October 18, 2013
Transcription
October 18, 2013
Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park and More The TOWN Vol. 10, No. 20 Courier www.towncourier.com October 18, 2013 Congressman Delaney Suggests Fixes for a Deadlocked Congress By Karen O’Keefe J Photos | Phil Fabrizio The Town Courier 309 Main Street Gaithersburg, MD 20878 PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Gaithersburg MD Permit #1722 Rainy weather continued through the weekend, but that didn’t stop the 22nd Annual Kentlands Oktoberfest on Sunday, Oct. 13. A good time was had by all — people, dogs and even the mime. ohn Delaney is the first-term congressman from Maryland’s sixth district, which includes Gaithersburg. During his campaign, Delaney, a Democrat and former banker, talked about many things, including the dysfunctional way in which Congress conducts business. Now he has experienced firsthand Congress’s failure to pass a budget — and the subsequent shutdown of all but essential services. “We’re clearly not governing in a way the American people deserve,” he said. In a recent newspaper editorial, he said more. “This week, for the first time in 17 years, our government shut down. The illogical and somewhat mean-spirited standoff that led to this shutdown is, first, evidence of everything that is wrong with Washington. More specifically, it is a prime example of what happens when special or self-interest is valued more than the common good Riding for More Than Miles By Sean Gossard T hey rode 320 miles in only four days. From Pittsburgh, through the mountains of western Pennsylvania and Maryland, beside the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, W. Va., and finally along the C&O Canal to their destination at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg they rode. And with that, the more than 80 cyclists of Ride Allegheny, now in its 13th year, did much more than complete a ride Photo | Phil Fabrizio on Sunday, Oct. 6. They were able to Kentlands residents Chris Soltis and Chris Marsh hold their bikes high as they cross raise money to help nonprofit Operation over the Eastern Continental Divide during a 320-mile ride from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Second Chance, the organization that Gaithersburg, Md., with Ride Allegheny. helps support wounded veterans and her grassroots nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser of the their families by offering outreach while they re- year. “So far, they’ve helped raise just under one cover in military hospitals. With a goal of $300,000 million dollars for Operation Second Chance,” she for Operation Second Chance, the cyclists raised said. $303,786, according to Ride Allegheny’s website. McGrew, who rode the entire four days for the Cindy McGrew, president of Operation Second Chance, revealed that the Ride Allegheny event is n ride allegheny Continued on page 8 Photo | Submitted Maryland Congressman John Delaney finishes his first year with the government at a standstill and the conviction that “The American people deserve better than this.” of the country.” Delaney told The Town Courier that one long-term fix would be comprehensive redistricting reform on the state or federal level. “What we are seeing is a minimum of the majority party controlling the will of the House of Representatives. Thirty to 50 representatives are controlling debate in a (Republican) caun congressional fix Continued on page 3 Moms on the Run Head to Washingtonian Woods By Maureen Stiles T he cars with Virginia license plates were the first to arrive; Virginians had allowed ample time for traffic. Shortly thereafter, cars from Maryland and the District formed a line that snaked out the drive of the Washingtonian Woods Clubhouse and spilled onto the main road and side streets.The registration queue was equally as long, but none of the womn Running Moms Continued on page 8 Page 2 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 Charlie Holbrook, Realtor Theresa Holbrook, Licensed Assistant RE/MAX Metropolitan Realty 345 Main Street Kentlands Direct: 240-447-6610 Office: 301-947-6500 x 222 Email: [email protected] www.charlieholbrookhomes.com FO RS 405 Tschiffely Square Rd $1,195,000 SO ! Kentlands Elegant and stately home with 5,000+ sq ft, 5 bedroom, 4 full baths, with 2 bedroom apartment suite over the 3-car garage. SO LD! 3 Arch Place #328 $255,000 Kentlands LD! ALE 305 Beckwith Street $975,000 SO SO LD! 712 Lake Varuna Mews Lakelands $471,000 Kentlands LD! 732 A Main St $379,000 Lakelands James Beatty Branch Manager 301-728-3286 Direct [email protected] October 18, 2013 The Town Courier thehot spot With Maureen Stiles & Phil Fabrizio The Town Courier took to the streets recently and asked folks how they have been impacted by the partial government shutdown. Here’s what they told writer Maureen Stiles and photographer Phil Fabrizio. Editor’s note: The Hot Spot reflects residents’ thoughts on timely local and national issues. It debuts with this issue. If you have topic suggestions, please e-mail them to [email protected]. “We haven’t seen an impact yet, but because you need a case number on government loans, it may start to be a problem soon. If the government is not open, then there is no way to acquire these case numbers. The whole process could slow down and then people will lose their locked-in interest rate and begin defaulting on contracts.” Marc Malakoff “My wife and I went bicycling last Saturday and got to Gravelly Point in D.C. near the airport and the parking lot was closed. We had no place to unload our bikes and get on the trail. So we went to Old Town Alexandria into a residential area. It was a huge inconvenience.” Charlie Holbrook Kentlands resident Settlement attorney and Kentlands resident “I work in the sign industry and much of the work I do is for government agencies. I haven’t seen an impact yet, but if this continues then it will hurt business.” Diane Gerber Kentlands resident “I have a purchaser right now who works for the IRS and is supposed to close on a refinance but we may not be able to verify her employment. Both Freddie Mac and Freddie Mae are coming up with ways to get around some of the required paperwork, but it is going to make everything harder and slower.” Page 3 AROUND TOWN Compiled by Pam Schipper and Karen O’Keefe Kentlands Panel Examines Managing Turf Without Chemicals Chuck Schuster is a senior agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Commercial Horticulture at the University of Maryland, Montgomery County Extension Service. On Oct. 2 at the Kentlands Community Clubhouse, he spoke to a “town meeting” attended by 40 residents interested in learning about the alternatives to synthetic chemicals to manage the community’s turf. The talk was arranged by the seven-member Turf Management Group (TMG), appointed several months ago by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly (KCA) Board. The group, chaired by resident Eileen Schlichting, has been meeting weekly for 12 weeks. The TMG will present its findings and recommendations to the KCA board by Nov. 1. The TMG is looking at all aspects of herbicide, pesticide and fungicide uses in the community, said TMG member Karen Palman. “We are all trying to be unbiased,” she said. “We are looking for the best ways to manage turf in Kentlands and protect the health of the community, especially the most vulnerable among us – children, babies and pregnant women.” — Karen O’Keefe Chuck Macananny, pictured here with daughter Charlye Mortgage loan officer and Kentlands resident ■ congressional fix from page 1 cus of 230 people. Another 50 to 60 members may not share their viewpoint but are in (one-sided) extreme districts.” Depending on how they vote, those people run the risk of being successfully challenged by extreme people at home, he explained. “This is happening because of the way congressional districts are created,” he concluded. Delaney said that many congressional districts have been created by state legislatures drawing lines to guarantee the election of someone from the controlling party of that state legislative body. “A fair number of districts are one-sided in representation. When a district is 75 percent Republican or Democrat, that party is never going to lose in the general election,” he said. “There is never a genuine general election contest. The only challenge comes in the primary wherein a small percentage of voters vote,” and where a radical candidate has a good chance of winning the primary. Delaney’s second suggestion for a “long-term fix” involves campaign financing to empower more viewpoints that are moderate. “Right now, little money flows to moderate groups. Money flows to liberal causes. Money flows to conservative causes – for example, to people who pledge to vote for no new taxes,” he explained. Money, he said, needs to flow to empower views that are more moderate financially. In the short term, Delaney said, “We must continue to take the debate to the American people. We cannot tolerate the hostage-taking of 800,000 government employees. This (type of legislating) does not serve the best interests of the American people. We must be unrelenting in delivering that message.” In addition, Delaney said members of Congress must be willing to negotiate now, especially “if that’s what it takes for some members to save face. “Anything that gets the government open, even one minute earlier, is a good thing. “And there are many things we should discuss. One example is comprehensive entitlement reform,” he said. “It is important to talk about future laws that are going to make the country better.” Delaney does not see the Affordable Care Act as bargaining chip in the current standoff. “It was before my time, but the issue of the Affordable Care Act has been thoroughly and entirely put to bed. “It passed the House. It passed the Senate. There were 135 congressional hearings on the legislation. It has passed judicial review. Moreover, it passed in a national referendum (the re-election of President Obama). “Besides, it’s started already. There are a bunch of people out there today who now have insurance. Are we going to tell them it was a joke? The American people have spoken on the Affordable Care Act. “Meanwhile, there are hundreds of things we should be talking about,” he emphasized. In a recent newspaper editorial, Delaney said more about the congressional stalemate and its impact. “I’m not interested in the blame game, because this shutdown is bad for everyone. Shutting down the government is estimated to cost the American taxpayers $2 billion — just think of the good that could have come from those hard-earned taxpayer dollars.” During the first week in October, with his first year as a member of Congress nearly at an end — and the government at a standstill — we asked Congressman John Delaney how he likes the job. “I liked it a lot better before this week,” he said. “The American people deserve better than this.” Photo | Pam Schipper Roll out the barrels just in time for Oktoberfest! Five tasteful trashcans replaced existing ones along Main Street during the second week in October, thanks to the efforts of the Kentlands Downtown Partnership and the city of Gaithersburg. Gaithersburg Library Turns a Page The interim library at Lakeforest Mall will close on Oct. 31 so that resources there can be used in preparation for the opening of the newly renovated facility at the corner of Montgomery Village Avenue and Lost Knife Road. A grand reopening date will be announced soon. Stay tuned for the next chapter! Young Artist Award Competition Applications Accepted The City of Gaithersburg and the Kentlands Community Foundation are now accepting applications for the 11th Annual Young Artist Award competition and concert. Musicians between the ages of 12 and 18 may apply as vocal soloist or instrumental soloist in the categories of wind, brass, string and piano. First, second, third and honorable mention prizes may be awarded in each category. Applications n around town Continued on page 9 Page 4 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 cityscene Photo | City of Gaithersburg/Britta Monaco (L to R) Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark Sroka, Ensign John Hunt, Lieutenant Wells Weymouth and Mayor Sidney Katz at the Oct. 7 Mayor and Council meeting. Chief’s Award Presented to Hunt, Weymouth On July 23, a car crashed through a set of utility doors to the right of the main entrance of the Sam’s Club on South Frederick Avenue. One victim was struck in the parking lot and two additional victims were struck inside the food court. A 76-year-old male who was in the food court was struck so that his leg was severed below the knee. At the time, Lieutenant Wells Weymouth and Ensign John Hunt were inside the Sam’s Club shopping. They observed the collision and immediately came to the assistance of the injured male. They quickly fashioned a makeshift tourniquet to control the bleeding and calmed the victim until the arrival of medical personnel. For their quick thinking and service, Gaithersburg Police Chief Mark P. Sroka presented the Chief ’s Award to Ensign John Hunt, United States Navy, and Lieutenant Wells Weymouth, United States Army, for their outstanding commitment to duty, professionalism, and contributions to the citizens of the city of Gaithersburg at the Oct. 7 Mayor and Council meeting. Compiled by Jenny Chen Montgomery County Proposes Minimum Wage Increase Councilmember Marc Elrich has proposed a bill that would increase the minimum wage in Montgomery County over a three-year period. “Maryland’s minimum wage at $7.25 per hour is the equivalent of $15,000 a year for a full-time, year-round employee, and that leaves a wage earner and their family below the federal poverty line,” said Councilmember Elrich. “We are not talking about people who are trying to take advantage of the system—we are talking about people who just want to take care of their families as a result of the hard work they do, and at the current minimum wage, that is not possible. Bill 27-13 will also provide credit for an employer who provides health insurance to the employee. A public hearing on Bill 27-13 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24. New Integrative Health Center Opens in Gaithersburg The Casey Integrative Health Center is unlike many area medical institutions. It