Neighborhood News - August 23, 2011

[Howard Hartman]

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Bethesda - Chevy Chase - North Bethesda - Potomac - Rockville Neighborhood News  August 23, 2011  In this issue Filing deadline for Rockville city election Event to support Bethesda Cares Low Vision Center offers free services Convenient, flexible, reasonably-priced meeting space Where to buy SmartTrip cards Quick links  Organizations   Citizens Advisory Board    Bethesda Urban Partnership   Bethesda Green   Glen Echo Park  Greater B-CC Chamber of Commerce Potomac Chamber of Commerce Rockville Chamber of Commerce Services    Crime reports Meeting room rentals   Volunteer opportunities   Call 311, get it done Ken Hartman is working on: Reuse of the NGIA Sangamore Road campus Developing a White Flint business directory and website  Villages Moving the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County to the BCC Regional Center   Mark your calendars for the September 12 Citizens Advisory Board committee meetings.  At 7 pm, the quality of life/public safety committee will discuss housing policy with HHS Director Uma Alhuwalia and Stephanie Killian, Housing and Community Affairs.  At 8 pm, the land use/transportation committee will discuss the Chevy Chase Lake sector plan with the Chevy Chase Land Company and planning department representatives.  The new commercial- residential zone proposals will also be discussed.  Both meetings are at the B-CC Regional Services Center.  The public is welcome to attend and participate.   Filing deadline for Rockville city election nears If you are interested in running for mayor of the City of Rockville or one of the four council seats,  you have only until Friday, September 9 to file as a candidate with the city clerk's office.  The election is November 9. Ten Thousand Villages event to support Bethesda Cares From 5-9 p.m. on Friday, August 26th, a portion of all sales at Bethesda's Ten Thousand Villages , 4959 Elm Street, will be donated to Bethesda Cares, a non-profit community organization dedicated to helping the homeless in our area.  Bethesda Cares works with area congregations, schools, business, county government, community groups and individuals to provide services to the homeless and  those at risk of becoming homeless .   Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade retailer of artisan- crafted home decor, accessories and gift items from some 38 countries.  The Bethesda store is part of a network of over 390 retail outlets in the U.S. selling Ten Thousand Villages products.       Non-profit Low Vision Center offers free services, information and referrals    Low Vision Center, located in Bethesda's  Woodmont Triangle, offers services and information to help those who are visually impaired.  For example, it  holds hands-on demonstrations in a home-like setting of a wide variety of low-vision aids, including magnifiers, lighting and computer, electronic and other high-tech aids.  It also offers a selection of low-vision aids for sale.   For more information, call 301-951-4444 or visit LVC's website.       Convenient, flexible, reasonably-priced meeting rooms available    If you're looking for a meeting space that's close to Metro, has free WiFi access, is convenient to public parking, allows coffee and light refreshments, is steps away from more than 200 restaurants, hotels and shops and offers very competitive prices (half off for non-profits) , have we got a deal for you.   The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center has five rooms that can accommodate from 40  to 210 people.  Three of the five rooms have whiteboard capability.   One can room be divided.     For non-profits and community associations wanting an outdoor space, Veterans Park in the Woodmont Triangle can be reserved by contacting Community Use of  Public Facilities, or CUPF, at  240-777-2712, Fax 240-777-2707. Retail outlets and libraries in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac and Rockville sell SmartTrip cards   It's pretty convenient now to buy SmartTrip cards at retail outlets.   Most CVS, Safeway and Giant sell regular SmartTrip cards.   At most of those outlets, you also can add money to your card.   Public libraries sell only senior cards.   For a complete list, visit WMATA's website.   Did you know that you also can use your SmartTrip card in Baltimore and surrounding area?    Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Serving the communities of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, North Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, and White Flint www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bcc bethesda.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center | 4805 Edgemoor Lane | Bethesda | MD | 20814