FLIGHT of IMAGINATION
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Round House play details girl’s approach to life’s challenges. B-5
The Gazette NORTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNT Y
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
25 cents
The first year of
‘dreamers’ DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Josue Faguiluz, a student at Montgomery College, plans to go to the University of Maryland under the Maryland Dream Act.
200 immigrant students have registered at Montgomery College under the Maryland Dream Act n
I
BY
ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER
n the first year that undocumented immigrants could get in-county tuition rates at local colleges, 200 registered at Montgomery College under the Maryland Dream Act. That’s almost half the number that an analysis by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services had predicted at the college by 2013. An analysis attached to the bill that passed allowing the tuition change estimated that 366 full-time undocumented students would qualify for in-county tuition at Montgomery College. The Maryland Dream Act was approved by the legislature in 2011. It was petitioned to referendum, then affirmed in the Nov. 6, 2012, election, passing with more than 58 percent of statewide votes. College officials said that after the law passed, they were in a “mad dash” trying to get information together for the upcoming spring 2013 students, as they tried to reach every student who would be eligible under the new law. “Students came in and identified themselves and provided the forms that we needed to process,” said Melissa Gregory, chief of enrollment services and a financial aid officer at Montgomery College. The law exempts undocumented students who attended and graduated from Maryland high schools from paying outof-state or out out-of-county rates at colleges in Maryland. Gregory said the biggest challenge after the Dream Act passed was to identify the students eligible under the bill. “We don’t ask students to identify their status in that way, so we had to look for students that had missing information
See DREAMERS, Page A-10
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
With air temperatures in the low teens, Jose Velasquez of Wheaton bundles up Tuesday while waiting for a bus to arrive outside the Wheaton Metro station.
Mother Nature gives county the
COLD SHOULDER
Emergency shelters open; power outages and water main breaks pop up
n
BY JENN DAVIS, TERRI HOGAN AND SYLVIA CARIGNAN STAFF WRITERS
A blast of windy, arctic air Tuesday spurred Montgomery County officials to keep emergency shelters open for the homeless and sparked a string of power outages and water main breaks. Temperatures throughout the region hovered in the low single digits early Tuesday, accord-
Teen dies while playing indoor soccer game n
14-year-old Bethesda boy was eighth-grader at St. Bartholomew School BY KRISTA BRICK STAFF WRITER
A 14-year-old boy died Sunday after collapsing during a game of futsal at the Germantown Boys and Girls Club. Santiago Vesperoni of Bethesda was an eighth-grader at St. Bartholomew School in Bethesda, according to Principal Stephen C. Lamont. Julio Zarate, president of the
SPORTS
COMING UP SHORT
Richard Montgomery, Winston Churchill speedskaters fail to qualify for Olympics.
B-1
Pachuca Club de Futbol USA, had been watching the game of futsal — a five-sided indoor soccer game played on a hard surface — between the teen’s team and the Olney Boys and Girls Club Galaxy U14 girls team. Zarate said he had been asked to attend the game by Santiago’s team to determine if the boys team should play for his club. Zarate said Santiago collapsed on the gym floor during the 1 p.m. game. He said that he tried to help the teen and that another parent performed CPR, but the boy was unresponsive. Other parents inside the gym called 911, he said.
Assistant Chief Scott Graham of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that a 14-year-old was transported from the club at 19910 Frederick Road to a local hospital in serious condition on Sunday. Santiago’s cause of death was not known. When reached at home, his mother, Sylvia Vesperoni, did not want to comment on her son’s death. The Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division is investigating, which is standard procedure in a death, police
See TEEN, Page A-10
NEWS
BUCKING THE NATIONAL TREND County volunteer fire services are healthy, growing and saving taxpayers millions
A-15
ing to National Weather Service meteorologist Howard Silverman. Low temperatures early Wednesday would be about 5, but with winds lighter than Tuesday’s, he said. Highs Wednesday will be in the mid- to upper 20s; Tuesday’s high temperature hit only the low teens. Temperatures are forecast to moderate further during the week, with highs in the 50s expected this weekend. Montgomery County on Tuesday implemented a hypothermia plan, said Mary Anderson, a spokeswoman with the county’s health and human services
Parents, students protest school decision to open in cold BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County Public Schools opened on time Tuesday as the region faced record cold temperatures, sparking concern and complaints from some parents, students and others. Many took to social media, sending Twitter messages to Superintendent Joshua P. Starr and the school system about their disappointment that school openings were not delayed by the bitter temperatures. The temperature in Gaithersburg dipped to 1 degree
See COLD, Page A-13
See MCPS, Page A-13
County police arrest parents, teens at Damascus drinking party n
Officers say underage partygoers and parents assaulted them AND
BY SYLVIA CARIGNAN ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITERS
A party at a home in Damascus Saturday night ended abruptly after officers who had arrived to shut it down were attacked by the party’s hosts, Montgomery County police said Monday. Officers arrived at a house in the 9400 block of Damascus Road on Saturday evening, just before midnight, police said, and
Automotive Business Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please
saw several teenagers in the backyard of the house in possession of alcohol, as well as a keg in an outdoor stairwell. At a news conference on Monday, Montgomery County Police Capt. Thomas Didone said police saw “many young people with beer in their hands” outside the house, and contacted the homeowners. Inside the house, they saw about 35 people who appeared to be underage drinkers, police said. According to police, the residents of the home denied their request to come inside the home, and when officers tried to seize the
See ARREST, Page A-10
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T H E G AZ ET T E
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
PEOPLE& PLACES More online at www.gazette.net
Moms and babies promote Ashton company More than 25 mothers in the
Olney-Ashton area recently took
their little ones to a photo shoot to celebrate and promote a local business that’s gaining national traction. Teething Bling products, developed by Ashton mother Amy Maurer Creel, are now available in Target stores nationwide. The “teethable” necklaces and bracelets are made of a soft, flexible silicone, the same material used in coated infant feeding spoons. Creel came up with the idea in 2005, after her infant daughter pulled on her strand of pearls while at church, breaking the necklace and sending pearls bouncing throughout the pews. Her “aha moment” led to the launch of what’s now a milliondollar company. Products come in a variety of designs including jewel tones, NFL colors, shimmering colors and whimsical designs. Necklaces, which feature a breakaway safety cord, sell for about $20. The company has sold about 200,000 units, and Creel is hoping for 40,000 to be sold at Target. Creel rounded local mothers and babies for the photos, which were taken in her Ashton home and will be used for promotion in Target stores. The babies ranged in age from 3
to 18 months, and the mothers were all given free makeovers, courtesy of Silver Spring stylist Kim Reyes. “This community has supported my business since the beginning, so I wanted to keep the shoot local, as a way to say thank you to all the moms who believed in me,” she said. Creel is scheduled to appear this month on the Steve Harvey television talk show’s “Mystery Millionaire” segment. The air date has not been released.
GALLERY
Wootton High goaltender Jake Mitchell defends against Churchill during a hockey game on Friday at the Rockville Ice Arena. Go to clicked.Gazette.net.
Gaithersburg seeks bids for aquatic center fixes Gaithersburg is now seeking
sealed bid proposals to repair and renovate the Gaithersburg Aquatic Center. According to a city news release, most of the projects will focus on the indoor pool, including repairing and resurfacing the main pool, installing two stationary pool lifts that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and replacing pump room equipment.All bid submissions are due 11 a.m. Jan. 21. Sunil Prithviraj, Gaithersburg’s capital projects program manager, said officials roughly estimate the cost of all the projects at $250,000 to $350,000. The pool lifts alone are expected to range from $6,000 to $8,000 each, he said. Prithviraj added that the center, at 2 Teachers Way, is still on track to reopen this spring.
EVENTS
JAY MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY
Olney market launches second winter season The Olney Farmers and Artists Market will kick off its second winter market season Sunday at the Sandy Spring Museum. The market will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through the end of March. About 30 vendors are expected, including Orchard Breeze Farm, providing bacon, fresh eggs, sausage, poultry and more; and a new organic farmer, Cat’s Paw Organics from Union Bridge. Both will be outside the museum.
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
BestBet
Open House, 10-11 a.m., Early
Childhood Center, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville. Free. 301-424-8065.
SAT
FRIDAY, JAN. 10 Orientation to Maryland Women’s Business Center and Small Business Resources, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Rockville
Economic Development, 95 Monroe St., Rockville. Free. 301-315-8096. ABC’s of Starting a Business, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Rockville Economic Development, 95 Monroe St., Rockville. $10. 301-315-8096. Gene Toasters Toastmasters, noon-1 p.m., Center for Tobacco Products, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., Rockville. Free for first-time guests. 301-762-2193. Tree of Life Cafe, 8-11 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville. $15 suggested donation. 301-762-7666.
11
The Ben Allison Band Master Class,
4-6 p.m., CityDance Studio Education Room, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Free, tickets required. 301-581-5145.
MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET
SATURDAY, JAN. 11 Indoor Flea Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 16 Chestnut St., Building 6, Gaithersburg. Free admission. www. gaithersburgmd.gov/markets.
The Be Secular Conversation Series: Common Ground Activism, 1-4
p.m., Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus, 9601 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. $20. 443-370-7420.
SUNDAY, JAN. 12
Pain Connection DMV Chronic Pain Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., 12320
Parklawn Drive, Rockville. 301-309-2444. STEM Mini-Makers, 3 p.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus. Free. 240-777-9444. Two Perspectives on Fracking by
WeekendWeather FRIDAY
45
SATURDAY
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p.m., Ross Boddy Recreation Community Center, 18529 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring. john.salzberg@verizon.net.
a.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus. Free. 240-773-9444. Afternoon Grief Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 6810 Montrose Road, Rockville. Free, registration needed. 301-921-4400.
using the QR Code reader, or go to www.gazette.net/mobile for custom options.
GAZETTE CONTACTS
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15
The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350
Mother’s Morning Out Babysitting,
9:30 a.m.-noon, Faith Presbyterian Church, 17309 Old Baltimore Road, Olney. Free. wellwood15@verizon.net.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIQUOR / WINE SALE 1/08/14 Thru 1/24/14 Now Open Seneca Meadows
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SUNDAY
Get complete, current weather information at
the Sandy Spring Civic Assoviation, 6:30
School/Nursery School Open House, 9:15-11:45 a.m., St. Raphael
School, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville. Free. 301-762-2143. Seniors in Action Arts and Crafts, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Stedwick Community Center, 10401 Stedwick Road, Montgomery Village. $15 for residents, $30 for nonresidents. 240-243-2367.
Liz’s response arrives right on time.
LIZ CRENSHAW
James William Hale, 90, of Germantown, died Dec. 29, 2013. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 3 at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Pennsylvania. Hilton Funeral Home in Barnesville handled the arrangements.
6:30-9 p.m., Sandy Spring Friends Meeting Community House, 17715 Meeting House Road, Sandy Spring. 301-774-3636.
MONDAY, JAN. 13
Why do some packages shipped through UPS end up being delivered by the U.S. Postal Service?
James William Hale
Community Event on Fracking for Gas and the Dangers of Cove Point,
Volunteer Project Fair, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac. Free. 301-2997087, ext. 1.
ConsumerWatch
DEATHS
3-4:30 p.m., Parent Encouragement Program, 10100 Connecticut Ave., Kensington. Free. 301-929-8824.
A&E For wine lovers, a pinot vacation is worth the trip.
For more on your community, visit www.gazette.net
Inside, M and M plants will return, along with about a dozen rotating juried artists with works such as handmade clocks, glass jewelry and beads. Food selections will include Vietnamese cuisine, moussaka, Belgian waffles, cupcakes, homemade chocolate, fresh pasta and coffee. The market will offer cafe seating, chef’s demonstrations, live music and children’s activities. To volunteer, call 301-774-0022. The museum is at 17901 Bentley Road. More information is at olneyfarmersmarket.org.
Why Don’t My Kids Listen to Me?,
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.
SPORTS Springbrook visits Sherwood in a 4A North boys basketball matchup Friday.
Amy Maurer Creel of Ashton, founder of Teething Bling, celebrates the launch of her products in Target stores nationwide with a group of Olney-area babies. The babies and their mothers joined Creel for a photo shoot to create promotional materials for Target and for a catalog.
T H E G AZ ET T E
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Page A-3
LOCAL A new chapter in Gaithersburg
County executive urges caution on budget n
As plan takes shape, Leggett says county can’t return to ‘spending as usual’ BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Gaithersburg’s Kenya (left), 8, and Rakai Wilson, 6, read Saturday in the children’s collections area of Gaithersburg’s newly renovated library branch. After waiting more than three years, the community came together Saturday to celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated and expanded Gaithersburg library. The grand reopening event, at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., began with opening remarks from library manager Kay Bowman and County Executive Isiah Leggett. Face painting, storytelling and musical performances also helped to
usher in a new era for the library. The celebration marked the end of a $25.6 million major renovation project. The 33,700-square-foot structure was expanded by adding 22,200 square feet on the main level and 7,900 square feet on a partial second floor. The library had been closed since May 2010. Construction began in December 2011. — JENN DAVIS
Montgomery County needs to be cautious in its fiscal 2015 operating budget despite its improved financial state, County Executive Isiah Leggett told residents at a forum Monday night in Germantown. The meeting at Germantown’s BlackRock Center for the Arts drew about 30 residents. It was the first of five that Leggett plans to hold around the county in January to get feedback on the budget before he submits it to the County Council on March 17. The council must pass a budget by the end of May. The next fiscal year starts July 1. The county’s revenue projections are up and its fiscal situation is “far better off than we’ve been in a very long time,” Leggett said. But as the county emerges from the recession, it must be careful to not return to “spending as usual,” creating unsustainable budgets in coming years if the economy suffers another downturn, he said. During the height of the recession, Montgomery furloughed employees and eliminated about 10 percent of its workforce, Leggett said. It also eliminated cost-of-living adjustments and merit pay increases for other workers for several years, he said. “No one did as much, and no one did as long, as we did,” Leggett said.
He said he doesn’t expect the county to add back the nearly 10 percent of jobs that were cut, but the county would likely make “strategic” replacements, including police, fire and rescue personnel and library and transit positions. Leggett told the residents they won’t see huge increases in the county budget because he doesn’t want to move too fast in adding back costs that were cut during the recession. He said he aims to keep the county’s fiscal position sustainable, and avoid any “wild gyrations” that would result in cuts in future years. Gaithersburg resident Bruce Goldensen asked if there was any way for the county to refinance payment on its debt service, which took up about $309 million of the county’s fiscal 2014 budget of $4.8 billion, and reduce the yearly amount it must pay. The county occasionally refinances, Leggett said, but it can be “a very difficult proposition.” He said he believes the county’s AAA bond rating allows it to borrow at the best possible rates, but the county’s Finance Department will continue to make sure that happens. Mike Griffin of Germantown asked Leggett about his vision for how the county will continue to care for senior citizens and others who rely on county services. Leggett said he’d like to at least maintain the level of funding in the existing budget or possibly start restoring services to the Department of Health and Human Services and other areas that have had major reductions in recent years. Health and Human Services re-
BUDGET FORUMS Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) will hold four more public forums for residents to provide input into priorities for the county’s fiscal 2015 operating budget. The forums are scheduled as follows:
n Monday at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. n Jan. 16 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring. n Jan. 27 at the Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. n Jan. 29 at the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring. All four events are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
ceived $193 million in the fiscal 2014 budget, according to a presentation by county staff Monday night. But Leggett said increases depend on revenues increasing, so he won’t rush to restore services. Nearly half of the county’s budget goes to funding Montgomery County Public Schools, with more than $2 billion allocated in fiscal 2014. The next highest areas of spending were public safety, debt service, general government and other functions, and Montgomery College, with a combined allocation of about $1.4 billion. rmarshall@gazette.net
Sandy Spring Museum hires folklorist to embark on regional field study BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
The Sandy Spring Museum has hired folklorist Emily Hilliard to conduct a field survey of the Sandy Spring area to document local folk traditions. The project is supported in part by a grant from Maryland Traditions, a program of the Maryland State Arts Council. Hilliard said she previously worked with Maryland Traditions and was excited when she saw the job posting for Sandy Spring, as field studies are the “bread and butter” of folklorists. In addition to the $5,000 grant from the arts council, the remainder of funding for the six-month project came from a $2,500 grant from the Maryland Hu-
manities Council. “Folk life traditions are creative expressions embedded in a community,” said Hilliard, who has a master’s degree in folklore from the University of North Carolina. “They can include foodways, storytelling, faith-based expression, clothing — any existing or emerging traditions that are shared by a group of people.” Allison Weiss, the museum’s executive director, said the study is a part of the museum’s strategic plan created last year. Its purpose is to better document the history and living traditions of Sandy Spring. “The museum’s membership doesn’t reflect the community as a whole,” she said. “There are 140,000 people living around here, and 50 percent of those are non-Hispanic white. Our membership is skewed, since it is predominantly Caucasians over age 65.
“Other than Quakers and AfricanAmericans, we don’t really have relationships built with other groups of people, such as Indian and Muslim,” she said. “We want to try, through this folk life study, to reach out to different groups.” Weiss said the community has changed greatly since the museum was established in 1980. “We want to make sure that the museum collects everyone’s history — people with deep roots in Sandy Spring and people who moved here more recently,” she said. Weiss said the information gathered would also help the museum determine programming. “We don’t want to create programming and hope that people show up; we want groups to create their own programming,” she said. The survey will include all ar-
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Obituary
1913046
Hugh Montgomery Rabbitt, passed away on December 22, 2013. A memorial service will be held on January 18, 2014, 11am at the Rockville Christian Church, 301 Adclare Road, Rockville, Maryland.
James William Hale, 90, of Germantown, MD, passed away on Dec. 29, 2013. He was the husband of the late Florence Kasaba Hale, father of Cynthia Hale, Patricia Hale-Segura (Mike), James Hale Jr. and Gloria Hale (Robert), brother of Clarence Hale (Renie) and Mary Hale Pope, 4 grandchildren, Jon Elkaim (Erin), Jill Elkaim, Andie Segura and Tristan Hale, one great grandchild Ethan Elkaim. Proceeded in death by a daughter Olivia Elkaim(David), two sisters Garnette Kiebler (Kelvin) and Maxine Edwards. James was a member of the Iron Workers Union, Local #5, Washington DC. The family received friends on Thursday, Jan. 2, from 6-8 pm at Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Rd., Barnesville, MD (hiltonfh.com). A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday Jan. 3 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 585 Mt. Olivet Rd, Carverton, PA. Interment followed in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, PA.
1905926
You were tragically taken from us one year ago. We can’t forget your smile, your beautiful blue eyes and your love of life. We love you and miss you. You live on forever in our hearts.
mation, but we also want to document what Sandy Spring looks like now.” Once the interviews are completed, Hilliard will compile a report to share with the museum and the state. Eventually, some of the materials may become part of a museum exhibit. Hilliard said the process has started slowly. She has already made connections with people in the Sharp Street United Methodist Church choir and Rabbi Ari Sunshine from B’nai Shalom of Olney has put her in touch with an artist who has created mosaics and other artwork at the synagogue. She hopes these connections will lead to others. Those who would like to be interviewed for this project or have questions about what qualifies as “folk life” may contact Hilliard at emilyhilliard@ gmail.com. For more information on the museum, go to www.sandyspringmuseum.org.
Obituary
Obituary
In Loving Memory of Daniel Alain “Dan” Vail March 2, 1993 – January 10, 2013
eas considered part of historic Sandy Spring, which encompasses a 7-mile radius stemming from the Friends Meeting House. During the next five months, Hilliard will identify and conduct oral histories with 20 to 25 traditional artists, such as quilters, musicians and artists, and tradition bearers — those who use and pass down the traditions — among local Quaker, black and new immigrant communities. She will take notes, record their interviews, and take photos and videos as part of the process. “We have a lot of contact information on the Quaker and AfricanAmerican communities, but we are particularly interested in some of the new communities where we haven’t established contacts,” she said. “That will give us a better sense of the community, and a better representation of Sandy Spring. There is a lot of historical infor-
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
LOCAL
Vandalism to cost SoccerPlex thousands n
Thursday’s incident under investigation BY
STAFF WRITER
Gaithersburg neighborhood to host forum
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Julie Adamski, assistant sports turf manager at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, holds a piece of the turf from field 14. An unauthorized vehicle drove in circles on the field, causing ruts and tearing up the surface. SoccerPlex opened, a vehicle drove in circles on one of the fields. In a separate incident about five years ago, she said, a vehicle drove on fields 15 and 16 after snow had fallen. Each of those two incidents cost the SoccerPlex about $5,000 in repairs. “I think people don’t realize ... that they are causing a tremendous amount of damage,” Heffelfinger said.
Spokesman Lt. Rick Pelicano of the National Capital Park Police’s Montgomery County Division said the person responsible for the incident could be charged with destruction of property. “It’s no different than coming into a storefront and breaking all the windows,” Pelicano said. No suspects have yet been identified. scarignan@gazette.net
Bus of Montgomery child care provider vandalized Inside vehicle, fire extinguisher was sprayed and feces left in seat n
BY
ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
Officials from a local Montgomery County child care organization were on break late last month when someone entered one of their buses, sprayed the inside of the bus with a fire extinguisher and defecated on the driver’s seat. “It’s just unbelievable,” said Michelle Green, executive director of the nonprofit Montgomery Child Care Association, which provides child day care and before- and after-school services to about 1,000 students ages 3 to 12 across the county. The incident took place at the Ivymount School on Seven Locks Road in Potomac, which the Montgomery Child Care Association’s Beverly Farms program rents space from, ac-
cording to Cindy O’Carroll, the director of the program at the school. According to O’Carroll, on Dec. 29, an employee of the Ivymount School who had been working at the school over the weekend noticed that one of the Montgomery Child Care Association’s buses parked outside the school was open. The employee called police, then called her, she said. O’Carroll said she arrived as police were leaving. Inside the bus, they found a white film coating the seats and windows and an empty fire extinguisher at the back of the bus. O’Carroll said the incident left her “disgusted and appalled.” Police investigated the scene and searched for fingerprints. “It can be very difficult in these kinds of cases linking [the crime] to any suspects,” County Police Cpl. Rebecca Innocenti said. Lee Oppenheim, director of finance and administration for the Ivymount School, said the issue has
been an “ongoing problem,” and happens more frequently during long breaks like winter and summer, when people aren’t around around. The Ivymount School has had buses vandalized on other occasions. The school uses the Montgomery Child Care Association buses sometimes, she said. Police will put extra patrols on, but buses at the school are often vandalized, Oppenheim said. School officials found a children’s scooter nearby, O’Carroll said. It took them a full day to clean the bus, she said. “It’s frustrating, but what are you going to do? We don’t even know who’s doing it. It would be helpful if neighbors let us know if they see something happening,” Oppenheim said. Montgomery Child Care Association’s program at the Ivymount School serves about 50 children, she said. The buses were parked outside unlocked. She said state laws
require that schools not lock bus doors — even they aren’t being used, she said. “We have to follow their policies,” she said. Buel Young, a spokesman for the Maryland Vehicle Administration, said buses must have non-locking handles for opening service doors from the outside. In 2006, buses used by the Ivymount School were also targeted. In those incidents, vandals smashed bus windows and caused hundreds of dollars worth of damages. Other schools keep buses in secure parking lots behind locked fences, she said. “Ours are an easy target,” she said. In other incidents, she said, program officials had found condoms, alcohol bottles, cigarette butts and other items in the bus. The bus’s tires have been slashed, and first aid kits inside have abeen removed. sjbsmith@gazette.net
Students prepare for Damascus Legion speech contest Winner receives $500 prize, moves on to countywide event n
BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
Speeches are expected to ring from the rafters Saturday in Damascus as four students compete in the 78th annual American Legion oratorical contest about aspects of the U.S. Constitution. Legion Post 171, which opens the contest to local students, will host the event at 10 a.m. at the Legion building at 10201 Lewis Drive. Caitlin Augerson, a senior from Damascus High School, and three Clarksburg High School students — freshman Anurudh Ganesan and sophomores Emory Cole II and Aditya Kaliappan — will compete. “We’re gaining more knowledge about the Constitution in conversations with people and in talking about [our] country,” Anurudh said. Anurudh, who is thinking about majoring in finance, said he’s going to focus in his speech on the citizen’s role in the government, including duties such as paying taxes. “It brings you up to date about
Germantown church to hold adoption fair Children’s Home Society and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota will host an adoption fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Neelsville Presbyterian Church in Germantown. The event is open to families in the Washington, D.C., region who are willing to adopt. Attendees can learn how to become adoptive parents and get more information on international adoption, private domestic adoption and adoption from foster care. The church is at 20701 Frederick Road. Those who are interested may register at chsfs.org/ adoptionfairdc.
