Olney Mill Community Association

On Saturday, March 20, 2010, OMCA will be sponsoring its 7th Annual Community Clean Up. Bring your families and friends to join us for our annual celebration of Earth Day! Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be credited to our student volunteers. The cleanup will begin at 9:00 a.m. at three different staging areas: the Olney Mill House, the Olney Family Park (on Willow Grove Road) and the Olney Neighborhood Park (on Charline Manor Road). March 21th is our official “rain date”, but if it’s just drizzling lightly on Saturday, we will go ahead as scheduled. Any last minute announcements or postponements will be posted on the OMCA website by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning (www.olneymill.net). After the Clean-up (around noon), all volunteers are invited to join us for a pizza lunch, compliments of OMCA. To volunteer, just show up at a staging area at 9:00. For details, go to the web site or contact Dennis Twombly at datwombly@verizon.net or (301) 570-0394.

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt, with games and prizes for children of all ages, will be held at the Olney Family Park off of Willow Grove on Monday, April 5, 2010. The activities will start promptly at noon, so plan to arrive early. Dress warmly, if necessary, and bring your buckets and baskets!

We need some parent volunteers to stuff candy and trinkets into the eggs over the next few weeks, and to help coordinate the activities during the event. Volunteers should contact
Ginger Twombly at (301) 461-9588 or vctwombly@verizon.net.
Student Service Learning (SSL) hours are available.

Mill House Lighting:   Sunday December 6, 2009,  7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Olney Mill residents young and old are invited to help celebrate one of Olney Mill’s oldest traditions… Come gather around the Mill House to feast on delicious cookies and warm drinks, enjoy holiday music and caroling, and start the holiday season off right ~ with friends and neighbors.   Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive via fire truck around 7:30 p.m. to meet with the children.  Santa makes sure to talk with every child before he leaves – so get your lists ready…

Those who are  planning to attend are asked not to park in front of the Mill House, as it is a “No Parking” zone and Santa’s arrival spot.   Volunteers are needed to set up, serve refreshments, and clean up after the event, as well as help take down the lights after the holiday season.  Community Service Hours (SSL) are available to MS/HS student volunteers.   Anyone wishing to help out should contact Dennis at (301) 570-0394 or datwombly@verizon.net.

See you all there !!

This coming Saturday, March 28, the Olney Mill Community Association (OMCA) will be sponsoring its 6th OMCA Spring Clean-up. Last year, nearly 70 volunteers collected litter, cans, bottles, and other items throughout our local parks. Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning (M-NCPPC) will provide permits, gloves, and trash bags, and they will give Student Service Learning (SSL) hour credits for our student volunteers. Remember, community service is an important factor in selecting our annual $1,000 OMCA scholarship winner!

We will meet at 9:00 am at three different staging areas: 1) the Olney Mill House on the corner of Olney Mill Rd and 108, 2) the Olney Family Park on Willow Grove, 3) The Olney Neighborhood Park on Charline Manor. You should wear jeans and long-sleeved shirts to avoid scratches from branches. Wear waterproof boots even if it’s clear because many of the grassy areas may be swampy. Be sure to bring a rain coat if the weather looks at all threatening. If it’s just drizzling lightly by 8:30 Saturday morning, we will go ahead that day as scheduled. The next day (Sunday) is the rain date. Any last minute announcements or postponements will be posted on our web site by 8:00 am on Saturday morning (www.olneymill.net).

After the Clean-up, we invite everyone to join us at the Oakley Cabin on Brookeville Rd (100 yds east of Grayheaven) for a pizza lunch, compliments of OMCA. I will need a count by about 11:00 of who will plans to join us there. Please call or send an email if you plan to attend so we can distribute the volunteers appropriately. At this point, it looks like we need more volunteers for the Charline Manor park group.

Dennis Twombly: (Office: 301-443-9334) or (Cell: 301-461-4357) or send email from this web site via “Contacts” (parks and common areas).

Montgomery County Council President Mike Knapp will be attending our OMCA Board meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 pm (Community Room, Buffington/ReMax Building, Olney). For many years, Mr. Knapp has assisted Olney Mill with a variety of problems and issues, including Verizon’s installation of fiber-optic cables, flooding from leaking or ruptured WSSC supply lines, and maintenance of M-NCPPC administered park areas. He has also been a big supporter of our OMCA clean-up activities.

Mr. Knapp will be on-hand to discuss any issues of concern to our Olney Mill residents. Reserve the date! This is your opportunity to meet and voice your opinions with one of the County’s most influential leaders. If possible, please let us know by e-mail if you will be attending. This will allow us to plan the evening’s schedule.

Olney Mill Residents,

The following information has been extracted from a Montgomery County advisory on Hurricane Hanna, which arrives late Friday night (9/5) and reaches a peak mid-day Saturday (9/6). For more information, see http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/PIO/news/preparedness.asp

With Hurricane Hanna threatening areas along the East Coast, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has placed emergency workers on standby and is urging residents to prepare for the possibility of flooding and power outages. The County will communicate with the public through the news media, the County home page, and emails.

The effects of a hurricane or tropical storm can be far-reaching. Areas impacted directly by a hurricane or tropical storm can be affected by high winds and flooding, especially along waterways and in low-lying areas. Fringe areas of these storms are vulnerable to tornadoes and in-land flooding caused by heavy rain.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips

• Keep flashlights and battery-powered radios with extra batteries on hand, along with a basic first aid kit, emergency food and water, and a non-electric can opener.
• Listen to the radio or television for hurricane progress reports.
• Remove outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools; or anchor objects that cannot be brought inside but that could be wind-tossed.
• Clean out gutters.
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the door only when necessary and close quickly.
• Refrain from putting out trash cans the night before the regular pickup.

During Power Outages

• Avoid using candles for lighting. Use a battery-powered flashlight.
• Never use a candle when fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern, since the candle flame can ignite fumes from the fuel.

Flooding

• Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container; and avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road – you can be stranded or trapped.

High Winds

• For downed trees on public property, residents should call the County’s Department of Transportation at 240-777-6000 during work hours (7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday–Friday). After hours calls should be directed to the Police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000. To report trees that have fallen on utility lines, contact the local utility companies. “Hot” wires or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, may be reported by calling 9-1-1.
• Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The County’s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check on a business complaint record. Consumer Protection can be reached at 240-777-3636.

Yes, there is a little rain as of 8:30 am Saturday morning. Nevertheless, we will hold the Yard Sale as scheduled. Larry Van Druff is already handing out red balloons at the Mill House. So plan to get just a little wet and we’ll hope for a good turnout today.