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Gaithersburg’s Hometown Newspaper | Serving Kentlands, Lakelands, Quince Orchard Park and More
The
TOWN
Vol. 7, No. 2
Blizzard Costs
City Over
$200,000
By Sonya Burke
T
he cost of removing
over 20 inches of snow
from area streets is proving to be an expensive service for
the city of Gaithersburg.
City officials say the mid-December blizzard cost the city approximately $204,661.
Here’s how it breaks down in
terms of expenditures.
Gaithersburg’s Finance Director Harold Belton estimates
the city spent over $113,000 for
the dozens of city crews who
were assigned overtime work
to clear the streets during the
weekend storm in December. In
addition, the city employed outside contractors to work seven
plow trucks, three front loaders
and several pieces of equipment
to clear sidewalks. He estimates
costs for the contractors, based
on hourly rates, to be another
$54,000.
As for materials, Belton said
the city spent $32,638 for 532
tons of salt brine and $5,023.08
for 2,325 gallons of fuel.
Gaithersburg’s Public Works
n
www.towncourier.com • Week 3
PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Gaithersburg
MD
Permit #1722
By Krista Brick
By Sonya Burke
G
aithersburg
Police
Chief John King
formally
resigned
from his job on January 15,
two days after a major from
the Maryland State Police
Department was installed as
the interim chief of the department and four days after
the city’s elected officials held
an executive session to discuss a “personnel matter” on
January 11.
“Chief King has been an
integral part of the city’s senior leadership for the past
two-and-a-half years,” said
Gaithersburg City Manager
Angel Jones in a January 15
news release. “He is resigning
to pursue opportunities in the
private sector.”
King could not be reached
for comment. He attended a
Council in the Communities
meeting on the evening of
January 12 in Quince Orchard
n
blizzard costs
chief king
January 22, 2010
New Group
Buys Crown
Farm
Police
Chief
Resigns
Photo | Clark W. Day Photo-Graphics
Maryland State Major Mark Sroka attends his first Gaithersburg Mayor and Council meeting
as the city’s interim police chief on January 19.
Continued on page 9
Continued on page 11
Return Address:
The Town Courier
309 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Courier
Sold for $137 million just four
years ago, Crown Farm has a new
owner, this time with a purchase
price of $77.5 million.
A development team led by
Sunbrook Partners, an affiliate of
Westbrook Partners, entered into
a joint venture with KB Homes
and Pulte Homes to pull the property from near bankruptcy and put
it back on the map.
The 182-acre parcel located off
of Sam Eig Highway and Fields
Road has schematic development
plan approval from the city of
Gaithersburg for 2,250 residential units and 320,000 square feet
of retail space. The project stalled
when the real estate market tanked
and has seen several lawsuits and
a failure to draw interested buyers
on the open market.
Steve Coniglio, principal with
Sunbrook Partners, which holds
84 percent of the Crown Farm
deal, said he is looking forward
to getting the property back on
track.
“We believe we will be coming
n
crown farm
Continued on page 11
City Dedicates Art Studio to Blanche Keller Web Site
Markets
Book Festival
By Carrie Dietz
T
hose who knew her
understood
Blanche
Keller’s passion for everything she did, especially when
it came to serving her beloved city
of Gaithersburg.
It seemed only fitting, then, to
the more than 100 people watching a dedication ceremony January
5 that a portion of the Arts Barn
is now officially the “Keller
Studio.”
Keller, a Gaithersburg resident
of 27 years who served the city in
numerous ways including as a City
Council member and as chair of
n
blanche keller
Continued on page 10
By Sonya Burke
The excitement is growing for the inaugural
Gaithersburg Book Festival
planned for May 15 from 10
a.m. – 6 p.m. on the grounds
of City Hall in Olde Towne.
As the featured author list
continues to grow in prominence, Gaithersburg City
Council member Jud Ashman
unveiled a new Web site this
month aimed at marketing
Photo | Clark W. Day Photo-Graphics
It was standing room only at the Arts Barn as Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz helped dedicate
an art studio in memory of former City Council member Blanche Keller.
n
book festival
Continued on page 10
Page 2
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010 Page 3
KentlandsDowntown: Where Main and Market Meet the Boulevard.
Shop Talk
By Sonya Burke
Pavilion Park Glows
The city of Gaithersburg has installed lights in all the trees in
Pavilion Park. Drive by and take a look.
Vacancies
There are several vacancies in the Market Square area of
Kentlands Downtown, including Baja Fresh and Zodiac Grill. So
far there has been no word on any new shops coming to the vacant spaces.
Yoga Studio Celebrates Grand Opening
We Are One: Yoga Community celebrates its grand opening on
January 23 with free classes and lectures on the benefits of yoga.
Go to www.weareoneyoga.org for more information about signing up for a local class.
Chloe’s Features Music and Poetry Readings
The music is live at Chloe’s Coffee and Gallery on Main Street.
Every Wednesday is Chloe’s music open mic night where everyone’s welcome, and everyone gets to play! Here is a look at some
of the upcoming concerts and poetry readings that are scheduled
on center stage between 8 – 10 p.m.:
Jan. 22 — “We Like Words” (spoken word/poetry/prose open
mic night)
Jan. 23 — Jerome Davis Trio (local experimental jazz trio)
Jan. 29 — Everest Wu (local up and coming singer/songwriter)
Jan. 30 — Corner Store Heroes (upbeat reggae/ska)
Frigid Cold Causes Sprinkler Pipe Break
By Carrie Dietz
C
old temperatures and
high winds were the
cause of a January 5
sprinkler pipe break at the vacant Zodiac Grill in Kentlands
Downtown, leaving The Beatty
Companies with water damage
on both levels of the space and a
sizable mess on its hands.
At press time a representative
for the Beatty Companies was not
available for comment on the estimated cost of the damage.
After an on-site visit the fire
inspector verified that an access
panel blew open, allowing outside
air to get into the ceiling space on
the second floor, and the heating
equipment couldn’t keep up, according to Wes Burnette, per-
mits and inspections director for
Gaithersburg. “Sprinklers have
been repaired, panel closed, and
system now operational,” he told
The Town Courier in an e-mail the
morning after the break.
The city of Gaithersburg was
notified around 6:30 p.m. January
5, and officials ordered the management company to provide a
fire watch for any areas that didn’t
have sprinkler coverage due to the
break until it was fixed, Burnette
said.
The sprinkler break occurred
despite the installation of additional heating equipment prior
to the restaurant using an open
air breezeway on the upper level for a smoking area. “The city
had required heaters in the ceiling to prevent pipes from freez-
By Krista Brick
Main Street Café now offers live music on Thursday evenings
and Happy Hour specials from Tuesday – Friday from 5 – 7 p.m.
For more information, www.mainstreetcafekentlands.com.
Whole Foods Kids’ Cooking Class
Call or visit Whole Foods to reserve your child’s space on the
third Tuesday of each month. The class is free but space is limited.
For more information, 301.258.9500.
Fleet Feet Runs
Mark Your Calendars
The second annual Kentlands Day is set for May 1. The event
will feature a parade, business fair, live entertainment, taste of
Kentlands, spring auction and fair for the kids. Sponsorships are
now available. For more information, www.kentlandsday.com.
Join the KDP
Join the Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP). The nonprofit organization meets next on February 10 at Pritchard Music
Academy. For more information about the meeting or membership, contact Paula Ross at [email protected].
Web Site
Visit Kentlands Downtown without leaving your computer.
Simply log on to www.kentlandsdowntown.com for the latest
events and news about our downtown.
n pipe break
Continued on page 11
Ironman
Visits Fleet
Feet
Main Street Café Music
Get in shape and meet some new friends by joining Fleet Feet
runners in Kentlands every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. for an
easy run open to all paces and abilities. There are also Thursday
night walk/run events scheduled for January 21 and 28 at 6:30
p.m. These runners’ events are also open to all paces and abilities.
Don’t forget, Fleet Feet is preparing to relocate to a bigger retail
location at Kentlands Square in mid-February.
ing per city requirements,” said
Greg Ossont, director of planning and code administration for
Gaithersburg.
Although inspectors determined the heaters were working
properly, Ossont said city staff anticipates more water pipe breaks
in both commercial and residential spaces because of the colder
temperatures. “We’ve had enough
below freezing days consecutively
and especially with vacancies that
it’s not surprising,” he said.
