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DESIGNING WOMEN

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Playwright’s characters reveal a rich female perspective throughout history. A-12

The Gazette OLNEY

DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

25 cents

Who wants

TO KNOW? n

Tenants, businesses, watchdogs, parents and more, records study shows BY

ANDREW SCHOTZ STAFF WRITER

Last year, the public asked local government bodies for copies of employees’ salaries, property inspection reports and information about a mysterious 1990 homicide.

Motorists who received tickets from cameras pointed at their vehicles were an active subgroup, requesting information to help them fight their tickets. Watchdogs sought copies of expense reports showing how school system officials were spending

taxpayers’ money.

Much of it was public and available through a simple request, under Maryland’s sunshine laws. Sometimes, the records were considered private and the request was denied.

Maryland’s Public Information Act guides the release of public records. Local residents, law firms, out-of-state businesses and journalists filed hundreds of PIA requests last year with government bodies in Montgomery County.

This year, The Gazette asked Montgomery County, Montgomery County Public Schools and 19 municipalities within the county for copies of all of the PIA requests they received in 2013. The newspaper asked for a copy of each request, the government’s reply and, when feasible, the information that was provided to fulfill those requests.

The study was done in conjunction with Sunshine Week, a national effort by news organizations and open-government

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Montgomery County men’s competitive softball league teammates practice on Sunday afternoon at Kelley Park in Gaithersburg. Ryan Wozniak of Montgomery Village pitches to C.J. Franceski of Olney as their teammates await the fly balls.

SPRING ON THE HORIZON

See SUNSHINE, Page A-9

INSIDE AND ONLINE

BUT WINTER WEATHER STILL HANGING AROUND IN MARCH

n How local governments did when asked for PIA information – chart, Page A-9 n Editorial: Information belongs to you – Page A-10 n The types of records sought locally through PIA in 2013 www.gazette.net

LOUIS WILEN The Gazette talked to several people in Montgomery County who made Maryland Public Information Act requests in 2013 about their experiences. For other Q&A profiles, go to www.gazette.net.

Name: Louis Wilen Hometown: Olney Occupation: Retired. Previously worked for IBM doing software technical support/ programming.

How many Maryland Public Information Act requests have you ever made (to any government body)?

Estimate if needed. “I would say about 60.”

In 2013, you asked Montgomery County Public Schools for: 1. A contract with Fellows of Harvard College: Received.

2. FCC ID for for cell site equipment at Northwood High School: “MCPS claimed they didn’t have that info, but everything that transmits a signal has an FCC ID. If they don’t have it, they are in vio-

15 12

PIA PEOPLE:

lation of federal law. Personally, I am sure they have this, but they just don’t want to provide it. If you have the ID, you can go into the database and obtain information. I requested this because of the never-ending controversy about cell sites at schools and the radio frequency emission.”

3. Purchase orders for Westbrook Elementary: Received 4. Superintendent Joshua P. Starr’s credit card expense report: “Not only did we get a chance to see how much he was spending, but we were able to get an idea of whether that money was benefitting the school children or the

See PIA, Page A-9

SPORTS

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW

Baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field start this week. See which teams are the favorites.

B-1

2013-14

SNOWFALL (IN INCHES) Data are from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

n

14.2 11.9*

9.8

9

Sunday’s snow keeping sports teams from play

NORMAL

BY KRISTA BRICK STAFF WRITER

8.0

6.8

6 3

2.9 3.0

DECEMBER

1.9** JANUARY

FEBRUARY

* through Monday ** for all of March

MARCH*

SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

It’s an annual rite of spring when baseball players take to the diamond for spring training.

Well, Mother Nature apparently is not a fan of spring sports.

Spring may start Thursday, but due to the harsh, wet winter that’s been hanging on through March, the county’s athletic fields, including local

parks, elementary and middle schools, are closed to teams that ordinarily would be starting their spring play now.

Those fields have beckoned to players, as warmer weather crept into the county Friday and Saturday. But those same inviting fields found themselves blanketed by up to 10 more inches of snow Monday morning.

The restriction will be reassessed daily but is in place to prevent surface damage, according to the county. The decision affects all the county’s

See SPRING, Page A-9

For Olney library patrons, an open book n

Community celebrates official reopening of location BY

TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER

Nearly 100 people checked out the Olney library’s grandreopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday morning.

Speakers, including County

Automotive Business Calendar Celebrations Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please

RECYCLE

B-13 B-5 A-2 B-7 B-9 A-12 A-10 B-6 B-1

Executive Isiah Leggett, Council President Craig L. Rice (D- Dist. 2) of Germantown, Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring, Sen. Karen S. Montgomery (D-Dist 14) of Brookeville, Library Manager Joseph Eagan and Greater Olney Civic Association President John Webster thanked the community for its patience during the lengthy closure.

Helena Sonnier, 5, (center) reads “The Hungry Dinosaur” with her mom Jennifer Sonnier of Brinklow (left) and her grandmother Susan White of Columbia (right) in the children’s section of the new Olney library.

See LIBRARY, Page A-9

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

SPECIAL SECTION

SUMMER ACTIVITIES GUIDE II It’s not too late to find a summer camp for your child.

Check out detailed information about local and regional programs for kids of all ages.

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Check out our Services Directory ADVERTISING INSIDE B SECTION

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THE GAZETTE

Page A-2

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

PEOPLE& PLACES More online at www.gazette.net

Olney ballerinas headed to New York

Eight dancers from Berrend Dance Center were invited to compete in the New York City Finals of the world’s largest student ballet competition, the Youth American Grand Prix.

During the semifinals Feb. 7-9 in Providence, R.I., the following dancers scored in the top 12 in Ensembles, out of 43 entries: Brenda Welch, 11; Catherine Moyer, 12; Amelia Dencker, 13; Alexandra Mao, 13; Katherine Pawlowski, 13; Isabella Chang, 14; Allison Cannon, 15; and Kate Barnett, 16. Their ensemble performed “Reflections,” choreographed by Aaron Jackson, a Berrend instructor and former company member of the Washington Ballet.

“I could not have asked for a better group of dancers to coach for this project,” Jackson said in a news release.

Allison and Amelia also performed solos. Allison scored in the top 24 for her classical variation, out of about 127 entries; Amelia scored in the top 12 for her classical variation, out of about 105 entries, and top 12 in contemporary. Amelia will compete in the solo category

at the finals in April.

Berrend Dance Centre is the official school of the nonprofit Olney Ballet Theatre, which annually produces “The Nutcracker” at Olney Theatre Centre. More information is at olneyballettheatre.org.

Relay for Life is rescheduled Due to scheduling conflicts with other community events, there is a new date and venue for this year’s Olney Relay for Life. The event, now in its ninth year, will take place May 31-June 1 at Sandy Spring Friends School.

There are 23 teams and more than 100 participants registered; they already have raised more than $15,000 for this year’s relay.

The event helps support people newly diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, friends and survivors. Volunteers are welcome, with student service learning hours available for middle and high schoolers.

Registration and other information are at olneyrelay.org.

Campus congrats The following Olney-area residents graduated in December with

EVENTS

bachelor’s degrees from Salisbury University: Gerald Charles, communication arts; Claire Hernandez,

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

Bloody Orators Toastmasters Club,

Spring breakfast, 7-11 a.m., Mt.

6-7 p.m., American Red Cross, Jerome H. Holland Laboratory, 15601 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood. Free for firsttime guests. admin-614319@toastmastersclubs.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 “Fame Jr.” musical, 7 p.m., Briggs Chaney Middle School, 1901 Rainbow Drive, Silver Spring. $5. 301-9896000.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21 Teen Band Night: The Octagon,

7:30-10:30 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. $3. 301-774-0022.

Stand-Up Comedy in Rockville Square, 8-9:30 p.m., VisArts, 155 Gibbs

Olive United Methodist Church, 2927 Gillis Falls Road, Mount Airy, $8 for adults, $3 for age 10 and under. www. mountoliveumc-md.org.

Indoor Flea Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Montgomery County Agricultural Center, Building 6, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. Free admission. www. gaithersburgmd.gov.

Maryland Youth Ballet’s Spring Concert 2014, 1 p.m., Robert E. Parilla

Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville. $18-$28. 301-608-2232.

H2O Summit, 1-4 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Center, 8525 Fenton St., Silver Spring. Free. 301-206-8240.

Japan Fair, 1-5 p.m., Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville. Free. 240-7776922.

Baskets, Bags and Bucks Bingo

GALLERY

Damascus High’s Lauren Green drives against Milford Mill Academy’s Kelli Smoot during the 3A state championship. Go to clicked.Gazette.net.

psychology; Jeffrey Porter, information systems; and Elana Ziegenbein, elementary education.

SPORTS Check online this weekend for coverage of opening days of spring sports.

CORRECTIONS • A story in the March 12 edition incorrectly stated that an informal survey conducted by Matthew Lewis contained data from Debora Doherty that would have skewed the results. The survey did not include Doherty’s information.

• A March 12 article on personalized learning in county schools gave an incorrect title for Samantha B. Cohen. Cohen is a coordinator in the office of Kimberly A. Statham, deputy superintendent of teaching, learning and programs for Montgomery County Public Schools.

• The 2014 All-Gazette section in the March 12 edition had the wrong heading. The honors were for boys swimming and diving.

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.

St., Rockville. $20. 540-657-8811.

OLNEY BALLET THEATRE

(From left) Kate Barnett, Amelia Dencker, Katherine Pawlowski, Allison Cannon, Alexandra Mao, Brenda Welch, Isabella Chang and Rita Cordero of the Olney Ballet Theatre qualified to compete in the Youth American Grand Prix in New York next month.

FRI

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

ConsumerWatch Do makers of over-thecounter drugs have to put where the drug was manufactured on the label?

St., Damascus. $10. 240-750-8287.

All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner,

4-8 p.m., Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, 22222 Georgia Ave., Sunshine. $8 for adults, $3 for ages 3 to 8. 301-330-0539.

MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Fundraiser, 7 p.m., doors open at 5

p.m., American Legion Post 171, 10201 Lewis Drive, Damascus. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 240-668-4080.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23 Spring Bridal Showcase, noon-4 p.m., Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. $5. 301285-6425.

Women in Transit, 1:30 p.m., National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville. www.dctrolley.org.

Grande Gallery Interactive Mystery, 6:30 p.m., Damascus United

Methodist Church, 9700 New Church

MONDAY, MARCH 24 STEM Mini-Makers, 3 p.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus.

Ages 2-8. Free. 240-773-9444.

Aspen Hill Film Festival: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” 7:30-10 p.m.,

A&E If it’s March, it must be time for märzen.

LIZ CRENSHAW

Don’t worry — Liz will track this one down.

WeekendWeather

Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville. Free. 301-871-1113.

FRIDAY

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Preschool Film Fest, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus. Free. 240-773-9444.

College Savings Starts Here Road Show Presented by College Savings Plans of Maryland, 4-7 p.m., Mont-

gomery College, South Campus Instruction Building, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville. Free. 443-769-1035.

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Get complete, current weather information at

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NBCWashington.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

GAZETTE CONTACTS

Read To A Dog, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus. Free. 240-773-9444.

Reiki intro and demonstration, 7:30-8:45 p.m., Spectrum Center for Natural Medicine, 8555 16th St, Suite 402, Silver Spring. $15. 301-660-7229.

The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page A-3

LOCAL

Sandy Spring Museum exhibits get extreme makeover Team Jersey Shore, Team Kardashian go head to head in redesign competition n

TERRI HOGAN

BY

STAFF WRITER

Some reality show contestants compete to redo a kitchen, cook a meal with strange ingredients, or survive on a deserted island.

In Sandy Spring, contestants used innovation and creativity to redesign the local museum’s exhibits.

Allison Weiss, the Sandy Spring Museum’s executive director, said she came up with the concept last summer to get teams competing to overhaul sections of the museum and bring in visitors.

“The exhibits have not changed in 15 years,” Weiss said.

“We could have gone the traditional route of redesigning the exhibits, but tying it into the reality TV show concept let us take a serious process and make it fun and accessible to the public.”

It also accomplished something that otherwise would have beenexpensive.Weisssaidprofessional museum exhibits typically run about $300 per square foot.

The original exhibit provided a general overview of life in the old days, including several bays that featured a general store, a schoolroom and a kitchen. The contest provided new elements to enhance the exhibit.

“The exhibit hall has been transformed by their work and we are estimating that the project would have cost about $50,000, if you factor in all of the materials, expertise and time that was donated,” Weiss said.

“The actual costs were just over $6,000. I’m so impressed by the dedication and professionalism of all of the participants.”

The project was funded by about $3,700 raised through crowdsourcing — a public appeal in which many people contribute — and a $2,500 grant from Heritage Montgomery.

As a bonus, the competition created more buzz than just revamping the exhibits would have done.

Weiss posted on several different art and museum message boards, looking for experts in the field, as well as the general public. Twelve people applied, all with experience.

The contest began with two teams of five. By the end of the project, there were seven participants, including a graphic artist who worked with both teams.

Each team’s budget was $1,200, and the participants received a $200 stipend. The teams were given complete freedom and five months to do an “extreme makeover” of the museum’s exhibits.

The players Two teams of museum professionals — Team Jersey Shore vs. Team Kardashian — competed to design the best makeover, as selected by a panel of

sons, some of the team members were “voted off the island,” or jumped ship on their own, leaving the surviving members with an increased workload.

The tasks

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

From left, Andrew Scott of Alexandria, Elissa Blattman of Rockville and Maeve Scott of Alexandria discuss how to place objects in an exhibit. judges. Weiss chose the team names, in keeping with the reality TV theme.

Participants ranged from exhibit designers to researchers to museum directors, each bringing expertise and connections to the process.

Andrea Jones, 33, of Mount Rainier, is director of programs and visitor engagement at the Accokeek Foundation. She is a former teacher who became a museum educator, specializing in designing immersive, experiential programming.

She got involved in the project in September after moving to the area from Atlanta.

“I was unemployed and wanted to keep my head in the museum business while I was looking,” she said. “I also had an interest in exhibit development that I had never been able to pursue. Exhibit development,

especially at larger museums, is usually done by a team of professionals that have been trained in the process.”

Andrew Scott, 35, describes himself as “a fledgling freelance exhibit designer,” although he has been in the field for about 10 years. The Alexandria, Va., resident graduated with a master of arts degree in museum studies from The George Washington University and co-teaches an exhibit design class in the program.

He learned of the project through a posting in an alumni newsletter and thought it sounded like an interesting approach to exhibits.

Both teams dealt with multiple challenges due to geographic coordination, time commitments, scheduling problems, and fundamental differences.

For these and various other rea-

Team Kardashian, led by Jones, created a new exhibit, “From Soldier to Civilian: Returning Home” about the transition veterans make as they are faced with becoming a normal citizen again. It’s designed to help start conversations about how a veteran’s life is different in war, so civilians can help them make the adjustment.

They interviewed a member of the Maryland 224th National Guard unit in Olney and created a space based on her personal photographs of her tent and environment in Afghanistan.

Team Jersey Shore, led by Scott, took re-created an exhibit that was already there, based on the concept of the community gathering space.

He had a number of ambitious ideas, but ran into constraints and scaled back.

“Fortunately, the original message of community gathering places — areas and landmarks of Sandy Spring where people could come together, exchange ideas, and keep up with the town’s goings-on — has remained,” he said.

“I think the final product will be interesting to the Sandy Spring viewers and hopefully get them thinking about their current gathering places, why they go where they go, and why these

spots are important,” Scott said.

Weiss said both teams successfully completed their challenge.

The winner Both exhibits were completely installed from beginning to end Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, judges Mary Alexander, Jose Dominguez and Larry O’Reilly, all accomplished professionals in the museum field, announced that Team Kardashian, with their exhibit “From Soldier to Civilian: Returning Home” was the winner.

Jones said that on Sunday morning, as they continued hammering and sawing, an older man and his wife stopped in and watched the video they produced as part of the exhibit.

“He told his wife a little about his experience at war decades ago, maybe things he’d never said to her before,” Jones said. “And he admitted that he got a little lump in his throat thinking about his past experiences and how hard it is to go to war. This kind of response and discussion amongst family members makes all that work worth it. This was exactly what the exhibit was designed to do — provoke meaningful discussion.”

Weiss said they expect to leave the new exhibits up for about a year and are planning some programming based around them. thogan@gazette.net

Despite WSSC’s answers, questions remain on high water bills n

Councilman not satisfied with response BY

TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER

The flow of calls and emails to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and elected officials has slowed over the past week, but questions remain about abnormally high water bills for customers throughout the county.

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda is

the chairman of the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. He said his office has received “dozens and dozens” of complaints from residents.

“Many residents report that the bill they received is nearly double, or in some cases, eight to ten times the amount of their typical bill,” Berliner wrote in his newsletter. “They are clearly angry and frustrated and I don’t blame them.”

On March 11, Berliner sent a letter to the general manager of WSSC, asking to examine the

causes for the high water bills.

WSSC officials have said that difficulty reading meters, because of the snow, has led to a longer billing cycle.

They also have said that usage could be up due to school and business closings, which meant more people at home, likely increasing water consumption.

On Tuesday, Berliner said he is not satisfied with WSSC’s explanation to customers.

“We are at an impasse,” he said. “I believe something else is wrong, and the agency feels

its bills are correct. I hope the county’s Office of Consumer Affairs gets involved, on behalf of the ratepayers.”

“I have a hard time believing that people getting bills eight times the normal amount is a function of the snow, staying home more, or a leak,” he added. “I’ve had people tell me that they had a plumber out, and found no leak.”

Berliner said he has heard from former WSSC employees telling him he was “right on the mark” — something else is going on in regard to billing.

billing cycle and higher than usual bills for some customers, WSSC is making immediate operational changes including increased meter readings and payment options for customers,” WSSC spokeswoman Lyn Riggins said in a news release.

The release stated that WSSC is reading meters seven days a week, including evenings; extending the bill payment deadline for customers who make the request and demonstrate a need; and providing billing arrangements for those with bills higher than normal.

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“Human error does happen, even with utilities,” he said.

When asked if there was a timetable for expecting a response from WSSC to his letter, Berliner replied, “This is not a long-term study. These are people on fixed incomes whose bills have gone from $200 to $800, and in situations like this, you need to attend to people’s needs in the moment.”

On March 13, WSSC announced it was taking additional steps to address customer billing concerns.

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THE GAZETTE

Page A-4

AROUND THE COUNTY

GOCA takes action on Good Counsel expansion

InBrief

Purim party

Chamber’s scholarship campaign begins Each year, the Olney Chamber of Commerce awards scholarships to high school seniors from the greater Olney area.

The number of awards and the dollar amount is based entirely on donations received from businesses and individuals in the community. Last year, the chamber awarded $1,000 scholarships to four local recipients. Donations for this year will be accepted through April 25.

Donation information, scholarship requirements and application forms, including one modified for students with a documented learning disability, are at lneymd.org.

Continues to push for Georgia/Norbeck intersection improvements n

BY

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Documentary looks at black churches

TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER

The Greater Olney Civic Association voted unanimously to support Our Lady of Good Counsel High School’s plan to add a new Performing Arts Center to its existing facility along with other minor changes to its existing operating plan.

These changes include an increase in enrollment from 1,200 to 1,300 students, an increase in approved lighted sporting events, the creation of a small practice field and relocation of a forest conservation easement area, changes in the transportation pattern to improve safety and efficiency, and the construction of a grotto.

In a letter sent to the county’s planning board that has to approve the amended plan, association President John Webster said that since moving to the Olney campus, Good Counsel has been a good neighbor and an asset to the community.

“We appreciate their continued investment in the quality of their educational program and their willingness to make the new facility available for community use,” he wrote.

Georgia Avenue/Norbeck Road intersection Members of the association’s transportation committee continue to press for a grade-separated interchange at Georgia Avenue (Md. 97) and Norbeck Road (Md. 28).

Committee Chairman Paul Jarosinski sent a letter to elected officials from districts 14 and 19 to solicit their support and action to acquire state funding for the construction of the gradeseparated interchange.

“The alignment for this grade-separated interchange was approved by state, county, and community groups in 2001, but has yet to receive construction funding,” he wrote.

The intersection remains a Grade F, or failing, intersection, and the state has declared that nothing short of grade separation will resolve this problem, especially with increased development in the vicinity.

Jarosinski said the greater Olney community recently was successful in getting the county to recognize the importance of this intersection by making it the top fully funded roadway project on its 2014 transportation priorities list. Although the project is officially ranked fifth on the list, the top projects are all mass transit projects except for Montrose Parkway, and that request is for coverage of cost overruns to complete that project.

Jarosinski noted that 84 percent of last year’s transportation funds were spent for mass transit.

“This is certainly not what the voters were led to expect when the massive new gas tax started to be phased in last year,” he wrote. “It is time some of the new gas tax money is spent on long-overdue road projects as promised when the gas tax was increased.” thogan@gazette.net

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Synagogue member Marc Schack of Germantown taps his hands to the beat of Ari Lesser, a rap artist from Ohio who entertained during Purim festivities Sunday evening at Chabad of Upper Montgomery County in Gaithersburg.

Police taking heat for I-270 strategy Halting traffic caught robbery suspects, but some question public safety n

BY

TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER

Guns drawn, police paced between stopped cars on southbound Interstate 270, a signal to trapped motorists that this was no ordinary morning traffic jam.

Minutes before, a Rockville bank was robbed. A GPS indicator in the bag the teller handed the robbers let police know they were headed south on I-270 and were near Tuckerman Lane.

For police, the next decision seemed like an obvious one: Shut the interstate down, and catch the suspects.

So on March 11, Maryland State Police’s Rockville barrack made the call to shut down I-270 just south of Montrose Road to just north of the Interstate 495 split.

Police said the decision paid off.

Three people were arrested. Weapons and nearly $13,000 in cash were recovered. And most importantly, police said, no one got hurt.

But some people question whether the shutdown was worth trapping motorists with a group of suspected robbers with guns.

A letter to the Montgomery County Council called the strategy “Hollywood-style” policing. Other complaints reached council members through social media.

Still, County Council President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown said he supported the decision.

“Instead of going into a police chase,” Rice said, “shut the highway down, protect the citizens.”

Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks, a department

spokesman, said that, tactically, the element of surprise in apprehending the suspects reduces the risk of public harm.

“We need to do something now before it goes further, while we still have some control, while we have them not expecting to be stopped,” Starks said. “It prevented more crime from occurring and it prevented anyone, including the suspects, from being injured.”

State police spokesman Greg Shipley also defended the strategy.

Police could have let the suspects continue driving, but there could have been a loss of life in the interim.

“It’s a very fine line they walk out there, but we’re really proud of what our troopers do and our law enforcement officers do every day,” Shipley said.

Several police agencies were involved in the manhunt. Under Maryland law, any of them could have shut down the highway, Shipley said.

Rockville City Police responded to the bank robbery at a Wells Fargo branch in King Farm. County police detectives are investigating the incident.

Armed and wearing masks, two men went into the bank at around 10 a.m. One of them ordered bank tellers to fill a bag with money while the other ordered everyone else to lie down on the floor, according to arrest records filed in Montgomery County District Court.

Another man acted as a “lookout” from the backseat of the getaway vehicle, a Kia Sorento that was left running, according to police.

The robbers made off with $12,898 in cash.

A GPS device in the bag helped police track the men’s whereabouts, Montgomery County Sheriff Darren M. Popkin said.

Before long, a Prince George’s

County police helicopter crew spotted the getaway vehicle on I-270.

