Ella Raises Butterflies!
Posted by Valerie Tate
Welcome to Rock Creek Woods!
We are a community in Montgomery County, Maryland of 76 midcentury modern homes by architect Charles Goodman.
We have a friendly little neighborhood association... with no fees, dues, or covenants. As of our 2019 Labor Day Picnic, our current elected volunteers are Julie Marcis, Audrey Fincher, Sarah van Haastert, and Carol Chew.
Rock Creek Woods is listed on the National Historic Register of Places, which makes us eligible for a 20% credit to Maryland income tax for approved projects that maintain the integrity of your home's original Goodman design. For instance, new windows can cost 20% less if we keep the same frame to glass ratio as the original design.
The National Historic Register of Places is not Historic Preservation. There are no restrictions on changes owners may want to make to their homes. Happily, those homes with additions and other architectural changes still display the essence of the Goodman aesthetic.
For most of us, Rock Creek Woods is the first place we've lived with such a strong sense of community. We are careful not to intrude, and yet support is there when needed.
Welcome home.
Goodman Archive Update
Back in 2016, Rock Creek Woods residents formed a committee to save the archive of Charles Goodman drawings at the Library of Congress (LOC). Residents contributed all of the funds necessary to inventory, photograph, and catalog the archive, and provide conservation treatment as necessary.
The Rock Creek Woods community can be very proud that all original drawings and selected blueprints in the Rock Creek Woods Collection in the Charles M. Goodman Archives at the Library of Congress have now been fully cataloged and digitized and are available for public access. And here they are!
Digitization of these fragile works on paper will help preserve Goodman's legacy. Having this resource can help us protect the historic character of this community while at the same time supporting innovations.
Without this Rock Creek Woods project, the fragile Goodman drawings would have been tightly rolled up again and put back into deep storage off-site. Instead, anybody can now access these drawings online. Each drawing has a detailed bibliographic record and a high-resolution image is available to download for free.
For more information, neighbors may contact our resident museum specialist Motoko Lezec or, if you are interested in a blueprint suitable for display as art, contact Jonathan McIntyre, one of our many resident architects.
What a great place to live!
Ella Raises Butterflies!
Be sure to check out this Rock Creek Woods Blog post from 13 year old Ella about her amazing project! It's here. Enjoy!
2017: One for the books
Rock Creek Woods remained a loving haven in 2017... for humans, pets, and wildlife alike. Thanks to Valerie Campbell for the latest photo (above) of Harriet the Hawk.
We said goodbye to long-time neighbors and welcomed new ones.
A strong community effort on many fronts led to a vast improvement in our postal service; prevented "centralized delivery," where residents pick up their own mail from clusters of mail boxes; and won a new dedicated mail carrier, Jorge Guevara, who is doing a stellar job.
Outreach to the County led to the replacement of a discolored street sign at Ingersol and Spruell with a bright, shiny new one.
We met with our Montgomery County Police Community Resource Officer and shared useful information back and forth. (A detailed memo of the meeting is available.)
We connected with the new congregation at the Church -- Greater Grace Christian Fellowship. GGCF plans to purchase the building and to maintain the services it has traditionally offered and its close ties with Rock Creek Woods.
Our annual Labor Day Picnic was a great way to gather and celebrate community. Who's up to host this year?? Traditionally, newer neighbors are the official hosts with lots of help from those with experience.
As usual, many residents volunteered in 2017 on various projects and helped out neighbors as needed.
Powell the Owl
Back in March 2016, young Rayah was out for a sunset walk with her parents Barry and Melanie Harris, when they heard "Who-cooks-for-you? Who-cooks-for-you?" Rayah decided that her neighbor in the trees should be called Powell the Owl.
We've heard Powell off and on, here and there. Then on Monday, November 7 this beautiful Barred Owl came to roost in the maple trees between 4008 and 4010 Ingersol from about 4:00 to 5:30pm. Powell was quite cooperative about having pictures taken, and even remained in place when May Nakamura walked past. Thanks to John Nakamura for the photos!
Labor Day Great Success!
Our 2016 Labor Day Picnic was a great success!
Many thanks to our hosts Luis Franco and Paola Pinto! We have a tradition in Rock Creek Woods that hosts for the Labor Day Picnic are among our newest neighbors. Luis and Paola did an amazing job... even though a new baby arrived a little early. Welcome Valeria!
There was a terrific turnout. Folks came early to fire up the grills, set up tables, and organize games for the kids. Everyone enjoyed a great meal and spirited conversation.
We elected new members to our RCWCA board. Our Nominations Committee -- Melanie Harris, Myra McGovern, and John Levinson -- prepared a slate. We elected co-chairs Julie Marcis and Valerie Tate, secretary Nick Spencer, and treasurer Boris Yanev.
Our Rock Creek Woods Goodman Architectural Archive Committee displayed sample plans from the Library of Congress Archive; handed out blueprint magnets made by resident architect Jonathan McIntyre; offered a beautifully framed Goodman blueprint for Silent Auction, also from Jonathan; and made a presentation led by resident architect Dwight Fincher. Funds raised at the Picnic for the Goodman Architectural Archive took us over the top. Goal met!
So we took care of business electing officers, made The Rock Creek Woods Collection of the Goodman Architectural Archives a reality, and we had fun!
Mission accomplished!
Rock Creek Woods residents have contributed $4392 in support of digitizing the Library of Congress Goodman Architectural Archive – The Rock Creek Woods Collection.
This amount surpasses the original goal of $3500 and means that we will be able to digitize certain blueprints in addition to 67 original working drawings for our homes that were ordered on September 12. Architects on our Committee will visit the Library of Congress again on October 21. They will examine blueprints in more detail and determine which ones are of such significance and value that we should digitize them for posterity.
