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September/October 2020 | Volume 17 Issue 5

contents

ON THE COVER Meet 13 local medical heroes who are fighting to save lives as the pandemic rages on BY CARALEE ADAMS AND MIKE UNGER

COVER: Photo by Michael Ventura 10

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Dr. Michael Coleman at Sibley Memorial Hospital

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

62 on the front lines

contents

FEATURES 102 From a Distance This past spring, Montgomery County Public Schools scrambled to provide remote learning when the pandemic forced schools to close. With instruction continuing online this fall, many question whether the district can meet the challenge. BY JULIE RASICOT

116 Extraordinary Educators Six local teachers who are making a differenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from sharing life lessons with fifth graders to instilling confidence in high school students who struggle with algebra BY CARALEE ADAMS AND MIKE UNGER

124 college Bound Where Bethesda-area high school graduates applied to college and where they were accepted

P. 102

Twins Samaya and Nate Uecker, rising eighth graders, at home in Kensington

74 Survivor

86 Bethesda Interview

159 Winning Words

As a child, Megan Mendoza faced leukemia, then a relapse and the bouts of depression that came along with it. Pediatric nurses had such an impact on her life that she decided to become one, too.

Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones talks about the impact of George Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death, what he told his own kids about dealing with law enforcement, and one of his proudest moments

The short stories and essays that took the top prizes in our annual writing competition

BY DINA ELBOGHDADY

BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN

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PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

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contents

P. 190

DEPARTMENTS

Solar panels were incorporated into this Bethesda home.

16 | TO OUR READERS

190 | HARNESSING THE SUN

18 | CONTRIBUTORS

Here’s what to consider when deciding if solar energy is right for you

banter

34 | BOOK REPORT New books by local authors, and more

38 | HOMETOWN Amid rising tension surrounding police conduct, Councilmember Will Jawando says he’ll keep standing up for those whose voices aren’t being heard BY STEVE ROBERTS

215

etc.

216 | TABLE TALK What’s happening on the local food scene

221 | DINING GUIDE

P. 216

Noah Dan and his daughter Alisa, who run Pitango Gelato

250 | WEDDINGS

175

home

176 | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS Rattan and cane are not just for the porch anymore

184 | THE REIMAGINED HOME A front porch, multiple offices, an exercise room, touchless faucets, soundproof walls—pandemic life is changing the features and floor plans that local residents want

A Gaithersburg couple who met in elementary school had a farm wedding that included a fig tree planting, a Blues Brothers dance, and the groom doing the worm

254 | PETS Working from home means accepting new officemates—your pets

255 | FLASHBACK Montgomery County plays a starring role in more than 100 films

256 | OUTTAKES

P. 250

AD SECTIONS PROFILES: WOMEN IN BUSINESS 43

BACK TO BUSINESS AD SECTION 96

PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE 135

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

LONG & FOSTER AD SECTION 178

PROFILES: ASK THE HOME EXPERTS 203

PROFILES: SENIOR SERVICES 236

TOP PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA; MIDDLE PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX; BOTTOM PHOTO BY HANNAH MALLOY

196 | HOME SALES BY THE NUMBERS

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FRONTLINE HEROES THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IS so small it isn’t visible with the standard light microscopes we all used in high school and college biology classes. Scientists have to employ sophisticated electron microscopes to view the virus and to produce the striking images we’ve all seen hundreds of times since the pandemic began. The courageous doctors, nurses and hospital workers toiling in local emergency rooms and COVID-19 units are also invisible to us and, because they are swathed in PPE, barely visible to the patients they are treating. In this issue we profile 13 medical professionals and other workers from the following hospitals: Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, Holy Cross in Silver Spring and Germantown, MedStar Montgomery in Olney, Sibley in Upper Northwest D.C., and Suburban in Bethesda. Writer Mike Unger, who authored eight of the profiles, says he was struck by how “calm” the medical professionals were talking about their experiences on the front lines of the pandemic. “I think we all forget the intensity and trauma their jobs had before COVID,” Unger says. “The sense I got was that this was a new situation, but they were equipped to deal with it.” Unger adds: “I think they all would have chuckled at being called ‘heroes.’ ” Tom Brokaw once said, “Heroes are people who rise to the occasion and slip quietly away.” That description fits the medical professionals we profiled—and the scores in the county that we didn’t—perfectly. Our story begins on page 62. MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS A diverse place. In fact, according to Niche.com, it’s the 27th most diverse county out of more than 3,000 nationwide. The county also boasts four of the 10 most culturally diverse cities in the country, according to WalletHub. They are Gaithersburg (No. 2), Germantown (No. 3), Silver Spring (No. 5) and Rockville (No. 7). It will take the rest of the country until 2049 to become as diverse as Montgomery County is today, according to a calculator on nytimes.com. And by that time, Montgomery will

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

be even more diverse: Today, the county is 57% non-white; by 2049, that number will be at least 75%, according to county government projections. In our coverage, Bethesda Magazine has always strived to reflect the diversity of the county. But the Black Lives Matter movement has made us realize there’s much more we can and should be doing. In this and future issues, you will see increased coverage of Black, Latino and other minority residents, and of the systemic challenges they face. In this issue, the Bethesda Interview is with Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones, who, as the Black leader of one of the country’s largest police forces, has a unique perspective on the BLM movement and on efforts to reform police departments in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. Our interview with Chief Jones starts on page 86. Also in this issue, Steve Roberts’ “Hometown” column is on County Councilmember Will Jawando, only the second Black person elected to an at-large council seat. Hometown begins on page 38.

WHEN MY WIFE, SUSAN, and I started our company 16 years ago, we were fortunate to be introduced to Doug White, an accountant in Rockville. I had never started or owned a business before, and Doug guided us every step of the way. He was our trusted advisor as well as our friend. I was drawn to Doug’s passion for living. He and his wife, Linda, traveled the world, frequently for weeks at a time. Once, when I had a pressing matter to discuss with him, I reached him in a remote Cambodian village. In June, Doug suffered a heart attack and died several weeks later. It’s hard for me to grasp that someone who was so full of life is no longer with us. We both miss him personally and professionally—and will for a long time to come.

STEVE HULL Editor & Publisher

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LISA HELFERT

DANA GERBER

LIVES IN: Silver Spring

LIVES IN: Rockville

IN THIS ISSUE: Photographed nurse Megan Mendoza for “Survivor.” “Megan, her daughter and husband were a breath of fresh air to meet during the quarantine— fun, warm and open.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Wrote about a Gaithersburg couple’s farm wedding, and about how pets are making cameos on office Zoom calls. “It was really surprising that most of these people seemed embarrassed or frustrated by their pets’ antics; I don’t have a pet, so when one shows up on a Zoom call, I’m thrilled.” She also compiled the data for “College Bound.”

WHAT SHE DOES: Freelance photographer for commercial and editorial clients. HOW SHE GOT HER START: “In high school, I met and then was mentored by the photography teacher at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. I was super shy, and photography allowed me to interact and begin talking with people.” FAVORITE GIG: “Photographing an archaeology dig in the mountains outside of Petra, Jordan. Walking through 115-degree heat was easy because the mountains and desert are absolutely beautiful.” CURRENT PROJECT: As a volunteer with Montgomery Housing Partnership, she is photographing business owners in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring to encourage support for their endeavors.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

WHAT SHE DOES: An editorial intern at Bethesda Magazine, she attends Emerson College, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in writing, literature and publishing. She is also a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan, Boston magazine and other publications, and a freelance book editor. DREAM VACATION: “I’ve always wanted to do a crazy road trip of the United States, visiting obscure museums, meeting kooky locals, the works. It would end in Bend, Oregon, where stands the last Blockbuster Video on the planet. I would rent Clueless.” FAVORITE PET: She’s partial to corgis, but would settle for any small dog. “I just want to feel tall.”

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EDITORIAL EDITOR

Steve Hull SENIOR EDITOR

Cindy Rich ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kathleen Seiler Neary ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Fischer DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Laura F. Goode DESIGNER

Kari Mason BETHESDA BEAT MANAGING EDITOR

Andrew Schotz BETHESDA BEAT REPORTERS

Briana Adhikusuma, Caitlynn Peetz, Dan Schere WEB PRODUCER

Erin Roby RESTAURANT CRITIC

David Hagedorn CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Eugene L. Meyer, Louis Peck, Carole Sugarman COPY EDITORS

Elisabeth Herschbach, Steve Wilder EDITORIAL INTERN

Dana Gerber CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caralee Adams, Jennifer Barger, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Amanda Cherrin, Deborah K. Dietsch, Dina ElBoghdady, Margaret Engel, Michael S. Gerber, Steve Goldstein, Melanie D.G. Kaplan, Rachael Keeney, Christine Koubek, Laurie McClellan, Melanie Padgett Powers, Amy Reinink, Steve Roberts, Charlotte Safavi, Mike Unger, Mark Walston, Carolyn Weber, Adrienne Wichard-Edds PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

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Edgar Artiga, Skip Brown, Ellen Byrne, Goodloe Byron, Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Lisa Helfert, Alice Kresse, Deb Lindsey, Liz Lynch, Violetta Markelou, Lindsey Max, Louis Tinsley, Joseph Tran, Michael Ventura

Bethesda Magazine is published six times a year by Kohanza Media Ventures, LLC. © 2009-2020 Letters to the editor: Please send letters (with your name, the town you live in and your daytime phone number) to letters@bethesdamagazine.com. Story ideas: Please send ideas for stories to editorial@bethesdamagazine.com. Bethesda Magazine 7768 Woodmont Ave., #204, Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: 301-718-7787/ Fax: 301-718-1875 BethesdaMagazine.com

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people. politics. current events. books.

banter

Samy Kobrosly (right), shown with sharks Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban, pitched his Rockville-based company Snacklins on Shark Tank last year.

PITCH PERFECT? COURTESY PHOTO

How four local businesses fared on ABC’s Shark Tank BY LEIGH MCDONALD

For more than a decade, America’s entrepreneurs have been pitching their businesses to a formidable cast of investors on ABC’s Shark Tank. After giving a short presentation, business owners ask for a monetary investment in exchange for an equity stake in the company. The pitches on the show lead to real deals—if the investors (the sharks) choose to bite. Here’s what happened when four local businesses gave it a shot.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

banter

SNACKLINS

SOUPERGIRL

Soupergirl’s Sara Polon walked into the tank with her mother, who is also the company’s co-founder, by her side. “I could not have done it without my mom,” Polon says. The episode, which aired in October 2018, is a reminder for Polon of the grueling time spent pitching 26

Soupergirl co-founders Sara Polon (right) and her mother, Marilyn, asked the sharks for $500,000 in exchange for 10% of the business.

and fielding questions about their certified kosher, plant-based soup business. The 43-year-old Polon, a former comedian who grew up in Rockville, graduated from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, and now lives in D.C.’s Cleveland Park, was inspired to start a soup business after reading Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. She recruited her mother, Marilyn Polon, a home cook who lives in Rockville, to start Soupergirl in 2008. Their line of soups includes Split Pea Rosemary and Mediterranean Red Lentil and is sold at their retail location in D.C.’s Takoma neighborhood, grocery stores in Maryland and other states, and online. The Polons asked the sharks for $500,000 in exchange for 10% of the business—a valuation that shocked the investors. And while the sharks complimented the soup—Sara says most of that footage ended up on the cutting room floor—much of the segment focused on the Soupergirl founders defending their valuation. In a heated moment, Cuban said, “Sara, you’re literally at risk of going out of business.” The mother-daughter duo walked out without a deal. After filming, shark Matt Higgins, who co-founded private investment firm RSE Ventures and has invested in restaurant companies Momofuku and &pizza, reached out to Soupergirl. Sara says he told her that he regretted what

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

happened during filming. Higgins began mentoring the Polons and put them in touch with other business owners and marketing firms. “I nicknamed him Mr. Mensch,” Sara says. “He’s a good soul.”

CERTIFIKID

Potomac-based CertifiKID had already been in business for nearly a decade and had done $30 million in sales when it pitched its family-friendly deals and discounts website. “We didn’t need the deal,” CEO Jamie Ratner, 43, says. That’s partly what gave Jamie’s husband, Brian, the president of CertifiKID, the confidence to spar with the indomitable O’Leary over the terms of his offer. “No one really ever pushes him,” Brian, 46, says. “I think he was enjoying the banter.” The wife and husband team asked for a $600,000 investment in exchange for an 8% stake in their company, valuing the business at nearly $5 million, to which shark Daymond John first responded, “Oh, this is uncomfortable.” But after hearing about CertifiKID’s financial success, the FUBU apparel company cofounder was one of three sharks to offer the Ratners a deal. When real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran made an offer contingent upon Jamie and Brian turning CertifiKID, which was founded in 2010, into a franchise, Brian laughed out loud. “It was nervous laughter,” he says. Luckily,

COURTESY PHOTO

Snacklins co-founder Samy Kobrosly had done his homework and felt prepared to pitch his vegan pork rinds on an October 2019 episode of Shark Tank. “I studied it like it was a test,” he says. “I had notes. I had flash cards.” But when he walked onto the set, also known as the “tank,” he froze. “That wasn’t edited,” Kobrosly says. “I actually froze.” After an awkward pause, Kobrosly, who lives in D.C.’s Tenleytown and started his Rockville company in 2016, began again and impressed the investors with knowledge of his company’s finances, and with his humor. “I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t spend awhile working on my, ‘I’m a Muslim from Iowa who invented a vegan pork rind,’ ” he says. Even investor Kevin O’Leary—who co-founded a software technology company in the ’80s and now runs an investment firm and is sarcastically nicknamed Mr. Wonderful for his tough criticisms and ruthless deals— cracked up. The sharks liked the taste of Kobrosly’s product, made from fresh mushrooms, onion and yuca. Shark Mark Cuban, who owns the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, made a deal with Kobrosly: a $250,000 investment for a 5% stake plus 5% in advisory shares. Kobrosly, 34, who is still the majority shareholder, says he’s been pleasantly surprised by how closely he works with Cuban, and that the billionaire entrepreneur personally checks in with Snacklins every week. When the coronavirus pandemic hit earlier this year, Cuban was there to help. “He had multiple employees that we could literally call any time of the day,” Kobrosly says.

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Brian and Jamie Ratner of CertifiKID with shark Kevin O’Leary during an appearance on The View in April 2019

Sworkit’s Ben Young (left) and Greg Coleman pitched their exercise app.

the tense exchange didn’t make the episode, which aired in April 2019. “I was very worried that they were going to show me laughing in her face, which really was not what I meant to do.” O’Leary offered $600,000 for a 20% equity stake, with the contingency that he’d get a three times return on his investment if he exited the company. After 28

a relentless back and forth, O’Leary, impressed with Brian’s negotiation skills, proclaimed, “I love you.” The shark agreed to drop the return-on-investment contingency and lower his stake to 19%. The Ratners accepted the offer, and the partnership has been smoother sailing ever since. “Now that we know [O’Leary], he’s a very nice guy,” Jamie says.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

When Greg Coleman and Ben Young were in business school together, they struggled to find time to work out. A former personal trainer, Coleman thought, “If we’re having this problem as fit people, my gosh, it must be really hard for other people who are not used to making fitness a part of their lifestyle.” Coleman, 47, who lives in Kensington, and Young, 44, who lives in Washington, D.C., created the Sworkit app in 2012 with workouts and tutorials to make fitness more accessible. Their business is based in Bethesda. When Young, Sworkit’s chief innovation officer, suggested they apply for Shark Tank, Coleman wasn’t sold on the idea. “We ended up putting in the application and not really thinking a whole lot of it,” Coleman says. The Sworkit cofounders advanced through the audition process and were set up with a producer. “They help you get your one-minute spiel together,” Coleman says. Coleman, who is the CEO of Sworkit, remembers the moments before entering the tank. “You’re just standing in silence by the doors, waiting…to walk into a quiet room in front of these five people you see on TV every week.” The Wharton School graduates impressed the sharks with their pitch, agreeing to give Cuban 10% of the company, plus $1.5 million worth of unsold ad inventory, for his $1.5 million investment. But after the taping, the deal dissolved. “When you go onto the show, what you see is the initial meeting, an initial handshake. Then there’s an entire investment process,” Coleman says. “There were just a couple of points that we just didn’t see eye to eye on.” Though the deal went bust, Coleman says the publicity was worth it. The episode premiered in February 2016, but Coleman says his team still sees bumps in the numbers from reruns. “I kind of affectionately call it the gift that keeps on giving.” ■

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THE FIXER As director of U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin’s district office, Kathleen Connor recently found herself helping worried parents whose kids were stuck overseas BY MIKE UNGER

KATHLEEN CONNOR REMEMBERS vividly when she realized the severity of the coronavirus outbreak. It was March 5, and she had just picked up her daughter, Elizabeth, who was returning home from Wake Forest University for spring break, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. “In the car, WTOP announced that Montgomery County had its first case,” recalls Connor, the director of U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin’s district office in Rockville. “I literally called the congressman from the car and then called the county health officer. I set up a phone call that night at probably 9 p.m. between Jamie and Dr. [Travis] Gayles.” The steady drumbeat of phone calls Connor and her staff of six fielded before the pandemic, often from people annoyed about a missing Social Security check or frustrated by an issue with the

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

IRS, quickly turned into an unrelenting barrage of conversations with individuals who were downright scared and didn’t know where else to turn. Can you help me get my child back to America from overseas? Where can I get tested for the virus? How can I obtain a mask? Connor’s job, which is typically busier than a 9-to-5 one, transformed into a seven-days-a-week test of physical endurance and mental stamina. The oldest of her three children, William, likes to guess what percentage of a postdinner TV show she’ll make it through before dozing off in the family room of their Takoma Park home. The exhaustion is understandable: By late April, the office had opened more than 650 “cases” with the federal and county governments—each question or request that’s received is a case—compared with 250 for the same six-week period in 2019.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Kathleen Connor at home in Takoma Park

“She models the attitude that no job is too big for us to go after, and no job is too small for us to spend our time on,” says Raskin, a Democrat elected to the District 8 seat in 2016. “Kathleen has always had a zealous personal work ethic. She’s turned her home basically into our new district office. She continues to go into the office in the evenings. Sometimes she will be in the office at 9 or 10 p.m. talking to an angst-ridden resident of a nursing home or Leisure World who need someone to talk to. Everybody’s phone calls are being answered within a couple of hours, which is astounding to my colleagues in the House, that we have that kind of response.” Connor’s role essentially is to help constituents navigate the byzantine maze of the federal government. She came to Washington, D.C., in 1985 as a presidential management fellow with the Treasury Department, and then worked for the Federal Reserve. In 2000, she left the workforce to raise her three kids and volunteer at the Manna Food Center and other organizations. When her middle child, Jack, now 24, was a kindergartner, he befriended Raskin’s son, Tommy, at school. That was the start of a friendship between the two families that strengthened when Connor volunteered for Raskin’s congressional campaign. She officially started her current job when he took office in January 2017. “I know it sounds hokey, but I love who Jamie is and what he stands for,” says Connor, 58. “When I’m out in the community with him, he’s as interested in a second grader as the elderly. He doesn’t care if a person is high-powered or has a lot of money; he really cares about everybody and making their life better.” In the early days of the pandemic, Susan Ingram knew she had a problem. The president of Gaithersburg-based Community Support Services desperately needed personal protective equipment for employees at the facilities

TAX ALERT—THE SECURE RETIREMENT ACT Legislation signed by President Trump in 2019 (the SECURE ACT) substantially impacted most inherited qualified retirement accounts. IRA’s, 401(k)’s 403(b)’s and TSP’s have all been affected by these changes. While the age for required minimum distributions (RMD’s) has increased from 70½ to 72, the government has accelerated most distributions to non-spousal beneficiaries, requiring full distribution within a ten (10) year period, when those distributions occur in 2020 or later. Non-spousal beneficiaries are permitted to defer distributions until age 18. This legislation was intended to raise revenues for the federal government—by forcing the early distribution from inherited retirement accounts, non-spousal beneficiaries have lost decades of deferral income and growth opportunities, and the IRS will now collect billions of dollars in additional taxes, at potentially higher rates than previously paid. The impact cannot be understated on estate plans—these forced and accelerated distributions of your retirement accounts may substantially increase the taxes paid on your estate and reduce the value of these assets to your beneficiaries. Estate Plans should be reconsidered to incorporate these changes—Retirement Plan Trusts now exist which may permit the extension of distributions for as many as fortyeight (48) years for non-spousal beneficiaries, depending upon their age at the time the trusts are funded. Some variants on these trusts also permit significant opportunities for gifting to charities. Unfortunately, planning which does not contemplate both the changes and the opportunities may thwart your well-intentioned plans.

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the nonprofit runs for people with developmental disabilities. “We have some very vulnerable children who have suppressed immune systems,” she says. “We got our first positive case and were terrified. We didn’t have equipment for staff, and they didn’t want to work if they weren’t protected, of course. I reached out to Kathleen and she made some magical connections. She’s not only very caring but also efficient. She put us in touch with an organization called Masks for America, who were making a run down from New York. We got 500 masks that allowed us to be around COVID-positive people safely. What she did for us could well have saved lives.” During the past several months, the calls received by Connor and her colleagues have become more personal. “For the first time, I cried with a constituent on the phone,” she says. “A mom who was trying to get her son home from Peru. She thought he was on a flight and he was not. He was 24, and I have a 24-year-old son, also. She really questioned whether he was going to get home. It had been a long day, so we cried together. I’m happy to say he did get home and she sent me a picture of him.” When Pam Stone contacted Connor, she didn’t know if her daughter Adina Rombro, a student at Barnard College just beginning a semester abroad in Peru, would make it back to Silver Spring. The South American country had halted commercial flights in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. Connor and Raskin made daily calls to the State Department until they were able to get Rombro (and other District 8 constituents) a seat on a charter flight home. “[Kathleen] was so polite and professional and all the things you could hope for,” Stone says. “She was also warm and reassuring, and made me really feel like I had a real connection in my congressman’s office. A real-life human being really paying attention to my situation.” n

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BOOK REPORT

Garrett Park’s Lawrence Roberts says there are lessons to be learned from his book, Mayday 1971: A White House at War, a Revolt in the Streets, and the Untold History of America’s Biggest Mass Arrest (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July 2020), which examines the arrest of 12,000 anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C., in 1971. “There were questions at the time whether the anti-war movement had an effect on government policy, and it’s clear from an historical perspective it had a major effect,” says Roberts, a journalist who worked for The Washington Post and ProPublica. “I hope people read this book and understand this is not the first time we felt the country was being ripped apart by division…Democratic institutions are very resilient.” 34

Fred Bowen says one of the challenges of writing a kids book about the history of professional football was narrowing down what to include. The Silver Spring author divided his book, Gridiron: Stories from 100 Years of the National Football League (Margaret K. McElderry Books, July 2020), into quarters, covering the league 25 years at a time. He touches on everything from writing the rules of the game to the impact of World War II on players, the integration of the NFL, and the recent controversy about concussions. “Sport history is a wonderful way to get kids interested in history,” Bowen says. “They suddenly realize, ‘Things were not always the way I see them now,’ and once they understand that, it helps to explain why things are the way they are now.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation (Alfred A. Knopf, September 2020) examines the lives of iconic men who created the broadest alliance in opposition to white encroachment on Native American land in the early 1800s, according to author Peter Cozzens. “They were two of the most influential brothers in American history,” Cozzens says of Tecumseh, a political and military leader, and Tenskwatawa, a religious prophet. “Their movement and ultimate defeat really shaped the subsequent events west of the Mississippi and the conquest of the American West.” In his research, the Kensington author says he was surprised to discover how close the men were to achieving a Native American homeland in the Upper Midwest.

Melanie ChoukasBradley wrote a book in three weeks for a series that focused on the practical, emotional and psychological skills people need to survive the global pandemic. The Chevy Chase environmental enthusiast shared ideas on integrating mindfulness into nature walks, becoming a backyard naturalist, and engaging in activities with kids outdoors in her 92-page book Resilience: Connecting with Nature in a Time of Crisis (Changemakers Books, May 2020). “Now that life is closed down and the normal forms of entertainment and distraction aren’t there, people are staying close to home,” she says. “People are noticing the trees leafing out on their streets and the birds nesting in their backyards.”

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READING LIST

DATA PROVIDED BY

The top-selling books in our area. Data is based on books sold at Politics and Prose’s Connecticut Avenue location in Upper Northwest D.C. and online from July 2 to 15, 2020.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, Robin DiAngelo

A Burning, Megha Majumdar

The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead

Friends and Strangers, J. Courtney Sullivan

Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Ibram X. Kendi

Death in Her Hands, Ottessa Moshfegh

So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo

Make Russia Great Again, Christopher Buckley

The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin

Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld

The Overstory, Richard Powers

All Adults Here, Emma Straub

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander

Normal People, Sally Rooney

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, Isabel Wilkerson

Love, Roddy Doyle

The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett

10. Sex and Vanity, Kevin Kwan

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

10. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, Richard Rothstein

How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi

Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work For You, Capricia Penavic Marshall

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man, Mary L. Trump

The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, John Bolton

Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, Meena Harris

Black Brother, Black Brother, Jewell Parker Rhodes

Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, Jill Biden

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi

CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT

America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, Robert B. Zoellick

Tortall: A Spy’s Guide, Tamora Pierce

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, Erik Larson

Antiracist Baby, Ibram X. Kendi

Say It Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy, Tiffany D. Cross

Starsight (Skyward Series, No. 2), Brandon Sanderson

Grandma’s Gardens, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton

The Damned (The Beautiful Series, No. 2), Renée Ahdieh

8. 9.

Surviving Autocracy, Masha Gessen

10. Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

PAPERBACK

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10. Agnes at the End of the World, Kelly McWilliams

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banter | HOMETOWN

BY STEVE ROBERTS

‘THESE TACTICS MUST STOP’ Amid rising tension surrounding police conduct, Councilmember Will Jawando says he’ll keep standing up for those whose voices aren’t being heard 38

IN JUNE, AS demonstrations against police brutality swept the country, a speaker addressed a crowd of several hundred during a protest at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. “My name is Will Jawando,” he said. “I’m an at-large councilmember here in Montgomery County. And I’m a distressed Black man.” A few weeks later, I asked Jawando to explain that striking statement. He was distressed, he said, because much of America didn’t know that police misconduct was such a significant problem until they saw the “brutal” killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis patrolman. “You cannot think the person is human to put your knee on someone’s

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds,” Jawando continued. “You don’t do that unless it’s ingrained in the culture that that person’s life is less valuable, and you have the authority to take it. I think a lot of people woke up, but for me and for Black people in this country, that brutality is something we’ve lived with daily.” Those encounters with discrimination did not end with his election to the county council in 2018. Last year, he was “pulled over for the umpteenth time in my life” by a Maryland state trooper who claimed Jawando had failed to obey a stop sign. The politician accused the trooper of a “classic” maneuver, stopping a Black man driving an expensive car for a minor traffic violation as a pretext for

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

caption

banter | HOMETOWN investigating his background and perhaps unearthing other crimes. “These stops are used disproportionately against African Americans and people of color and are ripe for racial profiling,” Jawando stated. “These tactics must stop.” Jawando’s outspoken stance earned him a stream of hate mail as a “race baiter” from police supporters, but he remains undeterred. “I see my role as helping to raise issues that haven’t necessarily been raised, and fighting for people whose voices have been underrepresented and not heard,” he tells me. Now 37, Jawando describes his family as a “quintessentially American story.” His father fled civil war in Nigeria in 1970, emigrated to Kansas and met his mother, who is white, when they attended the same college. The young couple moved east several years later to the Long Branch section of Silver Spring, a working-class

community heavily populated by immigrants that seemed welcoming to an interracial family. But after his parents divorced when he was 6, Will and his mother moved into a decrepit one-room apartment, and, as he recalls, “There were nights when I was scared to use the bathroom because there were so many mice and roaches and things on the floor I didn’t want to get out of bed.” His mother worked as a graphic designer in downtown Silver Spring, and glistening new construction projects like City Place Mall impacted young Will. “I was wondering why my apartment was so crappy, and they were building this really nice thing down the street,” he recalls. “It just seemed wrong to me.” When he was in fourth grade, Will would occasionally walk to his mother’s workplace after school. One day his backpack brushed against an elderly

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white woman who yelled, “Get out of my way” and called him “the n-word.” He was taken aback because the woman looked a lot like his own grandmother, “but it was kind of the first time where I realized, wow, she really doesn’t like me just for who I am, and what I look like.” A scholarship enabled Jawando to attend St. John’s College High School, where he starred on the basketball team and escaped the troubles and temptations that trapped many young Black men. His closest childhood friend got involved with drugs and was eventually killed. Jawando says that trauma set him on a journey to dismantle the systemic barriers he feels led to his friend’s death—racism, poverty, a lack of options and opportunity. He chokes up when he tells me, “That was a key moment for me. I think of it every day.” Basketball was his ticket to college at

Dr. Collins: Don’t Forsake Us Dear Dr. Collins, On behalf of LAMBS, the Christian outreach division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, we congratulate you on receiving the 2020 Templeton Prize for your work integrating science and faith. I’d like to suggest a simple way for you to continue that work while honoring God’s plan for the world and Christ’s compassion: end some of the most cruel and unnecessary laboratory experiments conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Christian theology has long recognized our God-granted dominion over the Earth not as authorization to exploit other sentient beings but as a sacred duty to be loving stewards of His creation. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:40, “As you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me.” We were created in God’s loving image (Genesis 1:27; 1 John 4:8), and thus, we’re called to show love to the world and all His creatures. Surely, Jesus considered our treatment of animals when He said, “Blessed are the merciful” (Matthew 5:7). Neither Scripture nor the movement of the Holy Spirit in our hearts supports tormenting and killing millions of animals every year. Yet NIH funnels billions of dollars every year into experiments that do just that. Among these experiments are those of Elisabeth Murray, who injects toxins into the brains of monkeys, isolates them in an inescapable metal box, and terrifies them with lifelike rubber snakes and spiders. In three decades of these experiments, she has received tens of millions

of dollars from NIH and killed likely hundreds of monkeys—yet no treatments for humans have resulted from this waste and cruelty. NIH itself acknowledges that tests on animals are limited in their effectiveness. According to the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, drugs that appear effective in tests on animals fail in human studies 95% of the time. Jesus calls us to comfort the suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3–4), but experiments on animals do not decrease suffering in God’s kingdom—they perpetuate it. The Bible imparts a reverence for life, and the living, loving God must be appalled by the way His creatures are treated. Jesus taught us to extend love and compassion to those who are weak, vulnerable, and different from us, and St. Francis encouraged us to see humans as but one of God’s many creations, all of whom are blessed in His eyes. We ask you, as a man of faith and the Templeton Prize recipient, to consider how what is happening to the monkeys in Dr. Murray’s laboratory does not reflect Christian values. Please, will you heed the call to “[b]e merciful” (Luke 6:36) and end these experiments? Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours in Christ,

Daniel Paden Vice President

banter | HOMETOWN Catholic University, then a largely white school located in the historic Black community of Brookland in Northeast Washington. Will befriended the support staff—gardeners, janitors, food service workers—who came from the surrounding neighborhood, “and they started complaining to me over time about working conditions and pay and a whole bunch of things.” He decided to form a campus chapter of the NAACP, “so we could help the workers.” The university refused, which led to a summer of demonstrations that attracted national publicity. Jawando, then a 21-year-old senior, was widely quoted as the protest leader, and by fall the university had backed down and an activist had been born. Life speeded up for the young man from Long Branch: law school at Catholic, a job on Capitol Hill, marriage to

another law student, Michele, and the start of a family that today includes three daughters and an infant son. Jawando was fascinated by a new senator from Illinois named Barack Obama, whose life story closely resembled his own: Black father from Africa, white mother from Kansas, wife with the same name who was also an attorney. On lunch breaks, he would walk across the capitol and deposit a resume at Obama’s office. “I did that every week for at least four or five months,” he says, until the senator finally hired him. When Obama introduced his new aide at a staff meeting, he jokingly called him “my long-lost brother.” Will worked for Obama’s presidential campaign, then joined the administration, where he regularly played basketball with the hoop-loving president, before returning to Silver Spring and starting a political career. It did not go well—he

lost races for both the state legislature and Congress—but when four members of the county council were forced to retire because of term limits, Will seized the opening and became only the second Black candidate to win an at-large seat (the first was Ike Leggett, who went on to serve 12 years as county executive). Today, Montgomery County is only 43% non-Hispanic white, and 20% of its residents are Black. One-third are foreign-born. The Black Lives Matter movement has created a moment made for a political leader who embodies that diversity, and Jawando says, “I feel like I’m at the exact right place where I’m supposed to be at the exact right time.” ■ Steve Roberts teaches journalism and politics at George Washington University. Send him ideas for future columns at sroberts@gwu.edu.

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"An engaged client is an empowered client, so we engage ours every step of the way." Rockville Office 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 975 Rockville, MD 20850 240-399-7900 www.jgllaw.com

TONY J. LEWIS

From Left: Megan Benevento, Sarah Chu, Anne Grover (Partner), Allison McFadden, Veronica Nannis (Partner), Lindsay Parvis (Partner), Alyse Prawde, Erika Jacobsen White, Rama Taib-Lopez. Not shown: Maritza Carmona, Debora Fajer-Smith, Barbara Jorgenson

Q: How have you mentored or inspired others who are following in your footsteps? A: We are a collaborative team for each other and our clients. Through mutual mentoring, we seek customized solutions for the unique needs of each client. When clients’ needs change, we draw upon our team’s diverse practice areas and experience to meet those needs. We promote each other’s professional growth by seeking out clients whose issues inspire our passion for justice. We celebrate each other because the success of one is the success of all, our clients included. Q: Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you? A: We strive to be more than just legal advisors to our clients. Representing clients is about building relationships. Clients need to be heard. We listen. Every client deserves, and we value and provide, individualized representation. This calls for us to dedicate and commit our time and resources to customized advice and tailored strategy based upon sound logic, the law, our knowledge and experience. An engaged client is an empowered client, so we engage ours every step of the way. And, we take the time to educate our clients to be informed participants and decisionmakers. As zealous advocates, JGL believes no one should have to face life’s legal challenges alone. Lasting client relationships are the result. We are a passionate and forward-thinking team of lawyers who truly value the opportunity to provide the best representation for our clients.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 45

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SHELLY D. MCKEON, ESQ., FOUNDER JESSICA S. KERN, ESQ.

The McKeon Law Firm offers a personal approach and customized solutions for all family law matters. Shelly D. McKeon has been recognized as a top lawyer by Washingtonian and has been included in Maryland Super Lawyers. The McKeon Law Firm also holds the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating. 17B Firstfield Road, Suite 101 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700-71 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-417-9222 | www.mckeonlawfirm.com 46

Q: What qualities do you think a

successful law firm should have? A: Shelly D. McKeon: I strongly believe in creating a workplace that is conducive to teamwork, cooperation and growth. My associate, Jessica Kern, and I have worked together for more than a decade, and my support staff has also been with me for years. This continuity helps clients feel more comfortable and has contributed to my firm’s success both at the settlement table and in court. We represent our clients through divorce, alimony, custody, child support and other family-related matters. Our all-woman team offers guidance and understanding to clients who are typically navigating one of the most difficult times of their lives. When clients retain us, they are retaining the entire firm, not just one attorney. I believe this sets us apart.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Q: What’s the most important lesson

you’ve learned during your career?

A: Jessica S. Kern: Never stop learning—

there’s always new information to absorb. Whether it’s a change in the statute, new technological advances, or a new way to present exhibits and evidence, there is always something new and fresh out there. I enjoy analyzing new developments in case law and determining how they can impact our practice. Q: What was a major turning point in your career? A: Shelly D. McKeon: Starting my own firm in 2003. I knew starting my own practice would afford me the autonomy within my cases and business to provide clients with efficient and well-rounded representation. Many of our clients are referrals, which I consider one of my firm’s greatest achievements.

TONY J. LEWIS

The McKeon Law Firm

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Mimi Brodsky Kress CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, LLC

Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the area. An integrated, full-service team with 40 years of experience in bringing our client’s vision to life. Our vast portfolio of well-built homes make a lasting impression, proven by myriad awards including Best of Bethesda every year since its inception. 4705 West Virginia Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 www.sandyspringbuilders.com

Q: What was a major turning point in your life? A: After graduating college, I had no clear career

path. A simple question from my dad, a semi-retired homebuilder, opened the door to my future. He asked if I wanted to apprentice with a local builder and see how I liked it. I worked in the field for a year learning all about homebuilding, from the ground up, then worked for another builder. In the early 1980’s I built several warehouse projects with my late brother. And for the past 30 years I’ve been building stunning custom homes with my business partner, Phil Leibovitz.

MICHAEL KRESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Q: What’s the most important lesson learned during your career? A: I’ve worked in a traditionally male-dominated industry for the past 40 years. Early on, I felt the need to prove myself with the guys out in the field. I learned quickly that if I knew what I was talking about, they would listen and respect me. And if I didn’t know something, it was okay to ask questions. We tell everyone on our team, there are no stupid questions. Q: What do you love most about doing business in this area? A: Community service is important at Sandy Spring Builders, and our area provides opportunities to give back locally. Many in our community cannot afford our homes, so volunteering with affordable housing and homelessness organizations is important to me. And I love the pride I feel seeing our beautiful homes, and knowing we have happy clients who often become our friends.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 47

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Andy Alderdice LONG & FOSTER

Long & Foster | CHRISTIE’S International Real Estate 4701 Sangamore Road, LL1 Bethesda, MD 20816 301-466-5898 andy4homes@gmail.com andy4homes.com

Q: How do you measure success? A: I always measure success through

my clients’ eyes. To me, success is the excitement in my buyer’s eyes when we find their perfect home. Or the look of satisfaction on my seller’s face when we reach the settlement table. Success is always the end result when you truly listen to your clients, make it your goal to fully understand their wants and needs, and then deliver more than they expected. I never waver in my determination to exceed my clients’ expectations. I’m only successful if my clients are happy.

Q: What are your top priorities? A: I’ve always made it my top priority to

recognize and value the trust my clients have placed in me with one of the largest— if not the largest—purchase they will ever make. I hold myself accountable to deliver the utmost value to make a difference in their lives, hence my motto: Integrity. Experience. Commitment. Local.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Q: What do you love most about doing business in this area? A: My family has been in the Washington area for six generations, and I’ve been a real estate professional here for nearly 30 years. My clients, therefore, benefit from the deep local knowledge, experience and strong community connections I’ve gained from being raised in area neighborhoods. I’ve also loved being part of the transition the Washington, D.C. metro area has experienced over the last few decades. As the landscape continues to change, so does real estate. With the only constant in this area being change, working with buyers and sellers never becomes stagnant.

From Left: ANDY ALDERDICE JESSICA ALDERDICE

HILLARY SCHWAB

#1 Agent Long & Foster All Points Office; Washingtonian Top Agent; Christie’s International Luxury Alliance Top 1% Nationally; A Top Vote Getter “Best Real Estate Agent” Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll, Bethesda Magazine, 2019; Top Producer, Bethesda Magazine,2019 & 2020; Potomac Chamber of Commerce, Business Person of the Year

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

JDKatz, P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

"Our clients benefit from an inclusive and diverse work environment because Q: Why select JDKatz? A: The firm has built a team of leaders they are able to find attorneys with in trust and estate planning, civil and whom they have a common ground or commercial litigation, tax law and shared interest." business law to help clients navigate the

LISA HELFERT

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-2948 www.jdkatz.com www.linkedin.com/company/jdkatz/

From Left: ELIZABETH J. MCINTURFF, PARTNER KATELYN E. HOLBROOK, ASSOCIATE ISABELLA C. DEMOUGEOT, SENIOR ASSOCIATE CAILIN J. TALBERT, SENIOR ASSOCIATE

complexities of the legal system. Our attorneys collaborate across practice areas to tailor and focus their approach to each specific matter and clients’ individual needs. Highly regarded and respected in the Maryland and Washington, DC legal communities for success—both in and out of the courtroom—our attorneys provide passionate advocacy rooted in sound legal advice and experience. To educate our clients about new developments in the legal arena, we maintain a blog on our firm website with a variety of posts on relevant and pertinent legal issues.

Q: How does diversity aid JDKatz clients? A: We believe that a diverse workforce is an innovative workforce. Over the past 20 years, JDKatz has grown to boast a diverse force of attorneys specializing in multiple practice areas and has one of the few female-led litigation departments in Montgomery County. Our attorneys believe in paying it back to the community and are leaders and mentors in local Bar Associations. Our clients benefit from an inclusive and diverse work environment because they are able to find attorneys with whom they have a common ground or shared interest. This connection helps the clients feel empowered, confident and informed throughout every step in the process to resolve their matter.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 49

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Negaar Sagafi, DMD BETHESDA ORTHODONTICS BY POSHORTHO

4833 Bethesda Ave., Suite 202 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-0600 www.bethesdaorthodontics.com Spring Valley Orthodontics 4910 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 319 Washington, DC 20016 202-244-3600 www.springvalleyorthodontics.com 50

Q: What woman inspires you and why? A: My mom has been an incredible role

model. A retired pediatric dentist with whom I was fortunate enough to work, she was a trailblazer in her profession. While completing her specialty training in the early 1970s, she was one of just four women in the entire Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Then, after our family moved to the United States from Iran, she went back to Boston University for her D.M.D. in her mid-50s—despite already holding a fouryear degree from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Dentistry— so she could practice dentistry in this country. She had a clear vision and was fearless in going after it.

Q: Why do you do what you do? A: Being an orthodontist affords me the

opportunity to positively impact people’s lives. It’s rewarding to give someone a smile they can wear proudly. I also enjoy

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

the blend of science and artistry as I provide customized solutions to meet all my patients’ needs. My fascination with orthodontics actually began when I was 10 and my brother came home with braces. I begged my mom for a set of my own. An orthodontist we knew gave me a headgear and told my mom I’d probably never wear it, but I was so excited I even wore it to school! Q: What are your top priorities? A: Professionally, delivering unrivaled, personalized care to all my patients in a safe, welcoming environment. To be a valuable asset to my colleagues and to help innovate the industry.

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Sagafi has four degrees from Boston University, including a doctorate from the School of Dental Medicine and a two-year advanced graduate degree in dentofacial orthopedics. In private practice since 2006, she taught in the Boston University Orthodontics Department from 2009-2015, and continues to lecture on the latest techniques in orthodontics at conferences and universities worldwide.

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

COURTESY PHOTO AND MICHAEL VENTURA

Pasternak & Fidis, P.C.

Q: What do you look forward to when

you go to work every day? FROM LEFT: A: Linda Ravdin: The lawyers and staff in LINDA RAVDIN, PARTNER my firm, our clients, and even opposing VICKI VIRAMONTES-LAFREE, counsel. I enjoy solving problems together, PARTNER which is what Family Law is all about. I ANNE (JAN) WHITE, PARTNER like working on premarital agreements, guiding clients through decisions about the The law firm of Pasternak & Fidis has economic aspects of a relationship, which people are uncomfortable discussing provided unparalleled service for more most going into marriage. I appreciate than 40 years to individuals, couples, collaborating with fellow attorneys on agreements that both clients can live with; and families in Maryland, DC and and in divorce, I value resolving marriage Virginia. Our Domestic and Family dissolution issues out of court, minimizing Law Group works closely with the damage to the family.

Estate Planning and Administration group to meet and surpass client expectations.

7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 1100 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-8850 www.pasternakfidis.com

Q: What was a major turning point in

your life and/or career?

A: Vicki Viramontes-LaFree: My father’s

my daughter, I opened my own Family Law practice, working with families in crisis. I joined Pasternak & Fidis in 2001 and continue to help families throughout the Washington metro area. Q: How do you measure success? A: Anne (Jan) White: I measure success by how well I discern and meet my clients’ needs. I listen closely for their unique interests and individual needs, although some goals seem universal—namely, the children’s well-being and financial security. The collaborative process helps each party flesh out their most heartfelt goals. Once I understand what truly motivates my client, I can assemble complementary professionals, including financial and mental health experts, to support the client and the goals that we set together.

unexpected passing made me realize that life is too short. I quit my 13-year career in sales management with Xerox and applied for law school. After the birth of BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 51

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Burt Wealth Advisors

Burt Wealth Advisors 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 500 North Bethesda, MD 20852 To see all award details with inclusion criteria and disclosures go to: http:// www.burtwealth.com/files/Awards_List_Metrics_and_Reprint_Matrix_ Detailed_version-15.PDF

Q: Why Choose Burt Wealth Advisors? A: Our boutique firm has served the

Washington metro area for more than 30 years. As fiduciaries, we’re committed to putting our clients’ interests first, always. We become a partner and ongoing resource to each client, helping them navigate their financial life to best achieve their financial goals. Our “Growth Through Life” process enables us to answer any questions that may arise, from how best to save for retirement, to finding the best options for maximizing retirement distributions and social security benefits.

in the planning and investment process, empowering them when it comes to their finances. Q: How do you measure success? A: We are successful when we help clients find solutions to their financial needs. Our main goal is to help our clients find peace of mind with their finances. We listen carefully to our clients' goals and tailor their retirement plans to meet these goals. We want our clients to feel confident in their goals-based retirement plans so that they can spend more time enjoying their lives.

Q: How has the increase in women

advisors changed your firm?

A: We see many women who are amid a

life transition and handling finances, or serving as their own advocate, for the first time. It’s rewarding to help women who have never before understood investments. We encourage questions—there are never too many! Our goal is to engage all clients

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

From Left: SOPHIE LEAHY, BETH VENIT, CFP® MARIA CORNELIUS, CFP® DEANNE TOMASETTI, CFP® JENNIFER MACLENNAN, CFP®,CPA

HILLARY SCHWAB

Burt Wealth is a boutique wealth management firm based in North Bethesda. “We become a partner and ongoing resource to each client, helping them navigate their financial life to best achieve their financial goals,” says Maria Cornelius. Burt Wealth’s team has earned many honors, including 12 Best Financial Advisors in D.C., Maryland and Virginia by Advisory HQ. —June 19, 2020

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ain & Bank Law FROM LEFT: NATALIA C. WILSON, ESQ., PRINCIPAL & MANAGING PARTNER LAUREN E. SHEA, ESQ., PRINCIPAL MANSITAN SOW, ESQ., ASSOCIATE SARAH E. MANCINELLI, ESQ., PRINCIPAL

HILLARY SCHWAB

A preeminent boutique family law firm, Ain & Bank attorneys represent clients with an acute understanding of challenges that arise in family law matters. We strive to resolve cases amicably but are also sophisticated litigators. We pride ourselves on discretion, representing a wide range of clients, including those with substantial assets and complex business interests. 1900 M St. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 202-530-3300 www.ainbanklaw.com

Q: What do you love most about doing

business in this area? A: The metro area attracts interesting residents from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds. One great part of the work we do is learning about our clients’ careers and endeavors. The DMV has a thoughtful and engaged population who are substantive and care deeply for their work and community. We thoroughly enjoy getting to know clients we serve in DC, Maryland and Virginia. We meet people going through one of, if not the most, difficult time in their lives. Our top priority is always to help our clients navigate the divorce process as effectively and considerately as possible. This is particularly important for clients with children. We strive to avoid exacerbating problems and causing a lasting negative impact on a family’s relationship. These clients will be a family long after their engagement with our firm ends, and we want them all to move

forward in the healthiest way possible. Q: What changes or innovations are on

the horizon in your industry? How are you preparing for them? A: Like most industries, family law will be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We anticipate divorce rates will increase but also recognize that many people’s economic ability to pay for a divorce will decrease. The pandemic has also led to a tectonic shift in telework, impacting the way all practitioners conduct business. We are now fully equipped to meet with clients, engage in mediation, and conduct litigation remotely, without any disadvantage to our clients.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 53

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Kyle Richards COMPASS, VICE PRESIDENT, REALTOR®

Q: What sets you apart from other real estate agents? A: My unique background and skill set enable me to offer unrivaled real estate advice and service. A multilingual Yale graduate and former bank VP, I followed my passion and transitioned to real estate in 2004—and I have been a top performer each year. In 2005 I became one of the first accredited home stagers and all my listings are professionally staged at no cost to my clients. When you hire me, you work with me, one on one, from start to finish. My priority is to understand each client’s goals and develop a strategic plan to accomplish them. Q: What is some of the best advice you’ve received? A: To own where you live. Why pay someone else’s mortgage when you could be building your own equity? The earlier you begin to build wealth by investing in home ownership, the better. Additionally, prioritize collecting experiences, not things.

HILLARY SCHWAB

7200 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 301-304-8444 www.compass.com/agents/kyle-richards

Z Family Law L-R: INNA LORING, ESQ. CHRISTY A. ZLATKUS, ESQ. KIMBERLY LAUER, ESQ. 51 Monroe St., Suite 1501, Rockville, MD 20850 301-388-5528 | www.zfamilylaw.com

an opportunity to reimagine their life and to take proactive steps to create the life that they want to live. Marriages don’t fail; they end, and that ending can lead to the start of something magical. We help our clients reframe divorce as a positive starting point for building a new life on their own terms. Q: What sets Z Family Law apart? A: Genuine friendship and compassion form the bedrock of our firm culture. Our team members are candid about the personal challenges we have faced—big breakups, divorce—because we believe that pairing legal knowledge with empathy grounds our clients in their most challenging moments. Our measure of success is whether our clients feel supported throughout their time with our firm and making sure our clients conclude their proceedings with the resources they need to thrive long after their time working with us has ended. 54

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

MICHAEL VENTURA

Q: What are your top priorities? A: We help our clients understand that divorce is

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery JENNIFER PARKER PORTER, MD, FACS

COURTESY PHOTO

A leading expert in facial cosmetic surgery, Dr. Porter holds a rare double board certification and has authored numerous book chapters on Facial Plastic Surgery. She offers a wide variety of surgical and nonsurgical procedures, including Rhinoplasty, Eyelid surgery and Facial Rejuvenation with Botox, Dermal Fillers and Laser Treatments, always striving for natural and balanced results. 7201 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 515 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-8191 coordinate@chevychaseface.com www.chevychaseface.com

Q: How do you measure success? A: Happy patients and a happy family.

I have a wonderful husband and two daughters now in their early 20’s. It’s been so much fun for us, raising them and watching them grow. It’s rewarding to see them, now as young adults, making good decisions and going after their dreams. From a work perspective, nothing is better than seeing a patient’s smile at the end of the day. Or witnessing a patient’s newfound confidence when they come back for a follow-up. Q: Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you? A: Sitting at home for two months during the pandemic gave me an even greater appreciation for what I do, and the opportunity I have to positively impact people’s lives. I will never take for granted that even a simple cosmetic procedure— whether surgical or non-surgical—can alleviate an issue that’s occupied someone’s thoughts for years, allowing

them to move forward and focus on more important things in life. Those outcomes give me so much joy. Q: How have you mentored or inspired others who are following in your footsteps? A: Mentorship is so important. If you don’t have anyone in your family, or a close friend who is in the medical field, it can be somewhat daunting for a young aspiring doctor to navigate. I’ve enjoyed inviting a number of young women to my office through the years, to offer advice and help steer them in the right direction. Some have gone into medicine and some haven’t, but it’s been gratifying to watch their journeys.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 55

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Heather McCabe & Emily Russell MCCABE RUSSELL, PA Q: What do you look forward to when you go to work every day? A: When we walk through our office doors every day, we look forward to two things: helping our clients and working with an amazing team. With respect to our clients, the best part of the work we do is helping them work towards the next, happier chapter of their lives. Where our team is concerned, we look forward to helping our clients accomplish their goals with the support of our amazing team. The McCabe Russell, PA McCabe Russell team is dynamic, creative, Offices in Howard County & Montgomery compassionate, and takes collective pride County, MD in providing excellent service and working 443-812-1435 seamlessly together. Because of them, we www.mccaberussell.com are able be our best for our clients.

Q: What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? A: In these strange times, we have a hard time predicting the number one greatest challenge for women in the workplace. But, certainly, one of the greatest challenges for women of the next generation will be continuing and expanding the fight for workplace equality. As one dynamic politician recently noted, we are all someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughters. We deserve a place of respect and stature in our work lives just as much as our male counterparts. We have come so far, and still have much to do.

HILLARY SCHWAB

McCabe Russell, P.A. offers over 55 years of Family Law experience. The partners understand the importance of client advocacy and strive to create a stress-free experience for clients. They are active in local and legal communities, supporting an array of issues and organizations.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Wendy Banner & The Banner Team FRONT L-R: BROOKE BASSIN, EMILY MORITT, WENDY BANNER, GAIL GORDON, ILENE GORDON, JULIA FORTIN, SHARYN GOLDMAN BACK L-R: MICHELLE TEICHBERG, JODY AUCAMP, PAT KARTA

MICHAEL VENTURA

Over $1 Billion Sold & Settled; Top Producer, Bethesda Magazine, 2020; Best Realtor Team, Washingtonian, 2020; #1 Group in #1 Long & Foster office, 2019; Top 10 Real Estate Groups, Maryland, REAL Trends, 2020; Top 250 Real Estate Teams, U.S., REAL Trends, 2020 The Banner Team 4650 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 301-365-9090 Info@Bannerteam.com www.BannerTeam.com

Q: How have you mentored or inspired

others who are following in your footsteps? A: My team is composed of all women not by design, but by evolution. I strive to inspire and motivate as many women as possible, who are interested in entering the real estate business. In fact, several members of my team started off as clients who approached me about being part of our group. Others began as administrators and worked their way up to become fulltime agents, not just with my support but the entire team’s. It’s been my privilege to provide these women with an opportunity and they’ve exceeded my expectations. Q: Why do you do what you do? A: We love being part of our community

and helping people. Whether we’re guiding friends and neighbors through the home buying and selling process, donating part of every commission to local charities through our Pay It Forward

program, hosting community events, or serving local organizations, we seek to immerse ourselves in our community. In addition to offering extensive knowledge and experience, our unique skill sets complement each other and result in constant collaboration. With each success, we celebrate not just as colleagues, but as genuine friends. Q: How do you measure success? A: Our top priority is always to provide unrivaled service to our clients, from first meeting to property closing and beyond. We strive to make buying and selling a home an enjoyable, anxiety-free experience, providing "A Team behind every Transaction!" When we see the glowing reviews from past clients—many of whom have become friends—we know we’re succeeding.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 57

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Sandra Guzman-Salvado LAW OFFICES OF SANDRA GUZMAN-SALVADO, ESQ.

Sandra Guzman-Salvado launched her five-star podcast, “Making a Way,” in February 2020. The podcast, which can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, offers listeners information and guidance in the areas of divorce, custody and overall personal development. Law Offices of Sandra Guzman-Salvado, LLC 11 N. Washington St., Suite 230 Rockville, MD 20850 301-340-1911 www.guzmansalvadolaw.com

Q: Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you? A: As an attorney, there are many opportunities to continue learning, giving and growing within the profession. We also have the ability to make a big difference in people’s lives, which is very rewarding. There have been many people who have positively impacted my life, which is why I’m a big believer in giving back. I remember, there was a man who gave a free speech at my high school about how to get into and pay for a good college education. Without his guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And without my grandfather working hard to save enough money to bring my three brothers, mom and me to the United States, I wouldn’t even be here, answering questions for Bethesda Magazine.

Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned during your career? A: That in order to keep growing as a person, it’s important you face your fears. It’s scary, but most of the time everything turns out just fine. You learn what to do—or not do—in the future.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Q: What advice would you give to yourself as a young professional? A: I would tell myself to always have faith and understand that everything happens for a reason. With time, obstacles and challenges will turn out for the best. I can’t think of a single stumbling block that didn’t turn out for the best. I would also tell myself to live in the moment more and to appreciate the little things.

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Long & Foster Gateway Office MELINDA ESTRIDGE, FOUNDER ESTRIDGE GROUP

“There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.” —Madam C.J. Walker (USA’s first female millionaire entrepreneur)

HILLARY SCHWAB

Long & Foster Gateway Office 4650 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 301-370-7859 Melinda@EstridgeGroup.com www.EstridgeGroup.com

Q: What women have inspired you and

why? A: When I attended law school in the '70s, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sandra Day O'Connor had paved their way into the legal field. Both reached the top of their profession by being appointed Supreme Court justices. They had many challenges and obstacles along the way, and experienced discrimination throughout their careers. I appreciated their dedication and their ability to successfully navigate what was a male-dominated field. It was very inspiring for young women entering the workforce. Q: How have things changed for

women over your career? A: Real estate companies have been traditionally owned and run by men. That is still the case today. Although women have made inroads, I would like to see more women owning their own real estate firms and playing a larger role in their operations

and development. When I started in real estate, men were given preferential treatment as they were considered the breadwinners in their family. There is a much more level playing field now, as women are running their own groups and teams within larger real estate firms. Many of the women in real estate who have reached the top of their field have incredible business acumen and are greatly respected. Generally, we are treated with more respect than in the past. Although we still have a long way to go, I am ever hopeful that a new generation of women entering the real estate field will have more opportunities and be able to excel more easily than those of us that have gone before.

Back: BOB O'TOOLE AND ERIC GOLDSTEIN Front: CAROLINE ASLAN AND MELINDA ESTRIDGE

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 59

PROFILES

Women in business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Karen N. Shapiro PRINCIPAL, STEIN SPERLING BENNETT DE JONG DRISCOLL PC Karen Shapiro brings to her clients a wealth of experience that guides them through an often complex business decision-making process. Whether they seek assistance with buying or selling businesses, raising capital, negotiating commercial contracts, or handling business disputes, Karen’s realistic, detail-oriented approach helps them achieve their goals. 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700 Rockville, MD 20852 301-838-3222 kshapiro@steinsperling.com www.steinsperling.com

HILLARY SCHWAB

Q: What’s changed for women in business over your career? A: When I first started practicing in 2001, there were few female attorneys, particularly in business law. I am happy to see how much that has changed. At Stein Sperling, we have added many women attorneys including Partners over the years. I’ve seen that shift in other firms as well. In the past year, I worked on two major business transactions where lead counsel on the other side was also a woman—I love that. Q: What’s the best advice you’ve received and how has it helped you? A: To go to business school. My undergraduate degree is in Business Management and I have an MBA in addition to my JD. I’ve also worked in various businesses since I was 14. That education and experience has given me the strategic and operational acumen of a business owner, in addition to my legal skills. That has proven to be very useful in my practice. Q: Why do you do what you do? What motivates and inspires you? A: I enjoy helping people achieve their goals. I love working with clients to help them protect and grow their businesses and to plan for “what’s next.” Every business has its unique set of challenges and every business owner has her/his particular vision for what they want the next chapter to be. My role is to listen to that vision and to work closely with my client to prepare for and implement their strategic plans.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PROFILES

Women in business

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Roshan Alavi EAGLEBANK, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & RESIDENTIAL LENDING MANAGER Born in California, Roshan Ardalan Alavi spent most of her youth in Iran before returning to the United States in 1980. She and her husband, Hamid, have raised two sons who take pride in their Iranian heritage. Alavi, who oversees EagleBank’s mortgage sales and operations, has more than 30 years of hand-on mortgage lending, operations and management experience. EagleBank 6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852 301-738-7200 www.EagleBankCorp.com

HILLARY SCHWAB

Q: How have you mentored or inspired others who are following in your footsteps? A: I believe in leading by example—I would never ask an employee to do something I’m not willing or able to do. My understanding of what my staff deals with on a daily basis allows me to better support them, acknowledge their good work and encourage them to innovate. My team does not shy away from challenges and is always willing to go the extra mile, and their help is vital to my success. Q: What do you love most about doing business in this area? A: I am passionate about creating an environment in which home ownership is a possibility for all. There is a lot of work to be done, and I appreciate working in the nation’s capital, where federal and local housing initiatives are put into action. The work of affordable housing does not feel far away to me. Leading a department that helps people achieve their dreams of homeownership motivates and inspires me to work hard every day. Q: What advice would you offer for women just starting out? A: Speak your mind and fight for what you believe in—the sky is the limit! After I had children, I had to restart my career from the bottom. When I joined EagleBank 10 years ago, I was inspired by our female CEO. I hope I can have a similar influence on my team, especially as a Persian woman leading a diverse group of employees.

