FINAL EDITION
The Gazette
NEWS: Teenagers’ passion takes wing at World Series of Birding. A-6
MONTGOMERY COUNT Y
NEWS: Celebrate! Gaithersburg brings out children of all ages to Olde Towne. A-3
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
25 cents
Decades of informing, inspiring change Gazette folds same week as founder dies
The Gazette helped readers become advocates, grow closer to communities n
BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
Dan Reed’s earliest recollection of seeing a Gazette story was when he was 7. The cover story was about a $585 million mega-mall proposed by a Canadian development company that wanted to fill four blocks in downtown Silver Spring with a 425-room hotel, aquarium, water park, IMAX theater, miniature golf course, restaurants and stores. It was dubbed the “American Dream” mall, and the story, with its snazzy rendering of the proposal, left such an impression on Reed that he circulated a petition supporting the controversial project in his third-grade class at Woodlin Elementary School. “After all, there was going to be a water slide three blocks from my house,” recalled Reed, now an urban planner who writes on land-use issues for Just Up the Pike and other area blogs. While the project never got
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Community newspaper printed for more than 55 years
BY
SAMANTHA SCHMIEDER STAFF WRITER
advocacy group Action Committee for Transit. Like many, he was shocked
In 1959, the first issue of the Gaithersburg Gazette was pieced together by Earle D. Hightower out of the basement of his Rockville home. On June 8, Hightower died in Pinehurst, N.C., at 92 years old, four days before it was announced that The Gazette in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties — publications that evolved from his original creation — would print their final editions this week. Hightower’s daughter, Alexandra, said in a Friday phone interview that she was glad he would never hear the news.
See DECADES, Page A-12
See FOUNDER, Page A-12
KEVIN JAMES SHAY/THE GAZETTE
A notice on the front of The Gazette headquarters in Gaithersburg on Monday tells visitors the offices are “closed to the public.” off the ground, Reed continued to read The Gazette and credits the newspaper chain at least “partly” for him becoming an urban planner.
“By teaching me about what went on in my community, it helped make me an advocate and blogger,” said Reed, 27, also land-use chairman for
“My story wouldn’t be complete without The Gazette, and its loss is a huge blow to Montgomery County.” — Dan Reed, urban planner
To our readers
In 1959, Rockville resident Earle Hightower rolled the first Gazette off the presses. Today, we publish the final edition. We are forever grateful for 56 years of support from Gazette readers and advertisers. As journalists, it has been our duty, indeed our imperative, to expose both the good works and the machinations of government and industry, and to encourage debate as to which was which. As a community newspaper, it has also been our mission, indeed our passion, to expose the ordinary as extraordinary — a fundraiser for an ill child, a centenarian’s surprise birthday party. As members of the communities we have served, we’ve been privileged to mentor students at Viers Mill Elementary School, honor educators with our My Favorite Teacher contest and encourage readers to stay fit with The Gazette Healthy Challenge program. Over the years, working with nonprofits, we’ve helped to promote volunteerism, support the arts and feed the hungry. It is our greatest hope that in doing these things, we’ve served you well.
Police targeting aggressive drivers Gaithersburg BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
Aggressive drivers in Maryland and the District of Columbia could be fined $370 and receive five points on their driver’s license if they’re stopped by officers this summer during the region’s annual Smooth Operator campaign.
The campaign will run through September, but additional teams of officers also will be on the road in three waves of extra enforcement. The first wave ended Saturday, and second and third waves will run from July 9 through July 18 and again from Aug. 6 through Aug. 15, said Elena Russo, spokeswoman for the Maryland State Police, based in Pikesville. “[Troopers and officers] are always out there targeting aggressive driving but there [are periods of] special emphasis,” Russo
said. The annual regional campaign that covers roads in Maryland and the District of Columbia not only applies to cars, SUVs and buses, but also trucks and motorcycles, she said. To be ticketed for aggressive driving, the driver must be violating at least three traffic laws from a list that includes speeding, improper passing, weaving, tailgating, and running red lights and stop signs.
See AGGRESSIVE, Page A-11
Silver Spring Library opening Saturday n
Officials expecting more than 500 people at ceremony BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
The central Silver Spring area has been without a public library since March, but that will change when the $69.5 million Silver Spring Library opens to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday at 900 Wayne Ave.
“We will be ready,” said Parker Hamilton, director of Montgomery County Public Libraries. “Folks will be able to check out books. There will be programs…. Everything is going as planned.” Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and County Council members are among the officials slated to be at the formal grand opening ceremony. State and federal officials have been invited to mark
See LIBRARY, Page A-11
INDEX A&E Automotive Calendar Classified Obituaries Opinion Sports
1930711
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
A grand opening of the new Silver Spring Library at the corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street is planned for Saturday.
SPORTS B-5 B-13 A-2 B-10 A-14 A-15 B-1
ONCE MORE, WITH PRIDE KEN SAIN SPORTS EDITOR
The Gazette’s sports editor reflects on his career in newspapers and shares his thoughts on the future of community journalism. B-1
Volume 28, No. 24 Two sections, 32 Pages Copyright © 2015 The Gazette
Please
RECYCLE
Elementary wraps school in reading Students kept track of thousands of books
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BY
SAMANTHA SCHMIEDER STAFF WRITER
The paper chain listing every book read by students at Gaithersburg Elementary School wrapped around the whole building and then some on Friday morning. During the 2014-2015 school year, students kept track of every book they read, writing them down on strips of recycled manila folders before linking them together forming a giant chain of 37,742 titles. Each grade, from pre-K to fifth, read hundreds of books and the second-graders reached more than 13,000 alone. Before wrapping around the school, the students spread out in a field to see just what they accomplished as principal Stephanie Brant watched from the center. “I stood in the middle of that very large circle and I was speechless, I was in awe about
what they accomplished and how proud they were,” Brant said. Brant, who has been principal for five years, said the school shifted from traditional homework to simply reading about three years ago. One reason the school made the shift was because many of their students don’t have the support at home to receive help with their homework and many others don’t have the resources necessary to complete assignments. The only tool needed for reading is a book, Brant said, and students can get those from class, the school library and the public library. “We have established an incredible reading culture and I truly believe that culture will help the students we serve,” Brant said. Brant said that there is a correlation between the amount of time students spend reading and their academic achievement.
See READING, Page A-11
Our Ladies Night Out event has been
CANCELLED!
GAZ LADIESNIGHTOUT FRONT
Campaign includes three waves of extra patrols n
If you purchased tickets in person, please contact Mona Bass at 301-670-2526 to arrange for a refund. We apologize for the inconvenience.