January 2015

Transcription

January 2015
JANUARY 2015 n www.KentlandsUSA.com
Kentlands Walk & Talk By Ty Hardaway, Vice-Chair, KCA Board of Trustees
About once a week I go on what I’ve taken to calling a Walk & Talk with Kentlands
Citizens Assembly President, Barney Gorin. Our walks typically last from one to two
hours and these adventures allow us to get some exercise and fresh air. I’ve lived
in Kentlands for over 13 years and I am surprised that each week I see and learn
something new.
Ty Hardaway and Barney Gorin Walk & Talk
We select a route through
different areas in and
around Kentlands and discuss a variety of subjects.
Most of the topics we cover
are about how we sustain
and improve our community, but some tangents
veer into current events,
sports, and even philosophy. We are also able to
take a first-hand look at
specific areas that are related to KCA business and
talk directly with members
of our community.
Save Your Receipts for Possible
Tax Benefits When You Sell Your Home
Some of us have had to face a roof
replacement in the past few years, some
of us may be considering the possibility
sooner than later, and for some of us, a
roof replacement will be in the future.
If it’s Kentlands, it should be a cedar
shake roof, as a general rule.
Kentlands Clubhouse
485 Tschiffely Square Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Over the last couple of months we have
walked through each of the neighborhoods, in many of the mews, along the
business district, and into wetlands.
Even if Walk & Talks ease up over the
deepest of winter months, the good news
is spring is just around the corner. We
still have plenty of areas to walk and
re-walk.
We’d love to have you join us or just say
hi if you see us.
“For the convenience of Kentlands
residents, the KCA does not require a
Visual Change Application when replacing a cedar shake roof with another of the
same material and design,” advises Arthur
Gailes, assistant community manager.
“I would, however, recommend informing your neighbors so that they are
aware.” Though outside appearance is
a core value at Kentlands, Gailes added,
“It’s only when changing the material of
The fourth bucket and bag of litter
from recent Walk & Talk
Inside...
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9…
By Karen Norris
Thinking About Replacing
that Cedar Shake Roof?
Permit #5139
Gaithersburg
MD
PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Roofs and Taxes
We also pick up trash. Lots of trash. Rather than complain about litter, our
walking litter collection, or as our neighbor and Green Gaithersburg founder
Alex Stavitsky-Zeineddin educated us, GreenWalking, becomes a way for us to
do something about what is too easily ignored. Aided by trash grabbers and carrying recycled bags, we’ve picked up everything from fast food
packaging to wood screws and nails in the streets. You name it, big and
small, we’ve probably picked it up. Gathering cigarette butts could be a
full-time job.
the roof—slate, copper, or a synthetic
material, for example—which a resident
has to submit an application to the
Kentlands Historical Trust.”
The harder news is that cedar shake roofs
are more expensive than the more common asphalt or synthetic roofing material,
and there is a lot to learn.
What To Investigate
One decision point is the thickness of the
shake. The most commonly used sizes
in this area are half-inch, three-quartersinch, and one-inch thicknesses. The thicker the shake, the longer the roof should
last. A half-inch shake may provide a
usable life up to 30 years, while just a
quarter inch more for the three-quarters
shake could extend useable life up to
50 years. The thicker the shake, however,
the more expensive the material cost will
be. The labor should be the same.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3…
Kentlands and Volunteerism....................3
Kentlands Events. ...................................4
City News...............................................5
From The President..................................6
Manager’s Corner. .................................6
RSV Pools..............................................6
From The Treasurer.................................7
From The Chairman.................................7
Attention Condo Owners.......................8
Kentlands Historical Trust......................9
Skating on the Lakes is Prohibited!............9
Foundation Update...............................10
2014 Kentlands/Lakelands
Tennis League Round-up.....................11
Paragon Entertainment Holdings
Acquires Kentlands Stadium 10...........12
Standing Committees.............................12
Arts on the Green.................................13
School Scoop.......................................16
Kentlands Kitchen.................................17
BOCC Monthly....................................18
At Your Service.....................................21
Kentlands Classifieds.............................21
Kentlands Real Estate Listings................21
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com 2
Kentlands Town Crier
Kentlands and Volunteerism
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1…
Roofs and Taxes
What goes on underneath the cedar shake is also important. There are different kinds of
synthetic felts that help prevent water and ice from penetrating to the plywood sub-roof
materials. How far apart the layers of felt are laid can also make a difference.
By Barney Gorin
Another decision point is something called a breather system. The breather system is an
additional under-layer that is installed over the felt and right under the cedar shakes. It
can look like a loosely-woven synthetic, flattened egg crate, almost like porous bubble
wrap. The breather system separates the cedar shakes from the sub-roof, allowing air to
circulate. This promotes drying after a rain and keeps the damp shakes off the plywood
sub-roof and felt. Some roof installers believe the breather system is an unnecessary
upgrade adding cost to the roof job, while others would not install a cedar shake roof
without it. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer of the cedar shakes. Skipping a
breather system may void the roof warranty, depending upon the mill.
Volunteers are the people who make Kentlands work. We have 8 volunteer boards and
committees that work mostly behind the scenes to do the heavy lifting of making our
community what it is. Those committees are:
Committee/ Board
Members
Expiring Terms
Activities Committee
4
0
Board of Code Compliance
6
4
Budget & Finance Advisory Committee
4
1
Election Committee (min 3 max 5)
4
3
Environmental Management/Arts & Ornamentation
(Landscape/Hardscape) Committee
8
8
Kentlands Historical Trust Committee
6
4
Welcoming Committee
5
4
Turf Management Working Group
7
0
A ridge vent at the crown of the roof is another decision. The ridge vent is a more
recent aspect of roofing, allowing hot air to escape without the need for an attic fan,
while allowing moisture and dampness to dissipate out of attics. It may be beneficial
to investigate if a ridge vent makes sense for your home.
Treated or Raw Cedar
Most cedar shakes are pre-treated with chemicals, particularly for use in the midAtlantic region because of the humidity. The treated cedar shakes will last longer and
will require less maintenance, and certainly there would be no future need to treat the
roof. The chemicals used, however, may cause some concern to individuals who wish
to “go green” or who may have some chemical sensitivities or allergies. The chemicals,
referred to as CCA, indicate the presence of chromated copper arsenic, all regulated
and at approved levels for use by the Environmental Protection Agency in pressure
treated wood often used for decks, roofing materials, fireproofing materials and some
concrete products.
Twenty-four volunteer terms came to an end on December 31, 2014 and another
term expires at the end of January 2015. While many of the folks currently serving
have asked to continue their service to the community, others prefer not to be
reappointed and vacancies are the result.
Our governing documents dictate that the Kentlands Citizen Assembly President
appoint committee and board members with the advice and consent of the KCA Board
of Trustees. That appointment process is a very important one because volunteers are
the people who make Kentlands work. Even if every incumbent asked to be reappointed, it would still be proper to inform our friends and neighbors of the opportunity to
give to the community and to fill the vacancies with the best person who asks to serve.
For those who do not wish to use cedar shakes treated with CCA, it is possible to use
raw cedar shakes; however, the raw shakes have about half the useful life of treated
shakes, are not recommended for the mid-Atlantic region, and would need some spray
treatment at future intervals to protect the investment, still requiring some need for
chemicals. Untreated cedar shakes are also prone to invasive insects while treated
cedar shakes are not likely to have this problem. Again, if in doubt, check with the mill
or manufacturer of the shakes.
Please give some thought to giving some of your time to your Kentlands neighbors.
Installer and Manufacturer Warranties
Two events are now planned to offer every Kentlands resident an opportunity
to meet the folks who are already giving of themselves and to learn more about the
opportunities on the various boards and committees. They will take place at the
Clubhouse on:
Most roof installers will warranty their labor for five to ten years, varying with different contractors. The mill or manufacturer should also offer a warranty, generally five
years for the materials; however, it is important to investigate their requirements such
as treated or raw cedar, breather system or no breather system. Some mills require that
packing labels from their roofing materials be submitted along with the warranty card,
so ask the roofers to save those labels for you, if they are required.
Saturday, January 31 at 7pm
Friday, February 13 at 5:30pm.
There are more reasons to attend than just learning about volunteer opportunities!
We’ll have:
What About That Tax Break?
It may be worthwhile to consult an accountant, even if you are used to doing your
own tax returns, to maximize the deductions that you may be eligible to claim. While
general maintenance is not usually of interest to the Internal Revenue Service, certain
home improvements like a roof replacement may provide some tax-free benefit. When
you sell your home, you can use certain home improvement costs to increase your
home’s “basis,” a dollar figure equal to the amount you paid for your home.
• Free food (think pizza, maybe even CHICKEN
WINGS if you’re lucky);
• Free drink (think soda, beer, and wine);
•Prizes (think goods, services, and gift cards
from local businesses); and
As years pass, your home value should increase. For example, if you purchased your
home for $300,000 (your basis) and were able to sell the home for $650,000, you
would make $350,000 on the sale. In the past, you could have earned up to $250,000
tax free from the sale of your home if it was your primary residence and you had lived
there for at least two of the last five years before you sold it. In this case, you would
be responsible for taxes on the $100,000 gain over the $250,000 tax-free threshold.
If you had qualifying home improvement repairs, like a roof replacement, and you
saved your receipts, you may be able to add the cost of those repairs to your basis. If
the roof cost $25,000 and you were able to add that to the $300,000 basis, the taxable cost differential is lowered from $100,000 to $75,000 in this example. That’s a
considerable savings.
• Friendly people who want to get to know you.
Please join us at the Clubhouse.
Lastly, take a glance at page 12 to see a brief overview of what each of our wonderful
committees do, and see how you can get involved! n
Have a special talent or profession?
If you owned the home jointly with a spouse, by the way, you could each claim the
$250,000 exemption. While the Kentlands Town Crier cannot offer tax or accounting
advice, we hope this information provides some insights so you can follow up, as appropriate, with your financial or tax advisors. n
Get the word out in the Kentlands Town Crier!
Contact Dana Macena at 301.948.2071 • [email protected].
Kentlands Town Crier 3
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
K E N T TownCrier
LANDS
Kentlands Events January–February 2015
Volume 49 n Issue 12
EDITOR AND ADVERTISING MANAGER
Dana Macena
301.948.2071
[email protected]
KENTLANDS CITIZENS ASSEMBLY
President
Barney Gorin
[email protected]
All meetings will take place in the Clubhouse unless otherwise noted.
KCA Committee Meetings
February 4
Kentlands Historical Trust, 6:30–9pm
February 12
Board of Code Compliance, 6:30–9pm
February 17
Budget & Finance Advisory Committee,
7:30–9pm
February 25 KCA Board of Trustees Meeting, 7–10pm
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
[email protected]
Chair
Chris Campbell
Vice Chair
Ty Hardaway
Volunteer Open House, 7–9pm
Treasurer
Robert Randolph
February 13
Happy Hour, 5:30–7:30pm
Secretary
Glen Palman
February 21
Brunch & Crafts, 10:30am–12:30pm
Staff Writers
Karen Norris
Staff Photographers
Tom Marchessault
Social/Interest Groups
February 2
Spanish Group at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Community Chorus, 5–9pm
February 3 Acoustic Jam, 6–9pm
The Kentlands Town Crier is the primary regularlypublished means of communicating information
of interest to Kentlands citizens. It is published
by the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
the form, content, and policies of the newspaper.
