GOCA: The Greater Olney Civic Association » Olney Area Events http://www.goca.org The Greater Olney Civic Association is an umbrella organization whose mission is to study, plan, coordinate and promote the overall civic, economic, ecological and cultural welfare of the community within the Olney Master Plan area. Olney is located in the north east portion of Montgomery County, Maryland, about 15 miles due north of Washington DC. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:02:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 OLNEY HOME FOR LIFE – READY TO SERVE! http://www.goca.org/2012/02/olney-home-for-life-ready-to-serve/ http://www.goca.org/2012/02/olney-home-for-life-ready-to-serve/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:34:24 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1516 If you didn’t see this story in the Wednesday , February 1st, Olney Gazette you missed something:http://www.gazette.net/article/20120201/NEWS/702019563/1095/new-service-offers-olney-seniors-a-free-ride&template=gazette

First introduced at our December 2010 meeting, Olney Home For Life has grown from a dream to a reality. Over the past year this dedicated group of volunteers has worked diligently to bring this effort to fruition. As we are all aware, Olney just like many communities has senior citizens who want to “age in place” but are no longer able to perform simple daily chores or drive. Olney Home For Life has been created to fill this void.

Currently they are looking for volunteers to provide transportation and other assistance to Olney senior citizens. If you are interested in volunteering or if you know someone in need of their services, please call 240-406-9209 or email info@olneyhomeforlife.org

]]> http://www.goca.org/2012/02/olney-home-for-life-ready-to-serve/feed/ 0 UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS http://www.goca.org/2012/01/upcoming-community-events/ http://www.goca.org/2012/01/upcoming-community-events/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:13:19 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1508 There are a number of informative community events coming up:

First, Tuesday at 7:30PM OTCAC is conducting a Community Outreach Meeting to solicit community input on proposed design guidelines for future development in the Olney Town Center. For further details about this meeting, please open this flyer: http://www.goca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/OTCAC-Community-Meeting.pdf. Note all OTCAC meetings take place at the REMAX Buffington Building in the Olney Community Room.

Second, February 14th, is our regular monthly GOCA meeting. Plan on attending, you can take your significant other out to dinner on Monday and avoid the crowds, as we will be hearing from Toll Brothers regarding proposed developments along Batchellors Forest Road and Old Baltimore Road.

Third, in honor of Valentine’s Day on February 14th, Sandy Spring Museum is sponsoring Love Notes on February 11th and 12th. This event is a show, sale, and fundraiser – complete details can be found by clicking here: Love Notes3

We look forward to seeing you at these exciting events!

]]> http://www.goca.org/2012/01/upcoming-community-events/feed/ 0 COUNTY EXECUTIVE IKE LEGGETT IS COMING TO GOCA! http://www.goca.org/2012/01/1486/ http://www.goca.org/2012/01/1486/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:07:08 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1486 Our January 10th meeting will feature Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett discussing “The State of Montgomery Heading Into 2012″. Our meeting starts at 7:30PM and will be held in the Olney Community Room of the REMAX Buffington Building, building address can be found be opening the meetings tab on our home page. Our meeting agenda can also be found on the meetings page.

All Olney residents are welcome!

]]> http://www.goca.org/2012/01/1486/feed/ 0 OLNEY MOURNS THE PASSING OF RON BERGER http://www.goca.org/2011/12/olney-mourns-the-passing-of-ron-berger/ http://www.goca.org/2011/12/olney-mourns-the-passing-of-ron-berger/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:57:02 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1471 We regret to inform you that Ron Berger, one the founders of the Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) and a dedicated, respected leader in the Olney Community passed away on December 29th. For over 30 years everyone in GOCA has benefited from Ron’s wisdom and guidance and his presence will be truly missed.

Funeral Arrangements are as follows:
SERVICE AT DANZANSKY-GOLDBERG FUNERAL HOME, 1170 ROCKVILLE PIKE AT 11 AM MONDAY JANUARY 2. INTERMENT TO FOLLOW AT APPROXIMATELY NOON TO 12:15 AT JUDEAN MEMORIAL GARDENS, 16225 BATCHELLOR’S FOREST ROAD, OLNEY (NR GEORGIA AVENUE AND BATCHELLOR’S FOREST ROAD).

Ron and his family have requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either of the following:
Olney Days c/o GOCA, P O Box 212, Olney, Md. 20830        OR

To The Infusion Center – Montgomery General Hospital in memory of  Ron Berger c/o MGH Health Foundation, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney, MD 20832.

