Here you will find descriptions of some of the topics regularly discussed at the GCCA meetings, community meetings that GCCA representatives attended, and a little bit about our community's history, too.



"File of Life" Provides Emergency Medical Information

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with Fire and Rescue Services, is offering county residents a free ‘File of Life,’ a communication tool that emergency medical personnel can use to get quick information about an individual’s medical history

The ‘File of Life’ is a red, plastic, magnetic file pocket that attaches to a refrigerator. The completed information in the file provides emergency medical personnel with quick access to important information, such as medical conditions, medications taken, and emergency contact information. The ability to access this information can save valuable time, enabling quick assessments by emergency medical personnel.

“Besides being vital when individuals are unconscious, the ‘File of Life’ removes the risk of people forgetting to mention important health issues,” said Elizabeth Boehner, director of the Area Agency on Aging. “Caregivers and those already using the ‘File of Life’ agree that having medical information in one place is useful.”

To request a free “File of Life,” call the Dept. of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services at 240-777-3000 (TTY 240-777-4575).

Award-winning Essay at the GCCA's 2005 Annual Meeting
"Why I Like to Live in Colesville" by Rachel Gurevich, Westover Elementary School 5th grader

Have you ever moved away from someone or something that you've been with almost your whole life? If you have, you know how it feels. There is a big missing lump in your heart that just won't stop burning with tremendous pain. It is quite an emotional time. Well, that is how I would feel if I moved away from Colesville. I would miss everything: the environment, nature, beautiful weather, and the location. The world around me, in Colesville, is full of secrets and beauty. If that was taken away from me, I don't think I could handle the change.

Sometimes when I look out in my backyard I'll see up to eight deer, whole families including white spotted babies that I call Bambi. I'll see rabbits, groundhogs and small foxes. One morning on my way to school, I saw geese waddling in our driveway making lots of noise and smelling quite bad. They have their nest in a little pond in Paint Branch Farms, my neighborhood. The mother goose always sits on the nest of eggs while her mate keeps guard and fmds food.

Colesville's weather is good for me. It's not too hot and not too cold! If I lived somewhere else, I might not get all the four seasons. But here it could be freezing one day or warm the next.

Colesville has the best location. It is three hours away from both Ocean City and the Shenandoah Mountains. I take weekend camping trips to both places with my family. Colesville is also only one hour from Washington, DC. I love seeing the Cherry Blossoms and learning at the museums in our Nation's Capitol. Another place I love going is the Rocky Gorge Reservoir, on Ednor Road off of New Hampshire Avenue. I go kayaking with my Dad. We see beavers that make big splashes and sometimes my Dad and I get close enough to get a little bit wet. A bald eagle was very exciting to see, and from high up above the tall trees, it looked like he really was bald! You need a permit to go kayaking or fishing there but it is not too expensive

There are lots of wonderful places in Colesville. One of the most wonderful places, in my opinion, is my neighborhood! It is nice and quiet with beautiful trees and animals! I especially love taking walks around the neighborhood, stopping to talk to neighbors, eat crabapples, and gather chestnuts. There is no time like springtime in Colesville.

Now you can see why I would feel a big missing lump in my heart if I left Colesville. Luckily, that hasn't happened to me yet, if ever! I never want to leave such a welcoming place... would you?


Special Community Meetings
Notley Road Traffic Circles: Nov. 10, 2004

Sixty-four people attended the community meeting on Notley Road traffic circles (mini-roundabouts) at the Colesville Presbyterian Church on November 10, 2004.

The purpose was to address the growing neighborhood concerns about the safety of these (mini-roundabouts) circles and for residents to have an opportunity to share their concerns directly with the appropriate county officials. Ms. Praisner chaired the meeting. Officials in attendance were, Mr. Emil Wolanin, Chief of Traffic Engineering and Operations, Police Officer Steve DeCarlo, Police Commander Patricia Walker and administrative aide to Councilmember Praisner, Ms. Sherry Kinikin. We believe that the number of people in attendance clearly shows the concern regarding this vital quality-of-life issue. The largest representation was from the residents entering and exiting Notley daily at the Overton circle. We also received many letters and emails following the meeting.