Two squad cars — one from Maryland State Police, another from Montgomery County police — slowed and eventually stopped highway traffic.

Officers walked north on I-270 south between vehicles searching for the suspects, court records said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office supplied K9 patrols in case the suspects decided to jump the jersey wall to try to escape.

Popkin said he could understand why people may have been unnerved at the tactic.

“If I put myself in the shoes of the people next to the [getaway] car, I could see being scared and concerned. All we do in law enforcement is a balance of strategy and concerns,” he said.

Popkin was on I-270 at Falls Road on his way to a meeting when the interstate got shut down. He said State’s Attorney John McCarthy was headed to the same meeting in a car behind him.

The helicopter spotted the Sorento between dump trucks. Police found a loaded revolver with wood-handle grips hidden in a binocular case, a bag of money and black gloves, according to court records.

Cash was also found tossed aside into one of the dump trucks, a Montgomery County police news release said.

A subsequent search turned up another weapon, cash and the clothes worn during the robbery, Starks said.

Three men inside the Kia were arrested, and by about 11 a.m., traffic resumed on the interstate. tarnold@gazette.net

FIRE LOG For the week of March 7 to 13, the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department responded to the following incidents:

From Station 4 (Sandy Spring Station): • On March 9 at 2:50 p.m., 1700 block of Briggs Chaney Road to assist the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department with a house fire.

• On March 11 at 9:11 a.m., intersection of Norwood Road and Norbeck Road to investigate a gas leak.

• On March 12 at 3:30 p.m., intersection of Old Baltimore Road and Olney-Sandy Spring Road for a property damage collision.

• On March 12 at 8:26 p.m., 18700 block of Brooke Road to investigate a report of wires down.

• On March 12 at 9:01 p.m., intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Ednor Road to investigate a report of wires down.

• On March 12 at 9:42 p.m., 1000

block of Ashton Road to investigate a report of wires down.

• On March 13 at 5:54 p.m., intersection of Spencerville Road and Good Hope Road for a vehicle collision. One person was transported to a local hospital.

From Station 40 (Olney Station): • On March 7 at 9:18 p.m., 3300 block of Weeping Willow Court to investigate a gas leak.

• On March 12 at 6:37 p.m., 3100 block of Olney –Sandy Spring Road for a property damage collision.

• On March 12 at 9:48 p.m., intersection of Gold Mine Road and New Hampshire Avenue to investigate a report of wires down.

• On March 13 at 10:07 a.m., 18000 block of Marden Lane to investigate a report of wires down.

• On March 13 at 4:25 p.m., Md. 200 between Georgia Avenue and Shady Grove Metro for a property damage collision.

• On March 13 at 4:42 p.m., Md. 200

between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road for an auto fire.

• On March 13, at 6:51 p.m., 15600 block of Thistlebridge Drive to investigate an odor of smoke.

From Both Stations: • On March 7 at 11:27 a.m., 3200 block of St. Florence Terrace to investigate an odor of smoke.

• On March 9 at 7:07 p.m., 4800 block of Powerder House Drive to investigate an odor of smoke.

• On March 10 at 6:30 a.m., 1000 block of Ashton Road to investigate an odor of smoke.

• On March 13 at 11:49 a.m., intersection of Queen Elizabeth Drive and Georgia Avenue for a vehicle collision.

One person was transported to a local hospital.

Units from Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department also responded to two calls to assist community members and 75 medical emergencies.

An hourlong documentary, “Community Cornerstone: African American Communities in Montgomery County, Maryland,” will be premiered at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville.

Between the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement, 40 black churches were built in the county. There, generations of families created their own spiritual, social and educational opportunities.

The video portrays elderly members of five historic churches who reminisce about how the community developed and discuss life during segregation. The choirs associated with each of the featured churches are highlighted.

The free showing, hosted by nonprofit Heritage Montgomery, will be preceded by a reception at 6:30 p.m.

Seating is limited. For reservations, email heritagemontgomery@gmail.com. More information is at heritagemontgomery.org.

Runfest kickoff is Sunday The city of Rockville, Rockville Rotary, Darcars and the Montgomery County Road Runners on Sunday will kick off the countdown to the 29th Darcars Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest on July 19.

From 3 to 6 p.m., organizers will host the inaugural “Twilighter Kick-Off Day,” when runners can get a registration discount and celebrate at Bar Louie in Rockville Town Square.

The celebration will include cash prizes.

Runners can sign up for the race for $20 on Sunday at rockvilletwilighter.org. On Monday, the fee rises to $34.

The year’s race will have, in addition to the 8K and 1-mile Fun Run, a Family Fitness Walk. Live music will be provided along the running route.

After the race are free music, food and drinks.

The Runfest is the chief fundraiser for the Rockville Youth Recreation Fund. Last year, the fund raised more than $50,000 in scholarships — including $40,000 from the race — for Rockville children who were not otherwise able to participate in city recreation programs.

More information is at 240-314-8620 and rockvillemd.gov/twilightrunfest.

If you have an interesting note or photo to share about the people or an event in the community, please send it to Staff Writer Terri Hogan, The Olney Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, or email to thogan@ gazette.net. Our fax number is 301-670-7183.

Photos should be 1 MB or larger. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday for consideration for the following week. All items are subject to space availability.

POLICE BLOTTER

Complete report at www.gazette.net The following is a summary of incidents in the Olney area to which Montgomery County police responded recently.

The words “arrested” and “charged” do not imply guilt.

This information was provided by the county.

Strong-arm robbery • On Feb. 27 at 2:19 p.m. at McDonald’s, 12313 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. The subject assaulted the victim and took property.

Aggravated assault • On Feb. 27 at 11:03 a.m. in the 10700 block of Georgia Avenue, Wheaton. The subject is known to the victim.

• On March 1 at 11:51 p.m. in the 12000 block of Dewey Road, Silver Spring. The subject assaulted the victim and was arrested.

Residential burglary • 11700 block of Idlewood Road, Silver Spring, at 2:30 a.m. Feb. 27. Forced entry, took nothing.

• 2400 block of Dressler Lane, Silver Spring, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 27. No forced entry, took property.

• 300 block of Soapstone Lane, Silver Spring, at 9:18 p.m. Feb. 28. No forced entry, took property.

• 11500 block of Elkin Street, Silver Spring, between 1 and 3:45 p.m. March 4. Attempted forced entry, took nothing.

• 2300 block of Georgian Woods Place, Silver Spring, at 5:19 p.m. March 4.

• 2600 block of Camelback Lane, Aspen Hill, at 8:19 p.m. March 4.

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THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Leggett unveils $4.97B budget Starr still hoping for more funding for county schools n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

Saying “great days and great times are ahead for us in Montgomery County,” County Executive Isiah Leggett unveiled a $4.97 billion proposed operating budget Monday that provides more money for schools, police and programs for youth and seniors.

The budget features what Leggett on Friday called a “modest” growth of 3.4 percent from the fiscal 2014 budget and will slightly lower property taxes from $1.01 per $100 of assessed value to $0.996 per $100 of assessed value. The median home price in Montgomery is $375,000.

County Council President Craig L. Rice praised the budget Monday as a “very measured approach” that recognizes where the county finds itself financially.

The council will get into the details of proposal in the coming weeks, Rice said. The council will vote on a final budget in late May. He said he suspects the council might propose some increases in funding for the county’s recreation and parks departments.

Leggett’s budget provides more than $1.5 billion in county money for Montgomery County Public Schools, $26 million more than maintenance of effort, the minimum amount required by the state. Including state and federal funding, the county’s public schools will receive $2.16 billion in the recommended operating budget.

Along with the increase above maintenance of effort, Leggett’s budget also includes at least $11 million from Montgomery County Public Schools’ fund balance.

Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr said he appreciates Leggett going above the maintenance of effort threshold, but the proposal still leaves the school system about $15 million short of the $2.32 billion operating budget the Board of Education passed in February.

Starr said he hopes the council will agree to fund the

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Page A-5

Bardack joins District 19 race Candidate wants to bring business, education, housing policy experience to Annapolis n

BY

SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett presents his fiscal 2015 operating budget Monday at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. balance.

If not, “we’ll have to go back to the drawing board,” he said.

Rice said that while he expects that while Starr and the school board absolutely should advocate for education, the council has to look at all the county’s agencies when making up the budget.

Providing more money for the schools would be difficult when other departments wish they’d been fully funded, he said.

The Montgomery County Police Department would receive $13 million more under Leggett’s proposal — including 23 new officer positions and two forensic science positions — and the county’s libraries more than $37 million, a 6.7 percent increase from fiscal 2014.

The budget proposal sets aside $379.9 million in reserve funds and $105 million to pay for obligations related to retiree health benefits.

Leggett said Monday having a healthy reserve fund was especially important because of a pending court case that concerns whether counties must be required to provide a credit for county income taxes on out-ofstate taxes paid to other states on certain types of corporate income.

The Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that failure to provide a credit is unconstitutional, and the U.S. Supreme Court could take up the case.

Leggett said if the court doesn’t rule in its favor, the county could be liable for as much as $150 million in retroactive penalties, payments and other costs, as well as face about $25 million a year in lost revenue going forward.

Monday’s event also served as a skirmish in the ongoing battle for the Democratic primary for county executive between Leggett, former county executive Douglas M. Duncan and Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg.

At several points during his presentation, Leggett compared elements of the budget during his nearly eight years in office to Duncan’s tenure from 1994 until 2006, although he never mentioned Duncan by name.

Andrews criticized Leggett’s decision for going above maintenance of effort is school fund-

ing, saying the move would require the county to pay that much more in coming years and place a burden on county officials and taxpayers.

He also criticized the amount provided for employee raises, saying he believed the raises should come in a smaller amount.

Andrews said the county should use the money that would be saved by those measures to reduce the county’s energy tax and further reduce the property tax rate by 1 percent, increase money for repairs of potholes and other infrastructure and expand library hours.

Leggett often said publicly as the budget was being developed that he wouldn’t move too quickly to restore funding to county programs as Montgomery emerged from the economic downturn.

He said he tried to plan for a budget that would at least come close to matching existing funding for programs, with increases in certain areas.

Although some areas will see larger increases than others, no parts of the budget experienced significant cuts, he said.

While the budget may not satisfy everyone’s desires to see funding returned to programs, Leggett said Monday he believes the county was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel after several lean budget years.

“That light is bright, although it’s not as bright as people might hope it to be,” he said. rmarshall@gazette.net

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Paul Bardack says that what his competition aspires to address as state delegates, he already has done, making him the best choice to represent District 19 in the State House.

Bardack’s public and private sector experience ranges from a top position in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, a housing policy adviser, founding an online learning site, and working on policy to bring businesses and jobs to low-income neighborhoods.

A 30-year resident of Montgomery County — mostly Silver Spring, where he now lives — Bardack, a Democrat, said he decided to run because “the tenor of conversations I was hearing started to change.” He said he heard stories of friends and neighbors losing their jobs and turning to food stamps, and increasing housing costs.

Bardack wanted to step in and apply policies he has implemented in the past.

“The pain in my community is real, it’s widespread and I just couldn’t step aside anymore,” he said.

As deputy housing and urban development assistant secretary for HUD, he worked on creating two programs — Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere, and HOME Investment Partnerships — to assist low-income residents secure affordable housing.

He would like to implement rent stabilization for certain groups, notably seniors, and state housing subsidies for low-income residents.

To mitigate these needs and stimulate the economy, Bardack wants to bring in policy similar to that which he worked on under former U.S Rep. Robert Garcia, representing the South Bronx in New York. Bardack helped write legislation to create “urban enterprise zones,” which lowered corporate taxes while bringing job training and other social services to lowincome neighborhoods.

He also supports raising the minimum wage, aiming for $11.50 per hour. And Bardack wants to make this wage hike bearable for employers who are “struggling to make their way out of a recession. ...

We need to equally consider the shop owner,” he said.

Tax breaks for businesses can make up for the burden of higher labor costs, he said, “so that the cost of this [minimum wage increase] is revenueneutral for our business community.”

Bardack also served as urban policy adviser to the governor of New Jersey. There, “We created the first urban small business entrepreneurship incubator,” he said. The program supported teens from low-income areas in starting businesses. According to Bardack, follow-up studies showed that whether or not the companies succeeded, children who participated had lower rates of drug use, incarceration and pregnancies, and were more likely to stay in school. The program helped them see an economic incentive in staying healthy and finishing high school, he said.

Using his background in building online learning sites — MyJewishLearning. com, and websites for Booz Allen Hamilton — Bardack would like to take Maryland’s job training programs online, making them more accessible to those whose working hours can’t accommodate in-person classes. He also worked

PHOTO FROM PAUL BARDACK

District 19 delegate candidate Paul Bardack of Silver Spring wants to take his experience in business, online learning and job training, and affordable housing policy to Annapolis.

as director of George Mason University’s Center for Online Workforce Development, is chair emeritus of the United States Distance Learning Association, and has advised the U.S. Congress, federal executive branch and foreign governments on related policy.

Finally, Bardack wants to improve life for seniors and has an idea for an adopt-agrandparent program. Volunteers could help seniors get to doctor appointments and the grocery store.

So far Bardack raised about $13,000. District 19 includes parts of Silver Spring, up to Rockville and north.

Bardack faces incumbent Dels. Bonnie Cullison (D) and Benjamin Kramer (D), and challengers Marice Morales (D) and Charlotte Crutchfield (D) in the June 24 primary.

Del. Sam Arora (D), the third District 19 representative, is not seeking re-election. sscully@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

Page A-6

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Montgomery teachers union supports Barclay, Spiegel n

Also recommends school board incumbents and former PTA leader BY

LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER

Montgomery County’s teacher’s union is recommending county school board member Christopher S. Barclay and Gaithersburg City Councilman Ryan Spiegel for the Montgomery County Council seats they seek in this year’s primary election.

In the same Wednesday announcement, the Montgomery County Education Association also announced its county school board recommendations, including those for incumbents Patricia O’Neill (Dist. 3) of Bethesda, Judith Docca (Dist. 1) of Montgomery

Village and Michael Durso (Dist. 5) of Silver Spring.

The union also recommends former county parent-teacher association leader Shebra Evans, one of seven non-incumbent candidates running for school board positions.

Evans is pursuing an open at-large seat and therefore not challenging a sitting board member running for reelection.

Tom Israel, the union’s executive director, said the union’s recommendation for the school board incumbents seeking re-election indicates it thinks the current board has done a good job advocating for schools in tough economic times and worked well with the system’s employee organizations.

Israel said Barclay has stood up as an advocate for county schools in difficult budget times despite facing “abuse” for his decisions.

Barclay, currently the school board’s District 4 representative, said he thinks the union’s membership understands the importance of his education advocacy as well as his ability to develop budgets, work with the County Council and the county executive, and deliver positive outcomes from difficult negotiations.

Barclay said he’s proud to have the union’s endorsement and that — in what he expects to be “an intense campaign” — he is looking to get many more, including those from his “colleagues on the council.”

“I think it’s important to get the support of the folks that I’ve been working with for seven years,” he said.

Barclay is running for the County Council’s District 5 seat. Councilwoman Cherri Branson was appointed to the seat and is not seeking election.

Spiegel is running for the County

Council’s District 3 seat, currently held

by Philip M. Andrews. Andrews is running for county executive.

Israel said he heard that union members were impressed with Spiegel’s past efforts in Gaithersburg to promote communities that are welcoming to immigrants.

Spiegel said he is “honored” by the union’s recommendation and that he has made education “a top priority” before and during his time on the city council.

Spiegel said his work on Gaithersburg’s education committee included efforts to address overcrowding and schools’ ability to attract and retain high-quality teachers.

Spiegel said he has studied school system issues, including its teacher evaluation system and how development in the area affects the student population and the system’s resources.

“I’d like to think I’m not one of those elected officials who just understands how it would be on a surface level,” he said. “I really try to delve into the details and understand how it all works and what it all means.”

Evans of Silver Spring — former vice president of educational issues for the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations — said the endorsement “makes me feel great to know the teachers understand my mission.”

Israel said Evans would bring “a unique combination” of experience to the board.

“She has a real appreciation for what the needs are in our high-needs schools but combined with actual experience working as an advocate for all schools and all kids,” he said. lpowers@gazette.net

Bill easing Montgomery liquor ‘Demon Assassins’ indicted in slayings Charges carry maximum license restriction passes House sentence of life in prison n

Restriction dates to repeal of prohibition

n

BY

KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER

Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., residents could soon be able to apply for liquor licenses in Montgomery County.

Maryland’s House of Delegates passed a bill Saturday that broadens who can apply for a liquor license in the county.

Del. Tom Hucker, who drafted the bill, said current law restricts licensees to those who have lived in the county for at least two years, meaning a restaurateur who resides just outside the county lines could not open a restaurant in Montgomery and serve alcohol.

Hucker (D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring said the restriction dates to 1933, when the United States lifted prohibition.

The law, he said, was likely cobbled together quickly to clamp down on alcohol sales.

“Now 80 years later, it is not working the way intended,” he said.

While the two-year residency requirement for liquor licenses is state law, Hucker said other jurisdictions in Maryland have changed the requirement as it applies to them.

As passed, Hucker’s bill allows residents of Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., to apply for a liquor license in Montgomery County.

It does not guarantee anyone a license.

As originally written, Hucker’s bill would have exempted Montgomery entirely from a residency restriction on its liquor licenses, effectively allowing anyone to apply.

But that was too broad for lawmakers to support, said Del. Charles E. Barkley, chairman of the Alcohol and Beverages sub-

committee of the House Economic Matters Committee.

Barkley (D-Dist. 39) of Germantown said his subcommittee shot down the proposal to open county liquor licenses to anyone, feeling it should be more narrow, restricted to at least Maryland residents.

So Hucker said he narrowed his bill and it was able to win a favorable report from the Economic Matters Committee and pass the House.

“No one faces the unique disadvantage Montgomery County has in direct competition with D.C. and Northern Virginia,” Hucker said.

Barkley said he still did not support the amended bill because he felt it remained too broad. He said he would rather see it limited to just Maryland residents.

The Senate is now considering the measure. kalexander@gazette.net

BY

TIFFANY ARNOLD STAFF WRITER

Two Germantown women who called themselves “Demon Assassins” will face murder charges after a botched exorcism in January left two toddlers dead.

A grand jury on Thursday indicted Zakieya Avery, 28, and her roommate Monifa Sanford, 21, on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office spokesman Ramon Korionoff said in an email.

The state’s attorney’s office declined to comment further on the case.

Attorneys for Sanford and Avery could not be reached for comment Thursday.

On Jan. 17, police responding to a 911 call found Avery’s children, Norell Harris, 1, and Zyana Harris, 2, stabbed to death in the master bedroom of

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her Germantown townhouse.

Avery’s two other children suffered serious stab wounds but survived. One of them described to police seeing his younger brother being killed.

The Gazette is withholding the names of the surviving children because they are minors.

The women said they belonged to a group called the “Demon Assassins.” Avery was the commander and Sanford was the sergeant. They claimed they had performed exorcisms in the past. There were two other members of the group, but police said they weren’t involved in the slayings.

Avery and Sanford told police they were trying to “free” the children of a demon, which “jumped” from child to child and turned their eyes black, the women claimed. They told police they resorted to stabbing after other methods failed to expel the malignant spirit.

Sanford suffered minor stab wounds in the ordeal.

Days after their arrest in late January, a judge granted Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy’s request that the women immediately undergo psychiatric

800.601.3498

testing at a maximum security hospital to determine whether they were competent to stand trial.

McCarthy said the request was based on the things the women were saying to investigators, police observations and Avery’s psychological history, which included an involuntary evaluation.

Under Maryland law, incompetency to stand trial means a person is unable to understand the nature of the court proceeding and is unable to assist in his or her defense.

A psychologist or licensed psychologist makes the assessment.

Proceedings stop until the defendant is found competent, according to Maryland code.

It was unclear Thursday whether the women were deemed competent to stand trial.

Competency to stand trial is not the same thing as a plea of insanity. The issue of whether the women were criminally responsible — Maryland’s version of the insanity plea — could still be raised. tarnold@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page A-7

Bethesda lawyer balances security vs. privacy

BY ILANA SHULEVITZ CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

David Medine was six days into his new job when a figurative bomb dropped on his desk.

There was a lot of work ahead for the Bethesda lawyer as the newly confirmed chairman of a board tasked with weighing the balance between national security and Americans’ privacy.

But Medine and his team figured they had time on their side.

That is, until Edward Snowden told the world about the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of telephone records. It was the first of many leaks to come from the former NSA analyst.

At the time, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which began functioning in 2006, didn’t even have a formal email system in place.

“I thought I’d have time to build the agency,” said Medine, who met with President Barack Obama in his first month as chairman in June. It was the first time the president had ever met with the group. “Things turned out to be a lot more exciting than I imagined.”

As chairman of the privacy board, Medine heads a small collection of lawyers who are within the executive branch of the U.S. government but operate as an independent board.

Analyzing sensitive programs from the intelligence community was at the top of Medine’s to-do list for the board before the Snowden leaks. He just assumed he would go about it in a slower, quieter manner.

“I thought we would do it all in a sort of more low-key, less time-pressured way,” he said. “I think even had there not been Snowden’s unauthorized disclosures there was a lot to cover in our oversight function. I just didn’t expect it to be such a rush of activity.”

In January, seven months after Medine started, the pri-

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vacy board released a 238-page report on the NSA’s controversial program that collects and analyzes billions of phone call records. It determined that the program — which operates under the Patriot Act — is illegal.

To date, the board’s recommendations amount to the strongest government criticism of the program.

“We are aware of no instance in which the program directly contributed to the discovery of a previously unknown terrorist plot or the disruption of a terrorist attack,” the report said.

The NSA did not reply to inquiries about its stance on the recommendations.

Michelle Richardson of the American Civil Liberties Union said her organization “was concerned about [the privacy board’s] functioning and being understaffed ... up till last May,” but that a lot of the ACLU’s concerns were answered by this year’s report.

Richardson said the ACLU agrees with the assertion that the program has not helped deter terrorist plots. She said the privacy board is well positioned to influence NSA reform in a way that the ACLU and other civil liberties groups are not.

“The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has a lot of sway with Congress that the advocacy community simply doesn’t have,” Richardson said.

Medine “and the rest of the board ask hard questions and expect answers from the ... government.”

Although a government agency, the privacy board has a great degree of autonomy.

“What we wanted to bring to the table is an independent, bipartisan board that didn’t answer to anyone but reported to the president, to Congress and to the public,” Medine said. “We wanted to express our views as essentially outsiders to the intelligence community, but with high-level security clearances so we can understand fully what’s going on.”

Last month, Medine testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, sharing recommen-

PHOTO FROM DAVID MEDINE

“We wanted to express our views as essentially outsiders to the intelligence community, but with high-level security clearances so we can understand fully what’s going on,” says David Medine of Bethesda, chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board.

dations to changes in NSA programs and answering questions.

The week before, Medine and his board did the same before the House Judiciary Committee.

Medine said members of Congress have been receptive to his board’s recommendations.

“There has been a remarkable lack of what you may call tough questions,” Medine said of the recent hearings. “I think there is a genuine interest by members of Congress to understand better the position we’ve been taking.”

Although the five board members determined that the NSA program is illegal, they were not unanimous on all of their recommendations.

While Medine and board members Patricia Wald and James Dempsey endorsed the recommendation to terminate the program, Rachel Brand and Elisebeth Collins Cook disagreed. The two dissenters prefer reform to termination.

Medine said that for national security and privacy issues, there aren’t any decidedly Republican or Democratic positions. In Congress, there are Democratic and Republican supporters of NSA surveillance programs and Democratic and Republican opponents.

