Holiday Festivities

There's plenty of affordable family fun to get everybody in the spirit this holiday season. Here are just a few ideas provided by visitmontgomery.com and gaithersburgmd.gov. Have a look:

RIO Washingtonian’s Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration

November 21, 2014, 6:00pm–8:00pm | Lakefront Plaza at RIO Washingtonian

RIO Washingtonian Center invites the community to attend the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. NBC4’s Melissa Mollet will host the seasonal celebration and lead the crowd in the traditional tree lighting countdown, featuring: 

• Santa and Mrs. Claus grand entrance
• Tree lighting countdown
• Musical entertainment
• Photos with Santa
• Carriage rides along Boardwalk Place
• Strolling entertainment, including sugar plum fairies and elves
• Giveaways
• Samples from RIO Washingtonian restaurants and shops

Jingle Jubilee & Tree Lighting

December 02, 2017, 6:00 PM–7:30 PM | Concert Pavilion

Welcome the holidays with a traditional tree lighting ceremony, holiday music and a special visit from Santa at Gaithersburg’s Jingle Jubilee. The festivities take place at the City Hall Concert Pavilion in Olde Towne.

 

All Aboard with Santa

December 09, 2017, 4:00 PM–6:30 PM | Gaithersburg Community Museum

A chance for Train Lovers to visit with Santa! Enjoy fresh baked cookies and hot chocolate for the children, and tea or coffee for the adults, in the 1884 Railroad Station. Visit with Santa in the caboose, view vintage model train cars and listen to stories in the Budd Car, and play and learn in the Freight House. Space is limited; advance ticket purchase is required. Online registration is available below. Tickets may also be purchased at the Gaithersburg Community Museum.

Click here for tickets: $10 / $5 Adults & Seniors.

 

Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park

Open Nightly November 28 through December 31, 2014

Winter Lights is a magical Christmas light display at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland. See more than 350 illuminated displays and along a 3.5-mile drive through the park. Driving through the enchanted forest setting, you will experience an array of displays that light up the night. Themed areas include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, the North Pole and much more. Winter Lights benefits local charities such as Andy’s Safe Haven, Asbury Methodist Village in support of Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative, Baby’s Bounty MC, Inc., Friends of Wells/Robertson House, Inc., Gaithersburg Community Soup Kitchen, and Pain Connection – Chronic Pain Outreach Center, Inc.

Rockville Town Square Holiday Open House

Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6:00 PM

The Holiday Open House features Santa’s Arrival, the Holiday Tree Lighting, FREE photos with Santa, refreshments, holiday music and more! Aaron Gilchrist, NBC4 Morning News anchor, will attend as the guest of honor, and lead us in the traditional holiday tree lighting countdown. Parking during the tree lighting event will be free.

Gaithersburg Chorus Concert—30th Anniversary Celebration

December 5, 2017, 7:30pm–9:30pm | Rosborough Theatre, Asbury Methodist Village

Join the Gaithersburg Chorus in celebrating its 30th anniversary with a FREE concert—a musical celebration of 30 years in song. Reception to follow.

A Chili Winter Night

December 08, 2017, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Casey Community Center

Enjoy a delicious chili dinner at Casey Community Center, then join us for a bus tour of the beautiful Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival. Price includes meal, beverages and Winter Lights admission. Limited to the first 40 registrants. Deadline to register is November 30, 2017. Tickets are non-refundable. Call or visit the Casey Community Center to reserve a spot.

$10 / $8 Children (ages 4 - 10)
Free for Children under 3

 

Caroling in the Kentlands & Lakelands

December 16, 2017, 6:00 PM - 07:30 PM | Lakelands Clubhouse

Get in the holiday spirit with a caroling sing-along in the beautifully decorated Kentlands & Lakelands neighborhoods on Saturday, December 16, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m.

 

 

 

Fireplace Safety

Many homes in the Amberfield community have fireplaces. And as the temperature drops, wood is gathered and fires are stoked. But before you and family gather around that warming glow, it's important to review these helpful tips provided by healthychildren.org to make sure your home and loved ones are safe during the fall and winter seasons.

