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The Gazette GERMANTOWN | POOLESVILLE | BOYDS

DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

25 cents

Poolesville educator in running for top teacher Gaithersburg, Rockville educators also finalists for award n

BY KIRSTEN PETERSEN SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE

Rockville residents Jacinta Valencia (front, right) and Cynthia Castellanos (left), both parents of students at Maryvale Elementary School in Rockville, were among those asking for more state funding for school construction during a rally organized by the Montgomery County Council of PTAs at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis on Thursday.

It’s usually not standard teaching practice for a middle school English teacher to be speechless, but Friday wasn’t a standard day for Jane Lindsay.

That’s when Lindsay, an eighth-grade English teacher at John Poole Middle School, learned that she is one of three finalists for the 2014-15 Montgomery County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award.

Lindsay, who has worked in the county school system for more than 20 years, said she had no idea she had been nominated for the Veteran Teacher Award and the educators who nominated her kept it a secret.

See TEACHER, Page A-10

School construction fight hits the road n

Parents, teachers, officials press for more money BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

Montgomery County’s fight for school construction funds took to Lawyers Mall in Annapolis on Thursday evening with a rally punctuated by some people wearing plastic yellow construction hats.

State lawmakers from the county, County Executive Isiah Leggett, Superintendent Joshua P. Starr and other county and school leaders joined about 200 parents, students and others

in the school system community. They rallied for a bill that would direct money toward aging and overcrowded buildings.

Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville, chairwoman of Montgomery’s House delegation, proposed a bill to establish the Supplemental Public School Construction Matching Fund Program. Under the bill, counties with a triple-A bond rating and school systems with at least 100,000 students would be eligible for a share of up to $20 million each year to fund a portion of school construction projects or project debt.

Leggett told the crowd that the county has done “virtually everything” it can do on the local level and needs more state resources to address

school construction needs.

“I know that we’re asking for something that is unique, but our challenge is unique,” he said.

“Our challenge is one that we’re growing at the seams.”

Del. Eric G. Luedtke (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville described problems he has experienced as a teacher at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring, including heating and air conditioning issues in his classroom and rain falling through the school’s ceiling.

“I’m tired of that,” he said. “Our kids deserve better.”

Del. Heather R. Mizeur, a gubernatorial can-

See CONSTRUCTION, Page A-10

MCPS OVERCROWDING BY THE NUMBERSSOURCE: MCPS WEBSITE n There are 202 schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools system, including Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring, five special schools and one charter school. The county school system website lists 132 elementary schools, 38 middle schools and 25 high schools.

Number of schools are over capacity by more than 50 students

64

n 54 elementary n 6 middle n 4 high schools

5

350

151,289

schools that serve students who fall in special categories have a total enrollment of 1,270 with a capacity of 920.

Number of students these five schools are over capacity.

‘Can I take my goat for a walk?’

Total students, making MCPS the largest school district in the state and the 17th largest in the U.S.

n

Council president holds out hope for school funding bill n

Rice: ‘Stranger things have happened’ BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

Despite fading hopes among state lawmakers for its passage, the president of the Montgomery County Council hasn’t given up on the idea of getting a bill that would provide more state money to ease crowding in the county’s schools.

“Stranger things have happened in Annapo-

lis,” Council President Craig L. Rice (D- Dist. 2) of Germantown said Monday.

Rice said he’s had several conversations with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) about school funding and asked Brown to take a more visible role on the issue.

Montgomery’s entire delegation to the General Assembly has backed legislation that would provide up to $20 million a year outside of the normal capital budget process for school systems with 100,000 or more students and a tripleA bond rating.

On March 6, Brown, who is seeking the

BY CHRISTOPHER NEELY SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

A call from Gaithersburg resident Stuart Helfman — about a dead deer in his backyard — was a routine service request for Montgomery County 311 operator Tamara Tyler. But the Jan. 24 conversation marked a milestone for the call center — its two millionth inquiry since it launched on June 17, 2010.

For MC311, the milestone serves as a positive measurement of the call center’s relevance in the

See FUNDING, Page A-10

See CALL, Page A-10

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW Five Montgomery County basketball teams advance to high school state semifinals.

1906261

County 311 call center helps get answers to residents’ questions

Democratic nomination for governor, sent a letter to the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee supporting the legislation.

Fellow gubernatorial candidates Douglas F. Gansler and Heather R. Mizeur (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park have also expressed support for Montgomery getting more money for school expansion.

Sen. Nancy King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village has introduced another bill that

SPORTS

B-1

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

John Poole Middle School eighth-grade English teacher Jane Lindsay works with students on Tuesday in Poolesville. Lindsay is a Montgomery County Public Schools Teacher of the Year finalist.

Automotive Business Calendar Celebrations Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

PEOPLE& PLACES More online at www.gazette.net

Cross-country trekker stops in Gaithersburg With a strong yearning to travel the country, Josh Seehorn began taking steps to turn his dream into reality — literally.

Since March 21, 2013, Seehorn, of Athens, Ga., has been hiking and running across the U.S. on the American Discovery Trail, a national trail stretching from coast to coast that traverses through small towns, cities, forest, mountains and desert.

Seehorn, 27, made his way into Montgomery County this month by winding down the C&O Canal towpath. He stopped in Gaithersburg to stay with a friend overnight.

He started his journey in Point Reyes, Calif., and plans to finish the 4,800-mile trip Saturday in Cape Henlopen, Del. “I wanted to see America, see the natural resources and how things change, meet people and to learn in a different way,” he said.

One of his key motivations is to raise awareness for the North American Envirothon, a natural resource competition for high school students. Seehorn has spoken about his travels and the organization to classes, civic groups and church congregations throughout the country.

Averaging 20 to 25 miles per day, Seehorn sometimes stays overnight at the homes of friends or acquaintances whom he meets at restaurants or bars. If he can’t arrange to sleep at someone’s home, he camps out.

Seehorn estimated that the trip has cost him about $12,000 to $15,000 so far, which includes food, gear, souvenirs, postage and other expenses.

The trip has not been without obstacles, Seehorn said. He experienced dehydration while

trekking through Nevada, forcing him to stop at an American Indian reservation. Snow and freezing temperatures also have made the journey more challenging.

While he has had to make sacrifices, such as not having a job for a year, Seehorn said he knew this was the right time in his life to make the trip.

“I have debts and I have things that I will need to pay, but I know that right now is when I have the time to do this,” he said. “It’s money lost but not time lost for me.”

To read about Seehorn’s journey, visit outdoorjosh.com.

Small-business seminars at Germantown Library Three small-business seminars will be presented this spring by mentors from SCORE DC at the Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd.

The seminars, which will run from 7 to 9 p.m., are as follows: • March 25: “Starting Your Business.”

• April 24: “Marketing your Business.”

• May 20: “Essentials of Recordkeeping and Accounting for Small Business.”

SCORE, formerly the Service Corps of Retired Executives, is a 50-year-old nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Registration is available at montgomerycountymd.gov/library, under Branches, then Calendar of Events. For more information, contact somkdsr@verizon.net.

Campus congrats The following upcounty residents were named to the dean’s list at Hood College in Frederick: Jaime Baker and Riley Wilson of Boyds,

EVENTS Nursery School Open House, 1011 a.m., Shaare Torah, 1409 Main St., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-869-9842.

LinkedIn I Workshop for Beginner Users, 1-2:30 p.m., Jewish Social

Service Agency, 200 Wood Hill Road, Rockville. Free. 301-610-8380.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Investigations in Difficult Environments: Strategies for Cost Effective Engagements, noon-2 p.m., Shulman

Rogers, 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac. Free. 301-945-9260.

Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Stedwick Com-

munity Center, 10401 Stedwick Road, Montgomery Village. gaithersburgfineartsassoc@gmail.com.

Relay For Life Team captain meet-

ing, 7-8 p.m., Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Curch St., Damascus. Free. 301-562-3612.

Mindfulness Meditation Class, 7:15-

SPORTS Check online this weekend for coverage of every high school state semifinal.

8:15 p.m., Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists, 16913 Germantown Road, Germantown. Donations accepted. 301-540-8091.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14 Potomac Native American Flute Festival, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Unitarian

Universalist Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville. $20$30. www.Potomacflutefestival.org.

Seniors in Action: St. Patrick’s Day Party, 6-8:30 p.m., North Creek

SAT

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the list.

Students on the list must be enrolled fulltime and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average.

FRIDAY

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SUNDAY, MARCH 16

Emerging Young Leaders Summit, 9

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

26

50th Annual Gem, Lapidary and Mineral Society of Montgomery County Jewelry, Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Montgom-

Olney Elementary School, 3401 Queen Mary Drive, Olney. 301-924-3126.

Walk M-83 Guided Tours, 12:30 p.m., 19001 Watkins Mill Road, Montgomery Village. Free. 240-581-0518.

Carnival featuring silent auction, raffles and games, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.,

Hospice Caring’s ’80s Style Quarter Auction, 2 p.m., Gaithersburg

Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Ave.,

lage, Rosborough Center Community Room, 201 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg.

Free. marywykes@aol.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 Mother’s Morning Out Childcare,

9:30 a.m.-noon, Faith Presbyterian Church, 17309 Old Baltimore Road, Olney. Free, limited space. wellwood15@ verizon.net.

Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350

CORRECTIONS A March 5 story incorrectly reported the effect of a proposed revision to the 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan. The proposed revised plan would reduce the amount of allowed impervious surface — not the amount of development — by about 50 percent.

A March 5 profile of Republican Christine Thron, who is running for delegate in District 15, omitted the name of Republican Ed Edmundson, who also has filed as a candidate in the race.

TOWN OF POOLESVILLE BOARD OF APPEALS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RECONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION 001-14

1890821

Alpine Dental $ 00 $ 00 49.

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& Cleaning Only Regular Cleaning New Patients Only Some Restrictions Apply.

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• Same Day Dentures Available • Different Styles to choose from • Payment Plan Available • Reline/Rebase/Repair *Some restrictions apply

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Pregnant?

You Have Options Caring Confidential Services

• Pregnancy Test & Counseling • Options Education • Pregnancy Assistance • Post Abortion Support Hablamos Español

SHADY GROVE PREGNANCY CENTER

301-963-6223

Suite 118 • 16220 S. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877

www.pregnancy-options.org Days, Evenings, Saturdays

1910811

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held on March 25, 2014 at 7:00 PM, Poolesville Town Hall, 19721 Beall Street, Poolesville, Maryland for the purpose of receiving testimony regarding the request to reconsider the decision made by the Board of Zoning Appeals in regarding to the grant of a Special Exception with conditions relating to the outside display and storage of items. The request for reconsideration was submitted by J.P. Property Investments, LLC for Poolesville Plaza Shopping Center located at 19610 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville, Maryland.

Copies of this application are available at Town Hall.

1910695

39

The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court

TUESDAY, MARCH 18 Quilts and the Underground Railroad, 7-9 p.m., Asbury Methodist Vil-

52

GAZETTE CONTACTS

10017 Locust Drive, Suite 210, Damascus. Free. sageyogadamascus@gmail. com.

Jazz by Dave Burns, 3:30 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. $23. 301-774-0022.

a.m.-2 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring.

Free. 301-774-0022.

38

NBCWashington.com

Community Yoga Class with Dorota Preysnar, noon-1:30 p.m., Sage Yoga,

MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET

59

Get complete, current weather information at

All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast, 8 a.m.noon, Laytonsville Volunteer Fire Department, 21400 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville. $8 for adults, $5 for ages 5-11. 240-304-1332.

a.m.-noon, Roberto Clemente Middle School, 18808 Waring Station Road, Germantown. Free. 301-8019335.

Washington/Gaithersburg Hilton, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg. $125.

301-502-8186.

Extreme Exhibit Makeover, 9

WeekendWeather

Gaithersburg. $20 at the door, $2 per additional paddle. 301-990-8903.

ery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. $6. jkostka@juno. com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

For more on your community, visit www.gazette.net

Zachary Davis and Brooke Wallace of Dickerson, and Brittany Gammell of Poolesville.

Also, Kristen Auxier-Gruner, Danielle Curtiss, Ingrid Gooch, Denisse Guitarra Yangua, William Haller, Vi Ho, Vy Ho, Jillian Kasner, Kierianne Lupari and Reem Zietoon, all of Germantown, made

Community Center, 20125 Arrowhead Road, Montgomery Village. $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. 240243-2367.

Critters for the Cure’s 10th Anniversary Gala, 6:30-10:30 p.m., North

A&E Sting and Simon stop by to raise money for the arts.

PHOTO FROM JOSH SEEHORN

Josh Seehorn of Georgia, who is traveling across the country on foot on the American Discovery Trail, runs along the Big Slackwater section of the C&O Canal in Maryland.

BestBet

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.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

GALLERY

(From left) Kennedy’s Zjhane West, Magruder’s Adjowa Pinkrah, Siteri Tale and Hope Randolph fight for the ball in the playoffs. Go to clicked.Gazette.net.

To Advertise Realtors & Agents

AND Rentals & For Sale by Owner Call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page A-3

LOCAL Rockville man charged in Germantown killing held without bail Police say Kelvin M. Parache killed James Allen Frazier, who owed him money n

BY

TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER

A Rockville man was gunned down the night of March 4 at a Germantown intersection by a man to whom he owed thousands of dollars, according to Montgomery County police.

Kelvin M. Parache, 29, of the 1700 block of Henry Road in Rockville, was charged with first-degree murder and a weapons offense in connection with the death.

On Friday, Montgomery County District Court Judge Eugene Wolfe ordered Parache held without bail. His attorney, Terrence M. McGann, did not dispute a recommendation that there be no bail.

The events leading up to the fatal shooting of James Allen Frazier, 21, of Rockville were laid out by police and witness accounts in charging documents.

According to the records, Frazier owed Parache $3,000 and had been avoiding him

out of fear he was going to get beaten up.

On the day of the shooting, Parache trailed Frazier around Montgomery County in a gray BMW. That night, Frazier stopped at a McDonald’s restaurant in Gaithersburg, where he took a Ride On bus to the 11800 block of Oxbridge Drive in Germantown, the scene of the shooting.

At about 10 p.m., Montgomery County police, responding to Frederick Road and Oxbridge Drive for a report of a shooting, found Frazier wounded and lying in the street.

A 911 caller reported hearing multiple gunshots and saw a man with a gun standing over Frazier, according to court records.

Frazier was shot in the back and died at a hospital that night.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death to be a homicide.

Detectives linked Parache to the crime by tracking his cellphone’s location, according to arrest records.

He was arrested Thursday afternoon in the BMW. When interviewed by police about the killing, Parache reportedly gave different ac-

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Police tape hangs from a tree at the corner of Oxbridge Drive and Md. 355 in Germantown near where James Allen Frazier, 21, of Rockville was shot and killed March 4. counts.

At first, he denied knowing the victim, according to police testimony in arrest records.

But when police said they recovered the gun from his girlfriend’s home in Silver Spring, Parache changed his story.

Parache then claimed that he and Frazier met up in Germantown the night of the shoot-

ing and that it was Frazier who produced a handgun.

The two got into a fight and Frazier got shot during the struggle, Parache told police.

In court March 5, Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Chase said Parache’s extensive criminal record and the fact he was due for sentencing in an unrelated case next week was reason

enough for the no-bail ruling.

“He’s a flight risk,” Chase said.

Court records show that Parache pleaded guilty for his role in a burglary at his brother’s ex-girlfriend’s parents’ home in August.

Roughly $800 cash and $100,000 worth of jewelry were taken, according to court re-

cords filed for that case. A search of Parache’s prior residence at 1100 Higgins Place turned up $50,000 in stolen jewelry and a loaded Ruger 9mm semiautomatic handgun.

He was released after posting $75,000 bail and was scheduled for sentencing Parache on March 13 for that case, court records show.

McGann said he was representing Parache in that case, as well.

Under a plea bargain, attorneys asked for a flat 12-year sentence that would have included the time he’d have to serve for violating probation on a 2009 assault conviction.

For the murder charge, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 4.

McGann declined to comment on the murder case.

“I don’t know enough about the facts of this case to make a comment,” he said. tarnold@gazette.net

County asks for money for local projects DRS consolidating in Germantown n

$3.5 million for Strathmore tops county’s wish list BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

Money to expand The Music Center at Strathmore and renovate the Strathmore Mansion is among the 31 local funding requests Montgomery County lawmakers have asked of the state.

Lawmakers annually ask the state to borrow money to help fund capital projects in their district. The requests are known as “bond bills.”

This year, state lawmakers from across the state have asked for about $40 million for projects in their districts.

“It’s tough,” Sen. Roger Manno said. “We’ve got about one-third of that [to work with].”

Only $15 million — $7.5 million

in each chamber — is expected to be given to local projects in the fiscal 2015 capital budget that Gov. Martin J. O’Malley (D) proposed.

Montgomery’s delegation has asked for a total of about $12.3 million. The requests range from $60,000 for a Metropolitan Ballet Theater relocation and expansion to $3.5 million for the project at Strathmore.

Also on the list are $2.5 million for a new Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Station and $200,000 to restore the historic Seneca Store in Poolesville.

Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring said the county does not lobby collectively for any projects.

Rather, each senator and each delegate generally pushes for the projects in the districts they represent.

Lawmakers spent all day Saturday and Monday morning listening to requests.

“It’s an open process and it’s a fair

Obituary Irene (Reni) Malloy (72) of North Potomac, Md., passed away peacefully on Feb. 21, 2014, while surrounded by family and friends at Casey House Hospice in Rockville, Md. Reni was predeceased by her husband of 38 years, Cyril I. Malloy, Jr., whom she met and fell in love with while he was stationed in her birth country of Germany. She was also predeceased by her brother Wolfgang Fiedler of Stuttgart, Germany, and her sister Ingrid

Fiedler of Stuttgart, Germany.

Reni spent her professional career serving the deaf community as an instructional assistant for Montgomery County Public Schools. She spent a large portion of her career at Rockville High School. Reni’s passions included spending time with her friends and family, watching her children and grandchildren at sporting events, dance recitals, and cheer competitions. She was a competitive bridge player, who played multiple days a week with her special friends, including Peter Gould.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory her son Marty, his wife Diane, granddaughters Haley and Sarah of Richmond, Va., her son Andy, his wife Meredith, granddaughters Mackenzie, Ryleigh, Delaney, and grandsons Tyler and Jack of Southlake, Texas. Reni will be remembered most by her sons as an incredible mother who was “all in” on everything they did. She taught them unconditional love. Her legacy will be massive, and her family is eternally grateful for her incredible spirit. For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Casey House, 6001 Muncaster Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20855, in lieu of flowers.

A celebration of her amazing life will take place at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854, on Saturday, Mar. 29, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow the service.

process,” Del. Craig J. Zucker said.

“Each organization gets to come to Annapolis and demonstrate the need for their project. It’s a great opportunity for the state to help invest in the community.”

Zucker (D-Dist. 14) of Brookeville said all of the Montgomery projects are connected to lawmakers making the requests, but the project at Strathmore is a priority for the county and “should be a priority for the state.” “I hope it gets the funding it needs to make the needed renovations,” he said.

Members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and House Appropriations Committee will pick which projects to recommend for funding during the next few weeks as they finalize the capital budget.

The budget then goes to the House and the Senate for votes. kalexander@gazette.net

n

Military contractor leases 178,000 square feet

BY SONNY GOLDREICH SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

DRS Technologies of Arlington, Va., which provides high-tech military systems, is leasing 133,140 square feet, occupying the entire 1 Milestone Center Court building in Germantown.

The owner, Matan Cos. of Frederick, bought the building last year as part of its $129 million acquisition of the 635,272-square-foot Milestone Business Center. The complex includes three Class A office buildings, one Class A flex building, and a developable 7.64acre parcel.

The business park is directly off Interstate 270 on Milestone Center Drive.

DRS is making a consolidation move, including its current manufacturing and engineering facilities at 700 Quince Orchard Road.

The 10-year DRS lease was announced at the same time as a space swap for JDS Uniphase of Milpitas, Calif., which signed a seven-year deal to occupy the top two floors of 20250 Century Blvd. at Matan’s 270 Corporate Center complex in Germantown.

DRT/Boeing vacated the 106,000-square-foot building in early 2013. JDS, which provides network services to the communications industry, is scheduled to move in in May after significant renovations to its space and the common areas of the building are complete.

Matan has owned the four-building, 450,000-square-foot complex since 2000 and recently restructured financing for the project. In addition to the renovation of all the common areas of 20250 Century Blvd., Matan plans $5 million more in capital improvements to the project during the next two years.

The JLL team of Peter Briskman, Mia Eglinton and Amanda Davis represented JDS in this transaction.

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THE GAZETTE

Page A-4

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

AROUND THE COUNTY

Schools’ athletic trainers work the sidelines n

BY

County considering a second year for the pilot program

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

Dr. Carter Mitchell said he was on the sideline of a high school football game this school year when a player was hit and fell to the ground.

Mitchell ran out on the field with Becky Taylor, a certified athletic trainer assigned to Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring as part of a pilot program that started this year at 11 Montgomery County public high schools.

“When I got out there, he couldn’t feel his legs or arms and couldn’t move his legs or arms,” said Mitchell, an orthopedic surgeon at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney who works closely with Taylor in the program.

For Mitchell — who attends some Sherwood games with Taylor — the incident highlights the importance of having trainers at school games.

“It’s having trained professionals on the sideline when they’re needed,” he said.

The program is serving as a test for the school system, which has never before had athletic trainers on staff, according to William Beattie, the school system’s director of systemwide athletics.

“We’re seriously considering the addition of athletic trainers,” Beattie said. “We wanted to see what it would look like.”

The program, which could continue for a second year, involves nine athletic trainers from three health care vendors, Beattie said.

The trainers — two of whom are assigned to a couple of schools — cover games and practices as much as possible for all of a school’s athletic teams.

Taylor, an athletic trainer from MedStar with 10 years of experience, said she works about 40 to 50 hours a week with Sherwood’s teams.

In the case of the injured football player, she said, she and Mitchell were able to stabilize his spine, check his vitals and place him on a backboard so he could be taken to a hospital.

Their efforts, along with those of an emergency medical technician at the game, made a difference, Taylor said.

“We had better access to care and it was quicker,” she said.

At each school, the trainer’s responsibilities include tending to injuries, monitoring athletes when they get a concussion, determining whether athletes are ready to return to play and some rehabilitation work, Beattie said.

He said he thinks athletic trainers are “important” for county schools to have, but added that the school system is working on a tight budget with many demands.

The school system reached out to vendors currently providing concussion baseline testing for student athletes to see if they also would

PHOTOS BY TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Becky Taylor, a certified athletic trainer with MedStar Sports Medicine, works Tuesday with students at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring.

provide athletic training services as part of a pilot, he said.

The vendors that agreed to are providing the trainers at no cost to the school system, he said.

Beattie said school system officials will soon meet with the vendors — which include the MedStar medical center, ATI Physical Therapy and Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland — to discuss the pilot program and which vendors might want to participate in a second year of the pilot program.

Beattie said the school system has taken measures other than athletic trainers to make sure students are safe when they take to the field or court.

In response to heightened concern about student-athlete safety around the country, Beattie said, the school system has “significantly adjusted” with added health and safety procedures, including concussion baseline testing for students.

Coaches are trained in several areas, including CPR, defibrillators,

concussions and proper hydration, he said.

Each school also has two stipend positions — a CPR and defibrillator trainer for coaches and a first aid assistant, he said.

Dan Harwood, head coach of the boys basketball team at Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Rockville, said he thinks the county school system is “behind the times” when it comes to having athletic trainers.

While he feels competent to address the needs of injured players, he said, it’s valuable to have a professional present devoted to treating injuries quickly.

“It’s always a concern, especially in the heat of the battle, if we do have any kind of serious injury,” he said.

Harwood said coaching is stressful enough.

“I would be willing to pay some of my stipend to have that trainer,” he said.

Taylor said she thinks trainers

bring sports medicine expertise and an eye for whether an injury is serious.

She has dealt with a variety of injuries this year, she said, including a fractured knee cap, elbow dislocations, ankle injuries and “tons of concussions.”

“I think it takes a lot of pressure off the coaches,” she said.

Mitchell said he thinks the county school system is catching up to others in the nation that have athletic trainers.

