The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
25 cents
Rockville leaders vote 3-2 to back state ethics rules
Carousel rides into town May 31
Gaithersburg pushed for change, wants focus on relevant information n
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Nearby playground area closed during construction n
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Construction has begun on a carousel at the northeast end of the pond at the Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. It’s expected to open this spring. and two chariots, the carousel will have space for up to 38 adult and 30 child passengers, with wheelchair access, according to the release. It will overlook the lake, with a seating area, tables and shade trees nearby.
sleeves, glass mirrors, crown lighting and music, according to the release. The cost for each ride will be $3 per person, the website said.
Chance Rides, an amusement ride manufacturer in Wichita, Kan., is building the carousel. The ride will have authentic details, including Americanastyle scenery, an antique-style lighted ceiling, spiral brass pole
jedavis@gazette.net
City planning 4.5 percent budget hike n
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Around and around she goes ...
Hold your horses. Construction on the carousel coming to Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg has begun, and the ride is slated to take its first spin May 31, according to the center’s website. During the construction process, the playground area nearby will be closed, the website said. The Peterson Cos. of Fairfax, Va., one of the developers of the 760,000-square-foot shopping center, announced Feb. 25 that a 36-foot classic carousel will open this spring near the waterfront area, according to a news release. Featuring 30 jumping horses, whimsical creatures
The annual “Unclaimed Property” booklet, which lists names and addresses of those who have accounts with unclaimed funds, will be distributed this week and next. If you regularly get The Gazette at your home and do not receive the publication, email circulation at circulation@gazette.net after May 2.
City directing money toward new police station, park, recreation facility BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Next year’s proposed fiscal budget is out and several members of the Gaithersburg City Council said they are pleased with the planned expenditures and rev-
enues detailed in it. On Monday, City Manager Tony Tomasello released a proposed $59.3 million budget, which is 4.5 percent higher than this year’s adopted budget. The new proposal calls for $49.6 million for the operating budget and $8.8 million for the Capital Improvements Plan. The tax rate remains the same, at 26.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The budget year for fiscal 2015 starts July 1.
IN$IDE
ARE YOU MI$$ING $OMETHING?
The mayor and council are scheduled to hold a public budget hearing April 21 and a work session April 28. A second public hearing will be held April 29 if needed. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for June 2. A key change in the proposed budget is the emphasis on capital projects, Tomasello said. Three projects specifically — the new Gaithersburg police station,
See BUDGET, Page A-12
The Rockville City Council is taking a stand against any attempt to soften statewide ethics requirements for public officials, even though the Maryland General Assembly took no action this year. Led by Councilman Tom Moore, Rockville council members voted 3-2 March 17 to send a letter to the Montgomery County delegation and leaders in Annapolis expressing the city’s support of the legislation as it stands. The current law, passed in 2010, requires city officials to disclose any interest in property they have and all salaried employment they and their immediate family members hold, among other things. Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park introduced legislation in January that would require officials to disclose property interests outside of the state under certain conditions. It would apply if the property were acquired from or in conjunction with a person who has either done business with the municipality at any time in the past 10 years or who is doing business with the municipality, according to online bill documents. The bill never emerged from committee. Moore called the proposed changes a “weakening” of the law. “I’ve talked with thousands of voters over the last couple of years and nobody says to me, ‘I think my officials are too honest.
I think they disclose too much information,’” he said. Rockville Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton argued with Moore. She bristled at the word “weakening,” saying that the changes would keep the law just as strong and would provide more security for officials in the face of identity theft and other problems. “It just was a lot of information out there in the public format,” she said at the meeting. Raskin introduced the bill at the request of Gaithersburg, said Monica Sanchez, Gaithersburg’s legislative affairs manager. Moore said he wanted to send the letter because he felt the city had not had the opportunity to weigh in on the issue previously. Even though the most recent effort to change the law was unsuccessful, Moore said, the issue could come back up in future legislative sessions. “We didn’t have any voice in this whatsoever this year and that really disturbs me,” he said. Moore and Councilwomen Beryl L. Feinberg and Julie Palakovich Carr voted for the measure, while Donnell Newton and Councilwoman Virginia D. Onley voted against. Maryland Municipal League supported Raskin’s legislation in this year’s session, according to Linda Moran, the assistant to the Rockville city manager. Gaithersburg Councilman Jud Ashman said the changes are about “striking the right balance” between irrelevant and relevant information about public officials. “We want to serve the public by discouraging and detecting conflicts of interests,” he said. “But we also want to make sure
See ETHICS, Page A-12
Apple of St. Martin of Tours School’s eye leads with core values n
Teacher wins Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award
BY
MELISSA DECANDIA STAFF WRITER
A teacher at St. Martin of Tours School in Gaithersburg learned she won the Archdiocese of Washington’s prestigious Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award at a surprise ceremony Monday morning. Helene Redmond, an eighth-grade teacher who began working at St. Martin School in 2004, is the first person from the school to receive the award, Andrew Piotrowski,the school’s
NEWS
QIAGEN ON THE MOVE Dutch biotech shifting operations from Gaithersburg to main Germantown campus.
A-3
1910236
principal, said. “She knew there was a possibility of this, but she was very surprised and had her tears,” Piotrowski said. “It’s just a great honor for her.” According to Judi Verrier, Archdiocese of Washington administrative assistant to the associate superintendent, teachers are nominated based upon their “teaching abilities, leadership abilities and mainly their service.” The Golden Apple Award is given annually to 10 Catholic school teachers from the archdiocese’s 96 schools, chosen by a committee of school leaders. Nominations were made by March 14, and winners formally announced Monday. Redmond
and the nine other recipients will receive a Golden Apple trophy, pin, certificate and a $5,000 cash prize. The entire school — about 230 students, from pre-K through eighth grade — attended the ceremony, as well as about 30 of Redmond’s former students, family and friends, Piotrowski said. “It’s a great honor and it also makes me feel like there is a great responsibility,” Redmond said about winning the award; Though grateful, she said she now feels a certain degree of pressure to “always be doing (her) best.” Redmond’s former student, 14-year-old Nathalie Chavez of
Gaithersburg, wrote Piotrowski an e-mail about her former teacher’s influence on her life. Piotrowski asked if Chavez wanted to nominate Redmond for the award and the rest is history. “When he told me about it I was obviously interested... I tried to write [the nomination] with all the sincerity of my heart, and I’m grateful she got the award, she so deserves it,” she said. Chavez is now a freshman at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, something she believes would not be possible without Redmond. “I wouldn’t have tried to get
SPORTS
FINDING MR. RIGHT ... TACKLE
See APPLE, Page A-12
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
At St. Martin of Tours School in Gaithersburg, former principal Sister Sharon Mihm hugs eighth-grade teacher Helene Redmond, winner of the Golden Apple award, at a ceremony the school held for her Monday.
SPECIAL SECTION
GAZETTE SENIORS
Whitman High graduate becomes a key part of Terps’ offensive line plans
Learn to maximize your retirement funds; how to avoid being pickpocketed when you travel; join a pickleball league; locals recount their epic adventures; are your old books valuable?
B-1
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Automotive Calendar Classified Community News Entertainment Celebrations Opinion School News Sports Please
B-15 A-2 B-11 A-3 B-5 A-15 A-16 A-14 B-1
RECYCLE