Huntington Terrace
Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
Whether you have just moved to the neighborhood or have lived here for decades, this list of FAQ will hopefully answer questions you have about living in this neighborhood. This is a work in progress; if you can think of a question that is not answered here, let us know and we will help find the answer and add it to the FAQ.
Trash | Parking | HTCA | Neighbors | email list | History | Miscellaneous | Back to Website
Trash pick up questions:
What about trash pick up on holidays or after a big snowstorm?
When do I need to have my recycling and trash containers on the curb?
Do I have to use trash cans? Can I use garbage bags instead?
Does the county pick up yard waste?
How do I dispose of yard waste?
May I put rocks and sod in with the yard waste?
Does Montgomery County have a recycling program?
What does Montgomery County recycle?
What will not be accepted by the county for recycling?
What is considered hazardous waste and how do I dispose of it?
I have an old sofa or appliance I want to throw away. Can I just put it out for pick up?
Solid Waste is a fascinating subject. Where can I read more about it?
Parking Questions:
Do I need a parking permit to park in front of my house?
Why do I need a parking permit to park in front of my house?
What happens if I don't purchase a parking permit?
How do I obtain a parking permit?
My great aunt is visiting from Omaha for two weeks. Do I need to buy a parking permit for her?
There is a car with no parking permit that parks across the street every day. How do I report it?
Are there any other parking restrictions I should know about?
HTCA Questions
Will HTCA come after me if I paint my garage a hideous shade of purple?
How do I join Huntington Terrace Civic Association (HTCA)?
I'd like to donate money to HTCA. Who do I talk to about that?
Do I have to be a member of HTCA to vote?
Where can I obtain a copy of the bylaws?
When and where do HTCA meetings take place?
Who is on the HTCA board of directors?
I'd like to be on the HTCA board of directors. How can I be?
I don't want to serve on HTCA board of directors, but I'd like to help out. What can I do?
I want to be a block worker, who do I contact?
Does the neighborhood have a telephone directory that is just for the residents?
How do I receive a telephone directory?
How do I find out about what is happening in the neighborhood?
Questions about Public and Commercial presences in and near our Neighborhood:
How can I find out more about Suburban Hospital and our neighborhood?
How can I find out more about The Bethesda Community Store and our neighborhood?
Do we have an ongoing relationship with NIH?
How can I find out more about NIH's Office of Community Liaison and the Community Liaison Council?
What does the representative to NIH's Community Liaison Council do?
Who is the current representative?
How can I bring up an issue I have with NIH?
Questions about the email list:
Do we have an email list for the neighborhood?
Will you sell my email address if I give it to you?
Is htcanet listed in Yahoogroups directory?
How many emails a week can I expect if I join htcanet?
What are the delivery options available to me if I join htcanet?
What sorts of discussions take place on htcanet?
If I don't join htcanet will I miss important information?
Can I read the messages on htcanet if I don't join?
Questions About the History of Huntington Terrace:
What used to be where my house is now standing?
When were the first homes built in the neighborhood?
Is it true that a former president used to have a vacation home in the neighborhood?
What are the boundaries of Huntington Terrace?
Miscellaneous questions:
Do I have to shovel my sidewalk after a snow?
I'm going on vacation and would like a responsible student to take care of my lawn and/or pets while I am away. How can I find someone for that job?
Trash pick up answers:
Trash is generally picked up on Thursday mornings.
What about trash pick up on holidays or after a big snowstorm?
Occasionally Federal holidays or weather conditions cause the pick-up to be delayed. The Division of Solid Waste maintains an online calendar that provides information regarding trash collection changes due to holidays.
You can sign up for email messages from the county that alert you to changes in the trash pick up schedule.
When do I need to have my recycling and trash containers on the curb?
Recycling and solid waste containers should be on your curb by 7 am.
Do I have to use trash cans? Can I use garbage bags instead?
No, you must use trash containers. Please place trash that is in plastic bags into a trash can with a tight-fitting lid before you set your trash at the curb for collection. Trash cans, which are required, may be plastic or metal, and may hold up to 45 pounds of material. For more information The Division of Solid Waste explains what containers to use for solid waste disposal.
Does the county pick up yard waste?
Yes, the county will pick up leaves, brush and trim with your weekly solid waste collection. In addition, our neighborhood receives curbside leaf vacuuming in the fall.
May I put rocks and sod in with the yard waste?