SYLVIA CARIGNAN
Vandals caused about $10,000 in damage to a field at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Thursday, according to facility officials. Maryland Soccer Foundation Executive Director Trish Heffelfinger said a vehicle entered the facility in Boyds around 11 p.m. that day, after closing time. The vehicle drove in circles around field 14 and three of the parking lots, which had been snowed on earlier that day. The Maryland Soccer Foundation operates the multi-field SoccerPlex, which is part of the county’s South Germantown Recreational Park. Heffelfinger said the incident was reported to National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division. That particular soccer field was renovated last summer, she said. “It was virtually, as of August, a brand new field,” Heffelfinger said. New sod was placed over a sand base to allow for better drainage. SoccerPlex turf manager Jerad Minnick said the ruts are about 4 inches deep where the vehicle’s tires broke through the top of the field, exposing the sand base beneath. The vehicle also drove in three of the facility’s parking lots. Heffelfinger said the field will have to be regraded and covered with new sod once temperatures allow work to begin. It is not yet clear if the field will be ready for the SoccerPlex’s spring season, which starts in March. This kind of incident has happened twice since the SoccerPlex was built, but there are no clues that link Thursday’s incident to past events, Heffelfinger said. In October 2000, before the
InBrief
the Constitution and real-life applications,” he said. Cole, who is thinking about a future in politics, said he admired Martin Luther King Jr.’s speaking style. “I love the way he spoke to the crowd ... how he used his hands,” he said. Emory said he plans to speak about “the people’s duty to influence the government.” “They have a duty to uphold the Constitution, so that people are treated equally,” he said. Post 171 draws on students from Damascus, Clarksburg, Poolesville and Seneca Valley high schools, as well as private schools and homeschooled students, who sign up to compete. The top winner receives $500, the second-place winner receives $250, and the third-place winner, $150. “It’s a very difficult competition,” said Rachel Clements, who teaches the Constitution as a social studies resource teacher at Clarksburg High. The prospect of winning a prize is one reason students sign up, she said.
However, the contest also is a way to improve communication skills that prove useful in school and at work. Public speaking is not taught at Clarksburg High as a separate subject, but it will be included in the new Common Core English curriculum, with assessments starting next year, Clements said. “Unlike the previous reading and writing, there will also be listening and speaking,” she said. Competing in the Legion contest takes time, as students need to research their main topic, which they choose, and also learn about four assigned topics having to do with constitutional amendments. “It’s a lot of work,” said George Bolling, of Post 171. “You do one long [speech] and one short, but you have to prepare for five.” For their main topic, students pick an aspect of the Constitution to research and deliver an eight- to 10-minute oration, without reading from notes. One of the four assigned topics then is selected at random at the competition, and all four students speak for three to five minutes about the one topic.
“It’s my first public speaking competition, but I’m not nervous about it,” Ganesan said. “I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can.” The winner of Saturday’s contest in Damascus will represent Post 171 in the countywide American oratorical contest scheduled for Jan. 25, also at Post 171. Two other posts will compete in the countywide contest — Gaithersburg Post 295 and Rockville Post 86. Montgomery County then will compete with others in the Legion’s Southern Maryland district on Feb. 8 at Post 259 in Clinton. The district winners will advance to the statewide contest March 2 at Towson University in Baltimore County. Two years ago, Damascus Post 171 winner Logan Jackonis of Poolesville High School won the state contest and represented Maryland at the national finals, Bolling said. The top-three winners of the national contest are awarded scholarships totaling close to $20,000. For more information, visit legion.org/oratorical. vterhune@gazette.net
The Lakelands neighborhood in Gaithersburg will hold a community meeting Jan. 15 to discuss the fate of a 3-acre parcel of open land at the Great Seneca Highway entrance. Classic Community Corp. owns the land. The development firm’s co-owner, Steve Eckert, will discuss plans to construct a Patient First medical center and a mixed-use professional office building to be operated by Johns Hopkins University there. After his presentation, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer their opinions. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Green Room of the Lakelands Clubhouse, 960 Main St.
County libraries offer new online services Montgomery County Public Libraries has launched three new online services: Zinio for Libraries, 3M Cloud Library e-book lending system and Learn4Life. Zinio, the world’s largest digital newsstand, is designed for public library users, according to a news release. The service digitally recreates, page-by-page, full-color magazines with interactive elements such as audio and video, intuitive navigation and keyword article search. The 3M Cloud Library e-book lending system offers titles from major publishers. Patrons can check out and read books, and browse the digital bookshelf from any location. The e-books are compatible with desktop computers, plus some tablets, smartphones and 3M e-readers. The Learn4Life program provides free online courses and career training programs, including the following: • Courses that offer special credits or certificates, such as health care certificates. • Academic courses, such as college readiness math and science. • Career training courses, such as business fundamentals.
FIRE LOG For the week of Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, through Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department responded to the following incidents:
From Station 4 (Sandy Spring Station): • On Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2:47 a.m., units responded to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Brighton Knolls Drive for a vehicle collision. One patient was transported to a local hospital. • On Saturday, Dec. 28, at 2:17 a.m., units responded to the intersection of Spencerville and Good Hope roads for a vehicle collision. One patient was transported to a local hospital. • On Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 6:21 p.m., units responded to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Spencerville Road for a property damage collision. • On Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7:06 p.m., units responded to the 17900 block of Pond Road for a property damage collision. From Station 40 (Olney Station) • On Saturday, Dec. 21, at 3:05 p.m., units responded to the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Emory Lane for a vehicle collision. One person was transported to a local hospital. • On Monday, Dec. 23, at 7:26 a.m., units responded to the 21400 block of Georgia Avenue for a property damage collision. • On Thursday, Dec. 28, at 2:08 p.m., units responded to the 16900 block of Georgia Avenue for a property damage collision. • On Friday, Dec. 27, at 3:44 p.m., units responded to the intersection of Olney-Sandy Spring Road and Village Center Drive for a vehicle collision. One patient was transported to a local hospital. • On Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 1:51 p.m., units responded to the 3600 block of Gleneagles Drive to investigate an odor. • On Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 5:32 p.m., units responded to the 3200 block of Olney-Sandy Spring Road for a vehicle collision. One patient was transported to a local hospital. From both stations: • On Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10:09 a.m., units responded to the 14400 block of Taos Court to assist the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department with a house fire. • On Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 8:14 a.m., units responded to Narrows Court for a house fire. Damage is estimated at $600,000, and one civilian and three firefighters were injured.
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Lights out for the Olney Library Contractor asked to turn off lights at night; facility to open in mid-March
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BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
It’s a stark contrast — after the Olney Library has sat dark and empty for three full years during its nearly $13 million expansion and renovation, residents passing by in recent weeks have seen the building brightly lit throughout the night. Several community members have posted to the OlneyBrookeville Exchange Yahoo group about the wasted energy, and Suresh Patel of the county’s Department of General Services
Division of Building Design and Construction said he has also received several emails from people concerned about the lights being left on throughout the night. “The reason they have been kept on is for security, but we now have asked the contractor to turn them off at night,” said Patel. “Now that people are complaining, we will lock the building, and hopefully there won’t be any problems.” He said there has not been any recent vandalism, but confirmed that during the period after the library closed but before construction began, there were problems with people entering the vacant building. Now that the exterior of the
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building is nearly complete, work on the inside is underway. Patel said that as of Monday morning, workers were going to begin installing the shelves. Rita Gale, public services administrator for facilities and strategic planning for the county’s library department, said once the shelving installation is completed, workers willl move computers into the building and begin getting the collection onto the shelves. Patel and Gale concur on an estimated opening in mid-March. “Our intent is to get the library open as quickly as possible, because we know the community is anxious to get it open and start using it,” Gale said. “If we can move it up earlier, we will try to do that.” The construction project has hit numerous snags, leaving the community frustrated. Although the library closed in 2010, construction did not begin until spring 2012. David Dise, director of the county’s Department of General Services, said the initial delays were the result of delays in permitting by the civil engineer. In July, work slowed to a halt just before the general contractor, Milestone Construction, informed the county that it was ceasing business operations throughout the region. Milestone agreed to complete the project, and the county has worked with a surety company and closely monitored the situation to get the work back on track. The library, on a 2.5-acre parcel near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Olney-Laytonsville Road, was built in 1981.
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Shedding the pounds Fleet Feet Sports and Whole Foods Market in the Kentlands have teamed up to challenge the Gaithersburg community to lose a ton of weight — literally. On Saturday, the two establishments launched “Ton of Fun,” a 12week program that encourages local residents to become more active and healthy while still having fun. The goal is for the community to lose 2,000 pounds collectively. Participants started lining up for their first official weigh-in at 1 p.m. at Fleet Feet Sports at 255 Kentlands Blvd. The program will include a variety of tools to help keep participants on track, such as e-newsletters, seminars, a closed Facebook group and weekly weigh-ins. — JENN DAVIS
Raphael Canchola of Gaithersburg registers and weighs in for the Fleet Feet Sports “Ton of Fun” weight loss challenge in Gaithersburg on Saturday. Canchola hopes to lose 40 to 45 pounds. TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Poolesville updates State of the Town Poolesville’s commissioners are revamping their State of the Town update after long meetings and low attendance made their old format a burden. “It was a meeting that ran until 11 o’clock at night. Nothing got done,” Town Manager Wade Yost said at a commissioners meeting Monday evening. Last year’s State of the Town update was presented at a meeting on Jan. 9. Town Commissioners
President Jim Brown said the commissioners will try to present their yearly update in a way that will bring more residents to Town Hall. Instead of having the department heads each speak about their accomplishments during the year, they will report them to Yost, who will present their information briefly at a meeting. Brown said it is not his intent to cancel the State of the Town update, but it will
be repackaged to make town meetings more efficient. The commissioners felt that the length of the meeting kept residents from attending. Commissioner Brice Halbrook suggested that the presentations be divided among multiple regular meetings, but the commissioners have yet to decide if that will be their format. They have not set dates, or a date, for the State of the Town presentations. — SYLVIA CARIGNAN
Katz says he will run for Montgomery council Gaithersburg mayor to release campaign details this month
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
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Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz said Thursday that he will run for the District 3 seat on the Montgomery County Council. Increasing support and encouragement from the community after his December announcement that he was considering the run was the main factor behind his decision to make a bid. “Once my announcement made the papers, I started getting even Katz more and more calls from people,” he said. “I was in the grocery store yesterday and somebody mentioned that they hoped I would run.” He said he will make a formal announcement about his upcoming campaign this month. According to an interview with Montgomery Community Media at the Gaithersburg library Saturday, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said Katz “will probably be the person to beat.” “He’s an excellent person and I think that we’re going to have a very, very strong candidate in the mayor of Gaithersburg,” Leggett said during the interview. District 3 includes Gaithersburg, Rockville, Washington Grove, Leisure World, and parts of Aspen Hill, Derwood, North Potomac and Potomac. The seat is currently held by County Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D) of Gaithersburg, but he has filed as a candidate for county executive. A Gaithersburg native, Katz has served on the City Council since 1978. In September 1998, he was appointed mayor after the death of then-Mayor W. Edward Bohrer Jr. After winning re-election in November, Katz is currently serving a four-year term that will expire in November 2017. Katz, 63, will notice a familiar face in the race, as City Councilman Ryan Spiegel announced Dec. 5 that he will seek the same seat. Neither of them had filed to run in District 3 as of Monday, according to the Maryland State
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Forehand: State should raise smoking age to 21 Bald eagles shot, killed Lawmakers preview 2014 session in Rockville n
BY
ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER
A Maryland lawmaker wants people to wait until they are older before they can legally buy or smoke a pack of cigarettes. State Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville said she plans to introduce a bill this year to raise the legal smoking age to 21. Forehand spoke during a Monday Rockville mayor and council meeting. She and other representatives for District 17, which includes Gaithersburg and Rockville, were at the meeting to discuss the 2014 General Assembly session with city officials. Currently, the legal smoking
age in Maryland is 18. Minors violating the law can be fined up to $25 for the first violation and up to $100 for a second or subsequent violation, according to the Maryland Attorney General website. Forehand said she has pushed for anti-smoking laws because of her father, who died of lung cancer brought on by secondhand smoke. She already has pre-filed a bill for this session that would prohibit smoking in a vehicle with a young child, The Gazette reported last week. “Of course, people made fun of me when I first started doing this, but we’ve seen the results now, and I think that’s real good,” Forehand said. At the Monday meeting, Del. Kumar P. Barve, a Gaithersburg Democrat and House majority leader, said he is hopeful that the state will send more
money to Montgomery County for school construction. He also said he thinks consensus is forming in the General Assembly to raise the minimum wage statewide. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties both passed measures late last year to raise the minimum wage in those jurisdictions. Del. James W. Gilchrist (D) of Rockville said that last year, legislators introduced some bills to strengthen city stormwater fee regulations and some to weaken them, but all of them failed. Lawmakers also introduced legislation for and against speed camera programs, he said. Both stormwater fees and speed camera programs likely will come up again this session, Gilchrist said. A speed camera ticketing a stopped car in Baltimore fueled criticism of speed
camera programs, Gilchrist said, but Rockville having a good program can help increase support for speed camera programs. “As much as municipalities and the City of Rockville can prove that it’s working, that will be very important to the discussion,” he said. Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D) of Rockville said he wants to see the state link its databases of regulated firearms and criminal convictions so Maryland can enforce its law that requires people to give up their guns after violent crimes convictions. Simmons also said he wants to promote apprenticeships in Maryland that would provide job training for high school students who do not plan to go to college. He said the U.S. as a whole lags behind Europe and Canada in the number of apprenticeships for young people.
Sen. Forehand says she will not run again this year Lawmaker will end career after nine terms in General Assembly
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BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
aspire to public office should admire. “I salute Jennie for her remarkable career in public office and congratulate her on her many accomplishments,” Kagan said. “Jennie is a true trailblazer, and we owe her our gratitude.” Simmons (D), who has served with Forehand in District 17, also lauded her. “Even though we may have different perspectives on different issues, I have always had a lot of affection for her,” he said. Forehand said she will serve the remainder of her current term. “I figure I’ve got something really good for this year,” she said. Among the bills she has pre-filed for the session is a bill to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with a young child.
Agency following leads TERRI HOGAN
BY
STAFF WRITER
In recent weeks, several people posted on the OlneyBrookeville Exchange Yahoo Group that they saw majestic bald eagles soaring over the area. That joy turned to sorrow and anger after Maryland Department of Natural Resources police reported that two bald eagles recently were killed in Montgomery County. An eagle was shot with a rifle at about 3 p.m. Christmas Day in a field at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Bordly Drive in Brookeville, according to Candus Thomson, an agency spokeswoman. She said residents were out walking and taking photographs when they heard the shot and saw the eagle dead next to a deer carcass that it had been feeding on. Three days later, a mature eagle was found near a residence on Deakins Lane in Darnestown. The bird was found alive, but later died of its injuries. An X-ray revealed it had been hit by birdshot, a type of shotgun ammunition. The incidents are thought to be unrelated. Thomson said that as of
Monday afternoon, her agency had received several leads and is investigating them. “The public certainly took this to heart,” Thomson said. “We hope the information will lead to something.” Bald eagles are in their active courtship period right now, she said. In late February or early March, eagles along the upper Chesapeake Bay and inland lay eggs that hatch in April. She said that because eagles are fishing birds, it is not surprising to see them in the Brookeville area because of its proximity to the Tridelphia Reservoir, or in Darnestown, near the Potomac River. Thomson said she understands why people get excited about seeing them. “Even though they are no longer on the endangered species list, they are still protected by federal law,” she said. “They are our national bird and are just wonderful to look at.” Thomson said the eagle killed in Brookeville was still immature and did not yet have the complete white feathers on its head. “Someone probably thought it was a vulture because they didn’t see the white feathers, but the No. 1 rule when hunting is knowing what you are shooting, and what is behind it,” she said.
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One of the Maryland General Assembly’s longest-serving members, Sen. Jennie M. Forehand of Rockville, said this year will be her last as a lawmaker. After 36 years as a lawmaker, Forehand (D-Dist. 17) will not run for re-election in 2014. “I really have gotten so many really good things done and I really felt like maybe it was time,” she said Friday morning. Forehand, 78, served in the House of
Delegates from 1978 to 1994, according to state records. She has represented District 17 in the Senate since 1995. While she initially planned to wait to announce that she would not seek re-election, Forehand said others entering the race prompted her to make her plans known. Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons and former Del. Cheryl Kagan are running for Forehand’s Forehand seat. Kagan — who ran against Forehand in 2010 — said in a statement that Forehand has set an example of service that all who
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Docca pursues third school board stint Former educator from Montgomery Village focused on success of black, Hispanic students n
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Judith Docca said she will seek a third term on the Montgomery County school board this year with the school system’s black and Hispanic students in mind. “I’ve said before, I’m most concerned about the academic atmosphere for these students and I still am,” she said. Docca, 74, a resident of Montgomery Village, plans to run for re-election as the school board’s District 1 representative, offering her range of experience within the school system. Docca’s fellow school board members, District 5 representative Michael A. Durso and District 3 representative Patricia O’Neill, also are running again for their respective seats. While Docca will run for a seat representing her district — which includes Poolesville, Barnsville and Laytonsville — voters countywide are eligible to cast ballots in the race. The primary election falls on June 24 and the general election on Nov. 4. Docca’s past school roles include serving as a teacher at Gaithersburg High School, assistant principal at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and principal at Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring. Docca, who is black, said the school system needs to address several issues that black
and Hispanic students face, including high dropout rates. Too many students in both groups also are suspended compared to white and Asian students, she said, and the county is part of what she described as a local and national crisis. “It’s not just us,” she said. “It’s everybody in the state.” Docca said she thinks the county school system needs to incorporate more training for teachers and generally do more to reach these students. Docca “ W e need to have our teachers a lot more aware how they come across to these students, how they encourage these students,” she said. Docca said she would like to see more black and Hispanic students participate in the school system’s alternative programs, some of which “directly lead to college.” The school system’s alternative programs — which focus on areas such as medical technology, computer design and auto mechanics — are potential pathways to college and should be expanded, Docca said. “I think we have to encourage more students to be there,” in part by ensuring that students are laying the foundation for the programs early in their academic careers, she said. Docca said the school system’s partnerships with area universities provide other good avenues to help students reach higher education opportuni-
ties. Another issue on Docca’s mind is the challenges associated with the school system’s capital improvements needs. In its recent work with the school system’s fiscal 201520 capital budget, the school board had to weigh needs around the county, Docca said. Some individuals who have come before the board are too focused on their individual schools, she said. “They can’t see the whole county — they really can’t,” she said. “I guess we have to convince them that our staff is not trying to pick on anybody.” District staff use many factors to determine which schools will undergo projects when, she said. The school system faces “a very serious issue” when it comes to providing the space for its growing student body, she said, and more state money is needed for construction projects to increase capacity. “We’ve been saying all along ... the state has not funded us in the last eight to 10 years for the number of students we have,” Docca said. The school system needs to update its technology to help students who will require new computers to take part in the Common Core State Standards-based curriculum and new state assessment tests, she said. Asked to rate the current school board’s performance, Docca said she would give it a high grade. “To me, it’s like an A, because we really try to work together. We don’t get to the table and call each other out,” she said.
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Top prosecutor seeks third term McCarthy touts successes in cutting down gang, domestic violence n
BY ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
John J. McCarthy’s Montgomery County roots run deep. He began working as a county prosecutor here 31 years ago, moved into his home in Rockville 21 years ago, and began serving as the county’s top prosecutor eight years ago. He is running next year to serve a third term as Montgomery County’s top prosecutor. The position pays $199,000, a county official said, but that figure will rise to about $203,000 in 2014. “I love the job,” said McCarthy, a Democrat who ruled out a run for state attorney general. Reflecting on his last two terms in office, McCarthy said, “I think we put into place exactly what we campaigned on, and told the community what we would do when I ran the first time.” One example, he said, is combatting gang violence. McCarthy said his office and other county agencies also have worked hard against domestic violence, with initiatives like the Family Justice Center, the county’s interagency organization for victims. “I think we have made a significant improvement in the
number of homicides,” he said, recalling 2010, when the county did not have any domestic violence-related homicides. There were four domestic violence-related homicides in 2011, five in 2012 and one in 2013, according to state’s attorney’s office spokesman Ramon Korionoff. “My objective would be to have zeroes come up in many categories again and again,” he said. McCarthy said his office has focused on youths and schools. “I think the foremost thing you can do fighting crime in any community is public education,” he said, citMcCarthy ing work in county schools and with senior citizens. One example, he said, was programs such as Truancy Court, an anti-truancy program the state attorney’s office runs in six schools around the county. Fighting crime through public education — and keeping kids in school — is an area he wants to keep working on if elected to a third term, he said. “I think if we expand to serve a greater number of kids,” he said, “I think we will reduce crime and other related behaviors that put kids at risk, which would make for
a safer community.” McCarthy said his office has tried to protect children from threats online through Internet safety training. Anonymous online crimes are harder to prosecute, so education is important, he said. McCarthy wants to see judicial resources used more effectively on issues such as how officials decide whether someone who is arrested and charged with a crime needs to stay in jail before trial or how public safety and state officials deal with drug cases stemming from marijuana. “We’ve been dealing with [marijuana] as a health education issue for a decade in Montgomery County ... because that’s the reality how we’re dealing with it. Should it be decriminalized and be a fine civilly and then put into education? I think that’s a conversation we should be having,” he said. As of Tuesday, McCarthy was unopposed. McCarthy and the other candidates for courthouse offices, such as register of wills, sheriff and clerk of courts, have held one joint fundraiser so far, he said. His campaign currently has about $80,000 cash on hand. He said he expects to hold another fundraiser in late January or February and raise about $100,000 by the general election next November, he said. The primary will be held in June 2014.