“I think it’s healthy to have debate and discussion and it’s not even really a partisan divide,” Medine said. “The issues

don’t really break down into traditional, partisan lines.”

Medine’s confirmation as chairman was a long, contentious process in the Senate. He won confirmation by a partyline vote on May 7 after about a year and a half of delay.

Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley was one of Medine’s leading critics.

“I was disappointed that he failed to answer a basic yes or no question about National Security law: ‘Do you believe that we are engaged in a war on terrorism?’” Grassley said in a statement on the confirmation. “This ... gives me pause — especially in light of the continued threat we face from international terrorist organizations.”

Currently, the privacy board is waiting to hear recommendations on alternatives to the program by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general, expected to come this month.

Meanwhile, the board has turned much of its attention toward Prism, another NSA data collection program that draws end user information from Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Facebook, among others.

The privacy board is holding a public hearing Wednesday at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington to discuss the program’s legality and consider recommendations that would help it

strike a better balance between government counterterrorism efforts and civil liberties.

While it didn’t happen in the way he envisioned, Medine said his agency has accomplished much of what he had hoped to before the Snowden revelations, including, of course, securing formal e-mail addresses for its members.

Before his nomination by Obama, Medine was a partner in the law firm WilmerHale, focusing on privacy and data security.

There, he was recognized as a patient mentor who did an “excellent job explaining the big picture,” said former co-worker Heather Zachary, who works on privacy and data security issues for the firm.

“David is one of those rare creatures who has a sharp legal mind but also is such a goodhearted person who makes you feel comfortable and part of a team,” Zachary said. “It’s not a surprise given the kind of person David is and where his interests are that he ended up where he is, doing public service.”

Medine was one of the first in government to focus on Internet privacy in the 1990s.

J. Beckwith “Becky” Burr met Medine nearly 20 years ago when both were at the Federal Trade Commission. The two put together the commission’s very first consumer protection workshops.

There’s No Place Like

“He was active in the early times of the Internet data collection issue,” said Burr, now chief privacy officer and deputy general counsel at Neustar, a telecommunications company.

“David was responsible for some of the earliest kinds of privacy regulations.”

“All of us in the privacy world have been dealing with the ways that communication privacy has been changing,” Burr said. “Everyone pays attention to insights from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.”

Burr recalls Medine as her “most important sounding board” when facing issues at WilmerHale with no precedent.

“He was the first person I’d go to [get] advice based on judgment calls when there were no black-letter laws,” she said.

Medine is the third Marylander to serve in the small agency since its establishment.

He follows Francis X. Taylor and Lanny Davis, who both served on the original five-member board.

“We were created ... to oversee programs to make sure they strike the right balance between national security and privacy and civil liberties,” Medine said.

“The secrecy report is exactly the kind of thing that [we were] expected to do and certainly the kind of thing we plan to do going forward.”

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n

THE GAZETTE

Page A-8

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Seniors get social through technology Facebook, Skype help them keep in touch with friends and relatives n

BY

ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER

They may have grown up in a predigital age, but senior residents at Riderwood Erickson Living Community in Silver Spring are taking full advantage of their computer labs, proving that it is never too late to learn how to use social media.

The community’s computer club started in 2005 with no more than 10 members. Today, according to 78-year-old Helen Helm, the current leader of the Riderwood Computer Club, the group has more than 300 members.

“I will get phones calls [from new residents] saying, ‘I moved in last week; how do I use the computer lab ...’ Everyone moving in, they want to keep in touch with their families,” Helm said.

To help, the club has organized a social media startup session this spring, an open class where residents can learn how to sign up for websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

Helm said she knew somebody who was trying to be part of her first great-grandson’s birth. The resident did know what do, as the birth was going to be in Australia.

“Finally I said, ‘Why don’t you just come over here, and I’ll bring my laptop down to the lobby where we have Wi-Fi, and we’ll Skype,’” Helm said, adding that the resident invited other relatives and they got to see the moment the newborn came into the world.

According to research from the Pew Research Center, in 2010 social networking use among people 50 and older has nearly doubled from 2009. Half of online adults 50 to 64 and one in four wired seniors now count themselves among the Face-

book-ing and LinkedIn masses.

The computer lab posts its schedule on the classroom board. Residents can choose from working with graphics to making their own newsletters.

Trudy Downs, 74, is known among club members as the “iPerson.”

“I am the iPerson. I have an iPhone, an iPad ... I tutor how to use the iPad once a week,” Downs said.

Most of the people who have a tablet are not really computer users. They want to learn how to send an email, surf the Web, play games and download apps, Downs said.

They don’t know about using the tools for productivity such as the calendar and contacts, she said.

“I tried to emphasize how important it is to use your contacts because you can do your emailing ... Once you get it; it is wonderful,” Downs said.

Some people joined the iPad course after the holidays either

because they bought a new tablet or got a used one from a family member who decided to buy the latest technology.

“They want to know about Facebook ... The other thing that some of them are using is Skype ...The ones that have kids in some distance, that has been a wonderful tool to them,” Downs said.

Downs also takes advantage of Skype to keep in touch with her sister who lives in Little Rock, Ark. “She has cancer right now.

So it is wonderful to be able to see her because she sounds OK, but you look at her and you might see that she doesn’t. ... I like the fact that I can see her,” she said.

Tom Carcaterra, 91, has three laptops at home. He doesn’t visit the lab as often as some other members do, but uses the website to post some of his writings and keep in touch with his grandchildren.

“I am posting things that I write, like letters to the edi-

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

John Wachtman, 86, and Thomas Carcaterra, 91, discuss an online calorie calculator in the computer room of the Riderwood Community at Lakeside Commons in Silver Spring on Tuesday. tor, things that are very important. In fact, I have to revise my profile to admit everyone who wants to be my friend; I will accept,” Carcaterra said.

But not everyone uses only social media to keep in touch with family members.

John Wachtman, 86, a Riderwood resident since 2002, said the Internet gives him the

chance to read newspapers from different parts of the world. He reads a British newspaper and an Egyptian English language newspaper.

“It is interesting. There’s a Hong Kong newspaper in English ...You get a different perspective of things,” Wachtman said. abarros@gazette.net

Council addresses snow concerns County updates cell tower policy County is at nearly triple its planned snow removal budget n

BY

RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER

With spring near, Montgomery County is more than $15 million over its snow removal budget and still absorbing problems from a massive February snowstorm.

The county racked up more than $25 million in snow removal expenses in fiscal 2014, before costs from Monday’s storm are figured in. The county budgeted $9.1 million, according to a county staff memo.

This winter is the second most expensive this century, trailing only the winter of fiscal 2010, which cost the county more than $64 million, Deputy County Administrator Glenn Orlin told the County Council Tuesday.

Admitting that the county

was “way over budget” on snow removal, County Executive Isiah Leggett said Monday that the county would have to ask the council for more money.

The county hasn’t come up with a supplemental figure, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said Tuesday.

He said the budget appropriation is for weather, not just winter weather, and there are still more than three months in the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Meanwhile, the council heard from several council departments on issues raised during the February storm, including the county’s MC311 information service and online maps to help residents determine when snowplows are in their areas.

Between about 6 a.m. and noon on Feb. 14, the MC311 system experienced a server issue that caused calls to stack up.

Around 11 a.m. on Feb. 14, callers to the MC311 center had

to wait about 35 minutes for an answer and 73 percent of calls during that hour were not completed, according to information from the county’s Office of Legislative Oversight.

The server problem allowed workers to take calls, but not close out calls that were finished, said Leslie Hamm, director of the call center.

“All of a sudden, it just started coming like a waterfall,” Hamm said.

The server was rebooted around noon and the problem got better, she said.

The average speed of answering calls at the center is normally about 20 seconds, Lacefield said.

The center ran fairly normally during the storm, except for about four hours early on Feb. 14, he said.

The county has been promoting the 311 service, but that’s not effective if it doesn’t work when people need it, said Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring.

Carriers now must pay $1,500 nonrefundable application fee for parks

n

BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER

After not receiving any requests for several years, Montgomery County Department of Parks received 15 applications from cellular phone companies to place new towers in county parks during 2013, leading officials to restructure the application process.

On Thursday, the Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously approved a policy with updated procedures for telecommunications on park property.

Michelle Grace, acting park property manager at the county’s Department of Parks, told the board the measure was needed to streamline and clarify the process for both staff and applicants, especially with ap-

Obituary Michael G Williams

1910716

Preceded in death by his father, Gordon, Michael is survived by his wife of 31 years, Martha; his mother, Mildred; his daughters Melissa, Theresa (Braden), and Heather; and by his granddaughters, Lauren and Samantha. He was the oldest of four children: Susie (Jon) Barney, Patti (Scott) Osgood, and Karen Pagano.

He is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews: Jonathan (Cat), Christine, Megan, Norrie, and Jessie, as well as numerous other family members and friends.

Born in Lake Placid, New York, on August 12, 1948, he attended Lake Placid High School (Class of 1965) and Canton and Potsdam Universities, earning a B.A. in Computer Science in 1970. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1976, during which he was stationed in Scotland, and then continued to serve in the Navy Reserves until 1984, at which time he was honorably discharged. Following his time in the military, he resided in Derwood, Maryland, and was employed at BAE Systems until his retirement in 2012. Mike loved new adventures, whether it was traveling to places like Guam or Spain, visiting family and friends for graduations, weddings and other celebrations of life, or hiking to the top of a mountain. He could often be found telling family and friends all about his adventures in life. When he wasn t telling stories, he enjoyed playing the guitar, fishing, solving crossword puzzles, stargazing, pinochle, amateur radio, reading, the great outdoors, and much more.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on December 5, he lost his battle and left us on January 13, 2014, at the age of 65. He was buried with full military honors at Parklawn Memorial Park. Donations to help further the fight against pancreatic cancer can be made by giving to the Michael Williams Memorial Fund (part of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer).

1910790

plication activity on the rise.

“I think it will help both parks and planning staff to understand what’s going on when these carriers knock at the front door,” Grace said at the meeting.

According to a Feb. 27 memo from Grace and Facilities Management Division Chief James Poore to the planning board, the department had received 15 requests from cell carriers to install towers since April 2013.

“We have been told by the carriers that demand for connectivity to high speed and additional capacity for the delivery of advanced 4G wireless services to county residents is increasing,” Grace said in an email to The Gazette.

In the absence of an updated policy, park staff has been following procedures that were approved back in 1997.

“This will clarify the procedures when a carrier contacts Parks to site telecommunications facilities on park property,” Grace said in the email.

Under the new measure, leases for telecommunications facilities on park property are not executed until the applicant obtains all necessary approvals and permits. The policy includes a flow chart that more clearly outlines the application process for all involved.

One of the new elements in the policy is that applicants are now required to pay a $1,500 non-refundable application fee.

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based on the location and age of the structure.

“The fee is new and will aid in recovering administrative and operational costs to appropriately evaluate applications from private carriers,” Grace said in the email.

Three wireless carriers — Verizon, AT&T and Sprint — currently maintain several lease agreements for cell tower and antenna facilities on three park property sites in Silver Spring.

Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road; Blair Local Park, 51 University Blvd. E.; and National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road, each have one cell tower on site.

Three of the wireless carriers share space on two of the three towers.

Planning board members reacted positively to the changes.

“This is a vast improvement,” Planning Board Vice Chairwoman Marye Wells-Harley said. “I think it’s a lot easier to understand what the process is.”

Planning Board Chairwoman Francoise Carrier said she agreed with Wells-Harley’s comment.

After the board’s vote of approval, Carrier ended the discussion with one last note.

“Alright, be careful where you put those towers,” she said.

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

SUNSHINE

Continued from Page A-1 advocates to spotlight laws that keep government’s workings transparent. Sunshine Week is held in mid-March every year, coinciding with the March 16 birthday of James Madison, who is known as “the father of the Constitution.”

The commemoration started with Sunshine Sunday in 2002 in Florida. Under the thenAmerican Society of Newspaper Editors, it expanded to Sunshine Week and went national in 2005.

The Gazette’s project this year was both a study of local governments’ proficiency in responding to PIA requests and a look at the types of information that people, groups and companies seek.

It illustrated who uses Maryland’s open records law.

Among the largest sample size — 92 PIA requests made to Montgomery County Public Schools — individual people living in the county (sometimes representing a watchdog group) made about 40 percent the requests. Journalists had about 20 percent of the requests.

In Rockville — which received 73 PIA requests in 2013 — the same 40 percent ratio for individuals held up. The media percentage dropped to about 8.

Requests to the school system ranged from AP test scores to discussions about head injuries among football players.

There was an inquiry about a possible investigation of the conduct of a basketball coach (it was unfounded). A parent wanted a recap of “an event” that happened one afternoon in 2004 at an elementary school.

More than one-fourth of the requests to Rockville came from people living in the city, who wanted pictures that supported a violation for peeling paint,

PIA

Continued from Page A-1 public officials. In many cases, the money was spent to benefit the public officials.”

(All of these requests were made on behalf of the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County.)

Did you get what you wanted? How was your experience? “Maryland PIA Act says requests are supposed to be responded to immediately — a day or so if documents are available, and up to 30 days if the agency needs to locate the documents. MCPS almost always takes at least two weeks, but

descriptions of easements on South Adams Street and construction documents for the South Stonestreet pedestrian bridge.

The city of Gaithersburg had 21 PIA requests. Almost all came from people and businesses outside the city boundaries. A New York proprietor wanted copies of competitive bids for the city’s silk screen printing. A student in Michigan wanted to know about the slaying of a man named “Tracey” nearly 25 years ago.

Smaller government bodies needed little effort to respond to The Gazette’s inquiry: Twelve reported that they didn’t get any PIA requests in 2013.

Seventeen of the 21 government bodies replied to The Gazette and provided available information, if there was any, within the 30-day limit set by Maryland law.

Rockville was a few days late, but provided information in the most convenient form — PDF attachments, a method also used by smaller local governments.

The school system gave The Gazette about 1,400 pages of letters and records, most of them double sided-pages. It also included 13 DVDs with additional information. These were provided at no charge.

Montgomery County, the largest government body in the PIA study, was the most delinquent. The Gazette sent its request to the county on Jan. 31. County spokesman Patrick Lacefield replied on Feb. 4 that he’d start working on the request.

On March 14, during a visit to The Gazette’s newsroom — 42 days after the initial request — Lacefield promised to share what the county had on Monday of this week. As of deadline, it hadn’t arrived. aschotz@gazette.net often more than 30 days. Then, they demand large amounts of money for research and copies — sometimes thousands of dollars. I have submitted PIA requests in Texas and Utah, and almost always, I have gotten a response within a day. MCPS is not the worst agency in terms of a response to a PIA, but certain agencies are much better. A lot of MCPS’s information should be available and easily accessible on the Internet. People want to see where the money is spent.

By just listing it as a line item, it raises more questions than answers.”

Do you have any advice for anyone else seeking public information? “When send-

Page A-9

SPRING

PIA RESPONSES Under Maryland’s Public Information Act, government bodies have 30 days to respond to requests for public records and to provide whatever information they can. They have additional time to explain a denial and how the requester can appeal it.

The Gazette asked Montgomery County, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and 19 local municipalities for copies of all PIA requests they received in 2013 and their responses. This chart shows when The Gazette submitted each request, when the government made its final response, and the result — how many PIA requests the government received in 2013.

GOVERNMENT

REQUEST SUBMITTED

GOVERNMENT’S FINAL RESPONSE

RESULT

Poolesville

1/30

1/30

0

Rockville

1/30

3/6

73

Brookeville

1/30*

1/31

0

Laytonsville

1/30

2/19

0

Gaithersburg

1/30

3/6

21

MCPS

1/31

2/27

92

Glen Echo

1/31*

2/24

0

Kensington

1/31

2/3

1

Chevy Chase Village

1/31*

2/28

1

Town of Chevy Chase 1/31

2/3

2

Montgomery County

1/31**

—

—

Takoma Park

2/21***

—

—

Somerset

2/3*

2/21

0

Garrett Park

2/3*

2/21

1

Barnesville

2/3****

3/3

0

Village of Chevy Chase, Section 3

2/3

2/3

0

Village of Chevy Chase, Section 5

2/3

2/3

0

Martin’s Additions

2/3

2/3

0

Village of North Chevy Chase

2/3

2/3

0

Washington Grove

2/3

2/3

0

Chevy Chase View

2/3

2/3

0

*Gazette resubmitted request on 2/21 after getting no acknowledgement

Continued from Page A-1 fields. As of Monday, all fields are still closed.

There are 248 athletic fields in Montgomery Parks and 210 elementary and middle school sites with fields, according to Melissa Chotiner, media relations manager for Montgomery Parks.

Most of these local park fields were given permits to begin practices for the spring season for sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.

“Most fields are too wet to accept play without doing damage to them, which may cause further delays to them being open long term. Some are in worse condition than others due to specific site conditions, soil types, and their ability to drain or percolate the vast quantity of water currently trapped in the soil,” Chotiner said in an email to The Gazette Friday.

Parks staff members will visit fields individually to make an assessment of their playability related to how much moisture is still trapped in the upper layers of soil and whether significant damage was done during this time by unpermitted and unauthorized use of the fields.

Permit holders will have their permit revoked and lose privileges and be assessed fees if caught violating the rules on the permit. Individuals and groups who have not permitted the fields and are caught using fields when they are closed will be cited a violation fee. Park civil citations are $50 for a first offense, and $100 for subsequent violations. However, if there are damages done

to the field, Montgomery Parks will charge an additional fee to repair the field.

Brent Connor, ballfield coordinator for the parks department, said there are several types of damage that will occur when fields are played on when they are saturated, including grass being shorn off and ripped free of the soil. This leads to bare spots, especially in the goal mouths of soccer and lacrosse fields, where play is most intense. The other damage, which isn’t so visible, is soil compaction. Turf does not grow well in compacted soil; however, many weeds do, Conner said. Also, compacted soil does not drain well and leads to standing water on fields.

Dick Clark, president of the Rockville Baseball Association, said he has 50 Little League teams waiting to start playing ball.

“It’s soaked out there but there is nothing we can do,” he said.

To check the status of local fields, contact the MarylandNational Park and Planning Commission/Community Use of Public Facilities inclement weather line at 301-765-8787 or register for Montgomery Parks alert notifications at montgomeryparks.org/media/alerts.shtm to determine if fields are open for play. Updates regarding field status will also be available at MontgomeryParks.org.

But while the county’s playing fields are closed, Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill Regional Park and Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park have welcomed boaters and fishermen to another season on the lakes.

YES, IT WAS COLD AND SNOWY After a relatively balmy December, winter came down hard on the region this year, with below-normal temperatures and about a foot of snow more than normal. Data are from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

** Did not provide final response by press time ***Gazette had wrong contact information for request on 2/3; resubmitted on 2/21, starting new 30-day response period **** Took mulitple tries over four-week period to reach town officials by email or phone

ing the initial request, ask to be acknowledged promptly and ask the estimated date for a response to be received. If you don’t get acknowledged within one day, follow up with a phone call. Keep track of who you speak to.

“PIA is very weak in Maryland. When an agency is not

compliant, your only recourse is to sue them in circuit court, and the average citizen doesn’t have the resources to do that.

In comparison, when an agency violates the Open Meetings Act, you can send a complaint to the Open Meetings Compliance Board.”

— TERRI HOGAN

TEMPERATURES (°F) 40

39.6

2013-14

NORMAL

41.0 36.7 32.9

35 30

32.9

35.8

36.1

27.4

25 20 15

LIBRARY

Continued from Page A-1 Several children helped the officials cut the ribbon, thus opening the doors to a steady stream of excited patrons.

Although he Olney library closed on December 30, 2010,

in preparation for the expansion and renovation project, construction did not begin until the spring of 2012. In July, work slowed to a halt just before the general contractor, Milestone Construction informed the county that it was ceasing business operations throughout the region. Milestone agreed to

complete the project, and the county worked with a surety company and closely monitored the situation to see the project to completion.

The Olney Library, located on a 2.5-acre parcel at 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, originally opened in 1981.

The $13 million project in-

cluded expanding the building from 16,825 square-feet to 22,574 square-feet, and a complete renovation of the interior.

The energy-efficient facility offers increased seating, program rooms, meeting areas, separate children’s and teen areas, quiet and group study rooms, and new furnishings.

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The Gazette OUROPINIONS

Forum

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

|

Page A-10

Information belongs to you

Sifting through the curiosity of others is interesting and illuminating.

Public-records requests are a window into landlordtenant disputes, motorists frustrated by electronic speed-camera tickets, parents wondering why their children weren’t accepted into a school magnet program.

Out-of-state companies ask about a property’s zoning, the history of violations at residences, and lists — many lists — of things like purchase orders, outstanding checks and award bids for projects.

Reams of requests make for good reading for the civic minded and the nosy.

More importantly, they’re great for government transparency. Every time a person, group or business asks for public information, it’s a step toward keeping government transparent and accessible.

Did the firm that won the contract have a better bid than ours? Do we need to lower our cost estinext time (meanCELEBRATE OPEN mates ing the government will GOVERNMENT spend less)?

DURING What did the code SUNSHINE WEEK inspector find in our neighborhood? Who is on the committee making curriculum decisions?

And one of our favorites: How are the school board and the superintendent spending money on their expense accounts or through district credit cards?

It’s not hard to imagine how prudent office holders will (or should) be with the public purse when they know someone is watching.

We salute those who pursue little pieces of truth about their government. They’re motivated enough to ask questions, engaged in their communities and skeptical enough to want written proof.

As part of our look this year at the workings of local public records, we’re also meeting some of the questioners.

We’re publishing short Q&As with a sample of people who made local requests in 2013 under the Maryland Public Information Act. It’s a project we put together to celebrate Sunshine Week, an annual reminder of the importance of opengovernment laws, and why the public should value and use them.

We spoke with Lang Lin of Potomac, who wanted to know how the county chose students for a compact math program, in which children finish three years’ worth of math instruction in two years. “I’m new to all this stuff,” Lin said. “This was my first time.”

We heard from Thomas Hearn of Bethesda, who is watching how the school system handles student athletes’ concussions. He said his son had one while playing football at Walt Whitman High School.

Louis Wilen of Olney is another multiple filer, in more than one jurisdiction. It was Wilen who, on behalf of the Parents Coalition of Montgomery County, got copies of Superintendent Joshua P. Starr’s expenses and receipts.

We asked each of our PIA people if they had any advice for others on the process. The tips were good: Be specific. Mention the Maryland Public Information Act. Recontact the government body if you don’t hear anything.

Hearn and Wilen went further and made a recommendation we wholly support: Governments should post information of public interest whenever possible.

Montgomery County is doing that on a variety of topics, and has been trying to do more, but much of it is raw data sets, rather than answers to questions.

Our governments need to think more broadly, in the minds of the people they serve.

Why not post Starr’s expense records online, knowing that one person wanted it and others probably would, too? And post the school board’s spending reports? And so on down the line?

Set a policy of anticipating and reacting to public interest. Build a database of records requests and responses. Nothing says information should only be given individually; consider how to distribute it widely.

Otherwise, we saw mostly positive results from government bodies as they fielded our sunshine project requests.

Even though the law lets government bodies charge a “reasonable fee” for copies and get reimbursed for staff time, Montgomery County Public Schools provided about 1,400 pages (mostly two-sided) and 13 DVDs of information at no charge.

Rockville gave us about 175 pages of correspondence in a manner that matches today’s technology — PDFs in an email. That’s a model of efficiency and service that every government should follow. Kudos to Garrett Park and the Town of Chevy Chase and others for doing the same.

