Blog

2021 Trash Cleanup Committee (Help Needed)

Posted the updated 2021 Piscataway Drive clean-up committee volunteer schedule. Thank you to everyone that volunteered. We still have a couple open slots. Please let someone from the board know if you are able to volunteer in May or August.

Pine Rd & Piscataway Dr Sewer Rehab – Future…

WSSC has informed us that in about a week, during the hours of 9:00 – 3:00pm pile driving will be part of the construction project in the wooded area between Pine Rd and Piscataway Dr. This means there will be a loud metallic banging sounds and you may feel vibrations. The soils conditions require us to install the sewer main this way.

In order to secure the new sewer main, steel beams will be driven into the earth until refusal. This will hold the main in place. The last project we did like this, the beams were driven down into the ground 40 feet not far off of Indian Head Highway.

Letter from the President

Greetings to all our wonderful Hillers!!! Fall is coming into bloom now. Thought as your new president I would provide an update on items which should be of interest. 

 

On September 22 we had our friendly picnic/association meeting at our Waterfront Park(Lot 39) and the following is your new board of officers for the term September 2018-August 2019

We all thank you the members for your support.

 

President             George Satterthwaite

Vice President     Joni Harris Jones

Secretary            Steve Tucker

Treasurer            Debbie Kutzleb

Past President     Board Member  David Lishin

Board Member 1 Rob Sprout

Board Member 2 Daisy McLelland

Board Member 3 Ressie Wilson

Board Member 4 Neil Ayers

Board Member 5 Collette Dawud

Board Member 6 Terry St Clair

 

This was approved by the 37 association members attending  on September 22 as was the budget for FY 2019(Sept 2018-August 2019). Our budgeted expenses  for 2019 amounted to $3970. We have $5819 in the bank as of September 1 2018. 

 

DUES

 

DUES  are $40 per year per household. We sent out the dues notices in mid September and so far have had 39 paid members including 8 new members. That is GREAT. However so far we have 31 members who have so far paid in the past but have not paid this year. Those who have not considered becoming members we urge you to do so, especially those who have been members in the past. PLEASE let the board know of any points of dissatisfaction causing you not to renew so we can possibly correct your unhappiness. We as an organization normally have about 75 member households out of the 178 households in the community. The best membership we have ever had in the past 15 years has been just below 100 households. YOUR SUPPORT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

 

Safety Issues–

 

I attended the monthly meeting of the MD 210 Traffic Safety Community Meeting and the Police District Citizens Advisory Council  Meeting and have the following key items to report:

 

MD 210  Traffic Safety  The Speed Camera is up at the first OLD FORT Crossing of 210 coming south from the beltway and will begin full operation on October 31 so be vigilant. There are warning signs as you approach. In the past year(2017)  according to the AAA  Prince George’s County had the worst number of traffic fatalities in the region with the eleven mile stretch of MD 210 from the Beltway to Acokeek is the worst in the state. Our state representatives were present and advised what a hard battle it was to get the one speed camera authorized. If the data from this camera proves the worth we  will get more  cameras but that takes time .

 

The overpass project at Kirby Hill Road is  in phase two of four phases and behind schedule. It will not be completed until Spring 2020. Reasons we are told by the State Highway rep is PEPCO is behind in their work which has to be completed first. Planning has not even begun for the next over pass which our delegate Jay Walker was very surprised to hear  as due to the severity of fatalities on MD  210 the legislature was able to raise the next overpass  project in the state project  priority list from 18 to 3. Planning takes two years.

 

Since January this year the combined State and County  police have issued  8,812 citations via patrol /helicopter operations, some to motorcycles going over 120 miles per hour, along the eleven mile stretch . Joint operations with the state are going well. Must establish cultural mores regarding speeding and reckless driving through continuous message boards with slogans, and involvement of civic organizations, church groups and the creation of safety slogans specifically created for Indian Head Highway which pinpoint the types of continuous violations which repeatedly occur and often result in fatalities, not just CAUSED BY SPEED One of the INCREASING CATEGORIES is Inattentive drivers(not paying attention)

 

 

At the Citizens Advisory Meeting  there was gratitude from the District Police Station VII for the community support for the National Night Out conducted at District VII in  August. Your association provided a monetary donation.  Police Thanksgiving Day planning is in progress to provide Thanksgiving dinner to those on duty Thanksgiving Day . Your association will make a monetary donation to help support the project as our sigh of appreciation for the support the COPS officers give to us in our Piscataway Hills Community.

 

Cleanup on Piscataway Road to Pine– Looking quite good.Keep it up. Debbie will be reminding those who have volunteered as their time comes up. 

 

SAVE THE DATE——December 6  at 7PM is the next association quarterly meeting at the church where we have meet previously. Be on the look out for flyers with agenda. 

 

Enjoy Halloween May it be safe and enjoyable. The same for your Thanksgiving Celebrations. 

 

We serve your association so please let us know your concerns. Any one of the persons mentioned above are available to hear your remarks. 

 

 

George Satterthwaite

President

Piscataway Hills Citizens Association

PHCA – Quarterly Meeting

PISCATAWAY HILLS CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

(PHCA)

QUARTERLY MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

The meeting was called to order at 7pm by PHCA President Robert Reilly

Robert Reilly welcomed and introduced our new neighbor Steve Tucker who lives on Piscataway Drive to the meeting.

