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BLUES POWER
Iconic rockers hit the road again with an impressive set list. B-3
The Gazette ROCKVILLE | ASPEN HILL | WHEATON
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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Calling all animal lovers New Montgomery center prepared to shelter dogs, cats, livestock, birds, reptiles n
BY JENN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
Spencer, a 3-year-old Chihuahua mix, was frightened when he came to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center as a stray on Feb. 26. Two days later, with the help of nurturing staff, he was comfortably gobbling up treats and excitedly licking his human admirers. Spencer is one of many animals moving into rooms at the new $20 million Derwood shelter, which opened on Sunday. The 49,160-square-foot facility at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road replaces the county animal shelter on Rothgeb Drive in Rockville, which is operated by the Montgomery County Humane Society. The county contracted with the Humane Society to continue running the old shelter until the end of March, allowing for a transition time between the two centers. In July 2010, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved the use of seven acres of a 51-acre parcel at the corner of Muncaster Mill and Airpark Roads for the new shelter, after county officials deemed the old one, which was built in 1975, overcrowded and in need of renovations. Construction on the new facility, which is more than three times the size of the Rothgeb shelter, began in January 2012. All animals picked up by the county’s Animal Services Division from now on will come to the new shelter, according to Mary Healey, director of the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center.
See SHELTER, Page A-6
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Roberto Remus (center) and his children begin to clean the car and shovel snow in front of their home on Aspen Hill Road in Rockville on Monday.
Snow: A windfall for some, budget blowout for many Some cursing, others enjoying winter’s icy grip n
BY
Winter has wrought a meltdown on the budgets of many local governments, but for some businesses this year’s snowfall has been a windfall. Monday’s wintry blast, with about 4 to 8 inches falling throughout Montgomery County, was the latest blow. Takoma Park has spent at least double what had been budgeted for snow removal, said Daryl Braithwaite, the
Board of Appeals to hear second request for reconsideration BY
ELIZABETH WAIBEL STAFF WRITER
A day care owner seeking to expand her business is facing another legal hurdle from neighbors who say too many institutions are harming the residential character of the area.
DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Rubina Mohammed has been trying to expand a day care in her home at 731 W. Montgomery Ave. for more than a year. She wants to be able to add four more children, raising the maximum enrollment from eight children to 12, which would require a special exception from the Rockville Board of Appeals. Last year, the board denied her application. Moham-
See EXPANSION, Page A-6
SARAH SCULLY/THE GAZETTE
Residents at the Feb. 25 hearing wave flags saying, “We need more green space.”
Panels: Rec center not historic enough Council members would let plans for new facilities progress n
FILE PHOTO
Pictured in a 2013 file photo are 731 W. Montgomery Ave. (left) and 729 W. Montgomery Ave. in Rockville. A day care business, located in the home to the left, requested to increase capacity by four children, according to a legal notice posted in the front of the property.
SPORTS
HEALING THROUGH BASKETBALL
Teressa French
See SNOW, Page A-8
Beth Mullen, a behavior evaluation specialist at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, gets a kiss from Spencer, a 3-year-old Chihuahua mix who came in as a stray two days before.
Dispute continues in request for day care business expansion n
GAZETTE STAFF
city’s public works director. “We typically budget for three storms,” she said, with about $33,000 for salt and sand, plus $18,800 for overtime work. Before Monday’s storm, the city had already spent $60,000 or more on supplies, plus $40,000 on overtime labor, Braithwaite estimated. In all, Takoma Park has used about 800 tons of salt and sand, she said, including for Monday’s storm. The city just ordered 150 more tons of salt; the city tries to end the season with 100 tons stock-
Covenant Life community uses basketball to work out grief of two deaths in three days.
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Automotive Calendar Celebrations Classified Entertainment Opinion School News Sports Please
RECYCLE
BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
When it comes to its rec center, it looks like history will give way to progress in Wheaton.
Most County Council members said Thursday that it will not designate the Wheaton Community Recreation Center, built in 1963, as historic, after hearing from residents Feb. 25. That means the center likely will be razed to make room for a new library and rec center.
See REC CENTER, Page A-6
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