On a cool April 7th evening, 30 Mill Creek Towne (MCT) residents came to the local Elementary School for the 13th Annual Meeting of Mill Creek Village. The village is the community’s volunteer, nonprofit community services organization serving: (1) resident seniors in their efforts to age in place and avert social isolation and (2) the entire neighborhood through several intergenerational events and programs designed to foster a caring, informed and connected community.
All services, programs and events are provided by volunteers and are offered free of charge to participants. The Village is funded through neighbors’ donations, local business sponsors, and small grants. Appreciation was expressed to the Village’s kind donors, nearly 30 volunteers, and to each of its sponsors.
Village President Anna McBain, presided over the meeting. Anna, Secretary Ed Ludwig, and Treasurer Wendy Epstein, presented a review of the Village’s FY 2025 accomplishments and finances. They noted the addition of a new Game Night at the Pool in August, a new Home Helpers service for seniors, and future Zoom talks. Ongoing services for seniors include rides to/from appointments, grocery shopping, friendly home visits, and check-in phone calls.
Both Anna and Ed emphasized that neighbors helping neighbors make the work of the Village possible. They encouraged members of the audience to get involved. Ed then introduced the other members of the incoming FY 2026 Board.
After the conclusion of the business portion of the meeting, those in attendance enjoyed two very informative presentations, “Herman Rabbitt: The Man, The Money, The Legend and The Legacy” by Sarah Hedlund, Montgomery History Speaker and Fire Prevention & Fire Safety by Jim Resnick (retired Battalion Chief), Manager, Senior Outreach and Education Program– part of MCFRS Community Risk Reduction, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
Herman Rabbitt: The Man, The Money, The Legend and The Legacy
Sarah Hedlund’s talk on Herman Rabbitt was entertaining and educational! When eccentric Montgomery County cattle farmer and land speculator Herman Rabbitt died in 1972, part of his $2.5 million estate was found buried in milk cans on his property. The rest was part of a three-year legal battle between bickering heirs. But the story of his unlikely millions was only one of the strange and legendary tales from Rabbitt’s life still told and retold by old-timers today. Learn more about the battle for Herman’s money and other anecdotes from his unusual life.
https://www.gaithersburghistory.com/herman-rabbitt-the-montgomery-rancher-who-buried-cash
Fire Prevention & Fire Safety
Jim Resnick’s talk on Fire Prevention and Safety was very helpful. He gave us handouts on Smoke Detectors, Cooking Safety, Lithium-Ion Battery Safety, Escape Planning, Fire Safety, Stroke Prevention and Detection, and CPR. For Smoke Detectors, the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector both have distinct beeps. The smoke detector beeps three times and the carbon monoxide detector beeps four times. They recommend testing your smoke detectors at least once a month and replacing them after 10 years. The presentation included a short video demonstrating how much damage a fire can cause, comparing a room with a closed door and one with an open door. This is part of their “Close Before You Doze” campaign. A closed door can be an effective barrier against deadly levels of carbon monoxide, smoke, and flames, and may give you more time to respond to the smoke alarm. You may only have three minutes or less to escape once a fire starts in your home. After the talk, Joe Isaacs was the one lucky attendee who won a door prize!
For questions about fire safety, Montgomery County Residents Make the Right Call by using:
- 911 only for emergencies,
- 301-279-8000 only to report non-emergencies, and
- 311 for general Montgomery County government information.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department is offering FREE Home Safety Checks. Appointments are available on Wednesday May 6th, and other dates upon request. For more information or to sign up, please visit:
www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe or call 311
Here are some photos from the event.