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A JOYFUL Noise
Area choirs gather to spread the word on a region rich in talent. B-5
The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
25 cents
Bill allows public campaign money Measure would help fund county candidates but limit size of contributions
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BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
A bill to provide public funding for county executive and county council campaigns has drawn praise from a number of organizations dedicated to good government as an example for other jurisdictions to follow. The bill, sponsored by Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg and co-sponsored by all eight of his council colleagues, would allow candidates to receive public money to help fund their campaigns, but places limits on the size of contributions for candidates who accept it. The bill is scheduled to be introduced Tuesday . Andrews, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for county executive in the June 24 primary, said
PHOTOS BY DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Donation boxes in the parking lot of Toys R Us on North Frederick Road in Gaithersburg. The city may start regulating such drop boxes.
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A donation renovation?
There are those that collect unwanted books, some collect eyeglasses and others used clothing, but some city officials say donation drop boxes that dot the city’s shopping centers and parking lots also might be collecting garbage and unusable items, while other organizations sell the donated items at a profit. To get a better handle on the issue of donation drop-offs, the city may put in place an ordinance to regulate them. About 30 sites within the city have drop boxes, but the bins are unregulated, according to Gaithersburg Planning Division Chief Lauren Pruss. Organizations that have drop boxes in the city include Goodwill, Planet Aid, Discover Books and Better World Books, among others. Councilwoman Cathy Drzyzgula re-
Donation boxes in front of the IHOP restaurant on North Frederick Road in Gaithersburg. cently brought up the issue, concerned that some people who donate items at the drop boxes might not realize who actually is getting the donation. “I’ve noticed a proliferation of boxes in mostly shopping center parking lots where people can put used clothing and stuff like that and obviously the practice
is fine, but I am concerned that people think they’re donating to charity when many of these organizations give little of their proceeds to charitable purposes,” she said. At a mayor and council meeting Monday, Pruss presented the draft for a future text amendment concerning regulations of donation drop boxes throughout the city. In a Nov. 18 memo to the City Council, Pruss explained that the boxes serve an important purpose, but that they often are misused and not taken care of properly. “... the City has recently received complaints from individuals stating that it is not always evident that their donation is benefiting a not-for-profit organization,” she wrote. “Additionally, the boxes
Cold temperatures, regular storms have kept crews busy
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Police: Son killed mother; father on routine administrative leave BY ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
The Stirkens home in the 7400 block of Lake Katrine Terrace in Gaithersburg, where two people were killed Jan. 29.
James Stirkens knew his wife’s attacker all too well when he found him stabbing her to death in an upstairs bedroom last week. To try to save her, he shot and killed the man — his son. The killings happened at about 8 p.m. Jan. 29 in the family’s two-story home in the
Having survived last month’s polar vortex and with Punxsutawney Phil recently predicting six more weeks of winter weather, state, county and local officials are keeping an eye on the toll this winter’s weather has taken on their supplies and budgets. Montgomery County has used slightly less than 50,000 tons of road salt since the winter season started in November, said Keith Compton, the chief of the Division of Highway Services
See DONATION, Page A-10
FROG CALLING FrogWatch volunteers are part of a nationwide program to collect data on the amphibians.
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See SALT, Page A-10
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
See COP, Page A-10
TOUGH DECISIONS FOR ATHLETES Players make signing day commitments too early because of recruitment pressure.
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in the county’s Department of Transportation. At $52 a ton from the county’s supplier at the Port of Baltimore, that’s about $2.6 million worth of salt so far this winter. The county tries to keep about 30,000 tons on hand so it will always be prepared for a major storm. “That’s the comfort zone,” Compton said. County road crews responded to eight weather events in January, and also had to deal with a lot of ice created by the unseasonably cold temperatures that sometimes dipped into the single digits, Compton said. The State Highway Administration has had to use liquid
7400 block of Lake Katrine Terrace in Gaithersburg, according to police. Stirkens, a 27-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department, discovered his 25-year-old son, Christopher Stirkens, using garden shears to attack Denise Stirkens, according to The Washington Post. To defend his wife, Stirkens, 58, shot their son, killing him, said police spokesman Capt. Jim Daly. Fire and rescue personnel took 53-year-old Denise
SPORTS
NEWS
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
‘Worst-case scenario nightmare’ for cop who killed son n
See CAMPAIGN, Page A-10
Wintry assault assails county’s salt supplies
Gaithersburg considers regulating drop boxes after resident complaints over lack of information on bins BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Monday he believes the bill will encourage more candidates to run for office and more residents to participate in campaigns, as well as reduce the influence of special interests in government. Andrews said he’s been working on the issue since before his election to the council in 1998, including while serving as executive director of Common Cause Maryland from 1988 until 1994. That group’s current executive director, Jennifer BevanDangel, praised the legislation Monday as something that could be used in other counties. “We absolutely believe that Montgomery County is setting the model for other counties to follow and for the state to follow,” Bevan-Dangel said. She said Howard and Anne Arundel counties are two that might take up similar legislation soon. Andrews’ bill also drew sup-
Salt trucks wait at a parking lot in Gaithersburg to start salting roads Monday.
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Gaithersburg Help wins $10,000 grant Gaithersburg Help, a volunteer service nonprofit with representatives from area churches, recently received a $10,000 boost from Bank of America. The Charlotte, N.C., bank announced Jan. 23 that it will grant $435,000 to 26 nonprofits in the Greater Washington region that address significant community issues such as hunger and shelter. Launched more than 40 years ago, Gaithersburg Help will use the grant to continue providing transportation for medical services, financial assistance to prevent eviction or utility cutoffs, infant necessities and medical prescriptions. “We were really grateful to receive this grant from Bank of America,” Executive Director Linda Hanson said in a news release. “The funds will go to helping with supplying food and any further assistance we need within the branches that assist the community directly.” According to its most recent annual report, the nonprofit in 2012 provided food to 3,773 families and 15,201 individuals; diapers to 1,219 babies; formula to 414 babies; prescriptions to 381 people; and 790 rides. That year, the nonprofit reported income of $421,000, with expenses totaling $424,000. The largest share of its income, 27 percent, came from grants. “These grants will help nonprofits continue to address Greater Washington’s most pressing needs while helping individuals become more financially stable
in the long term,” Jeff Wood, the bank’s Greater Washington market president, said in the release. Information: 301-216-2510 or gaithersburghelp.org.
Campus congrats William G. Kantor and Jacob L. Kohn, both of Gaithersburg, were
named to the fall semester dean’s list at Virginia Military Institute. Kantor, a freshman majoring in civil engineering, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Kantor. Kohn, a sophomore majoring in modern languages and cultures, is the son of Bernard I. Kohn and Lynette A. Kohn. Students named to the list must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 with no grade lower than a C.
Participants sought for St. Patrick’s Day parade The city of Gaithersburg, in partnership with the Harp and Shamrock Society of Gaithersburg, the Peterson Cos. of Fairfax, Va., the Washingtonian Center and 94.7 Fresh FM will host the 14th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade March 15 and is inviting community groups to join the march. The parade will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Washingtonian Center, near the intersection of Washingtonian Boulevard and Sam Eig Highway. Past participants have included Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, school groups, clowns, fire trucks, equestrian units and service organizations. The grand marshals and masters of ceremonies for this year’s parade are Tommy McFly, Kelly Col-
EVENTS
lis and Jen Richer of 94.7 FM’s “The Tommy Show.” A participant application form is available at gaithersburgmd.gov/ stpatricksparade. For more information, contact the city at 301-258-6350 or the Harp and Shamrock Society of Gaithersburg at 240-447-9744.
Habitat honors King To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland hosted more than 30 volunteers and future Habitat homeowners who helped build homes at the organization’s Maple Hill site in Gaithersburg. Volunteers helped construct and raise walls at the 19-unit townhome community on Emory Grove Road. The project began in 2012 and is slated for completion in August. More information about the project is at maplehill-mc.org.
City’s citizen survey results released More than eight in 10 Gaithersburg residents described the city as an “excellent” or “good” place to live, according to results from the city’s biennial citizen survey. Residents specifically gave high marks for the city as a place to raise their children, their neighborhood as a place to live, and the overall image and reputation of the community. The survey was sent by the National Research Center to 1,200 randomly selected households last fall. Sixteen percent of the surveys were returned, meaning that information was collected from 192 respondents. An online version of the survey was made available to the general public following the mail-in effort. The results from the 146 respondents who took that survey are in a supplemental report.
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 Morning Women Business Owners of Montgomery County, 8:15-9:30 a.m.,
Silver Diner, 12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville. 301-365-1755.
Salon Luncheon: Immigrant Voices,
noon-1 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. Free. 301-774-0022. Second Annual Budgetpalooza, 7-9 p.m., Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Free. montgomerycivic@yahoo.com.
THURSDAY, FEB. 6 Construction Crew, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus. Free. 240-773-9444. Deaf Adults Relationship Therapy Group, 5-6:30 p.m., Jewish Social
Service Agency, 200 Wood Hill Road,
Rockville. $75 per session, registration required. LKatz@jssa.org.
FRIDAY, FEB. 7 Stand-up Comedy, 8-9:30 p.m., VisArts, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville. $20. 540-657-8811.
SATURDAY, FEB. 8 Men’s Conference, 8:30 a.m., Church of the Redeemer, 19425 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg. 301926-0967.
Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Quince Orchard Library, 15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg. Free. 240-777-0200. Basketball Free Throw Contest by Knights of Columbus, 1-2:30 p.m.,
Mother of God School Gym, 20501
SAT
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University of Maryland Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Mini Expo, 8 a.m.-3
p.m., Agricultural History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood. $35 for adults, $15 for students younger than 18. 301590-2807.
MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Goshen Road, Gaithersburg. Free. 301216-1941. Taking Care of Your Cat’s Teeth, 2 p.m., A Cat Clinic, 14200 Clopper Road, Boyds. Free. 301-540-7770. Quarter Mania Fundraiser, 5 p.m., Laytonsville District Volunteer Fire Department, 21400 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville. $8. 301-540-1772.
SUNDAY, FEB. 9 Waterfowl Festival, noon-4 p.m.,
Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z Survey results will be presented at the budget public forum at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Monday at City Hall. The full survey report is available online at gaithersburgmd.gov.
City announces winners in Character Counts! contest After 529 Gaithersburg students submitted contest essays and posters in honor of the city’s Character Counts! celebration, city officials have announced the winners. Poster submissions came in from 470 elementary and middle school students throughout the city. The 10 winners: • Naveen Ramamurthy, second grade, Dufief Elementary School. • Emmy Adzannur, fourth grade, Rosemont Elementary School. • Johnson (Amani) Mbonimpa and Violeta Salcewicz-Gomez, both fourth grade, and Jasmine Echeona, fifth grade, Brown Station Elementary School. • Todd Benowitz, fifth grade, Strawberry Knoll Elementary School. • Annabelle Headley, Calley Mullin and Alison Van, all seventh grade, and Victoria Harvey, eighth grade, Gaithersburg Middle School. In the essay contest, 59 entries were received. The five winners, who are all fifth-graders: • David Goba and Caitlin Jimenez, Goshen Elementary School. • Kimberly Amaya, Sophie Gilmore and Sean P. Nguyen, Washington Grove Elementary School. The winners will be recognized at a public awards ceremony from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Goshen Elementary School, 8701 Warfield Road, Gaithersburg. All winning entries are on display at Lakeforest mall and online at gaithersburgmd.gov.
Ridge Drive, Boyds. $1. Register at www.parkpass.org.
GALLERY
Churchill’s Harrison Gu competes in the 100-meter breast stroke at the county public schools championships. Go to clicked.Gazette.net. SPORTS Check online for coverage of this week’s indoor track and field regionals.
For more on your community, visit www.gazette.net
ConsumerWatch Why do they use Roman numerals to number Super Bowls? Liz takes the field for this big-game trivia.
LIZ CRENSHAW
WeekendWeather FRIDAY
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p.m., Rockville United Church, 355 Linthicum St., Rockville. Free. 301637-0730. Swing! Swing! Swing!, 3 p.m., F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. $5 suggested donation. 240-314-8681. Spaghetti dinner, 3-7 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 17001 Overhill Road, Derwood. $10 for adults, $7 for children 7-13, free for kids 6 and under. 301-330-5970.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 Coffee and Doughnut Fundraiser for Dress for Success, 7:30-9:30 a.m.,
BusinessSuites Gaithersburg, 9711 Washingtonian Blvd., Suite 550, Gaithersburg. $1. 301-978-3000. Nursery School Open House, 1011 a.m., Shaare Torah, 1409 Main St., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-869-9842.
LinkedIn II Workshop for Intermediate Users, 1-2:30 p.m., Jewish Social
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GAZETTE CONTACTS The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350
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SUNDAY
Concert to Support Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, 3
MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIQUOR / WINE SALE 2/05/14 Thru 2/11/14 Now Open Seneca Meadows
A&E Round House hosts a thoughtprovoking “Seminar.”
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THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Page A-3
LOCAL Residents question bus rapid transit plan along Great Seneca Highway n
Stop is proposed on highway, near Kmart and Lowes stores in the Kentlands BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS BY BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
A burst pipe on Jan. 8 has prompted a monthslong shutdown of Growlers Brew Pub, a microbrewery in Olde Towne Gaithersburg.
Burst pipe temporarily closes Growlers General manager expects microbrewery to be closed for several months
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
“We had a lot of extensive water damage. Most of the damage is structural,” says Chuck Blessing Jr., general manager of Growlers Brew Pub, where a water pipe burst Jan. 8, forcing a shutdown. work is being done to dry the walls and remediate any mold situations. “We’re still in the process of piecing together what it will cost to
jedavis@gazette.net
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A burst pipe has forced one Gaithersburg microbrewery to temporarily close its doors. Growlers Brew Pub general manager Chuck Blessing Jr. said the Olde Towne restaurant had a pipe burst in the early morning hours on Jan. 8, when frigid weather gripped the region. The broken pipe was in the ceiling of the stairwell that goes up to the top floor, he said. “I estimate that thousands of gallons of water was dumped into the building,” he said. “We had a lot of extensive water damage. Most of the damage is structural.” Blessing said the cost estimate for damages is somewhere in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. To repair the damage, the restaurant hired Belfor, an international restoration and repair company in Birmingham, Mich. Blessing said
rebuild,” he said. Meanwhile, patrons in the community have taken to Growler’s Facebook page to read about updates on the repair process and extend their wishes for a speedy recovery. Gaithersburg City Councilman Michael Sesma wrote “Hurry back!” on the page. “Hurry up! We miss the brews and the burgers!” another patron wrote. Based on talks with the contractor, Blessing expects the restaurant to be closed for repairs for about three months. Even though the restaurant is closed, the brewmaster is still busy brewing beers inside in preparation for the restaurant’s eventual opening. March 31 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment as a brew pub in Montgomery County, Blessing said. His hope is that the restaurant’s reopening can be coordinated with its birthday. “I think we’re going to take a step backwards, but we’ll get through this,” he said.
Some Lakelands and Kentlands residents aren’t warming to the idea of having a new bus system run along the outskirts of their neighborhoods. Project management team members for the Corridor Cities Transitway, a planned 15-mile bus rapid transit line that will connect Clarksburg to the Shady Grove Metro station in Rockville, presented information about the project and spoke to residents at a community meeting Jan. 29. Project Manager Rick Kiegel explained that the system will offer bus service that runs on an exclusive transitway — separate from vehicular traffic — and makes stops at 14 different stations, including the Kentlands. The stop will be located on Great Seneca Highway, right outside of the Kmart and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. The bus will be operating at an elevated height when it comes to the Kentlands station, so a raised platform will be built at that location to allow riders to walk onto the bus at an even height, according to Kiegel. When the bus travels south on Great Seneca Highway and passes the Lakelands Drive intersection, the bus will be moving at grade level. Similar to the Metro, users will pay their fares on the platform, before boarding the bus. Kiegel said fares are expected to match those of the Ride On bus service, and parking is expected to be free. Due to the placement of the bus lanes, it is probable that drivers will eventually be prohibited from making right turns on red onto Great Seneca Highway at the Kentlands Boulevard and Lakelands Drive signals, Kiegel said. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2018, and the system is expected to operational by spring 2021. Plans for the project are being created based on forecasted infrastructure and development conditions in 2035, including traffic and planned development, to allow room for potential future growth. According to Kiegel, buses are expected to stop every five or six minutes at the Kentlands station during peak hours when the system first opens in 2021. By 2035, buses
will likely stop at the station every three minutes. Kiegel said the trip from the Kentlands to the Shady Grove Metro would take about 25 minutes, leading several residents to question why riders would choose the bus option over driving their car, which currently takes about the same amount of time. “That’s going to be 25 minutes forever,” he said, referring to the bus ride time. “Great Seneca Highway, Sam Eig are going to continue to get worse and worse.” Several residents voiced concerns about the project. Lakelands resident Terry Lieberthal said she was surprised and disappointed that the original plans to have the transit line on the opposite side of Great Seneca Highway had changed. “We knew the CCT was on the books on the other side of the street,” she said. “We thought it was appropriate for the other side where already land had been set aside for it.” According to Kiegel, it was the city of Gaithersburg that requested to have the transit line moved to the other side of Great Seneca Highway in an effort to increase ridership and aid future redevelopment on the Kentlands side of the highway. With the change in plans. Lieberthal said she is worried that the beauty of the Lakelands entrance on Great Seneca Highway will disappear. The transitway is “going to take out the front our of neighborhood,” she said. “When you go into Lakelands, it’s a beautiful entrance. We’re very proud of that. Now it’s going to get wiped out for the bus lanes. An open letter to the project management team, detailed with many concerns, was circulated at the meeting. It was signed by “a share of Lakelands residents.” The letter includes comments and questions surrounding ridership, existing bus service impact, and traffic at intersections. Next on the agenda for the project is the creation of Corridor Cities Transitway Area Advisory Committees by the Maryland Transit Administration. Kiegel said within the next few days, letters will be sent out to citizens who were chosen to sit on the committees. Four committees will be formed, and 15 residents will be assigned to each. The citizens will meet with the project management team to give input on a quarterly basis for the next two years.
THE GAZETTE
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Washingtonian North plan raises concerns Public comment period will remain open until March 20
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Questions linger about the plan that will bring office space, a health club and hundreds of apartments to Washingtonian North in Gaithersburg. At a public hearing Monday, the Gaithersburg City Council and one resident aired comments and concerns about the plan. In October, the mayor and council unanimously passed an amendment to the annexation agreement for the property to allow the construction of a health club and for Camden Property Trust of McLean, Va., to build up to 400 apartments on a 27-acre parcel in Washingtonian North. The parcel, off of Sam Eig High-
way near Fields Road, once was the proposed site of Manuguistics Group’s headquarters, with about 850,000 square feet of office space planned there, but has been vacant since the deal went bad in 2000. The land has been owned by Boston Properties since 1998. Under the plan, a 320,000-square-foot office pad will remain available for a future user. However, about 6 acres will be sold to Camden Properties for apartments renting in the range of $1,600 per month, according to Jay Johnson, director of new development for Camden. In addition, Lifetime Fitness has proposed building a 127,000-squarefoot fitness complex on 8 acres of the site, complete with indoor and outdoor pools, a salon and a café. A 10-foot-wide, 600-foot-long bike path would be created and connected to an existing path in Malcolm King Park. The path also
would link riders and walkers to Washingtonian Center, on the other side of Sam Eig Highway. After a presentation by representatives of each of the participating companies, council members shared their thoughts. Most of the discussion centered around parking structures. Councilman Michael Sesma explained his desire to see more visually appealing parking garages on the site because they will often be seen by those who live on the property and those who are passing by. “I’d like to see some elevations of the parking structures that actually enhance or complement the design features that we see in these buildings,” he said. Councilman Jud Ashman agreed. “As I look at the project, no matter what direction people are coming from, potentially the first thing you’re going to see geographically on the
layout is a garage, so I want to make sure that you guys understand how important it is to us and to the city and to your project that it’s an inviting and attractive structure and different from typical garages,” he said. Joe Allen of Gaithersburg said he likes the idea that the property has mixed uses, but with only one entrance to the site, he doesn’t think the property looks and feels connected. “I think a lot of the plan, though, still focuses kind of on an autocentric view,” he said. “It doesn’t seem very connected. It seems like three distinct parcels. The entrances all face separate ways that try to encourage people to drive there.” The mayor and council voted to keep the public comment period open through 5 p.m. March 20. A policy discussion is scheduled for April 7. jedavis@gazette.net
Protesters rally against Trans-Pacific Partnership
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Protesters demonstrate Friday outside the Gaithersburg office of Rep. John Delaney (D-Dist. 6) of Potomac. From left are Buddy Robson of Berwyn Heights with Teamsters Local 639, Pam Wilt of Catonsville with the Communication Workers of America and Betsy Johnson of Chevy Chase with the Maryland Sierra Club.
About 40 protesters rallied Friday outside the Gaithersburg office of Rep. John Delaney (D-Dist. 6) of Potomac, urging him to vote against reauthorizing the president’s fast-track privileges for issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a controversial free-trade agreement. The partnership is proposed between the United States, Canada and 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and would remove tariffs and other limits to trade. Protest organizers say the Friday rally in Gaithersburg was part of a North American Day of Action. More than 50 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada were expected to host rallies to raise concerns involving the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trade agreements. According to papers handed out at the rally, protesters are concerned the partnership agreement will cause the U.S. to outsource jobs to other countries, increase the cost of prescriptions, and degrade environmental and consumer protections. Delaney has not come forward with a stance on the partnership, according to Will McDonald, communications director for the congressman.
Petition seeks varsity status for school ice hockey n
BY
District officials cite obstacles
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Hockey players in Montgomery County are used to competing against other high schoolers on the ice. The Maryland Student Hockey League they play in even includes several team names familiar to those in Montgomery County Public Schools: Montgomery Blair, Blake, Wootton and Winston Churchill, among others. The roughly 12 teams in the league’s two Montgomery divisions, however, won’t be found under the schools’ list of varsity sports. Jeremy Skaife, a player on the Richard Montgomery hockey team, recently started an online petition to change ice hockey’s status and add it to the county school system’s group of about 30 varsity sports. As of Tuesday, the Change.org petition had grown to more than 1,000 signatures, including those from residents of Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Kensington and Poolesville. The petition is addressed to Superintendent Joshua P. Starr, the county’s board of education, high school principals and school system athletics officials. In the petition, Skaife requests the school system provide support including morning announcements and website posts about the teams’
games and a “spirit bus” for the first game of the season. Skaife also asks that players earn varsity letters. “Above all else, we believe that these students deserve to earn and receive recognition for their achievements, hard work, and dedication, as all other varsity athletes, with a Varsity Letter,” the online petition said. William Beattie, the school system’s director of systemwide athletics, said ice hockey presents several challenges that hinder it from becoming a varsity sport. The school system carefully weighs many factors when considering whether to add a varsity sport, Beattie said. The system also only takes on a new varsity sport if it has full oversight of the sport, including funding, facilities and coaches, he said. “A sport is either a sport that is under the auspices of the school system or is totally not under the auspices of the school system,” he said. “You can’t halfway supervise something. You do it all the way or you don’t do it.” Beattie listed a number of sports that have made an unsuccessful bid for varsity: inline skating, rugby, badminton, skateboarding, horseback riding, flag football, cycling, dodgeball, kickboxing and crew. Beattie said the hockey teams, like other community groups, are allowed to use the name of a school community but that they are “completely separate and distinct.” One consideration, Beattie
said, is whether the school system has the proper facilities to house the sport. In the case of ice hockey, he said, the school system doesn’t have any ice rinks, and there are only a few in the area. If hockey were a varsity sport, it would have to be possible for each of the school system’s 25 high schools to have both girls and boys teams and all those teams would need to use those few available rinks, he said. Beattie said it would also be “almost impossible” for some county schools to have hockey teams because of the expenses involved and the location of the area’s few ice rinks. Other factors include the supervision of games and the availability of teachers to coach. Paul Lofgren — who has coached the Richard Montgomery team since its inception about 11 years ago — said that hockey becoming a varsity sport is “not going to happen.” The main obstacle is the lack of ice time available to teams, he said. The area’s ice rinks include ones in Cabin John, Rockville, Wheaton, Columbia and College Park, but some are too far away and others are too busy, Lofgren said. Lofgren said he has a good relationship with Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. “That’s not the norm,” he said, citing one team in his Montgomery division that is not allowed to use the school colors. If hockey were to become a varsity sport, Lofgren said he thinks
it would help his team raise more money — no small thing when it comes to a sport that includes expensive equipment and ice renting fees. Lofgren said he understand’s the school system’s position and that “their hands are tied financially.” “It would open up the floodgates” of other teams who would also want the varsity label, he said. Johnathan “JT” Burton, head coach of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase team, said the petition’s concept is not a new one and that he supports it. He said he also thinks that hockey won’t become a varsity sport. Taking on hockey would involve high costs Burton said he doesn’t think the school system will offer to cover. “In a perfect world, the county would cough up the money to fund us,” he said. “You would probably get more kids playing.” Burton said it costs his team about $30,000 to play each season — most of which goes to renting ice time — and that each player chipped in $1,300 this season. Burton said that, though he has a good relationship with the high school’s principal, the hockey team is “disconnected” from the school. “I feel that the county (school system) would have a hard time basically taking responsibility or having that liability of having an off-campus event that could impact them negatively,” he said. lpowers@gazette.net
InBrief
Gaithersburg High sells bricks as fundraiser Those wishing to own a piece of Gaithersburg history and help raise money for Gaithersburg High School can buy one of the bricks used in the original construction of the school in 1951. Gaithersburg High’s Student Union, a mentoring and service program operated by the city, is coordinating the sale. The bricks were salvaged during the demolition of the old school, which was replaced by a new building that opened its doors to students in the fall. Only 300 bricks are available, and each will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Each costs $20. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Gaithersburg High School Education Foundation, the Character Counts! Scholarship Fund and other city youth programs. An order form is available at gaithersburgmd.gov. The bricks can be bought at the Bohrer Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Ave. For more information, contact Maura Dinwiddie at mdinwiddie@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301-2586350, ext. 168.
