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Area favorites Fink and Marxer throw a musical pajama party in Takoma Park. A-15
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Olney Library’s reopening delayed further n
Project now on track to open in March BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
Dec. 30 will mark three full years since the last book was checked out of the Olney Library, before it closed to prepare for an expansion and renovation project. According to county officials, it likely will be March before the facility reopens. The construction project has hit numerous snags, leaving the community frustrated. Although the library closed in 2010, construction did not begin until the spring of 2012. David Dise, director of the county’s Department of General Services, said the initial lag was the result of delays in permitting by the civil engineer. In July, work slowed to a halt just before the general contractor, Milestone Construction, based in Sterling, Va., informed the county that it was ceasing business operations throughout the region. Milestone agreed to complete the project, and the county has worked with a surety company and closely monitored the situation to get the work back on track. At the time, county officials still hoped the facility could
PHOTOS BY BRIAN LEWIS/FOR THE GAZETTE
Festival of lights Above, Rabbi Bentzy Stolik of Chabad of Olney lights the “can-orah,” a menorah made of cans of donated food, at a Hanukkah celebration Sunday at Fair Hill shopping center in Olney. The food will be given to Olney Help. The celebration included latkes, doughnuts, music and crafts for children. At right, Dan Yacubovich, 13, and his sister Alice Yacubovich, 7, both of Olney, hold candles during the celebration.
Leggett to sign wage increase Thursday BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is scheduled to sign a bill Thursday that will raise the county’s minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2017. The County Council passed the increase 8-1 after a sometimes contentious discussion on Nov. 26. Councilman Phil Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg, who expressed a desire to wait for a vote to see whether the General Assembly will take action on a statewide minimum wage increase from the current rate of $7.25 an hour, opposed the measure. The vote will gradually raise the county’s wage by October
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1, 2017, a year later than in the original proposal sponsored by Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At Large) of Takoma Park. The first increase in the rate will be Oct. 1, 2014, when the minimum wage rises to $8.40 an hour. The bill doesn’t tie the wage to a consumer price index that would allow it to keep pace with inflation, unless the state passes an increase that’s indexed. After the vote, Elrich said he still considered the vote a victory, despite the extra year to implement it. “It would have been a victory whatever we passed,” he said. The bill’s supporters said it was necessary to allow workers
to survive Montgomery’s high standard of living, while its opponents argued that minimum wage jobs are meant to be entry-level jobs and that almost all the workers in the county make more than the current minimum. The bill requires employers of tipped workers to provide a base pay equal to half of the state minimum wage, with an obligation to make up the difference in any pay up to the county’s minimum wage; eliminates a credit for employers that provide health care to employees; exempts workers 18 years old and younger who work 20 hours a week or less; requires the county executive to delegate enforcement of
the law to a state agency that enforces the state wage laws and is authorized to enforce a county minimum wage law; prevents employers from retaliating against an employee who files a minimum wage complaint; specifies that worker in the county must be paid the wage even if their employer is based outside the county; and applies the county minimum wage to county employees. The health care exemption was removed because the passage of the federal Affordable Care Act is expected to make it easier for workers to get health care on their own. The county has about 2,200
See INCREASE, Page A-11
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
At the annual snow show, SHA officials show off the latest snow-fighting equipment.
Region becoming a hotbed for schools that specialize in developing top college basketball players.
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RECYCLE
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Workers install glass in the new Olney Library on Tuesday afternoon.
open by the end of the year. But in October, they announced the opening had been pushed back to January 2014. Dise now says it has been further delayed, but could not pinpoint the reasons why. He said that while Milestone has “limped to the finish,” the project should be “substantially complete” by mid-December. Once a library is completed, it is turned over to Montgomery County Public Libraries. It will take several weeks to stock the shelves and prepare it for opening. Dise said the Gaithersburg
See LIBRARY, Page A-11
Montgomery beer festivals brewing n
Montgomery seeks state permission to celebrate local brews BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County is already home to multiple wine festivals each year but the county now wants to also celebrate beer. A bill will go before the General Assembly in January to give the county permission to host up to four beer festivals each year. The legislation is one of nine local bills from Montgomery that seek to change alcohol regulations. The beer festival bill was requested by Delegation Chairwoman Anne R. Kaiser (DDist. 14) of Burtonsville on be-
half of Montgomery County. Currently, the county can host wine festivals each year, but not beer fests, said Kathie Durbin, division chief of the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control. Seven years ago, when the wine festival license was granted by the state, the county also sought the nod for beer festivals. Somewhere between draft and approval, the word beer was removed, she said. “Now beer is trending,” Durbin said. “I think there were some folks at the time who were afraid of having a beer festival, afraid it was too high risk, too big and that only big companies would be there.” But the license the county now seeks to create for beer fes-
See BEER, Page A-11
SPECIAL SECTION
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PEOPLE& PLACES More online at www.gazette.net
Olney Chiropractic drive benefits Olney Help Thanks to the generosity of the Olney Chiropractic Center’s patients, the office was able to provide Olney Help with three carloads of food for their shelves during this holiday season. Office Manager Willie Farmer said that in addition to the food donations, they also raised $5,527 for Olney Help, a nonprofit organization that provides food and financial assistance to local families in need. On Nov. 5, in exchange for $20 worth of nonperishable food or a $20 cash donation, the center offered free chiropractic treatments to all current patients. New patients were welcome to participate the entire week of November 4-8. They received their initial exam/ consultation, x-rays if needed, and that day’s treatment for free, in exchange for their cash or food donation. “That makes 25 years of successful Food For The Needy drives and we are extremely grateful to all who helped us meet our goal of helping others in need right in our own community,” said Farmer. “A very sincere thank you.”
News engineer earns Peabody Award David Zechar of Olney received his second Peabody Award recently for coverage of Superstorm Sandy with ABC News. He received his first Peabody for coverage of the Sept. 11 events. First presented in 1941, the George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished
TERRI HOGAN
achievement and meritorious service by broadcasters, cable and Webcasters, producing organizations, and individuals. The awards program is administered by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Selection is made each spring by a 16-member panel of distinguished academics, television critics, industry practitioners and experts in culture and the arts. Zechar, an engineer, has also received 2 Emmys for Olympic coverage, He has worked for ABC News for over 38 years. He has covered The White House, Capital Hill, and numerous national and international news events during that time.
Olney poet has book published Joseph Baldi Acosta of Olney has written a book of poetry titled “Welcome to My Life in Metaphor,” based on his life experiences and views of life, death and everything in between. Acosta, 70, says the book includes a wide range of experiences and poetic forms. “I have had the good fortune to lead a fascinating life with my fair share of hardship,” he said. “I grew up in a Spanish-speaking environment, with an English-speaking father, so I grew up in two distinctive worlds and perceived the fears
GALLERY
Northwest’s Martin Foray (right) forces Paint Branch’s Johnny Littlejohn to fumble in a state semifinal football game on Friday. Go to clicked.Gazette.net. PHOTO FROM OLNEY CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
Barbara Holland, staff member at the Olney Chiropractic Center, sorts food collected as part of the office’s 25th annual Food for the Needy drive, to benefit Olney Help. towards those who were different.” His experiences, gathered through traveling around the world, contributed to poetry. In addition to his heritage, Acosta’s poetry explores social criticism, such as the condemnation of pedophilia and hypocrisy within the Catholic church, and Americans’ glorification and acceptance of gun violence. “I hope the readers find it interesting and thought-provoking,” said Acosta. “I hope they look through a different prism.” Acosta was awarded Montgomery College’s 2010 Ventura Valdez English Poetry Award for “Curandero of Juarez (A Childhood Memory)” and the 2013 Ventura Valdez English Poetry Award for “The Limited.” In addition, he was a finalist
in the Gival Press 2011 ArLiJo Poetry Competition, for his poem, “The End and the Beginning.” “Welcome to My Life in Metaphor” is available directly from the publisher at www.authorhouse. com, or through retailers. 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 301670-7183. 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.
SPORTS Check Friday night for coverage of the Class 4A state championship football game between Northwest and Suitland high schools.
For more on your community, visit www.gazette.net
ConsumerWatch What happens if you show up at the airport and forget your ID? Liz turns to the TSA to secure this answer.
LIZ CRENSHAW
WeekendWeather FRIDAY
EVENTS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4 Holiday Mixer: Wheaton and Kensington Chamber of Commerce, 5:30-7
p.m., Los Churros Restaurant, 2420 Blueridge Ave., Wheaton. $20. 301949-0080.
Forum: Fair Elections Amendment, Get Money Out Maryland, 7 p.m.,
New Mark Commons Clubhouse, 607 Tegner Way, Rockville. Free. 202-2807102.
THURSDAY, DEC. 5 Overview of Interventions for Autism, 6-7:30 p.m., The Treatment and
Learning Centers, 2092 Gaither Road, Rockville. $25. 301-424-5200, ext. 6923.
FRIDAY, DEC. 6 16th Annual Holiday Craft Fair and Winterfest, 3-9 p.m., Church of the
Resurrection, Greencastle Road and Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, also 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7. 301-236-5200.
SATURDAY, DEC. 7
School, 12319 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. $9 for adults, free for kids younger than 2. steamedbun@yahoo. com. Holiday Bazaar, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville. Free. 240-3145019. Holiday Bazaar, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-948-0122. Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Salem United Methodist Church Community Hall, 12 High St., Brookeville. Holiday Greens Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Free admission. 301-962-1400. Resident Artists Open House, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17910 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. Free. 301-774-0022. The Nutcracker, 2 and 7:30 p.m., F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, also 2 p.m. Dec. 8. 240-314-8690. NIH Chamber Singers Winter Concerts, 3-4 p.m., Marilyn J. Praisner
Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 a.m.noon, St. John the Baptist Catholic
Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Free. 972-740-5503.
SAT
7
SUNDAY
p.m., Temple Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Road, Rockville. Free. 301-340-6818.
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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.
SATURDAY
Country Breakfast Buffet, 7-11 a.m.,
Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, 22222 Georgia Ave., Sunshine. $8 for adults, $3 for ages 3-8. 301-3300539.
MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Teen Writers’ Workshop, 3:30-5:30
p.m., Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville. Free. 240-773-9410. Drum Line Competition, 4 p.m., Springbrook High School, 201 Valley Brook Drive, Silver Spring. $5 per student, $10 per adult. 301-989-6062.
SUNDAY, DEC. 8 Breakfast with Santa, 9-11 a.m.,
Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. $20 for adults, $15 for kids. kking2@gaithersburgmd.gov. Central Maryland Chorale Winter Concert, 4 p.m., The Lutheran Church
of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. $15. 301-317-9646.
Christmas Carol Sing Along and Children’s Concert, 4-5:30 p.m., Gaith-
ersburg Presbyterian Church, 610 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-948-9418. Raising the Minimum Wage, 7-9
TUESDAY, DEC. 10 Peripheral Neuropathy, 1:15-2:30 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton. 240-777-4999.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11
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Singer Songwriter Series: Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, 3 p.m.,
Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. $25 for concert, $45 for concert and workshop. stakahashi@gaithersburgmd.gov.
Mobile Download the Gazette.Net mobile app using the QR Code reader, or go to www.gazette.net/mobile for custom options.
DEATHS Reginald Calvert Orem Jr.
GAZETTE CONTACTS
Reginald Calvert Orem Jr., 82, died Nov. 10, 2013, in College Park.
The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350
CORRECTION
Claude Harris Hall Claude Harris Hall died Nov. 30, 2013. Stauffer Funeral Home in Brunswick handled arrangements.
A Nov. 27 BizBriefs item about the expansion of Activity Rocket gave the wrong first name for Lisa Friedlander. Also, businesses still have the option of a free subscription to the service in addition to having paid advanced marketing options.
Join us for a night in Bethlehem Saturday, Dec. 7th from 6-9:00 pm (7:30 pm - Musica Espanola) & Sunday, Dec. 8th from 3-6:00 pm
Experience the sights and sounds of the town of Bethlehem, 2000 years ago on the night of Jesus’ birth. Talk with Roman Soldiers, merchants and prophets. Celebrate the Season with us!
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 4200 Olney-Laytonsville Road • 301-774-9125 www.OlneyGoodShepherd.org
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Frostbite is most commonly seen on a dog’s or cat’s paws, tail and tips of the ears. It happens when the body is exposed to freezing temperatures and the blood flow to the outer areas of the animal’s body diminishes, a natural response that ensures an adequate flow of blood to its vital organs.
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THE GAZETTE
LOCAL Here comes Santa Claus
Page A-3
Measure would open land to deer hunting Alcohol measures on tap for upcoming General Assembly n
PHOTOS BY DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
At right, Tania Dynda and her daughter Katarina Dynda, 5, of Olney are greeted by Santa Claus at the Fair Hill shopping center in Olney on Saturday. Above, Olivia Nelson, 4, of Olney, with her balloon wand at the shopping center.
BY
STAFF WRITER
Sandy Spring hopes to see bike paths linked Move would enhance safety for cyclists, pedestrians BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
Michael Conklin moved to Sandy Spring in 2011, after not owning a car for 18 years. He tried biking on Md. 108 between Sandy Spring and the Blueberry Gardens farm in Ashton for a few months, but eventually gave up and bought a car. Plans are in the works that might get him back on two wheels. The Sandy Spring Civic Association recently adopted a resolution advocating for a shared-use path (or bikeway) to be constructed on Md. 108 from Sandy Spring to Doctor Bird Road, on Doctor Bird Road from Md. 108 to Norwood Road, and on Norwood Road from Doctor Bird Road to Md. 108. The organization sent a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) requesting the project be expedited for completion in 2014. Association president John Salzberg said the bikeway was included in the county’s Facility Planning-Transportation document, listed under “Other Candidate Studies Proposed after Fiscal Year 2018.” “We believe this project de-
serves consideration now rather than after Fiscal Year 2018, and ask that it be considered in 2014,” he said. These proposed shared-use paths or bikeways are consistent with the recommendations in the 1998 Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan. Adding this triangular bikeway/shared-use path would provide several benefits to the community, said the organization’s president, John Salzberg. It would enable students of Sherwood High School, Sandy Spring Friends School, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and Sherwood Elementary School to bike or walk to school. It also would provide a safer route for the schools’ crosscountry runners. It would increase bike and pedestrian traffic between Olney and Sandy Spring, enabling residents to frequent businesses in the Village of Sandy Spring and Olney. A completed path system also would enable residents of Friends House Retirement Community to walk to the Sandy Spring village, and allow the staff of Friends House safer access to public transportation. “I’d much prefer to bike around here instead of unsustainably and unhealthfully drive,” Conklin said. “Daily conveniences have had their day for
our country and county, but in the long run appear to have become just too costly for both our bodies, community and physical environment.” Conklin said he is not a long-distance cyclist with fancy apparel, but instead is just a commuter. “I am now retired and would like to do more biking, but I am frustrated by the risk,” he said. “There are a couple of stretches along Md. 108, particularly between Norwood Road and Doctor Bird Road, that are really dicey.” Susan Milner lives on one of those stretches of Md. 108, just west of Sherwood Elementary School, and often sees people walking in the street. “108 is too busy of a road for people to be walking in the street,” she said. “There are some bike paths, but there are a lot of gaps that need to be filled in.” Milner’s three children ride their bikes to Sherwood Elementary, a route that involves cutting through some neighbors’ yards before reaching the paved path. Her hope is that by the time her fifth-grader reaches high school, he will be able to ride his bike to Sherwood High School safely. A completed path also would open up other opportunities for her family. “Olney has a lively down-
town,” she said. “If there was a path, I would bike there all the time — to the library when it opens, to the gym.” County spokeswoman Ester Bowring said the status of the project would not be known until Jan. 15, when Leggett releases his Capital Improvements Plan for Fiscal Years 2015-20, which will list the priorities along with what funding is available. Pat Shepherd, capital projects manager/bikeways coordinator for the county’s Department of Transportation, said the project has been evaluated, and there is a need to provide a complete bikeway network in Sandy Spring. “However, it would need to compete with other projects, as well,” she said. Shepherd said the project might be a good candidate for a Maryland Department of Transportation Bikeways Grant, which may be awarded to projects to fill in missing segments of bike paths to enhance safety. Bowring said that during the county’s capital budget process, there would be ample opportunities for input, including public hearings planned for February. Specific dates are not yet available. thogan@gazette.net
The Gazette’s Auto Site
Gazette.Net/Autos
A Montgomery County lawmaker will try again to give archery hunters more room to help cull the county’s growing deer population. Del. Eric Luedtke again has proposed a local bill to shrink the safety zone around Montgomery County buildings from 150 yards to 50 yards for bow hunters. Current state law prohibits shooting any firearm or deadly weapon, like a bow, within 150 yards of an occupied home, church or other building or camp. Around schools, the safety zone is 300 yards. Under Luedtke’s proposal, Montgomery County would be lumped with Carroll and Frederick counties, which have a 50-yard safety zone. With the exception of Harford County, which has a 100yard buffer, the rest of the state must follow a 150-yard safety zone. Luedtke (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville proposed a similar bill in the 2013 legislative session that became a point of significant debate among the delegation and did not advance. Few solutions are effective for deer management in Montgomery, but about a dozen citizens who testified in favor of the bill at a delegation hearing Monday say giving archers more room to hunt will go a long way in controlling the deer population. Many who testified told of complications suffered from Lyme disease, a debilitating disease carried by ticks that often feed off the blood of deer. Others spoke of the many deer killed each year along their streets by motorists. Kevin Kommitt of the
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Sycamore Acres Citizens Association told the delegation that it needs to support the bill to protect children and residents in the county. “Odds are it [a deer-auto collision] will happen to someone in this room in the next year,” he said. Rob Gibbs, of the Montgomery Parks Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, acknowledged that reducing the safety zone could increase the opportunity for hunting in the county. However, even a 50-yard safety zone would not allow hunting in the county’s more densely populated areas, he said. Luedtke’s bill was one of 13 local bills the delegation has filed so far for the 2014 legislative session, which starts Jan. 8. Among the crop of legislation are nine bills that seek to change alcohol regulations, including ones that would allow serving wine at beauty salons and ease restrictions on microbreweries. Others would prevent self-checkout sales of alcohol, permit beer festivals and create an annual license for small performing arts facilities that pay thousands each year for one-day licenses. Also proposed is a bill by Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18) of Chevy Chase to require most Montgomery County Police to carry automated external defibrillators in their vehicles and a bill that clarifies Montgomery County’s role in tort claims. With the exception of the archery and defibrillator bills, the legislation will be considered by the delegation’s County Affairs Committee before moving to the General Assembly. The other bills will go to the delegation’s Land Use and Transportation Committee for discussion.
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AUTO • LIFE • HOME • HEALTH
“NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CAN’T FIND PEACE” HOW ABOUT RECEIVING GOD’S MERCY? “The person who receives God’s mercy receives the gift of a new life.” - Pope Francis
• “But it’s been such a long time since I went to confession. It’s too late for me to change.” • Don’t be afraid. God’s mercy gives us strength for a new beginning – the gift of a new life. • “Even me?” Especially you. Come home to God’s mercy. Come home to the Catholic Church. Saint Peter’s Parish Saint Patrick’s Parish 2900 Olney-Sandy Spring Road 4101 Norbeck Road Olney, MD / (301) 924-3774 Rockville, MD / (301) 924-2284 www.stpetersolney.org www.stpatricksmd.org Confession Schedule Confession Schedule CONFESSION SCHEDULE Every Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 PM ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE December 19 at 7:15PM ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR CONFESSION December 9, 16 and 18 at 4:30 and 7PM December 10 and 17 at 6PM
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THE GAZETTE
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AROUND THE COUNTY
SHA unveils snow-fighting equipment Visitors invited to drive 13-ton truck through obstacle course BY
ALINE BARROS
Church youth remember, mark the past
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
One of the new “double-wing” snowplows that feature three blades — one in front and one each on the sides of the truck — during a Nov. 26 press conference about the State Highway Administration’s latest winter stormfighting operations at the Fairland Maintenance Facility in Silver Spring. The new plows will be used on interstate highways and are capable of clearing two lanes at a time. The SHA also talked about its new network of real-time traffic cameras that will help determine when and where to deploy road-clearing crews. “What we like to tell people here is: ‘during ice and snow, take it slow.’ ... It doesn’t matter if it’s July in a thunderstorm or if it’s in the middle of February in a blizzard, whether or not, you’ve got to slow down,” Gischlar said. The agency recently purchased two doublewing plows. Each cost $202,299. A standard dump truck with plow costs $150,000, and a single tow plow costs $86,000, according to a state highway fact sheet. Drivers must be trained on these vehicles. Some equipment requires two to three weeks of training; others need more time. “It took me two-and-a-half years to become where I am at now,” Russ said.
Drivers must do a written test and driving test for plow trucks. Operators take the “snow college course” every three to five years, to go over the basics. Russ urged drivers to give plow operators plenty of space and never try to pass them. He said it is difficult to drive during rushhour traffic because wing-plow blades extend two to three feet beyond the width of the truck. “It makes driving it difficult during rush hour to maneuver through the traffic,” Russ said. “That’s why, during plowing operations, give us all the space we can have.” abarros@gazette.net
Luedtke seeks return to House of Delegates County teacher hopes to make a difference inside as well as outside the classroom n
BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
For Eric G. Luedtke, working as a Montgomery County Public Schools teacher isn’t enough. In fact, it is what inspires him in his role as a state delegate, to bring improvements to the school system and other county services. Luedtke, 32, a Democrat from Burtonsville, is completing his first term in the House of Delegates for District 14. He, along with fellow incumbent District 14 legislators Sen. Karen S. Montgomery (D) of Brookeville, Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D) of Calverton, and Del. Craig J. Zucker (D) of Brookeville formed the District 14 Team slate, and filed for re-election on April 9. As a middle school social studies teacher, Luedtke’s main priority is education. “Public schools are the founda-
PHOTO FROM ERIC LUEDTKE
Del. Eric G. Luedtke has filed for reelection.
tion of our quality of life in Montgomery County, and Maryland remains number one in education, but we can and should do better,” he said. “We need to reform and increase school construction funding from the state to address the mounting capacity crisis in Montgomery County schools. We need
to provide universal pre-K, so all children have equal opportunity to get high quality early instruction. And we need to continue to seek reforms in special education that will improve the quality of services to students with special needs.” Luedtke also recognizes that each community within District 14 has its own local needs and interests, and said he believes that responding to those needs are among the most important responsibilities of his job as delegate. “For example, in Burtonsville and Fairland, one of the biggest issues is the expansion of job opportunities and restoration of Burtonsville’s commercial core,” he said. “We passed a tax credit to help with that, and secured transportation funding that will [help] in the future, but there is more work to be done.” Luedtke also plans to continue to work toward protecting the county’s rich agricultural heritage and environment. “These two go hand in hand — Montgomery County’s farm-
ers are among the best stewards of the land, and ensuring that those farmers can make a decent living will help maintain open space,” he said. “Supporting farm-to-school programs and farmers markets help farmers find new markets for their crops and benefit the community more broadly.” Embracing the “team approach,” Luedtke said he and his District 14 colleagues are running strong as a team and will have the financial resources they need to win. John P. Evans (D) of Gaithersburg is currently the only opponent who has filed to challenge the incumbent District 14 delegates. The primary election will take place on June 24, and the general election on Nov. 4. District 14 includes the northeastern portion of the county, including Fairland, Burtonsville, Colesville, Ashton, Sandy Spring, Olney, Brookeville, Laytonsville, and Damascus. Luedtke and his wife Emily have a 5-year-old son, Colin. thogan@gazette.net
Leggett announces series of budget forums Sessions to generate feedback from residents for budget process n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) will hold a series of forums around the county in January to gather feedback in developing the county’s fiscal 2015 operating budget. The sessions will allow Leggett to get input from residents as he prepares to submit the budget to the County Council on March 17.
Scuba diving with Santa The Olney Scuba Adventure Dive Club is hosting its 13th Annual Scuba Santa Food Drive on Dec. 8 at the Olney Indoor Swim Center, from noon until 4 p.m. Participants age ten and older can experience the thrill of breathing underwater while being photographed with Santa for a minimum $5 cash donation or a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to the Capt. Joseph A. Mattingly Food Pantry. Participants will receive safety instruction from dive professionals. Anyone who does not want to put on the scuba equipment or does not meet minimum age/size requirements may choose to be photographed at the surface or under water holding their breath. For more information, call 301-938-6220 or email ScubaSanta@ScubaAdventure.org.
STAFF WRITER
Winter officially starts on Dec. 21, but officials at the Maryland State Highway Administration are already thinking about snow. On Nov. 26, at the agency’s 18th annual snow show in Silver Spring, guests could check out the double-winged plow, the largest in Maryland. They also heard about the agency’s latest winter weather fighting strategies, including the new Coordinated Highway Action Response Team cameras and a mobile application available for download at the SHA website. SHA officials talked about 39 weather stations with pavement sensors that let operators monitor pavement temperatures, air temperatures, and salinity on roadway. In addition, SHA has access to 700 cameras across the state, which helps operators check out real-time road conditions. Guests could drive a 13-ton truck through an obstacle course and get a feel of what operators face in every storm. Dennis Russ Jr., a facility maintenance technician for SHA, drives the double- and singlewing plow during snow season. Russ said that when there is a possibility of a storm, crews prepare hours before the first snowflake falls to the ground. “Our managers decide what time to bring the crews in to be deployed out to the routes, and usually that’s a few hours before the snowstorm. To prepare for it, we load our truck in the previous night. [We] have them hooked up, loaded up, fueled up ... and ensure that our trucks are ready to go before any snow event,” Russ said. Charlie Gischlar, a public information officer for SHA, said that during a snowstorm, people “should not drive if they don’t have to.” Drivers should be aware when snowplows or plow trains — a series of plows working together — are cleaning the roadways, he said. Speed limits are based on ideal driving conditions, he added.
InBrief
The ideas discussed tend to run the gamut from countywide issues to more local concerns, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said. Each session will start with a presentation on the various aspects of the county budget and the budget process before the executive opens it up to suggestions, he said. Education, public safety and help for the most vulnerable members of society through the county’s Department of Health and Human Services are always big parts of the budget, Lacefield said. Final decisions on what makes it into the operating budget are made in early March, before it’s sent to the
County Council for their consideration and input. “This is all grist to help us do that,” Lacefield said. The budget sessions will take Leggett to: • BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown on Jan. 6. • Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center in Bethesda on Jan. 13. • Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center in Silver Spring on Jan. 16 • Mid-County Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring on Jan. 27 • Silver Spring Civic Building in
Silver Spring on Jan. 29. All five sessions are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The council will have a set of public hearings once Leggett submits his budget, council spokesman Neil Greenberger said. Those hearings usually take place over a series of four nights in April at the council office building in Rockville, he said. The council must pass a budget by the end of May. The council passed a $4.8 billion operating budget in May for fiscal 2014. rmarshall@gazette.net
The Children and Youth Ministries at Olive Branch Community Church in Sandy Spring remembered four Alabama girls who were killed 50 years ago during a bomb blast at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham by raising enough funds to have the girls’ names placed on the church’s Memorial Stone Wall. Olive Branch founder and pastor, the Rev. Donald Kelly, said the church launched a virtual Memorial Stone Wall earlier this year as part of its capital campaign to build a new church on Md. 108, near Sherwood High School. For a donation of $25 or more, any deceased person can be honored on the wall, accessible at any time through the church’s website www.obcchurch. org/MSW_HomePage.shtml. The racially motivated bombing during services at the African-American church on Sept. 15, 1963, killed the girls and injured many others. Three former Ku Klux Klan members were convicted of murder in the incident. Inspired by the Congressional Gold Medals awarded to each of the girls on Sept. 12, the children and youth of Olive Branch more than quadrupled their financial goal of $100 and presented their donation during the church’s recent seventh anniversary celebration. The names of Denise McNair, 11, and Addie Mae Collins, 14, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14, have been added to the virtual wall in recognition of their sacrifice that spurred the nation’s fight against segregation. The funds will be used to buy doorknobs for the children and youth Sunday School classrooms in the new church slated for construction beginning later this year. Kelly lauded the efforts of the children and youth at the church that provided a unique opportunity for them to actively participate in fundraising to build the new church, learn more about the unsung heroes in African-American history, and practice Christian discipleship by remembering children and youth martyred while serving God.
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.