A very lively and lengthy discussion centered around [1] the need for traffic control [2] that while the mini-roundabouts do reduce speed and volume they also produce side effects that are unacceptable to residents [near miss hits, multiple but unreported property damage, people feeling that have to choose between being legal and safe]. [3] The law regarding these mini-roundabouts, the unpredictability of how people make turns and their logic. [one resident actually titled her letter “Roundabout Roulette”, [4] suggestions for improving safety.

At the GCCA’s December meeting the civic association approved a letter that was sent to Councilmember Praisner with “cc’s” sent to Nancy Floreen, Chair of Transportation, Emil Wolanin, DPWT and Patricia Walker, Wheaton District Commander.

In their letter, GCCA President Dave Michaels states “ GCCA recognizes and supports the needs of the people living on the intersecting streets for a design change that allows them to safely access Notley Road while still obeying the traffic laws. The Overton residents living on the north side of Notley are the ones experiencing the greatest negative impact with the present design. Our goal is to work toward a solution that is safe and legal for all residents of Colesville whether they live on Notley Road, enter it daily from any of its intersecting streets, or are just passing through.” We also included a list of suggestions for improving the safety on Notley and Overton for DPWT to consider and an updated list of concerns. The written testimony received was also sent.

Lastly GCCA requested a follow-up meeting with DPWT as soon as they have formulated their alternatives so that they may share them with the community and the community can provide input before DPWT makes a final decision. Any continued documentation of mini-roundabout incidents would be extremely helpful. Send to Dave Michaels.

Historic Smithville Colored School
 
The Montgomery County Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity held a “Celebration of Preservation” of the restored Smithville Colored School, located at 811 East Randolph Road, in February.

Following is a brief history of the school from Project Administrator Andrew P. Klugh

Through financial support from Julius Rosenwald and African-American families in Smithville, the Smithville Colored School was built in 1927.  This school remained open to serve the African-American families for 25 years, closing in 1952.  The Smithville school buildings remained the property of the Board of Education until  transferred to the County in 1956.  For some 40 years the Smithville school property was primarily used for storage and as a bus depot. 
 
In 1999, the Montgomery County chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity purchased this property from the County with the understanding that we would rehabilitate the school's main historic building by creating a Museum and an Education Center.   
 
It is our intent that the Museum will depict the history and achievement of African-Americans in Montgomery County, and serve as a repository of historical documents and related materials tracing the early history of public schools in the County.  The Education Center, equipped with computers and other learning aids, will significantly enhance our tutorial and mentoring programs with students.

The administrators of this historic site would appreciate community members' donations of any artifacts that were used in schools or photos taken during the time this school was in operation.

History of Colesville

During the New Sign Celebration, Area 3 Representative Louise Yeck provided some history on Colesville from Ned Baley’s book "Colesville".

Following are a portion of Louise Yeck's comments.

The first Colesville post office was authorized February 7, 1816. Area identity is created with a Post Office and Store, but a church gives a location a sense of being a community. This was attained when the Federal Methodist Episcopal Church or the Federal Chapel Meeting House opened in 1805.

Public schools were established in 1858, but until that time well-to-do families educated their children in private schools. Police protection for Montgomery County consisted of a sheriff and his constables in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1878 they were equipped with bicylcles and motocycles. The speed limit was 13 miles per hour. This was based on the estimated maximum speed of a horse-drawn carriage.

Utilites such as telephone lines were installed shortly after May 1909, but the first water line was not installed until just before 1959 and first sewer lines shortly thereafter. Altough the purpose of the sewer was to protect public health, citizens protested its installation, fearing it would stimulate development. And it did.

Yes, Colesville grew very fast…. But this is why we are here today—to identify this community with the newly installed “Colesville” signs. It is our hope that persons traveling through this region will be aware of our very vital and active community.

Information for the above article was taken from the book "Colesville" by Ned Bayley. Copies of this 204-page, information packed book are available for only $16 at: Parcel Plus, 43 Randolph Road, Colesville, Maryland 20904 301-384-4300. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to the C-4 local charity.