More residents sue over legislative map n
Voters: District ‘ribbons’ violate Constitution BY
lpowers@gazette.net
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Yet another challenge to Maryland’s latest congressional redistricting is pending in federal court. Led by Bethesda engineer Stephen M. Shapiro, three resi-
dents have sued Bobbie S. Mack, chairwoman of the Maryland State Board of Elections, claiming the new map violates citizen’s federal right to representation by using small “ribbons” of the state to connect two very different areas into one district. “We contend that the essentially non-contiguous structure and discordant composition of the separate distinct pieces
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comprising the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Congressional districts impermissibly abridge our rights, and those of similarly situated Marylanders, of representation as protected by Article 1 Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution; our right to vote for our Representatives to Congress, as protected by both the first and second clauses to the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; and our First Amendment rights of political association,” the complaint alleged. The redistricting drew portions of Carroll and Frederick counties into District 8, which is represented by Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D) of Kensington. Shapiro said the map has diminished representation for everyone in these districts and questioned how much the state is unduly influencing who represents the districts. “It is particularly unfair to folks in the smaller sections,” he said.
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DREAMERS
Continued from Page A-1 about their status or information they had not provided, then do a very wide sweep to as many people as possible to say, ‘Hey, the Maryland Dream Act may affect you, and if it does, this is what you want to do,’” Gregory said. The measure helped students like Josue Aguiluz, who moved to Maryland from Honduras nine years ago, at age 13, with his parents and three brothers. The move meant significant changes, from learning a new language to adapting to a different culture. Aguiluz is an undocumented student — a person who either overstayed a visa or entered the country without authorization — who is now able to pay in-state tuition because of the Maryland Dream Act. “First, it doesn’t really hit you that much. You are young. School is free, and you don’t really need a job. ... But when you go to Montgomery College, it shifts completely. You don’t really have assistance financially. You really see the big gap,” Aguiluz said. Aguiluz tried to extend his student visa, so he would not become undocumented, but he said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rejected his request. That happened “even though I was taking AP courses when I was a freshmen in high school,” he said. “It just does not make any sense to me.” But Aguiluz never stopped following his mother’s advice: “If you are a good person, good things are going to happen to you.” He plans to transfer to the University of Maryland and get into the Robert H. Smith School of Business. He also works at Panera Bread bakery and is saving money to pay for school. Aguiluz is projected to get an associate degree in accounting from Montgomery College in the Spring 2014 semester. Jonathan Jayes-Green had more than 1,000 community service hours by 2010, at the end of his high school career at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring. He worked as an intern for Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4). He won a Public Service Award from Congressman Christopher Van Hollen Jr. and a Wheaton and Kensington Chamber of Commerce community service student of the
year award. Jayes-Green was part of the Montgomery College honors program and won the 2011 immigrant youth achievement award by the American Immigration Council. Jayes-Green, also an undocumented student, is majoring in sociology and social justice at Goucher College, a private Baltimore college. His first choice was to attend University of Maryland, but he could not afford state institutions. The Maryland Dream Act had not passed by the time he was ready for college. It was cheaper for JayesGreen to pay for a private institution and live on campus than to go to the state school near his house. “I graduated top of my high school class. ... Within my high school years, I had over 1,000 hours of community services. ... I went from being the immigrant student to now realizing that there was a full community out there really investing in seeing me succeed,” he said. Jayes-Green’s parents wanted him to have better education and better opportunities, so they moved to Maryland from Panama in 2005, when he was 13 years old. His family had tourist visas. They tried to adjust their status, but Jayes-Green said the family received wrong information about the U.S. immigration process from a lawyer, and eventually become undocumented. Opponents have argued that the Maryland Dream Act violates existing federal law. “When they graduate, they are not allowed to work. ... It is not a good investment for the state to take,” said Del. Neil C. Parrott (RDist. 2B) of Hagerstown, chairman of MDPetitions.com, which formed to put the Dream Act on the ballot. Parrott said he understands the situation and believes it is “not fair to everyone all around.” He said the measure encourages more illegal activity. The best solution is for parents to “come here legally. ... It really is pretty simple,” Parrott said. Students taking classes under the Dream Act hope that by the time they graduate there will be a immigration reform that will allow them to work. But a study by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County released in 2012 concluded that the Maryland Dream Act would benefit state and local governments with $6.2 million in economic activity from increased earnings if about 435 students per year take advan-
tage of the Act. The report estimated that Dream Act students will make up about 0.6 percent of the total number of students at the state’s public higher-education facilities. The fiscal policy note attached to the bill also stated that for each additional student who qualifies under the bill, local community colleges will receive additional state aid. The estimated state expenditure in the 2014 fiscal year is $2,100 per full-time student multiplied by 366 students, which means the overall state expenditure would increase by $768,600 in 2014 and $3.5 million by fiscal 2016. The fiscal costs of the program for additional schooling — measured as per-student funding that subsidizes high school and higher education — will be about $3.6 million for county governments, $3.6 million for the state and $200,000 for the federal government, according to the report. But such costs will be more than offset by increased tax dollars, as well as a drop in spending on incarceration and other social programs that is expected to accompany a more educated population, according to the study. The state and county governments stand to share an estimated $6.2 million in tuition from undocumented students who will be attending school at the reduced cost, while the federal government would get about $18.4 million in increased tax revenues and lower government spending on incarceration, a result of a more educated population, according to the report. At Montgomery College, for a student taking 12 credits in a semester, the lowest total cost for tuition and fees would be $1,780.80. At outof-county rates, a student taking 12 credits would pay $4,689.60 for tuition and fees. Tuition for in-state students at the University of Maryland, College Park, costs about $9,000 each year, while students who do not qualify as state residents pay more than $27,000. Opponents argued that the Dream Act would affect community college revenues and reduce the number of slots available in public institutions. But the University of Maryland report stated otherwise, suggesting that additional undocumented immigrant students admitted to Maryland public community col-
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MARYLAND DREAM ACT REQUIREMENTS To qualify under the Maryland Dream Act, students need to have attended a Maryland high school for at least three years, starting with the 2005-2006 year; graduated from a Maryland high school, or received a GED no earlier than the 2007-2008 school year; and registered at a Maryland community college within four years of high school graduation or receiving a GED. The student also must provide a signed affidavit vowing to file an application to become a permanent Maryland resident within 30 days after applying for in-state tuition under the Dream Act. Males need proof of registration with the U.S. Selective Service System. Students must have copies of the Maryland state income tax returns filed by the student, the student’s parent or legal guardian. The tax return must be from each of the three years the student was in high school, each year the student attended community college, and each year the student was in the workforce and not attending college.
— ALINE BARROS leges — which have open enrollment — will have no impact on the probability that other students will or will not be admitted. It also stated that the Dream Act will not hurt the number of citizens admitted as freshmen to a four-year public university. For Jayes-Green, who is projected to graduate from Goucher College in 2014, this is just the beginning of his journey. “It is hard to pick one dream because I dream a lot. I think at the end of the day, I want people to remember me as someone that made an impact in the community,” he said. Aguiluz’s future plans includes learning more about bookkeeping and auditing. “As far as accounting goes, I want to do investing and planning people’s retirements,” he said. “I feel like every place that I’ve gone to work, I see old people and a lot of Hispanic mothers. ... And, perhaps, if they could have invested the money, that could be your retirement or some college money for your kids.” abarros@gazette.net
ARREST
Continued from Page A-1 keg they had spotted, a person in the house came out of the building’s basement and tried to grab several cases of beer. “A struggle ensued,” Didone said. An officer was pulled into the fight, and party attendees attempted to slam the front door on the officer’s arms. Police said partygoers inside were banging on windows and yelling profanities, and a second officer, who was trying to help the first officer, was also assaulted. According to Didone, homeowner George Magas was shot with a stungun after he reached for an officer’s handgun. “There was no excuse I can see why it would get out of hand,
Judge revokes bond for beer-pong sex assault suspect n Poindexter represents ‘a clear and present danger’ to the public, judge says BY
A 39-year-old sexual assault suspect who police say preyed on young men at local beer-pong tournaments was ordered held without bond Friday as a Montgomery County prosecutor indicated there may be dozens of victims in the case. Joey Poindexter represents “a clear and present danger” to the public, Circuit Judge Richard E. Jordan said from the bench, basing part of his ruling on a review of photographs and a video recording found on Poindexter’s mobile phone. The images showed Poindexter having sex with men who police say were impaired by alcohol or other drugs. The judge said at least some of the images showed men who appeared unconscious or unaware of what was happening. Jordan spoke in particular about a three-minute video with images of a young man. “He appeared — clearly to the court — to be not in control of himself, and not in a position to make a voluntary decision to engage in sexual conduct,” Jordan said. Police have been building their case against Poindexter, a real estate appraiser, for months. They arrested him last fall on one count of second-degree sex offense after a man came forward with a startling story: He said he had met Poindexter at a beer-pong tournament at a bar in College Park. The man told police that after leaving the bar, he ended up at Poindexter’s house, wasn’t really sure what happened, and woke up on a sofa. He believed that he had been sexually assaulted. Detectives later obtained Poindexter’s phone, which led them to believe that he had been taking images of men he had sexually assaulted. In October, a judge ordered Poindexter held on $500,000 bond. But since then, police and prosecutors have not come forward with charges related to other victims. That prompted Poindexter’s attorney, Rebecca A. Nitkin, to ask that her client’s original $50,000 bond be reinstated, which set up Friday’s hearing. In court, Nitkin said that the sex may have been consensual. She noted the original alleged victim asked Poindexter for a ride home after spending the night at his home. But prosecutor Patrick Mays said the investigation is ongoing and Poindexter is a threat. In the end, the judge ordered that Poindexter’s $500,000 bond be revoked and that he be held on no-bond status.
but it did,” Didone said. According to Didone, officers on the scene smelled marijuana before they entered the house, and removed drug paraphernalia from the home. Police ended up arresting four people who lived at the house and issuing a slew of alcohol citations to 22 other partygoers. George Magas, 54, and Cathy Magas, 46, the parents of Nicholas Magas, 21, and Eric Magas, 18, were each charged with 22 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors. George Magas was charged with attempting to remove a firearm from the possession of a deputy sheriff; attempting to incite a riot; three assault counts; and an obstruction charge. He was released from custody Sunday after posting $5,000 bail. Cathy Magas and Nicholas
Obituary LAWRENCE HENRY STYER
Lawrence Henry Styer of Damascus, MD, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2013, at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, Md., after a long and courageous fight against non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was the beloved husband of Joanne Styer for 58 years. Predeceased by his parents James and Elizabeth Styer and brother Raymond. Survived by brothers William (Mary) of Seaside, Ca., Harold (Jean) Dubuque, Ia., and sisters Anna Kincaide, Faribault, Mn., Rita Anfinson, Burlington, Co., Margaret Ulincy, Wilmington, Mn., and Ruth Stene, Cannon Falls, Mn., and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was born September 2, 1932, in Weston, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI, in 1954, where he was Senior Class President. He belonged to the Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity and was manager of the football and baseball teams, lettering in both sports. He completed graduate and post graduate studies at the University of Maryland. He was employed as a teacher by the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland for 35 years. Larry taught Vocational Auto Mechanics at Wheaton High School, Diversified Education at Northwood H.S., and was Supervisor of the MCPS Trades Foundation mini- dealership until his retirement in 1989. He served as past president of the Wheaton Lions Club, Zone Chairman Lions International, District 22C; past president of the Breezewood Park Homeowners Association, Breezewood, Pennsylvania. He also served on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Alumni Association Board of Directors and Kings Valley Manor Homeowners Association Board of Directors, Damascus, Md. He was a member of the University of Maryland Terrapin Club for 56 years and the University of Maryland Heritage Club. Larry truly will be missed, but his memory will live inside his family and the many friends he made throughout his life. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Cancer Society or Holy Cross Hospital of Silver Spring, Md. 1906333
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DAN MORSE
THE WASHINGTON POST
Magas both also face an assault charge, and one count of obstructing and hindering a police officer. Eric Magas faces an assault charge and one charge of attempting to incite a riot. He also faces an obstruction charge as well as several charges related to possessing a fake ID. Didone said the Magas family is closely tied to the football team at Damascus High School. George and Cathy’s sons Alec, Eric, Mark and Nicholas played for the school. Cathy, Eric and Nicholas all were released from custody Sunday after posting $3,000 bail each. A call to the family home in Damascus was not answered. A call to George Magas’ accounting business Monday afternoon was not returned. Patrick Smith, who is representing the family, declined to comment on the case.
TEEN
Continued from Page A-1 spokeswoman Angela Cruz said Monday. “This is a time to go hug and kiss your kid,” Zarate said.”Make them feel they are loved. I cannot imagine the mom getting the call that her kid is in the emergency room.” Zarate said he plans to urge parents on his soccer teams to make sure their children have up-to-date physical exams and that medical information is made available to coaches. Emily Janss, coach of the Olney girls team, agreed, saying that the club soccer organizations need to be better prepared for emergency medical situations. “This tragedy is definitely a wake up call for all of us,” she wrote in an email to The Gazette. “We as coaches need to make sure our parents inform us of allergies, medical history, etc so that we are equipped with knowledge on how to handle these emergency situations with our kids.” Perhaps baseline EKGs, which test heart activity, should be part of an athlete’s exam to be sure there are no hidden conditions, Zarate said. “You may not ever be able to prevent something like this but I never believe someone should die in vain,” he said.
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BUSINESS Top 2013 news:
Local economy affected by sequestration, shutdown n
Government-dependent companies suffer; private sector surges BY
STAFF WRITER
Private sector picks up While the federal segment
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Have a new business in Montgomery County? Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/ newbusinessform
Pet store opens in Silver Spring
KEVIN JAMES SHAY
With the federal government playing a substantial role in Montgomery County’s economy, the biggest business stories of 2013 focused on sequestration and a shutdown. The 16-day government shutdown in October put many of Montgomery and Frederick counties’ roughly 51,000 federal workers out of work. That came after earlier sequestration budget cuts had furloughed many employees. The Bethesda-based National Institutes of Health cut 5 percent, or $1.55 billion, of its fiscal 2013 budget, awarding about 640 fewer research grants. Other government agencies and private contractors were affected. Bethesda defense giant Lockheed Martin furloughed about 2,400 employees companywide during the shutdown, with executives directing them to use vacation time. The shutdown cost the company about $40 million, but sequestration cuts were not as bad as originally expected, with the impact about $400 million, CFO Bruce Tanner said. Rockville information technology business Terrapin Systems laid off about 170 employees after losing a contract with the National Cancer Institute. Some contractors were not heavily affected. Fisher BioServices, which has about 330 employees in Maryland, including 260 at its Rockville lab, had enough work through its private segment that the lag in government business did not require the company to lay off employees, said Dennis Barger, vice president and general manager of the company. “We were fortunate,” he said.
BizBriefs
The Silver Spring Transit Center and Metrorail station, where a Purple Line station is slated to be built. stalled, the private sector in Montgomery and Frederick counties picked up steam, adding about 11,000 jobs in the past year, according to federal labor figures. That was the most jobs created in the two counties since 2000. Among those adding workers was Wegmans, which opened its first grocery store in Montgomery with about 550 employees. Future jobs are expected to come from Gaithersburg biotech MedImmune, whose parent company announced it will establish a global research and development center at MedImmune’s headquarters. Marketing and specialty care commercial functions will be centered in Gaithersburg, with about 300 jobs moving there from Wilmington, Del., by 2015. Construction on the $2.2 billion Purple Line, a 16-mile rail line that would connect Bethesda and New Carrollton, could start in 2015, as officials expect to start acquiring right-of-way property this year. Six private-sector teams have submitted statements of qualifications that they hope will lead to work on the long-proposed project. Officials hope to choose a partner and recommend the final agreement to the state Board of Public Works within a year. Officials also hope the $120 million Silver Spring Transit Center, which has been plagued by con-
struction delays and cost overruns, will be completed this year. The first phase of Pike & Rose — one of the region’s largest mixeduse development projects, replacing Mid-Pike Plaza in North Bethesda — is expected to be completed this year. The first phase includes some 170,000 square feet of retail, 80,000 square feet of commercial office and 493 residential units. The apartment units should open by May, with an iPic movie theater, 32,000-square-foot Sport & Health fitness club, a park, offices and restaurants such as Del Frisco’s Grille, Roti and ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen to follow by next fall, said Evan Goldman, vice president for development of Rockville-based Federal Realty Investment Trust.
Rain tax, health insurance marketplace opens Last year also saw a proposal to expand the annual storm water management fee — which some dub a “rain tax” — to more property owners. The Montgomery County Council passed a storm water program that extends the fee to most businesses, while officials said most homeowners will see a reduction in what they currently pay. The fee — fueled by a state law passed in response to an order by the U.S. Environmental Protection
GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Agency to clean up the Chesapeake Bay — will be phased in over the next three years. The fee could be quite hefty for some such as auto dealers and shopping center owners that have large parking lots. In October, Maryland’s new health care exchange system, a key part of the federal Affordable Care Act, opened and individuals started shopping for health insurance. The small business program was delayed until April. Maryland is one of 16 states, along with Washington, D.C., operating their own exchanges. Last year was a big one for numerous business leaders, including Rachel K. King, CEO of Gaithersburg biotech GlycoMimetics. King was named board chair of the Biotechnology Industry Association, or BIO, the industry’s leading national trade group. The Tech Council of Maryland also honored King with its 2013 Executive of the Year award, and GlycoMimetics filed to go public. The housing market continued to recover in 2013 from its doldrums during the Great Recession. Montgomery and Frederick saw sales of existing homes post gains in most months from a year earlier, including a 26 percent rise in Montgomery and 15 percent increase in Frederick in October. Prices also rose accordingly. kshay@gazette.net
The Big Bad Woof pet store, which has stores in Takoma Park and Hyattsville, plans to open its third and largest store in Silver Spring. The company is using Kiva Zip to raise $5,000 in loans online for architectural drawings and is under lease negotiations for the former Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op space. The store specializes in sustainable and holistic pet products. With the larger space they plan to offer new services such as dog washing and nutrition classes. It will also feature non-pet-related local products.
Event planning company opens in Olney Cooks Customs of Olney is a new full-service event design and planning company. Owned and operated by Paul W. Cook III of Olney, it provides custom services, from decor to napkins, according to the company, which opened in June. Its website is cookscustoms.com and it can be contacted at info@cookscustoms.com and 703-340-5077.
New home decor studio opens in Kensington A new design studio and craft workshop has opened in Kensington. Meaghan McNamara of McNamara Design and Regan Billingsley of Regan Billingsley Interiors recently opened their doors at 4216B Howard Ave. “We picked Kensington, especially West Howard Avenue, because we both grew up in the area and we love how it is industrial, so I can have a spray booth to paint my furniture and we are surrounded by other artists from metal to glass to woodworkers ... so we have many other industries at our disposal all on one street,” McNamara wrote in an email to The Gazette. “And we are also very excited about the development plans of future Kensington, i.e. new sidewalks and street lights on West Howard Ave.” The store offers interior design services, furniture rehabilitation, faux painting, local artwork, home accessories and jewelry. The studio also plans to offer design and crafting classes this spring. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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SCHOOL LIFE Stedwick students create nature center to showcase studies n
Students, family, friends visit exhibits, learn about animal habitats BY
PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER
Stedwick Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Mary Darling believes it is not enough for her students to learn things, they also need to share what they know. “It helps people know it better when they have to share,” she said. Her class created the Stedwick Nature Center from Dec. 17 to 19 and invited fellow students, family and friends to visit their exhibits and learn about animal habitats, ecology and the difference humans make in the animal world — things the students have been working on. “They have talents to share and knowledge to share,” Darling said about her students. “I want to empower them.” All around the second-floor gathering room at the Montgomery Village school, students set up displays on tables and charts on walls. They also had plenty of stuffed animals to use as props; many were puppets Darling has
collected over the years. Student Trung Ngu stood before a display of fossils, picking up each one and telling a group of younger students what they were called, where they were from and some good reasons for learning about fossils. “If we didn’t have fossils, we couldn’t know how dinosaurs moved or looked or even if they existed,” he said. Students Michael Botchway and Gabriel Hernandez talked about endangered animals. “Polar bears, tigers, pandas and other animals I never heard of before,” Gabriel said. “Their environments are being destroyed.” Gabriel, who said he would someday like to run a zoo, said many animals have been lost because people have used them for food and clothing. Darling gets her students working early in the school year, tying the nature center project to lessons from the science and social studies curriculum. “We study how animals and people adapt to their natural environment, how they fulfill the three basic needs: food, clothing and shelter,” she said. “We start at the beginning of the year with basic research skills.” She brings in lessons from language arts, requiring the students to keep
PEGGY MCEWAN/THE GAZETTE
Fourth-graders Sabrina Griffith (left) and Kailyn Pavlicek display animal puppets at the Stedwick Nature Center, a museum created by fourth-graders at Stedwick Elementary School in Montgomery Village, to showcase science and social studies concepts the students learned during the first four months of the school year. notes and write up their research, she said. One fun exercise is to talk about animal similes. “Like ‘hungry as a bear,’” she said.
Several students wrote and produced a play, “Turbo and Rachel Ruby,” based on the story of the tortoise and the hare, the same as the original, just with a different animal cast.
“Writing plays and reading plays is part of the fourth-grade curriculum,” Darling said. It is also fun to watch, according to Abigail Davidson, a fourth-grader from another class. “That was very good,” she said. Sabrina Griffith created an animal coloring book while working on her reading and writing. Copies of her book were given to first-graders who visited the nature center and who contributed artwork to decorate the walls. Brian Stottlemeyer, dressed as Running Wolf, explained the connection American Indians had with animals to a group of second-grade visitors. “They [use] all of any animal they kill,” Brian said. “They thought it would be rude not to use everything if they kill an animal.” Emma Hall, a fourth-grader from Sarah Beyrent’s class, said she liked the nature center and learned a lot from her visit. “I learned many different things about animals and Native Americans and extinct and endangered animals, especially the polar bear, and global warming,” she said. pmcewan@gazette.net
EDUCATION NOTEBOOK St. Raphael School to hold open house
Academy of the Holy Cross seniors get on board with the Bard
St. Raphael School and St. Raphael Nursery School will
Four seniors from the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington participated in the fall Folger Fellowship Program at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.