The trainers are “the first eyes and ears on the field,” he said, and are able to identify signs of a concussion that might not be as obvious as an injury such as a sprained ankle.

Students can find it easier to talk to the trainers rather than a coach, he said, because the trainer doesn’t determine playing time or status on a team.

Tom Hearn — who became an advocate for athletic safety after his son suffered a concussion while playing football at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda — said he thinks the pilot program is a step in the right direction but wants to see trainers at all 25 high schools in the county.

If the school system can’t provide athletic trainers, he said, it shouldn’t allow students to participate in contact sports that expose them to serious injuries.

He pointed to Fairfax County, Va., as a school district that decided to direct funds toward athletic trainers.

“These are ultimately choices that get made, budgetary choices that get made about keeping students safe,” he said. lpowers@gazette.net

Watkins Mill High students, staff to be tested for tuberculosis County health department to conduct screening March 25 n

BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

About 126 students and staff members at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg will be tested for tuberculosis following exposure to a person at the school with the disease.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services sent letters to both those who need to be tested and those

who don’t after its investigation of a confirmed tuberculosis case, said Cindy Edwards, a senior nurse administrator at the county health department.

“Everybody has the same information and hopefully it cuts down on the confusion,” she said.

Edwards said in early February that she didn’t anticipate the individual will have infected others at the school, emphasizing that a person must undergo “significant exposure” to catch the disease.

“Walking down the hallway doesn’t count,” she said.

Tuberculosis, a contagious bacterial disease, usually affects the lungs and also can affect the brain,

kidneys and spine, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact sheet sent to Watkins Mill parents.

School officials would not identify in early February the person with the disease at the school or say if the victim is a student or a staff member.

Watkins Mill has about 1,425 students and 175 staff members, according to county school system spokesman Dana Tofig.

The county health department will conduct free blood tests at the school for students and staff on March 25. Edwards said parents also have the option to get their student tested outside the school.

Those tested will get their results within 14 to 21 days, according to Kimberly Townsend, acting nurse administrator of the county health department’s tuberculosis control clinic.

Students and staff have to wait about eight to 10 weeks to be tested for tuberculosis, which has a long incubation period.

Townsend said the county health department selected individuals for testing based on exposure factors such as the amount of time they were near the individual on a day-to-day basis and whether it occurred in a closed space. lpowers@gazette.net

InBrief

Three Poolesvile teams place in design challenge Two teams from Poolesville High School won second-place awards at the annual AbilityOne Design Challenge competition held Feb. 27-28 in Arlington, Va. A third Poolesville High team received runner-up honors.

The school had the most teams in the top five of any school in the nationwide contest.

The annual contest encourages students to develop technologies that help people with disabilities work. It is sponsored by SourceAmerica, a national nonprofit that provides employment opportunities for nearly 125,000 people with significant disabilities.

The second-place winners were in these categories: • Best Engineering Design for the creation of the Nexus, created to give employees a more efficient way to produce O-rings used to waterproof electrical parts. The device not only enables employees to more independently, efficiently and accurately manufacture the O-rings, it allows them to work on six O-rings at once. Employees who previously weren’t able to perform this job at all can now assemble an O-ring quickly, independently and with precision, according to a school news release.

• Best Use of Assistive Technology for the Die Cast Guide created for employees with vision impairments. The guide helps them more independently and efficiently manufacture buffer pads used in floor cleaning and polishing machines.

This device converted a job previously designated for sighted workers to a job all employees can perform and, at the same time, helped reduce the amount of material used.

Poolesville’s runner-up team developed a multipurpose sealing device to help employees efficiently and accurately seal the tops of tea bag boxes with clear labels. By eliminating the need to peel and place the clear labels by hand, which was difficult or impossible for some workers, the device increased the accuracy and speed of employees already performing the job and opened the job to those who previously couldn’t do it at all.

The second-place teams each received $5,000 for their school, $2,500 for their coach and $2,500 for the team.

A team from Wethersfield (Conn.) High School placed first, winning Best Overall Design for its device called the Path. This assistive technology was created to allow employees with limited dexterity or no use of their hands to package metal chains used for military ID tags in small envelopes.

Last year, Poolesville High had two teams in the top five, and in 2012 one of its teams won first place.

Floreen seeks shovelers for recognition One good thing about this winter’s aboveaverage snowfall: It’s given Nancy M. Floreen a chance to revive her SAFE/Golden Shovel Awards program.

The Montgomery County councilwoman launched the program in 2003 to honor residents who helped shovel neighborhood sidewalks and driveways after storms. After a hiatus of three relatively snowless winters, Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park wants to again recognize those who pitch in. The award’s acronym stands for Sidewalks Are For Everyone.

“Our seniors, schoolchildren, people with disabilities and those who walk to work or use mass transit depend on snow-free sidewalks,” Floreen said in a news release. “This goes beyond convenience — it is a matter of public safety. I certainly hope that residents will nominate individuals for the Golden Shovel who put the Golden Rule to work.”

Nominations must be mailed or e-mailed

by March 31. Candidates who are honored will receive recognition at a County Council session in April.

Nomination forms are available at montgomerycountymd.gov/Floreen/Resources/ Files/2014goldenshovel.pdf and in The Gazette.

Nominations also can be mailed to Montgomery County Council, SAFE/Golden Shovel Award, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.

POLICE BLOTTER

Complete report at www.gazette.net The following is a summary of incidents in the Germantown area to which Montgomery County police responded recently. The words “arrested” and “charged” do not imply guilt. This information was provided by the county.

Commercial Burglary • 20000 block of Sweetgum Circle, Germantown, on Feb. 25 Residential Burglary • 25800 block of Ridge Road, Damascus, between Feb. 19 and 23. Forced entry, took property.

• 18100 block of Kitchen House Court, Germantown, on Feb. 25.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Schools are looking at personalized learning Six to test practices aimed at individual students n

BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

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For students, all the broccoli you could eat Rice, Leventhal call for healthier school food program n

BY CHRISTOPHER NEELY SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Students who buy lunch in Montgomery County should get all-you-can eat fruits and vegetables, under a new plan by two County Council members.

Montgomery County Council President Craig L. Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown and Vice President George L. Leventhal (D- At Large) of Takoma Park sent Superintendent Joshua P. Starr a letter on Monday, advocating for support of their Healthy Food Program for Students.

According to the letter, the council members have worked closely with the nonprofit organization Real Foods for Kids while drafting their MCPS Strategic Plan. The plan seeks to help students “make constructive and healthy decisions that promote hope, personal wellbeing, and social behavior.”

One recommendation in the

plan is offering unlimited fruits and vegetables for free to all students who purchase lunch.

Marla Caplon, director of the district’s Division of Food and Nutrition Services, said there is already a wellness policy in place within the school system.

Caplon said that at $1.25 per meal — what the school system charges — it would be “absolutely impossible” to offer unlimited fresh fruits and vegetables. All meals already include a fruit and vegetable option, Caplon said.

Other recommendations in the letter from Rice and Leventhal include: • Easier access to unlimited water other than numerous trips to the water fountain • Offering at least one meal per day that is “scratch-cooked food” or not typical “junk food” (pizza, chicken nuggets, hot dogs) • Removing from foods all chemicals listed “caution” or “avoid” by the Center for Science in the Public Interest • Setting an upper limit on sugars in foods based on recommendations by the American Heart Association

• Replacing items on vending and a la carte lists of foods with healthier choices • Providing transparency by having all items sold and served to children appear on monthly menus; send parents a list at the beginning of the school year of all a la carte items sold at the school.

Rice said he and Leventhal want to keep pushing the school system to provide healthier options.

He said that as they learn more about how food affects children, they want to do more to make sure schools provide the healthiest food.

Leventhal said menus often emphasize unhealthy options such as burgers or chicken fingers, while a la carte options often don’t provide healthy alternatives.

Leventhal told The Gazette at a November forum focusing on healthful foods in the school system that he thought the system is making a good effort, but the food quality in cafeterias has not been a “front-of-mind priority” for the school board or superintendent.

Caplon said that, other than

syrup, the cafeterias do not serve sugar in foods other than those already naturally containing sugar. She said the school system works with manufacturers to purchase foods with less additives; all of the system’s purchases are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

“We follow all of the guidelines that we are supposed to follow,” Caplon said. “Water is always available. We’ve increased scratch foods and have a facility being built that will enable us to prepare even more food from scratch.”

In reference to the request for more information about food choices, “You couldn’t ask for more transparency,” Caplon said, referring to the website where all a la carte and menu items are listed.

The council members’ plan is expected to be discussed during the joint Health and Human Services and Education committee meeting on March 20.

Staff writers Ryan Marshall and Lindsay Powers contributed to this report.

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Six county public schools soon will look to get personal.

As part of its efforts to help schools better reach underperforming students, the school system will form a group of six schools interested in developing instruction plans focused on the interests and strengths of individual students, according to Kimberly A. Statham, deputy superintendent of teaching, learning and programs.

Statham and others described the district’s “early work” regarding the personalized plans during a larger conversation on its Interventions Network for schools at the county school board’s Tuesday meeting.

Samantha B. Cohen, a doctoral resident in Statham’s office, told board members that the personalized teaching method aims to meet the needs of students at all performance levels in a class.

Cohen said the lesson plans should give students “the capacity to choose how they will demonstrate their learning.”

Another factor involves “real-time feedback,” she said, so teachers are consistently able to gauge how a student is performing and therefore adapt their instruction.

The school system plans to launch its first of multiple groups in the 2015-16 school year, Cohen said.

Schools have until the end of March to submit an application to be one of the first six schools, she said.

Cohen provided a few examples of personalized in-

struction in the school system.

Eric Vogel, a fifth-grade math teacher at Damascus Elementary School, uses videos of his lessons to provide direct instruction to his students, she said. The videos have freed him up to work closely with small groups during his class time and allow students to watch the lesson at their own speed.

“They literally would use the fast forward or rewind button as they were stuck or wanted to move forward,” Cohen said.

Three principals also discussed their experiences in personalized instruction.

Scott Curry, principal at Great Seneca Creek Elementary School in Germantown, said his teachers have used an online database of texts that allows teachers to track what and how much students read.

Edward Owusu, principal at Shady Grove Middle School in Gaithersburg, said that, while he sees technology as an important tool, he thinks teachers are a key factor when making lessons personal.

“I think it’s the relationships that really make it powerful in classes,” he said.

Superintendent Joshua P. Starr said personalized instruction incorporates analytics, technology and the teacher-student relationship.

“The technology is important, but it is in no way, shape or form more important than the teaching,” he said.

Board member Christopher S. Barclay (Dist. 4) of Takoma Park said he thinks the quality of instruction is the main focus and technology has a role in being able to improve it. The personalized lessons could help engage students by changing how a subject is conveyed to them, he said.

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lpowers@gazette.net 1905444

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THE GAZETTE

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Maryland dog bite bill nearing final approval Compromise survives preliminary vote in House n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

A compromise Maryland dog bite bill has cleared a hurdle in the House of Delegates.

Some lawmakers eager to see a new standard for liability on dog bites were concerned that the House might chip away at the compromise version that emerged from the Senate. However, the bill remained intact as it received preliminary House approval on Tuesday.

The House version is headed to a final vote as early as Thursday.

“As incomprehensible as it may seem, we will have finally repealed Solesky after all these years,” Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons said, referring to a court decision that lawmakers have been trying to address. “It looks as if its passage is assured on Thursday.”

Solesky is a 2012 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that declared pit bulls inherently dangerous. It also held landlords responsible for dog bites.

Since the ruling was issued, the General Assembly failed twice to find a compromise.

Simmons (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville and Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Chevy

Chase drafted a compromise bill that would provide more protection for victims of dog bites, while also replacing the Solesky ruling with breed neutrality and a lesser liability standard for landlords.

The Senate left the compromise largely as written.

Its only change was to hold owners of dogs liable for any injury or death caused by their dog while it runs at large. However, that would not apply to dogs that harm someone who trespasses on the owner’s property, commits or attempts to commit a criminal offense, or otherwise provokes the dog.

While Simmons previously expressed concern that the Senate’s change could open the door for even more amendments in his chamber, the House gave the bill preliminary approval Tuesday with no debate.

“We were able to fight them off in committee,” Simmons said. The House Judiciary Committee amended the bill to match the Senate version, he said.

Both chambers maintained the essence of the compromise establishing a “rebuttable presumption” — the owner knew the dog had vicious or dangerous tendencies — that could be refuted in court. kalexander@gazette.net

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

State, county races change after filing deadline Political parties had extra time to fill vacancies n

BY

GAZETTE STAFF

Feb. 25 was the filing deadline for federal, state and county candidates, but the primary ballots have changed since then.

Under Maryland election law, political parties can add candidates to races with vacancies. For example, if there were three open delegate seats in a district and only two people from a party had filed to run, the party had extra time to submit a third candidate.

The March 3 deadline to fill vacancies was extended to March 4 because of snow.

In addition, candidates who filed by Feb. 25 had until Feb. 27 to drop out of the race and have their names removed from the ballot.

Late changes in local races include the following: • In District 14. Olney resi-

dent Sharon Trexler Begosh was added to the delegate race on March 4. Begosh, a Republican, is a newcomer to politics.

She said she waited until the last minute to file because she thought there might be someone better qualified or with more experience. Democrat John Paul Evans of Gaithersburg withdrew from the race on Feb. 27.

• In District 16, the Republican Party added two late candidates for delegate — John Andrews and Lynda del Castillo.

They join a third Republican candidate, Rose Maria Li, in a race that also has eight Democrats.

• Republicans put forward two late candidates in District 19: Martha Schaerr, competing against six Democrats for delegate, and Felix Ed Gonzalez II, who will take on incumbent Sen. Roger Manno (D) in the general election.

• Steve Zellers, a Gaithersburg Republican, moved from the House to the Senate race

in District 17, which includes Gaithersburg and Rockville. He is the only Republican to file in either race in that district.

• Melodye Berry said she has dropped out of the House race in District 19. Berry said she was not getting as many donations as she hoped. She also figured she and Charlotte Crutchfield, another Democratic candidate, would be representing the same area and “splitting all the votes,” she said. Berry is asking her supporters to vote for Crutchfield instead.

• The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee nominated four candidates to fill out the party’s County Council ballot for the November elections.

Republicans Chris P. Fiotes Jr. of Gaithersburg and Adol T. Owen-Williams II of Potomac were nominated to run in at-large races. Jim Kirkland of Bethesda was nominated in District 1 and John O’Malley of Silver Spring in District 4.

They join Republicans

Shelly Skolnick of Silver Spring and Robert Dyer of Bethesda, who filed to run at-large races before the Feb. 25 deadline, and Republican Dick Jurgena, who filed in District 2.

Fiotes originally filed to run in District 2, but withdrew from that race and will instead seek an at-large seat.

Democrat Guled Kassim also filed to run in the District 3 council race on Feb. 25, after The Gazette’s deadline.

Even with the more candidates, there will be no Republican council primaries in June; GOP candidates will advance directly to the November general election.

Democrats will have primaries in each race, except District 4, where Councilwoman Nancy Navarro is unopposed.

Staff writers Elizabeth Waibel, Sarah Scully, Ryan Marshall, Terri Hogan and Andrew Schotz contributed to this report.

State considers retirement plan for private employees n

Proposal opposed by Maryland chamber

BY

KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER

As Maryland lawmakers debate how much to spend on pensions for teachers and state employee, they also are reviewing legislation to create a state-

run retirement plan for private employees whose employers do not offer one.

Maryland and other states are on the verge of a “retirement crisis,” Del. Tom Hucker (D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring said during a House Economic Matters Committee hearing last week. “It’s only going to get worse as more employers drop supplemental retirement plans

and as an increasing number of retirees strain overburdened social services.”

Establishing a state retirement program for private workers will allow Maryland to “get ahead of the curve,” said Hucker, who filed the bill.

About 50 percent of Maryland workers don’t have a retirement plan at work, and accounting firm Ernst & Young recently estimated that 59 percent of new middle class retirees will outlive retirement savings, he said.

Many employers have phased out traditional definedbenefit pension plans — which pay retirees a monthly benefit based on factors such as length of employment — in favor of defined contribution ones like 401(k) plans.

The percentage of employees with a defined-benefit plan dropped to 32 percent in 2010 from 88 percent in 1983, according to the Center for Retirement

Research at Boston College.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is among the opponents of the bill. The legislation would impose administrative burdens on employers that would be required to set up payroll reductions, enroll employees and collect forms from workers, said Deriece Pate Bennett, vice president of government affairs for the chamber.

“The administrative and financial burdens that this mandate will put on Maryland businesses will hurt our competitive advantage,” she said.

There are private options for savings vehicles for employees whose employers don’t offer a retirement plan, Bennett said.

There will not be any fiduciary responsibility to the state, Hucker said. While a state legislative analysis said there were no startup costs to the state, analysts cited some enforcement costs, including about $350,000 in fiscal 2017.

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County moves ahead on Glenmont, White Flint fire stations Projects in Cabin John, Clarksburg, Glen Echo, Kensington and Rockville delayed n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

Planning for new fire stations in Glenmont and White Flint will go ahead, while fire stations in several other Montgomery County communities will be delayed after a vote by the Montgomery County Council.

The council voted 9-0 during a work session Tuesday to approve recommendations by its Public Safety Committee to move forward with planning for the two projects included in the Capital Improvements Plan submitted in January

by County Executive Isiah Leggett, while agreeing with the committee’s recommendations to delay renovations to stations in Cabin John, Clarksburg, Glen Echo, Kensington and Rockville.

A plan to create a schedule for replacing equipment for the county’s fire department also was deferred until more information becomes available about the county’s operating budget, again following the committee’s recommendation.

The Glenmont project is budgeted for the $12.1 million in Leggett’s proposed capital plan, according to a county staff report.

It would build a 19,150-square-foot fire station across the street from the old one at Randolph Road and Georgia Avenue to make room for an improvement to the intersection.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in the fall, and the station is expected to open in early 2016.

Crews from the station will work out of the former site of the Wheaton Rescue Squad facility on Grandview Avenue while the new station is built.

Councilwoman Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) of Garrett Park wanted to make sure residents could use the Grandview Avenue site’s ballfields. Space at the site will be saved for that purpose, said David Dise, director of the county’s Department of General Services.

The White Flint project will build a five-bay station in an area that the county expects to grow rapidly in coming years.

The $27.8 million project is scheduled for land acquisition in fiscal 2015, planning in fiscal 2016 and construction in fiscal 2018-20.

The project also will include about 200 units of affordable housing for seniors, Dise said.

The council passed bills in 2013 requiring certain types of capital projects to examine the possibilities of including child care and affordable housing in their plans.

Dise said he thinks the project will be a model for the future in trying to combine affordable housing with county building projects.

The project wasn’t considered a good fit to include child care for a number of reasons, including that both a childcare facility and the fire station would need to be located on the ground floor, said Councilman Philip M. Andrews (DDist. 3) of Gaithersburg, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.

The council’s vote sustained a plan by the committee to postpone a final decision on the county executive’s plan to provide a schedule for replacement of fire department apparatus over the course of the six-year capital plan.

The committee supports the idea to provide the department with more certainty of when apparatus will be replaced, Andrews said.

But because the plan depends on money from the county’s ambulance fees, the committee wanted to postpone a decision until more informa-

County could add affordable housing, child care to capital projects This is the first year using assessments for affordable housing, child care in some projects n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

Should a day care be located in a fire station? Could affordable housing be built within a county library project?

This budget year is the first in which county staff will evaluate certain capital spending projects to look at their viability for including affordable housing and child care.

The changes stem from two 2013 council bills that took effect within the past year.

The affordable housing law requires the county’s Office of Management and Budget to look at factors such as the feasibility of including affordable housing units in Capital Improvements Program tion became available on what other projects the ambulance fees will be used for in the operating budget, which Leggett is scheduled to release on March 17.

While the Glenmont and White Flint projects will move forward, others will have to wait to get funded.

The Public Safety Committee agreed with the executive’s decision to defer funding for additions and renovations to the Cabin John fire station, except for providing $500,000 to upgrade women’s facilities at the station.

Funding also was deferred for a renovation and expansion of the Glen Echo station due to lack of funding in the capital plan.

The committee agreed to postpone a decision on funding for a new fire station in Clarksburg while the county searches for an appropriate site.

Clarksburg is served by an interim station housed in

projects such as libraries and firehouses, what impact a project would have on the supply of affordable housing in the area and what types of budget adjustments would have to be made to support it.

Including affordable housing won’t be feasible in all capital projects, said Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda, who sponsored the bill.

When the county was making plans for the new District 2 police station in downtown Bethesda, it was determined that the design of the structure and the needs of the police department meant the project wouldn’t be able to include any affordable housing units.

But Berliner said he represents an area with a lot of libraries, and many of them are older and will need renovation in coming years.

The county should look at which facilities could support affordable housing being included in the plans, he said.

The White Flint fire station, on which the county is expected to start construction around 2018, is planned

leased space, but both the present and projected population density in the area have led to the need for a new station, and the county had purchased land along Frederick Road for the new site, according to the staff report.

But concerns that arose during the council’s review of the Ten Mile Creek Limited Amendment to the Clarksburg Sector Plan about the station’s potential environmental impact led the council to request that

1910683

to be a 20-story building that will provide about 17 floors of affordable housing for seniors, Berliner said.

The child care bill, sponsored by Councilman Hans Riemer (D-At Large) of Takoma Park, requires the county to factor in the local availability of and demand for child care in the area where a project is to be built.

County staff must also look at the compatibility of including child care in the project and whether adding a child care facility will be suitable under the area’s zoning and land use plans.

While the Office of Management and Budget is responsible for preparing the assessments, they reach out to other departments such as Heath and Human Services, the Department of General Services and the Department of Transportation to provide information on the various projects and what elements should be included, said Blaise DeFazio, the office’s budget manager. rmarshall@gazette.net

Leggett look for another site to put the station outside of the Ten Mile Creek watershed.

Andrews said he expects to have results of the search for a new location by mid-April.

The committee’s plan also delays by one year an expansion project at Kensington’s station No. 25 and renovation to Rockville’s Station No. 3.

The Kensington project would more than double the space of the station, adding space for a battalion chief; in-

creased dormitory, living and storage areas, and building two more equipment bays.

The Rockville project is being mostly funded by the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, along with $500,000 of county funds.

The committee agreed to follow Leggett’s recommendation to shift the county funding back one year to fiscal 2016. rmarshall@gazette.net

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Senate set to vote on sex abuse loophole bill Silver Spring man Measure lacks controversial ‘age gap’ n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

A loophole that lets part-time school employees and coaches escape prosecution for sexual conduct with a minor could close without a controversial exemption for conduct between those close in age.

Maryland law criminalizes sexual contact between people who are considered to be in a “po-

sition of authority” and minors in their care. But the law is limited to full-time school employees including principals, vice principals, teachers and school counselors.

A 2012 case in Montgomery County illustrated the limit of the current law when a 47-yearold teacher and coach who was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old former student couldn’t be prosecuted because he was a part-time employee.

Maryland’s Senate advanced to a final vote Tuesday its version of a bill broadening the law to include part-time and contractual

employees as those subject to the law and close the loophole.

Sen. Jamie B. Raskin proposed the Senate bill, hoping to include all public and private school employees as well as volunteers and employees at sports and recreation facilities in its scope.

However, his bill included a controversial exception that came to be known as the “age gap” because it only criminalized conduct with minors at least seven years younger than the person in authority.

Raskin (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park said previously he in-

cluded an age gap because it was sticking point with lawmakers in the past. He said he personally favored no gap, even declaring the House’s action last week to remove the age gap “terrific.”

Like the House, the Senate removed the gap and will vote on its version of the bill as early as this week.

But the two chambers’ bills still differ slightly. For instance, the House bill includes volunteers and those who work at sports or recreational facilities in the definition of persons of authority, while the Senate’s does not.

Silver Spring man charged with killing a puppy n

Cop faces animal cruelty charge

BY KRISTA BRICK STAFF WRITER

A Silver Spring man arrested last week and charged with killing a 7-month-old Jack Russell terrier puppy is a Baltimore city police officer.

Alec Eugene Taylor, 27, of the 13800 block of Castle Boulevard in Silver Spring was arrested by the Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony offense, and abuse or neglect of an animal.