Without this Rock Creek Woods project, the Goodman drawings would have been tightly rolled up again and put back into deep storage off-site. Instead, they will now be inventoried, photographed, cataloged, and will receive conservation treatment if necessary. Eventually, anybody will be able to go on the Library of Congress's digital catalog, search "Rock Creek Woods" and access these drawings online. Each drawing will have a detailed bibliographic record and a high-resolution image will be available to download for free.
Thanks go to our Rock Creek Woods Goodman Archive Committee and to neighbors who donated through the House Tour, the Wine & Cheese, the Lemonade Stand, and the Labor Day Picnic.
RCWCA Goodman Archive Committee
Andy and Suzi Schmidt
Boris Yanev
Dwight and Audrey Fincher
John Nakamura
Jonathan McIntyre
Julie Marcis
Kathy and Taylor Lednum
Luis Franco and Paola Pinto
Mariann Seriff
Motoko and Henri Lezec
Neal and Heather Cox
Neil Klopfenstein
Nick and Sophia
Sandrine Henry and Francois Legros
Ursula Scott
Valerie Tate
House Tour -- It was grand!
The 2016 Rock Creek Woods House Tour was such fun!
Our hosts were warmly welcoming and generously shared lots of brilliant design ideas. Thank you to hosts David Roth, Andy and Suzi Schmidt, Dwight and Audrey Fincher, Motoko and Henri Lezec, Neal and Heather Cox, Valerie Tate and Gregory Arms.
Thanks to those who came out to visit, including family and friends! You took the time on a gorgeous June day -- which did get a little warm -- to make the rounds, in good humor, with lots of good questions.
A special thanks to fledging social entrepreneurs, Adele Lezec and Kendall Cox, who provided lemonade to thirsty tourists. They donated the collected funds towards purchasing digital files of original neighborhood drawings held by the Library of Congress (LOC). See the blog for more info on the LOC Charles Goodman Archives.
Finally, many thanks to our Wine & Cheese Hosts Julie and Dick Marcis. A perfect end to a perfect day.
New Neighbors Meet & Greet
A great time was had by all on the evening of March 13 at a party to welcome newer neighbors! More than 50 Rock Creek Woods adults and 17 children attended. The gathering was hosted by Valerie Tate and Gregory Arms. The kids enjoyed a movie and popcorn. The grownups enjoyed food aplenty and good company.
Open Meeting Held
Our Rock Creek Woods Civic Association Open Meeting was held on Sunday, April 10, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, at the Church.
Twenty-one neighbors attended and participated in discussing projects and volunteering to help. Input was offered and questions answered. A sense of the community's interest in moving forward on the projects was discerned. Minutes will be sent out within a couple of days.
Postal Issues Update April 12, 2016
Those who attended the community meeting on Sunday were clear that we need an assigned letter carrier. The hope is that someone who is on the same route every day will get to know our addresses and will feel more accountable for a record of careful service. Wheaton Post Office Manager Rosie Taylor says that our route has to be placed in the bidding process. Once the process is complete and a successful bidder is assigned to the route, she will let us know the effective date of the carrier's new assignment. This could take as long as 6 weeks. So, we may have our "forever" letter carrier by Memorial Day!
Pepco Tree Trimming
Rock Creek Woods neighbors met on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, about Pepco’s tree pruning program, with Pepco Government Affairs representative Tammy Watkins and Pepco Senior Forrester Dan Landry.
Pepco presented its mandate. Neighbors addressed their concerns.
Outcomes from the meeting included:
• Pepco Senior Forrester Dan Landry offered to meet with representatives from our neighborhood, County Arborist Brett Linkletter (Chief of Tree Maintenance Section/Division of Highway Services), and Matt Young, to discuss possible coordination of replacements with what the Arbor Day Foundation calls “Right Tree in the Right Place.”
• The RCWCA will determine a course to actively petition for delay, a tree replacement program, and more careful pruning. This may take us from a meeting with the County Arborist, to Pepco leadership, to the County Council, Maryland General Assembly, and our Member of Congress.
Pepco’s website answers Frequently Asked Questions about tree trimming here.
Julie Marcis is your Rock Creek Woods Civic Association contact for our issue with Pepco over tree pruning. Please, reach out to her with your questions, concerns, comments, and suggestions. (Check the directory for contact information.)
Anatomy of a neighborhood
For your listening pleasure... here are two 6 minutes audio documentaries on Rock Creek Woods, produced, directed and narrated by our neighbor Mariann Seriff in 2011. What a wonderful gift! Enjoy!
Neighborhood Activities
Please contact Jean Hoyt for information about our Neighborhood Lunch Bunch and Book Club. All are welcome and folks always have a nice time. (Check the directory for contact information).
Everything Midcentury Modern
Check out this article on Charles Goodman in Dwell Magazine .
Many of us in the neighborhood enjoy Michael Shapiro’s website at http://moderncapitaldc.com/ about everything midcentury modern, including Charles Goodman homes.
Please drive slowly!
Safety first
More and more our kids are growing and running and learning to ride bikes. All of our babies in strollers have grown into fast kids on feet and peddles. As much as we may try to keep them in our yards, they occasionally chase balls and small creatures into our neighborhood streets. As they learn to ride their bikes, they would appreciate if you would not block the sidewalks with your cars. Please drive slowly and carefully through the neighborhood to keep all our youngest safe. And if you have regular visitors who drive into the neighborhood, please remind them too. Thanks!
Communicate
Have you subscribed to the listserv?
The listserv provides an easy way to email many of the neighbors, immediately and directly. It is a great way to discuss informal and timely issues with your neighbors. It complements our neighborhood email blast, and does not replace it. It is by invitation only, and only includes the neighbors. request an invitation or ask Lester what this is all about.
Contribute to your web site!
Contact the web site manager for details.