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ON THE FRONT LINES Meet 13 local medical heroes who are fighting to save lives as the pandemic rages on BY CARALEE ADAMS AND MIKE UNGER

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

RARELY, IF EVER, DOES Dr. Marissa Watts “doff” her scrubs (a term she recently learned) and go straight home when her 12-hour shift officially ends at 7 p.m. Instead, the hospitalist at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville usually embarks on a newfangled version of rounds. “Something I’ve tried to do is get a family member on the phone while I’m talking to the patient, and we can all talk at the same time,” says Watts, 35. “I’m trying to update family members on how their loved ones are doing.” The communication is vital because Shady Grove has allowed visitors only for those patients who are near death since the onset of the coronavirus. For the people under her care—Watts sees patients with a variety of illnesses, including COVID-19—she says the isolation can be almost as debilitating as the physical symptoms. When the pandemic exploded in March, Watts often was short on good news to report during these calls. “You would see somebody first thing in the morning, and before the end of your shift they’d go from needing two or three liters of oxygen to being put on a breather mask, which is a higher level of oxygen, to being put on high-flow oxygen, which is liters and liters more of oxygen,” she says.

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

DR. MARISSA WATTS

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

“Just watching them deteriorate so fast— I had not seen anything like that before.” After a particularly tough day, Watts would often call her mother, who is a nurse in Michigan, on her drive home. “I’m holding back tears half the time while I explain my frustrations,” she says. “It has been hard to sleep sometimes. Even when you’re not working, you’re worried about the patients, you’re thinking about their family members. A lot of the time, you’re up at 5 in the morning even though your alarm wasn’t going off until 6.” In late winter and early spring, Watts felt hamstrung by the lack of tools at her disposal for treating COVID patients. At one point she was prescribing hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has since been linked to potentially serious side effects. “For me, personally, I did see patients that were having consequences from the medication,” she says. “A lot of people had diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, or they had this prolongation of the heart complication that people really worry about. Once that starts, we have to stop the medication.” As therapies like proning (flipping a patient onto his or her stomach), convalescent plasma and the drug remdesivir have emerged, positive outcomes have become more common. In July, Watts was there when an elderly patient spoke to their family on speakerphone. The patient was disoriented when they arrived at the hospital, but the next day they had drastically improved. “A lot of the time, just for the ease of things, I wind up using my personal cellphone,” Watts says. “I block the number, so I’m always praying that they answer a blocked number. There was a granddaughter that happened to be nearby, too, so [the patient] got to talk to the daughter and the granddaughter. It was a nice moment that I got to witness. “I like to think of myself as pretty capable and thorough and competent, and this [virus] really just knocks you back,” says Watts, who graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine in 2012 and often gets coronavirus-related questions from her friends about things like whether it’s safe to travel. “In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what I was doing was helping. That’s what really terrified me. But now, because we have these other treatment options and there are more clinical trials that are going on, I am really hopeful.” 64

DR. MANU KAUSHAL BECOMING A FATHER WAS better than Dr. Manu Kaushal could ever have imagined. “It was such a blessing. My soul was at peace,” he says. Kaushal, 40, and his wife, Dr. Vandhna Sharma, welcomed their daughter, Reva, in late January. Everything changed for Kaushal on March 17, when he read an article about a 2-month-old girl in South Carolina being admitted to an intensive care unit with COVID-19. As medical director of critical care and pulmonary rehabilitation at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, Kaushal works with the sickest patients in the hospital’s ICU and wears personal protective equipment—or PPE—from head to toe. The news heightened his concern about the severity of the disease, so he texted his wife that he would be moving into their basement. Kaushal says his dog, Demo, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, helped fill the void while he self-isolated at his Rockville home. Kaushal carried the dog around, constantly sniffing him to make sure he still had his sense of smell—losing it is an early symptom of the virus—and letting Demo sleep on his pillow. “I would never be able to live with myself if something happened to my daughter,” says Kaushal, who left his scrubs in the garage and headed straight to the shower after putting in 10- to 14-hour days at work. “There is a constant worry about catching this disease and succumbing to it.” Kaushal says not being able to hold Reva for two months was the “biggest anguish” of his life. He credits his wife, an endocrinology fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, with keeping him going, FaceTiming him during breaks and in the evening so he could see his daughter smile. By late May, Kaushal finally had time away from COVID patients, so he felt safe enough—after five consecutive days off and with no temperature—to hold Reva again (he wore a face mask), an opportunity that comes about every two weeks with his new schedule. On Father’s Day in June, he was able to hold his daughter without a mask

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

and to kiss her and his wife after he got a COVID test that came back negative. During the first few months of the pandemic, the hospital doubled its ICU capacity. Kaushal was caring for patients in their 20s to their 80s; about half did not survive. One of the hardest parts of his day was calling one family member for each of the 12 to 18 patients in his care. “I have to find a balance of being honest and being realistic, but trying to stay positive and giving them a little bit of hope,” says Kaushal, who found that a minute or two of silent mindfulness meditation between patients, and again at night to unwind before going to sleep, helped sustain him. “Before this disease hit us, we could predict things much better. We could tell the trajectory of which patients were going to do well and which [were] not. This disease, it has really humbled me as a physician. I cannot predict what will happen tomorrow with a patient.” At one point, the wife of a 48-year-old man who was about to be taken off life support after 35 days in the hospital thanked Kaushal on the phone and told him that the couple’s 10-year-old son wanted to be like him and save lives. “It was a mix of emotions for me which I cannot describe. I was left speechless,” Kaushal says. The boy was about to lose his father. “I requested to call her back and hung up. [For] the next 15 to 20 minutes, I sat in my chair looking out of the window, convincing myself that it was his time [and] to let him go.” On days when a patient is wheeled out of the ICU and to another floor at the hospital, Kaushal often picks a song from what he calls his “COVID playlist,” such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” or Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” and enjoys a moment of shared celebration with the staff. “A couple years from now, we’ll tell Reva of the sacrifice my wife and I made at this time so we could all be safe—but at the same time battle this horrible, horrible disease,” Kaushal says. “The disease separated us physically for a long time, but my love for my daughter and respect for my wife only grew during this time.”

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

PATRICIA APARICIO THE FIRST COVID-19 PATIENT Patricia Aparicio admitted to the intensive care unit in March was a woman exactly her age, 46. “I remember her words: ‘If I come to the ICU, it means I’m going to die,’ ” recalls Aparicio, nurse in charge of the ICU at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital. “No,” Aparicio told her, “we are in this fight together.” While health care workers offer assurances, the reality is that there are no guarantees with the unpredictable coronavirus. This spring, patients stayed longer than usual (some for three or four weeks) in Aparicio’s unit, and many—including this woman—didn’t make it. “I still remember her,” says Aparicio, who has been with Holy Cross for 15 years. “Nurses get attached to their patients. We are the ones that hold their hand. It takes an emotional toll.” In the early days of the pandemic, Aparicio and her fellow nurses were concerned about how the disease might impact their health and the health of their families. But in her role, she says she had to be the “strongest link” so she could support the rest of the team. She made sure the nurses took all necessary precautions and that they checked each other’s personal protective equipment, including face masks, face shields, goggles, gowns and double gloves, before entering a patient’s room. “We have to be very careful, because one mistake and we contaminate the whole unit,” says Aparicio, who had to coordinate care for twice as many patients as usual in the ICU, and administer new treatments. “Every day we would come to work and there were new studies. Protocols keep changing.” With visitors prohibited, Aparicio says the unit had to be innovative with communications. Once during the day and once at night nurses would connect patients with their families through Zoom or FaceTime. “That would cut the anxiety for the family members,” Aparicio says. “It’s so hard to accept what’s happening unless they can see it.” Aparicio recalls a 53-year-old who had been on a ventilator, and they didn’t think she would make it. She ended up improving and eventually going home. When she was discharged

from the unit, her whole family got together to celebrate, and Aparicio did a FaceTime call with the patient. “They were crying and were very grateful,” she says. “You see tears a lot of times in the ICU—tears of frustration, tears of sadness and all kinds of emotions.” After work, Aparicio is cautious around her family. “No hugs and kisses at home for a long time,” says Aparicio, who lives in Boyds with her husband, mother and two children, ages 18 and 21. Sometimes she’ll

mention if it’s been a hard day, but she says she doesn’t want to make anyone else sad. “Our family in the ICU is so tight that we can discuss and vent, so when we leave work, then home can be your priority.” Members of the hospital staff have been grateful for the outpouring of support—including snacks and meals—from the community. Aparicio says children have made them cards that read: “Keep going” and “We’re praying for you,” which are taped on the walls of the ICU.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

AS SUBURBAN HOSPITAL IN Bethesda prepared for its first COVID-19 patients, there were so many unknowns: How many beds would be needed? What kinds of treatment would work? How could staff remain safe around such a contagious disease? Dr. Atul Rohatgi, 44, a hospitalist—an internal medicine physician who cares for patients exclusively in the hospital setting— helped lead the response. “I went in and saw the first patient,” says Rohatgi, who donned the cumbersome but necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). “I know people were scared. I think them seeing me go in [the room] and saying ‘it’s OK’ probably went a long way to allay their fears.” Rohatgi shared his experience with colleagues and developed a manual for the hospital on how to care for COVID patients from admission to discharge. The digital document

was constantly updated. Rohatgi would sift through the latest medical information about treatments and pass it along to his team of about 50 physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. “People tried to make the best of it. We have a group, for the most part, that is glasshalf-full, which goes a long way in times like this,” says Rohatgi, who feels he’s part of a close “work family” rather than a work team. “There definitely were times when people were crying and breaking down, but they relied on the others to pull them through.” Changing in and out of PPE between every patient could add up to more than an hour a day. “It was extremely draining and demoralizing,” Rohatgi says. It was hard to be heard, and sometimes he had to yell. Then there was the time he sneezed in his PPE. “I was like, ‘Oh no.’ It all blew back in my face.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Rohatgi, who has worked at Suburban for 16 years, grew up in Rockville, the son of two doctors. He says he was encouraged by how the hospital adapted during the crisis. For instance, his team found creative ways to blow off steam. At the end of a crazy day, Rohatgi sometimes would be corralled into doing a TikTok dance video with a group in a hospital hallway. “I said, ‘If it puts a smile on your face, I will complain, but I will do it,’ ” he says. After long shifts, Rohatgi says his home in Bethesda was a sanctuary. During the early weeks of the pandemic, he found that playing video games (such as Call of Duty) with his two teenagers was a good release. Plus, the family got a black Labrador-boxer mix, Clover, in March. “You come home and you get puppy kisses,” he says. “How can that not be a good thing?”

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

DR. ATUL ROHATGI

MATT HOPPER MATT HOPPER OCCASIONALLY LIKES a little music to liven up his workday. One day this spring, he had been listening to tunes from the Whoopi Goldberg movie Sister Act 2 before a patient came into the emergency room at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Northwest Washington, D.C., where Hopper has worked as a nurse since September 2019. The woman was unconscious, and when it became clear hours later that she was dying, presumably from COVID-19, Hopper grabbed her hand and began to serenade her with a song from the film. Hopper is convinced that she could hear his admittedly out-of-tune rendition of “Oh Happy Day.” And he likes to think that his singing comforted the woman, who was in her 90s, during her final moments. “Anytime that we have someone who is nonresponsive, I try to at least talk to them or tell them what’s go-

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

KIM KELLY THE WAY KIM KELLY describes her job may offer a hint as to why she’s been so successful in her field. “I take care of the people who take care of people,” she says. As Suburban Hospital’s nursing director for critical care units, Kelly oversees a staff of about 160. At the start of the pandemic, she helped develop plans for securing supplies, while also creating new units and properly staffing them. A nurse since 1982, Kelly is well aware of the toll the job can take. That’s why she brought in Johns Hopkins’ Resilience in Stressful Events (RISE) team to talk to her staff during the darkest days of the pandemic. (Suburban Hospital is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine.) RISE is an emotional peer support structure for “second victims” who were impacted by a difficult patient-related event or unanticipated adverse situation. Kelly says her staff discussed the emotional toll, stress and sad-

ing on,” says Hopper, 30. “There’s evidence that even people who are nonresponsive verbally can still have awareness of stimuli around them. Sometimes you don’t have the time to sing because you’re providing all these interventions and their loss of life is unexpected. But sometimes it’s sort of a natural, calm thing, and you can add peace to that.” Nursing is in Hopper’s blood. His mother and brother are both nurses, and after a stint in education technology he became one too. He graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in August 2019, but while he was there, he wasn’t taught anything about the then unknown disease that would reshape his professional life. “You feel bad because there was no way to prevent how sick they were going to get,” he says of COVID patients. “There is no medication or exercise or piece of equipment. …Before, there was a pathway. If someone comes in with a bowel obstruction or they’re having a heart attack, we have a checklist

and a process. Or, if we don’t know what’s going on, we have diagnostic testing and we are able to rule things out. But with COVID there is not a clear-cut pathway of what your hospital stay is going to look like and how you’re going to feel in 10 to 15 days.” So Hopper, who lives in Columbia Heights in D.C., leans on what drew him to the field. He continues to speak to patients who are mechanically ventilated or sedated as if they’re awake because he believes it’s the humane and kind thing to do. Despite fears about contracting the virus himself, he strives to treat COVID patients like all others. “They’re more scared than you are about the virus,” he says. “Talking to the patients who are unconscious is especially important now because often their family members are not there to talk to them at their bedside.” Hopper is continuing to educate patients about what’s happening to them, helping them feel calmer and more in control, whether they’re conscious or not. And when he can, he’s continuing to sing.

ness they were experiencing, all of which was exacerbated by the fact that patients’ families could not visit them. Tears were shed. “Our patients usually don’t have a plan to be admitted to critical care,” Kelly says. “The rug of life gets pulled out from under them— and it happens to staff, too.” Kelly, who has been at Suburban since 2005, worked from March 7 through Mother’s Day without taking a day off. She didn’t have to work that much—she wanted to. When the hospital’s first COVID-19 patient arrived on a Saturday in March, she went to the hospital. On Easter, which fell on her birthday this year, she worked for eight or nine hours. It was one of Suburban’s peak days of activity. “We were changing the modalities of ventilation for our patients. The nurses just rolled with every change,” she says. “We realized we were going to need more than just the ICU staff to care for patients on ventilators. That’s when we trained all the progressive care unit nurses to take care of patients on ventilators. ...Nobody freaked out. I didn’t have a single staff member say, ‘I didn’t sign up to do this.’ ” Kelly spearheaded an effort to adjust the position of some equipment in patient rooms

so that the beds faced the door and pumps could be adjusted without a nurse entering the room. She worked to acquire personal protective equipment for the hospital—not only the standard gowns and N95 masks, but also PAPRs (Powered Air-Purifying Respirators) and N99 masks with built-in air filters. “The staff always had three [mask] options that they could switch between during the day because all of them have their pluses and minuses,” she says. Kelly was responsible for hiring at least 20 traveling nurses to beef up her staff. Initially, they were hard to find. Many were in New York, but as those assignments ended, more became available. “We look for nurses who can care for the sickest of our patients,” Kelly says. “Nurses who have experience in stroke centers, trauma centers, and openheart experience.” If nurses needed a break—“all the donning and doffing is hot and exhausting, and you’ve got to be so careful that it’s [also] mentally exhausting,” Kelly says—they could switch to a non-COVID assignment. Their well-being is of paramount importance to her. Nursing is not merely a job, Kelly believes. For her, it’s a calling.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

DR. RACHEL VILE IN LATE APRIL AND early May, when a seemingly endless stream of COVID-19 patients poured into the critical care unit at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Dr. Rachel Vile became, in her words, depressed. “I didn’t get into this field to see so many people die,” says Vile, the hospital’s medical director of critical care. She’s the liaison between the hospital’s critical care unit and its administration. “There was, I think, a 12day period that there was not a day that went by that I didn’t call a family to tell them that their loved one had passed away. Coronavirus is humbling. I have watched mothers, brothers, uncles, daughters die of this virus. I have had to tell a child that her father has died. That type of raw grief, I wish I could let go, but it’s not going to go away. Some days were unbelievably hard, and I didn’t think I could come back.” But Vile, 51, always returns, pushed by the reason she got into the field: to help

NIMEET KAPOOR WHEN NIMEET KAPOOR JOINED Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center as nursing manager of the intensive care unit last December, the Rockville hospital had one 28bed ICU. His workload essentially tripled with the addition of two more ICUs—one with 17 beds in March, and the other with a 21-patient capacity in April—to serve COVID-19 patients. “It was a really big change,” says Kapoor, 32, a nurse for eight years who is charged with recruiting, coaching employees, and ensuring that there are enough beds for patients. “I was hired to manage the ICU and the rapid response team. I had about 60 to 65 people I managed. At the peak, we had about 150 to 180 employees that I was managing. At the time it was happening, there was an adrenaline rush going through me.” Kapoor is constantly reexamining the hospital’s safety measures and action plans, and he was part of a group that created a proning

people. She had planned to be a veterinarian, but after a trip to Kenya and Tanzania between her freshman and sophomore years at Tufts University in Massachusetts, she decided she could make more of a difference by becoming a doctor. In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, failures seemed to outpace successes, she says. Conventional wisdom was to put patients on ventilators, but that led to prolonged hospital stays and outcomes that weren’t always positive. Plus, the influx of new patients was unrelenting. From March 15 to June 25, Holy Cross Hospital served 9% of the population that needed hospitalization in the state of Maryland (behind only the University of Maryland Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital, according to a Holy Cross spokesperson). It was exhausting for Vile, who worked 12-hour shifts and then participated in Zoom meetings with other physicians—both from her hospital and others—to discuss treatment options and strategies. She contemplated quarantining herself from her husband and three children, who quickly rejected the idea. One night in May, she walked through the door

of her Chevy Chase home and her 14-year-old son, Jacob, was playing Xbox. “I collapsed on a chair, and [he] looked at me and said, ‘Mom, you know you’re a hero, right?’ ” she says. “It probably was the best moment of my life.” As the hospital implemented a trial involving the drug remdesivir and other treatment options became available, some outcomes were better. “I remember a 38-year-old patient,” Vile says. “I came in in the morning and the night [intensive care doctor] had seen the patient, started remdesivir and screened the patient to get convalescent plasma. The patient got better and left the ICU without ever needing the ventilator. That’s the kind of thing I hold on to. I don’t know if it was the treatment or they just got better because they were 38, but I feel like the treatment helped.” Now when a COVID patient leaves the hospital, the Beatles’ song “Here Comes the Sun” plays over the PA system. Those victories, and an intellectual curiosity, keep Vile going. “This is the most fascinating disease,” she says. “[Patients] bleed and then they clot. Their kidneys fail, their liver fails, they get strokes. They have COVID toes. I want to get to the bottom of it, and I want to be able to cure it.”

team to turn COVID patients from their backs to their stomachs. Before the pandemic, the ICU proned one or two patients a month, but that became two or three people per shift when doctors realized that it helps COVID patients breathe more easily. It takes six to eight people to turn each patient, and Kapoor often helps out. As COVID cases increased, staffing was a challenge. The hospital hired about 100 new nurses to join its existing ICU staff of roughly 50, and Kapoor tried to meet with each of them. He had to reassure staff that they would be safe. “We did have a lot of employees raise concerns,” he says. “They were worried about their loved ones, and they did not want to be exposed to [the virus]. The fear is just as real as the disease. One of the things I did was recognize that fear and tried to understand the root of their concerns. I let them know that if you have the proper protection, you don’t have to worry about that. Most people were able to understand that, but some people were not and ended up leaving because of it.” Two or three employees quit, says Kapoor,

who sees remarkable acts of kindness performed daily by those he works with. When an improving COVID patient’s breathing tube was removed in the darkest days of the pandemic, a nurse threw confetti (with the patient’s approval) to mark the occasion. Although Kapoor works primarily with staff and not patients, he ditched his shirt and tie for scrubs to show solidarity with his employees. He now checks in with the charge nurse on nights and weekends. The hospital closed the third ICU in May, but Kapoor is always preparing for what could come next. The recruiting and hiring of nurses has not stopped just because the number of COVID patients has decreased during the summer. “We are seeing the tail end of the peak now,” Kapoor says in late June from his Gaithersburg home during a much-needed week off. “We still have COVID patients in the hospital, we still have COVID in the community. With the economy opening up, with things happening in the community, we just don’t know what direction this is going to go, how lax people are going to be.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

LAUREN SUNDERGILL LAUREN SUNDERGILL WAS WORKING as a behavioral health nurse in the psychiatric unit at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney when the COVID-19 crisis hit. A nurse for 15 years, including seven in intensive care, she had recently switched jobs and was helping adolescents develop coping skills as they struggled with mental health issues. Sundergill’s manager told her that staff was working overtime with the influx of COVID patients, so the 36-year-old spoke with her fiance, Peter Koop, about volunteering to help. They had heard on the news that nurses were dying from the disease in New York City, so they knew the risk on the front line was real. “It was really scary, but I just knew I had to do it. It was as if the choice was already made,” recalls Sundergill, who lives in Rockville. “I just felt it in me that I could make more of a difference working with the COVID patients.” In the ICU, Sundergill works four 12-hour shifts a week, and early on she paid close attention to the emotional challenges patients faced after being hospitalized and isolated for so long. She says many cried. Some were restless and yelled unless someone was in the room with them. Others spoke very little and didn’t make much eye contact. “A lot of times they’d come off the ventilator and be unbelievably depressed,” says Sundergill, who played music recommended by patients’ families to improve their moods. “You have people that were healthy and independent beforehand, and now they can’t walk or feed themselves. We need to do every little thing we can to help them feel more in control and normal.” One 73-year-old man told Sundergill he felt helpless and hopeless after weeks in the ICU. Determined to turn the situation around, she got him up and gave him a shave with a disposable razor. “I did a terrible job. I told him it was the first time I had shaved a patient. He said in a weak voice, ‘I can tell.’ And then I knew he was going to be OK,” Sundergill says. The patient was released after 51 days in the ICU. Another patient in his 40s kissed Sundergill’s gloved hand after she got him up to brush his teeth—a return to normalcy after a couple of weeks of being intubated. The day he went home, she says, the nurses were

dancing with him on the other side of the glass doors. Sometimes, simply moving patients’ beds to face the window was a motivator. “Even if all they could see was the sky, it was a reminder that there was life out there,” says Sundergill, who was tagged the “out-of-bed queen” by staff for pushing her patients to stand up, walk and resume routines. As patients got stronger, Sundergill would get them coloring books and word searches

to distract them from their loneliness. She’d call family members who needed someone to listen while they cried. “That’s how I deal with it,” she says. “I try to put all my energy [into] making it as easy and painless as possible for the family.” When a patient was near death, Sundergill would arrange video calls with relatives. “I try to focus on [the] fact [that] they now are at rest and peace,” she says. “They don’t have tubes in them anymore, they are not struggling to breathe.”

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

LAURA VENTURA GRADUATED FROM nursing school in May 2019 and started working in Suburban Hospital’s progressive care unit two months later. Then, in late winter, the coronavirus hit. Talk about being thrown into the deep end. “No one graduated nursing school and was ready for a giant pandemic,” the 25-yearold says. “I had [about six months] to learn how to be a nurse and get comfortable with my [unit]. I’m only a year in and I’m still learning. Everyone is.” Still, the adjustments Ventura needed to make in order to care for COVID-19 patients— she moved out of her father’s house and into an Airbnb, a hotel and then a shared house in Silver Spring in July—are a small price to pay for the privilege of being a nurse, she says. “We have a mixture of people who are able to talk to you and people who are not able to have a coherent conversation or interact at all,” she says of the patients in her unit. “I love caring for all of those different kinds of people because I love connecting with the people who I’m taking care of.” When Ventura first heard about the coronavirus outbreak in China, she didn’t expect it to affect her. But soon her unit was transformed from one for pre- and post-cardiac intervention, among other things, into COVID care, and she admits that she was frightened to go to work. In fact, she says she’s still scared when she walks through the hospital doors (she occasionally journals in her phone to relieve some of the stress), but three times a week, for 12-hour shifts, she puts that fear aside to tend to her patients. The people suffering from COVID at Suburban Hospital are generally older, but she has seen patients in their 30s and 40s who were profoundly ill. “A lot of these patients haven’t been in the hospital before—and now they’re in critical condition,” she says. Ventura hasn’t lost a patient under the age of 50, and she’s seen some inspirational stories of recovery. When one of her patients was discharged after fighting off the disease, hospital staff played music as the person was wheeled down the hall. Ventura was in another patient’s room, but says she saw the scene unfolding from the window and danced with joy even though she couldn’t hear the music.

In May, she met a patient in his 90s. When she walked into his room, he began to tell her his entire life story. “He was the sweetest man,” she says. “I sat there and listened to him—being a teenager, getting married, having kids, moving all over the world—for a long time. He was very elaborate in his storytelling. After I gave him his medications, I started to leave the room. He said, ‘Don’t be surprised if I call you back immediately, simply because I miss your

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

company.’ I thought about that for a while. COVID patients obviously have to be isolated. I can’t even imagine what it’s like where the only people you interact with are covered head to toe in plastic and you’re just alone in your room. It was heartbreaking, and it made me want to go back in there and sit with him and talk to him.” The man died less than a week later, but in his final days he was not alone. Ventura was with him.

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

LAURA VENTURA

EMERITA LARIOS WHILE IT’S THE HEALTH care workers who operate on the front lines, hospitals wouldn’t be able to function without the help of hundreds of support staff who often toil in obscurity. People like Emerita Larios. Larios, 52, has been an environmental services attendant in the Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center emergency room in Silver Spring since the hospital opened last year. Her responsibilities are easy to define but difficult to execute: She’s tasked with keeping the ER clean. The COVID-19 virus is so contagious that maintaining sterility in the ER is essential. Larios reports to work at 7 a.m. each day, changes into her scrubs, and gets to work disinfecting and bleaching every square inch of workstations and many of the 40 patient rooms.

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

SCOTT GRAHAM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK from March through May, Scott Graham left his farm near Sugarloaf Mountain in the 5 a.m. darkness to head to work at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. He returned at about 9 at night, often listening to country or worship music during his commute. As director of emergency preparedness/ Emergency Operations Center life safety and workforce wellness for Holy Cross Health, which also includes a hospital in Germantown and several clinics in the state, Graham’s task during the coronavirus outbreak was to make sure everyone had what they needed to do their jobs. The Silver Spring hospital had an advantage as a designated Ebola/special pathogens assessment center, meaning it had staff that was trained to work in personal protective equipment (PPE) for long periods of time, and that it had certain crucial supplies on hand. In his position for six years, Graham had devised plans for a variety of disaster scenarios, including a flu outbreak or a mass casualty, but COVID-19 presented

“We clean from the top to the bottom and the bottom to the top,” says Larios, who worked at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park for more than eight years before it moved to White Oak. “In every single room that we clean, we change the curtains. We clean the walls, the chairs, everything you can imagine.” When she goes into a room that’s occupied by a person under investigation for COVID or someone with a confirmed case, Larios puts on a gown, gloves, goggles, a hair cover, and an N95 mask with a surgical mask over it. She spends about 30 minutes cleaning each room. “It takes more time because you never know,” she says. “If I make a little mistake and don’t wear the proper PPE [personal protective equipment], I can get infected. I have to be 100% focused. We’re always around sick people. That’s a big change. There are some days that are very stressful.”

One day in particular sticks with her. In June, her friend’s father was hospitalized at White Oak with COVID. Because no visitors were allowed, Larios made a point of checking in on him, although doctors weren’t allowed to give her any information about his condition. He died days later. Larios worries about bringing the virus into her Silver Spring home, where she lives with her 26-year-old son (she has two other grown children who live in California and New York), so she takes precautions like bathing and washing her clothes right after work. Despite that fear, quitting has never crossed her mind. She loves the job because of the sense of accomplishment it provides. “There are a lot of ways you can help in a hospital,” she says. Larios rarely speaks with COVID patients, who are usually wearing oxygen masks, yet some of them, or their families, have sent her cards, cookies or flowers just to thank her for the job she does.

a new challenge. “We completely had to change our processes. There was really no playbook written,” he says. On March 2, Holy Cross activated its incident management plan, and Graham served as deputy commander to Holy Cross Hospital’s president, Dr. Lou Damiano, overseeing teams that managed operations, finance, communications and logistics. Graham spent his days in an education classroom at the hospital that had been transformed into a command center with sophisticated visual displays of the hospital’s capacity data, supplies on hand, weather and real-time news. Twice a day, at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Graham led a briefing of the incident team, and needs were written on a whiteboard and assigned. “You put talented minds in a room, you come up with a solution. It may not be a traditional solution or in the textbooks. It’s not perfect,” Graham says. “It’s a disaster. Things are done differently during a disaster or in this pandemic.” His job included making sure there was enough PPE for the health care workers—once driving a box truck to New Jersey to secure supplies. Staff had to be reassigned to cover the fluid situation. Physical therapists were trained to help with food services and keep the building clean. Employees who worked in guest relations had no visitors coming in,

so they were sent to tents to help process patients before they entered the emergency room, says Graham, who also made adjustments to the physical layout of the hospitals—such as adding a tent in the parking lot—and to procedures as the system’s facilities operated at surge capacity. Graham, 56, previously worked with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue for 27 years. He was part of an urban search and rescue team—first as a medic and then as a task force leader—that deployed to help in the federal response to disasters including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the Oklahoma City bombing. At work during the early weeks of the pandemic, he says he felt the same sense of dedication among his tight-knit team as he did with the fire service. At home, nightly family dinners with his wife and two daughters, ages 18 and 24, helped him stay grounded. Graham says he found inspiration from the book Halftime by Bob Buford, which explores how to reflect on past experiences as you enter the “second season” of life. He also relied on his faith. “No matter what your spiritual walk is, I believe we are placed in positions at times to lead. We are called to do this,” Graham says. “I believe God gives us all an ability and gift to make a difference, and it’s up to us to realize that.”

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

THE PATIENT, A WOMAN in her early 50s, worked at a large distribution center where another employee had tested positive for the coronavirus. It was the beginning of March, and the pandemic was in its earliest stages. The woman didn’t know the identity of the infected person, but that night at Sibley Memorial Hospital’s emergency department, she did know that she needed help. “She came in with flu-like symptoms,” says Dr. Michael Coleman. “We tested her for coronavirus. I remember sending her home. She looked great—she didn’t feel good, but there was nothing at that time that suggested she was going to get as sick as she did. The result came back the next day, and she came back two days later. She was transferred to [The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore] and she was on a ventilator for seven to nine days, but ultimately, thank God, she made it.” The case put Coleman, an emergency medicine physician for 23 years who has treated everything from heart attacks to infectious diseases, on high alert: He realized that COVID-19 affects patients unlike any virus he’d ever dealt with. “It’s a little more unpredictable,” he says. “The coronavirus’ behavior in the lungs is something we haven’t seen before. It makes people sick in a very different way, affecting the same body parts but in a different way. The lungs get more inflamed, but not watery like with the SARS virus.” Coleman made it a point to take on COVID patients so that one of his colleagues, who was pregnant, wouldn’t have to. He also has been seeing patients with strokes and other conditions who delayed their trips to the emergency room because they were scared of contracting the virus. In June, he treated a patient who had a heart attack at home; he and his team performed CPR and saved the man’s life. “When [COVID patients] come in, generally they’ve been stable enough just to need oxygen,” Coleman says. “There have been a number of cases where patients needed to immediately be put on a ventilator, but that’s been the exception, not the rule. There’s a fair number of walking well patients who are symptomatic but simply have body aches, fever and overall malaise but are ultimately discharged.” Coleman, who lives in Bethesda, believes

that people in this area have generally tried to comply with the directives of public health leaders when it comes to social distancing and wearing masks. One of the most important lessons Coleman says he’s learned during the pandemic is that doctors’ behavior outside the hospital is almost as important as what they do inside. “In medicine, if you’re

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

panicked and show signs of distrust, or you break protocol, then people won’t follow the protocols,” says Coleman, who has an 11-year-old son. “If you don’t wash your hands, if you don’t wear a mask, then why would the patients do it? If I don’t socially distance in my own neighborhood, why would people buy into it?” n

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

DR. MICHAEL COLEMAN

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PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

Megan Mendoza, a registered nurse at Potomac Pediatrics, pictured in a patient exam room

Survivor As a child, Megan Mendoza faced leukemia, then a relapse and the bouts of depression that came along with it. Pediatric nurses had such an impact on her life that she decided to become one, too. BY DINA ELBOGHDADY

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

interrupts Megan Mendoza midsentence. “Sorry, that’s my insulin pump,” she says, picking up the palm-size device that’s attached to her stomach by a thin tube. “It’s a new one, and I think it’s malfunctioning.” Megan explains that a chemotherapy drug she took as a child permanently damaged her pancreas and caused her to become diabetic. She pulls out the pump’s user manual, which proves useless, then calls the manufacturer. “Welcome to my world,” she says with the cheerful indifference of someone adept at troubleshooting such glitches. It’s early June, roughly three months into the pandemic, and Megan, 34, is doing a FaceTime interview in the living room of her Rockville home. Her husband, Mauricio, is working in the house behind closed doors, and their almost 4-year-old daughter, Gabby, is napping, exhausted from splashing around in her new inflatable pool. The state of Maryland recently relaxed its stay-at-home 76

order, but not much has changed for Megan, a registered nurse. If she’s not home, she’s at Potomac Pediatrics fielding calls to the medical advice line. At her colleagues’ urging, Megan agreed to stay away from patients for her own safety because COVID-19 poses serious risks for people with diabetes. She’s worked there for nearly three years and is bummed to be on the sidelines. “I did not become a nurse to talk on the phone. I became a nurse because I love interacting with kids,” she says. “I really want to be on the floor with the patients.” Most of those patients and their parents don’t know that Megan is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when she was 11 and underwent chemotherapy for about 2½ years only to relapse when she was a freshman at Richard Montgomery High School. That led to more chemo, a bone marrow transplant, bouts of depression, and complications that kept her in and out of the hospital for a sizable chunk of her teen years. At Potomac Pediatrics,

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Megan doesn’t usually talk about when she had cancer because most of the kids she sees aren’t experiencing a life-threatening illness. Even during her eight years as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s National Hospital in D.C., where she underwent treatment about two decades ago, Megan told families only when she thought it might comfort them to know that she could relate. “Wait, I want to show you something,” Megan says. She disappears and returns with a brass cowbell on a leather strap that used to sit by her bed when she was a teenager. She rang that bell—a souvenir from her grandparents’ trip to Switzerland—to get her parents’ attention one night in August 2001, three months after her bone marrow transplant, when she woke up coughing and saw blood. A common fungus that’s harmless to healthy people had ravaged her lungs. She’s also holding a stuffed Dalmatian she got from

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

THE PERSISTENT BEEPING

Megan and her husband, Mauricio, at home in Rockville with their daughter, Gabby, in June

the Germantown volunteer ambulance crew that rushed her to Shady Grove hospital in Rockville that night, before she was airlifted to Children’s National. When she first got there, Megan didn’t realize that she knew two of the kids in neighboring rooms—a boy about her age and a young girl with fiery red hair who’d once observed Megan undergo a session of radiation because she was nervous about her own. Both kids had received their bone marrow transplants within a week of Megan’s. She’d never spoken to them, but she was used to seeing them around the small transplant unit. Now they too were in the ICU suffering from infections. They both died just as Megan was transitioning out of intensive care. In moments of deep depression, Megan would ask herself: Why them? Why not me? “I’ve had 19 years to process all this,” she says. “And a lot of therapy.” As Megan talks, a soft voice calls from the distance. Her little girl, a Disney Princess fan, is snuggled on a couch in the family room wearing a blue Cinderella gown. “Come meet Gabby,” Megan says with a smile, carrying the computer screen to her daughter.

COURTESY PHOTO

THERE WERE TIMES MEGAN

wasn’t sure she would survive either the cancer or the sadness that came with it. The two are so closely intertwined, she says, that it would be impossible to tell her story without connecting them. She now understands that her depression has been closely tied to her deep-rooted guilt, but that insight and clarity come only in retrospect. “There’s no logic to depression. It twists how you think. It makes you believe you’re being extremely logical when you’re not,” Megan says. “People can point out how blessed you are, what a beautiful house you live in, what a lovely family you have. But someone with depression will twist it and think: I don’t deserve any of this. It’s a beautiful life, and I shouldn’t be in it.” The American Cancer Society reports that about 1 in 4 people with cancer struggle with clinical depression. An

evolving body of research specifically focused on adult survivors of childhood cancers shows that they can suffer longterm mental health problems. One peerreviewed study suggests that these survivors are more at risk of anxiety and depression than their siblings, while another found that for a wide range of mental disorders, including depression, they report more mental distress compared to control groups. For Megan, the depression was most intense after her cancer relapse and again as an adult. Her cancer and depression fed off each other. “The depression became much more exacerbated by the cancer and made it so much more difficult to face the cancer and the recovery process the second time around,” she says. Dr. Adelaide Robb, chief of the division of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Children’s National, says the likelihood of experiencing severe and persistent depression when dealing with a major illness increases for patients who In the fall of 2001, Megan (center)—pictured with her sister, Andrea, and brother, Dan—was undergoing chemotherapy while awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

have a family history of depression, as Megan did. Certain drugs, including the cancer-fighting steroids Megan took, can also contribute to mood disorders. Because children do not have fully developed coping skills, they’re even more vulnerable to depression and anxiety than adults when faced with a major psychological stressor such as cancer. “Kids will be in a center with other kids their age. They’ll be on the same cycle of treatment, maybe once a week on Mondays, so they see each other a lot,” says Robb, who did not treat Megan. “Then you look to the right and left of you and realize that you’re not all going to make it. When you’re feeling bad about yourself, you think: Why did I get lucky?” Megan was in fifth grade, competing in a regional swim meet in Princeton, New Jersey, when cancer upended her life. She was sharing a hotel room with her mother and older brother, Dan, also a swimmer. The night they arrived, she felt a pain in both of her legs unlike anything she’d ever felt before. It kept her awake and persisted the following morning as she watched the early events from the poolside bleachers. Her coach massaged her legs and iced them. Megan felt short of breath and kept telling herself to suck

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

survivor

Megan spent eight years working in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s National in Washington, D.C.

nosed, doctors told her parents that the survival rate for children had improved to 80%. But the odds for Megan were closer to 70%, they said, because she was older than a typical ALL patient, which put her in a higher risk category. She would need stronger chemotherapy for a longer period of time. A team of doctors, a social worker and child life specialists—nurses who focus on the emotional well-being of children—gave Megan the news after speaking to her parents. They all gathered in a family conference room, and as Megan sat wedged between her mom and dad, a doctor told her that she’d need to take a lot of medications that would make her feel bad in order to treat the disease. For how long? Megan asked. When could she swim again? She had more questions later, particularly about the tube hanging out of her chest, a Broviac catheter that doctors had inserted into her body during the bone marrow biopsy. It served as an

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entry point for the chemotherapy drugs she’d be taking. Cardy tried to soothe her daughter. “But I didn’t sugarcoat anything,” she says. “I didn’t want her caught off guard by anything that was coming.” Megan started chemo the next day, and for six months she was in the hospital roughly four days a week on an outpatient basis. “Little Miss Social” as her parents called her, the confident girl who organized playground games for her classmates, could barely muster the energy to get through most school days as fifth grade wrapped up. At Takoma Park Middle School in Silver Spring, where she was accepted into the Mathematics, Science, Computer Science Magnet Program, she quickly lost her hair and decided to wear a wig, which made her hot and selfconscious as it shifted on her head. She gave up on it when a sixth grade classmate pulled it off. Her once reliably fit body could no longer handle swimming and soccer, her biggest passions. She was depleted, immunocompromised and

COURTESY PHOTO

it up. “But when they called my name, I walked to the check-in and I started crying,” Megan says. “I knew there was just no way I could swim.” While others suspected nerves were at play, Megan knew better, and so did her mother, Suzanne Cardy. Her daughter was a tough kid with a high tolerance for pain who was used to performing under pressure. She’d been swimming competitively since she was 4, when she was selected to compete with the 5-year-olds on a Montgomery County Swim League team. “So when Megan said, ‘I hurt too much to swim,’ I knew something was terribly wrong,” Cardy says. Cardy took her daughter home to Germantown that Saturday in March 1997, then to the emergency room at Children’s National the following day when Megan was still writhing in pain. Megan had been to Children’s recently for a battery of tests on a stubborn lump in her neck just below her left ear. The enlarged lymph node had been diagnosed as a localized infection, and Megan had been taking antibiotics for months to treat it. When it did not subside, her doctor suggested a biopsy, but agreed to wait until after the swim meet. In the ER, doctors ran tests and gave Megan morphine. The following day they performed a needle biopsy on her neck but could not extract enough cells for a diagnosis, so they surgically removed the node. By then, Cardy and Megan’s father, Tom, were bracing for bad news. Still, it felt like they were “run over by a truck” when the results showed that Megan had a blood cancer, Suzanne Cardy says, either leukemia or lymphoma. Four days into Megan’s hospital stay, a bone marrow biopsy confirmed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in patients under 20, with the highest rates among kids ages 1 through 4. This form of leukemia, which starts in the bone marrow and spreads quickly, was practically a death sentence in the 1950s. When Megan was diag-

dealing with weight fluctuations as she went on and off steroids. Meanwhile, the onset of diabetes meant regular insulin injections throughout the day. By seventh grade, Megan was attending school more regularly and transitioning off the chemo. The day her daughter was diagnosed, Cardy remembers sorting through the 30 or 40 pages detailing Megan’s course of treatment and thinking: Why am I giving these awful drugs to my child? “But the alternatives?” Cardy says. “Well, there were none.”

AT RICHARD MONTGOMERY, Megan

was part of the International Baccalaureate program and was named co-captain of the junior varsity soccer team in her freshman year. She made new friends. Her curly brown hair had grown back and she was finally looking and feeling like herself again, though she developed some stiffness in her shoulder that fall and figured it was tendinitis from soccer. But on Thanksgiving Day, she woke up with back pain so severe that she ended up in the hospital again. A blood test showed that the leukemia had returned, 18 months after she’d finished chemo. She and her mother cried. That day, Megan found herself back on the oncology floor at Children’s surrounded by familiar faces—the same doctors and nurses, the janitor, the phlebotomist who always drew her blood. Her doctors laid out two options: Megan could do chemotherapy for another three years at a more intense level with different drugs, or undergo a bone marrow transplant. They told her that the chances of beating the cancer were roughly 10% with the chemotherapy and 40% with the transplant, if she survived the complications often associated with the procedure. “In other words, the chemo might not work and the transplant might kill me,” she says. “That put me in a bad place mentally.” The relapse at age 14 was more frightening than her original diagnosis, she says. When she was younger, death was a fleeting concept. She believed in heaven, and she believed that her pater-

nal Greek grandmother, whom she affectionately called Yaya, was there. “But at 14, you’re more scared,” she says. “You question things more.” Will I really go to heaven, she wondered. Will I die quickly or slowly? Will I die in the hospital? Will it hurt? Can I go to the beach to die? With her parents’ blessing, Megan opted for the transplant because she dreaded the thought of more chemo and didn’t think it would work. “The three of us talked at length, and it came down to: Which awful choice do we make?” Cardy says. Megan wanted the procedure to be done at Children’s, close to home with doctors and nurses she trusted. The process would involve destroying Megan’s diseased bone marrow— the spongy tissue inside the bone where stem cells develop into blood cells—and replacing it with the healthy stem cells of a bone marrow donor. “But finding a match is tricky because there are hundreds of thousands of tissue types,” says Dr. Naynesh Kamani, who was director of the blood and marrow transplant program when Megan was being treated. Immediate family members, specifically siblings, are typically the best candidates. Yet the chance of finding a match in a family is no higher than 30%, says Kamani, now a pediatric immunologist at Children’s National. No one in Megan’s family was a viable candidate, including her brother and her older sister, Andrea. So the search for alternatives began. The goal was to find an unrelated donor who was a good fit—or to locate a reasonably well-matched cord blood unit, the stem cell-rich blood collected from the umbilical cords of newborns. Family and friends organized drives, put up flyers all over the community and placed ads in small local papers in the hopes of finding an unrelated donor. An event held at a community center attracted hundreds of people who volunteered to do the blood test. For six months, while she waited, Megan had to undergo treatment to keep from getting worse. “It was the same type of chemo they would have been giving me if I wasn’t getting a transplant,” she says.

“I again went through all the things that chemo does. Losing my hair. Throwing up. Losing and gaining weight. No school.” It was one day during that wait that Megan collected all of her medications and emptied them onto her kitchen counter. She contemplated swallowing as many as she could, but didn’t. After telling her mom about it, she began seeing a psychiatrist and started taking antidepressants.

IN MAY 2001, MEGAN received a

transplant using cord blood found at a public cord blood bank. It took about 30 minutes to intravenously infuse the blood into her body. The agony came before and after. In the week leading up to the transplant, Megan had to endure total body radiation and even more intense chemotherapy to eradicate her diseased bone marrow and kill off any stray cancer cells. The treatments made her feel sicker than ever, she says, and led to infertility. By then, it was unclear if Megan’s eggs were even viable given the chemo she’d undergone for years before the relapse. But even if they were, the technology for freezing a woman’s eggs wasn’t widely available, and Megan wouldn’t have had the time to do it because her treatment had to start immediately. She went into menopause at the age of 15 and learned that she would not be able to have a biological child. If all went as planned, the transplanted stem cells would travel to the bone marrow spaces in Megan’s body, take residence there and produce new blood cells. Slowly, her blood cell count started to rise, and it was high enough for her to leave the hospital about six weeks after the transplant. But for the next year or so, Megan was in the hospital often to deal with complications. “Treating every one of those involved heavy-duty drugs that created more problems,” Cardy says. “Our dining room looked like a warehouse because it had boxes and boxes of medical supplies. There were times when I was running two or three IV pumps for her at home.” Megan’s lung infection in August 2001 landed her in the hospital. But the biggest problem was her inability to keep

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

survivor food down, a yearlong issue that doctors eventually resolved after determining that she had a rare digestive condition linked to her dramatic weight loss. Toward the end of her sophomore year, Megan still looked emaciated, but she was adding pounds and feeling well enough to attend a few classes. She took on an increased workload in her junior year. “Everybody knew me as the girl with cancer,” she says, “but it was fine.” Maddy Conroy kne w of Megan through one of the flyers she’d seen at school, then spotted her in the hallways rocking the knitted beanie look to cover her short hair. The two were briefly locked in a rivalry over the same cute boy, Conroy says, but that ended once they actually met and grew to become the closest of friends within a tight-knit group. “We were that crew of girls that was going to change the world—social work, education, nursing. That’s what we wanted to do,” says Conroy, now a special education teacher in North Carolina. “Megan had been talking about working at [Children’s National] since we were 15. That was her endgame. She admired the nurses she owed her life to so much that she wanted to get back there and do the same thing for other kids.” When it came time to graduate in 2004, Megan didn’t have enough credits. She put on a happy face as her friends prepped for the ceremony and got ready for college, and then she pressed forward with her fifth year of high school. She was working part time as a waitress at Applebee’s and taking three classes. But she felt left behind, especially when her friends returned for winter break with stories about campus life. “They were going back to college, and I had to go back to high school,” Megan says. “I was thinking: I’m going to be behind my whole life.” The night before her holiday break ended, Megan attempted suicide, then told her mom about it the next morning. Her mother drove her to the hospital and she was admitted for three days. As a condition of her release, Megan had to commit to seeing a psychologist regularly. 80

The episode motivated Megan to find a new psychiatrist, too. She began to wean off the antidepressants she was taking, she says, because they clearly weren’t working for her. Despite the challenges, Megan graduated from high school summa cum laude in 2005 and took off for the University of Pittsburgh to pursue the nursing degree she always wanted, inspired in particular by the nurses who cared for her after her relapse. They had a knack for downplaying awkward moments, she says— like the time her catheter kinked in the middle of the night. They knew how to lighten the mood on dark days, popping their heads in to say hello and wave to the Matthew McConaughey poster— a gift from a friend—that hung on the wall of her room at Children’s. “The doctors you see here and there, but the nurses make or break your day,” Megan says. “They can make the worst day of your life feel a little better.”

IN PITTSBURGH, MEGAN THREW

herself into her studies. Her parents fretted about how she’d manage her diabetes on a school meal plan, and whether her immune system was strong enough to avoid getting sick. Megan got a single in the dorm to avoid potential infections. Looking back, she was mildly depressed but managed, she says. Most of her fellow nursing students knew she’d had cancer because she would ask lots of questions in class, framed in a way that applied what she was learning to her own hospital experience. “I’m sure they were annoyed,” she says. The summer after her freshman year, Megan was working for a catering company when she met Mauricio at a house party in Rockville. He saw her walk down the basement stairs in the tuxedo-type ensemble she’d worn to work that day and thought to himself: Who is that? It didn’t take long to get her name, or to pick up on her easy-going nature, or to figure out that her boyfriend was hosting the party. He backed off. Three years later, he reached out to Megan via Facebook. They went out for a drink at Chef Geoff’s

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

in D.C., and she invited her new boyfriend along. But Mauricio bided his time, and when Megan’s relationship ended about a month later, he asked her out to dinner. She talked to Mauricio about the cancer and her fertility issues early in their relationship, which started in August 2009, a few months after she graduated from college. None of it fazed him. Before they got married, “I told her we’d figure it out together, no matter what,” says Mauricio, now a vice president of an information technology firm in Bethesda. During her last semester in college, Megan won a scholarship to do a clinical rotation at what was then the general medical and respiratory care unit at Children’s National, after having interned at the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit the summer before her senior year. The scholarship guaranteed Megan a position at the hospital upon graduating, and the PICU seemed a natural fit. Soon she was helping to care for the hospital’s sickest patients. Many couldn’t breathe on their own. Some were transferred from the oncology floor to intensive care, a bad sign, so they were terrified. “It often was not a situation where you could talk a lot to the kid,” Megan says. “A lot of pediatric nursing is about educating and working with the parents.” That means taking time to answer questions in a nonjudgmental way, she says, and respecting that some families don’t want to talk about the possibility that their child may die because they just can’t wrap their heads around it. The work took an emotional toll at times, like during the stretch when Megan was caring for more cancer patients than usual. Three died within a few months, including a teenage girl who’d had cancer for years. The girl was back in intensive care in grave condition, and to keep her alive, her parents approved a tracheotomy, a surgical hole in the windpipe that provides space for a breathing tube. It was a move that the patient adamantly opposed. Whenever the girl woke up from sedation, she grabbed at her neck and attempted to rip out the tube. Then she stopped trying,

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MEGAN AND MAURICIO GOT mar-

ried in a Greek orthodox ceremony in 2010 and began talking seriously about kids. Until she met Mauricio, Megan says the idea of not being a mother didn’t affect her much. “It wasn’t hard for me until I actually wanted to have a child,” she says, “and then it got real hard.” The couple decided that Megan should not carry a baby using an egg donor because doctors had told her that pregnancy might put too much of a strain on her heart due to the earlier chemo and radiation. They were pursuing the adoption track in 2015 when a relative (who does not want to be named) offered to carry a baby for them using an 82

Megan and her mother, Suzanne Cardy, before Megan’s wedding on Dec. 11, 2010

anonymous donor. After much discussion and research, Megan and Mauricio happily accepted. All along, depression was creeping its way back into Megan’s life, and she grudgingly decided to take antidepressants again. The medications helped for a while, but interfered with her sleep, so she started taking Ambien, a sedative. “I was doing better, and then I wasn’t,” Megan says. “All this time I was working long hours and trying to figure out how to have a baby.” When Gabby was born in July 2016, Megan says she was over the moon. The delivery was tense, a 31-hour process that left everyone emotionally exhausted. When she and Mauricio were finally alone with their baby, she says, “we just sat there staring at her, touching her toes and taking pictures. We were so happy.” Eight months later, Megan was strug-

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

gling again. She felt guilty that she’d married someone and couldn’t have biological children with him. He’s a wonderful father, and would have been a wonderful father to lots more children if I could do that for him, she’d think. She felt guilty that she wasn’t the main breadwinner, and that her medical bills were a burden. Megan figured her daughter would be too young to miss her, and that Mauricio would find a better wife more worthy of Gabby. She tried to take her own life again. “That’s the rabbit hole you go down,” she says, “and you can’t pull yourself out of it.” Dr. Katherine Puckett, a psychotherapist in the Chicago area, says the mind has a way of structuring the negative and the positive side by side. For someone who is used to sustained grief, a dose of the positive can throw off their equilibrium, a phenomenon known as aversive reaction to pleasure. “The mind tries to restore to the balance that it knows,” says Puckett, a former director of mind-body medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. “If you’ve had enough pain,

COURTESY PHOTO

Megan says, as if she were empty inside. The patient died months later, on Megan’s shift. During postmortem care, Megan washed the teen’s body and wrapped it in a shroud. She removed the breathing tube, and soon afterward told her supervisor that she needed a break from working with cancer patients.

Four-year-old Gabby at home with her mom

time disrupted her sleep, which exacerbated her depression. She took a leave of absence, then decided to resign. “I was lucky enough that I could stop working,” Megan says. “I realized that even though I have a lot of people who love me and want to help me out, that there’s only so much other people can do.” Determined to find a solution that worked for her, she tried many medications and combinations of them, which made her irritable. “Luckily, I have the most supportive husband on the planet,” Megan says. She also looked into less traditional treatments for depression, including transcranial magnetic stimulation—a noninvasive method of brain stimulation. In the process, she discovered through genetic testing that her body doesn’t produce enough of the enzyme that processes folate, the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9 needed to form the neurotransmitters that control mood and sleep. She’s been

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

taking the necessary supplement for two years, she says, and hasn’t made a change to her medications since she started it. Emily Marshall, a friend of Megan’s since high school who’s now a clinical social worker, says she’s always admired Megan’s mental toughness. “When she hit her lowest moments,” Marshall says, “she engaged in treatment, leaned on her supports and found her way out the other side.” Megan says the cancer and depression shaped her. “I don’t know who I would be if I hadn’t gone through what I have gone through,” she says. “I like who I am, so I don’t know that I want to change anything.”

MEGAN BEGAN SEEING PATIENTS

at Potomac Pediatrics again in July, as the pandemic wore on, but she only saw kids who were having checkups, while doctors and other nurses treated sick children in an upstairs office and tents in the parking lot. Though she misses her job at Children’s National, her work now is also rewarding, she says. She especially

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

you think that’s how life is supposed to be, and your mind seeks more for you.” Megan checked herself into the Behavioral Health Program at Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. She stayed for a week, but initially progress was slow. A psychiatrist recommended another drug. Mauricio assured her that she was an amazing wife and mother. He prayed a lot. He researched depression and spoke to a social worker at the hospital. Finally, he realized that he couldn’t fix the problem because it wasn’t about him, so he visited Megan and they had what he describes as the toughest conversation of his life. “I told her: We have the miracle child that you always wanted, and I can’t let this affect her life. I love you, but if you can’t take the steps you need to help yourself, then I have to move on because I can’t let our daughter fall victim to this,” Mauricio recalls. Megan says her time at Sibley in April 2017 was a turning point. It’s where she realized that she needed to rethink her hospital job. Leaving home before 6 a.m. for 12-hour shifts that rarely ended on

enjoys talking to young patients with diabetes. Sometimes those kids feel different, she says, so she’ll show them her insulin pump. “I had a 16-year-old boy with a different pump, and we chatted about how long he had it, and how he attended a convention to look at different models,” Megan recalls. “I thought it was awesome. The fact that he can talk and engage about it instead of ignoring it was very cool.” Megan’s colleagues say she has a gift for putting things into perspective for families, perhaps because she’s seen the worst-case scenarios and can assure patients that what they’re experiencing is typically manageable. She also understands how anxious parents can get about the flu or a rash or a bad spill on a bike. “My goal is to calm them down and support them,” Megan says. “Just because I had something terrible, it doesn’t mean that what [they’re] going through isn’t terrible. …I don’t want them to ever feel that their concerns are silly.” She now works two or three days a week, which allows her to focus on her health and her family, and to spend more time with Gabby. Her little girl is growing up: During Megan’s FaceTime interview in June, it didn’t take long for Gabby to warm up to the reporter on the screen and announce that her full name is Gabriela Aurora Mendoza. (The middle name honors Gabby’s paternal greatgrandmother, not the princess, Megan explains.) As the grown-ups chatted, Gabby cuddled the stuffed Dalmatian gifted to her mother years ago. When she sensed the conversation was winding down, she stared into the screen. “Um,” she said. “Can you buy me a Tiana dress?” Megan slapped her own forehead, laughing hysterically. Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog is one of Gabby’s favorite characters. “Say byebye,” Megan told Gabby. She squeezed her daughter and smothered her with kisses. ■ Dina ElBoghdady spent more than two decades as a journalist at several newspapers, most recently The Washington Post.

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interview A CONVERSATION WITH

MARCUS JONES The chief of the Montgomery County police talks about George Floyd’s death, what he told his own kids about dealing with law enforcement, and one of his proudest moments BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN | PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

IN 2006, MARCUS JONES, his wife and their two daughters got out of the car at Gaithersburg High School and headed to the football field to see Jones’ son play. Jones felt eyes on him in the parking lot and noticed two guys staring his way. Being a cop, this put him on high alert. After entering the stadium, his family went ahead to their seats while Jones found himself approached by the two men. “You remember us?” one asked. Jones, expecting trouble, said he didn’t. The men said Jones had busted them for possession in the early 1990s and then lectured them for being too old and irresponsible as fathers to be hustling drugs and using crack cocaine. As a result of that conversation, one proudly told Jones, “We’ve been drug-free for 10 years.” Jones was still processing all of this when he rejoined his family. Later he would call it “one of the proudest moments of my career.” Now Jones, 56, is facing perhaps the most challenging time of his 35-year career, following a 10-month selection process that came full circle. After serving as acting Montgomery County police chief from June to November last year, Jones finally was nominated for the permanent position after County Executive Marc Elrich’s first three choices dropped out. Jones admitted publicly at the time that the process “was really a kick to the ego,” but reasoned that “it’s not how we started—it’s how we finished.” Jones grew up in South Boston, Virginia, a major tobacco center 20 miles from the North Carolina border. He joined the Montgomery County Police Department in 1985 after majoring in business administration at the University of Maryland. After serving as a police officer and detective for 15 years, Jones rose steadily to sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2004 and captain in 2011. He also served as the drug enforcement commander, headed up the major crimes division, and was commander of the Silver Spring division. In 2018, he was promoted to assistant chief and supervised all investigation divisions. Jones is a former chairman of the National Black Police Association, and recently served on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s board of directors. Two of his adult children teach in the Montgomery County school system, and the third works in public relations for the National Restaurant Association. Bethesda Magazine met with Chief Jones in late June at the Montgomery County Police Department’s headquarters in Gaithersburg. 86

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Chief Marcus Jones at a memorial for fallen officers on the campus of Montgomery County police headquarters in Gaithersburg

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

interview What brought you to policing? My father was a Baltimore City deputy sheriff, so he was my introduction. I went to college, but I was a business major and that was my intended path. Then my older brother became a police officer in Montgomery County in the early 1980s, and that was my push. I was struggling to put myself through college. The county had one of the most progressive police departments. I did a couple of ride-alongs with my brother just to see what was involved. I thought I had the ability to help people, make a difference. I hadn’t yet been exposed to the business world, so I didn’t know what that looked like. I thought I’d try [policing] for a few years and see how it worked out. Is this a good time to be chief, or do the challenges seem overwhelming? It was already challenging when I first took over; there was a lot of change before us. Then COVID-19 hit, and that was a big change. It’s had an impact on the community but also on the police force and how we can continue to do our jobs. We have done planning for different kinds of epidemics, but never to this degree where we’re being asked to adapt and think a different, drastic way—and do so quickly. Most of this is being done by the county government and the emergency management team. We have been getting calls about people [not] wearing masks in stores, and recently we have restaurants not abiding by the governor’s regulations. We’re supporting the [county] board of health in this. What was your reaction to the death of George Floyd? This is the most horrendous thing I’ve seen in my career. It was so bad that I couldn’t watch the entire video the first time. It rocked me to a point where I couldn’t believe someone would have the audacity to act that way with such a disregard for human life. It’s something I focus on with my rank and file: You don’t want to be that one officer on video doing something detrimental to the profession. 88

What changes have you made since that happened? The one specific change is the intervention policy, which requires officers to act or attempt to stop another officer who is going outside our policy and using excessive force, or some other unlawful action. We’d been talking about this for some time, but the Floyd case expedited it. We’re still working on some things. There’s some education that has to take place on the use of force and decisionmaking by officers. But remember, some of these situations require quick reaction. We need better definitions of ‘necessary’ and ‘reasonable’ regarding use of force. What was your approach to the protests in the county after Floyd’s death? The first day we had protests was a Sunday, and we weren’t expecting it. I was watching what was happening in Germantown on Facebook Live. I told my staff to try to negotiate with the protesters so they could demonstrate without being totally disruptive. It was a start for us, and became a template for other protests so we could work with them. We had boundaries—there were some things we weren’t going to allow them to do. But we gave them their voice. We had over 90 protests without a single arrest, and I’m proud of that. Tell me about a personal experience you had with protesters. I was invited to speak at a protest in Gaithersburg, and while I was speaking there was one young man yelling at me. I stopped and acknowledged him and said, ‘You have a right to your opinion.’ And he kept talking. So I said, ‘And I love you, too, my brother.’ At that, he stopped. And I went on to tell the crowd that the department believes Black lives matter and we were trying to make our community safer for everyone. People were angry and upset, and COVID-19 added to it, so we needed to give them that space.