The newspaper addresses items of legitimate
interest to the Kentlands Citizens Assembly.
It does not espouse any political belief
or endorse any product or service.
February 4
Bridge Club at the Carriage House, 1–4pm
February 5 Garden Club, 7:30–9pm
February 6 Needle Arts, 9–12pm
Girl Scouts 3051 at the Carriage House,
3:30–5pm
Articles submitted for publication must be signed
and may not be libelous. Letters may be published
as space permits. Articles and letters may be
edited for length and content. The deadline for
submitting articles will be the last day of the
month. Articles may be either dropped at the
Clubhouse, faxed to 301.948.9730, or mailed to:
February 8 EDITORIAL POLICY:
February 9
485 Tschiffely Square Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
REGARDING ADVERTISEMENTS
IN THE NEWSPAPER:
The Kentlands Board of Trustees of the
Kentlands Citizens Assembly does not endorse
the products or services advertised herein,
ensure the correctness of advertisements
contained herein, nor is it responsible for
any claims made by the advertisers herein.
The Kentlands Town Crier reserves the right
to edit, reject, or cancel any advertisement
at any time. The Kentlands Classifieds will not
post any professional or commercial advertising.
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
© Copyright 2015, Kentlands Citizens Assembly.
All Rights Reserved.
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com Needle Arts, 9–12pm
Girls Scouts 3051 at the Carriage House,
3:30–5pm
February 21 KidServe Event, 7–11pm
February 22 Girl Scouts Troop 5908 at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Cub Scouts Pack 221 Bears at the Carriage
House, 4–5pm
February 23 Spanish Group at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Community Chorus, 5–9pm
February 24 Boy Scouts Troop 1199 at the Carriage House,
3:30–4:30pm
Acoustic Jam, 6–9pm
February 25 Bridge Club at the Carriage House, 1–4pm
Villages Meeting, 3–4:30pm
February 27 Needle Arts, 9–12pm
Important Dates
Girl Scouts Troop 5908 at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Cub Scouts Pack 221 Bears at the Carriage
House, 4–5pm
February 5 City Bulk Trash Pick–up, 7am–2pm
February 11 Town Architect’s Open Hours, 5–6pm
*By Appointment Only.*
February 16 Clubhouse Opens, 9am *Fitness center will
open at 9am*
February 19 Visual Change Applications Due, 9am–5pm
Condo Meetings
Community Chorus, 5–9pm
February 10 Kingfish Meeting at the Carriage House,
7:30–9:30pm
Copperfield Crossing I Condo Meeting at the
Carriage House, 7–9pm
February 17 Boy Scouts Troop 1199 at the Carriage House,
3:30–4:30pm
Copperfield Crossing II Condo Meeting at the
Carriage House, 7:30–9pm
February 18 View Condo Meeting, 7–9pm
February 19 Kentlands Ridge Meeting, 7:30–9pm
February 26 Kentlands Condo Meeting, 7–9pm
February 10 Kentlands Community Foundation Meeting,
7–9pm
February 11 Bridge Club at the Carriage House, 1–4pm
Villages Meeting, 3–4:30pm
February 13 Needle Arts, 9–12pm
February 16 Spanish Group at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Community Chorus, 5–9pm
February 17 K25 Meeting, 7–9pm
Anne-Marie Thomas
AnyArt Studios LLC • AnyArtStudios.com
February 20
Spanish Group at the Carriage House,
2:30–4pm
Kentlands Town Crier
c/o The Kentlands Clubhouse
Bridge Club at the Carriage House,
1–4pm
KCA Events
January 31 Trustee
Rob Garretson
February 18 4
Kentlands Town Crier
Gaithersburg Holiday
Giving Program Serves
Record Number of Families
Gaithersburg’s Holiday Giving Program
celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014,
and thanks to the generosity and strong
partnership between the City of Gaithersburg and local businesses, congregations
and community members, a record number of families—nearly 1,100 households
and more than 2,000 children—were
served.
The Holiday Giving program relies solely
on donations from the community and
volunteers to help families in need who
are referred by schools and social service
organizations. In November, a partnership with Calvary Pentecostal and Victory
Christian Churches, along with various
other congregations, made a Thanksgiving Feast possible for more than 300
families. An additional 400 families were
served during a distribution event at
which groceries purchased through the
S.H.A.R.E Food Network were handed
out. Another 300 families were served
through sponsorships.
At the December distribution, families
had the opportunity to choose toys and
receive gift cards and “Family Fun” gift
bags thanks to the generosity of Toys
for Tots, Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape
and the Kmart Kares program. A donation of 3,000 books from Discover Books
allowed every family to take home two
books per child.
Donors to the Gaithersburg Holiday
Giving program include: Grace United Methodist Church, St. Rose of Lima
Catholic Church, Journey’s Crossing
Church, Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape,
Discover Books, and Marriott. New
sponsors joined the team and adopted
families, and many other individuals and
staff volunteered their time and resources
to ensure there were enough toys for the
children. Volunteers from Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, CCF Vida Abundante,
Capital One, and the City’s High School
Student Union helped manage a distribution event that served more than
800 families.
Gaithersburg’s
Community
Services
Division extends its thanks to the Holiday
Giving Coalition and to the more than 75
volunteers and 200 donors that made this
program possible. They will be formally
thanked at the Mayor and City Council
Meeting on February 2. To learn more
please contact the Gaithersburg Community Services Division at 301.258.6395.
Kentlands Town Crier Public Input
Sought at Budget Forum
High School. Members of the community
are invited to participate in this program,
which will include a resource fair featuring local service providers. Participants
will have the opportunity to share their
experiences and recommendations in
small focus group sessions about critical
issues such as child care, transportation,
jobs, and housing.
On Monday, February 9, 2015 the Mayor
and City Council will host the annual
Gaithersburg Budget Public Forum in the
City Hall Council Chambers starting at
7:30pm. In an informal, town hall setting,
staff will present the financial state of the
City, then elected officials will entertain
input from the community on funding priorities for the coming fiscal year, which
begins on July 1, 2015.
This event is free and open to the public.
Free food and child care will be provided.
Bilingual Spanish-speaking volunteers
will be on site. Requests for interpretation in other languages, including sign
language, are welcomed and need to be
made 72 hours in advance of the event.
The staff presentation will include a state
of the City’s finances, including how the
City ended the previous fiscal year and
projections for FY16.
Registration for the forum is available
online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/
community-action-forum-raise-yourvoice-tickets-14908226908?aff=es2
&rank=0. To register by phone and to
request interpretation services, please
call 240.777.1697; TTY 301.251.4850;
Maryland Relay 711.
The forum provides an opportunity for
public input as the draft FY16 operating
and capital improvement budgets are
being developed. Gaithersburg elected
officials are interested in hearing thoughts
and concerns about funding priorities and
strategic initiatives for the City.
Advance registration is not needed to
speak. Anyone wishing to comment need
simply wait their turn for a 3-minute
opportunity to express their thoughts.
Comment can also be provided via e-mail
to [email protected].
The Community Action Board is the
County’s federally-mandated anti-poverty
group. The Board serves in an advisory
role to the Montgomery County Executive
and Montgomery County Council, and
as an advocate for low-income County
residents. The Board provides governance
to the Montgomery County Department
of Health & Human Services Community Action Agency programs, including
Head Start.
The meeting will be aired live on GTV,
Gaithersburg’s municipal cable channel,
viewable on Comcast and RCN channel
13 or FiOS channel 25 within City limits.
The meeting can also be viewed live via
streaming video at www.gaithersburgmd.
gov, or can be viewed online once the
meeting is archived.
Essay Contest Announced
for Junior Mayor Program
Fourth graders in the City of Gaithersburg
are encouraged to share what they would
do if they were Mayor in a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Maryland
Municipal League (MML) in partnership
with the Maryland Mayors’ Association
and the Chesapeake Employers Insurance
Company.
The FY16 budget is scheduled for public
hearing in April, with adoption anticipated in early June.
The FY15 City of Gaithersburg budget
and strategic plan are available on the
City’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.
gov. For more information please contact the Office of the City Manager at
301.258.6310.
The theme for this year’s contest, to be explored in 275 words or less, is: “RESPECT.
If you were Mayor…”
Montgomery’s Community
Action Board Hosts Public
Poverty Forum in Gaithersburg
• There is a vacant lot in “Happy Town.”
Some want to build a playground,
others want to build a skate park.
In the end the Town Council decides
on the playground.
The Montgomery County Community Action Board, in partnership with the City
of Gaithersburg, will host a free public
forum and resource fair to explore issues
impacting low-income County residents.
• How would you get both sides to work
together to build a playground?
The forum, entitled Raise Your Voice!
Poverty in Montgomery County, will take
place on Wednesday, January 28 at 6pm
at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506
S. Frederick Avenue, next to Gaithersburg
• What would you do to help citizens
and elected officials stay nice to each
other even though some may not like
the final decision?
5
• What would you do, after the decision
is made, to make sure the whole town
supports the playground?
One winning essay will be selected from
each of MML’s 11 regional districts. The
City of Gaithersburg takes the program
one step further by selecting a winner
specifically from its own community.
Essays submitted to the statewide contest from students who are residents of
Gaithersburg will be reviewed by members of the City’s Educational Enrichment
Committee. Finalists will be invited to
participate in a videotaped panel interview, and one winner will be selected
as Gaithersburg Junior Mayor, with the
opportunity to participate in programs
and special events throughout the year.
The winning Gaithersburg essay will also
be published on the City’s website.
Entering this contest is a great way to
learn about local government. This past
year Gaithersburg had the pleasure of
welcoming Emma Leath from St. Martin
of Tours School as its Junior Mayor. She
has served as a wonderful representative
of the young people in this community.
Deadline for entries is March 2, 2015.
For submission instructions and information go to www.gaithersburgmd.gov or
call 301.258.6395 x3.
Society of Fire Protection
Engineers Moves Global
Headquarters to Gaithersburg
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers
(SFPE), a professional association representing those practicing in the field of
fire protection engineering, is relocating
its global headquarters from Bethesda
to Gaithersburg in early March, 2015.
Representing 4,500 members worldwide
and supporting more than 60 regional
chapters, the SFPE’s activities include
educational seminars and short courses,
technical symposia and conferences,
books and publications, designed to advance the state of the art of fire protection engineering and provide technical
information to the fire protection community. The SFPE also supports the development of the annual Professional Engineer
licensing exam in fire protection and the
grading of those exams under the auspices
of the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying.
The relocation was made possible in
part by a City of Gaithersburg Economic
Development Toolbox grant in the amount
of $8,528 to assist with the buildout
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15…
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
Corner...