While Gaithersburg does not
prepare and distribute “tips” for
residents and business owners to
prevent winter water pipe breaks,
Ossont said the city steers people
Photo | Krista Brick
Standing in front of Relax Express is owner Ya Li and Qiong Qiong Ding.
New Massage Business
By Krista Brick
B
ad economy and bad
weather got you stressed?
Ya Li wants you to leave
it all on the table … the massage
table that is.
Li just opened Relax Express at
253 Market Street where clients
can get acupressure, a massage
or reflexology to soothe away
tension.
A native of China, Li worked
teaching massage techniques and
providing massage services in
Tysons Corner, Va. He and his
family live in Gaithersburg and
found the vacant spot in Kentlands
downtown the perfect opportunity to work closer to home. The
Li family signed a three-year lease
for the spot next to Ming’s Asian
Bistro.
Li is a licensed acupressure and
message therapists and has four
other licensed masseuses working
with him at the spa.
Here clients can come in for a
10-minute body treatment during their lunch break, or they can
stay longer to enjoy an hour-long
full body treatment.
Relax Express encompasses about 900 square feet and includes four private massage areas
separated by curtains. There is
also an area in the back for seated
n massage express
Continued on page 10
Racing in an Ironman
competition takes training,
dedication and time. Brian
Boyle had only one of those:
the will to prove to himself
he was back from the dead.
Boyle wasn’t finishing up
a circuit of triathlons, half
marathons or even 5K races. When Boyle got accepted
into the world famous, grueling Kona Ironman competition, he was concentrating on learning how to reuse
his body after a car accident
left him comatose for two
months and literally a flatline on a heart monitor at
least eight times.
About 40 runners and
Boyle fans got a chance to
meet him at a book signing
in January at Fleet Feet in
Gaithersburg.
Boyle’s book, “IronHeart,”
is an inspirational story about people living out
their dreams and learning
to appreciate the steps to get
there.
n ironman
Continued on page 5
Page 4
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010
YOURVIEWS
Council in the Communities Meeting
Dear Editor:
At the January board meeting for Quince Orchard Park, we held a Council in the
Communities meeting. In attendance were Mayor Sidney Katz and the entire Gaithersburg
City Council, additionally City Manager Angel Jones heads of staff from planning and
code, neighborhood services, the chief of police and his key supporting officers.
The support and attendance from the city was impressive; however, the content
discussed with full knowledge, depth and concern was very informative and deeply
appreciated. On behalf of the board and residents of QOP, I want to express tremendous thanks for
the time and attention shared at this past meeting and for all that you do on a daily basis
to make Gaithersburg such a wonderful place to live.
Thank you!
— Kevin Rowe
Quince Orchard Park HOA President
City Concerns
Dear Editor:
If it is one thing we have learned from the first year of Ms. Jones tenure as city manager in Gaithersburg is that she is “the victim in any situation,” “certain that everyone is
looking for things she does wrong,” a poor judge of character, inexperienced, and way
in over her head in the job she presently holds. It does seem however that … our elected
officials choose appeasement over confrontation in dealing with her. It seems to matter
not if nationally recognized employees are leaving, that employees with a proven track
record are transferred in favor of knee benders, that morale has plummeted due to her
constant turf wars.
This above-mentioned appeasement most recently reared its ugly head with the City
Council giving Ms. Jones total power of “life and death” over senior city staff with an
“at will” termination ordinance. Now Council members will hang their hats on the fact
that the ordinance does not take effect until January 24. The fact is they abrogated their
responsibility in due process and chose to do nothing. I am certain our award-winning
city staff is tickled to death knowing that our Council finds them not worth the effort to
defend them against capricious whims of our rookie city manager.
To cap a glorious first year, our chief of police, who was the overwhelming first choice
of our City Council not long ago, is escorted by state police out of his office. Now a state
police major sits in my chief ’s chair. Why not his second in command? Was there a coup
attempt in Gaithersburg? I will be very curious to know what law will be pulled out of
the trash bin to allow the state police control over my city. I am surprised our rookie city
manager did not ask for marshal law.
Our City Council has created a monster and is now fearful of how to rid itself of this
problem. Is the Council still a relevant factor in Gaithersburg? One of my friends on the
Council is a fan of humorist and “philosopher” Arnold Glasgow, so I will solve their collective problems with a simple quote: “One true test of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” Well, boys and girls, the fire alarms
are ringing. Will you answer the call?
Sincerely,
— Wilson Faris
West Riding
O’Keefe’sJOURNAL
Winter Dancer
By Karen O’Keefe
O
n a recent morning,
blustery and snowy, I
watched from a cafe as
a grove of bare and barren deciduous trees stood together on
the other side of Route 355 and
fought the storm. In each brownO’K eefe’s
black tree I recognized a kind of
heroic, resolute resistance — deJournal
fiance and brittle obstinacy. Stiff twig fingers on the ends of
branches brushed and scraped the
sky around each tree, like ragged fingernails seeking a
safe place to catch and hold on — without success.
I knew without seeing that the ground beneath the
trees would be littered with their losses, small branch
ends and clusters of twigs snapped off in the battle.
Perhaps I would not have noticed the fight of those
naked trees if there had not been something quite different among them.
Seemingly at the center of the grove was also a tall
spruce. Regal and full, it towered above its stick-figure
companions like a Giant Sequoia miraculously sprung
up in Maryland.
Against the dark gray sky and within falling snow, the
evergreen was wreathed in layers of overlapping skirts,
smallest at the top and increasing in size, each layer frosted in its own signature pattern of moving snow. Unlike
its neighboring trees, amidst the storm the evergreen
seemed also to be at the heart of a personal blizzard as
wind-brushed snow
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]
from its branches shimmered and swirled around its
whole, great, graceful shape.
Seeming oblivious to howling wind, the fir was a
winter dancer, and its layers were individual, shimmering wreaths of gray-green, each dancing to its own music, yet in harmony as a whole living thing that seemed at peace in
the chaotic weather.
Watching, I was enraptured and
moved. I felt so lucky be there
in those perfect minutes, to have
such a great seat on a scene that
seemed to me like something one
might see once in a lifetime —
and I wished that many others
could see it, too.
The harder the wind howled,
the more gracefully the spruce shook its overlapping
skirts in response — the elegance and agility of a flamenco dancer in swirling skirts was its answer to the
violence of the dark skies.
I pointed to the scene, trying to share it with a friend.
He saw it, nodded agreeably, I know, but he did not see
what I saw.
Surely, one day he will witness his own private
dancer.
Hopefully in this life, each of us will witness such a
miracle.
******
To my readers —
In each O’Keefe’s Journal of coming weeks, I would like to
end with a “good news nugget.” Personal or newsy, funny or
moving, please send me your good news ideas to share.
We can never have too much good news.
You don’t have to
own a business
to support your
downtown!
Join the Kentlands Downtown
Partnership today and become a
part of something great.
For membership forms
and more information,
e-mail Paula Ross at
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sonya Burke
Managing News Editor
[email protected]
Debi Rosen
Advertising Director
301.279.2304
[email protected]
Claire Fleischer
Copy Editor
Staff Writers
Patsy Beckman, Krista
Brick, Nora Caplan
Mike Cuthbert, Carrie
Dietz, Betty Hafner
Sheilah Kaufman,
Karen O’Keefe
Staff Photographers
Clark Day
Phil Fabrizio
©2010 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.
January 22, 2010 ■ ironman
from page 3
“I think about why I was kept on this
planet, and I think it is to tell people to live
a good dream every day,” he said after finishing a four-mile jog with the Fleet Feet
group.
His nightmare began in the evening of
July 6, 2004, when driving home from a
swim practice his car was struck by a dump
truck going nearly 30 miles over the speed
limit. He was pried from the car using the
Jaws of Life and sped to Prince George’s
Hospital, where he was expected to arrive
already dead.
His mother JoAnne came home from
work to a message on her telephone answering machine.
“They just said I needed to get there
quick,” she said.
Boyle lost 60 percent of his blood, and
he was put into a medically induced coma.
A former state swimming champion and
nationally ranked discus thrower who was
headed to St. Mary’s College’s swim team
lay motionless.