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Do you have family and friends who support the Black Lives Matter movement? Yes, and I have had really good conversations with them about BLM. I guess not so much about the movement itself as the issues at its core. It allows me to understand what’s acceptable and what’s not from a law enforcement perspective. But this is a conversation we’ve been having for a long time about policing in Black communities. I taught cultural diversity at our police academy for almost 10 years. When I talk to the rank and file, I talk about why African American communities feel the way they do about policing. And I give them the history of society using law enforcement as an oppressor. So when they say African Americans are more sensitive, the examples throughout history help them understand why. Growing up, did your parents ever instruct you on how to act if you were stopped by police? I was raised by my grandparents, and they always taught us about respect. And particularly if it was a law enforcement officer or a teacher—you were to give them respect. So I never got ‘the talk.’ I understood from family conversations that you weren’t going to win an argument with an officer on the street. As I got older and had more interaction with my father, it wasn’t about that talk, it was about not letting any situation get out of control, even if the officer is wrong. What lessons did you give to your own son and two daughters? I stressed to my son that law enforcement wasn’t always going to be fair to him, but that he should always show respect. As far as telling them what to do if stopped by police, I told them what they should do, stressing all the time that you’re never going to win an argument on the street—that’s not the time or place. And I gave them the basics of how to deal with law enforcement if they get stopped.

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interview And did they experience any negative incidents? My son has shared with me that he had positive interactions with law enforcement in college at Towson. But he’s been in other places outside Montgomery County where his interactions have not been positive. It allowed me to have a talk about life outside the college experience, and allowed him to have a clearer understanding of these situations. What about other family members? My wife, who grew up in Chicago, had some negative experiences with law enforcement. We got married at an early age, and when I told her I wanted to become a police officer, she really wasn’t accepting of that because of her negative experiences. What calmed her was knowing my father and brother were police officers. But we are not oblivious to the fact that there are negative experiences that people of color continue to have. What kinds of reforms are you pursuing for the department? When I came into office, one of the things I wanted to do was an external audit. The external audit should show what our department looks like internally, from an outside source, and to have [the auditors] engage with the community to get their feedback. Just looking at statistics is not enough. So I felt if there was a deeper dive, and the message was not coming from the department or myself, it gives us the opportunity to make adjustments. We’re still determining who will do the audit. What’s your reaction to calls for defunding the police? I don’t know what people mean by that. What does that look like? I have a budget of $288 million, of which 80% goes for personnel and 20% for operational costs. When they say we’re defunding you because we don’t want you to respond to certain calls, well, that doesn’t eliminate the officer who has to do a burglary report, or take care of a shoplifter or a 90

drunk driver or a car accident. If you take positions away from us, that only makes a low officer-to-citizen ratio even worse. County Executive Marc Elrich wants a civilian assistant chief. Are you on board? He wants the assistant chief to oversee our community engagement. I had no heartburn over it. I know it exists in other departments. I spoke with [former D.C. police Chief ] Charles Ramsey, who had a civilian chief. We had an extensive discussion about how this could benefit the department. When you bring in someone outside the agency, it provides a different look or view that can assist in creating different approaches that are not from a law enforcement perspective. What is the proposed mission of Elrich’s so-called task force? The task force is supposed to be reimagining policing and coming up with suggestions for the [county] executive to make changes. For example, what we do, how we respond to calls, which calls should we respond to, should some calls be diverted to another county agency? I’m not sure what input, if any, we’ll have on the composition of the task force. Do you have a wish list for the task force? It’s been clear to me for a long time that we’ve been the recipient of society’s ills, particularly with regards to mental health. The health professionals are strapped to try and provide the services they need, so we are put on the front lines. There’s clear evidence that there are calls we respond to that aren’t police-related matters—there’s no harm to public safety. Though we are called to handle individuals who are going through a mental health crisis, there are others better equipped to do that. If you had unilateral power to reform, how would you proceed? At the top of my list are the mental health calls. We’ll never be totally out of

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

the mental health business. There will be times, as health professionals will tell you, that we need a police presence. What I’d like to see is that it wouldn’t be solely the police, and that we would provide the support when needed. Whatever we do has to have a public safety connection. Another is the concept of community policing. I’ve talked to people who have completely different views. Some think it means that every neighborhood should have a cop walking a beat. But we have a mostly suburban footprint. I have 1,300 officers for 1.1 million residents, one of the poorest officer-to-civilian ratios in the country. So I don’t have an officer to put on every corner. So we have to be innovative in figuring out ways for officers to have more public engagement. I think community policing works best in highly populated areas and high-crime areas because it builds relationships and you can solve problems with residents on public safety issues. So Silver Spring, Wheaton, parts of Gaithersburg and Germantown are areas where we need to engage a lot more. What about domestic disputes? Or traffic control? I think we have to respond to domestic calls. Does every one involve violence? No. But they can, potentially. When someone wants someone else out of the house, we have to keep the peace. That’s part of our functionality. As far as traffic, we don’t think every time there’s a fender bender the police have to respond. The public thinks that the police officer has to be there for insurance claims. Not true. So we haven’t been responding if no one is hurt and a vehicle doesn’t need towing. If it causes a traffic backup, we’ll respond. If I had my druthers, I’d have a [dedicated] traffic control unit. What’s department morale like right now? Wow. As much as I’d like to say it’s OK, it’s not. There’s been a lot of events that have occurred in the past year that our officers have really struggled

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interview to understand their value to the community. There seems to have been a constant barrage of criticism, and their feeling is that the public overall doesn’t appreciate what they do. Are they leaving the department? Not at any greater rate than normal. That is a tough decision, to leave the profession. I’m not saying some folks haven’t made that decision, perhaps because this is not what they expected. But we haven’t seen any kind of mass exodus. What are you doing to address the morale problem? I’ve been working on a communications strategy to share with officers—really giving them updates, like town hall videos—and share with them the responses I get from the public or by email. A lot of it is support from what I call the silent majority who are not active on social media. This is another problem of the pandemic because we would do a lot of community engagement at different events. We can’t do that now. Describe your relationship with the union, the Fraternal Order of Police. It’s been many years since we’ve had good relations with the union. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) gives some unique rights to members. For example, if I want to dismiss an officer, the CBA gives the officer a choice of a traditional hearing board or an alternative. The alternative board includes an arbitrator and, if they conclude that the officer did wrong but don’t recommend dismissal, that decision is binding. So I can suspend an officer without pay, but I can’t fire them—and that’s a challenge. There are some things in the agreement where they’ve taken away the power of the chief, who is accountable to the county. It’s sad, and in some way it’s a waste of our resources. In 2015, 79% of your officers were white. Now that number is 75%. Are you happy with that figure? From my point of view, as diverse as

JEFFREY M. Montgomery County is, we should be working towards greater minority representation. I know there are factors that are affecting recruitment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we should give up. We are aggressively trying to change this. One of the ways we are focused on is using grassroots—I’ve always had the philosophy that police should come from the community in which they serve. And one of the challenges is: How do we sell ourselves to our younger demographic? We brought back our cadet program from the 1970s. Cadets can start at age 18 in a part-time position at half pay and also go to college. We felt we could get them in the door—two years working with us—[and] that would give us the baseline to come to our department. What other factors are working against you in recruiting? We’re sort of up against the mountain because when you see what’s happening in the country today—it’s not positive. People have to ask themselves, ‘Who wants to become a police officer during these tumultuous times?’ We have to be able to see that there’s more rewards, and it’s a noble career. We have to deal with people coming home from [police] work every day, thinking, ‘Am I valued by the people I serve, by the people I work for?’ We get feedback from [candidates] who say, ‘I don’t want to be a police officer; everything you do is being nitpicked.’ How do you screen for applicants who may have racist views? In recruiting, you try to get a feel in the early stages about what they want, what their expectations are and how they would fit into the county. Beyond the written exam, the process includes a background check and a psychological exam and takes six months. Do people come in with biases? Absolutely. We have to get them to recognize those biases. We’re not going to hire anyone with preconceived views. You’re not going to be well-equipped for this when you get here. I wasn’t. It was a great learning experience for me as a 21-year-old. Even today,

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BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY EXISTS IN MARYLAND

In its recent Landmark decision in Plank v. Cherneski Maryland’s highest court made clear once and for all that there exists an independent claim for breach of fiduciary duty under Maryland law. This simple statement clarified years of confusion arising out of conflicting court decisions on this point and provided new options for protection of those to whom fiduciary duties are owed. The Maryland Court of Appeals had attempted to tackle this question 23 years ago in the case of Kann v. Kann. Unfortunately, that decision only muddied the waters, leaving parties and litigants unsure of whether and to what extent there were fiduciary duties that could be enforced. Finally, with Plank v. Cherneski, those questions have been answered. In Maryland, a litigant can bring an independent claim for breach of fiduciary duty. To prove such a claim, a beneficiary of such a duty must show that there exists a fiduciary relationship, that it has been breached, and that the breach caused harm to the beneficiary. Depending on the circumstances, this may or may not entitle the beneficiary to a jury trial and to monetary damages. The Court of Appeals made clear that a managing member of a Maryland LLC owes a fiduciary duty to the LLC itself as well as to the other members. However, the Court went on to state that in this case the trial judge properly ruled that Mr. Cherneski had not breached his fiduciary duties either to Mr. Plank or otherwise. In fact, the Court affirmed the award of attorney fees in favor of Mr. Cherneski and Trusox, the company which he headed. The ruling has far reaching ramifications in Maryland, as the existence of an independent claim for breach of fiduciary duty extends beyond the LLC context and opens new avenues to protect minority stockholders in corporations, trust beneficiaries and other vulnerable parties. Schedule an appointment to learn your rights. 301-340-2020.

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700 • Rockville, Maryland 20852 301-340-2020 • www.steinsperling.com

Jeff Schwaber and Deanna Peters represented Jim Cherneski, the prevailing party in this matter. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

interview

I can’t know everything about every culture. The question I ask is: Are you willing to be open-minded, and learn and appreciate the diversity we have here? Have you personally witnessed a fellow officer acting in a racist manner? I would say that I have seen police officers in years past treating certain people differently, particularly people of color. I would not say myself I felt racism. The first Black officer hire in the county was in 1968. When I came on [in 1985], there were only 75 Black officers in the department. There was not total acceptance of Black officers by all the members of the department. Those were some challenging times; there was still institutional racism as far as preventing people from promotions and acceptance in certain positions.

Has officer recruitment become more of a challenge and, if so, why? Beginning almost five years ago, we began seeing a drastic drop in applications. We routinely would get 1,000 applications annually, and all of a sudden it dropped to the 700s and even as low as the 400s. So why is this happening? First, we’re competing with many different law enforcement agencies, all trying to get the best talent. Second, our employees work days, nights, weekends and holidays. Who wants to do that? Officers used to jump at any opportunity to work overtime, now they want the time off. It’s a new generation, and how do we attract this generation? What does the department need to do to regain the public’s trust?

The first thing is for all of us to take a pause; it’s been very emotional. Then it’s communication. People have to be willing, as the police are willing, to sit down and have a conversation and listen—really listen—and educate each other to have a better understanding. Over the past month or so, we’ve had conversations with community groups and groups formed by the [BLM] movement. We’ve learned a great deal, and I think the groups have learned a lot about law enforcement. To me, that’s the start. Relationship-building is what is needed for success. ■ Steve Goldstein is a freelance writer and editor, and the former bureau chief in Moscow and in Washington, D.C., for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Bethesda Interview is edited for length and clarity.

RESORT-STYLE LIVING FOR THOSE 55 AND BETTER

Life will love you back. SINGLE FAMILY AND VILLA HOMES FROM THE $300s IN TAX-FRIENDLY PA* CALL OR VISIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT (866) 790 • 3558 AmblebrookGettysburg.com /amblebrookgettysburg @amblebrookgettysburg The Community is intended to provide housing primarily for persons 55 years of age or older and additional restrictions apply. The Community shall be operated as an age-restricted community in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. *Any reference to tax information or tax data is partial information. Actual PA Law should be consulted. We do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of tax rules and regulations. Individual tax scenarios vary so the counsel of a financial advisor should be sought. Information provided was taken from retirementliving.com and Kiplinger.com. As tax information can change, please consult with your personal tax accountant or attorney. This material shall not constitute an over or solicitation in any state where prior registration is required. Amblebrook™ is pending trademark registration by Corbelis Management, LLC. All rights reserved. 2020 Corbelis Management, LLC

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

BETHESDA $4,487,000 | 8921 Burdette Road Daniel Heider +1 703 785 7820 Jan Evans +1 301 873 3596

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BETHESDA $1,450,000 | 6907 Fairfax Road Lauren Davis +1 202 549 8784

WASHINGTON, DC Price Upon Request 5016 Reno Road NW Frank Snodgrass +1 202 257 0978 Kirsten Williams +1 202 657 2022

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C H EV Y C H AS E , D C •

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©2020 TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Equal housing opportunity. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Price and availability subject to change.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Back to Business Meet nine local businesses that are serving the community in these difficult times

RING HOUSE, A CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Ring House independent living apartments at Charles E. Smith Life Communities provide life-enrichment programming that create a lifestyle so vibrant, that staying home is more fun than going out! We are welcoming new residents to our residences. Please contact us for details. Our campus follows strict social distancing protocols and our residents enjoy a fulfilling social lifestyle that includes programs broadcast on our community TV channel with interactive games, wellness programs, 96

educational sessions and more. Happy hours deliver specialty drinks and smiles to residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; doors. We are even Alexa-enabled! Residents can ask Alexa for daily activities, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the menu or for community news. Families can connect, too, keeping everyone

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

informed. New Ring House residents will receive a complimentary Amazon Echo Show to help make move-in during quarantine easier. For more information about this move-in special and Ring House, call 301-200-5249 today.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES E. EMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

1801 East Jefferson St. Rockville, MD 20852 301-200-5249 SmithLifeCommunities.org

Back to Business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SALON CENTRAL

PHOTO COURTESY OF SALON CENTRAL

10317 Westlake Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-767-1077 www.SalonCentralBethesda.com Here at Salon Central, your safety and confidence are our top priority. We want your experience at the salon to be relaxing and enjoyable. We have gotten comfortable wearing masks, working in shifts, extending hours, taking temperatures, sanitizing hands and compulsively disinfecting. We were honored to learn that Salon Central was the first place many of you ventured out to since

quarantine began in mid-March. Some of you are not quite ready to visit us yet, we get it. Please take your time. Know that we will be here when the time is right for you. We thank you for your unwavering support and loyalty!

THE CALKINS GROUP 7200 Wisconsin Ave., #500 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-798-9838 tony@thecalkinsgropu.com www.thecalkinsgroup.com Interest rates have fallen to unprecedented levels, bringing more

Salon Central WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE BACK!

Award winning salon serving the community for over 20 years 10317 Westlake Drive, Bethesda | www.SalonCentralBethesda.com

Wearing masks, sanitizing, working in shifts and extending our hours. Thank you for your unwavering loyalty & support!

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 97

   SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

buyers into the market. Inventory in our area remains very tight, creating a dream seller’s market with multiple offers on many homes. If you are considering buying or selling, call us today for a free no-obligation consultation.

CAPITOL CONCIERGE 6110 Executive Blvd., #1000, Rockville, MD 20852 202-223-4765 capitolconcierge.com At Capitol Concierge, we pride ourselves on being the premier concierge provider for some of the world’s most esteemed companies, who turn to us to deliver an

exceptional workplace experience. The pandemic has created a paradigm shift in what employees value in their work experience— support in getting through this turbulent time. From arranging help with day-to-day chores to planning safe ways to still have fun, we make the necessary and the impossible happen, as well as the little things, too. Contact us to find out how we’re transforming today’s workplace through services that make employees’ lives more productive, convenient and enjoyable.

DAVIDS BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE 12121 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-2540 www.davidsbeautifulpeople.com Instagram: @davidsbeautifulpeople With over 50 years of expertise and talent in the beauty industry, we are open and equipped to provide you with the best service during this period of COVID-19. We invite you to have your appointment completed in a safe and comfortable environment, with the option of our newest feature of our outside patio - “Scissors on the Sidewalk.” Your safety is our top priority!

need us most WE’RE HERE WHEN YOU

For more than 30 years we’ve been supporting Bethesda businesses by providing services that make their employees’ lives more productive, manageable, convenient and fun.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Connection. Well-being. RING HOUSE

INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS Now more than ever, residents appreciate the gift of connection. We are dedicated to delivering quality care and meaningful life experiences, and through it all, we’ve found ways to remain together while staying safely apart. Residents thrive using innovative platforms to stay connected, such as: • In-house TV station streaming classes, bingo, exercise, cooking demos, live music, live Jewish services, and more • Scheduled visitations while maintaining social distance • Hallway happy hours

Call 301-200-5249 today to schedule a virtual tour and see our beautiful one- and two-bedroom residences.

Independent living at Ring House brings you connection and well-being.

   SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

AMAZING ROMANCE TRAVEL

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One of Washington’s most experienced stylists is available for health and safety conscious inhome visits (his home or yours) for hairstyling, color (including henna), highlights, perms, keratin smoothing treatments and extensions. Bruce Marks, former owner of Last Tangle in Washington salon, can help you feel stylish again without having to venture to a commercial location. Visit his website or text him for more information.

Bethesda, MD 20814 301-215-6855 www.theDCteam.com Finding the home you’ve always dreamed of is no easy task. You need The DC Team of experienced and capable individuals at your back. If you’re in the market to sell, you’ll have access to our full marketing and staging knowledge, and the successful techniques we’ve tried throughout the years to find you the perfect buyer.

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UNDER CONTRACT 5205 Nebraska Ave., NW | $930,000

www.thecalkinsgroup.com

7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20814

Back to Business SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PAMPILLONIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAMPILLONIA

7114 Bethesda Lane Bethesda, MD 20814 202-363-6305 www.pampillonia.com Pampillonia offers an extensive collection of rare gems, original diamond designs and one-of-akind antique, signed and period jewelry. For over 125 years the master jewelers of Pampillonia have created magnificent designs. All original jewelry is hand made in Bethesda with an unparalleled commitment to detail and excellence. In addition to original creations, Pampillonia is the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading estate jeweler. At Pampillonia you

will find a large section of signed jewelry from Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari along with vintage engagement rings and collectable vintage jewelry. Their collection is also available online at Pampillonia.com and they are a highly rated platinum seller on 1st Dibs. In their store in Bethesda Row

they have installed counter shields and implemented strict protocols to ensure a safe shopping experience. Examine their jewelry first-hand and see for yourself Pampilloniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s committment to presenting only the finest jewelry and customer service worthy of their century old legacy and tradition.

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PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

From a Distance Montgomery County Public Schools scrambled to provide remote learning last spring when the pandemic forced schools to close. With instruction continuing online this fall, many question whether the district can meet the challenge. BY JULIE RASICOT

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ENSINGTON PARENTS

Melinda Davey and Cam Uecker are crossing their fingers that Montgomery County Public Schools will deliver on its promise to provide robust remote learning this fall. But recalling the uneven experiences of their three kids last spring, they aren’t so sure. “They didn’t retain anything in the spring, especially for math,” Davey says of rising sixth-grader Giselle and eighth-grade twins Nate and Samaya. “It was too hard, there was so much distraction,” Uecker agreed. During the summer, the kids kept busy with online courses and activities to help them catch up, Davey says. Nate, who along with Samaya attends Parkland Middle School in Rockville, participated in math and language arts classes offered through the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, a nonprofit that works in partnership with MCPS. Giselle and Samaya took math classes and participated in summer camps featuring such topics as the Harry Potter books and how to prepare for a mock trial through Varsity Tutors, a free online service. With about a month to go before Aug. 31, the first day of school, the family was anxiously waiting to hear more from MCPS. District officials were expected to update the school board in early August about their plans to deliver instruction entirely remotely for the fall semester after pivoting in late July from a proposal to start online and then rotate students into schools in phases. There’d been no word yet from Newport Mill Middle School in Kensington about orientation activities for Giselle, who’d been looking forward to starting middle school. Like many other MCPS parents, Davey and Uecker long for more live instruction, especially at the middle school level, and ways for students and teachers to better connect with each other. “I want there to be actual classroom teaching,” Davey says. Last spring, the family discovered that the level of effort tended to vary from 104

teacher to teacher. The staff at Rock View Elementary School in Kensington, where Giselle was a fifth-grader, worked to engage families from the moment distance learning began in late March. “Their principal was emailing every day, the teachers were emailing,” Davey says, noting that Principal Kris Alexander called Giselle on her birthday. The experience of the twins with their middle school teachers was “a bit helter-skelter,” says Uecker, who is in charge of the kids’ schooling and works remotely as an architect while Davey works as a pediatric oncology nurse at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. “They didn’t know where to turn in assignments,” he says. “In a way, it helped our kids learn some extra skills. They had to follow up with their teachers a lot. They had to email them and say, ‘Did you get this?’ ” The parents are hoping schools will use a model similar to what Nate experienced with his summer classes, in which the teacher and students would start with a Zoom class meeting and then break into smaller groups of about half a dozen kids, monitored by teachers, to work on problems independently or together. “At least they can form some sort of relationship with people, even if it’s on Zoom,” Davey says. Parents aren’t the only ones worried about whether students can build connections through computer screens. Last spring, teachers and students had the advantage of having met in class and developed relationships before the switch to remote learning. “So much of the beginning of the year is getting to know the kids, their style and who they are,” says Hunter Hogewood, a social studies teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. “Trying to do that over Zoom is going to be really, really hard.”

MCPS SUPERINTENDENT Jack

Smith sat at his desk in his otherwise empty office at MCPS headquarters in Rockville during a late-May video conference with administrators and a

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

reporter, recalling a “nasty” email he received the night before from a parent who complained that the MCPS remote learning program was “just not good enough.” “The fact is, he’s right— it’s not good enough,” Smith said. “So our goal has to be to build a system based on everything we’ve learned this spring, everything that everyone is learning together across the state, the nation, and then just start it and then be willing to revise it.” When the state announced March 12 that schools would close March 16 for two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, no one knew their doors would not open again for the rest of the school year. MCPS learned the news of the emergency closing the day of Gov. Larry Hogan’s press conference, according to school board President Shebra Evans of Silver Spring. County families and teachers were expecting students to return to the classroom once the period ended, although Smith says MCPS administrators began anticipating the closure could be extended as the pandemic gripped the region. Teachers were unsure what to do, says Chris Lloyd, president of the Montgomery County Education Association, the union that represents the county’s public school teachers. He told them to bring class materials home because no one could say at that point how long the closure would last. “You go to school after that announcement, really unprecedented, and you sit with your kids in your morning circle or whatever and you go, ‘So here’s what this means,’ ” he says. “You’re trying to make sense of something which frankly you aren’t making

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

The father of Nate and Samaya Uecker, who are pictured at home in Kensington, says the twins’ experience with their teachers was “a bit helter-skelter.”

much sense of.” During the week of March 23, the district began distributing meals at sites around the county for kids who could no longer count on getting food at school. On March 25, the state extended school closures for another month. Like districts across the country, MCPS had begun pivoting toward remote learning. Figuring out how to transition classes from in-person to online for roughly 166,000 students in pre-K through 12th grade— while continuing to provide services for those with disabilities and learning and language issues—was like “trying to build a plane while flying it,” several educators say. While MCPS tackled how to deliver instruction remotely, families and staff

were dealing with other issues, including food and financial insecurity, health problems, the need for child care, worries about the impact of isolation, and the lack of access to technology. On March 26, MCPS began distributing laptops to students who needed them. Throughout the spring, the school system distributed more than 70,000 Chromebooks and about 5,000 Wi-Fi devices to families, officials say. MCPS committed to making sure that every student who needed a laptop and device received one. According to MCPS, $16.4 million of the $24.8 million of the district’s federal coronavirus relief money would be spent to improve technology access for students and another $4.6 mil-

lion would pay for providing staff training on the use of technology for remote learning. Stunned by the growing possibility that teachers and students might not see each other in a classroom again that school year, educators and families had to figure out how to connect while also dealing with the transition of working from home. “We’re not used to that goodbye, so to speak, that physical goodbye, in March,” Lloyd says. “We’re used to that in June: last day of school you had your party, kids get on the bus and we all head out. We know that routine. So it was very traumatic because it was a very abrupt shift.” The district’s digital learning envi-

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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ronment, myMCPS Classroom, allowed teachers to post information about courses and grades and to communicate with students and parents; schools also used other online platforms. Though district officials and the board had talked in the past about the possibility of increasing access to courses by offering them online, “we weren’t there” when the pandemic hit, board member Pat O’Neill of Bethesda says. Still, teachers were able to use a secure platform and meals were distributed to those who needed them, Evans says. “We could not have anticipated that it would be the way that it was, and so it was never intended for us to be able to deliver a full day of instruction to our students the same way we would deliver it inside of schools,” she says.

MCPS NEEDED TO KEEP kids con-

nected to school even though its educators’ expertise at using technology for online learning varied greatly “because we’re a face-to-face organization,” Smith says. The school system sent home “tens of thousands” of packets of instruction and posted lessons online to keep kids engaged “while everyone was trying to figure out what was going to happen next,” Smith says. The district soon began posting online training sessions to show educators how to teach the math and English language arts curriculum remotely. At each school, staff sent out emails and text messages, and got on the phone to students and families to make sure they had what was needed. “It was a herculean task. We had everybody on board,” says Damon Monteleone, principal of the 2,500-student Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. “We divided up our secretarial staff, our security, anybody who was not a teacher. We assigned each of them like a caseload of kids—to call the kid, call the parent, find out what’s going on. We literally hit every single person.” At Eastern Middle School, Principal Matt Johnson says communication, even in normal times, is “always an issue” with 106

families through traditional means such as ConnectED, the school district’s phone announcement system. About 51% of students are eligible for free and reducedprice meals (FARMS), a measure of poverty, at the Silver Spring school. After the switch to distance learning, administrators asked teachers to report any students they hadn’t yet seen online. “We immediately called all those families,” which resulted in more families requesting Chromebooks, Johnson says. “We had a lot of families that I truly believe did not know what was happening.” From March 30 through May 18, MCPS rolled out a three-phase Continuity of Learning plan that eventually encompassed live and recorded class lessons delivered through Zoom and the learning platforms used by the school system. Elementary school students were supposed to log into live math sessions, mostly 30 to 40 minutes long, with their teachers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and English language arts lessons on Tuesday and Thursday; teachers also held online “office hours” after class so students and parents could ask questions and get help. Prerecorded art, music and physical education lessons were offered every other week. Teachers had the option of recording classes for middle and high school students to provide accessibility and avoid conflicting class schedules, and also held office hours. Some teachers posted lessons recorded by colleagues, which some families complained decreased the connection between students and their teachers. Some students say they never saw their teachers live online after schools closed in March. The district’s approach was to “do no harm,” a philosophy adopted by school districts nationwide as they confronted the unprecedented health and economic crises. Officials were mindful of the emotional toll on students who would miss out on traditional rites of passage such as the fifth grade “clap out,” when younger elementary students cheer on their older peers; eighth grade promotion ceremonies; and high school senior sports nights,

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

The Plans at Private Schools Editor’s Note: On July 31, Dr. Travis Gayles, Montgomery County’s health officer, announced that private schools in the county were prohibited from having in-person instruction until at least Oct. 1. An Aug. 3 order by Gov. Larry Hogan banned blanket private school closures in the state. A second order by Gayles on Aug. 5 prohibited the opening of nonpublic schools. He rescinded that order on Aug. 7, and instead advised nonpublic schools to not reopen for inperson instruction. At press time, some schools had announced plans and others were still formulating them. LAST SPRING, ABIGAIL MALONEY would get dressed, brush her hair and sit at a desk in her Kensington home before starting online classes at 8:30 a.m. Then a junior at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, she says she tried to do her best with a heavy load of classes. “I kept my camera on to make eye contact with the teacher and nod and show that I was engaged,” says the 17-year-old, who sometimes put her dog Gizmo, a shih tzu, in front of the camera to liven things up. Abigail says she learned to be productive in the new setting and did well on her first Advanced Placement test in May, but missed the face-to-face connections. The private school’s plans for this school year were not set at press time. One plan that the school considered was to have half of the students come to the building for two weeks of in-person instruction, then work from home remotely for two weeks. Dividing the students alphabetically splits her friend group, but Abigail says she was happy about the prospect of going back to school in person. Holy Child administrators gathered information over the summer from experts about safety protocols and surveyed parents, says Head of School Shannon Gomez. “We are small and nimble enough to know what the girls need and how to give it to them,” says Gomez of the school of about 360 students in grades 6 to 12. “This has required more creativity and planning, and our people are channeling both.” Pivoting and adapting are words many

private school administrators have used to describe their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, online learning wasn’t a hurdle but more of a speed bump to continuous education when schools closed their buildings in the spring. Smaller class sizes, existing technology and more resources helped give some private schools a jump on the public school system in the transition to distance learning. As the situation evolved over the summer, private schools considered a variety of reopening scenarios. Some announced hybrid learning plans while acknowledging they may have to shift gears as the school year progresses if the virus numbers spike. At The Siena School in Silver Spring, a multisensory learning approach for students in grades 4 to 12 lent itself well to Zoom and Google Suite platforms to engage students in the spring, according to Director of Admissions Bekah Atkinson. Each of the school’s 134 students had a Chromebook from the school and adequate Internet access. Some online classes included jumping jacks (students answered math questions by doing the corresponding number of jumps, or just did the exercise while giving an answer) and guest speakers, such as a scientist or a comedian, to keep engagement high. Siena is sticking with all-virtual learning at the start of school. Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda used Chromebooks, ThinkPads and MacBooks already provided by the school to students to provide instruction in real time through Google Meet last spring. Director of Marketing and Communications Connie Mitchell says student attendance was recorded, assignments were graded and performance was assessed. The spring was a “learning lab” for teachers, and professional development was offered over the summer to improve instruction online, she says. For this school year, the private Catholic school is starting virtually with limited in-person oncampus activities through early October. “We know on-campus learning is ideal for good interaction and learning engagement, but we can’t start it right away because we need to get our sea legs a little bit,” Mitchell says. As the Academy of the Holy Cross shifted to remote instruction in the spring, Principal John Sullivan says the Kensington high school’s teachers and students were held to the same standards with the online learning platform as they were for in-person schooling. That meant the grading policy stayed in place. The learning environment had already been built upon a

Nela Sahady, a rising sophomore at Connelly School of the Holy Child, which was still deciding on plans for the start of this school year as of press time

student portal that included assignments, instruction and study guides, so students and teachers were familiar with engaging in classwork remotely (the e-learning system had been used in the past for snow days). The school did not miss any instructional days due to the pandemic. Holy Cross announced on Aug. 7 that this school year students will have remote learning through Oct. 1. The school will later reassess to determine if and when it could switch to a hybrid learning system. When it became clear that buildings would be shuttered for some time in the spring, Landon School in Bethesda had to build a distance learning program from the ground up, says Assistant Headmaster Charles Franklin. “Certainly as a school we have made a large leap forward in the use of educational technology tools at our disposal,” Franklin says. “I also think all of us will have grown in our abilities to be flexible and creative, which will stick with us in our classrooms moving forward.” At press time, Landon had not announced plans for this school year. The Norwood School in Bethesda didn’t have a comprehensive online learning plan when the pandemic first hit, but quickly switched to distance learning on March 31. Using Microsoft Teams and Zoom, students had a hybrid of live and prerecorded lessons and assignments. At press time, the school was still considering options for the fall; it will likely adjust its online delivery to more real-time instruction after discovering it was a lot of work for the parents to monitor the lessons, especially with younger students, according to Matthew Gould, head of school. At the McLean School in Potomac, students as young as kindergarten already had technology in their hands and the school was teaching cyber citizenship before the pandemic hit. It was that familiarity that helped

the 454-member student body gear up fast for the online transition in the spring, according to Head of School Michael Saxenian. The private school had not announced plans for this school year at press time. In general, private schools are in a better position than public schools because administrators don’t have to deal with the logistics of large classes, multiple buildings, buses and technology shortages, says Danny Vogelman, head of Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda. WES closed school for a week before and after spring break to build its distance learning program, which launched on March 31. The process was tweaked in the first week at parents’ request to start later in the day so as to better fit class requirements into a working parent’s day. At WES, nursery school and pre-K students will start on campus this year, while the rest of the school will be all virtual. The plan is to have a phased-in opening with the goal of eventually having all 280 students in preschool through eighth grade back. “All of this is subject to change at any time,” Vogelman says. “Because of our size, we can have all students on campus under CDC guidelines, but we are choosing to slow down. We want to be careful in an abundance of caution.” Since there is a possibility that students will move back and forth from in-person to distance learning in a hybrid system, Vogelman says once students are back in the building there will be more livestreaming of classes to keep the experience consistent. “All these things we’ve learned, we will find opportunities to apply them in the future certainly. However, it is taking a toll,” Vogelman says. “Getting ready for this school year has been extraordinarily challenging because you are not sure what you are getting ready for.” —Krista Brick and Caralee Adams

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or recorded, and in participating in such activities as virtual office hours with students and parents, professional development and staff meetings. The remaining four hours were to be dedicated to planning. The schedule helped “strike a balance” for teachers, who needed more time to plan for remote learning and had their own family needs to consider, Lloyd says. “Teachers just cannot be available 18 hours a day to answer email and be available to answer questions,” he says. The agreement spelled out steps for completing ongoing teacher evaluations, but noted that no formal observations would be conducted during the period of remote learning. As the spring progressed, MCPS posted science lessons, and middle and high school teachers began posting

Hunter Hogewood, who heads the social studies department at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, teaches a class from home via Zoom.

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assignments for the week on Monday, which allowed students to self-schedule. According to MCPS, teachers began assigning books for students at different reading levels, and technology improvements allowed students to submit homework electronically rather than having to print out assignments and hold them up to their computer’s camera or scan and email them. Though many parents applauded the school system’s efforts, others were frustrated, complaining there was too little instruction time, not enough academic rigor, no accountability, uneven delivery of instruction for older students, poor communication, and not enough support for kids with special needs or those who spoke other languages. Stuck at home and juggling work responsibilities with child care, some parents yearned for a longer school day and more engagement for their kids, while others complained about ongoing changes in the remote learning program. “What else are they going to throw at us and ask of us?” one parent wrote on Facebook in late April after receiving an MCPS email. Cynthia Simonson, president of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, says parents of middle and high school students, in particular, wanted more clarity from teachers. Some schools were well-organized, clearly communicating expectations and which online platform to use, she says. At the high school level, parents were “sort of meandering in the fog,” unsure of what each teacher was doing and how to communicate. The ambiguity was “so unsettling for many parents, and mainly because they’re having to trust the kids are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. By the time they found out that they’re not, weeks and weeks could have gone by,” Simonson says. MCPS was not alone in its struggles. A spring survey of 477 public school systems by the Center on Reinventing Public Education found that just “one in three districts expect teachers to provide instruction, track student engagement,

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proms and graduations. Expectations for student participation and teacher performance were not as rigorous as in school, according to administrators. Students weren’t required to attend Zoom classes, didn’t have to turn on computer cameras for privacy reasons, and, instead of grades, would receive a “pass” or “incomplete” for the fourth quarter—a way to ensure that all students were treated equitably. High school students who passed a course could choose to receive a letter grade for the semester; those who chose the letter grade received one letter higher than their third-marking period grade. An agreement between MCPS and the teachers union called for teachers to spend a maximum of four hours per school day providing direct instruction that was live

or monitor academic progress for all students.” In nearby Fairfax County, schools didn’t begin distance learning until midApril, but the district was forced to cancel virtual instruction twice in one week because of technical problems and inappropriate online behavior, according to published reports. Early on, MCPS experienced some issues with others hacking into Zoom sessions, but quickly made online platforms more secure, Evans says. The change in the MCPS grading policy inflamed some parents and educators who say older students lost their motivation. “Kids very quickly got the message: You don’t have to do this,” says one high school teacher who didn’t want to be identified. “The grading is ridiculous,” adds Davey, the Kensington parent. “How are you proving anything? Everyone gets throwaway A’s and B’s.” Evans says the board “did the right thing” in protecting students facing hardships at home from being penalized for issues beyond their control.

SHORTLY AFTER THE SWITCH to

online learning, English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher Andrea Littell was on the phone, trying to help a Spanish-speaking first grader with limited English figure out how to access his teacher’s website. His mom couldn’t help because she doesn’t speak English. “He doesn’t really know his letters, so I was trying to get him to type in these things on his computer, and I’d say something like, ‘Now type the letter “u” ’ and he’d say, ‘I don’t know that letter,’ ” says Littell, who teaches children from a range of countries, including Honduras, Cameroon and Ethiopia, at Silver Spring’s Woodlin Elementary School. She says she told the boy to “look at your keyboard, find the number 7 and underneath the 7 you’ll see a letter that looks like an upside down ‘n’. Push that letter.” Even after 80 minutes, “we weren’t actually able to figure out how to get him to his teacher’s page on myMCPS and then get him to the [lessons],” Littell says. “It’s really difficult for kids who aren’t

“ What else are they going to throw at us and ask of us?” one parent wrote on Facebook in late April after receiving an MCPS email.

great readers and don’t have a whole lot of family support.” The digital divide exposed by the pandemic also thrust existing inequities into the spotlight, educators and advocates for minority and vulnerable students say. According to MCPS data for the 20192020 school year, nearly 34% of students were eligible for FARMS, just over 18% were eligible for English Speakers of Other Languages services, and nearly 12% were special education students. While students in wealthier communities most likely could rely on parents to help with online learning, disadvantaged students often were dealing with crowded living conditions, trauma, and a lack of support from parents who did not have the time or education to help them with schoolwork and accessing technology, says Diego Uriburu, the executive director of Identity, a Gaithersburg nonprofit serving Latino youths in the county, and a member of The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence, an organization of community advocacy groups. “All kids suffer from this, but some suffer more,” he says. MCPS families at all economic levels struggled to balance working from home with making sure their children participated in online learning. Lloyd says he often heard “heartbreaking stories” from teachers about grandparents who stepped in to help with child care. “Teachers would have conversations with these grandparents who would just be, after days of trying to navigate this, would be just at their breaking point—

they’d be crying,” Lloyd says. Stanford University juniors Gunguk Kim and Robert Ross found a “striking difference” in how students were coping with remote learning when they interviewed several freshmen at Silver Spring’s James Hubert Blake High School, Kim’s alma mater, during the spring for a course project. One boy said it was difficult to do his schoolwork because he was caring for his baby brother while his mother, who had to close her cafe, worked as a maid and his older sister, a junior in an International Baccalaureate program, did her classwork, according to a Zoom interview shared with Bethesda Magazine. Money was so tight that the boy was trying to sell some of his sneakers and other items to help pay the rent. His mother had been too embarrassed to ask for more than one Chromebook for her children, so he shared the MCPS laptop with his sister and also used the family’s older, slower model. “I can’t do work when a baby is crying in my room. I can’t do it,” he said during the interview. A self-described straight-A student, he would often ask teachers for help while in school, but didn’t feel comfortable attending Zoom office hours. “I don’t want to have my little brother screaming on Zoom meetings,” he said. Silver Spring parent Elizabeth Wenk says she and her husband relied on their two middle schoolers and their au pair to help their 6-year-old twin kindergartners while they were working. The family would sit down at 8 p.m. to plot the next day’s schedule on a large whiteboard,

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LIKE OTHER educators at

home with their kids, North Bethesda Middle School math teacher Amy Watkins had to teach while also caring for her infant and 5-year-old sons. Her older son frequently wanted to talk to her students while she was teaching. Often, her baby’s nap schedule was at odds with her classes. During one class in late May, “he was really fussy, he was crying and my husband was on a phone call, so I’m like, I can’t do this,” she recalls. “I had to kill the call and tell my kids, ‘I’m sorry. I’ll meet with you on Friday.’ ” School administrators worried about burnout among staff members. “Very few of us have ever been trained on how to teach kids on distance learning,” Lloyd says. “That was a big shock to people.” Many MCPS teachers are women—80% of the union membership is female—and have kids of their own, so their “entire homelife shifted,” he says. Special educators, in particular, were “really struggling” as they spent hours on the phone with families and tried to keep up with required paperwork. Teachers often communicated with students long after classes ended, answering emails, texts and phone calls at all times of the day. Stacy Farrar, a physical education teacher who also provides academic support for students at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, says one student texted her on a Friday night 110

to ask if she could call because she was having trouble trying to submit an application to Montgomery College and did not have a computer at home. Farrar filled out the application online as the student spoke. Then she printed the application, put it in an envelope addressed to the student and explained to the teen how to address and stamp a new envelope for the application once it arrived. “I said, ‘I’m sending this to you, and when you get it, you’re going to sign it and you’re going to put it in the other envelope and send it in,’ ” Farrar says. She also contacted the school secretary, who happened to be online that night, to arrange for the girl to pick up a laptop at school. “Eight o’clock Friday night was when she was finally ready for help, so yeah, I’m gonna do it,” Farrar says. “I measured that call as a success.” By June, B-CC’s Hogewood was used to seeing a screen full of small black boxes, each bearing the name of one of his students, during his Zoom classes. When he called on a student, he occasionally had

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to wait for a response, and he’d wonder whether the student was occupied with a cellphone or away from the computer. “The biggest frustration I hear from teachers is the kids don’t turn on their cameras. You’re talking to a bunch of little black boxes,” says Hogewood, who heads the social studies department. “In our profession, so much of what we do is the interplay and the interaction, reading facial expressions, body language. It’s really hard, particularly if kids don’t have their cameras on.” As the spring progressed, teachers began to see older students lose interest. “What happened was there was less and less engagement of students in their classes the longer this went,” Monteleone says. “The nature of the grading policy really [was] if you got an ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ third quarter, there actually wasn’t a whole lot they had to do fourth quarter to earn credit.”

ON A FRIDAY MORNING in early

May, Joe Shashaty places a laptop on the coffee table in the living room of his Silver Spring home and positions a small red plastic chair in preparation for math classes for his kindergartner and second grader. He’s in charge of helping his sons because his job as a management and technology consultant is more flexible than that of his wife, Ellen Mowry, a neurologist and professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Around 10 a.m., the second grader signs on to his class, at ease with the technology like most kids his age. “I go to Google Classroom and click the link and ta-da!” he says as the screen fills with a gallery of his peers. One classmate appears upside down for the entire lesson. “It’s a little more distractive because everybody is making all these noises and I can’t really

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each of them adopting their own scheduling style. Eighth grader Olivia wrote the most detailed schedule, including times for eating breakfast, running, Zoom classes and walking the family’s dogs. “We tried to do everything,” Wenk says. “Then we realized it’s so unrealistic that we’re going to get everything done and keep our jobs and keep our sanity.”

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from a distance hear the teacher as well,” he says. After the classes end, the official school day is over for both boys. There is homework to do, but the rest of the day yawns ahead. Shashaty says he is overwhelmed at times by his sons’ need for his attention. For the first month, his kindergartner had trouble paying attention during the Zoom class. “He would want to come over and snuggle with me,” Shashaty says. “There have been a few days where the neediness is so constant and so loud it really drives you a little bonkers.” While parents longed for more instruction time, those with older students, especially those in middle school, say the expectation that their children were capable of working independently was unrealistic. Bethesda parent Joshua Starr, a former MCPS superintendent, says the structure of in-person classes at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School had helped keep his youngest son on track. “Sixth grade

boys do not have great executive functioning skills to begin with, and the way things are structured now, you really have to do it on your own and it’s been really hard,” Starr says. “We really had to buckle down with him and create a schedule.” Other students discovered that they enjoy the independence of distance learning; for those dealing with anxiety or other issues, it’s also proved to be a better fit, some students and parents say. Bethesda parent Tom Manatos says his oldest son, a rising fourth grader with dyslexia, finds it easier to learn at home with the help of teachers and support staff at Burning Tree Elementary School. “There are less distractions. He can focus. He does a Zoom with his reading specialist at school twice a week, extra time with his teacher twice a week, as well,” Manatos says. “Both of them have remarked how [much] more dialed in he is to their engagement because of the lack of distraction.”

WEARING A BLACK T-SHIRT embla-

zoned with Eastern Middle School’s eagle-head logo, sixth grade Assistant Principal Matthew Kerwin stands in front of a mustard-yellow hallway locker in a short video posted on the school’s website. “Today I’m going to show you how to open a locker,” he says. “One of the things our new sixth graders are most excited about when they come to middle school is having a locker of their own.” The video and another of a virtual building tour are part of the school’s online orientation for incoming sixth graders. Like some other schools, Eastern was also scheduling virtual “meet and greets” with staff and students during the summer. Starting in early August, MCPS was offering Kindergarten Jumpstart, a program of 20 days of online activities. Kindergartners have been “told for the last couple of years they’re going to go to school, and school is this thing

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in their head, and all of a sudden school as we knew it is going to change,” says Janet Wilson, head of the MCPS Office of Teaching, Learning and Schools. The district’s plans for summer school and fall options addressed the need to significantly increase rigor and the amount of instruction, according to officials. MCPS was moving to one online platform, myMCPS Classroom, to reduce confusion and technical issues. During the summer, schools offered their own classes, additional MCPS offerings, and others from outside partners—a total of nearly 650 options—in an effort to help students catch up in math and language arts and to provide enrichment opportunities. Enrichment options included classes in songwriting and urban dance offered by Strathmore, and cooking classes offered by Manna Food Center. As of June 29, nearly 14,400 students were enrolled.

On July 11, MCPS announced that schools would begin the year online, with plans to eventually rotate students back into buildings two days a week in a three-phase approach as health conditions allowed. Officials were planning a full day of remote instruction, incorporating live and recorded sessions, according to Wilson. Whether learning in person or remotely, attendance would be mandatory, as required by the state, and the district’s traditional grading system would be in effect, officials said. Students would be assessed to determine learning loss. During the summer, educators were to participate in training to increase their skills at teaching remotely, including how to use video conferencing and other tools to enhance student engagement. “No matter what we do, some groups are going to be unhappy,” O’Neill says. “We’ve got to have our act together, whatever we’re doing.”

The district previewed a full-day remote learning schedule at its two elementary schools with extendedyear programs, Roscoe R. Nix in Silver Spring and Arcola in Wheaton, during their six-week programs in July and August. At Nix, which serves students in pre-K through second grade, teachers spent time getting to know their students through class meetings, and kindergarten teachers met their new pupils through one-on-one Zoom visits, according to Principal Annette Ffolkes. The full-day schedule began with a class meeting involving activities to help students process their emotions about not being in school. About four hours of live instruction, including hourlong classes with small group instruction for math and language arts in Zoom breakout rooms, and lessons in science, art, music and physical education, filled out the schedule—satisfying requests for

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a longer instructional day, Ffolkes says. “Parents appreciated having someone actually instructing students,” she says. On July 21, MCPS reversed course, announcing it was scrapping its hybrid learning plan and would deliver instruction remotely for the fall semester, after the number of coronavirus cases in the county increased, more parents and teachers protested that proposed safety measures were inadequate, and the county’s top health official said he wouldn’t recommend in-person instruction in schools “at this time.” The district’s decision—echoing those of school systems in neighboring Fairfax and Prince George’s counties—sent parents scrambling to figure out how to handle at least another five months of remote learning. For parent Ellen Mowry, the decision provided the certainty that was lacking in the hybrid model, in which she could envision the ongoing disruption of having to keep a child home because of a runny nose or having a school close because of an outbreak. Even before the MCPS announcement, she and her husband had been considering whether to ask a few families if they’d like to form a “remote learning pod” that could rotate between their homes, allowing kids to socialize while doing their own schoolwork and giving parents a break. As a physician, Mowry was ever mindful of the possible health risks of creating such a group—she’d begun writing a list of rules to present to families about social distancing and reducing outside exposures. But, like other parents and educators, she also worried about the long-term impact on her young sons of a continuing lack of socialization. “It’s all a gamble. You’re always calculating the risk-benefit ratio,” she says. “Everything we do is a risk.” n Julie Rasicot, a former deputy editor of the magazine, lives in Silver Spring.

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Extraordinary

EDUCATORS

Six local teachers who are making a differenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; from sharing life lessons with fifth graders to instilling confidence in high school students struggling with algebra BY CARALEE ADAMS AND MIKE UNGER | PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

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MEGAN COOPER

Lakewood Elementary School Rockville

From left: Recent Lakewood graduates Yosef Berhan-Selassie, Nicole Dirk and Benedict Santos with their teacher, Mrs. Cooper

LEARNING STARTS ON DAY ONE in Megan Cooper’s fifth-grade homeroom class at Lakewood Elementary, and the teacher is the subject of the first lesson. After taking attendance and making sure she’s properly pronouncing each child’s name—which she considers an important sign of respect from teacher to student—she asks the kids to gather around her rocking chair on the rectangular blue rug in her classroom. “We address the elephant in the room, because I feel like when they notice that they have a teacher who has a disability, some part of them gets nervous,” Cooper says. “Some part of them wants to know, ‘How is she going to be able to keep us safe?’ So I start out by [saying], ‘Raise your hand if you notice that Mrs. Cooper walks a little differently.’ You see the little tentative hands going up because they’re not sure if they’re really supposed to admit or address it. I have to reassure them and say, ‘Guys, it’s OK. You saw me walking down the hallway. You notice. Let’s talk about what it is.’ ” “It” is cerebral palsy, a disorder the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is “caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.” Cooper, 45, was born two months premature and diagnosed when she was a year old after her parents noticed she wasn’t meeting milestones like sitting up and crawling. She begins her lesson on her disability by explaining that different parts of the brain help a person perform certain functions, and the part that helps her do things like walk, jump and skip didn’t get enough oxygen when she was born. Often, a child will ask if she wishes she could run. “I try to explain to them that you can’t really miss something that you’ve never done,” she says. “I would not give up having a disability for having the ability to run. It’s

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EDUCATORS

contributed to so many different aspects of my life. I wouldn’t want to see who I was without it.” Cooper walks with a limp, so she always stands up and shows her students that her hip sockets are misaligned. “I tell them it makes it feel like I’m walking around with one shoe on and one shoe off all the time,” she says. Then she prepares them for when they see her fall—something that happens often enough for Cooper to consider herself an “expert faller” (she’s only gotten hurt a handful of times). “Number one, take a breath. It’s OK. It might look a little scary to you, but I’m going to be fine,” she tells the students. “Number two, just ask me if I need anything. Chances are I won’t, but it’s just a good rule of thumb. If I’ve dropped something—because part of being an expert faller is getting rid of whatever is in your hands—then pick that up. But first and foremost, stay calm.” At Lakewood, where Cooper has taught for 23 years, the sight of her slowly moving through the halls, using a cane to help maintain her balance, is as routine as the morning announcements. That is due in large part to Cooper’s insistence on not using her condition as a crutch, but as a vehicle to do what she does best. Teach. “She’s great with helping kids learn about empathy and compassion for others,” says Carrie Gruver, a fellow fifth grade teacher at Lakewood. “They know that she can still do everything that any other teacher can do. They learn that you can still achieve your goals even if you have something that holds you back a little bit.” That’s been Cooper’s attitude since before she knew what the word attitude meant. On her first day of kindergarten at Wheaton Woods Elementary School, she was accompanied by her physical therapist, Grace Deely, who explained to Megan’s classmates why she needed to use a walker and always wore dresses. Pants wouldn’t fit over her leg braces. Though she no longer uses the braces, she still shows them to her students. “She anticipated what the kindergartners were going to want to know, and she addressed it,” Cooper says of Grace, her 118

childhood physical therapist for 16 years and the inspiration for her daughter Ella’s middle name. “I never forgot it, and I knew that when I started working with kids I was going to do the same thing because it really set the tone. Answer the questions you know they’re going to have and it’s a lot easier.” As a child, Cooper endured orthopedic surgeries on her hips, heels and hamstrings. She sweated in physical therapy twice a week after school, saddled up for equestrian therapy another day, and went to aquatic therapy once a week. “I used to wonder why I was tired all the time, but I didn’t think anything of it,” she says. Her parents and older brother didn’t heap pity or extra protections on her. When she fell, her father would yell “safe,” as if he was an umpire and she was sliding into second base. Cooper, who lives in Derwood, says she was never bullied or ostracized during elementary school or her years at Julius West Middle School or Richard Montgomery High School, where she played clarinet in the band. Other than leaving five minutes early from class to make sure that she made it to her next one on time, she was like any other student. “I never felt sorry for myself, but there were times when my friends would go on a hike and I wasn’t asked because they knew it was hard for me. Although I love hiking, it requires extra time,” she says. “Sometimes people might have assumed that I wasn’t able to do something that I actually would have loved to have done. But my attitude was: Your experience in life is what you make it. Am I going to wallow in this? Do I bemoan the fact that this is really tough, or am I going to deal with it? I always go back to, I have to figure it out somehow. If it’s not working, do something different, which is what I say a lot to my students now.” After majoring in elementary education at Goucher College in Baltimore, Cooper began her career at Lakewood as a third grade teacher. She taught fourth grade for 10 years before being asked to move up to fifth nine years ago. She delights in gathering her students around her wooden rocking chair, which once belonged to a cherished friend of her family, and reading to them from books

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

like The Man Who Loved Clowns, about a person with Down syndrome who teaches a family member to come out of her invisible shell and find joy in life. (She loves it so much that she made her husband, Robert, read it.) This summer she volunteered to lead a Zoom book club for her most recent fifth grade graduates. “I’ve always felt that a child is never too old to be read aloud to,” says Cooper, who teaches reading and writing to all the fifth graders at Lakewood. “My big thing with them is to take out your literary shovel and dig past the surface of the text. What is the author trying to say without saying it? It’s a way of teaching them about inferencing without making it daunting. [Fifth graders] are on the cusp of being ready to break out of elementary school, but they’re still curious.” Tiffany Hu was a fourth grader in Cooper’s class at Lakewood when she realized how much she liked learning. Now 24, she’s in medical school at the University of Michigan. As a middle school student, Hu volunteered in Cooper’s classroom to fulfill her student service learning (SSL) hours, and she has been back at least once every year to help out. She speaks to Cooper’s students about the importance of education and highlights the things she appreciates about having been in Cooper’s class. “She was always so optimistic. I remember distinctly sitting on her rug during reading time. She would leave us with a cliff-hanger until we read the next chapter,” Hu says. “She never explained [her cerebral palsy] like it was a weakness. It was more like: This is how I’ve always lived life.” For Rockville dad Chris Allen, trying to pry information from his son about school is like pulling teeth, he says. Yet he knew that 11-year-old Samuel wanted a certain teacher when he got to fifth grade last year at Lakewood: Mrs. Cooper. “She talked to us about her disability, and that moved me,” Samuel says. “She told us that she had cerebral palsy and it made it harder for her to walk. But even if you have cerebral palsy you can still walk, you can do a lot of jobs, you can do a lot of good things in this world. Mrs. Cooper is living proof of that.” —Mike Unger

CEDRIC LYLES Barrie School Silver Spring CEDRIC LYLES, A PERFORMING arts teacher for 18 years, knows how to motivate students to take a risk onstage. Jordin Ramirez says he was a drummer with no interest in the theater when he came to Barrie School, a private school in Silver Spring, as a freshman. Lyles invited him to help backstage on the tech crew, and the following year encouraged him to be an actor. Initially, the 15-year-old says he was nervous, but Lyles told him: “You already perform playing the drums. See this as another performance—with legs,” says Jordin, who landed a lead role in the spring musical, Into the Woods, as a sophomore (the production was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic). “He brings out the best in you.” Lyles says he learned about nurturing talent from his elementary school music teacher in Washington, D.C. When he was 8 years old, she told him to play “Hit the Road Jack” on the piano by ear with the lights out in her classroom. “I said, ‘I can’t see.’ She said, ‘Play,’ ” recalls Lyles, now 40 and a Silver Spring resident. “I played what she played and improvised. It was mind-blowing. At that point I realized

there is nothing I couldn’t do musically. I just had to do it. I’ve been that kind of a teacher.” Lyles trained as a concert pianist, majored in music at Morgan State University in Baltimore and earned a graduate certificate in arts management from American University in the District. He taught first in Baltimore’s public schools, then at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills before coming to Barrie in 2016. In 2003, Lyles was one of the founders of ArtsCentric in Baltimore, promoting diversity in the arts through productions and educational programs. Over the years, he has recruited his students to participate in shows for the organization, which became a nonprofit in 2016. According to Lyles’ teaching philosophy, “A work of art is a work of the heart.” When a student’s performance clicks, he says, the moment is euphoric. “People find themselves, they change,” he says. “The kinds of things that happen to people once they discover their inner ability… being a part of that experience is worth it every time.” —Caralee Adams

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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Extraordinary

EDUCATORS

JUSTIN FRASER Walter Johnson High School Bethesda JUSTIN FRASER WAS STUDYING to become an actuary when a college math professor saw that he had a knack for explaining problems in class. He suggested Fraser become a math teacher and hired him to work at the campus tutoring center. “I always loved helping people,” says Fraser, 45, who has been at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda for eight years and teaching for 21. “It lured me into education.” Fraser teaches algebra 2 to students who have struggled to pass math and need to learn at a slower pace over two years. He initially was hesitant to take on the class, but the extra time allows him to get to know his students and figure out how to motivate them. “Once you build a relationship, they will work for you—that’s the key,” says Fraser, who teaches about 150 juniors and seniors. He rewards students for meeting their goals with quarterly pizza parties. Students who earn an A get their names painted on a wall of his classroom. One of those students was Hermela Samson, a 2019 graduate of Walter Johnson who says she didn’t 120

like math when she came into Fraser’s class. “I was always second-guessing myself,” says Samson, who got extra help from Fraser after school, even when she was a freshman at Montgomery College. “I’ve become more confident. Now, math is my best subject.” Entering Fraser’s room, which is decorated with life-size paintings of SpongeBob and other Nickelodeon characters, students laugh at the funny memes he creates daily with photos they’ve provided, says Chase Rieder, who worked as a paraeducator with Fraser for five years and now teaches at North Bethesda Middle School. “Kids know for those 45 minutes it’s going to be like a Las Vegas show. It’s not just a class,” Rieder says of Fraser’s interactive teaching style. “He’s just an older kid with a beard. Students are really comfortable with him.” Principal Jennifer Baker says Fraser can reach any student, including those who previously failed math and are in the school’s credit recovery program. “He really goes the extra mile to assure they are understanding the material and know that he cares,” she says.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

—Caralee Adams

LIGIA VALLADARES Julius West Middle School Rockville LIGIA VALLADARES LIKES TO start her weekdays at 5 a.m. with a gym workout before heading to Julius West Middle School, where she has taught physical education and health for four years. Later, in the school’s wellness room, the 32-year-old often does pull-ups or rows alongside her students as they rotate competitively in teams through fitness stations she’s modeled after the popular Orangetheory Fitness routine. “I never feel like I’m going to work, I always feel like it’s fun,” says Valladares, who lives in Silver Spring and is a graduate of Wheaton High School and the University of Maryland. During her lunch hour, Valladares opens her classroom to students. Building a close rapport is helpful in health class, especially when making middle schoolers comfortable during lessons on sensitive topics. She also coaches girls soccer at Julius West and started La Familia, a mentoring club for Latino students. “I’m a person who has way too much energy,” says Valladares, who credits her parents and sisters with fueling her passion for education. Her mother has worked at Bethesda Community School for 32 years. Her oldest sister, Irma Najarro, teaches third grade at South Lake Elementary School in Gaithersburg, and her other sister, Melissa Valladares, is the owner and executive director of Bethesda Preparatory Preschool. Valladares, whose parents emigrated from El Salvador in the 1980s, invites Latino guest speakers from different professions to share their stories at La Familia, which meets about every other week and has grown from 35 to 60 members in two years. “I learned from the experiences of other people and it inspired me,” says Valeska Peraza, an eighth grader from Rockville who joined La Familia two years ago after being encouraged by Valladares. “A lot of people started from the bottom and they worked to get up really high now. It helps me be motivated to work hard.” Valladares, who was promoted to eighth grade team leader at her school this fall, says her journey wasn’t easy, so she tells students not to give up: “I always had a great supportive circle around me, and that’s what I want to provide to our kids. I want them to believe in themselves.” —Caralee Adams BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

121

Extraordinary

EDUCATORS

ALISON STERN Green Acres School North Bethesda GROWING UP IN ENGLAND, Alison Stern held pretend classes for her dolls and volunteered at an elementary school as a teenager. Soon after fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a teacher, she found herself disillusioned with British education policies that limited her flexibility in the classroom. Stern came to Massachusetts in 1999 to work as an office manager at a summer camp, where she met her husband, Ed, a teacher. They married in 2004, moved to North Bethesda, and she began teaching fourth grade that year at Green Acres School, where she has worked since.