Katherine Axelsson, Madeline Hollingsworth, Catherine Lamoreaux and Madeline Pence
were part of a 16-student class that met twice weekly from September to December. Participants explored Shakespeare’s plays and used the library’s resources. The program investigated a range of approaches and theories to the study of Shakespeare. It included academic seminars, practical theater education, reading and writing assignments, and theater performances. Students had the opportunity to meet scholars, directors, actors, designers and stage combat choreographers. Participation included reading plays and related material each week, writing a series of papers and a final researched essay, an independent project exploring Shakespeare, and presenting a final acting project at the end of the semester. “It was a different approach to learning Shakespeare,” Hollingsworth said in a news release. “We examined the works from a variety of perspectives to develop our own conclusions.” She said she enjoyed the entire experience, but was most pleased to meet Barbara Mowat, director of research at the library and the editor, with Paul Werstine, of the Folger Shakespeare Library editions of Shakespeare’s works. Hollingsworth said she hopes to become a writer and was encouraged by her conversation
THE ACADEMY OF THE HOLY CROSS
(From left) Catherine Lamoreaux, Madeline Pence, Katherine Axelsson and Madeline Hollingsworth, seniors at the Academy of Holy Cross in Kensington, participated in a fellowship program at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., during the fall semester. with Mowat. The students said they were grateful for their strong writing foundation from their school’s English department. Axelsson said they were able to help other students with their papers during the peer review. “We were very well prepared because we’re so familiar with the writing process,” Axelsson said in the release. The students also said the experience helped them manage their time during a busy senior first semester.
Scholarships available for graduating seniors Ivy Vine Charities, the charitable foundation for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Omega Omega Chapter, is accepting applications for its 2014 academic scholarship program. The scholarship program was established to recognize outstanding achievements of graduating high school seniors in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The foundation will award
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scholarships to the highestrated student in each of the following categories: • Graduating high school senior planning to attend and enrolled in a four-year college or university: $1,500. • Graduating high school senior planning to attend and enrolled in a historically black college or university: $1,500. • Montgomery County graduating high school senior planning to attend Montgomery College: $1,000. • Montgomery County graduating high school senior planning to attend a four-year college or university: $1,000. • Book awards, usually two, given to help buy textbooks: 500. The scholarships will be presented at the Ivy Vine Charities afternoon tea March 23. Winners are required to attend. Applications and more information are at ivyvinecharities.org/scholarship.html. Application and supporting documents must be mailed to Ivy Vine Charities, attn.: Deirdre Reynolds Jones, 43 Randolph Road, PMB 102, Silver Spring, MD 20904. The deadline is Feb. 8.
have an open house Monday at the school, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville. Both schools are enrolling for the 2014-15 school year. Each open house starts with a presentation, followed by a tour of the facilities. St. Raphael School, enrolling students in kindergarten through grade 8, specializes in tailored academics through integrated technology, including a one-to-one iPad program for middle-schoolers, differentiated learning and small-group instruction. Its open house will be from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. The open house at the nursery school is from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. The school offers programs for 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds and pre-kindergartners, plus extended-day offerings. Child care is available during the open houses. For more information or a separate appointment, call 301-762-2143 or visit www.straphaelschoolmd. org.
19 students receive full-tuition scholarships Nineteen Montgomery County Public Schools students were named recipients of full-tuition, four-year college scholarships from the Posse Foundation. The Posse program identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential that may have been overlooked by conventional college selection processes, according to a news release from the foundation. Forty-four colleges and universities each offer full-tuition scholarships to students
throughout the country and create multicultural teams — called Posses — on each campus. These student teams receive professional guidance before and throughout college and provide support to one another. On campus, these students serve in leadership roles. Posse programs are in nine different regions: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans and New York. Nearly 1,600 students are nominated nationwide for the scholarships. This year’s Montgomery recipients come from 11 high schools and will attend six different colleges: • Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School: Jherron V. Sutton, Grinnell College. • James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring: Bethany R. Hamson, Sewanee; Victor M. Phimphachanh, Grinnell College. • Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring: Minu Tshyeto K. Bidzimou, Grinnell College. • Gaithersburg High School: Mohamed F. Keita, University of Rochester; Kent Martine P. Mok, University of WisconsinMadison. • Northwood High School in Silver Spring: James D. Caruso, Grinnell College; Jeffrey E. Miranda, Lafayette College. • Poolesville High School: Alejandra Torres Diaz, University of Wisconsin-Madison. • Seneca Valley High School in Germantown: Gustave A. Nguenjio Njapon, Lafayette College; Karen O. Somasundaram, Bucknell University; Jessica Wu, University of WisconsinMadison. • Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring: Summer J. White, Grinnell College. • Springbrook High School in Silver Spring: Jonathan M.
Brown and Tariro A. Kandemiri, Sewanee; Anthony A. Ramos, Bucknell University. • Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village: Manish Dhungana, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Krishna Mudwari, Grinnell College. • Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Jackson I. Pierce Felker, Bucknell University.
Open house scheduled at Edison High Thomas Edison High School of Technology will hold its an-
nual open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the school, 12501 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring. Students interested in enrolling in Edison will have the opportunity to learn about the school’s programs, meet teachers and current students, see live demonstrations and complete applications. Edison serves students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who are in good standing at a Montgomery County public high school. Students may apply for enrollment in one of Edison’s 18 career and technology education programs. They include an automotive cluster of four courses; principles of architecture and computer-aided design technology, also four classes; a six-course construction cluster; and the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, which covers cosmetology, medical careers, restaurant management, and manicures and pedicures. Applications are available at montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ schools/edison. Completed applications may either be mailed to the school or submitted to the Thomas Edison counselor liaison at the students’ home schools.
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Montgomery County’s volunteer firefighters are a growing force Bucking national trend, hundreds joining services
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BY ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
As many volunteer fire departments across the country struggle with declining membership and more calls for service, Montgomery County officials say the area’s volunteer fire services are healthy, growing and saving taxpayers millions. Eric Bernard, president of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, said the county has received three federal grants in recent years totaling nearly $1 million. That has helped hire a volunteer firefighter recruiter, and advertise and promote volunteer firefighting opportunities through social media. Those efforts have paid off, according to association officials: The county’s volunteer fire departments recruited more than 260 new volunteers in 2013. “There are lots of potential volunteer firefighters — they need to know they are needed and welcome,” county Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg told The Gazette. Montgomery County has nearly 1,200 career firefighters and more than 900 volunteer firefighters or rescue personnel,
MCPS
Continued from Page A-1 Tuesday morning, according to Weatherbug observations. Some nearby school systems opted to delay or close their schools. Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools decided to close and Prince George’s County Public Schools opened two hours late. Public schools in Washington remained open. Dana Tofig, spokesman for the Montgomery County school system, said only a few schools were facing issues Tuesday morning. Jackson Road Elementary School in Silver Spring closed after a power outage, Tofig said. Capt. James E. Daly Elementary School in Germantown also lost electricity but remains open, with Pepco saying power will be restored soon, he said. A pipe burst at White Oak Middle School in Silver Spring, causing some classrooms to be closed, Tofig said, adding he wasn’t sure how many. Most school buses started in the early morning weather, he said. For those that didn’t start, replacement buses were used. “We had a few schools that have some weather-related issues,” Tofig said. “That happens in the winter when it’s cold.” Some members of the school system community, however, expressed their un-
such as paramedics. According to Bernard, almost 700 more recruits are in the process of becoming volunteer firefighters or rescue personnel. State and tax dollars pay for training, Bernard said, adding that to reach “minimum staffing” levels of training — 350 hours of training — usually takes about a year. A 2011 report by his association estimated that volunteer firefighters, EMTs and paramedics saved the county $25 million every year in salaries, benefits and equipment. Volunteer fire and rescue squads own many of their stations, and purchase and maintain some of their equipment, Bernard said. County dollars subsidize some costs, he said. One station — the BethesdaChevy Chase Rescue Squad — operates completely free of county tax dollars, he said. The county’s current fire and rescue system emerged from a structure that included many volunteer fire departments. Over time, many departments added paid firefighters and rescue workers as they became unable to handle the high call volume. In 1989, many of those employees became county employees, Bernard said. About 10 years ago, all of the individual fire departments came under the authority of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
happiness online, describing cold conditions waiting for the bus, walking to school and sometimes in school buildings. One woman who identified herself as a county teacher wrote online Tuesday that “unfortunately I work in an area where students often come to school under dressed.” Some students directed sarcastic and angry — and sometimes expletive-filled — messages to both Starr and the school system. “Why is my bus not here yet / my tears are frozen / thanks @ MCPS,” one student wrote. At one bus stop in a Gaithersburg neighborhood, opinions about the school system’s decision were mixed. Standing bundled up in his garage, John Davis said he was “a little disappointed” that schools were open. Davis said his daughter had come home Monday night saying there could be a two-hour delay. “I didn’t even really agree with that,” he said. His 10-year-old daughter, Lauren, stood with him to wait for the bus to Fields Road Elementary School, having just returned from helping other children cross the street and get on their buses. Lauren said she had to tell some kids to put on their jackets. “It’s super cold outside; I wish there was no school,” she
According to Scott Graham, assistant chief with the service, volunteers work alongside career firefighters and rescue personnel, and provide needed night and weekend coverage. “When a firetruck goes out of a fire station, chances are it could be staffed with both volunteer and career personnel,” he said. “It’s a different system,” Graham said, laughing. “But it’s one that, when it shakes out at the end of the day, works better than most [departments that are] all paid or all volunteer that I know of. It’s incredibly efficient, incredibly successful.” Graham, who started as a volunteer in Ocean City, said the county’s volunteer and career firefighters have worked together for decades. More recently, the county struck a collective bargaining agreement with its volunteers, an arrangement that provides educational benefits like those other county employees receive, as well as uniforms, recognition for service and other benefits. Fire officials say the agreement is one of the only ones of its kind in the country. Ned Sherburne juggles working as a federal employee in Washington with serving as chief of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase squad. He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1978. Volunteer firefighters and career firefighters acknowledge
said. Other parents, however, said they supported the choice to keep schools open. “I think it’s fine, they should go — especially ‘cause I have a high schooler and they have exams next week,” said Bonnie Sneeringer of Gaithersburg. Sneeringer — a former resident of Chicago familiar with cold weather — said she prepared her children by making sure they were bundled up. “Cold is not a reason to get out of school,” she said. Michael Doran, principal at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, said the building was doing mostly fine despite the temperatures. Doran said one classroom was cold enough to move students to a warmer spot in the building. “Those kids are meeting in the media center today,” he said. Students have been out of school a lot recently, Doran said, and too many interruptions can potentially push back exam schedules and extend the school year. Though some students were “annoyed,” attendance did not seem to be affected, he said. “I’ve been walking around the classrooms and they seem pretty full,” Doran said. “They might complain, but they’re here.” lpowers@gazette.net
there has been occasional friction between the two groups in the past, but Sherburne said the current relationship between the groups is “pretty good.” He added that the county’s attitude toward the volunteer system has helped keep volunteer enthusiasm high. “When people feel needed, they will continue to participate,” he said. “If they feel passed aside or not needed, that can be a very negative thing.” Fire officials say the system provides the county with numerous benefits, such as training for aspiring career firefighters. It offers a stream of seasoned career firefighters who frequently return to volunteer departments in leadership or trainer positions
after they retire. In many cases, aspiring firefighters begin volunteering at their local station or with a specific department, Bernard said. There are 19 volunteer fire departments in the county, he said. Career firefighters, who are paid with county dollars, staff many of those fire departments alongside volunteers. The exception is the Bethesda-Chevy Chase squad, which pays some career firefighters out of its own budget, he said. Like career firefighters, volunteer firefighters must make a commitment to become certified firefighters or rescue personnel. Volunteers attend an 11-week orientation class, as well
as hundreds of hours of class and training to reach “minimum staffing level,” Bernard said. Many career firefighters who work in other counties but live in Montgomery County volunteer here, he said. The county’s force bucks national trends, which have seen a steady decline in the number of volunteerfirefighters,Bernardsaid. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, twothirds of the nation’s fire departments are volunteer. As emergency calls have tripled since 1988, the number of volunteer firefighters has declined by 13 percent since 1984, or more than 100,000 volunteers. Bernard attributed the decline to the increased demands on volunteer firefighters, including more rigorous training standards. Unlike some jurisdictions, where volunteers respond to fires from their jobs or homes, volunteers in Montgomery County serve their whole shift based at their firehouse, he said. Alan Hinde, chief of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Volunteer Services Division, said the county’s proximity to Washington and its dense population mean standards for area volunteers are high, as is demand, with one Rockville firehouse getting more than 10,000 calls a year. “We’re going to be called a lot; we need to be good at what we do,” Hinde said.
COLD
ficials urge anyone in need of help for themselves or others to call the crisis center at 240-7774000. Information is available on shelters and services. Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville treated one patient for symptoms of cold exposure, according to a hospital spokesman. Suburban Hospital officials in Bethesda said there had been no reported cases of hypothermia as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Maryland Public Service Commission, PJM Interconnection and Pepco asked Marylanders to conserve electricity Tuesday. According to PJM, which operates the regional power grid, demand for electricity was expected to increase because of the cold weather. To save energy, consumers are asked to set their thermostats lower than usual, postpone using major electric appliances until after 9 p.m., and turn off any lights, space heaters and appliances not being used. Pepco outage maps showed 208 customers in Montgomery County were without power as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Frigid temperatures are causing an increase in water main breaks in the area. As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission was working on 38 water main breaks in Montgomery County, spokeswoman Lyn Riggins said. “Our crews are fixing them as quickly as possible and moving
on to the next break,” she said. The most notable incident was at Viers Mill Road and University Boulevard in Wheaton. “There was some traffic tie-up there, but that has since dispelled,” said WSSC spokeswoman Kira Lewis. According to a WSSC news release, one-third of its water pipes are more than 50 years old. When colder water starts moving through the old and brittle pipes, a spike in breaks and leaks is likely. Lewis said that as part of winter preparations, workers who usually work on water main replacement projects are pulled to work on main breaks. “The guys work under tremendous weather conditions year-round,” she said. “They have special gear and take breaks to warm up. They are always mindful that what they do is so important.” WSSC customers can report a water main break by calling 301206-4002 or emailing emergencycallcenter@wsscwater.com. Metro spokesman Philip Stewart said there had been no reports of broken heaters on trains, but they may lose heat as they move down the line because of frequently opening and closing doors. At the Bethesda Metro station, icicles hanging over an escalator were removed. “The escalator is now back in service,” Stewart said.
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Rockville Volunteer Fire Department’s Aisha Campbell checks her ambulance.
Continued from Page A-1 department. The plan directs county homeless shelters to stay open all day instead of just overnight. It is issued any time daytime high temperatures are expected to be below 32 degrees. Two emergency shelters in Rockville, funded by the county, are open around the clock to give refuge to the homeless: Home Builders Care Assessment Center for men operated by the Coalition for the Homeless, at 600B E. Gude Drive, and Rainbow Place for women, at 215 W. Montgomery Ave. During the overnight hours Monday into Tuesday, 322 of the shelters’ combined 395 beds were occupied, Anderson said. That’s more than usual, with only 292 beds filled Saturday night. Home Builders Care Assessment Center alone has capacity for 135 men, but 160 sought shelter there Monday night, according to Susanne SinclairSmith, executive director of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless. Twenty-five men were taken to the East County Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring for shelter overnight, she said. Homeless people also are encouraged to visit county facilities such as libraries and recreation centers to escape the cold. Anderson said county of-
The Gazette OUROPINIONS
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014
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Cut the tolls and increase mobility
In the 12 months ending in June 2013, motorists made 17.2 million trips on the Intercounty Connector, which costs $8 for a peak-time round-trip between Gaithersburg and Laurel. Advocates — notably Councilman Philip M. Andrews and the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce — think drivers in the region would benefit if the state cut the tolls in half. With lower tolls, the thinking goes, more people will be diverted from other highways, most likely Interstate 270, the Capital Beltway and Interstate 95, which are among the most congested in the reTHE STATE gion. In a letter to The Gazette a SHOULD CUT year ago, Andrews confidently THE COST OF predicted that cutting the tolls in DRIVING ON half would double the traffic on THE ICC the road. The Maryland Transportation Authority, which operates the ICC, has a study that contradicts Andrews’ boldness. CDM Smith of Cambridge, Mass., estimates that a 50 percent reduction in the tolls would increase traffic volume, by 2015, by 21 percent. Toll revenue by 2015 would decline by 33 percent, from $65.1 million to $43.7 million. A difference of $21.4 million is nothing to take lightly. By the same token, that 21 percent increase in traffic volume shouldn’t be taken lightly either. As Marilyn Balcombe, president and CEO of the chamber, told The Gazette’s Kevin James Shay: “The road was not built to raise revenue. The road was built to alleviate traffic and help mobility. If we can increase the number of people using the ICC, the better mobility we can have.” Exactly. Balcombe and Andrews present serious arguments that deserve consideration. We think the state’s numbers downplay how motorists will change their patterns once they hear the ICC charges less for its 18-mile connection. We think there’s an easy way to prove them right or wrong: Cut the tolls and see what happens. Large electronic signs already proclaim the current rates, so an education campaign would be minimal. If the number of motorists don’t increase to offset the loss in revenue, the state can reset the tolls. Absent a precipitous decline in tolls, the state should be thinking about mobility.
Election board misfires
Someone at the Maryland State Board of Elections, in a fit of grogginess, must have thought he or she was in Virginia. That’s where the governor and the lieutenant governor run and are elected separetely. There’s no other fathomable explanation for the Maryland board’s recent ruling that the yin of a gubernatorial ticket can’t raise money during the legislative session, but the yang can. That’s how the board sees it in the case of Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, a Democratic candidate for governor, and his running mate, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, who is trying to be elected lieutenant governor. In Maryland, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and members of the General Assembly are prohibited from raising campaign cash during the legislature’s annual 90-day regular session. Annapolis and the state government universe are awash in campaign money and unadulterated ingratiating year-round. But, presumably, the ban keeps the capital a little less unwholesome for the busiest quarter — like throwing a pile of dirty laundry in a closet when relatives come to visit. Consider what the election board has decided: Brown must abide by the exclusion; Ulman, a local official, can ignore it. But money raised for Ulman obviously benefits both. Or has the election board figured out a way to permanently segregate money raised individually for a joint ticket? The governor-lieutenant governor candidate ticket of Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Jolene Ivey, who both must sit out three months of fundraising before the June primary, are put at a severe disadvantage. Before we wring our hands in angst, though, we suspect Gansler will find a way to get his message out with the multiple millions in his campaign account. Instead, we’ll proceed with our idea for a ground-leveling solution. Forget fundraising dark periods. We’d rather see designated fundraising seasons — something akin to when it’s legal to hunt deer or other wildlife. We see good potential and a strong calendar fit in the wild turkey spring season, which runs from April 18 to May 23. Why not let candidates for state offices run at large — literally — for those five weeks. Lobbyists and special interest groups — wearing blaze orange, of course — could load up their cash-infusing weapons and see if they can bag the big one. Call it “buck season.” Crazy? Two can play that game, election board.
The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher
LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
Term limits needed in Gaithersburg
The Gaithersburg city election in 2013 is a good example of the need for consecutive term limits for incumbents. Less than 6 percent of all registered voters chose to go to the polls on Nov. 5, as this election was dubbed the No Selection Election. Voters want a voice when they go to the election polls, but when there are no choices in the election, the voters’ voices [are] not heard. The last challenger to win an elected incumbent’s seat was Ann Somerset in 1999. Due to a vigorous campaign of knocking on every voter’s door, Ann won her place on
the City Council. This was a very daunting task since she was competing with the visibility and name recognition of the incumbents. Since the city of Gaithersburg’s population continues to grow rapidly, this type of campaign has become impractical and archaic. In the Gaithersburg City Election 2013, there were no challengers, no candidate debates, no candidate mailings, no candidate newspaper ads and negligible voter interest. In order to revive Gaithersburg politics and encourage citizens to become candidates
Legislature should seal nonviolent records The decriminalization and even the legalization of marijuana are important cogs in the wheel of comprehensive criminal justice reform in Maryland. Along with enforcing our newly passed gun-safety laws, fighting for safe and sick leave, expanding access to protective orders in cases of dating violence and sexual assault, full funding for the criminal injuries compensation board, and effective prisoner re-entry; the marijuana issue offers our state officials the chance to make a significant difference in how we handle our criminal justice inequities. Notwithstanding the eventual legalization of marijuana, the Maryland State Legislature should move quickly to implement new laws that seal or shield criminal records of individuals who have been convicted of marijuana possession where violence was not a factor. According to a recent ACLU report, Maryland currently has the fourth-highest arrest rate for marijuana possession in the country. In Maryland, police arrest one out of every 250 people for marijuana possession, and
marijuana-related arrests make up roughly 50 percent of all drug arrests in our state. Even more alarming is the fact that African-Americans make up only 30 percent Maryland’s population, but make up 58 percent of arrests for marijuana possession despite having equal marijuana usage rates as their white counterparts. Sealing or shielding these conviction records is a critical step toward mitigating the long-term debilitating disparities of our criminal justice system. Without such a law, thousands of Marylanders who have been convicted of non-violent marijuana possession will continue to be cut off from the societal on ramps (e.g. grants, loans, jobs, school admission) to the highway of upward mobility. If lawmakers in Maryland are serious about comprehensive reform, they’ll pass a shield and seal law in the upcoming legislative session.
Will Smith, Silver Spring The writer is a Democratic candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 20.
for public office, a consecutive term limit should be considered by the Gaithersburg mayor and City Council. An elected incumbent would be allowed to run for office once for continuous service of eight years. However, after eight years of continuous service, the incumbent would then be required to take a sabbatical for at least one election cycle of two years. This would encourage interested citizens to step forward as candidates and run for the open seat. After at least two years, the incumbent could run for Gaithersburg public office
Paul and JoAnn Schimke, Gaithersburg
Development, Ten Mile Creek can’t coexist Please excuse me, Mr. Shapiro, but you make shameful, outlandish and inaccurate statements [“Development, Ten Mile Creek can coexist,” letters, Dec. 24]. The first thing I noticed in your letter is your egregious conflict of interest. You have an elected position in the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce. Protection of the environment is not an “ideological tendency.” An ideology is a large-scale way of looking at the world, but that way the world looks is actually an illusion. Environmental conservation is no illusion, nor is water quality. What specifically is the “well-documented scientific fact” that you repeatedly and disgracefully refer to? The argument behind preserving the Ten Mile Creek Watershed is backed by scientific fact, whereas development is encouraged by financial interests. Simply Google the words “environment, development, pollution and water quality” all together, and you will encounter dozens of peer-reviewed, scientific publications that are consistent with my argument about the delicacy of a watershed to development. What specific state and current laws will protect the Ten
Mile Creek Watershed? It amuses me that you consider the preservation of the environment to be self-serving. If anything, your push for development is self-serving. Do you have a financial stake in the development if it were to proceed? I am positive that these environmental groups are at least partially composed of members of the Clarksburg community. The environmentalists’ arguments are not antiquated as you say. They are in fact supported by the Environmental Protection Agency and current understanding in the environmental sciences. The construction of homes only destroys the environment and negatively contributes to climate change. What is your plan to mitigate a substantial release of greenhouse gases? How does development protect or improve the environment? Virtually all indicators of environmental health and quality near a site of development decline when development occurs. I doubt that your community has suffered “devastating economic harm” as a result of the construction delay. The median annual household income of Clarksburg exceeds $125,000.