Barney Gorin
An Update On The Wall
Early Morning Noise
The urgent repairs to one section of the retaining wall complex along Quince
Orchard Road are complete except for minor landscaping and applying the final
stain to the decorative concrete enclosures that surround the structural C-channels.
We ask that you be aware of early morning noise that may be a nuisance to your
neighbors and which is beyond the restrictions set by the City of Gaithersburg.
Please take note of the following excerpt from their City Code:
Work is far from complete, however. The remainder of the wall, including that
along the serpentine path from Quince Orchard Road to Ridgepoint Place, also
shows a variety of signs that it needs work as well. The protective fence along the
top of the walls is due for replacement.
“Except in the case of emergency repairs and other unique circumstances
specifically approved by the city manager. The operation of lawnmowers,
power tools, bulldozers, construction or building equipment, or other power
driven labor-saving devices between the hours of 9:00pm and 7:00am on
weekdays, or between the hours of 9:00pm and 9:00am on weekends and federal
holidays, which are audible beyond the nearest common property line.”
The Kentlands Citizens Assembly (KCA) is moving forward with investigation so
we can proceed to make repairs and improvements to the walls, as needed.
Break-ins
We are now in discussions with
Gardner James Engineering (the firm
that did the design for the repairs done
last year), Avon Construction (the company that did that work) and the Louis
Berger Group, Inc. (an international
firm that specializes in geotechnical
engineering) to define our next steps.
While these experts’ opinions differ
in some ways, they are unanimous in
recommending that the investigation
and work should be done as soon as
is practical and so the KCA is working
hard to expedite its start.
The wall along the serpentine path.
Residents in the 400 block of Kent Oaks Way and the 100 block of Little Quarry
Road found that someone had entered their garages sometime prior to the morning
of January 3. Two unlocked vehicles in the same area were also entered during the
same time frame.
While nothing was reported taken, it does serve as a reminder to always lock
your doors, including your garages and your vehicles, to prevent unauthorized
entry.
Thank you to these residents for reporting this to the City police, and we ask
that you do the same if you have to endure the same unfortunate incident in the
future.
Snow Removal
The reinforcement work will not be
cheap. While the full scope is not
yet defined, no designs and no final
decisions have been made, our current working estimate is an additional
$1.5 to $2.0 million based on a
proposal from Avon Construction.
As of this writing, the community had its first measurable snowfall and it was our
first experience with the new snow removal contractor.
For the most part, the service was acceptable with the exception of portions of
the Gate House and Old Farm areas. Since the plowing occurred late in the day,
the surface froze and removal was difficult. Salt trucks were called back to salt
those areas.
Finally, there is a question of responsibility and payment for the expense.
While the wall was covered by the KCA’s insurance, our initial claim from the
wall’s collapse last March has been declined. We have asked our attorney to
review the basis for the claim’s rejection.
We are meeting with the contractor to review this first snow removal operation
and discuss what areas need improvement. As always your patience is appreciated, and please call me at 301.948.2071 if you experience any issues in the
future. n
The walls were constructed in 1992 and 1993 by a Great Seneca Development
Corporation subcontractor following designs prepared by licensed engineers
who also monitored the work. We have also asked our engineers and attorney to
examine whether or not any of those involved in the process bear some
responsibility or whether some residual legal responsibility for its failure exists. n
RSV Pools—Recently, Scott Vincent, the owner of RSV Pools was convicted
in Federal Court for hiring unauthorized aliens from January 2009 to June 2013
to work for RSV Pools who is the pool management company currently under
contract with the KCA.
We Need Your Email Addresses!
Once we were made aware of the court action, we had discussions with both
Scott Vincent and the KCA attorney. Based upon assurances we received from
Scott and advice from our attorney, we plan to move forward with RSV Pools
for this upcoming pool season. Their current contract expires in March of 2016.
If you are getting email updates, event reminders and the Kentlands Express
but your friends and family are not, tell them about it! The email system we
have in place is how we communicate important information that affects
the whole community. This can be anything from an event reminder to any
other imperative safety concern. In order for them to be as informed as you
are in these matters, we need email addresses! So please make sure to tell
your friends and neighbors to contact Sandy Al-Nazer at 301.948.2071 or
[email protected] to get signed up.
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com You can read the article that appeared in the December 31, 2014 edition of
the Gazette Newspaper. It can be found at: http://www.gazette.net/article/
20141231/NEWS/150109860/1007/gaithersburg-man-sentenced-to-twodays-in-prison-for-hiring&template=gazette. n
6
Kentlands Town Crier
Chris Campbell
First of all, Happy New Year!
It is an honor to be writing my first column as the KCA Chairman. The KCA Board
positions are chosen by the current board members. To be nominated and chosen
by the other board members to serve this year as chair is humbling. I look forward to
doing everything I can to be a good steward of our wonderful community.
As we look forward to the new year, and back on the year just ending, we have much
reason to be optimistic. The Kentlands Citizens Assembly continues to be in good
financial shape, despite the challenges we faced in 2014—an unexpected operating
net loss and heavy expenditures for repair and replacement projects, especially with
regard to the Quince Orchard retaining walls.
We want to welcome Rob Garretson to the board to fill the seat held by Neil Harris,
who has moved on to serve on the City of Gaithersburg Council. We look forward to
working with Rob and how he will contribute to the board.
As detailed elsewhere in this issue of the Crier, further expensive retaining wall work
is in the offing, but KCA’s reserves still contain more than $2 million. Much of this will
be spent on urgent repair projects, but our professional reserve studies are scheduled
for a complete update with site visit this year, and the reserves are already planned to
be rebuilt starting now and continuing over the next several years.
As we head into 2015, the KCA Board and President (Barney Gorin) have worked hard
to quickly develop a strong working relationship with effective communication with
each other and transparency with the community as our main tenets. Already, our
email inboxes swell with emails to each other regarding issues such as the retaining
wall, recruiting volunteers for committee positions, seeking to work with the Kentlands
Downtown Partnership (KDP) on the attempt to classify the Kentlands arts community
as Arts and Entertainment District, and many others.
With few exceptions (for which remedial work is planned), KCA common assets
continue to look great. Our community governance works well and may even be
improving, thanks both to our dedicated employees and homeowner volunteers.
And our uniquely handsome community, our social and cultural activities, our
charitable outreach, our openness and transparency, and our evolving plans for the
future, are an ongoing source of pride.
We will also continue the previous Board’s emphasis to enhance communication and
promote transparency with the community. Currently, we use the Town Crier, email
newsletter (Kentlands Express), the KCA website (www.kentlandsusa.com), Facebook
page (https://www.facebook.com/kentlandsusa), and now text messaging to reach our
residents. Thank you to the E-Communications Working Group for working so tirelessly to help pull us into the electronic word of communication!
Congratulations Kentlands!
Not signed up for one of these means of communication? Contact Dana Macena
([email protected]) at the clubhouse and she would be happy to
help you.
Current Financial Highlights
As of November 30, 2014 (the most recent data available), KCA’s year-to-date
Total Income was $1,821,028, 2% below budget chiefly because of shortfalls in
Kentlands Club Local Assessments, Interest Earned on Reserve Accounts, and Town
Crier Advertising Income.
I look forward to this upcoming year working with our Board and President. Please let
us know how we can serve you. You can contact us as a group simply by emailing us
at [email protected]!
Come thank Judy, Neil, Jarrod, and Tim for their service…
YTD Total Expenses were $1,896,396, 1% over budget, mainly because of higher than
expected costs for Snow Removal Services, Legal Expenses, and Community Center
Utilities.
The next KCA Board meeting is Wednesday, January 21st. Please come join us as
we thank former board members Jarrod Borkat, Judy Gross, and Neil Harris and our
former KCA President, Tim Clarke, for their service over the past few years.
These income and expense trends, and especially our unusually high reserve expenses,
have resulted in a $546,151 (21%) decrease in our Total Cash and Investments, which
started the year at $2,596,445 and are currently at $2,050,294. Total Assets at month
end were $2,081,227 and Total Liabilities (mostly Prepaid Residential Assessments)
were $112,680. Total Liabilities and Equity amounted to $2,350,701. Of this total, the
Recreation Facilities Reserve contained $770,755, the Titleholders’ Initial Contribution fund $491,045, the General Reserves $303,129, and the Capital Improvement
Projects Reserves $76,315. Unappropriated Owners’ Equity (our operational reserve)
stands at $414,565, or 22% of budgeted assessments for the year. This is above the
minimum percentage recommended by our auditors, so our Unappropriated Owners’ Equity can be tapped to make up for our anticipated full-year operating net loss
(see next paragraph).
Please shovel your sidewalks
As I was driving around the community Tuesday afternoon, it was terrific to see how
many people had cleared their sidewalks of that morning’s snow. However, it also
contrasted with those homes whose sidewalks had not been cleared. The City of
Gaithersburg requires residents to clear their walk within 12 hours of the end of the
snowfall. However, if you are able to clear it even sooner, that is a terrific assistance for
your community neighbors who use those sidewalks to push strollers, use scooters or
wheelchairs, etc. If we can quickly clear the snow from our walkways, then we avoid
the rockhard ice that forms and is difficult to remove in the cold temperatures.
Please contact the clubhouse if you are unable to physically clear your sidewalk, as
the office has a list of volunteers you can contact for assistance. Also, please let us
know if you would want to volunteer to help a neighbor with their shoveling.
Total Income is projected to end the year at $1,995,730 (2% below budget for the
year) and Total Expenses $2,067,642 (1% over budget). Full-year net loss in 2014
is projected to be $71,912. But the 2015 budget is expected to be balanced,
performance through the year will be carefully monitored, and corrective action will
be contemplated in case anomalies arise.
Volunteers Needed
We have been celebrating the past 25 years of Kentlands history through the terrific
events planned and executed by the K25 Committee. The one thing that stands out, the
Kentlands would not be the gold standard of New Urbanism communities without the
many volunteers that help make the community work. As the Kentlands looks forward
to the next 25 years, we continue to have a great need for volunteers. Please consider
serving your neighbors by volunteering. Whether you are passionate about snow shoveling, planning activities for the community, or helping to maintain the community’s
architectural standards, we will help you find the right place to get plugged in.
Sources of Information, and How to Get More
All KCA financial data presented here are derived from reports provided by CMC.
As always, further details about KCA finances are available in the monthly Financial
Reports, which interested Titleholders are welcome to review by dropping in at the
KCA offices.
Kentlands Town Crier Thank you!
7
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
By Christopher Campbell
Over the next couple of months, my
column is going to focus on information
for condominium owners and renters.
As a fellow condo owner, I want to make
sure all of you have some pertinent
information that you may not be aware of.
Who is who?
As a condo owner in the Kentlands, there
are a number of “boards” and acronyms
that you need to know...
KCA—Kentlands Citizens Assembly is
the homeowners association that governs the Kentlands. As a homeowner
in the Kentlands, you are a part of the
KCA and have voting rights with the
association.