Taylor has worked for the Baltimore Police Department for five years, according to department spokesman Lt. J. Eric Kowalczyk.

The department is conducting an administrative investigation and Taylor has been

suspended without pay, Kowalczyk said in an email to The Gazette.

At about 11:10 a.m. Feb. 28, Montgomery County police and animal services officers were called to a Castle Boulevard home. Taylor’s girlfriend, who was not named in the police news release, said Taylor had beaten and killed their 7-month-old Jack Russell terrier Rocko.

According to police, at about 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 26, Taylor had texted his girlfriend, saying Rocko had defecated on the carpet and that he had killed the dog. Taylor also texted her a picture of what appeared to be a lifeless dog. In a follow-up phone call between the girlfriend and Taylor, Taylor said he was tired of cleaning up the dog’s feces and that he had beaten the dog with a mop, according to the girlfriend. He also said he had placed the dead puppy in a trash container in a parking lot.

Police said the girlfriend asked Taylor if he could remove Rocko from the container so she could bury him. She buried him that evening in a neighborhood park in Hyattsville.

Animal services officers found the buried puppy. A necropsy showed the likely immediate cause of death as acute hemorrhagic shock likely due to blood loss from liver damage caused by blunt force trauma shortly before death.

Taylor told officers that he used a mop to force Rocko from behind a clothes dryer and then strangled the puppy, police said.

Animal services officers obtained a warrant for Taylor’s arrest March 4. The next day, he turned himself in to police.

Taylor was released on $1,500 bond March 5, according to court records. As of Tuesday, no attorney was listed in the case in online court records..

Former high school teacher agrees to guilty plea in sex abuse case Teacher scheduled to go before a judge March 20

n

BY

TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER

A former Montgomery County social studies teacher has agreed to plead guilty to sexually abusing a former student, according to records filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Richard B. Shemer, 50, of Potomac is scheduled to make the plea before a judge on March 20,

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court documents show.

Shemer had taught at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington since 2010 and had worked for Montgomery County Public Schools since 2002, a school district spokesman told The Gazette in October.

Shemer is no longer employed by MCPS, spokesman Dana Tofig told The Gazette in an email.

Shemer was arrested Oct. 2, after a student’s mother discovered an email exchange between him and her daughter.

Shemer developed a “close

relationship” with the girl during the school year, according to court records. They communicated via email, with Shemer using both his school and personal email accounts to correspond with her. He asked the girl to send him a graphic photo.

He was released after posting $125,000 bond.

Shemer entered an initial plea of not guilty in November.

In court papers signed Jan. 23, Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy Hagan and Shemer’s attorney Barry Helfand said they reached a deal in which Shemer

would plead guilty to the charge of sexually abusing a minor.

As part of the deal, his attorneys are asking the court to cap Shemer’s prison sentence at five years, with five years supervised probation upon his release.

Shemer also would have to register as a sex offender and would be prohibited from unsupervised contact with minors, according to the agreement.

An attorney for Shemer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

admits abusing five siblings he lived with Prosecutor requesting sentence of 29 to 57 years in prison

n

BY

TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER

A Silver Spring man pleaded guilty March 5 to abusing a toddler and sexually abusing the child’s brother and sisters.

Adderli Jose Cruz-Rosario, 21, appeared in Montgomery County Circuit Court with his hair slicked back and his face unshaved. Through an interpreter, Cruz-Rosario responded “yes” when asked

by Judge Cheryl A. McCally if he entered the plea because he thought he was guilty of the crimes.

Those crimes, according to court testimony and court records, happened while he lived with the children and their mother in Silver Spring and in Gaithersburg. What he pleaded guilty to includes throwing a 19-month-old girl against a wall, punching the child and pinning the child’s arm down with weights because she was supposed to be sleeping.

Prior to Cruz-Rosario’s arrest, the girl was examined at Children’s National Medical Center, where a doctor found rib fractures and what appeared to be bite marks on the child’s face.

She was diagnosed as a “battered child” with “failure to thrive,” according to court testimony.

Child abuse-related charges were filed in April 2012, shortly after Cruz-Rosario was arrested.

His plea also included charges of sexually abusing the girl’s older sisters — sometimes as the rest of the family slept — and molesting

their brother.

Details of the sexual abuse were outlined in criminal charges filed in June 2012.

The older sisters — who were 7, 8 and 11 at the time of the abuse — described being forced to have sex with Cruz-Rosario. Their brother, who was 10, described being molested and being forced to watch adult videos, according to records filed in District Court.

Cruz-Rosario was eventually charged with a total of 55 criminal counts.

In court last week, he pleaded guilty to five criminal counts — one count of child abuse and four counts of sexual abuse. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, which means Cruz-Rosario could face a 125-year sentence.

But Jessica Hall, a prosecutor with the state’s attorney’s office, is asking for a 29- to 57-year sentence, what Maryland sentencing guidelines call for.

Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, said the plea agreement spares the child victims from having to relive the abuse.

“It’s important to hold the defendant accountable, but at the same time, it’s necessary for the children’s safety and well-being to reach an agreement, so that they don’t have to testify in court,” Korionoff said shortly after the court proceedings.

Cruz-Rosario’s attorney, Theresa Cheronsky of the public defender’s office, could ask for a lesser sentence.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 9. tarnold@gazette.net

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page A-9

Customers opting out of smart meters may be shocked by charges n

Utilities can charge upfront, monthly fees to customers BY

MARGIE HYSLOP

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Some Pepco customers are alarmed

by Maryland regulators’ decision to let utilities charge them extra fees totaling more than $200 in the first year for refusing to have a smart meter installed on their homes.

Pepco, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Delmarva Power and Light and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative are installing the digital meters, which transmit usage and other data through radio waves.

The Maryland Public Service Commission issued an order late February allowing those utilities to charge household and small commercial customers a one-time $75 fee, plus monthly fees, for opting not to have one of the “advanced” meters.

The meters have been controversial because of concerns over low-level radiation they emit, data security and privacy, and reports that some meter models have overheated and caused fires.

The service commission set monthly fees at $14 for Pepco custom-

ers, $11 for BGE customers and $17 for SMECO and DPL customers.

According to the commission, Pepco and DPL (both owned by Pepco Holdings) had proposed charging customers $58 per month, BGE had proposed charging $15 per month and SMECO had proposed charging $34.94 per month.

All four utilities had proposed an up-front fee of about $100 for refusing the smart meters, according to a commission announcement of the decision.

Opt-out customers are to be billed on the first billing cycle after July 1 and may pay the up-front $75 fee in three monthly installments.

Customers who opted not to have a smart meter installed while they waited for the commission’s decision, are to be notified of the decision within 60 days by their utility, according to the Feb. 26 order.

Utilities are allowed to bill those customers who don’t withdraw their temporary opt-out requests. The optout requests were first allowed by the commission under a May 2012 order.

Abbe Milstein of Rockville said she is worried that some customers who chose not to have a smart meter installed while awaiting the Public Service Commission’s decision will be billed without knowing that large fees have

RICK GIAMMARIA/PEPCO HOLDINGS

Under Maryland regulations, Pepco’s electric customers face an upfront cost and monthly fees if they opt not to have a smart meter installed on their home.

been attached, and that they “are not going to be able to afford it.”

The notification process has had glitches, noted Milstein, who founded the group Powerupmontco to push for more reliable electric service.

Last year, Pepco sent installers to replace some analog meters with smart meters without notifying those customers in advance by letter, as the commission had ordered.

Pepco officials said March 5 that the utility had not counted how many customers have withdrawn their optout requests since the commission announced the fees Feb. 26.

“It’s too early to have any official numbers as we are still working through how to handle the new process,” Pepco spokesman Bob Hainey wrote in an emailed response.

Pepco delivers electricity to about 540,000 customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and to 259,000 customers throughout Washington, D.C. From Montgomery Pepco has gotten 1,796 opt-out requests and from Prince George’s 439 and 99 percent of Pepco’s smart meter installation in the Maryland counties is complete, Hainey reported.

Utilities have said it costs more to maintain two billing systems and to continue sending people out to read meters. They also said some operational efficiencies are lost when customers don’t use smart meters.

The Public Service Commission order calls for utilities to track and report costs incurred by serving customers without smart meters so that the commission can review and adjust the charges if warranted. Since the order was issued, the Commission estimates that it has received several dozen phone calls, e-mails, and letters from consumers, some voicing opposition and some seeking more information about the order, spokeswoman Regina L. Davis said.

PSC Commissioner Harold D. Williams wrote a dissenting opinion in which he noted that Vermont did not let utilities charge opt-out fees. Actual costs should be assessed when they are known and considered in rate hearings, Williams wrote.

Other commissioners said their decision is similar those made in other states, including California, Florida and Illinois.

Smart meters have been touted for their ability to notify utilities of outages and for the potential to help customers track and manage their electricity use.

So far the meters’ automated features have helped Pepco restore service faster and reduced the need to dispatch restoration crews by 10 percent, Hainey said.

Legislation is being considered in the Maryland Senate and House that would prohibit utilities from charging fees based on a customer’s choice of a smart or analog meter and that would prohibit disclosing data to a third party without the customer’s written consent — except for billing and to support “customer choice — and would penalize utilities for violations.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 37 million smart meters had been installed in the United States by 2011.

Duncan: ‘Time for answers’ on transit center Leggett says county won’t make ‘politically expedient’ move into Silver Spring facility

n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

Calling it an “eyesore” in the midst of downtown Silver Spring, former Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is calling on the county government to provide answers on the stalled construction of the Silver Spring Transit Center project.

The facility was originally scheduled to open in 2011, but construction defects have led to delays and cost overruns that have made the $120 million project at the corner of Colesville Road and Wayne Avenue in downtown Silver Spring a sore point for county politicians and residents alike.

The public deserves answers about when the facility will open, a detailed plan to fix the problems and how much they will cost and whether the project will be safe when it does open, Duncan said Thursday at a press conference outside the fenced-off transit center site.

“It’s time for answers,” Duncan said.

Duncan is challenging County Executive Isiah Leggett and Councilman Philip M. Andrews (Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg in the Democratic primary for the office that Duncan held from 1994-2006. Republican Jim Shalleck of Montgomery Village is also running for executive.

The county has suffered from “paralysis by analysis” on the project, with a focus more on assessing blame for the project than fixing what’s wrong, Duncan said.

The county commissioned KCE Structural Engineers of Washington, D.C., to conduct an analysis that found serious flaws with the project, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said.

“The detailed plan is the KCE report,” Lacefield said.

He said the county has moved forward on the project with due diligence, and won’t open it until

the problems are fixed.

“We understand that people want it open, and nobody wants it open more than we do,” Lacefield said.

Crews are waiting for warmer weather so they can apply a concrete overlay designed to fix varying concrete thickness and cracking in the structure.

The latex-modified concrete used in the overlay requires temperatures consistently above 40 degrees before it can be applied.

The transit center issue also came up during a forum of the county executive candidates held by the Montgomery County Renters Alliance on March 5.

Leggett said that he would open the center when he’s satisfied that it’s safe, and wouldn’t

make a “politically expedient” decision on the issue.

Leggett campaign manager Scott Goldberg echoed that message Thursday, saying Leggett would open the center once it’s been completed properly, whether that’s before the election or after.

Other candidates criticized the execution of the project, with Andrews calling it the “biggest fiasco in the county’s building history,” a line similar to one he used in a November council discussion of the project.

The county has to figure out what went wrong with the project and make sure it doesn’t happen again, he said.

Shalleck called for a federal grand jury investigation into the

project to determine what went wrong.

David Dise, head of the county’s Department of General Services, said recently that there was no fixed date for the structure to be opened, and he expects to update the council on its status in early April.

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda, the chairman of the council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment Committee, said on March 5 that the center should be ready sometime in the summer or early fall. rmarshall@gazette.net

Obituary JACKSON, Dale Hiett,

81, of Glen Allen VA, passed away quietly on Feb. 27, 2014. His parents, Raymond Clark Jackson and Lillie Pauline Hiett, preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife, Nancy Britton Jackson, and children, Brenda Jackson, Laura Jackson (Mark Clague), John Jackson (Carrianne Damaso), and their 5 children: Sophia, Alex, Nate, Ben and Jacob. His only brother is Donald Jackson, who resides in Ohio with his wife Gayle.

Dale graduated from Gaithersburg High School and the Univ. of MD and received his PhD in Electrical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. He served 2 years in the USAF as 1st Lieutenant and afterwards worked for GE in Salem on controls for steel mills and at Cape Canaveral on the guidance system for the Polaris missile. At Harris Graphics & Goss International he worked on design controls for high-speed printing presses. He was awarded over a dozen patents for his engineering inventions.

Obituary

David Alan Mainhart, 58 Gaithersburg, MD, passed away his home. Born Sept. 14, 1955 Bethesda, MD. He was the son Charles and Elizabeth Mainhart.

of in in of

He is survived by his wife Laura Lee Mainhart, his son, Erik David Mainhart, and daughter, Leann Casey Mainhart.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects at the Mainhart Family home, between 10am and 8pm on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

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DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Montgomery County executive candidate Douglas Duncan (center) talks to NOAA employees Bala Vadlamani (left) and Betty Mutagwanya. Vadlamani and Mutagwanya have worked in the NOAA building for years and have seen many of the Silver Spring buildings go up, including the transit center, which they have watched from their office window for seven years.

THE GAZETTE

Page A-10

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

CALL

Continued from Page A-1

KEVIN SCHRAMM

This contingent of Poolesville parents and students were among those from Montgomery County who rallied Thursday in Annapolis for more state school construction money.

CONSTRUCTION

Continued from Page A-1 didate, said the push for more school money from the state is a three-county effort that also includes Prince George’s and Baltimore counties.

People are moving to Montgomery County because of its school system, said Mizeur (DDist. 20) of Takoma Park.

“We deserve to have the classrooms that tell these children that we’re investing in them, that we believe in them, that we support them in their future,” she said.

Starr told the crowd that the leaders needed them to “keep up the fight.”

“We need you. We need every single one of you and all of your friends and all of your neighbors to make sure they have the buildings that they deserve,” he said.

While the rally was full of enthusiasm, county lawmakers

FUNDING

Continued from Page A-1 would qualify school systems with three consecutive years of enrollment growth of more than 150 percent of the statewide average for a state matching grant for school construction projects.

Rice was among the Montgomery officials who testified at a March 6 hearing in Annapolis on the county’s need for more funding.

County Executive Isiah

TEACHER

Continued from Page A-1 “It was one of the rare times in my life when I was completely surprised, completely floored and completely speechless,” Lindsay said. “It was wonderful.”

Charlotte Boucher, principal of the Poolesville school, said Lindsay has “tremendous strength as a leader” and deserves this recognition.

“She’s one of the all-time

have expressed doubt that the bill will pass this year.

Kaiser said in a previous interview with The Gazette that she and other county legislators were “not necessarily expecting it to pass.”

“We are realistic in the ways of the world,” Kaiser said.

“Sometimes, you have to take more than a year to make your case on the need for a bill.”

Parents who attended the rally said they were encouraged by the speakers. But some also said they were prepared to continue fighting for money if the bill doesn’t pass.

Charisse Tang, who attended the rally with her family, said four of her five children attend Diamond Elementary School in Gaithersburg. She said the school needs an addition to the overcrowded building to accommodate its students.

“We worked really hard to drive our five children over here on a school night with [Mary-

land School Assessment] testing immediately the next morning because we’re desperate for funding,” Tang said.

Janette Gilman, president of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, said many state legislators “don’t get” Montgomery’s capacity issues, but people from the school system are ready to return to Annapolis if need be.

“I think people know they’ve got to come back if we don’t get it this year,” she said. “It’s not going away and more kids will be coming.”

State Superintendent of Schools Lillian M. Lowery — who did not attend the rally — said she thinks Montgomery County’s presence in Annapolis on Thursday could make a difference for the bill.

“I do think a loud voice and a show of force is going to be important in whether or not it does [pass],” she said.

Leggett (D) also testified and has joined the county executives from Prince George’s and Baltimore counties to call for more funding to relieve overcrowding in schools in some of the state’s largest counties.

Rice said much of the opposition to the plan seems to be coming from rural jurisdictions who want their own needs addressed before the larger counties get more money.

It’s “unfortunate” that some jurisdictions see Montgomery’s needs as competing

with those of rural jurisdictions, Rice said.

Montgomery, Baltimore and Prince George’s came up with a plan to address their needs, and rural areas are welcome do the same, he said.

According to county officials, Montgomery’s schools grow by about 2,000 students a year. By 2019, the county projects enrollment will have increased by 25,000 students in 12 years.

best teachers I have ever worked with,” Boucher said. “She has energy and focus and intense content knowledge and empathy for children that is not paralleled. We are all proud of her.”

Lindsay has even been known to travel to Baltimore to see one of her students participate in the Maryland Geography Bee, Boucher said.

“I think the entire staff was delighted to see this recognition and the only possible exception was Mrs. Lindsay herself,” Boucher said. “She is self-effac-

ing and she is ready to honor someone else before stepping up herself.”

Lindsay said the Veteran Teacher Award should not belong to one person but rather the entire school community.

“I am so deeply honored to receive this award and I feel very strongly that the award belongs to John Poole Middle School as a whole,” Lindsay said. “Without a supportive administration, a clean, safe building and a group of educators here who are all working for the good of the kids,

lpowers@gazette.net

rmarshall@gazette.net

Montgomery County community. “[MC311] began as a call center consolidation effort by the county,” MC311 Director Leslie Hamm said. “They wanted to take all of the smaller customer service hotlines in the county’s bigger departments and bring them together.”

The call center, with 43 customer service representatives, takes calls for all 37 of the county’s departments. That adds up to an average of 40,000 to 50,0000 calls a month from Montgomery County residents.

Allen Mitchell, a customer service representative for nearly three years, said the type of calls usually depend on the time of day.

“In the morning, I mostly get Ride On calls for buses,” Mitchell said. “As the day goes on, we get a lot of permitting service calls and a lot of health and human services calls, like questions regarding food stamps.”

Mitchell, who works from 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., said he gets about 70 calls per day, which is about average for most customer service reps.

In special circumstances, such as the chain of snowstorms that recently hit the Montgomery area, the call volume increases. Mitchell said he always is prepared to stay later.

During a snowstorm in early February, “I volunteered to stay overnight ...,” Mitchell said.

“It was the first time I did that since the derecho storm in 2012. I always have a blanket and a change of clothes in my car, just in case anything happens.”

Even with all of the training for common inquiries and the help of a state-of-the-art database, customer service reps sometimes field calls they aren’t necessarily prepared to answer.

“There was this one guy who wanted to go out and walk his goat,” Mitchell said. “So he called and asked if it was legal for citizens to own a goat in the county.”

Mitchell said one of the joys of the job is learning about the county, its government and how all of the departments work. He found the answer with relative ease.

“It is actually legal for someone to have a goat in Montgomery County,” he said. “Just as long as they are not making a profit off it, like giving kids rides or selling its milk, it is legal to own a goat.”

Cornelius Lungociu, a customer service rep since the launch, will never forget one call he received when he started.

“I had one person call to tell me that workers who were excavating a piece of land near his house were releasing ghosts from the ground and felt the county government should do something about it,” he said.

“I first asked if it was a cemetery,” Lungociu continued. “But the caller said no, it was just a lot.”

Uncertain how to respond, Lungociu told the concerned caller that he would see what he could do, but if the workers had permits, it was not likely they were doing anything wrong.

Customer service rep Uriel Guadamuz of Silver Spring said he has received some out-ofthe-ordinary calls.

“During Hurricane Irene, someone called at 3 a.m. to see if it was safe to go out for a jog,” Guadamuz said. “I told him of course not, and I don’t think I could be as strong of a teacher.”

The other finalists are Kathryn Hageman, a fifth-grade teacher at Diamond Elementary School in Gaithersburg, and Aaron Shin, an eighth-grade U.S. history teacher at Parkland Middle School in Rockville.

Hageman, Lindsay and Shin are all recipients of the Veteran Teacher Award, a recognition from the Marian Greenblatt Education Fund for Montgomery County educators with five or more years of teaching experi-

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that county officials did not say the storm had passed yet. So I advised him to stay inside until the storm was officially over.”

He said he once received a call from someone who just wanted to know what time it was.

“The job is always changing,” Guadamuz said. “You never know for sure what you will get on any given day.”

MC311 boasts that almost all calls are answered by a live representative within 20 seconds. A customer service rep who cannot answer a question transfers the call to a person or office that can.

A recent report by the county’s Office of Legislative Oversight showed that MC311 is as efficient in helping Spanish-speaking callers as it is with those who speak English.

All calls are recorded and stored in a database that is easily accessible by the county’s departments. The stored data lets county officials see where calls are coming from and why.

MC311 handles calls for: • Department of Transportation’s Highway Services and Transit Information.

• Department of Health and Human Services.

• Department of Permitting Services.

• Department of Finance.

• Department of Environmental Protection’s Solid Waste Services.

• The Office of the County Executive’s information line.

ence. Recipients of the Veteran Teacher Award receive a prize of $1,000 and are then considered for the Teacher of the Year award.

The winner of the award will be chosen by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education, a nonprofit that brings together business leaders and educators to find solutions to leadership challenges and prepare students for careers.

The winner will be named during the Champions for Children Awards Celebration on April 29 at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown.

The Greenblatt fund,

Call 301-670-7106

CHAIRMAN OF THE MD BANKRUPTCY BAR ASSOCIATION 1998-1999

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Cornelius Lungociu takes a call at the Montgomery County 311 call center in Rockville.

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which selects the finalists for the Teacher of the Year award, recognizes educators whose achievements continue the legacy of Marian Greenblatt, a member of the county board of education from 1976 to 1984 who worked to improve academic standards for students.

Marshal Greenblatt, the president and founder of the Veteran Teacher Award, said that the fund recognizes teachers because of their impact in the classroom and beyond.

“We like to honor excellent teachers because they make the fabric of our community,” Greenblatt said.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page A-11

BUSINESS

Fate of Woods tournament in members’ hands BizBriefs n

Have a new business in Montgomery County? Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/ newbusinessform

Montgomery officials hope PGA event continues in county BY

KEVIN JAMES SHAY

Home cleaning service franchise opens

STAFF WRITER

The AT&T National golf tournament has helped pump millions of dollars into local hotels, restaurants and shops since the annual event began at Bethesda’s Congressional Country Club in 2007.

But some members of the 90-yearold private club — whose past members have included Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford and business tycoons John D. Rockefeller and William Randolph Hearst — are not sold on the tournament. They have not appreciated that it cuts into their playing time and use of other facilities, such as swimming pools and a tennis club, for several weeks each summer.

Members pay $100,000 or more in initiation fees alone.

As the tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, is in the last year of its contract at Congressional, members are voting through March 31 on a compromise proposal: The event could be played there in 2016, 2018 and 2020 and move to an unspecified venue in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Montgomery County officials hope the event can continue at Congressional and perhaps another local course in alternate years.

“We made it clear that we want to continue to do this tournament,” said Steven A. Silverman, director of the county’s Department of Economic Development. “But, ultimately, the membership will decide if they want to continue doing it.”

The Tiger Woods Foundation “worked with the board and membership at Congressional Country Club to find a contract extension that works best for the club,” Gregory McLaughlin, foundation president and CEO, said in a statement. “If they approve the current proposal, we are evaluating a variety of local and regional alternatives for the other years.”

One other Montgomery possibility is TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Silverman said. The course, formerly called TPC Avenel, was a regular stop on the PGA Tour for more than a decade and last hosted the Booz Allen Classic in

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Tim Floyd has opened Molly Maid of North Rockville, a franchise of a national residential cleaning service.

The business is at 19638 Club House Road, Suite 215, Montgomery Village. Its phone number is 301-944-5650. The website is mollymaid.com/ local-house-cleaning/md/ north-rockville.aspx.

Therapist opens counseling practice in Rockville

2013 FILE PHOTO

Spectators line the ropes near the first tee at last year’s AT&T National Golf Tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.

2006.

The Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia is another possibility for Woods’ tournament. The AT&T National moved there in 2010 and 2011 while Congressional prepared for and hosted the 2011 U.S. Open.

