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The Gazette GAITHERSBURG | MONTGOMERY VILLAGE
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Gaithersburg plans trial quiet zone
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City might snuff out smoking outdoors
An Epic ride
Traffic control markers to be installed at railroad crossing
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Public hearing will be scheduled to discuss issue
Gaithersburg is trying out a new plan that could have train conductors blowing their horns less often at night. The city plans to conduct a trial run at using a median barrier to create a quiet zone near the train tracks where they intersect with Metropolitan Grove Road. Called channelization, the trial involves the placement of plastic traffic control stakes on the median of the road to keep vehicles from swerving around the warning gates, reducing the probability that the train engineer has to sound the horn. Tomasello said the test project will cost less than $1,000. The location was chosen because of its low traffic volume. If the median proves to make a difference, the city then could propose that the Federal Railroad Administration declare the area a quiet zone, meaning conductors should limit the use of train horns from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tomasello estimated that his office has received a “couple dozen” complaints from residents, all from members of the Parklands community saying that the train horns were waking them up at night. The neighborhood, which is partially complete, comprises about 400 residential units near Watkins Mill Road, between the CSX tracks and Interstate 270. At a meeting Monday night, the mayor
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
See QUIET, Page A-11
Middle schoolers to be measured by progress test n District using test until academic targets developed BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Middle school students’ performance will be tracked by the Measures of Academic Progress test as the county’s schools await data from new state assessments. Kimberly Statham — deputy superintendent of teaching, learning and programs for the school system — said in a presentation to the school board Monday that the school system eventually will develop academic targets based on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers. PARCC will be fully implemented in the school system next school year. “In the meantime, however, we need a high-quality instrument to assess the health of the school system,” she said. “We believe that that instrument is MAP.” The computer-based progress test that assesses math and reading performance already is in use in the school system. This year, however, will mark the first time the
See TEST, Page A-11
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Rock Rowland of Gaithersburg crosses the finish line after his 50-mile ride in the MoCo Epic Mountain Bike Festival on Sunday at South Germantown Recreational Park. The two-day event featured supported bike rides of varying lengths that took cyclists along trails throughout the county. The event was organized by the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 12 and Oct. 13, but was postponed due to rain.
Smokers could soon face tougher restrictions in Gaithersburg when choosing to light a cigarette or puff a cigar in outdoor areas of city-owned property. Michele Potter, director of Gaithersburg’s parks and recreation department, presented possible policy options at a City Council meeting Monday night that would put limitations on outdoor spaces where people can smoke when they are on city land. The ban would cover all tobacco products including chewing tobacco, and would potentially exempt city-owned residences like Wells-Robertson House. “The purpose in drafting such a policy honors the right for all employees and visitors to breathe cleaner air and to protect against the adverse effects of second-hand tobacco smoke or environmental tobacco smoke,” Potter said. Current city law only prohibits smoking indoors at city-owned facilities. If the city chooses to pursue the path to legislation, it will have to decide on either a total or partial smoking ban. A total ban would eliminate the right to smoke on all property owned or leased by the city, excluding rights of way. A partial ban would prohibit smoking within 50 feet of any entrance or exit including doors, windows, air ducts or other openings, and at all recreational amenities and facilities, like parks, swimming pools, common areas and city-sponsored functions and festivals. Potter said that while a total ban is clear and sends a positive health message, it excludes the preferences of smokers. Conversely, a partial ban manages to include smokers and protect children, but it
See SMOKING, Page A-11
Character Counts! changes in Gaithersburg Celebration will last throughout October
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BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
The city of Gaithersburg has been celebrating Character Counts! in October since 1996, but this year the program’s subcommittee has introduced a few changes in an effort to keep the community engaged and enthusiastic about the program. “It has been 17 years, so everyone looks forward to a little change in everything,” said Shanthi Srinivasachar, Character Counts! staff liaison. A national ethics program, the Character Counts! coalition has built its foundation upon the
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six pillars of character, which are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. On Saturday, volunteers from Wells-Robertson House will be at Lakeforest mall for its Mall-oween event from noon to 3 p.m., handing out Character Counts! candy bags, bookmarks and information. While the program will be nationally recognized Oct. 20-26, Gaithersburg will extend its celebration this year to stretch out over the entire month of October, Srinivasachar said. Thirteen Gaithersburg schools have already committed to participating. Essay and photo contest deadlines were also moved to the beginning of January, a change from mid-September in previous years,
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giving students several months to complete their submissions, instead of only a few weeks. The annual awards reception will be held in February 2014 to accommodate the new deadlines. “It’s always been a challenge for those schools to meet their deadlines right when they start school in September,” said Britta Monaco, a city staff member who presented the new information about the program to the City Council Sept. 16. Christie Meuer, a counselor and leader of the Character Counts! program at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg, said she supported contest deadline extensions. “I think it’s definitely a good
See CHARACTER, Page A-11
JEN AMBROSE
Reagan Ambrose puts her hand on the pillar of character at Rachel Carson Elementary School during a recent Character Counts! awards ceremony.
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