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June 2023 Issue of the Crier
The June 2023 issue of the Crier is now available online.
Please click the link below to view it:
June 2023 Crier
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Our Foxy Neighbors
Fox sightings are common in the Village. Foxes are not exclusively nocturnal, and are often seen during daytime hours, which may be concerning to some residents.
The Village has received calls regarding fox sightings in the west side of the Village, particularly near Oliver Street, Grove Street, Cedar Parkway and Kirkside Drive. Some callers have reported seeing a fox that has exhibited menacing and stalking behavior, especially those who have been walking their dog at the time of the fox sighting. The Village has been in contact with Montgomery County’s Division of Animal Control as well as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources regarding this reported activity. Both agencies have confirmed that this behavior is typical and there is likely a nearby den and litter that the fox is protecting. If you encounter the fox—especially if you are walking a dog—give the fox a wide berth and maintain a steady pace in the opposite direction to avoid an encounter. If you believe the den and litter may be located on your property, visit the DNR website to access a list of individuals and companies who are licensed to handle wildlife complaints or call 1-877-463-6497. In a semi-urban environment, foxes can become generally comfortable around humans, even associating humans with being a source of food. Unless the fox is acting in a way that would suggest it is injured or rabid, it’s likely just looking for something to eat for itself or its young or a cool place to rest. Common signs of rabies in foxes include: - Wild animal that acts overly friendly/unnaturally tame or aggressive for no reason
- Self-mutilation
- Rabid animal may appear sick, stagger when walking or walk in circles as if intoxicated, drool heavily, or suffer from paralysis
Mother foxes are looking for food sources for young kits during the spring months. Concerned residents who see foxes on their own property should remove any bird feeders (dropped seeds attract prey animals), remove any pet food that might be accessible, and ensure that their trash is in tightly closed containers. Nocturnal animals (including raccoons) seen outdoors acting normally during the daytime is NOT an indicator of rabies. If you see an animal you suspect may be rabid, contact Montgomery County Non-Emergency number at 301-279-8000 to report the animal’s location and behavior. For more information regarding wild animals, including foxes, click to visit the Montgomery County, or the Humane Society websites. For more information regarding red and grey foxes in Maryland, visit the Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/ .
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Holiday Collection Schedule for
Refuse and Recycling
Week of Memorial Day: May 29 through June 3 |
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Holiday Closing – Memorial Day
The Administrative office and Public Works Department will be closed on Monday,
May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The Communications Center and Police Department remain staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Calling all Residents: Stormwater Survey Relaunched
Dear Village Residents and Neighbors,
Hi! It's us again—your beloved Stormwater Committee Members. To those who responded, thank you. We have a 42% response rate but are hoping to get at
least 50%. To get there, we extended the survey until Tuesday, June 13th. Please let us hear from you! Here is the link: http://bit.ly/3lJHP5w. Answer to the best of your knowledge—we have heard there may be questions you don’t have the information to answer. THAT IS OK! Skip them! Answer what you can! We need your input to assess stormwater runoff in the Village and work on how best to allocate Village resources to address the issues YOU and your neighbors report in the survey responses. Residents are welcome to send questions regarding the survey to committee members at chevychasesw@gmail.com. With many thanks,
Your Stormwater Committee Members
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2023 Resident Directory
All households have been sent a Resident Directory Update Request form by mail, which includes the current household information contained in our Resident Directory database.
Please take a moment to review and confirm your listing, and return the update form, even if there is no change, either by mail, email (ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov), fax (301-907-9721), or by drop-off at the Village Hall (open 24 hours a day) by Sunday, June 11. Doing so ensures final updates can be incorporated before the Resident Directory goes to print.
We do our best to keep household contact information current, but we need your help to do this. Thank you for taking time to update your Resident Directory listing.
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Consumer Advice Available
When Needed from the Montgomery County
Office of Consumer Protection
Montgomery County residents who have felt deceived or taken advantage of during a business transaction can turn to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) for advice and assistance. OCP and its staff of experts on various matters can help explain complicated terms of a business transaction or get involved when a resident feels they are the victim of deceptive business practices, communication barriers or have experienced a situation when they were treated unfairly by a merchant who does not want to resolve the matter.