Olney Scouts are now Eagles Two Olney teens recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the Boys Scouts’ highest rank. Peter Kirk, 18, a graduate of Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring and a freshman studying computer science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, designed and developed a landscaped area with crape myrtles, benches and a memorial-ready concrete pad at the First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg. Michael Russell, also 18 and a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering and a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. Russell designed, developed and built a firewood shelter at the Smith Center at the Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville. Eagle Scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges and demonstrate “Scout Spirit,” service and leadership. The Scout also must plan, organize, lead and manage an extensive service project. Kirk and Russell are members of Troop 264, sponsored by American Legion Norman Price Post 68 of Sandy Spring and led by Scoutmaster Dennis Bogan. They were awarded their Eagle Scout badges at the troop’s Court of Honor on Dec. 28 at the First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg.
POLICE BLOTTER
Complete report at www.gazette.net The following is a summary of incidents in the Gaithersburg area to which Montgomery County police and/or Gaithersburg city police responded recently. The words “arrested” and “charged” do not imply guilt. This information was provided by the county and/or the city of Gaithersburg.
Armed robbery • On Jan. 17 at 6:40 p.m. at Choice Market, 18700 Walkers Choice Road, Montgomery Village. The subject threatened the victim with a weapon and took property. Strong-arm robbery • On Jan. 20 at 6:17 p.m. in the 18700 block of Walkers Choice Road, Montgomery Village. The subjects assaulted the victim and took property. Aggravated assault • On Jan. 16 at 3:23 a.m. in the 100 block of Watkins Station Circle, Gaithersburg. The subject threatened the victim with a weapon. Residential burglary • 100 block of North Summit Drive, Gaithersburg, between 9 p.m. Jan. 14 and 10 a.m. Jan. 15. Unknown entry, took property. • 200 block of Summit Hall Road, Gaithersburg, between 5:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Attempted forced entry, took nothing. • 9100 block of Trams Way, Montgomery Village, at 8:45 p.m. Jan. 16. Unknown entry, took nothing. • 7600 block of Creekstone Court, Gaithersburg, between 7:15 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. Jan. 17. Forced entry, took property. • 7800 block of Mineral Springs Drive, Gaithersburg, between 5 p.m. Jan. 17 and 12:26 a.m. Jan. 18. Forced entry, took property. • 200 block of Park Avenue, Gaithersburg, at 7:35 a.m. Jan. 19. • Unit block of Arch Place, Gaithersburg, at 4:03 p.m. Jan. 19. • 7700 block of Laytonia Drive, Gaithersburg, between 7:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jan. 21. Forced entry, took property. Vehicle larceny • Four incidents in Gaithersburg between Jan. 13 and 21. Took loose items. Affected streets include Lamont and Bent Twig lanes. • Ten incident sin Gaithersburg between Jan. 13 and 21. Took tools, a radio face plate, an EZ pass and loose change. Affected streets include Beechcraft Avenue, Calypso Lane and Vinyard Lane. • 100 block of Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, between 2:20 and 6:40 p.m. Jan. 14. No forced entry, took registration. • Four incidents in Gaithersburg on Jan. 17 or 18. Took laptops, coins, gift cards and vehicle parts. Affected streets include North Frederick Avenue and Frenchton Place.
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AROUND THE COUNTY Cameras nab drivers illegally passing buses n
10 tickets issued in county this year
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Ten drivers who illegally passed a Montgomery County school bus in January were caught in the act by a new camera system. Since Jan. 2, five cameras on Montgomery County Public Schools buses have issued 10 citations, at $125 each, to drivers who passed a stopped bus while its stop arm was extended with flashing red lights, said Cpl. Rebecca Innocenti, a spokeswoman for county police.
The cameras automatically record vehicles that pass a bus illegally. If an officer catches a motorist passing a stopped school bus, she said, the citation would be steeper: $570 and 3 points on their license. Innocenti said the tickets were issued on the following streets: Ridge Road in Damascus; Fairland Road in Silver Spring; West Lake Drive and Tuckerman Lane in Rockville; West Lake Drive and Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda; and Muddy Branch Road and East Deer Park Drive in Gaithersburg. The data from the bus cameras will help police further understand which areas in the county are the most problematic when it comes to this type of violations, Innocenti said.
The cameras help police catch drivers whom they might not see or who would be difficult to stop based on the topography of the road, Innocenti said. “It certainly assists patrol officers’ efforts to enforce the law,” she said. The program currently has 10 cameras — five cameras were recently added but were not issuing citations. Innocenti said 15 more cameras will be installed by the end of February on school buses that run routes with the most passing incidents. That will bring the total number of school buses equipped with the cameras to 25. Wiring for the cameras will be installed on 75 more buses so the cameras can be swapped among the buses. The county also has the ability to
A car illegally passes a stopped school bus dropping off children in Olney. FILE PHOTO
purchase up to 75 more cameras during its contract, according to an Oct. 22 memo from Montgomery County Council staff. The County Council enacted a law in March 2012 that enables police to install and operate cameras on school buses to catch drivers who pass the ve-
hicles when they are stopped and operating their flashing red lights. Ultimately, Innocenti said, the goal goes beyond catching scofflaws. “Our goal is for people to be informed about the law and know the law and stop for stopped school buses,” she said.
County student disciplinary decisions are to include more discretion School system updating policy to follow new state regulations
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BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County school administrators can use discretion for disciplinary action against students involved in major offenses, after the state school board adopted new regulations on Jan. 28. In addition, the regulations call long-term suspensions and expulsions as “last resort options,” and outlines what schools must do to help suspended students receive certain services, according to the state board’s proposed regulations. Montgomery County Public Schools and other Maryland school districts have until the beginning of next school year to update their policies. Lori-Christina Webb — executive director to the county school system’s deputy superintendent of teaching, learning and programs — said schoollevel administrators now can use discretion to decide more serious disciplinary cases. Such decisions were previously guided by minimum and maximum discipline outlined in the school sys-
tem’s policy, she said. Webb said school administrators previously could use discretion for the “vast majority of offenses,” but not the most serious offenses. “This codifies the authority of the school-based administrator to use their judgment and discretion,” Webb said. The school system’s current Student Rights and Responsibilities policy includes several student actions that call for a mandatory recommendation of expulsion and mandatory referral to police. Those actions include possession of a bomb or a bomb threat, possession of firearms, a violent physical attack on a student or staff member, intent to distribute or distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and possession of weapons used to cause bodily harm or injury. The same policy lists other student actions that require “discretionary school-based consequences” and mandatory police referral, which include setting a fire, gang-related incidents, possession or use of intoxicants, sexual offenses, hate violence, and theft over $500 for a single incident. Webb said the new regulations mark a “positive change,” as administrators at a school who are close to the situation can understand the context of an offense better and “look at the total-
ity of the circumstances.” Another aim of the regulations: to end “disproportionate impact” on minority and special education students. Webb said she hopes administrators already used discretion on student conduct in certain cases, such as bringing a butter knife to use on a lunch item or chewing a pastry into the shape of a weapon. The pastry incident led to the suspension of a second-grader in Anne Arundel County. Chrisandra Richardson, associate superintendent for special education and student services, said the school system will continue to identify best practices for student discipline by looking at individual schools’ methods. The new regulations triggered “a new sense of urgency” to existing work, which also includes efforts to improve school climates and build relationships between school staff and students, she said. Richardson said the school system always provided work for suspended students, as required by the regulations. Now, the system will provide a required liaison between teachers and a suspended student or the student’s parents. The school system already used school liaisons, Richardson said. “This just formalizes that entire process,” she said.
She said a school system work group has worked for more than a year and a half in anticipation of the state’s regulation changes, which have been discussed for several years. Technical changes to the policy will be easy, Richardson said, but the “deeper” underlying implications will be more challenging. Both officials described the importance of offering support to help individual school needs. “We feel like the work that we have to do is again not just informing people ... but really in supporting schools and all of our staff,” Richardson said. Marc Cohen, principal at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, said kids should be treated as individuals. “We have a responsibility to be thorough in our investigations, to listen to everybody involved and make decisions that are in the best interests of the students involved in each of these different (cases),” he said. Cohen said discretion in discipline is challenging — families want consistency. The five major offenses “very rarely” come up at Seneca Valley, he said, but school staff discusses discipline. “We talk about it all the time,” he said. “Not about a need for more discretion, but about matching the conse-
quence to the behavior.” Over the next few months, he said, school staff will talk with parents such as what triggers the behavior in more serious offenses. Another topic will be how to work with students who commit offenses and who do not have a support system at home to help them. James Fernandez, principal at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, said he doesn’t think the state regulations will change much for the school system because discretion already plays a role in “the big five.” Fernandez said that if a student commits a seemingly serious offense, the school will recommend expulsion to the school system’s central office, but can evaluate whether that is the right call. “It’s nice to have some solid ground rules and then have an influence on the outcome,” he said. Fernandez said he wants to hear from the school system’s central office what it expects from individual schools on the new regulations. The school also must consider the safety of others in the building, he said, something parents take for granted. “We need to be consistent and we need to think of safety,” he said. lpowers@gazette.net
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O’Malley signs bill for retroactive health insurance program ‘If it affects just one family, it is worth the effort’
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BY
PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER
Del. Ronald A. George (R-Dist. 30) of Annapolis, a jeweler and former actor, faces a crowded field in the Republican primary for governor.
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
As governor, George would seek basic change ‘I think we have a lot of money that is in waste, and I’m going to prove that’ n
BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Father. Grandfather. Actor. Jeweler. Businessman. Volunteer. Lawmaker. Maryland Del. Ronald A. George has had many titles. But before he retires, George, 60, looks to add one more to his list: governor. “My love for the state, it runs deep,” he said. Although George is running for governor in the Republican primary this June, he said his campaign is not ego. In fact, he wants nothing more than to look toward his retirement. But he said he cannot turn his back on problems when he sees a solution. “This is about sacrifice,” he said of his campaign. “I want to fundamentally change Maryland into a state that cares about the people’s money and uses it wisely.” Raised in Howard County as one of seven siblings, George grew up in Maryland’s countryside and on the shores of Anne Arundel County.
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George said his father could not afford to send him to college. So instead, George attended Bowman Technical School to study jewelry design and repair. Putting his skills as a jeweler to work, he moved to Syracuse, N.Y., and opened his own shop. He put himself through college at Syracuse University, studying visual performing arts. After graduation, George moved to New York City to act. He said he was cast on a soap opera, and also did some offBroadway theater work. During his years in New York, he said he became an active volunteer at an emergency shelter and help center for children. “I couldn’t stand seeing the kids on the street, so I got involved,” he said. After meeting his wife Becky, then a ballet dancer, he said they knew that New York was not where they wanted to raise a family, so they returned to his home, Maryland, where he returned to the jewelry business. In 1991, he opened Ron George Jewelers on Main Street in Annapolis, with a picturesque view of the Maryland State House, the building where 16 years later he would begin serving District 30 as a delegate. In June 2013, George an-
nounced his campaign to be the state’s next governor and released a 10-point promise for Maryland. In his plan, he promised to lower taxes, offer a tax incentive for buying products locally, balance the state budget, restore good government, increase public safety, promote effective education, make energy more affordable, create a proactive transportation plan, protect and restore natural resources and the protect the rights guaranteed citizens by the Constitution. “I’m a reformer,” he said. “I find solutions.” In his time as a lawmaker, George said he has passed laws including those that prevent Maryland from investing in nations that finance terror, establish energy net metering for municipalities, and require immigrants to provide proof of presence to obtain a drivers license. But George said there remains tremendous waste in state government. As governor, he wants to turn that around and implement independent audits of all departments. “As a business person, I want to make sure money gets where it’s supposed to, there isn’t waste and it gets results,” he said. “I think we have a lot of money
that is in waste, and I’m going to prove that.” George has yet to name a running mate for the election and has until the Feb. 24 deadline to do so. He has also yet to set a fundraising goal. Donors to Republicans tend to hold onto their money until there is a clear frontrunner, he said. “They don’t realize that ties your hands,” he said. George’s January campaign finance filing showed he raised $136,384 in the last year. His cash balance as of January was a bit more than $10,200. “We never raise as much as Democrats do,” he said. In the June GOP primary, George faces Harford County Executive David R. Craig, former political action committee chairman Charles Lollar, Baltimore businessman Brian Vaeth and recently announced candidate Larry Hogan. George said it is hard for voters to see a Republican as the next governor, but he is a different kind of candidate. “It’s not about party. It is about who has the best solutions,” he said. kalexander@gazette.net
Gov. Martin O’Malley on Thursday signed a bill allowing retroactive health care benefits for state residents who tried and failed to register on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange before the Dec. 31, 2013, deadline. The bill also provides retroactive benefits for residents eligible for the Maryland Health Insurance Plan, a program for medically uninsurable individuals not eligible for other coverage. The measure was introduced Jan. 9 and passed on Jan. 29. Before signing the bill, O’Malley said it could help as many as 1,400 people. “The reason we do this is because if it affects just one family, it is worth the effort,” O’Malley said. Previously, the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 closed enrollment in MHIP on Dec. 31, 2013, as enrollees would be eligible for health insurance through the individual market or exchanges. Technical problems enrolling have changed that. “Bridge-eligible individuals,” those who qualify for retroactive coverage under the new law and their dependents, are those who prove they tried but failed to obtain insurance through the exchanges, a legislative analysis said. It does not include those eligible for coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the
Maryland Children’s Health Program or those with an employer sponsored group health insurance plan with comparable benefits, according to the analysis. Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Dist 17 of Gaithersburg) said the measure was a good idea. “It’s a question of fairness,” he said. “These are people who in good faith tried to sign up. We should try to help them out until the website is running smoothly.” Montgomery County Republican Central Committee Chairman Michael Higgs said the new law was “flawed legislation.” “My problem with this bill is it’s open-ended. Nobody has any idea how many people this is going to affect and how much money it will cost taxpayers. It is essentially a blank check,” he said. The legislative analysis noted that the costs can’t be calculated. “The exact [cost] cannot be reliably quantified and will depend on the number of people who qualify as bridge-eligible individuals, the number of those individuals who choose to enroll in MHIP, the plan selected and the total health care expenditures incurred during enrollment,” it read. “Funds are anticipated to come from the MHIP fund balance. Sufficient funds are available for this purpose, and no additional State funds should be required.” Sarah Tincher of Capital News Service contributed to this story. pmcewan@gazette.net
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Police release photos of suspect in Gaithersburg grocery robberies The man robbed the store on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, police say
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE
Two robberies occurred at the Choice Market in Gaithersburg on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24. Detectives believe that the same man is responsible for both of these robberies.
register. He took an undisclosed sum of cash and fled from the store again. Police describe the man as between 5-feet-6-inches and 5-feet-9-inches tall, and weighing 180 to 210 pounds. During the first robbery, the man wore a dark-colored knit hat, a dark-colored bandana over his face and an Orioles jacket, according to police. In
Frosh, Simmons aim for a dog-bite solution Lawmakers hope bill will address Court of Appeals ruling on liability n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
A bill backed by Montgomery legislators may help resolve whether certain breeds of dogs carry greater liability for their owners. The state has been trying to figure out how to handle dog attacks since a 2012 Maryland Court of Appeals decision. The court ruled that the owners of dogs or the property where they live are liable for injuries sustained if a dog bites someone. There has to be proof that the owner knew that the dog was a pit bull or a mixed-breed pit bull. The court decision was later altered to apply only to purebred pit bulls. The decision drew criticism from legislators, dog lovers and animal rights groups. Since then, the General Assembly has tried to create a new standard. Now, Sen. Brian Frosh (DDist. 16) of Bethesda and Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville hope to break through the impasse. Their bill, cross-filed in the House and Senate, increase protections for victims of dog bites by not requiring them to prove in civil actions that an owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, Simmons said. The bills also let an owner call witnesses to testify that the dog was friendly and not dangerous and that the incident was isolated or unpredictable. “Every case becomes a jury question [to figure out],” Simmons said. Frosh said he believes the bill is fair to all parties connected to a dog bite and “goes straight down the middle” between victims and dog owners. Dog bites make up about 0.2 percent of total injuries from external causes — including vehicle crashes, slipping and falling, and other reasons — that required hospitalization, Simmons said. Between 2005 and 2011, there was one death in Maryland from a dog bite, compared with about 5,000 deaths from motor vehicles, he said. A hearing on the Senate version of the bill is scheduled for Thursday in the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Simmons said he hopes the bill will “move the ball forward” on the dog issue and break through the impasse the issue has created. Meanwhile, a bill sponsored by Del. Sheila E. Hixson (D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring would nullify the Court of Appeals pit bull ruling by declaring that no dog can be determined to be potentially dangerous based solely on its
Police investigate Gaithersburg, Rockville break-ins Each time, man fled with cash, other merchandise from businesses n
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County Police are looking for a man they say robbed a Gaithersburg grocery store twice in the last two weeks. The robberies occurred on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 at Choice Market at 18700 Walkers Choice Road, according to police. In the first incident, police said the man entered the store around 6:30 p.m. and asked the cashier for cigarettes. When the cashier opened the register, the man brandished a handgun and demanded money. The man took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled from the store. Exactly one week later around 1 p.m., police said the same man entered the store, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the cash
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breed, type or heritage. House Majority Leader Kumar Barve (D-Dist. 17) of Gaithersburg and Del. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring are among the co-sponsors. The bill would prohibit counties, municipalities or property owners from refusing to let residents own certain types or breeds of dogs. Hixson, a long-time dog lover who said her granddaughter owns a pit bull, said she believes that supporters “have a shot” at getting the bill passed this year. “These dogs aren’t born that way. They’re trained,” she said. A number of states have laws that say prohibitions on dogs can’t be breed-specific, she said. Simmons said Hixson’s bill is well-intentioned, but it was essentially tried several years ago when the issue first came up and did not have enough support in the Senate. The Senate hasn’t given any indication it’s willing to consider a bill that would repeal the court’s decision, Simmons said. Hixson said she believes her bill differs from previous legislation in that it would apply statewide rather than leave the issue up to each county. She said she’s talked with Simmons and Frosh about potentially adding parts of her legislation to their bill. rmarshall@gazette.net
the second robbery, police said he wore a black bandana over his head, a white bandanna over his face and a green winter jacket with a black stripe. Police did not have any additional information Wednesday afternoon. Anyone with information about the robberies should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-8477. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment in the cases. jedavis@gazette.net
Montgomery County Police are investigating a series of commercial burglaries throughout Gaithersburg and Rockville. Police said the burglaries occurred on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, and the same man is believed to be responsible for all of the incidents. Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, officers responded to the BP gas station at 16210 Frederick Road for a commercial burglary alarm, according to police. Upon arrival, officers determined the business had been burglarized. Around the same time, police said multiple commercial burglary alarms were set off at several businesses along Frederick Road. Police discovered burglaries at those locations, too.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE
Montgomery County Police released this photo of a man they say is behind a series of commercial burglaries that occurred on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.
The other burglaries occurred at: • Dunkin Donuts, 16220 Frederick Road, Suite 104, Gaithersburg. • Express Pharmacy, 16220 Frederick Road, Suite 100, Gaithersburg. • Shell gas station, 15701 Frederick Road, Rockville. Five additional burglaries allegedly committed by the same man are under investi-
gation by the Gaithersburg Police Department and Rockville City Police Department. The burglaries occurred at: • Corner Bakery, 1 Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg. • Lindt Chocolate, 3 Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg. • Taco Bar II, 10003 Frederick Road, Gaithersburg. • Subway, 15106B Frederick Road, Rockville. • Kwik Stop Beer and Wine, 15104 Frederick Road, Rockville. In each of the incidents, the man gained entry into the businesses and stole cash and other merchandise. Police did not have any additional information Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding these burglaries or the identity of the subject is asked to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-8477. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment in the cases. jedavis@gazette.net
Leventhal: Change process for executive vacancy Proposal would allow special elections, such as current process used for council openings n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County voters soon may have a new way to choose a county executive if the seat is vacated in the middle of a term. On Jan. 28, County Council Vice President George Leventhal wrote to Montgomery’s House and Senate delegation leaders, asking about a possible state constitutional amendment for a special election if an executive leaves office. An amendment would let the county change its charter or county code to allow a special election. The letter was endorsed by the other council members,
but was sent before the council voted on Jan. 28 to appoint Cherri Branson to its District 5 seat. Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Silver Spring, the chair of Montgomery’s House delegation, said Thursday she was drafting legislation to create a structure for filling executive vacancies that parallels the one for those on the council. The county charter currently allows for a special election to fill a vacant seat on the County Council if the opening occurs before Dec. 1 in the year before an election is scheduled. But the charter requires that county executive vacancies be filled by a vote of at least five members of the nine-member council. If an appointment isn’t made within 45 days, the council must appoint a nominee chosen by the county central committee of the elected executive’s political party.
Leventhal said Thursday that it’s odd there would be a special election for council seats, but voters would have no say in the replacement of an executive. He said he was partially motivated by the resignation of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold, who left office after his conviction in January 2013 for misusing his security detail for political activities and other improper activities using security staff and county employees. The resignation in January of former District 5 Councilwoman Valerie Ervin to take a job as executive director of a New York nonprofit also influenced his decision, highlighting the absence of a special-election process for county executive, Leventhal said. Maryland law currently requires all state and county elections to be held every four years on the date of the congressional elections. The only exception is for a special election to fill a
council seat. “Because I believe that the voters of the County should have the same opportunity to fill a vacancy in the position of County Executive as they do for a Councilmember, I ask if there is interest on the part of members of the delegation to pursue the necessary amendments to the Maryland Constitution and Code to make this a possibility,” Leventhal wrote. If the state law were amended, the county could pursue changing the charter and county code amendments needed to make the process to fill the executive post the same as it is for a council opening, he wrote. Kaiser said she expected the bill to come back to the county delegation by Friday for approval to be introduced, and have a hearing scheduled for Feb. 14. She said she also would request a review of the legislation by the attorney general’s office.
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Old-school technology stays on the books Those who take the oath of office, from 1777 to present day, sign the Oath Book
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BY
ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER
Inside the Oath Book are the signatures of state officials, law enforcement officers and judges, all vowing to uphold the rules of their office. It’s an old-fashioned concept in today’s tech-savvy age, but Loretta E. Knight, clerk of the Montgomery County Circuit Court, says helping people become “official” is an important tradition that must be kept alive. “I went over to swear in the firefighters just last week ... and afterwards I tell them: When your grandchildren or your great-grandchildren [are] looking for their greatgranddad or great grandmother ... they will go to the archives, and they will see your name,” Knight said. The clerk’s office has bound oath books from 1777 to 2014. Each
hardcover book has 400 pages. The current book is wrapped in a white cloth that has Knight’s initials and volume number on its side. Each page has three individual oaths of office and signatures. When a new clerk is elected, that clerk uses the current book until all 400 pages are filled. Then a new book is started, with the new clerk’s initials along its spine. In 2013, Knight administered 119 oaths. The clerk’s office, established by the Maryland Constitution, dates to 1658 at the first Maryland settlement in St. Mary’s County. Knight said the Maryland government at the time needed someone to keep records independently, safe and in an impartial manner. Knight said the Oath Book was first named the Test Book. “It is a lot of work, but this is the fun part of my job,” she said. Knight explained that she is responsible for keeping custody of the oath book; maintaining records and papers of the office; making legible entries of all proceedings; and making available, when requested
in writing, copies of records, unless prohibited by law or court order. Knight keeps at least three books that date from 2008 to today. Previous Oath Books are kept in the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. According to Henry Miller, director of research at Historical St. Mary’s City, in the 17th and 18th centuries taking an oath was a “big deal.” “It was a very important thing,” Miller said, adding that when Lord Baltimore appointed the first governor he requested in writing that the appointee had to “treat everybody equally.” The oath in Maryland is the same for each office and reads: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality of prejudice execute the office of [office in which the appointee or candidate will take over] according to the Constitution
and Laws of this State.” When a new judge is sworn in, the words change to “according to the Constitution and Laws of this State, and that I will not directly or indirectly receive the profits or any part of the profits of any other office during the term of my acting as Judge.” “All of [Lord Baltimore’s] officials had to take an oath,” Miller said. Knight, who was first elected court clerk in 2006, graduated from the Washington School for Secretaries in 1962. Knight swears in all the judges, police officers, firefighters, gubernatorial appointments, state’s attorneys, assistant state’s attorneys and elected officials in the county. Knight just swore in Cherri Branson, the new District 5 councilwoman, on Jan. 28 to serve on the County Council until Dec. 1. Knight is retiring at the end of 2014. Voters will elect her successor in November. When asked what does she think of the Oath Book, Knight replied, “Isn’t it just wonderful?”