KCA Board of Trustees—The KCA Board
is made up of five homeowners that you,
the KCA membership, elect to serve two
year terms. The Board approves the annual budget, sets policy within the community and has final authority over the
decisions made by different committees
within the KCA.
KCA Management—The KCA Board contracts with CMC (Community Management Corporation) for management of our
community. The on site staff are led by
Randy Fox (General Manager) and report
to the KCA President, who, like the Board
of Trustees, is a homeowner elected to a
two-year term.
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com Attention Condo Owners
ers follow necessary procedures in exterior
changes to their homes as well as overseeing the community inspection that we
have every two years. They hear appeals
by homeowners regarding code violations.
Condominium Board—made up of owners within your condominium complex,
your condo board sets policy and determines the budget for the condominium
(among other responsibilities). Your condo board also can represent the condominiums’ interests with the KCA.
Your Dues…
As a condo owner, you are responsible for
dues to both your condo association and
the KCA. You make only one payment to
the condo association, and that management company makes a lump payment
monthly to the KCA to cover the KCA
dues for every resident in that association.
Your condo dues cover maintenance and
reserves for the physical structure of your
building, trash pick up for your building,
and snow removal for your building. Your
KCA dues cover maintenance and reserves
for the Kentlands as well as recreation use
of facilities (except for the Colonnade).
Condominium Management—each condo
association board picks the management
company that will oversee that collection of units. Several of the management
companies are Avaris, Main Street, etc.
KHT—The Kentlands Historical Trust is a
committee of homeowners who are tasked
with the great responsibility of maintaining the high architectural standards in the
Kentlands (known as the Kentlands Code).
The KHT approves all external alterations
to any home within the Kentlands—from
single family to townhouse to condo.
VCA—The visual change application is
the application a homeowner submits to
the KHT to alter the exterior of their home
(from painting to fence repair to a new
roof or windows).
Why does this matter
to me as a condo owner?
As a condo owner, you must get multiple
approvals to work done to your unit. If you
make any changes inside your unit, you
can make those on your own except for
the floors. The condo associations have
standards for noise reduction padding
below any new installed flooring, so run
those repairs by your condo boards.
BOCC—The Board of Code Compliance
is a committee of homeowners who are
tasked with upholding the standards of the
Kentlands code. They work hand in hand
with the KHT to make sure our homeown-
8
Any external repairs (from window replacement to painting the front door to
altering your bushes / flowers) need condo approval AND KCA approval. For all
exterior alterations to your unit, you must
submit a VCA to the KHT. PLEASE NOTE
that if you fail to submit a VCA, you can
be cited and fined for installing improper
materials. For instance, builders were allowed to install vinyl windows during
unit construction, but vinyl windows are
not permitted by the Kentlands Code and
cannot be used during a renovation. This
past year, the Board of Trustees and the
KHT have worked to provide some new
window options for condo owners with
costs concerns in mind.
If you install non-approved windows, the
BOCC will ask you to install windows
that meet our community code. You will
end up buying another set of windows at
your cost. This has happened more than
once. Please do not incure extra costs and
submit your alterations for KHT approval
before making any payments to contractors, etc. Please contact Arthur Giles in the
business office for help on this process.
I hope that this column is helpful in
learning more about Kentlands citizenship. Please always ask questions if
there is ever any confusion. The Board of
Trustees, KCA President, and Randy Fox
and his team are always happy to assist
anyone who has concerns or questions!
Kentlands Town Crier
Kentlands Historical Trust
By Arthur Gailes
Mary Frank, #14-002
Block II • Lot 27 • 481 Tschiffely Sq. Rd.
Minutes of the Kentlands
Historic Trust Meeting 12.03.15
Siding: approved to replace all siding
with HardiePlank siding. Color: Naval by
Sherwin Williams.
Committee Members Present:
Deck: approved to replace existing deck
with a new deck of the same materials
and specifications.
Stephanie Vierra, KHT Chair
Hamid Nazari, KHT
Ruthzaly Weich, KHT Alternate
Management/Residents/
Owners/Guests Present:
Arthur Gailes, CMC
Marina Khoury, DPZ
Robert Tabit, Resident
Geri Ozirsky, Resident
Gloria Seelman, Resident
The meeting was called to order at
6:30pm on Wednesday, December 3,
2014 at the Kentlands Clubhouse.
Marc & Beth Malakoff, #14-001
Block W • Lot 19 • 313 Alfandre Street
Deck: approved to replace current upper
and lower-level decks with Trex flooring
(color: “Treehouse”) and railing (color:
white).
Landscaping: approved to lay riverstone
flooring around rear A/C unit.
Skating on the Lakes is Prohibited!
The frozen lakes look inviting, but please do not attempt to play or skate on any
lakes within Kentlands or Lakelands. The ice could give way and you would fall
through to freezing water! If this were to happen, it could prove to be fatal before
rescuers could reach the scene. Talk to your children about the extreme danger of
playing on the ice or on the rocks surrounding the lakes.
Yes, the ice looks stable and inviting but please remember that our lake systems
double as a storm drainage network. This means that the level of water under the
ice may be lowering and it is never safe to walk out onto the lakes. The water is
constantly moving under the ice, further contributing to a perilous environment and
an adult can lose motor skills within a minute of being in freezing water.
Windows: deferred to replace existing
rear basement windows with Marvin
Integrity.
If you see anyone skating or playing on the lakes, please call the police
non-emergency number at 301.279.8000 to report it. n
Reason: The KHT requests a sample of
the proposed product before issuing a
decision.
Robert Tabit, #14-003
Block PP • Lot 70 • 442 Little Quarry Rd.
Windows: approved to replace three
basement windows with Pella Impervia
casement windows.
Note: approval of case windows granted
as a variance to the Kentlands Design Standards based on specific site conditions.
Gerianne Ozirsky and Gloria Seelman
attended the meeting to display the Barrington window by Window Nation. After
review, the KHT declined to add the window to its Additional Suitable Materials list.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm. n
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1…
Kentlands Walk & Talk
At the same time, we’d like to encourage everyone to take a bag along when you go
out for a walk and pick up some of the trash around your neighborhood. Every bit
picked up is an improvement.
And a closing thought for our friends with dogs. Yeah, c’mon. Please bag your pet’s
poop and then throw the bag in the trash rather than the bushes. It’s the right way
to treat your friends, your neighbors, and our community as a whole. The City of
Gaithersburg even has a Pooper Scooper law with tickets and fines and so forth. But
mostly, you don’t want you or yours stepping in it, etc.
It’s our community, it’s a special place to live, and simultaneously enjoying it by
walking and maintaining it in small ways is very rewarding. We are Kentlands. n
Kentlands Town Crier 9
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
warrioroneyoga.net
Kentlands Community Chorus
New Session Begins January 12
Join the fun of the chorus! Open to
singers of all abilities and all regardless
of where you live!
Youth Chorus—Enrolling Grades 1-6
for this exciting Youth Chorus which
meets Mondays at the Kentlands
Clubhouse, 5–6pm.
Teen A Cappella Group—The classes
will begin in January, and will meet
Mondays 6:30–7:30pm.
Adult Chorus—Registration fee: $140
per session, 14 classes. Discount for
registering for the whole year. Age 18
and up. 7:30–9:00pm.
This year the adult chorus will help
lead the City of Gaithersburg’s Broadway Singalongs and Cabarets in the
Kentlands Mansion and Arts Barn
and participate in the City’s “Open
Mic” evenings.
Kentlands House & Garden Tour
Kentlands Residents—Preparations for
the 2015 Home & Garden Tour are under way! Do you have a fabulous home
or garden you would like to showcase
or would you like to nominate a friend
or neighbor? Please contact Katy Thoms
at [email protected] in order
to be eligible to be considered by the
committee.
Support the Arts in our
Community through the
Young Artist Award Competition
Nearly 100 talented area teens will
compete in five categories February 7
for the 2015 Young Artist Award Competition, an annual event co-hosted
by the City of Gaithersburg and the
Kentlands Community Foundation. The
teens will compete for the opportunity
to be named a Young Artist Award winner in 2015 in categories including:
Piano, Woodwinds, Brass, Strings and
Vocals. In addition, the winners will
have the exciting opportunity to perform at a winners’ concert March 28 at
the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
If you’d like to support the program
through a cash or prize sponsorship to
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com (240)-994-2409
Warrior
reward these teens for their
dedication, drive and talent please
contact Carrie Dietz at kentlands@
kentlands.org. Thank you in advance
for your consideration!
YOGA AT THE CARRIAGE HOUSE
Level it Up Used Sporting
Goods Collection Drive
Enjoy the many benefits of Yoga with ample one on one attention at Warrior One Yoga:
Relieve Back and Neck Strain, Increase Flexibility, Strengthen Muscles, Improve Balance,
Improve Immune Fuction, Strengthen Bones, Relax the Nervous System, Lower Blood
Lakelands resident Ben Fleischer is collecting donations for Leveling the Playing Field (www.levelingtheplayingfield.
org), which is working to give every
kid living in and around our area the
benefits of athletics. Clean out your
home and garage of used sporting
equipment so kids who are less fortunate are able to enjoy them! Leveling
the Playing Field accepts everything—
new or used (good condition)—except
flatbottom shoes, clothing and roller
blades.
Sugar and Blood Pressure, Foster Healing Relationships, Cultivate Mind, Body, and Spirit
Connection. Start taking classes today, and discover a new you!
FIND CLASSES RIGHT FOR YOU
Hatha Yoga - Sundays, 9:30am
Hatha Yoga - Tuesdays, 7:30am
Hatha Yoga - Wednesdays, 6:00pm
[email protected]
[email protected]
Carriage House
321 Kent Square Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
A collection bin is located in the lobby
of the Kentlands Clubhouse through
Jan. 25.
next to the Arts Barn and facing the
back of the Kentlands Mansion
Kentlands Acoustic Jam
©2013 Warrior One Yoga
Do you Do Music? The Foundation
is jazzed to introduce an on-going
program: Acoustic Jam Sessions. Held
the first and fourth Tuesdays of each
month, the sessions are open to all
regardless of where you live or what
your skill level is, so please join the
fun! For more information or get in on
the set list ahead of time please contact:
[email protected].
Valley Mill Camp
www.valleymill.com
Spring & Summer
Call 301-948-0220
Kayaking
Swimming
Rock Climbing
Horseback Riding
and more...
KCF Holiday Giving Wrap-Up
More than 40 gifts, 10 filled stocking stuffer bags and dozens of hats,
scarves, mittens and coats made their
way to Gaithersburg families in need in
December. Once again Stiles Dentistry
and the Kentlands Clubhouse served
as drop-off locations. Thank you to all
who contibuted!
