Association News – Friday, February 3, 2023
Upcoming King Farm Board & Committee Meetings
- Architectural Design Trust (ADT)
- Wednesday 02/08/2023 – 4:30 PM
- Board of Trustees (BOT)
- Wednesday 02/15/2023 – 7:00 PM
- Board of Code Compliance (BOCC)
- Monday 02/13/2023 – 7:00 PM (regular meeting)
King Farm meetings are held virtually. Residents can find the Zoom registration links for all upcoming King Farm Board of Trustees and Committee meetings online by visiting King Farm website on the “Zoom Meeting Links” page. To attend the Zoom meetings, you must register in advance. Each meeting will have an open forum for residents to ask questions or make comments (limited to 3 minutes speaking time per resident). If you would like to speak during open forum, please provide the topic you will be speaking about.
**If you need assistance registering for a virtual meeting and for all other questions, please contact Management by phone (301) 987-0122 or by email at management@kingfarm.org.
King Farm Resident Meet & Mingle Breakfast – This weekend!
Maybe you’re a new resident of King Farm or have been established in your home for years, that’s ok! Come on out for a little coffee, conversation, and light breakfast fare too!
Join us next Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Saddle Ridge Community Center (300 Saddle Ridge Circle). Get to know your neighbors, meet members of the King Farm Management team, the King Farm Citizens Assembly President, and Board of Trustees.
This is a great opportunity to learn about the community committees and have any questions you may have about life in King Farm answered. But most importantly, make new friends, meet and mingle with your neighbors.
We hope to see you there!
King Farm Proposed Amended Administrative Resolution No. 4 for Review
During the February 15th, 2023 BOT meeting, the BOT is expected to review and vote on the following amended resolution:
- AR No. 4 – Due Process Resolution
You can view a copy of any recently adopted resolutions within the FrontSteps Resident Portal under the ‘Internal Documents’. Navigate to the folder 2. Governing Documents / Administrative Resolutions (or Equity Resolutions). To view proposed amendments to existing resolutions or proposed new resolutions, navigate to folder 2. Governing Documents / 1 – Draft Resolutions.
*If you do not have access to the resident portal, please contact Management for assistance or to obtain copies of these documents.
If you have any questions regarding the amended Investment Policy, please email management@kingfarm.org.
2023 Annual Meeting and Election – Call For Candidates
The 2023 King Farm Annual Meeting & Election will take place at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 26th via Zoom meeting. For more information about the meeting and candidate information, please visit the Farm website: https://kingfarm.org/annual-meeting-election/. Additional information will also be included in the next issue of the Chronicle.
*Please note the corrected information to the number of open seats on the board and deadline to submit a Citizen Registration Form.
Candidate Information:
- There are four (4) open seats for the Board of Trustees (BOT). Three (3) seats are two-year terms and one (1) seat is for a one-year term. For those interested in running in the 2023 Election, please visit the King Farm website https://kingfarm.org/candidate-information/ for requirements and refer to the Candidate Considerations document.
- Complete your candidacy “Statement of Purpose” using no more than one (1) page. The Statement of Purpose must be typed using a font 12-point or higher and double spaced.
- Complete the “Petition For Candidacy Form”, including necessary signatures.
- The completed documents with the necessary signatures must be received by the Management Office [electronically, hand-delivered, or via USPS mail] no later than 3:00 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
- Lack of the necessary number of valid signatures will result in an invalid candidacy petition (signatures are invalid if the King Farm citizen is delinquent). We recommend obtaining more than the required number to ensure you have enough.
*If you would like to drop off the documents, you can put the completed documents in the drop-box to the right of the front door of the Management Office (300 Saddle Ridge Circle).
Registering to Vote:
- As a reminder, All Citizen [resident] Titleholders of single-family homes, townhomes, and condominium units, as shown on the Assembly’s records, are automatically registered to vote.
- More information about registering to vote can be found on the website: https://kingfarm.org/registering-to-vote/.
- UPDATE: Please note that non-resident Titleholders are NOT eligible to vote in the election per the governing documents.
- Non-titleholders must register ANNUALLY!
- All other persons who wish to vote, including tenants and other occupants of a King Farm residence who are not the record owners of the residence, are required to complete a Citizen Registration Form in order to register as Citizens with the Assembly and to vote in elections (registration forms can be found on the website).
- Citizen Registration Forms must be submitted by 12:00 pm, Monday, March 27th, 2023. You can submit your form to the Management Office via email at management@kingfarm.org or by placing it in the drop box to the right of the front office door (300 Saddle Ridge Circle).
- All forms will be verified (signed lease, state issued driver’s license, and/or owner verification).
Please note: If you are NOT a Citizen Titleholder and have not registered by the deadline you are not permitted to vote in the election.
