Winter 2005 N E W S L E T T E R Happy Holidays Town of Chesapeake Beach From the Mayor In this season of thanks and celebration, I am grateful for so many personal blessings, of family and friends, satisfying work, and a wonderful place to live country, state, county and town. But I also have an abundance of blessings in my role as Mayor, and this is an appropriate time to share them. Council Sets New Trash Policy A new Bulk Trash and Yard Debris Collection Policy went into effect December 5. The Council adopted the policy at its November meeting. It will remain in force for six months and then be reviewed. The new policy was adopted in an attempt to halt misuse of the old regulations. The policy defines Bulk Trash as appliances, furniture and outdoor equipment. Each household is entitled to pick-up of four items per month. Pick ups must be scheduled in advance through Town Hall. Additional items will be picked up by arrangement, with payment in advance of $150 per item. New yard waste provisions require that leaf and grass clippings be bagged in clear bags. Yard waste will be picked up on Tuesdays. Bulk trash will be picked up on Thursdays. The revised policy appears in full inside this Newsletter. I am thankful for my colleagues on the Council, who give countless hours of their time to Chesapeake Beach, with no other compensation than the satisfaction of making the Town that they love a better place for all. I am thankful for the Town staff, whose friendly manner helps to preserve that small-town family feeling that we all treasure, and whose skill and dedication keep it running efficiently. I am thankful that the efforts of those two groups have made it possible for us to operate without a tax increase for years. Continued on page 4 Yule Tree Pick-up Christmas trees will be picked up on the following Tuesdays: January 3, 10 and 17. Trees must be placed outside for pick-up no later than January 16. There will be a $25 fee for each tree picked up after January 17.
2006 Brings Storytime, Book Club To Library after Holiday Closings Twin Beaches Branch Library has it all books, music, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, audiobooks, story times and reference help. Holiday time is an ideal opportunity to read ahead to be ready to participate in the Twin Beaches Library Book Group, or just to snuggle into a cozy spot by the Christmas tree and immerse yourself in a book of your choice. But if your holiday reading is going to be from library books, plan ahead. The library will be closed December 23, 24, 25, and 26, and January 1 and 2. It will be open normal hours on the rest of the year, including New Year s Eve. In making your book selections, keep in mind the book group selections for the New Year. The group meets the second Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bayhill Market. Books for this adult discussion group are: January 9, DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown; February 13, Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner; March 13, Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini; April 10, On Writing and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, both by Stephen King, and May 8, Chesapeake, by James Michener. There will be no meeting in June or August. July 10th s meeting will be a chance for members to talk about good books they ve read lately. January 11. Subsequent topics through February are: 1/18, bears; 1/25, farms; 2/01, arctic animals; 2/ 08, frogs; 2/15, Valentine s day; 2/ 22, colors; and 3/01, pigs. Middle school ages are not forgotten. All 5 th to 7 th graders are invited to the Prince Frederick Library February 10 for a Book-to- Movie Night. Read the book Millions by Frank Boyce, and then come watch the movie based on the book, and discuss how well it was transferred from page to screen. Information on all library programs and services is available at 410-257-2411. Solid Gold Service Ready for Winter Snow is coming. Don t let the mild fall weather fool you. Old Man Winter will arrive in all his icy splendor, and when he does, some Town residents will be physically unable to deal with it. But help is available. If you are over 55, or have a handicap tag, you are eligible to receive the Town s Solid Gold Service. When a storm is impending, Town Hall staff check to make sure that individuals on the registry are aware of and prepared for it. And if the storm leaves them snowed in, staff may get them shoveled out, or deliver essentials such as medications. With dozens of people on the registry, providing for all needs can be a challenge for the Town staff, so they welcome your volunteer assistance. If you are willing and able to shovel the sidewalk of a neighbor in need, or run errands, or make a few phone calls, or if you need Gold Service, call Town Hall and be added to the appropriate list. Solid Gold Service Mail to the Town, PO Box 400, Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732, or e-mail to kjohnson@chesapeake-beach.md.us, if you are eligible and need service. For the little ones, Storytime resumes January 11 and continues every Wednesday until May 10, with the exception of April 5. Programs repeat the subject of the day for each age group, beginning with winter on Name: Street Address: Phone: Email: 2
