http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ The Takoma Park Maryland Library staff web log. en-us 2010-09-03T11:29:14-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002337.html As usual on 3-day weekends, the computer rooms will close completely, including Saturday. The library will be closed on Monday, but open Saturday. The first Labor Day parade. Love parades? Try Kensington on Labor Day in the morning or Gaithersburg in the afternoon. Or both. Other free activities: Labor Day Concert, National Symphony Orchestra, West Lawn of the U. S. Capitol, 8 PM Sunday. Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival, all weekend, Saturday-Monday, 2-10 PM. The problem is ... the Takoma Metro station will be closed. Normally you could just take the train down to Union Station for the concert, and Foggy Bottom for the Kennedy Center, but this weekend you will have to figure out something else. 2337@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-09-03T11:29:14-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002336.html Fall Book Sale: Saturday October 23rd. We are currently accepting donations of good used books, for children or adults, general interest (no textbooks please). Thanks to everyone who has donated. You have been very generous. 2336@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-31T16:02:32-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002330.html This small, urban, pocket park is located in the commercial "Takoma Junction" area of Takoma Park. It is named for Benjamin Yeo Morrison, the developer of the Glen Dale azaleas and a resident of Takoma Park for many years. Morrison first became interested in azaleas when, after receiving an M.A. in landscape architecture from Harvard in 1915, he traveled to Asia on a Sheldon Fellowship. After serving in World War I, he became a horticulturist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and eventually the director of the National Arboretum and a founder of the American Horticultural Society. Although Morrison named his azaleas for the Glen Dale Station of the Department of Plant Exploration and Introduction, he developed many of his hybrids in a two acre garden in Takoma Park. Azaleas grow all over Takoma Park, but they are notably absent from the park named in Morrison's honor. It is instead dominated by the James Colwell mural pictured above, which commemorates music, not flowers. Yet art and music were Morrison's other great loves. He was a landscape painter and a master of botanical drawing. He composed an opera libretto, Salve Regina, and gave professional lieder concerts. According to his Takoma Park friend, Eugene Hollowell, as quoted in Hybrids and Hybridizers, He had a fine, sensitive baritone voice and he often was his own accompanist. He sang as a soloist with choirs, and occasionally gave voice lessons. I have been told that he was offered an opportunity to try out for the Metropolitan Opera. Francis Patterson-Knight is quoted in the same work, describing a visit to him in Mississippi where he lived after his retirement: Each day brought new surprises, for not only was he a great plantsman, and an able artist, but his love and knowledge of music added to our enjoyment. He gave us a wonderful evening in the little church where he worked and prayed - here he sang for fully two hours accompanying himself on the piano. We listened spellbound to ballads, Jewish chants, the songs of John Ireland and Brahms ... it was unforgettable. Hybrids and Hybridizers: Rhododendrons and Azaleas for Eastern North America, edited by Philip A. Livingston and Franklin H. West. Harrowood Books, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, 1978. In addition to the above book, the Takoma Park Maryland Library owns a copy of Morrison's 1953 U.S.D.A. monograph, Glenn Dale Azaleas, and a 1978 reprint published by Thophrastus. Internet Directory for Botany --> The Morrison Garden at the United States Arboretum Copyright for the picture at the top of the page is held by the City of Takoma Park. The artist is James Colwell. You can take a look for yourself via street view. View Larger Map The July 2010 Takoma Park Newsletter had updated information on the mural, accompanied by a photo by Laurie Stepp. Look for page 5. Guarding the Neighborhood Eighteen years ago, James Colwell painted the brilliantly colored, vibrantly animated mural, “Guardians of the Neighborhood,” in the pavilion at the corner of Carroll and Ethan Allen avenues. Last month, he did a major touch-up, repainting the piece to brighten its effect and keep the artwork from showing its age. “Guardians,” which depicts a lively jazz club-type scene, is one of the most familiar of Takoma Park’s public art pieces, as it is geographically central to the City at Takoma Junction. It is painted on the wall of what was originally a gas station, then a thrift shop; the structure is part of B.Y. Morrison Park, named for the Takoma Park azalea collector responsible for the “Azalea City” designation. The pavilion’s columns are covered in ceramic tiles by Takoma Park artist John Hume; these also illustrate the town’s quirky heritage, with representations of Roscoe the Rooster, Motorcat, and Root Boy Slim, among others. Colwell, who is a professional piano restorer by trade, remembers that the mural stirred some controversy when it was new: he had to raise the neckline of the sensuous dancer on the right. please note: this page was originally part of the local reference section of the library's web site. parks, gardens and athletic fields 2330@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-23T16:57:47-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002329.html Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church 7700 Carroll Avenue 301.270.6777 Takoma Park Presbyterian Church 310 Tulip Avenue 301.270.5550 Takoma Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church 6951 Carroll Avenue 301.829.4800 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church photo 7410 New Hampshire Ave 301.434.0444   Unconfirmed: also at 7410 New Hampshire Avenue         Mision Buenas Nuevas 301.434.1700         