Officials should remember that records, like the governments that create and file them, belong to the public, along with most of the information they contain. If they forget, remind them.

The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher

LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

To fight kidney disease, prevent it

Now that March is here, spring cleaning may be on your mind. You scour your home, tidy up dirty spaces and prepare for the new season. And little do most people know, your body does this too — every single day.

Your kidneys are your very own washing machines, cleaning your blood and removing toxins, waste and excess water from your body. But unfortunately, they’re susceptible to breaking down. Kidney disease leads to more deaths in the United States than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

So in the spirit of National Kidney Month, I encourage you to take some time to learn if you or your loved ones are at risk.

Healthy kidneys are essential to maintaining overall health. But nine out of 10 people with stage 3 chronic kidney disease do not even know they have it. How do you know if you’re vulnerable?

Diabetes and high blood pressure dra-

matically increase one’s risk for the disease.

With rates of both on the rise, Maryland residents are more at risk today than ever. The elderly and those with a family history of the disease should also be on the lookout.

Because most symptoms don’t appear until nearly all kidney function is lost, highrisk groups should contact their doctors about a kidney screening. Today, this involves little more than a urine or blood test.

Screenings are inexpensive and should be conducted annually.

Symptoms don’t always present, but frequent urination, fatigue, loss of appetite, swelling in the hands and feet or areas of darkened skin can signal kidney disease.

Anyone experiencing these warning signs should contact his or her doctor immediately.

Untreated, kidney disease can turn into end stage renal disease, requiring dialysis or

Dr. Steven Burka The writer is the medical director of U.S. Renal Care in Bethesda.

Wheaton Youth Center just needs repairs

Minimum wage hike carries pain Charles and Anne Marie Martinez of Silver Spring [“All who work deserve a living wage,” letter, March 12] make a passionate if uninformed plea for a “living wage,” arguing that, “It simply makes no sense to not pay a living wage to all who work.”

They do not designate an appropriate living wage, but the president and Maryland legislators have deemed a $10.10 per hour minimum wage in 2017 to be just right.

And Montgomery County, the focus of their plea, is scheduled to rise to $11.50 that year.

First, it is a good idea to examine who earns the minimum wage, then we can speculate about the consequences of a living wage increase. According to the nonpartisan and highly regarded Pew Research Center, there are “3.55 million hourly workers at or below the federal minimum.

That group represents 4.7 percent of the nation’s 75.3 million hourly-paid workers and 2.8 percent of all workers.”

Further, Pew’s research concludes that minimum wage earners are, “Disproportionately young: 50.6 percent are ages 16 to 24; 24 percent are teenagers (ages 16 to 19); mostly (78 percent) white, fully half are white women; and largely parttime workers (64 percent of

a transplant. In dialysis sessions, a machine filters blood just like a kidney, but usually requires three sessions each week lasting four hours per treatment.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with kidney disease, healthy lifestyle choices can contain the damage. Eat low-fat, lowcholesterol meals, avoid sodium and potassium, exercise, forgo smoking and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Twenty-six million Americans are currently living with kidney disease, but the best way to fight the disease is to prevent its onset in the first place. So as you and your family and friends gear up for spring cleaning, take a little extra time for a maintenance check of your body’s washing machines.

the total).”

The Congressional Budget Office recently projected that 500,000, and perhaps as many as 1,000,000 minimum wage earners, or 15 to 30 percent of all who earn the minimum wage, will lose their jobs as a result of Mr. Obama’s proposal.

Simply, it will disproportionately deprive the very people it is aimed a helping, out of their subsistence. The young are the very earners entering the workforce, often in need of training, who will lose their chance to learn basic responsibilities, showing up on time, completing their assigned duties and relying on themselves, not their government for their needs.

While they correctly note that “Montgomery County is a wealthy county,” it is not an island. Jobs can, and do, move to other areas, adjacent counties and even nearby states. A very competitive Virginia lurks, ready to poach.

The most effective tool to increase wages at all levels is a vibrant, growing economy in need of workers who develop skills and make themselves valuable to employers who buy their time. Throwing so many into unemployment to benefit others seems reckless at best.

Royal S. Dellinger, Olney

We are responding to a Gazette article and photo of Feb. 27 titled, “Residents fear loss of green space if county declares Wheaton rec center historic.” It is interesting to note that most, if not all, of the people holding green flags and lobbying for more green space on the site, live within a few blocks of Wheaton Regional Park, a 536-acre oasis of forests, fields, trails and a dozen public recreational amenities such as Brookside Gardens and Nature Center.

We also desire more green space on site, but every Department of General Services concept plan that shows the youth center obliterated also shows all of the specimen and significant trees, thriving on the interior of the property, removed. The presence of the youth center protects the surrounding trees that were retained when it was built, and those planted in 1963 and grew up with the building.

Field space for the proposed Recreation Department’s new afterschool and summer programs can be maximized by choosing the three-story concept “C” instead of the sprawling “preferred alternative A.” Unfortunately The Gazette completely misunderstood the “Open Space Alternatives” chart from the planning department.

Many speakers failed to grasp they are receiving a new recreation center, and retaining the youth center will not preclude, impede or delay the $58 million

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

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library/rec center/Gilchrist complex. The youth center continues to be heavily used and fully functioning today, but those that don’t like this building, for whatever reason, never have to set foot in it again; just enjoy the new facility and allow others to enjoy this unique treasure.

A straw vote on Feb. 27 by the joint council committees against designation thwarted the planning staff’s efforts actively preparing rebuttals to misconceptions in the hearing, and answers to council members’ specific questions. ... This joint meeting was not supposed to be a historic designation worksession.

That the youth center is historic is a slam dunk. The HPC, HPC staff, Planning Board, Maryland Historical Trust, professors, and council members all agree it meets multiple criteria for designation. ...

It is inconceivable that the 11th richest county in the entire country (2012) would demolish one of its pre-eminent awardwinning historic buildings, when nothing threatens the structure except lack of will to repair it for adaptive reuse. ...

Wheaton is underserved when it comes to historic properties, having only two. The Wheaton Youth Center would become the third jewel to enhance Wheaton’s heritage and that of our entire county.

George French and Marcie Stickle, Takoma Park and Silver Spring

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 19, 2014 o

Readers write about wrongs Blair, I agree with the premise in your article. I wish reporters would devote space to the (Lt. Gov. Anthony) Brown-supervised disastrous roll out of Maryland’s Health Care Connection and the new structural deficit brought to you by the overspending of the O’Malley/Brown administration. [“Little Anthony and the Imperial Guard,” Business Gazette, Feb. 21] John Breitenberg John Here’s a riddle: What’s the difference between the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the mysterious disappearance of the Maryland legislature’s investigation into the disastrous $260 million Maryland Health Care exchange? Answer: They might find Flight 370.

As for Maryland’s chronic overspending; when state MY MARYLAND revenue projections BLAIR LEE fell $238 million two weeks ago, the legislature raided the public employees pension fund to make up the difference saying, “We had no other choice.” That’s like a crack addict saying he “had no other choice” but to smoke another rock. The last time I checked, the Maryland constitution gives the legislature the authority to decrease the governor’s budget but it’s been so long since they cut spending they probably forgot they can.

Blair Sir, “Incapable of behaving and learning”? [“Spare the rod, spoil the school,” Business Gazette, Feb 28]. Seriously? So you’ve ruled out any hope for them. Would you like to send the 4-year-olds straight to prison? That’s the Neanderthal view.

Schools cannot control how they receive students, but they can control how they treat students, including troubled ones. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and what I’ve seen of positive behavior reinforcement and constructive discipline (rather than knee-jerk suspensions) in county schools really works.

Todd Reitzel Todd, You and I fundamentally disagree on the purpose of our public schools. I believe they’re supposed to educate and socialize students who can be educated and socialized. Unfortunately, due to the breakdown of the family unit, our schools include many children who are out of control and cannot be educated and socialized by standard teachers in standard classrooms.

1906264

... When state revenue projections fell $238 million two weeks ago, the legislature raided the public employees pension fund to make up the difference saying, “We had no other choice.”

That’s like a crack addict saying he “had no other choice” but to smoke another rock.

You believe our schools have a duty to rehabilitate these feral youths within the school setting regardless of the disruption they cause.

While you’re busy “catching flies with honey,” order and education suffer. These kids should be helped by specially trained persons in separate facilities because our schools are not equipped to provide the child-rearing these kids didn’t get at home.

Blair Mr. Lee, I am a new teacher in Baltimore County this year and I am having a terrible time with discipline.

In my most underperforming class, I feel like I am teaching pre-schoolers instead of high school students. Indeed, on bad days I am teaching nothing at all — I’m simply an unarmed, untrained jailer for 45 excruciating minutes. Our weakest students have learned, seemingly long ago, that it is easier to make a ruckus than to sit down and shut up. Every student passes. No one is ever suspended for more than 10 days.

Most school administrators simply want to climb the only career ladder open to them. So long as an administrator can prove that he/she tried to intervene with an inexpensive, ineffective community conference, there is nothing to delay his/her ascension to the top.

I have not been physically injured, yet, but it’s only a matter of luck. Every day I go to school mentally prepared for physical injury. It’s a very dirty, sad business being a jailer, I miss being a teacher.

Jessica Whitlock-Schettine, Baltimore Jessica, Thank you for describing far more eloquently than I ever could what teachers are facing in today’s classrooms.

Blair Editor, Blair Lee’s tirade criticizing the shift away from zero-tolerance policies, “Spare the rod,

spoil the school,” hypes violent youth offenses in schools without providing solutions.

In fact, Maryland aims to “prepare all students to be college and career ready” that’s why it’s so critical that schools create a positive climate to engage all students and teach those who demonstrate inappropriate behavior better conflict management skills. If students are suspended the likelihood of dropping out increases exponentially ... 42.5 percent of dropouts entered the juvenile justice system.

There is little data that suspensions teach students to better manage their conflict next time. Punishment may be necessary, yet it remains critical to restore the offender to the school community.

Barbara Sugarman Grochal, director, University of Maryland Center for Dispute Resolution Dear Ms. Grochal, While you’re busy living in Fantasyland over at the university, poor Jessica Whitlock-Schettine is fending for her life in a Real World classroom. In your cockeyed view, school suspensions cause drop-outs which lead to juvenile crime.

No, these feral youths end up in prison for the same reasons they were suspended, not because they were suspended.

The Baltimore city school system recently adopted your “restorative justice” approach to discipline including the “daily rap” where teachers “build open communications with students so they can talk and resolve” and “morning meetings” where “students sit in a circle and do activities together to help build caring.” You know, all the stuff they should have learned at home.

According to the Baltimore schools code of conduct (2013-2014), here are the student infractions for which out-of-school suspensions cannot be given: cheating, habitual truancy, under influence of alcohol, disrupting class, failing to follow instructions, profane language, shoving, pushing, gambling, refusal to obey school policies, indecent exposure and sexual activity (pre-K to five).

And here are the infractions for which “restorative justice” must be attempted before issuing a suspension: two or more intentional attacks on students, serious disruption (turning over tables, throwing objects), using drugs, fighting, extortion, attacks on personnel, sexual activity, and possessing/selling explosives.

How on earth can anyone run a classroom under those conditions? Your kind of fuzzy thinking is destroying public confidence and ruining our school system.

Blair Blair Lee is chairman of the board of Lee Development Group in Silver Spring and a regular commentator for WBAL radio. His column appears Fridays in the Business Gazette. His past columns are available at www.gazette.net/blairlee. His email address is blairleeiv@gmail.com.

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LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

The ‘elephant’ and the occupation In discussing the House Appropriations Committee’s consideration of the bill [“Opponents say bill restricting how state colleges, universities spend public money is unconstitutional,” March 6], The Gazette refers to “the elephant in the room” as the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Actually, for many of us who testified against the bill, the “elephant” was how the 46-year Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories has imposed egregious violations of human rights on the Palestinian people with U.S. military support.

Boycott as an instrument to address oppression was used against Apartheid South Africa and in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The American Friends Service Committee — a Quaker organization and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize — has endorsed its use with respect to the occupation.

If Israel would free Palestinians from occupation there would be no need for boycotts.

John Salzberg, Sandy Spring

No to Cove Point Maryland’s Public Service Commission is considering a proposal by Dominion Power to put a huge generator at Cove Point in Calvert County. Yes, it will create some jobs ... there. At the same time, it will increase gas prices across the state by about 5 percent and cause environmental degradation to our precious Chesapeake Bay. Marylanders should be screaming “no” to the Cove Point project. It’s a bad idea.

Joyce Siegel, Rockville

WRITE TO US The Gazette welcomes letters on subjects of local interest. Please limit them to 200 words.

All articles are subject to editing. No anonymous letters are printed. Letters are printed as space permits and are limited to one per person per month. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Send submissions to: The Gazette, attention Commentary Editor, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877; fax to 301-670-7183; or email to opinions@gazette.net.

MOVIE REVIEW

&

The Gazette’s Guide to

Arts & Entertainment

MORE MARS

‘Veronica Mars’ movie is strictly for its established fan base.

Read the story at ww.gazette.net. www.gazette.net

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

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Isabelle Carbonell’s “When She Dances with Me” will be shown at the second annual Bethesda Film Festival starting Friday at Imagination Stage.

BOOKS

BOCK’S BOOKS Novelist writes serious literature for young adults n

BY

ELLYN WEXLER

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

The “young adult” label is little more than a marketing tool for book publishers, contends Carolyn Bock, whose second novel under this rubric was released in February.

“Other than young adult books featuring teens as main characters – all the rest is marketing for the book industry,” she said.

The 51-year-old writer finds that the best of these books are as serious and complex as literary fiction for adults. It’s not all tales of “vampires, werewolves and dystopian societies.”

“Today’s young adult novels are the coming of age or bildungsroman stories of our time,” she observed. “In another age, Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’ or Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ would most likely have been labeled Young Adult literature.”

That said, the Bock for-teens segment of the book business is booming, and has been for the past decade or so, and females are the primary buyers.

“I think it’s pretty much a given in the publishing industry these days that women buy and read more fiction, and in turn, girls read more young adult fiction,” Bock said. Still, she added, “LIE,” her first novel (2011), garnered “an incredibly strong cadre of young male readers,” which she attributes to a “tightly woven … high stakes” story, with “plotting and characters [that] grabbed the attention of boys as well as girls.”

In Bock’s fiction, contemporary issues are at the forefront, and happy

See BOCK, Page A-15

Life screen

Local filmmakers show off their work at Imagination Stage n

ON THE

BETHESDA ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

BY

WILL C. FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER

MARK BURCHICK

Mark Burchick’s “The Bottom Line, which focuses on his firefighter brother, will be screened at the second annual Bethesda Film Festival starting Friday at Imagination Stage.

BETHESDA FILM FESTIVAL n When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday n Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda n Tickets: $10, For information: bethesda.org

Last year, the Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District, adding to an already full slate of arts-related happenings — the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Play in a Day, Dance Bethesda, to name a few — launched the Bethesda Film Festival to showcase short, locally produced documentaries.

The second annual Bethesda Film Festival will continue the popular event from last year by having two nights of screenings at Imagination Stage.

Five documentaries, ranging in topics from the lives of high school dropouts, to a blind painter, to a Lebanese couple who loves to tango, are on tap for the weekend.

Mark Burchick’s documentary, “The Bottom Line,” focuses in on his older brother Josh, a Howard Countyy firefighter who’s about to become a father for the first time. Burchick, a senior at Towson University, originally put the film together as part of his thesis. “‘The Bottom Line’ focuses on Josh as he’s working to figure out what his life is going to be like now that he

See SCREEN, Page A-15

Girl power BY

PAIR OF CARYL CHURCHILL PLAYS PAY HOMAGE TO WOMEN AND THEIR HISTORY

KIRSTY GROFF

FEN AND TOP GIRLS

STAFF WRITER

CAROLINE BOCK

From women who have made sacrifices to achieve social standing to those with no hope of moving up, Lumina Studio Theatre’s upcoming production of “Fen” and “Top Girls” provides a timely look at the range of women’s experiences throughout history.

The 2014 Lumina Ensemble, made up of actors ages 15-18, will perform the first act of “Top Girls,” featuring a surreal dinner party attended by women of stature both historical and fictional, followed by “Fen,” which focuses on the lives of lowly farm workers in the Fens of East Anglia.

Though the lives of the characters in the two Caryl Churchill plays may seem disparate at first, executive and artistic director David Minton feels they go hand in

See GIRL, Page A-15

n When: 7 p.m.

Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; noon on Sunday n Where: Round House Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $15, $8 for students younger than 18 and retirees

PHOTO JULIE REINER

Actors rehearse for “Fen” and “Top Girls,” opening Friday at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. From left are Olivia Solomon, Aaron Posner, Kiva Brick and Natalie Behrends.

n For information: 301-565-2282, LuminaStudio.org

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Human nature The 22nd annual Environmental Film Festival returns to the Washington, D.C., area this weekend, with screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center scheduled from March 22-30. The films screening at AFI are among

BLOOD GLACIER

“Blood Glacier,” an Austrian eco-horror film with connections to climate change, will screen as part of the Environmental Film Festival, which continues to March 30.

200 to be shown at 65 venues throughout the region, including seven D.C. premieres and five classic archival silent films. Featuring the theme of “Our Cities: Our Planet,” the festival aims to explore the challenges of the world’s urban environments as they strive to meet environmental and economic needs. Tickets range in price from $12 to $20. For more information, visit afi.com/ silver. For a complete schedule, visit dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org.

Strumming@Strathmore

PHOTO BY KRISTY GUEVERA-FLANAGAN

“Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines” will screen at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, exploring topics about how popular representations of powerful female characters often reflect society’s anxieties about strong women.

You’re a wonder, Wonder Woman “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines” will screen at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, the

documentary chronicles the history and legacy of comic book icon Wonder Woman, illustrating how similar representations in pop culture can often reflect cultural anxieties about gender. Also featured in the film are interviews with television’s Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, as well as Lindsay Wagner (“The Bionic Woman”) and real life feminist icon Gloria Steinem. A discussion with the director will follow the screening. Tickets are $8. For more information, visit blackrockcenter.org.

FROM POTOMAC RIVER JAZZ CLUB

Banjo player Brad Kolodner will perform material from his new album, “Skipping Rocks,” during his Artist in Residence concert at the Mansion at Strathmore at 7:30 p.m. March 26.

STRATHMORE

Strathmore Artist in Residence Brad Kolodner will bring his oldtime banjo skills to the Mansion at Strathmore for a workshop at 7:30 p.m. tonight and a performance at 7:30 p.m. March 26. The Baltimore-based Kolodner will perform material from his latest album, “Skipping Rocks,” during the concert, pushing his chosen genre in new directions. For more information, visit strathmore.org.

Jim Ritter’s All-Star Band will perform in concert on Sunday at the Knights of Columbus in Silver Spring.

Ritter’s all-stars The Potomac River Jazz Club will present Jim Ritter’s All-Star Band in concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Knights of Columbus, 9707 Rosensteel Ave., Silver Spring. Jim Ritter’s all-star band is Rhoades

Whitehill on trombone, Anders Eliasson on percussion, Ben Redwine on clarinet, Rick Rowe on banjo, Tom Holtz on tuba and bandleader Jim Ritter on cornet. Tickets are $22.50 in advance, $25 at the door and $20 for members. For more information, visit prjc.org.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

IN THE ARTS DANCES Carpe Diem Contra Dance, April 10, Nor’Easter from New England, Will Mentor, 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.org.

Candlelight Waltzes Dance Club, April 6, Tea Dance, Ballroom

and Latin music by 2Hot2Handle, semi-formal, couples only, $25 per person (students $15, reservations

by April 4), 4-7 p.m., Columbia Country Club, 7900 Connecticut Ave, Chevy Chase, 202-362-7851.

Hollywood Ballroom, March 20, 27, Tea Dance from 12:30-3:30 p.m. ($6); March 21, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); March 22, Latin Night with Mr. Mambo, workshops from 8-10 p.m., dance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. ($18 for

workshop and dance, $15 for dance only); March 23, free Hustle lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom at 8 p.m. ($16); March 26, “step of the evening” Cha-cha at 8:15 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8:30 p.m., 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 and South Drive, Bethesda, 240505-0339.

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 21, Tom Caldwell and Myra Hirschberg with Tunescape, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org.

Contra & Square, 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 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 30, Figments, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www.waltztimedances.org.

MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, James Bazen Project, 8 p.m.

March 20; Southern Soul Tribute, 8 p.m. March 21; Bobby Caldwell, “Perfectly Frank,” 8 p.m. March 22; Kyle Eastwood, 7:30 p.m. March 23; Linda Oh “Initial Here” Quartet, 7:30 p.m. March 26; Nick Moss, 7:30 p.m. March 27; Arlen Roth & The Cordobas featuring Lexie Roth, 8 p.m. March 28; Roberto Pomili Tango Concert, 8:30 p.m. March 29; Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, 7:30 p.m. March

w No ing! w Sho F.

Scott Fitzgerald Theater

603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851

240-314-8690

www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre

“Global Warmth” The National String Symphonia

1910131

David A. Fanning, Conductor March 22 at 8 pm Tickets $10 to $37.50

1910706

1906234 1910705

30, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, www. bethesdabluesjazz.com.

BlackRock Center for the Arts,Wonder Women! The Untold

Story of American Superheroines, 7:30 p.m. March 21; Suzy Bogguss, 8 p.m. March 22; Ballet Hispanico masterclass, 11:30 a.m. March 29; Ballet Hispanico, 8 p.m. March 29, 3 p.m. March 30; Tiempo Libre, 8 p.m. April 5, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, The National String Symphonia, 8 p.m.

March 22, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, www.rockvillemd.gov.

Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, Sean Tyrrell,

7:30 p.m. April 8, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org.

Strathmore, AIR Education Workshop with Brad Kolodner: Old-Time in the Modern World, 7:30 p.m. March 19; Estrella Morente, flamenco singer, 8 p.m. March 19; Meklit, 7:30 p.m.

March 20; Pat Metheny Unity Group with Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams & Giulio Carmassi, 8 p.m. March 21; Stone Kawala, Juneau Sky & Paul Pfau, 9 p.m. March 21; Italian Specialty Tea, 1 p.m. March 22; BSO: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, 8 p.m. March 22; MYCO: Dancing Through Life, 3 p.m. March 23; Afternoon Tea, 1 p.m. March 25-26; AIR: Brad Kolodner, banjo, 7:30 p.m. March 26; BSO: Stayin’ Alive — One Night of the Beegees, 8 p.m. March 27; History of Jazz Part I: When Africa Met Europe On the Plantation, 11 a.m. March 28; Lily Tomlin, 8 p.m. March 28; Nils Frahm with Douglas Dare, 9 p.m. March 28; “Bring It On: The Musical,” 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 29; Peter Minkler, viola & Jeremy Gill, piano, 3 p.m. March 30; Parker Quartet, 7:30 p.m. March 31, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org.

ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “The Jungle Book,” April 4 to May 25, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre

LINDA PARKER

Performers such as Julia Nixon and Jon Carroll will perform as part of “A Southern Soul Tribute: The Music of Muscle Shoals & Stax/Volt,” a tribute to music legends Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, The Staples Singers, Carla Thomas and more on Friday at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club.

MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

Arts Barn, KAT 2nd Stage presents “Disney’s Winnie the Pooh for Kids,” to March 23. 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, 301258-6394, www.gaithersburgmd. gov/artsbarn.

Imagination Stage, “Cinderella: The Remix:” April 9 to May 25, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www. imaginationstage.org.

