Back to Newsletters

September/October 2003

Mark Your Calendars
Important Dates:
Planning Commission - September 2, October 7, 7:30 p.m.
Commissioner’s Meetings – September 8, October 13, 8:00 p.m.
Town Yard Sale - October 4, 8:00 - 1:00 p.m.
All meetings are held at the Brookeville Academy.

Town Yard Sale - Oct. 4, 8:00 - 1:00
It’s that time of the year again. Time to clean out those attics, basements, garages and closets! Bring everything over to the academy grounds and set up. Tables will be provided. Great location! See you there. Rain date is October 11

Bypass in the News
An article in the August 12th Baltimore Sun by William Rasmussen featured the trials and tribulations of getting bypasses built in two of Maryland’s small towns both seriously troubled by the State highways that carry ever-increasing traffic “just passing through” but leaving grime, noise, and constant safety issues behind. Rasmussen, a summer intern at the Sun and a student at Harvard, was shown the Town’s Bypass lobbying video from 1989 to help him get a feel for the issue before he interviewed a number of town residents.

Schoolhouse Restoration Moving Along
The incessant rainy weather this spring and into the summer has delayed the installation of a roof for the schoolhouse. The roofer is expected to begin work within the next week or two. In the meantime, much progress has been made. The windows have been completed and delivered but will await installation until the roof is finished. Wooden ventilation louvers have been installed at either end of the building. The doors have been refurbished. Walter Blank, the principal carpenter on the job, has been providing stellar service to the school’s restoration.

History Tour Includes Brookeville
Jeanette Stabler organized and led a “history tour” of Montgomery County sites for about thirty members of the Rossmoor Kiwanis Club. The tour began in Brookeville at the Brookeville Academy where Rick Allan greeted the group and provided them with an overview of the Town’s history and details on the restoration of the Academy. The group then was welcomed at the Madison House where Diane Allan acted as tour guide and recreated the setting when President James Madison arrived at Brookeville Postmaster Caleb Bentley’s House on the evening of August 26, 1814, having fled the British troops as they burned down the White house during the War of 1812. The President stayed the night issuing and receiving dispatches with his senior aides. Madison left the next day with Secretary of War James Monroe and Attorney General Richard Rush and a detachment of dragoons. Bentley’s house later became known as the Madison House.

Bordly Drive Progress
Progress continues to be made on the extension of Bordly Drive to Georgia Avenue north of town. When open early next year, we should notice some reduction in east-west through traffic in town.

Bypass Action Needed (rerun from last newsletter)
Governor Ehrlich's veto of legislation that would have allowed Montgomery County to use a surcharge on car registration in order to make it possible for the County to move forward with essential road and transportation projects also means trouble for the Bypass. The County had been willing to fund design and engineering work on the Bypass - normally done by the State Highway Administration, to keep it moving forward toward future construction funding. Because of SHA cutbacks that funding had been in jeopardy until the County stepped in. Now that the revenue the County was counting on to pay for this work has disappeared, the Bypass may once more be put on ice though the gridlock will continue to get worse.

If you want to do something about this unacceptable situation, we urge you to write to the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation to make your views known.

Addresses are as follows:
Governor Robert Ehrlich
100 State Circle
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

The Honorable Robert L. Flanagan
Secretary of Transportation
Maryland Department of Transportation
7201 Corporate Center
Hanover, Maryland 21076

New Plants at Gateway Sign
Have you noticed the new plantings at the gateway sign entering town at Brookeville Road? Many thanks to resident Suzanne Friis who picked out the plants and Damascus Lawn Service for installing them.

Town Web Site News
Did you know you could read the Commissioner’s meeting minutes and the newsletter on-line? We have been working very hard to keep the site current. Check out the Current News section for any information that is current that doesn’t make it into the newsletter. You can also download forms to rent the academy and building permits. Visit us at www.townofbrookevillemd.org

Need your windows cleaned? Call Saul Derr at 410-501-0218. He just finished the windows at the academy and several homes in town. Very reasonable rates!

Back to Newsletters