122

“I’ve ended up in a school which is everything I believe in philosophically,” says Stern, 49. “It has the freedom for creativity and spontaneity. There is a big focus on meeting children where they are.” Known for guiding with a combination of structure and warmth, Stern uses big projects to get students excited about learning. A unit on rain forests incorporates lessons on plants, animals, native people and deforestation, and concludes with students writing fictional stories. Another on global celebrations culminates with a “World’s Fair,” in which students share traditions from different countries, dress in costumes and create models associated with the holidays. Samantha Friedman says Stern’s dedication enabled her son Eric to learn as much with remote instruction in the spring as he did in the classroom. Stern gave students personalized assignments,

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

held individual online conferences, and reached out late on Friday afternoons if items weren’t turned in. “That’s a real level of commitment,” says Friedman, who lives in Gaithersburg. “She’s very caring, responsive and invested.” Every summer, Stern returns to work at the camp where she met Ed. The couple brings their two sons, both of whom attend Green Acres. In her cabin at night, she reads as much children’s literature as she can to find fresh recommendations for her students. “She loves making sure kids read and building relationships,” says Karen Buglass, a former fourth grade teacher at Green Acres who worked with Stern for 10 years. “She talks with kids about their interests and then books miraculously appear on the shelf.” —Caralee Adams

NICOLE WADE Chevy Chase Elementary School NICOLE WADE HAS ATTENDED her students’ birthday parties, soccer games and music recitals. “It’s important for them to see me as a person, not just a teacher. I want to show them that I care outside of school,” says Wade, 46, a third grade teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School for 18 years. (She also taught fourth grade for a year. ) When Jonathan Leon-Salans was a student of Wade’s, she came to dinner at his house a handful of times and became a family friend. “She didn’t bat an eyelash when she found out I had gay dads,” says Leon-Salans, 22, a law school student who has kept in touch with Wade. “She really formed a bond where she was interested in you and your life.” Wade creates a challenging and nurturing environment in which kids work hard but also have fun, says fellow Chevy Chase Elementary School teacher Karin Rich, whose three children (now 10, 13 and 15) were in Wade’s class. Every summer, Wade invites students to come with her to Six Flags (with parent chaperones), arranging for free tickets from the park based on a reading incentive program. “She is right in there with everybody— going on the rides and to the water park,” Rich says. “It’s very rare to find a teacher that does things with kids over summer. It’s nice because it doesn’t make for such a hard goodbye at the end of the year.” On the last day of school, Wade gives students their own list of the top 10 reasons why she loved having them in class. She takes the time to recount something personal—like when they helped another student or shared a certain project. This year she drove to each of her 27 students’ homes to drop off the notes in goody bags and wave at a distance while holding a sign that said, “Congrats, you did it! I will miss you. Have a great summer! Hugs, Mrs. Wade.” n —Caralee Adams BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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COLLEGE BOUND

Where Bethesda-area high school graduates applied to college and where they were accepted COMPILED BY DANA GERBER

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Thomas S. Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery Wootton Albright College 0 0 2 2 3 2 N/A N/A Allegheny College 4 2 3 2 0 0 3 3 American University 56 21 41 19 44 15 28 25 Amherst College 10 0 17 5 12 4 4 1 Appalachian State University 3 1 2 2 0 0 N/A N/A Arcadia University 1 2 3 1 0 0 N/A N/A Arizona State University 7 4 3 1 15 8 5 4 Auburn University 9 8 1 0 6 2 N/A N/A Bard College 4 2 5 4 0 0 N/A N/A Barnard College 11 1 7 2 12 1 N/A N/A Barry University 3 2 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A Bates College 7 3 2 0 0 0 N/A N/A Baylor University 4 3 3 2 0 0 N/A N/A Belmont University 4 4 1 1 0 0 N/A N/A Bentley University 1 0 1 0 0 0 N/A N/A Binghamton University 2 2 3 3 4 3 N/A N/A Boston College 36 6 6 3 13 3 8 5 Boston University 44 11 42 8 51 18 36 25 Bowdoin College 16 5 7 1 9 3 3 0 Bowie State University 9 1 24 10 14 7 N/A N/A Brandeis University 8 4 8 3 0 0 8 6 Brown University 34 1 58 4 59 5 21 1 Bryn Mawr College 2 1 8 5 4 2 N/A N/A Bucknell University 19 6 7 1 6 2 4 3 Butler University 3 3 1 0 0 0 N/A N/A California Institute of Technology 2 0 31 3 9 0 9 2 California Polytechnic State 4 2 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A University, San Luis Obispo Carleton College 9 5 3 2 0 0 N/A N/A Carnegie Mellon University 20 3 53 10 44 8 39 14 Case Western Reserve University 16 5 17 6 19 11 20 14 124

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Walt Whitman 1 1 1 1 31 19 9 2 2 0 0 0 12 9 8 4 1 1 6 1 0 0 12 3 1 1 2 2 3 2 6 5 25 8 47 22 2 0 1 1 13 10 38 5 2 1 11 6 2 2 3 1

Walter Johnson 6 3 2 2 57 29 2 0 0 0 4 4 10 3 5 2 0 0 4 0 4 3 1 0 4 2 1 0 1 1 10 8 22 8 42 11 2 0 8 3 5 3 25 0 3 2 17 7 6 5 3 0

Winston Churchill N/A N/A N/A N/A 58 24 6 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 18 10 4 1 3 1 4 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4 4 4 2 3 3 4 4 51 12 86 28 4 0 4 0 9 5 38 7 4 1 9 4 6 6 8 0

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

D IE PL AP

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

THE FOLLOWING IS a chart of the colleges and universities where 2020 graduates from seven Bethesda-area high schools applied and were accepted, based on data provided by the schools. The schools are: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson in Bethesda; Richard Montgomery and Thomas S. Wootton in Rockville; Winston Churchill in Potomac; and Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring. The acceptance information that the schools sent is self-reported by students, so school officials could not guarantee its accuracy. Wootton and Churchill provided only data from schools that had at least three applicants, so we have designated some of their numbers as not applicable (N/A). For brevityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake, we have limited the list to colleges and universities with at least seven applicants from the combined high schools.

TOTAL 12 13 315 60 7 8 70 33 13 44 7 22 16 12 9 29 161 348 43 60 51 273 23 73 18 65

8 10 152 12 3 7 39 17 8 5 5 6 12 9 6 25 45 123 9 22 31 23 12 29 16 6

0 34 18

0 10 11

1 30 25

0 6 11

N/A 60 39

N/A 11 19

13 280 154

7 62 77

The Catholic University of America Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Clark Atlanta University Clark University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Colby College Colgate University College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross The College of Wooster Colorado College Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia University Concordia University Connecticut College Coppin State University Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College Delaware State University Denison University DePaul University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elon University Emerson College Emory University Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Fashion Institute of Technology Florida A&M University Florida Atlantic University Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida State University Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Franklin Pierce University Frostburg State University Furman University George Mason University The George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE PL AP

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery

TOTAL

8 3 5 5 18 4 10 10 33 3 7 3 1 5 35 0 5 1 29 16 8 0 11 8 14 1 35 32 5 1 10 41 12 32

3 1 2 3 9 4 2 2 21 3 4 1 0 2 1 0 4 0 4 1 3 0 7 6 8 0 26 3 5 1 7 26 9 9

3 1 6 12 9 0 8 3 2 1 9 7 3 6 57 3 3 8 77 19 3 5 2 8 8 1 22 51 3 0 3 14 9 28

1 1 6 10 4 0 1 1 1 0 9 2 3 2 4 2 1 2 10 2 1 2 0 6 6 1 17 1 2 0 1 12 9 6

0 0 0 4 8 0 9 6 4 1 1 0 0 2 69 2 1 3 60 21 10 5 4 1 4 1 25 69 2 0 1 15 4 41

0 0 0 3 5 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 6 2 1 1 7 3 2 2 1 0 3 1 16 9 1 0 1 9 0 13

N/A N/A N/A N/A 12 N/A 4 N/A 5 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 30 N/A N/A N/A 52 9 4 3 N/A N/A 3 N/A 24 35 3 N/A N/A 11 3 21

N/A N/A N/A N/A 11 N/A 4 N/A 3 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 5 N/A N/A N/A 17 4 2 3 N/A N/A 3 N/A 24 4 3 N/A N/A 10 3 10

5 5 0 5 27 4 12 4 24 2 5 6 2 8 22 1 3 1 48 19 6 0 10 1 5 3 16 35 0 5 2 33 4 30

3 2 0 5 17 4 7 3 17 2 5 5 1 6 1 2 1 1 9 2 2 0 7 1 5 2 13 5 0 2 2 26 3 9

6 1 2 5 18 8 6 2 16 1 5 1 1 2 26 1 3 6 39 8 4 2 6 3 10 2 35 20 2 8 2 32 12 28

1 0 0 3 12 7 2 0 10 0 4 0 0 1 1 1 3 1 1 0 0 2 3 1 7 2 29 1 1 4 1 22 3 3

N/A N/A N/A N/A 28 N/A N/A 4 15 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 34 N/A 3 N/A 71 22 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3 N/A 23 68 4 N/A N/A 20 3 45

N/A N/A N/A N/A 16 N/A N/A 3 7 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A 1 N/A 10 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A 3 N/A 12 4 3 N/A N/A 16 3 11

22 10 13 31 120 16 49 29 99 8 27 17 7 23 273 7 18 19 376 114 35 15 33 21 47 8 180 310 19 14 18 166 47 225

8 4 8 24 74 15 17 10 61 6 23 8 4 12 18 7 11 5 58 13 10 9 18 14 35 6 137 27 15 7 12 121 30 61

N/A

1 3 5 2 5 22 32 8 0 26 2 16

0 0 2 0 1 5 16 2 0 14 1 7

2 10 2 2 6 6 12 7 0 16 0 21

0 4 0 2 2 1 7 3 0 6 0 12

4 3 4 2 1 21 16 4 1 13 2 37

3 0 1 1 1 12 9 2 1 6 1 20

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 13 8 5 N/A N/A N/A 15

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 7 6 5 N/A N/A N/A 15

1 0 1 0 2 12 18 8 0 4 0 14

0 0 0 0 2 4 9 7 0 0 0 12

2 0 5 3 4 21 10 6 6 14 3 38

1 0 2 2 1 8 6 5 5 7 3 30

3 N/A 3 N/A N/A 15 17 5 N/A 9 N/A 30

1 N/A 2 N/A N/A 7 13 1 N/A 4 N/A 18

13 16 20 9 18 110 113 43 7 82 7 171

5 4 7 5 7 44 66 25 6 37 5 114

291

121

43 21 5

12 5 2

35 41 5

6 9 2

36 32 2

12 7 1

21 47 N/A

12 6 N/A

15 29 1

11 6 0

38 25 1

4 2 1

34 30 4

9 8 2

222 225 18

66 43 8

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

125

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery Gettysburg College Goucher College Grinnell College Hamilton College Hampton University Harvard College Harvey Mudd College Haverford College High Point University Hofstra University Hood College Howard University Indiana University at Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Johns Hopkins University The Julliard School Juniata College Kent State University Kenyon College La Salle University Lafayette College Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Liberty University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Maryland Loyola University New Orleans Lynn University Macalester College Marist College Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount Manhattan College Marymount University Massachusetts Institute of Technology McDaniel College McGill University McMaster University Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Middlebury College Montclair State University Montgomery College Montgomery Community College Morehouse College Morgan State University Mount Holyoke College Mount St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Muhlenberg College New Jersey Institute of Technology The New School 126

3 28 7 6 7 15 3 13 3 9 16 28

2 16 2 2 2 1 0 5 2 7 9 13

3 17 7 0 13 44 12 10 1 8 15 54

3 10 4 0 10 2 3 2 0 6 9 25

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

D IE PL AP

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

college bound

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

0 4 4 10 0 25 4 6 8 6 3 3

0 3 2 4 0 3 2 2 6 6 2 1

7 1 1 1 0 24 4 10 6 12 7 12

5 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 4 6 7 8

6 4 3 3 N/A 46 3 5 10 11 5 17

3 4 2 1 N/A 1 0 0 5 10 1 5

28 66 24 29 30 227 30 55 42 64 60 149

18 44 12 12 18 12 7 13 26 48 35 65

5 7 2 3 10 49 4 8 8 15 10 32

1 5 1 0 6 1 2 2 3 10 3 11

4 5 N/A 6 N/A 24 N/A 3 6 3 4 3

4 5 N/A 4 N/A 2 N/A 2 6 3 4 2

TOTAL

251

183

11 21 32 2 1 1 7 5 12 10 2 1 8 9 19 4 7 6 6 5 2 3

7 12 3 0 1 1 4 3 8 4 0 0 6 5 10 3 5 5 2 1 1 2

14 10 80 0 3 0 6 2 7 7 2 3 7 4 37 1 1 8 2 8 1 8

11 4 3 0 3 0 2 1 2 3 2 0 5 0 27 1 1 6 0 5 0 6

10 31 64 3 0 6 3 1 2 3 1 1 10 3 14 0 3 2 1 7 0 4

6 20 5 0 0 4 3 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 7 0 1 2 1 6 0 1

7 35 42 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 3 8 N/A 3 4 N/A 5 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

7 33 6 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 3 7 N/A 3 3 N/A 5 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

10 27 36 1 2 0 3 2 6 16 5 0 7 6 2 2 5 8 2 2 2 2

8 21 7 0 2 0 3 1 5 11 4 0 1 5 1 0 2 7 2 1 2 1

15 30 43 1 3 1 4 1 8 17 0 3 4 8 25 4 7 3 2 6 2 5

8 24 4 0 2 1 4 0 4 4 0 2 2 0 20 4 4 1 2 4 2 3

6 29 53 N/A N/A 3 N/A N/A 8 17 N/A N/A 4 4 16 3 8 3 N/A 8 N/A 3

2 27 3 N/A N/A 2 N/A N/A 4 8 N/A N/A 2 1 10 0 2 0 N/A 4 N/A 2

73 183 350 7 9 11 23 11 46 78 10 11 44 34 118 14 31 30 13 36 7 25

49 141 31 0 8 8 16 6 28 38 7 6 23 12 80 8 15 21 7 21 5 15

182

14 2 0 16 11 18 0 79 1 2 17 3 14 5

10 6 0 11 8 5 0 34 1 0 7 2 9 1

18 6 0 2 5 6 1 111 6 4 40 2 15 3

15 2 0 1 4 1 1 76 5 1 12 1 11 3

9 2 0 18 8 5 0 71 0 6 18 1 21 6

5 1 0 15 6 1 0 71 0 0 9 1 14 6

9 4 3 17 13 3 N/A 66 N/A N/A 5 N/A 7 3

9 3 2 17 13 3 N/A 66 N/A N/A 5 N/A 7 3

3 4 0 25 13 14 2 7 0 0 3 1 7 7

3 3 0 21 13 5 2 5 0 0 1 1 6 5

12 15 0 16 21 3 4 90 0 0 10 2 9 7

6 8 0 15 15 0 3 71 0 0 3 2 6 6

8 8 4 24 18 4 N/A 21 3 N/A 3 N/A 13 N/A

4 4 2 18 10 1 N/A 21 0 N/A 1 N/A 9 N/A

73 41 7 118 89 53 7 445 10 12 96 9 86 31

52 27 4 98 69 16 6 344 6 1 38 7 62 24

N/A

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery New York Institute of Technology New York University Norfolk State University North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Notre Dame of Maryland University Oberlin College Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Occidental College The Ohio State University Ohio University Ohio Wesleyan University Old Dominion University Olin College of Engineering Oregon State University Oxford College of Emory University Pace University, New York City

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

D IE PL AP

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

college bound

TOTAL

3 53 0

2 11 0

2 43 2

1 11 0

0 72 3

0 22 3

N/A 35 N/A

N/A 25 N/A

2 42 1

2 10 1

1 39 2

1 11 2

N/A 64 N/A

N/A 25 N/A

8 348 8

6 115 6

N/A

11 53 36

1 11 2

10 28 45

5 15 4

13 36 55

4 23 3

8 46 30

8 23 3

10 46 41

4 25 6

19 53 25

5 23 2

20 46 44

6 21 6

91 308 276

33 141 26

N/A

3 22 4 7 4 2 2

0 16 2 6 3 0 1

6 9 4 0 2 4 1

4 3 3 0 1 1 1

2 40 0 0 3 2 4

1 24 0 0 1 0 1

N/A 33 3 N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A 28 3 N/A N/A N/A N/A

8 35 2 1 0 0 0

1 25 2 1 0 0 0

9 31 6 3 3 1 3

0 20 5 2 2 0 3

3 70 5 N/A 3 N/A N/A

1 37 3 N/A 1 N/A N/A

31 240 24 11 15 9 10

7 153 18 9 8 1 6

N/A

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Pennsylvania State University 68 48 64 37 103 Pennsylvania State University 0 0 0 0 1 Harrisburg Pepperdine University 3 0 2 0 0 Pitzer College 0 0 8 3 2 Point Park University 3 1 2 2 1 Pomona College 5 0 15 1 7 Pratt Institute 2 1 4 3 4 Princeton University 16 3 57 1 57 Providence College 7 5 0 0 0 Purchase College 2 1 2 1 0 Purdue University 15 6 6 2 29 Queen's University 2 1 1 0 1 Quinnipiac University 1 0 1 0 3 Radford University 1 0 1 1 1 Reed College 5 2 5 4 2 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 11 2 6 3 5 Rhode Island School of Design 2 0 1 0 3 Rhodes College 3 3 4 3 0 Rice University 14 2 30 5 31 Rider University 2 2 0 0 2 Robert Morris University 01 8/4/20 0 1:30 1 PM 1Page 15 SU_BethesdaMag_2020.qxp_Layout

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE PL AP

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery

TOTAL 598

458

N/A

0 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 14 1 3 1 0 2 1 0 5 0 1

N/A N/A N/A 3 N/A 29 N/A N/A 29 N/A 4 N/A N/A 4 N/A N/A 13 N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A 1 N/A N/A 25 N/A 4 N/A N/A 4 N/A N/A 5 N/A N/A

2 3 0 12 1 32 4 2 21 3 3 3 5 7 1 1 17 1 0

0 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 13 3 2 2 1 6 0 1 4 1 0

3 1 3 1 5 35 1 2 17 1 1 4 5 11 3 2 13 2 1

1 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 10 1 1 3 1 9 0 1 0 1 1

5 5 N/A 8 N/A 47 N/A N/A 40 3 N/A N/A N/A 13 6 N/A 32 N/A N/A

2 0 N/A 0 N/A 2 N/A N/A 24 2 N/A N/A N/A 10 3 N/A 4 N/A N/A

15 19 9 51 16 273 12 8 157 11 13 10 22 57 16 10 150 7 7

3 4 7 4 7 11 7 2 94 8 10 7 8 36 4 8 25 4 3

The quality of a private campus with the affordability of a public university. Academic Excellence Offering 62 distinct undergraduate majors, master’s degrees and doctoral programs, SU celebrates individual talents and encourages big ideas. National Recognition SU consistently ranks among the nation’s best in The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Beautiful Campus Home to 8,600 students and state-of-the-art new facilities, SU is located on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore – just a short drive from the beach. Find out how Salisbury University is the right – and affordable – t for you.

www.salisbury.edu BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

129

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery Rochester Institute of Technology 13 8 16 10 11 6 Rose-Hulman Institute of 2 2 0 0 1 1 Technology Rutgers University—New 5 3 8 5 9 6 Brunswick Rutgers University—Newark 1 0 2 0 6 1 Saint Joseph’s University 5 5 1 1 0 0 Salisbury University 66 40 63 33 36 18 San Diego State University 3 2 3 1 1 1 Santa Clara University 5 2 1 0 0 0 Sarah Lawrence College 8 3 3 2 3 2 Savannah College of Art and 5 3 6 4 4 2 Design School of the Art Institute of 0 0 4 1 1 1 Chicago School of Visual Arts 0 0 4 1 3 3 Scripps College 3 1 3 2 2 1 Seton Hall University 4 4 5 3 2 2 Skidmore College 8 3 4 1 2 0 Smith College 1 0 6 2 4 3 Southern Methodist University 6 4 0 0 0 0 Spelman College 4 3 8 7 5 3 St. John's College 2 1 3 3 2 1 St. John’s University 8 7 9 4 9 6 St. Mary’s College of Maryland 48 39 46 31 41 26 St. Olaf College 3 2 2 1 2 2 Stanford University 21 4 61 1 60 2 4 1 Stevens Institute of Technology 5 2 1 0 Stevenson University 18 8 13 7 11 6 Stony Brook University 2 2 1 1 6 4 Susquehanna University 2 1 3 3 4 3 Swarthmore College 15 1 14 0 14 0 Syracuse University 36 20 27 15 23 11 Temple University 32 18 31 18 24 16 Texas A&M University 2 0 4 0 6 1 Towson University 80 40 119 60 118 60 Trinity College 5 3 2 1 1 0 Trinity Washington University 3 2 12 8 2 1 Tufts University 47 6 12 2 21 0 Tulane University 49 12 18 4 14 2 Union College 2 1 1 1 4 2 United States Naval Academy 1 1 2 0 0 0 University at Buffalo 1 0 0 0 0 0 The University of Alabama 4 3 5 5 4 3 The University of Arizona 13 11 2 1 8 4 University of British Columbia 3 2 5 1 0 0 University of California, Berkeley 8 1 58 17 43 11 University of California, Davis 2 1 5 2 7 1 University of California, Irvine 4 2 7 4 9 6 University of California, Los 23 4 51 7 35 11 Angeles University of California, Riverside 1 0 3 1 0 0 University of California, San 10 3 14 8 12 7 Diego University of California, Santa 14 6 11 4 8 6 Barbara University of California, Santa 8 4 5 3 6 3 Cruz 130

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE D

college bound

Thomas S. Wootton 13 13

Walt Whitman 14 9

Walter Johnson 16 11

Winston Churchill 16 7

N/A

N/A N/A 20 N/A N/A N/A

1 3 18 3 1 3

1 3 7 3 1 2

1 2 47 13 1 1

0 1 35 9 0 1

N/A N/A 41 N/A 10 N/A

N/A N/A 24 N/A 4 N/A

11 11 291 23 18 18

2 10 177 16 7 10

N/A

TOTAL

N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 16 N/A 21 5 3 3 N/A 10 13 10 3 73 N/A N/A 16 36 3 N/A N/A N/A 8 N/A 38 5 11

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 16 N/A 0 5 3 3 N/A 2 13 10 3 68 N/A N/A 6 24 3 N/A N/A N/A 8 N/A 17 3 10

1 3 1 6 3 1 0 2 0 23 0 26 4 4 3 0 13 37 17 4 37 1 0 35 43 6 0 3 8 11 7 29 8 8

1 3 1 5 3 1 0 1 0 13 0 1 4 1 3 0 0 16 11 3 15 1 0 11 14 6 0 3 7 9 4 8 5 5

0 1 3 6 1 3 1 0 4 42 2 22 4 16 4 2 11 30 11 3 95 1 2 24 45 3 3 3 5 20 7 28 7 6

0 0 2 4 0 3 0 0 3 25 2 0 2 11 3 2 1 16 8 0 57 1 2 2 13 3 0 2 5 17 2 4 2 2

N/A 4 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 24 N/A 49 5 6 9 N/A 8 48 18 10 57 N/A N/A 40 75 N/A 4 N/A 8 19 N/A 47 12 19

N/A 1 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 15 N/A 0 4 3 5 N/A 2 20 11 6 53 N/A N/A 6 27 N/A 0 N/A 6 12 N/A 11 5 8

8 16 19 26 15 10 18 9 30 240 9 260 28 71 28 11 85 214 143 32 579 10 19 195 280 19 10 7 34 81 22 251 46 64

5 8 14 13 8 8 13 6 20 165 7 8 18 39 21 9 6 111 92 13 353 6 13 33 96 16 1 5 29 62 9 69 19 37

272

N/A

112

107

N/A

DeRionne P. Pollard, Ph.D. President, Montgomery College

Scott Royal, Ph.D. President and CEO of Westat

Bold Leaders Partner at a Critical Moment Two prominent leaders in Montgomery County. Individually, they are visionary presidents dedicated to their missions, their community, and the success of all citizens. Dr. Scott Royal, president and CEO of Westat, runs an employee-owned company dedicated to improving lives through research. Westat provides innovative professional services that help clients improve outcomes in health, education, social policy, and transportation. He believes that with thoughtful support and action, we can build a society where everyone can realize their full potential. Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president of Montgomery College, is an inspiring leader for an academic community of 55,000 students. She is heralded for her dynamic vision for the College. She believes radical inclusion is a moral imperative in a just society. Together, they are ready to “do the work.”

In a pivotal moment—politically, socially, culturally, and economically—they are amplifying efforts to address the achievement gap of African American men in our society. Creating and supporting a new program, Presidential Scholars, they have high goals for increasing the representation of men of color in high workforce need areas. The program, which is open to all students, provides financial aid support, academic support, student support services, and internal and external mentors to any students who reflect this commitment. The Presidential Scholars Program assembles a concentration of ambitious and diverse students in a tight-knit learning community, a community in which students will have support, inspiration, and encouragement to achieve their full potential. Will you join them in lifting up members of our community and, by doing so, help the economic development of our region? Please contact Joyce Matthews, executive director of the Montgomery College Foundation, at joyce.matthews@montgomerycollege.edu.

montgomerycollege.edu/onlinegiving

University of Central Florida University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Connecticut University of Dayton University of Delaware University of Denver University of Florida University of Georgia University of Hartford University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Lynchburg University of Maine University of Mary Washington University of Maryland, Baltimore County

3 0 Years

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Thomas S. Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery Wootton 4 1 3 0 8 4 N/A N/A 16 1 42 5 37 4 25 4 3 3 1 1 8 4 N/A N/A 35 20 30 21 10 9 12 12 7 5 7 5 10 5 4 4 5 5 0 0 1 0 N/A N/A 35 19 15 7 33 19 49 43 7 2 9 5 1 1 5 5 23 8 10 2 26 8 19 9 32 13 6 0 7 3 28 14 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 3

Walt Whitman 2 1 20 2 4 1 53 38 10 6 3 3 25 18 17 12 33 11 26 6 1 1

Walter Johnson 3 0 23 1 3 1 34 23 8 7 2 2 59 35 6 4 23 6 33 13 3 2

Winston Churchill 3 1 35 4 6 2 34 33 12 7 3 3 54 47 N/A N/A 26 19 52 24 N/A N/A

23 198 25 208 58 14 270 45 160 184 9

7 21 12 156 39 13 188 29 63 73 7

TOTAL

156

0 0 6 4 3 4 4

0 0 4 3 0 3 3

3 1 0 1 1 2 0

1 1 0 0 1 0 0

2 2 3 2 0 5 2

1 1 2 0 0 4 1

N/A 3 N/A N/A N/A 4 N/A

3 1 3 0 2 1 0

2 0 2 0 1 1 0

1 1 8 3 1 7 2

1 1 1 3 1 6 2

5 N/A 9 3 N/A N/A N/A

4 N/A 4 2 N/A N/A N/A

14 8 29 13 7 23 8

9 6 13 8 3 18 6

134

161

118

110

113

745

509

re of C a

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AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE D

college bound

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, Eastern Shore University of Maryland Global Campus University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Massachusetts, Boston University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Mississippi University of Missouri Columbia University of New Hampshire at Durham University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE PL AP

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery

TOTAL 2,165 1,388

266

130

325

198

327

199

297

247

267

174

301

195

382

245

N/A

101

N/A

47 60

19 14

20 68

10 20

27 68

19 13

24 71

21 36

29 86

13 28

25 62

9 11

56 97

25 32

228 512

116 154

1 0

2 4

1 4

1 0

N/A N/A

7 2

3 1

1 0

3 3

3 1

15 9

10 6

N/A

358

N/A

Family law attorney, mediator and parent coordinator debuts a new podcast:

Making A Way

featuring Sandra Guzman-Salvado

Making A Way has been created to help listeners find a way out of their difficult family situations with the hope that listeners will become informed and inspired to make a change and feel better for it. Guests discuss different topics related to custody and divorce. Recent podcasts focused on domestic violence, toxic parenting, and adultery. Features legal analysts and other experts.

Available on iTunes, Spotify or just ask Alexa to â&#x20AC;&#x153;play Making A Way.â&#x20AC;? FOLLOW SANDRA

SandraGuzmanSalvado_0520.indd 3

The Law Offices of Sandra Guzman-Salvado Maryland Family & Divorce Law 301-340-1911 www.guzmansalvadolaw.com 3/23/20 12:33 PM BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 133

Bethesda- Montgomery Richard Chevy Chase Blair Montgomery University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco The University of the South University of South Carolina University of South Florida University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Tampa University of Tennessee, Knoxville The University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Dallas University of Toronto University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Madison Ursinus College Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia State University Virginia Tech Virginia Union University Wake Forest University Washington & Jefferson College Washington Adventist University Washington College Washington and Lee University Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University West Virginia University William & Mary Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana Yale University York College of Pennsylvania 134

AC CE PT ED

AC CE PT ED AP PL IE D

IE D

college bound

Thomas S. Wootton

Walt Whitman

Walter Johnson

Winston Churchill

TOTAL

N/A

7 2 13 36 53 3 32 13 6 5 5 40 4 42 0 14

0 1 7 4 29 2 11 3 1 3 3 24 2 6 0 9

5 1 11 81 50 2 4 17 1 6 4 5 0 43 1 5

2 0 5 3 25 0 2 11 1 1 1 2 0 10 1 2

9 3 7 87 90 1 10 12 1 1 1 19 7 29 0 10

1 2 4 9 49 1 5 5 0 1 1 10 5 9 0 5

3 N/A N/A 40 74 3 5 10 N/A N/A N/A 44 3 33 N/A 7

2 N/A N/A 4 71 3 5 8 N/A N/A N/A 38 2 4 N/A 7

6 2 7 40 67 5 15 21 3 1 0 31 4 34 10 1

3 0 5 1 48 4 5 12 1 1 0 19 2 5 6 0

5 0 14 39 79 3 13 15 2 7 0 40 1 28 0 11

1 0 10 0 59 1 5 7 2 4 0 26 1 0 0 8

9 N/A 8 87 82 3 7 24 4 8 N/A 36 4 39 N/A 15

3 N/A 4 7 71 2 4 9 2 4 N/A 30 2 14 N/A 8

44 8 60 410 495 20 86 112 17 28 10 215 23 248 11 63

12 3 35 28 352 13 37 55 7 14 5 149 14 48 7 39

30 0 3 1 42 59 12 46 2 36 12 26

4 0 2 0 29 10 3 20 1 4 3 10

24 1 6 2 37 42 26 21 3 19 9 6

4 1 1 0 23 9 16 11 1 5 3 3

17 3 4 2 16 69 21 22 2 35 7 10

3 3 2 1 10 18 10 12 1 9 1 2

21 N/A 6 N/A 6 54 19 28 N/A 28 N/A 11

6 N/A 6 N/A 6 12 19 18 N/A 8 N/A 10

34 1 18 6 46 58 19 59 3 27 10 21

5 0 16 5 37 6 7 29 3 6 7 9

34 2 7 4 15 64 15 53 1 27 5 21

5 2 2 3 12 3 4 22 0 3 1 7

47 N/A 8 N/A 19 102 23 67 3 54 4 36

11 N/A 5 N/A 15 25 10 38 2 10 2 6

207 7 52 15 181 448 135 296 14 226 47 131

38 6 34 9 132 83 69 150 8 45 17 47

2 49 1 29 5 0 5 8 2

1 23 1 8 5 0 4 1 0

5 45 2 3 1 16 3 4 0

1 15 0 0 0 13 3 1 0

6 57 2 16 2 0 5 1 1

4 31 1 3 0 0 2 0 1

N/A 58 N/A 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A 56 N/A 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0 39 0 18 0 1 5 6 1

0 24 0 10 0 0 5 3 1

3 64 2 15 0 1 6 2 4

2 31 2 7 0 0 6 0 2

N/A 59 N/A 26 N/A N/A 3 4 N/A

N/A 43 N/A 5 N/A N/A 2 0 N/A

16 371 7 111 8 18 27 25 8

8 223 4 35 5 13 22 5 4

186

5 25 13 31 10 3 2 1 23 2

1 5 8 13 4 1 2 1 1 2

3 12 5 13 10 7 5 3 49 1

2 3 1 6 3 5 5 2 4 1

8 6 14 22 7 3 2 5 62 1

3 1 6 7 2 3 2 3 3 1

4 3 6 8 4 3 N/A N/A 22 N/A

1 0 5 5 3 3 N/A N/A 0 N/A

2 14 2 20 9 7 2 0 31 1

1 8 2 11 3 4 1 0 4 1

1 11 21 20 0 9 3 0 17 4

0 3 15 7 0 6 2 0 2 4

5 N/A 9 23 4 N/A N/A N/A 56 N/A

1 N/A 2 10 0 N/A N/A N/A 2 N/A

28 71 70 137 44 32 14 9 260 9

9 20 39 59 15 22 12 6 16 9

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PRIVATE SCHOOL

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Guide

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Private School Guide IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES, many parents are considering private school for their children. But choosing the right school isn't easy. There are scores of good schools to chose from and a countless number of factors that you need to consider. Co-ed or single gender? A school with a religious affiliation or not? What’s the educational philosophy and approach? Bethesda Magazine’s Private School Guide will help you to find the school that’s the best fit. In the following pages, we provide essential information on 26 schools. You’ll find the information you need to narrow your search and to start your exploration in a targeted and effective way. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

135

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide The Academy of the Holy Cross

4920 Strathmore Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-942-2100 www.ahctartans.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 425 Average class size: 15 Student/teacher ratio: 9:1 Religious afﬁliation: Catholic Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $27,800 Annual tuition for grade 12: $27,800 Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Ride-on Bus stop at school entrance; Metro 5-minute walk Number of AP courses offered: 17, Additionally we have a dual credit/dual enrollment program with Marymount University Varsity sports: Basketball, bocce, crew,

cross country, equestrian, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, track, volleyball Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 8 (musical, dance, vocal, instrumental, dramatic) Music ensembles: 1 Instrumental, 4 Vocal Accreditations/Afﬁliations: National Catholic Education Association, Middle States, Independent Education, International Baccalaureate Organization, Maryland State Department of Education Founded: 1868

The Auburn School, Silver Spring Campus 9115 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring MD 20910 301-588-8048 www.theauburnschool.org Grades: K-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 65 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 10:2

Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition: N/A Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: Please inquire Students receiving financial aid: 47% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 98% Theater productions per year: 1 Accreditations/Affiliations: AdvancEd/ Mansef Founded: 2011

Barrie School

13500 Layhill Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-576-2800 www.barrie.org Grades: 12 months - Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 300 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: Lower School,

school SCHOOL green acres • • • Profile

fo o

•

11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-4100 info@greenacres.org www.greenacres.org

Enrollment

168

Grades

age 3-Grade 8 Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

7:1

Annual Tuition (Grade 8)

$39,890

Year Founded

1934

136

Entering its 86th year, Green Acres School is among the nation’s foremost— and one of the area’s original—progressive schools. Founder Alice Mendham Powell believed that education was the engine of social change, and so she set out to build a school that would give children a voice, empower them to think critically and inventively about real-world problems, and equip them with the skills they need to participate fully in democracy. This legacy of engaged citizenship and academic excellence continues today at Green Acres and is bolstered by the School’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, social justice, service learning, and environmental stewardship. Green Acres graduates find success in high school, college and beyond, using their solid intellectual foundation, creativity, and strong ethical framework to emerge as leaders in a wide variety of disciplines. Located on 15 wooded acres in North Bethesda, learning at Green Acres extends into an oasis of pristine forest, outdoor pathways, gardens, and streams—particularly advantageous for STEAM learning across all divisions—as well as playgrounds and athletic fields. Green Acres was named a MAEOE Maryland Green School in 2015 and 2019; the campus also features a greenhouse. To learn more, go to www.greenacres.org.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

“ an in

“ Think what they could be

“

Learning! Green Acres School Founder,

Alice Mendham Powell

Green Acres School

“Ultimately, our world and our country will be in our students’ hands,

“People at Green Acres are always encouraging you to take the lead. It doesn’t matter that you’re a kid—

and they will either step forward as doers and leaders or they will cede these roles to others.”

you’re not too young to change the world.”

-Julia ’22

- Peter Klam, Middle School Head “My experiences at Green Acres helped me develop

“At Green Acres, we learned to treat all

my awareness of injustices in the world.”

human beings with dignity and respect.”

- Jacob ’14

- Michael ’14

“Feeling part of a strong community is especially steadying now, when so much of what we know has been upended. You’ve managed to bring the living spirit of the school out to our families, like the branches of a grand old tree that find us wherever we are when we can’t gather together around its roots.” th

- 8 grade parent

Experience

Green Acres School !

GREEN ACRES SCHOOL 11701 Danville Drive | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | 301.881.4100 www.greenacres.org | admission@greenacres.org

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide 13:1; Middle-Upper School, 10:1 Religious affiliation: N/A Seniors with National Merit recognition: N/A Grade foreign language first offered: Primary Languages offered: Spanish, French, Independent Study Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $18,990 Annual tuition for grade 12: $33,720 (includes books) Students receiving financial aid: 47% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 7 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 13 Varsity sports: Soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, golf, equestrian, track & field, lacrosse Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, cross country, basketball, equestrian Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: 5

Accreditations/Afﬁliations: American Montessori Society, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Maryland & DC Founded: 1932

Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School

3500 Woodley Road NW Washington, DC 20016 202-537-6485 www.beauvoirschool.org Grades: PK-3 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 374 Average class size: 20 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious afﬁliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: PK Languages offered: Spanish, additional options after school Lowest tuition for 5-day students:

$38,350 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: More than $1.7 million in grants were awarded last year to approximately 24% of Beauvoir students. Students currently receive grants ranging from approximately 3% to 96% of the full tuition. Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of art studios: 1 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: See www.beauvoirschool.org Founded: 1933

Bullis School

10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-8500 www.bullis.org

Grades: K-12 Gender: Co-ed Lower School Enrollment: 95 Middle School Enrollment: 185 Upper School Enrollment: 525 Average class size: 15

SCHOOL st. john’s college high school • • • Profile

2607 Military Road NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 202-363-2316 www.stjohnschs.org St. John’s College High School is an independent,

Enrollment

1,200

Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

12:1

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$21,490

Year Founded

1851

138

Catholic, Lasallian, coeducational, college preparatory school. We are committed to academic excellence and preparing students for lives of leadership, achievement, and service. Our graduates have a 100 percent college acceptance rate, and the Class of 2020 earned $34 million in scholarships. We have expanded and invested approximately $45 million in capital improvements, including the Donatelli Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (2016), the Cap Mona Family Student Center (2017), and the Center for Performance and Leadership (2020). Unique to St. John’s are the Cadet Corps Leadership Program and the Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Social Impact housed in the new facility. Also included is a training center, indoor turf, batting cages, state-of-the-art locker rooms, crew training, and the Athletic Hall of Fame. With our robust programs, we are committed to a philosophy of developing leadership in all aspects of the St. John’s experience. Enter to learn, leave to serve.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Languages offered: French, Spanish, Latin, Mandarin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $38,065 Annual tuition for grade 12: $48,170 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 39% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes, throughout the metro area Teacher retention rate: 92% AP courses offered: 22 US Varsity sports: Baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, tack & field, volleyball, wrestling MS Interscholastic sports: Baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, wrestling Number of art studios: 4, plus dance studio, 2 makerspaces Music ensembles: Chorus, chamber singers, concert band, concert choir,

jazz ensemble, jazz workshop, string ensemble, winter and spring musicals and ensembles LS Arts: Grade-based theatrical productions, 5th grade musical, visual arts classes & shows, movement classes, general music class and band, string, and choral ensembles. All groups perform several times during the school year. MS Arts: Grade 6 & 7 students participate in visual arts classes and shows and one performing arts class (choices: band, strings, chorus, dance, theater). Grade 8 students choose a major and minor area of the arts in which to delve more deeply. US Arts: Students may pursue an Honors Capstone. Arts students participate in multiple shows and performances during the course of the year. US courses offered in music, audio engineering, theatre, dance, and visual arts. Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Maryland Department of Education, National Association of Independent

Schools, Independent Education, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Secondary School Admission Test Board, The Black Student Fund Founded: 1930

Feynman School

11810 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-770-4370 www.feynmanschool.org Grades: PS-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 100 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition: N/A Grade foreign language first offered: Preschool Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $20,170 Students receiving financial aid: 50%

ST. JOHN'S NOW

ST. JOHN'S FOREVER OPENING MINDS | UNLOCKING TALENTS | BUILDING LEADERS

1:1

5 0+

HONORS COURSES

AP COURSES

IPAD TECH PROGRAM

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

VARSITY TEAMS

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

139

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: N/A Interscholastic sports (middle): N/A Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 1 Music ensembles: 1 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: NAGC; National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) Annual applications per opening: 2 Founded: 2009

Geneva Day School

11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-340-7704 www.genevadayschool.org Grades: 2 years old-Kindergarten Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 100-250 Average class size: 13 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 – varies by age

SCHOOL Profile

Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 3 years old Languages offered: Ordinarily Spanish, Chinese, Farsi Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $7,870 Students receiving financial aid: 10% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 98% Accreditations/Affiliations: Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland State Department of Education Office of Nonpublic Schools, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Certified Green School, Maryland State Childcare Association, National Association of Education for Young Children Founded: 1965

BULLIS SCHOOL •

•

Georgetown Hill Early School

9905 Counselman Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-527-1377 www.georgetownhill.com Grades: Infants, toddlers, preschool, elementary before and after care Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 140 Average class size: Infants: 6, toddlers: 9, twos: 12, threes: 20, fours: 20 Student/teacher ratio: Infants & toddlers: 1-3, twos:1-6, threes & fours: 1-10 Religious affiliation: None Age or Grade foreign language first offered: 3+ Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: Varies by age Uniform: No Bus transportation: For school age children Accreditations/Affiliations: MSDE, EX-

•

10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-8500 www.bullis.org At Bullis, we believe the

Enrollment

800

Grades

k-12

Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

8:1

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$48,170 Year Founded

1930

140

best education is achieved by immersing students in academics, arts, and athletics. Signature programs—in STEM, entrepreneurship, visual and performing arts, and humanities and global studies—give students unlimited opportunities to discover and develop academic strengths. Robust arts and athletics programs round out the educational experience for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Bullis leads the way in 21st century educational approaches. Our unparalleled facilities include a new 70,000-sq-ft Discovery Center, home to the makerspace in the Bullis Innovation and Technology Lab, the entrepreneurship center known as the Innovation Lab, the Studio Theater, flexible and collaborative learning spaces, a café, and other gathering spaces. These spaces help teachers engage student imagination. Located on 100-acre campus in Potomac, Bullis provides its highly diverse student body an educational environment to learn, grow, discover passions, reach potential, and develop tools to succeed in college and beyond. Visit our middle and upper school open house on October 18, lower school open house on November 8, or take a campus tour.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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CELS, NAEYC Annual applications per opening: varies Founded: 1980 by Ellen Cromwell

Georgetown Preparatory School

10900 Rockville Pike North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-493-5000 www.gprep.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Boys Total number of students: 495 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Jesuit (Catholic) Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: 4 Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $39,385 Students receiving financial aid: 28% Uniform: Sport coat and tie Bus transportation: Bus transportation from the Grosvenor–Strathmore (Red

Line) Metro stop. Students commuting to Georgetown Prep from Virginia can take advantage of a new joint transportation option with Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Number of AP courses offered: 25 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 95% Varsity sports: Football, soccer, cross country, basketball, westling, hockey, swimming & diving, winter track, baseball, lacrosse, track, rugby, tennis, golf Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: 3 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, Jesuit Province of Maryland Annual applications per opening: 3.5/1 Founded: 1789

German International School Washington D.C. 8617 Chateau Drive

Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-3807 www.giswashington.org Grades: Age 2 - Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 520 Average class size: 16 (Elementary and upper schools) Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious afﬁliation: none Programs: STEM/MINT school with state-of-the-art science building Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: German starting in Pre-K Languages offered: German, English, French, Spanish, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: 2-year-old (full day): $19,770 (half day also available); 3 & 4-year-old (full day): $16,415 (half-day also available); School Entry Level: $20,900; Grade 1-6: $21,945; Grades 7-12: $22,675

Join us for an open house

Oct. Road 18: Grades 6-12 MD www.bullis.org 10601 Falls Potomac, Nov. 8: K-Grade 5

10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD www.bullis.org BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Uniform: No Bus transportation: DC, MD, NOVA Teacher retention rate: 90% Number of AP courses offered: 8 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 95% Varsity sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, track & field, Tennis Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, track & field, tennis Number of art studios: 1 Theater/Music productions per year: 4 Music ensembles: Choir and orchestra Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Accredited by the Federal Republic of Germany’s Central Office for Schools Abroad and approved by Maryland State Department of Education Founded: 1961

www.greenacres.org Grades: Age 3 – Grade 8 Gender: Gender Inclusive Total number of students: 168 Average class size: 11 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Pre-K Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $16,350 (Half-day Pre-K) $24,960 (Pre-K) $30,190 (Kindergarten) $35,000 (1st grade) $39,890 (2nd–8th grade) Annual tuition for grade 12: N/A Students receiving financial aid: 48% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Teacher retention rate: 90% Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, cross country, basketball, softball Number of art studios: 3

Green Acres School

11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-4100

Theater productions per year: Multiple Music ensembles: Middle school vocal & instrumental ensemble; 4th grade chorus Founded: 1934

The Maddux School

11614 Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD 20854 301-469-0223 www.madduxschool.org Grades: PK-2 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 46 Average class size: 8-10 in PK; 10-12 in K-2nd Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious afﬁliation: none Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $32,000 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: Please inquire Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Specials: Art, library and technology,

SCHOOL Rochambeau the french Profile international school Enrollment

1,040

Grades

Age 2-grade 12 Student/Teacher Ratio

11:1

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$26,510

Year Founded

1955

142

•• ••

9600 Forest road bethesda, md 20814 7108 bradley blvd. bethesda, md 20817 3200 woodbine st. chevy chase, md 20815 301-530-8260 rochambeau.org

•

Rochambeau empowers students of all nationalities and backgrounds to become confident, caring and opened-minded critical thinkers. Students can start as of age 2 in our French preschool without any prior knowledge of the French language*, and continue through high school (12th grade or Terminale) to graduate with both the French Baccalauréat and the High School diploma or IB (starting 2122). Our comprehensive academic program is based on the French National Curriculum, with a strong language program in addition, allowing our students to master at least three languages at a native level: French, English, and Spanish. Arabic and German are also offered. Rochambeau graduates gain access to the best universities in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France or anywhere in the world. Rochambeau is part of the global network of French schools (AEFE) allowing students to move with ease to any of the 500 schools around the world, and enjoy the same quality of education. *Rochambeau welcomes non-French speaking students in a specially designed French Immersion program from age 2 through 3rd grade.

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music, speech and occupational therapy, physical education, yoga Teacher retention rate: 96% Accreditations/Afﬁliations: State approved curriculum Annual Applications per opening: Please inquire Founded: 2004

McLean School

8224 Lochinver Lane Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-8277 www.mcleanschool.org Grades: K-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 430 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious afﬁliation: None Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: Grade 5 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, American Sign Language

Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $28,990 Annual tuition for grade 12: $49,290 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 36% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes Teacher retention rate: 90% Number of AP courses offered: 10 Varsity sports: Volleyball, softball, lacrosse, track & field, cross country, soccer, wrestling, basketball, dance Interscholastic sports (middle): Volleyball, softball, volleyball lacrosse, track & field, tennis, golf, cross country, soccer, wrestling, basketball Number of art studios: 4 Theater productions per year: 1 drama/ comedy per year, 1 musical per year, 2 musical concerts per division, talent shows Music ensembles: Strings ensemble, jazz band, rock, pop & blues band, chorus Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Maryland Department of Education, National Associa-

tion of Independent Schools, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Association of Independent Schools in Greater Washington, The Black Student Fund, Latino Student Fund, International Dyslexia Association, Learning Disabilities Association, Secondary School Admission Test Board, Association of Independent School Admission Professionals, National Business Officers Association Founded: 1954

The Nora School

955 Sligo Ave. Silver Spring MD 20910 301-495-6672 www.nora-school.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 65 Average class size: 8 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious afﬁliation: None Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin

Multicultural. Inclusive. Bilingual. Rigorous. An education like no other in Washington D.C.

THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

AGE 2 – 12TH GRADE

IMMERSION FOR NON-FRENCH SPEAKERS www.rochambeau.org/bethesdamagazine BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $34,000 Annual tuition for grade 12: $34,600 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 20% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Varsity sports: 4 co-ed JV teams Number of art studios: 2 Music ensembles: 2 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: NAIS, AISGW and Middle States Accreditation Association Founded: 1964

Norwood School

8821 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-2595 www.norwoodschool.org Grades: PK-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 440 Average class size: 10-12

Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: pre-Kindergarten Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $25,000 Students receiving financial aid: 19% Uniform: Dress code Bus transportation: Morning and afternoon routes available Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, cross country, track & field Number of art studios: 4 Theater productions per year: 2 (fall play and spring musical) Music ensembles: 4 (choral, strings, band, hand bells) Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS, AISGW Founded: 1952

ONENESS-FAMILY MONTESSORI SCHOOL

6701 Wisconsin Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 HIGH SCHOOL: 9411 Connecticut Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-652-7751 www.onenessfamilymontessorischool.org Grades: Ages 2 – Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 145 Average class size: 24 Student/teacher ratio: 12:1 Religious affiliation: Non-sectarian Grade foreign language first offered: PS Languages offered: Spanish, French, Italian Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $22,800 Annual tuition for grade 12: $34,650 Students receiving financial aid: 18% Uniform: No

SCHOOL Washington Episcopal School • • • Profile •

5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 301-652-7878 admissions@w-e-s.org www.w-e-s.org

Enrollment

285

Grades

Nursery (age 3)-8 Gender

Co-ed

Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

6:1

Annual Tuition (Grade 8)

Washington Episcopal School (WES) believes that learning should be joyful, because academic excellence and happy children belong together. WES is committed to helping every child develop his or her fullest potential through a well-rounded, hands-on curriculum and the support of skilled and attentive faculty. Our warm and friendly community —true to the Episcopal tradition—welcomes and celebrates a diversity of faiths and cultures. WES graduates also seamlessly transition to a wide variety of top secondary schools. Here, children stand out without burning out. The best way to learn more about our community is to experience it for yourself. Please join us for one of our three Virtual Open Houses, where you will enjoy an overview of our curriculum and educational philosophy, a Q & A panel with current parents and students, and a hands-on educational activity for your child. Call today to learn more!

$37,900

144

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Bus transportation: No Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 1 Music ensembles: 1 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: International Montessori Council / American Montessori Society / NAIS Founded: 1988

The Primary Day School 7300 River Road

Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-4355 www.theprimarydayschool.org Grades: PK-2 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 135 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious afﬁliation: None Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: Pre-K Languages offered: Spanish, Chinese,

French Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $24,900 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 11% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of art studios: 1 Music ensembles: Twice a month Accreditations/Afﬁliations: AISGW/AIMS Founded: 1944

Rochambeau, the French International School

9600 Forest Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-8260 www.rochambeau.org Grades: Age 2-Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,040 Average class size: 20 Student/teacher ratio: 11:1 Religious afﬁliation: None Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered:

Bilingual French/English program in all grades. Additional language in 3rd grade. Languages offered: Spanish, German, Arabic French Baccalaureate: 100% passed: 52% highest honors, 28% high honors, 13% honors Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $20,040 Annual tuition for grade 12: $26,510 Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Interscholastic sports: Soccer, rugby, basketball, volleyball, swimming Music ensembles: 1 (vocal) Theater productions per year: 2 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: French Ministry of Education, State of Maryland Dept. of Education, International Option Baccalaureate Founded: 1955

Sandy Spring Friends School 16293 Norwood Road

WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL PREPARED FOR ANYTHING Preparing students for future success involves more than teaching algebra and parts of speech. WES students learn how to innovate, create, explore, solve problems, and self-advocate. They have the mindset to ask, “How can I make a positive impact?” and the capacity to find and enact an answer.

KIND. CONFIDENT. PREPARED.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

Admission Virtual Open House November 7 December 12 January 23

RSVP online

Nursery-Grade 8/Co-Ed | www.w-e-s.org | 301-652-7878 5600 Little Falls Parkway, Bethesda, MD BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-774-7455 www.ssfs.org Grades: Preschool (Age 3) – 12th Grade Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 600 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Quaker Grade foreign language first offered: Preschool (Age 4) Languages offered: 2 Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $18,700 Annual tuition for grade 12: $35,250 Students receiving financial aid: 40% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 15 Varsity sports: Soccer (girls & boys), volleyball (girls), cross-country (girls & boys), basketball (girls & boys), track and field (girls & boys), lacrosse (girls

& boys), baseball (boys), softball (girls), golf (Co-ed) Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer (girls & boys), volleyball (girls), crosscountry (girls & boys), basketball (girls & boys), track and field (girls & boys), lacrosse (girls & boys), baseball (boys), softball (girls) Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 4 Music ensembles: 4 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: NAIS, AIMS, Friends Council on Education (FCE), TABS, CASE, SSATB, ERB, The College Board, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, Black Student Fund, Potomac and Chesapeake Association of College Admissions Counselors (PCACAC) Founded: 1961

The Siena School

1300 Forest Glen Road Silver Spring, MD 20901 301-244-3600

www.thesienaschool.org Grades: 4-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 134 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 10:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $42,038 Annual tuition for grade 12: $43,821 Students receiving financial aid: 42% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 97% Varsity sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, Jiu Jitsu Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, basketball, flag football, cross county, softball Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: 2

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Barrie school SCHOOL Guide • Profile

•

13500 Layhill Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-576-2800 www.barrie.org/admission

Enrollment

300

Grades

12 months-grade 12 Average Class Size

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$33,720

Year Founded

1932

146

Barrie School is a progressive independent school, serving students from 12 months to Grade 12, that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning. Our intentional educational throughline—from Montessori (12 months to Grade 5) to Project-Based Learning (Grades 6 to 12)—cultivates learning that lasts. Offering challenging educational experiences that unlock intrinsic motivation and innovation in both students and faculty, our community fosters a deep sense of belonging and empowers and honors student voice and responsibility. Coming together in our truly diverse student body of engaged citizens confident to be themselves, bringing diverse and inclusive worldviews. Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, Barrie School provides an extraordinary learning environment integrating local, national and global educational opportunities. Our 45-acre campus is home to the world-renowned Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies— one of the largest school-based teacher training programs in the country— and Barrie Camp, a Washington, D.C. area tradition since the 1950s.

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SCHOOL Profile Beauvoir, The National

Cathedral Elementary School

Enrollment

374

Grades

PK-3

Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

6:1

Year Founded

1933

•

3500 Woodley Road NW washington, dc 20016 202-537-6485 www.beauvoirschool.org

•

Beauvoir is an independent elementary school located on the picturesque grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest Washington, DC. A PreKindergarten through third grade elementary school serving a coed population of approximately 380 students, Beauvoir focuses exclusively on the early childhood and early elementary years. All curricular goals, projects and community decisions, as well as the scale of the classrooms and Beauvoir Outdoors, are designed specifically for children under the age of 10. Beauvoir is French for “beautiful view” and we believe that the most effective education occurs when children are engaged, excited and motivated by a “beautiful view” of learning. For children to make the most of their education, they should be in an elementary school that values them, knows how to challenge and nurture them, and encourages their self-worth and sense of responsibility.

Inspiring excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning.

Lower School

HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY, EVERY WAY .

Montessori Method 12 months - Grade 5

Middle & Upper School Project-Based Learning Grades 6-12

barrie.org

admission@barrie.org 301.576.2800 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Accreditations/Afﬁliations: NAIS, ISM, MSACS, IDA, LDA-MC Annual applications per opening: 8 Founded: 2006

St. Jane de Chantal

9525 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-1221 www.dechantal.org Grades: PK - 8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 350 Average class size (Pre-K): 14 Average class size (K-8): 18 Student/teacher ratio: 17:1 Teacher retention rate: 85% for three consecutive years Religious afﬁliation: Roman Catholic Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: Grade 6 Languages offered: Spanish

Annual tuition (Pre-K): $9,700 Annual tuition (K-8): $8,325 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 15% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No On-site after school care available until 6 P.M. daily Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, track & field, cross country, dance Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 4 Music ensembles: 5 (beginning band, advanced band, beginning choir, advanced choir, chimes) Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Archdiocese of Washington Founded: 1953

St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015

202-363-2316 www.stjohnschs.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,200 Average class size: 20 Student/teacher ratio: 12:1 Religious affiliation: Catholic/Lasallian Tradition Seniors with National Merit recognition: 12 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $21,490 Annual tuition for grade 12: $21,490 Students receiving financial aid: 39% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 24 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 79%

PRIVATE SCHOOL

GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL SCHOOL Guide • • • Profile

9905 Counselman Drive potomac, MD 20854 301-284-8144 www.georgetownhill.com

Enrollment

140

Grades

Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Elementary Before and After Care Bus transportation

For school-age children Year Founded

1980

148

Love Where They Learn... with over 40 years of experience and 40,000 little footsteps walking through their door, Georgetown Hill Early School is leading the child care industry with a play-based, joyful approach to preschool learning. Their P.L.A.N.® curriculum is research based and time-tested, all revolving around a child and family first environment. Georgetown Hill Early School is a non-profit organization and believes in giving back to their families and community. Children and families develop lasting relationships with their teachers as the organization leads the country with less than 10% teacher turnover. Their whole-child approach to learning is evident as their happy teachers create happy children, and in return happy parents. Now enrolling Infants-Kindergarten and a School Age Supplement Program for the 2020-2021 school year with reduced class sizes, enhanced health and safety protocols, and touchless drop-off and pick-up procedures.

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SCHOOL school Profile norwood • •

•

8821 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-841-2130 www.norwoodschool.org

Enrollment

440

Grades

PK-8

Average Class Size

10-12

Student/Teacher Ratio

6:1

Lowest Tuition for 5-day Students

$25,000

Year Founded

1952

At Norwood School, we believe that families shouldn’t have to choose between challenging academics and a joyful community. It begins with a simple promise: your child will be known. When students are known, teachers can design learning experiences that stretch without stress. When students are known, they are best able to learn. This is because they feel comfortable asking big questions, taking on advanced challenges, and, most importantly, becoming their true selves. At Norwood School, education expands beyond academics to tap a full range of intellectual, artistic, athletic, social and emotional potential, allowing our students to develop a deep sense of who they are and who they want to be. We are a warm and welcoming community where the voice of every student is heard, and where caring adults model a love for learning and a responsibility for making positive contributions to our world. The result? A vibrant community of students who love coming to school each day. Life-long learners who are confident, curious and creative. Ethical and compassionate leaders who have the skills and values necessary to actively engage in high school and in the wider world.

