January 21, 2012: Ohr Kodesh Movie Night

Here is a family event ideal for the residents of the Rosemary Hills and Rock Creek Forest communities. The Ohr Kodesh Congregation will be hosting a movie night this coming January 21, 2012 from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. Ice cream sundaes and popcorn will be available at 6:30 PM. 

Dolphin Tale and The Smurfs will be shown for children beginning at 6:50 pm. There will be supervision for the kids.
For adults and teens, A Matter of Size, a comedy about a group of overweight men in Israel who aspire to become sumo wrestlers, will be shown. It is comedic and poignant at the same time.

No RSVP required. Cost: $2/child, $3/adult, maximum $10. Meet in the Lobby of Ohr Kodesh.

Ohr Kodesh Congregation
8300 Meadowbrook Lane
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

P: 301-589-3880


Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

Don't Miss the Tax Appeal Deadline!

Although certain parts of the Washington Metropolitan Area have seen appreciation in home prices, many have not.  Real property taxes in our area are based upon tax assessments and not on sales price.  Accordingly, many of my clients ask before, during or after settlement whether they can appeal their real property tax assessment to lower their property taxes.  The short answer is yes, but the deadline for some is approaching fast so it is important for you to know the facts.

In Maryland a third of all residential and commercial properties will receive new tax assessments for 2012, 2013 and 2014 this January.  Each property is re-assessed every three years to help insure that the real property taxes are based upon current market conditions.  The assessment process is carried out by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation at local county levels.  The tax assessment is supposed to be based upon the current market and comparable homes, just like an appraisal.  However, in a market with declining real estate values it is very important for homeowners to review their notice of assessment in order to determine if it is representative of the true market value of their property.

The following are some of the timeframes when a notice of appeal must be filed by:

• New assessments require a notice of appeal to be filed within forty five days of receipt of the assessment.
• If your property is not being re-assessed in 2012 but events have occurred that may have caused a decline in the value of your property, an appeal can be made out of the normal three year timeframe if completed by January 1st. 
• If you purchased a property and the property is transferred after January 1st but before July 1st, you may file an appeal within 60 days of the date of transfer.
• If you purchased a property between July 1st and December 31st, your may file a petition for review on or before January 1st.    

After filing the petition, you will be scheduled for a hearing.  If you prefer, a written submission can be reviewed in lieu of a hearing.  Our experience is to request a hearing and go prepared with comparable home sales.  Typically, the assessor will hold a very informal and brief meeting with you to discuss your grounds for appeal and then take the matter under advisement.  The assessor will send you a letter in several weeks with the results of their decision.  

 

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

A Holiday Present for Bethesda

Overlooked in all of the holiday hub-bub was a very nice present for the city of Bethesda. The Office of Economic Adjustment, an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, has awarded the city nearly $90 million dollars for transportation projects related to the enlarged Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and NIH.

The medical center has a goal of providing world-class health care to those wounded in military service. This objective, coupled with the larger facility, has increased visits to the medical campus by 100 percent. The center’s staff also grew by 33 percent.  As a result, traffic congestion and parking issues now abound in Bethesda, where the transportation infrastructure was already at capacity.

The federal money will go a long way towards alleviating these issues to allow patients, families and medical staff quick access to the medical center when needed, and it will break open the road and parking congestion experienced by Bethesda residents in the area.

There are six overall projects planned to reduce gridlock, improve vehicular mobility, and promote pedestrian safety around the medical center. Specifically, the projects include building a new entrance and improving pedestrian access at the Medical Center Metro Station along with improving traffic operations at the major intersections along Rockville Pike, Connecticut Avenue, Cedar Lane, Jones Bridge Road, and Old Georgetown Road. These improvements will augment the new sidewalks and bike paths already built around the hospital.

With the awarding of these funds, Bethesda will be able to continue functioning as a first-class city for residents, visitors, and those needing care at a top-notch medical facility.

It’s great to live in an area that continues to improve. Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

ROCK CREEK FOREST CITIZENS ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY MEETING

 

ROCK CREEK FOREST CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
COMMUNITY MEETING
 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012, 7:00-9:00 PM (Snow date: Monday, January 9, 2012)
ROCK CREEK FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (8330 Grubb Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815)

TENTATIVE AGENDA

7:00 PM: Welcome
            by Scott Brumburgh, President, Rock Creek Pool

7:05 PM: Background and Overview of Rock Creek Forest Citizens Association (RCFCA)
            Vote #1 (to determine whether RCFCA should be revitalized and how to move forward)
            by Howard Oppenheim, Contact of Record

7:15 PM: Discussion of RCFCA Representation on B-CC Middle School #2 Site Selection Committee (SSAC)
            Identify and Prioritize Citizens' Concerns
            Nominations and Presentations by Candidates
            Questions       
            by Scott Brumburgh, President, Rock Creek Pool
8:30 PM: Vote #2 (to elect RCFCA representative and alternate to SSAC)
            by Scott Brumburgh, President, Rock Creek Pool
8:50 PM: Other Business 

 

Notes:

1)  Vote #1: By way of background, to the best of our knowledge, although Neighborhood Watch meetings have taken place more recently, the last formal meeting of the Rock Creek (Forest) Citizen’s Association (RCFCA) took place on December 7, 2006 (See, http://rockcreekforest.webresident.net/association/rockcreekforest//RCFCA.HTML), The Constitution and Bylaws of the Rock Creek (Forest) Citizens Association were last updated on March 28, 1984 and are in need of revision, yet they are registered with the County, delineate the Association’s geographic boundaries, and provide a framework for conducting meetings (e.g., in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order – Revised, quorum of 15 members, any adult person who resides in the territory is eligible for membership, any eligible resident may become a member by payment of $5 annual dues—which I propose waiving until the Bylaws are revised--and each member shall have one vote).  The Bylaws were posted on the RockCreekForest@yahoogroups listserve on December 12, 2011 by Abe Schuchman; for a copy of the Bylaws, please call Terri Salus (301-587-5017).       