Kelly Groff, president and CEO of the Conference and Visitors Bureau of Montgomery County, said she could live with having the event in alternate years.

But a decision would be helpful as early as possible, she said.

“Advanced notice can really help us in promoting the event,” Groff said.

Joanne Rashbaum — who has volunteered during the golf tournament since it started at Congressional in 2007, except for the years the event was at Aronimink — said she hoped the event could remain in the area. “I plan to volunteer again this year.”

Quicken Loans next title sponsor?

Quicken Loans of Detroit could

become the next title sponsor of the tournament, according to an Associated Press report. The company is title sponsor of NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Michigan and Phoenix this year.

Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, is the chairman and founder of Quicken Loans, the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender. Last year, the company closed a record $80 billion worth of home loans, up from about $70 billion in 2012 and $30 billion in 2011.

AT&T of Dallas did not plan to renew its title sponsorship of the Congressional tournament after its contract ends this year, according to the AP report.

Mark Siegel, an AT&T spokesman, declined to comment on the sponsorship.

Emily Taylor, a spokeswoman for Woods’ foundation, said the organization had “nothing to announce” yet about a potential new title sponsor.

This year’s tournament is slated for June 23-29.

Woods won the event in 2009 and

2012. Last year, Woods pulled out due to an injury, and former Wake Forest All-American Bill Haas won the tournament.

The 2009 event saw its highest weeklong attendance, with about 194,000 spectators, and generated an estimated $29.1 million in direct and indirect spending in the county, according to a study commissioned by the county’s economic development department.

McLaughlin is in the process of leaving after 14 years of leading the foundation to take an executive position with the PGA Tour. A national search is underway for a new CEO, and McLaughlin is assisting with the transition, Taylor said.

“I’ve been close with Tiger and his family for more than 20 years,” McLaughlin said. “Although I will remain involved with the Tiger Woods Foundation, I am looking forward to joining the PGA Tour and expanding on my 25 years in golf.” kshay@gazette.net

Amy Craig-Van Grack, a licensed clinical social worker, has opened a new psychotherapy practice in Rockville — Best Practice Counseling & Consulting.

The practice promotes “growth, healing, and personal excellence by providing effective psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, children, and families,” according to a statement from Craig-Van Grack.

The practice is at 1680 E. Gude Drive, Suite 112, Rockville.

It is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. It accepts Medicaid and some other insurance.

The phone number is 240483-3873. The website is amycraigvangrack.com.

Potbelly opens Germantown location Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened Feb. 18 in Germantown.

The new restaurant is at 20940 Frederick Road. Its phone number is 240-499-7850. Potbelly is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

THE GAZETTE

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

SCHOOL LIFE Mock trial lets students learn government, law and self-confidence Young advocates sharpen skills by arguing both sides

n

BY

PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER

The verdict: The mock trial competition has no losers.

High school students learn to look at both sides of an issue, make coherent arguments, show respect for each other and learn about the law, said Daniel Evans, one of Montgomery County’s most successful mock trial coaches.

“I think it also goes over into other [academic] areas,” Evans said.

In mock trial, students argue legal cases using authentic courtroom procedure, trying to win on the professionalism of their presentations and knowledge of relevant points of law.

Evans has coached for 25 years. He was assigned the job when he was hired at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, he said.

“I got into the activity and really got immersed in it,” he said.

Early in his career, Evans worked with Rockville lawyer Ben Vaughan, who volunteers with the Richard Montgomery team each season as they begin to study the case they will argue.

Since then, Evans said, his teams have won 16 county championships and the state competition twice.

Twenty-two teams from public and

private schools in Montgomery County participate in mock trial. Each school fields two teams of six people: three lawyers and three witnesses for each side, prosecution and defense.

Teams compete four times during the trial season, which runs January through March. Twice, they argue as the prosecution; twice for the defense.

They use the same case all season.

In the hypothetical 2014 case — plaintiff Chris Williams v. defendants Swathmore Pavilion Inc., et al. — Williams is asking for “relief” because of a permanent physical injury she suffered at the hand of security guards during a concert at Swathmore Pavilion. The case was created for the Citizenship Law Related Education Program, which administers the mock trial program.

The top 12 winning schools at the end of the regular season enter the county tournament, which eventually determines a championship team to compete in the state finals.

The Montgomery County champion will be determined Tuesday.

“The great part of this program is it mimics real life for the kids,” Scott Zanni, a teacher at Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Rockville and mock trial coordinator for Montgomery County.

“It’s as realistic as possible without being a real trial.”

Team members have the same role throughout the trial season.

Tahira Ismail, 16, a junior at Quince

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Richard Montgomery High’s Nathan Poland (standing) presents evidence to an “expert witness” during a mock trial Thursday against Quince Orchard High School.

Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, plays a character named Ryan Dempsey, a witness for the defense. Her team countered the prosecution put on by students from Richard Montgomery in the opening round of this year’s tournament Thursday at the Montgomery County Judicial Center in Rockville.

Four trials took place that night, all presided over by lawyers volunteering to judge the presentations.

Tahira said she started rehearsing

for her role in early January, reading the case and trying to pull out information she needed to know to be a believable witness.

“It’s really fun to get the experience of being in a mock courtroom,” she said, “The judges are real lawyers and they give you good feedback.”

E. Joseph Fitzpatrick, a lawyer with offices in Gaithersburg, presided over the Richard Montgomery/Quince Orchard mock trial.

Students can receive up to five points apiece from the presiding “judge” for their performance as witnesses and lawyers and up to five points for questioning witnesses and cross examination.

Teams also get scored on their opening and closing arguments and courtroom decorum.

Richard Montgomery won Thursday’s match, 52-49, to advance to the quarterfinals.

At the end of the trial, Fitzpatrick offered tips for future success to the students.

A few were points of courtroom etiquette, such as standing when speaking. He also reminded the students to make eye contact with the judge and witnesses during their presentations and to speak from memory rather than read what they prepared.

“Its about storytelling,” he said. “A true story, but, as a lawyer, you are telling a story to people who don’t know it.

Speak from your heart.”

Quince Orchard coach Karen Jones, who has been with mock trial for five years, said in an email that mock trial helps students improve their communication skills and build confidence.

“I think it is an amazing experience for the kids,” she said. “...The poise and maturity these kids show at the trials always amazes me.” pmcewan@gazette.net

EDUCATION NOTEBOOK Fair features young scientists’ knowledge One hundred students with 75 projects showcased their scientific experiments at the annual science fair on Feb. 21 at Rosemont Elementary School in Gaithersburg.

Career scientists from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, plus science teacher and even Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz and City Councilman Michael Sesma, himself a neuroscientist at NIH, visited the fair as “con-

sultants,” interacting with the students and providing feedback on their exhibits.

Many of them were recruited by David White, the fair’s coordinator and a scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

White puts in time with the students before the fair, getting to the school as often as he can to help the students with ideas for their projects.

“There is no question that this kind of event is extremely valuable to the kids,” White wrote in an email. “This is the first opportunity for many, if not all, of the students to par-

ticipate in an exercise where they have a chance to formally explore a topic or question critically and to answer it using the scientific method.”

Second-grade twins Neve and Brenden Norris, 7, both entered experiments in the fair.

“It was fun,” Neve said. “I did electrophorus,” which is a way to create an electrostatic charge.

“I learned that if you are sitting on wood, you don’t get a shock,” she said. “My friend was sitting on a wood chair and she didn’t get a shock. I was standing up and I did.”

Brenden was not available to

speak about his experiment but Neve said her brother “tried to make a magnet with a battery.”

It worked, she said.

Their mother, PTA board member Gail Norris, said the PTA sponsors the fair each year, helped by a grant from New England Biolabs, which enables the PTA to purchase display boards for all the entrants so student participation is not limited by financial concerns. The PTA also offers an after-school science program with help from the grant. This year it is offering an eight-week program called Big Learning Science and Engineering.

MARGARITA SERRANO

First-grader Andrew Smith (left) looks on as fifth-grader Logan Chancey explains his science project, “Which Fruit Makes the Best Fruit Battery,” at a science fair Feb. 21 at Rosemont Elementary School in Gaithersburg.

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS Little Bennett Elementary School

CLARKSBURG

n Each week, The Gazette will feature a county school by the numbers, giving a glimpse at how local schools are dealing with overcrowded conditions.

Number of students:

986

Current student capacity:

Number of students over capacity:

Percent over capacity:

673 313 46.5 23.4 25.9 27.5

Number of school’s portable classrooms:

(Kindergarten through 5th grade)

School’s average class size:

MCPS average class size:

Kindergarten

PRINCIPAL’S

TAKE

Grades 1 to 3

Grades 4 and 5

Total MCPS portable classrooms:

Student/ instructional staff ratio:

8 338 16.5 19.6 20.7 24

Kindergarten

Grades 1 to 3

Grades 4 and 5

MCPS average elementary school student/ instructional staff ratio:

11

2006 Year school was built None Year of last renovation/modernization

Little Bennett Principal Shawn Miller said the school has felt the effects of population growth in the Clarksburg area. With close to 1,000 students, the school needs to include a threehour lunch block each day that starts at 10:40 a.m. so all the children have time to eat. The building is also prone to “hallway traffic jams,” he said. “We’ve had to establish walking routes for different classes during different times of the day.” Other concerns and challenges, he said, include limited parking for events and back-to-school nights, security for students in portable classrooms and a small place space. Miller said it will be “bittersweet” to lose some of the school’s families next year when about 300 students that now attend Little Bennett are assigned to a new Clarksburg elementary school. But, he said, “I think in the long run it will be better for everyone that our school stays at about capacity.”

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DATA FOR 2013-14 SCHOOL YEAR SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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It Is Here! The Gazette’s New Auto Site At Gazette.Net/Autos Dealers, for more information call 301-670-2548 or email us at sfrangione@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

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CELEBRATIONS

Norfolk, Meekin

Miller, Smith Dereck Smith, son of Jean and Joseph Smith of Tiffin, Ohio, and Erin Miller, daughter of Patricia Wojcik and step-daughter of Thomas Wojcik of Mount Airy, are to be married on May 24, 2014, at Mother Seton Parish in Germantown.

Mary and Steve Norfolk of Olney announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Marie Norfolk, to James Wilson Meekin, son of Toni and John Meekin of Rockville.

The bride-to-be graduated from Sherwood High School in 2004.

She is a graduate of McDaniel College with a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. Megan received her Physical Therapist Assistant license after graduating from Carroll Community College in 2010. She is currently employed by MedStar National Rehab Network in Chevy Chase.

The prospective groom graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 2005. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. James is the president of a general contracting company, HRG Contracting, located in Rockville.

The couple currently resides in Rockville and the wedding is planned for Oct. 4, 2014, in Bethesda.

Get Your Back on Track, from 1-2 p.m. at Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase. The latest technology of minimally invasive procedures lends to a shorter hospital stay, smaller incision and a return to work and daily activities much sooner. Dr. Quoc-Anh Thai, neurosurgeon from Johns Hopkins, will dissect many causes of back and neck pain covering herniated discs, spasms and spinal stenosis.

Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Untangling the Mind: Why We Behave the Way We Do, 1:15-2:15

p.m. at the Holiday Park Community Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton.

Suburban Hospital psychiatrist and physician, Dr. Ted George describes in his book, “Untangling the Mind,” how the brain translates sensory signals into emotions whether it is anger, fear, or depression and why. In this seminar, you will learn about your psychological and neurological makeup and begin to see new possibilities for optimism, motivation, and well-being.

Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 AARP Smart Driver Course, from

9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Learn defensive driving

PLACING AN ANNOUNCEMENT

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stewart of Germantown announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Leigh Stewart, to Brian Paul Ostry, son of Walter and Sandra Ostry of Pittsburgh.

Brian is the proud dad of Madison and Logan Ostry. Both Jessica and Brian are teachers in MCPS. The couple got engaged in Pittsburgh on Mount Washington overlooking the city. An August wedding is being planned on Castaway Cay, a Disney Island in the Bahamas.

RELIGION CALENDAR

HEALTH CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

Stewart, Ostry

techniques, new traffic laws and the rules of the road. Appropriate for drivers age 50 and older. The fee, due at the class, is $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers; checks are to be made out to AARP. Bring driver’s license and a ballpoint pen. To register, call 301-896-3939. www.suburbanhospital.org.

UPCOMING Chabad of Upper Montgomery County, MD, 11520 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg, will be offering the following Purim services: March 13, The Fast of Esther, Shacharit at 7:15 a.m., Mincha/Maariv at 6:45 p.m.; March 15, Red Carpet Masquerade at 8:30 p.m.; March 16, Purim, Shacharit at 8 a.m., followed by Megillah reading at 8:45 a.m., Kids Got Talent Showcase at 10 a.m., Purim Under Raps featuring Jewish hip-hop and rap by Ari Lesser, freshly grilled wraps, Purim desserts, traditional reading of the Megillah at 4 p.m. (charge for Purim Under Raps is $20 per adult, $10 per child (ages 3-12), $50 per family), 301-926-3632, info@ OurShul.org, www.OurShul.org/Purim2014.

SUNDAY. MARCH 16 Childbirth Express at MedStar Montgomery, 1-5 p.m. at MedStar

Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney. Condensed program will prepare couples for their labor and birth experience.

Class is presented in lecture/video format. Hospital tour included. $75. www.medstarhealth.org.

Concord-St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 5910 Goldsboro Road, Bethesda,

will present a special Lenten Sermon Series to April 13 (Palm Sunday) based on Adam Hamilton’s book, “24 Hours That Changed the World.” Based on the author’s travels in the Holy Land and other sources, the book helps readers experience the final day of Jesus’ life and understand it’s significance.

Sunday service starts at 10 a.m. www.csachurch.com.

The Shiloh Baptist Church of Landover, 8801 Ardwick Ardmore Road, Landover, will present the full stage play, “It Is Finished,” at 7 p.m. Friday, April 18. Admission is free. www.shilohbc.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22 CPR and AED at MedStar Montgomery, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Med-

Star Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney.

The Heartsaver class teaches basic CPR, rescue breathing, and relief of choking for adults, infants and children and Automated External Defibrillator use. After successful completion, the student will receive a Heartsaver AED card from the American Heart Association. Class is for the lay community and is not adequate for individuals who have or will have patient care responsibilities. $80. www.medstarhealth.org.

ONGOING Agape African Methodist Episcopal Church, 7700 Brink Road, Gaithersburg, con-

ducts Sunday morning worship service at 11

a.m. Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Communion celebration on first Sundays, men leading worship on second Sundays, youth leading worship on third Sundays. “You’ll Get Through This” Bible Study from 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays.

301-924-8640; www.agapeamec.org.

Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St., Damascus, offers traditional Sunday morning worship services at 8:15 a.m., a youth contemporary worship service at 9:30 a.m. and a service of liturgy and the word at 11 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. for all ages during the school year. www.damascusumc.org.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, offers services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday, with Sunday School for all ages scheduled at 10 a.m. Child care is offered from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A fellowship and coffee hour follows the 8:30 a.m. service. 301-365-5733, www.elcbethesda.org.

Geneva Presbyterian Church, 11931 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, offers potluck lunches at 11:30 a.m. the second Sunday of each month. There is no fee to attend. All are welcome to bring a dish to share; those not bringing dishes are also welcome. Call 301-424-4346.

Kemptown United Methodist Church, 3716 Kemptown Church Road, Monrovia, conducts a contemporary service at 8 a.m. followed by a traditional service at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday mornings, with children’s Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and adult Sunday school at 11 a.m. For more information, call 301253-1768. Visit www.kemptownumc.org.

Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, conducts Sunday morning worship services at

8:30, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday school, nursery through adult, is at 9:30 a.m. 301-4219166. For a schedule of events, visit www. libertygrovechurch.org.

“MOPS,” a faith-based support group for mothers of children, birth through kindergarten, meets from 9-11:30 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, 201 Fairview Drive, Frederick. Child care is provided. For more information call 301-662-1819. Email mops@fcob.net.

Neelsville Presbyterian Church, 20701 Frederick Road, Germantown, offers services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings, with Sunday School for all ages at 9:40 a.m. Neelsville Presbyterian Church announces a new preschool partnership.

Damascus Community Preschool is moving to Neelsville Presbyterian, 20701 Frederick Road, Germantown. Classes to begin in the fall. For sign-up and other information, www.neelsville.org/#/preschool-grandopeningProvidence.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, conducts services every Sunday, with child care from 8 a.m. to noon and fellowship and a coffee hour following each service. 301-8817275. For a schedule of events, visit www.

TrinityELCA.org.

“Healing for the Nations,” 7 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at South Lake Elementary School, 18201 Contour Road, Gaithersburg. Sponsored by King of the Nations Christian Fellowship, the outreach church service is open to all who are looking for hope in this uncertain world.

Prayer for healing available. Translation into Spanish and French. Visit www.kncf.org.

The Gazette prints engagement and wedding announcements, with color photographs, at no charge, as a community service. Copy should be limited to 150 words and submitted in paragraph form.

Announcements are subject to editing for space. Please include contact information, including a daytime telephone number. Photos should be professional quality. If emailing photos, file size should be a minimum of 500 KB. Wedding announcements should be submitted no later than 12 months after the wedding. Send to: The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, or email kgroff@gazette.net. Montgomery County celebrations are inserted into all Montgomery County editions.

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The Gazette OUROPINIONS

Forum

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

|

Page A-14

Steady school funds, not horse trading Montgomery County’s delegation to Annapolis has proposed that because of its size and needs, the county should have a regular flow of school construction dollars from the state.

Bills introduced by Del. Anne Kaiser and Sen. Nancy King would guarantee an annual allotment, so county leaders can leverage the money on the bond market. With regular payments, Montgomery could turn tens of millions into hundreds of millions, then convert money into classrooms.

King’s bill targets fast-growth counties. Kaiser’s would specifically benefit Montgomery, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties.

You can argue that the state needs to pony up to the largest jurisdictions, so they can make sure there’s a seat for every student. That’s a nice logic that one anyone can understand.

But the real reason why either bill should pass is that the legislature needs to take politics out of school construction funds. Schools have become the benchmark by which we measure the effectiveness of our politicians. You can predict the number of an incumbent’s challengers by counting the portable classrooms docked outside an elementary school.

As a result, elected and appointed officials are willing to submit themselves to the annual rite of the “beg-a-thon” — a tedious effort to convince the governor, the comptroller and the treasurer that a county’s school construction needs are so great, it deserves a larger portion of the pie.

And school construction money has become the honeypot that lets bad policy move forward.

Take 2007, for example. Montgomery regularly has elected progressives, who — almost to a person — reject slot machine gambling. Yet, that year, Gov. Martin O’Malley offered money for school projects as an incentive to get enough local lawmakers to change their votes.

O’Malley isn’t the only governor who has done it. It’s a perk of being the state’s chief executive.

Kaiser, King and their colleagues face an uphill battle — Kaiser already expressed pessimism that her bill will pass.

We should expect our lawmakers to disagree over policy. We should expect them to debate, squabble, argue, deliberate and pettifog over details. But we shouldn’t expect them to horse trade votes just so a child can sit in school and learn.

Keeping track

There’s no question that allegations of sexual abuse always should be treated seriously.

But what of less defined out-of-the-ordinary behavior?

Actions that could be seen as unwise? Creepy?

Montgomery County Public Schools has begun a formal system for tracking suspected inappropriate staff behavior with students. Allegations are entered into a database, making it easier to “establish a pattern” of behavior, according to Robert Grundy, the director of the Performance Evaluation and Compliance Unit in the district’s Human Resources and Development NEW SCHOOL Office.

We could imagine inSYSTEM DATABASE formal complaints being REASONABLE handled differently deFOR COMPILING pending on the judgment COMPLAINTS of the person in charge.

ABOUT STAFF But even if allegations don’t rise to the level of disciplinary action, there should be some record of them and an explanation of how they were handled.

In that way, the centralized database will be a helpful tool.

It should not, however, be a substitute for a strong, meaningful reaction whenever it’s called for.

Grundy said an allegation of inappropriate behavior has to be made by a principal for it to be entered in the system.

But that brings up an obvious gap in reporting: What happens when the person in charge is the subject of a complaint? For example: Kemp Mill Elementary School, where six teachers filed a lawsuit, accusing the principal of bullying, retaliation and sexual harassment. (The case was settled out of court, according to The Washington Post.)

Often, we are reminded of how much society has changed through the generations. Iron-fisted teachers in decades past might not have hesitated to physically punish an unruly student.

Now, teachers or other adults in a supervisory position have to think twice about laying a hand on a student, even if the intention is innocent.

Consider some of the behaviors that prompted 25 notations in the database this school year — tapping a student on the butt, lifting students in the air.

This might require retraining how older minds think and counseling those who don’t recognize the implications of gestures meant to be friendly.

As long as it is maintained consistently, the district’s database is a good step toward accountability. It can be a fair middle ground between inaction and prosecution.

The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher

LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

Upcounty residents need M-83 The County Council held a town meeting in Clarksburg on Feb. 26. Whilst the upcounty is grateful that the meeting took place, it must not be considered to be sufficient, either in length or scope.

One question which did not get put to the council was M-83. This is a major part of the road network which is in no less than five master plans.

Stages 1-3 of the Clarksburg Master Plan were predi-

cated on direct light rail/bus to Shady Grove and major roads, of which M-83 is one.

The southern part is built (Midcounty Highway) and the northern part to Md. 27 (Snowden Farm Parkway) should be completed within the year.

When is the county going to keep its promises outlined in master plans which hundreds of thousands of residents are constrained to say that we have read (or had the

opportunity to read) when we buy our houses?

New construction in Clarksburg pays the highest impact fees in Montgomery County by far — for what?

The upcounty needs this road to be completed (which was to have been in the fiveyear CIP in the 1974 Germantown Master Plan), and it needs to be the master plan alignment (Alternative 9a).

Kathie Hulley, Boyds

The police graffiti runaround When I read the paragraph quoting Lt. Kevin Sullivan of the Montgomery County Police Department in your article “Silver Spring residents see increase in graffiti” [Feb. 19], I could hardly believe what I saw. Apparently Lt. Sullivan is connected with the “Criminal Street Gang Unit” and he “has not seen an increase in gang graffiti reporting.” Both statements confound me.

One reason Lt. Sullivan sees no increase in graffiti reporting could be that when a citizen calls the MCPD to report such activity he or she is told that there is no “gang unit” in Montgomery County.

This happened to my husband.

Not one to give up, this citizen searched the Montgomery County website and found the phone number for the Montgomery County Police Department’s (nonexistent?) gang unit with the encouraging statement that

this is the number to call to report any alleged gangrelated graffiti. However, the number is a “non-working number at Montgomery County Government” and the line disconnects.

Rather than continue seeking an elusive special number, my husband decided to just call our local police district on their nonemergency number. He was told to call the “Special Investigative Unit,” which he did. He got a recording, left a message, and never got a return call.

I tried that same number a week later, on Jan. 17, and was lucky enough to speak with a person. I was promised a call back either that same evening (it was a Friday) or Tuesday the following week since Monday was a holiday. I never received a return phone call.

The reason we were trying to connect with the MCPD was to report the significant

increase of graffiti (call it “tagging” if you like) in our neighborhood. Perhaps Lt. Sullivan believes there is no increase in graffiti due to a broken communication system between police and citizen.

In fact, there appears to be a broken communication system within our police department, when they don’t know what special units exist and wrong numbers are posted on their Web pages.

Why did the MCPD not tell us about the Montgomery County Gang Prevention Initiative? The good-hearted coordinator of that program, Luis Cardona, hasn’t seen much graffiti, and for that I am thankful, but has he been over here in my neighborhood? Is he depending on the police self-reporting that they believe there is no increase in graffiti reporting because they have made it so difficult for the community to report it?

Spring by cutting down hundreds of trees and building tracks that will compete for space with bikers and walkers.

In addition, the trains will destroy the peace and quiet that the much beloved trail now offers to residents and people in the regions.

This sounds more like dumb growth to me, considering what we now know about the importance of green space and exercise to good health and quality of life.

There is indeed a great need for public transportation, but less expensive alternatives exist for the Purple Line that planners and politicians for various reasons have let fall by the wayside. In fact, the exorbi-

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

William (Bill) Samuel, Silver Spring

Bills attack free speech

tant cost of the Purple Line option chosen (and described in the article) should be of great concern to taxpayers.