Langley Park Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church 301.431.1191 also at 7001 New Hampshire Avenue         New Creation Gospel Center 301.270.8122   Not in the City of Takoma Park but nearby: 6707 New Hampshire Avenue | Agape Christian Center of Christ 301.270.1551 8609 Greenwood Avenue | Iglesia Cristina Canaan 301.495.9634 276 Carroll Street Northwest | Seekers Church 202.829.9882 8400 Carroll Avenue | Takoma Park Spanish SDA Church 301.408.7500 635 Aspen Street Northwest | Takoma Park Baptist Church 202.723.4700 7716 Piney Branch Road | Chinese Christian Church of Greater Washington 301.587.0033 633 Sligo Avenue | Church of the Ascension 301.587.3272 7005 Piney Branch Road Northwest | Trinity Episcopal Church 202.726.7036 Other area churches please note: this page was originally part of the local reference section of the library's web site. ]]> 2329@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-23T14:08:49-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002328.html Here are some places to find apartment information for this area: The Takoma Park Housing and Community Development Department publishes a landlord tenant handbook and model lease forms for Takoma Park rentals. It also offers mediation and conflict resolution. Craigslist: Maryland suburbs | whole DC area City Paper classifieds Washington Post Apartment Showcase Choose Takoma Park in the drop-down box of cities. Please remember, many places with postal addresses of Takoma Park 20912 are not actually in the City of Takoma Park. For example, Fairview Avenue is in an unincorporated area of Prince Georges County. So is 6733 New Hampshire Avenue. The zip codes do not correspond to the political/service/school boundaries. 2328@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-21T12:58:06-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002326.html All Labor Day weekend the Takoma Metro station will be closed, as will all stations north of Takoma. If you want to go downtown via Metrorail, you will need to make your way to Fort Totten, not easy unless you live along New Hampshire Avenue which has the K6 bus (a pdf file). Closed Period: Friday, September 3rd shortly before 10 PM to Tuesday morning September 7th at 5 AM More information about the Labor Day closing . Trip Planner. Bus routes in Takoma Park (a pdf file). city transportation page --> That same weekend, Labor Day 2010, the library will be open Saturday, closed Monday. The computer center will be closed both Saturday and Monday. (Both are normally closed Sunday.) 2326@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-20T13:16:57-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002324.html Elementary  Takoma Park Elementary in Takoma Park (grades PreK-2) Piney Branch Elementary in Takoma Park (grades 3-5) Check out the work of their Web Wizards Rolling Terrace in Silver Spring (grades PreK-5) Sligo Creek Elementary in Silver Spring (grades K-5) Middle Schools / Junior High Schools   Takoma Park Middle School in Takoma Park (grades 6-8). Please read Faith Stern's history of the Takoma Park Middle School / Junior High. Silver Spring International Middle School in Silver Spring (grades 6-8) High School  Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring stats Check the Blazer wrestlers Takoma Park students are now allowed to choose one of the other area high schools: Kennedy (stats); Einstein (stats); Wheaton (stats) or Northwood (pdf map) Parochial Schools within Takoma Park  Washington McLaughlin Christian Elementary School John Nevins Andrews Elementary School Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School Parents' Discussion Groups Blair High School PTSA Takoma Park Middle School PTA Piney Branch Elementary School PTA Takoma Park Elementary School PTA ESOL and GED   The County ESOL and GED programs are now administed by Montgomery College, not the Montgomery County Public Schools. 301.962.8950. Currently none of these classes are held in Takoma Park. Other sources for ESOL instruction within bus distance of Takoma Park: CASA de Maryland offers ESOL classes. 301.431.4185 Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Maryland, Inc. free reading, writing and English language tutoring as well as basic, intermediate and advanced classes. 301.942.9292 Colleges within Takoma Park:   Washington Adventist University (formerly Columbia Union College) Montgomery College Takoma Park / Silver Spring Campus --> Some of the Colleges and Universities within 10 miles of Takoma Park: American University Bowie State University Catholic University of America Gallaudet University George Washington University Georgetown University Howard University Trinity University University of the District of Columbia University of Maryland at College Park. Specialized Graduate Programs: Washington Theological Union please note: this page was originally part of the local reference section of the library's web site. ]]> 2324@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-16T11:56:33-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002321.html recent precipitation.--> FEMA's advice for severe weather preparation. Sky Current time (official) -5 UT Current sky Sunrise/Sunset Position of sun in sky Clear sky clock Watershed Anacostia [see also the Anacostia Watershed Society] Friends of Sligo Creek Nearest USGS satellite-monitored stream gage, current readings Size 2.36 square miles before unification/annexation Maps town map (105 k) --> ward map topo map (37 k) created from DeLorme's Topo USA DVD from a bicyclist's point of view (34 k) Mapquest map of Takoma Park click "Launch 360 View" to see street views beginning at the library. More Maps Topozone 1:25,000 topographic maps (takes time to download.) Landsat images of this area from a University of Virginia site. generalized geologic map of Maryland. distribution of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus upcoming visible passes of the International Space Station View Larger Map please note: this page was originally part of the local reference section of the library's web site. ]]> 2321@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-13T07:25:24-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002318.html Yes, we know that if you don't have electricity or an Internet connection you can't read this, but we are open. The Takoma Branch of the DC library system is closed, as are the nearby Montgomery County libraries: Silver Spring, Long Branch, White Oak and Wheaton. But, as we are substituting for so many places, we have a shortage of outlets for laptops so we are plugging in a variety of power strips and UPS boxes. We now have enough public computer stations as the computer rooms in the community center opened at 2 PM. All 28 stations are operational. You need our library card to use them. Library Cards - Takoma Park Maryland Library Power is surging here so we don't know what will happen this evening. 