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North Potomac Times, July 2016 Edition
A Community Newspaper… for the neighborhoods of North Potomac www.northpotomactimes.com • July 2016 Editor’s Note: Quince Orchard Knolls is a North Potomac neighborhood situated between Quince Orchard Road and Route 28 (Darnestown Road), approximately a mile south of the intersection of these two roads. The majority of its 329 single family homes were built in the early to mid-1970s, and were once variously known as Quince Orchard Knolls, Golden Gate East, and American Way. The Quince Orchard Knolls Citizens Association (QOKCA) was established in 1971 to advance and protect the interests and general welfare of the Quince Orchard Knolls community. QOKCA helps Quince Orchard Knolls residents stay connected to each other, to Montgomery County government agencies, and to issues affecting the community. QOKCA publishes a community directory and sponsors several neighborhood events throughout the year. These events include an Egg Hunt during weekend before the Easter holiday, a National Night Out Ice Cream Social, a Community Yard Sale, Pumpkin Painting in October, cider delivery to neighborhood homes during the December holidays, and a flag planting around Memorial Day when QOKCA volunteers place small American flags by each household’s mailbox to show the community’s patriotic spirit. QOKCA also publishes a neighborhood newsletter called “The Quill,” and in the latest issue of “The Quill,” the QOKCA volunteer coordinator for this year’s flag planting reported on events. wCONTINUED ON PAGE 16… Photo credits: Quince Orchard Knolls Citizens Association Quince Orchard Knolls “Flag Day” Children joined in the smiling and waving—of flags—as they took part in the Quince Orchard Knolls Community’s Flag Planting for Memorial Day. Not Everyone Is Pleased with New Rec Center’s Name By Kenneth Plisco By Ellyn Wexler Photo credit: Taylor Thomas Photo credit: Debbie Boderman Former U.S. Army Missile Site to Become City of Gaithersburg Park A community volunteer, who served on the committee that developed recommendations for the park, shows a diagram of the property before leading local residents on a tour of the site. In mid-June, unfinished landscaping and lingering construction equipment indicated that the North Potomac Community’s new recreation center was not quite ready for its grand opening. A January 2014 agreement between the City of Gaithersburg and the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service allowed the City to take possession of the former Consumer Product Safety Commission campus located along Route 28 just west of Muddy Branch Road. Vehicle access to the site is via a narrow roadway between Treworthy Road, which is the entrance to the Westleigh neighborhood, and Argosy Drive, which provides access to the Washingtonian Woods development. The 9.54-acre property served as a testing site for the Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1975 to 2012, and before that, from 1955 to 1975, it was the location What’s in a name? Apparently, in the case of the North Potomac’s new community recreation and senior center, quite a bit. A June 20 press release, issued on behalf of County Executive Ike Leggett, announced his decision to officially name the center the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center. The outcome does not sit well with the board of directors of the North Potomac Citizens Association (NPCA), who had lobbied to have the center bear the name of the geographic entity it will serve—sans the addition of the late Montgomery County Council member’s name. wCONTINUED ON PAGE 7… wCONTINUED ON PAGE 16… c/o Business Visions, LLC P.O. Box 83552 Gaithersburg, MD 20883-3552 Postal Customer PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Gaithersburg, MD Permit No. 143 ECRWSS Contents… People.................................................... 3 & 6 Business................................................... 8–10 Neighborhoods...........................................12 School and University News......................13 Events..................................................... 14–16 Nearby News..............................................17 Nonprofit Notebook............................. 18–19 Ch erry Ave Icc Icc 3a Blv d or e Sh ad yG r Sk id m r 0 O ne ill D 30 r o d Dr 0 20 16 16 00 0 Ln sh ire dy Sq L a n Sq 0 Elm cro ft ee ked Cr k Dr e eCr oo Sil ve rM rG Be ea lad lls do eP pr in l w g Ln Pl M ars h 30 d w Vie n de gho rn C Watkins C Cr ee B d Blv Pl le Ct e Ca rn at io nD r Re b Pk Co lleg e 400 Lync W ils Rd Rd i mn W Au Ct d oo Fa lls w Bettst rail Ct Rd Ing le W o the area outlined in blue on the map. If you live in the blue bounded area talk to your neighbor and see what he or she liked about the North Potomac Times! And if you are a business owner or leader and want your advertising message to reach the 22,000+ homes and businesses of “North Potomac,” then email us at [email protected] or call 301.330.5876! www.northpotomactimes.com lls 2016W ©ay Intelligent Direct, Inc., Wellsbo I Fa eC t yC t Falls Ct 1100 Pipe st Sum Vei Ain eT er O ak Ct Hosta Way Blue rs D r Dr ck her Ro r Ct Dr Ritch fie ld otton Pk wy Wo Mannak ee S t b-a 700 Ct n H ill ill Cr of to 80 0 Go rm Ha 1000 Rd wn r to or ax Ct ur le yA ve Lochn e Goo dlan d Pl Rose bu sh Ln Peon ies Te r Trail T 00 20 Fairwood C Dr rlea Ove Carriag e Ct Ct n xd e Fo ns Pond Rid ge m on t Av e l Dr d K Fa llsw oo 15200 od H ill R d 0 Jac ala Te r 500 n Ca sey L r Ln Potte 200 r up Dr l sco tt P Dr kw oo d Ga r 0 70 15 R Rd Sh ad y Gro ve 0 30 15 Corp o y Gr ov e Rd Sha d 60 13 60 0 Cleveland C tC ir Industria l Dr r Om eg aD 14900 Mi ll Rd Gle n 138 00 Ch er ry da l La ke Way Up p e 9700 Cas r Dr ia n r ee Dr obl bertin Lakeston av en Ct u Cava 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ill Rd ry M y Choice l m Way 0 1420 13500 le D r Bo n nie Da ee k Ct Potomac Chase Estates r er Ch ov nts Fli er Windmill Farm Main St Gol de n Ash h Mew Ln Ln all yH nd Br a Pin 60 t 300 Iris Orchard Rid g e Dr El lvd mir sB a Ln Kent l a nd C hev nto yC ha nL s n n r 14 eC do w t Rd st ur Rd ns 0 10 15 m Da 14900 ridg St n er Poin t W a y St Rye Ct ado w D ed i 00 Mills Farm East North Potomac Tu Gle nh od go ur Tschi ff e ll Mi Apric o 15000 ay 124 D100 r bia ay W W in Dam s W ai MEx l tP 124 Diamond Farms idlin e C Long me sh Dr Doind River Ln 11 e h M rke y Foo t Rd 0 Am Bunch ber ry L n ine es ap Te r sa p Dr 20878 d ill R yM er 60 O High Me a ey L nd n Ke n 11 e Quinc L m Rd Ct Ct ig a lW Hil endrick Pl r sG Kwanzan Vi Corb Potomac Chase Travilah nAcres Ln Farmlands i Knoll C t ple Ap de r Won erm Quince Orchard Knolls Park on Ter r Rd ente eC Hors Ct Ev Ln ay W hirlaw x Ln nt Fo n lla row le C Trip tors Ln iga av N d ay o Ci t r u berry Black 15700 0 ay l own P R o Q u i nce O rc ough Dr e dg 10 Ln g L A um n 12 oe t fC Fa llin Fo eW h tis ot Sc ut Young Ln Ct ew Pl nd Ga Trip le Cr Tur k Aberdeen Park Mills Farm 0 Triple r C l Tal Dr Sho em ay a k er W r a l Wa y 1270 Talle y Ln Altice ea fD r Harvest Hunt Farm umn Ct r Rd nce Nat ive Da i dm rA Wa D Fox Hills Green M L h Pe ac an t ion Ct ce a Le ch R Golden A Mas sb u QuinceW Orchard Knolls c Fal onb ri ay Hia le a h W Back Dr Tur l e y ak Stra w Bale Ln Ter rry St be tC O tR Bird onb Falc house Ln s ts Far ee tC t Way tb Swee ven h urs Otis Way Be ck 70 Be wit 0 ck w h St ith M ew Rd r Te t ge olk C id P yr Th 11 Ter e Quinc Keacon Square Ct nt la nds Blv d 200 Potomac Grove Fox Hills North Carry Sh Turley Ct Pl n Ke 0 ov e ard rch eO l nc P Qui ch Ar Tschiffley Sq 1200 y Tim on iu m Ct Pilots Landin gW Darnestown Hills lling Lea Fa Wild a ship W Fellow Lloydminster Dr h erry 12800 Dodie Dr Ct r yD c e V alle a Chin Ter Gravenhurst Ter Ct len s s Of Darnestown p Ln shi ly Quince Orchards W ay ro sa Pis 0 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Br an do n Sioux Pl M Seneca Creek State Park Quince Orchard Manor 165 nt ec r ock Ter nR Rave Sio ay sW teu Ma G Sound Dr Research Dr Ct Fernshire Farms ux ys on ac Be 17000 ll Ter Hi Flagler Dr Ct Ct on 300 ux Ln Sio Bradent am an on y D Rege r n d D r Ct Ba Fernshire Woods Coventry T C Fern shir e Rd Quince Orchard Valley Park qu ar i stian ba Se H op e Ti Dr per Ct Barrel Coo n row ry Dr dbu Bra Ke e Ct ys ville Ct les Ga 17000 12400 Ct d rR 0874 Ba ysw ate Ct F Orchard Place Ct Westis Riding Dr ff Di Quince Orchard ValleyRelda Square nt Dr oi D Galesville r E Relda d Wo o dland R D Marm ary R d d F ir stfie ld R C d ian Grass Ct e Solitair B n G r a ssIn J Natalya Parris: From Russia with a Love of Art By Sharon Allen Gilder Natalya Borisovna Parris’ basic and advanced degrees in construction engineering from the Moscow State Construction University built a foundation for her creative endeavors in the art world. “My dots connect my experience of making engineering drawings by hand to the present time when I use those dots to create my artworks,” said Parris, an award-winning artist and art educator who has lived in Gaithersburg since her arrival in the U.S. in 1995. “Emotional Counterpoints in Paint– Dots Artworks” is the name Parris uses for her artistic style that is based on her experience as a construction engineer. She overlays dots onto sections of a previously painted picture. Her engineering experiences perfected the precision of the dots that she “piles on one another and, the dots, like music notes, interact with the rhythm of the melody creating emotional counterpoints in a threedimensional painting,” she said. person…subconsciously, I choose for my art bright, happy colors,” she noted. Many of her floral compositions feature rich colors, which she describes as “expressions of my connection with nature, its beauty, and its nurturing and healing effect on the soul.” Parris hears about the cathartic impact of art from her students, old and young. A Sunrise resident told her, “When I am in your art class, I forget about aches, pains, and all my troubles. I forget about time, it flies. I feel happy.” Among her Sunrise students were retired doctors, writers, teachers, military veterans, and even professional artists. “Most of them come to class with the words, ‘I could not paint, I do not know how to do it.’ But, when they start to create, they are amazed by the result and it gives them hope, perspective in life, and confidence,” Parris said. One of her 5-year-old students exclaimed, “I love art! I could not live without art!” She said that children tend to be more free spirited and express themselves easily. “They do not try to impress themselves or other people. They just want to create and are very happy and proud of their creations,” Parris observed. “Adults, especially the ones who Parris applies a “a modern, contemporary interpretation” to the Russian folk art that inspires her. The Russian genre “can be viewed as a cornucopia of art because there are so many different folk art traditions and styles,” she said. “In such a big and ancient country, there is an endless source of material for study and inspiration.” She often focuses on a theme to create her series, such as her most recent “Memories of Hillwood,” which was stimulated by a visit to Marjorie Merriweather Post’s estate, which is noted for its extensive collection of Russian imperial art. In 2006, Parris began working as a gallery coordinator, director, and curator for the City of Gaithersburg. She shares her knowledge, talent, and skills through classes and camps she teaches at the Arts Barn in the Kentlands, Sunrise’s senior facility in Montgomery Village, BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, and the Damascus Community Recreation Center. Acrylic is her medium of choice because the paints dry quickly and “gives me the opportunity to paint with bright, vibrant colors on different surfaces… I am hopelessly optimistic, very energetic, and a passionate and enthusiastic Submitted NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • PEOPLE Natalya B. Parris with Patterns in the Sky, a 24” x 18” acrylic on canvas. An image of this work was published in the Art Expo Las Vegas catalog at the International Art Expo Las Vegas in 2008. were very successful in previous careers and want to learn to paint after they retired, are afraid that their paintings might look like children’s art…that they would not be able to create beautiful art and that their work might be ridiculed.” In January, Parris began to dabble in electronic technology with her “new passion,” digital photography. The wCONTINUED ON PAGE 6… 301-258-6350 Gaithersburgmd.gov aithersburg 4 of July th Fireworks Now at Bohrer Park 11 a.m. Water Park & Miniature Golf Park Open ‘til 7 p.m. Residents & Members – Exclusive use of the Water Park all day long 3 p.m. Skate Park Open. Skate under the lights ‘til 11 p.m. 5 p.m. Activities & Entertainment with The Lloyd Dobler Effect & Millenium Food Trucks Open THE ULTIMATE LAWN PARTY Live music, fun games, inflatables, fireworks, and more on the expansive lawn at Bohrer Park. Viewing/Parking Maps Available Online 9:25 