emphasizes the link between mind/body health and offers services ranging from acupuncture to nutritional counseling. Casey Health opened its doors on Oct. 5 thanks to a grant from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation. The health center has been three years in the making, said spokesperson Ed Hines. During the first two years, the founders travelled to renowned integrative health centers across the country Photo | Submitted At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 4, Mayor Sidney Katz spoke and named the day Casey Health Institute Day in the city of Gaithersburg. to “cherry pick the best practices,” Hines said. The Casey Integrative Health Center also aims to bring healthcare local. “We’ve got renowned integrative health centers like Johns Hopkins and GW in the area, but the Casey Health Center brings it to the local level,” Hines said. This means no bureaucracy, and smaller, more accessible facilities. The health center accepts most major health insurances and Medicare. Its philosophy of general wellness and preventative care falls in line with the goals of the new healthcare law, Hines said. For more information visit www. caseyhealth.org. Registration Now Open for Winter Lights 5K The Montgomery County Road Runners Club, in partnership with the city of Gaithersburg is organizing a 5K fun run/ n city scene Continued on page 5 MEETING CALENDAR 10/21 Mayor and City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., City Hall 10/23 Planning Commission Meeting, 7:30 p.m., City Hall Cultural Arts Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park 10/24 Lower Great Seneca Watershed Study Meeting, 7 p.m., Diamond Elementary School Gaithersburg Arts & Monuments Funding Corporation Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Activity Center at Bohrer Park 11/6 Planning Commission Meeting, 7:30 p.m., City Hall 11/7 Mayor and City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., City Hall For the latest information on city meetings, visit the city of Gaithersburg website at www. gaithersburgmd.gov. Diane Dorney Publisher 301.330.0132 [email protected] 309 Main Street Gaithersburg, MD 20878 For Advertising: 301.279.2304 Also on the Web at www.towncourier.com. Matt Danielson President 301.330.0132 [email protected] Pam Schipper Managing Editor 301.330.0132 [email protected] Debi Rosen Advertising Manager 301.279.2304 [email protected] Sandra Christian Advertising Sales 240.401.1020 [email protected] Staff Photographer Phil Fabrizio Staff Writers Nora Caplan Jenny Chen Mike Cuthbert Nora Fitzpatrick Maureen Friedman Sean Gossard Betty Hafner Sheilah Kaufman Jeff Kinney Karen O’Keefe Vanessa Mallory Kotz Donna Marks Syl Sobel Maureen Stiles Student Writer Christina Xu ©2013 Courier Communications The Town Courier is an independent monthly newspaper providing news and information for the communities of Kentlands, Lakelands and Quince Orchard Park in Gaithersburg, Md. The paper is published by Courier Communications, which is responsible for the form, content and policies of the newspaper. The Town Courier does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Town Courier is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers Letters to the Editor and Commentary do not necessarily ref lect the views of the staff, management or advertisers of The Town Courier. October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 5 POLICEBeat By Jeff Kinney Tips for a Safe, Spooktacular Halloween W ho doesn’t remember dressing up for Halloween and trolling the neighborhood for treats as a child—or possibly as an opportunistic teenager? It’s a ritual as American as apple pie, a true joy of youth. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous. From poisoned candy to kidnapping, it seems that Halloween offers a cornucopia of real-life boogiemen who are just waiting to pounce on your children. It doesn’t have to be that way, however. With a little planning and common sense, everyone can stay safe and have a delightful time on Oct 31. “We have been fortunate that we have not experienced any criminal concerns during the Halloween season,” Officer Dan Lane of the Gaithersburg Police Department said. “I continue to see a large number of families going out with their children celebrating and participating in the festivities.” Using the acronym H-A-L-L-O-W-EE-N, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following practical Halloween safety tips. • Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. • Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. • Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. • Examine all treats in a well-lighted place for choking hazards and tampering before eating them, and eat only unopened treats that are in their original wrappers. • Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you to see and others to see you. Always walk and don’t run from house to house. • Always test make-up on a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation. • Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. • Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses. walk through the city of Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival in Seneca Creek State Park on Nov. 23. Winter Lights is a Gaithersburg tradition featuring more than 380 illuminated vignettes and 65 animated displays with themes like Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, North Pole, Toyland, and Penguin Cove. Registration before Nov. 7 is $30. After that, registration will be $35. For more information, visit www.mcrrc.org/LightsRun/ run-under-lights-2012. Compiled by Jeff Kinney Residential Burglary On Oct. 4 at 5:34 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of Inspiration Lane. Sometime on Sept. 24, an unknown suspect(s) entered the garage and damaged property. An investigation is ongoing. Thefts From Autos Photo | Phil Fabrizio Candle-lit Jack o’lanterns are a potential hazard. The CDC recommends keeping them away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains and placing them out of reach of pets and small children. • Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. • Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. • Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. • Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers. • Never walk near lit candles or luminaries, and be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes. If you are expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests, the CDC has some suggestions. • Provide healthier treats for trick-ortreaters, such as low-calorie goodies and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables and cheeses. • Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily 60 minutes of physical activity. • Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls. • Keep candle-lit Jack o’lanterns and lu- cityscene from page 4 POLICEBLOTTER Gaithersburg Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a Bolivian Celebration The city of Gaithersburg will recognize the culture of Bolivia during a reception in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, hosted by the City’s Multicultural Affairs Committee, on Monday, Oct. 21, 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Ave. There will be light refreshments and a performance by Bolivian dance group San Simon USA. The event is free, but RSVPs are requested by Friday, Oct. 18 at mac@ gaithersburgmd.gov. minaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended. • Drive slowly and safely, and always be on the lookout for miniature ghosts and goblins darting into the street. By following these simple directives, Halloween can be a safe and delightful activity for the whole family—just like it’s supposed to be. On Oct. 10, four thefts from autos occurred in Kentlands. Three vehicles were entered by unknown means and one was left unlocked. Cash and a GPS unit were targeted. Incidents occurred on Kent Oaks Way, Midtown Road, Holmard Street and Thurgood Mews. From Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Police Reports. Movie night? Check out ‘Mike at the Movies’ for his latest reviews before the show. www.towncourier.com Page 6 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 shoptalk By Jenny Chen Moe’s Southwest Grill Comes to Gaithersburg The restaurant famous for its rollicking “Welcome to Moe’s!” is coming to Gaithersburg in the Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center in November. Franchise partner Frank Maresca said that the franchise has locations in Virginia but is hoping to expand further into the D.C./Maryland market in the coming year. “The minute we pulled up, we loved it — the smalltown feel, the high school right across the street,” said Maresca. Maresca says that Moe’s prides itself in the quality of their food. The restaurant serves cage-free chicken, organic tofu and grass-fed beef. At the same time, there’s the home-wrecker burrito for someone who is looking for something less healthy. “There’s something for everyone — Moe’s makes everything to order right in front of you,” Maresca said. Another fun tidbit: Moe’s only plays music by dead artists, everything from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson. This eclectic music choice lends itself to the unique atmosphere that Moe’s is hoping to bring to Gaithersburg. n shop talk Continued on page 11 From Nutrition to Hormone Therapy Kentlands Wellness Centers Offer Health Optimization By Nora Fitzpatrick T he health and wellness industry in the United States is thriving and growing substantially each year. Everywhere you turn, there are online articles and news segments about steps we can take to get healthier and fitter. We certainly see evidence of this every day when we take that jog or bike ride through the neighborhood. Spas and wellness centers abound in our little corner of Gaithersburg. There’s lots about Kentlands and Lakelands that make it the perfect location for wellness centers. Our neighborhood is densely populated, but still has many amenities that are perfect for people who want to be physically active. We’ve got stores that are within walking distance and beautiful bike and running paths that take you around shimmering lakes and abundant trees. As you stroll around Inspiration Lake, you can’t help but notice the color change happening in the leaves. Your thoughts naturally turn to pumpkin spice lattes, football games, hayrides and…. ah-ah-ah-ACHOO… cold and flu season. Fortunately, you can turn to one of the many nearby wellness practices to help keep you healthy as the cold weather approaches. Life Balance Medical Center, located on Main Street, offers medical therapies that work to restore health and offer protection as we age. The center special- izes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, which can help fight illness. Dr. Barry Rowekamp, medical director of Life Balance, says that the purpose of his practice is to provide patients with strong underpinnings so the body will be able to fight off what comes around during cold and flu season. While a good diet and proper sleep are important to staying healthy, Dr. Rowekamp maintains that hormones play an essential part in keeping us healthy not only during the cold weather months, but also all year-round, especially as we get older. As we age, our various hormone levels change and there are different normal ranges for different age groups. Rowekamp believes that just because, for example, 60-year-old men have a “normal” range of a certain Photo | Submitted hormone, that doesn’t mean it’s Dr. Barry Rowekamp is medical director of Life Balance, a medical center the optimal range. Rowekamp that specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. says that hormones create a “cokey to staying healthy and Laura McClure coon of vitality and youth” and they are of Kentlands Nutrition offers some great the “nuts and bolts of reproduction.” His tips on what we can do to avoid getting practice’s goal is not to turn a 50-year-old sick this winter. One essential ingredient woman into a 20-year-old one, but rather to staying healthy is making sure to have to preserve that cocoon through hormone phytonutrients in our diet. Phytonutrients therapy to maintain our health as we age. We all know that proper nutrition is n wellness center Continued on page 11 New, Stronger Flu Vaccine for Seniors By Mike Cuthbert C Expires 10/31/13 oncerns over a higher risk and greater incidence of the flu for senior Americans has led to a new vaccine this season. According to Dr. Richard Bikel of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the vaccine was necessary because of seniors’ higher risk due to a decreased immune system. The face of the NCOA’s program “Flu+ You” is celebrity spokesman Lee Majors. So far, there have not been enough studies of the effectiveness of the high dose shot, but other figures indicate that the flu shot in general has an effectiveness rate of only about 30 to 40 percent. This year’s effectiveness rate is closer to 27 percent overall. According to a CBS News report, however, the new flu shot is reported to be only 9 percent effective against the most virulent flu strain that has appeared this season (H3N2). Researchers remain puzzled over the low effectiveness rates. There is some disagreement over the effectiveness of the “flu plus,” as is common with drug studies. While a 9 percent success rate over the most virulent form of flu is reported, the senior dose shows a 24 percent improvement over the regular flu shot when applied to seniors. That result must be confirmed by the FDA, but it would indicate a significant improve- ment in vaccine effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that any seniors who show initial signs of the flu be started on antivirals such as Tamiflu or Relenza. Both these medicines tend to decrease the effects and severity of the flu and prevent pneumonia. The CDC also recommends shots now rather than waiting later into the season. The “flu season” usually begins in October and ends in February. Peak flu months are January and February, which is why some people wait until then to get their shots. Most shots and nasal sprays will be trivalent—they protect against the three main forms of the flu. A quadrivalent form, usually a spray, is also anticipated this season. The effectiveness of