No. You may not put rocks, dirt or sod, rootballs or tree stumps or lumber with your yard waste, recycling nor regular trash.
Dirt/soil and rocks are accepted for disposal at the Shady Grove Transfer Station. If the soil is "clean" -- fairly free of rocks -- it may be deposited in a special area for reuse.
How do I dispose of yard waste?
Please place leaves, grass, brush, and other yard trimmings in large paper bags (available at most grocery stores, home improvement stores, and garden centers). The total weight of the bag CANNOT exceed 45 pounds.
or
Save money and use reusable containers, such as trash cans. Cans must be marked "Yard Trim" to ensure proper collection. Use the free Yard Trim decals available at Montgomery County libraries, Regional Service Centers, or by ordering online or calling our Customer Service Line at 240-777-6410. Total weight cannot exceed 45 pounds per container. Be sure the "Yard Trim" decal faces the street.
Or
Brush can also be tied into bundles with twine. Bundles should not exceed 30 inches in diameter. Each branch should not be larger than 4 feet in length, and 4 inches in diameter.
Does Montgomery County have a recycling program?
Yes. Montgomery County has an extensive recycling program.
What does Montgomery County recycle?
|
Mixed Paper:
|
Aluminum foil products:
|
Plastic bottles:
|
|
Cans (Aluminum, Steel/Tin):
|
||
|
Glass bottles and jars:
|
What will not be accepted by the county for recycling?
- aerosol cans
- Any other glass or ceramic products
- Window glass
- Mirrors
- broken glass
- No lids or caps
- No other plastics
- yogurt containers
- margarine tubs
- pint-sized baskets for fruit
- beverage cups
- salad bar containers
- flower pots
- No bottles from hazardous
products
- automotive and garden products
See the county's online recycling information for more details.
Place all Aluminum foil products, cans, glass bottles and jars and plastic bottles in your blue bin. Make sure to rinse out all containers so you don't encourage pests. Mixed paper and cardboard can be put loose in the blue paper recycling cart.
Why do some people have large glass and can recycling bins and I have a small one? How do I get a large one?
If you consistently have more recycling than your blue bin can handle, you may order a larger one from the county.
What is considered hazardous waste and how do I dispose of it?
Montgomery County has one permanent hazardous waste receiving area and two satellite event locations. You may not dispose of hazardous waste in your weekly curbside collections. Please see the county's online hazardous waste information for more details.
A partial list of hazardous waste materials that Montgomery county accepts is:
- Insecticides
- (Chlordane, DDT, Malathion, Sevin, Arsenic, etc.)
- Herbicides
- Other pesticides
- (used for control of rodents, fungi, snails, mites, etc.)
- Fertilizers with herbicides
- Paint thinners and solvents
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Unwanted fuels
- Mercury containing items,
- i.e. thermostats and thermometers
- Used motor oil, most other oils, hydraulic fluids, kerosene (5 gallon limit)
- Photographic chemicals
- Brake fluid and antifreeze (5 gallon limit)
- Car batteries
- Oil-based paints
- (Latex paints are not hazardous waste)
- Batteries containing nickel,
cadmium, mercury, silver-oxide, lead or lithium.
- Alkaline batteries may be put in with regular trash.
- Fluorescent light tubes and bulbs (up to 12 bulbs)
Hazardous waste that the county cannot accept is:
- Explosives, compressed gas cylinders and shock-sensitive materials
- Commercial, industrial or medical wastes
- Dioxins
- Kepones
Unknowns (items without any type of identification) - Radioactive materials
- For further information call 410-631-3300, State of Maryland, Department of the Environment, Office of Radiological Health.
- Loose asbestos should only
be removed by a trained contractor.
- For further information, call the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection at 240-777-7770.
- Asbestos floor tiles and house shingles may be included in your regular trash, or taken to the Transfer Station. They should be separated into a trash bag.
I have an old sofa or appliance I want to throw away. Can I just put it out for pick up?
Each residential property receiving County-provided trash collection is entitled to 5 special collections per calendar year for certain types of miscellaneous and/or bulky household trash.
These special collections must be scheduled in advance with the County by the occupant or resident. The collection will then be made on your trash collection day. All items must be placed at your curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Collections are made between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Schedule special collection service online or call 240-777-6410 no later than 9:30 a.m. on the business day before your trash collection day. Any requests received after 9:30 a.m. will be scheduled for the following week. Please provide a list of items to be picked up.