]]> http://www.goca.org/2011/12/olney-mourns-the-passing-of-ron-berger/feed/ 0 SHA ADVISED ABOUT PROBLEMS AT GEORGIA & NORBECK http://www.goca.org/2011/12/goca-urges-residents-to-rally-on-may-18th/ http://www.goca.org/2011/12/goca-urges-residents-to-rally-on-may-18th/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:46:32 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1246 The below letter has been delivered to the Maryland State Highway administration. We are requesting that all of our member Homeowners/Condominium/Citizens/Civic Associations read and endorse this letter. We would also request that all Presidents of our members associations send a similar message/letter to Maryland SHA. As everyone who attends our meetings is very well aware – the Route 97 (Georgia Avenue) and Route 28 (Norbeck Road) intersection was severely congested – it’s now become dangerous. As GOCA President, I have endorsed this letter only after very careful deliberation. Here is the letter sent December 20, 2011:

Mr. Cedric Ward, P.E.
Ass’t. District Engineer, District 3
State Highway Administration
Following up on our meetings, and voluminous correspondence with you and others at the SHA concerning the NB-L turn lanes at Norbeck and Georgia (MD 28/97), please be advised that we will make available to any one suffering an accident at this intersection due to the NB – L turn situation, or misplaced turn signs (SB and NB), the entire chain of our correspondence and transcripts of all meetings we have had with SHA representatives and elected officials re the 97/28 turn situation.  This is because we have observed and personally experienced motorists obviously frustrated by the NB-L turn long delays and backups who go out of the one left turn lane remaining and utilize the next (right) interior NB lane to turn.  Since we have repeatedly advised you of the perilous situation prevailing at that intersection, we believe that this situation and the state’s failure to remedy this traffic situation “suffers and permits” a dangerous condition and is negligence in the extreme. The information we can and will provide could be useful to plaintiffs in such litigation brought against the state and/or others to reimburse for damages suffered thereby. To ensure that motorists are advised of our position we will erect a sign on private property nearby notifying motorists of our position, will distribute flyers to motorists and pedestrians at that intersection, and will advise the membership of all of the GOCA organizations (representing approximately 30,000 households) by email chains, that this info will be made available to them in the event they are involved in accidents at that intersection.
Our members who are attorneys strongly advise that this message be brought to the attention of the State Attorney General so that he may best advise you of the State’s potential exposure to liability for damages as a result of this continued negligence.
Frankly we are initiating this action to prevent more accidents, and ensure that persons who suffer losses or injury as a result of the dangerous situation created at this intersection know of the fact that they may seek recourse against the state.  We have tolerated this dangerous situation long enough and believe that courts and juries will not look kindly on a defendant litigant that refuses to remedy a dangerous situation when repeatedly advised, in detail, concerning same.
If you need further information as to our position, or wish to discuss this further with us, please let me know and we would be pleased to discuss this with the SHA and/or the Attorney General’s office.
Arnold Gordon
President, Norbeck Meadows Civic Association
Matt Zaborsky,
President, Greater Olney Civic Association
Paul Jarosinski
President, Cherrywood Homeowners Association

This was posted in May of this year:

Montgomery County Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice, Marc Elrich, Roger Berliner, and Hans Riemer have requested Maryland SHA to restore the 2nd left turn lane from Maryland 97 North (Georgia Avenue) onto Maryland 28 West (Norbeck Road). Here is their letter:

LETTER TO PEDERSEN

Letter to SHA – Georgia and Norbeck ICC interchange left turn lane

We thank them for their support and will await a favorable reply from Maryland SHA!

Our May 18th Rally was held in response to the numerous complaints from Olney residents regarding the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Route 97) and Norbeck Road (Route 28). As everyone is aware who commutes along this route, the intersection has been altered by Maryland State Highway Administration. We’ve asked the SHA to restore an additional left turn lane onto Norbeck Road going west, as it was prior to the opening of the ICC, per this link: TrafficAlertforI-370andMD97MD28 – - - Note the lane configuration shown by Maryland SHA on page 2. Here is a video taken the time of our rally:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=204_1305769232

]]> http://www.goca.org/2011/12/goca-urges-residents-to-rally-on-may-18th/feed/ 0 OCTOBER OLNEY EVENTS http://www.goca.org/2011/09/upcoming-olney-events/ http://www.goca.org/2011/09/upcoming-olney-events/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:01:05 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1371 Time to Mark your calendars:

Tuesday, October 11th is our regular monthly meeting. Agenda can be found by clicking the meetings tab.

Monday, October 24th, from 7 to 9PM will be a Town Hall Meeting featuring Councilmembers Navarro and Rice. They will be addressing concerns of Olney residents  – this is great chance to be heard!