each form is far from being guaranteed, however, since the effectiveness of a vaccine in any given season depends largely on which strains of the flu virus are most prevalent during that season. This varies from year to year. Not a part of the vaccination program but an important part of flu prevention is simple personal hygiene during the flu season, especially washing your hands with soap rather than merely rinsing off. One of the best sources for information about the flu is www.cdc.gov/flu. October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 7 College Applications: A Disclaimer W ith the frantic and competitive atmosphere of college applications to the nation’s most prestigious schools, senior year is not quite the easy, breezy cap to high school that it is billed as. As a senior in Richard Montgomery’s By Christina Xu International Baccalaureate Magnet program, I can attest to the trials and tribulations of this long process of self-discovery and self-promotion. I have a few qualms with the application process. With the advent of the Common Application and access to application resources such as the ever-useful and ever-stressful CollegeConfidential.com, the application process has become more expansive and more competitive. Thanks to the Common App, a database you can fill out once and send out to any Common Application member school, ease of application allows students to apply for many more schools than they would if they had to fill out individual applications. I’ve had friends complain to me about their inability to narrow down their selection of 25 or so schools. Applying to 25 schools is extraordinarily costly when you consider each individual school’s application fee. For the most competitive and prestigious schools, this is around $80 to $90 dollars per application, and this doesn’t include fees charged for sending test scores and transcripts. The entire process – filling out applications, arranging for test scores and transcripts to be sent, and paying for it all — makes the college process big and intimidating. And consider this: Thanks to technology and the stream of public information available about college applications, students more easily understand what will “impress” top-tier colleges. As a result, they are more likely to engage in activities or pursue awards that are personally meaningless to them outside of the college application process. For many students, the race to become a model applicant begins the moment they set foot in high school. They filter each decision through the college application prism – asking, which classes sound most difficult, which sports should I play, which clubs should I join. While it is good that the applications process pushes some students to reach out of their comfort zone and participate in new activities, the process also develops students without a solid personal engagement to their extracurricular activities. High school is a time to discover your passions and better understand yourself so you can prepare for college and prepare for a career—not a time to fit yourself into a mold for your dream college. Adding to the pressure, recently there has been a push for the “well-lopsided” student. For years, students were expected to be well-rounded and to have participated in a wide range of activities. Now colleges expect a focus and excellence in a specific area or activity. This is difficult to achieve if you did not pinpoint your special focus or passion at a young-enough age, or if you did not have the means to carry through with your passion for several years. Students today are faced with an extracurricular conundrum. Colleges expect students to have already accomplished a great deal by the time they are 17. For some students, who may have discovered Compiled by Pam Schipper Photos | Submitted Photo Contest, the CHARACTER COUNTS! Annual Adult Hero in our Community Essay Contest and the CHARACTER COUNTS! Annual Poster Contest, or to nominate an individual or business for a Character Award, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/character or call 301.258.6395. QO Gets a Boost The annual fall fundraiser of the QOHS All-School Booster Club is Oct. 26, 7 to 10 p.m. at the Lakelands Clubhouse. This Café & Silent Auction offers live music, n College Applications Continued on page 12 Full Service In-house Interior Design Services available (L to R) Mara Higgins, Gaithersburg Middle 6th grade, Celia Stern, Rosemont Elementary School 5th grade, Yulia Molina, Strawberry Knoll Elementary 3rd grade are three of the 10 winners of the 2012 CHARACTER COUNTS! Annual Poster Contest. Schools and grades reflect student attendance in fall 2012. Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 contest. “While we celebrate character all year long, it’s a pleasure to join with the CHARACTER COUNTS! coalition for a collective, nationwide celebration each October,” said Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz. “Throughout the month we’ll be highlighting programs and activities that the community can participate in as we come together to reinforce our moral foundation.” Highlights of the celebration include contests, awards and scholarships. For information on how to enter the CHARACTER COUNTS! High School n at Potomac House assignmenteducation Character Counts in Gaithersburg their passions at a young age, this is a great time to show off all they have been able to achieve. For others, though, finding out what they love takes more time. But, as they are pressed to find some accomplishments quickly, they join clubs and activities that do not hold much significance for them and often end up showing only lackluster effort. The fun does not stop there. For the most competitive universities, in addition to being talented and accomplished outside of school, you have to be an academic superstar. There is always a push for the most challenging classes to bolster your weighted GPA and improve your ranking amongst your fellow high-achieving classmates. Though you might have an interest in photography, it would be wiser to take AP physics. With the slew of tests high school students take ever increasing (SATs, SAT IIs, ACTs, APs, IBs, amongst other terrifying acronyms) and the bar being raised for standardized testing achievement, more energy must be expended into performing well on these bars set by remote testing services. The ideal college applicant is becoming more committed to extracurricular activities, more capable of stress management, and better at standardized testing. The most difficult part of all this is time management. Juggling five hours of homework a day is difficult when assignment education Continued on page 12 MICHAEL ARAM JULISKA ANALI TEA FORTE’ THYMES CANDLES AND SCENTS KAT BURKI CANDLES STONEWALL KITCHEN GOURMET GIFTS SAXON CHOCOLATES YOLKA CHOCOLATES JT INTERIORS AT POTOMAC HOUSE Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-6 PM, Sunday 11-5 PM 9906 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 301.299.0487 Page 8 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 ■ Ride Allegheny from page 1 first time this year, was impressed by the full length of the ride. “It was beautiful following the train tracks all the way down,” she said. “Some even got to ride along with the train.” The ride itself is a challenge for many participants, consisting of 80-plus miles in a single day and an elevation climb of more than 1,600 feet to the Eastern Continental Divide outside of Frostburg, Md. Following that, it is a steep 1,700foot descent in only 25 miles on the way to Cumberland. Cyclists then followed • • • • • • the C&O towpath the second 150 miles through Harpers Ferry and finally to Smokey Glen Farm. “It actually isn’t as hard as you would think,” wrote rider Jarrett Cantrell of Kentlands in an e-mail. “The key is to take it at a moderate pace, have a seat that doesn’t cause you problems, and don’t get dehydrated.” Cantrell, who has been riding one to two days a week since August to practice for the event, was well prepared for the ride. He has participated in the ride every year but one since 2006. Despite the preparation, some things just happen along the ride that can’t be antici- Private and Group Music Lessons Piano, Brass, Woodwinds, Strings, Guitar, Percussion and Voice Chamber Ensembles Early Childhood through Adult - All Levels Instrument Sales and Rentals Music Books, Accessories and Gifts Your Kentlands Neighborhood Music Center! 325 Main Street Gaithersburg, MD 20878 www.PritchardMusic.com — [email protected] 301-355-8079 pated. “For me, getting four flat tires within about a 40-mile stretch was frustrating,” said Cantrell, “but with the help of other riders, I was able to get back up and going quickly.” Not everyone who participates has to be a cyclist either. With all the gear that needs to be brought along, McGrew said a veteran’s wife volunteered to drive along and made sure packs got where they needed to be. Also, volunteers help set up water stations along the trail, which proved to be a little more difficult this year with the government shutdown in Washington, D.C. “They put up their big cement blocks and chains, and locked the restrooms, but that didn’t stop us,” McGrew said. “We still rode on the trail.” Founded in 2001 by Clark Wagner, Ride Allegheny grew into something more in 2004 when the riders met McGrew, who was visiting with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Since then, the event has grown from the original five riders to around 86, with some coming from as far away as California to take part in the annual event. “What really stands out [in Ride Allegheny] is the amount of money that some individuals raised and how it can help the wounded veterans,” said Cantrell. While Ride Allegheny is Operation Second Chance’s largest fundraising event, it is not the only one. In the past few years, McGrew has teamed up with the Marine Corps Marathon and Paddle Fenwick to help raise funds for her organization. “We’re trying to turn Paddle Fenwick into another Ride Allegheny,” McGrew said of the event that helped raise more than $30,000 for Operation Second Chance in June. With the money raised, McGrew helps families who are forced to take extended leaves of absence from work or struggle with where to get the money to cover medical expenses. “We’ve provided around $1.5 million over the past eight-and-a-half years for veterans and their families,” said McGrew of her organization, which was awarded a top-rated nonprofit in 2013 by GreatNonprofits, a group that helps people rate and share information about nonprofits and charities. Even after the Ride Allegheny event, organizers are already looking forward to next year. Registration starts in January and meetings are already being scheduled to get the wheels turning. For the Native Americans who once walked its trails, Allegheny meant “beautiful stream.” The cyclists of Ride Allegheny and Operation Second Chance have continued that tradition, perfectly flowing a gorgeous autumn ride with a nonprofit meant to help those who have given their all. “They’re making a difference in an injured soldier’s life,” said McGrew. “They’re just a great group.” ■ running moms There are no haters in this group.” With a second book focused on training plans released in 2012, a growing Facebook and Twitter following, podcasts and marketing partners, Another Mother Runner is hitting its stride. “We realized that we were marketing to some of the busiest women on the planet,” said McDowell. “So having a book event in a bookstore was not going to bring out an enthusiastic crowd. Thus, the house party concept was born. Now we have about 12 a year across the country and our attendance at these events has doubled in the last year.” The D.C. event was hosted by Washingtonian Woods resident and running coach Lisa Reichmann and fellow trainer Julie Sapper, who co-founded Run Farther and Faster. “This event sold out in a matter of hours,” said Reichmann, “so clearly this movement is very popular among the local running community.” Another Mother Runner got the attention of high-caliber marketing partners like Saucony and Garmin and is now poised to move to the next phase. “A third book is in the works,” said Bowen Shea, “and we would like to expand our partnerships and be a nationally recognized brand ourselves.” And the reward for all the travel and hard work? “Every day someone says something that restores my faith in humanity,” said Bowen Shea. “Sounds corny, but it is truly the best part.” For more information on either of these organizations, visit www. anothermotherunner.com and www. runfatherandfaster.com. You’re invited to our Open House Event! Into Kentlands Manor to meet your neighborhood businesses! Kentlands Manor Senior Apartments invites YOU to: Fall Community Open House Saturday, October 26th 11:00 am- 3:00 pm Kentlands Manor Senior Apartments 217 Booth Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Stop in anytime on Saturday to learn about what your local Kentlands businesses have to offer! Enjoy refreshments, samples, coupons, and door prizes from your participating businesses! 