Olney Theatre Center, “I and You,” to March 23, call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, www. olneytheatre.org.

The Puppet Co., “Sleeping Beauty,” to March 23; Tiny Tots @ 10, select Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, call for shows and show times, Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo Park’s North Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., $5, 301-634-5380, www.thepuppetco.org.

Round House Theatre, Bethesda, “Two Trains Running,” April 2-27, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, www.roundhousetheatre.org.

Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, “Snow Angel,” April 4-12, call for show times, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, $15 for general admission, $10 for subscribers, patrons 30 and younger and seniors,

244-644-1100, www.roundhousetheatre.org.

Silver Spring Stage, “Other Desert Cities,” April 4-27, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, www. ssstage.org.

The Writer’s Center, Anton Piatigorsky and Indran Amirthanayagam, 2 p.m. March 23, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-6548664, www.writer.org.

VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, “The Deepest Feeling Always Shows Itself in Silence,” to March 23, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-9220162, www.adahrosegallery.com Gallery B, “Ideal Form,” to March 29, gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E. www.bethesda.org.

Glenview Mansion, National Capital Art Glass Guild, March 30 to April 25, opening reception from 1:30-3:30 p.m. March 30, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. www. rockvillemd.gov.

Marin-Price Galleries, “The Way of the Horse,” to April 18, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, 7022 Wisconsin Ave., 301718-0622.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

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You call it Märzen, I call it Oktoberfest The märzen (März is March in German) style beer is often called Oktoberfest. This is a questionable identity although there are arguments on both sides of the discussion.

BREWS BROTHERS STEVEN FRANK AND ARNOLD MELTZER Historically, the two styles have similar lineage and are closely related to Vienna Lager.

The Great American Beer Festival style guidelines use separate but similar descriptions for the two while the Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines have a single description.

One of the classic German lager styles, märzen beers have a malty emphasis that is often described as soft, complex and elegant. The originals of the style were first brewed each year in March. Prior to refrigeration, this was the last month that one could brew before warm weather arrived with attendant wild airborne yeasts which spoiled the beer. Märzens were lagered (German for stored) in cool cellars or caves and then drawn during

the summertime until the supply was exhausted — usually in the fall at the time of the various autumn harvest festivals.

The earliest known märzenbier reference is from Vienna in 1732, but it was a different, darker beer than what is commonly called märzen today. The contemporary version is credited to Munich brewers Gabriel Sedlmayr II of the Spaten Brewery, based on an adaptation of the Vienna style developed by Anton Dreher around 1840, shortly after lager yeast was first isolated. The first regular Vienna-style batch was made in March 1872 and lagered until September. It was thus identified as a märzenbier and was ready in time for the Oktoberfest celebration which begins each year in mid-September.

The GABF guidelines describe German-style märzens as being pale to reddish brown in color; having a bready or biscuity, low hop aroma; medium low to medium sweet malt dominating over the hop bitterness and lightly toasty rather than strongly caramel malt flavors, with a moderate hop bitterness.

The German-style Oktoberfest is lighter in color, being straw to

SCREEN

Continued from Page A-12 has a family to worry about and how that’s going to affect the decisions he makes in his career,” Burchick said.

Some firefighters are private when it comes to their lives outside of the firehouse. Even Burchick had trouble in the beginning getting his brother to open up and talk on camera.

“He was hesitant because he wasn’t sure what I was going to cover,” Burchick said. “In the first interview I did with him, it was mainly focusing more on the job. I could tell there was reticence there to talk about the family subjects. He had a professional barrier up, as if he was talking with someone who didn’t have the family attachment that I do.

That kind of surprised me.”

The idea for Isabelle Carbonell’s “When She Dances With Me” came naturally. Carbonell was living in Qatar for two years, teaching and doing freelancing work. When she had free time, she traveled around the area — Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Bahrain. A tango dancer for the past decade, Carbonell traveled to Lebanon for an Argentine tango festival.

“I had gone two years in a row,” said Carbonell, who lives in North Bethesda. “I met this couple my first year there. They are really inspiring and a really magical couple. On the second year that I came back, I decided I wanted to do a story about them.”

Carbonell told the story about how passionate the Lebanese cou-

golden, with a similarly low hop aroma, low sweet maltiness and a low hop bitterness. Both have similar alcohol by volume levels of 5.1 percent to about 6 percent.

American versions of the style have a slightly greater hop bitterness than European versions.

The beers actually served at the Munich Oktoberfest tents have varied over the centuries.

Starting as a darker dunkelstyle, these evolved to become high alcohol bock beers of about 8 percent ABV, before falling back to the currently served golden, sweet malt versions that are about 6 percent ABV or less.

Marzen (5.6 percent ABV) is brewed at the various brewpubs of Gordon Biersch year round.

The Rockville version has a medium malt, light caramel and toast bouquet. The soft sweet caramel malt front increases in the middle while adding a hint of toast. Both the caramel malt and toastiness grow a bit in the finish where slight noble hops join. These all continue into the aftertaste and refreshingly linger. Ratings: 8.5/8.

Mad Bishop Oktoberfest

(5.8 percent ABV) is brewed by DuClaw Brewing in Baltimore.

Mad Bishop’s nose of medium caramel and malt with a touch

ple was for each other, which they showed through the dance.

“What’s more fascinating about them is that it’s the Middle East,” Carbonell said. “Tango is accepted, but it’s definitely not of their culture.

So it was a fascinating melting pot of different cultural traditions.”

For Burchick, the student documentarian, events such as the Bethesda Film Festival gives him and others like him an opportunity to share his work with others and to gain valuable feedback.

“I know that none of the work I do is going to get into Sundance [Film Festival],” Burchick said. “I can aspire to those sorts of things … I’ve noticed this trend of smaller … film festivals popping up. The Bethesda Film Festival has a documentary film focus, and that’s incredibly exciting to me. … This is the first, big festival I’ve shown work at, and I feel incredibly fortunate that in my first opportunity to apply for one, I’m in.”

Carbonell said film festivals are a “strange world,” that are glamorized with people thinking they’re something they’re not. The Bethesda Film Festival, however, is very important, according to Carbonell.

“It’s an event that brings people together to celebrate, to watch, to react, to discuss a piece of art, which happens to be in the form of a film,” Carbonell said. “The more local this conversation can happen, I think it’s more fruitful because if you go out to Berlin, that could be really amazing and interesting, but change happens and I think the most effective kind of change happens on a local level.” wfranklin@gazette.net

MARK BURCHICK

Mark Burchick’s “The Bottom Line,” which focuses on his firefighter brother, will be screened at the second annual Bethesda Film Festival starting Friday at Imagination Stage.

BOCK

Continued from Page A-12 endings are possible – even when the real occurrences that informed her stories are horrific.

“LIE” was based on a hate crime, the 2008 murder of Marcelo Lucero by a group of teens on Long Island. She didn’t intend it to be a young adult novel, but her agent thought it best to sell it that way. To “extend” the teen characters, Bock added 10,000 words to the original manuscript, and “made it the story of the girlfriend and best friend of the mastermind of the beatings.”

Bock said she wrote “Before My Eyes,” her second novel, “much more consciously” for

the teen market. Its three young adult protagonists offer perspectives of a shooting at a political rally, inspired by the 2011 Gabby Giffords event.

“It’s a real-life, gritty, pretty complex novel,” she said, noting that ironically, her editor considered marketing it as an adult book.

Bock is a newcomer to Montgomery County. In August, she relocated from her native New York — Bronx-born, New Rochelle-bred, Syracuse University- and City College of New York-educated, Long Island adulthood, Manhattanemployed — to Potomac last summer for her husband’s job.

But she has taken the changes in stride and made it her own — not unlike what she did at age 40

of sweet apple augurs a sweet malt front with a restrained caramel. The malt increases in the middle where it nicely blends with a slight roast, all of which continue into the finish and aftertaste. A muted bitter hop is evident in the late aftertaste balancing the lingering light caramel. Ratings: 7/7.

Oktoberfest

Oktober Fest-Märzen is brewed by the Ayinger Brewery in Aying, Germany.

BREWS BROTHERS

Ur-Märzen

(Ur=original, 5.9 percent ABV) is made by the Spaten Brewery in Munich, Germany. It has a convivial caramel and floral nose that presages the moderate sweet front. The middle presents a medium sweet malt with notes of toastiness and caramel that last into the finish and aftertaste where a splash of bitter hops and a tempered dryness are evident. Ratings: 8.5/8.

Oktober Fest-Märzen (5.8 percent ABV) is brewed in Aying, Germany by the Ayinger Brewery. Ayinger’s Märzen has a subdued caramel, moderate malt aroma. The mild sweet front quickly segues into a medium toasty, sweet malt middle with a nuance of biscuit, all lasting into the finish. The toastiness grows in the aftertaste joined by a faint dryness. Ratings: 7.5/8.5.

Actors (left to right) Aaron Posner, Sam Dembling and Zoe DeGrazia rehearse for “Fen,” opening Friday at Round House Theatre in Silver Spring.

PHOTO BY JULIE REINER

GIRL

Continued from Page A-12 hand, and therefore go well together in a somewhat unprecedented move for the studio.

“I think this is a little rare for us, as far as doing [multiple plays by] an outside, world-renowned playwright,” said Minton, who occasionally writes four or five short, surreal plays to perform in one night for the ensemble. “But I wanted it to be that way, I wanted to look at women from two different perspectives. It makes for an interesting rehearsal period, we have to constantly keep our eye on the big picture of putting the two together.”

The workers in “Fen,” with no means of elevating their status, instead attempt to make their misery fade away in different ways and feel something else to varying degrees of success. The characters experiment with love affairs, secret gatherings and addiction as a way to get a break from reality.

“It takes an interesting narrative of these people who are farmers and essentially serfs, tied to the land because they’ll never make enough money to go anywhere else,” said Aaron Posner, 18, who plays the role of Frank. “It’s a serious time in these characters’ lives, it can get kind of heavy at times. I hope the audience gets catharsis by the end of this play — and I do think the ending provides a very good feeling of it.”

Though there are a couple of male roles in the production, the emphasis is on the lives of the women in both plays.

in switching careers.

After leading the marketing and public relations departments at Bravo and IFC (Independent Film Channel), Bock opted to follow her dream.

“I always really wanted to write,” she said. And, “as soon as I left corporate America, I started writing.”

Instead of an immediate venture into literary fiction, as she had planned, Bock said, “I ended up writing my sister’s story.” “Confessions of a Carb Queen,” co-authored with Susan Blech, tells the story of Blech’s 250-pound non-surgical weight loss. Sony TV bought the film rights. Bock’s next project was a teleplay that her former employer, IFC, bought from her.

Sadly, she said, it “went into de-

“Top Girls” is dominated by successful women through time, and it is these women who attend a dreamy dinner party for main character Marlene, who is celebrating her job promotion. Some attendees are works of fiction, such as Patient Griselda of several medieval works of literature, and others are real women from history, such as world traveler and author Isabella Bird. All of them, however, worked for their elevated status.

“The curious nature of the play tends to intrigue a lot of people,” said Minton. “The fact that these women are coming in from different time periods and settings, and having dinner and talking is pretty fascinating to watch.”

Minton chose the plays back in September based on the number of women in this year’s Lumina Ensemble. It was coincidence, then, that the two plays were ready in time for National Women’s History Month. For women accustomed to a limited number of female roles in theatre and other forms of media, the abundance of strong, complex females in the two pieces can be a breath of fresh air.

“I wasn’t familiar before with Caryl Churchill’s work, but I liked that we were doing a female playwright and that they were both women-centric plays, that’s pretty rare in theater,” said Clare Lefebure, 18, who plays Nell and Margaret in “Fen” and Isabella Bird in “Top Girls.” “None of them are stock characters or tropes, they’re all nuanced and complex with a lot of detail and it’s just so nice to have pieces that center around their experiences in-

velopment hell.”

In search of “structure and focus,” Bock decided to pursue an MFA in Fiction at City College of New York. It took some five or six years, part time; during that period, she also taught CCNY freshman English Composition as well as public relations and corporate communications.

Her first novel, “LIE,” began in a novel writing workshop at CCNY. Published as a trade paperback, it received four starred trade reviews (Booklist, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Review) and is in its fourth edition. Most important, it earned Bock entrée into a contract with St. Martin’s for the second novel, which is in hardcover.

stead of having them as accessories in male-centric plots.”

The juxtaposition of the imaginative, dreamy plot of “Top Girls” and the stark realities of “Fen” serves as a challenge to the young actors and actresses, one the ensemble members have relished.

“A lot of what we do at Lumina is Shakespeare, because that’s our main thing,” said Posner. “Since [‘Fen’] is a more modern play, it requires much more modern, realistic acting.”

“For those in ‘Top Girls,’ the actors need to be able to conjure up or channel that character in a convincing way,” added Minton. “This is serious work, and although Churchill is playful in the way she writes and there’s definitely humor, it’s the kind of work that any professional actor would jump at the chance to do.”

Although the two plays contrast sharply in terms of style and the background of the characters, the strength of the women throughout the entire production should resonate with the audience.

“Churchill has just such a beautifully humanist perspective on the characters she creates, and I hope the audience gets some of the richness out of the plays,” said Minton. “I hope they look at the challenges that these women had through different time periods, and the compromise they had to make as well, whether they fought the system or sometimes became a part of it.”

Bock, who writes daily as she would work any job, said it takes from nine to 12 months for her to produce a book.

“After I get the kids off to school, around 9:15, I write until I’m starving, around 1,” she said.

Evenings, “I review and revise for another hour or two.”

In conjunction with her concern about gun violence, which is central to “Before My Eyes,” Bock has become active with Moms Demand Action for Sensible Gun Laws. “Not long after I moved here, I was lobbying at the Senate,” she said proudly. “I knew there was a reason I came to D.C.!”

In her effort to become ensconced in her new community, Bock has been busy. She has taken two classes at the Writer’s

kgroff@gazette.net

Center in Bethesda; discovered the joys of the Montgomery County Public Libraries and the Politics & Prose bookstore; joined a second book club, and signed up as a volunteer tutor for the Literacy Council of Montgomery County.

Bock is now toward the end of her first draft of her next book, which she describes as a “very literary novel in stories” — for adults. She expects to be done before summer vacation.

In the if-you-want-somethingdone-ask-a-busy-person-to-doit mode, she is likely to achieve that goal — and more.

“Before My Eyes” (St. Martin’s Press) is available at amazon.com.

Page A-16

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

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WINSTON CHURCHILL SENIOR LEADS ALL-GAZETTE WRESTLING TEAM AFTER AN UNDEFEATED SEASON, PAGE B-3

SPORTS OLNEY | SANDY SPRING

www.gazette.net | Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | Page B-1

SPRING 2014 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW

Building a champion n In the span of a year, Jaguars and Panthers revive track programs

BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER

The revival of the Northwest High School boys’ track and field program didn’t begin on a track or a field, or any other manner of athletic facility, the same as it didn’t involve any specific athletic equipment. It began in gym classes, in art classes and with a verbal agreement between two coaches: football coach Mike Neubeiser and track coach Robert Youngblood.

With that type of guerilla recruiting, in just the span of one year, the Jaguars evolved from a team who scored 10 points at the 2012 outdoor state championship to the team who won it by 16.5 in 2013.

The revival of Paint Branch’s boys’ track program began a little more conventionally, with the addition of a ramped up distanceprogramtodiversifytheirpointsoutsideofsprintsand

See BUILDING, Page B-4 FILE PHOTO

Landon School’s Sean O’Brien is one of the top returning boys’ lacrosse players this spring.

Change will speed up boys’ lacrosse National Federation eliminates substitution horn from the sport

n

BY ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

For Walter Johnson High School boys’ lacrosse senior Harris Cope, it used to be “face off, get off.” Win the draw, then leave the field at the next timeout to make room for an offensive-minded midfielder.

But now, thanks to a new rule change, teams will have a much harder time substituting their specialists, even in dead-ball situations.

Effective this season, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys’ Lacrosse Rules Committee has eliminated the sideline horn that gave coaches a 20-second substitution timeout.

The new rule — implemented by the NCAA last season — will not only speed up the game, but it will force midfielders to play

PLAYERS TO WATCH Bethesda Chevy-Chase: Brendan Cowie, Tommy Reingruber

|

on both sides of the ball, coaches say.

“You can’t rely on specialized players anymore. You have to be an all-around player,” said Cope, who expects to get much more playing time with the offense this season.

The Interstate Athletic Conference stopped using the horn last season, which sped up games and gave additional responsibilities to the midfielders, said Georgetown

See LACROSSE, Page B-4

2014 BOYS’ LACROSSE

Georgetown Prep: Townsend Brown, Will Railey

Poolesville: Charles Lyles, Connor Pike

Montgomery Blair: Nate Goodin, Didi Li

Our Lady of Good Counsel: Patrick Poulos, Austin Smith

Quince Orchard: Jake Christensen, Taylor Segreti

James H. Blake: Frankie Hedgepeth, Matt Majower

Walter Johnson: Jordan Cooper, Andy Weissman

Rockville: Will Smith, Ben Vayer

Bullis: Ben Catt, Alex Robinson

R. Mont: Osebo Akhigbe, Tony Andalla

Winston Churchill: Louis Dubick, Matt Moshyedi

Landon: Sean O’Brien, Hunter Sells

Springbrook: Tatah Ndeh, Victor Weiser

Albert Einstein: Alex Johnson, Matt Kaiser

Northwood: Lewis Andrews, Kevin Moreno

Watkins Mill: Matt Thompson, Dean

Gaithersburg: Owen Scott, Matthew Valencia

Paint Branch: Daniel Bishop, Emilio Monzon

Walt Whitman: Colin Hains, Alex Hosker

FILE PHOTO

Sherwood: Michael Crooks, William Wykoff

Northwest High School’s Diego Zarate is one of the best runners in the area.

Sherwood looks to extend 42-game winning streak Softball: Two-time defending 4A champions are favorites once again n

BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER

Just 19 days into the 2014 softball season and two days before Montgomery County Public School teams even open regular season play, coaches have already been put to the test. The worst March weather in recent history, many coaches agreed, has prevented most teams from getting on their fields more than two or three times this preseason — two-time defending champion Sherwood has yet

1910855

to play on its field — causing coaches to be creative in getting their teams’ prepared for Friday’s scheduled season openers.

“We’ve gotten on our infield twice,” longtime Montgomery Blair coach Louie Hoelman said.

“We’ve fielded ground balls two or three times. We’ve been on the tennis courts, in the parking lot, on the outdoor basketball courts, in the hallways.”

These less than desired practice conditions will mostly affect team defense — it’s hard to work on cut-offs and relays in the gym — and communication, coaches agreed. And that will hit teams with fewer returning players, such as perennial power

See SHERWOOD, Page B-4

Plenty of aces Baseball: Up to 10 teams have a top pitcher to rely on this season

n

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

FILE PHOTO

Sherwood High School pitcher Meggie Dejter is one of the top returning players in the area.

With the Montgomery County high school baseball season set to begin Friday and Saturday, many teams will enter the spring with a genuine ace pitcher.

Gaithersburg coach Jeff Rabberman is in the envious position of having one of the preseason favorites to capture the 4A West Region and state titles primarily because he has two stars, infielder Evan Colon and pitcher Nick DeCarlo, who were selected to the 2014 preseason all-state team by the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches.

“I know we’re going to have a good season, but I can’t remember heading into a season when so many teams had a pitcher that could beat you on any given day,” Rabberman said.

See ACES, Page B-4

THE GAZETTE

Page B-2

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Magruder girls lose in 4A state semifinals Colonels play without Brown, fall 55-35 to North Point n

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

In the final days leading up to her 4A state girls’ basketball semifinal game against defending state champion North Point at Towson University on Thursday afternoon, Col. Zadok Magruder High School senior Janel Brown remained optimistic that she would be able to play. But Brown, who suffered a high ankle sprain in practice on Tuesday, found out Thursday morning that she would be unavailable for the contest. The Colonelsthenwereeasilydefeated 55-35 by the Eagles.

Brown, who averaged 12 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Colonels this winter, walked into Towson’s SECU Arena on crutches and watched the game from the Colonels’ bench wearing a Magruder sweatshirt and sweatpants. Her absence was evident from the outset as North Point established a 24-8

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

North Point High School’s Valencia Vastey (left) guards Col. Zadok Magruder’s Hope Randolph during Thursday’s game. lead at the end of the first quarter and owned a commanding 32-12 advantage at halftime. The Eagles forced the Colonels to commit 19 turnovers in the first half and 26 for the game.

“I’m so proud of my girls,” said Magruder sixth-year coach Erin Borsody in the postgame media session with Brown sitting just

in front of her. “From where these girls were when they were freshmen, winning only three games thatyearandthenthreegamesthe next year to 11 games last year and then finishing 18-7 this year. For us to win a region title for the first time since 1985 and get here was amazing. We had hoped to have Janel today. Her injury in practice

was just a fluke thing. It happened on a simple layup.”

In Brown’s absence, junior guard Hope Randolph led the Colonels with 13 points, while junior center Hannah Barr added 10. But after the sluggish start, Magruder spent the last three quarters attempting to overcome a 20-point deficit. North Point stretched the lead to 55-27 with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining in the contest before the Colonels scored the game’s final eight points playing primarily against the Eagles’ reserves.

“Their defensive pressure was a big factor,” said Randolph, who vowed to make a return trip to the state semifinals next winter.

“We expected to have Janel out there with us. It was tough for her to have to sit and watch us play.

This was the last game of her high school career.”

Magruder not only struggled to get the ball up court against the Eagles’ pressure, the Colonels also managed to connect on only 3-of18shots(17percent)fromthefield in the first half and finished the game 13-of-50 (26 percent) from the floor, including an 0-for-7 effort from beyond the 3-point line.

But without Brown’s stable presence in the middle, the Colonels had lost their identity before the opening tip.

“Everyone knows that we rely on Janel, not only for her points and rebounds, but for her senior leadership,” Barr said. “To think she would be there and then to find out today that she would not be there was difficult to accept.

But we all wanted to go out there and win it for her. She’s been one of the keys to our success this year.

Itwasagreatseasonandhopefully with a lot of the other girls and myself back next year we can make another run at the region title.”

While reaching the 4A state semifinals was something new for Magruder, North Point (24-2) has become quite accustomed to playing for the state title. Not only are the Eagles the defending 4A state champions, its three senior starters, Brianna Hodges, Montana Wigfall and KanDeon Niravanh, can now boast four consecutive 4A East region titles and should return to Towson on Saturday against Eleanor Roosevelt to defend their state title.

“We have been playing together the last four years and we

know what we expect from each other,” Hodges said. “For us seniors, we don’t want to settle for anything less than another state title. We’re not concerned with who we play, we just focus on playing our game. We know whoever we face [in the state title] on Saturday, we’re going to come out and play hard. We’re a small team, but we’re quick.”

Brown was the last player into the media room, but the first one to exit, albeit carefully on cructhes while her teammates held the door open for her. Brown has still not committed to a college this fall andexpressedlittleremorseabout being unable to play on Thursday.

“It was just bad timing,” she said. “I had been healthy all season and then I got hurt in practice doing something that I’’ve done a thousand times, taking a layup.

I thought I would be able play today. It wasn’t easy to watch, but I’m proud of my teammates. They played hard the whole game. They never quit.” tblack@gazette.net

Damascus girls fall short in Class 3A state title game Five senior starters for Swarmin’ Hornets play their final game together n

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

In what would be their final game together, the five senior starters on the Damascus High School girls’ basketball team gathered at the head table of Towson University’s media room emotionally and physically drained after the Swarmin’ Hornets lost, 40-37, to Milford Mill Academy in

the Class 3A state championship game.

