Next Meeting:
TUESDAY, October 14, 2025 at 7:15 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT THE POTOMAC LIBRARY!
SPEAKER: Caroline Taylor, Executive Director, Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA)
MCA (https://www.mocoalliance.org/) works tirelessly to protect and promote the nation’s most successful farmland and open space area: Montgomery County’s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve. Caroline will talk about recent challenges, achievements, important storm water partnerships, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that bring locally grown food to residents like you. She has worked on environmental and agricultural issues for much of her professional career. Caroline comes from a long line of farmers and ranchers, From Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Idaho. We hope you will join us – and bring a friend or neighbor!!
As always, the public is welcome to attend!
Time to Renew Your Membership – President’s Letter
by Carol Van Dam Falk
Since 1947, WMCCA has worked to improve the quality of life and protect the environment in the Potomac Subregion. WMCCA has been a strong voice for our members on local issues before local and state government entities and we regularly meet with locally elected officials to express members’ concerns.
Your support is key to carrying out this work. As a member, you will receive our notices of monthly meetings and get monthly newsletters. Beginning this renewal year, you can use a QR code to easily pay the affordable membership fee: $25 for individual, $50 for family. General Meetings will continue to be held on Tuesdays, 7:15-9:00 pm at the Potomac Library. We will keep you informed of issues that affect our community and work with you to protect the “Green Wedge”.
A sister organization that works tirelessly to protect the Green Wedge and in particular the 93,000-acre Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve is the Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA). The Alliance’s mission: “to promote sound economic, land-use and transportation policies that preserve the natural environment, open spaces and rural lands in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve for the benefit of all Washington Metropolitan area residents.”
Use your cell phone camera to click on the QR code that will take you to our membership page or click this link. in their top three choices. Our speakers this month will give us insights into why.
WSSC Avenel Property Update
Submitted by Kathy Petitt
WSSC held a meeting on September 16, 2025 to update the community and all interested parties on the current status of the equestrian facility and the land owned by WSSC surrounding the facility. At stake is the future of 170 acres of green space in the heart of Potomac. With the closing of the Potomac Horse Center in North Potomac, the Avenel Equestrian Center remains one of the few equestrian facilities available to the community in Montgomery County, outside of the Ag Reserve.
David McDonough, WSSC Deputy General Manager for Mission Support, presided over the meeting. He explained in his remarks that WSSC had evaluated four different categories of WSSC’s potential use of the property: water treatment, wastewater treatment, water storage, and as a maintenance depot. They had determined that none of these were needed or in some cases feasible for the location over a twenty-year horizon. Therefore, WSSC may declare the site as surplus property and it would follow WSSC’s guidelines in disposing of surplus property. The equestrian community expressed the interest and need for an equestrian facility. The main barn currently has restricted access due to safety concerns and has been fenced off. There is an additional five-stall barn that houses the caretaker’s horses, and the caretaker’s license agreement has been extended through December 1, 2025 at no charge.
Tom Natelli, representing Natelli Communities, also spoke and thanked WSSC management, especially for their efforts over the last 8-9 months to resolve the issues. He noted that in his opinion as successor to the developer, Natelli Communities, that they have the right of first refusal as noted in the original agreement should the site be offered as surplus.
Mr. McDonough indicated that communication would continue and additional meetings will be held when they have more information.
Recycling Electronics & Batteries
Submitted by Nancy Madden
Starting the week of June 2, 2025, Montgomery County (Click link to go to MoCo Recycling page) residents can schedule a special recycling pick-up for electronic items and batteries (alkaline & rechargeable) by calling 311 or 240-777-0311. Requests for this pick-up must be made no later than 7:00 pm on the business day BEFORE your regular recycling collection day. DO NOT place electronic items or batteries in your blue recycling bins, wheeled recycling carts, or mix with trash. The electronics and batteries must be left out on their own because they will be collected by a different truck, separate from your mixed paper, cardboard, bottles, jars, and cans. Electronic items and batteries can always be taken to the Shady Grove Transfer Station for recycling – this new County service saves you the trip!
Mark Your Calendars for October 11, 2025 – POTOMAC DAY!
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Visit our WMCCA Booth #21 and enjoy a treat from the Ag Reserve!
Drivers Needed to help Potomac Seniors
Submitted by Barbara Hover
The Potomac Community Village sponsors a vetted pool of volunteer drivers to drive local seniors who can no longer drive to their medical and other necessary appointments. Please help make Potomac a stronger community. This is an appeal for drivers over the age of 21 to volunteer. Most of these visits occur on weekdays during non-rush hours.
Click HERE to access the volunteer application form.
More Drivers are needed! You do not have to be a member to volunteer. If you sign up, you will receive an email notifying you of an opportunity to drive, and you can see if this fits your schedule. You will also be able to see the pickup and drop-off locations. Our computer will then match you with the requester, allowing you to confirm the trip details. Most trips are local (Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville). In most cases, you can read or work in the waiting room while you wait for your passenger. Some drivers prefer to use the time to walk around the block or run errands nearby.
This is very important and rewarding work, and you will feel good about supporting area seniors age in place.
If you have any questions, please write to Lynette Ciervo, Director of Engagement at lynetteciervo@gmail.com
REMINDER: IT’S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2025-2026!
Please renew or become a new member of WMCCA. Go to our website www.wmcca.org to download a membership form or join using PayPal: Individual: $25 / Family: $50. We encourage donations to our Legal Fund. While we strive for positive results without litigation, sometimes it is unavoidable and highly effective. Contributions from members enabled us to join efforts to successfully address several issues as they affect the Potomac Subregion Master Plan, zoning, and environmental threats to the “Green Wedge”, our creeks and water supplies, and the Agricultural Reserve. If you have any issues or concerns in your neighborhood, please contact WMCCA. We appreciate the input from our neighbors. Our Membership year runs from October 1st to September 30th. Thank you for your support !!
E-Newsletters save the expense of rising postage and printing costs.
Please email: hooverb@msn.com to go paperless. Thank you !!
IN-PERSON WMCCA Meeting October 14, 2025 – 7:15 p.m.
Potomac Library
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
P.O. Box 59335, Potomac, MD 20854-9335
President – Carol Van Dam Falk: President@WMCCA.org
Website: WMCCA.org – Thomas Fahey
Newsletter Editor – Nancy Madden
West Montgomery County Citizens Association 