Tag Archives: Takoma Park

Weekend Fun Ahead

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Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are two FREE events to choose from:

Maker Faire Silver Spring

Maker Faire Silver Spring is a free, family-friendly event that brings together Makers of all types for a spectacular display of art, science, technology, craft and engineering. It is being presented by KID Museum, a prototype museum space at the Bethesda Library in Montgomery County which aims to cultivate creativity, curiosity and compassion through exhibits and hands-on learning for children of all ages. Maker Faire will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Center on on Sunday, September 20 from 12:00-5:00pm.

Takoma Park Folk Festival

It’s the 38th Annual Takoma Park Folk Festival! Enjoy six stages of music featuring over 50 musical performances, along with food vendors and artisan booths. Relax and take in a day of music, dance, crafts, food and community. TPFF will be held at Takoma Park MS on Sunday September 20, 2015 from 10:30am – 6:30pm.

Go Brent Team Part-time Position Available

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Go Brent Team, the area’s top real estate team, is looking to fill a part-time job that can grow with the right person. We are looking for someone who is independent, discreet, efficient, organized, can multi-task, and is familiar generally with Montgomery County, and specifically with Silver Spring, Kensington and Takoma Park. Applicants must have their own car.

Many of the duties will require driving to our current and upcoming listings, and our local partners (printer, locksmith, etc). There will be office and computer work required as well as some client contact. Office work can be done partially out of the GBT office in downtown Silver Spring and partially from home.

Hours range from 15-25 hours per week, depending on the season. There potential for the job to grow to full-time. Pay will be hourly with mileage reimbursed.

Interested parties should contact Beth Stanton with cover letter an resume.

Montgomery Co Tax Bills Are Coming – Are You Receiving the Homestead Tax Credit?

It’s July, for Montgomery County homeowners this means that annual and semi-annual tax bills will be arriving in your mailboxes shortly – the County estimates mailing bills in mid-July (bills will also be available via the County website).

Montgomey Co Tax Bill with Homestead Credit

When you receive your bill you should look to see if you are receiving the Homestead Property Tax Credit (you’ll see “County Property Tax Credit”). This tax credit was established to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The Homestead Credit limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage.

To prevent improper granting of this credit, a law was enacted in 2007 that requires all homeowners to submit a one-time application to establish eligibility for the credit. There are several criteria to be met, but the main conditions are that the property is your principal residence and you must have lived in it for at least six months of the year, including July 1 of the year for which the credit is applicable.

If you are not seeing a homestead property tax credit on your tax bill, you should determine the status of your Homestead eligibility by looking up your property on the Real Property Database. Look at the bottom of the page, where it says Homestead Application Status. If it says “No Application,” then you should reapply to capture this credit on future tax bills.

For more info, check out frequently asked questions about Homestead Property Tax Credit, or contact the Homestead unit directly at 1-866-650-8783 or sdat.homestead@maryland.gov.

A Slice of Life with Cari Jordan

I was fortunate to have attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. With only 96 girls in my graduating class, we were afforded the opportunity to become personally acquainted with fellow classmates and many strong friendships were forged. With the advent of social media (Facebook and Twitter) some 20+ years later, I have remained connected with my former classmates in a way that is often difficult through more traditional social circles. Through Facebook, I know who has married, moved to a new home, grown a family, and started a business.

MaryAnn Ryan, founder of the Takoma Porch Music Festival, is one such classmate whom I’ve remained connected with through Facebook. I wanted to learn more about this festival and its origins so we met for coffee and I interviewed her for my “Slice of Life” series.

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Protecting Your Basement

It’s a special time of year! Azaleas are out, the heat and A/C are off, and windows are open. That’s means…It’s dehumidifier time!

Yes, we need to talk dehumidifiers people. Not as exciting as the azaleas in bloom or the savings in your utility bills, but a very important topic nonetheless. We’ve had a lot of rain, and even if you’ve been lucky and haven’t had any water seepage, you can bet you’ve got a higher level of moisture in the lower level than most times of year. Unless you’ve got a basement that is mostly above ground and there is no moisture intrusion at all (meaning you keep your gutters clean, the downspouts are extended and there is good positive grade around the foundation), you’ve got a breeding ground for moisture and mold. Some dehumidifiers fill up every day until the air dries out some.

So first step – get a dehumidifier! Next step, address any moisture concerns. Need help or advice?  Contact us: info@GoBrentTeam.com or 301.565.2523.

Weekend Happenings – Silver Spring & Takoma Park

It was a LONG, WET week but the sun is shining and the weekend is here! The weather looks promising — sunny and 70º so it should be a great weekend to get out and do something fun. Here’s a round-up of a few local Silver Spring and Takoma Park events that just might fit the bill:

Annual Touch Truck @ Silver Spring Nursery School
Saturday, May 3 from 10AM – 1PM
Trucks of every kind for children to explore. There will also be live music, food, arts & crafts, a book fair, and face painting.

Woodlin Spring Fair @ Woodlin Elementary in North Woodside
Saturday, May 3 from 2PM – 5PM
Inflatable Obstacle Course, “Just Dance” Dance Off, Face Painting, Live Band, Flower Sale, Food & Bake Sale, Raffles, and more!

Old Takoma Art Hop
Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 4 from 10AM – 6PM
The 5th annual Art Hop will showcase a variety of art including photography, jewelry and wearable art, paintings, sculptures, collage and mixed media works.  Come see the work of over 70 of artists in shops, restaurants, and galleries throughout Old Town, the Takoma Junction and Takoma DC.

Takoma Park House and Garden Tour
Sunday, May 4 from 1PM – 5PM
Historic Takoma’s 2014 House and Garden Tour showcases the “Spirit of Holly Avenue.” The self-guided tour, includes several spectacular homes and gardens.

Fiesta Asia (Ellsworth Dr. & Fountain Plaza)
Sunday, May 4 from 10AM – 6PM
Asia Heritage Foundation hosts performances, food, crafts, interactive activities, and shopping.

Taste of Fenton Village (between Thayer & Silver Spring Avenues)
Sunday, May 4 from 1PM – 6PM
This family-friendly “restaurant crawl” offers $2 – $5 sample appetizers and tasting plates with international flavors. Rain or shine, 31 Fenton Village restaurants will welcome event attendees to sample their diverse cuisines and cultures at the same time.

Calling Silver Spring’s Incoming Kindergarteners!

So right now at this very minute, it’s snowing. And the last thing you’re likely thinking about is your incoming Kindergartener starting school next fall. Really, we are all just desperately trying to hold it together until Spring Break. Our thoughts are drifting to the end of this school year, summer camps, the pool, the beach. But wait! Montgomery County Public Schools have Kindergarten Orientation Programs scheduled for this April and May (and yes despite the snowy day, April is just a week away).

Children who will turn 5 years old on or before September 1, 2014 are eligible for Kindergarten during the 2014-2015 school year. Don’t miss your chance to attend orientation with your kindergartner; the orientation program is designed to help parents enroll children and assist students in becoming acquainted with future friends and the school environment. You can call your home school to make an appointment for orientation. You can also obtain more information by visiting Montgomery County Public Schools website.

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