Damascus (23-4) was making its first state title game appearance in school history and through much of the contest the Swarmin’ Hornets were on the cusp of victory. In many respects, Damascus delivered a winning effort. Its five senior starters, Jenna Kaufman, Libby Bowles, Lauren Green, Anna Warfield and Kelli Prange combined for all but two of the Swarmin’ Hornets points while collectively playing 150 of a possible 160 minutes.

Prange, a George Washington University recruit, led all scorers

with 20 points and added 17 rebounds.

“One thing about this team was they played hard the whole game,” Damascus coach Steve Pisarski said. “They gave it everything they had. We didn’t score as many points as I would have liked.

But if you would have told me we would hold them to 40 points, I would have been happy with that.

The only trouble was we didn’t score 41. But these girls sitting here beside me were super. They have me everything they had.”

“I was so proud to be part of this team,” Prange said. “I knew this was going to be my last game

with these girls and I really wanted to go out with a state championship. We came so close. There were so many shots that just missed. Every time it looked like we were going to take the lead, a shot would just fall short.”

Green connected on 4 of 17 shots from the floor and missed all five of her 3-point attempts, but she had 10 points and nine rebounds.

“I think we had a little trouble with their pressure defense early, but we found a way to get through that,” said Green, who is headed to Bentley College in the fall. “It just wasn’t our night. We knew

they were going to try to deny Kelli from getting her points inside, so it was really up to our guards to keep the pressure off of her. She had another great game.”

Milford Mill owned a modest, 18-16 lead at halftime and extended it slightly to 31-27 after three quarters. Damascus had tied the score twice during quarter on a layup by Prange and a 3-pointer

by Bowles. The Millers took their biggest lead of the night midway through the fourth quarter on a Kelli Smoot 3-pointer, but the Swarmin’ Hornets countered with a bucket from Prange and two free throws from Green to get within

35-33 with 2 minutes, 38 seconds remaining.

“This is kind of surreal,” Milford Mill coach DeToiya McAliley said. “We had won the state title in 2005 in my first year. To get back here and do it again after all that time is something of a relief. We knew we had to keep [Prange] off the block. She’s the biggest girl we faced all season. We didn’t have anyone that could match her, so we had to keep two girls on her down low.”

Paint Branch girls lose in 4A final n

Panthers dominated by Eleanor Roosevelt

BY ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER

Seconds into Saturday’s Class 4A state championship girls’ basketball game, Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s Tolu Omokore dove to the SECU Arena hardwood and took a loose ball away from the defending champions, North Point. The junior forward handed it to Daijah Davis who found Kaila

Pumas rout Vikings, 70-43, to claim 4A state championship n

BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER

Some called it David vs. Goliath. Others called that notion ludicrous. It was, after all, the Class 4A high school boys’ basketball game state championship game.

How could there be a David in a title game of the most competitive class in Maryland?

The scoreboard, which read 70-43 in Henry A. Wise’s favor over Walt Whitman, suggested maybe

Charles for a fast-break layup, and like that, the Raiders were in control.

It was the first of many hustle plays that helped the Raiders dominate — even in a game where they had 28 turnovers and shot just 36 percent.

Led by a dominant 15-point, 20-rebound game from Omokore, and 36 combined points from freshman Octavia Wilson (20) and sophomore Kaila Charles (16), Roosevelt avenged last season’s semifinal overtime loss to North Point with a 64-30 victory Satur-

day at Towson University.

“We definitely wanted to come out with a lot of energy,” Fuller said. “Definitely wanted redemption from last year.”

The win caps off an undefeated season for Roosevelt (26-0) and gives Prince George’s County its first girls’ basketball state championship since 2009, when the Raiders won their fifth consecutive 4A title.

This wasn’t the most efficient offensive game for the Raiders, who hit 3-of-15 from downtown and went 11-25 from the line. But

the defense was lights out — as it’s been all season — limiting North Point to a season-low 34 points.

The Eagles converted three firsthalf field goals and nine on the game, failing to reach 50 points for the second time all year.

The Raiders took a 29-11 lead into intermission despite 15 first-half turnovers, seven from Charles. The sophomore finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and five blocks, with only one turnover after intermission.

Wilson, Omokore and Charles combined for 30 of the

Raiders’ 35 second-half points.

“We were able to build it up,” Charlessaid.“Itwasjustmoremotivation. We had 16 more minutes to go, we needed try hard to keep the lead up to win what we’d been working hard for.”

Omokore collected 15 offensive boards and controlled the interior for Roosevelt, who outscored North Point 30-14 in the lane.

The Raiders finished with a perfect 26-0 record, beating their opponents by an average of 38.9 points. Their average victory mar-

gin in the postseason: 34.2.

“I knew we were going to be good. I didn’t think we’d be this good,” Fuller said.

A Prince George’s County school had won a girls’ basketball title every season from 1997 through 2009, with 18 championships during that 13-year stretch.

With the Raiders not graduating a single senior, this could be the start of another streak.

“This is the first of many,” Charles said. egoldwein@gazette.net

Whitman’s magical run ends against Wise Saturday’s clichéd matchup many predicted wasn’t so far off. It was the largest margin of victory in 4A state championship history. And so, in the end, where the basketball world is often turned upside down and sideways, David isn’t supposed to stick with Goliath, and Whitman never did.

“This whole season has just beenaspecialseason,”Wisecoach Rob Garner said. “And we give a lot of respect to Whitman, but we were determined, man. We were determined to come here tonight and play well. That was important to us as a program. We always talk about not just winning but ‘How do we want to win?’”

Saturday, the Pumas won

handily and thoroughly.

It began with a Devin Moore layup, which was followed by another Moore layup, and then two Moore free throws. Micah Till buried a long jumper to make it 8-0 before Whitman coach Chris Lun called for a timeout, which yielded three points from senior Adam Lowet on the ensuing possession. But five points was as close as the Vikings would come for the remainder of the game and, by extension, the season. There was no amount of defenses — “I think we tried everything,” Lun said — no offensive wrinkles that even Lun, who had authored this Whitman team’s improbable run, could devise. There was just nothing that

could stop Wise on this March Saturday, and Lun would readily admit as much.

“Oh they are very, very, very, very good,” the coach said. “Our gameplan was kind of to force them to beat us from the outside and I think they shot 60 percent in the first half but it felt like 95.

Athletic, fast, quick, well-coached — certainly the best basketball team we’ve seen. They absolutely deserved to win the championship tonight.”

With 4 minutes and 40 seconds left to play in the second quarter, Wise had two players, Moore and Trevor Brown, in double-figure points. Whitman as a team had yet to reach double-fig-

ure points. By halftime, the Pumas had made 17-of-29 shots and had at least four players make a field goal in each quarter; Whitman wouldn’t make more than three field goals in any quarter until the fourth, the game already well in hand.

With 3:55 left in the fourth quarter, Garner had the luxury of pulling Micah Till, the engine of thisstatechampionshipteam.The Pumas were up 66-35, well out of range of even a miracle comeback. Moments later, all five starters and any key reserves took seats on the bench. The time to get state championship level of experience for Kyle Hill and Nate Hampton, for Michael Speight and D’Andre

Simelton, had come.

The first state championship in school history hadn’t even been officially locked up, and yet it was time to start thinking about next year. “Once you go to the Comcast Center ...,” Garner said, “It’s very addicting to go and come back and continue to have that experience. We have great kids in our program, we have a great junior varsity feeder, and as long as we continue to stay focused, hopefully one day we’ll be able to come back.” tmewhirter@gazette.net

Springbrook pushed out of its comfort zone n

Boys’ basketball: Pumas win 57-44, set to face Whitman in finals

BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER

Henry A. Wise High School boys’ basketball coach Rob Garner would reveal a rather simple plan after his Pumas dismantled Springbrook 57-44 in Thursday night’s 4A state semifinal: Make them uncomfortable. And through 32 minutes of basketball at the Comcast Center, there were sparingly few moments

where the Blue Devils appeared to be comfortable, allowing the Pumas to lead from the first bucket to the last.

“I think my kids really did a good job in terms of defensive full court pressure, really trying to our best to make Springbrook uncomfortable, make other people aside from the point guard handle the ball,” Garner said.

Was the 12-0 lead that Wise leapt out to uncomfortable enough? Wise guard Lavonte Sanders, who finished with 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting, thought so.

“I say yeah,” Sanders said.

“When we were putting pressure on them, they really couldn’t do nothing. When we went up 12-0, we just knew we had to keep it on them, not give them nothing easy and that also brought a spark to our team.”

Was the Pumas’ physicality, the brute force of Micah Till, Devin Moore and Trevor Brown, uncomfortable enough?

Springbrook coach Tom Crowell thought so.

“They’re the most physical team we’ve played by far,” he said. “Definitely the most physical and you know, they get out on the break. We’re a lot alike.

We’re as big as them height-wise but their girth is just something we could not overcome. They just take up so much space and people were bouncing around out there.”

Was Wise’s full-court press and hounding man-to-man defense, which limited Springbrook’s Robinson twins — Aaron and Andrew — to 24 points on 6-of-22 shooting, uncomfortable enough? Aaron Robinson thought so.

“We knew they were real physical and they were going to play man-to-man,” he said. “I think in the beginning we were

just rushing on offense and give credit to them, they’re a great defensive team.”

It wasn’t by any means a blowout, nor was it an uber-dominant performance from Wise. It was just methodical and calculated. Springbrook had its runs.

Isaiah Eisendorf nearly matched the Pumas in the second quarter by himself (8-7) and Andrew Robinson poured in nine points in the fourth quarter to keep the majority of the fans in their seats, the possibility of a comeback not entirely out of the realms of reality, until the final minute when the benches were cleared and

the Pumas could be assured of a berth into the state finals.

Crowell said prior to Thursday night’s semifinal that Wise would be the best team Springbrook would have played. He also said that about Dulaney the game before that, and essentially every game this entire season before that. But he did offer one final, genuine review of 2014’s final opponent.

“To be honest with you, they’re very, very good,” Crowell said. tmewhirter@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page B-3

Wootton boys are the team to beat

WRESTLING

n

First team

Volleyball: Patriots return the 2013 Player of the Year

BY TED BLACK STAFF WRITER

Hunter Sutton

Dell Ngonga

Won county, region and state championships and was 47-0

Wrestler of the year: Winston Churchill High School’s Hunter Sutton (top).

Won region title and finished second at states

Mikey Macklin

Eric Hong

Bailey Thomas

Kevin Budock

Michael Sprague

Mitchell Zio

County, region and state champion; went 44-0

Won IAC, states and National Preps, was 42-6

Won WCAC was second at states; went 35-6

Won WCAC; second at National Preps

Won IAC, states and National Preps, was 41-7

Took third at states, and was 43-1

Churchill Senior 152

Damascus Junior 113

Northwest Junior 106 FILE PHOTO

Geo. Prep Freshman 120

Good Counsel Freshman 126

Good Counsel Sophomore 132

Geo. Prep Senior 138

Paint Branch Senior 145

Adama Keita

Jeff Moreno

Nick Miller

Kevin Snyder

Thomas Fitzpatrick

Connor Tilton

Won region title and finished fourth at states

County and region champion went 33-6

Won WCAC title, took second at states

Won WCAC, took second at states

Won region title and placed fourth at states

Won region title and finished second at states

Churchill Senior 160

Northwest Senior 170

Coach of the year Skylar Saar

Good Counsel In 10th season, guided the Falcons to WCAC championship, second-place at the Maryland Independent Schools Tournament and fourth place at National Preps.

Good Counsel Junior 182

Good Counsel Sophomore 195

R. Montgomery Senior 220

Quince Orchard Senior 285

Second team 106 - Scott Obendorfer, Damascus 113 - Adam Whitesell, Good Counsel 120 - Nick Davis, Northwest 126 - Michael Wilkerson, Damascus 132 - Colin Kowalski, Georgetown Prep 138 - Matt Kelly, Good Counsel 145 - Paul Hutton, Good Counsel

152 - Garrett Neff, Good Counsel 160 - Johnny Fischer, Damascus 170 - Donovan McAfee, Good Counsel 182 - Max Anderson, Gaithersburg 195 - Robby Happy, Sherwood 220 - Patrick Stewart, Georgetown Prep 285 - Dan Herman, The Heights

Honorable mention Quy Tran, Springbrook; Nolan Smith, Paint Branch; Dale Tiongson, Good Counsel; Andrew Barnes, Magruder; Mitch Fenton, Walt Whitman; Kyle Bollinger, Quince Orchard; Owen Brooks, Damascus; Colin McLaughlin, Damascus; Jarett Witzal, Landon; Logan Brooks, Damascus; Ari Cacopardo, Damascus; Paul Trintafilou, Georgetown Prep; Jules Desroches, Landon; Matthew Johnston, Landon.

KEEPING IT BRIEF QO promotes defensive coordinator to head football coach Quince Orchard High School promoted defensive coordinator John Kelley to take over as coach of the varsity football team, the school announced last week.

Kelley, 33, has worked on the Cougars coaching staff for the past five seasons under Dave Mencarini, who resigned last month to coach at Urbana in Frederick County. The Cougars compiled a 107-18 record under Mencarini, winning a Class 4A state title in 2007.

“Quince Orchard has already established itself as one of the elite programs in the state and the D.C. area,” Kelley said.

“Our goal as a coaching staff is to keep things going in the right direction. We’re going to work hard, put kids in the right spots and try to keep the success going.”

Kelley, an Urbana resident, graduated from Seneca Valley and played football at Towson University before taking on an assistant coaching job at Wesley College in Delaware. He then worked as a graduate assistant for the University of Maryland and a defensive line coach at North Carolina Central. He came to Quince Orchard in 2009 as a social studies teacher and helped the Cougars reach the state finals in 2011 and 2012.

“Keeping the stability with the program was huge,” Quince Orchard Athletic Director George Awkard said.

Kelley will remain defensive coordinator but has hired three

new assistants and promoted TJ Changuris, to offensive coordinator.

The hires include Aaron Moxley (special teams and insider linebackers), Darnell Evans (secondary) and Quince Orchard alumnus Brooks Brenkus (wide receivers).

— ERIC GOLDWEIN

Ex-Wootton football coach now at Avalon Tyree Spinner has been hired to coach football at Avalon School six weeks after being dismissed by Thomas S. Wootton, Avalon announced last week.

He takes over a Black Knights team that went 5-5 last fall and won the Capital Area Football Conference Championship from 2011-13. The former Patriots coach replaces Tad Shields, who remains the school’s chief financial officer after a three-year coaching stint.

“I chose The Avalon School because we — both, myself and the administration — had the same vision and we both believed in each other’s dream. I’d rather start a tradition, than join one.” Spinner wrote in an email to The Gazette.

Spinner, 31, compiled a 9-11 record in his two-year Patriots coaching tenure before he and his assistants were dismissed in late January for personnel reasons, according to Wootton Athletic Director Christopher Thompson.

Avalon Headmaster Kevin Davern said Spinner’s dismissal was related to a procedural mistake.

“It wasn’t enough to dissuade us from being interested

in a coach who has a reputation for really caring about his players,” Davern said.

Spinner will bring in some of his Wootton assistants and would not indicate whether he would be joined by any Wootton athletes.

“I know building a program does not happen overnight, but I have the same expectation that every coach has ... to win every game we play,” Spinner wrote.

“But mainly, build a well respected, admired, and successful program.”

— ERIC GOLDWEIN

Former Wootton football coach returns Thomas S. Wootton High School has hired former football coach Eddie Tolliver to replace Tyree Spinner, who was dismissed in January after two years leading the team.

Tolliver, 41, was the Patriots coach from 2010-11, compiling a 6-14 record before stepping down due to health reasons.

“The biggest goal is getting the program stabilized,” said Tolliver, who works at the school as a security assistant. “… Getting all the kids on board and striving towards having a great season.”

Athletic Director Christopher Thompson declined further comment on the school’s decision to dismiss Spinner and the previous coaching staff, citing it as a personnel matter. Spinner was hired to coach Avalon School’s football team on Wednesday.

— ERIC GOLDWEIN

When the Montgomery County boys’ volleyball season gets underway on Friday with a full slate of scheduled games, there is the overall impression from the county’s coaches that the sport is getting more talented and matches are becoming more intense.

Thomas S. Wootton High School is the defending champion and the Patriots return three starters, including Paul Malinauskas, the 2013 All-Gazette Player of the Year. But despite having to make ample cuts after having 40 potential players at tryouts, seventh-year coach John Hantranft is heading into the 2014 season with a sense of cautious optimism.

“We’ll have three senior starters, including Paul, and we have some talented players, but we’re raw,” said Hantranft, who kept 16 players and five team managers. “Last year we had an excellent team, but that was last year. This year there are probably eight teams that could win the league. It has just gotten that much more competitive.”

Each of the county’s 25 teams will play an 11-game schedule, but only the top 16 teams will make the playoffs. In a sense, preventing all 25 teams from having a guaranteed berth in the postseason has also made the matches more competitive. Most of the coaches agreed that teams with a 6-5 record or worse would have a minimal chance to make the playoffs. In some cases, even 7-4 might not be good enough to garner a spot.

“The league has definitely gotten a lot more competitive,” Clarksburg coach Dawn Dickinson said. “I think the guys really take it seriously. If they don’t they usually end up playing coed. It used to be that you could count on maybe a handful of teams to be good, but now it seems like eight or nine teams are solid. I know our goal is to get past the second round this year.”

Richard Montgomery second-year coach Gretchen Barber-Strunk guided the Rockets to the league finals in her rookie season last year only to get upended by Wootton. But Richard

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Thomas S. Wootton High School senior Paul Malinauskas practices on Friday.

Montgomery has five starters back and several reserves who could potentially start. BarberStrunk did not necessarily notice an increase at tryouts, but she admitted it was not easy to trim the squad down to 12.

“Last year was a lot of fun,” Barber-Strunk said. “We had a good run to make the championship match and I know the guys really want another chance to get back there. But they know it won’t be easy. We faced a lot of good teams last year and I think most of the top teams have a number of returning starters.

The matches were definitely intense. The boys take it seriously and a lot of them play for clubs.”

Winston Churchill secondyear coach Erika Eastham, who was 7-4 in her rookie season with the Bulldogs last spring, is also aware that a number of her players and their opponents play for local club volleyball

teams. Eastham, a Churchill graduate who played volleyball for the school, returns junior outside hitter Charles Yang and senior libero Alex Fang.

“I really didn’t know what to expect last year,” Eastham said. “But I have to admit I was pleased by what I saw. I thought the league was pretty competitive. I thought we would go 9-2 and we ended up 7-4. I’m hoping this year that we can get to 9-2 and make a run in the playoffs. It won’t be easy, though, because there are probably 8-10 good teams in this league.”

The co-ed season will also get underway on Friday. Damascus opens as the favorite to claim the title this spring. Wootton. Sherwood and Col. Zadok Magruder are also expected to contend. tblack@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

SHERWOOD

Continued from Page B-1 Damascus, harder than those with more experienced lineups such as Sherwood, defending state semifinalist Northwest, Blair and Clarksburg.

Coldornot,snowyornot,the season will get underway sooner than later and a condensed schedule — playoffs start the second week of May — means there’s no real time to “ease in” to the season for teams looking to claim home field advantage during the postseason.

Favorites Actually it’s one favorite.

Sherwood enters this season on a 42-game win streak that includes back-to-back Class 4A state titles.

Not only do the Warriors return six starters from last year’s state championship team but among them is four-year starting pitcher Meggie Dejter and her catcher for the last three, Rae Harrison.

Adding to Sherwood’s strength up the middle is junior shortstop Nicole Stockinger, who batted .645 with 45 runs batted in and led the Washington, D.C. area with 12 home runs a year ago.

Sherwood, in general, has been putting up monstrous offensive numbers the past few years while keeping their opponents’ scoring to a minimum. As many teams have learned, that is quite a difficult combination to contend with. The only possible question mark, for anyone desperately reaching for something, is how the Warriors will respond to firstyear coach Ashley Barber-Strunk after the retirement of former 17-

LACROSSE

Continued from Page B-1 Prep coach Kevin Giblin.

“The two way middie is back and alive,” he said.

Giblin, whose powerhouse team has 19 Division I recruits, said the rule change will prepare high school athletes to play in college.

“It’s what they’re going to do at the next level,” Giblin said. “... Playing with the horn doesn’t prepare you for the next level.”

Not only will the games run faster, but they’ll run smoother, Walter Johnson coach Alan Pohoryles said. Some games in previous years would stretch over two hours and finish after 9 p.m., thanks in part to the sub-

year coach Pat Flanagan.

“Sherwood is Sherwood,” Hoelman said. “I think everyone is curious to see what Sherwood is going to be like without Pat, she is a legend, but I don’t think anyone expects too much of a falloff and that’s because of how good Meggie is. No one is going to take Sherwood for granted.”

Contenders James H. Blake has the misfortune of being paired with Sherwood in the Class 4A North Region, but the Bengals have established themselves as one of the county’s top programs in recent years. A region semifinalist in 2013, Blake returns starters in all but one position, albeit an important one: pitcher. Nevertheless this is a team that should not be taken lightly.

As always, the 4A West Region is ripe with legitimate contenders. Last year it was Northwest that broke through to the state tournament for the first time. With six returning starters, including one of the county’s top pitchers in sophomore Bridgette Barbour, the Jaguars remain a team to beat in the region. But 2011 winner Blair and last year’s finalist Clarksburg might have other ideas. The Blazers boast an experienced lineup of their own and have been able to mix in some stronger hitting more recently with their traditional small-ball tactics. The Coyotes lost one of the county’s top pitchers but are propelled by some pretty fantastic playmakers and have had no trouble scoring runs in recent years.

Our Lady of Good Counsel looks to be in as good a posistitution timeouts.

“I like the pace of the game when we sub on the fly,” said Pohoryles, whose team went 11-5 last season.

While Cope is preparing for his extended role by getting into shape and working on his stick skills, offensive-minded midfielders such as Quince Orchard’s Taylor Segreti are trying to improve on the other end. “[The] basics of quality team defense is what I’ve really been focusing on,” Segreti said.

The former attackman wasn’t a liability last season when opposing teams had possession, but said he was frequently removed from the game and replaced with stronger defensive players.

“I was never the best de-

Darkhorses It’s hard to think of Damascus residing anywhere other than the county’s upper echelon but the Swarmin’ Hornets return only two starters this spring and neither of them are pitchers. That’s a tough hit for a team that’s been propelled recently by the county’s deepest and most versatile pitching rotation. Teams would be foolish to overlook this traditional powerhouse, though. Rockville graduated only two starters from a 12-5 teamthatwontheprogram’sfirst Montgomery 3A/2A Division title since 2002. With Kate Lipman back in the pitcher’s circle, the Rams look to continue their resurgence in 2014.

“This is my 10th year and I don’t remember a spring like this ever,” Northwest coach Kevin Corpuz said. “You’ve got to be creative sometimes to accommodate your team. ... There are only four teams at the end of the year that are happy. We want to be one of those four teams.” jbeekman@gazette.net fenseman but I always enjoyed playing D. It’s a very fun part of the game,” he said. “... I had plenty of opportunities to play defense, but I would have liked some more.”

Other rule changes include the lengthening of the substitution area from 10 to 20 yards wide. Additionally, body-checks on players in defenseless positions (blind side, head down, head turned away) will be illegal.

