Neighborhood News

WWW.EBCA.ORG JUNE/JULY 2009

Representing the 1200 households North of East-West Highway, South of Jones
Bridge Road, East of Wisconsin Avenue and West of Columbia Country Club.

Presidents’ Notebooks
Hello... Goodbye...
By Greg Volz, Incoming President By Ilaya Hopkins, Outgoing President

I want to share a quick story. My wife, Kelly, and I The May general membership meeting covered
decided we needed a bigger house so we started to look important topics but the theme was clear: we all
at homes from Potomac to Annapolis. I loved the space, benefit when we look out for one another. From
the big yards and of course the garage!! What guy cleaning up standing water in our yards to help abate
doesn’t love a big garage. However, we always came the mosquito problem in the near by area, to picking
back to our 1,700 square foot, garage-less home and up extra newspapers at houses that are unoccupied, to
our terrific neighbors, the restaurants, grocery stores, watching for suspicious activity and reporting it to the
coffee shops, dry cleaners, metro stop, and on and on. police—all of these actions help to keep our
We came to the realization that we have everything we neighborhood clean, safe and a great place to live.
need right here in East Bethesda. We are so fortunate As for the issue of delivery of the Examiner
to live in this great community. newspaper, when contacted the paper says that they
Which brings me to why I chose to take on the role do honor an individual’s request to stop delivery.
as President of East Bethesda Citizens Association. I Therefore, we will not pursue stoppage of delivery for
want to help make this an even better place to come the neighborhood. To stop delivery at your address,
home. My goals for the next year are pretty simple and call 703 560-4000 or go online to
inline with our objectives as stated in the EBCA By- www.dcexaminer.com. If you have problems with that,
laws: you can contact the Montgomery County Office of
1. Unite residents and promote the betterment Consumer Protection at
of our neighborhood [email protected] or
2. Get people involved in our organization www.montgomerycountymd.gov/consumer. As for
3. Operate within the framework of our By- papers left at homes that are unoccupied, it is helpful
laws. if we can all pitch in and add them to our recycling to
keep our streets clean and our storm water paths
My focus will be within the physical boundaries of clear.
EBCA: Jones Bridge Rd to Columbia CC to East West On a personal note, the meeting was also important
Highway and Wisconsin Ave.: approximately 1300 because we were able to pass the torch to the next
homes. This is a list of ideas to help get the ball group of residents who are keen on strengthening our
rolling: community. I am very excited about the energy and
• Develop a closer relationship with BCC High ideas they bring to the organization. Obviously, this
School and promote school events such as sporting does not happen without the support of a number of
and theater. We can include the school events people. I’d like to use this opportunity to thank so
calendar on our website and have an EBCA night many volunteers who have been involved over the last
at a football game. two years; to Dave Saltzman and Tori Hall who have
• Tie the various neighborhood block parties been fantastic VPs, each pursuing issues of importance
together in a way that we can broaden our to them and the community; to Dorian Patchin and
horizons a bit and get to know others in our Carmen Abrams who brought our website up to the

Continued on page 3... Continued on page 2...

PAGE 2 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

Committee Leadership Goodbye...

Continued from page 1...
Openings new level we are all enjoying; to Rebecca Fayed for
her thoroughness and thoughtfulness growing the
Have you ever thought that you might like to get just membership; to David Kauffman for launching and
a little more involved in the neighborhood. Many continuing to help with our newsletter sponsorship
former committee chairs have stepped into other program; to Jay Briar who does an extraordinary job
leadership roles in EBCA. That makes this the perfect of taking lots of bits of information and pulling them
opportunity for you to help plan an event. together in a cohesive and informative newsletter; to
AB Carneal for providing details on meetings to those
• Social Chair: organizes annual events such as the who cannot attend in person; to Kevin Kraus for
Halloween Parade, Yard Sale and picnics. keeping our parks beautiful; to Monica Hayes who
• Membership Chair: maintains the database of dues- worked so hard this last year to make sure the voices
paying members. of East Bethesda residents were heard in the school
• Parks & Playgrounds Chair: organizes clean-ups assignment discussion; and, most importantly, to
several times a year. Jack Hayes, our treasurer but so much more. I don’t
know where we would be without his knowledge and
institutional memory of East Bethesda, downtown
East Bethesda Citizens Bethesda and the county. I’d also like to thank
everyone for the beautiful plaque with the aerial
Association, Inc. photo of our neighborhood and the kind words.
PO Box 41020 Serving as president has been a great honor and a
wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know so
Bethesda, MD 20824 many neighbors in East Bethesda.
www.ebca.org
Neighborhood News
Jay Briar, Editor
[email protected]
Sponsorship, Vacant
[email protected]