2)  Vote #2:  In his November 8, 2011 Memorandum (available on the MCPS website), Joshua P. Starr, Superintendent of Schools described the new site selection process for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) Middle School #2.  Of particular note, Dr. Starr directed “that a representative of each registered homeownwers’ association that encompasses or is immediately adjacent to each candidate site be invited to participate on the SSAC” (Site Selection Advisory Committee).  The RCFCA, in addition to the Rosemary-Hills, Lyttsonsville, and many other registered community associations adjacent to the 9 other sites that were originally considered, have each been invited to offer a representative to serve on the SSAC. The individual receiving the most votes will serve as the RCFCA representative and the individual receiving the second most votes will serve as the alternate.

3)  Absentee Write-In Comments may be submitted to Scott Brumburgh at sbrumburgh@aol.com or 2801 Spencer Road, Chevy Chase 20815 by Tuesday, 1/3/2012, 5 PM; please write clearly and succinctly and include your name and address.  The Absentee Write-In Comments may include a list of 5 concerns (in order of priority and limited to 1 sentence per concern), and recommendation for RCFCA representative to the SSAC (to date, Howard Oppenheim/NW, Jean Redmond/NE, and Tim Wolf/NE have volunteered to serve; additional nominations may be offered on January 4, 2012).

4)  If you need or can offer transportation to/from the Community Meeting, please call Terri Salus (301-587-5017).

 

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

 

Rosemary Hills Neighborhood Association Meeting

Rosemary Hills 

Neighborhood Association Meeting

7-9pm Thursday, January 5, 2012

Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center

2450 Lyttonsville Road

Please come meet your neighbors, and discuss and vote on important issues affecting our community.

-       Middle School Site Selection – offer input to our representatives on the county committee

-       Join our community groups – Advocacy, Crime/Safety, Social and Communications

-       Charitable donations for neighbors decimated by fire on 12/30.

Only members may vote, but it’s easy to become a member. Simply drop off $10 (checks made out to RHNA) to Jim Hermes, RHNA Treasurer, at 8711 Sundale Dr. prior to the meeting, OR pay at the meeting.

If you have issues you’d like to see on the agenda, contact RHNA co-presidents, Lynn Amano ljamano@mindspring.com or Mynor Herrera mynor.herrera@gmail.com.

Please come out to support your neighborhood!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

A Variety of New Year’s Fun in Metro DC

If you still haven’t decided how to spend your New Year’s Eve in Bethesda or the Metro DC area, there’s still hope. Washington and the surrounding neighborhoods have so many great events to ring in the New Year.

Here are four of the many ways you can enjoy yourself this year, courtesy of the Bethesda Patch.

FAMILY FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S EVE

Lebanese Taverna, 7141 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD, $18

Bring the Kids for the Family Friendly New Year's Eve celebration. Seating begins at 4:30 and Oh Susannah will entertain the kids. Price is $18.00 per child and includes party favors, dinner from kids menu, entertainment and "Ball Drop". Adult dinner is a la carte. Reservations are suggested as seating is limited. Call 301-951-8681 and reference Family Friendly event.

NEW YEAR’S EVE LABYRINTH WALK

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Ln, Bethesda, MD, FREE

Please join us for our annual candle lit New Year’s Eve labyrinth walk from 6:00 to 9:00 PM featuring live piano and harp music by Meg Baker. This indoor labyrinth walk is the spiritual highlight of the year!

NEW YEAR'S EVE SWING DANCE AT GLEN ECHO PARK

Glen Echo Park, 7300 Macarthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD, $25

Swing in the New Year at Glen Echo Park. Enjoy a night of swing dancing to the music of the Tom Cunningham Orchestra. Purchase tickets online or at the Spanish Ballroom.

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT BROOKSIDE GARDENS

Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Silver Spring, MD, FREE

Enjoy New Year's Eve at Brookside Gardens until 10 p.m. The Garden of Lights will be open, and there will be crafts and music in the visitor’s center

No matter what you choose, you’ll have a memorable time. To all my family, friends and clients, I wish you a very happy, healthy and successful New Year!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.

A National Park Right Next to Bethesda

If you’re looking for something to do with the kids during the Bethesda school break, try the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park located in Washington, DC—and the surrounding suburbs!

The C&O Canal is a 184.4 mile stretch of water that moved goods to various communities between Washington, DC and Cumberland, MD from 1850 to 1924. It took 22 years to build (1828 to 1850), and during peak years of operation you would find up to 800 boats moving along this waterway, carrying 850 thousand tons of coal.

Boats moved along the canal by means of mules pulling the boats along a 100-foot tow rope. Top speed was 4 MPH, so it took seven 18-hour days to move the length of the canal. (Mules can only go so fast.) Each boat made about 25 trips per year and often carried the family that owned it.

There’s a great deal of history associated with the canal including western expansion, transportation, and the Civil War as well as the growth of industry and commerce. With over 1300 historical structures along the length of the water, there’s a lot you can learn. Some of these sites include lock houses, aqueducts, dams and pump houses. There are 74 locks along the canal which were based on a design by Leonardo Da Vinci.

If you’re not in the mood for history, the park has over 19,000 acres where you can stroll beside the water, ride a horse or bike, or just sit and enjoy the local wildlife. Or take a boat tour to combine relaxation with history.

To learn more about this great National Park right in our Bethesda backyard, check out their website.

This is just one of the great local attractions that area residents enjoy. Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda and Whitehall Condominium.