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Upcoming Improvements to Traffic Signs and Markings on and near Lamberton and Kemp Mill Elementary School

The below PDF has details about improvements to traffic signs and markings at various locations in the neighborhood.

The additional links below are for related supporting documentation.

(Click here to download the PDF or view it full sized)

Lamberton speed limits etc.

 

Maps of east and westbound speed limit signs on Lamberton

KMES Crosswalks – higher view

KMES crosswalks

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Please Don’t Park Blocking The Sidewalk

The KMCA recently received the below message from a member.  The member wrote about an issue on Lamberton Drive, but the same applies throughout the neighborhood where there are sidewalks.  Please do not park your car blocking the sidewalk.  It is discourteous and could lead to receiving a parking ticket.

For those who live on Lamberton Drive – please be mindful of our Kemp Mill neighbors who live in our neighborhood and use a wheelchair to get around.  I have a friend who lives all the way at the end of Lamberton. Daily she  travels by wheelchair from the bottom of Lamberton all the way up to Arcola to catch a bus. She makes that same trip every night to go back home.  Last night in the pouring rain she got stuck near someones driveway because they had blocked the sidewalk path with their car.  She was afraid to manipulate the wheelchair around the car because it would involve her “driving” in the grass. She was worried that the chair might tip over.

Please make sure to leave the sidewalks clear of parked cars so that our neighbors can make their way home.

Thank you.

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Storm Update – 1/24/16 – 4:30 PM

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Montgomery County Winter Storm 2016
Update: 4:30 PM, Sunday, January 24. A Message

A Message from Montgomery County Public Information Office

  • Montgomery County government & facilities will be closed on Monday, January 25.
  • No trash & recycling pickup on Monday. Residents should NOT take their items to the curb.
  • Montgomery County Public Schools will not be in session Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26.
  • Ride On bus service will not be operating on Monday, January 25.
  • Free parking in County garages and parking lots is extended until Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m.
  • All County liquor stores will be closed on Monday, January 25.
  • Historic snowfall of nearly 3 feet means that clearance of roads includes not only plowing but also hauling away record amounts of snow.
  • Challenges: in many places snow cannot just be pushed to the side, but must be hauled out. Below freezing temperatures mean even cleared roads ice overnight.
  • County crews continue to work 24/7.
  • Priority: first clear 1000 lane miles of emergency and primary roads. Only after that is finished are plows and trucks into the neighborhoods.
  • Next: clear 4000 lane miles of neighborhood roads. Initial object: to make them passable, not bare pavement. Then come follow-up runs to complete the work.
  • The County urges Montgomery County residents to clear snow from sidewalks in front of their homes as is possible. Any enforcement for now of sidewalk snow removal will be reasonable and follow common sense.
  • For public safety, clear snow in a three-foot radiance from fire hydrants.
  • Parking lot managers for commercial and residential parking lots are urged not to block disability parking spaces during their snow removal efforts.
  • Bottom line: be assured we continue to work as hard as possible but recovery will be a MULTI day event.
  • Continue to stay at home. Stay off the roads so we can get the job done and public safety and emergency personnel can reach those in critical need.
  • The County’s 311 Call Center is open 24/7 for the storm. Call 311 or 240-777-0311.
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Snow Shovelers List

Dear Kemp Millers:

Now that students have gone back to school, here is an updated list of snow removers in which I’ve tried to separate professionals and crews from students, as well as add some new names, to make your searching more time-efficient:

  1. http://snowcrew.org: Website for those who need shoveling, or want to help others with shoveling.
  2. dnatreeservice.com (professional crew), David D. Kull, 301-482-2626,  d.kull@comcast.net
  3. Thomas, Fam-Tech Construction (professional crew): 240-408-0747.
  4. Jon (professional crew): 301-775-0570
  5. Julio: 301-252-5808
  6. Junior Lainez: 240-645-9784
  7. McDonnell Landscape (Kemp Mill Shopping Center’s 2 snowplow trucks, can contract with others): 301-924-2600
  8. John Slaughter, 240-997-5823, bousa.rocka@gmail.com
  9. Howard Wasserman: tallwonder60@live.com.  A friend of his with a large snow-plower, reasonably priced.
  10. Lloyd Williams (professional crew):  O: 301-431-7027; C:  410-493-8169
  11. Willie: 240-447-3373