Solid Waste is a fascinating subject. Where can I read more about it?
Montgomery County has a lot of great information all about solid waste on its website. If you are truly interested, subscribe the the solid waste newsletter and/or read the "Talking Trash" blog.
Parking Answers:
Do I need a parking permit to park in front of my house?
Yes, on-street parking permits for each car you own are required to park in the neighborhood.
Why do I need a parking permit to park in front of my house?
This is to ensure that neighbors have ample parking in the neighborhood. According to the DPWT website
"Parking by non-residents can restrict access by residents to street parking, increase air and noise pollution, and create unsafe traffic conditions"
What happens if I don't purchase a parking permit?
Your vehicle will probably get ticketed.
How do I obtain a parking permit?
Visit one of two parking sales and collections offices:
Resident parking permits will be issued for each motor vehicle registered to an address and you can apply for as many permits as you have vehicles. Cost is $30.00 per vehicle and is renewable on a two-year basis.
More information can be found on the DPWT website .
My book club is coming over during the day on a weekday. How do I keep my guests from getting ticketed for parking in the neighborhood?
You may obtain free visitor permits for up to 30 days by phoning or visiting either of the parking sales and collections offices.
My great aunt is visiting from Omaha for two weeks. Do I need to buy a parking permit for her?
You do not need to purchase a visitor permit. You may obtain free visitor permits for up to 30 days by phoning or visiting either of the parking sales and collections offices. Or you may obtain a permanent visitor parking permit for $30.00. Call the parking sales and collections offices for more information.
There is a car with no parking permit that parks across the street every day. How do I report it?
During the daytime please contact Parking Operations at 240-777-8740, between 8am - 4pm Monday - Friday.
On weekends please contact the Police Department at 301-279-8000.
A large vehicle is parked in front of my house. It has a permit, but it annoys me and I think it is a safety hazard. What can I do about it?
While this vehicle may be annoying, it is not breaking any laws, so the police or parking operations cannot really help. You can talk to the HTCA Executive board to see what the board members have to say about it, but the best thing to do would be to talk with the owner of the vehicle to see if you could work out a compromise.
Are there any other parking restrictions I should know about?
There are too many restrictions to mention them all here, however here are a few:
- no parking within 20 feet of a fire hydrant
- no parking within 30 feet of a stop sign
HTCA Answers:
HTCA is the Huntington Terrace Citizens' Association. It was founded in 1937 to fight what the citizens considered to be a disproportionate share of the cost for curbs and gutters.
Membership in the HTCA includes all adults who either own property or live within the neighborhood boundaries.
Will HTCA come after me if I paint my garage a hideous shade of purple?
Exactly what shade are you considering? No, seriously, the HTCA is not that kind of association.
How do I join Huntington Terrace Civic Association (HTCA)?
If you are an adult who lives within the boundaries of Huntington Terrace, you may send $10 to the treasurer:
Jerry
Collins
5603 Lincoln St.
Bethesda, MD 20817
There are a number of operating costs and without dues we cannot continue to help support the neighborhood.
I'd like to donate money to HTCA. Who do I talk to about that?
Talk to any one of the HTCA Board members or send your donation to the treasurer.
Do I have to be a member of HTCA to vote on HTCA issues?
The bylaws state that you do need to be a member of HTCA to vote on HTCA issues. You don't need to be at the meeting, however. You may use a proxy.
Where can I obtain a copy of the bylaws?
Contact one of the board members.
Yes, the HTCA has occasional meetings. Residents are always welcome to attend board meetings and should contact any officer for the time and location. Problems, questions ideas or suggestions regarding neighborhood can be communicated through any board member or your block worker .
When and where do HTCA meetings take place?
The HTCA meets on an as needed basis. You will be notified of the time and location through a newsletter and htcanet if you are a member.
We are currently in need of a regular meeting place, so if you know of one please contact a board member.
Who is on the HTCA board of directors?
I'd like to be on the HTCA board of directors. How can I be?
Contact one of the current members of the board of directors to discuss your interest in being on the board of directors.
I don't want to serve on HTCA board of directors, but I'd like to help out. What can I do?
