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GETTING AMPED UP!
Strathmore announces new music venue for White Flint. B-4
The Gazette OLNEY
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
25 cents
Was it a sting or really ‘pay to play’? n
Union says question was meant to make a point, not make money BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Claiming it aimed to weed out candidates willing to “pay
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Eighth-grader Eileen Portillo, 13, reaches for one of the new recyclable lunch trays now in use at Francis Scott Key Middle School in Silver Spring.
New school lunch trays are balance of price, environment School system plans switch for next academic year n
BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Throughout the cafeteria at Francis Scott Key Middle School in Silver Spring on Friday lay the first signs of a change coming to Montgomery County Public Schools — brown paper trays. The trays made their debut at the middle school on April 28 and school system officials say the goal is to switch out the plastic foam trays now found in school cafeterias around the county for the thin, cardboardlike trays that it can recycle by the beginning of the next academic year. Marla Caplon, director of food and nutrition services for the school system, said the school system has been looking for years to make a switch to recyclable trays. “It’s always kind of been on the front burner to do that but cost was a prohibiting factor,” she said. The plastic trays, which
are made of polystyrene, can be recycled but there is no company near the county that could collect them, Caplon said. The distance of companies who could have recycled them would have made prices too steep, she said. After coming across other recyclable options with unmanageable price tags, Caplon said, the school system found an affordable option in the paper tray that costs about 4.27 cents — about 1 cent more than a plastic tray. Based on a hypothetical purchase of about 14 million trays for one year, the new paper trays would cost about $598,000 — about $140,000 more than their plastic counterparts, according to Caplon. Caplon said that, with the 4.27-cent tray, the school system has “at least one avenue that is cost effective.” The system is still seeking other affordable options through a bid process. The tray will be recyclable as long as it doesn’t get a significant amount of food on it, Caplon said, citing the exam-
See TRAYS, Page A-11
to play,” Montgomery County’s largest employee union asked on its endorsement questionnaire if candidates would pay its political action committee to campaign on their behalf, if endorsed. “That was to make a point,” said Gino Renne, president of United Food and Commercial
Workers/Municipal and County Government Employees Organization Local 1994, MCGEO. “We wouldn’t have accepted any money. We were fishing to see what electeds or candidates would feel compelled to pay to play.” Specifically, the question asked, “If endorsed by our
Union, will you commit to writing a $4,000-$5,000 check to our PAC, like you would to MCEA, to assist our union’s campaign on your behalf?” MCEA is the county teachers union, Montgomery County Education Association.
See UNION, Page A-11
Ex-restaurateur takes shot at liquor business
“I want to have a really good product,” says C. Edgardo Zuniga, CEO and head distiller for his new Twin Valley Distillers in Rockville.
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Rockville distillery is first in county
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
C. Edgardo Zuniga knows he’ll face plenty of challenges launching his own distillery business, but on Friday his most immediate challenge was how
to safely transport 1,200 pounds of molasses from a delivery truck to his still. Working with three helpers, Zuniga worked to maneuver the two 55-gallon drums of molasses he’ll eventually use to make rum off the back of the truck, down a steep hill and into the smallish space in the rear of a Rockville industrial park where he plans to make rum, vodka,
whiskey and other spirits under the banner of Twin Valley Distillers. “The goal is to do almost everything,” he said. While waiting for a few more permits from Montgomery County to allow him to sell and distribute his products, Zuniga said his state license allowed him to start production as of Thursday.
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
There are only six distillers in Maryland, including Zuniga, said Lou Berman, licensing manager in the state comptroller’s office. Twin Valley is the only one in Montgomery County. The state had been famous for its rye whiskey until the end of World War II, and was home
See ALCOHOL, Page A-11
Community works to create roadrunner mosaic Project coordinated by former student as an Eagle Scout project n
BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
William H. Farquhar Middle School Principal Diane Morris said she’s often impressed by student artwork when visiting other school buildings. When former student Sam Redman, 15, of Silver Spring, approached her about doing something in the school for his Eagle Scout project, they came up with the idea of creating a mosaic of the school’s mascot — a roadrunner.
Morris said a typical Eagle Scout project at a school involves beautifying a courtyard. Because the current school building is scheduled to be demolished next year, that was not an option. Sam, a student at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, proposed a mosaic, since he had seen his younger brothers work on one at Stonegate Elementary School and he thought it looked like fun. Morris was receptive and supportive of the idea. This effort became a community service project involving Sam; the Farquhar PTA, which provided funding; and Ashton professional stained glass mosaic artist Ali Mirsky. Over the past few months, Sam collected
more than 200 pounds of donated scrap stained glass from local artists, coordinated preparations, trained volunteer helpers and worked on the design with Mirsky. The design includes a roadrunner, along with the lettering for “Farquhar Middle School.” He invited about 75 students and fellow Scouts, along with parents, siblings and school staff, to create the mosaic in the school’s cafeteria on Saturday. The work consisted of laying the glass onto the four-foot-by-eight-foot mosaic design board. After it dries, it will be grouted. Morris spent the day with the students
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SPORTS
Additional money could be set aside for managed hunts and to hire sharpshooters.
Raptors scheduled to begin Region XX tournament Friday.
COUNTY PLANS MORE DEER HUNTS A-3
See MOSAIC, Page A-11
BAD WEATHER, STRONG BONDS B-1
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TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Eagle Scout candidate Sam Redman (right of center) is leading a project to create a mosaic of William H. Farquhar Middle School’s roadrunner mascot. Redman is pictured on Saturday at the Olney school with Ashton artist Ali Mirsky (center), Principal Diane Morris (between Redman and Mirsky), and a crew of parent and youth volunteers Sam recruited for the project.
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