InfoShare Newsletter - December 19, 2008

[Howard Hartman]

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION InfoShare Montgomery County  December 19, 2008          PLANNING BOARD / DEPARTMENT OF PARKS / PLANNING DEPARTMENT
In This Issue Holiday Spirit All-pervading at Brookside Environmental Infrastructure Papers Ready for Review Sligo Creek Parkway Opens in Takoma Park Annual Deer Management Schedule Part of Hoyles Mill Trail Closed Board Gathers Comments on Purple Line to Form Opinion for Council "Home Stretch" Collects Opinions on Housing A Gift of Green... Public/Private Partnerships in Parks Check out "Building Better Communities" Video Quick Links    **Growing Smarter Survey** Planning Board homepage Planning Department homepage Department of Parks homepage Park Police homepage   Planning - Career Opportunities Parks - Career Opportunities   Watch us on County Cable Montgomery Channel 6 Parks Show Montgomery Plans   Find archives of Info-Share and more at Connected Communities		Greetings! Below is a listing of upcoming events, programs and meetings as well as important announcements from The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Please pass the information along to others who may be interested.   The next InfoShare you receive will be Friday, January 9, 2009.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!   Marcia Goldberg  Community Outreach and Media Relations Planning Board Meetings Agendas will be posted on our website for:   The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold their next meeting Thursday, January 8.   The Montgomery County Planning Board and their staff wish everyone Happy Holidays! We now stream the Planning Board meetings online. Watch live on our website or view later from our archives. Please note:  Everyone who officially speaks at a Planning Board meeting must register with the board assistant unless he or she has already signed up in advance. Advance sign-up is only available after the agenda is posted online.  Register at the meeting by submitting a completed yellow form available in the auditorium or a business card.  Was Infoshare Sent to You by a Friend?  Anyone with an email address can sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by visiting Infoshare.
The Latest at Brookside and McCrillis Gardens    Garden of Lights Now through Sunday, January 4 Open every night except Thursday, December 24 and 25  5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., last car admitted at 8:30 pm. Admission: $20 cars/vans (Fri-Sun), $15 cars/vans (Mon-Thu) weeknight discount rate. Buses please register in advance at 301-962-1457.   Brookside Gardens brings the four seasons to life with more than 700,000 colorful lights shaped in imaginative displays of giant summer sunflowers, falling autumn leaves, winter snowflakes, spring flowers, rain showers, and more. Beautifully lighted gazebos, cascading fountains, and the individually formed displays in the shapes of blooming flowers and wild animals await you.     Wednesday, December 31 - First "Family Friendly" New Year's Eve at the Garden of Lights Garden of Lights will sparkle until 10 p.m. Last car admitted at 9:30 p.m. Say goodbye to the old year and and hello to the new with your family and friends at a magical, winter wonderland of lights. Crafts and give-a-ways available for the children while supplies last   Conservatory Winter Display & Train Exhibit: Colors of the Season Now through  Sunday, January 4 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; free admission The Washington Virginia Maryland Garden Railroad Society has returned for a fourth year with a garden railway display inside the south conservatory. Flowering plants and evergreens flaunt their color  while trains travel past.   In the Spirit of the Season - Bring Toys and Non-perishable Food to Brookside Gardens' Garden of Lights When You Visit. Brookside Gardens is collecting new toys in conjunction with the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Montgomery, Evergreen School, Acorn Self Storage, Montgomery Housing Partnership and other business leaders to support the "Angels for Children" Toy Drive. This annual event provides Christmas toys to disadvantaged children in the Wheaton, MD area. Brookside Gardens will collect toys until December 23 during business hours and during Garden of Lights.   Canned food will feed those in need at Shepherd's Table in Silver Spring.  Each year nearly 1,000 pounds of food is enjoyed with your generous donations dropped off at Brookside.  Collection.  Food drive ends January 5. More activities found at: Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 301/962-1400  McCrillis Gardens 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD  20817 301/962-1400    Register or drop in (check specific details) at a range of other exciting programs. Try yoga, bring kids to Saturday morning storytime or learn more about cooking. And more! See list of classes and events at Xperience and register for programs at ParkPass.  