There are several opportunities to volunteer in the neighborhood. Some of these are:
- Be a blockworker
- Help plan an event
- Join a committee
A blockworker is a neighbor who delivers newsletters and other written information to a specific set of houses in the neighborhood. Blockworkers may also serve as a sort of "Welcome Wagon" for new neighbors by giving them information about the neighborhood and a Huntington Terrace Directory.
The following is a list of blockworkers and the block(s) to which he or she delivers:
Diana
Robbins-Holland
(Coordinator)
Garfield
8500 Dave Mangurian
8600 Catarine Earle
8700 Greg Ludlow
8800 Greg Ludlow
Grant
8600 Rachel Svec
8700 Rachel Svec
8800 Rachel Svec
Greentree
5500 Bob Sievers
5600 Bob Sievers
Hoover
5500 Dona Patrick
5600 Dona Patrick
Jefferson
8500 Kathleen Marsh
8600 Kathleen Marsh
8700 Gaye Browne
Lincoln
5400 Sally Kingsley
5500 Marta Legeckis
5600 Gaye Browne
Madison
5600 Connie Berkley
McKinley
5400 Sheryl Andrews
5500 Kate Stern 5513
5600 Janice Glazer
Roosevelt
5400 Joye Newman
5500 Bill Zellmer
5600 Linda Isaac
Southwick
5500 Maureen Sievers
5600 Connie Cissel
I want to be a block worker, whom do I contact?
Contact the blockworker coordinator.
Does the neighborhood have a telephone directory that is just for the residents?
Yes. Every few years a new directory is created and distributed. The directory lists every house in the neighborhood, but only those households that want to be included in the directory have information listed. The directory also contains useful and interesting facts about the neighborhood and a list of handy helpers such as baby-sitters, lawn care workers and pet sitters.
How do I get a telephone directory?
Contact either your blockworker, Bob Sievers or one of the board members.
How do I find out about what is happening in the neighborhood?
The best way to find out what is happening in the neighborhood is to read your newsletter. You may also want to consider signing up for htcanet.
Questions about Public and Commercial presences in and near our Neighborhood:
How can I find out more about Suburban Hospital and our neighborhood?
Contact one of the board members and/or attend a meeting.
How can I find out more about The Bethesda Community Store and our neighborhood?
Contact one of the board members and/or attend a meeting.
Do we have an ongoing relationship with NIH?
NIH's Community Liaison Council (CLC) is a group of individuals from area communities who work with NIH in matters affecting their neighborhoods.
NIH has set up an Office of Community Liaison that, in its own words, "...has a long-standing partnership with the Bethesda and surrounding communities, ...the OCL staff are dedicated to serving the interests and well-being of our neighbors".
How can I find out more about NIH's Office of Community Liaison and the Community Liaison Council?
Check out either NIH's Office of Community Liaison's Website for information on both the OCL and CLC.
What does the representative to NIH's Community Liaison Council do?
HTCA's representative to NIH's Community Liaison Council (CLC) meets with the group on the 3rd Thursday of most months of the year. At these meetings, NIH presents information about events such as new construction on the NIH campus that may affect the surrounding neighborhoods. Community representatives then summarize and relay this information back to their communities. For HTCA, this information is sent out in a monthly email to htcanet subscribers.
Community representatives also serve in the reverse capacity, conveying information from the communities to NIH. Examples of recent exchanges have included the development of plans for pedestrian cross-campus access once NIH's campus is closed to the general public, the construction of the new BSL-3 lab, noise generated by two new office and lab buildings on the west side of campus, and parking by NIH construction workers on neighborhood streets.
Who is the current representative?
Our current representative to NIH's CLC is Lesley Hildebrand.
How can I bring up an issue I have with NIH?
Call or email Lesley Hildebrand, the current CLC representative.
I ride the metro to work. Will I be able to walk across NIH campus once the gates close to the public or will I have to go all the way around the campus and enter through the Wisconsin Avenue gate?
As of this writing, the NIH campus is open to the general public and anyone may walk or bike across campus to get to the Metro station. There are security guards posted at each vehicle entrance but pedestrians and cyclists do not need to show any identification before entering campus.
The perimeter fence and gates are nearing completion and are expected to be operational in the spring of 2005. Once that occurs, the public will still be permitted to cross the campus during yellow and orange alert levels, but subject to the following procedures:
- In the morning:
- enter campus at South Drive and Old Georgetown Rd, across from the Community Store
- enter the Visitor Center; this will probably be a trailer
- show driver's license to the security guard to obtain a day pass
- have bags or packages scanned and walk through the magnetometer
- enter campus and cross to Metro station on east side
- In the evening, repeat the process, beginning at the Visitor Center near the Metro station.