Revised Town Bulk Trash And Yard Debris Policy STANDARD BULK TRASH REQUIREMENTS Definition of Bulk Trash appliances, furniture, outdoor equipment All bulk trash must be scheduled for pick up through Town Hall. Limited to four (4) items per month per household. YARD DEBRIS Sticks, twigs, and branches must be cut into three-foot lengths and bundled together. Leaves and grass clippings must be bagged in clear bags. Yard debris will not be picked up if it does not comply with the above requirements. Christmas trees must be outside for pickup no later than the 3rd Monday in January. For pickup after this date, a fee of $25 will be charged. CHARGES Standard bulk items in excess of four (4) per month will be charged $150 per item. Christmas trees picked up after the 3rd Monday in January will be charged $25 per tree. Payment must be made three (3) days in advance of pick-up. SCHEDULE FOR PICK UPS: Yard Debris - Tuesday Bulk Trash - Thursday ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE PICKED UP: Hazardous materials, tires, paint, oil, batteries and construction debris. When renovating, remodeling, or emptying a house, you must call a trash contractor to have a dumpster placed on your property. The Town has the right not to pick up an item if it determines the Town cannot or should not dispose of the item. This policy is effective 12/5/2005 and will be re-evaluated in 6 months. 3
Parked Vehicles Are Enforcement Focus The Enforcer, more formally known as the Town code enforcement officer, wants you to know that he is applying the rules regarding improper parking of vehicles. Parking space in most areas of Town is already a precious commodity, Bill Watson notes. When people park boat trailers with boats, jet skis, recreational vehicles and the like, it makes a bad situation worse. Chapter 7 Article 7-102 of the Town Code provides that It is unlawful to park, store, or leave any vehicle of any kind, whether attended or not, or for the owner of any vehicle of any kind to allow or permit the same to be parked, stored, or left, whether attended or not, upon any public or private property in the town of Chesapeake Beach, without the consent of the owner of such public or private property. The town s designated agents are authorized to remove and impound any vehicle parked, stored, or left in violation of this section and to keep the same impounded until the owner or a duly authorized person representing the owner shall deposit collateral in the amount and in the manner hereinafter provided for in Article 2 General Penalty - of this ordinance. Generally the penalty, if convicted, is a misdemeanor or municipal infraction with a $500.00 fine. Mr. Watson observes that often, when asked to remove a vehicle from the street, the owner will park it in the front yard of his property. The Zoning Ordinance Article5-201 (g) requires Holiday Lights Make Us Brightest Beacon on Bay By now, you ve seen the Town holiday lights. If that hasn t yet filled you with the spirit, you need a few minutes with Councilwoman Jo Finch, our own Mother Christmas and founder of the Brightest Beacon on the Bay program. She threw the switch on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and now she s hoping to turn you on, to participation in this celebration that has become a Town tradition. All you Christmas junkies out there better get ready! she proclaims. As you can see from what s going on all around town, Christmas can t be far away. All categories of the decorating competition were judged on December 12th. The categories are: HOUSE, TOWNHOUSE, BOAT and BUSINESS, as well as THE BRIGHTEST BEACON on the BAY, which means best over all decoration. Certificates and prizes donated by local businesses were given out at the regular Town Council meeting the night of December 15. Even if you did not enter the competition, I hope you will be that Parking for private residences in residential districts shall not be located within the front setback area between the principal structure and the street. In other words, the vehicle must be in the side yard or rear yard. In cases where this is not possible, the enforcement officer will ask that the vehicle be removed. 4 merrily surprised when you see the changes and new things we have this year, says Mrs. Finch. But this is only the beginning of what we hope for the future with everyone s help there are big plans in store. The ultimate goal is a drive-through light display, out of the way of traffic and with many wonders to behold. This will, of course, require many helping hands from all you Christmas lovers. For now, the focus is on this year s community event. As plans for the future develop, the Newsletter will alert fellow holiday enthusiasts of the opportunities to help Councilwoman Christmas bring this vision to reality. Chesapeake Beach Veterans Memorial Park Bricks are still available for purchase. Please call Town Hall at 410-257-2230 Mayor, from page 1 And I am especially thankful that both Council and County helped build a park dedicated to the service of our military veterans. Without their work and sacrifice in keeping us safe and free, none of those other things on my list would have much meaning. At this holiday time, I wish for all of you an abundance of blessings, of freedom, of family, of home, and dreams fulfilled. Gerald W. Donovan, Mayor
