The Luxmanor Greensheet

President's Message:

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a good vacation sometime during the summer and had time to relax from our 'Type A' lives. School is back in session and we especially want to welcome the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Middle School community that will be on Tilden Lane at the Middle School Holding School this year. We have been told that , unlike Parkland MS, which was a magnet school and therefore required parents to drive their children to and from school, almost all the kids at FSK will be taking the bus, so we are expecting a drop in traffic along the streets.

Your committee members have been hard at work over the summer. Todd Berman, the website committee chair, has been working to develop our new website, still at www.luxmanor.org.It should be up and running sometime next month. The new website will allow a variety of people to contribute, and we hope to include up-to-date postings of community items of interest, and photos. Our well-trafficked listserv will continue too.

Bill King, chair of the Traffic Committee, has been working with the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) for traffic calming measures along Tilden Lane. Tilden Lane was identified in the 1992 Master Plan as a Class II Bike Route, which we believe will help slow traffic once markers are in place to identify it as such. In addition, the County is putting in place a new Road Code that is much more pedestrian-friendly and gives us an edge in slowing traffic along our streets. The new Code includes reduced speeds and narrowing lanes for residential roads, and requires bike lanes for most new primary residential roads. Bill also met with Jack Cochrane, chair of the Montgomery Bicycle Advocates, and Gaile Taite-Nouri, the lead for DPWT's Bicycle Action Group , to find a working solution to accommodate parking, bike routes, and calming measures along Tilden. We are now looking at asking DPWT to construct chicanes, or 'chokers' to create a meandering effect along Tilden to reduce speed.

Overall, our next step is to poll the Luxmanor neighborhoods to gather statistics and concerns about traffic in Luxrnanor, Windemere, and The Oaks, the neighborhoods that constitute the Luxmanor Citizens Association. Given the new developments along Woodglen and the Rockville Pike, and the 500,000 sq ft.buildout of the Montgomery Mall , we anticipate long-term cut through traffic and plan to work with the County on this issue, as well .as traffic speed.

John Beamer, our Safety Committee chair, reminds everyone to please LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS to prevent theft. Theft is down in the neighborhood and neighbors have seen more police patrolling the area.

---In addition, the Luxmanor Gitizens-Association.!.s-infemnaJ--iNeighborhood Pace -Gar-Program' has started up again. This program is used successfully around the US as an effective trafficcalming measure. If you see cars or are behind cars that are driving the speed limit, please do not honk or try to veer around them. These people are driving on our streets to slow traffic and let drivers know that the Luxmanor neighborhoods expect safe driving. We invite you to join the program.

We have also been active in working with County Council members, the County Executive's office, the Planning Department, and developers to monitor the enormous amount of development planned for the area .surrounding us, and to hopefully mitigate some of its effects to our neighborhoods. We can always use your help on these issues.

Finally, Grace Evans, who has been chairing the Sign Committee and also acting as Trustee, has stepped down from both positions. We thank her for all the years of hard work and effort, especially for getting the sign issue moved to this point. Locations have been chosen for four signs, and we have an example of one possible sign. We are looking for a volunteer to chair the Sign Committee and complete the work she and the rest of the Sign Committee have begun.

Have a great fall. I hope to see you at the General Meeting, and encourage you to volunteer to work to improve our community. It only takes a few hours each month.

Paula Bienenfeld
President

Traffic Committee:

An invitation is issued to all who have thoughtful and/or rational opinions regarding traffic issues to email Bill King directly at bill_king@hotmail.com. Traffic committee activity will continue to be posted in the Greensheet and all are welcome to attend the monthly executive committee and semiannual general meetings where conversations tend toward issues.

Garden Tips:

1. Did you see in a recent \'V'ashington Post article that the white tail deer like the acorns from our white oak trees as much as do the squirrels? The deer will reportedly clean up the acorns faster than the squirrels can store them away.
2. The hot dry summer has been hard on lawns, trees, and shrubs. \X1ater them all well as we head into fall, especially those foundation plantings that may be partially sheltered under the eaves.
3. Do not fertilize trees, shrubs or perennials now as the fertilizer may stimulate new growth which will not harden before winter,
4. Fall is a good time to plant and transplant trees and shrubs, especially evergreens . Also pansies can be set outsoon. Theywillsurvivewinter. \'V'aterallwell.
5. Divide and pinch back annuals and fall-blooming perennials to extend flowering time.
6. If you plan to mulch plantings -trees, etc. before winter, do so sparingly. Ifthere is existing mulch, do not put new mulch over it until it decomposes or is removed to a co mpost area. Keep a 4" collar away from the trunks of trees and shrubs as the mulch can harbor fungus and insects. .
7. If your houseplants have been outdoors this summer, they should be brou ght back indoors when nighttime temperatures are consistently at 50 degrees. Spray the plants, including the undersides of the leaves, with Safers' Soap (or your homemade insecticide of 6 T liquid dishwashing detergent to 1 gallon of water). Be sure to spray at 2 week intervals before and after bringing plants indoors in order to destroy insects and eggs.
8. Springfloweringbulbswillbe'appearingforsalevety soon. Daffodilsarefairly deerandpest-free.
9. Keep falling leaves raked so they won't mat down and suffocate the grass. OAK LE AVES are l)e~)' slow to break down, so must be put through a leaf chopper or shredder before they can be added to compost.