Jeffrey Blazar, Gaithersburg
Bag tax revenue should be returned Clearly something is amiss and awry if the county bag tax has generated over $1.7 million in revenue for Montgomery County [“Bag tax generates millions for county,” Dec. 22]. In corresponding with county officials prior to implementation of the tax, I was told
repeatedly that income, revenue, whatever you wish to call it, was not the focus of the tax and that the county’s goal was to raise nothing from it! Right. Want to sell me a bridge next, Montgomery County? In light of this monetary windfall, I pro-
pose distributing the revenue to all Montgomery County residents. Certainly the $1.7 million rightfully belongs to them, if the intent was to raise nothing. I won’t look for my check in the mail anytime soon.
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
Douglas Tallman, Editor Krista Brick, Managing Editor/News Glen C. Cullen, Senior Editor Copy/Design Meredith Hooker, Managing Editor/Internet Robert Rand, Managing Editor/Presentation
again. One has only to look at the Gaithersburg city election in 2007 when seven candidates ran for three open seats on the City Council to know that citizens do want to serve. When there are open seats, citizens are far more willing to put their time, efforts and finances into becoming candidates. Making Gaithersburg’s political environment more active and dynamic will ensure that Gaithersburg will continue to evolve as a vibrant city.
Andrew Schotz, Assistant Managing Editor Nathan Oravec, A&E Editor Ken Sain, Sports Editor Dan Gross, Photo Editor Jessica Loder, Web Editor
Dennis Wilston, Corporate Advertising Director Doug Baum, Corporate Classifieds Director Mona Bass, Inside Classifieds Director
Jean Casey, Director of Marketing and Circulation Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services
Fran VanBrocklin, Olney
POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Officer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military Shane Butcher, Director of Technology/Internet
T H E G AZ ET T E
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Funny money
Money is the mother’s milk of politics: having it doesn’t guarantee victory, but not having it almost always guarantees defeat. Campaign money also has become a battleground in this year’s governor’s race. In November, Democratic candidate Doug Gansler invited his chief rival, Anthony Brown, to reject so-called “dark money” spending during the primary election. Banning such “outside spending” by PACs, unions and anyone except the candidate’s own campaigns was a self-serving Gansler ploy masquerading as good government. Third-party MY MARYLAND spending on BLAIR LEE ads and voter turnout benefits Brown, because most third-party groups (unions, PACs, incumbents, etc.) are in his camp. Conversely, limiting campaign spending to the candidate’s war chests benefits Gansler, who’s raised more than Brown. So Brown declined Gansler’s invitation. But the most interesting aspect of Gansler’s good government trap was his proposed penalty: any candidate who violates the pledge must make a campaign donation to a charity. Turns out that it’s illegal in Maryland for a candidate to direct a contribution to a charity or nonprofit. Why? Because that’s how elected officials, particularly in P.G. County, “laundered” unsavory campaign donations. Instead of taking money from developers or other special interests that might look bad on the candidate’s financial report, candidates directed the money to charities in their districts and then took credit for it. That’s why it’s now illegal. The latest money battle involves another fundraising ban, a 1997 law prohibiting fundraising during the General Assembly’s 90-day session (mid-January to mid-April). The ban applies to the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and all 188 members of the legislature.
It’s a curious law unless you understand its origins. If lobbyists and special interests want to legally bribe state lawmakers with campaign contributions, why ban such corruption only during the 90-day session while allowing it the rest of the year? Answer: Because the 90-day session ban wasn’t demanded by the lawmakers, it was demanded by the State House lobbyists! That’s right, in 1997 the lobbyists went to the presiding officers begging for relief from legislators who were preying on them during the session. For instance, if a lobbyist’s bill was up for an afternoon committee vote, the committee chairman or key members would sometimes hold a sudden “fundraising breakfast” to which the lobbyist, with check in hand, was invited. Some legislators didn’t even bother with the breakfast subterfuge — just give me the check. The lobbyists were getting eaten alive. That’s why it’s now illegal. The 90-day session ban wasn’t problematic until this election because, except for ending same-day session extortion, it didn’t have much effect. State lawmakers still had plenty of time to shake down the special interests before and after the session. But moving Maryland’s primary election (the most important election in one-party Maryland) from September to June 24 made the ban a political battlefield. Once the session adjourns in mid-April, only a two-month primary campaign remains. So, money for media ad buys, direct mail and election day mobilization must be on hand early. Gubernatorial tickets that can’t fundraise during the session are at a huge disadvantage. For instance, neither Doug Gansler (attorney general) nor his running mate Jolene Ivey (delegate) can fundraise during the session. Likewise, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown is banned. But how about his running mate, Ken Ulman? If Ulman was running for re-election as Howard County executive he wouldn’t be covered by the ban, but shouldn’t he be covered now that he’s Brown’s ticket mate? No, says the state elections administrator, Linda Lamone. Even though state law unifies the candidates into a single ticket (when you vote for governor you automatically vote for his/her running mate) and
even though whatever Ulman raises independently during the session can and will be transferred into the Brown/Ulman joint account, the state elections board views them as separate entities for fundraising purposes so long as Ulman and Brown “don’t coordinate their fundraising during the 90 day session.” Huh? Didn’t the legislature just outlaw campaign contributions by LLCs, partnerships and other “separate entities” under single control because donors were using them to circumvent campaign contribution limits? Yet, the “separate entities” fiction is OK to circumvent the 90day session ban? Here’s the tip-off: Brown “has said all along he would follow the letter of the law as defined by the Board of Elections,” said Brown’s spokesman. Translation: We are confident that the board appointed by Brown’s biggest backer, Gov. O’Malley, will give us a favorable ruling whether it makes sense or not. The five-member Elections Board (three Dems, two Republicans) is appointed “with the advice and consent” of the State Senate (i.e. Mike Miller). The elections administrator, who runs the elections office, was appointed for a six-year term by the governor up until 2002, when a Republican, Bob Ehrlich, won. To keep Ehrlich from replacing Linda Lamone, a Miller loyalist, the Dems stripped Ehrlich of his appointment power and made Lamone de facto administrator for life (she’s in the 17th year of her six-year term). So, just as the Brown camp expected, the elections board helped Brown and hurt Gansler, whose camp is now suing. But all this inside baseball gets eclipsed in two weeks when the candidates must disclose how much money they’ve actually raised to date and how much they have on hand. That’s when we’ll know who’s for real and who’s not.
Blair Lee is chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring and a regular commentator for WBAL radio. His column appears Fridays in the Business Gazette. His past columns are available at www.gazette.net/blairlee. His email address is blairleeiv@gmail. com.
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LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
Another view of the Affordable Care Act Your Jan. 1 edition carried a letter by Hrant Jamgochian lauding the introduction to Maryland of the so-called Affordable Care Act [“Affordable Health Care means more will be covered”]. I wonder if many Marylanders would agree with Mr. Jamgochian’s assessment. Mr. Jamgochian’s letter starts by claiming that, “100,000 Marylanders will have access to high-quality health care because of the Affordable Health Care Act.” But then, later in the letter, he says that 77,000 Marylanders have successfully created accounts. Of course, that doesn’t mean they are insured. Let’s assume, though, that [as of] Jan. 1 they are actually insured. What then of the 76,000 Marylanders who received cancellation notices as of Nov. 12, something Mr. Jamgochian neglects to mention. On net, then, at most, 1,000 more Marylanders will be insured after Jan. 1, not the 100,000 that Jamgochian wants you to believe is the case. A paltry increase for an unbelievable painful experience for many Marylanders. Jamgochian neglects to mention other serious issues in his rosy assessment of the ACA. One is the cost of the new plans. Many if not all the plans cost more: the premium is higher and the deductible is much higher than for many of the canceled plans. A case in point is Bowie State University. What cost $54 per semester per student is now $900 per semester. The consequence: Bowie State stopped offering health insurance. Of course, those students are just the kind of people needed for the ACA to work, and that leads to another issue. If the newly insured comprise primarily those who are more elderly or more ill than expected, the insurance premiums will have to be raised yet further for the insurance companies to survive. So what is now barely affordable will become completely unaffordable. Yet another issue Jamgochian neglects to mention is the way small businesses [are affected] after Jan 1. If they are on the hook for a lot more money, they will probably drop their plans as well, leaving their employees in limbo. Jamgochian seems to believe, like many, there is a free lunch, but there isn’t.
WRITE TO US The Gazette welcomes letters on subjects of local interest. Please limit them to 200 words. All articles are subject to editing. No anonymous letters are printed. Letters are printed as space permits and are limited to one per person per month. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Send submissions to: The Gazette, attention Commentary Editor, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; fax to 301-670-7183; or email to opinions@gazette.net. It is costly to insure the uninsured, especially the uninsurable with pre-existing conditions. More modest changes could have been made to our medical insurance system, as for example, by transparently increasing taxes to subsidize those who are currently uninsurable. Instead, we have a surreptitious tax increase in the form of very large cost increases in medical insurance premiums (and deductibles) to subsidize the uninsurable. That is not the most efficient to subsidize the uninsurable, especially when it destroy our current system. Granted, our medical insurance system was not utopian, but it worked for many people. But, no, the whole system had to be destroyed just for those uninsurables. So it seems that [as of] Jan. 1, more people [are] uninsured than if the Affordable Care Act had never been passed, and those insured through it [are] paying a lot more. The medical insurance system we once had has now been broken, and no amount of claims to the contrary can refute that. What is replacing it appears a lot more costly. What the future holds for our medical insurance system is anyone’s guess, especially with the president changing the rules as he goes along.
Jack Rutner, Silver Spring
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CLARKSBURG’S XAVIER SEWELL DOESN’T HAVE A POSITION ON THE COURT, BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER, B-4
SPORTS DAMASCUS | GAITHERSBURG | GERMANTOWN
www.gazette.net | Wednesday, January 8, 2014 | Page B-1
HOW THEY RANK BOYS The 10 best boys’ basketball teams in Montgomery County as ranked by The Gazette’s sports staff:
Rank 1.
School
Northwest wrestler chasing 100 wins
Winston Churchill High School senior speedskater Shaner LeBauer participated in Olympic qualifying last week. FILE PHOTO
Record Pts
Montrose Christian 6-4 59
2.
Bullis
10-3 55
3.
Gaithersburg
9-0 46
4.
St. Andrew’s
7-1 44
5.
Springbrook
7-1 36
6.
Montgomery Blair 7-2 29
6.
Clarksburg
6-3 20
8.
Poolesville
7-2 19
9.
Rockville
7-2 12
10.
R. Montgomery
7-3 9
Senior 120-pounder has already won county, region championships n
BY
STAFF WRITER
Others receiving votes:
The Heights, 1.
BEST BET
Richard Montgomery at Walt Whitman, 7 p.m. Wednesday. Two
of the surprise teams in Montgomery County this season face off in a clash of 4A South Region leaders.
TOP SCORERS
Name, school A. Trier, Montrose Christian J. Friedman, Sandy Spring I. Kallon, Wheaton M. Adkison, St. Andrew’s K. Williams, Kennedy N. Segura, The Heights J. Bradshaw, Einstein I. Grigsby, The Heights D. Ojinnaka, Blake A. Tarke, Gaithersburg
PPG 27.9 25.7 21.4 20.7 20.2 19.8 19.6 18.9 18.2 17.8
GIRLS The 10 best girls’ basketball teams in Montgomery County as ranked by The Gazette’s sports staff:
Rank 1.
School
Record Pts
Damascus
9-2 60
2.
Paint Branch
8-1 53
3.
John F. Kennedy
6-1 47
4.
Good Counsel
6-4 43
4.
Poolesville
8-0 35
6.
Walt Whitman
7-2 32
7.
Montgomery Blair 7-1 22
8.
Seneca Valley
7-2 14
9.
Holy Child
8-3 13
10.
Holy Cross
5-8 6
Short track to success SPEEDSKATERS FALL SHORT, BUT ON PATH TO OLYMPICS Winston Churchill senior, Richard Montgomery sophomore have sights set on Junior Worlds n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
Winston Churchill High School senior Shaner LeBauer’s main goal at this point in his short track speedskating career has been the same since he just missed a spot on the 2013 Junior World team last January: Making the 2014 team. There was no better way to prepare for that than a stop at the U.S. Olympic Short Track Speedskating Trials held Thursday through Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
LeBauer, 17, who represents the Potomac Speedskating Club based out of the Wheaton and Cabin John ice rinks, qualified for the elite competition by achieving certain designated cut times. The original field of 25 was cut to 16 athletes in timed trials on the first day. Though LeBauer missed that cut, he said he appreciated the opportunity to compete among the country’s best and that the experience was a valuable one as he moves forward in his career. This month’s competition was LeBauer’s first major competition since taking a little over a month off in September and early October to tend to a back injury — the core, back and legs are vital muscle groups in short track speedskating. “This was definitely a step in the right direction for me but really my
BY
ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
John F. Kennedy High School’s Daysha Adams has run into a few obstacles since 2009, when she was a freshman starter on a competitive varsity basketball team. A broken ankle, a season-ending concussion and a thyroid condition kept her off the court and away from the classroom for the better part of the last three seasons. But the fifth-year senior is finally healthy this winter, leading the Cavaliers to a 6-0 start (as of Sunday) and playing the best basketball of her life. “It feels great. It’s like, I’m kind of speechless about it,” Adams said. Adams, a shooting guard, is averaging a teamhigh 13.7 points per game after missing most of the last two seasons with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid.
BEST BET
the Hornets would help the Trojans forget about their slow start.
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See WRESTLER, Page B-2
Girls’ basketball: Following several ailments, Adams returns to court to lead Cavaliers
Gaithersburg at Damascus, 7 p.m. Friday. A road win against
PPG 19.2 18.6 18.4 18.0 17.8 17.6 17.5 16.3 15.8 15.4
See SPEEDSKATING, Page B-2
Northwest High School wrestler Nick Davis is already a Montgomery County and Class 4A/3A West Region champion, but before graduating there’s a couple other things he wants to accomplish: 100 wins and a state title. “I’m looking forward to getting my name all around the wall,” said Davis, referring to the plaques and banners in the Northwest wrestling room. It’s not an unrealistic goal for the senior, who has 82 career wins as of Monday. The third-year varsity wrestler (120 pounds) has made significant improvements each season. As a freshman on junior varsity — his first year wrestling — he won most of his matches and finished second place at the county tournament. “He stepped on the mat and he was a natural,” Northwest coach Joe Vukovich said. “... He’s been growing ever since and he’s still learning.” The next season on varsity he went 30-16, placing third at counties, fourth at regions and making a trip to the state tournament. And that, he said, only left him wanting more. The summer before his junior season he stepped up his training and the hard work led to a 38-6 season, county and region championships, and a third place finish in the state tournament. This season Davis is 14-2, with losses against Damascus’ David Creegan and St. Mary’s Ryken’s Steven Simpson. Since joining the team, Davis has consistently made himself a better wrestler by training, attending camps and competing in the offseason, Vukovich said. “You don’t coach competitors like that very often. He’s a competitor, he knows how to compete. You can see it in his eyes,” Vukovich said. The summer after his sophomore year is when he fully bought into the sport, finding tournaments against top competition in Pennsylvania, Vu-
n
3; Walter Johnson 1; Magruder 1.
TOP SCORERS
sights are set on the Junior World Championships,” LeBauer said. “My ultimate goal is to make the Junior World team, I really saw this, my time here, training for Olympic Trials as [great preparation] for that.” LeBauer, the 2013 U.S. Men’s Junior 15-16 National Champion, was one of two Montgomery County teens to compete in Salt Lake City this month. Richard Montgomery sophomore April Shin (Virginiabased Dominion Speedskating), who won the American Cup I in New York in the fall, was on pace to finish in the top five during the timed trials on the first day but was slowed by a poorlytimed bout with the flu, according to Potomac Speedskating Club’s Alison Mittelstadt.
Kennedy senior overcomes health challenges
Others receiving votes: Blake,
Name, school K. Prange, Damascus S. Addison, Wootton J. Karim-Duvall, Churchill B. Beckwith, Quince Orchard W. Carmack, Poolesville D. Harris, Paint Branch K. Meredith, Northwest J. Craig, Seneca Valley D. Lerner, Jewish Day K. Porter, Bullis
ERIC GOLDWEIN
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Daysha Adams of John F. Kennedy shoots against Paint Branch on Monday.
See SENIOR, Page B-2
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Northwest High School varsity wrestler Nick Davis (left) practices with teammate Chris Swift on Thursday.
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Wheaton forward enjoys reunion with basketball ‘family’ After being suspended for 10 games last year, Kallon is a new player
n
TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
Wheaton High School boys’ basketball player Ibrahim Kallon had just struck again with a dunk. And Lerenzo Foote clamped his hands to both sides of his face, howling in delight, his jaw hanging so far open it might as well have been dragging on the Laurel High School gym floor. “That’s two!” Foote said, wagging his index and middle fingers to the sparse crowd at the Laurel holiday tournament on Dec. 27. “That’s two bodies!” Montgomery County faithful may not be too familiar with Foote — he was a key member of Eleanor Roosevelt’s 2013 state championship team that played above the rim quite frequently. He had seen plenty of dunks before. Kallon’s pair of dunks at Laurel over the winter break turned him into an awestruck fan. The first, a baseline slam over a Northwestern defender that earned Kallon an and-one on the second possession of the game, seemed a lock to be not just the best over the next 32 minutes, but of the day entirely — all six games worth. And then came the second, a ruthless right-hander over a pair of Wildcats.
SENIOR
Continued from Page B-1 Last season, which should have been her senior year, she didn’t play a single minute. She didn’t even go into class; she was homeschooled as a result of the health problems. It was difficult being away from her teammates and classmates, she said. “That’s when I did most of my thinking; what’s going to happen next, where am I going to end up?” Adams said. The thyroid condition was not diagnosed immediately and at one point, Adams said, she was going to doctors about once a week to figure out what was wrong. When it was diagnosed, she realized she needed to address the problem by adjusting her diet and exercise routine. She cut out fast food and soda. She started running on the track. She put in extra work on the court. “It’s funny because people
SPEEDSKATING
Continued from Page B-1 LeBauer’s Potomac Speedskating teammate, 16-year-old Thomas Hong of Laurel, not only made the top 16 and the NBC Sports broadcast, but his 11th-place finish included a second-place finish in the B final (eighth overall) of the men’s 500-meter event. LeBauer said training alongside his good friend keeps him motivated. The top two finishers in each event at trials advanced to represent Team USA in Sochi and though the three Maryland teenagers aren’t on this year’s roster,
been impressed by the “night and day” turnaround he’s seen from his 6-foot-3 student-athlete. “I wasn’t sure what he would do, how he would react to me, to a new coaching staff,” Basso-Luca said. “And to be honest, it’s night and day this year. We’ve had no problems whatsoever.” With the 10-game suspension of sorts last year, Kallon’s recruitment process has gotten off to a late start. Basso-Luca expects that, once word gets out on Kallon, scouts from all levels will be inquiring, because Kallon is no one-trick pony. His demoralizing dunks are captivating, yes, but he brings far more to the table. “Sometimes in practice he does things where I just take a step back and say, ‘Did that just happen?’” BassoLuca said. “And the important thing is his skill level is increasing as well.” With Northwestern sitting in a zone, Basso-Luca had Kallon cut through the middle, a hair below the free throw line, to catch an entry pass. This would give him a number of options: a pass to the baseline cutters, a pull-up jumper, a drive to the hoop, or a kick-out pass. All of those inherently relied upon his ability to hit the jumper, which would force the defense to step up and guard him and would then open up everything else. And he did — over and over again. His consistency with the jump shot set up Mikey Patterson layups on the baseline cuts or a pass out to the guards. Kallon humbly attributes his marked improvement to Hashim’s de-
that know Daysha, they didn’t realize what she was going through because she kept such a positive spirit,” said teammate and longtime friend Makeda Wright. The hard work is paying off for Kennedy’s leading scorer. “She turned into a completely different player,” said Kennedy coach Kevin Thompson. Three-point shooting has been the key to Adams’ earlyseason success. She has made 21 through six games, going 5-of-8 against Winston Churchill and 6-of-9 against Springbrook. “You leave her open, there’s a good chance it’s going down,” Thompson said. Thompson described this year’s team as a “very motivated group,” with Adams leading the effort. “She was at the forefront of that. She didn’t miss a day of offseason training, she was doing stuff on her own,” Thompson said. Adams’ increased scoring isn’t the only byproduct of her
improved health. In the first quarter, she registered a 3.6 grade-point average and made honor roll for the first time. “When I was in school at first, I didn’t really enjoy it. But now it’s like, I really pay attention in class. I just pay more attention to things now,” Adams said. She said her comeback would not have been possible without support from her teammates. “They pushed me, they wouldn’t just let me give up,” Adams said. “Without them, I don’t know what I would have done.” The Cavaliers are trying to take a step forward after losing to Walter Johnson in the playoffs the last two seasons, with Adams sitting out. In December, Kennedy defeated its playoff nemesis, 47-28, and Adams scored nine points. “She’s like my sister,” Wright said. “I’m so glad she’s back to the family.”
they should be major contenders in 2018 — LeBauer and Hong agreed that short track skaters typically start peaking in their 20s or later. Though LeBauer has grand aspirations to represent the United States at the Olympics one day, he is also academically ambitious and said he hopes to attend an Ivy League school in 2014-15. Balancing his grades and training was taxing this year but he said once his college decision has been made, he expects to be able to refocus some energy on the ice. “It’s all a work in progress right now, I’m still young, there’s time,” LeBauer said. “There are some skaters approaching
30 who are still getting better. ... Right now I’m just worried about Junior Worlds and getting into college.” The top four finishers at the Junior National championships scheduled for later this winter qualify for the World team. LeBauer finished sixth a year ago but has taken major strides this season. “I thought [Olympic trials] was a pretty good opportunity,” LeBauer said. “I feel ready for Juniors. After this year I have one more year as a junior... My longterm goal is to try and make it to the Olympics.”
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FILE PHOTO
cision to sit him out. “It was huge, honestly,” he said. “I felt like that year was going to be my most important year, get my name out, so not being able to help my team — it really hurt. Every game I had to watch it just hurt worse and worse and I know I just wanted to be on that court.” His presence has been felt. Of
Wheaton’s five losses, the largest margin was eight, and the Knights have already scored more points in a game (84 on Damascus) than any in Hashim’s recent memory. Kallon’s never been happier, saying, “I’m with family again.” tmewhirter@gazette.net
egoldwein@gazette.net
jbeekman@gazette.net
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Wheaton High School’s Ibrahim Kallon is having a career year after being suspended for 10 games last season.
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Northwest High School varsity wrestler Nick Davis (left) practices with teammate Chris Swift on Thursday.
