Bethesda 07302014

COUNTY TO RENOVATE SENIOR HOUSING Waverly House in Bethesda to get $24M overhaul. A-4

A&E: National Players bring Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” to Olney. A-12

The Gazette BETHESDA | CHEVY CHASE | KENSINGTON

SPORTS: Major League scouts turn out to evaluate the top Cal Ripken League talent. B-1

DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Chevy Chase Lake Firefighter handles new assignment proposal includes more apartments Wartime mission

n Robert Katz of Potomac volunteers for duty in Israel

Planning Board to consider proposal Thursday

BY EMILY BIRNBAUM SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Robert Katz of Potomac is used to fighting fires. He’s just not used to fighting fires while under fire.

Katz, a member of the Emergency Volunteers Project, spent a week this month in southern Israel, filling in for regular first responders who were called to military duty during the current war with Gaza. The organization sends emergency workers to Israel at such times.

Katz was the first person called on in the Washington, D.C., area because he has long experience with disaster management. Besides being in charge of operations and training for the organization’s Washington chapter, he said, he’s a Montgomery County firefighter who works with other departments and the founder of his own disaster management consulting firm in Rockville, the Holistic Security Institute.

He did not hesitate when the

See FIREFIGHTER, Page A-9

n

BY

ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER

Developers have submitted some early plans for up to 329 apartments and townhouses in the Chevy Chase Lake area.

The Montgomery County Planning Board is scheduled to consider approving a sketch plan for the property Thursday.

The property, which is on Chevy Chase Lake Drive just off Connecticut Avenue, now has 68 garden-style apartments, according to a planning department report. The Housing Opportunities Commission, which owns the site, is planning to build an apartment building on one end of the property and sell the rest to Bethesda de-

veloper EYA for up to 70 townhomes, according to the report.

The application for redevelopment comes after the Planning Board approved the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan last year, which allows for greater density in the area, especially if and when a Purple Line lightrail station is built there. The Chevy Chase Land Co. also has submitted plans to redevelop a shopping center on Connecticut Avenue in the sector plan area, The Gazette previously reported.

Some neighbors have wanted to put the brakes on a major redevelopment in the area, citing traffic and other concerns.

After getting a sketch plan approved, the developers would still have to submit more detailed plans before getting final approval. ewaibel@gazette.net

PHOTO FROM ROBERT KATZ

“We’ve been able to do a lot of good,” says Robert Katz of Potomac, who volunteered as a firefighter in southern Israel this month.

Bethesda church reaches out to Gaza hospital n

Bradley Hills Presbyterian partners with nonprofit charity in Jerusalem BY

EMILY BIRNBAUM

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

After the most recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Gaza, members of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda began asking themselves: “What can we do to help?”

The church, which has a long history of charity work, sought to help meeting the growing humanitarian needs in Gaza. The Palestinian territory was first bombed, then

invaded, by Israeli forces, and hundreds of civilians — including 129 children — have died, according to The Washington Post.

Jeanne Tustien, a member of the church’s missions coordination council, received word from the church’s longtime partner, the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, that it needed assistance in raising money for a private hospital in Gaza.

“In our mission at Bradley Hills, we follow Christian principles to take care of the poor and needy,” said Bonnie Holcom, former chairwoman of the missions coordination council.

“It’s a guiding principle for Christian outreach,” Holcom said. “When we are trying to serve out the Calvinist position,

which is to effect the structures of society to become more just, we also reach out to the victims of violence and of poverty. It’s within that framework that we reach out to those who are suffering in Gaza.”

The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is a nonpolitical, independent nonprofit that raises funds to promote humanitarian work in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel, according to its website. It gives money to two major hospitals, several outpatient clinics, 13 schools, 29 parishes and four institutes for the disabled.

OnJuly12,Tustienemailedtheothernine council members, asking if they could begin

See CHURCH, Page A-9

New Bannockburn principal has a ‘clearer lens’ Head of Bethesda school wants to prepare students to ‘take on the world’

n

BY

ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER

Kathryn D. Bradley says taking a job in the Whitman school cluster feels like being “back home.”

Bradley was recently appointed the new principal of Bannockburn Elementary School in Bethesda. Last year, she was a principal intern at Fallsmead Elementary School in Rockville. Before that, she held teaching and administrative positions at Beverly Farms, Bradley Hills, Wayside and

INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Obituaries Opinion Sports

B-10 A-2 B-7 A-12 A-10 A-11 B-1

Fox Chapel elementary schools.

She succeeds Daniel Walder, who was named principal of Diamond Elementary School in Gaithersburg.

“The more I worked within the school system, the more I was drawn to that bigger picture of reaching more children,” Bradley said.

The principal not only leads students to success and achievement, Bradley said. She helps staff grow professionally and gives them opportunities to be the best instructors they can be.

Bradley has a bachelor’s in special education and a master’s of education in school psychology. She was an assistant director of career placement at several colleges before becoming an elementary school teacher.

See PRINCIPAL, Page A-9

SPECIAL PUBLICATION

GAZETTE SENIORS ‘FAST’ thinking helped George Wilson survive a stroke; Rockville man set to defend pingpong titles; Should you sell your life insurance policy?; Places to volunteer

INSIDE TODAY

1934314

“Being a [former] college administrator, it gives me a clearer lens, I think, of where I want the kids to be someday,” Bradley said.

Part of preparing children for the future is nurturing their social and emotional skills.

“No matter how strong you are academically, the world is not as giving and flexible if you don’t have those,” Bradley said.

Schools are also preparing for changes in the curriculum that will emphasize critical thinking and problem solving.

“Our goal is to prepare our students by preparing our staff and helping them ... really grow and strengthen their professional development,” Bradley said.

Volume 3, No. 23, Two sections, 28 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette Please

RECYCLE

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Annette and David Waugh of Bethesda dance to music by Retrospect on Friday at Bethesda Metro Center, part of the free Friday evening outdoor concert series there.

Free Friday concerts enliven Metro plaza Outdoor shows scheduled through August n

BY

ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER

Some folks just gotta dance, and for them, there’s a free venue in downtown Bethesda where they can kick up their heels to live music.

Free concerts, sponsored by some nearby property owners, are scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 29 outdoors at 3 Bethesda Metro Center.

This Friday, the classic rock and blues group Crimestoppers is scheduled to perform.

For those less inclined to dance, some chairs are available, but people are welcome to bring their own. Pets are not allowed. Parking is $2 with validation at Monument Parking under the Hyatt Regency and 3 Bethesda Metro Center. The plaza is at the Bethesda Metro stop at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road, Wisconsin Avenue and East West Highway.

More information and a list of upcoming musicians are at facebook.com/3BethesdaMet roCenterFreeOutdoorDanceC oncerts. Call 301-652-4988 for recorded information about the concerts. ewaibel@gazette.net

T HE G AZ ET T E

Page A-10

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Brookeville woman pedaling toward a cure for MS Elizabeth Sherman has raised nearly $10,000 since her diagnosis in 2012 n

BY

TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER

Elizabeth Sherman of Brookeville is not one to stay down. Even after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, she set out to improve her health, while raising awareness and money for the fighting the debilitating disease.

Sherman, who celebrated

her 50th birthday July 5, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, after suffering from symptoms that included balance issues, problems walking and tingling in her hand.

“We should all listen to our bodies,” she said. “Looking back, I probably should have been diagnosed 10 years earlier.”

Sherman said that when the doctor told her, she almost fell out of the chair.

“I didn’t know anything about it, or even know anybody who had MS,” she said.

The mother of daughters Victoria and Mary had always

been athletic, playing on adult soccer teams and coaching soccer at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney.

She began looking for something to do that would benefit her health, as well as support her passion for her new cause, when she saw a poster for the Bike MS program while at Johns Hopkins for a clinical trial.

About 10 years ago, she had participated in an AIDS bike ride, but had not ridden since.

In honor of her 50th birthday, she signed up for three Bike MS events, which raise money for research and programs for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Last month, she rode 60 miles in Ride the Riverside Bike MS event in Washington, D.C., and 150 miles over two days in the Cape Cod Bike MS ride in Massachusetts.

In October, she and her sister plan to ride 30 miles in the New York City Bike MS event.

Multiple sclerosis affects people differently, but Sherman said one of her symptoms is sensitivity to heat.

“The Cape Cod event really got quite warm, which makes my symptoms more pronounced,” she said. “The last 20 miles were really difficult, but I made it.”

“I Ride with MS” is a special program that celebrates Bike MS cyclists who have the disease. Sherman said she proudly wears an “I Ride with MS” jersey to show that she is not only committed to cycling to create a

world free of multiple sclerosis, but also to inspire all who are part of the movement.

Many patients suffer from chronic fatigue. Sherman said riding has helped her lose weight, and with it, the fatigue.

“I’m feeling good, and very positive,” she said. “I’ve had no relapses this year.”

Through her participation in the bike rides, a Walk MS event held in Rockville, and a fundraiser she hosted at Urban Bar-B-Que, Sherman has raised nearly $10,000.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the disease is unpredictable and often disabling, affecting the central nervous system by disrupting the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.

It can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness.

More than 2.3 million people worldwide have multiple sclerosis. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and women are two to three times more likely to than men to get it.

To support Sherman’s efforts, contact her at ESherman28@verizon.net. For more information is at nationalmssociety.org. thogan@gazette.net

Obituary Victoria Leigh (Cox) Janda, age 33, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on July 16, 2014 at her home in Rockville, Maryland. She was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on July 10th, 1981 to Janice Cox and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1999. Victoria was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. At the time of her cancer diagnosis, she was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology.

She was known for being an avid animal lover who cared for many furry creatures throughout her life. Her complete honesty, her amateur culinary skills, and her silliness made her easy to love.

Victoria and Michel Janda were married on December 17th, 2012 and celebrated with family and friends on October 11th, 2013.

Victoria is survived by her husband, Michel Janda; her mother, Janice Cox; her sister and brother-in-law, Leslie King and Sam Cox II; nephews, Jaden and Julian; and a brother-in-law and his finance, Mathew Janda and Veronica Breedlove.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at a later date in Rockville, MD. Memorials are suggested to the family.

1933457

SPORT-MEMORIES.COM

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Elizabeth Sherman of Brookeville — here during last month’s 150-mile Bike MS ride on Cape Cod in Massachusetts — has raised almost $10,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Toxins found in Derwood lake Contact with water could damage liver, officials warn

n

BY

ROBERT RAND STAFF WRITER

Montgomery Parks is warning residents to be careful around Lake Needwood in Der-

Obituary Betty J. Kitterman, March 12, 1924 - July 13, 2014. Retired employee of NIH and DOE. Survived by daughter Cheryl Parks, son-in-law John Parks, grandsons Travis and Ethan Parks. Memorial donations to NEDA and RAINN. Memorial service at later date.

1933434

wood, as testing has revealed elevated levels of microcystin, a toxic substance produced by some species of blue-green algae that can damage the liver of humans and animals.

Of particular concern are dogs that are off-leash and may swim or drink from the 75-acre lake, despite park regulations, according to news release from the department.

Visitors to take the following precautions, it said: • Keep dogs on leash, as is regularly required, and do not allow them to drink or go in the water.

• Swimming is prohibited in the lake.

• Wash hands thoroughly if they come in contact with the water.

• Eat only properly cooked muscle meat of fish that are caught in the lake.

Boating and fishing remain open at the lake, where warning signs have been posted.

Updates and more information are at MontgomeryParks. org.

The Gazette OUROPINION

Forum

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Page A-11

|

Good deeds, indeed

A 6-year-old Bethesda girl gives the money she made from her lemonade stand to a charity that helps at-risk children and families.

The business community — including a hair salon and winery — rallies with fundraisers to help the Kensington family of a 39-year-old husband and father who died unexpectedly.

Twenty-nine youngsters and adults spend their Saturday morning cleaning up a lake in Montgomery Village.

Residents of a retirement village take pizza to the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department, just to say “thanks” for all that the firefighters do to make the community safer.

At a time when politics, DON’T LET crime, war, immigration TRYING TIMES battles and an airliner attack CLOUD POSITIVE dominate the headlines, EFFORTS IN it’s helpful, and healthful, to step back every now and THE COUNTY then and look at all the good around us.

And there’s plenty to go around.

Sometimes, the impulse to help others comes from children who just don’t know any better than to be kind to others, especially those in need. Sometimes that basic human urge survives all of the way to adulthood, with grownups also taking up the charitable mission.

Montgomery County residents, young and old, continue to help their neighbors, whether those neighbors live down the block or on the other side of the world.

Besides the aforementioned examples, consider these: • An 11-year-old Rockville girl donates a bicycle she won to a Filipino student she doesn’t even know, but who needs a bike to get to high school.

• An Eagle Scout from Sandy Spring goes to Nigeria to distribute bed nets to help stem the spread of malaria there.

• A Silver Spring college student spends six weeks teaching high school in Tanzania to help break down cultural barriers.

• A Rockville youngster inspires her classmates to make ceramic elephants, which they sell to raise money to help rescue and care for abused elephants in Thailand.

Of course, this sampling doesn’t include the day-in, day-out efforts of so many in the county who volunteer their time and energy to help their hungry, sick, homeless or otherwise less fortunate neighbors.

Taking the time to reflect on such endeavors can help inoculate us, at least in part, from the cynicism that can seem so prevalent in society. It also can spark us to join in their efforts — and perhaps even launch new ones — to help make the county an even better place to live and work.

LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

Idea has potential; presentation is poor Blair Lee put forth an interesting proposal for primary election reform (“It’s time for Maryland election reform,” July 9). Unfortunately, he cloaked it in one of his usual rants, heavily laced with ridicule, derision, name-calling and racial innuendo.

For example: • He repeatedly referred to Democrats as “Dem” and the “Dem Party,” in an obvious effort to demean both the voters and

the party. (He never mentioned the “Repubs” or the “Inds” — I wonder why.)

• He said that every Republican and every Democrat on the ballot in November will be an “extremist” by virtue of having triumphed in a party primary.

• He referred to Democratic primaries in Maryland (in his words, “Dem primaries”) as all-black or predominantly-black, a charge that is both false on its face and

The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher

The race between incumbent Judge Audrey Creighton and challenger, former U.S. Marine and U.S. State Department Senior Rule of Law adviser Daniel Patrick Connell is more than just an election between committee-vetted candidates and “a virtual unknown in the local legal community” (“Challenger presses Circuit Court judge over character”, July 9). This involves

Miller.

My favorite hate crime was this year’s Norfolk, Neb., Fourth of July parade float featuring an outhouse labeled “Obama Presidential Library,” with a zombie mannequin labeled “head librarian.” When state Democrats called it “one of the worst shows of racism and disrespect for the office of the Presidency that Nebraska has ever seen,” the U.S. Department of Justice sent investigators to question the mayor and the Order of Oddfellows, who hosted the parade. Hate crime or free speech?

Today’s hate game is tricky because the rules keep changing. Uttering certain words can get you fired or a lifetime NBA suspension. So can being either a global warming or Holocaust denier.

Supporting traditional marriage can cost you your job (ask former Mozilla executive Brendan Eich, who contributed $1,000 to California’s Prop 8 referendum, or Angela McCaskill, who signed Maryland’s prop 6 referendum) and making analogies to Nazis and Hitler is almost always impermissible.

Also, never, never, never use the “Nword,” unless you’re hip-hop singer Nicki Minaj, whose new rap song repeats the Nword 42 times.

There’s lots of hate going around Maryland lately. When the federal government targeted a Carroll County Army reserve center for possibly housing some of the 57,000 recent illegal immigrant children, someone spray painted “No illeagles (sic) here. No undocumented Democrats” on the building. The state police treated it as a hate crime (three years in prison, $5,000 fine) because of its “racial message.”

But, hold on, where’s the racial message? Are illegals (or even “illeagles”) a racial group? No way. Vandalism is a crime, yes, but opposing illegal immigration isn’t — yet.

“Sheriff’s Trip Funded by Alleged Hate Group” screamed the Frederick News-Post lead headline last week. Seems Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and six other national sher-

more than making “political gain” from a judge’s personal life — “entangling themselves in their friends’ problems.”

This is a judge who began an intimate relationship with a former client half her age. The former client is a violent convicted felon who was accused of assaulting county jail correction officers; who was accused of kidnapping and possession

of marijuana; who had a bench warrant out accusing him of failing to appear; and who later was accused of physically attacking this judge.

This is a judge who might be under investigation by the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities and who might have written a legal motion to dismiss the bench warrant on her “intimate partner” (about

Will C. Franklin, A&E Editor Ken Sain, Sports Editor Dan Gross, Photo Editor Jessica Loder, Web Editor

iffs visited the Texas border to learn about the surge of illegal immigrant children. The trip was sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, designated a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Meanwhile, in Anne Arundel County, Michael Peroutka won a county council primary election despite being called “an extremist candidate” by the same Southern Poverty Law Center.

The SPLC has set itself up as the nation’s arbiter of what’s “hateful.” It identified 939 “hate groups” last year, which it used to frighten $27 million out of its liberal donors.

And because the SPLC’s politics align with the media’s, the center’s “hate group” list is accepted as gospel.

The problem is that it’s quite easy to land on the SPLC’s hate group list all you have to do is disagree with the SPLC’s ideology. The American College of Pediatricians is a hate group because it opposes gay adoption. “Patriot groups” are hate groups because they see “the federal government as their primary enemy” (as did Thomas Jefferson). The Family Research Council is a hate group for “its constant demonizing of the LGBT community” and Help Save Maryland is “a nationalist extremist group” because it opposed the Dream Act and drivers’ licenses for illegal aliens.

The Catholic Church, the Mormons and the Republican Party are, no doubt, on the SPLC’s “hate group” waiting list.

Calling you an “extremist” or a “hate group” is the SPLC’s and the media’s way of intimidating you into silence. That’s much more dangerous than hate and a whole lot more unAmerican.

Blair Lee is chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring and a regular commentator for WBAL radio. His past columns are available at www.gazette. net/blairlee. His email address is blairleeiv@ gmail.com.

Dennis Wilston, Corporate Advertising Director Doug Baum, Corporate Classifieds Director Mona Bass, Inside Classifieds Director Jean Casey, Director of Marketing and Circulation

which she first lied to the police), which appeared on her docket. The other three incumbents have curiously aligned themselves with her to create a “ticket,” with signs everywhere.

What part of Judge Audrey Creighton’s sheer lack of judgment would make any reasonable voter in November return her to the bench?

Katie Holland, Silver Spring

White Flint naming game Regarding your Page 1 story in the July 9 edition on the proposed renaming of the White Flint area (“White Flint developers hold branding to N. Bethesda”), why are we relegating the naming of our area to developers?

In my mind, a developer only can name an individual project.

Why do area residents feel the various developers have the final say in the matter?

From my research, I find the Post Office already recognizes mail sent to North Bethesda as being in the 20852 Rockville ZIP Code, not White Flint. The conference center/hotel is named Bethesda North. Will that have to be changed?

By the way, the conference center is owned by the county; the hotel is owned by the developer (I believe it is Quadrangle). Both are only managed by Marriott.

Why doesn’t the County Council get into the branding act? Why not put it on a ballot?

Another factor is redoing Metro station signs. There can be two names, like Grosvenor/Strathmore.

David H. Brown, North Bethesda

Feathered family keeps us in line

The Geese of Kensington Heights appear, every year, in late March and settle around the picturesque pond on McComas Ave. By April, they give birth, to the joy of the neighborhood, to cute goslings.

The Geese are family oriented and try, like humans, to raise their families in a safe environment and with discipline. If ever one of their kids wanders away with another family of geese, he is reprimanded.

If another family of geese doesn’t show their respect to another while eating, they’re all reminded they’re off track!

The Geese of Kensington Heights have been a blessing lately, as they do their best to slow down Costco’s shoppers’ speeding cars flying in and out of the side streets! The Geese attitude and looks to the impatient drivers is almost humane and their quacking sounds like: “What’s the hurry! Slow down! Spare the neighborhood! Don’t worry about getting to Costco this very minute. Safety is more important!”

On Bastille Day (the French Independence Day), the 14th of July, they all fly away to faraway lands and for some reason, we all feel as if summertime is starting also to fly away.

9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 | Phone: 301-948-3120 | Fax: 301-670-7183 | Email: opinions@gazette.net More letters appear online at www.gazette.net/opinion

Vanessa Harrington, Senior Editor Douglas Tallman, Editor Robert Rand, Managing Editor Glen C. Cullen, Senior Editor Copy/Design Meredith Hooker, Managing Editor/Internet

Robert Tiller, Silver Spring

Many questions about candidate

Who decides what’s hateful?

I hate designating certain criminal acts as “hate crimes” for two reasons. First, if someone commits a crime, who cares about the criminal’s mind-set? If you kill me, does it matter if you did it because you hate me or because you were stealing my car?

The crime is in the act, not the thought.

Punishing someone’s evil thoughts isn’t allowed in America, except for these socalled hate crimes, where an extra sentence is tacked on because the crime was “hate-driven.”

Second, who decides what’s hateful?

Americans invented hate crimes in the 1980s to punish crimes “motivated MY MARYLAND by hostility to the BLAIR LEE victim’s race, creed, gender, sexual identity or disability,” according to the dictionary. But hate, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Is the NFL football team’s “Redskins” name hateful? People disagree.

This month, some Washington & Lee University black students got the hateful Confederate flags removed from Robert E. Lee’s chapel. Meanwhile, David Rubenstein donated $12.3 million to restore, Arlington, Robert E. Lee’s home where he owned 63 slaves. Why isn’t that hateful, too?