217 Booth Street Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 Office: 301-926-6424 Fax: 301-926-6515 from page 1 en looked bothered by the wait as they chatted excitedly. What could possibly cause this kind of buzz on a Wednesday night in the suburbs? A house party featuring authors Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, that’s what. “This is the biggest turnout we have had to date,” said McDowell of the 300plus registrants — all women — who came Oct. 2 to hear the writers speak, enjoy refreshments and giveaways and, most importantly, find camaraderie. The two women, former crew teammates at Colgate University and freelance fitness writers, penned their first book, Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity in 2010. “The book,” explained McDowell, “was a departure from the other dry, clinical running books that were the only option when we started training for a marathon.” The aim of their book was to engage women like themselves: mothers and wives with careers and busy schedules who were trying to make fitness a priority. The duo founded an organization, Another Mother Runner (AMR), shortly after the book release. AMR would serve as a virtual training and aid station supporting mother runners. The nationwide community that sprouted as a result is still a pleasant surprise to both women. “Our message of positive acceptance resonates with a large group of women,” said Bowen Shea. “Runners of all caliber are supporting other runners of all caliber. October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 9 aroundtown from page 3 are due by Dec. 13. For more information, please call the Arts Barn at 301-258-6394 or e-mail Suzanne Takahashi at stakahashi@ gaithersburgmd.gov. 27th Annual Community Service Week Community Service Week, Oct. 2027, culminates in a special Community Services Day on Saturday, Oct. 26. A complete list of projects can be found on the county’s volunteer center website: www. montgomeryserves.org. Projects in the Gaithersburg area include help with sewing and theatre tech, event set up and “day of ” volunteering for the Community Support Services’ Fall Festival of the Arts, scheduled for Oct. 27; event help for the first annual 5K/1 Mile Fun Run-The Halloween Hustle, held by Family Services, Inc. and The Montgomery Village Rotary Club Foundation on Oct. 26; fall clean up at Pet Sanctuary; On Our Own of Montgomery County yard cleanup and landscaping; and sandwich and vegetable preparation for the Youth Against Hunger Program on Oct. 27, organized by The International Cultural Center. House of Delegates Nomination for District 15 After an Oct. 8 vote by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, David Fraser-Hidalgo will be recommended to Gov. Martin O’Malley to replace Brian Feldman, who vacated the seat to assume a position in the State Senate. FraserHidalgo is a resident of Boyds and a former Montgomery County police officer. 7th Annual DEA Drug Take-Back Day Most of us have home medicine cabinets with old and unwanted prescription and OTC medications. But these old medications in the home are potentially hazardous; they can be abused and poison others. Do you ever wonder about the safest way to dispose of them? According to the Food and Drug Administration, the safest way is through a Medicine Take-Back Program. Simply throwing medications in the trash may poison animals and the ground water. Flushing medications also poses potential safety and health hazards to our water supply. Fortunately, the Gaithersburg Police Department is participating in the 7th Annual DEA Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring unwanted medications to the Gaithersburg City Police, 14 Fulks Corner Ave. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Internet Safety Seminar Offered The Web can be a confusing and dangerous place for kids, and parents often don’t know where their children have been. According to a McAfee 2012 Teen Internet Behavior Study, 70 percent of kids hide their Internet activity from their parents. Yet, according to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43 percent of teens were victims of cyber bullying in the past year. The MCPD, DHS, Montgomery County Executive’s Office, city of Gaithersburg, Faith Community Working Group, Church of Ascension (Gaithersburg) and International Cultural Center have all worked together to offer an Internet Safety Seminar on Oct. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Watkins Mill High School Media Center, 10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg. Parents and teens can learn about online terrorists, Internet predators, cyber bullying, indiscretions and privacy. Speakers include Montgomery County Police Department Chief Thomas Manger; Department of Homeland Security, Irfan Saeed; Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Stephen Chakin; City of Gaithersburg Youth Services Director Tim Smith; the Rev. Randy LordWilkinson, Church of Ascension; and Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, International Cultural Center. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. Upcoming Community and City Elections November is a busy time for community and city elections. Kentlands Election Day for three open Board of Trustee positions is Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Kentlands Clubhouse. On Nov. 5, Gaithersburg residents will cast ballots for mayor and two city council members, all of whom serve the community at-large for a four-year term. The terms of office for Mayor Sidney A. Katz and Council Members Henry F. Marraffa, Jr. and Michael A. Sesma expire in November. All three incumbents will run unopposed. Katz has served as mayor since 1998. Marraffa has been on the council 1995 – 1999 and 2000 to present. Sesma, who is council vice president, has served since 2005 Three positions are open on the Lakelands Community Association (LCA) Board. For the first time in its history, nine candidates have stepped forward for the Nov. 20 election. We are THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD! We are honest, straight forward, and we CARE. Our business gets done quickly and efficiently. Call us to find out how to get the most money for your home! Help for Families in Need For a 19th year, the city of Gaithersburg launches the Holiday Giving Program to serve as many as 800 city families. Partners Calvary Pentecostal Ministries Church, the Gaithersburg Coalition of Providers, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and Grace United Methodist Church join the city to offer eligible families happier holidays. Individuals, businesses, congregations, and other groups are invited to participate through monetary contributions or Target gift cards in denominations of $10 and $20. The program also recruits sponsors to “adopt” Gaithersburg families for Thanksgiving and/or the December holidays by providing food baskets at Thanksgiving and gifts for children in December. The Holiday Giving brochure, available on the city’s website at www. gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices, has complete information and guidelines. Contact AMY & PATRICIA at 240.472.1719 or 240.672.7783 www.AmyDePreta.com 18310 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite 200 Gaithersburg, MD 20879 www.LakeforestTitle.com 301.590.0500 • [email protected] 345 Main Street • KENTLANDS North Potomac, MD 20878 301.947-6500 Broker Page 10 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 The ParkPages News and Current Events for Quince Orchard Park n Meeting Calendar Nov. 12 — Quince Orchard Park HOA Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 — Condo I Board Meeting, 7 p.m. Oct. 30 — Condo II Board Meeting, 7 p.m. E-mail your contributions to: [email protected] QOP News Cub Scouts Seek Food Drive Donations in Quince Orchard Park “Scouting for Food” is an annual Boy Scout-led food drive covering the entire Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. On Saturday, Nov. 2, Cub Scout Pack 1316 will distribute food collection bags to homes in Quince Orchard Park. Nonperishable food donations should be left by the front door to be collected on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8. The Capital Area Food Bank will distribute donations. Scouting for Food launched in 1987. Since then, the drive has collected millions of pounds of non-perishable food for people in need. Have you noticed an out-of-order streetlight in the community? Report it to Ruchita Patel ([email protected]). Homeowners have until Nov. 8 to comment on the revisions to the community’s Design Standards and Guidelines, recommended by the Architectural Control Committee after an annual review. Homeowners may comment in writing by Nov. 8, or provide feedback in person at the Nov. 12 Board meeting at the clubhouse. The recommended revisions are published on the community website. Community 2014 Draft Budget Available for Review Photo | Karen O'Keefe Rain saturates the ground Oct. 10 near the tennis courts off Winter Walk Drive. The QOP Board is working with developer Churchill Group and the city of Gaithersburg to ameliorate the problem. QOP Board Votes to Install Drainage Pipe, Basketball Backboard To help ameliorate the drainage problem near the tennis courts behind Winter Walk Drive the QOP Board voted at the Oct. 8 meeting to install an eight-foot section of pipe, with a removable cap, under the new sidewalk to be constructed by the Churchill Group. Churchill has installed drains that may or may not resolve the water problem. By installing the pipe before the sidewalk, considerable money will be saved by the QOP community, should additional drainage be required in the area. The cost of installing the pipe is approximately $600. The Board also approved the purchase of a new backboard to replace the damaged board on the basketball court. The 2014 Draft QOP Budget and Budget Notes are available on the community website at “Announcements.” Homeowners are encouraged to review both documents. If you have any questions or written comments, please forward to the Board, via our Community Manager ([email protected]). The QOP Board will adopt a final FY 2014 budget at the monthly board meeting, Nov. 12. City Leaf Pickup and Cleanup Tips Next week, the city of Gaithersburg begins picking up raked leaves at the curb. Collection will continue weekly through December. Pickup is every five to seven days and is usually on recycling days – Friday in Quince Orchard Park. Collection may run a day or two late during heavy periods. The city has issued the following leaf collection tips: • DON'T drive across leaf piles, as pets and kids may be playing in them. • DO rake your leaves to the curb. • DON'T allow your children to play in leaves along the street. • DO remove any limb, rocks, or other heavy objects from October 2013 MANAGEMENT MENTIONS Watch Out for Streetlights on the Blink Proposed Architectural Changes Available for Homeowner Review n leaf piles. • DON'T park over a leaf pile, as the vehicle's exhaust may start a fire. • DO avoid putting out leaves when snow is forecast. • DON'T use plastic bags. Please contact 301.258.6370 or [email protected]. Step Up to Help QOP’s Neighborhood Watch A coordinator is needed for QOP’s Neighborhood Watch Program. This is an important volunteer position in an important program that depends on volunteers and support from the community. According to the Gaithersburg Police Department, there are four components of Neighborhood Watch: • communication between police and the community; • increasing resident awareness of crime through continuing information sharing; • training residents in the means of better personal awareness; • assisting residents in being secure. The Quince Orchard Park coordinator will enlist and communicate with block captains, maintain a close tie to police, and pass updates from the Gaithersburg Police Department on to the community, via block captains, the website and this newspaper. Development Committee Volunteers Sought The Quince Orchard Park Board is seeking a chair and members for the newly structured Development Committee. The committee monitors development, expansion or changes in areas that affect Quince Orchard Park. The committee will inform and advise the Board of Directors on these matters. Contact Ruchita Patel (rpatel@tmgainc. com). Trash and Recycling Trash, which is collected on Tuesday and Friday, must be placed in lidded trash cans. Trash should not be left for collection in bags. These are ripped open by dogs, birds and other pests, and trash is strewn throughout the community. Continued use of bags may result in fines. Consider painting your house number on your trash cans and lids so they may be returned on windy days. It is also helpful to label recycling bins with house numbers – and to place bagged newspapers and magazines atop commingled materials in the bin. Trash cans and recycle bins must be stored out of sight on non-pickup days. Recycling is picked up on Fridays. Containers with lids are now available from the city of Gaithersburg. Please contact the city at 301.258.6370 to have a lidded bin delivered and the old one picked up. The new bins will lessen the problem with trash in the neighborhood. It is helpful to label recycling bins with house numbers. Lids may be attached to bins by drilling small holes and attaching with twine. Bulk recycling pickups are the first Friday of each month. Nov. 1 is the next bulk recycling pickup in Quince Orchard Park. The city of Gaithersburg and Potomac Disposal (301.294.9700) both offer collection services for bulk items at no cost. Under no circumstances should items be dumped in the woodlines or natural areas, including yard waste. Dog Duty and Animal Matters Cleaning up after dogs is the legal responsibility of every canine owner walking a dog in the community. Dogs are not permitted off-leash on common property in the city of Gaithersburg. Contact Information for Gaithersburg Animal Control To report after hours/emergency animal service calls, city of Gaithersburg residents must now contact the Montgomery County Emergency Communication Center (MCECC) at 301.279.8000. MCECC will then notify and dispatch a Gaithersburg Animal Control Officer for response. To report non-emergency animal service calls and for information on related animal matters during regular business hours, residents may contact the Gaithersburg Animal Control Office directly at 301.258.6343. Regular hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gaithersburgmd. gov/animal. Website Agendas for meetings, as well as many important documents (including minutes and meeting summaries) can be found at the QOP website at www.quinceorchardpark. com. Crime Watch New to the neighborhood? Join the Quince Orchard Park Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. E-mail Ruchita Patel [email protected] or Quinn Chase qchase@ tmgainc.com to join the program or for more information. QOP Management Contact Information Photo | Karen O'Keefe QOP Board members Lusha Liang, Chuck Crisostomo, Steve Scharf and Lester Stano at the Oct. 8 Board Meeting voted to approve the recent audit report by Strauss & Associates. Quince Orchard Park Community Managers, Ruchita Patel and Quinn Chase C/o The Management Group Associates, Inc. 20440 Century Boulevard, Suite 100 Germantown, MD 20874 Phone: 301.948.6666 Fax: 301.963.3856 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 11 firstperson Naptitude A s the world gets darker and more complicated by the day, we could all use some good news. I received just that while avoiding all the