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 8th.
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 18th July 18th September 19th
The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm after the 50/50 raffle winner was announced.