Also this month, the Anne Arundel County school board censured former member Eugene Peterson for calling Superintendent Mamie Perkins an “Aunt Jemima.” Hateful? Well, both Peterson and Perkins are black and Peterson was criticizing Perkins for not closing the minority achievement gap quickly enough. Nor was Peterson’s slur any more hateful than Maryland Senate President Mike Miller (white) calling Maryland Lt. Governor Mike Steele (black) “an Uncle Tom.” No one censured

morally repugnant.

• He called public service announcements for voter education “ridiculous.”

Blair Lee’s proposal probably isn’t going to gain traction, and it’s easy to come up with arguments against it. But it certainly deserves better treatment than it received in a column by Blair Lee.

Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services Leah Arnold, Information Technology Manager David Varndell, Digital Media Manager

Viviane Pescov, Kensington

POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Officer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military

Arts & Entertainment www.gazette.net | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | Page A-12

Chevy Chase writer finds insights in nature BY

ELLYN WEXLER

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

PHOTO BY STAN BAROUH

Craig Wallace as Prospero holds daughter Miranda, played by Leah Filley, in the Olney Theatre Center’s National Players production of “The Tempest.”

Tempting fate n

Show will combine new, veteran actors at Olney Theatre Center BY

KIRSTY GROFF STAFF WRITER

Every theater company hopes they can cast a spell on the audience by the end of the performance — and this year’s National Players outdoor production at Olney Theatre Center of “The Tempest” is no different.

Thought to be Shakespeare’s final play written alone, the story revolves around Prospero, a man with magical powers whose brother caused him and his daughter to become stranded on an island for years. The cast for this summer’s production marks a return to an old National Players tradition — bringing together current touring actors with former members going back decades.

While preparing to commemorate both the 75th anniversary of Olney Theatre Center and the 65th consecutive year of touring by the affiliated National Players, the production team wished to mark the occasion by celebrating the group’s legacy, and reinstated the practice. Two years into his position as associate director and director of education for Olney Theatre Center, Jason King Jones decided the occasion needed a play embodying the enchanting nature of the stage. “The Tempest,” with its ties to sorcery, seemed to fit the bill.

“We often use the phrase ‘the magic of theater,’” Jones said, “so when we wanted to celebrate the mentorship of multiple generations and the magic that is theater, ‘The Tempest’ felt like the exact work for what we wanted to do.”

Throughout the play, Prospero has to care for his teenaged daughter Miranda while attempting to exact revenge on his brother by causing the storm — using his

THE TEMPEST n When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays July 23 through Aug. 3 n Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Rd., Olney n Tickets: Free-$20 n More information: olneytheatre.org; 301-924-4485

servant Ariel, a spirit he rescued on the island — that brings him and his crew on their island. As the father of a 6-year-old daughter directing this run of “The Tempest,” Jones felt connected to Prospero’s struggle.

“He has to wrestle with what it means to teach and to mentor, and to raise a child,”

See TEMPEST, Page A-13

Ruth Kassinger needed a way to get back on her feet.

“One day, after wandering into the lush, beautiful U.S. Botanic Garden’s conservatory,” the 59-year-old Chevy Chase writer found that new path.

The way she decided she would negotiate her current stresses — the death of her sister, her own battle with breast cancer and the empty nest when her daughters left for college — was to erect “a Kassinger small conservatory off the back of our home … and learn how to care for tropical (indoor) plants.”

The most recent of her books, “Paradise Under Glass” (2010) and “A Garden of Marvels” (2014), both adult nonfiction published by HarperCollins, are the result of what she calls her “journey to horticultural competence.”

In “Paradise,” she said she wove together the story of that journey along with “the history of glass buildings, and getting back on my feet emotionally.”

As for “A Garden,” her intention was “to become a better gardener by learning the fundamentals of how plants function.

I retrace the progress of the earliest botanists who discovered that flowers have sex, leaves eat air, hormones make morning glories twine up fence posts, and other secrets of plants.”

While gardens were new

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre

603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851

240-314-8690

All 7th - 12th grade students are invited to see the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in an exciting and fun new way, through Montgomery Community Media’s Video Journalism Camp at the 2014 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair!

This Camp is four (4) days and will begin on Monday August 11th at 7pm with an Introduction that all parents are invited to attend. Regular camp hours are 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday (8/12) – Friday (8/15).

• Cost of the camp is $150 which includes training materials and daily fair admission for the duration of the class.

www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre

The Music Man

Presented by Rockville Musical Theatre

Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 26 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $22 ADULT; $20 SENIOR (62+) AND STUDENT WITH ID

The Last Duchess Presented by Rockville Civic Ballet

Camp participants can bring their personal smart phones or tablets. Please, inquire.

Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $17 ADULT; $13 SENIOR (62+) AND YOUTH (UNDER 12)

SPACE IS LIMITED - REGISTER NOW AT mymcmedia.org/class/video-journalism-camp-at-the-fair/ 1934570

1932633

Saturday July 26th & Sunday July 27th

2 5 th

An

nu al

1934770

1932655

www.choosemontgomerymd.com/features/montgomery-county-farm-tour

301-590-2823

to her, writing had been Kassinger’s interest while growing up in the Mt. Washington suburb of Baltimore. She attended city public schools until eighth grade, when severe overcrowding made the school dangerous.

Her parents panicked and sent her to an independent school, the Park School, which “was particularly strong, at the time, in the arts. I had always been a reader and already dreamed of being a writer, and at my new school, found a mentor who encouraged me,” she said. “To this day, he reads and comments on my manuscripts.”

Later, at Yale, Kassinger majored in American Studies, concentrating on literature and also took some writing courses. She said she lacked the confidence to try to earn a living as a writer.

“I knew I wasn’t a fiction writer and didn’t have the outgoing nature that I thought was needed to be a journalist,” she said.

Instead, she worked first as a

See WRITER, Page A-13

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

IN THE ARTS For a free listing, please submit complete information to wfranklin@gazette.net at least 10 days in advance of desired publication date. Highresolution color images (500KB minimum) in jpg format should be submitted when available.

DANCES Social Ballroom Dance at 9 p.m., free Cha Cha lesson at 8 p.m. ($16), Aug. 1; Latin Night with Mr. Mambo - 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. workshops, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. dance, ($18 for workshop and dance, $15 for dance only after 10 p.m.), Aug. 2; Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m., free Waltz lesson at 7 p.m., ($16), Aug. 3; Social Ballroom Dance at 8:30 p.m., “step of the evening” Tango mini-lesson at 8:15 p.m., ($16), Aug. 6; Tea Dance, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., ($6), Aug. 7, 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-3261181, hollywoodballroomdc.com.

Scottish Country Dancing, 8-10 p.m. Mondays, steps and formations taught. No experience, partner necessary, T-39 Building on NIH campus, Wisconsin Avenue and South Drive, Bethesda, 240-505-0339.

Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd.

Blues, Capital Blues: Thursdays, 8:15 p.m. begin-

ner lesson, 9-11:30 p.m. dancing to DJs, Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom Annex, $8, capitalblues.org.

Contra, July 25, David Eisenstadter with Free Raisins with Audrey Knuth on fiddle, Jeff Kaufman on mandolin and octave fiddle and Amy Englesberg on piano, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $10, fridaynightdance.org.

English Country, July 23, Joseph Pimentel caller, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), fsgw.org.

Swing, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, flyingfeet.org.

Waltz, Aug. 3, WALTZ MAGIC with Alexander Mitchell (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), Barbara Heitz (flute), Liz Donaldson (piano), Ralph Gordon (bass), waltztimedances.org.

MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Kevin Toney 3 Featuring Dominique Toney, 8 p.m., July 23; Eliza Gilkyson and Lucy Kaplansky, July 24; Sleepy LaBeef and the Daryl Davis Band feat. The Garnet Hearts, July 25; Joe Clair and Friends feat.

Tony Woods, Nikki Carr and Eddie Bryant, July 26; An Evening w/Winard Harper feat. Lori Williams, July 27; Girma Yifrashwa, Ethiopian Classical Music, July 30. call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, bethesdabluesjazz.com.

BlackRock Center for the Arts, Tom Principato — Free Summer Concert, 7 p.m. July 26, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, blackrockcenter.org.

Fillmore Silver Spring, Mint Condition, July 25; Ziggy Marley, July 26; Claw, July 31, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. fillmoresilverspring.com.

Strathmore, Afternoon Tea, 1 p.m., July 23; Conjunto Chappottin, 7 p.m., July 23; Tim & The Space Cadets, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., July 24; BSO: All-Beethoven, 8 p.m., July 24; Children’s Talk and Tour, 10:15 a.m., July 26; Artist Seminars: A Lesson in Photoshop for Documenting Your Work, 1 p.m., July 27; Afternoon Tea, 1 p.m., July 29, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North

Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www. strathmore.org.

ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “Pinkalicious,” to Aug. 31, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

Imagination Stage, “The BFG,” to Aug. 10, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, imaginationstage.org.

Olney Theatre Center, “The Tempest,” to Aug. 3, call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

The Puppet Co., “Little Red & the Pigs,” July 24 to Aug. 31; Tiny Tots @ 10, select Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, call for shows and show times, Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo Park’s North Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., $5, 301-6345380, thepuppetco.org.

Round House Theatre, Bethesda, “Fool for Love,” Sept. 3–27, call for show times, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. $15 for general admission, $10 for subscribers, patrons 30 and younger and seniors.

240-644-1100, roundhousetheatre.org.

Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 244-644-1100, roundhousetheatre.org.

Silver Spring Stage, One Act Festival, Aug. 7 through Aug. 24, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, ssstage.org.

The Writer’s Center, Researching and Writing Local History, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., July 25; The Critic’s Eye: Reading and Writing about Poems, 10 a.m. to noon, July 26; How to Write a Lot, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., July 26; 6 Stories, 6 Weeks, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 26; Patricia Davis and Kyoko Mori, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., July 27; 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-6548664, writer.org.

Upcounty Theatre, “Flowers for Algernon,” 8 p.m., Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, 3 p.m., Aug. 3, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown. Adults are $16, students/seniors $14, upcountytheatre.org.

VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, “Carte Blanche: Seth, Hannah and Schuyler,” to Aug. 17, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, adahrosegallery.com Glenview Mansion, Han Mee artists, to July 25; The Friday Group, Aug. 3 to Aug. 29, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. rockvillemd.gov.

Marin-Price Galleries, John Aquilino, Aug. 30 to Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 7022 Wisconsin Ave., 301-718-0622, marin-price.com.

VisArts, Gibbs Street Gallery; RIPPLE: Cloth, Community and Connectivity, to Aug. 17, Rockville, 301-315-8200, visartsatrockville.org.

Washington Printmakers Gallery, WPG July Member Exhibition, to July 27, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, second floor, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, washingtonprintmakers.com.

TEMPEST

Continued from Page A-12 he said. “I can relate pretty directly to that part of the story, and that probably shows in the production.”

Though Miranda is 15 when the play opens, she and her father arrived on the island when she was only 3 years old. The island life is all she has known, lending to her naivety about the evil in the world and the danger of her father’s brother and his men coming to shore.

“There’s something about the isolation she’s grown up with and the way she views the world, it hasn’t been altered by many people,” said Leah Filley, who plays Miranda. “There’s an honesty and openness in her that you don’t find in many characters, and I find it liberating and exciting.”

At three weeks, this Summer Shakespeare production of “The Tempest” is longer than most years. Throw in a set designer who has previously worked with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s outdoor stage and the introduction of microphoned actors for the Olney Theatre Center’s outdoor productions, and it’s clear this Shakespeare performance will be unlike any other on the stage before it.

WRITER

Continued from Page A-12 researcher for a book about the Middle East for a D.C. think tank and then on the House International Relations Committee.

After earning a master’s degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, she took a position at the government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation, where she “had a rewarding — and fun — time traveling and helping U.S. companies invest in less developed countries.” She worked on a part-time basis while her three daughters were young.

Kassinger embarked on a freelance writing career at

Page A-13 Despite the longer run, the magic of Shakespeare can be infectious, and members of the cast new and veteran alike may find it hard to leave “The Tempest” behind.

“We rehearsed it in three weeks, we’re going to run it for three weeks, and I feel I will have just scratched the surface,” said Craig Wallace, who plays Prospero. “I’m glad I got my feet wet with this character, and the great thing about stage theater is you can return to the characters time and time again.”

The merging of the members of Tour 65 with actors returning from 20 years ago or more has provided an incredible experience on each side, merging the fresh eyes and ears of players beginning their careers with the experience and depth of those in the business for quite some time. Despite the difference in age, the National Players experience defies any barriers between the sets of actors.

“A lot of what Olney Theatre is about is teaching the next generation of theater artists and unleashing their creative potential,” Jones said. “I can think of no better way to do that than to put these more experienced players who have a shared language of the touring lifestyle and company together with new national players.”

“We have such a similar history and vocabulary, even though we span decades,” added Julie-Ann Elliott, who plays Ariel. “It’s sort of like a fraternity.”

Much like Shakespeare’s probable mindset at the time about leaving his theater profession, the play addresses letting go — Prospero setting Ariel free, letting go of his grudges and allowing his daughter to grow up and fall in love. Though it may have been one of his last, the trademark qualities of a Shakespeare piece are ever present.

“They talk about Prospero being a magician, but the magic is actually in the language of the play,” said Wallace, “and if we can capture the magic of the poetry, then I think it will be something everyone will enjoy.”

In drawing the audience to this magical island, transporting them from grass to isolated lands, the cast and crew hope a little bit of the magic they’ve felt putting the production together rubs off on them.

“I really hope that everybody feels like they’ve had a bit of magic,” Filley said. “Shakespeare has it anyway, but this show specifically, as well as outdoor theater in particular, is a magical experience.”

age 40. With her children in school, she said, “it was time for a change.” She proceeded to write for trade magazines, the Washington Post’s Style section and a weekly children’s science magazine. A history of the U.S. census for incoming members of Congress that she wrote for the Government Accounting Office (GAO) in the late ‘90s led a friend — a former children’s book editor — to urge Kassinger to submit a proposal for a young adult book on the subject.

“The market for young adult ‘secondary literature,’ meaning nonfiction for school libraries, is one of the easiest for new writers to crack,” Kassinger said, adding that she wrote seven more science books for young adults.

Kassinger’s new career involves domestic travel, too. She visits and learns “from scientists and gardeners who have truly extraordinary plants, like oneton pumpkins and the ferns (planted in Spring Valley) that pull arsenic out of the soil.”

Her current project is a book for Houghton-Mifflin about “how algae both created and sustains our living world, and how it may help save us from further degrading it.”

Clearly, maturity, hard work and accomplishment have made Kassinger evolve into the professional writer she once only dreamed of becoming.

kgroff@gazette.net

Ruth Kassinger’s books are available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

1884620

Page A-14

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

All Beethoven, all the time The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Josep CaballeDomenech, will perform their All-Beethoven show at the Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday.

PHOTO BY F. SOLIS

Under the baton of Josep CaballeDomenech, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will celebrate a night of Beethoven classics on Thursday at the Music Center at Strathmore.

The evening will begin with Beethoven’s festive “Fidelio” Overture, followed by his Piano Concerto No. 3.

The night will wrap up with his homage to nature, Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral.”

And hour and a half before the concert, there will be a Party on the Patio, which features food and drink specials.

Ticket prices vary from $25 to $45.

For more information, visit strathmore. org, bsomusic.org, or call 301-5815100.

Breakin’ My Heart The R&B group Mint Condition, best known for their hit songs “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” and “What Kind of Man Would I Be,” will bring their soulful sound to the Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday.

Mint Condition has a very diverse style, adding jazz, some rock, and funk to their R&B repertoire.

They’ve released eight albums, most recently their 2012 recording “Music At the Speed of Life.”

Tickets for the Soul Train Music Award-nominated act are available for $35. For more information, visit fillmoresilverspring.com or call 301-960-9999.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FILLMORE SILVER SPRING

R&B group Mint Condition is coming to the Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday.

1934511

1932654

PHOTO BY SCOTT NEWTON

Musician Eliza Gilkyson will be performing at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on Thursday.

Dear Diary ...

Grammy-nominated songwriter Eliza Gilkyson will be performing on Thursday at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club in Bethesda along with fellow musician Lucy Kaplansky.

Gilkyson is currently on tour promoting her new album, “The Nocturne Diaries,” which features songs focusing on social commentary and political issues. Throughout her career, she has written songs for Roseanne Cash, Joan Baez, and Bob Geldof.

For more information, visit bethesdabluesjazz.com or call 240-330-4500.

T HE G AZ ET T E

Page A-2

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

1934977

EVENTS

BestBet

Send items at least two weeks in advance of the paper in which you would like them to appear. Go to calendar.gazette.net and click on the submit button.

Questions? Call 301-670-2070.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 Summer Catchers Clinic, 6:30-8 p.m., RoundTrip Sports, 16778 Oakmont Ave., Gaithersburg. A five-week clinic focusing on fundamentals of catching for softball and baseball. Participants should bring their own equipment. Ages 9-13. $175 for Wednesday sessions through Aug. 20. 240912-5270.

Bethesda Big Train Baseball Game Vs. Baltimore Redbirds, 7:30 p.m., Shirley Pov-

ich Field, 10600 Westlake Drive, Bethesda. $5-$9. www.bigtrain.org.

THURSDAY, JULY 24 Little Red & The Pigs, 10 a.m.-1:45

p.m., The Puppet Co. Playhouse, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, runs through Aug. 31. A set of plays about the Big Bad Wolf and how he got his reputation.

Grades pre-K to 4. $10. 301-634-5380.

Celebration of Wellness, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Even Hotel Rockville, 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville. Yoga class, cooking demos, a marketplace and book signings. Free.

Yasemin.sussman@hkstrategies.com.

Green Drinks Networking Happy Hour, 5-8 p.m., Hollywood East Cafe, Westfield Wheaton Mall, 11160 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton. A presentation on claiming your Yelp business page. www.wkchamber.org.

Simple Gifts Music: Summer Reading Event, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Kensington Park

Library, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington.

A concert featuring music from a range of regions. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. Free.

240-773-9515.

Summer Concert Series 2014, 7-9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, Bumper Car Pavilion, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.

Featuring Trio Caliente. Free. www.glenechopark.org.

Free for All in the Parks, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Calvin Park, 1248 Gladstone Drive, Rockville. Featuring acoustic guitarist James Mabry. Bring a blanket, lawn chair, bug repellant and dinner. www.rockvillemd.gov/arts.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 Rockville Economic Development, Inc.

and the Maryland Women’s Business Center Open House, 9 a.m.-noon, 51 Monroe

St., Suite 20, Plaza East, Rockville. Brief program at 10 a.m. with light refreshments provided. Free, RSVP required. www. marylandwbc.org.

Symposium on Fraud Prevention, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Riderwood Retirement Community, Maryland Hall, 3140 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring. County and state representatives will discuss tips to prevent financial, identity and Internet fraud. Free.

301-572-8440.

Gene Toasters Toastmasters, noon-1 p.m., Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., Rockville, every second and fourth Friday of the month. Develop skills in speaking, thinking and listening in a group environment. Free for first-time guests. 240-671-7141.

TGIF Summer Concerts and Movies, 7-8:30 p.m., Wheaton Triangle, 2424

Reedie Drive, Wheaton. Screening “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Free. www.wheatonmd.org.

Bethesda Big Train Baseball Game Vs. Vienna River Dogs, 7:30 p.m., Shirley Pov-

ich Field, 10600 Westlake Drive, Bethesda. $5-$9. www.bigtrain.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 26 Grow It Eat It Open House, 8:30 a.m.-1

p.m., Agricultural History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood. Attend classes about pests and disease as well as seasonal gardening. Free. 800-342-2507.

Rockville Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Md. 28 and Monroe Street, Rockville.

Featuring fresh flowers and food for sale. www.rockvillemd.gov/farmers.

Kensington Summer Concert, 10-11 a.m., Howard Avenue Park, Kensington.

Featuring classical guitar and violin duo Scott and Cindy. Presented by the Kensington Historical Society. Free. www.kensingtonhistory.org.

Learn How Acupuncture Works, 10 a.m.noon, The Gilbert Clinic, 7315 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 760, East Tower, Bethesda. Coffee and tea provided. Free, RSVP requested. info@thegilbertclinic.com.

GIGS and Kidzbill Present Junior Jams Featuring Rainbow Rock, 10:30 a.m.,

FRI

25

A Cool Ben and Jerry’s Night, 8-11

p.m., Dance Bethesda, 8227 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. Lessons in Tango and Cha Cha followed by a dance party with latin, swing and ballroom music. $18 for drop-ins, $8 if bringing a friend. info@dancebethesda.com.

GALLERY

Stacey Grove and her son Owen, 9, of Silver Spring dance to the sounds of Retrospect on Friday evening at Bethesda Metro Center. Go to clicked.Gazette.net.

MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Foundation Gallery & Liveroom, 3762 Howard Ave., Kensington. $8 at door. www.fndtnarts.com/events.

30th Anniversary of “Purple Rain” and 20th Anniversary of LoveSexyDC Celebration, 9:45 p.m., AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville

Road, Silver Spring. Screening with costume contest. $12. www.afi.com/silver.

SPORTS American Legion baseball playoffs are underway.

SUNDAY, JULY 27 Hot Society Afternoon Dance, 3-6 p.m., Glen Echo Park, Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Featuring music from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s. Begins with a rhumba lesson. $14. 703-861-8218.

TUESDAY, JULY 29 How to Write a College Application Essay, 6-7:30 p.m., Kensington Park Li-

brary, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington.

Open to students entering 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Free, pre-registration recommended. 240-773-9515.

