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Illusionist returns to BlackRock with entertaining bag of tricks. B-7
The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
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Md. 355 area ‘falling behind,’ study says Lack of spending power and high-income earners cited n
BY JENN
DAVIS
STAFF WRITER
Gaithersburg’s Frederick Avenue corridor’s largest weakness is its inability to attract residents with higher incomes and spending power, according to results of the recently completed capacity study. At a joint worksession with the City Council and the Planning Commission on Monday evening, Sage Policy Group of Baltimore presented
the highlights of its Frederick Avenue Corridor and Vicinity Development Capacity Study, which analyzed the stretch of Md. 355 that lies within city limits, focusing on the successes of businesses and residential developments. “It’s not necessarily from these numbers you see deep decline,” Sage Policy Group CEO Anirban Basu said. “But the corridor is falling behind. That’s what the data suggests.” Basu described Gaithersburg’s retail vacancy rate, which stands at 3.6 percent, as the “economic Achil-
See STUDY, Page A-15
Delaney says he’ll donate portion of salary to clinic n
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Area Muslims gather Tuesday outside Damascus to celebrate Eid al-Adha. As a fun way for the youngest children to learn about the holiday, youths such as Serina Alashi (left), 15, of Northwest High School encircle a Kaaba as they play a game similar to a cakewalk.
Contribution will be made to Mercy Health Clinic BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
ON MUSLIMS’ EID AL-ADHA HOLIDAY,
A celebration amid a campaign n
Some students, others stay home for festivities BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Around the same time they might have headed home after a day at school, some kids talked and played in a large Damascus basement amid a happy confusion of pizza, music and party dresses. Hebatallah Elradi, 15, a Clarksburg High School student, was among the younger participants at the home celebrating the Muslim holiday of Eid alAdha. “It’s just a good atmosphere,” Hebatallah said amid the buzz of the rev-
elry. “I look forward to these holidays a lot.” Tuesday marked one of two holidays at the center of the Equality for Eid Coalition’s ongoing mission. The coalition is leading a call for Montgomery County Public Schools to close when classes overlap with Muslim holidays. The coalition urged school system staff and students to stay home from school Tuesday and instead celebrate the holiday. Eid al-Adha marks the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The other holiday, Eid al-Fitr, celebrates the end of Ramadan, according to the coalition’s website. Students who miss school on the holidays currently receive an excused absense, but coalition leaders and
Rep. John Delaney (D-Dist. 6) is donating a cut of his congressional salary earned during the government shutdown to a clinic in Gaithersburg. The congressman, who was reported by The Gazette last July to be worth at least $51 million, will give a portion of his $174,000 annual congressional salary to Mercy Health Clinic, according to spokesman Will McDonald.
other local Muslims want students and staff to get the day off. The issue was discussed by the Montgomery County Board of Education in November 2012, when it opted not to close school on Muslim holidays after parents and community leaders requested it. School system staff reported at the time there was not a high absentee rate on the holiday in the past three years. School officials said that, based on case law, the school system needs a secular reason to close schools. Hebatallah said she attended a prayer service at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds in the morning and spent part of the afternoon celebrating with
“He [Delaney] felt it was the right thing to do, just given the overall dysfunction of Congress right now and the fact that the government is shut down,” McDonald said. “John and his wife were looking for a good, charitable group in the district that really helps Delaney people who are less fortunate.” The clinic, at 7 Metropolitan Court,
See DELANEY, Page A-14
Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
See CELEBRATION, Page A-14
Businesses differ on minimum wage increase Chamber: Many focused for now on effects of shutdown n
BY
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
RYAN MARSHALL
Samantha Finn, 5, of Gaithersburg learns to balance a plate with pantomime instruction from Mark Moohr of Frederick on Sunday as her mother, Beth, watches during Gaithersburg’s 22nd annual Oktoberfest at the Kentlands.
STAFF WRITER
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Deleia Pena checks bins of goods against orders Tuesday at Century Distributors in Rockville.
Proposals to increase the minimum wage at the county or state levels have some Montgomery County businesses worried about the effect the bill would have on their bottom line, while others support a raise in the wage. County Councilman Mark Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park has proposed a bill that would raise the county’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $11.50 an hour over three years. Similar bills have been proposed in Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C.
SPORTS
Leaders debate ideas for the future of the historic farmhouse, two barns and several other outbuildings in King Farm.
Bullis running back has the right moves on the field, but not so much on the dance floor.
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cal performances at the Old Farm, near the Kentlands Mansion. Main Street in the Kentlands featured live music, community groups, artists, crafters, a business expo, chalk artists, children’s craft activities and restaurants. — JENN DAVIS
See WAGE, Page A-15
NEWS
DOWN ON THE FARM
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persistent drizzle couldn’t keep 22,000 festival goers from taking part in Oktoberfest on Sunday at the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. From noon to 5 p.m., residents celebrated by checking out the wine terrace, beer garden, food vendors, and musi-
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