Transportation Provided
Boys & Girls, Ages 4 - 14
Kentlands Film Society
Open Houses:
March 22, April 19, May 3
From 11am - 4pm
The film society moves into 2015 with
the following films:
January 18 The Way (PG13), USA
March 15
Barbara (PG13), Germany
May 17
Butterfly (R), Spain n
15101 Seneca Rd
Darnestown, MD
10
Kentlands Town Crier
2014 Kentlands/Lakelands
Tennis League Round-up
®
9713 Key West Ave. Suite 401
Rockville, MD 20850
301-279-5500
Since
1967
www.TIE-inc.com
Local insurance agency serving the greater Washington
Metropolitan area since 1967.
Our 2014 Flex League was comprised of the Kentlands
and Lakelands communities. This year’s playing divisions
were: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles
(Beginner and Intermediate Levels), and Mixed Doubles.
All players were provided a list of other league participants and coordinated times for their own matches.
The league ran through a 6-month period, May–November. The flexible league offers
players a great opportunity to play competitive matches while working around travel
plans and busy schedules. All the players had a great time meeting new friends and
finding new sparring partners to play with right in their backyards!
Automobile Insurance
Home, Renters & Condo
Insurance
Individual Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Valuable Items
Watercraft/Boat
Umbrella
Motorcycle
Identity Theft
Contact Our Personal Lines Team Today!
Congratulations to the following players for winning their divisions:
Romy Valle
Men’s Singles
Champion
Sam Warren
Men’s Singles
Runner-Up
Mixed Doubles
Champions
Cindy Riso and Scott Lebhar
INTEGRITY. EXPERTISE. PERSEVERANCE.
www.tie-inc.com
Meredith Williams and Cindy Riso
Women’s Doubles
Champions
(Intermediate Level)
Diane Faulkner and Kristen Johnston
Women’s Doubles
Champions
(Beginner Level)
Patricia Block
Women’s Singles
Champion
TM
website design
graphic design
desktop publishing
Romy Valle (Men’s Singles Champion), and
Kristen Johnston and Diane Faulkner (Women’s Doubles Champions—Beginner Level)
branding and image consulting
Our season culminated with a celebratory dinner at Buca di Beppo. Winners were
awarded dinner gift cards. To register for the 2015 Tennis Flex League and for further
information on the Kentlands Tennis Program for the Spring/Summer, contact Marna
Katzel, Tennis Director at 301.540.8766 or email [email protected]. n
software and design training
custom illustrations
voice-overs
Have an announcement or an event?
Get the word out in the Kentlands Town Crier!
301.602.4367 • [email protected]
Contact Dana Macena at 301.948.2071 • [email protected].
Kentlands Town Crier 11
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
Paragon Entertainment Holdings Acquires Kentlands Stadium 10
Extensive Renovations Planned—Theater Will Remain Open During Remodel
Florida-based Paragon Entertainment Holdings assumed ownership of the Kentlands Stadium 10 theater in
Gaithersburg, MD on Tuesday, January 13th, and will undertake extensive renovations of the theater to bring
Paragon’s distinctive luxury movie-going experience to area residents. The renovations will begin immediately with
a planned completion date of Summer 2015; the theater will remain open during the remodel.
The newly remodeled Paragon Kentlands 10 movie theater will feature:
• Electric Reclining Seats with Tray Tables
• Online Reserved Seating
• Completely Remodeled Interior
• Expanded Concessions
• Hi-Def Digital Projection in All Auditoriums.
The theater will also offer a free Diamond Rewards guest loyalty program, affordable
camp and school field trips and terrific fundraising opportunities.
The company has a successful track record of turning older theaters into top of
the line, upscale movie-going venues complete with expanded dining experiences,
and will follow the blueprint used to renovate its existing theaters located in Florida,
Minnesota and Virginia. “The Kentlands area seems like a fantastic community and the
perfect fit for a Paragon complex,” stated Niki Wilson, VP of Marketing and Publicity
for the chain.
About Paragon Theatres—Founded by the former executive management team of
Muvico, Paragon was established in 2009 to create a differentiated movie going experience that is superior to traditional movie theaters in comfort, technology, and amenities
while still retaining a competitive price point. Paragon’s “Luxury Made Affordable” includes such amenities as expanded food offerings, reserved seating, VIP luxury seats, bar/
lounges, HD digital projection, and superior customer service. Paragon currently operates several theaters and restaurants with other new projects in its pipeline.
Visit www.paragontheaters.com for more information. n
Standing Committees
Kentlands Historical Trust
The Kentlands Historical Trust works with
the Community Architect to maintain the
visual integrity of the Community. The
Kentlands Historical Trust makes recommendations and decisions on applications
for design or visual changes to exteriors of buildings and lots. The Kentlands
Historical Trust also provides interpretive advice to the Board of Trustees and
to the Board of Code Compliance to aid
in findings on alleged violations of design
standards. The Kentlands Historical Trust
is charged with pursuing its duties with
the mission of preserving the visual
character of Kentlands as it was originally conceived and initially executed.
Members are appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Board of Trustees.
Kentlands Board of Code Compliance
The Board of Code Compliance is
charged with investigating and rendering
judgments on alleged violations of Community Codes. Judgments may include
the determination of appropriate and
reasonable punitive measures such as
assessing financial damages or temporarily suspending rights to use of certain common property. The Board of
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com Code Compliance is required to make
reasonable attempts to resolve cases of
alleged violations through non-formal
techniques and to informally resolve conflicts between Citizens in cases involving
alleged violations of Community Codes.
Kentlands Budget
& Finance Advisory Committee
The Kentlands Budget and Finance
Committee is responsible for reviewing
the community finances and advising the
Board of Trustees regarding the financial
affairs of the Assembly.
Kentlands Election Committee
The Kentlands Election Committee is
responsible for overseeing the community
elections.
Kentlands Environmental Management/
Arts & Ornamentation Committee
The Environmental Management/Arts &
Ornamentation Committee was established in 1998 by the Board of Trustees
of the Kentlands Citizens Assembly. Its
purpose is to advise the Board with respect to matters involving the natural
environment of Kentlands, emphasizing
areas that serve the Kentlands community
at large. The Committee also contributes
to the enhancement of the community by
recommending the installation of public
art and street furniture.
Kentlands Welcoming Committee
On a regular basis, the Welcoming
Committee hosts a Newcomers’ Coffee
for all residents who have recently made
the Kentlands their home. This event gives
the opportunity for new residents to meet
various committee members, board members as well as a chance to get to know
other new neighbors like themselves.
Activities Committee
The Activities Committee identifies
demographic groups that are underserved
by social activities as well identify activities that are appropriate for the identified
groups. The committee works with the
business office to schedule, budget, and
promote activities as well as locate and
manage volunteers necessary for successful operation of activities. The Activities
Committee measure outcomes and adjust
future planning based on results.
Ad Hoc Committees
E-Communications Working Group
The KCA Board of Trustees established
the E-Communications Working Group
to address the need for enhanced electronic communications with residents of
the Kentlands. The E-Communications
Working Group benchmarks how other
successful communities leverage social
media and e-communications while
12
assessing the needs of Kentlands citizens.
The group develops and recommends
plans of implementation to the KCA
Board of Trustees, CMC and KCA
President. The working group considers
all liabilities, opt-in and opt-out language,
and collection of information.
Capital Projects Committee
The Capital Projects Working Group was
established to ensure the next 25 years
of Kentlands infrastructure thrives as the
last 25 years. This group assesses the
infrastructure of the community and
identifies projects that the KCA may want
to address to maintain the Kentlands.
Turf Management Committee
The goal of the Turf Management
Committee, as charged by the KCA, has
been to understand current turf management practices and issues, to investigate
best practices, and to propose a process
that would address both the turf problems present, and the community goals
of a safe and healthy environment. The
committee has met regularly, interviewed experts, researched best practices
and striven to put together a workable
plan that would address both goals and
practical implementation.
Volunteer Open House on
January 31st at 7pm
Kentlands Town Crier
Questions? Contact Laurie Levy-Page
Performing Arts Coordinator
City of Gaithersburg/Arts Barn/Arts on the Green
ARTS on the
February is the time for “artwarming” events at Arts on the Green February is the perfect month for indoor activities that warm the body and spirit. Arts
on the Green will leave the traditional Valentine’s Day sweetness to others—February’s
spicy performances include hilarious farce, historical drama, a concert and workshop
from an edgy young singer/songwriter, and another opportunity to “Get in the Act”—
all right in your backyard. For tickets and class and workshop registration, call the Arts
Barn at 301.258.6394.
PERFORMANCES
[email protected]
up rock, dark blues and sparsely arranged folk.” Her songs imbue commonplace
moments with strange magic and convey a restless energy, a clarity of purpose and
desire to live fully within elemental processes – moving light, running water, wildfire.
Lead track “Get Up” sets the tone for Reckless Skyline with a call to action to push on
through the sentimental. “I wrote this song on a mountain pass in Idaho ravaged by
and recovering from wildfire,” says Canty. When Canty sings, “Sleeping on embers /
Breathing in rivers / Waking up shivering on summer’s hottest night” she becomes a
part of the natural world the song inhabits, carving a line between joy and pathos with
uncanny precision and power.
Raised in small-town Vermont, the daughter of a school teacher and a house painter,
Caitlin Canty spent a decade in New York City cutting her teeth on both sides of the
microphone—as a performer and as the first employee of the successful Artists Den
series. A constant collaborator, Canty writes and performs with several bands and
spends much of her year on the road, or dividing her time between Nashville, Idaho
and New England.
Theater
Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti • Montgomery Playhouse
at Arts Barn
February 13–March 1 • Fridays & Saturdays 8pm, Sundays
2pm, Arts Barn • $20 (recommended for ages 15 & up)
In Valentine’s Day month, here’s the bracing comedic antidote to roses and sweetness. Prepare for romantic misadventures and guffaws. Set in the swinging 60’s, this
laugh-out-loud farce follows the adventures of happy-go-lucky bachelor Bernard. He’s
got it all going on: a flat in Paris and three gorgeous stewardesses all engaged to him
without knowing about each other. But Bernard’s perfect life gets bumpy when his
friend Robert comes to stay and a new and speedier Boeing jet throws off all of his
careful planning. Soon all three stewardesses are in town simultaneously, timid Robert
is forgetting which lies to tell to whom, and catastrophe looms. Thank goodness for
Bernard’s reliable maid, who never forgets to change the photographs.
Honest Abe: The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln • Sandy Spring Theatre Group
Get in the Act! Broadway Sing-Along
Sunday, March 1 • 3pm, Kentlands Mansion • $10
What a way to spend a chilly Sunday afternoon—belting out tunes with friends and
neighbors at lovely Kentlands Mansion! Kentlands Community Chorus provides
piano accompaniment, a song leader and lyric sheets; the audience provides vocal
power and musical enthusiasm. Relax, enjoy refreshment and sing tunes from some
of the best-loved Broadway shows, both old and new. In the spirit of Arts on the
Green’s Open Mic nights and Children’s Movie Sing-Along, the Broadway Sing-Along
is designed to make participation in the arts fun, rewarding and most definitely not
intimidating.
VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, February 18 • 1pm, Arts Barn • $20 / $12 (14 & under)
The Arts Barn offers a matinee performance of a one-act play for anyone looking to enrich her/his day with historical drama! Honest Abe: The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham
Lincoln is an original and engaging one-man play about the 16th president, Abraham
Lincoln, starring American Association of Community Theatres award-winning actor,
Bill Spitz. Honest Abe takes place in late 1863. The audience has arrived to spend an
evening with President Lincoln. Lincoln talks about the important events of his life
with insight, wit, and humor, providing a rare glimpse into the man whose mission
was to reunite the nation and end slavery. A question-and-answer session follows the
performance. Honest Abe is suitable for ages 10 and up. Presented by Sandy Spring
Theatre Group. Seniors and Home School groups are welcome—groups of 10 or more
receive a 10% discount.
Music
Singer/Songwriter Series: Caitlin Canty in Concert
Stained Glass Saturday
February 14 • 10am–4pm, Arts Barn • $78 (resident), $90 (non-resident)
Spend a Saturday learning the basics of stained glass art, including how to cut, foil
and solder your own stained glass panel, choosing form three designs. Students will
be standing and need to wear closed-toed shoes. For ages 16 and up. There is a supply
fee due at the beginning of the workshop.
Dreamtime Arts and Australian Wine
Friday, February 20 • 7–9:30pm, Arts Barn • $40 (resident), $45 (non-resident)
Explore ancient history, themes, patterns and symbols of Australia’s aboriginal art.
Learn “Dot Technique” and create a Dreamtime story on a wooden box. Art-making
is paired with a wonderful Australian wine. Must be 21 to attend (I.D. required).
The price of the workshop includes one drink ticket.
Creative Jewelry Making: Beginners
Saturday, February 28 • 1–3pm, Arts Barn • $26 (resident), $30 (non-resident)
Thursday, February 19 • 3pm Workshop, 7:30pm Concert, Arts Barn • $45 workshop AND concert, $25 concert ONLY
Caitin Canty is having a moment, and we’re lucky enough to share it with her.
The singer/songwriter’s new record, Reckless Skyline, was released on January 20,
and in November she opened for Chris Smithers at the Ram’s Head in Annapolis.
Her intimate solo concert at Arts Barn will feature many of the songs from
Reckless Skylines, as well as some of her original songs from previous records and a
cover or two. Canty delivers her fine-edged songs with a 1930’s Recording King guitar
and a dusky alto, cut with wild, defiant sorrow. Her hauntingly beautiful voice and rich
imagery draw you in while her razor-sharp lyrical insights carry you away.
Canty also presents a 3pm workshop, which will be geared to the needs and interests of those attending. She will be ready to cover songwriting, performance, record
production, and the business of being a full-time touring musician. Get the scuttlebutt
from an insider!
Indulge in a fun afternoon with friends or go solo and try your hand at jewelry making!
This beginner’s workshop is for ages 14 and up. There is a supply fee due at beginning
of the workshop.
GALLERIES
Howard Cohen, Anthony Glander and Arts Barn Faculty
Through March 8, during business hours • Arts Barn • FREE
Artist Reception will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 7–8:30pm
Howard Cohen is an award-winning artist and long-time Gaithersburg resident. In
celebration of his 90th birthday, the Arts Barn Gallery will be featuring a selection
of his paintings from throughout his career. Cohen graduated from the New England
School of Art in 1949 and was awarded a Certificate of Completion in Commercial
Art. He continued his studies in art at the Maryland School of Art and Design and at
Canty describes Reckless Skyline, which is produced by acclaimed songwriter Jeffrey
Foucault, as “twelve songs that veer nimbly between country ballads and straight-
Kentlands Town Crier 301.258.6394
13
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www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com 14
Kentlands Town Crier
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5…
(City News) Society of Fire
Protection Engineers Moves
Global Headquarters to Gaithersburg
costs for 4,264 square feet of new office
space located at 9711 Washingtonian Blvd.
“SFPE is excited to move our global headquarters to Gaithersburg, Maryland,” said
Executive Director Nicole Testa Boston.
“With most of our staff residing in the
area, we are looking forward to drastically reduced commuting times, which will
provide better life balance for everyone.
The area offers our staff, and our members
who travel here, a wonderful experience
with hotels, restaurants and shops—all
within walking distance of our new offices. The new Downtown Crown area
is an additional bonus and enhances the
great amenities already available in the
Washingtonian Rio Center. We couldn’t
be happier with the move.”
The Gaithersburg Economic Development
Toolbox Program, launched in January
of 2010, includes a diversified array of
grants, incentives and credits to help existing businesses realize their potential and
improve the long-term marketability of
commercial space in Gaithersburg. It includes matching grants and permit waivers for space fit-ups, job training, commercial signage, demolition assistance,
ADA compliance and utility upgrades,
and job creation tax credit matches.
“Gaithersburg is a highly desirable
location for corporate headquarters,” said
Economic Development Director Tom
Lonergan. “We’ve got a very well educated employee base, a convenient location
within the DC metropolitan area, and a
host of amenities that add to the quality
of life employers are looking for. We’re
delighted that we can now add the SFPE
to our growing list and we look forward to
welcoming them to our community.”
For more information on economic
development programs and incentives
visit www.growgaithersburg.com.
Council Member Sesma
Elected to NLC Board of Directors
Gaithersburg City Council Member
Michael A. Sesma was elected to the
National League of Cities (NLC) Board of
Directors and will play a key role in guiding the nation’s largest and most representative membership and advocacy organization for city officials. He was elected
to a two-year term by NLC’s membership
at the group’s annual business meeting
at the Congress of Cities & Exposition in
Austin, Texas in November.
In his role on the Board, Council Member
Sesma will meet throughout the year to
Kentlands Town Crier guide NLC’s strategic direction and set
the organization’s advocacy priorities and
operational goals. Board members are selected by a 15-member nominating committee, and are confirmed by a vote of
NLC’s membership.
“I’m excited to be able to continue to
be a voice for the interests and needs of
Gaithersburg and other Maryland municipalities as a member of the NLC Board of
Directors,” said Council Member Sesma.
“The Board has provided important leadership in growing the influence of the
League, making clear to the public, Congress and the White House that elected
councils and mayors in cities like Gaithersburg demonstrate how government
successfully serves the public on a daily
basis.”
In November, NLC’s membership voted
to expand the Board of Directors to 60
members in order to be more inclusive
and representative of the membership as
a whole.
NLC is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and
promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is
a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more
than 218 million Americans. For more information visit www.nlc.org. For more information on the Gaithersburg City Council visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
Vintage Wedding Gowns
on Display at Kentlands Mansion
Kentlands Mansion invites you to “Walk
Down the Aisle” this February and celebrate romance with an exhibition of vintage bridal gowns courtesy of the Montgomery County Historical Society. Tracing
fashions from the delicate silhouettes of
WWII through the dramatic sweeping
gowns of the 1950’s to the sleek shapes of
the 1960’s, the gowns will be set against
the elegant backdrop of the Helz Music
Room at Kentlands Mansion.
The exhibition, on display February 5
through 26, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Kentlands Mansion as a wedding
venue, and can be viewed weekdays from
9am to 4pm and on weekends when the
Mansion is open to the public for special
events. There is no admission fee.
Kentlands Mansion is an appropriate setting for this exhibition. The TschiffelyKent property has been a landmark along
Darnestown Road since 1900. The stately
mansion was built by Frederick Tschiffely,
and later sold to Otis Beall Kent in 1942.
The elegant property, located at 320 Kent
Square Road, now belongs to the City of
Gaithersburg, and is an ideal venue for
weddings, receptions, social functions
and business meetings. For more infor-
mation please call 301.258.6425 or visit
Kentlands Mansion online at www.gaithersburgmd.gov.
Harold Belton in December of 2013.
Comptroller Tina Smith has been serving
as Acting Director.
Discover “Fun & Games” at the
Community Museum
“Throughout the recruitment process,
Ms. Walker really impressed us with the
depth of her knowledge of local government finance, particularly her ability to
articulate complex issues and suggest
potential strategies to address them,” said
Tomasello. “We’re confident she has the
skills needed to move our organizational
goals forward.”
Starting in January, the Gaithersburg
Community Museum is launching a
series of Discovery Days. Focusing on
a different theme each time, Discovery
Days are designed to stir the imagination
and foster family involvement in a fun and
stimulating environment.
The first Discovery Day of 2015, Fun &
Games, takes place on Sunday, January
25, from 1–4pm. Families are invited to
the Museum for an afternoon of old fashioned play with games that pre-date the
digital age. Have fun with marbles, jacks
and pick-up sticks, or bring other games
that you might have found in grandma’s
attic.
This winter, Discovery Days will also
include old-fashioned Valentine making on Saturday, February 7 from 11am–
2pm and an exploration of Montgomery
County’s rocks and minerals on Sunday,
March 8 starting at 4pm.
Admission to Discovery Days is free; donations are very much appreciated. The
Gaithersburg Community Museum is
located at 9 South Summit Avenue. Regular museum hours are Tuesday through
Saturday from 10am to 3pm, with additional hours by appointment. Museum
admission is free.
About the Gaithersburg
Community Museum
Located in the restored 1884 B&O
Railroad complex in Olde Towne, the
Museum bridges Gaithersburg’s past and
present for visitors of all ages. Exhibits in
the Freight House and rail cars explore
our rich history while hands-on learning centers for children spark the imagination. The Station, an active commuter
stop, houses dining and restroom facilities, and the outdoor interpretive spaces,
with the ever-popular rolling stock, offer
the possibility of experiencing the sights
and sounds of the trains that frequently
rumble past the Museum.
Stephanie Walker Appointed City
of Gaithersburg Finance Director
Gaithersburg City
Manager
Tony
Tomasello today
announced the
appointment of
Stephanie Walker
as Director of
G a i t h e r s b u r g ’s
Department
of
Finance and Administration. The position
has been vacant since the retirement of
15
“I am honored to be the next Director of
Finance and Administration for the City,”
said Walker. “The City Council and City
Manager have done a fantastic job of
managing the City’s finances, and I am
excited to be joining this team. I am also
looking forward to working in local government again, as I believe it is a great
way to contribute to a community.”
Walker most recently served as the
Chief Financial Officer for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
(WEDC), where she was responsible for
investment management, financial reporting and budgeting. The WEDC is a publicprivate agency with an annual budget of
$70 million plus tax credits and bonding
authority, that executes the Governor’s
vision of economic development in the
state. While in that position she reduced
the time to issue financial statements from
7.5 months to 3.5 months after year end,
she aided in the establishment of an internal audit function and organization-wide
risk assessment, and established an interim financial reporting process allowing
for monitoring of financial results by all
departments.
She has extensive experience in local
government finance, serving as Finance
Director for the Village of Shorewood,
Wisconsin, Comptroller/Treasurer for the
Village of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, Finance Director for the City of Berwyn,
Illinois, and in private industry as an Audit Manager for the firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP.
