Kentlands Foundation Update

Sept 2022

JOIN THE FOUNDATION FOR A BUSY SEPTEMBER

KENTLANDS/LAKELANDS 5K – SEPTEMBER 3.  Just a reminder, the 29^th annual Kentlands/Lakelands 5K is just a few days away, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Thank you to all who have already signed up to run or to volunteer for the race.  For those who have not yet signed up, it is still not too late to do so – you may visit kentlands.org to register or volunteer. You may even sign up to run until the morning of the race. However, if you would like to volunteer, we ask you sign up as soon as possible to make sure the race goes off in an orderly fashion.  It takes more than 260 volunteers to make this race happen safely.  Volunteering is both fun and rewarding and you will receive a special volunteer tee and an invitation to our thank you picnic on September 14.  Students can earn SSL hours for volunteering.  We cannot hold the race without you and neighborhood volunteers have answered the call and staffed the race every year – we are very grateful.

Because the race is held the last full weekend of summer, I know that some of the race’s supporters will not be in town and will be unable to race.  Through the power of technology, we have solved that dilemma!  If you are unable to attend the race, you can still sign up to become a virtual runner! This will help support the race and the charities that are its beneficiaries.

Sponsored by Sandy Spring Bank for the third year, the Kids’ Fun Run can’t be missed!  Young runners are divided by age and race in waves.  Every participant will be awarded a medal upon reaching the finish line.  Participants also receive a free t-shirt just for signing up!

After the race will be the Merchant’s Expo, during which we will be having the race’s awards ceremony and holding a raffle for a wide variety of prizes from local businesses.  The top three male and female runners will be awarded a cash prize.  Stick around for the awards because we will have items given out at random to the crowd! 

Our worthy beneficiaries are Delores C. Swoyer Scholarship Fund, The Dwelling Place, Mercy Health Clinic, Maryland Senior Olympics, and a scholarship fund for art education at the Arts Barn.  By supporting these wonderful charities, you are helping send kids in need to camp, house the homeless, and provide healthcare to the uninsured. 

A special thank you to Novavax for its presenting sponsorship of our race.  Make sure to visit Novavax’ tent and welcome them to the neighborhood.  The Kentlands Citizens Assembly and Lakelands Community Association have once again supported the race at the Platinum level. Without the support and partnership with the City of Gaithersburg, we would not be able to present such a spectacular community race. Visit the races’ webpage and click to see the rest of our generous sponsors – we ask that you take the opportunity to support their businesses whenever you can as another way to participate and help us thank them! 

And some logistics … many new families have moved into our neighborhood, so please be aware and let your neighbors know that many streets in both the Kentlands and Lakelands close to all traffic at 7 am for the safe passage of the runners. If you think you will need your car on the morning of race day, please move it outside of the race area or wait until the barriers are removed to leave the neighborhood.  Also please be sure to let anyone coming to your home know that they may have to find another route or wait.  As we did last year, streets will be opened as soon as possible with only the streets around Market Square closed after 11 am. Signs go up on the course and flyers are placed on cars and on houses more than a week ahead of the race. “No parking” signs are put in place no later than 48 hours before the race. If you live on the course, please make sure your car is not parked on the street after midnight on race day, we would not want to inadvertently have to tow your vehicle.

MUSICA VIVA KENTLANDS CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT – SEPTEMBER 17.  Join us on September 17 on the Kentlands Clubhouse lawn when we will be celebrating a fall musical festival, featuring the Musica Viva Kentlands Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Simeone Tartaglione, with Alessandra Cuffaro, violin soloist.  A hallmark of these concerts is that they are free to attend, casual, fun and for all ages. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and enjoy an evening filled with music. Thank you to the grantors, donors, and sponsors who help make these concerts happen, and especially to the Kentlands Citizens Assembly for its help.

ARTISTS ON MARKET GRAND RE-OPENING —The Gaithersburg Artist Collective will be bringing back their pop-up art gallery project, “Artists on Market,” this fall. The Collective features the work of over 20 juried regional artists.  Their new location will be announced shortly. Be sure to visit our website and social media for the announcement.  In the meantime, you can see their work through September at The Carnegie Discovery Center in Downtown Crown.  We are grateful to Kisco Senior Living for support the arts in the community!