Spring is a time that brings out a regular trend of deceptive or fraudulent vendors, especially regarding work to be done around homes. OCP is prepared to help. Residents can reach OCP by calling the County’s MC311 call service (dial 240-777-0311 or just 311 in the County) Monday through Friday, during their normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). MC311 staff will direct requests for OCP services to the department—or to another County office that would best serve the resident’s needs, depending upon the issue. OCP staff members will contact a resident in the method of their choosing (within two business days). They will listen to the circumstance, evaluate what may have happened and to advise the resident on options that could be followed. In addition to the MC311 system, consumers can find helpful information on OCP’s A-Z Consumer Advice website. The website features articles and information on a variety of topics, including automobile repairs, credit and debt, internet safety, sales and marketing, financial literacy, home ownership and shopping. For more information about how to reach the Office of Consumer Protection, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP/index.html. If a resident prefers to contact OCP without calling MC311, they can send an email to email to consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov. |
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Spring into Summer Party
at the Chevy Chase Village Hall
Laurel Parkway Side of the Building*Tuesday, June 6 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join your neighbors to enjoy dinner from local food trucks, Rita's Italian Ice, and live music from local cover band The Uncounted, featuring Grafton Street resident, Robby Brewer, on drums. Bring a lawn chair or blanket - outdoor seating will be limited.
Food truck pre-orders will be accepted starting Friday, June 2. Links and coupon codes for pre-ordering will be sent in a separate blast email to residents. In addition to pre-ordering, residents will be able to place on-site orders during the June 6 party.
*In the event of inclement weather the event will be held inside the Village Hall.
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Town of Chevy Chase Invites
Village Neighbors to Attend Community Discussion on Reducing Gun Violence
Our neighboring municipality, the Town of Chevy Chase, invites Village residents to a discussion about gun violence in the US and common-sense gun laws that can be adopted to reduce it. The discussion will occur on Thursday, June 8 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Town of Chevy Chase’s Town Hall at 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase.
Maryland State Senator Waldstreicher will lead off the discussion with a quick overview of the gun laws Maryland enacted after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012 - including three gun safety bills championed by Senator Waldstreicher and just signed into law by Governor Moore. The program will also include Christina Files, Co-Chair of the DC Area Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention Network, who has worked on gun violence issues for the last seven years at the national, state, and local levels. Christina will present a quick overview of the scope of gun violence in the US, key gun laws and recent Supreme Court decisions affecting gun laws, and critical policies that can save lives on which there is substantial consensus between Americans who do and do not own firearms. These presentations will be followed by a substantial Q& A period. Gun owners and veterans are encouraged to join the discussion. Please RSVP by June 1 to http://bit.ly/TOCCDiscussion.
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USPS, Postal Inspection Service Roll Out Expanded Crime Prevention Measures to Crack Down on Mail Theft, Enhance Employee Safety and Strengthen Consumer Protections
The United States Postal Service (Postal Service) and United States Postal Inspection Service (Postal Inspection Service) have announced expanded actions to protect Postal employees and the security of the nation’s mail and packages as threats and attacks on letter carriers and mail fraud incidents have escalated concurrently with a national rise in crime.
For more information, including suggested tips for the public to prevent mail theft, click on the below link to read the full press release: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2023/0512-usps-postal-inspection-service-roll-out-expanded-measures-to-crack-down-on-mail-theft.htm |
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New Block Party Program Encourages Neighbors to Gather as Pandemic Recedes
The Village Board has approved a new program to reimburse residents for expenses related to holding block parties. The program, spearheaded by Board Member Lou Morsberger, is modeled after a similar program in the Town of Chevy Chase, and is designed to encourage community-building at the hyper-local level.
Under the program, residents must petition to close streets for the purpose of holding block parties, and can receive a reimbursement of up to $250/event to cover non-alcohol related expenses incurred by the party organizer(s). Visit the Village website to access the Block Party Application and to review the conditions for approval of a proposed block party. Note: No closures are permitted on blocks that would cause a traffic flow problem due to the block’s location on a primary Village roadway (examples include Cedar Parkway, Kirkside Drive, first block of W. Kirke Street, Oliver Street, others).
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STOP! Do you have a permit??Spring is a great time to refresh and enhance your yard, and the past two years have highlighted the importance of outdoor spaces as an extension of our homes for entertaining and enjoyment. But before you begin that spring project, ensure you have obtained the necessary permits from the Village (and, when applicable, Montgomery County and the Historic Preservation Commission). When is a Building Permit required? For the installation, replacement or expansion of the following: - Air conditioners, generators and geothermal systems
- Garages, accessory buildings and sheds (of any size)
- Decks, patios and terraces
- Outdoor kitchens and fireplaces
- Fences, gates and walls
- Driveways and walkways
- Lampposts, handrails and freestanding electric vehicle charging stations
- Permanently anchored play equipment
- Swimming pools and outdoor therapeutic baths
- Landscape feature items such as fountains, trellises, and arbors
- Regrading and any work that alters the existing flow of water on a property
(See Sec. 8-5 of the Village Code to review the full list of projects that require a Village Building Permit.)
