Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gary launches new Wordpress Blog

Effective immediately, my blog is now hosted on garyditto.com using Wordpress.  All previous blog entries have been imported into the new blog and can be searched and accessed through the archived folders.  Please continue to send community news and other announcements to me via email (gd@garyditto.com).

VISIT WWW.GARYDITTO.COM/BLOG

Friday, October 23, 2009

OPEN HOUSES FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009


4201 Culver Street, Kensington
For Sale
$759,000 

Open Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1-4






2509 Campbell Place, Kensington
For Sale
$599,000

Open Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1:30-4





4513 Puller Drive Kensington
For Sale

$570,000 

Open Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1-4





10046 Pratt Place, Silver Spring
For Sale
$379,000
  
Open Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1-4 

New Listing - 4201 Culver Street, Kensington MD


4201 Culver Street, Kensington
For Sale
$759,000

Open Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1-4

Monday, October 19, 2009

Kensington Food Drive - Saturday, October 24 from 9-12

Once again, the Town of Kensington, in cooperation with Bethesda Help, will be conducting a Food Drive on Saturday, October 24 between the hours of 9:00 am – 12:00 noon at Town Hall, as part of Montgomery County’s Community Service Day.

Town Hall is located at 3710 Mitchell Street, Kensington, MD 20895

IMPORTANT: Bethesda Help is unable to use food items that come in glass containers or in oversized bottles, cans, and packages.

Foods that are currently needed are as follows:

Beans
Breakfast cereals
Canned meat and fish -- All types, but especially canned corned beef, ham, chicken,
SPAM, meat hashes, chili with meat, stews, salmon, and tuna
Canned fruits
Fruit juice concentrate -- Concentrated juice in soda-sized cans only (available at Giant)
Jelly, jam, or honey
Peanut butter
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Powdered milk -- Boxes containing individual 1-quart envelopes (available at Giant)
Rice
Soups
Vegetables -- All types, but especially tomatoes in 1 pound cans



In addition:

Bethesda Help is always looking for additional volunteers to help out with food delivery.  More information can be found at http://www.bethesdahelp.org/ or by calling 301.365.2022.

Friday, October 16, 2009

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2009


9716 Carriage Road,
Kensington

For Sale
$1,050,000 


Open Sunday, October 18, 1009 from 1-4

TOWN PICNIC POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

TOWN PICNIC POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

The Town’s Annual Picnic that was scheduled for Sunday, October 18 has been postponed due to weather.  The Town is considering all options, including rescheduling and canceling until the spring.  We will let you know through list serve and website announcements as soon as a decision has been made.

Note:  Please disregard the Around Town Journal’s information regarding the Town Picnic.  The Journal should be delivered by Tuesday afternoon.


Town of Kensington Email Announcements
http://www.tok.md.gov

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Warner Memorial - Used Book Fair - Otober 24, 2009

Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church Announces
Used Book Fair to Benefit Crossway Community
Kensington, MD - October 24, 2009


The youth of Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington are collecting gently used children's and young adult books to sell at a used book fair.  All proceeds from the fair will be used to purchase new books for children at the Crossway Community in Wheaton.  The Crossway Community is a unique educational and residential program for families. It offers supportive housing for at-risk mothers and their children, a community training institute for job and career growth, a Montessori based Community Day School,  and the Community Center  which hosts programs on all subjects of interest to the greater community.

The Used Book Fair will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM on October 24 in the Social Hall of Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church.  Used books can be dropped off at the Warner Church office, 10123 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, through Thursday, October 22.  Call Jan Moody at 301-949-2900, ext 307 with any questions.

The Press Contact for this event is Jan Moody, 301-949-2900, ext. 307 or dcewarner@comcast.net.

Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church
10123 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington MD  20895
301-949-2900 - www.WarnerMemorial.org

Serving members in Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Brookeville, Burtonsville, Chevy Chase, Colesville, Garrett Park, Hyattsville, Kensington, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring & Wheaton for 116 years.

Town of Kensington and Chevy Chase View obtain $100K in Grant Funding for Pedestrian Safety

Congratulations to the Town of Kensington and our neighbor to the south, Chevy Chase View on successfully obtaining $100K in grant funding for pedestrian safety!

http://www.gazette.net/stories/10142009/kensnew201531_32525.shtml

The grant comes from the Safe Routes to Schools program which is federally funded and administered by each State. This is a great example of local, state and federal governments working together to improve our quality of life and make our neighborhoods safer for kids.