So far the estimated cost has doubled — and with the track record of failures in Maryland/Montgomery County such as the Maryland health exchange, the transit hub in Silver Spring and the ICC, we have every reason to be skeptical of what planners and politicians tell us.

Similarly, the downplaying of the disruption involved in the construction of the Purple Line and its environmental impact is a great concern for residents all along the planned Purple Line.

Maj-Britt Dohlie, Bethesda

Liana Smith, Takoma Park

Cynthia Cathcart, Silver Spring

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

“Democratic council races get lively” [editorial, March 5] notes candidates planning to run in the Democratic primaries. What it doesn’t note is that these primaries are undemocratic.

In Montgomery County and much of Maryland, the Democratic primary is the most important election, with the general election often only being a ratification of its results.

However, anyone who is not registered as a Democrat is not permitted to vote in the most important elections held. Furthermore, writeins are prohibited.

The Democratic Party in Maryland often shows many of the expected effects of a one-party system. It is run by machine politicians who favor restricting democracy, and have created the most gerrymandered districts anywhere in the country.

It is time to reform the election process in Maryland. Open the primaries up and remove barriers to third party and independent candidacies.

I am pleased that The Gazette publicized the issue of limiting free speech in Maryland through its article “Kramer bill puts reins on college memberships” [Feb. 14]. Both the Senate Bill 647 and the House Bill 998 would bar state funding for academic groups that engage in boycotts against higher-education institutions in other countries.

This has been done in retaliation for the recent American Studies Associatio resolution that supports a call by Palestinians to boycott Israeli academic institutions. I would stress that the ASA did not boycott individual Israeli scholars — an important distinction.

The ASA and several other major academic organizations recognize that boycott is a useful tool in opposing Israeli occupation of Palestinians.

SB647 and HB998 would put a serious chill on dissent on college campuses. As a lifelong resident of Maryland, and someone whose family has gone through the University of Maryland system for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, I am disheartened that our state legislators have proffered bills that would limit healthy discussion of issues using monetary punishment. Our Maryland legislators need to drop this serious attack on academic freedom and free speech.

Green space and the Purple Line The March 5 article in The Gazette, “Jump-starting the ‘heart’ of downtown Bethesda,” underlined that people living in Bethesda want more green space, which is a rapidly disappearing commodity in the area.

Sadly the “smart growth” touted by planners and politicians does not appear to foresee a need for new parks and recreational areas despite the planned (more than) doubling of the population between 2010 and 2040.

On the contrary, another article on The Gazette’s front page describes how the Purple Line, as currently conceived, will destroy the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda and Silver

Make the Democratic primaries democratic

Jean Casey, Director of Marketing and Circulation Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services

POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Officer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Send in the clowns

Most Montgomery countians view state and local government as a nuisance. They moved here to be near the federal government, where they make their livings. What goes on in Annapolis or Rockville doesn’t interest them.

In Maryland’s last state primary elections (2010) Montgomery’s voter turnout (19.9 percent) was the state’s lowest. And, according to last month’s Washington Post poll, only 30 percent of Montgomery countians are following this year’s governor’s race, again, the state’s lowest and well below the state average, 42 percent . Likewise, only 43 percent of Montgomery voters say they’re certain to vote — another last-place finish.

Decades of voter neglect have led to a cozy symbiosis between the county’s politicians and special interest lobbies. When 80 percent of Montgomery’s voters don’t show up on primary Election Day, a state senator or delegate candidate can win with only 5,000 to 8,000 votes in a county of nearly 1 million people.

But winning those votes means getting into bed with the folks who do care about Election Day: the public employee unions, the environmentalists, the women’s groups, minority groups, the gay lobby, the teacher’s union, liberal newspaper editors, etc.

Because these special interests elect our state lawmakers, their agendas become the lawmakers’ agendas.

Other delegations come home bragging about winning more state money for schools and services. Montgomery’s delegation brags about winning gun control, gay marriage, death penalty repeal and raising taxes. Montgomery’s “progressive agenda” doesn’t include grubbing for money or protecting MoCo’s taxpayers.

But finally, some Montgomery countians are realizing that every dollar squandered in Annapolis results in a dollar tax hike or a dollar spending cut back home. The wake-up call is school construction: Montgomery parents are rebelling against overcrowded, obsolete, moldy classrooms.

Enrollment, driven by immigrants, is exploding by 2,500 per year (enough to fill 100 new classrooms), 10,500 students now occupy 458 portable trailers (tops in Maryland) and within five years nearly half the county’s schools will be above capacity.

Yet, new construction and renovations are delayed, and delayed, and delayed due to shortfalls in Montgom-

ery’s share of state school construction money. Montgomery, with 17 percent of the state’s students, received only 11.7 percent of the state’s annual school construction funding during the past 10 years.

But, instead of demanding more, Montgomery’s politicians made up the difference with county funds. Now, however, that well is going dry. Hence the delays, hence the parents’ rebellion.

Like smart politicians, the county school board and superintendent passed the blame to the county executive, Ike Leggett, and County Council who, in turn, are blaming Annapolis.

Established in 1971 to help defray loMY MARYLAND cal school construction BLAIR LEE costs, the state program works like this: every year the governor budgets a lump sum based on needs forecasts. The state makes a preliminary allocation between the counties, and at the annual January “Beg-A-Thon” hearing, the counties lobby the Board of Public Works for more.

The construction money always was allocated based on costs until the mid-1980s, when Baltimore city got the allocation “equalized” (i.e. based on each county’s wealth), which helped the city and cut MoCo, whose lawmakers offered no resistance.

Then, in the 2007 legislative special session when Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $1.4 billion tax hike needed MoCo’s votes, he promised MoCo $55 million in 2008 school construction funds.

However, when O’Malley later reneged (with only $46 million), MoCo lawmakers didn’t make a peep.

In the chaotic 2012 and 2013 sessions Baltimore city vote-traded for school construction funds, P.G. votetraded for a new hospital and MoCo traded for a state gas tax. That’s right, instead of asking for more state aid, our idiots made the 83 percent state gas tax increase Montgomery’s top priority.

This was stupidly bordering on suicide. The gas tax is paid primarily by Montgomery motorists without particularly benefiting Montgomery.

Page A-15

LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

Once again MoCo adopted a “statewide perspective” at its own expense.

Only MoCo makes raising taxes its top priority.

Meanwhile, Baltimore city made off with the candy store. Anticipating a drop in state revenues and school construction funding ($325 million last year, $275 million this year), the city won a $1 billion school construction deal including the state’s $20 million-per-year guarantee for the next 30 years. This is on top of whatever the city gets at the annual Beg-A-Thon.

Montgomery’s lawmakers voted unanimously for what Baltimore’s mayor called “the largest legislative achievement in the city’s history.”

Now, under attack from angry parents, Ike Leggett and MoCo’s lawmakers are asking O’Malley and the legislature for the same deal Baltimore got. Leggett says he’s cashing in his moral IOUs, which is this session’s moment of comic relief.

So far, this year’s school construction allocation is $22 million for MoCo ($146 per student) and $37 million for Baltimore ($435 per student). But instead of making war, Leggett and Montgomery’s lawmakers are making excuses. Their battle cry is, “Ready, aim, surrender.”

Meanwhile, O’Malley’s capital budget is chock full of money for Baltimore’s zoo, library, aquarium, museums and a pedestrian bridge spanning Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. On deck are a new $355 million Baltimore jail and a $900 million sports arena complex.

Back in MoCo, County Councilman Phil Andrews is being shunned by fellow Democrats for blowing the whistle on the county’s State House malfeasance.

“We need a different approach.

We’ve got to mobilize our public so we get a fair share of school construction money every year. And we must also elect a governor who is not going to shortchange us.”

Andrews is right — it’s up to Montgomery’s voters. As long as they continue electing the same old clowns, they’ll get the same old circus.

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.

1910690

1910661

All who work deserve a living wage It simply makes no sense to not pay a living wage to all who work. Not doing so causes debt as well as hurts the economy, not to mention the most important factor of all — the human factor. People who make a living wage can often afford to buy food, clothing and other basic necessities, whereas those whose wages are low are forced to get food stamps, help with clothing themselves and their children, as well as do without utilities in some cases, and a safe and decent place to live.

Montgomery County is a wealthy county, a diverse county, and a county whose residents cross all economic lines. It is a tragedy that this county allows so many of its working residents

to not be able to supply the basic needs of living.

Anyone who works deserves to make a living wage, deserves a respectable wage. So many people are working two or three jobs to try and make ends meet. This keeps the working parents away from their children, and the entire family suffers.

A living wage for all must be established in Montgomery County. Show leadership. Don’t wait for the state or the feds to do your work for you. Be responsible to the citizens of Montgomery County, those you represent.

Charles and Anne Marie Martinez, Silver Spring

Speed cameras improve safety Why does The Gazette continue to publish unoriginal and uninformed critiques of Montgomery County’s SafeSpeed (i.e., speed camera) program? Gerry Adcock’s recent letter [“Speed cameras generate revenue, not reduce speeding” Feb. 26] is an example of space on your pages that could have been put to a more productive use.

I have had the privilege of serving on the Police Department’s Citizens Advisory Board for Traffic Issues since its inception, so I know something about how the SafeSpeed program was conceived, how it was deployed and how it has been managed. It is a model of thoughtfulness and integrity.

First, from the start, camera locations have been selected based on citizen input and a methodology that takes into account both subjective and objective criteria regarding the propensity for speeding to pose an outsized risk to pedestrian or vehicle safety at particular locations. That is why many cameras are located near school and Metro bus stops, playgrounds and the like. The one factor that has never been considered in connection with any location is the potential for a particular location to generate revenue.

Second, the speed cameras are

working. Since inception, overall speeds have declined by 4 percent, with some cameras showing declines in excess of 20 percent.

Mr. Adcock’s supposition that an increase in the number of citations proves the opposite conclusion is simply uninformed.

The number of citations increased from 2012 to 2013 because the county added 10 new cameras, and CABTI approved 34 new locations (some in corridors), over the same period. Thanks to those new cameras and locations, the SafeSpeed program is able to cover more of the county’s roads, and that is a good thing.

Third, speed cameras are a highly efficient way to enforce our traffic laws. Mr. Adcock’s suggestion that it would be more efficient to replace the cameras with new patrol officers in marked cruisers is pure poppycock.

For whatever reason, many in our community consider it their “right” to exceed posted speed limits. It is not, and as a parent of school-age children I wish they would slow down. But, as a practical matter, if drivers do not exceed posted limits by more than 10 mph, they have no reason to fear the SafeSpeed cameras.

Alan M. Freeman, Potomac

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THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

GEORGETOWN PREP JUNIOR LEADS THE ALL-GAZETTE BOYS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM, B-3

SPORTS GERMANTOWN | POOLESVILLE

www.gazette.net | Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | Page B-1

STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Girls move to a new home n

Coaches adjust to Towson University’s SECU Arena instead of UMBC BY

ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Springbrook High School’s Andrew Robinson (left) goes up against Dulaney’s Jason Lawson during Friday’s 4A North Region final.

Ready for the spotlight n

BY

Whitman, Springbrook could face off in an all-Montgomery 4A state final

TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER

There was no shortage of naysayers when Kyle Depollar decided to transfer from The Heights to Walt Whitman High School this season. The shooting guard had torn it up under coach Sunny Hemphill as a freshman — what could he possibly gain from changing schools now?

“People were telling me, ‘What are you doing? You got the green light, why are you transferring?’” recalled Depollar, who is Whitman’s leading scorer this winter at 14.3 points per game.

Well, those detractors can now make the trip to College Park this week and pay the admission fee to watch Depollar and the Vikings vie for the 4A state title.

“I guess making it to the Comcast

Center kind of shut them up,” he said after Whitman upset Clarksburg for the 4A West Region title, 49-44, and the school’s first appearance in the state tournament since 2006, when the Vikings won their only state championship. “Before the season started our goal was to get here and anything else would be a failure. ... And you could say we’re something of a Cinderella because a lot of teams do overlook us.”

It’s not unlikely that Annapolis, whom Whitman will see in Thursday’s scheduled 7 p.m. semifinal, was also somewhat overlooked when it came playoff time. The Panthers’ last successful run came in 2005, just one season prior to Whitman’s, and they suffered eight losses this year to boast a fairly similar record (17-8)

Churchill senior, Damascus junior win crowns; Northwest, QO wrestlers earn second place n

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

After he completed a perfect wrestling season with a 5-3 decision victory Saturday at the Maryland Class 4A/3A state tournament in the 152-pound weight class, Winston Churchill High School senior Hutton Sutton could smile. One year after his season ended prematurely due to a knee injury, Sutton finished his senior year with

TOM FEDOR/ THE GAZETTE

a 47-0 record and his third state crown. He stood on the podium at the University of Maryland, College Park’s Cole Field House, smiling.

“From where I was one year ago at this time to today this is a big difference,” said Sutton, who said he is planning on attending the United States Naval Academy in the fall. “When I had to sit out last season, it was tough. So to be here tonight and win the state title is a great feeling. I really accomplished all of my goals this season. I finally won a county title, I won another region title and I finally got my third state title. I could not ask for a better end to my senior year.”

Damascus junior Mikey Macklin completed a

See WRESTLERS, Page B-2

See GIRLS, Page B-2

GAME SCHEDULES Girls at SECU Arena (Towson) Col. Zadok Magruder vs. North Point, 3 p.m. Thursday Eleanor Roosevelt vs. Paint Branch, 5 p.m. Thursday Damascus vs. Baltimore Poly, 7 p.m. Thursday

Boys at Comcast Center (College Park) Walt Whitman vs. Annapolis, 7 p.m. Thursday Springbrook vs. Henry A. Wise, 9 p.m. Thursday

See SPOTLIGHT, Page B-2

Two county wrestlers win state titles

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Walt Whitman High School’s Kyle Depollar has helped lead the Vikings to the state tournament.

Forty-one years ago, the Parkville High School girls’ basketball team won the Maryland state championship in front of a packed house at Woodlawn High School’s gym in Baltimore.

“Let’s just say one thing,” Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association girls’ basketball tournament director Diane George said, recalling the 1973 finals, “The bleachers were full. But IF YOU GO it’s not like at a community college or a DiState basketball vision I school.” tournaments The tournament has since grown by n Admission: $8 leaps and bounds, n TV: MPSSAA live George said, with the streaming by title game venue movsubscription only ing to Catonsville Com— http://www. munity College, then to nfhsnetwork.com/ the University of Marychannels/maryland land, Baltimore County in Catonsville, and this n Radio: SFM Sports season to a 5,200-seat Division I arena.

After 20 years at UMBC, this year’s state tournament will be played at Towson University’s SECU Arena, which opened in June 2013. The 16 region champions are scheduled to play their semifinal games on Wednesday or Thursday with the winners advancing to Saturday’s title games.

“It’s really just exciting to see the growth of the tournament,” George said. “... I look at it as another chapter in the history of the tournament.”

Eleanor Roosevelt and Paint Branch are scheduled to play Thursday for a spot in the Class 4A state championship game.

“I’m excited about [the new venue],” said Roosevelt coach Delton Fuller, whose undefeated Raiders played in front of around 4,000 people in the Prince George’s County county championship.

“That atmosphere was really nice,” Fuller said.

“I hope it continues and it was definitely good for

Major changes could be coming to wrestling Proposal would unify state tournament, add more duals champions

n

BY

KENT ZAKOUR STAFF WRITER

KENT ZAKOUR ON WRESTLING

Saturday may have been an end of an era for Maryland high school wrestling. That’s a good thing.

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association is considering drastically altering how the wrestling postseason is

conducted. Currently, it’s divided into two separate factions — the 2A and 1A classifications are combined as well as the larger 4A and 3A schools. That leaves room for a pair of dual meet state champions, two state tournament team victors and two individual state champions for each of the 14 weight classes.

The new proposal calls for expanding the regional and state dual meet tournaments to include team championships in all four

See CHANGES, Page B-2

THE GAZETTE

Page B-2

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

SPOTLIGHT

Continued from Page B-1

PHOTO FROM TOWSON UNIVERSITY

Towson University’s brand new SECU Arena will be the site of the 2014 MPSSAA girls’ basketball state tournament, which moved from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Retriever Athletic Center.

GIRLS

Continued from Page B-1 my girls.”

Paint Branch won three consecutive regional titles from 2007-09 and a state championship in 2008, but this will be the first trip to the state semifinals for third-year coach Rochelle Coleman. The girls went to Towson earlier this month “to see what the arena is like and get a feel for it,” Coleman said.

Damascus coach Steve Pisarski said

WRESTLERS

Continued from Page B-1 perfect season by capturing the 113-pound weight title for his second state crown. The Damascus team, which had hopes of competingfortheteamstatechampionship,fell tofourthinthestandings.

“Getting my second title was really special,” said Macklin, who won the 106-pound title last season after plac-

his team might practice in a college gym to adjust to the larger court but will otherwise prepare for Thursday’s 3A semifinals against Baltimore Polytechnic Institute like it was any other game.

“We’re going to go about our business kind of the same as we always do,” said Pisarski, who led the Swarmin’ Hornets to the semifinals last season.

Largo coach Ayana Ball-Ward, whose team lost in the 2A South Region finals, said the venue change was a positive step for girls’ basketball.

ing sixth as a freshman. “This year I went undefeated, which really helped validate it. Last year I lost a couple of matches, but this year to go undefeated is special. I was really hoping that we would win the state title as a team. I never thought I would be the only person on my team to win a state title.”

Quince Orchard senior Connor Tilton saw his bid for a perfect season come to an end when he lost the 285-pound title by a 4-3 decision to Huntingtown

“It’s a great experience for the girls and it’s a great lift for the state of Maryland,” said Ball-Ward, who has made three trips to the state semifinals since winning the Class 3A title in 2007.

George said she does not expect the upper level to be utilized, but it may open for future postseason games. Cost of admission ($8) remains the same as previous years, she said.

“We’re excited about the new arena and going to a new place,” George said. egoldwein@gazette.net

senior Dalonte Holland. During the season Tilton had reached numerous personal goals and milestones and capped it with a designation as state runner-up, although at the time it hardly seemed like an acceptable consolation.

“Other than getting beat tonight, it was a great senior season,” Tilton said.

“I won the county and region title and I got my 100th win this year. I went undefeated all the way through the season until today. It was tough walking off the

as the Vikings (20-6). Their playoff stretch is even eerily parallel. Both teams knocked off the top seed in their section — Montgomery Blair for Whitman, North Point for Annapolis — and either another one or two seed from the other section in the region finals.

“I’ve already been watching the film,” Whitman coach Chris Lun said. “We’re certainly going to have our hands full but we’re just excited for the opportunity.”

Montgomery County compatriot Springbrook will not be following the underdog narrative on the right side of the bracket. The Blue Devils are the owners of the richest basketball history in the county and one of the state’s, winners of five state titles — Whitman has only appeared in four state tournaments — to go along with five additional final runs and seven semifinals, a total only bested by five other schools in Maryland. They sport the best record (24-2) of any team left in the 4A, which is the exact same as Prince George’s County champion Henry A. Wise, whom they are scheduled to meet in College Park Thursday night at 9, making the winner the de facto favorites in Saturday’s championship.

“We match up pretty good,” said Springbrook’s Andrew Robinson, a senior who leads the team with 17 points per game and is averaging 19

mat after getting beat today. I did my best, but he deserved to win. But I think I did enough this year that people at the school are going to remember me.”

In the last 4A/3A match of the tournament, Northwest junior Dell Ngonga was pinned by Northern junior Breandan Coughlin, who capped a perfect season with his second state title.

Ngonga had emerged from the shadows in Montgomery County by taking the West Region title with a 4-3, seventh

tblack@gazette.net

Continued from Page B-1

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Spectators watch the finals of the Maryland state wrestling tournament Saturday at the University of Maryland’s Cole Field House in College Park. possible?

Changing the duals is also a good idea. It opens up more opportunities for teams to succeed and makes wrestling comparable to most of the other team sports. For example, the last few

years, Damascus, a 3A school, has dominated county competition. Class 4A schools Thomas S. Wootton, Northwest, BethesdaChevy Chase, Winston Churchill, Sherwood and Springbrook — all of which have participated in the

4A/3A West Region duals since 2012 — were not able to advance.

Who knows who would have moved on sans Damascus the past two seasons.

In an informal straw poll Saturday of 10 current and former

tmewhirter@gazette.net

period victory over Damascus freshman Scott Obendorfer. He also needed narrow decision victories to get through the quarterfinals and semifinals.

“He was definitely really good,” Ngonga said. “When you get this far, you want to leave with the state title.

When you get beat, it’s tough. You have to wait a whole year to get another chance. That’s a long time.”

CHANGES

classifications. In turn, the individual state tournament would be unified to create one state champion per weight class. The proposal also would eliminate team scoring from the individual tournament.

This is good and bad.

For starters, there shouldn’t be a difference in talent between an individual wrestler at a small 1A school and a large 4A program. If you are good, you’re good. Unifying the state tournament will give wrestling fans — in theory — a true best of the best state public school winner. Imagine having the spotlight at Cole Field House focusing on one marquee final bout, rather than two. That gives me chills.

But to not keep track of the team score doesn’t make any sense. Is it because the politically correct MPSSAA doesn’t want to have five team champions crowned, more than any other team sport? In college, where several of the individual state champions will go on to wrestle, team scores are kept at conference and national tournaments.

Why not try to be as uniform as

in the playoffs. “They got the two bigs down low [Micah Till and Devin Moore] and Justice [Sneed] is pretty good up top.

It would be a good matchup.

We know we’re going to have to play our best game to beat them and not get caught up in the hype, just play our game.”

Prior to Friday night’s 4A North Region final with Dulaney, Blue Devils coach Tom Crowell labeled the Lions as “probably the best team we’ve seen this year.” And then Springbrook won by 30, playing its best basketball of the season at just the right time.

“There were moments [Friday night], the offense, the 3-point shooting — it was almost like a perfect storm,” Crowell said. “It was just a great night for us. I said Dulaney would be the best team we played and believe me, I still wouldn’t want to play them again, but Wise will definitely be the best team we’ve played.”

On Thursday, the moment that Depollar and the Whitman boys and the Robinsons and the Springbrook boys sought since November will alas arrive. Maybe there will be an all-Montgomery final, maybe it will be a Prince George’s-Anne Arundel final.

Blue Devils guard Aaron Robinson just wants to play some basketball.

“I have never been this excited for a basketball game in my life,” he said. “This is definitely the biggest moment in my basketball career.”

wrestling coaches from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties the sentiment expressed was that they are in favor of the proposed format changes, albeit with some reservations, mainly the lack of team scoring in the

state tournament.

Nine of the coaches said they would like to see the new format implemented in some way, some more agreeable than others. Of that group, two said they would like to see things kept status quo if the scoring issue was not addressed.

One coach was completely against changing the structure since he believed it would allow for fewer opportunities for student-athletes to be featured and limit promotion of the sport.

He was concerned that reducing the number of state placers by combining classifications would discourage kids from participating.

The MPSSAA Wrestling Committee voted on Oct. 9 to submit the proposal to schools for further consideration and it is scheduled to be discussed further at the committee’s March 25 meeting. The committee then could make a recommendation to the MPSSAA Board on Control, which would then vote on the matter. Duke Beattie, the director of the state wrestling committee, said any changes could be in place as soon as next season. kzakour@gazette.net

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THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page B-3

With growth, comes quality

GIRLS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING

Coaches say talent level increasing across Montgomery County n

BY

First team

ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

When Sara Mayes tried out for the Paint Branch High School girls’ lacrosse team about a decade ago — never having picked up a stick — she made varsity.

She said there weren’t enough girls to field a junior varsity team.

Mayes is now the first-year coach at her alma mater, and the 2008 graduate watched a school record 60-plus girls try out this spring, she said.

“It’s amazing to see the level of interest, compared to when I was there. It really is amazing,” said Mayes, an assistant on last season’s 3-10 team.

With interest in the sport at an all-time high, the rise of younger, homegrown coaches such as Mayes — coupled with the boost in club lacrosse participation — is helping balance public school competition in Montgomery County, coaches said.