Greg Volz, Incoming President

Ilaya Hopkins, Outgoing President
Kevin Kraus, Incoming 1st Vice President
Rebecca Fayed, Incoming 2nd Vice President
David Saltzman, Outgoing 1st Vice President
Tori Hall, Outgoing 2nd Vice President
A.B. Carneal, Recording Secretary
Jack Hayes, Treasurer
Dan Fox, Outgoing Past President
Andy O’Hare, Crescent Trail
Monica Hayes, Education
Eleanor Rice, NIH Liaison
Carmen Abrams, Website
Dorian Patchin, Website
Leslie Weber, Welcome Packets

Membership, Vacant
Parks & Playgrounds, Vacant
Social Events, Vacant
PAGE 3 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

Hello...
Continued from page 1...
neighborhood. We can establish
a block party cook off, tennis
Neighbor Motorcycles
tournament, and an East
Bethesda little league baseball
team.
• Explore the possibilities of
in Africa for Charity
building a neighborhood pool. An East Bethesda resident is one encouragement, and generous
• Re-energize our neighborhood of six Americans participating in donations from my family, friends,
watch program. Enduro Africa, a fundraiser and neighbors, and colleagues to these
• Continue to strengthen and motorcycle trek through Southern incredible charities -- even in the
promote the communication Africa in October that benefits four midst of this dismal economic
tools we have available like the charities providing HIV climate.”
website, newsletter, and other prevention, education, and support An avid motorcyclist for 4 years,
means. I would like to create in the region. Forsyth’s riding experience has
an opt-in neighborhood phone Andrew Forsyth, 43, registered been limited to area highways,
directory or listing on the in December for the fundraiser and expressways, and backroads.
website too. 2000-km off-road ride organized by Except for his years as a mountain
We need to get more people UK-based Global Enduro, a social biker, he has never ridden off-road.
involved and increase the “I know the principles and
percentage of dues paying techniques of riding on two wheels
members which right now is in the dirt, gravel, and muck,” he
hovering at around 30%. We have a says, “but there’s a big difference
lot of talented, creative and between keeping 25 and 300
energetic people in this pounds of bike under control.” He
neighborhood. We need to tap into expects to complete offroad
these resources to help us achieve training school in the coming
these goals. months.
I’m excited about this Forsyth, who is a program officer
opportunity. I look forward to in the AIDS Center at the National
working with the executive Institute for Mental Health, works
committee and meeting more with scientists in the U.S. and
people in this great neighborhood. I beyond to develop, test, and
encourage you to contact me with disseminate innovative strategies
your ideas and, more importantly, to stem new HIV infections
how you plan to execute your idea! worldwide.
Finally, I want to thank Ilaya He recently completed a two-day
Hopkins for her two years of fund drive that raised an
dedicated service to EBCA. She additional $1000 for the charities,
and her team have taken on a lot of bringing him just over the halfway
issues facing our community. One point for the minimum required for
of the most important efforts, in participation. “But I’m expecting
my opinion, is developing our enterprise that seeks to profit from record donations and I hope to
website. You need to check it out if helping others. The 8-day trip crush my $10,000 fundraising
you haven’t already, www.ebca.org. begins on October 2nd in the goal.” Donations will benefit
In addition, we have been well Eastern Cape of South Africa, UNICEF, Sentebale, TouchAfrica,
represented on the Purple Line, ancestral home of Nelson Mandela. and Nelson Mandela Children’s
BRAC and school choice issues, not In signing up, he has committed to Fund. He publishes two or three
to mention the social events such raising a minimum of $7,500 in updates per week on his blog on
as the Halloween parade and labor donations. HIV prevention and his progress
day picnic. We are fortunate to “This is the first time I’ll have raising funds, planning, and
have a great voice for EBCA as done anything like this,” said training for the adventure at
Ilaya focuses her efforts on a larger Forsyth, “and I’m floored by the www.andrewsenduroafrica2009.blo
county scale. tremendous response, words of gspot.com.
PAGE 4 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