Walker is a Certified Public Accountant
and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and a Master
of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is a
member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Government Finance Officers Association,
where she is a member of the Committee
on Accounting, Auditing, and Financial
Reporting (CAAFR).
Gaithersburg’s Director of Finance and
Administration is appointed by the City
Manager and oversees a department of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22…
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
Charles C.
Harrington, DDS
SPECIALIST IN ORTHODONTICS
Lakelands Park Middle School
As the winter months roll in, the first semester came to a close at Lakelands
Park Middle School. Students and staff alike worked extremely hard the first four
months and enjoyed a well-deserved winter break; we even enjoyed our first
snow day of the year in early January. We continued to work hard in January and
closed out the semester on a strong note.
As we transition into February, Lakelands Park MS looks forward to our last
interscholastic basketball game on February 4 (versus Redland MS), the monthly
PTSA Meeting on Tuesday the 10, our annual Valentine’s Dance on Thursday,
the 12, the spring Community Art Workshop with Artist Arturo Ho on Saturday
the 14, and our annual PTSA “Variety Show” on Thursday the 26.
Voted as one of Washington area’s
“Best Orthodontists”
by the Washingtonian Magazine since 2003
While we are very early in the second semester, we wanted to alert the
community to some important items:
Treating both children and adults!
• This year’s Spring Break will be from Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 12. The
LPMS front office will have limited hours, so please call ahead should you
need to visit the school.
Conveniently located in the Quince Orchard Medical Park,
across from the Kentlands
•The PARCC Assessments will be administered throughout the month of May.
11904 Darnestown Road, Suite C
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301.977.1441
www.bracesbych.com
•Our annual Spring Band Concert will be Wednesday, May 13, with the
Orchestra Concert the following Wednesday, May 20.
•The 8th Grade Panoramic Picture will be Monday, May 18.
• Final Exams will be administered the second week of June.
• The annual 8th Recognition Ceremony will be on Thursday, June 11 at Quince
Orchard HS.
• The scheduled last day of school for students will be Friday, June 12.
In closing, we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our
students and staff, as well as the contribution of community members, all of
whom help to make our school the best we can be. We celebrate these efforts
as we received notification that Lakelands Park MS was recently named the first
“most hopeful” middle school in Montgomery County Public Schools, tied in first
place with Robert Frost Middle School, by our students (as reflected in the 2014
Gallup Survey data). We are extremely excited by this honor and continue to
strive to provide all of our students with an enriching educational experience. n
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com 16
Kentlands Town Crier
By Gloria Seelman
Vegetarian Pasta Sauce
Mushroom Sauce
The Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C. was my introduction to some of
the intellectuals of Italian society. My mother and I attended musical events at the
Johns Hopkins Homewood house
in Baltimore. One night was a delightful evening of a lecture and piano
demonstration of the music of Puccini,
all discussed in Italian. My mother was
able to help me understand what the
presenter was saying by whispering the
translation in my ear. It was there that
I bought a cookbook called Italian
Cooking Heritage and in that book I
learned that pasta was first recorded
in 1278 by a soldier from Genoa who
mentioned “una bariscella una plena di
macaronis” which means a basket full of
Macaroni. This is the first evidence that
pasta existed in Italy 13 years before
Marco Polo’s travel to Asia.
½ pound sliced mushrooms
The Introduction to the cookbook has
a short history of Italy. Originally the
country
was
divided
into
17
regions; therefore most of the regions
have their own history, culture, and traditions. Many of the dishes are based
on foods locally available on farms,
lakes, and nearby seas. The cookbook also explained simply how to eat
spaghetti properly without cutting it or
taking too much on a fork so that you
did not need to open your mouth too
widely. “Just twist a small amount of
pasta against the side of a deep-sided
bowl and move it to your mouth with
ease.”
2 cloves of chopped garlic or more if you like the flavor to come through
1 tablespoon of parsley minced
1 stalk of celery, minced
2 carrots, minced
1 tbs. of butter with equal amounts of olive oil
28 ounces of canned plum tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
2 bay leaves—remove before serving
1 or two pinches of red pepper depending how spicy you like the sauce—add
the red pepper directly to the mushrooms to give them more favor.
1 generous tbsp of Italian Spice Mix (ingredients include: imported grated
cheese, basil leaves, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder)
Saute’ mushrooms in oil then add the carrots, celery and onions after they are
well minced in the “Perfect Prep” or chopped finely by hand. Add tomatoes and
simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes. To maintain their fresh flavor, add the
chopped garlic and parsley after the tomato sauce is partly cooked.
Cook pasta separately in boiling salt water until “al dente” which means
“to the tooth”, the pasta should be soft but still give some resistance to the
teeth. Next strain out water then add the pasta to the sauce and stir until all of
the pasta is well coated with sauce. You may reserve some of the pasta water to
add to the sauce if it seems too thick. I like the wide egg noodles or Tagliatelle
because they are easy to coat with the sauce and it sticks to the noodles. The
frozen egg noodles are the closest to homemade. Dry wholewheat noodles are
now available but take more time to cook. Add grated cheese and serve.
Now I take some of those wonderful old recipes and modify them to keep the flavor,
but cut back on the ingredients that we now know should be taken in moderation.
Cutting back on cost and time is currently the direction many cooks are taking. Mushrooms can substitute for meat. This also reduces the level of fat as well as the cost.
I am always looking out for the newest
gadget because my grandson loves to use
gadgets. Black and Decker came out with
a small “Perfect Prep” chopping system.
It is only about six inches tall, is easy to
clean and simple to use to mince up vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery,
and garlic as the base for pasta sauce. It
saves on time and does a better job cutting the vegetables to almost a paste. When my grandson is in charge of the chopping,
Perfect Prep is on high and the vegetables come out like a puree, which is great for
this recipe.
Normally I add one pound of ground meat to make a Bolognese meat sauce. Another
alternative it to use two sweet sausages sautéed with two hot sausages, which is
used to flavor the pasta sauce. Italian spices can flavor the sauce as mushrooms can
substitute for texture of the meat.
Kentlands Town Crier ½ onion minced
Friends in Common
The year is 1984 and it is the time that the East meets the West to form a fruitful
partnership between Ayako and Jan. Ayako is the boss when customers want Asian
food and Jan takes the reins when Tex-Mex is requested. Ayako is from Japan and
Jan from Texas with Swedish ancestry.
What they had in common is a love of food and the skills to make an artistic display
for their customers. They both had experience with the business end of catering. Their
partnership grew out of friendship and common interests. They named their business,
Kiku that translates as chrysanthemum in English. The flower may have been brought
to Japan in the eighth century AD from China. The “Festival of Happiness” in Japan
celebrates the flower. The chrysanthemum holds a special place in the heart of many
Japanese people.
Jan and Ayako inherited their skills of food preparation from family members.
Jan’s grandfather owned a Swedish restaurant called “Ten Pin” in Chicago and Ayako’s
father had a restaurant in Japan as well as a tofu factory.
17
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www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
BOCC Monthly
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17…
Friends in Common
January Focus: Roofing and Trim Boards
Ayako recalls: “When we were children, we used to get into the room where the
soybeans were kept and play with them. We’d throw them at each other; stick them in
our nose and ears. She continued with a slight smile on her face “Oh, my grandfather
would get so mad at us.“
The Kentlands Exterior Maintenance and Appearance Standards Resolution states:
Roofs: Must not have loose or missing shingles. Steel roofs must be painted to retard rust, and the painted surface must not exhibit peeling, cracking or flaking paint.
Copper roofs must be allowed to oxidize and do not require painting. Other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance must be corrected.
Ayako learned to speak phonetically and she turns on the charm when it is needed.
Her sense of humor was not lost over the years. Ayako was speeding to get to a
catering event one night and a police officer stopped her. He knocked on the window
and asked her to show her license and registration. She looked up at him but did not
role down the window.
While you are outside removing your holiday decorations or performing other
outside activities, January is a good time to seriously consider the condition of
your roofing and trim boards. Search for loose or missing shingles, or other indications that the roof may need closer inspection and servicing. Use binoculars if
necessary to look at the trim boards and rake boards that run along the roof edge.
Also inspect the gable vents for possible squirrel damage, as this is one of the areas
where they may gain access to a comfy attic during the winter months.
Ayako used her looks to pretend that she did not know what was happening. With her
made-up broken English she said: “How I know you not a rapist?”
“Lady, I am not a rapist, I am a police officer.”
“You could be rapist in pol-lice cloths. ”
Roof repair or roofing replacement is one of the few maintenance items that
can be done after the outside painting season comes to a close, as some roofers
work throughout the winter months, weather permitting. If the trim boards also
need attention and the work needs to be deferred to warmer weather, this may
be a good time to work with your contractor to schedule the work for spring or
summer when paint can be applied.
Another time she was stopped for the same offense, but this time she rolled down the
window and told the officer that she was “in big hurry cause I got di re-e-a.”
“Must get home cause big di re-e-a.”
Whenever roof repair or replacement work is being done, it’s the best time to
have the contractor scrape loose paint or replace a rotted trim board. If possible, even if the boards are in good condition, make sure a fresh coat of paint is
applied. This is especially important if you own a townhouse, as the rake board
may be very difficult to reach, and it will require the painter to walk on the
roof, or your neighbor’s roof to perform the repair or replacement task. When
considering repair or replacement, trim boards, if approved, can be replaced
with composite boards if they are painted and are proportional to what is
being replaced. Composite boards are far more weather resistant and require less
maintenance than traditional wood trim boards.
They used an old station wagon for deliveries. They had to make sure that there was
sufficient space in front of the wagon when it was parked because it only moved
forward—never in reverse. Some nights were longer than expected because the space
in front had disappeared.
They had great respect for each other. Their time together was recalled with a sense
of fun—never remembering the hard work. Jan was very flattered when Ayako said,
“you got good hands for white lady.”
Those good hands could make delicious Swedish Rice Pudding:
Also, if your gutters are unsightly or not fully functional due to storm damage such
as falling tree limbs, consider repairing or replacing them when you have your
roof replaced or trim painted.-
4 cups cooked and chilled long grain rice
1 pint whipped cream, whipped powdered sugar to taste
Vanilla or almond extract, to taste
As a general reminder, review the Visual Change Application guidelines to
determine if approval is required before making exterior changes to material,
design or color of your property. If you are not sure whether a Visual Change
Application (VCA) is required, or if you have any questions about the
VCA process, please contact Arthur Gailes, Assistant Manager, at agailes@
cmc-management.com or 301.948.2071. Visual Change Applications are
available at the Clubhouse and at KentlandsUSA.com. n
½ cup almond slivers
Add sugar and extract to whipped cream. Fold into rice and nuts. Top with fruit
sauce.
Strawberries with Raspberry Sauce
Combine:
3 sheets of seaweed
2 cups raspberries
3 eggs cooked into an omelet
½ cup sugar
3 stems beni shoga (red ginger)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
½ bag spinach
½ teaspoons almond extract.