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Helping government workers become “official” is an important tradition that must be kept alive, says Loretta E. Knight, Montgomery County Circuit Court clerk since 2006, here in her Rockville office. She plans to retire this year.
County’s implementation of Curriculum 2.0 reaches severely disabled students Elementary grades seeing more academic emphasis
n
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Special education students around the county have been learning in a new way this school year. In elementary-level classrooms where teachers used to teach the Fundamental Life Skills curriculum, students are now participating in a new curriculum that incorporates more academic components alongside lessons about life skills such as shopping, traveling and interacting with the community. The change marks another shift in Montgomery County Public Schools to Curriculum
2.0, which aligns with the Common Core State Standards. Common Core is a set of education standards for English and math that Maryland, along with other states, chose to adopt. The school system’s general education curriculum has already transitioned to Curriculum 2.0 in kindergarten through the fifth grade. This school year, however, marks the first year of implementing curricular changes for elementary special education students with severe cognitive disabilities who were previously taught under Fundamental Life Skills. Most special education students have already been taught under the school system’s general education curriculum. Throughout the school
system, about 650 elementary special education students are experiencing the transition from Fundamental Life Skills to the new curriculum, according to Gwendolyn Mason, director of special education services for the school system. Secondary schools with students learning the life skills curriculum will make their transition next school year, she said. The system’s curriculum for special education students has always been connected to state standards, which are more rigorous under Common Core, Mason said. To help the school system prepare for the transition, she said she has consulted with Diane Browder, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who has helped develop resources aligned with
Common Core for students with severe cognitive disabilities. “It’s a very exciting time and we plan on really training our teachers and working with them intensely to help them make this shift,” Mason said. Curriculum 2.0 for these special education students will include the old curriculum’s community-based instruction, which teaches skills such as how to shop and travel, she said. “Our children have to have those experiences to enable them to develop those skills,” she said. “It’s not in any respect any shift from that.” Unlike most schools, Longview School in Germantown implemented the new curriculum in its elementary grades last school year. This year, they are implementing the curriculum in their secondary grades.
In their lessons, Longview teachers previously started with the life skills and then connected them to academic lessons, said Michelle Mach, Longview’s coordinator. Now, she said, teachers start with the academics and work in the life skills. “With this transition, the focus is definitely more academic to start with, but it’s a responsibility for us to integrate it into that community instruction,” Mach said. “In many ways, it opens some doors but as educators, it’s still our responsibility to make it functional and concrete.” Earlier this school year, Mach said, some Longview students went on a trip to Home Depot where they took part in both academic and life-skill exercises: they identified the geometric shapes they saw and also purchased materials for a class project. Elaina Yiallouros, who teaches first- through thirdgraders at Longview, said it has been challenging for school staff to plan and teach the general education curriculum in a way that their students are able to understand and use, while also incorporating life skills that the kids need. “We just have to be extremely creative,” she said. Yiallouros said she’s not sure if the new curriculum is working yet. “It’s too early to say, but we’re giving it our all,” she said. Since last year, Longview staff have used a program called “books in a box” — boxes that contain objects that help the students make multi-sensory connections to a story such as “Romeo and Juliet.” The school is collecting materials and developing a dif-
ferent set of boxes including objects that would help students understand more informational subjects such as science. “It makes learning much more concrete,” Yiallouros said. Kim Redgrave, coordinator at Stephen Knolls Schools in Kensington, said her school has transitioned to the new curriculum in its kindergarten through fifth-grade classes. “It’s a huge transition, not gonna lie,” she said. Stephen Knolls’ students include those with mild and severe cognitive defects and multiple disabilities. Redgrave said the school started conducting workshops and training in August and will continue staff development opportunities throughout the school year. Stephen Knolls teachers previously pulled in “bits and pieces” of the general education curriculum and embedded them in lessons that emphasized life skills, Redgrave said. Kara Farrell — who teaches second-, third- and fourth-graders at Stephen Knolls — said students are now exposed to more academic material in subjects such as math, science, reading and social studies. “(The new curriculum is) certainly more demanding, but the students really enjoy learning about all the different subjects and the different topics that we get to explore,” she said. Farrell said the transition has not been difficult with supports the school has provided to teachers. “(Curriculum) 2.0 itself can be daunting but because us teachers, we know our students, we know how to adapt it,” she said. lpowers@gazette.net
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THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Page A-9
Volunteers will help with frog, toad conservation Part of a nationwide program to collect data on the amphibians n
BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
Can you tell the difference between the sound of your neighbor struggling to play the banjo and the call of the green frog? More than two dozen county residents leapt at the chance to learn and help scientist gauge the health of the area’s wetlands. Scientists are enlisting local nature lovers to help them collect data on frogs and toads in Montgomery County. The information, which will build upon a nationwide database, helps scientists keep track of population levels of different species and ecosystem health. Frogs and toads are wetland indicator species — the strength of the population reflects how the ecosystem is faring. This is the first time Montgomery County is implementing the FrogWatch program. On Thursday, 26 volunteers gathered at the Rockville library for their first training session. Starting in March, they’ll note levels of frog and toad calls they hear at designated locations near ponds and wetlands, where amphibians live. The second training event will be a field session in mid-March. If more residents express interest, coordinators said they might schedule additional training sessions. FrogWatch is run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization based in Silver Spring. The association has partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection to bring data collection to the county. Volunteers can track a site identified by the department, or register their own. By partnering with FrogWatch, the department hopes to raise awareness of habitat and species vulnerability. “Wetlands are a concern, as well as the loss of frog species”
Now in the design stage, the trail likely will not receive funding n
BY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
Starting in March, volunteers will note levels of frog and toad calls they hear at designated locations near ponds and wetlands, where amphibians, such as this southern leopard frog, live. from fungal infections, said Jessica Jones, a program manager with the Department of Environmental Protection. “There’s been a loss of wetlands throughout the country,” she said. Much of the loss comes when “sometimes people don’t know that they have valuable habitat in their backyards,” and drain or fill wet areas, Jones said. Staff members explained how to monitor the amphibians — once a week for three weeks, at least 30 minutes after sunset in proper weather — and enter the data online. If it’s too windy or rainy, they might not hear the calls. It must be above 35 degrees for frogs and toads to be active. Volunteers note how many frog and toad calls they hear and record the weather that night. The hard part comes in
memorizing the calls of a dozen or so different species, which differ vastly. Wood frogs sound like ducks. They are one of the few species that can live as far north as Alaska, due to a compound in their blood that keeps them from freezing. Spring peepers make a high-pitched peep. “It’s like the harbinger of spring — let’s you know when it’s going to warm up outside,” said Ken Mack, water quality specialist for the department of environmental protection. The pickerel frog makes a snoring croak sound and the southern leopard frog “sounds like you’re rubbing rubber together,” Mack said. For the northern cricket frog: “I like to think of their call as bouncing glass marbles off of each other,” he said. The green frog — the most
BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County has another ally in its fight for more school construction money. Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the governor’s race, is backing the executives of Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties in their push to create a program for funding school construction. Gansler joins Del. Heather R. Mizeur, one of his opponents for the party nomination, in support of the push. Mizeur (DDist. 20) of Takoma Park is a cosponsor of legislation to create the program. In a statement Friday, Gansler said the portable classrooms, leaky roofs and inadequate bathrooms cited as issues at many aging schools are not hallmarks of the best education system in the nation, but rather symbols of a system that serves some and not others. Maryland was previously ranked no. 1 in education by Education Week, but this year that publication changed its system
from a ranking to a grade and Maryland fell below seven other states. “With the endless stream of gambling revenue that the administration promised will fund our schools, we should fully expect Lt. Gov. [Anthony] Brown to submit this as one of the signature pieces of legislation for the administration this session,” Gansler said. Brown (D), also running for governor this year, was unavailable to comment due to the death of his father. Gansler, Brown and Mizeur will face each other in the June 24 Democratic primary. In his letter of support to the county executives, Gansler called the proposal “fiscally responsible.” “Your proposal enables the state to support county-led efforts, at primarily county expense, to obtain construction bonds that will go directly to schools and not be diverted to projects for special interests,” he wrote. “This investment of state resources will be repaid tenfold in the increased success of our students.” County Executive Isiah Leggett said existing state funding for school construction in Montgomery goes to cover the ever-increasing enrollment at Montgomery County Public Schools.
About 2,000 new students enroll each year, he said. Montgomery County’s priority this session is having the state establish a steady, pre-
common in the area — sounds “like someone who is trying to learn the banjo and not doing a very good job,” he said. Mack encouraged volunteers to come up with their own mnemonics and comparisons to remember the calls. Karen Sommer Shalett learned about the program from a Bethesda-Chevy Chase neighborhood listserv and took her two sons, Simon, 6, and Nathaniel, 8. She said that they recently lost an 8-year-old family member, and nature lover, to cancer. FrogWatch is a way for them to honor him while giving back, she said. Plus, Simon and Nathan love animals, too. “We wanted to teach the kids that you can do something with your passion and still give back,” she said. sscully@gazette.net
dictable stream of money to leverage borrowing for school construction. kalexander@gazette.net
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Gansler supports push for school construction dollars n
North Branch Trail construction money could be stopped
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Funding for the North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail has not been included in the county executive’s latest Capital Improvements Program Budget, although design is already underway. The paved trail would be about 2.2 miles long, with two segments, in the Rock Creek Regional Park and North Branch Stream Valley Park. It would connect larger trail systems in the county and Washington, D.C. In June the Montgomery County Planning Board approved a plan for the design stage of the trail, and the trail has been recommended in several master plans, several Rock Creek area plans, and the Countywide Park Trails Plan. These designs are expected to cost $520,000 once complete. The department has spent about $370,000 of that so far, out of the last CIP budget. The Parks Department recommended $4.29 million to be allocated for the project in the next county CIP budget, through 2020. “Due to affordability, the executive could not recommend that funding be put in,” said Amy Wilson, a management budget specialist. “We’re still coming out of the recession and we do have limited availability of funding, so it was just weighed against other priorities,” she said. Wilson emphasized that this is a new project; it was not previously included in the budget. But with the design near completion, park staff was disappointed by the omission. “Park staff is particularly concerned about this project, since final construction documents are underway and
this project was promised to the community in 2010,” wrote Marian Elsasser, landscape architect for the parks department, in an email. She wrote that it was promised “as a follow-up project to the ICC environmental stewardship project for the Lake Frank Trail connector.” One segment of the trail would connect Lake Frank Lakeside Trail to the Emory Land Bikeway at the intersection of Muncaster Mill Road, northeast of Rockville. The northern segment would connect the Route 200 Bikeway to a future trail planned by a private developer at the Preserve at Rock Creek, west of Olney. The section planned by the developer will connect to a part of the North Branch Trail previously constructed north of Bowie Mill Road. “This trail is a critical segment of a continuous regional park trail system,” Elsasser wrote. Barbara Falcigno, president of the Greater Olney Civic Association, said the association had assumed the trail would be built. She was disappointed to see it left out of the budget. “It’s a very short section that needs to be completed for huge parts of the county to be opened up,” and accessible through the trail system, she said. Designs for the trail have already been funded, but construction, planned to begin in 2016, is reliant on the council’s decision whether or not to include the trail in the next budget. The County Council will hold hearings on Wednesday and Thursday on the budget in the council hearing room at 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. On Monday, the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee will have a meeting discussing the budget before the entire council considers it. sscully@gazette.net
Obituary Bobby Taylor Lee, 80, of Moneta passed away on
Friday, January 31, 2014 at his residence. He was born in Beaver Dam, Kentucky on October 6, 1933. He was the son of the late Augusta Kay Whitecarver Bowling and James Taylor Lee. Bobby served his country in the United States Army. He loved to play tennis, was a private pilot, and enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting and the outdoors. Most of all he loved spending time with his loving family and friends.
Bobby is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Nancee Bowling Lee, three children, Robert Taylor Lee and his wife, Elizabeth, Tamala Anne Lee, and Andrew Bowling Lee and his wife, Donna; nine grandchildren, Rebekah, Jason and his wife, Katy, Ryan, Ashlee and her husband, Marcus, Alexander, Taylor, Nathan, Mason and Sara; one great-granddaughter, Zoey; also two aunts, Virginia Haley and Anna Peters. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Bobby’s memory please consider, Lake Christian Ministries, 13157 Old Moneta Road, Moneta, VA 24121. A Celebration of Bobby’s life will be conducted at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Sherwood Memorial Park Chapel in Salem with Pastor Kevin Frack officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00pm on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at their residence in Moneta. To send condolences online please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, (540)-586-3443. 1905657
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THE GAZETTE
Page A-10
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Reward in eagle shootings increased to $8K Police investigating leads in Brookeville, Darnestown incidents n
BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
Wildlife officials are hoping that an $8,000 reward will help solve the cases of two bald eagles shot and killed in Montgomery County in December. Maryland Natural Resources Police spokeswoman Candus Thomson said an eagle was shot with a rifle at about 3 p.m. Christmas day in a field at Georgia Avenue and Bordly Drive in Brookeville. She said residents were out walking and taking photographs when they heard the shot, and saw the eagle dead next to a deer carcass that it had been feeding on. The bird was still immature, and did not have the complete white feathers on its head yet. On Dec. 28, a mature eagle was found near a residence on Deakins Lane in Darnestown. The bird was found alive, but later died of its injuries. An X-ray revealed
COP
Continued from Page A-1 Stirkens to a local hospital, where she died. “Her injuries were stab wounds,” Daly said. James Stirkens, a police sergeant, called 911 immediately after the shooting and stayed on the phone until police arrived. Stirkens, 58, has been placed on routine administrative leave while police investigate the slayings, Daly said. Internal affairs staff also will investigate after the initial investigation is completed. No charges have been filed. Police have not said how many times Stirkens shot his son or if the handgun used was his personal weapon or a department-issued firearm. Police did say that they don’t know what prompted Christopher Stirkens to attack his mother. The man had had run-ins with the law, online court records show, but those were for relatively minor, nonviolent transgressions: marijuana-related charges in 2009 and 2012. In one case, charges were dropped. In the other, he pleaded guilty and was fined $150. It’s also unclear if Christopher Stirkens had any mental problems. “We’re looking at all possibilities to see if there’s a mental health component, a substance abuse component. ... It’s certainly part of the investigation,” Daly said. The Stirkenses lived at the Lake Ka-
SALT
Continued from Page A-1 magnesium, designed to make salt effective at much lower temperatures, in the state’s metropolitan areas where it’s usually not needed because the temperature of the pavement doesn’t generally get as cold as it has this year, said spokesman David Buck. About the only bright side has been that the cold temperatures have usually made the
it had been hit by birdshot, a type of shotgun shell. The incidents are thought to be unrelated. Thomson said Natural Resources Police have received many leads, and officers are in the process of following up on each one. “We do know the public remains engaged, given the number of phone calls and emails we have received wanting to know if we are any closer to resolution in these cases,” she said. “The officers are working hard. This is the kind of thing they hate to see, especially since it is our national bird.” The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust pledged $5,000 to the police investigation, adding to the financial commitment by three private citizens one in Virginia and two in Montgomery County—who each pledged $1,000 but asked to remain anonymous. The Humane Society of the United States, headquartered in Gaithersburg, offers rewards for information on wildlife poaching cases.
“This case happened right in our own backyard,” said Elise Traub, the organization’s director of wildlife protection. “As an organization that protects all animals, we are truly appalled that someone would kill our national symbol. We are hopeful that this $5,000 along with the $3,000 will help to bring the person(s) responsible for these crimes to justice.” The money would be awarded after the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killings. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act, and Maryland followed suit in 2010. It remains illegal to shoot eagles without a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior. A conviction carries a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to a one year in prison. Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call the Department of Natural Resources communications center at 410-260-8888, or can remain anonymous by calling the Catcha-Poacher at 800-635-6124.
trine Terrace home for about 20 years, according to police. No one else was in the home at the time of the killings. According to Denise Stirkens’ Facebook page, she had worked at the U.S. Department of Justice and for Montgomery County Public Schools. She was also a “Dance Mom” at the Dawn Crafton Dance Connection in Gaithersburg. After the slayings, Crafton posted a note on her group’s Facebook page reacting to the news. “We have lost a wonderful, caring, ‘Dance Mom’ and friend of more than 20 years. She was a treasured, supportive member of our dance family and always had a big hug for us. ... Her loss is just heart breaking,” Crafton wrote. James Stirkens’ Facebook page had photos of himself with his wife, who had family portraits on her page with her husband and their three children. “It is a tragic situation,” Daly told reporters Thursday morning. Marlin Tyner, 29, a neighbor, said Christopher Stirkens was withdrawn. “If you talk to him, he’s quiet,” he said. Tyner said he had heard problems at the home. “I heard screaming and stuff, but whenever they came outside, everyone acted [like] everything’s OK,” he said. But neighbors also called the elder Stirkens a calm, level-headed man and a good neighbor. “There’s probably never been a cross word coming out of [James Stirkens’] mouth,” said a man who lives a few doors
down from the Stirkens home. Christopher Stirkens attended Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Rockville and played on the school’s basketball team as a senior before graduating in 2006, according to Magruder coach Dan Harwood. That season, the team went 22-3 before losing in the regional championships, he said. “We’re all kind of shocked over here at Magruder. When he was here, he was a really good kid, a really quiet kid,” Harwood said. Stirkens attended the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore for a year, in 2006-07, according to school officials there. He also had studied at Montgomery College, according to his Facebook page. “We’re all traumatized on one level or another,” said Cmdr. Don Johnson, James Stirkens’ commanding officer in the Third District. “Everybody in the police family is very devastated by this event.” Stirkens has worked at the station, which serves the high-activity downtown Silver Spring area, as a patrol sergeant the last six years, he said. Stirkens has been reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable, he said. “He provides that senior experience every commander needs to have at the station,” Johnson said. “You just can’t imagine what he’s going through. ... You can’t picture that worst-case scenario nightmare,” he said.
snow fluffy and easier to plow, he said. Buck said the winter has been a tough one around the state, with Garrett County accumulating more than 100 inches of snow and Ocean City getting about 13 inches. The highway agency has activated its emergency operations center 24 times since November to coordinate the response to a weather event, Buck said. The agency already has spent about $70 million on win-
DONATION
Continued from Page A-1 are not always maintained properly, and often become a dumping ground for large amounts of unwanted household and other miscellaneous goods. When not attended to regularly, these conditions can attract pests, be unsightly and generally contribute to poor public health and safety.” Pruss said the city does not currently have an official record of all the drop box locations and their responsible parties. If the city passes the ordinance, a formal record will be created. Staff’s recommendation is to pass a text amendment that would provide guidelines for the boxes in terms of locations and placement, the quantity allowed at each site and proper size. Signage restrictions, permit requirements, and identification and contact information for the responsible organization are additional regulations proposed by staff. Resident Leslie Shapiro
thogan@gazette.net
sjbsmith@gazette.net
ter operations, and has used about 288,000 tons of salt to treat the 17,000 “lane miles” of roads around the state that it’s responsible for, Buck said. Different types of weather call for different responses from road crews, Compton said. When they’re dealing with snow, crews can plow the roads and then put down a light covering of salt, Compton said. But the only treatment for ice is salt. “It’s really all about the management of the pavement,”
CAMPAIGN
Continued from Page A-1 port from Kate Planco Waybright, executive director of Progressive Maryland, who said in a release from Common Cause Monday that public funding shifts campaigns away from big donors and toward regular voters. Waybright could not be reached for comment Monday. The bill would limit candidates who accept public financing for their campaign to donations of $150 or less from voters registered in Montgomery County. In order to qualify for the matching funds, candidates for county executive would have to get 500 in-county individual contributions and raise $40,000; at-large council candidates would be required to attract 250 individual contributions and raise $20,000; district council candidates would need 125 contributions and raise $10,000. County executive candidates who qualify would receive $6 for every one dollar of the first $50 of an in-county contribution; $4 for every dollar of the second $50 and $2 for every dollar of the third $50. Council candidates would get $4 for each dollar of the first $50; $3 for each dollar of the second $50 and $2 for each dollar of the third $50. Andrews said he thinks that
Compton said. Keeping roads plowed and salted is important to helping keep the county’s transit system open. That means that a severe storm won’t damage the county economically by shutting down businesses or keeping workers and customers from getting to work, Compton said. But most important is making sure people can get wherever they need to go safely. “It’s all about public safety,” he said.
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Takoma Park has gone through about 450 tons of the mix of salt and sand that it puts on roads, said Daryl Braithwaite, the city’s director of public works. This year’s cold temperatures have meant that crews have had to work more days of extra shifts to keep treating roads where ice would often refreeze at night after it partially melted during the day, she said. That has forced the city to already spend close to the nearly $33,000 it had budgeted for salt and the $20,000 for overtime, Braithwaite said Monday.
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emailed Drzyzgula in October, detailing her same desire to see identification information printed on the boxes. “I agree with your concerns and would like each box to state specifically whether it goes to a local charity such as Interfaith Works or Goodwill or Salvation Army or are being sold for money overseas,” Shapiro wrote in the email. Planet Aid, a nonprofit organization that collects and recycles used clothing and shoes, has five drop boxes throughout the city. John Nagiecki, communications director for the organization, said he thinks the regulations would be a positive addition. “We are in favor of regulating donation bins,” he said. “Having that information on the bin is something we already comply with. I think that clear distinction would be beneficial to supporters.” A public hearing for the proposed amendment is scheduled for March 3. jedavis@gazette.net
will give candidates a strong incentive to seek out as many new contributors in the county as possible and getting those people involved in the political process. The bill doesn’t put a limit on the overall level of spending, as long as donors stay within the $150 limit, Andrews said. But public financing is capped at $750,000 for county executive candidates, $250,000 for at-large council candidates — who run countywide — and $125,000 for council candidates running in a district. Andrews said the bill isn’t meant to finance an entire campaign, but just to be “a bridge to raising enough funds to be competitive.” While groups like Common Cause can’t do much to bring down the costs of running, they can find better ways for candidates to get that money, BevanDangel said. Polls show a bipartisan concern about the influence of money in politics, she said. The General Assembly gave counties the ability last year to pass bills such as Andrews’, and Bevan-Dangel said the Montgomery bill would hopefully inspire other counties to take action that could hopefully lead to a bill passed on the state level. “We know others are watching,” she said.
The city usually plans for about three storms per year with overtime and heavy treatment of streets, a point that’s already been reached. “At this point in the year, we’ve pretty much spent all that we’ve budgeted,” she said. With forecasts calling for the possibility of more snow this weekend, Buck said the highway agency’s crews will be out to deal with whatever weather comes. “All we can do is look at the next forecast,” he said. rmarshall@gazette.net
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BUSINESS
Miller, Busch unveil bills to boost business climate n
BizBriefs
Business leaders applaud coordinated agenda
Have a new business in Montgomery County? Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/newbusinessform
KEVIN JAMES SHAY
Rockville moving business opens
BY
STAFF WRITER
Maryland’s top two legislative leaders have unveiled a series of proposals that include a commission to review the business climate and bills to reduce the estate tax and provide more tax credits and business funding. The agenda marks the first time that state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) have jointly proposed a legislative business package. “I don’t think I have ever seen this level of coordinated effort between two presiding officers in the General Assembly before,” said Mathew Palmer, senior vice president of government affairs for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. “We are very happy and encouraged by this development.” Norman Augustine, a former CEO of Bethesda defense giant Lockheed Martin, will chair the commission. Other members are expected to be announced in the next few weeks, picked from the business community. The commission will begin work this session and issue a report in December. Business leaders have long discussed that jobs and residents are moving to Virginia and other states because of tax purposes. “The commission is part of a long-term strategy for economic development in the state,” Palmer said. “This means we will be talking about issues on how to make Maryland the leader in job creation not just this year, but next year and in future years.” The estate tax bill, which was introduced in the Senate on Thursday, would phase in Maryland’s estate tax to match the federal tax over four years. Maryland’s estate tax only allows a $1 million exemption, while the federal estate tax allows an exemption of $5.25 million, meaning
Brooke Wilson and Les Wilson of Rockville are now Two Men and a Truck. The new franchise operation offers local and long-distance residential and commercial moving services with licensed, bonded movers and drivers. It covers East Coast moves from Maryland to Atlanta. Its phone number is 301-468-2636; its website is twomenbethesdawashingtondc.com; and it also can be found at facebook.com/moversinmaryland.