Meet the New

Greg Volz, President
Lynbrook Drive
Greg and his wife, Kelly, and live on Lynbrook Drive near BCC High
School. “We've lived in the neighborhood for 8 years and love it! Our
neighbors are terrific and very helpful when it comes to raising three kids
under the age of four,” Greg wrote. You will find his family at Lynbrook
Park, the Starbucks on East-West Highway or Woodmont Avenue, Ben &
Jerry's, or dropping off their twin boys at Our Lady of Lourdes School. Greg
feels East Bethesda is a wonderful place to live and raise his children. He
is a sales executive for Quebecor World, a print and logistics company.
They have four children; the oldest, Caroline, will be a senior this fall at
Holton-Arms.

Kevin Kraus, 1st Vice President

South Chelsea Lane
Kevin and his wife, Pascale, have lived on Rosedale Avenue for the past ten
years. “East Bethesda has been an important part of my life; I am
continually delighted with the neighbors who have gathered here in this
beautiful place,” Kevin recently wrote of his time in EBCA. For several
years, he was the Chair of the Parks and Playgrounds committee for which
he organized volunteer events to clean up our recreational spaces, affording
him the opportunity to meet and work with many neighbors. He hopes to
continue this leadership on a broader scale as first vice-president of the
association.

Rebecca Fayed, 2nd Vice President

Chestnut Street
Rebecca lives on Chestnut Street with her husband and 2-year old son.
They have lived in Bethesda for six years and moved to East Bethesda just
about a year ago. “We love living in East Bethesda because we can ride our
bikes on the trail to Giffords for ice cream, walk to Starbucks with our son
in his wagon, and spend countless hours at Lynnbrook Park on the
playground equipment. We also truly enjoy the small town feel of the
neighborhood where people actually stop to talk to each other or give a
friendly wave,” Rebecca said. She was the Chair of the EBCA Membership
Committee last year, and she is excited to become even more involved as
the 2nd Vice President.
PAGE 5 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

EBCA Officers
Jack Hayes, Treasurer
Kentucky Avenue
Jack has been active in East Bethesda for years, holding a variety of
positions including President, and is also active in the larger community
having served as Executive Director of the Bethesda Urban Partnership
and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Cluster Coordinator. He has
also donated his own time and efforts to beautify the neighborhood by
taking care of the fields and building the kiosks where we post info. He
lives on Kentucky Avenue with his wife Monica and their children. He still
gets out on the sport field often, coaching several of his kids’ teams. If you
want to know anything about Bethesda and Montgomery County, he is
your go-to guy.

AB Carneal, Secretary
South Chelsea Lane
AB and her husband Ted moved to East Bethesda from Northwest DC in
November of 2005 when their daughter, Maggie, was 18 months old and
she was newly pregnant with their son, Wyatt. They were sad to trade the
culture and convenience of the city for settling down in what she saw as the
'burbs, but they needed the space and to start growing some roots. She now
says it is clear that they made the right choice moving here. AB added,
“Having this kind of neighborly community is something we never had in
DC. This is a good place for us to be and to grow. I have come to see it as
more of a village than merely the 'burbs. And it takes a village.”