When in doubt, Village staff are here to help! Email ccvpermitting@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 301-654-7300 to confirm if your planned project requires a permit. Confirming permitting requirements in advance will save you time and money and ensure you can get to using your outdoor space that much sooner!
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The Best Native Plants for Bees, Butterflies, and Birds
Spring is now in full bloom and it's time to get your garden in shape for pollinators and other native species that sustain food webs and keep your garden looking healthy and beautiful. Native plants are adapted to Maryland's climate, so they can handle our seasonal droughts with little watering and don't need fertilizer to grow in Maryland soils. Less fertilizer also means less nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Click here to learn what to plant to benefit birds, butterflies and bees from early spring through late fall. Submitted by the Environment & Energy Committee
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Spotted Lanternfly- What to Look For and
How to Report Sightings
Last spring, the Village alerted residents to the state quarantine for the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species slowly spreading through the mid-Atlantic region. This is the time of year to be on the lookout for nymphs that are developing into adults.
If you happen to come across Spotted Lanternfly in any stage of its development, please take a photo and visit the Maryland.gov website to report it. Destroy any lanternfly and egg mass you discover, whether you report them or not. Please be aware that there are no pesticides that are specific to lanternfly, and broad-spectrum products may harm beneficial insects. Prevent the spread of spotted lanternfly by inspecting your vehicle and any outdoor equipment (grills, mowers, camping supplies, firewood, etc.) when traveling in and out of the quarantine zones in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey. Refer to this (PDF) checklist to inspect for spotted lanternfly. Click on the linked image above to visit the Maryland.gov website for more information or visit the Village’s Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine page on our website. |
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Access to COVID-19 Test Kits and N-95 Masks;
Vaccine Access & Information
In partnership with Montgomery County, the Village continues to provide COVID-19 rapid (antigen) test kits and N-95 masks at no charge. Test kits are available at the Village Hall with a limit of two (2) boxes per person, per visit while supplies last.
Residents can also obtain free rapid test kits at county libraries during regular operating hours, while supplies last. The nearest is the Chevy Chase Library, located at 8005 Connecticut Avenue, or go online to view the complete list of county library locations. For those who may prefer to receive them by mail, test kits are available to be delivered to your home by USPS through the federal distribution program by visiting https://www.covid.gov/tests or calling 1-800-232-0233 (limit one shipment per household). Before you throw out "expired" test kits, please check the FDA website for your brand/lot number, as many test kits' expiration dates have been extended by the FDA. The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters for their age group: - Children and teens aged 6 months–17 years
- Adults aged 18 years and older
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
To find COVID-19 vaccine locations, visit health.maryland.gov/covid, or call 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829). Click on the link to view available testing sites in the county (government operated and private).
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Impacts of the Now Ended National COVID-19
Public Health Emergency
The national COVID-19 public health emergency (and national emergency) declarations ended on May 11, 2023, as previously announced by the Biden Administration.
The US Department of Health & Human Services has issued a Fact Sheet outlining the effects of this announcement. CLICK HERE to view the guidance.
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Dry Wells and Their Maintenance
If you have dry wells (underground receptacles for stormwater runoff) on your property as part of a stormwater management system, it’s important to know that these underground retention pits require ongoing maintenance—“out of sight” should not be “out of mind”! Debris from gutters (leaf litter and such) can cause clogging of the gravel retention area, and even above ground, it is important not to block the overflow cap or to build on top of the dry well.
If you notice that the area around your dry well is soggy, or worse, if the overflow cap seems to activate at the least amount of rain, then it probably means your system is due for a cleaning. Generally, every three to five years the gravel containment area needs to be flushed out, to eliminate sediment and debris that can hamper performance. This process is often referred to as “refreshing” the dry well. If this maintenance is neglected, the well will not function and you will experience adverse impacts to your yard and possibly to your basement.
Check with the company that installed the system, or if it was in place when you purchased your home, many landscape companies can perform this service. Keeping your dry wells in good condition will go a long way to improving the stormwater management conditions in your yard. Here is a link to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s website [a] with information on dry wells and their maintenance, as well as link to the Montgomery County website [b] with information on dry wells in general, their sizing and location.
Note that installation of a dry well on your property does require a Chevy Chase Village Building Permit. Permitting & Code Enforcement Coordinator Aurelio Baca-Asher can assist you with the permitting process.