“You have more and more qualified coaches now and it’s growing your experience,” second-year Richard Montgomery coach Brett Ponchione said. “…

Not only is the gap closing but the level of play across the county is getting better every year.”

Ponchione’s Rockets went 4-9 in his first year and have finished above .500 twice since 2005, according to LaxPower. com, but return almost all of their key players, including six who participated in club lacrosse this past summer.

“We’ve implemented a lot of

Carsten Vissering TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School girls’ lacrosse player Abby Wilson (right) practices Friday at the Olney school. new concepts and the foundation was laid last year,” he said.

Quince Orchard coach Jennifer Holliday, a coach for the MC Elite Lacrosse club, said the club used to be filled with private school athletes but now has representatives from public schools across the county.

“I just think everyone as a whole, we can’t take anyone lightly now,” said Holliday, a 2004 Quince Orchard graduate.

Several public school teams have added private school games to their schedules.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, ranked 13th in the Nike/US Lacrosse poll, is scheduled to play Walt Whitman and state runnerup Sherwood. Good Counsel coach Michael Haight said the top public school teams have not caught up to the elite private schools, but the county is improving.

“It’s definitely getting better and the more youth leagues we develop, the better the teams will

PLAYERS TO WATCH n Elizabeth Makuch, Graceanne Rosen (B-CC); Jenna Kanner, Amalia Perez (Blair); Caroline Tatnall, Victoria Wolsh (Blake); Jane Beightol, Caitlin McMahon (Bullis); Christine Kennedy, Rachel Thal-Larsen (Churchill); Andie deCelis, Mia Winterburn (Clarksburg); Leigh Gatons, Jacqueline Pino (Damascus); Reva Alperson, Paige Harrison (Einstein); Bethany Scott, Madison Williams (Gaithersburg); Lexi Rieu, Abby Wilson (Good Counsel); Blair Greenwald, Olivia Lee (Holton-Arms); Mary Claire Byrne, Emily Hunt

be,” said Haight, whose team has 15 Division I recruits.

First-year Poolesville coach Brittany Hilton said girls are starting to play at younger ages, which is making for better competition.

Emily Zmoda is a first-year coach at John F. Kennedy, which went 1-11 in 2013 and has registered six victories since 2005. She said the numbers were dwindling in recent seasons but this year’s tryouts had a “decent” turnout with about 35.

“I told them right at the beginning, I’m not going to promise you we’re going to suddenly make it to the playoffs,” Zmoda said.

Sherwood, coached by Kelly Hughes, became the first Montgomery County school to earn a victory in the state tournament last spring. The rise of the bottom tier teams would benefit the county as a whole, she said.

“Win or lose, that’s all I want.

I want a good game, I want girls playing,” Hughes said.

(Holy Child); Jackie Branthover, Kristyn Gaines (Holy Cross); Emma Bearman, Katelyn McKneely (Kennedy); Nicole Burchett, Jacqueline Page (Richard Montgomery); Janice Fiallos, Kimberly Hall (Paint Branch); Amanda Chasin, Marie Jankowski (Poolesville); Umbar Kassa, Rachel Hollander (Quince Orchard); Hope Basile, Kathleen McTighe (Rockville); Caroline Graves, Lindy Hill (St. Andrew’s); Emily Kenul, Kristen Lauda (Sherwood); Jessica Hartley, Ria Peralta (Springbrook); Natalie Gosnell, Allie Rock (Stone Ridge); Alexis Rusnak, Helen Marsh (Watkins Mill); Olivia Mangum, Madeline Romm (Wootton)

Wootton’s tennis reign in jeopardy n Boys’ tennis: Four-time champs graduated seven players from a year ago

BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER

For Montgomery County’s top high school boys’ tennis teams, and even those outside of Division I, the tops of lineups can read like a who’s who of U.S. Tennis Association ranked junior tournament players. But winning dualmatchesandcountychampionships comes down to a team’s depth — there can sometimes be a costly drop-off after the first few singles players.

For four years the depth of reigning county champion, Thomas S. Wootton High School, has been nearly untouchable; half of its doubles lineup probably could have played singles at any number of county programs. The Patriots’ streak of 57 consecutive regular season wins was broken

by Winston Churchill last spring but they went on to avenge that defeat with their fourth straight county championship. Now, for the first time since 2010, Wootton looks vulnerable to historic rivals Walt Whitman, who looks to be the county’s deepest team this spring, and fellow perennial power Churchill.

“For the past few years it’s just been a foregone conclusion that Wootton was going to win,” Whitman coach Jasen Gohn said. “We had good, competitive matches with them, but you kind of knew you weren’t going to win four out of seven. But this is the year, it could go either way, I think there could be a lot of 4-3 matches.”

Wootton, despite graduating seven players, is by no means out of the running for Division I and county titles. The Patriots are actually in better shape than coach Nia Cresham said she expected.

Despite losing two of its top four singles players, there won’t have to be too much movement in the singles roster as Wootton inherited the country’s No. 4-ranked 14-year old, Kyrylo Tsygura, and welcomes back Abhishek Patwardhan, who recently returned

PLAYERS TO WATCH n Titas Bera, Wootton; Guy Beven, WJ; Jonathan Chen, Seneca Valley; Kasey Countee, Bullis; Nakita Demir, Georgetown Prep; Amanuel Gebremariam, Einstein; Darien Hashemzadeh, Bullis; Sean Hogan, Good Counsel; Brandon Huan, Clarksburg; Lucas Intrater, Einstein; Reed Joyner, Good Counsel; John Jung, Clarksburg; Kyle Lowery,

to the area from India. Just a freshman, Tsygura is already ranked No. 104 nationally in the USTA Boys 16s. He and Patwardhan will join last year’s Gazette Player of the Year and 2013 boys state doubles champion Titas Bera atop the Patriots’ lineup.

The biggest question mark for Wootton, Cresham said, will be its doubles pairings after losing that entire contingent.

“I was worried about this year until Kyryl came and he’s really excited about the team so that helps,” Cresham said. “Having him come in pushes everyone down again and makes everyone stronger [in their position].”

Speaking of players being stronger in their positions, the return of seniors Aries Wong and Sean Ngo to the top of Whitman’s lineup is going to do wonders for the Vikings’ depth. The pair, which won consecutive state doubles titles in 2011-12, took last spring off to focus on their USTA rankings and college recruitment.

They return this spring to a team that has brought back 16 players and added freshman Jack Welch (No. 63 in USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Boys 16s) to the singles roster.

“It’s always nice to get one more good player and in this case I’m getting two,” Gohn said. “Well, athird,because[Welch] isgoingto push everyone down, too, so we will have better players at lower positions and that could be the difference.”

Churchill will also benefit from the return of a former player to the top of its lineup. Joining returning third-year No. 1 Will Szamosszegi will be Blake Morton, a George Washington University

Wheaton; Colin Mattingly, Richard Montgomery; Blake Morton, Churchill; Nick Mouser, Georgetown Prep; Justin New, WJ; Sean Ngo, Whitman; Christopher Nguyen, Sherwood; Billy Owens, Seneca Valley; Matt Quattrociocchi, Northwest; David Snyder, Northwest; Will Szamosszegi, Churchill; Leul Tesfaye, Wheaton; Ryan Tom, Sherwood; Kyrylo Tsygura, Wootton; Aries Wong, Whitman.

recruit who played as a freshman but devoted the past two years to his USTA ranking, and last year’s undefeated No. 4 singles player Sohrob Ganjbaksh.

Montgomery’s IAC trifecta When 13th-year Landon tennis coach Adam Atwell took over the Bears program in 2002, Landon and Georgetown Prep dominated the Interstate Athletic Conference. A couple down years for both teams followed as Bullis rose to power for nearly a decade.

But everything came full circle last spring as the Bears and Little Hoyaswerenamedco-conference champions. It was Landon’s second straight conference title; the Bears have won 46 total. The two plus Bullis, which shared the title with Landon in 2012, are favorites to contend for the league once again.

In addition to returning its entire singles lineup, which includes third-year No. 1 Alex Reinke and Gabriel Goldberg. Raman Ananthanpillai returns after a year off to focus on USTA play, adding to the Bears’ already deep roster. Depth won’t be a problem for Prep, either, as eight starters return for the Little Hoyas, including Nick Mouser and Nakita Demir.

BackatthetopofBullis’lineup is three-year IAC tournament champion Kasey Countee — the last two titles have come in the No. 1 singles slot — and George Washington recruit Darien Hashamzadeh.

“This is the best I’ve seen the IAC, top to bottom,” Atwell said. jbeekman@gazette.net

Geo. Prep Junior, 100 breast

Jack Crow

Grant Goddard

Broke three Barons record in state title campaign.

Set Metros mark (48.69) in one of two individual wins there.

B.-Chevy Chase Junior, diving

Geo. Prep Junior, 100 butterfly

Led Prep to first Metros title in four years, set independent school mark.

Georgetown Prep junior Carsten Vissering set the independent school mark in 100 breaststroke at 53.49 and is The Gazette’s Athlete of the Year in boys’ swimming.

Brandon Goldstein

Rory Lewis

Adrian Lin

Jean-Marc Nugent

Brian Tsau

Brady Welch

Won first individual Metros title with 50.29.

Won first state title in event, was third at Metros.

County’s highest finisher at Metros (1:38.72).

Won states, second to Goddard at Metros.

Won at states, third at Metros with 4:27.63.

Touched out Lin for Metros record (45.00)

Geo. Prep Junior, 100 backstroke

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Albert Einstein Junior, 200 IM

200 MEDLEY RELAY

Geo. Prep Junior, 200 freestyle

Walter Johnson Senior, 50 freestyle

Blair Junior, 500 freestyle

200 FREE RELAY

Good Counsel Senior, 100 freestyler

400 FREE RELAY

Georgetown Prep

Georgetown Prep

Georgetown Prep

Won Metros by nearly three seconds (1:33.98).

Close second to Gonzaga at Metros (1:26.44).

Bested Jack Conger-led 2013 Metros mark (3:04.83).

Kevin Berry, sophomore Brandon Goldstein, junior Andrew Omenitsch, freshman Carsten Vissering, junior

Coach of the Year Aryn Wheeler

Richard Montgomery Led Rockets to first state title and third at Metros without a single firstteam swimmer.

Grant Goddard, junior Matthew Hirschberger, freshman Adrian Lin, junior Samuel Tarter, freshman

Grant Goddard, junior Brandon Goldstein, junior Adrian Lin, junior Carsten Vissering, junior

Second team 50 freestyle: Xavier Laracuente, Poolesville 100 freestyle: John Mooers, Walt Whitman 200 freestyle: Mike Sullivan, Walt Whitman 500 freestyle: Matt Hirschberger, Georgetown Prep 100 backstroke; Andrew Gibson, Thomas S. Wootton 100 breaststroke: Harrison Gu, Win-

ston Churchill 100 butterfly: Michael Thomas, Montgomery Blair 200 individual medley: Gregory Song, Richard Montgomery 200 medley relay: R. Montgomery 200 freestyle relay: Richard Montgomery 400 freestyle relay: Walt Whitman 1-meter diving: Joseph Canova, Quince Orchard

THE GAZETTE

Page B-4

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Clarksburg defeats Gaithersburg in overtime Boys’ basketball: Coyotes play Whitman for its first region crown n

Colonels go on to beat Kennedy for region title; state semifinals berth

n

III

Like the rest of his teammates, Clarksburg High School forward Austin Duffy made no bones about how excited he was to be going to the 4A West Region boys basketball championship game after Thursday night’s 64-63 overtime victory against top-seeded Gaithersburg in the Section II final.

Duffy, a 6-foot-6 inch junior, sent the No. 2 Coyotes into overtime on a tip-in basket at the buzzer to tie the game at 53.

From there, Clarksburg fought off an early Trojan overtime lead by scoring seven straight points in the span of a minute to come away with the victory. The Coyotes advanced to face Walt Whitman Friday, where they lost 49-44.

Whitman plays Annapolis in Thursday’s state semifinals.

“That was the best play I’ve made in my high school career, no doubt,” Duffy said.

“That is definitely the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me basketball-wise, to get a tipin, for overtime in a playoff basketball game to send us to [the region championship] for the first time ever in Clarksburg history.

“I did it for my seniors and my team. I’m just so … I can’t even describe it. Our defense, if they can’t score too much, we can always get back into the game, as long as we can prevent them from getting ahead by too much, we can always come back and get back into the game.”

Clarksburg coach G.J. Kissal was almost as fired up as his team minutes after the game as he described the final sequence during regulation.

“It was like ‘man, I wish one of those shots would fall in’, there were some good shots we took,” Kissal said. “But all of a sudden Austin got in there, and they didn’t box him out and he made the play. Next thing you know we are jumping up and down and I was almost about to kiss him. He played the best game of the season.”

In overtime, the visitors fought off an early three-point deficit to score seven consecutive points in a minute to take a 60-56 lead on senior guard Caleb Carter’s two free throws. A 3-pointer by Gaithersburg junior guard Anthony Tarke pulled the Trojans (213) to within 62-60 with 59.7 seconds left, but Clarksburg senior forward Scheick Doukoure made two more free throws with 36.7 left to give the Coyotes breathing room once again at 64-60. Tarke made one of two free throws with 5.9 seconds left to pull Gaithersburg to 64-61, then Duffy’s inbounds pass hit the backside of the backboard and gave the hosts one last shot to send the game into double overtime.

The Coyotes tightly defended the 3-pointer on the inbounds, and Gaithersburg senior point guard Aaron King passed to Dion Etheridge for a layup with three seconds remaining. But without any timeouts remain-

BY

KYLE RUSSELL

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Gaithersburg High School guard Dion Etheridge goes toward the basket against Clarksburg’s Josh Hardy during a December 2013 game in Gaithersburg. ing, the clock ran out on the Trojans and their season.

“I said [in the huddle] there are six seconds left and we could get it where we could get a 3, but they defended it well and we just instinctively made a backdoor move to the basket,” Gaithersburg coach Tom Sheahin said. “We had to get the ball inbounds and [the count] was getting close, so you know, it never comes down to just one play. We should have gone for 3 but we obviously did not.

“Basketball is a game of runs, and when it was time to make clutch foul shots, they did, and we did not. They gave us opportunities, but you have to give the credit to [Clarksburg].”

In overtime, the Trojans converted just one of eight free throws, while the Coyotes made five out of eight. For the game, Gaithersburg made just 11 out of 25 attempts from the free throw line (44 percent), while Clarksburg shot 61 percent (16 of 26).

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Brown finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Pinkrah contributed nine points, two steals and two blocks.

Barr (eight rebounds) led all Magruder scorers with 17 points, while Nicole Ricketts chipped in with 11 points, three assists and a pair of blocks. Hope Randolph scored six, and Lidia Castillo came off the bench to supply seven points and five steals.

For Barr, the victory served as a testament to the work the team has put in to get to this point, and also to the work Borsody has put in to help them get there. “[Borsody] stuck with us when we had a 3-21 season [in 2011-12], and she is here when we have this 17-6 season now — It’s incredible,” she said. “She is every reason that we are here. She motivates us every day in practice to work harder. She makes us pick a goal every day, and tells us to work hard for that goal.”

The Trojans (16-8) were paced by a 19-point effort from Danielle Rojas. Janessa Fauntroy (14 rebounds, 13 points, seven blocks) fouled out with about five minutes remaining, making the comeback attempt all the more daunting for Gaithersburg.

“We broke down on defense,” Trojans coach Adrian McDaniel said. “We weren’t communicating. They got hungry and went after every loose ball. They outrebounded us on offensive rebounds. We just got too relaxed.”

The Colonels advanced to face John F. Kennedy in Saturday’s region championship game at Paint Branch.

Magruder won its first region title since 1985 by defeating Kennedy 47-40 to earn a berth it Thursday’s state semifinals, where they face North Point.

“I couldn’t be more proud to share this moment with my team and my girls,” Borsody said. “We have been working so hard for it, and to go that far means so much to us. This is my sixth year here with this program, and this is what we have been working for all the way.”

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“These guys, man, I tell you they just believe,” said Kissal, whose team improved to 20-4 overall. “We believed that if we hung in there, we would have a chance. And we made the plays, the timely plays.

“Gaithersburg is a supremely talented group, but tonight, when the game mattered, we were able to make foul shots, we were able to make plays. They [Gaithersburg] made their share of big plays too, they made some big 3s, but sometimes it’s the last guy to make the play, and were just fortunate enough to do that tonight.”

Senior guard Xavier Sewell paced the winners with 18 points to go with three assists.

Fellow senior backcourt mate Caleb Carter added 12 points, while Duffy posted nine points and five boards. Hardy and Kostecka (nine points) led Clarksburg with eight rebounds each.

After a less-than-favorable first quarter in Thursday’s 4A West Region Section II final, Col. Zadok A. Magruder girls’ basketball coach Erin Borsody egged on her squad as they reached the sideline — “We’re right back in this game.”

The vote of confidence was all the Colonels needed, as they stormed back to seize control before halftime and cruised to a 61-45 victory against visiting Gaithersburg.

Magruder put together a 22-2 run that spanned the majority of the second quarter, led by the trio Adijowa Pinkrah, Hannah Barr and Janel Brown.

“Definitely don’t count us out,” Borsody said. “I know this team has been battling since my seniors were freshmen. We’ve been the underdogs. We’ve been in that position. They know how to fight back and battle, and this year they really believe in themselves and each other.”

Pinkrah sparked the run by converting 3-point play with a layup and the added free throw. The senior guard made it to the line again on the next trip down the court, connecting on both attempts to give the Colonels their first lead of the contest at 19-18 just past the midway point of the second frame.

Barr chimed in with a midrange jump shot followed by a 3-pointer from Brown, and just like that a four-point deficit was turned into a six-point advantage for Magruder. The Colonels (17-6) pushed the lead to 10 by halftime and maintained a double-digit lead for nearly the entire second half.

“Our seniors did not want this to be their last game,” Barr said. “Janel Brown and Adijowa Pinkrah, they just took their game to the next level to make sure we would not lose tonight.”

1910883

BY JOHN HARRIS STAFF WRITER

Magruder gets hungry, beats Gaithersburg

FILM FEST

&

ALL AFRICA

New African Films Festival opens with Ejiofor’s latest, “Half of a Yellow Sun,” on Thursday.

The Gazette’s Guide to

Arts & Entertainment

Page B-6 www.gazette.net | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

BY

VIRGINIA TERHUNE

|

|

Page B-5

STAFF WRITER

Folksinger, activist Peggy Seeger visits her old neighborhood n

Tenor Rolando Sanz.

WHOLE

Folk singer, songwriter and activist Peggy Seeger will visit Chevy Chase Village Hall on Saturday for a discussion

PEGGY SEEGER IN CONVERSATION WITH MARY CLIFF

before performing that evening in Washington, D.C.

n When: 4 p.m. Saturday

PHOTO BY URSY POTTER

n Where: Chevy Chase Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase

F

lying back and forth across the pond is nothing new for longtime folk singer, songwriter and activist Margaret “Peggy” Seeger, who lived in Chevy Chase as a teenager before marrying and raising her family in England.

Half-sister of the late Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger is back in the states for her two-week “I Just Can’t Stay Away” tour of concerts and lectures at venues on the East Coast and in the Chicago area.

One of her first stops is Chevy Chase, where she will chat in-person with radio host Mary Cliff on Saturday afternoon at the Chevy Chase Village Town Hall, near the house on Kirke Street where she once lived.

ROLANDO SANZ

n Tickets: Free; first come, first served n For information: 301-656-6141, chevychasehistory.org

CONCERT n When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Cliff hosts the “Traditions” radio show, which previously aired on American University’s WAMU 88.5 and is now heard on Saturday nights on Bluegrass Country at 105.5 FM. Sponsored by the Chevy Chase Historical Society, the late afternoon talk is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

See ROOTS, Page B-7

n Where: Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th Street, N.W., Washington n Tickets: $15; free for FSGW members n For information: 703981-2217, fsgw.org, peggyseeger.com

Adah Rose Gallery to share ‘Deepest Feeling’ ON VIEW

BY CLAUDIA ROUSSEAU

PAT GOSLEE

Both abstract and organic, Pat Goslee’s “Enigma of the Eternal Now” engages the viewer by its inscrutable forms that often seem on the edge of representation.

Adah Rose Bitterbaum loves art.

Just being near her you can sense the excitement she feels when talking about art. Her tiny gallery on Howard Avenue in Kensington brings to mind Alfred Stieglitz’s famed Gallery 291 which, though physically small, was hugely important in introducing modern art to New York viewers and supported an important group of artists in the early twentieth century.

So too, Adah Rose’s enthusiasm for contemporary art in our region also supports a wide range of artists working in an equally broad range of media. On view there now is a

modest but captivating show of two artists who are both working with pattern. Its title, “The Deepest Feeling Always Shows Itself in Silence,” is taken from “Silence,” a poem by American poet Marianne Moore.

Pat Goslee has been working with abstract patterns for some years, always looking for different ways to express that interest. In this group of five paintings, her shapes tend to be organic, her palette tending toward the pastel, with lots of pink and light blues. One work, “Falling Upward” appears from a distance like a wreath of pink flowers.

On closer inspection, the forms are complex; including transfers of lace and mesh that Goslee has been doing for some time. She began doing

See ON VIEW, Page B-7

NEW

WORLD Tony Award-winning composer to guest conduct at Winston Churchill High n

BY

WILL C. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER

By all accounts, Rockville native Rolando Sanz has made a name for himself.

A graduate of the Yale University School of Music, the tenor has landed leading roles with the Washington Concert Opera, Lyric Opera Baltimore, Annapolis Opera and the Cathedral Choral Society and has performed in numerous productions all over the United States.

In 2011, along with his brother, Kristofer, Sanz took on a bigger production — creating an educational organization in Montgomery County for students who wanted to learn more about, and perform with, full orchestras and large-scale works. Young Artists of America was born.

“It’s been a real pleasure over the past three seasons to see not just the kids rise to the occasion for the performances that we present, but also to really get turned on by this repertoire that they really wouldn’t get a chance to experience otherwise,” Sanz said.

One of those experiences arrives on Saturday and Sunday when 87 area high school students, five professional vocalists, a Broadway pianist and one incredibly busy Tony Award-winning composer descend upon Winston Churchill High School in Potomac to perform “Songs for a New World.”

See WORLD, Page B-7

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD n When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday n Where: Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Rd., Potomac n Tickets: $20-$35 n For information: 301-272-8604, youngartistsamerica.org

THE GAZETTE

Page B-6

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Made in Africa: Film festival opens Thursday AFI Silver presents 18 movies from a dozen countries n

BY

VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER

Anyone who appreciated the Oscar-nominated performance of British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave” will soon also be able to see him in “Half of a Yellow Sun.” Filmed in Nigeria in 2013, it is based on a 2006 book of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The movie is one of 18 entries in this year’s New African Films Festival.

Shot in countries all over the continent, the movies will be screened Thursday through March 20 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring.

“It’s definitely a window into the world of sub-Sahara Africa and the people living there today,” said AFI festival director Todd Hitchcock.

“That’s what international film festivals make possible for us,” he said.

Now in its 10th year, the festival is presented by the American Film Institute in Silver Spring and two Washington, D.C.-based organizations.

One is TransAfrica, which educates the public about issues and cultures of Africans and the African diaspora, and the other is afrikafé, a regional networking group for Africans and friends of Africa.

Hitchcock said this year’s festival is the biggest, and probably the best, in its history.

“There are some terrific films and some high-profile titles. .... We’ve got the strongest line-up ever,” he said.

“Half of a Yellow Sun,” which opens the festival on March 13, is about two sisters living through the 1967-1970 NigerianBiafran war. One is Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) and the other is Olanna (Thandie Newton), who becomes involved with a professor named Odenigbo (Ejiofor).

Adichie, whose most recent book is “Americanah,” will be present between the movie’s two screenings on Sunday, March 16, for a Q&A and booksigning. The first screening at 1 p.m. is sold out and ends at approximately 3:15 p.m. The second screening begins at 5:30 p.m.

Also featured in the festival is the Ethiopian movie “Difret,” which tells the story of a true ground-breaking court case in the mid-1990s in which a 14-year-old girl shot and killed an abductor practicing the centuries-old tradition of telefa.