• If possible, keep a window cracked open while the fire is burning.
• Be certain the damper or flue is open before starting a fire. Keeping the damper or flue open until the fire is out will draw smoke out of the house. The damper can be checked by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or mirror. Do not close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning.
• Use dry and well-aged wood. Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney. Dried wood burns with less smoke and burns more evenly,
• Smaller pieces of wood placed on a grate burn faster and produce less smoke.
• Clean out ashes from previous fires. Levels of ash at the base of the fireplace should be kept to 1 inch or less because a thicker layer restricts the air supply to logs, resulting in more smoke.
• The chimney should be checked annually by a professional. Even if the chimney is not due for cleaning, it is important to check for animal nests or other blockages that could prevent smoke from escaping.
• Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of anything that is potentially flammable (ie: furniture, drapes, newspapers, books, etc.). If these items get too close to the fireplace, they could catch fire.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Make sure it is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. If you leave the room while the fire is burning or the fireplace is still hot, take your small child with you.
• Minimize your child’s chance of burns from the hot glass front of some fireplaces. Safety screens can be installed to reduce the risk of burns.
• Put fireplace tools and accessories out of a young child’s reach. Also, remove any lighters and matches.
• Install both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
• Communicate to children as early as possible the dangers of fires and the heat generated from them. 

Chalk Art & Ice Cream Social

OH, THIS IS GONNA BE SWEET!

WHEN: Labor Day! Monday, September 4, 2017—4pm to 5:30pm.

WHERE: In front of pool parking lot and on basketball court blacktop.

WHY: To get the neighborhood together, show off your art skills, and say goodbye to summer in the most delicious way possible.

Come one come all! (Plenty of chalk and ice cream for everyone. But don't eat the chalk;)

HOA 2017 Annual Meeting

NOW BOARDING!

Interested in making a difference in the Amberfield community? Come serve on the Board of Directors! A Candidate Qualification Statement along with additional details are attached below. Nominations must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the election on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 7:30 PM. This meeting will be held in the Lakelands Clubhouse located at 100 High Gables Drive, Gaithersburg, MD. We look forward to seeing you there!

CLICK HERE FOR LETTER AND QUALIFICATIONS FORM

Amberfield Pool BBQ

Sunday, June 25th, 2-6pm, in the pool parking lot

We’re starting the fun a little early this year. And why not? The weather’s great, the pool will be open, and neighborhood is ready to see what’s cookin’. In addition to free hot dogs, hamburgers, and refreshments, the pool barbecue is a great way for the community to get together before summer is in full swing. So mark your calendars and head on over. You might just make a few new friends.

Culture Club

Our city ranks #3 in cultural diversity

In the entire U.S., four Montgomery County cities made the top ten as "Most Culturally Diverse" in 2017. Gaithersburg came in at #3 overall. The list was created by researchers at Wallethub, who looked into 501 of the largest U.S. cities using these three key indicators: ethnoracial diversity, linguistic diversity, and birthplace diversity. Each indicator was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the highest possible rating for cultural diversity. 

Gaithersburg scored 93.4 on the cultural diversity score, coming sixth in the ethnoracial rank, fifth in the linguistic diversity rank, and 79th in the birthplace diversity rank.

To see how other cities ranked, including the least culturally diverse, click here for the full report.

A Bright Idea

New solar-powered entrance

You may have noticed new accent lighting at the entrance to our neighborhood. But did you know that those lights, including the ones that illuminate our Amberfield sign, are all solar powered? In an effort to increase sustainability and reduce costs, the community initiated the installation back in September. Saving energy. Saving money. And making a great first impression. Brilliant!

Gaithersburg Makes The Ranks

“Top 100 Best Cities for New Grads”

Gaithersburg came in 89th out of the “Top 100 Best Cities for New Grads” in 2017. GoodCall.com analyzed data from 589 cities and towns across the country, looking at multiple factors, including: affordability, relative salary, availability of entry-level jobs, and the number of local amenities per capita. Proving that Gaithersburg is city is that’s both well established and up and coming. 

 “This ranking reinforces what we already know in Gaithersburg. It’s a great place to live,” said Mayor Jud Ashman. “With a vibrant and growing dining and entertainment scene, an active biotechnology and information technology community, and housing options that range from urban lifestyle apartments and condos to new urban neighborhoods perfect raising a family, all right next door to the nation’s capital, Gaithersburg is an ideal place to start the next phase of a young college graduate’s life.” 

Read the full report at https://www.goodcall.com/data-center/2017-best-cities-new-grads/.