Aggravated assault • On Nov. 16 at 1:05 a.m. in the 3000 block of Hewitt Avenue, Aspen Hill. The subject is known to the victim. • On Nov. 16 at 4:52 a.m. in front of Matamoros Restaurant, 2322 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring. The subject is known to the victim. • On Nov. 17 at 5:26 p.m. in the 12800 block of Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. The subject is known to the victim. Armed robbery • On Nov. 17 at 11:51 p.m. in the 1800 block of Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring. The subjects threatened the victim with a weapon and took property. Sexual assault • On Nov. 16 in the 5000 block of Aspen Hill Road, Rockville. The subject is known to the victim. • On Nov. 18 at 4:54 a.m. in the 12200 block of Atherton Drive, Silver Spring. The subject is known to the victim. Strong-arm robbery • On Nov. 15 at 11:15 p.m. in the 12300 block of Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. • On Nov. 16 at 1:15 a.m. at Parkland Drive and Faroe Place, Rockville. The subjects assaulted the victim and took property. • On Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at Bel Pre Road and Connecticut Avenue, Silver Spring. The subjects assaulted the victims and unsuccessfully attempted to take property. Residential burglary • 12300 block of Dewey Road, Silver Spring, at 5:06 p.m. Nov. 12. • 4200 block of Landgreen Street, Rockville, between Nov. 12 and 19. Took property from a shed.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Rice elected as new council president During one-year term, he plans to focus on small businesses, working with Annapolis n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice took over as council president Tuesday, saying he plans to focus on helping small businesses thrive while advocating a powerful role for government in making sure the county’s residents are taken care of. The council voted unanimously for Rice (D-Dist. 5) of Germantown, who served as vice president under outgoing President Nancy Navarro (DDist. 4) of Silver Spring. Rice laid out four areas he plans to emphasize during his one-year term: promoting an aggressive business agenda, including changing the county’s procurement rules to prioritize businesses located in Montgomery County; pushing for more state funding for school renovation and construction; protecting and promoting farming in the county’s Agricultural Preserve; and restoring as much funding as possible to the county’s libraries, parks, social
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Newly elected Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice calls for nominations for a new council vice president, his former post. He succeeds Nancy Navarro, at his right.
services, and police and fire services to make up for cuts during the economic downturn. Rice, who served a term as a state delegate from District 15 before being elected to the County Council in 2010, said he believes the relationships he built and maintains in Annapolis can be an asset for the county. He said he wants to focus on helping the county’s small businesses thrive. “Jobs are important to Montgomery County,” Rice said. “And we know the number one contributor of those jobs is our small business sector.” But he also outlined an ac-
Brazilian investment firm opens in Rockville $200 million to be invested locally n
BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
An investment business formed by Brazil’s largest pharmaceutical company has opened its U.S. headquarters in Rockville and plans to invest $200 million in operations, state officials said Tuesday. The announcement came as Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is leading a trade mission in Brazil this week. The delegation, which includes representatives of Bethesda defense giant Lockheed Martin and Germantown weather monitoring company Earth Networks, also plans to visit El Salvador on Sunday and Monday. Last year, Brazil was Maryland’s 11th-largest export market, with exports increasing 15 percent from 2011 to $308 million. The Port of Baltimore last year exported 1.4 million tons of goods to Brazil. Brace Pharmaceuticals, an investment company created by EMS S.A., has three employees in the Rockville Innovation Center, a publicly funded facility that helps young companies grow. Brace invests in the research and development efforts of pharmaceutical companies, including Baltimorebased Gliknik. The Maryland trade delegation visited EMS’ headquarters near Sao Paulo. A key reason to form Brace’s national base in Rockville was the top-flight life sciences community in the area, a company executive said in a statement. O’Malley also announced that DK Diagnostics, a Sao Paulo biotechnology company, plans to invest $1 million in operations in the state and grow to 20 employees over the next two years. The company, which manufactures and markets a parasite testing kit, has four employees in Frederick. “It is our goal to become an export company to NAFTA’s market from our plant in Maryland,” Jose Carlos Lapenna, DK Diagnostics president and CEO, said in a statement. kshay@gazette.net
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tive role for government in protecting residents and making sure they’re taken care of. No private entity has the ability to protect the council’s constituents like the county government can, whether that’s preventing crime, keeping unscrupulous companies from exploiting employees or protecting and rescuing residents after natural disasters. “It is government that has the responsibility to step in and provide the service,” he said. Rice was nominated for president by Councilman George Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, who cited Rice’s communication and people skills and political experience in making the nomination. Although Rice, 41, is the youngest member of the council, he’s by no means the least experienced, Leventhal said. Minutes after he nominated Rice, Leventhal himself was nominated for vice president by Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda. The council also elected Leventhal unanimously. Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park was absent from the meeting. Leventhal said he looks forward to working with lawmakers in Annapolis on money for
school construction, as well as focusing on issues such as the White Oak Science Gateway and Clarksburg’s Ten Mile Creek. The county’s budget will also present some tough choices, he said. Leventhal has been on the council since 2002 and served as council president in 2006. Both Rice and Leventhal praised Navarro for her accomplishments during her time as president. “You’ve led us through some difficult decisions and some important policy advances,” Rice told her. The council took on a huge workload this year, including oversight of the Silver Spring Transit Center project and a redevelopment project in Wheaton, Navarro said before the new officers were elected. But the item she called the council’s greatest accomplishment of the year came only last week, when they voted 8-1 to approved a bill Navarro cosponsored to raise the county’s minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2017. That vote will go down as one of the greatest accomplishments of this council’s fouryear term, she said. rmarshall@gazette.net
Page A-5
Council approves funds for housing homeless Appropriation would provide rent, utilities and other charges n
BY
RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
Fifteen particularly vulnerable members of Montgomery County’s homeless population will have housing after the County Council agreed to provide money to pay for it. The appropriation approved Tuesday provides $649,325 for the county’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs to provide permanent housing for 15 people classified as medically vulnerable. The money provides subsidies for security deposits, rent and utility costs as well as services such as case management, medical monitoring, behavioral health services and help with transportation. The money will be used to place the 15 in homes during fiscal 2014, which runs through the end of June, as well as continue the service through fiscal 2015. More than 100 volunteers spent three days in early November surveying homeless people around the county through the county’s participation in the national 100,000
Homes campaign, trying to determine details such as their age, mental and physical health, how long they’ve been homeless and whether they are veterans. Surveys were completed for 369 people, of whom 159 were classified as medically vulnerable. Of that group, 54 had risk factors of substance abuse, mental health and physical health, and half had reported being hospitalized at least three times in the past year. Stefan Lobuglio, chief of prerelease and re-entry services for the county’s Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, participated in the survey and said he met with people in stairwells, fast-food restaurants and homeless encampments. Jasper Young, who had been homeless, told council members how he moved into a shelter and battled heart problems and other illnesses before the program helped him find a home. Now he works with the homeless at a local church because he’s able to relate to what it’s like to be hungry and cold, he said. “Without the program, I wouldn’t be nowhere. I’d probably still be out in the street,” Young said. rmarshall@gazette.net
THE GAZETTE
Page A-6
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Teacher accused of abusing autistic teen Shoppers on budget, After police start investigating, teacher flees country n
BY ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
A woman who taught at a Rockville school for students with special needs abused one of her students, then fled the country when authorities began investigating, police said Tuesday. According to a Montgomery County police statement, Yee Tak Sharon Kui, 25, of Pasture Side Place, Rockville, taught at The Frost School on Aspen Hill Road. The school serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and related special needs, according to its website. Public records did not list Kui’s specific address on Pasture Side Place. Twice in November, Kui went to the home of one of her students, a 15-year-old boy, and engaged in “illegal sexual contact” with him while his parents were away, police said. According to a warrant police obtained for her arrest, Kui and the boy began texting one another. The first alleged act of abuse took place on Nov. 3, and included kissing and fon-
PHOTO FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Yee Tak Sharon Kui
dling, according to the warrant. Days later, Kui texted the boy and asked if he would have sex with her. On Nov. 10, she went to his house while his parents were away and the two had sex, according to the arrest warrant. On Nov. 11, police charged Kui with sex abuse of a minor, soliciting sex from a minor, and two counts of third-degree sex offense. The most severe of the crimes, sex abuse of a minor, carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. At a press conference at police headquarters in Gaithersburg Tuesday, Russ Hamill, an assistant chief for Montgomery County police, called the crimes “especially disturbing.” “Our victim was a child,” Hamill said. “He should have been protected and nurtured by his teacher and everyone he came in contact with. In-
stead, his teacher chose, from her position of trust over him, she chose to violate that trust ... to irrevocably harm this child.” Ron Harding, the father of the victim, appeared at the press conference to describe the ordeal he and his family have been through and to encourage anyone else who might have been a victim of sexual abuse to talk to police. The Gazette does not normally identify victims of sexual abuse or their family members, but Harding agreed to be named. Harding, a minister, said the abuse took place while he and his family were attending church services. Harding and his wife contacted police on Nov. 11, shortly after learning about the alleged abuse. Kui had been teaching their son since June, he said. According to police, The Frost School began an internal investigation the same day, after school officials learned about the alleged incidents. The school fired Kui on Nov. 12, police said. Officials at the school did not respond to repeated calls for comment Tuesday. Investigators applied for a search warrant and arrest warrant on Nov. 12. Kui, meanwhile, told the victim in a phone conversation she would rather flee the country than go to jail, and, on Nov. 13, flew to Hong Kong, where she has a brother, the
arrest warrant stated. “This is the kind of situation that kills the faith of individuals, and separates people in our society,” Harding said. He said the events traumatized his son, and the trauma would be “long, and revealed slowly.” As they drove by the school recently, his son, upset by what has happened, ripped off pieces of door panels inside the car, Harding said. “Its challenging for him, because with autism, he does not display his emotions, but he feels them deeper than most of us,” he said. The boy’s parents are struggling because they can’t have their son at the school currently, Harding said. He and his wife spent six years trying to get their son into the school, he said. Victor Del Pino, an attorney for the couple, said in a phone interview that he didn’t know if they would keep their son at the school. Capt. Robert Carter, head of Montgomery County Police’s Family Crimes Division, said police were coordinating with prosecutors and federal officials to track down Kui. They also will work with Interpol — a global police agency — and the Chinese government, he said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of if we find her, but a matter of when,” he said. sjbsmith@gazette.net
retailers are hopeful Westfield stores offered extended sales throughout the weekend n
BY
ALINE BARROS STAFF WRITER
Michele Easley of Baltimore showed up at the Montgomery mall in Bethesda after midnight Friday, but she did not plan on buying anything. Instead, she came with her friends, who were taking advantage of the sales at the Michael Kors and Forever 21 stores. “No shopping for me. ... I am just blessed to be able to be around friends,” Easley said. The mall had special hours for Black Friday. Some retailers opened at 8 p.m., and the mall officially opened at midnight. “Black Friday is sort of the inaugural start to the holiday season. It is when people start to get in the holiday mindset, and it is becoming a tradition for a lot of families to shop early together,” said Christa Allen, the mall’s senior director of marketing. The mall also organized sales with stores extended throughout the weekend. Customers could get from 30 percent to 50 percent discounts throughout the mall. The 8 p.m. shoppers on Thursday were a “real family crowd” who finished their Thanksgiving dinner and came to the mall for holiday shopping.
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At midnight, a younger crowd visited the retail stores, she said. “There had been people here shopping for many hours now waiting for the next wave of doors to open at midnight ... [or] People who go to Best Buy ... they get their electronics and come here afterwards,” Allen said. The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will increase 3.9 percent this year to $602 billion from last year. Some shoppers had budgets and knew exactly what they wanted. Charles Attiglah, 31, of Montgomery Village, went to get some men’s accessories. He had a $100 budget and hoped to get the best deals for clothes during the midnight opening. “I came here to get some pants. ... I’m on a budget. ... I got to save up my money for my business,” Attiglah said. To start the holiday season, the mall had for the first time a cast of elves called the Merry Makers. They were walking around the mall delivering to shoppers “random acts of magic” — including cups of coffee, mall gift cards ranging from $5 to $500, or just helping customers carry the bounty of their shopping sprees to their cars. The Merry Makers will choose people randomly to make the shopping experience more fun, and they will be out in the mall throughout the full holiday season, Allen said. “They also sing and dance. They might see a family with a crying child and be able to stop and sing a Christmas carol or do a little dance,” she said. With holiday shopping accounting for 30 percent to 40 percent of many retailers’ annual sales, it’s “a big chunk of business, so it obviously is really important to them and we’ve seen some great traffic already in the mall,” Allen said. abarros@gazette.net
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T H E G AZ ET T E
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page A-7
Potomac woman’s film a lesson on immigration n
‘We would do the same things if our children were starving’
BY SHARON ALLEN GILDER SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Migrants ride atop “La Bestia” in Arriaga, Mexico. pee, senior adviser with Catholic Relief Services of Baltimore, said increased investments in agriculture for small farmers could help predominately rural countries. “If they can make a living producing food for their families to sell, they would have no need or desire to migrate,” she said. Small farmers are forming associations to pool resources and improve their standard of living. “In the ’90s, the international community and government in Central America reduced their investments in agriculture,” Burpee said. “For countries based so heavily on agriculture, it weakened the livelihood of a million farmers and their families. Both are
FRANK MANIGLIA JR.
realizing that that decrease in investment was a mistake.” “My hope is that this documentary will educate Americans and our lawmakers. Oftentimes, the human aspect is lost,” said Kevin Appleby, director of migration policy and public affairs with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “To support their families, to survive, to make their children’s lives better than theirs, migrants have the same values as Americans. They could teach us a few things about hard work, commitment to family, and spirituality.” A broadcast date for “A Bridge Apart” has not been announced. For more information visit www.abridgeapart. net.
Filmmaker Virginia Wolf and cinematographer Frank Maniglia Jr., on location in Antigua, Guatemala.
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A three-time Emmy Award winner, Virginia Wolf is not afraid to take a risk. The Potomac woman has made a half-dozen treks to Central America for her documentary, “A Bridge Apart,” which focuses on the human side of immigration. Wolf’s trips prompted her to put faces on the thousands from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala who board freight trains for the 1,500mile journey to Mexico and the U.S., searching for a better life. “They are so near and yet so far, a bridge apart,” Wolf said. “They had this journey they had to take and most don’t make it on their first try. They are robbed by gangs and more than 60 percent of the women are raped.” The documentary opens with warning sounds from “La Bestia” — “The Beast,” a large yellow engine moving toward Arriaga, Mexico, along tracks viewed as a path toward the American dream. Few can afford the $1,000 needed to pay the “coyotes” or smugglers to aid them in their journey across the border. Wolf’s writing and Frank Maniglia Jr.’s cinematography portray a gripping landscape of abject poverty. “The immigration issue is very complex. I don’t get into the politics of it all,” Wolf said. “To see the people’s eyes, the look, I’ll never forget it. My goal is just to put a face on these people, that you see a side of these people that we really don’t know, and that we have a little piece in our heart, and know we would do the same things if our children were starving.” A migrant in the film lays it out: “One does not want to leave his family. … If we do not have any money for a daily existence, what are we going to eat? We find ourselves obligated to immigrate, to find the solution.” Many attempting the trip are beaten, maimed or killed by machete-wielding gangs. “Mexico has turned its eyes in the other direction when criminal organizations go after Central American migrants, basically for extortion … charging them with all sorts of fees just to be able to move through Mexico,” said Oscar Chacon, executive director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities. Chacon, quoted in the film, was one of several experts who added their voices to the complexity of the issue. Migrants are afraid to report any violations, fearing deportation. The narrator, Edward James Olmos, tells viewers that kidnapping and human trafficking have grown to be humanitarian crises in the U.S., as lucrative as smuggling drugs. That includes Montgomery County. Brothels are embedded in Latino communities in garden-style apartments, said county Police Detective Thomas Stack said in an interview at a recent screening of the film at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club. “Women see 10 to 30 guys a day with a charge of $30 for 15 minutes per client,” Stack said. He said women are coerced into prostitution by threats their families will be murdered. “Eight years ago, nobody really knew what it was. They thought ‘Oh, it’s just prostitution.’ It’s being looked at differently now, that it’s not a victimless crime,” he said. Deportation of parents without notification to their children who have joined them in the U.S. results in abandoned children placed in foster care who are never reunited with their parents. Actionable solutions are needed, experts say. Gaye Bur-
THE GAZETTE
Page A-8
Shoppers, some companies find deals on Cyber Monday n
Rockville company had employees looking for deals BY
KEVIN JAMES SHAY STAFF WRITER
When it comes to Cyber Monday — which has stretched to Cyber Week — some company executives get concerned that workers are spending too much time on the job hunting for online bargains. But not Robert Epstein, president and CEO of AboutWeb. In fact, the Rockville information technology company, which focuses on Web application development, mobile applications and system integration and design, had its employees searching for deals on laptops and other electronic products for the company itself to purchase Monday. “It’s a great opportunity for us,” Epstein said. “We find the prices are really good on this day.” AboutWeb doesn’t put out an edict to its 85 employees in Rockville, Baltimore and Vienna, Va., to limit surfing for deals to work breaks or when work is done. “Our employees are professionals. I don’t micromanage people,” Epstein said. “We aren’t really a 9-to-5 type of work environment. They might be working late, and if they
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want to take a break to do some online shopping, that’s fine. It’s the end result that counts.” Ben Landers, CEO of Blue Corona, a 36-employee Gaithersburg business that provides online marketing, Web design, marketing analytics and other services, has a similar philosophy. “I don’t police it,” he said. “We have some retail clients in e-commerce, so we ask employees to look at what other companies are doing in this area in case there is something that might be beneficial to our clients.” Employees are busy enough, especially those taking care of retail clients, that Landers doubts many have much time to shop at work. “We trust them to police themselves because their bonus depends a lot on their output,” he said. “One of our core values is to have employees who act like owners. We have great employees who understand and follow that mantra.” More than 131 million Americans were expected to shop online during Cyber Monday, up from 129 million a year ago, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation. About 25 million people — some 19 percent of respondents to the survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics — said they would use a
mobile device to shop on Monday. That was was up 22 percent from a year ago. Some 43 percent of respondents said they would shop first thing in the morning before work and 19 percent over their lunch hour. About one-third said they would shop in the early afternoon. Customer traffic — at brick-and-mortar stores — on Thanksgiving Day, which featured Black Friday sales, reached 45 million, about 10 million more than the same day in 2012, according to the retail federation survey. About 3 million more shoppers went out on Friday than last year. The Wal-Mart store in Germantown set up gates to herd people through the line at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Tensions flared when some people cut in line, but there were no reports over people fighting over items such as towels, as reported in some areas of the country. Wal-Mart saw more than 22 million customers on Thanksgiving Day in its U.S. stores, more than last year, according to a company release. Among top sellers were big screen television sets, iPad minis, laptops, video games and systems, and towels. kshay@gazette.net
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Cardin wants to make prohibition across all 50 states BY ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH STAFF WRITER
Nearly 20 years ago, Montgomery County was at the center of a controversy over whether police officers were racial profiling in traffic stops. Racial profiling — or stopping or arresting someone based on their ethnicity, race or country of origin — is illegal in Maryland and in many states around the country. Now, U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin wants to take the prohibition nationwide. Linda Plummer, the branch secretary for the Montgomery County NAACP, and president when the original complaint with the Justice Department was made, said racial profiling in the county is not the issue it once was. “I think [racial profiling] still exists — not to extent of ... back then, but yes, it still exists,” she said. “It’s improved. We still get sporadic complaints, but it has improved,” she said. Montgomery County Police had been the subject of an investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, after a local NAACP chapter complained that officers were engaging in excessive force, harassment or racial profiling in traffic stops. The investigation concluded
with a voluntary agreement between county police and the Department of Justice to collect data on traffic stops, making it one of the first in the region to implement such a program. The county agreed to bar its officers from considering race in making traffic stops, unless it was part of a specific description of a criminal suspect. Police also agreed to track all traffic stops by documenting the driver’s race, gender and the reason for the stop. Now, all traffic stops in Maryland are similarly recorded. In the investigation that led up to the consent decree, statistics showed minorities made up about 14 percent of the county’s driving population, but received 21 percent of the traffic citations in 1997 and 1998, according to a Baltimore Sun article. Police said the data collection failed to take into account the fact that many drivers who were stopped didn’t live in Montgomery County but traveled through it. In 2004, for example, police told The Washington Post that 26 percent of red-light camera stops were for cars owned by African-Americans — similar to the ratio of stops Montgomery County officers made. Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said county police use training to make sure officers know how to make legal stops and to avoid stopping or arresting someone based on racial profiling. Capt. Terry Pierce, the department’s director of policy
and planning, said training is hammered into cadets in their academy and with officers during trainings. “Officers are clearly trained that they must have probable cause to make an arrest — and reasonable suspicion to talk to someone,” he said. “You’ve got to explain exactly why you stopped someone.” In most cases where improper profiling does take place, “cops aren’t remembering their training,” Manger said. Pierce was not sure how many racial-profiling complaints county police have received this year. However, he said, from the beginning of the year to Nov. 14 — the most recent data the department has available — internal affairs investigated 71 formal complaints of officer conduct. That includes complaints of discriminatory profiling by race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, as well as unreasonable search and seizures, and complaints about false arrests he said. Over a similar period of time in 2012, there were 90 formal complaints the department investigated, he said. “I’m glad we don’t get lot of complaints, but I still think we’ve got to be ever vigilant,” Manger said. “Or does it mean people aren’t calling because they don’t think its going to do any good? [I] hope it wouldn’t be that situation,” he said, explaining that police try to meet regularly with different communities to discuss concerns they might have. “The fact is that having this dialogue regularly every month, for years, trust builds up and you start chipping away at this problem,” he said. The issue has new timeliness as Cardin (D) of Pikesville makes a second effort at passing a bill that would ban racial profiling. “I think most people would be surprised to know that there is not a national law on this,” Cardin said in a recent interview. “We need an effective way to prevent the use of racial profiling, and that”s what my legislation does.” He also said that his bill provides resources for training and sharing best practices, and provides an effective way for someone who has been a victim of racial profiling to get relief. According to Sue Walitsky, his communication director, a bill to outlaw racial profiling almost was passed shortly before Sept. 11. “Attitudes changed, and people backed off,” she said. “It has taken more than a decade to build momentum back.” Since 2005, the bill has been introduced in the House or Senate at least five times by different sponsors, she said. Cardin first introduced his bills in 2011 and 2013, she said. The bill would prohibit any law enforcement agent from using broad assumptions and stereotyping based on race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin as a factor in their investigations and activities. It would allow only the use of information related to race, ethnicity or national origin when there is trustworthy information on a specific description of a suspect, relevant to places and time frames possibly linked to an incident or scheme. James Stowe, who heads the county’s Office of Human Rights, said that racial profiling in Montgomery County isn’t the issue it once was. “Years ago, that was an issue for us,” he said, but added that his office does not currently receive many complaints of racial profiling, and credited community outreach by police to help keep those numbers low. The NAACP’s Plummer said she has not been as involved with the Montgomery County NAACP in recent years, but got re-involved about six months ago. Since she has gotten re-involved, she has received five or six complaints of racial profiling, she said. Despite those numbers, she said the issue is one she wants Montgomery County Police to continue to take seriously. She said the local branch would be developing a more hands-on criminal justice committee to work more closely with police starting next year. sjbsmith@gazette.net
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Intercounty Connector toll revenue falls short of forecasts ‘They lowered the bar so now they can step over it’
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BY KATHERINE SHAVER THE WASHINGTON POST
Maryland officials have said repeatedly that traffic on the Intercounty Connector matches state projections, even as motorists say the controversial toll road continues to feel remarkably underused two years after it opened. Tolls collected on the highway, between Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, do align with state forecasts, but only because those projections were adjusted downward, according to internal state reports obtained under a public records request. The ICC took in $39.6 million in the past fiscal year — almost dead-on the latest projection but $10 million to $32 million less than forecasts that Maryland lawmakers had in 2005, when they agreed to significantly increase the Maryland Transportation Authority’s debt to build it. “They lowered the bar so now they can step over it,” said Montgomery County Council member Phil Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg, a longtime ICC critic. “When you merge onto the ICC, it doesn’t feel like a highway. It feels like an airport runway.” How many vehicles are using the ICC matters to motorists across Maryland. The $2.5 billion highway, which was hotly
debated for decades because of its cost and environmental and community impacts, was the most expensive ever built in the state. Maryland lawmakers agreed to pay for it by greatly increasing the authority’s debt, including $1 billion worth of bonds and a federal loan backed by all state toll revenue. The state committed to raise tolls statewide, if necessary, to pay them off. The highway’s massive construction debt also prevents the state from lowering ICC toll rates — $8 for a passenger car making an end-to-end round trip during rush hours — to attract more motorists. Doing so, a recent study found, would lower the 18.8-mile highway’s revenue, requiring motorists statewide to subsidize even more of its costs. Transportation Authority officials say the ICC is a success. They point to a recent study done by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments that found that ICC motorists cut their travel time in half and that traffic on nearby roads had dropped by 5 percent to 10 percent. ICC traffic is growing by an average of 2.6 percent a month, officials said. Earlier toll revenue estimates were “ballpark” projections made before ICC toll rates were set, state officials said. The projections also didn’t always reflect the need for a three-year “ramp-up” period for motorists to absorb the new road into their travel habits, officials said. The state’s consultant, Wil-
bur Smith Associates, lowered ICC revenue projections significantly for the last time in 2010 — by $7 million annually — to reflect the effects of a global recession and rising gas prices, according to the reports. Even so, state officials said, the ICC’s true financial impact won’t be known for five to 10 years, after traffic has stabilized. The last segment, between Interstate 95 and Route 1, is scheduled to open next year. “The fact is, you always have [roads] built for a 30-year time frame,” said Bruce Gartner, the authority’s executive secretary. “You don’t build them for day one.”
State, federal subsidies Motorists on Maryland’s seven other toll highways, bridges and tunnels have faced two toll increases in the past two years, in part to pay off mounting construction debt from the ICC and express toll lanes being built on I-95 north of Baltimore. On some facilities, such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, tolls more than doubled. In the past fiscal year, about $1.8 million in toll revenue collected from motorists statewide helped cover the shortfall between the ICC’s toll collections and its annual debt service and operating and maintenance expenses. ICC debt service also consumed $87.5 million in federal highway funds — 15 percent of Maryland’s total federal highway allotment in the past fiscal
year. “What other dangerous roads or bridges in the state aren’t getting fixed because they’re blowing all this money on the ICC?” said Greg Smith, an anti-ICC activist. “That’s a big question.” Gartner, of the Transportation Authority, said the agency always intended to subsidize the ICC’s construction debt with toll revenue from across the state. The authority pools toll collections and directs the money to where it’s most needed, whether to build the ICC or repaint the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Robert L. Flanagan, who was state transportation secretary under then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) when the ICC financing plan was approved, said Maryland could not afford the road without using statewide toll revenue and borrowing against future federal highway allotments. For decades, he said, planners had recommended building a highway outside the Capital Beltway to connect Montgomery’s I-270 jobs corridor with I-95 and, beyond that, Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport. In setting the ICC tolls, Flanagan said, “I think there probably was a decision to maximize revenues rather than maximize the [traffic] flow. . . . That re-
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mains a choice. You could reduce the tolls and maximize the flow, but somewhere, somehow you have to pay for those bonds you issued.”
Speed enforcement AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Lon Anderson, a longtime ICC advocate, said the roadway is “underutilized” because motorists unaccustomed to paying tolls were scared off by the ICC’s high rates and visible police patrols. The ICC’s initial speed limit, 55 mph, was raised in March to 60 mph, but Anderson said motorists complain that it’s still too low to pay extra for. “They had a low speed limit and police swarming it to ticket people who dared exceed that limit,” Anderson said. “People felt like they were paying a lot for the privilege of getting a ticket.” Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington, an ICC supporter who reviewed the financial plan in 2005, said lawmakers were well aware that paying off the ICC’s construction debt would require subsidies from statewide toll revenue and federal highway funds for 10 to 15 years. “It was not supposed to be self-sustaining,” Madaleno said of the ICC. “If it had to be selfsustaining, the tolls would have
to be so high, the project would be a failure.” But Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth and a longtime ICC critic, questioned the validity of the toll revenue estimates that lawmakers saw when they agreed to build the road. State transportation officials “may have been trying to sell the project despite its high costs and significant environmental and community impacts,” Schwartz said. “We shouldn’t be making multibillion-dollar decisions based on wrong data.” Schwartz said the earlier forecasts missed the fact that the Internet revolution, with its online shopping and videoconferencing, would reduce the need to drive. Some motorists might save time on the ICC, Schwartz said, “but is it enough people? Clearly there aren’t enough people traveling on it to justify the expenditure.” Anderson, of AAA, said he believes that the use of the ICC will pick up as the economy recovers. “I think its time will come,” he said, “but perhaps not as quickly as we thought it would.” katherine.shaver@washpost .com
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WOO-HOO! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”Albert Einstein. This sentiment is the reason why Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU) is proud to sponsor The Gazette’s My Favorite Teacher Contest.
The votes are in and the winners will be announced in next week’s edition! Please visit our website at www.gazette.net/teacher to see our sponsors who made the program possible.
Barrie School is a community of learners from age 18-months through Grade 12. We empower individuals to expand their intellectual abilities, develop their creative talents, and discover their passions to make a positive impact in a rapidly changing world. We offer an exemplary Montessori Lower School program for ages 18-months through Grade 5 and a rigorous, projectbased Middle-Upper School curriculum for Grades 6 through 12. At all levels, Barrie strives to know and understand our students as individuals, guiding their way to excellence. We foster respect for self, others, and the environment in every member of our community. Visit www.barrie.org<http://www.barrie.org.
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“The teachers of Montgomery County assist in building the backbone to our communities’ future leaders. They help develop, instill qualities of character, challenge and educate all students in a positive manner. Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union wants to help recognize all teachers for their commitment to our students.” –MAFCU President and CEO, Richard Wieczorek Jr. Similar to the dedication teachers have for their students, Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union is dedicated to make Montgomery County a better place to live and work. We achieve this by supporting local causes, offering innovative financing solutions to our neighbors and sponsoring free educational programs for both consumers and businesses.
2012 My Favorite Teacher High School Winner STEVEN GHENT Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Germantown Dental Group is proud to sponsor the My Favorite Teacher Contest. We believe the values and skills learned in the classroom are vital building blocks for life, and teachers are a major factor in passing on these skills to our children. When children take a greater interest in learning, they continue to make better and smarter life choices. At Germantown Dental Group, we support our local teachers who are teaching children values and positive behaviors, not to mention helping kids explore their unique talents so that they can reach their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.
Based in Germantown, Md., Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU) is a not-for-profit institution managed for the sole benefit of its members, and offers many financial services at better rates and fees. Profits are returned to MAFCU members in the form of higher savings rates, lower loan rates, and lower fees. MAFCU currently has over 25,000 members and over $270 million in assets. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Montgomery Country, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.mafcu.org, email mafcu@mafcu.org or call: (301) 944-1800.
PARENTS: Put a stop to hours of endless homework, and spend more time as a family. At LearningRx, nationally accredited skills testing and patent-pending training gets to the root problem of homework headaches—and makes learning fun! Unlike tutoring, we strengthen cognitive skills like attention, reasoning, processing speed and memory. Kids get smarter, face homework with less stress, learn faster, and enjoy learning more. If arguing over homework is a part of your family routine, call us. There is no need for your son or daughter to struggle any longer. The end of this frustration for your child—and you—is closer than you think. www.LearningRx.com/North-Potomac 301-944-5500
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County students Minimum wage rises with maximum drama talk the right walk “Counties have broad, broad Bill’s sponsor alleges disinformation campaign in effort to kill it n
New county project targets high school pedestrians
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BY
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
Montgomery County high school students have been asked to help their peers navigate the streets more safely. A new county Department of Transportation project is challenging student teams in Montgomery County Public Schools to come up with ideas to help other students learn more about pedestrian safety. The transportation department will award grants of up to $2,000 to teams to help them carry out their plan. The project is called “Walk Your Way.” Nadji Kirby, the project’s coordinator and the county’s Safe Routes to School coordinator, said the transportation department has worked with elementary and middle school students on walking and biking safety, but not much with high schools. The transportation department has worked with two high schools in recent years. Starting in the 2010-11 school year, the department partnered with Montgomery Blair High School to help educate students in the Silver Spring area where the county identified a high number of pedestrian accidents, Kirby said. The department’s efforts later spread to Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, where a student died after she was struck by a car in October 2012 while crossing a road near the school. Using submitted ideas, the school system and the county transportation department will create an online toolkit to inspire student organizations, parent teacher associations and schools. The County Council budgeted $100,000 for the high school project this fiscal year, some of which will go toward grants, she said.
LIBRARY Continued from Page A-1 Library is scheduled to open on Jan. 4, about eight weeks after a new building was turned over to the library system. He said that facility is larger than the Olney Library. Library Director Parker Hamilton said the current plan for the Olney Library calls for final completion in midJanuary, when Montgomery County Public Libraries will take over the facility to prepare it for opening. She expects that will take 6 to 10 weeks from that point. “That takes us to about mid-March,” she said. “Once we get in and see what needs to be done, we may be on the side of six weeks. When we figure it out, we will give a date to
Students teams from the district’s 25 high schools have until Dec. 16 to submit grant applications and must complete their projects by April 30. The teams must have the support of a teacher or school staff member. Information from 2010 to 2012 shows 172 pedestrian accidents within a half-mile of Montgomery County high schools, 30 involving high school-age kids, Jeff Dunckel, pedestrian safety coordinator for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, previously told The Gazette. The accident near Seneca Valley is one of several recent cases in which students were hit while walking near their schools. On Oct. 10, a Richard Montgomery High School student was struck by a car while walking in a Rockville Pike crosswalk. Another Richard Montgomery student was struck by a car Oct. 7 while crossing Wootton Parkway where there was no crosswalk. Todd Watkins, director of transportation, said the school system identifies routes around each school that are safe for students. There are crosswalks and countdown timers, Watkins said, but distracted students and drivers don’t always pay attention to their surroundings. Susan Burkinshaw — health and safety committee co-chairwoman of the county‘s Council of Parent Teacher Associations — said it would be a huge benefit if high school students could create an environment in which students are more aware of how to be safe pedestrians. Having more kids walk to school translates to health benefits for them and lower bus transportation costs for taxpayers, she said. Students can submit applications to walkyourway@ montgomerycountymd.gov or Walk Your Way, 101 Monroe St., 10th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850. lpowers@gazette.net the community, but for now, we just don’t know.” “All that I can commit to now is that we are all working as quickly as we can, and we all want the library open as soon as possible,” Hamilton added. The Olney Library, on a 2.5-acre parcel near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Olney-Laytonsville Road, was built in 1981. The nearly $13 million project will expand the building from 16,825 square feet to 22,574 square feet. It will include a complete renovation of the interior. The new energy-efficient facility will offer increased seating, an enlarged children’s area, a separate teen area, program rooms, meeting areas, quiet and group study rooms, and new furnishings. thogan@gazette.net
authority, granted by the state. I haven’t heard anyone suggest that the counties shouldn’t have autonomy over their wage rates.”