City & County Updates:
Suds & Soles 5K Returns this June!
We are so excited for this year’s race! Registration opens this week on February 1st! Register early to save more money for beer. See you on June 17, 2023 in Rockville Town Center! https://www.mcrrcsudsandsoles.org/…/Rockville/SudsSoles5K
Winter Travel Tips to Drive Safely
February can bring some of the snowiest, iciest conditions to Rockville. Drive safely with these tips:
- Keep your vehicle well-maintained for the winter driving season: Check to see that the brakes, heating/cooling system, electrical system, engine, exhaust, tires, oil, lights, defrosters and wipers are working properly. Consider installing winter or snow tires with deep treads to help keep traction.
- Equip vehicles with an emergency kit: Kits should include blankets, flashlights, extra clothes, a shovel, tow chain, matches, traction aids, flares, jumper cables, nonperishable snacks and water.
- While driving during winter weather:
- Always drive with your lights on and wear your seatbelt.
- Increase your following distance. Don’t slam on the brakes.
- Brake before curves. Turn the steering wheel slowly and smoothly to maintain control.
Black History Month in Rockville:
Rockville celebrates Black History Month in February and encourages community members to explore our city’s rich African American heritage. Visit www.rockvillemd.gov/history to find the city’s African-American Heritage Walking Tour story map. The map, developed by the city’s Department of Community Planning and Development Services, runs 2 miles and includes 18 locations in and around Rockville Town Center highlighting people and places important to the city’s Black history from the 18th- through 20th-century.
Rockville 11’s YouTube channel offers a playlist highlighting activists, pioneers, places, city leaders, Black history facts and community members who remind us of the many contributions made by African Americans to Rockville and our country. Find it at bit.ly/RkvBHMPlaylist.
Financial Empowerment for Residents in Rockville
Bank On Rockville is part of the city’s Financial Empowerment initiative to provide residents with access to safe and affordable checking and savings accounts, increase financial capability, and offer pathways to economic self-sufficiency. In addition to helping residents open a free basic checking and/or savings account at one of our participating banks or credit unions, residents can be connected to programs to help with budgeting, credit counseling, debt management, tax preparation, and workforce development. For more information: Bank On Rockville
Free Tax Help for Low to Moderate Income Residents
The county’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) partnership hosts free tax help sites throughout the community for households earning $60,000 or less to help them take advantage of valuable tax credits, including the Maryland and federal earned income tax credit, child tax credits, and working families income supplement. Applying those tax credits may provide households thousands of dollars in tax refunds. In-person tax assistance appointments are available in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville and Wheaton. Virtual appointments also are available. Information about VITA sites, tax credits, and appointments is available on the county’s CASHBACK website or by calling 311.
Public Hearing Notification: Hearing on Voting Age, Vote on Mayor and Council Size Are On the Agenda for February 6
Rockville’s Mayor and Council will consider in February several recommendations from the city’s Charter Review Commission that could change the city’s voting age, the size of Mayor and Council and other elements of city elections. On Monday, Feb. 6, the Mayor and Council are scheduled to hold a public hearing on recommendations that, if adopted, would amend the city charter to lower the voting age from 18 to 16, permit noncitizens to vote, set term limits, create representative districts, create an administrative process to fill a vacancy on the council, change election years to coincide with presidential or gubernatorial elections, and implement ranked-choice voting. Learn how to testify during the Feb. 6 hearing at www.rockville md.gov/hearings and find more information when the agenda is posted at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
The Mayor and Council must consider whether any of the recommendations should be included as ballot questions for voters to decide when they vote in the city election in November. They are expected to be on the agenda for discussion during the Monday, Feb. 27 meeting. Also on Feb. 27, the Mayor and Council are scheduled to vote on whether to expand the elected body from five members to seven, comprising a mayor and six council members. A public hearing on the recommendation was scheduled for Jan. 30. Find video of the hearing at www.rockville md.gov/AgendaCenter. To read the commission’s recommendations, find the 2022 Charter Review Commission Report at www.rockvillemd.gov/charter-review-commission.
King Farm Neighbors Village News (KFNV)
Solicitation: King Farm Neighbors Village Seeking New Members for Board of Directors
The King Farm Neighbors Village (KFNV) seeks individuals to serve as members of the Board of Directors. The Board is a volunteer managing entity for the KFNV and works to develop, implement, and sustain activities that support the KFNV mission to help King Farm residents who would like to remain in their homes throughout their lives and age in place. The KFNV coordinates services such as friendly visits, check-in phone calls, social events, health and safety events and transportation.
Board members must be residents of King Farm and members of the KFNV. We are seeking individuals who are interested in the KFNV and its mission, who have experience germane to serving on the KFNV Board, and who are willing to commit a level of effort necessary to complete the duties of a KFNV Board member. The term of service for Board members is two years, beginning at the Annual Meeting held in April of each year.