Bike Ride, 6:30 p.m., King Farm Farmstead Park, 1199 Grand Champion Road, Rockville. About an hour at the pace of the slowest rider. rockvillebikerides@gmail. com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

Mobile Download the Gazette.Net mobile app using the QR Code reader, or go to www.gazette.net/mobile for custom options.

GAZETTE CONTACTS The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350

Get complete, current weather information

at NBCWashington.com

The Gazette (ISSN 1077-5641) is published weekly for $29.99 a year by The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, Md. Postmaster: Send address changes. VOL. 27, NO. 30 • 2 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Brightview Fallsgrove,

9200 Darnestown Road, Rockville. Discuss questions and experiences with others.

Refreshments provided. Free, RSVP requested. 240-314-7194.

Children’s Book Sale, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Held by the Rockville Friends of the Library in the first floor meeting room. $1 or less each for most books. 301-984-3187.

Why is the pollen count high?

What causes thunder?

Email weather@gazette.net with your weather-related questions and they may be answered by an NBC 4 meteorologist.

CORRECTION

The July 16 editorial about credit card use within Montgomery County Public Schools incorrectly described when Christopher Barclay repaid the school system for expenses he made on a district credit card. He reimbursed the district before records of his expenses were released to the public.

Also, the editorial incorrectly referred to school board members’ pay. The current pay is $18,500, plus $4,000 more for the board president. Starting this year, anyone elected to a new term will receive $25,000, plus $4,000 more for the board president.

TRAINS & CANYONS OF THE WEST,

Sept. 20-27 $2594

CAPE COD & NANTUCKET by Motorcoach

Sept. 14 – 18 $920

Includes Air from Dulles, 7-Nights Hotel with Breakfast 3 Dinners, 2 Lunches, Transfers/Porterage Sightseeing per Itinerary – CALL FOR DETAILS

Includes Motorcoach from Rockville or Vienna 4 Nights Hotel on Cape Cod with Welcome Reception, Daily Breakfast & Dinner Whale Watch tour, Day in Nantucket with tour Many other Sightseeing Events - CALL FOR DETAILS

CANADA-NEW ENGLAND CRUISE FROM BALTIMORE Oct. 16 – 24 Includes all taxes. 9 nights Cruise on Grandeur of the Seas from Baltimore With All Meals & Entertainment! Visiting Nova Scotia, St. John, Bar harbor, Portland – CALL FOR DETAILS

1934507

1883376

$944

Carolyn McKenna • Shillelagh Travel Club 100 East Street #202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180 Phone: 703.242.2204 • Fax: 703.242.2781 www.shillelaghtravelclub.com

CA H

FOR CAR !

ANY CAR ANY CONDITION WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN

INSTANT CASH OFFER 1934307

1935005

(301)288-6009

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Amsterdam Falafelshop coming to Bethesda – but where?

n

Page A-3

PEOPLE

Reflections at the market

More online at www.gazette.net

Police officer honored

by Bethesda hospital

Restaurants also planned for Silver Spring BY

ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER

A popular Washington, D.C., falafel restaurant is looking in Bethesda and Silver Spring for places to open shop.

The Washington Business Journal reported in June that franchisee David Rosenstein is planning to open four new Amsterdam Falafelshop locations, including two in Bethesda and Silver Spring. Specific locations have not yet been found, however.

Arianne Bennett, president and CEO of the restaurant company and co-owner with Scott Bennett, said some of the best ideas for new locations come from people who call the company with suggestions.

Construction was to begin this week on a location Rosenstein is opening in Clarendon, Va., Bennett said, but he’s still looking for sites in Montgomery County. Amsterdam Falafelshop has no particular timeline for opening shops in Bethesda or Silver Spring, but hopes to find locations soon, she said.

“They’re searching now, so the sooner they find a new spot, the better,” she said.

Bethesda and Silver Spring, along with Baltimore, and Reston and Herndon, Va., are communities the company hears from the most often and are areas Amsterdam Falafelshop is eyeing for expansion.

“Here at the shop in D.C., we get a lot of people from that area, and they don’t love coming into Adams Morgan because of the parking issue,” she said.

The eatery also is small and short on seating, and it’s challenging for people to get strollers up the stairs, Bennett said.

A Montgomery location should be accessible to residents in the surrounding community and people who want to make it a destination, she said, maybe near a Metro station.

“It’s important for us to be accessible to high school students and college students and young mothers, or mothers, period, because it’s important to teach kids about the benefits of good food,” she said. ewaibel@gazette.net

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Lisa Rubin of Gaithersburg tries on druzy earring studs created by Valerie Gitelson of Valerie Nahmani Designs.

Gitelson was one of the 35 local vendors of handmade and vintage merchandise Sunday at URBNmarket Bethesda. The market was held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad ballroom. Organizers are already planning another URBNmarket Bethesda for December.

Website focuses on needs of special needs children n

Kensington founder was special educator in private schools BY

PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER

When Kate Branson of Kensington worked as a special educator in local private schools, parents often asked her whom to call for special needs services.

“Parents and caregivers were always asking me for referrals to occupational therapists, psychologists, speech pathologists, all the providers their children needed,” Branson said. “I kept referring the same ones, but their schedules [became] Branson full, or maybe they didn’t take insurance or have parking available or the referral was not a good match.”

Realizing there was not a one-size-fit-all solution when it came to parents, children and professionals, Branson started a website where schools, camps and businesses specializing in services for special needs children could all be listed in one place: mamiegrace. com.

Branson said the problem plagued her for years and she brainstormed with her mother, Meredith Branson, a psychologist with offices in Bethesda, and other professionals before coming up with the idea of a website.

She partnered with Andrew Dunnavant, a longtime friend and businessman living in New York, to develop the site, which launched

1935022

in March.

“The idea was to put everything in one place,” Branson said. “It is a national listing with 892 businesses, schools and camps.”

She said she decided to go national rather than stay local because people move to new areas and have to find new providers, or parents would move to an area to get the best services for their children.

“When I worked at the Lab School [in Washington, D.C.] a family moved from California so their child could attend there,” Branson said.

The site, named in honor of a friend’s daughter who was born with Down syndrome and lived only 2½ months, has listings for providers in each of the 50 states and Washington, she said, although most are in major metropolitan areas such as Washington, New York and Miami.

Listings on the site are free, but full profiles of a school, camp or professional costs $17 per month, Branson said. Use of the site to look for resources or to write a review is also free, she said.

Naomi Rubinstein of North Potomac, a family educator and the mother of two special needs children, learned about mamiegrace. com just a few weeks ago.

“It’s a wonderful resource,” Rubinstein said. “Families really struggle with which providers will be the best for their child. It’s hard to figure out where to go. [This] allows you to get an opinion from people who have been through it, which is especially important with kids with special needs.” pmcewan@gazette.net

Montgomery County Police Officer Dana Stroman recently received an award from Johns Hopkins for helping staff at its Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.

Stroman, who is a Second District community outreach officer, is the first Montgomery County law enforcement officer to receive Johns Hopkins Corporate Security’s Police Officer of the Year Award, according to a county news release.

Stroman’s contributions included working with hospital management to change a phone extension that resulted in accidental calls to 911 and helping hospital security staff improve security in the emergency room, the release said. She also included hospital staff in a senior citizen forum she organized at Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda.

Kensington teen on Spanish dig Sydney Comstock, 16, of Kensington recently returned home after working for three weeks on an archaeological dig at the medieval castle of Zorita, about 60 miles east of Madrid, Spain.

Comstock, who attends Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, worked with a team of archaeologists and other high school students from Spain, the U.S., France and Canada, according to a news release from ArchaeoSpain, the organization that ran the program.

Among the team’s findings were several human burials next to a Christian chapel, a trash pit full of artifacts and a stone cannonball from the 15th century.

The students learned excavation and surveying techniques, and how to treat and catalogue artifacts. They also attended lectures, learned how to keep a dig diary and how to draw artifacts.

Campus congrats The second and final round of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winners for 2014 has been announced. Recipients are awarded $500 to $2,000 annually for four years of study.

Winners include Erich Meissner of Kensington, a graduate of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., who will attend the University of Maryland, College Park; and Mary Schuirmann of Wheaton, a graduate of the Brookewood School in Kensington, who will attend Oberlin (Ohio) College.

Man completes wilderness training Gregory Picard, 20, of Kensington recently finished a semester-long wilderness expedition.

Picard traveled to Wyoming, Nevada and Utah with the National Outdoor Leadership School to learn about leadership and survival skills in the Rocky Mountains.

For the semester, Picard and 14 other students learned about first aid, winter camping skills, rock climbing, canoeing and other skills.

Transit advocate writes book on sprawl A book by Benjamin Ross of Bethesda was recently published

by Oxford University Press.

“Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism” was released in May. The book advocates for expanded rail transit and a more democratic oversight of land use, according to a press release from the publisher.

Ross was president of the Action Committee for Transit for 15 years and is now an ex officio board member of the group.

DEATHS Gertrude Louise Frye Gertrude “Gertie” Louise Frye, 99, of Hagerstown, formerly of Gaithersburg, died July 15, 2014. Minnich Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Pauline E. Hamilton Pauline E. Hamilton, 86, of Frederick died July 19, 2014. Stauffer Funeral Home in Mount Airy handled the arrangements.

Richard E. Seidell Richard E. Seidell, 91, of Rockville died July 19, 2014. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. July 24 at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Going Home Cremation Service handled the cremation.

1935023

Advertisement

COIN SHOP • URBANA, MD Buy, Sell, Trade, Appraise

PRODUCT SELLING! SELLING! SELLING! Buy at true wholesale pricing.

• 1971 Proof Set $4.00. Many other proof sets in original boxes from $4.00 up.

SERVICE Buy and sell U.S. Coins and Currency. I invite you to bring your coin collections, your scrap silver and gold and your unwanted jewelry to my coin and currency shop in Urbana, MD. I buy, sell, trade and appraise coins, bills and paper money. I buy gold and silver bullion, scrap gold and jewelry. I run an “OLD FASHIONED” coin shop. You are welcome to come in and browse at your leisure; all questions are encouraged. I am here to help.

JUST PURCHASED

Gorgeous 1928 Series $1000 Bill Graded by PMG CH AU-55 Last U.S. Currency to have “Redeemable in gold on demand” printed on 7/2: 1986-2014 Proof Silver Eagles for sale from $58.00 depending on date RARE DATE 1804 Large Cent Anacs Graded F-12.

Really Nice Coin - Most others have problems.

ACCREDITATIONS • Licensed by the State of Maryland to buy scrap gold, jewelry & sterling from the public (#2464).

• Member of several Numismatic organizations including ANA, R-147538, PCGS, NGC, CAC, & ICTA • Authorized Submission Center for: Coin Grading & Authentication at PCGS & NGC Premium Quality Coins to CAC Paper Money at PMG & PCGS

FOR SALE

1893-S-V. Ch VF-20 PCGS Key Date Silver Dollar 1908-D Nu Motto $2000 Gold Pc. PCGS-MS-65 Rare Date & High Grade for the Investor/Collector RT 5 35

Special appointments are available at your convenience, evenings & Sundays.

Senior Coins & Currency I-2

1934604

70

RT 80

Many other coins and currency available; please come in to browse. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you!

BUSINESS: Senior Coins & Currency OWNER: John Rusinko, Pres.

PHONE: 301.363.5771 or 702.845.1934 ADDRESS: 3362-C Urbana Pike, Ijamsville, MD Located on old Rt 355, across from the old Cracked Claw EMAIL: jr.rusinko@yahoo.com WEBSITE: www.seniorcoins.net HOURS: Monday-Friday 11 am-5 pm; Saturday 11 am-4 pm; or by appointment

T HE G AZ ET T E

Page A-4

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Senior living residence in Bethesda to receive makeover Project to cost $24 million; residents will be able to stay at home during renovations

n

BY

ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER

Seniors who live in two high-rises in Bethesda and a Silver Spring will soon have renovated apartments.

The plan is part of a Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County renovation project that will include upgrades of heating, ventila-

tion, air conditioning, roofing and electrical systems, and windows.

“It’s a huge opportunity not just for our clients .... Everybody benefits,” said Stacy Spann, executive director of the commission.

The commission owns the 158-unit Waverly House at 4521 East West Highway in Bethesda.

It also owns Arcola Towers, a 141unit senior living residence in Silver Spring.

Both are for low-income seniors.

Spann said the renovation projects are “critical to make our community function well.”

According to county documents, each project will cost approximately $24 million.

On June 17, the Montgomery County Council approved a resolution in support of the Housing Opportunities Commission’s request to finance the renovations of Waverly House and Arcola Towers through low-income housing tax credits from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

County documents say the resolution of support is required by the state of Maryland to approve the application.

BizBriefs

Have a new business in Montgomery County?

Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/newbusinessform

Abt Associates to design, evaluate housing program Abt Associates of Bethesa has won a threeyear contract from the Weinberg Foundation to help design and evaluate St. Vincent De Paul’s Front Door Program, which provides housing help for 65 families annually in Baltimore.

Under the contract, Abt will evaluate what happens to the families served by the program.

Since the program began in January 2013, the average length of stay at Vincent St. Paul’s Sarah’s Hope — a 24-hour emergency shelter providing case management and other support

services for homeless women and children — has been reduced from one year to an average of about five months, according to a company news release.

Second-quarter profits up at Lockheed Lockheed Martin of Bethesda reported that its second-quarter profit rose to $889 million from $859 million in the second quarter of 2013.

Its revenues, however, fell to $11.31 billion from $11.41 billion. Sales fell in its Space Systems, Missiles and Fire Control, and Information Systems and Global Solutions divisions, but rose in its Aeronautics business.

InBrief Crab festival benefits cancer charity The Bethesda Edge Cycling Club and Social & Scientific Systems of Silver Spring will host the third annual Booty Crab Festival on Sunday to raise money to help fight cancer.

It will be from noon to 6 p.m. at Battery Park Clubhouse, 7904 Glenbrook Road, Bethesda.

Tickets cost $65 — $20 for children 12 and younger — for all-you-can-eat crabs, beer, wine and sides. Register with Kevin Beverly at KBeverly@s-3.com.

Proceeds will support local cancer charities, including the seventh annual 24 Hours of Booty Columbia.

That non-competitive bicycling fundraiser for all ages and cycling abilities will be from 2 p.m. Aug. 23 to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Columbia Gateway Business Park loop. The money will benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults

the kitchen. ... When you come back at night, you have a brand-new kitchen,” Spann said.

The renovation plan will continue until each apartment is renovated and upgraded.

“It is an old building. ... But the bones in the building are great,” Spann said of Arcola Towers, adding that the project is necessary so the building can be “in great shape for another 40 years.”

Both projects are expected to be completed by March. abarros@gazette.net

British man who ripped off Bethesda business sentenced n

Man who stole rented film equipment gets year and a day in prison BY

ROBERT RAND STAFF WRITER

A British man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt to one year and a day in prison for ripping off $275,000 in rented equipment from a Bethesda film production company, according to federal prosecutors.

Darren Oliver Raymond Charles Defoe, 40, had pleaded guilty in March to interstate transportation of property taken by fraud. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus also ordered Defoe to pay $275,000 in restitution.

In February 2011, Defoe and a co-conspirator flew from London and took a cab from Dulles In-

and LiveStrong Foundation.

More information is at 24hoursofbooty.org.

POLICE BLOTTER

Big Train game celebrates China Chinese Lion Dancers and a demonstration by the Taiji Friendship Club will be featured at this week’s International Wednesdays celebration at Bethesda Big Train’s Shirley Povich Field, 10600 Westlake Drive, Bethesda.

Gates open at 6 p.m., with entertainment starting at 7 p.m. The game between the Big Train and the Baltimore Redbirds starts at 7:30 p.m.

The KID Museum will demonstrate motorized drawing machines and the first 300 fans will get a free dumpling from Dumpling Dojo and a fortune cookie. Free admission passes for the June 11 World of Montgomery event will be honored. More information and directions are at bigtrain.org.

Other sources of funding for the project will come from seller notes and a permanent mortage.

Spann said Arcola Towers is 96 percent occupied. It was built in 1972.

Residents will be able to stay in the their homes during the renovations, he said.

The plan is to renovate, for example, an apartment’s full bathroom during business hours. Residents can spend that day at a hospitality suite in the same building, where they can watch television, play games, have refreshments or read a book.

“We will go in and completely do

Complete report at www.gazette.net The following is a summary of incidents in the Bethesda area to which Montgomery County police responded recently. The words “arrested” and “charged” do not imply guilt. This information was provided by the county.

Sexual assault • On July 1 in the 5700 block of Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda. The subject is known to the victim.

Aggravated assault • On June 6 at 1:30 a.m. in the 5800 block of Nicholson Lane, North Bethesda. The subjects were throwing rocks.

Commercial burglary • On July 7 or 8 at Kazami oral surgery practice, 4825 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda. Attempted forced entry, took nothing.

Peeping Tom • On July 6 at 12:45 a.m. in the 5000 block of Macon Road, Rockville. The subject was seen looking into windows.

1932628 1934823

ternational Airport in Virginia to Visual Edge Productions in Bethesda, according to an affidavit from a Department of Homeland Security special agent. Representing themselves as employees of a British company, The Filming Co., that was producing a film called “Irish Travelers and Gypsy Kings,” they provided a Visual Edge clerk with bogus insurance information and left the business with rented cameras, lenses, tripods, batteries and other equipment.

They then took the cab back to Dulles and flew back to the U.K. with the equipment, according to the affidavit.

Co-defendant William Henry Stickland, 40, also of the U.K., was charged with conspiracy and interstate transportation of property taken by fraud. Prosecutors said in a statement that they plan to seek his extradition.

Residential burglary • 5300 block of Elliott Road, Bethesda, between July 2 and 4. Took a bicycle from an open garage.

• 3500 block of Dundee Drive, Rockville, at 4:45 a.m.

July 3. Forced entry, took property.

Theft • On July 1 between noon and 12:30 p.m. in the 5000 block of Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Took property from the victim.

Vehicle larceny • Two incidents in the 3200 block of Flushing Meadow Terrace, Chevy Chase, on June 30. No forced entry, took loose cash and other small items.

• Nine incidents in the Westmoreland Hills area of Bethesda between June 30 and July 8. Took cash, GPS units, DVD players and glasses.

• Six incidents in the Greentree/Wyngate area of Bethesda between July 3 and 6. No forced entry, took cash, GPS units and glasses.

• Two incidents in Silver Spring between July 4 and 6. No forced entry, took nothing. Affected streets include Rosemary Hills Drive and East West Highway.

• 5000 block of Cloister Drive, Rockville, between 11:30 p.m. July 6 and midnight July 7. The subject was attempting to take a tire from a vehicle and fled when spotted.

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page A-5

Council Rockville teen fuses passion for sports with cyber smarts grappling with voter turnout Georgetown student’s FourLeagues website finds pro team news for fans n

BY LANGSTON TAYLOR SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

‘This is truly a problem you can’t throw money at’ n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

Only 16 percent of Montgomery County’s registered voters turned out to vote in the June 24 primary election and a council-appointed task force has been studying ways to both boost participation and uphold voting rights.

The Right to Vote Task Force presented its 59 recommendations to the council Tuesday.

Among its recommendations were ways to increase voter registration, including a pending registration process in which eligible, unregistered residents would be entered into a system allowing the county or state to reach out to them to register them to vote.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said that simply increasing registration wouldn’t necessarily increase turnout.

It’s not hard to register or vote, Councilman Philip M. Andrews said.

“The primary question is ‘Why are not more people voting?’” said Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg.

Council President Craig L. Rice levied partial blame for the low turnout on the media.

Media outlets rarely report the good government does, giving voters a negative impression of their local leaders and government, therefore disengaging voters from the process, said Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown.

“If the reports are always about the failure of government and not the success of government, how do you expect people to be engaged?” he asked.

Councilwoman Nancy Navarro said the county needs to look at its own tools to publicize its good work.

Candidates have blamed the low turnout on Maryland moving its primary from September to June this year. Councilwoman Nancy Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park asked if it was possible to consider a regional primary day to help with voter turnout.

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda said he was concerned with actions the council could take to make a difference.

To engage voters, the task force recommended the county develop a mobile app to provide information on early voting, the ballot, polling locations and more.

It also recommended the county urge the state’s political parties to open their primaries to unaffiliated voters, something the parties can easily do without a change in the law, and that the county phase-in rank choice voting, which would allow voters to rank their choices first, second, third and so on.

While rank choice voting would require the state to purchase new voting equipment that can tabulate various forms of balloting, Timothy Male, chairman of the task force, said his group saw rank choice voting as a way to increase the power of an individual’s vote in races with a variety of candidates.

Councilwoman Cherri Branson said voters need a reason, an incentive to head to the polls.

She highlighted how record high spending in the primary also accompanied the low turnout.

“You can’t pay people to be interested,” said Branson (DDist. 5) of Silver Spring. “People will either be interested or not interested depending on the substance of what is happening.

This is truly a problem you can’t throw money at.”

Low turnout has everything to do with whether people believe their vote matters, she said.

The council also is considering legislation to establish a public financing system for elections.

A public hearing on the task force’s report is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23.

A Georgetown University student from Rockville is betting that there are sports fans as eager as he is for the latest news about their favorite teams.

So he did what any enterprising college student with such a vision does: He built a website.

After having to scour the Internet in February for news about a potential trade of Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, Arian Ghashghai, 19, came up with the idea for FourLeagues.com, an online source that automatically aggregates online sports news articles.

“I just had the idea to have the computer do it for me,” he said.

Ghashghai, a graduate of the German School Washington D.C. in Potomac and a rising junior at Georgetown, spent the spring writing code that identifies articles about teams and links to them on FourLeagues.

