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Love to Write? Want to do it for Cash & Prizes? The 8th Annual Bethesda Literary Festival’s Adult and Youth Writing Contests Adult & Young Adult Contest: Young adults ages 14-17 and adults ages 18 and up can participate in the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Writing Contest. Entries must include a 500-word short story or essay that includes some aspect of Bethesda, whether a memorable person, place or moment. The writers of the top four essays in each category will receive cash prizes, including a $500 award for first place, and be featured in a special event during the Bethesda Literary Festival.More information. Youth Contest Young writers ages 5-13 can express their creativity in the youth writing contest featuring the topic “If I Could Go Anywhere In the World, Where Would I Go & Why?” Winners of the youth contest will receive prizes, and the top three essays from the age groups 5-9 and 9-13 and their authors will be honored at a special children’s event during the festival. More Information. Deadline for both contests is Friday, March 21, 2008 by 5pm. All entries must include a completed submission form which is available atwww.bethesda.org. For more info call 301/215-6660. Dance Bethesda - March 7 & 8 Dance Concert – Saturday, March 8 at 8pm Featured performers: Aysha Upchurch / Life, Rhythm, Move Project (hip-hop), Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company (modern), Daniel Burkholder / The PlayGround (modern), Maryland Youth Ballet (ballet), Step Afrika (stepping) and Ziva’s Spanish Dance Ensemble (flamenco). The concert takes place at Round House Theatre, located at 4545 East West Highway. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 & under.Purchase tickets in advance online. The concert begins at 8pm on Saturday, March 8. Doors open at 7pm for ticket sales and will call. For more info,click here. ______________________ Hip-Hop Master Classes – Saturday, March 8 Adult Master Class Almost Full; Youth Class Still Has Space Jamile “Jamz” McGee, made famous by the FOX reality show So You Think You Can Dance?, will teach master classes at Joy of Motion on Saturday, March 8. Hip-hop for youth will be held from 12:30-2pm and hip-hop for adults from 2:30-4pm. Dance Bethesda Master Classes are $25. Dancers canpre-register online now or by returning a completed form and payment to the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. Registration forms are available atwww.bethesda.org or by calling 301/215-6660. For more info,click here. ______________________ Free Lessons & Parties - Friday, March 7 Dance the Night Away at Bethesda Studios! On Friday, March 7 from 8 – 10:30pm, attendees can enjoy salsa, cha cha, hip-hop lessons and many other dance techniques at Dansez! Dansez!, DuShore, Imagination Stage’s Dance Studio and Joy of Motion Dance Studio. No tickets or reservations necessary. Enjoy the Bethesda dance scene. For more info,click here.
Their task was to address the so-called ‘‘mansionization” trend — tearing down small old houses to build bigger new ones — that has turned affluent Beltway suburbs into crucibles for disputes.
If the group’s recommendations carry forward into County Council legislation this spring, as expected, new rules would limit building size and give neighborhoods a stronger legal role in guiding residential development.
The task force was made up of six downcounty residents; five building industry professionals; and eight county government representatives to give planning and legal perspectives.
Six conflict resolution specialists were brought in to cool tempers and lead the group to consensus.
The task force ended its final meeting Dec. 10 with a set of recommendations that may become the future of homebuilding in Montgomery County.
Berliner will translate the task force recommendations into a legislation package to be introduced to the council this spring.
‘‘Everything that we reached consensus on will be included in the legislation,” Berliner said.
Berliner’s package would apply countywide, although changes would mostly impact areas that Berliner represents.
The package will include legislation that:
*sets most of the county’s lot-coverage limits based on the lot’s total size, in increments of 1,000 square feet, instead of on zoning designations;
*decreases the height limit to 35 to 50 feet for single-family detached homes on lots larger than 20,000 square feet, like those found in Bethesda’s Bannockburn neighborhood;
*excludes smaller porches from being factored into how large a house can be;
*allows neighborhoods to set voluntary building guidelines, created with help from county building experts;
*requires builders to obtain neighborhood guidelines before construction begins;
*requires the Department of Permitting Services to print its definition of the ‘‘sloping lot” measurement that lets some homeowners build taller homes because of the tricky topography.
The county has legal standards for residential building height, setback, lot area and width, and lot coverage. Rules are enforced by regulatory agencies like the Board of Appeals and Department of Permitting Services. But critics say the rules are confusing and antiquated — ordinances date back to the 1920s.