 

STUDENTS

  1. Jonah Albert: 301-593-9791, yoniealbert@gmail.com
  2. Ezra Beletskiy and Benjy Zukerman: 240-604-5258, door2doorshoveling@gmail.com
  3. Yoni Benamou : (301) 946-6966, yonibenamou.mitzvahworld@gmail.com
  4. Coby Cohen: 240-566-2976, jacobcohen2011@gmail.com
  5. Yosef Kugler, yosefkugler00@gmail.com. $50 to dig out car.
  6. Hillel  Merkin: 240-339-4090
  7. Ari Schreiber: (202) 247-7806, arischreiber31794@gmail.com>
  8. Avi Shulman, 3017750570, Asym71@gmail.com
  9. Steve Tanenbaum:  301-437-9251, <stevetanen@yahoo.com>
  10. Meshulam Ungar: cell: 202-258-8664; home: 301-649-6517.
  11. Craig Wasserman:  301-938-7893, craigwaz8@gmail.com
  12. 23. Evan Wood: 301-325-2235

—

Ira Ungar

President, Kemp Mill Civic Association

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Meeting Minutes – December 1, 2015 membership meeting

December 1, 2015

Meeting of the Kemp Mill Civic Association

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm, at Young Israel Shomrai Emunah, at 1132 Arcola Ave.

 ELECTION:

Ariel Winter (Nominating Committee Chair) presented the slate of officers and board members. The slate was voted on and approved by the membership.

  • President – Ira Ungar
  • Vice President – Caroline Friedman
  • Secretary – Paul Bardack
  • Treasurer – Marci Lavine Bloch
  • Board Members – Julie Caron, Chris Farrell, Alan Felsen, Pete Lublin
  • Gil Chlewicki is an interim Board Member, elected by the Board, until the next Civic Association meeting, where an election will take place.

 

Updates

Kemp Mill Urban Park renovation report: park renovation has been delayed again. The major renovation is now scheduled to begin in Spring, 2016, when the park will be closed for 13 months; it will include new landscaping to discourage the flocks of geese, and will have over 180 places to sit versus only about 30 now.

 

Deer management: bow hunters can hunt deer on private property

 

Thank you to Pete Lublin and Julie Caron for coordinating the new welcome sign and the new landscaping

 

Landscaping report: Pete is continuing to work with the County on new landscaping for the median strip of Lamberton near Arcola; at Pete’s request, the County removed the unsightly stumps and agreed to plant 5 Red Bud Trees in spring 2016 at no charge to the community; Pete planted daffodil bulbs.

 

Police Report

Lt. Onderko from Montgomery County Police Department, 4th precinct:

  • Police responded to a call from a resident’s relative who checked on the resident and saw him lying on the floor in his home on Winona Ct.; the resident (homeowner) was deceased.
    • When police followed procedure to check/clear the house, they found an indoor marijuana growing operation and chemicals that are commonly used to make methamphetamines
    • Fire & rescue and narcotics section personnel checked the house to make sure everything was safe
    • There was no danger to the neighborhood from the chemicals
    • Autopsy report is not yet available
    • The case is being investigated by the homicide division (as are ALL unattended deaths)
  • Since January 1, 2015, there have been 3 identified cases of meth ingredients/labs in the county
  • Kemp Mill crime numbers are down from last year, knows of no major worrisome activity
    • Overall, local crime is down – part 1 crimes up by 1, part 2 crimes way down
  • Two drug violations in the area this year, down from 5 last year
  • Theft from cars is the most common crime in Kemp Mill
    • Don’t leave valuables visible in the car
    • Lock the car
  • Turn in program for expired medication twice a year on Saturdays – next one is in March
    • A member commented that Holy Cross Hospital pharmacy will accept/dispose of expired medication
  • Crime prevention tips:
    • Track any packages you’re expecting, have a neighbor watch/bring them in
    • Don’t leave purse in your grocery cart
    • Lock your car
  • Marijuana decriminalization. In response to a question from a member, MD Sen Roger Manno explained that medicinal marijuana is legal; recreational marijuana use is still illegal in Maryland, though penalties for possession of small amounts have been reduced (civil, not criminal now).

