STILL MISSING Mother: Hoggle children are safe. A-6
ENTERTAINMENT: For Rockville Musical Theatre, “Grease” is still the word. B-4
The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
25 cents
Powering up robots, keeping germs down
Gaithersburg candidates offer views for improving city n
Machine purchased by Sodexo uses ultraviolet light to disinfect in Gaithersburg n
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Speeches focused on economic development, education, affordable housing
With flu season underway and the potential for infection outbreak always present, Asbury Methodist Village doesn’t want to take any chances when it comes to germs. That’s why the Gaithersburg retirement community is taking advantage of the Xenex Pulsed Xenon Ultraviolet robot, a machine that kills germs in a matter of minutes by producing flashes of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light. “Margret,” as the robot is named, was purchased about two months ago by Sodexo, which provides housekeeping and facility services to the Asbury Communities Inc. system. Sodexo, which has its U.S. headquarters in Gaithersburg, is an exclusive partner with Xenex, according to Bob Wisel, the district manager of environmental services at Sodexo.
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
The five candidates in the running for the anticipated vacant seat on the Gaithersburg City Council addressed the governing body and the public Monday evening to share their priorities and vision for the city. Jarrod Borkat, Neil H. Harris, Yvette D. Monroe, Joshua Schuman and Robert T. Wu each took to the podium for three minutes to explain their strategy for how they would improve and advance the city should they be chosen to fill the seat. Councilman Jud Ashman’s recent appointment to the mayoral post to take over for Mayor Sidney Katz as he heads for a position on the Montgomery County Council has created an open spot on the City Council. Borkat was the first speaker and he led of his speech with a clear objective in mind. “By 2020, Gaithersburg will be internationally recognized as being one of the top 10 best small cities in the U.S. to live in,” he said. Focusing on economic development in areas such as Olde Towne, Watkins Mill and Kentlands would be key to reaching this goal, Borkat said. He pointed to the 1776 accelerator in Washington, D.C. as an example of something the city could consider creating. Celebrating diversity is also important, Borkat said. He suggested that the council partner with the Multicultural Affairs Committee to hold an annual event honoring all of the culturally diverse groups in the city. Borkat offered to give $5,000 of his own money to help get the event off the ground. Schuman, an AP government teacher at Quince Orchard High and former member of the city’s Educational Enrichment Committee, highlighted several educationoriented priorities in his speech. “I want to make our town a place where my students who come from struggling families can finish their education and start a career and prosper with families of their own,” Schuman said. To that end, Schuman said he would like to see the city increase its support of parent outreach at schools and begin offering free onsite English lessons in local neighborhoods. He said he’s also in favor of expanding the Bank On Gaithersburg program to include funds for college or vocational school. Aside from education, Schuman also suggested the city consider hosting its own restaurant week and creating Taste of Gaithersburg to showcase great local
See COUNCIL, Page A-10
Trojan Fest marches into Gaithersburg Booths run by student groups, outside vendors offer activities, items for sale
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Gaithersburg High pride will be on full display on Saturday when the school and its Parent Teacher Student Association host the first ever Trojan Fest. A carnival-like atmosphere will take over the school’s
See TROJAN FEST, Page A-11
See ROBOTS, Page A-11
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Freshman Jules Racho (center) and sophomore Harrison Deist (top) work on a problem in MdBioLab, which visited Watkins Mill High School on Oct. 22.
Science on wheels Mobile lab visits Watkins Mill High BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Watkins Mill High School students were hard at work in a forensics lab on Oct. 22, testing samples from a crime scene to see if they contained blood. The students at the Gaithersburg school conducted their “No Trace Left Behind” experiment — using materials from a simulated crime scene — on board the MdBioLab, a 45-foot custom-built mobile bioscience laboratory. It has sixteen work stations and can accommodate up to 32 students during each lesson.
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Operated by the Rockville-based MdBio Foundation, the mobile lab visits schools across Maryland for a one-week period to give students the opportunity to explore the life sciences through fascinating, engaging activities. Since arriving at Watkins Mill High on Oct. 17, the lab hosted full-day instruction on Oct. 21-23, as well as a half day on Oct. 24. Classes rotated throughout the day, giving many groups the chance to work in the lab. Reimi Hicks, program manager with
See SCIENCE, Page A-7
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Harold Jones, director of housekeeping at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, sets up the Xenex PX-UV robot, named Margret, which kills germs using intense flashes of UV-C light.
Nearly half of county police cars now have cameras Gaithersburg department has car-mounted equipment; body-worn cameras considered
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BY
DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER
After years of delay, the Montgomery County Police Department has installed video cameras in nearly half of its patrol car fleet and is eyeing putting cameras on the uniforms of its officers. The department has cameras in 450 of its 913 marked patrol vehicles, and is only adding cameras to newly acquired vehicles. Budget permitting, the department plans to add 150 more camera-
NEWS
INDEX B-8 A-2 B-6 B-4 A-13 B-1
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
Gaithersburg kitchen has been up and running for 30 years.
B-3
1932793
SPORTS: First they notice how tall Watkins Mill senior is; then they notice his soccer skills. B-1
equipped patrol cars this fiscal year and have cameras in the entire fleet within three years, according to the department’s press office. County officials agreed to put cameras in police cars as part of a 2000 settlement that followed the death of an unarmed man fatally shot by a county police officer in 1999. Objections from the county’s police union — which argued that cameras might violate state wiretapping law — kept the project on hold until 2009. Detective Torrie Cooke, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, wrote in an email that video cameras in police
See CAMERAS, Page A-11
Volume 55, No. 44 Two sections, 28 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette
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TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Takoma Park police display a camera that can be mounted on glasses and clipped to clothing.