Ilaya Hopkins, Past President

North Chelsea Lane
Ilaya and her husband, Bob, live in Glenbrook Village with their two sons,
Owen and Graham, and new puppy, Zoey. “I have thoroughly enjoyed
representing our neighborhood over the last two years as president. This
community has provided our family with wonderful friends, neighbors and
support over the years; it has been an honor to give back. Even though my
term as president has come to an end, my interest in community will
continue,” Ilaya said. Currently she is a residential representative on the
Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board and a board
member of Bethesda Green. She will also stay active in the PTAs at
Rosemary Hills and North Chevy Chase Elementary Schools.
PAGE 6 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

Check Out the EBCA.org Messageboard

PAGE 7 Neighborhood News J/J 2009

Neighborhood Roundup
Parks Clean-Up

Thank you to Parks Committee

Chair Kevin Kraus and his
dedicated band of park beautifiers
(pictured) for all your hard work!
The area around the Lynnbrook
Recreation Center looks terrific.
Councilwoman Nancy Floreen (D-
At-Large) stopped by to see for
herself what our park clean up day
is all about. She was very
complimentary of all the volunteer
work.

“Rainscape” Your Property

The Montgomery County owners may receive a financial residents want their tax dollars
Department of Environmental reward of up to $1,200 per allocated. Findings from the
Protection Rainscapes program is residential lot, depending on comprehensive survey, Priorities
seeking residential, commercial, project type and actual costs. for a Growing Region, also show
and private institutional property Multi-family, commercial, and that residents view transportation,
owners to improve storm water private institutional landowners education, and the economy as the
runoff conditions by installing may receive up to $5,000. most important long-term issues
more natural drainage projects. Financial rewards will be facing the region. For the complete
The Rainscapes Program is a granted for the new installation of: report, visit www.mwcog.org/news/
voluntary program which provides press/detail.asp?NEWS_ID=369.
the opportunity for residents and • rain gardens
property owners to participate in • replacement of turf grass with Local Child Care
the effort to improve local water conservation landscaping
quality. These projects are utilizing native plants MCPS Child Development is now
designed to slow rainwater runoff • creation of new urban tree enrolling three and four year olds
and reduce the amount of storm canopy for the 2009-2010 school year.
water entering local streams, • replacement of existing Classes run Monday through
increase groundwater supply, and impervious cover with Thursday from 9:10-11:00 a.m. at
reduce chemical and nutrient permeable pavers Bethesda-Chevy Chase High
pollutants entering waterways. • green roofs School. The fee is approximately
Other environmental benefits of • rain barrels $300 for next year on a sliding
these projects include reduced • cisterns scale. For more information or an
energy consumption, and air • dry wells application, contact Carolyn Breen
pollution from lawn mowers, at [email protected]
reduced water use for irrigation Regional Priorities Polled or 301 951-6664
during droughts, and increased
biodiversity in the suburban A major new survey of area Summer Concerts
landscape. These unique residents from the Metropolitan
landscaping enhancements can Washington Council of Wednesday Afternoons, 12-2 p.m.
also add value to your property. Governments indicates that Bethesda Place Plaza
The Rainscapes Rewards rebate schools, safe streets, good jobs, and
program began on January 1, 2008. access to health care are the Thursday Evenings, 6-8 p.m.
Single family residential property leading priorities to which Veterans Park
 It is a new year in EBCA! Time to
renew your membership for 2009-
Inside This Issue
2010. Get your voice is heard! Hello & Goodbye....................... 1
Please support our neighborhood activities, this
newsletter, and the community activism that
Biking for Charity .................... 3
makes East Bethesda one of the most desirable
places in which to invest and raise a family. $15 Meet the Officers................... 4-5
per member, but additional contributions are
always welcome. Neighborhood Roundup ........... 7
EBCA - Membership
P.O. Box 41020
Bethesda, MD 20824 It is time to renew your
Members _____________________________________ EBCA membership.
Address _____________________________________
Phone _____________________________________
E-mail _____________________________________
Visit www.EBCA.org for
Number of Members _____ x $15 each = $_____
more information...
EBCA will not share your contact information with
anyone outside of the organization.