p.m. Fireworks Spectacular 10 p.m. SummerGlo After Party w/Music, Dancing & Giveaways Para obtener información en español visite el sitio web de la ciudad de Gaithersburg Interested in advertising YOUR BUSINESS in The North Potomac Times? Check our ad rates at: northpotomactimes.com • More information: [email protected] • 301.330.5876 July 2016 3 www.northpotomactimes.com Out & About Covering Community Stories… PUBLISHER’S POST Photo credit: Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Commerce Last month, I thanked many of our readers who had telephoned or emailed us after reading our first issue of The North Potomac Times. This month, I would like to switch gears and talk about some of the businesses and organizations, spread throughout “greater” North Potomac, that we have begun to work with. You likely will have noticed the “Your Voice for Business” column in the business section of the June issue of our newspaper, written by Marilyn Balcombe of the Gaithersburg/Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC). Since North Potomac itself does not have a separate Chamber of Commerce, we welcome contributions from the GGCC, and look forward to their regular report in our newspaper. “Official” North Potomac, of course, does not extend into the municipality of the City of Gaithersburg, but we welcome the City’s advertisements both this month and last that promote the City’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration to be held at Bohrer Park. Because of the prominence of the City’s Arts on the Green venues in the Kentlands—the Arts Barn and the Kentlands Mansion—we have listed their activities in The North Potomac Times calendar of events since our first issue. Also, the folks at the Arts Barn have agreed to keep a supply of the latest issue of The North Potomac Times there—just in case you want to pick up a copy at that location. I am not sure how often you visit the relatively new area of the City of Gaithersburg known as Downtown Crown. We’ve been working with some of the companies responsible for property management in that area. Bozzuto Management Company has been providing assistance in distributing The North Potomac Times there, and Retail Properties of America, Inc. has purchased advertising space in our paper to promote the Downtown Crown summer concert series. And despite the fact that Downtown Crown is part of the City of Gaithersburg, I see where at least one business located there advertises its location as North Potomac. So, welcome all to North Potomac, and please enjoy this issue of The North Potomac Times! A blast from the past. The North Potomac Times is just three months old, so this is not a blast from the past regarding the newspaper itself, but the publisher of The North Potomac Times, Rod Mayer, has been a part of the Gaithersburg/ North Potomac business community for several years. Here he poses, in Kentlands Market Square, in 2014 with Marilyn Balcombe of the Gaithersburg/Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) and other members of the Chamber. The photo is indicative of the evolving restaurant business in the Kentlands. This photo was actually snapped at the Grand Opening event for Largent’s restaurant, which is now closed, and in the background you can see what was at that time the Star Diner, which is no longer in business, the building itself now being renovated to be the new home of Vasilis Mediterranean Grill. Read more about GGCC in the business section of this issue of The North Potomac Times. –Rod Mayer A Community Newspaper… for the neighborhoods of North Potomac The North Potomac Times is a publication of Business Visions, LLC an independent locally owned newspaper delivered by direct mail to the home and business mailboxes of “North Potomac” and adjacent areas. Photo credit: Taylor Thomas On the web at www.northpotomactimes.com Publisher & Managing Editor Advertising For advertising information check “rate card” at www.northpotomactimes.com or [email protected] The North Potomac Times and Business Visions, LLC do not endorse the products and services advertised herein, and are not responsible for claims made by the advertisers herein, Copy Editor/Contributing Writer nor do they ensure the Ellyn Wexler correctness of advertisements. Calendar of Events Editor/ Contributing Writer The North Potomac Times Dominique Agnew Contributing Writers Gina Gallucci-White Sharon Allen Gilder Susan Petro Kenneth Plisco Contributing Photographer Debbie Boderman [email protected] debbiebodermanphotography@ zenfolio.com and Business Visions, LLC reserve the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. Articles appearing in The North Potomac Times are presented as a community service and do not necessarily represent the views of The North Potomac Times or Business Visions, LLC. Quan Zhang [email protected] https://www.flickr.com/ photos/mrqphotography for publication must be signed and Taylor Thomas may be edited for length or content. Articles and letters submitted Layout and Graphics Anne-Marie Thomas AnyArt Solutions LLC • 301.602.4367 [email protected] July 2016 North Potomac Times publisher Rod Mayer (center), shares a laugh with City of Gaithersburg councilmen Neil Harris (to the right, facing the camera), and Robert T. Wu (to the far right, with his back to camera). This photo was taken at the Open House for a proposed new Gaithersburg City park surrounded by the Westleigh neighborhood on one side and Washingtonian Woods on the other. See the story that begins on the front page of this issue. © Copyright 2016 The North Potomac Times and Business Visions, LLC Photo credit: Quan Zhang Dr. Rodney K. (Rod) Mayer [email protected] 301.330.5876 4 Correction! In the caption for this photo in the “Out and About” column of the June issue of The North Potomac Times—as well as another photo in that same edition of the newspaper— we misidentified Sue Fitzpatrick, president of the North Potomac Citizens Association. We’re rerunning one of the photos here with the correct spelling of her name. Our apologies to Sue! www.northpotomactimes.com Perform at Strathmore? Who, me? NO EXCUSES, NO APOLOGIES, JUST PRIVATE TRAINING WITH RESULTS. Join the BEST area youth musicians in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras The Resident Youth Orchestra of Strathmore Artistic Director, Jonathan Carney | Music Director, Kristofer Sanz AUDITION DATES: August 22-28, 2016 at The Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD Register for auditions online now at audition.mcyo.org Audition requirements available on the website Limited Time Offer 3 sessions for $99* Get Started Today! Six Extraordinary Orchestras for 500 Young Musicians, ages 8-18: Preparatory Strings (grades 3-5) Symphony (grades 8-10) Chamber Strings (grades 4-6) Chamber Ensemble (grades 9-10) Young Artists (grades 6-8) Philharmonic (grades 10-12) 301.355.8042 Potomac 12189 Darnestown Rd Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Plus Chamber Groups, Flute and Clarinet Choirs, and Harp Ensemble Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at The Music Center at Strathmore starting in September and ending in June. Concert performances at fitnesstogether.com/potomac *Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply. See studio for details. The Music Center at Strathmore take place in December, March, and May. 2016 Fitness Together Franchise Corporation. All rights reserved. Each Fitness Together® studio is independently owned and operated. © Visit our website at www.mcyo.org or call 301-581-5208 for more information. NOW ENROLLING P SUMMER CAM D AN 2016-2017 The Wise Choice AN UNSURPASSED PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE Georgetown Hill, a nonprofit organization has partnered with families for over 35 years to provide an exceptional early childhood education. We provide full and part-time programs for infants through kindergarten, elementary age before and after school and summer camp. To begin your child’s journey with Georgetown Hill, visit one of our locations today in Darnestown, North Potomac, Montgomery Village, Rockville or Potomac. www.georgetownhill.com CONTACT US TODAY! 301.527.1377 PHONE [email protected] EMAIL NORTH POTOMAC 14901 Dufief Mill Road | North Potomac, MD 20878 DARNESTOWN 15120-B Turkey Foot Road | Darnestown, MD 20878 July 2016 5 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • PEOPLE Photo Credit: Caitlin Moulton, Caitlin Marie Photography. by Sharon Allen Gilder Dr. Caitlin Zaner Memories of “scooping up globs of mud from the backyard to view under a Fisher-Price microscope, visiting North Carolina’s Museum of Life and Science, and examining toys to fix their ailments” were among the earliest precursors to Dr. Caitlin Zaner’s career in medicine. The pediatrician, who has a 2-year-old son, said she was “always drawn to and looked forward to any classes related to science and health.” The North Potomac resident’s area roots are well established. She attended Darnestown Elementary, Ridgeview Middle and Northwest High schools and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a combined major in biology, medical anthropology, and medical sociology titled, “The Cultural Interpretation of Sickness.” Zaner graduated from the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine (2011) and completed a pediatric residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) in Baltimore (2014). After graduation, as a chief resident she was an academic preceptor, and coordinated resident education activities that included a core lecture series and daily didactic sessions; she also participated in and presented at the Grand Rounds lecture series, developed Hotbox, a weekly mystery case and worked as a hospitalist at UMMC’s Pediatrics at Midtown, a primary care clinic. While in medical school, Zaner received additional training in a combined accelerated program in psychiatry. “I find the cultural impacts on the perception and experience of wellness, illness, and healthcare to be fascinating,” she said. The doctor has published numerous articles and abstracts in professional journals and delivered a healthy dose of didactic presentations to fellow professionals at symposiums and conferences. July 2016 w Zaner has been an associate pediatrician at Potomac Valley Pediatrics (PVP), a practice owned by Dr. Avneet Bawa, since 2015. The practice, with newborn nursery privileges at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. PVP treats patients from birth to age 22. “We do care for some patients with complex chronic medical issues for slightly longer, and then help facilitate a smooth transition to adult providers,” Zaner noted. She was drawn to pediatrics not only because of her interest in caring for children, but also because of the developmental changes and challenges that occur during the growing years. Children undergo “such profound physical, physiologic, mental, cognitive, emotional, psychological, and social changes,” Zaner said. Both she and her husband Dr. Jordan Zaner, who practices general dentistry in Frederick, have multiple family members in the medical field. Her mother, a neonatologist, “has always been a role model for ‘the’ woman in medicine, maintaining a work-life balance while developing a very successful career,” she said. A general pediatrician “becomes the family’s ‘medical home’ and the point person who can uniquely advocate for them within the healthcare system,” Zaner said. When a child’s illness disrupts family dynamics, “we (pediatricians) have the ability to help guide the family through these difficult times in a very multidisciplinary way… It is the pediatrician’s responsibility to coordinate care among subspecialty providers, physical/occupational therapists, home nursing agencies, or other ancillary caregivers when appropriate.” Zaner believes it is important for parents to “prioritize their children’s ‘well child checks,” as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, because “there are different health and safety concerns, developmental, and mental health surveillance processes, and vaccines at each age to consider.” NATALYA PARRIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4… immediate results of digital formatting clicked with her and linked to her “first love,” civil engineering. “It gives me an opportunity to create a dream world with fantasies in vivid colors or to emphasize the focus and hidden message in the photograph,” she said. An original photograph of poor quality and a desire to save memories prompted her to “make lemonade out of the lemons life gave me… This is the main principle of my life and art that I want my students to adopt, because mistakes you make while creating your art could be your best blessing and it gives you a chance to generate a unique art beyond your original plan,” Parris explained. “Very often when viewers see my paintings, they ask me, ‘How did you do it?’ But, I always let them guess because one of the purposes of my artwork is to encourage people to exercise their imagination, fantasy, and ingenuity.” Parris’ works will be on display at “Americana,” the Arts Barn’s second annual Faculty Exhibit: from July 1 SERVICES: Submitted Pediatrician Dr. Caitlin Zaner: Caring from Birth Natalya B. Parris stands with Fragments of a Night Sky, a 24” x 6” work currently on display at the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association exhibit now to September 2016 at the North Creek Community Center, 20125 Arrowhead Road in Montgomery Village, MD 20886. through Aug. 29, with an Education Open House and Artist Reception set for Aug. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. From Aug. 1 to 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Parris will teach an Exploring American Art summer camp program for students, ages 7 to 11.w Website Design ■ Graphic Design ■ Desktop Publishing Branding ■ Illustrations ■ Voice-Overs PRODUCTS: Office Technologies AnyArt Solutions llc business.art.technology 301. email: Dr. Caitlin Zaner with her son, Jason “Parents are the most significant role models for the child. Children will learn and shape their attitudes towards health based on what they observe,” she said. “The basics are key: proper nutrition, an active lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight, good sleep, and learning the importance of valuing your health are just as important for children as they are for adults.” And the pediatrician is important as well. “A child’s experiences with their pediatrician during well visits or in ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ [email protected] 602. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ website: www.anyartsolutions.com 4367 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ times of minor or more severe illness can completely shape their view and perception of their body, their own mental and physical health, and attitudes towards health and preventive care,” Zaner said. “I have the ability to make a very Designer and desktop publisher of this very paper! Design and office technology solutions for your business. positive, meaningful, and lasting impact on the patient’s overall well-being. This is a true honor.” For more information, visit www.potomacvalleypediatrics.net.w Is there a local person you would like to see featured in the People section? Contact us at editor@northpotomactimes/301.330.5876 6 www.northpotomactimes.com Open House for the City of Gaithersburg Park’s Advisory Committee w FORMER U.S. MISSILE SITE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1… of a support facility for the U.S. Army missile system. Nine structures remained on the site when the City took possession of the property, and only one was deemed potentially usable. The others were in poor condition, many with mold and leaking issues; those buildings were demolished in the fall of 2015. One warehouse building was preserved for possible use in conjunction with the site being reborn as a community park. In June 2015, the Mayor and City Council appointed an ad hoc advisory committee to review the property and make recommendations for its use. Over the timeframe of a full year, the committee, comprised of 11 volunteers and City staff members, developed proposals for the public use of the property at 10901 Darnestown Road. On Wednesday evening, June 8, that committee hosted an Open House to allow the public to tour the site and see renderings of the new park being proposed for the property. A formal presentation followed the site tour. Here is a sampling of activities that took place during the Open House as captured by The North Potomac Times photographer Taylor Thomas. Several dozen people attended the Open House and listened to a presentation that provided details on the new park. This is an up-close view of a diagram of the “preferred concept” for a park to be constructed on the site, showing the various activity areas within the park. Local residents arrive at the Open House which was held in a warehouse on the site of proposed park. A serene scene on the grounds of the proposed park. Vehicle access to the site is via a narrow roadway tucked between two residential neighborhoods. One local resident who attended the Open House reads the latest copy of The North Potomac Times as he awaits the formal presentation to begin! July 2016 Visitors tour the site near the fenceline where a pedestrian path will one day connect the park to the surrounding neighborhoods. 7 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • BUSINESS Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Your Voice for Business Spotlight on the GGCC… by Marilyn Balcombe, President and CEO Kudos to our Neighbor at Johns Hopkins Congratulations to Leslie Ford Weber from Johns Hopkins University for receiving the Chairman’s Award at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce 57th Annual Dinner. Weber is the director of Campus, Government and Community Affairs, Montgomery County, for Johns Hopkins. She was recognized for her dedication to the chamber’s board of directors and leadership on legislative issues that affect the business community. As a member of the MCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Weber contributes an important higher education voice to the business community. In her roles as the 2015-2016 vice-chair for legislative affairs, member of the MCCC Business Environment Council, and previous vice-chair for economic development, Weber has been a leader on legislative issues that affect the business community by advocating for and providing guidance to MCCC members. In addition to her work at the chamber, she is engaged in community organizations such as the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, the Montgomery Business Development Corporation and Montgomery Women. “It’s a pleasure to work with my Chamber colleagues and other leaders who are committed to ensuring that Montgomery County is a place where business can thrive and grow, a mission shared by Johns Hopkins,” Weber said. “Much of building relationships between the public and private sectors is sharing our stories so that everyone understands the vital role commerce plays in building a healthy and financially sustainable community.” County’s New Initiative: Excellence in Business Services In an effort to identify areas where the county government could improve services to businesses, the County Executive has developed a threepronged initiative to ensure excellence in business services. The objectives of this initiative are to make it easier to find information, to simplify and streamline county regulations where appropriate and to ensure that businesses are treated with respect in all interactions. Regulatory Reform: Montgomery County’s regulatory environment is often described as complex and businessunfriendly, which can impede start-ups or expansion of existing businesses. The first step in changing the culture is to reach out to the business community July 2016 to identify regulations that can be streamlined or changed to help make our county government more conducive to business support and growth. So now’s your chance. If there are regulations that negatively impact your business, the County Executive would like to hear from you. This is a great opportunity to effect change, but that won’t happen unless you help identify the regulatory areas that need to change. Contact Judy Stephenson at judith.stephenson@ montgomerycountymd.gov with your issues and recommendations. Culture of Solutions: The county’s Office of Consumer Protection is offering expert mediation services to businesses to help resolve a variety of disputes. Expert mediation services currently used to resolve consumer and common ownership community disputes are now being extended and made available to businesses in Montgomery County for free. Each confidential session may be scheduled for one to four hours, and a written agreement will be prepared at the conclusion of each successful session. Disputes between a business and a supplier, between a business and a landlord, or between two businesses, may be appropriate for these mediation services. Merchants interested in learning more about mediation services should contact OCP by calling 240.777.3636 or by email at ConsumerProtection@ MontgomeryCountyMD.gov Business Portal: The Montgomery County Business Portal will be designed to create a single point of entry for businesses when they need to interact with the county, including the latest laws passed by the County Council. The project is expected to take a year to develop and should come on line mid-2017. Stay tuned. “Nothing Bundt Cake,” is a specialty cake bakery located in North Potomac’s Potomac Valley Shopping Center—at the intersections of Route 28 & 124—that participated in the May GGCC Wine Tasting at the Kentlands Mansion. Stuart Barr, Marilyn Balcombe and Marc Engel at the Employment Law Workshop, which was held at Launch Workplaces—a company that offers co-working office spaces—near the Rio Washingtonian Center on the edge of North Potomac. What Makes Us Happy at Work? In a survey on job satisfaction, the Society for Human Resource Management identified several factors that impact how we feel about our jobs. The most important contributor to job satisfaction was reported to be the respectful treatment of all employees at all levels of the organization. What this shows is that employees are not only concerned about how they are treated as individuals, but also about how everyone in the organization is treated. Coming in at numbers two, three and four were compensation, benefits, and job security. For the complete report, go to www.shrm.org and search for job satisfaction survey. Elie Ashery, Kay Hechler, Marilyn Balcombe and Leigh Press—GGCC Entrepreneur Breakfast officials for their courageous, life-saving actions at the 21st Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast. These men and women go above and beyond the call of duty to serve our local community, and we want them to know we appreciate them and their hard work. We invite you to this time-honored tradition as we recognize the heroic deeds of our local law enforcement and fire-rescue workers. Upcoming Chamber Events The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber will honor our local public safety 8 Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast Friday, July 8, 7:30–10 a.m. Montgomery County Agricultural Center, Inc. $35 Members & Guests To learn more about the Chamber or our events, visit www.ggchamber.org or call 301.840.1400.w www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • BUSINESS eWomenNetwork’s MoCo Chapter to Meet at Lakewood Country Club By Ellyn Wexler Stephanie Bonte-Lebair poses with her invaluable leadership team. Empowering female entrepreneurs “to achieve, succeed and prosper” is foremost among Stephanie Bonte-Lebair’s goals as managing director of eWomenNetwork’s Montgomery County chapter. The Gaithersburg resident and small business owner assumed leadership of the approximately 100-member chapter, one of 118 throughout the U.S. and Canada, in January. About two years ago, a friend invited Bonte-Lebair to a networking event on a Friday afternoon, which she reluctantly agreed to attend. Sandra Yancy, who found eWomenNetwork in 2000, was arts management at American University, and started a small voice studio. Upon being laid off from her job, Bonte-Lebair made a pivotal choice. “Instead of finding another administrative job that sucked the life out of me, I decided to do what I was meant to do,” she said. “I went to work full-time in my voice studio, and within two years, replaced my high-level administrative salary.” Bonte-Lebair defines her mission at eWomenNetwork as “to grow the chapter, lead meetings, and help connect women to the people and resources they need to help them grow their businesses.” She and her leadership team of a dozen women convene monthly by telephone and quarterly in face-to-face meetings. “The team effort is key to (the chapter’s) smooth functioning. These fantastic women are the core of the chapter, and they have the kind of energy you want be involved with,” Bonte-Lebair said. The arrangement “works like a real business model. It’s as if I have 12 employees, and that helps me use my skill set and refine my management skills.” The minimal financial compensation Bonte-Lebair earns as managing director is not enough to justify the high volume of work. Rather, she said, “You have to love it. I love to be in the spotlight, to manage projects, to be in charge of things.” she said. Among her primary goals for the chapter, Bonte-Lebair said, “is to bring in diverse businesses who are already the speaker. “I found her riveting and inspiring,” Bonte-Lebair recalled. “And the women there were really cool, using this wonderful support system to create whatever dreams they were after. I signed up that day.” Also at that event, a member referred her to a business coach “who I’ve been working with since two weeks after (the event)—which was the best thing ever.” As a result of eWomenNetwork and her coach, Bonte-Lebair said, “My singing studio (The