BY RYAN MARSHALL AND KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITERS
Before the Montgomery County Council voted Nov. 26 to raise the county’s minimum wage, one councilman alleged that he was told the president of the Maryland Senate could torpedo the effort. Councilman Hans Riemer (D-At Large) of Takoma Park said a Montgomery County senator told him that Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. had a message for the council: the higher the new wage, the more likely the state would try to take away its wage-setting authority. He later said the senator might have told him it was a message from Senate leadership, not Miller. But Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, when asked about the allegation, released a statement saying he “respects” Montgomery County’s right to set its own wage level. In a statement to The Gazette, Miller did not directly address Riemer’s allegation. “While I believe that one uniform wage is the most effective for the state, if Montgomery County chooses to proceed in this manner, they are within their rights to do so,” Miller said. “We have different formulas for school funding and other matters in our state because of the high cost of living and I can understand why urban areas feel a need for wages to be higher there than in Southern Maryland, Western Maryland or the Eastern Shore.” Riemer said the next day that he didn’t remember exactly what words were used to relate the message, but its in-
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Continued from Page A-1 temporary employees, some of whom make less than $11.50 an hour, prompting the move to apply the wage to county employees. County Executive Isiah Leggett, who had suggested an alternative proposal, said in a statement after the vote that he looked forward to signing the bill into law.Leggett’s position would have created a four-year phase-in period to increase the county’s wage to $10.75 an hour. In the fifth year, the wage would have been the lesser amount of either $11.50 an hour or a dollar above a state minimum wage, as long as that amount was equal to at least $10.75 an hour. The extra year raises questions about how Montgomery’s bill will affect legislation pending in Prince George’s County and the District, which would raise the minimum wage to $11.50 an hour in those jurisdictions by 2016. The Prince George’s
Sen. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring tent was clear: The state didn’t want the county to raise the wage on its own. “The higher you go, the more likely we are to pre-empt you,” Riemer said he was told. He declined to reveal the identity of the senator, because the conversation was private. Seven of Montgomery County’s eight senators said they did not give such a message to Riemer. The eighth, Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Dist. 15) of Potomac, did not return calls for comment. Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At Large) of Takoma Park said he gives Miller credit for supporting the county, and doesn’t believe county wage autonomy was ever in doubt.
The County Council voted to increase the minimum wage in the county to $11.50 per hour by 2017, after a nearly four-hour discussion that featured several frosty exchanges among council members as they attempted to promote or beat back various proposals. On Nov. 27, Prince George’s County voted to increase the minimum wage there, also phased in over a four-year period. A similar increase is in the pipeline in Washington, D.C. Elrich, who authored the Montgomery County bill, said his bill had been the victim of a deliberate effort by some peo-
ple to create misinformation about several aspects of the bill in the weeks leading up to the vote, none of which turned out to be true. Rumors said Miller wasn’t happy with the legislation, but no one could ever confirm them, Elrich said. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has said he plans to make a minimum wage increase a priority and Maryland is expected take up a bill in the 2014 session to raise the statewide minimum wage to $10.10. Part of the Montgomery discussion hinged on whether the council should postpone its bill until the General Assembly takes action. The state’s minimum wage now is $7.25 an hour. Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg argued that acting ahead of the state meant the county would be “flying blind,” while Council Vice President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown suggested the council put off action until late January to see what the state legislation will look like. Even if members of the Senate wanted to pre-empt Montgomery’s wage authority in favor of the state’s action, most of the county’s Senate delegation say such a proposal is unlikely to gain momentum. Sen. Brian E. Frosh (DDist. 16) of Chevy Chase said the General Assembly will be focused on its own efforts.
County Council passed a similar bill 7-0 on Nov. 27, while the Washington Council’s Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs favorably reported the bill out of committee Nov. 25 and recommended approval by the full council in a vote set for Tuesday.Uncertainty over what action, if any, the General Assembly will take during its session that starts in January to pass an increase in the state’s minimum wage was a concern for some council members during the discussion leading up to the Montgomery council’s vote.Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has said he plans to make an increase in the state’s minimum wage a priority in the next session, after a similar effort failed this year. Several council members expressed concern about moving ahead without knowing what the state will do. Andrews urged his colleagues to wait until the picture is more clear on the state level before forcing a vote. “The council doesn’t have to guess what the state is going
to do,” Andrews said. Council Vice President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown proposed the council postpone a vote until Jan. 28.Rice, a former state delegate, said he’d been told by leadership in Annapolis that a state bill will be ready by early January. “There is no better regional approach than a statewide approach,” he said. Rice withdrew his motion after it became clear it didn’t have support from a majority of the council. But supporters of a county increase said they believe action by Montgomery and Prince George’s will help spur action in the General Assembly. They cited a letter from Del. Tom Hucker (D-Dist. 20), a member of the Economic Matters Committee in the House of Delegates. The letter outlined the recent history of minimum wage legislation in Annapolis, and urged the council to approve the bill. “It is abundantly clear that passage of a higher minimum wage in Montgomery County (and Prince George’s County)
Four-hour discussion
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Continued from Page A-1 valsspecifiesthatthepurposemust be to promote Maryland beer. The bill would allow up to four festivals each year and would require the organization hosting to obtain a license as well as each vendor who serves beer. Much as the wine festivals held locally, the beer festivals would celebrate local brews and products, Durbin said. Montgomery is home to several brewers, including Baying Hound Aleworks and Gordon Biersch in Rockville, Growlers in Gaithersburg and Rock Bottom in Bethesda. More craft breweries are expected to emerge, Durbin said, like Citizens Brewing Co., a craft brewery that Julie Verratti plans to open in Silver Spring next summer. A sister bill proposed by Del. Sam Arora (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring would ease restrictions on microbreweries by allowing tastings and pours without serving food. Under current regulations, only breweries with restaurants may serve their beer on site. kalexander@gazette.net
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“I’d be very surprised if the state took actions based on Montgomery County,” he said. It would not get support, said Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village. Montgomery is also not the only county to raise its local minimum wage, Sen. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring noted. “Counties have broad, broad authority, granted by the state,” Manno said. “I haven’t heard anyone suggest that the counties shouldn’t have autonomy over their wage rates.” Others found the threat that Riemer raised not so farfetched. Sen. Richard Madaleno said, that even though he hasn’t heard it mentioned, he would not be surprised if someone were to propose a bill to pre-empt the county’s ability to set a local minimum wage.
‘Ranges and limits’ “The state, obviously, has a role to play to make sure that none of the local governments go in a direction that is bad for the state or detrimental to the state,” Madaleno (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington said. “We put in all sorts of ranges and limits and prohibitions on other issues.” However, he said he hopes the legislation would not come from Montgomery’s delegation. Such a bill also would not shock Sen. Jennie Forehand, who has spent 35 years as a Maryland lawmaker. Many issues divide Maryland’s counties, among them wages and cost of living, said Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville. “I think that a living wage in one county is so different from a living wage in Montgomery County.” rmarshall@gazette.net kalexander@gazette.net will only increase the likelihood that the General Assembly will pass a statewide increase in the minimum wage, possibly significantly so,” Hucker wrote. “In no way will the passage of a higher minimum wage in Montgomery and/or Prince George’s counties hinder our efforts to pass statewide legislation.” Councilman George Leventhal (D-At Large) of Takoma Park said opponents of an increase will fight a state bill “tooth and nail,” and if the council didn’t take action it would send a message to legislators that the issue was so hot politically that it caused the council to back away. Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said there’s no telling what the General Assembly will do and Montgomery had a duty to Prince George’s and the District to move ahead. “I think that delaying the bill is killing the bill,” she said. rmarshall@gazette.net
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The people’s information
Any government body that pledges to expand public access to information instantly has our attention. In this case, it’s Montgomery County, which has an expansive portal called dataMontgomery and is working to make it bigger and better. In mere minutes of surfing the site, you can find mounds of data about food inspections, county spending and election polling places. Naturally, a section on employee salaries has more page views than the next nine data sets combined. What your neighbor gets paid in a government job will never stop being interesting to curious people. But no one should feel guilty or shy about following their tax money. It’s our right to know how government spends our money. Other readily available information at dataMontgomery tells us much more than what the next-door neighbors are earning. For example: A Comcast customer on Leonard Drive in Silver Spring filed a billing complaint against the cable provider in July 2010. It wasn’t resolved until the following February — 218 days later. In Montgomery County’s database of more than 3,400 cable complaints, 218 days isn’t common. Most disputes appear to be resolved in a day or two, and the average is about a week. One sign of growth in the county could be a glance at commercial permits. As of earlier this week, the county had given final approval to 151 permits in Silver Spring and 111 in Clarksburg. The numbers were 88 in Rockville and 73 in Bethesda. This is an excellent website where the public can go for answers without needing a county employee to intervene. What’s infuriating about “public” information is that even if it is collected, maintained, analyzed, interpreted and stored in the public’s name, quite often it’s retrieved at a cost. Sometimes the cost is nominal, but other times it’s excessive. Many police departments, especially, charge several dollars a page for documents when the actual cost is no more than a quarter or two. Often, the cost of accident reports is absorbed by an attorney or an insurance agency, and no one complains. Here, the county’s data.montgomerycountymd. gov project turns the request-research-reprint-charge cycle of government information on its ear. Instead, the county finds data and provides it through a web portal. At the state level, Maryland has a weak and porous law that allows ratcheted charges. Agencies can charge “reasonable fees” for copies, but the law doesn’t set numerical boundaries. Instead, a reasonable fee is defined as one “bearing a reasonable relationship to the recovery of actual costs incurred by a government unit.” If a rapid-copy shop can charge us 8, 10 or maybe 15 cents per copy, our government should, too — but it usually doesn’t. Government bodies have little incentive to comply with a toothless, murky state law. We urge state legislators to tighten this long-ignored weakness, as a commitment to fairness, transparency, accountability and public enlightenment. Last month, the county asked residents what kind of information they’d want to see on the site. Among the suggestions: traffic flow, parking, bus stops, realtime service alerts, weather updates and Intercounty Connector usage. If we get a say, we’d like to see Department of Environmental Protection actions listed by ZIP Code and travel expenses for each county department. We also suggest an equal focus on simpler, individual pieces of information, such as contracts. Sometimes, getting the entire sewing basket is overwhelming and excessive when all we need is a needle and thread. Remember that information about the governed belongs to the people, and should be offered easily and conveniently. There’s no excuse for electronic records, especially, to not be posted online, unless they fit the narrow exceptions to the law in which they may remain secret, for valid reasons. Copying fees should start to fade away thanks to easy techniques for emailing large data files or as residents show up at government offices with thumb drives, for an easy transfer. Any charge should be viewed as a failure of an agency to store records efficiently. The county deserves hearty accolades for dataMontgomery project. The next step is getting other agencies, particularly Montgomery County Public Schools, to provide similar access to their data sets. We’d like to hear from every small and large government in our county or with ties to it: How are you compiling public information, distributing it and presenting it, so the interested people can sift through it, at their convenience? Tell us, and tell your constituents.
The Gazette Karen Acton, President/Publisher
LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
M-83 isn’t the solution you think it is This letter is in response to the Planning Board approving the M-83 highway option [“Planning Board votes to support highway option,” Nov. 27]. Everyone north of Montgomery Village may think this will solve traffic problems, but in my opinion it will drop you into a traffic congestion and gridlock situation where you will just sit in traffic. It just moves the congestion and gridlock to a new location. Additionally, something the Planning Board may not have considered in their decision is that the Montgomery Village Golf Course is being developed into about 600 residential homes, which will add hundreds if not a thousand or so new drivers to
the mix. Monument Realty (developers of the golf course) is not doing a traffic impact study for this new situation for the master plan. M-83 extended may have been a good idea 20 years ago, but it’s not relevant to the current situation. The Planning Board needs to go back to the drawing board for this situation that is misleading everyone. This is another traffic congestion and gridlock situation, and poor planning by the county, which will cost the taxpayer millions of dollars and will solve nothing, just saying. “The City of Gaithersburg officials weighed in on the county project in a July letter to the Maryland Department of the Envi-
ronment and Army Corps of Engineers. In the letter, Gaithersburg Long-Range Planner Rob Robinson took issue with the study’s claims that the master plan route would improve congestion and decrease commute time.” I concur wholeheartedly with Mr. Robinson’s assessment quoted in The Gazette. What we really need is a new bridge across the Potomac river from Interstate 270 into Virginia toward the Dulles Airport area (i.e. Va. 28 Sulley Road). That would relieve a significant amount of traffic on I-270 and the Beltway and provide a new avenue to shopping areas for both Fairfax and Montgomery County.
Neal M. Zarin, Montgomery Village
Preservation and redevelopment can coexist I am writing to address a misconception that the existing Wheaton Youth Center must be demolished in order for Montgomery County to build a new libraryrecreation center in Wheaton [“Wheaton Recreation Center determined historic,” Nov 18]. The county Planning Board recently reviewed whether the center should be considered historic, and found that preservation and redevelopment can peacefully coexist. The Planning Board found that the Wheaton Youth Center, a 1963 modernist, award-winning structure, could potentially be preserved without compromising plans by the Montgomery County Department of General Services for a new consolidated library/recreation center/Gilchrist Center facility, except perhaps for part of planned playfield outside the new recreation center. In response to the county executive’s call for community input in spring 2013, the county’s Historic Preservation Commission began a review of the Wheaton Youth Center and ultimately recom-
Deer attacks dog
mended that it be designated historic. Convinced of the exceptional merits of this resource, the Planning Board also voted to recommend historic designation of the Wheaton Youth Center with the stipulation that the Historic Preservation Commission should review any proposed changes to the exterior of the building needed to accommodate the new recreation center and its programming with leniency. The County Council is expected to take up the historic review of the Wheaton Youth Center in early 2014. The Planning Board hopes that in the intervening period, additional information will become available about the cost and practicality of reusing the Wheaton Youth Center, to aid the County Council in making this important decision.
The rut is full on in Montgomery County. Our sweet Cali, the most gentle dog on earth, was gored by a huge buck this Saturday. After a costly trip to the emergency room, many, many stitches, and a bunch of drains, she is healing painfully. We won’t even talk about how much it cost before Christmas. The buck was back the next day and went after our neighbors little white pup, who was curious, a dangerous thing indeed. Of course, there is nothing the police can do, but joggers, children, pets and even people in cars are in danger. The deer easily could have killed our dog had his antlers gone in her underside and was so aggressive that he was completely unafraid of us. I find it disappointing that in such a sophisticated city that there is nothing we can do to protect ourselves and our pets. We are tied by laws to protect the very people who are threatened by rogue animals.
Francoise M. Carrier The writer chairs the Montgomery County Planning Board.
Penelope Johnson Wilsker, Rockville
Support for stormwater fees On Nov. 19, we released Potomac Conservancy’s annual State of the Nation’s River Report. The river’s health earned a grade of a C and we declared polluted runoff public enemy No. 1. Polluted runoff from urban areas is the only source of pollution to the Potomac River and its tributaries that is increasing. Runoff carries toxic pollution to our neighborhood streams and the Potomac River, causes flooding that damages our homes, and destroys the natural playground where
our families recreate. We know how to fix this: by capturing and filtering rain water where it falls. Maryland is making a key investment that will be spent locally on proven, commonsense solutions to filter, control and clean polluted runoff through the countylevel stormwater fee. In January of 2012, the Maryland General Assembly deliberately called upon county governments to develop programs and fees that address their locality’s unique water pollution needs and fund necessary safeguards
for local waterways. Potomac Conservancy calls upon the General Assembly and Gov. Martin O’Malley to keep this important framework in place. A polluted Potomac, our region’s drinking water supply, is an important local public health issue. The fact is we all need clean water. Working together, we can stop the pollution of this critical community resource.
Amanda John The writer is the Silver Spring policy manager of the Potomac Conservancy.
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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THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Hate mail beats no mail Editor, The Gazette has every right to publish opinion pieces, no matter how lopsided and flawed their argument. But, then, by limiting your regular op-ed columnists to just Blair Lee, do you not have a corresponding obligation to feature opinion pieces likely to reflect dissenting judgement? I can’t believe your existing practice comports with the philosophy of the Post Community Media family of which you are a part. Joel Darmstadter, Bethesda Joel, Since when does the Washington Post, The Gazette’s corporate sibling, practice editorial balance? Here’s a list of the Post’s liberal MY MARYLAND opinion BLAIR LEE writers: E.J. Dionne, Dana Milbank, Eugene Robinson, Ruth Marcus, Colbert King, Dana Balz, Chris Cillizza, Stephen Perlstein, Harold Myerson, Anne Applebaum, Marc Thiessen, Robert McCartney, Ezra Klein, Al Kamon, Greg Sargent, Courtland Milloy and Petula Dvorak, and I could go on. Here’s a list of the Post’s conservative opinion writers: George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Jennifer Rubin. That’s about as much “balance” as a Tom Toles editorial cartoon or the Post’s Style section. Come on, Joel, open your eyes. The deck’s stacked in your favor, you can’t lose. Are you really that worried about one crazy guy writing in The Gazette? Blair Mr. Lee, I recently has an opportunity to read your Sept. 27 article in The Gazette,“Why Baltimore Is Not Detroit.” I notice that you selectively omitted the concentration of pov-
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erty comparison between Baltimore and Montgomery County. It seems you also missed the concentration of not-for-profit/government land ownership between the two jurisdictions, as well. I understand that those issues may not fit neatly into the narrative, but they are real. Bill Ferguson, Baltimore (Sen. Ferguson represents South Baltimore in the Maryland Senate.) Senator, First, Baltimore City lawmakers fought tooth and nail to locate all those non-property-tax-paying state agencies in Baltimore because Baltimore benefits from all those captive state jobs they bring. I dare you to suggest moving them out of Baltimore. Second, yes Baltimore is poor and that’s why the overwhelming bulk of state aid is distributed to poor jurisdictions, primarily Baltimore, largely thanks to “enlightened” Montgomery liberal lawmakers. In return Baltimore screws Montgomery every chance it gets by repealing state aid programs benefitting Montgomery and recycling the money to Baltimore and P.G. True, our lawmakers are so inept that they’re easy pickings in Annapolis, but please spare me the moral outrage. Carving up the state aid pie has nothing to do with the merits, it’s all about politics. Blair Members of the Montgomery County Delegation, I was absolutely shocked to read in The Gazette last week that Maryland taxpayers are sending well over a billion dollars a year to Baltimore. The article describes a recent study by George Mason University. According to the article [“Why Baltimore Is Not Detroit,” Sept. 27], “Baltimore runs on OPM, other people’s money. Much of what taxpayers in Maryland’s other 23 counties send to Annapolis is recycled to Baltimore as direct and indirect state aid. Thanks to the city’s politicians and those in the state legislature, Baltimore
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LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
is now the most subsidized city in America.” Instead of relying solely on The Gazette article (because it’s author, Mr. Lee, sometimes is a little bit biased toward the right) I downloaded the actual GMU study and read he whole thing. Everything Mr. Lee stated is 100 percent supported by the GMU study. Just three weeks ago my wife and I wrote a big check and mailed it to Annapolis. And just a week ago we paid our Montgomery Co. property taxes. In total, my wife and I shelled out a HUGE chunk of our money in state and local taxes. And now we learn that a large portion of that is going to Baltimore. It’s outrageous! Lately my wife and I have been considering relocating to a neighboring state where the tax burden is not as great. Now we are redoubling our efforts to find another place to live. Thomas J. Keller, Chevy Chase Mr Keller, I hear the same story from folks like you every day. Blair Editor, Isn’t it time The Gazette pulled the plug on Blair Lee and his puerile, reactionary, Johnny-one-note drivel? As a 50-year journalism veteran I can assure you his column never would have gotten past me into the paper. Robert E. Cohen, Bethesda Mr. Cohen, Here’s an idea; if you don’t like my column, don’t read it. Instead, you want to silence my opinion because it doesn’t agree with yours. Where did you spend your 50 years of journalism, in the Soviet Union? 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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Fight porous pavement technology in Ten Mile Creek watershed Clean and healthy drinking water is something that most of us take for granted, and rightfully so; when we turn on our faucets, we have no expectations other than to be greeted by pristine, wholesome and sanitary water. However, what if I told you that this indispensable resource that so may people rely on for sustenance could be in serious jeopardy? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stage 4 in the Clarksburg Master Plan could effectively degrade the water of vulnerable Ten Mile Creek in Clarksburg and the drinking water supply for the entire Montgomery County Agriculture Reserve via the Piedmont Aquifer (which is the sole source of water for those outside of the WSSC) because it includes new development and construction implementing porous pavement technology? “The use of porous pavement does create risk of groundwater contamination,” the EPA said in a fact sheet published on stormwater
technology. “Therefore, it is not advisable to construct porous pavement near groundwater drinking supplies,” which is precisely what is happening in the Clarksburg plan. As a resident of the Reserve, I am alarmed, troubled and concerned for my health and the health of fellow residents. Progress and development, like what is going on in Clarksburg, that meets certain critical needs of citizens is very important but is this development worth the environmental and health costs that are an inescapable byproduct? When it comes to the potential harm of humans, there can be no deliberation. The EPA says there is a “risk.” No, risk does not imply inevitability, but that risk is something we cannot afford to take. I, for one, will not stand to have my health endangered. Let’s move forward with development that fits into parameters appropriate and sound, health-centered judgment.
Corey Ahearn, Poolesville
County must limit paved surfaces Ten Mile Creek watershed Twenty groups in the Coalition to Save Ten Mile Creek and the Montgomery County Planning Board’s Staff all agree: Unless imperviousness (hard, paved surfaces) in the Ten Mile Creek watershed are strictly limited, development will degrade the water quality of the creek — the last, pristine creek in Montgomery County that is the main source of clean water to Little Seneca Reservoir. It is obvious to the citizens of Montgomery County that keeping a reservoir as clean as possible is a wise decision, especially when it is our most proximate drinking water supply. The Montgomery County Planning Board did not follow its own staff’s advice and increased the recommended level of devel-
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
opment in the watershed to levels that will irrevocably damage our water quality. This is an outrageous disregard for our future water needs, currently of 4.3 million people in the Washington, D.C., area. We hope that the County Council will listen to its constituents, thousands of whom are deeply concerned, weigh the choice of sound use or destructive development and recommend reduced levels of development to protect our drinking water supply and valued recreational resource, Little Seneca Reservoir.
Anne James, Germantown The writer is the chair of Timber Oak Citizens Association.
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.
THE GAZETTE
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BUSINESS Entrepreneur stays nimble to keep in business Employee Navigator weathered recession, possible competition from Obamacare n
BY
Have a new business in Montgomery County? Let us know about it at www.gazette.net/newbusinessform
GEORGE REESE n Age: 44
A duffer’s delight
n Position: Co-founder and CEO of Employee Navigator
ELIZABETH WAIBEL
n Education: Bachelor of arts in business from St. Anselm College
STAFF WRITER
George Reese picked a terrible time to start his business. Reese of Gaithersburg and Walter A. Hill co-founded Employee Navigator, a company that provides benefits management software for companies, in 2008 on the eve of a global recession. “We signed the lease the week Lehman Brothers went under, so it couldn’t have been a worse time to start the business,” Reese said, able to laugh about it in retrospect. “I guess you could say it’s been uphill since then.” He and Hill may have picked an inauspicious time for starting a business, but they persisted. Reese said they were able to stay afloat through the economic downturn because he was funding the startup himself. Employee Navigator licenses software to insurance brokers who provide an exchange or marketplace to companies throughout the United States. The Gaithersburg-based business has grown about 300 percent this year, Reese said, and now serves 2,700 companies with anywhere from five to 10,000 employees. “Our objective is to bring down the cost of administering benefits by about 90 percent,” Reese said.
n Family: Wife and five sons n Residence: Gaithersburg n Best business advice ever received: Make sure that you’re always re-evaluating your business plan. If you have a great idea and you think you’re going to take that through [the life of your business] without it changing, you’re probably going to go out of business.
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
The insurance exchanges Employee Navigator offers are similar to a larger program that came into being soon after Reese’s company did — Obamacare. Reese said the federal Affordable Care Act fell in their lap after the election cycle, but the jury’s still out on whether it will reduce demand for Employee Navigator’s products. He said the Obamacare rollout has been a disaster, but it won’t stop the movement away from paper and toward digital benefits management. “I think the movement to a digital marketplace is going to ultimately help the business and pressure people to move away from the
George Reese, president and CEO of Employee Navigator, at his office in Gaithersburg. old, traditional paper,” he said. Reese has been in the insurance business in one way or another since graduating college. Before starting Employee Navigator, he was the founder and CEO of FlexAmerica Inc., which offered flexible spending account administration. He sold that business to a private equity firm in 2007. As a business owner, Reese said it’s important to have a good team to work with. Reese hired John Crowley, whom he knew growing up, to be Employee Navigator’s chief software architect, and he said Crowley is great to work with. “It’s really important just to
make sure that you can trust (your team) and have smart people to work with,” he said. Since founding Employee Navigator, Reese said he’s had to keep his business model flexible by reducing the cost of licensing. He said entrepreneurs must always be re-evaluating their business plan to change what’s not working. “If you have a great idea and you think you’re going to take that through (the life of your business) without it changing, you’re probably going to go out of business,” he said. ewaibel@gazette.net
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A new store in Rockville is aiming to release your inner club champion. Club Champion, opening a 2,700-square-foot location this month, uses state-of-the-art technology to fit each golfer, regardless of skill level, for one to all 14 clubs in a bag, and custom builds the clubs using thousands of combinations and premier golf brands. Players then test the custom clubs at Club Champions’ in-store virtual hitting bay. This is the company’s first location in the Washington metro region. Club Champion originated in Chicago in 1995 and operates seven locations across the country. Club Champion will host a grand opening at 6 p.m. Dec 11 at 192 Halpine Road, Suite C. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 301-881-3030 or visit www. clubchampiongolf.com.
Search for new location ends in Takoma Park Fusion SEO, a Baltimore company specializing in organic search engine marketing, opened a new location at 6411 Orchard Ave., Takoma Park. The new location features a large multimedia conference center for training and special events. Evan Featherstone, owner of Fusion, said he picked Takoma Park partly because he lives nearby in addition to its proximity to Washington. “Also part of the appeal of the location is the abilty to expand within the building in early 2014,” he said. Fusion has five employees. More information is at www.fusionseo.com.
MOVIE REVIEW
&
The Gazette’s Guide to
‘FROZEN’ FUN
Arts & Entertainment
Disney flick is big, bright and often beautiful. Page A-19
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28TH WINTER FAMILY CONCERT
Slumber
party! n Blankets, pillows and pajamas welcome at Takoma Park concert BY
CARA HEDGEPETH STAFF WRITER
Fixtures of the Takoma Park music scene, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will present their 28th Annual Winter Family Concert at Takoma Park Middle School on Sunday afternoon. This year’s pajama party-themed show will feature special guest artist and Grammy Award nominee Justin Roberts. “I met Cathy and Marcy probably 10 or 12 years ago and we’ve been talking about doing a show together since the beginning,” Roberts said. “For me, it’s a big thrill to get to play with them … They’re both such excellent musicians, I’m kind of thrilled to have them playing on my stuff and get to play on their songs, as well.”
TODD ROSENBERG.
Justin Roberts, pictured here with his band, will perform Sunday with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer in Takoma Park.
See PARTY, Page A-19
REVEL IN
Country music legend Crystal Gayle will be performing at the Strathmore on Thursday.
COMMUNITY
GOR MEGAERA
n
Washington Revels rejoice with holiday show BY
CARA HEDGEPETH STAFF WRITER
WILL C. FRANKLIN
BY
STAFF WRITER
n
World-famous performer talks about music, family and how she got her name
A
fter graduating high school, Brenda Gail Webb was set to sign with Decca Records, much like her sister, Loretta. At the time, Decca Records — which later became MCA — already had a well-known singer on the roster named Brenda Lee. Loretta, who was 19 years older than Brenda, suggested she change her name to Crystal. Loretta had seen it on a sign and liked the way it looked. Loretta, in this case, is Loretta Lynn, the country singer famous for her song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” And Brenda became a household name, too. Just not as Brenda Gail Webb. “I didn’t care what they called me. They could have called me John or anything,” said Crystal Gayle. The country star known the world over for her hit country song “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” will be performing at The Music Center at Strathmore along with Lee Greenwood on Thursday. There is a bit of humor in her name, however. “Loretta saw the name and she thought it
was very bright and shiny,” Gayle said. “She saw a sign … in the South, there’s the Krystal hamburgers — so I’m sort of named after hamburgers.” Gayle is the youngest of eight. Her family didn’t have a lot of money, but having music in their lives was important. “Being from Kentucky, that was a form of entertainment,” Gayle said. “It was part of life. A lot
In 2003, Kendra Hendren went to see her sister perform in a Christmas Revels show. “My confession is I was dragged to it,” Hendren said. But within 20 minutes, Hendren was hooked. “I was completely mesmerized by it,” she said. That’s the magic of the Washington Revels, said Roberta Gasbarre, the group’s artistic director. “It is so full of people who are really wonderful talent and love to do it even though they don’t make a living
CHRISTMAS REVELS
n When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 7-15 n Where: George Washington Lisner Auditorium, 21st and H St., NW, Washington, D.C. n Tickets: $12-$50 n For information: 1-800-595-4849; revelsdc.org/revels2013
out of it,” Gasbarre said. The Revels, a national organization with chapters in cities across the country, was founded in Cambridge, Mass., in 1971. Gasbarre came to the Washington Revels in 1991 as a
See REVEL, Page A-19
See CRYSTAL, Page A-19
CRYSTAL GAYLE WITH LEE GREENWOOD n When: 8 p.m. Thursday n Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda n Tickets: $39-$69 n For information: 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
The Washington Revels during their 2012 Christmas Revels show.
SHEP FERGUSON
THE GAZETTE
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Samurai SHAKESPEARE
PHOTO BY MIKE HORAN
Megan Graves as Seven Swan and Diedra LaWan Starnes as Shirley in “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” running to Dec. 30 at Adventure Theatre-MTC.
True love x ‘Twelve’ “The Twelve Days of Christmas” continues to Dec. 30 at Adventure Theatre-MTC in Glen Echo. Directed by Michael Dove, the
world premiere by Helen Hayes Award-recipient Renee Calarco follows the quest of Shirley (the partridge), who must brave bickering French Hens, six geese gone AWOL and much more to discover just who stole the five golden rings. For more information, visit www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
Ben Lickerman stars in the title role of Lumina Studio Theatre’s “Kabuki Coriolanus,” opening Saturday. Lumina Studio Theatre will shed new light on William Shakespeare’s last great tragedy when “Kabuki Coriolanus” opens Saturday at the Round House Theatre in Silver Spring. Adapted and directed by David Minton, in collaboration with Shizumi Shigeto Manale, Gretchen Schermerhorn and Franc Rosario of Pyramid
Atlantic, “Kabuki Coriolanus” is a multimedia production set in Japan following two tribes — one traditional with strong ties to the old ways, the other a modern, forward-thinking pack — and the titular warriorturned-enemy of his homeland. Featuring two separate casts of 45 young actors, ages 8-16, and a live score per-
PHOTO BY RON MURPHY
formed on stage by Wendy Lanxner on flute, sax and vocals; Roger Coleman on keyboards; and Taiko drummer Mark Foley, “Kabuki Coriolanus” runs to Dec. 15. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students younger than 18 and seniors. For show times, visit www.luminastudio.org. Visit www. roundhousetheatre.org.
Building a 50th birthday celebration The Wheaton Youth Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, complete with cake, live music and tours. Footage from a 2009 reunion also will be screened, including memories from former director Sharon Ward Ellis. The celebration will be hosted in conjunction with regularly scheduled activities at the center, located at 11711 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. For more information, visit www.montgomeryparks.org.
The National Philharmonic Singers will present a free holiday concert on Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville. STAN ENGEBRETSON
Holiday in song
The National Philharmonic Singers will present a free holiday concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church, 107 S. Washington Street, Rockville. Directed by conductors Stan Engebretson and Victoria Gau, the program will feature a candlelight choral procession and the music of Praetorius, Lauridsen, Rutter, Gardiner, Skriven and Tchesnokov, among others, as well as a special audience sing-along. The philharmonic promotes works suited for smaller ensembles, whether with accompaniment or a cappella. Its repertoire ranges from 15th to 21st centuries, and it often premieres new compositions by local composers. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org.
PHOTO BY JERRY A. MCCOY
Wheaton Youth Center auditorium with proscenium stage. The center will celebrate its birthday Saturday with a music-filled, educational celebration.