“I could never let myself believe he was
going to die,” his mother said.
Boyle suffered several cardiac arrests
and had two open-heart surgeries within
24 hours. He remembers waking from his
coma only to realize he couldn’t communicate and was paralyzed. The struggle was
mentally difficult on Boyle, he said, in addition to the physical limitation.
Miraculously Boyle made progress and
The Town Courier
about four months later left the hospital
for Kernan, an orthopedic rehabilitation
center in Baltimore, where he stayed for
a week and then worked on his progress
at home. He had dropped more than 100
pounds through the ordeal.
In the meantime, nurses encouraged
him to keep a journal about his experiences to help him cope. It was that journal he
turned into a book.
“I was learning to sit up again and all
that kind of stuff,” he said. Eventually he
worked up to being able to walk around his
high school track.
In September 2005 he went to St. Mary’s
College and was able to doggy paddle one
lap, working out in the pool a half an hour
a week.
“Every day I just tried to see what was
possible,” he said. He started jogging and
swimming more regularly. He swam in a
couple of competitions and took up bodybuilding. He also became a certified personal fitness trainer.
His sophomore year, May 2007, Boyle
decided to contact the Ironman organization to tell them his story of beating the
odds.
“I had always wanted to do an Ironman.
I sent them an e-mail and forgot about it,”
he said.
In June he got a call that he was up for
a media spot in the 2007 Kona Hawaii
Ironman World Championship Triathlon,
but he had to first get medical clearance
and then complete a half Ironman before
the October race.
“I didn’t have a bike, nevertheless a
Page 5
Photo | Krista Brick
Ironman Brian Boyle visits with Fleet Feet customers and staff earlier this month.
coach,” he said. “I didn’t know how to use
the clips for the bike.”
Two weeks later Boyle competed in his
first half-Ironman in Michigan. He finished in seven and a half hours using a donated bike from Cannondale. He didn’t
know really how to ride it and crashed in
front of the TV cameras at the transition
to the run. He only doubted himself once
during the race, facing the first mile, an uphill climb.
Medically cleared and on a media pass
from NBC, Boyle spent the next six weeks
training to compete in Hawaii.
“Deep down I didn’t expect to finish,” he
said. “I easily was the least experienced person out there. I just looked at my scars to see
the past, and that was pure motivation.”
He finished the race more than 14 hours
after it started.
In additional to encouraging others to
meet their goals, Boyle has set new ones.
He’s a full-time senior at St. Mary’s College
studying graphic design. He has had offers for jobs from several sports companies,
but Boyle said his true passion is the Red
Cross.
“It feels good to give back,” he said, adding he has been given 36 transfusions since
the accident.
He also is looking for another try at the
Kona Ironman, this time by qualifying on
his own. He has dropped four hours so far
from his Kona time. His book has sold more
than 10,000 copies.
“The attention I have gotten has been
surreal and overwhelming,” he said. “Every
race is for a meaning. It is to show how
strong you can be to overcome what you
need to.”
Visit our new location
Lakefront at
Washingtonian Center
NOW ENROLLING FOR WINTER/SPRING
Programs for kids 4 months to 12 years old!
SCHEDULE A FREE PREVIEW CLASS
Experience “The Little Gym Difference”
Washingtonian Center • 240.361.3334
www.TheLittleGym.com/gaithersburgmd
Located beneath the Courtyard Hotel
and near Rio theaters
Page 6
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010
AroundTOWN
Gaithersburg and Rockville
Free Workshops for Job Hunters
Free workshops for job hunters,
which include tips for dealing with
today’s job market, will be presented at two Montgomery County
Public Libraries. Information will
include how to expand contacts and
how to more successfully market
oneself. Also included will be the
“Do’s and Don’ts of Your Resume”
and “The Keys to Mastering the
Interview Process.”
Workshops will be held at Quince
Orchard Library, 15831 Quince
Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, on
February 8 and at Rockville Library,
21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville,
on February 10. All workshops will
be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. To
register, call 301.610.8380.
Rockville
Rockville’s 11th Annual Bridal Expo
noon – 4 p.m. Sunday, January 31,
at Glenview Mansion at Rockville
Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston
Drive.
The expo will feature more than
two dozen vendors who will highlight their services, including caterers, florists, cake makers and
designers, musicians and DJs, photographers and videographers, personal care attendants, rental accessory companies and travel agents.
The mother-daughter business
Bridal Images will present an informal bridal gown fashion show.
Brides and grooms can also get a
peek at Glenview Mansion, which
hosts a variety of special events every year, and its beautiful grounds.
Mansion staff will be available to
answer questions about hosting an
event.
“Whether you’re booking with
us here at the mansion as a bride or
looking at booking with us for a Bar
or Bat Mitzvah or Sweet 16, we pull
together all the services you would
need in this expo,” said Susan Klise,
Bridal Expo coordinator.
Tickets for the event are $5 and
can be purchased at the door. For
more information about the expo,
call 240.314.8660 or visit www.
rockvillemd.gov/glenview/bridalexpo/index.html.
Photo | Clark W. Day Photo-Graphics
Slice of Olde Towne Opens
The Slice of Olde Towne, a new pizzeria, is officially open for business at 201 East Diamond Avenue. The office and retail building’s developers took
advantage of the “enterprise zone” designation to complete the project that replaces the former Chris’ Steakhouse. On January 9, elected officials cut
the ribbon for the new building, following with a celebratory menu-tasting inside the pizza shop.
Montgomery County
H1N1 Clinics
Montgomery County residents
can now make appointments for
H1N1 vaccinations online (www.
montgomerycountymd.gov/h1n1flu). The H1N1 vaccination is free,
and clinics are open to all county
residents. Both nasal spray and injectable vaccine will be available.
“It’s not too late to be vaccinated
against the H1N1 flu virus,” said Dr.
Ulder J. Tillman, county health officer. “The typical season for influenza is the winter months, and the
best way to prevent illness is to be
vaccinated. There is ample vaccine
available, and I urge all residents to
get vaccinated.”
Those who prefer to make apn AROUND TOWN
Continued on page 12
TY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY
SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * S
The 11th annual Glenview
Mansion Bridal Expo offers anyone planning a wedding or other
special occasion a chance to browse
and sample the many services that
go into making it a memorable
event — all located in Rockville’s
picturesque 19th-century mansion. The Bridal Expo will be held
Compiled by Sonya Burke
ALE * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALI
Floor Sample Sale
Persiano Gallery
& Design Center for the Home That Has Everything
NEW INVENTORY HAS ARRIVED:
FURNITURE • RUGS • CHANDELIERS
SPECIAL PRICING FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
SAME DAY DELIVERY and INSTALLATION
Persiano Gallery
* SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY * SALE * QUALITY *
201 Market Street Gaithersburg • 240.683.1022 • www.persianogallery.com • [email protected]
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010 Page 7
The ParkPages
News and Current Events for Quince Orchard Park
n
Meeting Calendar
2/2 Condo I Board, 7 p.m.
2/9 QOP Board and HOA, 7 p.m.
E-mail your contributions to: [email protected]
n
January 2010
Council in the Communities Meeting
By Sonya Burke
O
ne of the biggest headlines from the January
12 Quince Orchard Park (QOP) Council in
the Communities meeting was the attendance
of city leaders.
Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz and the entire
City Council attended the meeting in QOP on January 12, which came one day after a city work session
and the night before the opening day legislative session in Annapolis. The elected leaders were joined in
QOP by City Manager Angel Jones, Police Chief John
King, Planning and Code Administration Director Greg
Ossont, Neighborhood Services Director Kevin Roman
and several police officers.
“I’m deeply appreciative,” said Kevin Rowe, QOP
president.
The items discussed and listed on the meeting’s
formal agenda included the status of the Corridor
Cities Transitway (CCT), possible plans to convert
the Meadows to parkland, plans if any to modify the
Great Seneca Highway intersection, ways to improve
communication issues with the planning department,
the status of cracking and missing street lights, how to
improve communication between the police and mailbox maintenance.
Ossont said the state was planning to hold outreach
meetings on the CCT once the County Council voted
on the Gaithersburg West plan. He did not have a timeline for that process.
He said there were no immediate plans to convert the
Meadows to parkland, although city officials favored
the idea, and he said there was no state money to
modify the Great Seneca Highway intersection entrance
at QOP.