Segreti said he and several of his Quince Orchard teammates have played without substitution horns in club games and that the rule change will make for a faster, more enjoyable experience.

“It’s really going to change the way midfield is played,” Segreti said.

2014 SPRING SPORTS PLAYERS TO WATCH n For a full list of key baseball, softball, volleyball and track and field athletes go to www.gazette.net

BUILDING

Continued from Page B-1 field events. And, just as Northwest did, within the window of a year, Paint Branch went from the team that scored 11 points in the 2013 indoor state championships to the one who, says Quince Orchard coach Seann Pelkey, was actually the favorite to win the whole thing this past indoor season, though the Panthers lost to Northwest by two.

With the emergence of these two programs, Montgomery County has all but monopolized the boys’ 4A team scoring — and that doesn’t even get into the individuals dotted across the county.

“Those Paint Branch guys had something special going on this season,” Pelkey said. “When they stepped onto the track it was all business, it was like the New England Patriots, and it was fun to watch.”

The area in general, he elaborated, “is never going to have a shortage in athletes. We’ve just got so many kids in so many events.”

Which is exactly why, during his free periods, Youngblood will rarely be found hanging out in his office. He’ll be snooping around

ACES

Continued from Page B-1 “I know we have Evan and Nick, but if you look at teams like Sherwood, Quince Orchard, Northwest, [Bethesda-Chevy Chase] and [Winston] Churchill and of course, Poolesville in 2A, each of those teams has a pitcher that can basically shut you down.”

Underscoring the depth of the county is Churchill, which overcame a 6-10 regular season to earn a berth in the 4A state title game last year at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Churchill returns seven of its starters.

“On any given day, any team can beat you,” said Churchill fifthyear coach Scott Blackwood, a 2002 Quince Orchard graduate.

“Our best pitcher, Eric Brodkowtiz, is as good as anyone out there.

Obviously, Gaithersburg has Nick DeCarlo and Sherwood has Matt Chanin and Poolseville has Robbie Metz. It’s a tough league across the board. You just can’t show up at the park and think you’re going to leave with a win.”

gym classes looking for runners.

He’ll be popping in art class looking for, well, anything. That’s where he found Courtney Haberman, who had never thrown a discus in her life yet finished ninth in the state in last year’s outdoor meet, just months into her throwing career.

“I saw the length of her arms and the size of her hands, and I said ‘Come out here, let me show you something real quick,’” Youngblood said. And then he taught her the basics to a discus spin, handed her a slip of paper for her parents to sign, and he had found an athlete. In art class.

“Kids will say, ‘You’re always recruiting!’” he said. “And I said, ‘No, I’m just finding something else for you guys to do with your life.’ That’s just always been my method.”

Beginning with last year’s outdoorteam,Youngbloodpartnered up with Neubeiser to combine forces. Neubeiser would loan his football players to Youngblood, essentially adding 40 athletes to the track roster, and the track coach would send them back in the fall much improved, as far as physical abilities go, across the board. The result: an outdoor state track and field title, a football state

title and an indoor state track and field title.

Paint Branch has football players, too, but coach Dessalyn Dillard attributes the program’s quick ascent to the development of the distance program and the athletes “buying in.”

“We always knew the potential of our team it was just a matter of all the pieces coming together at the same time,” she said. “Basically we kind of adopt a family atmosphereandthekidsreallyenjoy spending time witheachother.

To get the kids to produce on the track, they have to buy in to what you’re saying and that’s what’s been working so well for us.”

And then, of course, there are the girls, who have all but seized control of the individual events and took four of the top five 4A team finishes. Col. Zadok Magruder’sBethanyWhiteisfresh off a 55-meter state title, James H. Blake’s Martha Sam a 300 crown, Clare Severe of Walt Whitman the 800 bragging rights, Walter Johnson’s Kiernan Keller the 1,600, Clarksburg’s Alexus Pyles the short hurdles, and Paint Branch and Whitman every single relay.

“States,” Youngblood said, “is going to be fun.”

Bethesda Chevy-Chase fifthyear coach John Schmidt guided the Barons to a 16-4 mark last spring and has several returning starters, including all-state first team selection Joe Feldman (C), pitchers Chris Krawezyk and Connor Byrne, senior Matt Bacon (OF) and Andrew Brilliant (1B). Feldman is heading to Amherst College this fall.

“We’re probably in the toughest league in the state,” said Schmidt. “When you look over the rosters you see 8-10 teams have an ace. If you draw that pitcher on thatday,you’relookingatwinning 2-1 or 3-2. But it makes the teams that much stronger. When you get to the region playoffs, you want to be ready for anyone and if you can get to states you have to be ready to face the best.”

Clarksburg fourth-year coach Matthew Derrick will also have a formidable battery in senior pitcher Zach Thompson and junior catcher Peter Limber. Clarksburg, which opened as a 2A school in 2006, has gradually become more competitive. Last year, the Coyotes finished the season 6-10

after a 1-17 mark in 2012. In a classification where Gaithersburg, Quince Orchard and Sherwood and the perennial powers and Northwest is emerging, Clarksburg is gaining respectability.

“If you look at the teams we face and the players and the coaches, the Montgomery County 4Aleagueisamongthetoughestin thestate,”Derricksaid.“Youknow you’regoingtohaveGaithersburg, Quince Orchard and Sherwood in the running for the region and state title and then you look at Poolesville and how far they’ve come. ... The quality of the play day in and day out is excellent and the coaches at those schools are first rate.”

Poolesville, the county’s smallest school, is among the contenders for the 2A state title this season for second-year coach Steve Orsini and Metz, a preseason all-state selection who is expected to attend George Washington University this fall. Metz will have some pitching duties this spring for Poolesville, but he will primarilyplayshortstopincollege.

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tion to challenge the top of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference as it’s been in four years. With Germantown native and former Bishop O’Connell hurler Tori Finucane off making her mark as a freshman at the University of Missouri, Falcons coach Paula Obal said the league seems to have leveled out a bit and Good Counsel boasts a veteran lineup anchored by Longwood University recruit Krista Kelly at shortstop and a much improved pitching contingent led by Alexis Randall.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

1910884

Page B-4

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

BUSINESS Minority businesses make good headway Montgomery has majority of state’s top five companies under Hispanic, black ownership n

BY

BizBriefs

Have a new business in Montgomery County?

Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/newbusinessform

Hospital for the hairy Scaredy cats — and dogs, lizards, et al. — have a new place to go for health care in Damascus.

Paws & Claws Animal Hospital opened March 8 at 9811 Main St., Suite 103.

The hospital, owned by veterinarian Melissa Birken, offers both wellness and emergency care for pets of all types.

The hospital website is pcahospital.com and its phone number is 301-391-6777.

KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER

In an industrial section of East Rockville, near scrap metal yards and auto repair shops, employees of Mayorga Coffee roast fine, specialty-grade coffee beans.

The beans are organic and without genetically modified organisms, mostly coming from small, family-owned farms in Central and South America. The company has found a good market, with sales growing about 10 percent in 2012, to $20.7 million.

Mayorga has grown from the ninth-largest Hispanic business in Maryland in 2011 to third last year, and was the lone one among the top five last year to grow in revenues, according to the magazine Hispanic Business.

In a statement, Martin Mayorga, the Guatemalan-born president and founder who grew up in Nicaragua, credited his business’ growth to the hard work of farmers and staff and the acceptance of customers.

“Our customers ... realize that quality and sustainability can coexist with value,” he said.

Minority companies have made more headway in Maryland than most states. From 2002 to 2007, the number of Hispanic-owned businesses in Maryland jumped 68 percent, higher than the 44 percent national average gain, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

Maryland also had the thirdhighest concentration of blackowned businesses among states in 2007, as 19 percent of companies were black-owned.

RLJ Lodging Trust of Bethesda, part of Robert L. Johnson’s business holdings, is the largest black-owned company in Maryland. The business

Page B-5

BC Steak and Silver Birch Bar to open in Gaithersburg

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Daniel Sandoval checks the color of the beans as he roasts a batch of coffee in the Mayorga roasting plant on Southlawn Lane in Rockville on Thursday. saw revenue rise 13 percent in 2012, to about $850 million, and another 14 percent in 2013, to $970 million.

Acquisitions were a key part of RLJ’s growth, CEO Thomas J. Baltimore Jr. said. Last year, the company acquired more than $200 million of assets in highgrowth markets such as Houston and Atlanta and expanded into Hawaii, San Francisco and Portland.

“We are cautiously optimistic by the steady economic improvement,” Baltimore said.

Montgomery County is the state’s hotbed for minority companies. Four of the five largest Hispanic businesses in Maryland and three of the five biggest black-owned businesses in the state have headquarters in Montgomery.

Candidates court minority businesses RLJ Lodging Trust and Mayorga Coffee are among a growing contingent of businesses that politicians are trying to

reach with various proposals to help boost minority firms in this election year.

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), one of several candidates for governor, recently released an eight-point plan that he said will increase the number of minority-owned businesses that win state contracts.

He would make it easier for businesses to get certified to compete for those contracts, create new programs that encourage private companies to hire minority owned firms and form a volunteer mentorship program between established companies and smaller businesses.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), also running for governor, proposes to let minority companies get a waiver when they compete for state prime contracts and not have to meet subcontractor minority participation goals since they are already minority owned. He also wants to do more to further divide state contracts into smaller portions to allow for greater participation.

Harford County Executive

David R. Craig, a Republican governor candidate, wants to eliminate or reduce taxes that impede business growth, such as the rain tax, sales taxes and personal state income tax.

The proposals sound good in theory, said Cary Hithon, black owner of ComForcare Senior Services of Lanham, which he opened last year. Reducing red tape and startup costs for businesses would be a big help, he said.

“The startup costs for a new business are hefty,” Hithon said.

“For instance, when I opened last year, I had to hire an accountant and pay taxes, even though I did not have revenue yet.”

Then there are issues like dealing with the federal health care act and potential minimum wage increase, he noted.

“Growing a business can be both a blessing and a curse,” Hithon said. “You want to grow enough to add employees, but that comes with more complications.” kshay@gazette.net

1910682 1910690

Gaithersburg’s Bugaboo Creek Steak House, which closed in February, is being replaced by a new steakhouse and bar.

BC Steak and Silver Birch Bar, which is set to open Sunday, features an upscale ski lodge atmosphere at 15710 Shady Grove Road.

The lounge atmosphere of the Silver Birch Bar is in a separate space within the restaurant and is open for extended hours.

It features shuffleboard tables and darts.

BC Steak is owned and operated by Capitol BC Restaurants, which acquired several Bugaboo Creek locations from CB Holding in a bankruptcy sale in 2011, according to a company news release.

The restaurant and bar open daily at 11:30 a.m. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. Sunday. The bar is open an hour later each night.

Reservations are encouraged for parties of nine or more. For more information, visit bcsteak.com or call 301-548-9200.

Leadership Maryland leaders William B. Grant, chairman and CEO of First United Bank & Trust, was elected chairman of Leadership Maryland.

New directors include Ilaya Hopkins, vice president of public affairs for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

MedImmune names new vice president Anand Subramony has joined MedImmune as vice president for drug delivery and device development within biopharmaceutical development. He works out of the Gaithersburg facility.

He joins MedImmune from the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass., where he headed the novel delivery technologies and therapeutics group. He has also held scientific leadership positions at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in Bridgewater, N.J., and Johnson & Johnson/Alza Corp. in Mountain View, Calif.

New Signal Financial VP Signal Financial Federal Credit Union of Kensington hired Meddy Soeparta as vice president of commercial lending and development. He previously was a senior business banker at Capital One Bank in Bethesda.

THE GAZETTE

Page B-6

SCHOOL LIFE

EDUCATION NOTEBOOK

A cross-cultural celebration International Night highlights culture, music and helping others; Students made paper beads to help nonprofit get clean water to Africa n

BY

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

PEGGY MCEWAN STAFF WRITER

Families arrived with baskets and bowls of food, display boards and props, many dressed in clothes from their country of origin. They came to share their cultural heritage at International Night on Friday at Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School in Damascus.

Twenty-three countries were represented with displays created by students and their families.

“The school community has changed a lot,” Principal Cheryl Clark said of her 16 years at the school. “The community is much more diverse and [International Night] becomes more interesting.”

Among the additions to this year’s heritage celebration at Rockwell was a project to help provide water to people in Tanzania. Students Rebuild, a nonprofit that encourages school children to become involved in creative ways of solving global issues, is offering a challenge through May 16 for students worldwide to make paper beads and send them to the organization.

For every 20 beads created, the Bezos Family Foundation and cosponsors charity: water and Global Nomads Group will provide water for one person in Tanzania, Shannon Fleischer, Rockwell PTA vice president, said.

Jeffrey Bezos, owner of Post Community Media, parent company of The Gazette, is a member of the board of the Bezos Family Foundation.

The bead-making table was busy with students rolling triangular strips of paper around a thin stick, gluing the ends together and slipping them off the stick. As each bead was finished it went into a plastic container, ready to be added to those collected from students worldwide.

“A very good estimate” of the number of beads created by Rockwell students would be about 5,000, Fleischer wrote in an email to The Gazette on Tuesday. That includes those made by students at home and at school during indoor recess before International Night, she wrote.

Beads were selected for the

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Rashid Bhatti and his son Adam, 6, perform a Bhangra dance for International Night on Friday at Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School in Damascus. water project because they are a part of life in Africa according to the Students Rebuild website www.studentsrebuild.org.

“Beads are often used for ceremonies, given and exchanged at significant life events such as birth, puberty, marriage and death,” the website stated. “For thousands of years, African beads have been used as adornment, communication and currency.”

While students rolled beads and learned about the need for water in Tanzania, others visited with their schoolmates, learning about the different cultures represented.

Ethan King, 11, a fifth-grader, and his sister, Alyra, 8, a secondgrader, shared their Vietnamese culture. Their mother is Vietnamese, their father, American.

Ethan said the most interesting things about Vietnam to him are its food and clothing. His favorite food: beef soup.

Adam Bhatti, 6, a first-grader,

talked about Pakistan while his father gave out samples of tandoori chicken. The two also performed a dance during the beginning of the night’s events when students presented music and dance performances. The Bhattis combined traditional Pakistani dance with Michael Jackson-style choreography.

Trans-cultural dance was also represented by two students performing a Bollywood dance, though the girls doing Irish step-dance stuck with tradition.

Throughout the evening, Pa’ Gozar con Laura Sosa played Latin American and Caribbean salsa and merengue music, adding to the International flair of the night and giving everyone who wanted the chance to learn a little salsa dance.

“This is everything good about our community,” PTA president Erricka Evans said as she looked about the room.

Sport stacking takes school by storm Every Thursday after school, about 40 students meet in the gym at Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac to practice sport stacking.

Sport stacking?

Simply put, it’s the creation of pyramids by stacking plastic cups in prescribed sequences using three, six or 10 cups — and doing it as fast as possible.

And yes, it really is a sport, says Carol Winckler, a physical education teacher at Stone Mill.

“It has a lot of benefits like [improving] eye had coordination and bilateral movement,” Winckler said.

Winckler was first introduced to sport stacking at a physical education convention about 10 years ago.

“It was so fun at the convention that I asked our principal, Kimberly Williams, to buy the equipment,” she said Equipment includes sets of a dozen plastic cups and a mat for stacking. The mat has an attached timer so players knows their score right away.

Stone Mill students enjoyed competing against their own times and others’ so much that they started the afternoon Sport Stacking Club. It gives them more time improve their skills and see how others are doing.

First-grader Kaia Sanders, 7, said she joined the club because she thought it looked “really, really cool.”

She has her own set of stacking cups, as do many of the club members; hers are pink, her favorite color. The club gave her a good place to practice.

“I only do it at school or in my room,” she said. “I have a little brother and he will mess up my cups.”

Two former Stone Mill students, Michael Mashima and Kareef Ullah, now sixth-graders at Cabin John Middle School in Potomac, set the world record in doubles

sport stacking Feb. 15 at the Delaware State Sport Stacking Championships. They completed the stacking cycle in 7.198 seconds.

The boys return to Stone Mill on Thursdays and help with the club.

Students present ‘Brigadoon,’ ‘Annie Jr.’ Albert Einstein High School students will present the musical “Brigadoon” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $12 or $8 for children.

The school is at 11135 Newport Mill Road, Kensington.

Einstein performers also will take part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer as part of the American High School Theatre Festival.

• Robert Frost Middle School will present the musical “Annie Jr.” at 7 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets on Thursday and Friday are sold at the door and cost $8. Tickets for Saturday’s performance cost $15 and include reserved seating, dessert and drinks. They may be ordered at montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/robertfrostms/.

The school is at 9201 Scott Drive, Rockville.

Takoma Park student top speller Nikita Singh, an eighth-grader at Takoma Park Middle School, won the

Scripps Regional Spelling Bee for Montgomery County held March 8 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda.

The runner-up was Samantha Wu, a third-grader at Farmland Elementary School in Rockville.

Nikita clinched the championship by correctly spelling “portentous.” She will represent the area in the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 25-31 in Washington.

Kareef Ullah (left), 12, and Michael Mashima, 11, sixth-graders at Cabin John Middle School, demonstrate their doubles cup stacking skills during a recent stacking club meeting at Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac.

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

pmcewan@gazette.net

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS Rocky Hill Middle 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:

1,091

Current student capacity:

Number of students over capacity:

Percent over capacity:

Number of school’s portable classrooms:

995 96 9.6 9 2004 23.9 24.5 None

(Kindergarten through fifth grade)

School’s average class size:

MCPS average class size:

Grades 6 to 8

Total MCPS middle school portable classrooms:

22

Year school was built

Grades 6 to 8

Year of last renovation/modernization

Student/ instructional staff ratio:

MCPS average middle school student/ instructional staff ratio:

PRINCIPAL’S

Cynthia Eldridge, acting principal of Rocky Hill Middle School, did not respond to requests for comment on overcrowding at the school.

13.7

TAKE

11.5

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

1910683

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

1905558

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page B-7

County chamber honors those who put their lives on the line n

Awards program marks 40th anniversary BY

ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER

It was an average patrol day for Montgomery County Police Officer Dale Anonsen until late in the afternoon when he, along with Officer Brendan Hopkins — both from the Third District — responded to a suicide attempt call March 7, 2013.

“We got to the house thinking we are probably going to do first aid and try to contain everything,” Anonsen said.

But what officers found was a woman in the master bathroom holding a loaded gun to her head threatening to kill herself.

“A lot of times you are just driving around maybe taking a burglary report... then you get this and you know you have to go from zero to 100 real quick,” Anonsen said.

Officers started to negotiate with the woman, talking to her within inches of the gun she was holding. Anonsen explained they asked her to put the gun down, and said to her “it can’t be that bad that you want to take your life. ... Let’s talk about this.

Let’s try to figure something else out.”

Additional patrol officers brought ballistic shields to the officers in the house. Steven Browne of the Special Operations Division, entered the house to help during negotiations. After six hours an officer offered her a cup of water and as the resident put the gun down, Browne grabbed both of her wrists and pointed the gun away, ending the stand-off and saving her life.

On Friday, Anonsen and Hopkins received the Bronze Medal of Valor while Browne was presented with the Silver Medal of Valor from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at the 40th Montgomery County Public Safety Awards for their bravery in negotiating with the victim and avoiding a fatal end.

“I am very honored. ... My teammates played a much bigger role. ... It is not just me,” Browne said.

The awards ceremony was held at the Montgomery County Conference Center in North Bethesda.

It has been an annual tradition with the awardees not knowing what level of award they will receive until the day of the ceremony, according to Linda Ekizian, the chamber’s vice president. At the ceremony, the chamber also honored local businesses for their contributions to the community.

It is the region’s largest event to recognize the valor of local public safety officials. A committee of civilian and sworn department heads meet to determine

1910704

PHOTOS BY DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Firefighter Rescuer I Victoria Moore receives an Honorable Mention award from Montgomery County Fire Chief Steve Lohr (left) at the 40th annual Public Safety Awards program Friday in North Bethesda for entering a burning apartment in Silver Spring at great personal risk to rescue an elderly woman in August.

Officer Derrick Williams (right) recieves a Bronze Medal from Maryland National-Capital Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul (left) at the awards program for rescuing three people from a burning car at a gas station in Beltsville in August.

(From left) Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, Police Officer III Brendan Hopkins, Police Officer III Steven Browne and Police Officer III Dale Anonsen at the awards program. Hopkins and Anonsen recieved a Bronze Medal and Browne received a Silver Medal for preventing a woman with a gun from committing suicide in March 2013. the merit of each act, according to chamber officials.

Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said one of the reasons he loves the annual event is that the community has a chance to express their appreciation for the work that men and women from public safety do every day.

“It is one thing to get an award from the fire department or police department for something that you do, but these awards come from the community in appreciation for the heroic acts that these men and women are doing day in and day out,” said Manger.

Three other Montgomery County police officers were also recognized at the event.

Police Officers Brian Nesbitt and Bassel Ifield received the Silver Medal of Valor for stopping

a woman from killing herself at a multilane highway on University Boulevard in Silver Spring.

The woman tapped on Nesbitt’s driver’s side window while holding a knife. Both officers were able to take the woman into custody to undergo mental evaluation.

Police Officer William Morrison received the Bronze Medal of Valor stopping bank robbers at an M&T Bank in Damascus.

Morrison was off duty, waiting for his transaction to be finished, when he noticed an individual wearing hooded sweatshirt, baseball cap and a piece of cloth covering the lower part of his face during a warm day in June.

Morrison called the Emergency Communications Center that a robbery was in progress after observing the teller’s reaction and was able to help catch two

suspects.

Also honored at the event: Maryland-National Capital Park Police Officer Derrick Williams with the Bronze Medal of Valor for rescuing a citizen trapped in a vehicle that had lost control on Cherry Hill Road in Beltsville.

The car’s engine had caught on fire, but Williams had two extinguishers in the trunk of his cruiser, and while assisted by a citizen he was able to free the driver, who was taken to a nearby hospital.

Firefighter Rescuer Victoria Moore was presented with the Honorable Mention of Valor for rescuing an elderly woman from an apartment that had caught on fire on Norbeck Road in Silver Spring. Moore entered the smoky unit, crawled to the kitchen without personal protective clothing and was able to

Robert Van Dyke (right), a correctional specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, receives the Community Service Award for his work with the Alternative Community Service Program from Arthur M. Wallenstein, department director. take the woman from the building.

Four community awards also were presented.

• Marcine D. Goodloe was presented with the Chief Leslie B. Thompson Community Service Award for her commitment to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. Goodloe has been a community leader for more than 40 years.

• Police Officer III George Boyce was presented with the Chief Bernard D. Crook Jr. Community Service Award for his 33 years of community volunteer-

1910707

1905626

ing to the people in Damascus.

• Acting Sgt. Keith Gentry of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police received the Chief Donald A. Deering Community Service Award for his volunteer work to honor American veterans.

• Robert Van Dyke, a correction specialist with the county Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, was presented with a Community Service Award for his humanitarian work in the rural areas of Guatemala. abarros@gazette.net

Page B-8

THE GAZETTE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Classifieds

Page B-9

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cover Shoppers Needed \\ $300/DAY Typing Companies Advertising Online. We provide the training & the jobs to perform. Genuine Opportunity.