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Bah, humbug! A series of shows explores Dickens’ famous tale Scrooge’s story plays out in different venues
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BY
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
Charles Dickens’ Victorianera story of the mean-spirited — but ultimately redeemable — miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, tends to pop up around Christmas-time, and this year is no exception. “Scrooge — the Musical,” a show with a large cast of adults and children, runs Friday to Dec. 22 at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. Presented by the Sandy Spring Theatre Group, the musical is based on the 1992 stage musical with book, music and lyrics by English composer Leslie Bricusse, who also wrote the score for the 1970 movie starring Albert Finney. “There are about 30 people in it, which is rather sizable for the Arts Barn stage,” said director Ken Kemp. “It certainly makes for a big experience.” Probably the most familiar song from the show is “Thank You Very Much” in the second act, he said. The stage version also includes six songs that were not in the movie version. “There are some upbeat songs that almost make you want to dance, and there are some somber and introspective songs,” Kemp said. In addition to the spirits who visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve, there are also some ghostly gray phantoms who double as stage helpers. “They do the scene changes,” Kemp said. The hand-painted Victorian set has a “storybook feel” that looks “like an illustrated version of ‘A Christmas Carol,’” said Kemp, adding that the performers also don 60 Victorian costumes during the show. “Being a musical, it tends to be a little light-hearted [versus] gloom and doom,” he said.
A cast of one Meanwhile, already on stage in Olney is Paul Morella’s oneman show running to Dec. 29 at the Olney Theatre Center. Now in its fourth year, Morella’s show, in which he plays 45 characters, is based almost entirely on the text of Dickens’
SCROOGE — THE MUSICAL
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
n Sandy Spring Theatre Group
n When: 8 p.m., Dec. 13-14, 20-21; 2 p.m., Dec. 14-15, 21-22
n Silver Spring Stage
n When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 6-22 n Where: The Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg n Tickets: $18; $16 for Gaithersburg residents; $9 for students through grade 12 n For information: 301-2586394, gaithersburgmd.gov
A CHRISTMAS CAROL:
A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS
n Paul Morella
n Where: Silver Spring Stage, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $10 for general admission, $5 for children n For information: 301-5936036, ssstage.org
A WAKE FOR JACOB MARLEY AN UNEXPECTED FUNDRAISER n When: 7 p.m. Dec. 14
n When: to Dec. 29 n Where: Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
n Where: The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda
n Tickets: $36 for adults, $18 for students (Recommended for ages 10 and older)
n Tickets: $55 at the door; $45 ($25 tax deductible) in advance; $10 extra for a photo with Jacob Marley (cocktail attire is encouraged)
n For information: 301-9243400, olneytheatre.org
n For information: 301-3378290, unexpectedstage.org
Paul Morella plays 45 characters in his one-man show “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas” at the Olney Theatre Center to Dec. 29. The script is based almost entirely on Dickens’ classic 1843 novella.
ing his impoverished clerk, Bob Cratchit, his nephew and other people poorly. Three more ghosts arrive — the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come — who remind Scrooge of his childhood, his cold-hearted treatment of people, and the grim future he faces if he doesn’t change his ways. Dickens was paid by the word for some of his long serialized novels, but the sparsely written “A Christmas Carol” was written quickly, in six weeks, to meet a holiday publishing deadline, said Morella. “It’s bigger by staying smaller,” he said about the 66page book, which was popular in Dickens’ time and continues to be so today,
Erin Bone Steele, who is working with a cast of 22. “It was a challenge for us – the actors have to be very agile and the set flexible,” she said. The stage crew is also using a fog machine to create some ghostly effects, said Steele, adding that she has loved the play since she was a child. Silver Spring Stage often presents edgy productions, but “A Christmas Carol” is a family show and very accessible, she said. There are some sad, dark moments, but because the story moves along quickly, “the audience experiences the emotion and then moves on,” she said. “It has a very uplifting ending,” said Steele, about the mean and miserly Scrooge and his ultimate redemption.
Spirits in Silver Spring
Marley was dead, to begin with
original 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.” “Every year I take it apart and put it back together,” said Morella. “I look for different things that are relevant to whatever’s taking place today.” The story’s cast of characters also gives him the latitude to “flesh out some of the minor characters” from year to year. Morella’s set resembles an 1840s Victorian parlor, with a desk, a candle and holder, piles of books and papers, rugs, livedin furniture, and — new this year — some potted plants. “There’s a warmth and an informality about it, like telling a story around the fire,” said Morella, who personally greets audience members as they walk into the theater. The action unfolds as Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his equally miserly business partner, Jacob Marley. Dead seven years, Marley is condemned to walk the earth in chains. Scrooge and Marley ran a counting house, and Scrooge continues to lend money, treat-
Silver Spring Stage is also presenting “A Christmas Carol,” a 90-minute adaptation of Dickens’ story by Ed Monk, which run Dec. 13-22. “It moves very rapidly from place to place,” said director
PHOTO FROM PAUL MORELLA
business partner, Marley, in The Writer’s Center Reading Room in Bethesda. The event serves as entertainment, with actors working from a script and portraying Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and others while eulogizing the departed. It also serves as a fundraiser for the theater company, which
Meanwhile, the Unexpected Stage Company based in Montgomery County is offering a twist on Scrooge’s story by hosting a one-night wake for his equally miserly but deceased
IN THE ARTS DANCES Hollywood Ballroom, Dec. 4, Social Ballroom Dance from 8–11 p.m. ($10); Dec. 5, 12, Tea Dance from 12:30–3:30 p.m. ($6); Dec. 6, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); Dec. 8, free West Coast Swing lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m., ($16); Dec. 11, International and Standard Latin Night with Paul Huston, workshop from 7:30–8:30 p.m., dance from 8:30–11 p.m. ($16), 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-326-1181, www.hollywoodballroomdc.com
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, Dec. 6, Adina Gordon calls to Maivish; Dec. 13, Warren Doyle with the fabulous Glen Echo Open Band; Dec. 20, Sargon de Jesus calls to Morrison Brothers; Dec. 27, Bob Isaacs with Perpetual e-Motion, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Span-
ish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org. Contra & Square, Dec. 8, Adina Gordon calls with Maivish; Dec. 15, Susan Taylor with Sligo Creek Stompers; Dec. 22, Janine Smith calls with Morrison Brothers Band; Dec. 29, Anna Rain with Perpetual e-Motion, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www.fsgw.org. English Country, Dec. 4, Caller: Melissa Running; Dec. 11, Caller: Liz Donaldson; Dec. 18, Caller: Anna Rain, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www.fsgw. org.
Now and Then Dance Studio, Saturday ballroom dances,
second and fourth Saturdays, beginner group lesson at 8 p.m., open dancing at 9 p.m., $10 cash at door (all men admitted at half price throughout October), 10111 Darnestown Road, Rockville. 301424-0007, www.nowandthendancestudios.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. Swing, Dec. 14, Daryl Davis, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet.org. Waltz, Dec. 15, Sugar Beat; Dec. 29, Terpsichore, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www. waltztimedances.org.
MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Meredith Seidel, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4; VMA Big Band Christmas, 8 p.m. Dec. 8; The Artie Shaw Orchestra with Swingtopia, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, call for prices, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com. BlackRock Center for the Arts, A Charlie Brown Christmas with The Eric Byrd Trio, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7; Holiday Swing with Daryl Davis and Gotta Swing, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org. Fillmore Silver Spring, Megadeth, 8 p.m. Dec. 4; NOFX plus
Special Guests, 7:25 p.m. Dec. 6; Sara Bareilles and Gavin DeGraw, 7 p.m. Dec. 11; Steve Winwood with Cris Jacobs, 8 p.m. Dec. 12; Gary Allan WMZQ Concert for Kids w/ Cole Swindell and special guests, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Andrew Dice Clay, 8 p.m. Dec. 15, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301960-9999, FillmoreSilverSpring. com, www.livenation.com.
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Institute of Musical Traditions — Takoma Park, April Verch, 7:30
p.m. Dec. 4, Takoma Park Community Center, call for prices, times, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, 301-960-3655, www.imtfolk. org.
Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, Robin Bullock, Ken
Kolodner & Elke Baker, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Afternoon/Specialty Teas, 1 p.m. Dec. 4, 9-11; AIR Mentor: Dr. James Ross with Piotr Pakhomkin, guitar & Nistha Raj, violin, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4; Teatro
See IN THE ARTS, Page A-18
w No ing! w Sho F.
Scott Fitzgerald Theater
603 Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20851
240-314-8690
www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre
The Nutcracker 2013 Presented by Rockville Civic Ballet December 7 & 14 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Tickets $17 to $13
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December 8 & 15 at 2pm 1905477
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formed four years ago. “It will feel like a wake but it’s lighthearted as well,” said Christopher Goodrich, who founded the company four company with his wife, Rachel Stroud-Goodrich. vterhune@gazette.net
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Page A-18
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Euro vision comes to AFI Silver Theatre n
Movies from 27 countries start Thursday in Silver Spring BY
n When: Dec. 5-22
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
As the European Union continues to expand, so does the annual European Union Film Showcase at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring. “Croatia is an addition this year,” said Todd Hitchcock, director of programming for the festival, now in its 26th year. “All the [28] countries in the EU are represented except Malta,” said Hitchcock. The showcase features at least one film from each nation, and more if a country — such as France or Germany — has a large film industry. Screening will be 53 films, about 10 more than last year. “Typically these movies have already had a commercial run in their home country,” Hitchcock said. A list by country with synopses, and a calendar showing films by date, is posted at afi.com/silver. Films nominated for Academy Awards in 2013 are also noted. The series opens Thursday with “Walesa, Man of Hope,” a film about Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa, and closes three weekends later on Dec. 22. In 2012, the showcase took place in November, but this year it is running in December when there is more time to screen all of the films, said Hitchcock. Hitchcock recommended buying tickets early, as some movies, especially those marked “special presentations,” feature Q&As and receptions with di-
IN THE ARTS
Continued from Page A-17 Scala Academy Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4; Sultans of String, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5; Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood, 8 p.m. Dec. 5; BSO: The Four Seasons, 8 p.m. Dec. 7; Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Dec. 8; MCYO:
AFI EUROPEAN UNION FILM SHOWCASE n Where: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $12; $10 (combo for eight or more); $175 passport ($135 AFI members) n For information: 301-495-6700, afi. com/silver
rectors following screenings and sell out quickly. “There are also a lot of European thrillers,” said Hitchcock, who last year presented a retrospective of Swedish crime movies. “This is something with a real fan base,” he said about the genre in Europe. The screenplay for “The Keeper of Lost Causes,” from Denmark, was written by Nikolaj Arcel, co-writer of the Swedish film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The movie is about a detective investigating the apparent suicide of a politician five years earlier, and is already a hit in Denmark. Other thrillers include “The Exam” from Hungary and “Hidden Child” from Sweden.
Polish hero Hitchcock said the decision to lead off the festival with the film about Walesa was because of its broad reach. “I liked a subject and a story that had a pan-European appeal and importance,” he said. Directed by legendary Polish direc-
Dawn of a Musical Season, 4 p.m. Dec. 8; Stone Ridge Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 10; Zemer Chai: The Jewish Community Choir of Washington, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11; BSO: Holiday Cirque, 8 p.m. Dec. 12; Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Salsa Navidad, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Friday Night Eclectic: San Fermin, 8 p.m. Dec. 13; Miniatures Workshop, 10 a.m. Dec. 14; National Philhar-
tor Andrzej Wajda, it stars Polish film star Robert Wieckiewicz, who will attend opening night. “He’s tremendous in this,” said Hitchcock about the actor who also starred in Polish director Agnieszka Holland’s 2011 film “In Darkness.” An electrician, Walesa was a tradeunion activist in the Gdansk shipyards who lead the Solidarity Movement in Communist-run Poland during the 1970s and 1980s. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and served as Poland’s president from 1990 to 1995. Scheduled for Friday is Elijah Wood of “Lord of the Rings” fame in “Grand Piano,” a thriller in which he plays pianist Tom Selznick as he prepares to perform in a comeback concert but finds a note waiting for him: “Play a wrong note and you die.” The film’s Spanish director, Eugenio Mira, will be present at a Q&A and reception after the screening. Filmmaker Ulrika Bengts, who directed Finland’s “The Disciple,” will also be present for a Q&A and reception after his movie screens on Monday. Set in 1939, “The Disciple” is about an eager-to-please orphan who works so hard in a Baltic lighthouse that the lighthouse keeper begins to favor him over his own son. Screening Dec. 15 is “The Invisible Woman,” a film about a young stage actress, Nelly Ternan, who became Charles Dickens’ lover. Ralph Fiennes, who plays the novelist, also directed the film, which features Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Hollander. “Fiennes also directed ‘Coriolanus’ a few years ago,” said Hitchcock. “His future as a director looks very promising.”
monic: Handel’s Messiah, 8 p.m. Dec. 14, 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
AFI SILVER
“Walesa, Man of Hope,” from Poland, is a film about Solidarity Movement leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa.
From France via Iran On Sunday, AFI Silver will present a single screening of “The Past,” filmed in France by director Asghar Farhadi. Farhadi won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012 for “A Separation,” the first Iranian film to win the award. “The Past” is about a man from Tehran who returns to Paris to complete a divorce from his French wife. She has two daughters from her first marriage and is living with her fiancé, who has a son. “It’s a domestic drama, and there’s a lot of nuance, a lot of gray areas,” said Hitchcock. “It’s a situation [that involves] peeling away layers.” The annual European film festival is one of the largest events presented
Twelve Days of Christmas,” to Dec. 30, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Do or Die Mysteries, TBA, 6:30 p.m. buffet, 7:30 p.m. show, $47.50 buffet and show, Flanagan’s Harp and Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 443-422-3810, www. doordiemystery.com
by AFI/Silver, said Hitchcock, who also organizes its annual Latin film festival. Hitchcock said he learns about films by traveling to festivals, where he sometimes watches five movies a day, and also by talking to people and researching their recommendations. “There are stacks and stacks of things to watch, and out of that process comes 40 to 50 titles,” he said. AFI/Silver doesn’t always get every film it wants, but Hitchcock said there are always movies coming down the pipeline throughout the year. “There’s always new stuff,” he said. “If you’re enjoying this, there’s much more out there. Rejoice in watching some great films!” vterhune@gazette.net
Imagination Stage, “Lyle the Crocodile,” to Jan. 10, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www. imaginationstage.org Olney Theatre Center, “The King and I,” to Dec. 29; Olney Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 13-24; “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas,” to Dec. 29, call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, www.olneytheatre. org. The Puppet Co., “The Nutcracker,” to Dec. 29; 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, “The Lyons,” to Dec. 22, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, www. roundhousetheatre.org. Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, “Meena’s Dream,” Jan. 8-14, 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, “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 13-22, Woodmoor Shopping Center, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, see website for show times, www. ssstage.org. The Writer’s Center, TBA, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, 301-6548664, www.writer.org.
VISUAL ART Adah Rose Gallery, John James Anderson and Mei Mei Chang, to Dec. 28, 3766 Howard Ave., Kensington, 301-922-0162, www. adahrosegallery.com
The Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum, TBA, hours are 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. 301-897-1518. Gallery B, December Exhibition: Eric Garner, Dec. 4-28, opening reception from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13, gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E. www.bethesda.org. Glenview Mansion, Rockville Art League Juried Members’ Show Varied Media, Dec. 8-30, Rockville Civic Center Park, 503 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. www.rockvillemd.gov. Marin-Price Galleries, William Woodward, to Dec. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 7022 Wisconsin Ave., 301-718-0622. VisArts, Michael Sellmeyer: Paintings, Drawings, Prints, That Mostly Go Together, Dec. 11 to Jan. 12, opening reception from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 13, Common Ground Gallery; Lauren Boilini: Rabid Habits, Dec. 11 to Jan. 12, opening reception from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 13, Gibbs Street Gallery,155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, www.visartsatrockville.org. Washington Printmakers Gallery, “A Life with Line,” Lila Oliver
Asher, to Dec. 1, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, second floor, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, www. washingtonprintmakers.com.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page A-19
AT THE MOVIES
‘Frozen’: Defying meteorology BY
MICHAEL PHILLIPS CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Big, bright, often beautiful and essentially an action movie, as are most animated features these days, “Frozen” comes from Walt Disney Animation Studios. While Disney credits the 1845 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Snow Queen” as primary inspiration, the movie owes a lot more to the Broadway blockbuster “Wicked.” Example: In “Frozen,” when its misunderstood young sorceress (voiced by Idina Menzel, who won a Tony for originating the green one in “Wicked”) unleashes her magical powers and starts designing her permafrost castle in exile, she wallops a tune called “Let It Go,” which is very, very, very much in the spirit of “Defying Gravity,” the “Wicked” Act 1 closer. The eight songs in “Frozen,” very good in the main, were written by the team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The latter — co-writer of “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon” — has described “Let
It Go” as “the biggest, beltiest diva number” imaginable. It’s almost a parody of itself. When it comes to such numbers I tend to respond the way Mr. Darling does in “Peter Pan”: A little less noise there, please. But if you like that sort of thing, “Frozen” has that sort of thing. And the film basically works. It’s entertaining, and following an old Disney tradition “Frozen” works some old-school magic in its nonhuman characters. There’s Sven the reindeer, stalwart best friend of the hunky Nordic love interest Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), who harvests ice for a living. But especially there’s Olaf the joyfully needy snowman, with a charming overbite and three or four twigs for hair. He dreams of sunny summer vacations courtesy of the fetching ditty “In Summer,” in which Olaf yearns for scenarios that would spell his demise. Olaf is voiced by Josh Gad, who worked with Lopez in the original iteration of “The Book of Mormon.” You can hear the smile in Gad’s vocal delivery; his
FROZEN n 3 stars n PG; 100 minutes n Cast: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad n Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
comic timing’s very sly, a little behind the expected beat, and there’s a sweetness to his delivery. What Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella did for Disney’s film “The Lion King,” Gad does for “Frozen.” The movie takes the bare bones of the original fairy tale and builds its own contraption. It’s a tale of two sisters. Elsa, voiced by Menzel, has been blessed/cursed with the emotion-triggered ability to whip up ice and snow in threatening amounts. Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, is nearly killed by her sister’s magic as a young girl, so their parents devote what’s left
Fearless optimist Anna meets rugged and snow-covered mountain man Kristoff for the first time in Walt Disney Animation Studio’s “Frozen.” of their lives to protecting one girl from the other. Years pass, as they do, and Elsa is to be crowned queen of Arendelle. At the coronation sister Anna, insta-smitten with a dreamy suitor from a neighboring kingdom, asks Elsa to bless the union. No soap, says Elsa, whose outburst turns her icemagic into “The Day After Tomorrow.” The coastal kingdom is plunged into a deep freeze. Elsa squirrels away up north, alone, to sing power ballads.
Anna eventually becomes the problem solver and fix-it sibling. Co-director and screenwriter Jennifer Lee’s script goes in for a fair amount of complication and political intrigue, though like so many animated features, whatever the studio, the story cannot wait to get back to the thundering imperilment. Still, Anna’s a gratifying heroine, a shrewd mixture of assertiveness and relatability. The project was tasked with two directors, first-billed Chris Buck and sec-
DISNEY
ond-billed Lee. The sheer scope of the story, encompassing ice monsters and Broadway power anthems, probably required as much. As Anna gets closer and closer to discovering the reason why her sister abandoned her emotionally years earlier, “Frozen” cracks the exterior of its radically revised Snow Queen (Elsa, that is; nothing like Andersen’s original). The happy ending feels genuine and heartfelt. And Gad’s Olaf, in the nicest way, kills.
Performers during the 2008 Christmas Revels show. This year’s show, featuring more than 100 singers, dancers, instrumentalists and actors, is titled “Echoes of Thrace: Music, Dance and Drama of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.”
REVEL
Continued from Page A-15 choreographer and became artistic director in 1998. She’ll oversee the group’s 31st annual Christmas Revels show beginning Saturday at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. This year’s show, featuring more than 100 singers, dancers, instrumentalists and actors, is titled “Echoes of Thrace: Music, Dance and Drama of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.” “Every year we try to do something different than the year before,” Gasbarre said. “ … We started to talk about visiting that [part] of the world thematically … as we delved more into it, we found these regions had incredible holiday traditions … We thought it would be a good place for us to look into.” According to Gasbarre, the Christmas Revels tend to focus
on material up to the 20th century. She said this year’s show will draw on “a blend of ancient and modern tradition from the region,” including Bulgarian customs such as Kukeri, costumed men performing a ritual to ward off evil spirits, and the Survachka, brightly decorated sticks used by children in Bulgaria on Christmas morning to wish fellow-villagers luck. Special guests Bulgarian singers Tanya Dossera and master Kaval player Lyuben Dossev will also join the performance. The introduction to different cultures has continued to be a draw for Hendren and her family. “I’m a homeschool mom and one of the things that is so valuable to me is that the Revels expose them to cultures around the world like nothing else can besides going to those places,” Hendren said. “The programs tell you the background on every song. It’s like a homeschool textbook … I hang
PARTY
Continued from Page A-15 Sunday’s show, officially The Blanket & Pillow Concert, will feature a selection of low-key songs from both Roberts — who released his album “Lullaby” last year — and the “Sing To Your Baby Series,” which Fink and Marxer released around the same time. “For years we’ve wanted to do a sing-along pajama party,” Fink said. “We had talked about trying to do a show that would feature … softer songs that we don’t normally play in concert, but at the same time make it fun,” Roberts added. Sunday’s bedtime-themed set is a far cry from Robert’s usual repertoire. His latest CD release, “Recess,” is more typical of Roberts and his five-piece rock band, the Not Ready for Naptime Players. “‘Recess is kind of the polar opposite of ‘Lullaby’,” Roberts said. “It’s a much more kind of rock ’n’ roll kind of record … [So] this concert is going to give me a chance to highlight the more folk side of my music.” Roberts, who’s based in Chicago, never intended to become a children’s musician. In the early 1990s, shortly after graduating from college, the musician was living in Minneapolis playing in an eclectic folk rock band called Pimentos for Gus. During the day, he had a job teaching at a Montessori preschool. “I told them I was a musician and they said, ‘Bring your guitar,’” Roberts recalled. “I started playing songs for kids initially and then eventually writing songs for kids in the classroom.” The singer/songwriter quickly discovered he had a knack for children’s music.
on to them. From that aspect it’s just fantastic that they get to learn all of that.” Hendren started as a volunteer with the Revels in 2006 after her son Jacob made the children’s chorus, just one of the Revels five performance ensembles. Though she longed to audition for the Revels herself, Hendren decided to dedicate her energy to the children’s chorus and making sure Jacob had the best possible experience. This year it’s a different story. With both children in their teens, Hendren and her husband Pat both have roles in Echoes of Thrace. “[We’re] cast as Bulgarians,” Hendren said. “My husband and I are part of a family; yogurt makers. We have goats.” Jacob has a larger role as Jason in the Jason and the Argonauts story while Julia is a member of the props crew. While Jacob and Julia have the support of their real-life
BLANKET & PILLOW CONCERT n When: 4:30 p.m. Sunday n Where: Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door (Groups or organizations interested in tickets for underserved communities, please contact info@ cathymarcy.com) n For information: 301-270-9090, imtfolk.org n Note: Audience members are encouraged to wear pajamas and bring blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc., and are asked to consider bringing a new toy to donate to The Marvelous Toy Drive.
As Pimentos for Gus disintegrated, Roberts recorded a children’s album before moving to Chicago for graduate school. After receiving positive feedback, Roberts said he made the decision to pursue children’s music. “It kind of took off on its own and people were asking me to make another record so I thought, ‘Maybe I should do this,’” Roberts said. “I was never intending to … I tried to listen to the voices around me that I was hearing [saying] I should do it.” He may not have set out to sing children’s music but over the last 15 years, Roberts has become somewhat of a star in the industry. He’s released 11 albums — nine for children and two aimed at families and based on Bible stories. He performs regularly in schools, outdoor amphitheaters, community centers and festivals. He’s also appeared on The Today Show and had his music featured on Nick Jr. In 2011,
family on stage, Hendren said the Revels also stress the importance of an on-stage family. “They basically cast everybody into families,” Hendren said. “So if you’re up on stage and you’re a little lost, you can look for your stage family … it’s like a supportive community.” The Washington Revels are all about community. In addition to Christmas Revels, which is their largest production, and their annual May Day celebration, the group runs after-school classes in music, dance, storytelling and crafting for children ages 4 to 14. The Washington Revels have released six CDs and often gather for causal sing-alongs at McGinty’s Public House in Silver Spring. “Because we’re a community group, there’s room for a number of things, large and small,” Gasbarre said. “That’s why we’re here, to say, ‘Come join us. Get involved.’” There’s perhaps no greater
Roberts was nominated for a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. It appears Roberts has made the transition from rocker to children’s rocker almost seamlessly. “I still try to put the same kind of care and craft into writing the songs,” Roberts said. “I don’t really think I’m just writing them for the kids. I think I’m writing for the whole family …” In fact, Roberts said he’s found more similarities than differences between the children and adult audiences. “I just saw Dave Davies from The Kinks recently perform and he would start a song and then just start clapping above his head getting the audience to clap with him,” Roberts said. “And I was thinking, ‘Well, that’s pretty much what I’m doing with the kids’ shows.’ But with the kids’ shows it’s even more present. You’re doing a lot of call and response singing, a lot of different hand motions and dancing …” “Justin shares the Cathy and Marcy philosophy,” Fink added. “When we’re performing, we’re singing together with the crowd.” Beyond his performance style, Roberts said he hopes the content of his songs appeal to both children and their parents. “I think a lot of times what I’m trying to do when I’m writing this material is find that common connection between a childhood experience and an adult experience,” Roberts said. “If I’m writing a song like ‘Recess,’ I’m thinking about my own memories of being in a classroom and waiting for the bell to ring. And [now] I’m thinking about a pile of work on my desk I need to finish before I can go outside and play ball with my dog. It’s the same kind of thing.” chedgepeth@gazette.net
PHOTOS BY SHEP FERGUSON
A member of the Washington Revels during the 2010 Christmas Revels show. testament to the power of community among the Revels than the two-hour commute the Hendren family makes at least once a week from their home in Castleton, Va., to rehearsals in Silver Spring. “I think what I love about it is
CRYSTAL
Continued from Page A-15 of music has come out of the hills of Kentucky. People would go out on the front porch and play the guitar. My mother was a twin and they would sing at church. Music was there and it was great. I always say music heals. So I think that a lot of the reason there’s music in the hills of Kentucky — and a lot of the rural areas — is because it [heals]. It makes you feel good.” Family, too, is important to Gayle and her relatives. Late in November, Lynn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom — which is given by the president to those who have made an impact on the interests of the United States. “I’m so excited and she was, too, when I talked to her on the phone,” Gayle said. “We’re all very proud of Loretta as a whole, not just for getting this honor. It’s a highlight for her, I’m sure. And it’s a highlight in the sense of the family knowing that she has done so much. Loretta’s not just a singer. She’s a person out there who’s more than that. … We love our sister.” Gayle was destined to be a singer. With crystal blue eyes, a sweet smile and silky voice, Gayle knew early on she was going to be in the music industry. “We would always have career days and you would write about things,” Gayle said. “Mine was not the normal. I wrote about … being an archeologist and stuff like that. But no, I was a singer. I love singing. I’ve made so many really good friends all over the world and that means a lot.” Recently, Gayle released a duet with singer/songwriter Sherry Lynn
that it is such a nurturing group who are committed to bringing tradition to life,” Hendren said. “They really embrace everyone and bring them into the tradition … I just can’t get enough of it.” chedgepeth@gazette.net
called “Beautiful Life,” which was coproduced by Gayle’s son Chris Gatzimos. “Oh, Chris is great,” Gayle said. “Of course, I’m a proud mother and just seeing him in the studio and being able to do what he’s been doing … he’s writing and doing his own music as well. But working with him — and we’re working on a few other projects as well in the studio — it’s just great to see … I never pushed my children as far as going into music. They really didn’t want any part of it when they were younger, as far as being in the business. All of a sudden it was an about-face. So I’m excited.” For her career, Gayle has won all kinds of awards — from Country Music Awards, to American Music Awards to a Grammy. She’s been inducted into several halls of fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — right next to her sister Loretta’s star. “You know, I never had a list for my career, like, ‘This is my goal, I’m going to head that direction …’” Gayle said. “I sort of let things fall into place as they would go. I was very shy as a child. My father was very shy. Mom was outgoing. “If you saw the movie ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ they had the person playing mom not play her at all like she was, which I couldn’t understand. Let me put it this way, ‘The brighter the lipstick, the better’ was my mom. When I started singing, I’d go out on the weekends to sing and we’d be fighting over what I was going to wear because she wanted me to wear the bright, shiny thing and I wanted to be in something that wasn’t. She was trying to get me out of my shell, I think.” wfranklin@gazette.net
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2013-2014 HIGH SCHOOL
B BASKETBALL ASKPREVIEW ET BA LL
Page B-1
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
GIRLS BASKETBALL
4A West Region up for grabs
Montgomery Blair ready to compete for regional title n
BY
ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS BY RAPHAEL TALISMAN/FOR THE GAZETTE
Riverdale Baptist junior guard JeDon Young drives to the basket during a game on Saturday evening at the Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro.
FACTORY
SCHOOLS THAT SPECIALIZE IN DEVELOPING TOP BASKETBALL PLAYERS BECOMING MORE COMMON IN THE REGION
n
EXPANSION BY TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
W
Riverdale Baptist junior guard DaJuan Abroms attempts a three-point-shot Saturday.
1858031
hen Bryan Bartley officially took over the storied Montrose Christian basketball program last summer, he inherited a roster that was 100 percent vacant — he literally didn’t have a single player. Those who hadn’t graduated in 2013 bolted to other schools when longtime coach Stu Vetter announced his resignation. But a Montrose Christian roster doesn’t stay empty for long. The name sells itself. Within months, Bartley hauled in eight different transfers from six different states — Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Washington, Illinois — needing very little persuasion other than the use of two names: Montrose Christian, and his own, names prestigious enough that when they come calling, it’s difficult to decline. And so, Patrick McCaw (from
Montgomery Blair High School’s girls basketball team started to turn around its season at the midpoint last season and now it wants to reap the rewards. The Blazers finished the season strong after a slow start, closing with a 46-43 4A West Region quarterfinal loss to Walt Whitman, the reigning region champions. “We thought we played well and did compete well, but we also saw we have the potential to go further,” Blair senior Erica Adarkwa said. Like many 4A teams, Blair players say they have a shot to take the title in a region coaches are saying is up for grabs. “It really is wide open,” Adarkwa said. “Anyone who is willing to go for it, they definitely have a chance.” Adarkwa is one of Blair’s four returning starters and five seniors. Joining her in the backcourt is senior Maggie McLain, a sharpshooter who missed last season due to injury. Senior Shannon Healy, a top-scorer, will start at power forward. Senior Debbie Olawuyi will play in the middle and help the team on the boards. “We have a significant amount of leadership returning, which is great,” said seventhyear coach Erin Conley. Blair entered last season coming off a 20-5 year, but lost several key seniors and had a new starting lineup. The team’s inexperience showed at the beginning of the season, Adarkwa said.
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Montgomery Blair High School’s Shannon Healy practices Nov. 25.
“IT REALLY IS WIDE OPEN. ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO GO FOR IT, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A CHANCE.” ERICA ADARKWA,
MONTGOMERY BLAIR SENIOR “I think we were trying to find out what type of team we were becoming,” Adarkwa said. Gradually, the Blazers picked up their play before peaking in the postseason. The three-
See 4A WEST, Page B-9
St. Louis), Jarrell Brantley (South Carolina) Allonzo Trier (Seattle) and Raymond Doby (Illinois) left behind their families, prior teammates, coaches — everything familiar — to play a season or two in a Montrose uniform. “Our kids are all different,” said Bartley, whose two sons, Justice and Jaylen, followed him to Montrose. “They’re from all different places in life.” This practice, hauling in players from all over the country, most for no more than two seasons, has brought on a variety of monikers for the Rockville private school — and several others in the surrounding area and country — from mercenary program to basketball factory. “The name definitely says a lot when it comes to getting recruits in the area,” said first-year assistant coach Calvin Seldon, who came via Grace Brethren Clinton and brought with him senior A.J. Cabbagestalk. “The foundation starts with a good coaching staff from the ground up.” Barely an hour down the road in Upper Marlboro is a similarly struc
See FACTORY, Page B-9
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Montgomery Blair High School’s Debbie Olawuyi practices on Nov. 25.