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Varsity sports: Baseball, baseball, basketball (boys and girls), crew (fall and spring), cross country, equestrian team, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey (boys and girls), lacrosse (boys and girls), rugby, soccer (boys and girls), softball, swim and dive, tennis (boys and girls), track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, wrestling Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2-3 Music ensembles: 20 Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington Annual applications per opening: 4:1 Founded: 1851

St. Timothy’s School

8400 Greenspring Ave. Stevenson, MD 21153 410-486-7401

SCHOOL Profile

www.stt.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 175 Average class size: 9 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Seniors with National Merit Recognition: 1 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Mandarin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: Day students $34,900 Boarding students $61,700 Students receiving financial aid: 53% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: St. Timothy’s offers the IB Diploma program Varsity sports: Soccer, indoor soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country, tennis, swimming, lacrosse, softball,

basketball, ice hockey, badminton, golf, equestrian Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, indoor soccer, field hockey, tennis, golf, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, softball, badminton, cross country, equestrian Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: A capella, choir, handbell choir, and opportunity for students to take music classes at the renowned Peabody Conservatory Accreditations/Afﬁliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Approved by Maryland State Department of Education, International Baccalaureate World School, National Association of Episcopal Schools, the Association of Boarding Schools, the Council of International Schools, National Coalition of Girls’ Schools Founded: 1832

The Auburn School, Silver Spring Campus •

•

9115 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-8048 info@theauburnschool.org www.theauburnschool.org

•

The Auburn School grows

Enrollment

Grades

K-8

Average Class Size

Student/Teacher Ratio

10:2

Year Founded

2011

150

the social and academic potential of bright students with social and communication challenges. The Auburn School is an independent day-school with a specialized program that offers a stimulating educational program for intellectually engaged students with challenges in the areas of communication, socialization, language and organization. Auburn’s program simultaneously supports the development of academic skills, social competency and pragmatic language in an engaging educational environment. Our program is appropriate for students who can learn successfully and appropriately in a small classroom setting. The Auburn School integrates social skills and pragmatic language development throughout the curriculum and school day using research-based programs and educational best-practices, and provides a challenging academic curriculum featuring multi-sensory instruction, research-based curriculum and appropriate student accommodations. The Auburn School has campuses in Silver Spring, Fairfax, Virginia and Baltimore.

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the nora school •

•

955 Sligo Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-495-6672 www.nora-school.org Can a high school be different?

Enrollment

Grades

9-12

Average Class Size

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$34,600

Year Founded

1964

More engaging? Personal? Interesting? At The Nora School, an intentionally small, personal, highly engaging college preparatory high school, we bring out the best in bright students with diverse learning styles. Students turn to us because they’ve become frustrated in large, impersonal institutions, while others seek a richer, more engaging education without the emphasis on standardized testing. In our discussionbased classrooms, we inspire a critical world view, and students find their voice in an intellectually rigorous, accepting, nurturing environment. With a thoughtprovoking curriculum, inclusive sports, arts programs and more, The Nora School helps students find their unique paths and prepare for college, work, and life. Building deep connections between the faculty and students, we encourage responsibility and build confidence and excitement about learning. In person and online, we continue to deliver engaging, instructive, interactive intellectual classes. Discover the essence of our school. Come see how each student’s individuality shines. Celebrating the same mission for over 50 years, we say: Think Differently.

Celebrate

HAPPINESS

Encourage

CURIOSITY

CHALLENGE

Unique Minds No

En ro

llin

Campuses in Fairfax , Silver Spring & Baltimore

www.TheAuburnSchool.org A school for academic and social success! BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

9101 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-4322 www.stoneridgeschool.org Grades: Preschool-Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Preschool, Pre-K, K; All-girls grades 1-12 Total student population: 725 Avg. class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 11:1 Religious afﬁliation: Catholic Seniors with National Merit Recognition: National Merit Finalists: 3 National Merit Commended Scholars: 2 Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: Preschool (3 year-olds) Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $21,700

SCHOOL Profile Enrollment

100

Grades

PS-8

Lowest Tuition for 5-day students

$20,170

Year Founded

2009

152

Annual tuition for Grade 12: $38,950 Uniform: Yes Bus: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 21 Students Scoring 3+ On AP Exams: 80% Varsity sports (high school): Basketball, crew, cross country, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, swimming/diving, soccer, softball, squash, tennis, track & field, volleyball, winter indoor track Club Level: Equestrian, squash Interscholastic sports: Basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball Number of art studios: 4 Theater productions per year: 2 in upper school, 2 in middle school Music ensembles: Upper school Heartfelt (a cappella), chorus, handbells, instrumental ensemble, band, orchestra, and strings Accreditations/Afﬁliations: AIMS, Mid-

FEYNMAN SCHOOL •

•

dle States Associations Of Colleges And Schools, Network Of Sacred Heart Schools, National Catholic Education Association, National Association Of Independent Schools, National Coalition Of Girls Schools, National Association Of Principals Of Schools For Girls, Association For Supervision And Curriculum Development, Independent Education, National Association For The Education Of Young Children Founded: 1923

Washington Episcopal School 5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 301-652-7878 www.w-e-s.org Grades: Age 3 –Grade 8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 285 Average class size: 14 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1

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11810 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-770-4370 FeynmanSchool.org Feynman School plans to offer in-person instruction Monday through Friday for the 2020-21 school year. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 10 students. Please call for updates.

Feynman School is an internationally recognized school for academically gifted students. Our experienced teachers recognize that gifted learners are bored by repetition but joyful and motivated when learning something new. We offer favorable student-to-teacher ratios; place no ceiling on academic achievement; explore authentic science and technology; and provide a supportive environment in which learning is interdisciplinary and fun. Upon graduation, Feynman students are prepared to excel at the area’s most elite private high schools and public magnet programs. We emphasize higher-order critical and creative thinking, deep content mastery, collaboration, and effective communication. Feynman’s close-knit community (albeit socially distanced for now) promotes student success. Here, students build lasting relationships with intellectual peers as they embark on a journey of talent development and creative production. As one graduate puts it: “Feynman is about more than just a better future; it’s also about a better today.”

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SCHOOL Profile

Sandy Spring Friends School •

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16923 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-774-7455 www.ssfs.org Sandy Spring Friends School

Enrollment

600

Grades

Age 3-12th grade Average Class Size

Annual Tuition (Grade 12)

$35,250

Year Founded

1961

(SSFS) is a progressive, coed, college preparatory Quaker school serving students from preschool (age 3) through 12th grade, with optional 5- and 7-day boarding programs in the upper school. Founded in 1961, SSFS offers a deep and rigorous academic curriculum, character education rooted in universal Quaker values, and a diverse and international student body. The campus is located on 144 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, MD—an ideal setting for intellectual contemplation, athletic training, artistic pursuits, outdoor exploration, urban excursion, and personal growth. Our school’s culture—rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement—can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict. Our teachers are lifelong mentors and strive to identify and cultivate each student’s intellectual, extracurricular, and social passions. Sandy Spring Friends School students are taught to act upon what they learn. This call to action propels their accomplishments as graduates, in college, and beyond.

Where Gifted Minds Grow

Supported. Challenged. Transformed.

Fostering compassionate, critical thinkers who lead exemplary lives. PS - 8th Grade

11810 Falls Road/ Potomac, MD

(301) 770 - 4370 www.feynmanschool.org

www.ssfs.org/learn-more 16923 Norwood Road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860 • admissions@ssfs.org BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PRIVATE SCHOOL

Guide Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: Age 4 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $13,000 Annual tuition for Grade 8: $37,900 Students receiving financial aid: 30% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: Average tenure of 15 years Interscholastic Sports: Soccer, cross country, basketball, lacrosse, track, swimming Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: Every grade performs at least once/year for entire school Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Maryland Schools; Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington; Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association; National Association

SCHOOL Profile Enrollment

Grades

PK-2

Student/Teacher Ratio

5:1

Lowest Tuition for 5-day students

$32,000

Year Founded

2004

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of Episcopal Schools; National Association of Independent Schools; Independent Education; Black and Latino Student Fund. Founded: 1986

Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Varsity sports: Baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball Interscholastic sports (middle): Baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball Number of art studios: 5 Theater productions per year: 6 Music ensembles: 5-6th orch, 7-8 orch, 7-8 chorus, HS guitar ensemble, HS drumming, HS string orchestra, HS chorus, HS acapella “Knightlights” Accreditations: Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) Afﬁliations: The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) Founded: 1969

Washington Waldorf School

4800 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 20816 301-229-6107 www.washingtonwaldorf.org Grades: Preschool–12 Gender: Coed Total number of students: 273 Average class size: 17 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Teacher retention rate: high Grade foreign language ﬁrst offered: 1st Grade Languages offered: Spanish (G 1-12), German (G 7-12) Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $16,855 Annual tuition for grade 12: $33,970 Students receiving ﬁnancial aid: 36%

The Maddux School •

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11614 Seven Locks Road, Rockville, MD 20854 301-469-0223 www.madduxschool.org “It wasn’t just about reading, math and science. It was about the whole person.” – Maddux Parent The Maddux School teaches young children to recognize and build on their unique strengths and individual learning styles. The Maddux School is a small, private, general education school that provides strong academics, a distinctive social learning curriculum, and differentiated instruction to children in pre-kindergarten through second grade. Our structured classes with low student/teacher ratios are led by highlyeducated and experienced teachers. We also offer integrated speech and occupational therapies for students who have experienced language and social challenges. In a recent 5-year alumni survey, parents attributed their child’s increased self-esteem, flexibility, self-advocacy, and ability to make friends to their years at The Maddux School. With both a tested and refined Distance Learning Plan and a safety-focused on-campus instruction plan at the ready depending on health and safety conditions, The Maddux School will provide: robust academics, social learning, a STEAM program, plus music, physical education, and yoga. At The Maddux School, we give our students wings to soar in any environment.

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We Give Them Wings to Soar!

Building Strong Foundations for Learning and Friendship

The Maddux School

stt.org

Pre-K through Second Grade

• Flexible, Individualized Program • Innovative Curriculum • Targets social skills, academic success, and self-esteem.

Truth Without Fear

11614 Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD

301-469-0223 www.madduxschool.org

International Baccalaureate All-girls boarding and day Grades 9-12 145 rural acres One hour from D.C. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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Learn more about Georgetown Prep online at www.gprep.org

St. Jane de Chantal School

MIND

Catholic Education for Children Pre-K through Grade 8 St. Jane de Chantal Catholic School is a Christ-centered educational community committed to meeting the individual needs of students through a flexible and innovative curriculum. Join us for our Open House November 11, 2020 from 9:00-11:30 AM.

BODY

For more information, visit us at Dechantal.org Virtual Tour available. 9525 OLD GEORGETOWN RD

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BETHESDA, MD 20814

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301.530.1221

11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301 340 7704 genevadayschool.org

Enriching curriculum. . . Geneva Method

Small classes New protocols for a safe environment

Live Fall 2020!

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SPIRIT

Contact the Admissions Office at 301-214-1215 Founded in 1789, Georgetown Preparatory School is America’s oldest Catholic boarding and day school for young men in grades nine through 12, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country. Situated on 93 acres in beautiful suburban Washington, D.C., Prep’s mission is to form men of competence, conscience, commitment and compassion; men of faith and men for others. Prep’s campus features state-of-the-art academic, athletic and student centers, small classes and a curriculum that prepares its graduates to earn admission to the world’s best colleges and universities.

Visit www.gprep.org/admissions to learn about Georgetown Prep and the admissions process

10900 ROCKVILLE PIKE | NORTH BETHESDA, MD 20852 | 301-493-5000 | WWW.GPREP.ORG

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ESS-

scttooL AL PEACE ACADEMY

College prep without the stress. • Small class sizes. Highly trained teachers. • International community. New Leadership Program.

6701 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-652-7751 www.onenessfamilyschool.org

When it comes to educating girls, the early years matter.

OPEN HOUSE • Nov. 6, 2020 Please check website for details

Age 2 - Grade 12 At GISW our student body is truly international, united by a shared interest in German language and culture. Knowledge of German is not required for admission to the Pre-K and K programs. Please contact us to set up your virtual tour.

301.767.3807 admissions@giswashington.org

www.giswashington.org

Take a virtual visit!

WWW.STONERIDGESCHOOL.ORG/VISIT

Empowering leaders to serve with faith, intellect, and confidence. Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls grades 1-12, Catholic, independent school, with a co-educational Little Hearts program for children age three months through Kindergarten, located in Bethesda, Maryland.

WWW.STONERIDGESCHOOL.ORG BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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PK–GRADE 2

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

NOW IS THE TIME FOR GIRLS. To lift each other up, speak their minds, stand up for their beliefs, and lead change.

The Primary Day School educates boys and girls during the four most important learning years of their lives— Pre-kindergarten through Grade 2. We focus on helping children flourish both academically and emotionally during this vitally important time. Contact the Admission Office at 301-365-4355 for more information.

Be Empowered. OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 8

All-Girls, Grades 9-12 4920 Strathmore Ave. Kensington, MD

www.AcademyOfTheHolyCross.org • 301.942.2100

DISCOVER PRIMARY DAY www.ThePrimaryDaySchool.org

Bethesda, MD

Check out our

Private School Guide and

searchable listings online at BethesdaMagazine.com

4800 Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 301 229 6107 158

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Winning Words The short stories and essays that took the top prizes in our annual writing competition

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Bethesda Magazine and the Bethesda Urban Partnership sponsor an annual writing competition for local writers. This year, 179 adults and high school students entered the short story contest, and 174 adults and high school students entered the essay contest. The writers who placed in the contests were awarded cash prizes ranging from $25 to $500. The work of the first-place winners appears on the pages that follow. Check out the runners-up at BethesdaMagazine.com and bethesda.org.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

159

WINNER Adult Short Story Contest

Emily Ray

AGE: 20 WHAT SHE DOES: She’s a rising senior at the University of Maryland studying English language and literature with a minor in creative writing, and works as an assistant drama teacher for Imagination Stage’s early childhood program. HOW SHE GOT HER START: “Always a voracious reader, I rediscovered my love for creative writing towards the end of my freshman year as an undergraduate. Encouraged by my workshop leader, I began to submit my work for publication.” HOW SHE GOT THE IDEA FOR THIS STORY: “I’ve always been interested in observing how gender roles and expectations manifest themselves in social interactions. In writing this story, I hoped to evaluate the ways in which young boys may feel pressured to behave when faced with a morally conflicting, fairly adult situation.”

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BY EMILY RAY THE THWACKING SOUND RANG harshly in their ears as they huddled against each other in the cold darkness. Each boy felt the loud clack of the shot ring and reverberate against his skull like the harsh pounding of a snare drum. The kickback of the gun was much stronger than any of them had anticipated, and the echo it left in its wake felt like an insult to the soft and subtle sounds of the nighttime. Jordan barely registered the hooting of an owl and the skittering of small feet through the tree branches above their heads. They stood over the limp form with a mixture of fascination and feigned disgust. “Do you think it’s dead?” Jordan asked, his round eyes widening with concern. He pushed his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose. The doe lay still against the hard dirt. Underneath its body was a smattering of leaves that glistened like tinfoil in the moonlight. Even in the darkness, the boys couldn’t fail to notice the thick blood oozing onto the ground like rainwater. They stood in a semicircle around the defeated form, shielding the body with a human tent made of their heavy winter jackets. The aggressive early December air hissed through the trees in Lachlan’s Forest, and 12-year-old Billy Riderman curled his fingers defensively around the large Timber Classic Marlin 336C he’d stolen from his father’s shed. “Yeah, it’s dead.” Billy put his hands on his hips definitively. “My dad says you can tell when their eyes don’t close anymore.” “No, look,” Charlie whispered from somewhere behind Jordan. “It’s still breathing.” Jordan bent farther down. Though it was faint, the deer’s belly rose and fell ever

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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HOMETOWN: North Potomac

The Kids Are All Right

Adult Short Story Judges so slightly as it tried to breathe. The boys had shot a clean hole into the upper edge of the animal’s chest, but it still clung to consciousness with an upsettingly calm disposition. Jordan put his hand on the doe’s taut stomach. The deer shuddered in response to his touch and flicked its eyes aggressively onto his face. The doe had wide, brown, marblelike eyes, and he could see into her pupils, enlarged with fear. For a split second, Jordan felt a wave of nausea fall over him. She forced her eyes back and offered her body in final surrender to the group of confused boys desperate to prove something insurmountable to no one in particular.

COURTESY PHOTOS

EARLIER THAT DAY, BILLY had approached their lunch table with a deeply set smirk stretching across his speckled face. He sat down at the edge of the gray table with a self-assured thump and pulled out the crinkled brown paper bag he’d stored in his backpack. Before he began unloading the innards of his lunch, he looked over to Kundan’s small Tupperware container of yellow rice and crinkled his button nose. “What the hell is that, Condom?” he asked, pointing at the plastic box. “Basmati rice.” Kundan didn’t look up from his food. Unsettled by the lack of attention his statement had gained him, Billy began to pull out the squashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich Jordan could only assume he’d made himself. He knew Billy’s mom worked night shifts at the hospital, and the image of Billy’s father packing a bag lunch made Jordan want to laugh. The sandwich was the only thing in the brown bag apart from a neon green bottle of Mountain Dew and three long silver bullets that Billy smacked onto the middle of the table proudly. Everybody bounced backward in shock as the bullets rolled against each other on the table. “What the f**k, Billy? You can’t have that here.” Charlie leaned forward to shield the bullets with his body. He began pushing them back toward Billy, who only grinned. “They’re my dad’s.” The dimples he had on the side of his face poked out from behind his wide smile. WITHOUT FULLY REALIZING WHAT he was doing, Jordan placed his finger over the bloody hole they’d shot into the deer’s chest and watched as his pale finger turned dark and stained by the animal’s blood.

Joe Oppenheimer recently wrote Mixed Blood, a play about a family in postwar Germany, and published “Oh Please,” a Bethesda Poetry Contest winner, in the Tipton Poetry Journal. His short story “Charlemagne” was republished in the anthology Us Against Alzheimer’s: Stories of Family, Love, and Faith (2019). A former professor of mathematical and experimental social science and philosophy, he leads a writers’ workshop at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. His works have been published in Origins Journal, Scarlet Leaf Review and Corvus Review. He lives in Chevy Chase. Laura Scalzo is a graduate of Syracuse University. Her short fiction has appeared in journals and online literary magazines, including Hobart, Ellipsis Zine, Reflex Fiction, Grace in Darkness and Grace & Gravity Series Vol. VIII, and as a finalist in the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition. She is the author of the young adult novel The Speed of Light in Air, Water, and Glass (One One Two Press, 2018), and recently completed The Wayfarers Game, a novel for adults. She lives in Northwest Washington, D.C. Lisa Schamess is the author of Borrowed Light (SMU Press, 2002), winner of Best First Novel and finalist for Best Novel of the Year from the Texas Institute of Letters, as well as a finalist for the Paterson Fiction Prize. She has published short stories and essays in Creative Nonfiction, TOSKA Magazine, Defunct, Welter and Antietam Review. She lives in Silver Spring and, after a 12-year career teaching English at the high school and college levels, is currently the communications manager at the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Adult Short Story Runners-Up Stories and essays can be found on BethesdaMagazine.com and bethesda.org. Second Place: Devin Lucas, Bethesda Third Place: Julia Tagliere, Sandy Spring Honorable Mention: Natalie Edmonds, Chevy Chase Honorable Mention: John Hardison, Rockville Honorable Mention: Kaldun Nossuli, Potomac Honorable Mention: Doug Wilkinson, Takoma Park

(continued on page 168) BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

161

WINNER High School Short Story Contest

Elliott Wagner-Smith

AGE: 16 SCHOOL: Rising senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE: “I like to write in my room after I’ve cleaned it. I keep my window open and turn on the Christmas lights I have strung up. I find it to be very peaceful and easy to place myself wherever the story is set.” FAVORITE AUTHOR: “I love reading graphic novels and comic books, and I love the work of Richard Kirkman. I love his style of bringing characters to life mixed with art.” HOW THEY GOT THE IDEA FOR THIS STORY: “I’m not sure where I got the idea for this—I wrote it specifically for the Strange Day Books Eyelands 2018 summer writing competition and wrote it with the theme ‘Luggage’ in mind.”

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BY ELLIOTT WAGNER-SMITH IT SEEMED THAT HER suitcase was always full. Every new house, every new apartment, her suitcase was always by her side. Sometimes a few things would leave it, clothes she didn’t like as much, the old gray sweatpants with the hole just above the left knee, and the green nature reserve shirt that was a bit too small on her—still wearable, but you could see her bra through it, and the edges of the sleeves were slightly discolored. Those clothes were always put in a wooden dresser, every house seemed to have one, and they were only there for a few months or a year, just long enough for the family to decide they didn’t want her. It was always the same, the start, the moment when she first entered someone else’s world. She liked to think of it that way, as if everyone had a world that was just their own and she was only a supporting character inside of it. That way it was less empty, imagining that she’d be remembered. But the beginning was fairly routine. Her new family would ask simple, polite questions. “How are you feeling?” Or, “What do you think of it here?” And sometimes the younger kids in the house would ask ruder questions like, “Where are your parents?” They always meant well, but sometimes they reminded her of all the bad

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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LIVES IN: Chevy Chase

A Chance for Better Weather

COURTESY PHOTOS

High School Short Story Judges things: that her parents didn’t want her, and she didn’t have a family, and that they were doing her a great service by allowing her to stay with them. And it was always raining the first day. That’s where she is now, sitting in the family room of people who aren’t her family while her caseworker, a thin, tightly wound woman, tries to get her to answer their questions. The room smells of disinfectant and bleach, as if they finished cleaning only moments before she arrived. The furniture is an ugly brown color, not at all matching the large teal carpet that has clearly been freshly vacuumed. She notices that the mother, medium height and bone thin, is rapidly drumming her fingers against a stack of papers. There is also a boy in the room who looks to be around her age. He also looks incredibly bored. “So,” her caseworker says, tapping her pen against the papers in her hands, “Acacia, this is Mr. and Mrs. Webber. I expect you’ll behave yourself and listen to their directions.” She stood up. “Thank you both so much for taking her in on such short notice. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call.” She shook their hands and marched stiffly out the door, leaving Acacia alone with only her suitcase. Mrs. Webber looks at her with an expression that Acacia has never seen before, a mix of surprise and disappointment and longing, as though Acacia wasn’t what she had expected. She looks as if she is waiting for something, waiting for Acacia to say something mean and nasty or to ask a question or leave. Thunder booms from outside the only window in the uncomfortable room. Acacia rubs her now sweaty hands on her jeans. This moment is so familiar to her, yet she never quite knows what to say. It feels as if she’s been in this position a thousand times with only slight variations, but it also feels like the first time. The rain continues to fall more heavily. Mrs. Webber looks down at her long, bony fingers. “It never rains much here. Funny.” Acacia continues to say nothing. The Webber family is uncomfortably quiet. She notices in this moment that Mr. Webber is a very large man, not in the sense that he is fat, but just that he takes up a lot of space. His presence fills the room until she feels suffocated by him being there. Looking into his eyes and at the deep lines on his face, she feels that he is a very unpleasant man, maybe even

Teri Ellen Cross Davis is the 2019 winner of The Journal/Charles B. Wheeler Poetry Prize (the prize includes publication of her work, a more perfect Union, which will be released in early 2021), and the author of Haint (Gival Press), which won the 2017 Ohioana Book Award for Poetry. She’s a Cave Canem fellow and member of the Black Ladies Brunch Collective. She lives in Silver Spring. Marian McLaughlin is a multiinstrumental songwriter, poet and visual artist. She often writes with a stream-of-consciousness approach and explores aspects of wordplay, rhythm and etymology. McLaughlin has released three studio albums and taken part in Strathmore’s Artist in Residence Program. She integrates art and music into Young Audiences’ Summer Arts and Learning Academy. McLaughlin is planning to self-publish some of her song lyrics in a poetic booklet with artwork, and she is also writing material for another body of poems. She lives in Baltimore. As a former executive director of The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Stewart Moss helped establish creative writing programs for adult immigrants and members of the military being treated for neurological and psychological trauma. He has taught literature and creative writing in the U.S. and abroad. Moss’ essays have been included in Retire the Colors: Veterans & Civilians on Iraq & Afghanistan and Plume Poetry Journal, and his poetry has appeared in GOSS183, Origins Journal and Plume Poetry Journal. He lives in Annapolis.

High School Short Story Runners-Up Stories and essays can be found on BethesdaMagazine.com and bethesda.org. Second Place: Jonah Witte, Montgomery Blair High School Third Place: Naomi Louie, Richard Montgomery High School Honorable Mention: Tyson Fang, Walt Whitman High School

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163

WINNER Adult Essay Contest

Alicia Klaﬀ ky

AGE: 72 WHAT SHE DOES: “I finally have time to write! I hope to someday finish a novel. In the meantime, I’m spending my retirement years devoting the time to writing that I couldn’t find while working, raising two sons and volunteering for the National Society of Arts and Letters.” FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE: “A small and messy room off the bedroom with a view of trees and sky. Looking out on nature is calming. It gives me a sense of perspective.” FAVORITE AUTHOR: “Ursula K. Le Guin, for her eloquence, mythic vision and moral compass. In 1999, I was honored to attend a workshop she led at Bethesda’s own The Writer’s Center. And she told me to keep on writing. So I have.” HOW SHE GOT THE IDEA FOR THIS ESSAY: “Just a moment of reflection while standing in the driveway.”

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Day Moon BY ALICIA KLAFFKY THERE. IN THE SKY above the trees. That faint smudge. A Day Moon. I’m down here in the driveway, balancing dry cleaning, car keys, morning coffee, shopping list. The car needs gas. Normally I wouldn’t notice, but today, well, I look up. A Day Moon. What to make of this dim fingerprint of a shape hovering over the Norway spruce? Our Moon is an inanimate object floating in airless space. We learned that in elementary school. But for me, right now, Day Moon assumes an identity quite separate from its astronomical self. Oh I know, the real Moon, the Moon Moon, is large—a quarter the size of our Earth. Almost big enough to be a planet. It’s venerable—about 4.5 billion years old. Something to be reckoned with. But right now? It’s small, approachable. In spectacles of technology, humans have indeed approached Day Moon. Circled it, landed on it, shuffled through its dust, bounced over its rocks in a lunar dune buggy. They’ve flailed their golf clubs and planted a flag. This happened. But all that has little to do with me and Day Moon. Here on Earth we have our schedules. If I don’t do these errands soon, I’ll be late for the rest of the day. Day Moon knows nothing, cares nothing, for my reverie or my to-do list. It has, after all, its own routines. Like us, it’s on the move. It rotates the Earth at a speed of 2,288 mph. A speed that puts to shame any human, high achiev-

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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LIVES IN: Kensington

Adult and High School Essay Judges

COURTESY PHOTOS

Kathleen Seiler Neary lives in Kensington and is an associate editor at Bethesda Magazine. She has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years. She has worked for magazines, including George and Ladies’ Home Journal, and her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Parenting and other publications.

ing or otherwise, even on a good day. And Day Moon has the task of synchronizing its rotation with the mother planet (that’s us). That’s why we earthlings always see the same lunar side. This we also learned in school. It’s impressive. We all know what it takes to synchronize our movements with others. Don’t get me started on committees. Or carpools. Moon’s a multitasker, controlling the tides and stabilizing our earthly rotation. And it does this while stoically weathering the impact of meteoroids and their ilk. Yet here is Day Moon, not in the spotlight of its nighttime cameo, but unobtrusive and pale. Hard to believe this is the same object, that gigantic red disc, that lorded over us in September. Or the luminescent sickle slicing the sky in February. This morning it’s blurred, indeterminate. A blob. I can relate to blobs. Sometimes I long to be a blob. No doubt Day Moon is oblivious, but for this earthling our encounter is a boon. Brief and silent recognition of mutual existence in an immensity far beyond our understanding. We are fellow voyagers, Day Moon and I, appointed by powers of which we know little, to tasks we don’t always choose. We do our jobs. Sometimes we shine. Other days we’re just getting by. It’s a comfort to think we’re not alone. ■

Pamela Toutant teaches creative writing classes, coaches individual writers, and tutors high school seniors on their college essays. Her own work has appeared in Salon, Ms. magazine, HuffPost, The Washington Post Magazine, Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine. Toutant was a 2010 Pushcart Prize nominee and recipient of three Virginia Center for the Creative Arts fellowships. She is currently working on several essays. She lives in Chevy Chase.

Tim Wendel is the author of 14 books, including Summer of ’68, Castro’s Curveball and the family memoir Cancer Crossings. As a writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University, he teaches graduate-level classes in fiction and nonfiction, and develops online courses. Formerly an editor and op-ed columnist at USA Today, Wendel lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. His stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, GQ and Esquire.

Adult Essay Runners-Up Stories and essays can be found on BethesdaMagazine.com and bethesda.org. Second Place: Daien Guo, Washington, D.C. Third Place: Daniel Kinney-Spears, Chevy Chase Honorable Mention: Rebekah Jacobs, Rockville Honorable Mention: Beth Kanter, Washington, D.C. Honorable Mention: Robert Karn, Boyds Honorable Mention: Julia Tagliere, Sandy Spring

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

165

WINNER High School Essay Contest

Natalie Marti

LIVES IN: Silver Spring AGE: 18 SCHOOL: Graduated in June from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

HOW SHE GOT THE IDEA FOR THIS ESSAY: “This was the event that triggered my anxiety and left me riddled with worry and pain. There is so much more and so much of a psychological toll that this event took on me that no one knows about. Being barely 10 years old and witnessing something like this crushed me, and my living situation after it kept me on edge for years. It’s a true story, but most people don’t even know the half of it.”

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Into the Flames BY NATALIE MARTI IT WAS TEEPEE DAY, a day of fun for fourth graders to explore history and culture. I looked at the clock, eager for dismissal. That’s when I first heard the sirens. Smoke filled the gym, the teachers closed the doors and told us not to fret, reassuring us that there was a building on fire far from the school and that no one had to worry. Little did I know how the sounds of those echoing sirens would signal a change in my life forever. At dismissal, my mother was there to pick me up. That was something unusual. She hugged me tightly and told me she had some bad news. She spoke in a soft tone

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE: “I love writing poetry in my free time. I’m a musician as well, so I like writing in places that give me sanctuary and peace, like riversides and creeks— there’s just a comforting feeling of being in nature alone.”

High School Essay Runners-Up Stories and essays can be found on BethesdaMagazine.com and bethesda.org.

PHOTO OF SEEMA REZA BY NAZIA ABBAS

Second Place: Caroline Vining, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Third Place: Aneesha Mishra, Deerfield High School Honorable Mention: Tara Davoodi, Walt Whitman High School Honorable Mention: Andrew Lichtblau, James W. Robinson Secondary School Honorable Mention: Cate Schultz, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

and told me my neighbor’s apartment had caught on fire. She was holding back, but I didn’t know this at the time. With my mom following close behind, I continued to walk home with my friends, laughing without a care in the world. This laughter was stopped by the sounds of wailing sirens and loud helicopter whirring. My street was blocked off with caution tape, crowded with news vans, crowding reporters and flashes of red and blue. I ran into the parking lot, frantically searching for my father. The Red Cross team approached me, asking all sorts of questions, one being if I was OK, and I lied. I wasn’t. I was terrified. I was in shock at the sight of what was once my home, covered in ash and shattered glass. My childhood had gone up in flames. I remember everything about that day, but I block out the immediate aftermath. My family and I were on the streets. We lost everything. I was sent to my aunt’s apartment for a “temporary” stay, but two days turned into three years. For those three long years, I slept in my aunt’s living room on an air mattress I uncomfortably shared with my mother. Word caught on at school and the staff took pity on me. I envied the kids with their luxuries, their eagerness after the dismissal bell to go home to their warm beds. I just wanted to be a normal kid again. As the years passed, I slipped into isolation. When I got to high school, my cycle of setting myself up for failure seemed unbreakable. My mind was always somewhere else, always worrying about things that weren’t in my control. While my friends spoke of Ivy League schools and boasted of their grades, I had fallen behind. Though the memories of this tragedy overpowered my mental health, I found the will to overcome my own self-doubt. Because of this I am confident I can overcome any difficulties I may face in the future. I am no longer the weak little girl that allowed the flames to consume her future. I am no longer haunted by my past, but determined to build a better future and clear the smoke from my path. ■

Organizer of the Short Story Contest Seema Reza is the author of A Constellation of Half-Lives and When the World Breaks Open. She is the CEO of Community Building Art Works, a nonprofit organization that brings workshops led by professional artists to workplaces and military hospitals. Her writing has appeared in print and online in McSweeney’s, The Washington Post, Entropy, The Feminist Wire, Bellevue Literary Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Offing and Full Grown People, among others. She lives in Rockville.

Contest Info Bethesda Magazine and the Bethesda Urban Partnership work together to honor local writers through the short story and essay contests. Short stories are limited to 4,000 words, and authors must be residents of Montgomery County or Upper NW Washington, D.C. (20015 and 20016 ZIP codes). Essays are limited to 500 words, and writers must live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. Keep an eye out this winter for next year’s contest details at BethesdaMagazine.com and at bethesda.org.

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winning words THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (continued from page 161) He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together in blind fascination as the slick liquid ran through the ridges of the skin on his hand. Behind him, he heard retching, and the sharp stench of bile stung the air. “Ew, Condom. What’s wrong with you?” Billy jeered. Jordan lif te d himself from his haunches and wiped his finger on the corner of his jacket. Turning back toward the group, he watched Kundan stand crouched over and unmoving. “Hey.” Charlie took a step toward Kundan and gently put his hand on his shoulder. “Are you OK?” Charlie’s dark hair shone in the moonlight as it fell over his forehead in shaggy clumps. He was one of those boys who would always be handsome, regardless of age, with light hazel eyes and a gentle demeanor that made him exasperatingly approachable. Although Charlie was an indisputably pleasant kid, Jordan had spent the greater part of their friendship trying to understand why everybody loved him so much. It was an unsettling bemusement that fed hungrily on the moments in which Billy would say outrageously mean things to him. Kundan straightened and wiped the excess sick off his face. “This was stupid,” Charlie remarked as Billy began to close in on him. “Are you crying, Charlie?” Billy nudged closer to his face. “No.” Charlie pushed him back and Billy stumbled. “It’s just a stupid deer.” Billy sneered and struggled to catch his footing as leaves and sticks broke under his pattering feet. He almost fell over, and Jordan would have laughed if Billy hadn’t tried so desperately to pass it off as purposeful. “Stop being a d**k, Billy. This was a dumb f**king idea.” Charlie moved his hand back to Kundan’s shoulder. Jordan suddenly felt very angry 168

toward Charlie. “Don’t be gay, you f*g,” he shot at Charlie resentfully. Charlie ignored him. Instead, he turned to Kundan and asked again, “Are you OK?” Kundan’s dark irises flitted toward Charlie. The rest of his head turned slowly as if underwater. He put his hand over where Charlie’s open palm rested on his sleeve. Even in the moonlight, Jordan could see the strain in Kundan’s fingers as his knuckles bulged and his hand wrapped desperately around Charlie’s. “The damn thing is still alive,” Billy spat. The sound of his spit hitting the ground made the leaves crunch. “We have to drop a rock on its head,” Billy announced. “What?” Jordan asked, disgusted by the idea. “Why don’t you just shoot it again?” “I can’t, dumbass. If people hear another shot they’ll come looking for it.” Billy had never looked smaller to Jordan than he did right then, standing with his tiny fists pushed into the pockets of his red fleece. The darkness only seemed to illuminate the spray of freckles across his pale face and the slightly jagged twist of his two front teeth. Posing in front of Jordan angrily, Billy looked ridiculous holding the oversize rifle against the ground. AFTER CHARLIE HAD SLID the bullets across the cafeteria table, Billy grabbed them and sneaked them back into his paper bag with a smirk. “They’re your dad’s?” Jordan asked. “Yup. He just left them out on the counter.” Billy took a bite of his sandwich before adding, “Dumbf**k.” Charlie snorted in agreement, causing Billy to glare at him icily. “What?” Billy asked threateningly. Charlie only smiled back. “Anyways,” Billy spoke through a mouth filled with peanut butter. “I think we should go hunting tonight.” “No way.” Charlie shook his head, causing his long mop of swishy brown hair to shake and stirring sudden annoyance in Jordan’s stomach.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

“Well, what do you think, Condom?” Billy leaned his small torso across the table to look at Kundan’s face. Kundan shrugged passively. “It sounds more like sitting outside in the forest freezing my balls off.” He took another bite of his rice and grinned. “Kundan doesn’t even sound like Condom, Billy.” Charlie pulled a water bottle out of his lunch box. “You sound like an idiot.” “Sure it does.” Billy rolled his eyes. “Besides, aren’t the Trojans from Persia or somewhere?” “I’m Pakistani.” Kundan flicked a pea from his rice across the table at Billy, who smiled and squashed the pea under his thumb, spreading green mush out onto the table. “A terrorist’s a terrorist,” Jordan interjected, regretting the words immediately as they left his mouth. Although Kundan chuckled with the other boys at the joke, Jordan could see the tired hurt in his face. Billy laughed. “Jordan? What do you say? Do you want to shoot something?” Jordan thought about it. He stared at the squished pea on the edge of the table. The green gunk would soon crust over and probably stay there until the next year when he was in eighth grade. Probably all the way through high school. “How are you even going to get a gun?” Kundan asked dubiously. “My dad’s going over to his girlfriend’s house tonight. It’ll be easy enough—he never locks the toolshed.” The boys looked at each other expectantly. Maybe it was the suspicious hesitance painted across Charlie’s face, or the way Billy’s eyes gleamed mischievously under the fluorescent cafeteria lights, or Jordan’s own doubt that they’d actually be able to catch anything, but he felt himself begin to nod yes. “Sure.” He grinned shyly.

“I’M GOING HOME,” Charlie said. He was still holding onto Kundan. “Don’t be such a taint.” Billy rolled his eyes and walked over to the deer. He put his finger in the same spot Jordan had and waited for the blood to coat his fin-

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winning words ger, at which point he began to paint two straight lines over his eyes and across his cheeks. “It’s like Pennywise,” Billy explained and continued to mark his smooth round face with blood. He turned around and smiled at the boys menacingly. “Are you scared?” He smiled. “What’s a taint?” Jordan asked. “Whatever. This is f**ked up.” Charlie had lost interest. He and Kundan turned around and started their way uphill toward the warm blinking lights of civilization. With each step they took, Jordan watched them twist through the trees and over the brambles and vines, conflicted by the idea of leaving with them or staying back with Billy in the cold forest. Charlie didn’t let go of Kundan’s hand the entire walk. Jordan was made aware of Billy’s presence only once he spit onto the ground again. The sound ricocheted sharply against the thick mulch of the forest. The crunching of Charlie and Kundan’s footsteps faded until Jordan was completely alone with Billy and what was definitely a dead deer. “C’mon,” Billy demanded. “Let’s go get a rock.” He crouched down and began to search along the forest floor. Watching Kundan and Charlie walk away, Jordan was struck with a greater sense of separation between all four boys than there’d been before they walked into the woods that evening. Looking back toward the deer, Jordan felt a flare of guilt boil up into his belly, and his head began to spin with a multitude of thoughts. He wished more than anything to be at home watching TV with his brother under the fuzzy red blanket his mom kept on the couch. He wished that he’d chosen to turn around when Billy and the other boys walked into the forest at 6:47—right before sunset. Or that he hadn’t been so easily seduced by his fascination with the idea of killing something. More than anything, he wished that he hadn’t felt so satisfied as he did when Billy pulled the trigger and hit the 170

deer. That his heart hadn’t leaped at the sound of the bullet catching flesh, or that some sick part of him didn’t revel in watching the animal die at Billy’s hand. It was a feeling he didn’t realize he’d continue to chase guiltily all the way through adolescence, a feeling of conquest that hung over his head like a waning moon. It was a restlessness that became most visible in the empty hours of the night, and a frustration only temporarily relieved in moments of primitive release. Like standing up and screaming in the bed of John Dawson’s moving truck at age 16, relishing the feeling of the unforgiving wind pushing his body against itself as he threw empty glass beer bottles behind him. Or putting his fumbling hand up Elizabeth Jessup’s skirt that same year at Jack Millburn’s homecoming party, watching her round eyes widen in confusion and barely waiting for the smallest nod of consent before sliding his sweaty palm up the inside of her pale thigh. He stared off into the enveloping darkness, feeling choked by the weight of the overwhelming black air that cloaked and held him against its foreboding chest. He looked back down at the drying blood between his fingers and at the dead doe, collapsed against the cold earth. Her head was lolled back like an empty puppet, and her glazed, unblinking eyes stared up toward the mass of dark leaves on the thick branches. Jordan registered that his own eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness and wondered nervously what this moment would make of him as he inhaled what felt like his first real breath since they’d shot the gun. Breathing, Jordan turned around and began to lazily search for rocks. He scanned the gravel of the forest even though the idea of bashing the doe’s head in made his stomach churn. He jogged to the spot where Billy stood perched over something, trying to pick it up, and it wasn’t until he caught up with him that Jordan recognized the acidic smell of urine running off a small stain on Billy’s puckered corduroy pants. n

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

A CHANCE FOR BETTER WEATHER (continued from page 163) dangerous. She knows that in her time at the Webber residence, she will avoid him as much as possible. Mrs. Webber breaks the silence. She stands and roughly grabs Acacia’s arm. Then she points to the boy, who this whole time has sat and said nothing. “This is Cyrus, he will show you where your room is.” The boy stands, and Acacia sees that he is taller than his mother. He walks out of the room, clearly expecting Acacia to follow. He leads her down the hall to a door with peeling white paint. The hinges are rusted and the door itself looks like it was made out of driftwood. He opens it and she sees what will be her room. There is a small bed with a quilt depicting seagulls at the beach. The floor is uncarpeted, and the only furniture aside from the bed is a nightstand, an empty bookshelf, and a wooden dresser. Acacia sets her suitcase down next to the bed and sits on the mattress. The bed squeaks when she does, making her worry that it may break in the night. All this time, the boy watches her from the doorway. “Do you need anything?” she asks quietly. “My name is Cy,” he says, “not Cyrus.” Acacia nods. “How long will you be here?” His eyes look down at her, unblinking. “Maybe nine months, if I’m lucky.” “They move you a lot?” His posture changes slightly to a more relaxed, questioning position. “Well, it’s not really them. It’s more that whoever it is doesn’t want me anymore.” She looks at him very matter-offactly, waiting for her point to sink into his ears, for his face to change again. But it doesn’t. “I have something I want to show you,” he says, “tonight.” The door closes and Cy

winning words walks away, leaving Acacia to unpack her things in silence.

INTO THE DRESSER SHE puts her old white socks with holes where the big toes go, her yellow shirt two sizes too big, and the old ratty scarf given to her at a home long ago. The scarf is fraying at its ends, and the color in the yarn has faded from a vibrant red to more of a light pink. Shirts with missing buttons, a dress without its lace, all of the clothes she likes the least, the ones she’s sure she could live without, go into the drawer. Mr. and Mrs. Webber do not come to check on her once in three weeks. She stays in the room mostly, going to the kitchen twice a day to get cereal or an apple. The Webbers do not invite her to dinner, they don’t even eat dinner together. Mr. Webber eats alone in his office, Mrs. Webber eats in her room, and Cy eats with Acacia. The Webbers live on a beach, an unpopular, cold beach with freezing water and strong winds that whip Acacia’s hair into her face. The sun doesn’t shine on the Webber house very often, but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Webber seem to notice the constant chill. They just pull their cardigans closer and take more blankets out of the linen closet. But Cy loves the beach, loves that there’s no one there except him and Acacia when she goes with him. He shows her an abandoned lifeguard tower where they sit for hours and look out at the ocean, roaring and gray. He says he’d like to leave this town, leave the constant dreariness and cold and sadness that surrounds him, find a way to make more of himself. He wants the sun to shine on his face and the warmth to cover his body. He tells Acacia that this beach used to be like that, but the sun left, taking with it the tourists and eventually the people who lived there, and now it was just the Webbers in their house that overlooked the sea, all alone. Almost all of the children she has lived with have been younger than her. Most have been adopted—people like to adopt 172

young children or babies. That’s why Acacia is moved so much. Older children are harder to take care of and she was already 7 when she entered the system. She thinks this is the first time that a child she’s living with is her age, 16. Cy is interesting to talk to and interested in talking to her. He doesn’t like to be around his parents— Acacia was right about Mr. Webber—but he likes being around her and listening to her talk as they eat. The first night they eat together, Acacia is alone in the room that doesn’t feel like hers. She’s sitting on the uncarpeted hardwood floor looking at the cracks and wondering what would happen if she tried to pry up a floorboard, if there would be some secret room or basement, or if it would only be concrete staring back at her. She hears a knock on the door, looks up and sees Cy slowly push it open. Without a word, he sits down across from her and starts eating. They eat in silence together, only looking at each other when each is sure the other won’t notice. Acacia is surprised he is there, but is even more surprised when he comes back the next night, giving her half his chicken and salad. It took four days for them to talk to each other, a week to say anything other than “it sure was cold today.” But then Cy asked her what her favorite memory was. She stopped eating and stared wistfully at her green beans. “When I was 9, I lived with the Harris family. For Christmas that year, Mr. Harris bought me a bike, and he spent all morning trying to teach me and their son how to ride it. It wasn’t very cold that Christmas, but Mrs. Harris still made hot cocoa.” She unties her shoe and then reties it. “I loved that Christmas.” She isn’t looking at Cy, but she can tell he wants to know more. “What happened to your bike?” “Oh,” she looks out the window and sees a bird fly past quickly, “I couldn’t keep it. I left the Harrises a few months later. They never told me why they got rid of me.” She looks down again. That was the conversation that started so many more, began the snowballing

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of Them because they knew it was the beginning of something. After that, Cy never missed a meal.

ACACIA HAS STAYED WITH the Webbers for six weeks when Cy says he loves her. She didn’t expect it, and he didn’t really mean to say it. They were sitting in the lifeguard tower, Acacia with her back to the ocean, picking at the splintering wood on the beam closest to her. Cy was watching her, he did that a lot without really meaning to. He liked the way her hair fell in her face and how her eyes matched the color of the ocean he was currently looking at. He liked the sound of her voice, too, when they were talking, and she would tell him about a place she was Before, with a capital B. That’s the way she said she thought of it, Before the Webbers and Now. She tells him lots of things, like how if it rained throughout her first day in a place it meant it wouldn’t be a good place. Cy remembered that the day Acacia arrived it was the worst storm in seven years, and it had been cloudy every day since. She tells him that she takes her suitcase everywhere, has always had the same one. That she only keeps clothes in it that she likes. She tells him she remembers her mother and how much they look alike. She says every house has been the same. Most importantly, she tells him everyone eventually decides they don’t want her. When she says this, Cy feels a deep longing in his chest, right where he’s pretty sure his heart is. It feels like this longing has been there a long time, deep and raw and urgent. And he wants to say something to her but he doesn’t quite know what that something is, but whatever words his mouth is trying to form come straight from his chest and the longing that’s been sitting there like a heavy stone. And that’s when he tells her he loves her. And he doesn’t really know he did until he says it, but he really means it. He does love her. And she doesn’t know what to say back because she’s not sure she’s ever loved anyone before and she didn’t know anyone could ever love her. So she

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takes his hand and holds it, touches his fingers and knuckles, and they sit like that in silence.

DURING THE EIGHTH WEEK, while they are sitting in the lifeguard tower, Acacia looks up at the sky. “It’s clearing up,” she says. And it was; the clouds were growing thinner and lighter in color. The sun was slightly visible through the smog, just barely but still there. Cy looks at her and squeezes her hand. “What if we left?” he asks. “What if you and I got in my dad’s truck and drove far away, started over somewhere else? You’d never need to start over again.” And that’s the moment when Acacia knows that she loves him, so she smiles and nods and they make a plan to leave because that’s what they both want, to start over in a place where there are fewer clouds, a place with a chance for better weather. They would leave in one day, taking Mr. Webber’s big red truck and driving as far as they can in the morning, taking off before the Webbers woke up. As Acacia packed her suitcase that night, she realized this might be the last time, the last time she was ever in a home that wasn’t hers and the last time she’d use a wooden dresser like this one, with cracks and old finishes that were peeling off little by little. It might be the last time she isn’t wanted. Mr. and Mrs. Webber slept late the next morning; the sun had been up for hours before they woke up. Cy and Acacia climbed into Mr. Webber’s truck just as the sun was beginning to rise, turning the sky red and pink and orange, painting it in long, thick strokes. There were no clouds, and the sun shone brightly as they put their suitcases into the back of the truck. Cy turned the key in the ignition and the radio started up immediately, playing happy songs from a time before they were born. “It’s perfect weather,” he said, watching her smile at the multicolored sky. “It’s good to know there’s always a chance for perfect weather.” ■

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interior design. architecture. home sales.

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

home

Dedicated home office space, such as this work area from a GTM Architects project, is high on wish lists as more people work remotely. For more, turn to page 184.

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home | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS 2

MAKING WEAVES Rattan and cane are not just for the porch anymore

BY CAROLYN WEBER

1. RAISING CANE

2. KEEP ON THE GRASS

3. DREAM WEAVER

Created in collaboration with interior designer and HGTV personality Leanne Ford, the Fields cane back accent chair is a modern take on the classic barrel chair shape. Constructed of bentwood and cane, it comes in a natural wood version with white upholstery or stained charcoal gray with matching cushions. It’s available for $999 at Crate and Barrel in Upper Northwest D.C.’s Spring Valley neighborhood (202-364-6100; crateandbarrel.com).

Enhance the decor of a casual room or add an organic element to a modern space with the Keyes globe rattan pendant. The seagrass shade is handmade, 20½ inches in diameter, and accented with a 5-inch round, bronze-finish ceiling plate. The light fixture retails for $299 at Arhaus in Rockville (301-230-2973; arhaus.com).

Inspired by a 1940s French design, this bed is the epitome of coastal elegance. The sturdy and shapely frame is wrapped in rattan, with rattan strips laced through in a diamond pattern. The queen-size Avalon bed is $1,998, and the king-size is $2,298 at Serena & Lily on Bethesda Row (240-5311839; serenaandlily.com).

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COURTESY PHOTOS

4. ON THE SIDE

5. TRAY CHIC

6. GLASS ACT

Add style and texture to a dining room with a buffet that has a midcentury-modern vibe. It features a caned oak veneer with brass hardware, has three handy storage drawers, and is 70 inches wide by 19 inches deep. The Wallace cane and oak sideboard is $1,798 at Anthropologie in Bethesda (240-345-9413; anthropologie.com).

Trays are so useful and versatile—for serving drinks in the dining room, holding mail in the foyer, or organizing small items on a bedside table. These decorative handwoven cane trays are sold in sets of three (13¾, 15¾ and 17¾ inches in diameter) for $120 at The Cottage Monet in Rockville Town Square (301-2792422; cottagemonet.com).

Accessories are a great way to sample a trend without a big commitment. A mix of rattan and cane gives this frame a fresh take on a traditional design. The Ash mirror measures 24 by 36 inches and can be hung vertically or horizontally. Find it for $399 at Pottery Barn in Bethesda (301-654-1598; potterybarn.com). ■

Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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Source: Information included in this report is based on data supplied by BRIGHTMLS and its member Association(s) of REALTORS, who are not responsible for its accuracy. Does not reflecall activity in the marketplace. 7.1.19 – 6.30.20, as of 7.10. 20. Luxury is defined as homes priced $1 Million and above. Information contained in this report is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, should be independently verified, and does not constitute an opinion of BRIGHTMLS or Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. ©2020 All rights reserved. Christie’s International Real Estate in select areas.

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Laura and Anne have been working together as the Emmett Homes team since 2009. Anne is a well known and respected Bethesda-based agent with over 30 years of experience. Laura previously worked as a political appointee and employment attorney before joining Anne selling real estate. This mother/daughter team enjoys the camaraderie of working together and, in turn, treats every client like a part of the family. Their first priority is helping clients reach their real estate goals, and they do it all with the utmost level of professionalism and integrity.

Readers’ Pick: Best Brokerage for Luxury Homes, Long & Foster® Real Estate

What makes you different than other real estate agents? For me, it’s all about the people and places we call “Home.” While we act as advisors on the important nuts and bolts of each transaction, including marketing, staging, showings, contracts, paperwork and contingencies, home purchases and sales are personal. With years of experience buying and selling homes, I bring my steady hand, strong negotiating skills developed as a California lawyer, along with empathy, patience and care, to ensure the best possible outcome for each client. Success for my clients is my “why.” How would your clients describe you? “Susan’s negotiating skills are second to none.” “Susan is hardworking, detail oriented and highly professional.” “Susan surpassed all of our expectations for an agent.” “Susan gave us excellent guidance, unflagging availability and deep knowledge about a wide range of homes. Susan is approachable, personable, endlessly patient and incredibly generous with her time.”

Susan Verner

240.381.8853 | susan.verner@lnf.com susanverner.realtor

Park Potomac Office 301.469.4700

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Greta Nicoletti The Luxury Authority in Montgomery County 301.910.2696 gretahomes@gmail.com LFC at Bethesda Office 240.800.5155

WOW! An elegant home in a perfect location! This trendy white painted brick Colonial is both classic and current in style. The new two-story addition and renovation were recently completed including an open kitchen/family room, master bedroom suite, and a large beautifully landscaped backyard. All new: roof, windows, baths, landscaping, generator and more! Convenient to Pyle Middle School, Walt Whitman High School. Offered at $1,349,900. Call Greta Nicoletti for more information at 301.910.2696.

Readers’ Pick: Best Brokerage for Luxury Homes, Long & Foster® Real Estate

Exceptional 4 bedroom, 3 bath (+ loft) NV Homes Ocean Breeze in Ocean View, DE’s Reserves. Two miles to Bethany Beach. Loaded with upgrades: white kitchen cabinets include wine fridge. Quartz counters in kitchen and baths. Exquisite hand-scraped oak wood floors. Stone propane fireplace in great room. Over one-third acre premium lot backs to deep woods. Huge 3-season room flanked by 2 large outside decks. Asking $625,000. DESU165962

Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath NV Homes Cavendish in National award-winning Bay Forest. Engineered hardwoods: foyer, dining room, kitchen, great room. Dramatic kitchen/great room cathedral ceiling. New double wall oven, upgraded cabinets, tile backsplash and tumbled marble tile breakfast bar. Extended master bedroom. Gas fireplace with stone hearth. Three-season room with hot tub, paver patio, sitting wall and more. Asking $575,000. DESU164470

Joe Loughran, Realtor®, Licensed in Delaware & Maryland

302.864.3216 | 703.622.7890 | JoeLoughran@LNF.com Bethany Beach Office 302.539.9040

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The DC Team at Long & Foster Reginald Johnson, Carol Strasfeld, Deborah Cheshire, Edward J Heid, IV

theDCteam.com | 301.215.6855 Bethesda Gateway Office 301.907.7600 Finding the home you’ve always dreamed of is no easy task. You need a team of experienced and capable individuals at your back to ensure that you get more than just the bay window and breakfast nook, you get the home you’ve always wanted in the DC Metropolitan area. Luckily, the DC Team at Long & Foster Real Estate is armed with a team that boasts over 25 years of experience. Our expertise ensures that you’re going to the table with a skilled

negotiator who ensures that you get your money’s worth and protects you from any pitfalls that are common for first time home buyers. If you’re in the market to sell, we aim to make the process stressfree and pro-active. You’ll have access to our full marketing and staging knowledge and the numerous techniques we’ve tried throughout the years before settling on a few superior ways to find you the perfect buyer for your home.

Readers’ Pick: Best Brokerage for Luxury Homes, Long & Foster® Real Estate

Connecting the dots of preparing a home for sale is Sarah’s specialty. Her trusted partners and team members include an exceptional group of contractors, painters, landscapers, interior specialists and marketers. Sarah’s bespoke and proven approach to home preparation has been cultivated over three decades of industry leading sales in the Capital Region. Targeting specific needs and tasks in each home she represents, from kitchen renovations to exterior landscaping and everything in between, increases sales potential and results in more interest, offers and ultimately higher sales prices.

“

We attribute the successful sale of our home to Sarah Funt. She gave us many helpful suggestions on how to update our home, andwe followed many of her ideas. Our house looked terrific. Sarah is very professional, has a lot of experience, and did a very in-depth market analysis to determine the selling price. Sarah and her team marketed our house well, and we were able to get multiple offers in just three days! Sarah was very responsive to any questions or concerns and was always great to deal with. If you are looking for an agent to sell your house, Sarah Funt should be your first choice. ~ The Todds

Sarah Funt, CBR #1 Individual Agent in #1 Office 301.509.1283 | Sarah.Funt@LNF.com | SarahFunt.com Bethesda Gateway Office 301.907600

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Work with who knows Bethesda best We’re in YOUR neighborhood Heller Coley Reed 240.800.5155 hellercoleyreed@gmail.com | hellercoleyreed.com LFC at Bethesda Office Zelda: 202.257.1226 Jamie: 202.669.1331 Leigh: 301.674.2829

Bethesda Magazine Reader’s Pick 2019 Best Real Estate Team

Readers’ Pick: Best Brokerage for Luxury Homes, Long & Foster® Real Estate

A full-service Realtor® in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia — nothing is too small or too big. Teresa attributes her success not only to her passion for homes, but also to her intuition regarding the psychology of buying and selling. Her business has grown successfully and consistently thanks to the repeat business of happy clients and their introductions to friends, family and neighbors. This track record is only possible because Teresa delivers both results and an enjoyable experience. For listing information and/or to sell/buy your home, call 240.286.7493 or visit www.longandfoster.com/teresaburton.

Teresa Burton Helping Clients Find and Sell Homes for Over 20 Years 240.286.7493 teresa.burton@lnf.com • A Top Producer 2019 & 2020 • Licensed in Maryland, DC and Virginia • Relocation Specialist Top Agent Network Park Potomac Office 301.469.4700

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The Reimagined Home A front porch, multiple offices, an exercise room, touchless faucets, soundproof wallsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;pandemic life is changing the features and floor plans that local residents want BY CAROLYN WEBER | ILLUSTRATION BY ELLEN BYRNE

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Wormald Homes offers a “family command center” home office like this one, featuring two walls of sliding glass doors, in the Alexandria model in Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg.

footage. “Access to outdoor activities is also a priority, and buyers like Montgomery County’s western suburbs because they’re close to the C&O Canal and Billy Goat Trail for hiking, and the river for kayaking and fishing,” Stransky Brown says. There will always be a segment of the market that wants the convenience of an urban lifestyle, but some consider multifamily buildings too risky right now. Concerns about sharing common spaces such as lobbies and elevators, and the quality of air that’s recirculating through ventilation systems, could impact the condominium market. “For those buyers, the shift may be to less dense situations than condos,” says Bob Youngentob, CEO of Bethesda-based EYA, which builds condos and townhomes. “An elevator townhouse with direct access from a private garage can be a more viable urban alternative.” As people adjust to life at home, they are reevaluating their living situations and adapting their homes to

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meet current and future needs. Those who’ve postponed a renovation are finding themselves with plenty of time to commit to home improvements. Builder Matt Covell, the founder of Structure in Bethesda, has been flooded with inquiries. “People have shut-in fatigue,” he says. “They’ve been sitting around staring at their houses for months, taking note of everything they want to change.”