Green Infrastructure Map Ready for Primetime Tuesday, January 13 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. MRO Auditorium, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring RSVP to Michael Zamore or 301/495-2106   Join planning staff to critique the draft Green Infrastructure plan and view the map showing a network of green spaces. Green infrastructure -- waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats and other natural areas -- supports native species and contributes to clean air, clean water and a healthy, sustainable quality of life. Review the network of proposed areas identified as sensitive and important environmental features throughout the county and ways to connect them into a comprehensive system. Sligo Creek Parkway in Takoma Park Open to Traffic Sligo Creek Parkway, closed since September between New Hampshire Avenue and Maple Avenue so WSSC could replace a water line, is expected to open before Christmas. Be Aware:  Deer Management Operations Began October 24 The Department of Parks has listed park closures on various days from sunrise until sunset for seasonal deer management beginning  Friday, October 24 at Hoyles Mill Conservation Park. Park users are encouraged to be safe and observe "Park Closed" signs that will be posted outside the affected parks. Scheduled closings run through Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Portion of Hoyles Mill Trail Closed for Construction A portion of Hoyles Mill Trail will be closed until further notice while a new bridge is built over the old ford across Little Seneca Creek on Hoyles Mill Road in Boyds. The project also includes stream restoration improvements, upstream and downstream of the crossing, to improve aquatic habitat. For more information, visit Montgomery Trails . Planning Board Members to Analyze Purple Line in January On January 8, the Board will hold a public hearing on the Purple Line to help form its decision on a recommendation for the route and type of transit -- light rail or bus rapid transit -- for the Montgomery County section of the project. The Board's recommendation will go to the County Council and then to the Maryland Transit Administration, which will make the final decision.   The public is welcome to speak at the Board's January 8 public hearing, although Chairman Royce Hanson is encouraging people to send written testimony January 2. The intense interest in this project may encourage a large number of people wishing to be heard; testimony will be limited to two hours, with each speaker receiving no more than three minutes. Speakers will need to specify which segment of the Montgomery County Purple Line they wish to address using the online sign-up system available December 23 on the Planning Board website or by calling 301/495-4600. "Home Stretch" Wants Your Opinion On Home Affordability, Stable Neighborhoods and Other Housing Issues Have your say on the state of housing in Montgomery County by visiting our blog, The Home Stretch, to provide your thoughts to the Planning Board as it considers new housing policies. The board's research staff established the blog to allow residents to stay abreast of the board's progress on housing issues and insert themselves in the process. Staff will roll citizen input into future presentations. A Gift of Green: Trees, Benches and Other Amenities Friends and family members can be honored by having a tree planted or a bench or picnic area installed in a Montgomery County Park. This gift keeps on giving! For more information and suggestions, visit GreenGifts.  For information on planning your gift, contact Tin-Mala in the Grants and Donations Program at 301-650-5650. Join the Public/Private Partnership of the Department of Parks The Department of Parks partners with non-profit groups and individuals in creating new and expanded recreation in Montgomery County Parks.  The Public/Private Partnership Committee meets monthly to review proposals and ideas offered to the team. For more information visit  Public/Private Partnerships. Increasing Understanding of Montgomery County Park and Planning To better inform Montgomery County residents and others interested in parks and development issues in Maryland's largest jurisdiction, we produced a 14-minute video explaining the agency's role in the community. The video, "Building Great Communities: Montgomery County, Maryland," sheds light on how the agency works to maintain the area's high quality of life. View the video online as part of our "Montgomery Plans" cable TV series or visit your local public library and ask for "Building Communities" on DVD.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission | 8787 Georgia Ave | Silver Spring | MD | 20910