Montgomery News

Town of Chevy Chase Centennial Committee met April 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

The Town Centennial Committee met at 7:10 pm in the Town Hall.

Members present: Bridget Hartman (chair), Ellen Ericson, Lisa Flores, Barbara Rose, Cathy Slesinger, Kathy Strom, and Ann Wild (secretary).

Note: This document is a compilation of the minutes of the meeting along with updates about what has occurred between the April and May meetings of the Committee.

After a motion made by Barbara Rose and seconded by Cathy Slesinger, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the March 12 meeting.

The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Town staff who have been great allies in helping to launch various Centennial projects.

Projects/Events Discussed by the Committee in Process-

• The May Forecast, with the Centennial logo, devoted three full pages to Centennial projects. The first page included a description of the June 3 Happy Birthday Town of Chevy Chase event, including the Digging into the Next Century garden tour accompanied by the trolley running through Town from 1-4 PM; the Centennial Toast reception from 4-6 PM; and the inauguration of the Chevy Chase on My Mind exhibit, being organized by Lisa Flores, featuring Town photographs and memories, as well as children’s activities from 3-4 PM. This month’s Centennial Snipit, selected by Barbara Rose, explored how Chevy Chase got its name. Finally, a two-page insert described the gardens that will be featured on the tour. Ten Town residents have volunteered to open their gardens for the June 3 tour. Cathy Slesinger edited the garden descriptions for the Forecast. The June 3 event will require a number of volunteers (to be determined) at various locations and times.

• A possible Town timeline for the Chevy Chase on My Mind exhibit was discussed. Photos, memories, house histories, and more for this ongoing, expanding exhibit will continue to be solicited throughout the Centennial year.

• The Centennial magnet enclosed in a Happy 100th Birthday Town of Chase note card and special Centennial envelope arrived in Town residents’ mailboxes during the second week of April. The message, prepared by Bridget Hartman, focused on all aspects of the June 3 Centennial event.

• The Town Centennial banner is now hanging between the Town Hall and the Lawton Center. All Town entrance signs now feature the Centennial.

• Two large Town Centennial birthday sheet cakes featuring the Centennial logo will be on display at the July 4th Picnic and Parade, and will be cut by the Town residents who have lived here the longest. Ellen Ericsson recommended purchasing the cakes from Creative Cakes of Silver Spring.

• The Committee will seek a photographer to take an “aerial” view of the July 4th event. In addition, a request needs to be made to Bethesda Beat to cover this event.

• Ann Wild is continuing her research to find the residents who have lived continuously in the Town for the longest period of time. So far, she has found one resident for 63 years and another for 57 years.

• The Committee spent time discussing the Centennial time capsule and how its varied elements might be gathered. Lisa Flores proposed having Centennial notebooks available in various places and at different events to allow members to write about their experiences/memories of living in the Town. Another element might be a collection of home histories, one of which has already been submitted by a resident on Oakridge Ave. The timeline could also be part of the time capsule. At the end of the Centennial year, these items might be housed in the Town’s storage facility at the 4-H Center for future historical reference.

• Kathy Strom, Bridget Hartman, Vicky Taplin, Sally Kelly, and Irene Lane presented a proposal to the Town Council at its April 23 meeting about using the Lee Dennison Bequest as a native, sustainable, teaching garden. The group is exploring several possible locations, including land adjacent to the Lawton Center, which would require County approval. Led by Council member Scott Fosler, the Council discussed the report and voted unanimously to approve the concept. They encouraged the Climate and Environment Committee to develop an implementation proposal for future presentation to the Council.

Reminder: Projects/Events/ Under Past Consideration by the Committee

The Committee has previously discussed the following possible activities:

• A Fall Festival featuring such opportunities as a moon bounce for children that might be held at the 4-H Center

• The possibility of having middle school and older children interview long-time Town residents

• A Panel Discussion with long-time Town residents offering their past memories of the Town that could be scheduled in fall 2018

• A possible 3K Run for Town residents (children and adults) as another fall 2018 event

• Oral histories of long-time residents. Bridget will investigate what is necessary to carry out this long-term project, including interviewing equipment, script for interviewers, and a transcription service. This project would likely require a request to the Town Council for additional funding.

https://www.townofchevychase.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05072018-620