Still seen in parts of rural Ethiopia, telefa allows a wouldbe husband to abduct, hide and rape a young woman until she becomes pregnant. As the future father, he can then negotiate with her family about marrying her.

The movie, which won audience awards at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals, was written and directed by filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, who grew up in Ethiopia

and now lives in Alexandria, Va., with his wife, Mehret Mandefro, who co-produced the movie.

Mehari said a chance meeting with the brother of the lawyer who defended the young woman led to the making of the movie.

“I’m always going back to Ethiopia looking for stories,” he said. “One foot is still there ... I’m a product of that culture.”

Actress Angelina Jolie also recently signed on as one of the executive producers of the film.

Mehari and Mandefro will be present for a Q&A at the Saturday screening of “Difret.”

“It’s such great luck,” Hitchcock said. “It’s an interesting film festival with multiple local connections.”

Also from Ethiopia, and recommended for children 8 years and older, is “Horizon Beautiful.”

Swiss soccer mogul Franz comes to Ethiopia hoping to boost his image as a humanitarian and runs into Admassu, a 12-year-old boy who wants to catch his attention so he can become a professional soccer player.

The boy cooks up a fake kidnapping and rescue of Franz so he can make himself look like a hero to the visiting soccer king, but things go awry, and the two end up in the Ethiopian countryside trying to get back to the capital, Addis Ababa.

“It’s family friendly, which is not always the case [with some of the movies],” Hitchcock said For the first time, the festival is also showing an animated

NEW AFRICAN FILMS FESTIVAL n When: March 13-20 n Where: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $7-$12 n For information: 240-6721854, afi.com/silver

film. From the Ivory Coast, “Aya of Yop City” is based on a series of graphic novels by husbandand-wife team Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie.

It’s the story of a 19-year-old girl who wants to study medicine but runs into opposition from family and friends who think she should get married.

“There’s some adult material. ... It’s very, very funny,” Hitchcock said.

Film partnerships In recent years African film makers have partnered with Europeans to produce movies made in Africa, Hitchcock said.

“Something Necessary,” directed by Judy Kibinge, is a joint Kenyan/German movie co-produced by German director Tom Tykwer, who directed the 1998 thriller, “Run Lola Run.” The story is about a victim and her perpetrator who meet in the aftermath of a post-election conflict in Kenya in 2007.

Anne (Kenyan actress Wan-

AFI SILVER

Filmed in Ethiopia, “Difret” is based on the true story of a lawyer who fights for the life of a teenage girl (played by Tizita Hagere) who shot and killed an abductor intent on raping and marrying her. The movie is one of 18 screening during the 10th annual New African Films Festival running from Thursday to March 20 at the AFI Silver Theatre. jiru) is a widow struggling to rebuild her farm. One of the construction men working on her house is Joseph (Walter Lagat), a gang member who took part in raping her and killing her husband.

This year AFI is partnering with the French embassy in Washington to cross-promote the New African film festival and the annual Franchophonie Cultural Festival running to April 15, which celebrates French culture in France and the regions it colonized.

French-influenced movies in the AFI festival include “Burn it up Djassa” and “Aya of Yop City” from the Ivory Coast; “Le President” and “Ninah’s Diary” from Cameroon; “Under the Starry Sky” from Senegal and “GriGris” from Chad.

“GriGris” is about a young man with a paralyzed leg who dreams of becoming a profes-

sional dancer but who instead turns to smuggling oil to pay his stepfather’s hospital bills. Along the way he meets a prostitute named Mimi, and they try to make a life together.

Also in the festival are films from southern Africa, including “The Forgotten Kingdom” about a man who travels from Johannesburg to the mountains of Lesotho to bury his father.

Another is the psychological thriller “Fynbos” about a real estate developer facing bankruptcy who travels with his wife to a lavish glass house in the fynbos, a remote area of shrub land in the Western Cape region of South Africa.

“It was a very good year as far as choices available to us,” said Hitchcock about the 2014 entries. “It’s wonderful to see it grow year to year.”

and South Drive, Bethesda, 240505-0339.

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, March 16, Bev Bernbaum with Coracree; March 23, Tom and Myra with Tunescape; March 30, Nils Fredland and Figment, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www.fsgw.org.

English Country, March 12, Stephanie Smith; March 19, Melissa Runnin; March 26, Bob Farrall, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www.fsgw.org.

Swing, March, TBD, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet.org.

Waltz, March 16, Some Assembly; March 30, Figments, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www.waltztimedances.org.

vterhune@gazette.net

IN THE ARTS Carpe Diem Contra Dance, March. 13, Steve Hickman, John Devine and the Major Minors, DeLaura Padovan, caller, 7-7:30 p.m. contradance workshops, 7:30-10 p.m. Contras & Squares, second Thursdays, Great Hall, Silver Spring Civics Center, One Veterans

Plaza, Silver Spring, $10 for general admission, $8 for members, $5 for students and those without income, www.carpediemarts.com.

Hollywood Ballroom, March 12, “step of the evening” East Coast Swing at 8:15 p.m., Social Ballroom at 8:30 p.m.; March 14, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam

Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); March 15, Shamrock Ball with Christina Drapkin Jazz Group, East Coast Swing at 7:30 p.m., Jazz Group from 8:30-11:30 p.m., DJ from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ($25 in advance, $30 at door); March 16, free Tango lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m. ($16); March 19, “step of the evening” Samba at 8:15 p.m., Social

Ballroom Dance at 8:30 p.m.; March 20, Tea Dance from 12:30-3:30 p.m. ($6), 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-326-1181, www.hollywoodballroomdc.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

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, March 14, Ann Fallon

w No ing! w Sho F.

Scott Fitzgerald Theater

603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851

240-314-8690

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“Global Warmth” The National String Symphonia David A. Fanning, Conductor 1910810

DANCES

March 22 at 8 pm Tickets $10 to $37.50

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MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Parthenon Huxley presents

Acoustic Elo, featuring Ben Hoyt and Dave Phenicie, 7:30 p.m.

March 12; Rhonda Ross, 8 p.m.

March 13; Daryl Jr. Cline with Julia Nixon and the Recliners, 8 p.m.

March 15; Blue Moon Big Band, 7:30 p.m. March 16; Zan McLeod & Celtic Borders, 7:30 p.m. March 17; The Mycah Chevalier Experience, 7:30 p.m. March 19, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda.

240-330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com.

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

ON VIEW

Continued from Page B-5 it with wax or encaustic, but abandoned that a few years ago for oils and spray paint with which she continues to work.

The results are densely formed compositions with botanical forms that layer over each other in ways that produce an illusion of deep pictorial space. A good example of this is her “Enigma of the Eternal Now,” clearly a title that invites a metaphysical interpretation. Again, the floral comparison comes to mind: the forms look like a bouquet pushing upward. Yet, there are large white plastic forms on the left of the painting that defy that interpretation, and the tiny curling forms that make up much of this “bouquet” don’t actually look floral at all. This is what makes Goslee’s paintings so intriguing and delightful. They seem to reflect something in nature because of their organic richness, but they are actually quite abstract in the end. The freshness of the colors and the strangely inscrutable formations in her paintings make Goslee’s works both visually attractive and compelling in that they encourage looking and wondering. The artist has commented on this aspect of her work in an interview with Isabel Manalo published in 2011: “One thing that excites me is how pattern and layering represent how we store ‘stuff’ (information, emotional baggage, awareness) … What layers need to be removed or rearranged, in order to change? There’s a lot of back and forth the when I work.

Foreground changes to background … I can get lost in the patterns … The most important thing is to try and stay open … We are all energy conduits … My paintings are a way of visualizing that energy.”

Jessica Van Brakle’s work has taken on a clear identity in the past few years because of her signature use of crane and construction metaphors drawn with fine black lines often paired with organic forms. The work now on exhibit is from a series of drawings she titled “Flatland.” Limiting herself to those lines and flat black forms, and continuing to work with shapes derived from the construction crane, each of these exquisitely rendered works adds a different shade of blue to the black and white, along with tiny “gems” (the artist’s word) of bright colors highlighting certain points in the image. As the artist has said, here she uses “the twodimensional plane to explore the multidimensional possibilities of human perception.” In addition, the theme of nature versus man-made, which has been fundamental to her work, is very much in evidence here where the nature component is far more evident than in previous works, as well as a spiritual dimension that expresses itself in mandala-like wheels and shapes reminiscent of fractals and crystals.

For example, in “Compass Flower” Van Brackle confines the crane forms to petals around a black organic shape that resembles a snowflake. Black petals surround the inner “flower” with tiny linear projections at certain points around it. This extra material is reminiscent of the fractal drawings of early twentieth century scientists, before computer renderings were possible. It is visible in a number of these works where the forms, drawn with geometric and symmetrical exactitude, are extended, or enhanced around the edges; pulled outward in seemingly random ways. These linear extensions also give the drawings a handmade quality that belies the impression that these are prints — something which, according to Adah Rose, is the frequent mistake of many visitors.

Van Brakle’s interest in the crane form rises from her family background.

Her grandfather and father were in the construction business, and worked particularly on big projects with cranes.

Her studio is full of plastic crane toys in different sizes and colors like bright red and yellow. Her transformation of these into elegant ink drawings executed with a little squeegee with a metal nib and a small brush is nothing less than fascinating. The clean lines of the crane forms are contrasted with plant forms in compositions that often seem kaleidoscopic or blossoming in character.

Among the most striking of the pieces in this exhibit is “Alcove,” a small drawing where the primary shape is recognizably a tree, its form mirrored on two sides against a blue background resembling a corner. The crane forms fill the negative space where the branches separate, dotted with a pink “gem.” The leaves and branches extend in delicate curving line drawings outside of the geometric containing blue form as if connoting the way nature will usually, or at least ultimately, prevail over the man-made. This Romantic idea is also suggested in the piece called “Spurt” in which a large black form resembling a house is topped by crane forms in two layers. Yet “spurting” out from the center is a flowering plant, a mystical pink “gem” at its top against the pale blue sky.

“The Deepest Feeling Always Shows Itself in Silence,” Pat Goslee and Jessica Van Brakle, to March 23, Adah Rose Gallery, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, adahrosegallery.com.

Page B-7

Sting, Paul Simon in concert tonight in North Bethesda n

Rock luminaries lend a hand with Duke Ellington School benefit at Strathmore

BY SAMANTHA SCHMIEDER SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

On Thursday, Sting and Paul Simon will take over the Verizon Center. But tonight, the duo will help to raise money for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts with a concert at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

Currently on tour together, the pair are taking time out of their busy schedules to be a part of the Duke Ellington’s Performance Series of Legends, which is now in its seventh year and has become the school’s signature fundraising event.

Rory Pullens, CEO of the Duke Ellington School, explained that he and the school are grateful that the music icons were willing to participate in the concert and give them their “opening night” in the Maryland area. Pullens thinks that people will be drawn to the show because the money goes to a good cause and that Strathmore is much more intimate venue than the Verizon Center.

“Now that the Performance Series of Legends is in its seventh year, people follow the brand, they look forward to it and love supporting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts,” Pullens said.

This year, student singers and dancers will open the show by performing two Sting pieces choreographed by Charles Augins, the director of the dance department at the school and a former choreographer for Sting himself.

Augins met and worked with Sting on the music video “Spread a Little Happiness,” from the soundtrack to the 1982 film “Brimstone & Treacle.”

Following that collaboration, Augins worked with Sting periodically as a dance instructor throughout the early ’90s, also working with David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney during that time.

Because of his connection to Sting, Augins decided to reach out and request the rock star’s assistance.

“I know he is a kind and giving spirit, and [as he’s grown older] he is a cool teacher who is very concerned with the youth of today and giving back,” Augins said.

Tickets for the event start at around $250 — obviously making it difficult for students to attend. In the past, artists have made stops at the school while in town to lead a masterclass and to discuss the industry and answer students’ questions. However, this year, because the show is happening in the middle of their tour, Sting and Simon are unable to have a masterclass.

“It’s a little deviation from what we usually do because their time is much more in demand,” Pullens said.

ROOTS

Continued from Page B-5 Later in the day, Seeger will perform at the Washington Ethical Society on 16th Street in Washington, D.C., not far from the Silver Spring MARC station. The concert is sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington based in Cabin John.

“I’ll be singing half traditional and half new songs,” said Seeger, who has recorded 23 solo CDs and plans to release her next, “Everything Changes,” in August.

Still to come in the pipeline is “Love Unbidden,” an album of love songs and poetry.

Traveling with her on the tour will be one of her nine grandchildren, Alex MacColl, 23.

“My grandson will be driving me around — he’s my roadie and companion, and he’ll be singing one or two songs,” Seeger said.

“He’ll [also] be lifting everything,” joked Seeger, who turns 79 in June.

PHOTO BY FRANK OCKENFELS

Rock icons Sting and Paul Simon will join forces on stage tonight for a concert benefiting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Students performing in the opening act and their parents are able to attend the show, and there were also some more reasonably priced tickets set aside for parents and students to purchase, Pullens explained.

Previous artists who have played at the Performance Series of Legends include Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Although many people would be impressed with the people and projects that Augins has worked with in the past, he says his students aren’t really fazed.

Sister of the late Michael Seeger and half-sister of the late Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger and her late husband, Ewan MacColl, helped drive the folk revival in England in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. They preserved traditional songs and worked with Charles Parker on their groundbreaking BBC show, “Radio Ballads,” a series of radio documentaries featuring music and the recorded voices of working people.

Two of Seeger’s most best-known songs are the feminist classic, “I’m Gonna Be an Engineer” and “The Ballad of Springhill” about a 1958 mining disaster in Nova Scotia.

Music in the making Seeger grew up in a musical household. Her father was folklorist and musicologist Charles Seeger, and her mother was his second wife, Ruth Porter Crawford, a modernist composer.

Seeger went to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and spent two years in Radcliffe College in the early 1950s

“We’re talking about another generation,” Augins said with a laugh, explaining that most of his 14- and 15-year-old students are just figuring out who these big names are.

The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore. Tickets range from $250 up to VIP tickets for $1000, and are partially tax deductible. The event will also feature another mystery guest.

“We do have a special artist who will be coming, whose name I can’t reveal at this juncture,” Pullens said.

before moving to Holland and then to England where she met MacColl.

Seeger was the inspiration for MacColl’s song, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” recorded in 1973 by Roberta Flack.

She and MacColl also performed at venues around Great Britain for 30 years.

“We had a little van and could go anywhere in two to three hours,” she said.

Following her husband’s death in 1989, Seeger moved to North Carolina in 1994 and continued to perform, driving to venues in the eastern U.S. in a small motor home, until she returned to England in 2010 to be closer to family.

Steeped in traditional folk music and still politically active, Seeger continues to write new songs about global issues, including the ongoing — and in her view, possibly irreversible — degradation of the natural environment.

“It’s an ecological disaster,” she said. “What we do affects everything — all human beings need to be all work-

ing at the same issue, or we’re sunk.”

Related for her is the issue of population growth.

“It has tripled in my lifetime,” she said. “There’s so much space in the U.S., but in Europe you really notice it.”

Also a committed feminist, Seeger said one organization that helps women around the world is Women for Women International, a nonprofit with offices in Washington, D.C., and London.

By contributing, individuals can directly support one woman, enabling her to learn to read, write and become financially independent.

“It can take women out of abusive situations,” she said.

Seeger said she’s glad to be returning for a visit to Chevy Chase and its familiar neighborhoods, which she said haven’t changed much since she knew them as a teenager.

“I’m looking forward to seeing old friends that might turn up,” she said. vterhune@gazette.net

WORLD

Continued from Page B-5 Jason Robert Brown, who wrote the show, will be the guest conductor. Brown’s latest Broadway show, “Bridges of Madison County,” just opened recently. He’s also working on the film adaptation for his show “The Last Five Years,” which is set to star Anna Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” fame. As if that wasn’t enough, Brown is putting the finishing touches on the Broadway reimagining of “Honeymoon in Vegas,” which is supposed to open next year.

Sanz said “Songs for a New World” is “one of the iconic musical theater pieces,” for anyone who came up with musical theater in the 1990s.

“Kristofer and I reached out to Jason over a year ago when we got the idea of doing ‘Songs for a New World,’” Sanz said. “We had heard Jason had written a fully orchestrated version. … We told him we were looking for information about renting the orchestra part.”

Brown responded almost immediately, Sanz said. Not only was Brown pleased they wanted to do the show, but he wanted to be a part of it.

For someone who is so incredibly busy to stop by and help the Young Artists of America is tremendously exciting, according to Sanz.

“Just to have Jason coming and to mentor our students to perform alongside them is, we think, a very unique experience,” said Sanz. “Not just for our students, but for students everywhere. This is not something he does often, but he made it very clear in the

MICHELLE DRUMHELLER

Young Artists of America will work with professional singers on Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown’s classic “Songs for a New World.” Brown will be the guest conductor for the shows. beginning that he feels very strongly about youth music education.”

“Songs for a New World,” isn’t a typical Broadway musical. The production features a series of songs that are all connected by one central theme. The show features four singers who sing alone and with each other. For this particular staging, four professional performers — Broadway actress Tracy Lynn Olivera, Helen Hayes Award winner Nora Y. Payton, Catholic University Voice Faculty Professor Dr. Rachelle Fleming (sister of renowned soprano Renee Fleming), and Young Artists of America alumnus Michael Mainwaring — will sing with

support from students.

Sanz knows the experience will be phenomenal for the students, but that Brown will also be able to benefit from the performances. “[Brown] is one who actually laments the reducing of orchestrations in Broadway musicals,” Sanz said.

“He’s always fighting for that. So I think the fact we have a 52-piece orchestra to offer him to do his piece is rare for him as well.”

“Songs for a New World” has a really poignant message, according to Sanz, and he hopes audiences take the words of the show to heart.

“The beauty of the show is that after everyone goes through the 90 minutes of music [and] has gone through their ups and downs and their goods and their bads, the show doesn’t end happily and it doesn’t say that the world is a beautiful place,” Sanz said. “The last words of the show are, roughly, no matter what you go through, we’re going to be OK. We’re going to be fine.

“It’s rather inspirational and it’s not sugar-coating anything. It’s looking at life just as it is.” wfranklin@gazette.net

Page B-8

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Classifieds

Page B-9

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

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Page B-10

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

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assist.you@aol.com MY HOUSE CLEANER

Looking for a Tutor for Adult with Autism

To work PT w/ young adult male in his home in Darnestown MD. The person should be able to work 2-5 days a wk in 3-4 hr increments. The candidate should have documented work exp with autistic children and adults: academics, arts and/or physical fitness. Perfect position for a retired teacher or a current/former one-on-one aide in a school system. Must have own trans.

Send resume to:

office.assistant.20854@gmail.com

Great Refs, Exp, Legal, Own transp.

Speaks English

301-357-0557

LIVE-IN/LIVE-OUT P/T: Hskpr Spanish

preferred.

Cleaning, good cook, Bethesda.

301-767-0696

POTOMAC FAMILY ASSISTANT: Sun-

Thurs 1-9pm. Drive, Clean & Care for Family. Some overnights, Legal. 301.887.3212

ONE CALL, DOES IT ALL! FAST AND RELIABLE ELECALL THINGS TRICAL REPAIRS BASEMENTY! & INSTALLABasement Systems TIONS. Call 1-800- GUARANTEED Inc. Call us for all of INCOME FOR your basement needs! 908-8502 YOUR RETIREWaterproofing? FinishONE CALL, DOES MENT. Avoid market ing? Structural ReIT ALL! FAST AND risk & get guaranteed pairs? Humidity and RELIABLE income in retirement!

Mold Control FREE PLUMBING RECALL for FREE copy ESTIMATES! Call 1Call 1-800PAIRS. of our SAFE MONEY 888-698-8150 796-9218

GUIDE. Plus Annuity.

Quotes from A-Rated compaines! 800-6695471

FOSTER CARE

If you have room in your home, give the gift of family to a child in foster care. We pay a generous stipend. Call Carerite TFC 301-326-1357 today!

Daycare Directory

AIRLINE CAREERS

begin here - Get FAA AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Train for hands approved Aviation on Aviation Career.

Maintenance training.

Housing and Financial FAA approved program. Finanical aid if Aid for qualified stuqualified - Job placedents. Job placement assistance. CALL Avi- ment assistance.

CALL Aviation Institute ation Institute of Mainof Maintenance 877tenance 800-481818-0783.

8974.

GP2398 GP2398

$24.99 includes rain insurance

CASH PAID - UP TO $25/BOX for

Need A Personal Asst?

Plan Ahead!

Place Your Yard Sale Ad Today!

household & children, references are required ping, Friendly Service, ing. For a limited time, 240-242-5135 BEST prices and 24hr get free equipment, no payment! Call today activation fees, no 877-588-8500 or visit commitment, a 2nd www.TestStripSearch. waterproof alert button com Espanol 888-440- for free and more 4001 only $29.95 per month.

Lic Day Care 800-617-2809

Is looking for PT work

HOST A FRENCH S T U D E N T! CCI Greenheart is

currently seeking volunteer host families in the DC Area to host a French exchange student from Aug. 1st21st. If inter-ested contact Jim Hogue at (240)772-0948, or ja m e s . p . h o g u e @ g mail.com

LIVE IN NANNY/ For HOUSKPR

EOE

Proposals

HUNT AUCTION

CASH FOR MEDICAL GUARDIUNEXPIRED DIAAN - Top-rated medical alarm and 24/7 BETIC TEST STRIPS! Free Ship- medical alert monitor-

Children’s Center of Damascus Damascus Licensed Family Daycare Elena’s Family Daycare Debbie’s Daycare My Little Lamb Daycare Kids Garden Day Care Reflections Daycare My Little Place Home Daycare Nancy’s Day Care

Lic#: 31453 Lic#: 139094 Lic#: 15-133761 Lic#: 15-127060 Lic #: 1551328 Lic#: 139378 Lic#: 160613 Lic#: 131042 Lic#: 25883

301-253-6864 301-253-4753 301-972-1955 301-540-6818 240-351-8888 240-601-9134 240-506-5343 301-947-8477 301-972-6694

20872 20872 20876 20876 20877 20886 20886 20886 20874

DEADLINE: MARCH 31ST, 2014

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net

Administrative

EDUCATION

BILLING CLERK

Assistant Teacher

FT w/benefits. Must be detail oriented & computer literate. Possess prof degree, acctg pref (1 yr min exp). resumehomecare@gmail.com

Peppertree Children Center in Germantown needs an assistant teacher for per school class. Must be energetic, caring and work will as part of a team.

Hours 8am-12 AND 2-6pm (split shift). Must be high school graduate & some college course work in ECE or related field.

Search Jobs

Find Career Resources GC3252

Call Debbie or Harriet at 301-540-1170

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page B-11

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net Foster Parents

Treatment Foster Parents Needed Work from home!

û Free training begins soon û Generous monthly tax-free stipend û 24/7 support

FRONT DESK

DENTAL OFFICE Bilingual

English/Spanish with experience. Apply at: 426 E. Diamond Ave., Gaith. or email:

Call 301-355-7205

301-990-8435

We are looking for a specialist who has a documented history of driving new business. Post Community Media provides local news and information to communities in the Maryland and Virginia. We are seeking a skilled sales professional to assist small businesses in marketing their products and services.

This is an outside sales position. You will develop and understanding of print, online and mobile advertising. Previous sales experience needed, enthusiasm, great work ethic and a strong desire to succeed.

Clinical Care

Overseeing the clinical care of our residents at Bartholomew House Assisted Living, a 35 bed level 2 home in Bethesda. Send resume and salary reqs to Sister Irene Dunn at idunn@victoryhousing.org or fax to 301-493-9788. EOE For details job description visit www.gazette.net

We offer a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including pension, 401(k) and tuition reimbursement.

Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now

If you believe this is the right position for your skills, talent and abilities, please forward your resume to DHayes@Gazette.net. EOE

Dental/Medical Offices now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706

CNA’S/Activities Coordinator

CONSTRUCTION

Effective immediately, M.T. Laney Co., Inc. a site/paving contractor will be accepting applications for the following positions: ∂ Paving Foreman ∂ Bobcat/Milling Operator ∂ Heavy Equipment Operator ∂ Sweeper Truck Driver ∂ Heavy Equipment Mechanic û Must have experience Top wages and a great working environment. EOE. Please email resume to info@mtlaney.com OR call 410-795-1761

CONSTRUCTION

Effective immediately, M.T. Laney Co., Inc. a site/paving contractor will be accepting applications for the following positions: ∂ Paving Superintendent ∂ Estimator û Must have experience Top wages and a great working environment. EOE. Please email resume to info@mtlaney.com OR call 410-795-1761

Accounting Admin

PT, Germantown MD entry-level candidate to assist w/clerical accounting & admin operations.