WRESTLER
Continued from Page B-1 kovich said. “He said to me, ‘I want to go where the good kids are,’” Vukovich said. Vukovich and senior teammate Chris Swift had high praise for Davis’ work ethic. “I can say that he’s the only kid on the team that puts in that work,” Swift said. Davis said he’ll take every opportunity he can to gain an edge; he sometimes goes on four-mile runs after practice.
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Frank Williams, Laurel’s leading scorer who was on clock duty, actually broke the clock for a brief second after the dunk made him leap to his feet and he kicked the wires out. “It’s a thrill, honestly,” said Kallon, a three-year varsity starter for Wheaton after transferring in from High Point his sophomore year. “Everybody watches the NBA, college — [dunks] are what get people excited. It gets your team hyped.” Though Wheaton has struggled, starting off the season dropping five of its first six, Kallon has been inarguably the year’s breakout player. Through eight games, during which the Knights are 3-5, Kallon was averaging 21.5 points per game, second in the county behind John F. Kennedy’s Keif Williams. All from a guy who sat out 10 of the final 12 games last year — in which Wheaton went 3-9 — because he took the sport he has since dominated for granted. “It was my decision working with [his mother],” said former Wheaton coach Sharief Hashim, who oversaw Kallon for the forward’s first two years as well as the suspension. “He just needed to focus more on being a better student and a more determined man about his future. He just had a little too much freedom on his hands and he didn’t see basketball as a privilege. He was just being a teenager. It was good for his growth.” True to Hashim’s words, first-year coach Marco Basso-Luca, who headed the junior varsity team last season, has
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“That’s the mentality that most people have after practices. ‘I already had practice, I’m already tired.’ I’ll be getting the extra training while they’re doing nothing,” Davis said. Vukovich said defeat is one of Davis’ biggest motivators, describing his first loss of last season as a turning point. “He’s not one of those kids that beats himself up, but he shakes it off and watches the video and says ‘I got to learn from it,’” Vukovich said. Davis is using last year’s third-place finish in the state tournament as motivation.
“It was pretty devastating to me but afterwards, I just like picked up my game and came back hard and got better,” Davis said. He’s off to good start this winter, but said he needs to get in better wrestling shape if he is going to defeat the state’s top wrestlers, like Simpson. “Pretty much I’m going into practices working on my endurance and trying to build up skills to rise to the level where I can eventually beat him,” Davis said. egoldwein@gazette.net
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T H E G AZ ET T E
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County teams play well at IAC-MAC challenge Bullis, St. Andrew’s win games in inaugural event
n
BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
A peculiar sight brought a smile to Bruce Kelley’s face on Saturday afternoon at St. Stephen’s/ St. Agnes. His Bullis School basketball players were cheering for the very schools that, in just a few days time, would be doing everything in their power to unseat them from their Interstate Athletic Conference throne. Aaron Briggs, Russell Sangster, Jamaal Greenwood and the rest of the Bulldogs were able to put aside their disdain for their IAC rivals during the inaugural IAC-Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference challenge, an all-day event hosted by the IAC’s St. Stephen’s/ St. Agnes pitting five teams from each conference against one another.
BOYS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER “Ithinkeverybodywhoparticipated in it enjoyed it,” said Kelley, whoseBulldogstoppedpreviously undefeated Potomac (Va.), 61-41. “It was important for our conference to get a win. Our guys were cheeringfortheotherteamsinour conference. It was a good event, a wonderful event.” By day’s end, the IAC claimed the bragging rights, winning three games to two on victories from Bullis, St. Albans, and the host Saints, while the MAC’s pair came from St. Andrew’s and St. James. “That’s great to play against the local team from another conference,” said St. Andrew’s coach Kevin Jones, whose Lions topped Landon 76-71 in overtime. “It was a great idea and I know all the coaches thought it was a great
FILE PHOTO
Holton-Arm’s Emma Raynor swims the backstroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay during the 2013 ISL Swimming & Diving Championships.
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Russell Sangster (right) of Bullis School brings the ball down the courst against Josh Holmes of North Point during the DMV Tip-Off Classic Dec. 21. event and it went very well.” The idea came as a high school spin-off from the ACC-Big Ten challenge, an annual event held toward the beginning of the college basketball season. The IAC had been involved in a similar conference-on-conference event before with a league in Philadelphia. Three IAC teams would travel to Philly while three from Philadelphia would make the trek down to the Washington, D.C. region, but the distance between the conferences made the contests “just a long road game, really,” Kelley said. “It never took off,” he said. “There was nothing really special about playing a team who gets back on the bus and goes to Philly.” The IAC and the MAC, however, share recruiting grounds. No team would be packing up for a three-or-so-hour ride to Philadelphia. So, on Saturday, inconference rivalries became magnanimous. Bullis rooted for St. Albans. St. Andrew’s rooted for St. James. Basketball, for at least one day, turned backwards.
“All the games, no matter what the score was, were competitive,” Jones said. “The kids were playing for pride for their schools and pride for their conferences.” The games were played under IAC rules — 35 second shot clock, three refs as opposed to two — and all IAC teams were technically the “home” team. The scheduling was somewhat random, Jones said, but coaches have floated out the idea that next year’s should pit the No. 1 finishing team in the IAC against the No. 1 MAC, No. 2 IAC against the No. 2 MAC and so on. Defending MAC champion Maret opted out of the contest, which meant one team from the IAC had to drop out to even up the playing field. Herb Krusen had tentative plans for his Georgetown Prep team to travel to Richmond or Philadelphia on Saturday so he voluntarily backed out. “I thought it was a great idea,” he said. “If Maret didn’t drop out we would have stayed. Hopefully we’re in it next year.” tmewhirter@gazette.net
4A West race very competitive Damascus upsets Paint Branch; Holy Child gets quick start n
BY ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
Thomas S. Wootton, Col. Zadok Magruder and Gaithersburg are on top of the 4A West Division standings as of Monday, with no clear favorite. Wootton (4-4, 2-0) has been playing well, winning four of its past five including a 64-59 victory over Magruder. Sheri Addison is averaging a team-high 18.8 points to lead the Patriots in scoring and getting to the foul line nearly 10 times per game. Cece and Ellie Kobylski, twin sisters, average 24 points combined for Wootton. Magruder (5-2, 1-1) is off to
GIRLS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK BY ERIC GOLDWEIN
BRIAN LEWIS/FOR THE GAZETTE
Damascus High School’s Kelli Prange drives toward the basket in Saturday’s girls’ basketball game against Paint Branch.
a strong start after an 11-12 season, winning five of its first seven games. The Colonels have a balanced attack; Janel Brown (12.7), Hannah Barr (12.1), Hope Randolph (10.3) and Adjowa Pinkrah (8.7) lead the team in scoring. Gaithersburg, meanwhile, has struggled early. The Trojans (4-3, 1-1) have quality wins against Walter Johnson and Winston Churchill but have lost to Poolesville, Seneca Valley and most recently Magruder, 60-38. The Trojans went 18-7 last season and before that appeared in three straight state championship games, winning twice.
to move to 8-2. “Foul shooting really helped us [close it out in the fourth] and also to the girls’ credit, after too many turnovers in the third, I don’t think we made more than one in the fourth,” Damascus coach Steve Pisarski said after the game. “They really protected the ball. Other than a few spots, I think the girls did a really nice job [Saturday].” Seniors Kelli Prange (19.8) and Lauren Green (15.1) are the leading scorers for Damascus. Prange, who scored 22 points against Paint Branch, has scored in double-figures every game this season.
Swarmin’ Hornets sting Panthers
Fast start for Holy Child
Damascus handed Paint Branch its first loss of the season Saturday, winning 67-58 in a matchup between the two top Montgomery County teams. Free throws were the key; the Swarmin’ Hornets scored almost 40 percent of their points from the charity stripe and converted 16of-18 attempts in the final period
Connelly School of the Holy Child is off to a hot start, capping off 2013 by winning the Bulldog Holiday Tournament championship. The Tigers (8-3 as of Sunday) are led by 5-foot-3 senior Talley Britt. The point guard is averaging 9.6 points per game, 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals and scored 21 points against Churchill to win the tournament
Most Valuable Player. “Talley has really stepped up as a senior leader,” Holy Child coach Jamie Ready said after the tournament. “She’s our only senior captain, and she’s really embraced her teammates this year tremendously and has done an excellent job being a leader not only on the floor but off [of it].”
Blake beating expectations It took James H. Blake eight games and just one third of the season to surpass last year’s win total. After a 5-15 season, Blake is 6-2 as of Sunday, hanging around with Kennedy and Paint Branch for a top spot in the Montgomery 4A East. Senior point guard Asha Henley (15.2) and junior guard Citiana Negatu (14.0) are shouldering the scoring load for Blake, which defeated Springbrook 4236 on Saturday to win its sixth game of the season. egoldwein@gazette.net
Holton-Arms trains in Florida Panthers bonded during training visit to Florida International University n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
This week’s record cold weather could catch the Holton-Arms School swimming and diving team a little more off guard than usual. The Panthers just returned from a week-long team training trip in sunny Miami, Fla.
SWIMMING NOTEBOOK BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN While this was Holton’s first trip to Florida International University, the Panthers have been taking team trips every other year for about 12 years, coach Graham Westerberg said. Holton trained four hours each day, two hours in the morning and two more in the afternoon. Though the Panthers would have trained at their own pool to stay in shape over the break, Westerberg said there is something special about traveling as a team and training in a new environment. “[These trips] benefit the team by bonding and certainly training hard,” Westerberg wrote in an email. “We would train hard anyway over
the break, but with the ability to train outside and practice twice a day, it sets us up for what I hope to be a great end of the season.” Holton has won eight Independent School League titles in 10 years but was usurped a year ago by a Katie Ledecky-led Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart team. The Panthers’ own leading scorer, Caroline McTaggart, had to miss the meet after receiving an invitation to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. This year’s championship, scheduled for Jan. 24, should be something special.
RM looks to continue momentum Saturday’s Division I competition between Richard Montgomery and Montgomery Blair was pinned in preseason by most Montgomery County Public Schools coaches as the marquee matchup on the boys’ side. The Rockets have lived up to their end and remain the only undefeated boys’ team in the county’s upper echelon — that includes this week’s win over two-time defending Class 4A/3A state champion Walter Johnson. But the defending state runner-up, Blair, has yet to notch a win this winter. Richard Montgomery coach Aryn Wheeler said the Rockets still
have to be careful not to overlook the still dangerous Blazers. Blair is propelled by a core of talented high scorers, including Michael Thomas and Brian Tsau, but Richard Montgomery’s deeper lineup is more beneficial in a dualmeet atmosphere, giving the Rockets an edge on paper. This time last year it was a close loss to Walter Johnson that gave Richard Montgomery the belief it could compete among the county’s best. Saturday’s win could be a springboard into a historical postseason. “Defeating WJ this past weekend, the boys were excited about that and it gives them more confidence going into the end of the season,” Wheeler said. “[Walter Johnson] isn’t as strong as they were last year but just the fact of knowing they did beat the state champions, it gives them momentum.” Saturday’s Winston Churchill/Walter Johnson meet features the two remaining undefeated girls’ teams. Though Churchill is seeded to win that one, the Wildcats have come out from behind their male counterparts’ shadow for the first time in recent years. jbeekman@gazette.net
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Clarksburg’s Sewell plays all five positions Boys’ basketball: Versatility helps senior lead Coyotes in scoring n
BY
TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
Three weeks ago, likely the smallest center in Montgomery County sealed the game for Clarksburg High School in the Coyotes’ 59-51 victory against Richard Montgomery. Xavier Sewell’s offensive rebound and put-back — captured, he reminded a reporter, in video — helped extend the lead, and his two late blocks in the lane all but determined the outcome. Two days later, Xavier Sewell played point guard. Sewell, the position-less, 6-foot-2 leading scorer for the Coyotes (14 points per game as of Friday), rotates through all five slots on the court, banging around in the post against Richard Montgomery then running with the Gaithersburg guards all the while being shifted between either wing throughout. “He’s a utility guy,” coach G.J. Kissal said. “He’s everything we need him to be. He’s
got a variety of skills who can fill any role we need in any game. He’s kind of a jack of all trades. His best quality is that he can do whatever we need him to do. His ability to have multiple qualities is his best quality.” In a 64-61 overtime loss to James H. Blake on Dec. 12, in which he scored a season-high 24 points, the flavor of the night was his 3-point shooting. He made four, which is what Kissal estimated to be right around his grand total from all of last year. “In some games we need him to score. In other games we’ll have him guard the best perimeter player or best post player,” Kissal said. “And in others he’ll have four or five big assists. It’s whatever we need, and he can do it.” Sewell has embraced this “utility man” role, enamored by the fact that there is no task on the floor he cannot do, no limit to what Kissal can ask of him. “I like to do whatever it takes for me to get the win,” he said. Last year, that meant voluntarily relinquishing a starting role he had right-
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Xavier Bradley (right) of Northwest High School looks to get past Xavier Sewell of Clarksburg during a 2013 summer league game. fully earned so another player could retain the mental satisfaction of being “a starter.” Over summer, it meant improving the tangibles his game lacked, namely a 3-point shot
and ball-handling, to shoulder some of point guard D.J. Singleton’s load. “Oh, man, a lot,” Singleton said when asked how much easier life has been with the
expansion of Sewell’s game. “Last year, his role was to get rebounds and garbage buckets, but his jump shot has improved a lot and his ball handling is a lot better. Coach has given him more of a green light this year.” And a direct result of this green light? Open looks for Singleton, and more of them. The point guard, who doubles as a consistent threat from the outside, estimated that 80 percent of the uncontested 3-pointers or jump shots he has put up this year are a product of Sewell’s newly discovered ability to draw the defense’s attention. Last season, averaging what Sewell recalled as “about four points a game,” he wasn’t too much of a concern, so the opposition could focus more on Josh Hardy and Singleton. The added distraction of Sewell has created opportunities abound for his teammates both frontcourt and back. “He is certainly the most improved player from last year to this year,” Kissal said. “And his confidence has improved tremendously. He really put in the work.” In 30 optional pre-season
workouts, Sewell attended 27, pounding through ball-handling drills and putting up a minimum of 300 shots per day. “It pays off for him,” Kissal said. “Part of it is genetics and part of it is hard work too. Last year he always had a sense of passing the ball and vision of the court but his ability to shoot has really opened up the court for him.” The softened touch on the perimeter has been the “major identifiable piece” of improvement, as Kissal says, but less noticeable has been his ball handling. Sewell wasn’t necessarily a bad ball-handler last year, but “he wasn’t super efficient,” the coach said. “He would try to do too much with it instead of using his athletic ability to make one quick move to get by him. “Being 6-2 and nearly 200 pounds and very athletic, there aren’t too many kids at our level that can stop him.” After all, there aren’t too many centers who can match up with a 6-2 guard, and there aren’t too many guards who can match up with a 6-2 center. tmewhirter@gazette.net
Richard Montgomery’s boys earn some respect Rockets on pace for first winning season in four years n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Richard Montgomery High School’s P.J. Glasser (left) looks to get past Montgomery Blair’s Danny Canary on Monday. winter and has dropped very few in general the last three years. “This generation of RM basketball doesn’t know anything but winning,” second-year coach DavidBreslawsaid.“They’vedone nothing but be successful all their games. They can’t conceive of us having a losing team. The majority of their time at RM has been mostly winning so they don’t necessarily see this as us putting RM back on the map, it’s just business as usual. It’s nice to have that.” The rigors of varsity basketball are an entirely different ballgame
— Breslaw said the Rockets have quickly learned to up the intensity in practice — but four of Richard Montgomery’s top six scorers are part of a junior class that has been successful together both for the Rockets’ junior varsity and Rockville Stars AAU team and they’ve immediately meshed well with a relatively small but talented senior class. Richard Montgomery was largely a one-man show last winter. Justin Senou led the Rockets in points per game (19.9), assists (4.5) and steals (2.5) and finished
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Richard Montgomery High School’s Renzo Farfan (center) looks to pass through Montgomery Blair’s double-team defense on Monday. second with 6.5 rebounds per game. This year they have a new look both literally and figuratively. “Last year our best chance was using our athleticism and pressingtheentiregame,”Breslaw said. “We don’t press as much this year. We had one reliable scorer, it’s a completely different team, we’re not pressing all game, we’re slowing the game down.” Rather than run the floor the Rockets are propelled by their ability to share responsibilities. Junior guard Renzo Farfan, who said playing quarterback in the
fall helped him feel more comfortable with his more prominent role on the basketball court this winter, is technically the go-to scorer with his team-high 13.5 points. But there are six players with six or more points per game, including senior Noah White (11.7), who shot 7-for-7 from behind the 3-point line and scored the gamewinner in Friday’s 62-59 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase. “We track how many passes we make per possession and how many other teams make and on average most teams pass the ball
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The Richard Montgomery High School boys’ basketball team didn’t expect its opponents to have much respect for them early this winter. After all, the Rockets returned only one starter from a team that couldn’t post a winning record behind the efforts of the county’s leading scorer a year ago. Richard Montgomery hasn’t eclipsed the .500 mark since 200910, but seven teams have learned their lesson to start 2013-14. Richard Montgomery’s (7-2) fast start before the holiday break is just three wins away from last year’s overall total and while it seems like this level of success might be a new concept to anyone that’s been in the program in recent years, many of the current Rockets don’t actually know anything other than winning. Though Richard Montgomery’s varsity team hit a rough patch the past few years — the Rockets had only one losing season from 2005 to 2010 — the junior varsity team hasbeenamongthecounty’sbest. Richard Montgomery’s junior varsity team lost only one game last
around four passes per possession,” Breslaw said. “The main thing is keeping other teams from scoring. Our goal is to maintain control of the ball. We like to average five or six passes per possession. If we do that, we’re controlling the ball two thirds of the game.” Leading the Rockets in the back court is senior PJ Glasser who 6-foot-5 junior center David Bottenberg said has a knack for finding his teammates in open spaces and is a fantastic facilitator. The Rockets’ ability to move the ball around the floor also opens up space for Bottenberg and Nick Jackson (6-5) inside. Both also have high field goal percentages, Breslaw said. Though the early success has not come as a surprise to those within the program, Glasser, Farfan and White agreed that Richard Montgomery cannot get complacent with early season success as it heads into the heart of its season and Montgomery 4A South Division play. “This is a big time to see where we are as a team, it’s important for us to keep improving on things we need to improve on and build for playoffs,” Glasser said. “We want to win every game but it’s all about playoffs and being the best team we can be.”
MOVIE REVIEW
&
The Gazette’s Guide to
Arts & Entertainment
‘SECRET’S’ OUT
Ben Stiller’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” meanders. Page B-8 www.gazette.net
Beyond
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 | Page B-5
‘Stars’ BY CARA HEDGEPETH STAFF WRITER
THE
Ben Allison will perform at The Mansion at Strathmore on Friday and Saturday.
J
GREG AIELLO
SILVER SPRING STAGE
THE BARD, SQUEEZED
‘Complete Works’ told by three actors with the audience’s help
n
BY WILL C. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER
(From left) Andrew Greenleaf, Jennifer Osborn and Steven Snapp will bring Shakespeare to life in an interesting way starting Friday when they perform “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” at Silver Spring Stage. PAM BURKS
As Romeo once said to Horatio before addressing Julius Caesar, “The play’s the thing …” Actually, the characters in William Shakespeare’s plays never did that, but thanks to playwrights Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, theatergoers can enjoy every play and sonnet written by the Bard – in just a couple of hours. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” which features three actors giving the audience a condensed version of the plays, will run weekends at Silver
Composer, recording artist looks to film for inspiration
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Spring Stage from Jan. 10 to Feb. 1. As one might imagine, and because a cast of three portrays all of the roles Shakespeare has to offer, the rules of traditional theater — not breaking the fourth wall, improvising lines, not breaking character, etc. — do not apply here. Director William T. Flemming said it wasn’t difficult to direct a show such as “Complete Works,” but it does involve bringing a different set of preconceptions to
See BARD, Page B-8
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) n When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 10 to Feb. 1; 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 n Where: Silver Spring Stage, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $18-$20 n For information: 301-593-6036; ssstage.org
azz composer, bassist and recording artist Ben Allison and the Ben Allison Band will make their Strathmore debut at The Mansion on Friday night. The group, featuring Brandon Seabrook, Steve Cardenas and Allison Miller, will also hold a master class Saturday afternoon. Allison released his latest full-length album, “The Stars Look Very Different Today,” on Dec. 3. The record’s title is a nod to the David Bowie song by the same name and the 1969 sci-fi film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It’s the musician’s first self-produced and selfmixed album. “There are a lot of film references on the record,” Allison said. “As I’m sitting down to write music, I’m just calling on things that I like …” A New Haven, Conn., native, Allison grew up in what he called, “the golden age of television.” “I was watching shows produced in the 1960s and 1970s,” Allison said. “Many great composers were writing music for television. That’s part of what I BEN ALLISON heard growing BAND up.” “The Stars n The concert on Jan. Look Very Differ10 is sold out. ent Today” fean When: 7:30 p.m. tures songs with Friday, Jan. 10 titles such as “Dr. Zaius,” an ode n Where: The Mansion to “Planet of the at Strathmore, 10701 Apes,” one of AlRockville Pike, North lison’s favorite Bethesda sci-fi movies, and n For information: “Dave,” another 301-581-5200, reference to “2001: strathmore.org Space Odyssey.” Allison, who MASTER CLASS has written music for radio, film and n When: 4-6 p.m. television himself, Saturday, Jan. 11 said he draws sevn Where: Education eral parallels beRoom 402, Strathmore tween those scores Music Hall, 5301 and jazz music. Tuckerman Lane, “I think one North Bethesda of the things that n Tickets: Free, but attracts me to reservations required. music for film is, Visit www.strathmore. like jazz, it’s nonorg/eventstickets/ verbal,” Allison calendar/view. said. “There are asp?id=10198 to no lyrics … I like reserve your spot. the feeling of music being abstract n For information: … I like creating 301-581-5200, music with that in strathmore.org mind and I like listening to music in that way. It’s purposefully vague and that just leaves the music really open to letting the mind wander. I want audiences to hear what they hear … That’s probably why film music is such a big influence on me.” Though technically a jazz musician, Allison draws musical influences from a range of genres including electronic dance music, folk and soul. His musical tastes have been diverse since he was a young boy. “The first album I ever bought was the
See ALLISON, Page B-8
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McKay at the Mansion
Modern
Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay will perform at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda. McKay, who made her Broadway debut in 2006 starring as Polly Peachum in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s limited-run of “The Threepenny Opera,” returns to Strathmore on the heels of her turn in another New York hit, “Old Hats,” a collaboration with master clowns Bill Irwin and David Shiner. Tickets are $37. For more information, visit www.strathmore.org.
MYTHS
Jon Mort’s “Local Legends,” a collection of large-scale graphite works depicting mythological gods, goddesses and heroes as portrayed by members of the Sandy Spring community, is currently on view to Feb. 23 at the Sandy Spring Museum. An opening reception is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday. Pieces range in subject from ancient interpretations of the planets to well-known classical epics such as Homer’s “Odyssey.” For more information, visit www.sandyspringmuseum.org.
