| KHCA is a non-partisan neighborhood organization dedicated to representing the interests of all homeowners and residents of the Kensington Heights neighborhood in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in our community
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>> STAY SAFE -- STAY CONNECTED
A message from KHCA President, Karen Cordry
As the COVID-19 lockdown moves towards its third month, there is a lot for us all to process. The most significant change is how “social distancing” has been evolving. First, it was stay six feet apart, then it was stay home, and then it was “stay behind a mask.” Frankly, I’ve been amazed and impressed at how well all of us here in Maryland have been living up to what we’ve been asked to do.
And I’ve also been amazed to realize that this economy really can turn on a dime, and we can adapt on a moment’s notice to a work and home situation that we never imagined. Seeing how many of us can telework (even if it’s not always ideal) – and how fast we have all become experts on Zoom meetings – is also going to mean a lot of changes in the future. (We might conclude, for instance, that we might not need toll lanes on the Beltway if we keep working at home.)
But, it’s also clear that things are going to be changing again soon – whether or not we have turned the corner on this virus. (My favorite statistics site is Worldometers – it updates all during the day, it reports on every country, and it lets you see results on a “per million” basis. It’s one thing to know that almost 1.3 million cases in the United States are almost a third of the world’s cases; it’s another thing to realize that those cases are occurring here with only about 5% of the world’s population.
What we can see is that the new daily numbers are relatively stable, but they haven’t declined yet in any significant way nationwide. Even so, it’s clear that the lockdown has started to ease, if only because no country can keep vast chunks of the economy shut down indefinitely. What the lockdown has done is, though, is to buy us time – to slow the spread, to get healthcare and other essential workers the safety equipment they need, and to decide how the rest of us can interact until a full vaccine and treatments are available. No one can say how soon that will be, but we know we’re all in this together for the long haul.
So, what does that mean?
First off, we should be talking about physical distancing, but keeping our social connections with each other. I recently did a virtual birthday party and it was great – we may have to keep doing it next year! But, as we all start to reemerge, our old mantra of “Stay Home, Stay Safe” will have to change to “Stay Safe” and “Stay Connected.”
A big piece of that will be wearing masks for weeks and months into the future. So, let’s try to make them fun and be supportive! Find someone local or on Etsy or elsewhere who’s making something that will be a hoot to look at and can help support someone trying to get by in this era. Or order from a site that will donate to those who need help. And, while you’re wearing your mask, remember to keep track of your health and see someone if you start feeling bad in any way. Right now, confirmed death numbers compared to confirmed cases are about 6% in the U.S. – that’s undoubtedly far too high, perhaps by a factor of 10. That’s because there are a lot of people who don’t have obvious symptoms but who can still be infecting others, so we all need to wear masks. That way, we’ll all come out the other side with hopefully a lot closer connections to our neighbors.
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>> STAY CONNECTED -- WITH SPRING
As they say, April showers bring May flowers. Well, we certainly had showers this year. April started pleasant and warm, but as it moved along, it turned cold and rainy. And, oh my, did it rain. The total of 6.3 inches in April was more than double the average of 3.06 inches. It was the most since April 2014 (which had 6.47 inches as part of a very wet (in the form of snow) winter that year). It all started with April 13 – our warmest day at 81 degrees, accompanied by 2.33 inches of rain (a record for that date). It then rained on 11 of the next 17 days, and we got 1.1 inches on April 30 to cap out totals. And that made this the seventh wettest April going back to at least 1889!
(Thanks to the Post for all of these weather facts.)
But, with all of that rain and hopefully warmer weather ahead, we should be looking out for some spectacular May flowers. We’ve all been cooped up quite a bit, so we haven’t had as much time as we’d like in our gardens, but now as we dig in (literally), let’s share your best photos with your neighbors. You can submit them on the KHCA website. We’ll see about posting some of the best on the website and maybe even take a vote for the best spring showing!