important things left undone in my world and trolling Facebook the oth- By Maureen er day. Stiles There, complete with graphics, was a post detailing the benefits of napping. Yes, folks, it turns out that nap- ping makes you smarter. This is the first time I have been excited about anything remotely educational since … well, since never. That is because my brain is full. At capacity. This is evidenced by the fact that my head hurts a lot and I am squarely blaming all the minutia I am required to store in my brain for the entire family. Small things like who gets mustard on their sandwich or the white jersey versus blue jersey for soccer in addition to the big things like paying for college get mixed ■ wellness center need. Kentlands Nutriton is staffed with wellness coaches who can design a personal nutritional program to help keep you healthy. There are also the tried-and-true measures we can all take to ward off seasonal bugs. Wash your hands and wash them often. The amount of time it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” is how long you should soap and rinse. Keep the hand sanitizer close and use it frequently, especially on the little ones who get exposed to various germs at school. Last but not least, get your flu vaccine before the peak of the season hits. It can protect you from being knocked flat on your back for a week or more, and it helps create “community immunity” by protecting especially the most vulnerable among us (babies, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people) from getting sick. from page 6 are found in the colors in the vegetables, so make sure you don’t peel your cucumbers or carrots! The skin is the most nutritionally powerful part of these salad staples and phytonutients are responsible for feeding our organs. The old adage “eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away” isn’t just a trite expression. McClure urges everyone to eat your Golden Delicious or shiny red Gala. Apples are high in fiber and vitamin C. Phytonutrients feed the organs, but multivitamins feed the cells and keep us strong. Taking supplements or eating foods that are rich in antioxidants are also important to staying healthy and boosting immunity. Also, drink plenty of water. It keeps you hydrated and flushes out what we don’t shoptalk from page 6 Maresca says the restaurant is planning on opening in early November with a fundraiser to benefit Quince Orchard High School. Stay tuned! and athletes of all experience levels. “This is the place you can have a complete holistic makeover — by coaching clients from their fitness/dance/nutrition level to improving their skin care and now we have added semi-permanent makeup,” said Souzan Mills, owner and operator for Studio Booseh. Mills says that dance has helped her through depression and a cancer diagnosis, and she hopes to use the studio to help people from all walks of life deal with their own difficulties. Metro Computer Support Going Strong After One Year Photo | Phil Fabrizio Souzan Mills, owner and operator of Studio Booseh, keeps the dance, fitness and nutrition center on the move. Studio Booseh Moves Locations Fitness boutique Studio Booseh has moved to 420 Main St. lower level from its previous location. The studio made the move Sept. 1 in an effort to refocus its space and energy on the services Studio Booseh was originally known for — belly dancing, personal training and skin care/semi-permanent makeup. Studio Booseh still offers a variety of private, semi-private, and group fitness classes with an individualized approach. Instruction is geared toward women, men Fighting computer viruses and fixing hardware for Kentlands residents, Metro Computer Support has been going strong after one year. The Kentlands branch is part of a local chain that provides residential and business computer support. “We came here because the community was very upscale, family oriented, and we wanted to be close to that,” said owner Martin Posse. Posse serves as the treasurer on the board of the Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP). He says he has really enjoyed his role because “It has helped us get more involved in the community.” Metro Computer Support also runs a free recycling program for toners and ink cartridges. Residents can drop off ink cartridges and toners at 402 Main St., 200B. in with high school algebra and remedial Spanish. My poor brain can’t decipher which parts of this data qualify as vital information, so it just keeps it all in there rumbling around until I need to recall it. Ouch. Throb. Making the situation worse is the fact that my body has turned against me and I no longer sleep. Hot flashes and night sweats plague me to the point that I now average three to four hours of sleep a night. So you can certainly understand why this napping study is like a little gift to my weary soul. A nap would let my head get one over on my hormonally evil body one brain cell at a time. Excited, I clicked on the link embedded in the post to find out more. The “Higher Perspective” website landing page looked a little more “Star Trek” than medically professional, but I was willing to gloss over that because the article cited a “Dr.” And I was too tired to be n first person Continued on page 13 Page 12 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 Doctors First ■ college applications Internal Medicine/Primary Care Monday — Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM • All ages • Providing premier primary care services • On-site labs and diagnostic studies • • • • • Minor injuries Illnesses Dot exams Work exams Sports physicals Book appointments online at Drsfirst.com or call 301-515-2902 806 W Diamond Avenue, Suite 110 • Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Also open extended hours at our Germantown office: 19785 Crystal Rock Dr., Suite 209 • Germantown, MD 20874 301-515-2901 Monday — Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM Se Habla Español from page 7 faced with seven hours of school and an additional three hours of extracurricular activity/transport. Being a student is like working full-time and overtime at home. Personally, I have turned to waking up around five each morning in order to get work done on time—I get around five to six hours of sleep each night. Fatigue perpetuates slower work and less time spent sleeping. Sleep is often the first sacrifice made by students in order to maintain school and extracurricular performance as well as a healthy social life. Though busy schedules push students to become expert time managers, one can only wonder about the true intellectual opportunities missed. For example, one of my personal goals is to speak French fluently. However, time I could be spending watching the French news is oftentimes gobbled up by reading a Barron’s book on French grammar for the SAT Subject Test. While school has fostered within me a genuine interest in a variety of subjects, because of schoolwork I am unable to actively pursue them. One thing I have enjoyed about the college applications process, however, is the essay-writing. Though most students dread it, I find it an interesting opportunity for self-discovery. Very rarely in the rush of school and work and activities do students get to sit down and reflect on their life experiences and on what has created their personalities and characteristics. The college essay forces students to do so. In writing my own college essays, I have learned to appreciate the shaping factors in my life—family and community—more than ever before. Though I do struggle with it, I believe the holistic American college admissions systems is one of the best and does push more students to become in-depth, balanced and intelligent. The stress from the process is only to be expected, and the rational and healthy way to deal with it is to embrace the challenge. I am also aware that even if I do not gain admission into the nation’s most prestigious universities, I can and will still be happy with my own achievements and end up successful at any university. I am also infinitely thankful for the opportunities that living in such an excellent school district with such ample resources provides. But these are thoughts that come to mind after calm consideration and readjusted perspective. Oftentimes the minds of frantic high school seniors are intently focused only on the immediate and obvious goal and desire, the product of years of hard work and hope—admission. assignmenteducation from page 7 appetizers and dessert, cash bar and auction items. The QOHS All-School Boosters support more than 39 athletic teams and 68 clubs and organizations at the high school, school enhancements and community programs. Visit www.qohsboosters.com for more information. More Sleep for Teens? In what may prove a controversial move, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Joshua P. Starr recommended that the district consider pushing back high school start times by 50 minutes to 8:15 a.m., starting middle school 10 minutes earlier at 7:45 a.m. and extending the elementary school day by 30 minutes to 4 p.m. “I am making this recommendation because I believe it is in the best interests of our students. There is extensive research that demonstrates that adolescents are simply not getting enough sleep. This is a public health and safety issue,” Dr. Starr said. “If we are truly committed to the well-being of our students, we must consider the feasibility of adjusting our start times to support their health and success. “At the same time, I realize my recommendation may have a substantial impact on the lives of our students, staff, families, and school communities,” Dr. Starr continued. “Therefore, we must take the time to determine the costs and operational impact of my recommendation and gather input from as many stakeholders as possible before we make a final decision next year.” There will be extensive outreach to gather input from students, staff, parents, and community members about Dr. Starr’s recommendation. Staff will also determine the cost and operational impact of making changes to the school schedule. The earliest any changes would occur is the 20152016 school year. Dr. Starr Becomes Co-Chair of National Consortium Together with J. Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Joshua P. Starr, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has been named cochair of the new Large Countywide and Suburban District Consortium. The Consortium includes the leadership of large, successful, suburban school systems that have come together to share ideas and resources, and advocate for policies and practices that support the continuous improvement of their own districts and those across the country. The Consortium, established in 2012, currently includes 15 districts that educate more than 1.3 million students. More districts may be invited to join in the coming months. “The goal of the Consortium is to share our collective expertise and advocate for change that will help move education forward in our districts, our states, and across the nation,” said Dr. Starr. “We don’t have an ideological agenda. Our goal is to advocate for those policies and practices that contribute to student success. We are working to make sure that every child we educate is equipped with 21st century skills.” MCPS, with more than 151,000 students, is the nation’s 17th-largest school district. October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 13 The Art of Making a Joyful Noise By Pam Schipper S hellie Williams, who assumed directorship of The Arts Barn on Sept. 3, is a versatile and vibrant woman who believes passionately in the arts. Her knowledge cuts across the arts—music, theatre, fine art, literary arts and arts programming—to unite them in a setting that she said feels like home. “What I love about this place is that it’s unassuming,” she explained. “It was a barn. Most places that are performing and visual arts centers have that stigma of elitism.” Centered in a community, home to all of the arts and serving multiple generations, The Arts Barn fits snugly with what Williams is all about: “shattering those boundaries so that everybody has access and when they get there they have this opportunity to have this deep, rich experience.” Williams’ life might be best introduced through its brilliant scenes. It opened at the Abbeville Opera House in Abbeville, South Carolina, where her parents—her father, an actor, and her mother, an organizer and humanities person—revitalized the circa 1908 theatre. The opera house was one of a string established along Southern railroad lines. Theatre companies would travel by train from town to town during the early 20th century.. “I laughingly say I have been involved in arts marketing and also development since I was seven and could put a letter in an envelope, lick it and put a stamp on it,” she smiled. “I grew up backstage watching my dad act, so it was a very natural thing to go onstage as soon as they would let me.” A talented actress and vocalist, Williams was torn. “So all throughout college it was this struggle—am I going to be a fine artist, visual artist or am I an actor?” She loved to paint and earned her bachelor’s from the Ringling School of Art and Design at Florida State. She soon realized that neither career offered much security. “On a visit to Europe when I was in my mid-20s, I fell in love with Italy—of course, who doesn’t?—and came back and thought, ‘I’m going to get a master’s in art history.’” After completing her M.A. in Art History and Classical Archeology at Florida State, she was accepted into a wellknown Ph.D. program. At the time, the field was flooded with qualified individuals and the school sent Williams a letter before she started, warning her that many with Ph.D.s could not find jobs. “So I thought, ‘You know, I don’t love it that much. But I really love working in museums.’ I had worked in museums while I was in my program at Florida State and I like change, so I thought, ‘Let’s just see what it’s like to work in a museum.’” Williams did curatorial work for a number of years before she realized, “I’m not just interested in the art, I’m interested in how people experience the art and how you can deepen that experience through education.” She moved into public programming at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, and she knew that she had achieved success “when the curator of the museum told me there were just too many kids in the museum.” While Williams appreciates the “beautiful tension in a museum – one is about protecting the collection and the other is about shattering those boundaries so that everybody has access,” she counts an interactive, one-woman play that she commissioned while at Gibbes as one of her greatest accomplishments. “I commissioned a one-woman play for our collection so that schoolchildren could experience the art,” she recalled. “It’s a collection of 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century portraiture and landscape from Charleston, South Carolina, and when you walked through that gallery—I called it the dead zone because you were just looking at a bunch of dead people and that’s what kids always said, ‘It’s just a bunch of dead peo- firstperson from page 11 checking physician credentials. I was a believer, for better or worse. And boy was it for the better. After trying to avoid the pop-up ads for catching and keeping a man and the free chakra test, I learned that the longer I sleep, the smarter I get. This was turning out to be the best day ever. Who says Facebook is a waste of time? I often try and grab a power nap, which has long been hailed for its benefits but, apparently, if I sleep for 90 minutes I will awaken with improved memory and creativity. So now I suspect that I should actually be sleeping at work and getting paid to be more creative and remember all of my deadlines. This suspicion is confirmed when I scroll down further to the sentence, “one surprising suggestion is to sit slightly upright during your nap, because it will help you avoid a deep sleep.” That seals it, they surely want me to sleep at my desk and be a better employee. The study also stresses that “planning the perfect nap” is key. The word “planning” gives me a moment of pause. Hmmmm. I am usually too tired to plan and am prone to falling asleep in a chair with my to-do list, a pen and my phone in my lap so if anyone walked in I could look productive in a matter of seconds. Planning a nap means I have to look at the schedule and possibly prioritize the day’s events. Then, figure out if I want to lay down and if so, on the couch or bed or possibly just lounge sideways in a chair. It definitely requires math, adding and subtracting those 90 minutes in different blocks of time to see if it is feasible. Not to mention that all the planning gives me time to feel guilty about participating in what is generally perceived as slacker behavior. And the ensuing rationalizations involving my resulting brilliance and general good mood once I awaken are a time suck as well. My head is starting to hurt again. ple, huh?’ — I had to find a way to bring it to life. So I commissioned a woman to create an interactive play. Our students would come and they would split up. Half of them would go on a tour of the gallery while the other half was involved in the interactive play where they had to play characters in the story. “That play is called Courage by the Sea and … 18 years later it’s still going on.” While at Gibbes, she also created a program called “Poets and Painters” with a friend who was at the time poet laureate of South Carolina, Marjory Wentworth. “I’ve been thinking about how to bring somen New Director Continued on page 16 Photo | Phil Fabrizio “One of the things that I would like to do is work with our very talented staff to think more cohesively about The Arts Barn and what it can be as a place for education, as a place for inspiration, as a place that leads to innovation,” Shellie Williams explained. Page 14 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 Minute by Minute, Manhattan Short Delivers Winners ally powerful and beautifully filmed American entry, Pale of n Oct. 6, a jam-packed Settlement. Based on a true stotheater #6 at Kentry from Russian history, it inlands Stadium greeted volves a 10-year old Russian this year’s program of short Jewish boy and the attempts of films in the Manhattan Short the Khappers, army kidnapFilm Festival. Only at Kentpers, to conscript the youngster, lands in Maryland, the festival played by Kyle Catlett, for a term is shown in more than 100 of up to 40 years. Stylistically, theatres around the world the film is old-fashioned: steady over the course of one week. camera, scenically perfect (espePhotos | Submitted It even plays in 27 theatres in cially the chilling effect of a black Winners of the global Manhattan Short Film Festival included Reece Noi for Best Actor (Friday) and Kismet Diner for Gold Medal for Film. Russia. steam locomotive roaring out of a This year’s finalists represented films solved American film, Black Metal, features surprised it made the finals, but this is the tunnel toward the young boy) and meticwith run times of 3:41 to 17:58 that origithe lead singer of a heavy and very dark “Manhattan Shorts,” after all. ulously planned and executed. I voted for nated in six countries. They were as varied An absolutely brilliant and utterly ro- it as the outstanding film in the festival, as metal band whose logo adorns the site of a as you can imagine. A pathetic yet funny brutal murder. The singer contemplates his mantic film followed, — Kismet Diner, in I voted for Ilinca Roe as best actor. This audition for Hamlet in Australia by a young daughter’s question, “Were you to blame, which a young waitress in a diner enthralls was a new feature of the Manhattan Short woman turned into something else near her clientele by singing to them. Frankly, Festival and made the challenge of selectthe end of the film, while a frantic family Daddy?” her voice was not all that interesting, but ing between styles even more complex. One of the winners from earlier years, from Finland kept the audience in stitches the personality of Ilinca Roe as Laura, the Bastien Dubois, made the finals again How do you weigh the quality of a bit of as they prepared to go to a wedding after waitress, the simplicity of Lotte Mullan’s with an animated feature called Faces From fluff like the Finland entry against the powtheir alarm clock went off late. A particularsongs and the surprise that happens halfPlaces. Presented as inter-cuts between other of Pale of Settlement? How do you rate ly effective performance by Reece Noi as a way through delivers a heavy punch. Laura er films, it maintains the whimsical tone of the manic Hamlet audition in #30 against non-Muslim Arab mourning the loss of his has everybody enthralled except one hand- the powerful work of Reece Noi in Friday? mother in a terrorist bombing in London his earlier travelogue, Madagascar. The least successful of the films, I Am some customer at the diner. She, of course, Yet that is part of the fun of the Manhattan and bent on revenge was next. A slight a Great Big Ball of Sadness, was born of falls for him but is puzzled as to his com- Short Festival and, from the noisy discusFrench sketch involving two Englishmen Manhattan and portrays a typical cocktail plete lack of interest until she sees a friend sion among the audience members at the who cannot speak French while meetparty on a rooftop there. Three self-ab- come into the diner to meet him and end of the 10 films, it is a successful feature ing Alexandra Naoum, who also directed sorbed hipsters trade depressive stories they start signing! A mysterious stranger of the festival. Final worldwide tabulations the film, came next. Like one of the other films in the festival, things turned out about themselves, of course, with one of leaves behind a book of BSL (British Sign of best film and best actor were announced to be not quite what they seemed to be. A them ending the conversation by scream- Language) lessons, and she ends up singing on the Manhattan Short website mancharming and imaginative animated docu- ing, “I am a great big ball of sadness and her last song to him using BSL. Pure ro- hattanshort.com on Oct. 7. The winners mentary about Irish furniture has a charm- I want to jump off your roof.” This film’s mance, but beautifully done. Roe is touch- were Best Actor: Reece Noi (Friday); Gold ing finish as old Irish pieces are renovated handheld technique reeked of intention- ingly lovely, even without much of a voice, Medal for Film: Kismet Diner; Silver Medal for Film: Pale of Settlement. Bronze Medal and turned into lovely and serviceable new al “modernism” and only made audience and the film never gets maudlin. The festival closed with an emotion- for Film: I Am a Great Big Ball of Sadness. works in new Irish homes. A dark, unre- members reach for their Dramamine. I was By Mike Cuthbert O Join Us for our Grand Opening! Saturday, October 19, 2013 10:30 AM — 2:30 PM LIVE EVENTS.....RAFFLES......GIVEAWAYS.....COUPONS....... 301-527-1780 724 Center Point Way Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 www.tipostoybox.com October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Suddenly With Force: sfz salon series Accents Innovation By Vanessa Mallory Kotz T here was a time when wealthy patrons showed their support for artists by holding salons—regular evenings in their elegant homes when friends and artists would meet and mingle, listen to music and sip some wine. After the performance, lively discussion would center round the pieces played and the art on display, with local gossip peppered in, of course. You can live this experience at Kentlands Mansion’s new sfz salon series. “Like the salons that flourished in France in the 17th and 18th centuries, the sfz salon series was created for entertainment, education and the exchange of ideas,” said Suzanne Takahashi, music program coor- dinator for the Arts Barn, which is organizing the event. “The charming, intimate setting of the historic Kentlands Mansion is the perfect place. Amazing musicians, great music, spirited discussion and a glass of wine—what could be better?” Starting Oct. 27, the wood-paneled music room at Kentlands Mansion will bring audiences a “fusion of classical, contemporary and experimental chamber music in an intimate salon setting,” Takahashi explained. Alex Peh, curator of the series, said that he wants audiences “to learn about the work and get a performer’s perspective on the work to be performed before it is played. We also wanted to incorporate n salon series Continued on page 17 Schedule Beyond Folk Vocalise Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 8 p.m. Program - Ravel Tzigane, Bartok Contrasts, Piazzolla Histoire du Tango Featured Musicians - Wenyin Chan (Piano), Jeremy Eig (Clarinet), Jennifer Kim (Violin), Alex Peh (Piano), Douglas Rogers (Guitar) Unaccompanied Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m. Program - Solo Cello Featured Musician - Kristen Wojcik Program – Works by Ravel, Debussy, Satie and Messiaen Featured Musicians - Kate Jackman (Mezzo Soprano), Alex Peh (Piano) In a Blue Light Sunday, April 27, 3 p.m. Program - Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, Crumb Voice of the Whale Featured Musicians - Wenyin Chan (Piano), Julietta Curenton (Flute), Alex Peh (Piano), Danielle Cho (Cello) For more information, please visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/kentlandsmansion. Singer Songwriter Concert Series Gives Residents Intimate Access to Artists Zeman and Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Woody Guthrie). bout one night every month from Suzanne Takahashi, music program coSeptember to February, Kentlands ordinator at The Arts Barn, says that the residents get up close series has been a success so and personal — with singers far. “Every one of [the artists] and songwriters, that is. This is has just loved the venue — it’s the second year that The Arts warm and inviting and has a Barn has sponsored the Singer great sound.” Audience memSongwriter Concert Series in bers have also loved the intiwhich a variety of artists are inmacy of the venue. However, vited to perform in an intimate both Takahashi and Cicala are space — and beforehand they hoping that more community teach an hour long workshop members will take advantage to attendees on topics ranging of this series. from music techniques to mar“There’s nothing else like keting themselves as musicians. it on this side of the rivThe series is co-sponsored er,” Cicala said. “You don’t by O’Hair salon. Domenic have to go downtown or to Photo | Jon Karr Cicala, the owner of O’Hair Andrew Combs appears with Baltimore for great music.” salon, has a robust interest in Kevin Dudley at The Arts Barn’s Andrew Combs brings music. “It was partly for self- next Singer Songwriter Concert bluesy country melodies and ish reasons,” said Cicala. “I Series event on Nov. 1. Southern-steeped lyricism wanted to bring these artists on Nov. 1 when he appears so that I could hear them as well.” with Virginia-based singer songwriter The series aims to bring two emerg- Kevin Dudley, whose music is a gumbo of ing artists, two established artists, and Western swing, blues, traditional country, two national artists every year. Last year, Cajun and bluegrass. The 3 p.m. workshop The Arts Barn brought Mary Gauthier, at the Kentlands Mansion is followed by a an award-winning American folk sing- 7:30 p.m. concert at The Arts Barn. Visit er songwriter, and this year the lineup www.gaithersburgmd.gov/ArtsBarn for includes Texas singer songwriter Brock more information. By Jenny Chen A Page 15 Page 16 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 ■ new director from page 13 thing like that here (to The Arts Barn),” she said, envisioning poets using paintings as a springboard for poetry or hip hop. After Gibbes, “I realized that I really wanted to understand what the barriers were that kept people away from museums and what I could do to break down those barriers. So I joined an international museum planning firm called Lord Cultural Resources that’s headquartered in Toronto,” she explained. “We came to the D.C. area so I could open up an East Coast office for them, and that was just so eye-opening to meet with people all around the country—school teachers, parents, social services people—and to say, ‘Well, why aren’t you using the museum, Theatre wanted to get their information out more broadly but didn’t have the staff. “So we created programs that would allow the organization for a very nominal fee to get into The Washington Post, to get into The Gazette, get into Bethesda Magazine,” Williams said. “We created DOandGO (creativemoco.com/services/ do-and-go) so that there would be one events calendar for the arts and it links up to seven other online calendars. So you put it into DOandGO and they shoot it out for you. That’s huge.” The Arts Council provided training on marketing tools like Facebook and Twitter, and branched more into arts development with a new crowd-sourced giving platform for the arts called power2give. “Just like Kickstarter, you put up a project and select an amount you’re trying to achieve and then you use humor and the immediacy of Facebook and Twitter to get your constituents interested and ask them to send it out to 10 of their friends via the Internet.” Unlike Kickstarter where contributions are lost if you do not reach your fundraising goal, organizations keep whatever is raised on power2give, the Arts Council matched funds given, and donations are taxdeductible. Plus, the Arts Council made power2give local with a Montgomery County page (www.power2give.org/ MontgomeryCountyMD/Home/About). Somewhere in all of this, Williams found time to write a mystery suspense novel of 100,000 words. Deadly Secrets was recently named a 2013 finalist for the Claymore Award, Killer Nashville, for unpublished manuscripts. Williams is now at work on Schaeffer’s Piano Co., Inc. Est 1901 NEW • USED RENTALS TOO! Tuning • Repair Refinishing We’ve Moved! Visit us at our new location! 