The website has pages for teams in the four most popular American professional sports leagues — the NBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball — as well as the Premier League in soccer.

The news is customized for each fan’s favorite teams.

Each team page includes links to articles from local general news sources and sports publications such as Grantland and Bleacher Report. For example, one day last week the Washington Nationals page linked to articles from The Washington Post, CSN Washington and the Nationals blog Federal Baseball.

Ghashghai said he is still refining the website, because it is difficult to write

1934603

code that filters out relevant articles from those that only briefly mention teams and players.

For instance, an article might include “Player XYZ, a former member of the Wizards or [Minnesota Timberwolves] or whatever, but that’s not really relevant to those teams,” he said.

In addition, the website allows readers to vote on links to indicate if they find them interesting, a system popularized by the website Reddit.

Popular recent articles are displayed on FourLeagues’ Trending page, and each league also has its own trending page for news relating to the entire sport.

Ghashghai said the technology could be used for other news, too.

“If sports works well, we could expand to other media,” he said.

FourLeagues is a free service, with banner ads on the page. Ghashghai said he has made less than $100 from ad revenue, but he hopes to make more by customizing the ads to the content users read.

“As it grows, I would like to do the [Google advertising service] AdWordstype platform and customize sponsored content,” he said.

That could lead to, for example, ads for a team’s merchandise on that team’s page, he said, which would make the ad space worth more money.

Ghashghai is starting to make other inroads into the professional sports scene.

He said he met Ted Leonsis — a Georgetown alumnus and owner of the Wizards, Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics — when Leonsis spoke to a student group on campus in the spring.

And Monumental Network, the sports news platform owned by Leonsis, has begun featuring a page on its website devoted to content assembled by FourLeagues. ltaylor@gazette.net

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

“If sports works well, we could expand to other media,” says Arian Ghashghai of Rockville, a student at Georgetown University who has created a website that aggregates news about professional sports teams.

T HE G AZ ET T E

Page A-6

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Schools strengthen ties to Puerto Rican university n

Partnership includes internships in county’s classrooms BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

144524G

As part of a growing partnership, Montgomery County Public Schools and a local campus with the Ana G. Mendez University System plan to work together in a county school to benefit both Mendez students and school staff.

The “professional development school” — not yet selected — will host Mendez students who need internship experience and the university will in turn provide training opportunities for the staff, said Inger Swimpson, director of the school system’s Department of Certification and Continuing Education.

After years of conversations between school and university officials, Swimpson said the work at the school, to start this fall, will mark a step in formalizing the relationship between the system and the Puerto Rico university, whose capital area campus is at the Westfield Wheaton mall.

“That’s where we’re starting just to build and establish the partnership and we hope that it grows from there,” Swimpson said.

Syndia Nazario, the campus director, said the university plans to use its expertise working with different cultures to help the school’s staff learn how to be culturally sensitive when working with foreign-born parents and understand their needs.

This won’t be the first time Mendez students get some experience in county school hallways.

In the second semester of this past school year, Swimpson said, two Mendez students pursuing education degrees completed internships

at Burnt Mills Elementary School in Silver Spring.

Two other students studying counseling gained practicum experience in the school system and observed English for Speakers of Other Languages transition counselors, she said.

Nazario said the university’s education students enjoyed working with Latino and other students and the chance to work on their classroom strategies.

Campus officials thought county schools would be a good fit for their students seeking internships, she said, because the education students are bilingual and the school system is looking to close its performance gap between its Latino students and their peers.

The counseling students who earned their practicum experience in the school system were able to work with students in crisis and help parents better understand the school system, Nazario said.

She said the Mendez students can help “empower” the Latino students and parents, and provide services in both English and Spanish.

The university holds an interest in seeing its students work in county schools after they graduate, she said.

“That is the hope and that’s what we’re looking forward to,” she said.

Swimpson said the system sees multiple benefits to continuing its work with the university.

“We believe a partnership would allow their students to experience [Montgomery County Public Schools] and hopefully create professional development opportunities as well as a candidate pool for [the schools] as we look to create a more diverse workforce,” she said. lpowers@gazette.net

County bill aims to help ex-cons work Bill would prohibit employers from initially inquiring about record n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

A movement that began in Hawaii to ban background checks on criminal records from job applications has come to Montgomery County.

The County Council has introduced legislation that would prohibit certain employers from including a check-box on job applications asking applicants if they have a criminal record.

Some employers, including those that work with minors and vulnerable adults, would be exempt.

T h e bill allows conducting a backCouncilwoman ground Cherri Branson check on job candidates only after a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Referred to as “ban the box” legislation, the bill, introduced July 15, strives to give more job seekers a foot in the door and a chance to demonstrate their value instead of being disqualified from the start, Councilwoman Cherri Branson said.

“The law isn’t meant to compel employers to hire anyone they wouldn’t otherwise hire without giving them a fair chance,” Branson (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said in an email.

“It is our hope that moving this inquiry to later in the hiring process will result in employers voluntarily offering opportunities to people wanting to reenter society.”

Branson, a chief sponsor of the bill, said research shows that disclosing a criminal record reduces the chance of getting a job or call back by 50 percent.

While the measure would not restrict employers’ hiring choices, it would give applicants a chance to show their faces, have an interview and make an impression without being prejudged, she said.

Councilman Marc B. Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park, also a chief sponsor, said in a news release that the county cannot afford to perpetuate practices that make it impossible for people who have made mistakes — and have paid for those mistakes — to find a job.

Communities bear significant cost through the social services safety net that helps exconvicts who cannot find employment. The full extent of that cost is not known, Branson said.

“Additionally, there is an economic and social cost engendered by recidivism that falls upon our public safety and corrections system,” she said.

A public hearing on the bill has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 9.

“The law isn’t meant to compel employers to hire anyone they wouldn’t otherwise hire without giving them a fair chance.”

kalexander@gazette.net

InBrief Youth theater group marks 50th year

143701G

Wildwood Summer Theatre, a nonprofit all-youth theater company, is celebrating its 50th season with a production of “Into the Woods.”

The show is being presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday at Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at wst. org.

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page A-7

County: Incubator right Go2College gives Silver Spring students the 411 learn about college, recipe for food startups careersYouthsin summer pilot program n

Proposals sought for project to help entrepreneurs

n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

Like its business incubators for technology, cybersecurity and biotech, Montgomery County hopes a kitchen incubator will help food entrepreneurs thrive in the county.

The county is seeking proposals for a private partner to help “accelerate the commercialization of creations from local food entrepreneurs” by establishing a kitchen incubator, a shared kitchen space food entrepreneurs can use to start their businesses.

“There is a general lack of shared, licensed and inspected kitchen spaces,” said Dan Hoffman, county chief innovation officer, noting that many local food entrepreneurs are on a waiting list to use a kitchen incubator in Washington, D.C. It was the recent shuttering of his friend Gloria Saint’s restaurant The Island Hut after only a few short months that put the idea of a kitchen incubator into Hoffman’s head, he said.

Saint, an information technology specialist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said she started her Jamaican restaurant in 2011 but was forced to close it in 2012.

Unaware that she also needed to pay property taxes on the space she rented for her Wheaton restaurant, Saint said, she was facing thousands of dollars in expenses she could not afford, giving her no choice but to close. In the process, she said, she lost all the equipment she acquired and investment she made to start the restaurant.

“We had a great product that even today people ask me why we closed,” she said. “I have no regret. In fact, I want to do it again. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Hoffman said the idea behind the incubator is to help businesses such as Saint’s get off the ground.

“We’ve got a really skilled and diverse marketplace for these kinds of things,” he said.

“It can be struggle for these folks who have amazing culinary skills but ... not a lot of understanding of what takes to run a food service operation.”

BY

STAFF WRITER

Saba Tesfaye, a 12-year-old rising eighth-grader, considered on Thursday a list of about 20 careers that might be a good fit for her based on her answers to an online questionnaire.

Among the positions — including website designer, journalist, TV host and standup comedian — which ones sounded good?

“I’m very open minded, so a lot of things,” the Eastern Middle School student said.

Saba is one of about 18 Montgomery County Public Schools students who participated in a pilot program July 7 through Friday with a self-explanatory name — Go2College.

The youth’s 10-day experience included exploring ways to prepare for college, what attending college really looks like, and how a degree can be the path to a career.

The program, which served as a camp this summer, was run through a partnership between the nonprofit Passion for Learning and Montgomery College Youth Programs and funded by the Campbell Family Foundation. This summer, it hosted students from Eastern, Sligo, Silver Spring International and Argyle middle schools, all in Silver Spring.

Many would be the first in their family to go to college.

Cynthia Rubenstein, executive director of Passion for Learning, said the program was designed to help the students learn, before they reach high school, more about what a college experience entails and how they can prepare for it.

“It’s become less abstract for them,” she said on the students’ second-to-last day.

They also learned about possible careers that suit their interests.

The youth have participated in Passion for Learning’s after-school programs for students from low-income families. They earned free admission into the camp based on their work in the after-school programs, class attendance and teacher recommendations.

Among a slew of activities, they designed a dorm room, developed resumes, created business cards reflecting a future

Dan Hoffman, county chief innovation officer “But it can be struggle for these folks who have amazing culinary skills but not a lot of capital and not a lot of understanding of what takes to run a food service operation.”

Opening a restaurant, starting a catering company or launching a new food product can be difficult, particularly when considering the massive upfront investment required for obtaining commercial kitchen space, he said. However, business inexperience, technical issues, access to supplies, and testing and distributing the product, plus understanding county regulations, also present challenges.

Saint said she considered opening a food truck after her restaurant closed but the vast restrictions on food trucks deterred her.

Sarah Miller of the county’s Department of Economic Development said the incubator will help entrepreneurs launch their food business by drawing together partners in education, government and private industry to provide support for the startups.

Details such as how many startups the incubator will accommodate and where it will be located have yet to be determined, Hoffman said.

Proposals are due to the county by 3 p.m. July 31. kalexander@gazette.net

1935021

143976G

1932641

1934571

LINDSAY A. POWERS

LINDSAY A. POWERS/THE GAZETTE

Lyric Harris, 14, a rising ninth-grader at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School who attended middle school in Silver Spring, designs a study space at the Go2College camp on Thursday at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. career, deciphered college jargon, visited the Universities at Shady Grove campus in Rockville, and heard presentations from area college and university representatives.

The camp also offered several parent workshops with information and resources to help them learn about college as well, including how they can prepare in the preceding years.

Fourteen-year-old Alyssa Berrios, a rising ninth-grader headed to Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, said her ideal job would be a photojournalist.

Alyssa, who would be the first in her family to graduate from college, said she has learned at the camp about what classes she can take in high school to prepare for college, what a college experience might feel like and which schools could help along an aspiring photojournalist.

Melvin Hodges, 14, said he will be a ninth-grader at Springbrook High School next year and plans to become a video game designer.

“I play a lot of video games,” he said. “I see the worlds people create and I want to create my world, as well.”

At the camp, he said, he learned about a Montgomery College program that could

help him get the programming skills he would need to create those games.

Melvin said he’s also thought about becoming a prosecutor or a criminal defense lawyer and has had the chance to research those positions more in the program.

Rubenstein said that Passion for Learning wants to continue offering the program as a summer camp and also incorporate some parts of it into after-school programs.

Another avenue being explored is a possible pilot that would add the program to the summer school day at Argyle Middle School.

James Paterson, the camp’s lead instructor and a counselor at Argyle, said he’s impressed with the progress the students have made over the two weeks, especially how more kids have a better idea of their career goals.

The camp has helped the idea of college become more concrete for the students, he said. It also has helped them understand that the work they do in the classroom can help improve themselves and their future.

“It changes their thinking about the school,” he said. “They see a reason for it.” lpowers@gazette.net

T HE G AZ ET T E

Page A-8

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Chicago-Rockville bike ride highlights rare disease ‘It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life’ son says of father’s death

n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

On the day Marcy Versel’s husband, Mark, was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy, the two drove home through a driving rainstorm in complete silence.

“It was devastation,” Versel said.

Mark, a healthy, active soccer coach, Cub Scout leader and longtime Rockville resident, had been diagnosed in 2008 with Parkinson’s disease, with the diagnosis later adjusted to a “Parkinson’s-like” illness.

He developed symptoms including rigidity, stiffness in his muscles, low blood pressure and slurred speech.

He underwent speech, physical and occupational therapy to try to stem the symptoms, and refused to let the disease make him an invalid, until he finally became bedridden in the last month before his death, she said.

During much of his illness,

SUBMMITTED PHOTO

From left are Philip Fortier, a board member of the Multiple System Atrophy Coaltion, Malcolm Versel, Neil Versel and New Jersey board member Cynthia Roemer. the couple still went out with friends and tried to keep some semblance of their life in the shadow of the disease.

“I just insisted that we go on living, knowing that he had something terrible,” Marcy said.

But the disease progressed

rapidly, and Mark Versel died in May 2012 at age 68.

This month, their son Neil completed a bike ride from Chicago to Rockville to raise money for research into the illness that killed his father.

The bike ride covered nearly

800 miles, leaving Chicago on July 4 and arriving in Rockville on July 13, Neil Versel said.

For much of the ride, it was just he and his uncle, although they did have some other riders on the first and last day and met up in various towns along the

way with groups that deal with multiple system atrophy and related conditions.

Versel said he came up with the idea for a ride a few weeks after his father died.

One day soon after his father’s death, while cycling around Chicago, where he lives, he realized it was the first time he’d truly felt good in months, he said.

“It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said of watching his father deteriorate.

The ride has raised about $6,000 so far, with more expected, he said.

He also hopes to raise awareness about multiple system atrophy.

Versel said the disease is rare, but not so rare that it should be so obscure.

“Nobody even knows the cause of this disease,” Versel said.

No cure or treatment can be found until doctors know what they’re treating, he said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, multiple system atrophy, sometimes known as Shy-Drager Syndrome, is a neurological disorder that attacks the central and autonomic nervous systems.

Its symptoms are similar to those of Parkinson’s disease, plus problems with coordination and speech, and difficulty breathing, swallowing and sleeping.

There is no cure, although symptoms can be treated to some extent.

Most patients die within seven to 10 years from the onset of symptoms, with respiratory problems the most common cause of death.

According to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, an advocacy nonprofit, the prevalence rate of the disease is unknown.

Multiple system atrophy is one of those diseases that people never hear about until they know someone who has it, Marcy Versel said.

She and her husband had never heard of the disease until he was diagnosed, she said.

While it helped them know what they were facing, it also made the diagnosis that much more imposing.

“That was a horrible thing, because it’s a death sentence, basically,” she said. rmarshall@gazette.net

Nonprofit CEO: We can end homelessness Olney residents report credit card fraud spree Rock takes over at Interfaith Works n

in Rockville

BY LANGSTON TAYLOR SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

The new CEO of Interfaith Works in Rockville brings two decades of experience from around the country to the mission of fighting homelessness in Montgomery County.

Shane Rock of Gaithersburg, former head of the Jewish Social Service Agency in Rockville, took over at Interfaith Works last week .

The graduate of Oberlin College and Vanderbilt University Law School previously worked for nonprofits in Seattle, including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and the Ballard Food Bank, and at a shelter in rural Tennessee.

“Shane is a passionate, experienced advocate for those in need,” said Farley Price, Interfaith Works board chairman, in a news release.

Rock said he’s particularly passionate about homelessness because it’s an obstacle to accessing other services such as health and child care, and job placement.

“It’s really hard to work with someone who doesn’t have a home, because they’re facing so many challenges just to get from day to day,” he said.

“But once you get them in the housing, and they’re stable in

1934564

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

“There is the realistic chance that we can effectively end homelessness in the future here,” says Shane Rock of Gaithersburg, the new CEO of Interfaith Works in Rockville. that housing, then you can start to wrap services around them and provide support.”

Rock said working in Montgomery County presents a rare opportunity to eliminate homelessness.

“There is the realistic chance that we can effectively end homelessness in the future here, because of the resources and because of the way the community is focused on the issue,” he said. “I don’t know that that’s a realistic possibility in lots of other places in the country, but here I think it’s possible.”

Close to 900 county residents, or 0.09 percent of the population, are homeless, according to a May report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The

rate is down 12 percent from last year.

Rock said Montgomery has several advantages over other jurisdictions in fighting homelessness. For one thing, in addition to its wealth, there are fewer organizations to deal with in Montgomery than in Seattle.

“It’s a more manageable set of partners and collaborators that you need to put together to be able to help people,” he said.

Interfaith Works coordinates with many local religious organizations dedicated to social service, said spokeswoman Charlotte Garvey.

“Our foundation is people of different belief systems, but the fundamental idea is, we need to take care of each other,” she said.

The nonsectarian nonprofit works with various religious groups in the area, including Jews, Christians, Buddhists and humanists. Rock oversees a senior staff of five and an annual budget of about $10 million, according to its 2013 financial statement. Besides operating homeless shelters, the organization has a second-hand clothing store, provides backpacks with school supplies for needy children and offers employment services, among its programs.

Rock said he hopes to use his experience with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance to advocate for affordable housing.

“If you don’t have affordable housing, it’s really difficult to transition people from homelessness into an affordable place to live,” he said.

“And Montgomery County is struggling with having enough affordable housing, because it’s such an expensive place to live.”

Rock said he doesn’t yet plan to change much about how the organization is run and hopes others around the country will emulate its work.

“Part of what I hope to accomplish is to make sure that everyone knows about the agency, but also to acknowledge that the approach here can be replicated in other places,” he said. ltaylor@gazette.net

Police investigate ‘skimming’ and encourage victims to file reports n

BY

TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER

More than two dozen Olney-area residents have reported that their credit cards were recently skimmed or otherwise compromised, and are trying to determine if the fraud occurred at a local business.

During the past week, the reports of fraudulent charges made to credit or debit cards have been posted on the OlneyBrookeville Exchange Yahoo Group.

Victims have mentioned various establishments within Olney where they had used their cards, including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and the liquor store, but no common denominator has been determined.

Skimming is the theft of credit card information during an otherwise legitimate transaction. Thieves can obtain card numbers by using basic methods such as photocopying, or more advanced methods such as using a small electronic device to swipe and store card numbers.

Jeff Kivitz of Olney said he used his American Express card to pay for repairs at an auto dealership in Rockville on Saturday. While driving home, he received both a text message and then a phone call from American Express, saying that at the same time of his charge in Rockville, someone tried to make a purchase with his card at a Home Depot in New York.

He’s not sure where his card may have been compromised.

“I use it regularly all over Olney,” he said. “I’m just glad that American Express was on the ball.”

When asked if he would change the way he uses it, he replied, “I don’t know how I would change.”

Debbie Doherty, also of Olney, said that during the past month, both her credit card and her teenage daughter’s debit cards have been fraudulently charged.

She said her card was recently declined when she tried to make a purchase. She called the bank to inquire, and learned that suspicious charges were attempted outside the country, so the account was frozen.

“I never saw the charges, so fortunately I didn’t have to dispute them,” she said.

Her daughter has used her card at multiple Olney locations, and was alerted by her bank last week, after someone tried to use it at several places around the Montgomery County.

Doherty said she and her daughter went back and looked at their charges over the past four months, and could not

“They could have all went to a specific restaurant where a waitress skimmed the numbers, or it could have been something like a cable company where accounts were breached. ” Cpl. Rebecca Innocenti, Montgomery County police spokeswoman determine a single location at which they both used their cards.

She has followed the posts on the Olney-Brookeville Exchange, and said that her experience, along with the number of recent credit card fraud incidents posted by others, may change her habits.

“After reading how easy it is for cards to be skimmed at gas pumps, I think I am only going to pay cash when I buy gas, if possible,” Doherty said.

Montgomery County police spokeswoman Cpl. Rebecca Innocenti said victims of credit card fraud should file a police report by calling the non-emergency number, 301-279-8000.

“That will help the department investigate the crimes, help determine crime trends, and assist victims in talking to the financial institutions,” she said.

Innocenti said that there are a number of ways in which the credit cards could have been compromised.

“They could have all went to a specific restaurant where a waitress skimmed the numbers, or it could have been something like a cable company where accounts were breached,” she said. “At this point, we don’t know how they were compromised, or if there is a commonality.”

Police suggest that individuals monitor their bank accounts carefully; review their credit report each year; use anti-spyware, anti-virus software, firewall protection and a secure browser on computers; be aware of mail theft and don’t leave outgoing mail in mailboxes; and never leave purses unattended, especially in a grocery cart or at a restaurant.

“There are many ways to prevent identity theft,” Innocenti said. “But even if you are proactive, you can still be a victim.” thogan@gazette.net

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Police fatally shoot man who had knife in Silver Spring bank Police say man threatened officers n

BY

PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER

A Montgomery County police officer fatally shot a man who had a knife inside a Silver Spring bank on Tuesday, police said.

At 11:54 a.m., police received a report of trespassing at the Capital One Bank at 8740 Arliss St., Silver Spring, according to

CHURCH

Continued from Page A-1 fundraising efforts. The council decided unanimously to support the cause and wired the Jerusalem charity $2,000 from the church’s $95,000 missions budget.

The council then sent congregation members an email request for donations on Friday.

Tustien appealed directly to the congregation during services on Sunday; by the end of the day, the congregation had raised $1,350.

The money donated by the Bradley Hills congregation will go through the charity to Al Ahli Hospital, one of the last private hospitals still standing in Gaza.

The hospital serves hundreds of people every day, regardless of religious or political background, and even houses the families of those wounded. It treats both psychological and medical trauma.

According to a site review by the delegates of Bishop Suheil, a bishop affiliated with the charity, to sustain its services, the hospital needs $60,000 for fuel, $95,000 for medical supplies, $95,000 for food for patients and their fami-

Lucille Baur, a spokeswoman for the police department.

