WHCA met with Washington Gas this week for additional information, background, and current status on the work being done in the neighborhood.

Attached is the presentation from Washington Gas. (Yes, Washington Gas has labeled this the "Dawson Ave Project, but it does cover all the streets/residences were work is being done.) It includes all of the above, as well as maps outlining the areas covered in this work, and contact information for the project team.

We'll include this project as a topic during an upcoming community meeting, now scheduled for Thursday, April 25th at 7:00 PM at Highland Elementary.

Washington Gas will replace 12,000 feet of main with plastic pipe and replace 228 services to homes, starting in few weeks, concluding late summer.  Victor Martinez will be the Washington Gas Construction Supervisor on the project. He can be reached at  vmartinez@washgas.com.

• Dawson Ave.
• Collins Ave.
• Blueridge Ave.
• Byron St.
• Galt Ave.
• Elnora St.
• Grandview Ave.
• Wheaton Hill Dr.
• Fenimore Rd.
• Finley St.

FACT SHEET
In our ongoing effort to provide safe and reliable natural gas service, Washington Gas will begin construction to replace gas main and service lines. The selection of mains and services to be replaced is based on a number of criteria including age of pipe, leak history, type of material as well as other factors.
 
What Residents & Business Owners Should Expect:

• Washington Gas will provide a letter/communications throughout the project to customers directly impacted by construction efforts.
• Crews will install a new plastic gas main. Service crews will then start the replacement of existing services.
• Prior to the actual start of the service replacement, customers will be contacted by a technician to schedule the date of their service replacement.
• Every effort will be made to minimize disruption to homeowners’ properties.
• Gas will be off during the service replacement, but no longer than one day and we will work with the businesses to allow them to continue to operate.
• Please note that the time needed to complete the construction taking place in front of individual properties will vary but, in general, will not be longer than a few days, depending on conditions.
• Relighting of gas appliances will be performed after the service replacement is completed. Customers must allow the service crews access to all gas appliances to ensure a safe restoration of gas service.
• Our crews will make temporary repairs to any excavations in the roadway and sidewalk.  Permanent paving repairs will follow as quickly as possible, after all work has been completed, to as closely to as-found condition as is possible.

Hot cocoa, hot cider, and a celebration of the neighborhood's holiday light displays!

When: Friday, December 21... 6PM to 9PM
Where: Galt Avenue between Dawson and Elnora

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT STUDY KICK-OFF - FRIDAY, JULY 6
The WHCA Executive and Environmental Committees will meet with representatives from the University of Maryland's Environmental Finance Center (Sustainable Maryland) to review existing County programs for homeowners, and to discuss persistent rain/stormwater runoff issues in the neighborhood. A walk-through of sections of the neighborhood will highlight particularly problematic areas. WHCA will then receive a study with recommendations later this year.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP - SATURDAY, JULY 14
In partnership with Girl Scout Troop 2317, we're doing a neighborhood clean-up on Saturday, July 14. We'll meet at two locations (Wheaton-Claridge Park or at the intersection of Broadview and Parker Avenues). Supplies will be provided, courtesy of the Department of Environmental Protection. Join us for this semi-annual event to beautify Wheaton Hills!

FUTURE OF WHEATON - WEDNESDAY, JULY 18
WHCA leadership will participate in the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (WUDAC) discussion session with county and elected officials regarding visioning for the future of Wheaton. Residents are encouraged to attend and participate as well! Event is at the Ana G. Mendez University (11006 Veirs Mill Road #L1) at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

​FLYING INTO SUMMER - SATURDAY, JULY 21
WHCA is partnering with our neighbors from Glenmont-Forest Neighbors Civic Association and Connecticut Avenue Estates, with funding and support from Montgomery Housing Partnership, on a wonderful, family-friendly community event. Join us for Flying into Summer on Saturday, July 21st from 11AM to 2PM at Highland Elementary. We'll have birdhouses for kids - and adults alike - to paint and take home, along with other fun activities!

Flying Into Summer
WHCA is partnering with our neighbors from Glenmont-Forest Neighbors Civic Association and Connecticut Avenue Estates, with funding and support from Montgomery Housing Partnership, on a wonderful, family-friendly community event. Join us for Flying into Summer on Saturday, July 21st from 11AM to 2PM at Highland Elementary. We'll have birdhouses for kids - and adults alike - to paint and take home, along with other fun activities!
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The linked article appears in the Saturday, June 30th print edition of the Washington Post.

Update: A PDF version of the article is attached below.

Link: In Montgomery’s booming Wheaton Hills, a sense of community is also growing

Wheaton Hills is one of just three neighborhoods that had the opportunity this year to partner with Sustainable Maryland, from the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, to study stormwater management effectiveness in the neighborhood.
Last night, Sustainable Maryland hosted a "Stormwater Management Summit for Homeowners" at Brookside Gardens, to provide an overview of what exactly stormwater management consists of, best practices, available programs, and to introduce local groups focused on the issue. The goal is to reduce and improve the environmental impact of rain (and melting snow) that makes its way from our rooftops, driveways, sidewalks and other impervious areas out to storm drains, to our local streams and creeks, and eventually to the Bay.
In the coming weeks, members of the Wheaton Hills Civic Association (WHCA) and Sustainable Maryland will meet to review information and data and discuss issues and concerns regarding stormwater and runoff in the community. Sustainable Maryland will then conduct observations and research to validate findings and provide a report on the current status and, most importantly, recommendations on improving runoff in the neighborhood.
WHCA will then host a neighborhood meeting, likely in the Fall, to share the findings and recommendations with everyone, including our local elected and county officials.
Stay tuned for more on this not-exactly-thrilling but vitally important subject.

Stormwater Summit for Homeowners
We've partnered with the University of Maryland on a County grant to look at stormwater management. Learn more about how Montgomery County residents can play a vital role in improving water quality in local streams and rivers, and also help beautify their properties while saving money! Register (for FREE) here. At Brookside Gardens.

Flying Into Summer
WHCA is partnering with our neighbors from Glenmont-Forest Neighbors Civic Association and Connecticut Avenue Estates, with funding and support from Montgomery Housing Partnership, on a wonderful, family-friendly community event. Join us for Flying into Summer on Saturday, June 23rd from 11AM to 2PM at Highland Elementary. We'll have birdhouses for kids - and adults alike - to paint and take home, along with other fun activities!
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