Lyme's Disease: A bit of information for all

Neighbor Debbie Feldheim sends along the name and address of a lab in Connecticut where a tick that is removed from so meone can be tested for Lyme's disease. She used the lab and within 5 days was notified that the tick was infected with Lyme's disease, enabling the victim to begin treatment on antibiotics immediately.Theaddress is: Ct. Veterinary Diagnostic Lab University ofConnecticut Depart mentofPathologyand Biology 61 North E agleville Road Storrs, Ct. 06269-9011

Environmental Issues by Peggy Souza

At the request of our LCA president, Paula Bienenfeld, I have accepted the role of

Environmental Chairperson. As this is a relatively new responsibility, I look forward to working

with my neighbors in defining how this responsibility can contribute to our community's

environmental well-being.

As I write this article we are in the midst of a drought. However, mosquito control and possible

insect born illness are issues that have been brought to my attention. Accordingly, I checked with The Department of Environmental Protection who administrates the mosquito control program that counts and treats larvae sitting areas. This program currently has a waiting list of communities who wish to participate.

As part of the LCA enrollment application process for this program, we must identify havens for mosquitoes. Therefore, I have attached our neighborhood map and would ask that any areas of concern, such as ponds, wooded areas, standing water, etc. be identified on the map. Please include details and your contact information. I will compile the results as part of the application process. Please mail your information to me at : 6521 Tilden Lane. In the meantime, there are actions steps we can take.

Treat small pools of water with a tiny amount of Agnique MMF mosquito larvicide in the water so that a thin layer covers thesurface. It will suffocate the larvae without harming fish. Available online at myadapco.com or ehrlichdistribution.com. Another option is Mosquito Dunk, available at local hardware stores. These doughnut-shaped briquettes produce a toxic bacterial spore that kills mosquito larvae, but won't harm animals or fish.

Other actions steps :

• Prune hedges and mow the yard to reduce shade that provides shelter to mosquitos
• Eliminate standing water (kids toys, flower pots, gutters)
• Stock water gardens with goldfish or minnows that eat larvae

Another area of concern is radon. We have a map and link on the LCA website that explains that Montgomery County is Zone 1. This means there is a high potential for predicated average indoor radon screening levels great than 4pCi/L. If you have concerns, please contact the EPA for testing information. The website is www.epa.gov/radon.

I am researching specimen tree protection, green building incentives, and the future WSSC water pipe project. However, if there are environmental issues you believe should be addressed, please write or email meatpeggysouza@yahoo.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

"Books & Brunch"

You know that stack of books you've finished reading, don't want to keep forever,

but keep dusting around? Bring them to our Neighborhood Book Exchange Brunch!

Sunday, October 21, 11-1

6008 Roseland Drive

Bring books you've already enjoyed and are ready to part with, and join neighbors

and friends from Luxmanor, Windermere and The Oaks at April Chang's home for

a light brunch of bagels, muffins, coffee and conversation, (literary or otherwise!)

and take home a Doggie Bag filled with new reading!

RSVP to LynnWaters@aol.com

Books & Brunch will kick off our·Special Events for 2007-2008. We're definitely planning our Third Annual Spring Wine & Hors D 'oeuvres Party where we'll meet and honor our new neighbors, in April. But what would y'all like to do in between?

These are some ideas we're considering:

• Private Bus Tour of Washington, DC historic sites led by our own Professional Tour Guide, Ellen Gold, with pick up and return right in the neighborhood.
• A one-day self-guided tour of "Open Gardens" in Luxmanor, Windermere and The Oaks, featuring gardens that are filled with interesting and unusual or just plain lovely ideas that will inspire our own landscaping and gardening efforts .
• A Strathmore performance, with a block of tickets especially for us; hors d'oeuvres before, and coffee and desserts afterwards, (hosted in two local homes). We could hire a bus for this event, so driving and parking would all be taken care of in the price, and we could enjoy the evening regardless of the weather.
• Community Yard Sale at one of the schools.
• Luxmanor Talent Showcase --Displays of works by our own talented neighborhood artists and authors; performances by our dancers and musicians!
• Return of the Soft Ball "Battle of North and South" (of Tuckerman Lane :-) There's a big ole trophy, currently held by the North side, gathering dust!

* Community Volunteer Day

Let us know which of these ideas you'd enjoy participating in, and if we have a chairperson and volunteers for the event, and interest in it, we'll make it happen! Have you heard about or been part of community-wide events in other neighborhoods that you'd like us to sponsor in Luxmanor? Please tell us! To volunteer or make suggestions, e-mail: LynnWaters@aol.com

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Tilden Woods Swim Team.... Congratulations to one and all involved in the planning and implementation of the June Swim Team alumni reunion. What a fantastic and memory-laden time was had by all whom attended. Kudos!!

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