In a news release, police said a man displayed a knife and was “behaving erratically” in the bank. The man threatened the safety of officers who responded to the call and didn’t respond to officers’ instructions, police said.

One officer shot the man in the torso. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died, police said.

Police identified the man as Donovan Dayton, 54, of Silver

Spring.

Two officers from the Third District who responded to the bank were placed on paid administrative leave while the call is investigated, which is standard procedure, police said.

The officers were not identified on Tuesday. Police said they expect to release the officers’ identities on Wednesday.

Police said two knives were recovered at the scene. pmcewan@gazette.net

“There’s malnutrition, contaminated water and great health care needs.”

Lorraine Nagy of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church lies, $10,000 to repair the ventilation system and $8,000 for communications equipment.

“The hospital has been feeding and housing a large number of people, and is, as a result, desperate for both fuel and food in order to address the needs of the families in addition to the overwhelming need for medical supplies to treat the patients,” said Ann Lynn, president of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese. “We are trying to address those needs as best as we possibly can with the help of tremendously generous congregations like Bradley Hills and others in the Washington area.”

Bradley Hills Church has been in communication with the American Friends charity for about five years and has donated thousands of dollars to its cause.

Most of this money has been

donated through the Angel Gift Tree program, when members of the congregation provide funding to charities through Bradley Hills around Christmas.

“We partnered with the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem because we were looking for an advent gift tree charity in Palestine, especially in Gaza, because of the suffering there,” said Lorraine Nagy, a member of the missions council. “There’s malnutrition, contaminated water and great health care needs. We wanted to know what we could do and how we could help.”

The church will wait another week to wire the congregation’s donations because there is more money coming in from church members every day, according to Amy DeCourt, manager of financial services.

PRINCIPAL

and parents have high expectations for both the staff and their own children.

“I do believe that the parents want their children to be ready to take on the world,” Bradley said. She paused, then laughed.

“That may be middle school, but it’s a bigger world than this one.”

Continued from Page A-1 Bannockburn is small — it has 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to its website — but has a strong partnership with the community, Bradley said. The staff members are passionate about the success of the school,

FIREFIGHTER

Continued from Page A-1 organization asked for his help, along with that of 12 other volunteers. But before they could go, the group had to find a way to fund their deployment. Local chapter representatives turned to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Ben Shor, development coordinator, said the organization requested $50,000 from his group to send 20 firefighters to Israel. The Jewish group already had pledged a year ago to help out if the situation in Israel required help.

A group of Potomac volunteers, led by former emergency medical technician Jonathan Cohen, pushed hard for the funds.

“Two weeks ago, the incidents with the rockets from Gaza began to emerge,” Cohen said last week. “I approached the federation Tuesday, July 8.

I was extremely pleased and proud at how quick and responsive they were.”

The federation’s executive committee called an emergency meeting and decided July 10 to raise money for the effort. Within 48 hours, the group had raised $200,000.

“We spread word of our cause by email, individual phone calls and person-toperson conversations,” said Steve Rakitt, CEO of the Jewish group. “The Jewish community is extraordinarily generous and responsive in times of emergency.”

The Emergency Volunteers Project has a list of more than 500 volunteers who are ready to help in Israel. From these 500, it chose 13 veteran firefighters from across the country who were able to leave immediately.

This group included Katz and another from the Washington area.

The men left July 13 and two days later were deployed to fire stations around Israel, but primarily in the south, where

ewaibel@gazette.net

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

144521G

“Our goal is to prepare our students by preparing our staff and helping them ... really grow and strengthen their professional development,” says Kathryn D. Bradley, new principal of Bannockburn Elementary School in Bethesda.

1935024

Page A-9

1934513

PHOTO FROM ROBERT KATZ

Robert Katz of Potomac, volunteered as a firefighter in southern Israel. the missile attacks were most intense, he said.

Katz started off in Ashdod, where he and a team of firefighters put out a fire at an elementary school that was hit by a missile. The school was empty at the time of impact, but only 40 minutes earlier, it was filled with children for a summer camp.

“We’ve been able to do a lot of good,” Katz said in a telephone interview from Israel last week, during which air raid sirens could be heard in the background. “We’ve been able to lend a hand physically and emotionally. These people are so happy to help us. They have felt alone in their cause, like nobody cares about what is happening there, and when people come all the way from America, it takes away that hunker-down war mentality they’ve been under and lifts their spirits up.”

The Jewish group has enough money to send over eight more volunteers and is ready to do so if they are

needed.

“Whether or not we send the rest of the men is going to be dependent on the situation on the ground,” Shor said.

“We’re still in contact with our volunteers in the U.S., making sure that they’re ready.”

Katz said he thinks the work he and his colleagues are doing in Israel will improve local fire responses back in their home communities.

“We come over here and we’re working with them and helping lightening their tremendous load, while we’re also picking up a lot of tricks of the trade,” Katz said. “When we come here to volunteer, we learn so much. We put this experience into effect at home to make our own local communities safer as well. It’s a winwin.”

He said he has committed to stay in Israel until Wednesday, but wants to return.

“But I hope it’s not for a war,” he said. “I hope it’s just to help with training.”

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Best of Maryland, Sunday

Northwood graduate a pro football player. B-3

SPORTS

Paint Branch takes on WCAC foe St. John’s College in tournament game at Damascus.

BASEBALL: MCBL championship game, 6 p.m. Thursday.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: Takoma Academy vs. National Collegiate, 6:05 p.m. Tuesday at Lamond Rec Center, D.C.

GAMES ON GAZETTE.NET

Posted online by 8 a.m. the following day.

BETHESDA CHEVY CHASE KENSINGTON |

|

www.gazette.net | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | Page B-1

Ripken stars get look by MLB With scouts the stands, 2B scores winning run to earn MVP honors

n

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

Despite nearly 30 Major League Baseball scouts seated behind home plate at Shirley Povich Field July 16, University of Maryland, College Park rising junior second baseman Brandon Lowe, who is playing this summer for the Bethesda Big Train, said there was nothing for him to be nervous about.

Lowe and his teammates on the South All-Stars trailed 1-0 to the North through six innings and had hardly given the scouts or the 754 fans in attendance much to cheer about. But after teammate Logan Farrar walked to start the bottom of the seventh, Lowe delivered the team’s first hit of the contest.

Later, he and Farrar successfully executed a double steal and scored on consecutive groundouts by Jordan Sergent (River Dogs) and Trae Sweeting (Grays). Lowe would essentially score the winning run in the 2-1 victory.

“It was just a thrill to be able to play in this game,” Lowe said. “I had no idea I would be selected as the most valuable player. I didn’t even know they would do that. But it wasn’t that tough playing in front of all the pro scouts. We had a very good year at Maryland and the further we went the more we would see the pro scouts in the stands.

You get used to it after a while.”

Pitcher Ty Culbreth, a rising junior at the University of Texas who is pitching for the Gaithersburg Giants this summer, was in the right place at the right time to earn the win. Culbreth went into the game with two outs and two runners on base in the top of the seventh and helped the South squad escape a serious jam. When Lowe scored the South’s second run in the bottom of the inning, Culbreth was in line for the win and he would eventually get it.

“It was just one of those situa-

Wildcats were 10-0 against boys’ basketball summer league competition n

BY

Major League Baseball scouts watch the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League game on July 16.

“They’re all making great contributions to their teams this summer, which is what I had expected.”

John Szefc, University of Maryland baseball coach tions where I knew at some point I was going in,” said Culbreth, who typically starts for the Giants. “I really wasn’t looking for anyone in particular. I went in there with two outs and two guys on and just knew

I had to get the last out. I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer and then next season at Texas. We had a young team this year and we have almost everybody back.”

“Those games are always a lot

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

of fun,” said Giants’ manager Jeff Rabberman, an assistant on the South squad. “I don’t think people realize the talent level of the guys in this league. Not only are they great players, but we have a lot of really great guys in this league.

Anytime you can be on the winning side it’s that much nicer and when one of my guys gets the win that’s even better.”

University of Maryland baseball coach John Szefc was also in attendance and had the chance to see several of his returning players start in the game. Lowe played second base for the victorious South

STAFF WRITER

1934981

See BASKETBALL, Page B-2

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Rockville High School’s Ben Wiebusch (left) and Landon’s Ryan Schwartz compete in a July 7 St. Andrew’s boys’ basketball summer league game in Potomac.

1 voice, 2 teams

KENT ZAKOUR

Sometime around Sept. 1, 2012, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School football coach Bob Milloy sat down to watch two of college football’s most storied programs, the University of Michigan and Alabama, play in the season-opening Cowboys Classic in Arlington, Texas.

While the longtime successful high school coach relishes football, he tuned in to watch one of his former star players, Blake Countess, start at defensive back for the Wolverines.

What he saw unfold in the game’s opening minutes made him proud and concerned. Early in the first quarter, Countess, on punt coverage, sustained a right knee injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

“I turned on that game to start the season and I was like, ‘Wow! By golly, there’s Blake,’” Milloy said. “I mean, I’ve coached a lot of good players that have gone on to college, but it really was unbelievable watching because those two programs are some of the best in college football history.

The Walter Johnson High School boys’ basketball team had a strong showing this summer in the Montgomery County Department of Recreation Summer League.

The Wildcats finished with a 10-0 record in the regular season before losing in the first round of the playoffs.

It’s only the summer, but the accomplishment is somewhat surprising considering the Wildcats won just two games last winter. Under the direction of new coach Brian Fairall, the players have gained an understated, yet important trait. They’ve learned how to win.

“That was the huge thing, compared to last season where they just didn’t really know how to get wins,” Fairall said. “And now I think they’ve seen that they can win, like it actually is possible that they can win games. So that was encouraging.”

Fairall accepted the position this summer after coaching the junior varsity team for the past eight years. He’s been a teacher at Walter Johnson for a decade.

Fairall said he wants to bring more structure and cohesiveness to the entire basketball program and that appears to be taking place already.

Following the end of last season, the team competed in a spring league, and Fairall said just five or six players would show up for games.

But the summer was different.

See BASEBALL, Page B-2

Defensive back on two of college football’s watch lists BY

PRINCE J. GRIMES STAFF WRITER

Nation keeps a watch on Good Counsel grad n

New coach, new winning attitude at WJ

n

Hired by to coach Landon, Perkins to keep sixth-grade team too BY

ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS FROM U-M PHOTOGRAPHY

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School graduate Blake Countess is expected to be one of the top defensive backs in the country this fall at the University of Michigan.

As coach of the Landon School sixth-grade boys’ basketball team, Rory Perkins had little contact with the varsity and junior varsity players last season. He went to a few practices and attended a few games, but because of timing constraints, he didn’t have the opportunity to familiarize himself with the upper school program, he said.

Hired April as Landon’s new varsity coach, Perkins said that one of his top priorities is ensuring that coaches and players are familiar with the program from the top down, and he has already started trying to bridge the gap between the upper and middle school teams by continuing as coach of the sixth-grade team.

See PERKINS, Page B-2

Page B-10

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Automotive

Page B-11

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

to advertise call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net

CASH FOR CARS!

Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing!

Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647

DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RV’S. LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY.

CA H

FOR CAR !

ANY CAR ANY CONDITION

WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN

INSTANT CASH OFFER

G558265

We pick up and pay cash, no towing fees. Interested in all types of vehicles. Must have title & keys.

Call 443-453-7004

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top

$$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Makes!

Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week.

Call 1-800-905-8332

MAKE UP TO $2,000.00+ PER WEEK! New Credit Card Ready DrinkSnack Vending Machines. Minimum $4K to $40K+ Investment Required.

Locations Available.

BBB Accredited Business. (800) 962-9189

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top

$$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Makes!

Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week.

Call 1-800-959-8518

Highway Patrol Special.

Last driven in 1989. Garaged since.

350 Corvette Engine, Edelbrock high rise, Holley Double Pumper New Headers, Corvette Brakes, heavy duty trans, Diff and suspension. Two door Hatch Back. All parts.

Very unique."one of a kind." Easily Restorable, Best Offer. Call 301-384-8114

2008 SATURN AURA: 4 dr, 55k mi, Sirius, power, seat warmer, leather, sunroof $9k Call: 301-219-3687

2006 CADILLAC C T S : 13K miles.

Fully loaded. White w/tan leather interior. MD inspected Like new. $15,000.

301-424-8809

DARCARS VOLVO OF ROCKVILLE 2005 Honda Civic EX

9,980

#P9013A, 1-Owner, Automatic, Sedan, External Blue pearl

$

2010 Jeep Compass

2004 VW Passat GLS

9,980

#526017A, Automatic, 1-Owner, Sedan

$

2009 Volvo S40 Sedan

SUMMER SAVINGS!

OURISMAN VW $1,000 BONUS

ON ALL 2014 TURBO MODELS

2014 JETTA S

2014 GOLF 2.5L 4 DOOR

2014 BEETLE 2.5L

#7370872, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

#3001704, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Heated Seats, Bluetooth, Cruise Control

#1601415, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Sunroof

MSRP 21,085

MSRP 17,775 BUY FOR

MSRP $21,915

$

$

14,999

$

2014 PASSAT S

BUY FOR

17,995

$

BUY FOR

17,999

$

2014 JETTA SEDAN TDI 2014 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

75 CHEVROLET N O V A California

(301)288-6009

WE BUY CARS

Your donation helps local families with food, clothing, shelter, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA license #W1044. 410-6360123 or www.LutheranMissionSociety.org

YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR WAY AT OURISMAN EVERYDAY

2012 Fiat 500 M/T Crossover

#P9012, Manual, 13k Miles, 1-Owner

12,990

$

2008 Volvo C30

#9009449, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

MSRP 22,765 $

BUY FOR

18,999

$

#7278701, Automatic Power Windows, Power Locks, Bluetooth

MSRP $24,715

BUY FOR

21,299

$

OR 0% for 60 MONTHS

OR 0.9% for 60 MONTHS

2014 TIGUAN S 2WD

2014 GTI WOLFSBURG EDITION

#13595050, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

#4002727, Automatic, Power Windows/ Power Locks, Keyless Entry

$

MSRP $27,285

MSRP 26,685

BUY FOR

21,999

$

OR 0% for 60 MONTHS

BUY FOR

22,927

$

OR 0% for 60 MONTHS

#2806407, 2.5L Turbo, Power Windows/Locks, Power Top

MSRP $26,150 BUY FOR

21,999

$

2014 PASSAT SE TDI

#9094730, Power Windows, Power Locks, Sunroof

MSRP $27,730 BUY FOR

23,829

$

OURISMAN VW WORLD AUTO CERTIFIED PRE OWNED 32 Available...Rates Starting at 1.64% up to 72 months

2009 KIA Rio.....#V230683B, Blue, 105,885 Miles.....................$6,491 2010 Dodge Journey....#V1032C2A, Black, 62,614 Miles.......$12,491 2008 Honda CR-V....#V092531A, Blue, 78,527 Miles...............$13,591 2013 Passat CPO. ....#VPR0053, Maroon, 46,478 Miles...........$14,994 2013 Beetle MT/CPO.....#V063133A, Black, 7,112 Miles.........$15,994 2010 Jetta TDI Sedan.....#V411469A, Red, 35,705 Miles......$16,990 2013 Beetle CPO.....#V000536A, Black, 10,333 Miles.............$16,991 2011 Tiguan SE..........#VP0062, Red, 30,864 Miles.................$17,992

2011 Jetta TDI...........#VP0059, Black, 41,750 Miles................$18,494 2011 GTI.....#VP0065, Gray, 41,445 Miles.................................$18,991 2013 Jetta SEL....#V410519A, Black, 31,625 Miles.................$19,991 2014 Camry SE....#V001251A, Silver, 7,448 Miles...................$20,991 2014 Jetta SEL....#V272749A, Black, 10,320 Miles.................$22,491 2013 CC....#V303995A, Blue, 78,527 Miles...............................$23,991 2014 GTI HB Wolfs....#V537179A, Black, 3,520 Miles..............$24,991 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L.....#V274812A, Silver, 34,278 Miles....$24,994

All prices exclude tax, tags, title, freight and $300 processing fee. Cannot be combined with any previous advertised or internet special. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.

See dealer for details. 0% APR Up To 60 Months on all models. See dealer for details. Ourisman VW World Auto Certified Pre Owned financing for 60 months based on credit approval thru VW. Excludes Title, Tax, Options & Dealer Fees. Special APR financing cannot be combined with sale prices. Ends 07/31/14.

Ourisman VW of Laurel 3371 Fort Meade Road, Laurel

1.855.881.9197 • www.ourismanvw.com Online Chat Available...24 Hour Website • Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-9 pm • Sat 9 am-8 pm #460053C,SportSUV, Auto,BrightSilver,2.4L

13,990

$

2008 BMW Z4 3.0I Coupe

#526544, Automatic, 48K Miles

21,690

$

2012 Chrysler 200 LTD

#526055A, 1-Owner, Convertible, 20K Miles

24,980

$

#526546, 2.4L, Automatic, Sunroof, 1-Owner

15,980

$

2011 Infiniti G25 Sedan

#P9028, 1-Owner, Auto, 42K miles, Blue Slate

21,980

$

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

#P8998A, 1-Owner, 2SS Coupe, 6.2L V8 Engine

24,980

$

#G0025, Auto, 2.5L Turbo I5, Coupe

17,980

$

2008 Infiniti G37 Journey Coupe

#526316A, 3.7L V6, Automatic, 47K Miles

22,590

$

2012 Volvo S60 T5 Sedan

#P9048, Certified, 1-Owner, 29K Miles, Auto

25,990

$

2005 Volvo S40 Sedan..........................................................$8,980 2008 Audi A6 Quattro Sedan................................$21,980 #426042B, Automatic, Black, 2.4L

#526519A, Automatic, 3.2L V6 Engine

2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT ...........................................$15,990 2011 Nissan Rogue SV SUV..................................$21,990 #N0434, Automatic, 2LT Sedan, 1-Owner

#526514A, 1-Owner, Black Amethyst, Automatic, 17K Miles

#526014A, Auto, 15K Miles, Sports Sedan

#526037A, Automatic, 29K Miles, 1-Owner

#429020B, Auto, 1-Owner, White, 3.2L SUV

#P9070, Certified, 1-Owner, Moonroof, 16K Miles, Auto, Black

2011 Mazda Mazda 3...........................................................$15,990 2011 Acura TSK Sedan...................................................$23,980 2008 Volvo XC90.........................................................................$15,990 2012 Volvo T5 Sedan...........................................................$26,990

DARCARS

VOLVO

15401 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD

www.darcarsvolvo.com

1.888.824.9165 DARCARS G558285

See what it’s like to love car buying.

YOUR GOOD CREDIT RESTORED HERE

Looking for a new ride?

Log on to Gazette.Net/Autos to search for your next vehicle!

G558283

2012 HARLEY ROADKING: Hard Saddlebag, Engine 1690, 10,750 mi, Great condition, $13k 240-812-2034

Page B-12

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page B-13

DARCARS NISSAN DARCARS

2003 Nissan Altima S

7,977

$

#P9042A, Automatic, Sedan

See what it’s like to love car buying.

2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer

10,977

$

#P9055A, Auto, Leather, LT SUV

2014 NISSAN VERSA NOTE S

MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

$14,975 $12,995 -$500 -$500

11,995

$

2009 Pontiac G6 Sedan

#11454 2 At This Price: VINS: 410059, 425457

#340192A, Automatic, “Ltd Avail”, Nuance Leather

2014 NISSAN SENTRA$19,585 SV MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

#12114 2 At This Price: VINS: 248407, 246768

14,495

17,995

Selling for Looking

MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

2014 NISSAN MURANO S AWD MSRP: $31,755

choices?

G558284

$22,960 $19,995 -$500 -$500

$26,995 -$3,500 -$500 -$500

22,495

$

12,977

$

2013 KIA RIO LX Sedan

13,977

$

#441519A, 1-Owner, Auto, 29K Miles

2012 Nissan Altima 2.5L Sedan

14,977

$

#446025A, Automatic, 1-Owner

2011 Toyota Camry LE Sedan

15,977

$

#445125A, Auto, Alloys, Sunroof, 34K Miles, 1-Owner

18,995

$

#29014 2 At This Price: VINS: 201149, 706165

Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash: Murano Bonus Cash:

11,977

$

#13114 2 At This Price: VINS: 390386, 903681

2014 NISSAN ROGUE SELECT AWD

Your Car just economical got easier!

2009 Kia Sedona EX #441090A, Automatic, 1-Owner, Minivan

$23,815 $19,995 -$1,500 -$500

$

2008 Volkswagen Passat #P9007B, Turbo Sedan, Automatic

$15,995 -$1000 -$500

$

2014 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S

MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

10,977

$

2011 Nissan Altima 3.5L SR Sedan

18,977

$

#P8986, Leather, Sunroof, 1-Owner, 18K Miles

#23214 w/Bluetooth 2 At This Price: VINS: 506225, 507007

2012Mercedes-BenzC-ClassC250Sport #E0338, Automatic, RWD, Navigation, Sunroof, 1-Owner

26,977

$

www.DARCARSnissan.com

DARCARS NISSAN of ROCKVILLE

DARCARS NISSAN of ROCKVILLE

888.824.9166 • www.DARCARSNISSAN.com

888.805.8235 • www.DARCARSNISSAN.com

15911 Indianola Drive • Rockville, MD (at Rt. 355 across from King Farm) Prices include all rebates and incentives. NMAC Bonus Cash requires financing through NMAC with approved credit. Prices exclude tax, tags, freight (cars $810, trucks $860-$1000), and $300 processing charge. Prices valid only on listed VINS. See dealer for details. Offer expires 07/31/2014.