Resmark Cos. opens Chevy Chase office
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
House Speaker Michael Busch checks a vote on the first day of the Maryland General Assembly on Jan. 8 in Annapolis. someone could have an estate of $5 million and not be taxed by the federal government. Maryland and New Jersey are the only two states to have both estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Similar legislation proposed last year, which did not pass, would have reduced state revenues by $13.6 million in fiscal 2014, $43.8 million in fiscal 2015, $59.5 million in fiscal 2016, $79.3 million in fiscal 2017 and $87.3 million in fiscal 2018, according to a legislative analysis. But that reduction would be made up by many more retirees remaining in Maryland rather than moving to Virginia, Delaware, Florida or other states where “death taxes” are not so high, advocates said. Senate Minority Leader Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market noted that the Democratic leaders are coming around to support measures he and other state
Republicans have for years. “There is a greater realization that this situation is harming communities,” Brinkley said. He added that he was glad to see that the Democratic leaders are supporting more proposals to help the private sector, though he said they “could have been done all along.” “Welcome to the pool,” Brinkley said. Clark Kendall, president and founder of Rockville financial advisory firm Kendall Capital Management, said he sees clients making decisions to leave the state on a recurring basis. “These are middle-class people, who have prudently saved and own a modest-sized house in Montgomery County,” he said. “It’s not unusual for them to have more than $1 million saved up. You cannot really retire comfortably in Montgomery County without $1 million or more saved.”
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COMMISSIONERS OF POOLESVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS Notice is hereby given that three Public Hearings will be held on February 18, 2014 at 7:30 PM at 19721 Beall Street, Poolesville, Maryland for the purpose of the Commissioners of Poolesville receiving public comment on Proposed Ordinance 197, to amend the zoning map of the Town of Poolesville, Proposed Ordinance 198, to repeal Appendix B of the Poolesville Code, titled “Zoning” and enact in its place a new Appendix B with the same title for the purpose of revising in a comprehensive manner said zoning code; eliminating the Central Business District and General Commercial Zone; creating a Commercial Zone; establishing a 2+ acre transition zone, codification of design standards in the Commercial Zone; revision of the Use and Development Standards, modification of parking requirements, modification of Sign standards and expansion of the definition section and proposed Ordinance No. 199 to remove the Wellhead Protection from the Zoning Code Appendix B to the Poolesville Code by adding a new Chapter No. 24. Copies of these proposed ordinances are available at Town Hall. 1890813
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Most clients of Kendall who live in Maryland have family members in the state and want to remain there when they retire, he said. But when they learn that it will cost them $200,000 or so in death taxes to stay in Montgomery rather than move across the river to Virginia, a good number decide to move, he said. “This tax is very short-sighted,” Kendall said. Kendall, the Small Business Committee co-chairman of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, said he talked about the issue with local legislators who were receptive at the chamber’s legislative reception on Jan. 27 Miller and Busch’s agenda also includes legislation for a seed fund for cybersecurity start-ups and to assist universities with tax credits and endowments. kshay@gazette.net
The Resmark Cos. of Los Angeles, a real estate investment adviser, has opened a new office at 5425 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600, Chevy Chase. In addition to other projects in the region, Resmark, in a joint venture with Duball Woodmont, is developing luxury condominiums in downtown Bethesda called Woodmont View. Alexandra Johns will be senior vice president for investments in Resmark’s land and housing division, responsible for managing its portfolio of investments and originating new projects for Resmark in the mid-Atlantic region.
Adventist Home Health earns award Adventist Home Health has been named a 2013 HomeCare Elite agency, a compilation of the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified home health agencies in the U.S. This is the fourth time and the second consecutive year Adventist Home Health was recognized. The award is sponsored by the OCS HomeCare by National Research Corporation and DecisionHealth. Adventist Home Health is the only agency in Montgomery County and one of only five agencies in the state to achieve the recognition. HomeCare Elite winners are ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance measure in quality care outcomes, best practice implementation, quality improvement and consistency, patient experience and financial performance, according to a press release from Adventist Health Care. The list of 2013 HomeCare Elite agencies can be found at www.nationalresearch.com/ homecareelite.
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SCHOOL LIFE
Scientists share experiences to encourage interest in STEM careers Forensic anthropologist speaks at Rockville High
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BY
PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER
Rockville High School ninthgrader Annabelle Heister is interested in forensic science and watches crime investigation shows on TV. Last week, she got to hear the real life experiences of forensic anthropologist Franklin Damann from the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring. Damann spoke Jan. 29 to biology students at the Rockville school as part of the “Nifty Fifty (times 3)” program that sends scientists to local middle and high schools to encourage interest in science careers. Nifty Fifty, which originally sent 50 scientists to schools, but which has grown to include more, precedes the USA Science and Engineering Festival, which is scheduled to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention
Center in Washington, D.C., April 26-27. The festival is free and open to people of all ages, Lawrence Bock, the festival founder said. This is the third Nifty Fifty speaker series held in Montgomery County. “This is a nice way to get into forensics, a good sneak peek,” 14-year-old Annabelle said. “I like hearing about all his own experiences.” Accompanying his talk with slides, Damann showed the students how scientists take a box of bones and bone-like fragments and make sense of them. Some of the objects collected at a crime scene or site of a disaster might be food fragments like chicken wings or even very old wood. A scientist needs to use education and experience to put together a correct picture, Damann said. He said the most interesting part of his career has been helping family members get answers about what happened to their missing loved ones. “On the forensics side I like being able to use skills I’ve
PEGGY MCEWAN/THE GAZETTE
Franklin Damann, forensic anthropologist at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, speaks to students Jan. 29 at Rockville High School. Damann was one of the Nifty Fifty (times 3) program that brings scientist to middle and high schools ahead of the USA National Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., April 26-27. learned through school and professional work experience to help [families],” he said. Damann spent a number of
years working for the Department of Defense Joint POW/ MIA Accounting Command Central Identification Labora-
tory in Hawaii where he did field work throughout Southeast Asia searching for missing service members. He showed students photo of places where he did the work and specific techniques used. One grid, sectioned so scientists would know exactly where items came from, overlaid a photo of the area to give an even clearer picture of the terrain. Another showed Damann sitting on location writing in his notebook. “It is important to document everything,” he said. Ninth-grader Jonathan Leroy, 15, said he thought the talk pretty interesting and though he does not yet know what his career path will be thinks it is important to keep and open mind about possibilities. “We saw a lot of new things about bones and how they decay,” he said. Sarah Day, who teaches biology for grades 9-12, said Damann’s talk was a good opportunity to expose the students to a different career in science. “I love how he showed the
data,” she said. “That is the kind of critical thinking we are trying to get the students to use.” The USA Science and Engineering Festival was first held in Oct. 2010, another was in 2012 and this, the third, will be April 2014. It was started by Bock, an entrepreneur who said he had trouble finding scientists to hire. People were not going into science careers he said, so he decided to do something to show students the possibilities of science and encourage them to go into science careers. Bock said he does not have enough long term data to know if the Nifty Fifty speakers and the festival are making a difference, but he said he does have data proving more people and interested in attending the festival each year. more than 34,000 people have registered for the festival’s “Sneak Peek Friday,” which is open to school groups and military, up from 14,000 in 2012. “You get what you celebrate,” Bock said, explaining the festival. “It’s a cool event and it has grown tremendously.”
Spring, who was named Patricia Behring High School History Day Teacher of the Year, and Brian Mitchell of the Bullis School in Potomac, who received the StarSpangled 200 Special Prize from the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. Mitchell also was a state finalist for his senior individual documentary, “Baltimore Polytechnic Institute: A Model of Desegregation Before Brown.” The award is given to an outstanding entry that incorporates one or more of four themes: courage, unity in diversity, inspiration or preparedness. Elsa Sellmeyer, a homeschooler from Montgomery County, received an Outstanding State Entry Award for her junior paper, “Railroad Tracks, Land Tracts, and Digestive Tracts: Turning Points in the Development of Montgomery County, Maryland.” Oriana Theo of the Bullis School was a finalist for her senior individual performance, “When Hope Fell From the Sky: The Berlin Airlift.” Emily Zhou of Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring was a finalist in the junior individual website category for her site, “Chemical Safety Since the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.” Rachel Gold, Anne Kim and Ankita Reddy, all of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, were finalists in the senior group documentary category for “Morality and Immortality: The Cultivation of Human Cells.”
emplary contributions to public education in the county. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories: community individual, community group, business, public schools staff, school service volunteer and individual. The individual pioneer award nominees are individuals who currently may not be active, but have made extraordinary contributions in the past. The nominee’s contributions must have had a profound effect on the school system over a sustained period of time. Nomination forms are available in six languages on the board’s website, montgomeryschools.org or may be obtained from the board office, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. To receive a nomination form by mail, call 301-279-3617. Completed nomination forms must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday. They may be mailed to the above address, faxed to 301-279-3860 or emailed to Becky_Gibson@ mcpsmd.org.
EDUCATION NOTEBOOK Students get lessons in engineering and design Not many elementary school students get to design their own cars, but several firstthrough fourth-graders at Redwood Montessori Academy in Rockville did just that Jan. 28 as part of the Baltimore Museum of Industry’s “Design It!” series. After deciding the front, back, top and bottom of their designs, students attached axles and wheels and took their vehicles for a test drive down a wooden ramp, just to make sure their creations rolled straight and stayed in one piece. “The lesson is for them to learn what an engineer is, how an engineer makes cars and what a car can do without an engine,” said Candi Claggett, an educator from the museum. Claggett said the museum offers a number of outreach programs because it is not always possible for schools to arrange field trips to Baltimore. She helped the students with their test runs, calling out distances the cars traveled and making suggestions for better results. “Look at this,” she told one student who could not make her car go straight. “Can you see anything wrong?” Quickly the child realized one axle was taped on at an angle. She made the adjustment and soon sent her car down the ramp with a much better result. That’s what an engineer does, Claggett said: tests and makes adjustments. After a few runs, students were each given a balloon to blow up and attach to their cars as “engines.” Fourth-grader Joey Moeller was enthusiastic about the project, testing and adjusting his car, trying to get longer and longer runs. “I learned that a car with even, straight axles goes
straighter, therefore farther, “ he said. He also learned that a car with an engine goes farther and the amount of air in the balloon made a difference. In his case, the distance increased by an average of 6 feet per run. Fiorela Consanza, also a fourth-grader, said her car went faster with the balloon attached. “I think it’s the air that’s blowing behind it,’ she said. “It gives it a boost.” With only a few balloons popping, and wheels firmly attached, all the young engineers were able to get successful runs from their cars and learn the importance of a well-engineered design. “Nothing teaches a child more than doing,” said Dianna Souder-Bond, Redwood’s owner and director.
Workshop focuses on helping students succeed The McLean School of Maryland will hold its fifth annual
Cecily’s Advocacy Workshop, “Unlocking Potential: Helping Students Soar!” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the school, 8224 Lochinver Lane, Potomac. The workshop offers resources and information for parents, educators and child development professionals and will include two keynote speakers, morning and afternoon breakout sessions and a student panel: “Sharing What We Learned: The Students’ Journey Through School.” The opening keynote speaker, William R. Stixrud, a clinical neuropsychologist, will discuss “Stress, Meditation and the Developing Brain.” He will examine ways in which stress shapes brain development in children and teens and look at the accumulating research evidence that indicates that by reducing stress, meditation can
PEGGY MCEWAN/THE GAZETTE
Fourth-grader Fiorela Conanza prepares to test her vehicle during a science lesson Jan. 28 at Redwood Montessori Academy in Rockville, presented as part of an outreach program of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. facilitate healthy brain development. The closing speaker, Susan Piver, a New York Times bestselling author and meditation teacher, will discuss “The Path and Practice of Mindfulness,” covering the roots of mindfulness meditation. Other topics include the following: • What it means to “know” a word: semantic knowledge and the emerging reader. • The use of art therapy to help facilitate communication and focusing. • How to motivate children to motivate themselves. • College success for students with learning disabilities. • How dialectical behavior therapy is used to help regulate intense and painful emotions in teens. • Helping parents understand and support their child’s path to independence, especially for those who face challenges. • The role diet plays in helping to restore and maintain well-being. The workshop costs $25. For more information and to
register, visit mcleanschool.org/ cecily.
History day students and teachers honored The Maryland Humanities Council announced that 15 Maryland middle and high school students who received national honors at the National History Day competition and three outstanding History Day Teachers were recognized Jan. 27 at sessions of the state Senate and House. Each of the students won awards at the 2013 Maryland History Day competition held April 27 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, plus honors at the National History Day contest. The national competition is held annually at the University of Maryland, College Park, and involves more than 3,500 students from 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Guam, American Samoa and international schools in China, Korea and South Asia. Honored from Montgomery County were Alix Medor of Northwood High School in Silver
Board seeks nominations for service awards The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations for its 17th annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. The awards recognize and show appreciation to individuals — including students — plus groups and organizations that have made ex-
Public input wanted for Black Hill nature programs Residents are invited to learn about nature programs at Black Hill Regional Park and discuss what they would like the park’s nature center to offer at a program from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds. Adults and families are invited to the center for dinner and nature activities and the opportunity to shape educational programs, trainings and resources offered through programs. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Reservations are requested. Email Katrina.Fauss@ montgomeryparks.org or call 301-528-3482.
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CELEBRATIONS HEALTH CALENDAR THURSDAY, FEB. 6 Girls on the Run: Heartsaver AED and CPR, from 6-10 p.m.
at Suburban Hospital, Lambert Building (Second Floor), 8710 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Learn the latest AED training and lifesaving techniques. This course is for GOTR coaches only. $20. www.suburbanhospital.org.
TUESDAY, FEB. 11
Fields Bonnie and Lawrence “Larry” Fields, longtime residents of Gaithersburg, celebrated their 50th anniversary on Feb. 3, 2014. The couple eloped secretly and were married at the courthouse in Towson on Feb. 3, 1964. They celebrated with family and friends at a previously planned ceremony followed by dinner and dancing at Adas Israel Synagogue in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 1964. Bonnie and Larry have two sons and six granddaughters. Dr. Fields maintained a dental practice in Gaithersburg for more than 40 years, retiring in 2007. Bonnie had been the office manager and bookkeeper with the dental practice. They are pictured in Florence, Italy, on a trip in October 2013.
Pre-Operative Joint Class, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. For patients scheduled for joint replacement surgery or directed by their surgeon to attend prior to scheduling. You and your family member (or designated “Coach”) will learn about pre-operative preparation and post-operative care. Free. www.suburbanhospital.org. Fine Tune Your Diabetes, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Suburban Hospital CR 3 (second floor), 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Go beyond the basics! Through an open discussion format led by a Certified Diabetes Educator, get the support you need to manage your diabetes. Explore your concerns and challenges in diabetes management, and engage in conversations with others living with diabetes. Class size limited to eight participants. Registration required. $20. www.suburbanhospital.org.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 Diagnosing Heart Disease,
from 1-2 p.m. at Friendship
Heights Community Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase. Dr. Eva Hausner, cardiologist, will lead a discussion on echocardiography and other noninvasive tests that can be used to determine if you’ve had a heart attack. She will also review the signs and symptoms of heart problems and preventive strategies such as diet and exercise. Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.
THURSDAY, FEB. 13 Choosing Smart for Your Heart, 1-2 p.m. at Rockville
Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville. Learn strategies to keep your heart healthy and happy with the choices you make each and every day. Free. www. suburbanhospital.org. Better Breathers Club, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Suburban Hospital, CR 1/2 (second floor), 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Be part of a patient-centered and community-based club that supports persons with chronic lung disease including COPD, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. Families, friends and support persons are welcomed. Registration required. Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.
SUNDAY, FEB. 16 Childbirth Express at MedStar Montgomery, from 1-5
p.m. at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney. Condensed version will prepare couples for their labor and birth experience. Class is presented in lecture/ video format. To enhance what you learn, hands-on instruction
available by taking the Lamaze Techniques class. Hospital tour included. $75. www.medstarhealth.org.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18 Guided Cancer Nutrition Tour at Whole Foods, 2-3 p.m., Lynda
McIntyre, RD, LD, oncology dietician specialist, will lead a guided supermarket tour focusing on foods that are beneficial during and after cancer treatment. She will share shopping tips and healthy cooking advice while you sample food provided by Whole Foods. Have fun while you gain valuable information! Open to cancer survivors and their family members. Registration required; Call 301-896-3939 for store location. www.suburbanhospital.org.
TUESDAY, FEB. 25 AARP Driver Safety Class at MedStar Montgomery, 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney. The nation’s first and largest refresher course for drivers age 50 and older has helped millions of drivers remain safe on today’s roads. Course is designed to help tune up driving skills, explain safe driving strategies, and update knowledge of the rules of the road. Learn about normal age-related physical changes, and how to adjust driving to allow for these changes. Reduce traffic violations, the likelihood of crashes, and chances for injuries. Some insurance companies operating in Maryland consider drivers who take the course qualified for an auto insurance premium reduction or discount. $15 for AARP
members; $20 for nonmembers. Checks should be made payable to AARP to secure your registration. Mail to: MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, Planning & Marketing, 18101 Prince Philip Dr. Olney, MD 20832. www.medstarhealth.org.
UPCOMING Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors, from 7-8:15 p.m.
Mondays to March 31, at Sibley Medical Building Conference Room 2, 5215 Loughboro Road, NW, Washington, D.C. Weekly meditative gentle and restorative yoga using mindful movement, balance and breathing techniques to help women with a history of cancer to reduce anxiety, improve quality of life and regain sense of self. $10 per class, $30 per month, scholarships available. Walk-ins welcome with cash/check if space permits. 202-243-2320. www.suburbanhospital.org.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Tools for Alleviating Stress Post Cancer Diagnosis, from 7-8 p.m.
Thursdays to March 27 at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Private Dining Room 3 (next to cafeteria), 5255 Loughboro Road, NW, Washington, D.C. Join facilitator Ashley Nunn and others with a history of cancer to learn about and practice a relaxation technique that uses focus on breathing. This practice has been shown to be effective in reducing stress, anxiety and loneliness; improving sleep; and boosting immune system. No prior experience required. Walk-ins welcome. Register at Sibley.org or call 202-243-2320. Free. www. suburbanhospital.org.
RELIGION CALENDAR UPCOMING Tikvat Israel Congregation, 2200 Baltimore Road, Rockville, will host an evening of communal Hebrew singing, Seeds of Song Community Erev Shira, from 7:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Featuring Israeli folk songs, the event will be led by four area musicians and a powerpoint presentation of song selections in Hebrew and transliteration. $10 at the door; no charge for school-aged children. 301-570-8422.
McAllister, Tardif Katie McAllister and Brian Tardif were married on May 4, 2013. Their parents are Julie and Michael Bobrow of Damascus, Stephen McAllister of Frederick, Shelley Tardif of Forest Hills and Jeffrey Tardif of Friendswood, Texas. The ceremony, officiated by Mr. Andrew Reich, took place waterside at the Bond Street Pier in Fells Point, followed by a reception at The Admiral Fell Inn. The bridesmaids were Heather McAllister, Jessica Bobrow, Megan Bobrow Sparks, Kelly Secoura, Kristie Sweeney and Ashley Oliver. The groomsmen were Matthew Noble, Matthew Tardif, Brian Stromberg, Brian Haas, Peter Lutz and Bryan Watts. Katie and Brian both graduated from Towson University. Katie currently teaches at The Chesterbrook Academy in Naperville, Ill., and Brian is a senior account manager for The Boston Beer Co. in Chicago, Ill. The couple honeymooned in Las Vegas.
Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St., Damascus, offers traditional Sunday morning worship services at 8:15 a.m., a youth contemporary worship service at 9:30 a.m. and a service of liturgy and the word at 11 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. for all ages during the school year. www. damascusumc.org. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, offers services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday, with Sunday School for all ages scheduled at 10 a.m. Child care is offered from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A fellowship and coffee hour follows
Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, conducts Sunday morning worship services at 8:30, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday school, nursery through adult, is at 9:30 a.m. 301-421-9166. For a schedule of events, visit www.libertygrovechurch.org. “MOPS,” a faith-based support group for mothers of children, birth through kindergarten, meets from 9-11:30 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, 201 Fairview Drive, Frederick. Child care is provided. For more information call 301-662-1819. Email mops@fcob.net. Neelsville Presbyterian Church, 20701 Frederick Road, Germantown, has returned to its fall worship schedule, with services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays. Sunday School for all ages at 9:40 a.m. www.Neelsville.org. Providence United Methodist Church, 3716 Kemptown Church Road, Monrovia, conducts a contemporary service at 8 a.m. followed by a traditional service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, with children’s Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and adult Sunday school at 11 a.m. For more information, call 301-
253-1768. Visit www.kemptownumc.org. Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, conducts services every Sunday, with child care from 8 a.m. to noon and fellowship and a coffee hour following each service. 301-881-7275. For a schedule of events, visit www.TrinityELCA.org. Chancel choir auditions and rehearsals, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Liberty Grove Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Call 301-421-9166 or visit www. libertygrovechurch.org. “Healing for the Nations,” 7 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at South Lake Elementary School, 18201 Contour Road, Gaithersburg. Sponsored by King of the Nations Christian Fellowship, the outreach church service is open to all who are looking for hope in this uncertain world. Prayer for healing available. Translation into Spanish and French. Call 301-251-3719. Visit www.kncf.org. Geneva Presbyterian Church, potluck lunches at 11:30 a.m. the second Sunday of each month at 11931 Seven Locks Road, Potomac. There is no fee to attend. All are welcome to bring a dish to share; those not bringing dishes are also welcome. Call 301424-4346.
The Gazette prints engagement and wedding announcements, with color photographs, at no charge, as a community service. Copy should be limited to 150 words and submitted in paragraph form. Announcements are subject to editing for space. Please include contact information, including a daytime telephone number. Photos should be professional quality. If emailing photos, file size should be a minimum of 500 KB. Wedding announcements should be submitted no later than 12 months after the wedding. Send to: The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, or email kgroff@gazette.net. Montgomery County celebrations are inserted into all Montgomery County editions.
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PLACING AN ANNOUNCEMENT
ONGOING
the 8:30 a.m. service. 301-365-5733, www. elcbethesda.org.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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Introspection
It’s tough work for a municipality to make sure residents, groups and businesses are following its laws. But we were surprised — and somewhat flattered — that the city of Gaithersburg relied on a Gazette story and photo to condemn a Woodland Road building. The 192-square-foot structure in Darline Bell-Zuccarelli’s backyard has come to be known as the “tiny house.” Relying on Internet research and a local Home Depot, she and her husband, Gilmar Hernandez, constructed it for about $15,000. Bell-Zuccarelli said she hopes her daughter, who couldn’t afford a place of her own, could stay in the backyard building, which has a living room, a sleeping loft, a bathroom and a kitchenette. However, the building permit Bell-Zuccarelli received from the city is for a shed. We can understand why city officials thinking “lawnmower and bicycles” would be taken when they saw a miniIN TWO RECENT aback apartment. Based on what they CASES, GAITHERS- saw in the newspaper — and BURG’S INSPEC- the zoning law, which allows TION PROCESS one dwelling unit per lot in that FALLS SHORT neighborhood — city officials put up a “condemned” sign. Surely, there was a lack of communication, both ways. Why wasn’t the layout of the “shed” apparent by the time an electrical inspection was done? Or did Bell-Zuccarelli go off on an unpredictable tangent after the city had signed off? Either way, a simple chat along the way — before the condemnation — would have cleared up the discrepancy. A more curious set of inspection circumstances arose after a boy drowned in a pond in the Crown neighborhood last month. Ten-year-old D’Angelo Jayvon McMullen of Rockville was walking on it with two other boys when the ice gave way and they fell in. The other boys survived. The pond was supposed to be surrounded by security fencing, but clearly wasn’t at the time of the accident. City officials said at the time of the drowning that the site previously had passed safety fence requirements. When did that fence go away? It’s hard to say. Inspection records shared at The Gazette’s request show a hodgepodge of information about inspections in the development, but nothing specific about this pond meeting this fence requirement. Yet, the inspection reports clearly have a line marked “safety fence” and a place to check under “approved,” “denied” or “maintain.” That line is blank on each report The Gazette reviewed. A city official told us that we should assume that the lack of a violation indicated on the form must mean it passed inspection. That’s a strange system. There are 20 lines for categories on the inspection form. The city apparently regularly looked at the project’s compliance for certain categories — sometimes five categories, sometimes six, sometimes seven in each inspection, according to the comments and marks on the forms. Safety records like this should be kept and maintained with the public in mind. Conduct inspections and note the results as if the average person is reading them and wants to know what’s right and what’s wrong.