According to a report issued in mid-February by the county’s Office of Legislative Oversight, zoning ordinances are muddled by ‘‘varying uses and interpretations over time by government authorities.”
‘‘The challenge is that, by waiting as long as we did, by the fact that so little had been done over the years, it becomes more important to act now,” Berliner said. ‘‘It’s unfortunate that we’re acting at a time when the [housing] industry is not in its strongest position by any stretch of the imagination.”
Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac and Kensington had 77 percent of the county’s home teardowns and rebuilds in the last five years, according to the oversight report. Homeowners in those areas also made about 4,750 additions and renovations during that time — or 950 per year on average. With those projects have come disputes about development.
‘‘Builders don’t want to incur the wrath of the community, and community members don’t want to be fighting their neighbors,” Berliner said.
The task force failed to agree on everything. For those mainly esoteric, technical homebuilding rules, Berliner said he will make the call in his legislation.
‘‘Neighborhood compatibility is what I was looking for,” said Len Simon, an urban affairs advisor and task force member representing the Edgemoor neighborhood in downtown Bethesda. ‘‘You are not always going to find precise common ground [between industry and community interests]. But I do think we found consensus on a number of areas.”
An open house was held at the building on Thursday. The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless will manage the facility, and a live-in resident counselor and a services office will occupy two of the units.
The plan generated emotional testimony last year from neighbors, some who were concerned about the building’s location near two schools and a beer and wine store, and others who argued that the community should support a plan that would dramatically change people’s lives.
The new residents have not yet been chosen.
All of the residents must be considered ‘‘chronically homeless” by U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines, which means they must have been homeless for a year or more, or have had four episodes of homelessness in three years.
‘‘It’s not making a dent in the number of homeless. It’s a ping. ... But I have to look at it as eight units, and what that means. Eight more people now have a permanent home,” said Sharan London, executive director of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless.
The residents who are able to work will pay 30 percent of their incomes as rent, said Susan Kramer Yancy, a spokeswoman for the HOC. On-site support staff will offer therapy and employment and rehabilitative aid.
‘‘There are studies that claim many Americans are two paychecks away from being homeless themselves. ... The homeless don’t need to be a class of beings from another planet,” said Mary Campbell, a neighbor of the residence who has spent time making quilts for each of the eight new tenants.
At the open house, county representatives and those involved in the project spoke to its value and toured the apartments. The cost of purchasing and renovating the site, which was covered by federal, state and county funding, was about $2.75 million. Much of the labor was donated by the Silver Spring-based Home Builders Care Foundation.
County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5), who lives down the street from the building, said she was happy to have the new neighbors. Sally Roman, an HOC commissioner, said the facility had special meaning during the holidays.
Alan Bowser, president of the Park Hills Civic Association and a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, said while the community is supportive of programs assisting the homeless, the HOC could have been ‘‘much more proactive in reaching out to the community.”
At a public hearing in April 2006, some community members raised concerns about the facility’s proximity to Sligo Creek Elementary and Silver Spring International Middle schools. Residents also complained about what they called a last-minute notification process that left many wondering if their apprehensions were really considered by the HOC.
‘‘It’s a beautiful facility, and we look forward to welcoming our new neighbors,” Bowser said. ‘‘But people had a number of questions for the HOC that were never really addressed.”
London said she hoped the residents’ uneasiness with living near the formerly homeless would be addressed in time. And the security at the building — cameras, a sign-in process and a buzzer to enter — was as much to make the neighborhood feel safe as to make the residents feel safe.
Debbie Spielberg, chairwoman of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, said despite some neighbors’ apprehensions, the building was ‘‘a positive thing.”
‘‘I understand the concerns, but it seems like it’s a well-designed program. ... I’m hopeful,” said Spielberg, who also has a child at Sligo Creek Elementary.
At a glance
In January, the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless conducted a one-day survey of the county’s homeless. On that day:There were 1,139 men, women and children who were homeless.
There were 810 homeless adults. Of those, 236 were employed but unable to afford housing.
There were 583 homeless adults with at least one disability.
There were 329 homeless children.