Kudos to Mayor Fosselman for collaborating with our neighboring jurisdiction to pursue this grant. Former Town employee Claudia Donnelly was instrumental in putting together the grant application.

This is a first for Kensington.


Town of Kensington Email Announcements
http://www.tok.md.gov

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

THE ANNUAL TOWN OF KENSINGTON PICNIC - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

THE ANNUAL TOWN OF KENSINGTON PICNIC

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 1-4 p.m. at St. Paul Park

Please join for some harvest fun.... we will have a small pumpkin patch, music, fun and games for the whole family. We ask that you bring pot luck snack for apprx. 8 people. The town will supply water,soda,lemonade,cider and beer and a ton of apples from Hawkins market!!!!

The Kensington VFD will be around to give tours of some of the fire engines!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

"In the Eye of the Appraiser" link to Washington Post Article from 10/3/09

"In the Eye of the Appraiser"

With Cautious Banks and New Rules, a House's Valuation is No Longer a Sure Thing

From The Washington Post, 10/03/09

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100105442.html

KENSINGTON ROW BOOKSHOP EVENT - Thursday, November 5 @ 7:30 pm

Kensington Row Bookshop
3786 Howard  Ave.
Kensington, Md. 20895
www.kensingtonrowbookshop.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Elisenda Sola-Sole
301/949-9416

AUTHOR TALK

Sanford Gottlieb author of
"Red to Blue:Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Grassroots Politics"
Thursday, November 5, 7:30 pm
Chris Van Hollen, flanked by a grassroots army, won upset victories in the 2002 primary and general elections--even though one of his opponents had a consultant named David Axelrod. Van Hollen's win in the suburbs helped lift the Democrats out of the doldrums, the first step in a struggle that led to Barack Obama's triumph in 2008. Red to Blue chronicles Van Hollen's campaign from the inside, follows him as he becomes a rising star in his party, and visits the activists who changed history from Montgomery County, Maryland, to Carroll County, Iowa. "The book is valuable enough as a tale of Van Hollen," says Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, "but its insights into the larger issues of American politics make it a real keeper." The book's foreword is written by Mike McCurry, former White House press secretary

Sanford Gottlieb worked in the peace movement from 1960 to 1993. He was executive director of SANE. The author of Defense Addiction, in 2002 he served as a Kensington precinct coordinator in Van Hollen's campaign.



Free event.

JRA Day - Craft Exhibition & Sale - Saturday Nov. 28 - The Women's Club of CC

JRA Day
Craft Exhibition & Sale

 Saturday, November 28, 2008
 11:00 - 5:00 pm
 The Women’s Club of Chevy Chase
7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD


The James Renwick Alliance is pleased to announce our sponsorship of the second annual “JRA Day” featuring exceptional and unique crafts by over 40 member artists for sale to the public.  The event, for one day only, will be held in the gracious halls of the Women’s Club of Chevy Chase conveniently located on Connecticut Avenue and includes free parking to our patrons.  Craft lovers will have the opportunity to meet this talented group of craft artisans and learn about their artistic principals and technical expertise.  The artists represented are members of the JRA and this fundraiser will contribute to its many programs.  The James Renwick Alliance is an independent, national, non-profit organization that celebrates the achievements of America’s craft artists and fosters scholarship, education and public appreciation of craft art.  Admission is $5 for members and $7 for non-members and free to those who join the James Renwick Alliance that day. 



    ……………..….Digital images available upon request………………………
For more information contact: Mallory Lawson or Sarah Frey    301.907.3888  www.jraday.com

Friday, October 9, 2009

NEW LISTING - 9305 WEST PARKHILL DRIVE, BETHESDA


9305 West Parkhill Drive Bethesda, Maryland

For Sale
$ 799,000


Welcome to this charming four bedroom, three full bath brick Cape Cod located in prestigious Locust Hill Estates. Centrally located, this beautiful home is ideal as you can walk to the Stoneridge School, NIH, Navy Medical and the Metro. You are also only steps away from Rock Creek Park! Among its many features, please take note of the wonderful first floor family room that opens out to the private flagstone patio. Also, enjoy the beautifully landscaped private back yard and gardens throughout all the seasons. Other features include a breakfast room off the kitchen (also perfect for a den or study), a one car garage, a sun-filled and cozy living room with fireplace, as well as a large lower level recreation room.  It’s time to “FALL” in love. 