Welcome to the council
Cherri Branson won Valerie Ervin’s seat on the Montgomery County Council last week in a council vote over 17 other candidates. Branson, who has spent more than 24 years as a congressional aide, will represent District 5 at a time when the council has plenty on its plate. For one, the nine members have an upcoming decision on the future of development in Clarksburg. It’s a thorny issue with vocal environmentalists demanding a “no” vote. Although some Clarksburg residents support the environmentalists, many are anxious that no development will be a further delay of the services and amenities they’ve been promised for years. It won’t be an easy vote. Branson also takes over Ervin’s seat on the council’s Education Committee. For the foreseeable future, the committee will be considering the capital budgets of Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College. Here, she’ll be forced to weigh the conflicting interests of parents who want progress on school expansion and modernization against a panoply of needs. County Executive Isiah Leggett is lobbying Annapolis to send more school construction dollars to Montgomery. If the effort falls short, Branson will be at the cutting edge of parent disappointment. While working on the capital budget, the council will take up the operating budget. Again, she’ll have to weigh more conflicting interests: needs and wants versus resources. Also in the mix are Councilman Roger Berliner’s slate of environmental bills and Councilman Philip M. Andrews’ proposal for publicly financed council elections, which on reflection, will probably be the easiest votes of her temporary time on the council.
The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher
LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
Ultrasounds are not for ‘baby showers’
As a local radiologist with over 30 years of experience in doing obstetric ultrasounds, I am dismayed at your providing free advertising for this service. [“‘It’s a ... ’: Ultrasound company delivers the news,” Jan. 29] Ultrasound is not a recreational tool for “baby showers” and for sex determination. It is a highly sophisticated medical imaging device for detecting not only fetal health and growth but also a study of the maternal pelvis, ovaries and cervix during pregnancy to name a few things. It takes years of training to be able to recognize subtle abnormalities and signs that
could indicate a pregnancy in trouble. I find it unconscionable for entrepreneurs like Ms. Seleshi to take ultrasound equipment on the road for amusement and profit. Although I have no doubts about the qualifications of Ms. Seleshi in her day job, I am concerned that in the setting of a party or shower much could be overlooked. And what about the scenario where she recognizes an abnormality during the event that is, according to one of her clients, “better than the Super Bowl?” Is such an atmosphere appropriate for a discussion that would necessarily have to follow, which is
Birth control no solution to swelling deer populations In “We don’t need hunts to manage deer” [letters, Jan. 15], the author says studies show hunting deer actually causes increases in the population by allowing the vegetation to thrive producing an increased food supply for the deer. Using this logic, I would suggest we need to allow unregulated blue crab fishing and encourage everyone to shoot at giant pandas and bald eagles so we can increase the populations of them, too. At some point some common sense needs to be applied. The deer have adapted to suburban living and are at historic high population numbers. We have not taken the deer habitat, we have created the perfect utopian deer habitat with lush gardens and lawns and few predators. The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Society and the Sierra Club are all publishing reports showing dire consequences if we don’t do something about the overpopulation of deer and warning of complete destruction of our remaining forests if nothing is done soon. These are all pro-wildlife groups that are seeing the damage as the deer population continues to explode on the East Coast, not a bunch of right-wing gun nuts. ... I am an animal lover and enjoy the forests, and I have devoted a great deal of my time to searching for cost-effective alternatives to deer hunting. The author mentions birth control as a solution. Currently there is no contraceptive that works in an open environment. Many problems exist with contraceptives for deer. There is currently no effective contraceptive that can be given by dart or any other method that does not involve tranquilizing the deer first at significant costs in manpower and dollars. All contraceptives must be administered at least once a year (or more) and the
deer must be tagged so that those administering the contraceptives know which deer have been dosed and also to warn that the meat is no longer fit for human consumption. There are also other unknown consequences to contraceptives for deer. Say the deer is hit by a car or dies from old age. How would you prevent other wildlife from feeding on the drugged meat? Would you allow bald eagles or other endangered species to feed on the carcass? Contraceptives may be a viable solution for a fenced area like NIST in Gaithersburg using massive amounts of federal tax dollars for a handful of deer but it is not feasible in a non-fenced environment. Some animal rights groups have made propaganda announcements saying they would pay for contraceptives or sterilization of the deer. What they are not telling you is they are not covering the cost of tranquilizing, then tracking the animals. The $20 cost of the contraceptive is nothing compared the cost of paying a licensed and certified expert to sit in the woods for six to eight hours per deer to dart and track the deer each year. ... As for the deer somehow being a benefit for the forests, just listen to those who have devoted their lives to protecting it or just do a simple test and plant a tree yourself and see how long it takes for the deer to come and destroy it before it has a chance to mature. Trees do not live forever and unfortunately there are no saplings surviving to replace the aging trees. Nature has a way of adjusting. I’m sure the coyote population will soon be positively impacted by the abundance of deer. I wonder if your readers will consider that more humane than hunting?
Kevin Kommit, Rockville
usually conducted within the privacy and confines of a medical office? The clients of Ms. Seleshi would be better advised to invest the money into their copays and have a physician-prescribed ultrasound in a medical facility with the physician performing the study and overseeing the technologist. I certainly hope she was smart enough to take out malpractice insurance.
Dr. Peter S. Dunner The writer is part of Washington Radiology Associates of Potomac.
Elk River and Ten Mile Creek
The Elk River chemical leak that suddenly left 300,000 West Viriginians without tap water is a reminder that clean, fresh water is scarce and that any degradation of Ten Mile Creek threatens the security of families throughout our region, especially those with pregnant women, children or seniors. Few of us, I suspect, want to have to compete for bottled water at markets or be dependent upon the government to truck in water supplies.
Cheryl Camillo, Rockville
Alternatives to school construction costs Having read The Gazette’s article about pressuring the state for more school construction funding for Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore counties [“Montgomery, allies vie for school construction funds,” Jan. 14], I was struck by the absence of any discussion about including efforts to involve the local, large commercial construction builders in negotiations. By that I mean: a) Obtaining proposals to build schools from the plans provided by the local school board(s); b) Negotiate lease-back agreements of 20-30 years between the builders and the schools; c) Teachers, administrators, maintenance and busing programs, staffs, etc., continue to be provided and paid for by the schools. This would eliminate the huge up-front cost of construction. Does no one think that this could be a way to go? If not, why not?
E.D. Boyd, Gaithersburg
WRITE TO US The Gazette welcomes letters on subjects of local interest. Please limit them to 200 words. Send submissions to: The Gazette, attention Commentary Editor, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; fax to 301-670-7183; or email to opinions@gazette.net.
9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 | Phone: 301-948-3120 | Fax: 301-670-7183 | Email: opinions@gazette.net More letters appear online at www.gazette.net/opinion
Douglas Tallman, Editor Krista Brick, Managing Editor/News Glen C. Cullen, Senior Editor Copy/Design Meredith Hooker, Managing Editor/Internet Robert Rand, Managing Editor/Presentation
Andrew Schotz, Assistant Managing Editor Nathan Oravec, A&E Editor Ken Sain, Sports Editor Dan Gross, Photo Editor Jessica Loder, Web Editor
Dennis Wilston, Corporate Advertising Director Doug Baum, Corporate Classifieds Director Mona Bass, Inside Classifieds Director
Jean Casey, Director of Marketing and Circulation Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services
POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Officer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Biggest disappearing acts of 2013 • The Grahams. After 80 years the Graham family sells the struggling Washington Post to billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, which, ironically, helped kill classified advertising. Also disappearing in 2013 was the Post’s ombudsman position, the readers’ advocate. • The Allbrittons. Bob Allbritton sells eight TV stations, including the D.C. area’s WJLA (Channel 7), to Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcasting. • The Washington Examiner. Drops its print edition, abandons local news and MY MARYLAND becomes an BLAIR LEE online national news service. • Maryland Life Magazine. Closes its doors due to circulation and ad shortfalls. • Baltimore’s Grand Prix. The city’s Labor Day IndyCar race never made financial sense and finally dies a quiet death. • Ed Papenfuse. This living piece of Maryland history, the state archivist, retired after collecting and preserving precious state artifacts and records for 38 years. • Sen. Norman Stone. The senator from Dundalk is calling it quits after 13 terms (52 years) in Annapolis. When they tried gerrymandering his district in 2002, the senator — quiet, dignified and humble — sued and won. Who says nice guys finish last? • Alex Mooney. This Frederick Republican lost his Senate seat in 2010, so he became state GOP chairman and, in 2013, moved to West Virginia, where he’s running for Congress. • Delegate Sam Arora. No Montgomery lawmaker ever lost re-election by raising taxes, failing to bring home the bacon or selling the county down the river. But Montgomery delegate Sam Arora was shunned by the Democratic party and saw his career ended for voting against gay marriage. • Morris A. Mechanic Theatre. Baltimore’s playhouse for touring Broadway plays is razed after a 40-year run. • Little Italy. Five restaurants in Bal-
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timore’s iconic eating district close in 2013. End of an era? • White Flint. Montgomery’s upscale mall is being replaced by a trendy mixed-use town center. • Blockbuster. Another Internet victim, the once-pervasive home video chain announced that its last 300 stores are closing. • The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk. Canceled, again, the traditional spring bridge-closing and pedestrian walk fell victim to state budget cuts. • Incandescents. General-service incandescent light bulbs phased out in 2013 by government edict after 100 years of use. • Redskins “Hogettes.” Football fans cross-dressed as sows? Weird, yes, but it got them on TV every week. The Hogettes call it quits after 30 seasons.
Worst moves of the year • As Maryland’s Obamacare website exchange crashes spectacularly, its director, Rebecca Pearce, goes on a Caribbean vacation and, when she returns, is dismissed from her $175,000 job. • Responding to gay activists, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett asks the Fillmore Music Hall to cancel a band whose lyrics offend homosexuals. • The Anne Arundel school system suspends a 7-year-old who nibbles his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun. • Several thousand Baltimore city residents are awakened before 6 a.m. when the mayor’s back-to-school celebration robocall is sent too early. • Andre Henry, suspected of committing eight Montgomery County burglaries, is finally nabbed when he leaves two pages of his criminal court records at the scene of his latest break-in. • Ignoring the city legal department’s opinion that the bill is unconstitutional, the Baltimore City Council requires that a majority of workers for city contractors and citysubsidized projects be Baltimore city residents. • Brunswick elementary school students are stranded at bus stops when the school system fails to notify parents of new bus stop locations. • Ocean City Councilman Brent Ashley, linking tourism decline with unsightly saggy pants, proposes a ban on clothing hanging more than
3 inches below the waistline. Ashley says he wants to turn Ocean City into “Maryland’s first crack-free city.”
Best moves of the year • The state increases ICC speed limits to 60 mph. • Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Newman vetoes the council’s “rain tax.” • Maryland’s highest court rules that it’s up to the legislature, not the courts, to decide the state’s negligence standards. • State health authorities shut down four abortion clinics after a patient dies and widespread violations are discovered. • When a female cop sues Baltimore city for firing her because she married a convicted murderer who’s a gang member of Dead Man Inc., the court dismisses her case. • Salvation Army volunteers find a $1,300 gold coin dropped into their kettle by an anonymous donor outside a Frederick Giant. • Heroic WSSC workers refuse to give up on a broken valve that threatens a countywide water shutdown in the midst of July’s heat wave. Working non-stop in waist-deep underground water, they fashion new parts and save the day. • Angela McCaskill, Gallaudet U.’s chief diversity officer, who was fired when she signed a petition bringing Maryland’s same-sex marriage law to referendum, sues the school for unlawful discrimination. • State Sen. Bobby Zirkin, a Democrat, crosses party lines, endorsing Republican Sen. Allan Kittleman for Howard County executive. • Managers of Baltimore’s Burns Arena cancel “Touch of Flavor,” a twoday event featuring classes on hot wax, sex-dungeon safety and rope bondage, because children also use the arena. • NFL Ravens star receiver Torrey Smith gets married, cuts off his dreadlocks. Blair Lee is chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring and a regular commentator for WBAL radio. His column appears Fridays in the Business Gazette. His past columns are available at www.gazette. net/blairlee. His email address is blairleeiv@gmail.com.
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LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
Speed cameras an obvious effort to feed county coffers
Long ago living in New England, I was constantly reminded by traditionally aloof New Englanders that if I drove South always remember to watch for southern speed traps. These speed traps, said the New Englanders, had only one real purpose, to line the pockets of southern politicians. I never did have enough money or a car to test that theory but now many years later I find the concept seems to be alive and well in Montgomery County. Oh to be sure, I just received a ticket for allegedly exceeding the speed limit. The camera clicked and unless I want to spend time and money I do not have to fight the charge, I will have to pay up. What is so sad about this scheme is its transparency. The camera program is an obvious effort to pull more money into the county coffers. Despite all the false rhetoric about improving public safety, I doubt anyone who has taken a close look believes otherwise. So perhaps the “Yankees” were correct and the old South is alive and well in Maryland armed with fancy new technology and glib public relations people. For my part, I absolutely agree that driving a car in Montgomery County has become a very dangerous sport. Drivers are reckless. Very excessive speed combined with aggressive behavior is everywhere. Rude, boorish behavior is the norm. Drivers are inattentive. In recent years, I have been struck three times by cars whose drivers were not paying attention. ... People cover their plates with plastic so they can
speed but not have their plates detected. The important point is that the speed camera scam does very little to address these problems and, in fact, makes the problem worse because it results in fewer traffic patrols as more is left to the cameras. There is a lot more that could be said in criticism of the program but instead I will offer two suggestions which if adopted should reduce the number of complaints and benefit all of us. First, funds raised in this manner should not contribute to the general fund. Instead the revenues (net) should be directed to the most needy. Shelter programs might head the list. In an ideal world offending drivers might be given an opportunity to contribute to an officially approved charity of their choice but here I may be unrealistic in thinking the county could be that creative. Second, all incentives to push the envelope should be removed. This means capping the payments and return on investment to companies at some predetermined level even if the number of tickets issued at a given location continues to increase. Start with these two changes and then address the more complex issue of how many cameras are enough and where exactly should they be placed and most importantly why. If we can clean up our rivers by paying for plastic bags, surely we can help improve the lives of the most unfortunate by paying for our unintentional lawlessness.
A.J. Corazzini, Bethesda
More opposition to Cabin Branch I am offended by the letter written to the editor from Sandy Barrier [“More support for Cabin Branch,” Sept. 4]. I am part of the Clarksburg community that she refers to as supporting the outlet mall and I am adamantly opposed to an outlet mall. It is no surprise that the owner of the Clarksburg Town Center, a commercial enterprise, would welcome more people to spend more money in
his shops (as reported by Sandy Barrier). However, the people who live in Clarksburg and who appreciate Clarksburg for more than an area of unnecessary shopping opportunities are opposed to an outlet mall. Sandy Barrier may be an outlet mall fan but she does not represent the Clarksburg community.
Karon deSilva, Clarksburg
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
PAINT BRANCH GIRLS’ BASKETBALL DEFEATS KENNEDY, WINS ITS DIVISION, B-3
SPORTS GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
www.gazette.net | Wednesday, February 5, 2014 | Page B-1
King in Trojans’ court
HOW THEY RANK BOYS The 10 best boys’ basketball teams in Montgomery County as ranked by The Gazette’s sports staff:
Rank
School
Record Pts
1.
Bullis
17-3 60
2.
Montrose Christian 12-5 54
3.
Springbrook
14-2 44
4.
St. Andrew’s
14-4 41
5.
Montgomery Blair 13-2 40
6.
Gaithersburg
13-2 28
7.
Walt Whitman
12-3 26
8.
Clarksburg
12-4 19
9.
Rockville
12-3 9
10.
Poolesville
11-4 6
Others receiving votes: Jewish Day, 2; Col. Zadok Magruder 1.
BEST BET
Rockville at Springbrook, 7 p.m. Tuesday: One of the county’s
top 3A/2A teams takes on one of the top 4A teams.
TOP SCORERS
Name, school A. Trier, Montrose Christian J. Friedman, Sandy Spring W. English, McLean I. Kallon, Wheaton J. McKay, McLean N. Segura, The Heights J. Bradshaw, Einstein M. Adkison, St. Andrew’s K. Williams, Kennedy R. Edwards, Paint Branch
PPG 25.5 22.8 22.1 20.4 20.3 19.7 19.1 18.9 18.9 18.8
GIRLS The 10 best girls’ basketball teams in Montgomery County as ranked by The Gazette’s sports staff:
Rank
School
Record Pts
1.
Damascus
14-2 60
2.
Walt Whitman
13-2 54
3.
Paint Branch
14-2 48
4.
John F. Kennedy 11-2 42
5.
Holy Child
17-3 34
6.
Gaithersburg
10-4 29
7.
Seneca Valley
13-3 20
8.
Poolesville
12-3 19
9.
Thomas S. Wootton10-6 14
10.
Magruder
10-5 4
Others receiving votes: Good Counsel 3; Churchill 2; W.Johnson 1.
BEST BET
Damascus at Seneca Valley 7 p.m. Tuesday: The Swarmin’ Hor-
nets won the first matchup by only five points, so an upset is possible.
TOP SCORERS
Name, school L. Belton, Bullis K. Prange, Damascus S. Addison, Wootton J. Karim-Duvall, Churchill D. Lerner, Jewish Day B. Beckwith, Quince Orchard D. Harris, Paint Branch K. Meredith, Northwest K. Porter, Bullis K. Colston, Paint Branch J. Craig, Seneca Valley
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PPG 20.6 19.7 18.4 18.1 18.1 17.9 17.8 17.2 16.8 16.6 16.5
Gaithersburg scoring, winning behind play from its point guard
n
BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
STAR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES, RECRUITED BY MANY COLLEGES, OFTEN FEEL PRESSURE TO DECIDE TOO EARLY
BY
TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
For Potomac High School’s Quadree Smith, it was a coach’s contract extension. For Damascus’ Zach Bradshaw, it was NCAA sanctions. For Suitland’s Taivon Jacobs, it was a daughter. For Montrose Christian’s Justin Anderson, it was a coaching change. For other college recruits, from Division III to Division I, it could be one of an endless list of reasons for reneging on a verbal commitments to sign with another college. For now, Smith remains loyal to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, but he has since reopened his recruitment as he waits a possible contract extension for coach Wes Miller. Bradshaw first said he would play football for Penn State, but switched to Virginia after the school was hit with severe sanctions that would keep them out of bowl games for most of his time there. Previously, Jacobs reneged on his verbal to play football at Ohio State and is now playing for Maryland. After Gary Williams retired in 2011, Anderson signed with rival Virginia rather than the Terps, where a new coach — Mark Turgeon — who hadn’t recruited him would be taking over. Some coaches, take former Montrose Christian coach Stu Vetter, Our Lady of Good Counsel offensive coordinator Tom Crowell and Suitland football coach Ed Shields, see this as a growing trend as the recruiting process begins at earlier and earlier ages. Others, such as Riverdale Baptist basketball coach Lou Wilson, say it has been happening for as long as he’s been involved in the business, but is only now beginning to become so exposed as the media continues to dedicate staggering amounts of attention to the college recruitment process. “I’d say this has been something that’s been going on for awhile,” Wilson said. “And I tell you, there are so many reasons to verbal with one school and then at the last minute sign with another school.”
Former Montrose Christian basketball player Justin Anderson goes up for a dunk during the Capital Classic. FILE PHOTO
See PRESSURE, Page B-2
As first impressions go, Aaron King was at a severe disadvantage to the typical transfer student. Barely three months prior to switching over to Gaithersburg High School by way of Quince Orchard, the 5-foot-4 King had orchestrated a summer basketball playoff win at the buzzer against the Trojans. About a dozen weeks later, King had shed the Cougars’ red and black for Trojans’ blue and gold, and he was teamed up with the very opponents he had eliminated from the playoffs. There was, however, at least one person who was eager to welcome the former rival. “I knew what he could do watching him play in the summer league,” Gaithersburg coach Tom Sheahin said. “He was the main reason we lost. If he was 5-11, 6-0, he’d be a major Division I recruit.” King’s transition has been a seamless one, and it has led to a 13-2 start for the running and gunning Trojans. Sheahin, prior to learning of King’s decision to transfer, had fully planned for this year’s team to be half-court based. Lacking a true point guard, the first-year coachwaspreparedtoassignballhandling duties to Dion Etheridge, a natural shooting guard more comfortable on the wing, which would have required a much methodical, slower-paced game. But King arrived, and all off-season half-court plans went out the window. “He was the piece that we were missing,” the coach said. “I was going to have Dion, my shooting guard, play point. I don’t want to say we were going to be walking the ball up the court, but we were going to be more of a half court team. Aaron gave us
See KING, Page B-2
Sherwood sophomore thrust into limelight n
Defending 100-yard butterfly state champion helps keep Warriors afloat BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
There is a fairly long list of events Sherwood High School sophomore Morgan Hill could swim, and do well in on Saturday at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled to be held at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center — 200-yard freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle. Awaiting her in any one of them will be a national-caliber athlete. “All of her events will have some stiff competition,” Sherwood coach Brendan Lees said. “Either she’ll be swimming [Olympic gold medalist] Katie
Sherwood High School’s Morgan Hill practices her backstroke on Monday. Hill is a contender at this weekend’s Metros. Ledecky, [Metros record holder] Kristina Li or Caroline McTaggart.” The good thing for Sherwood is that Hill is not easily addled, as she proved in her 100-yard butterfly win as a fresh-
man in last year’s season-ending Class 4A/3A state meet. Just 14-years-old she was the youngest top 15 performer in both events she raced at last year’s Metros — Hill finished fifth in the 100-yard
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
butterfly, sixth in the 500-yard freestyle. Last year’s results were just the start, though. Hill has rapidly dropped
See SHERWOOD, Page B-2
THE GAZETTE
Page B-2
SHERWOOD
Continued from Page B-1 time across the board in the 12 months since, Lees said, and the experience she gained last high championship season will be vital to the Class 4A/3A state runner-up Sherwood’s success this postseason since she is not the team’s highest scorer. “[Hill] just has a great racing mentality, she knows how to get herself prepared for races,” Lees said. “She thinks ahead of time. Even when she knows she might not have [great competition] she still wants to have a good race,
PRESSURE
Continued from Page B-1 Of all the various explanations local coaches offered in explaining why an athlete would rescind a verbal commitment — personnel changes (Quadree Smith’s and Justin Anderson’s reasoning), proximity to home, having a child (Taivon Jacobs’), a sick family member, what have you — each eventually circled back to one distinct reason: pressure. Athletes are under it from
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
she’ll work on little things.” Lees and Hill admitted they were unsure of what this winter would hold for Sherwood. Graduation stripped the Warriors of their top two scorers and 30 percent of their overall points won in last year’s third-place finish at Metros, their highest in recent history. But Saturday’s second straight Montgomery Division II title was a promising start to the postseason. Hill won every event she contested — 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay, 400yard freestyle. The latter is the one that clinched the win.
Hill said she does feel more pressure to perform but has embraced her role as a go-to and is motivated by the opportunity to help the Warriors. Lees said she has become a great leader by example despite her youth. Continued success — Sherwood has finished in the top 5 at Metros three of the past four years — has been helpful in keeping the program an option for swimmers that may have chosen to go elsewhere in the past, Lees said. The addition of sophomore Our Lady of Good Counsel transfer Margarita Ryan, who reached the final of the 100-yard backstroke at last
winter’s Metros and a talented freshman class, also seem to have helped Sherwood recover some of the points it lost. “You worry about if there’s going to be a lull, kids in our area have some choices as to where they want to go to school,” Lees said. “I do think one of the things that’s helped us with the girls team is [recent success]. Last year finishing third, we beat Good Counsel for the first time and the girls were extremely excited. I think girls in the cluster see that and get excited that they can be part of a program that has that sort of success.” Primarily Sherwood’s dis-
tance freestyler and butterflier a year ago, Hill has come in to her own as a top sprint freestyler and said she prefers the shorter races these days. She credited increased training — Hill works with former Good Counsel star Jack Conger’s coach Sue Chen — with improving her strength, which translates in her sprinting. Hill was a three-sport athlete until eighth grade but dropped lacrosse and basketball that year to focus more seriously on swimming. She chose the aquatic sport because of the tangible evidence of improvement swim times provide. She’s
certainly progressed quickly and has positioned herself as a major contender this championship season and her results will play a major role in Sherwood’s continued success. “I think mental toughness is a huge quality, you don’t find a whole lot of real young swimmers having quite as much as she does,” Lees said “Last year at states was the biggest testament to that, she kind of came out of nowhere to win the 100 fly. … I was kind of surprised this year, I expected more of a drop off but we’re right back up there.”
their very first conversation with their very first college coach. It is then upped a notch when a verbal offer — sometimes as early as middle school — is extended their way. And then things can begin to spiral out of control when dozens more throw their name into the mix, each with their own attractions and incentives — playing time, championships, professional development — to consider. “One of our receivers just got offered by Michigan State,” said Crowell, who also coaches the boys’ basketball team at Spring-
brook. “So let’s just sign the papers right now. But it doesn’t work like that anymore. He’s got to wait until next February to sign and now he thinks he’s got to live up to these expectations. If they offer you right now, the kid should be able to sign right now if he wants to. It’s out of control.” “Personally,” Vetter added, “I would eliminate the verbals and have a signing period in April. If a player didn’t have to make a decision until April there wouldn’t be much pressure.” Shields, though he feels for
the athletes under the everwatchful eye of the college coaches, says it’s also a wise move on their part to begin talking to kids before they can even drive a car or take their SATs. “You want to be the first to offer, which makes sense,” he said. “You want to be the one who discovered them. That’s the smart thing for the coaches because you want them to commit.” But when coaches offer too early, it could just as easily backfire. Athletes oftentimes get overexcited or want to shed the
pressure of recruiting so they hastily pledge before realizing that bigger universities or better fits could also come calling. Such was the case for Nigel Johnson, a former Riverdale Baptist guard. Now at Kansas State, Johnson had been verbally committed to play for George Washington for nearly a year. About a month prior to signing day, he took stock of his talent and figured he could go someplace higher, so he reopened his recruitment with GW as a firm backup plan. Within a week he had switched to Kansas State.