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE first thing on the post-pandemic wish list is a home office. The telework movement has been on the rise for a while, but the stay-athome orders made working remotely a necessity. It’s the new norm, and for many in the Bethesda area it could be a long-term arrangement. With at least one person working at home, and in many cases two or three, everyone would like to have dedicated office space with a door for privacy. In new construction as well as remodels, a spare bedroom or a seldom-used formal living or dining room is often the

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORMALD HOMES

MARK AND DONNA LEWIS’ thoughts about making some changes to their 5-year-old house in Bethesda Mews had been on the back burner. Then, after the coronavirus pandemic hit in the spring, renovating became a priority. “We were at home so much and we had time to focus on it, so we said, ‘Why not just do it now?’ ” Mark says. The empty nesters hired Cabin Johnbased Anthony Wilder Design/Build to expand the lower level living space with a large screened porch and hot tub in the area under the home’s deck. The couple intends to use it as a private outdoor place to unwind and a safe space to entertain friends at a distance. Amid this spring’s stay-at-home orders from the state of Maryland and Montgomery County, people spent a lot of time in their houses. As the pandemic continues and daily life remains different than before, homes have taken on greater significance, serving as offices, schools, gyms, movie theaters and recreation centers. The repercussions of this crisis will change how people live for the foreseeable future, impacting what they will seek in a new home and how they will modify existing ones. Thanks in part to low interest rates, the local housing market is strong. Sales of new and older homes are brisk, and remodelers are as busy as ever. “Despite the virus, the market is energetic,” says real estate agent Lisa Stransky Brown of Washington Fine Properties in Potomac, who only shows houses virtually or by appointment these days. “No one is tire-kicking right now; they are serious buyers.” Now that commuting time is less of a consideration and distancing is a priority, people are looking for communities that are farther from urban centers. Suburban single-family neighborhoods are attracting families who want more space and value large lots and extra square

first to be sacrificed. “Making a home office from a living room is a relatively easy conversion,” Covell says. “We usually close off one entrance and add some kind of glass door or pocket door to the other.” Chris Lapp, principal of Claude C. Lapp Architects in Rockville, always includes a first-floor office in his plans for new homes. “But now people are adding extra offices in the basement or in a third-floor loft, and want insulation in the walls, floors and ceilings in those spaces.” With multiple Zoom calls happening simultaneously, soundproofing is vital. Loud voices, and even noisy typing, can disturb others. “We are seeing a lot of requests for sound mitigation,” says Luke Olson, a senior associate at GTM Architects in Bethesda. Using spray foam insulation in the walls can reduce points of sound transmission, and installing solid core interior doors can help deaden the sound. An easier fix is to add decorative acoustic wall panels,

rugs and window treatments to a room to absorb sound. For remote workers who want to stay connected to what’s happening in the rest of the house, the Frederick-based Wormald Companies offers a “family command center” in their floor plans in Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. It features two walls of sliding glass doors and has been popular with parents of young children. “They like it because they can keep an eye on their kids while they are working,” says partner Ken Wormald. Most teenagers can participate in remote learning from anywhere in the house with a laptop, but younger children might do best with a committed education spot for computer time, homework and craft projects. “Built-in desks were going out of style, but clients are requesting them again,” Lapp says. He’s placing them in open second-floor lounge/bonus rooms and adding sliding barn doors to muffle sound during Zoom classes or giggly FaceTime playdates. Those who don’t want to give up a living room or guest room, but need to escape the din of family life during work time, are finding creative places for home offices. Chris Cahill, owner of Cahill Design Build in Olney, is adding an office above a client’s detached garage. It will have an exterior staircase and a pair of French doors with a small balcony overlooking the backyard and pool. “People have to figure out how to have a real workable space at home,” he says. Remote working requires dependable Wi-Fi connections, and homeowners are now more conscious of high-speed internet strength and security. “We’re trying to future-proof our homes with smart house features like structured wiring systems and dedicated secure data lines,” says Joe Korzeniowski, sales and marketing manager for Rockvillebased Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders.

“Buyers are investing more in the features behind the walls.” Avi Benaim, president of A.B.E. Networks in Rockville, has seen a major increase in requests to improve and install new network Wi-Fi systems and help with residential videoconferencing setups. “People are realizing they can run their businesses over video calls rather than having an actual commercial office space,” he says. “I think that the home will become the new main office.”

IN HIS BUSINESS, Korzeniowski is seeing another trend. “In addition to multiple offices, houses must have multigenerational capabilities,” he says. Empty nesters have found themselves with full houses again, as adult children have boomeranged back from college, group living situations or jobs in New York City, and are home indefinitely. Some families have grandparents and young children living under the same roof. Whatever the makeup, they all need space to work and sleep, so flexibility is the key to satisfying everyone’s needs. Builders and architects are looking to basements and third floors, creating spaces that aren’t clearly defined. Korzeniowski’s buyers are tailoring their new home plans for today, but also thinking ahead for evolving living and working situations. “We’re building attics that can be offices, au pair suites or guest rooms, depending on a family’s changing needs,” he says. Cahill says he’s even working with elements such as Murphy beds to maximize adaptability. For a first-floor office, having a connected full bathroom allows for flexibility. “People want the ability to convert the office back to a bedroom suite if parents come to live with them,” says Lapp, who is also roughing in elevator shafts in larger houses to carry older parents to the basement or third floor, if necessary. Separation is important if someone

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THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF physical activity are well documented, and especially important in stressful times like these. Peloton sales surged in the spring and summer when fitness centers closed and people started working out at home. Now, with people carving out dedicated home gyms, those machines are no longer relegated to the corner of a bedroom. “My clients are doubling the size of their exercise rooms to accommodate more and larger equipment,” Lapp says. A typical new home has an open lower level with a rec room, guest bedroom and storage area. “Basements used to be an afterthought, but buyers are really planning them now and looking for upgrades,” Korzeniowski says. They are customizing basements with home gyms and rubber flooring, yoga rooms, media areas for kids to play video games, plenty of finished storage, and even bars. “If they are going to be home more, they’d better love it and get everything they want,” Korzeniowski says. Keeping active kids busy is essential for everyone’s mental health, so design professionals are considering 188

Dedicated space for a home gym—such as this exercise room in a GTM Architects project—is among the items filling wish lists.

any available extra space for recreation zones. “If you can do a higher basement ceiling, 11 or 12 feet, you can actually build a sport court on a lower level,” says Giarraputo, who is also helping clients repurpose three-car garages as indoor play areas, and adding heaters so they can be used year-round.

WITH ALL THAT PRIVATE space, homeowners still value places to convene when work is done. The family dinner is back, and the kitchen/informal dining room/family room concept is going strong. Covell’s clients are maintaining a focus on designing welcoming entertaining areas to host family and friends. “It’s their expectation that gatherings are going to resume sooner or later,” he says. With everyone cooking and eating three meals a day at home, space for multiple cooks is important. And if they have the square footage, buyers want supersize islands. “People value having a lot of space on these islands to spread

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out,” Wormald says. “Look for kitchen islands of 10 feet or more in length.” They also want bigger pantries for long-term storage of bulk items, and hygiene-centric features such as touchless faucets and impermeable stone surfaces that are easy to disinfect.

IN THE QUEST FOR more elbow room, the outdoors counts as additional living space. “We’re hearing the word oasis quite a bit,” says architect JP Ward, director of business development at Anthony Wilder Design/Build. “Everyone is stressed out from the news and wants to chill.” With vacations canceled, homeowners are finding ways to relax on back patios or screened porches and enjoying amenities such as outdoor kitchens, spas and pools. Traditionally, many homebuyers considered residential swimming pools a hassle to maintain, and even a liability. But that’s changed since the pandemic, with public pools and neighborhood

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

is sick, or if elderly family members want to isolate. “Those who may be at higher risk need some degree of separation,” Olson says. Mark Giarraputo, principal architect at Studio Z Design Concepts in Bethesda, is redesigning a family’s home to accommodate his client’s 80-year-old in-laws. “They wanted distance from the college students, so we designed a suite with a separate kitchen for them,” he says. In another project, a suite with a separate entrance and no direct access to the main house is being added above an attached four-car garage. “I think that families with multiple living experiences under one roof is here for the long haul,” Giarraputo says.

PHOTO BY JOHN COLE/COURTESY OF ANTHONY WILDER

Anthony Wilder Design/Build created this indoor/outdoor space. Homeowners can look to outside spots to add useable living areas.

swim clubs either shuttered for the season or open with lots of restrictions. “A pool wasn’t always seen as an asset,” says real estate agent Dana Rice, an executive vice president at Compass in Chevy Chase. “Now it’s definitely a benefit.” In the late spring, Cahill, who also owns the landscape design company Botanical Decorators, was getting 10 times the normal number of calls for pools. “Everybody wanted it, and they wanted it tomorrow,” he says. But when some learned that a high-quality concrete pool project costs upward of $150,000, the reality check came quickly. If a pool isn’t in the budget, there are other more practical options for outdoor living. “A pool is sort of a knee-jerk reaction to summer entertaining,” Cahill says. “When we do a beautiful yard, patio, fireplace and kitchen area, we help clients achieve something they can enjoy through several seasons.” In the luxury townhome market,

roof decks are the place to be for private outdoor space. The sky’s the limit for upgrades, such as retractable awnings, fireplaces, wet bars and built-in grills. “Everyone is longing for more indooroutdoor spaces,” says Wormald, whose company offers four-season indoor/ outdoor rooftop rooms with air-conditioned space and retractable walls. “We need a break from that cooped-up feeling many of us experience during a quarantine.”

WITH SO MUCH FAMILY time, people are missing the connections to friends and neighbors, and finding new ways to socialize safely. As soon as the weather warmed up, area homeowners dragged their Adirondack chairs out front to convene in yards and driveways for socially distant happy hours. The demand for front porches increased as people sought comfortable places to hang out on the public side of the house. “We always use a front porch or

oversized portico as a design element to affect the scale of new houses in older neighborhoods,” Giarraputo says. “It works for the architecture, and now the social aspect is just as important.” People are sitting on front porches for morning coffee, evening cocktails, to watch a neighborhood car parade, or wave to neighbors walking or biking by. “A porch needs to be a minimum of 6-feet deep to be usable,” Ward says, “but the bigger the better to accommodate rocking chairs and even a swing.” Slowing down their fast-paced, overscheduled lives has allowed people to reevaluate and reprioritize what is really important to them. In uncertain times, home is a haven. “The essence of home has never been closer to people’s hearts,” Ward says. “Families are back together and they want to be where they feel safe.” n Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design.

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Harnessing the Sun Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what to consider when deciding if solar energy is right for you BY CARALEE ADAMS

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

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Zaidoon Khouri (right) with wife Olivia, children Leo and Lexa, and dog Lupa at their Glen Echo Heights home, which features black solar panels

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THE FIRST TIME ERIC and Amy Forseter got bids to put solar panels on their East Bethesda home about five years ago, the payback wasn’t there. But by 2018 the technology had improved enough and the prices were lower so they decided it was worth the investment for their large colonial-style home built in 2010. “Given all the carbon that is emitted in the world, we are always looking for a way to reduce our carbon footprint,” Eric says. The Forseters’ panels have produced enough energy to reduce their electric bill by about 75%. That savings, along with tax rebates and the sale of excess solar energy they generate, means the Forseters anticipate recouping the cost of their system in five to seven years, which is ahead of the original projection. 192

“I’m not becoming a millionaire off of it, but I’m saving money,” Eric says. As solar becomes more efficient and concern about the environment grows, more homeowners are harnessing the energy of the sun to power their residences. The Solar Energy Industries Association says solar accounted for 40% of all new electric generating capacity in the U.S. in 2019—up from 4% in 2010 and 27% in 2014. The Pew Research Center reports that in 2019, 46% of American homeowners said they had given serious thought to adding solar panels at their home in the past year. In 2010, there were about 150 homes with solar in Montgomery County. That grew to 2,506 in 2016 and 9,816 as of June, according to the county’s Department of Permitting Services. County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed a

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requirement that all new homes meet increased energy performance standards—through a combination of solar installation and energy efficiency measures—by 2022, among other strategies for all building types to meet the county’s goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Local demand for solar is expected to continue, too, with passage of the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act in 2019 requiring that half of Maryland’s energy comes from renewable sources by 2030. Bryan Bomer, green building manager for the county’s Department of Permitting Services, says many residents want to do the right thing, and switching to solar makes sense economically. “We have the availability here. We have a strong market. We have progressively minded people in the county

PHOTO BY MICHAEL KRESS

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Control and Prevention. By summer, interest picked up as families that were working from home and using more appliances and electronics looked twice at their electric bills and turned to solar panels as a way to save money on energy, he says. There are several factors to consider when you're thinking of going solar, including the type of equipment, financing options, the suitability of your roof (slant, tilt and size) and the roof’s condition—it may not make economic sense to install panels on a roof that will need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years, according to the Maryland Energy Administration. Payback time can vary, but experts say it takes about seven to 10 years for the homeowner to recoup the cost. After getting multiple quotes, Andy and Huda Montemarano had solar panels installed on the south and west sides of their house, which was built in 2016 in Bethesda. Andy says they save $2,000 to $3,000 a year in electric bills.

who understand the impact of climate change,” he says. The decision to go solar is made more enticing by state mandates for utilities to buy solar and by government tax incentives that reduce the bottom-line cost. Still, buying solar is a big investment, with an average price tag for installing a residential system running about $14,000 locally, according to Boston-based EnergySage, a comparison-shop website backed by the U.S. Department of Energy. Initially, the COVID-19 pandemic hurt residential solar sales, as people were uneasy about making an investment during uncertain economic times, according to David Murray, executive director at Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association. Still, installation continued under strict safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease

FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, IT is best to discuss solar early in the design process and have an analysis done to see if the site is suitable, says Tyler Abrams, vice president of project management for Sandy Spring Builders in Bethesda. Panels placed on south-facing roofs are most productive, although southeast or southwest can also work. If there is too much shade, solar panels may not generate enough energy to make it worth it. About 10% to 15% of Sandy Spring Builders’ new homes include solar panels—twice as many as about five years ago, Abrams says. The company now outfits all of its homes with conduit (a big open pipe to accommodate wiring from the mechanical room to the attic) to make the addition of solar equipment easy in the future, he says. Andy and Huda Montemarano wanted their new five-bedroom home, built in 2016 by Sandy Spring in the Edgemoor neighborhood of Bethesda, to be as energy efficient as possible. Along with a geothermal heating and cooling system, and lights that automatically shut off, they had solar panels installed. “For us, it wasn’t so much about the money as it was not using up natural

resources,” Andy says. “But the economics is certainly another feel-good aspect—especially in the summer months, when we don’t pay really anything for electricity.” Producing their own energy saves the Montemaranos $2,000 to $3,000 a year in electric bills, according to Andy. As competition expands and equipment costs come down, it takes fewer years for the savings on electric bills to reimburse the owner for the installation. Payback is driving demand, and acceptance is growing, Abrams says. “The stigma is changing. Some people feel that solar panels are ugly and try to hide them as much as they can and be strategic about where they are located,” Abrams says. “For others, it’s a bragging right.” Zaidoon Khouri paid a bit more for sleeker black panels to match the black roof on his new Bethesda home in Glen Echo Heights. “I think the panels look really cool. They fit nicely with the modern style of our house,” he says of the system that was installed last November. Khouri was thinking about having an aesthetically pleasing metal roof installed on the garage, which would have cost several thousand dollars more than a shingle roof. But when he realized the solar panels would cover the metal, he decided against it—an advantage of considering options early in the process.

WHETHER TO GO SOLAR can depend in part on the incentives in the state where someone lives and the options for ownership. There are two basic choices when it comes to financing: Either the homeowner buys the system or it is owned by a third party and leased by the homeowner. Owning the system allows you to reap all the savings in electricity that are generated and to benefit from the tax incentives. The federal government’s solar income tax credit for 2020 is worth 26% of the total cost of the system. You can claim the credit when you file your tax return.

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The amount of savings will go down to 22% for systems installed in 2021. Tax incentives are declining (in 2019, the federal credit was 30%), although industry groups will lobby for extensions, says Nate Hausman of the Clean Energy States Alliance, a national nonprofit based in Montpelier, Vermont. “Increasingly, economics are driving the deployment of solar, rather than incentives,” he says. States also offer perks to encourage solar. The Maryland Residential Clean Energy Grant Program provides upfront rebates of $1,000 statewide for eligible homeowners who buy solar systems. Residents also don’t have to pay regular sales tax on the equipment. Solar loans are also available—from a bank, credit union or solar company— to purchase a system. Loans may be secured or unsecured and come with a variety of terms, interest rates and requirements. Solar panels usually include two warranties, one that covers physical defects for about 10 years (although panels can last much longer); another for the actual performance output of the solar power, which is usually guaranteed to perform for 25 years at 80% of the energy produced in the first year of operation. If you own your panels and move, you can bring them to the new home. Or, some homebuyers may value them and want them to remain. With a solar lease arrangement, the

customer has no up-front costs. The panels are installed on your home but are leased from a company for a fixed monthly fee. As long as the value of the electricity you produce is greater than the cost of the lease, savings can begin immediately. The company that owns the panels is eligible for the solar tax credits, not you. A power purchase agreement is an arrangement in which customers, rather than leasing the panels, which are owned by a third party, agree to buy all of the power generated by them. Then you can sell back any excess energy to the utility company. With this model, you only pay for the amount of power that’s generated and delivered to your home. Experts say these agreements are increasingly popular because they are being made with high-quality panels that are more efficient. Local companies are expecting an increased interest in third-party ownership if the economy is soft and people are hesitant to make big purchases. Once a homeowner is up and running with solar panels, it’s important to know how energy bills will be affected. Maryland, along with many other states and the District, offers net energy metering. This is a billing arrangement that credits solar customers for the electricity they add to the grid beyond the amount they use—something more likely to occur in the summer, when there’s more daylight. Maryland and D.C. also require a certain percentage of the energy sold by

Payback time can vary, but experts say it takes about seven to 10 years for the homeowner to recoup the cost. 194

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each utility to come from solar. And the 2019 Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act requires that 14.5% of the state’s energy must come from in-state solar by 2030, driving up the value of solar panels and the price owners can get for the energy they generate. A Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) is created whenever solar panels produce electricity, and the certificates or credits belong to the person who owns the system. For every 1,000 kilowatt-hour of solar power a home generates, the owner accumulates one SREC that they can sell to the utility company or a third-party owner. As of early July, the market price in Maryland was about $76 per SREC, and experts say a typical customer might generate 10 to 12 SRECs a year.

AS WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT investment, it’s smart to do your research and look at customer satisfaction reviews. “Whenever there’s a sales pitch, customers should discriminate and get multiple bids,” says Hausman of the Clean Energy States Alliance. “There are good resources out there and tools that make it easier and easier to do cost comparisons.” EnergySage is an online platform that operates in more than 30 states to provide free solar quotes to customers in a standardized format with a ranking system to reflect the quality of the options. “Every company and website is trying to sell its own product. Objective information is hard to find,” says Vikram Aggarwal, founder and CEO of EnergySage. EnergySage collects fees from more than 500 prescreened solar installers who participate in the service, but does not sell products. The model reduces the companies’ marketing costs and enables the service to offer lower prices, Aggarwal says. To guard against salespeople who overestimate the potential savings, experts say it’s wise to use an online solar calculator. Websites such as pvwatts.nrel. gov from the U.S. Department of Energy

COURTESY PHOTO

The solar panels installed on Bernie and Paula Benson’s East Bethesda home in 2018 cover 100% of their electric bill. They track the system’s performance on a phone app.

can project savings for homeowners based on their location, utility rates and the size of the system. Most residential solar systems generate electricity using two main hardware components: panels or modules that convert sunlight to power, and inverters that convert direct current to alternating current for use in the home. The panels are mounted on the roof and wired together in groups called “solar arrays.” The kilowatt-hours produced depends on the size or “power rating” of the system and the amount of sunlight it receives. Companies can do a solar analysis to provide a preliminary estimate based on your average electric bill and the number of panels that can fit on your roof. Solar may be able to produce between 30% and 100% of someone’s energy, depending on usage and the surface space. Consumers

also have the option of buying a battery system with solar panels, which can be an alternative to a generator when the grid fails in a storm and backup power is needed.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE the Forseters live, solar is gaining momentum. Bernie and Paula Benson had their system installed in July 2018 and it covers 100% of their electric bill. They can see how well their system is performing on a phone app. “I track it three to four times a day. It’s fun to watch,” Bernie says. “It has a little graph that shows by the hour how much you generate, and it tells you how many trees you saved.” The Bensons bought their system through a co-op that negotiated a group discount for installation with Solar United Neighbors, a national nonprofit

that promotes the use of solar and represents the needs and interests of solar owners. It has co-ops in Montgomery County that include 300 homes, according to Ben Delman, communications director. Once people buy through the co-op they can stay connected with fellow solar homeowners and join lobbying efforts to promote fair credits for the electricity they generate. Bernie Benson has gone to Annapolis to make the case to lawmakers that the state should support solar programs. “We have grown children and grandchildren, and I’m very concerned about the environment and climate change,” he says. “To solve the climate change problem we are going to need everybody involved. We just wanted to do our part.” ■ Caralee Adams is a freelance writer who has lived in Bethesda for 20 years.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

Data provided by

JUNE’S MOST EXPENSIVE

at A peek rea’s f the a some o pensive x most e sold n rece tly s house

HOME SALES SALE PRICE:

$2.8 million SALE PRICE:

$4.5 million LIST PRICE: $4.5 MILLION

Address: 5204 Kenwood Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

LIST PRICE: $2.9 MILLION

Address: 3201 Winnett Road, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 93 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.6 million LIST PRICE: $2.7 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

$3.2 million LIST PRICE: $3.5 MILLION

Address: 7613 Glenbrook Road, Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 133 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 7608 Marbury Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 262 Listing Agency: UnionPlus Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.6 million LIST PRICE: $2.6 MILLION

Address: 8605 Rapley Gate Terrace, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.5 million $2.8 million LIST PRICE: $3.1 MILLION

Address: 6405 Shadow Road, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 255 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION

Address: 10041 Counselman Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 53 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION

Address: 10109 Iron Gate Road, Potomac 20854

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

COURTESY PHOTOS

SALE PRICE:

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6124 Swansea Street Bethesda $1,795,000 Whitman School District 5 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms

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7115 Edgevale Street, Chevy Chase $1,695,000 ! LD SO

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10813 Hob Nail Court, Potomac $980,000

Ranked Top 1%

RE/MAX Realty Services • Bethesda Row • 301.652.0400 4825 Bethesda Avenue #200 • Bethesda, MD 20814

home | BY THE NUMBERS

Days on Market: 3 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

Listing Agency: Premier Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 4805 Dorset Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION

Address: 10000 Newhall Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 49 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE: SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.6 MILLION

Address: 16911 Radnor Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 81 Listing Agency: TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $2.6 MILLION

Address: 5327 Falmouth Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 50 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.2 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 5404 Waneta Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.2 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 4205 Glenrose St., Kensington 20895 Days on Market: 24

198

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

SALE PRICE: SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 10408 Bit and Spur Lane, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 91 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2.3 MILLION

Address: 9601 Halter Court, Rockville 20854 Days on Market: 84 Listing Agency: RE/MAX Excellence Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 8/2

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

Address: 5200 Belvoir Drive, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: RLAH Real Estate Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 11501 Dalyn Terrace, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 73 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Address: 7717 Radnor Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 128 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 6307 E. Halbert Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 292 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 11104 S. Glen Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 82 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 8506 Garfield St., Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 8 Listing Agency: RE/MAX Realty Services Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 8606 Ridge Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 2 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

Note: Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

10700 Red Barn Lane P OTO M AC , M D 2 0 8 5 4 | $ 3 ,9 9 5 , 0 0 0

A Nantucket masterpiece transformed into a contemporary oasis unlike any other Potomac property. This sleek and sophisticated home outfitted with premium features throughout, is the epitome of comfortable luxury. The 8,815 square foot interior boasts a light filled, open-concept layout. The minimalist, modern design gives a clean, airy and spacious feel all while bringing the natural world in. Take a step outside and enjoy the ultra private, 4 acre lot, with lush greenery and trees as far as the eye can see. The addition of a saltwater fountain pool and gorgeous pool house make this the perfect backyard for both entertainment and serenity. With 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, this is an idyllic setting to gather family and friends for special occasions, and a solace retreat for you to come home to everyday.

Margie Halem Margie Halem Group of Compass margie@compass.com | 301.775.4196 * Accredited Stager * Senior Real Estate Specialist Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301.304.8444

home | BY THE NUMBERS

REAL ESTATE TRENDS BY ZIP CODE

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

20015 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

24 $1.2 Mil. 13 14 7 19

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

20818 (Cabin John) 16 $1.2 Mil. 13 11 4 11

20016 (Upper NW D.C.)

Number of Homes Sold 6 Average Sold Price $857,250 Average Days on Market 6 Above Asking Price 3 Below Asking Price 1 Sold Over $1 Million 1

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

20854 (Potomac) 1 $1 Mil. 108 0 1 1

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

69 57 $1.1 Mil. $1.2 Mil. 43 43 17 13 43 37 27 27

20832 (Olney)

20855 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold 26 15 Average Sold Price $622,746 $606,426 Average Days on Market 24 16 Above Asking Price 13 5 Below Asking Price 12 7 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0

Number of Homes Sold 18 13 Average Sold Price $539,156 $602,038 Average Days on Market 21 16 Above Asking Price 8 7 Below Asking Price 6 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20814 (Bethesda)

20850 (Rockville)

20877 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

Number of Homes Sold 20 25 Average Sold Price $711,663 $713,258 Average Days on Market 18 21 Above Asking Price 7 7 Below Asking Price 10 14 Sold Over $1 Million 3 2

Number of Homes Sold 11 9 Average Sold Price $438,891 $500,764 Average Days on Market 24 17 Above Asking Price 6 2 Below Asking Price 3 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20815 (Chevy Chase)

20851 (Rockville)

20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

Number of Homes Sold 11 9 Average Sold Price $400,432 $419,466 Average Days on Market 10 19 Above Asking Price 5 4 Below Asking Price 5 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 41 36 Average Sold Price $737,654 $699,997 Average Days on Market 36 22 Above Asking Price 8 10 Below Asking Price 24 18 Sold Over $1 Million 2 2

20816 (Bethesda)

20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)

20879 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

Number of Homes Sold 18 20 Average Sold Price $855,889 $700,145 Average Days on Market 37 18 Above Asking Price 6 9 Below Asking Price 9 8 Sold Over $1 Million 3 3

Number of Homes Sold 11 13 Average Sold Price $403,573 $490,292 Average Days on Market 22 20 Above Asking Price 1 5 Below Asking Price 5 8 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20853 (Rockville)

20882 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 41 43 Average Sold Price $533,013 $570,335 Average Days on Market 24 26 Above Asking Price 20 16 Below Asking Price 16 20 Sold Over $1 Million 1 1

Number of Homes Sold 19 16 Average Sold Price $594,584 $576,162 Average Days on Market 58 18 Above Asking Price 2 6 Below Asking Price 14 8 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

26 $1.3 Mil. 15 13 11 19

14 $2.2 Mil. 25 2 9 13

29 13 $1.2 Mil. $1.2 Mil. 21 59 7 2 15 9 18 7

38 23 $1.3 Mil. $1.6 Mil. 28 29 14 6 18 11 25 17

21 16 $1.1 Mil. $1.3 Mil. 16 16 12 4 5 7 11 11

20817 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

200

51 48 $1.2 Mil. $1.3 Mil. 18 43 13 10 23 35 24 31

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Drapery

Reupholstery

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Fabrics

5414 Randolph Rd. Rockville 20852 Visit Showroom Mon-Sat 9:30am-6pm â&#x20AC;¢ 301-424-1900

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home | BY THE NUMBERS JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2020

20886 (Gaithersburg)

20901 (Silver Spring)

20903 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 8 9 Average Sold Price $480,250 $480,277 Average Days on Market 44 50 Above Asking Price 2 4 Below Asking Price 4 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 51 29 Average Sold Price $551,178 $621,515 Average Days on Market 20 11 Above Asking Price 22 14 Below Asking Price 19 8 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 8 4 Average Sold Price $390,625 $500,000 Average Days on Market 12 12 Above Asking Price 5 1 Below Asking Price 1 1 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20895 (Kensington)

20902 (Silver Spring)

20904 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 27 25 Average Sold Price $728,074 $748,648 Average Days on Market 23 16 Above Asking Price 8 9 Below Asking Price 10 10 Sold Over $1 Million 4 3

Number of Homes Sold 32 29 Average Sold Price $427,308 $515,422 Average Days on Market 21 19 Above Asking Price 17 16 Below Asking Price 7 10 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 26 29 Average Sold Price $512,042 $520,813 Average Days on Market 38 25 Above Asking Price 8 18 Below Asking Price 16 7 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of July 14, 2020. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 85,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve more than 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com. Note: This information includes single-family homes sold from June 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020, as of July 14, 2020, excluding sales where sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. Reports reference data provided by ShowingTime, a showing management and market stats technology provider to the residential real estate industry. Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

7735 old georgetown road, suite 700 bethesda, md 20814 240.333.2000

GTMARCHITECTS.COM 202

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Dana Rice Group

COURTESY PHOTO

Just named the #1 Small Team in Maryland by this year’s 2020 REAL Trends ranking, Dana Rice and her group of top agents have sold more than $325 million, placing them in the top 1 percent of residential real estate agents globally. With varying backgrounds in architecture, staging, marketing, sales and communications, Dana Rice Group agents have unique perspectives on the market—servicing both first-time buyers and those looking at properties in the upper brackets with diligence, care and excellence. 5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-669-6908 dana.rice@compass.com www.danaricegroup.com

Q: What should homeowners know about today’s market? A: The important thing to know is what is universal in any market: buyers care about overall home maintenance. No matter the pace of the real estate market, homeowners should recognize that good maintenance, fresh paint, impeccable curb appeal, strategic marketing and excellent pricing strategy will protect you regardless of how the market is doing. Just having a “hot” market does not mean your home is going to sell. In fact, when you do fail to sell, you’ll fail bigger and more publicly than if the market is struggling. This is not the time to skimp on efforts because it’s a “hot” market.

Q: What is your best tip for people looking to sell? A: Work with a real estate agent from the first thought of selling. Especially one that understands market values in your specific area. We Realtors are consistently honing our recommendations based on current market data. The information that we provide one month maybe totally different three months later. It’s important to stay in touch and in tune with the Realtors. They are the front line of any trend.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 203

PROFILES

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Margie Halem MARGIE HALEM GROUP BETHESDA COMPASS FOUNDING AGENT

"A Top Vote Getter,” Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers Poll, 2010 – 2019; Top 1% agents nationwide; Ranked among The Wall Street Journal's Top Agents; Top Realtor recipient, Washingtonian magazine, 2015–2020. Bethesda Compass 7200 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda MD 20814 301-775-4196 Margie@Compass.com www.MargieHalemGroup.com

Q: Has the pandemic changed the market and

your business in the metro area?

A: During the last few months, the pandemic

MICHAEL VENTURA

has absolutely changed the way I approach the market and my business. Now more than ever, I am encouraging my clients to carefully evaluate their needs since we've all been asked to work from home. We have seen a transition into a "work from home environment," and home offices and outdoor spaces are on my buyer's wish lists, as are locations close to parks and green spaces. Our close-in suburban market has exploded as many buyers want more space. Because I am aligned with the Compass Private Client Network, I am the only Compass agent in the DMV in an exclusive network of client-driven, resultsoriented and supremely dedicated luxury residential brokerage professionals. Collectively, we sell over $1.5B in luxury real estate – each year – so our overall influence is unrivaled. We recognize that real estate has become a global asset class – and that our clients own multiple properties in different markets. That’s why we’re uniquely positioned to deliver a seamless experience across our clients’ entire real estate portfolio. The Compass Private Client Network operates in 40 luxury markets nationwide. Besides the Washington, DC area, markets include desirable places across the country such as Greenwich, Connecticut, the Hamptons, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma and the Monterey Peninsula in California, Austin, Texas, Nashville, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Palo Alto, and places in Florida including Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Palm Beach.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Deb Levy SENIOR HOME LENDING ADVISOR, CHASE

Many 5-star reviews on Zillow; Nationally registered; 33 years of experience as a senior home lending advisor 1401 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC 20005 301-332-7758 | deb.levy@chase.com homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy NMLS ID 481255 All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ©2020 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Q: How is buying a home today different from the past? A: I started my mortgage banking career in 1986 with Chase Bank of Maryland. A lifelong Washingtonian and native to Montgomery County, I've seen the market evolve over the past 33 years. It’s a faster market than in prior years. For the most part, buyers have to make instant decisions and move quickly to secure a contract on a home. Competition means multiple offers and buyers need to be prepared, as often sellers are looking for items that make the buyer take more risk. We’re seeing a lot of all-cash contracts with the right to take financing, meaning that buyers are going in with limited contingencies. To make this happen, buyers need to speak with an industry professional and not just accept a prequalification as a go-ahead to buy a home. We're encouraging our buyers to be fully underwritten with a conditional commitment letter that their financing will be in place when they need it. This also allows our buyers to settle quickly as the contract dictates.

COURTESY PHOTO

Q: How is buying a home the same today? A: Buyers still need full representation. As much

information is on the Internet, there's a lot of misinformation, too. It’s great that we can see homes online, but an industry professional can help a buyer navigate potential pitfalls. As the largest bank in the country, Chase can offer full-service banking products as well as individualized service. It’s the perfect blend of an industry leader and a neighborhood expert. We’re expanding into the D.C. area and the addition of the new banking centers has been exciting. Buying or refinancing a home can seem overwhelming. I can help make the process easier for you by reviewing loan options and answering all questions.

FROM LEFT: LISA BENNETT, ASSISTANT DEB LEVY, SENIOR HOME LENDING ADVISOR BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 205

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Mary Noone & Trent Heminger "A sense of “home” is more important than ever today—your best asset during this pandemic—let us help you find your next perfect space!" 5471 Wisconsin Ave., 3rd Floor Chevy Chase, MD 20815 O: 301-298-1001 C: 240-461-3928 mary.noone@compass.com www.trentandco.com

206

Q: As real estate experts, how has

Covid-19 changed your business model? A: Despite everything, we have not skipped a beat. Even in these difficult times, buyers still need to buy and sellers still need to sell. Real estate in the metro area is still considered an essential service and, if anything, there is an even greater drive to find that perfect home office, quiet spaces for things like Zoom calls and the tremendous desire for private outdoor space. Sales are still very strong in the area and we haven’t missed any opportunity to support our clients' needs. There are changes in our processes, of course, and we follow all the CDC and local government guidelines to keep our clients safe and protected. Our team works diligently adapting to however our clients feel comfortable seeing new properties or listing their homes. Our advice—now more than ever—don’t be afraid to explore new spaces or seek out

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

that property with a pool. Don’t be afraid to add value to your home with renovations before you list. With inventory so scarce, there is demand for your home as people move out of the city and into the suburbs and larger spaces. If you're considering a change, we can help you sell your home quickly. Even if you're not in the market, weighing your options with a trusted professional will help you plot out your best next steps. A sense of “home” is more important than ever today—your best asset during this pandemic—let us help you find your next perfect space!

TONY J. LEWIS

TRENT & CO. AT COMPASS REAL ESTATE

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Erich Cabe ERICH CABE TEAM, COMPASS

Top Producer, Bethesda Magazine, 2020; Washingtonian Best Agents; Washingtonian Top Producer; Top 1% internationally; Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent; America’s Best Real Estate Professionals, REAL Trends Compass 5471 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-320-6469 erichcabe@gmail.com erichcabeteam.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Q: What impacts have you seen resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic? A: Perhaps surprisingly, the pandemic has not resulted in the hit to the local market that many had feared. We’re doing as much business, if not more, as before. There are many reasons for this—there is tremendous liquidity in the market, interest rates have never been lower, and there’s a definite shortage of inventory. Close-in properties are still hot—prospective buyers continue to place a premium on living close to downtown. Many of our clients are looking to move out of condos and into single family homes. At the same time, the public health crisis has changed the way our industry operates. For one thing, we’re using video more than ever. We had used this feature to market some properties before, but now ALL of our listings have virtual video tours. Using 3-D imaging and other technologies, we are taking steps to enhance the experience even further. Beyond these measures, when physically touring properties, we adhere to strict safety protocols, wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing, to ensure the well-being of our clients. Q: What remains unchanged in the local real estate market? A: Making sure that properties present well is incredibly important, now just as ever: staging, prepping and photography are the keys to a successful transaction. In a sellers’ market like ours, properties move rapidly. If you overprice or skimp on staging, you will end up wasting time, energy and money. We are happy to handle all of these critically important details for you—you’ll be glad we did!

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 207

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LYNDA O'DEA AND CHRISTINA O’DEA

Platinum Agent & Top 100 Elite Performers at Long & Foster | Christie’s International; Real Estate Agent, “Best of Washingtonian”; A Top Vote Getter, Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll Long & Foster | Christie’s 7161 Woodmont Ave. Bethesda, MD 20815 D: 240 988-4400 O: 240 800-5155 Lynda@LegendaryHomes.com www.LegendaryHomes.com

208

Q: How are your services different from other area Realtors? A: As a mother-daughter team, we offer a broad perspective for any buyer and seller from first-time homebuyers to luxury purchasers. We both grew up in Bethesda and raised our families here. Our local market expertise is unparalleled, and we provide added value with our extensive online marketing expertise and home staging and interior design capabilities. In today’s digital world, you can reach buyers and sellers fast and most effectively online. Our technical expertise and web presence offers the most effective marketing. Our websites are at the top of searches for homes in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac and Northwest DC. We make sure houses show beautifully online utilizing our design and staging expertise.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Q: How has your service changed during Covid-19? A: We're able to use technology to work with buyers and showcase listings with tools like 3-D virtual walkthroughs. Potential buyers can see the details of a home prior to requesting a showing, which helps limit showings to just the most serious buyers. We have other advantages, too. We’re one of the top teams at our Long & Foster | Christie’s office and we specialize in the luxury market, which means some of the finest homes in our area. We're experts in the current condominium, townhouse and single-family markets in Montgomery County and Northwest DC. Our relationship with Long & Foster and Christie’s provides strength, support, knowledge and a global reach. Our desire is to always exceed every client’s buying and selling expectations, from start to finish.

TONY J. LEWIS

Legendary Homes

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A.B.E. Networks AVI BENAIM, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

A.B.E. Networks is the Washington DC metro area’s premier custom residential and commercial technology design and integration firm. Our award-winning organization utilizes enterprise-grade products fused with your home’s décor resulting in a top tier personalized experience.

TONY J. LEWIS

12250 Wilkins Ave. Rockville, MD 20852 301-495-0964 info@abenetworks.com www.abenetworks.com

Q: Which of your offerings do your clients enjoy the most? A: Our clients consistently rave about the automation of their systems where a single button press or simple spoken phrase can activate many actions at once. Motorized window treatments, lighting control, music, and more can be coordinated to create scenes within the home. Wake up to a Good Morning scene instead of the blaring sound of an alarm clock. Set to a weekday timer, the shades slowly rise letting in the natural light, your favorite tunes begin to play softly, and the lights to the master bath illuminate your path. Q: What are the most recent advancements in home technology? A: Whether it's for entertainment, work, school, or social media, the demand on our wireless networks is greater than ever. Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is loaded with new technologies to create a generational shift in how your network performs.

With significant advancements in solar panel and battery efficiencies, like Sonnen’s Ecolinx, homeowners can completely power their homes and, in some cases, sell energy back to the grid. Dolby Atmos revolutionizes the concept of surround sound. With the introduction of height channel speakers, it's the most immersive 3D listening environment ever. As with any advancement in home technology, infrastructure is the most critical component of any smart home. Having the proper wiring in place, whether it be new construction or retrofit, allows for the incorporation of any existing technology as well as futureproofing for emerging technologies. To learn more, just ask us!

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PROFILES

ASK THE HOME EXPERTs SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Capitol Hardscapes CHRIS & JOHN SCANGO (CHRISTY SCANGO NOT PICTURED) Bethesda, MD 301-887-1880 | sales@capitolhardscapes.com www.capitolhardscapes.com

Q: What are some benefits of hardscaping at

my home?

hardscaping makes so much sense. It extends entertaining and family space, making more of the outdoors usable. A patio with a fire pit and outdoor kitchen provides a functional place to spend quality time outside. Hardscape projects increase property value and the additional living space becomes a selling feature. Studies show 84 percent of buyers look for an outdoor patio when purchasing a home. Driveways, walkways and stone walls are often the first element buyers see. Patios, retaining walls and other hardscapes require little maintenance while reducing landscaping needs and costs. A gorgeous stone patio offers a perfect option for homeowners who want a beautiful yard with less maintenance.

HILLARY SCHWAB

A: Now that we're spending more time at home,

Deb Harshman REALTOR®, ASP®, ASPM®, IAHSP®, RESA® Long & Foster Park Potomac Christie's International Real Estate 12500 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, MD 20854 D: 240-506-3799 | O: 301-469-4700 debharshmanlnf@gmail.com www.yourhomewithdeb.com

Q: What is the Premiere Property Presentation

and Representation you provide?

service unlike any other agent in the metro market. I'm the only active professionally trained Accredited Staging Professional Master, ASPM® and REALTOR®. Since 2004, I've operated a staging business with extensive inventory, staging over 300 homes with approximately $150 million in sales. I provide sellers the utmost guidance in preparing for the market in all price brackets. I've renovated historical and luxury properties, and offer experience and professional relationships with many home service providers. Working with me offers connections to global marketing as well as local community networks. I'm on all social media platforms and maintain two professional websites, providing buyers with insights when making decisions on homes.

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COURTESY PHOTO

A: When I list your property, I provide support and

PROFILES

ASK THE HOME EXPERTs

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Sandy Spring Builders Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the area. We’re an integrated, full-service team with 40 years of experience in bringing our clients’ vision to life. Our vast portfolio of well-built homes make a lasting impression, proven by myriad awards including Best of Bethesda every year since its inception.

MICHAEL KRESS PHOTOGRAPHY

4705 West Virginia Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 www.sandyspringbuilders.com

Q: What makes you different than other

builders? A: We have been in business for over 40 years, and our experience in the industry is unparalleled. We are full-service and our talented team members are passionate, knowledgeable and experienced. The product we have built over the years is a great tool to help clients understand what they are getting. We can build anything and have the portfolio to show it. We work toward our client’s goals both financially and architecturally, and we’re part of the team from the beginning. The owners live in the neighborhood, are available to our clients 24/7 and are incredibly active in community service. Q: What are your buyers demanding these days? A: Clients want great design, open floor plans with a transitional style that blends traditional architecture with more contemporary features. Function is important–whether elevators for empty-

nesters or mudrooms with cubbies and an informal powder room for a family. We call it “livability” and understand it better than most. Our clients want quality materials, but also ones that are low maintenance. Many clients are tech-savvy and desire a smart home with ability to control lighting, music, security and HVAC systems from a cell phone or laptop. Some are looking at limited use of solar panels where not as visible, and electric car-chargers are more popular. Our team approach of having a selections coordinator, project manager and site supervisor for each project works well to help guide clients through the complicated process of building a custom home and makes it less overwhelming.

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PROFILES

ASK THE HOME EXPERTs SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Peg Mancuso SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF TTR SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 4809 Bethesda Ave. Bethesda MD 20814 301-996-5953 Office: 301-516-1212 pmancuso@ttrsir.com www.ttsir.com

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Q: How important are connections and

experience for an agent? A: Very. I've been in this industry for 35 years and have seen every kind of market in that time. I'm licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, and have helped clients buy and sell billions of dollars in real estate as a top producer for multiple major real estate companies. I started The Daly Mancuso Group over a decade and am now a senior vice president of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. I believe leadership matters, and we've been the number one team in Potomac for most of the past 21 years. Connections are a critical resource for an agent. I've been a leader in the Realtor community serving as the president of Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, a member of the Political Campaign and Campaign Affairs Committee; as well as a member of the Board of the Maryland Realtors (MR), the National Associations of Realtors, District

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

of Columbia Association of Realtors and the Women’s Council of Realtors. I'm also involved with the public policy and forms committees with GCAAR and the Realtor’s Political Action Committee. Q: Are you a local, too? A: A lifelong Washingtonian, I went to the

University of Maryland and have lived in Potomac for the past 30 years. Besides real estate, I love to travel and ski. I'm proud to support several charities and foundations, including Madison House Autism Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

TONY J. LEWIS

TTR Sotheby's International Realty welcomes Peg Mancuso and her team to their Bethesda Brokerage. Thirty five-year real estate industry veteran. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Top producer for multiple major real estate companies. Number 1 sales associate at TTR on multiple occasions.

PROFILES

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Meridian Homes JONATHAN LERNER, CEO & MICHAEL LERNER, PRESIDENT

At Meridian Homes, we specialize in luxury renovations and custom home building. Our mission is to create exceptional residences that exceed expectations. Our highly personalized design process and careful management of every project has earned us a reputation over many years for outstanding client service and solid, beautiful craftsmanship.

COURTESY PHOTO

Meridian Homes, Inc. 4938 Hampden Lane #330 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-4440 info@meridianhomesinc.com www.meridianhomesinc.com

Q: How do we make the process of

planning and designing your custom home or remodeling project easier for you? A: The first step is to help you nail down clear objectives for your project in terms of functionality and aesthetics. In other words, how do you want your home to look and function for your family? Then, we'll walk you through establishing financial clarity by determining whether or not your budget realistically meets your expectations for your project. Our highly personalized design process means that we work with you to develop plans and choose all finishes and materials to ensure that your selections fit your budget, too. We'll also advise you how various rules and regulations in your local jurisdiction will affect your custom home or remodeling project, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll secure all the necessary permits.

Q: What should you expect during the construction phase of your project? A: When the design phase is complete, we'll provide you with architectural plans, detailed specifications, a timeline and finalized pricing. Once agreed upon and approved, construction begins. We really like it to be a collaborative process, so we schedule regular virtual or in-person meetings with clients to keep them updated as construction progresses. Our goal is to complete each project on time and within budget. Our clients treasure their homes. Our work consistently earns awards. We look forward to building a breathtaking residence for you with a unique level of quality that's beyond your expectations.

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BEST OF BETHESDA

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e h t n i

READERS’ POLL FROM AUGUST 17 – SEPTEMBER 18

Online at

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dine. shopping. weddings. pets. history.

PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

etc.

Call Your Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bagel sandwiches, such as this one named the Royal Palm (plain cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, cucumber, red onion and capers on an everything bagel), are available at a new trolley parked in Bethesda. For more, turn to page 218.

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The menu at Rockvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mahshad Modern Persian Kitchen focuses on kebabs, from spicy chicken to vegetable.

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TABLE TALK Three local spots that opened during the pandemic BY DAVID HAGEDORN PHOTOS BY LINDSEY MAX

Alain and Vera Kalantar

Pure Persian HERE’S A SECRET ABOUT Mahshad Modern Persian Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant that opened in Rockville’s King Farm in June: If you call ahead, you can get a piece of tahdig—the crispy, crunchy layer of browned rice that forms on the bottom of the pan when making fluffy Persian basmati rice. Businessman Alain Kalantar, who owns Harlot DC in Washington, co-owns the restaurant with a cousin, Shahrokh Hedayati. Kalantar’s wife, Vera, who earned a degree in confectionery in her native Kaliningrad, Russia, and owned food stores and restaurants there, serves as the restaurant’s creative director and develops most of the recipes. Her emphasis is on using organic foods whenever possible, lightening up on sugar and offering vegan options. Kalantar didn’t expect to open in a pandemic. He signed a lease in the King Farm Village Center in March 2019. The space didn’t have natural gas, and by the time the landlord brought in propane as promised, COVID-19 hit and the restaurant inspection didn’t take place until early June. The space—with bold ceramic tiles, lime green banquettes and a subway-tiled open kitchen—is inviting and so is the staff. There are six tables inside and four outside that allow for ample social distancing. The fairly brief menu highlights kebabs (ground beef and a vegan version of it; beef fillet; chicken marinated in saffron and yogurt, with a spicy option; and veggies) that come with warm pita bread, a roasted tomato and rice or salad or half rice, half salad. We can attest to the succulence and flavor of all the meat kebabs, especially the spicy chicken. Don’t pass up side dishes, particularly eggplant caviar, a chunky puree of grilled, peeled eggplant, caramelized onions, mint and turmeric that’s topped with kashk, a tangy fermented yogurt. Hedayati develops dessert recipes. Try the basmati rice pudding made with saffron, almonds and just a bit of sugar. Mahshad Modern Persian Kitchen, 404 King Farm Blvd., Rockville, 240-477-6333, mahshadmd.com

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Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira brought their popular Call Your Mother bagel business to Bethesda in a trolley named Honey.

DINE

Mother Lode UNWRAPPING MY Call Your Mother “Sun City” breakfast sandwich and opening the everything bagel halves reveals scrambled eggs in thin, sheeted layers, smoky Liberty Farm bacon slices, melted American and cheddar cheeses and spicy honey. It is a sight to behold—and tastes great, too. Since mid-July, Call Your Mother has been selling its fare out of a tricked-out teal and hot pink refurbished Craigslist trolley named Honey in the parking lot of the Bethesda Community Store (which closed in 2016) at the corner of Old Georgetown and Greentree roads. This is the third outpost of Call Your Mother, which co-owners and founders Andrew Dana and chef Daniela Moreira refer to as a bagel shop and “Jew-ish” deli. Their first location, in D.C’s Park View neighborhood, opened to rave reviews— and large crowds—in 2018. In June, after posting their support for the Black Lives Matter movement on Instagram, the couple 218

received criticism for a lack of diversity on their management team and for appropriating Black culture in various ways, such as using images of Black sports and entertainment figures as decor and naming sandwiches after them. Efforts to address those issues included renaming sandwiches, which now reference retirement communities in Boca Raton, Florida, a nod to Dana’s Jewish roots and family connections there. The trolley’s menu features bagels (baked in a wood-fired oven in the Park View location); cream cheese-based “shmearz”; whitefish salad and smoked salmon from D.C.’s Ivy City Smokehouse; and bagel sandwiches, including the Banyan Place (herb cream cheese, bacon, jalapenos and red cabbage slaw on an everything bagel) and the Atrium (peanut butter, seasonal jam and housemade granola on a plain bagel). The trolley is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., but they often sell out before closing time. (Ordering online is a good idea.) There are benches and a picnic table, or you can eat in your car

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so that social distancing is not an issue. Dana and Moreira opened a Capitol Hill location of Call Your Mother in April, and one in Georgetown on July 29. The couple (they are engaged) also opened a cafe, Mercy Me, in the Yours Truly hotel in Washington’s Foggy Bottom in June. Dana says the Bethesda site is appealing because he and Moreira like the idea of spreading out and not leaching business from their other locations. “When we saw the spot, it made a lot of sense to us. The trolley is moveable, but we want to be in that location indefinitely. We signed a four-month lease through Sept. 30 for a test-out before signing on more long-term, which is the goal. We have the option to extend it or buy the property.” If the lines they’ve been experiencing are any indication, that spectacular Sun City bagel should be around for a long time. Call Your Mother, 8804 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, callyourmotherdeli.com

Cool Customer ONE OF THOSE 90-plus-degree days in July provided the perfect excuse to head to Woodmont Triangle in Bethesda and check out Pitango Gelato’s first Montgomery County location, which opened on May 29. The D.C.-based chainlet’s founder and CEO, Noah Dan, 65, and his daughter Alisa, 25, who oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, show me around the large, window-filled space—formerly Tapas Bar—where taped markings on the floor delineate social distancing requirements. A batch of gelato, pale green from pricey Sicilian pistachios, spins in a $26,000 batch freezer imported from Italy in the front window. Noah Dan was born and raised in Israel, spending summers in Trieste, Italy, with his Italian mother’s family. There, he says, he was exposed to the best gelato. He met his wife, Sharon, who is the editor-in-chief

of Rockville-based Home & Design magazine, in Curaçao in 1987. “Sharon brought me to Maryland in 1990 and we got married. I blame her every winter,” he says with a laugh. The Dans live in Potomac. Noah Dan had a software company in Bethesda and got out of the business after the dot-com bubble burst. That’s when he turned his childhood love of gelato into a business, opening Pitango Gelato in Baltimore’s Fells Point in 2006 after building a plant near Spring Wood Organic Farm in eastern Pennsylvania. The farm supplies raw milk that is pasteurized at the plant; then gelato mixes are made and sent to Pitango’s six locations to be churned on-site in 6-liter batches. (Pitango, a fruit known as Surinam cherry in the United States, was Dan’s favorite gelato flavor in Israel.) Each store features 10 gelatos and 10 sorbets daily from more than 50 flavors. No stabilizers, chemicals, preservatives, colorings or flavorings are used. They source chocolate, hazelnuts and milk

solids (necessary for texture in some gelatos) from Italy and use fresh fruit for sorbets. Bestsellers are mojito sorbet and pistachio, chocolate (five varieties) and hazelnut gelato. As I sample freshly churned pistachio gelato, I savor its chewy denseness until I scrape the bottom of the cup. It has been on Dan’s mind to open in Bethesda for years, but the pieces didn’t land in place until last fall. “It’s a great location because there are a lot of residential buildings. We’re not dependent on tourism, which is good in COVID times,” he says. Without COVID-19, the store would have been open in March instead of late May. “It was the hardest soft opening I’ve ever had. The important thing is to be here when things get back to normal. I consider myself a failed optimist.” Pitango Gelato, 4901 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, 571-495-0946, pitangobethesda.com

Pitango Gelato founder and CEO Noah Dan and his daughter Alisa in the Bethesda shop that opened in May

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COMINGS GOINGS Greenhill Companies, the landlord for the building next to Pitango Gelato in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, announced that a ramen shop would open there. Attman’s Deli in Cabin John Village in Potomac closed in April but is relocating to Park Potomac. Thai Pavilion and tapas bar La Tasca both closed in Rockville Town Square in May, as did George’s Chophouse in Bethesda and the Friendship Heights location of Asian restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s. In June, Gumbo Ya Ya in Rockville Town Square and Union Jack’s, a British pub in the Rio shopping center in Gaithersburg, closed. Addie’s in Park Potomac closed in July after a three-year

run. The owner of The Grille at Flower Hill in Gaithersburg decided to close the restaurant in July, with the goal of selling it to someone else, after he refused to require his employees to wear masks; the business had received a warning from county inspectors. The Silver Spring location of the Not Your Average Joe’s chain also closed in July. Le Vieux Logis, a French restaurant that opened in Bethesda in 1980, and Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant in Bethesda both shuttered in July. In August, JennyCakes Bakery in Kensington announced that it would close on Sept. 19 after an eight-year run. Buena Vida, a Mexican restaurant in Silver Spring, closed; Tacos, Tortas & Tequila (TTT), its downstairs fast-casual sibling, will expand to include the upstairs space. ■

Exquisite French food, charming atmosphere, and attentive service. In the heart of Chevy Chase, the charm of the country side at your door step.

“La Ferme is one of the area’s most pleasant places to catch up with friends, do business or toast a big day.” Tom Sietsema, Food critique of the Washington Post (March 4, 2018)

7101 Brookville Road Chevy Chase, MD 301-986-5255

LaFermeRestaurant.com

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DINING GUIDE

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE DINING GUIDE AT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM Editor’s Note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants may be closed, only offering takeout, or open with limited capacity. We suggest you call ahead before going to a restaurant to confirm its status.

BETHESDA AJI-NIPPON 6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons several kinds of sushi, sashimi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. Try a dinner box, which includes an entree, vegetables, California roll, tempura and rice. L D $$

ALATRI BROS. (EDITORS’ PICK) 4926 Cordell Ave., 301-718-6427, alatribros.com. The folks behind Olazzo and Gringos & Mariachis bought Mia’s Pizzas and revamped it with a new name and decor. They kept the Naples-style pies that come from a wood-burning oven, but added small plates and healthy options. Sit in the cheery dining room with green, gray and white accents or under an umbrella on the patio.  L D $$

&PIZZA 7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of two crusts (both are vegan and one is also gluten-, soy- and dairy-free), three cheeses (including a vegan option) and five sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to Beyond Meat sausage and tater tots. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $

ANTHONY’S COAL FIRED PIZZA 7776 Norfolk Ave., 240-781-6943, acfp.com. A fullservice restaurant in Woodmont Triangle serving coal-fired pizzas and other Italian fare, Anthony’s is part of a Florida-based chain. The corner restaurant includes a large bar area with TVs. ❂ L D $

BACCHUS OF LEBANON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-657-1722, bacchusoflebanon.com. This friendly and elegant Lebanese staple has a large, sunny patio that beckons lunch and dinner patrons outside when the weather is good to try garlicky hummus, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabobs, veal chops and dozens of small-plate dishes. ❂ L D $$

BANGKOK GARDEN 4906 St. Elmo Ave., 301-951-0670, bkkgardenbethesda.com. This real-deal, familyrun Thai restaurant turns out authentic cuisine, including curries, soups and noodle dishes, in a dining room decorated with traditional statues of the gods. L D $

THE BARKING DOG 4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, barkingdogbar.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Karaoke night is held weekly. ❂ L D $

BARREL + CROW 4867 Cordell Ave., 240-800-3253, barrelandcrow. com. Contemporary regional and southern cuisine

served in a comfortable setting with charcoal gray banquettes and elements of wood and brick. Menu highlights include Maryland crab beignets, shrimp and grits and roasted trout. ❂ R L D $$

Key

BENIHANA 7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, benihana. com. Experience dinner-as-theater as the chef chops and cooks beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood tableside on the hibachi. This popular national chain serves sushi, too. The kids’ menu includes a California roll and hibachi chicken, steak and shrimp entrees. J L D $$

Price designations are for a threecourse dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol. $ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150 $$$$ $151+ Outdoor Dining b  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch L Lunch D Dinner

BETHESDA CRAB HOUSE 4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382. In the same location since 1961, this casual, family-owned dining spot features jumbo lump crabcakes, oysters on the half shell and jumbo spiced shrimp. Extra large and jumbo-sized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve. ❂ L D $$

BETHESDA CURRY KITCHEN 4860 Cordell Ave., 301-656-0062, bethesda currykitchen.com. The restaurant offers lunch buffet and Southern Indian vegan specialties, served in a spare and casual setting. There are plenty of choices from the tandoor oven, as well as vegetarian, seafood and meat curries. L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT 4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, bgrtheburger joint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great. Protein choices include beef, chicken and Beyond Meat. Pick your own toppings or choose from a handful of selected combos, such as the Wagyu Wellington, with caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, black truffles, blue cheese and BGR’s mayonnaise-horseradish “mojo” sauce.

❂ JLD$

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 4806 Rugby Ave., 301-907-4976, biggreekcafe. com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the cafe serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. L D $

BISTRO PROVENCE (EDITORS’ PICK) 4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, bistroprovence.org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. The Dinner Bistro Fare, served daily from 5 to 6:30 p.m., offers a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert for $35.

❂ R L D $$$

BLACK’S BAR & KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, blacksbar andkitchen.com. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients and enjoy dining on the expansive patio. The bar draws crowds for happy hour. ❂ R L D $$$

BRICKSIDE FOOD & DRINK 4866 Cordell Ave., 301-312-6160, brickside bethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian

bar bites and entrees. Dishes range from fried pork and waffles to short ribs. Try one of the colorfully named punches, which include Pink Murder Punch and Snow Cone Punch. ❂ R L D $$

CADDIES ON CORDELL 4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, caddieson cordell.com. Twentysomethings gather at this golfthemed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. Voted “Best Bar/Restaurant to Watch a Caps Game” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J R L D $

CASA OAXACA 4905 Fairmont Ave., 240-858-6181. The focus is on tacos at this family-owned Mexican restaurant, but you’ll also find fajitas, salads, quesadillas and more on the menu. There’s an indoor bar and an outdoor beer garden. ❂ J L D $$

CAVA 7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 2360 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-658-2233; 4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-1772; cava.com. The guys from CAVA Mezze restaurant have created a Greek version of Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. House-made juices and teas provide a healthful beverage option. ❂ (Bethesda Avenue location) L D $

CESCO OSTERIA 7401 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-8333, cesco-osteria.com. Longtime chef Francesco Ricchi turns out Tuscan specialties, including pizza, pasta and focaccia in a big, jazzy space. Stop by the

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chicken pot pie and jumbo lump crabcakes.