THE GAZETTE
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW Posting up has fallen out of fashion
More big men are playing like small men In today’s offenses, there’s no room for the back-to-the-basket center n
BY
TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER
Back in the winter of 1989, a much younger Diallo Nelson suited up at point guard for John F. Kennedy High School in a 4A state semifinal game with High Point. When the final buzzer sounded, Nelson’s Cavaliers lost 9284. “Yeah,” Nelson, now in his 14th season coaching the Cavs, explained, “They had two 6-[foot]-8 guys. One went to Duke and one went to North Carolina. That would never happen these days.” But why? What has happened to the art of a true center, the back-tothe-basket species which burned Nelson’s 1989 Kennedy team? Coaches from Prince George’s and Montgomery counties floated out their various theories, most drawing parallels to one another, from what the kids are seeing in the National Basketball Association to private schools monopolizing big men to the very simple conclusion that the skill set of a post player isn’t just dead among the kids, it’s dead among coaches.
“It’s the new fad.” “How many back-to-the-basket NBA superstars are out there?” Eleanor Roosevelt coach Brendan O’Connell asked rhetorically. “One. There’s Dwight Howard and that’s really it.” If playing in the post were a fashion, it went out with track suits and oversized baseball jackets, popular when centers such as Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Chris Webber were in vogue. Those days are long gone, replaced by run-and-gun, 3-point happy offenses seeking to light up scoreboards and stuff box scores. “The game has changed so much,”
“Coaches have outcoached themselves. They’re trying to make everybody skilled — dribbling, passing, shooting.” — Kennedy boys’ basketball coach Diallo Nelson Henry A. Wise coach Rob Garner said. “It’s not like the old school way where if you’re 6-foot-8, we’re going to put you on that block.” Nelson went as far as to say that “every big guy has been brainwashed.” It has worked for some, take Malachi Alexander, Roosevelt’s 3-point shooting big man who is now starting at Holy Cross. He helped lead the Raiders to the 4A state championship last season by scoring from everywhere from the perimeter to the post. But still, the most dominant big man in Prince George’s County was, by definition, not much of a big man at all, rather a small forward. “Sometimes kids just don’t want to play that way,” Springbrook coach Tom Crowell said. “Sometimes some of the biggest players want to play outside. Kids like to shoot the three. It’s the new fad.”
“The nature of the beast.” BeeJay Anya is perhaps the one true example from last year for both counties of a prototypical center — back to the basket, drop step, score. He, of course, played for DeMatha Catholic, one of the most prestigious private basketball schools in the country. “If there’s a true, polished big
man, a lot of times private schools will scoop them,” O’Connell said. “A lot of times we’re working with the ones who the private schools don’t scoop.” Alexander was nearly a head taller than most he matched up against, with a few exceptions being Wise’s Micah Till and Devin Moore, DuVal’s Edward Polite, and a handful of others. Nelson couldn’t name a big man in Montgomery who played a center’s traditional role. Springbrook’s Alex Evans is likely to be a traditional post player this season. “That’s the nature of the beast,” said Nelson, who has 6-foot-7 Bruke Hawkins on his roster, the first athlete he’s had taller than 6-foot-3. “When I was playing, we had four big guys go [Division I]. That would never happen nowadays because the private schools would scoop them up.”
“Phased out.” It’s easy for Nelson to recall the days when Springbrook won its three consecutive state titles from 20082010. Jamal Olasewere, currently playing professional ball in Italy, couldn’t be stopped for one distinct reason: he was the only one who knew how to play the post. “He dominated,” Nelson said. “If you have a guy who scores in the post, you have an advantage right off the bat.” Because it’s not just playing in the post that has gone unpopular — there’s nothing glamorous about coaching it either. “The center has been completely phased out. Coaches have outcoached themselves,” Nelson said. “They’re trying to make everybody skilled — dribbling, passing, shooting.” Which makes the value of a true post player all the more valuable. “I mean, I’d like to have them,” O’Connell said. “If you have a kid who can post up like that, they’re going to be hard to stop.” tmewhirter@gazette.net
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Springbrook center Alex Evans (right) soars to shoot the ball above defenders from visiting Takoma Academy during a basketball scrimmage in Silver Spring.
The five-guard offense
Lack of size forces coaches to keep their guards up Teams adopt more guard-oriented play as traditional big men become part of the past n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
Twenty years ago, if a 6-foot-7 high school student walked into the gym for boys’ basketball tryouts, there would be no question where he was going, eighth-year Thomas S. Wootton High School coach Chris Bohlen said: Under the basket. But the game of basketball is changing and more athletic teams that emphasize guard play are starting to become the mold. Some of the most successful Montgomery County teams in recent history — Col. Zadok Magruder won the 2012 state championship, Springbrook won from 2008-10 — have been predicated on this, Bohlen said. “I think [versatility] is why Montgomery County has been so successful at the state level,” Bohlen said. “You look at those Springbrook kids, they had Jamal Olasawere and C.J. Garner and they weren’t just towering over everybody. There were just a lot of things they could do on the floor from a variety of positions and it caused a lot of problems.” Even in the NBA, the days of the traditional back-to-thebasket big men, guys like former Houston Rockets seven-foot center Hakeem Olajuwon, are coming to an end and giving way to more versatile all-around basketball players. The introduction of the 3-point line to the NBA in 1979 and high school ball 26 years ago likely set this trend in motion, longtime Col. Zadok Magruder coach Dan Harwood, who has been coaching in the county for 28 years, said. Coaches agreed they certainly wouldn’t complain if they were handed a true center, but it might be possible to count on one hand the number of Montgomery County
Thomas S. Wootton High School basketball player Richard Hum shoots at practice. He is the Patriots’ point guard this season, which hopes to rebound from an off year last season. teams that will rely primarily on size inside. It’s easy to assume the more guard-oriented approach is merely a Plan B for teams without that dominant presence in the paint and that might be partially true. This style of play helps smaller teams counter a size disadvantage by spreading the floor against bigger opponents. That spacing lends itself to 3-point shooting and an increasing number of players are polishing their long-range accuracy. But it would be impossible to reap all the benefits of a true guard-ori-
ented offense without a certain type of all-around player with a deep skill set. “You look at versatile big guys like Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki and they’re just basketball players,” Bohlen said. “They can defend, they can run, they are athletic, they can handle the ball and make good decisions. They can shoot it. And, oh, yeah, they just happened to be 6-10. We all want players who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend, whatever package they’re in.” These more dynamic players provide invaluable flexibility on
the hardwood. Coaches agreed there are more opportunities for players to freelance rather than feel restricted by carefully calculated plays. Teams’ defenses can also benefit from smaller, quicker lineups, coaches agreed. A good scrambling defense can put pressure on opponents and draw turnovers that result in transition buckets. “We don’t have to run as many plays because our guys are versatile,” Harwood said. “It’s not, ‘This guy has to cut here, this guy has to set a screen.’ We
don’t need to run plays to get guys in certain positions. Everyone wants to be a guard. No one wants to not dribble or shoot unless they can’t.” While the pattern has trickled down from the NBA, county coaches agreed better coaching in youth basketball organizations has also led to an abundance of more dynamic high school athletes in recent years. Players are taught full skill sets these no matter how tall they are, Bohlen said, to ensure they will be able to play any position. “Kids are being taught at a
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
younger age to dribble, pass and shoot, how to play the game no matter how big they are,” Bohlen said. “Kids are bringing in a big skill set and it allows us to play around with different formations. I think coaches nowadays are looking beyond the traditional positions and looking more at skill sets. We’re moving away from, ‘Oh, you’re 6-foot-7, you’re playing in the post,’ and just trying to see how we can use [players’] skill sets to the advantage of the whole team.” jbeekman@gazette.net
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page B-3
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Private ranks are wide open Good Counsel’s rebuilding allows other teams to step forward n
BY
NICK CAMMAROTA STAFF WRITER
During the holiday season, most students are home with their families, which sometimes requires a fair amount of traveling. But for the members of Connelly School of the Holy Child’s girls’ basketball team, their post-Thanksgiving trip took them a bit farther. Jamie Ready’s team spent the week in the Bahamas on the aptly-named Paradise Island where they played three games and also took in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis men’s college basketball tournament. The Tigers, who traveled to DisneyWorld last year to kick off the season in style, played games against teams from Canada and Kentucky and bonded in a way of which many other teams can only dream. “I have six freshmen on my team and a sophomore,” said Ready, now entering her fifth season. “From that aspect it really benefitted us from a team building perspective.” These trips provide more than a bonding opportunity, however. They help elevate a program to a different class. Much like what first-year Academy of the Holy Cross coach Clyde Singleton has planned for his talented team — trips to New York to face nationallyranked powerhouses in Christ the King and Long Island Lutheran. It’s all part of the budding private school girls’ basketball scene in Montgomery County. At the same time, Our Lady of Good Counsel, long a dominant force in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and beyond, lost five seniors from last year’s team to graduation and is in the process of rebuilding. So does that open the door for another team to lay claim to Montgomery County private school dominance? “When it came to the Bahamas trip, the girls had to miss two days of school,” Ready said. “I went through a lot to get it approved and part of it was a comparison of what Good Counsel and St. John’s and those schools do for their players.” For years, the Falcons have set the standard of excellence in Montgomery County as Bullis School, Holy Cross and Holy Child, among others, chased the four-time WCAC champs. But this season appears as though it will present an opportunity for another team to
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
A.J. Cabbagestalk (right) transferred from Grace Brethren to Montrose Christian. He is one of an entire roster of new players for the top-ranked Mustangs.
BOYS
FILE PHOTO
Academy of the Holy Cross’ Jillian Dunston (right), who is committed to the University of Michigan, is expected to be one of the top players in the county this winter. step to the forefront and establish itself in the national spotlight. “At Good Counsel, Splaine somehow puts 12 kids together and makes them all play as one every year no matter what,” Singleton said. “It’s just funny. I think that’s what really attracts a lot of people to the conference. The other day I had seven kids in the gym that all were considering us, Good Counsel and St. John’s. The draw is that they’re going to play at a highly competitive level.” Among the five seniors who graduated from last year’s Falcons team was University of Virginia recruit Amanda Fioravanti. Sophomore Kendall Breese will attempt to fill the void left by last year’s leading scorer at the point. “This is a building process. We’re trying to rebuild our team again,” Good Counsel coach Tom Splaine said in an interview with The Gazette this summer. Meanwhile, at Holy Cross, forward Rhamat Alhassan (University of Florida) and guard-forward Jillian Dunston (University of Michigan) re-
turn to headline a team that is playing one of the more difficult schedules in the area. And at Holy Child, while the competitive balance of the ISL might not be as intense as the WCAC, Ready — a St. John’s graduate — has noticed an increase in the amount of attention her program is receiving. “I think that Holy Child is starting to get a lot more attention than we ever have,” she said. “Now all of sudden for us, things are starting to change and girls are starting to make decisions to come and play for us who might have gone elsewhere.” Who comes out on top this season — in both the WCAC and Montgomery County private school basketball in general — remains to be seen, but the games will almost assuredly be competitive. “Some used to consider our conference [WCAC] the best girls’ basketball conference in the country,” Singleton said. “I think it’s been that way forever. It’s never dropped. It’s been really good forever.” ncammarota@gazette.net
FILE PHOTO
Academy of the Holy Cross senior Rhamat Alhassan (right), who is committed to Florida for volleyball, is expected to be one of the top players in the county this winter.
LAST YEAR’S TOP SCORERS Boys Name, school Brandon Thompson, Covenant Life Justin Senou, Richard Montgomery* Nick Griffin, Magruder* Alex Sotomayor, Watkins Mill* Donnell Diggs, Takoma* Marcus Murray, Kennedy* Byron Hawkins, Good Counsel Andrew Robinson, Springbrook Ethan Walfish, Jewish Day* Marcus Adkinson, St. Andrew’s
PRESEASON HOW THEY RANK
The 10 best boys’ basketball teams in Montgomery County to start the season as ranked by The Gazette’s six-member sports staff:
Rank
PPG 20.2 19.8 18.7 18.6 18.4 18.2 17.8 17.6 17.2 16.9
Girls Name, school PPG Jasmine Dancy, Springbrook* 20.5 Amanda Fiorvanti, Good Counsel* 20.2 Eboni Staple, Don Bosco* 19.5 Kiara Colston, Paint Branch 17.8 Laurie Kostecka, Clarksburg 17.2 Daisa Harris, Paint Branch 16.5 Kelli Prange, Damascus 16.0 Lynee Belton, Bullis 13.9 Sherri Addison, Wootton* 13.8 Taylor McCarley, Holy Cross* 13.8 * Graduaded last year
School
1.
Montrose
2.
Bullis
3.
BRIAN LEWIS/THE GAZETTE
Returning starters Lynee Belton (left) and Kirby Porter (right) are one of the reasons why the Bullis School opens the season ranked No. 1.
Last season Points
19-5 60
GIRLS
The 10 best girls’ basketball teams in Montgomery County to start the season as ranked by The Gazette’s six-member sports staff:
Rank
School
Last season Points
1.
Bullis
23-4 54
2.
Damascus
22-3 53
Springbrook
13-10 48
3.
Paint Branch
21-4 47
4.
Blair
15-9 41
4.
Good Counsel
27-6 39
5.
Einstein
11-14 28
5.
Whitman
21-5 33
6.
Clarksburg
11-13 27
6.
Holy Cross
13-14 32
7.
Magruder
24-3 25
7.
Gaithersburg
18-7 27
8.
Churchill
18-6 19
8.
Kennedy
15-9 19
9.
St. Andrew’s
15-10 10
9.
Poolesville
19-6 12
10.
Rockville
12-11 7
10.
Walter Johnson
18-6 10
Others receiving votes: Poolesville 6; Georgetown Prep 4; Paint Branch 1.
Best bet Churchill at Paint Branch, 7 p.m. Friday
Two strong teams last year, two mysterious teams this year. The Bulldogs begin their season with a new coach; the Panthers begin with an entirely rebuilt roster.
22-4 60
Others receiving votes: Thomas S. Wootton 2;
Winston Churchill 1.
Best bet Whitman at Good Counsel, 7 p.m. Friday
The Vikings return two starters from a region championship team and usual top-ranked Good Counsel is starting over with five new starters this season.
THE GAZETTE
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW AVALON
n Coach: Kevin Davern 2nd season n Last season: 19-10 n Starters returning: 2 n Last league championship: N/A
BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE
Outlook: The Black Knights return two starters and most of their key players from last year’s team, which went 19-10 and won the St. Anselm’s Abbey School Invitational Basketball Tournament. “It was a great finish but we’re hoping to build on what we did and keep getting better,” second-year coach Kevin Davern said. Look for 6-foot-1 senior guard Zamir Courtney and 6-foot-5 senior center Berthin Mayo to help carry the team through a difficult schedule. “I like the chemistry with the group,” Davern said. The Black Knights will play a forward-heavy lineup with only one “pure” guard, Davern said. “We’re relatively long for a high school team.” The Knights graduated two of its leading scorers: Emmett Sloan and Tracy Johnson.
n Coach: Sean Tracy 2nd season n Last season: 5-17 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2008
— ERIC GOLDWEIN
BULLIS
n Coach: Bruce Kelley 10th season n Last season: 23-4 n Starters returning: 3 n Last IAC title: 2013
n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 1999
Outlook: When a team has a multifaceted 6-foot-10 guy in the paint, it’s hard not to build an offense around him. The two-time defending IAC champion Bulldogs will certainly look to take advantage of the strength Hofstra University recruit Andre Walker provides inside but they will not be onedimensional because of a slew of interchangeable players, coach Bruce Kelley said. Bullis will also look to spread the floor and create open shots for its collection of scoring options. Among them are senior guards Russell Sangster, who averaged 14 points per game a year ago, Jamaal Greenwood and Aaron Briggs. “It’s almost like we have two different styles of play within the same team,” Kelley said. “We blend what works with what we like to do.”
n Coach: Robert Bean 1st season n Last season: 18-6 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1978
Outlook: The Titans were 2-10 to open last season, but went 9-4 after, including upsetting second-seeded North Hagerstown in the 3A West Region’s quarterfinals. “We may have snuck up on some people last year, but we’re not going to surprise anyone this year,” Einstein coach Rich Porac said. Opponents will focus on slowing down 6-foot-7 senior shooting guard Joe Bradshaw (16.4 ppg). The Titans have height, including 6-4 junior Raheem Hayes, 6-5 junior Gil Reynolds, 6-3 senior 3-point specialist Daniel Seifu, and 6-6 senior wing Abraham Camara. The key, however, may be the one new starter, freshman point guard JD Guerrero (6-0). “The county doesn’t know about him, but he’s very talented,” Porac said.
WALTER JOHNSON
n Last season: 10-13 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: 1987
n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1979
Outlook: Coach Mark Karver is optimistic despite returning just one player who saw significant playing time. “What this team is good at is they know what they do well and they play to their strengths,” he said. Sharpshooter Alex Horrick is the returnee with some varsity experience. “He comes off the bench and we get better,” Karver said. Post-player depth kept senior center Gabe Foreman on the bench last season, but no longer. “If we can get him the ball down low, good things will happen, and if he plays well, we’ll be at the top of our game,” Karver said. Guard Matt Konapelsky is expected to play a large role in the offense and transfers Wade Bishop, Chris Espejo and Charalampos Argyriadis could have an immediate impact.
— HARVEY VALENTINE
Outlook: Some high school basketball players have very little freedom to use their instincts on the hardwood. There are set plays and they must abide by what is called each trip down the floor. Firstyear Churchill coach Robert Bean said he doesn’t want his team to be like that. “I don’t want to say [mine] is a unique system but it’s one based on reading the defense,” Bean said. Guards Allen Njumbe, Jesse Lock and Bobby ArthurWilliams anchor a group that will rely on its athleticism and fitness to keep opponents under pressure. Once the Bulldogs come together and adjust to the new system, Bean said this year’s Churchill team is one that can still compete for the Montgomery 4A South Division championship.
GAITHERSBURG
n Coach: Tom Sheahin 1st season n Last season: 4-19 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1998
Outlook: Despite its record last year, Trojans’ coach Tom Sheahin is very excited about his team’s possibilities. “We should be one of the favorites in the region this year,” he said. “We are going to be very quick with an up-tempo attack and pressure defense. Our goal is to average 80 points per game and hold our opponents to 60.” While Dion Etheridge (6-foot-1) is the lone starter returning, Sheahin has plenty of confidence in the rest of his starters: 5-8 senior and Quince Orchard transfer Aaron King (point guard), 6-3 Seneca Valley senior transfer Geron Braithwaite, 6-4 junior forward Anthony Tarke and 6-9 center Zach Coleman. Juniors Tyrik Etheridge (6-0 guard), senior forward Kamonte Carter (6-5) and junior forward Sean Pressley (6-5) add depth.
n Coach: G.J. Kissal 2nd season n Last season: 11-13 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: None
n Last season: 18-7 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1996
— KENT ZAKOUR
n Last season: 10-14 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2010
Outlook: Senior forward Josh Hardy and senior guard Dennis Singleton are back and opponents will likely focus on them this winter, but for second-year coach G.J. Kissal, the difference in the Coyotes this year will be their improved and deep supporting cast. Senior guards Xavier Sewell and Caleb Carter should also contribute, along with junior varsity call-ups Austin Duffy, Devinne Greene and Andrew Kostecka. “Dennis and Josh are proven, but I’m most excited about is the improvement I’ve seen from the guys that didn’t get the headlines,” said Kissal, who preaches balance on both ends of the court to his team. “They’ve all made huge leaps forward. We’re more complete and anyone can lead us in scoring on a given night.”
GEORGETOWN PREP
n Coach: Herb Krusen 4th season n Last season: 15-11 n Starters returning: 1 n Last IAC title: 2006
Outlook: With seven seniors, but only one returning starter, the Little Hoyas are gearing up for another run at the Interstate Athletic Conference title. In 2011, they fell in the conference tournament final. In 2012, they bowed out in the semifinals after a 7-3 league regular season earned them a first-round bye. This year is more likely to resemble the former; it will take time to weld the new pieces together. A tough nonleague slate, which began with a win over Gilman and a tripleovertime loss to Boys Latin last week, should prepare them for January’s conference opener. Senior Brandon Green returns to an experienced backcourt, and a promising sophomore class includes 6-foot-6 forward Kevin McDonald and 6-4 guard Trystan Pratapas.
DAMASCUS
n Coach: Butch Marshall 4th season n Last season: 11-13 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1952
n Coach: Andy Luther 8th season n Last season: 3-17 n Starters returning: 3 n Last IAC title: 2010
Outlook: Luther’s slogan for his 2013-14 team is worth printing on its warm-up shirts, if it is not already. “We make being short look good,” Luther said. The Bears’ roster lists five forwards, including freshman Brett Bates, against 10 guards. They won’t scare anyone out of the gym, particularly after posting a single win after December last season. The points they lose on the eyeball test, they hope to make up in tenacity and chemistry. Five seniors return to the varsity squad, among them guards Clayton Collins and Khaleef Bradford and forward Harry Laird, who all started at times last year. Luther said he would like to see his team rack up more assists in each game than they had in the one before.
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
Outlook: Damascus will be small again this year, with 6-foot-2 senior forward and returning starter Stephon Jacob being the team’s tallest player. Jacob, however, may miss some time at the beginning of the season due to an injury, according to coach Butch Marshall. Classmates Connor Burke (shooting guard, 5-10) and Joe Daniels (G/F, 5-9) round out the returning starters. Senior James Ngonda is also expected to start and initiate the offense from the point. “We are super small and if rebounding becomes an issue, we are going to have a hard time all year,” Marshall said. “But Connor, Joe, James and Stephon are all capable of scoring 20 point on any given night. We were about .500 last year so we just hope to improve.”
— KENT ZAKOUR
GOOD COUNSEL
n Coach: Robert Churchwell 1st season n Last season: 12-18 n Starters returning: 0 n Last WCAC title: None
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
LANDON
Outlook: “It’s definitely a rebuilding year,” said Blake coach Marcus Wiggins, whose team lost eight seniors and returns just one starter. That starter is versatile 6-foot-5 senior DeMonte Ojinnaka, who Wiggins called one of the better players in Montgomery County public high school basketball. He averaged more than 13 points per game last season and Wiggins looks for him to increase his rebounding and other statistics. “Being in the Northeast Consortium, I’m pretty sure he had some opportunities to make some changes. It was really nice to see that he was willing to show some leadership and loyalty and stay,” Wiggins said. Ojinnaka will get help inside from junior Jamal Ngana, who returns after a year at Good Counsel, and 6-6 senior Thomas Stanton.
— HARVEY VALENTINE
— KENT ZAKOUR
JOHN F. KENNEDY
n Coach: Diallo Nelson 14th season
n Coach: Marcus Wiggins 8th season
CLARKSBURG
— JOHN HARRIS III
Outlook: For the first time in four years, Diallo Nelson will be breaking in a new point guard. And 5-foot-10 junior Robert Wilson is the heir apparent to the graduated Marcus Murray. “Anyone that knows anything about basketball knows you got to start at point guard,” Nelson said. “So far, I like what I’ve seen. He’s very intelligent and a passer first and, most importantly, can control the tempo.” Returning senior starter and all-around contributor Keif Williams (5-11), who Nelson calls “the best kept secret” in the county, should carry the scoring load. Forward/guard Michael Scott (6-1) and true center Bruke Hawkins (6-7) should also contribute. “I’ve never had a pure post guy before,” Nelson said. “And I’m excited for that.”
Outlook: The Blazers will look to up the defensive intensity in 2013, led by a trio of returning starters in Danny Canary (guard), Damar Bess (forward) and Raymond Burtnick (center). Senior Trey Wainwright returns with varsity experience, and Lonnie Feldman will fortify the low post after transferring from Kennedy. Anthony Davis, Jordan Johnson, Ishmael Sangare and Yosef Yishack will all work into the rotation for coach Damon Pigrom, who looks to run nine or ten deep this season. “We are going to play a lot of people, because we are going to try and really get after it defensively,” Pigrom said. “Coming off of a good season last year and with the pieces we have, I’d like to think we are going to be pretty good.”
JAMES H. BLAKE
— KYLE RUSSELL
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
— KEN SAIN
n Coach: Mark Karver 3rd season
n Last season: 15-9
WINSTON CHURCHILL
ALBERT EINSTEIN
n Last season: 11-14
n Coach: Damon Pigrom 3rd year
— KYLE RUSSELL
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
n Coach: Rich Porac 3rd season
Outlook: Second-year coach Sean Tracy is looking for some improvement from his Barons in 2013 after a disappointing showing last season. Forwards Kaleb Stewart and Matt Schaengold both return to provide B-CC with a strong presence in the paint. New faces for the varsity program include Karl Baare — who will see playing time at point guard after transferring from Denmark for his senior season — and sophomore Kevin Holston — who will play both guard positions after showing the ability to score from all over the court. “It was a rough season for our seniors last year, who had four coaches in four years,” Tracy said. “We are looking to gel, come together, and be one cohesive unit, and do better than last year.”
MONTGOMERY BLAIR
Outlook: Good Counsel will head into the 2013-14 schedule with plenty of new faces on the bench, including coach Robert Churchwell, a former Georgetown University and NBA player, who will not have a single returning starter on the floor this winter. The Falcons’ probable starting unit consists of Nick Gittings, Shane Eberle, Kyle Turner, Curtis Williams and Dominic Ezeani, a group that Churchwell, a physical education and health teacher at the Olney school, expects will continue to improve over the course of the season. “Our first goal is to simply get better every day,” Churchwell said. “We’ve looked OK in our scrimmages, but we certainly need to improve in a lot of ways.”
— TED BLACK
COL. ZADOK MAGRUDER
n Coach: Dan Harwood 24th season n Last season: 24-3 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: 2013
Outlook: After graduating a senior class that won 22 or more games and reached the state tournament the past three seasons, longtime Colonels’ coach Dan Harwood says this year will be different. “The last two years we were good from the first day,” Harwood said. “This year is a lot more teaching.” Magruder will execute its traditional offense, which features good shooters, but defensive pressure should be higher. “If we each had 50 possessions in a game, we would beat you,” Harwood said. “Now, we are going to need to get more touches.” Junior forward Joe Hugley (6-foot-6) will take on an expanded scoring role along with seniors Josiah Jones and Danny Schaerr. Guards Kenny Oxman (5-9) and Imani Blackmon (6-0) will also contribute.
— KENT ZAKOUR
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page B-5
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW RICHARD MONTGOMERY
n Coach: David Breslaw 2nd season n Last season: 9-14 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1967
Outlook: Last season the Rockets relied on one player, the county’s leading public scorer Justin Senou (19.9 points per game). This year Richard Montgomery doesn’t have the luxury of a Senou, someone who can lead the team in just about every category, but the Rockets do have a core of capable scorers whose playing styles complement each other nicely on the hardwood. Six-foot-5 junior center David Bottenberg adds a new dimension and Richard Montgomery will look to take advantage of his size in the paint, coach David Breslaw said. But the Rockets will also stick to their style of running the ball. Guards Renzo Farfan and Colin Mattingly will man the backcourt and provide perimeter scoring options.
MONTROSE CHRISTIAN Outlook: The players hail from six U.S. states and one foreign country. The heights extend as high as 6-foot-11. The travel itinerary includes New York, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. And the Rockville post office still has bins stuffed with mail from Division I men’s college basketball programs. The coaching staff has changed, but Montrose Christian should remain the area’s premiere producer of talent. The 2014 crop includes 6-4 guard Patrick McCaw and 6-7 forward Raymond Doby, both from St. Louis. College programs are also lining up a year early for 6-5 junior guard Allonzo Trier out of Seattle. The sophomore class goes 6-9 LeAndre Thomas (of Florida), 6-10 Christopher Efretuei, and 6-11 Nwanko Samuel (both of Nigeria).
n Coach: Bryan Bartley 1st season n Last season: 19-5 n Starters returning: 0 n Last national title: 2011
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
n Coach: Walter Hardy 16th season n Last season: 21-4 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: 2000
POOLESVILLE
n Coach: Kenny Krameck 2nd season n Last season: 18-7 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1962
— KEN SAIN
ST. ANDREW’S
n Coach: Kevin Jones 3rd season n Last season: 15-10 n Starters returning: 2 n Last MAC championship: None
Outlook: With a pair of returning All-Conference players in Marcus Adkinson and Cedric McFadden, St. Andrew’s coach Kevin Jones said he is confident his squad can challenge for a conference title this winter. Despite graduating five seniors from last year’s 15-10 squad, St. Andrew’s will have a solid supporting cast in Drew Singleton, Mason Horst, Myles Law, Tyler Stewart and Gheorghe Murasan, son of the former Washington Bullets’ player. Reserves Jacquinn Thomas (6-8) and Jacob White (6-5) will also get playing time. “If we can keep getting better each day, we’ll be competitive in our league and I think we’ll be in position to make a run for the conference championship, which is our ultimate goal,” Jones said.
n Last season: 13-9 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1991
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: None
Outlook: Trevor Stottlemeyer, Andy Baker and Anthony Papagjika could take the Falcons to the next level and an appearance into the Class 2A state semifinals. The trio averaged a combined 30 points per contest during 2012-2013. Poolesville just missed the goal last season, falling to Oakdale in the region finals. Gone are Collin Turner and Kirby Carmack, but Craig Morton and senior big man John Bateky, a possible Division I defensive lineman in football, fill in. Kramek also expects contributions from senior Mitchell Poe and baseball star/Barton College (NC) recruit Hunter Pearre, who took a year off from hoops last season to concentrate on baseball. “Last year we went about six [or] seven [players] deep. This year, the goal is to go 9-10 deep,” Kramek said.
n Coach: Tony Harrison 2nd season n Last season: 0-23 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2009
Outlook: After a 0-23 season and the transfer of one of its best players, rising sophomore forward Alex Choloh, the Screaming Eagles don’t need to be reminded that they have plenty to prove this season. “I think we are more talented overall this year and it looks like we are gelling really well,” coach Tony Harrison said. Senior shooting guard Keion Adams is the lone returning starter after averaging 11 points per game last year. Harrison said he thinks Adams has potential to play at the next level. Seneca Valley’s frontcourt features senior Alvin Botsue and 6-foot-7 sophomore Terry Milburne. Junior point guard M.J. Robinson is a solid defender and offensive penetrator. “We’re young, but talented,” Harrison said.
n Coach: Marco Basso-Luca 1st year n Last season: 10-13 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1997
Outlook: The Knights will look to push the tempo in 2013 under the direction of new coach Marco Basso-Luca, who was a varsity assistant the past two seasons and coached at the junior varsity level previously. The squad returns five seniors for the campaign, including three starters in Michael Patterson, Langston Payne and Ibrahim Kallon. Daquan Moore and Seydina Diop will work into the rotation, as will juniors Jacob Payne and Carey Brown. “The bottom line is that we are just trying to improve as the season goes on,” Basso-Luca said. “It may take a little while to gel due to the fact that we have a new system, but we just want to improve and be peaking for the playoffs in late February and early March.”