“He thought his opportunity to play at the next level would be greater playing at Kansas State, playing in the Big XII,” Wilson said. “And the point guard situation was up in the air so he thought he’d be able to play right away.” So, is there a solution? Recruiting — and therefore commitments of all kind — is an inevitable part of college sports. Shields believes Crowell is onto something when he suggested if a college extends an offer — verbal or physical — that the athlete should be able to sign that day rather than wait until designated signing periods. Vetter believes verbal offers and commitments should be removed entirely. Either way, reneging would become all but a moot practice. “Once you’re signed, you’re locked,” Shields said. “I think you should be able to move [signing] up. It would settle things down very quickly.”
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Continued from Page B-1 options.” After an 83-59 victory over Clarksburg on Dec. 20 — the Trojans’ fifth game of the season — King was averaging 10.6 assists pergameasGaithersburgeclipsed 80 in every single contest to that point. “It really helps us spread the floor,” said Anthony Tarke, Gaithersburg’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game. “We have shooters on the team who we know can knock down the shot and that’s how he’s averaging 10 assists a game, because he’s a pass-first point guard. That’s what benefits us.” Sheahin has been coaching basketball for more than two decades. He’s usually a systematic kind of guy, having specific plays and specific sets for certain kinds of defenses and situations. In fact, he gave a detailed explanation of his press break: get the ball to Aaron King. “We don’t have a press break set up,” the coach said. “It’s get the ball to Aaron and I’ve never done that in 25 years. He’s that quick.” And there are, of course, the point guard intangibles. King has those too. “I usually call plays from the sidelines and call the defenses out and Aaron does that,” Sheahin said. “They don’t come around too often. I’ll ask him what defense they’re in and what offense we should run and what defense we should be in and he’ll let me know.” This type of autonomy out on the court has been one of King’s favorite aspects of transferring from Quince Orchard. “At QO we ran set offenses all the time,” he said. “You don’t get to run. At Gaithersburg we run all the time and shoot whenever we’re open.” Being a diminutive 5-4, King is nearly always the smallest player on the floor. This hasn’t stopped him from carving through the lane and either dishing it to an open man underneath or taking it all the way to finish for two of his 9.7 points per game. After playing summers with the Germantown Hardknocks Amateur Athletic Union team — where he created a chemistry with the Etheridge brothers — he’s a bit used to staring up at his defenders. “It’s just heart,” he said. “You got to have the heart to play the game. I don’t think about my height. I just go out and try to be biggest player on the floor.” While physically, that’s entirely unrealistic. But Sheahin will argue that King is invariably the quickest, the most selfless, the fastest and often the smartest. And, with the recent trend the coach has noticed paralleling a team’s post-season success with a bona fide point guard, those attributes portend a late run this March.
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Page B-3
Paint Branch wins division Gaithersburg rising, Whitman wins 12th straight game
n
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Montose Christian’s Anthony Cabbagestalk goes over St. Vincent Pallotti’s Michael Ashley to score on Saturday.
Basketball teams find the wins in the losses Coaches say losses can be good during a long season
n
Springbrook High School boys’ basketball coach Tom Crowell found something to like in one of his Blue Devils’ low moments of the season. “I tell you what,” Crowell said, “That [loss] might have been the best thing that could have happened to us.” The ‘that’ Crowell was referencing was a 55-52 loss to Clarksburg on Jan. 17, the Blue Devils’ first in 21 days. The defeat, while having its obvious drawbacks on the team’s record and playoff bye aspirations, can sometimes carry far more benefits down the road. It was a humbling learning experience, and exactly “what we needed,” Crowell said. He’s not alone in his assessment of the value of a loss. Numerous other teams around the county have benefitted
from a setback somewhere along the lines. Though it’s never an enjoyable experience, a loss can produce anything from a boost in motivation, pinpointing a vulnerability, or opening a coach’s eyes how to best scheme against a particular opponent or style of play.
BOYS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER So, what good has come out of Springbrook’s loss to Clarksburg? Four straight wins by margins of 14 (against John F. Kennedy), 36 (Winston Churchill), 37 (James H. Blake) and four (Richard Montgomery) in which starter Isaiah Eisendorf didn’t play and his replacement, Jermaine Ukaegbu, sprained his ankle. It’s not only Springbrook who has bounced back higher than it had previously been
prior to a defeat. After the Coyotes lost to Col. Zadok Magruder on Jan. 6, they tore through Thomas S. Wootton, Northwest, Springbrook, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase and ascended to the No. 6 spot in The Gazette rankings. Current No. 5 Montgomery Blair dropped a game to Monsignor Farrell out of New York over the holidays and hasn’t lost since, stringing together wins against Churchill (70-54), Richard Montgomery (55-41), Walter Johnson (88-37), then No. 10 Walt Whitman (61-56), Blake (61-52), Paint Branch (64-47), then No. 9 Poolesville (60-41) and B-CC (58-48). Montrose Christian has fared much the same since being stunned by Takoma Academy on Jan. 6. The Mustangs have put together six consecutive wins following that loss and not a single opponent has come within 16 points of them. tmewhirter@gazette.net
Wootton’s football coach dismissed Spinner said he and his staff were let go in last week’s meeting
n
BY
ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
Thomas S. Wootton High School football coach Tyree Spinner and his assistants were dismissed last week, Spinner said. Spinner said he learned of his dismissal in a meeting Jan. 29 with Athletic Director Christopher Thompson and Principal Michael Doran. Spinner, hired in January 2012, compiled a 9-11 record in his two seasons leading the Patriots. “My tenure as [coach] was a very successful one,” Spinner wrote in a text to The Gazette. “Not only did we continually progress on the field via overall record, breaking records, breaking losing traditions and mindsets … we built a family, a
brotherhood that they will use throughout the rest of their life.” Thompson confirmed the coaches were no longer on staff and declined further comment, writing in an email to The Gazette that this was a “personnel matter and beyond anything I would be at liberty to discuss.” Spinner led Wootton’s junior varsity team before taking over as varsity coach prior to the 2012 season. He replaced Eddie Tolliver, who went 6-14 in his two years coaching Wootton. The Patriots were 5-5 last fall, including a forfeit (ineligible player) that negated a 41-0 victory against Walter Johnson. Spinner said he intends to continue coaching. “I love this game and I love building boys into young men through this great sport,” Spinner wrote. Wootton’s last winning sea-
GEORGE P. SMITH/FOR THE GAZETTE
Thomas S. Wootton High School football coach Tyree Spinner led his Patriots to a 9-11 mark in two seasons (that record includes a forfeit loss).
son was 2008, when the team went 7-4 under Greg Malling. egoldwein@gazette.net
Track athletes perform well at Virginia Tech Holton Arms wins WMPSSDL championship n
Many of Montgomery County’s top track and field athletes followed up the Jan. 29 public schools’ county championship meet with a trip to Blacksburg, Va., for the Virginia Tech Invitational Friday and Saturday. Times at the meet can be used for regional cuts. The highly competitive meet, which features both public and private school athletes, drew out some top performances; many county athletes earned their New Balance Indoor Nationals qualifying times. Among the county’s top performers were John F. Kennedy’s Devon Hairston, who won the 55-meter dash in a national qualifying time of 7.51 seconds, and Bullis senior Simone Glenn, whose second-place finish in the 300-meter dash (38.82 seconds) set a new county (public and private school) record, according to Mocorunning.com. Glenn
replaced former Northwest High star Olivia Ekpone’s 2009 mark (38.96). — JENNIFER BEEKMAN
Swimming and diving The Holton-Arms School swimming and diving team won its second consecutive Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swimming and Diving League
PREP NOTEBOOK BY GAZETTE STAFF championship Saturday with a 310-244 advantage over runnerup and Independent School League foe Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. The Panthers, who won their ninth ISL title in 11 years a week ago, were propelled by individual wins from Caroline McTaggart (100-yard freestyle) and Isabelle Jubin (50-yard freestyle) and wins in the 200-yard
freestyle relay (Alexis LeMone, Sydney Mathis, Halsey McKinney, McTaggart) and 400-yard freestyle relay (LeMone, Jubin, Emma Raynor, McTaggart). Stone Ridge junior and Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky won the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard individual medley. Her time of 2:01.78 in the latter set a new mark, breaking a 14-year-old record by five seconds. Georgetown Prep won six events in a second-place finish at WMPSSDLs. Grant Goddard (200-yard freestyle), Carsten Vissering (100-yard freestyle) , Samuel Tarter (200-yard individual medley) and Brandon Goldstein (100-yard butterfly) picked up individual race wins. Goddard, Vissering, Matthew Hirschberger and Adrian Lin won the 200-yard freestylerelayandGoldstein,Goddard, Lin and Hirschberger closed the meet with a win in the 400yard freestyle relay. — JENNIFER BEEKMAN
Paint Branch High School clinched its second consecutive division title on Friday after defeating John F. Kennedy for the second time this season. Sofilia Ngwafang led the Panthers with 14 points while junior Daisa Harris (10 points) was honored at halftime for joining the 1,000-point club. Tyra Sinclair had nine points while Kiara Colston had eight in the Panthers’ 49-41 victory.
GIRLS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK BY ERIC GOLDWEIN The Panthers (14-2, 5-0 as of Monday) have won their past four games. “It was a really hard fight, we knew we had to put all the attitudes aside,” said Ngwafang, a sophomore. “... This was important [heading toward playoffs] because we need to know we can play against these types of teams and pull out hard wins.” Daysha Adams scored 13 points, Makeda Wright had 10 and Kiara Arnold had nine to lead Kennedy (11-2, 5-2), which has not lost outside of its two matchups against Paint Branch. The Panthers won 53-49 in the first meeting. “It was a great feeling [to close out the win], we worked together as a team, [Kennedy] put up a big fight,” Ngwafang said. “We have been working a lot on post moves. We had a statement to make.”
straight win and tenth in their last 12 games. “People called me after [our first game against Magruder] and I told them to watch out, that Magruder is a good team,” Gaithersburg coach Adrian McDaniel said after the game. “They beat the bricks off us the first time but [Tuesday] we played like we know how. I knew if we could set the tempo, we’d be OK.” Magruder (10-5, 5-3) and Thomas S. Wootton (10-6, 7-2) trail Gaithersburg in the Montgomery 4A West Division.
Gaithersburg not slowing down
Whitman wins its 12th straight
Gaithersburg is playing its best basketball heading into the final stretch of the regular season after a win over Northwest and a payback victory against Col. Zadok Magruder. The Trojans (104, 8-1) defeated the Colonels 53-43 on Jan. 28 after losing to them 60-38 earlier in the season. Senior Janessa Fauntroy scored 20 points to lead the Trojans to their fourth
Whitman extended its nearly two-month win streak to 12 games after a 51-40 victory over Poolesville (12-3, 5-1) on Jan. 28. Junior Nicole Fleck scored 10 of her season-high 16 points in the first quarter as the Vikings (13-2, 5-0) jumped out to an 18-10 lead and held on for the victory. “I made my first shot and then we started running plays for me,” Fleck said. “My
FILE PHOTO
Nicole Fleck (right) of Walt Whitman High School drives to the basket against Tara Thompson of Reservoir during a summer league game.
teammates got me open, and a lot of people on the team weren’t making shots they normally make and I put it in. So it worked out.”
Bullis senior named All-American Bullis School’s Lynee’ Belton was named a McDonald’s All-American on Wednesday and is set to play in the 37th annual high school basketball showcase. Belton, who signed on to play basketball with Duke University, is averaging a team-high 20.6 points per game after sitting out the first 12 games with a concussion. The 6-2 center senior helped lead the Bulldogs to the Independent School League “AA” Division championship last season. The McDonald’s AllAmerican games are scheduled for April 2 at Chicago’s United Center. egoldwein@gazette.net Jennifer Beekman and Harvey Valentine contributed.
THE GAZETTE
Page B-4
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Clarksburg’s versatile senior commits to Elon Anyangwe recorded 12 sacks, five touchdowns in final season n
BY
ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
FILE PHOTO
Clarksburg High School senior Bruno Anyangwe competes against Poolesville during a passing league game.
FILE PHOTO
Georgetown Prep’s Grant Goddard swims the 100 butterfly at the 2013 Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships.
The three-year varsity player has even spent some time as a place kicker. “He’s not going to be a scholarship kicker, we’ll put it that way,” Hurd said. “But he did an admirable job when we asked him to do so.” Anyangwe started playing football in fourth grade and has always had good size in comparison to his peers. He said he improved significantly in eighth grade, when he was a running back for the Clarksburg Sports Association’s team. In his first game, he remembers scoring four touchdowns on six rushing attempts, sitting out the end of the game because of the mercy rule. That would happen again in about eight of the 10 games that season, he said. Playing so many positions and learning their plays came naturally, Anyangwe said. “Receiver is the only thing I really have to remember,” Anyangwe said. “On defense, it’s mostly instincts for me. I know what the plays are, then I just have to play ball.” Brooks, an offensive and defensive lineman, has been competing against Anyangwe in practice since the two were freshmen. He remembers Anyangwe recording two interceptions in his very first varsity scrimmage against Paint Branch and he is confident that his teammate will continue his success at the college level. “Whatever he puts in, is what he’ll get out,” Brooks said. “That’s how I feel about it.” egoldwein@gazette.net
Little Hoyas seek first Metros title since 2010 at this weekend’s meet n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
The Georgetown Prep School swimming and diving team’s lineup for Saturday’s Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swimming and Diving League championships might have seemed a bit strange. Two-time defending Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving 100-yard breaststroke champion and last year’s 200-yard individual medley winner Carsten Vissering was in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle. The team’s top butterflier, Grant Goddard, was in the backstroke. Little Hoyas coach Matt Mongelli had his reasons. Good ones. “I want to make sure they remember how to race,” Mongelli said. “They have to know how to race even though it’s not their No. 1 event. I want them to stay mentally fresh. I [switch the events for] all the kids on the team because I don’t want them to get stuck in that rut that you’ve swum the same event every week.” Despite most of Prep’s swimmers competing in off events, the Little Hoyas finished just 16 points behind three-time defending Metros champion Gonzaga in first place Saturday, which bodes quite well for their chances in Saturday’s Metros at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center. It would be Prep’s first championship in four years after winning the title seven straight times from 2004-10. “We’re confident, but anything can
happen,” Mongelli said. “It’s our goal to go in there and try to win the meet and there is a good chance the way we placed [at WMPSSDLs and East Coast Catholics] without our 100 percent strongest lineups. That’s where we are and I think we have a good shot at it Saturday.” The strength of this year’s Prep team, which is rooted in versatility as much as sheer star power, has been three years in the making. It’s not unusual for the program to draw in one or two national-caliber athletes each year but when a freshman class featuring five of the Washington, D.C. area’s most promising young swimmers arrived two years ago, a lot of external high hopes were inevitably placed on what they could do for a seemingly free-falling Little Hoyas program — Prep followed up a Metros win in 2010 with a fourth-place finish in 2011. No pressure, right? “You can find that many [high level swimmers] on one team but to have that many kids of that level in one class, that is something special of that group,” Mongelli said. “I think everyone expected when they came in that we should just win but five guys don’t make a team. You need more than that, you need eight swimmers to make up all three relays at Metros. I think there was a lot of pressure for them to go out and win and I think that was a little bit unfair [to put on these kids].” Though Prep has not reclaimed the coveted Metros title it has gotten closer to Gonzaga each of the past two seasons and have had their eyes on this winter’s season for two years, Vissering and Goddard agreed. The two have each won three individual Metros titles, two a year ago and one apiece as freshmen. Their classmates, Brandon Goldstein and Adrian Lin, who
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both tallied two top 5 finishes in 2013, and Joseph Snodderly, who finished sixth in the 500-yard freestyle a year ago, have made great strides last year and have taken another giant step forward in 2013-14. “A lot of sports teams at Prep have fallen off [recently] and we really want to get swimming back and have it be the best,” Goddard said. Prep has also found the right pieces to complement its five junior stars in the past couple years, Mongelli said. One of them, freshman distance freestyler Matthew Hirschberger, arrived as a transfer from Florida this year. The 13-year-old finished third in his Prep debut at the Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swimming and Diving League championship Saturday. The National Age Group (boys 13-14) record holder in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9 minutes, 2.37 seconds). Prep has the top talent to take Saturday’s title but its versatility is what truly sets it apart from the field. The Little Hoyas have a title contender, often two, in every single event. Intimidatingly enough, they have posted some of the area’s top times even when they’re in off events. The Little Hoyas look to reap the benefits of that versatility with their first relay wins in three years — those events are worth double. “This year has definitely been a huge focus for us,” Vissering said. “We’re super excited to try and reclaim our Metros title. I think a lot of our swimmers have really matured physically and we’ve all been doing really well this season with our club team[s], so that really sets us up well. We’re all really devoted to winning this title for Prep and getting the program back on top.” jbeekman@gazette.net
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Juniors give Prep an edge at Metros
1905887
Clarksburg High School’s Bruno Anyangwe floated from position to position during his three varsity seasons, scoring touchdowns, sacking quarterbacks and even lining up for the occasional kickoff. But this summer, the senior plans on settling into just one position when he heads to Elon University on a football scholarship. Anyangwe, a second team All-Gazette defensive lineman, committed to play football for the North Carolina school, where he will play outside linebacker, Clarksburg coach Larry Hurd said. “I’ll probably miss [playing other positions],” Anyangwe said. “But I’ll probably be happier because I’ll get to focus and perfect an art at linebacker.” Anyangwe (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) has a rare combination of size and athleticism that has helped him succeed in a variety of roles with Clarksburg. Since joining the school’s junior varsity team as a freshman, he has played fullback, tailback, Wildcat quarterback, receiver, defensive lineman, linebacker and safety. “I mean, we know we can give him the ball in different ways,” senior teammate Daequan Brooks said. “It was a good advantage. It worked out for us in the long run.” Anyangwe constantly pressured opposing quarterbacks, registering 12 sacks in a senior season that included a five-sack game against James H. Blake. “He’s a very strong young man, put together well,” Hurd said. “He’s got great quickness off the ball. He has a knack for making big plays.” Anyangwe said receiver was among his favorite positions. As a senior he caught 22 passes for 297 yards and five touchdowns. He saved his best for last, with five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in his final high school game, a 42-21 loss to Quince Orchard in the 4A West Region semifinals.
MOVIE REVIEW
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LET’S GET AWKWARD? Zac Efron stars in a romantic comedy that sets a low bar.
The Gazette’s Guide to
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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Page B-5
STRATHMORE HOSTS FIRST-EVER CONCERT BY LOCAL GOSPEL GROUPS
Gospel truth The
BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE
STAFF WRITER
G
ospel lovers needn’t look too o far f afield to appreciate some first-class local choirs. fi “There’s a lot of great, rich r choral talent in the area, and it hasn’t really been explored,” said Georgina Javor, program director at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. On Saturday, Strathmore will host a show called “Make A Joyful Noise: Best of Maryland Gospel,” featuring three choirs from Prince George’s County. Two are church choirs — the James E. Jordan, Jr. Adult Choir associated with the Refreshing Spring Church of God in Christ in Riverdale, and the Tribe of Judah choir associated with the Victory Temple Redeemed Christian Church of God in Bowie. Javor has also invited the well-known Oxon Hill High School choir. Each choir will perform its own mix of traditional and contemporary gospel music. “They’ll run the gamut of the repertoire,” Javor said. There will be some a cappella
See GOSPEL, Page B-8
The James E. Jordan, Jr. Adult Choir from Riverdale, directed by Courtney King (foreground), will perform with two other choirs from Prince George’s County on Saturday at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. The show, “Make a Joyful Noise: Best of Maryland Gospel,” is the first time Strathmore has brought together local church choirs to perform on stage.
PHOTOS FROM MARGOT SCHULMAN
LOVE TRIANGLES: Damascus Theatre Co. to present ‘A Little Night Music’ n The Damascus Theatre Company presents “A Little Night Music” at the Arts Barn Theatre in Gaithersburg. (From left) Liz Weber as actress Desiree and David Fialkoff as successful lawyer Fredrik. Formerly lovers, they meet again decades later when Desiree comes to town for a performance. ELLI SWINK
Sondheim’s musical mixes and matches mates BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
The key to director Scott Richards’ vision for the Damascus Theater Company’s production of “A Little Night Music” is that the audience relate to the characters. To that end, Richards moved the 1973 Stephen Sondheim musical, originally set in Sweden in 1900, to the present day. “It’s a period piece — I think the bustles and petticoats make it harder to relate,” he said. Produced by Elli Swink and boasting a cast of 17, the show will feature a live orchestra under the direction of Keith Tittermary and run from Feb. 7-23 at the Arts Barn Theatre in Gaithersburg. Richards said that although it is set in the present day, the
See MUSIC, Page B-8
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC n When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, to Feb. 23; 8 p.m. Feb. 20; 2 p.m. Feb. 22 n Where: Arts Barn Theatre, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg n Tickets: $16 residents; $18 non-residents n For information: 301-258-639, damascustheatre.org, gaithersburgmd.gov
THE GAZETTE
Page B-6
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Many
‘VOICES’ The Washington, D.C.-based Company E will present “VOICES,” featuring choreography by artists from six countries and the world premiere of celebrated Italian choreographer Walter Matteini’s “POLVERE,” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring. “VOICES” is Company E’s first concert in the U.S. in more than a year, during which time the company toured the globe, from Kazakhstan to Argentina, Spain, Italy and Tajikistan. For more information, visit montgomerycollege.edu/cac. Visit companye.org.
PHOTO BY PAUL GORDON EMERSON
Company E returns to the U.S. for two nights with the world premiere of “POLVERE” by renowned Italian choreographer Walter Matteini and other dances in an evening of international voices and visions. Pictured are Jason Garcia Ignacio, Robert J. Priore and Julia Stiefel.
STRATHMORE
Inscape, featuring the world premiere of Justin Boyer’s “Lament,” will kick off Strathmore’s new Music in the Mansion capsule concert series on Sunday.
Inscape and beyond Strathmore’s Music in the Mansion capsule concert series kicks off with Washington, D.C.-based quartet Inscape, featuring the world premiere of Justin Boyer’s “Lament,” at 3 p.m. Sunday in North Bethesda. Composers will be in-house throughout
the Strathmore series to experience performances of their world and Washington premiere works and to meet with audience members. The six-concert series continues to May 15, with scheduled works from composers Jeremy Gill, Gabriel Kahane and Louis Andriessen. For Sunday’s concert, Inscape will perform Brahms and Barber, juxtaposed with Boyer’s string quartet featuring clarinetist Evan Solomon and baritone James Rogers, as well as a piece by Richmond, Va.-born electronic and symphonic composer Mason Bates. For a complete schedule, visit strathmore.org.
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February folklore The Folklore Society of Greater Washington, celebrating its 50th anniversary, will once again host its annual Midwinter Festival from noon to
10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Takoma Park Middle School, 7611
Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park. This PHOTO BY STEVEN C. TUTTLE year’s schedule feaThe Folklore Society of Greater Washington will tures “Astrocappella” songs with math-and- host its annual Midwinter Festival on Saturday at the Takoma Park Middle School. Pictured: The aerospace oriented Morris Dancers. group The Chromatics, high-energy roots music with Glyn Collinson and Andrew Marcus, two dance tracks, seven workshop and performance sites, sing-alongs, storytelling and much more. An evening program, from 7:30-10:30 p.m., will feature a simultaneous concert and a contra dance. Food and craft vendors will also be on site. For complete ticketing information, visit fsgw.org.