15911 Indianola Drive • Rockville, MD (at Rt. 355 across from King Farm)

BAD CREDIT - NO CREDIT - CALL TODAY!

Search Gazette.Net/Autos

2014 NEW COROLLA LE

NEW2 2014 COROLLA LE AVAILABLE: #470763, 470769

99/ MO**

$

SIZZLING $15,590 SUMMER NEW 2014 PRIUS C SALE CONTINUES!

4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

AFTER $500 REBATE

NEW 2014.5 CAMRY LE

2 AVAILABLE: #477547, 477561

2 AVAILABLE: #472569, 472539

$

149/ MO**

17,840

$

4 CYL., AUTO

2 AVAILABLE: #472582, 472533

2 AVAILABLE: #477607, 477470

149/ MO**

18,690

$ 4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

NEW 22014 RAV4 4X4 LE AVAILABLE: #464334, 464350 MONTHS+ % 0 FOR 60 On 10 Toyota Models

169/mo.**

4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO

AUTO, 4 CYL., 4 DR

AFTER TOYOTA $1,500 REBATE

NEW 2014 SCION XD 2 AVAILABLE: #453043, 453044

$

HATCHBACK 4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL.,

NEW 2014.5 CAMRY LE

NEW 2014 PRIUS PLUG-IN

$

4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.

DARCARS

See what it’s like to love car buying

22,390

$

4 CYL., AUTOMATIC

AFTER $500 REBATE

1-888-831-9671

15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD n OPEN SUNDAY n VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.355Toyota.com

G558282

36

2 AVAILABLE: #470683, 470709

PRICES AND PAYMENTS INCLUDE ANY APPLICABLE MANUFACTURE’S REBATES AND EXCLUDE MILITARY ($500) AND COLLEGE GRAD ($500) REBATES, TAX, TAGS, DEALER PROCESSING CHARGE ($200) AND FREIGHT: CARS $795 OR $810, TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND SIENNAS $810, $845 AND $995. *0.9% APR & 0% APR FINANCING UP TO 60 MONTHS TO QUALIFIED BUYERS THRU TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. TOTAL FINANCED CANNOT EXCEED MSRP PLUS OPTIONS, TAX, AND LICENSE FEES. 0% APR 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $16.67 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. 0.9% APR 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $17.05 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. APR OFFERS ARE NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER CASH BACK OR LEASE OFFER. NOT ALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY.**LEASE PAYMENTS BASED ON 36 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES PER YEAR WITH $995 DOWN PLUS $650 ACQUISITION FEE, NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. 2014 COROLLAU & PRIUS PLUG-IN LEASES ARE FOR 24 MONTHS WITH $995 DOWN. EXPIRES 07/31/2014.

Page B-14

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

G558280

T HE G AZ ET T E

WATCH

Countess said the time away

process — he didn’t resume full

practice activities until the 2013 fall camp — allowed his mental understanding of the nuances of the game and playbook to significantly increase.

The speedy two-year letterman has appeared in 26 games with 20 starts at Michigan. He’s made 90 tackles (56 solo, 3.5 for loss), forced one fumble, secured six interceptions and made 10 pass defenses. Earlier this month, he was named as one of 39 players to the Jim Thorpe Award and one of 81 student-athletes to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch lists. The Thorpe and Nagurski trophies are given annually to the nation’s top defensive back and defensive player, respectively. “[The ACL injury] was very tough for me at first,” Countess said. “I didn’t really understand

will be able to make, being that sixth graders are just entering the middle school so I’ll be right there with them,” Perkins said.

“Between [the middle school coaching and teaching jobs], and just having them be a part of what we do in the high school ... I just want them to know that they’re a big part of what we’re doing there.”

A dual middle-high school coach is rare, though not unprecedented in Montgomery County private school basketball. Bullis School boys’ coach Bruce Kelley, who leads the var-

sity and eighth grade team, said middle-school practices are part of the class schedule, running four times a week at 2 p.m. and concluding before the varsity practices begin. Kelley said Bullis’ basketball game schedule allows him to lead all his eighth grade and varsity teams.

Five of last year’s Bullis varsity members had played on the eighth-grade team and six of former middle-school athletes are expected to play varsity in the winter. The advantage, Kelley said, is that it allows him to better connect with his players,

calling it “an extra year of establishing a relationship.”

“You get to help them grow up and as you get to know them later, you have years and years of a personal tie,” Kelley said. “...

The basketball part, it’s certain there are some gains there but it is far more instructional than competitive. How it helps me is those boys get to become varsity players.”

Landon struggled this summer, going 1-9 in the St. Andrew’s Summer League and 2-7 the Flint Hill League, but senior Vincent Steis, one of four re-

Continued from Page B-1 When you go out the year before as a freshman and start for Michigan that’s a heck of an accomplishment. I definitely am proud of him.”

Countess, who lettered and started the final six games in Ann Arbor during his freshman season (2011), ended up missing the rest of his sophomore year due to the injury and redshirted. He returned to his starting spot last fall and earned first team (media) and second team (coaches) AllBig Ten postseason honors.

“As a freshman [in high school], I never thought I would be here,” Countess said during a phone interview last week. “... I

PERKINS

Continued from Page B-1 “That’s a big thing,” said Perkins, who replaces Andy Luther. “We’re all in it together. Everyone should know everyone.

We’re a basketball family.”

Perkins, 45, coached at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes from 1996-2002 and then led the freshman team at Flint Hill from 2003-13 before he was hired as an eighth grade math teacher at Landon.

“The connections that I

BASKETBALL

Continued from Page B-1 “We actually had people showing up, which was encouraging,” Fairall said. “We had a lot of games with nine, 10, 11 players. So, I think the commitment level is better and we’re headed in the right direction.”

Rising seniors Paul Green, Dongchen Li, Chris Espejo and Alex Perim are all expected to return and anchor the team.

Fairall said he already knows each players’ talents well enough from coaching them on the junior varsity level. The reason for the Wildcats actually winning, Fairall said, is due to improved execution and point guard play.

Rising junior Michel Mahdavi led Fairall’s 10-5 junior varsity team until a late-

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

PHOTO FROM U-M PHOTOGRAPHY

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School graduate Blake Countess is expected to be one of the top defensive backs in the country this fall at the University of Michigan. keep taking steps forward.”

from the field and rehabilitation

season promotion, where he became the varsity team’s starting point guard. He played in every game for them this summer.

“When the ball’s in his hands, usually good things happen,” Fairall said. “He can handle the ball, he doesn’t turn it over, makes free throws.”

Added Green: “He controls the pace of the game well. When it’s getting out of control or playing to the other team’s tempo, he’s good at slowing the game down and getting us into our plays.”

Green was the team’s second leading scorer last season, averaging almost 10 points a game, but Fairall said his best attribute is his defense.

“My role has to increase,” Green said. “I have to be more vocal. Last year, we had a senior who was pretty much the

vocal captain of the team, but this year I have to be more vocal. [I have to] learn how to slow the game down in clutch situations and just be a leader in practice — that’s where it starts.”

Whether Fairall can turn the program around in one season, he said, depends on ones definition of “turn around.”

“Realistically, we should be close to a .500 team, at least,” Fairall said. “I think one of our goals is always just to compete with the teams that are near us, our rivals.

So, I think if we’re competing well against [Winston] Churchill and [Walt] Whitman and [Thomas S.] Wootton and [Bethesda-Chevy Chase], the guys will be very happy.” pgrimes@gazette.net

and thought my career was done. ... Injury adversity also helped make me hungrier.

Milloy said he knew Countess, a blue-chip recruit at Good Counsel and a U.S. Army AllAmerican game participant, was going to be a star early on in his career. He had Countess play defensive back and wide receiver, as well as return kicks and punts, throughout high school.

“Of the 48 minutes in a game, he played 47 of them for us,” Milloy said. “He was a hard worker, smart and never complained; just one of those blue collar guys.

It’s no accident or fluke that he is where he’s at now.”

Countess, who has two years of eligibility remaining and is allowed to enter the National Football League Draft next year,

said he is solely focused on helping Michigan improve on a disappointing 7-6 (3-5 in Big Ten) season this fall. The Wolverines defense ranked 41st in the country last year (371.5 yards per game allowed) and 66th in points given up per contest (26.8).

“Last year wasn’t acceptable at all,” he said. “We have to get better as a defense and secondary. ... I’m expecting big things.”

Milloy believes there are big things ahead for his former star.

“There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to be in the [NFL] one day,” Milloy said.

“He’s a great player and even a better, special kid. I can’t say enough positive things about him.”

turning varsity players, said the Bears have shown glimpses of improvement this offseason.

“I’ve already seen signs of good play,” said Steis, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard. “A lot of these kids haven’t played varsity yet but they’re still working hard and I think we’re going to win some games.”

Steis said he is hoping the team can progress after last season’s winless Interstate Athletic Conference campaign.

“We just all need to get in the gym, get in the weight room and work on our skills individually.”

Steis said. “And once we come together as a team in the winter, that’ll really help boost our team chemistry.”

Luther stepped down in March after an eight-year tenure that included two IAC titles.

He remains a teacher at the Bethesda school, according to Perkins. Coaching spots for the middle school teams have not been finalized; Luther led Landon’s eighth grade team last season, Perkins said.

squad while Nick Cieri (Redbirds) was the starting catcher for the North team. Tayler Stiles (Big Train) was selected for the game but did not attend.

“It’s great to see all three of these guys doing well this summer,” Szefc said. “They’re all making great contributions to their teams this summer, which is what I had expected.

Tayler is coming off a solid freshman season for us and he’s getting a lot more chances to start and pitch more innings here this summer. I can’t wait to have all those guys back next year.”

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Walter Johnson High School’s Paul Green is expected to be one of the Wildcats’ leaders this winter.

VA/FHA RATE 30 YEARS FIXED @ 3.750%-APR 3.8311% LOANS FROM $417,001 TO $625,000 CONVENTIONAL LOAN AMOUNT TO $417,000

30 YEARS @ 4.250%-APR 4.299% 15 YEARS @ 3.125%-APR 3.297%

NOW OFFERING 95% FINANCE ON LOANS TO $625,500 AND NO MI Rates subject to change without further notice

100% FINANCE - VA LOAN - 30 YEARS - 3.750%-APR 3.802% 95% FINANCE AND NO MORTGAGE INSURANCE NOW HIRING LOAN OFFICER AND LOAN PROCESSORS

tblack@gazette.net

CALL(301) 881-5555 FOR FREE CONSULTATION

HELIO SOUZA NMLS #13003

www.americatrustfunding.com

***OTHER LENDERS PROMISE GREAT SERVICE, AMERICA TRUST FUNDING GUARANTEES IT***

We make sure you will get the best interest rate.

1932636

Call this provider today for your mortgage needs!

NMLS 1522

egoldwein@gazette.net

Continued from Page B-1

FEATURED LENDER/BROKER

30 YEARS @ 3.875%-APR 4.198% 15 YEARS @ 2.875%-APR 3.098% AND 5/1 ARM @ 2.50%-APR 2.673%

kzakour@gazette.net

BASEBALL

1934984

Page B-2

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page B-3

Northwood grad goes pro in Canada n

Defensive end enjoying playing with British Columbia Lions BY

KENT ZAKOUR STAFF WRITER

Alex Bazzie said he loves football, and for as long as he is physically able to, the 2008 Northwood High School graduate said he plans to play the sport he loves for a living.

His path to professional football, however, has been a long one.

Coming out of high school, Bazzie dreamed of playing at the Division I college level, but instead of heading to the University of Maryland in College Park, where he was heavily recruited, Bazzie failed to meet the NCAA’s academic requirements for incoming freshmen so he never received an official scholarship offer.

He could’ve gone to a lowerdivision school, but he didn’t settle, opting to enroll at Fork Union Military Academy for a year in hopes of improving his grades and test scores and earning offers.

Bazzie’s academic life improved and he received attention and interest from several major Division I programs,

PHOTO FROM MARSHALL ATHLETICS

Northwood High School graduate and former Marshall University defensive lineman Alex Bazzie is beginning a professional football career in the Canadian Football League with the B.C. Lions. but no big school had a scholarship available for him. Eventually, Bazzie, who starred at running back and linebacker in high school before moving to defensive end in college, decided to walk on at Marshall (W. Va.) University.

Now, five years later, Bazzie is under contract in the Canadian Football League as a defensive lineman for the British Columbia Lions. He is also Northwood’s first professional football player since at

least 2006, when the school reopened, according to Dennis Harris, Bazzie’s high school coach and longtime mentor.

“I love the game and I’m still chasing my dream [of playing in the National Football League],” said Bazzie, who played youth football for the White Oak Warriors after moving to the United States from Liberia when he was 5. “... Things didn’t work out in Cleveland [with the Browns] so I figured I’d go to the next best

football league, the CFL, and try my hand with that.”

Following a redshirt season in 2009 at Marshall, Bazzie’s talent began to show up on the field. After playing sparingly off the bench in 2010, he saw action in every game the following season before becoming a starter for his final two collegiate campaigns. Last fall, he recorded 66 tackles (13 for loss) with two sacks and eight quarterback hurries for the Thundering Heard.

“Alex has worked so hard — on the field and in life — to fulfill his aspirations,” said Harris, who added that he talks or texts with his former student-athlete on a weekly basis. “I always talk to him and tell him to go somewhere you feel comfortable and he has.

I’m very proud and excited for him.”

This spring, Bazzie had hoped to be selected in the NFL Draft and ended up signing as a rookie free agent with

the Cleveland Browns in May. But he quickly realized that his best opportunity to play pro football would be to look for opportunities in the CFL. After attending a handful of combines, the 6-foot-1, 228-pound pass rusher signed with the Lions in late May and has been living in Canada since. Through four games (2-2 record) this summer, he has recorded nine tackles and two sacks.

“Things are starting to slow down,” Bazzie said about his adjustment to the larger field, fewer downs and different style of play in the CFL vs.

American football. “There’s no real major difference other than a few rule changes. ...

Football is football.”

Bazzie, who hopes to get another opportunity in the NFL but is realistic about the difficult task, is living in Vancouver by himself and said he has enjoyed his first Canadian experiences so far. He added that his teammates have been very welcoming and that the area’s atmosphere is much like living in the U.S. “I always like to compete at the highest level,” Bazzie said. “... I’m just focused on the B.C. Lions for now.” kzakour@gazette.net

Springbrook quarterback is slowing down in the pocket Rising senior hopes to lead Blue Devils to playoffs in third year

back Terrence Caudle, top receivers Antonio Lee, Isaiah Eisendorf and Baki Akbar, as well as linebacker Tatah Ndeh (All-Gazette second team) and defensive back Sherwyn Benjamin (honorable mention).

Spingbrook third-year coach Adam Bahr said this year’s team might not have a player “who could take it to the house,” but because of the experience under center, and the continuity elsewhere, he is optimistic about where the offense is heading.

“You can see the growth over each of the last two years,” Bahr said. “I kind of have the early feeling that we may be a team without superstars but

n

BY

ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

It’s not the throws that Springbrook High School quarterback Neiman Blain is making; instead, it’s the ones he’s not.

Heading into his third and final varsity season, the 6-foot-2 rising senior has been taking care of the football, throwing the ball out of bounds when necessary and looking more relaxed and comfortable overall in summer passing league, teammates said.

“I’ve seen him make better decisions,” senior Clinton Ngang said. “Even though it doesn’t please the crowd, it’s the safer thing. ... I think he’s stepping up to the plate.”

Blain threw eight touchdowns in the fall, helping the Blue Devils average 20.6 points per game.

“The game is a lot slower

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Springbrook High School rising senior quarterback Neiman Blain throw against Aberdeen Sunday at Towson. and a lot easier,” said Blain, a left-handed passer. “... The routes, the defense, everything, it seems way easier.”

Added senior Jabree Ray: “He’s more patient now. Before he would kind of rush things ... now he’s steadier in

the pocket.”

A consistent season from a veteran quarterback could be exactly what the Blue Devils need after graduating some of their top playmakers from last year’s 5-5 team. The 18 seniors included lead running

KEEPING IT BRIEF Springbrook hires new coach

Good Counsel grad named to World Cup roster

Springbrook High School has hired Russell Davis to coach the girls’ basketball team. Davis comes with high school and college coaching experience, having led the Academy of the Holy Cross and the Bowie State University women’s teams.

“He has extensive experience and great recommendations. We feel pretty fortunate,” Athletic Director Rob Wendel said.

Davis replaces Tonya Banks, who stepped down at the end of the school year, Wendel said.

Springbrook went 3-20 last season.

On Thursday, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School girls’ soccer team’s all-time leading scorer and Harvard University rising sophomore Margaret “Midge” Purce was named to U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team coach Michelle French’s 21-player World Cup roster.

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is set for Aug. 5-24 in Canada. Purce was a member of the U.S. team that won the 2012 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship in Guatemala and qualified for the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, according to the U.S. Soccer website — she started all three games and was the team’s second-leading scorer with three goals during qualifying.

— ERIC GOLDWEIN

Gaithersburg baseball players D-I bound Gaithersburg High School rising junior Nick Pantos recently verbally committed to the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the second returning Trojans’ player to commit to a college, joining left-handed pitcher Anthony Felitti (Virginia).

“I have two juniors who have already committed to Division I programs two years before they graduate,” Gaithersburg coach Jeff Rabberman said. “I guess the pressure’s really on me now. ...

I imagine the expectations for Gaithersburg baseball just got that much higher.”

— TED BLACK

— JENNIFER BEEKMAN

Whitman grad, WJ golfer win tournament Andrew Barth, a recent Walt Whitman High School graduate, won the 55th Bobby Gorin Memorial golf tournament for the 16-18 age group on Friday at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville. The Bobby Gorin Memorial is an event held by the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association.

The three day match-play tournament saw Barth advance through four rounds of competitors before defeating Mike Blasey 3-and-2 on the final day. The

14-15 group was won by Taso Scilaris, a rising junior at Walter Johnson. He defeated Nick Rentsch 5-and-3 on Friday.

— PRINCE J. GRIMES

Another day, another Ledecky record Rising Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart senior Katie Ledecky swam yet another personal best (1 minute, 55.79 seconds) en route to a win in the 200-meter freestyle Friday at the Potomac Valley Long Course Senior Championships. The time beat the previous FINA Junior World Record she set earlier in the summer.

Missy Franklin still holds the National Age Group 17-18 all-time record (1:54.81) but Ledecky, currently the world’s best distance freestyler with world records in the 800 and 1,500 freestyle, continues to threaten the top of middle distance as well.

Our Lady of Good Counsel graduate and University of Texas rising sophomore Jack Conger won the men’s 200 freestyle with a personal-best 1:49.97 Friday.

Conger also won the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly over the weekend.

Other notable results from the championship include rising Georgetown Prep senior Carsten Vissering’s wins in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and rising Sherwood junior Morgan Hill’s sweep of the sprint freestyle events (50, 100).

— JENNIFER BEEKMAN

it might be the best chemistry that we’ve had in my years as a head coach.”

Players such as Ngang, Ray and senior running back Tyler Stewart are expected to take on greater responsibilities on offense.

“Last year we had a couple young receivers that didn’t really get the chance to show what they can do,” Blain said.

“Now, with Jabree and [other receivers] I think they’re going to fill the role.”

Ngang said he expects to have more rushing attempts this season while helping block, and playing on defense and special teams.

“Any way I can do to help

the team for the bigger goal and bigger picture I’ll be willing to do it,” Ngang said.

The Blue Devils have gone 9-11 with Blain under center and Bahr on the sidelines, missing the playoffs both seasons. Their season-opener is scheduled for Sept. 5 at Paint Branch.

“I just want to get in the playoffs,” Blain said. “It’s my senior year. I just want to play one game, hopefully have home advantage, I can play in front of my home stadium in late November, hoping to get a ‘W.’” egoldwein@gazette.net

T H E G AZ ET T E

Page B-4

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

After successful summer, St. Andrew’s eager for winter n

Lions looking to challenge for the league championship

BY PRINCE J. GRIMES STAFF WRITER

In its inaugural season, the St. Andrew’s Summer League impressed many as one of the most organized and wellrun high school boys’ basketball training grounds in the nation.

From June 2 to July 17, 12 Montgomery County Public School programs and three local private schools were among the 16 that participated. There was a firstclass website to promote the league, completewithup-to-the-minutegameresults, standings and leaderboards. There was even a live Twitter feed.

“I definitely want to say that from the referees, down to the opposing coaches, they were phenomenal,” St. Andrew’s Episcopal coach and league organizer Kevin Jones said. “I respect all the head coaches that we had in the league. The competition was great. I thank our sponsor, Hoop Culture, who helped us with a lot of things. But I think overall it was a success.”

The care and precision put into running the league is the same effort that Jones gives when it comes to running his team. And even though the host coach said he wanted to win the league in its first season, Jones said it was a good summer overall for the Lions.

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School rising senior Marcus Adkison is expected to be the Lions top returning player.

St. Andrew’s went 8-2 and made it to the semifinals, where they lost to the eventual league champion, Quince Orchard.

“We were missing guys all the way through the playoffs,” Jones said, referring to players missing due to Amateur Athletic Union commitments. “Should have advanced [past] the semifinals but we’re

happy with it. Everybody’s got things they need to work on, and we are no different.”

Since Jones took over the program in 2011, the team has been on an upward trajectory improving with each season.

And the Lions are returning a sizeable nucleus from last season’s 18-win team.

Their best player from last season, recent graduate Cedric McFadden, is now

with Concordia College in New York. But leading scorer, Marcus Adkison, is among the returning players.