2 cups Japanese cooked rice (cooked with hondashi, Japanese soup stock)
Simmer until tender (about five minutes). Puree this sauce. Add 1 Tablespoon cornstarch mixed with cooled liquid. Cook, stirring until thickened. Cool. Add four cups
hulled strawberries to the sauce. Chill before serving.
The Japanese hands that move so quickly as they dice, twist, mix and cook could not
be matched for skills and artistry.
A dish that is popular was Sushi-Maki:
(They are beautiful circles of colorful vegetables embedded in rice and surrounded
by dark seaweed.)
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com ½ cups Japanese vinegar—added to the rice when hot
2 Tablespoons sugar
Spread out the seaweed sheets on top of plastic wrap to help with the rolling.
Cover seaweed sheets with a layer of the sticky rice. Fill with stuffing. Roll and cut into
slices with a very sharp knife.
Jan’s life moved on and away from her friend and co-worker but she never forgot the
fun of working with a pure artist and a loyal, hard working partner. The long nights, the
pressure and frustrations were forgotten but the exhilarating feeling of accomplishment
and creativity of making works of art with food remained in her memory. n
18
Kentlands Town Crier
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MHIC #101148
VA LIC #2705071209A
DC LIC #420213000128
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015 n www.kentlandsusa.com 20
Kentlands Town Crier
FOR SALE
Kentlands Real Estate Listings
Address
Housing Type
List Price
Days on
Market
122 Kendrick Pl. #22................ Condo...............................$277,500....................... 65
413 Ridgepoint, #16................. Condo...............................$319,500......................... 6
140 Chevy Chase...................... Condo...............................$327,500....................... 20
152 Kendrick Pl. #34L.............. Condo...............................$329,000..................... 105
136 Kendrick Pl. ...................... Condo...............................$349,900..................... 204
135 Chevy Chase St.................. Condo...............................$365,000......................... 6
Get your company’s name out there and advertise in the Town Crier!
Contact Dana Macena at 301.948.2071 or [email protected].
110 Chevy Chase St. #305........ Condo...............................$399,900......................... 6
206 Ridgepoint Pl..................... Townhome.........................$424,900..................... 150
180 Chevy Chase St. #A............ Condo...............................$435,000......................... 5
592 Chestertown St. ................. Townhome.........................$509,800..................... 269
446 Tschiffely Sq. ..................... Townhome.........................$649,000....................... 48
103 Beckwith St. ...................... Single Family.....................$779,900..................... 284
407 Kent Oaks Way.................. Single Family.....................$859,900....................... 36
Romantic Waterfront Sunsets for Rent
153 Kent Oaks Way.................. Single Family.....................$874,900......................... 6
It’s time for family and friends to relax
and enjoy breath taking, panoramic
views of the romantic Roanoke Sound.
This fully furnished and equipped,
3 level, 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath, single
family home has gorgeous, unobstructed water views and is available weekly
or for a long, luxurious weekend. Take
in the beautiful sunsets while soaking
in the oversized Hot Tub or lounging on the wrap around deck. Three Master bedroom suites with en-suite private bath. Great room with flat screen and surround
sound. Hi speed wireless internet. Private ocean front pool club (olympic and kitty
pool, restaurant and shower rooms) and tennis with daily shuttle service. Golfers will enjoy the home’s location on the 18th hole of the Nags Head Golf Links
(http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Nags-Head-Golf-Links/About-the-Club/
General-Information) and boaters have 2 sound side docks exclusive for
community use.
130 Lake St. ............................. Single Family.....................$949,900..................... 105
127 Lake St. ............................. Single Family.....................$1,225,000.................... 28
UNDER CONTRACT
Address
Housing Type
List Price
Days on
Market
162 Kendrick Pl. #14................ Condo...............................$266,000..................... 135
110 Chevy Chase St. #401........ Condo...............................$329,900..................... 184
408 Ridgepoint Pl. #36............. Condo...............................$339,900....................... 36
111 Selby St. ............................ Cottage..............................$639,000....................... 45
SOLD (12/1–present)
Address
Housing Type
Orig/List Price Sold Price Days on
Market
7 Booth St. #108...................Condo........................... $227,000.......... $216,000......... 6
Book your 2015 reservation (for rental home “Masters 20”), by January 31st and
receive 10% off of weekly rate. Veteran, hero, and repeat renters discounts also
available. Go to http://www.resortrealty.com/rentals/nags-head/masters-20/
5599/ for photos, reservations, and additional contact/information. 31 Booth St. #258.................Condo........................... $229,900.......... $223,000....... 67
7 Booth St. #205...................Condo........................... $229,900.......... $230,500......... 6
16 Granite Pl. #279..............Condo........................... $239,900.......... $237,900......... 3
Lakelands Resident is Looking for Exceptional Kids
130 Chevy Chase St. #301....Condo........................... $349,900.......... $345,000....... 55
Lakelands resident Tiffany Hamilton is reaching out to families in the Lakelands,
Kentlands and surrounding communities to establish a playgroup for high-functioning, highly verbal and socially motivated kids on the autism spectrum between
the ages of 8 and 11. As the parent of an 8-year-old son with high-functioning
autism she is looking for a way to connect with others in a similar situation.
176 Chevy Chase St. A..........Condo........................... $409,000.......... $407,000..... 169
“I would love to expand our circle of friends in the neighborhood for play dates
and parent outings,” Hamilton said. She is calling the group “Exceptional Kids
in the Kentlands and Lakelands” and is seeking bright, school-aged verbal and
socially motivated children with high-functioning autism, Asperger’s and/or
ADHD. Ideas she has for the group include both home-based play dates and
play dates at local playgrounds and athletic courts/fields; family nights out
at local restaurants; bowling; swimming, movies; bounce events; museums;
programming clubs and classes; Parent Night Outs and much more.
FOR RENT
“Let’s support each other and help our kids grow and connect,” she said.
Hamilton can be contacted at [email protected] or 302.220.0531.
The information above was obtained from MRIS. Information is believed to be accurate, but should
not be relied upon without verification. Information was retrieved on 12/09/2014 by Valerie Harnois,
REALTOR–REMAX Metropolitan Realty 301.980.4883
Kentlands Town Crier 123 Chevy Chase St. #A........Condo........................... $415,000.......... $410,000....... 45
135 Chevy Chase St. #A........Condo........................... $439,000.......... $433,000....... 62
205 Firehouse Ln. ................Single Family................. $759,900.......... $780,000....... 11
Address
Housing Type
List Price
Days on
Market
114 Ridgepoint......................... Condo...............................$2,300........................... 16
495 Chestertown St. ................. Townhome.........................$2,995............................. 6
21
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13…
ARTS ON THE GREEN: GALLERIES
Montgomery College from 1950–1980 with Robert Cohen (no relation) and Edwin Ahlstrom, among other well-known teachers. He has also studied landscape painting, intaglio, watercolor, and color theory and continues to develop
as an artist through his attendance at workshops in the Washington area.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15…
CITY NEWS: Stephanie
Walker Appointed City of
Gaithersburg Finance Director
11 full-time equivalent positions with
an approved FY15 operating budget of
$16.2 million. Divisions include Finance
and Administration, Housing and Community Development and Procurement
and Purchasing. Walker is expected to
begin on January 26, 2015 and her starting salary will be $135,000.
Linda Hanson to Receive
“Person of Character” Award
CHARACTER COUNTS!® in Gaithersburg
is not just for young people. Character
development is a lifelong pursuit, and
role modeling by all members of the
community is an important part of the
process. The City of Gaithersburg presents Person/Business of Character awards
to those who consistently strive to exemplify the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness,
caring, and citizenship. Nominees for
this award must either live or work within the incorporated City limits and their
actions should benefit the community.
Anthony Glander of Fitzpatrick Glass Studios will be exhibiting both his threedimensional and hanging glassworks. Glander has been a resident artist at the Arts Barn since its inception, with a studio that serves as a wonderful enclave for lovers of the medium of glass. Glander started working in stained glass in 1989 and is nationally recognized for his work.
It didn’t take long for him to become totally hooked on making beautiful art works in colored glass. In 1990, he purchased a stained glass
studio, Glass Fantasies in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, which has become Fitzpatrick Glass Studios. In 2002, he moved into the Arts Barn to focus on custom
work and classes. “I love every technique from cold glass to hot glass, from
leading to slumping,” says Glander. Glander offers classes and workshops at the
Arts Barn, and he also travels around the country teaching glass art workshops in
places like Houston and Las Vegas. He regularly attends craft shows and conferences and enjoys the medium and all of its possibilities.
YOUTH CHORUS (Grades 1–6):
$125 per session, 14 classes. Discount
for registering for the whole year.
Mondays , 5–6pm.
There will be auditions for a Teen
A Cappella group in late fall, those
classes will begin in January, will meet
Mondays 6:30–7:30pm.
Art League of Germantown
February 6–March 27, call 301-258-6425 for schedule • Kentlands Mansion
All classes—both youth and adult—
held at the Kentlands Clubhouse.
Since its inception in 1997, 35 people
have been recognized.
At their meeting on Tuesday, January 20,
2015, the Gaithersburg Mayor and City
Council will present a Person of Character award to Gaithersburg HELP Executive Director Linda Hanson. She was
nominated by peers who have witnessed
her long tradition of selflessness. For the
all-volunteer Gaithersburg HELP she provides collaborative, inclusive leadership
that makes emergency food, transportation and prescription assistance available
to our community’s most vulnerable. Linda will become President of the Gaithersburg Rotary Club in July, she is involved
with PTA and Interact Clubs, and has
served in advisory capacities on several
City committees.
Person/Business of Character nomination
forms are available on the CHARACTER
COUNTS! page of the City’s website
at www.gaithersburgmd.gov. They are
accepted at any time. Award determinations are made by the CHARACTER
COUNTS! Subcommittee of the City’s
Educational Enrichment Committee.
For more information contact the City’s
Community
Services
Division
at
301.258.6395 x1. n
ADULT CHORUS (Age 18 and up):
$140 per session, 14 classes. Discount
for registering for the whole year.
Mondays, 7:30–9pm. Performances at
Oktoberfest and in December.
This year the adult chorus will
help lead the City of Gaithersburg’s
Broadway Singalongs and Cabarets
in the Kentlands Mansion and Arts
Barn and participate in the City’s
“Open Mic” evenings.
Artist Reception will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 7-8:30pm
The Art League of Germantown (ALOG) was founded 32 years ago to further
the careers of artists of all experience levels and to bring an appreciation of fine
art and fine crafts to the community. This exhibit features something to stimulate every palette; ALOG members present a representational selection of works
created in oils, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil/charcoal, mixed media, and
photography.
ARTS BARN
311 Kent Square Road • Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301.258.6394 • www.gaithersburgmd.gov • www.facebook.com/ArtsontheGreen
MORE INFORMATION: kentlands.org • [email protected]
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Kentlands Town Crier
Kentlands Town Crier 23
www.kentlandsusa.com n JANUARY 2015
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Kentlands Town Crier