All that glimmers “This is a story that’s old as old, of how a girl turned straw into gold.” Mike Kenny’s unique interpretation of
“Rumpelstiltskin”
will spin a wondrous fairy tale
from Wednesday to March 16 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Di-
PHOTO BY JEREMY RUSNOCK
rected by Janet The Miller’s Daughter (Katherine Renee Turner) Stanford, the prowatches in amazement as Rumpelstiltskin duction blends (Matthew Pauli) spins straw into gold. “Rumpelwitty poetry, live stiltskin” runs from Wednesday to March 16 at fiddle music and Imagination Stage. magical characters for an adventure designed with ages 5-10 in mind. Tickets start at $10. For more information, visit imaginationstage.org.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
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IN THE ARTS Carpe Diem Contra Dance, Feb. 13, Caller: Ann Fallon, Music by Gary Wright and Leah Weiss with Ahren Buchheister, 7-7:30 p.m. contradance workshops, 7:30-10 p.m. Contras & Squares, second Thursdays, Great Hall, Silver Spring Civics Center, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, $10 for general admission, $8 for members, $5 for students and those without income, www. carpediemarts.com. Hollywood Ballroom, Feb. 5, International Ballroom and Latin Night, classes from 7:30-8:30 p.m., open social practice dance from 8:30-10:30 p.m. ($15 for classes and dance, $10 for classes only, $10 for dance only); Feb. 6, 13, Tea Dance from 12:30-3:30 p.m. ($6); Feb. 7, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); Feb. 8, Latin Night with Mr. Mambo, workshops from 8-10 p.m., dance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. ($18 for workshop and dance; $15 for dance only); Feb. 9, free Rumba lessons at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m. ($16); Feb. 12, free Foxtrot lesson at 7:30 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8:15 p.m. ($16); 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-326-1181, www.hollywoodballroomdc.com Now and Then Dance Studio, Saturday ballroom dances, second and fourth Saturdays, beginner group lesson at 8 p.m., open dancing at 9 p.m., $10 cash at door (all men admitted at half-price throughout October), 10111 Darnestown Road, Rockville. 301-424-0007, www. nowandthendancestudios.com. Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Blues, Capital Blues: Thurs-
days, 8:15 p.m. beginner lesson, 9-11:30 p.m. dancing to DJs, Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom Annex, $8, www.capitalblues.org. Contra, Feb. 7, Eva Murray and Gigmeisters, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org. Contra & Square, Feb. 9, Greg Frock with Terpsichore, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www.fsgw.org. English Country, Feb. 5, Caller:
Rich Galloway; Feb. 12, Caller: Anna Rain; Feb. 19, Caller: Carol Marsh; Feb. 26, Caller: Dan Gillespie, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www.fsgw.org. Swing, Feb. 8, Red Dress Ball with the Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet.org. Waltz, Feb. 16, MacArthur Boulevard, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www. waltztimedances.org.
MUSIC & DANCE Arts Barn, Singer Songwriter Concert Series, Slaid Cleaves with Tony Denikos, Feb. 22, 3 p.m. workshops at the Arts Barn or Kentlands Mansion, 7:30 p.m. concerts at the Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. 301-258-6394, www. gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn.
Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, M-Law and the Prophets of
Jazz, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5; Next Best Thing Presents Bruce in the USA, 8 p.m. Feb. 6; Deanna Bogart Band, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Sleepy Labeef with The Daryl Davis Band, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9; Doors Wide Open, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12; Zoe, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13; Valentine’s Day with the Softones, 8 p.m. Feb. 14; Gia Mora is Einstein’s Girl featuring Charlie Barnett, 8 p.m. Feb. 15, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, www. bethesdabluesjazz.com. BlackRock Center for the Arts, District Comedy, 8 p.m. Feb. 15; The Exquisite Corpse Project, 4 p.m. Feb. 16, call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org.
Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, Nuala Kennedy, 7:30
p.m. Feb. 17; Carrie Newcomer, 7:30 p.m. March 8, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Best of Maryland Gospel Community Sing, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Tosin CD Release Party, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 7; Jessica Krash: On the Cusp of Romanticism, 1 p.m. Feb. 8; Make A Joyful Noise: Best of Maryland Gospel, 8 p.m. Feb. 8; Inscape featuring Evan Solomon & James Rogers, 3 p.m. Feb. 9; Historic Home Tour, 11 a.m. Feb. 10; Specialty Tea:
Valentine’s Tea, 1 p.m. Feb. 11-12; AIR: Nistha Raj, Hindustani violin, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12; WPAS: St. Petersburg Philharmonic, 8 p.m. Feb. 12; Guitar Passions: Sharon Isbin, Stanley Jordan & Romero Lubambo, 8 p.m. Feb. 13; Valentine’s Day Dinner, 6 p.m. Feb. 14; Marcus Johnson and the Urban Jam Band, 8 p.m. Feb. 14; Specialty Tea: Teddy Bear Tea, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 15; BSO: Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique, 8 p.m. Feb. 15, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org.
ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “Miss Nelson is Missing,” to March 9, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Arts Barn, “A Little Night Music,” Feb. 7-23, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, 301-258-6394, www. gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn. Imagination Stage, “Rumpelstiltskin,” Feb. 5 to March 16, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www. imaginationstage.org Olney Theatre Center, “How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying,” To Feb. 23; call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, www. olneytheatre.org. The Puppet Co., “Tales of Beatrix Potter,” To Feb. 9; Tiny Tots @ 10, select Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, call for shows and show times, Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo Park’s North Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., $5, 301-634-5380, www. thepuppetco.org. Round House Theatre, Bethesda, “Seminar,” Feb. 5 to March 4, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, www. roundhousetheatre.org. Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, “Impossible! A Happenstance Circus,” to Feb. 9, call for show times, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, $15 for general admission, $10 for subscribers, patrons 30 and younger and seniors, 244-6441100, www.roundhousetheatre.org.
Silver Spring Stage, “Superior Donuts,” Feb. 21 to March 15, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, www.ssstage.org. The Writer’s Center, Poets Elizabeth Arnold and Sarah Arvio, 2 p.m. Feb. 9, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-654-8664, www.writer.org.
VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, “Residue,” Sharon Butler, Michael Callaghan, Steven Charles, J.D. Hastings and Toni Tiller, to Feb. 9, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, www.adahrosegallery.com Glenview Mansion, Gordana Gerskovic, experimental photography, to Feb. 21, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. www.rockvillemd.gov. VisArts, Ryan Rakhshan: “SLOW,” ongoing, secondfloor lobby and VisArts rooftop; Inna Alesina: “Test Kitchen for Change,” to Feb. 9, Common Ground Gallery, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, www. visartsatrockville.org.
w No ing! w Sho F.
1905604
Scott Fitzgerald Theater
603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851
240-314-8690
www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre
Tamburitzans
Multi Cultural Song and Dance Company Saturday Feb 8 at 7 p.m. $36 to $28
Rockville Concert Band
Swing! Swing! Swing! Sunday, Feb 9 at 3 p.m. Free, $5 suggested donation
1906494
DANCES
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THE GAZETTE
Page B-8
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Writer’s block: Round House brings Broadway play ‘Seminar’ to Bethesda n
Actor, director celebrate 16th show together BY
WILL C. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER
Collaboration is nothing new for director Jerry Whiddon and actor Marty Lodge.
THEATER The two have worked together on 15 different shows at the Round House Theatre over the years. “Seminar,” opening Wednesday at Round House Theatre Bethesda, will be the 16th play for the duo. “We’ve done comedy, we’ve done tragedy, we’ve done just about everything,” Lodge said. “We’ve turned comedies into tragedies and tragedies into comedies,” Whiddon added, laughing. Lodge, who spent time in Los Angeles and is now working in Chicago, said Whiddon was instrumental in helping him grow as an actor. “When he was running this theater, he put me in the company here and he gave me roles that I would not have normally gotten at other theaters,” Lodge said. “It really gave me a chance to stretch and grow. I owe him a lot.” From Whiddon’s standpoint, the partnership has been mutually beneficial. “It’s been a very fruitful relationship,” Whiddon said. “We can feel comfortable with
SEMINAR n When: Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, March 2 (contact theater for specific show times) n Where: Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda n Tickets: $35-$50, plus $5 service charge n For information: 240-6441100; roundhousetheatre.org
each other and feel comfortable sort of pushing each other. He pushes me, I push him.” Lodge moved to Los Angeles eight years ago, but this is the first time the two have worked together in at least a decade. “It doesn’t feel like [it’s been that long], though,” Lodge said. “We picked up right where we left off.” “Seminar,” written by playwright Theresa Rebeck, premiered on Broadway in 2011. The story revolves around four young writers who pay $5,000 for a 10-week writing seminar with a seasoned writer, Leonard. Lodge plays Leonard, who is in charge of teaching these four would-be writers. “These young writers sort of bang up against this immovable object, which is this bitter, brilliant editor, teacher who is just so concentrated on the work and he is so torn up by his own past, in a sense, that he really just knocks these writers off their feet,” Whiddon said. “They
Director Jerry Whiddon and actor Marty Lodge have a discussion about “Seminar,” their 16th show together at Round House Theatre. are struggling for their balance the entire play. “It’s one of those contemporary comedies.” Lodge said he likes to try to get back to the Washington, D.C., area every year or two to do a show since he has family here. When Lodge saw Round House had “Seminar” scheduled on its website, it piqued his interest. “I knew Alan Rickman had done it on Broadway, then I saw Jerry was directing it,” Lodge said. “I approached the theater myself and said, “Hey, is there any way you guys would consider me for that part?’ Then I read the play and it’s just a juicy, juicy role. It’s going to be a lot of fun to do in front of an audience.” Whiddon said neither he nor the cast had seen the show on Broadway, so everyone is bringing fresh eyes and new concepts to the mix.
“It’s brand new to us,” Whiddon said. “We’re going by the script. The dialogue is terrific. It’s just terrific. The trick is find that solid grounding you need to have [so the] comedy and the pathos work. It offers some challenges that way and I think we’re meeting them head-on.” For Lodge and Whiddon, one thing should be very clear to the audience after watching the play. “It’s not so easy being a writer,” Lodge said. “Everybody thinks they can write, but it’s really a lot harder than that.” “Writing is what these people are about,” Whiddon added. “I think it’s not so easy to be anything. ... In whatever we choose to do — if we are lucky enough to be able to choose to do something — even that does not guarantee that somebody is going to come along and affirm
MUSIC
Continued from Page B-5
ELLI SWINK
Mismatched couples are the norm in Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,” presented by the Damascus Theatre Company from Feb. 7-23 at the Arts Barn Theatre in Gaithersburg. (From left, front) Rich Shegogue as Count Malcolm and Jenni McGinnis as Countess Malcolm; David Fialkoff as Fredrik and Alexa Soriano as his wife Anne; Rob Milanic as Fredrik’s son Henrik and Kristina Friedgen as maid Petra.
GOSPEL
Continued from Page B-5 singing, with other songs accompanied by piano, organ, horn, drums and guitar, she said. The night before, Strathmore is also hosting a ticketed community sing for the public. Members of the Tribe of Judah choir will talk about the history of gospel music and invite the audience to join them in singing some songs. No experience is needed, she said. “We’ll be singing some traditional gospel songs, some hymns and one or two African songs,” said Mobolaji Ogunsuyi, choir representative for Tribe of Judah. Leaders of both church choirs said their members enjoy singing on stage and also see their performances as part of the churches’ missions to spread the good news. “We’re very much about the ministry, we’re very cognizant that we want to [spread] the word of God through song,” said Courtney King, director of the Jordan choir. “We want people to know that no matter what your situation, there is hope.” Javor said she first heard the two Prince George’s County church choirs at the How Sweet the Sound regional competition at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C,, in September 2011. The Tribe of Judah choir, which incorporates music from Africa and is directed by Pastor Bayo Babajide, won Best Small Choir at the event. The Jordan choir won the People’s Choice Award, the Best Large Choir Award and the East Coast Regional Choir Award at the event, in part because of its choreographed moves. “They really dominated, they blew everyone away,” Javor said. “It was completely infectious and jaw-dropping.” “The pure joy with which they sung – it moved you in different ways, even if
you’re not religious,” she said. “It travels with you and touches you.” The chance encounter definitely stuck with Javor, who began contacting the choirs a year later about performing at Strathmore. Strathmore had previously presented nationally known gospel performers such as Yolanda Adams but had never hosted a gospel concert featuring local singers. “It’s the first time we’ve worked with gospel choirs from the community,” Javor said. “We wanted to do a production that’s home built, not prepackaged.” Javor also wanted to include young people from the Oxon Hill choir, directed over the past 17 years by Emory Andrews. “We also wanted to include future generations of gospel,” Javor said.
Oxon Hill High School “Make a Joyful Noise” will open with 45 students from the Oxon Hill choir, which has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the White House and venues overseas. In 2010 the students won the Stellar Gospel Music Award for Best Children’s Performance, and in 2012, it released a CD called “The Storm is Passing Over.” “The kids are excited,” said Andrews, director of choir and choral studies at the high school. “It’ll be our first time at Strathmore. We feel it’s like the Kennedy Center.” Andrews said the choir typically begins a performance with an a cappella spiritual, “so they know we can sing,” he said laughing. A teacher for 37 years, Andrews said he doesn’t require his students to audition. “I feel I am the scientist of the voice, and if they desire to sing, I have the desire to teach them,” said Andrews, who teaches everything from Vivaldi choral pieces to American musicals to the national anthems for Japan and South
show retains all of the familiar music and lyrics, including the memorable show tunes “A Little Night Music” and “Miller’s Son.” “It’s always been one of most favorite shows,” Richard said. “It has a beautiful score.” It also has the same characters as the original, including a quintet that functions like a Greek chorus. “They start the show – they make all the action happen,” said Richards about the ensemble’s role in seeing that a collection of mismatched couples end up with the right mates. Inspired by the 1955 comedy, “Smiles of a Summer Night,” directed by Ingmar Bergman, “A Little Night Music,” is a story about several couples who are with someone but love someone else. “The people are all in love triangles,” said Richard.
PHOTOS FROM DANISHA CROSBY
Actors Marty Lodge and Laura C. Harris rehearse a scene for the upcoming production of “Seminar” at Round House Theatre. what you’re doing, saying ‘I understand you are this, an artist, a writer …’ It doesn’t matter. That’s what we all look for. We
“There’s a recurring theme of three.” One of the main characters is middle-aged Fredrik Egerman, a successful lawyer who is married to Anne, 18, a woman half his age. Another is Desiree Armfeldt, a glamorous actress who visits the town where Fredrik lives who is having an affair with a married military commander named Count Malcolm. “[Fredrik and Desiree] had a relationship in their 20s and 30s, and they meet again much later in life,” Richards said. “They get a second chance to see if they can make it work.” Count Malcolm is married to Charlotte, who provides much of the humor in the show. Charlotte has “a great biting sarcasm,” Richards said. Fredrik also has a son, a seminary student named Henkrik, 19, who has eyes for his stepmother Anne. The maidservant Petra, meanwhile, has eyes for Fredrik, and Fredrik’s manservant has eyes for her.
look for validation in what we do.” wfranklin@gazette.net
“Everyone is interconnected,” Richards said. The three pattern is also part of the music, which Sondheim composed in waltz time. “It’s complex. … There’s a lot of counterpoint and unusual harmonies,” he said. As many as five characters can also be singing on stage at once on stage. “It’s not easy for any singer to sing while four other people are singing around you,” he said. “The lyrics are smart, funny and they go by fast; you have to pay attention and listen to it.” And with a little nudging from the chorus, the people in the musical find their true course. “You laugh with those characters, you root for those characters,” Richards said. “There are no big, showy numbers,” he said. “Everything depends on you caring about these people.” vterhune@gazette.net
GOSPEL COMMUNITY SING n When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 n Where: CityDance Studio, Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda n Tickets: $8
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE:
BEST OF MARYLAND GOSPEL
n When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 n Where: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda n Tickets: $21-$26 n For information: 301-581-5100, strathmore.org
Africa. Andrews said he also asks students to write a paper about whatever music they are learning. “It’s part of interpreting the music and knowing about what they’re singing,” he said. “What was the writer’s culture, and why did they write this way?” “When you see how the writer felt, you can better interpret the phrasing and why they put [an emphasis] in a certain place,” he said.
Tribe of Judah The Tribe of Judah choir has been in existence since the founding of the Victory Temple church in 1997. Babajide, who is also a singer and pianist, earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before emigrating to the United States in 1999. “We’re honored and humbled to be a part of this,” he said. “We hope to come together with other communities and other choirs.” The Tribe of Judah choir typically
TRIBE OF JUDAH
The Tribe of Judah church choir from Bowie will perform with two other choirs from Prince George’s County on Saturday at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. numbers 25 to 35 members of the church, depending on whether musicians and students are performing, he said. In December 2011 the choir was invited to sing at the annual Christmas tree lighting at the White House. At Strathmore, the choir plans to sing a mix of contemporary and African songs, as well as original church songs. The songs will be in English, but there may also be some phrases in Yoruba, the language of Nigeria. In 2010, Tribe of Judah released an EP called “Exalt,” said choir deputy and choir member Ariike Okanlawon. “We’re doing more work on the project,” she said.
James E. Jordan, Jr. Adult Choir King said she’s been a member of the Refreshing Spring church in Riverdale since she was 9 years old. She grew up singing in the choir, took on directing duties for the young adult choir and five years ago became director of the adult choir, which is named after the pastor, James E. Jordan, Jr. The choir has performed at the Kennedy Center and last year sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the 50th anniversary of the March on
Washington, For the Strathmore concert, the 65-member group plans to sing some spirituals along with traditional and contemporary gospel songs. Principal of the James Madison Middle School in Upper Marlboro, King said appreciation of gospel music is alive and well among the younger generation. “There are contemporary artists who appeal to youth,” she said, mentioning names such as Tye Tribbett, Jonathan Nelson, Anthony Brown and Kierra Sheard. “There are different genres of gospel music, and they’re really growing — there’s even gospel rap and gospel go-go,” she said. Many appreciate gospel music as a form of entertainment, but it also continues to serve a religious purpose at churches, where music is very much a part of the mission. “Whatever comes, whatever the obstacles are in 2014, God is there, and you can have hope and faith in him,” King said. “We want to uplift the audience and show there is hope and faith in God.” vterhune@gazette.net
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
THE GAZETTE
Page B-9
Page B-10
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
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rec rm, hrwd flrs, DW W&D, CAC $1975+ utils, Metro/shops. 202-210-5530
TH w/ 3Br, 1.5Ba $1400 + util, parking, fenced yrd, W/D, Avail Now! 301-424-6759
GAITH/AMBERFLD MV/GAITH: Huge 4lvl
TH w/ grg, 3br, 4ba, fin bsmt, deck, close to 270 & mall $1675/mo + utils Call: 301-241-3263
ROCKVL:
ASPEN HILL: Comp Renovated 2Br/ 1Ba 1st flr,CAC w/d in unit. $1350 incl util, except elec. 240-398-1337 SILVER SPRING : Dwntwn Flower Ave. Unfurn 2br 1ba Apt. HOC Welcome $1250 202-246-1977
FOR RENT: 2 person, 425sq feet furnished office in shared unit on Russell Avenue at Christopher Avenue in Gaithersburg. 240-446-3486 FOR RENT: Office/light commercial. 960sq feet on Professional Drive at Frederick Road, Gaithersburg. Call 240-446-3486
ADELPHI:
condo close to DC & VA near C&O canal and bike path call 301299-8024
GAITHER:
3 Bedroom + den, 2 Bathroom, renovated, Sec 8 welcome, Util incl 410-800-5005
MONT
GERMANTOWN
M.VILLAGE- 2 bds
Master bedroom with full bath in condo. $625 includes utiltities. Call 240-893-0745
BETHESDA: Nice
Mature Male, Furn BRs. Util not incl. Near 61 Bus Line. Maria 240-671-3783
Studeo in SFH. Near NIH, Bethesda Metro, Ride-On. $975 incl util. Free pkg. 301801-8087
w/ba,Fam RM w/FP NSTH $745 + utils avail Mar.3016747928
Lg room w/ view & bath in condo; prkg, busline, shops $650 incl utils + dep w/Wifi 301-5154554.
2Br/2Ba +Den in Villa Ridge, new Kit nr meGAITH/MV: MBR in tro $1750 utilc incl TH 3rd floor, prvt BA Call: 240-994-9993 Nr shpng, on bus line. $650 utils incl + Sec Dep. 240-893-6951
HYATTSVILLE: Rm
ADELPHI: Lrg BR,
off street park, Furn Br, shr kit, lndry & comm. areas, homey, quiet $625 utils incl. TV/int 301- 253-9662
walk to UMD. $595 utils incl. Sec Dep. Req. Avail Feb 1st Call: 301-213-3348
GERMAN: Bsmt in
TH, BA, prvt ent, shrd kit, Conv. loc, safe neigh, $800+ refs incls utils. 240-316-5944
in Apt, shrd Ba/Kit, Free Wifi, Cls to shops /metro, $600 inclds utils. 301-728-7816
LAYTNSVL: M, N/S
kFull Size W/D in every unit kSwimming Pool
VILLAGE SS: Furnish BR w/pvt
1 small Br in TH, shrd Ba w/female NS/NP, $429/mo + util Call: 240-401-3522 $500/$550shared utils, kitch & bath, nr bus & shops Avail Now. call 240-406-3276
OLNEY: 1 Rm in GERM: Bsmt, 1 BR, 1 BA, sep entr, nr MC. bsmt in SFH share BOWIE: Furn rm in w/d, refridge. $850/mo kitchen $500 utils inSFH, $550/mo utils incl utils. NS, NP. Avail cluded, NS/NP Avail Now. 301-257-5712 incl Free Cable. Avail- Now. 301-366-1673 able March 1st! Call: 301-509-3050 GERM: Bsmt w/pvt OLNEY: Furn Bdrm Entr, Ba, Br, nr schls, + Den avail in TH for DAMASCUS: Bsmt bus, util incl N/S N/P mature female only! 1br, 1LR, 1ba, pvt Avl now! Please Call $500 util inclu + securentr, cable, int, util inc. 301-461-2636 ity dep 301-774-6075 $800+ sec dep. Np/Ns Call: 301-253-1370 GERM: Male 1Br in ROCKVILLE: BR in TH Share bath & apt w closet, prvt BA, GAITH: 2 Rooms in kitchen $450 ut inc Nr shrd kit, NS/NP. Acr Ref’s TH: both shr Ba $600 MARC/Buses, metro. $650 all utils each plus shared Req. 240-370-2301 incld 301-340-1257 utliities Please call: 240-305-6331 GERM: Male only 2 SPRING BRs $400 each + utils SILVER GAITH/LAYTONSV in TH NS/ND. Near MBR with private bath ILLE: Lrg Rm in SFH, bus & shops. Sec Dep available 02/01. $650 includes all utils. Call full privlgs, pool Req. 240-476-6224 240-505-8012 ,beautiful setting, NS. $600 301-482-1425 GERM: Room in TH, quiet neigh, prvt BA, SILVER SPRING: GAITH:M BRs $435+ Kit privls. $650/mo. Room avail Mar.1st Cls to 270 & metro. $550 w/private bath 440+475+555+ Maid Ns/Np, nr 270/370/Bus Call 240-406-0210 shared kitch & utils, shops, quiet, conv.Sec W/D 301-404-2681 Dep 301-983-3210 GERM/MILESTONE GAITH/MUDDY BRANCH: M/F only for LG lwr Lvl suite
CABIN JOHN- 1 bd GAITHERBURG Lg
GE RMA NT OWN :
Renovated bsmt Br suite, priv entr, W/D, Nr UMD, $1450 utils incl. SD Avail 02/01 301-213-3348
kFamily Room
SS:1rm bsmt apt pvt
ent share kit/ba, $510 uti/cbl inc, Male. wlk to bus, nr White Flint Twinbrk 301-933-5668
Ba in SFH, Fem Only uti incl $675 +Sec Dep nr RIDE ON, Wheaton Metro 301-681-7848
SS: Furnished 2 BRs
in Bsmt, Liv Rm, Shrd BA/Kit, Prvt Ent. $750 ech/mo incl utils. NS/NP Cls to Veirs Mill & Randolph. Please 301-213-9797
SS: NEW 1BR Apt 1st
floor private ENT, KIT, BA, PARKING. $1100 quiet and Sunny! call 301-879-2868
TAKOMA
PARK:
Rooms for rent $750 each, shrd bath util incl. All furn! Near metro. 240-421-6689
WASHINGTON DC: Brentwood NE,
Lrg furn Br, priv Ba, shrd kit & W/D, 1 blk frm bus & 5 blks from Red/Metro $850/util inc 202-361-8087
WHEATON 1 Large
BR, Female, 5min to Metro On Veirs Mill Rd $650 uti incl. NS/NP Call: 240-447-6476 NO Solicitors!