[a] https://www.cbf.org/document-library/presentation-webinar-materials/CBF_Dry_Well_011614.pdf
[b] https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/Resources/Files/PostersPamphlets/dry-wells.pdf
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Help Village Staff Keep the Community
Safe & Beautiful:Report Areas for Repair and Maintenance
Village staff prides itself on being responsive and working hard to ensure that the Village remains a safe, beautiful and welcoming community—but we cannot do it alone. While we are constantly on the lookout for areas that need to be addressed, we need the support of residents serving as our eyes and ears throughout the community:
Sidewalk Repairs
The Village maintains brick paver sidewalks throughout the community. The brick pavers are not mortared and are set on a bluestone base to allow the sidewalks to gradually move as adjacent tree roots grow. Compared to the former concrete sidewalks, the dry-laid brick pavers are much easier for Public Works staff to repair by removing and resetting sections that have shifted. This is ongoing maintenance that our crews perform throughout the year as trip hazards are identified by staff or are brought to our attention by residents.
Tree Maintenance
There are well over 2,500 “public” trees located within Village parks, greenspaces and public right-of-way. The Village’s consulting Arborist and our Director of Public Works perform routine assessments for tree maintenance needs including areas for pruning, removals or treatments to improve a tree’s health. These assessments supplement our ongoing response to observations made by staff and residents.
How to Report an Issue or Concern
Residents can use the Village’s online form system to report any number of issues or concerns, by visiting the Village website and selecting How Do I... Report A Concern. From this page, residents can report sidewalk trip hazards and streetlight outages, and request public tree maintenance and recycling toters.
As always, residents may also call the Village’s 24-hour Communications Center or email requests/concerns to the Village’s main email address at ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov (emails are then routed to the appropriate department).
Thank you for helping us to continue addressing the needs of the community!
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Join The Compost Crew!
The food-waste collection program in Chevy Chase Village continues to grow as the community looks for more ways to be conscientious consumers. Currently, over 100 Village households are recycling their food-waste with Compost Crew.
To sign up for collection services, or if you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact info@compostcrew.com or visit the Compost Crew website.
NOTE: Those who participate are reminded that compost (as well as trash and recycling) bins are prohibited from being placed at the curbside for collection per the Village Code. Pursuant to Section 10-6 of the Chevy Chase Village Code, all receptacles for the disposal of household garbage, trash and recyclable materials must be left for collection at the rear of the dwelling unit (no curbside collection). Thank you for your cooperation.
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Chevy Chase At HomeAn Aging-in-Place Village
Do you know that there’s an organization in your neighborhood that helps seniors remain in their own homes safely when they need help doing so? Chevy Chase At Home is a group of neighbors helping neighbors. Volunteers bring needed support to members with a smile.
CC@H offers a rich program of affinity groups, continuing education, socialization, and exercise – many via Zoom, which actually makes it easier for many to participate.
Please consider whether you, a family member, a friend or neighbor might benefit from the help and sense of community that Chevy Chase At Home can provide. We welcome members and volunteers. Visit the Chevy Chase at Home website for more information and applications.
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Section 3 Farmers Market
Bring cash or a check for the
“$5 for Food” Donation Drive
Benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank
Located at Taylor Street and Brookville Road with ample parking at La Ferme restaurant, the market features locally sourced organic products. The market is open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine). Click on the flier link for additional information.
NOTE: If you are driving to the Farmers Market, please park in the rear of the La Ferme parking lot and NOT by the Brookville Market to leave sufficient parking for the retail shops along Brookville Rd.
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Friendship Heights
Farmers Market
Open Year-Round;
Within Walking Distance to the Village
Twin Springs Fruit Farm holds a fruit market in Friendship Heights year-round on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 4433 South Park Avenue (adjacent to the Friendship Heights Village Center). The market offers a variety of fruits, berries, and vegetables based on their seasonal peak availability.
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Local Goods Donation OrganizationsLooking to donate used items for general reuse or for use by those in need?
Looking to safely discard old papers?
Click to access a list of organizations accepting used items along with an organization that provides free paper shredding, year-round.
Please refer to the listed organizations’ websites for changes in collection days/times and operations.
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Join the Village Listserv on Groups.io
CCVillage (CCVillage@Groups.io), is the neighborhood mailing list (listserv) for residents of Chevy Chase Village. CCVillage is a resource to allow neighbors to stay connected with one another other. Click for more information and to join the listserv.
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Are You
Emergency 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 to view emergency preparedness information.
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You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to receive general news updates from Chevy Chase Village. Did you know the Village sends out urgent news updates as well, click here to sign-up. |
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