One resident asked about painting hash marks to better identify the turning lanes at the busy intersection.
Ossont said he would talk to Public Works about the
idea. He also said he would have someone look into
Management Mentions
Vistas Condos
At press time, the Gaithersburg Planning Commission was scheduled to hear an amendment to final plan
review on January 20 for the proposed Craftstar condominiums at the Vistas. For more information about the
status of this residential project, call the city’s Planning
Department at 301.258.6330.
Snow Stuff
Blizzard snow removal costs were $2,561.41 last month
for the private alleys, parking lots and sidewalks in QOP,
according to Community Manager Ruchita Patel.
Remember, in QOP the city of Gaithersburg is responsible for clearing the main roadways of snow and ice. If
you have questions about snow removal on these streets,
The Park Pages report is a bimonthly means of communicating information of interest to Quince Orchard Park (QOP)
residents. It is published by The Town Courier on behalf of the Quince Orchard Park Homeowners Association. The Park
Report does not espouse any political belief or endorse any products or service. Articles and letters must be signed
and may be edited for length and content. QOP does not endorse products or services advertised herein, nor are they
responsible for any claims made by advertisers.
how the city could help with maintenance of the rusting cluster mailboxes throughout the community.
Ossont encouraged residents to sign up for “My
Gaithersburg” to stay informed of meetings and planning decisions that may affect life in the community.
He pointed out there were links to background information for agenda items and said it is the most efficient
way to stay in touch with neighborhood issues.
As for street lights, he reported all the cracked lamps
have been replaced.
He said the city plans to do road repairs at the intersection of Winter Walk Drive and Orchard Ridge Drive
but gave no concrete timeline for the work. He also said
the construction work in the Meadows would eventually cease and that the area would be seeded with grass
sometime this spring or summer.
When asked what happened to the fall timeline, he
simply said there had been some staff changes on the
MedImmune construction project. He said MedImmune was buying up nearby office buildings to house
its expanding employee base, which he said was good
news for the city. He did not know when the new nine
MedImmune signs, recently approved by the Planning
Commission, would be installed. He said permits had
not been pulled yet.
Ossont said a sales trailer would be moved onto the
Vistas parcel this spring as Churchill plans to start marketing the residential community. He said the plan was
to build the Craftstar condominiums first, and he said
the townhouses and single-family houses on Winter
Walk Drive would follow.
Gaithersburg Police Chief John King urged residents
to call the police if they needed an officer. He explained
the differences between a 911 call and a non-emergency
call and said residents should never be intimidated or
afraid to call for help or to report a suspicious situation.
He said Officer Dan Lane was working with Neighborhood Crime Watch Coordinator Tom Reddy to keep
residents informed of any crime in the area.
One resident complained about the uncovered green
call public works at 301.258.6370. Residents are required
to clear snow and ice from their adjacent walks within
12 hours of a wintry event. For information about this
law, call the city’s neighborhood services department at
301.258.6340.
Homeowner Payments
As of December 31, over 342 homeowners (or 68
percent of the community) are paying their homeowner
assessments by direct debit, e-check, or in full to avoid
the $3 monthly coupon fee. The breakdown is as follows:
• Payment by direct debit: 264
• Payment by e-check: 57
• Payment of the full year’s assessments: 21
Home Inspections in February
Home inspections in February will focus on the rear
of the homes, according to QOP’s community managers.
The community’s design guidelines are posted online
for residents who may have any questions about the
rules and expectations. If you receive a citation and have
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
The entire Mayor and Council along with the city manager
and other key city staff attended the Council in the Communities meeting on January 12 at the QOP Clubhouse.
recycling bins and the problems with newspaper and
plastic debris in the neighborhood since the new contractor took over. City officials said they would look
into that issue, including the possibility of getting covers for the smaller bins.
Resident Sam Silverstein asked about the status of
Verizon FIOS and was told it was coming but an exact
timeline still was not known.
A show of hands indicated a majority of those present
were interested in FIOS.
A third resident complimented the city on its stellar
snow removal in December.
When asked about the state of the city’s finances and
the future of the proposed aquatic center Jones said
money was tighter than ever as the city recently learned
it was losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in projected revenue from the state and the county. She said
like many jurisdictions the city was faced with doing
“less with less.”
Katz reminded residents that Gaithersburg was a
debt free city that had not raised the tax rate in over
45 years.
At the end of the meeting, one QOP resident told the
city leaders how much she appreciated their attention
and consideration. “I love it here. You really seem to
care, and I thank you,” she said.
questions about it, contact Wes Fry at the management
office, 301.948.6666. You can also e-mail him at wfry@
tmgainc.com.
Trash and Recycling Reminders
Remember, trash is picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays
in QOP, and recycling is collected on Fridays. Holiday
trees (undecorated) should be put out for recycling too.
If you need a bigger, green recycling container, call the
city’s Public Works Department at 301.258.6370. Finally,
residents need to store their bins out of sight on the days
of the week trash and recycling are not collected.
QOP Management Contact Information:
Quince Orchard Park Community Managers Ruchita
Patel/Wes Fry
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]
For the latest news from QOP, log on to www.quinceorchardpark.com.
Page 8
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010
Baby, It’s
Cold Outside
By Carrie Dietz
D
rop by Kmart in Kentlands
Downtown these days, and
you’ll find plenty of empty
shelves where hats and gloves and shovels
once sat. Stop into Main Street Café, and
you’ll see more soup on the tables than
salads. And in area homes, fires are burning, the Wii is on, and jigsaw puzzles are
covering dining room tables.
Record snowfall, followed by belowaverage temperatures in recent weeks,
have had an impact on area businesses and
residents, both good and bad.
“Anything cold weather related …
gone, just gone,” said Kmart store manager Randy Nelson. Not that Nelson is
complaining. “A bad economy and cold
weather means good business for us.”
Thermals, sweat suits, blankets and outerwear are hot commodities. Small home
appliances such as bread makers as well as
cake pans and cookie sheets are, too, according to Nelson.
At Main Street Café, owner Ram
Shrestha said his customers are looking for
comfort food. Hot sandwiches and soups,
like his black beach with bacon and chicken curry with rice, are the big sellers right
now.
Seeking ways to get out and about, the
lunch crowd at The Wine Harvest on
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Photo | Carrie Dietz
Buddies Jack Beall and Cooper Hall brave temperatures in the 20s to play a little hockey in the alley behind their Kentlands homes. When asked if they get cold, their response was a resounding, “Nope, not when we’re playing hockey!”
January 5 was anything but quiet, and orders for soup and sandwiches abounded.
Kentlands resident Tim Clarke stopped in
and said he’s already longing for warmer
weather. “We [his family] go into hibernation mode and don’t see as many people,” he noted.
Gaithersburg City Council member Jud Ashman believes movies are the
thing to get through the winter months.
“If one were to judge from the lines over
the weekend to see ‘Avatar’ and others, it
seems like people are going to the movies,” he said.
Shrestha said the cold has not had a positive impact on his Thursday night live
music sessions, however. “People are staying home, not walking by as much,” he
said about his Main Street business.
Staying home does have has appeal for
some, including Kentlands resident Beth
Ann Spector, who said her girls, Hannah
and Joelle, have been spending more time
on the computer. On the plus side, she
said, it’s also been an opportunity to spend
more time with family.
The Wii has played an important part of
winter for Kentlands resident Julia Sloan,
who spent much of her school break singing along with the “American Idol” game
and playing Wii Sports.
Nelson believes the wintry weather has
created some bonding time for him and
his wife. “We spent about a week and a
half working on a puzzle,” he said. “We
haven’t done that in 20 years.”
Still, braving the cold is worth it for
Lakelands resident Russ Thomas, who
pulled out the sled recently at his Deep
Creek home for some winter recreation.
“Just note that an hour of sledding equaled
three hours of sitting on a couch afterwards, hence four hours of the vacation
were used,” he joked.
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The Town Courier
January 22, 2010 ■ chief king
from page 1
Park and talked to a Town Courier reporter the morning of January 13; he did not
mention his plans to abruptly quit.
In fact, The Town Courier could not
find anyone with prior knowledge of the
chief ’s resignation plans.