-Neighborhood Watch Update/ Crime Report: George Satterthwaite reports there has been no criminal activities in the area to report on.  We do have a new COP Officer Corporal Stephen Rannacher.
“Let me introduce myself, my name is Corporal S. Rannacher #3124 and I’m a new Cops officer here at Dist. 7. I will be covering William 1, 2, and 3 beats so if you are receiving this email you are more than likely in one of my beats. If anyone want me to attend meetings please email me the dates and times you would like me to attend.”

We currently have 14 Block Captains who George will soon be meeting with and coordinating events with.

We as a community are encouraged to participate with Nextdoor.

Launched in 2011, Nextdoor allows neighborhood residents to connect with one another online, sharing classified ads, notices about nearby events, and observations and warnings about crime trends. The platform has the potential to bring out the best and worst in communities—it brings neighbors closer together, but can amplify their worst fears—and its focus on neighborhoods makes it a particularly valuable tool for law-enforcement agencies that want to understand the concerns of particular areas in a city.

-Surveillance Camera Changes:

Security cameras are a great way to provide security for our home or workplace. As well as providing you with video footage of any events which may happen, they also act as a visible deterrent to crime. Our camera needs adjustment, it needs ambient light and it needs someone to maintain the upgrades.

-FY 2017 1st Quarterly Budget Report – Discussion tabled until next meeting. Deb Kutzleb not present.

-2017 Neighborhood Telephone Directory is finished

The directory is 22 pages and we’ll need 170 copies to cover the neighborhood.  We can always print more with the most current address information if needed. The printing cost will be $225.  We’ll need 8 reams of paper for about $75 dollars for good quality clear white paper.

Volunteers are needed to collate and staple the hard copy directory. When we go to press we will need someone to come to Deb’s office in Largo to help collate and staple the booklets.

-Volunteering in the Neighborhood. Volunteers are needed for mowing grass at Lot 39, we have a tractor. We need help picking up road side trash along Piscataway Drive, fortifying the shed that secures the tractor mower, and volunteers are needed to stain and tighten the bolts in the children swing set on Lot 39.

Volunteers are also needed for the Potomac Watershed clean up on April 8^th.

Please set aside some time on Saturday, April 8th from 9:00am to 2:00pm, and join your neighbors as volunteers for the most worthy event. As in years past we’ll be collecting trash on Lot 39

Along Piscataway Creek shoreline towards Fort Washington Marina

On Piscataway Creek island

Gloves, trash bags, and water transportation will be provided, as well as morning coffee & donuts and an afternoon hotdog BBQ lunch.

If walking along Piscataway Creek shoreline picking up trash is not “your thing”, we also need volunteers to:

• Help sign in other volunteers
• Record trash items collected
• Transport trash collected to Fort Washington Marina
• BBQ chef for afternoon lunch
• Take pictures of our trash bounty and heroic effort
• Keys to the lock at Lot 39 will be distributed at the Potomac Watershed Clean up.

Christmas in April Fundraiser
In its 28th year of rehabilitating low-income homes, revitalizing neighborhoods and giving the gift of hope and dignity to homeowners, the Prince George’s County’s Christmas in April program has grown from 600 volunteers repairing 30 homes in 1989 to now 3,200 volunteers helping to repair 81 homes, thanks to the leadership of program founder Vincent “Cap” Mona, as well as the cooperative efforts of sponsors including county government, individual donors, businesses, civic and community organizations, restaurants and churches.

From Accokeek to Laurel, Christmas in April facilitates the renovation of homes at no financial cost to the recipients — who are either low-income, physically challenged or disabled senior citizens — so they may live in warmth, safety and independence. The program, which is part of national organization with 249 affiliates throughout the U.S., grew out of the urgent need for betting housing conditions and neighbor-helping neighbor partnerships, according to the Christmas in April website.

Put It on Your Calendar
Fundraiser at Mama Stella’s February 8, 2017

Mamma Stella’s Ristorante Italian, at 7918 Old Branch Ave in Clinton, will donate 20% of all sales February 8th to Christmas in April. Lunch 11am-4pm, Dinner 4pm-9pm. Carryout is available

Dinner & Dance on February 18, 2017

Columbia Moose Lodge at 10404 Brandywine Road in Clinton. Tickets are $15.00 per person. Price includes food, live band, silent auction and 50/50 raffle.

Community Entrance Sign

The Beautification Committee rep of Piscataway Hills called to get a quote on a new neighborhood entrance sign to mount to our existing posts.

We’d like it to be this size: [55″ Inches Long X 11″ Inches Wide X 1 3/4 Deep] to read:
“PISCATAWAY HILLS”

We’d like it to be single sided with REFLECTIVE LETTERING (if available would be very helpful for our non-light park style community)

We’d also like a quote for each Optional NOTICE Attachments Signs that occasionally we hang below the main sign 3′ Feet Long X 5″ 1/2″ Wide by 1 3/4 Inches Deep. (We use these to notify owners of BBQ, Picnic, Community Yard Sale Sat 8-3, BOD Meeting 7pm, PHCA meeting 7pm)

Please mail us a brochure with pricing and shipping rates for the BOD & Homeowners to View and VOTE on.

Thanking you in advance.

Robert Reilly President

This letter was sent to Art Sign Works, Inc. to get quotes on replacing the current Piscataway Hills entrance sign. Six different styled entrance photographs were displayed adjacent to the sign-in sheet for the meeting. Members were encouraged to check off the best two photographs prior to the meeting. The results will be discussed at a later meeting.

Meeting Schedule for the remainder of 2017

April 18^th           July 18^th            September 19^th

The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm after the 50/50 raffle winner was announced.