<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
I agree dog owners should follow the Riversdale Mansion rules, but
doesn't MNCPPC also have to follow the rules? Why are Riversdale's
gates locked during the day? Both the gate atop the Oglethorpe steps
and the gate at the Taylor Rd. corner have been locked down 24-7 for
several years now -- in flagrant violation of the official agreement
that permitted the fence's installation.<br>
<br>
Riversdale Director Ed Day is well aware of the agreement among the
town, the County Historic Preservation Commission and MNCPPC, to keep
all the mansion gates open during the day to allow community access.
Why is he not following the rules? <br>
<br>
Public access does indeed serve as "eyes and ears" to protect our
historic treasure from harm. But locked gates bottle-up all pedestrian
traffic destined for the other side. Park & Planning's scofflaw
attitude stymies the deterrence dynamics of the community's caring
"eyes & ears" and hence facilitates the very harm they seek to
avoid by locking the public out.<br>
<br>
This is exactly what I foresaw happening when too few of us townspeople
opposed the fencing-in of our commons back in 2003. The open gate
agreement was the small concession neighbors obtained before the
$500,000 fence went up, and now even that small bone has been taken
away.<br>
<br>
I call on our town officials to hold MNCPPC accountable to the terms of
the open gate agreement. I'm confident that my neighbors will
continue to respect and protect Riversdale -- if we are only allowed.
We ask only that MNCPPC (as co-stewards...NOT private owners)
reciprocate by respecting our community's right to fully access our
town's namesake treasure.<br>
<br>
Ken Laureys<br>
4718 Riverdale Rd.<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:mailman.322.1214825695.58102.towntalk@riverdale-park.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion (Roland Walker)
2. Re: Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion (Alice Ewen Walker)
3. 4806 Sheridan to be auctioned (Dannielle Glaros)
</pre>
<br>
<hr size="4" width="90%"><br>
<table class="header-part1" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Subject:
</div>
Re: [RP TownTalk] Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">From: </div>
"Roland Walker" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:walker@pobox.com"><walker@pobox.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Date: </div>
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:15:33 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">To: </div>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="header-part2" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">To: </div>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">CC: </div>
TownTalk <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org"><TownTalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">fewer people make use of the facility. Their presence deters vandalism.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Bruce, you are surely right on that point.
R
On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM, <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com"><bruce.wernek@mindspring.com></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Vern
Ed has allowed dogs to run on the Mansion grounds since he took over the management of the facility. I have spoken to him numerous times while my dog was running nearby on the mansion grounds without him mentioning that it was a problem. Apparently, things have changed.
Folks have been running dogs on the mansion grounds for as long as I've lived in the Town (~15 years). By not allowing people to run their dogs, fewer people make use of the facility. Their presence deters vandalism.
I am truly sorry to hear that this has become a problem. It was a nice perk for our dog loving residents.
Bruce
-----Original Message-----
From: Vernon Archer
Sent: Jun 27, 2008 8:11 AM
To: TownTalk
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion
Friends and neighbors,
I have recently received a complaint from Ed Day, director of Riversdale Mansion, about people allowing their dogs to run free on the house grounds. Every entrance is clearly posted that dogs need to be leashed and to not leave their droppings behind. Ed informs me that more than one person who he recognizes as town residents routinely ignore this posting.
Such actions are not only a violation of the grounds rules at Riversdale, but are also a patent violation of our town code and therefore a concern for our police and code enforcement officials. I hope a word to the wise will suffice, if not the law will be enforced.
Unfortunately this issue comes on the heels of problems last summer with vandalism on the grounds and to the structures. We seem to have this problem under control now, but please report any suspicious activity you might see to the police immediately.
Ed has shown me a number of correspondences from those higher up in Park and Planning and involved in historic preservation that the grounds should not only be "protected" against dogs visiting under any circumstances--except as assistants for the blind--but that as a national historic site the grounds should be locked during all hours that the mansion is not staffed.
Now, both Ed and I are in agreement that we do not want to see things go there, but we the residents of Riverdale Park have a significant role to play in protecting this site. If you see someone on the grounds with their dogs off a leash, politely direct their attention to the signs requiring a leash. If you see anyone damaging or threatening the facility please call the police immediately!
I believe that by acting together as a community we can all continue to have easy and ready access to this facility, which I believe you will agree with me is a true treasure for our community, our state and our nation.