— KYLE RUSSELL
Outlook: The Gladiators return three starters, including junior guard Jauvenal Leveille, Jr., who averaged 14 points a game last season, senior point guard Justin Thomas and senior guard William Grigsby. “We work hard and we have a little bit of toughness. We shoot the ball pretty well,” coach Tony Dickens said. “We don’t have a lot of size, so we have to be really gritty and hardnosed. I think gang-rebounding is important for us.” Moving up from junior varsity and expected to contribute are 6-1 guard Holden Redparth and 6-3 forward Sam Walker. Dickens makes no predictions. “The season takes on a life of its own,” he said “You really don’t know what’s going to happen. You have no idea. What’s predictable is the unpredictability.”
n Coach: Tony Dickens 8th season n Last season: 8-12 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1975
— HARVEY VALENTINE
QUINCE ORCHARD
n Coach: Paul Foringer 13th season n Last season: 18-7 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2000
Outlook: The Cougars ran the “Five in/Five out” system last season, netting some impressive results. With fresh bodies sprinkled throughout 32 minutes, Quince Orchard marched its way to the region title game, where it fell to Magruder, 47-30. This season, Foringer may go with a more traditional approach. “We’re still trying to figure out who will start at a couple of positions, and you have to have the right [personnel] to run Fivein/Five-out,” Foringer said. The coach graduated Charles Porter, now playing at Salisbury, but hopes to find depth with varsity returners such as seniors Collin Jones, Tobin Pagley, Perry Konecke, and junior varsity call-ups junior guards Sam Ling, Daryl Lewis and Paint Branch sophomore transfer guard Damon Daniel.
ROCKVILLE
n Coach: Steve Watson 2nd season n Last season: 12-11 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 1982
— JOHN HARRIS III
SHERWOOD
n Coach: Tim Gilchrist 1st season n Last season: 12-10 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2012
— JOHN HARRIS III
WHEATON
Outlook: At Northwest this fall, the good news is that the football team made a deep run in the postseason. The bad news at Northwest is, for the boys’ basketball program, that the football team made a deep run in the postseason. The Jags are waiting for several football players, who are also pretty good basketball players, to finish with their season. Players such as junior guard Jamar Wilson, and senior transfer guard Rasheed Gillis will more than likely add more punch on the hardwood for Northwest. Gillis, a transfer from John Carroll High in Bel Air and a former AAU teammate of Kansas University freshman phenom Andrew Wiggins while in middle school, is reported to be an impact player.
NORTHWOOD
— JOHN HARRIS III
SENECA VALLEY
WATKINS MILL
n Coach: Jay Tringone 7th season
n Last season: 14-11
— JOHN HARRIS III
— TED BLACK
Outlook: The Wolverines are coming off back-to-back 13-win seasons and though they only return one starter, shouldn’t experience much of a drop-off. What Watkins Mill lacks in experience it makes up for in its players’ familiarity with one another. Guards Javon Daniels and Obi Patrick and forward Robert Montgomery have spent the last two-plus years together, which coach Jay Tringone said is a major strength. With much of its scoring from last year gone, there will be a different dynamic this winter, more of a physical, attacking the basket style of ball. The Wolverines look to compete for their second division title in three years; they finished in the top three last winter after winning in 2011-12.
n Coach: Usman Jamil 3rd year
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
PAINT BRANCH Outlook: Paint Branch graduated its top seven players. In addition, it lost projected leading scorer, junior Donovan Walker, who transferred to St. Maria Gorreti (according to Walker’s Twitter page). Paint Branch coach Walter Hardy couldn’t confirm that. “He has a lot of potential, I’m just disappointed I haven’t heard from him,” Hardy said. Leading the offense are two seniors with size, Doug Gardner (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and Armando Nwizu (6-3, 190). Senior shooting guard Reuben Edwards should keep defenses from packing it in. Directing the offense are point guards Drew Jacobs and Stephen Adebesin. “[Jacobs] knows the offense better than I do,” Hardy said. Hardy was waiting the arrival of two football players, Jordan Hill and Isaiah Harrod.
NORTHWEST
Outlook: Following an inconsistent season and a coaching change, Sherwood will institute an up-tempo style of play this winter with a lot of pick-and-roll action on offense under first-year coach and alumnus Tim Gilchrist. Senior center Ellis Dozier (6-foot-8) is the lone returning starter from last year and he should be joined by senior point guard Mike Crooks (5-8), junior guard Xavier McCants (6-0), junior small forward Drew Davis (6-4), senior power forward Tyler Reeves (6-2). With no dominant scorer, the Warriors will have to share the ball. “Sherwood is historically not known for fast-breaking style of playing,” Gilchrist said. “But we want to get the transition game up and be in the face of our opponents on defense.”
— HARVEY VALENTINE
SPRINGBROOK
n Coach: Thomas Crowell 9th year n Last season: 13-10 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2010
— KENT ZAKOUR
WALT WHITMAN
n Coach: Chris Lun 10th season n Last season: 14-10 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2006
Outlook: Senior combo guard Max Steinhorn is the Vikings’ only returning starter this winter, but coach Chris Lun said he is not worried since several players return that played significant minutes off the bench. Sophomore guard Kyle Depollar transferred in from The Heights and will solidify the Vikings’ backcourt. Senior center Josh Fried (6-7), senior forward Adam Lowet (6-0) and junior forward Riley Shaver (6-2) round out the starting lineup. Whitman is expected to play 10 or 11 players and Scott Adkins, Ben Castagnetti, Adam Joel and Anton Casey will bolster a strong bench. “This is the most athletic team I’ve had since I’ve been here so we will be able to do a few more things this year,” Lun said.
— KENT ZAKOUR
Outlook: Steve Watson moved up from junior varsity last season, leading the varsity to its first winning season in more than a decade. Patience will be important as he integrates three new starters with all-division senior guards Nehemiah Jackson and Brian Ball. “I’m excited about our talent,” Watson said, calling 6-foot-4 senior forward Nnamdi Osakwe “one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached.” Osakwe only started playing basketball as a sophomore and his skill is still catching up to his athleticism, but he could be a difference maker. Sophomore guards Ben Wiebusch and Essex Thompson also have expanded roles. “Hopefully when it gets closer to playoff time we’re clicking on all cylinders,” Watson said.
Outlook: Coming off of the worst performance in coach Thomas Crowell’s nine-year tenure, the Blue Devils look to return to their 20-win ways. “Thirteen-and-10 was a very disappointing season for us,” Crowell said. “We were in close games with everybody, but we just couldn’t finish.” Springbrook will be led by a pair of returning starters in Andrew Robinson (guard) and Isaiah Eisendorf (forward). Alex Evans and Aaron Robinson both return with varsity experience from 2012, while Tavon Ngangum — a transfer from James H. Blake — has also impressed in his short time with the team. Youngsters Jermaine Ukaegbu (sophomore) and Kobe Colston (freshman) have also earned spots in the rotation.
— KYLE RUSSELL
THOMAS S. WOOTTON
n Coach: Chris Bohlen 8th season n Last season: 3-20 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1985
Outlook: Wootton won three games a year ago, but that means little this winter. Last season all five starters were new and it forced the Patriots to mature quickly, coach Chris Bohlen said. A bigger, stronger, smarter bunch that is quicker to make the right decisions looks to re-position itself among the county’s more competitive teams. Point guard Richard Hum excels at getting the ball to his playmakers but can also knock down 3-point shots and get himself to the basket. Justin Feldman is reliable around the perimeter and 6-foot-4 Kwame Frimpong has become more versatile than ever, Bohlen said. “Last year we were inventing the wheel, now it’s more reinforcing things,” Bohlen said.
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
THE GAZETTE
Page B-6
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE
n Coach: Jennifer Rushin 2nd year n Last season: 13-12 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: None
Outlook: Second-year coach Jennifer Rushin hopes to continue her turnaround of the Barons’ program after helping B-CC improve from a two-win season just two years ago. Seven seniors graduated from the 2012 squad, including all five starters, but Rushin said she believes her returners can continue the upward trend for the program. Senior captain Kelly Markham holds down the backcourt with juniors Julia Barakat and Mariama Tunkara. The Barons also feature a young frontcourt of sophomore Daisey Leahy and freshman Shantal Perez. “The chemistry is the biggest thing I have noticed early on.” Rushin said. “They are feeding off each other at practice — finding each other on the court — and that is definitely a different feel than we had last year.”
MONTGOMERY BLAIR
n Coach: Erin Conley 7th year n Last season: 12-14 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 1997
— KYLE RUSSELL
n Coach: Kate McMahon 5th season n Last season: 17-7 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2003
n Coach: Adrian McDaniel 8th season n Last season: 18-7 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 2012
Outlook: After three consecutive trips to the state title game and two straight state championships, the Trojans missed a trip last season to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in March for the first time since 2009. McDaniel doesn’t want his players to his team to forget. “I told the girls in the locker room the night we lost in the region title, ‘Remember this feeling, you don’t ever want to feel anything like this again,’” McDaniel said. “Hopefully the girls will take this experience and be able to move forward.” Senior forward Jessica Fauntroy, a second-team AllGazette selection, anchors Gaithersburg’s frontline. Senior guards Stephanie Pantos and Christine Mabry, along with senior forward Danielle Rojas are back. Senior guard Deja Hilliard rounds out the seniors with experience.
n Coach: Sissy Natoli 8th season n Last season 4-18 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: None
n Coach: Clyde Singleton 1st season n Last season: 13-14 n Starters returning: 4 n Last WCAC title: 2007
Outlook: With veteran coach Clyde Singleton taking over the program after serving on the staff since 2010 and a dynamic class of returning players, the Tartans appear poised to compete in the WCAC. Singleton — who has 25 years of coaching experience, including at nowrival St. John’s College — is expected to lean on all-everything volleyball star Rhamat Alhassan (University of Florida) and guard-forward Jillian Dunston (Michigan) to bolster a strong returning class of five seniors. With a schedule packed with games against nationally-ranked teams (Christ the King, Long Island Lutheran, etc.), Holy Cross will be tested. “We’re excited,” Singleton said. “There are some good teams out there, but I feel very fortunate because we’ve got five returning seniors.”
— NICK CAMMAROTA
n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2009
Outlook: Clarksburg struggled at times last season with a young lineup, but returns the vast majority of that roster this winter and that can only bode well for longtime coach Sissy Natoli. Seniors Andie De Celis (forward) and Laurie Kostecka (guard/forward) are four-year varsity players. Sophomore forward Gabby Haddad (5-foot-8) and 5-10 senior Dasia George are expected to be the Coyotes primary options in the post. Natoli, who expressed concern about her team’s penchant to turn the ball over, expects her team to be better in February than it will be this month as players develop and become more experienced. “We’re going to try and run and get the ball into the post,” Natoli said. “We’re working on a lot of things and we’re getting better.”
GOOD COUNSEL
n Coach: Tom Splaine 4th season n Last season: 27-6 n Starters returning: 0 n Last WCAC title: 2013
Outlook: The Our Lady of Good Counsel girls basketball team has been among the perennial powers in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference in each of Tom Splaine’s first three seasons at the helm, winning the WCAC title in 2012 and 2013. But the Falcons graduated all the starters from those teams. The Falcons will rely on four seniors, Sara Woods, Taylor Scott, Stavrula Koutris and Elizabeth Gittings, junior Nicole Enabosi and sophomore Kendall Breese. Splaine noted that Breese will play the most important role in the team’s rebuilding process as point guard. “This is going to be a challenge for us,” Splaine said. “We’re looking to rebuild this season, but we still think we’ll be competitve in our league.”
— TED BLACK
WALTER JOHNSON
n Coach: Lindsey Zegowitz 3rd season n Last season: 18-6 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 1986
Outlook: Last year’s Montgomery 4A South Division co-champion lost six seniors, including All-League post player Kristen Larrick. “We graduated most of our post players, so we’re a little bit smaller this year than we have been in the past,” said Lindsey Zegowitz, an 18-game winner in each of her first two seasons. “We’re more of a guard-oriented team.” Starting guards Melanie Ackerman and Sam Lee return to a team that will no longer run its offense through the post. “We’ll be playing a little bit of a different basketball game,” Zegowitz said. “We’ll be running a lot more, shooting more threes than normal.” Among those getting increased playing time will be post players Katherine and Margaret Howie, and junior point guard Erika Boyd.
— HARVEY VALENTINE
Outlook: Senior point guard Asha Henley and junior guard Citiana Negatu return for a young Blake team that has endured two straight losing seasons. “We’re going to be on the young side. We have three or four sophomores,” coach Patricia Gilmore said. “I think this is going to be an exciting season just watching them improve over the course of the year.” One to watch is sophomore forward Monica Hallmark. Gilmore said, “She’s just solid all the way around, extremely good passer, nice scorer, good rebounder, does a lot of things well.” Other returning players include seniors Brigit Ngaleau and Kimia Gaines. “The area that I think we need to improve the most is just being physical, rebounding,” Gilmore said. “That would be my biggest concern.”
BULLIS
n Coach: Clinton Perrow 1st season n Last season: 22-4 n Starters returning: 3 n Last ISL title: 2013
— HAVERY VALENTINE
DAMASCUS
n Coach: Steve Pisarski 16th season n Last season: 22-3 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 2013
— KENT ZAKOUR
— JOHN HARRIS III
HOLY CROSS
n Last season: 5-15
CLARKSBURG
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
GAITHERSBURG
n Coach: Patricia Gilmore 8th season
— KYLE RUSSELL
WINSTON CHURCHILL Outlook: Churchill will be young this winter with only two seniors but that doesn’t mean it’s a rebuilding year. The Bulldogs’ lone returning starter is last year’s leading scorer, junior Japria Karim-Duvall (11.3 points per game). An inside-outside threat, she is effective from all areas of the floor. Churchill will employ a more guard-oriented style this year that coach Kate McMahon said is predicated on better overall team speed than in recent years. Sophomore guard Nicole Brodkowitz led the team in field goal percentage last winter and was one of the strongest defenders. The Bulldogs will use their speed to put more pressure on their opponents, defensively, with a variety of sets, McMahon said. “I think we’ll be able to run a lot more full-court defenses,” McMahon said.
Outlook: The Blazers look to bounce back after a disappointing showing last season and will be led by a quartet of seniors. Erica Adarkwa, Shannon Healy and Debbie Olawuyi are back in the mix, while Maggie McClain will resume her starting role after missing most of last season with a stress fracture. Blazers coach Erin Conley said she expects them to catch teams off guard compared to last season, and McClain’s scoring ability will play a big part in that. “We are expecting to have a really good season,” Conley said. “We have a really strong first five or six, but the crux of the season will be how well we can develop our underclassmen, and how much they can impact and contribute to games and practices.”
JAMES H. BLAKE
Outlook: Four established starters return and the Swarmin’ Hornets should be strong once again, but coach Steve Pisarski has concerns about a lack of depth coming off the bench. Seniors Jenna Kaufman (G/F), Kelli Prange (G/F), Lauren Green (G/F) and Anna Warfield (G) are all back in their starting roles while classmate Libby Bowles (G) steps into the lineup to replace the graduated Becky Barrett. The starters, barring injury, should be one of the best units in the county despite a lack of team height. “We will pressure the ball and have better quickness, but we may not rebound as well,” Pisarski said. Damascus may start slow record-wise with a difficult early schedule (St. John’s College, Liberty Christian, Bowie and Riverdale Baptist), but should be ready come playoff time.
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
ALBERT EINSTEIN Outlook: Einstein coach Julian Barron says the Titans are more comfortable with his system heading into his second year. “They have a better understanding of my system and the expectations,” Barron said. Another reason for hope is that this year the Titans will be much more experienced, returning seven players, including three starters. Sophomore guard Dalina Julien and senior point guard Abbey Buckingham should carry the scoring load. The other returning starter is senior center Mattie Taylor. The other two starting spots were still open a week before the season. Barron said they’ll have to rely on rebounding by committee this season. “This is a much more athletic team, we’re going to play more man-to-man, which we couldn’t really do last year.”
n Coach: Julian Barron 2nd season n Last season: 2-21 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1989
— KENT ZAKOUR
— KEN SAIN
HOLTON-ARMS
n Coach: Julie Treadwell 4th season n Last season: 7-11 n Starters returning: 4 n Last ISL title: 2008
Outlook: The Panthers have been a consistent presence in the ISL AA Division since winning the lower (A) division in 2008 but have not yet seriously challenged for the top division’s title. This year, they return four starters and look to take major strides from their 5-9 league record a year ago. Seniors Cameron Kelso, a 5-foot-6 guard, and Maddie Merkle, a 5-11 forward, captain a veteran cast. Last year’s weakness, a short bench that saw Holton tire and fall short in a number of close games, should be fixed thanks to a talented five-member junior class, led by guards Sydney Chapman and Gaites Layton. But the Panthers may have to wait before that depth kicks in; Treadwell said injury and illness somewhat hampered their preseason work.
HOLY CHILD
n Coach: Jamie Ready 5th season n Last season: 18-6 n Starters returning: 3 n Last ISL title: None
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
JOHN F. KENNEDY Outlook: With seven seniors who have played in his system for at least two years, Cavaliers coach Kevin Thompson believes that this winter “could be a good year” for his veteran unit. With a seven- or eight-girl rotation, Thompson says he will rely heavily on his startn Coach: Kevin Thompson ing five to all contribute on both ends of the court. Senior 7th season guard and last season’s leading scorer, Makeda Wright, n Last season: returns, along with class and 15-9 backcourt partner Daysha Adn Starters ams, who missed most of the returning: 3 previous two seasons due to a thyroid gland issue, according n Last state to Thompson. “I don’t want to tournament: put undue pressure on any one None player,” Thompson said. “The biggest strength we have this year is experience. We have a lot of different pieces so are still figuring our style of play out.”
— KENT ZAKOUR
Outlook: The Bullis School’s lineup is slightly polarized this winter with three Division I recruits in 6-foot-1 Kirby Porter, Lynee Belton (6-3) and Ashleigh Williams surrounded by mostly underclassmen with little varsity experience. But young and lacking talent do not go hand in hand and defending Independent School League “AA” Division champion Bulldogs intend to be right back in the thick of things this winter, coach Clinton Perrow said. Belton, Williams and Porter each bring something different to the court. Belton is the Bulldogs’ biggest enforcer in the paint. Porter is more of a slasher, Perrow said, and Williams can do whatever is needed to give Bullis good balance.
Outlook: Heading into her fifth season as the girls’ basketball coach at Holy Child, Jamie Ready admits she will have her deepest, most basketball-savvy team. In addition to three returning starters from last year’s 18-6 squad — Tally Britt, Lilly Parrows, Colby Evans — Holy Child will have six freshmen on the varsity squad, including Jennifer Gribble and Marlee Burgess. Holy Child won its opening game last week and will head to the Bahamas Nov. 30-Dec. 4 to compete in the Paradise Island Tournament. Ready’s first game there will be her 100th as the team’s coach. The Tigers reached the ISL A Division championship game last year, but lost to National Cathedral. The Tigers leading scorer last year, Eileen Williams, graduated.
— TED BLACK
COL. ZADOK MAGRUDER
n Coach: Erin Borsody 6th season n Last season: 11-12 n Starters returning: 5 n Last state tournament: 1985
Outlook: The Colonels had one of their best seasons in recent history last winter, finishing the regular season at the .500 mark and nearly doubling their win total from the previous four years combined. This year, they should be able to build off that success with the entire veteran core returning, including senior guard/forward Janel Brown (6foot-1) and classmate forward Adjowa Pinkrah (5-7), both of whom coach Erin Borsody expects to be dominant presences on the court for the Colonels. Juniors Hope Randolph (5-9) and Hannah Barr (6-2) are also expected to make key contributions. “The girls and I are very excited about this season,” Borsody said. “... We have added depth in our bench. This year we will rely on maturity and veteran leadership to guide us.”
— KENT ZAKOUR
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page B-7
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW RICHARD MONTGOMERY
n Coach: Mark Yantsos 2nd season n Last season: 7-13 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 1996
Outlook: The Rockets showed glimpses of their potential with wins over teams such as defending Class 4A West Region champion Walt Whitman. But they struggled to find consistency. Of course with only 10 players, only eight of whom were healthy most of the season, it was hard to compete night in and night out. With a bigger, more seasoned roster, the Rockets look to improve on the 2012-13 season. Richard Montgomery will employ an up-tempo game and look to score in transition but the Rockets do boast better perimeter scoring this winter, coach Mark Yantsos said. Senior Brittany Brown is a multifaceted player who will be relied upon for big scoring numbers. Junior Guard Allie Parrish is strong in the backcourt.
NORTHWEST Outlook: Former Northwest boys’ coach Nathan Lewis is back with the girls’ team in 2013. He has taken inventory of his team and already knows how he and his players will approach the season. “We’re not that big, so we’re either going to get blown out, or we are going to do our best to run past [other teams],” Lewis said. “No matter what, we are going to play hard.” At 5-foot-11, senior Ketsia Muteba is the tallest player on the Jaguars’ roster. However, Lewis has plenty of confidence in senior speedster Kendra Meredith, a four-year varsity starter. Sophomore guards Celine Jordan, Isabelle Durkin and Daija Black offer athleticism and quickness, and senior guards Grace Sekscienski and Dominique Anderson add to the team’s stability.
n Coach: Nathan Lewis 1st season n Last season: 16-7 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: None
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
POOLESVILLE
n Coach: Fred Swick 17th season n Last season: 19-6 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: None
Outlook: The Falcons came within a point of advancing to the state semifinals last season and will attempt to at least duplicate the feat with three of its starters back. Rosie Barry, Whitney Carmack and Anna Murgia return while junior forward Anna DeSoto and sophomore forward Karen Comfort should fill out the rest of the rotation with their varsity experience. “I think we can be good this year, the cupboard is definitely not bare,” Poolesville coach Fred Swick said. The Falcons’ coach also noted how the style of his team may change slightly for the coming year. “Normally, we are a finesse team, but this year, we have some girls who don’t mind mixing it up,” Swick said. “We’re not a very tall team, but we have good size.”
n Last season: 14-8 n Starters returning: 5 n Last state tournament: 2010
Outlook: When a team can play both up-tempo and slowdown style, it usually holds an advantage over most opponents. Quince Orchard coach Ken Buffum’s goal is to get his squad to solidify its half-court sets in order to be able to handle any type of defense thrown at it. “We could run last year, we like to fast break, but we need more control in our halfcourt game, Buffum said. “I think we can really improve if we learn how to play both styles effectively.” The Cougars have an all-senior starting lineup, with forwards Brittany Beckwith, Babette Sanmartin and Summer Jones, along with guards Jasmine Chang and Megan Fisher. Buffum said Beckwith and Sanmartin averaged around 15 points per game apiece last season.
n Coach: Ken Buffum 2nd season n Last season: 10-13 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: None
SHERWOOD
n Coach: Chris Campbell 1st season n Last season: 4-17 n Starters returning: Not available n Last state tournament: 1996
n Last season: 11-16 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1992
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
n Last state tournament: None
Outlook: First-year coach Chris Campbell comes from the college ranks and hopes to revitalize a once proud program that won just four games last winter. Campbell, who coached at Churchill High, Catholic, Marymount, Delaware and Maryland, says the Warriors’ style of play will adapt as he learns his personnel, but they will likely be perimeter-orientated with a lot of four-out offensive sets and high-pressure defense. Junior Nicole Stockinger returns to the starting lineup as one of the Warriors key cogs along with point guard Stacey O’Neale and post player Marybeth Bidwick. “The girls have had to learn a new system and terminology and I’ve had to teach a lot and be kind of patient,” Campbell said.
WHEATON
n Coach: Michelle Snape 3rd season n Last season: 8-15 n Starters returning: 5 n Last state tournament: 1999
Outlook: The Knights will look to continue the upward trend after posting an eight-win season in 2012 following a winless campaign the season before. Third-year coach Michelle Snape returns seven varsity contributors from a year ago, including all five starters. Key players for the Knights will be the guard tandem of Danielle MacKenzie and Rakeb Teklu, and forward/center Brittany Briffiths. “The girls have been working extremely hard to gain respect back in the county,” Snape said. “We are going to continue to try and improve every day and keep our momentum going. They went from winning no games to eight games, so we are definitely moving up the ladder. I do expect them to continue the trend of moving up and not down.”
— KYLE RUSSELL
PAINT BRANCH
Outlook: It’s a new season and another new coach for the Gladiators as Tenisha Davidson takes over after coaching at the Barrie School and with the AAU Edge Lady Bulldogs in Wheaton. She inherited a roster featuring seven returning players, including four seniors and two starters (Gabby Henderson and Mandisa Murray), and is assessing what roles they’ll play. “We have some talented girls. I feel like we can be better,” Davidson said. So far, she’s been focusing on fundamentals, including ball-handling, shooting and defense. After some lean years, Davidson said this group is open to change. “I feel like these girls see and know that we’re trying to do bigger and better things for this program, so they’ve been on board from day one.”
n Coach: Rochelle Coleman 3rd season n Last season: 21-4 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 2009
— HARVEY VALENTINE
ROCKVILLE
n Coach: Kurtis Cross 2nd season n Last season: 5-15 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 1987
ST. ANDREW’S
Outlook: Coach Kurtis Cross committed to youth last year and hopes that will pay dividends this season, as Rockville returns two starters, sophomore guard Hazel Carmona and junior small forward Kathleen McTighe. “Hazel grew up a lot last year and she’s ready to return as our starting point guard,” Cross said. “Kathleen is a scorer and a great defender.” He expects strong contributions this year from sophomore guard Paige Hailstock and senior guard/forward Elizabeth Barrett. “We’re young once again, but we’re young with one more year of experience. The girls are ready,” Cross said. “We did lose some seniors who contributed, but I think we have some girls who are ready to step in and fill those shoes. I think we’ll be exciting to watch.”
n Coach: Andre Foreman 2nd season n Last season: 6-11 n Starters returning: 3 n Last ISL title: 2010
n Last season: 8-15 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2006
Outlook: Despite losing eight varsity players, coach Tonya Banks expects her young team to improve on last year’s eightwin season. “We’re young, but I’ll say one thing: they work hard. I love the enthusiasm and the team work that I’ve seen so far,” Banks said. Look for senior Lauren Moore, junior Ria Peralta and sophomore Jada Holland to contribute. Moore is the lone full-time starter from last year’s team. “She’s pretty versatile. She can shoot and she’s also pretty good at penetrating. We’re excited about her coming back and possibly taking a leadership role,” Banks said. Peralta started several games last season and is expected to be one of Springbrook’s top scorers. “It’s going to be tough. But I think I got a group that’s willing to work,” Banks said.
STONE RIDGE
n Coach: Michael Thiede 3rd season n Last season: 7-19 n Starters returning: 5 n Last ISL title: 1995
n Coach: Pete Kenah 12th season n Last season: 21-5 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2013
Outlook: The Vikings reached the state semifinals and won a region title last season, and might be better this year. “There’s a real confidence about them, there is a hunger to get back where we were last year,” Whitman coach Pete Kenah said. Wing Marie Hatch scored 20 points against Paint Branch as a freshman, but suffered a shoulder injury that limited her after. Kenah says she should lead a much improved offense, with returning starters Maddie Cannon and Avery Witt. Other key players this year are Marissa Cannon, Nicole Fleck and Rebecca Ford. The Vikings will score more, but the defense likely won’t be able to match last year’s team. No opponent scored more than 37 points against the Vikings in the playoffs last year.
— KEN SAIN
Outlook: The Gators are looking to get back in the top half of the Independent School League with 10 varsity players returning. “I expect to compete for a top-four finish in the league this year,” said coach Michael Thiede, a third-year varsity coach. The team went 7-19 and tied for sixth last season but brings back its entire starting lineup. Four seniors are in the projected starting lineup: Laura Keehan, Raina Williams, Bella Vagnoni and Joslynn Watkins. Williams, a center, averaged seven points per game last season and finished strong, recording several double-doubles. Junior guard Kaitlin Ballenger is the projected fifth starter. Eight of Stone Ridge’s 12 varsity players are juniors or seniors. Thiede said he expects the team to be balanced, which should give the offense flexibility.
— ERIC GOLDWEIN
— ERIC GOLDWEIN
WALT WHITMAN
Outlook: After two seasons with the junior varsity squad, St. Andrew’s coach Andre Foreman got his first taste of varsity competition last winter at St. Andew’s and remains optimistic that this year’s squad, which boasts three returning starters (Hannah King, Rachel Daniels, Kristen Butler) and a freshman, Samantha Winter, who earned a spot in the starting lineup, can earn a home game in the postseason. “We want to get one of the top four seeds this year,” said Foreman, whose team is 2-2 through the first two weeks of the schedule and will host a tournament this weekend (Dec. 4-5). “Having three starters back is going to help and we have two really good freshmen, one of which is due back soon from an injury.”
— TED BLACK
SPRINGBROOK
n Coach: Tonya Banks 8th season
Outlook: The Panthers return four starters, including their top two scorers, off a 21-4 team that reached the region title game. Expectations are high. “Our goal, as it is every year, is to make it to the states,” Paint Branch coach Rochelle Coleman said. Guards Kiara Colston (senior, 17.8 points per game) and Daisa Harris (junior, 15.7 ppg) both return. Seniors Jasmine White and Symrin Greenhow are the other returning starters. “We graduated six seniors, so there’s still a lot of teaching going on,” Coleman said. “Their basketball IQ is high. Pushing the ball is a strength of ours, and we’re a little bit bigger.” Helping fill the gaps of the graduating seniors is a transfer student from James H. Blake, 6-foot-4 sophomore center Sofilia Ngwafang.
— KEN SAIN
— HARVEY VALENTINE
— KENT ZAKOUR
WATKINS MILL
n Coach: Ivan Hicks 7th season
n Starters returning: 2
— JOHN HARRIS III
— JOHN HARRIS III
Outlook: The Wolverines have a lot of work ahead of them this season with only eight players on the roster. But at the heart of Watkins Mill’s lineup are two talented players around which coach Ivan Hicks said a successful team can be built. Junior guard Danielle Durjan, who averaged eight points per game a year ago, provides great ball handling skills in the back court as well as strong perimeter shooting while guard/forward Dominique Walker adds a presence in the paint. Isolating these two will be key on offense. Defense will be extremely important this winter, Hicks said, as will limiting opponents’ chances by rebounding well. Everyone will get lots of minutes, Hicks said, working together will be integral to the team’s success.
n Last season: 1-19
QUINCE ORCHARD
SENECA VALLEY
n Coach: Jennifer Hoffmann 1st season
n Coach: Tenisha Davidson 1st season
— JOHN HARRIS III
— JOHN HARRIS III
Outlook: The Screaming Eagles boast an all-senior starting lineup, and an experienced junior as a sixth player. Guards Juanita Craig and CeAyra Brown along with frontcourt players Erin Gary, Elissa Kensack and Nicole Dorgan will lead the way for former Richard Montgomery High coach Jennifer Hoffmann. Hoffmann plans to bring junior Alanah Roy off of the bench first, as she is able to play at either the guard or forward spot. “These girls are chomping at the bit,” Hoffmann said. “They’ve been together for the past couple of years, and you can see them really trusting each other. They had a good summer and a good fall too. We’re we are pretty quick, and I think we can play up-tempo and we can slow things down.”
NORTHWOOD
THOMAS S. WOOTTON
n Coach: Maggie Dyer 11th season n Last season: 17-6 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: None
Outlook: This year’s reclassification split Wootton from its traditional rivals in division competition but coach Maggie Dyer said the change could be refreshing for the Patriots. Wootton lost two major contributors to graduation but return a trio of dynamic guards — leading scorer Sheri Addison (12.8 points per game) and twin sisters Cece (10.5 ppg) and Ellie Kobylski (10 ppg) — who have been starting together since they were freshmen and can be effective from all angles. “They’ve grown so much, and they’ve all grown together,” Dyer said. “This will be a big year for them and I think they’re going to embrace it.” The three will be supported by two returning players Jenny Welch and Kaitlin Klausing, who Dyer said have also vastly improved in the offseason.
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
THE GAZETTE
Page B-8
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
A TALE OF OPPOSITES n
4A STATE TITLE TEAMS HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE CLASS 3A BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Northwest High School receiver Matt Watson runs around the flank and down the field to score during Friday’s victory against Paint Branch in the Class 4A state semifinal football game in Burtonsville.
Franklin (11-2) vs. Linganore (12-1) BRIAN LEWIS/FOR THE GAZETTE
Northwest High School quarterback Mark Pierce drops back to pass in the 4A West final.
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Suitland’s Robert Wigfall runs against Duval during a playoff game on Nov. 23.