Empowered Performer) has become much more purposeful, and has expanded from using the voice to sing and speak to using it to connect in sharing your business.” Currently, she is launching an online program for speakers, coaches and entrepreneurs, and plans to add more workshops and group classes. Bonte-Lebair, who grew up in Bryon, a small town outside of Chicago “in the middle of cornfields,” earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance at Illinois State University. She subsequently spent three years auditioning and performing in a variety of musical theater, cabaret and opera productions in New York City. Marriage to a man who works for NASA in Greenbelt brought her to Montgomery County in 2003. Transplanted, she worked in executive assistant positions in D.C. and Rockville, found performance opportunities with Damascus Theatre Company and Rockville Musical Theatre, earned a master certificate in Stephanie Bonte-Lebair is the managing director of eWomenNetwork’s Montgomery County chapter. somewhat established, but are looking to grow and desire a community of people to help create a support system in finding the clients and resources they need to move forward.” High on her list are “brick-andmortar type businesses and certain industries we lack—such as a florist, travel agent, boutiques, event planner, web designer and marketing experts.” She would like to add another 20 to 30 entrepreneurs by the end of the year. In conjunction with an eWomen core value—known as Lift as We Climb, defined as a “desire to help each other grow knowing that as we do so, our own businesses will thrive as well,” Bonte-Lebair seeks to enlist new members “who also believe in this core value, and are willing to consistently show up every month and do the work of networking in a way that is in alignment with our value system.” wCONTINUED ON PAGE 10… No one knows north Potomac Better! Susan Fitzpatrick, MBA, CRS Raising the Standard of Service 240-793-8523 cell 301-907-7600 office [email protected] Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Kevin Conley, Realtor; Christine Mann, Client Services; Susan Fitzpatrick, Principal; Melissa Hamlin, Client Coordinator; James Fitzpatrick, Realtor The Fitzpatrick Group has been serving North Potomac since 1986. A 17-year resident of the community, Susan is also president of the North Potomac Citizens’ Association. Team members Kevin, Christine and James were raised in North Potomac and Melissa lives there now. So whether you’re buying or selling — in the luxury market or for the first time — call them today. No one knows North Potomac real estate like they do. The Fitzpatrick Group|www.theFitzpatrickGroup.com Serving Maryland, Washington, D.C. & Virginia, Specializing in North Potomac Bethesda Gateway Office | Over $1 Billion in Annual Sales July 2016 9 www.northpotomactimes.com Freedom from Intimidation at Downtown Crown’s Chesapeake Framing & Art Gallery Photo credit: Kelly Ryan By Ellyn Wexler Downtown Crown’s Chesapeake Framing & Art Gallery. Photo credit: Kelly Ryan Although pressure, and even pretension, are often the standard at art galleries, they are against the rules at the Chesapeake Framing & Art Gallery. Instead, respectful individualized attention and guidance prevail within the inviting, light and airy 1,850-square-foot showroom that opened at Downtown Crown in November. “This is not a classic gallery,” said owner Mary Jo Moon. “We cater to people who may be insecure (about the experience), help them come to the edge and step over it. We’re good at helping them find their place.” The goal is to take the time to educate the client, and foster a relationship that hones in on personal taste, needs and budgets, in effect, taking “the intimidation out of the process of selecting art,” director Kelly Ryan explained. After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine art at the Maryland Institute College of Art and working for Moon in the gallery’s Kensington location for about five years, Ryan assumed the role of director of Chesapeake’s upcounty outlet. The open-space gallery displays original art by local and national artists in all mediums, including acrylics, oils, prints, etchings and sculpture; and offers custom framing—with some 5,000 frames and hundreds of mats—and installation. “It’s fabulous to see people’s delight in Featuring local artist, Lori Anne Boocks and Columbian sculptor, Ancizar Marin. July 2016 having so many choices,” Moon noted. In addition, the space may be rented for performances and events. Each month, the work of a local artist is highlighted in the front of the gallery. In June, it was Lori Anne Boocks, a Rockville artist who works in a studio at Artists & Makers; July’s soloist will be Lori Askinazi, a Potomac interior designer who recently returned to painting. “We’re considering another Lori for August,” Ryan said—seriously. Both Moon and Ryan are “always on the lookout for new artists,” both locally and during their travels. Moon “meant to become a filmmaker,” attending the School of Visual Arts for two years, then moving from her native Sea Cliff, N.Y. to D.C. where her sisters lived. With no formal art training, the 19-year-old took a job in a framing shop. “The owner just threw me in and let me swim,” she recalled. “I’m a quick learner, and that’s what I look for in my designers.” After refining her skills, Moon went on to manage a framing shop for two or three years, but was frustrated that the owner was “not serious enough. Deadlines didn’t mean anything to her.” By age 23, she set up her own business as a distributor, supplying frame shops, but didn’t have a “big enough investment to make it,” and switched to wholesale framing for commercial clients, including Marriott and the George Meany Center. She incorporated Chesapeake in 1989 and began doing more retail work, eventually downsizing a bit from her Howard Avenue location to Metropolitan Avenue in 2010. Moon, who Ryan describes as a “relaxed Type A” personality, believes firmly in living up to her commitments and not wasting her customers’ time. Ryan concurs, noting that they “make sure to work with the best vendors. If they don’t deliver, we won’t use them again. We hand-select our molding; we inspect each piece.” And their policy is not to skip any of the “many important steps involved in custom framing,” she added. “We use museum-quality materials and techniques to frame customers’ artwork (as well as their) heirlooms, diplomas and ketubahs.” Judith HeartSong, founder and executive director of Artists and Makers Studios, home to more than 70 artists, has known Moon and Chesapeake for about 14 years. “I have worked with many framers over the course of my 33-year career, and have never experienced quite the same level of attention and professionalism that is the standard at Chesapeake,” she said. “In all the years I have known her, Mary Jo Moon and her staff have always gone the extra mile, getting that extra special molding for a job, meeting tight deadlines, even helping with the transportation and installation of tricky pieces.” She said she often recommends them “to friends and artists looking for great service and attention to detail, and I am always certain that they will have a great experience, and come away with gorgeous framing.” Ryan said Downtown Crown was the choice location for the second Chesapeake because “it is an up-and-coming community,” where businesses help each other, a perfect base from which they can develop art and style in Upper Montgomery County. At Chesapeake’s wine- Photo credit: Melanye Coleman NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • BUSINESS Mary Jo Moon is the owner, and Kelly Ryan, the director, of Chesapeake Framing & Art Gallery in Downtown Crown. and-cheese openings, they often partner with local restaurants like Paladar, and have featured yoga and sound demos. Among the possibilities they are considering are a chalk artist doing a mural on the sidewalk during Downtown Crown’s summer concert series in July, and holding artist classes for seniors in the fall. For information, visit www.chesapeakeframing.com.w North Potomac Business Calendar July 14 eWomenNetwork “Accelerated Networking” Luncheon Register at 917.251.7866 or email, [email protected]. Cost is $57.00, or $47.00 for eWomenNetwork members. Event location is Lakewood Country Club, 13901 Glen Mill Road, Rockville. The doors will open at 11 a.m. for informal networking. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 20 Biz Networking after Five Master the most powerful networking skills to boost your business with the eWN Leadership Team. Come learn the secrets to productive networking from the eWN Leadership team. July 20, 5 p.m. through July 21, 7:30 p.m. 2nd Annual Explore Downtown Crown More than a dozen restaurants make Downtown Crown a new dining destination. Rain or Shine. Please drink responsibly. Use Uber or take a taxi. Location: 303 Copley Place, Gaithersburg. Cost: $10 for GGCC members; non-members: $20. For more info, contact Laura R. at 301.840.1400 or [email protected]. July 27 Biz Networking Lunch You’re invited to a business lunch at the Copper Canyon Grill in the Rio. Grab your business cards and meet us there. With a unique focus on creating an inviting upscale dining experience, Copper Canyon serves fresh, familiar food in a high-energy, sophisticated casual setting. Please register in advance and share this event with your connections, clients, prospects, associates, and friends. Cost: $20 for GGCC members and first-time non-members; $40 returning non-members. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, contact Laura R. at 301.840.1400 or lrowles@ggchamber. org. Location: Copper Canyon Grill, 100 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg.w w eWomenNetwork’s MOCO CHAPTER CONTINUED ON PAGE 9… For Bonte-Lebair, “eWomenNetwork has been an invaluable resource… I’ve found a business coach, received clients, been given access to services to help my business grow, been referred to people who have helped me land key speaking engagements, and developed relationships that have opened doors in ways I could not have imagined.” Perhaps most important, Bonte-Lebair feels that the values of eWomenNetwork are “in alignment” with what she teaches in her business. And as managing director, she is delighted “to lead a lovely bunch of female entrepreneurs.” The Montgomery County Chapter of eWomenNetwork meets the second Thursday of every month at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville. The July 14 meeting, billed as an “Accelerated Networking Luncheon,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to the standard lightening networking rounds, lunch and Afterglow (an informal coffee and dessert networking session), the event will include stations offering professional advice on things like business cards, refining the 60-second pitch and fashion. For more information and to register, visit https://events.ewomennetwork.com.w 10 www.northpotomactimes.com Caron was everything we needed—she was business minded & a savvy negotiator. She told us exactly what buyers would want to see in our house & she was right on target! We did everything she said to fix up & stage the home. We sold our house in North Potomac in less than 2 weeks for full asking price! Our friends were jealous! –Debbie and Marc K. Friendly, expert service from your local mortgage professionals The professionals at Caliber Home Loans, Inc. are committed to helping homeowners and homebuyers find loan options that fit their needs. Whether you’re purchasing a new home or refinancing, we can help you find a solution that is right for you. For more information on how we can assist you, contact a member of our team today! Jennifer North Loan Consultant NMLS ID 192988 6720 B Rockledge Drive Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20817 Office 240-855-0818 [email protected] www.caliberhomeloans.com/jnorth Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 3701 Regent Boulevard, Irving, TX 75063 NMLS ID #15622 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). 1-800-401-6587. Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates, and programs are subject to change without prior notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Not all products are available in all states or for all dollar amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. (503_MD) July 2016 11 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • NEIGHBORHOODS OPEN HOUSE Real Estate Open House New Real Estate Laws By Caron Kinsey, CLIMB Properties I often receive emails and questions from readers about real estate matters; below are a few of them. Please send me your questions for the fall Q&A column. Question 1: When will interest rates go up? Should we buy now? Answer: Although no one knows for sure when mortgage interest rates will rise, certain predictors and trends may give clues. Financial experts in the Washington Post reported that “the U.S. neutral rate of interest remains stalled near zero and may slow Federal Reserve rate hikes even more than expected.” Also, foreign markets and debt are indicators for us here in the U.S. Question 2: What should I do to make my house ready for sale? Answer: The top three things a homeowner can do to prepare their home for the market are: •Clean out cabinets, closets, and garages of clutter. Organize these places so that someone viewing your home can picture themselves living in the home. (One of the top reasons people move out of their current home is that they have more belongings then they have space for. If your closets and garage are already overflowing, no one will see themselves in the house.) If necessary, rent a storage unit to hold the excess until you move into a new home. Update your home whenever possible for the highest value return. Always start in kitchens and bathrooms for the biggest bang for the buck. •Take care of general maintenance items in and around the property. Do not wait for an inspector to point out these repairs to the home buyer. If cash is tight, make a priority list of the most important items to be fixed. Just removing trash, debris, and unnecessary items from the yard and inside the home goes a long way, and it costs virtually nothing to donate, have a yard sale or make a trip to the dump. Sometimes just replacing the doorknobs can breathe new life into cabinets and doors. •Hire a realtor to give you expert advice on what buyers are looking for, and the comparable sale prices in your neighborhood. Question 3: Why is it better to buy than to rent? Answer: Both housing choices have their pros and cons. Renting gives tenants more flexibility in when they vacate a property and no responsibility for maintenance of the property. Purchasing gives homeowners, in July 2016 that’s a wrap Mention this ad for 10% off! most cases, and for now, a tax advantage. When you pay mortgage interest, those monies are factored into your tax picture. Please consult your tax advisor for more specific information. Also, homeowners are able to update and decorate their home however they (or the HOA) choose. Tenants are not able to change the home without landlord permission. Another benefit for homeowners is the equity that is realized over time. In North Potomac, in the last 10-year period (2006-2016), statistics show an average six percent rate of increase for home sale prices. Remember, the market was at its peak in 2006-2007 and then came down during the crash period, 2008-2010. The rebound effect of the market, specifically in North Potomac and Rockville, was strong, so the six-percent increase in home values/prices is quite the accomplishment. If a homeowner was able to hang on during late 2007 through 2010, chances are the rate of return will be higher than six percent, depending on when the home was purchased. Try our Wraps, Salads, Soups, Paninis and Snacks! Half wraps and salads available! Don’t forget to check out our market goods! 12158 Darnestown Road, North Potomac, MD 20878 Open Monday through Saturday 9am-4pm 301-569-6820 | www.thatsawrapdeli.com CAROLE R. HARRIS CREDENTIALED LIFE AND CAREER COACH Through respected partnership, we will work together to transform your life purpose and your strengths into career possibilities. 517-974-5522 [email protected] http://www.harrisconsociates.com/home-page/ Question 4: Given the political options this election year, how will my home’s value be impacted? Answer: As in all elections, the Presidential elections mirror the U.S. economy tone and the voters’ mood as consumers. In an economy that’s strong and healthy, voters are more likely to be confident and optimistic, thereby nurturing consumer spending and real estate enthusiasm. Sellers have many different reasons for selling. Whether the economy is high or low, election period or not, the need to sell exists. And, as always, sellers try to settle with the highest price. Buyers, on the other hand, often feel the same way. Almost all purchases are personal; however, with varying motivation and timing, the urgency to pursue goals like making renovations, trading up and renting, are not considered urgent matters. With everything, timing is necessary, but the 2016 elections are not a factor. The key points are: •Growing rental rates and moderate home price growth should mean more people look to buy in 2016-2017. •Mortgage rates will rise, which should also help boost numbers of buyers more immediately and urgently. •Inventory is expected to remain low and create a problem for buyers. SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN THE PARK 6:30PM - 8:30PM JULY 6 LEVI STEPHENS R&B/BLUES/ROCK VARIETY COVERS JULY 27 KEN FISHER MODERN ROCK COVERS JULY 13 TONY M BAND VARIETY ROCK/ POP/TOP 40 COVERS AUGUST 3 AARON GAGE SINGER/CELLIST WITH LIVE ELECTRONICS JULY 20 REW SMITH VARIETY ACOUSTIC COVERS FROM 70s TO TODAY AUGUST 10 BAD INFLUENCE BLUES AUGUST 17 HAND PAINTED SWINGER VARIETY ROCK/POP COVERS AUGUST 24 FARAWAY TRIO FOLK/ROCK COVERS AUGUST 31 LLOYD DOBLER EFFECT VARIETY MIX OF 70s TODAY Visit: DowntownCrown.com The retail at Downtown Crown is leased, fb.com/DowntownCrownMD owned, and managed by the affiliates of: 12 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY NEWS Quince Orchard High School Congratulations to the 2016 graduates of Thomas S. Wootton High School Quince Orchard High School! Thanks to all the Quince Orchard and Wootton students who contributed stories and photographs to the first two issues of The North Potomac Times: Anna Goorevich, Brittany Mills, Catherine Yang, Matt Silverman, and Athena Sardelis! Come autumn you will hopefully see more stories by some of these students, and others, here in the pages of The North Potomac Times. & USG OPEN HOUSE • Saturday, July 16th • 9am–noon Join University of Maryland University College (UMUC) for an Open House at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Maryland, on Saturday, July 16, 2016. Come and find out how you can seamlessly transfer credits from your associate’s degree toward your bachelor’s degree at UMUC. The Open House is your chance to: • • • • • Apply for admission. Meet with an advisor to discuss your program interest, select courses and register for classes. Get information about transferring your credits. Explore payment options and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about the Completion Scholarship, an opportunity for eligible Maryland Community College graduates to earn a Bachelor’s degree at a reduced tuition cost. • When you apply for admission at the Open House, you will be eligible to receive a waived application fee ($50 value*)! QUESTIONS? Call 301.738.6090 or e-mail [email protected]. *Offer is only available to prospective students who apply for their first semester at the July 16, 2016, Open House event. The $100 application fee for the Doctor of Management program cannot be waived. Learn more about UMUC’s Community College Alliance Program and Completion Scholarship. At the USG campus, UMUC offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting, biotechnology, business administration, communication studies, computer networks and security, cybersecurity, digital media and web technology, human resource management, information systems management, investigative forensics, laboratory management, public safety administration and software development and security. Many more programs are available entirely online, so you can complete your degree anywhere you have Internet access. We look forward to meeting you on July 16th! UMUC at Shady Grove • [email protected] • 301.738.6090 Concierge Driving Coaching Uptown Law, LLC Richard S. Stolker, Attorney • MVA Certified Coaches • HIGH SUCCESS: Taught Thousands to Drive. • HIGHEST SAFETY RATED VEHICLES by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.org). • CONVENIENCE: Pick-up & drop off at your Site! Bankruptcy • Litigation • Business Law Criminal Defense • Wills and Estates CALL TODAY for More Information (301) 956-8894 Email: [email protected] July 2016 13 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • EVENTS Calendar of Events By Dominique Agnew Greased Lightnin’ Photo credit: Izzy Koff: Students rehearsing for Grease at the Arts Barn. Have you heard? Grease is the word—especially for this full-length version presented by the Wildwood Summer Theatre at the Arts Barn. Wildwood Summer Theatre (WST), entering its fifty-first year, is the only completely youth-run theater group in the Washington, D.C. area—all the members are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five, from the tech crew to the cast to the musicians in the pit to the director and producer; there is absolutely no involvement from anyone outside of this age group. Wildwood began in 1965 when a group of students from Walter Johnson High School wanted to expand their theater experience. Unable to find mentors, they struck out on their own, and a bona fide, professional-caliber, youth-run nonprofit was born. Producer Mattia D’Affuso, who, as the oldest member of the crew at twentyfive, will be leaving after this year, is very excited about the production and the venue, the Arts Barn at Kentlands. “We’re having a blast getting our show ready in the smaller, more intimate space,” said D’Affuso. “It’s a different—as well as a good—experience…we’re making the most of the space.” For the first time since 1991, WST will be staging two productions—“thanks to the Arts Barn,” said D’Affuso—Grease through the month of July and Nine in August. Grease tells the story of the trials and tribulations of clean-cut Sandy and tough-guy Danny who meet and fall in love one summer in the 1950s. During the idyllic summer months, their love grows, but the reality of the school year brings conflict and uncertainty to the young couple. Their differences July 2016 may be too much to surmount—but sometimes love finds a way. Grease will be an uncut production with live musicians conducted in the pit. “It’s not the school version, either,” said D’Affuso. “It’s the real deal.” Wildwood has done Grease before, but this production is going to be very exciting, with lots of dancing. “Grease lovers all around are going to love it,” enthused D’Affuso. Prepare to experience Groove—and Feeling. July 8 Wine and Improv Party Led by Stephanie Phelan using theater games and improvisation. Participants must be at least twenty-one year old to attend. Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a glass of wine! All are welcome; no experience needed for this evening of laughs. Arts Barn Stage. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 17 July 15 through 23 Grease It’s time for a new generation to take a trip back to the fifties and visit Rydell High where the T-Birds and Pink Ladies rule the school. Danny, a tough guy, and Sandy, a good girl, find true love one summer at the beach, but is Danny ready to sacrifice his reputation and can Sandy be happy with a greaser gang leader? There is a lot of singing, dancing, and fun leading up to the answers to those pressing questions. Please note that there are weekday performances, as well as weekend ones. Recommended for ages 14 and up. Book, music, and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. In partnership with Wildwood Summer Theatre. Tickets: $22; $18 for students age 15 to 22 with ID; $12 for ages 14 and under. Arts Barn. Visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov for schedule. July 22 Tea Time Art Party—“Summer Fun” Artist and Arts Barn instructor Yolanda Prinsloo leads this ink and water color workshop. Participants will paint from a photo that they bring. Beat the heat in the studio! Ages 12 and up. Gaithersburg resident $40.00/nonresident: $50.00. Arts Barn. 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wine and Improv Party Led by Stephanie Phelan using theater games and improvisation. Participants must be at least twenty-one year old to attend. Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a glass of wine! All are welcome; no experience needed for this evening of laughs. Arts Barn Stage. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Summer Camps Week-long summer arts camps are filling up, but there are still some opportunities to get in on making great memories and spending time with friends in a small-group atmosphere. Full weeks of camp start on June 27 and change weekly through August 19. There will also be a short camp sessions July 5 to 8. Information is at www.gaithersburgmd.gov. Kentlands Mansion • 320 Kent Square Rd.,Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Arts Barn • 311 Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Continuing through July The Seven Palettes (Oil Paintings) The Seven Palettes is a group of women who have joined together for the purpose of increasing their immersion in art. They have been working cooperatively since 2012 on activities that include joint workshops and group exhibits, individual and collective websites, and group painting expeditions, near and far. The seven women behind the palettes include Sara Becker, Nancy Butler, Helen Gallagher, Caroline Orrick, Ann Rossilli, Penny Smith, and Maureen Ward. This latest exhibit has been themed for their many “brushes with nature.” Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kentlands Mansion Gallery. Starting July 1 In the Gallery Second Annual Faculty Exhibit: “Americana.” Come see work by many of the Arts Barn’s talented and dedicated instructors, including Vian Borchert, Dareya Cohen, Howard Cohen, Jaree Donnelly, Tony Glander, Sue Kay, Robin Lewis, Fariba Niazi, Natalya Parris, Yolanda Prinsloo and Firouzeh Sadeghi. Arts Barn. For more information about any of the following Quince Orchard Library events, or to register, please call 240.777.0200 or stop by the information desk. Lending a Helping Hand and a Green Thumb By Dominique Agnew For about three decades, the University of Maryland (UMD) Extension Service has been helping gardeners throughout the State of Maryland with all manner of questions or problems through its Master Gardener Program. Formally known as the Urban Agriculture/Master Gardener Program, the UMD Extension Service created the program in the 1980s when the two extension agents tasked with answering questions from the public and making onsite visits to assess problems for professionals found themselves completely overwhelmed by the volume of calls from the public. The UMD Extension Service recruited the first master gardeners, trained them, and an asset to the community laid down its first roots. The initial volunteers for the Master 14 Gardener Program came from the Bethesda Men’s Garden Club and grew steadily in number and diversity. To become a master gardener, one must attend six weeks of lectures given by UMD professors, pass an openbook test, then log forty-five hours of volunteering in the first year to earn the badge. The newly-minted master gardeners then boldly go forth to fulfill their mission: To support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. To maintain one’s badge, a master gardener fulfills ten hours of advance training and twentyfive hours of volunteer service per year. The Master Gardener Program began holding plant clinics at Montgomery County Libraries at the turn of the millennium, Quince Orchard Library being wCONTINUED ON PAGE 15… www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • EVENTS Calendar of Events w Q.O. LIBRARY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14… one of the first libraries. Linda Waters, administrative assistant to the Urban Agriculture/Master Gardener Program, was among the first master gardeners to take part in the library plant clinics. During the growing season, from May through September, the public can take all manner of gardening questions to the three or four master gardeners at the QO Library every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “They are trained to answer most questions about gardening…as espoused by the research of the UMD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” said Waters. At the plant clinics, people can bring in diseased plants or plants they want identified; they can ask questions about wildlife, insects, soil, or what to plant versus what not to plant. The Master Gardener Program reaches out to the community in other ways, as well: telephone consultations to answer callers’ questions; a speakers’ bureau to provide speakers for events or groups on over one hundred topics related to gardening; demo gardens; therapeutic horticulture provides programs to assisted living facilities and other groups; and help to schools with container garden projects. July 4 Independence Day—Library Closed July 9 John Hadfield’s Comedy Variety Show This high tech show combines comedy, original funny songs, whoopee cushion percussion, physical comedy, a robot bird, amazing magic, juggling, plate spinning, and a piano playing, mindreading dog. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. A summertime program for children and families. Free. 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for life in the dark. The ZOOmobile will visit for an interactive, educational presentation featuring three or four Animal Ambassadors. A summertime program for children in grades 1 to 3 and their caregivers. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Quince Orchard Chapter. Free. 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Spanish Conversation Club Practice and improve your Spanish. Mondays, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Library is closed Monday, July 4. Children’s Poetry Club Do you have a way with words? Children aged 6 to 12 will have the opportunity to listen to poetry, share their favorite poems, create their own poetry, and play word games with other poetry lovers. No registration required. Second Tuesday of the month. 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teen Poetry Writing Group Do you have a way with words? Young adults will have the opportunity to listen to poetry, share their favorite poems, and create their own poetry with other poetry lovers. No registration is required. Third Tuesday of the month. 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. English Conversation Club An informal conversation club for anyone looking to improve his/her English-speaking skills. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and Tuesdays, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 18 Make Something with Us! Celebrate National Week of Making and make something with us! Learn to make accordion books, survival and fishtail bracelets. Color beautiful bookmarks and learn the art of origami and transform a piece of paper into a 3-D paper sculpture. Free. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children’s Book Club The Quince Orchard Children’s Book Club is for children in grades 4 through 6. There are two selections available each month and the child may read either one or both of the selections before the meeting. First Wednesday of the month. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 23 ESL Book Discussion Improve and expand your Englishspeaking and—reading skills as well as learn about American and other cultures. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway will be discussed. Copies available at the information desk. Fourth Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Night Shift Discover why some animals come out at night and how they use their senses July 2016 master gardener? You can bring plant samples and photos for identification or diagnosis. Get advice on pruning, vegetables, insects, lawns, trees, and shrubs. Saturdays from May 7 until September 24. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Regular Library Activities Some activities require advance registration. For more information, please call 240.777.0200 or stop by the information desk. Stay and Play Open play program for children 0-6 years old and their families. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sensory Safari Learn about the five senses and discover how animals use their senses to survive. The ZOOmobile will visit for an interactive, educational presentation featuring three or four Animal Ambassadors. A summertime program for children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. Free. 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the meeting day, copies may be picked up at the information desk. Fourth Thursday of the month. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Master Gardener Plant Clinic Have a question you’d like to ask a Librarian’s Choice Book Discussion The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin will be discussed. Copies will be available at the checkout desk the night of the meeting. After Summer Concert Series at Downtown Crown kicks off the summer with a weekly Summer Concert Series in its Crown Park, located at 220 Ellington Blvd, in Gaithersburg. Featuring popular local musicians, the concerts will continue every Wednesday evening through August 31, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Concerts are free and open to the public. In additional to performances, there will be corn hole competitions and participation by Downtown Crown merchants. This year’s lineup features a diverse array of music including pop, soul, rock, blues, folk, and Top 40 covers. Music lovers of all ages are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets as the seating area is on the Crown Park lawn. July 6—Levi Stephens R&B/Blues/Rock Variety Covers July 13—Tony M Band Variety Rock/Pop/Top 40 Covers July 20—Rew Smith Variety Acoustics Covers from the ’70s to Today July 27—Ken Fisher Modern Rock Covers Other Happenings in North Potomac July 4 Saturdays in July ROCKVILLE–KING FARM: MATTIE J.T. STEPANEK PARK Peace Gathering and Independence Day Festivities Join the City of Rockville for cake and conversation, music and activities in the Peace Garden area from 5 to 8 p.m. The program to declare Rockville as a “Community of Peace” begins at 6:30 p.m. Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration is celebrating its second year at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in King Farm. Various musical groups will take the stages throughout the evening, culminating in a fireworks display at the football field at 9:15 p.m. The football field itself will be closed to spectators. Parking is available for free in lots along Shady Grove Road, Gaither Road, and Choke Cherry Road. There is no parking available in the King Farm neighborhood. Food and beverage will be available for purchase from several vendors. Guests may also bring their own food and beverage. Please note that there is no barbecuing or open flames allowed on the event site. KENTLANDS–MAIN STREET: MAIN STREET PAVILION GAITHERSBURG BOHRER PARK: 4th of July Fireworks Enjoy the Ultimate Lawn Party with live music, fun games, inflatables, and more on the expansive lawn of Bohrer Park. Activities begin at 11 a.m.; fireworks begin at 9:25 p.m. followed by an afterparty with dancing and games. More information:www.gaithersburgmd.gov. 15 Kentlands Main Street Farmers and Artists’ Market 301 Main Street, Gaithersburg. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays in July ROCKVILLE-SHADY GROVE: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Shady Grove Farmers’ Market Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus, 9601 Broschart Road, Rockville. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays in July GAITHERSBURG–NORTH POTOMAC: SMOKEY GLEN FARM Fridays on the Farm-Family Crab and Barbecue Feast Buffet features steamed, spiced #1 crabs; steamed, spiced shrimp; Smokey Glen Farm’s famous barbecued chicken and spareribs; also: baked beans, mac and cheese, kosher-style hot dogs, corn on the cob, big salad bar, cole slaw, potato salad, fresh-baked bread, and Smokey Glen Farm’s famous charcoalbaked pies (apple, cherry, blueberry, and peach). The buffet also includes unlimited soda, tea, and lemonade; beer and wine available for purchase. Fun for the entire family: horseshoes, miniature golf, and playground. Adults (16+): $47.95; ages 13 to 15: $29.95; 10 to 12: $19.95; 6 to 9: $9.95; 5 and under: Free. wCONTINUED ON PAGE 16… www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • EVENTS Calendar of Events Other Happenings in North Potomac are key factors for any physical activity. Whether you are a runner, For details: www.smokeyglenfarm.com walker, Crossfitter, yogi, or Zumba or 301.948.6097. Smokey Glen Farm, fitnatic, nutrition and hydration are key 16407 Riffleford Road, Gaithersburg. to success and growth as anathlete. Free. Rain or shine. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fleet Feet Sports.For more information, Through August 28 visit www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. GLEN ECHO–GLEN ECHO PARK: ADVENTURE THEATRE July 16 w SMOKEY GLEN FARM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15… Jumanji (Children’s Play) On a dull day, Judy and Peter find a mysterious old board game. One live lion, an erupting volcano, and some destructive monkeys later, the children are plunged into an experience they’ll never forget. Will they ever finish this mysterious magic game and claim Jumanji? Ages 4 and up. This is a professional production featuring strobe lights and wind, water, and rumble effects. It is approximately 60 minutes long and late seating may not be guaranteed. Please plan accordingly. Parents with young children are strongly encouraged to have them use the restrooms prior to entering the theatre and to familiarize their children with the plot of the show for the best experience. For more information and for tickets, visit www.adventuretheatre-mtc. org or call 301.634.2270. Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. July 13 KENTLANDS–MARKET SQUARE: FLEET FEET SPORTS ROCKVILLE–POTOMAC: CABIN JOHN SHOPPING CENTER AND MALL Light up the Night Twilighter The 2016 Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest, known locally as the Twilighter, is made up of a pre-race festival, tot-trots, a 5K road race, and a post-race festival. Since its inception in 1985, this quality community event has become one of the most popular races of the summer in the National Capital area. The prerace festival will begin at Cabin John Shopping Center and mall with vendors and family-friendly events beginning at 6 p.m. The Twilighter 5K begins at 7:30 p.m. just north of Ivymount School in Rockville, .3 miles from the Cabin John Shopping Center and Mall. The course runs through a lovely neighborhood and ends where it began at Ivymount. Post-race food for runners will be at the school. After the race, runners are invited back to refreshments and music. The midsummer night’s festival of music, vendors, and refreshments is for runners, spectators, and families to enjoy. For more information, visit Nutrition Night and Taste Testing www.rockvilletwilighter.org or www. Food is fuel! Nutrition and hydration facebook.com/RockvilleTwilighter. July 22 KENTLANDS–MARKET SQUARE: FLEET FEET SPORTS Recess Run! Flashback to a time when running, jumping, skipping, and have fun, friendly competition was the name of the game! Tag, dodge ball, capture the flag were some of your favorites. Join us for a fun-filled night. Bring the whole family. No experience necessary. Free. RSVP at: www.fleetfeetgaithersburg. com/calendar/new-recess-run. 6:30 p.m. July 23 DICKERSON–MARTINSBURG: LINDEN FARM Field and Fiddle Festival Help “Preserve the Reserve”! Enjoy family fun with music by Smoke n’ Mangos, and Justin Trawick and the Common Good. Food by Pizza Brama, Linda’s Luncheonette, 3rd Alarm BBQ, LLC, and South Mountain Creamery. Vendors include Chocolates and Tomatoes Farm, Thistle Thickets Farm, Aqua Barrel, Wild Things Bug Spray, and Seneca Creek Joinery—to name a few. There will be many great silent auction items including goodies from All about Equestrian, REI, Rocklands Farm and Winery, The Blue Hearth, Heritage Montgomery, Yoga Chez Moi, Stephanie’s Secret Garden, the Wooly Queen, Spinning Earth Stoneware, along with a petting zoo, bean bag and ring toss, screening of award-winning student film, and so much more! We are still seeking auction items and sponsors. Contact: [email protected] July 26 GAITHERSBURG–OLDE TOWNE: GAITHERSBURG COMMUNITY MUSEUM All Aboard StoryTime Station The City of Gaithersburg invites you and your child to enjoy monthly book readings during StoryTime Station, an enriching program at the Gaithersburg Community Museum. The program consists of a 45-minute reading, recommended for ages 3 to 6, and children will be provided with a take-home craft activity to continue the experience at home following each session. This month’s theme is: At the Beach. Advance purchase is recommended as space is limited. To make reservations online, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov. You may also pay at the door if space is available. For more information, call 301.258.6160 or visit the city’s website. Admission is $3.00 per child; admission for adults and infants is free. Please note, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 9 South Summit Avenue. 11 a.m.w Want your event mentioned in the Calendar of Events?* *Deadline: 20th of the month prior to the month during which event is scheduled. Email: [email protected] w NEW REC CENTER’S NAME CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1… w QUINCE ORCHARD KNOLLS “FLAG DAY" CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1… By Susan Morrison Photo credit: QOKCA On the evening of Wednesday, May 26, I set up shop on my front steps expecting to be there a while with a box full of flags and maps of the neighborhood. I knew of several adult volunteers bringing their small children for a fun experience in community involvement, and figured if we had any routes left at the end of the evening, I would draft my teenagers to help. No drafting was required. Within 20 Even mailboxes make for minutes of 7 p.m., I had given out all the excellent flag gardens! distribution routes there were to give. Our volunteers, young and old, stepped up! Of note: • Chunying Cai and her 6-year-old took on all of the Cherry Grove distribution, before leaving town for the holidays. • Alyssa Alban (Winesap) brought her middle school son and his friends to work, not for SSL hours, but for ice cream. • For the second year in a row, Pam and Lee Bowes (Winesap) brought the whole family out—strollers and all—and distributed flags all the way home. • Erin Clegg (Apricot) brought her children out to help, and even offered to take all the used flags to be properly destroyed by the Boy Scouts. • Natalie Gonzaga (Clover Knoll) and her kids had to make do with only one route, much to their disappointment. • Jordaa Neylon (Clover Knoll) took the last route of the evening, bringing her 4-year-old to finish off his birthday celebration by giving back to the community. To all these volunteers, and anyone else I may have inadvertently missed: Thank you! What great neighbors we have.w Photo credit: Debbie Boderman QOKCA Residents Step up for Flag Distribution July 2016 for details. Adults $12 in advance, $15 at the door; kids $6, under 6 free. Tickets available at www.fieldandfiddle2016. eventbrite.com or at www.mocoalliance. org. Linden Farm, 20900 Martinsburg Rd, Dickerson. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The wooden sign that has stood on the site since construction of the Community Recreation Center began several years ago now lies on the ground just inside the construction fence that limits access to the site. Dacek represented Upcounty, District 2, on the council from 1990 until 2002, then served on the Montgomery County Board of Elections for more than a decade. “It is only right that we name the North Potomac Community Recreation Center for Nancy Dacek. Without her leadership, there would not be a recreation center and senior center,” Leggett said. “Nancy was a valued and respected colleague who did her homework and researched issues so that her votes and positions were always well-informed. She fought vigorously to get the facility into the area Master Plan, citing the lack of recreational facilities in North Potomac and the need for better services.” 16 In response, the NPCA board indicated they were “very disappointed and stunned by the news that Ike Leggett ignored the voices of over 1,000 North Potomac residents who cared enough to take the time to express their strong desire to retain the name North Potomac Community Recreation Center. Mr. Leggett, at his sole discretion and with disregard for the will of the people, has decided to change the name.” NPCA maintained that “North Potomac has worked hard to establish itself as a unique geographic entity. The community wants the name of our recreation center to directly reflect the community it serves.” In acknowledgement of Dacek’s involvement “with the initial plans in the late ‘90s to bring a rec center to the area, and (as such holding) her memory in the highest regard,” the group had suggested naming a room or garden at the center in her honor. The facility, located on 17 acres at 13850 Travilah Road, is scheduled to open in the fall. Among its features will be a gymnasium, exercise room, social hall, kitchen, senior/community lounge, arts/kiln room and game room. The Recreation Department is working with the community on developing a schedule of programs, activities and services.w www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • NONPROFIT NOTEBOOK Nonprofit Corner— Georgetown Hill Early School By Susan Petro Peter Cromwell, Georgetown Hill Early School’s (GHES) executive director, grew up around the early childhood education and child care business. His mother, Ellen, founded the school in 1980 when she couldn’t find a local program that offered both all-day childcare and a quality preschool under the same roof. “Faced with the conundrum of finding half-day educational, quality preschool, or really lousy, all-day just care,” Cromwell said his mother was determined to create a quality facility that offered all-day care as well as a quality Peter Cromwell learning environment. The first campus opened in an elementary school in Potomac in 1980. During the early years, the campus was forced to move from school to school as the public school enrollments fluctuated from year to year. Finally, GHES negotiated a landlease arrangement with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and built its first building on a plot of land in between two MCPS schools. Cromwell worked for the school during his summer breaks from his studies, and even drove the school bus for a while before venturing off on his own career path as an attorney. In the late 1990s, he returned to GHES for a few weeks to help with some human resources issues. By then, the Potomac building had been built, and classes were filling. He said the business had outgrown his mother’s desire to manage, as she always considered herself a teacher first. Those few weeks turned into 20 years. Today, GHES is a 501(C) nonprofit organization with nine locations and 160 employees offering year-round full- and part-time child care programs for both preschool and school-age children. All campuses are in Maryland, one in Prince Georges County, and the rest in Montgomery County. The North Potomac campus is a preschool with six classes and an enrollment of 60 to 65 students ranging in age from infant to prekindergarten. “Over the years, the goals of the teachers, directors, and staff have always remained centered on what is in the best interest of the child. They strive to provide a warm and nurturing environment, making sure he child feels loved and welcomed,” Cromwell said. “Our intent is to try to attract super high-quality employees,” said Cromwell who added that one benefit of being a nonprofit allows a little more financial space because they do not have to pay stockholders or franchise fees. That extra savings goes directly toward paying teachers and staff. He finds it unimaginable that some child-are facilities have a turnover rate as high as 30 percent a year. “I would be interviewing teachers 24/7 with that kind of turnover,” he said. Instead, he noted, some GHES staff members have worked for the school for 10 to 20 years, which provides continuity. “When you think about continuity, you have to think about the tension it causes parents if you don’t have the home-preschool connection, that are all on the same page. That’s what children pick up on,” said Cromwell. “If you are feeling anxiety because you can’t remember the teacher’s name, the child picks up on your anxiety. Continuity comes from the confidence it gives parents to know that this person knows my child, this person knows me, so it’s going to be OK.” Georgetown Hill’s philosophy is to teach the whole child through a curriculum model called P.L.A.N.—an acronym for its primary components: Play, Learning, the Arts and Nurturing—that reinforces and expands upon each child’s natural competencies and strengths. “We specialize in making sure our kids are ready for kindergarten,” said Cromwell, yet he emphasizes that the best way to prepare them to teach the whole child to learn through play, nurturing, and arts, rather than a heavy focus on academics. “One thing we are pretty proud of is that the kindergarten teachers at Bells Mill Elementary School (where GHES’ first campus was built) always recognize the GHES kids because they are ready for school,” said Cromwell. Jessica McIntyre felt the same calling to early childhood education as Cromwell and his mother. She spent about 13 years helping area children involved with the CASA (Court-Appointed-SpecialAdvocate) program. “Taking care of children is something I always loved to do and am very passionate about,” said McIntyre, “but it wasn’t something I could always translate into a career.” As a result of her work with CASA, she started to see the importance of Nicholas Asher, Director Jessica early childhood education, believing so McIntyre, Sebastian Sardarian July 2016 strongly in it that she returned to school for certification as a teacher. When McIntyre met Cromwell and the rest of the GHES staff, she said she knew they shared the same mission and values. McIntyre spent two years teaching preschool at the North Potomac location before becoming its director. “Play is the foundation, along with learning,” said McIntyre who firmly believes children should be given permission to be who they are in a nonjudgmental, tolerant environment. “We strive to create an environment where each child can grow and learn at their own pace in their own time.” Students Sara Fang, Arya Hong, Joshua Silverberg Cromwell believes that one of the most important benefits of GHES is that they have grown up in the community. “We are not some big entity that kind of parachutes in,” said Cromwell. “We have a lot of family in the business, and a lot of our employees are former parents or children of former parents. There is a real advantage to knowing the communities intimately that we work with and respect.”w 17 Have any information you’d like to share in the Nonprofit Notebook? Contact us at editor@northpotomactimes, or 301.330.5876 Experience Something Extraordinary in Montgomery County at Featuring