Northwood News ♦ December 2001

Who’s Caring for the Corner Where Our Community Sign Is?

By Alan Friedman

The park area on Pepco’s corner (at Timberwood and Sutherland Avenues, across from our community sign) is county land.  Pepco is mulling over our request for Pepco to apply mulch and control weeds on a regular basis on that corner and to trim the shrubs on that corner as needed.  They do not want any involvement with trash or litter, and they say they will not maintain the rail fence, benches, or bricks.

Guy Terenne is the key county person (I continue to consult with Pat Shepherd and Rusty Wallace as well).  Guy confirmed that there is no money to maintain anything, and the trash pick-up money will run out in February.  They are planning to take out the trash can in February.

Guy also said that, if any shrubs, rail fencing, benches, or brick work become an eyesore or hazard, they will be removed.  The bricks would be replaced with concrete.  Pat told me she will do what she can to prevent that from happening (as long as she is around).  My guess is that, when the rail fence needs painting, she will plead with Pepco to do it.  If she leaves her position, we may have to do the pleading.

Because nobody else will do it, NFCCA needs to maintain the corner where our community sign sits, as that area (up to the fence) is county land.  We need to mulch once a year and pull weeds and trim the hydrangeas as needed.  I think we should weed at least twice a year to prevent a weed forest.  We also need to mulch two small curbside planters on two other corners that are in “No Man’s Land.”  The large planting area on the southwest corner is on private property and will be maintained by the homeowner on that corner.

Pepco’s landscaper gave me an estimate to plant two trees to shade the benches.  He gave three tree options, but Guy (the county) will only approve Sugar Maple.  I asked Pepco if they would be willing to plant two trees on their large grassy area for beautification purposes, and the initial indications are that they will do so.

The grant application I am working on will cover the two trees to shade the benches as well as mulch to cover the entire corner where our sign sits, plus the two little curbside planters on two other corners.  We will need to create a team to apply the mulch, as the grant money requires volunteer involvement.

If you are interested in helping with weeding, mulching, litter pick-up, maintaining the fence, etc., on our sign corner (some of these would occur as infrequently as twice a year), please call Alan Friedman [contact details redacted].   ■