Author: htcawebmaster

Volunteers Needed For HT Triangle Project!

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image002.gifAs you may have already heard, we were successful in our grant application to Montgomery County to receive $500 towards our Huntington Terrace beautification project. This money will be a great start in revitalizing the landscaping in the triangular parcel of land at the intersection of Roosevelt and Garfield Streets. Planning is already underway to create a beautiful green space for all HT residents to enjoy.

The County has planted in the triangle, at our request, two Kousa Dogwoods and one Sugar Maple. Though small now, the maple will someday create a lovely shaded area, and the dogwoods beautiful foliage and flowers for all to enjoy. It is anticipated that the work to create new planting beds for shrubs and perennial flowers will begin in early September. In the interim, there is still a lot of work to do, and you can help!

We are seeking volunteers to assist in the following ways:

  • Initial ground breaking and digging of beds. Although we will be renting some equipment to assist us with this part of the task, it would be wonderful to have some muscle and/or strong backs for this unglamorous, but very necessary part of the project.
  • Initial planting of shrubs, ground cover, and flowers
  • Maintenance of the triangle a few times a year to include pruning, weeding, deadheading of flowers, or some light mulching. Watering during dry spells would be great too if you live close-by.
  • If you are unable to volunteer for any physical work, but are very interested in helping, donations can be made to:
    HTCA, c/o Jerry Hildebrand
    5601 Madison Street
    Bethesda, MD 20817
    Please indicate on your check that the monies are for the “Triangle Project” so that it gets applied appropriately. No sum is too small or too large!
  • Several people have started to make offers of plants from their own gardens. This is great! We want to make this a “HT community” project so the more that participate the better. Remember that until the trees are more mature the triangle will be fairly sunny. Sun loving, low maintenance, and somewhat drought tolerant shrubs or plants would be most welcome!

The triangle project will be an ongoing labor of love that will evolve over time. The County grant money and the HTCA match will cover only a small portion of the cost to really make this area something special. Any involvement by HT residents, either physically or monetarily, will be welcomed with open arms. You do not have to have gardening experience, or a green thumb, to join the fun!

If you have an interest in any of the areas mentioned above, please fill out the attached form, or if you have further questions, or wish additional information, please contact me at d.perry1 at starpower dot net or on (301) 493-6968. Thanks!

Attention All HT Tree Huggers

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image002.jpgWere you aware that Montgomery County has a program available to its residents where you can request that a tree be planted free of charge on your tree lawn? If you are interested in getting on the County’s fall tree planting schedule, or would like additional information about the program, please contact Montgomery County arborist, Scott Myers, on (240) 777-6000. Scott will be able to answer any of your questions about the program, and can assist you with tree selection.

Attached is a list of native Maryland trees that can be used as a selection guideline depending on availability, or County changes/updates to the list. If there are power or phone lines directly above the planting area, the County will require you to select a specimen from the “Minor” tree list. In other non-encumbered areas, the County will require the resident to select a “Major” tree. The County makes arrangements ahead of time with Miss Utility to mark any gas lines that may impact where the tree can be planted. The approximate height and width of each specimen is shown on the list, as well as both the scientific and common names of each tree. There is a wide variety of trees to choose from, many flowering and with beautiful changing foliage, or interesting bark. This handout also provides numbers to call for tree and stump removal.

This is a wonderful opportunity to keep our HT community green, beautiful, and lush, and to replace many of the trees that have been taken down as a result of disease, storm damage, or new construction. It is also making a very worthwhile contribution to our environment.

Check it out and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

4th of July Preparations

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Fellow Neighbors and Patriots–The Fourth of July is fast upon us!

The Fourth of July Parade and Party is historically one of the year’s highlights. HTCA is looking for many hands to make this the best Fourth of July Parade and Party ever, and the more who help, the less work and more fun it is for all!

Here’s what we need–broken down into easy tasks. Some can be done in advance; others must be done on the Fourth. If you possibly can do just one thing, please step up! We would be thrilled to get responsible kids and teens involved, and HTCA will be happy to sign off on their community service hours if your school allows us to do so.

Kindly pick one:

  • Buy, donate or loan supplies. (Game equipment, bunting, flags, kazoos,balloons, tablecloths, etc.)
  • Buy refreshments. (Ice, lemonade, water are crucial. Watermelon makes a great snack. Other food, like cookies, are optional.)
  • We need several volunteers to run kids’ games (examples of past favorites: relay races, whacking the pinata, balloon toss).
  • Suggest new kids games that are inexpensive and popular and help us run them.
  • Make signs.
  • Tack up signs around the neighborhood.
  • Put up simple decorations at the school.
  • Stay in the shade and run the refreshment table.
  • Be a diva (or her male equivalent) and lead the parade!
  • Play an instrument in the Huntington Terrace Symphonia during the noisy parade. Drummers, kazoo-ists, horn players, percussionists–you be the star!
  • Suggest something we’ve forgotten.

And since not all of your neighbors are on HTCAnet, please talk to folks on your block about the parade and party and ask for their help and ideas. In particular, PLEASE reach out to newcomers to the neighborhood, so they don’t miss out! (Be aware there will be a flyer going out to all residents with details as usual.)

Thanks so much, everyone! Send all your ideas, inputs, resources and people without delay to:
Ann Dorough
Vice President
Huntington Terrace Citizens’ Association
8604 Grant Street
(301) 581-0194
dorough at highstream dot net

Correct HTCA email list address

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There seems to be some confusion (and rightly so) as to the address of our email list.

About two years ago we switched from yahoogroups to a “mailman” powered email list through our own domain name (htca.net) From here on forward please use the following address to send messages to the htca email list. The yahoogroups list is being discontinued. I’ll double check that all yahoogroups members are transferred, if they are not on the htcanet@htca.net, but as of tomorrow morning you will no longer be able to use the yahoogroups email address.

To send an email to the entire group, please address your email to htcanet@htca.net

Sorry for the confusion.

Triangle Beautification Project

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We’re excited to learn that the plans for beautifying the Huntington Terrace Triangle — at the intersection of Garfield and Roosevelt Streets — have been approved by Montogmery County. Just days ago the county donated and installed a maple tree and two kousa dogwood trees at the site.

Deborah Perry of Garfield Street, who is spearheading the project, tells us plants and materials will be purchased after the County releases the approved grant funding of $500, so HT volunteers will likely proceed with site work and further planting in the fall.

Deborah and her Triangle volunteers are looking for neighbors with green thumbs (and/or strong backs!), donations of low-maintenance sun-loving plants, and gifts or loans of tools and other materials to keep the project affordable.

For more information about Triangle Beautification, to make a donation or to  help, contact Deborah at d.perry1 at starpower dot net.