The Gazette
C COMMUNITY OMMUNITY NE N NEWS EWS www.gazette.net
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Wednesday, September 4, 2013
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Page A-4
Survey reveals Montgomery short on nightlife options Task force works to boost evening economics n
BY AGNES BLUM STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County’s nightlife options range from OK to not very good, according to a majority of people who responded to a survey County Council member Hans Riemer compiled this summer. The poll is unscientific, the respondents are self-selected and there was no attempt to
account for demographic representation, Riemer said. Still, with 1,831 respondents, the survey did provide some insight into the issue of the county’s nightlife. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for making changes to promote nightlife in Montgomery County,” Riemer said. “We found out, generally speaking, people spend a lot of time going out and they want better options.” Riemer is an ex-officio member of the Nighttime Economy Task Force, created earlier this year by County Executive
Isiah Leggett (D) in an effort to encourage increased nighttime business and entertainment. The 19-member group, which meets the third Monday of every month, is chaired by Heather Dlhopolsky, a lawyer and a board member of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce. To see a full list of the task force members, visit the website www. montgomerycountymd.gov/ nighttimeeconomy/who.html. The task force has had four of its six monthly meetings so far and is expected to complete its
recommendations by the end of the year. According to the Nighttime Economy Task Force website, the county hopes to establish a lively environment that appeals to all sorts of people — from baby boomers to families to single professionals. Just how to do that has yet to be decided. “One thing that struck me the most was the results seem very supportive of improving the nighttime economy. I was actually very heartened by that,” Dlhopolsky said. Riemer had
presented the results of the survey to the task force at the August meeting. Dlhopolsky said the results confirmed the bad news that she and other task force members had suspected. “Our young people are going out at night to D.C. and not staying here,” she said. The task force is in the process of putting together draft recommendations, such as tweaking liquor licensing laws that regulate who gets to serve alcohol in the county, Dlhopolsky said.
The way it stands now, every venue, with few exceptions, must make 50 percent of its money from food, Riemer said. That’s an obstacle to opening other types of places besides restaurants — such as music clubs that serve alcohol or craft brew pubs that don’t want to sell food. “It’s debilitating for some entrepreneurs,” Riemer said. Toseetheresultsofthesurvey, visithttp://www.councilmemberriemer.org/2013/08/moco-nightlife-survey-results.html. ablum@gazette.net
Artists paint the town
SUBURBAN HOSPITAL
Keith Horvath (left), director of cardiothoracic surgery for the NIH Heart Center at Suburban Hospital, and Brad Dick, an interventional radiologist at the Bethesda hospital, commute to work by bike on most days.
Pedaling to promote health Two physicians at Suburban Hospital commute to work by bike n
BY
MARLENA CHERTOCK STAFF WRITER
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Silver Spring’s Christina Haslinger (left) and Janet Mattson of North Potomac sit in the shade of a passenger shelter at the MARC train station as they participate in Kensington’s “Paint the Town” Art Exhibition 2013 on Saturday.
Kensington hosts ‘plein air’ competition Painters and their easels could be found scattered around Kensington on Saturday as part of the annual outdoor “plein air” contest sponsored by the Montgomery Art Association. The event was part of the annual three-day “Paint the Town” art exhibit and sale in the Kensington Armory/Town Hall. Participants provided their own canvases and had from dawn until 3 p.m. to paint a scene. Later, judges chose the winners, and there was an awards ceremony and reception. — AGNES BLUM
B-CC student brings homemade firework to school n
No other devices found, investigation ongoing BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
A Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student brought a homemade firework device to the school Thursday, prompting a response from Montgomery County police and fire and rescue officials, and a search of the classroom area. Students found the device
in a science lab and reported it to a teacher, according to a Thursday letter sent to the high school’s parents and guardians. The school’s administration then called authorities. Angela Cruz, a county police spokeswoman, said officers responded to the school and assisted fire and rescue officials. No other devices were found after a police dog searched the classroom and nearby hallways, the letter said. Dana Tofig, a school system spokesman, said in an email
Friday that the system has no reason to believe the student intended to harm anyone. While he said he could not talk about a specific student, Tofig said that a student could face disciplinary action — including suspension and possibly expulsion — for bringing such a device to school. The incident in the first week of school occurred days after the school system’s security staff met Aug. 23 for briefings from county police and fire and rescue officials on top-
ics such as bombs, drugs and gangs. The letter continues that school, fire and police officials are investigating the incident. “Please know that we take this matter very seriously,” said Principal Karen Lockard in the letter to parents. “Our first priority is to ensure that our students are safe. Strong disciplinary measures will be taken any time our students’ safety is jeopardized.” lpowers@gazette.net
They don’t have to worry about rising gas prices or traffic on their daily commute. Two doctors at Suburban Hospital use two wheels instead of four. Keith Horvath, the director of cardiothoracic surgery for the NIH Heart Center at Suburban Hospital, and Brad Dick, an interventional radiologist, have been biking to work for about five years. “I find it relaxing,” Horvath said. “I also feel like I can mentally plan my day as well as outline the operation I’m going to do that day or go over research papers. It helps to use that time for exercise and for mental preparation.” As a cardiac surgeon, Horvath said fellow doctors watch what he puts on his plate in the hospital cafeteria. And patients ask him what he does to exercise. “Promoting a healthy lifestyle is part of my job,” he said. The hardest part about exercising can be finding the time to do it, he said. Biking his 16-mile commute from Washington, D.C., to Bethesda allows him to exercise and get to work at the same time. While Dick said he misses listening to NPR on his commute, biking is worth the loss for the added 14-mile workout. He leaves his home on Brad-
ley Boulevard in Potomac and gets to the hospital in a half hour. “I get to ride over the Beltway every day on Bradley Boulevard and see snarling people gritting their teeth,” he said. “Even if there is traffic, with a bike you can get around it.” Horvath rides a recumbent bike to the hospital from March through November. The pedals are located in front of the bike. He bought it used for $300 in Vienna, Va. He switched to the short wheel base recumbent bike so he wouldn’t have as much pressure on his wrists, neck and back. “If you want someone to operate on your heart you don’t want them to be in pain,” Horvath said. He lives near Georgetown University and rides along the Capital Crescent Trail. About 50 to 60 bike riders pass him on his way to work, he said. Living near the trail makes it easy to bike to work, Horvath said. He wouldn’t do it if he had to ride on mostly city streets. “I’m amazed at what I see,” he said. “I’ve seen deer. I see 15 or 20 cardinals a day.” Sometimes Dick sees fox, possum, raccoons and deer in the morning as he rides his aluminum-frame road bike to the hospital. He’s gotten caught in a few thunderstorms, but he packs a rain coat with him. Getting rained on still uses less gas than driving a car. “The less gas we use as a society the more healthy we are,” Dick said.