“Local Legends,” a collection of original works by artist Jon Mort, is now on view to Feb. 23 at the Sandy Spring Museum. An opening reception is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday at the museum. Pictured: “Heliosphere.” JON MORT
Graceful beauty
RICK GONZALEZ
Nellie McKay will perform Thursday at the Music Center at Strathmore.
New Year, ‘New Works’ Opening Thursday at Gallery B in Bethesda, “New Works on Paper” will feature the talents of local artists Cathy Kwart, Catherine Levinson, Bonny Lundy and Virginia Mahoney. An opening reception is scheduled for 6-9
p.m. Friday at the gallery, coinciding with the Bethesda Art Walk. The show is on view to Feb. 1. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, including applications for artists and art curators interested in showing their work at Gallery B, visit www.bethesda.org.
The Montgomery Art Association will showcase the works of featured artist Natalie Falk throughout January at the MAA Gallery in the Westfield Wheaton Mall. An opening reception is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the gallery. Falk’s talents span the freedom of oil paints to the fine detail of colored pencil, while a lifelong love of horses is evident in her equine portraiture. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.montgomeryart.org.
“First Chair, Violin,” color pencil, by Natalie Falk.
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CATHERINE LEVINSON
FROM NATALIE FALK
“Roses, Green and Gold,” color pencil, by Natalie Falk.
The work of Bethesda’s Catherine Levinson will be on view to Feb. 1 at Gallery B. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday at the gallery.
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Page B-7
A leap of imagination
BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
n When: Jan. 8-18 (call for show times). Discussions after Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening performances. n Where: Round House Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $10 in advance for previews, Jan. 8-9; $20 in advance with guaranteed seat; Pay what you want at the door n For information: 1-800-8383006, 240-644-1390, Forumtheatre.com
same play],” she said. “The performer needs the script to be set, but as the author, you’re always wanting to change things and keep thinking about the story.” Accompanying Yadav are three musicians who perform a live blend of South Indian classicalmusicandAmericanjazz.They are Anjna Swaminathan (violin) and Rajna Swaminathan (drum), both graduates of the University of Maryland, College Park, and pianist Sam McCormally.
Drawn from life The coming-of-age play, which takes place in the Midwest, is based on Yadav’s own experiences as an IndianAmerican girl. Yadav’s father died when she was 12, and her mother was left to support her and her brother, she said. She was also perceived as different by her classmates. “I was raised a Hindu in Iowa, which is not exactly a Hindu state,” Yadav said. “One of my school friends was concerned that I was going to go to hell. I just would try to get beyond our differences, because otherwise you wouldn’t have any friends.” Krishna challenges young
Meena to move beyond thinking like a victim and think more about taking action in the world, said director Patrick Crowley. “It’s about using her imagination for something better. ... It’s about not defeating yourself before you start,” he said.
Political questions In 2006, Yadav also enlisted Crowley to direct her onewoman play, “’Capers,” about a battle between people living in public housing community in Southeast Washington, D.C., and the government officials who want to tear it down. It was a play about “class lines and wealth and poverty,” Yadav said. In both plays, Yadav poses underlying political questions about why poverty exists in a country of such affluence. “In our economic systems and social networks, we’re supposed to helping each other out,” she said. People don’t have to accept conditions because “it’s just the way it is,” Yadav said. By dealing with social issues through theater, music and performance, she hopes that audiences will think more about the situations around them. “The medium ... allows people to be opened up and moved,” she said. At the Forum Theatre, which is dedicated to presenting plays that are accessible and affordable for everyone, visitors may reserve a seat in advance for $20 or pay what they think is a fair price at the door. Discussions are also scheduled following some performances. “If there are people from different backgrounds all in the same room ... [there’s a] possibility for change,” Yadav said. Yadav also hopes that individuals in the audience will realize that “they’re not alone
PHOTO BY C. STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Forum Theatre premieres “Meena’s Dream,” written by actress Anu Yadav, who plays several characters during the solo performance. The play, about a young girl who uses her imagination to deal with poverty and loss, is running Jan. 8-18 at the Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. and that many other people are dealing with [problems].” “I’m honored if it prompts someone in the audience to share their own story,” she said. vterhune@gazette.net
w No ing! w Sho F.
Scott Fitzgerald Theater
603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851
1912446
240-314-8690
www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre Rockville Little Theatre Presents
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestly
The family is celebrating when a mysterious inspector comes to call. It becomes clear that they are implicated in a young women’s death. Join us for an exciting whodunnit that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Jan. 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.
$18 to $16
1912444
Lots of children have imaginary friends. Meena’s is the Hindu deity, Lord Krishna. In the young girl’s imagination, the two join forces to battle the Worry Machine, a foe of Krishna’s that is destroying the world while also representing the problems that Meena is facing in her real life. Her father has died, and her impoverished mother, who works several jobs, is chronically ill. “She can’t afford the medicine she needs,” said Anu Yadav, social activist, playwright and solo performer for “Meena’s Dream.” Like her mother, Meena worries about how “to pay the rent, the electric bill, food for her daughter and medicine for herself.” “These are impossible choices,” said Yadav, 36, who as 9-year-old Meena, taps into her young and hopeful imagination as a way to deal with poverty and her mother’s illness. Presented by the Forum Theatre, the 80-minute play runs Jan. 8-18 at the Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. “Meena’s Dream” evolved from the thesis Yadav wrote to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in performance from the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2013. A UMD undergrad, artist and performer for 10 years, she joined the Forum Theatre last summer as an ensemble player. In her one-woman play, Yadav plays multiple roles,including Krishna and a pharmacist who does not give her mother the medicine she needs. “It’s an interesting challenge [to write and perform in the
MEENA’S DREAM
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Young girl teams up with Lord Krishna in premiere of one-woman show
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‘Secret Life’ is sort of lifeless BY
MICHAEL PHILLIPS CHICAGO TRIBUNE
So. Turns out the only thing the prototypical American milquetoast Walter Mitty needed to get happy was a little stubble and a lavish travel budget.
AT THE MOVIES In director Ben Stiller’s earnest-but-screwy go at “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” Stiller himself takes the role of the daydreaming, “yes, dear” fellow introduced in a wee-buthardy 1939 James Thurber short story. Thurber sold it to The New Yorker and eventually his grey little man with prodigious dreams of heroism was given the Hollywood treatment in a postwar Danny Kaye vehicle. Stiller has no interest in delivering the comic mania of Kaye. Rather, his Mitty is the center of an easygoing self-actualization travelogue in which the title character, here conceived as
DANCES
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY n 2 stars n PG; 125 minutes n Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Adam Scott, Shirley MacLaine, Patton Oswalt Directed by Ben Stiller
a photo archivist for a dying Life magazine, lurches from Greenland to Afghanistan, searching for an elusive photojournalist played by Sean Penn. (For the record, Life actually died several years ago.) In screenwriter Steven Conrad’s story a crucial missing image, captured by the photographer but misplaced under Mitty’s usually eagle-eyed watch, is desperately needed for Life’s final cover. Recovering it may be the key to Mitty hanging onto his old-school, defiantly pre-digital job. The irony of a story hinging on a tiny scrap of film forced to compete with a sea of computergenerated imagery is pretty
WILSON WEBB
Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) and legendary photographer Sean O’Connell (Sean Pean) enjoy the view. odd. The movie feels uncertain as to its own tones and intentions. Fantasy blowouts, such as Stiller battling a slimy corporate takeover artist played by Adam Scott), offer a chuckle or two. Then we’re back to the other movie, the one Stiller clearly had more interest in making. Mitty is in love with a coworker played by Kristen Wiig. The scenes between Stiller and Wiig have real charm, and Stiller’s enough of a director to know when to simply let a leisurely patch of dialogue unfold in a single shot (in this firstconversation case, on a Manhattan sidewalk). Elsewhere, though, “Walter Mitty” operates on a scale that feels way, way off. Once Mitty leaves the con-
fines of his shrinking life and crosses time zones in pursuit of the photographer, the seams of the picture threaten to split. Is a 21st century film about a Walter Mitty type really best served by gorgeous, eye-popping location shooting on a near-$100 million budget? Shirley MacLaine has a pleasant scene or two as Mitty’s mom; Patton Oswalt works shrewd wonders as the voice (and then the face) of an eHarmony dating representative trying to get Mitty to goose up his profile. The film has a persistent and careful sheen. It looks good. It is, in fact, preoccupied with looking good. If this sounds like faint praise, I’m afraid it is.
Wine lovers, plan your Pinot perusing vacation early The answer to where a discerning wine lover should go on their next vacation has become extremely easy to answer. Plan a trip to Oregon, specifically during the last week of July, for the annual International Pinot Noir Celebration. Held in the pic-
GRAPELINES BY LOUIS MARMON turesque Willamette Valley on the campus of Linfield College in McMinnsville, Ore., IPNC is among the finest wine and food experiences anywhere in the world. In fact, before you read any further, go to their website (www.ipnc.com) and register for next year’s event before they sell out. Then come back to this article for some more specifics and look for next month’s which will feature recommendations of special places to visit and extraordinary folks to meet. You can figure out your flights and accommodations later. Oregon undisputedly pro-
ALLISON
Continued from Page B-5 ‘Rite of Springs,’” Allison said. “The second record was Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumors.’” Allison’s varied taste has remained intact over the years as the musician has built a career which includes appearances on more than 50 albums by assorted artists. The latest incarnation of Allison’s own band began one and a half years ago. Seabrook, Cardenas and Miller are all band leaders for their own ensembles, something Allison credits for the Ben Allison Band’s success. “Because they are all seeing things through the eyes of
BARD
Continued from Page B-5 the table. “The actors that I’m working with in this production … are very, very good realistic performers,” Flemming said. “They’re being thrown into an area that they weren’t as comfortable with.” Flemming said his actors — Andy Greenleaf, Jennifer Osborn and Steve Snapp — each brought a little something different to the play. Snapp, according to Flemming, has a really good feel for the over-thetop presentation of the show, whereas Greenleaf and Osborn are modern play “mavens.” The show has a certain amount of improvisation from the actors, but Flemming was quick to point out that with the improvisation being rehearsed so much, it’s very much like part of the script now. “[The audience] is going to see very little improvisation,” Flemming said. “… I did not want to just duplicate the original production of the creators of this show. So I had the actors play with the script, play with the action on stage and the result was very, very different than
duces some the world’s finest wines, especially their distinctive Pinot Noirs, but also some tasty whites including Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. However Pinot Noir remains supreme. It all began with David Lett who planted the area’s first Pinot Noir at the Eyrie Vineyards in 1966 and there are now over 12 million acres and 400 some wineries focusing on the varietal. Along with the astonishing growth in production has been the amazingly rapid rise in quality which is attributed, in large part, to the very collaborative spirit among Oregon’s winemakers. Another pioneer, Josh Bergstrom, noted that “Oregon really started out with a bunch of well-educated hippies sitting around in meadows passing bottles, critiquing each other. …That spirit is still very much alive today.” There currently isn’t a lot of counterculture to be seen and yet you would be hard pressed to find a more friendly, enjoyable and intriguing group of people than those making Pinot Noir in Oregon. McMinnsville and the surrounding Willa-
mette Valley have the look and feel of Sonoma about 30 years ago. Even the influx of several hundred IPNC attendees did not appear to disturb the quaint comfort of the town nor the lowkey attitude of the locals. Now in its 28th year, IPNC is truly a celebration of all things Pinot Noir. The main focus upon Oregon wines but there are ample opportunities to explore other Pinot iterations including those from Burgundy, California and New Zealand. The highlights include small group winery visits and guided vineyard tours led by featured winemakers who discuss topics such as Oregon AVA terroirs, planting strategies and techniques to achieve balance and accurate expression of the local environment. Sounds a bit geeky, but standing in the middle of a vineyard with Oregon winemaking pioneer Ken Wright while he points out the different geologic attributes and history of the Willamette Valley is both thought-provoking and entertaining. There is also a “Univer-
sity of Pinot” that offers a range of seminars led by such notables as Terry Thiese, Eric Asimov and Allen Meadows that focus on the intriguing ability of Pinot Noir to transcend into a “harmony of beauty, distinctiveness, personality and soul.” But the heart of IPNC is the opportunity to taste literally hundreds of Pinot Noirs while speaking to the people responsible for crafting the wines. This includes wine-centered lunches catered by splendid local chefs and afternoon alfresco tastings that encourage attendees to discuss and compare wines from recent vintages produced around the world. These are followed by the exceptional “Grand Dinner” on Friday night and the legendary IPNC “Salmon Bake” dinner on Saturday which features wild salmon roasted on alder stakes. At each meal IPNC provides ample wines and even more are poured by many of the attendees who have brought their own bottles to share. IPNC is certainly a remarkable Pinot experience.
a band leader, they have great perspective,” Allison said. “They think compositionally … which really gives the band a unique sound; a sound that’s more than the sum of its parts … I feel very fortunate to have such high-level individuals in my group.” As is the nature of the jazz world, Allison and his band mates play with several different ensembles. And even when they’re playing as the Ben Allison Band, improvisation plays a major role in their performances. “We’ve been playing together long enough that I can often start a tune and everyone will know what I’m doing,” Allison said. “It’s not always well-
planned in advance.” In addition to recording and performing, Allison is deeply involved in music advocacy, working toward artist empowerment and musician’s rights. “It began early in my career when I was the co-founder and artistic director of the Jazz Composition Collective,” Allison said. The Jazz Composition Collective was a nonprofit, musician-run organization based out of New York City and dedicated to creating an environment where musicians could freely create and develop new music. “There was very much of a very community-oriented feel to that group,” Allison said.
When the collective dissolved in 2005, Allison said it left “a hole.” “I was used to the idea of expressing some of my political beliefs through an arts organization,” he said. “Fostering art, building community, building audiences for new music — those sorts of things.” Allison has found a new outlet with a position as a member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. “I get the chance to put a voice to the concerns of artists,” Allison said. “[It’s something] that I enjoy doing and appreciate the chance to do.”
what you would see if you were to watch the film of ‘Complete Works,’ or something like that.” While the audience gets to enjoy the fruits of Flemming and the actor’s labor, they too will be participating in the telling of the play. “At one point in the show, the entire audience will be dragged into a production of ‘Hamlet,’” Flemming laughed. “The audience, especially those in the front few rows, may find themselves in the middle of the action whether they thought it would happen or not!” Flemming said those who are fans of the Bard have nothing to fear. (If, when reading the first paragraph of this story, the reader cringes, then it’s probably a safe bet you’re a Shakespeare buff.) Whereas the play boils all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays into a modicum of time, true fans will enjoy it. “I’m one of those people,” Flemming said. “I love Shakespeare with a flaming passion. The more you know about Shakespeare, the funnier some of this stuff is. When you see the divergence from Shakespeare, when they do the comedies and present them in a different way, if you know Shakespeare then it’s funnier than anything. If
chedgepeth@gazette.net
IN THE ARTS
Hollywood Ballroom, Jan. 10, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); Jan. 11, Latin Night with Mr. Mambo, workshops from 8-10 p.m., dance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. ($18 for workshop and dance; $15 for dance only); Jan. 12, free Waltz lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m. ($16); Jan. 15, Ballroom Bash from 8:30–10:30 p.m. ($16); Jan. 16, Tea Dance from 12:303:30 p.m. ($6), 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301326-1181, www.hollywoodballroomdc.com Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Blues, Capital Blues: Thurs-
days, 8:15 p.m. beginner lesson, 9-11:30 p.m. dancing to DJs, Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom Annex, $8, www.capitalblues.org. Contra, Jan. 10, Perry Shafran and the Glen Echo Open Band, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org. Contra & Square, Jan. 12, Paul Rosen calls with Ricochet; Jan. 19, Perry Shafran with Sibling Ribaldry; Jan. 26, Valerie Helbert with STEAM, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www. fsgw.org. English Country, Jan. 8, Caller: Joseph Pimentel; Jan. 15, Caller: Tom Spilsbury; Jan. 22, Caller: Susan Taylor; Jan. 29, Caller: Stephanie Smith, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www.fsgw.org.
Now and Then Dance Studio, Saturday ballroom dances,
second and fourth Saturdays, beginner group lesson at 8 p.m., open dancing at 9 p.m., $10 cash at door (all men admitted at half-price throughout October), 10111 Darnestown Road, Rockville. 301-424-0007, www. nowandthendancestudios.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. Swing, Jan. 18, Naomi & Her Handsome Devils, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet. org. Waltz, Jan. 19, Hickman, Glickman & Devine, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www.waltztimedances.org.
MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Billy Thompson, 7:30
p.m. Jan. 8; Andrew Neu, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9; Dance Night with Essence, 8 p.m. Jan. 10; Phillip Doc Martin, 8 p.m. Jan. 11; Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12; Perry Conticchio Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15; Tizer featuring Karen Briggs, 8 p.m. Jan. 16; Motown & More: Tribute to Legends of Motown & Soul, 8 p.m. Jan. 17; Popa Chubby, 8 p.m. Jan. 18; The Soul Serenaders, 8 p.m. Jan. 19; Gotta Swing Dance Night with Bad Influence, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22; Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion, 8 p.m. Jan. 24; Antone “Chooky” Caldwell, 8 p.m. Jan. 25; Ron Kearns Quintet with Special Guest Michael Thomas, 7 p.m. Jan. 26; Peter Fields and Rob Holmes - A Tribute to Charlie Byrd & Stan Getz, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29; Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam, 8 p.m. Jan. 30; Spectrum, 8 p.m. Jan. 31, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, www. bethesdabluesjazz.com. BlackRock Center for the Arts, The 9 Songwriters Series,
8 p.m. Jan. 18; Charlotte Blake Alston, 1 p.m. Jan. 25; Hot Club of San Francisco and Cinema Vivant, 8 p.m. Jan. 25; call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-5282260, www.blackrockcenter.org. Institute of Musical Traditions — Takoma Park, Gentico-
rum, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8; Takoma Park Community Center, call for prices, times, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, 301-9603655, www.imtfolk.org.
Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, Claire Lynch Band,
PAM BURKS
(From left) Jennifer Osborn, Steven Snapp and Andrew Greenleaf play out Shakespeare’s works — sort of — when they perform “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” at Silver Spring Stage. you know nothing about Shakespeare, the show is just very zany and enjoyable. “But if you know Shake-
speare, it’s more. There’s another level there.” wfranklin@gazette.net
7:30 p.m. Feb. 3; Nuala Kennedy, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17; Carrie Newcomer, 7:30 p.m. March 8, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www. imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Nellie McKay, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 9; The Ben Allison Band, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10; BSO: Off the Cuff — Dvorak’s New World Symphony, 8:15 p.m. Jan. 10; The Ben Allison Band Masterclass, 4 p.m. Jan. 11; Historic Home Tour, 11 a.m. Jan. 13; AIR: Christie Dashiell, jazz vocalist, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15, 29; Duo Sonidos, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16; BSO: Beethoven and
Mozart, 8 p.m. Jan. 16; Wired In: Web and Social Media, 10 a.m. Jan. 18; Children’s Talk and Tour, 10:15 a.m. Jan. 18; Art Talk, 1 p.m. Jan. 18; National Philharmonic: Three Great Classics, 8 p.m. Jan. 18; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Tribute and Celebration, 3 p.m. Jan. 20; The 9 Songwriter Series Benefits: Ted Garber and Family, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20; Artist in Residence Education Workshop with Christie Dashiell: A Jazz Journey, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22; BSO: Marvin Hamlisch — One Singular Sensation, 8 p.m. Jan. 23; Jazz Vocal Intensive: Scat Singing 201, 10 a.m. Jan. 25; Denis Matsuev, piano, 7 p.m. Jan. 25; Natascia Diaz, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25; Rob Patterson, Maria Lambros & Audrey Andrist, 3 p.m. Jan. 26; Pixies, 8 p.m. Jan. 26; So You Think You Can’t Sing: Harmony Edition, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; Bill Cosby, 8 p.m. Jan. 30-31; AIR Alumni: John Kocur, jazz saxophone, 11 a.m. Jan. 31, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-5815100, www.strathmore.org.
ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “Miss Nelson is Missing,” Jan. 17 to March 9, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Arts Barn, “Blame it On Beckett,” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 10-26, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, 301-2586394, www.gaithersburgmd.gov/ artsbarn. Imagination Stage, “Lyle the Crocodile,” to Jan. 10, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www.imaginationstage.org Olney Theatre Center, “The King and I,” to Jan. 12; call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-9243400, www.olneytheatre.org. The Puppet Co., “Tales of Beatrix Potter,” Jan. 17 to Feb. 9; 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, 301-634-5380, www.thepuppetco.org. Round House Theatre, Bethesda, “Seminar,” Feb. 5 to March 4, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, www.roundhousetheatre.org. Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, “Meena’s Dream,” Jan. 8-14, call for show times, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, $15 for general admission, $10 for subscribers, patrons 30 and younger and seniors, 244-6441100, www.roundhousetheatre. org. Silver Spring Stage, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” Jan. 10 to Feb. 1, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, www.ssstage.org. The Writer’s Center, Travis Nichols and Frank Tavares, 2-4 p.m. Jan. 12, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-654-8664, www. writer.org.
VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, “Residue,” Sharon Butler, Michael Callaghan, Steven Charles, J.D. Hastings and Toni Tiller, to Feb. 9, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, www. adahrosegallery.com
The Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum, TBA, hours are 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. 301-897-1518. Gallery B, “New Works on Paper,” Jan. 8 to Feb. 1, opening reception from 6-9 p.m. Jan. 10, gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E. www.bethesda.org. Glenview Mansion, The Pate Painters, watercolor, oil, acrylic, gouache, pastel, pencil, to Jan. 24, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. www.rockvillemd.gov. Marin-Price Galleries, March Avery, to Jan. 28, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 7022 Wisconsin Ave., 301-718-0622. VisArts, Michael Sellmeyer: “Paintings, Drawings, Prints, That Mostly Go Together,” to Jan. 12, Common Ground Gallery; Lauren Boilini: “Rabid Habits,” to Jan. 12, Gibbs Street Gallery,155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, www. visartsatrockville.org. Washington Printmakers Gallery, “South African Voices:
A New Generation of Printmakers,” to Jan. 26, reception from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 11, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, second floor, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, www. washingtonprintmakers.com.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
T H E G AZ ET T E
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Classifieds Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net
SILVER SPRING
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3BR, 1.5BA, NS/NP. Walk to Metro, W/D, $1700/mo + utils. Indra 301-325-2467
GAITHER:
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SS: SFH 3BR, 1.5BA, GAITH:FIRESIDE CONDOS 3Br, 2full hrd flrs, W&D, nr
FREDERICK:
TH 3 lvl, 3 BR, 2 1/2 Bath, W/D, 1st fl hardwood floor, fenced yrd 2 pkg spaces, near 270/70 and route 40. Avail Jan 1. $1275/per month, Call Ben 240-994-0865 cell
WALKERSVILLE:
shops, bus & 495, HOC ok. $1695/mo. 240-383-1000
ba, balc. $1775/mo util incl. HOC Welc. Avail Jan 1st. 301-535-3017
GERM: 2Br, 2Ba new GAIT H: Penthouse
LRG CONDO 1bd/1ba wood floor, 24hr security, all util incl HOC OK 240-383-1000
crpt/paint, h/d flr, W/D, fitness center, near shops & restaurants $1250 + SD Mike Remax Pro. Please Call: 301-674-2371 or 240-426-6964
301-948-0087
BURTONSVILLE:
N. BETH: In home
3BR, 2.5BA TH, Fireplace, Finish Bsmt, $1800 + utils, No Pets. 202-236-4197
Apt Lg 1Br w/priv entr Fpl, Patio, woodland view NS/NP $1300 uti inc. avl Jan 1st Call: 301-530-4883
DAMASCUS: 3BR
POTOMAC: 1Br, +
$1400/ 2BR $1150 +util NS/NP, W/D New Carpet, Paint, Deck & Patio, 301-250-8385
GAITH/AMBERFLD
Lux 3lvl EU/TH, Gar 2MBR, 2.5BA, LR DR, FR, FP,EIK, Deck $1800. 301-792-9538
Den, 1Ba, W/D, modernized LR & kit, priv entr, $1590 inc util, Call: 240-793-2565
ROCKVILLE: 2BR,
2BA. Cls to Metro. 24 Hr Security. $1850/mo incls all utils. 301-3250550. Avail Now!