THE VILLAGE OF KENTLANDS & LAKELANDS will hold their ice cream social on September 15th at the Kentlands Clubhouse.  This event is open to Village members, volunteers, or anyone interested in the program.  Because of the popularity of this event, please RSVP in advance to Jeanmocarski@aol.com.

Have an idea for a new program?  All our programs are grassroot activities, brought about and run by enthusiastic volunteers in the community.  We would love to hear your ideas, contact us at kentlands@kentlands.org for more information and to receive a proposal form.

To find out more about our many events and programs, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and check out our website at kentlands.org.

Kentlands Foundation Update

July 2022 KCF Article

Summer is Heating Up and so is the Kentlands Community Foundation

THE KENTLANDS/LAKELANDS 5K is the highlight of every Labor Day weekend in the Kentlands and Lakelands. This year the race will be held on Saturday, September 3, with the start sounding off at 8 am. It is not too early to sign up for the race. Unsure of your plans?  We have you covered – you can sign up as late as the morning of the race.  Out of town? No problem – we are continuing to offer the virtual race option again this year. As a virtual racer, your 5K happens wherever you are—at the beach, visiting friends, or anywhere in the world. Runners receive a one-of-a-kind race shirt and once again, it will be a great technical shirt with a custom design.

Each year artists from age 5 to 11 are asked to provide their design ideas for the kids’ shirt and the design competition for the KIDS’ FUN RUN shirt is almost over. The winning artist is announced at the end of July and will receive a $35 gift card at the runners’ award ceremony. Each young participant receives this fun cotton shirt. Submission rules can be found at kentlands.org.

Volunteers are the heart of our 5K– more than 260 volunteers are required to have a safe, fun race. If you are new to the Kentlands and Lakelands or a long-time resident, volunteering to help on race day is a great way to get out and greet and meet your neighbors. Erin Cristy, our volunteer coordinator, and Bret Esders, our volunteer dinner coordinator, both decided to volunteer for the 5K when they first moved into the neighborhood.  Erin shared that it has been a rewarding experience for her and she has been helping for several years now. Because each task is broken down into many smaller tasks, no volunteer role feels overwhelming. Other benefits of volunteering include a volunteer shirt and an invitation to the volunteer dinner, always a fun night with camaraderie, food and wine, plus prizes for volunteers. For the last 27 years, volunteers have answered the call and staffed the race. This year will be no different. 

As a charitable race, each year we turn to our local businesses to help sponsor the race.  If you would like to find out more about sponsorship opportunities for the race and other Foundation programs, visit our website and click on “sponsorship” or email kentlands@kentlands.org.  We have so many opportunities to help.

The KENTLANDS FILM SOCIETY has opened its subscriptions for next year’s film series. Beginning in the Fall, the Film Society will show five films at 7 pm at the Kentlands Arts Barn. A subscription is $50. For information on the films for the 2022-2023 season and a link to subscribe, please visit the Film Society page on our website.

Join the VILLAGE for an informative discussion with Joe and Sue Palka.  One of the first residents of the Kentlands, the Palka’s share their extraordinary experiences in broadcasting. “Joe & Sue Palka: Unplugged” will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at 3 pm at the Kentlands Manor.

During the summer, keep a look out for ARTISTS ON MARKET popping up around Gaithersburg.  While their storefront in Crown is closed for the summer, the artists are busy appearing at area events and are creating wonderful new art pieces in their studios. Items for sale appear on our website. We expect the Artists’ storefront to be open again in the Fall.

Looking ahead, mark your calendar for MUSICA VIVA KENTLANDS on September 17.  Join the Musica Viva Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Simeone Tartaglione on the Kentlands Clubhouse lawn in the early evening.  Plan for a wonderful musical evening under the stars.

We also wanted to let you know that the Board of the Foundation will be meeting in July to update our strategic plan.  Our programming is growing and changing and we want to take a look at our short and long-term goals and our operations.  Do you have ideas you would like to share?  Please be sure to share them with us at kentlands@kentlands.org.

To keep up with the latest of all the events follow us on Facebook and Instagram.  Check out the new contact forms on our website.  Let us know what you are interested in finding out about and get added to our mailing list.