BUDGET BATTLE Lawmakers seek more control over state spending. A-3
The Gazette
NEWS: International Development forum in Rockville helps local businesses reach the world. A-4
BETHESDA | CHEVY CHASE | KENSINGTON DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Small municipalities remind residents to get their tax returns right n
Rockville woman advocates for state legislation BY
BY
With tax season in full swing, smaller towns and cities are reminding residents to make sure the state knows where to send their portion of income taxes. People who live within the borders of a municipality are typically supposed to pay income taxes to their city or town. The state of Maryland collects those taxes on its income tax return form, and area municipalities are reminding their residents to write in the correct town or city name to ensure their money gets to the right place. Kensington, the town of Chevy Chase and Chevy Chase Village, for example, have all posted reminders about the tax forms in newsletters or to their websites. They include a reminder to write out the town’s name in full — “Town of Chevy Chase” or “Chevy
GRACE TOOHEY
See BILL, Page A-10
10th annual event to be staged Saturday in Bethesda BY
ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER
In a test of creativity under deadline, local writers, directors and actors are planning to create entirely new theatrical works — all in just one day. It’s the 10th annual Play in a Day, when professional theater groups write, rehearse and perform 10-minute plays in one day. Six groups are scheduled to perform before
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Chase Village” — in the “city, town or taxing area” space on Maryland form 502. The town of Chevy Chase writes that people can write “Town of Ch Ch” if they are filling out tax forms online and do not have space to write the name out in full. Distinctions can get tricky in the Chevy Chase area, where many small municipalities share similar names. “Do not assume that people at the state level understand the different municipalities that share the 20815 ZIP code,” said the town of Chevy Chase’s February newsletter. The deadline for filing income tax returns is April 15. These small municipalities count on income taxes for a significant source of revenue. For example, the town of Chevy Chase’s current fiscal 2015 budget calls for $4.0 million of its total $4.3 million in projected revenues to come from income taxes. In Chevy Chase Village’s fiscal 2015 budget, income taxes account for $2.6 million
See TAX, Page A-10
School board OKs Food as history, science, fun budget reflecting PHOTO BY CHARMAINE TAVERNER
Chef Jose Andres helps students at the Woods Academy in Bethesda plant seeds last week to kick off a new curriculum that links learning about food with other subjects.
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Bethesda students dig into school’s new cuisine-inspired curriculum BY
ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER
A school in Bethesda is starting a new program to show students that food isn’t just fuel: It can be fun, and educational, too. The private Woods Academy is starting a new curriculum that uses cooking and food to explore science, social studies and nutrition. Students study cooking and nutrition, plus topics such as honey crystallization, the chemical composition of water, energy conservation, social justice and gardening, ac-
cording to the school. The school launched the new curriculum Feb. 11, with students planting a batch of seeds. “We’re growing mesclun, spinach and lettuce,” said Rumi Patel, a second-grader at the school. He said he liked spinach and lettuce, but has never tried mesclun. The students split into groups to moisten dirt pellets in growing trays and plant seeds in them. The plants will grow in a greenhouse that a class built a few years ago. “The dirt felt dry, but when we put water [on it], it felt soft,” Rumi said. Natalie Pierce, a sixth-grader, said her
See FOOD, Page A-10
The play’s the thing, all in a day n
ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER
CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
Alexa Fraser of Rockville received a call in June from a close friend, telling her that her 90-year-old father had taken 19 pain pills in attempt to die — but it didn’t work. Though it wasn’t an easy to hear, Fraser said, she understood what her father wanted to do, so they gave him space. “I said there’s nothing to do but love him,” she said, holding back tears. Later that day, he once again tried to end his life by cutting himself. But still, his body held on. Finally, he utilized his plan C, a gun to his head, to kill himself, Fraser said. Alex Fraser was an investor and lived in Kensington. “It’s rotten, it’s terrible, it’s not how it should be,” Fraser, 57, said, “[But] it was not his worst scenario.” Her father’s Parkinson’s disease had slowly become more painful and he suffered many falls, Fraser said. He was terrified that he would end up in a nursing home where they would keep him alive beyond his will. Fraser, an environmental researcher studying to become a Unitarian Universalist minister, said she is optimistic that Marylanders could soon have the right to choose a dignified death. Her father didn’t have the option to have a doctor help him peacefully die upon his wish, said Fraser, a supporter of Compassion & Choices, a Denver nonprofit that advocates for so-called death with dignity legislation — including in Maryland. The Maryland bills are sponsored by Sen. Ronald N. Young (D-Dist. 3) of Frederick and Del. Shane E. Pendergrass (D-Dist. 13) of Columbia. The legislation includes many safeguards, so the choice isn’t misused, Young said. The bill, which Young said is modeled after similar laws in Washington state and Oregon, requires each case to include a physician’s certification that the patient is terminally ill — a prognosis of death within six months; a psychologist’s report confirming the patient is of
25 cents
No, not that Chevy Chase
Lawmakers take up ‘death with dignity’ bill n
SPORTS: Whitman senior brings a soccer mindset with her when competing in track. B-1
a live audience Saturday, just 24 hours after getting a theme and props and setting to work to create original productions. Playwrights will begin work Friday evening, drawing inspiration from assigned themes and props. Actors rehearse throughout the day Saturday, before the curtain goes up at 8 p.m. The six theater companies participating this year include four from Bethesda: American Ensemble Theater, Flying V, Imagination Stage and Round House Theatre. Also participating are Adventure Theatre
See PLAY, Page A-10
A&E
NOW BOARDING Montgomery Playhouse’s “Boeing, Boeing” has main character feeling a little jet-lagged.
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BETHESDA URBAN PARTNERSHIP
Actors James J. Johnson and Deidra LaWan Starnes of Adventure Theatre MTC appear in the play “SGA President” during the 2014 Play in a Day event.
Volume 4, No. 5, Two sections, 28 Pages Copyright © 2015 The Gazette
loss of state funds $10 million cut from Starr’s original proposal n
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
The Montgomery County school board has approved a fiscal 2016 operating budget $10.2 million lower than what Superintendent Joshua P. Starr proposed in December. The county school system’s proposed operating budget for next year now stands at $2.39 billion. The budget moves next to Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and the Montgomery County Council for approval. The amount cut from the original proposal roughly matches the $10.3 million Montgomery County would lose in projected state education funding, under Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposed budget. Starr revised his original budget request following the release of Hogan’s budget. The main loss of state money for Montgomery comes from Hogan’s decision to cut
the Geographic Cost of Education Index in half, a $17.7 million loss for the county. The index is a formula that directs additional money to counties where the cost of living and education are higher. The governor is not required to provide funding based on the index. School officials said on Feb. 10, when the budget request was approved, that the district could face further budget cuts from the county. The proposed school system operating budget marks an increase of 5.1 percent compared to the district’s current budget. Under the revised budget, the school system would cut $1.8 million, mostly by reducing and eliminating staff positions. These cuts deepen similar ones Starr had already proposed, meaning the loss of another 24 full-time equivalent positions. Those positions include 17 building service worker positions, amounting to about
See BUDGET, Page A-10
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