exclusive previews, behind-thescenes glimpses of noteworthy events, and evocative stories on the visual, performing, and cultural arts. And don’t miss our comprehensive events calendar, Discount Tix page and weekly Win Tix Giveaway Offer! Facebook.com/CultureSpotMC @CultureSpotMC www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • NEARBY NEWS Rocklands Farm and Winery Former Historic Estate Returns to its Roots By Susan Petro Dr. Greg and Janis Glenn reside in the Rocklands estate house— a beautiful backdrop for weddings held at the farm. Much of the original character of Rocklands Farm and Winery, a working farm and historic estate, has been meticulously restored. A 15-minute drive from North Potomac, the 34-acre property is located at 14525 Montevideo Road in the Seneca Historic District of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve. Visitors come to the farm to purchase pasture-raised meats, fruits, vegetables, and produce, or to sample wines made from grapes grown on the 6-1/2-acre vineyard or nearby partner vineyards, and produced in a winery located in the barn. The farm is also available for rent as a venue for weddings and other events. Farmer Benoni Allnutt built the estate in 1870, using red sandstone blocks cut from the nearby Seneca Sandstone Quarry. These stones were used for many other nearby structures, including the Smithsonian Castle building in Washington, D.C. Benoni’s great-grandson, Ben Allnutt, owns the nearby Homestead Farms. The property includes the main house, an Italianate mansion; a massive red bank barn; a two-story log house with a stone chimney, a log smokehouse, a corncrib, and two additional stone structures; a blacksmith shop and a springhouse. A modern winery is housed in a portion of the bank barn, and a new wine-tasting room occupies the lower level. Picnic tables just outside the wine-tasting rooms offer a shaded area to enjoy a hand-made wood-fired pizza that is available on Saturdays and Sundays in the spring, summer, and fall. When Janis and Dr. Greg Glenn bought the farm in 2003, they were looking for a scenic, quiet place in the country to provide their family with a connection to the outdoors. They initially envisioned a country cottage, but when they stumbled upon Rocklands Farm, they immediately fell in love. Janis Glenn described restoring the Rocklands Estate, the barn, and buildings as much like unlocking Sleeping Beauty’s castle, layer by layer. Much of the land was overgrown with brush and brambles, and the buildings were in various states of disrepair. Local woods and historically accurate materials were used to replicate the original appearance and character of the home and buildings. Amish builders replaced the rotted wooden beams and installed a new roof on the barn. “Our philosophy is that we are just trying to be good stewards of the land,” said Janis Glenn, “and good stewards of beautiful architecture.” operations. His wife, Anna, grows flowers, often used for weddings at the farm, and serves as the education manager and field trip host. Greg Glenn’s friend and co-founder, Shawn Eubank, makes educating consumers a priority. “We want to bring people to where it was happening,” said Eubank who encourages visitors to learn about their operations. Dr. Glenn began the winery operations before turning it over to TJ Fleming, a middle-school teacher turned winemaker and vineyard manager. In the beginning, the majority of Rockland’s wines came from locally purchased grapes, but today, a third of the wines come from grapes grown in their own vineyard. Currently, Rocklands offers 12 different labels. The grapes are hand-picked, and the bottles are hand-corked and hand-labeled. Eight different wines are available in the wine-tasting room and are rotated on a monthly basis. A variety of memberships are available for customers interested in discounts on wine purchases and tastings, quarterly wine shipments, and access to a variety of special events. Rocklands offers community-supported agriculture (CSA) memberships that Rockland Farm welcomes visitors with its unique, rustic entry sign. Brett Hagman works as a scientist during the week and as a wine-taster for the Rocklands Winery on the weekend. The Bontual family from Bethesda enjoy a home-made wood-fired pizza from Pizza Brama at Rocklands Farm. provide weekly shares of locally-grown farm produce including eggs, fruits, and vegetables. Meat shares are also available. The farm is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from March to December, and Friday through Sunday in January and February. For more information, visit www.rocklandsfarmmd.com.w The large bank barn houses the winery, wine-tasting shop, and has a large open space ideal for weddings and events. The corn crib is on the left. The Glenns’ son, Greg, and two friends began the farming operations in 2009. After studying agriculture and applied economics, Greg Glenn developed a passion for feeding people, farming, and local food systems. He spent time in Kenya and South Africa, and then returned to the family farm to start his own holistic farming July 2016 18 www.northpotomactimes.com NORTH POTOMAC TIMES • NEARBY NEWS Nighthawks promise a party at Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration Editor’s Note: If you read the Publisher’s Post in the last issue of The North Potomac Times you likely recall the story of Nadia, an eighth grade North Potomac student interested in language arts and journalism who wanted to write stories for The North Potomac Times. Well, here is Nadia’s first story, along with some of her own photos to accompany the story. By Gina Gallucci-White Spotlight on Montgomery County Farming: Homestead Farm By Nadia Lee Although they are not available for picking, Homestead grows and sells a wide variety of vegetables all year round. Have you ever picked your own strawberries or peaches? About a 20-minute drive north from North Potomac, in Poolesville, Homestead Farm can be found in the tranquil countryside. According to the owner, Mr. Ben Allnut, the 300-acre farm has been in the Allnut family for generations, and every acre is dedicated to agriculture. Open from mid-May to December, Homestead Farm has much to offer. It is probably best-known for its pick-your-own fruit program. People can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, pumpkins, and apples, apples being their most popular fruit for picking. The approximate season for each fruit is on the website, and a list of fruits in season are available at homestead-farm.net. In general, the pick-your-own fruit seasons last between about late May to late October. In addition to the pick-your-own fruit program, families can enjoy several other activities. Little children especially like the petting zoo. which includes an alpaca, goats, sheep, chickens, and soon, a cow will be added. In the fall, hayrides are popular. During the summer, visitors also also pick their own zinnias. The farm operates a country kitchen that sells smoothies during the summer, homemade soup and caramel apples in the fall, and pie throughout the year. Their market sells a variety of fresh vegetables. Among the most popular are corn, kale, and tomatoes. Their tomatoes can also be found at the local Whole Foods store. Beyond produce, the market sells local, pure honey and an assortment of jams and jellies from mid-May through December. Also in December, Christmas trees are available. Perhaps more important than providing fresh produce and homemade food, Homestead Farm has been providing a sense of community and continuity. “Families make it a tradition to come. We see people who came here as kids come here as adults,” said manager Ms. Julie.w July 2016 Photos, credit: Nadia Lee Jams and jellies available in the Homestead market cannot be found anywhere else. Members of the D.C.-area fan-favorite band, The Nighthawks, have been busy recording a new album set to drop in 2017, but folks attending the City of Rockville’s Independence Day Celebration will get to hear some of those new songs well in advance. Founding member Mark Wenner promises a great mix of music from the American blues and roots band that has been playing concerts in the area since the mid-1970s. “Because we have been around so long, we have a certain number of tunes that people remember from the old days that we have to get to and, if I don’t do them by the end of the set, someone will yell for them,” he said. “It is always a balance, you know? I don’t want to just go up there and play stuff we did 40 years ago because people will go ‘They haven’t progressed at all!’ And I don’t want to just go up there and just play brand-new stuff because then they go ‘You didn’t play my favorite song!’ So I walk this funny little balance. The new stuff, the old stuff and the stuff in-between just to show we are a living organism as opposed to some relic.” Colleen McQuitty, Rockville’s special events manager, said the city tries to book the band to at least one of their events every year. “They are just such a crowd favorite,” she said. “They bring so many people in. People really enjoy them. We thought what a great band to have at our city’s Fourth of July event.” The group is set to take the Stars Stage at 7 p.m. July 4, and play until the Mayor and Council greet the crowd at 8:45 p.m. The Fugitive Brass Quintet and the Rockville Concert Band will perform on the Stripes Stage at 7 and 7:45 p.m. respectively. The fireworks show is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. “This is a great community event,” McQuitty said. “The community can have their BBQs and cookouts during the day, and then come out to listen to some great music and watch some wonderful fireworks to top off the night.” Growing up in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area, Wenner decided to start a local band after returning to the area when a New York City band apprenticeship ended. Drawing from American roots sources along with blues, and rock and roll, the band’s focus is on patrons having fun. “Our whole approach is ‘It’s a party,’” Wenner said. “Ninety-nine percent of the shows we do—be they concerts in beautiful halls or backyard BBQs—’It’s a party’. I have gotten people up to dance in places where they told me ‘Oh, people aren’t supposed to dance in here’.” Each show aims to take audiences through a journey. “It’s very theatrical,” Wenner said. “When you leave one of our shows, you’ve got to feel like you’ve had an experience. That you started at point A and you’ve been taken to point B comfortably and delivered to a new place.” The group’s members have changed over the years except for Wenner, who does vocals and harmonica, but the high calibre of talent remains the same. “I get to play with really great, great musicians,” he said. “I discovered early on, the better the guys I was playing with, the better I played…so I really always try to surround myself with the best.” After four decades on the concert circuit, the band keeps their sets fresh for audiences and themselves by having an open set list. “You and I have probably both seen many a band that if you see them two nights in a row, you are going to see exactly the same show,” Wenner said. “From the very beginning, I found that distasteful.” Instead, he said, “I have the luxury of having great musicians that I call the songs (to during the performance). As one song is ending, I go to the guy who has to start the next song and tell him what the next song is going to be. It’s like being a quarterback. You can’t script out a whole football game. You have to play each play as the situation presents itself.” Wenner tries to get a feel for each audience’s mood in order to create the flow of music. “That keeps it really fresh because no one, even me, knows what is going to come next,” he said. “I know a few minutes before.” So, even those who have seen The Nighthawks before should be prepared for a completely new experience during their Independence Day concert. “Fourth of July. Outdoors. On an outdoor stage preceding the fireworks. That’s just about perfect,” Wenner said. “To have these kinds of activities like Fourth of July in Rockville as a venue that I get to play more than one year in a row (is special). ...I’ve played in 49 states and a dozen other countries, Montgomery County is where I grew up and went to school and where I now live. It makes it extra special for me.” Rockville’s Fourth of July celebration will take place at King Farm’s Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park, 1800 Piccard Drive, Rockville. For information, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=663.w This article, which was published on CultureSpotMC.com on June 30, 2016, is reprinted by permission. The summer menu for Homestead’s Country Kitchen. 19 www.northpotomactimes.com A TRUSTED NAME SINCE 1945 Improve your home. Improve your life. 99 from $ only * Trust the Roofing Experts! g g 50 Year Warranty FREE Estimates g g Many Colors and Options Flat Roofing Now Available free Value of up to $4,000! 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