Adkison averaged more than 17 points last season and has displayed a concerted effort to be a distributor this summer since he’ll be transitioning over to McFadden’s point guard position.

“I like doing both, but at the same time, I do whatever it takes to win,” Adkison said. “So if I need to score, I’m going to score. But I also want to get my teammates involved so we all can be rolling, not just me.”

Jones said that Adkison is being recruited by at least five Division I schools.

“While he has led our team in scoring two years in a row, we challenged him this summer,” Jones said. “We’ve got other guys who can score the ball. If he’s scoring 25 points a game, that’s probably not a good sign for us. But he’s the kind of player, and being recruited at that level, because he can score 15 points in a game and get five or six assists and guard the other teams best perimeter player or guard. And that’s what makes him a special player.”

Adkison should join rising seniors Jacob White and Myles Law and rising juniors Tyler Stewart and George Muresan as returning players expected to contribute more. Jones added there are a number of other players who he suspects can give them an added boost.

Adkison said this team can be better thanlastyear’steambecauseofthebroth-

erhood that exists between the players and they all have a common goal of winning the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference championship.

“I’ll knock down my mama to get that championship,” Adkison said.

Jones wants them to establish a sense of ownership of this current team, rather than live off of the success of last season.

“The team we have returning hasn’t won a game yet. So those guys can’t live in the past,” Jones said. “They really need to work hard and get better. And that’s what the summer was good for us this year.

Having guys that normally wouldn’t be asked to contribute so much have to step up and play, with the departure of our four seniors.”

The summer also provided St. Andrew’s with the opportunity to play against more public schools.

“I just think it’s good to see that we’re able to compete at this level,” Jones said.

“When I took this job three years ago, we couldn’t beat Montgomery County PublicSchools.Now,havingbeatSpringbrook during our regular season last year — being able to beat public school’s in this county just shows how our program has grown over time. ... That’s all I want to see as a coach — growth and improvement.

And we’re definitely improving and growing as a program.” pgrimes@gazette.net

Former local softball stars to represent Maryland against Team USA RM, Poolesville graduates hope exhibition game gives visibility to sport

n

BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER

When 2012 Richard Montgomery High School graduate Ashley Fourcade was younger, she said she had every intention ofplayingsoftballforTeamUSAin the Olympics one day. Then, her parents quickly informed her that no matter how hard she worked thatwouldneverhappensincethe InternationalOlympicCommittee voted in 2005 to drop softball from the event in 2012.

Several years ago, the IOC

1934516

voted to keep the sport out of the 2016 Games (softball was contested in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008), but now, there is a push underway — and a possibility, Hood College coach Terry Burdette said — to bring it back for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The news of softball’s expulsion from the high profile international competition was devastating, Fourcade said, and it made her question where the sport could take her, or any other young softball player aspiring to represent her country at the highest level in the sport she’d grown up playing.

Despite softball’s exclusion from the Olympics, wearing a USA jersey is still an honor for the nation’s best athletes with the U.S.

Women’s Softball National Team, which still competes internationally. In fact, the U.S. is coming off a win July 13 at the 2014 World Cup of Softball. Plus, there is a 12-yearold competitive professional league: National Pro Fastpitch.

On Tuesday, Fourcade, who broke Hood College’s all-time home run record in 2014 as a sophomore, and 2012 Poolesville High School graduate Patti Maloney, who became Fordham University’s closer this spring, are set represent Maryland in an exhibition game against Team USA as the national team prepares for the 2014 International Softball Federation Women’s World Championship, scheduled for Aug. 15-24 in Haarlem, Netherlands.

The game is scheduled for

7 p.m. at the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf and should be held in conjunction with the Amateur Softball Association of American 10-and-Under, 12-U and 14-U Class “B” Eastern Nationals.

“Playing a team of the best [women] in the entire country is not an opportunity many people get, so, win or lose, it’s a win for me,” Maloney said. “I’m going into it with a kind of ‘see what you can do as a player against those girls that are the best’ type of attitude.”

Fourcade and Maloney were two of just 16 players selected to the Maryland roster. Personal excitement aside, the two said Tuesday’s game and the national players’ accessibility at a clinic run

1934515

byTeamUSA,scheduledforMonday in Waldorf, should provide important visibility to the sport and opportunities to pursue it at the highest level.

Despite the exponential growth of women’s sports in general since the 1972 passing of Title IX, there still aren’t many opportunities for women to make a comfortable living in professional sports. Softball has to compete with more high profile career paths in tennis, basketball and soccer. Maloney said it’s important to show young girls they can have dreams and aspirations to work for in softball that extend even beyond college.

Non-Olympic sports tend to struggle more financially as IOC funding is cut, national organiza-

tions focused on Olympic medals avoid involvement and marketing tends to decline. But women’s fastpitch softball does seem to be on the rise, which many coaches attribute to the increased television coverage of college softball on the ESPN networks in recent years. Earlier this month, National Pro Fastpitch announced that 18 games — triple the league’s previous coverage, according to the league’s website — are set to air on CBS Sports Network this summer. “[Tuesday’s game] and especially having softball on TV definitely helps spread the word,” said Germantown native and rising University of Missouri sophomore Tori Finucane. jbeekman@gazette.net

T HE G AZ ET T E

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page B-5

School panel: Get rid of credit cards for members Outside review finds ambiguities, but no intention of personal misuse n

BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

The Montgomery County school board should stop letting its members use district-issued credit cards entirely, a board committee said Tuesday.

The ad hoc committee has been examining guidelines and practices for members’ expenses and use of these cards.

During their June 12 meeting, the panel’s members had discussed scaling back acceptable uses so board members would be allowed to use cards only for expenses related to travel outside the county.

On Tuesday, they went a step further.

“That’s really a very limited universe of events in that situation,” said school board Presi-

dent Philip Kauffman after the committee met Tuesday. “We didn’t really see the need to have the credit cards just for those situations.”

The committee comprises Kauffman, Vice President Patricia O’Neill and member Michael Durso.

Kauffman said the recommendation to nix the cards also was in response to a report disclosed Tuesday by attorneys who conducted an independent review.

Karl Racine, an attorney from Venable LLP who led the review, said at Tuesday’s meeting that getting rid of the credit cards “should eliminate the possibilities of mistakes.”

“It is the conclusion of our independent investigation that no board member sought to intentionally take board money for their own personal use,” Racine said.

Mistakes made “on a repetitive basis,” he said, were due to “carelessness and, frankly, slop-

piness and lack of rigor.”

Venable’s review focused on the time period from January 2012 to March 2014 and found multiple weaknesses.

Briefing the committee members on the report, Racine said the current guidelines and practices are “inconsistent and ambiguous” and that board members have made “subjective” judgments about whether an expense was related to board business.

The school system also does not have sufficient “ongoing” training to inform board members about best practices, Racine said, and members have relied too much on “anecdotal norms.”

“Going forward, what we’re working on is taking some of that personal judgment out of the decision-making process,” O’Neill said.

The Venable review also found that members had often not provided adequate information about expenses, Racine

said, citing examples in which members had not turned in itemized receipts or properly noted the attendees or purpose of a meal.

Racine said the “overwhelming majority” the expenses were found to be consistent with current guidelines.

In a few instances, he said, members had used their card for personal purchases.

Board members “promptly” reimbursed the school system in most of those cases, he said. All of those personal expenses have been reimbursed. .

The committee on Tuesday made other additions to its recommendations regarding board expense guidelines and practices.

It decided to recommend that members receive a per diem allowance for expenses related to nonlocal travel.

The committee also discussed a recommended list of about 28 pre-approved conferences and events that the school

Rock Terrace cleared of violations School attorneys, feds say work-study program not subject to labor law

n

BY LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

A federal Labor Department investigation has not found labor law violations in Rock Terrace School’s work-study program, which came under scrutiny more than a year ago.

The investigators determined that “an employment relationship did not exist,” said department spokeswoman Joanna Hawkins.

“TheWageandHourDivision’s investigation focused on determining if any labor laws enforced by the agency were violated,” Hawkins said in an email.

Hawkins said the division does not disclose what spurs an investigation.

The Rockville school serves developmentally delayed students, and parents claimed last summer that staff misappropriated money the students earned in a workstudy program.

Hawkins said details of the investigation, which ran from Jan. 14 to March 11, could be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

A March 19 letter from a school system attorney says the investigation looked into whether Rock Terrace’s work-study program falls under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Mark Muedeking, an attorney representing Montgomery County Public Schools, was notified March 11thattheinvestigationwasclosed, according to the same March letter from Muedeking to Gwendolyn Pfeiffer, a Department of Labor in-

vestigator.

Brian Edwards, a spokesman for the school system, said the system has requested more information about the investigation but has not received an answer.

The system spent about $104,000 on legal fees related to the department’s investigation, Edwards said.

Two attorneys representing the school system, including Muedeking, wrote a Feb. 28 letter to Pfeiffer arguing that Rock Terrace’s program does not fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The program is exempt from that law in part because it is educational and does not involve an employer-employee relationship, they said in the letter.

The attorneys described the program in which students learn work-related skills at local businesses or school system facilities.

“It is designed to teach the skills necessary for students to transition from the comfortable and familiar surroundings of Rock Terrace through a curriculum that is designed to provide ‘real-world’ educational experience while under the supervision of the Rock Terrace educators,” the letter states.

Theschoolsystemmustadhere to the Individuals with Disabilities Act, which calls for the system to have a program that helps students with disabilities prepare for independent living, the attorneys said in the letter.

Theletteralsosaystheprogram is exempt because the students do not take the place of an employer’s regular workers and are the only ones who benefit from their work.

“There are no facts that indicate that there is any benefit whatsoever to [Montgomery County

Public Schools] or to any of the third party businesses that allow these students and the Rock Terrace faculty to conduct training on their premises,” the attorneys said.

The payments made to students were considered stipends to help cover transportation costs, to help them experience what it’s like to get paid for a job and to be used for “math exercises,” the letter says.

Leslie Seid Margolis, managing attorney at the Maryland Disability Law Center, said her organization is “curious” as to how the Labor Department came to its conclusion.

The legal advocacy organization is still interested in the question of whether the payments to students should be regarded as wages, she said.

The law center is waiting for investigations of the school to be completed.

“Then we’ll look at everything and assess whether there is a need for us to do something more,” she said.

The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office notified some Rock Terrace families in November that bank accounts in their children’s names had been subpoenaed for a grand jury investigation.

Lyda Astrove, a Rockville lawyerandspecial-educationadvocate working with Rock Terrace parents, said she wants to see more information about the Labor Department investigation and wants to know if the department contacted the affected Rock Terrace families.

Astrove said she thinks the school and students are “absolutely” involved in an employment relationship.

“They’re generating W-2 forms,” she said. “That’s wages.”

system would pay for members to attend.

Kauffman said he thinks the full board needs to see the cost of each of the events as it considers which ones to place on the pre-approved list.

The ad hoc committee was formed after it came to light that member Christopher Barclay used his school system-issued credit card to make multiple personal purchases. Barclay reimbursed the system for the purchases, which totaled more than $1,500.

Other board and staff expenses that have surfaced include two work bags costing about $486 that were reimbursed; a stay in one of a hotel’s more expensive rooms during a conference; and meals eaten during meetings with county officials or other school board members. At the time, all complied with policy.

The committee’s final meeting Tuesday came more than a month after the Maryland Of-

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Shannon Thomas of Silver Spring selects homemade cookies from a case at Heyser Farms in Silver Spring, one of the stops on this weekend’s annual tour.

Participants in Montgomery County’s 2014 Farm Tour & Harvest Sale this weekend are as follows: • Butler’s Orchard in Germantown • East Rivendell Farm in Damascus • Heyser Farms in Silver Spring • Homestead Farm in Poolesville • Kingsbury’s Orchard in Dickerson • Lewis Orchards in Dickerson • Rock Hill Orchard in Mount Airy • Soleado Lavendar Farm in Dickerson • Star Gazing Farm in Boyds • Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Dickerson • Button Farm Living History Center-The

Join us as we showcase all things bridal on September 17, 2014 with Montgomery County Bridal Magazine Share your offerings with the bride-to-be!

Our local content will feature everything from the traditional to new bridal trends! Look for our bridal contest and tell us your wedding story!

RSVP today and reserve space!

Special rates apply for print and online.

The Gazette

1934510

Call today 301-670-7100

50,000 distribution, with promotional ads in print and on gazette.net!

lpowers@gazette.net

Where to see farm life this weekend

I do...

ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2014

fice of the State Prosecutor subpoenaed the board’s expense records to investigate the possibility of criminal activity.

Racine said during Tuesday’s meeting that he had “reason to believe” that the state prosecutor’s office would complete its investigation within about two weeks.

James Cabezas, chief investigator for the state prosecutor office, said in June that the office neither confirms nor denies the existence of any investigation.

Cabezas did say that his office received an allegation related to the board’s expenses.

Montgomery County’s inspector general is looking into how well the county controls credit card charges by its agencies and employees. Inspector General Edward L. Blansitt III said the review would include the county school system.

1934532

Menare Foundation in Germantown • Camp Olympia in Rockville • Fox Hollow Farm in Gaithersburg • King Barn Dairy Mooseum in Boyds • Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville • Red Wiggler Community Farm in Germantown • Rocklands Farm & Winery in Poolesville.

The last seven sites are participating only on Saturday.

Full details are posted at montgomerycountymd.gov/AgServices/agfarmtour.html.

Page B-6

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Classifieds

Page B-7

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

GAITHERSBURG An Active Senior Apartment Community Situated In the heart of the Kentlands neighborhood with all the benefits of small town living, with the excitement of the city life!

WEDNESDAY OPEN HOUSE COFFEE SOCIAL 11AM-1PM • Free membership to Kentlands Citizen’s Assembly • Planned Activities • Transportation • Emergency Pull Cords • Controlled Access

Kentlands Manor Senior Apartments 217 Booth Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 kentlandsmanor@thedonaldsongroup.com

(888)303-1868

GAITHERSBURG

SSTREAMSIDE T R E A M S I D E APARTMENTS A PA R T M E N T S

ROCKVILLE

GAITHERSBURG ASK FOR OUR EFFICIENCY SPECIAL PRICE!

GAITHERHOUSE APARTMENTS

501B S. Frederick Ave #3 Gaithersburg, MD 20877

301-948-1908

• Swimming Pool • Garden-Style Apartment Homes • On-Site Laundry Facilities • Kitchen w/ Breakfast Bar • Private Balcony/ Patio • Free Parking • Small Pets Welcome

SE HABLA ESPANOL

DON’T WAIT APPLY TODAY!

Senior Living 62+

www.PinnacleAMS.com/GardensOfTraville

301-948-8898

340 N. Summit Ave. • Gaithersburg, MD

301-762-5224

Office Hours: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm

SILVER SPRING CALL FOR SPECIALS

M o v e iinn bbyy 77/31/14 / 3 1 / 1 4 aand n d rreceive e c e i v e $$100 1 0 0 ooff ff A u g u s t rrent! ent!

Move August

STRATHMORE HOUSE APARTMENTS

Park Terrace Apartments

Park Terrace Apartments 500 Mt Vernon Place, Rockville MD 20850 301-424-1248

• Minutes away from I-270, Metro, and MARC Train

X

14431 Traville Garden Circle Rockville, Maryland 20850

ROCKVILLE

Great Location: 1& 2 BR apartments available immediately, wall–wall carpeting, balconies/patios, free parking , newly remodeled kitchens and on-site laundry facilities. Located close to Rockville town Centre and Rockville Metro station and other public transportation.

Please call 301-424-1248 for more information

• Huge Floor Plans • Large Walkin Closets • Private Balcony/Patio • Fully Equipped Kitchen w/Breakfast Bar

• Emergency Response System • 24 Hour Maintenance • Transportation Via Community Van • Pet Friendly • Full Size Washer & Dryer

kSwimming Pool kNewly Updated Units kSpacious Floor Plans kSmall Pets Welcome kBalcony Patio

(301) 460-1647 kFamily Room

3004 Bel Pre Rd., Apt. 204, kFull Size W/D in every unit Silver Spring, MD 20906

Advertise Your Apartment Community Here!

G560795

and reach over 350,000 readers!

Contact Ashby Rice (301) 670-2667 for pricing and ad deadlines.

DELAWARE’S RESORT LIVING WITHOUT RESORT PRICING! Low Taxes! Gated Community, Close to Beaches, Amazing Amenities, Olympic Pool. New Homes from $80’s!

Brochures available 1-866-629-0770 or www.coolbranch.co m

MONT.

VILLAGE:

TH, 3Br, 2FBa, 2 HBa, bsmnt, nr bus & shop $1950 301-787-7382 or 301-787-7583

S.S- 5 bd 4 ba colonial remodeled 3 lvl spacious yard, near metro $2395/mon +utils 301-252-5782

GAITHERSBURG WATERFRONT LOTS-Virginia’s Eastern Shore Was $325K Now from $65,000 - Community Center/Pool. 1 acre+ lots, Bay & Ocean Access, Great Fishing, Crabbing,Kayaking.

Custom Homes www.oldemillpointe. com 757-824-0808

Studio Apt, Upscale location w/theater, shops & more. H/W flrs, priv entr, kit and AC. $1000 inc util, TV & int 301-646-7800

LEISURE WORLD: 2BD, 2BAHighrise apt.

Garage, den, eik, balcony, cable. $1750.

301-299-4546

N BETHESDA: 1Br

$1400/ 2BR $1200 +util NS/NP, W/D New Carpet, Paint, Deck & Patio 301-250-8385

GAITHERSBURG:

4-5Br, 3.5Ba, TH with 2 Kitchens, fin bsmt.

NS/NP Call: 301-4610646 $1790/month www.rent4u.us

GAITH/GOSHEN:

SPRING:

Spacious 3Br, 2Ba, ready for immediate occupancy $1650/mo inc util 240-281-7794

ASPEN HILL: 1Br

w/BA, shared kit & living rm , NS/NP, $600/mo + sec dep req call 301-962-5778

DERWOOD: 1 BR,

B E T H : Nr

D E R W O O D : N ice Rm in SFH Male/Fem WIFI, uti incl $600, 5 min to Shady Grove Metro. 240- 643-6813

Montg.

Mall. 1st Flr, 3brs 2ba, $1900; hardwd flrs, wet bar, parking, W/D. Call 240-506-9469 2br/1ba large condo, 1st floor, patio, W/D, NS $1200/mo avl Aug 1 301-253-4456

GAITH: Condo.

2br

2ba

assigned parking . $1600 utils incl. No Pets. Avail Now. 301-460-7292

GAITHERSBURG Luxury 1 ba/1 ba condo location in the Rio, $1300 utils included, N/S 301-580-7300

TH 3 Br, 2.5 Ba, fin wlk-out bsmt, $1695 + util Avail Now call GAITH:Newly remodel 2Br, 2Ba $1395 all in301-675-7839 cluded conv loc. bus GER MA NT OWN: stop in front of building TH, 4BR, 3.5BA w/fin Ns/Np 203-587-1283‘ bsmt. $2200/month BETHESDA: HOC OK. Call 301- N 1BR, 1Ba, 11th Flr 916-9045 $1450 all utils inc, M O N T G O M E R Y secure bldg, grt outV I L L A G E : 2 b d , door pool, tennis 1.5ba cozy TH. Avail courts, exc room, walk 8/1. Must see! $1250. to White Flint metro & shop 240-353-8500 240-715-2380

fridg & microwave, (no kit) 1 mi to Grovesnor Metro, $725/mo 301-520-5179

SILVER SPRING -

2 RMs for rent $475 priv ba/$415 shared ba, shard kit & utils W/D 301-404-2681

Shared BA in 5 LVL TH. One Fem Tenant $700/mo incl util, 1 yr lease 240-476-9005

DAMASCUS:

DAMASCUS: 3BR

SILVER

+ den, 1Ba, priv unit in w/o bsmt, 1 mile to Grovesnor metro, fp, wood flrs patio, trees, $1295 301-520-5179

FRED- Large SFH,

4bd 2 full bath, kit, living room, dining room, deck, finished bsmt, close to 40 west $1800 Avail 08/01 Call Edyth 301-972-5129 or 301-370-4153

N BETHESDA: 3Br, G E R M A N T O W N : 2Fb, 1500sf, Nr Walter Bsmt Br, priv Ba & Reed NMMC, Ample entr, in TH NS/NP closets & storage, eat- $650 + 1/4 utils, nr in kit, inside laundry, transp 240-481-5098 VFIOS $2400/mo, pics avl, 301-275-5554 or MONT. VILLAGE: scronin2@verizon.net 1 Large BR $600 Utilities & Cable included.

SILVER SPRING: N/p, N/s. Call 2403 Br, 2Ba, 1 lvl top flr, 498-1915 pool, nr ICC, Metro, shops,HOC, $1850 inc N BETHESDA: Nice water, 301-570-0510 bright Br & Ba, priv

GAITH: 2 BR. 1 for

$475 and 1 for $450. utils incl. NS, NP. Sec Dep Req. 301-2162482

GAITH- Basement

SILVER SPRING: 3

Large room in SFH Share Bath, NP, NS. $350, $550 and $500, Util incl Call 240-2713901

SILVER SPRING: 3 MBD in lg SFH. NS/NP. $800-$1000 incl. util. Professional pref. 301-861-9981 SILVER

SPRING:

Bus 1 block away, main floor, 3Br, 1Ba, den, W/D, $1700/ mo util inc 301-404-7653

WHEATON: 150sq

feet sunny bsmt rm, priv ba sep ent. Pkg, lr, kit. $625. cbl/wifi addit. 301-946-8167

Apt 1 bd/1 ba full kitchen, priv entrance, WHEATON: 1Br in SFH Near bus & shops, $650 incl util ,W/D NS/NP $1250 includes Smoker Ok, CATV, utilities, 301-947-6892 Wifi Nr Bus, Avail Now. 301-503-1753 GAITH:M BRs $435+ 440+475+555+ Maid Ns/Np, nr 270/370/Bus shops, quiet, conv.Sec Dep 301-983-3210

GE RMA NT OWN : OCEAN CITY, 1Br, priv Ba, nxt to bus MARYLAND

stop & shops, Best selection of $600/mo inc utils 301- affordable rentals.

