Congratulations Cindy!

As many >Rockville Central readers know, Cindy Cotte Griffiths is a member of Rockville’s Human Services Advisory Commission.

Last night she was elected chair of the Commission.

The commission provides advice and guidance to the Mayor and Council on human service needs in Rockville and how best to address them. I can think of few people better positioned to take the helm of this important body.

Congratulations Cindy!

POTD: Lightning Strikes

>

(With apologies to The Clash.) This photo is by Rockville Central Editor CindyCG. Of it, she says:

“Last summer I was looking out the window on the opposite side of the house when lightning struck like an explosion, the ground shook and a white flash surrounded the house. I noticed pieces of bark on the front lawn and saw that the lightning had ripped down the tree from top to bottom. As I was looking at it this week I noticed the flag. Since I have never seen the flag before I thought it was at the new RMHS. After a search, it turns out I can see Veteran’s Park.”

Want to submit a photo for consideration to be the Picture Of The Day? Wonderful! Just email it to me. Rules: a) Must be taken in Rockville; b) Must be your own work; c) Must not be published or offered for publication elsewhere; d) Should be generally contemporary (try to keep them less than a month or two old).

There's Still Time To Vote! Polls To Stay Open Late

Thanks to >Rockville Central editor Cindy CG for alerting me to the fact that, due to inclement weather, Montgomery County’s polls are remaining open 90 minutes later tonight — they are closing at 9:30 pm.

If you have not yet voted, and the regret had already begun to settle in, there is still time!

Go here for where/how info.

My Opinion: In Search of the Elusive Courthouse Parking

This opinion piece is by >Cynthia Cotte Griffiths. It is in response to an article written by Mary Ellen Flynn.

After reading Mary Ellen Flynn’s Contributor’s Opinion yesterday, in which she stated “With public parking already located nearby (some even on the same side of the street as the old Library site)…”, I decided to try to find this existing parking that could be used for the District Courthouse.

So I dropped the kids at school and went to park by the old library site to take some pictures. I couldn’t find a parking spot. Now, I’m not saying this to be sarcastic or even funny, but I couldn’t. So I drove home, parked, and walked over. It’s cold out there today.

The only public parking on the same side of the street is the Council Office Building parking which is Permit Only.

I was thinking that if they have space in this parking garage, perhaps they would share with the District Courthouse, but it was full except for a few spots on the top level:

There is also the Jury Parking lot on Rt. 28, but it is almost always full:

My only conclusion is that there is no existing public parking on the same side of the street as the old library site. People need to understand that there is no parking anywhere for this Courthouse proposal. The use of false statements to sway an argument always disturbs me, probably because I was a Philosophy major. People might be persuaded by the rosy picture painted, so the facts need to be proven. It would be unfortunate if the courthouse supporters turn around in the future and state that they thought there was parking available because someone wrote that there was parking. There is no parking existing or planned for the current District Courthouse proposal.

If this plan goes forward, the City of Rockville should not fund a single penny of the millions of dollars that will be required to not only build parking for the Courthouse but also mitigate the traffic and neighborhood problems created by the Courthouse. The residents of Rockville should not have to bear the cost of the State’s terrible urban planning which is being forced upon us.

Speeding Cameras In Rockville

>Rockville Central Editor CindyCG reminded me that, while we have provided helpful maps of the traffic cameras and red light cameras in Rockville, we have yet to provide a snapshot of many drivers’ nemesis: speeding cameras.

There’s a van driven by Rockville City Police that goes from spot to spot with a camera, on the prowl for speeders. Arguably, this is a more important function than the red light cameras, as speeding is much more common. I can’t tell you how often I have yelled at vehicles zipping around my residential traffic circle, filled with parents in a rush to pick their elementary school children from Beall, or with students late for a class at Montgomery College.

That said, Rockville Central wants to help you slow down. This is not a list to help you evade detection as you zip through Our Fair City, but a reminder that there are some spots where the temptation to speed is great — and that therefore caution is warranted.

Click on each little purple camera for more information. Click “view larger map” to open up the map in a larger screen. (Remember, this embedded map does not come through in the announcement email or in feed readers; you will need to come to the blog to see it.)

Here’s the list:

• Mt. Vernon Place near Richard Montgomery High
• Nelson Street north of W. Montgomery Ave
• Nelson Street near Madison St
• W. Montgomery E. of I-270
• Rollins Ave near Montrose Woods Park
• Twinbrook Parkway near Meadow Hall Elem.
• Twinbrook Parkway near Carl Sandburg Learning Center
• Baltimore Road east of the Rockville Metro Station
• Baltimore Rd. at Rockville High School (FIXED)
• College Parkway near College Gardens Park
• College Parkway (800-900 blocks)
• First Street near Maryvale Elem
• Gaither Road north of King Farm Blvd
• Redland Bl. in King Farm
• Great Falls Road near Julius West Middle School
• Wootton Pkwy near Wootton High (FIXED)

Be careful out there!

POTD: Like Snow

>

This photo, by Cindy CG, was originally taken for her article on the beaver. But it was too good to pass up for a POTD! See how the wood chips look like snow? (Hence the title.)

Want to have your photo included as a Photo Of The Day? Easy! Send it to me and I will consider it. Rules: Must be original (by you); must be taken in Rockville city limits; must not be published or offered for publication elsewhere; must be generally contemporary (no photos from six months ago).

Rockville Central Team Member Joins Commission

> At tonight’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, Rockville Central team member Cynthia Cotte Griffiths was named a member of the Human Services Advisory Commission.

The Commission, according to the City, “provides advice and guidance to the Mayor and Council on human service needs in Rockville and how best to address them.” Cindy’s term ends in 2010.

This is a well-deserved appointment. Anyone who knows Cindy knows how tirelessly she has worked for people from all walks of life.

Congratulations Cindy!