GAITH/MV: 3 bed, 2
1/2 ba TWH freshly painted $1550 central heat/AC , all appliances, wood floors assigned parking fenced patio HOC ok call Nick 301-412-4522
POTOMAC:
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BETHESDA: frnshd bsmnt 1 bdrom apt w/ kitchn. Nr metro. $980. Stricklett@ymail.com CHEVY
CHASE:
2Br, 1Ba, LR & kit modernized, W/D, parking, $1700 inc util, short term lease avl, Call: 240-793-2565
GAITH/Furnished room for rent (se renta cuarto). male, convenient to bus train & Metro, W/D, cac, $475/mo inclu utills. 301-785-0242
GAITH: Male. 2 BR
in TH. $450 & $500. NP, NS, near Bus, shops. Call 240-4189237 or 240-912-5284
GAITH:M BRs $435+ 440+475+555+ Maid Ns/Np, nr 270/370/Bus shops, quiet, conv.Sec Dep 301-983-3210 GAITH/MV: MBR in
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TH, 3BR, 2.5BA. GAITHERSBURG $1300 + utils. Avail Half Month Free GAITH: 1Br pvt Ba in 1/1/14. 240-751-5497. Large 1 or 2 BR Apts 2 Br Apt $600 shr utils kirkmccarthy1@yahoo Short/long term leases W/D, NS/NP. Cable/int .com Utilities Included Near Bus Shops. Avail 2/1 240-552-0792 Great Prices
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GAITHERSBURG:
Rice (301) 670-2667
MONT VILL: M B
Suite, priv Ba, high ceiling, nr bus, female, $630 + util NS/NP 240-401-3522
kSpacious Floor Plans kSmall Pets Welcome
(301) 460-1647
shared bath $500 util incl near transit, NS/NP call 301-7177696
GE RMA NT OWN :
rm for rent in condo, nr bus/shops, utils, cable, incld $500 301-9724535 Available 01/01
GERM: Bsmt w/pvt
Entr, Ba, Br, nr schls, bus, util incl N/S N/P Avl Jan 1st Please Call 301-461-2636
GERM: Male 1Br in
TH Share bath & kitchen $450 ut inc Nr MARC/Buses, Ref’s Req. 240-370-2301
GAITH:
G E R M : TH LG 1 room w/pvt BA $650/mo w/utils & int. Nr Walmart & 270/355 CALL: 240-744-2421
$500/mo each rm, Veirs Mill/Randolph, W/D, int, utils incl. 1mo sec dep 240-620-7982
3004 Bel Pre Rd., Apt. 204, Silver Spring, MD 20906
S.SPRING: Downtown, furn/unfur shrd apt, priv Ba, nr metro $775 utils incl + SD NS/NP 240-604-5815
WHEATON: BR in APT w/pvt BA. $650/ mo incl. utils, Cable/ WiFi. Nr Metro & Bus. Call 240-286-7142
kFamily Room kFull Size W/D in every unit kSwimming Pool
to advertise call On WHEATON: 301.670.7100 Georgia Ave. 1 MBR or email w/prvt ba. $650 util incl Nr Metro & Shops. class@gazette.net Npets
240-441-1638
rent in condo, prvt ba, shrd kit, nr shops/bus. $600 all utils incl NP/NS. 301-602-0040
OLNEY: 1BD in TH. Priv BA. Shared Kit. NP, NS. $450 util incl. Female. 240-528-1434 OR 240-406-6991 POOLESVILLE:
Horse farm. Lg BD, private entrance, BA, Kitch, shared laundry. $700. 301-407-2226
301-924-1818
GERM: 1 large room,
S S : 2 br in bsmt
kBalcony Patio
MONT VILL: Rm for
TH 3rd floor, prvt BA Nr shpng, on bus line. $650 utils incl + Sec ROCKVILLE/OLNEY Dep. 240-893-6951 Lrg Single Fam Home Small (narrow) effc, own bath & kit all Female GBURG: utils, cbl & int incl tenant for 1 BD shared $745 NS/NP BA. Near 270/355. $500 everything incl Available Now! Parking 240-418-8785
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
SALE:
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will be holding a PUPPY adoption event at Muddy Paws Farm Sat Jan 11th Noon-2pm Adorable pups and some adult dogs looking for great homes! 26330 Mullinix Mill Rd., Mt. Airy, MD
petconnectrescue.org
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GP2377
OFFERS OFFERS
Reliable, Insured & Monitored Care in a home setting for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers in Montgomery County
Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate antennas at 132.75 feet on a 162-foot utility structure at 2800 Metzerott Road, College Park, MD 20740. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to: Project 61135566-TPC c/o EBI Consulting, tcubie@ebiconsulting.com, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, or (339) 234-2597.
DOUBLE PLAY GET FREE OF BASEBALL WIN- CREDIT CARD TER 2014 TRAIN- DEBT NOW! Cut ING Registration is payments by up to
now open for Winter Training www.double play.net
AIRLINE CAREERS
begin here - Get FAA approved Aviation Maintenance training. Housing and Financial Aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-4818974.
The FY’15 Preliminary Budget document will be available upon request and posted on our website (www.wsscwater.com) by January 15, 2014. Persons desiring to speak at either of the hearings should contact the WSSC’s Budget Group at (301) 206-8110 to be placed on the list of speakers in advance of the hearings. Persons who wish to submit a written statement for inclusion in the record of the hearings should send the statement to Ms. Letitia Carolina-Powell, Acting Budget Group Leader, WSSC, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707 or email budgetgroup@wsscwater.com. The public hearing record will remain open until February 18, 2014.
BEST prices and 24hr on Aviation Career. payment! Call today FAA approved pro877-588-8500 or visit gram. Finanical aid if www.TestStripSearch. qualified - Job placecom Espanol 888-440ment assistance. CALL Aviation Institute 4001 of Maintenance 877MEDICAL ALERT 818-0783. FOR SENIORS 24/7 monitoring. FREE Equipment. FREE Shippng. Nationwide Service. $29.95/Month CALL Medical Guardian Today 866-992-7236
G560648
(1-8, 1-9-14)
G GP2362 P2362
Daycare Directory
For additional information, please contact Kimberly Knox, Community Outreach Manager at 301-206-8100 or at kknox@wsscwater.com
risk & get guaranteed income in retirement! CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE. Plus Annuity. Quotes from A-Rated compaines! 800-6695471
CASH FOR UNEXPIRED DIABETIC TEST AIRLINES ARE HIR- STRIPS! Free ShipING - Train for hands ping, Friendly Service,
NOTE: If either public hearing is rescheduled due to inclement weather conditions, a public hearing will be held as follows:
On Wednesday, January 15 at 5:15pm, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission will hold a memorial ceremony at the headquarter building located at 14501 Sweizter Lane, Laurel, MD 20707. The memorial will honor the employees who have died on the job. The following names will be added to the memorial plaque: Paul Butler, Jerome E. Couplin, Leonard Dimes, Roy E. Walter and James D. Wray.
half. Stop creditors from calling 877-8581386
GUARANTEED INCOME FOR YOUR RETIREMENT. Avoid market
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - 7:30 p.m. Prince George’s County RMS Building Room 308 1400 McCormick Drive Largo, MD 20774
February 12, 2014 - 7:30 p.m. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Richard G. Hocevar Building Auditorium - Level "L" 14501 Sweitzer Lane Laurel, MD 20707
MEDICAL OFFICE
ing alternative to unTRAINING planned pregnancy. PROGRAM! Train to You choose the family become a Medical Offor your child. Receive fice Assistant. No Expictures/info of perience Needed! Cawaiting/approved coureer Training & Job ples. Living expense Placement Assistance assistance. 1-866at CTI! HS 236-7638 Diploma/GED & Computer needed. 1-877649-2671
Please contact the Commission as soon as possible at 301-206-8200 if your attendance at a meeting will require an accommodation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
NOTICE Pursuant to Section 5-206 of the Corporations and Associations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, notice is hereby given of an additional meeting of Vistas at Washingtonian Woods Condominium Association to be held on January 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the community clubhouse located at 511 Midsummer Drive, Gaithersburg, MD. This meeting is being held because of the absence of a quorum at the originally scheduled meeting. The members present in person or by porxy shall constitute a quorum and may take anya ction which could have been taken at the original meeting if a suffucient number of members had been present. (1-8-14)
3 301-528-4616 01-528-4616
ADOPTION- A LovPUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE WSSC will hold two public hearings on the FY’15 Preliminary Proposed Capital and Operating Budget. The hearings will be held on the following dates: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - 7:30 p.m. Montgomery County Stella B. Werner Building 7th Floor Council Hearing Room 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850
for info. 301-528-4616
MONDAY M O N D AY M MORNING ORNING M MOMS O M S®
Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! ONE CALL, DOES Waterproofing? Finish- IT ALL! FAST AND RELIABLE ELECing? Structural ReTRICAL REPAIRS pairs? Humidity and & INSTALLAMold Control FREE TIONS. Call 1-800ESTIMATES! Call 1908-8502 888-698-8150
GP2376
FOR
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Children’s Center of Damascus
Lic. #: 31453
301-253-6864
20872
Elena’s Family Daycare
Lic. #: 15-133761 301-972-1955
20876
My Little Lamb Childcare
Lic #: 51328
301-990-9695
20877
Kids Garden Day Care
Lic.#: 139378
240-601-9134
20886
Reflections Daycare
Lic.#: 160613
240-506-5343
20886
Susanna’s Day Care
Lic #: 105189
301-933-7342
20902
Little Angels Licensed Child Care
Lic #: 160952
301-622-1517
20904
G535092
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 3, 2014
LIVE-IN CARE GIVER Needed for group
home for Seniors in Potomac,MD. Will Train. 240-506-7719
LOOKING FOR LIVE IN HOUSEKEEPER. 5 days a wk. 202-841-8818 or 202-631-0908
NANNY/HOUSEKE EPER required to
care for 2 children & house. Refs req. Pls Call 301-640-0018.
POTOMAC HSKPR
1-9 pm. Legal. Drive, Good English. Laundry. Min 2yrs Exp. Call 301.887.3212.
Careers 301-670-2500 Administrative
BILLING CLERK FT w/benefits. Must be detail oriented & computer literate. Possess prof degree, acctg pref (1 yr min exp). resumehomecare@gmail.com
APPOINTMENT SETTERS Earn $750 to $1000 a week.
Come generate appointments for a Top Inc 500 remodeling Co. Ê Daytime & Evening Hours Available Ê Gaithersburg location
Call John at 301-987-9828
class@gazette.net AUTO Estimator
Rare opportunity at the areas first Cadillac dealership for an experienced Collision Center estimator. Duties include all aspects of cust. service during the repair process including estimating, repair order generation, repair follow through and any necessary ins. supplement coordination. Prior body shop and/or ins. company experience necessary. Join a family owned business since 1934. Benefits include health, dental, vacation and 401k. Please send a confidential resume with verifiable references and salary requirements to dquackenbush@ecapitol.com DRIVERS HOME WEEKLY & BIWEEKLY - Earn
$900-$1200/WK Class A CDL & 6 Mos. Exp. Req. No Canada, HAZMAT or NYC! 877-705-9261
Let Gazette Careers help you find that next position in your LOCAL area.
Barbers & Stylists Wanted in busy Silver Spring Shop. Need to have Maryland license, Booth Rent Only. Call 301-490-4449
CLEANING
Earn $300-$500/wk. M-F, No nights or wknds. Must have own car & valid. Drivers lic. Se Habla Espanol.
Merry Maids
Gaithersburg 301-869-6243
CONSTRUCTION
Effective immediately, M.T. Laney Co, Inc will be accepting applications for the following positions: µ Sweeper Truck Driver µ Road Mechanic Top wages and a great working environment. EOE. Please email resume to info@mtlaney.com fax 410-795-9546
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Careers 301-670-2500
class@gazette.net
Food Service
STORE MANAGER
FOOD SERVICE
Busy wholesale supply business needs professional to manage: Staffing, inventory, counter sales, delivery system and more. Great attitude, computer & customer relation skills are a must.Prior wholesale or retail experience is a bonus. Email resume to: careers@gaithersburgair.com or call 301.926.3253
∂ Chef or Experienced Cook - Some weekends, experience with & knowledge of production systems essential, food safety certified & computer preferred. ∂ Line Server/Food Prep Helper - Part time ∂ Utility/Dishwasher - Part time Reliable transportation is essential. Apply in person, M-F @ 2pm, Sandy Spring Friends School, 16923 Norwood Rd. Sandy Spring, MD 20860, 301-7747455 ext. 128, michael.ackerson@ssfs.org EOE
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
Front Desk Friendly, energetic individual with Exp. at Front Desk and Medical Records for Large Cardiology Practice in Mont. Co. FT/Benefits offered Send resume to 240-449-1193 (f) or heartworkresumes@aol.com
Healthcare
Full-Time Nurses Skilled Nursing Facility seeking experienced Registered Nurses for FT 3-11 shifts. Apply in person and take the PreEmployment Exam at 1235 Potomac Valley Road Rockville MD 20850 EOE.
Healthcare
NOW HIRING CNAS Call Rafiq at: 301-922-0615 19120 Muncaster Rd, Derwood, MD 20855
Recruiting is now Simple!
Needed for Poolesville site. 3 yrs. of exp as a vet techin the Laboratory Animal Field working with multiple species preferred, will consider candidates with comparable exp and length of service in companion animal practice. For details and to apply go to: www.sobran-inc.com Job id #175344
Is Interior Decorating your Passion? Do you find yourself rearranging your friend’s furniture and accesories?
Get Connected
Is your home overflowing with Decorating Magazines? GC3174
If you answered YES to even one of these questions, then you own it to yourself to find out how North American’s largest home decorating companyDecorating Den Interiors, can change YOUR world.
HEALTHCARE
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.homeinsteads.com/197 Home Instead Senior Care To us it’s personal 301/588-9023 Call between 10am-4pm Mon-Fri
Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now Dental/Medical Offices now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706 CTO SCHEV
CTO SCHEV
For general practice in Gaitherburg. Send resume to sdavidelling@aol.com OR call 301-921-4455; 301-367-1274 to advertise call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net
Rough-in Plumber Must be dependable & profecient w/RI, GW & fixtures. Drug Test req’d, Co trk & Lg tools provided for right plumber. Fax: 240-745-0476 or email: flowritemary@copper.net $12-18/hr dep on exp.
Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524
Legal Secretary
Skilled Trade
Real Estate
Join us for a decorating business information session on Saturday, January 11th- 10am-Noon
DESIGN CENTER
10426 Fawcett Street Kensington, MD 20895
RSVP to jimkirlin@decoratingden.com or call 301-933-7900
GC3177
Opticians, Fashion Eye Glass Fitters & Med Techs 2 yrs college min/retail exp, will train. Must own car, F/T including Sat. Salary $12-$26/hr & ben. Apply in person
for location call Doctors On Sight, 301-540-1200 or 703-506-0000 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.
Must R.S.V.P.
Call Bill Hennessy
GC3043
Foster Parents
Veterinary Technicians
301-388-2626 301-388-2626
bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. EOE
Property Management
Grounds/Porter Part Time grounds / porter needed for busy apartment community. You will assist in maintaining the grounds, outdoor facilities & interior common areas. Duties include, but are not limited to picking up trash, delivering notices to residents, shoveling snow, assisting in the turnover of apartments, cleaning halls, painting, etc. Most work is outdoors. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours. Send resume to: Corrigan Square - Part Time Grounds 8511 Snouffer School Road, #11 Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Email: Corrigan-Square@GradyMgt.com Fax: 301-519-0851 EEO M/F/D www.gradymgt.com Part-Time
Work From Home
National Children’s Center Making calls. Please call Weekdays between 9-4 No selling! Sal + bonus + benes. Call 301-333-1900
Local companies, Local candidates Get Connected
Gazette.Net
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Automotive
Page B-13
Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net
YEAR NEW N E W YEAR BIG BIG SAVINGS! SAVINGS!
CA H
FOR CAR ! ANY CAR ANY CONDITION
04 Honda Element EX #362045B, 4 Speed $ $ Auto, 1-Owner, 4WD
6,800
07 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS #364333A, $$ 5 Speed Manual, 1
9,800
Owner, 44k Miles
08MercuryGrandMarquisLS #472145A, 4 Speed $ $ Auto, Silver Metallic
10,800
WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN
INSTANT CASH OFFER
(301) 288-6009
G558459
09HyundaiVeracruzLTD #364523A, 6 Speed $ $ Auto, 1-Owner, Sport
11,800
12 Nissan Altima S #470192A, CVT $ $ Trans, 2.5. Low Miles
14,800
13 Hyundai Velostar #467009A, $ 6 Speed Auto,1 Owner,$ Hatchback Coupe
17,800
07 Honda CR-V EX-L $$
12,800
#472069A, 1-Owner, 4WD, 5 Speed Auto, Sport Utility
12 Nissan Sentra $$
14,800
#472173A, CVT Trans, 1-Owner, 11.6k Miles
13 Toyota Camry LE $$
#R1739,6 Speed Auto, 12.7k miles, 4 Door, 1 Owner
17,900
$$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Makes! Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week. Call 1-800-959-8518
CASH FOR CARS!
Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647
DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RV’S. LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY.
breast cancer families. Tax Deductible. Free Next-Day Towing. $1000 Grocery/Restaurant Coupons. Call 7 days/week United Breast Cancer Foundation 800-728-0801
Your donation helps local families with food, clothing, shelter. Tax deductible. DONATE YOUR MVA licensed. CAR TO VETERLutheranMissionSociet ANS TODAY! Your y.org 410-636-0123 or vehical donation will toll-free 1-877-737help US Troops and 8567. support our Veterans! 100% tax deductible Fast Free pickup! CALL 1-800-7090542.
12,800
4-DR, Silver Metallic
11 Toyota Camry LE $$
15,800
#P8866, 6 Speed Auto, 1-Owner, 34.9K Miles
08 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 3.0L #457003B, 7 Speed Auto,, Mars Red
19,800
$$
$8,800 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Touring. . $14,800 $14,800 2001 Lexus RX300............... $8,800 #470267A, 4 SpeedAuto, 4WD, Sport Utility, Black Onyx #472137A, 5 SpeedAuto, 19k Miles, 1-Owner, Graphite Mica
$9,800 2013 Scion TC................... $19,800 $19,800 2002 Toyota Highlander LTD. ... $9,800 #462007B, 4 SpeedAuto, Vintage Gold Ivory #351079A, 1-Owner, Release Series 8.0,Absolutely Red 2007 Toyota Camry LE......... $10,800 $10,800 2012 GMC Terrain SLE-1...... $19,800 $19,800 #472097A, 5 SpeedAuto, 4-Door, Turquoise Metallic #460033A, 2WD, 6 SpeedAuto, 1-Owner, 45k Miles 2011 Toyota Camry LE......... $13,800 $13,800 2009 Nissan Murano SL....... $20,800 $20,800 #P8867, 6 SpeedAuto, 1-Owner, Gray Metallic #P8851A, CVT Trans, 4WD, Sport Utility
Looking for a new ride? Log on to Gazette.Net/Autos to search for your next vehicle!
2011 Honda Civic LX........... $13,800 $13,800 2014 Toyota Camry LE.......... $21,800 $21,800 #472123A, CVT Trans, 36K Miles, 1-Owner #378075A, 6 SpeedAuto, 1-Owner, 307 Miles, Clearwater Blue Metallic
355 3 5 5 TOYOTA TOYOTA PRE-OWNED P R E - OW N E D G558463
CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top
12 Ford Focus SEL #351136A, $ 6 Speed Auto, $
2003 Honda Accord EX.......... $8,800 $8,800 2012 Toyota Corolla LE......... $13,800 $13,800 #472138B, 5 SpeedAuto, Black Pearl #N0289, 4 SpeedAuto, 1-Owner, Black Sand Pearl
DARCARS
DONATE YOUR CAR - Give hope to
See what it’s like to love car buying
1-888-831-9671 1-888-831-9671 15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD | OPEN SUNDAY
V ISIT U HE W VISIT US S O ON N T THE WEB EB A AT T w www.355.com ww.355.com
Selling Your Car just got easier! Log on to
Gazette.Net/Autos to place your auto ad!
As low as $29.95!
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014 z
Page B-15
2014 NEW COROLLA LE
36 $
NEW2 AVAILABLE: 2014#470225, COROLLA LE 470255
2 AVAILABLE: #470335, 470170
COLD DAYS... HOT DEALS!
139/mo.**
4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO
NEW 2014 VENZA 4X2 2 AVAILABLE: #474507, 474501
24,590
$
15,890
4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.
NEW 2014 SCION XD 2 AVAILABLE: #453005, 453001
$
4 CYL., AUTO
AFTER $1,000 REBATE
$
169/mo.**
4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO
NEW 2013 RAV4 LE 4X2 BASE 2 AVAILABLE: #364556, 364503
NEW 2014 CAMRY LE 2 AVAILABLE: #472090, 472191
36 Month Lease $
169/mo.**
4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO
NEW 2014 CAMRY LE
2 AVAILABLE: #377728, 377729
16,890
2 AVAILABLE: #472091, 472122
0% FOR
4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL.,
AFTER $1,000 REBATE
4 CYL., AUTOMATIC
AFTER $500 REBATE
NEW 2013 PRIUS C II
$
20,790
60
DARCARS
MONTHS+
On 10 Toyota Models
See what it’s like to love car buying
$
18,790
AUTO, 4 CYL., 4 DR
AFTER TOYOTA $1,750 REBATE
G557425
1-888-831-9671
15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD n OPEN SUNDAY n VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.355Toyota.com
G558464
$
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. OFFERS EXPIRES 01/31/2014.
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Advertorial
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