2318@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-12T15:23:32-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002314.html Geology of the Takoma Park Area The following image clips are from the generalized geologic map of Maryland produced by the Maryland Geological Survey. Please note that the Montgomery - Prince George's County line as shown in the map reflects the old placement, before the City was unified into one county. Neighboring Areas for fun: Earth science picture of the day please note: this page was originally part of the local reference section of the library's web site. 2314@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-08-07T11:31:45-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002310.html The Wednesday morning computer class for seniors will change schedule September 15th, beginning at 11:30 rather than 10 AM. The class sessions last for two hours, and you need a valid card from our library in order to log on. Takoma Park Maryland Library - Library Cards. If you are interested in signing up for this class, contact the Takoma Park Recreation Department 301-891-7290. 2310@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-07-31T10:52:15-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002302.html The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will offer free, 10-week English classes beginning in August, separate classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced speakers. Registration takes place during the initial, 3-hour orientation sessions and is first-come, first-served. There probably won't be places for everyone, so arrive early. Two locations are accessible from Takoma Park by public transportation. Silver Spring Library take the F4, F6, 17 or any other bus that goes toward the Silver Spring station. The library is located at 8901 Colesville Road. Orientation Wednesday August 11th and Friday August 13th at 2 PM Classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2-5 PM Montgomery Works Learning Center take the red line Metro from the Takoma station to the Wheaton station. The Learning Center is located in the Westfield Shopping Center building complex, 11160 Veirs Mill Road, Suite LLH-17 Orientation Tuesday August 3rd and Thursday August 5tth at 9 AM Classes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9-12 AM The other places are many miles away and much more difficult to reach. . If you have to attend an evening class, consult the WMATA Trip Planner. Upcounty Regional Services Center 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown Orientation Monday August 2nd and Wednesday August 4tth at 9 AM Classes Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-12 AM Quince Orchard Public Library 15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg Orientation Monday August 9th and Wednesday August 11th at 1 PM Classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-4 PM Northwest High School 1351 Richter Farm Road, Germantown Orientation Monday September 20th and Tuesday September 21th at 6 Pm Classes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 PM Rockville High School 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville Orientation Monday August 30th and Wednesday September 1st at 6 PM Classes Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 6-9 PM For more information, call the Literacy Council at 301.610.0030 2302@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-07-26T11:25:45-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002295.html We still have a few kindergarten packets left at the library. You need these forms if your child will be entering kindergarten in a Montgomery County school. But today the Takoma Park Elementary School staff was able to return to their building, so you can now get information directly from them. The number is 301.650.6414. 2295@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-07-16T18:09:17-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002286.html Our library hours remain the same, but the computer room hours will be reduced beginning tomorrow, July 1. Schedules at nearby libraries have changed, or will change soon. Here are some tables that incorporate the new hours (though we may certainly have made some typing mistakes). Opening Times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Takoma Park 12 10 12 10 12 10 closed Computer Rooms 2 2 2 2 2 12 closed Silver Spring 1 10 1 10 10 10 *** Long Branch 10 1 10 1 10 10 closed Takoma DC 9:30 1 9:30 1 9:30 9:30 closed Hyattsville 10 10 10 10 10 10 *** Closing Times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Takoma Park 9 9 9 9 6 5 closed Computer Rooms 8 8 8 8 8 6 closed Silver Spring 8 6 8 6 6 6 *** Long Branch 6 8 6 8 6 6 closed Takoma DC 5:30 9 5:30 9 5:30 5:30 closed Hyattsville 9 9 9 6 6 5 *** *** means Sunday hours are seasonal. 2286@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-06-30T15:36:11-05:00 http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/archives/002282.html The 121st parade and fireworks will be held on Sunday, July 4th. More information: Takoma Park Independence Day Parade and Fireworks. Yes, the last time the 4th was on a Sunday, 2004, the parade and fireworks were delayed till Monday. Not this year. Looking back. --> 2282@http://www.takomapark.info/library/mt/ 2010-06-22T11:15:01-05:00