105 N Stone Street Ave. Rockville, Md 20850 301.424.1144 www.schaefferspiano.com GORDON S. GROISSER DDS, MSD, PC Specialist in Orthodontics for Children, Adolescents & Adults 555 Quince Orchard Road Suite 230 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 (301) 869-4242 www.DrGBraces.com iB r a ce • iS G! PREFERRED INVISALIGN® PROVIDER WASHINGTON CONSUMERSʼ CHECKBOOK BEST SPECIALIST MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED CONSULTATION & INITIAL EXAM ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE Dr what can the museum do differently to improve your life?’ It’s just all continuing again about shattering those boundaries so that everybody has access and when they get there they have this opportunity to have this deep, rich experience.” The museum building heyday waned with the economy, and Williams moved into supporting and promoting local arts organizations through the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County. When she began there in 2005, her mission was to create a cooperative marketing program. Very often, smaller arts organizations with limited staff and volunteers “are focused on keeping the doors open and keeping the programs going. Nobody is helping with marketing. There’s just not enough people, not enough time.” Organizations like the Round House Theatre and the Olney e• mil iS e e • a novella, to be published in a collection by writers in her Rockville 8 group this December. While Williams’ life itself reads like a romantic and thrilling story, the main point behind it all may be something simple yet profound. “One of the things I love is walking out after I’ve been sequestered in my office … I’ve been working on things where it’s quiet and then I walk out into the lobby close to where the studios are and I can hear the voices of children laughing and talking. They’re not playing soccer. They’re in one of the studios working with one of our artists, and they are having a great time. That sense of people having fun and experiencing the art as fun and their own creativity, I just love that. … I used to have that in the museums where I worked, in the studios that were associated with the museums. I haven’t been in a facility for a while and I didn’t realize just how much I missed that,” she said. “And it dovetails with my two missions, which are very inter-related but they’re distinct to me. One of them is to brighten my corner of the world through the arts and to make the world a better place using my skills, my passions which all are centered aound the arts, and the other one is to help people connect deeply and passionately to life through the arts. “Other people are interested in other things, but to me, this is my little world and I can help people have a richer, deeper experience of life. You only get one. And why not have it be as rich as it can be?” October 18, 2013 The Town Courier Page 17 arts& entertainment I wish I was there!” Meet Cicala, Miller, Murphy and Forrest-Thweatt Oct. 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. www.gaithersburgmd.gov/ artsbarn. Exhibit at Kentlands Mansion Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 27 In partnership with Sandy Spring Theatre Group, The Arts Barn presents a special adaptation of Orson Welles’ Halloween 1938 radio broadcast that scared a nation. Revisit the moment that people across the country wondered if aliens really had landed on Earth. After “The War of the Worlds” performance, “When Welles Collide” presents a similar story for modern times. www.gaithersburgmd.gov/ theater Through Dec. 6 The city of Gaithersburg presents an exhibit featuring paintings and drawings by Vian Shamounki Borchert, David Hawksford and Chris Luckman at Kentlands Mansion through Dec. 6. Vian Shamounki Borchert is an award-winning contemporary artist whose expressionistic and abstracted work illustrates a poetic mood and a thoughtful journey into the world of painting. Borchert currently teaches adult art classes in watercolor, acrylic and drawing at The Arts Barn. David Hawksford has worked as a house painter, faux finisher, muralist, gilder, and painting conservationist. In 2008, he began to devote more time to painting with a focus on wildlife. Chris Luckman presents a selection of her travel paintings. Luckman believes that the arts transcend all languages and cultures and can contribute to peace. For more information, visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/kentlandsmansion. Exhibit at The Arts Barn Carolyn Malachi Photo | Anne Vandercook (L to R) Philip Stamper, Daniel Santiago and Joseph Mariano stand at the microphones as they recreate the voices and sounds from the original broadcast of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds.” “The War of the Worlds” and “When Welles Collide” Through Dec. 1 Kentlands’ own Domenic Cicala, photographer, musician and owner of O’Hair, exhibits with painters Melissa Miller and JoEllen Murphy and sculptor Richardene Forrest-Thweatt at The Arts Barn through Dec. 1. “It’s all about evoking a feeling,” Cicala said in a statement. “I think there’s an emotional connection in everything I shoot. When someone looks at an image of mine, I think they should be wondering to themselves, what comes next, what am I missing, or more importantly, Oct. 19, 8 p.m. This Grammy-nominated local singer/ songwriter is at the forefront of a new generation of African American Soul performers. See her live at the BlackRock. www. blackrockcenter.org Acoustic Music Jams Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m.; Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m. Head to the Kentlands Foundation Carriage House for a jam session with like-minded musicians. Participation is free. www.kentlandsusa.com Julie Fowlis with Scotch Tasting Package Oct. 25, 6 p.m. scotch tasting, 8 p.m. concert Oct. 26, 8 p.m. concert Head to the BlackRock tonight and sample five different cask strength scotchwhiskies. Then set yourself free with music from one of the foremost interpreters of Gaelic music, Julie Fowlis. www. blackrockcenter.org. Julie Fowlis Gaelic Music Songwriting Workshop Oct. 26, 5 p.m. Learn songwriting secrets and tricks of the trade from Gaelic songstress Julie Fowlis. This workshop is free at the BlackRock. www.blackrockcenter.org sfz salon series Oct. 27, 3 p.m. The salon series in the Kentlands Mansion debuts with “Beyond Folk,” an afternoon of music, wine and good conversation. Musicians Wenyin Chan, Jeremy Eig, Jennifer Kim, Alex Peh and Douglas Rogers perform a program of Bartók “Contrasts,” Ravel “Tzigane,” Guiliani “Airs Irlandois Nationales, Op. 125,” Garcia “Celtic Airs” and Piazolla “Tango.” www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn Comedy & Magic Society Oct. 30, 8 p.m. The “Society Meeting” convenes at The Arts Barn with magicians Mark Phillips, Bob Sheets, Barry Wood and Brian Curry and special guest Max Major just in time for Halloween. Will their secret and kooky world become frightening tonight? Major is a magician and hypnotist known for his edgy, shocking magic tricks like swallowing a piece of thread and extracting it from his eyeball. Compiled by Pam Schipper www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn Andrew Combs with Kevin Dudley Nov. 1, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Singer Songwriter Series continues with Andrew Combs and his Texas troubadour smirk, bluesy country melodies and Southern-steeped lyricism. He is joined by Kevin Dudley, Texas-born Virginian who sings Western swing, blues, traditional country, Cajun and bluegrass. A workshop is given at Kentlands Mansion, 3 p.m., followed by the performance at The Arts Barn at 7:30 p.m. www.gaithersburgmd. gov/artsbarn contemporary Della Mae Nov. 2, 8 p.m. You won’t want to miss this fresh, all-woman bluegrass band at the BlackRock. The group is known for its high-energy performances. www.blackrockcenter.org Thomas Pandolfi Nov. 3, 3 p.m. Engaging classical pianist Thomas Pandolfi plays the BlackRock. Sunday afternoon’s program features “The Italian Connection,” including works by J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Franz Liszt, Nicolo Paganini and Ottorino Respighi. www.blackrockcenter.org Neil Simon’s God’s Favorite Nov. 8-24, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Loosely based on the Book of Job, the jokes and “tests of faith” fly fast and furious as Neil Simon spins a contemporary morality tale with God’s Favorite. This production is presented at The Arts Barn in partnership with Montgomery Playhouse. www.gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn ■ salon series from page 15 a piece on every program that featured a highly unusual compositional element— an innovation of the time. Like an sfz accent, which is sudden change in dynamic and energy, composers’ new innovations and ideas often jolted the course of music history and offered new interpretive and expressive challenges for performer and audience.” The first program on Oct. 27 sets the tone for the series. Peh explained that it “features a highly unusual performance technique that involves ‘de-tuning’ the violin. This experimentation with new tuning systems borrowed from folk music was a highly novel and modern compositional technique that effectively fused the folk and classical idioms.” About the performers, he noted that they “are extremely talented musicians with rigorous training to complement their energy and enthusiasm for chamber music. “We are all friends from various schools throughout the United States,” he added, “and have come together to make music together.” Each program will feature two highlighted wines that consultant Myriam Ahearn will encourage the audience to sample and explore. Featured wines match the ori- Photos | Submitted (L to R) Jeremy Eig (clarinet), Wenyin Chan (piano), Jennifer Kim (violin), Alex Peh (piano), Douglas Rogers (guitar) bring “Beyond Folk” to the Kentlands Mansion on Oct. 27, debuting the new sfz salon series. gin or style of the music, and each performance includes a white and a red. On Oct. 27, the white will be a Sancerre from the Central Loire Valley and the red will be a Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina. “The white wines of the Central Loire Valley made of Sauvignon Blanc are dry, crisp, with refreshing acidity. They display characters of gooseberry and green pepper,” said Ahearn. “The Malbec of Mendoza in Argentina are generally deep in color, ripe and lush with medium acidity and tannins, displaying characters of blackberry, cherry, plums, chocolate and black pepper.” Neither of these wines are heavy, and they both have a surprising element of spice, just like the music you will hear. Acupuncture or VelaShape Sessions Holistic Life Center Holistic Life Center brings you great acupuncture, herbal medicine, wellness services, and more. Grab this deal and get an introduction to their skills, meet their caring staff, and let them help you with the next stage of your life’s journey. From $39 Value: $175 Savings: 78% ($136) • $39 ($175 value) for consultation and acupuncture session • $59 ($265 value) for consultation and two acupuncture sessions • $89 ($400 value) for one VelaShape session and a wellness assessment • $169 ($800 value) for two VelaShape sessions and a wellness assessment 6119 Executive Blvd. • Rockville, MD 20852 • 240.632.1111 • [email protected] Page 18 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 Sports The Faces Behind Friday Nights: The Families By Syl Sobel F amily. It’s a core principle of the Quince Orchard football program. Head Coach Dave Mencarini talks about family often. The players wear t-shirts that spell it out: F.A.M.I.L.Y. And on a Friday night at the Cougar Dome, sitting in the stands next to the Red Army, in small clusters or in large groups, quietly and nervously or loudly and boisterously, are the families that give Cougar football its soul. Few players had a larger cheering section at the recent Homecoming game than senior linebacker Clay SheltonJones. The youngest of nine children of a “yours, mine, and ours” family, Shelton-Jones recently had a dozen family members and friends rooting for him, not only during the game but at halftime when his name was announced as a Homecoming prince. Older sister Carlene had traveled with her family from Wilmington, Del., for the game, bringing two little nephews and a niece who adoringly watched their uncle. Clay’s Mom, Barbara Jones, said she loves the Friday Night Lights atmosphere, but once the game starts she’s too excited to sit and has to walk around the stadium. “When the action gets going, so do I,” Jones said, “from one end to the next.” Parents find many sources of satisfaction in watching their sons play football. Bob Webster, father of junior linebacker/tight end Jack Webster, said he enjoys “seeing your kid being part of something that you know they worked for … being part of something