Hello neighbors,

Please see the joint statement from Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and Health and Human Services below.

Additional information, including FAQs, can be found at the County’s new webpage here, which will go live at 11:15am on Monday, June 15.

DEP and DHHS Joint Statement: PFAS Contamination found in a small stream near Great Seneca Highway

Community Meeting:
Wednesday, June 17 at 7pm
DuFief Elementary School
The County will host a public community meeting on Wednesday, June 17 at 7pm at DuFief Elementary School to provide additional information and answer questions from residents.

Overview:
Montgomery County has been notified by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) of elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in samples taken from Muddy Branch, a stream in the western side of the County, as well as significantly elevated levels in a stormwater pond and small stream running along the south side of Great Seneca Highway and beneath Key West Avenue.

The map shows the tributary and ponds in yellow/red hatching for which a water contact advisory is being issued. People and their pets should avoid contact with the water and refrain from fishing in the water contact advisory areas. The locations of the highest sampling results are adjacent to and on the site of the former Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA). We will continue to evaluate the appropriate extent of the public health advisory and whether to lift any aspects of the advisory based on sampling data going forward.

WSSC Water has confirmed that drinking water treated from the Potomac River remains in compliance with federal drinking water standards for PFAS and continues to be safe for consumption. More information from WSSC about PFAS can be found on their website: https://www.wsscwater.com/pfas.

MDE recommends that all private well owners, regardless of location, get their well water tested at least once a year to ensure that their water is safe to drink and to include PFAS in that testing. General sampling and maintenance recommendations for private drinking water wells can be accessed on MDE’s Be Well Wise webpage (https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/Water_Supply/Pages/Be_Well_Wise.aspx).

MDE provides a list of state-certified laboratories, and PFAS related guidance for private well owners on this factsheet:  https://mde.maryland.gov/PublicHealth/Documents/PFAS%20Private%20Well%20Factsheet_March2023.pdf. The fact sheet also provides guidance on additional treatment options that can be installed in homes and buildings (see page three of the fact sheet).

PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are human-made chemicals used since the1940s in a wide range of everyday products, and research has shown that long-term exposure may increase the risk for certain types of cancer.

Although there are currently no federal standards for PFAS in stream water, the levels detected in sample locations shown on the map are substantially higher than what would be expected in a natural environment.

What is the County doing?

• Issuing a Public Health Advisory (link to statement)

• Issuing alerts and posting signage cautioning residents about the water contact advisory for the specific tributary and ponds identified in the map. (link to sign)

• Directly notifying residents living near the areas with the highest sample results and providing additional information and online resources.

• Contacting well owners within one mile of the highest sample results and offering to test their wells.

• Conducting additional testing, including groundwater and soil in the affected areas to inform remediation plans.

• Taking strong science-based steps to investigate the potential health and environmental risks and guide actions to protect public health and the environment.

• Forming a Task Force, comprised of representatives from Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water), Montgomery County Office of the County Attorney, and Montgomery County Parks.

How can the public stay informed? 

Throughout this investigation, DEP and DHHS will update the public as soon as new information becomes available. We are committed to keeping the public informed in the following ways:

• Hosting public community meetings, beginning with one on Wednesday June 17, 2026 at 7:00PM, held at DuFief Elementary School located at 15001 DuFief Drive, North Potomac, 20878

• Answering community questions through 311

• Updates posted on a new website found at MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/PFAS

To continue to stay informed, please sign up for email alerts at https://rebrand.ly/PFASTributaryofMuddyBranch

Sincerely,
Jennifer

Jennifer Macedonia
Director
Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County, Maryland
2425 Reedie Drive, 4th Floor
Wheaton,  Maryland 20902
Office: 240-777-7781
Mobile: 240-890-6921

Hello Neighbors!

Washingtonian Woods “Summer Kick-Off” Pool & Raft Party
Saturday, June 13th, 4pm – 8pm (pool open until 9pm)

The Annual Washingtonian Woods “Summer Kick-Off” Pool & Raft Party will be held on Saturday, June 13th from 4pm until 8pm. All neighbors and pool members are welcome and encouraged to attend!

– Music, soft drinks and ice cream will be provided.
– Bring your own rafts!
– No glass containers on the pool deck.

Please help us spread the word, and we hope to see you all there!

Neighborhood Calendars
Please see our notable calendars of events (click on each link):
2026 Food Truck Fridays Calendar
2026 Social Events Calendar
2026 Swim Team Calendar

Thank you all for your support!

The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee
www.washwoods.org

Hello Neighbors,

This is a friendly reminder that the Association’s Annual Compliance Inspections will be conducted within the next few weeks.

These inspections are part of our regular process to help maintain community standards, property values, and overall appearance. If your home had noted violations during the previous inspection that were not corrected, those items will be re-inspected during this annual review.

