encouraged to call/email administrative personnel to ensure the staffer they seek is on-site. 
  
  
• We will continue to require online submission of permit applications (whenever possible) and electronic processing of all permits and plan reviews.  Our process over the last year has drastically reduced our paper usage and improved our internal review time. 

Permitting Administration

Though the Village Permitting & Code Enforcement Coordinator position is currently vacant, residents who have questions or need information regarding Village permitting should continue to email ccvpermitting@montgomerycountymd.gov.  This email account is being actively monitored by Village staff and you will receive a response.

Join the Village Listserv on Groups.io

CCVillage (CCVillage@Groups.io), is the neighborhood mailing list (listserv) for residents of Chevy Chase Village.  As residents continue to practice social distancing, CCVillage is a resource to allow neighbors to stay connected with one another other.  For more information and to join, visit:

https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=806

Are You Prepared?

It is important to be prepared for local weather emergencies. In order the assist residents in their preparedness, the Village in partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) offer a number of helpful tools, plans and free alerts to assist and keep you informed. Click on the below link to view this information:

https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=813

Emergency Contact Sheet

EMERGENCY - 911
 
Chevy Chase Village Police 
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-654-7300

Montgomery County Police 
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-279-8000

Bethesda - Chevy Chase Rescue Squad - 301-652-0077

Chevy Chase Fire Dept
(Opposite Columbia Country Club) - 240-773-4707

Bethesda Fire Dept
(Wisconsin Ave and Bradley Blvd) - 240-773-4706

National Capital Poison Center
(George Washington University Hospital) - 800-222-1222

Utilities
 

Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO)

Emergency-Live wires down, power failure - 877-737-2662

Customer Service - 202-833-7500

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Emergency - 301-206-4002

Complaints, Leaks, Information - 301-206-4001

Washington Gas

Emergency - 703-750-1400

Information & Customer Service - 703-750-1000

Comcast - 800-934-6489

Verizon - 800-837-4966

**A cut out sheet is also located on page two of the January 2019 Crier.

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