According to city officials, Maryland
State Police Major Mark Sroka was installed as the interim Gaithersburg chief
of police two days before the public was
notified of King’s departure.
“There was no public notification when
Major Sroka was brought in as Chief
King’s employment status was pending
and we were working on the details,”
said Jones. She did tell a resident in an
e-mail on January 15 that King had been
placed on “administrative leave … as we
attempted to resolve the direction of the
Gaithersburg Police Department.”
City officials would not provide any
others details about why it happened
so quickly, citing the issue “a personnel
matter.”
Gaithersburg Captain Chris Bonvillain
said he put out a memo on January 13,
two days before King’s resignation became effective, informing city officers of
Sroka’s new role.
When asked why Bonvillain or another senior city police officer was not
put temporarily in charge, Jones said she
wanted to keep a level playing field.
“I recruited outside leadership as I am
seeking an unbiased assessment of the
department’s operations and I also do not
want to give any existing Gaithersburg
police department employee unfair advantage by appointing them as interim
chief should they choose to seek the police chief position in the future,” Jones
said.
Right now, Jones said Sroka is tasked
with reviewing the Police Department’s
administration operations and resources
and is expected to make recommendations for improvements by April.
Jones said Sroka is compensated for his
work by the Maryland State Police and is
helping Gaithersburg under an emergency aid arrangement. In fiscal year 2009,
King was one of the highest paid city employees, earning a salary of $141,515.92.
King’s resignation has caught the public
and many of his colleagues by surprise.
One resident wrote an e-mail to
Mayor Sidney Katz on January 15, shortly before an official press release was released, stating the “lack of information
was suspicious.”
Jones wrote back for the mayor explaining why there was a gap in communicating information to the public.
“Official word could not be given until a
final resolution was reached,” Jones said.
A county officer said officers from
the sixth district were “sad” to learn of
King’s resignation and pointed out that
the officers from both agencies worked
well together.
Page 9
Sroka’s Role
ment’s policies and procedures. He said
it is not “uncommon” for the Maryland
State Police to help out a local jurisdicBy Sonya Burke
tion and said his role is to oversee the
administration of the police department
aryland State
on a daily basis.
Police Major
“Public safety is not
Mark Sroka
going to be impacted by
first entered Gaithersburg
this,” Sroka said.
City Hall on January 13
Sroka denied that he
when he was called to a
was conducting an in1 p.m. meeting with City
ternal investigation and
Manager Angel Jones,
called those rumors unPolice Chief John King,
founded. In fact, Sroka
City Attorney Lynn
said he had been imBoard and an outside empressed with the profesployment litigation attorsionalism of the officers
ney who was working for
and the department. He
the city.
confirmed he would reSroka said he accomview polices and processMajor Mark Sroka
panied King back to the
es in order to make sugcity’s Police Department after King was gestions for improvement
put on administrative leave and conThe interim chief makes his home in
firmed that King emptied his police Woodbine, Md., which is in Howard
car of personal belongings before going County. He has worked for the Maryland
home for the day. Sroka said King re- State Police for 23 ½ years. He said he
turned to the police department about doesn’t know how long he will be re9:15 p.m. on January 15, which was the porting to work in Gaithersburg but said
day he officially resigned, to retrieve finding a new chief was a top priority for
personal items from his office.
the Human Resources Department and
“King has been a consummate pro- he thought it could happen by April.
fessional throughout my dealings with
On January 19, Sroka attended his first
him,” said Sroka.
senior leadership team (SLT) meeting
Since arriving in Gaithersburg, Sroka and was scheduled to meet the Mayor
has been getting to know the city’s po- and Council later that evening.
lice officers and learning the departHe said it was going to be a long day.
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Page 10
The Town Courier
■ Blanche keller
from page 1
the Planning Commission, succumbed to
cancer in 2009. The year before her death
she was awarded the city’s Distinguished
Citizen Award.
During the last few years of her life Keller
discovered a passion for painting and spent a
great deal of time at the Arts Barn. Some of
her work was displayed at the Maryland state
capitol in Annapolis. Following her death,
the Keller family donated all of her art supplies to the Arts Barn in her memory.
“Blanche spent many years with our city,
and she deserves something really great,”
Katz said of his friend. “I’m very pleased to
be able to do this dedication.”
Kentlands resident Sigrid McCutcheon
has fond memories of Keller and said it was
important for her to be at the dedication to
watch a friend be recognized in such a special way.
Gaithersburg residents Dotty Reitwiesner
and husband John Arnold attended an
International Association of Chiefs of Police
convention in Miami several years ago with
Keller, and Reitwiesner remembers a lot
of laughter. “We did a lot of joking,” she
laughed. “I’m here because of her belief in
the city.”
After leaving the City Council in 2005
■ book festival
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from page 1
the event across the region.
The centerpiece of the Web site is
a queue of presenting authors that begins with award-winning author Alice
McDermott and includes other locals such
as Cathy Alter, Susan Coll, John Feinstein,
Eugenia Kim, Tim Kurkjian, David
Stewart, Sarah Pekkanen, Ariel Sabar and
Rachel Simmons.
City officials are now planning for a
crowd of 20,000 which means the festival is going to cost more than five times
what city officials originally budgeted for
the event.
Gaithersburg’s Recreation Program
Supervisor Carolyn Crosby said the city
initially budgeted $7,875, but new cost estimates indicate the book festival costs will
hover around the $41,462 mark.
Crosby
informed
Book
Festival
Committee members of the growing costs
and the need for more fundraising at the
volunteers’ January meeting.
Donations are trickling in with Criswell
■ massage express
Marc Malakoff, Attorney at Law
18310 Montgomery Village Avenue,
Suite 220 Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Phone: (301) 590-0500 • Fax: (301) 590-0486
[email protected] • www.LakeforestTitle.net
from page 3
massages and reflexology treatments.
“We think it is beautiful here, and there
are a lot of people living here,” said Jenny
Chang, a spokesperson for Li. “We would
like to bring health to people. People are
happy when they are relaxed.”
To encourage repeat customers, Relax
Express offers punch cards where 10 stamps
earn a free 30-minute service. The cost is
January 22, 2010
Keller became an advocate for needs of seniors in the Upcounty area, serving on
the Gaithersburg Senior Council and the
Montgomery County Commission on
Aging. In addition Keller directed some of her
energy to issues surrounding public safety,
attending both the City of Gaithersburg and
the Montgomery County Citizen Police
academies and serving on the Gaithersburg
Police Chief ’s Advisory Council.
Gaithersburg’s Police Chief John King
admired her concern for Gaithersburg and
its residents. “She did so much for our city,”
he said.
It was family members who were most impressed with the dedication of the studio in
Keller’s name and the outpouring of respect
for all she did for the city and Montgomery
County. “We never knew how she affected
so many other people; it’s been great listening to their stories,” said niece Cate Keller.
Cate and her brother, Robert Keller, remember their aunt as “wicked smart” and
laughed as they retold the story about Keller
being asked out on a date by the late comedian Nipsey Russell while she attended
an event in Washington, D.C. Robert also
loved to listen to his aunt’s police scanner.
“She knew all the lingo and warned me the
day she got the city to put in a stop sign at
Watkins Mill and Lost Knife,” said Robert.
Chevrolet donating $1,500 while the
Gaithersburg Hilton and ReMax realtor
Suzanne Scharf of Quince Orchard Park
have also written checks in support of the
event. In-kind sponsors include the Friends
of the Library, Barnes and Noble Booksellers
of Gaithersburg, Clear Channel Stations
(WASH FM and WMZQ), Bethesda magazine, The Elegant Envelope and Family
Services, Inc.
Ashman, who initiated the idea for
the event and chairs the committee,
says Gaithersburg City Attorney Lynn
Board recently checked with the Ethics
Commission before giving him official
permission to solicit money for the literary
event as well.
Sponsorship opportunities and applications are available on the Web site. In order for a sponsor’s name to be included in
the festival’s brochure, their donation must
be received by March 12.
The book festival will feature author presentations, book sales and signings, a mayor’s book club, coffeehouse and seminars.
For more information, visit the event’s
Web site at www.gaithersburgbookfestival.
org.
about $1 per minute for services with a $5
break on $60-minute treatments. A current promotion nets clients a 20 percent
discount.