good.” Randy Mongold, father of senior co-captain and guard Scott Mongold, said he enjoys “watching my son play because I know he enjoys the sport and has fun.” “They get to have fun,” echoed Janice Brown, who with her husband Michael has had three sons in the QO program. Malcolm is a co-captain, three-year starter, and highly recruited wide receiver and defensive back on this year’s team. Oldest son Markus was a key member of the 2007 state championship team and is now a shot putter at Clemson. Manuel was a running back the past two seasons, played in two state championship n Friday Night Families Continued on page 19 QO Girls’ Varsity Soccer Scores Again By Mike Cuthbert Q just saw an opening and went,” she said. Shin was even more effective leading the Cougar defense from midfield, disrupting Trojan play constantly. “They’re always surprised when she comes up from behind them and steals it,” said Coach Peg Keiler. While Shin disrupted and started counter-attacks, Mary McMeekin was solid on uince Orchard’s Lady Cougars opened their season 6-1-1, narrowly losing to top-ranked B-CC on their field, 2-1 after tying the power in the conference,Whitman, in their opener.Wins over Watkins Mill, Blake, Paint Branch, Poolesville and Wootton were capped off by a recent win against a very strong Gaithersburg Trojans team, 2-0. In the Oct. 8 game against Gaithersburg, Sam Sullenger buried an unusual PK to open the scoring, and QO let loose. The PK was unusual because the yellow card to cause it was on the keeper. She had to leave the game, so the shot was taken against a hapless defender with no gloves and not much hope. Stephi Shin closed things out with a brilliant dash through the Gaithersburg defense. “I With eyes on the ball, QO Lady Cougars defeat Gaithersburg Trojans on Oct. 8, 2-0. the back line shutting down the long balls that Gaithersburg liked to try because of their speed on offense. The turning point of the game, however, was the kickoff after the PK goal. Keiler screamed, “Attack!” and the Cougars did. Given the tendency for teams to relax after scoring and especially since the PK was surrounded by minutes of discussion and finagling while a substitute keeper was located, the Cougars were getting cold. They cranked it up immediately and took charge of what had been an even game. The Cougars have given up only four goals in their eight games while scoring 22. A freshman, Jamie Fink, led them in scoring and had two shots narrowly miss in the Gaithersburg game before she left with a head injury late in the second half. But scorers on Photo | Phil Fabrizio this team can come from any place at any time. QO Undefeated But Facing Tough Stretch Ahead feated Gaithersburg, Northwest (5-1), and Wootton (4-2). “We’ll find out how really good we are in the next four weeks,” said Quince Orchard Head Coach Dave Mencarini. The Cougars topped B-CC last Saturday in a morning game moved to Photo | Phil Fabrizio Blair’s turf field afThe QO cheer squad had a lot to cheer about when the Cougars defeated Bethester the downpours on da-Chevy Chase, 49-0, at Blair High School on Oct. 12. Friday night. “We got off to a fast start. I was proud of the way the By Syl Sobel and Mike Cuthbert kids handled the changing time and condiow dominant has the Quince Or- tions,” Mencarini said. chard football team been in opening The 49-0 romp started ominously with the season 6-0? They have outscored a Baron 11-yard completion on their first their opposition by a total of 241-13. They play but the more typical play for the have four shutouts and haven’t allowed a morning came next as defensive lineman score in the last 15 quarters (since a Damas- Adam McLean hit B-CC’s quarterback so cus touchdown in a 7-6 victory in Week 2). hard you could hear it in the glass-enclosed They punted once – total – in the past three press box. Of the Barons’ 45 plays, 12 of games and had a running clock (lead of 35 them were for no or negative yardage. or more points) before halftime in those On the other side of the ball, the Cougars three. At this rate, QO fans could start de- had over 200 yards each passing and rushmanding rebates. They aren’t getting to see ing, led by Kevin Joppy’s 128 combined full games. yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback But that should change this Friday night Mikey Murtaugh was 9-12 and credited at the Cougar Dome when QO hosts 5-1 his receivers: “It wasn’t me. It was the othSherwood, a recent upset winner over er guys making plays. Guys blocked, guys Seneca Valley, then continue the gauntlet caught the ball. It was fun.” McLean, in adthe following three weeks against unde- dition to that first big hit, stirred things up H the entire game on defense as usual. “Great atmosphere, great coaches, great teammates, great fans, a great place to play,” he said of his QO experience so far. The previous week, QO methodically dispatched Churchill, 52-0, before a packed, black-clad Homecoming crowd at the Cougar Dome. The highlight came near the end, when placekicker and reserve defensive back Troy Porter intercepted a Churchill pass near the goal line and scrambled 99 yards for a touchdown, weaving in and out of attempted tacklers on his adventurous journey to the end zone. The play culminated a big night for Porter, a junior, who also kicked his first career field goal, from 28 yards, in the first quarter, and went 7-7 on extra points. Touchdowns in the first half came from the usual playmakers, as Joppy scored on runs of 11, 4 and 5 yards; Malcolm Brown streaked down the field on a 35-yard touchdown bomb from Murtaugh; and “the underdog,” Preston Bampoe-Addo, continued to show big-play ability as he scored on a scintillating 47-yard bubble screen. Sophomore tight end Greg Williams kept drives alive with three catches and Murtaugh went 12 for 20 for 238 yards and showed mobility on several keepers as he continued his comeback from last season’s ACL injury. Again, Mencarini was pleased with his players’ focus. “You know, we could have n QO Football Continued on page 19 October 18, 2013 ■ qo football from page 18 easily had a little bit of a letdown because it’s Homecoming and the distractions, but the kids played hard.” Safety Bradley Walker, a senior co-captain, disrupted the Churchill option offense all night, making big hits and knocking a fumble loose. “All week we’ve been working on following our reads and when the pitch is made just blasting into the backfield.” He credited assistant coach John Kelly with helping him “make good reads.” Walker said even blowout wins prepare the team for tougher games later in the year. “If we’re in the right spot every time The Town Courier it’s not going to matter what team we’re playing. We never play down to our opponent and that’s really what helps us in the long run when we play better teams.” Lamonte Armstrong, a late summer transfer from Bullis, continued to make an impact and is showing explosive pass rushing ability from the edge as he gets more familiar with the defense. “I get to fly around, got good players surrounding me, and that just makes me be a better player,” the long and athletic Armstrong said. “I like playing anywhere I can get to the ball and make stuff happen.” Mencarini said he thinks Armstrong’s “best football is ahead of him.” If so, that would be perfect timing for the Cougars. ■ friday night families from page 18 games, and is now at St. Vincent’s College in Pennsylvania. “I never thought it was going to be this exciting,” Michael Brown said. Janice Brown takes great satisfaction “knowing that they love it, looking in their eyes, the glow and the gleam.” She said her sons each “matured in their own way” and “came into their own” under Mencarini’s influence and strict adherence to rules and responsibility. Dad Michael said he was proudest of “their grades.” Dave Mannion, whose son Kyle is the starting fullback, said watching his son play takes him back to when he played high school football, though he quickly added that his son “is 10 times better.” Of course, the familes aren’t there just to cheer for their own. “We’re cheering on our son along with all the other boys on the team,” said Lisa Brown, mother of senior middle linebacker Ben Brown. Many of the parents commented on the community and family-oriented atmosphere of Quince Orchard, and credited Mencarini and his staff for building that. “Coach talks about family, but seeing what he did with his Dad and the game ball (when Mencarini gave the game ball to his father and assistant coach, Joe, after winning his 100th game) you realize that it’s more than just a slogan,” said Webster. “He lives up to the slogan.” That family atmosphere has made a quick impression on Carol Parker, whose son defensive end/linebacker Lamonte Armstrong joined the team late in the summer after transferring from Bullis. “The experience has been amazing, incredible,” she said. “The team welcomed Lamonte and me. The parents are very welcoming. Even though this school is big, it’s like a private school, but just a lot more people.” Aretha Montgomery, mother of highly recruited senior wide receiver/defensive back Elliott Davis, also mentioned the support of the Red Army and the community as one of her favorite aspects of being a football mom. “You have to come out so early just to sit with your family and friends,” she laughed. Like any family, the football team sometimes eats meals together, which for the past two seasons have been the responsibility of team commissioner Cindy Tilton, whose son Connor is a senior defensive tackle. How do you feed that many teen- Page 19 Negola’s Ark Veterinary Hospital You and Your Pet Are Invited by Daniel C. Negola, DVM, DABVP Pet Blessing and Open House Saturday, October 26, 2-4 pm (Pet Blessing Will Be At 3 pm) 9401 Fields Road Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Call 301-216-0066 for more information www.NegolasArk.com Photo | Phil Fabrizio Quince Orchard families cheer the Cougars on at Blair High School during the Saturday morning, Oct. 12, winning game against Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 49-0. age boys? “It’s about 70,” Tilton said, “but really you have to multiply that by two.” She said she and the two other moms who assist her prepare pasta and sandwiches, set up lots of water and sports drink and “every week we just feed the troops.” She’s also assisted by youngest son Declan, who says he’s four years away from being a Cougar. Cindy and her husband Kelly have had another son in the program, Keegan, who also played in a state championship game. “That’s a heck of a moment when they win that third playoff round,” Kelly Tilton said. “The feeling you get is just pure exuberance. You feel it for your sons, but the parents feel it, too.” All of the parents said they will continue to attend QO football games even after their sons are no longer playing. “I’m going to come back. QO treats us like family,” said Barbara Jones. “I’ll be at every game,” said Michael Brown, and his wife added, “We’re going to root for these players and coaches.” Said Montgomery, “It’s the highlight of my weekend.” Mannion acknowledged that while he will still come to the games, “there’s something about seeing your own kid out there that puts a little extra edge on it. You get emotional with the ups and downs of the game.” And when the game is over and the lights start to fade in the Cougar Dome, after the band has packed its instruments, the Grilling Gourmets have quenched their coals, and most of the fans have left, the families cluster around the door leading from the locker room, waiting for the players. One by one they troop out — some bruised, some holding ice packs, many of them bone tired – but all still just teenage boys. They walk into the arms of their parents and grandparents and the adoring hand-slaps of little siblings or the playful punches of older brothers. And then they go off into the night together, as families. ideal Insight into Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity Why do some people reach age 80, 90, and older living free of physical and cognitive disease? National Institute on Aging (NIA) researchers on the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) are exploring this question through the IDEAL (Insight into Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity) Study. Although research exists on the relationship between long life and functional decline, we still know relatively little about why certain individuals have excellent health well into their 80’s while others experience disease and physical decline earlier in life. IDEAL Study participants can help NIH researchers uncover secrets of healthy aging. Participants are 80 years or older and: Can walk a quarter mile unassisted Have no severe memory problems Have no major medical conditions Does this describe you or someone you know? Call Toll-Free 1-855-80 IDEAL (1-855-804-3325) or email [email protected] www.nia.nih.gov/ideal National Institutes of Health Page 20 The Town CourierOctober 18, 2013 Elaine Koch #2 Remax Agent ured Feat rty e Prop TOO New act r t n Co Sold Sold Photo FOR 608 Firehouse Lane KENTLANDS • $1,195,000 Sold Sold 31 B Golden Ash Way LAKELANDS • $414,900 Sold 706 A Main Street LAKELANDS • $375,000 Sold 604 B Main Street LAKELANDS • $392,500 Sold 526 Leaning Oak Street LAKELANDS • $799,900 Sold 16 Granite Place #183 THE COLONNADE • $275,000 11928-C Darnestown Road 150 Chevy Chase #205 KENTLANDS • $449,000 POTOMAC VILLAGE • $359,900 Sold 202 Hart Mews KENTLANDS • $585,000 140 Chevy Chase Street #204 KENTLANDS • $410,000 Sold 972 Featherstone Street LAKELANDS • $809,000 150 Chevy Chase Street #304 CHEVY CHASE • $439,000 QO Park • $420,000 QO Park • $615,000 Sold 203 Chestertown Street KENTLANDS • $784,900 Sold Sold 17 Kent Gardens Circle KENTLANDS • $669,000 120 Little Quarry Road KENTLANDS • $689,000 Sold Sold Sold ed Rent 441 Placid Street LAKELANDS • $2,850/mo 342 Hart Road KENTLANDS • $789,900 706 B Main St. LAKELANDS • $424,900 7 Booth Street #308 THE COLONNADE • $249,900 Sold 120 Golden Ash Way LAKELANDS • $489,900 605 Gatestone Mews LAKELANDS • $519,000 Sold Sold 150 Chevy Chase Street #306 KENTLANDS • $642,000 7 Booth Street #105 THE COLONNADE • $241,000 d l So QO Park • $469,900 QO Park • $420,000 QO Park • $359,900 Wondering the Value of Your Home? 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