Please feel free to contact any member of the Leadership Team with any questions you may have.

We look forward to seeing you at these events.

]]> http://www.goca.org/2011/09/upcoming-olney-events/feed/ 0 PLANNING BOARD HEARING ON FBCW IS SET http://www.goca.org/2011/08/planning-board-hearing-on-fbcw-is-set/ http://www.goca.org/2011/08/planning-board-hearing-on-fbcw-is-set/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:47:58 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1386 A public hearing is set for Thursday, September 8th, at the Montgomery County Planning Board regarding the proposed relocation of the First Baptist Church of Wheaton (FBCW) to Emory Church Road in Olney. The entire meeting agenda can be found at www.montgomeryplanningboard.org and once on the site, click on agendas and then September 8, 2011. At this time, this issue is shown as agenda item number 9.
Many Olney residents and Olney community leaders have expressed serious concern about the ramifications of the proposed location of FBCW. For those of you who have been following this issue closely – this matter has been ongoing for the past 4 years. Here are some of the issues: http://mocoalliance.org/wp-content/upload/fact-sheet.pdf   Concerned citizens who wish to testify can sign up on line by clicking the website shown above and then clicking on the quicklinks shown on the page labeled Agendas & Staff Reports. If you cannot appear in person but wish to submit comments – the sign up page has instructions on how to submit written testimony at the bottom of the page. You may also call 301-495-4605 or email MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org with any questions you may have. The Montgomery County Planning Board is located at 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.
Please feel free to contact Matt Zaborsky with any questions you may have regarding this public hearing. he can be reached through the GOCA website (www.goca.org) by clicking on the contacts tab.
]]> http://www.goca.org/2011/08/planning-board-hearing-on-fbcw-is-set/feed/ 0 DELEGATES VOTE NO TO BUSING STUDENTS TO TILDEN http://www.goca.org/2011/07/delegates-vote-no-to-busing-students-to-tilden/ http://www.goca.org/2011/07/delegates-vote-no-to-busing-students-to-tilden/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:20:32 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=1344 At our July 12th meeting, GOCA delegates voted against busing Farquhar Students to the Tilden Holding School. Here is the resolution:

“Now therefore be it resolved that GOCA supports the PTA’s position that busing Farquhar Middle School students to the Tilden Holding Center for two years would not be in the best interest of the students.”

Letters have been sent elaborating our position to Dr. Starr and Mr. Barclay, they can be viewed by clicking on the below links:

Letter to Dr. Joshua Starr

Letter to Mr. Christopher Barclay

 

]]> http://www.goca.org/2011/07/delegates-vote-no-to-busing-students-to-tilden/feed/ 0 Human Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service http://www.goca.org/2010/11/human-community-interfaith-thanksgiving-service/ http://www.goca.org/2010/11/human-community-interfaith-thanksgiving-service/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:30:34 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=967 In the spirit of Community and Thanksgiving B’nai Shalom of Olney is conducting “Human Community” Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

This community service will take place on Tuesday, November 23rd at 7:30PM. This event is open to the entire Olney Community and refreshments will follow after services. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item as proceeds will benefit Olney HELP. Please visit B’nai Shalom of Olney for location and event details.

We also want to take this opportunity to wish everyone in Olney a very Happy Thanksgiving.

]]> http://www.goca.org/2010/11/human-community-interfaith-thanksgiving-service/feed/ 0 Council District 2 & District 4 Debate Set for October 8th http://www.goca.org/2010/09/district-2-district-4-debate-set/ http://www.goca.org/2010/09/district-2-district-4-debate-set/#comments Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:24:37 +0000 mattz http://www.goca.org/?p=867 Friday, October 8,  2010 at 7pm is the date set for the Montgomery County Council Combined District 2 and District 4 debate event being conducted by the Olney Chamber of Commerce and GOCA. This debate will feature District 2  candidates Democrat  Craig L. Rice and Republican Robin Ficker and will also feature District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro, the incumbent Democrat, and challenger Republican candidate David W. Horner.

Our format will have dual moderators, one from each of the sponsoring organizations.  There will be questions that have been prepared in advance. We will also have questions from the audience that will be screened by the moderators for appropriateness and relevance.

In the event you cannot attend, please feel free to send your issues and questions to any of the GOCA Officers or Olney Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Virginia Mauk at olneycoc@aol.com. The GOCA Officers may be contacted through the GOCA website, www.goca.org, by clicking on the contacts tab on the home page.

This event will be held in the Community Room of the Buffington RE/MAX Building at 3300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Olney from 7PM to 9:30PM.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend as the election is rapidly approaching.

We look forward to seeing you at this spirited debate on October 8th!

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