If you are interested in joining the KFNV Board, please send a statement of interest and a brief bio to kfnvinfo@gmail.com. For more information about the KFNV see the website at www.kfnv.org.
KFNV Events:
The last KFNV event of the month was on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4:00-5:15 pm, where Maureen Charlton, Director of Memory Support Services and Programming at Ingleside at King Farm presented, Brain Health Is for All Ages! Participants from the King Farm Community learned about evidence-based strategies and practical tools to boost your brain health. The KFNV thanks Ms. Charlton for her engaging and informative presentation.
The KFNV started February with a timely discussion by the Movie Club of the movie, Elvis, a movie recently nominated for eight Academy Awards. Specifically, on Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 2:00- 3:00 pm, the Movie Club discussed the biopic, Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Austin Butler, who recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Movie Club participants engaged in a lively conversation that elicited much discussion about what was real vs. fiction in Elvis.
Other February, a/k/a Valentine month, events hosted by the KFNV will be:
- On Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 12:30-2:00 pm, The KFNV Book Club will discuss Lisa Wingate’s novel, The Book of Lost Friends: A Novel. Amazon describes the novel as: “a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.”
- On Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 10:00-11:30 am, Coffee and Conversation participants will keep Valentine activities going by discussing the topic: What is your favorite song and/or memory related to Valentine’s Day? As always, memorabilia are encouraged to explain your memory. Remember a picture is worth 1000 words! and,
- On Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 7:00-9:00 pm, the KFNV will host its second Games Night. As with the inaugural Games Night in November, all sorts of games will be available to play, such as Scrabble, Scattergories, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Uno. This event is open to all members of the King Farm community. You do not have to be a KFNV member to participate. Because space is limited due to social distancing, please reserve your spot as soon as possible.
**Please note that the KFNV has changed its monthly Movie Club, Book Club, Coffee and Conversation gatherings and highlight events to in-person meetings and has reserved the King Farm Community Center, 300 Saddle Ridge Circle, Rockville, MD 20850 for these events. In accordance with the policy adopted by the KFNV Board of Directors, people attending KFNV sponsored, in-person events must be vaccinated per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID recommendations. Wearing a mask is optional. In case of inclement weather and if there is time to notify participants, the KFNV may opt for a Zoom presentation for any meeting or event. Therefore, the KFNV will not be offering a hybrid option for any future events. Finally, the KFNV offers transportation to many of its monthly events for KFNV members. Please contact the Operations Coordinator at kfnvinfo@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at (301) 799-8104 to arrange for transportation.
Services
The KFNV community services are in full-swing with KFNV services such as transportation to appointments and simple household chores being the most popular services. As one grateful recipient of transportation to an appointment raved:
- “Hi, (KFNV) (Volunteer 1) was delightful and did a great job shepherding me to and from. I was quite anxious about the procedure and, bless his heart, (Volunteer 1) kept an eye on me and kept me distracted. I hope (think) he might have enjoyed himself a bit too. He’s a retired dentist and my dentist conversed with him a bit. (Volunteer 1) even stayed at the dentist’s office until I was ready to go home!”
- “(Volunteer 2) was lovely. He (and all the volunteers) arrived on time, got me there in plenty of time (I like getting somewhere early rather than late.), and was there waiting. [I had let him know my appointments were running a bit late and we agreed (I’d) phone/text him when I was done.] Very thoughtful. Thanks very much, (Service Recipient)”
Please feel free to avail yourself of this service as well as any of the following KFNV community services:
- Simple household tasks
- Friendly phone calls
- Transportation to appointments
- Friendly visits
*Please note that services are open to KFNV members only; however, membership is free and an easy process. See below on how to contact the KFNV to schedule any of the services or with any questions that you may have about the services as well as how to become a KFNV member.
Contacting the KFNV
For most of the KFNV monthly events as well as the services, membership is required; but membership is as easy as filling out an on-line or mail-in form with residency in the King Farm Community being the only membership requirement.
Although there is no fee to become a KFNV member, the KFNV does, however, accept. and welcome donations; for these donations help defray the cost of KFNV services and events.
For information on how to register for any of the above events, to request a service or a ride, to become a KFNV member, or to make a donation, please contact the Operations Coordinator by calling (301) 799-8104 or leaving a voicemail, or view the KFNV website at www.kfnv.org.
RCPD News Report: January 24, 2023 to January 31, 2023
Click here to read the Weekly Crime Report courtesy of the Rockville City Police Department.
If you have a crime or concern to report, please contact the Rockville City Police Department at:
Non-Emergency: 240-314-8900
Emergency: 9-1-1
2 W. Montgomery Ave, Rockville, Maryland 20850
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