Fireside Talk to Warm Winter at RR Museum Closed for the season is a relative term when it comes to the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum. Although the regular tourist hours may be suspended until April, there is no winter hibernation at the museum. The Friends of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum will host a special event in January, a Fireside Chat at the Chesapeake Beach Hotel and Spa January 21 at 2 p.m. Helen Ward Wheeler, daughter of Dr. Hugh Ward, will speak. She has edited tapes of her father s life into Dr. Hugh Ward. Country Boy to Country Doctor. Ms. Wheeler tells wonderful stories of growing up in Calvert County both from her father s point of view and her point of view. The event is free and all are welcome. The public season of the museum climaxed with its annual Fall Family Fun Day, featuring entertainers, face painting, crafts and other events, and the Holiday Open House, with the station halls decked for the season indoors and out. But though the building is closed for regular museum visiting, the museum s work of preserving the Town heritage moves out into classrooms for the winter, or behind the scenes for work on the collections and staff and volunteer training. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, contact the museum at 410-257-3892. Station Masters, who welcome the museum s visitors and provide information on its history and collections, are always needed, but there are many other tasks to suit a variety of interests, skills and time commitments. Crafty fun and fancy faces were highlights of the museum s fall festival. Town Calendar Ready to Welcome 2006 Auld acquaintance may be forgot, but the Town s people, places and events will still be vividly remembered when the New Year begins. The fifth annual Chesapeake Beach calendar will greet each month with colorful reminders, in the photos that many of you submitted during this year. The calendar committee, which included Chairman Bruce Wahl, Nancy Feurle, Joanie Kilmon, Ingrid Lamb, Sherry Smith, and Becky Wahl, was delighted with the number of photo entries received this year, even though it made their selection job much more difficult. Barbara Dove Fink of BDF Design Inc. in Huntingtown was the designer once again. Look for your calendar to arrive soon, and start thinking about what pictures you will offer for next year. Keep your camera handy, and remember to point, shoot, and submit. For Our Friends in Service: Do you have family or friends from Calvert County who are stationed overseas in the military? The 5 familiar places and events pictured in the calendar might give them a welcome taste of home. Please provide their names and addresses to Town Hall and, for the second year, the Town will send them a copy of the 2005 Town Calendar. Please call 301-855-8398 or 410-257-2230. A little home town love to our men and women defending our country will be appreciated, reminds Councilman Pat Mahoney. Who Are We? For want of another term, the Newsletter refers to those who live in Chesapeake Beach as Town residents or beach citizens, very formal and not very spirited for a Town that treasures its identity and sense of community. When the editor asked the Town Council if they had any suggestions, Councilman Mahoney noted that Mayor Frazer refers to the citizens of both towns as beachers, and that his own suggestion would be Chez Beachers, with anglicized pronunciation. Have another idea? Submit it to editor@chesapeake-beach.md.us.
NOTICE Special Meeting with the State Highway Design Team regarding the Streetscape Program. There will be a special meeting held prior to the Town Council meeting on January 19, 2006 at 6:00PM for those interested and possibly affected property owners along the route of the proposed sidewalk improvements. This meeting will be to answer your questions and let you know what is planned to happen when construction starts, in the spring. All citizens are invited, however, those along the route are particularly invited. The route is from the Town border with North Beach along Bayside Road to Beach Elementary and from G Street to Bayside Road along Chesapeake Beach Road. Please mark your calendar for January 19, 2006 at 6:00PM. Hope to see you there!! 6
The Town of Chesapeake Beach wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 7
The Town Remembers Its Heroes Local dignitaries and Town citizens join in respectful attention at the fifth annual candlelight commemoration of 9/ll at Veterans Park. Photo by Bruce Wahl PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD PERMIT # 400 P.O. Box 400 Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732 Resident Chesapeake Beach MD 20732