 

Deer report:

  • Ira reported that the “right” number of deer for our area is 20-30; we have >115
  • The deer are damaging wildlife habitats, spreading deer ticks, causing accidents, eating residents’ gardens
  • There are three effective ways now in use to reduce population
    • Sharpshooters (county program) – Kemp Mill is not on the county list
      • Done only in parts of the county
    • Archers (county pilot program) – Kemp Mill is not on the list
      • Done only in park land
    • Bow hunters
      • Done on private property
      • Need permission from all homeowners within 100 yds of hunter’s designated hunting spot

 

Alan moved that KMCA (through Ira) contact County Council and Parks Department to request deer management

Bruce Schulman spoke in favor of deer control

Alan’s motion carried

Several members expressed concerns about sharpshooters near their homes

Ira and Alan will try to get people involved with county sharpshooter program to present at the next KMCA meeting.

Motion for 5 minutes of discussion on involvement with bowhunting carried

Discussion included the following viewpoints:

  • KMCA should not be involved in that effort
  • Leadership could offer to help make connections between homeowners and bowhunters
  • Getting permission slips to homeowners would help
  • Bowhunters came to the last KMCA meeting, and their information has already been posted on the listserve

 

Motion that KMCA should support hunters and facilitate communication between bowhunters and homeowners

  • No discussion
  • Motion carried

 

Villages and Volunteer Ride program for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Presentation from Pazit Aviv (Montgomery County’s Aging & Disabilities Services) and Shawn Brennan (Montgomery County Mobility Management Administrator) on programs to help residents age in place

  • “Villages” have been a grassroots movement around the country, where residents and local non-profits to help neighbors stay connected, especially to seniors. Villages count on local residents doing the work, and are not dependent on specific government programs.
  • The County and the Jewish Council on Aging have pioneered a volunteer ride program to support villages in the area, and the Senior Connection. Kemp Mill could create a volunteer ride program or a village or both.  Villages often begin by helping with transportation.
  • The Volunteer Ride Program gives free rides to those who need them by volunteer drivers. Its recipients are seniors and people with disabilities.  Unlike other programs, there are no complicated eligibility requirements, e.g., income, age, disability, type of ride.
  • The County’s assistance and features of a village or volunteer ride program include:
    • Marketing assistance
    • Driving and criminal background check on volunteer drivers
    • Secondary auto insurance for the volunteers giving rides
    • Training in how to help people walk and get into the car, when necessary
    • Access and training for highly functional website that helps volunteers quickly see who needs a ride, where it is, how long it will take, and a profile of the rider’s special conditions
    • Volunteers can put in as many hours as they like
    • Recipients/riders can donate as much as they want
    • Recipients/riders generally do not have internet access, so they would call in the ride they need. Data would then be input into the website for volunteer drivers to see.
  • Montgomery County has 16 active Villages, more in development
  • Local “Bikur Cholim” is a volunteer organization that assists with rides to medical appointments
    • Can refer to other local organizations, including JSSA, MetroAccess, Senior Connection
    • Transportation is the biggest need
  • Takes time to develop and implement
  • We’ll discuss more at a future meeting. Pazit and Shawn offered to return.

 

New business/member requests

  • The new “no right turn on red” signs at the intersection of Lamberton and Arcola may not be working properly; the signs aren’t always lighting up when resident believes they should. Ira will investigate. Update: They are now working.
  • A resident would like a longer left turn arrow from the neighborhood side of Lamberton turning onto Arcola. Ira will address this with the county.
  • A member asked how to get the county to clear dead trees and brush from county property near homes. Another member suggested calling the Parks Dept or 311. KMCA is following up on this.
  • Ira reported that residents have requested 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Hillsboro and S. Belgrade, and a stop sign at Monticello and S. Belgrade. He will raise this issue with the county.
  • A member requested assistance getting the county to trim trees hanging over sidewalks. Of particular concern is a low-hanging dead tree at Lamberton and Rockbridge.
  • A resident requested more streetlights on N. Belgrade between Lamberton and Kersey. Ira will pass request on to the county.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Refreshments were served by Shalom Market.  YISE provided coffee and tea.