“We believe customers will come and
try it and know how important it is for
their health. In America people carry high
pressure so relaxation is very important,”
Chang said.
Relax Express is open Monday through
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on
Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.
■ crown farm
from page 1
to the market with a product in a supplyconstricted market, and that feels good,” he
said.
While infrastructure improvements may
begin as early as this summer, residential
lots will not be ready until the third quarter of 2011.
“We are setting the table hoping the
world looks different and better, and in
Washington we think it will be,” he said.
The new development group bought the
property on December 29 and is working
to get the storm water management plans
approved by the city before new stricter
guidelines go into effect in May. Crown
Farm’s current plan has three large storm
water management ponds that would
not be permitted under the Storm Water
Management Act of 2007, according to
Greg Ossont, director of planning and code
for the city. These new regulations require
more upfront engineering that eliminates
runoff.
“There is a sense of urgency. Missing this
deadline would cause a redesign, and that
■ pipe break
from page 3
to WSSC’s winter weather tips: http://
www.wsscwater.com/info/winter/index.cfm.
WSSC Tips for Winterizing Your Home and
Business
• Repair broken windows, doors and
walls, and tightly close doors and windows to the outside.
• Insulate outside walls.
• Inquire at your local plumbing or
hardware store about materials to insulate pipes and meters.
■ blizzard costs
H
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010 from page 1
Director James Arnoult said the one storm
has utilized between 60 and 70 percent of
the city’s budgeted annual funds for snow
removal. He described the city’s snow
plow philosophy as clearings the streets
until there is “wet pavement.”
Despite the costs, Gaithersburg City
Manager Angel Jones called the city’s
snow removal “outstanding” as did many
citizens who have taken the time to write
local officials with their appreciation and
compliments. In addition to the crews
working plows, she said during the storm
“There is a sense
of urgency.”
— Greg Ossont, Gaithersburg
Planning and Code Director
would be starting all over again,” Ossont
said.
Coniglio said he has been touring
Kentlands with an eye on its single-family
sections.
“It is impossible to replicate Kentlands. It
is so great. But what we can improve is the
multi-family and retail sections,” he said.
Over the next two months, Coniglio said
he plans to take another look at the plans for
the retail portion of the property and take
that plan to potential tenants. Those who
showed interest in 2005 may not be interested, and some are no longer in business,
he said.
Despite a naming contest years back that
dubbed the property Aventiene, Coniglio
said the new owners are going to keep Crown
Farm as the name of the community.
Page 11
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• Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements. If your vents won’t close, cover
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• Turn off the water to outside faucets,
remove hoses and drain the pipes.
• If a pipe freezes, completely open the
cold water faucet nearest the frozen
pipe. This will relieve the pressure and
reduce the chance of breakage. • Use a hand-held dryer if you decide to
thaw the pipe yourself.
If you’re not certain what to do, call a
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Source: http://www.wsscwater.com/info/
winter/index.cfm.
the city’s police officers and other staff
members were out helping people stranded in their vehicles and assisting some of
the area’s most vulnerable populations.
“Jimmy Frazier Bey from Community
Services worked continuously looking for
the homeless in an effort to provide temporary shelter,” she added.
Locally,
Kentlands
Community
Manager Mac Staples estimates the
storm cost his community $26,000 while
Quince Orchard Park Manager Ruchita
Patel said her invoices had amounted to
just over the $2,500 mark. Costs for the
Lakelands storm cleanup were not available at press time.
Carrie Dietz contributed to this report.
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Page 12
The Town Courier
AROUND
TOWN
Continued from page 6
upcoming City Meetings
1/25
1/28
Community Advisory Committee Meeting, Wells
Robertson House, 10 a.m.
Arts and Monument Funding Committee, Activity
Center at Bohrer Park, 7:30 p.m.
Mayor and Council Work Session, Gaithersburg
Upcounty Senior Center, 7:30 p.m.
2/1
1/26
pointments by telephone can call the
flu appointment line (240.777.4040)
on Monday, January 25 from 1 to 4
p.m.
The clinics will be held:
Tuesday, January 26
1 to 4 p.m.
Germantown Library
19840
Century
Blvd.,
Germantown
Wednesday, January 27
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wheaton Library
11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
Thursday, January 28
5 to 8 p.m.
Rockville Library
21 Maryland Ave., Rockville
If school is cancelled, all clinics will be cancelled. Check
Montgomery County’s Web site,
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
h1n1flu, for up-to-date information
about vaccine availability and sign
up for e-mail updates about H1N1
by clicking on the “Public Health
Alerts” icon. The Flu Information
Line — 240.777.4200 — is open
Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Ride On Forum about Proposed Service
Cuts
Montgomery County invites residents to attend an upcoming public forum and provide comment on
proposed changes to Ride On’s bus
service. To help close the budget gap, the
county is proposing to reduce and/or
eliminate Ride On routes that have
the fewest riders or those where other alternative service is available. All
comments will be considered before
any route changes are finalized. The forum will be held on
Monday, February 1, starting at
6:30 p.m., at the Executive Office
Building Cafeteria, Terrace Level,
located at 101 Monroe Street,
Rockville. In case of inclement
January 22, 2010
Art in Public Places Committee, Arts Barn, 4:30
p.m.
1/27
Educational Enrichment Committee, Activity Center
at Bohrer Park, 5:30 p.m.
Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, Activity Center at
Bohrer Park, 7:30 p.m.
weather, the public forum will be
held on Tuesday, February 2 at the
same location.
Proposed route changes include
discontinuing weekday routes 3,
21, 30, 33, 36, 52, 53 and 81; discontinuing Saturday routes 14, 23,
29, 43, 45, 83, 98, L8, T2, Z2; discontinuing Sunday routes 29, 38,
83, L8, T2; discontinuing weekday
route segments on Route 7: west of
Georgia Avenue and reverse of rush
hour east of Georgia Avenue, Route
22: Elton Road extension, Route
32: Woodrock extension and Route
43: Fallsgrove branch; and weekday
rush hour trip reductions to Routes
22, 43 and 93.
Comments on the proposed service changes and reductions may be
provided to the Division of Transit
Services by 5 p.m. on January 29
in writing, by e-mailing mcdot.
[email protected] or by calling
240.777.5800.
For additional information on the
proposed changes, go to the Ride
On Web site at www.rideonbus.
com and click “visit here” under
“Riders’ News.”
Town Hall Meeting for Students
The
Montgomery
County
Council, which for the past several
years has held Town Hall Meetings
throughout the county in its efforts
to find out what issues most concern residents, will learn what is on
the mind of younger residents when
it hosts its first-ever Town Hall
Meeting for Students at the Council
Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church
Saturday 5:00 pm - “come as you are”
Sunday 8:30 am - contemporary
Sunday 11:00 am - traditional
9:45 am Sunday school for kids & adults
Nursery Care Available At All Weekend Services
11900 Darnestown Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-869-3666 • www.poplutheran.org
Mayor and Council, Gaithesburg Upcounty Senior
Center, 7:30 p.m.
2/3
Planning Commission, Gaithersburg City Hall,
7:30 p.m.
2/8
Governor’s Office Legislative Budget Briefing with
Elected Officials, City Hall, 10 a.m.
Mayor and Council Work Session, Gaithersburg City
Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Office Building in Rockville on
February 3. The meeting, in the
Council’s Third Floor Hearing
Room, will start at 7 p.m. A premeeting reception will begin at
6:30 p.m. in the building’s secondfloor cafeteria.
The Council Office Building is
located at 100 Maryland Avenue
in downtown Rockville. It is
about a three-block walk from the
Rockville Metrorail station, which
also is a main stopping point for
many RideOn bus lines. For students traveling to the meeting by
car, free parking will be available by
entering the Council parking garage
from the Fleet Street entrance.
The meeting is open to high
school and middle school students
from around the county. The meeting will allow the participants to let
Council members know how they
feel about specific issues and also
will provide the opportunity to
ask questions of the Council members in an organized but informal
setting.
“When it comes to decisions affecting young people — whether
in regard to schools, libraries, recreation, parks or the community
in general — the practice too often is to have one set of adults talk
to another set adults,” said Council
President Nancy Floreen. “This
Council will have many important
decisions to make in the coming
months — and many of these decisions could have significant impact
on people 18 and under. We think
the best way to find out what this
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Poms Perform
The Quince Orchard High School (QOHS) poms perform at halftime during the QO and Seneca Valley
basketball game. generation of Montgomery County
residents need and want is to hear
directly from them.”
