29 April 2010, 11:26 am
Plans for renovation of Warner Manor received a timely boost from the State Legislature this month as lawmakers approved a $275,000 grant to the County Parks and Planning Commission for the project.
The grant, which will require matching funds from the commission, was part of a 2010 omnibus bond bill sent to the governor as the Legislature adjourned for the year. The funds are designated for “the design, construction, repair, renovation, and reconstruction” of the historic Kensington landmark, the former summer home of Kensington founder Brainard Warner.
State Senator Richard Madaleno of Kensington led the successful effort to fund the grant. District 18 Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez, Al Carr, and Jeff Waldstreicher led the effort in the lower House.
The funds will supplement a $250,000 state grant provided for Warner Manor by the Legislature last year. That money, combined with matching funds from the commission, allowed initial design work to begin on restoration of the circa 1894 mansion and carriage house.
A concept plan approved by the Parks Commission calls for restoring the two buildings and using them as office and storage space for county parks department staff, with public access to the manor after renovation. The surrounding 4.5-acre Legacy Open Space Park will remain open to public use.
29 April 2010, 11:23 am
Meanwhile, Kensington residents are rallying behind an effort to keep the historic Noyes Children’s Library open in the face of ongoing county budget deliberations. The library, founded by Washington Star publisher Alfred Noyes in cooperation with Brainard Warner in 1893, is slated to close in July for a two-year renovation to meet federal disability access standards.
The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation, which orchestrated a successful drive to prevent closure of the library in the 1990’s through a public-private partnership with Montgomery County, has stepped up with a plan to raise funds to keep Noyes open while the renovation plans are reviewed.
The children’s library–the only one of its kind in the county and one of only three public libraries dedicated to children in the US–is located adjacent to Warner Circle Manor and Park, and has been a favorite of generations of area parents, grandparents and young children.
If the Foundation’s proposal is approved by the County Council, the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation will be looking for volunteers to help organize events and activities, such as a Storybook Parade for children, and fundraising efforts such as a direct mail campaign and a gala auction. If you would like to volunteer, or to receive occasional e-mails from the Foundation with news and announcements of upcoming events, please contact Jan Jablonski at janjablonski@msn.com. You may also look for the latest “News on Noyes” as we post it on www.kensingtonhistory.org!
29 April 2010, 11:14 am
The Kensington Historical Society Archives have reopened. We are open 9:30 to 12 on Friday mornings and other days by appointment. (Call Ann Pfautz at 240-423-2827.) We are happy to receive donations and have the ability to scan your photos while you wait.
29 April 2010, 11:13 am
KHS will again be offering opportunities for Student Service Volunteer hours. We are a MCPS pre-approved non-profit organization and offer many opportunities at varying times. Email info@kensingtonhistory.org of call Julie (301-942-8933) for more information.
8 February 2010, 11:45 am
The meeting, originally set for 2/9, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Kensington Historical Society welcomes Roy Sewall, local author and leading photographer of the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. His MARCH 9 presentation will include slides of his award winning photographs, giving his perspective of those historic waterways. Mr. Sewall has published two books, Our Potomac, from Great Falls through Washington, D.C in 2005 and Great Falls and Mather Gorge in 2009. His photos have appeared on the National Park Service Passport Stamp Set and on banners throughout the C & O Canal National Historical Park. He’s worked as the project leader to scan C&O Canal Nat’l Historical Park’s entire collection of historic prints.
We invite you to attend our Kensington Historical Society meeting for his presentation, Tuesday, March 9 at the Kensington Town Hall/Armory, 3710 Mitchell Street, ground floor. Come for coffee at 7 PM. Roy Sewall will speak from 7:30 to 8:30 followed by a brief business meeting. Mr. Sewall will have books available for purchase.
4 February 2010, 8:03 am
The Kensington Sector plan has been resheduled for tonight, Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:30 pm.
The County Office Building is located at:
100 Maryland Avenue • Rockville, MD 20850
7:30 PUBLIC HEARING – Kensington and Vicinity Sector Plan (Michaelson)
PHED Committee worksession tentatively scheduled for 3/15/10.
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/current_agenda.pdf
3 February 2010, 4:31 pm
The Archives is closed while construction at the Town Hall continues. We will post the opening date as soon as it’s available.
29 January 2010, 11:31 am
The Warner Circle Committee will be holding a meeting with M-NCPPC staff on Monday, February 1 at 7pm in the Council room at Town Hall.
The meeting is in regards the County’s proposed budget cuts to the Warner Circle project.
Park and Planning staff will also brief the community on progress on applying for State Bond bills, getting an easement over the property with Maryland Historic Trust, and moving the design process forward from 15% to 35%, among other issues. Please let other interested parties in the community know about this update meeting.
Town Hall is located at:
3710 Mitchell Street
Kensington, MD 20895
If you have any questions, please contact the Town at 301.949.2424.
15 December 2009, 5:50 pm
Thanks to our hosts, Debra and Mike McCurry, and all of those who made it possible.