Resp: Entry of contracts & invoicing, AP/AR, maintain files, some reception duties. Req: 3-5 yrs clerical accounting exp, knowledge of MS Office, Word, Excel & Outlook, Exp. w/BST accounting software a plus.

Salary TBD, 25+/- hrs/wk. Send cover letter and resume to careers@rodgers.com

GC3233

Drivers

Local companies, Local candidates Get Connected

Gazette.Net

Use your GI Benefits NOW for training in Healthcare.

JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE Offered.

Mon-Fri, 20-30/hrs. week.

Morning/Afternoon passenger van route. Montgomery County, Germantown/Silver Spring area.

Good driving record required.

Retired applicants welcome.

Call Stacy Thomas at 240-686-0866 Ext 237

Rockville Dermatology Practice seeking FT Office Mgr. Previous exp. req. Excellent computer skills req. Prev. EMR exp. pref.

Excellent benefits.

Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524 CTO SCHEV

Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) is a Montgomery County, MD community-based non-profit organization, dedicated to serving children and adults living with autism. The position will provide Direct Support to Children and Adults in Montgomery County homes as a Residential Counselor, supporting students who are receiving educational services at our Community School of MD as a Teaching Assistant, or assistants for adults in our supported employment program as a Job Coach.

We provide paid training. If interested, please visit: http://www.csaac.org/careers.htm for our employment application or send your resume to careers@csaac.org.

to advertise call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net

HEALTHCARE

MECHANIC

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

Effective immediately, M.T. Laney Co., Inc. a site/paving contractor will be accepting applications for the following positions: ∂ Heavy Equipment Mechanic û Must have experience Top wages and a great working environment. EOE. Please email resume to info@mtlaney.com OR call 410-795-1761

for Cardiology Practice in Rockville/Germantown area Must have strong skills and the ability to lead a team Fax or email resume to 301-947-2811 or resumestowork1@gmail.com

Office Manager

DIRECT SUPPORT

CTO SCHEV

(GNA & Med Tech a plu$) Asst. Living in a rural home enviroment, Brookeville, MD. Must have own transp.

Please send resume: brookevillehouse@aol.com or fax to: 301-570-1182

VETERANS NEEDED

Call Now 1-888-3958261

Display Advertising Sales Representative

GC3205

Med Tech

WE’RE HIRING WEEKEND CNAS, GNAS, AND HHAS!

Email resume to Office2983@aol.com or Fax to 301-216-2982

House Maid

An immediate opening for 1 FT (30-40 hrs per week) House Maid to join our Company for Residential Cleaning. Mon-Fri. 8am-5 pm. Must have Drivers License, excellent cleaning exp, must speak some English and be legal to work in U.S. Pay $10.00/hr. 301-706-5550.

On Call Supervisor

Great job for students, retirees and stay at home moms. Work from home! Answer and handle phone calls from 5pm to 9am two evenings twice a month for staffing agency or one weekend a month. Must have Internet access, and a car. Fax resume to 301.588.9065 or email to cc2439@yahoo.com

Restaurant Staff

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

∂ Waiter’s/Waitress’s A la Carte And Banquet Positions available. Full & Part Time.

DINING ROOM SUPERVISOR

Search Jobs

Find Career Resources

Supervisory & cooking experience required, Non-Profit Retirement Community Send resume to: office@homecresthouse.org

General Assignment Reporter At The Gazette, we have built a newsroom that values curiosity, creativity and tenacity. Each week in print and each day online, we not only cover the news but uncover the stories that describe a county of 1 million people. Most of our reporters and editors are launching their careers, and our goal is to harness their determination and develop their talents. Several of our staff members are seasoned journalists committed to mentoring the next generation.

We have an immediate opening for a general assignment reporter who will be expected to file a minimum of five stories per week for use in print and online.

Candidates should be able to write in an engaging, lively manner. Some of the stories will involve arts & entertainment in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Fairfax counties. Some will involve community features and news coverage in Montgomery County.

Candidates should be able to work some nights and weekends, and need their own reliable transportation. Candidates should be able to interview most any subject, and have clips that show the range of their talent. They should be able to manage their time to meet rigorous deadlines. And they should have innate curiosity to pitch story ideas to editors. They should be web savvy with a thorough knowledge of social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Vine) and should have an eye for appealing visuals.

Some photography possible. Candidates should have a broad interest in entertainment topics (theater, music, movies, books and dining), and have his or her finger on the pulse of pop-culture, both local and national.

Send clips, resume and salary requirements to dtallman@gazette.net.

We offer a competitive compensation & comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, pension, 401(k) & tuition reimbursement.

No phone calls.

EOE

Sales

Apply In Person: Normandie Farm Restaurant 10710 Falls Rd, Potomac 301-983-8838

ASSISTANT MANAGER

For gym. Sales experience required. Salary depends on experience. If interested please email your resume to: tykf@verizon.net Veterinary Hospital

Receptionist Immediate opening for a full time receptionist for a busy veterinary hospital. Must have strong communication and computer skills. Full benefit package offered.

Fax resume w/cover letter to: 301-570-1526 or mail to: Brookeville Animal Hospital 22201 Georgia Avenue, Brookeville MD 20833 NO PHONE CALLS OR WALK-INS PLEASE!

Warehouse Wabtec Railway Electronics in Germantown has the following openings: Stockroom - pick, pack and deliver electronic parts requires previous experience in electronics, must be able to lift 50 lbs For immediate consideration, send resume and salary history to: drandall@wabtec.com fax (301) 515-2139

Change Is In The Air! Find your next career opportunity.

GazetteJobs.Net

Page B-12

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Careers 301-670-2500 For a busy veterinary hospital located in Potomac, Maryland FT, must love working with animals AND people. Must be a hard working and reliable individual who doesn’t mind getting dirty. Weekend and holiday work required. Reliable transportation a must. Good pay and benefits. Experience preferred. Call: 301-983-8400 or email your resume to fallsroadvethosp@aol.com.

Sales

Real Estate

Stocker Bell Nursery, a nationally recognized grower/vendor is looking for hardworking people to stock our products at a garden center near you.

Must be flexible for weekend work.

For job descriptions, locations & to APPLY visit www.bellnursery.com/careers

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

GC3046

KENNEL HELP

class@gazette.net

301-388-2626 301-388-2626

bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. EOE

Gaithersburg based co. seeking telemarketers to schedule service appts. Hrs are M-F 6pm-9pm. Some cold calling. If interested call Maureen between 6pm9pm. Monday thru Friday @ 301-519-3500.

Montgomery Hospice-Cook

Business Development Specialist Media Sales

Casey House, our 14 bed inpatient facility, has a part time opening for an experienced cook to prepare meals for our patient’s and visitors. The schedule is every other weekend, 6:00am-2:30pm.

Must be a certified food manager and have previous experience cooking in an institutional setting.

Healthcare experience preferred. Please call Michelle Bentzel at 301-637-1877, stop by for an application, or visit our website at www.montgomeryhospice.org 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 EOE

We’re looking for a Specialist who has a documented history of driving new business. Post Community Media provides local news and information to communities in Maryland and Virginia. We are looking for a skilled sales professional to assist small businesses in marketing their products and services.

This is an outside sales position based in the Laurel office with a Prince George’s territory assignment. You would develop an understanding of print, online, mobile advertising with a focus on retail and service business segments. Previous sales experience needed, enthusiasm, great work ethic and a strong desire to succeed.

We offer a competitive compensation & comprehensive benefits package including pension, 401(k) & tuition reimbursement.

If you believe this is the right position for your skills, talents and abilities. Please email resume to Doug Hayes at DHayes@gazette.net or call 240-473-7532. EOE

TELEMARKETING

Healthcare

Massage Therapist HEALTHCARE

MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

PART TIME/JOB SHARE. For a busy solo ophthalmology practice in Bethesda. Mature person who enjoys dealing with patients. Detail oriented, computer literate and willing to share office responsibilities.

Will train. Fax resume to

301-657-2532 OR call 301-657-3022.

Skilled nursing facility is in search of a Massage Therapist to join the team! Experience, respectful attitude for seniors, patience, and an appreciation of a holistic model of care is a must.

Apply at 1235 Potomac Valley Rd., Rockville, MD 20850. EOE

Part-Time

Work From Home

National Children’s Center Making calls. For more info please call Weekdays between 9a-4p No selling! Sal + bonus + benes.

Call 301-333-1900

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Automotive

Page B-13

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

TIFFIN ALLEGRO BUS 2002: N o n smoker. Well kept up with up to date maintenance. 40ft.

Diesel engine.

Must sell fast! Asking $38,000. Call 443-355-4226

2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5: 104,729 mi, 4x4 V6, loaded, Sunroof, CS, non Smoker, recently serviced looks & runs GREAT! $2,900 443-267-7806

CA H

FOR CAR !

ANY CAR ANY CONDITION

WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN

INSTANT CASH OFFER

’02 FORD FOCUS ZTS 120k $2500 new radio/ cd player, great condition silver 301-253-0398

95’ LEXUS ES 300: 85k, well maintained, orig owner, tan/tan, garaged, w/service records, moonroof $3,800 Call: 301-947-8925

MERCEDES 2001 C240 4 DR, 6 spd manual, MD inspect only 73K miles $5999 301-3403984 VOLVO 2004 SUV XC90 T6 awd 7 pass, MD inspect, 1 owner $5999 301340-3984

YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR WAY AT OURISMAN EVERYDAY WINTER

OURISMAN VW

2013 MODEL SALE

to advertise call 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net

(301)288-6009

CASH FOR CARS!

DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RV’S. LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY.

Your donation helps local families with food, clothing, shelter.

Tax deductible.

MVA licensed.

LutheranMissionSociet y.org 410-636-0123 or toll-free 1-877-7378567.

G559758

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

2014 GOLF 4 DOOR

2014 BEETLE 2.5L

#7380482, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

#30001704, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Heated Seats, Bluetooth, Cruise Control

#1693378, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Sunroof

MSRP 21,085

MSRP 17,810 BUY FOR

4 NEED AUTO FINANCING ASSISTANCE? 4 TIRED OF HASSLES? 4 WANT A FRESH START?

$$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Makes!

Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week.

Call 1-800-959-8518

2014 JETTA S

ALL APPLICATIONS REVIEWED WE HELP EVERYONE! EMAIL US AT BUILDMYCREDIT@JIMCOLEMANAUTO.COM OR CALL

1-866-464-1618

14,999

$

2014 PASSAT S #9009449, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

MSRP $22,765 BUY FOR

MSRP $24,490

$

$

G559747

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top

SALE!

18,999

$

OR 0.9% for 60 MONTHS

BUY FOR

17,995

$

BUY FOR

18,795

$

2013 GTI 4 DOOR

2013 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

#4116048, Automatic, Power Windows/ Power Locks, Keyless Entry

#2824647, 2.0 Turbo, Power Windows/ Locks, Power Top

MSRP $26,960

MSRP $30,365

BUY FOR

22,955

$

OR 0% for 60 MONTHS

BUY FOR

23,933

$

2014 JETTA SE HYBRID

2014 PASSAT SE TDI

2014 TIGUAN S 4WD

#7229632, Automatic Power Windows, Power Locks, Sunroof

#9009850, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Sunroof

#13543457, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

MSRP $28,350

MSRP $29,465

BUY FOR

23,999

$

BUY FOR

24,998

$

MSRP $28,936

BUY FOR

24,999

$

OURISMAN VW WORLD AUTO CERTIFIED PRE OWNED 20 Available...Rates Starting at 2.64% up to 72 months

2012 Jetta SE...............#VPR6113, Silver, 34,537 miles.................$12,594 2010 Jetta LTD...........#VP0037, White, 56,195 miles................$12,991 2011 Toyota Corolla....#VP0020, Black, 30,992 miles................$13,494 2012 Mazda 6..........#VPR0023, Black, 44,340 miles...............$13,494 2010 Toyota Prius...#V658032A, Gray, 65,455 miles..............$15,491 2007 BMW Z-4.......#V006539B, White, 69,522 miles.............$15,993 2012 Nissan Juke..#V257168A, White, 57,565 miles.............$17,992 2011 CC.....................#VP0032, White, 36,116 miles................$18,493 2013 Jetta SE...........#VPR0027, White, 6,101 miles...............$19,492

2013 Jetta SE............#VPR0030, Silver, 4,340 miles................$19,592 2013 Passat S...........#VPR0026, Black, 6,891 miles................$20,492 2011 CC.....................#VP0035, White, 38,225 miles................$20,992 2014 Passat Wolfsburg. .#VPR0041, White, 2,878 miles................$21,991 2014 Passat Wolfsburg...#VPR0040, Grey, 5,227 miles.................$21,991 2014 Passat Wolfsburg...#VPR0039, Silver, 5,447 miles.................$21,991 2014 Passat .............#V002004A, Black, 4,287 miles...............$23,991 2014 Passat SE........#VPR0036, White, 5,965 miles...............$24,391 2012 Nissan Maxima. .#V073708A, Gray, 47,457 miles..............$24,991

All prices exclude tax, tags, title, freight and $200 processing fee. Cannot be combined with any previous advertised or internet special. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.

See dealer for details. 0% APR Up To 60 Months on all models. See dealer for details. Ourisman VW World Auto Certified Pre Owned financing for 60 months based on credit approval thru VW. Excludes Title, Tax, Options & Dealer Fees. Special APR financing cannot be combined with sale prices. Ends 03/31/14.

Ourisman VW of Laurel

Looking for a new convertible?

1.855.881.9197 • www.ourismanvw.com Online Chat Available...24 Hour Website • Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-9 pm • Sat 9 am-8 pm

Selling Your Car just got easier!

Log on to

Gazette.Net/Autos to place your auto ad!

As low as $29.95!

G559757

Search Gazette.Net/Autos

3371 Fort Meade Road, Laurel

Page B-14

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

MARCH MARCH I IN N AND SAVE!!

AND SAVE!!

DARCARS VOLVO OF ROCKVILLE 2002 Volvo V70

04 Toyota Highlander LTD #462007B, $ 4 Speed Auto, Vintage $ Blue, Sport Utility

8,800

07 Toyota Camry LE $$

10,900

#472397A, 5 Speed Auto, 1-Owner, Aloe Green

35K Miles, 1-Owner

12,900

11 Scion XB $$

13,500

#472126B, 1-Owner, 4 Speed Auto, 24K Miles

11,200

6,980

$

#422051B, 121K Miles

13 Kia Rio LX $$

#453017A, Auto, 2K Miles, 1-Owner

14,400

9,980

#426047A, 78kMiles

$

2007 Jeep Wrangler X

11 Toyota Camry LE $$

#P8918, 6 Speed Auto, 33k Miles, Silver Metallic

16,500

14FordFocusSE $$

#472144A, Auto, 4k Miles, 1-Owner

16,700

13 Toyota Corolla S $$

#364525A, 4 Speed Auto, 22k miles, 1-Owner

17,700

12,980

#3258118A, 111k Miles

$

2008 Mazda Miata MX5 Grand Touring

12 Hyundai Genesis Coupe #464070A, 2.0T, $ 5 Speed, 13K Miles, $ 1-Owner

18,900

13 Toyota RAV4 LE $$

#364547A, 6 Speed Auto, 8K Miles, 1-Owner, Sport Utility

2004 Toyota Corolla LE.......... $8,800 $8,800 #R1737A, 4 SpeedAuto, Desert Sand Mica

2012 Nissan Sentra 2.......... $15,499 $15,499 #P8858A, CVT Trans, 13k Miles, Bright Silver 2011 Chevrolet Traverse LS. . $17,900 $17,900 #363442A, 6 SpeedAuto, 1 Owner, Sport Utility, Blue Metallic 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class $18,700 $18,700 #457003B, 7 SpeedAuto, Luxury Car, MArs Red 2011 Toyota Sienna Mini Van $18,700 $18,700 #460082A, 6 SpeedAuto, 43k Miles, 1-Owner, Cypress Pearl 2011 Nissan Juke S............ $18,985 $18,985 #450094A, 1-Owner, 36K Miles, CVTTrans, Black Station Wagon

22,700

12ToyotaSiennaLEMiniVan #472179A, 6 Speed $ Auto, 1-Owner, $ 28K Miles

23,800

2011 Toyota Tacoma........... $18,900 $18,900 #467046A, Ext. Cab, 5 Sp Manual, 32k Miles, 1-Owner

$21,700 2013 Ford Escape SE.......... $21,700 #377732A, 6 SpeedAuto, 22k Miles, 1-Owner, Sterling Grey Metallic 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT. $22,700 $22,700 #363225A, 6 SpeedAuto, 5k Miles, Sport Utility, Rally Red $23,595 2008 Toyota Sequoia SR5..... $23,595 #472234A, 6 SpeedAuto, Black Sport Utitity $23,700 2012 Toyota Highlander....... $23,700 #364584A, Sport Utility, 6 SpeedAuto, 35K miles, 1-Owner, Black 2013 Toyota RAV4 XLE........ $23,900 $23,900 #363424A, 1-Owner, 17K miles, Sport Utility, Barcelona Red

G559756

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 VISIT ISIT U US S O ON N T THE HE W WEB EB A AT T w www.355.com ww.355.com

16,980

#325094A, 21k Miles

$

7,980

#E0259A, 137k Miles

$

#422048B, 96k Miles

10,980

#426006A, AWD With Navigation, 176k Miles

$

2009 Volvo XC-90

15,480

#P8834, w/Navigation, 106k Miles

$

#327213B, With Navigation, 87k Miles

$

2008 Ford Expedition L

21,980

10,980

$

2007 VW Passat

2006 Lexus IS 250

#N0294, 89k Miles w/Navigation

11,480

$

2010 Lincoln Town Car

#422037C, 71k Miles

16,980

$

2009 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Crew Cab

#327217C, 63k Miles

23,980

$

1999 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4.............................$8,480 2011 Lexus ES350.....................................................$23,980

#N0295A, 118k Miles

#P8876, 39k Miles

#G0002, 47k Miles

#P8828, Entertainment System, 47k Miles

#426010A, 58k

#P8827, Navigation, 32k Miles

#422055A, 90k Miles

#422036A, 37k Miles

2006 Ford Fusion SE............................................$9,980 2010 Volvo XC-90.........................................................$23,980 2007 Volvo S60................................................................$11,980 2011 Volvo XC-90..................................................$30,980 2011 Volvo XC-60.........................................................$19,980 2012 Volvo XC-60 R-Design Platinum..........$32,980

DARCARS

VOLVO

15401 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD

355 3 5 5 TOYOTA TOYOTA PRE-OWNED P R E - OW N E D DARCARS

2007 Honda Accord EX-L

11 Nissan Versa 1.8S $$

#464060A, 6 Speed Manual, 30k Miles, Black, 1-Owner

2003VolvoS60

10 Toyota Corolla LE #P8919, $ 4 Speed Auto, $

2005 Ford Escape Limited

www.darcarsvolvo.com

1.888.824.9165 DARCARS G559754

See what it’s like to love car buying.

YOUR GOOD CREDIT RESTORED HERE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 g

Page B-15

DARCARS NISSAN DARCARS

2005 Toyota Matrix XR #441031A, 5 Speed Manual, 1-Owner

See what it’s like to love car buying.

8,977

$

2009 Toyota Corolla LE #P8913, Automatic

9,977

$

2014 NISSAN VERSA S +CVT MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

$

#11124 2 At This Price: VINS: 856614, 854353

2014 NISSAN VERSA NOTE

MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

13,995

$

11,995

#11614 2 At This Price: VINS:410790, 413202

$

2014 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

17,495

$

2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 S

#P8912, Automatic, 1-Owner

12,977

$

#446147B, 4WD, Automatic

$14,995 -$500 -$500

12,977

$

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

16,977

$

#470267D, 3.0L Sport, RWD, 1-Owner, Auto

13,995 2010 Cadillac DTS w/1SC

$23,940 $19,495 -$1,000 -$1,000

#374548A, Auto, Sunroof, Heated/ Ventilated Seats

16,977

$

2010 Volkswagen New Beetle

16,977

$

#442018A, Auto, Convertible, Final Edition

With Bluetooth, Rearview Monitor #13114 2 At This Price: VINS: 190413,190601

2013MSRP: NISSAN ROGUE S$22,795 AWD Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

#22213 2 At This Price: VINS: 665621, 665708 G559753

10,977

$

2003 Toyota 4 Runner SR5

2013 NISSAN SENTRA SV MSRP: $18,360

#12113 2 At This Price: VINS: 788738, 797494

choices?

2008 Chrylser Sebring #441039A, Automatic, Touring, FWD

$17,515 $14,995 -$500 -$500

Sale Price: Nissan Rebate NMAC Bonus Cash:

Selling for Looking Your Car just economical got easier!

$14,770 $12,995 -$500 -$500

$

2006 Nissan 350Z Touring

$18,995 -$500 -$500

#432035A, 6 Speed Manual, Leather, 22,288 Miles

17,995

Prices include all rebates and incentives. NMAC Bonus Cash requires financing through NMAC with approved credit. Prices Pricestax, include rebates incentives.

NMAC Bonusand Cash requires financing through NMAC with approved credit.with exclude tags, all freight (carsand $780, trucks $725-$995), $200 processing charge. *Lease payments are calculated Prices exclude tax,$200 tags,processing freight (cars $810,and trucks $200 processing charge. valid only onthrough listed tax, tags, freight, charge first$845-$995), payment dueand at signing, and are valid withPrices tier one approval VINS. See dealer for details.

Offer expires 03/18/2014.

NMAC. Prices valid only on listed VINS. See dealer for details. Offer expires 10/22/2012.

2012 Nissan Murano SV #P8835, AWD, 1-Owner, Automatic, Pano-Roof, Camera

20,977

$

www.DARCARSnissan.com

DARCARS NISSAN of of ROCKVILLE ROCKVILLE 15911 Drive • • Rockville, Rockville, MD MD (at (at Rt. Rt. 355 355 across across from fromKing KingFarm) Farm) 15911 Indianola Indianola Drive www.DARCARSNISSAN.com 888.824.9166 •• www.DARCARSNISSAN.com

18,977

$

DARCARS NISSAN of ROCKVILLE 15911 Indianola Drive • Rockville, MD (at Rt. 355 across from King Farm)

888.805.8235 • www.DARCARSNISSAN.com

BAD CREDIT - NO CREDIT - CALL TODAY!

Search Gazette.Net/Autos

2014 NEW COROLLA LE ECO

36 $

NEW2 2014 COROLLA LE AVAILABLE: #470467, 470335

2 AVAILABLE: #470361, 470474

99/ MO**

MARCH MANIA SALE

4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

NEW 2014 VENZA 4X2 2 AVAILABLE: #474502, 474515

24,590

$

15,990

4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.

NEW 2014 SCION XD 2 AVAILABLE: #453028, 453031

$

4 CYL., AUTO

AFTER $1,000 REBATE

$

169/mo.**

4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO

NEW 22014 RAV4 4X2 LE AVAILABLE: #464026, 464063

NEW 2014 PRIUS PLUG-IN 2 AVAILABLE: #477437, 477438

$

4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

NEW 2014 PRIUS II

21,690

AFTER $750 REBATE

4 CYL., AUTOMATIC

NEW 2014.5 CAMRY LE

2 AVAILABLE: #477432, 477417

$

21,790

2 AVAILABLE: #472229, 472245

0% FOR

HATCHBACK 4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL.,

60

DARCARS

MONTHS+

On 10 Toyota Models

See what it’s like to love car buying

$

19,690

AUTO, 4 CYL., 4 DR

AFTER TOYOTA $1,000 REBATE

1-888-831-9671

15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD n OPEN SUNDAY n VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.355Toyota.com

G559755

159/ MO**

$

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. 2014 COROLLA LE ECO & PRIUS PLIG-IN LEASES ARE FOR 24 MONTHS WITH $995 DOWN. EXPIRES 03/31/2014.

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