Source: Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Melinda Estridge Dunlop Hills features many homes in a great community. This community is also close to such amenities as shopping and parks as well as private country clubs. Dunlop Hills also has great access to the Beltway, making commuting to D.C. a breeze. While the older more established neighborhoods have traditional colonial style homes, this neighborhood differs with its contemporary look. Many Dunlop Hills homes are in the Rambler style. These homes have a more contemporary feel, large rooms and other amenities. Many of these homes have wet bars and various other additions, the most common of which are cathedral style ceilings, which make the rooms seem very open and compliment the open floor plan, providing a relaxing flow throughout the home. Some of the contemporary homes have a wall of glass, allowing an ample amount of natural light, slate tile and spiral staircase, while others feature balconies and scenic views. The common theme of homes in this neighborhood is uniqueness. All of these homes differ in every trait except one - quality. Each home contains an exceptional amount of personality and flare. Depending on the home, the price varies. In general these homes sell around the $1 million dollar range but can vary greatly. Dunlop Hills offers variety with unique floor plans to give you a personalized feel to your home. Melinda Estridge One of the most important factors when choosing an area to relocate are the local schools. As your area experts, we are knowledgeable about the school systems of Bethesda and Chevy Chase in the Montgomery County area as well as the surrounding areas of Washington D.C. including Silver Spring, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Potomac. The school systems serving these districts have a commitment to excellence and strive for student achievement. Gaithersburg, Maryland Real Estate Gaithersburg real estate offers a variety of housing styles, prices, sizes and neighborhoods - everything from condominiums to old Victorian homes. Prices for single-family homes start at about $200,000 and can well exceed $500,000. Townhome prices range from $180,000 to $300,000+. Bethesda, Maryland is an unincorporated area of the Montgomery County real estate market near Washington, D.C., retaining its old-fashioned charm but with a modern flare. The town is named for a local church, Bethesda Presbyterian Church, built in 1820, but originates from a passage in the New Testament. Bethesda is famous for its vast and eclectic 200+ restaurant offerings, farmers markets, and fine arts, and as well as for its shopping and nightlife. The Bethesda real estate market area is mostly outside the downtown area, but there still are many Bethesda homes for sale and choices located within walking distance of downtown. Bethesda is a wealthy and well-educated area, named "the best-educated city with a population of 50,000 or more." The outstanding Bethesda public schools get great recognition as well as the many public parks, recreation facilities and cultural events. What Makes Melinda Estridge Different from the Average Realtor®? AMAZING QUALIFICATIONS PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS & AWARDS A native of the Washington, D.C. and the Maryland suburbs, Melinda Estridge has been helping people buy and sell properties for more than 22 years. Her enthusiasm, dedication and personal integrity make her the REALTOR® of choice in the Washington Metropolitan area. Considered a leader among her peers and her associates, Melinda is ranked in the top 1/2% of Realtors® nationwide. She capitalizes on her professional experience, knowledge, and love of the area to bring her clients the best results. As a well-trained and experienced negotiator, Melinda assures her clients the best value possible, whether buying or selling. Melinda has been selling real estate most of her adult life. She graduated with a degree in Chinese History from the College of Wooster in Ohio. Needless to say, most of her real estate training has been gained from her many years of on-the-job experience. Melinda has a great deal of experience with interior decorating and landscaping which has helped her buy homes, fix them up and sell them again. This has been a benefit to buyers who may need imagination to visualize the potential of a home. This is also extremely valuable to sellers because it enables them to understand what fix-ups their home may need to maximize the selling price before listing their home for sale. Melinda enjoys traveling and is learning to play golf, much to her husband's delight. She loves art and the cultural aspects of the Washington, D.C. area. She is a terrific resource of information for the best restaurants, undiscovered city sites and terrific weekend get-aways within a few hours of D.C. She is married to Bob O'Toole. He was in the mortgage business for 19 years and is now the Senior Buyer Specialist on her team. Because of Bob's background in finance, he is able to provide very pertinent and useful information to Melinda's clients. He can shop loans for the lowest rates in town. Melinda and Bob work closely together to be sure their clients receive the best service possible. These colonial homes are spacious with well manicured lawns. Although all homes are in the colonial style with traditional floor plans, there are variances among them. All homes have an ample amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, and large rooms with many windows, giving the appearance of an open floor plan. Situated in a friendly neighborhood, these homes sit on approximately .14 acres, providing privacy but still maintaining a sense of community. These neighborhoods have seven elementary schools serving the area as well as Homes in Chevy Chase Section 3 & 5 go for 1.3 million and up. Well established communities with a great location and friendly neighbors, these neighborhoods could have the homes you are looking for. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