WHEATON: 2 BD in
SFH Share Bath, NP, NS. $500 and $600, Util incl . Call 240271-3901
Treasure Hunt It’s
FREE! Buy It, Sell It, Find It
WHEATON: Male
It’s FREE! Buy It, Sell It, Find It GazetteBuyandSell.com
pref non-smoker, 1BR, shr BA, near metro, $525/mnth util incl +dep 301-933-6804
WHEATON:
On Georgia Ave. 1 MBR w/prvt ba. $650 util incl Nr Metro & Shops. Npets 240-441-1638
GazetteBuyandSell.com
G560367
(301) 670-2667
STREAMSIDE S T R E A M S I D E APARTMENTS A PA R T M E N T S
SSaturday aturday ffrom rom 10:00 10:00 am am - 4:00 4:00 pm pm
“If you are looking for the distinctive, the uncommon, the out of the ordinary then welcome home to Amber Commons where we have the perfect blend of tradition: brick, mature landscaping, and gracious space combined with the best of brand new: GE clean steel appliances, energy efficiency and more!”
Advertise Your apartment community here!
301-762-5224
Office Hours: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm
GAITHERSBURG
GERMANTOWN
GAITHERSBURG
14431 Traville Garden Circle Rockville, Maryland 20850
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
NOTICE
GE RMA NT OWN :
Indoor Sun Feb 9th 10-4 Many treasures! Snow Blower, Wood Furn, Refrigerator,DJ Equipment, etc. 13807 Rockingham Rd.
PARKLAWN: 4 bur-
ial rights, Garden of Life Eternal, value $29,660 total and asking $25k/neg Please Call: 757-229-1119
Notice is hereby given that Revere Bank intends to file an applicaPARKLAWN MEM- tion with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish a ORIAL PARK: 2 branch at 820 West Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland plots, located in gar- 20878. den of meditation. Valued at $9,845; asking for $7,500 obo. Email: Kathyroyjohnson@veri zon.net or 301-3848116
FIREWOOD FOR SALE
$235/cord $150 per 1/2 cord µ Includes Delivery µ Stacking Extra Charge Ask for Jose 301-417-0753 301-370-7008
Any person wishing to comment on this application may file his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at the New York City Regional Office, 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1200, New York City, New York 10118 not later than February 28, 2014. The non-confidential portions of the application are on file in the Regional Office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of information in the non-confidential portion of the file will be made available upon request.
ST EV E’S STEVE’S FFIREWOOD I R EWO O D ALL A LL O OAK AK
GP2381
FUNDRAISER: The Capitol Steps @ Montgomery Blair High School !! Support Blair After Prom Party via this fun community event! DATE: Sun, F e b r u a r y . 2 3 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets: only $30 (less than same show downtown and Free Parking!); See Ms. Fus/Blair at Main Office or on-line @ brownpapertickets.co m
Page B-11
$ 220 a Cord 140 1/2 Cord 1 Cord Mix Hardwoods $190
FOR SALE: Adora-
ble, Playful Healthy Male Yorkie Pup. Silky, toy pure bred. 3 months on Feb 5th 2014 Has shots. Please Call: 301-613-3322. $450
$
301-980-8181
SHITZU:Puppies, M/F, 10wks old, B/W Brown/White. $375 each. Call
B E T H E S D A SOCCER CLUB:
Bethesda Soccer Club (BSC FURY U-13) has openings for talented and committed players for our girls team!! Please contact Coach Pat Farrell at patcfarr@gmail.com for available dates!
240-793-0464
Revere Bank
Let me do your Valentines day shopping for you. Card"s, flowers. wines, you name it I am a personal shopper with years of personal shopping experince, so make a list. Send to (ptheevangelist@gmai l.com) Be ready to make him or her happy. Phone (301-283-1029)
GAITHERSBURG
Whole house furniture for sale! Please Call: 301-674-0569 or 410874-3051
(never known to fail) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me herein you are my mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy mother I place this cause in your hand (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems light all roads so that I can attain my goals. You who gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. The person must say this prayer 3 Consecutive days. After 3 days the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. Amen.
Daycare Directory
Andrew F. Flott Chief Executive Officer Kenneth C. Cook President and Vice Chairman
(2-5-14)
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Seeks Customers to Serve Dispute Resolving Board WSSC is seeking enthusiastic, detail-oriented customers to serve on WSSC’s Dispute Resolving Board (DRB) for a two-year term. The DRB reviews customer disputes of unpaid water/sewer bills and issues rulings on the disputes. Training and staff support will be provided by WSSC. A minimum of four customers is needed to serve on the DRB panels, which will meet approximately once a month (TBD) at WSSC’s Headquarters Building, located on Sweitzer Lane in Laurel, Maryland. WSSC reimburses for mileage and dependent care. Contact: Mpande Musonda-Langley at 301-206-8840. (2-5, 2-6-14)
GP2388 G P2388
VALENTINES SHOPPING FOR YOU!
PRAYER TO BLESSED VIRGIN
Bethesda Village Daycare Children’s Center of Damascus Damascus Licensed Family Daycare Elena’s Family Daycare Debbie’s Daycare Kids Garden Day Care Reflections Daycare My Little Place Home Daycare Susanna’s Day Care Kids Love Jewelry
Lic#: 160373 Lic#: 31453 Lic#: 139094 Lic#: 15-133761 Lic#: 15-127060 Lic#: 139378 Lic#: 160613 Lic#: 131042 Lic#: 105189 Lic#: 161641
301-564-1966 301-253-6864 301-253-4753 301-972-1955 301-540-6818 240-601-9134 240-506-5343 301-947-8477 301-933-7342 301-625-1762
DEADLINE: MARCH 3rd, 2014
call 301.670.7100
20817 20872 20872 20876 20876 20886 20886 20886 20902 20904
to advertise or email class@gazette.net
Careers 301-670-2500
class@gazette.net
Dispatcher Large Gaithersburg HVAC Service Co. is looking for a fulltime dispatcher. Dispatch experience, great customer service along w/great phone skills. Hourly wage with great benefits. Email resume to dispatcher.jobs@aol.com.
Foster Parents
Treatment Foster Parents Needed Work from home!
û Free training begins soon û Generous monthly tax-free stipend û 24/7 support
Call 301-355-7205
Medical Assistant
DOMINO’S PIZZA IS NOW HIRING
ALL POSITIONS
DRIVERS ASST MANAGERS SHIFT RUNNER Competitive compensation & cash paid daily for drivers. Hours Flexible. LOCATIONS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY JERRY QUINTANILLA 240-752-4523 EOE
GC3193
SPRAY TECH
Commercial Contractor is looking for an exper. polyurethane foam insulator or previous spray exper. & willing to learn new trade. Must have trans. E-verify, EOE, Drug-Free workplace. Please call Marcela for info (301) 662-7584.
DELIVERY DRIVER
Suburban Propane, a nationwide provider of propane & related services has the following opening in the Rockville, MD area: Delivery Driver. Qual incl a HS Diploma or equiv. Class B CDL w/Hazmat and tanker endorsements, clean driving record. Strong team player w/excellent cust service skills, propane gas delivery experience preferred, flexible schedule w/after hours call-outs, heavy lifting required. Suburban offers a competitive salary w/incentive potential and comprehensive benefits including 401K and tuition reimbursement. For add’l info or to apply, please visit our website at: www.suburbanpropane.jobs. Click Career Opportunities and search for job opening ID 7421. As part of our hiring process, DOT physicals, background checks and preemployment drug tests are performed. EOE, M/F/D/V
DENTAL ASSISTANT
Needed FT/PT for our endodontic office. We are seeking an experienced, energetic person that will compliment our team approach to quality centered care. Xray License required Rockville locations. Email: phelps@endogroup.com
Family Services Inc.’s Watch Me Grow Child Development Center is dedicating to providing the most high quality form of child care for children aging from 6 weeks through age 5. Our mission is to enrich the lives of children by creating a warm and nurturing environment that encourages children to grow and experience appropriate developmental practices, personal interests, cultural diversity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our Watch Me Grow Child Development Center currently has the following positions open: two full time vacancies for Senior Staff Teachers for 2 year olds, one full-time position for a Before and After Care Coordinator, one full-time Senior Staff Teacher for the infant and toddler age groups, and two part-time Assistant Teachers. Please refer to our website http://www.familyservicesagency.org about the specific qualifications that are applicable to each of the positions. To apply to any of the positions listed above, please email resume and cover letter to careers@fs-inc.org or fax to 240-631-9356. Family Services, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer [EOE]
GC3196
* Directors * Teachers * Assistant Teachers 90 hour certification and Bachelors Degree preferred. Please forward resumes to admissions@cmmschool.com
Room Attendant
Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524 CTO SCHEV
VETERANS NEEDED Use your GI Benefits NOW for training in Healthcare. JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE Offered.
Call Now 1-888-3958261
Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now Dental/Medical Offices now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706 CTO SCHEV
Provide non-medical care and companionship for seniors in their homes. Personal care, light housework, transportation, meal preparation. Must be 21+. Must have car and one year professional, volunteer, or personal experience www.homeinsteads.com/197 Home Instead Senior Care To us it’s personal 301/588-9023 Call between 10am-4pm Mon-Fri
SKILLED TRADE
Wyndham Garden in Gaithersburg, MD is looking for Housekeepers. Apply at 805 Russell Ave. Exp pref. Background &drug test required for all new hires. Fax : 301-948-4538
Recruiting is now Simple! Get Connected
Healthcare
NOW HIRING CNAS Call Rafiq at: 301-922-0615 19120 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855
IMMEDIATE Position Avialable for NATE and/or Journeyman HVAC service technicians. MUST have 2 yrs exp. Great hourly pay, commission, weekly bonus & insurance. Drug free, customer oriented, and motivated. Only qualified applicants apply. 301-670-1944 - Gaithersburg
MAINTENANCE TECH Aspen Hill
Hospitality
Education CMMS Germantown location is looking for qualified:
WE’RE HIRING WEEKEND CNAS, GNAS, AND HHAS!
HVAC SERVICE TECH
Detail oriented, bilingual medical assistant wanted for full or part-time position in Rockville office. Please fax resume to 301-770-7272.
Construction
HEALTHCARE
Building repairs, plumbing, electrical, HVAC. 2 yrs exp. for non-profit retirement community. Send resume w/salary req. to 301-598-6485 office@homecresthouse.org
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER
Design & adv. modeling of satcom related electronics; Build & test prototypes of satcom rel. electronics; Post-development testing of newly developed electronics; Ensure operational readiness of new satcom sys & hardware; Improve existing sys & hardware as req.; collaborate w/dir. of prod. dev. & staff. MS in Comp. Sci. or equiv. Knwldg of &/or exp. in 3-D modeling, C/C ++, Java, image processing, intelligent prob. solving using Genetic Alogorithim & Artificial Neural Networks, programing & controlling real-time sys, & programming & controlling embedded sys. Resumes to job loc: Global SATCOM Technology, Inc. Attn: D. Lee 9141 Arbuckle Dr Gaithersburg , MD 20877
Page B-12
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Careers 301-670-2500
class@gazette.net
HILTON, GAITHERSBURG, MD
Thursday, April 3, 2014, 9:00-2:00pm
Career Expo 2014 will provide employers with an opportunity to take a first look at local qualified applicants. Our mini seminars will command an audience of highly skilled professionals. Reserve your space today, log on to www.gazettecareerexpo.com or call 301-670-7100. PREMIUM PACKAGE $495 EARLY BIRD PRICING*
• Booth at Event • 30 Day Banner on Gazette. net/Careers & DCMilitary.com/Career • Featured Advertiser, Hiring and Company profile • 2-Job postings (one print, one online)
EARLY BIRD
Registration Deadline January 31, 2014
*$695 after January 31, 2014
GC3194
TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE CALL 301-670-7100 Real Estate
Silver Spring
Work with the BEST!
Be trained individually by one of the area’s top offices & one of the area’s best salesman with over 34 years. New & experienced salespeople welcomed.
Must R.S.V.P.
GC3191
Call Bill Hennessy
301-388-2626 301-388-2626
Seminar
Interested in a career in decorating? Career opportunity seminar Thursday Feb. 20th @ 6:30pm - 8pm 10426 fawcett St, Kensington, MD RSVP to
jimkirlin@decoratingden.com
PLUMBER IMMEDIATE Position Avialable for Plumber. MUST have 2 yrs exp. Great hourly pay, commission, weekly bonus & insurance. Drug free, customer oriented, and motivated. Only qualified applicants apply. 301-670-1944 - Gaithersburg
Send resume to 240-449-1193 (f) or heartworkresumes@aol.com
EOE
The MD Dept of General Services is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic Senior in Silver Spring MD. Candidates must have completed 8th grade and 4 yrs exp in building maintenance trades including 3 yrs in electricity, plumbing, steam fitting, refrigeration or air conditioning. For complete details or to apply online, go to www.dgs.maryland.gov and click on DGS Job Openings or call 410-767-4986. Applications must be received by 02/14/14. EOE
Travel Coordinator
Award winning transportation company in R’ville is seeking an enegergetic individual to fullfill a F/T position in our Reservations Department. If you enjoy multitasking in a fast pace environment and have a passion for providing excellent customer service then please join us at our open house on Tuesday February 11th anytime between 11-3pm at 11565 Old Georgetown Rd. North Bethesda, MD 20852.
Recruiting is now Simple! Get Connected! Local Companies Local Candidates
Newspaper & Web Ad Sales Comprint Military Publications publishes 8 newspapers, 2 websites and 14 special sections and is looking for an energetic, organized sales representative to sell advertising into our media. Must be able to work well under weekly deadlines and pressures of meeting sales goals. Prefer someone with print and/or web advertising sales experience. Position is in Gaithersburg office and hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F. Territory is Northern VA. We offer a competitive compensation & comprehensive benefits package including pension, 401(k) & tuition reimbursement.
SKILLED TRADE
Exp. Biller Needed.Charge posting, A/R, Charge and payment posting for a Large Cardiology Practice in Mont. Co. FT/Benefits offered.
bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Maintenance Mechanic Senior
GC3045
Medical Biller
If interested, please send resume and cover letter with salary requirements to: John Rives at jrives@dcmilitary.com. EOE
WAREHOUSE HELP Seeking highly motivated and hardworking team player for lumber yard. Mon-Sat, 40 hr wk, will train. Apply in person at Fisher Lumber, 525 E Gude Dr, Rockville, MD.
Part-Time
Work From Home
National Children’s Center Making calls. For more info please call Weekdays between 9a-4p No selling! Sal + bonus + benes. Call 301-333-1900
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
THE GAZETTE
Page B-13
Page B-14
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Automotive Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net
4 NEED AUTO FINANCING ASSISTANCE? 4 TIRED OF HASSLES? 4 WANT A FRESH START? ALL APPLICATIONS REVIEWED WE HELP EVERYONE!
1-866-464-1618
FOR CAR ! ANY CAR ANY CONDITION
WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN
INSTANT CASH OFFER
(301) 288-6009
G558500
YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR WAY AT OURISMAN EVERYDAY
$5,000 OFF
Looking for a new convertible?
2013 Beetles & Beet Convertibles le 13 Available In Stock Units On ly
OURISMAN VW
Search Gazette.Net/Autos
2013 MODELS SALE
2014 JETTA S
#7380482, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry
#3096366, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Heated Seats, Bluetooth, Cruise Control
2014 PASSAT S 2.5L
MSRP 20,860
MSRP 17,810
14,999
$
2014 PASSAT S
BUY FOR
16,999
$
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
2013 BEETLE
04 Toyota Highlander LTD #462007B, $ 4 Speed Auto, Vontage $
#9009449, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Cruise Control
Blue, Sport Utility
MSRP 22,765
$
$
BUY FOR
2013 GOLF 2 DOOR
W INTER CLEARANCE CLEARANCE SALE SALE WINTER
$
BUY FOR
18,999
$
9,800
12 Toyota Corolla LE $$
#N0289, 1-Owner, 4 Speed Auto, Low Miles #9009449, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry
MSRP $22,765 BUY FOR
18,999
$
OR 0.9% for 60 MONTHS
2013 GTI 4 DOOR
#1679497, Power Windows/Locks, Sunroof, Auto, Loaded
MSRP 24,490 - $5,000 OFF $
BUY FOR
19,490
$
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
2014 PASSAT TDI SE
MSRP $26,960 BUY FOR
22,955
$
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
#9060756, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Sunroof
MSRP $27,385 BUY FOR
23,399
$
OR 0.9% for 60 MONTHS
#377689B, Automatic, Coupe
13,500
$$
13,800
12 Nissan Altima S #470192A, CVT $ $ Trans, 2.5. Low Miles
13,800
11 Toyota Camry LE $$
#P8895, 1-Owner, 6 Speed Auto, 25k Miles
15,500
MSRP $25,510 - $5,000 OFF
20,155 2014 TIGUAN S 4WD BUY FOR
$
13 Scion TC #351071A, $$ 11.7k miles,
16,800
13 Toyota Corolla S $$
17,700
#364525A, 4 Speed Auto, 22k miles, 1-Owner
11ToyotaRAV4 $$
#364568A, 4 Speed Auto, 1-Owner, 18K miles
18,700
#13543457, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry
MSRP $28,936
BUY FOR
12 Toyota Tacoma #R1717A, $ 4 Speed Autol, $
24,999
$
38k Miles, Reg Cab
OURISMAN VW WORLD AUTO CERTIFIED PRE OWNED
18,700
19,700
$$
$13,500 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.......... $13,500 #472173A, CVT Transmission, 1-Owner, 11.6k miles, Brilliant Silver
2013 Toyota Corolla LE......... $15,500 $15,500 #472176A, 1-Owner, 4 SpeedAuto, Magnetic Gray 2011 Honda CR-V SE........... $16,800 $16,800 #364555A, 21k Miles, 1-Owner, 5 SpeedAuto, Polished Metal Metallic
2014 Toyota Corolla LE......... $16,800 $16,800 #472197A, 1-Owner, low Miles, CVT Transmission, Slate Metallic
14 Toyota Camry LE #378075A, $ 1-Owner, 307 miles, $ 6 Speed Auto
20,800
2010 Toyota Prius II............ $16,800 $16,800 #P8874, CVT Trans, 1 Owner, 25k Miles, Barcelona Red
$18,500 2009 Nissan Murano SL....... $18,500 #P8851A, CVT Trans, 4WD, Sport Utility 2012 Toyota Sienna Minivan. . $18,700 $18,700 #460044A, 6 SpeedAuto, 25k Miles, Silver Metallic
$18,800 2011 Toyota Avalon............ $18,800 #478001A, 6 SpeedAuto, 1 Owner, 4 Door 2011 Toyota RAV4............... $19,700 $19,700 #N0301, 1-Owner, 36k miles, 4 SpeedAuto, Black 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander..... $22,700 $22,700 #363225A, 6 SpeedAuto, 1-Owner, 5k miles, Rally Red Metallic
PRE-OWNED 3355 5 5 TTOYOTA OYOTA P R E - OW N E D
All prices exclude tax, tags, title, freight and $200 processing fee. Cannot be combined with any previous advertised or internet special. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only. See dealer for details. 0% APR Up To 60 Months on all models. See dealer for details. Ourisman VW World Auto Certified Pre Owned financing for 60 months based on credit approval thru VW. Excludes Title, Tax, Options & Dealer Fees. Special APR financing cannot be combined with sale prices. Ends 02/28/14.
Ourisman VW of Laurel
DARCARS
G558495
3371 Fort Meade Road, Laurel
Online Chat Available...24 Hour Website • Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-9 pm • Sat 9 am-8 pm
#457003B, 7 Speed Auto, Mars Red
$12,800 2010 Scion XD.................. $12,800 #P8873, 4 SpeedAuto, 24K miles, 1-Owner, Super White
2011 Tiguan S..........#VPR0017, White, 32,529 miles..............$18,995 2011 CC.....................#VP0022, Black, 30,272 miles................$19,991 2013 Jetta SE...........#VPR0027, White, 6,101 miles...............$19,995 2013 Jetta SE............#VPR0030, Silver, 4,340 miles................$19,995 2011 Chrysler 200..#V006539A, Silver, 21,797 miles..............$20,995 2013 Passat S...........#VPR0026, Black, 6,891 miles................$20,995 2013 Beetle Conv...#V827637A, Black, 20,496 miles..............$21,991 2011 Ford Ranger...#V373771A, Black, 17,869 miles..............$21,995 2013 Passat SE........#VPR0029, White, 5,964 miles...............$23,999 2013 Passat SE........#VPR0028, White, 5,010 miles...............$23,999 2012 Routan SE......#VP0033, Maroon, 12,853 miles..............$24,991
1.855.881.9197 • www.ourismanvw.com
08 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 3.0L
2008 Mercury Grand Marquis LS .. $8,500 $8,500 #472145A, 4 SpeedAuto, Silver Birch Metallic
22 Available...Rates Starting at 2.64% up to 72 months
2011 Jetta Sedan......#V0019A, Gold, 47,603 miles................$12,491 2009 GTI..................#V551811A, White, 99,448 miles.............$12,991 2006 Dodge Charger. .#V007711A, Yellow, 65,873 miles........$14,491 2011 Toyota Corolla #VP0020, Black, 30,992 miles................$14,991 2012 Mazda 6..........#VPR0023, Black, 44,340 miles...............$15,491 2012 Nissan Altima.#VPR0024, Gray, 42,366 miles...............$15,991 2013 Passat S….....#VPR0031, Silver, 34,132 miles...............$15,999 2012 Jetta SE...........#VPR6113, Silver, 34,537 miles...............$16,495 2013 Jetta SE............#V693295A, Red, 3,179 miles................$18,492 2011 CC.....................#VP0032, White, 36,116 miles................$18,991 2011 Honda CRV.....#V003776A, Gray, 37,086 miles..............$18,992
12,800
4 Door
09 Mini Cooper Clubman S
#7415025, Automatic Power Windows, Power Locks, Bluetooth
1-Owner, Manual
#4116048, Automatic, Power Windows/ Power Locks, Keyless Entry
11 Toyota Camry LE #472182A, $$ 6 Speed Auto,
2013 JETTA TDI
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EMAIL US AT BUILDMYCREDIT@JIMCOLEMANAUTO.COM OR CALL
CA H
See what it’s like to love car buying
1-888-831-9671 1-888-831-9671 15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD | OPEN SUNDAY
V VISIT ISIT U US S O ON N T THE HE W WEB EB A AT T w www.355.com ww.355.com
Check out the Gazette’s auto site at Gazette.Net/Autos With 2 great ways to shop for your next car, you won’t believe how easy it is to buy a car locally through The Gazette. Check the weekly newspaper for unique specials from various dealers and then visit our new auto website 24/7 at Gazette.Net/Autos to search entire inventories of trusted local dealers updated daily. Dealers, for more information call 301-670-7100 or email - class@gazette.net
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Page B-15
2014 NEW COROLLA LE ECO
WINTER
MO For 4 DR., 24 MOs** 4 CYL., AUTO NEW 2014 VENZA 4X2
79/
CLEARANCE SALE!
2 AVAILABLE: #474500, 474510
24,690
$
AFTER $1,000 REBATE
99/
$
15,890
4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.
NEW 2014 SCION XD 2 AVAILABLE: #453014, 453017
$
4 CYL., AUTO
169/mo.**
4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO
NEW 2014 RAV4 4X2 BASE 2 AVAILABLE: #464049, 464050
NEW 2014 CAMRY LE
36 Month Lease
$
2 AVAILABLE: #472091, 472121
$
MO For 4 DR., 24 MOs**4 CYL., AUTO
NEW 2014 CAMRY SE
2 AVAILABLE: #477414, 477421
21,690
AFTER $750 REBATE
2 AVAILABLE: #472008, 472036
0% FOR
HATCHBACK 4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL.,
4 CYL., AUTOMATIC
AFTER $500 REBATE
NEW 2014 PRIUS II
$
21,590
60
DARCARS
MONTHS+
On 10 Toyota Models
See what it’s like to love car buying
$
17,990
DEMO AUTO, 4 CYL., 4 DR
AFTER TOYOTA $1,750 REBATE
1-888-831-9671
15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD ■ OPEN SUNDAY ■ VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.355Toyota.com
G558494
36 $
NEW2 2014 COROLLA LE AVAILABLE: #470335, 470392
2 AVAILABLE: #470041, 470040
PRICES AND PAYMENTS INCLUDE ANY APPLICABLE MANUFACTURE’S REBATES AND EXCLUDE MILITARY ($500) AND COLLEGE GRAD ($500) REBATES, TAX, TAGS, DEALER PROCESSING CHARGE ($200) AND FREIGHT: CARS $795 OR $810, TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND SIENNAS $810, $845 AND $995. *0.9% APR & 0% APR FINANCING UP TO 60 MONTHS TO QUALIFIED BUYERS THRU TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. TOTAL FINANCED CANNOT EXCEED MSRP PLUS OPTIONS, TAX, AND LICENSE FEES. 0% APR 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $16.67 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. 0.9% APR 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $17.05 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. APR OFFERS ARE NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER CASH BACK OR LEASE OFFER. NOT ALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY.**LEASE PAYMENTS BASED ON 36 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES PER YEAR WITH $995 DOWN PLUS $650 ACQUISITION FEE, NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. 2014 COROLLA LE ECO & CAMRY LE LEASES ARE FOR 24 MONTHS. EXPIRES 02/28/2014.
Page B-16
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 z
Advertorial
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