PT/FT. Experience Unnecessary. www.HiringLocalHelp. com

FOR SALE: Cocker

Spaniels, 3 boys, 2 girls, ready to go to a ADOPTION- A Lovgood home by 04/11, ing alternative to un$800 per puppy, cash planned pregnancy. only, 304-283-9289 You choose the family for your child. Receive pictures/info of FOR SALE: Yorkie waiting/approved couTerrier puppy, male ples. Living expense had initial shots. Call assistance. 1-866301-556-3816 236-7638

PRAYER TO THE BLEESED VIRGIN

FOSTER CARE To the Blessed Mother O Most If you have room in your home, beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven, give the gift of family to a child in Blessed Mother Of The Son of foster care. We pay a generous God, Immaculate Virgin assist me stipend. Call Carerite TFC in this necessity. O Star of the Sea 301-326-1357 today! help me and show herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in the this necessity(make request) AIRLINE CAREERS GUARANTEED begin here - Get FAA INCOME FOR There are none that can withstand approved Aviation YOUR RETIREyour power. O show me herein you Maintenance training. MENT. Avoid market are my Mother. O Mary conceived Housing and Financial risk & get guaranteed for qualified stuincome in retirement! without sin pray for us who have Aid dents. Job placement CALL for FREE copy recourse to thee (three times) O assistance. CALL Avi- of our SAFE MONEY Holy Mary I place this cause in your ation Institute of Main- GUIDE. Plus Annuity.

Quotes from A-Rated hands (three times) Sweet Mother I tenance 800-4818974. compaines! 800-669place this cause in your hands 5471 (three times) Thank you for your AIRLINES ARE HIRmercy to me and after three days ING - Train for hands your request will be granted and the on Aviation Career.

FAA approved proprayer must be published.

gram. Finanical aid if CASH FOR qualified - Job placeUNEXPIRED DIAment assistance.

CALL Aviation Institute BETIC TEST STRIPS! Free Shipof Maintenance 877ping, Friendly Service, 818-0783.

BEST prices and 24hr ALL THINGS ONE CALL, DOES payment! Call today BASEMENTY! IT ALL! FAST AND 877-588-8500 or visit Basement Systems RELIABLE ELEC- NURSING CAREERS begin here www.TestStripSearch.

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cal alarm and 24/7 medical alert monitoring. For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button for free and more only $29.95 per month.

800-617-2809

Need A Personal Asst?

I am available now to help!

Companion, errands, doc appts and daily organizer.

to advertise Rentals & for sale by owner 301.670.7100 or email class@gazette.net

Email Evette:

assist.you@aol.com

Daycare Directory 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

MOMS

MONDAY M O N D AY M MORNING ORNING M MOMS O M S®

You can care for one or more children while staying in your own home.

Call MONDAY MORNING MOMS

GP2395

for info. 301-528-4616

OFFERS OFFERS

Reliable, Insured & Monitored Care in a home setting for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers in Montgomery County

3 301-528-4616 01-528-4616

CES! Call 1-888-3890695

DISH TV RETAILER . Starting at

$19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 800-278-1401

MEDICAL GUARDIAN - Top-rated medi-

GP2394

Over 140 channels only $29.99 a month.

Only DirecTV gives you 2 YEARS of savings and a FREE Genie upgrade! Call 1-800-279-3018

LOST

$500 REWARD Pet African Grey Parrot, grey with red tail, about 12 inches long lost in Lanham New Carrollton vicinity offi of Annapolis Rd. May fly a mile or even much further. Very friendly, name is Ari. Please call immediately, Jeff 703-201-2173 or Regina 404 7130900.

G GP2398 P2398

DIRECTV - 2 YEAR SAVINGS EVENT!

to advertise Realtors & Agents call 301.670.2641

It’s

FREE!

Buy It, Sell It, Find It GazetteBuyandSell.com

VETERANS! Take

full advantage of your Educational training benefits! GI Bill covers COMPUTER & MEDICAL TRAINING! Call CTI for Free Benefit Analysis today!

1-888-407-7173

PROBLEMS WITH THE IRS OR STATE TAXES?

Settle for a fraction of what your owe! Free face to face consultations with offices in your area. Call 855970-2032

MY HOUSE CLEANER Is looking for PT work

Great Refs, Exp, Legal, Own transp.

Speaks English

HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED IN POTOMAC: to cook, clean, 5½ days for couple. 301-983-3278.

301-357-0557

H S K P R /N A N N Y :

M-F 12-6, must own car, $17/hr, Potomac, Pls Call Laura at 301-299-7472 OR lauramcaree@hotmail. com

ROCKVILLE DRIVER/LIVE-IN PVT APT + SALARY driving & lt house duties 301-8716565 lv msg spk loudly & lv cb time.

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net Display Advertising Sales Representative

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.

We offer a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including pension, 401(k) and tuition reimbursement.

If you believe this is the right position for your skills, talent and abilities, please forward your resume to DHayes@Gazette.net. EOE

FRONT DESK

DENTAL OFFICE Bilingual

English/Spanish with experience. Apply at:

GC3208

426 E. Diamond Ave., Gaith. or email:

HEALTHCARE

Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now

WE’RE HIRING WEEKEND CNAS, GNAS, AND HHAS!

Dental/Medical Offices now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706 CTO SCHEV

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

OPERATOR IV The City of Frederick is currently seeking: FT Operator IV Wastewater Treatment Plant (POS-35-14) $16.7412 $21.0873 per hour. depending upon experience. Wastewater treatment experience preferred. MD Class 5A Wastewater Treatment Operator’s license preferred. For additional information visit our website @ www.cityoffrederick.com.

Physical & drug test required for all positions. E.O.E.

301-990-8435

VETERANS NEEDED Use your GI Benefits NOW for training in Healthcare.

JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE Offered.

Call Now 1-888-3958261

Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring.

No experience?

Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524 CTO SCHEV

Hospitality

Gaithersburg/ Germantown Hotels

Positions available please apply online at: www.bfsaulgreatjobs.com • Banquet Houseperson • Banquet Manager • Banquet Server • Banquet Supervisor • Area Catering Sales Manager • Executive Housekeeper • General Maintenance • Guest Service Representative • Housekeeper • Housekeeping Houseperson • Sales-Catering Coordinator • Server • Sous Chef • Utility Worker, Kitchen EEO/M/F/D/V

Wood Flooring

Floor helper needed in Gaithersburg area to assist Floor Mechanic.

Contact Weyer’s Floor Service, Inc. at 301-9122700.

Sales

DINING ROOM SUPERVISOR Supervisory & cooking experience required, Non-Profit Retirement Community Send resume to: office@homecresthouse.org

Recruiting is now Simple!

Get Connected

Legal Office Assistant

Rockville. Skills required: self-starter, organized, detail-oriented, multi-tasking, strong communication skills essential. Duties include: Answer telephone, general correspondence, filing, maintain client base, record-keeping, prepare pleading indexes. Please call (301)251-6600

Facilities Maintenance Asst

For Bell Nursery: an Asst to support the manager with most of the duties necessary to maintain the general up keep, maintenance and repair of our 10 acre Greenhouse facility.

For a detailed job description and to apply for this position, please visit our website at :

www.bellnursery.com/careers

Dental Receptionist/Assistant

Silver Spring. Excellent opportunity for an energetic, mature, hard working individual. Perfect if looking to grow in dental field.

Pleasant phone voice with excellent communications skills a must. Call 301-570-8262 and leave a message or email resume to ravikaur1@verizon.net

Dental Receptionist/Assistant Silver Spring. Excellent opportunity for an energetic, mature, hard working individual. Perfect if looking to grow in dental field. Pleasant phone voice with excellent communications skills a must.

Call 301-570-8262 and leave a message or email resume to ravikaur1@verizon.net

ASSISTANT MANAGER

For gym. Sales experience required. Salary depends on experience. If interested please email your resume to: tykf@verizon.net

GC3261

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page B-11

Careers 301-670-2500

class@gazette.net

D E

L L

E C

HILTON, GAITHERSBURG, MD

Thursday, April 3, 2014, 9:00-2:00pm

N A

Career Expo 2014 will provide employers with an opportunity to take a first look at local qualified applicants. Our mini seminars will command an audience of highly skilled professionals. Reserve your space today, log on to www.gazettecareerexpo.com or call 301-670-7100.

C

PREMIUM PACKAGE $495 EARLY BIRD PRICING*

EARLY BIRD

Registration Deadline January 31, 2014

• Booth at Event • 30 Day Banner on Gazette. net/Careers & DCMilitary.com/Career • Featured Advertiser, Hiring and Company profile • 2-Job postings (one print, one online)

*$695 after January 31, 2014

GC3262

TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE CALL 301-670-7100

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

Real Estate

HVAC/PLUMBING

NEW HIRE TRAINING STARTS SOON

TCS is looking for Shuttle Bus Drivers at Dulles Airport.

Class B CDL with passenger and air brake endorsements, current DOT physical card and 3 years of passenger driving experience required.

Must pass pre-employment drug screen and possess clean driving record.

Salary $13.75/hour • Full-Time positions • 24 Hour Operation Must be able to work all shifts

703.572.7621

THE CONVENTION STORE Local companies, Local candidates Get Connected

Gazette.Net

Local company hiring all positions Svc Techs, Installers, Plumbers, Warehouse 5 yrs Exp and License preferred Contact Steve (301)569-4012

Medical Assistant

Contact Sehon Ross from 10AM to 3PM at

Silver Spring

GC3236

Restaurant Staff ∂ Waiter’s/Waitress’s A la Carte And Banquet Positions available. Full & Part Time.

CMA needed with cardiology experience for our Rockville/Germantown area.

Must have strong skills.

Fax or Email resume to 301-947-2811 or resumestowork1@gmail.com

Apply In Person: Normandie Farm Restaurant 10710 Falls Rd, Potomac 301-983-8838

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

GC3207

Skilled Trades

S huttle D rivers Shuttle Drivers

General Assignment Reporter

3 301-388-2626 01-388-2626

bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. EOE

Search Jobs

Find Career Resources

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

Healthcare

Massage Therapist Skilled nursing facility is in search of a PT 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

Page B-12

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Careers 301-670-2500

Montgomery Hospice-Cook 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

Career Training Need to re-start your career?

class@gazette.net

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Automotive

Page B-13

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE: Looks &

CA H

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

FOR CAR !

ANY CAR ANY CONDITION

runs like new, All power, CD, frnt/back temp. cntrl, seat heaters, grg kept, pearl white, owner, 159kmi, $3500 301-438-8588 or 240-994-1868

WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN

INSTANT CASH OFFER

(301)288-6009

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA V R 6 , $6800 4 dr Sdn GLi 137k,manuel, black, bourdeauxjr@yaho o.com

G559747

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top

2008 GMC SIERRA 1500 DENALI: Crew Cab, AWD, 46483 miles, black, leather, sunroof, navigation, DVD, excellent condition, $ 1 1 8 0 0 , shad@netscape.com

$$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Makes!

Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week.

Call 1-800-959-8518

DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RV’S. LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY.

2005 ACURA TSX:

1 owner, 74,530 mi, 4 door, no accidents, grgd, fully loaded, leather and navig, perfect cond, most tire tread left. $7500 Call: 410-834-1470

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.

CASH FOR CARS!

Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing!

Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647

2008 INFINITI G35 XS SPORT: Excellent Condition. 4 Door Sedan. Black on Black. 92,000 mi. Fully Loaded w/AWD, Premium Package, & NAV. $14,250 or Best Offer. Ser. Inq. only.

301-252-1839 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

2014 JETTA S

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

14,999

$

2014 PASSAT S #9009449, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

MSRP $22,765 BUY FOR

18,999

$

OR 0.9% for 60 MONTHS

Looking for economical choices?

Search Gazette.Net/Autos

2003 Volvo S60

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

DARCARS VOLVO OF ROCKVILLE 2002 Volvo V70

MSRP $24,490

$

$

Search Gazette.Net/Autos for economical choices

SALE!

2006 Lexus IS 250

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. #426047A, 78kMiles

9,980

$

2007 Volvo S60

2007 VW Passat

#426006A, AWD With Navigation, 176k Miles

10,980

$

2013 Chevrolet Cruze

Ourisman VW of Laurel 3371 Fort Meade Road, Laurel

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

10,980

#N0294, 89k Miles w/Navigation

$

2011 Ford Escape

14,980

#422005A, 67K Miles

$

#426010A, 58k Miles

16,980

$

#E0296, 34K Miles

15,480

#422037C, 71k Miles

2009 Volvo XC-90

#P8834, w/Navigation, 106k Miles

2008 Mazda Miata MX5 Grand Touring

#325094A, 21k Miles

12,980

$

$

2010 Volvo S40

#42603A, 50k Miles

18,980

$

13,480

$

2010 Lincoln Town Car

16,980

$

2008 Ford Expedition L

#327213B, With Navigation, 87k Miles

21,980

$

1999 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4.............................$8,480 2013 Mazda3......................................................................$13,480 #N0295A, 118k Miles

#E0306, 34k Miles

#429027A, 83k Miles

#N0323, 28k Miles

#G0002, 47k Miles

#P8876, 39k Miles

#426010A, 58k

#P8827, Navigation, 32k Miles

2001 Volvo XC70..........................................................$9,480 2012 VW Beetle..............................................................$13,980 2006 Ford Fusion SE............................................$9,980 2011 Lexus ES350.....................................................$23,980

2007 Volvo S60................................................................$11,980 2011 Volvo XC-90..................................................$30,980

DARCARS

VOLVO

15401 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD

www.darcarsvolvo.com

1.888.824.9165 DARCARS G559763

See what it’s like to love car buying.

YOUR GOOD CREDIT RESTORED HERE

Looking for a new ride?

Log on to Gazette.Net/Autos to search for your next vehicle!

G559766

6,980

$

#422051B, 121K Miles

Page B-14

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

SPRING SPRING I IN N AND SAVE AND BIG!!

SAVE B IG!!

DARCARS VOLVO OF ROCKVILLE 2002 Volvo V70

11 Nissan Versa 1.8S $$

11,200

#464060A, 6 Speed Manual, 30k Miles, Black, 1-Owner

13 Kia Rio LX $$

14,400

#453017A, Auto, 2K Miles, 1-Owner

11 Toyota Camry LE $$

16,500

14FordFocusSE $$

#472144A, Auto, 4k Miles, 1-Owner

16,700

16,490

6,980

$

#422051B, 121K Miles

18,700

#457003B, 7 Speed $ $ Auto, 3.0L Luxury

12 Hyundai Genesis Coupe #464070A, 2.0T, $ 5 Speed, 13K Miles, $ 1-Owner

18,900

17,900

9,980

#426047A, 78kMiles

$

19,995

$$

#372014A, 6 Speed Auto, 8K Miles, 1-Owner

13 Toyota RAV4 LE $$

#364547A, 6 Speed Auto, 8K Miles, 1-Owner, Sport Utility

22,700

18,990

$$

12ToyotaSiennaLEMiniVan #472179A, 6 Speed $ Auto, 1-Owner, $ 28K Miles

22,500

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 2012 Toyota RAV4............. $18,700 $18,700

2012 Toyota Camry LE......... $20,900 $20,900

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

$24,500 2011 BMW 328i................. $24,500 #472196A, 7 SpeedAuto, Black, 56K Miles

#364340A, Sport Utility, 4 Speed, 20K miles, 1-Owner, Pryrite Mica

2011 Toyota Tacoma........... $18,900 $18,900 #467046A, Ext. Cab, 5 Sp Manual, 32k Miles, 1-Owner

#N0336, 6 SpeedAuto, 26K miles, 1-Owner, Magnetic Grey Metallic

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT. $21,900 $21,900 #363225A, 6 SpeedAuto, 5k Miles, Sport Utility, Rally Red

2011 Toyota Camry SE......... $21,900 $21,900 #460001A, 6 SpeedAuto, Black, 56K miles 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. . $25,995 $25,995 #432094A, 13K Miles, CVT Trans, Cosmic Gray Mica, 1-Owner

2013 Nissan Quest SV......... $26,700 $26,700 #363238A, CVT Trans, 1-Owner, 11K Miles, White Pearl

355 3 5 5 TOYOTA TOYOTA PRE-OWNED P R E - OW N E D G559765

DARCARS

$

#422048B, 96k Miles

10,980

$

2007 VW Passat

2006 Lexus IS 250

10,980

#426006A, AWD With Navigation, 176k Miles

$

2009 Volvo XC-90

#N0294, 89k Miles w/Navigation

11,480

$

2010 Lincoln Town Car

08 Lincoln MKX #377445B, 6 Speed Auto, 8K Miles, White

12,980

#3258118A, 111k Miles

$

2008 Mazda Miata MX5 Grand Touring

13 Ford Escape S

7,980

#E0259A, 137k Miles

13 Toyota Tacoma $$

#460098A, 4 Speed Auto, Reg Cab, 1-Owner, 5k miles

2007 Jeep Wrangler X

08 Mercedes-Benz C Class

2007 Honda Accord EX-L

12 Scion TC $$

#R1735A, 6 Speed Auto, 1-Owner, 25K Miles

2003VolvoS60

#P8918, 6 Speed Auto, 33k Miles, Silver Metallic

2005 Ford Escape Limited

15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD | OPEN SUNDAY

V ISIT U HE W VISIT US S O ON N T THE WEB EB A AT T w www.355.com ww.355.com

$

$

#327213B, With Navigation, 87k Miles

$

2008 Ford Expedition L

21,980

#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

www.darcarsvolvo.com

1.888.824.9165

See what it’s like to love car buying

1-888-831-9671 1-888-831-9671

16,980

#325094A, 21k Miles

15,480

#P8834, w/Navigation, 106k Miles

DARCARS G559754

See what it’s like to love car buying.

YOUR GOOD CREDIT RESTORED HERE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

Page B-15

DARCARS NISSAN DARCARS

2002 Honda Accord EX #P8922A, Automatic, Very Clean Car

See what it’s like to love car buying.

6,977

$

2005 Toyota Matrix XR

8,977

$

#441031A, 5 Speed Manual, 1-Owner

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

2010 Cadillac DTS w/1SC

2013 NISSAN SENTRA SV MSRP: $18,360 $

2014 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S MSRP: Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

17,495

$

12,977

$

#446147B, 4WD, Automatic

#11614 2 At This Price: VINS:410790, 413202

#12113 2 At This Price: VINS: 788738, 797494

2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 S

#P8912, Automatic, 1-Owner

12,977

$

15,977

$

#374548A, Auto, Sunroof, Heated/ Ventilated Seats

$14,995 -$500 -$500

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class #470267D, 3.0L Sport, RWD, 1-Owner, Auto

16,977

$

13,995 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL

$23,940 $19,495 -$1,000 -$1,000

#442023A, Automatic, Leather, Sunroof, 1-Owner

16,977

$

2010 Volkswagen New Beetle #442018A, Auto, Convertible, Final Edition

16,977

$

With Bluetooth, Rearview Monitor #13114 2 At This Price: VINS: 190413,190601

2013MSRP: NISSAN ROGUE S$22,795 AWD

choices?

Sale Price: Nissan Rebate: NMAC Bonus Cash:

#22213 2 At This Price: VINS: 151130, 151398 G559762

2003 Toyota 4 Runner SR5

$17,515 $14,995 -$500 -$500

Sale Price: Nissan Rebate NMAC Bonus Cash:

Selling Looking for Your Car just economical got easier!

$14,770 $12,995 -$500 -$500

$

2012 Volvo C30 Premier Plus

$18,995 -$500 -$500

#326023A, 6 Speed Manual, Sunroof, 1-Owner

17,995

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

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 03/24/2014.

NMAC. Prices valid only on listed VINS. See dealer for details. Offer expires 10/22/2012.

17,977

$

2006 Nissan 350Z Touring #432035A, 6 Speed Manual, Leather, 22,288 Miles

18,977

$

www.DARCARSnissan.com

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: #470335, 470460

2 AVAILABLE: #470412, 470471

SSPRING PRING

99/ MO**

4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

NEW 2014 VENZA 4X2 2 AVAILABLE: #474506, 474508

24,590

$

SAVINGS SAVINGS TTIME IME SSTARTS TARTS N OW! NOW!

15,990

4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.

NEW 2014 SCION XD 2 AVAILABLE: #453023, 453030

$

4 CYL., AUTO

AFTER $1,000 REBATE

$

169/mo.**

4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO

NEW 22014 RAV4 4X2 LE AVAILABLE: #464089, 464081

NEW 2014 PRIUS PLUG-IN 2 AVAILABLE: #477456, 477444

$

4 DR., 4 CYL., AUTO

NEW 2014 PRIUS II

21,690

AFTER $750 REBATE

4 CYL., AUTOMATIC

NEW 2014.5 CAMRY LE

2 AVAILABLE: #477453, 477416

$

21,790

2 AVAILABLE: #472251, 472221

MONTHS+ % 0 FOR 60 On 10 Toyota Models

HATCHBACK 4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL.,

DARCARS

See what it’s like to love car buying

$

19,590

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

G559764

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.

Page B-16

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 o

96 Toyota RAV4

$4,488

04 Chevy Impala LS

#KP99902, 4WD, AT, PW, DON’T MISS!!

05 Ford F-150 Supercab FX4 $7,950

#KP24038A, 4WD, AT, PW, BEST VALUE!! $4,908 OFF KBB!

10 Hyundai Sonata LTD

#KP43899, PAMPERED, 79K!!, AY, PSEAT, EASY TERMS!

13 Toyota Corolla LE

$14,970

#KP24824, MNRF! REDUCED! $944 OFF KBB!

UNDER $10,000

MORE VEHICLES

05 Saturn Vue..................................$5,988

11 Hundai Sonata GLS..................$13,988

06 Acura RSX CPE...........................$3,988

03 Toyota Corolla S..........................$7,988

09 Chevy Traverse LS....................$15,945

#KP54495, NICE! GAS SAVER!5 SPD, MNRF, PW/PLC, CD, MD INSP’D

#KP19587, SHARP! V6, 5SPD, PW,”HANDYMAN”

#KP68323, GORGEOUS! AT, PW/PLC, CC, SPLR

#KP58219, PW/PLC, CC, DON’T MISS! MD INSP’D

#KP22613, IMMACULATE, 68K! AT, MNRF, CHROME, P/OPTS

#KP43728, BEAUTY! MD INSP’D! AT, PW/PLC, CC

#KP22789, AWD, SUPER SHARP! MNRF, LTHR, CASS/CD

99 Mercury Grand Marquis GS ......$3,988

99 Honda Accord LX........................$4,498

G559761

$15,435

#KP88029, SHOWROOM COND., 8K!! $1,604 OFF KBB!

02 Ford Focus ZX3 CPE.......................$2,988 #KP04832, AT, AC, CRUISE, CLEAN! “HANDYMAN”

$6,988

#KN25467, PW/PLC, CC, CD, EXCELLENT VALUE!

08 Chrysler Twn & Cntry LTD.......$17,988 #KP34550, MNRF, DBL DVD’S, PWR 3RD SEAT, LTHR

08 Hyundai Vera Cruz LTD..............$17,988

#KP54436, AWD, PW/PLC, STABILITRAK, ALLOYS, SAB

#KP33232, AWD, OUTSTANDING! MNRF, DVD, LTHR

#KP26594, 4WD, MNRF, SPLR, RNG BRDS

#KD47988, GORGEOUS! DVD, BACKUP CAM, LTHR, CO DEMO!

06 Chrysler PT Cruiser LTD.............$7,990

08 Toyota 4Runner SR5................$17,990

04 Nissan Murano SL......................$7,990

08 Chrysler Twn & Cntry LTD.......$17,990

#KP34550, MNRF, NAV, DVD’S, LTHR, BEAUTY!

13 Chrysler 300.................................$20,988 10 Infiniti EX 35.................................$23,970 #KP55804, 37K! NAV, MNRF, LTHR, RNG BRDS, REALLY NICE!