I am the chair of a Kentlands committee called the Environmental Management Committee. Michael Berney has encouraged me to post something about the committee. Our name doesn't really reveal what we do - we deal mostly with landscaping projects on land that is owned by the HOA. Readers should be aware that a lot of the green spaces in the community (most land around the lakes, the Green by the Mansion, Little Quarry Park and the small park on Beckwith Street) are owned by the City of Gaithersburg so are not under our control, though we do communicate frequently with the City and they are always very responsive to our concerns. A few spaces are still owned by Great Seneca. The committee meets most months on the 2nd Wednesday from 7:30-9 pm (we always end on time!). Anyone is welcome to come and/or if you have ideas but cannot attend, send them to me via e-mail or call me at 216-9549.

This year we are pursuing shade trees by the main tot lot (requested in the past but deferred), improvements to the four corners by the Mormon church, improvements to the entrance on Little Quarry and Quince Orchard Road, other small garden projects.

-- Elly Shaw-Belblidia (mirinor@aol.com), February 27, 2000