❂ J B R L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN restaurant’s Co2 Lounge for an artisan cocktail before dinner. ❂ L D $$

CHEESY PIZZI 8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0000, cheesypizzibethesda.com. In addition to the standard offerings of a pizza joint, this spot (formerly Pizza Tempo under different owners) has sandwiches and boat-shaped Turkish pizza known as pide. L D $

CHEF TONY’S 4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, cheftonys bethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean seafood tapas, offering dishes ranging from fish and seafood to chicken, steak and pasta. Desserts include Drunken Strawberries and Classic Creme Brulée. J R L D $$

CHERCHER ETHIOPIAN 4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-6500, chercherrestaurant.com. The second branch of a D.C. Ethiopian spot, this restaurant and bar took over the space housing Suma. The decor is moderncontemporary and the menu features dishes—from beef to vegan—served on one large platter, meant for sharing, and Ethiopian wine. L D $

CITY LIGHTS OF CHINA 4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, bethesda citylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery serves familiar Sichuan and Beijing fare, including six types of dumplings and seven handmade noodle dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a sharp look. L D $$

COOPER’S MILL (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 5151 Pooks Hill Road, 301-897-9400, coopersmillrestaurant.com/bethesda. The restaurant showcases a modern, stylish menu with stone-oven flatbreads, homemade tater tots and locally sourced produce. Local beers on draft and by the bottle, plus regional bourbon and gin. Happy hour and private dining are offered.

B R L D $$

THE CORNER SLICE 7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, thecornerslice. net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. Specialty pizzas include the spinachartichoke white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and the Buffalo Chicken Pie with blue cheese and hot sauce. ❂ L D $

CUBANO’S 4907 Cordell Ave., 301-347-7952, cubanosrestaurant.com. Find authentic Cuban cooking with dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains. L D $$

CURRY PLACE 7345-A Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-4444, curryplacebethesda.com. Northern Indian and Nepali specialties such as butter chicken and fresh flatbreads known as naan shine here. The extensive menu ranges from soups and salads to tandoori and kabobs.J L D $

DAILY GRILL One Bethesda Metro Center, 301-656-6100, dailygrill.com. Everyone from families to expenseaccount lunchers can find something to like about the big portions of fresh American fare, including

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7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-4287, bethesda. doghaus.com. This fast-casual California-based chain serves hot dogs, sausages, burgers and chicken sandwiches. The hot dogs are all beef and hormone- and antibiotic-free. The industrial-chic space includes picnic tables, TVs, a bar and more than two dozen beer choices. J L D $

DON POLLO 10321 Westlake Drive, 301-347-6175; donpollogroup.com. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery a go-to place any night of the week. Family meals that serve four or six people are available.

❂LD$

DUCK DUCK GOOSE (EDITORS’ PICK) 7929 Norfolk Ave., 301-312-8837, ddgbethesda. com. Thirty-five-seat French brasserie owned by chef Ashish Alfred. Small plates include steak tartare, and squid ink spaghetti with Manila clams and Fresno chilies. Among the entrees, look for updates of French classics, such as dry-aged duck with Bing cherries, and halibut with scallop mousse and puff pastry. ❂ L D $$

EJJI RAMEN 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 240-534-2842, ejjiramen.com. At this outpost of a Baltimore ramen shop, you’ll find build-your-own ramen and various spins on the noodle soup (pork, vegetarian, seafood). There’s also the Ejji Mac & Cheese Ramen Dog, a hot dog wrapped in ramen and cheese, then fried. J L D $

FARYAB AFGHAN CUISINE 4917 Cordell Ave., 301-951-3484. After closing for more than a year, Faryab reopened in 2017 and serves well-prepared Afghani country food, including Afghanistan’s answer to Middle Eastern kabobs, vegetarian entrees and unique sauteed pumpkin dishes, in a whitewashed dining room with native art on the walls. D $$

FISH TACO 7251 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-0010; 10305 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-564-6000, fishtacoonline.com. This counterservice taqueria features a full roster of seafood as well as non-aquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. Voted “Best Tacos” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. J L D $

FLANAGAN'S HARP & FIDDLE 4844 Cordell Ave., 301-951-0115, flanagansharp andfiddle.com. This stylish pub features live music several days a week, Tuesday night poker and Monday quiz nights. In addition to traditional stews and fried fish, Flanagan's offers smoked ribs, salmon and traditional Irish breakfast on weekends. ❂ J B L D $$

FLOWER CHILD 10205 Old Georgetown Road, 301-664-4971, iamaflowerchild.com. A fast-casual restaurant that’s part of a national chain, Flower Child has an emphasis on vegetarian eating (grain-based bowls, vegetable plates, salads) but also offers protein add-ons such as chicken, salmon and steak. Voted “Best New Fast-Casual Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ L D $

GARDEN GRILLE & BAR 7301 Waverly St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 301-6548111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the

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restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers to pasta dishes. J B D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, gringosand mariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurants in Bethesda and Silver Spring trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals and plenty of tequila. LD$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-0888, guapos restaurant.com. This outpost of a local chain has everything you’d expect: margaritas and chips galore, as well as a handful of daily specials served in festive Mexican surroundings. Perfect for families and dates. J R L D $

GUARDADO’S 4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, guardados.com. Chef-owner Nicolas Guardado, who trained at Jaleo, opened this hidden gem devoted to Latin-Spanish cooking in 2007 and has developed a following with tapas specialties like shrimp and sausage, stuffed red peppers and paella. J L D $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-312-6509; 4733 Elm St., 240-3966398; eatgusto.com. The fast-casual eatery aims to serve healthy fare, with a focus on pizzas and salads. The menu includes suggested combos but you can also build your own. Pizza crust comes in cauliflower, whole grain or traditional. ❂ (Elm Street location only) L D $

HANARO SUSHI 7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, hanarosushi. com. The restaurant’s modern dark woods combined with a light-filled dining room brighten its corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses such as pad Thai and galbi (Korean ribs). The bar offers a daily happy hour. ❂ L D $$

HIMALAYAN HERITAGE 4925 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1858, himalayan heritagebethesda.com. The menu includes North Indian, Nepali, Indo-Chinese and Tibetan cuisines, featuring momos (Nepalese dumplings), Indian takes on Chinese chow mein and a large selection of curry dishes. L D $

HOUSE OF FOONG LIN 4613 Willow Lane, 301-656-3427, foonglin.com. The Chinese restaurant features Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, including chef’s recommendations, low-fat choices and lots of traditional noodle dishes. L D $$

HOUSE OF MILAE 4932 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-1997. The Kang family, who own Milae Cleaners in Bethesda, bring simple Korean dishes to their first food foray. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap. The kids’ menu has one item: spaghetti, made from the recipe of owner Thomas Kang’s former college roommate’s mother. JLD$

THE IRISH INN AT GLEN ECHO 6119 Tulane Ave., 301-229-6600, irishinnglenecho. com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been delivering smiles and hearty food since 2003. Traditional Irish music on Monday nights, The 19th Street Band or other live music on Wednesday nights and live jazz on Sunday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

North Bethesda | Kensington | Arlington | Ashburn (301) 589-1445 Free Delivery On Viking Kitchen Packages. Ask an associate for details. Expires December 31, 2020. url

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JALEO (EDITORS’ PICK)

(TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-913-0003, jaleo.com. The restaurant that launched the American career of chef José Andrés and popularized Spanish tapas for a Washington, D.C., audience offers hot, cold, spicy and creative small plates served with outstanding Spanish wines. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ R L D $$

JETTIES 4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-769-6844, jettiesdc. com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucket-inspired sandwich shop, which has five restaurants in Northwest Washington, D.C. Aside from the signature Nobadeer sandwich (roasted turkey and stuffing with cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on sourdough), look for large salads and an innovative children’s menu. ❂ J L D $

KADHAI (EDITORS’ PICK) 7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-718-0121, kadhai.com. This popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi serves a variety of traditional chicken, lamb and seafood dishes, plus rice and vegetarian dishes and a selection of breads. An extensive lunch buffet is offered daily. ❂ L D $$

LA PANETTERIA 4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, lapanetteria. com. La Panetteria transports diners to a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving Italian and Argentinian dishes, such as homemade pasta, pizzas and Argentinian meats. There are vegan options on the menu. L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7140 Bethesda Lane, 301-913-2902; 10217 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-752-8737, lepainquotidien.com. New Yorkbased Belgian-born bakery/restaurant chain with farmhouse vibe, featuring organic breads, European breakfast and dessert pastries, savory egg dishes, soups, Belgian open-faced sandwiches, entree salads, wine and Belgian beer by the bottle. ❂ JBRLD$

LEO & LIV 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (Bethesdan Hotel), 301652-2000, tapestrycollection3.hilton.com/tc/thebethesdan-hotel. Set in a hotel, this farm-to-table restaurant serves Mediterranean and American cuisine, from filet mignon and Moroccan lamb shank to butternut squash ravioli. There are also flatbreads and sandwiches, and a bar called But First Drinks (BFD). B D $$

LOTUS GRILL & BAR 4929 Elm St., 301-312-8191, lotusbethesda. com. You have your pick of traditional Indian fare (including pork chops, chicken and other items cooked in a tandoor oven), tacos (lunch only) and pizza (some with elements of Indian food) at this downtown Bethesda spot. L D $$

LUKE’S LOBSTER 7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, lukeslobster. com. This upscale carryout features authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped directly from Maine. Try the Taste of Maine, which offers all three kinds of rolls, plus two crab claws. ❂ L D $

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MAKI BAR 6831 Wisconsin Ave. (Shops of Wisconsin), 301907-9888, makibarbethesda.com. This tiny 30-seat Japanese restaurant and sushi bar offers 60-plus kinds of maki rolls, categorized as Classic (tuna roll), Crunch Lover (spicy crunch California roll) and Signature (eel, avocado, tobiko, crab), along with sushi, sashimi, noodle bowls and rice-based entrees. L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. Gluten-free options available. ❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX 7278 Woodmont Ave., 240-465-0500, matchboxrestaurants.com. At this local chain, look for mini-burgers, a “ginormous meatball” appetizer and thin-crust pizza with toppings, including herbroasted chicken, roasted mushrooms, fire-roasted red peppers and Spanish onions. ❂ J R L D $$

MEDIUM RARE 4904 Fairmont Ave., 301-215-8739, mediumrare restaurant.com. A prix fixe menu that comes with bread, salad, steak and fries is the sole option at this small chain outpost (there are two Medium Rares in D.C.). Desserts cost extra. Weekend brunch also features a prix fixe menu. D $$

MOMO CHICKEN & GRILL 4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, usmomo.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space with framed record albums gracing the walls. ❂ J L D $$

MON AMI GABI (EDITORS’ PICK) 7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, monamigabi. com. Waiters serve bistro classics such as escargot, steak frites and profiteroles in a dark and boisterous spot that doesn’t feel like a chain. Live jazz Thursday nights. Voted “Best Restaurant Wine List” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J R L D $$

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE 7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, mortons. com. An ultra-sophisticated steak house serving pricey, large portions of prime-aged beef and drinks. The restaurant is known for a top-notch dinner experience but also offers lunch and a bar menu. L D $$$

MUSSEL BAR & GRILLE 7262 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-7817, musselbar. com. Kensington resident and big-name chef Robert Wiedmaier serves his signature mussels, plus wood-fired tarts, salads and sandwiches. Wash them all down with a choice of 40 Belgian beers. ❂ R L D $$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 10400 Old Georgetown Road, 240-316-4555, notyouraveragejoes.com. This Massachusettsbased chain’s moderately priced menu offers burgers, big salads and stone-hearth pizzas, plus entrees including Anything But Average Meatloaf. ❂ J L D $$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-9496, olazzo.com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable

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prices. Founded by brothers Riccardo and Roberto Pietrobono, it was voted “Best Italian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, ophrestaurants.com. Along with the classic flapjacks on this chain’s menu, you’ll find flavorpacked items such as apple pancakes with a cinnamon sugar glaze. And it’s not just pancakes to pick from: The restaurant serves a variety of waffles, crepes, eggs and omelets. J B L $

PASSAGE TO INDIA (EDITORS’ PICK) 4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, passagetoindia. info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chef-owner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. ❂ R L D $$

PASSIONFISH BETHESDA 7187 Woodmont Ave., 301-358-6116, passionfish bethesda.com. The second location of Passion Food Hospitality’s splashy seafood restaurant features stunning coastal-themed decor and an extensive menu of shellfish, caviar, sushi, chef’s specialties and fresh catches of the day. Voted “Best Happy Hour” and “Best Restaurant for Eating at the Bar” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. J L D $$$

PAUL 4760 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-3285, paul-usa. com. Fifth-generation, family-owned French bakery becomes an international chain, with locations in close to 35 countries. Aside from breads and pastries, look for soups, sandwiches and quiche. ❂BLD$

PINES OF ROME 4918 Cordell Ave., 301-657-8775. Longtime Italian restaurant, formerly on Hampden Lane, still serves traditional pasta, pizza, fish and seafood at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. LD$

PIZZERIA DA MARCO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, pizzeria damarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a 900-degree Italian brick oven range from the Siciliana with eggplant confit and black olives to the Solo Carne with sausage, pepperoni and salame. Salads, antipasti and calzones available, too. ❂LD$

POKE DOJO 7110 Bethesda Lane, 240-696-0990, pokedojo. com. The owners of Bethesda’s Hanaro Sushi opened this poke place at Bethesda Row. The menu includes a handful of signature bowls, or you can build your own from the raw fish, rice and toppings offered. L D $

POSITANO RISTORANTE ITALIANO 4940-48 Fairmont Ave., 301-654-1717, epositano.com. An authentic Italian, family-run restaurant popular for private events, large and small. Colorful rooms are decorated with Italian landscapes, copper pots and hanging plants, and the outdoor patio is one of the most beautiful in the county. ❂ L D $$

PRALINE BAKERY & BISTRO 4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, praline-bakery.com. This sunny restaurant offers a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken pot pie and pralines, is French with an American accent. ❂ J B R L D $$

PRIMA (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-8300, craveprima. com. Renowned chef Michael Schlow aims to put a healthful spin on Italian food at this fast-casual eatery featuring bowls (no pizza or pasta here). Pick a suggested bowl (the della nonna has meatballs, ricotta, brown rice, roasted cauliflower, roasted zucchini and spicy tomato-basil vinaigrette) or create your own. Menu items are gluten-free and include local vegetables, fresh herbs, legumes and sustainable meat and fish. L D $

Q BY PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 4500 East West Highway, 240-800-3722, qbypeterchang.com. Notable chef Peter Chang’s high-end flagship restaurant offers traditional Chinese dishes in an attractive, modern space. Peking duck, double-cooked pork belly and other authentic Sichuan cuisine are served, and some dishes are “ultimate spicy” for brave palates. ❂ J L D $$

RAKU (EDITORS’ PICK) 7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, rakuasian dining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020, this casual restaurant has bamboo walls that do little to dampen the noise, but the menu satisfies with everything from sushi to kung pao chicken. ❂ L D $$

RICE PADDIES GRILL & PHO 4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddies grill.com. This cute copper-and-green eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites such as pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY 7900 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1311, rockbottom.com. India Pale Ales and specialty dark brews are among the award-winning beers crafted in-house at this cavernous yet welcoming chain, which offers a vast menu. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7877, ruthschris. com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happyhour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices, which include Caribbean lobster tail and barbecued shrimp. D $$$

SALA THAI 4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, salathaidc. com. This Thai mainstay cooks the classics and offers diners a nearly panoramic view of Woodmont Avenue through huge, curved windows. Live jazz Friday and Saturday evenings. L D $$

SAPHIRE CAFÉ 7940 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-9708. A relaxing spot for tasting everything from Maryland-style crab soup to Argentine skirt steak, Saphire pumps it up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights with drink specials and DJs. Tiki bar open Wednesdays through Saturdays. ❂ L D $

SATSUMA 8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400, satsumajp. com. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut—short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue— and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$

SILVER (EDITORS’ PICK) 7150 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-9780, eatatsilver. com. Upscale, tonier version of the homegrown Silver Diner chain, with modern takes on American classics and an emphasis on healthy, local and organic ingredients. Sleek interior takes its cue from the 1920s. ❂ J B R L D $$

SMOKE BBQ BETHESDA 4858 Cordell Ave., 301-656-2011, smokebbq.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s, plus starters including smoked tomato soup and fried pickles served in a friendly, casual space. J L D $

ST. ARNOLD'S MUSSEL BAR (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7525 Old Georgetown Road, 240-821-6830, starnoldsdc.com. Czech, German and Belgian brews served in an authentic beer-hall setting, furnished with the same benches as those used in the Hofbrau brewhouse in Munich. Pub menu features mussels, hearty sandwiches, schnitzel and goulash. R L D $$

SWEETGREEN 4831 Bethesda Ave.301-654-7336, sweetgreen. com. The sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients— concentrates on salads (devise your own, or pick from a list) and soups. Look for eco-friendly decor and a healthy sensibility. ❂ L D $

TAKO GRILL 4914 Hampden Lane (The Shoppes of Bethesda), 301-652-7030, takogrill.com. Longtime, popular sushi destination relocated to the space formerly occupied by Hinode Japanese Restaurant. Look for the same traditional sushi menu, plus some new options, such as griddle-cooked teppanyaki at lunch, and more varieties of yakitori at dinner. L D $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 7236 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-4002, tandoorinightsmd.com. Located in the heart of downtown Bethesda, the restaurant serves traditional Indian fare ranging from tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, to a biryani flavored with saffron, nuts and raisins. ❂ L D $$

TARA THAI 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-657-0488, tarathai.com. Thai cuisine goes high style at Bethesda Magazine readers’ pick for “Best Thai Restaurant” in 2020. With colorful murals of ocean creatures looking on, diners can try dishes ranging from mild to adventurous. L D $$

TASTEE DINER 7731 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-3970, tasteediner. com. For 80 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything from breakfast to burgers to blue-plate specials such as steak and crabcakes to crowds of loyal customers. Open 24 hours. J B L D $

TERRAIN CAFÉ (EDITORS’ PICK) (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 7228 Woodmont Ave., 240-345-9492, shopterrain. com/restaurants. Located inside the Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row, this quaint cafe changes its menu with the seasons. Look for cheese boards; salads; toast topped with eggplant, smoked salmon or fig; and entrees such as duck breast and a fried cauliflower sandwich. ❂ R L D $$

TIA QUETA 4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, tiaqueta.com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers

authentic Mexican food such as moles and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. Drink menu includes American and Mexican beers. ❂ J L D $$

TOMMY JOE’S 7940 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-3801, tommy-joes.com. This Bethesda institution is now in the space formerly housing Urban Heights. The second-floor, window-filled corner location suits its sports bar persona, and the vast rooftop is ideal for outdoor drinking and snacking. Fare includes wings (Pohostyle, grilled and smoky, are a good option), burgers, crabcakes and ribs. Chunky brisket chili, on its own or on nachos, is a winner. ❂ L D $$

TRATTORIA SORRENTO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, trattoriasorrento. com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays. D $$

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7100 Wisconsin Ave., 240-200-1257, truefoodkitchen.com. Health-focused chain prides itself on serving fresh ingredients and features an open kitchen. The eclectic, multicultural menu changes from season to season, and includes sandwiches, salads and pizza. Beer, wine and freshfruit and vegetable cocktails are also available. Voted “Best Restaurant for Vegetarian Dishes” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ R L D $$

URBAN PLATES 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-690-9540, urbanplates.com. The fastcasual chain’s wide-ranging menu includes salads, soups, sandwiches, entrees such as grass-fed steak and striped sea bass, plus seasonal items. Meals are offered at stations—customers grab a plate and get in their desired line where chefs serve the made-from-scratch dishes. J L D $

UNCLE JULIO’S 4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, unclejulios. com. Loud and large, this Tex-Mex eatery packs in families and revelers fueling up on fajitas, tacos and more. Kids love to watch the tortilla machine. Voted “Best Mexican Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ J R L D $$

VÜK 4924 St. Elmo Ave., 301-652-8000. VÜK owner (and MOM’S Organic Market CEO) Scott Nash consulted restaurateur Mark Bucher for the only thing offered on the short menu of his Bethesda pinball arcade other than Trickling Springs Creamery’s soft-serve ice cream: thin-crust New York-style pizza and thick-crust Sicilian pizza sold by the slice or as whole pies: cheese, sausage, pepperoni and mushroom/onion. L D $

WANG DYNASTY 4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1188, wangdynastybethesda.com. A mix of dishes from Shanghai and Taiwan—sweet and sour chicken, crispy shrimp with minced pork, Peking duck, panfried noodles with beef—fill the long menu at this Chinese restaurant in the space that housed Shanghai Village. Weekend dim sum is offered. R L D $$

WILDWOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 10223 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-571-1700, wildwoodkitchenrw.com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s attractive neighborhood bistro serving fresh and light modern cuisine. Entrees range from Amish chicken with a scallion potato cake to grilled Atlantic salmon with creamy polenta. L D $$

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WOODMONT GRILL (EDITORS’ PICK) 7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, hillstone. com. Part of the Houston’s chain, the eatery offers such classics as spinach-and-artichoke dip and its famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. Voted “Best Restaurant in Bethesda” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019, and “Best Overall Restaurant,” “Restaurant With Best Service” and “Best Burger” by readers in 2020. ❂ L D $$$

WORLD OF BEER 7200 Wisconsin Ave., 240-389-9317, worldofbeer. com. Craft beer-focused tavern chain offers 50 brews on tap rotating daily and hundreds of bottled options. Food is classic pub fare, including hamburgers, wings and bratwurst sandwiches, as well as flatbreads and salads. ❂ J R L D $

YUZU 7345-B Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-5234, yuzu bethesda.com. Diners will find authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi and cooked tofu, vegetable, tempura, meat and fish dishes, prepared by sushi chef and owner Yoshihisa Ota. L D $$

CABIN JOHN FISH TACO 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JLD$

SAL’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 240-802-2370, salsitalian kitchen.net. Persimmon and Wild Tomato owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore replaced their Asian concept Indigo House with a return to their roots. Find traditional Italian fare, such as bruschetta, risotto balls, Caprese salad, meatball subs, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken cacciatore and shrimp scampi. ❂ L D $$

WILD TOMATO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, wildtomatorestaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J L D $

CHEVY CHASE ALFIO’S LA TRATTORIA 4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, alfios.com. This Northern Italian classic on the first floor of The Willoughby of Chevy Chase Condominium has been feeding families and casual diners for more than 30 years. Look for traditional pasta, veal and chicken dishes (plus pizza), served in an Old World environment. J L D $$

THE CAPITAL GRILLE 5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, thecapitalgrille.com. The upscale steak-house chain, known for its He-Man-sized portions and

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extensive wine list, is located in The Shops at Wisconsin Place. Entrees also include chicken, lamb chops, salmon and lobster. Voted “Best Private Dining Room” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. L D $$$$

CLYDE’S 5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, clydes. com. The popular restaurant features a frequently changing menu of American favorites and a collection of vintage airplanes and cars, as well as a model train running on a track around the ceiling. ❂ J R L D $$

DON POLLO 7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001, donpolloonline.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

LA FERME (EDITORS’ PICK) 7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, laferme restaurant.com. This charming Provence-style restaurant serving classic French cuisine is a popular choice for an intimate dinner. Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme, a bar within the restaurant, opened in fall 2016. The bar serves small plates and cocktails. Voted “Best Romantic Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020 and “Best Restaurant in Chevy Chase” and “Best SpecialOccasion Restaurant” by readers in 2019. ❂ R L D $$$

LIA'S 4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, chefgeoff.com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on high-quality, low-fuss modern Italian-American fare at this modern space with a wine room. Pizzas, house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. ❂ J R L D $

LITTLE BEET TABLE 5471 Wisconsin Ave., 240-283-0603, thelittlebeettable.com/chevychase. Part of a small chain that started in New York City, Little Beet Table serves an entirely gluten-free lineup of dishes, including chicken, salmon, Korean rice cakes, a mushroom-and-black-bean burger and a whole branzino fish. The 100-seat full-service restaurant is in The Collection shopping area in Chevy Chase’s Friendship Heights neighborhood. ❂ L D $$

MANOLI CANOLI RESTAURANT 8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, manolicanoli.com. Italian and Greek specialties abound at a fun family eatery that features a large prepared foods section, dishes made with olive oil from owner Stavros Manolakos’ family farm in Greece and homemade mozzarella on pizza and subs. ❂ J L D $

MEIWAH RESTAURANT 4457 Willard Ave., 301-652-9882, meiwah restaurant.com. This modern restaurant on the second floor of a Friendship Heights office building offers top-quality Chinese dishes that are hard to beat. There’s also a sushi bar with an extensive menu. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio. ❂ L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 7023 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, mobyskabob. com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. The menu includes a variety of salads and vegetarian sandwiches and platters. L D $

PERSIMMON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, persimmon restaurant.com. Owners Damian and Stephanie

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Salvatore’s popular restaurant offers casual fare from salads to sandwiches to meat and seafood entrees in a bistro setting featuring a lively bar, cozy booths and bright paintings on the walls. ❂ R L D $$

POTOMAC PIZZA 19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, potomac pizza.com. This cheery, casual dining room provides a break from the ultra-posh shopping surrounding it. In addition to pizza, subs and pastas are popular. Beer and wine available. ❂ J L D $

SUSHIKO (EDITORS’ PICK) 5455 Wisconsin Ave., 301-961-1644, sushiko restaurants.com. Known as one of the Washington, D.C., area’s most respected sushi restaurants, Sushiko offers a wide range of sushi and other dishes. Kōbō, a restaurant within the restaurant, allows eight people to dine on 12- to 15-course tasting menus. ❂ L D $$

TAVIRA 8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, tavira restaurant.com. Fish stews and several versions of bacalhau (salted cod) figure prominently on the menu of this intriguing Portuguese restaurant, which manages to be charming and attractive despite its location in an office building basement. L D $$

GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC &PIZZA 258 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 240-4998447, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

ASIA NINE 254 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-3309997, asianinemd.com. Pan Asian restaurant with a first location in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers dishes from Vietnam, China, Thailand and Japan. Specialties include grilled lamb chops served with mango-soy coulis and miso honey duck breast drizzled with a sake butter sauce. R L D $$

ATHENS GRILL 9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, athensgrill. com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties such as rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked on a hardwood grill. L D $

BARKING MAD CAFE 239 Spectrum Ave., 240-297-6230, barkingmad cafe.com. Cooking from a wood hearth and selecting vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from its aeroponic (grown in air/mist but without soil) organic garden, Barking Mad Cafe has a corner spot in Watkins Mill Town Center. Look for madefrom-scratch brunch, lunch and dinner sweets and savories, such as breakfast pizza, watermelon salad and farro salad. ❂ R L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT 229 Boardwalk Place (Rio), 301-569-7086, bgrtheburgerjoint.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JLD$

BONEFISH GRILL 82 Market St., 240-631-2401, bonefishgrill. com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is

the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks, crab cakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites. R L D $$

BUCA DI BEPPO 122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, bucadibeppo. com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties from fresh breads to antipasti and pasta dishes amid a sea of Italian kitsch. Desserts include Italian Creme Cake and tiramisu. J L D $$

CAVA 213 Kentlands Blvd., 301-476-4209, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COAL FIRE 116 Main St., 301-519-2625, coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by coal and topped with your choice of toppings and three different sauces: classic, spicy and signature, which is slightly sweet with a hint of spice. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available, plus a full bar. ❂ L D $

COASTAL FLATS 135 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301869-8800, greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfax-based chain. Seaside-inspired decor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and Key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served. ❂ J R L D $$

COPPER CANYON GRILL 100 Boardwalk Place (Rio), 240-631-0003, ccgrill. com. Large portions of American classics such as salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken prepared with seasonal ingredients at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious and casual chain restaurant. J L D $$

DOGFISH HEAD ALEHOUSE 800 W. Diamond Ave., 301-963-4847, dogfishale house.com. The first Maryland outpost of the popular Rehoboth Beach brewpub, the restaurant is packed with revelers and families clamoring for the Dogfish Head brews, burgers, pizzas and ribs. Check out the burger of the week. ❂ J L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN 644 Center Point Way, 240-690-6090, kentlands. doghaus.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

DON POLLO 9083 Gaither Road, 301-990-0981, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL 390 Spectrum Ave., 301-284-1770, gaithersburg. firebirdsrestaurants.com. Part of a chain, this restaurant in the Watkins Mill Town Center cooks steaks and seafood over a wood-fired grill. Designed to look like a Colorado lodge, the eatery tends toward classic fare for entrees (surf-and-turf, salmon, burgers) and dessert (chocolate cake, Key lime pie, carrot cake). ❂ J L D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17 (Rio), 301-9775655, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JRLD$

HERSHEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR 17030 Oakmont Ave., 301-948-9893, hersheysat thegrove.com. Fried chicken that tastes like it was made by an aproned elder is served up in a clapboard building constructed in 1889. Besides the fab fried chicken, Hershey’s serves up warm

rolls, inexpensive prices and live music.

❂ J B R L D $$

IL PORTO RESTAURANT 245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, ilporto restaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thincrust pizza are hallmarks of this friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. Fried calamari and the white pizza are among customer favorites. Voted “Best Restaurant in Gaithersburg/North Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ L D $

INFERNO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA (EDITORS’ PICK) 12207 Darnestown Road, 301-963-0115, inferno-pizzeria.com. Tony Conte, former executive chef of Washington, D.C.’s Oval Room, goes casual with his first restaurant, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria offering sophisticated toppings such as shaved truffles and garlic confit. Cozy dining room seats 39, with a tiled, wood-burning pizza oven as the centerpiece. D $$

IXTAPALAPA TAQUERIA 411 N. Frederick Ave., 240-702-0217, ixtataqueria.com. The owners of Taco Bar (in a Gaithersburg gas station) serve Mexican street food at this fast-casual spot. Pick a protein to go on corn tortillas, then head to the fixings bar. Or try a taco that comes already topped (the alambre with bacon, grilled onions and red peppers and Oaxaca cheese is good). ❂ L D $

KENAKI SUSHI 706 Center Point Way, 240-224-7189, kenakisushi. com. This sushi counter at Kentlands Market Square offers what the owners call a “modern take on traditional sushi.” Experiment with the Black Magic roll, which comes with truffle oil and black sushi rice. Lunch is more informal, but at dinner there’s full service. L D $

LANZHOU HAND PULL NOODLE 3 Grand Corner Ave. (Rio), 240-403-7486, handpullnoodle.com. The made-to-order noodles (choose hand-pulled or knife-sliced) at this fastcasual spot are served in soups and stir-fries with beef, chicken, duck and other proteins. Rice dishes, dumplings and pork buns are also available. L D $

THE MELTING POT

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE 212 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9636281, oldtownpourhouse.com. One of the eateries from Chicago’s Bottleneck Management restaurant company, this place features more than 90 local and international brews on tap. Classic American cuisine is served in a setting with copper-inlaid bars and high ceilings. ❂ L D $$

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR 203 Crown Park Ave., 301-330-4400, paladarlatinkitchen.com. This Cleveland-based chain covers the spectrum of Latin cuisine, with dishes from Cuba, the Caribbean and Central and South America. From Brazil, there’s feijoada stew; from Cuba, ropa vieja; and from Jamaica, jerk chicken. Bar selections includes 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos. ❂ J R L D $$

QUINCY’S BAR & GRILLE 616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200. Energetic neighborhood pub with a sports bar atmosphere, Quincy’s also has an extensive menu with wings, pizza, build-your-own burgers and chicken sandwiches, plus entrees including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, ruthschris.com. See Bethesda listing. D $$$

SILVER DINER 9811 Washingtonian Blvd. (Rio), 301-321-3530, silverdiner.com. This branch of the trendy diner includes a full bar and brasserie-style interior. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. ❂ J B R L D $$

SIN & GRIN 353 Main St., 301-977-5595, singrintacos.com. Located in the heart of Kentlands Market Square, Sin & Grin is a fast-casual restaurant owned and operated by the Hristopoulos family, which also runs Vasili’s Kitchen. Pick from eight tacos, rotisserie chicken and an assortment of Mexican cuisine. L D $

TACO DADDY

9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, themeltingpot. com. There’s nothing like dipping bits of bread, vegetables and apples into a communal pot of hot cheese to get a date or a party started. The Melting Pot chain also offers wine, oil or broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 105 Market St., 301-978-7770, mobyskabob. com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA

555 Quince Orchard Road, 240-261-9777, tacodaddycantina.com. Tacos and tequila are the focus at this branch of a restaurant based in Frederick, Maryland. Other Mexican food (such as enchiladas and fajitas) round out the offerings in the brightly painted space with kitschy decor. A mariachi band plays on Thursdays. ❂ L D $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 106 Market St., 301-947-4007, tandoorinightsmd. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

TARA THAI

145 Commerce Square Place, 240-552-9850, modpizza.com. The Bellevue, Washington-based chain offers design-your-own fast-casual pies (hence, Made on Demand, or MOD). Pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees for three minutes, can be topped with a choice of nearly 40 sauces, cheeses, meats, spices and veggies. ❂ L D $

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 245 Kentlands Blvd., 240-477-1040, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$

9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9 (Rio), 301-9478330, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TED’S BULLETIN 220 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301990-0600, tedsbulletin.com. First Maryland location of the modern diner chainlet from the folks at Matchbox Food Group. Boozy milkshakes, homemade pop tarts and the Cinnamon Roll As Big As Ya Head (served weekends only) are among the specialties. ❂ J B R L D $$

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in Garrett Park/Kensington” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J R L D $$

TED’S MONTANA GRILL 105 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-3300777, tedsmontanagrill.com. First Maryland location of billionaire and bison rancher Ted Turner’s restaurant chain, which uses bison as the showpiece in a humongous selection of dishes, including burgers, meatloaf, nachos and chili. Soups, salads, American classics and spiked milkshakes also available at this saloon-style eatery. ❂ J L D $$

THAI TANIUM 657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, thaitanium restaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. Try one of the Thai street food dishes, such as roasted pork with Thai herbed sweet sauce and noodle soups. ❂JLD$

UNCLE JULIO’S 231 Rio Blvd. (Rio), 240-632-2150, unclejulios.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

VASILI'S KITCHEN 705 Center Point Way, 301-977-1011, vasilis kitchen.com. Tan and brown decor lends a cozy vibe to this 4,700-square-foot Kentlands restaurant. The owners ran the popular Vasili’s Mediterranean Grill in another Kentlands location for more than a decade before closing it to focus on Vasili’s Kitchen. The Mediterranean menu is heavy on seafood dishes. ❂ J D $$

YARD HOUSE 211 Rio Blvd. (Rio), 240-683-8790, yardhouse.com. Part of a chain with locations in California, Illinois and Texas, this RIO Washingtonian Center spot is big: The 13,000-square-foot restaurant has more than 100 beers on draft, and more than 100 items on its menu, from poke nachos and Nashville hot chicken to Parmesan-crusted pork loin and gingercrusted salmon. ❂ J L D $$

YOYOGI SUSHI 317 Main St., 301-963-0001. yoyogisushi.wixsite. com/yoyogisushi. A no-nonsense neighborhood sushi place offering the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura and green tea or red bean ice cream. ❂ LD$

ZIKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

10009 Fields Road, 301-330-3868, zikisteakhouse. com. This large steak house on a busy corner charms patrons with its fountains, stone Buddhas and geisha mannequins. Food offerings include sushi, as well as meats cooked on a tableside hibachi. J L D $$

GARRETT PARK BLACK MARKET BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, blackmarket restaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. Entrees range from swordfish to a burger and pizza, including several vegetable options. Voted “Best Restaurant

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KENSINGTON THE BIG GREEK CAFE 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe.com. See Bethesda listing. LD$

THE DISH & DRAM 10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, thedishanddram.com. The owners of The Daily Dish in Silver Spring serve comfort food made with local ingredients in a 2,800-square-foot space in Kensington. Steak frites, Maryland crab soup, burgers and house-made desserts are on the menu. J R L D $$

FRANKLY…PIZZA! (EDITORS’ PICK) 10417 Armory Ave., 301-832-1065, franklypizza. com. Owner Frank Linn turns out high-quality pizza in a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant. The menu offers wood-fired pies topped with home-cured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-yearold family recipe. Wines and homemade sodas served on tap, too. Voted “Best Pizza” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ L D $

JAVA NATION 10516 Connecticut Ave., 301-327-6580, javanation.com. There’s a brunch menu at this coffee shop tucked into a strip mall. Beer, wine and liquor are served, along with coffee that’s roasted on-site. R L $$

K TOWN BISTRO 3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, ktownbistro. com. Try filet mignon, duck breast à l’orange, chicken marsala and other classic continental dishes from this family-run eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$

KNOWLES STATION WINE & CO. 10414 Detrick Ave., Suite 100; 301-272-9080; knowlesstation.com. Part retail wine shop, part restaurant, part bar, this spot near the intersection of Knowles and Summit avenues features a short menu with meat and cheese plates, appetizers, salads and sandwiches (including grilled chicken, roast pork and crabcake). Find more than a dozen beers on draft and more than two dozen wines by the glass, plus lots of beer and wine to go. ❂ J L D $$

NORTH BETHESDA/ ROCKVILLE A & J RESTAURANT (EDITORS’ PICK) 1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, aj-restaurant. com. Northern dim sum is the specialty at this hard-to-find cash-only spot in the Woodmont Station shopping center. Warm-colored walls surround the crowd digging into thousand-layer pancakes and fresh tofu. R L D $

AKIRA RAMEN & IZAKAYA 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-242-3669, akiraramenizakaya.com. This minimalist Japanese eatery serves house-made noodles and vibrant food such as a poke salad. The sleek establishment,

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

located on the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, features an open kitchen and several variations of ramen to choose from. L D $

AL CARBÓN 200 Park Road, 301-738-0003, alcarbonrestaurant. com. Serving authentic Latin American fare across the street from the Rockville Metro station, this unassuming roadhouse has a loyal following for its arepas, empanadas, tapas and more. Try one of the natural juices including mango and tamarindo. ❂BLD$

AL HA'ESH 4860 Boiling Brook Parkway (Randolph Hills Shopping Center), 301-231-0839, al-haesh.com. Kosher Israeli grill serves vegetable and protein skewers (including chicken, lamb, beef, chicken livers and sweetbreads). All entrees come with small ramekins of salads (think curried chickpeas; marinated red cabbage; and balsamic marinated mushrooms). ❂ L D $$

AMALFI RISTORANTE ITALIANO (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

12307 Wilkins Ave., 301-770-7888, amalfirockville. com. A family-run, red-sauce Italian restaurant with specialties including white pizza and lasagna. Lots of antipasti choices, too. The gazebo is a charming spot to dine during the summer. J L D $$

AMICI MIEI RISTORANTE 6 N. Washington St., 301-545-0966, amicimieiristorante.com. Previously located at the Potomac Woods Plaza, this upscale Italian restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and creative salads. The new, smaller establishment is cozier than the last with a menu that changes twice a year. L D $

AMINA THAI RESTAURANT 5065 Nicholson Lane, 301-770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-andwife team and bills itself as the first Muslim Thai restaurant in the area, using only halal meats and serving familiar Thai dishes. Chef’s specials include pineapple fried rice and grilled salmon. L D $

&PIZZA 11626 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240621-7016, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂LD$

BANGKOK GARDEN THAI STREET EATS 891-D Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), 301545-2848, bkgrockville.com. This fast-casual spot offers Thai classics (drunken noodles, pad Thai, fried rice, and curries served with chicken or pork belly) alongside Thai street fare, such as a mussel omelet. L D $

BARONESSA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1302 E. Gude Drive, 301-838-9050, baronessarestaurant.com. Pizzas made in a woodburning oven and more than two dozen Italian entrees star on the menu at this 100-seat stripmall restaurant. Trivia nights and kids pizza-making classes are offered. J R L D $$

BB.Q CHICKEN 9712 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-0962, bbqchickenrockville.com. This Korean chain uses olive oil for frying its chicken, which you can order as whole, half, wings or boneless. Other Korean and fusion entrees and sides—including kimchi fried rice, calamari and fried dumplings—are on the menu too. There’s also a full bar. L D $

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 4007 Norbeck Road, 301-929-9760; 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE BLOCK 967 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), theblockfoodhall.com. This Asian food hall is a sibling of an Annandale spot that helped launch the food hall trend. Find poke, Korean barbecue, shaved ice cream and more from a half dozen stalls. The center of the space houses a bar with TVs. ❂ L D $

BOB'S SHANGHAI 66 305 N. Washington St., 301-251-6652. Dim sum and rice and noodle dishes are the specialties at this popular eatery offering Taiwanese, Shanghai and Sichuan cuisine. It’s also one of the area’s top destinations for soup dumplings, where you can even watch the chefs making them in a glassenclosed booth. R L D $

BOMBAY BISTRO 98 W. Montgomery Ave., 301-762-8798, bombaybistro.com. Bombay Bistro opened in 1991 as one of the first Indian restaurants in the area to combine high style, reasonable prices and a fresh take on traditional Indian, and it has been packed ever since. House specialties include tandoori lamb chops and shrimp and scallops masala. J L D $$

BONCHON CHICKEN 107 Gibbs St., Unit A (Rockville Town Square), 301637-9079, bonchon.com. International fried chicken franchise with Korean roots serves up wings, drumsticks and strips with soy-garlic or spicy hot garlic sauce, plus other traditional offerings such as bulgogi, bibimbap and scallion seafood pancakes. LD$

BOTANERO 800 Pleasant Drive, Suite 160, 240-474-5461, botanerorockville.com. Located in the King Farm neighborhood, this small plates restaurant and wine bar features cuisine that changes seasonally. Some recent offerings include a fig and prosciutto flatbread and quinoa grilled salmon. B L D $

CAVA 12037 Rockville Pike (Montrose Crossing), 240235-0627; 28 Upper Rock Circle, 301-200-5530; cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

CAVA MEZZE (EDITORS’ PICK) 9713 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-9090, cavamezze.com. The dark and elegant CAVA Mezze offers small plates of everything from fried Greek cheese, octopus and orzo in cinnamon tomato sauce to crispy pork belly and macaroni and cheese. There are martini specials, too. Voted “Best Middle Eastern Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ R L D $$

CHINA BISTRO 755 Hungerford Drive, 301-294-0808. Extensive Chinese menu features many familiar favorites, but this is the place to go for dumplings. With tender dough wrappers and chock-full interiors, these beauties come 12 to an order and with 16 different filling choices. Fresh, uncooked dumplings are also available for carryout. L D $

CHINA GARDEN 11333 Woodglen Drive, 301-881-2800, chinagardenhg.com. The Cantonese restaurant moved from Rosslyn, Virginia, to the former Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar space. The lunch menu includes dim sum items (they are on a pushcart on weekends). L D $$

CITY PERCH KITCHEN + BAR 11830 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-2312310, cityperch.com. Located above the entrance to the iPic Theaters at Pike & Rose, City Perch offers creative, seasonal American cuisine in a rustic, inviting space. The menu includes raw-bar selections, small plates, shareable salads and entree options such as grilled shrimp and Long Island duck. ❂ R L D $$$

CLYDE'S TOWER OAKS LODGE 2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, clydes.com/ tower. Here is Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish, plus a raw bar. Check out the twig sculpture spanning the ceiling of The Saranac Room. J R L D $$

COMMONWEALTH INDIAN 11610 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240833-3055. The owner of two Bollywood Bistro restaurants in Virginia opened this fine-dining spot that serves traditional Indian favorites such as curry chicken and butter chicken, along with fresh-baked bread and Indian salad. The bar has Indian-inspired cocktails and Indian beers and wines. ❂ R L D $$$

COOPER'S HAWK 1403 Research Blvd. (Research Row), 301-5179463, chwinery.com/locations/maryland/rockvillemd. Part of a national chain, this restaurant and winery lists which of its wines to pair with the contemporary American dishes on the sprawling menu (pasta, steak, seafood, burgers, 600-calorie or less dishes). There’s also a tasting room and a retail space. ❂ J L D $$$

CSNY PIZZA 1020 Rockville Pike, 301-298-3650, csnypizza. wixsite.com/sneaksite. Carry out a New York-style pizza from this spot by the owners of Pizza CS. Their second Rockville location also offers six seats for guests to dine in, and serves whole pies, hot subs and pizza by the slice. L D $

DOMOISHI 201 E. Middle Lane, 301-666-6685, domoishi. com. This Rockville Town Center restaurant lets diners customize their bowls of ramen, and also sells poke and wings. The eatery shares an address with Pearl Lady, a bubble tea shop. LD$

DON POLLO 2206 Veirs Mill Road, 301-309-1608, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EAST PEARL RESTAURANT 838-B Rockville Pike, 301-838-8663, eastpearl restaurant.com. Choose from many options of Hong Kong cuisine, including familiar dishes featuring chicken, beef, poultry, pork and even duck, as well as those for adventurous tastes. Try the soups ranging from egg drop to seafood with bean curd. LD$

EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT 765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177, elmariachi rockville.com. Serving Tex-Mex and South American food in a bright, pleasant space made lively with colorful art. In addition to the usual enchiladas, tacos and burritos, look for Peruvian seafood and Cuban beef specialties. L D $

EL PATIO 5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225. This bustling cafe with pretty green umbrellas on the patio serves up the traditional meat-heavy dishes of Argentina, as well as pizzas and freshly made baked goods.

Look for mouth-watering empanadas, beef tongue and sausage specialties. ❂ J B L D $

FAR EAST RESTAURANT 5055 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-5552, fareastrockvillemd.com. Owned and operated by the same family since 1974, this classic Chinese restaurant greets customers with two royal stone lions out front and sticks to the familiar ChineseAmerican basics. Check out the daily specials and dim sum menu. L D $$

FARMSOOK 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, farmsookthaikitchen.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$

FINNEGAN’S WAKE IRISH PUB 100 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398267, finneganswakerockville.com. Irish pub with a nice selection of bourbons, whiskeys and Irish beers and a very limited bar menu offering such fare as bangers and mash, poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese curds), a chicken club sandwich, fish and chips, wings and a burger. L D $

FLOR DE LUNA 11417 Woodglen Drive, 240-242-4066, flordeluna md.com. Latin American fare includes tamales and lomo saltado (a stir-fry of beef and peppers) at this 75-seat restaurant near Whole Foods Market. Tacos, nachos and quesadillas are also in the lineup. Finish off your meal with the tres leches (three milks) cake. ❂ J R L D $$

FLOWER CHILD 10072 Darnestown Road (Travilah Square Shopping Center), 301-545-6750, iamaflowerchild.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

FOGO DE CHÃO 11600 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 301841-9200, fogodechao.com. Part of an international chain, the Brazilian steakhouse offers cuts of meat—plus a salad and vegetable station—at allyou-can-eat prices. ❂ R L D $$$

FONTINA GRILLE 801 Pleasant Drive, 301-947-5400, fontinagrille. com. A trendy spot with its curvy maple bar and wood-burning pizza oven, Fontina Grille is a favorite gathering place for the King Farm neighborhood. Pizza, pasta and salads are the main attractions. Three-dollar pasta dishes available on Monday nights and half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. ❂ J R L D $$

GYROLAND 1701-B3 Rockville Pike, 301-816-7829, gyrolandmd.com. Build-your-own salads, open-face and wrapped sandwiches, and other Greek choices star at this fast-casual spot near Congressional Plaza. For dessert, Gyroland serves loukoumades, a bite-size fluffy Greek doughnut soaked in hot honey syrup. L D $

HARD TIMES CAFÉ 1117 Nelson St., 301-294-9720, hardtimes.com. Good American beer selections, hearty chili styles ranging from Cincinnati (cinnamon and tomato) to Texas (beef and hot peppers), and hefty salads and wings bring families to this Wild West-style saloon for lunch and dinner. L D $

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HINODE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 134 Congressional Lane, 301-816-2190, hinode restaurant.com. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine since 1992. All-you-can-eat lunch and weekend dinner buffet offers 40 types of sushi, 14 hot foods and a salad bar. Check out the patio with full bar service. L D $$

IL PIZZICO (EDITORS’ PICK) 15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, ilpizzico. com. Setting aside the strip mall location and lack of pizza (il pizzico means “the pinch” in Italian), chef-owner Enzo Livia’s house-made pasta dishes, gracious service and extensive wine list of mainly Italian wines make even a weeknight meal feel special. L D $$

IRON AGE 1054 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1474, ironagekoreansteakhouse.com. Part of a small chain of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurants, this branch opened in 2012. Garlic pork belly, spicy chicken and beef brisket are among the dozen-plus offerings. There are two menu options (the pricier one includes a few more items, such as steak and octopus). J L D $$

JAVA NATION 11120 Rockville Pike, 301-836-6022, java-nation. com. An offshoot of a coffeeshop in Kensington, this Rockville Pike restaurant in the space that once housed Addie’s serves a full-service menu of fish, oysters and other seafood. There’s a 10-seat bar for beer, wine, liquor—and coffee. ❂ J R L D $$

JINYA RAMEN BAR 910 Prose St. (Pike & Rose), 301-816-3029, jinyaramenbar.com. A 74-seat eatery that’s part of a chain, Jinya serves 12 different types of ramen, ranging from the classic wonton chicken to a creamy vegan option. Try the Jinya Mini Tacos, which come with a choice of salmon poke, pork chashu and kimchee, or spicy tuna. Voted “Best Ramen” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. J L D $

JOE’S NOODLE HOUSE 1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, joesnoodlehouse.com. Chinese expats and many other customers consider the Sichuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $

JULII (EDITORS’ PICK) 11915 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-5179090, julii.com. A French Mediterranean bistro from the owners of CAVA, Julii looks like a glass box from the outside and serves fare such as salmon crudo, roasted bone marrow, crispy trout, New York strip au poivre and tableside nitrogen ice cream. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. L D $$

KUSSHI 11826 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 240-770-0355, kusshisushi.com. The owners of Hanaro Sushi, a Japanese restaurant in Bethesda, serve up similar sushi offerings here. A boat-shaped platter with 64 to 128 pieces of sushi or sashimi is a fun shareable option. L D $$

KUYA JA’S LECHON BELLY 5268-H Nicholson Lane, 240-669-4383, kuyajas. com. This fast-casual restaurant that started as a

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pop-up in the Rockville area specializes in serving lechon, a Filipino pork belly dish. Chef and owner Javier J. Fernandez, a native of the Philippines, shares the flavors of his home country through ricebowls, spiced wings and homemade pastries. LD$

LA BRASA LATIN CUISINE 12401 Parklawn Drive, 301-468-8850, labrasa rockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa. Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and Tres Leches. ❂ L D $

LA CANELA (EDITORS’ PICK) 141-D Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-2511550, lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a regally furnished dining room in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy black ironwork. The menu includes artfully prepared seafood, pork, chicken and beef dishes. ❂ L D $

LA LIMEÑA GRILL 1093 Rockville Pike, 301-417-4922. An offshoot of nearby La Limeña Restaurant, this Peruvian eatery with a spacious patio serves several traditional seafood dishes, including Ceviche Mixto, an appetizer of lime-marinated tilapia served with glazed potatoes and crispy dried corn kernels. The Chicha Morada, a sweet corn-based drink, pairs nicely with authentic and tender braised-beef entrees. ❂ J L D $$

LA LIMEÑA RESTAURANT 765 Rockville Pike, 301-424-8066, lalimena restaurant.com. Diners can choose dishes such as beef hearts, tripe and homemade pastries in this tiny but well-appointed eatery. Desserts include passion fruit mousse and vanilla flan. And of course, there’s rotisserie chicken to go. L D $

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ 115 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3098681, lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner, the cafe is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, lamb kabobs, salmon and chicken. ❂ J L D $

LEBTAV 1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086, lebtav. com. LEBTAV has a shorter menu than its fastcasual sibling Lebanese Taverna Café. You’ll find sandwiches, bowls, hummus, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. L D $

LIGHTHOUSE TOFU & BBQ 12710 Twinbrook Parkway, 301-881-1178. In addition to the numerous tofu dishes ranging from Mushroom Tofu Pot to Seafood Beef Tofu Pot, diners at this Korean stalwart can try barbecue, stirfried specialties and kimchee, the national dish of pickled cabbage. L D $

MAHSHAD MODERN PERSIAN KITCHEN (NEW) 404 King Farm Blvd., 240-477-6333, mahshadmd. com. The fast-casual restaurant’s menu highlights kebabs (ground beef and a vegan version of it; beef fillet; chicken marinated in saffron and yogurt, with a spicy option; and veggies) that come with warm pita bread, a roasted tomato and rice or salad or half rice, half salad. ❂ L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; mammalucia restaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

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MATCHBOX 1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, matchbox restaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

MISSION BBQ 885 Rockville Pike, 301-444-5574, mission-bbq. com. This outpost of a national chain, known for its support of U.S. military troops and veterans, serves its barbecue—including brisket, ribs and pulled pork—alongside a slew of add-your-own sauces. Come for lunch and stay to recite the national anthem at noon. J L D $

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 14929-A Shady Grove Road, 301-738-0005, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA 12027 Rockville Pike, 301-287-4284. modpizza. com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ LD$

MOSAIC CUISINE & CAFÉ 186 Halpine Road, 301-468-0682, mosaiccuisine. com. A diner with a soft European accent. Try the fresh Belgian waffles for breakfast. For those with hefty appetites, the waffle sandwiches are worth the trip, but don’t overlook the homemade soups or light dinner entrees. J B R L D $$

MYKONOS GRILL 121 Congressional Lane, 301-770-5999, mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls with Mediterranean blue accents on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ L D $$

NADA 11886 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7714040, eatdrinknada.com/n-bethesda. Part of a small national chain, Nada serves street tacos with fillings such as caramelized cauliflower, fried tofu and pork carnitas. The brief menu also includes soups, salads and a fajita plate. Margaritas and seasonal cocktails are available. R L D $$

NAGOYA SUSHI 402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778, nagoyasushirockville.com. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers who come for the large selection of sushi at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm. L D $$

NANTUCKET’S REEF (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301279-7333, nantucketsreef.com. This casual New England-style eatery offers a wide range of reasonably priced seafood dishes, including raw and baked oysters, stuffed cod, fried Ipswitch clams, seafood tacos, tuna and salmon salads, and lobster items. Signature cocktails are made with Nantucket Nectars juices. ❂ R L D $$

NICK’S CHOPHOUSE (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 700 King Farm Blvd., 301-926-8869, nickschop houserockville.com. Aged Angus beef cooked over an open fire is the specialty at this upscale spot, but seafood lovers can get their fill from big crabcakes. Signature steaks include slow-roasted prime rib weighing 10 to 32 ounces. Separate bar menu. ❂ L D $$

NIWANO HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, niwanohana. com. Clean Asian decor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy

sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. There are the usual sushi rolls, plus creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori. L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 12224 Rockville Pike, 301-468-0886, ophrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. This location stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. J B L D $

OWEN’S ORDINARY (EDITORS’ PICK) 11820 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 301-2451226, owensordinarymd.com. This Americanstyle restaurant, barroom and beer garden from Neighborhood Restaurant Group boasts 50 rotating drafts and more than 150 types of bottled beer. The 175-seat restaurant serves salads, burgers, pork, seafood and fondue entrees, and those looking to grab a drink can make the most of the space’s 60seat beer garden. Voted “Best Restaurant Beer Selection” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. R L D $$

PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 20-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301838-9188, peterchangarlington.com. Chef Peter Chang’s Sichuan specialties are showcased in an apricot-walled dining space. Garnering a cult-like following over the years, Chang is best known for dishes such as dry-fried eggplant, crispy pork belly and duck in a stone pot. L D $$

PHO 75 771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. The restaurant is one of the Washington area’s favorite spots for the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as pho. Soup can be customized with bean sprouts, Thai basil, chilies, lime, and hot and hoisin sauces. Beverages include interesting options such as Iced Salty Pickled Lemon Juice. L D $

PHO HOA BINH 11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrees. The Adventurer’s Choice features “unusual” meats, including tendon, tripe and fatty flank. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $

PHO NOM NOM 842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, phonomnom. net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. House specials include Vietnamese beef stew and pork and shrimp wontons. L D $

PHOLUSCIOUS VIETNAMESE GRILL 10048 Darnestown Road, 301-762-2226, pholuscious.com. This casual restaurant and bar is home to traditional Vietnamese cooking, with fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil and many herbs and vegetables. The menu features pho, noodle dishes, rice plates and lots of protein dishes. Beverages include bubble tea, smoothies, beer and wine. L D $$

PIKE KITCHEN 1066 Rockville Pike, 301-603-2279, pikekitchen. com. The 6,200-square-foot, 100-seat Asian food hall at the Edmonston Crossing shopping center includes eateries dishing up Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, pho, poke, ramen, bibimbap and more. ❂ LD$

POTOMAC PIZZA

THE SPOT

9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. ❂ JLD$

QUINCY’S SOUTH BAR & GRILLE 11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincyssouth.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ L D $

SADAF HALAL RESTAURANT 1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting Rockville Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes. ❂ JLD$

SAM CAFÉ & MARKET 844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, samcafemarket. com. Fill up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats or interesting entrees, including pomegranate molasses stew and marinated grilled salmon, then have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ LD$

SEASONS 52 11414 Rockville Pike, 301-984-5252, seasons52. com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Choose from flatbreads including Blackened Steak & Blue Cheese and Grilled Garlic Pesto Chicken to entree salads to meat and seafood dishes. Nightly piano music. ❂ L D $$

SHANGHAI TASTE 1121 Nelson St., 301-279-0806. Co-owner and chef Wei Sun, a Shanghai native, specializes in preparing three different flavors of soup dumplings at this small restaurant in a strip mall. The menu also includes traditional Chinese-American dishes, such as General Tso’s chicken and fried rice. LD$

SHEBA RESTAURANT 5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-8882, sheba rockville.com. The menu features authentic Ethiopian cuisine with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. House specialties include Dulet Assa, chopped tilapia mixed with onion, garlic and jalapeno and served with a side of homemade cheese. L D $

SICHUAN JIN RIVER 410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, sichuanjinrivermd.com. Customers find terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a no-frills setting. Take the plunge and try something new with the authentic Chinese menu, including 23 small cold plates. LD$

SILVER DINER 12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, silverdiner. com. Customers flock to this trendy diner that still offers tableside jukeboxes. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Voted “Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. J B R L D $

SPICE XING 100-B Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-6100303, spicexing.com. Chef and owner Sudhir Seth, who also owns Bethesda’s Passage to India, serves up small plates and dishes that reflect the history of culinary influences on India. Try the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet. ❂ J R L D $$

255 N. Washington St., thespotdmv.com. This 6,200-square-foot, 200-seat Asian food hall, not far from Rockville Town Square, includes a handful of vendors, including Mian Pull Noodle (dumplings and noodle dishes), Poki DC (the Hawaiian-inspired raw fish dish called poke) and Alpaca Dessert (shaved snow ice and ice cream-filled waffle cones). LD$

STANFORD GRILL 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd., 240-582-1000, thestanford grill.com. From the Blueridge Restaurant Group, owner of Copper Canyon Grill restaurants, comes this 300-seat American eatery on the ground floor of an office building. Salads, burgers, steaks and seafood, plus sushi, with an eye toward high quality. ❂ R L D $$

STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7708609, stellabarra.com. Adjacent to its sister restaurant, Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra is an artisan pizzeria with a hip, urban vibe. Look for crisp crusts with chewy centers topped with butternut squash and candied bacon or housemade pork sausage and fennel pollen. Italian wines available. ❂ R D $$

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (EDITORS’ PICK) 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301881-2381, summerhousesm.com. An airy, light and stunning space sets the scene for modern American cuisine with a West Coast sensibility. Fare includes salads, sushi, tacos, sandwiches and steak frites. Do not miss the bakery counter. Voted “Best Restaurant in Rockville/North Bethesda” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019, and “Restaurant With Best Decor” by readers in 2020. ❂ J R L D $$

SUPER BOWL NOODLE HOUSE 785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086, superbowl noodlehouse.com. Look for a large variety of Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions, plus a wide selection of appetizers. Also, bubble tea and desserts, including Sweet Taro Root Roll and Black Sugar Shaved Ice. ❂ L D $

SUSHI DAMO 36-G Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301340-8010, sushidamo.com. A slice of New York sophistication, this elegant restaurant offers sushi à la carte or omakase, chef’s choice, plus beef and seafood entrees and an impressive sake list. L D $$