Full/partial weeks. Call 920-4988 for FREE brochure.

GERMANTOWN - 1 Open daily. Holiday Rm in SFH, shared Real Estate. 1-800bath & kitchen, near 638-2102. Online shops & bus $550 incl reservations: www.holidayoc.com utils. 240-848-3733

GE RMA NT OWN -

Bsmnt Studio, priv ba, micro/fridge, no priv entr, NP, $1200 incld utils call 240-477-0005

OC MD :

Lu xu ry condo on ocean, 2bd/ 2ba only 2 weeks left *Aug.16-23th & Aug. 23-30th 301-252-0200

TOP CA$H PAID FOR OLD ROLEX, PATEK PHILIPPE & CARTIER WATCHES! Daytona, Submariner, GmtMaster, Explorer, Milgauss, Day Date, etc. 1-800-401-0440

POTOMAC: Sat July

26th, 9-4, vintage brass, crystal, glass, furn, art, kit, hh, 1386 Kimblewick Road

CLARKSBURG: All

must go! Sat 07/26 7:30am-2pm, furn, TV, hh, kit app, clothes & much more! 12319 Cherry Branch Drive

GAITH: Sat 7/26; 12pm-4pm. Baby girl items, new & almost new clothes, shoes, equiptment. 0-9mths.

19713 Drop Forge Ln POTOMAC- Moving

SILVER

SPRING: DIRECTV STARTING AT $24.95/MO.

Two Family Yard Sale, Sat 07/26 9a-2p Hand & power tools, tool boxes, home furnishings, pet stairs, craft supplies.

10507 Calumet DR

Free 3-Months of HBO, Starz, Showtime & Cinemax Free receiver upgrade! 2014 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Packages. Some exclusions apply Call for details. 1-800-8974169

sale Sun.07/27 8-1pm 11416 Patriot lane, BD & LR furn, Kids Toys, electronics, Bike, HH 1980’s. Gibson, MarMY COMPUTER KILL ROACHES! items & more!

Buy Harris Roach tin, Fender, Gretsch, WORKS Computer problems? Viruses, Tablets. Eliminate Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, ROCKVILLE MULTI spyware, email, printer Roaches-Guaranteed.

No Mess. Odorless.

Rickenbacker, Prairie ROCKVILLE InDoor FAMILY YARD issues, bad internet Long Lasting. AvailaState, D’Angelico, Yard/ Flea Market.

SALE: Sat 7/26 8- connections - FIX IT NOW! Professional, ble at ACE Hardware, Stromberg, and GibRockville Senior Cen- 2pm. 11802 Rocking U.S.-based techniand The Home Depot. son Mandolins/Banjos. ter 9AM-1PM Sat, Ju- Horse Rd. (20852) cians. $25 off service.

1-800-401-0440 ly 26. Cash Only Sale. Something for EveryPROTECT YOUR Call for immediate one!

WANTED TO PUR- 240-314-5019. 1150 HOME - ADT AUhelp 1-800-681-3250 Carnation Dr., CHASE Antiques & THORIZED DEALFine Art, 1 item Or EnER: Burglary, Fire, tire Estate Or Collecand Emergency tion, Gold, Silver, Alerts 24 hours a Coins, Jewelry, Toys, day , 7 days a Oriental Glass, China, week! CALL TODIRECTTV - 2 HUNT AUCTION Lamps, Books, TexDAY, INSTALLED YEAR SAVINGS tiles, Paintings, Prints TOMORROW! 888EVENT! Over 140 Sunday, July 27th, 10:00 AM almost anything old 858-9457 (M-F 9am channels only $29.99 At Hunts Place Evergreen Auctions - 9 pm ET) a month. Only 19521 Woodfield Road (Rt 124) 973-818-1100. Email DirecTV gives you 2 Gaithersburg, MD 20879 evergreenauction@hot YEARS of savings and mail.com a FREE Genie upFurniture - Collectables - New Items grade! Call 1-800-279301-948-3937 - Open 9:00 AM FLEA MARKET 3018

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS ! 1920’s thru

July 26th & 27th Sat & Sun 8-4pm

Montgomery County Fairgrounds 16 Chestnut St. Gaithersburg, MD Vendors Wanted 301-649-1915 johnsonshows.com

KENSINGTON:

07/25, 07/26 & 07/27, 8a-5p, Antiq, furn, glass, records, china, collectibles, military items, jewelry, silver, pottery bks, toys, elec, political collect, tools & hh items 5110 Flanders Ave 20895

#5205 Look on Auctionzip.com

GET A COMPLETE SATELLITE SYSTEM installed at NO

COST! FREE HD/DVR upgrade. As low as $19.99/mo. Call for details 877-388-8575

PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: D a r k r o o m

equip w/ everything necessary, Cameras including acessories & light kit 301-926-1438

KILL BED BUGS & THEIR EGGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killer Complete Treatment Program or KIt. Available: Hardware Stores, Buy Online: homedepot.com

NEW TIRES:

35x12.50 R 20LT, M-S, Baja ATZ, Mickey Thompson, 4 tires $800 (300 miles each) Jay: 240-812-2034

BLUE BERRIES

Order now to pick-up Monday Evenings July 7, 14, 21, 28 (4-9pm) Or Thursday Eves July 10, 17, 24 (4pm-9pm) 20lbs -$43 410-635-2775 or 410-635-6443 NO SUNDAY CALLS

HAVANESE PUPPIES Home raised, AKC, best health guarantee noahslittleark.com Call: 262-993-0460

ALL NEW! HAPPY JACK DURASPOT: Kills & Repels fleas, ticks & larvae. Repels mites, lice & mosquitoes. Contains Nylar IGR. At Southern States. www.happyjackinc. com

AVON - Earn extra

income with a new career! Sell from home, work online. $15 startup. For information call: 888-4231792 (M-F 9-7 & Sat 9-1 Central)

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY!

Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs!

Waterproofing? Finishing? Structural Repairs? Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1800-998-5574

DISH TV RETAILER . Starting at

$19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 800-278-1401

Page B-8

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Written comments in opposition to the application should address the regulatory basis for denial of such application, and be supported by the information specified in 12 C.F.R. Section 516.120(a). You may request an informal meeting on such application by filing a written request with the OCC that describes the nature of the issues or facts to be discussed and the reasons why written submissions are insufficient to adequately address these facts or issues within the 25 day period.

MADOPTION:M

ADOPT CARING, NURTURING HOME FOR YOUR NEWBORN BABY. Beautiful life, much love, secure future.

Expenses paid. Legal, confidential.

Devoted married couple, Walt/Gina.

Call 1-800-3156957.

VETERANS! Take

CASH FOR UNEXPIRED DIA- GET CASH NOW FOR YOUR ANNUBETIC TEST STRIPS! Free Ship- ITY OR STRUCping, Friendly Service, TURED SETTLEMENT. Top Dollars BEST prices and 24hr payment! Call today 877-588-8500 or visit www.TestStripSearch. com Espanol 888-4404001

Daycare Directory

Paid. Fast. No Hassle Service! 877-693-0934 (M-F 9:35 am - 7 pm ET)

Local Computer Repair Fast, professional repairs and hardware upgrades. Your computer likely good as new. $45 per hour.

David Altar 301-602-2713

GP2137A GP2137A

Anyone may submit written comments in connection with this application within 25 days of the filing of the application. The comment must be sent simultaneously to the Regional Director, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 340 Madison Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York, New York, 10173-0002. and to the attention of Lane Langford, Senior Licensing Analyst, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20219.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM M M M M M A Beautiful Lake House, Financial Security, M M LOVE & Laughter awaits baby.

M M M M Expenses Paid M M M 1-800-989-6766 M M M M M M MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GP2141A

NOTICE This is to inform the public that under 12 C.F.R. Section 545.95 of the Regulations of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Colombo Bank, 14801 Southlawn Lane, Rockville, MD 20850 has filed an application with the OCC for permission to change the location of its headquarters and branch office from 14801 Southlawn Lane, Rockville, MD. 20850 to1600 E. Gude Drive, Rockville, MD. 20850.

Genius Daycare Starfish Children’s Center Potomac Children’s Center of Damascus Damascus Licensed Family Daycare My Little Lamb Daycare The Berry Patch Family Child Care My Little Place Home Daycare Kids Garden Daycare

Lic#: 133153 Lic#: 161330 Lic#: 31453 Lic#: 139094 Lic#: 51328 Lic#: 162271 Lic#: 131042 Lic#: 139378

301-770-4852 240-876-8552 301-253-6864 301-253-4753 301-990-9695 240-389-5972 301-947-8477 240-601-9134

DEADLINE: AUGUST 4TH, 2014

full advantage of your Educational training benefits! GI Bill covers MEDICAL GUARDI- SAFE, EASY COMPUTER & AN - Top-rated medi- WEIGHTLOSS! MEDICAL TRAINING! Phentrazine 37.5, a cal alarm and 24/7 Call CTI for Free Benonce daily appetite medical alert monitorefit Analysis today! ing. For a limited time, suppressant, boosts 1-888-407-7173 get free equipment, no energy and burns fat.

60 day supply - only activation fees, no $59.95! To order, call commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button 888-628-6051 for free and more only $29.95 per month.

AIRLINE CAREERS GUARANTEED 800-617-2809 BEGIN HERE - Get INCOME FOR

FAA approved Aviation Maintenance training. Housing and Financial Aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance.

SCHEV Certified.

CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-481-8974

You may look at the non-confidential portions of the application and all comments filed with the OCC Regional Office. This in- AIRLINES ARE HIRformation is available for public inspection ING - Train for hands at the appropriate OCC Regional Office on Aviation Career.

FAA approved produring regular business hours. If you have gram. Financial aid if any questions concerning these proce- qualified - Job placedures, contact the OCC Regional Office at ment assistance.

CALL Aviation Institute 212-790-4000.

(7-23-14) of Maintenance 877818-0783

YOUR RETIREMENT. Avoid market PROBLEMS WITH THE IRS OR risk & get guaranteed STATE TAXES? income in retirement!

CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE. Plus Annuity.

Quotes from A-Rated compaines! 800-6695471

Settle for a fraction of what your owe! Free face to face consultations with offices in your area. Call 855970-2032

PELVIC/VAGINAL MESH LAWSUITS:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experienced EASY AUTO LOANS. Bad credit transvaginal mesh imNO credit ok! Appli- plant surgery complication takes just mi- cations. Call attorney James C. Johnson at nutes. Get a new 1-855-484-4075 or car today! Call www.jamescjohnson Now!!! 1-800-631law.com 7842

20852 20854 20872 20872 20877 20879 20886 20886

It’s

FREE! Buy It,

GERMANTOWN (SENECA): Evening

Sell It,

live-in companion needed for senior Glentleman, driver, secretary, cook 301-9903990

Find It

HSKPR NEEDED:

Wanted In Potomac.

Mon/Tues/Fri Driving & Refs req’d Call 301-299-0337

GazetteBuyandSell.com

POTOMAC FAMILY ASSISTANT:

Sun-Thurs. PT. Drive, Clean & Care for Family. Legal. Good English. 301.887.3212

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net CRANE OPERATOR/ SIGN INSTALL TECH BOOM TRUCK DRIVERS Familiar with DC metro area a plus, Great Salary/benefits.

Excellent Opportunity. Must have Class B CDL. Fax Resume to 301-260-2700 or email contact@accrane.com

NURSING ASSISTANT

TRAINING IN JUST 4 WEEKS

Now Enrolling for August 4th Classes Medication Technician

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Training in Just 4 days. Call for Details.

GAITHERSBURG CAMPUS MORNING STAR ACADEMY 101 Lakeforest Blvd, Suite 402 Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Call: 301-977-7393 www.mstarna.com

SILVER SPRING CAMPUS

GC3305

CARE XPERT ACADEMY 13321 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 205 MORNING & EVENING CLASSES Silver Spring, MD 20904 Call: 301-384-6011 www.cxana.com

F/T M-F Ideal candidate will have good phone & people skills. Position will include data entry & processing customer orders. Must be reliable and detail oriented. Will train.

Please email resume to Resume@centurydist.com

BILLING COORDINATOR

FT, Responsibilities involve collections & contracting. Exceptional customer service & communication skills. Ability to multi-task & problem solve. Bachelor degree req’d; accounting/business degree preferred. Contact: resumehomecare@gmail.com

Activity Coordinator

Assisted living home near Rt 32/70. FT & PT, day/evening.

Great working conditions. www.angelstouchcare.com and click "employment" or please email your resume: RRUSSEL2@comcast.net

Required Qualification: µ Graduation from a senior high school or GED equivalent. µ X-ray cert (DC License, preferably) µ 1 yr office exp in a dentist’s or physician’s office µ Exp w/children’s dentistry For details go to gazette.net.

Apply at: www.koolsmilesjobs.com

Education

CMMS of Rockville and Germantown are looking for qualified: * Directors * Montessori Certified Teachers * Assistant Teachers

for Grocery Store

FT, Indp Grocery Store, apply in person at: 1321- A Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland

Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now Dental/Medical Offices now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-888-818-7802 CTO SCHEV

Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-888-810-2897

WE’RE HIRING WEEKEND CNAS, GNAS, AND HHAS!

Provide non-medical care and companionship for seniors in their homes. Personal care, light housework, transportation, meal preparation.

Must be 21+. Must have car and one year professional, volunteer, or personal experience www.homeinstead.com/197 Home Instead Senior Care To us it’s personal 301/588-9023 Call between 10am-4pm Mon-Fri

Hospitality

Wyndham Garden Hotel 805 Russel Aveune Part Weekend Time Host/Server Part Weekend Time Engineer

Come in and apply Fax : 301-948-4538

CTO SCHEV

Opticians and Trainees

90 hours certification and Bachelors Degree Preferred.

Will train. Min 2 yrs college + retail exp. FT, own car, incl Sat. Salary $12-$28 & benes. Apply in person at any Doctors On Sight location.

Call 301-843-1000, Sabrina or 703-506-0000, Candy for more info.

Please forward resumes to admissions@cmmschool.com

Commercial Loan Specialist

Long-Term Care facility seeking Full-Time Activity Coordinator. Must have experience, effective communication skills, a team player, a vibrant personality, can work with minimum supervision.

Will report to the Director of Activity.

Please Fax your resume to (301) 762-3216 or e-mail mseril-valdez@potomacvalley.com. EOE

CAREGIVERS

Dental Assistant

TEAM PLAYER

HEALTHCARE

Valuate & recommend approval of commercial, construction, Loc & SBA loans. Analyze member’s financial status to determine feasibility of granting loans. Must have expertise in FiServ & Symitar.

Req: BS in Accounting. 40hrs/wk. Resume to Signal Financial Federal Credit Union 3015 University Blvd, W. Kensington MD 20895

CLEANING

Earn $350-$500/wk. M-F or Tues-Sat. No nights.

Must have own car & valid.

Drivers lic. Se Habla Espanol.

Merry Maids

Gaithersburg 301-869-6243 Silver Spring 301-587-5594

Operations Research Analyst

Foster Parents

Treatment Foster Parents Needed Work from home!

û Free training begins soon û Generous monthly tax-free stipend û 24/7 support

Call 301-355-7205

GC3355

Sought by Management CV, Inc. in Bethesda, MD. Reqs: Master’s deg or equiv in Bus Admin, Finance or rel field req + 5 yrs exp in financial consulting & analysis in institutional investment industry, incl making investment buy/sell decisions.

Must have passed CFA Exam Level I. Req domestic travel up to 50% of working time.

Apply with resume to info@managementcv.com.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 b

Page B-9

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net

Activities Director

We are currently seeking a Activities Director at our Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. This is a full-time salaried position to lead and manage the LIFE Enrichment team and programming at our 168 bed skilled nursing facility.

Candidates should have experience working in a long term care facility, supervisory experience, as well as, knowledge of MDS assessments and care plans.

Certification is required.

E-mail resume: BGRV-HR@bgf.org or apply in person at: 18100 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Direct any questions to the HR department at 301-924-2811, option 3 GC3353

Brooke Grove Retirement Village is an Equal Opportunity Employer Real Estate

Search Jobs Find Career Resources

Silver Spring

Work with the BEST!

Be trained individually by one of the area’s top offices & one of the area’s best salesman with over 34 years. New & experienced salespeople welcomed.

You are invited to our OPEN INTERVIEW DAYS

GC3039

Must R.S.V.P.

Call Bill Hennessy

Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine invites you to attend our Open Interview Days, where you will learn about how you can become part of a growing team of dedicated and committed members of a dynamic healthcare organization.

bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Location: Suburban Hospital – Human Resources Date: July 29th and July 30th Time: 8am-5pm

3 301-388-2626 01-388-2626 EOE

We have just the right opportunity for you *RNs *Care Coordination *Stationary Engineer *Lead MRI Tech *Medical Technologist

Bus Operators - $37,091

*Medical Records Coder *Preventive Maintenance Mechanic *Sterile Processing Tech *Environmental Service (Housekeeping) *Food Service Specialist (Cook)

Visit us online, find your desired position and apply at www.suburbanhospital.org Then call us to schedule a convenient time for you to come in to meet with us. (if you are unable to apply online, please bring a resume.)

GC3326

Montgomery County Department of Transportation seeks individuals for full-time and part-time substitute Bus Operators as part of the County-operated transit system (Ride On). Employees’ starting salary will be $17.83 per hour plus any overtime earned. Work schedules vary depending upon work assignment, and are based on seniority. Interested applicants need to be able to read and write, have three years of driving experience, at least one year of direct customer service, 21 years of age, posses a valid driver’s license, and no more then 1 point on their driving record (equivalency will be applied to non Maryland residents). Experience driving a transit bus is a plus. Resumes must be submitted online by July 31, 2014. To view entire job announcement and apply online, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/careers IRC14870. EOE M/F/H

Call us at 301-896-3830, Walk-ins welcome by please apply online or bring your resume.

8600 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814

GC3316

Skilled Trades

HANDYMAN General Maintenance 25 hr/wk. Vehicle (truck) Required. Good driving record.

Send resume to fhcc@flowerhill.org Weekend work also required NO PHONE CALL PLEASE

Recruiting is now Simple!

Landscape Foreman

Property Management Company seeks an experienced individual for a full time year round position that requires 2-3 years of experience in the field and 1 year of management or supervisory experience. Must be able to communicate with a Hispanic crew of five. Responsibilities include working with and supervising crew, routine maintenance for 8 apartment complexes in MD and VA, maintaining equipment and coordinating purchases of all materials needed to complete jobs on schedule and within budget. Applicant must have knowledge of plant, flower and tree installation, have a clean driving record, and be highly organized and flexible. Benefits include a vehicle, life insurance, health insurance, and a 401-K plan. Please contact Anne at 301509-8656 for more information.

Taxonomy Scientist

(Elsevier Inc., Rockville, MD) Must hold a Ph.D. or the foreign equiv. deg. in Genetics or a rel. field & 3 yrs. of exp. in the job offered or working in a research laboratory or in a clinical setting performing molecular biology research. Also req. is 3 yrs. of exp. with biomedical vocabularies, including performing addition of new terms, editing of existing terms & their synonyms, & ontological classification of biological terms. Must also possess exp. utilizing a taxonomy mgmt. tool such as MultiTes, SchemaLogic, or Protégé & utilizing Microsoft Access. Apply w/resume to: Patricia Stoddard, Reed Elsevier, Inc., 1100 Alderman Drive, #21 N57, Alpharetta, GA 30005. No relo. available.

No 3rd party responses. EOE.

KENNEL ASSISTANT

Immediate opening for PT Kennel Assistant at Animal Hospital in Silver Spring. Holiday and Weekends required. Experience not required.

Call 301-598-7300 or Email info@layhillanimalhospital.com Healthcare

Get Connected!

Medical Office Nurse

P/T 20+ hrs. per wk. For medical office in Olney.

Knowledge of medical office procedures.

Call 301-774-5600 evieburgy@aol.com

Local Companies Local Candidates

Local companies, Local candidates Get Connected

Gazette.Net

Bookkeeper / Office Assistant

Part Time; 3 days a week. G’burg construction office. Timberline A/P & Excel req’d. Filing, misc office duties . E-mail resume to: employment20879@gmail.com HEALTHCARE

MEDICAL OFFICE

PART TIME/JOB SHARE. For a busy solo ophthalmology practice in Bethesda. Mature person who enjoys dealing with patients. Detail oriented, computer literate and willing to share office responsibilities.

Will train. Fax resume to

301-657-2532 OR call 301-657-3022.

Nursery Supervisor

For Ashton United Methodist Church, an immediate opening to oversee infants and children in the church nursery from 9am11am on Sunday mornings.

Applicants must have experience with children and complete a background check.

Contact the church office at aumc@ashtonchurch.org or 301-774-7100.

Part-Time

Work From Home

National Children’s Center Making calls. For more info please call Weekdays between 9a-4p No selling! Sal + bonus + benes.

Call 301-333-1900

DRIVERS: Owner Operators and experienced OTR drivers needed for expanding fleet.

Call USA Truck today. 866-545-0078

to advertise call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net