Common Items Reviewed During Inspections
To help you prepare, below are some of the most common items that are evaluated:

• • Lawn care and landscaping (mowing, edging, weeds, dead plants and trees)
  • Trash and recycling containers (proper storage and visibility)
  • Exterior maintenance (peeling paint, damaged siding, shutters, trim)
  • Roof condition (missing shingles, discoloration)
  • Fences (damage, leaning, needed repairs)
  • Driveways and sidewalks (cracks, stains, general condition)
  • Unauthorized exterior modifications or additions
  • Parking compliance (commercial vehicles, inoperable vehicles, etc.)
  • General property cleanliness (clutter, debris, bulk items)

How to Prepare
Taking a little time now can help you avoid receiving a violation notice:

• • Walk around your property and address any visible maintenance issues
  • Store trash and recycling bins out of public view except on collection days
  • Remove weeds, trim bushes, and mow your lawn regularly, if applicable
  • Check for and repair any exterior damage to your home
  • Ensure any previous violations have been fully resolved
  • Remove any clutter or items stored outside that may not be permitted

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our community looking its best. If you have any questions regarding compliance standards or need clarification on a specific item, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Sean Hall, CMCA, AMS
Community Manager, Washingtonian Woods

Hello Neighbors,

We’re excited to invite you and your family to celebrate Holi with us—a joyful festival of colors that marks the arrival of spring and the spirit of togetherness.

Event Details:
Date: May 3, 2026
Time: 4PM
Location: Clubhouse Parking Lot

Holi is all about fun, laughter, and community. We’ll have music, light snacks, and plenty of vibrant, eco-friendly colors to share. Whether you’ve celebrated before or this is your first time, everyone is welcome!

What to Wear:
We recommend wearing comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting colorful—white or light-colored outfits work best to show off the bright powders. Sunglasses are a good idea to protect your eyes, and you may also want to bring a change of clothes for afterward.

We hope to see you there for a memorable and colorful day!

Thank you,
The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee

Hello Neighbors,

WHAT:  Fields Road Boundary Meeting
WHEN:  Wednesday, February 18, 6:30pm
WHERE:  Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse

There will be a community meeting on Wednesday, February 18th, at 6:30 pm, at the Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse to discuss the MCPS Superintendent’s boundary recommendation.

Superintendent’s Boundary Recommendation
For further details, please see the below communication from the Fields Road Boundary Advocacy team regarding the Superintendent’s Boundary Recommendation:

Update regarding Superintendent’s Boundary Recommendation

We hope you are staying safe and well.

Thank you,
Glenn Watts
Board of Directors, Washingtonian Woods HOA
www.washwoods.org

Hello Neighbors,

In advance of this weekend’s upcoming snowstorm, we’d like to share with you some important information about snow removal for the neighborhood. We hope sharing this information will help manage expectations and assist with keeping our neighborhood vibrant and safe.

Please see the below communication from the City of Gaithersburg regarding Snow Emergency Routes as well as a reminder that it is the responsibility that all residents remove snow from public sidewalks along their property within 12 hours of last precipitation:
https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/Home/Components/News/News/9591/16

Further information can be on the City’s Snow Removal Web Site, here:
https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/services/public-works/snow-removal

Additionally, please see the below map regarding which sidewalks will be cleared by the Washingtonian Woods HOA (indicated in purple.)

Please note that the public sidewalk along the City Park on Upshire Circle (near the tennis courts) is cleared by the City of Gaithersburg.

Additionally, the sidewalk along the northern side of Midsummer Drive in front of the Vistas Condominiums is cleared by the Vistas at Washingtonian Woods HOA.

We hope you are all staying safe and well.

Thank you,
Glenn Watts
Board of Directors, Washingtonian Woods HOA
www.washwoods.org

Hello Neighbors,

Please see the below communication from the Fields Road Boundary Advocacy team regarding the latest Crown HS boundary developments and upcoming community meetings.

For more information or to register for any of the above, please see the web site below:
https://sites.google.com/view/fieldsroadtocrownhigh/

We hope you are staying safe and well.

Thank you,
Glenn Watts
Board of Directors, Washingtonian Woods HOA
www.washwoods.org

Hello Neighbors,

The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee is happy to announce 3 events in the month of December!

Washingtonian Woods Gives Back
Saturday, December 13th
10:00am – 12:00pm
Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse

We are excited to bring back our annual Washingtonian Woods Gives Back holiday gift giving
program. This year we are again partnering with KINDH (Kids In Need During Holidays) and helping to provide children in Montgomery County with a memorable holiday experience.
We will be adopting 10 families whose parents/guardians have submitted wish lists to the KINDH organization.

In addition to the family wish list, we are asking for grocery store gift cards for each family to purchase food for their holiday meal. Please take a look at the lists below for requested gifts. When you sign up, please understand that you are committing to purchasing AND wrapping your gifts. Please include batteries if the gift you are buying needs them.

DO NOT include gift receipts! Wrapped gift drop off will be on Saturday,
December 13th from 10:00am-12:00 pm at the Washingtonian Woods clubhouse.

We ask that you label your wrapped gift(s) with the child’s FIRST NAME only. Please do not put your name or family number on the gift tag. You will need to know the family number associated with the gift when you drop off.

