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Bethesda Fire Department To Brief Neighbors On Redevelopment Plans

By WTOP Staff

Bethesda Fire Station #6, Flickr photo by thisisbossiThe Bethesda Fire Department will brief neighbors later this month on its plans for the redevelopment of Fire Station #6 at the corner of Bradley Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue.

The Bethesda Fire Department — a separate entity from the county government’s Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services — is a nonprofit that owns the aging fire station building. The board of the BFD is exploring redeveloping the site to include a mixed-use project to help pay for a modern fire station facility.

That possibility has already got some neighbors concerned about density that might be built near single family homes on adjacent Nottingham Drive and the Chevy Chase West neighborhood.

On Monday, Aug. 25 and Tuesday, Aug. 26, the BFD will hold meetings to explain to neighbors where it is in the redevelopment process. The meetings, which require a RSVP, were announced in fliers posted on the doors of residents along Nottingham Drive.

According to the fliers, the BFD board is considering renovating the existing firehouse building, building a new firehouse and not taking any action:

In order to ensure that we can maintain our high standard of service and safety of the communities we serve, the board of directors of the Bethesda Fire Department is investigating a number of concepts for Fire Station 6 located at Wisconsin Avenue and Bradley Boulevard.

Among some of the concepts being discussed are renovating the the existing firehouse building, building a new firehouse, or not taking any action. While there is not an immediate plan to do anything, we would like the opportunity to meet with you — our neighbors on Nottingham Drive — to share some of our current thoughts and to get your input. We will be meeting with other members of the community in the near future too.

We would welcome you to join us on Monday August 25 or Tuesday August 26 2014 at 7 pm for a brief presentation and discussion at FS 6 (6600 Wisconsin Ave). In the meantime we have posted some information regarding frequently asked questions on our website at www.Bethesdafire.org. Please RSVP to Janeth Mora, jmora@bethesdafire.org, 301-652-5602 if you plan to attend.

We look forward to meeting with you and engaging you in this process. Please feel free to send us any questions you may have.

The fliers were signed by BFD President John Murgolo.

There has been no formal proposal of a redevelopment project, though BFD officials did talk to Planning Department officials working on the rewrite of the downtown Bethesda master plan.

Planners said the Fire Department talked about a six- to eight-story apartment on the fire station’s current site that climbs down to four stories fronting the block of single family homes on Nottingham Drive. According to planning staff, the proposal also involves a one-story structure to house retail at the very corner closer to the intersection. The new fire station would be built on what’s now a bare spot of grass just to the west.

Naomi Spinrad has been leading the Chevy Chase West Neighborhood Association’s opposition to any commercial redevelopment. In a monthly neighborhood association newsletter, she wrote that “Traditionally the neighborhood has coalesced to protect any street or block facing unacceptable development or uses, and we need to rally strongly this time.”

Spinrad is opposed to a commercial redevelopment of the site because she argues it would mean service driveways and entrances on Nottingham Drive, increased traffic and the possibility that county officials would allow more development south of Bradley Boulevard.

The Board of the Bethesda Fire Department includes members who live in many of the communities the fire station services, including Chevy Chase West.

Fire Station #6 is staffed and operated by MCFRS. The Bethesda Fire Department serves what’s largely a fundraising role. The group’s board includes many prominent local civic and business leaders.

It’s clear the Bethesda Fire Department’s role could be a subject of discussion. Sprinrad said she prepared a 14-page document that highlights many of the issues surrounding the potential redevelopment, including how the Fire Department “differs from the BCC Rescue Squad,” which provides rescue volunteers at its Battery Lane station.

Flickr photo by thisisbossi

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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