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| >> STAY CONNECTED -- WITH VOTING
If you thought you remembered that we usually have a primary at the end of April, you’re right! It was set for April 28 but was postponed to June 2 due to the COVID-19 virus. Due to the ongoing effects of the virus, it will be run quite differently than in prior years (but, who knows, that may too be a preview of the future!). Anyone who has been an active voter in recent years will automatically be mailed a ballot with a return envelope with postage attached, so getting your ballot in will be about as simple as it can be. (Ballot will be going out soon, so you should receive yours shortly.) They must be postmarked by June 2, and there will be several sites at which ballots can be dropped off beginning May 21 through 8 pm on June 2, with the closest site to Kensington Heights located at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
Do it early to make sure there isn’t an issue. You will also be able to vote in-person at the civic building on Election Day.
The main website where you can check if you’re registered and get registered if you aren’t, check that your address is correct, and get much more information is at voterservices.elections.maryland.gov.
Click on the Register to Vote tab if you need to make any corrections or update yoUr address, etc. There won’t be separate early voting but with the Vote by Mail approach, everyone will get their ballot early and be able to return if and get your vote counted. Here's a video from the Board of Elections on the process.
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| >> STAY CONNECTED -- WITH THE CENSUS
The other big event this spring that has had to turn on a dime is the 2020 Census. I’m sure you’ve seen all the ads on TV about the need to make sure you respond to this. Typically, there would be mail and email, and then a massive door-to-door effort to try to make sure that everyone is counted.
This year, the whole in-person effort may have to be curtailed or at least modified in many respects. If you have not responded yet, you can go to my2020census.gov. The form only has to be completed once for the household, so put your best details person on this. If you have neighbors who might be worried about the purpose of the census or whose English isn’t the best, please try to help them as well and encourage them to go to the website. (The questions themselves come in many languages.) The census affects how our Congressional representatives will be allocated for the next 20 years, how federal programs are staffed, how the budget is divided up. The census also has an effect on thousands of other decision points at every level of government.
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| >> QUESTION FOR THE MONTH
By KHCA President, Karen Cordry
There are a lot of development projects going on around KCHA (including the new M-NCPPC Park and Planning Building which is almost done, the ongoing planning for the old Ambassador Hotel site on the corner of Viers Mill Road and University Boulevard, and a virtual hearing on May 14 on what they are planning to do with Carroll Knolls Park (below Plyers Mill Road across Georgia Avenue from the big park and playground) which right now is pretty much just a big open field; you can go to www.montgomeryplanningboard.org and get some more information).
But, there aren’t many large projects going on in KHCA proper because we’re pretty much built out. What I have seen, while out walking my dog, are several projects where someone is taking a small home from the 50s or so and either building on significant additions to them or, on a couple of occasions, replacing them altogether.
So, what do people think? Are the big new houses a good diversification?
Are they too much gentrification?
Will they help everyone’s property values? Or push some folks out? Does anyone have any thoughts on the trend? Visit the KHCA website to provide your thoughts – but please keep it polite! We're all neighbors here and just trying to start a conversation to keep connected.
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| >> WANTED: Newsletter Editor
KHCA is looking for a new volunteer to take over as our newsletter editor when Holly Rogner ends her time with us to welcome a baby next month. If you have experience with automated marketing applications, blog posting, and editing and have some spare time each month to put the newsletter together and send it to our members, please send an email to the KHCA President, Karen Cordry expressing your interest.
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| >> Support KHCA -- Pay Your Annual Dues
To carry out our many activities, KHCA needs your support -- both through your volunteer efforts and also, your financial donations. All residents of Kensington Heights are members of KHCA, and all members are welcome to attend and speak at KHCA meetings. However, to be a voting member, and to help support our activities on your behalf, KH residents are asked to pay annual dues of $10 per adult resident (18+ years) to a maximum of $30 per address. These monies are much appreciated and help to ensure that KHCA remains financially viable. Payment can be made online using the membership link on our website. Thank you!
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COMMUNITY NEWS & CALENDAR
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| >> Other Montgomery County News
>> Montgomery County Civic Federation Meeting
TODAY - MAY 11, 2020 – General Meeting, via Zoom 7:45-9:45 PM
Please click here to access the current newsletter and get information about logging in to the Zoom meeting.
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History Chair: open
Safety Chair: open
**Elections were held in November 2019.
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