Students who wish to attend the
meeting are asked to RSVP by calling 240.777.7931.
Kentlands Mansion
Art Exhibit Celebrates Lunar New Year
To commemorate the 2010
Lunar New Year on February 14,
Gaithersburg is featuring an exhibit of Chinese Contemporary Art by
Master Mu Jiashan and his students
at the Kentlands Mansion Gallery.
An artists’ reception will be held
on Tuesday, February 9 from 6:30
to 9:30 p.m that will feature Master
Mu’s brush painting style.
The works will be on display
now through March 14. Viewing
is by appointment only, and the
works on display are also available
for purchase.
Montgomery County
Help Haiti Montgomery County’s Volunteer
Center has updated its Web site to
include a page that lists places where
individuals can donate to help survi-
vors of the Haiti earthquake. “I urge Montgomery County residents to support humanitarian efforts to save lives and help feed and
shelter survivors by contributing to
relief efforts,” said County Executive
Isiah Leggett.
Anyone interested in making a
donation can find information on
the Volunteer Center’s Web site at
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
volunteer. Following is a list of some of the
organizations accepting donations:
Catholic Relief Services — www.
crs.org
American Jewish World Service
— www.ajws.org
United States Fund for UNICEF
— www.unicefusa.org
Interaction Coalition — www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquakehaiti
American Red Cross — www.
RedCross.org
Doctors Without Borders —
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
International Medical Corps —
www.imcworldwide.org
For other information on how to
help earthquake victims, go to the
Department of State’s Web site at
www.state.gov.
Good Shepherd
Creating Space for you!
Lutheran
Church
Gaithersburg
1 block North of Shady Grove Rd on Rt. 355
Sunday Worship Services
8:30, 10:00, 11:15am
(open during construction)
301-869-1780
www.GrowingInMinistry.com
January 22, 2010 The Town Courier
MAIN ST. CAFE
Valentine's Day Specials
Menu Featuring:
Lentil Soup, Sea Crab Soup, Cheese plate,
Steamed Dumplings and Hummus.
Entree :
• Roast Prime Rib of Beef Aujus
• Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp with Crabmeat
laced with tarragon glaze
• Stuffed Salmon with Crabmeat,
Artichokes and Brie Cheese,
• Roast Breast of Chicken Topped with
Babyshrimp and Garlic Basil butter
• Grilled Vegie Plates on ( Request )
Special Valentine' Day Hours Sunday Feb.14, 12-7 pm
Reservation Accepted Wilkins Welcome
317 MAIN STREET KENTLANDS, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20878
Tel. 301-208-2521 Fax 301-208-2522
w ww.mai n s tre e tc a fe k e n t l a n d s . c o m
Page 13
Page 14
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010
MIKE AT THE MOVIES
By Mike Cuthbert
“Youth in Revolt” (R) **
The primary questions
that remain after this tedious and shockingly unfunny chapter in the continuing saga of Michael
Cera’s Eternal Adolescence
are: 1) Why can’t his agent
find a script that lets him
grow up at last or at least appear to? (He’s now 22, for heaven’s sake.) 2)
Who is the audience for this movie? It screams
“TEENS!” but it’s rated R for meaningless
obscenity — the opening scene is “self-pleasuring” to a girlie magazine — and no intelligent teen would model him or herself after
anyone in this movie.
Sheeni Saunders, Cera’s love interest, is singularly dull and not even all that attractive;
all the characters are written from the same
inflated word pool that nobody actually uses
to speak from; and performances by Fred
Willard, Justin Long, Steve Buscemi and Zach
Galifianakis are wasted and rootless. The only
character whose type makes sense in this film is
Jean Smart. She always plays a woman of weak
morals and execrable taste in men, exposing
as much cleavage as allowed, and she does it
again. Did we mention that Ray Liotta’s performance is also a throwaway?
Cera may be a talented young actor. So far
he’s only played one part, so it’s hard to tell.
This movie does nothing to help him develop
a personality.
“Leap Year” (PG) **
“Hey, dear. Didn’t we already see this movie
they’re advertising on TV? Only it seemed like
Katherine Heigl was in it.”
“Oh, the one about the girl who meets the
wrong guy who we know right away is the
right guy she will eventually marry, get engaged to or at least sleep with?”
“No, the one with Amy Adams where she
should fall in love with Justin Long but neither
of them …”
“No, that was somebody Goodwin.”
“Well, it sure seems familiar.”
That’s because it is. The real Amy Adams,
she of the cute ski nose and blue eyes, meets
an Irish barman named Declan on the way to
proposing to her stuffy boyfriend, Jeremy, in
Dublin. Leap Year, girl gets to propose. An old
’s
Irish custom. Faith and begorra. As soon as we
see him behind the bar and see the 17th shot
of her admittedly lovely ankles, we know for
what they are destined. You know it’s a lock
for sure when the crusty old Irish trainman demands a “real kiss” between the couple who
have had to pose as married in order to have
the usual scenes of staying awake, aching for
each other while he sleeps in the shower and
she the bed. Now you think you’ve seen this
movie already, right? It’s just a matter of 90
minutes to wait to see how it’s done this time.
Pretty much as it’s been done countless times
before with all the wannabe Meg Ryans.
Why does a suave American woman take
jeans but only stiletto heels to Ireland? Why
do all portrayals of modern American women
have them mince around in small, quick steps,
as if they’d never jogged or they have cramps
in their calves? Do all Irish country dwellers
really say “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya” still? Is
there no other insulting word to someone who
is thick than “idjit” in Ireland? To the producers who all thought all that stuff is still original
or amusing, as the Irish saying goes: “May you
be afflicted with the itch and have no nails to
scratch with.”
“The Book of Eli” (R) **
Beautifully photographed in post-apocalyptic sepia, this film has an ending that is so
wrenched and hokey that it’s totally unacceptable. It is also unfair to let you know what
the problem is, but it is a horrible example of
what to do when you don’t know how to end
a film.
“Eli’s” scenery and framing is effective but
it’s a film, not a series of still-lifes. Actors are
forced to stand for minutes on end doing nothing but reflecting the bleakness of the plot and
their actions. That probably makes the killing
scenes more effective, but it is far more effective photographically than dramatically for
this viewer.
Anyone with a smidgeon of sense knows
what Eli’s book is. He has a mission to save the
world, or what’s left of it after a nuclear holocaust, by delivering it somewhere “West.” That
the “somewhere” turns out to be Alcatraz, of
all places, is one of the potentially saving graces of Eli’s long, arduous, murderous trip. The
fact that the villain, terrifically played by Gary
Oldman, wants the same book so he can rule
the world is one of those predictable ironies
that makes him a perfect villain and sets up
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a dramatic denouement. Mila Kunis, she of the
huge eyes, fills in as the worthy assistant to
Denzel Washington as Eli as they head west.
I almost bought the film, ironies and all, until the ending. It is so totally unworthy of the
rest of the production that it ruined the entire film for me. You can see for yourself, but
somebody should be ashamed of themselves
for such lousy decisions that must have led to
that finale.
“The Lovely Bones” PG-13 **
This film must be judged on its merit as a
film only. To compare it with the Alice Sebold
novel will destroy it as a film. The novel kept
us in the world of Susie Salmon, murdered at
14. Her visions of what Heaven is like and her
agony at the frustration of everybody looking for her killer, the deterioration of her family and the changed relationships, all keep us
grounded in Susie’s world. The film takes us
to the fantastical mind of Peter Jackson and the
film becomes fantasy, losing whatever grip the
novel had on its own form of reality. That grip
is what made the book charming and haunting — Susie’s mute witness to things she finally
understands.
The movie is full of blinding white light and
cute kids and birds and magical trees and other fantasy food. At one point, one of her dead
friends tells her she has to leave Earth — give it
up and move on. All this while she’s running
across a surreal beach filled with her father’s
ships-in-bottles.
Susan Sarandon anchors the film in reality in
a rollicking turn as a drinking mother who sort
of takes charge, but much that could have made
the film poignant is removed — Susie’s mother
in the novel has a useless affair to try to forget.