NORTHWEST: QUICK STARTS
SUITLAND: SLOW STARTS
The Jaguars have been hot to start games in their current winning streak, jumping out to big leads early and holding on while opponents try to claw back. They have outscored foes 35-6 in the first quarter of the past four games.
The Rams had to rally in the fourth quarter to defeat Bowie (a spread offense) and DuVal. They were tied with Flowers 0-0 at halftime before dominating the second half. Last week, Meade scored first and the Rams went scoreless in the first quarter.
NORTHWEST: HIGH-SCORING OFFENSE The Jaguars have averaged 34.1 points per game. It’s 37.8 during the current win streak, which includes two wins against Quince Orchard, usually one of the top defenses in the state.
7:30 p.m. Friday
BY
The Rams’ defense gave up only 7.2 points per game in the regular season. It hasn’t been as good in the playoffs, up to 16.3. Still, it is the strength of the team.
Fort Hill (13-0) vs. Douglass-Balt. (13-0)
Despite being a run-first team, Wesley Wolfolk has proved to be one of the top quarterbacks in Prince George’s County by completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,832 yards and 20 touchdowns. He can also run with the ball.
Noon Saturday
CLASS 2A
SUITLAND: RUN FIRST
The Jaguars run a spread offense with a short passing game that tries to find the gaps in the defense’s coverage. What makes it work is Northwest’s team speed. They can run it too, behind E.J. Lee (176 yards the past two weeks).
While they can pass if they need to, the Rams prefer to run, mainly behind senior running back Robert “Trey” Wigfall. He has nearly 1,700 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns. Wolfolk does throw deep passes to keep defenses from packing it in.
Northwest vs. Suitland
Middletown (13-0) vs. Patuxent (13-0) 3:30 p.m. Saturday
FEARLESS FORECASTS
n All games at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore
Ken Sain
Nick Cammarota
Jennifer Beekman
Dan Feldman
Travis Mewhirter
Kent Zakour
154-30 306-59
152-32 304-61
153-31 303-62
151-33 301-64
148-36 300-65
144-40 288-77
Suitland
Suitland
Northwest
Suitland
Northwest
Suitland
n Tickets are $8 n Games shown live on The CW network in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and streamed on the web at www.nfhsnetwork.com/ channels/maryland
Suitland advances to 4A state championship BY ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
The afternoon started with a 68-yard Meade High School rushing touchdown, followed by an assortment of penalties and a couple dysfunctional offensive possessions. But what Suitland’s football
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team lacked in the first quarter of Saturday’s Class 4A state semifinal football game, it made up for in the next three. The Rams scored seven touchdowns — all after the first quarter — en route to a 46-25 victory against Meade to earn a berth in Friday’s state championship game. “Ultimately we wanted to win the championship,” senior quarterback Wesley Wolfolk said. Wolfolk threw for 281 yards and rushed for two touch-
downs, sealing the victory with a 47-yard score in the fourth quarter. The offensive line played a key role against a much bigger Meade defense. After giving up two sacks in the first quarter, the line cleared lanes for Suitland’s running backs and gave Wolfolk more time in the pocket. Senior running back Robert Wigfall ran for three touchdowns, including a 72-yard score that gave Suitland a 33-17 lead. Rams senior Nick Nelson
caught four passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. He helped set up a Suitland touchdown with a 64-yard reception in the second quarter. Wigfall ran for 129 yards on 11 carries and Wolfolk added 60 yards on the ground. The Rams fell behind 7-0 after Meade’s Kyle Evans ran for a 68-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Evans finished with 223 yards on 25 carries. A win over Northwest would give Suitland its third state title.
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Rams overcome slow start; offensive line keys 46-25 victory over Meade n
ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITER
CLASS 1A
NORTHWEST: PASS FIRST
Montgomery County record All games
Sophomore QB scores seven TDs to lead defeat of Paint Branch
n
SUITLAND: SENIOR QB
In the five games since the Jags lost to Clarksburg, Mark Pierce has completed 95 of 134 passes (71 percent) for 1,427 yards and thrown 18 touchdowns and ran for another. He has had four interceptions in those games.
The Gazette sports staff picks the winners for this week’s games involving Montgomery football teams. Here are this week’s selections:
CLASS 4A
Northwest (11-2) vs. Suitland (13-0)
SUITLAND: LIGHTS-OUT DEFENSE
NORTHWEST: SOPHOMORE QB
Northwest a win away from state title
7 p.m. Thursday
Northwest High School football’s offense rushes to line up for the play, but then the quarterback calmly steps back, looks to the sidelines and waits, patiently, for the signals from the coaches. It’s the “no-play,” as sophomore quarterback Mark Pierce calls it. The team runs a hard count while offensive coordinator Justin Sickeri selects a play based on the defense he sees. In Friday’s 4A state semifinal victory against Paint Branch, the “no-play” worked to perfection. Led by Pierce’s seven touchdowns, Northwest defeated Paint Branch 55-36 to advance to next week’s Class 4A state championship game. Northwest (11-2) plays Suitland at 7:30 p.m. Friday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. “It’s great. I throw it to everyone,” Pierce said. “It’s good to have a good six or seven people that you can rely on to throw it to every down.” Pierce completed 29 of 37 passes for 335 yards, throwing six touchdowns to four different players. Senior Matt Watson caught two touchdown passes and ran for a third. “We didn’t want to lose, period. We were trying to go to states, and we’re championship bound,” Watson said. Northwest pulled away late in the fourth quarter. After a red zone stop on fourth down, the Jaguars regained possession deep in their own territory. Following a short run play, they ran an end-around for Watson, who sprinted for a 93-yard touchdown to seal the victory. “It just happens,” said Watson, who has eight postseason touchdowns. “Whoever’s hot on the field, we
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try to go to them as much as possible.” Pierce was hot to start the game, completing his first seven pass attempts and 19 of 24 in the first half. Senior Joshua Gills was his favorite receiving target. Gills caught eight passes for 159 yards and a 32-yard touchdown. “We just have a bunch of playmakers,” Gills said. “If you get the ball to any of our offensive skill players, something good is going to happen, every single time.” Northwest’s defense allowed 29 points in the first half but picked up the intensity as the game progressed. On a rare occasion when the Jaguars offense stalled in the second half, the defense stepped up. After Northwest was stopped on a fourth-andgoal play, senior Rasheed Gillis forced a Paint Branch fumble and helped the Jaguars regain possession. The offense capitalized, with Pierce connecting with Watson for a 21-yard touchdown to extend Northwest’s lead to 43-29. “We were relying on [the defense] and they definitely stepped up in the second half to help us out,” Pierce said. Paint Branch quarterback Gaston Cooper completed 15 of 33 passes for 280 yards. The senior struggled in the first half, starting the game with seven consecutive incomplete passes before settling into a rhythm in the second quarter. Johnny Littlejohn caught two long touchdown passes and ran for a 93-yard firstquarter touchdown to finish with 180 yards from scrimmage. Javan Grafton added 160 receiving yards on five receptions. Northwest has not won a state title since 2004. “We just got to execute the next [game]. We’re so close. It’s just so motivating,” Watson said. egoldwein@gazette.net
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page B-9
4A WEST
Continued from Page B-1 point playoff loss was a sign of progress, but it left the Blazers wanting more. Several other 4A teams could contend in the region, including Walter Johnson. The Wildcats suffered a close loss to Whitman — a 49-42 defeat in the region semifinals. “I honestly think it’s anyone’s game this year,” Walter Johnson’s third-year coach Lindsey Zegowitz said. Whitman graduated several key players but returns two starters — Maddie Cannon and Avery Witt — and will contend again this season after reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2007. Twelfth-year coach Pete Kenah said Whitman has a chance to repeat this season. “There’s not the one, dominant heavyweight team out there,” Kenah said.
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Montgomery Blair High School’s Maggie McClain practices on Nov. 25.
The parity is new to the region. Gaithersburg was the regional and state champions in 2011 and 2012, winning 53 consecutive games.
The winning streak ended early last season, but the Trojans still made it to the region finals where they lost, 46-31, to Whitman. Gaithersburg coach Adrian McDaniel, entering his seventh season, said the team will need to develop chemistry if it wants to take back the title. “Whoever is peaking at the right time during the playoffs is the team that’s going to succeed,” McDaniel said. Blair could make its first state tournament since 1997 if it wins the region. Adarkwa, a four-year varsity player, said she wants to end her senior season on a high note. “As a senior, I don’t want to leave with any feeling that we could have done better … I just want to push others and push our teammates to realize our full potential and go as far as we possibly can,” Adarkwa said. egoldwein@gazette.net
PHOTOS BY RAPHAEL TALISMAN/FOR THE GAZETTE
Riverdale Baptist junior power forward Taron Oliver is double teamed during a game on Saturday evening at the Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro.
Continued from Page B-1 tured team in Riverdale Baptist, which also relies on transfers too talented to glean much else from playing in the public school ranks or even middle-level private schools. There were no more realms of public school hoops for Nigel Johnson (Kansas State) to conquer when his junior year ended at Broad Run. During his final year in the public ranks, Johnson averaged nearly 30 points per game, eclipsed that number 11 times, and once scored 55. Yet his highest suitor was George Washington. As a senior, with barely three months at Riverdale under his belt — in which he led the Crusaders to a Capital Beltway championship and was named tournament MVP — Johnson reneged on his oral commitment to GW and opened up the recruiting process again. Within a few weeks, Kansas State, a No. 4 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, came calling, and Johnson was soon a Wildcat. “I try to instill upon my players that this is the level you want to play,” said longtime
Riverdale coach Lou Wilson, who is a career 556-215 at the school. “When you go off to college, there are going to be 12 players on a scholarship who were probably the best players on their high school teams.” Like Montrose, the majority of Riverdale’s seniors are shipped off to college with a Division I scholarship in hand. Wilson estimates that in any given year, there could be as many as seven. And then it’s back to bringing in new names, new faces and new Division I talents — reloading. “Coach Lou produces good players and that’s what college coaches want,” said Riverdale alumnus Justin Drummond, a former first-team All-Gazette player now with Toledo. “He creates a lot of opportunities for guys. There’s just a lot of tradition there. A lot of good players come through and play all different type of levels.” And it’s not limited to Montrose and Riverdale. Capitol Christian, which played as Princeton Day, churned out nearly half a dozen Division I — or professional, in Aquille Carr’s case — players last year and the upstart Clinton Christian will likely be doing the same in the near future. Many
tmewhirter@gazette.net
Montgomery Blair High School’s Debbie Olawuyi and Maggie McClain practice on Nov. 25.
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may point to DeMatha Catholic as a similar “factory” producing basketball players on a figurative assembly line, but Mike Jones’ program has created a different identity. The Stags, who are a part of the historically powerful Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, have established themselves as mostly a fouryear program. There are those who transfer out, Quinn Cook bolting for Oak Hill for example, but rarely does Jones take in a transfer for just one season. The Riverdales, Montroses, Capitol and Clinton Christians — all of which competed independent of a conference just two years ago — of the world rely on a high influx of transfers, taking them in for a year or two, sometimes three, grooming them for the collegiate level, and sending them back out as a more polished basketball player. “I don’t really have to recruit,” Wilson said. “We entertain phone calls and kids visiting Riverdale. Ninety-five percent of the kids reach out to me, and the other five percent are from parents, uncles, grandparents, cousins. Things like that happen quite often.”
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FACTORY
THE GAZETTE
Page B-10
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
SCHOOL LIFE VOICES IN EDUCATION n Age: 33
Lanise Stevenson
n Job title: Sixth-grade science teacher n Hometown: Baltimore County n Education: Bachelor’s of science in biology, master’s in science education and master’s in human resource development, educational leadership, all from Towson University n Family: Son, Ethan Stevenson, 10 n Hobby/favorite vacation spot: I enjoy playing chess and other brain games. I teach Zumba. I enjoy watching football and golf. My favorite team is the Baltimore Ravens. I love traveling to Nassau, Bahamas. n Lesson to live by: Pursue your passion in everything you do and encourage others to do the same. Radiate positive energy as much as possible. Share your zest for life with everyone around you. Remain authentic. Take nothing for granted.
Lanise Stevenson is a science teacher at Shady Grove Middle School in Gaithersburg. She was interviewed at the school on Nov. 19. In an email suggesting I interview you, your principal intern said you have created a love for science in your sixth-grade students. How have you been able to do that?
I have a way of exciting kids about a class that you usually don’t see. It’s because I make every concept meaningful and relative to [them]. It’s the teacher’s charge to make the information effective. In every class I teach, I have students with special needs: emotionally disturbed, those with learning disabilities or new English-language learners, and I make it meaningful for each. The difference is when you can apply every concept to their lives, then the classroom no longer has walls. There is a connection to everything in their lives and science becomes exciting. I impress on students that everyone, to be a good citizen, needs to be scientifically literate. When our kids grow up they are going to have to elect officials that reflect their views on energy, pollution, superstorms, superbugs. Our kids are going to have to be proactive. Everything you think of that we will have to
address involves STEM [science, technology, engineering and math]. It relates to everything. I tell them about math being the language of science, it allows them to learn math concepts better. When we approach writing in science, I talk about the importance of being articulate, write what you mean, be specific. That corresponds with the message in English class, you should be clear and concise. Science connects everything and it makes everything else exciting. What do you actually teach?
Investigations in Science 6 for sixth-graders. It involves physics, environmental science, a little chemistry and biological science. How did you become such an enthusiastic science teacher?
I love learning! I am passionate about teaching and learning in everything I do. My first degree was in biology; I was a premed student. I volunteered at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and though I touched people there I realized I wouldn’t be best utilized [in medicine]. I did research at Procter & Gamble and realized that people in research didn’t look like me. They were not
women or women of color. As I reflected I wondered if I should be a teacher. I realized that if I could teach more students and get them excited about science it could change science. Researchers would look like them, there would be more women. I started to teach biology in high school in Baltimore County and became a STEM master teacher at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, working with teachers working for their scienceeducation degree. Then I applied to Montgomery County. I wanted diversity. The diversity in my classes is amazing in terms of race, ethnic background, socio-economic status. My classes are equally diverse: about 30 percent African-American, 30 percent Hispanic and 30 percent Caucasian and Asian — I have colorful classes. Each student brings a different approach. Their prior knowledge is amazing. What I do never gets old. This is my 11th year and I still get excited about it. I love science. I don’t look like a science geek, but I am. We work very hard but I deeply care and I impress upon [the students] how meaningful what they learn is. How do they do?
Very, very well. This year
we are focusing on cooperative learning, working in groups and critical thinking. I have modified a lot of the curriculum to increase the difficulty and increase cooperative learning. The whole purpose of learning is for kids to open their eyes and see the world differently. Every year I get to see kids see things differently and that is very exciting for me. I want kids to think for themselves but not by themselves. There is something important that happens with discussion. How about girls in science — do you find them less interested?
I find it much easier to reach the girls because I’m authentic. They think I’m so smart and I am but I tell them it’s because I have a zest for knowledge. They realize that they too can enjoy the STEM track. We need them, we need diversity in the STEM field. It’s vital to create a community of critical thinkers who will be able to solve problems that don’t exist yet. “Voices in Education” is a twice-monthly feature that highlights the men and women who are involved with the education of Montgomery County’s children. To suggest someone you would like to see featured, email Peggy McEwan at pmcewan@ gazette.net.
EDUCATION NOTEBOOK Students move to the rhythm in Latin Dance Competition Teams from 10 Montgomery County high schools put their best feet forward at the 14th Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition held Nov. 25 at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. The students competed in four dance categories: Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata and Salsa. There were also specialized competitions including: Parent/ Child, Alumni, Best in Show, Jack and Jill and the Verizon Audience Best in Show Award which went to Gaithersburg High School. The results by category are: Cha-Cha Division: First Place – Albert Einstein High School, Kensington Second Place – Gaithersburg High School Third Place – Clarksburg High School Merengue Division; First Place – Einstein High School Second Place – Watkins Mill High School, Gaithersburg Third Place – Gaithersburg High School Bachata Division: First Place – Watkins Mill High School Second Place – Einstein High School Third Place – Seneca Valley High School, Germantown Salsa Division: First Place – Einstein High School Second Place – Gaithersburg High School Third Place – Watkins Mill High School Parent/Child Division:
CARLOS SIHUAS
Students from Albert Einstein High School in Kensington perform during the Best in Show competition at the Montgomery County Public Schools Latin Dance Competition on Nov. 25 at the Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda. Einstein dancers took first place in Best in Show. First Place - Gaithersburg High School Second Place – Einstein High School Third Place – Clarksburg High School Best in Show Division: First Place – Einstein High School Second Place – Clarksburg High School Third Place – Watkins Mill High School Rookie Best in Show Award: Wheaton High School Alumni Division: First Place – Einstein High School Second Place – Watkins Mills High School Third Place – Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring Jack & Jill Division: Einstein and Seneca Valley This year marked the first time that Wheaton and Montgomery Blair high schools participated in the event. Other schools participating were James Hubert Blake, Silver Spring; Quince Orchard; Gaithersburg; and Springbrook, Silver Spring.
Nonprofit’s Student of the Year candidates Three students from The Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington were selected as Student of the Year candidates by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. Leah Barteldes, Margaret Capizzi and Samantha Heavner, all juniors at the school, will compete in the Student of the Year Campaign, a six-week initiative during which the candidates raise money in honor of a teen patient hero who is battling or is in remission from a blood cancer. The candidate who raises the most money at the end of the six weeks is named Student of the Year. The campaign runs from Jan. 16 to Feb. 28, culminating at the Grand Finale Gala celebration where the winners will be announced. The Student of the Year will receive a $5,000 scholarship to a college or university of his/ her choice. In addition, three
students will be awarded Citizenship honors with the Community, Leadership and Mission Awards. Each Citizenship Award winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship and every candidate who reaches the minimum fundraising requirement of $10,000 will receive a scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Holy Cross was the only school in the National Capital area to have three students selected to participate in a fundraising competition to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter, according to the society.
High school photographers exhibit work at gallery The Washington Gallery of Photography and Capitol Arts Network will open their “All-Montgomery County High School Photography Exhibit” with a reception from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at the gallery, 12276 Wilkins Ave., Rockville. For more than a decade, Washington Gallery of Photography has hosted a high school photography exhibit, giving young photographers the opportunity for their work to be viewed by friends, family, gallery owners and representatives from local art colleges. This year’s exhibit features over 100 images taken by students between the ages of 14-18, and includes a variety of topics. The public is welcome to attend the opening, meet the photographers and hear firsthand stories of their experiences learning photography. The show will be on exhibit from Dec. 6 through 30 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. For more information visit www.WashingtonSchoolOfPhotography.com.
Students’ skills tested in egg drop competition Twenty-one students from the Math Matters club at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, Bethesda, competed in the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Third Annual Egg Drop Competition on Nov. 20. “The drop is an annual design competition as part of the Division’s outreach efforts designed to spark students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math,” Nicholas Malay, a Carderock Division spokesman, wrote in an email. The event is a test to see if students could design protective casings for raw eggs being dropped from about 20 feet in the air onto a cement target below. The students are tutored weekly by co-organizers and NSWCCD engineers Kavi Dotson and Alyssa Littlestone at Pyle. The egg drop was the culmination of a field trip to the Carderock facility which included a tour of Carderock’s Maneuvering and Seakeeping and Rotating Arm basin led by Toby Ratcliffe, the facility’s education and outreach coordinator, who has over 34 years of experience as an ocean engineer working to test scaled ship and submarine models. “The classroom and real world application experiences help our students to get excited about mathematics,” said Stacy Levy, chairwoman of Pyle’s math department and math resource teacher. “Through
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our math team activities, the middle schoolers see first-hand how math is incorporated in their lives,” The students also participated in a discussion on ‘The Wonderful Language of Math’ led by Carderock Technical Director Tim Arcano. The final event of the visit was the egg drop, where the students, who were divided into six teams, dropped their eggs, hoping for a solid outcome. Based on a numerical scoring equation, success in the competition was dependent on three factors: protecting the egg; the cost of the design relative to that of the other teams and accuracy of hitting a target directly below the drop site. Team “Temple Runners” earned the winning medal with the highest score. Their design used Popsicle sticks, masking tape, and a plastic bag. The winning design was the only one of the six groups to prevent the egg from cracking. “This year the students were really challenged by the new rules,” Littlestone said. “I think everyone had a lot of great ideas and it was fun to watch them work together to construct them in the classroom.” Eighth-grader Ryan Shaffer said he thought it was really cool to learn about the work engineers do at Carderock. “Their technical work and the math they use can change the country and strengthen national security,” Ryan said. “The basins were huge and it was really cool learning about how they can generate their own waves. ... This field trip gave all of us Math Matters students a first-hand view of what naval engineers do every day.”
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
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CELEBRATIONS HEALTH CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4 ’Tis the Season to be Jolly, from 10:3011:30 a.m. at Margaret Schweinhaut Center, 100 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring. Join the Suburban Hospital HeartWell nurse in discussing strategies for stress management during this special but hectic season. Learn relaxation techniques, time-management tips, and exercises to feel the joy in each day. Made possible by a generous grant from the Wolpoff Family Foundation. Registration not required. Free. Also 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 5 at Macy’s Home Store, Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7125 Democracy Blvd., Second Level, Bethesda. www. suburbanhospital.org.
SATURDAY, DEC. 7 Safe Sitter, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Suburban Hospital Lambert Building, 8710 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Comprehensive training course teaching 11 to 13-year-olds the essentials of babysitting. Course includes tactics in handling emergencies basic first aid and child-care skills. Registration required. $95. www.suburbanhospital.org.
Garfinkle
MONDAY, DEC. 9 CPR for Friends and Family, 5-8 p.m. at Suburban Hospital Lambert Building, Second Floor, 8710 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Receive instruction for adult, child and infant CPR and choking rescue. AED will also be discussed. Designed for the general public who want to learn how to save a life. Non-credential course. $75. www.suburbanhospital.org.
On Nov. 8, 2013, Harriet and Stanley Garfinkle celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Both were born in Washington, D.C., and met in their early teens. They were married in Washington and have lived nearly all of their married life in Silver Spring. Their families join their children, Jay of North Carolina and Beth Stein of Virginia, and their two granddaughters, Shelby and Mallory, in wishes of love, health and happiness. They are celebrating the occasion with a trip to Mexico with their family.
TUESDAY, DEC. 10 Heart Smarts, from 5-7 p.m. at Suburban Hospital, CR 6/7 (lower level), 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Educational program focuses on strategies for hearthealthy living. Learn how to care for, prevent and reduce the risk of heart disease and other heart-related conditions. Family members are encouraged to participate. Registration required with a five-person minimum to hold class. Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11 Eat, Drink and Stay Healthy, from 1-2
p.m. at the Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 S. Park Avenue, Chevy Chase. Registered dietitian Jill Johnson will share tips to help prevent weight gain for a healthier holiday season, including small changes in food and drink choices and a review of healthy dessert options. Free. www.suburbanhospital.org.
Breastfeeding for Working Moms at MedStar Montgomery, from 7-9 p.m. at Mont-
gomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive. The AAP recommends breastfeeding for the first year, but many new moms struggle with trying to balance work and breastfeeding. Discussion includes aspects of planning, preparing, pumping and returning to work while breastfeeding. www.montgomerygeneral.org.
ONGOING New Mothers Postpartum Support Group, 10-11:30 a.m. Mondays at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney. Ever wonder if you are the only
one feeling stressed and alone now that a baby has joined your family? Wasn’t it supposed to be easier? If you are finding yourself feeling sad, anxious, angry or irritable, group support can help. Group led by two therapists who specialize in the postpartum period. Babies are welcome. Free; registration required. 301-774-8881, www.montgomerygeneral.org. Senior Fit, meets from 9-9:45 a.m. once a week at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, 18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney. Free 45-minute exercise program designed for seniors age 55 and older. Senior Fit focuses on increasing strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance. Exercise is an important factor in preventing falls, managing chronic illnesses and improving quality of life. Classes are ongoing and a physician’s consent form is required to participate. Free for people over the age of 55. 301-774-8881, www.montgomerygeneral.org. A Diabetes Support Group, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the first Saturday of every month at Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. A social network that provides peer support for people living with diabetes via open discussions and speakers on various diabetes topics. Light snacks available. Call Maria Chamberlain, diabetes nurse educator, at 301-896-3056 with questions. www.suburbanhospital.org. A Harris Teeter supermarket tour, from 11 a.m. to noon second Wednesdays, 18169 Town Center Drive, Olney. Join Andrea Ciccone Troutner, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, during a supermarket stopand-shop tour for all your nutrition and wellness needs. You’ll be able to identify the right healthy foods for you and your family. Free; registration required. 301-774-8727.
RELIGION CALENDAR UPCOMING Neelsville Presbyterian Church, 20701 Frederick Road, Germantown, welcomes all to attend its upcoming Christmas Events: Christmas Music Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Dec. 15; Christmas Jazz Services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Dec. 22; Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 — Family Service at 5 p.m., Jazz and Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. and Candlelight and Communion Service at 11 p.m. www.Neelsville.org Northgate Community Church, 20300 Pleasant Ridge Drive, Montgomery Village, invites area residents to come and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas at a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Worship at 7 p.m. Dec. 24. www.Northgatecc.org. Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, will offer a “Blue Christmas” church service in the sanctuary at 6 p.m. Dec. 8, for those who are going through a difficult time during Advent season. Service will provide an opportunity for quiet reflection and support to people who have lost a loved one, endured a job loss, a divorce or any type of loss. Readings, reflections, prayers and song. www.TrinityELCA. org.
Coronado Dec. 3 marks the 25th wedding anniversary of Lisa and Troy Coronado. In the past 25 years of military life they have lived in Germany, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Georgia, Texas and currently reside in Germantown. Lisa and Troy are blessed with three beautiful daughters: Raquel, a 2013 graduate from the University of Texas; Jaqueline, a senior at the University of South Florida; and Mindy, a junior at Clarksburg High School.
PLACING AN ANNOUNCEMENT
ONGOING Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St., Damascus, offers traditional Sunday morning worship services at 8:15 a.m., a youth contemporary worship service
at 9:30 a.m. and a service of liturgy and the word at 11 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. for all ages during the school year. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, offers services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Sunday, with Sunday School for all ages scheduled at 10 a.m. Child care is offered from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A fellowship and coffee hour follows the 8:30 a.m. service. 301-365-5733, www.elcbethesda.org. Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, conducts Sunday morning worship services at 8:30, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday school, nursery through adult, is at 9:30 a.m. 301-421-9166. For a schedule of events, visit www.libertygrovechurch.org. “MOPS,” a faith-based support group for mothers of children, birth through kindergarten, meets from 9-11:30 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, 201 Fairview Drive, Frederick. Childcare is provided. This year’s theme, “A Beautiful Mess: Embracing Your Story,” focuses on remembering that beauty can come out of chaos and that your past, present and future can be used for good with God’s love. For more information call 301-662-1819. Email mops@fcob.net. Neelsville Presbyterian Church, 20701 Frederick Road, Germantown, has returned to its Fall worship schedule, with services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays. Sunday School for all ages at 9:40 a.m. www.Neelsville.org. Providence United Methodist Church,
3716 Kemptown Church Road, Monrovia, conducts a contemporary service at 8 a.m. followed by a traditional service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, with children’s Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and adult Sunday school at 11 a.m. For more information, call 301-2531768. Visit www.kemptownumc.org. Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, conducts services every Sunday, with child care from 8 a.m. to noon and fellowship and a coffee hour following each service. 301-881-7275. For a schedule of events, visit www.TrinityELCA. org. Chancel choir auditions and rehearsals, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Liberty Grove Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Call 301-421-9166 or visit www. libertygrovechurch.org. “Healing for the Nations,” 7 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at South Lake Elementary School, 18201 Contour Road, Gaithersburg. Sponsored by King of the Nations Christian Fellowship, the outreach church service is open to all who are looking for hope in this uncertain world. Prayer for healing available. Translation into Spanish and French. Call 301-251-3719. Visit www. kncf.org. Geneva Presbyterian Church, potluck lunches at 11:30 a.m. the second Sunday of each month at 11931 Seven Locks Road, Potomac. There is no fee to attend. All are welcome to bring a dish to share; those not bringing dishes are also welcome. Call 301424-4346.
The Gazette prints engagement and wedding announcements, with color photographs, at no charge, as a community service. Copy should be limited to 150 words and submitted in paragraph form. Announcements are subject to editing for space. Please include contact information, including a daytime telephone number. Photos should be professional quality. If emailing photos, file size should be a minimum of 500 KB. Wedding announcements should be submitted no later than 12 months after the wedding. Send to: The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, or email kgroff@gazette.net. Montgomery County celebrations are inserted into all Montgomery County editions.
Free Hearing Tests set for Montgomery County Area Age 65+
Free electronic hearing tests will be given from Monday, December 9th through Friday, December 13th at select locations in Montgomery County. Tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are losing their hearing. Such persons generally say they can hear but cannot understand words. Testing with the latest computerized equipment will indicate if you can be helped. Everyone, especially adults over 65, should have an electronic hearing test at least once a year. If there is a hearing problem, hearing tests may reveal that newly developed methods of correction will help, even for those who have been told in the past that a hearing aid would not help them. If you suspect you have hearing loss, call for a free hearing test appointment. Our licensed specialists are trained in the latest auditory testing methods and will be the first ones to tell you if you don’t need a hearing aid. If you do have a hearing loss, we will explain your results and provide you with a list of options.
Free hearing tests available only at a location listed below.
