The Montgomery West Homeowner’s

Association newsletter

http://www.montgomerywesthoa.org

 

                                      April 2009

 


Note from the President

 

Hello everyone.  Would you believe it? Springtime is here at last, and the great outdoors is calling, our chores are awaiting:  the gardening, the planting, the painting, the repairs and general clean-up.  But that’s not all bad, think of the rewards when it’s all done.  (While we are on the subject, check out the notice on Spring Cleanup.)

 

If you are planning on making any improvements or other changes that affect the exterior of your property, be sure to submit an architectural review application just to be on the safe side.  Visit the website http://www.montgomerywesthoa.org for this application, and to see other community information.

 

We are continually looking for ways to improve our homeowners association.  We have recently upgraded our accounting software to QuickBooks – this will make it easier for bookkeeping and to prepare the association taxes.

 

I want to encourage everyone to provide your e-mail address to the association – this provides another way to reach you, and also a means for us to send out important information quickly (for example, if there is local news that affects our community, such as a water emergency, street maintenance, etc.).

 

Stay in touch and involved with the neighborhood, our next board meeting is on May 12, all are welcomed.  And by all means enjoy the beautiful weather.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michele Heffner

 

Meet Your Board:

President Michele Heffner

Vice President Dudley Skinker

Treasurer Donna Terry

Secretary  Ron Stehlin

AERC Chair John Patton

 

 
Neighborhood Watch

 

Some of you may be aware that in the early morning hours before the Presidential Inauguration, there were some break-ins and attempted break-ins into houses and garages in our neighborhood.  This reminds us to be watchful in the neighborhood and to report any suspicious activity to the police.  Remember to make sure your doors and windows are locked and think about installing motion detector lights.  You should always lock your car doors as well and not leave anything of value where it can be seen.  Be a good neighbor and help keep an eye out if you know someone is going to be away, and watch for newspapers piling up or flyers left at the door.

 

Be Kind to the Environment - Recycle

Great news! This past summer,
 Montgomery County expanded
 its curbside recycling program to
 include additional types of plastic
 materials, so be sure you are now
 recycling all of these materials in
 addition to aluminum cans and foil
 products, bi-metal steel/tin cans,
 plastic bottles, and glass bottles
 and jars:
 • Plastic bottles
 • Plastic beverage cups
 • Yogurt containers
 • Peanut butter and
   mayonnaise jars
 • Spice jars
 • Plastic soup containers
 • Ice cream, butter, or
   margarine tubs
 • Laundry detergent tubs and
   kitty litter pails (with plastic or
   metal handles)
 • Flower pots

 

Spruce up for spring

 

As warmer weather of spring approaches, we ask homeowners to review their property and take any required action:

1)      Make sure your trashcans and blue-recycling bins cannot be seen from the front of your home.

2)      Make sure all your fences and gates are split rail plus in good condition.

3)      Make sure your satellite dishes are not visible from the front of your home.

4)       Sheds – Metals sheds are not allowed, wood and vinyl sheds should be well maintained and painted the same color as your house siding.  Only one shed is allowed per lot.

5)       If you have removed a tree this year, please remove the stump and plant a replacement tree.

6)      Make sure there are no piles of trash, junk, or brush on your property.

 

Make May 16 Community Clean-up day.

 

It is time for spring cleaning.  Curbside Bulk trash pick-up May 16.  Items for pick -up should be at the curb by 7a.m.  Nothing with metal.  No auto parts.  No tires.  Glass should be wrapped to avoid broken glass in the streets.  Wood is accepted, but no 4X4's or fence posts.

 

Later that day join us at 9:00 on Centerway Road and Blue Heron Lane to clean-up the common areas in the Association.  Students can earn community service credit hours for the activity and we all have the pleasure of seeing a clean community.  We will have coffee and pastries for participants.

 

New Park in Gaithersburg

 

Have you noticed the new park?  At the end of Centerway is the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s newly established park, the Green Farm Conservation Park.  This park consists of more than 200 acres of undeveloped open space.