The film mother, played by Rachel Weisz, simply leaves for a bit and comes back for one of the
several happy endings.
I loved the novel but was unmoved by the
film. Too much fantasy and not enough of what
Susie might have gone through from her dead
perspective. Sebold’s imagination was rich; this
realization is merely lit well and far too gauzy to
be moving for me.
“The Spy Next Door” (PG) *
Jackie Chan, in the outtakes segment of this
film — a section that could have been a couple of hours longer with no damage to the audience — says at one point: “I hate speaking
English!” Seeing as how he has made over 95
films, mostly in Chinese, but made most of his
money playing himself in comic martial arts
films in his form of English, one wonders from
where comes the hatred. Maybe it’s from being
forced to make this movie with not only talentless but downright ugly children who are made
to act and speak ugly, a third-rate actress to play
his girlfriend, and two horrible actors to play,
of all things in 2010, Russian spies! Bring back
Boris and Natasha!
Chan clearly does not do any strenuous stunts
in this film, and the ones he attempts are rather
flaccid copies of things he has done before only
with less originality and less flare and less humor. The excuse for seeing this is that it’s a “kid’s
movie.” So is “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” Go
there instead. They have better stunts.
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010 High
School
Sports
Summary
By Mike Cuthbert
and Ryan Bridgens
Girls’ Basketball
Colleen Kelly’s Lady Cougars
will miss Mimi Niktash, out
for the rest of the season with a
torn ACL suffered against Laurel
at Poolesville. Without her, the
Cougars put up a valiant first half
against Seneca Valley, leading at
the break 35-31. The taller, more
talented Screamin’ Eagles came
out screamin’ and a 13-0 run put
them ahead to stay as they coasted
to a 68-51 win. Torrie Ziade had
seven points and seven rebounds
in one of her better efforts of the
season while Leah Dagen led
QO with 16 hard-earned points,
most of them on drives down the
lane. Ally Shapiro came up from
the Cougar JV team to replace
Niktash.
Against Clarksburg, things collapsed early and the Cougars’ cold
shooting did not allow a comeback. Dagen scored 24 points and
grabbed eight rebounds. An indication of the lack of team effort
was indicated by the fact that the
next highest scorer, Zaidie, had
eight points and seven rebounds.
The Cougars shot a miserable 27
percent in the first half and never
recovered.
QO dropped its seventh game
in a row in a 46-42 loss to
Poolesville. The team relied heavily on free throws to keep them
in the game. The ladies trailed
26-20 at halftime, and things did
not improve in the third quarter. The Cougars were outscored
13-5, with all five points coming
from Dagen, who led all scorers
with 19 points and was a perfect
11-11 from the free throw line. A
valiant fourth quarter effort made
the game close, but in the end it
was too little too late.
The Cougars got badly stung by
the Damascus Swarmin’ Hornets,
71-53. The Hornets were taller
than QO by several inches at every position and had the astounding total of 47 rebounds to QOs
17. Dagen did her best to keep
the Cougars even with 23 points
on numerous drives into the tall
trees in the middle, but a standaround offense by the rest of the
Cougars never let them get close.
The best thing for the Cougars
was that freshman Shapiro got
her most extended playing time
Sports
Page 15
of the season, scoring four points
and a rebound and learning valuable lessons.
QO finally snapped its lengthy
losing streak with a thrilling 5250 win over Watkins Mill. The
game came right down to the
wire, with Jocelyn Cook hitting
a 3-pointer with 14 seconds to
go to give the Cougars the lead.
Dagen once again led this team
in points with 20 points before
fouling out. The team’s other
standout player was senior Sam
Basile, who finished with eight
points, nine rebounds. She also
provided brilliant defense that
helped contribute to Watkins
Mill making just 31.7 percent of
their shots.
Kelly said the win was huge.
“It was a division win. It shows
that they beat a bunch of people; now we can beat a bunch of
people.”
Boys’ Basketball
Seneca Valley’s Screamin’
Eagles were as close as five to the
Cougars, 16-11. Then it was 2911 and the issue was no longer
in doubt. The QO zone trap, its
trademark, caused 28 turnovers
in the game, 15 in the first half.
While they were close to the
Cougars in field goal percentage,
the choking QO defense allowed
Seneca Valley only 37 shots for
the game. The Cougars had 55
attempts on the way to a 64-48
win.
Coach Paul Foringer had the
luxury of substituting not his
usual two units, but three different fives, and they all played well.
Mac Kennedy led QO scorers
with 14; Ben Kelly had 10.
Away against Clarksburg,
Andre Gaines showed up with
his “A” game, racked up a double-double with 18 points and 10
rebounds, and played with an energy he had not shown all year.
He led the Cougars to a 69-50
win, leaving them with a season
record of 8-2.
Foringer said, “I felt pretty
good coming into this game. But
we still had remnants of missed
layups!” One shortly before halftime had the bench roaring as
Mike Shapiro drove the lane and
tried a George Gervin-like finger roll that came up just short
— like 2 yards short. Once again,
the defense led the team, grabbed
24 turnovers and harassed the
Coyotes, allowing them only 46
shots. The Cougars had 56 and
outshot Clarksburg at the line,
16-5.
It’s getting harder and hard-
Photo | Phil Fabrizio
Quince Orchard’s Brian Johnson makes a strong move towards the basket against Seneca Valley in an early season match-up of local 3A teams.
er to accurately characterize the
Cougar defense. Against a tall,
athletic Poolesville team, the
Cougars looked to be in trouble.
Then they reached the second
quarter. The Cougars trailed after
the first period, led by six at the
half, and finished 75-47. Though
Gaines led the Cougars with 16
points and six rebounds, Justin
Corydon scored 14 and gathered
five rebounds in a reserve role.
Kennedy matched Corydon’s 14
points and had many steals and
assists in a total team effort led
by the “piranha defense” — give
them a taste of blood and they eat
everything in sight.
QO players and coaches didn’t
expect a tough game from
Damascus, and they didn’t get
one. The final score was 60-33.
The Cougars sped to a 13-2 lead
and never looked back. For the
first game this season they were
taller than their opponent at every position. They were also
much deeper as three completely
different five-man units played
for QO. They out-rebounded Damascus 30-17 and outshot
them .520 to .324. With their
zone trap the Cougars only fouled
11 times in the entire game.
Gaines led all QO scorers
with 17, but again the unselfishness of the Cougars was a hallmark. “We’re so unselfish that
nobody worries about scoring.
How about that time we were
under the basket and had four
passes. Nobody wants to score.
Anybody?” said Foringer.
QO rolled to an easy 67-45
win over Watkins Mill. The
Cougars shot just 2-10 in the first
half from the free throw line.
Still, the boys dominated from
the start and led by as much as 16
in the first quarter.
“That’s big for us, especially with our style of play,” senior
Kennedy said. “Getting ahead by
that much means that we are playing real hard and wearing down
the other team.” Kennedy finished the game with 18 points.
Gaines had a very impressive
game in which he finished with
21 points, including 10 of the
team’s 12 second-quarter points.
The Cougars also got solid, wellrounded minutes off the bench
from senior Stephen Everett. He
had four points, five rebounds,
four assists, and three steals.
Wrestling
In the Damascus Holiday
Tournament, Reed Neubaum
won the 160-pound title while
Austin Williams placed second at
171. In the Hub Cup, Neubaum
not only won the 160-pound
title but was named outstanding wrestler for the tournament.
Other winners included Greg
Holland at 105 and Eli Bienstock
at 114. Williams took another
second in his class.
The wrestling team dominated Northwood and Blair in a triangular meet on January 6. The
boys took on Northwood first and
won 72-12, with six of the match
wins coming by forfeit. The rest
came by first round pins from
103-pound Holland, 171-pound
Williams, and 103-pound Zach
Appelbaum. Second round pins
came from 130-pound Brendan
Wills, 135-pound Taylor Boyd,
and 215-pound Arnold Olali.
Blair did not provide much more
competition, and the Cougars
came away with a decisive 63-16
victory. All of the above wrestlers
scored wins to propel the team to
an easy victory. QO lost just five
matches over the meet.
The Cougar grapplers followed
up that win with a resounding
thumping of Rockville, 63-7 to
run their regular season record
to 7-1.
Page 16
The Town Courier
January 22, 2010