Thursday, October 8, 2009

OPEN HOUSES FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009



10007 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington - $ 699,000
Open Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 1-4 pm
   
4513 Puller Drive, Kensington - $595,000
Open Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 1:30-4 pm

Friday, October 2, 2009

District 18 Town Hall Meeting - Tues., Oct. 6 @ 7 pm

If you live in Maryland's Legislative District 18, you are invited to a Town Hall Meeting with Your District 18 Representatives to Annapolis:

Come share your views and hear the latest from your District 18 General Assembly Members State Senator Richard Madaleno, and State Delegates Alfred Carr, Ana Sol GutiƩrrez, and Jeff Waldstreicher.

Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 PM

The Bushey Center
12210 Bushey Drive
Silver Spring, MD

The new Maryland state legislative session is fast approaching. There will be tough decisions to be made. Meet the elected officials who will influence the budget and help set priorities. Ask questions about educations, transportation, health care issues, etc. and let them know what's important to you.

OPEN HOUSES FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2009


10502 Parkwood Dr.,  Kensington
For Sale Open Sunday Oct. 4th 1-4 PM 
$1,090,000 



10007 Connecticut Ave, Kensington
For Sale
Open Sunday Oct. 4th 1-4 PM 
$ 739,000



4513 Puller Drive Kensington
For Sale Open Sunday Oct. 4th 1-4 PM 
$625,000  




3613 Sandy Court, Kensington
For Sale Open Sunday Oct. 4th 1-4 PM 
$569,000 




9902 Capitol View Ave.,  Silver Spring
For Sale Open Sunday Oct. 4th 1-4 PM 
$279,000 

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Long & Foster teams up with Google for an easy 'Real Estate Quick Search Widget"

Long & Foster teams up with Google for an easy 'Real Estate Quick Search Widget"
About The Real Estate Quick Search Widget

Staying on the cutting-edge of technological innovation has been a driving goal since the creation of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Time and again, it has achieved this goal, whether by offering technology certification courses and web-based training to its agents or by creating dynamic agent websites and regularly updating its comprehensive public website.

The Real Estate Quick Search widget for the Google application iGoogle is just one more way Long & Foster is staying abreast of the latest technological trends. "Buyers, sellers, enthusiasts and real estate agents will find this tool simple to use and completely versatile," said Michael Koval, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. "You can search based on location, price range, number of bedrooms, number of baths, or any combination of those criteria."

How does it all work? It starts with iGoogle. iGoogle is a personalized homepage available to Google users. It is completely customizable, so that when you log on to the Internet, everything you want to know – from the weather and news to t.v. listing and movie showtimes – is right at your fingertips.

Each little unit of information, called an interactive information module or widget, can be added or deleted from the list provided by Google, downloaded from a widget provider like Widgetbox, or even created using Google’s online wizard. And because most widgets are made with Flash or JavaScript, they can run on almost any browser. Clocks, games, counters, videos, weather and stock updates are all examples of widgets – just another way of bringing information to you, instead of requiring you to go out and get it.

Like these widgets, Long & Foster’s new Real Estate Quick Search widget can be downloaded to your iGoogle homepage, allowing you to conduct a simple search for homes for sale or comparable properties in your neighborhood. Once your search is complete, you can click on the desired property to be taken to www.longandfoster.com for full listing details. Explains Koval, "The best part is you can see the listing information without leaving your iGoogle page, but if you do want to see more details on the property then you can go directly to the full listing on our full www.longandfoster.com website."

In short, the Real Estate Quick Search widget is designed to save you time while still keeping you informed about up-to-the-minute market developments. With a little help from iGoogle, Long & Foster is doing just that.

From: http://homes.longandfoster.com/Real-Estate/Real-Estate-Search.htm


GREAT RE-FI AND BUYER OPPORTUNITIES - INTEREST RATES DOWN!

Courtesy of Matt Gilday at First Savings Mortgage

Go to Gary's website to print out a full size pdf of the rate sheet






Matt Gilday
Vice President
240-223-1636 Direct
703-564-7003 fax

6550 Rock Spring Drive
Suite 300
Bethesda, Maryland 20817

www.mattgilday.com <http://www.mattgilday.com/>