RETIRING, BUT NOT SHY After 37 years, Olney nurse steps down. A-4
A&E: Scientific, artistic production “Bella Gaia” comes to Strathmore. B-4
The Gazette ROCKVILLE | ASPEN HILL | POTOMAC | OLNEY DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Our House getting a new house Brookeville program’s new $2.7M dorm to boost capacity from 16 to 24
Dispute centers on artificial turf pitches at Rockville, Potomac schools n
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
Our House has been changing the lives of at-risk young men for more than two decades. Soon, it will change even more. Construction is expected to begin in early January on a new dormitory at the residential program on its 140-acre Brookeville farm, which will allow it to expand from 16 to 24 teens and young men. The turnout at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony — more than 60 people came, about double what was expected — speaks to the program’s success. Speakers included Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Calverton, who first visited the program 10 years ago. “Benny and his staff have figured out the secret recipe for what young people need in this world—love and discipline,” Kaiser said, referring to Richard Bienvenue, its founder and executive director. “I’d love to see this program replicated across the state, but it seems that magic ingredient is Benny himself. He changes the lives of these young men, who become productive members of society.” The crowd included representatives of businesses, community groups, the Olney Chamber of Commerce, Scout leaders, elected officials and other friends of the program. “I knew this day would come. I just didn’t know when,” Bienvenue said. “We started this about five years ago during a recession.” Although he had to navigate a long
See HOUSE, Page A-10
BY
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Ashia Mann and her son Bennett Mann, 5, of Rockville enjoy Sunday’s mild weather at the outdoor ice rink in downtown Rockville.
Rockville ice rink to offer skating, lessons until March RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Rockville residents looking to practice their toe loops or triple salchows, or just looking for a good time around the holidays, can head to the ice skating rink now open in Town Center. The rink will add a winter touch to the heart of downtown Rockville until March. At 7,200 square feet, the rink is billed as the largest outdoor ice rink between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and the largest in Montgomery County. Free parking will be available at garages A, B and C in Town Center after 6 p.m. from Wednesday through Jan. 5, said Molly Hip-
politus, a spokeswoman for Delucchi Plus, which handles public relations for Rockville Town Center. The rink will host birthday parties, corporate events, private parties and ice skating lessons along with public skating times. Skate rentals are $3, with passes $8 for skaters 12 and younger, and $9 for those 13 and older. Family and individual season passes are available. Hours and other information on the Rockville Town Center ice skating rink are at rockvilletownsquare.com/at-thesquare/ice-rink/. rmarshall@gazette.net
Kaiser tapped as House majority leader n
District 14 delegate honored, excited to take on new role BY
TERRI HOGAN STAFF WRITER
All that hard work is paying off, says Del. Anne R. Kaiser.
Automotive Calendar Celebrations Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
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The District 14 Democrat from Calverton was named House majority leader last week by Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis. “Anne Kaiser has worked tirelessly for the House Democratic Caucus and demonstrated leadership capabilities on crucial legislative priorities,” said Busch in a news release.
Kaiser, 46, who has been a delegate since 2003, will continue chairing the House Ways and Means Education Subcommittee. She said she is humbled, as as thinks she received the new appointment by “letting her work speak for itself.”
See KAISER, Page A-10
NEWS
INDEX B-11 A-2 A-11 B-8 B-4 A-12 B-1
LINDSAY A. POWERS STAFF WRITER
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Richard “Benny” Bienvenue, founder and executive director of Our House in Brookeville, speaks during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for a new dormitory.
25 cents
Judge: Suit over soccer fields can move forward
Skaters welcome
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SPORTS: Gazette previews the high school wrestling and swimming seasons. B-1
HOPE IS A GOOD THING A former businesswoman from Rockville, touched by cancer, joins nonprofit.
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Volume 27, No. 27, Two sections, 28 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette Please
RECYCLE
A Montgomery County judge ruled last week that a youth soccer organization can continue its lawsuit in the county courts over the use of two artificial turf fields. Montgomery Soccer Inc. filed the suit July 1 in Montgomery County Circuit Court, claiming the county Board of Education had unfairly entered into agreements with other groups for the turf fields at two public schools. The lawsuit is filed against the school board. One field at Richard Montgomery High in Rockville and another — yet to be installed — at Churchill High School in Potomac are at the center of the legal battle. Attorneys for Montgomery County Public Schools asked in August for the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Circuit Court was not the right arena for the dispute, among other reasons. According to a transcript of a Nov. 18 hearing, Judge Durke Thompson said that Montgomery Soccer “can continue to pursue their remedy in the court system.” The soccer group was pleased with the judge’s deci-
sion, Doug Schuessler, its executive director, said Friday. “The judge in this case delivered a clear message that this case should not only go forward, but the courts are the proper jurisdiction to hear the case,” he said. Schuessler said in a previous interview that his group had the best proposals to use the fields and should have been chosen over its competitors in part because it serves a broader group of players around the county with more economically disadvantaged youths. The school board this summer awarded the Richard Montgomery field-use agreement to Bethesda Soccer Club, and the Churchill agreement to Bethesda Lacrosse and the Potomac Soccer Association. Montgomery Soccer was awarded Gaithersburg High’s field. Montgomery Soccer has said it thinks the school board did not consider the different submissions for the agreements. Rather, it approved a recommendation and did not share how the submissions were evaluated based on a point system, which was described in the school system’s requests for proposals. The organization alleges, among other things, that school officials involved in the selection process did not rely on a
See JUDGE, Page A-10
Cities, county hash out bus rapid transit plans Meeting to focus on routes planned for Md. 355 in Rockville, Gaithersburg n
BY JENN DAVIS AND RYAN MARSHALL STAFF WRITERS
Officials from Rockville, Gaithersburg and Montgomery County are scheduled to meet Dec. 3 to discuss plans for the county’s bus rapid transit system and how the three jurisdictions want to see the project evolve. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Rockville City Hall, at 111 Maryland Ave. Bus rapid transit is conceived as a high-capacity transportation system that uses buses traveling in dedicated lanes in
some sections. The system, with numerous routes running throughout Montgomery County, could include a limited number of stops, off-board fare collection and the ability for riders to get real-time arrival information. The meeting will focus on the routes that are expected to run along Md. 355 from Bethesda to the Clarksburg area, according to organizers. A corridor also is expected along Veirs Mill Road in Rockville, although that’s not expected to be discussed at the Dec. 3 meeting. The process is still very preliminary and the meeting is designed to help get everyone on the same page, said Glenn Orlin, deputy administrator for the County Council.
See BUS, Page A-10