The link to sign up is below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A4AA22A57-60698495-washingtonian/1588597#/

Thank you in advance for your support and help in making this a wonderful holiday for these children and their families.

Please contact Marcie Blackman ( [email protected] ) or Betsy McKay
( [email protected] ) if you have any questions.

Annual Chanukah Fire Truck Parade
Tuesday, December 16th
7:15pm
Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse

The Annual Chanukah Fire Truck Parade is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16th this year! The truck will make a stop at the Washingtonian Woods clubhouse at approximately 7:45p.m.

The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee invites neighbors of all ages to join us for a Chanukah celebration outside of the clubhouse before the firetruck arrives! We will begin the festivities at 7:15pm with hot chocolate and treats!

Hope to see to you all there for this festive event! For those that have not attended before, you are in for a great time!

Holiday Cookie Exchange
Monday, December 22nd
7:30pm – 9:00pm
Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse, Upper Level

The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee is excited to offer a Holiday Cookie Exchange!

If you have never been to one, you are in for a treat, literally!

Depending on the number of participants, each person will bring approximately 5 dozen homemade cookies/bars of your choice.

Also, please print the recipe on a sheet of paper so that participants may be able to see the ingredients and be able to copy the recipe, if they would like.

At the end of the night, you are able to take home 2-3 of each goody.

The Social Committee will have some light hor dourves to munch on. Please make sure you bring tupperware or a ziplock bag in order to take home the cookies.

PLEASE RSVP by December 18th, using the Sign-up Genius Below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4BA9AF2FA20-60867802-december#/

If you have any questions, please contact Meredith Bollini – [email protected]

Thank you,
The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee

Hello Neighbors,

🎃 Adult Halloween Party 🎃
When: October 25 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: Club House Upper Room

Put on your spookiest or most creative costume and join us for a night of eerie fun!

Enjoy:
Costume Contest: Prizes for Best Couples and Individual Costumes!
Left-Right-Center Game: Bring one $5 bill and two $1 bills for each round you want to play.
Activities Galore: Games, spooky surprises, and more! (Brush up on your Halloween/scary movie knowledge.)
Potluck Style: Bring a themed dish or drink to share. Let’s feast together!

🎃 SPOOKTACULAR NEIGHBORHOOD HALLOWEEN/FALL FEST – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW! 👻

But first! To make all of the following events possible, we need your help!
Sign up to volunteer here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30e0c4da9ae22a3fa7-59302128-fall

SATURDAY, October 25:
🧟‍♂️ Adults only costume party: join us at the clubhouse to mingle with your favorite neighbors and show off you best costume! More info coming soon!

🏚️ House Decorating Contest: Join the fun (and highly competitive) Washingtonian Woods House Decorating Competition! Show off your creativity and compete for the title of Best Decorated House! Prizes and trophies are awarded! Judging will take place on Saturday, October 25, from 7-9pm

How to Participate:
Sign Up Your House to be entered into the competition using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FKWQLmMaSg9QA01cRZL57hcjC4lxVnyKvThbOux7IC4/edit?ts=68d58124

Get Decorating! Let your imagination take control! Choose to go spooky or kooky, we love it all!

🗳️ Voting Details:
* Open Voting for All: All neighborhood residents can vote for their favorite decorated houses! Link for signup coming soon!

* No Self-Voting: Please remember, you can’t vote for your own house. Let’s keep it fair and fun!

Sign up to be a judge using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhdV3lLzRRsyVvcdaCrKNxgbFElWzDQPyWL_sgnXFcQhf8LQ/viewform?usp=header

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26

☠️ Family-Friendly Fall Festival 👻
When: Sunday, October 26 from 3pm-5pm
Where: Club House parking lot and Washingtonian Woods Park

Bring the whole family for lots of fall/halloween-themed fun, including:

👹 An inflatable maze…can you make it through before the goblin gets you??

🎲 Games galore! Complete with fun new prizes

🎨 Crafts with a fun Halloween twist

☠️ Spooky trail: no trail is ever the same and I promise there will be some fun new surprises this year! We will have one path for our mini ghouls that will be more cute/silly and another path for those that are up for a scare. Interested in acting on the trail?? Contact me!

🧁 Cake walk: a neighborhood favorite!! We will be looking for a lot of donations of baked goods…fresh baked or store bought, the kids (and adults) love it all!

🎃 Pumpkin decorating contest: show off your best decorated pumpkin – carved or painted – for a chance to win a prize! There will be different age groups and all pumpkins are welcome!

🍭 Candy Field at 4:30pm…because kids can never get enough candy and adults love the candy tax! This is also a great way for our littlest ghouls to score a lot of candy without making their parents carry them on Halloween night!

🚐 Food truck: in case parents want their kids to eat something other than cake/candy that day

Contest announcements: ALL contest announcements will be done at 4:30pm. After the announcements we will parade to candy field where we can witness lord of the flies in real life!

Volunteers Needed:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30e0c4da9ae22a3fa7-59302128-fall

We hope to see you there!

Thank you,
The Washingtonian Woods Social Committee