SUSHI HOUSE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043, sushihouse1331.com. A tiny, plain restaurant serving a large selection of fresh sushi, including sushi and sashimi combinations. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$

SUSHI OISHII 9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-251-1177, sushioishii.com. This charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offers friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items, including beef, poultry and seafood teriyaki. L D $$

TAIPEI TOKYO 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301-881-8388; taipei-tokyo.net. These sister

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etc. DINE

XI’AN GOURMET restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. The Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$

TARA THAI 12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TEMARI CAFÉ 1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls, ramen noodle soup, sushi and sashimi and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$

THAT’S AMORE 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on familystyle portions of classic Neapolitan dishes such as lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$

TRAPEZARIA 11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, thetrapezaria. com. This down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/ Mediterranean restaurant serves top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrees. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages and more-involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$

URBAN BAR-B-QUE COMPANY 5566 Norbeck Road, 301-460-0050, urbanbarbq. com. Urban Bar-B-Que Company, a tiny joint run by a couple of local friends, has a winning formula and features finger-licking ribs, burgers and wings, plus salads, chili and smothered fries. Staff is friendly, too. J L D $

URBAN HOT POT 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-669-6710, urbanhotpot. com. On the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, this hot pot spot features a conveyor belt where food travels to diners. A prix fixe all-you-caneat menu allows you to create your meal at your table using one of the stationed iPads. Choose from a selection of noodles, vegetables and meat to add to a bowl of hot stock, then do it again if you’re still hungry. L D $$

VILLA MAYA 5532 Norbeck Road (Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247. Here you’ll find all the traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites from quesadillas to fajitas that are sure to please the whole family. ❂ R L D $$

THE WOODSIDE DELI 4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, thewoodside deli.com. Though the original location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that dished up matzo ball soup from 1947 to 2019 closed, this location is still open. Choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, burgers and entrees. There’s also a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $

WORLD OF BEER 196B East Montgomery Ave., 301-340-2915, worldofbeer.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ JRL D $

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316 N. Washington St., 301-875-5144, xian-gourmet.business.site. This casual diner prides itself on its comfort food. Named after an ancient city, Xi’an heavily features Sichuan and Shaanxi cuisines, after the chefs’ regional heritage. Go for the Shaanxi cold steamed noodles or the Shanghai soup dumplings. L D $

YEKTA 1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-1190, yekta.com. Persian cuisine, including a selection of beef, chicken and lamb kabobs, is served in a beautiful dining room. Try a dessert such as frozen noodle sorbet or saffron ice cream. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kabob. L D $$

YUAN FU VEGETARIAN 798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, yuanfuvegetarian.com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese vegetable products. There is a large selection of chef’s specials, including Pumpkin Chicken with Mushrooms in a hot pot. L D $

POTOMAC BROOKLYN’S DELI & CATERING 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, brooklyns delimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. Think hot pastrami with coleslaw and Russian dressing on pumpernickel. ❂ J B L D $

CAVA 7991 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301200-5398, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂LD$

ELEVATION BURGER 12525-D Park Potomac Ave., 301-838-4010, elevationburger.com. Fast-food burgers go organic and grass-fed at this Northern Virginia-founded chain. Veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese and a BLT available, too. Shake flavors range from banana to Key lime and cheesecake. ❂LD$

GRAND FUSION CUISINE 350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grandfusionpotomac.com. Diners will find something for everyone seeking a taste of the Asian continent, a full sushi bar, and Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean specialties. Chef’s specials include Crispy Eggplant in Spicy Orange Sauce and Double Flavored Shrimp. ❂ L D $

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA 7745 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301296-6168, gregoriostrattoria.com. Proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home at this family-owned restaurant serving a hit parade of traditional Italian favorites, with all the familiar pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa pastas. J L D $$

THE GRILLED OYSTER CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 7943 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301299-9888, thegrilledoystercompany.com. This Chesapeake-style seafood eatery features small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrees. The sampler of four grilled oysters—with ingredients

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such as coconut rum and cucumber relish— showcases the namesake item. ❂ J R L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-339-8855, gringosandmariachis.com. See Bethesda listing. This location voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ D $

HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL 10123 River Road, 301-299-9300, huntersbarandgrill.com. At this Potomac institution and popular English hunt-themed spot, try a big salad or hamburger for lunch and a traditional pasta dish or filet mignon for dinner with the family. ❂ J R L D $$

LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL 7747 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240499-8922, lahinchtavernandgrill.com. The menu of this sister restaurant to The Irish Inn at Glen Echo commingles Irish standards (traditional sausage roll, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, lamb stew) with fare such as Alaskan halibut. Lahinch is a coastal town in Ireland’s County Clare. J R L D $$$

LOCK 72 KITCHEN & BAR (EDITORS’ PICK) 10128 River Road, 301-299-0481, lock72.com. Well-known chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group runs this upscale American pub (formerly called River Falls Tavern). Entrees include panroasted duck breast, crabcake, rockfish and New York strip steak. ❂ R L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 9812 Falls Road, 240-660-2626, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOCO’S FOUNDING FARMERS 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, wearefoundingfarmers.com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown D.C. Founding Farmers. Try the warm cookies for dessert. Voted “Best Craft Cocktails” and “Best Brunch” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020, and also “Best Brunch” in 2019. ❂ B R L D $$

NORMANDIE FARM RESTAURANT 10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, popovers.com. This fine-dining French restaurant, open since 1931, strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. Dinner entrees run from seafood to beef and lamb. The restaurant offers quick service, a casual cafe option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$

O’DONNELL’S MARKET 1073 Seven Locks Road, 301-251-6355, odonnells market.com. This market, from the family that ran O’Donnell’s restaurants in Montgomery County for decades, features a 10-seat bar for lunch and happy hour. The menu includes a raw bar, salads and many O’Donnell’s classics, among them a lump-filled crabcake sandwich, salmon BLT, seafood bisque and crab gumbo. ❂ L $

OLD ANGLER’S INN 10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-365-2425, oldanglers inn.com. Open since 1860 and known for its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. Signature cocktails include hard cider sangria and a pumpkin pie martini. Voted “Best Outdoor Dining” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2020. ❂ R L D $$$

POTOMAC PIZZA 9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, potomacpizza. com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $

RENATO’S AT RIVER FALLS 10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, renatosatriverfalls.com. The Italian restaurant offers fish dishes among its menu of pastas and classics such as penne with eggplant, and chicken parmigiana. Traditional Italian desserts include tiramisu, profiteroles and cannolis. Voted “Best Restaurant in Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J L D $$

SISTERS THAI 7995 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301299-4157, sisterscabinjohn.com. The owners of a Thai restaurant and bakery in Virginia serve classic Thai dishes in a setting that mixes several decor styles (one room has a fireplace and looks like a living room filled with books). A dessert counter offers coffee and tea drinks along with ice cream, snow ice and other treats. ❂ L D $$

SUGO OSTERIA 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 240-386-8080, eatsugo.com. This stylish spot starts you off with honey-thyme butter on rustic bread. The menu focuses on Italian small plates, meatballs, sliders, pizza and pasta. Chef specialties include blue crab gnocchi and charred octopus. ❂ R L D $$

TALLY-HO RESTAURANT 9923 Falls Road, 301-299-6825, tallyhorestaurant. com. A local fixture since 1968, the eatery serves an expansive diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. Choose from options ranging from burgers and deli sandwiches to pizza, calzones and dinner entrees. ❂ J B L D $

THE WINE HARVEST 12525-B Park Potomac Ave., 240-314-0177, thewineharvest.com. Stop by this popular Cheerslike wine bar for a glass of wine or a Belgian beer. The menu includes salads, sandwiches and cheese plates. ❂ L D $

SILVER SPRING ALL SET RESTAURANT & BAR 8630 Fenton St., 301-495-8800, allsetrestaurant. com. American cuisine with a focus on New England specialties. Look for clams, oysters and lobster, plus crabcakes, and beef and vegetarian options. ❂ J R L D $$

AMINA THAI 8624 Colesville Road, 301-588-3588. See North Bethesda/Rockville listing. L D $

ASTRO LAB BREWING 8216 Georgia Ave., 301-273-9684, astrolabbrewing.com. A menu of about a dozen items—including handheld savory pies, a sausage roll and a hummus platter—are served in the downtown Silver Spring brewery’s taproom. Grab one of the hop-forward beers brewed on-site to sip at the communal tables or on the patio. ❂JLD$

AZÚCAR RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL 14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucarrestaurant.net. The name means sugar, and it fits: The colorful Salvadoran spot is decorated in

bright purple and orange with Cubist-style paintings. The pork-stuffed corn pupusas are stars. Also look for more elegant dinners, including fried whole trout. L D $$

BETE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE 811 Roeder Road, 301-588-2225, beteethiopia. com. Family-run Ethiopian restaurant with a modest dining room but some exemplary cooking. Don’t miss the vegetarian sampler, and in nice weather, opt for eating outside in the lovely, shaded back patio. ❂ J B L D $$

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 8223 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

CAVA 8515 Fenton St., 301-200-8666, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COPPER CANYON GRILL 928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-589-1330, ccgrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$

CRISFIELD SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306, crisfieldseafood.com. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oyster-plate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. L D $$

CUBANO’S

Mex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this eatery popular with families and others looking for a lively night out. ❂ L D $

EL GAVILAN 8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or pork-filled pupusas. J L D $

EL GOLFO 8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolforestaurant. com. Friendly, home-style Latin service is the hallmark, as attested to by the many Salvadorans who stop in for lunch and dinner. Pupusas, soups and beef dishes such as carne asada as well as more adventurous choices can be found in the charming, raspberry-colored dining room. ❂ JRLD$

EL SAPO CUBAN SOCIAL CLUB (EDITORS’ PICK) 8455 Fenton St., 301-326-1063, elsaporestaurant. com. Cuban specialties are the focus at this restaurant from owner and chef Raynold Mendizábal, who also owns Urban Butcher in Silver Spring. Small bites such as empanadas and cod croquettes are on the menu with dishes that Cuba is known for, including the beef entree ropa vieja and puerco asado (roasted pork). L D $$$

FENTON CAFÉ

1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, cubanos restaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

THE DAILY DISH 8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, thedailydish restaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food, including bar bites and brunch dishes. Full-service catering is available, too. ❂ J R L D $$

DENIZENS BREWING CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizens brewingco.com. The bright-orange building houses Montgomery County’s largest brewery, featuring core beers and seasonal offerings, along with drafts from other regional breweries. Menu of snacks, sandwiches and salads includes vegetarian options. There is a large outdoor beer garden and indoor seating overlooking the brewery. ❂ D $

DISTRICT TACO 1310 East West Highway, 240-531-1880, districttaco.com. This branch of a local chain of eateries that grew out of a food truck serves fastcasual fare, from egg-filled tacos for breakfast to quesadillas, burritos and tacos for later in the day. ❂ JBLD$

DON POLLO 12345 Georgia Ave., 301-933-9515; 13881 Outlet Drive, 240-560-7376, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EGGSPECTATION 923 Ellsworth Drive, 301-585-1700, eggspectation. com. This Canadian import features fresh and creative egg plates in an elegant yet casual dining room complete with a fireplace and colorful Harlequin-themed art. It also serves great salads, dinners and dessert. ❂ B L D $$

EL AGUILA RESTAURANT 8649 16th St., 301-588-9063, elaguilarestaurant. com. A cheery bar and generous plates of Tex-

8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841, fentoncafesilver spring.com. An out-of-the-way crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. Savory versions range from cheese and ham to roasted eggplant with zucchini, bell pepper, sundried tomato, garlic and onion. B L D $

FIRE STATION 1 RESTAURANT & BREWING CO. 8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, firestation1md. com. A historic firehouse made over as an eatery serves 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees. Try the Cuban sandwich with seasoned pork, chipotle mayo, Dijon mustard, pickles and Swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. L D $

GHAR-E-KABAB 944 Wayne Ave., 301-587-4427, gharekabab.com. This spot offers a mix of authentic Indian and Nepali cuisine. From Indian staples such as chicken tikka masala and lamb curry to Nepalese appetizers such as furaula (vegetable fritters) and cho-e-la (marinated duck), there are a variety of South Asian flavors. J L D $$

THE GREEK PLACE 8417 Georgia Ave., 301-495-2912. Here are big portions of better-than-average food at reasonable prices. The bifteki pita sandwich, a seasoned ground lamb and beef patty with tzatziki, tomatoes and red onions, is especially good. L D $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET 8512 Fenton St., 301-565-2800, eatgusto.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

ITALIAN KITCHEN 8201 Fenton St., 301-588-7800, italiankitchenmd. com. Casual, attractive pizzeria with bar seating also turns out homemade sandwiches, calzones, salads and pasta dishes. L D $

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etc. DINE

MATCHBOX JEWEL OF INDIA 10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant decor and excellent northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find. Diners will find a good selection of curries, and rice and biryani dishes. L D $$

KAO THAI 8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, kaothai restaurant.com. This restaurant turns out top-notch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce and Thai Chili Tilapia. Dishes are cooked medium spicy. ❂ L D $$

LA CASITA PUPUSERIA & MARKET 8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, lacasita pupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties are available, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $

LA MALINCHE 8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, lamalinche tapas.com. Diners will find an interesting selection of Spanish and Mexican tapas, plus a full Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring huevos rancheros, variations of tortillas Espanola and more. R L D $$

LANGANO ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700, langano restaurant.com. Named for the popular Ethiopian vacation spot, Lake Langano, this longtime restaurant offers fine Ethiopian cuisine such as doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and tibs (stewed meat) in a cozy white- and red-accented dining room. Lunch specials on weekdays. L D $

LEBTAV 8535 Fenton St., 301-588-1192, lebtav.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ L D $

LOCAVINO 8519 Fenton St., 301-448-1819, locavino.com. In the space that overlooks Veterans Plaza and that once housed Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe, this wine bar focuses on local wines and beer but includes offerings from other regions. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and flatbreads fill the menu. LD$

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8301 Georgia Ave., 301-589-6700. The authentic Ethiopian menu here includes beef and lamb plates, such as kitfo (raw beef) sandwiches and boneless braised yebeg alicha (Ethiopian mild lamb stew). The interior is decorated with Ethiopian-inspired art and features a full bar. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

MANDALAY RESTAURANT & CAFÉ 930 Bonifant St., 301-585-0500, mandalay restaurantcafe.com. The modest dining room is packed most evenings with families and large groups who come for the Burmese food, a cross between Indian and Thai. L D $

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919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, matchboxrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

MCGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, mcgintys publichouse.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. Early-bird special, three-course menu for $15, from 5 to 7 p.m. ❂ J R L D $$

MELEKET 1907 Seminary Road, 301-755-5768, meleketrestaurant.com. This family-owned, Ethiopian-Italian restaurant serves classic vegetarian, beef and chicken Ethiopian plates, alongside Italian entrees such as pesto pasta with chicken. For breakfast, try a traditional Ethiopian dish of kinche (a buttery grain porridge) or firfir (bread mixed with vegetables in a red pepper sauce). B L D $

MI RANCHO 8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, miranchomd.com. You'll find a boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place where customers can count on standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. ❂ L D $

MIX BAR & GRILLE 8241 Georgia Ave., #200, 301-326-1333, mixbargrille.com. Modern American bistro with charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads, ceviche and other light fare. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. ❂  R L D $$

MOD PIZZA 909 Ellsworth Drive, 240-485-1570, modpizza.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ L D $

MRS. K’S RESTAURANT 9201 Colesville Road, 301-589-3500, mrsks.com. Here’s an elegant, antique-filled option for special occasions and brunch. This historic restaurant beckons a younger crowd with the Wine Press, a European-style wine bar downstairs, which has its own more casual menu. ❂ R L D $$$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8235 Georgia Ave., 301-588-2540, olazzo.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

PACCI’S TRATTORIA & PASTICCERIA 6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccis trattoria.com. Diners will find a range of classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage. L D $$

PARKWAY DELI & RESTAURANT 8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, theparkway deli.com. Parkway features a bustling back dining room that makes this popular spot so much more than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. All-you-can-eat pickle bar. ❂ B L D $

PHO TAN VINH 8705-A Colesville Road, 301-588-8188, photanvinh. com. A family-owned Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Tan Vinh was opened in 2014 by Tiffany Chu, who sought the traditional food she ate in her youth. She and her chef mother serve emergent classics such as pho and put their own spin on items such

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as the Tan Vinh special, a “deconstructed” banh mi sandwich. L D $

PLNT BURGER 833 Wayne Ave. (Whole Foods Market), 301-6089373, plntburger.com. This vegan fast-casual eatery within Whole Foods Market serves cooked-to-order plant-based Beyond Meat burgers, fries and softserve dairy-free ice cream. ❂ J L D $

PORT-AU-PRINCE AUTHENTIC HAITIAN CUISINE 7912 Georgia Ave., 301-565-2006, paphaitiancuisine.com. The eatery serves a small menu of Haitian fare: five appetizers, five entrees (plus an entree salad) and two desserts. Chicken wings, fritters, whole red snapper, fried turkey and legume casserole are among the highlights. A Sunday brunch buffet draws crowds. R D $$

QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN (EDITORS’ PICK) 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-844-5380, facebook. com/quarryhouse. Closed for nearly three years after a fire, this basement-level dive bar reopened in its original space. The inside holds the same 1930s-era feel as the original bar, and burgers and Tater Tots are still on the menu. D $

SAMANTHA’S 631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, samanthasrestaurante.com. This white-tablecloth, Latin-Salvadoran spot in an industrial neighborhood is popular because of its welcoming attitude toward families with young children. The steak and fish specialties are good. L D $$

SERGIOS RISTORANTE ITALIANO (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

8727 Colesville Road, 301-585-1040. A classic red-sauce Italian restaurant that manages to feel special, with soothing wall murals and high-quality service, despite a basement location inside the DoubleTree Hotel. Ravioli with asparagus and cheese in a tarragon sauce is popular. L D $$

SILVER STRINGS 8630 Colesville Road, 301-587-0596, silverstringsonline.com. Serving classic American food in downtown Silver Spring, this spot features live music in the evenings by mostly jazz, blues and classic rock musicians. ❂ L D $$

SLIGO PIT BBQ 9701 Sligo Creek Parkway (Sligo Creek Golf Course), 301-585-9511, sligopit.com. This opento-anyone spot at Sligo Creek Golf Course serves meats—turkey, pork, brisket and chicken—cooked in wood-fired smokers. Burgers, hot dogs, classic sides and beer are available. J ❂ B L D $$

THE SOCIETY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, societyss. com. A sleek and modern atmosphere catering to a nightlife crowd, Society offers fare with a Caribbean accent. Check out the rooftop seating and daily drink specials, which include $25 beer buckets. ❂ L D $$

SUSHI JIN NEXT DOOR 8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, sushijinnextdoor. com. The eatery is spare, clean and modern, and offers terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. Choose from 11 appetizers and seven soups and salads. L D $$

SWEETGREEN 8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, sweetgreen. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

TACOS, TORTAS & TEQUILA 8407 Ramsey Ave., 301-755-6132, tttrestaurant. com. Also called TTT, this fast-casual spot focuses on quesadillas, tortas and tacos—carne asada, garlic shrimp and house-made chorizo among them. There’s a full-service bar and an outdoor patio. ❂ BLD$

TASTEE DINER 8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, tasteediner. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B L D $

THAI AT SILVER SPRING 921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-650-0666, thaiatsilver spring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. ❂ L D $$

URBAN BUTCHER (EDITORS’ PICK) (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 8226 Georgia Ave., 301-585-5800, urbanbutcher. com. Hip, eclectic setting is the backdrop for this New Age steak house, with its home-cured salamis, sausages and other charcuterie, plus meat dishes made from local animals of yesteryear breeds. There’s a lounge, bar, meat curing room, retail counter and dining area. Voted “Best Restaurant in Silver Spring” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. R D $$

URBAN WINERY 949 Bonifant St., 301-585-4100, theurbanwinery. com. This tasting facility offers craft wines made with local and international grapes, and customers can even create their own wines (by appointment). Light menu includes artisan cheese, charcuterie and smoked seafood platters, plus Greek mezze. D $

VEGETABLE GARDEN 3830 International Drive (Leisure World Plaza), 301598-6868, vegetablegarden.com. The popular vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic Asian restaurant features a wide variety of eggplant and asparagus dishes, plus vegetarian “beef,” and “chicken” dishes often made with soy and wheat gluten. L D $$

VICINO RISTORANTE ITALIANO 959 Sligo Ave., 301-588-3372, vicinoitaliano.com. A favorite neighborhood red-sauce joint that hasn’t changed in decades, Vicino features some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families are welcome. ❂ L D $$

France, including ratatouille, pork schnitzel and bouillabaisse. ❂ J R L D $$

BUCK’S FISHING AND CAMPING 5031 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0777, bucksfishingandcamping.com. Diners can enjoy a seasonal menu that changes daily, and offers hip takes on comfort food such as roast chicken (locally raised) in an artsy-chic setting. D $$$

CAFÉ OF INDIA 4909 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-1395, cafeofindiadc.com. Here’s a cute corner cafe with two levels of dining and an extensive menu that includes vegetarian and tandoori entrees, dosas, samosas, tikkas, curries and kabobs. ❂ L D $$

CAPITAL CRAB AND SEAFOOD CO. 5534 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-2722, capitalcrab.com. The owners of a food truck and catering business opened this Chevy Chase, D.C., restaurant. There’s a large patio for cracking crabs and eating classic crab house fare, including hush puppies, corn and coleslaw. Carryout with curbside pickup available. ❂ D $$$

COMET PING PONG (EDITORS’ PICK) 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0404, cometpingpong.com. Landmark fun spot where you can play Ping-Pong or admire local art while you wait for your wood-fired pizza. Choose from more than 30 toppings to design your own pie. ❂ R L D $

DECARLO’S RESTAURANT 4822 Yuma St. NW, 202-363-4220, decarlosrestaurant.com. This is a family-owned neighborhood staple, with a traditional Italian menu and upscale/casual atmosphere. Signature dishes include agnolotti, veal scallopini, broiled salmon and hand-made pasta. ❂ L D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 4515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-3588, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $$

I’M EDDIE CANO (EDITORS’ PICK) 5014 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-890-4995, imeddiecano.com. A play on the way “Americano” is pronounced, I’m Eddie Cano is an Italian joint with nostalgic 1970s-themed decor. The standouts on executive chef James Gee’s menu include fried zucchini, spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti with clams, escarole salad and eggplant parmigiana. D $$

JETTIES 5632 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-2465, jettiesdc.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $

LE CHAT NOIR

UPPER NW D.C. THE AVENUE 5540 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-4567, theavenuedc.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant and bar with dishes such as crab pasta, poutine, burgers and baby back ribs. Fun decor includes classic posters and a giant magnetic scrabble board. ❂ J B L D $$

BLUE 44 5507 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-362-2583, blue44dc.com. The menu features classic American favorites infused with the flavors of Italy and

4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-2044, lechatnoirrestaurant.com. This cute, cozy neighborhood bistro is run by French restaurateurs, who cook traditional fare such as steak frites, bouillabaisse and braised lamb cheeks. R L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN (TEMPORARILY CLOSED) 4874 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-459-9141, lepainquotidien.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ JBRLD$

LITTLE BEAST CAFÉ & BISTRO 5600 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-741-4599, littlebeastdc.com. At this dinner spot on the corner of McKinley Street NW, find pizza cooked in a woodburning oven, sharable dishes such as Brussels sprouts, and entrees such as lamb ragu. ❂ D $$

MACON BISTRO & LARDER (EDITORS’ PICK) (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-248-7807, macon bistro.com. Southern and French cuisine converge at this airy, charming restaurant in the historic Chevy Chase Arcade. Appetizers include raclette and fried green tomatoes, and steak frites is offered alongside short ribs with grits for main courses. ❂ R L D $$

MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY 5333 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-5500, maggianos.com. The restaurant features oldstyle Italian fare that’s a favorite for large groups and private celebrations. Check out the signature flatbreads and specialty pastas, including lobster carbonara. J R L D $$

MASALA ART 4441-B Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-4441, masalaartdc.com. Here is fine Indian dining featuring tandoor-oven specialties and masterful Indian spicing. Start off by choosing from a selection of nine breads and 17 appetizers. L D $$

MILLIE’S (EDITORS’ PICK) 4866 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-733-5789, milliesdc.com. This eatery in the Spring Valley neighborhood may be from up north—it’s the second location of a popular Nantucket restaurant—but its flavors are distinctly south-of-the-border. The menu offers coastal takes on tacos, quesadillas and salads that are as summery as the bright, nautical décor of the dining room. Voted “Best Restaurant in Upper Northwest D.C.” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2019. ❂ J R L D $$

PARTHENON RESTAURANT 5510 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-7600, parthenon-restaurant.com. This is a neighborhood eatery taken up a couple notches, with an extensive menu full of authentic selections familiar and exotic, including avgolemono (egg/lemon soup), tzatziki, moussaka, dolmades and souvlaki. ❂ L D $$

PETE’S NEW HAVEN STYLE APIZZA 4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-237-7383, petesapizza.com. The crunchy-crusted New Havenstyle pizzas can be topped with a choice of almost three dozen ingredients. There's also pasta, panini, salads and house-made desserts. ❂ J L D $

PIZZERIA PARADISO 4850 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-885-9101, eatyourpizza.com. An outpost of the small chain started by chef and owner Ruth Gresser, this Spring Valley spot has the same style of woodfired Neapolitan pizza as the original Paradiso that opened in D.C. in 1991. Try the Di Mare pizza, which has spicy garlic pesto, mussels, shrimp, spinach, red onions and Grana Padano cheese. ❂ L D $$

SATAY CLUB ASIAN RESTAURANT AND BAR 4654 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-8888, asiansatayclub.com. The restaurant prides itself on providing a comfortable/casual setting with a menu that spans Japanese sushi, Chinese moo-shi vegetables, Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls. L D $

WAGSHAL’S RESTAURANT 4855 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-363-5698, wagshals.com. Longtime popular deli expands grocery and carryout section, and adds a casual sit-down restaurant in the Spring Valley Shopping Center. Same high-quality fare, including the overstuffed sandwiches. L D $ n

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  PROFILES

Kensington Park Senior Living Kensington Park is hosting on-site family visits, at six feet apart, of course. The community offers loving and supportive care in a variety of environments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and 3 levels of Memory Care. Their Promise is “to love and care for residents like we do our own family.” Kensington Park Senior Living 3620 Littledale Road Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-7700 www.KensingtonParkSeniorLiving.com

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Kensington Park Senior Living believes deeply in the power of family. “Our team embraces not only residents but their loved ones, too, by inviting them to become an integral part of life on campus,” says Mary Mell, executive director. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, families were welcome onsite 24/7 for complimentary all-day dining and cocktail hours, engaged programming, support groups and holiday celebrations. When the quarantine began in March, it was difficult to limit family visits to virtual only, but everyone made the most of it. Then in May, the team was thrilled to welcome families back safely for in-person visits outdoors. It is the community’s spacious eight acres of lush, park-like land that make these visits so successful. Across front porches, in the gardens, along walking paths and at picnic tables, you can find residents and their loved ones spending quality time together once again, while wearing masks and socially distancing.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Resident Mary Jane Conway’s large family is especially tight knit. Her children and grandchildren are grateful for the chance to see mom. “The staff has gone above and beyond to keep residents safe while doing everything in their power to allow as much time as possible for families to visit,” says daughter Nancy Quinn. “Their incredible warmth, kindness and concern for the residents is truly special.”

FROM LEFT: DAUGHTER STEPHANIE MCGILL, RESIDENT MARY JANE CONWAY AND DAUGHTER MARY BETH GREENE

MIJCHAEL VENTURA

MARY MELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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SYNERGY HomeCare ROSS FIERMAN, OWNER AND PRESIDENT WITH FLAVIA, CAREGIVER AND JAMES, CLIENT

Services include: personal care, companionship, light housekeeping, meal prep, transportation and running of errands.

HEATHER FUENTES

11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 301-200-9292 www.synergyhomecare.com

SYNERGY HomeCare provides in-home personal care to clients throughout Montgomery County. They care for the aging who need supervision or assistance, adults and children who require thoughtful attention, and help patients who need a partner to navigate their daily needs. SYNERGY’s care begins with thorough, customized plans and continues with frequent communication from the care providers to patients and their families. At SYNERGY HomeCare, the number one priority is the safety and well-being of both the clients and caregivers. Safety measures issued by the CDC, OSHA, and state and local health departments are followed rigorously. Standards include temperature checks, providing staff with appropriate personal protective equipment, frequent hand washing, social distancing when applicable, and sanitization of the client’s home. Additional practices are put into place based on evolving state and local

conditions, recommendations and regulations. “We are especially here to help during the COVID-19 crisis. We want to make this difficult time a little bit easier,” says Ross Fierman, owner and president of SYNERGY HomeCare of Montgomery County. Fierman has been a resident of Montgomery County for the last 30 years. Under his guidance, SYNERGY has cared for thousands of patients. He believes that quality care, compassion and communication are non-negotiables for in-home care. “Our care team's job is to make sure we are all on the same page. Communication and continuity of care are of the utmost importance at SYNERGY,” says Fierman.

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Chevy Chase House

5420 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20015 202-684-7204 www.chevychaseseniorliving.com

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When Meridian Senior Living renovated The Chevy Chase House, they preserved its charming architectural details and spacious apartments. They added luxurious amenities and upgraded features for today’s discerning assisted living residents. The deluxe studio apartments, onebedroom and two-bedroom residences have full-size kitchens, and extra cabinets and closets. Furnished short-term suites are also available. Assisted living never looked—or tasted— so good. Residents enjoy three delicious meals a day presented by the executive chef. Vibrant city living is just outside the community’s front door with restaurants, shops, a library and community center, and the historic Avalon Theatre. An exciting programming calendar includes weekly trips to D.C. cultural sites, exclusive dining events, continuing education and exercise classes to encourage new friendships and embrace wellness. Cooking, health, sports, the arts and more fill a schedule that’s busy and

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

always expanding. For those who require more assistance, a nursing staff is available 24/7. Kim Clynes RN,and Ceridwen Kelly, RN, lead the care team as the Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing. Both have had extensive experience at other Meridian communities before transferring to the Chevy Chase House. They are supported on site by Fox Rehab, which provides physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to the residents. These therapies are covered by either by Medicare or health insurance.

From Left: CERIDWEN KELLEY, RN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NURSING KIM CLYNES, RN, DIRECTOR OF NURSING

MICHAEL VENTURA

The Chevy Chase House has furnished studio apartments for seniors needing to transition from a hospital stay or rehab facility back to home. The rate is value priced, the food is delicious and the care is outstanding. Because of those factors, many respite residents decide to make the Chevy Chase House their new home.

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Ingleside at King Farm MICHELLE KRAUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“It’s a new day every day at Ingleside at King Farm,” says Executive Director Michelle Kraus. “Our community exudes warmth. We pride ourselves on the spirit of giving and the gifts of listening, learning and partnerships with our residents. Our silver linings in 2020 are cultivating a collaborate village and celebrating our successes.”

TONY J. LEWIS

Ingleside at King Farm 701 King Farm Blvd. Rockville, MD 20850 240-499-9019 www.ikfmd.org

Continuing its tradition of offering exceptional engaged living, Ingleside at King Farm’s newest addition, Gardenside, is filling up with new residents who are bringing fresh energy to an already active community. “Our residents tell us how happy they are to be here,” says Executive Director Michelle Kraus. “They feel safe, cared about and involved.” In advance of Gardenside, with its 120 stylish, independent living apartments and 32 assisted living memory support suites, the Center for Healthy Living was established. The Center for Healthy Living was designed to promote the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, social, intellectual, environmental, emotional, occupational and spiritual. Visual arts are explored there and celebrated through exhibitions and special events. There’s an art studio, classrooms and instructional space, game and card room, and a meditation space. Al fresco and indoor dining venues were expanded to accommodate more guests. With innovative spirit, IKF embraced technology and created a local channel to stream all manner of information and activities, including exercise sessions, lectures and performances. Good Morning Ingleside airs twice weekly, delivering community news and announcements from the executive director and different departments. The musical Hamilton recently aired, as did the movie Beloved. The programs and events that are selected by the residents support continued engagement and opportunities for growth. Ingleside’s team of professionals includes a cultural arts manager, fitness manager, activities specialists, music and recreational therapists. Their ever-expanding roster of activities and programs are all about helping people grow, feel excited and know they belong to something special, no matter what the circumstances.

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senior services SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Best Senior Care According to AARP, nearly 90 percent of adults over 65 want to remain in their “Our multicultural staff is uniformly current homes as they grow older. Inhome care gives seniors the opportunity fluent in English,” says owner Alex age in the comfort of their home where, Petukhov. “An elderly person who may to surrounded by the same trusted helpers, not be in the best health should not they can continue to be independent, have no restrictions on family involvement and have to struggle to understand or be be at less risk of infections, which is more understood. And we hire individuals important than ever. with a passion for this kind of work.” Best Senior Care makes it possible for their clients to thrive at home, assisting 17860 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 302 with bathing, eating, dressing, toileting Ashton, MD 20861 and grooming. Household services 301-717-2212 include cooking, cleaning, laundry and www.bestseniorcare.us grocery shopping. They keep track of medication schedules and drive to medical appointments. Emotional well-being is enhanced by warm companionship and, when possible, activities with their friends and in their community. Best Senior Care’s staff has longevity. Many employees have been with the company for over 17 years. Most have worked in hospitals, assisted living group 240

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homes or skilled nursing facilities. All are Certified Nursing Assistants who are supervised by RN’s. When they are hired they are screened by the company, which does background checks, contacts references and provides substantial training. Owner Alex Petukhov believes that what sets Best Senior Care apart is the personal touch. “We are more like a friend than an agency,” he says. “Our communication is open, direct and productive, with no bureaucracy getting in the way of a solution.”

COURTESY PHOTO

ALEX PETUKHOV, OWNER NATALIYA CANCEL, MANAGER SERGEI PETUKHOV TANYA RAVINSKY, FOUNDER

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Five Star Premier Residences Management has taken advantage of this time of sheltering in place to make improvements by painting, landscaping, and bringing in new furniture for the huge terrace that is an ideal place for socially distanced visits with friends and family.

MICHAEL VENTURA

8100 Connecticut Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-915-9217 www.fivestarseniorliving.com

In the lovely D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Five Star Premier Residences is a resort-style senior living community with both independent and assisted living apartments as well as rehabilitation services. Luxurious and comfortable, services and amenities include fine dining, a cocktail lounge, a full schedule of social and recreational activities each month, a newly renovated health club with heated indoor swimming pool and fitness center, a billiards room and computer center, beauty salon and barber shop, library and art studio. There are scheduled trips, a 24-hour concierge service and doorman, housekeeping, secure underground parking and a washer and dryer in every apartment. During the pandemic, the long-serving, loyal Five Star staff has continued to do fun activities with residents like hallway bingo and exercise instruction. A mobile happy hour travels from floor to floor. Until the dining room reopens, residents choose room service meals from an extensive dining menu. Birthday celebrations include special

meals with a favorite dessert, balloons and an enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday by the staff. To emerge from the health crisis, Five Star established an expert-led, cross-functional reopening team that has designed strategies tailored to the community. The goal is to resume activities as soon as each one is safely possible, for both the residents and the team members. Given the vulnerability of the population, reopening will be cautious and measured.

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PROFILES

senior services SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BayWoods of Annapolis North Carolinians Patty and Parker Williamson became acquainted with A diverse group of people with various BayWoods of Annapolis while sailing in the backgrounds, BayWoods of Annapolis area. They were impressed by what they found— an attractive waterfront retirement residents have a commitment to community on the Chesapeake Bay, with wellness that brings many together for close proximity to their boat and to all the activities, lectures and other events. historic charm of Annapolis. “BayWoods became the perfect launch With less than 200 residents, this is for our retirement adventure,” says Parker. a warm, neighborly community. A “We discovered luxurious yet affordable full continuum of onsite health care accommodations and amenities, access to services includes short stay rehab and excellent medical care, and local Annapolis a 47 private room health care center. entertainment, all with easy access to Baltimore and Washington.” Patty enjoys walking the couple’s dog, 7101 Bay Front Drive Briny, in Quiet Waters Park, just across Annapolis, MD 21403 the street from BayWoods, in addition 443-837-1208 to pursuing community activities as a www.baywoodsofannapolis.com volunteer with Hospice of the Chesapeake. “This is an active lifestyle filled with adventures every day, all in a pet-friendly continuing care retirement community with equity ownership,” she says. 242

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BayWoods of Annapolis is one of only two Maryland continuing care retirement communities (CCRC’s) that is a co-op. Residents are cooperative owners of the property. A co-op has many advantages. One is that in the last few years, residents have enjoyed a fee holiday: a month with reduced or no fees. The for-profit housing co-op model appeals to baby boomers who value ownership and want to be involved in the management of their community. Residentowned and resident-run, their best interests are truly at the heart of every decision. With tax advantages and equity ownership, shares can be passed on to owners’ heirs.

COURTESY PHOTO

Parker and Patty Williamson, Shareholder Residents

PROFILES

senior services

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Maplewood Park Place “In the midst of the pandemic, our team members have been challenged to think differently about how they deliver safe, personalized care and attention to our seniors. They have responded by finding creative new ways to help residents feel supported and connected.” —Barbara Harry, Executive Director

HEATHER FUENTES

9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-571-7444 www.maplewoodparkplace.com

Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, Maplewood Park Place has seamlessly managed community operations to keep residents and team members safe. When a positive test was found in another senior community in the area, Maplewood immediately self-quarantined. Laser-focused on proactive decisionmaking, management has strictly followed the guidelines set by federal, state and county health departments. In March, long before testing for Covid-19 was mandated by the state of Maryland, Maplewood began on-site testing, enabling a continuous cycle through the spring and summer of Test, Trace, Isolate and Re-test. These initiatives are fully endorsed by Maplewood’s governing Board of Directors and the entire community. Residents and their families are updated weekly. Along with safety, a top priority for Maplewood has been helping residents stay connected with family and friends through Skype, Zoom and FaceTime. Staff have also created new ways to engage and entertain

residents, from rolling happy hours to meals delivered door to door, staged events in the hallways to special programming on Maplewood’s in-house TV station. In Phase 2 of reopening, which began in July, dining room service partially resumed, seating one to two people at smaller tables and three to four at larger ones. The beauty salon opened for business, and the popular billiards group and exercise class returned. Throughout, masks, disinfectant and social distancing protocols have been rigorously enforced. Maplewood’s swift and effective response to the pandemic has furthered its reputation as the area’s premier senior living community, focused always on resident safety, comfort and full engagement. From Left: MAPLEWOOD RESIDENTS, A RETIRED FOREIGN-SERVICE COUPLE, ENJOY HAPPY HOUR DELIVERED TO THEIR DOOR BY SERVER STEPHANIE BOWMAN.

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senior services SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Tribute at Black Hill

312 Baltusrol Drive Germantown, MD 20874 410-401-5262 Hello@TributeAtBlackHill.com www.Thrivesl.com/Black Hill

244

At Tribute at Black Hill, a Thrive Senior Living community, residents don’t just live there – they thrive. This is not your typical assisted living and memory care community. The moment you walk through the front door, you can see the difference. It’s four floors of modern and luxurious design with sunlight streaming through every window. The community offers beautifully appointed studios and onebedroom suites as well as a dedicated memory care floor. This community is located within the Black Hill masterplanned community with restaurants, retail, residences and more. What sets Tribute at Black Hill apart are the dedicated and caring people who work there. “We have the most amazing team who believes in building meaningful relationships with our residents and families,” says community President Jodie Taylor. “For us, we want to know every little detail about our residents. We call this ‘deep-knowing.’ This is what makes our community a home.”

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There is plenty to keep all older adults enjoying life to the fullest. Residents can spend time reading in the Butler Library overlooking the lush preserves just outside, listen to music in the courtyard or on one of two terraces, pump up their muscles in the Athlete’s Center, create Van Gogh masterpieces in the Blackrock Creative Studio, and even put their green thumbs to use in the botanical garden. The food is Wolfgang Puck worthy with a chef who has prepared meals for several U.S. presidents.

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

“What do most people think of when they see gray hair? They see frailty and disability with low speeds and high needs,” says Les Strech, Thrive Senior Living president. “What does Tribute at Black Hill see? We see wisdom. We see laughter. We see ability. We see growth. We see potential. We see opportunity.”

PROFILES

senior services

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Family & Nursing Care Since 1968, Family & Nursing Care has been the premier resource for inhome care services for older adults, dedicated to and recognized for their passion and commitment to serve, help, and enhance the quality of life and well-being of others.

TONY J. LEWIS

1010 Wayne Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-8200 www.familynursingcare.com

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, the entire team at Family & Nursing Care recognizes the incredible amount of stress and worry that older adults and the individuals who care for them are feeling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends older adults remain in their homes to reduce the potentially serious risks presented by the virus. In-home caregivers serve as a vital link to keep seniors safe and well cared for. Family & Nursing Care continues to be dedicated to supporting the physical and emotional needs of vulnerable adults during these uncertain times. Caregivers receive regular COVID-19 testing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), adhere to CDC protocols, and benefit from educational opportunities about following appropriate safety practices such as how to put on and take off PPE. Caregivers are essential to the well-being of older adults regardless of COVID-19. In-home caregivers allow individuals

to continue living safely in their homes, providing them short or long-term care that results in more independence and a higher quality of life. Family & Nursing Care has helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to caregivers who not only assist with bathing, dressing and mobility, but also provide vital social support and companionship that older adults need to thrive. Whatever the need may be, Family & Nursing Care is prepared to step in.

From Left: LISA SHEPET, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, SELECT; MICHELLE BOYD, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER; AND REBEKAH BIANCO, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER; PREPARE TO ASSEMBLE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PACKAGES FOR CAREGIVERS.

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PROFILES

senior services SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Smith Life Homecare From Left:: Brittany Bunch, Client Liaison Kathleen M. McGuinness, Director, Community Relations

With a focus on flexibility, no need is too big or small for Smith Life Homecare. New client liaison, Brittany Bunch, helps clients every step of the way, answering questions and connecting them with resources. In addition to long-term care, short-term arrangements are available for assistance after surgery, as well as transportation services. As a partner with Charles E. Smith Life Communities for 20-years, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a natural commitment to all types of individuals and families. The CNA caregiver employees receive dementia and hospice training, and are taught about Jewish culture, including the practice of keeping Kosher. They are also SAGECare certified to ensure respectful care to the LGBTQ community. In the recent health crisis, caregivers are routinely tested for COVID and all safety protocols are followed.

HEATHER FUENTES

6101 Montrose Road, Suite 203, Rockville, MD 20852 301-816-5020 | kmm@smithlifehomecare.com www.smithlifehomecare.com

Senior Connection SUSAN GIRARD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS From Left: Jennifer Dott-Crouse, Susan Girard, Juanita Jarrett

For over 30 years, with more than 4,000 volunteers, the Senior Connection has provided more than 350,000 free services to over 7,000 county seniors age 60 and older. In addition to its large force of volunteers, the organization is supported by the county government and generous nonprofits. Volunteers drive people to and from social, religious and medical appointments and go grocery shopping together. If the senior chooses, volunteers shop for them and can help put everything away. Many volunteers develop long-term relationships by coming to a seniorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home for regular visits. Of course, with the current public health emergency, there are fewer volunteers and many restrictions. Following CDC guidelines, the organization has been adapting by limiting its services to the greatest medical and nutritional needs. 246

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STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-962-0820 info@seniorconnectionmc.org www.seniorconnectionmc.org

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senior services

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Debra Levy Eldercare Associates SUSY ELDER MURPHY, BA, CMC, OWNER

As the pandemic developed, Murphy recognized the need for a Custom Coronavirus Plan to help caregiving families and seniors living alone be ready to cope if they, or someone in the household, became infected. Through a dedicated link at www.DLEAconsults.com, an appointment with a care manager can be scheduled to make a just-in-case plan.

ADAM FREEDMAN

11120 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 505 Silver Spring, MD 20904 301-593-5285 www.care-manager.com

“We call ourselves wedding planners for growing older, but when the pandemic hit, aging in place took on a whole new meaning,” says Susy Elder Murphy, owner of Debra Levy Eldercare Associates (DLEA), provider of Aging Life Care Management services in Maryland and the metro DC area since 1988. The pandemic has added layers of care needs, including educating clients to help keep them safe from the virus, and a review and updating of their medical directives as needed. As weeks of sheltering in place have become months, Murphy and her team of 12 nurses, social workers and gerontologists remain as busy as ever. They closely monitor any hospitalized clients and provide advocacy to achieve the desired discharge plan, which often means avoiding rehab facilities and setting up intensive homecare instead. DLEA can become the lifeline between isolated patients, their medical team and out-of-town family members. For those who remain healthy but are sheltering at home, Debbie’s Angels, their concierge companions, have pivoted as well and search for toilet paper, cleaning supplies and PPE that they can deliver contact-free. Now families are beginning to evaluate whether their loved ones are best cared for in a facility, or in their own apartment or the family home. DLEA is providing phone or video consultations to objectively evaluate all of the options based on the needs and budget of the client. “In these uncertain times,” says Murphy, “people need to know that we are experienced and available. Peace of mind can be just a phone call away.”

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PROFILES

senior services SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Hassle Free Home Services ANDREW BALFOUR AND JIM VAGONIS, OWNERS

More than ever seniors are opting to stay in their homes, but how do they handle all the tasks needed to maintain the home? Jim Vagonis and Andrew Balfour built Hassle Free Home Services with that exact challenge in mind. Their monthly and quarterly maintenance programs offer the precise solutions needed by seniors looking to age in place. “Nobody likes maintenance chores,” says Vagonis, “but for older homeowners it becomes more difficult and even unsafe to take care of these important tasks.” Hassle Free takes on that responsibility for the customer. With a dedicated Home Manager and service tech, the customer has a team they can trust to take care of all their home needs. Says Balfour, “We deliver peace of mind for our customers.”

LISA HELFERT

601 Dover Road, Unit 11 Rockville, MD 20850 301-294-9444 info@myhasslefreehome.com www.myhasslefreehome.com

Riderwood DEBBIE BRUMBACH, SALES COUNSELOR

Riderwood is a continuing care retirement community that offers independent living plus multiple levels of on-site care such as assisted living, long-term nursing, respite, memory and home care. It is managed by Erickson Living, a national leader in senior living and health care. Being part of a network of communities under one management company provides the size, financial strength and resources to weather even the toughest challenge. Management acted early and quickly to implement safety measures born from nearly 40 years of experience. As a result, residents, employees and families felt peace of mind in an uncertain time. Dedicated staff delivered meals, medications and more. On-site doctors conducted telehealth appointments and house calls. There were virtual faith services, fitness classes and entertainment. Despite social distancing employees of Riderwood never felt alone. 248

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COURTESY PHOTO

3140 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 1-800-610-1560 www.Riderwood.com

PROFILES

senior services

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Advanced Nursing & Home Support A leader in the home health care industry, Samuel Lish founded Advanced Nursing + Home Support over 25 years ago when his father needed home care services. “I know firsthand how stressful and Later, when his mother was diagnosed with frustrating it can be to navigate home Alzheimer’s, he knew who to turn to for health care for a loved one,” says Lish, help: the team of care providers that he and his company had personally screened, hired “and I know that Advanced is truly and trained. a committed partner in home care. His goal was to create a company that provides expert care and exceptional It isn’t just a business – it’s personal. service at every level, providing dignity to And there’s no place safer than being those in need of care. Given the reason at home.” he started this company, Lish has a deep connection between his work and personal life. 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 205 To prepare for the future, Advanced has Rockville, MD 20855 240-430-1500 grown to provide services through the entire www.advancedhomesupport.com continuum of care, from companion and respite care to skilled care with specialties in ALS, MS, Parkinson’s and memory care. Advanced Nursing + Home Support is able to handle every client’s care needs and is able to continue to be there when needs change.

HILLARY SCHWAB

SAMUEL R. LISH, PRESIDENT & CEO

Advanced Nursing + Home Support provides expert care and an extraordinary experience to every client. By engaging the highest quality health care professionals, and by providing exceptional service at every level, they have earned a reputation as a trusted local leader in the industry and are the only local winner of the Best of Home Care’s Leader in Excellence award for 2020.

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etc.

BY DANA GERBER

WEDDINGS

Rooted in Love PHOTO BY HANNAH MALLOY

A Gaithersburg couple who met in elementary school had a farm wedding that included a fig tree planting, a Blues Brothers dance, and the groom doing the worm

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etc. WEDDINGS

THE COUPLE: Emily Hough (maiden name Sarecky), 32, and Matt Hough, 32, both grew up in Olney and graduated from Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring in 2006. She is the social media director for Kensington-based Farmers Restaurant Group, and he is a landscape designer for Good Earth Garden Market in Potomac. They live in Gaithersburg.

HOW THEY MET: Emily was the new girl in fourth grade at Greenwood Elementary School in Brookeville, where the couple began their relationship—which lasted for one lunch period. “The only thing I remember is that after lunch I decided I wasn’t into it anymore,” Emily says with a laugh. More than a decade later, they reconnected. “We really started hanging out in our college years when we’d all come home for the summer,” Matt says. “After that, sparks flew, and here we are.”

at the University of Tampa, Emily remained in Florida, while Matt was living in Olney after graduating from Salisbury University. When Emily came to Maryland for Thanksgiving, Matt invited her to a Washington Redskins game. The next month, Emily moved back. “I was looking for an excuse to come home,” she says, “and then I found one.” They went on a few movie dates, then made their relationship official at a dinner before a New Year’s Eve party ringing in 2014.

THE PROPOSAL: After three and a half years of dating, Matt planned to propose at the Outer Banks in North Carolina, where Emily and her family vacation every summer. At the beach, he asked Emily to record a video of him running into the ocean to make his coworkers jealous. “I was going to run by and jump into the 252

water, but I stopped behind her and asked her to turn around,” he says. “I had my grandmother’s engagement ring, which was passed down to me, and she said yes.” The special moment wasn’t captured on video—as soon as Emily realized what was happening, she turned off the camera.

THE WEDDING: The couple held their ceremony and reception at Glen Ellen Farm, near Frederick, on Oct. 19, 2018. They had 150 guests.

THE CEREMONY: During the ceremony, standing under a flower-wrapped arbor that Emily’s uncle and Matt built, the couple planted a fig tree from Matt’s work. As they planted it, Emily’s cousin played a keyboard rendition of “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. One of their best friends officiated the ceremony. “I think it was kind of neat how we used our network of our family and friends to see how they could help,” Emily says. “I think

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everyone was really proud to be part of it, too.” The pair wrote their own vows. “We kind of killed it,” Matt says. “We got a lot of reactions from people that we did not expect—like crying their eyes out.”

FOOTBALL FANS: The Redskins came up in both Emily’s and Matt’s vows. “[Guests] said, ‘Did you guys talk about what you guys were going to say in your vows before you said them? Because there were a lot of similarities,’ ” Emily says. “But we didn’t.” Their friend mentioned the football team as he officiated; Matt’s late father’s customized jersey was displayed in a frame at the reception; and both the maid of honor and the best man talked about the team in their remarks.

THE RECEPTION: After Matt entered the string-lit reception tent by doing the worm, Emily’s father and uncle performed a dance to “Soul Man,” a family tradition. “I think it

PHOTOS BY HANNAH MALLOY

THE FIRST DATE: After finishing college

started at my dad’s wedding,” Emily says. “I’m the first in the family to get married, so my dad coordinated The Blues Brothers dance again.”

THE FOOD: “We wanted to keep it kind of casual,” Matt says. Frederick-based barbecue restaurant P. I.G.S. served brisket, chicken, pulled pork and veggie burgers. For dessert, guests enjoyed cookies and brownies, and the couple also had a small cake. “We didn’t want the traditional big cake,” Emily says. “We kind of just wanted something small that we could take a picture with and have for memories—and smush in each other’s faces.”

Sedona, Page, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. One morning in Sedona, still jet-lagged, they woke up at 5 a.m. and decided to watch the sunrise. “We were kind of in the middle of this valley, watching all of these hot air balloons come above us, watching the sunrise,” Emily says. “That was beautiful.”

VENDORS: Bridesmaids corks with tiny succulents from Matt’s landscaping work planted in each. “We didn’t really need to spend the money on that, but we thought it was going to be so pretty and cool,” Emily says.

THE HONEYMOON: The newlyweds went SPECIAL DETAILS: On a seating arrangement board, a calligraphist wrote guests’ names next to the favors—magnetic wine

on a “mini-moon” to Deep Creek. For their one-year anniversary, they flew to Phoenix to road-trip, visiting the Grand Canyon,

dresses, Azazie; cake/dessert, Classic Bakery; calligraphy, Calligraphette & Co.; catering, P. I.G.S.; favors, Good Earth Garden Market; florist, EDGE Floral Event Designers; gown, Posh Bridal; hair and makeup, Glam Bridal Beauty; invitations, Minted; music, AJDJ; photographer, Hannah Malloy Photography; suits, The Black Tux; videographer, Jon Key Photography; wedding planner, Brielle Davis Events. ■

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etc. PETS

BY DANA GERBER

OFFICEMATES WHEN COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began in the spring, part-time fitness instructor Karen Eisenhut Evans started teaching Zumba and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes through Zoom from her home in Boyds. Her two mixed-breed dogs, meanwhile, developed their own exercise routine. “They like to make a big loop of our house chasing each other,” Evans says. “If I’m on the floor doing stuff for class, they will just pile right over top of me.” Her students, she says, burn a few extra calories by laughing. “Once we go back into the studio, I might have to start bringing them in,” she says. Along with stir-crazy kids, pantless colleagues and technical difficulties, pets are yet another variable in the ever-evolving equation of working from home. And while pet owners aren’t always thrilled with their dog or cat playing a role in an important virtual meeting, the other participants are sometimes entertained. Algebra teacher Susan Karpatkin, who lives in Bethesda, navigated feline antics during her virtual homeroom class in the spring. Her five cats constantly made cameos. “I would have a cat or two or three walking across the screen, or sitting down on my keyboard, or doing anything possible,” says Karpatkin, who teaches at National Cathedral School in the District. If no pets were around when homeroom started, “[my students] would demand it,” she says. Even kids are “working” from home 254

now and dealing with unexpected visits from pets. During a virtual violin lesson, 12-year-old Azra Williams was playing a Giovanni Battista Martini composition for her teacher when Sky, her 3-yearold Lab, started howling along. “My dog actually was acting as my personal tuner,” says Azra, who lives in Bethesda. “She was playing the right notes so I could play along to her howl.” Her teacher found the duet amusing at first, “but after a while it got kind of distracting,” Azra says. Mary Huntsberry, an associate certified applied animal behaviorist who owns Helping Pets Behave in Gaithersburg, has a few theories on why pets confuse Zoom time with playtime. “A lot of times, that changing routine is a big anxiety producer for our pets,” she says. They don’t understand why their days look a lot different than they used to, and that stress manifests in behaviors like barking or clinginess, no matter if you’re in a meeting or not. Another theory is that pets—dogs in particular—are very sensitive to body language. “If an owner is stressed or scared or upset, that’s going to have an impact on your pet,” Huntsberry says. Since many people are dealing with extra stress lately, it makes sense that pets feel

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the need to interrupt calls with comfortseeking behavior. Huntsberry also says shushing and pushing away pets during Zoom meetings may just encourage them to continue doing what they’re doing, dogs especially. “It is giving the dog some sort of attention, even though we consider it to be negative,” she says. “From the dog’s perspective, if it is getting a reaction, it is getting something out of it. It’s stimulating. It might be fun for them.” Pets begin to form associations, so they repeat the same behavior every time they hear the chorus of virtual voices. Is there any way to teach animals to be proper officemates? Huntsberry recommends planning a solution ahead of time to avoid scrambling to appease your pet in the moment. Prevention can look like anything from giving dogs a long walk before a big meeting and tiring them out, to putting them in an exercise pen with an interactive toy while you’re on a call. If you try these tricks and your furry friend still makes occasional virtual guest appearances, don’t fret. “I prefer to see somebody’s dirty laundry, or somebody’s dirty dishes or somebody’s pets. I like that we’re human. It helps,” Karpatkin says. “And who doesn’t love a puppy?” n

ILLUSTRATION BY GOODLOE BYRON

Dealing with pet antics when you’re working from home

etc. FLASHBACK

BY MARK WALSTON

HOLLYWOOD EAST

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALICE KRESSE

Montgomery County plays a starring role in more than 100 films IN 1964, New York City played host to the premiere of Lilith, a psychological drama about a troubled Korean War veteran and an emotionally fragile young woman. The film starred Warren Beatty, Jean Seberg, Gene Hackman— and Montgomery County. Over the years, the county has been featured in more than 100 films, according to IMDb, the online movie database. Watching some of the older films today provides a motion picture history of the area, offering nostalgic views of longgone streetscapes and landscapes. Rockville became the stand-in for Lilith’s fictional town, with scenes shot along its shop-lined streets, inside Victorian residences, and around the area. Great Falls on the Maryland side provided a dramatic setting for some of the scenes; the tiny upcounty village of Barnesville was the site of a country carnival. Lilith wasn’t the first commercially produced movie that was shot in the county. That distinction goes to the Thomas Edison documentary, Down the Old Potomac on the C&O Canal, filmed in 1917, according to the Library of Congress. IMDb identifies 49 films shot specifically in the Bethesda area in the past 50 years, from major studio releases

Warren Beatty and Jean Seberg in the 1964 movie Lilith

to small independent films, shorts and documentaries. Filmgoers can see Bethesda as it appeared in 1977 in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, a heart-wrenching drama, and watch Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington run through the Bethesda suburbs in the 1993 legal thriller The Pelican Brief. Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe roamed Bethesda in the 2008 spy thriller Body of Lies. The 1989 film Chances Are finds stars Cybill Shepherd and Robert Downey Jr. emoting in Glen Echo Park and at the old Rockville courthouse. Five years later, Chevy Chase served as the fictional hometown of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in the 1994 action movie True Lies. (Schwarzenegger’s ties to Bethesda run deep. Maria Shriver, his former wife, graduated from Westland Middle School, and her family’s home sat along Old Georgetown Road near Rockville Pike.) The woods of Seneca Creek State Park appear in the 1999 horror classic The Blair Witch Project. Bryan Greenberg, a star in the 2015 film A Year and Change, remarked to Montgomery Community Media that county residents were “awesome” when working with the crew as it filmed in

Rockville. Atmospheric scenes for the tale of a young man’s dramatic transformation were shot at the Rockville Cemetery. Local homes also have played starring roles. The crew of National Treasure: Book of Secrets, the 2007 thriller starring Nicolas Cage, set up shop in a Chevy Chase residence. A Colonial Revival farmhouse in Potomac was the setting for scenes in Philomena, starring Dame Judi Dench and nominated for Best Picture at the 2014 Academy Awards. Handing over the family residence to Hollywood crews can earn the homeowner a tidy sum. Permits or payments to film in public places in Montgomery County aren’t necessary—shooting in public places only requires an application for closing roads. While payments to homeowners vary widely depending on the length and intricacy of use, residents can earn up to $10,000 for relinquishing their home. For less intrusive shoots, payments may range from $1,000 to $2,000. After the film crews leave, the excitement subsides and life returns to normal. County homeowners are left with some extra cash—and the pride of sharing their house and hometown with moviegoers worldwide. ■

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etc.

There were plenty of antics at the shoot for our story on the Call Your Mother bagel business that recently made its way to Bethesda—via trolley (“Mother Lode,” page 218). Co-owners and founders Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, who are engaged, hammed it up for photographer Lindsey Max, so she suggested it might be fun for Dana to act like he was using the trolley phone to, well, call his mother. “Not only did he pretend to hold the phone, but he actually screamed, ‘Mom? Mom! Moooooom!’ as if he couldn’t hear her, accompanied by exasperated and confused faces and arm gestures,” Max says. The staff members inside the trolley (which is named Honey) made funny faces in the background as Max photographed Dana and Moreira; at one point the couple lifted Dana’s leg to model his giant ankle cast from a recent surgery. Says Max, “I decided to feed off of their energy.” n

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

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