‘MISMATCH’ Disparity between staff, student demographics. A-9
NEWS: Local companies get on the “Pitch Across Maryland” bus to market their ideas. A-11
The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
SPORTS: Watkins Mill volleyball team keeping pace with county’s top programs. B-1
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
25 cents
Local man fatally stabbed Saturday
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Gaithersburg City Councilman Jud Ashman, pictured at city hall, has been picked to be the new mayor.
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Some employees of Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc. are used to working in the warm climate of Scottsdale, Ariz., but this year they will have the opportunity to experience a frosty Maryland winter.
Back with more performances, activities and vendors than ever before, Oktoberfest at the Kentlands is gearing up for its biggest year yet. Spread out over the Kentlands neighborhood, the annual Gaithersburg festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Now in its 23rd year, the event is expected
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Dozens of Washingtonian Woods residents are furious about plans for a future rapid bus system that would travel closely along two sides of their Gaithersburg neighborhood.
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
At the center of discussion is the planned route of the Corridor Cities Transitway, a two-lane, 15mile bus rapid transit line that will connect Clarksburg to the Shady Grove Metro station in Rockville. The bus service will run on an exclusive transitway — separate from vehicular traffic — and make stops at 14 different locations. Neighborhood leaders and homeowners invited the transit system’s project management team to a community meeting Tuesday for an update on the
route alignment, and to have questions and concerns addressed. The neighborhood comprises about 375 homes and two condominiums communities — The Vistas and The Oaks. “We’re trying to get as much information as we possibly can about how the [Corridor Cities Transitway] is going to affect life for Washingtonian Woods, for The Oaks, for The Vistas and basically everyone around here,” said
See TRANSIT, Page A-14
ENTERTAINMENT B-16 A-2 B-11 B-6 A-16 B-1
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Seventh annual spooky movie festival arrives in Silver Spring with new film by Eduardo Sanchez. B-6
Two stages are reserved for community organizations and groups. While the original plan was to have only one community stage, high demand to use the space led the city to reconsider, Neal said. “We filled up the one community stage in about a week so we decided to add another one,” she said. Other planned activities include a magic show, aerialist performances, free horse-drawn wagon rides, apple cider pressing and Oktoberfest crafts for children. Artists, crafters, strolling entertainers and more will also be on
n When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday n Where: Kentlands Market Square, 821 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg n Cost: Free n For information: 301-258-6350, parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov n To download the Oktoberfest app: gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/ oktoberfest-at-the-kentlands
See OKTOBERFEST, Page A-14
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT?
Legend
As the Corridor Cities Transitway operates near Washingtonian Woods, it likely will run between the southbound travel lanes of Great Seneca Highway and Washingtonian Woods before making a turn onto the median of Muddy Branch Road, which sits between the neighborhood and the Belward Farm property.
Volume 55, No. 41 Two sections, 36 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette
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OKTOBERFEST AT THE KENTLANDS
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
to enjoy good weather and draw around 20,000 attendees, according to Lauren Neal, a recreation program coordinator with the city. “Last year was a little rainy so we’re excited,” she said. Six entertainment stages will be placed throughout the festival area, which includes the Kentlands Village Green, the grounds of Kentlands Mansion, Main Street and Market Square, Neal said. One stage will host performances by the Alte Kameraden German Band and Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian Dancers. Another will feature only a cappella groups, Neal said.
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New phone app for event offers list of attractions, schedule and map
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Concerns include safety, traffic, noise and greenery in Gaithersburg neighborhood
dleaderman@gazette.net
Oktoberfest at the Kentlands promises to impress
Residents angry about transit plans n
See HEADQUARTERS, Page A-14
Sam
See MAYOR, Page A-14
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
The global company — which manufactures and sells a diagnostic medical device for clinical and research laboratories that measures and detects markers of bone disease, calcium disorders, growth and hypertension disorders — relocated its North American headquarters office to Gaithersburg this summer. Chandra Krishnan, the company’s general manager of North America operations, said the decision was
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Gaithersburg City Councilman Jud Ashman is likely to take over the as the head of the city later this fall. Ashman was “conditionally selected” by the rest of the City Council on Monday evening to serve as the city’s newest mayor, according to a city news release. The move is contingent upon the election of current Mayor Sidney A. Katz to the District 3 seat on the Montgomery County Council on Nov. 4, the release said. If Katz — who is running unopposed — is elected, Ashman will be sworn in as the Gaithersburg mayor on Nov. 10. The city cited the provision of the state’s Open Meetings Act that allows them to privately discuss “the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction” as the reason for having the meeting closed doors. Ashman said he is honored to be appointed to the position, and overwhelmed by the many kind responses he has since received from city officials
New office occupies 10,000 square feet of space on Clopper Road
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Diagnostics company relocates headquarters to Gaithersburg
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Gaithersburg resident has served on City Council since 2007
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Application specialist Cindy Yu at Immunodiagnostics Systems’ new North America operations office and warehouse in Gaithersburg.
A dispute between a man and his nephew allegedly led to the man being stabbed to death in Gaithersburg Saturday, according to Montgomery County Police. Police responded to the 24100 block of Pecan Grove Lane at about 4:57 p.m. and found 55-year-old Russell David suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries, according to a statement from police. David’s nephew, 18-year-old Andrew David, who lives at the same address, was foundatthesceneandtakenintocustody, according to police. Andrew David was released to his family members Sunday morning, a police spokeswoman said. The incident remains under investigation, but it appears there was an altercation between the two men. No charges had been filed as of late Monday afternoon, police said.
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BY DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER
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Ashman chosen to be city’s next mayor
Gaithersburg altercation with nephew preceded death, police say n
HEATHER LIPINSKI REEVES/THE GAZETTE