Before concluding, I would like to state in writing what I've previously only said orally for our town's many dog owners. I will gladly support and use the prestige of my office to facilitate the creation of a dog park in Riverdale Park. If a group of dog owners will organize themselves and contact me on this matter I will assist you in such a venture. There is substantial Park and Planning area in the town, and I am convinced that agency will work with us if an organized effort from dog owners is mounted.
Best wishes,
Vern
--
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
_______________________________________________
</pre>
</blockquote>
<table class="header-part1" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Subject:
</div>
Re: [RP TownTalk] Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">From: </div>
"Alice Ewen Walker" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:alice@ewenwalker.com"><alice@ewenwalker.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Date: </div>
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:42:50 -0400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">To: </div>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="header-part2" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">To: </div>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">CC: </div>
TownTalk <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org"><TownTalk@riverdale-park.org></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
It is nice that people used to run their dogs at the mansion
unfettered, but please keep in mind that the grounds have been improved
- that is a change that is worth consideration. If I recall correctly,
nearly $500,000 was donated to create the gardens and improve the
grounds at the mansion in the last few years. The grass is also
maintained at a higher level than in the past. It is so much nicer than
it used to be.
<div><br>
<div>
<div>Maybe standards are changing regarding dogs at the site, but it
seems like a reasonable expectation given the effort put into the
grounds. </div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>- Alice<br>
<div><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM, <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<p>Vern</p>
<p>Ed has allowed dogs to run on the Mansion grounds since he took
over the management of the facility. I have spoken to him numerous
times while my dog was running nearby on the mansion grounds without
him mentioning that it was a problem. Apparently, things have changed.</p>
<p>Folks have been running dogs on the mansion grounds for as long
as I've lived in the Town (~15 years). By not allowing people to run
their dogs, fewer people make use of the facility.
Their presence deters vandalism. </p>
<p>I am truly sorry to hear that this has become a problem. It was
a nice perk for our dog loving residents. </p>
<p>Bruce<br>
<br>
<br>
</p>
<div>
<div class="Wj3C7c">
<blockquote
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 0px;">-----Original
Message----- <br>
From: Vernon Archer <br>
Sent: Jun 27, 2008 8:11 AM <br>
To: TownTalk <br>
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Dogs, access and Riversdale Mansion <br>
<br>
<div>Friends and neighbors,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I have recently received a complaint from Ed Day, director
of Riversdale Mansion, about people allowing their dogs to run free on
the house grounds. Every entrance is clearly posted that dogs need to
be leashed and to not leave their droppings behind. Ed informs me that
more than one person who he recognizes as town residents routinely
ignore this posting.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Such actions are not only a violation of the grounds rules
at Riversdale, but are also a patent violation of our town code and
therefore a concern for our police and code enforcement officials. I
hope a word to the wise will suffice, if not the law will be enforced.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Unfortunately this issue comes on the heels of problems last
summer with vandalism on the grounds and to the structures. We seem to
have this problem under control now, but please report any suspicious
activity you might see to the police immediately.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Ed has shown me a number of correspondences from those
higher up in Park and Planning and involved in historic preservation
that the grounds should not only be "protected" against dogs visiting
under any circumstances--except as assistants for the blind--but that
as a national historic site the grounds should be locked during all
hours that the mansion is not staffed. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Now, both Ed and I are in agreement that we do not want to
see things go there, but we the residents of Riverdale Park have a
significant role to play in protecting this site. If you see someone
on the grounds with their dogs off a leash, politely direct their
attention to the signs requiring a leash. If you see anyone damaging
or threatening the facility please call the police immediately! </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I believe that by acting together as a community we can all
continue to have easy and ready access to this facility, which I
believe you will agree with me is a true treasure for our community,
our state and our nation. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Before concluding, I would like to state in writing what
I've previously only said orally for our town's many dog owners. I
will gladly support and use the prestige of my office to facilitate the
creation of a dog park in Riverdale Park. If a group of dog owners
will organize themselves and contact me on this matter I will assist
you in such a venture. There is substantial Park and Planning area in
the town, and I am convinced that agency will work with us if an
organized effort from dog owners is mounted.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best wishes,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Vern</div>
<div> </div>
<div>-- <br>
Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland </div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>