One week only: Monday, December 9th through Friday, December 13th
Beltone Hearing Aid Centers 1-800-701-3573 to schedule an appointment
Bethesda,MD 1912874
Wildwood Medical Center 10401 Old Georgetown Rd. Suite 102
Gaithersburg,MD
Sears Hearing Center by Beltone Lakeforest Mall 701 Russell Ave
Silver Spring,MD
Connecticut Belair Medical Park 3915 Ferrara Drive
Frederick, MD
Guilford Professional Center 5950 Frederick Crossing Ln. Suite 100
Frederick, MD
Sears Hearing Center by Beltone Francis Scott Key Mall 5500 Buckeystown Pike
www.beltone.com
1912877 1912876
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THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 r
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Classifieds
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Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net
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KENSINGTON:
SFH 4 BR/3 BA Updated,Light-Filled, Quiet St. near Park. $2550 301-538 -4638
rambler. cac/wd/dw,fin rec rm, hrwd flrs,, fncd yrd $2200 +utils, wlk to Metro. Move now and free November rent. 202-210-5530
SS: 4BR,2.5BA,SFH
Fin Bsmnt, two car garage, deck, hot tub, FP $2500 near metro & shops 301-330-1177
POOLESVILLE: TH
3BR 1.5BA, W/D fncd bkyd, Pets Ok. $1450 + utils, avail immed Call: 301-407-0763
POTOMAC: lrg 3 br,
kBalcony Patio
Contact Ashby
Rice (301) 670-2667
ADELPHI: 1 Br + den 14th floor . $1245 uti inc + SD & Move In Fees, Front Desk. Ref req. 240-418-5693
BOWIE:
$1700, 3BR/3.5 BA, firepl, fin base w/WD. AVAIL NOW 301-661-1717
GAITH: 2bd,2ba
renovated,patio, near costco,bus,mall,I270 $1300/mo + utils CALL(301)678-9182
GAITHER:
OLNEY:
End unit. 3BD, 2.5BA. New carpet, paint & fixtures. FP. Gorgeous, must see! NS/NP. $1800. 301-343-9711
kSmall Pets Welcome
(301) 460-1647 3004 Bel Pre Rd., Apt. 204, Silver Spring, MD 20906
GAITHERSBURG:
2 months FREE rent on 1 bedroom apartment with 14 month lease!!!! Across from Rio/Washingtonian Center, Call Oakwood Gaithersburg today! 877-566-6910
LAKESIDE APTS GAITHERSBURG
3 Bedroom + den, 2 Bathroom, renovated, Sec 8 welcome, Pls Call: 410-800-5005
GAIT H: Penthouse
LG condo 1bd/1ba wood floor, 24hr security, all util incl HOC OK 240-383-1000
GERM: 2Br, 2Ba new
crpt/paint, h/d flr, W/D, fitness center, near shops & restaurants $1295 + SD Mike Remax Pro. Please Call: 301-674-2371
2.5 ba, SFH, finished basement, living rm, Half Month Free dining rm, den w/fp, Large 1 or 2 BR Apts deck, carport, com- Short/long term leases pletely remodeled, Utilities Included clse to 270, $2800/ Great Prices mnth, One wk free. GERM :2Br/2FBa,Grt 301-830-0046 240-372-8050 View,frnt Shoppers.Np Balcony,Cathedral Ceil ROCKVILLE, SFH w/d, Pool/tennis $1445 5Br, 2Ba, walk/out N . P O T O M A C + utils. 240-350-8644 bsmt, nr Ride On #48 ROCKVILLE: 1 BR & schools, $2500 + Apt. $1250 incl util, util 240-472-0607 CATV, Free Parking SS/GLENMONT : Avail now. NS/NP LRG 5 BD/2.5 BA EU TWH WLK TO SHOPS SILVER SPRING: CALL: 301-424-9205 & METRO, W/D HOC 2Br, 2Ba, English OK 240-383-1000 Tudor, rent through Sept 2014, near belt- SIL SPG/BEL PRE: way & metro/bus, Remodled, new paint, $2100/month Please carpet, appls. Big 4br Call: 301-493-5301 2fb wlkout garden apt. Pool, Tennis, PlaySILVER SPRING: ground, parking & utils GAITHERS: 1BR in TH 3BD 2.5 BATH incl. HOC Ok, close to SFH unfurn. $650 utils PARKING CALL 301- bus. Move in now. incl. Male NS/NP, 1 526-7385 OR 240- $2300 or HOC Vouch- mile frm I-270. Avail Immed 240-372-1168 354-4722 er Amt. 240-793-7802
GAITHERSBURG:
GERM: TH 1 room
GAITHERSBURG:
OLNEY:
Bsmt Br, $500 , Upstairs room $500 util inc for both, nr bus Call: 240-848-4483
Lrg bsmt room w/priv BA & Entr. Close to shops, bus & metro. $700 incl utils & int. N/P, N/S. Se habla espanol. Email David davidvaliente01@ hotmail.com
w/pvt BA $400/mo w/utils & int. Nr Walmart & 270/355 CALL: 240-744-2421 1 Rm in bsmt in SFH share kitchen $500 utils included, NS/NP Avail Now. 301-257-5712
kFull Size W/D in every unit kSwimming Pool
PARK:
4 Rooms starting at $750 shared bath util incl all furn! near metro 240-421-6689 WHEATON:1 Room w/pvt BA $700/mo incl. utils, Cable & WIFI. Near Metro & Bus Call 240-286-7142
OLNEY:
GAITHERSBURG:
GREAT DEAL!! 1 Br, shr Ba, beautiful EU TH, female only $675/per month w/util, int, cable TV, NP/NS Call 301-774-4654
GAITHERSBURG:
ROCKVILLE/OLNEY
GAITHERSBURG:
Available Now!
Lrg Rm in SFH, Pool, full privlgs, Vegetarian, NS. $600 + 1/4 elec Call: 301-482-1425
TAKOMA
kFamily Room G560379
MONT
kNewly Updated Units kSpacious Floor Plans
or pricing and ad deadlines.
www.ambercommons.com
MOUNTAINTOP LAND STEAL!
STRATHMORE HOUSE APARTMENTS
and reach over 206,000 homes!
Call today: 301-355-7111
DISCOVER DELAWARE’S RESORT LIVING WITHOUT RESORT PRICING!
301-762-5224
Office Hours: M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday 11:00am - 3:00pm
STREAMSIDE S T R E A M S I D E APARTMENTS A PA R T M E N T S
The Trusted Name in Senior Living
Visit us at www.homeproperties.com
14431 Traville Garden Circle Rockville, Maryland 20850
GAITHERSBURG
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•New Appliances, Kitchens & Baths* •Large Kitchens & Walk-In Closets* •1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments •Free Free Electric Included •Pet Friendly •Short-Term Leases •Free Parking •Minutes to I-270 & Metro Bus & Rail •Housing Choice Vouchers Welcome •Se aceptan vales de eleccio'n de *Select Apartments vivienda
ROCKVILLE
GAITHERSBURG
DEEP CREEK LAKE water front, across frm WISP Resort,3br/3ba Th,deck,dock,fp,Jacz wd, cbl. 301-916-3077
Male, master BR w BA Lrg Single Fam Home $399. Nr Metro/Shops Small effi apt, own bath & kit all utils, NP/NS. Avail Now. cbl & int incl $745 Call 301-219-1066 No pets, no smoking TH Bsmt Apt pvt entr $750/mo util incl.Near Shops/Metro 240-3887552 or 240-370-0272
GAITH:M BRs $435+ 440+475+555+ Maid Ns/Np, nr 270/370/Bus shops, quiet, conv.Sec Dep 301-983-3210 GAITH/MUDDY BRANCH: EU TH
M/F only updated Mbr w/ba $660 + util Avail 12/08 NS 3016747928
G E R M A N : 1 BR in
uppr lvl of Sfh $600 uti/Inet inc. ns/np nr Walmart 301-7062722 301-978-1542
GERMANTOWN
2 BR in TH, $485 & $525 both incl utils. N/S, N/P. Avail immed CALL: 240-361-3391
GERM: Male only 2
BRs $400 each + utils in TH NS/ND. Near bus & shops. Sec Dep Req. 240-476-6224
301-924-1818
SIL SPG: SFH, 1MBr Bsmt, priv Ba, kit w/d, int/cable. $850/i n c l utils plus $400 SD Avl Jan 1st 240-602-5533
SILVER
SPRING
SILVER
SPRING:
N r metro, GA Ave, shops, bus and metro NS/NP $570 utils incl free int 240-437-2133
Room for Rent $415 shared kitchen, bathroom and utilities W/D 301-404-2681
SILVER
It’s FREE! Buy It, Sell It, Find It GazetteBuyandSell.com It’s FREE!
Buy It, Sell It, Find It
SPRING:
Rooms avail in SFH, nr Metro/Shops, rent incl utilties 202-7041768 or 301-942-2161
SS: NEW 1BR Apt 1st
floor private ENT, KIT, BA, PARKING. $1200 quiet and Sunny! call 301-879-2868
GazetteBuyandSell.com
Page B-14
na, Sub Mariner, etc. TOP CASH PAID! 1800-401-0440
WANTED TO PURCHASE Antiques & Fine Art, 1 item Or Entire Estate Or Collection, Gold, Silver, Coins, Jewelry, Toys, Oriental Glass, China, Lamps, Books, Textiles, Paintings, Prints almost anything old Evergreen Auctions 973-818-1100. Email evergreenauction@hot mail.com
HOLIDAY CRAFT MART: De ce m b e r
FIREWOOD FOR SALE 100% Oak $150 half cord $225 per cord Call Adrian 301-309-0062 240-506-4326 FIREWOOD FOR SALE
MY COMPUTER WORKS Computer
$250/cord $150 per 1/2 cord
problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - FIX IT NOW! Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help 1-866-998-0037
µ Includes Delivery µ Stacking Extra Charge Ask for Jose 301-417-0753 301-370-7008
$175 a Cord Split & Delivered 240-315-1871
MAKE UP TO
$2,000.00+ Per Week! New Credit Card Ready Drink-Snack Vending Machines. Minimum $4K to $40K+ Investment Required. Locations Available. BBB Accredited Business. (800) 962-9189
HAVANESE PUPPIES Home raised, AKC, best health guarantee noahslittleark.com Call: 262-993-0460
LOST DOG
Lab/ Rotweiler Mix, M, 4 yr, black w/ tan paws, muzzle & spots above eyes; long, fluffy tail, fifty (50) pounds Lost on Saturday November 9th 2013 from Little Falls Bike Trail, near the MD/DC line. Please Contact 248-755-7594
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
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES’ SALE OF VALUABLE & IMPROVED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 13700 MODRAD WAY, UNIT 34 SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND 20904 Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust from Yong S. Shin dated June 30, 2004, and recorded at Liber 27929 Folio 754 among the Land Records of Montgomery County, Maryland, default having occurred under the terms thereof, the Substitute Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County, at the Courthouse door for the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County, 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850, Monroe Street entrance, on: MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013 at 9:45 a.m.
Buy It, Sell It, Find It GazetteBuyandSell.com
Raffle – Grand Prize $300
Gift Shop Bargains & Plant Sale X-Large Thrift Shop-Household items for sale Book Sale-Hard cover Paperbacks Food & Baked Goods Available
Sponsored by Rockville Seniors Inc.
CREDIT CARD DEBT NOW! Cut
payments by up to half. Stop creditors from calling 877-8581386
GUARANTEED AIRLINE CAREERS INCOME FOR begin here - Get FAA YOUR RETIREapproved Aviation MENT. Avoid market Maintenance training. Housing and Financial Aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-4818974.
risk & get guaranteed income in retirement! CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE. Plus Annuity. Quotes from A-Rated compaines! 800-6695471
AIRLINES ARE HIRING- Train for
hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved proCASH FOR gram. Financial aid if UNEXPIRED DIAqualified- Housing BETIC TEST available. CALL Aviation Institute of Mainte- STRIPS! Free Shipping, Friendly Service, nance (877)818-0783. BEST prices and 24hr payment! Call today 877-588-8500 or visit www.TestStripSearch. com Espanol 888-440MEDICAL OFFICE 4001
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM M M M M M M A Creative, Financially M M Secure Couple, LOVE, M M TRAINING Train to M Laughter, Travel, Sports M PROGRAM! become a Medical Of- MEDICAL ALERT M M fice Assistant. No Ex- FOR SENIORS awaits baby. 24/7 monitoring. Needed! CaM M M M perience FREE Equipment. Expenses Paid. reer Training & Job M M Placement Assistance FREE Shippng. Nationwide Service. 1-800-557-9529 M M at CTI! HS $29.95/Month CALL Diploma/GED & ComM Lisa & Kenny M M M puter needed. 1-877Medical Guardian Today 866-992-7236 M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M 649-2671
MADOPTION:M
ALL THAT FEE-SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with the buildings and improvements thereon situated in Montgomery County, Maryland and described as Tax Map ID #05-02792130 more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
If the Substitute Trustees are unable to convey good and marketable title, the purchaser’s sole remedy in law and equity shall be limited to a refund of the deposit withSAVE 67% - PLUS 4 FREE Burgers - Many out interest. If the purchaser fails to go to settlement, the deposit shall be forfeited and Gourmet Favorites the Trustees may then re-advertise and resell the property at the risk and expense of the ONLY $49.99. ORdefaulting purchaser.
DER Today 1-800870-8335. Use code 49377CFX or www.OmahaSteaks. com/holiday34
Handmade Arts & Craft Sale
GP2358
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $10,000.00 by cash or certified check. Balance of the purchase price to be paid by cash or certified check at settlement within twenty (20) days of final ratification of sale by the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County, Maryland. Interest to be paid on the unpaid purchase money at the rate pursuant to the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to the date funds are received in the office of the Substitute Trustees. The noteholder shall not be obligated to pay interest if it is the purchaser. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. All adjustments as of date of sale. Taxes and all other public charges and assessments payable on an annual basis, including sanitary and/or metropolitan district charges, if any, to be adjusted for the current year to date of sale and assumed thereafter by the purchaser. The property will be sold in "AS IS" condition, without express or implied warranty as to the nature and description of the improvements as contained herein; and subject to easements, agreements, restrictions or covenants of record affecting same, if any. All dimensions contained herein are more or less. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, and settlement expenses shall be borne by the purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical possession of the property. Purchaser assumes the risk of loss or damage to the property from the date of sale forward. The purchaser waives and releases the Substitute Trustees, the holder of the indebtedness, the Auctioneers, and their respective agents, successors and assigns from any and all claims the purchaser and/or its successors and assigns may now have or may have in the future relating to the condition of the property, including but not limited to the environmental condition thereof.
FREE!
TRICAL REPAIRS & INSTALLATIONS. Call 1-800-
Rockville Senior Center Sat, Dec 7, 2013, 9am-2pm
ing alternative to unplanned pregnancy. You choose the family for your child. Receive pictures/info of waiting/approved couples. Living expense assistance. 1-866236-7638
ber 10th, 9 am, Richmond, VA. Excavators, Dozers, Dumps & More. Accepting Items Daily thru 12/6. Motley’s Auction & Realty Group, 804-232-3300, REDUCE YOUR www.motleys.com, CABLE BILL! * Get VAAL #16. a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system ORIENTAL RUG installed for FREE and AUCTION: Fri. Dec programming starting 13th 10:00am. 7621 at $19.99/mo. FREE Rickenbacker Dr. Ste HD/DVR upgrade 200, Gaithersburg Md. for new callers, SO 20879. Go to CALL NOW. 1-877auctionzip.com. enter 388-8575. 3455 Get details & photos DNAuctioneers WRAP UP YOUR 410-783-1846
It’s
$19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at payments. CAll Stu800-796-9218 $14.95/month (where dent Hotline 877-295available) SAVE! Ask 0517. About SAME DAY In- ONE CALL, DOES stallation! CALL Now! IT ALL! FAST AND 1-877-992-1237 RELIABLE ELEC- GET FREE OF
Holiday Bazaar!
ADOPTION- A Lov-
The property, which is improved by a dwelling, will be sold in an "as is" condition and subject to conditions, restrictions, and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranty of any kind.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH 100% GUARANTEED, DELIVERED-TOTHE-DOOR OMAHA STEAKS! -
ONE CALL, DOES CUT YOUR IT ALL! FAST AND STUDENT LOAN payments in HALF or RELIABLE more. Even if Late or PLUMBING REin Default. Get Relief PAIRS & INSTALFAST. Much LOWER LATIONS. Call 1-
908-8502
PROTAS, SPIVOK, & COLLINS, LLC 4330 East West Highway, Suite 900 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (301) 469-3602
New. Has Less than 30hrs. Has Programmable Work Out Features, Cooling Fan & Monitors Heartrate. $600 Email: wendy@ bristolcapitalcorp.com
channels only $29.99 a month. Call Now! Triple savings! $636.00 in Savings, Free upgrade to Genie & 2013 NFL Sunday ticket free!! Start Saving today! 1-800-2793018
Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing? Finishing? Structural Repairs? Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1888-698-8150
DISH TV RETAILER . Starting at
NOW HIRING!!! $28/HOUR. Under-
DIRECTV - Over 140
AUCTION CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT & TRUCKS. Decem-
ALL THINGS BASEMENTY!
All Proceeds Support Rockville Senior Ctr 1150 Carnation Dr, Rockville, MD Call 240-314-5019 for directions
HEALTH RIDER ELLIPTICAL: Like
7th 2013 promoting "handmande". This fourth annual event PIANO: Baby Grand is being held DH Baldwin: hardly at the First Baptist used. 1995 in black Church of ebony, approx 5’2 Gaithersburg from length. Bench. Like 9-3 p.m. features new. 301-774-1580. juried artisans, crafters $5,000 and farm raised goods. Food and Sweet Mart open all day! COME PET THE ALPACAS!! 200 W. Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg. Free APPLIANCE REPAIR - We fix It no Admission! matter who you bought it from! 800934-5107
PREMIUM ALL SEASONED HARDWOODS Mostly Oak
GP2338
***OLD ROLEX & PATEK PHILIPPE WATCHES WANTED!** Dayto-
17336 Lafayette Drive, FriSun 12/6-12/8, 8-5, antiques, mid-century, LR,DR, BR furn, art, rugs, primitives, silver, vtg clths, lrg military coll, china, glass, Xmas, books pottery, jewelry, linens, tools, and household items
GP2375
Martin, Fender, Grestch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg, and Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1920’s thru 1980’s. TOP CASH PAID! 1800-401-0440.
OLNEY:
Authority to cancel this sale rests solely with the Substitute Trustees and/or the Auctioneer. Prospective buyers should disregard all other statements and comments made by any other person or entity regarding minimum bids, pricing and cancellations of the sale. Additional terms may be announced at the time of sale. The Substitute Trustees reserve: (1) the right to accept or reject any or all bids; (2) the right to modify or waive the requirements for bidders’ deposits and terms of sale and/or settlement; (3) the right to withdraw the Property from the sale before acceptance of the final bid; and (4) the right to cancel or postpone the sale.
Jordan M. Spivok and Philip J. Collins FURNITURE FOR Substitute Trustees SALE: Ethan Allen solid wood dining set, PROTAS, SPIVOK & COLLINS, LLC 13pcs, table, 6 chairs, Jordan M. Spivok, Esquire 3 leaves, buffet with hutch and dry sink. (301)469-3602 $1500. Cash Only! 301-253-2667
Daycare Directory
G GP2340 P2340
***OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Gibson,
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Children’s Center of Damascus
Lic. #:31453
301-253-6864
20872
Elena’s Family Daycare
Lic. #:15-133761 301-972-1955
20876
Kids Garden Day Care
Lic.#:139378
240-601-9134
20886
Debbie’s Daycare
Lic. #:15-127060 301-540-6818
20876
Affordable Quality Child Care
Lic. #:156840
301-330-6095
20886
Veenu Family Day Care
Lic.#:52608
301-977-2305
20855
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 30, 2013
I AM A CAREGIVER: Specializing
in senior care. Good references. Offering house cleaning, cooking and help with errands. Call Gloria 240-535-2755
DOMI CLEANING SERVICES
Looking for house to clean, Exc Refs, Legal, English Spkng, Own Car
Call 301-602-5072
LOOKING FOR LIVE-IN POSITION: as a care aid. housekeeper, cook or Nanny. 240-271-7481
VIOLET’S CLEANING
Looking For Houses to Clean, Exc Refs, Legal English Spkng, Own Car
301-706-6317
LIVE IN HSKPR:
Min 2yrs Experience. Potomac. Legal. Drive. Cook. 301-887-3212
ROCKVILLE LIVIN IN, LIGHT HOUSE KEEPING & DRIVER for gentle crippled widow. Private large apt. Salary Open. 301-871-6565 lv msg
To Advertise (12-4, 12-6, 12-13-13)
Call 301.670.2641
Careers 301-670-2500
Scanning File Clerk
Autodealership in Montgomery county. Visit our website at www.FitzMall.com/Careers to apply online or send to evansc@fitzmall.com. EOE DFWP Management
Duck Pin Bowling Manager Kenwood Country Club Bethesda Further information visit kenwoodcc.net
class@gazette.net Admin
Customer Service/Dispatch
HVAC contractor in Gaithersburg is seeking experienced dispatcher for residential service. Candidates will be responsible for scheduling and dispatching svc techs to customers, fielding incoming calls and providing quality customer service to our customers. Please send resume to diane@harveyhottel.com
Administrative
FRONT DESK Needed for a Sr. Apartment Community. Good benefits, great atmosphere. Ideal candidate must be patient and possesses basic computer and phone skills. Send resume w/salary reqs.
to office@homecresthouse.org
CLEANING
Earn $350-$500/wk. M-F, No nights or weekends. Must have own car & valid. Drivers lic. Se Habla Espanol.
Merry Maids
Silver Spring 301-587-5709
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Gazette Careers
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Page B-15
Careers 301-670-2500
class@gazette.net Restaurant
SKILLED TRADE
HVAC SERVICE TECH
Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now
IMMEDIATE Position Avialable for NATE and/or Journeyman HVAC service technicians. MUST have 2 yrs exp. Great hourly pay, commission, weekly bonus & insurance. Drug free, customer oriented, and motivated. Only qualified applicants apply. 301-670-1944 - Gaithersburg
Dental/Medical Offices now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-234-7706 CTO SCHEV
GC3171
Construction
BRICKLAYERS
$22.00/hr. Min. 5 yrs commercial exp. Job in Ashburn, VA. Bilingual a plus. Drug-free workplace EOE, E-Verify
301-662-7584
WE’RE HIRING WEEKEND CNAS, GNAS, AND HHAS!
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
LINE COOK
Temporary Position, 11/25/13-04/01/14. Must be able to work weekends, must have transportation. Starting salary $9-$12. Serbian speaking a plus. Contact 301-384-5661 Seibels Restaurant, Burtonsville MD
Sales
Sales - Outside
James A. Wheat and Sons has immediate opportunities for Salesman/Estimator who is extremely knowledgeable in the HVAC & Plumbing industry. Commission, Bonus & Allowances. Target areas are Montg Co. & DC. Experience required. Resumes can be sent to ddimonte@wheatandsons.com or call 301-670-1444
Pharmacy/ Phlebotomy Tech Trainees Needed Now Pharmacies/ hospitals now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-877-240-4524
Veterinary Hospital
2 POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
CTO SCHEV
RECEPTIONIST & VET ASSISTANT
Busy hospital. If you love animals, enjoy pets & people, & are a self-motivated energetic person, come join our team! FAX resume w/ cover letter to: 301-570-1526 OR send resume w/ cover letter to: Brookeville Animal Hospital 22201 Georgia Ave., Brookeville, MD 20833 No Phone Calls or Walk Ins.
Construction
MASON TENDERS
Min. 1 yr exp. in commercial masonry. Job in Ashburn, VA. Bilingual a plus. $12 to $14/hr. based on exp. Drug-free workplace. EOE & E-Verify 301-662-7584
Follow us on Twitter
GC3137
TEACHERS
Sunrise Learning Center Seeks Pre- School ft/pt Teachers & Teachers Assistant for pre-school center in Gaithersburg. 90 hrs plus experience or college credit in ECE is needed. Call 301-208-6948.
Real Estate
Recruiting is now Simple!
Silver Spring
Work with the BEST!
Be trained individually by one of the area’s top offices & one of the area’s best salesman with over 34 years. New & experienced salespeople welcomed.
Must R.S.V.P.
Get Connected
Call Bill Hennessy
GC3041
Education
301-388-2626 301-388-2626
bill.hennessy@longfoster.com • Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. EOE
Part-Time
Work From Home
National Children’s Center Making calls Weekdays 9-4 No selling! Sal + bonus + benes.
Call 301-333-1900
Gazette Careers
Page B-16
THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 r
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
Automotive
Page B-17
Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net
2006 CHEVY UPLANDER: 84K miles,
very good cond., MD Inspected, DVD/MP3, $4499 301-674-5011
WANTED:
Full Size Station Wagon 1965 to 1979. Small/medium engine. Call: 240-475-3210
CA H
FOR CAR ! ANY CAR ANY CONDITION
WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN
INSTANT CASH OFFER
(301) 288-6009
G558420
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
DONATE AUTOS, TRUCKS, RV’S. LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY.
Your donation helps local families with food, clothing, shelter. Tax deductible. MVA licensed. LutheranMissionSociet y.org 410-636-0123 or toll-free 1-877-7378567.
2002 AUDI S6: 5 doors, black, 97,485 miles. Very clean. No dents or rust. Garage kept. All services up to date. Transmission just rebuilt. Has 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. $15,000. 240-654-2773
YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR WAY AT OURISMAN EVERYDAY
$6,000 OFF 2013
Jetta esels 2013 Jetta HDiyb rids
2013 Clearance Sale!
59 Available In
OURISMAN VW
stock units on ly
2002 MAZDA MILLENIA: 97k miles tan
leather interior sunroof automatic $3000 Obo call 240-372-2878
$
2005
2014 JETTA S
MAZDA
3:
4dr. Gray. Very clean. Md Insp. Services up to date. Ready to drive! 240-654-2773
0*
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down payment
15,499
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BUY FOR
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MSRP $25,155 - $6,000 OFF
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$
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2014 PASSAT S 2.5L
#9013380, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Cruise Control
23,999
BUY FOR
18,999
$
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MSRP $25,790
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20,999
$
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OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
2014 TIGUAN S
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Looking for economical choices?
0*
#3131033, Automatic, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Heated Seats, Bluetooth, Cruise Control
MSRP $17,810
BUY FOR
$
due at signing
2013 GOLF 2 DOOR
# 7373771, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry
BUY FOR
0*
#9114095, Automatic, Power Windows/ Power Locks, Sunroof
BUY FOR
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
2013 CC SPORT
#9548323, Automatic, Pwr Windows, Pwr doors, Keyless
MSRP $33,360
MSRP $29,615 BUY FOR
24,599
$
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
21,938
$
BUY FOR
26,599
$
OR 0% for 60 MONTHS
OURISMAN VW WORLD AUTO CERTIFIED PRE OWNED 2006 Golf 4DR HB.................#VP0033, Silver...........................$8,999 2007 Passat Wagon.............#VP0005, White.........................$11,995 2008 GTI 4DR HB.................. #V005145A, Gray.....................$12,999 2011 Jetta Sedan.................#V030129A, Silver.....................$14,995 2012 Jetta SE.......................#VPR6112, Blue.........................$15,495 2013 Jetta Sedan SE...........#V607047A, Black.....................$16,495 2012 Jetta SE....................... #VPR6113, Silver......................$16,495 2012 Beetle........................... #VP0016, Silver........................$16,995
2013 Passat..........................#VPR0015, Gray........................$16,995 2012 Jetta Sedan SE........... #V024331A, Grey.....................$17,999 2010 Jetta Sedan.................#V298226A, Red.......................$18,999 2013 Jetta Sedan SE...........#VPR0011, Silver.......................$18,999 2013 Jetta Sedan Se........... #VPR0012, Silver......................$18,999 2012 Passat TDI....................#V07135A, Grey........................$20,995 2012 CC.................................#V50296A, Silver.......................$21,995 2012 CC/LUX......................... #V540037A, Gray.....................$22,995
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 12/31/13.
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
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G529139
25 Available...Rates Starting at 2.64% up to 72 months
Page B-18
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 o
DARCARS VOLVO OF ROCKVILLE
BEST PRICING FOR THE DECEMBER PRE-OWNED SALES EVENT
07 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS #364333A, $ 5 Speed Manual, 1 $ Owner, 44k Miles
10,985
09 Toyota Camry LE #355058A, 5 Speed $ $
11,800
Auto, 4-Door
10 Toyota Corolla LE $$
#P8853, 4 Speed Auto, 21K Miles, 4Door
13,800
10 Toyota Prius III $$
#P8805, 4 Door, CVT Transmission, 45k miles
17,500
09 Scion XD $$
#353054A, 4 Speed Auto, 4-Door, Barcelona Red
11,500
09 Volkswagen CC #R1702A, $ 6 Speed Auto, $ Sport Model
12,800
12 Honda Civic LX $$
#351138A, 5 Speed Auto, 33.7 Miles, 4-Door
14,800
12 Toyota Camry LE $$
#R1722, 6 Speed Auto, 11.9k Miles, Red Metallic
17,800
2012 Nissan Versa S
07 Toyota Sienna LE $$
#3364373A, 5 Speed Auto, 2WD, Arctic Frost Pearl
11,800
#E0263, 32K Miles, 4 Speed Auto, 4 Door Coupe
13,800
#E0259, 5 Speed Auto, 38K Miles, Polished Slate
18,800
#426021A, 6 Speed Auto, 37,6K Miles, Taupe Gray Metallic
19,800
13,980
#438356A, 96K Miles, 4WD
16,980
#N0270, 58K Miles, 6 Speed Auto
26,480
#P8750, AWD, Electric Silver, Metallic, Certified
$
14,980
$
2008 Cadillac STS
17,980
$
2010 Volvo XC60 3.2L
2013 Infinity G37
24,980
$
#E0216,BackupCamera, 23KMiles,BlackObsidian, SedanTouring
$20,480
$12,980
2011 Subaru Outback
$20,980
$15,980
2012 Toyota Highlander
$17,980
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 4x4
$23,980
$19,480
2011 Volvo XC60 T6
$19,980
2012 Volvo XC60
#N110008, 5-Speed Auto, Supra Black, 4WD Sport Utility.....................
2008 Volvo S80
#P8842, 68k Miles, 3.2L, Blue Metallic....................................................
2013 Volkswagen Passat SE
#N0271, 6 Speed Auto, 7.9K Miles, Black..............................................
2012 Scion XB.................. $14,800 $14,800 2013 Toyota Highlander........ $25,800 $25,800 #450015A, 4 SpeedAuto, 15.4k Miles, Super White #R1745, 2WD, Sport Utility, 18.1K Miles, 1-Owner
#N0276, 6 Speed Auto, 22.5K Miles, 1-Owner, Gray Metallic.................
DARCARS
355 3 5 5 TOYOTA TOYOTA PRE-OWNED P R E - OW N E D
28,980
$
2013 Honda Civic E-XL
#E0278, 32K Mile, 6 Speed Auto, Gray Metallic.....................................
2012 Hyundai Sonata LTD
$
$11,480
2009 Nissan Xterra X
2011 Toyota Camry LE......... $14,800 $14,800 2013 Prius Plug-In.............. $24,800 $24,800 #P8785, 6 SpeedAuto, 36.2k Miles, Blue Ribbon Metallic #374533A, CVT Transmission, Blizzard Pearl, 1-Owner
G558418
#326024A, Premium, M/T Car Coupe, 46K miles, 5 Speed
11,980
$
2008 Land Rover LR2
2008 Ford Mustang GT
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
2007 Honda CR-V EX-L........ $14,800 $14,800 2013 Toyota Camry LE.......... $19,800 $19,800 #472069A, 5 SpeedAuto, Beige Metallic, 1 Owner #R1747, 6 Speed Auto, 11.9k Miles, 4 Door
#326082A, Navigation, 3K Mile, Crystal Black Pearl............................... #P8847A, 29K Miles, Blizzard Pearl........................................................ #429002B, 11,421K Miles........................................................................
$26,980
#327217C, 63K Miles..............................................................................
$31,980
#P8825, 6 Speed Auto, Ice White, 4WD, 1-Owner, Certified...................
$34,980
#327208A, 6 Speed Auto, Caspian Blue, Certified.................................
VOLVO
15401 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD
G529140
www.darcarsvolvo.com
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
1.888.824.9165
DARCARS
Selling Your Car just got easier! Log on to
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As low as 29.95! $
#325096B, CVT Transmission, Super Black, 52K Miles
$
#E0277, 42K Mile, 4 Speed Auto, Polar White........................................
$14,500 2008 Toyota Tundra............ $19,800 $19,800 2011 Toyota Camry LE......... $14,500 #P8783, 6 SpeedAuto, 45K Miles, Magnetic Gray Metallic #369083A, 5 SpeedAuto, 4WD, Desert Sand Mica
1-888-831-9671 1-888-831-9671
15,480
$
11,980
$
2008 Honda Pilot SE
2012 Toyota Yaris
$12,555 2010 Toyota Venza............. $18,800 $18,800 2012 Toyota Corolla LE........ $12,555 #372338B, 4 SpeedAuto, 21.2k Miles, Black Sand Pearl #374551A, 6 SpeedAuto, Barcelona Red Metallic, 1 Owner
See what it’s like to love car buying
#329040A, Ent.Center, 4WD Sport Utility, Formal Black, 88K Miles
2008 Nissan Altima 2.5S
CERTIFIED #332293A, Premier Plus, 2k Miles
2006 BMW X5 3.0i............. $13,500 $13,500 2013 Prius C Three............. $18,000 $18,000 #360298B, 4WD,Auto, Silver Metallic #372383A, 4-Door, CVTTransmission, 18.5K Miles, Classic Silver
DARCARS
12,980
$
2013 Volvo C30
13 Toyota Camry LE #R1738, $ 6 Speed Auto, 14.2k $
miles, 4 Door, 1 Owner
#N110003, 5 Speed Auto, Blue Metallic, Sunroof, 73K Miles
2010 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
13 Toyota Camry LE $$
#R1744, 6 Speed Auto, 13K Miles, 1-Owner
11,480
$
2012 Mazda Mazda 6
11 Ford Focus SE $$
#364474A, Auto, 4 Door, 1 Owner
2008 Volvo S60 2.5T
See what it’s like to love car buying.
YOUR GOOD CREDIT RESTORED HERE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 z
THE GAZETTE
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THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 z
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