Questions about the email list:
Do we have an email list for the neighborhood?
Yes we do. It is called htcanet and has around 60 members.
Send an email to Dona Patrick (dpatrick@dponline.org) to join. Please include your name, address and telephone number in the email. Also indicate that you wish to join htcanet and put the address you are subscribing in the body of the email. It makes it a little easier to add your address when you do that.
Will you sell my email address if I give it to you?
No. We respect your privacy. Your email address will only be used to send Huntington Terrace information over htcanet.
Is htcanet listed in Yahoogroups directory?
No, it is not listed in the directory. Membership is limited and only members may view the yahoogroups web page and only the owner of the list can view the member list.
Any adult living in or owning property within Huntington Terrace may join htcanet.
How many emails a week can I expect if I join htcanet?
Currently fewer than one email a week is sent, on average, over htcanet.
What are the delivery options available to me if I join htcanet?
You may either choose to receive emails on htcanet as they happen or in digest form (you would get one email a day with all that day's emails in it). Email Dona Patrick (dpatrick@dponline.org) if you want to change your delivery option.
What sorts of discussions take place on htcanet?
While discussions are possible on htcanet (all members may post without restriction) we do not encourage discussion. The types of messages should be limited to useful information for the neighborhood. Off topic messages will be discouraged.
If I don't join htcanet will I miss important information?
You won't miss any really important information, but you may get the information later than you would like if you are not a member of the email list. You will continue to receive the newsletter and be able to attend meetings, but it will be easier to receive time-sensitive information if you join htcanet.
Can I read the messages on htcanet if I don't join?
Unfortunately you will not be able to read the messages on the Yahoogroups site if you are not a member of htcanet. This is for the privacy of the neighborhood. If you want to just read the messages on the website and not get emails, you can choose to join and not get any email.
Questions About the History of Huntington Terrace:
What used to be where my house is now standing?
You may have seen "Huntington" and "Pritchetts Purchase" on your deeds. What do these names mean? They were two substantial estates, or tobacco "plantations," of the early 1700s.
Huntington was a 307 Acre rectangle lying mostly west of today's Old Georgetown Rd; and 40 acres from Pritchetts Purchase was added to provide an angled "nose," resulting in Garfield Street's NE ? SW angle. Huntington Terrace derived from these two estates.
When were the first homes built in the neighborhood?
In 1908, one Alta Booth, a Pennsylvania investor or developer, laid out streets and lots, essentially what we see today. Her "Alta Park" called for streets numbered and lettered as in DC, and 361 lots. But in 1910 she revised her lot sizes to be larger, perhaps more "presidential," and renamed her streets accordingly. She also renamed her planned development to be called "Huntington Terrace." Since 1910, HT's then 189 lots have been extensively re?subdivided to result in today's approximately 300 house count. And if the 45 virtual lots underlying Suburban Hospital's "footprint" are added, the number would end up nearer to that of Alta Park as proposed in 1908.
Is it true that a former president used to have a vacation home in the neighborhood?
No, but one did visit a home in the neighborhood often. The "Log Cabin" house on Garfield just south of Greentree was previously a tea and luncheon place, The Blue Iris Inn. Around 1915, Woodrow Wilson was courting his second wife, Edith Galt, and they would stop for lunch on their drives around Washington environs.
What are the boundaries of Huntington Terrace?
Huntington Terrace's boundaries are: Old Georgetown Road, Greentree Road, Garfield Street and Roosevelt Street.
Map of Huntington Terrace (courtesyGoogle Maps)
Satellite view of the neighborhood (courtesyGoogle Maps)
Miscellaneous questions:
Do I have to shovel my sidewalk after a snow?
Yes, property owners are responsible for clearing public sidewalks on or adjacent to their property within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. All residents are strongly encouraged to be good neighbors by clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes, as well as assisting those who may not be physically able to do so.
I'd like to hire a responsible teenager to baby-sit for me. Is there a list of baby-sitters in the neighborhood?
Yes, check in your neighborhood directory where you will find a list of handy helpers.
I'm going on vacation and would like a responsible student to take care of my lawn and/or pets while I am away. How can I find someone for that job?
Yes, check in your neighborhood directory where you will find a list of handy helpers.